Please welcome Tessa Bailey to the virtual offices today.  She is celebrating the release of Protecting What’s His, the first in her Line of Duty series.  After we chat with Tessa, you can enter for your chance to win a copy of Protecting What’s His!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Tessa Bailey] Hot-and-bothered stay-at-home-mom turned writer, Brooklynite, foodie and hopeless romantic.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Protecting What’s His?

[Tessa Bailey] “To steal or not to steal?” is the opening line of the book. Ginger, our mostly fearless heroine is deciding whether or not to steal fifty-thousand dollars from her passed-out stripper mother. Ultimately, she decides to take the cash (and her little sister, Willa) on the run to Chicago. She thinks she’s gotten away with it until she meets homicide cop and sexy new neighbor, Lieutenant Derek Tyler.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Tessa Bailey] I like a heroine who is a little bad. And a lot impulsive. I came up with Ginger, a fast-talking country girl, as a character first. Then I gave her an important and difficult choice to make at the beginning of the book. I built the story based on that decision. Of course, I needed someone to counteract Ginger’s personality, so I came up with Derek, the sharp, young lieutenant with a need to control. Watching him as he tries to control wild child Ginger makes for a very entertaining story!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Ginger?

[Tessa Bailey] Provocative, Willful, Vulnerable

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Derek had a theme song, what would it be?

[Tessa Bailey] “Play with Fire” by the Rolling Stones

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Ginger is never without.

[Tessa Bailey ] Cowboy boots and Dolly Parton witticisms

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  What three things will you never find in Derek’s bathroom?

[Tessa Bailey] A loofah, volumizing hair gel, decorative soaps.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Derek’s greatest regret?

[Tessa Bailey] He’s not the regretful type – although that might change throughout the book 

[Manga Maniac Cafe ] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Tessa Bailey] I have a group of friends who inspire a lot of the female relationships in my book. They are opinionated and swear like sailors. A lot of the time, I’ll ask myself, what would so-and-so say here? I was encouraged to write female characters who speak with more honesty after reading Tara Sivec’s Seduction in Snacks. I adore that book. The characters remind me of my friends.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Tessa Bailey] Silence, gummy bears and warm socks.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Tessa Bailey] On Dublin Street by Samantha Young.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Tessa Bailey] When I was fourteen, I was at a boring family reunion in Maine. I found an old, beat-up copy of “Hidden Fires” by Sandra Brown in my grandmother’s suitcase. It was my first romance novel and I never looked back.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Tessa Bailey] Play with my 19-month old, read, go to concerts, think up my next story.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Tessa Bailey] My website is www.tessabailey.com

On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tessa-Bailey/107783312730783

Follow me on Twitter @mstessabailey

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Ready for your chance to win a digital copy of Protecting What’s His? Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can purchase Protecting What’s His from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About the book:

Melody Grace wants to share info about her new book, Unbroken! Check out the deets about her New Adult release, and then enter for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card!

 

Sneak Peek…

“So, you own the bar now?” I say, “That’s great. Why didn’t you say?”

Emerson gives me a measured look. “You didn’t ask.”

I stop. How is this my fault? “Yeah, well I didn’t exactly have time, what with you pummeling a guy, pretending like you were going to make out with me, then judging every one of my life choices.”

My reply whips out before I can stop it. I clamp my hand over my mouth, and stare at the shocked expression on Emerson’s face. He so wasn’t expecting that! But why the hell shouldn’t I say it? It’s the truth, after all. I let out a giggle, unable to stop myself.

His expression changes.

“You’re drunk.” He says shortly.

I shrug, defensive. “So what if I am?”

“You never could hold your liquor.” He shakes his head, and takes another gulp of his beer. “I wonder, what else has changed…?” Emerson’s mouth curves into a lascivious smile. “You still make that breathy noise when you come?”

I gasp, shocked. “Fuck you!”

“Already been there, darlin’.”

Amazon † B&N † Smashwords

 

About Melody Grace
 

Melody is a small-town girl turned SoCal beach-lover. After spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time to try writing one for herself. She loves bad boys, steamy romances, and (of course) happily-ever-afters.

Find Melody Grace

Website: http://www.melodygracebooks.

Title:  A Risk Worth Taking Author: Victoria James

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

This book had me invested in Holly’s life by the end of the first chapter.  It was heart-breaking.  It’s her big day at work, and she has worked the last ten years for this moment.  Her wardrobe was carefully picked out, and she is glowing with happiness. She is finally going to be made a partner at the prestigious design firm where she’s employed when she gets the call that makes her realize how pointless her achievement really is.  Her sister and brother-in-law have been killed in an accident, and now she’s left reeling, the guardian of her infant niece.  How can she raise a child alone?  How will she recover from yet another loss?  Everyone she has loved has died – her parents,  the grandparents who raised her and her sister, and now her sister’s gone, too.  It’s just too much, and Holly is devastated.

Returning to her rural hometown to renovate and then flip her grandparents’ house, she is confronted with painful memories of her past.  She has loved Quinn for a lifetime, but he rejected her when she was eighteen.  Now she has to put on a brave front and face him, and all of her childhood memories.  All she wants to do is get the house finished and get out of town, and back to her life in the city where she’s so busy she doesn’t have time to dwell on the emptiness of her life.

I enjoyed A Risk Worth Taking very much.  I loved the interactions between Holly and Quinn, and even enjoyed Emma, Holly’s little niece.  I usually am not a big fan of babies in romances, but Emma wasn’t just window-dressing here.  She was central to the storyline, and she helped both Holly and Quinn’s hearts to heal.  Despite her best efforts to not get caught up in her feelings for Quinn, which still burned bright, Holly’s resolve crumbled as he became an important addition to her new family.  And Quinn, though he didn’t feel worthy of Emma’s love or trust, was able to put his painful past behind him with the baby and Holly’s help. 

A Risk Worth Taking is a feel good read.  You’ll get caught up in Quinn and Holly’s romance, and cheer along as they both learn to trust again.   As Holly puts aside her sadness, she begins to remember all of the happiness she has turned her back on. As she remembers what is really important in life, she is willing to face the risks, and the rewards, of loving Quinn. 

