Audio Book Review: Quitter by Jon Acuff

This is a fine practical guide to living in the now as you prepare for your dream job.
Quitter
by Jon Acuff


Narrated by: Jon Acuff
Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:04-03-15
Publisher: Ramsey Press
Genre: Non Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Have you ever felt caught between the tension of a day job and a dream job? That gap between what you have to do and what you’d love to do?
I have.
At first I thought I was the only one that felt that way, but then I started to talk to people and realized we’re becoming the “I’m, but” generation. When we talk about what we do for a living we inevitably say, “I’m a teacher, but I want to be an artist.” “I’m a CPA, but I’d love to start my own business.” “I’m a _____, but I want to be a ______.”
All too often, when we search for an answer to this dilemma people tell us that dreaming big means you, “Quit your day job, sell everything you own, and move to Guam.” But what if there was a different way?

What if you could blow up your dream without blowing up your life?
What if you could go for broke without going broke?
What if you could start today?
What if you already had everything you needed to begin?

From figuring out what your dream is to quitting in a way that exponentially increases your chance of success, Quitter is full of inspiring stories and actionable advice. The book is based on 12 years of cubicle living and my true story of cultivating a dream job that changed my life and the world in the process.
It’s time to close the gap between your day job and your dream job. It’s time to be a Quitter.

Review:
Jon Acuff tended to quit his jobs until he realized that he was not moving forward toward his dream job leaving a trail of 'failure', and financial problems, in his wake. This book gives Jon’s advice on how to begin building on your dream job by emphasizing positives within each job you have. Jon shares his good, and not so good, experiences that led him to success. He gives sound, practical advise that can be used by anyone who has a dream job or dream work to strive for.

I enjoyed the forthright examples and wisdom that are provided. Jon makes the point that success is not always measured by worldly terms of wealth or fame. Too often people sacrifice integrity, friends and even family in the mad climb up the ladder. Those people miss out on the more important aspects of life - basic security, contentment and love. Jon notes that, especially for those serving God, we should be living our lives and sharing God’s gifts along the journey to achieving our God given dream.

I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with finding a perfect job and finding contentment. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old. Although I have long since reached work that I find satisfying, there are areas where I can apply some of Jon’s recommendations to make my life even better.

Audio Notes: Jon did his own narration. I appreciated his enthusiasm and clear sharing in the narration, and it was nice that he added insights while narrating that weren’t in the book. The only difficulty is that he speaks almost too fast at times. There are also suggestions that a reader might want to refer back to so this might be better in print for many readers.

My son recommended this audiobook to me as a free read that I picked up over a year ago. This qualifies for my Audio Book Challenge, TBR Double Dare and Q on Alphabet Soup.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 3, 2015

Happy Friday and Happy April! Can you believe a quarter of the year is gone already. Whew. I am glad to say spring had sprung here: dogwood trees, honey sickle and azaleas in bloom, roses budding and more. Lovely smells and settings to read by. :-)

TO ENTER:

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up to late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks.

Thank you to all who entered the March 27 Pick. WOW! SIX automatic wins this week!  (Automatic winners are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.) There were no titles blocked.
bn100 gets Diana Palmer Pair
Becky gets Duet's Romantic Comedy
Betty gets The Woman Next Door
Rita gets Tender Triumph
Carol NW gets Pale Kings and Princes Audio Cassette Tapes 
and
Carol M gets Dead I Well May Be

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from March 27 Pick:
(two lucky first week picks)
Mystica (lucky #1 again) gets a GC

Holdenj gets The Last Two Bachelors

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

Image found at Swagbucks Book Club

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

PAIRS:
Dick Francis: A Jockey's Life and Proof (spine creases)
Catherine Lanigan: Tender Malice and Elusive Love (spine creases)
Parent Trap Anthology, Dallas Schulze, Lisa Jackson, Kasey Michaels
Madison Avenue Marriage (Silhouette Desire #129) by Cassandra Bishop
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Ain't Myth-Behaving by Kate MacAlister
Death at Play by Nancy Gotter Gates
Where is He Now? by Jennifer Greene
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
Aphrodite's Secret by Julie Kenner
Virtually His by Gennita Low
Dead Even by Brad Metzger
Mommy Midwife by Cassie Miles
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks


New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

PAIRS:
Virginia Henley: The Pirate and the Pagan (spine creases) and The Falcon and the Flower
James Patterson: London Bridges and Roses are Red (both spine creases)
SINGLES:
Pale Kings and Princes by Robert Parker Audio Cassette Tapes
Hour Game by David Baldacci (spine creases)
If I Had You by Deborah Bedford
The Girl With the Golden Spurs by Ann Major
Can't Take My Eyes Off of You by Kasey Michaels
Dark Possession by Christine Feehan
Daisy's Back in Town by Rachel Gibson
The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood
Paradise Bay by James Michael Pratt
The Last Two Bachelors by Debbie Macomber
Exclusive Anthology by Fiona Hood-Stewart, Sharon Kendrick and Jackie Braun
Duets Romantic Comedy: Lady and the Scamp by Candy Halliday & The Doctor Dilemma by Dianne Drake

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014

PAIRS:
Lisa Gardner: Alone and Gone
Janet Evanovich: Eleven on Top and Twelve Sharp
Stuart Wood: L.A. Dead and Fresh Disasters
SINGLES:
Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card - Tape Cassettes
New Blood by Gail Dayton
Except the Dying by Maureen Jennings
To Collar a Killer by Lee Charles Kelley
Dead I Well May Be by Adrian McKinty
‘Til There Was You by Elizabeth Ann Michaels
The Ladies’ Lunch by Patricia O’Brien
Wild Winds by Janelle Taylor
Shrink Rap by Robert B. Parker - Tape Cassettes
Rescue Me Anthology by Cherry Adair, Lora Leigh and Cindy Gerard


BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy
First to Fight Anthology
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin
Maybe This Time by Victoria Barrett
The Commander by Kate Bridges
The Cinderella Plan by Margaret Daley
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook by Steve Doocy
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose
Intrepid Encounter by Rebecca Ashley
A Stranger's Wife by Maggie Osborne
Richard Paul Evans PAIR: The Looking Glass and The Carousel
Duo Book: Yesterday's Memories by Tara Taylor Quinn and Amanda Stevens
At The Stroke of Madness by Alex Kava
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Catherine Anderson PAIR: Seventh Heaven and Always in My Heart
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched by Meg Cabot
Sleeping with Ward Cleaver by Jenny Gardiner


BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Touched by Fire by Kathleen O'Reilly
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
It All Began at Monte Carlo by Elizabeth Adler
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
Mariah Stewart PAIR: Priceless and Brown-Eyed Girl
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way
Whisper on the Wind by Joan Smith
Fulfillment by Barbara Delinsky
Trouble Becomes Her by Laura Van Wormer
Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark
Diana Palmer PAIR: Diamond Spur, Long Tall Texan
A Lady of Consequence by Mary Nichols
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain
Illegal Possession by Kay Hooper


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Final Justice by Jasmine Cresswell
Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Mary Higgins Clark PAIR: Let Me Call You Sweetheart and Moonlight Becomes You (SC)
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
Angel's Peak by Robyn Carr
The Millionaire's Daughter by Sophie Weston
Tara Taylor Quinn: Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.
Bride by Command by Linda Winstead Jones
Awaken the Senses by Nalini Singh


BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky
One Eye Closed by Karen Whiddon
The Darkroom by Minette Walters
The Elusive Flame by Kathleen Woodwiss
Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy
McNally's Puzzle by Lawrence Sanders
The Undertaker's Widow by Phillip M. Margolin
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
S is for Silence (Kinsey Millhone Mystery)
Tender Triumph by Judith McNaught
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Death Angel by Linda Howard

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in five+ years I have posted 54 groups of 16 (864) books to find new homes! (as of February 6, 2015).

I am happy to say that so far about 798+ books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Book Review and Giveaways: A Kiss to Build a Dream On (A White Pine Novel) by Kim Amos

This 'second chance' romance is a fast, light read.

A Kiss to Build a Dream On (A White Pine Novel)

by Kim Amos

• File Size: 796 KB
• Print Length: 352 pages
• Publisher: Forever (March 31, 2015)
• ASIN: B00LLIIZAC
• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 2015
TROUBLE IN HIGH HEELS . . . 
If pride goes before a fall, Willa Masterson's trip back to White Pine, Minnesota, should be one heck of a tumble The girl who left her hometown-and her first love, Burk Olmstead-in the rearview twelve years ago was spoiled and headstrong. But the woman who returns is determined to rebuild: first her family house; then her relationships with everyone in town . . . starting with a certain tall, dark, and sexy contractor.
MEETS HER MATCH
Burk has no reason to believe Willa has changed, and every reason to discourage her from converting the Masterson house into a B&B. He has plans of his own for that house, and they certainly don't include a no-vacancy sign. But Burk didn't count on how distracting Willa's bright green eyes or her all-too-familiar touch would feel-or how impossible she will be to resist . . .

