Winners of Friday Pick February 18, 2011

Thank you to all who entered.
This week I noticed a couple of entries who had asked for the same book for at least four weeks and no one else was vying for those books. Since my goal is to give the books new homes these books get new homes:

Frankenstein goes to Chelsea
and
Wicked Prey goes to Carol M

Then I did the drawing.

CONGRATULATIONS

to winners:

Mariee gets two Sandra Brown books.

Misha is international so she gets a $5.00 credit.
Winners please email me with your mailing address and choice of bookmarks: sweet, sensual, sexy or erotic. (I am almost out of sweet bookmarks so I may not have any left if you ask for them. I am working on getting a new supply.)
Misha let me know if you want PayPal or Amazon or another choice.

Winners for Three Hachette Giveaways

Sorry I didn't get these posted sooner.

THREE WINNERS OF

Giveaway Deadly Heat AND Deadly Lies by Cynthia Eden

Chelsea, elaing8 and Marlene

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

THREE WINNERS OF

How Sweet It is by Sophie Gunn

Elly, Johanna and Marilu
The comments on what you would do with the money were fun to read. :-)

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

THREE WINNERS OF

Notorious Pleasures (Maiden Lane) by Elizabeth Hoyt

Scottsgal, mamabunny and Scorpio

Congratulations to all of these winners!

Thank you to all who entered.
I will email winners to send their addresses for to be sent on to Hachette.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain

Some seemingly usual plotlines but with lots of twists.
Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402242433
• ISBN-13: 978-1402242434

      Genre: Historical Romance
      My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Product Description
"The plot has imaginative twists and turns, and the backgrounds are lush and evocative. It's good, satisfying fun."
-Publishers Weekly
She's one thing by day, something else altogether by night...
After escaping the slaughter of her clan at a young age, Scottish noblewoman Sabrina Verrick provides for her siblings by living a double life, until the night she encounters the Duke, and her secret and all she holds dear is threatened...
He's so disillusioned, he's completely vulnerable...
With his inheritance at stake, Lucien, Duke of Camareigh, sets a trap for the Scottish beauty with the piercing violet eyes, never imagining what will happen when the trap is sprung...
As their lives become irreversibly entangled, Lucien and Sabrina become each other's biggest threat, as well as their only salvation...

Review: Just as you think the story would be ending there is another twist to the plot.
Sabrina, as a child of twelve, along with her older sister, Mary, younger brother, Richard, and their Aunt, escaped from battle torn Scotland to return to the neglected family country home in England.  Sabrina begins a life as a highwayman known as Bonnie Charlie to support their family.

Now Sabrina is a feisty seventeen year old thinking that she cannot be caught.  She arrogantly walks into a trap set by the Duke of Camareigh, one of her victims. The Duke, Lucien, is rakishly handsome and is even more arrogant than Sabrina.  He wants revenge even if he is surprised to discover the bold highwayman is really just a slip of a girl. Sabrina escapes setting off a battle of revenge against each other. There is great passion between them but instead of expressing itself as love it is served up in defiance, anger and hate.

Sabrina and Mary unexpectedly meet their father who decides that he can get some handsome settlements by marrying his two beautiful daughters to wealthy husbands.  Sabrina is set to defy him but finally determines she will marry a rich nobleman to save her sister and brother.  Just as she sets up to catch a mate, Lucien steps in to foil her plans.  Her latest humiliation by Lucien sets her even more determinedly against him.

Lucien is supposed to marry a woman chosen by his Grandmother within a few weeks or his inheritance will go to his cousin, Percy.  When his fiancé disappears he sets his sights on wedding Sabrina even if she is unwilling.

There are lots of extra subplots going on while Sabrina and Lucien are wrangling.  Lucien’s cousins are plotting to kill him so they will inherit. Meanwhile, Sabrina’s sister, Mary, begins a friendship with the English soldier who is leading the search for Bonnie Charlie. It just so happens he is a soldier who Sabrina met back in Scotland and he suspects her nefarious activities.

Everything is crashing out of control for Sabrina. Sabrina and Lucien continually knock heads with their stubbornness but the top, exceedingly frustrating, stubbornness honors go to Sabrina. As Lucien says at one point... she needs to grow-up. The conflict is sort of fun but borders on becoming annoying.  It is saved by all the little twists.