Grade:  B+

Review copy provided by publisher

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

I’m kind of scared to read Ice Dogs by Terry Lynn Johnson because I will be worried that something bad happens to the dogs, but I am fascinated by the premise.  Long wait on this one!

Hits stores February 2014

What are you waiting on?

Dorothy Callahan is visiting the virtual offices today to chat about her book Taming the Stallion.  Check out what she has to say.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Dorothy Callahan] I’m an avid animal lover who has always dreamed of being a published author. I’m also a chocoholic who refuses any 12 step program.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Taming the Stallion?

[Dorothy Callahan] Raylie really just wants to get a great promotion; she’s done with men and dating. Her baggage is tragic and too hard to deal with, so she represses it, focusing instead on her career. She takes a horse case despite dealing with her past, because she really thinks she can make one more headline arrest.

Ashton is the top horse trainer/breeder around, so the fact this Peace Officer wants to arrest him is ludicrous. He just wants to know who’s poisoning his horses, and the ones he’s losing point to someone being aware of his secretive past.

Neither one really wants anything to do with the other, but they just can’t fight their attraction, despite the risks to their professional careers. Who’s going to solve this case?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Dorothy Callahan] Working in a busy humane society gave me lots of ideas for stories, and, being an animal lover with a defined sense of justice, I knew my heroine would have to embrace those qualities as well. Plus, in all my years working at the humane society, no one ever stumbled on anyone as great a catch as Ashton! All I needed was a situation that put both of them at their personal worst, then stepped back to watch what would happen.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Raylie?

[Dorothy Callahan] Driven, empathic, unwavering. She is definitely NOT a closet romantic. Nope. (Ignore her artwork. She does.)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Ashton had a theme song, what would it be?

[Dorothy Callahan] "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Raylie is never without.

[Dorothy Callahan] Her sidearm.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Ashton’s bedroom?

[Dorothy Callahan] Neutral colors, art work, potpourri.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Ashton’s greatest regret?

[Dorothy Callahan] Dropping out of college, despite how his life prospered.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Dorothy Callahan] Movies, so I can "veg" and let the juices flow, chocolate, because, well, it’s chocolate, and my husband, who is the best sounding board in the entire world.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Dorothy Callahan] A pen to chew on, a cat on my lap, and silence.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Dorothy Callahan] Ooh, it’s a tie between "Darkfire Kiss," by Deborah Cooke, and "Homer’s Odyssey" by Gwen Cooper.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Dorothy Callahan] A book I read as a child about a young boy whose father (a forest ranger) rescued a mountain lion cub, and as she grew into adulthood, the boy risked his life to return her to the wild. I can’t recall the name of it, but I read it about 8 times in elementary school. (I think the librarian hid it from me after a while….) After that, in middle school, it was Piers Anthony and Robert Asprin.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Dorothy Callahan] What do you mean? 
I love to watch movies, read, renovate our house, and shop for antiques. I’m also a Facebook junkie. I love to repost!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Dorothy Callahan] Online at Dorothy Callahan Author on Facebook, or dorothycallahan.com to visit me.  In person, just talk about movies, your pets, or antiques!

Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog! I appreciate the opportunity to be here.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase Taming the Stallion from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below. 

About the book:

About the Author:

Dorothy Callahan lives in upstate New York with her wonderful husband, a pride of demanding cats, and two loyal dogs, all rescued from shelters (not the husband). When she is not writing, she enjoys shopping for antiques and renovating their pre-Civil War house.

I have been enjoying quite a few Entangled series releases, and I thought it would be fun to share some info about the books slated to hits store shelves today.

BLISS

The Practice Proposal by Tracy March

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

Just For Summer by Jenna Rutland

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

Indulgence

A Risk Worth Taking by Victoria James

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Tempted by Trouble by Michelle Smart

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

Faking It by Diane Alberts

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

The Baby Bargain by Jennifer Apodaca

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

The Cinderella Makeover by Hope Tarr

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

Date by Mistake Anthology

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

And don’t forget about Jennifer Probst’s latest, All The Way.  Jennifer was my special guest yesterday, so please click here to see what we talked about.

Book Blurb:

Buy Links:

Amazon

B&N

This morning I want to make you aware of Poison, a book that was written by Bridget Zinn.  Poison is Bridget’s debut novel, but tragically, she passed away before she could see the publication of her book. Before I share a first from my life, I would like you to take a moment and think about the people you love in your life.  My mom was diagnosed with cancer when I was about ten.  Thanks to early detection, she has been cancer free for decades.  My father was recently diagnosed with cancer, and again, because of routine testing and early detection, he, too, is in remission.  Please go in for routine testing.  Please urge your family members and friends to do the same.  There are no guarantees in life, but early detection does increase the odds of beating the big C. 

To help celebrate Bridget’s first, a group of bloggers got together and we are all going to share a first with you.  I hope you enjoy visiting the other blogs and learning more about the bloggers running them.  (Thank you, Inara Scott, for facilitating the tour.)

My First Job

I’m going to share my first job with you.  When I was a teen, a used bookstore opened close to my house.  My mom and I made many, many trips, every week, to the store, and after a while, got to know the owners and many customers very well.  I loved this bookstore.

One Saturday morning, we dropped in, and one of the owners was overwhelmed with bags and bags of trade-ins.  She asked me what I was doing the rest of the day, and since I didn’t have any plans, she asked if I wanted to help her in the store that day.  Of course I did!  I loved books then just as much as I do now.  That afternoon turned into years of helping run the store.  At one point I seriously considered buying them out, but circumstances didn’t work out that way. 

Now I am glad that things didn’t work out, because I wouldn’t have met Dean, I wouldn’t have had my dogs, and I wouldn’t have started riding.  I learned so much working there, about selling books and sharing my enthusiasm for reading, with other people who loved reading, too, and had so much fun along the way.  My first job never felt like a job; going to work always seemed like hanging out with good friends, talking about the latest releases, and pouring through the catalogs for upcoming books.  I loved it!

