The winner of THE GIRL NOBODY WANTED!

The winner is Lori Meehan! Congrats, Lori!  Please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your mailing address and I'll pop your book in the mail!

If I don't hear from Lori by Thusday, Laurie G will be the winner.

Thanks, ladies!

THE GIRL NOBODY WANTED, the latest from Lynn Raye Harris

Author Lynn Raye Harris has a new Harlequin Presents available and I would like to encourage you all to check it out. You know that the Presents and Desire lines are two of my favorite guilty pleasures, right? If you're a fan of the Presents line, you've undoubtedly read Ms. Harris's work before. One of the many books she has penned is THE MAN WITH THE MONEY, in my opinion one of the best books ever in the Presents line. Seriously, I think it's exceptional. That said, THE GIRL NOBODY WANTED is an exciting, entertaining read as well and will undoubtedly leave readers satisfied and checking out Ms. Harris's back list and upcoming books.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Stop the Press: Jilted Bride Stranded with a Notorious Playboy!

Anna Constantinides, publicly humiliated when her long-time fiancé announced his engagement to someone else, might have thought things couldn’t get any worse…. Until her private jet crash-landed on an uninhabited island, leaving her stranded with billionaire hotel magnate Leo Jackson.

Renowned playboy Leo’s reputation is legendary, and if the smoldering looks they were fighting to contain when rescued are anything to go by, there can only be one question on everybody’s lips: just how long did it take wickedly sexy Leo to undress buttoned-up heiress Anna?

You can check out an excerpt HERE

MY THOUGHTS:
THE GIRL NOBODY WANTED opens with Anna Constantinides making a brave appearance at the engagement party of her former fiance. My heart ached for her, yes, but Leo Jackson makes a timely appearance and her pain is soon forgotten. Unfortunately, Leo is the brother of Anna's former fiance's *new* fiancee, but Leo is interested in building one of his fabulous Leonidas Group resorts in Amanti and Anna, being the tourist ambassador, realizes that she can hardly refuse his request of a personal tour. They set off the next day for Amanti with Leo at the controls of a small plane. Despite his being a capable pilot, they are forced to make an emergency landing into the sea next to an uninhabited island. Spending time marooned on the island with ladies' man Leo will cause tongues to wag, but they have no choice.  One surprise after another keeps Anna on her toes and wondering what her future might hold when their island ordeal is over.

Leo is intrigued by the sweet innocence of Anna and is interested in getting to know her better. He admires her strength in the face of public humiliation but wonders, given the paparazzi's pleasure in her hidden torment and searching her every action for the slightest fissure, if she could be close to the breaking point. When their forced closeness causes sparks to fly, Leo is humbled by Anna's incredibly sweet generosity as a lover.

Anna and Leo can't escape the endless speculation and accusations of the press.  But they each have secrets that are about to be exposed, leaving both to question whether their relationship is strong enough to weather the storm that is closing in on them.

Again, this is a wonderfully written book and I highly recommend it to all who love a good romance!  I'll give a copy of THE GIRL NOBODY WANTED to one lucky reader here.  Just leave a comment - I'm curious as to how many of you regularly read the Presents line from Harlequin. If so, what has been your favorite to date? This will be a quick one and I'll draw the winning name on Sunday, October 28th.  Include your email with your comment or be sure to remember to stop back!

Thanks for checking out THE GIRL NOBODY WANTED and special thanks to Lynn Raye Harris for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book for you, it was a real pleasure.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!


 

Belated winners!

Winners of a download of BECAUSE OF YOU are ctownzen@gmail.com and f.chen@comcast.net - I'll be contacting them shortly.
Thanks to all who commented and thanks again to Jessica Scott for giving me the opportunity to read and review UNTIL THERE WAS YOU.

UNTIL THERE WAS YOU by Jessica Scott - of course there's a giveaway!

Author Jessica Scott has a book releasing today - UNTIL THERE WAS YOU - you don't want to miss this one! There are times in this book that I wasn't certain the main characters were going to get together. There may have even been a time or two that I wasn't certain I even wanted them to get together.  Ahh, the stuff that makes a romance! You'll find links for several choices in ordering a copy.

 

 

From the author of Because of You comes an all-new contemporary eBook romance. He plays by the rules, she’s not afraid to break them. Now these two strong-willed army captains will prove that opposites attract . . .
A by-the-book captain with a West Point background, Captain Evan Loehr refuses to mix business with pleasure—except for an unguarded instance years ago when he succumbed to the deep sensuality of redheaded beauty Claire Montoya. From that moment on, though, Evan has been at odds with her, through two deployments to Iraq and back again. But when he is asked to train a team prepping for combat alongside Claire, battle-worn Evan is in for the fight of his life.

Strong, gutsy, and loyal, Captain Claire Montoya has worked hard to earn the rank on her chest. In Evan, Claire sees a rigid officer who puts the rules before everything else—including his people. When the mission forces them together, Claire soon discovers that there is more to Evan than meets the eye. He’s more than the rank on his chest; he’s a man with dark secrets and deep longings. For all their differences, Evan and Claire share two crucial passions: their country and each other.

