Winners of Illusion and Heroes Die Young

I was checking books for updated ARC and Review Giveaway list and discovered that I had never announced a winner for this one - so sorry for the delay.

 Ended April 27, 2012
ARC Copy of Illusion

Helen

Ended July 27, 2012

Heroes Die Young by T.M. Young

Bison61

Helen and Bison61 please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form to confirm the win and I'll send out the books and/or notify the publisher/author.  Please reply within 72 hours! 
Thank you to all who entered.

Book Review: Blackout by Annie Solomon

This is a fast paced, twisting suspense; a bargain of a read on Kindle for $2.99!

Blackout 

by Annie Solomon

• File Size: 470 KB
• Print Length: 376 pages
• Publisher: Forever Yours (December 2, 2008)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001M2FTFQ

Genre: Romantic Suspense
My rating: 4.25 of 5.0

 

Book Description
Publication Date: December 2, 2008
LIVING NIGHTMARE

A month ago Margo Scott was a book dealer with family and friends. Now, suddenly, she can't remember the last four weeks of her life, everyone close to her has disappeared, and she's the prime suspect in a murder. When an intruder attacks, she responds with lightning-quick moves she has no memory of ever learning. Undercover agent Jake Wise has her in his sights and can't decide if this mysterious woman is an assassin or a pawn. Is he tempted to protect her because she's innocent or because he's falling for her? Thrust together, these two loners realize that trusting each other is their only hope of survival. Because the good guys and the bad guys have one thing in common. They all want Margo Scott dead-the sooner, the better.

Review:

Margo Scott wakes up one day and feels a bit under the weather. Later in the day she discovers from her book store neighbor that she has lost a month.  Not only has she lost time, but she realizes she can’t really verify her identity, much less her whereabouts. She really knows she is in trouble when she begins to respond with skills she doesn’t recognize: fighting off an attacker with skilled defense moves, throwing knives with deadly accuracy and picking up guns that feel naturally familiar to her hands.

The police are beginning to suspect Margo of first one murder, then another. Since she has no memory she isn’t certain she didn’t commit the crimes.  As she begins to get flash backs she suspects she may be a skilled, government or covert assassin who has committed worse killings. Is it possible she shot a child a point-blank range?

Jake Wise was asked do ‘watch’ Margo by his ‘mentor’ and covert operations boss, Frank. Now Frank is dead, Margo is a likely suspect and there are lots of questions as to why Jake was to be watching her. Is Margo the killer and who are the men who are attacking her? One group is looking to question her and another is intent on executing her. Can he keep her alive long enough to find out what the heck is going on?

Can two loners with clearly deadly skills find a place of comfort and peace together? Assuming they live of course.

This story has great suspense and full on action from beginning to end. The romance starts as a battle of two untrusting loners and slowly moves to a merger of need, first for comfort and reassurance of life, and later for companionship, passion and commitment. The writing is crisp and has a fast flow that moves well with the pace of the story.There is some rough language - "f" word used 13 times.

I looked back to see I read Two Lethal Lies by Annie Solomon in September 2010 and gave it a 4.5 rating.  I don’t plan on letting another two years go by before reading this author again. She is going on my "don't miss" list of romantic suspense authors!

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

Margo realizes she doesn't know what has happened over the past month:

Then where had she been for the last month?
The question thumped inside her, deadly and relentless, and she longed to skitter away to a safe comforting place. A place with no questions. Location 382

Jake wonders if he had made up his mind if she was telling the truth:

Had he? The truth hit him like a gale-force wind, like one of those moments in the movies where the camera closes in and everything slows way down. ... It was that he didn’t care. He would support her either way. Fight for her either way. Location 2455.

Love this quote!! Margo thinks about her love of books:

Books were always more reliable than people anyway. Stories never let her down. No matter where she went there was a bookstore or a library. New worlds, better worlds. Location 2938.

I am very glad that I picked this title up on NetGalley to read for Hachette/Forever Yours imprint of Grand Central Publishing.

This story is set in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. for the Where are You Reading Challenge.

