$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

The winner of Jules Bennett's CAUGHT IN THE SPOTLIGHT!

The winner is Pamerd - congratulations! Thanks to everyone who commented.  Another contest will be coming up soon, so stay tuned!

Have a great weekend, everyone!  Anyone have fun plans? We're going to Kent tomorrow to take Kelsey to lunch - I can't wait to see her!

Thank you, Jules, for letting me read and review WHATEVER THE PRICE for you!  I truly appreciate the opportunity.

Whatever the Price, coming soon from JulesBennett - there's a giveaway!

Have you read Jules Bennett? If not, what have you been waiting for? Jules has an excellent sence of humor, truly cares about and appreciates her reader fans, and is a wonderful voice in the romance community.  Her next book, WHATEVER THE PRICE, is the second in a new series with Harlequin Deisre.

BLURB:

Baby makes three?

As Hollywood's hottest director, Anthony Price is used to getting what he wants. But life hands him a brand-new script when he gains custody of his orphaned niece. Now he needs his wife more than ever—only, Charlotte moved out three months ago. To win her back, he just has to prove he's ready to put family before his career.

Charlotte doesn't know if sudden fatherhood will change Anthony's priorities, but she can't turn her back on an innocent baby—or the husband she still desires. Is a happy ending too much to hope for?

MY REVIEW:
When Anthony Price contacts his estranged wife, Charlotte, asking for help with his nine month old niece,  Lily, she cannot refuse him. Lily is the daughter of Anthony's recently deceased sister, Rachel. Rachel had, unbeknownst to Anthony and Charlotte, entrusted her baby daughter to them as Guardians. The court requires a 90 day trial  prior to establishing a permanent guardianship, so despite the current unsteadiness of their marriage, they need to put up a united front.

Charlotte and Anthony's recent estrangement was the result of Anthony's dedication to Hollywood's movie making industry. Charlotte often felt abandoned and when personal tragedy struck and Anthony was absent, she moved out. Now that they're back together, even if it's temporarily, Charlotte realizes that she's still in love with Anthony and that she wants very much for their marriage to work.

It takes Anthony a while to fully understand Charlotte's reasons for their separation, but once he does he realizes that he'll do anything and everything possible to save their marriage.   He wants Lily to legally belong to him and Charlotte. When Charlotte explains a shocking secret she's been keeping, Anthony has some serious soul-searching to do.

This new series from Jules Bennett is excellently written romance and her storytelling abilities simply shine. I encourage all of you romance readers to check it out. WHATEVER THE PRICE releases on Tuesday, September 4 and I strongly recommend that you snag a copy - Jules has excerpts and purchasing links on her website, so be sure to take a few minutes to check it out!

THE GIVEAWAY:
I'll give one lucky reader a Kindle or Nook copy of the first book in this series, CAUGHT IN THE SPOTLIGHT.  To be entered, simply leave a comment, including the email address you would like the ebook sent to.
I'll draw the winner on Friday, September 7.  Good luck, everyone!!

Special thanks to Jules for allowing me to read and review WHATEVER THE PRICE for you. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, BEHIND PALACE DOORS releasing in March, 2013!