Let me introduce Penny!

I think I've mentioned before that my friend and I take care of three cats that live at our work parking lot. We've had all three fixed and we feed them twice a day, every day, and have for about five years. They are street savvy and have several places to get out of the weather,  and we've provided a house filled with straw and Purr Pads for them to be protected from the cold. They let us pet them and are friendly, but don't welcome attempts at picking them up. It seems to be common knowledge that we take care of these kitties, and occasionally people will drop off other kittens. It's so aggravating that they're irresponsible enough to just dump these kittens in a busy parking lot for someone else to deal with. Over the years we have rescued (incl. spay/neuter)/adopted/found homes for close to 30 cats.

Penny is the most recent parking lot rescue. She is approximately ten weeks old and weighs 2.8 pounds, a real whopper! Lindsay moved into a condo with her boyfriend a little over a year ago and her cat, Pascale, went with her. Kelsey takes her cat, Phoebe (aka Fifi) back and forth to school with her (until she graduates in December). That leaves Tim and I with Simon the basset hound and cats, Sophie, Tony, and now Penny. Trust me, there's never a dull moment at our house, especially with a kitten in the mix. I'd forgotten how fun it can be having a kitten in the house.

Do any of you have pets? Please tell us about them! I've always been partial to cats myself, and have loved and lost several in my life - Spike, Zack, Jade, Kubby, Lottie, and an outside bruiser of a stray that we called Daddy Kitty. We've had two dogs before Simon, both basset hounds, Patches and Fred. After losing Fred we swore that we wouldn't have another dog. That lasted about three and a half years, until Simon came into our lives back in May. He's a good fit in our home and we're crazy about him.

Laurie

Winner(s)!

Good evening, ladies!  The winner of Catherine Mann's PROTECTOR and the autographed copy of LOVE BITES is Fedora!  Congrats, Fedora! Please contact me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your mailing address so I can get your books in the mail! 

Because I never heard from Jessika about her win of Regina Hart's FAST BREAK or SMOOTH PLAY, I've chosen a new winner and it's Kris A.!  Please contact me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your email address and whether you want a Nook or Kindle version of FAST BREAK or SMOOTH PLAY.

Thanks to everyone who took time to check out these very talented authors and for your wonderful comments!

Catherine Mann's PROTECTOR - with a fun giveaway!

Author Catherine Mann has been a long-time favorite of many romance readers, especially those who (like me!) love romantic suspense.  Her Dark Ops series has had hit after hit and I was fortunate enough to get PROTECTOR for Romance Junkies review.  I'm itching to get my hands on UNDER FIRE and GUARDIAN, the subsequent two books in the series. I was able to meet Catherine Mann last fall at the COFW booksigning in Columbus. My dear friend Judy came especially to see Cathy (they're old friends and Judy can call her Cathy) - so the evening was a win-win for me to see Judy and meet Catherine at the same time! She's a sweetheart and I was pleased to have met her. Check out the blurb and review for PROTECTOR below, then read on for the giveaway - I have two books up for grabs for one lucky reader here.

The blurb:
TRUST, LOVE …AND LIES.
After barely surviving enemy torture, Captain Chuck Tanaka doesn’t trust himself to do more than ride a desk—but new orders leave him no choice. Assigned to the investigation of a mob boss whose luxury cruise ship is reportedly a hub for terrorist activity, Tanaka goes undercover. His target: JoLynn Taylor, the mob boss’s daughter.
As a child, JoLynn saw her beloved uncle murdered. Since then, she’s stayed far away from her father’s crooked empire. But when he falls ill, she returns, hoping to mend the gap between them. Instead, she finds herself on the run, one step ahead of unknown enemies. The only thing keeping her alive is the man she knows as Charles Tomas, the only man she’s ever been able to trust.
Unfortunately, he’s also the man determined to destroy her family…

My (4 blue ribbon) Romance Junkies review:

How do you like your romantic suspense? If you prefer sensual, intelligent, and clever characters and an abundance of exciting action, PROTECTOR is the story for you. Author Catherine Mann knows her way around a thrilling romantic suspense and PROTECTOR is no exception.