Review:
Willa was a spoiled heiress who left her small-town high school sweetheart without so much as a goodbye kiss to flee to New York. There she lived a high society life-style with shopping as her main occupation while her investor boyfriend controlled her accounts. Willa was shocked when her boyfriend was arrested for fraud and theft, including having wiped out Willa’s accounts. Fortunately Willa had two assets left when it was all over - one old trust account and her home estate in White Pine.

Willa returns home with the plan to turn the old family house into a Bed & Breakfast. The problem is her high school sweetheart, Burk, is the local contractor and he had other plans for the home. He has cared for the property for the past twelve years since Willa left, continuing even after her absent mother died and no one was paying him. Burk isn’t thrilled to have the girl who broke his heart back in town but he is happy to have the job to keep his crew employed.

Willa realizes that she has hurt a lot of people and she must apologize and make amends if she wants to succeed with her B&B. She volunteers to help the high school girl’s track team and is invited to a recipes exchange group. Even though Willa has no clue how to cook she joins the group of women and begins to make real friends for the first time in her life.

Burk and Willa find it tense to work together as both hide their past feelings and hurts. Willa doesn’t want to reveal the extent of her money problems, although she can't hide how ill-prepared she is for many normal life tasks. Burk figures Willa will leave town soon and he wants to convince her to sell the house to him. He surely doesn’t want to fall prey to Willa again.

I liked the small town features, the secondary characters and the second chance romance. The setting descriptions are crisp, several emotional portrayals are worded really well and the message of forgiveness is nicely presented.  I was able to get beyond Willa being a mean person in high school, a foolish young woman not caring for her own money,  to suddenly being a nice girl... after all, people can mature. The story reads quickly but I was bothered by the constant thread of visual sexuality and then the basic sex scenes. When they weren’t ‘secretly’ ogling each other’s chests, their chests were aching from loss and longing. The focus on sexual attraction took up way too much of the book for my likes. Although this made the reading tedious for me, some readers will no doubt like this aspect.

I received this title through NetGalley for an honest review for Forever Romance blog tour. This qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge. 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1xfmEZm
B&N: http://bit.ly/1ErH3HJ
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1AxKQ4M
BAM!: http://bit.ly/1F4vQC8
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1I04MCu

About Kim Amos

A Midwesterner whose roots run deep, Kim Amos is a writer living in Michigan with her husband and three furry animals. 

Website: http://www.kimamoswrites.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimAmosWrites

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimamoswrites

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kimamoswrites/

Excerpt available at author website.

GIVEAWAYS

Rafflecopter
a Rafflecopter giveaway

ONE PRINT COPY (US/Canada only).

Graciously provided by the publisher:

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries (a) comment on the review,

OR

(b) visit THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE and tell me something you like/learned there.

* This contest is open to US/CANADA only for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) April 11, 2015.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after April 11, 2015.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Feature and Giveaway: A Hope Remembered by Stacy Henrie

Book 3 in Of Love and War Trilogy

A HOPE REMEMBERED:
The final book in Stacy Henrie's sweeping Of Love and War trilogy brings to life the drama of battle torn Europe with emotion, faith, and of course, romance.
As the war ends, love begins . . .
Nora Lewis just wants an escape after losing her fiancé in the Great War. When she inherits property in England, she boldly packs up and leaves America for a fresh start. But if not for her dashing new neighbor, Colin Ashby, she'd be lost. Even as their friendship deepens, Nora knows a British aristocrat would never be free to love an American orphan, no matter how much the war has changed the world . . . After his brother's death in the war and his own experiences as a pilot at the front, Colin returns home broken, only to discover his family's estate is also in ruin. The pressure is now on him to save his home and the Ashbys' place in society with a well-bred match to a wealthy heiress. Too bad he finds more of a kindred spirit in Nora, the beautiful American next door. She, too, has faced the rigors of war and survived. Now the ex-soldier will have one more battle to fight-this time for love.