 

My review:

Captain Claire Montoya is in Colorado to assist a friend and her team in training for their upcoming combat deployment. It is immediately apparent that Claire's friend and her team are ill-prepared for deployment and there's inadequate time to prepare them. Claire, known for going against the rules, must decide whether to go by the book and send these men and women to guaranteed disaster, or slip in some alternative training that may reduce their risk of danger.  Also on Claire's plate is a long-term attraction to Captain Even Loehr. The two have been deployed together previously and they couldn't be more opposite. Evan is strictly by the book and Claire is a bit more by the seat of your pants, bending the rules on more than one occasion.

 

The differences between them aren't enough to dim the attraction that's strung taut between them. These two are tortured and damaged and have emotional and physical scars that bear witness to their suffering.

 

I had read Ms. Scott's previous book, BECAUSE OF YOU, and enjoyed it very much. I was thrilled at the opportunity to read and review UNTIL THERE WAS YOU for her.  The military setting and lingo serve to add touches of realism without making readers feel left out with a lack of understanding. Military-speak and protocol are skillfully explained so readers don't feel like their receiving a lesson.

 

Ms. Scott's works do not read like those of a (fairly) new author and I encourage romance readers, especially those who enjoy military romance, to check out her evocative stories. I'm anxiously awaiting Ms. Scott's next release, not even knowing what she might be working on!

 

Thank you all for checking out UNTIL THERE WAS YOU, and a warm thank you to Ms. Scott for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book for you.

 

I'll give two lucky commenters a download of BECAUSE OF YOU - all you have to do is leave a comment saying you're interested! I'll draw the winners this Friday, October 12th. Be sure to either include your email with your comment or check back to see if you're a winner. Good luck!

 

 

  

 

Troop boxes!

These are troop boxes that Tim mailed for me last week. I had them boxed and ready to go in August, all but the customs forms, and then those crazy stress fractures flared up in my right foot -I've shared what a fiasco that turned out to be (just one more week in the air cast and I'm back in my own shoes!) - I had to put the troop shipments on hold for a bit.  I have more shopping and shipping to do this fall, but this puts me close to 1,200 pounds mailed to our servicemen and women to date. 
My next blog post is about a beautiful military romance, so I thought it was a good time to share a feel good post about our troops! If any of you have names and mailing info for any servicemen or women you'd like remembered with a box, feel free to email it to me at ljodamron@gmail.com and I'll be sure to include them in my next shipment.

A favor, please?

I've just learned that a friend of a friend, right here in my hometown, has an entry in Harlequin's Noctune division of the SO YOU THINK YOU CAN WRITE contest!  So exciting!  I don't know Rebekah personally, but anyone who's a friend of my friend April has to be a gem. Many of you likely are more familiar with paranormal romance than I am, but I found her entry to be very well written and intriguing.

The public can vote on each entry once in a 24 hour period. You'll find Rebekah's entry HERE.  The voting process is quick and painless, I promise, and voting is open through the 11th. If you love Rebekah's entry, there are links you can use to give a shout on Facebook and/or Twitter, so check those out too if you have a moment to spare.

It gives me warm fuzzies to think of helping to boost a new writer's confidence and possibly help jump-start an exciting new writing career.

Thanks, ladies!

Seal of my Dreams winner!

And the winner is Na!  Congratulations, you've won a Kindle or Nook version of SEAL OF MY DREAMS (or any other Alison Kent book you may wish)!  Please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with your book choice, Nook or Kindle version, and the email address you would like me to use. 

If I don't hear from Na by Saturday, 10/06, I'll draw another name.

Thanks to all who commented and special thanks to Alison Kent, for allowing me an early peek at UNDENIABLE. I hope you've all ordered your copy by now!

Oh, and on the foot - finally some good news!  One more week on crutches and two more weeks in the air cast and I should be back into my regular shoes - yessss!

$20 Amazon GC winner!

Sorry to be late (I fell asleep last night, woke late and went straight to bed), but the winner of a $20 Amazon gift card is ..... KimH! Congratulations, Kim!  Please email me at ljodamron@gmail.com with the email address you want the gift card sent to. Thanks to everyone who commented - I hope you'll all take time to read the review and chatter for Alison Kent's UNDENIABLE, coming out this Tuesday! There's another giveaway to celebrate that release!
I want to mention that a few days ago I turned off the "captcha" feature for blog comments, just because it's a pain to use. In the meantime, I've had several spam comments so I'll be turning this feature back on. I apologize for the inconvenience.
I hope everyone is having a great fall weekend. It's been cool and crisp here in Ohio with bright sunshine - absolutely perfect!

Hallelujah, she's back! Coming soon from Alison Kent, UNDENIABLE! (and there's a giveaway)

 

It seems as though I've waited forever and ever for a new Alison Kent book.  UNDENIABLE is up for release on Tuesday, October 2nd and romance readers everywhere should join me in offering up the loudest "Hallalujah" ever! Alison was kind enough to give me an early look and I'm excited to say that you all are going to be especially pleased with this one! It most definitely makes the wait worthwhile.

