Review of For Love or Money (Family Secrets #1) by Tara Taylor Quinn w/a rafflecopter giveaway! #HarlequinMyRewards @PrismBookTours @HarlequinBooks @tarataylorquinn #FreeBook

Aug 11, 2016

For Love or Money
(Family Secrets #1)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
August 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She can’t afford to lose this…or him

There’s no way that struggling single mom Janie Young is going to lose Family Secrets. Not even to Dr. Burke Carter. The prize money and media exposure from the cooking-competition show will secure the future for her and her son, who has special needs. Sure, Burke is a talented chef with his own reasons to win, but he already has so much: wealth, a beautiful daughter, great looks…and definitely her attention. As their families become closer, Janie is beginning to care too much about him. But she can’t afford to get involved. Not when everything is riding on beating him.

Harlie here…I know, I’m at Pink’s blog.  Let me explain why.  Sometimes when I pick a book to review from Harlequin, I need to put it over here on the “sweet” blog.  I know, I have the Harlequin/category spotlight on Harlie’s Books but sometimes either the author/publisher/tour company would rather it be featured over here.  No biggie to me or my readers.  Pink is doing…I honestly don’t know so that’s why I’m here.  The review will be a bit shorter but no worries.  No spoilers…

I really liked this story.  It had all the feels that a typical Heartwarming story has.  Emotions, family dynamics, a slow build romance and a tightly paced story that anyone could read.

Janie and Burke are trying to win a cooking contest.  Each has a different reason to win it and I liked that aspect of the book.  Janie needed the money and Burke didn’t want to disappoint his daughter Kelsey.  I won’t spoil how it turns out but in a way, I was kinda surprised.

Janie and her son Dawson will forever hold a special place in my heart.  Dawson has Down Syndrome and Janie needs to prize money for his therapies and school.  Naturally, she has an ex-husband that hasn’t even met his son.  Of course, once she is on television he comes sniffing around.  I hate fathers that do that.  I have a cousin that has cerebral palsy and my uncle is the best father.  Janie never gives up and with the help of her friends Cor and Joe, she has a great support system.

Burke and Kelsey have some big secrets that they have kept from each other.  I really felt for Kelsey.  Growing up without a mother and having to go to therapy AND being 13!  No wonder at times, Burke was at his wit’s end.

I really enjoyed how the contest and romance built up until the end of the book.  Unfortunately, I did have some issues that weren’t addressed.  Burke never really totally interacted with Dawson; at least not like Kelsey.  Kelsey has a dream with Dawson.  They bonded instantly and they helped each other in ways that no adult could ever do.  Also, I felt like the thread with Janie’s ex was left hanging.  There is some resolution but I felt like it was undone.  Also, the ending felt a bit rushed.  I would have liked an epilogue but then I had to remember that this is the first book in the series and it centers around the contest and some of the contestants.  I’m patient…I can wait.

Overall, I loved the book and the characters.  Ms. Taylor Quinn is one of my all time favorite Harlequin authors and she never misses with me.

FREE BOOK ALERT

 

Pick up THE GOOD GIRL for FREE in August from Wattpad!

Grab your copy here:
The Good Girl Wattpad Link

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin

The author of more than 70 original novels, in twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestseller with over six million copies sold. A 2015 RITA finalist Tara appears frequently on bestseller lists, including #1 placement on Amazon lists, and multiple showings on the Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller list. She has appeared on national and local TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning.

Tara is a supporter of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233.

Website│Goodreads│Amazon│Facebook│Twitter│Pinterest│Instagram│Wattpad

Check out the other releases and events part of this promotion HERE!

Tour Schedule

August 7th: Launch
August 8th:
Lady Amber’s Reviews
Katie’s Clean Book Collection
deal sharing aunt
Ali Williams
August 9th:
underneath the covers
Becky on Books
To Read or Not to Read
August 10th:
EskieMama Reads
Mel’s Shelves
Brooke Blogs
Books & Spoons
August 11th:
Beck Valley Books
Thoughts of a Blonde
Getting Your Read On
Love, Laughter, Friendship
Book Reviews & More by Kathy
Maya’s Musings
August 12th: Grand Finale
August 13th: Harlequin Junkie

Heart Stopping Tara Taylor Quinn Giveaways

FOR LOVE OR MONEY TOUR GIVEAWAY

$10 VISA gift card and winner’s ebook choice of one of TTQ’s Superromance Where Secrets Are Safe Series
US only
Ends August 17th

