A Well Read Woman

About The Author

JeanNicole Rivers is a great lover of reading and writing. Though she loves reading and writing varied genres, horror/thriller is her favorite.

JeanNicole has been writing poetry and short stories since she was a child, but has always aspired to compose a novel. The Secret Keepers, the first story in what will be a series of Black Water Tales, is her first novel.

Most recently, Ms. Rivers won 3rd place in the National Black Book Festival’s 2013 Best New Author competition and she enjoys the honor of having written featured articles for popular reader websites, such as Digital Book Today and The Masquerade Crew.

Heir To The Sun (The Chronicles of Parthalan #1)

AWRW Book Review ♛ The Virgin Queen (The Chronicles of Parthalan Book 2) ♛ by Jennifer Allis Provost @Parthalan

Posted on May 9, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

A broken queen. A friendship mired in deceit. Can one man from the desert help hold the realm together?

Asherah, Queen of Parthalan and Lady of Tingu, has led her people through eight centuries of prosperity. That peace shatters when Mersgoth, the mordeth thought long dead, attacks Teg’urnan. In the aftermath a new warrior emerges: Aeolmar, a man as secretive as he is deadly.

Asherah and Aeolmar race across Parthalan in pursuit of Mersgoth, and track the beast to the High Desert. While they’re gone, Harek, now Prelate of Parthalan, conspires with the Dark Fae against the elves…Against Leran, the king of the elves and Asherah’s son in all but blood. Will Asherah see the truth of Harek before it’s too late, or will he bring down the fae once and for all?

The Virgin Queen – Book Two of the Chronicles of Parthalan

Paperback, 290 Pages

Published April 5th 2016 (first published October 1st 2015) Bellatrix Press

Series: The Chronicles of Parthalan

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Romance

What’s It About?

“I need to be a strong woman before I can be a strong Queen.”

Asherah, once a plaything for demons, now rules all of Parthalan. A Virgin Queen, due to lack of a King, she has led Parthalan through nearly eight centuries of peace.

But then, Teg’urnan is attacked and many fear that Asherah’s era of peace was finally at its end.

On a mission to track the mordeth, Asherah meets Finlay, a shopkeeper. After proving himself worthy and capable, he is named second hunter to Aeolmar.

Meanwhile, Asherah’s prelate, Harek, schemes against his queen. Asherah has her suspicions and fears her hunters may be in danger.

My Thoughts

I want to be a Parthian! – Minus the demons. 🙂

I love the epic fantasy world of Parthalan and all of the rich, fascinating characters that inhabit it. Asherah, The Virgin Queen, is my favorite character. Although a courageous heroine, she is a tad insecure – making her a relatable character. She has frequent bouts of loneliness and wants nothing more than to be loved by her mate. And while many want her, fewer love her. Asherah is looking for love.

Speaking of love and romance: I loved Finlay and was surprised when Aeolmar stepped aside. I would’ve assumed that they both would be horribly jealous over one another, but they only wanted to see their queen happy. She truly is special.

And that Harek is such a creep! He could care less about Asherah’s happiness, only caring for his own selfish desires. Arrgh!

My favorite part of this book was the scene in the magic garden, when Asherah and Finlay have their first major disagreement. Despite all the fantastical elements, their relationship and emotions/reactions felt genuine to me. That’s what I like about The Chronicles of Parthalan: the residents are trolls/elves/fae and yet they are relatable due to their reactions/emotions to the events around them. They feel love and compassion, just like a human would. At times I would forget that they weren’t human.

I love this series and I look forward to the next installment. If you are a fan of epic fantasy and romance, I urge you to check out The Chronicles of Parthalan by Author Jennifer Allis Provost!

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The Virgin Queen (The Chronicles of Parthalan #2)

About The Author

Cover Reveal of Winter’s Curse, Season of the Witch Book 1, by Author April L. Wood

Posted on May 5, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Thanks for checking out my cover reveal for book 1 of my young-adult, paranormal romance series, Winter’s Curse! I’ve already revealed my cover on Facebook, and I’m truly grateful for all the shares. Thank you!

BLURB

A hyperborean witch chased out of her homeland…

When High Priestess Iris bets her granddaughter Winter’s womb in a broom flying contest – and loses, Winter wonders where the real danger lies: from the witch-hunters far North, or her shady grandmother?

A safe haven that is anything but…

The rival clan grants Winter a small reprieve, allowing her until her eighteenth birthday, on the Winter Solstice, to use magic to reverse the curse on her womb. Only, Winter isn’t proficient in magic, and doesn’t know where to start.

A love that defies her clan…

That’s until she meets Turmeric of the Wormwood clan. His eagerness to help her reverse the curse warms her frozen heart. Soon romantic feelings grow between the two – despite the Segregation Curse of Old, cast by elders to preserve ancient clan bloodlines.

Can Winter and Turmeric have a future together, despite the odds stacked against them? And with time running out, will Winter be able to reverse the curse on her womb, or will she remain barren?

Expected Publication: October 2016, through Wind Trail Publishing

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, YA

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About The Author

April L Wood is a debut author – currently writing a young-adult/paranormal romance series titled Season Of The Witch, beginning with Winter’s Curse, TBR 10/16 through Wind Trail Publishing – a book blogger for A Well Read Woman Blog, an author interviewer, a professional beta reader, and a caffeinated book reviewer. When she is not glued to her computer or a book, she is busy taming wild spiderwort, (God, those plants are annoying!), obsessing over her gardens to the point of insanity, feeding wildlife, and propagating her ever-growing collection of African violets. She lives in a large, beautiful historic Tudor colonial, filled to the brim with her family, two cats, and three dogs.

AWRW Book Review: REDEMPTION, by Author N.F. Steiner #Giveaway

Posted on May 5, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Christina willingly gave up her successful career as the star of the New York Ballet Company in order to marry Adam. Now a happy wife and mother living in the small city of Lockville, she longs to tap into her creative life once again and introduce her new community to big-city culture.

As the founding director of the local ballet company, she decides the first production should be a racy rendition of Swan Lake. Rebellious dancers and scandalized locals, however, refuse to support such an endeavor.

On the verge of giving up, Christina’s dream is salvaged when a recently divorced businessman offers to sponsor the dance company and manage her finances. But Buck has more on his mind than money, and he soon tricks her into an unwelcome quid pro quo relationship. Suddenly, what was supposed to be a life-giving achievement begins to tear away at everything Christina holds dear—and she still isn’t sure that the production will even make it to opening night.

Can Christina break free from Buck before Adam finds out? Or will her creative risk end up costing her everything?

Kindle Edition, 260 pages

Published March 16th 2016 by Blue Virga Publishing

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Mystery Thriller

What’s It About?

Christina’s career aspirations are put on hold when she marries Adam and has his child. Becoming increasingly depressed, she decides to push her dreams with her ballet company ahead – unfortunately lack of managerial and administrative experience makes this nearly impossible. Until Buck Johnson steps in…

But he isn’t her knight in shining armor, as she originally thought.

Buck, a business man with a lot of money who supports art communities, becomes preoccupied with his obsession over Christina, leading him to commit acts of unspeakable crimes against her. She made a deal with the devil, and she doesn’t know how to extricate herself from the situation, without losing everything she holds near and dear to her…

My Thoughts

Before I get into my thoughts of this novel, I wanted to mention the backstory of how this book came to be. Author N. F. Steiner is a man in his eighties who always wanted to write a novel. After retiring from his career in engineering, he actualized his dream. I greatly admire anyone who pursues their goals, despite the obstacles.

The novel started off rough, but by the third chapter the writing completely changed and I was sucked into the story. The first two chapters are told in third person omniscient, with frequent perspective changes, but by chapter three, that all changes and it keeps consistent with first person point of view. I’m so glad I stuck with this story despite the problems in chapters one and two, because I can honestly say that this is a story that is going to stick with me for a long time. So, if you choose to read this novel based on my review, I hope you will keep that in mind! It’s amazing how much the story changed when the villain, Buck Johnson, stepped in.

The events of this story had my pulse racing and I didn’t want to put the book down. I spent an hour in my car reading, waiting on my husband to get back from a doctor’s appointment, and when my husband returned to the car I nearly hit my head on the roof. The time flew by and I was so absorbed in the story that I didn’t realize how much time passed.

I loved Christina! I categorized this book as a women’s fiction, because the story revolves around her life and her circumstances/life experiences. I had to keep in mind that the time period for this novel was 1962, because some of her actions weren’t ones that I would’ve chosen, but it was a far different time period.

Back to the pulse racing: I also categorized this novel as a mystery/thriller. There are so many unpredictable plots twists! Just when I would think I figured it out, the author threw me another curve ball! MELANIE, was a huge curve ball! I’m glad she stepped in though, because it changed things up in a positive direction. By the time Melanie stepped in, Christina had hit rock bottom. She had nowhere to go but up!

I loved the ending. I’m so glad Christina got her happily ever after! I nearly teared up, myself!

Overall, I truly enjoyed this story and I would recommend it to fans of women’s fiction leaning on the mystery/thriller side. (Please keep in mind that the first two chapters are nothing like the remainder of the novel. It is so worth it to get to chapter three!)

In the interest of fair disclosure, I received a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair, honest, and thoughtful book review. This in no way swayed my opinion nor rating.

Amazon Giveaway!

The next 50 copies of Redemption are FREE OF CHARGE! Use the link above to grab your own!

Purchase, Amazon USA

Purchase, Amazon UK

AWRW Book Review ★ Witch’s Cursed Cabin (A Coon Hollow Coven Tale 2) ★ by Author @MarshaAMoore

Posted on May 3, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Book Review of Witch’s Cursed Cabin, by Author Marsha A Moore

Eager to be on her own away from home, twenty-year-old Aggie Anders accepts a relative’s invitation to live in Coon Hollow Coven. Although she’s a witch from a different coven, what locals say about the Hollow confuses her. How can witchcraft there live and breathe through souls of the dead?

Aggie’s new residence in this strange southern Indiana world is a deserted homestead cabin. The property’s carriage house serves as the coven’s haunted Halloween fundraiser. It’s a great opportunity for her to make new friends, especially with the coven’s sexy new High Priest Logan.

But living in the homestead also brings Aggie enemies. Outsiders aren’t welcome. A cantankerous, old neighbor tries to frighten her off by warning her that the homestead is cursed. Local witches who practice black magic attempt to use their evil to drive Aggie away and rid their coven of her unusual powers as a sun witch.

Determined to stay and fit in, Aggie discovers not only that the cabin is cursed, but she alone is destined to break the curse before moonrise on Samhain. If she fails, neither the living nor the dead will be safe.

Series description:

The Coon Hollow Coven Tales series is about a coven of witches in a fictitious southern Indiana community, south of Bloomington, the neck of the woods where I spent my favorite childhood years surrounded by the love of a big family. The books are rich with a warm Hoosier down-home feel. There are interesting interactions between coven members and locals from the nearby small town of Bentbone. If magic wasn’t enough of a difference between the two groups, the coven folk adhere to the 1930s lifestyle that existed when the coven formed.

A note to readers: the books in the Coon Hollow Coven Tales series are written to be read in any order. The series is about one community, and its residents may pass in and out of various books, but each book has its own unique and special story to be told.

Kindle Edition

Published April 27th 2016

Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

305 Pages

What’s It About?

“Witchcraft of Coon Hollow lived and breathed through the souls of the dead.”

Aggie is a sun witch with haptic sense who moves out of her parent’s home to find herself. Upon moving into a cabin, she learns it is haunted by ghosts of witch kin and their talking animal familiars – including a banshee tied to the house who could put her in real danger!

Will Aggie be able to break the black magic curse? And as an outsider living in the homestead, will the witches of Coon Hollow accept her presence?

My Thoughts

I’m really loving the Coon Hollow Series! I like the new adult theme and the witchcraft lore of these books. There is also a subplot of romance for those who love the endorphin rush of a happily-ever-after!

Aggie was such a great character. I really enjoyed reading about her adventures in Coon Hollow. The romance in this novel wasn’t as strong as book 1, making this book more of a female-driven novel. Aggie was no damsel in distress!

The world building was vivid and absolutely fantastic. When you read a book by Author Marsha A Moore, be prepared to escape into her fantasy worlds. I love her writing style.

Overall, I would highly recommend this series to fans of paranormal romance focusing on witchcraft. 5 stars!

In the interest of full disclosure, I was given a copy of this novel, in exchange for a fair, honest, and thoughtful book review. This in no way swayed my opinion nor rating.

Purchase

About The Author

Marsha A. Moore loves to write fantasy and fantasy romance. Much of her life feeds the creative flow she uses to weave highly imaginative tales.

The magic of art and nature often spark life into her writing, as well as watercolor painting and drawing. She’s been a yoga enthusiast for over a decade and is a registered yoga teacher. After a move from Toledo to Tampa in 2008, she’s happily transformed into a Floridian, in love with the outdoors. Marsha is crazy about cycling. She lives with her husband on a large saltwater lagoon, where taking her kayak out for an hour or more is a real treat. She never has enough days spent at the beach, usually scribbling away at stories with toes wiggling in the sand. Every day at the beach is magical!

Learn more about Marsha at her website: http://MarshaAMoore.com

Follow her on her Facebook author page: http://www.facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage

on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore

and on Google +: http://google.com/+MarshaAMoore

AWRW Book Review ⛥ Witch’s Moonstone Locket: Coon Hollow Coven Tales Book I ⛥ by Author @MarshaAMoore

Posted on April 29, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Twenty-three-year-old Jancie Sadler was out of the room when her mother died, and her heart still longs for their lost goodbye. Aching to ease her sorrow, Aunt Starla gives Jancie a diary that changes her entire life. In entries from the 1930s, her great grandmother revealed how she coped with her own painful loss by seeking out a witch from nearby Coon Hollow Coven. The witch wore the griever’s moonstone locket, which allowed whoever could unlock its enchantment to talk with the dead.

Determined to find that locket, Jancie goes to the coven’s annual carnival held in her small southern Indiana town of Bentbone. This opposes her father’s strict rule: stay away from witches. But she’s an adult now and can make her own decisions. She meets Rowe McCoy, the kind and handsome witch who wears the moonstone. He agrees to let her try to open the locket, but they’re opposed by High Priestess Adara and her jealous desire to possess him. Desperate for closure with her mother, Jancie persists and cannot turn away from a perilous path filled with magic, romance, and danger.

