Blog Tour: How to Ravish a Rake by Vicky Dreiling April 1 - 10

Visit me on April 5 for Review and Giveaway of How to Ravish a Rake by Vicky Dreiling
Below are the other tour stops to visit.
Why Should Rogues Have All The Fun?

 

Blog Tour with Author Vicky Dreiling!

 

SCANDALOUS DESIRES . . .
Amy Hardwick has one last Season to shake off her wallflower image and make a love match. If she can't, she'll set aside her dreams of romance and return home to a suitor who can provide security-if little else. What she doesn't count on is the inappropriate-and irresistible-attention lavished on her in a darkened library by rake extraordinaire Will "The Devil" Darcett . .

DEVILISH DELIGHT
When Will is caught in a tryst with the ton's shyest miss, he knows he must offer for her hand. Yet Amy is not the shrinking violet she seems to be. Passion lies beneath her prim exterior and Will is eager to release it. But winning Amy isn't simply a matter of seduction; first, Will must convince her that he's mended his wicked ways . . .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her "Trouble."

When she's not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and, most of all, long lunches with friends. She holds degrees in English literature and marketing. A native Texan, she shares her home with her daughter and a spoiled mini-lop rabbit who lives in a slightly gnawed cardboard cottage.You can learn more at: VickyDreiling.net

 

BLOG URL                       POSTING DATE        Tour Participation 
http://maryinhb.blogspot.com    APRIL 1st    Review, Giveaway  http://romancingrakes4theloveofromance.blogspot.com    APRIL 1st    Review, Giveaway, Interview 
http://www.justanothernewblog.com    APRIL 1st    Giveaway   
http://blog.readaholic.info    APRIL 1st    Feature, Giveaway   
http://www.thebookgirl.net    APRIL 2nd    Review, Giveaway   
http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com    APRIL 2nd    Giveaway, Interview 
www.mybookaddictionandmore.com    APRIL 2nd    Review, Giveaway, Interview 
http://www.books-n-kisses.com/    APRIL 3rd    Review, Feature, Giveaway, Interview  http://asthepagesturn.blogspot.com/    APRIL 3rd    Feature, Giveaway   
http://saveyspender.com    APRIL 3rd    Review, Giveaway   
http://beasbooknook.blogspot.com/    APRIL 4th    Feature, Giveaway   
http://booksoulmates.blogspot.com/    APRIL 4th    Review, Giveaway 
http://www.frugalplus.com/    APRIL 4th    Review, Giveaway   
http://hangingwithbells.blogspot.com/    APRIL 5th    Feature, Giveaway   
http://paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com    APRIL 5th    Giveaway   
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/    APRIL 5th    Review, Feature, Giveaway   
my-book-views.blogspot.com    APRIL 5th    Review, Giveaway   
www.sosaloha.blogspot.com    APRIL 6th    Review, Feature, Giveaway   
http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/    APRIL 6th    Feature, Giveaway   
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/    APRIL 6th    Feature, Giveaway   
http://literaryconnections.blogspot.com/    APRIL 6th    Review, Giveaway, Interview  http://takingtimeformommy.com & http://mommyreadstoomuch.com  APRIL 6th  Review, Giveaway   
http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com    APRIL 7th    Review, Feature, Giveaway   
www.boekiesbookreviews.com    APRIL 7th    Review, Giveaway   
ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com    APRIL 8th    Review, Feature, Giveaway   
Lushbookreviewss.blogspot.com    APRIL 8th    Review, Giveaway   
http://readingwithstyle.blogspot.com    APRIL 8th    Review, Giveaway   
http://thefictionenthusiast.blogspot.com/    APRIL 8th    Review, Giveaway   
www.stitchreadcook.com    APRIL 8th    Review, Feature, Giveaway   
karalovesreading.blogspot.com    APRIL 8th    Review, Giveaway   
http://www.sarahsblogoffun.com    APRIL 8th    Review, Giveaway   
http://bodicerippernovels.wordpress.com    APRIL 9th    Giveaway   
marygramlich.blogspot.com    APRIL 9th    Review, Giveaway   
www.demonloversbooksandmore.com    APRIL 9th    Review, Feature, Giveaway   
http://bookslikebreathing.blogspot.com    APRIL 10th    Review, Feature   
http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com    APRIL 10th    Review, Giveaway   
http://ashleysbookshelf.blogspot.com    APRIL 10th    Review, Giveaway   
http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/    APRIL 10th    Review, Feature, Giveaway, Interview   
www.seductivemusings.blogspot.com    APRIL 10th    Review, Feature, Giveaway, Interview

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Believe it or Not by Tawna Fenske

This story is really great fun!

Believe It or Not
by Tawna Fenske

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140225718X
• ISBN-13: 978-1402257186 

      Genre:  Romantic Comedy
      My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
Do you believe in...accounting?
Numbers never lie, so Violet McGinn found safe haven in the most boring profession she could find. Until her renowned psychic mother lands in the hospital and Violet has to run her business. Now you can have your taxes filed and your aura read, in one convenient location.
Do you believe in...music?
Drew Watson is the jaded owner of the local hot spot next door, and doesn't need a single thing except a good crowd to dance to what he's spinning on Saturday night.
Do you believe in...love?
The only thing Violet and Drew seem to have in common is that neither believes in that psychic hoo—hah. Except Drew seems to play exactly the right song at exactly the right time. And truth be told, it makes Violet's heart dance just a little ...