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TTQ PRE-ORDER/PURCHASE KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY

ENTER HERE

Kindle Fire with Six Pre-loaded TTQ Books (books 1-6 from Where Secrets are Safe series)
US only
Ends August 31st

To Enter: Submit your receipt online for your pre-order or purchase the soon-to-be-released Heartwarming compilation: A Heartwarming Holiday: 15 Connected Sweet Holiday Romances and/or of any of Tara Taylor Quinn’s six releases being promoted on her Heart Stopping Tour (Love By Association, His First Choice, The Promise He Made Her, Strangers in Paradise: Sheltered In His Arms, Sheltered In His Arms Audiobook, and For Love Or Money). Enter as many times as you purchase. One book purchase equals one entry (one receipt or invoice/order number per entry and must be entered at time of entry).

TTQ HARLEQUIN MY REWARDS POINTS GIVEAWAY

1st Place: 25,000 Harlequin My Rewards Points – equivalent of 5 free books, reader’s choice of any book published by Harlequin/MIRA/Carina Press.
2nd Place: 15,000 Harlequin My Rewards Points – equivalent of 3 free books, reader’s choice
3rd Place: 10,000 Harlequin My Rewards Points – equivalent of 2 free books, readers choice
Open internationally
Ends August 31st

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Blog Tour for Her Summer Crush by Linda Hope Lee w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @lindahopelee #Heartwarming #Harlequin #Giveaway

Mar 24, 2016

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Her Summer Crush
by Linda Hope Lee
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages
March 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She’s over her crush…isn’t she?

Luci Monroe is on top of the world. She’s just graduated from journalism school and she’s already landed her dream job in PR. Then Cody Jarvis saunters into her office. Nothing like finding out that your teenage crush, now a gorgeous, globe-trotting, freelance photographer, is going to be your staffer for the summer. Never mind. They’re both professionals. And she’s over him. Kind of. Anyway, he’s not interested. Cody is always waiting to disappear on his next assignment, and Luci needs someone stable. Someone who wants to build a life right here in Willow Beach…

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin│Kobo

 

Excerpt:

 

CHAPTER ONE, Part 5

 

“I like my place,” he said. “It’s cozy and has everything I need.”

“Maybe so, but do you think you’ll ever find a woman who’ll put up with all this?” Olive went to the sofa and plumped up the loose cushions.

“Not a question that needs to be answered, because I’m not looking. Not right now, anyway.”

“What about that woman who was on your last assignment? The one you talked about in your emails?”

“Shar, from Omaha?” He smiled as the image of Sharlene Williams, with her blond hair and ready smile, popped into his mind. “Yeah, she’s nice, but we’re just friends.”

Olive straightened and frowned at Cody. “Omaha is too far away, anyway. I always hoped you’d find someone closer to home.”

Cody grinned at her wistful expression. “No woman would put up with my being gone most of the time. I’m—what do you old folks call it—a rolling stone.”

Olive sighed. “Your dad really started something when he gave you that camera, didn’t he?”

Cody chuckled and walked over to one of the shelves. “This one?” He picked up a child’s red-and-yellow plastic camera. “Yeah, he did. And I was only, what, six?”

“Uh-huh. Right before he died.” Olive’s eyes misted. “And you’d go all over taking pictures, you with your little camera and he with his big one.”

“Yep. And young as I was, I remember him telling me that when I got old enough, we’d travel the world and take lots and lots of pictures. ‘Capturing the moment,’ he called it, although I didn’t understand what that meant.” Cody’s throat tightened. “We never got to do that.”

“No, you didn’t, and I’m so sorry. If only he could’ve beaten the cancer.” She bit her lip and looked away.

Cody walked over to his mother and put his arm around her. “That’s why I’m traveling now. I like to think he’s with me on my trips, helping to capture the moments.”

“That’s a wonderful tribute, Cody. But what about passing on your love of photography to your son or daughter—wouldn’t that also be a way to honor him?”

Cody smiled. “Ah, we’re back to that again, are we?”

“You can’t blame me for hoping.” She cast him a sheepish look. “Some grandchildren would be nice.”

“You have Emma’s grandchildren.” He replaced the camera on the shelf. “Think how lucky they are, having two grandmas to dote on them.”

Olive and Emma Chester were lifelong friends. When Cody’s father passed away, Cody and his mom had moved from Portland to Willow Beach, next door to Emma. One of the reasons Cody didn’t worry about being gone so much was that his mom had Emma and her family for support.

