Winner of Hellion in Her Bed by Sabrina Jeffries

CONGRATULATIONS

to the Winner of 

A Hellion in Her Bed (Hellions of Halstead Hall)

plus deck of cards and some swag!

 

I will email lucky Johanna to please send me her snail mail address.
Thank you everyone who entered. There were fun comments.

Thank you again to Nancy Berland PR for making the giveaway possible.

Giveaway - Recipe of Love Trilogy by Louisa Edwards

I had the fun to review book one and three of this delicious, sexy trilogy.
Thanks to Nancy Berland I am hosting this wonderful giveaway for all three of the books and there are yummy recipes at the end of each book too!

Can't Stand The Heat (A Recipe for Love)
On the Steamy Side (Recipe for Love)
Just One Taste (Recipe for Love)

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE TRILOGY:

1. Visit the author's website and tell me something fun that you found there.  Good for One Entry.
Please leave your e-mail!

2. Three Extra Entries:  Comment on the review and tell me who is the cook at your house?  At my house it is my DH. :)

3. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

4. For another entry, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

5. Two more extra entries: Comment on my earlier review of Can't Stand the Heat.
(Eight total entries possible.)
It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on November 4, 2010. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

Book Review: Just One Taste by Louisa Edwards

This books serves up a delicious feast of trouble and romance.
Just One Taste (Recipe for Love) by Louisa Edwards

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1 edition (August 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312356471
• ISBN-13: 978-0312356477

     Genre: Contemporary Romance
     My Rating:  4.5 of 5.0

He has a hungry mind.
Bad-boy chef Wes Murphy dreads his final semester cooking class—Food Chemistry 101—until he meets the new substitute teacher. Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is a feast for the eyes, though her approach to food is strictly academic. So Wes decides to rattle her Bunsen burner by asking for her hands-on advice—on aphrodisiacs . . .

She’s got love down to a science.
Rosemary is a little wary about working with Wes, whose casual flirtations leave her hot under the collar. But once they begin testing the love-enhancing power of chocolate, oysters, and strawberries, it becomes scientifically evident that the brainy science nerd and the boyish chef have some major chemistry together—and it’s delicious . . .

Review: A fun read with “delicious” writing.
Wes isn’t a “bad-boy” in the way that you might think as a playboy type. His “bad” history comes from a childhood on the “scam” with his con artist dad until the scams landed him in a halfway house. Which was really a good thing because it turned Wes around and gave him a goal for the future with his love of cooking.

When Wes first spots his geeky but sexy teacher (you know the kind hiding behind the frumpy lab jacket, hair pinned back and wearing thick glasses) he thinks maybe he can con...ah no, make that charm... his way into a good grade. Then things get hot in the lab and they both jump from the pan into the fire, so to speak.

Rosemary has an IQ off the charts but is naive on friendships and relationships having lived her whole life set apart from normal people and in the standoffish presence, or more often absence, of her wealthy, brilliant parents. She views most things in scientific black and white.  Unfortunately the bubbly emotions that come with Wes take a fast plunge when Wes runs off.

Wes takes off to try to protect Rosemary’s reputation. But leaving a note saying “I’m off to the job I always dreamed of” isn’t exactly brave or kind.  When they meet again he is thrilled to have a second chance but prideful Wes is going to hide his background at all costs, even if it means lying to Rosemary and losing her. This is really idiotic since it seems she could handle the truth.  But where would the betrayal and story be??  So with two strikes behind him, is there any chance Rosemary will trust him again?

Behind the primary story there is a strong secondary story involving the relationship trauma between the gay couple, Frankie and Jess. As in the first book of the series, this was nicely handled with good characterization and natural heartache and angst.

I enjoy the smooth writing with the very natural, true to  life, presentation of the characters. There are lots of apropos cooking phrases, like: “Drawn to her like butter melting toward the hottest spot in the pan....”, which are peppered throughout and add flavorful fun to the story.  I thought the ending was a little weak and would have liked an epilogue to tie up loose ends instead of leaving unanswered questions since this is the end of the series. All in all this is a sumptuous and satisfying romance.

One caution: The language is very strong and scattered throughout so be forewarned.

The ARC and trilogy for Giveaway are provided by Nancy Berland PR.

Review and ARC Giveaway - A Hellion in Her Bed by Sabrina Jeffries

The fast, easy flow of this character driven story make it a sure fire bet to please!A Hellion in Her Bed (Hellions of Halstead Hall) by Sabrina Jeffries.

