Monthly Archives: March 2011

[PocketBooks Blog Tour&Review] Murder Takes The Cake by Gayle Trent

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About the Book:
A routine cake delivery becomes a culinary nightmare when a small-town baker discovers her first client’s dead body in this irresistible new mystery series.

It’ll take more than a little sugar to convince folks Daphne Martin’s freshly baked spice cake was not to blame for the mysterious death of town gossip Yodel Watson. Getting her new cake decorating business, Daphne’s Delectable Cakes, off the ground is hard enough now that Daphne’s moved back to her southern Virginia hometown, but orders have been even slower since she found Yodel’s body. She soon realizes, however, that just about everybody in town had a reason to poison the cantankerous busybody, from the philandering pet shop owner, to Yodel’s church potluck nemesis, to the Save-A-Buck’s cranky produce manager-turned-bagger. Now, to help prove she’s no confectionary killer, Daphne recruits her old flame, Ben Jacobs, editor of the local newspaper, and quickly stirs up a long-hidden family scandal that just might hold the secret ingredient she needs to solve the case. All she’s got to do is roll up her sleeves and get her hands a little dirty before the real culprit decides that taking sweet revenge on Daphne will be icing on the cake.

  About the Author:
Gayle Trent lives in Southwest Virginia with her husband and two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. She’s a full-time writer/editor/mom/wife and chief cook and bottle washer, and she love every minute of it. Okay, not the bottle washing so much, but the rest of it is great.
The Trailer:
My Review:
I LOVE baking, I LOVE mystery, and I LOVE Gayle Trent’s work! This is a new to me author and her work is FANTABULOUSLY done. From page one, I was pulled in, and stayed hooked until the mystery was solved. From baking, to delivering said baked to her clients, to strange happenings that end in a murder, this first Daphne Martin Cake Mystery novel is a home run hit with this new fan!

Daphne Martin is back in her hometown in Virginia and opens her bakery. That’s all she thinks she’ll be doing: making cakes. That is, until she shows up at her first clients home to deliver the goods and finds her dead. And, people are blaming HER. What’s a baker to do? So, now, through tons of hilarious, quirky moments, lots of fun mystery, and some awesome culinary tips, too, Daphne Martin sets out to seek the clues for this unusual, yet cozy-at-it’s-finest mystery.

If you love cozy mysteries, look no further than Gayle Trent’s un-put-downable, delicious crime solving series!  From a talking parrot to a gossiping old citizen to some shocking family secrets, this five star novel will make it’s way to your bookshelf to stay. You’ll be pulled in, mixed up and thrown into the crime solving oven of mystery. Gayle’s love for her readers shows in this yummy culinary mystery. Definitely recommended to all. I’m already hungry for the next dish of Daphne Martin mystery!

You can purchase your copy here.

*This book was provided for review by PocketBooks/Simon&Schuster*

[TLC Blog Tour&Review] My Jane Austen Summer by Cindy Jones

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About the Book:
Lily has squeezed herself into undersized relationships all her life, hoping one might grow as large as those found in the Jane Austen novels she loves. But lately her world is running out of places for her to fit. So when her bookish friend invites her to spend the summer at a Jane Austen literary festival in England, she jumps at the chance to reinvent herself.

There, among the rich, promising world ofMansfield Park reenactments, Lily finds people whose longing to live in a novel equals her own. But real-life problems have a way of following you wherever you go, and Lily’s accompany her to England. Unless she can change her ways, she could face the fate of so many of Miss Austen’s characters, destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.

My Jane Austen Summer explores how we fall in love, how we come to know ourselves better, and how it might be possible to change and be happier in the real world.

About the Author:
Cindy Jones was born in Ohio and grew up in small midwestern towns, reading for escape. She is a winner of the Writers’ League of Texas Manuscript Contest, and she lives with her family in Dallas.

You can find Cindy at her blog, First Draft, and on Facebook.

My Review:
I absolutely adored this charming novel! I still have yet to read an actual Jane Austen novel, but LOVE these books that include her like this along with her characters. Cindy Jones’ writing and creation of this unique novel is great and captivating. It was full of characters there were both likable and, of course, some that were not so likable. But, all together, this plot line was quirky and engaging!

