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Monday, October 14, 2013

Book Review, Feature and Giveaway Link: Lord Trowbridge’s Angel by G.G. Vandagriff

I found this Regency romance quite charming.
by G.G. Vandagriff
  • File Size: 382 KB
  • Print Length: 236 pages
  • Publisher: Orson Whitney Press 
  • (July 18, 2013)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • ASIN: B00E1ND0H2
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: July 18, 2013
The very handsome and very bored Lord Trowbridge knows something is missing in his existence. When he is asked by a friend to escort the seemingly quiet Miss Sophie Edwards to her first ball, he has no idea she possesses the key that will unlock him. It is her secret weapon.

Once he sees his own inner workings, his life unfolds in a different manner. He will do anything to capture the love of his "angel." Unfortunately, his old life and the shibboleths of the ton stand in his way. As he wades through these afflictions, Sophie is courted by another man. Who will she choose? How can he possibly show his love for her in a way as original and unique as she is? What are Sophie's feelings for him?


Review:
Sophia is a beautiful young woman who suffers a limp from a childhood riding accident. She remained in the country enjoying her violin skills rather than seeking the pressures of a London season. She finally comes to London for a come-out ball of a close friend and to visit family. There she meets the very handsome Lord Trowbridge.

Trowbridge is a known rake who is immediately charmed and smitten by Sophia who gives him tit for tat in their initial conversation. After meeting her he breaks off with his shrewish mistress, a married woman with whom he has become bored. He is surprised by the interest he feels for Sophia, his angel, based on their short association. Then he hears her music and it touches his heart and soul. He knows that she can give meaning to his life.

Trowbridge makes some wrong choices that place him at odds with Sophia and land him in a forced engagement to a young woman who is a friend of Sophia’s but has her own interest in Trowbridge. He has to extricate himself from the engagement and from the appearance of reckless, heartless behavior. With misunderstandings surrounding his actions, how can he manage not to hurt the friends reputation and how can he convince Sophia that he is sincere in his intentions and feelings?

Sophia is a charming young lady with strength of character to not be taken in by charm alone but also to allow grace and forgiveness. It was a little surprising that Lord Trowbridge made such a quick and complete turn from a rakish fellow to a fellow of purpose but it is not unthinkable. The descriptions were full so you could picture the setting, the attire and the behaviors. The writing style is gentle and sweet and reminded me very much of Georgette Heyer. This read quickly and I enjoyed the contretemps that occurred and the very sweet romance that succeeded through the obstacles. I would be glad to read more by G.G. Vandagriff.

Sophia’s attitude toward the ton and friends:
“I am content within a small circle of acquaintance. Instead of a breadth of friends, I infinitely prefer a depth of friendship.” Location 225.
I received this title to provide an honest review as part of BookBlast Blog Tour.

trowbridge tour

Praise for Lord Trowbridge's Angel

"Vandagriff's recipe for spinning a delightful story with so many unexpected twists and involvements is truly masterful." ~willsand

"Ms. Vandagriff is a master of description. She understands men and women and the nuances between them." ~ L. Glenn

"Vandagriff is quickly becoming an esteemed name on the shelves of regency romance. Lord Trowbridge's Angel is sweet, humorous, and of course romantic, and you'll become an instant fan." ~Heather Moore
trowbridges