Dark Ops Squadron’s Chuck Tanaka is hesitant about going back on assignment, after being captured and tortured on his last mission, nearly costing his life. His technical skills are much-needed on this operation and he eventually agrees. Keeping an eye on a beautiful woman aboard her father’s cruise ship shouldn’t be too difficult, right? Taking an undercover job as a blackjack dealer, Chuck finds himself in close contact with JoLynn Taylor. Before long, hidden surveillance is not enough and it becomes obvious that someone is after JoLynn. Her life is in serious jeopardy unless Chuck can keep her safe as they go on the run.

JoLynn has been away from her father for several years. Having witnessed her beloved uncle’s execution as a child, she has no desire to be near her father and his continuing mob lifestyle. Her interest in Chuck is instantaneous and intense. After her life is repeatedly threatened and she surprisingly learns his true identity, there isn’t time for much more than keeping themselves alive.

Catherine Mann has the alpha man down pat. She never fails to provide readers with capable, competent characters, an interesting storyline, and enough action to keep the story moving. A secondary romance adds even more richness to the reading experience. PROTECTOR is a wonderfully exciting book and I urge anyone who enjoys romantic suspense to check it out.

Now for the giveaway!  I will give one lucky reader my review copy of PROTECTOR together with a fully autographed print copy of LOVE BITES, the anthology of this year's Lori Foster/Duffy Brown Reader-Author Get Together in West Chester, Ohio. This book was available in print at this event, although it is available at online bookstores as an ebook.  All proceeds from this book benefit the Animal Adoption Foundation, a no-kill shelter located in Hamilton, Ohio.  

To be entered simply leave a comment - you choose the subject! You can talk about Catherine Mann's Dark Ops series, her yummy Harlequin Desires, her love of animals, or what you're doing to stay cool this summer! (We're sweltering here in Ohio right now.)  Tell a friend who mentions your name in their comment and I'll enter both of you an extra time.  So get busy, leave those comments, and give your friends a little nudge to stop by!  I'll draw the winner on Monday, July 23rd. A friendly reminder - if you want to post your email addy with your comment, that will go far in simplifying things if you're the winner.  If you don't want to leave your email addy, be sure to stop back to see if you've won.
Thanks for checking out PROTECTOR!

The winner!

Jessika Sartin, come on down!  You're the winner of book one or two in Regina Hart's Brooklyn Monarchs series.  Please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your book choice as well as whether you prefer the Kindle or Nook version. 

If I don't hear from Jessika by Friday, 7/20, I'll draw a new winner.

Thanks to everyone who commented - more contests coming up, so be sure to stop back!  Have a great day!

KEEPING SCORE, the latest from Regina Hart - there's a giveaway!

Author Regina Hart has a new release, the latest in her Brooklyn Monarchs series, and was kind enough to provide me with a review copy.  KEEPING SCORE is the third book in this series, and comes with a strong recommendation from me to take a look at it!  Check out Ms. Hart's website for excerpts and ordering information.

A blurb:
To be a pro b-ball champion takes endless drive and passion. But being a winner on the court can often mean losing off the court...
He’s an NBA legend, considered the best of the best. Now veteran player Warrick Evans is determined to lead his team all the way to the championship. It’s his last shot before he retires, but the media can’t get enough of his story — and all the attention is turning his teammates against him, not to mention his wife.
Dr. Marilyn Devry-Evans has always stood by her man, even when it meant standing in his shadow. Now she wants to focus on her own career and on scoring her own dream job. But with the spotlight bearing down on them, Marilyn is reaching her breaking point. Especially when a secret comes to light — one that could destroy not only her career, but her marriage.

My review:

Dr. Marilyn DeVry-Evans wants little more than a partnership in the prestigious Linden Boulevard Women’s Health Clinic, but has concerns because the partners overseeing her application seem more interested in her wealthy family than what she personally could bring to the practice.  They too have concerns, mostly about Mary’s husband, professional basketball player Warrick “Rick” Evans, and the rumors about his being a bad boy sports image. Mary has moved out of their marital home in an attempt to see their relationship in a different light. She feels that the clinic’s concerns are more than a little silly, and her current position at the hospital being in jeopardy is disconcerting, but she’s trying to please everyone, even at the risk of not being true to herself.

Rick Evans is determined to bring home a championship for the Brooklyn Monarch fans, and his greatest wish is for his wife to be by his side.  Frustrated by their separation and the seemingly  ridiculous reasons behind it, he sometimes feels like he’s banging his head against the wall to get Mary to see past the frivolous accusations and rumors. He loves Mary more than life itself and will do whatever it takes to get their marriage back on solid ground.