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star; Original edition (September 21, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439167540
• ISBN-13: 978-1439167540

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Product Description
Furious at his grandmother’s ultimatum to marry or lose his inheritance, Lord Jarret Sharpe wagers his luck—and his heart—at the card table against a most unlikely opponent.Mired in scandal after his parents’ mysterious deaths, notorious gambler Lord Jarret Sharpe agrees to tamely run the family brewery for a year if his Machiavellian grandmother rescinds her ultimatum that he marry. But the gambler in him can’t resist when beguiling Annabel Lake proposes a wager. If she wins their card game, he must help save her family’s foundering brewery. But if he wins, she must spend a night in his bed. The outcome sets off a chain of events that threatens to destroy all his plans . . . and unveils the secret Annabel has held for so long. When Jarret discovers the darker reason behind her wager, he forces her into another one—and this time he intends to win not just her body, but her heart.

Review: I was drawn into this historical romance and swept right along to the end.

Jarret is clearly tortured and withdrawn as the result of the accidental shooting and suicide deaths of his parents when he was just a boy. He loved working at the brewery business with his grandparents when he was thirteen. Then he was sent off to school where he was sneered at and taunted by the bigger boys. Now he is not willing to get close or care about anyone or anything, even the brewery he once loved.  If he doesn’t care then he can’t be hurt if it is taken away from him.  He lives the carefree, reckless lifestyle of a gambler, never committing to relationships or work.

Jarret makes a deal with his Grandmother while she is recuperating from illness. He will manage the family brewery for one year if she removes her ultimatum that he wed within a year.  No one is sure if he can really do the job and he isn’t sure how much of a commitment he wants to make as his Grandmother could take it back from him.  Even though he seems to be a scoundrel, Jarret has a warm heart hidden behind his mask of indifference.

Annabel is the type of historical heroine I really like. She is intelligent, determined and loyal. She is running her family’s brewery business in the absence of her brother although she is not well accepted as a woman in the industry.  But she will do what it takes to save the family business, even if that includes seeking the help of a competitor.  Of course she thought she would be dealing with another woman brewster, not the rogue gambling grandson.

Annabel approaches Jarrett with an interesting proposition - business that is. When he doesn’t take her serious she challenges him to his favorite pastime: a game of cards. He ups the stakes when he makes the bet very personal.  Now with a turn of the cards they are off to a match of wits and luck.

Jarret brings out a passion that Annabel has successfully suppressed for many years. She has lived her life expecting to remain a spinster. There are secrets she needs to keep hidden and that Jarrett wants to uncover. But if he finds out some of those secrets, all bets are going to be off.

I really liked these two characters and the unusual plot.  The dialog was fast with a good deal of warmth and underlying humor. There are some questions still open at the end of the book but that is part of the series and I will be happy to read more of this series and Sabrina Jeffries anytime as I can always count on a satisfying read.

Thank you to Nancy Berland PR who provided the ARC and the pack of A Hellion in Her Bed playing cards for a giveaway with the book!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE ARC and Playing Cards:

1. Visit the author's website and tell me something fun that you found there.  Good for One Entry.
See if you can find William Shakespeare. :) 
Alternative comment:  Comment on the review or tell me if you have every toured a brewery. Good for One Entry.
Please leave your e-mail!

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For another entry, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Four total entries possible.)
It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on October 22, 2010. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

Giveaway and Review of A MATTER OF CLASS by Mary Balogh

"Just in time for Valentine’s Day, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh creates a classic historical tale that sizzles with romance and unforgettable drama. Mary Balogh’s A MATTER OF CLASS (January 2009) boasts a sweeping, historical romance in a compact novella format. Once you start reading this gem, you won’t stop until you’re rewarded with the beautiful ending."

The original of this review is posted at CataRomance Single Titles

Title:  A MATTER OF CLASS
Author:  Mary Balogh
Publisher:  Vanguard hardcover
Release Date: January 2010
ISBN:  978-1-59315-554-4
Price:  $15.95 U.S. / $20 CAN.
Author Website 

Rating: 5.0
Heat Rating: Sensuous

BLURB:  Reginald Mason is wealthy, refined, and, by all accounts, a gentleman. However, he is not a gentleman by birth, a factor that pains him and his father, Bernard Mason, within the Regency society that upholds station over all else. That is, until an opportunity for social advancement arises, namely, Lady Annabelle Ashton. Daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, a neighbor and enemy of the Mason family, Annabelle finds herself disgraced by a scandal, one that has left her branded as damaged goods. Besmirched by shame, the earl is only too happy to marry Annabelle off to anyone willing to have her.

Though Bernard wishes to use Annabelle to propel his family up the social ladder, his son does not wish to marry her, preferring instead to live the wild, single life he is accustomed to. With this, Bernard serves his son an ultimatum; marry Annabelle, or make do without family funds. Having no choice, Reginald consents, and enters into a hostile engagement in which the prospective bride and groom are openly antagonistic, each one resenting the other for their current state of affairs while their respective fathers revel in their suffering.