What’s your favorite first?

About Poison

Purchase your copy from these booksellers:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

IndieBound

Powell’s Books

Add Poison to your Goodreads pile!

About Bridget Zinn

Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the "summer of love" and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died. Her last tweet was "Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect."

Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers’ copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads.

Cole Gibsen is visiting the virtual offices today.  I loved Katana, so I’m delighted that she could drop by to answer a few questions about Senshi, the next book in the series.  Check out what she has to say!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Cole Gibsen] I’m a wannabe superhero who loves sewing, comic books, and Chinese food. My nail polish is always chipped.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Senshi?

[Cole Gibsen] Senshi is the sequel to my debut novel and ohmigosh, did I have fun writing it. Not only does Rileigh accept the role as a warrior, but Quentin gets a chance to prove his worth, too!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Cole Gibsen] It was my love of martial arts and Bruce Lee movies that inspired me to write the first KATANA.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Rileigh?

[Cole Gibsen] Fearless, snarky, and stubborn. So I guess that would be fenarkorn. You know, I think we’re on to something here. I’m calling the people at Webster to get this recognized as a word!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Rileigh had a theme song, what would it be?

[Cole Gibsen] When I wrote the first book I had Rebirth by Skillet playing on loop. There couldn’t be a more perfect song for Rileigh.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Quentin won’t leave the house without.

[Cole Gibsen] His sunglasses. I always imagined him to be very much like me in that respect. My eyes are super sensitive to light so I have to wear my sunglasses at all times or else I have to do the squinty eye thing while I drive which is really no fun.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Kim’s pockets?

[Cole Gibsen] 1. A pocketknife—really, why bother with anything less than a sword?

2. Gum—Rileigh makes him clench his jaw enough, no need to add to the strain.

3. Fast food receipt—As focused as Kim is with training, I don’t think he’d eat anything that wouldn’t keep him in optimum condition. Rileigh on the other hand…

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Cole Gibsen] Stan Lee. Comic books were my life growing up. And I’m not ashamed to admit I still read them.  My goal when writing KATANA was to see if I could take a comic book concept and put it into book form.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Cole Gibsen] 1. A mug of hot tea.

2. My kitty thinks I need her on my lap.

3. NO INTERNET

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Cole Gibsen] Does comic book count? I just read Amazing Spiderman #700 and the ending, I won’t go into it because it’s a major spoiler alert, made me cry. When you invest so much time into a character, they become almost like family. So when they die, it makes an impact.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Cole Gibsen] When I was seventeen I found myself homeless and living out of my car. Back in those days there were no cell phones so my only source of entertainment were the books I checked out from the library that I read in my car with a flashlight. I remember the first book I ever read that really transported me to another world so viscerally was Deerskin by Robin McKinley. I’d loved how this poor girl who suffered and was abused terribly by her father, was able to rise above her past and become so much more than she’d ever dreamed. To this day, that book still haunts and inspires me. 

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Cole Gibsen] So many things! I like to sew and craft things out of felt. I also play the harmonica and sing in an eighties –themed rock band.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Cole Gibsen] My website: www.colegibsen.com

My twitter: www.twitter.com/colegibsen

My facebook: www.facebook.com/colegibsen

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can order Senshi from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About the book:

Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

I love Carolyn Meyer, and I love Ancient Greece, so Beauty’s Daughter is high, high, high on my wish list. 

In stores October 2013

Please welcome best-selling author Jennifer Probst to the virtual offices today! This is a return visit for Jennifer, and I’m so excited to host her again.  The Marriage Bargain is one of the first Entangled books that I reviewed, and Jennifer is one of their first authors that I interviewed!

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  Welcome back, Jennifer!  If you had a theme song, what would it be?

[Jennifer Probst] Well, before I got married it was “Another One Bites the Dust.” Now it’s more a motto from Finding Nemo – “Just Keep Swimming.”

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about All The Way?

[Jennifer Probst] Absolutely! It’s a love story of revenge and redemption between a restaurant owner and a food critic. My hero walked away from everything he loved and broke my heroine’s heart. Now he’s back  to right his wrongs, but it’s a hard journey back into her bed and heart. It’s filled with lots of sexual tension, humor, food, music, and fun!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Jennifer Probst] I’ve always wanted to write about a food critic and the restaurant world, and I loved the idea of a story centering around a man who made mistakes when he was young and the path back to make things right.

I actually wrote this story a decade ago so I’m thrilled to finally share it with readers!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Miranda?

[Jennifer Probst] stubborn, feisty, fearful

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Gavin is never without.

[Jennifer Probst] A need to get Miranda into bed!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Gavin’s greatest regret?

[Jennifer Probst] Breaking Miranda’s heart

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What were your greatest influences while working on All The Way?

[Jennifer Probst] Frank Sinatra. Everything Italian. Family dynamics. Great food. Spiritual philosophies.  Opera.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Jennifer Probst] JR Ward’s The Black Daggerhood series – I’ve read three in a row and can’t stop!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How has your life changed since The Marriage Bargain was released last year?

[Jennifer Probst] Like the glass slipper fit. I’m completely grateful and humbled to be able to write full time now, and dedicate myself to sharing my stories with readers. I have an agent, a few fantastic publishers I adore, and the ability to work from home so I can be with my kids. Doesn’t get better than that!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Jennifer Probst] I love my family. I adore getting together with everyone over a great dinner, seeing my nieces, taking vacations, just enjoying time together. I love reading, dogs, food, wine, and hanging with my friends.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Jennifer Probst] I love readers! I’m consistently on twitter, facebook, and respond to all emails. Visit my website at www.jenniferprobst.com or drop me an email at romancewriter121@yahoo.com

Thanks so much for having me here today!!

[Manga Maniac Café] Thank you!

