Kay Stockham's SIMON SAYS MOMMY - there's a giveaway!

Kay Stockham has a new book out and it's available now - SIMON SAYS MOMMY. Typical of Kay, this book is sweetly romantic, a poignant story about a couple who desperately need each other, but have many obstacles in their way. Kay was kind enough to request that I review this book on behalf of Romance Junkies for her and needless to say I was excited to have the opportunity!
Kay's website blurb:
Talk about being in over your head!
Dr. Ethan Tulane is juggling more than even his type A personality can handle. Between his new job as chief of surgery and learning to be a dad to Simon, his adopted son, Ethan is desperate. Enter Megan Rose, the temporary nanny. Simon bonds instantly with her, which makes Ethan heave a sigh of relief—even as he notices she’s very good-looking.
It’s not long before they’re exploring those sparks between them. Megan might be the one woman he could have forever with. Too bad there’s something she’s not sharing—something that could send her to the door before he can talk commitment. Ethan can’t let that happen, so it’s time for the big guns—letting Simon persuade her!

My (4 blue ribbon) Romance Junkies review:
In SIMON SAYS MOMMY, Kay Stockham tells the story of a beautiful young woman with a flawed past and a successful surgeon who’s questioning his future. Together they might just find the secrets of true love and the promise of happiness.

Megan Rose has repeatedly found herself the target of the most brutal of life’s hard knocks. Having suffered at the hands of an abusive husband, struggled her way through a bitter divorce, and finding herself extremely ill and living in her car, Megan makes her way to her sister’s home. She’s hopeful that Jenn will set aside their past differences and let her stay long enough to regain her strength and attempt to mend their damaged relationship. When Jenn wants no part of Megan and refuses to let her stay, Jenn’s brother in law, Ethan Tulane, takes Megan home with him and his recently adopted son, Simon. Megan never dreamed she would find herself being cared for by the incredibly handsome surgeon, or in turn, caring for his young son.
Ethan Tulane’s sole purpose in life seemed to be attaining the position of Chief of Surgery. When he was passed over for the position, he went to Niger with Doctors Without Borders where he fell in love with a young orphaned boy and decided to adopt him. After Ethan returns home and is named interim Chief of Surgery, he quickly finds himself in over his head. Taking pity on the very ill Megan, Ethan takes her home and doctors her back to good health. When she’s back on her feet, he offers her the position as live-in caregiver for Simon. Being fond of Simon, and thinking that staying on with Ethan will keep her in close proximity to her sister, enabling her to work on renewing their sisterly bond, she accepts his offer. The last thing Ethan or Megan expects is the attraction between them that quickly becomes heated, or the way Simon instantly connects with Megan.
Kay Stockham has once again given readers a beautiful love story. Megan and Ethan aren’t your typical romance characters. Megan has the baggage of a difficult childhood, an abusive marriage and a strained relationship with her sister. Ethan is without a doubt one of the good guys, but his need for total organization and perfection has put almost every aspect of his life on a collision course. Seeming the most unlikely pair, Megan and Ethan couldn’t be more perfect for each other. SIMON SAYS MOMMY comes with my very highest recommendation.

I'm going to give away my autographed copy of SIMON SAYS MOMMY. You'll have to do a little work for it (very little) - simply visit Kay's website and tell me a couple of things that you like about it. Don't forget to visit her blog while you're there, it's always great fun and she gives away some yummy prizes! I'll draw the winning name on Friday the 18th, so be sure to leave a comment by then. Most importantly, I don't attempt to track down giveaway winners, so be sure to check back to see if your name was drawn!
For all of you who aren't able to get out to your favorite bookseller to get a copy, here's a link to Amazon so you can order a copy to be delivered directly to your door!
Thanks to Kay for asking me to review this one, and thanks to all of you for checking it out!
Laurie

HER BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER - the latest from Kay Stockham! I have a copy for give away!

Kay Stockham has a new book - yay!! You all know how much I love hot, steamy romance, but I also enjoy stories that are fresh and sweet, where passions and lovemaking might be a little more subdued, but the most important element - the romance – is front and center. HER BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER is the next installment in Kay Stockham’s “Tulane’s of Tennessee” series and I truly feel that it is her most emotionally charged to date. Kay was kind enough to send me an early copy and (with her consent) I’ve decided to offer it up as a giveaway here.

