Sunday Review: Romancing the Vines by Catherine MacDonald

Title ROMANCING THE VINES: A TALE OF LOVE, LUST AND REVENGE
Author CATHERINE MACDONALD
Source Received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review
Purchase AMAZON


Blurb

Francesca Bernard is a vintner in the Sonoma Valley who just can't seem to perfect her wine, her finances, and her love life. She finds herself torn between the man she lives with and the man she loves. A letter arrives from a long-lost cousin encouraging her to travel to Italy to uncover the secret to her wine and her heart. Tension is tight around the vineyard, so she leaps at the chance. Once in Italy, her cousin notices Francesca's torment and convinces her to visit the local seer, who is known to help lost souls. The old woman propels Francesca back through time on a heart-pounding quest where she visits three lives where her survival was in jeopardy. Armed with the secrets and truths, she finally understands how the love, lust, and revenge they have endured for centuries holds the answers to their present survival. 
Magna gathered Francesca's hands into her own cool gnarled ones and stroked them lightly. "Listen dearie. No one is allowing you to remain innocent and stuck on the wheel of life and death for eternity, but yourself. Even though the mind forgets, the soul remembers. Hopefully by examining these lifetimes you will understand the truth. You are responsible for the life you have--no one else." 
From Sonoma, Italy, and the Middle Ages Francesca travels to uncover the truth of the wine and the two men who have fought over her for centuries. Romancing the Vines is the sweeping romance of Francesca, Enrico, and Giancarlo and the secret to the wine that has been eluding her for centuries.

Review

This is the second book in the series. I probably should have read the first book before accepting the request to review this book because I believe that I would have been able to enjoy this story more because I would have already been drawn into this plot and story line.

Overall Ms. MacDonald's writing was easy to follow. It didn't really lag much and the story flowed well.

I was pretty mild feeling towards the characters. None of them really pulled me in making me HAVE to learn more about them. But they didn't really push me away either. I was very 'okay' with all of them.

To me, this book was an average read. There wasn't anything wrong with it. I just wasn't drawn into everything like I had hoped and I really think that is because I haven't read the first book.

I liked the description the author had in the novel. It was easy to picture the plot as it unfolded and that is always a plus to me.

I am going to give this a 3.5 Stars. I liked the authors writing and I think a non-mid series book would be pleasant to read from Catherine MacDonald.

The Writers Coffee Shop Presents: Eight Days A Week by Amber L. Johnson

Eight Days a Week

by Amber L. Johnson

A "manny" should always mind his own business. And he definitely shouldn’t fall in love with his boss.  

Release Date: November 6 , 2014

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

Genre: Romance / Contemporary

ISBN e-book: 978-1-61213-329-4

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

 

~~SUMMARY~~

Gwen Stone has secrets she’s not ready to reveal. After a recent promotion at work, she needs a caretaker for her children. She’s frenzied and in a lurch and pretty much ready to hire the first person who comes along. So she does. Andrew Lyons needs to get out of his sister’s apartment, and a Craigslist posting may be the answer to his prayers. But what he thought was an ad for a room rental turns into a job offer he can’t refuse. Accepting the nanny position could change his life, if only he had a clue how to be a grownup. A working mother, a shirtless “manny” who looks good in a towel, two children who need more than a babysitter, and hours of kids’ TV can only spell disaster for everyone involved. Because a manny should always mind his own business. And he definitely shouldn’t fall in love with his boss.     

~~INTERVIEW~~

  

Hi Gwen, it’s so nice to finally meet you. We really appreciate you chatting with us today. What have you been up to these days?

Thanks so much for having me! Life has been really busy, as you might expect. I cut back on my work hours so that I can be home more. Andrew is busy at school all day so it’s important that we get as much family time as possible.

And adult time. Adult time is very important too.

-How have the kids changed your life? Was it hard juggling your new promotion and them?

I have loved Bree and Brady since the moment they were born. But helping on weekends and holidays was nothing compared to being responsible for their lives. I was overwhelmed, to say the least. As a woman you want to be successful, but they needed someone who could be there for them every moment of every day. I hated that it wasn’t me. At first.

But they never made me feel bad for it. They’ve shown me what true unconditional love is.

-What’s the best thing about raising those kids?

They keep me on my toes. We’re always laughing now, and through them I’ve been able to feel what it’s like to have that kind of happiness.

-Not many people get Manny's, what made you go for Andrew, originally?

