ANYTHING FOR YOU, new from author Jessica Scott

About the book:
Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison has spent a year recovering from his combat injuries. A year spent in the arms of the woman of his dreams. But loving Jen comes with a price: every time he touches her, he faces the uncertain fear that loving her might mean losing her forever.
Jen is a breast cancer survivor and with Shane, she’s found a man who loves her despite her scars. But her scars may be too much for their love to survive.
As their love grows, so does the risk to Jen’s life. And Shane must make the toughest decision any man can make to save the woman he loves.

Author Jessica Scott has followed up her romance, BECAUSE OF YOU with a novella that continues the story of Shane Garrison and Jen St. James. BECAUSE OF YOU is a wonderfully romantic book and you really should (in my opinion) read it before reading ANYTHING FOR YOU.

Shane and Jen fall in love,  albeit reluctantly, and while their road to romance may have been a little bumpy, downright rocky at times, they persevered and love conquered all.

Or so they thought. This is where ANYTHING FOR YOU comes into play. Now that Shane and Jen have planned for a future together, he wants to know that their future is as solid as possible. Jen's recent battle with an aggressive form of breast cancer resulted in the removal of a breast. Her only having one breast doesn't bother Shane in the least. The idea that this particular form of cancer has a great possibility of returning during pregnancy scares him to death, especially because he knows that Jen wants a family once they're married.

Shane doesn't trust conventional methods of contraception and wants to take steps to be certain that Jen won't get pregnant. Because she's been though so much already, he has decided to have the procedure done himself. He worries about what Jen's reaction will be. Will she agree with him and be supportive? Will she be angry and think his fears are ridiculous and he's too weak to risk the ups and downs of marriage?

Jessica Scott is a wonderful storyteller and if you haven't read her work, you should - and soon!  She's military herself, ladies, and she knows what she's writing about. Her characters aren't larger than life or perfect by any means. They're just like our family, friends and neighbors and their flaws make them that much more realistic and lovable. Secondary characters are a priceless addition to the stories she tells and aren't there simply as filler.

I truly hope you'll check out her website and her books!

I will give one reader here a Kindle or Nook copy of BECAUSE OF YOU to get you started. Just leave a comment saying you're interested and you'll be in the draw. I'll choose a winner on Saturday - be sure to check back because as you know, I sometimes forget to draw for a day or two!  (If you want to leave your email addy with your comments, I'll email you if you're the winner and you won't need to check back.)

Thanks!
Laurie

A real love story

Have you read Shiloh Walker? I'll reluctantly admit that I'm hit and miss with her books, mostly because I'm just not into the kinkier stuff. I've known Shiloh for years and while she may act all tough and bad ass, truth be told she's a real softy, a sweetheart who is a dedicated wife and mother whose family is her life.
Shiloh has a new release (out today) titled BEAUTIFUL SCARS. I'd read excerpts from this book over the past couple of weeks and pre-ordered it.  It arrived on my Kindle early this morning and while I was home on a sick day today, I indulged and read it immediately. I'll admit that it's a little more kinky that what I typically prefer, but the love story that is the glue of the story is heart wrenching and made it easy to overlook those scenes that made me squirm.
If you like a romance with straightforward grit and edginess, you should give BEAUTIFUL SCARS a shot. Here's a link to Amazon to help you out!
If you read it, I hope you'll share your thoughts with us.
Thanks!

Anyone miss me?

I hope everyone's holidays were memorable and that your new year is off to a great start!  I've been dealing with an evil, nasty bitch better known as menopause. Yep, the big, mighty "M".  After a few months of overwhelming depression, anxiety attacks, insomnia, and just plain not feeling like myself the least little bit, my gynecologist (I love her) has been working with me to find an anti-depressant that will get me back to my old self. The problem with anti-depressants is that they don't work immediately and if one doesn't help, you have to be backed off of it before you can start another - meaning it takes weeks to find the one that's just right.  Sheer hell and a huge pain in the ass. Feeling like Goldilocks these days, and realizing that this won't be a quick fix - my Dr. indicates that we're talking  weeks to get to an acceptable place and years of medicating to stay there and get through it.

I do feel like we're on the right track with this last prescription and while there might need to be some tweaking on the dosage, my fingers are crossed that we're getting close to hitting the nail on the head.

Let me know what you're reading, whether you have any new authors to dish about, etc. While I've not felt like myself, one of the things I've taken solace in is reading lots and lots of romance!

I may have lost even my most loyal followers after this absence, but I truly hope not. Thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated - and I thank you for your patience!

Happy New Year!
Laurie

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!