Series description:

The Coon Hollow Coven Tales series is about a coven of witches in a fictitious southern Indiana community, south of Bloomington, the neck of the woods where I spent my favorite childhood years surrounded by the love of a big family. The books are rich with a warm Hoosier down-home feel. There are interesting interactions between coven members and locals from the nearby small town of Bentbone. If magic wasn’t enough of a difference between the two groups, the coven folk adhere to the 1930s lifestyle that existed when the coven formed.

A note to readers: the books of this series are written to be read in any order. The series is about one community, and its residents may pass in and out of various books, but each book has its own unique and special story to be told.

Paperback, 324 pages

Published April 3rd 2015 by Createspace (first published March 21st 2015)

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Fairy Tales, Legends, Mythology

What’s It About?

The upcoming Labor Day weekend means the valley coven’s yearly carnival, a perfect chance for Jancie to seek out the witches. After her mother dies from cancer, Jancie needs closure – even if the only way to get her closure is to disobey her father who doesn’t approve of witches and magic. Her great aunt Starla, on the other hand, encourages Jancie to seek out the coven member who’s the moonstone story teller. However, there may be a price to pay if the moonstone locket opens…

My Thoughts

I love the fantasy writing of author Marsha A Moore. Whether she is writing about a haunted yoga studio, or a coven of witches – she always sucks me into her fictional worlds. I’m particularly fond of witch stories and I loved all the elements, herbs, fairies, familiars, and characters of this novel.

Although the villain, I loved High Priestess Adara. She had her entire coven manipulated and saw herself as invincible. Her obsession with Rowe became her downfall, but she never would have seen it coming, due to her arrogance.

“She’s the one chosen to help me, and I vow to protect her.”

And let’s talk about Rowe… *fans myself*. I couldn’t possibly pick out a better ‘book
boyfriend’ if I tried. Rowe was a widower witch with long dark hair and a familiar owl by his side. I was happy to see him and Jancie thrown together by the griever’s moonstone. It was simply magical!

And who can blame High Priestess Adara for wanting to possess Rowe. I mean, hello?! 😉

Jancie was great too. A bank teller by day, her life was thrown into a total whirlwind the day she stepped on carnival grounds. I loved the family connection and learning the real reason her father wanted her to avoid witches. Every page revealed a new surprise!

I loved the romance between Rowe and Jancie and the circumstances that brought them together. The world that surrounded them was vivid and descriptive, told by the author in great detail. I felt like I could smell the herbs in the gardens and the extra details about the fairies was awesome. I love when tales of mythology and folklore mix together!

A satisfying conclusion rounded out the end of book 1 and I look forward to reading book 2! I highly recommend this promising new series to fans of witchcraft lore and paranormal romance!

*** In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of Witch’s Moonstone Locket in exchange for a fair, honest, and thoughtful book review. This is no way swayed my opinion nor rating. ***

Purchase

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage

About the Author

Marsha A. Moore loves to write fantasy and fantasy romance. Much of her life feeds the creative flow she uses to weave highly imaginative tales.

WEBSITE

Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous, epic fantasy romance.

For a FREE ebook sample of her writing, read her historic fantasy short story, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Learn more about Marsha at her website:
http://MarshaAMoore.com
and chat with her on Twitter
http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore .

AWRW BOOK REVIEW 📖 RED: A LOVE STORY (RED I) 📖 by Author Nicole Collet @NicoleCollet

Posted on April 26, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Two lovers. One fate. One twist.
It will all hang on the roll of a die.

Marco is a seductive literature teacher embracing a life of unconventional pleasures to escape his past. His student Marisa hides behind a cheerful façade while struggling with the loss of her father and the estrangement of her mother.

Their mutual fondness of literature brings Marco and Marisa closer, and the two find in each other a soulmate. When their secret relationship comes to light, they are torn apart.

An unexpected encounter amidst mayhem brings them together again — two changed beings sharing unchanged feelings for each other.

To be reunited, however, Marco and Marisa must take a risk that can jeopardize their love forever.

Paperback, 285 pages

Published March 30th 2016 by Something Or Other Publishing

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Prose Fiction

2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist

What’s it About?

“It is said the prohibited is exciting. In their case it wasn’t.”

Red: A Love Story is a seductive tale about a forbidden romance between a student and a teacher, both whom are fond of poetry and books. Their love for words bonds them together and they find comfort with one another as they explore their fantasies.

My Thoughts

“By giving me your love, you give back to me my own love, which I thought I was no longer able to feel.”

Red: A Love Story is told in purple prose and reads like poetry. It has been compared to 50 Shades of Grey – (I believe because of the extravagant/flowery text and BDSM). I loved Marco and Marisa and found their relationship fascinating.

This is not your typical romance novel for many reasons. The hero and heroine fall hard and fast and their relationship doesn’t develop as expected. ‘Love’ has little to do with what they feel for one another – or so they say. They’re under each other’s spell. She loves to experience new things and he likes to explore his fantasies. They are a match made in heaven, or hell – depending on how you look at it.

Marco is definitely a swoon-worthy character and he has met his match with young Marisa. Marco comes off as a womanizer and a player, but Marisa seems to mean more to him than the women of his past. They both leave indelible marks on one another’s soul.

I loved Marisa. She’s a strong female lead. Marisa is strong, yet sensitive. Confident, yet self-conscious. She is ‘every woman’. A very relateable character. My favorite scene was when Marisa was spying on Marco and “Edible” from the newsstand. 🙂

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. If you are a lover of words, poetry, and romance – I highly suggest this promising new series. I also want to mention that I really like the cover of this book. Props to the cover designer! I am giving this novel four stars.

***In the interest of full disclosure, I received this novel in exchange for a fair, honest, and thoughtful book review: This in no way swayed my opinion.***

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON, USA

AMAZON, UK

AMAZON, CA

AUTHOR BIO

Nicole Collet is a Brazilian-born writer and translator with degrees in journalism and cultural management. She has edited and translated works from authors as diverse as Ken Follett, Nora Roberts and Machiavelli. Nicole’s writing invites readers to think about love in different ways, merging story with psychology, philosophy, music, and literature. — Goodreads Author Bio

WEBSITE

Note from the author: “This novel can be read as a standalone. It ends exactly as I intended before deciding to turn it into a trilogy. You get your happy ending, and I leave your imagination take over and fill in the details.”

RED is a tale of forbidden love that has received over two million hits on Wattpad. It was endorsed by journalist Debra Picket, a former columnist of The Chicago Sun-Times and contributor to CNN, as “an intriguing first novel – a thinking woman’s 50 Shades of Grey.” Set in Brazil and the US, RED is an unusual contemporary romance featuring references to philosophy, psychology, music and literature. If you enjoy the works of Sylvain Reynard, you’ll love RED.

What others have to say about RED: A Love Story

“A thinking woman’s 50 Shades of Grey, this intriguing first novel covers familiar territory but adds plenty of new twists. There’s enough philosophy, magical realism and literary reference to fuel a lively discussion at your next book group meeting or keep you entertained between flirtations with the handsome strangers on your overnight flight to Rio.” – Debra Pickett, journalist and author of Reporting Lives

“A feminist erotic novel with an empowered heroine.” – Amy Guth, WGN radio host and author of Three Fallen Women

Cover Reveal: Time After Time by Author Hannah McKinnon @MrsElectrilight @HarperCollinsUK

Posted on April 24, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Hayley Cooper, a powerful but now struggling lawyer, fantasizes about what her life would be like if only if she’d made different choices. It’s understandable; the past two years have been hell. She barely sees her kids, her boss is trying to sabotage her, and her marriage is falling apart.

Burnt out, Hayley goes to sleep wishing for a different life. When she wakes up married to her first boyfriend, one she has not seen in over twenty years, she realizes there might be some truth in the saying “be careful what you wish for”. Over a single weekend, like Ebenezer Scrooge, Hayley gets to see her life on other side of the white picket fence – not just with her first ex, but with each of her past loves. But is the grass always greener, and will she ever want to go home?

Publishing June 2nd, 2016 through HarperCollinsPublishers

☀ Summer at the Cornish Cafe ☀ by Philippa Ashley 👙 🍦 #BookBlast #SummerRead

Posted on April 22, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

☀ One summer can change everything . . . ☀

Demi doesn’t expect her summer in Cornwall to hold anything out of the ordinary. As a waitress, working all hours to make ends meet, washing dishes and serving ice creams seems to be as exciting as the holiday season is about to get.

That’s until she meets Cal Penwith. An outsider, like herself, Cal is persuaded to let Demi help him renovate his holiday resort, Kilhallon Park. Set above an idyllic Cornish cove, the once popular destination for tourists has now gone to rack and ruin. During the course of the Cornish summer, Demi makes new friends – and foes – as she helps the dashing and often infuriating Cal in his quest. Working side by side, the pair grow close, but Cal has complications in his past which make Demi wonder if he could ever truly be interested in her.

Demi realises that she has finally found a place she can call home. But as the summer draws to a close, and Demi’s own reputation as an up and coming café owner starts to spread, she is faced with a tough decision . . .

A gorgeous story exploring new beginnings, new love and new opportunities, set against the stunning background of the Cornish coast. Phillipa Ashley has written a feisty, compelling heroine who leaps off the page and encourages you to live your summer to the full.

☀ Recommended for readers who loved Summer at Shell Cottage, The Cornish House, Tremarnock and Poldark. ☀

🐚 “Warm and funny and feel-good. The best sort of holiday read.” –Katie Fforde 🌸

Publishing this May by:

HarperCollinsPublishers

AWRW Book Review: SICKER: A Novella, Book 2, by Author Christa Wojo @ChristaWojo

Posted on April 14, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Part II of Christa Wojciechowski’s debut psychological suspense horror series continues. Welcome to the mind of John Branch.

Kindle Edition, 82 pages

Published April 13th 2016 by Amazon Digital Services LLC

Genre: Psychological Suspense, Horror

AWRW Book Review of Sick, Book 1

What’s It About?

***Blurb***

How did John Branch get so sick? Part II of the disturbing psychological suspense series continues from the mind of John Branch. John Branch’s sickness has dominated the lives of all those around him, consuming all it can from well-intentioned doctors, compassionate strangers, and trusting loved ones. His chronic illness also bonds him intimately to his wife Susan, trapping them in relationship of unhealthy psychological attachment.

But John’s disease isn’t the only blight in the Branch family.

Injured and loaded with Demerol, John Branch tells his life story from his filthy sickbed and confesses the horrific secrets of the past. Most disturbing of all, he reveals the philosophy he’s constructed around his condition and tries to indoctrinate Susan. Will she stay with him now that she finally knows the truth, or will she put and end to the madness?

My Thoughts

I’ve been looking forward to reading this installment of the SICK book series since I finished book one. You can’t imagine my delight when this book turned up in my email. 🙂 Special thanks to the author for offering me this book, in exchange for a fair, thoughtful, and honest book review.

Sicker explores John’s self-mutilation and Munchhausen syndrome. Where Book 1 was told from the point of view of Susan, Book 2 is told from the perspective of John Branch. In this installment, we learn more about John’s disorder, as well as his upbringing which lends clues as to why he’s the man he is today. The story picks up within the same scene that Book 1 ended.Author Christa Wojo’s writing is very descriptive and vivid, lending the sense that you are in the room observing the characters. John’s character is more sympathetic in this installment, as we learn his shocking backstory. I really enjoyed getting to know John Branch.

The psychological aspects of this series enthrall me and I’m curious as to what book 3 will have in store for Susan and John Branch!

Purchase SICK – Amazon, USA ~ FREE ON AMAZON KINDLE!

Purchase SICKER – Amazon, USA

About The Author

Christa (Wojo) Wojciechowski is the author of The Wrong David, SICK: A novella, and is working on a series called The Sculptor of New Hope. Her characters explore existential turmoil, mental illness, and the complexity of romantic love. She uses her stories to compare the dark, carnal nature of humanity with its higher qualities of creative expression and intellectualism.Christa currently resides in Panama with her husband and a house full of pets. She works as a freelance digital marketer and loves to help fellow authors build their brands and platforms. Christa enjoys foreign movies, yoga, wine, and the outdoors. Most of all, she’s passionate about books and writers and loves discussing them on social media. Be sure to find her on blog christawojo.com, Twitter @christawojo, and Facebook /WebbellaChrista.

AWRW Book Review: Echoes of Scotland Street by Author Samantha Young @AuthorSamYoung #Romance

Posted on April 8, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Shannon MacLeod has always gone for the wrong type of man. After she drifted from one toxic relationship to the next, her last boyfriend gave her a wakeup call in the worst possible way. With her world shattered, she’s sworn off men—especially those of the bad-boy variety.

Cole Walker is exactly the sort that Shannon wants to avoid—gorgeous, tattooed, charming, and cocky. But his rough exterior hides a good man who’s ready to find “the one.” He’s determined to pull Shannon from her self-imposed solitude and win her heart.

As Shannon opens up in the face of Cole’s steady devotion, the passion between them ignites to blazing levels. But when Shannon’s past comes back to haunt her, her fears may destroy the trust Cole has built between them—and tear them apart for good…

Paperback, 331 pages

Genre: Romance, Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance

Series: On Dublin Street #5

Published October 7th 2014 by NAL (first published January 1st 2014)

What’s it About?

When Shannon escapes her past and finds herself as a secretary at a popular tattoo shop, she meets Cole – who is everything she wants to avoid. She hardens herself to his advances, never giving him a fair chance; convinced he is like all of her abusive exes – solely based on his appearance.

“She’s done with bad boys… but he’s just too good…”

Cole doesn’t know what the new secretary’s problem is, nor does he understand why she is so cold to him and nice to everyone else. He does know one thing: he is set on winning her cold heart.

And when he does, passions ignite!

After being burned by her past, can Shannon truly trust Cole?

My Thoughts

I received this book in exchange for a fair, thoughtful, and honest book review. This in no way swayed my opinion nor rating.

While getting all the product details ready for this review, I realized that this book is part of a series. Fortunately for me, Echoes of Scotland Street can be read as a stand-alone. I never felt lost or without answers, despite this being book 5 in the series.

I liked how the Author started this novel with a prologue of Shannon and Cole meeting briefly when they were teens, to later reconnect as adults. Their love was fated to be! Although I was a bit confused at first – I thought, is this a YA? But then I got to chapter one which brought the novel to present time, nine years later when they were in their twenties.