You can purchase All The Way from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below:

Book Blurb:

About Jennifer Probst:

Jennifer Probst is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of contemporary romance fiction, both sexy and erotic.  Visit her at the following:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst

Website: http://jenniferprobst.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage

Twitter: @JenniferProbst

Title: Me, Him, Them, and It Author:  Caela Carter

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

Wow, at times Me, Him, Them, And It is a hard book to read.  Evelyn is a self-destructive teen, who is crying out for attention from her parents.  Because her home life is so dysfunctional, nothing she does makes them bat an eye.  Her mother is emotionally stunted, unable to communicate her feelings, and her father has been caught cheating, so he is struggling with guilt.  He leaves for a time, but then comes back home, and everything is changed.  The house is silent, nobody talks, and Evelyn is spiraling in a black depression she can’t escape.  She is like her mother; unable to adequately communicate her feelings, even to her best friend.  The words she longs to speak stick in her throat, trapped and suffocating her.  There are times I was so frustrated with her, because if she would only SAY something, anything, she wouldn’t have to feel as though she’s carrying the burden of the world on her shoulders.

Evelyn has set a high bar for herself.  She wants to be the class valedictorian, and  she wants to attend an Ivy League university.  It is so sad that neither of her parents has any clue how well she’s doing in school, or what her college ambitions are.  Then she decides to punish her parents.  She doesn’t want to be Good Evelyn anymore, and who can blame her.  She received no credit at all from her distant parents, and she desperately wants their attention.  Any kind of attention.  The sad thing is, even as she begins indulging in dangerous behavior, they still don’t acknowledge her desperate cries for help.  Then she discovers that the risks she has been taking have come home to roost.  She’s pregnant, and she doesn’t know what to do.

This book is all about consequences.  Evelyn has made a mistake, and now she has to face it.  She has to decide what to do about the bean growing in her belly. Todd, the father, turns his back on her, and no matter how hard she tries, she just can’t tell her BFF what’s wrong with her.  The only compassionate adult in her life is Mary, a counselor at the local planned parenthood.  Because she can’t have a discussion with her mother, Evelyn makes Mary tell her mom that she’s pregnant.  Ouch!

I didn’t want to like any of the characters in this book.  Everyone is so absorbed in their own drama and agendas that nobody seems to care about anybody else.  Evelyn irritated me at times, but then I stopped and realized that there were so many grown up decisions that she had to make, without much input from the adults in her life, and that she had every reason to be confused, angry, and hurt.  Overwhelmed.  Few of the adults in her life gave her any credit, yet they all demanded that she make a plan. Now.   It’s not even like she had a good example of what a real family should be like to base her decisions on.

When she’s sent to live with her Aunt Linda and her family in Chicago, Evelyn is understandably upset.  In her hour of need, her parents send her away.  Once she falls into a routine at Linda’s, though, she does start to feel like she belongs.  She slowly begins to learn how to express herself, though it is a painful and awkward process.  And just when I think she is beginning to heal, and she will make a rational decision about what to do about the bean that she blames for ruining her life, she makes yet another impulsive, life altering choice.  While the ending is upbeat, Me, Him, Them, and It had me feeling a bit out of sorts.  The magnitude of Evelyn’s problem is staggering and her rage at her parents is all-consuming.  The choice she must make will alter the lives of almost everyone she knows, and yet all of them leave her to make it on her own.  The thought of an angry, resentful, and scared teen making of decision like this on her own just left me depressed.

Grade:  B/B+

Check back later today for a chance to win a copy of Me, Him, Them, and It!

Review copy provided by publisher

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba of The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. This is a weekly meme where we can share news of the week and highlight new books received.

Wow! The week flew by, and sadly, not much happened!  I am swamped at work so that took up most of my time.  I spent most of Saturday reading and chilling with the puppies.  I’m so happy the weather is finally starting to warm up. It was beautiful yesterday, and it’s supposed to be even warmer today.  Yay!

Check out my current contests! See the Contest Widget on the Sidebar to enter!

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews to share new additions to our library. Click here to learn more about it.

New Arrivals at the Café:

Tempted by Trouble by Michelle Smart

The Practice Proposal by Tracy March

Limit Vol 3 by Keiko Suenobu

GTO: 14 Days in Shonan Vol 8 by Toru Fujisawa

The Devil’s Looking Glass by Mark Chadbourn

A great big thanks to the publishers for their continued support!

What did you get? Please leave links and share!

Subscribe in a reader

Here’s some info about the Teen Author Boot Camp.  Shannon Hale will be delivering the keynote address! If you are interested in attending virtually, I have one registration to giveaway, so please fill out the Rafflecopter to enter!

Guest Post by Margie Jordan and Teen Author Boot Camp Info

There is a famous line from a movie that says, “I was always a band geek. I just never joined the band.” I could relate. When I was in high school I was a president of the dance team, a singer in the choir, a hang-out-with-my-boyfriend-until-mom-and-dad-forced-me-home kind of person. But in my heart, I was a writer. This is why I tell people all the time, “I was always a writer. I just always hated English.”

Because I was a closet writer, I didn’t have anyone to bounce ideas off of, no one to tell me when I stank, no one to teach me how to craft a really great story. My teachers were the millions of books I read (not in a closet—but hidden away when my friends were around). And I WISHED I could have had someone to talk to about my hidden obsession.

If this sounds like you…. Then I’m happy to say there is a solution.

The Teen Author Boot Camp, founded by the Utah-based group Writers Cubed and sponsored by Utah Valley University is one of only a few writing conferences nationwide geared solely for teenagers who have a love for the written word. For the first time ever, Writers Cubed is offering the conference to anyone who wants to attend through Live Stream.

Interested? Here are the deets!

When: Saturday, March 16, 2013

From: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (MST)

Where: Worldwide via the internet

Who: Teens, teachers, librarians, book lovers

Cost: $4.99 for the Live Broadcast; $9.99 for the All Pass

The keynote address by Newbery Winning Author Shannon Hale will be free for anyone to watch. It will be on March, 16th, 2013 at 9 a.m. MST. A subscription to the Live Broadcast costs $4.99 and includes the following:

9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.—Writers Cubed: Welcome

9:15 a.m. to 9:55 a.m.—Keynote by Newbery Award winner Shannon Hale (Princess Academy)

10 a.m to 10:45 a.m.—Tyler Whitesides (Janitors) Class: Imagine and Create.

