#NetGalley Book Review: Nothing to Fear by Juno Rushdan

I liked the suspense and the unique characters in this romance.
Nothing to Fear
by Juno Rushdan

File Size: 1960 KB
Print Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (August 27, 2019)
ASIN: B07NRSHHWF
Genre: Action Adventure, Romantic Suspense, Terrorism Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

The clock is ticking.
Fearsome Gray Box operative Gideon Stone is devoted to his work and his team. He's never given reason to doubt his loyalty...until he's tasked with investigating Willow Harper, a beguiling cryptologist suspected of selling deadly bio-agents on the black market.
He knows she's innocent. He knows she's being framed. And he knows that without him, Willow will be dead before sunrise.
Thrust into the crossfire of an insidious international conspiracy, Gideon will do anything to keep Willow safe...even if that means waging war against his own. With time running out, an unlikely bond pushes limits—and forges loyalties. Every move they make counts. And the real traitor is always watching...

Review:
There is a mole in the secret, off the grid, government agency the Gray Box. Gideon Stone, Reaper, is one of the handful of operatives who is not under suspicion. He has been assigned to investigate Willow Harper, a cryptologist and computer tech wizard who is one of the suspects. Gideon believes that Willow is innocent, and his opinion is reinforced as he gets closer to her and learns more of her secrets.

When the evidence points directly at Willow, Gideon is convinced that she is being framed. He determines that his task is now to protect her and that they have to get out of the office before she is taken into custody.

Gideon and Willow escape the base under fire. They know they are on the run from their own team of operatives and soon they realize that they must survive professional assassins coming after Willow, and now Gideon too. The pair cling together as they dodge death and try to uncover the identity of the true traitor.

Meanwhile Gideon is trying to resist his personal interest in Willow. In his mind, she deserves better than a trained killer which is what he is when needed. Willow is enthralled by Gideon and his ability to survive a troubled childhood and a brutal occupation. She would like nothing better than to steal moments with him, even for a limited time. But if she gets her wish will she really be able to step back into a co-worker attitude? And will Gideon be able to turn his back on her?

I really liked the unusual personal issues that Willow has to deal with. This added a special element to the story and her relationship with Gideon. As in the first book, Every Last Breath, the plot is suspenseful, tension-filled and intense. Unfortunately, I felt this book was more focused on the sexual tension and relationship between Willow and Gideon than on the traitor and underlying enemy issues. I don’t mind character chemistry, but I prefer it when that is the second element with the suspense taking priority. I still enjoyed the story but would be a bit more cautious about jumping into the third book. I can recommend this as a strong romantic suspense and a good read for those who enjoy focus on the personal/sexual elements.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley goal.

#NetGalley Book Review: Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym Martineau

This is wonderfully creative and intense!

Kingdom of Exiles
by Maxym Martineau

File Size: 3057 KB
Print Length: 448 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (June 25, 2019)
ASIN: B07MZHRNCC
Genre: Action and Adventure, Romantic Fantasy
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Description:
My heart wasn’t part of the deal when I bargained for my life,
But assassins so rarely keep their word.
Exiled Charmer Leena Edenfrell is running out of time. Empty pockets forced her to sell her beloved magical beasts—an offense punishable by death—and now there’s a price on her head. With the realm’s most talented murderer-for-hire nipping at her heels, Leena makes Noc an offer he can’t refuse: powerful mythical creatures in exchange for her life.
Plagued by a curse that kills everyone he loves, Noc agrees to Leena’s terms in hopes of finding a cure. Never mind that the dark magic binding the assassin’s oath will eventually force him to choose between Leena’s continued survival…and his own.

Review:
Leena is a beast Charmer exiled from her beloved community by a vicious lover. The council believed him because he was older and on the council. Leena has since had to sell beasts which isn’t permitted. Leena is determined to tame a council level beast and return to prove her innocence. But someone has other plans – they have engaged one of the most powerful assassin groups, the Cruor, to kill Leena.

Leena manages to capture the first assassin sent after her. She returns to the Cruor lair to try to negotiate for her life. She meets Noc, the leader of the dark shadowy group. She is able to make a deal to provide his people with four magical creatures in exchange for her life. She doesn’t realize there is a loophole to his contract and she has no idea that he is burdened by a curse.

Noc’s curse brings death to those he loves. He has seen the devastation and now must hold himself aloof or risk even his brother assassins.

As Noc and a handful of his leaders travel with Leena to allow her to capture their beasts, they all grow in respect for the caring nature of their ‘target’. Especially Noc is conflicted by his growing attraction which he cannot allow without a cure for his curse. Noc believes that Leena may be able to provide him with a creature that can fulfill the wish to end his curse. Leena tries to warn him that such wishes come with unexpected and usually damaging consequences, but Noc is desperate.

I was captured by this story from beginning to end. The characters are intense as is the tension.
Early on I was struck by the risks and extreme choices being set up for the hero and heroine to face. The creatures tamed by Leena are wonderfully creative and imaginative. There is a strong sexual scene at bout 70% in and another near the end, but these are fitting to the intense romance that is developed. It is secondary to a well-developed, action packed, intriguing plot.

I definitely want to read the next book in the series. I cannot think of any reason not to give this 5 stars. I highly recommend this to readers who like intrigue, fantasy and tension filled romance; magical beasts are great too.

Source: 2019 NetGalley; Release date June 25, 2019. This qualifies for 2019Alphabet and 2019NetGalley goals.

