Friday, June 29, 2018

RAINY DAY FRIENDS by Jill Shalvis - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

HI there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

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Today, we're joining the HarperCollins Publishers team for a blog tour celebrating the latest release for author Jill Shalvis.  (Woot woot!)  You may have read her Heartbreaker Bay series (love it!), or perhaps the first book in the Wildstone series (loved it too!), or any of the other titles in her lengthy body of works, but trust me when I say, you're gonna want to make room on your summer reading list for this one, STAT!  Yep, it's another gem from an author who knows her craft, but let's let the work speak for itself, or at least my trip through its pages, as we introduce today's book of choice...


by
Jill Shalvis
9780062448149
William Morrow

About the book...
Following the USA Today bestseller, Lost and Found Sisters, comes Rainy Day Friends, Jill Shalvis’ moving story of heart, loss, betrayal, and friendship.

Six months after Lanie Jacobs’ husband’s death, it’s hard to imagine anything could deepen her sense of pain and loss. But then Lanie discovers she isn’t the only one grieving his sudden passing. A serial adulterer, he left behind several other women who, like Lanie, each believe she was his legally wedded wife. Rocked by the infidelity, Lanie is left to grapple with searing questions. How could she be so wrong about a man she thought she knew better than anyone? Will she ever be able to trust another person? Can she even trust herself?

Desperate to make a fresh start, Lanie impulsively takes a job at the family-run Capriotti Winery. At first, she feels like an outsider among the boisterous Capriottis. With no real family of her own, she’s bewildered by how quickly they all take her under their wing and make her feel like she belongs. Especially Mark Capriotti, a gruffly handsome Air Force veteran turned deputy sheriff who manages to wind his way into Lanie’s cold, broken heart—along with the rest of the clan. Everything is finally going well for her, but the arrival of River Green changes all that. The fresh-faced twenty-one-year old seems as sweet as they come…until her dark secrets come to light—secrets that could destroy the new life Lanie’s only just begun to build.


AMAZON  |  B&N  |  INDIEBOUND
BAM  |  IBOOKS  |  GOOGLE PLAY



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Heading back to Wildstone was just like coming home in the best ways possible.

Lanie is in an impossible situation, only made slightly better by the fact that the person who caused it all is no longer within her reach.  What do you do when your world is crumbling around you?  Well, if you're Lanie, you pick up the pieces and try to start again.  Her road to recovery leads her close to home, or rather what was originally her home, but also into the arms of a uniquely exceptional group of people that while nosy, loud, and in everyone else's business, are one of the best representations of a true family that I've ever seen.  They are not all blood related, but that doesn't make them any less a part of the whole, and while Lanie gets her feet back under her, they'll serve as a safety net she was never expecting...and a means by which her heart can heal even though that's the furthest thing from her mind.  Meanwhile, we have Mark...

Mark has been suffering himself, though he himself is nothing to suffer.  *ahem*  His whole family dynamic changed at the drop of a hat, and while his big alpha male military self was a take charge kinda guy in the field, now he's braiding hair, attending dance recitals, and listening to bedtime stories from the mouths of babes.  That's right, he's a single father with twins, though not by his own choice, and he wouldn't change their appearance in his life for the world.  In truth, he's a great dad even when he has little time for it, and watching him with Sam and Sea will touch your heart, if it wasn't already melting for him already.  Problem is, Lanie's arrival is going have him feeling things he doesn't want to feel, and exploring opportunities neither is fully ready for.  Fear of something has never stopped him in the past,but what if that hesitation is from BOTH sides?  Can walls be broken down that were so carefully constructed and will what's on the other side be ready to love again?  Only one way to find out...

Have I mentioned, I love this author's work?  Because I do, I really do.  I loved the whole lot of the Capriotti family, from the tall to the small, the cordial to the attitude driven, the collected to the those doing the collecting.  They were loud, boisterous, full of life, and though they may not always do the right thing, their hearts are always in the right place.  While our leads were outstanding, you can't help but fall for the secondary leads (River and Holden) too, as well as the extended family and friends (Cora, Mia, etc, etc).  They work their way into your heart one well intended intrusion at a time and keep you steady when all else seems to fail...and let's not forget the sexy times because yes, there are a few of those too! 