10:55 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.—Janette Rallison (My Fair Godmother) Class: Bad dialogue can kill a story.

12:50 a.m. to 1:35 p.m.—NYT bestseller Kiersten White (Paranormalcy) Class: Plot Like a Villain.

1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.—J. Scott Savage (Farworld) Class: Finding Your Voice.

2:50 p.m. to 3:25 p.m.—Journey to Publication Panel: Agent Amy Jameson & authors Chad Morris, Tess Hilmo, J. Scott Savage, Cindy Bennett

3:35 p.m. to 4:20 p.m.—NYT bestseller Aprilynne Pike (Wings) Class: World-building is the invisible foundation to your book.

4:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.—Writers Cubed: Winner of the First Chapter Contest and closing remarks.

If you just can’t get enough of TABC, there is also an All Pass Subscription to the rest of the conference (including more than fifteen awesome presentations, including mine–haha). That only costs $9.99 and, as if it wasn’t a sweet enough deal already, you can watch the whole conference whenever you want for an entire year.

To register to watch Shannon Hale’s Keynote for free, visit www.teenauthorbootcamp.com and click on Livestream. It only takes a minute. While you’re there, check out the other presenters who will be teaching at the conference under the tab “Drill Sergeants.”

Stay tuned for details on how to win a subscription to the TABC Live Broadcast for FREE on this blog

Margie Jordan is a co-founder of Writers Cubed, a group of Utah writing activists who createdthe Teen Author Boot Camp in 2010. In her spare time, like when she isn’t writing, she is a Literacy specialist for her local school district. Please visit her website at www.writerscubed.com.

Giveaway!!!

Enter below for a chance to win a free subscription to the TABC Live Broadcast. (Value $4.99)  If you win, you can also upgrade to the All-Pass subscription, and  you will receive a $5 off coupon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

Okay, I have to admit that I was a Brady Bunch junky when I was a kid. I watched more than my fair share of the show, and because it was in reruns, I got a daily dose of the big, happy family.  I am curious about Kieran Kramer’s House of Brady series for that reason.   I think this cover is pretty, too, and I love the hues of blue.

This hits stores August  2013.

Paige Cuccaro is making a return visit to the virtual offices.  She’s here today to talk about her latest release From Here To Eternity.  After the interview, please enter for your chance to win a special prize pack.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had a theme song, what would it be?

[Paige Cuccaro] High Hopes. I’m the little old ant trying to move rubber tree plants.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about From Here to Eternity?

[Paige Cuccaro] At its core, From Here to Eternity is a story about rediscovered love—the kind of love that becomes a part of you, that sustains you during the best and worst times. The story is set in the future when science has advanced to the point where a person’s life can be extended indefinitely by means of mind transfer into androids that look exactly like the person who’s thoughts, memories and personality they house. This raises the question –How do you define, life? It’s that question that puts the heroine, Rachel and her husband, Dr. Nate Burns at odds. Nate would do anything to have his wife with him. But when he’s forced to chose between her most base moral belief and protecting the secret of eternal life he must do the one thing that would make his life bearable at the same time it goes against everything Rachel believes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Paige Cuccaro] I’m a huge nerd. I love sci-fi stories, especially robot stories. I started thinking (and not for the first time) what it would be like to be an android, like a super advanced version of the six million dollar man. We’ve already come so far in medicine, able to replace limbs with more and more advanced robotic arms and legs. It seems a natural progression that we’ll get to the point where we can literally replace every part and the only thing standing between a human and a fully robotic human will be replacing a person’s brain with a robotic one. That would mean transferring a person’s thoughts, memories, personality, everything that makes them who they are into a robotic brain. If we were able to do that…would you still be able to call that person human? Poof…story born.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Rachel?

[Paige Cuccaro] Opinionated.

Loyal

Determined.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Nate is never without.

[Paige Cuccaro] His Global eyewear. In the future it’s their connection to the world, phone, news, entertainment…everything.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Rachel’s purse?

[Paige Cuccaro] A mini travel tool kit. A copy of Scientific Journal. A tape measure.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Nate’s greatest regret?

[Paige Cuccaro] That he had to betray his wife’s beliefs.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What were your greatest creative influences while writing From Here to Eternity?

[Paige Cuccaro] Isaac Asimov. I adore his robot stories.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] List three things on your desk right now.

[Paige Cuccaro] A stuffed leopard holding a heart that says True Love, a can of diet Pepsi and a scented Marshmallow Fireside candle.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Paige Cuccaro] Sacrifice of Passion by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Paige Cuccaro] I’m a huge movie buff. I love watching movies, romantic comedies, sci-fi, adventure, you name it! Except horror. Life’s scary enough. I don’t need a movie to add to things.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Paige Cuccaro] Twitter: @paigecuccaro

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaigeCuccaro

Blog: beingpaige.blogspot.com

Website: www.PaigeCuccaro.com

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Giveaway Time!!!

Paige and Entangled Publishing are hosing a tour wide From Here To Eternity Prize Pack including 3 DVDs, 2 of Paige’s previous books and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

To enter, just fill out the widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can order From Here to Eternity from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below:

About the book:

Welcome to my Lunar Love Giveaway Hop.  This hop runs from March 8th to 13th and is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Bookworm Lisa.  You can win lots of new reads, so click here for a complete list of blogs participating in the hop.

I am giving away a finished copy of The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze. 

About the book:

To enter, fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following. US addresses only, please

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please welcome special guest Nicole Helm to the virtual offices today.  Nicole is here to chat about her new release Seven Night Stand.  She also brought along a $10 Amazon gift card for one of you to win after the interview!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Nicole Helm] I’m a mom of two young boys who writes contemporary romance novels between changing diapers and fielding incessant toddler questions.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Seven Night Stand?