Book Review: Must Love Babies by Lynnette Austin

This is a fun, charming romance with a baby and vintage cars.
Must Love Babies
by Lynnette Austin

File Size: 1764 KB
Print Length: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (June 5, 2018)
ASIN: B079JVCHTX
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small Town
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

This baby's not the only one in need of a cuddle...
Brant Wylder is a bachelor and loving it! He's in Misty Bottoms, Georgia, property-hunting for his vintage car repair shop when he gets the call. His sister's been in an accident, and Brant has to drop everything and take care of his five-month-old nephew. That's the end of the bachelor lifestyle.
Bridal boutique owner Molly Stiles is all business all the time, until she sees that Brant's in trouble. In this Southern town, nobody ever has to go it alone. And besides, how can she resist that beautiful baby in the arms of a beautiful man...?

Review:
Brant has his bachelor eye on Molly Stiles although he knows he shouldn’t move on his interest since she doesn’t seem an easy, limited time date. Still, he can enjoy looking. When his sister is hospitalized after a car accident, Brant is called in to take care of his five-month-old nephew. This ends his loose bachelor days and he is glad to find Molly is willing to help him out. She might not have a lot of experience with infants, but she does love babies.

Molly has trauma from her young years and men who leave. She has a To-Do schedule that keeps her career in focus and finding a boyfriend out a few years. She might have been able to resist Brant when she thought he was single, trouble and leaving town to boot. Now he is not only planning to move his business to Misty Bottoms, but it is clear he can use help and support with the infant he is caring for. Surely she can help him and keep to her To-Do time line… if only he wasn’t pushing to change the schedule.

These are both charming characters. Brant is quick to step up to help his family and he is consistently a gentleman with Molly (despite his mental thoughts). Molly has made a successful start of her own business but has emotional baggage to work through. The interaction with the baby is natural and fun (think first time diaper changes, feeding and bathing). Brant’s brothers and their vintage car business, as well as a surprise celebrity wedding, add to the story.

I enjoyed the easy flow of the dialogue and the struggles both characters go through to overcome their internal resistance to commitment. Although the story is fairly predictable, it is nicely handled and there are a few surprises as Molly faces her background disappointment. I recommend this to readers who enjoy strong romance where the guy has to convince the girl to take a chance on love.

Source: Author Marketing Experts. This will qualify for a 2018 review for my 2018 Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: On the Chase (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit Book 2) by Katie Ruggle

I like this author for fast-paced action, sweet romance between likeable characters – and canine characters too.
On the Chase (Rocky Mountain K9 Unit Book 2)
by Katie Ruggle

File Size: 2103 KB
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 5, 2017)
ASIN: B01ND1K3M6
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Small Town
My Rating 4.25 of 5.0

An Amazon Best Book of the Month
“Vivid and charming.”—CHARLAINE HARRIS, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series
Injured in the line of duty,
His orders are simple:
Stay alive.
But when a frightened woman bursts into his life, Hugh and his K9 companion have no choice but to risk everything to keep her safe.
The sole witness to a horrific crime, Kaylee Ramay flees to the Colorado Rockies to start a new life. There she becomes Grace, a dog kennel employee desperately trying to avoid attention—especially from dangerously attractive K9 Officer Hugh Murdoch.
Because Hugh is tall, dark…and nothing but trouble.
Hugh is anxious to get back in the field after an act of heroism left him warming the bench.
Until then, he and his K9 partner Lexi spend their hours teasing the town’s mysterious newcomer. But when their simmering attraction is nearly cut short by a sniper’s bullet, Hugh’s mystery woman must come clean about the secrets she keeps…
Or both of them will pay the price.

Review:
Kaylee is attending a socialite dinner with her almost “Disney Prince” boyfriend when a wrong turn has her uncovering a crime situation. She manages to escape the last-minute grab of the dinner host but is afraid to go home. A friend helps her get out of town, hidden in the small town of Monroe, CO, where she is known as Grace and must find any job to make a living.

Hugh has been injured and is supposed to be recovering and staying out of the field. But ‘cop mode’ runs in Hugh’s blood and he has a hard time sitting home, even under orders that he is not allowed on scene or at the station. Hugh is really stressed since the force is trying to catch a drug smuggler who keeps sliding through his small town of Monroe.

Hugh meets Grace and, besides being stunned by her good likes, he is immediately suspicious and tries digging for the truth. Grace tries to avoid Hugh but they are like magnets drawing together. After several near-death events, Grace reveals her past thinking that the dangerous bad guy has found her. Hugh still thinks the attempts are against him, not her, but he isn’t about to let her problem rest either.

I liked Kaylee/Grace and Hugh right away. The beginning is fun and quickly moves into high adrenaline action. The story has some crazy moments and there are character actions that caused the reaction “what are you thinking?”. I like the other officers, including the canine characters. The ending seemed a little rushed and I would’ve liked a little more detail on the bad guy’s activities. Also, there were a few incidents of unnecessary (IMHO) ugly language. Still, all in all, I completely enjoyed the fast-paced story and strong romantic chemistry without overdone sexual aspects.

I am always comfortable picking up a Katie Ruggle title as I am confident I will get a good story that includes danger, action and sweet romance. I may have to go back and read the other stories in this series so I don’t miss anything. I recommend this series to readers who enjoy a good romantic suspense that is full on action and nice romance.

This type of phrasing (location 2899) had me chuckling:

“In fact, the love semitruck was tumbling down the mountainside at high speed with no brakes, about to run her over, flatten her on the pavement and leave its Hugh-shaped tire tracks all over her heart.”

I received this through NetGalley and it qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Wolf Hunt (SWAT Book 6) by Paige Tyler

This is an engaging shifter story with strong passion and a good plotline.

Wolf Hunt (SWAT Book 6)
by Paige Tyler

File Size: 1634 KB
Print Length: 352 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1492642347
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (June 6, 2017)
ASIN: B01MQPZGPV
Genre: Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Werewolves
My Rating 4.25 of 5.0

A STORM IS BREWING...
Remy Boudreaux is back in his hometown, New Orleans. He's there with three of his fellow Dallas SWAT officers for a week of training with the NOLA PD. On the eve of a tropical storm, Remy and his buddies prowl the French Quarter. One tantalizing scent captures Remy's senses, forcing him to follow until he is face to face with Triana Bellamy—his beautiful high school crush.
After reconnecting, Remy and Triana are close—very. Remy struggles to keep things casual. Ever since his partner—and first love—was killed on the job, he's kept women at a distance.
But when a mysterious wolf pendant ropes them both into danger, Remy's protective instincts kick in. He may have to reveal his true self...and hope Triana accepts him.