The long and short of all it all is that its a wonderful addition to the series, managing to introduce a slew of new characters with so much potential for future exploration she could write their stories alone and have at least six more novels in the works.  (Woot woot!)  There's heart, there's humor, there's unintentional embarrassment, and giggles to spare, but beneath it all, there's a strength of family that keeps things running through thick and thin and with nary an expectation of payback no matter what the perceived cost.




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About the author...


New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website, www.jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.




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Special thanks to Julie at HarperCollins Publishers for the copy for review as well as the chance to bring this tour to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the link provided above.  This title is newly available this month via William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

BEFORE YOU GO...
DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!



Up for grabs... (1) paperback copy of Rainy Day Friends by Jill Shalvis!
Open to US/CD residents; no P.O. Boxes please.
Entries accepted now through July 7th, 2018.  Winner will be drawn and emailed, having 48 hours to respond with their full name and mailing address which will be provided to the publisher for prize send out.  SFIR is not responsible for lost or undelivered prizes, though if you let me know, I'll gladly contact the sponsor to follow up!  Good luck!




Until next time, remember....if it looks good, READ IT!


All in good time: HONEYSUCKLE DREAMS by Denise Hunter

HI there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

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Today, we're joining TLC Book Tours for a stop along their current tour for a the latest release from author Denise Hunter.  It's the second title in her Blue Ridge Romance series and while it fits into the Christian Fiction genre as intended, there's no need to shy away.  I get it; your gut instinct is to think it'll be preachy, and while yes, it does allude to a higher power being in charge and the act of having faith, never does it feel like you're in Sunday school...except when they are actually talking to a pastor, but I mean, HELLO!  He's a pastor!  Anywho, I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let's back up a second and do the introductions properly for today's book of choice is on deck...


by
Denise Hunter
9780718090524
Thomas Nelson

About the book...
Brady Collins is juggling full-time fatherhood with the booming auto repair business he runs out of his barn. His ex-wife's sudden death has shaken him, but the devastating news that follows leaves him reeling: Sam is not his biological son.

When Sam's wealthy maternal grandparents decide they want custody of the child, Brady knows he's in for the fight of his life. Brady's attorney tips him off that one major life change would virtually assure him of winning guardianship of baby Sam at the final hearing: the stability of an impending marriage. And his friend Hope is willing to step in as the loving and devoted fiancée.

Local radio celebrity Hope Daniels has been driven by a solitary goal her entire life, and she's finally been offered her dream job—in Atlanta. Unfortunately, her arrangement with Brady requires her presence in Copper Creek, and she is faced with missing the chance of a lifetime or standing in the way of a dear friend’s dreams.

Both Hope and Brady would give their lives for beautiful Sam. But can they give their trust to one another? With this new novel in the Blue Ridge Romance series, Honeysuckle Dreams shines light on the complicated and beautiful angles of love.




 



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First things first, let's talk about that cover!
The moment I saw it, I was sucked into its simplicity and beauty.  I mean obviously that's honeysuckle pictured there, but why so much...it appears to be an archway, with what intent....what about the blurred image of a table and chairs in the background?  Isn't it funny how so many questions can arise from such a simple scene...and yet they did, and I had no desire to ignore my curiosity.  Now, about that story...

Brady was a gentleman through and through, and a stand up father to boot, even when things started coming down around him.  Hope was an independent woman with a heart of gold dealing with her own demons from a tragic past that she just can't seem to let go of.  Sam was an adorably sweet baby caught in the middle of it all, but making the best of the unfortunate situation with his cheerful demeanor and easy laugh.  Could they forge a life together in less than the usual circumstances?