“Emma’s grands are sweet, but they’re not the same as my own would be,” she insisted, and then her expression brightened. “Anyway, it’s nice to have you home, even if it’s only for a week or so.”

If Cody accepted Glen Thomas’s offer, he’d be staying longer than a week. But could he handle it? Before long, the open road would be calling him again, like it always did.

 

 

Linda Hope Lee writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and mysteries. She enjoys traveling especially to small towns in search of story ideas. She’s also an artist, specializing in watercolor, pen and ink, and colored pencil. Photography provides inspiration for both her writing and her art. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where many of her stories are set.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter

Other Books by the Author

Tour Schedule

March 21st: Bookworm Lisa & Singing Librarian Books
March 22nd: Bookworm Nation & I Am A Reader
March 23rd: Wishful Endings
March 24th: Katie’s Clean Book Collection, Rockin’ Book Reviews, & Love, Laughter, Friendship
March 25th: Thoughts of a Blonde
March 27th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

$50 Amazon eGift Card
3 copies of Her Summer Crush (print if US, ebook if international)
Open internationally
Ends April 1st

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Cover Reveal for Fear of Falling (Shores of Indian Lake #5) by Catherine Lanigan w/a rafflecopter #Giveaway @Cathlanigan #Harlequin

Feb 3, 2016

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for
Fear of Falling
By Catherine Lanigan

Coming March 1, 2016, from Harlequin Heartwarming…

(Shores of Indian Lake #5)
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages

Her best bet is to stay away

Was Olivia hearing this right? The one man in Indian Lake she’d found truly intriguing since, well, forever—the hopelessly handsome heir to the region’s most successful farming operation, Rafe Barzonni—was involved in horse racing? That made him, and her sudden attraction, downright dangerous. He wasn’t just out of her league. He was a gambler. Like her father. With the shame of her father’s racetrack betting addiction still haunting her, Olivia can’t be part of that world. Rafe’s world. She can’t trust him, or his magnetism. But there’s something deep in his incredible blue eyes that keeps drawing her closer…

Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Harlequin

The Other Books in the Series

Catherine Lanigan is the bestselling author of over thirty published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile, as well as over half a dozen anthologies, including “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living your Dream”, “Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul”, “Chocolate for a Woman’s Heart”, Chocolate for a Woman’s Spirit”. Ms. Lanigan’s novels have been translated into over a dozen languages including German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese. Ms. Lanigan’s novels are also available on audio-cassette, CD and on electronic format. A prolific writer, she is always writing wonderful stories. She has several titles only available in ebook format on Amazon.com Several of her titles have been chosen for The Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Clubs. Her novel, The Christmas Star, won the Gold Medal Award Top Pick from Romantic Times Magazine for December, 2002, and has also won Book of the Year Romance Gold Award from ForeWord Magazine as well as Book of the Year Romance from Reader’s Preference. In March, 2006 Divine Nudges: Tales of Angelic Intervention and the second in Lanigan’s Angel Watch series of books, was published by HCI, the Chicken Soup for the Soul publisher.

Website – Goodreads – Facebook – Twitter – LinkedIn – Pinterest

Want to join the upcoming tour? Click on the banner to go to the sign-up!

Cover Reveal Giveaway

$25 Amazon eGift Card
3 ebooks of Fear of Falling
Open internationally
Ends February 7th

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Review of Coming Home, a Werewolf Story by Melissa Frost w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @EvernightTeen

Jan 21, 2016

 

COMING HOME

Melissa Frost

20K, Evernight Teen Publishing

Paranormal/Shifters/Romance

As a foster care child, Andi never stays long in one place. She doesn’t have a chance to connect with anyone—until sexy, blue-eyed Devon walks into her life.

Devon claims to have known her birth parents. He’s even got a photograph to prove it. He shows up offering her everything she could ever want—a friend, a connection to her family, and answers.

The only problem is Devon’s friendship comes with a few complications attached. There’s the fact that he’s a werewolf, and then there’s the territorial clan out to start a war with Devon’s pack. What started as a simple journey to learn about herself turns into a dangerous road trip that could get her killed.

If she can survive, Andi just might get the answers that have been plaguing her, and she might just fall in love with her new furry pal along the way.

Buy Links:
Evernight
Teen     Amazon

Excerpt: 

“I’m still not convinced.” She informed him of this in a tone that stated quite clearly
she thought him to be a liar. “You’ll have to try harder than that.”

At her skepticism, Devon gave a grin that could only be described as devilish. Climbing to his feet, he yanked the zipper down on his coat and shrugged out of it. He tossed the coat into the snow before lifting his shirt over his head. 