Review:
Remy is a Dallas SWAT officer visiting in New Orleans, his home town, for cross training with local cops. No one knows that the four Dallas men have special skills and they have to be careful not to expose their true wolf natures. Remy hits on an enticing scent and pulls his team mates along the night club route as he seeks out the source. Remy is surprised when his nose leads him to his high school crush, Triana.

Triana is a forensic lab tech who is in town to visit her mother. She is thrilled to see Remy as she had a crush on him too. The chemistry between them flares quickly even though Remy has convinced himself he doesn’t want to get too close to any woman since he suffered the loss of a partner whom he had fallen in love with.

Triana’s mother is being pressured to sell her husband’s special wolf pendant. Although she has told the buyer’s agent that she doesn’t have it, he won’t take no for an answer. Thugs return to put more pressure behind the request but they are surprised when Remy steps in to handle the threat. Although they retreat, the threat hasn’t disappeared.

Remy and his team are called upon to assist in a drug raid that leaves a lot of unhappy cops. Meanwhile, a tropical storm is bearing in on the city but these issues raise less havoc than the conflict Remy faces from trying to resist his natural instinct to protect Triana, especially since he won’t admit he could love her.

The story is full of action and steamy passion. It reads quickly and is engaging. The characters are likeable and although the romance is a bit hotter and the scenes a bit more prevalent than I care for, they don’t overshadow a strong plotline. The author does a good job of connecting Triana’s parents’ past with the current situation.

This is the first story I have read in this series and I enjoyed it even as a standalone. I am guessing that the earlier stories are of the other SWAT members finding and protecting their “true mates”. Since I enjoy a good shifter story now and again I will be keeping Ms. Tyler and this series in mind for future reading. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a passionate shifter romance with a strong story.

I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Just in Time for a Highlander (Sirens of the Scottish Borderlands) by Gwyn Cready

I found this story fun, active and entertaining.

Just in Time for a Highlander (Sirens of the Scottish Borderlands)
by Gwyn Cready

• File Size: 1119 KB
• Print Length: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 3, 2015)
• ASIN: B00NH1UK40

Genre: Time Travel, Highlander
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 3, 2015
From RITA winner Gwyn Cready comes a Scottish borderlands time travel romance perfect for fans of Outlander

For Duncan MacHarg, things just got real...
Battle reenactor and financier Duncan MacHarg thinks he has it made-until he lands in the middle of a real Clan Kerr battle and comes face to face with their beautiful, spirited leader. Out of time and out of place, Duncan must use every skill he can muster to earn his position among the clansmen and in the heart of the devastatingly intriguing woman to whom he must pledge his oath.

Abby needs a hero and she needs him now
When Abigail Ailich Kerr sees a handsome, mysterious stranger materialize in the midst of her clan's skirmish with the English, she's stunned to discover he's the strong arm she's been praying for. Instead of a tested fighter, the fierce young chieftess has been given a man with no measurable battle skills and a damnably distracting smile. And the only way to get rid of him is to turn him into a Scots warrior herself-one demanding and intimate lesson at a time.

Review:
Duncan is a handsome, modern day financier, He is accustomed to being successful in the boardroom and the bedroom. As he is participating in a SScottishbattle reenactment he suddenly finds himself in the middle of a real-life battle between Scottish Highlanders and the British. Duncan is trying to help a young boy under attack when he is hit by an arrow shot by a fierce young woman who is apparently the Scottish leader.

Abigail Kerr has her hands full as a reluctantly accepted chieftess of her clan. She has reached a rocky peace with the British and wants to get a loan to build a canal on the clan property, even while they struggle to pay the annual taxes. The favored solution is for her to marry her childhood friend, cousin and leader of a neighbor clan, Rosston Kerr. He is more than ready to bring his wealth and rule the clan as only a true Scotsman can. Abby is convinced that she doesn’t need to marry but she does need a strong arm to stand by her side as she leads. She is shocked to discover a strange foreigner who barely knows how to fight is to be that strong arm.

In only a matter of days (or was it more like hours) Abigail is kissing Duncan and tempting him. He’s not one to resist long and soon they are entangled in intimacies as well as the other material problems. He is convinced he can help her but he has a lot to learn of the times and ways. Undine, Abby’s potion brewing friend, is the one responsible for the magic that brought Duncan back in time. She explains that he must fulfill his purpose before he can return to his own time. He doesn’t have a choice even if he wanted to stay and even if the fulfillment of his mission results in Abby marrying his rival, Rosston.

I can appreciate the difficulties Abby faced as a female in a time when women were possessions, not leaders. She has to walk a fine line between independence and duty to her clan. I liked Duncan’s willingness to be what Abby needed and, even more, his willingness to accept her strengths. They both had flaws that contributed to conflicts. There was a goodly amount of sensual tension and involvement in a very short time.

I especially enjoyed the bit of mystery that simmered behind the clan difficulties. I also liked the interesting modern references and double entendres that were humorously blended with the past circumstances. I wanted to learn the solution to Serafina’s problem but that was a thread that was left loose for another story apparently. I definitely liked the time travel element which gave more interest beyond the highlander romance. All in all I found the story fun, active and entertaining.

I received this through Sourcebooks at NetGalley for an honest review.
I am counting it towards my NetGalley Challenge, TBR Double Dare, Winter COYER, and Alphabet Soup.