About the book:
THE DALTON BOYS ARE COMING, ONE BY ONE…
There was a time when Crow Hill, Texas’s notorious Dalton Gang ran wild. Now, as owners of the Dalton Ranch, their partnership in the rundown operation leaves little time for raising hell—except for the right women who can turn on the heat…
It’s been sixteen years since Dax Campbell set foot in Crow Hill—and sixteen years since Arwen Poole had a crush on him in high school. Unfortunately, setting her sights on this irresistible man again has stirred up a lot of unfulfilled desires in Arwen. A few nights in bed with Dax should get him out of her system once and for all. That’s all she wants. And for now, that’s all she needs.
But Dax is looking for something deeper in a woman. So they agree to an unconventional affair: for every no-strings sexual encounter Arwen craves, Dax gets to take her out for a night of romance. While both manage to hold up their end of the bargain, they’re growing closer than either of them can afford. Because Dax has a family secret that could drive him out of Crow Hill for good, and Arwen’s not letting him go without a fight…

Excerpt/ordering links can be found here.

My review:

Arwen Poole has lived in Crow Hill, Texas her entire life. Being the daughter of the town drunk doesn’t make for a fairy tale childhood or leave a girl with anywhere to go but up. Arwen now owns the hugely popular Hellcat Saloon and has pretty much made peace with her upbringing and the lack of attention/neglect from her estranged father. She lusted after Dax Campbell in high school, but he was too busy chasing, and being chased by, the other girls to notice Arwen. Now that Dax is back in town, he’s noticing her all right, and makes no bones about the immediate attraction. Arwen is certain that one fast and furious encounter with Dax will quell her curiosity and she’ll be able to get him out of her system. She was wrong. Once is not enough though and she feels as if Dax is becoming a part of her very being. She knows he isn’t a stayer and that he undoubtedly would eventually leave, she just hopes her heart doesn’t shatter when that day comes.

Dax is riddled with guilt at having been gone for sixteen years, abandoning his younger sister and his friends, Casper and Boone. When Dax refused his father's expectations that he go to law school and join the family firm, there was no alternative but for him to leave. His sister tried desperately to fill the void with their father, working herself into the ground to no avail, and adding to his guilt. Dax admittedly sucks at relationships of any sort and his affair with Arwen, without strings or promises, is perfect for him. But if it’s so perfect, he wonders why he feels so conflicted about leaving again.

UNDENIABLE is a wonderful example of storytelling. Arwen and Dax are both damaged after suffering very different, but equally dysfunctional, childhoods. Besides unique main characters, Alison Kent gives readers a secondary romance that is sweetly satisfying. UNDENIABLE has layer upon layer of rich goodness, with the pain, heartache and intensity that are part of every relationship. Witnessing Arwen and Dax’s relationship grow from smoldering, basic human desire to something much deeper, is pure reading pleasure. This is not a book to rush through and deserves to be savored and enjoyed.  Contemporary romance readers owe it to themselves to read UNDENIABLE.

 
Thank you, Alison, so very much, for allowing me to read and review UNDENIABLE for you. To say I’m excited for UNBREAKABLE (2/13) and UNFORGETTABLE (8/13) would be an understatement!

I've adored Alison Kent's work for so many years, and I'm sure all of you have too. Tell us your favorite Alison Kent book, cover, character, etc.  I'll draw one name from comments and the winner will have her choice of the Kindle or Nook version of SEAL OF MY DREAMS (Alison's story in this anthology relates to The Dalton Gang, fyi). If you already have SEAL OF MY DREAMS, I'll substitute another backlist book.  I'll pull the winner on release day, October 2nd. This also happens to be the day I go back to the orthopedic foot/ankle doc to see what the next step is - I'm hoping the crutches can be put away - fingers crossed!

Thanks so much for checking out UNDENIABLE - good luck, everyone!
  

The latest in fall footwear

I've been battling stress fractures in my right foot  (second and third metatarsals) since the end of July and have been in an air cast/boot of one type or another since. I've now been passed on to an orthopedic foot/ankle guy who now has me wearing this stylish, knee-high, five strapped version in black, together with a lovely set of crutches to haul it (and my fat self) around with. This latest stint on crutches (I've only had one prior, thank heavens) has confirmed my belief that crutches come straight to us from the devil himself.
I've polished up all of my sterling earrings so as to not clash gold jewelry with my silver crutches.  I'm mostly teasing here, I'm really not (quite) that anal.
Working on a review for Alison Kent's upcoming UNDENIABLE.  What a wonderfully told story!  Notice I didn't say "written" - this is not a book that has simply been written, it is storytelling at it's best. There's actually more than one story and it tells them deeply and beautifully. And that's all I have to say for now - except that I can't wait for the next one!
Share your cast/crutch/cane story (or how you're thankful not to have one) and I'll choose one winner for a $20. Amazon gift card. Winning name will be announced on Saturday, September 29th. Be sure to check back to see if you're the winner! Good luck!
Laurie