The descriptions of the countryside and the homes are rich with detail which adds a fullness to the story.  I enjoyed the twisting surprises that kept popping up even to the end.  I was glad that this book did not have the same disjointedness I noted in Devil's Desire. The author did a fine job of taking some plotlines that may seem old but adding enough twists and turns to keep them interesting. I recommend this to readers who like a story with lots of emotional conflict to get through and lots of little subplots to liven up the main romance.

 xxx

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY FOR THE ARC COPY: 
1. Tell me a favorite (even if "old") plotline that you don't mind reading many times in historical romances. [The review mentions a couple if you need help thinking of some. :-)]
This is required for entry. Make sure you leave your e-mail address!

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

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

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.) MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 11, 2011.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.

Blog Tour Q&A INTERVIEW with Marie Force, Author of Everyone Loves a Hero

Marie Force Interview, Author of Everyone Loves a Hero

I took a look at your website and have to say I am impressed by how many books you have recently released or have coming out soon.  Thank you for visiting today.

MF: Thanks so much for having me!

Your bio gives some history on your life and getting to the writing career but I have some more specific questions.

Q1.  With several different plot lines I am curious how you come up with the different ideas.

MF: The ideas come from all over. Everyone Loves a Hero was inspired by a brief encounter at Reagan National Airport between an arriving pilot and a blonde woman who rushed into his arms. The Fatal Series was inspired by a news story in the Washington Post about a congressman who was found dead in his home. At first the death was investigated for possible foul play, but it was later determined he died of a heart attack. But I wondered what would’ve happened if he’d been murdered. Sometimes the idea comes from asking a question like that. A handsome guy in a Mercedes inspired my book The Fall. His initials followed by MD were on his license plate, and I wondered where that doctor was going. The Fall is the answer to that question. Finding ideas is often about being open to them.

Q2.  How long did it take to develop the plot and write the story for Everyone Loves a Hero?

MF:  It’s very geeky for me to admit this, but I actually keep a log on how long it takes me to write my books. Here’s the entry on Everyone Loves a Hero: Began: May 10, 2007.  Finished: July 15, 2007. Sold: November 2009. Published: February 2011. I also did a rather significant revision in 2009.  You can see from these dates that nothing happens fast in publishing!

Q3.  Did you have any personal experience with airlines or airports that led to this story?

MF:  For someone who TRULY hates to fly, I spend way too much time in airports. I work full-time for a company headquartered 300 miles from my house, so I’m required to fly just about every month or two. Both Everyone Loves a Hero and Love at First Flight were inspired from events I witnessed in airports while traveling for work.

Q4.  How about art? Since Olivia is an artist do you have some side art talent that you pulled from for her character?

MF:  To be honest, I have NO business writing about an artist. I know NOTHING about art, and I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler. I did some basic research to ensure that Olivia’s talent rang true. I keep waiting for someone to call me out on how I failed, but so far, so good. I guess I did okay.

Q5.  Was there any special research needed for Everyone Loves a Hero?  

MF:  I talked to pilots and aviation professionals, such as my dad, who was an aviation mechanic. I also read a lot about Captain Sullenburger and how he managed the aftermath of the landing on the Hudson. Since Cole was single when he had his heroic moment, his experience was vastly different, but there were still parallels that could be drawn between the two.

Q6.  What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Everyone Loves a Hero?

MF:  I learned that I really, truly, madly, deeply love Cole! J

Q7.  If you had an opportunity to provide only a two or three sentence "teaser" quote from your new book,

MF:  Olivia to Cole: “You haven’t even left yet and I already miss you”.

Cole to Olivia: “I’d like to show you that you can be foolish and safe at the same time, but you’ll have to take a leap of faith. You’re going to have to trust me and believe just a little bit.”

Olivia to Cole: “It only took ten minutes for today to top yesterday.”

Q8.  Is there an ancillary character you had the most fun with in this or another of your books?

MF:  In this book, I loved writing Cole’s “schlep” of a friend Tucker, who lives vicariously through Cole. In my Fatal books, I love writing Sam’s partner Freddie, who is such a TRIP.

Q9.  Do you have any rituals that help you get in the mood to sit down and write?

MF: No, I really don’t. I write after dinner when my kids are settled and work is done for the day. I have very little time to write so I have to really make it count when I do have time.

Q10.  If you could have a theme song for Everyone Loves a Hero, what would it be? And/or do you have a dream cast for your book?  

MF:  I don’t have a song in mind, but as far as casting is concerned, I’d say Ryan Reynolds for Cole and Mandy Moore for Olivia.

Q11.  What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing?