As if they had a mind of their own, her eyes drank in the sight of his bare chest. He was amazingly sculpted, his arm muscles bunching with every movement. His abs, which appeared rock solid, mirrored the action. He even had an interesting scar along his left shoulder that only seemed to add to his sex appeal. She cleared her throat uncomfortably, willing her body to settle down. She didn’t usually get so affected by boys.

When his hands went to his belt buckle and began unfastening it, she gave a squeak of objection. “What are you doing? Stop taking your clothes off!”

He grinned over at her. “You wanted to see a werewolf, didn’t you? I’m just obliging.”

 

But … but…”

He stripped out of his jeans with ease. “Werewolves aren’t freaked out by nudity, Andi. If
you remembered even the slightest bit about your history, you would know that.”

As his briefs came down, her eyes lifted hurriedly to the sky. She gazed at the clouds as if they were the most intriguing thing in the entire world. Which was a complete farce. Standing before her was the first naked boy she’d ever been in the presence of. She desperately wanted to sneak a peek, yet she was too freaked out by the idea to even lower her gaze a fraction of an inch.

“Sheesh, you’re such a human,” Devon said in complaint. “You’re such a prude that you’re about to miss all the fun.”

Andi scowled, but her gaze was still lifted skyward so she had no idea if he saw her or not. As she stood awkwardly gazing at the clouds, she realized how absolutely absurd this situation was. She was standing in the entrance to a public park. With a naked boy. In the snow.

“This is so—” Her protests broke off as an odd popping sound filled the air. She couldn’t quite place it, but it felt so familiar. It was a noise she’d heard before, but she couldn’t remember where. Her eyes lowered to Devon’s bare shoulders to find them shifting and cracking. His flesh moved in such an unnatural way, she nearly cried out in alarm. Her own hand pressing to her lips was the only thing that stopped the sound from escaping.

She watched with morbid fascination as Devon’s body repositioned and changed itself into something new. Before her very eyes, his entire being altered, and he transformed into the shape of a wolf. It took no more than a minute or two, but the time seemed to stretch on forever.

She witnessed soft puffs of cream fur appear that seemed to burst right out of his skin. His fingers elongated, the nails growing out into sharp claws. The urge to run lasted a mere second before she was stepping forward in fascination.

Her fingers outstretched toward the furry muzzle that had once been Devon’s nose. She wasn’t frightened by him in the least. How could she be? He was the wolf! The one she’d seen outside the school staring into her classroom window.

She knew instantly he’d been there for her, watching over her as he awaited their reunion. She bet he had seen it playing out quite differently. Closing her eyes, she allowed her fingers to brush over the soft fur between his ears.

The sensation of it shook her to the core. Her body remembered it, recalled it like it was yesterday. Werewolf fur. She wasn’t sure if it was his fur in particular that felt so much like home, or if it was werewolf fur in general. Either way, it startled her just how much she longed to be near him in that moment.

Her eyes snapped open, and she stumbled back, unsteady on her feet. This was far too much to absorb in one afternoon. Her mind was racing, and she didn’t even know where to begin. As a result, she simply plopped down into the snow, stunned.

 

 Pink here.  I know, I’m reviewing again.  Harlie’s on a break.  She’s tired and working with the kiddies again.  So the reading and reviewing for the next couple of months is my job.  Woo Hoo!  Harlie hasn’t given me a lot to do and I’ve been busy.  But hey she needs help and happy to be here for her.

As you know, Harlie doesn’t “do” shifters stories.  In fact its rare that she even reads PNR but I love it.  Especially YA PNR.  Of course I have to agree with my sister, my vampires don’t sparkle but I do love a good shifter story.  Ms. Foster hits one out of the park for me on this one.  I did, however, have to get over Andi’s sudden “of course I believe you” was a bit of a stretch for me but in the end I could understand it.  She never fit in and after being bounced around, it felt good to finally have some closure when it came to her family.

Devon was a dream for me.  He was patient with Andi in the beginning.  He helped her to understand what truly had happened to her parents and ultimately to her.  In fact, calling her human all the time was funny.  It was kinda like a pet name for her.  In the end though it was up to Andi to fully embrace who she was a child and to what she could become.

I loved this book.  In fact, I might have to bug Ms. Foster to write more about Andi and Devon.  Their story isn’t finished by a long shot.  Just a feeling.  Another reason why I loved this story is that it didn’t over load with all the pack stuff.  You got to know Andi and Devon as characters.  The politics and other stuff can come later.