I loved the setting of a tattoo shop and the romance between a tattoo artist and his secretary. I would’ve liked to hear more about the customers and their tattoos, considering most of their time together was spent in the tattoo shop – but I got my fix when Cole tattooed Shannon. The women coming in vying for Cole’s attention were hysterical; as was Shannon’s little stunt when his ex showed up. 🙂 I loved the family atmosphere of the tattoo shop and was happy when Shannon was accepted into the fold.

Speaking of Cole and Shannon, I was happy to see them get together. Once she let down her guard, their relationship made sense. Their passions ignited and my book nearly burned up; the scenes were so hot and steamy! And although they were seemingly different, they actually both had a lot in common. They were both lovers of art and cared deeply about the ones around them.

Overall, I enjoyed this author’s writing style and the cleverly crafted story about a tattoo artist and his secretary who fall in love, slowly but surely. It was a delightful story with a happily ever after. I would recommend this story to romance fans, and women who have a hankering for tattooed “book boyfriends”.

Purchase, AMAZON USA

About The Author

Samantha Young is a Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She’s been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller ON DUBLIN STREET, Best Romance 2014 for BEFORE JAMAICA LANE, and Best Romance 2015 for HERO. ON DUBLIN STREET is Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in twenty-nine countries.

AWRW Book Review 🎉 🏀 Cheerleading Can Be Murder: Horror High Series 1 🎉 🏀 by Author Carissa Ann Lynch @CarissaAnnLynch @LimitlessBooks

Posted on March 31, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Who will make the team and who will… die?

Getting on the cheerleading squad is hard enough without a psycho on the loose…

For Harrow High freshman Dakota Densford, life should be easy. All she has to worry about is talking to cute boys and remembering her locker combination. But when cheerleading tryouts draw near, she learns the cards are stacked against her—spots on the varsity team are limited. Dakota faces her competition head-on, but when her life is threatened, that takes the competition to a whole new level.

High school is never easy, and freshman year is off to a rough start…

Between Dakota’s uniform being ripped up and masked vandals trashing another girl’s house, everyone is suspect. To complicate matters further, Dakota has a thing for Andy McGraw, but she finds him locking lips with another girl.

The harassment continues, and when Dakota finds suspicious flyers inside her best friend’s locker, she doesn’t know what to think. The principal’s unfeeling, overachiever daughter, Brittani Barlow, will do anything to secure her place on the team. But Dakota’s neighbor, on the other hand, definitely fits the profile of a sociopath.

Cheerleading has become a game of life or death.

Advanced Release Copy, 200 pages

Expected publication: April 5th 2016 by Limitless Publishing

Genre: YA, Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Check out these tentative release dates!

What’s It About?

Dakota is a Harrow High freshman who has been preparing for cheerleading tryouts her whole life. She desperately wants to make the varsity squad and her motivation is spurred further when she learns a boy she likes is on the basketball team.

Unfortunately, a sociopath is on the loose at Harrow High, who seems to be particularly interested in the cheerleaders. When pranks become crimes, Dakota is unsure of who to trust… But as they say, the game must still go on.

My Thoughts

What was fun about this book was the world-building/setting. I pictured my own high school as I was reading – the cafeteria, gymnasium, classrooms, etc. Anyone who is or has been in high school can relate to this story. It was a nostalgic experience for me.

The Three ‘T’s!

You don’t need to identify with cheerleaders to enjoy this story. Dakota’s character was sweet and down-to-earth; not the snobbish, bubble-headed girl who cheerleaders are often stereotyped as. I really enjoyed Dakota’s character and enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes. –(First person POV)

And then the author throws a deranged sociopath into the mix of cheerleading and basketball games. 🙂 This is why I love Author Carissa Ann Lynch. And boy oh boy was this person DERANGED! –I’m talking squirm in your seat, stomp your foot, yell at your book, deranged!

Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this nostalgic tale of teens and their high school dramas. The ending absolutely floored me and I look forward to Horror High, book 2, to get to the bottom of the mystery!

5 out of 5 pom poms!

Enjoy a good whodunit? Then be sure to get your copy of Cheerleading Can Be Murder, available for purchase on April 5th, 2016! (Now available for pre-order!)

About the Author

Besides my family, my greatest love in life is books. Reading them, writing them, holding them, smelling them…well, you get the idea. I’ve always loved to read, and some of my earliest childhood memories are me, tucked away in my room, lost in a good book. I received a five dollar allowance each week, and I always — always — spent it on books. My love affair with writing started early, but it mostly involved journaling and writing silly poems. Several years ago, I didn’t have a book to read so I decided on a whim to write my own story, something I’d like to read. It turned out to be harder than I thought, but from that point on I was hooked. I’m the author of the Flocksdale Files trilogy, This Is Not About Love, Grayson’s Ridge, and the Horror High Series. I live in Floyds Knobs, Indiana with my husband and children.
Also…I love my readers!!! Thank you guys so much for reading my books!!!
Follow my blog and check out my website for updates here:
https://carissaannlynch.wordpress.com

For the Love of Art

Posted on March 31, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

So honored to be a part of the Wind Trail Publishing company! Stop by Author Jacqueline E. Smith’s website and say hello!

A Platform of Sorts

For some reason, WordPress is being a bit of a stinker and not allowing me to reblog at this time, but I’d like to start off by welcoming the newest member of the Wind Trail Publishing family, April L. Wood! April is known by many as one of the finest book bloggers around, and I am thrilled to announce that Wind Trail will be publishing her first book, Winter’s Curse, in October 2016!

There seems to be a lot of discussion in the literary world this week about publishing, both traditional and independent. On the one hand, there’s been an article circulating that lists all the reasons why the author would never consider self-publishing. I’m not going to go into what she said, because quite frankly, it was insulting and altogether untrue. It was also very disheartening. The independent author community is so open and loving and supportive. Other…

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From #Blogger to #Author: How I Made the Leap

Posted on March 29, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

What a title huh?

So, I have amazing news. If you’re friends with me on Facebook or Twitter I’m sure you already know, but I’ve been accepted by an amazing publishing company, Wind Trail Publishing, and will be publishing my debut series SEASON OF THE WITCH, beginning with WINTER’S CURSE on 10/16!

You can like my Author page, here! Many thanks in advance!

In a nutshell, the book series, SEASON OF THE WITCH, is about immigrated witches who find refuge in America, where they escape from witch-hunters, but not from their otherworldy problems and personal teenage dramas. It’s a female-driven YA, in an Urban Fantasy setting, that leans on the Paranormal Romance genre a bit. This series was inspired in part by the Syrian refugee crisis and my love of dark folklore.

Part of my publishing contract included expanding my presence on social media, including Instagram. You can follow my Instagram account, here! And guess what? Now, I’m INSTA-ADDICTED! Check out some of my posts:

WE THAT ARE LEFT, by Author Clare Clark (Women’s Fiction set in 1910)
CEMETERY TOURS BOOK 1, by Author Jacqueline E Smith (Contemporary Paranormal Romance Fiction)
Yellow Books! (A collection of suspense, mystery, romance, and chick lit)
ONE FATEFUL SUMMER, by Vanessa Star (Women’s Fiction, Summer Read)

“Hello, my name is April and I’m addicted to Instagram.”

So what does this mean for the blog? Absolutely nothing! I will continue to offer expedited book reviews, beta reads, book reviews, as well as other author services – perhaps at a slower pace, but A Well Read Woman Blog is still up and running and at your service!

Back to becoming a published author; this has been a dream of mine since I learned to write. My mother was always reading me stories and I liked to make stories up in my head. My father kept a book I wrote when I was really, really young (like seven years old, maybe?) This book was about our German Shepherd, Luke, and even back then, I understood the concept of world-building! It blows my mind. 🙂 I can remember making my friends write books with me at slumber parties, and laminating them with contact paper, (in middle school). In the sixth grade, upon noticing my friend had a computer, we sat down and wrote a really bad romance story. As a teenager, I wrote these really bad song lyrics. I had notebooks full of lyrics that I hid in my closet. Several years ago, I wrote an 80K romance/suspense that I queried to a dozen different publishers, but didn’t have luck with. – I still consider this experience valuable because it taught me a lot. Most importantly, I began this blog, read a ton of books, and made a lot of amazing connections. What’s the point of this long-winded paragraph? The point is, I never stopped writing. All these pieces finally came together, and I became an author!

I’m lucky because I’ve always had the support of people around me. My husband, parents, parents-in-law, sister, friends, and associates have always supported my writing. One time, someone told me I shouldn’t tell anyone I’m interested in becoming a published author, because, “what if it didn’t happen, and won’t you be embarrassed?”

Clearly, I didn’t listen to this person’s advice.

To me, it was easier to tell everyone before it happened, because when I announced that my dream became a reality, I already had the support. I didn’t need to hide behind a pen name, (not that that’s the reason people use pen names), nor have to explain HOW it happened. People already knew I’ve written all along. I wanted my accomplishment to be the surprise, not my writing in general.

Looking ahead, I’m super excited to release WINTER’S CURSE, in October of this year, and I can’t wait for people to read it! I’m looking for bloggers to take part in promos, cover reveals, and book reviews – preferably fans of young adult, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy fiction – so please, if you’re interested, let me know!

And if any authors have advice for me as a brand new author, I’m all ears.

Thank you for following A Well Read Woman Blog, and for supporting me as an Author!

The Virgin Queen, The Chronicles of Parthalan Book 2, by Author Jennifer Allis Provost @Parthalan #NewRelease #BookBlast

Posted on March 25, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Wondering what ever happened to Asherah? Well, I have great news! The Virgin Queen, Book 2 of The Chronicles of Parthalan, by Author Jennifer Allis Provost, will be available for purchase on April 5th!

A broken queen. A friendship mired in deceit. Can one man from the desert help hold the realm together?

Bellatrix Press, April 5, 2016

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Romance

Preorder Link

If you haven’t read the first installment of this epic fantasy, Heir to the Sun, let me catch you up to date:

A mad king. An escaped slave. One warrior to save the realm…

Bellatrix Press, August 9, 2011

Genre: Epic Fantasy, Romance

Purchase

Wondering what else is coming up for The Chronicles of Parthalan?

Rise of the Deva’shi – available September 1, 2016

Golem – 2017

Elfsong – 2017

Blood Prince – 2017

About The Author

Jennifer Allis Provost writes books about faeries, orcs and elves. Zombies too. She grew up in the wilds of Western Massachusetts and had read every book in the local library by age twelve. (It was a small library). An early love of mythology and folklore led to her epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Parthalan, and her day job as a cubicle monkey helped shape her urban fantasy, Copper Girl. She lives in a sprawling colonial along with her beautiful and precocious twins, a dog that thinks she’s a kangaroo, a parrot, a junkyard cat, and a wonderful husband who never forgets to buy ice cream. She spends her days drinking vast amounts of coffee, arguing with her computer, and avoiding any and all domestic behavior.

www.authorjenniferallisprovost.com

http://www.facebook.com/jennallis

https://www.facebook.com/copperraven

Twitter: @parthalan

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2975887.Jennifer_Allis_Provost

AWRW Book Review: Splintered, by Author Kelly Miller @MillerMystery

Posted on March 24, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Life turns from barely tolerable to complete hell when Maddy Eastin’s impulsive plan to win back the attention of her absentee father backfires. Word of her scheme spreads through her high school, but when mockery escalates to cyberbullying, Maddy and her failed stunt become headline news. But the worst is yet to come…

A disturbed man is fighting the overwhelming urge to surrender to his true nature—a moral code molded by a sadistic father who taught him that a girl needs proper training to become the perfect subservient woman. As he watches Maddy on the evening news, his already fractured psyche completely splinters. She’s the girl he’s been waiting for.

When Maddy disappears, she’s labeled a runaway even though her mother believes it was foul play. Will the two detectives investigating Maddy’s disappearance find her before it’s too late? Or has she already fallen prey to the vicious stranger hunting her?

This mystery/psychological thriller unfolds through the viewpoints of five deeply flawed characters. Each is on their own emotionally charged journey that ultimately intersects in a collision course of devastating consequences.

Paperback, 342 pages

Published January 27th 2016 by Kelly Miller

Genre: Psychological Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

Add to your Goodreads TBR Shelf

What’s It About?

Maddy fakes a kidnapping, in an effort to get the attention of her absentee father. When the truth comes to light, Maddy’s mother is furious, and the kids at her school tease her mercilessly. What she wasn’t expecting, was to get the attention of a seriously disturbed man…

My Thoughts

I voted for this novel to win the KDP select program in 2015, and not surprisingly, it did! I was asked by Amazon to provide a fair, thoughtful, and honest book review, upon acceptance of this book.

I got lost into this fast-paced psychological suspense quickly, immediately feeling sympathy for Maddy who craved the love of a father who left her for his new family. Her plan was impulsive and not very well thought out; typical of most teenagers. I felt terrible for her when she crossed paths with the villain. Labeled as a “troubled teen”, the police were unwilling to invest anymore time into her case. I could feel and sympathize with the frustration her mother felt.

Maddy’s character felt authentic to me. I liked her the most, despite her many flaws.

The story was dark at times and even a bit cringe-worthy – (e.g. A sadistic father who taught his sons to demean and disrespect women). Splintered definitely brings out the emotions of anger, sadness, and even happiness. At times it reminded me of a Law & Order episode, with the unpredictable twists, turns, and heart-racing suspense.

My only problem with this novel was all the POVs; five in all. I was much more invested/interested in the protagonist, her mother, and the villain, than I was with the detective, family friend, etc. Other than that, I really enjoyed this story and I would recommend it to fans of crime fiction, psychological suspense, and mystery/thrillers.

Purchase

About The Author

Writing has always been in my blood. Since the age of thirteen when I coauthored a cheesy romance novel in a blue, spiral bound notebook, I knew I wanted to pursue writing as a career. But somewhere along the way, I lost my voice. Sure I could craft a witty email or write marketing copy for other authors, as I did in a previous job, but to write that great American novel seemed just out of reach.

As is often happens, life simply got in the way. I got married, had three children, and adopted a black Labrador. As a stay-at-home mom, I was lucky to get an hour a day to myself. And when I found those few precious minutes, they were spent reading a good book. A voracious reader, I’ve been researching the mystery and suspense genres for more than two decades.