[Nicole Helm] Seven-Night Stand is about a reality TV scout, Vivvy Marsh, who lands at a small private airfield in Kansas to try and find a reality TV show that will work. She’s pretty desperate for Harrington Airfield & Mechanics to be the setting for that show, but small airport owner Nate Harrington has way too many skeletons in his closet to let that happen. What he does let happen is a seven-night stand that turns complicated when feelings enter the equation.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Nicole Helm] I actually wrote the first 1,000 words for a contest where the opening scene had to have a man and a plane. Nate and his airfield were born. The reality TV idea came from something my grandpa mentioned in passing once regarding someone calling him from a TV station with the possibility of doing a show on his business (which is an airfield, although a different kind of one than the Harrington Airfield in my book). It never came to fruition, but it was enough of a seed in my brain for me to use it as a story premise.

The characters themselves came from the idea of wanting a woman to be bowled over by a man and a plane in the first thousand words. Thus, hunky Nate was born. He’s got a little swagger, so I knew he’d need a confident woman who didn’t take anyone’s crap. And that’s how Vivvy came to be.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Vivvy?

[Nicole Helm] No-nonsense, guarded, driven.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Nate had a theme song, what would it be?

[Nicole Helm] Oooh, I love this question! A good theme song for Nate would probably be Guys Like Me by Eric Church. Even though Nate’s a successful businessman, he’s a little rough around the edges, and he definitely embodies his small town.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Vivvy is never without.

[Nicole Helm] Her cell phone–her only connection to the outside world when she’s in Kansas.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Nate’s bedroom?

[Nicole Helm] This is hard. Nate’s a pretty laid back guy, but I’d have to go with a suit, throw pillows, and hair dye.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Vivvy’s greatest regret?

[Nicole Helm] Spending so much of her life fearing connection.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Nicole Helm] Books. I’m a lifelong reader, I was once an English major and then an English teacher, so books of all shapes and sizes influence–not just my writing life–but my life in general. I also love music, especially country music. A lot of story ideas have started from listening to a country song.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Nicole Helm] My iPad, something distracting my kids, and the internet so I can procrastinate when I get stuck.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Nicole Helm] Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O’Keefe. I think Molly is writing some of the most complex, interesting heroines in contemporary romance right now and this book totally blew me away.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Nicole Helm] I’ve been a reader my whole life. I remember my dad reading me and my sister a picture book called "Pudgy Pals" when we were tiny, tiny, and I remember the first books I read on my own were a collection of Dr. Seuss books, but I have always, always loved to read. I think I was born with it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Nicole Helm] Spend time with my husband and kids, watch St. Louis Cardinals baseball, hike (if it’s a nice day), bake, and, of course, read.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Nicole Helm] My website: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Helm/125277964228020?ref=hl

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5832703.Nicole_Helm

But the best bet is Twitter because, as my husband can attest, I spend waaay too much time on it. @NicoleTHelm

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Giveaway Time!!

Nicole is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card!  Please fill out the widget to enter. Earn extra entries by following. Open to US addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can order Seven Night Stand from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About Seven Night Stand:

Reality TV scout Vivvy Marsh loves her job, but she’ll lose it if she doesn’t find a hit. When she’s sent to Kansas to scout a show, it looks like a bust…until she meets sexy pilot, Nate Harrington. His family would make the perfect show to save her career.
Nate can’t deny his attraction to Vivvy, but no way can he let this show take off. The Harrington family is riddled with secrets, and she wants it all out in the open. For the next seven days, he’s going to stop at nothing to keep her out of his family’s business, even if it means keeping her distracted in his bedroom.

Nicole’s Bio:

I grew up with my nose in a book and a dream of becoming a writer. Luckily, after a few failed career choices, a husband, and two kids, I get to pursue that dream.
I write down-to-earth contemporary romance over the backdrop of America’s flyover states for Entangled Indulgence and Samhain Publishing.
I live in Missouri with my husband and two young sons, and write my novels one baby’s nap at a time. I’m slightly (okay, totally) addicted to Twitter (nicolethelm), the St. Louis Cardinals, and someday owning a barn.
You can contact me at NicoleTHelm@gmail.com. I am a contributor at the From Fact to Fiction blog and the Entangled Indulgence Author’s blog.
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Helm/125277964228020?ref=hl
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nicolethelm
Website: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com
Blog: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com/blog
Seven Night Stand Buy Links:
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seven-night-stand-nicole-helm/1114300676
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Seven-Night-Stand/book-ZhbPXJ2v8EumCA_tC8Jdhw/page1.html?s=L2AYTnOAwkuKvZQ48mIjqA

Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

A Most Dangerous Deception by Sarah Zettel looks awesome!  Court intrigue, murder, and romance.  Who could ask for more?  I love historical settings, and wish more YA books had them, so A Most Dangerous Deception is high on my wish list.

In stores November 2013

Title: Betting on Texas Author:  Amanda Renee

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

Once again, I am drawn to a cowboy book.  Betting on Texas by Amanda Renee even has horses.  Bonus!  Surly Jesse is a horse trainer, and they are actually featured predominately in the story.  Yeah!  Unfortunately, Jesse knowingly puts Miranda in some hazardous situations, which did make me think less of him.  A horse trainer of all people should know better to put a horse and a human at risk like that. 

Miranda Archer is embarking on a new life.  Having won the state lottery, she purchases a ranch in Texas, loads up her meager belongings in her brand new pickup truck, and heads for greener pastures.  What she finds isn’t exactly the solitary haven she’s expecting.  Instead, she discovers that she also owns several horses, a small herd of cattle, and some chickens in addition to the farm house and acreage.  Oh, yeah, and there’s that angry, angry cowboy, Jesse Langtry, in residence, too.  Jesse has sacrificed the better part of the last 15 years  working on the ranch, training sought after cutting horses and managing the property for the former owners.  They had a hand shake agreement that Jesse would buy the ranch when they were ready to retire.  Unfortunately, the older couple is tragically killed in an accident, and the ranch is placed on the auction block by.  Jesse is outbid by Miranda, and he is pissed!  How could this rich, city-slicker from DC just stroll into town and take away his  dream?