Buy Links:

Amazon - http://amzn.to/1GQCqtm 

BAM - http://bit.ly/1Cn3vVc 

B&N - http://bit.ly/1xvDW4z 

IndieBound - http://bit.ly/1Hy9JBC 

GooglePlay - http://bit.ly/1CVLvnc 

iTunes - http://apple.co/1y1C8Lf 

Kobo - http://bit.ly/1BhSsc6 

About Stacy Henrie:

Stacy Henrie has always had an avid appetite for history, fiction and chocolate. She earned her B.A. in public relations and worked in communications before turning her attentions to raising a family and writing inspirational historical romances. Wife of an entrepreneur husband and a stay-at-home mom to three, Stacy loves the chance to live out history through her fictional characters, while enjoying the modern conveniences of life in the 21st century. In addition to author, she is a reader, a road trip enthusiast and a novice interior decorator. Her first novel, Lady Outlaw, released from Harlequin Love Inspired Historical in 2012.

Stacy's SM:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5778153.Stacy_Henrie 

http://facebook.com/Stacy-Henrie-author

https://www.pinterest.com/stacyhenrie/

www.stacyhenrie.com

@StacyHenrie

EXCERPT:

    With a glare at both of them, Jack smashed his cap on his head and stalked from the room. He proceeded to slam the door behind him, but it hit the doorframe and bounced open instead.
    Nora pushed out a sigh. “You didn’t have to be rude. Jack’s been very helpful to me this past week.” Maybe a bit too much. But she didn’t voice that thought. Colin needed no further ammunition against Jack.
    “I’m sure he has,” Colin muttered, his expression as dark as his eyes.
    Nora pinned him with a piercing look.
    “You’re right.” He finished buttoning his cuffs and slipped on his vest. “That was ungentlemanly of me.”
    She ignored his reference to her joke at their first meeting as she put away the corn starch and closed the cupboard. It was easier to keep her heart firmly locked if she held onto her disapproval of Colin’s behavior. Plus it would also stop her from wondering what he’d been about to say before Jack’s arrival.
    “How may I redeem myself?” he asked as he pulled on his jacket. The amusement tugging at his mouth contradicted his contrite tone.
    Nora folded her arms, contemplating a suitable penance. “I think your punishment needs to be two-fold.”
    “Very well.” He nodded. “What is your sentence?”
    “First, you must join me for choir rehearsal at the church tomorrow morning.”
    The mirth drained from his face. “Nora.” His voice held a note of warning. “That is entirely—”
    “Second, you and Perseus can give me a tour around the lake. I’ve already been here a week and haven’t even seen all of it.”
    Colin scowled. “A walk around the lake would be acceptable. But the choir rehearsal . . .”
    “Please, Colin.” She hazarded a step toward him, hoping he’d relent. “I sang with them last Sunday and they need more male voices.”
    She had another reason for wanting him there. Everyone had been kind at rehearsal and at church the following day, but Nora still felt uncomfortable with the continued references to her likeness to Eleanor. Apparently their similarities also included their singing voices. With Colin at the rehearsals, she wouldn’t feel as awkward. She was beginning to think he was the only person in Larksbeck who hadn’t known Eleanor.
    Colin’s brow knit in obvious annoyance, while Nora held her breath. Would he accept her proposal? Finally resignation settled over his countenance. “I’ll go, but only once.” He held up a single finger. “Once,” he repeated. “I make no promises after that.”
    Grateful, she breached the remaining space between them and put her hand on his sleeve. “I agree to those terms.” She couldn’t hide her smile as she added, “Be careful, though, we might make a regular choir member out of you yet.”
    Instead of the light laugh she expected, Colin solemnly watched her. Though he didn’t touch her, she felt as powerless to release his sleeve as if he’d detained her hand. She couldn’t step away—his nearness drew her in like the promising warmth of a fire after being out in a storm.
    “You know,” he murmured, his voice low, “you are rather charming when you jest like that.”
    Nora’s pulse stuttered to a stop, then sped up again like a train gaining speed. She tried to remember why she’d been angry with him, tried to remember why she couldn’t allow anything more than friendship to blossom between them. But she couldn’t concentrate on any one thought, except for the growing desire to touch the hint of dark bristles covering his jaw.
    Colin studied her lips as Jack had done last week, but this moment couldn’t be more different. A part of her, one growing more insistent by the second, actually wanted Colin to kiss her. How long had it been since she’d last felt the press of masculine lips against hers?
    Not since before Tom left.
    The memory crashed over her with all the effect of an ocean wave. She felt suddenly ill and cold. Releasing Colin’s sleeve, she stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest for warmth.
    Forgive me, Tom.
    She’d done nothing wrong, but even entertaining the idea of Colin kissing her felt like a betrayal. Her heart could never belong to anyone else. And yet, in this moment, the past felt more like a burden than a boon.
    “I’ll . . . uh . . . just get my sweater, then we can go on that walk.” Nora went to pull the garment off its usual peg. Her hands shook slightly as she slipped the sweater on over her blouse. “Ready?”
    A flicker of emotion gleamed in Colin’s dark eyes. Was it disappointment? Frustration? Would he forgive her abruptness or understand the source of her pain? As quickly as it had come, though, the sentiment faded and Colin shot her a carefree grin. “After you, fair lady.”