I love how the couple felt REAL, despite the seemingly out there scenario they were placing themselves in.  I mean, would YOU want to work through a marriage backwards?  Start off as married and aim to become a couple in all senses of the word?  Yeah, sounds daunting, and yet these two have a longstanding friendship to build upon...whether or not its enough to sustain them when times get rough is another story altogether, but the foundation is laid nonetheless.  Despite the heartache it caused, I appreciated the hard times Brady and Hope had to go through....from the custody battle to unexpected blasts from the past to opportunities too good to pass up to lingering fears best brought to light...it made you love them and root for them to make it through THAT much more.  My heart ached when Sam's future hung in the balance.  I was beside myself when Hope was withdrawing from everyone and everything and yet as helpless as she seemed to do a thing about it.  Good thing they had friends, family, and faith to fall back on (even if their relationship with each wasn't always surefooted) because truly it was the combination of them all that helped them reach towards a future they promised one another...and then some.

All in all, a sweet story with its own share of heartache and strife.  I loved this book much more than I thought I was going to and that's saying something because my hopes were pretty high.  Though my first time reading the author's work, I can't say it'll be my last.  Recommended read for Christian Fiction fans as well as Contemporary Romance fans who like their stories sweet with playful banter.




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About the author...


Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including A December Bride and The Convenient Groom, which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Carol Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty nest.





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Special thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the Thomas Nelson team for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, THIS TOUR, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  Don't miss the rest of the tour (and the Instagram portion!) as it makes its way through the blogosphere for more bookish fun!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Silver Dagger Book Tours presents... SWORD OF FIRE by J.A. Culican - SPOTLIGHT + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Silver Dagger Book Tours for a stop along their current promotion featuring the first book in a Young Adult Fantasy series from author J.A. Culican.  A glimpse at the cover has me curious for more, but after reading the synopsis, I just know this is going to end up on A LOT of summer reading lists...non required, of course!  So, if you're ready for some action, danger, and DRAGONS...keep reading because today's title in the spotlight is on deck...

Sword of Fire
Through the Ashes Book 1
by J.A. Culican

Genre: YA Fantasy

An unforgettable tale brimming with suspense, action and dragons."Through the Ashes will thrill fans of The Gender Game, Divergent & The Hunger Games.
   
Defenseless. Alone. Betrayed.

Bells is a poor fae who works on a farm outside the protections of the dragon city. When her family is attacked by trolls, she goes to the one person she knows can help her. But will he?

Peace. Death. Enough.

    
The dragons brought peace to the city and the surrounding area when they rose. Jaekob believes there is no reason for further dragon involvement. They've' lost enough lives to this cause. They've done their fair share and owe the world nothing more.

But when the dark elves infect his city with a virus unlike anything he's ever seen, he knows they need a solution. Now.

The sword of peace. Myth? Reality?

They're about to find out.





J.A. Culican is a USA Today Bestselling author of the middle grade fantasy series Keeper of Dragons. Her first novel in the fictional series catapulted a trajectory of titles and awards, including top selling author on the USA Today bestsellers list and Amazon, and a rightfully earned spot as an international best seller. Additional accolades include Best Fantasy Book of 2016, Runner-up in Reality Bites Book Awards, and 1st place for Best Coming of Age Book from the Indie book Awards. 

J.A. Culican holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from Niagara University, in which she has been teaching special education for over 11 years. She is also the president of the autism awareness non-profit Puzzle Peace United. J.A. Culican resides in Southern New Jersey with her husband and four young children.




Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!







Wednesday, June 27, 2018

One Summer Weekend by Juliet Archer - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.