MBS July Blogoversary 2012 Flash Giveaway

Here is a 2012 Blogoversary FLASH GIVEAWAY - WORLDWIDE --- ONLY OPEN till Midnight 7/31.
I hope this giveaway serves to reward close followers and to help my reading picks. :-)

I want to read some of my Kindle Free reads but I need help choosing. I have pulled 15 summer titles (some that have the word "summer", "heat", June, July or August somewhere) that I have had in my Kindle Library  before 2012:
   
1.  Summer of Fire: Book One in the Yellowstone series
    Jacobs, Linda    September 10, 2011   
2.  Sons of Thunder (Brothers in Arms Collection (Summerside Press))
    Warren, Susan May    September 10, 2011   
3.  Summer Loving - No link available
    Folsom, Tina, Andre, Bella    August 7, 2011   
4.  The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook Presents: 10 Summertime Treats
    Bucholz, Dinah    July 17, 2011   
5.  Summer Sizzlers
    Reeves, Joan, Wicklund, Cynthia, Raco Chase, Elaine    July 9, 2011   
6.  Summer of Firsts
    Simon, Coco, Evans, Zoe    July 5, 2011   
7.  The Days Of Summer
    Barnett, Jill    June 23, 2011
8.  Summer's Crossing (The Iron Fey)
    Kagawa, Julie    June 11, 2011   
9.  Making Waves: A Novel (Lake Manawa Summers Book #1)
    Seilstad, Lorna    May 1, 2011   
10.  Love on a Dime (Ladies of Summerhill)
    James, Cara Lynn    November 15, 2010   
11.  Lucy's Perfect Summer (Faithgirlz! / A Lucy Novel)
    Rue, Nancy    July 24, 2010   
12.  Summer of the Midnight Sun (Alaskan Quest #1)
    Peterson, Tracie    January 20, 2010
13.  June Bug (Murder-by-Month Mysteries, No. 2) (Murder-By-Month Mystery)
    Lourey, Jess    June 4, 2011
14.  Heating Up the Kitchen: Recipes with Love from Lucky Harbor
    Shalvis, Jill    October 14, 2011
15.  Icy Heat
    Wyndfield, Leigh    February 3, 2010


I am going to select TWO Winners; Both get same prize choice but #1 gets to pick first.
a) Print copy of Days of Summer by Jill Barnett which I have in my book boxes
b) ANY book from my Updated Review and ARC giveaway list! (Subject to reasonable postage.)
OR
c) Choice of the Summer Titles above (if available), in eBook (up to $10.00 value), or print to be sent through The Book Depository.

I may substitute the prize for International winner as $8.00 GC if you don't get delivery from TBD or if the postage on book choice is too high.

I will read either the winner's choice or the most picked title - or maybe both - in August. ;-)
ALSO, THE #1 WINNER GETS TO GIVE ME A WORD CHOICE TO PICK THE NEXT GROUP FROM MY KINDLE LIBRARY (like I picked 'Summer' with it's add-ons this time) for a September read. :-)  THANKS FOR HELPING!!

TO ENTER:

• Follow my blog in any social form. 
• Comment to tell me which book you think I should read from the summer titles. 
•  Enter through the Google Form! 
•  Extra bonus entries for commenting on Non Giveaway review or Author feature posts (guest post or interviews) since January 1, 2012. (Up to three posts for 6 bonus entries.)

Open Worldwide. Closes 11:59 pm EST July 31, 2012; winner to be announced August 1.

Updated ARC and Review List for Giveaways

5/25/13- I have some new books to add and I will be updating the list soon.
Latest update at bottom - 3/25/13

10/6/12 Update: I have added some extra titles with a new photo below.

6/14/12 I have updated my Review and ARC pictures into these three pictures. The books are in alphabetical order by title and the books are listed below under either Review or ARC.

Review Books:

1.  Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden    March SBB
2.  Duchess of Sin (Daughters of Erin) by Laurel McKee
3.  The Fear Principle: Jaguar Series by B.A. Chepaitis April/May SBB Choice
4.  Iron Man 2 by Alexander Irvine
5.  Lonestar Secrets (Lonestar Series Book 2) by Coleen Coble 
6.  Never a Gentleman (The Drake's Rakes Series) by Eileen Dryer (3 copies - one ARC, two review)
7.  Notes To Stephanie: Middle Aged Love Letters And Life Stories by Jeffery W Turner (not in picture)
8.  Still the One by Robin Wells
9.  Tempted by Fate by Kate Perry  

ARC Books:

1.  A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore (one ARC, one review)
2.  Confessions of an Improper Bride (A Donovan Novel) by Jennifer Haymore
3.  Deliciously Sinful by Lilli Feisty
4.  The Goblin King by Shona Husk
5.  The Guardian (Return of the Highlanders) by Margaret Mallory 
6.  Lady of Seduction (Daughters of Erin) by Laurel McKee 
7.  Montana Glory by R. C. Ryan
8.  Sin Undone (Demonica, Book 5) by Larissa Ione (1 ARCs)  May SBB choice
9.  Sins of a Highland Devil by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
10.  Soul Catcher by Leigh Bridger
11.  The Storm that is Stirling by Lisa Renee Jones Dec SBB choice
12.  Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel (Highland Warriors 2) by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
13.  Two Lethal Lies by Annie Solomon  (2 ARCs) - 1 Chosen for SBB June win
14.  Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