Review:
Violet has returned from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon to help her mother, Moonbeam. Violet selected a career in accounting and moved far away to distance herself from her rather eccentric mother who is a new age, hippy type psychic.  Moonbeam fell and is in the hospital so Violet has to manage her psychic business. The problem is that Violet doesn’t really believe in psychics.  The only way she is managing the psychic appointments is with fitting clues provided by the music she hears from the neighboring bar.

Drew owns the bar that shares building space with Moonbeam’s shop/parlor.  He doesn’t believe in Moonbeam’s abilities and she complains because he has male strippers at the bar and he makes a habit of dating bimbos.  Drew is impressed with Violet’s vibrant, violet eyes but he thinks he’ll keep his distance since she seems like such a business professional; too much like his lawyer ex-wife.  And he isn’t too happy that she is going to be faking to carry on her mother’s business. For fun though he gives her a magic 8 ball to help out.

Violet thinks Drew lives an alternative lifestyle considering he runs a bar with male strippers and his main helper is “Sam.”  She is rather disappointed since she finds him very attractive!  It’s a good thing that Moonbeam’s doctor is interested in Violet and he is wholesome, healthy, single and “normal.”

The exchange between Violet and Drew is deliciously fun. She asks four questions in a row and he gives the answers in a row... which is much more fun than that sounds. They would be all over each other if they weren’t fighting the attraction so hard.

Violet has done a reading that has angered the landlord and he’s threatening to sell the building.   She’s also influenced one of Drew’s employees upsetting him and she has another reading that might effect his business. Meanwhile Moonbeam continues making mischief from her hospital room.

The writing is light and the momentum snappy.  Ms. Fenske shares a lot of humor with her quirky characters and unique plot circumstances.  My only disappointment was the ending because I wanted more multiple questions with multiple answers and more background music for psychic answers. :-)  I recommend this fun, easy story, and Ms. Fenske's first novel, Making Waves, as perfect reading to bring smiles and chuckles.



The first meeting question and answer routine (at page 9):
     He saw her blink in the dim light as she gripped the statue in one hand. “Who’s that? Are you looking for money? How did you get in here? What do you want?"
     He cocked his head to one side. “Drew. No. Key. Mice.”

A later question and answer routine (at page 289):
     Drew covered the distance to the end of the bar in just a few steps, his heart racing stupidly. “Is everything okay? Are you hurt? Drunk? Why are you here?”
     She grinned at him .... “Yes. No. No. To seduce you.” 

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

This is set in Portland, Oregon for my Where Are You Reading Challenge.  I will also add it to my ARC Challenge.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC copy: 
 1. Visit the author's website and tell me something that interests you there. This is required for entry.

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

3. For two more 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.)

THERE WILL BE ONE WINNER.

* 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 April 6, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on April 7 with 72 hours to complete the winners form.

Book Review: Echo Falls by Jaime McDougall

This story grabs you from the first sentence and keeps up a nice fast pace - good entertainment..

Echo Falls

by Jaime McDougall

• File Size: 285 KB
• Print Length: 240 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (July 15, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005FQN2A4

Genre: Paranormal Romance

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
Running from a nightmare stalking her every move, Phoebe Martin arrives in Echo Falls hoping she has finally found a safe place to stop. But trouble has a way of catching up and soon the signs are there.

After a vicious attack in an alley, policeman Aidan O'Bryan is left with Phoebe as his only path to understanding why the Echo Falls werewolf pack - his pack - is being attacked. When another pack member is killed, Phoebe is forced to confront her past before she loses Aidan and everything she has come to love.

Love and duty become one as Aidan strives to prevent Phoebe from becoming the next victim. But with Phoebe just as determined to protect Aidan and her new home, secrets from her past threaten to tear them apart.

Will love give Phoebe the strength to trust Aidan and face her fears, or will her past destroy her future?

Review:  This is a fast paced read with warm characters.
Phoebe has recently moved to Echo Falls and is hoping to stay and set up a photography business. She thinks she has finally out run the trouble that has chased her. Unfortunately she is attacked and soon learns that there is a murderer in town. Although not certain at first she does suspect that the killer, hunter, has followed her. But Phoebe is alone and has never had the responsibilities or protection of a pack.

Aidan is the local werewolf pack leader and a police officer. He rescues Phoebe from a fierce attack then tries to question her to see if she remembers and is alarmed by the ‘non human’ combatants.  It is quite clear that Phoebe doesn’t want to be questioned, doesn’t want help and is hiding secrets.  Though Phoebe may not be part of his pack, Aidan has determined that he wants to protect her.

As more lone weres are killed it appears that the killer has a partner within the pack.  When one of Aidan’s own pack friends dies the betrayal becomes even more painful.

I really liked Phoebe’s strength and determination. Unfortunately her decision not to reveal facts hinders the investigation and her insistence on not seeking help only puts herself and others at risk. 