I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did, but the story didn’t gel for me.  The adversarial relationship between Jesse and Miranda turned me off.  Jesse completely and unfairly misjudges Miranda, which makes him hard to like.  They are constantly bickering about the ranch, which is legally Miranda’s, and Jesse blames her for buying it from under him.  He is so bitter that I just couldn’t buy into their relationship.  He puts her at risk several times with the horses, and I couldn’t get over that.  Horses are large animals, and when handled by inexperienced people, they can be dangerous.  Heck, they can be dangerous when you know what you’re doing!  To leave her to load a horse onto a trailer after getting mad at her; I just can’t imagine a professional horseman doing something risky like that.  After getting dumped off of my mare the same day I read a majority of the book, for no other reason than she was feeling frisky, I know how quickly things can go wrong with horses.  This probably won’t be a major sticking point for most, but it was for me.

I did like Miranda.  She put up with Jesse’s sullen behavior and tried not to let it bother her.  She met his dismissive treatment of her head on.  She didn’t let him alter her plans to have the home she had always dreamed of.  When life bit her in the behind, she quickly made adjustments to ensure that the animals and the people who were now depending on her were taken care of.  Her initial poor reception in town was entirely due to Jesse spreading false rumors about her and her plans for the ranch, and she acted forcefully to try to counteract the gossip he had spread about her.  Even though he did this before he met her, it’s hard to forgive a guy who would try to sabotage a complete stranger like that.

To settle things between them, Miranda and Jesse make a bet, and the winner ends up with the ranch.  Because of Jesse’s determination to win the bet and get his dreams back on track, it was hard to buy into his sincerity when his feelings for Miranda started to change.  I wasn’t sure if he really did like her, or if gaining control of the ranch was playing into his change of heart.  In fact, it wasn’t until the last two chapters that I even started to like him. 

Betting on Texas was a mixed bag for me, and I blame the confrontational relationship established early in the story for my tepid respond to Jesse.  It was hard to look beyond Jesse’s desire to own the ranch, and his less than chivalrous behavior rankled at times.  Even though Betting on Texas didn’t work for me,  I am looking forward to getting to know Jesse’s brothers better in Home To The Cowboy, the next book in the series. 

Grade: B-/C+

Review copy provided by publisher

Laurie Boyle Crompton is visiting the virtual offices today to chat about her new release BLAZE.  Please give her a warm welcome!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Blaze?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] Blaze is a seventeen-year-old comic geek who is sort of stuck in her life driving her younger brother and his friends around in her turd-brown minivan (AKA: The Subatomic Sweatmobile of Doom). She loves drawing comics and is determined to snag her crush but when she does things don’t really go as planned.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] My step-dad has an amazing collection of vintage comics that I had the privilege of reading through as a teen. I became an instant comic geek girl and this was before a lot of the superhero movies came out so there was zero cool factor to my obsession. Besides loving comics in general, I loved the way reading them made me believe in a greater truth. When people weren’t exactly being kind to me it was nice to read about a world where the good guys always come out on top.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Blaze?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] Talented Kickass Geek

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Blaze’s locker?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] A notebook that’s not covered in doodles.

A boy band poster.

A vanity mirror.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] Vintage superhero comics were a huge influence in writing this book. It was really a fantastic experience to be reading through all these old issues and seeing the ways that Blaze was inspired by the various characters. It was like I was experiencing the comics through her eyes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] Time, time, time! I would do it every second of every day if I could, but of course there are basic day-to-day things that need to be taken care of. Thankfully, some of the things I DON’T need in order to write include; clean laundry, home-cooked meals, scrubbed bathrooms and clean floors. When I’m on deadline none of that stuff happens.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] I recently read THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER because I wanted to read it before I saw the movie. I know that if I see a movie the odds go down that I will go back and pick up the book (exceptions abound, including WHIP IT by Shauna Cross which was awesome). I’m so glad I did read PERKS first, although I suspect I would’ve picked up the book afterwards anyway.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] I love to be outdoors. Hiking, biking, cross-country skiing – anything that gets me moving through nature. I’m a movie fanatic and also enjoy going for long rides in our Jeep with the top down. The perfect combination of these two is when we take the Jeep to the drive-in during the summer. *sigh* *thinks longingly of summer*

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] Twitter https://twitter.com/lbcrompton

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laurie.b.crompton

Website http://lboylecrompton.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13345957-blaze

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase Blaze from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below:

About the book:

Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

What a cool cover!  Seven Kinds of Hell by Dana Cameron even has a cool name!  I love the thought of an archeologist heroine, too.  This will be in stores next week.

Hits stores March 12th.

Jennifer Shirk hijacked the virtual offices to share her favorite romantic books with you!  How does her list stack up against yours?

HI, all! Jennifer here.

Valentine’s Day is past, but if you’re a romance reader love is ALWAYS in the air. (Or at least we want it to be, which is why we read these books in the first place!)

I have a sweet romantic novella out now called A Little Bit Cupid, which I think is VERY romantic since it centers around the premise of love at first sight.

But everybody has different feelings on what is classified as "romantic", so I thought it would be fun to show you my Favorite Romantic Books–especially for those who haven’t read my books or don’t know me.

Maybe we even share some of the same personal favs! Check them out below!

Jennifer’s Top Ten Most Romantic Books

10) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (a classic and one of those romances that obviously goes way beyond just mere good-looks attraction)

9) Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs (a funny YA, but one where even though these two come from different worlds, they are meant to be together. Very sweet.)

8) Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins (the hero Malone was not your "all talk and no action" kind of guy. In fact, he was the opposite–but actions speak WAY louder than words)

7) Blue-eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas (boy, oh boy, this hero was HOT and noble and knew exactly how to romance the poor "broken" heroine)

6) Jewel of the Sun by Nora Roberts (love a big old Irish hero with heart of gold)

5) The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen (melancholy story but emotional and romantic YA)

4) Perfect by Judith McNaught (gorgeous hero kidnaps heroine to prove his innocence and they end up falling in love–perrrrrrrfect!)

3) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (do I really need an explanation on this one?)