MF:  I hang out with my husband, kids, my dad and our naughty puppy Brandy. I love to read and wish I had more time to read all the great books on my iTouch waiting for me to have time to get to them. Right now I’m working through the eight books I was sent for RWA’s RITA published author contest.

Q12.  If you could have readers finish a sentence what would it be?

MF: Um… ahhh…. I guess I would want them to say they enjoy my books and want more of them!

For Fun:  How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?

MF: I had a launch party for Line of Scrimmage that was a really fun night!

Thank you!

MF: Thanks again for having me!

EVERYONE LOVES A HERO BY MARIE FORCE – IN STORES FEBRUARY 2011

Fame has its perks…

Reluctantly famous, First Officer Cole Langston finds being in the spotlight has its advantages—until he meets Olivia. Having women throw themselves at him everywhere he goes becomes a serious problem when he's trying to convince her she's the one…

And its price…

Olivia has trouble trusting a guy like Cole, and everywhere she turns she sees reasons to run. But he's the only man who's ever seemed to understand her as an artist and as a woman…

Cole is working overtime to prove to Olivia that he's serious, but her deep seated mistrust and his entourage of unwelcomed fans may be more than they can overcome…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marie Force is the author of Line of Scrimmage, Love at First Flight, Fatal Affair and Fatal Justice, as well as True North and The Fall (available as eBooks through Amazon.com). She is a member of RWA’s New England, From the Heart and Published Authors Special Interest Chapters. Marie lives in Rhode Island with her family and their feisty dog named Brandy. To find out more information about Marie’s upcoming releases, please visit http://www.mariesullivanforce.com/.  

See my review and giveaway for a chance to win 

your own copy of  Everyone Loves a Hero.

Book Review and Givewaway: Two Copies of Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force

You'll want your own hero to fall in love like this hero.
Everyone Loves a Hero: ...and that's the problem by Marie Force

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402245742
• ISBN-13: 978-1402245749

      Genre: Contemporary Romance
      My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
Fame has its perks…
Reluctantly famous, First Officer Cole Langston finds being in the spotlight has its advantages—until he meets Olivia. Having women throw themselves at him everywhere he goes becomes a serious problem when he's trying to convince her she's the one…
And its price…
Olivia has trouble trusting a guy like Cole, and everywhere she turns she sees reasons to run. But he's the only man who's ever seemed to understand her as an artist and as a woman…
Cole is working overtime to prove to Olivia that he's serious, but her deep seated mistrust and his entourage of unwelcomed fans may be more than they can overcome…

Review: Wonderfully natural characters make this a delightful romance.
Olivia is 27, still living at home and working part time to put herself through business school at college.  Olivia knows true love exists because she sees it in her cousin’s marriage. But Olivia has had two men walk away from her so she figures true love isn’t for her - even when she meets a hero.

Cole is ready to be finished with the publicity that has followed him since he saved a planeload of people when the chief pilot had a heart attack. When a customer is hassling a beautiful clerk at an airport store Cole steps in and gets knocked out for his troubles. He awakens to the beautiful eyes and an electric touch of the clerk, Olivia. All of a sudden his focus narrows to one woman.

Cole seeks Olivia out and she is stunned that “Captain Incredible” could be attracted to her. Cole is impressed by Olivia’s art and encourages her to change majors and pursue an art career. He knows she is special and plans special dates to show her.  But a long distance romance is difficult enough and it doesn’t help to have old girlfriends popping up everywhere they go. Olivia has a hard time believing that Cole will stay with her when all these other women clearly throw themselves at him. Cole gets angry that Olivia won’t trust him and accept his sincere feelings for her. This creates friction in their otherwise “love at first sight”, intense romance.

The author does a wonderful job of making these characters warm and their romance natural. Olivia and Cole share little catch phrases with a lot of love and it is easy to root for them. It is also a little frustrating that Olivia can’t get past her insecurities and that they both make decisions and mistakes that drive them apart. But I was confident the author would get them together and I was wrapped in the story till the very (happy) end.  The love scenes are pretty sexy but not unpleasantly graphic. If you are looking for a warm, sexy, fun romance, with the focus on romance as the plot, this is a very enjoyable read.  I look forward to ready more romance by Marie force.

 xxx

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and for providing TWO copies for giveaway.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY: 
1. Visit the Author's website or check out the Author's Blog and tell me something you found interesting;
One of these is required for entry. Make sure you leave your e-mail address!

2.  For another entry comment on the Author's Q&A Interview.

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

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

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Five total entries possible.) MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!

THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* Limit one win per household.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 11, 2011.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.