It was in my search for my own identity after staying at home with the kids that ultimately lead me back to my love of writing. I started my journey towards publication in August 2010. The first draft only took four months to write, but was followed by an enormous amount of time rewriting, and an even longer time searching for a publisher. Determination, perseverance, and God’s blessing made my publishing dream a reality. I signed a contract with Black Rose Writing on May 18, 2012 and my first mystery novel, Dead Like Me, debuted in November 2012. The second installment in the Detective Kate Springer series, Deadly Fantasies, debuted December 19, 2013. Since that time, the book’s rights have reverted back to me and I’ve gone indie!

My newest mystery novel, “Splintered,” debuts in January 2016. In this story, I’m introducing my readers to a whole new set of characters. “Splintered” was chosen as a 2015 Kindle Scout winner and the e-book and audio book will be published by Kindle Press.

AWRW Book Review ⚰ After Death, Cemetery Tours #3 ⚰ by Author Jacqueline E Smith @JackieSmith114 #ParanormalRomance #Horror #Ghosts

Posted on March 22, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Welcome to the Circus of the Dead.

When Michael Sinclair receives an invitation to the grand opening of Cirque Somniatis, he figures it will be a good opportunity to get away from ghosts, potential in-laws, and the seemingly endless stream of rejected job applications… And a chance to spend a romantic weekend at the circus with Kate.

But nothing is as it seems as Michael, Kate, and ghost-hunter extraordinaire Luke Rainer venture onto the haunted fairgrounds in the small town of Hugo, Oklahoma. New rivals, theatrical psychics, and a Ringmaster with a dark secret of his own all wait for them under the Big Top.

Come one, come all. Do not forego.
Step inside, enjoy the show…

Paperback, 250 pages

Published October 6th 2015 by Wind Trail Publishing

Cemetery Tours Series Book 3

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Horror, New Adult Fiction

Cemetery Tours Book 3, After Death: Amazon, USA

What’s it About?

“The Cirque Somniatus almost reminded her of fairs and carnivals growing up, but it was far more elegant, more majestic, than the fairgrounds of her childhood. The colors were primarily those of gemstones: garnets and amethysts, with touches of sunlight and moonlight embellishments. It was like stepping through the door to wonderland.”

When Michael Sinclair is offered three free weekend passes to The Circus of Dreams, he invites his girlfriend Kate, and ghost-hunter friend, Luke Rainer along for the ride.

They find themselves in a haunted circus, at the mercy of a lost soul who interferes with Michael and Kate’s relationship; a Ringmaster who may have an ulterior motive for inviting them; an extravagant psychic who warns them off; and even worse, Luke’s rival – who lives to stir up trouble for the three!

This fun, relaxing weekend quickly turns into a disaster…

Will the three land on their feet?

My Thoughts

After Death, by Author Jacqueline E. Smith is nightmarishly awesome! I loved this installment of the Cemetery Tours book series. I’m curious if there *might* be a Cemetery Tours book 4, based on the way CT book 3 ended! Eeep! A girl can dream, right?!

The world building is phenomenal. I really enjoyed the haunted circus setting as well as all of the extravagant secondary characters. The author truly can paint a scene with her words. Reading this book was such an enjoyable experience.

Speaking of the characters, I loved it when Chance McDermott stepped into the novel. Luke’s reaction to Chance was priceless! My favorite character, (other than Michael, Kate, and Luke, of course,) was Claire. She added a different twist to After Death, and in the end, her interference strengthened Michael and Kate’s relationship. I just love a well-written paranormal romance. ❤

Like a good mystery, every character had me guessing – are they the villain of the story? When all was revealed I was delightfully surprised.

I would recommend this series to fans of ghost-hunting shows, and to people who enjoy the paranormal in general. You won’t be disappointed!

Purchase

Cemetery Tours Book 1: Amazon USA

Cemetery Tours Book 2 Between Worlds: Amazon USA

Cemetery Tours Box Set! Amazon, USA

About The Author

Jacqueline Smith was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She attended the University of Texas at Dallas, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Performance in 2010. Two years later, she earned her Master’s Degree in Humanities. Along with writing and publishing, Jacqueline loves photography, traveling, and nature.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CemeteryTour…
Blog: http://jackiesmith114.wordpress.com/
Pinterest: pinterest.com/windtrailpub/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jacqueline-E.-S…
Tumblr: http://jacquelinesmithauthor.tumblr.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jacquelin…
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+Jacqueli…

Under My Skin, by Author Laura Diamond #CoverReveal #Giveaway @DiamondLB @ChapterXChapter @SwoonRomance

Posted on March 18, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Welcome to the Cover Reveal and Giveaway of Author Laura Diamond’s latest YA novel, Under My Skin, published through Swoon Romance! I absolutely love this cover and I’m happy to share it with you all! Check it out!

Under My Skin by Laura Diamond

Publication Date: April 12, 2016

Publisher: Swoon Romance

Add to Goodreads

Bookish Brit Adam Gibson is one wonky heartbeat away from a fatal arrhythmia. But staying alive requires Adam to become keenly focused on both his pulse and the many different daily medications he must take in exactly the right dosages. Adam’s torn between wanting to live and knowing that someone else must die in order for him to do so. He needs a new heart.

The pressure is getting to him. Adam stops talking to his friends back home, refuses to meet kids at his new school, and shuts his parents out entirely. His days are spent wondering if he can cope with having a dead man’s heart beating inside his chest, or if he should surrender to the thoughts of suicide swirling around in his head.

And then a donor is found…

Outspoken artist Darby Fox rarely lets anything stand in her way of achieving her goals. Whether it’s painting, ignoring her homework, (dyslexia makes a mess out of words anyway), kissing a hot boy she doesn’t even know, or taking the head cheerleader down a peg , no one has ever accused Darby of being a shy. She also happens to be the twin sister to a perfect brother with good looks, good grades, manners, and the approval of their parents – something Darby has never had.

Darby’s always had bad timing . She picks the worst time to argue with her brother Daniel. In a car with bald tires, on an icy road in the freezing cold, the unthinkable happens. In a split-second, everything changes forever.

Giveaway

One (1) winner will receive a $5 Amazon Gift Card and a digital copy of Under My Skin by Laura Diamond (INT) Contest Ends April 1, 2016

Purchase Links

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Chapters | iBooks

About The Author

Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Laura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist currently specializing in emergency psychiatry. She is also an author of all things young adult—both contemporary and paranormal. An avid fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and anything magical, she thrives on quirk, her lucid dreams, and coffee. When she’s not working or writing, she can be found sniffing books and drinking a latte at the bookstore or at home pondering renovations on her 225 year old fixer upper, all while obeying her feline overlords, of course.

AWRW Book Review 👻 Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper # 1 👻 by Author J.L. Bryan @JLBryanBooks #BookReview #Paranormal

Posted on March 14, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Ellie Jordan’s job is to catch and remove unwanted ghosts. Part detective, part paranormal exterminator, Ellie operates out of Savannah, Georgia, one of the oldest and most haunted cities in North America.

When a family contacts her to deal with a disturbing presence in the old mansion they’ve recently purchased, Ellie first believes it to be a typical, by-the-book specter, a residual haunting by a restless spirit. Instead, she finds herself confronting an evil older and more powerful than she’d ever expected, rooted in the house’s long and sordid history of luxury, sin, and murder. The dangerous entity seems particularly interested in her clients’ ten-year-old daughter.

Soon her own life is in danger, and Ellie must find a way to exorcise the darkness of the house before it can kill her, her clients, or their frightened young child.

Paperback, 218 pages

Published August 27th 2014 by Createspace

Genre: Paranormal, Horror, Urban Fantasy

What’s It About?

“The dead are not our concern. We’re here to protect the living. We stand on the border between the world of light and darkness beyond and there aren’t very many of us. The world is teaming with the dead.”

Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper is a female-driven, paranormal, urban-fantasy novel about a small group of ghost-hunters who investigate a house in Savannah, purported to be haunted. By taking on the job, they are given more than what they bargained for, when things go from bad to worse…

My Thoughts

I really liked this book. Ellie is a strong, super-heroine who traps ghosts and protects the living from violent, restless spirits who don’t realize they are dead. As interesting as Ellie is, the histories of the ghosts who reside in the Treadwell’s future bed and breakfast blow her out of the water. The restless spirits, who I would consider secondary characters, were as fleshed out as the main, living characters.

My favorite character was Mercy. I was surprised when I learned why she haunted the Treadwell’s home. She was a very misunderstood spirit!

The conclusion of this story was very satisfying. I would recommend this novel to fans of the paranormal.

***In the interest of full disclosure, I received this novel in exchange for a fair, honest, and thoughtful book review. This in no way swayed my opinion, nor rating.***

Purchase

FREE on Amazon Kindle, USA!

About The Author

J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in the metro Atlanta sprawl with his wife Christina, where he spends most of his day serving the toddler and animal community inside his house. He is the author of the Paranormals series and the Songs of Magic series.

Shrouded Passions by Faye Hall #NewRelease #EroticRomance #EroticLit #HistoricalRomance @FayeHall79

Posted on March 13, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

It was love at first sight when Devon Munroy first laid eyes on Lotte Higgins as she swam in the local waterhole. He wanted nothing more than to spend his future with her. He would have defied his father to do so too had she not been shot, lying bleeding and dying in his arms.The woman he loved was dead and Devon no longer cared what was to become of his future.

Four years passed and Devon’s life had become little more than a drunken haze. All he wanted was the woman he loved back in his life and in his bed. When he reluctantly went to the local Hotel to spend the night with a woman, he didn’t expect her to look so much like Lotte Higgins. He certainly didn’t expect her to turn up at his estate as his wife’s new handmaiden.

When Lotte started work at Devon’s estate, she thought only to uncover the secrets and reveal the monster who had tried to kill her four years before. She could never have imagined the whirlwind of passion she would be swept up in with Devon Munroy, the man who still owned her heart.

Lotte knew if she were to succeed in targeting her attempted murderer, she would have to keep her true identity hidden from Devon, never revealing to him that she was in fact the woman he had thought died in his arms all those years ago. Lotte wanted nothing more than to tell him the truth, but she feared if she did than Devon’s wife, the woman whom had already tried to kill her once, would discover she had survived that night.

When more bodies began turning up around the town, all brutally murdered, Lotte knew she had let things go on long enough. She would have to tell Devon the truth about his wife and about herself and hope he loved her enough to forgive her deception.

EXCERPT

***Warning 18+***

He walked up behind her, his arms going around her waist and down to the apex of her thighs, his fingers gathering up her skirts searching for the bare flesh beneath.

She struggled against him, finally pulling away freeing herself.

His stare was dark and confused. “Is my touch no longer welcomed?”

“I am not some whore for you to play with at your will!” she spat at him, her anger obvious.

Slowly he stepped towards her, again closing the distance between them. “Are you so sure of that, my dear?”

“You bastard!” she cursed at him. “You would fuck near on anything if you were given half the chance!”

Reaching out to her, he again pulled her to him, her rear pressing into his already strained mound in his trousers.

“I would fuck you…here…now…but it appears my attentions are no longer welcomed.” He whispered near her ear, his breath hot against her face, his hands holding her hips as he ground himself into her suggestively.

Pushing against him, she struggled to again free herself. He grabbed at her arm, holding her wrist, stopping her escape.

“You son of a bitch!” she spat at him, holding her tears at bay. “You have fucked your way through your serving staff until there is none left. You would even fuck that woman…that thing…you share your bed with…the thing you call…”

“My wife.” He finished for her.

He stood there for what seemed hours holding her, studying her. Finally he let her wrist drop from his hand.

“You should get back to work,” he said steadily, knowing he was not ready for this moment.

She stood there, a single tear falling from her eye. “You should go back and crawl between your wife’s thighs.”

Stepping towards her, his hands went to her face cupping it, his fingers lacing in her hair, his lips hungrily taking hers. Walking her backwards, he laid her on the bed behind her, one hand leaving her face to gather up her skirts. Despite having returned his kiss, she fought against him as he gathered up her skirts.

“Get off me!” she shouted at him, her hands trying to push him away as her feet kicked at him.

Struggling against her, he finally grabbed both of her wrists in his hands, holding them above her head. Looking down at her, her cheeks flushed, her breasts moving with her ragged breathing – never had he seen her look more beautiful. And never had a wanted her more.

“If I wanted little more than a quick fuck I would go to the tavern and pay for it.”

“Why not go to your wife?” she asked, her fight calming.

“My wife was a contract, nothing more. Our parents thought we’d make a profitable match.”

“Yet you will still sleep with her.” she spat at him.

He couldn’t stop his slight smile at her words. “Until I met you…until you came here…the only woman my body burned for was a girl from my youth…a girl so uninhibited and unconvential…you are so much like her…yet you are so much more as well.”

His words trailed off.

“What happened to her?”

His smile began to fade as reality returned to him. “I killed her. There was a struggle…my gun went off…and she died in my arms.”

“If you loved her so much…desired her so much…why did you marry Elizabeth? Why come to me?”

He let go of her wrists, his hands moving over the swell of her breasts. His fingers began unbuttoning her blouse.

“Since you have come into my life, I desire no other woman. You are everything I have ever wanted and more…”

“Your wife…” she reminded him.

“You are the only woman to have touched me since I shot that girl.” Unbuttoning her blouse, he let the fabric all away from her, revealing the light shift covering her, still hiding her breast from him.

“I have not lain with my wife…ever.”

She tried to stay strong. “When you can fuck your way through your servants, I suppose why would you?”

His fingers circled her nipples, hardening them, making her reveal her want for him. “If I wanted to ‘fuck’ you, I would have when I first walked in this room. I would have bent you over that table you were cleaning until I spilled myself inside you.”

She bit her lip. “Why didn’t you?”

His fingers stilled, his gaze holding hers. “I want to give you pleasure. I want to see your passion.” He held his breath. “I want to give you what was taken from me all those years ago.”

“I-If your wife comes in here…if she sees us…” she tried.

He kissed her softly. “I do not care who sees us.”

“I am not this girl from your past, Devon,” she tried to remind him.

Gathering up her skirts, he revealed her naked thighs to him. “I know who you are, Lotte…and what.”

He kissed her then, silencing her, his fingers caressing her thigh.