2) Honey Moon by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (two tortured characters but together they’re able to heal one another. LOVE this book!)

1) Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas (Sam was so sure of himself and so sure he wouldn’t fall in love with the heroine. They even would make sure to tell each other daily "I don’t love you." Ha! Love it when the hero gets bamboozled. )

Well, that’s my list and I’m sticking to it. I hope you all get to check out these books as well as my book A Little Bit Cupid.

Thanks so much for having me today!

What’s your favorite romance book? Have you read any of the books on my list?

Thanks, Jennifer, for sharing your Top Ten Romantic Reads with us!

About Jennifer Shirk: Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy–which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantic-at-hearts come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations.

She writes sweet (and sometimes even funny) romances for Samhain Publishing, Avalon Books/Montlake Romance and now Entangled Publishing. She won third place in the RWA 2006 NYC’s Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest with her first book, The Role of a Lifetime.

Lately she’s been on a serious exercise kick. But don’t hold that against her.

Feel free to follow her on Twitter or become a friend on Facebook.

Connect with Jennifer here:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferShirk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorjennifershirk
Website: http://www.jennifershirk.com/
Blog: http://www.jennifershirk.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3112488.Jennifer_Shirk

About A LITTLE BIT CUPID: Finding love should be easy, but wedding photographer Pheobe Ward knows better. When Cupid shows up on a crazy mission to help her —and save the world in the process—Phoebe realizes love might be even more complicated than she thought. Even with Cupid showing her Mr. Right , she can’t stop thinking about his best friend, Mr. Wrong.
Cal Crawford has never had time for love, but now he’s falling for Phoebe. Which means it’s got to be just plain wrong to set her up with his best friend, right? But even though seeing Phoebe with someone else will break his heart, he can’t walk away from her.

Phoebe can’t afford to choose the wrong guy with the fate of the world at stake. But maybe Cupid has it wrong. Maybe she has to rely just a little bit on Cupid, and a whole lot more on her heart.

Buy links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Little-Bit-Cupid-ebook/dp/B00B1228ZQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359644248&sr=8-1&keywords=a+little+bit+cupid
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-little-bit-cupid-jennifer-shirk/1114144344?ean=2940015995244&itm=1&usri=a+little+bit+cupid
Books on Board: http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=1455229&TITLE=A+Little+Bit+Cupid&AUTHOR=Jennifer+Shirk

iTunes Bookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-little-bit-cupid/id593745761?mt=11

A LITTLE BIT CUPID on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17244482-a-little-bit-cupid

Title: Blaze Author: Laurie Boyle Crompton

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

I have mixed feelings about Blaze.  I loved the protagonist’s voice, but, man, could Blaze do some stupid things.  She frustrated me several times during the narrative, because she was smarter than she acted.  She is so desperate to escape her boring soccer mom life that she builds up a non-existent romance with her brother’s soccer coach.  The reality of their relationship is much more shallow; they have a hookup  in the back of Blaze’s van, and once that’s over, Mark’s interest in Blaze is extinguished.

Blaze is the rock of her family.  Her father has abandoned them to pursue an acting career in New York and her mother works long hours as a nurse, so Blaze is the primary caregiver  for her younger brother Josh.  She shuttles him and his friends back forth to soccer games, attempts to cook, and takes care of most of the household chores.  She has two close friends, and not much of a social life.  And a boyfriend?  Nope, her love life is sadly lacking.  

Then one fateful day, Mark, Josh’s soccer coach, asks for a ride home.  Blaze has been lusting after Mark from afar all season, and she can’t believe that he’s going to be sitting in her car!  Wait, no, her vehicle is the color of crap and it smells like stinky boys.  Ugh! Still, she’s not going to let this opportunity go to waste.  Awkwardly flirting with him, she is quickly smitten.  He’s hot, after all.  Mark even makes her laugh and good-naturedly goes along with the silly games she and her young charges play to pass the time during the long drives rides to the soccer games. 

After giving him a few more rides to games, Blaze has built up their relationship in her mind, and she starts to think that it’s a lot more than it really is.  This frustrated me, because she is not a stupid girl.  She is an intelligent young woman with hopes and dreams who can debate the nuances of the  Marvel Universe with the best of them, but because her family is so dysfunctional, she is looking for something to break the monotony of her rural life.  There has to be something more than being invisible and going to school, and with Mark’s help she’s going to find out what it is.

It’s obvious to the reader that Mark is all wrong for her and that Blaze is in for nothing but heartache.  He’s a class A jerk, and I wanted to shake some common sense into her every time Blaze obsessed about the lack of communication from him.  When they are together, it’s like they aren’t even speaking the same language.  When Mark does her wrong, and Blaze strikes back at him, her life is torn to shreds when he reposts a picture of her that her friend texted to him.  Let’s just say that the fallout makes being a boring soccer mom stand-in seem like the best job in the world.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, with a few reservations.  Blaze is a comic nerd, more specifically, a Marvel comic nerd, and there is a lot of comic chatter going on in her head.  An aspiring comic creator herself, she thinks, eats, and breathe comics.  Because I am a comic geek, too, and I’m familiar with the Marvel Universe (and even the Superman issue that she disses), I felt right at home here.  If you don’t like comics, have never heard of Comicon, and can’t imagine hanging out in a comic shop, you might be a little bored here.

The other thing that irritated me and made me want to fling the book at the nearest wall was the hookup scene with Blaze and Mark.  Blaze, as I have already stated, seems like a smart girl.  She should know that having unprotected sex can lead to pregnancy or a life-threatening disease.  She hardly knows Mark.  By this time in the story, I thought he had proven himself to be a stuck-up, self-centered dirtbag, but my opinion of him certainly does not matter.  Nary a protest is made about the lack of a condom, and in this day and age, that’s inexcusable.  I don’t care how old you are or how badly you want to keep your boyfriend happy.  Ugh!!

Grade:  B/B-

Review copy provided by publisher

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

I am waiting for Cowboy Take Me Away by Jane Graves because the heroine runs an animal shelter.  I love romances that revolve around animals!

What are you waiting on?