Excerpt:
    “Are you really so anxious for me to stay in London, then? We have scarcely conversed, my lord!”
    Smiling, he brought his head down nearer to her face and whispered, “Has no one ever told you that you have the face of an angel?”
    Sophie looked directly into his eyes. “You are very extravagant with your compliments, my lord. I do not know what to say, except that I am no angel.”
    Trowbridge raised her chin with his fingers. “I dare you to tell me your vices.”
    Looking into the cobalt eyes above her, she consulted her conscience. “I do not suffer fools. I lack patience in general, as a matter of fact. I’m afraid my manner is too abrupt for society. For instance, my lord, I must say I really do not think you should judge by appearances. People with angelic faces can be quite horrid on the inside.” She reminded herself of this fact as she studied his perfectly drawn eyebrows.
    At that moment, they were rejoined by Lady Melissa. “Oh, my dearest Sophie! I do so long to have a comfortable coze. You must come for tea tomorrow afternoon. Have you been long in Town?”
    “I arrived two days ago. I should be happy to come for tea tomorrow.”
    Sophie’s friend turned her attention to Lord Trowbridge. “My lord, how is it you know my friend?”
    “I am her brother-in-law’s heir. At least, until he has male offspring,” the viscount said.  “He thought we would suit. We met only this evening, and already Miss Edwards tries to deceive me. She insists she is no angel. What say you?”
    Lady Melissa giggled. “An angel? Sophie? She is a very good girl to be sure, my lord. But not an angel by any account!”
    “Oh, I am undone,” exclaimed Sophie, holding the back of her hand to her forehead. “All is lost.”
    “I will consider her angelic until I have evidence to the contrary,” Lord Trowbridge insisted.


Author G.G. Vandagriff

gg vandagriffI realize that I am one of those rare people in the world who gets to live a life full of passion, romance, suspense, angst, fulfillment, humor, and mystery. I am a writer. Every day when I sit down at my computer, I enter into a world of my own making. I am in the head of a panoply of characters ranging from a nineteen-year-old Austrian debutante (The Last Waltz) to a raging psychopath (The Arthurian Omen) and four women at once in The Only Way to Paradise. Then there are the feisty heroines of my Regency romances . . .

I am a traditionally published,award-winning, best-selling writer who has recently gone Indie. I enjoy genre-hopping, having published a genealogical mystery series, two women's fiction novels, an historical epic, two suspense novels, five Regency romances, and a couple of non-fiction offerings.
With a BA from Stanford and an MA from George Washington University in International Relations, I somehow stumbled into finance. But, once my husband was through law school, I never wanted to do anything but write and raise kids. Now the kids are gone, but (even better) there are four grandchildren who provide my rewards for finishing a manuscript.

Aside from the grandchildren, my favorite things include: Florence, Italy; snow storms; Oreos; real hot chocolate; sweaters; Sundance Resort; lilacs; and dachshunds.


Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 10/24/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Mailbox Monday 10/14/13

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.
Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs.  This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) but is now hosted at Mailbox Monday and through various blog hosts.
For OCTOBER: the Mailbox Monday Tour host is Gina @ Book Dragon’s Lair.
[Starting September, Bob of Beauty in Ruins will be the new back-up host for Mailbox Monday.]

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.


I only received one review title from a publicist and picked up two through NetGalley this week.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Title

I received one eBook for review:

 by Mary Burton
Review and author interview to post 
with Giveaway on October 29



These two I picked up at NetGalley 




Lace & Lead, a novella
M.A. Grant
Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy


and

Realm Walker
by Kathleen Collins
Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy






Won

NONE


Purchased

I saw this while downloading some free Kindle reads. It looked interesting so good I purchased it for $.99.



Death By Bridle 3 (Mystery & Women Sleuths) (Josiah Reynolds Mystery 3)
by Abigail Keam







Free

I also downloaded about 15 of free Kindle Titles linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Free Par-tayInspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? October 14, 2013

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Work continues busy for all three businesses. Reading is good but not as much this week.  I finished three books and posted five reviews which is good.  I was surprised that four of my reviews were audible.  I posted one book Giveaway and one Tour Feature Giveaway.
I also posted the weekly Mailbox Monday, Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Snapshot, Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words.

I did a some visiting last week which I enjoyed.  I hope to do more again.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts plus win post:
  • Audible Book Review: Helper 12 by Jack Blaine, Dystopia, YA; my rating 3.5. 
Finished Reading:

1. Audible


Firestorm: Destroyermen, Book 6

    UNABRIDGED
    by Taylor Anderson
    Narrated by William Dufris
        Series: Destroyermen, Book 6
Another good installment in this series!
This is from my Audible Library.
Click on book title for full description.



2. Audio



The Chronology Protection Case
by Paul Levinson
Quick time travel paradox tale!
I'll be posting a review soon for the Author through AudioBook Jukebox.
Click on book title for full description.