Book Review: What a Lady Needs for Christmas (MacGregor Series) by Grace Burrowes

I really enjoyed this story with warm characters and a sweet building romance.
What a Lady Needs for Christmas (MacGregor Series)
by Grace Burrowes

• File Size: 1325 KB
• Print Length: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (October 7, 2014)
• ASIN: B00L5QGB7O
• Genre: Historical Romance
• My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 7, 2014
The Best Gifts are the Unexpected Ones...
To escape a scandal, Lady Joan Flynn flees her family's estate in the Scottish Highlands. She needs a husband by Christmas, or the holidays will ring in nothing but ruin.
Practical, ambitious mill owner Dante Hartwell offers to marry Joan, because a wellborn wife is his best chance of gaining access to aristocratic investors.
As Christmas—and trouble—draw nearer, Dante and Joan's marriage of convenience blossoms into unexpected intimacy, for true love often hides beneath the most unassuming holiday wrapping...

Review:
Lady Joan returns from a night where she hoped to share her dress sketches with another fashion enthusiast. Instead she was slowly primed with drink so that she doesn’t fully remember what happen. But she thinks that she has been compromised and after a week or so she begins to fear she may be pregnant. She seeks to escape Edinburgh to spend Christmas in Scotland where family are to meet. She is having trouble getting a ticket for the train until Dante Hartwell and his young daughter step up and invite her to join them in their train cars.

Mr. Hartwell is “an unlikely” rescuer. He is a Scotsman and a man in trade as the owner of several mills. He is a widower with two children, Charlie the exuberant child and Phillip the serious plodder. Dante’s sister, Margaret, is along to help and her presence makes it possible for Lady Joan to join their group. Dante had been in town looking to find a wife but felt out of place, not knowing the right protocols of the aristocracy.

Lady Joan longs for more than being a sedentary English aristocrat lady. She loves fabrics and designing and would truly love to work in fashion if only that were permitted and... provided she can deal with a child. Dante is a man in trade who wants an introduction to English aristocrats who might invest in his mills. He also needs a wife for his high spirited children. These might not seem like a likely pair but bit by bit they realize they like each other’s qualities. They decide to marry as a means of fulfilling each other’s needs. But they both hope for more and are excited to discover that love can grow, especially if they stop and communicate with each other.

I enjoyed the diverse views of the main characters and distinct personalities of the lively children. I also loved the descriptions that are rich with textures of touch and color. Grace Burrowes has an amazing ability to develop rich characters and build a warm, charmingly natural story around them. The sexual scenes are beautifully done to be an exploration of newlyweds, one totally innocent and naive and the other seeking to be gentle while finding a way to share passion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story and recommend this, and Grace Burrowes, to all those readers who love Historical, Victorian Romance.

I received this from Sourcebooks through NetGalley for an honest review.

Book Review: The Traitor (Captive Hearts) by Grace Burrowes

This Regency romance raises questions of betrayal when loyalties become blurred and difficult during war.

The Traitor (Captive Hearts)

by Grace Burrowes 

• File Size: 1310 KB
• Print Length: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (August 5, 2014)
• ASIN: B00HUTVG70

Genre: Historical Romance, Regency

My Rating: 4.25

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2014

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes delivers a passionate, danger-filled Regency romance...

The past will overtake him...

Abandoned in France since boyhood, despite being heir to an English barony, Sebastian St. Clair makes impossible choices to survive a tour of duty in the French Army. He returns to England hoping for the peaceful life of a country gentleman, though old enemies insist on challenging him on the field of honor, one after another.

But this time, he will not fight alone...

Millicent Danforth desperately needs her position as companion to the Traitor Baron's aunt, but grieves to learn that Sebastian must continually fight a war long over. As Sebastian and Milly explore their growing passion, they uncover a plot that will cost Sebastian his life and his honor, unless he does battle once more-this time in the name of love.

Review:
Millie has become a companion to Lady Frederica in order to get away from her own cousins who would use her as a servant or marry her off to a man she doesn’t enjoy. Lady Frederica is a fierce, eccentric and determined woman who loves her nephew, the ‘Traitor’ Baron, Sebastian St. Clair.

Sebastian has had a difficult life. As a young English lad he was taken by his parents to visit France and remained there with his mother when the truce ended. He was abandoned to be raised by his French grandparents when his mother died. During the war he found himself in the position of an inquisitor, interrogating captive British officers. Rather than have the officers killed at the torturous hands of his superior, Sebastian found painfully creative methods of obtaining secrets and managed to arrange for their ransom to freedom.

Now that Sebastian has returned to the company of his aunt and his lands in England, he finds he has no peace and his life is in danger. He is continually challenged by British officers who scorn him as the “Traitor” Baron.

As a man who tends to view the world in terms of military strategy, Sebastian finds Millie to be a breath of fresh air. He recognizes that she too has had a lonely childhood and a difficult secret. He patiently helps her face her problem but he dare not pursue a relationship with her considering the guilt and dangers from his past.

Millie is willing to help Sebastian face his own dark nightmares but she believes she is unworthy to be his Baroness, even if he was willing to consider a relationship. After all, what nobleman would want an uneducated woman as a wife?

I loved the flawed and vulnerable characters of Millie and Sebastian and I loved how they helped each other find their own strengths. Their conflicts, the military allegories, and the underlying danger, make for a finely choreographed dance to romance.

Beyond the romance there is the puzzle of the threats to Sebastian’s life creates an interesting mystery. The story has a good hook and although the early pacing was on the slow side it seemed fitting for the difficult time of putting war behind and starting a new life. The word I noted for the atmosphere is “mellow”.

I am sorry I missed the first book in this series which I will have to get. I really appreciate the fine characters and engaging plots that Ms. Burrows continues to share with her readers. There is always a rich background of history underlying weave of mystery and well defined characters that are packaged into a reliably engaging romance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sort of ironic nuance I really enjoyed:

He’d asked her for a single rose, and she had flung an entire bouquet at him.
...
And each of her roses came with thorns. [Location 2775-2777.]