GIVEAWAY

RaffleCopter giveaway link: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review and Giveaways: Scandalously Yours by Cara Elliott

This is a delightfully fun romp.

Scandalously Yours (The Hellions of High Street)

by Cara Elliott

• File Size: 639 KB
• Print Length: 289 pages
• Publisher: Forever (January 7, 2014)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• ASIN: B00D19E04O
• Genre: Historical Romance
• My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Proper young ladies of the ton-especially ones who have very small dowries-are not encouraged to have an interest in intellectual pursuits. Indeed, the only thing they are encouraged to pursue is an eligible bachelor. So, the headstrong Sloane sisters must keep their passions a secret. Ah, but secret passions are wont to lead a lady into trouble . . .
SCANDALOUSLY YOURS
The eldest of the three Sloane sisters, Olivia is unafraid to question the boundaries of Society-even if it does frequently land her in trouble. Disdaining the glittery world of balls and courtship, Olivia prefers to spend her time writing fiery political essays under a pseudonym for London's leading newspaper. But when her columns attract the attention of the oh-so-proper Earl of Wrexham, Olivia suddenly finds herself dancing on the razor's edge of scandal. With the help of her sisters, she tries to stay one step ahead of trouble . . .
However, after a series of madcap misadventures, Wrexham, a former military hero who is fighting for social reform in Parliament, discovers Olivia's secret. To her surprise, he proposes a temporary alliance to help win passage of his bill. Passion flares between them, but when a political enemy kidnaps the earl's young son, they must make some dangerous decisions . . . and trust that love will conquer all.

Review:
Olivia is a true blue-stocking who cares little for ton activities and rules, except that she must not ruin the chances for her younger sisters. Olivia’s father was a free thinking explorer who gave the girls a lot of independence, even taking Olivia along on trips to study native cultures. Olivia loves to research and write controversial, political essays which are published under a man’s name. Those passionate essays get the attention of the upright and proper Earl of Wrexham.

Wrexham, a retired soldier referred to as ‘The Perfect Hero’, is a widow with a ten year old son, Prescott (Scottie). Wrexham has decided it is time to find a proper wife to stand with him in society as he takes his place in Parliament. He hopes to champion rights for war veterans and he is anxious to meet the author of the essays he has read in the paper. Meanwhile, he is about to court a 'proper' young woman to the dismay of Scottie who dubs the lady “the Steel Corset”. The young boy misses the spontaneity and laughter associated with his mother.

Wrexham stumbles upon Olivia at a ball in an inappropriate setting at an erotic chessboard which provides a strategic game thread in the story. The pair accidentally meet again and then become entangled through secrets and mischief. Prescott wrote an advertisement seeking a less stiff and regimented woman to apply to be his mother. Olivia’s sister, Anna, sent the reply Olivia wrote in jest as “Lady Loose Screw”. Now Olivia has another secret to hide even as she hides her heart behind a wall of past hurt and proclaimed independence.

I think Ms. Elliott must have had great fun plotting and writing this story as that humor fills the book. The three audacious sisters are writers of different media: essays, penny romance novels, and poetry and drama. The girls bounce ideas off each other providing wonderful banter, as well as creative scheming, which they share to deal with Scottie’s antics and to help Olivia in the next step of the big game of chess she is playing with Wrexham. The writing moves at a good pace and includes lovely (and fun) alliteration.

There are two or three heated, sensual scenes which compliment the resistant romance. There is also a bit of danger that adds excitement and opportunity to throw the reluctant pair together. I totally enjoyed the story and I’m eager to read Anna’s romantic adventures in the next book, Sinfully Yours, which I will review at the end of April.

I picked this up for blog tour for Forever Romance, through NetGalley, for an honest review.  It qualifies for NetGalley Challenge. 

Buy Links:

Amazon

B&N

iBooks

GooglePlay

BAM

Kobo

About the author:
Cara Elliott started writing Western novels at the age of five. However, she traded in her cowboy boots for Regency high-top Hessians after reading Pride and Prejudice in junior high school and hasn't looked back. She graduated from Yale University, and she now lives and works in New York City.