So begins an intoxicating tale rife with dark secrets, deception, and the trials of love—a story in which very little is as it seems.

REVIEW:
This novella offers an ABSOLUTELY CHARMING surprise!
I do enjoy Mary Balogh books as she writes such lovely characters and plots in historical romance.  I started this book expecting a “marriage of convenience”, if not hostility, and wondering where it would go.  Ms. Balogh did not fail to provide two families of interesting characters and a wonderful story twist!

Lady Annabelle Ashton is an Earl’s daughter who has been ruined by attempting to elope with her Father’s coachman.  The Earl is particularly upset as he expected to marry Annabelle to a wealthy mature nobleman in exchange for funds that the Earl desperately needs to recoup due to bad investments.

Reginald Mason is the only son of a wealthy businessman.  His robust father has longed to mix with The Ton and moved to an estate next door to the country home of the Earl of Havercroft in hopes of moving upward.  Unfortunately the Earl has refused to acknowledge the Masons or let his family even look at them in church!

Reginald was sent to the best schools to rub elbows with the elite of society and be prepared to marry into that society.  Reginald has spent the past year living a bit notoriously and incurring unreasonable gambling debts.  His father decides that is it time for Reginald to marry and settle down.  When Mr. Mason learns that his neighbor’s daughter is ruined he sees a perfect solution to his son’s situation and determines to buy his family an entrée into The Ton.

Reginald does not want to marry and certainly not “damaged” goods!  Lady Annabelle doesn’t want to be sold into a loveless marriage.  But does either of them have a choice?

I loved how the alternating chapters went back in time to tell a story of their own.  It took a bit of the way into the story before I got a suspicion of what was happening. When I did realize, I was ready to read the book again! By the end of the book I had fallen in love with both the hero and heroine!  This is another Balogh WINNER that you will not want to miss!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

One ARC copy of A MATTER OF CLASS will be awarded! 

A Big Thank You to Catareviews for the opportunity to review this and to Kim at Nancy J. Berland Publicist for sending this book and providing the giveaway of this lovely book!

1. Comment here telling me of another Mary Balogh book you have read or would like to read! (Use the author website link above to check other books!) Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win.
2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.
3. For another entry, share this giveaway on your blog, my space, facebook or Twitter and tell me where you shared it.
4. It is not necessary to enter separate comments unless you want them spaced out for numbering in the random number generator.
(Three total entries possible.)

• 
  
  This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
  
  
  
  
• No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

This contest will close Midnight (Central) on December 23, 2009. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

Winner of Can't Stand the Heat!

Thank you to those who entered the giveaway for Can't Stand the Heat!
The WINNER is:

LoveMyCoffee!

If you didn't win - read my review here
or check out the BUY link.

Title: Can’t Stand the Heat “A Recipe for Love Novel”
Author: Louisa Edwards
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
ISBN-13: 9780312356491
Pub. Date: September 01, 2009
368pp

Rating: 4.75 of 5
Reviewed by: MarthaE

Thank you again to Jeanne at Nancy Berland Public Relations for providing the ARC for this giveaway!

Review and Giveaway for Can't Stand the Heat!

Title: Can’t Stand the Heat “A Recipe for Love Novel”
Author: Louisa Edwards
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Rating: 4.75 of 5
Reviewed by: MarthaE

Buy Link: http://search.barnesandnob/hich/af0/dbch/af31505/loch/f0%20le.com/Cant-Stand-the-Heat/Louisa-Edwards/e/9780312356491
ISBN-13: 9780312356491
Pub. Date: September 01, 2009
368pp

Synopsis:
SHE'S HUNGRY FOR EXPERIENCE.
For sharp-tongued food critic Miranda Wake, the chance to spend a month in Adam Temple’s kitchen to write an expose' is a journalistic dream come true. Surely Miranda can find a way to cut the hotshot chef down to size once she learns what really goes on at his trendy Manhattan restaurant. But she never expected Adam to find out her most embarrassing secret: she has no idea how to cook.

AND HE KNOWS JUST HOW TO SATISFY HER CRAVINGS...
Adam’s not about to have his reputation burned by a critic who doesn’t even know the difference between poaching and paring. He’ll just have to give the tempting redhead a few private lessons of his own—teaching her what it means to cook with passion…and doing more with his hands than simply preparing sumptuous food.

