Saturday, October 31, 2015

Review: Forever This Time (Echo Lake #1) by Maggie McGinnis


Book Blurb:

Forever This Time is the story of Josie Kendrew, who returns to her tiny Vermont hometown after ten years' absence when her father has a stroke, and Ethan Miller, her jilted high school sweetheart, who's taken her place as the CFO of the Kendrew family business: running Snowflake Village—a "Santa's Village"—style amusement park.

Josie, now a successful therapist with a Boston practice, isn't sure how she feels about being back in Echo Lake. In some ways, things have changed a lot; Ethan's got an MBA, seems to have something going with Molly, her childhood best friend, and he even owns the beautiful Victorian they'd always talked about buying together. But in other ways, the place is exactly the same, with reminders of the heartbreak that drove Josie away lurking around every corner. When Josie's "Little Sister" Avery died of cancer at the age of ten, the grief nearly destroyed her, and ultimately inspired her choice of career. It also caused a hurt so deep she knew she couldn't stay in Echo Lake, surrounded by memories. And she's not going to stay now; as soon as her dad's health improves, she's headed right back to Boston, to her therapy practice and her quiet apartment. To her lonely, safe life.

As for Ethan, he's not all that pleased to see the woman he once loved. It took a long time to pick up the pieces Josie left behind, he's proud of the work he's done to bring Snowflake Village into the 21st century, and he's worried that if Josie finds out about his project to honor Avery's memory, she'll get the wrong idea. He's not planning to make it easy for Josie to come back, and he's not going to pretend that all is forgiven. They can't just pick up where they left off… right?
 

My Review:

Forever This Time by Maggie McGinnis is a second chance story that will grab your heart tight!  

Josie left Echo Park, and all the memories there, ten year ago.  She basically cut all ties with her family and friends to start a new life in Boston.  When her father suffers a stroke, Josie finds herself back in Echo Lake, surrounded by everything she tried so hard to leave behind.   If she looks hard enough though, she'll see that nothing really stays the same...

Ethan is the man who was her first love, her first everything.  He is the man who's heart she broke when she left, the man who has never really gotten over her.  And try as he might, when Josie reappears in his life, he can't ignore the feelings that still linger.

Josie is packing a lot of emotional baggage and some bitterness, but I admired her because she came back to a place where she couldn't be sure of her welcome.  A place that holds a lot of bad memories for her.  But all the memories are not bad, and the longer Josie is in Echo Park, the more she sees how people and things have both stayed the same, and yet changed at the same time.  Her feelings for Ethan have definitely not changed.  At an emotional time in her life, Josie is not sure what her future will hold now.  It took me a while to understand everything that was going on in Josie's mind and what drove her away, but I liked her.  I liked that she still cared enough for her family to come back to a place she claimed to hate, and she didn't hide while she was there.  She didn't push her way into anything or at anyone, but she stood her ground and did what she could.  She is determined and strong, despite the inner conflict she is experiencing.  It was a fulfilling journey to go on with Josie as she came to terms with her past, her present, and her future.  I really liked Ethan.  He could have been a lot meaner to Josie than making her dress up in costumes for Snowflake Village, but he understands more than she thinks he does, and he really cares.  I could really feel this through out Forever This Time.   It is not an easy road Josie and Ethan find themselves on, and the obstacles they have to deal with and overcome made them believable.   Their actions and feelings made them real.

I liked the dual third person POV in Forever This Time.  Written this way, I felt like I could really get into the characters heads and be part of their lives.

There are great secondary characters in Forever This Time who were all part of Josie's past as well.  Some still harbor ill feelings and hurt where she is concerned, others are much more supportive.  I liked how all of the characters evolved and grew through this story.  They all had something relevant to contribute, making the plot multi dimensional and very interesting.

I loved seeing Josie discover how much has changed since she's been gone, and the struggle she has to accept that it is real, to trust again.  It made me feel hopeful and good that she was trying to do this.  Josie gets a second chance at love and so much more...will she take the chance though?

Filled with emotion, family dynamics and relationship challenges, there is enough chemistry between Josie and Ethan to make things hot without having to go into explicit detail.  This works perfect for this story.  The pace is great and the pages flew by.  I'd recommend Forever This Time to any romance reader!