I received this ebook from Sourcebooks through NetGalley.

Celebrate with Sourcebooks and Samantha Grace: In Bed with a Rogue Spotlight Tour

In Bed with a Rogue

By Samantha Grace

Soucebooks Casablanca

Historical Romance

September 2, 2014

ISBN: 9781402286612

$6.99/£4.99

Mass-Market Paperback

He’s the Talk of the Town

The whole town is tittering about Baron Sebastian Thorne having been jilted at the altar. Every move he makes ends up in the gossip columns. Tired of being the butt of everyone’s jokes, Sebastian vows to restore his family’s reputation no matter what it takes.

She’s the Toast of the Ton

Feted by the crème of society, the beautiful widow Lady Prestwick is a vision of all that is proper. But Helena is no angel, and when Sebastian uncovers her dark secret, he’s quick to press his advantage. In order to keep her hard-won good name, Helen will have to make a deal with the devil. But she’s got some tricks up her sleeves to keep this notorious rogue on his toes…

SAMANTHA GRACE

Historical romance author Samantha Grace discovered the appeal of a great love story when she was just a young girl, thanks to Disney’s Robin Hood. She didn’t care that Robin Hood and Maid Marian were cartoon animals. It was her first happily-ever-after experience and she didn’t want the warm fuzzies to end. Now Samantha enjoys creating her own happy-endings for characters that spring from her imagination. Publishers Weekly describes her stories as “fresh and romantic” with subtle humor and charm. Samantha describes romance writing as the best job ever.      

Website: http://www.samanthagraceauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Samantha-Grace/264436686918343

Twitter: @SamGraceAuthor https://twitter.com/SamGraceAuthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4946067.Samantha_Grace

Buy: Amazon | B&N | BAM! | IndieBound | !ndigo | iTunes

The six Samantha Grace books include:

·         Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel

·         Lady Amelia’s Mess and a Half

·         Miss Lavigne’s Little White Lie

·         Lady Vivian Defies a Duke

·         One Rogue Too Many

·         In Bed with a Rogue

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Book Review and Giveaway: The Trouble With Harry by Katie MacAlister

This is a fun historical romp!
The Trouble With Harry
by Katie MacAlister

• 
  
• File Size: 968 KB
• Print Length: 323 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0843951443
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (July 1, 2014)
• ASIN: B00J8QDJHI

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Enjoy unforgettable characters and irreverent laughs in the Regency series that launched the career of New York Times bestselling author Katie MacAlister
You think you've got troubles?
As a spy for the Crown, Lord Harry Rosse faced clever and dangerous adversaries-but it's his five offspring who seem likely to send him to Bedlam. At his wits' end, he's advertised for a wife and found one, but perhaps he should have been a bit more forthcoming on certain points...
Wait till you meet Harry and Plum...
Frederica Pelham, affectionately known as Plum, spent years avoiding the scandals of her past, and is desperate for quiet security and a chance to make a family. What she finds is a titled husband and five little devils who seem bent on their own destruction, not to mention hers. And while all kinds of secrets are catching up with them, Plum knows the real trouble with Harry... is that he's stolen her heart.

Review:
As a young woman just entering society Frederica Pelham, "Plum", met Charles who charmed her. Plum eloped with him and they were soon enjoying connubial bliss. Six months later a dismayed Plum learned that Charles already had a wife and the marriage was a fraud.  Shunned by family and society Plum is forced to live in the country in seclusion except for the company of her rather tomboyish niece, “Thom”, short for Thomasine.  Plum wrote and published a notorious book to raise money for support. It would be another terrible scandal if anyone learns that she was the author of the shocking book.

Harry is a widowed, retired government spy with five ‘rambunctious’ children. He decides to advertise for a wife and deems himself lucky to discover Plum. They marry a few days later, both hoping their secrets will be accepted easier after the fact.

Plum and Harry are looking forward to consummating their marriage but they are interrupted by first one child, then another...then a third. So Harry’s secret is disclosed pretty quickly and Plum has to decide if she is willing to become an instant mother to five hellions. Since one of Plum’s dreams is to have children she decides that she will be the best mother she can be.

Harry lost his first wife while giving birth. He doesn’t plan on losing Plum who is not only a lovely companion but she is an eager bed-mate and she is coping with the children. Plum believes Harry won’t give her a child because he doesn’t think she is a good enough mother to his active children who keep having dangerous accidents.

Thom runs into a young man she thinks is burglarizing a house during an evening dance. Nick helps protect the children from a runaway carriage but realizes it was a deliberate attack. Now Harry finally accepts that someone is trying to harm his children and his new wife. Meanwhile, Plum’s ‘ex’ fake husband comes back into the picture threatening her with blackmail.

The relationship between Plum and Harry is pure fun. I enjoyed that they are mature characters in their 40s. Plum’s indomitable spirit wins over the children and Harry’s support intimidates snooty society ladies who would question Plum’s background. Harry and Plum work a bit at odds but eventually get all secrets behind them and find a way to escape the dangers. There is some raciness with Plum’s connubial calisthenics, the topic of her book. Thom and the children add to the confusion and excitement as well and there is Harry's amorous butler, Juan, who is enamored of Plum. This is a good romp to enjoy when you want a light historical.

I received this title from Sourcebooks through NetGalley for an honest review. 

Giveaway:

I was glad to select this title as I had the 2004 print book in my TBR box. :-)
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Book Review with Giveaway: Desperately Seeking Suzanna by Elizabeth Michels

This is a fun historical romance with nice characters.