*laughs* I don’t know that I was even thinking clearly by that point. I needed someone and needed them immediately. I don’t remember thinking too much about it when he showed up. But he seemed nice and ‘said’ he had credentials. Plus, I knew about him through Cece, so that made me feel more comfortable with him.

-When you first laid eyes on him, what were your first thoughts?

Oh, god. I was so tired that day. So tired. When he showed up I don’t know that I was paying all that much attention to how cute he was.

Okay, that’s a lie. He was cute … but I thought he was a lot younger. And he kept staring at my boobs.

-He started off very immature, how did you help him grow?

It had to start off with Bree and Brady. The responsibility he took on was a lot in a short amount of time. But I don’t think anyone had ever made him accountable for his actions. Our big fight… I hate to even think about it… but in my mind, that was the moment when he had to make a decision to be honest. To be the person we all needed him to be. Even himself.

-What do you love most about him?

I could say something inappropriate here, but I won’t. We all know there are certain things about Dee that a girl could love, right?

But aside from the obvious? His heart. The way he is with our kids makes me love him more every day. Plus he’s the funniest person I’ve ever met in my life.

-If you could, would you change anything in your life?

Right now? Not a thing. I think if you start to wonder what life would have been like if you’d made just once simple decision to go in another direction, then you can’t appreciate how great things are now.

-What does the further look like for your family?

Umm. I’m not supposed to tell anyone yet… but our family is growing. By two. Who knew twins ran in his family?

Thanks so much for joining us today!

 

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~~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~~

Amber is a full-time mom and a full-time wife who is employed full time and writes when she can. She believes in Happily Ever Afters that occur every day—despite the obstacles real life serves up on a regular basis. Or perhaps they’re sweeter simply because of them. She always has two rubber bands on her wrist, a song in her head, and too much creamer in her coffee cup that reads ‘Cocoa,’ because she’s a rebel. If she’s not at her desk, with her boys, or behind the computer, she’s supporting live music with her arms raised above her head and her eyes closed, waiting for the drop.    

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~~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~~

Twitter * Facebook * Website

 

Praise for Eight Days a Week

"Laugh-out-loud story about a guy who goes to look at a room to rent and discovers it comes with a job - that of live-in nanny to two damaged kids. So Andrew Lyons accidentally becomes the "manny". Written in his POV, this book chronicles his hilarious escapades as he looks after and grows to love Bree and Brady, and his employer, Gwen. His pranks and spot-on observations about kids' TV shows had me giggling, but there were a few serious moments worthy of a sniffle as well. The star of the show may be Don, though - you'll just have to read this book to find out about him! Highly recommended." 

 - Andrea Goodreads Review

Fire & Ice Book Tour Presents: A Cat Taught Me That - Life's Lessons From Felines by Charlotte Gerber

Blurb:
Catnap often. Don’t be a stalker unless food is involved. Despite the rumor, it is okay to be curious! A Cat Taught Me That is filled with humorous advice and the wisdom of elder cats that includes information on how to get more out of life, and how to avoid common pitfalls along the way. Cat lovers will enjoy the adorable photographs and cute illustrations throughout.
Celebrity cat ‘Awesome Louie’ provides insight with his gritty cat interviews, as well as sage advice with his “Mewsings” column. Short essays from the cat-lady author will bring smiles to the faces of readers who have learned that “Not All That Glitters is Gold” and “To Be Kissed By a Cat” can have unintended consequences.

Excerpt:

“A Little Indulgence is Okay”

I’m Louie and I’ve been told I have a problem with cat treats. Of course, a problem is in the eye of the beholder. In my eyes, loving cat treats isn’t a problem unless I run out of them.
After I was rescued, I learned three things about my caregiver and new best friend. First, food was readily available day or night; I would never be hungry again. Second, I was now living in a house that was warm and cozy; freezing outside in the winter was highly unlikely. Third, I learned about this tasty food called “snacks”. I would come to love it when my caregiver announced the magical words with enthusiasm – “Kitty treats!”
When I was first introduced to this fabulous dining experience, the flavors included turkey, beef and chicken. Eventually catnip and dairy-flavored treats entered the scene. Once I tasted those little nuggets of goodness, I was hooked.
I perfected the sad kitty face, which is subtle and very effective when done properly. The trick is to look longingly at your target and try not to blink. Raise a paw in a slightly pathetic manner towards the treat container as the caregiver opens it – a classic move.
While my owner swears that she may check me into a clinic for cats with food addictions, she is more purr than hiss. I know that the next time she comes home from the pet store with kitty snacks, she’ll rattle the bag because she knows I’m listening. I’ll come racing into the kitchen like a furry, 16 pound bowling ball on steroids, and she’ll love me for it. And give me treats.
Take it from me, you can never be too furry or have too many treats!