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Review: Heartsong Cottage (Eternity Springs #10) by Emily March



Book Blurb:

Daniel Garrett is no stranger to heartache or tragedy. Once a successful detective, his world fell apart with his son's murder and his wife's suicide. Leaving the police force, Daniel devotes his life to finding missing children, but when a case goes sour on the anniversary of his personal tragedy, he returns to Eternity Springs hoping for some of the town's fabled healing.

Shannon O'Toole isn't looking for romance. After her fiancé's death, she closed off her heart. But she can't deny the spark between her and a sexy stranger at a friend's wedding. Shannon has her own secrets and has no place in her life for a private detective, even one who moves her as much as Daniel. But when the pair are thrown together on a case, the magic of Eternity Springs just might give them a second chance.

My Review:

Emily March took me right into the community of Eternity Springs and Daniel and Shannon's lives in Heartsong Cottage.  I felt like I was right there with them!

Heartsong Cottage has it all...a little suspense, lots of romance, hope, heart ache, love, and joy.  Emily evokes powerful emotions with her writing.  She writes about a difficult, tragic subject sensitively and realistically.  She drew me right into the lives of Daniel and Shannon.  I really enjoyed these mature, believable characters.  They both have tragedy and loss in their pasts, and have dealt with it the best way they can.  Shannon is still fearful and always looking over her shoulder.  Daniel's past has driven him to where he is today.  Both of them are ready to move on from the past, but it is not going to be easy.   The relationship that develops between them is unexpected and slow growing.  This fits perfectly with the plot because these characters can't be rushed.  I liked watching their relationship grow, wondering if they have finally found what they need in Eternity Springs.

The plot flows well and is well explained with just enough mystery seeping through it.  The secondary characters are many who I have 'met' before in Emily March's Eternity Springs series, and I enjoyed seeing them again in the context of this plot.  While I think this book can be read as a stand alone, reading the whole series is highly recommended because all of the people who live here are worth getting to know.  It's a place I'd love to be!

I loved, loved how Emily March wraps up Heartsong Cottage in an unanticipated but highly fitting way that left me teary and feeling good.  I'd highly recommend Heartsong Cottage to any romance reader!

5/5 stars!

Purchase from Amazon.com

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Review: Her Secret Christmas Hero by Mallory Kane



Book Blurb:

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Allie McHale is spending this brutal Christmas Eve snowstorm in a barn in Marietta, Montana when suddenly she hears a horrible crash on the freeway near her ranch. She discovers a handsome lone survivor, a prisoner in handcuffs, and despite her apprehension about harboring a criminal, she rescues him anyway.

Jacob Reeves, on his way to Seattle to testify against his organized crime family, is miraculously saved by the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes on, who has every reason not to trust him, but getting through a freezing Christmas Eve forces them to work together to survive.

During the long night, their chemistry is off the charts and Jake realizes that Allie could be the love of his life. But as soon as the storm is over, he’ll be gone. Is Jake destined to break both of their hearts, or will a Christmas tragedy end in a miracle?

My Review:

Her Secret Christmas Hero by Mallory Kane packs a lot of emotion into a novella in a believable way.  Despite a very short period of time spent together, Jake and Allie come together in a magical way that made me believe in love at first sight.

The characters and their stories are unique, especially Jake's, and I felt like I got to know them really well in a short time.  I really felt for both of these characters and what they are going through in this point of their lives.  Allie is still struggling with the sudden death of her father and running the ranch, Jake comes from a crime family and is set to testify for the state against his family.  Through a twist of fate they come together at this time in their lives, just when they are feeling the most alone.  For me they just felt so good together.  But is it a Christmas miracle they found each other or will they lose each other just as quickly? 

I liked all the details that Mallory Kane manages to write into Her Secret Christmas hero, from the snow storm to the snow globes, to Allie's mare and her "baby horse", to the barn setting.  This really helped bring the novella to life.

The pace of the story is perfect for this magical Christmas novella!  Events happen over a very short period, and whether or not this happens in real life, it worked very well in this book for Allie and Jake.

A novella that will make you feel happy and hopeful, I'd recommend Her Secret Christmas Hero to any romance reader!

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Review: A Winter Wedding (Whiskey Creek #9) by Brenda Novak



Book Blurb:

One Christmas can change your life...