3. eBook/Kindle



Just Ella
by Annette K. Larsen
This is a sweet historical.
My review will post on 10/18

as part of BookBlast Blog Tour.
Click on book title for full description.



Line Edits/Releases:
We have two print books releasing this week. Continuing to work on more print and Smashwords releases.

Enter the bi-monthly drawings at eTreasures Publishing Facebook page.
This week's giveaway link: Coming Home by Joy Brooks; part of Anthology set: Spring Historicals - Sweethearts in Bloom.

Currently reading:
1. Print


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

This is an emotional romance; I am 2/3rds through.
Reviewing for Sourcebooks, to post with ARC giveaway.
Click on book title for full description.




2. eBook


Bargained-For Bride
by Marcia Lynn McClure
This will be my first book by this author.
Reviewing as part of BookBlast Tour for posting 10/24.
Book Description
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Excerpt:
“You’re the sweetest girl in Mourning Dove Creek, you know?” Jack mumbled as he paused in kissing Jilly a moment.

Jilly smiled. “And you’re the handsomest man in Mourning Dove Creek, you know,” she flirted in return.

Jack smiled. “I do know,” he said.

Jilly giggled. Jack Taylor was so predictable—and a little conceited. He really did think he was the handsomest man in Mourning Dove—and he was, for the most part.

Secretly, however, if Jilly ever allowed herself to be completely honest about it (which she tried to avoid), there was one other man in Mourning Dove who always crossed her mind when the subject of the handsomest man in town arose. Yet there was no lingering on thinking of that man—no sirree! Not for a moment! Not for any reason—ever. And so Jilly just kept telling Jack that he was the handsomest man in Mourning Dove Creek. Besides, it was almost true—being that the other man lived outside of town and not right in town the way Jack did.



3. Audible


A Reason to Live: A Marty Singer Mystery, Book 1
    UNABRIDGED
    by Matthew Iden
    Narrated by Lloyd Sherr
I like how this has started - I am engaged in the mystery. 
Listening for review at request of the author.
Publisher's Summary
In the late 90s, a bad cop killed a good woman and DC Homicide Detective Marty Singer got to watch as the murderer walked out of the courtroom a free man. Twelve years later, the victim's daughter comes to Marty begging for help: the killer is stalking her now. There's just one problem: Marty's retired...and he's retired because he's battling cancer. But with a second shot at the killer - and a first chance at redemption - Marty's just found…a reason to live.

©2012 Matthew Iden (P)2013 Matthew Iden



4. eBook/Kindle


No Escape (Texas Rangers)
Mary Burton
This sounds really good.
Review, author Interview and Giveaway to post 10/29.
Book Description
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
He Was Taught How To Kill
Even behind bars, serial killer Harvey Day Smith exudes menace. Psychologist Jolene Granger has agreed to hear his dying confession, vowing not to let the monster inside her head. And Harvey has secrets to share—about bodies that were never found, and about the apprentice who is continuing his grisly work…

And Now He’ll Teach Them
He buries his victims alive the way his mentor Harvey did, relishing their final screams as the earth rains down. And as one last gift to the only father he knew, he’ll make the most perfect kill of all.

How To Die
Everything about this investigation is unnerving Jo, from Harvey’s fascination with her to the fact that she’s working alongside Texas Ranger Brody Winchester, her ex-husband. Harvey’s protégé is growing bolder and more vicious every day. And soon the trail of shallow graves will lead them to the last place Jo expected, and to the most terrifying truth of all…

Praise for Mary Burton’s The Seventh Victim
“Dark and disturbing, a well-written tale of obsession and murder.” —Kat Martin
“Burton delivers action-packed tension.” —Publishers Weekly



I am really lagging but still listening to The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. [Reading and listening on MP3.] I have been remiss and not keeping up with daily reading with my DH.

Line Edits: I am working on poetry formatting this week.

I am enjoying adding stories from my own TBR. :-)
I now have seven titles ready for reviews so I hope to continue with at least five a week which I have tentatively calendared for each day.