Today, we're teaming up with Rachel's Random Resources to bring you a stop along their current tour featuring a newly released Contemporary Romance just perfect for a summer reading escape...and not just because the word "summer" is in the title either.  ^-^  No, today's featured title is going to garner a spot on your TO READ list for the three C's....COVER...CONTENT...CHARACTERS.  All are balanced, entertaining, and memorable...so really, what more could you want?  Oh, I get it...you want me to get on with the review.  Okay, okay...without further ado, today's ebook of choice and blog tour guest is...


by
Juliet Archer
Ruby Fiction

About the book...
One summer weekend can change everything …

Alicia Marlowe’s life as an executive coach is well under control – until she meets her new client, Jack Smith. Jack’s reputation precedes him and Alicia knows immediately that he spells trouble. Not least because he reminds her of someone else – a man who broke her heart and made her resolve never to lower her guard again.

Taking Jack on as a client is a risk, but one that Alicia decides to take for the good of her career. As long as she keeps him in his place, she might just make it through unscathed. But Jack has other ideas – including a ‘business’ trip to the Lake District. One summer weekend with him is all it takes to put Alicia’s carefully organized world in a spin …

AMAZON US  |  UK



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This is the story of how business is never really just business...



Think about it.  There's always an element of personal that sneaks its way through no matter how closely guarded we are, but that's what makes each relationship "special"...though Alicia had no intention of THIS relationship becoming anything other than another day at the office.  Hahahahaha!  The best laid plans of mice and men...or women... Things start off just fine, client and coach getting to know what the other needs, their goals, dreams, perceived obstacles, and developing a plan of attack.  Same old same old...except for Alicia, there's a little TOO much of the "same old" bringing memories better left behind to the surface with a vengeance.  It colors her world from rosy to the vibrant reds of you-know-where, and makes the sparks already apparent between them THAT much more dangerous.  Speaking of "them"...let's meet the other half of this equation, Jack.

Jack is an interesting man.  On the outside, a playboy, cycling through the latest round of arm candy while making millions to pad his lifestyle...but is that who he is on the inside?  Sometimes looks can be deceiving, and we all know the internet/media NEVER lies (*giggle), so all the "research" Alicia did in preparation for her client was rock solid.  Yeah...if you believe all that, I've got a lost city to sell you too.  *smirk*  Suffice it to say, there's more lurking beneath the surface than meets the eye, though the eye will indeed be pleased, much to the chagrin of our leading lady...then again, sometimes the teacher, or in this case the coach, needs to teach thyself.  There's always room for improvement, and it's never too late for love.


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In the end, I fell in love with the COVER, took the deep dive into the CONTENT, and stayed gloriously glued to the page for the CHARACTERS.  It was a win-win overall with nary a sideways word I could speak.  True, when I was about halfway along, I was thinking...how can this story continue when we've reached this particular point...but then the author surprised me, throwing a monkey wrench here and there to otherwise offset a tantalizing story that might have ended all too soon.  Recommended for Contemporary Romance fans who love playful banter and the possibility of a HEA without that guarantee.



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About the author...


Juliet Archer writes award-winning romantic comedy for Choc Lit and Ruby Fiction. She has been known to spend many happy hours matching irresistible heroes with their equally irresistible chocolate counterparts – watch out for the dark nutty ones!
 
Her debut novel, The Importance of Being Emma, won the Big Red Read Book of the Year 2011 Fiction Award and was shortlisted for the 2009 Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance. Her second novel, Persuade Me, was shortlisted for the 2011 Festival of Romance Best Romantic Read Award.
 
Juliet’s third book, One Summer Weekend, is out in June 2018. You can also read her short stories: Incense & Insensibility in the Choc Lit Love Match anthology, and Love Rules in Choc Lit’s Kisses & Cupcakes anthology.
 
Juliet was born and bred in North-East England and now lives in Hertfordshire. She gives talks all over the UK and in the USA about the classic authors who inspire her work. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors and the Jane Austen Society. Her non-writing career has spanned IT, acquisitions analysis, copy editing, marketing and project management, providing plenty of first-hand research for her novels.







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Your chance to win paperback copies of
The Importance of Being Emma
 AND
 Persuade Me !
(Open Internationally)


*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for fulfillment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.



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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the ebook for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today!  Don't miss the other stops on the tour for more bookish fun...



Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!