Kyle Houseman believes he'll never find anyone he could love as much as Olivia Arnold, who's now married to his stepbrother. Not only did he lose her, he's been through one divorce and has no desire to go through another. He's determined to be extra careful about the next woman he gets involved with—which is why he fights his attraction to the beautiful stranger who rents his farmhouse for the Christmas holiday.

Lourdes Bennett is a country music artist. She's only planning to stay in Whiskey Creek long enough to write the songs for her next album—the album that's going to put her back on top. Her dreams don't include settling in a town even smaller than the one she escaped. But as she comes to know Kyle, she begins to wonder if she'd be making a terrible mistake to leave him behind.

My Review:

A Winter Wedding by Brenda Novak takes us back to Whiskey Creek into the lives of a closely knit, unique group of friends.  This is Kyle's story.

I have always liked Kyle, from the pieces I've seen of him in other Whiskey Creek novels, and felt that he had a lot of depth to him.  This shines through in A Winter Wedding!  Kyle has definitely had his ups and downs...the love of his life is now married to his step brother, and Kyle himself was briefly married to her sister, Noelle.  Now he's dealing with an ex who doesn't want to let him go.  Staying in Whiskey Creek is what Kyle wants though, even if it means his chances of finding another woman to love are slim to none.

Lourdes is a country music star seeking her muse, finding herself, and looking forward to anonymity while she stays in Whiskey Creek.  Through a twist of fate, Lourdes ends up staying in Kyle's house with him instead of the farmhouse she's supposed to be in.  Slowly Kyle and Lourdes become closer, even if  a future together is impossible.  Because Lourdes is not staying in Whiskey Creek and Kyle is not leaving...but does it have to be that black and white?  I enjoyed getting to know Kyle and Lourdes, especially Kyle separately from the group of friends that this series revolves around.  They are all so unique.  I felt like Lourdes and Kyle were good for each other and that Whiskey Creek was good for Lourdes because it shows her a whole different side of life.  One that she likes.  I really hoped she could find a way to stay part of this place and with Kyle.

As we take the journey of Kyle and Lourdes becoming closer than either of them expected, Kyle's ex wife Noelle is a significant secondary character through out A Winter Wedding.  She is an interesting character and I wonder if she has some underlying psychological issues.  Brenda writes this character very well, and through this Noelle even had me believing her at times.  It was sad to see her unravel through the book, and I hope to find out more about her in future Whiskey Creek books.  As easy as she was to dislike, I found myself really hoping she would get some help.

We see and hear about characters from other Whiskey Creek books in A Winter Wedding, and I liked this carry forward, even if it is on the periphery.  I would recommend reading the other Whiskey Creek novels if you want to get a good grasp of all the characters and their backgrounds.  There is a lot going on in A Winter Wedding, but Brenda works it all together very well, and it plays like real life.

A Winter Wedding makes you believe in love, despite all the bumps in the road, and I'd recommend it to any romance reader.

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Monday, October 26, 2015

Review: Three Nights before Christmas (Montana Born Christmas) by Kat Latham


Book Blurb:

Have yourself a steamy little Christmas… 

After three years in prison, freight train engineer Lacey Gallagher doesn’t expect this Christmas to be very merry and bright. At least chopping down trees for her brother’s Christmas tree farm will help her save money to get her life back on track. All her plans derail, though, when her new job puts her in territory patrolled by the man who haunts her dreams—the forest ranger who sent her to prison. 

Austin Wilder isn’t thrilled about Lacey working in his forest—but he soon realizes he needs her help. His family is depending on him to restore an old steam train for a spectacular Christmas event, and train expert Lacey is his only hope of finishing in time. 

Working together challenges every assumption Lacey and Austin have about each other, and they discover a desire hot enough to melt even the deepest Montana snow. But will the season of second chances be enough to mend the most hardened broken heart?

My Review:

I really enjoyed this Christmas romance about unexpected love and second chances.

The main characters are unique and do not have a positive past experience.  I liked how Kat brought them together...nothing was instantaneous, it was a slow growth of a relationship that neither expected to go anywhere!  There are no secrets between Lacey and Austin.  What starts off as distrust, unease soon morphs into something much more positive when Austin needs Lacey's help to restore the old steam train.  The unanticipated attraction they have for each other can't be ignored for long, but can it go anywhere?  The past is a shadow between them, but will the light and magic of Christmas blind out the shadows?