Social Media Links:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

EXCERPT:

   “How dare you spy on me, sir!” demanded Olivia, once she had mastered her emotions enough to speak.
    He fixed her with a commanding stare, the one that had set many a seasoned soldiers to quaking in their boots. “I would not have had to resort to such tactics if you had shown me the courtesy of answering my letters.”
    Olivia refused to be intimidated. Lifting her chin, she scowled back at him. “I did answer them.”
    “With a single word—no.”
    “And what,” she asked with excruciating politeness, “did you not understand about such a simple syllable?”
    John couldn’t help but admire her grit. It took courage and resourcefulness to play in a man’s world. And she played well, he conceded.
    Expelling a harried sigh, he felt his anger dissipate just as quickly as it had come. She had no choice but to guard her secret very carefully. “Look, at least hear me out, Miss Sloane. Tracking down The Beacon has led me on a merry dance throughout Town.”
    Olivia paled at the mention of the nom de plume. Turning abruptly, she plunged off the path and darted around a tangle of holly.
    “Wait!” John ducked under the prickly branches, losing his hat in the process.
    “Go away!” Her voice was muffled by the overhanging leaves.
    “Not until we talk!”
    “I’ve nothing to say to you.”
    The Devil take it. All but a last little flutter of her skirts disappeared behind a shaggy yew hedge. Swearing under his breath, John cut through a patch of lavender. He hadn’t come this far to be rebuffed. She would damn well listen. Or else…
    Several long strides brought him within arm’s reach of her. “Confound it, Miss Sloane, stop and listen,” he called, lunging for her sleeve.
    As his fingers seized the fabric, his boot snagged on a twist of morning glory. Pitched off-balance, he stumbled and fell, taking her with him. Tangled together, they hit the ground hard, their momentum rolling them into a patch of pachysandra.
    “Ooof!” Olivia’s flailing kick caught him square in the shin.
    Flat on his back, John got a momentary glimpse of Olivia’s irrepressible curls dancing in the breeze before another half turn landed him on his stomach. Burning with embarrassment, he tried to right himself, only to find that she was sprawled across his…posterior.
    Bloody hell, he had never felt like a bigger arse in all his life.
    They both started wriggling at the same time. He managed to twist face-up just as she slipped on the glossy leaves and fell back down atop him.
    “Miss Sloane,” he gasped.
    “Lord Wrexham,” wheezed Olivia, an odd little burr roughening her already throaty voice.
    For an instant, he feared she was going to burst into tears.
    Instead, she began to laugh.
    And laugh.
    Scottie was right. It was a delightful sound, its top notes shaded with a rich, sensual echo that seemed to stroke over his skin like a moon-dappled midnight breeze.
    A twitch tugged at his lips. His dignity—as well as his coat—was in tatters, his pride was bruised, and though he should not find it at all funny, John felt a rumble vibrate deep in his throat.
    Olivia tried to get up again, but her limbs were too weak with mirth. “Good Lord, what a ridiculous picture we must make!” she wheezed in between burbles of laughter.
    “Here, let me help you.” Levering to his feet, John lifted her up and as she seemed a bit shaky, he kept his hands on her waist.
    “Well, it’s not every day I take a tumble in the hay with an earl,” she quipped.
    “Please don’t think that I make a habit of ruining a young lady’s reputation,” he answered.
    Her cheeks, already pink from the breeze, turned a lusher shade of red as she looked up and wet her lips.
John felt his body clench. His legendary sang froid began to bubble…His steely self-control went up in smoke…
    Olivia flinched as his mouth possessed hers. She was like summer rain against his tongue. So soft, so sweet.
    Her hands came up around his neck.
    Hell, it would serve him right if she throttled him on the spot.
    But then, all of a sudden, she was kissing him back.
    In a daze, John twisted around and braced her back against the ivy-covered wall, the glossy leaves crackling under the crush of silk. He was dimly aware of a roaring like cannonfire in his ears, and as his hands slid down to cup her breasts he realized it was the pounding of his own heart.
    Knocking all reason to flinders.
    A gust of air ruffled his hair, stirring wild, wicked thoughts of her waltzing naked through the trees. In response, his own privy parts began dancing to their own drummer. Thump. Thump. Thump. His pulse was pounding a military tattoo, commanding all soldiers to stand erect.
    And Dear God, his Major Organ was responding with unabashed enthusiasm.
    Olivia didn’t seem disgusted by his display of primitive lust. With a tiny moan, she tightened her hold and hitched her hips into him.
    Lud, it felt good. No, better than good.
    Exquisite.

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