October Scheduled
10/14  BookBlast Tour Review: Lord Trowbridge’s Angel by G.G. Vandagriff
10/18  BookBlast Tour Review: Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen
10/24  BookBlast Tour Review: Bargained-For Bride by Marcia Lynn McClure (reading)
10/29  Review with Author Interview and Giveaway: No Escape by Mary Burton (Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting) (reading)

Sourcebooks
     Lady Jenny's Christmas Portrait by Grace Burrows
     The Christmas He Loved Her by Julia Stone (reading)

NetGalley:
   I may browse for new choices.

AudioBook Jukebox 
   More to come

Authors - I have several requests to consider.

From TBR Collection - TBD
Won Book - TBD
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords: When Night Falls - read. 

Sunday Words of Encouragement October 13, 2013

This morning we celebrated 90 years of our existence as a local church and congregation.
The program was a wonderful walk through history as they summarized happenings in America and worldwide for. The presentation started in the Roaring 20s, through the Great Depression of the 30s, the war years of the 40s, the Happy Days of the 50s, the unrest of the 60s, the turbulence of the 70s and then the ‘don’t worry’ attitude of the 80s. [We assume that they ran out of time to do the most current decades.]

A Deacon/narrator shared how a few couples began meeting for prayer in 1923 and set up a group that grew into our church. He shared pictures of pastors and congregations as the church family bought land, built sanctuaries, and developed in-house and outreach ministries. We also shared praise choruses from the 50s through the 80s. Even the older songs were thoroughly enjoyed.

The final summary was that the current congregation is here because of the prayers and efforts of the faithful that came before. The next question is: will there be those in the future celebrating the church and giving thanks for our faithful prayers and dedication to furthering God’s kingdom? Are we each using our God given talents and doing our share?

This is a song that our children sang as evidence of what was
taught many of us in VBS (Vacation Bible School) over the years.
I couldn't find one with image of children but this is the voice of children sharing wonderful words!
A Verse for Today:
Hebrews 12:1  (NIV)
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,


I give thanks for those who came before and built a church family where my DH and I found a home. I pray that I remain faithful and use my talents to share as God directs.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Sharing Beyond Books #121 Coment Giveaway October 12, 2013

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to SBB, Sharing Beyond Books.

Hey everyone!  I hope fall is going well for everyone so far -- or spring for those Down Under!

Ten of us go to the clearance or bargain table in the bookstore first. Four go to New Releases, two to special display tables, two to Magna and then there are various special interests or simply browsers. 

There were two who refused to choose between Doctor or Dentists and a couple others who said neither but if they had to choose... The results are 15 chose Doctor over 4 for Dentist.

Thank you to all who shared last week.
~~~~
The Winner from SBB #120 comments is: #22 Nikki (I think you've had a winning week!) who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the ARC/Review titles, Christmas titles or Love titles - all linked near the end of the post.  Please let me know your choice by completing the (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #121

Q1. ElizabethL asks: What is your favorite autumn tradition??
A: I think Thanksgiving is included in autumn, so that is my favorite autumn 'tradition.' I love giving thanks!
Isn't this a gorgeous shot?

Q2. My nonbookish Question this week: Which are you? Multi-tasker or single tasker??
A: I definitely qualify as a multi-tasker. It is hard for me to do only one thing especially when not at work. At work I have to focus on one project or case at a time although there are interruptions and I cover several projects a day. Even in Court I am following my notes but also assessing witnesses and the judge's reaction. I don't do jury trials and if I did I would want a team, not do it by myself. At home - I work on the computer while watching TV; I listen to audios while doing chores, even while putting on make-up etc. 

 Image found at Leslie Linevsky on e-marketing.


Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! We are getting low on questions so hopefully you will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use.

Your turn to share:

Q1. ElizabethL asks: What is your favorite autumn tradition??

Q2.My non-bookish Question: Which are you? Multi-tasker or single tasker??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books , the Christmas Giveaway Books, or the June 2012 Newly Updated ARC/Review List.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on either of the two questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.

I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, October 18, 2013 at 10 PM central.

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