I loved getting into this story.  The pace was fast and felt just right.  I really liked both of these characters, the strength and growth they experience in Three Nights Before Christmas.  They are believable people and I felt for both of them.  I hoped they could find their happy ending.

I loved the setting for this book, and the Christmas theme was very well done!  It felt so magical and I could picture everything through Kat's vivid writing and attention to detail.  I especially enjoyed the steam train and the concept behind it!  While it was good to catch up with characters from previous Montana Born books, Three Nights Before Christmas can easily be read as a stand alone.

If you are looking for Christmas miracles and a book that will make you feel really happy and good, I'd highly recommend Three Nights Before Christmas!!

5/5 stars!!

Purchase from Amazon.com

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Review: Until Death by Cynthia Eden



Book Blurb:

When Ivy DuLane witnesses a murder during the madness of Mardi Gras, she enters a deadly cat and mouse game with the killer. The city has gone wild with the annual celebration, and Ivy has to rely on sexy homicide detective—and her ex-lover—Bennett Morgan for help. But with every moment that passes, the killer grows bolder, and the body count starts to rise. It soon becomes very hard to tell the innocent from the guilty…especially since Bennett is keeping dark secrets of his own. 

UNTIL DEATH…a hot new romantic suspense novel from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Cynthia Eden. 


My Review:

I really enjoyed this fast paced romantic suspense set during Mardi Gras! Ivy and Bennett have a history, and just as he comes back for Ivy, someone evil also now wants Ivy. As the intensity of their relationship grows, so does the danger...and Bennett is determined to keep Ivy safe, because unknown to her she was also his salvation. Ivy is just as determined that she can keep herself safe, and their is all kinds of intriguing tension between Ivy and Bennett in Until Death.

Ivy and Bennett have both changed since they were together before...but the feelings haven't. Can Bennett keep Ivy safe, flush out a killer, and have a second chance with Ivy? I really liked both of these strong characters and I felt like I got to know them without feeling rushed.

I loved the twists and turns in Until Death, and couldn't put this novella down. Cynthia Eden does a great job of weaving romance and suspense so that they intertwine and move easily with the plot.

I'd recommend Until Death to any romantic suspense reader!

5/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com

Review: His Texas Christmas Bride by Nancy Robards Thompson



Book Blurb:

Join Becca Flannigan and Nick Ciotti as they promise to love, honor and cherish each other in front of their family and friends...and her baby bump! The blushing bride-to-be is carrying double duty& - twins -from one passionate night with a mysterious bad boy. When Becca lands in the hospital, who should treat her but Nick? He's the new doc in town, but his bedside manner is all too familiar...

Becca and Nick begin to bond, but can Dr. Delicious leave his painful past behind him to create a family of his own? Add in Becca's worries about her own future, and you've got one apprehensive engagement! With a little Christmas magic for the bride and groom, this may be the happiest-ever-after in Celebration!
 

My Review:

His Texas Christmas Bride by Nancy Robards Thompson was a well paced, enjoyable surprise baby read that made my heart feel so good!

I really enjoyed Becca and Nick as they embarked on this unanticipated journey to parenthood, whether it be together or apart.  How they find each other again after a one night stand three months ago is unexpected...and not especially how Becca wants to see Nick again after all that time (something that is understandable!).  Becca had been trying to find Nick to no avail...and now here he is...a man who she hardly knows who can still make her heart race.  There is no hiding her pregnancy from Nick, and together they must find the best way to move forward for the babies sake as well as theirs.  

It is not an easy thing for either of them to do.  Both of them have family dynamics that have helped shape who they are today, and they both still struggle with this and how it affects their lives.  Nick, with a family tragedy that tore his family apart and for which he blames himself.  Becca with a very domineering mother and a sister who she doesn't always get along with.  I liked how they inadvertently helped each other deal with their family issues, and felt that they were good for each other.  I especially loved how Nick was with Becca's family, how he stood up for both of them, but especially for her.  I could feel the strength Nick doesn't realize he possesses radiating from him as he had Becca's back!  I really, really liked how Becca reacted to this unplanned pregnancy.  She didn't push Nick away like too many heroines try to do, she didn't try to pull him in or tell him what to do...she simply was Becca, giving Nick someone to lean on who cared for him, showing him how good he was.  Making him see himself in a whole other light.  For me this made His Texas Christmas Bride a unique, satisfying read.