Regina Hart gives romance readers a feel-good story that includes the realities of what some might consider to be the good life.  Mary’s confusion over the worrisome opinions of her parents, her employer, and a prospective employer is well-written, even if I did want to shake her on occasion to make her see what a wonderful man she has in her husband. Rick’s patience with Mary while she takes time to put her life into perspective is sweet and proves just how strong his love and devotion are.  I encourage romance readers, whether you prefer contemporary or sports romance, to take a look at Regina Hart’s Brooklyn Monarch’s series.

I’ll give a Kindle or Nook version, winner’s choice, of the first or second book in this series, FAST BREAK or SMOOTH PLAY, to one commenter here.  Are you familiar with Regina Hart or the work of her alter ego, Patricia Sargeant?  If you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Patricia, you know that she is one of the kindest, sweetest women that God gave breath. I’ve adored her for years. But consider yourself warned: this sweet, soft-spoken woman is a ruthless sports fanatic who is fiercely loyal to and strongly opinionated about her favorite teams and players!  I’ll draw the winner on Monday, July 16^th. Thanks for checking out KEEPING SCORE!

We have a winner!

And it's Lisa!  Congratulations, Lisa!  Thanks to everyone who commented.  I'm a long-time Roxanne St. Claire fan and the adoration continues with this new series - I hope you'll all give it a try! 

Another review and giveaway for Regina Hart (Patricia Sargeant) coming up, hopefully later today.

BAREFOOT IN THE SAND by Roxanne St. Claire

I have to admit that I was hesitantly anticipating Roxanne St. Claire's new series. I adored each and every one of her romantic suspense novels, devouring them as soon as they were out. I didn't doubt that Ms. St. Claire's writing would be brilliant because she is a master at storytelling, but I loved her romantic suspense so much that I wasn't excited about the switch to contemporaries. I was so wrong to not be excited. BAREFOOT IN THE SAND is a wonderfully written book and I know that romance readers will be as pleased as I was and will be anticipating the next book in the series, BAREFOOT IN THE RAIN, coming at the end of October, 2012.

Roxanne St. Claire's comments on this new series:

I’m so excited to be writing “contemps” again -- and just overjoyed to introduce my readers to the warm and wonderful world of Barefoot Bay. Set on the fictional island of Mimosa Key, this enclave is home to a whole new set of characters who will find heartache and hope in every story. Centered around four women who’ve been friends since college, each book is first and foremost a love story, but the characters have to deal with more than broken hearts and sexy heroes. They have to overcome universal challenges that all women face...with humor, grace, friendship, and no small amount of wine.

With a new Barefoot Bay book scheduled to release every six months for the next two years, I hope to treat my loyal fans to a fresh cast of unforgettable characters and capture new readers who love to return to a community that feels rich and real.

I hope you love Lacey, Jocelyn, Zoe, and Tessa -- and the men who steal their hearts, touch their souls, and change their lives forever.

My Romance Junkies review:

With BAREFOOT IN THE SAND, Roxanne St. Claire gives readers the first taste of an exciting new contemporary series.

When Lacey Armstrong loses everything she owns to a hurricane, it goes without saying that she is thankful for the sheer determination that kept her and her daughter alive.  She excitedly decides to make a fresh new start by building a B&B where her family home once stood.  She has a teen daughter to raise, an ex-husband to fend off, three long-time friends to confide in, and an architect to resist. When Clay Walker designs a retreat for Lacey, she is stunned to see that his visions are perfect for her beach property. When their attraction intensifies and Clay’s secrets are exposed, Lacey needs to make decisions that could drastically affect her future.

Architect Clay Walker recognizes a prime opportunity when he sees it. When Lacey Armstrong needs an architect, he’s excited to show her his ideas. Clay has some secrets and obstacles of his own and Lacey quite possible holds his success or failure in her hands. Given his attraction to Lacey, despite her concerns about being a handful of years older than him, he’s determined to convince local officials to approve her building plans. Romantic competition in the form of Lacey’s ex-husband may prove difficult as she becomes increasingly agitated by all of the decisions she’s confronted with.