How could this have happened?
They had one night. That’s all Shelby Brookes would allow herself to indulge in with Luke Tulane. Yes, he’s gorgeous and yes, he’s the greatest guy she knows, but he’s her best friend’s brother for crying out loud! And she’s pretty sure there are rules against sleeping with friends’ brothers.
Then Shelby discovers she’s pregnant. And Luke’s determined to do the right thing—down to the bended knee proposal and the meeting at the altar. As tempting as his offer is, Shelby’s convinced she’s not the marrying kind. She’s bound to hurt him and that’s definitely against the rules of friendship. Still, she doesn’t count on how persuasive Luke can be when he really wants something…her.
And check this out - HER BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER is yet another Romantic Times TOP PICK for Kay! Congratulations, Kay!
"In Stockham's heartwarming and delightful tale of love, Shelby and Luke overcome their personal tragedy. The author does an excellent job detailing her characters' emotional growth." -4.5 Stars! ROMANTIC TIMES
Be sure to go to Kay's website for video trailer and excerpt!
My review:
Shelby Brookes and Luke Tulane have known each other since they were children. Luke’s sister, Alex, is Shelby’s long-time best friend. While there may have been an attraction between Shelby and Luke when they were teens and young adults, they never gave in to it until after Luke’s brother’s wedding. Maybe it was the romantic atmosphere of the wedding and the reception after, but the passion that flared between them was undeniable and irresistible.
Since their night together, Shelby has avoided Luke and ignored his calls, not terribly difficult when he lives and works in California. When Luke returns to Tennessee for his twin brother's wedding, Shelby can't avoid him. It soon becomes obvious that Shelby is pregnant from their earlier night together and Luke insists that they get married. A child of divorce, Shelby doesn't have much faith in lasting, successful marriages, but she wasn't prepared for Luke's dogged determination and perseverance and they marry.
When Luke returns to California and their marriage is long distance, Luke's positive thinking and the loving support of their families might not be enough to keep them together.
Kay Stockham writes some of the most touching, heartfelt romance I've ever read. Shelby, Luke and their families and friends are incredibly realistic and could easily be your own relatives or neighbors. I strongly recommend this book to contemporary romance lovers who enjoy sweetly sensual, emotionally gripping stories.
I'm doing a giveaway for an autographed copy of HER BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER. If you're interested - and who wouldn't be, right? - just leave a comment about one of Kay's previous releases. Title, characters, locale, whatever you wish. Look around while you're at Kay's site, there's bunches of good stuff there! I'll pull a winning name from the comments on Friday, March 13th. Fair warning: this is my review copy so it has been read and there is an ever so slight spine crease.
Don't forget the LuAnn McLane giveaway - I'll be drawing the winner of a copy of REDNECK CINDERELLA Tuesday evening.
If you'd like to order your own copy of HER BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER right now, buzz on over to Amazon and throw a copy in your cart!
Thanks for checking it out!
Laurie

HIS SON'S TEACHER by Kay Stockham - and there's a contest!