I liked the secondary characters, from Becca's friend Kate to her family to his father.  They all played important roles in this story, and I was very intrigued not only to find out what Nick and Becca's ending would be, but also how the family dynamics would play out.  I felt that Nancy wrapped this up very well, and she left me a little tearful!

I'd highly recommend His Texas Christmas Bride to any romance reader looking for a hopeful book that will leave you feeling happy.  

5/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com


Friday, October 23, 2015

Review: Unwrapping Her Perfect Match (London Legends #3.5) by Kat Latham



Book Blurb:

’Twas a week before Christmas, and at the auction house…

At six foot one, Gwen Chambers has felt like a giant her whole life. She’s a calm, capable nurse saving lives in a busy London hospital, but healthy men give her heart palpitations. When larger-than-life rugby player “Little” John Sheldon convinces her to bid on him in his team’s fundraising auction, she discovers how pleasurable heart palpitations can be.

A rugby player was stirring, with desire no one could douse…

John has wanted Gwen since he first saw her, but when he’s injured in a match just before Christmas he suddenly needs her too. Not only can the sexy nurse help him recover, but she might be able to help him look after his daughter—a shy ten-year-old who speaks only French.

But will it be a Happy Christmas for all, and for all a good night?
From decorating the Christmas tree to ice skating at the Tower of London, Gwen helps father and daughter open up and bond with each other—and she bonds right along with them. But when John’s agent calls with a life-changing offer, Gwen has to decide how far she’s willing to go for her perfect match. Will their first NoĂ«l also be their last?

My Review:

I was thoroughly entertained with Unwrapping Her Perfect Match by Kat Latham.  Unwrapping Her Perfect Match was full of realistic characters and real issues.  I hoped for a HEA for Gwen and John, and along the way they made my heart ache at times, but I also laughed and felt good reading their story.  I loved how Kat wrote a believable, well paced story that was also full of light!

Gwen is insecure, and uneasy to give her trust.  Larger than life John makes her feel things she never expected.  John is all alpha, and I can easily picture him in my mind!  He's used to hanging out with the rugby team, and what he says doesn't always come out right.  Unexpectedly John and Gwen develop a close and fast connection.  Gwen pushes away because of her insecurities and lack of ability even to trust her own instincts sometimes...but when John needs help she is by his side.  Through Christmas with a daughter he doesn't get to see very often, Gwen is along side with them.  Just when her heart starts to hope, everything looks like it is going to change.  Will Gwen have the courage to follow her heart and John?  Or is it over just as it's starting?

I loved these two characters.  I loved they came together and as fast as things started off between them, I liked how Gwen has the courage to put the brakes on and not just jump in.  Their relationship needed time to grow, for them to get to know one another and as difficult as it was at times for them in this short time they did work for it and each other.  Kat wrapped up Unwrapping Her Perfect Match so well and I felt like I was right there with Gwen and John.

A well paced novella that is easy to lose yourself in and not feel rushed, I'd recommend Unwrapping Her Perfect Match to any romance reader!

5/5 stars!

Purchase from Amazon.com

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Review: Jingle Bell Harbor (Bell Harbor) by Tracy Brogan


Book Blurb:

As assistant buyer for the world’s second-largest Christmas store, Kelsey Parker feels like a holiday harlot. She’s contractually obligated to promote the yuletide season. All. Year. Long. And it’s taking a toll on her spirit. But when her clueless, self-absorbed boyfriend goes on their long-anticipated romantic vacation—without her!—Kelsey is beyond disappointed to find herself tromping through the Bell Harbor snow instead of lounging on a tropical beach.
Drew Hampton is considered quite a catch among the Bell Harbor bachelorettes, but when his high school dream girl, Kelsey Parker, shows up at his grandfather’s Christmas tree lot complaining about her love life, he decides it’s long past time to get her under the mistletoe himself.
As things heat up between the two, a surprise visitor arrives, making Kelsey an offer she can’t quite believe. Now she must decide what matters most, and she just may discover the key to her happiness.
My Review:
I absolutely loved the small town, Christmas feel and love I felt when reading Jingle Bell Harbor.
Kelsey's love life is not so loving and her job has made her lose her Christmas spirit.  Coming home to Bell Harbor to care for her grandmother might be just what she needs, even if she doesn't know it.  Drew is a dreamy home town boy, thoughtful and oh, so attracted to Kelsey.  I really liked these two.  I could feel the pull between them, and they felt real.  I liked the unexpected, fun way they are brought together in Jingle Bell Harbor and where they go from there.  There are complications and some misunderstandings along the way, believable problems and happily no angst!   Have they both found what they were looking for when they least expected it?  Will Kelsey find the courage to follow her dreams?  
I loved all the characters in Jingle Bell Harbor, their uniqueness really brought this novella vividly to life!  There is a strong feeling of caring for each other from the main characters and the towns people, despite the quirky way of showing it at times!  I felt right at home reading this book.
Well paced and the perfect length for the story being told, Jingle Bell Harbor made me smile and I'd recommend it to any romance reader!
4/5 stars
Purchase from Amazon.com

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Review: Before the Storm by Leslie Tentler


Book Blurb:

Six years earlier, Trina Grissom disappeared, on the run for her life. Now living under an assumed identity—as Samantha Marsh—she still struggles with the dark secret she harbors and the fear she might one day be found. When she moves to the coastal town of Rarity Cove, South Carolina, to open a cafĂ©, a handsome widower begins to chip away at the walls she’s built to protect herself. 

Mark St. Clair lost his wife two years ago in a tragic accident. Head of the grand St. Clair resort, he distracts himself from his lingering grief by running the family business and caring for his troubled young daughter...until a beautiful restaurateur sets up shop in town. Before meeting Samantha, Mark was convinced he could never be drawn to another woman. But as his attraction to Samantha grows, the mystery surrounding her deepens. 

As the two begin a hesitant courtship, double perils emerge. Someone from Samantha’s lurid past comes calling, threatening to expose her. And a powerful hurricane is forming in the Atlantic with the small beach town in its path. Trapped in the storm by the brutal man who wants vengeance on Samantha, she and Mark must fight for their lives.

My Review:

The cover of Before the Storm by Leslie Tentler drew me in first, and her amazing writing very quickly had me mesmerized in this fast paced romantic suspense!

I really enjoyed Samantha and Mark's story.  Leslie kept me on edge between the suspense and the hope of romance woven into it all.  Samantha has a secret past she hides well.  She has done really well for herself despite it all, but there is always a glimmer of fear around the edges.  She doesn't get close to anyone, but is also not letting fear of the past rule her every move.  Mark runs his family's resort, and for different, just as painful reasons has no desire to be involved with anyone at this time in his life.  When Samantha and Mark are drawn together, the hint of attraction between them slowly builds.  But as a storm closes in on them, so does real danger...

I loved how Leslie wrote Before the Storm.  The place and the characters felt real to me.  I liked what Samantha was doing with her life.  She is a strong, brave woman who I could easily feel for.  Mark is struggling also, and his daughter is so sweet.  I liked that nothing was rushed between them, and that they were both struggling with believable issues.  The connection between Samantha and Mark is unmistakable, even if they are both reluctant to move on it at first.  There is a lot going on, especially for Samantha, and I liked how Leslie Tentler worked it all into this strong plot.

The secondary characters add a lot of interest and a real feel also.  Mark's brother was an interesting character to get to know, and he unwittingly moves the plot and danger forward!  I really liked Luther, who works for Samantha.  You will have to read the book to find out why, but he was just someone who I really liked and even as a secondary character he had a lot to contribute to the story.

The suspense is catchy and I loved where Leslie took this story, from the romance, the storm, and the fight for life.  She held my interest for the whole story with an exciting plot and great descriptions.

I'd highly recommend Before the Storm to any romantic suspense reader!

5/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com



Thursday, October 15, 2015

Blog Tour! Vivid by Jessica Wilde


Tour Banner Vivid

Title: Vivid

Author: Jessica Wilde

Release Date: Oct 11, 2015
Book Tour: Oct 15-Oct 28
Hosted by: Always Behind A Book

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Synopsis

Merrick Thatcher went through a hell that no one could possibly imagine. He fought to protect his country, his family, and the men standing at his side, but it wasn't just being a soldier overseas that changed him. He watched his friends die in front of him, felt indescribable pain, and lost his sight in the very same moment.