Roxanne St. Claire has penned a uniquely different romance in BAREFOOT IN THE SAND. This new series from an author best known for her popular romantic suspense novels, takes readers in a delightfully different direction with a sweetly sensual contemporary flare. Lacey and Clay are charming and their relationship is fresh and potent and while their age difference is discussed and understood, it isn’t harped on continuously. I typically don’t care for the “older woman” storyline, but because of the way it was written, it wasn’t a negative for me. Secondary characters play a crucial role in this book and I’m looking forward to their stories in the future. I hope all readers, especially Ms. St. Claire’s most loyal who may be like me and dislike change, will give this new series a chance because there will be no disappointments.

Of course there's a giveaway! I'll give a Kindle copy of BAREFOOT IN THE SAND to one lucky winner, to get you started on the series. Just leave a comment about Ms. St. Claire's books you've read or are looking forward to reading. I'll draw a winner on Monday, July 9th.
Thanks for taking the time to check it out!

Winners!

My apologies for not announcing the winners last night. We had vicious storms roll through and power was touch and go for most of the evening. All is well for us though - we were spared the damages that a lot of people in our town are dealing with.

The winner of a Kindle copy of any of the previous books in Jill's Lucky Harbor series is JOYCE M.  Congratulations, Joyce!  Please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with the Lucky Harbor Kindle book of your choice - it will be emailed to you directly from Amazon.

The winner of a print or Kindle copy from Jill's backlist is PAT L.   Congrats to Pat too!  Please email me at the above email addy with two or three book choices from Jill's backlist and I will get in touch with her.

Thanks so much to all who commented!  Have a great weekend!

Laurie

AT LAST, latest from Jill Shalvis, with a Giveaway!

Tuesday, June 26th, is release day for the latest in Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor series, AT LAST.  I've had an early read of this one and encourage you to get your hands on it!  Amy and Matt's story is passionate, fun, and emotionally satisfying, the stuff that romance readers like us devour and then wish they'd read a little more slowly so it wouldn't be over, leaving them hanging on for the next one. Check it out (and tell me you don't hear Etta James crooning one of my favorite songs, At Last):

HER LOVE HAS COME ALONG…
Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she’s looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she’s tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won’t make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob.
A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn’t let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can’t deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it’s up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

Check out a brief EXCERPT!

I'll give a Kindle copy of any of the previous books (reader's choice) in the Lucky Harbor series.  Just leave a comment here.  Winner will be chosen on Friday, June 29th.  And because I never heard from the winner of the last contest featuring a reader's choice book from Jill's backlist, I'll include a second giveaway repeating that one - reader's choice, print or Kindle. Please be sure to check back to see if you're the winner. I know the sidebar says you have to check back to see if you're the winner, but there seems to be an aversion to doing so, soooo ...  if you'd like to be notified by email that you're the winner, please include your email with your comment.

Have a great weekend - and be sure to check out AT LAST!

Summer fun!

Hope you're all having all sorts of summer fun!  Kelsey and I went to the pool a couple of weeks ago, but other than nightly dog walks and dinner out last night to celebrate her 22nd birthday, haven't done anything exciting. Yes, we're incredibly dull, boring people! Don't think I've mentioned that we have a new (to us) dog.  Simon is a 7 year old basset hound and has been with us for a little over a month. We love him to pieces. We've only had two dogs before and both were bassets. Our second basset, Fred, came to us via Ohio Basset Rescue and he was (in our hearts) a champion, so why look anywhere else?  It took us 3+ years to decide it was time for another dog. Simon was on the Owner Surrender page at OBR and we made arrangements to meet him, bringing him home the same day. His previous family didn't feel that they had enough time to spend with him and he needed more attention than they could give.  He has settled right in and it feels as if he has always been with us. I hope he's as happy to be with us as we are to have him!

We will be taking off the week of July 4th but don't have any plans. We will be helping Kelsey move her stuff out of her apartment in Kent and into a storage facility for a month, until she has access to her new apartment.  She has one semester of student teaching to complete this fall and will graduate in December. Doesn't seem possible that she could possibly be finished with college.

I hope you'll share your summer plans, family news, books you've read or are reading.  As usual, I'm behind with reviews, but hope to remedy that in the coming week. I have several books to give away too, so stop back. I promise to put forth more effort in keeping things more current here; I've been so negligent lately.

Laurie