Kay Stockham's upcoming (July 8) release, HIS SON’S TEACHER, tells the sweet story of Jennifer Rose, a teacher whose self-confidence has taken a serious blow after an unexpected divorce, and Nick Tulane, a single father whose self-made success has not guaranteed him a carefree existence.
Here's a little blurb:
Nick Tulane ordinarily won't admit weakness—in himself or in those he loves. But when he learns his son is about to fail in school, the single father is desperate to find a tutor. And Jennifer Rose is perfect.
In fact, Jen might be too perfect. Nick's starting to fall for the attractive teacher, and he can't let that happen. Because opening up to Jen means sharing the secret that has always made him feel like an outsider in his own family. Still, with his son showing signs of following in his footsteps, Nick can't keep the truth hidden. But once she knows, will Jen accept him…weakness and all?
My review:
Jennifer has suffered the ultimate betrayal at the hands of her self-centered, cheating ex-husband. Having gained weight after her divorce, she now lets her weight define who she is and despite being an incredibly intelligent, kind-hearted young woman, her self-esteem has hit rock bottom. When her best friend tells her about local gym owner Nick Tulane, who needs a summer tutor for his failing son Matt, she decides to approach him with a business proposition – she’ll tutor his son in exchange for time with a personal training at his gym in a desperate attempt to get herself back in shape. Jen’s friend failed to mention that Nick is absolutely gorgeous and she finds herself embarrassed and intimidated just being with him, especially when it becomes clear that he intends to be her personal trainer. Jen soon finds herself falling for Nick and Matt, but as she delves deeper into Matt’s learning issues, she finds that the problem runs much deeper than she originally thought and it appears that Nick considers the true heart of the matter to be strictly off limits.
Nick accepts Jen’s offer without hesitation and is relieved to know that Matt will soon be back on track with his studies. He finds Jen to be a caring, compassionate young woman and while she does have a few pounds to lose, she’s nowhere near as overweight as she thinks she is. He has his work cut out for him in convincing her that she’s worthy and deserves nothing less than complete happiness. What Jen doesn’t know is that Nick has a secret. A secret that he has allowed to drive a wedge between him and his family for several years. When Jen discovers the truth and a serious misunderstanding follows, Nick feels betrayed and any considerations for a future together appear to be completely destroyed.
Kay Stockham always includes real life lessons in her books. HIS SON’S TEACHER delves into weight loss/fitness issues and realistically addresses the painful emotions and insecurities that often go hand in hand with being overweight. Without giving away too much, I’ll add that reading/learning disabilities are also an important part of the storyline and readers will find themselves interestingly informed about a subject they’ve likely not given much thought to. Relationships between friends and within families, complete with imperfections, always play a crucial role in Kay’s books and HIS SON’S TEACHER is no exception. I highly recommend this book to all romance readers who enjoy a sweet story with plenty of sizzling passion, and characters that are far from flawless.
Kay has kindly given me an autographed copy of HIS SON’S TEACHER for a giveaway here! Thanks so much, Kay! I’ll draw one name from those who post here in, let’s say five days, or Monday, June 30, in the evening.

Thanks for checking this one out! Be sure to stop by Kay's site for an excerpt and purchasing information - and don't forget that series romance have a short shelf life, so act quickly.

Laurie

Kay Stockham has a new Super Romance, ANOTHER MAN'S BABY, in the stores now. I picked this book up Friday evening and read it in snatches over the weekend, finishing last night; I loved it so much! Before you dismiss this as being just another fluffy little Harlequin, I would urge you to reconsider. Kay is a very talented storyteller and her characters are realistically flawed, no picture perfect heroes or heroines allowed! I like an author who will let her characters make mistakes and have weaknesses.
Here's a blurb from Kay's website:
Garret Tulane is Darcy Rhode's personal knight in shining armor. Not only did he rescue her from being stranded in the middle of a snowstorm, but he's also given her a place to stay. His close family ties and his caring support create the secure home life she wants to give her unborn child.
That security is an illusion, however. Despite the growing closeness between Darcy and Garret, she knows he has obligations and commitments that don't include her--or another man's baby. But feeling as she does, when the time comes, will she be able to walk away?
What happens when you finally find The One...and it's two?
A brief review from me:
When Garret Tulane comes across Darcy Rhodes's wrecked car in a blinding snowstorm, it goes without saying that he was concerned. When he saw the very pregnant Darcy still in the vehicle, an instinct to protect takes over. Darcy, lacking a warm, loving mother or anyone else for that matter, to care for and take care of her, doesn't know what to think about Garret and his overprotective family. When you throw in Garret's intended fiancee, his best friend, who happens to be in love with said fiancee, and a young-at-heart grandmother, you have a well-rounded story that's highly entertaining.
I hope you'll all check this book out - while it won't be on the store shelves much longer (so you'd better run!), you can always order from Amazon.
Thanks for checking it out!
Laurie

Kay Stockham's A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER - and A CONTEST!!

AND THE WINNER IS . . . TETEWA!! Please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com so I can mail your books out! If I don't hear anything by Saturday, I'll draw a new name. Thanks so much to everyone for sharing your Christmas memories - I can't tell you how much I enjoyed them! I truly think this has been my favorite contest because of your great comments!