Desperately Seeking Suzanna
by Elizabeth Michels

• Series: Tricks of the Ton
• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (March 4, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-1402286025

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Her Cinderella Moment
Sue Green just wanted one night to be the pretty one. But a few glasses of champagne and one wild disguise later, she's in some serious trouble. Who knew the devastatingly handsome face of Lord Holden Ellis would get in the way of her foot?  And how exactly did all that high-kick dancing start in the first place? At least she blamed it all on her new persona--Suzanna. So Society's most eligible bachelor will never find out the truth.

All Holden wants is the truth. Who was that vixen who seduced him so thoroughly, then disappeared? The only one who seems to have any answers about Suzanna is Miss Sue Green. She's promised to help him find his mystery woman, but in truth she's not being all that helpful. And in truth, the more time Holden spends with Sue--witty, pretty, and disarmingly honest--the more he realizes he may have found exactly what he's been looking for all along...

Review:
Sue Green has been told all her life that she is the short, plain daughter. Her mother has disdained and discouraged Sue’s interest in painting so Sue has sold her works in secret. Four seasons without a serious beau seem to have proven her mother’s comments true. Sue’s younger sister, Evangeline, is the beauty who is about to have her first season.

Evangeline and their cousins convince Sue to sneak into a neighborhood masquerade ball since no one will know who they are. They sneak into a room and find champagne. After a glass or so Sue has loosened up and they modify her dress to be a little more brazen to fit with her chosen name, “Suzanna”. She leads the girls down a fancy stairway with a bit of a frisky kick. As she nears the bottom she kicks out and catches a man in the face causing a bloody nose. The handsome Lord Holden Ellis is immediately attracted to the feisty burnished haired vixen. He takes her upstairs to his room while he cleans up and they have an interesting encounter until they are interrupted. Sue barely escapes the temptation of Holden’s seduction, but while she is seeking her sister and cousins she is caught by her mother who is livid.

Sue is informed that if she hasn’t landed a husband by the end of this season she will be sent to live with her reclusive aunt in Scotland. Meanwhile her mother is planning to introduce Evangeline to Holden in hopes of making a good match.

Holden is eager to find Suzanna and continue what they started but he is led on a chase by the neighbors, Sue’s cousins. He meets Sue and is drawn in by her humor and her apparent refusal to fall under his charms. Although he continues to search for Suzanna he begins to enjoy his encounters with Sue until one day he uncovers her secret. He isn’t happy with her keeping secrets but then he has even bigger secrets of his own.

There are mixed messages between the two that frustrate their attraction. Sue is about to capitulate to Holden’s advances when she realizes he is not offering marriage. Holden wants Sue but he doesn’t think he can offer marriage because of the secrets he is hiding. He is all set to leave town again when his past comes back to put Sue in danger. Can he save her and make her trust him for a future?

Sue and Holden are fun characters with great rapport. I was a little annoyed by the game playing and mixed messages but I had to keep in mind the setting. There was sensuality without graphic sex. This was an easy read and all in all fun entertainment.

I received this book for review from Sourcebooks.

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WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after March 28, 2014.
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Book Review and Giveaway: R Is for Rebel: ...and Royalty, Relatives, Reality, and Running from love... (Unruly Royals) by Megan Mulry

This is a sassy, nicely written British style romance. 

R Is for Rebel: ...and Royalty, Relatives, Reality, and Running from love... (Unruly Royals)
by Megan Mulry

• Series: Unruly Royals
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (February 4, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-1402270031

Genre:  Contemporary Romance, British
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 4, 2014
Being royal isn't all it's cracked up to be...
Abigail Heyworth, youngest daughter of the 18th Duke of Northrop, is not your typical British royal—she'll take a recycling drive over a charity ball any day. She can't stand hats and heels. Abby's not getting much sympathy, of course, because everyone thinks the life of royalty is so charmed.

But to Abigail, keeping up appearances is unbearable, while running away doesn't seem to work either. Just when she feels like she's getting whiplash from swinging between flat-out rebellion to miserable capitulation, Abigail meets an all-American self-made millionaire who challenges her on every level.

It may turn out that what Abigail is searching for kind of resembles the American Dream...

Review:
Abigail is a mid-twenties modern day daughter of a Duke and considered British Royalty. She hasn’t flaunted her wealth at all but in fact has been a rebel to her family life-style, enjoying a long term relationship with her beloved friend, Tully. The two of them set off on good deed adventures, living with tribes and communes along the way. Even Abby’s own family members are not sure if their relationship was real or one of rebellion to spite her cold and proper mother.

Now Abby and Tully have parted ways and Abby decides it is time for her to find a meaningful purpose - job or career - for her life. As she contemplates that dilemma, and the fears it brings, she also realizes that for the first time she is attracted to a man. Not just any man, but a super powerful American fashion business entrepreneur who is surrounded by high fashion and powerful and poised women.

Eliot and Abigail have developed an easy going friendship over the past many months since they met. Eliot adores and is intrigued by Abigail=s natural enthusiasm for life. He convinces her to give them a chance and they have a wonderful visit with his parents in Idaho. They finally get together but when Abby thinks it is a quick fling, Eliot goes overboard and professes the level of his interest scaring her away.

A year later Abby is busy getting her new foundation properly established as it funds grants for worthy women’s interests. Her loving older brothers and brash sister-in-laws are worried about her especially when an engagement announcement for Eliot appears in the post. Even her stiff mother has softened finding a new love that has changed her perspective on love and motherhood. Can Abby face her fears and reach Eliot before it is too late to acknowledge their love?
I have to admit that I was turned off by the very beginning of the book. I don’t mean to be prissy or prejudiced but I don’t approve of lesbian life styles and I choose not to read about them. This is not a book about that but the beginning starts off with a lead that made it harder for me to warm to Abigail. I was also negative about the fact that she was leading a pretty purposeful life when there was much she could have been doing.