Now, I’ll admit. The first chapter of Lily’s story, and her stalking her ex boyfriend, well, it was a little slow for me. But, it definitely picked up in chapter 2, as Lily had to start coming face to face with her troubles and accept them to over come them. Running away from your troubles is sometimes the best way to take them full on!  The book flew by for me and before I knew it, it was time to say goodbye to Mansfield Park, Lily, Fanny Price and all the other AMAZING characters the Cindy Jones wove into the story. I loved being able to travel to England with Lily and become a part of Mansfield Park for just a little while. I felt a true part of the story and love it when that happens!  Lily’s aspiration to take the stage during Mansfield Park at LitFest was both addictive, and charming!

I know that if I had read Jane Austen’s actual novel, Mansfield Park, I would have known more about some of the characters that were portrayed in My Jane Austen Summer, but, honestly, I believe I would have enjoyed it no matter what. The feeling of England and tender characters, and facing your troubles no matter what they are, is just awesome!

Whether you’re a Jane Austen fan, new or old, or simply want a fun, fast, engaging read, then I highly recommend this book. Four stars and two thumbs up to an author who has amazing talent and allows her readers to travel with her characters and feel apart of Jane Austen’s era through this sweet, quirky, enjoyable read!

You can visit the other stops on the tour here.

You can purchase your copy here.

*This book was provided for review by TLC Book Tours*

[CFBA Tour&Preview] False Pretenses by Kathy Herman

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This week, the
 
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
 
is introducing
 
False Pretenses
 
David C. Cook (March 1, 2011)
 
by
 
Kathy Herman
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suspense novelist Kathy Herman is very much at home in the Christian book industry, having worked five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eleven years at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, as product buyer/manager for the children’s department, and eventually as director of human resources.

She has conducted numerous educational seminars on children’s books at CBA Conventions in the U.S. and Canada, served a preliminary judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association , and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market.

Since her first novel, Tested by Fire, debuted in 2001 as a CBA national bestseller, she’s added sixteen more titles to her credit, including four bestsellers: All Things Hidden, The Real Enemy, The Last Word, and The Right Call.

Kathy’s husband Paul is her manager and most ardent supporter, and the former manager of the LifeWay Christian Store in Tyler, Texas. They have three grown children, five almost-perfect grandchildren, a cat named Samantha. They enjoy cruising, deep sea fishing, and birdwatching—sometimes incorporating these hobbies into one big adventure.  

ABOUT THE BOOK  

Zoe Broussard loves the life she and her husband Pierce have built in her beloved Louisiana hometown. She owns a thriving Cajun eatery in South Louisiana and is married to the love of her life.

But it’s about to become hell. One day, out of the blue, she receives a series of anonymous notes that sends her life into a tail spin. Five simple words, “I know what you did.”  Zoe has a secret so terrible it could leave the business in shambles and tear her marriage apart. Unbeknownst to anyone, even Zoe’s husband, Pierce, she has a past—a past she had covered so well she never thought she would have to confront. How could anyone know what she did?  Can she find the courage to face her past?

If you would like to read the first chapter of False Pretenses, go HERE.

[FreePress Blog Tour and Review] The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg

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About the Book:
In this electrifying tale of suspense from an international crime-writing sensation, a grisly death exposes the dark heart of a Scandinavian seaside village. Erica Falck returns to her tiny, remote hometown of FjÄllbacka, Sweden, after her parents’ deaths only to encounter another tragedy: the suicide of her childhood best friend, Alex. It’s Erica herself who finds Alex’s body—suspended in a bathtub of frozen water, her wrists slashed. Erica is bewildered: Why would a beautiful woman who had it all take her own life? Teaming up with police detective Patrik HedstrÖm, Erica begins to uncover shocking events from Alex’s childhood. As one horrifying fact after another comes to light, Erica and Patrik’s curiosity gives way to obsession—and their flirtation grows into uncontrollable attraction. But it’s not long before one thing becomes very clear: a deadly secret is at stake, and there’s someone out there who will do anything—even commit murder—to protect it.
Fans of Scandinavian greats Stieg Larsson and Henning Mankell will devour Camilla LÄckberg’s penetrating portrait of human nature at its darkest.
About the Author:
Camilla Lackberg worked as an economist in Stockholm until a course in creative writing triggered a drastic career change. Her novels have all been # 1 bestsellers in Sweden and she is the most profitable native author in Swedish history. Camilla’s books have been published in thirty-five countries. She lives in Stockholm.
My Review:
While I usually love suspense novels, this one was a little off for me. The author shows some signs of talent, and it may be because this is a foreign novel translated to English, I don’t know, but I just didn’t like the way this book was. Her characters, while complex enough, failed to blend well with the plot line, in my opinion. The Scandinavian mystery thriller, well, it just didn’t capture me the way I was hoping it would. I was hoping for some fast paced mystery, yet it was, to me, slow going and a bit boring, as it dragged on.
I feel awful when I have to give a review like this, but honesty is the best policy and every author deserves a chance, even it isn’t a book that the reader likes. I gave this author a chance and didn’t like the book, and sadly, I have to give this book 2 stars. But, that being said, I do still encourage everyone to try this book. Sometimes a book might not set well with one reader, yet be another readers favorite book.
You can purchase your copy here.
*This book was provided for review by Simon and Schuster’s FressPress*