Buy Links:
Amazon
Createspace
Barnes and Noble

About the Author:
Charlotte Gerber began her writing career penning content articles on the Internet. Her articles have appeared on LoveToKnow.com and the New York Times/About.com Disability site, as well as numerous other outlets. She is also the author of Murder in Middleton and I Dream of Zombies (Rose Lee’s Zombie Adventures series).
Charlotte lives in upstate New York with her husband Gregg, two teenage children, one dog and ten rescued cats. She is a disability advocate and a supporter of animal rescue missions.

Connect With the Author:
Website
Twitter

Giveaway:

2 winners:  Each will receive 1 stainless steel tumbler mug, a signed copy of A Cat Taught Me That, and mystery swag items. Open to readers located in the USA, UK, or Australia. The giveaway will run 10/27/14 – 11/24/14. Enter through Rafflecopter.


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Sunday Review: Outlander and Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Title: OUTLANDER
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Source: Purchase from Amazon
Buy Link: AMAZON
 
The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord . . . 1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Title: Dragonfly In Amber
Author:Diana Gabaldon
Source:Purchase form Amazon
Buy Link: AMAZON


For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ...about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his ....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ...in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ...and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

Review:

This is a combined review of the first two books in this series.

I would like to start this review off by saying I think the technique of writing and the in depth character development and plot are amazing. This author is extremely talented and I can really understand why so many people are obsessed with this world.

It simply is too long.

As I read each of the novels I keep thinking to myself If I was an editor what would I cut. I never can answer that. There is nothing that I would want to cut because each detail is essential to the world she has created.

And that's my problem. Reading novels that are larger than the bible isn't something that I am interested in doing on a regular basis. There are always exceptions, like with Styxx or Acheron from Sherrilyn Kenyon. The difference is those books flew by, I couldn't put them down. This series I found myself not rushing to finish after work or before my drive in. I wasn't so sucked into the world that it left me constantly wondering what was Jamie and Claire up to. Would they be okay, would they be reunited? I never asked those questions because I just didn't care enough about the characters.

To me it felt like so much detail pushed me away.

Now I know I am in the minority on this one. I know there are thousands of readers out there that love this type of epic writing and maybe I am just the wrong target audience for it.

I am not saying this whole series isn't good. Because there are somethings that are magnificent in their own right. For example her attention to detail about everything of the historical time. I had no idea what they used to do to traitors and I found that whole scene fascinating when they were talking about what would happen to Jamie if he was caught and found as a traitor. I will never forget that moment when I felt my stomach clinch visualizing the heart being ripped out of his chest cavity and tossed onto a fire.

That was brilliantly written.

Like i said her writing style is great. It really is. These books are just too long for me.

I am currently reading book three, Voyager and I am still struggling. While I still am not drawn into the book and feeling the 'must finish' sensation, after 2000 pages, I am vested in these characters.

Overall, I have to give this series thus far a 3.5 Star. Maybe if I continue to read then I will feel otherwise. I just can't say that I feel that right now.

It's That time!!! NaNoWriMo 2014

This year Nadia and Carlisle are hanging up their 'main character' hats and passing the torch over to Anabella and Carter in, Maverick Touch: The Adventure.

I absolutely love November and NaNo! My Maverick Touch series has been a total blast to write during this month and the challenge to do better than the year before helps to keep me pushing to do more.

It is exciting when you know that all of the work you put into a project has meaning and writing always has meaning.

This 2014 year my Maverick Sisters are taking their Brother-In-Arms males on a trip through Africa. Where will they go? I don't know. What will they encounter? I don't know. But hey isn't that the fun of being a panters during NaNo?

I think so!

So buckle up for the action that Carter and Anabella are going to bring. I feel like this might be more of a light hearted fun story than the murder mystery we are usually accustom to from this family. I have no idea how this will translate into genre categorizing but I hope that the story itself is just as awesome as the other two books.

And as always, Maverick Touch The Adventure should hit bookshelves in March. We gotta keep our trend. I know you Maverick Fans love this series and the consistency is something you need. And I'm okay with that!

So leave your comment with a suggestion on which country or city the Mavericks and Assassins need to visit in Africa. You know I love fan interaction. Maybe I will select yours.