On the other hand, I liked Eliot a lot as a strong, warm, confident male character with grace and charm. I truly enjoyed the style of writing which has a very nice, real flow and a warm strength of description. There is some “British brashness” which is perfectly fitting for the characters. The supporting family members add their own spark, sass and charm to the story. The sex scenes get a bit steamy but are manageable.

Ultimately I enjoyed the love story as it ran through difficulties and then a second chance. The addition of the fiancé added some needed conflict that enriched the story. I had not read any part of the series so this works fine as a stand alone. Read past the opening passages and you will find a rather fun, charming romance.

I received this book from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

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* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 14, 2014.
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WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after March 14, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Attention Shana Galen Fans! A Pre-Order Gift Offer and A Giveaway from SOURCEBOOKS!

I am pleased to share this Pre-Order offer from our friends at Sourcebooks and after reading this wonderful, delicious sounding offer check below for a Book Giveaway opportunity too!

Sapphires are an Earl’s Best Friend Pre-Order Gift!

Send proof of your pre-order of Sapphires are an Earl’s Best Friend by Shana Galen (PUBLICATION DATE: March 4, 2014) and we’ll send you a Jewels of the Ton-themed package of tea and candy!

[HURRY BEFORE SUPPLIES RUN OUT!]  We’ll send this special tea to anyone who shows us their pre-order receipt until February 28, or supplies run out. Just email your receipt to casablanca@sourcebooks.com.

Additionally, everyone who sends us their proof of pre-order will receive an exclusive SECRET epilogue NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK! Once Sapphires are an Earl’s Best Friend hits stores on March 4, Shana Galen will send out an epilogue to the fans that pre-ordered the book.

That’s not all: everyone who sends us their proof of pre-order will also be entered in a random drawing for a Jewels of the Ton themed spa gift basket!

Be sure to follow Shana Galen on Facebook, Twitter, and her Website for more details leading up to the release of Sapphires are an Earl’s Best Friend, including more giveaways, more exclusives, and MUCH MORE of her fabulous regency romances!

The winner of the Jewels of the Ton themed gift basket will be announced on Shana Galen’s Facebook page on Monday, March 24, 2013.

Sourcebooks has generously allowed me to offer one winner a copy of the first book in the Jewels of the tons series:   When You Give a Duke a Diamond.
1 copy from the Publisher, US and Canada only.

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* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on January 18, 2014.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED in MONDAY WHAT ARE YOU READING POST January 20, 2014.
Winner will have 72 hours to respond by the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Jill Mansell

You don't want to miss this delightful read!

Don't Want to Miss a Thing

by Jill Mansell

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (November 5, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 1402283938
• ISBN-13: 978-1402283932

Genre: Romantic Comedy
My Rating 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 5, 2013

He knows all about women, or so he thought...

Dexter Yates leads a charmed existence in London, with money, looks, and girlfriends galore. Life's fantastic until Dex's sister dies and his world changes overnight. Astonishing everyone, including himself, Dex leaves the city behind, takes charge of his eight-month-old niece Delphi, moves to a beautiful Cotswolds village, and sets about working on his parenting skills. His neighbors, including cartoonist Molly Hayes, seem friendly enough—but Dex can't shake the notion that he's missing something important.

Review:
Dexter is a charmer who has done well in work and financial investments and has great success with the ladies. His is close with his sister, Laura, and is thrilled when she has a darling little girl, Delphi. But eight months later Laura dies unexpectedly having named Dex to be guardian of the infant girl. Dex may know girls but not infants and he is thrown for a loop.

In shock Dex leaves London and runs to a village where he had looked to purchase a vacation house. Dex recalls that even though many of the town folk were not so warm to an obvious outsider, the next-door neighbor, Molly, was really friendly. Molly is a cartoon artist who worked hard to get a strip that is syndicated and helps her make a living along with money she earns by teaching art classes. She is clearly warm, considerate and an encourager. She listens to Dex’s heartache and his reasons why he can’t raise his niece. She acknowledges those reasons but challenges him pointing out that if he loves Delphi he could be responsible for the child and manage to take care of her.

Dex’s life-style hasn’t exactly set him up to be recommended as a parent choice but he is determined to convince the social workers he can and will change. He decides to move to the village where he is sure he will find help in the better environment for raising a child. When he returns Molly instantly falls in love...with Delphi. But she has to resist falling for Dex too.

Molly apparently is the first woman to reject Dex’s advances but she feels she must out of self-preservation. That doesn’t make it easier to watch him start dating an attractive, outgoing pediatrician, especially since the match seems to please the locals.

As Dex struggles with parenting and Molly tries to protect her heart, there are other family dramas and relationships breaking down and being renewed in the village. Dex and Molly are the primary characters but the secondary characters also enrich the village life and the story.

I found the book delightful, easy to read and hard to put down. Dex may not be the most likeable character as a footloose, easy going playboy but he does have charm and he does mature. Molly is a dear from the get go and you can feel her conflicted passions. Ms. Mansell imbues the characters with natural emotions of doubt, insecurity, reluctance to be rejected, and desire to be loved and find the right person to love. I could feel the angst of the characters and that kept me pulled into the story wanting good things to happen in the end. Which it does and it is a wonderful journey getting there so you don’t miss the important things!

I received this ARC from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

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* This contest is open to U.S. address only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on December 6, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after December 6, 2013.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: To Have and To Hold by Leigh Greenwood

This is a solid romance with good characters and good movement in a realistic, historical setting.

To Have and To Hold
by Leigh Greenwood

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (November 5, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 1402284462
• ISBN-13: 978-1402284465

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 5, 2013
"Greenwood's books are bound to become classics."—Rendezvous
A Stranger to the Rescue
Colby Blaine has been a longer his whole life. And he isn't about to change now. But that doesn't mean he can ignore people in trouble. When he rides up to an inexperienced wagon train under attack, he doesn't hesitate to jump into the fray. It's only after the raid that he really lands himself in hot water...