Kay Stockham has a new release - a heartwarming Christmas story, A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER.
I’ve written a review below, following which are the details of a contest for two of Kay’s books. I have from Kay an autographed copy of her previous release, HIS PERFECT WIFE, and I’m chipping in a copy of A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER for one lucky winner!
My review:
When Beau Buchanan wakes to find himself in a military hospital, the severe pain of his injuries and the inability to recall the explosion that put him there are seriously troubling, but it’s the not knowing his own identity that causes him the most distress. Once he has healed sufficiently, he goes home and begins the trying task of getting back into the workforce as an electrician with his father’s company. An attractive woman doing landscaping in the same housing project catches his eye and as soon as she recognizes him, she tears into him, obviously very upset to see him. Of course, he doesn’t recognize her and is determined to find out what happened between them to cause the pain in her eyes. Beau keeps pushing until he finds that her name is Marley Pierce and that they had a brief past together, one that ended with her pregnant and him skipping out on her. He is shocked to think that he could act so abominably towards her. As he begins to experience glimpses of his past in brief flashbacks, he is more confused than ever when they just don’t seem to fit with the man he has become.
Marley is shocked to see Beau Buchanan working across the street. He broke her young heart years before, ditching her and leaving her alone and pregnant. Marley’s pregnancy was a major source of painful gossip in their small town, contributing to her mother’s breakdown, and no one in her family could forgive Beau for the destruction his actions caused within their family. The more time Marley spends with this very different Beau, the more she begins to question her feelings for him as well as her relationship with her family, especially her mother.
Kay Stockham never fails to deliver an emotion-packed story with characters whose lives and backgrounds are realistic and slightly flawed. A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER is no exception, proving that things and people aren’t always what they seem. Marley and Beau had troubles in their past, but new discoveries and revelations could open their future to unexpectedly brightness, but only if they are willing to open their hearts. This book belongs on every holiday shopping list!
Now for the contest! Everyone who leaves a brief comment about a favorite Christmas memory will be entered in this contest. As I often do, I’ll put your name in the drawing twice if you send a friend over and they mention your name. I’ll draw a winner on Wednesday evening, so you have plenty of time to give your friends a shout!
Thanks for stopping!
Laurie

Kay Stockham's HIS PERFECT WOMAN

Author Kay Stockham http://www.kaystockham.com/ writes Harlequin Super Romances, a line that I had steered clear of for years because I thought they were simply frothy fluff. WRONG! I've read several in the past couple of years including those by Kay and some of Brenda Novak's, and they are all sweetly romantic, sensual without being over the top, and often thought-provoking. I can't help but wonder how many other great books I've missed because of this misconception.
HIS PERFECT WOMAN is the story of a breast cancer survivor, Melissa York - surprisingly, a young breast cancer victim, who has a long life ahead of her but is a little low on courage and strength, especially when it is offered by Bryan Booker, the town doctor with a hearty reputation as a womanizer. Adding to Melissa's insecurity is the fact that her father, after several years of being alone following her mother's death, has fallen in love and intends to marry. Kay made these characters come to life on the pages, and they remained on my mind long after I put the book down.
I emailed Kay a couple of days after finishing HIS PERFECT WOMAN, to tell her how much I enjoyed her book and how much it touched me, something I don't always do. I often intend to, but just don't follow through. I think it must be very satisfying to an author to know that you've connected heart-to-heart, so to speak, with your readers.
My only disappointment was that Melissa didn't embrace her father's new romance from the beginning, thinking how excited I would be if my mother, a widow for 29 years, had found someone to share her life, but given the fact that Melissa's father was her caregiver after her surgery, and the past heartaches she suffered with the loss of her mother and baby daughter, I guess she has a right to be a emotionally fragile and maybe even a little selfish with her father's affection.
I hope you'll all check this book out - it's not on the store shelves for long, so you'll have to scoot (this peeves me at series romance -why can't they leave these books out for two months?) Or you can always drop by Amazon and order it - click here: http://www.amazon.com/His-Perfect-Woman-Harlequin-Superromance/dp/0373714246/ref=sr_1_3/105-2447986-2238813?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182445338&sr=1-3
I almost forgot to mention that Kay is very generously donating a portion of the proceeds of this book for breast cancer research - so when you buy your copy, snag an extra copy for a friend or relative too! Big hugs to you, Kay!
Thanks as always, and don't forget the drawing for THE WRITE INGREDIENTS tomorrow night - scroll down a couple of posts for details if you haven't entered!
Laurie