Added Titles 7/28/12
Review Copy: 

ARC Copy (no cover images)
15.  Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded by Kate Hardy    March SBB
16.  The Maverick's Greek Island Mistress by Kelly Hunter

New Picture and Additions October 6, 2012  

1.  A Lady's Revenge by Tracey Devlyn
2.  The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen
3.  The Highlander's Prize by Mary Wine

Newly Added (Picture to be added) 1/30/13
4.  Lethal Rider (Lords of Deliverance) by Larissa Ione Print Book Hop Selection
5.  The Claimed (Sin Hunters) by Caridad Pineiro - personally autographed
6.  Relentless Pursuit by Sara Orwig
7.  Everybody's Suspect in Georgia by Cecil Murphey
8.  Blue Heart Blessed by Susan Meissner
9.  Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy

Newly Added 3/25/13 (I'll picture these with the ones above soon.)
Review books:
10.  Desperate Deeds by Dee Davis
11.  The Book of Madness May SBB choice
12.  Lethal Rider
13.  Angels Landing
14.  Nipped in the Bud 

ARC books
15.  Embracing the Highlander
16. What in God's Name
17. Thief of Shadow

Book Review: In the Doctor's Bed by Brenda Jackson

This is a nice, light "Doctor" romance story.

In the Doctor's Bed

by Brenda Jackson

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin Kimani (July 19, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373862202
• ISBN-13: 978-0373862207

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 3.0 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2011

The skills of a surgeon…

Having a crush on her drop–dead–gorgeous boss could get Hopewell General intern Jasmine Campbell fired…especially with the prestigious Virginia hospital reeling from a shocking scandal. But head resident Lucien De Winter is impossible to resist. And he's arousing a healthy dose of desire as the good doctor wages an all–out war to make the sheltered Southern belle his own…

The heart of a lover

Head over heels for Jasmine, Lucien vows to keep their relationship a secret. He knows they're playing a dangerous game, but he can't live without the sensual sister. Even if it means putting his hard–fought career on the line, the seduced surgeon is ready to risk it all. Because Lucien knows that the only thing to cure his acute condition is a lifetime of love.

Review:
Jaclyn Campbell is an attractive, caring and clearly smart intern at Hopewell General. She has worked hard to get where she is so she shouldn’t be thinking about risking all she has planned just because she fell for her handsome boss, Lucien DeWinter, the first time she saw him.

Lucien DeWinter is a talented surgeon and the head resident overseeing the intern program.  He has a strong future and surely it isn’t worth the risk of dating one of his beautiful interns. But his efforts to resist her are failing after months of trying to avoid her.

The hospital has a strict non-fraternization policy and the chief of staff and head nurse are sticklers about enforcing rules. Jaclyn and Lucien have separately struggled with their attraction to each other.  When circumstances finally put them together they don’t want to fight the draw anymore.

Jaclyn and Lucien in this story are both very likeable: attractive, smart, hard working and compassionate. Too bad that they are stuck in a not so likeable dilemma and a weak story. The beginning of the book focuses on their denied desires. After they get together the book focuses on their lovemaking and sneaking to avoid their relationship being discovered. In my opinion, this isn’t a great storyline.  Not only is this not ‘likeable’ behavior, but it doesn’t seem likely to me as it seemed their careers should out weigh their sexual attraction until they could find some other solution - like one moving to another hospital position. I don’t tend to read many ‘doctor’ romances as it is not a field that draws me. I think I could have enjoyed this story if I wasn’t turned off by the sneaking around.

This is the second book I read by Brenda Jackson. I have to say that I like the characters she creates. Even the gorgeous, could-be stuck up and obnoxious males turn out to have good,  likable qualities.  I like Ms. Jackson’s writing style which is crisp and smooth flowing.  The sexual attributes of this book are a little on the heavy side for my tastes– an aspect other romance readers might enjoy more. I have to classify this as a nice romance but it would never be a favorite of mine.

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

Quotes I liked:

It had taken all of his control to keep his features neutral, void of expression.  Each and every time he was around her he risked the possibility of giving something away. Page 35.

There was something in his gentle and understanding tone that pushed her to the edge. There were so many emotions she was trying to deal with. Page 42.

I received this from Harlequin Romance.

This story is set in Washington, D.C. for my Where Are Your Reading Challenge.