Naomi Kessling is certainly grateful to Colby for saving her family and agreeing to lead their train to safer territory. But the man has an infuriating way of knowing just how to get under her skin—he asks too may questions about a past she doesn't want to remember, and his touch makes her long for far more. Yet the more time they spend together, the more Naomi sees that perhaps it's Colby who needs rescuing the most...

"Greenwood never disappoints. Continuous action, sharp intrigue, and well-rounded characters captivate."—RT Book Reviews.

Review:
Naomi is a strong young woman who has been the “mother’ in her family since the death of her mother. She helps her doctor father and has helped raise her two younger brothers, one 17, only a year younger and the other a 10 year old. Both boys are beginning to assert their own personalities. Naomi and her family are heading west on a small wagon train with all other families in their small Kentucky community. She doesn’t know the true reason they all decided to move but she suspects it has something to do with Union soldiers and perhaps something that is causing her unexplained nightmares.

When the wagon train is attacked by Indians they are saved by Colby, a lone stranger, who rides into their circle to help lead the fight. Colby prefers living his life as a lone wolf but he couldn’t stay by and watch without trying to help. Colby is impressed by Naomi’s bravery and determination as she helps defend the group and then helps reorganize the people, especially the hysterical young mother whose husband was killed in the attack.

Everyone else is friendly and welcoming to Colby except Naomi. He doesn’t understand her hostility towards him and wants to find out, especially since he is surprisingly attracted to her.  Naomi is afraid of the man in the Union Army uniform even if he does attract her more than any other boy or man she has met. He seems so capable in many things but she senses he is hiding a secret too.

The relationship between Colby and Naomi develops slowly through admiration and friendship. Eventually they will learn each others secrets but they will have to decide if they can risk trying to make a life together. The relationships of family and neighbors in the stressed community as it struggles on the trail makes an interesting background to the romance. Colby and Naomi are strong characters but a few of the other participant characters are developed enough to add interest and contrast. The story is not necessarily action packed but it has plenty of forward movement that kept me interested to read on to find how the issues resolved.

Although this may not be spectacular or flashy I enjoyed this very solid romance story. I recommend it to readers who enjoy sweet, historical romance with emphasis on the romantic development with addition of interesting historical detail. This was the first book I have read by this author but I am fairly sure I have another in one of my boxes and I look forward to reading it.

I received this ARC from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

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* This contest is open to U.S. address only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on November 29, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED after November 29, 2013.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone

This is an emotionally charged read where the characters have to overcome pain and guilt to find romance.

The Christmas He Loved Her (Bad Boys of Crystal Lake)
by Juliana Stone

• Series: Bad Boys of Crystal Lake
• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 24, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 1402274831
• ISBN-13: 978-1402274831

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
"Will appeal to readers of Cathie Linz and Susan Elizabeth Phillips."—Booklist
All he wants this Christmas is her...

In the small town of Crystal Lake, Christmas is a time for sledding, hot chocolate, and cozying up to the fire with those you love. For Jake Edwards, it's also time to come home and face the music. He thought there would never be anything harder than losing his brother. Turns out there is: falling in love with his brother's widow, Raine.

Ever since they were little, Jesse was the Edwards brother who was always there for her, and Jake was the one who knew just how to push her buttons. Raine can't imagine a life without them, which is why it was doubly decimating when Jake left town after his brother's sudden death. Now he's back and she doesn't know whether to be mad or thrilled. Maybe both. Or maybe it will be the perfect chance for both of them to finally find happiness again.

Review:
Raine is a young woman who has curled into grief after the death of her husband, Jesse. But there is more pain that she is carrying that isn’t revealed fully until late in the book. Raine grew up as a tag- along following neighbor twins, Jesse and Jake Edwards. Jesse was the serious twin although he also was a risk taker and mischievous. Jake has always been the more vibrant twin but he and Raine seemed to be combative, always going head to head in argument and discussions.

Jake came back alive from the middle east combat and is shrugging with his own guilt. He wasn’t able to save his brother who seemed to have thrust himself into danger. When Jake returned he realized that he still, as always, wanted what he couldn’t have – his brother’s woman, Raine. Jake panicked a year before when he took off after being with Raine briefly.

It is clear that Raine and Jake have deep feelings for each other. It is also apparent that they need to work through a lot of pain, grief, misunderstandings and even secrets before they might have a chance to come together for a future. 

There are additional supporting characters that add to the emotional trauma. Jake’s parents are also coping with the grief and loss and on top of that his father has been ill for the past year. Raine’s mother, who spent most of Raine's youth ministering to starving children overseas, is back and asking for a chance to be a mother. Jake has come home with a friend, Lily, who is fashion-model beautiful but also emotionally damaged. These people add different conflicts and stresses to Raine and Jake’s already strained relationship.

Although I was leery of the emotions as I started the book, I did become engaged and enjoyed the story. I wanted Jake and Raine to move along quicker to a point where they could accept their love and help heal each other. Of course, a big part of the story is their struggle to get to that point. There were a couple of gaps that bothered me, some more minor than others. Lily’s trauma was never explained although I suspect that is for another book. But the big gap was with Jesse’s mind set. There were hints that things weren’t right between him and Raine and there was a disclosure that he might have had a death wish but the reason was never discussed or revealed.

The romance is strong when they come together and there are a couple of intense scenes. These were nicely handled so they were not offensive and could be skimmed if the reader chooses. I felt that there could have been more depth in the characters. It was as if I was exposed to the top surface of pain and confusion and that dominated throughout. Still, the writing was strong and the momentum helped me ultimately enjoyed the book.

I received this book from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

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 For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is open to US or Canadian addresses.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on October 25, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after October 25, 2013.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.