***

LINKS

Buy Links

http://beachwalkpress.com/faye-hall/

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00DPIMSMW

Social Media Links

Website

http://www.faye-hall.com blog http://www.faye-hall.info

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Faye-Hall/174774709247649

https://www.facebook.com/faye.hall.3363?ref=tn_tnmn

Twitter

https://twitter.com/FayeHall79

Goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6882637.Faye_Hall

Tumblr

http://fayehallauthor.tumblr.com/

Pinterest

Instagram

https://instagram.com/fayehalleroticromance/

Flipagram

http://flipagram.com/fayehall79

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoS8vLrlO0XZT80xTuJnrkA/videos

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Faye Hall’s passion driven, mystery filled books are set in small townships of North Queensland, Australia during the late 1800’s. Each of her novels bring something symbolically Australian to her readers, from Aboriginal herbal remedies, to certain gemstones naturally only found in this part of the world. Each of her books tell of a passionate connection between the hero and heroine, surrounded and threatened by deceit, scandal, theft and sometimes even murder. These romances swerve from the traditional romances as Faye aims to give her readers so much more intrigue, whilst also revealing the hidden histories of rural townships of North Queensland. Faye finds her inspiration from the histories of not only the township she grew up in, but the many surrounding it. She also bases most of her characters on people she has met in her life. Faye was able to live her own passion driven romance, marrying the love of her life after a whirlwind romance in 2013. Together they are raising their 9 children in a remote country town in northern Queensland, Australia.

Porn Money & Wannabe Mummy by @BarnardLaura #CoverReveal #ChickLit #NewRelease

Posted on March 8, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

❥¸.•´*¨`*•✿ COVER REVEAL ❥¸.•´*¨`*•✿

Check out the gorgeous cover for Laura Barnard’s new romantic comedy book Porn Money & Wannabe Mummy! It’s the third instalment of The Debt & the Doormat series, but can be read as a standalone.

Genre: Chick Lit, Rom-Com

SYNOPSIS

What is it about turning thirty that sends rational women into a tailspin?

Suddenly going from having all the time in the world, to cringing at the ticking of her biological clock, Poppy is drowning under the strain of trying to get pregnant.

With a dad in the throes of a mid-life crisis, a crazy mother-in-law and time racing towards Lilly’s wedding, will she be able to cope with it all…and give Ryan the baby they so desperately want?

Finally able to inherit her dad’s porn money, Jazz can’t wait to be rich! She can buy a house in Chelsea, go out partying with her old mates and start living how she deserves.

But with Ollie, Jemima and Meryl each clawing at their own little piece of her happiness, will she have to leave behind those closest to her in exchange for it?

The real question is, can Poppy and Jazz rescue their own lives before everything gets ruined, or will their own stubbornness destroy the lives they’ve created.

Pre-order links

UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CO08HW6

US – http://amzn.com/B01CO08HW6

About The Author

Laura Barnard lives in Hertfordshire, UK and writes romantic comedy or ‘chick lit’ as its so often described. In her spare time she enjoys drinking her body weight in tea, indulging in cupcakes the size of her face and drooling over hunks like Jamie Dornan, Ryan Gosling and Leo Dicaprio.

She enjoys wearing yoga pants and reading fitness magazines while sitting on the sofa eating chocolate. She’s a real fan of the power nap and of course READING!

She writes not to get rich or famous, but because she LOVES writing. Even if one person tells her they enjoyed her book it makes the midnight typing worth it!

Fool For Love (Believe #2) by Author Karen Ferry #CoverReveal! #FFL #ComingSoon @AuthorKarenFerry

Posted on March 8, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

❥¸.•´*¨`*•✿ “Fool For Love” (Believe #2) Cover Reveal Day ❥¸.•´*¨`*•✿

It’s the cover reveal day of Karen Ferry’s second book in The Believe Series, “Fool For Love”!

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 27th April, 2016

Cover Design: Louisa Maggio of LM Creations: http://lmbookcreations.wix.com/lm-creations

ADD TO GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25815671-fool-for-love

BLURB

What do you do when everything you thought you knew about yourself turns out to be a lie, forcing you to re-evaluate your life?

Do you face them?

Or do you run?

My name is Suzy. I am the girl who has always believed in fairytales, unicorns, and that wishing upon a shooting star would make all my dreams come true.

I have always had faith that I would find my very own Prince Charming. I have always been certain that we all have a soul mate…that we will find our true love someday, and that we must never give up.

But not that long ago, I started to wonder…

What if my Prince is in fact…a Princess?

Why is it so hard to be seen for who I am?

Love is love, isn’t it?

I have started to lose faith in my once so adamant beliefs: where is my one? Where is the person who will be able to restore my faith in the fairy-tale and the happy-ever-afters?

Is New York the right place for someone like me? Or will she squish me like a small, insignificant bug beneath her feet?

Only time will tell.

***While this is book #2 in The Believe Series, it can be read as a standalone novel. Due to the sexual nature and subjects addressed, it is not appropriate for readers under the age of 18.***

You can find Karen Ferry here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarenferry?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkarenferr

Instagram: @authorkarenferry

🍸 Queen of Schnapps 🍸 by Tina DC Hayes #CoverReveal @Tina_DC_Hayes @BisonPub

Posted on March 7, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

TITLE: Queen of Schnapps

AUTHOR: Tina DC Hayes

PUBLISHER: Bison Publisher, LLC.

IMPRINT: Edge

RELEASE DATE: March 15th

To say Judith Webster is quirky would be an understatement . . . turns out she’s an alcoholic serial killer hell-bent on getting everything her heart desires.

She hates her job at Gas ‘N Go, but works to fund life’s necessities: gambling, eBay, and her schnapps collection. When a hunky Irish actor joins the cast of her favorite soap opera, Judith’s new goal in life is to meet and marry Evan Gallagher. Her husband will just have to deal with it.

Nobody would ever guess Judith is insane, that she duct tapes her cat inside a goldfish-shaped bed from hell, or how mad she gets when Harry Qualls struts down the street with his mailman purse. Her biggest secret, however, is the way she deals with people stupid enough to piss her off. On her shit list is a dangerous place to be, but she’s taking names.

She hasn’t been held accountable for her crimes before, but a girl can never be too careful.

**AMAZON * AMAZON UK**

**AMAZON CA * AMAZON AU**

Tina DC Hayes writes sassy Southern suspense. She lives down a little country road in western Kentucky with her husband and four children. A few pampered pooches and two parrots keep her company while they stand guard against writer’s block. Currently up to her elbows in diapers, she’s an expert at 4 a.m. bottle feedings and Patty Cake.

SOCIAL LINKS: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon

🔥Burned🔥 by Author Jordan Marie, @Author_JordanM is LIVE! @DDsBookRoom

Posted on March 5, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

☆¸.•*¨*★☆It’s Live! ☆¸.•*¨*★☆

When you play with fire you’re bound to be BURNED

BURNED by Jordan Marie Author

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1UDc7zP
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1UEhpev
Amazon Ca: http://amzn.to/1LXAam1
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1LXzYmV

Cover Reveal! ☠ 👠 💅🎉 #CheerleadingCanBeMurder ☠ 👠 💅🎉 by @CarissaAnnLynch, @LimitlessBooks

Posted on March 4, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

From the talented Author who brought us the Flocksdale Files Book Series, comes the new, Horror High Series, beginning with CHEERLEADING CAN BE MURDER:
Who will make the team and who will… die?

════ COVER REVEAL ════
CHEERLEADING CAN BE MURDER
Horror High Series #1 by Carissa Ann Lynch
Coming April 5th from Limitless Publishing!
COVER DESIGNER: Redbird Designs

||| SYNOPSIS |||

Getting on the cheerleading squad is hard enough without a psycho on the loose…

High school is never easy, and freshman year is off to a rough start…

Cheerleading has become a game of life and death.

||| CARISSA ANN LYNCH |||

Besides my family, my greatest love in life is books. Reading them, writing them, holding them, smelling them…well, you get the idea. I’ve always loved to read, and some of my earliest childhood memories are me, tucked away in my room, lost in a good book. I received a five dollar allowance each week, and I always — always — spent it on books. My love affair with writing started early, but it mostly involved journaling and writing silly poems. Several years ago, I didn’t have a book to read so I decided on a whim to write my own story, something I’d like to read. It turned out to be harder than I thought, but from that point on I was hooked. My first and second books were released by Sarah Book Publishing: This Is Not About Love and Grayson’s Ridge. I’m a total genre-hopper. Basically, I like to write what I like to read: a little bit of everything! I reside in Floyds Knobs, Indiana with my husband, three children, and massive collection of books. I have a degree in psychology and worked as a counselor.

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1J8uk2Y
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carissaannlynch
Blog: https://carissaannlynch.wordpress.com
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1MFqBf9
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarissaAnnLynchauthor
Limitless Publishing: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/carissa-lynch/

AWRW Book Review ✩ Sleeper Protocol ✩ by Author Kevin Ikenberry @TheWriterIke @RAPublishing #SciFi

Posted on February 29, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Kieran Roark awakens in a wheelchair, unable to remember anything. As part of a classified experiment, he will have one year to learn his identity and recover his memory, or he will be euthanized by the state.

Scientist Berkeley Bennett has one mission: manipulate Kieran’s emotions in an attempt to bring back his memory. But when she falls in love with him, she is forced to make a harrowing decision that may cost Kieran his life.

What Kieran knows could save Earth from a coming war. Whether he believes the future is worth saving is another matter. Racing across an unfamiliar world in a body he does not recall, Kieran needs to discover who he was and, more importantly, who he is.

Kindle Edition, 305 pages

Published January 5th 2016 by Red Adept Publishing, LLC

Genre: Military Science Fiction, War Fiction, Time Travel, Romance

The Official Site of Kevin Ikenberry

What’s It About?

Imagine waking up as a patient in a wheelchair, not knowing as much as your own name… Imagine looking upward, to an alien sky and flying cars. Then, imagine being told you’re being released and that you have to put your memory back together – if you don’t, you will be euthanized by the State.

Dropped into the outback to survive on his own, the subject has random recollections of his life before he wound up in the hospital. Most of his memories are from the Middle East, where he believes he may have been a soldier fighting in Afghanistan. He is tracked throughout his “walkabout” and is in constant contact with a “guidance protocol”. He studies his new world as he tries to make sense of who and what he was and eventually he concludes that he’s been woken for a purpose that no one else seems capable of doing.

My Thoughts

While science fiction isn’t my favorite genre, I can appreciate good writing. This story exceeded my expectations. I loved the crossover between military fiction and science fiction. The results of this crossover was non-stop action! Truly, there was never a dull moment in Sleeper Protocol.

I absolutely loved the subject’s “mother hen” guidance protocol, Mally! Although not a real person, Mally was my favorite character. She became more and more possessive of the subject as the story progressed – convinced that the destruction of her subject meant her demise. I particularly liked when she was mad at him for hanging out with Chastity the prostitute. I think she was jealous!

There were so many unpredictable twists and turns in this novel, making it a page turner. Trust me, you won’t see the ending coming. The world building was incredible, giving the reader a great picture of time and place. I also want to mention that the cover of this novel is perfect, considering the “walkabout”. StreetLight Graphics absolutely captured the concept of this story on the cover of the book.

I would recommend this fast-paced novel to fans of military science fiction. 🙂

In the interest of full disclosure, I received and e-copy of this novel from the author in exchange for a fair, honest, and thoughtful book review. This in no way swayed my opinion nor rating.

Purchase

Amazon, USA

About The Author

Kevin’s head has been in the clouds since he was old enough to read. Ask him and he’ll tell you that he still wants to be an astronaut. Kevin has a diverse background in space and space science education. A former manager of the world-renowned U.S. Space Camp program in Huntsville, Alabama and a former executive of two Challenger Learning Centers, Kevin continues to work with space every day. Kevin lives in Colorado with his family.

Kevin is a member of Fiction Foundry, Pikes Peak Writers, the Horror Society, and the Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group. His short fiction has appeared twice on the webzine Mindflights and in print with Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine Issue #56, and Twisted Dreams Magazine. His story “Maelstrom” appears in the Extreme Planets anthology forthcoming from Chaosium. His now self-published novelette “Ascent” won an Honorable Mention in the 4th Quarter 2011 Writers Of The Future Contest.

Kevin’s debut science fiction novel, SLEEPER PROTOCOL, will appear from Red Adept Publishing in late 2015.

AWRW Book Review 🔪 Dying For Danish 🔪 by Author Leighann Dobbs #CozyMystery

Posted on February 27, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

When Lexy Baker lands a high paying catering job that allows her to buy some much needed kitchen equipment, she’s excited that things are going so well … until she stumbles over the body of the bride-to-be.

Suddenly Lexy finds herself in a race against time to find the killer. Aided by four iPad toting amateur detective grandma’s, her best friend and her little dog Sprinkles, Lexy finds the suspect list growing at every turn.

To make matters worse, the investigation is headed up by her hunky neighbor Detective Jack Perillo who she had been hot and heavy with – until he mysteriously stopped calling her several weeks earlier.

Add a handsome, rich bachelor who is also a suspect and seems to have designs on Lexy to the mix, and Lexy soon finds that things are not what they seem.

Will Lexy be able to catch the killer in time, or will she end up Dying for Danish?

Kindle Edition, 200 pages

Published December 3rd 2012

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Romance

Series: Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Book 2

Free on Amazon Kindle! (USA)

AWRW Book Review

Add one little white dog,

A protagonist who owns a bakery,

a dash of murder mystery,

and a splash of romance for good measure!

Dying for Danish has everything that I enjoy about the cozy mystery genre, plus more! I love Lexy Baker, the stiletto- wearing-baker who always winds up involved in a murder mystery, and her little white dog, sprinkles! I have to mention, the titles of these books in this series are GREAT.

My only complaint is the way it reads. This novel, like the first, really needs another round of editing.

Nevertheless, I am hooked on this series and I highly recommend it to fans who enjoy cozy mysteries!

AWRW Book Review: Taste Me, Tempt Me: Eight Tales of Sweet & Spicy Romance #Anthology by @WriterGGAndrew @Grrlgenius @BeccaBooks @LikeItHotBooks @ColeHeartedGirl @AmandaGaleBooks @MadeleineKeane1 @JenniferSable

Posted on February 17, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

💋 Taste Me, Tempt Me: Eight Tales of Sweet & Spicy Romance 💋

🍓Goodreads🍓

Available for a Limited Time! (Throughout the Month of February) Grab your copy today for only 99 cents!

Here’s a sweetener: ALL PROCEEDS from this anthology will be donated to America’s Second Harvest and Food Banks Canada. Indulge yourself. You’ll warm your heart and help feed others!