[Author Interview & GIVEAWAY] Tyler’s CH Admirand

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**Stay tuned for details on the giveaway!**

I love author interviews! And today, I’m hosting an interview with Tyler (The Secret Life of Cowboys)’s CH Admirand.

About the Book:
When Tyler Garahan said he’d do anything to save his family’s ranch, he never thought that would include taking a job as a stripper at a local ladies’ club. But the club’s fiery redheaded bookkeeper captures Tyler’s attention, and for her he’ll swallow his pride…

Emily Langley feels for the gorgeous cowboy. It’s obvious that he’s the real deal and wouldn’t be caught dead at a ladies’ revue if he wasn’t in big trouble. And when he looks at her like that, she’ll do anything to help.

Working days on the ranch and nights at the ladies’ club, Tyler would be plumb exhausted if he didn’t suddenly discover that the club is in the same boat as his ranch, and his beautiful boss needs him as much as he needs her…

About the Author:
C.H. Admirand is an award-winning, multi-published author and has published ten novels in mass-market paperback, hardcover, trade paperback, magazine, e-book, and audio book format. Fate, destiny, and love at first sight will always play a large part in C.H.’s stories because they played a major role in her life. When she saw her husband for the first time, she knew he was the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. Each and every hero C.H. writes about has a few of Dave’s best qualities: his honesty, his integrity, his compassion for those in need, and his killer broad shoulders. She lives with her husband and their three adult children in the wilds of northern New Jersey. She loves to hear from readers! Stop by her website at www.chadmirand.com to catch up on the latest news, excerpts, reviews, blog posts, and links to Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

You can find my review of Tyler here.

The Interview:

  1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
    CA: I’ve been a huge fan of Romance since I was a pre-teen and got my hands on a copy of Phyllis A. Whitney’s     Lost Island. I borrowed it from our library’s Bookmobile and read it twice before I had to return it! From then on I was hooked. I’ve been writing seriously (aka hoping to be published) since 1995 and published my first book in 2001, but didn’t sell the second until 6 years later! Good thing I’d continued to write, because I sold that second book and five more. At the time it felt like I’d been hit with a tidal wave, but it was such an amazing feeling to know that I hadn’t come up against a wall that I couldn’t scale. I started out writing Irish Western Romances (historical), Medievals and Regency-Era Historicals. Tyler is my first Western Contemporary Romance – believe it or not it was very hard to switch gears and become re-acquainted with the present time. I kindof liked living in the late 1870s in Colorado, for a change of pace, I’d go back to 11th Century Northumbria and then skip forward to the Regency Period in England. What an awakening, having to stumble into the light and realize that technology had nearly passed me by!
  1. What is like being an author?
    CA: Insane—because it’s not my only job—I have a day job, a wonderful family that runs circles around me—even though only two of our three children still live home, and once a week I take my mom and her live-in to buy groceries and do bills, etc. Soooo, that being said, I squeeze (literally) every spare moment I can to write and try to keep up with my writing career. When I have a book due and have a deadline, I’m up at 5 am and writing until 8 am or so, then I get ready to go to my day job. Weekends are spent writing until my hands cramp and my eyes feel like they’re going fall out of my head. Some days, I’m lucky to have half a brain left. BUT I wouldn’t trade one minute of it. I was chatting recently on a blog and mentioned that I’m getting better at juggling it all – family/writing career/day job/my mom – the order changes by the minute, depending on what or who requires my immediate attention. ;)
  1. What goes into your research of your cowboy novels?
    CA: I’ve been a fan of Silver Screen Legends and Classic TV Westerns for as long as I can remember, so I had a fabulous array of larger-than life cowboy heroes to choose from when deciding what characteristics Tyler would have. I’d been out West and to Texas a couple of times, so it was like taking the trip all over again when I began to write about it. When I was at the RT Booklovers Convention in Houston a couple of years ago, one of my author friends suggested we support her publisher and the EC Models by going to a local club…I had NO idea what I’d agreed to until I got there. Thank goodness my creative side took over while I struggled with my acute embarrassment, but the result was an inside look at a real ladies’ club (aka strip club). It was hard getting up-to-speed with the latest technology out there, things I hadn’t really paid much attention to, because it didn’t impact my daily life, until the CD player in my car took one of my CDs hostage six months ago and wouldn’t give it back! I was desperate to hear my music, so I took a giant step forward and purchased an MP3 player.
  1. Is hard to write this kind of book?
    CA: It was harder for me to write a contemporary than a historical. I have a personal research library that I’ve been slowly adding to over the last fifteen or so years. I’m comfortable there, I can look up facts at 2 am and not have to worry that I’m wearing sweat pants and a beat-up Drop Kick Murphy’s t-shirt. After writing historicals for the last fifteen years, it was almost like experiencing culture shock. Fortunately, our children are in their mid to late twenties and I can pick their brains about what’s hot technology and trend-wise. They usually laugh first and then answer my questions. ;)
  1. How long does it take you to write a book like this?
    CA: It depends on the deadline…it could take anywhere from three to six months to write a book like this, depending on my deadline/work schedule and family.
  1. Are your characters based on any actual people in your life?
    CA: I base all of my heroes on some of my husband’s best qualities: his honesty, his integrity, his compassion for others…and his killer broad shoulders—aside from that, I include bits and pieces of my Irish roots and ancestry, including family names, in all of my books.
  1. What influenced you to become a writer?
    CA: It was actually my 7th Grade English teacher, Mrs. Mildred Smith. She sparked my love for writing with her creative writing assignments that included drawing a corresponding picture to go with the assignment. After my first book was published, I tracked her down through the board of education and found out that she’d retired, but when I explained why I was looking for her, they gave me her address. We corresponded and it was great to be able to tell her that she was my favorite English teacher and how much she influenced my writing…I didn’t dare ask her to “grade” my book though. ;) She was really tough!
  1. Do you have any favorite authors who inspire your writing?
    CA: I have a bunch of favorite authors, but I they don’t inspire my writing as much as they satisfy my need to read romance. ;) Some of my favorite authors are Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Sandra Hill.
  1. What’s in the works for future novels?
    CA: I turned in book two,     Dylan, in December and am expecting to receive edits any day now. After RT, I’ll be nose to the grindstone writing book 3, Jesse.
  1. Anything that you would like to say to your reader fans?
    CA: I’m so grateful for you! Thank you for your support and feedback. I love hearing from you!     www.facebook.com/CHAdmirand, www.twitter.com/CHAdmirand , www.chadmirand.com
TYLER BY C.H. ADMIRAND – IN STORES MARCH 2011

The Giveaway:
Many thanks to Sourcebooks for allowing me to giveaway TWO copies of Tyler! All you have to do is leave a comment  about the interview below. All comments MUST include a form of contact info (i.e. contact in profile, email address, twitter id, facebook id, etc.) NO CONTACT INFO=NO VALID ENTRY This giveaway will be open to US and Canada residents ONLY. Giveaway will run until April 7th@1159pmEST .

Bonus Entries (PLEASE LEAVE SEPARATE ENTRIES FOR EACH)
+3 Blog about this giveaway and LEAVE ME THE LINK
+1 Follow, Be a Follower, or Subscribe via email and tell me in a comment.
+1 Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link (can be done once each day but be sure to leave a new comment with each new tweet)

SIX possible TOTAL entries. Good luck!