Author's Biography
Louisa Edwards grew up in Virginia before moving to Manhattan to work with some of the biggest names in book publishing. She later moved to Ohio, where she worked as a restaurant reviewer. She decided to bring her love of romance and cooking together by writing the Recipe for Love series. http://louisa-edwards.blogspot.com/

Review: This is a very sassy and fun read! I really enjoyed it and found it hard to put down!
Miranda Wake is a great character as the bright, sharp-tongued food critic. Having lost her parents when she was just entering young woman hood, she is protective of herself and the younger brother she has had to raise and help put through college. She has never been able to really let go and open up to anyone else because of her self-imposed responsibilities.

Adam is another great character as a temperamental “artist” chef. He is very passionate about cooking and life! He surprises himself when he discovers he wants to share that passion with the feisty Miranda.

Miranda is determined to raise money for her brother’s tuition by doing an expose' book on Adam’s restaurant kitchen. Considering all the unique and crazy characters in the kitchen this seems easy at first. However, as Miranda works in the kitchen she gets closer to Adam and those other characters and the expose' becomes less attractive. Unfortunately someone else leaks her draft causing immediate betrayal and heartache.

It was clear that the author knows cooking (which I do not!) and I loved her use of cooking analogies which fit so perfectly with the storyline! Here is an example where Adam is describing Miranda's shoes to himself: "Bright, shiny with a glossy patina like you get on a good creme Anglaise, the color of pinot noir help up to the light. Heels like ice picks, and then above them, her legs stretched for miles, slender, perfect. Those shoes sparked his interest." Another describing Miranda's feeling happy: “Happiness bubbled through her veins, popping and fizzing like sparkling wine.”

I also loved the snappy repartee between not only Miranda and Adam but also among the other chefs in the kitchen. I liked the style of writing which has a nature feel – the way my own brain might think.

The plot moves consistently to keep the reader moving towards the train wreck you know is coming. When the betrayal occurs you get the full emotional, breath clinching punch of the heartache for both characters. Then you don’t want to put the book down or be distracted until you find out how the split is resolved!

The book includes some gay relationships, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that when I recognized it. The author’s handling of the issues is done in a way that is tolerant, not offensive, and adds an extra facet to Miranda’s story. One additional warning: In the first 30 pages the “f” word was used 4 or 5 times. This was SO unnecessary in my opinion. And I do not recall seeing or noticing it after that! I read a spiral bound manuscript arc so I do not know if those made it to the final print. Although the word isn’t pleasant, try to get past that because the book is worth the fun reading.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

A Spiral Bound ARC copy of Can't Stand the Heat will be awarded!

1. Comment here including a brief description involving food or drink- just something you like if you can't think of an analogy! Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win.
2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.
3. For another entry, share this giveaway on your blog, my space, facebook or Twitter and tell me where you shared it.
4. For another entry, go to the author's website [link above] and tell me something of interest you found there.
5. Leave a separate comment for each entry or you'll only be entered once. (This method is used to make it easier to put the entries into the random generator!)
(Four total entries possible.)

• This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
• No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

This contest will close Midnight (Central) on September 25, 2009. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

A Big Thank You to Jeanne at Nancy J. Berland Publicist for sending this book to me and providing the ARC for the giveaway!

Two Spriral ARC Books

Here are two spiral books I received for review from Jeanne at Nancy Berland PR. Thanks Jeanne!

(I know - I need to practice to get better photos!)

The books are:

Spinning Forward by Terri Dulong --- Giveaway and review already posted!

and

Can't Stand the Heat by Louisa Edwards---- reading now!!

A Thanks to Jeanne at Nancy Berland Public Relations

I am very pleased to be working with Jeanne at Nancy Berland Public Relations, Inc. to review some books! I met Jeanne at the RWA Bookfair in Orlando the end of May. She was sitting with Deidre Knight when I went to introduce myself! I had won Red Fire, the first of Deidre's Spartan Series, by taking "Ajax" on a transatlantic trip flying to Spain and cruising back on an Holland American Lines ship! My 4.5 review of Red Fire is posted here:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1CUKC8RLB5R1H/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Well- I wasn't going to post any pictures of me but Jeanne took one of Deidre and me so --- here it is:

Martha and Deidre Knight at RWA Bookfair May 2009

********************

A month or so ago Jeanne sent me Don't Bargain with the Devil by Sabrina Jeffries which is the 5th in the Heiresses series. I love series! I read book 1 which was recently re-released and the Need to Read and Gotta Read reviews for those books are here: http://yougottareadreviews.blogspot.com/search/label/Sabrina%20Jeffries

I have books 2 and 3 on my TBR shelf and I will have to pick up 4. But now I really want to get book 6, Wed Him Before You Bed Him, where Cousin Michael is revealed!

I am excited because Jeanne has sent me some more new books to read and review! I'll post about those soon! Thanks so much for fun reading Jeanne and Nancy Berland PR!