PLUS, there are delicious recipes at the end of each short story!

Sink your teeth into something delicious. Eight contemporary and historical romance authors offer tempting stories of love and lust through time, served hot. Some of these novellas are sweet, and some are spicy, but they’re all perfectly portioned! So pull up a chair and get ready to indulge in a feast of love…

ebook, 300 pages

Published November 10th 2015 by SkySpark Books

A TASTE OF AMBROSIA

Author G.G. Andrew

Jack, a young widower in 1963 American suburbia, can’t look away from his sensual new neighbor. Unfortunately, she’s got a recipe he needs. She may have everything he needs.

Short & Sweet Review

A widower gets a taste of ambrosia salad dessert from the beautiful woman who moves in next door and he is hooked – on the sweet salad and its creator.

One of my favorites in this romance anthology. A beautifully written, sensual romance. I look forward to reading more from this author. 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

THE REAWAKENING

Author Saskia Blake

Reeling from her husband’s adultery, Meg steels herself to cope with the annual maple syrup harvest… but her much-younger hired hand proves to be an infuriating distraction.

Short & Sweet Review

A “deliciously naughty” tale of a woman who owns a forest of sugar maples. Upon her husband leaving her, she hires a (much younger) hired hand to help her with her harvest.

Another favorite of mine. The way the author described the sugar shack and the sugar maples reminded me of an enchanting fantasy novel. This short romance story could easily be expanded into an enjoyable full-length novel. I loved the characters and I want more! 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

BLACKBERRIES IN THE MORNING

Author Rebecca Brooks

A lonely cafe manager in the Adirondacks feasts her eyes on a stranger to her small town. But is he the type to stay past blackberry season?

Short & Sweet Review

“When she kissed him he tasted like blackberries and morning, rain water and earth.”

I really, really loved the above quote so I wrote it down in my book review notebook with intentions to include it within this review. This short story is about a responsible, single mother who owns the Sweet Amandine bakery. Tired of the same routine every day, she just wants to have fun. And her “fun” comes in the form of a landscaper named Deegan James. 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

SUGAR AND SUNLIGHT

Author Elizabeth Cole

In Regency-era Philadelphia, a wounded soldier is drawn to an aloof candymaker. Can he show her life will be sweeter with him?

Short & Sweet Review

“She lived in a cloud of sweetness. But she lived in it alone.”

This short story is about a man who falls in love with a confectionery shop owner, bite by bite. Proof that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

LOVE IN THE LAVENDER

Author Amanda Gale

A man from busy New York City searches the woods for a reclusive writer. Instead, he finds a beautiful woman hiding in a field of lavender–and she’s got a surprise in store.

Short & Sweet Review

Andrew searches for the writer of a book that touched his heart and finds a woman secluded in the wilderness, looking like a lonely princess. He asks her for a simple glass of water and she surprises him with a specialty lavender drink, that tastes like an odd intermingling of earth and candy.

Taken by her and the lavender, he visits again. When she reveals her secret, their destiny is set.
Love in the Lavender was the reason I picked up this anthology. I love the writing of Amanda Gale and Love in the Lavender didn’t disappoint! My favorite flower is lavender so it was fun for me to live vicariously through Mary. I was completely charmed by the world Amanda Gale created around Andrew and Mary.

This is another short story I would love to see expanded into a full length novel.

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

TROUBLE WITH TRIFLES

Author Madeleine Keane

A French girl in late 18th century Baltimore had her heart broken years ago. But when the young man she loves returns, will he be willing to offer her his hand again?

Short & Sweet Review

In August of 1792, Marguerite de Kermerrac’s world crashes all around her. Aided by a boy named Simon, Marguerite and her family escape with their lives.

Marguerite and Simon bond as they await on the fate of her father. Unfortunately, when he returns, he doesn’t approve of their budding relationship.

Trouble with Trifles is a story about love and patience, ending with a sweet happily-ever-after. 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

HEARTS AND FLOURS

Author Jennifer Sable

A pastry chef meets her best friend’s smoking hot brother for the first time. Can she dream up a recipe that will tempt him to try something new?

Short and Sweet Review

“No one turned down her baked goods.”

Ah, I loved this one! Featuring a smart heroine who runs her own bakery and is secretly in love with her male best friend.

Sarah carter gets the worst news of her life, but is consoled by her best friend’s charming brother – who, for some reason she can’t understand, won’t eat her baked goods! When she learns the reason he won’t try her baked goods, she promises to alter her recipes, and he promises to marry her if she can make a meal he can eat. She accepts the challenge! 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

POP GOES MY HEART

Author Coco Quill

When Mimi gets the chance to compete for her desserts going big time, she is reunited with an old crush whose kiss still burns in her memory. Can she trust him, or are his affections meant to throw her off her game?

Short & Sweet Review

Fox Tudor is an unwelcome distraction when the stakes are higher than ever…

Mimi is delighted when she learns she has been accepted into a contest where she can possibly win distribution for her frozen desserts, until she checks out the contestants, and notices an old fling from when she attended culinary school in Paris, France.

I really enjoyed this short story and was surprised with the dark direction it took. I’d recommend this short story to lovers of romantic suspense! 🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

AWRW Book Review ★ The Lost Woman ★ by Author Gill Stewart @AccentPress @GillStewart2

Posted on February 13, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

How much do you know about your family?

Feisty, hard-working Catherine McDonald knows what’s best for everyone and tries to make it happen. To keep her aristocratic family’s heads above water, she’s turned their Scottish Highland home, Annat House, into a hotel, but she’s struggling to establish her business. And things don’t improve when a woman goes missing in the nearby mountains and the hotel becomes the setting for a media circus.

Successful businessman Haydn Eddlington-Smith has had enough of fitting in with other people’s wishes. He’s moved to the Highlands so he can do exactly what he wants. So why does he find himself spending so much time with his interfering neighbour Catherine?

When the present is so complicated, how do you let the past go? And what exactly has the missing woman to do with the McDonalds?

Kindle Edition, 334 pages

Published July 24th 2015 by Accent Press

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Mystery

What’s It About?

On the verge of launching a major tourism venture in the Scottish Highlands, a woman goes missing, bringing a lot of bad publicity to Catherine McDonald’s house turned hotel. If that wasn’t bad enough, her father gathers the McDonald siblings together with major news, and not everyone is excited about it.Will Catherine ever get a break?

Haydn Eddlington-Smith was a successful business man who moves into the Annat cottage, next door to Catherine, to get away from his troubles and start a new life for himself. Unfortunately, his past follows him to the Scottish Highlands…

Unanswered questions overwhelm Catherine about the lost woman and her new neighbor, Haydn. Will she get her answers? And more importantly, will the woman who does everything for everyone else, figure out what she wants for herself?

My Thoughts

Wheeew! A mystery, romance, and women’s fiction novel all rolled up into one book!

The beginning pages grabbed my attention and I was eager to turn the page to continue the story. Like Catherine, I had so many questions about the lost woman. – Did she commit suicide? Did she climb the mountain and get lost? Was there foul play?

When I got my answer, (and it was a shocking revelation), I was really surprised with the direction the novel took. The mystery then shifted into two separate slow-simmering romances, from the perspectives of not only Catherine and Haydn, but Catherine’s brother, Malcolm, and Catherine’s employee, Mhairi. The pacing slowed down quite a bit at this point and I wondered why the author didn’t divide the three by creating a trilogy and expanding on the sub-plots a bit.

Even so, the characters were well-developed and I didn’t have a problem following the sub-plots of the story. As a matter of fact, I really enjoyed the characters, particularly Catherine and her brother Malcolm. I could relate to his nagging, enthusiastic interest in the search and discovery of the missing woman. I would have been all over that search too! I enjoyed his scenes and point of view.

Toward the end the pacing picked up again leading to more shocking revelations and plot twists that I wasn’t expecting, ending with a happily-ever-after that left a smile on my face. If you enjoy slow-simmering romances set in the historic region of Scotland, with a little mystery to throw the characters together, (whether they want to be or not), then I would suggest The Lost Woman as your next read. 🙂

In the interest of full disclosure, I received an e-copy of The Lost Woman in exchange for a fair, thoughtful, and honest book review. This in now way swayed my opinion nor rating.

Purchase

About The Author

“A teacher turned accountant, what I’ve always really wanted to do was to write. I still have my first full-length teen novel, written in almost indecipherable handwriting at about age 14. My first novella was published in 2009, under the pen name Gillian Villiers, and a further 3 have followed. In 2014 I was take on by Accent Press and in 2015 they published my two full-length women’s contemporary fiction novels under the penname Gilly Stewart. And just to complicate matters further, I have begun to publish a trilogy of YA romance/mysteries under the name Gill-Marie Stewart. I live in the beautiful village of Newtonmore in the Scottish Highlands. When not writing or walking our four dogs (four dogs is too many dogs!) I am trying to learn Gaelic, improve my knitting skills and finally master crocheting.” –Novel Points Of View Blog

AWRW Book Review 🔪 🍰 Killer Cupcakes 🔪 🍰 Lexy Baker #CozyMystery Series Book 1, by Author @LeighannDobbs

Posted on February 10, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Things are going great for Lexy Baker. She’s finally opened her dream bakery, gotten rid of her cheating boyfriend and settled into her grandmother’s house with her perky dog Sprinkles at her side.

But her blissful life doesn’t last long. When her ex-boyfriend is found poisoned with cupcakes from her bakery, Lexy finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation headed up by her hunky neighbor detective Jack Perillo.

With the help of a gang of iPad toting, would-be detective grandmothers, Lexy decides to take it upon herself to find the real murderer in order to clear her name and get her bakery back in business.

As things heat up on the murder trail, in the kitchen and between Lexy and the hunky detective, it’s a race against time to put the real murderer behind bars and get back to baking.

Will Lexy get her man?

Kindle Edition, 146 pages

Published November 2012

Lexy Baker Mystery 1

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Chick Lit, Romance

My Thoughts

Oh, Killer Cupcakes, how much I love thee. Let me count the ways!

1.) The adorable little white dog named Sprinkles. I have two adorable little white dogs, myself, and can always appreciate a protagonist with a little doggy by her side!

2.) CUPCAKES! I totally and completely dig these cozy mysteries because the main character always runs some sort of bakery or coffee shop. If I can’t eat cupcakes all day, at least, I can read about them. 🙂

3.) Murder Mystery! Yeah! Give me a good whodunit!

4.) Sexy next-door-neighbor who also happens to be a detective, (I.E.: man-in-uniform), on the murder mystery case. Score!

5.) The Senior-Citizen-Women-Detectives and their IPads! LOL! They blew me away!

6.) And last but not least, Lexy Baker herself! A stiletto wearing, cupcake baker extraordinaire!

Alternate Book Cover

Unfortunately, there were some things unrelated to the plot that didn’t work for me. This book really could have used an editor, or at the very least, a proofreader or two. I actually edited the book blurb, above, because my Grammarly app was lighting up like a Christmas tree! If you are a stickler to grammar, this might not be the book for you, BUT if you can get past that and appreciate the plot, then I have no doubt fans of cozy mysteries can appreciate this story. 🙂 I know I did and I’ve already grabbed book 2 in the Lexy Baker Series, Dying for Danish! -Don’t you just love the names?

5 out of 5 Killer Cupcakes!

The great news is this novel is available for free on Kindle through Amazon, (USA), and you can grab your copy, here!

About The Author

USA Today bestselling author, Leighann Dobbs, discovered her passion for writing after a twenty year career as a software engineer. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty. When she’s not reading, gardening, making jewelry or selling antiques, she likes to write cozy mystery and historical romance books.

AWRW Book Review: Nine Lives by Author Erin Lee @CrazyLikeMe2015 @LimitlessBooks

Posted on February 9, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

I LOVE This Cover!

Three teenage sisters didn’t mean to destroy their family…

Sisters Laina, Faith, and Sadie Nelson know they are to blame. There was no way to predict how their lives would shatter with just a few lies—but they did, and now they fear the pieces are too many to pick up.

Had their parents let them leave, their father wouldn’t be behind bars…

The girls only wanted to escape from their hyper-strict home and start lives of their own. If he’d just allowed them to spread their wings, their father wouldn’t be serving thirty years for a crime he didn’t commit.

Sometimes you have to be creative to get your way, but creativity’s not always what it’s cracked up to be…

With the lives of nine siblings hanging in the balance, what will it take for the girls to admit their deceit and recant their tales of abuse? And if they do, will there be any room for forgiveness?

Family and friends are left to question everything they know about the legal system, social services, marriage, and family.

Can anyone really be trusted?
Can a family heal in the wake of false allegations, broken promises, and betrayal?
Or is it too late…

“Be careful what you lie for…”

Published February 2, 2016 by Limitless Publishing

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, New Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Social Issues, Drama

What’s It About?

Oppressed by their parents’ rules, Laina and younger sister Faith have always dreamed about escape. When they meet a troubled young girl who was molested by her father and brother, a light bulb goes off in the girls’ brains… if their father is gone, too, they can live the kinda life they want to live!

“We didn’t mean to destroy our family. To send our father to jail. Break our mother’s heart…”

A skilled social worker takes the case, and sees the girls for who they really are. Nine Lives by Author Erin Lee is a fictional account about a shift in power these two teens have over their innocent parents and the aftermath of their lies.

My Thoughts

Ok, so I haven’t gotten my butt off the couch all day because I have been so absorbed in Nine Lives. I literally could not put the book down because I wanted to know how this story would play out! I love fictional books that center around social issues and this book didn’t disappoint.

This book was written in the same style as Wave To Papa, another great book by this Author, centering around another fictional DCYF case. So if you read Wave To Papa, be sure to check out Nine Lives! The author is extremely knowledgeable about DCYF cases, because she is a therapist/child advocate herself, and has seen it all. Her cases inspire her stories, and allows the reader a unique view into this hidden world.

Laina and Faith sure did stir up a lot of trouble and while they would be easy to hate, I sympathized with them. Teenagers are so impulsive and their brains aren’t fully developed. They think about themselves first, and not about the consequences of their actions. I can picture this horrendous scenario playing out perfectly. It makes me wonder how many parents are falsely accused.

Told in first person perspective by the major players, Laina, Faith, sister Hope, Mother Heather, Father Tom, friend Harley, and Caseworker Juliet, the reader gets a full impression of this fictional case, from all sides. I truly loved this story and I look forward to more books by this author in a similar style!