Aidan is just what you’d look for in an alpha male: strong, dedicated and protective. He is a warm character with friends who support him even when times are troubled. Phoebe may have to find out if he will forgive her for her secrets and the danger that has followed her to his community.

The ‘hunter’ is a nasty piece of work and is portrayed well.  He has some oily charm but underneath is a shallow brute.  It is fairly easy to guess which member of the pack is helping him. Even though the mystery is revealed pretty quickly, the danger of the situation kept my attention hoping that Phoebe really could find a way to defeat the killer. Not likely, but I give her points for deciding to stop running and stand her ground. 

The writing flowed well with good action and interesting and warm characters. The romance is sensual and tasteful. I enjoyed this quick read and would like more stories by Ms. McDougall. I recommend this to those who enjoy warm werewolf stories with a little mystery and lots of danger.

The Hook:
Keep running, keep running, keep running. Location 21.

Smooth ease in the writing:
She silently told it [her growling stomach] to be quiet, wanting the easy drift of sleep for just a while longer. Location 54-55

Thank you to the author for providing the ebook to read and review.

I'm not positive but I believe the location is in Washington for my Where are you Reading Challenge. I will include this in my ARC challenge.

Winners of Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop!

Thank you to everyone who entered the Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop.

US/Canadian Winners: June Julianne and Savannah
1.  June M. chose #2 The Romantic Suspense Package
2.  Julianne chose #3 The Paranormal Romance Package
and
3.  Savannah M chose #5 The Cowboys Package

International Winner:  Mystica
Mystica chose The Guardian by Margaret Mallory

Thank you to everyone who entered. Happy reading to ALL!

Book Review: Home by Karen Wiesner

This story has an emotionally struggling protagonist.

Home
by Karen Wiesner
Inspirational Romantic Fiction
978-1-921636-76-9 (electronic);
978-1-105-20118-9 (trade paperback)
Available now in electronic formats by
Writers Exchange E-Publishing
and trade paperback by http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/karenwiesner
Download from Smashwords
Download from Amazon.com

Genre: Inspirational Romance
My Rating:  4.0 of 5.0

Description:

Small-town girl Ayodele "Della" Flynn lives in a city she abhors, where danger seems to be lurking around every corner. When her husband dies very unexpectedly, she's confronted with figuring out where her home is with her young son River and trying to come to terms with the loose ends her husband left their lives in.

Review: If you like emotional drama, this book has some to share.
Della was born in small town, Peaceful, Wisconsin and she wasn’t happy about moving to Chicago when her husband, Declan, pushed her to do so for his business.  She always hoped the move would be temporary. When she became pregnant with their son, River, he became the focus of her love. The family lives in a ramshackle apartment in an area that is unsafe.  The money that Declan and his partner, Hannah, made from the sale of the business was reinvested in a new business that is failing. Della has to walk to a nearby waitress job just to have money to keep food in the house. All of this leads to resentment and a deterioration of Della and Declan’s relationship.

When Della discovers that Declan has betrayed their seventeen year marriage it is the last straw.  Della announces that she is taking River and moving back “home”.  As Della prepares to leave town, she gets a call from Hannah advising that Declan is dead! Hannah is understandably distraught and she keeps harping about having a share of the insurance.  Della is less than sympathetic to Hannah’s situation and has to cope with her own, and River’s, shock and grief.

Declan’s parents and a nephew, Cade, drive in to bring Della and River home to Peaceful. Cade has always been interested in Della, but Declan got to her first. He quickly bonds with River and is a huge help but Della is too injured to consider a new relationship.

There are some interesting details regarding Declan’s death that add intrigue and vengeful actions by Hannah bring a bit of suspense. Primarily though the story is focused on Della’s emotional turmoil. Some of her thoughts made me contemplate. For example, which comes first: the husband’s loss of self-esteem or the wife’s loss of respect when he doesn’t do more to support the family?  Either way it is a downhill spiral unless someone takes steps to stop the disastrous cycle.

I liked Della’s fierce love for her son and her steadfastness. However, I thought she had been too weak for so many years and part of the decline in the relationship has to lay on her shoulders. She eventually recognizes she needs to be less self absorbed and she needs to rely more on God than in her own strengths.  Particularly she has to allow God to heal her issues of extreme distrust and fear if she is ever to be able to love again.

This story is told in first person by Della.  Although technically well written, I thought this presentation resulted in a bit of  “telling” rather than showing. I honestly prefer stories with less drama and more action.  Ms. Wiesner has the ability to create real to life characters and situations but the protagonist here is not my favorite. Although Della’s emotional trauma is very real, I was annoyed that she had such a struggle to get beyond the past betrayal and pain of loss.  This is an easy enough read but the pace was less motivated due to the weight of the unhappy emotions. Readers who enjoy emotional drama might well like this story a bit more than I did. Ms. Wiesner is a wonderful author with many stories to choose from and enjoy and I look forward to reading more of her works.

 Thank you to the author for this book to read and review.

I will add this to Chicago for my Where Are you Reading Challenge and to my ARC challenge.