Badly injured, blind, and angry, he's done with war, but now he’s fighting his own battle. So, he’s waiting for it to end, spending his days and nights in a thick darkness no light can penetrate. Until Grace walks into his life and his broken eyes open to a woman that changes everything for him.

 

A story about two flawed souls finding love amidst the grief. A love that shines vividly, even in the dark, and discovering that sometimes being broken is how the light gets in.

For readers 18+ due to language, violence, and sexual situations

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Like many other foundations, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides assistance to injured soldiers as well as their families. SOWF also focuses on one of the most important challenges those families face; 'getting to their hospitalized loved ones as quickly as possible'. With grants immediately provided to the family, they can travel to be bedside with their loved one, especially for those crucial first days. SOWF also provides a scholarship program, family services (including clinical social workers, scholarship counselors, and family services counselors). With on-going support and helpful counseling to all families of fallen members in every branch of the military, they are able to help in all the ways that count. The SOWF was highly recommended to me by a recent veteran who served in Iraq. Therefore, I am thrilled to be able to help them in any way possible. Every little bit counts.

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excerpt

Grace moved closer, shifting her body so she could reach my face more easily. She ended up practically standing between my legs, brushing up against my injured one whenever she rinsed off the razor.

"Take a breath, Merrick. I haven't cut you. Not yet," she chuckled.

I breathed in her sweet scent, my head swimming with arousal. She had no idea what she was doing to me. All those months shaving with a tiny mirror stuck to the wall in my CHU had been frustrating as hell. I couldn't see shit in that thing. Now I very literally couldn't see shit and she was in front of me smelling like she did, being as gentle as she was, and all those memories didn't seem like such a horrible thing.

Because now I was experiencing something even more torturous.

She positioned the razor under my nose and expertly removed the coarse hair above my lip. What would she do if I just leaned in and devoured her mouth? Would I miss her lips completely or would she meet me halfway?

She gently turned my face and started on the other side. I didn't think having her shave my face would be this intimate. In fact, I was planning on it being annoying as hell since I thought she wouldn't really know what she was doing. Asking my mother had been an option, but I didn't want her leaving Mitch either.

"Almost there. You need a haircut, too." Her voice was rough and sexy, and I had to hold back a groan when it sent blood rushing straight to my groin. "I can style it for you so it stays out of your face, but I'm no good with cutting hair."

"That sounds good," I replied. God, if she didn't finish soon, I was going to do something stupid.

She raised my chin and carefully shaved my neck. When her fingers stroked my skin to check for any areas she missed, I swallowed thickly and lost the battle completely.

My injured and stiff hand found her wrist, slowly pulling the razor away from my skin. Her gasp sent my semi-erection shooting straight up to painfully hard. The skin of her wrist was like silk under my fingers, the tiny bones so fragile. I worried that if I was too insistent, I would hurt her with just a touch.

"Merrick?" she breathed, her sweet breath caressing my chin.

"Grace ..."

I felt her racing pulse under my fingers and pulled her forward until I could feel the heat of her face so close to mine. I raised my other hand to her waist and made a cautious path up, until I gripped the back of her neck. She didn't struggle or protest, and I hoped her accelerated breaths were telling me that she was feeling the same intense pull I was.

My dry throat finally found the strength to speak, even if it was just a whisper. "I would give anything to be able to see you right now." I pulled her face closer, until the tip of her nose touched mine. The sound of the razor falling to the floor, briefly registered in my mind.

Bio

I live in Morgan, Utah with my husband, beautiful daughter, and a couple of spoiled pups. If I'm not deeply involved in writing my next book, then I'm probably reading in the safety and quiet of my closet. I love yoga – which I now practice regularly – playing hide and seek with my daughter (only to have my hiding spots revealed by one of the pups), and I love Fruit by the Foot, Twizzlers and Peace Tea. These are great ways to bribe me into revealing secrets about what's to come.

I have an unhealthy obsession with Supernatural, The Walking Dead, and The Big Bang Theory. I also enjoy talking about them, so if you like them, too, come find me.

Writing has become an enormous part of my life and every book I write holds a special place in my heart.  If you read one of my books, I hope you have the same experience.

Author Jessica Wilde

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