I'll even tell you what ... if I select your city you will get a character named after you too in the book. How about that!

So join in the NaNo Fun and tell me where YOU want to see Anabella, Carter, Nadia and Carlisle traveling too this year.

Happy NaNoWriMo 2014!

Did you miss the first two Maverick Touch books? No problem. Check them out here!

Maverick Touch: The Cat (Free Ebook Novel) AMAZON B & N iTunes Kobo
Maverick Touch: The Highway ($2.99 Novel) AMAZON B & N iTunes Kobo

Gliterary Girl Media Presents, Giveaway: Out of Agony by Lynette Endicott

Author Lynette Endicott is celebrating the release of OUT OF AGONY in paperback by giving away a signed autograph copy! Get your entries by entering below.

Brian Van Pelt has barely survived an anguished year of loss, hiding his sorrows under the facade of a cool and uncaring attorney. Not able to deny his grief any long, heartache drives him to collapse and his life takes an unexpected turn. When Jessie Ingram comes to work at his law firm, she is intrigued by the conflicting darkness of Brian's behavior and the tender inconsistencies that hint at something deeper within him. Despite her interest, she has her own pain, supporting her niece Sara, who has a virulent cancer with aggressive treatments that take such a toll they would not be worth it — except they are Sara's only hope of survival. Will life’s hardships bring Brian and Jessie together? Will they be able to heal and possibly find love?

BUY NOW AT:

Amazon | Barnes and Nobles | Desert Breeze Publishing

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ABOUT Lynette Endicott

Lynette Endicott grew up in Illinois, met her husband in Western Nebraska, lived 25 years in Kansas where their daughter was born, and has been in Fresno, California since 2000. She has a son-in-law (who lives with her daughter nearby), and has rescued a dog, a bird and three cats. She and Ollie, her terrier mix, volunteer as a team at the local library, where children read to the dog. At a youth camp when she was 14 the editor and teacher of a writing class challenged her to submit something to his youth magazine. She did and it was the first of 10 articles and stories accepted by the publication over the next few years. Nothing like front end success to keep her writing! Lynette enjoys reading contemporary romance and speculative fiction and writes both. Her debut book, Starting Over Book One: More Than A Job, and two more books in that series, The Return of Joy and Finding Her Voice are available now. The first three of the Time After Time Saga with Tami Dee are available now, including Animal Instinct, Survival Instinct and Pioneer Instinct. The fourth in the series of six, Protective Instinct, will release in August 2014. Because she didn't have pets until after her 50th birthday the animals she enjoys find their way into all her books. Usually you will also find a character with a disability as part of the day-to-day fabric of the story. In More Than A Job, Paige works in services to people with disabilities until she loses her job and starts over. In The Return of Joy, Atlas, the yellow lab, becomes a Therapy Dog. In the Time After Time series animal helpers assist the hero and heroine in all six of the books in the series.

Lynette loves hearing from her fans! Please connect with her on:

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads | Pinterest

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Sage Blog Tours Presents: Dark Seed by Lawrence Verigin

Title - Dark Seed

By Name - Lawrence Verigin
Genre - Thriller, Lab-Lit
Publication Date - December 1, 2013
Publisher - Promontory Press

Purchase on AMAZON

BLURB
A disillusioned journalist and the grieving daughter of a murdered scientist uncover an immoral and destructive global plot by the largest developer of genetically engineered seed and its parent pharmaceutical conglomerate.
Nick Barnes and Morgan Elles learn that the goal of the man behind these organizations is the complete control of human existence. He eliminates opposition and interference without hesitation or remorse.
The couple quickly find themselves fighting for their lives. And yours.
Grad hold for a wild ride with this exciting, high concept thriller that tackles one of the big issues of our time.



AUTHOR BIO
Lawrence Verigin’s goal is to entertain readers while delving into socially relevant subjects that need more attention brought to them. Since 1999 Lawrence has spent a considerable amount of time and effort learning the writing craft.
In his spare time Lawrence enjoys cooking good food, rich red wine, travel, running, reading and numerous rounds of golf.
Lawrence and his wife, Diana, live in beautiful North Vancouver, Canada.
Contact
Email: lawrenceverigin@gmail.com
Website: www.lawrenceverigin.com
Facebook: Lawrence Verigin    
Twitter: @lawrenceverigin
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1qsWlJB

The author is giving away 8 digital copies of Dark Seed and 2 signed copies! Below is the Rafflecopter code to include in your blog post:

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