To sum up, I loved the believable plot, the connection I felt with the characters through the author’s chosen first perspective point-of-view, and the flawed, yet sympathetic characters. If you have interests in psychology, social issues, and sociology, I HIGHLY recommend this novel to you! A great story that is difficult to put down. 5 stars!

***In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of this novel by the author in exchange for a honest, thoughtful, and fair book review. This in no way swayed my opinion or rating.

Purchase

About The Author

Author Erin Lee, Isn’t She Delightful?

Erin Lee is a freelance writer and therapist living with her family in southern New Hampshire.

She’s published numerous magazine articles, particularly on the topic of mental illness. She is the author of “Crazy Like Me” from Savant Books and Publications and “Wave to Papa” by Limitless Publishing. Her other writing interests include poetry and journaling. She recently completed her master’s degree in psychology. She is currently writing book one of the “Lola, Party of Eight” series titled “Alters.”

In her spare time, she serves as an unpaid taxi cab driver for her children and rescue/therapy dog, Milo Muse.

Author of Limitless Publishing

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AWRW Book Review 💋 Speaking in Tungs 💋 by Author Karla Jay @AuthorKarlaJay

Posted on February 8, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

In this entertaining first novel, set in rural Pennsylvania, a young San Francisco woman searches for her birth-parents and from the moment she arrives in the backwoods town of Tungston, she falls under the spell of unforgettable characters, the unexpected-but-real threat of a violent fugitive, and the unexpected-but-real charm of a local fireman-all leading her to discover the true meaning of family.

Add to your TBR on Goodreads

Paperback, 380 pages

Published May 14th 2015 by Hedgehog & Fox

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Humor, Romance, Rom-Com, Mystery

Series: Speaking in Tungs, Book 1

What’s It About?

Marleigh Benning is a speech therapist who drives cross-country to establish a new life in a rural town called Tungston, where she can help people who have language/speech disorders, and locate her birth parents who gave her up when she was two-years-old for reasons unknown.

While making small strides with her patients, she meets the local fire chief, and sparks ignite.

But if she was looking for a relaxing getaway, she won’t find it in Tungston, where around every corner is a rattlesnake nest, a vicious wolf, a madman on the loose – and if that wasn’t bad enough, the locals think she is a walking joke!

Will the small town of Tungston accept Marleigh as one of their own? Or will she always be the “walking joke” of Tungston?

My Thoughts

Talking in Tungs is a delightful women’s fiction novel about a very likable speech therapist who is down on her luck, but handles it with humor. I loved her relationships with her patients, and could relate to a lot of what her patients told her, when upset that the former speech therapist quit. I too have had to pick up the pieces of a former medical worker who was fired, and having to hear from patients all the wonderful things she would do for them, (against every rule in the book, mind you), and making me feel bad for not being “as nice” as the one before me. I knew exactly what Marleigh was feeling. Of course, nobody asked me to do their grocery shopping or sell chickens, 🙂 , but the general feeling was still there.

For instance:

“No, you can’t spend your lunch break here, in a laboratory. I can’t even do that.”

“But /redacted/ would always let me!”

“No, I can’t check my computer for your blood test results. Call your Doctor for you results, please.”

“But /redacted/ would always check for me!”

My inner thoughts — (and that is why she is no longer working here and I’m here having to deal with you!)

Sorry, went off a bit there. Point is, I totally and completely sympathized with Marleigh when her patients were being pushy! I’m sure MANY, if not most, medical workers can relate to these scenes!

I loved seeing the changes in her patients’ behaviors as she would work with them and customize different exercises for their individual needs. My favorite family she visited was Honey and Casey. I also loved all her progress with Milt.

“You’re about as safe as a sugarcoated boy scout in bear county.”

The witty, humorous dialogue made Speaking in Tungs a page-turner. At some points, I was laughing so hard I was crying! With every turn of the page, I was eager to find out what Marleigh would do next. She sure did get herself into A LOT of trouble! 🙂

Very impressive writing for a debut novel. I look forward to book 2 of Speaking in Tungs! In the meantime, I highly recommend this novel to fans of mysteries and humorous women’s fiction/Chick Lit. You won’t be disappointed!

***In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair, honest, and thoughtful book review. This in no way swayed my opinion or rating.

Check Out The Alternate Book Cover! Which One Do You Prefer?

Available for Purchase in Paperback, Kindle (USA Only), and Hardcover (USA Only)!

Purchase Paper Towns – Amazon, USA

About The Author

Karla Jay is the author of Speaking in Tungs. Raised in Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania, Karla lives in Salt Lake City where she has been a speech therapist for, well, let’s just say for decades. She loves movies, books, traveling and gardening. Her love of runnings and words show up in this book, her first novel. –Goodreads Author Bio

AWRW Book Review: Paper Towns by John Green

Posted on February 3, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Who is the real Margo?

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows.

After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew…

Paperback, 305 pages

Published September 22nd 2009 by Speak (first published October 16th 2008)

Genre: Travel, Adventure, YA, Mystery

I don’t understand all the hype that surrounds this book. It took me an inordinate amount of time to finish – I believe I started it in September, but I wanted to finish it. I wanted to give it a chance because I heard such positive things about this story.

It’s mostly narrative, told from the perspective of Quentin, a teenager who has an obsession with a girl named Margo. Spending the entire book in his head and viewing the world through Quentin’s point of view was difficult for me. The Margo mystery was driving me as batty as it drove Quentin. AND SHE DIDN’T EVEN DESERVE ALL HIS ATTENTION!

Paper Towns has a lot of great quotes. I can see why it would appeal to teenagers who center their worlds around their peers and their friendships. I really liked the conclusion because it popped Quentin’s little balloon and he saw Margo for who she really was. -FINALLY!

Overall, I liked this story, but I didn’t love it. It just wasn’t for me. Due to how successful/popular this author is, I look forward to reading his novel, The Fault in our Stars.
I give Paper Towns three out of five stars.

About The Author

John Green’s first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New York Times bestseller and won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best YA Mystery. In January 2012, his most recent novel, The Fault in Our Stars, was met with wide critical acclaim, unprecedented in Green’s career. The praise included rave reviews in Time Magazine and The New York Times, on NPR, and from award-winning author Markus Zusak. The book also topped the New York Times Children’s Paperback Bestseller list for several weeks. Green has also coauthored a book with David Levithan called Will Grayson, Will Grayson, published in 2010. The film rights for all his books, with the exception of Will Grayson Will Grayson, have been optioned to major Hollywood Studios.

In 2007, John and his brother Hank were the hosts of a popular internet blog, “Brotherhood 2.0,” where they discussed their lives, books and current events every day for a year except for weekends and holidays. They still keep a video blog, now called “The Vlog Brothers,” which can be found on the Nerdfighters website, or a direct link here.

–Goodreads Author BIO

AWRW Book Review ⌚ The Journey, Northwest Passage Book 2 ⌚ By Author John A Heldt @JohnHeldt #SciFi #TimeTravel

Posted on February 2, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Seattle, 2010. When her entrepreneur husband dies in an accident, Michelle Preston Richardson, 48, finds herself childless and directionless. She yearns for the simpler days of her youth, before she followed her high school sweetheart down a road that led to limitless riches but little fulfillment, and jumps at a chance to reconnect with her past at a class reunion. But when Michelle returns to Unionville, Oregon, and joins three classmates on a spur-of-the-moment tour of an abandoned mansion, she gets more than she asked for. She enters a mysterious room and is thrown back to 1979.

Distraught and destitute, Michelle finds a job as a secretary at Unionville High, where she guides her spirited younger self, Shelly Preston, and childhood friends through their tumultuous senior year. Along the way, she meets widowed teacher Robert Land and finds the love and happiness she had always sought. But that happiness is threatened when history intervenes and Michelle must act quickly to save those she loves from deadly fates. Filled with humor and heartbreak, THE JOURNEY gives new meaning to friendship, courage, and commitment as it follows an unfulfilled soul through her second shot at life.

Kindle Edition, 244 pages

Published November 4th 2012 by John A. Heldt

Northwest Passage Series – Book 2

Genre: Science Fiction, Time Travel

Goodreads – Add to your TBR List

Book Review of Northwest Passage, The Mine – Book 1

After reading Northwest Passage Book 1, The Mine, I was happy when the Author offered me the rest of the series to review. I greatly looked forward to this installment in the series and I wasn’t disappointed!

The Journey is a story about parallel universes, second chances, and a haunted house that takes unfortunate visitors back in time. The Pennington house’s latest victim is Michelle, a woman who barely has traveled thirty miles from home, finds herself traveling thirty years backward in time.

“She had the means to be an agent-of-change and not just as a pint-sized interloper leaving tiny footprints either. She had a chance to make broad and deep marks and influence people in ways that went far beyond homework help and pep talks… Michelle had an opportunity to remake lives, including her own.”

I’m not a huge fan of science fiction but I love the theme of time travel in this series. I also loved the protagonist, Michelle, and enjoyed watching her grow as a character. I also liked how she used her “future” experiences to help the people she met “in the past”, including a younger version of herself!

If you’ve ever wished you could tell your younger self what you know now, or if you enjoy books with time travel, in general, I would recommend this novel to you! Well written and whole-heartedly entertaining; I give this book 5 stars!

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Check out my 5 star book review!

About The Author

John A. Heldt is the author of the critically acclaimed Northwest Passage and American Journey series. The former reference librarian and award-winning sportswriter has loved getting subjects and verbs to agree since writing book reports on baseball heroes in grade school. A graduate of the University of Oregon and the University of Iowa, Heldt is an avid fisherman, sports fan, home brewer, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction. When not sending contemporary characters to the not-so-distant past, he weighs in on literature and life at johnheldt.blogspot.com.

Judging Covers: New Book Cover and Blurb for Author Michele Gorman’s Match Me If You Can @NottingHillPR @MicheleGormanUK

Posted on January 27, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

It’s interesting to see how the same book is marketed differently depending on where its fans are based. Michele Gorman’s Match Me If You Can is published by Avon (Harper Collins) in the UK and by Notting Hill Press in the US.

Avon took the lead in designing the marketing package for Michele’s UK chick lit fans, with a pretty teal cover, fun font and firm focus on the online dating/romance storylines in the book.

Meet best friends Catherine, Rachel and Sarah. Yet to find Mr Right, they’ve been settling for Mr Right Now. But when Catherine, London’s finest matchmaker, gets the girls to join her dating site where they can rate and recommend their ex-boyfriends, they soon realise that anything could happen…

There’s someone for everyone, right? These best friends are about to find out!

The folks over at Notting Hill Press rethought the blurb and the hot pink book cover and came up with the following:

Brand new U.S. cover!

And the brand new blurb!

Meet best friends, Catherine, Rachel and Sarah. They’re fun, smart and successful, and haven’t had a date worth booking a wax appointment for in ages.

Catherine runs London’s most successful matchmaking business with her silent partner and ex-husband, Richard, who’s just announced that he’s marrying his twenty-three-year-old girlfriend. Catherine has bras that are older than Magda, and now she’s barging in on their business with her meddlesome demands and wedding plans.

Architect Rachel’s got problems of her own. At work she’s competing against her ex-boyfriend, James, to win their biggest project and the promotion that comes with it. So when she joins Catherine’s website, RecycLove.com, where everyone brings an ex to recycle for the chance of an upgrade, she knows just who she’s going to trade in.

Homebody baker, Sarah, is in a rut thanks to family demands over the last few years. Reluctantly she joins RecycLove.com, where she’s convinced that some minor adjustments will improve her chances. But as minor adjustments turn into a complete overhaul and dates start falling at her newly-pedicured feet, will her popularity be worth the sacrifices she’s making?

A warm, funny story of friendship, strong women and self-discovery. Match us if you can, guys, but if not then please step aside and we’ll get on with being fabulous.

Cover Wars!

What do you think? Do you prefer the new book cover with the three women over the hot pink book cover? Please feel free to comment below!

AWRW Book Review ★ Braineater Jones ★ by Author Stephen Kozeniewski @OutFortune @RAPublishing

Posted on January 21, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Brains, Babes, and Booze…

Braineater Jones wakes up face down in a swimming pool with no memory of his former life, how he died, or why he’s now a zombie. With a smart-aleck severed head as a partner, Jones descends into the undead ghetto to solve his own murder.

But Jones’s investigation is complicated by his crippling addiction to human flesh. Like all walking corpses, he discovers that only a stiff drink can soothe his cravings. Unfortunately, finding liquor during Prohibition is costly and dangerous. From his Mason jar, the cantankerous Old Man rules the only speakeasy in the city that caters to the postmortem crowd.

As the booze, blood, and clues coagulate, Jones gets closer to discovering the identity of his killer and the secrets behind the city’s stranglehold on liquid spirits. Death couldn’t stop him, but if the liquor dries up, the entire city will be plunged into an orgy of cannibalism.

Cracking this case is a tall order. Braineater Jones won’t get out alive, but if he plays his cards right, he might manage to salvage the last scraps of his humanity.

Advanced Release Copy: 234 pages

Published October 14th 2013 by Red Adept Publishing, LLC (first published October 9th 2013)

Genre: Noir, Mystery, Humor, Urban Fantasy, Horror

What’s It About?

“There had to be rules, had to be reckonings. That was dealt with, but there was no reckoning for my own death.”

Braineater Jones wakes up dead, in the bottom of a pool, with no memory of how he got there. On a mission to discover his past and seek revenge, he meets a lot of interesting characters along the way, including a severed head named Alcibe and an aborted fetus soaking in a mason jar of alcohol – who runs a bar.

My Thoughts

“I woke up dead this morning.”

Sometimes disgusting, but mostly hilarious – I really enjoyed this read. I was curious as to how he got himself into his predicament and was eager to turn the pages to decipher the mystery. I also liked the twist that the zombies had to drink alcohol to pickle their brains in order to calm their cravings for human flesh.

I liked the first person point of view and enjoyed the narrative. Since Braineater Jones couldn’t remember his past, there was little to no backstory, propelling this story forward. Truly, there was never a dull moment.

The odd and unlikely friendship between Braineater Jones and Alcibe, the severed head, was hysterical. Their constant banter made me laugh.

What kept this story interesting was that it seemed like whenever Braineater Jones would discover a new clue, he would have several more questions. I felt as clueless as he did and was surprised by all the unpredictable twists and turns of this story.

This book is definitely not for the easily-offended, or the squeamish, but if you enjoy noir mysteries about zombies, I would recommend adding Braineater Jones to your to-be-read pile!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received an ARC of Braineater Jones, from Red Adept Publishing, in exchange for a fair, thoughtful, and honest book review. This in no way swayed my opinion or rating.

This novel made Horror Made’s Top 13 Horror Novels of 2015!

“It’s a fun read with all the gore and violence a zombie novel needs set in the vivid alternate reality of prohibition era Chicago. Mobs, the drunken private eye and a twisted, excited mystery is was makes this book so addictive. It is certainly written for mature audiences with a strong stomach however.” –Horror Made

Purchase

About The Author

Stephen Kozeniewski (pronounced “causin’ ooze key”) lives with his wife and two cats in Pennsylvania, the birthplace of the modern zombie. During his time as a Field Artillery officer, he served for three years in Oklahoma and one in Iraq, where due to what he assumes was a clerical error, he was awarded the Bronze Star. He is also a classically trained linguist, which sounds much more impressive than saying his bachelor’s degree is in German. —Amazon Author Bio

AWRW Book Review 🎠 Carnival of Dead Girls 🎠 by Author Carissa Ann Lynch @CarissaAnnLynch @LimitlessBooks

Posted on January 16, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Nothing interesting happens in the podunk town of Lamison Point—until a freak show rolls through…

When a traveling carnival stops in the sleepy countryside, sixteen-year-old Josie Crowley is psyched to go with her new friend, Freya. But what started out as a fun-filled night of games, candied apples, and ferris wheel rides quickly spirals into a gut-wrenching encounter with one of the carnival attractions.

Once the excitement is over, Lamison is missing one of its residents…

When Freya is nowhere to be found, Josie suspects the carnival has something to do with her disappearance. Her goal to track down the elusive show leads to an alarming revelation—there is no record of it ever existing. And as she digs deeper, Josie is led to a mysterious town with a tainted past—Flocksdale.

Buried in Flocksdale’s sick, twisted history is where Josie may find the truth…

Creepy clowns, disfigured freaks, and a terrifying haunted house are the least of Josie’s problems…now she has to deal with a group of real-life monsters, otherwise known as the evil Garrett family and new, rising generation of hell-bound freaks.

If Josie is pulled into their world, she may become another member of a carnival of dead girls, where she goes in, and never comes out…

Advanced Release Copy: 210 Pages

Genre: Psychological Suspense, Horror, Young Adult

Expected Publication Date: January 26, 2016, by Limitless Publishing

Series: Flocksdale Files, Book 3

What’s It About?

Josie and the Evil Clown

Freya

“Maybe the carnival would be fun… Maybe it would be a night I’d never forget.”

When Josie is invited by sort-of-friend Freya to the Carnival de Arcanorum, she jumps at the chance of friendship and a night of fun. Things don’t go as planned and Josie leaves the carnival sad, depressed, and lonely.

When Freya never returns home, Josie feels guilty for leaving her behind. She sets off, without a word to her father or step-mother, determined to track down her friend and the elusive carnival.

But Josie isn’t prepared for where the search leads her… A town filled with evil, secrets, and possibly Freya.

A town called Flocksdale.

My Thoughts

Hold on to your seats, folks! Carnival of Dead Girls is one terrifyingly, exciting ride!

Scary Clowns ✔

Missing Girls ✔

Freak Show ✔

A Carnival run by shady people ✔

Violence ✔

Haunted House ✔

Carnival of Dead Girls, the chilling third installment of the Flocksdale Series, by Author Carissa Ann Lynch, is absolutely CREEPTASTIC! I thoroughly enjoyed this dark and scary ride.

The ride may be over, but the powerful conclusion of Carnival of Dead Girls, of the Flocksdale Files series, left me feeling satisfied. I look forward to future works by this talented author.

I really enjoyed the traveling carnival setting of this novel. Often looked down upon because of shady business practices, the carnival added an additional element of suspense. The world building in the novel is phenomenal. I loved the vivid, descriptive scenes about the fair food, the various attractions, and the freak show at the carnival.

But the traveling carnival is merely a backdrop to what is really going on…

I loved Josie. I think her personality is very relatable to a lot of teenagers who just want to fit in with their peers. Her heart was pure gold. Freya was lucky to have such a wonderful friend who cared about her – whethor or not Freya deserved it, is up for debate.

5 Stars!

Available for Pre-Order!

AWRW Book Review of Have You Seen This Girl?

Book will be released on January 26, 2016

AWRW Character Interview of Wendi Wise from Have You Seen This Girl?

AWRW Book Review House of the Lost Girls

AWRW Author Interview of Carissa Ann Lynch

Flocksdale Series Blog Tour

House of The Lost Girls Blog Tour

About The Author

Besides my family, my greatest love in life is books. Reading them, writing them, holding them, smelling them…well, you get the idea. I’ve always loved to read, and some of my earliest childhood memories are me, tucked away in my room, lost in a good book. I received a five dollar allowance each week, and I always — always — spent it on books. My love affair with writing started early, but it mostly involved journaling and writing silly poems. Several years ago, I didn’t have a book to read so I decided on a whim to write my own story, something I’d like to read. It turned out to be harder than I thought, but from that point on I was hooked. My first and second books were released by Sarah Book Publishing: This Is Not About Love and Grayson’s Ridge. I’m a total genre-hopper. Basically, I like to write what I like to read: a little bit of everything! I reside in Floyds Knobs, Indiana with my husband, three children, and massive collection of books. I have a degree in psychology and worked as a counselor. —Goodreads Author Bio

ღ Changing Scenes ღ by Author Jennifer Allis Provost #OnTourWith @HeaBookToursPR @Parthalan #HBTPRM & #Giveaway!

Posted on January 15, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

CHANGING SCENES by Jennifer Allis Provost

Series: Change Series #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Limitless Publishing

“Image isn’t everything…

Or is it?”

For Astrid Janvier, image is everything…

Astrid is a world-renowned model, as famous for her strut as her startling green eyes. She’s modeled for the biggest names in the fashion world, and is regularly invited to parties in New York, London, and Paris. Thanks to a designer label addiction, she’s also broke, and takes a job as a cocktail waitress just to make rent. When her best friend Britt asks her to be her maid of honor at her upcoming wedding, their first task is to decide the menu.

Donnie Coehlo is a young, up-and-coming chef with a dinner menu to plan…

Donato—Donnie for short—is the head chef at Thirty-Nine and Twelve, a seafood bistro on the Connecticut shore. It’s a great accomplishment given his youthful age, but Donnie doesn’t brag. He just wants to find the right girl, settle down, and have a bunch of kids. When Astrid arrives at his restaurant, Donnie hopes she is the one. But would a high-priced model like Astrid be interested in a regular guy like him?

As Astrid’s life crumbles around her, and Donnie makes a terrible choice, Astrid learns the two of them are irrevocably tied together.

Will their connection be enough for Astrid to leave her high-fashion life behind, and accept what Donnie has to offer? Or will she chase her dreams as a model, leaving Donnie as part of her past?

EXCERPT

“So, what’s this adventure all about?”

“We’re going shopping,” he said as he pulled away from the curb. “You like shopping?”

If he only knew. “Doesn’t everyone? But I don’t think anything’s open right now.”

Donnie glanced at the clock above the dashboard. “Actually, this place’ll open up in about half an hour.”

“Great,” I said. “I’m going to be like one of those girls on the true crime show, kidnapped by a cute guy and sold into slavery.”

“You think I’m cute?”

I raised my mug, hoping to blame my warm cheeks on the steam. “I’m sure they’ll get a good looking actor to portray you. Ratings and all.”

“Ratings.” We stopped for a traffic signal, the streetlight above making the interior of the van bright as day. “You’re not wearing a drop of makeup, are you?”

“Um, no.” In fact, this was the most casual I’d been in public in years. My hair was pulled back in a bun, and I was wearing jeans, an orange turtleneck sweater, and a navy blue down vest. And cowboy boots; one must be stylish, even in the cold. “Is that all right? You didn’t say where we were going.”

“It’s fine,” he said, his dark eyes holding me. “I like seeing the real you.” We watched each other for a moment, then the light turned green, and Donnie returned his attention to the road.

“All right, go ahead and ask me,” I said.

“Ask you what?”

Aaliyah as Astrid Janvier

“About my eyes.”

Donnie glanced at me, his forehead wrinkled. “What about your eyes? You have x-ray vision or something?”

I blinked. “You’re really not curious?”

“Seriously, babe, you’ve lost me,” he said. “Help a guy out and tell me what I’m supposed to be curious about.”

“Everyone wants to know if they’re green because of contacts, or if I have some crazy white ancestor,” I explained.

“I got lots of crazy white ancestors,” Donnie said. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

I laughed, and watched my reflection in the passenger window. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed that about you.”

“S’okay. Besides, I already know everything I need to about your eyes.”

“And what’s that?”

“That they’re gorgeous.” My jaw dropped, but before I could say anything he continued, “And anyway, it’s not like the fish’ll care what color they are.”

I shut my mouth with a clack. “Fish?”

“Yeah. Didn’t I tell you? We’re going to the fish market.”

“At one in the morning?”

He shrugged. “It’s when it opens.”

AWRW Book Review
★★★★★

What’s It About?

“Yes, I’m black. Yes, my eyes are green. No, I have no idea how I won the genetic lottery.”

Astrid Janvier is so far in debt, she can’t see the sky… but that doesn’t stop her from being fabulous. Despite her credit card drama, and the constant phone calls from Visa and American Express, she throws elaborate parties that impress all her friends, and wears the fanciest designer clothing and shoes. She walks the fashion runways with her signature strut and hip-pop, and nobody knows the secrets she keeps. Her life is an illusion. Till she meets Donato.

Donnie is a Portuguese head-chef looking for love. When Britt and Astrid come into his restaurant for a menu tasting for Britt’s upcoming wedding, he’s in love.

But their worlds couldn’t be further apart.

Will Donnie be able to wiggle himself into Astrid’s heart? Or will she continue to pursue an unattainable dream, without him?

My Thoughts

Changing Scenes, by Author Jennifer Allis Provost is one HOT read. I loved the unlikely romance between Astrid and Donato. This novel proves that sometimes opposites really do attract!

Love, love, love Astrid. Despite her flawless exterior, she is a walking illusion. Her problems are relatable to anyone who has ever spent above their means, (hmmm everyone). I loved her transformation; by the end of the novel, she is practically a different person.

And Donato is a sexy Portuguese chef who is all about action. Typical male that he is; he wants to “fix” Astrid’s problems. And Astrid, being the proud black woman that she is, isn’t havin’ it! I loved how their personalities clashed. Their conflicts built up the tension in this novel, making it a page turner!

There were also several HOT erotic scenes that could classify this novel as a contemporary erotic romance. If you like your romance novels with a little heat, I’d recommend checking out this series. 🔥

***In the interest of full disclosure, I received an e-book from Limitless Publishing, HEA Book Tours PR, in exchange for a fair, honest, and thoughtful book review. This in no way swayed my rating or opinion.

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About The Author

Jennifer Allis Provost is a native New Englander who lives in a sprawling colonial along with her beautiful and precocious twins, a dog that thinks she’s a kangaroo, a parrot, and a wonderful husband who never forgets to buy ice cream. As a child, she read anything and everything she could get her hands on, including a set of encyclopedias, but fantasy was always her favorite. She spends her days drinking vast amounts of coffee, arguing with her computer, and avoiding any and all domestic behavior.

LIMITLESS PUBLISHING: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/jennifer-allis-provost/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2975887.Jennifer_Allis_Provost

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jennallis

WEBSITE: http://authorjenniferallisprovost.com/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/parthalan

AWRW Book Review 💋 Match Me If You Can 💋 by Author Michele Gorman #MatchMe @MicheleGormanUK @AvonBooksUK @HarperCollinsUK

Posted on January 12, 2016 by A Well Read Woman

Ever thought about recycling your ex?

Best friends Catherine, Rachel & Sarah are fun, smart, successful and single – just like millions of women with a low tolerance for idiocy in their dates.

Mr. Right hasn’t turned up yet, and Mr Right-Now isn’t worth booking a wax appointment for. So when Catherine, London’s finest matchmaker, gets Rachel and Sarah to join her dating site where they can recycle their ex-boyfriends in exchange for an upgrade, they soon realise that anything could happen . . .

Three best friends, proving that sometimes it really isn’t you… it’s him.

Paperback Edition: 406 Pages

Expected publication: January 14th 2016 by Avon

Genre: Chick Lit/Women’s Fiction, Romance

What’s It About?

“What if Mr. Right is just a click away?”

Match Me If You Can is a humorous chick lit novel about a woman named Catherine, known as “London’s best date doctor”, who owns a dating business called Recyclove. She convinces her best-friends and housemates, Sarah and Rachel, to join her site and get their exes to sign up along with them. Recyclove is in the business of recycling your ex, and upcycling to a better relationship!

My Thoughts

This novel had me laughing sooooo hard. I actually got the attention of my mother-in-law, who thought I was screaming in pain, when in fact I was just laughing hysterically. My favorite scene, and the scene that got my MIL’s attention, was when Rachel was having a wardrobe malfunction with her pantyhose. -Nearly died of laughter!

I loved the women of this novel. I kept going back and forth between which lady was my favorite. In the end, I settled on Sarah. Sarah’s love of baking and family/friends warmed me to her. Then there was Rachel, my second favorite. I loved her description as a “colour blind cat-lady”, regarding her looks. And of course Catherine… I don’t know how she dealt with her ex-husband’s new fiance, Magda! -But, I sure did enjoy reading about them. (Another great scene was Magda’s compulsive belly rubbing).

Another great touch was the crossover with The Curvy Girls Club. It made me smile when the ladies expressed an interest in it. Match Me If You Can reminded me a lot of The Curvy Girls Club, so if you have read that book by Michele Gorman, and enjoyed it, I would recommend this delightful chick lit as your next read!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a paperback copy from Avon HarperCollins UK Publishing, in exchange for a fair, honest, and thoughtful book review. This in no way swayed my opinion or rating.

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About The Author

Michele Gorman is the USA TODAY bestselling author of nine romantic comedies including The Curvy Girls Club and the Single in the City series.

Born and raised in the US, Michele has lived in London for 17 years. She is very fond of naps, ice cream and Richard Curtis films but objects to spiders and the word “portion”.