A tender love story about find your mate and not realizing it.  At least from Andie’s POV.

And Harlie said that I can use them. 🙂

About the Author:

 

Melissa Frost grew up loving young adult novels and continues to immerse herself in the current authors on the market.

In the fifth grade, she won a writing competition to work with children’s author Colleen O’Shaughnessy Mckenna, and it inspired her to write stories of her own.

She never looked back.Google:   AuthorMelissaFrost

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelissaFrost/?ref=bookmarks

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Giveaway:   $10
Evernight Teen Gift Card

 

 

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Grand Finale for Warming Hearts at Walmart w/a rafflecopter giveaway!

Jan 18, 2016

On tour with Prism Book Tours.

We’re thrilled to be spreading the word about Harlequin Heartwarming books now being available in local US Walmarts. Find out if they’re at a Walmart by you here. Heartwarming titles are also 35% off at Walmart through the end of January!

Post a Selfie and Win 1 of 15 Walmart Gift Cards!

Join in the fun by taking a selfie with a Heartwarming book (maybe one of the December releases above) and posting publicly on social media to enter to win a Walmart gift card. The giveaway ends January 20th, so post your selfie by then!

Ten Heartwarming authors shared their own selfies and messages at each stop of the tour! If you missed any, go back and check them out now…

I Am A Reader – Amy Vastine

I am so excited that Heartwarming books are now available at Walmart, so some lucky girl can go visit her aunt and possibly stumble across one of MY books and fall in love!

Mel’s Shelves – Anna J. Stewart

I was thrilled to find a home in the Heartwarming line. Writing these sweet romances that emphasizes the emotional adventure of falling in love feels almost like a calling and now, that dream I thought I’d achieved has now grown. The Heartwarming line is now available in select Walmarts!

deal sharing aunt – Cari Lynn Webb

I’m thrilled that I’ll get to add more Heartwarming books to my bookshelves now that Heartwarming paperbacks will be available at Wal-Mart. A Heartwarming story will be within reach no matter if I pick up my Kindle or a paperback… there’s nothing better than that.

Reading Is My SuperPower – Carol Ross

I still have my first love. Yes, I’m talking about a book. But not just any book. This is the one that began my life-long, unshakeable and abiding love affair with the written word.

Katie’s Clean Book Collection – Catherine Lanigan

Our stories have depth, heart, emotion and the characters are so real, as a reader you feel you would “know” these people on sight. . . . I believe in “happily ever after” and through Heartwarming and Walmart, we’re able to bring more of these moving stories to the people who have been searching for something touching and magical.

Babs Book Bistro – Leigh Riker

It’s not always easy to find a romance that’s clean and wholesome with a rich, compelling plot and multi-faceted characters to root for all the way to a happy ending. . . . You can trust this brand of our books in the line each month to provide a great reading experience. Pick up a copy (or more) today. And enjoy!

Love, Laughter, Friendship – Melinda Curtis

I admit, most of the books I buy nowadays are ebook, but I almost always buy books I enjoy in their print form. Those keepers mean a lot to me.

Heidi Reads… – Pamela Tracy

I love, love, love finding a new book on the shelf, taking it in my hand, feeling the smooth cover and turning the book over to read the blurb. Buying the book is taking a pan of warm brownies out of the oven. Reading the books is eating the gooey chocolate and never wanting to stop.

Now, Harlequin Heartwarmings will be in stores as well. Wow, it feels a little bit like Christmas.

Christian Chick’s Thoughts – Rula Sinara

But if I have the option of spending time in a real brick-n-mortar bookstore and buying a tangible book that I can anticipate experiencing with all my senses, I go straight to print books. And if I see someone running their hand across a book they’ve been looking for forever then closing their eyes and breathing it in like they’ve found a treasure, I’d understand.

Bookworm Lisa – Tara Taylor Quinn

Walmart has signed on to put one of my favorite lines, Harlequin Heartwarming, on the shelves of over 400 stores! That’s four more Harlequin books a month. Books filled with emotion and strength. Books that embody the love and hope that the people in our world so desperately seek.

Tour Giveaway

15 – $10 Walmart Gift Cards
– Rules: To enter, take a selfie at a local Walmart with a Heartwarming book and post publicly on social media (can be your hands, your face, etc. with a Heartwarming book). Can enter once each day with a different picture each time. Those who post the same picture multiple times will be disqualified. Those who only post privately (so that it can’t be viewed publicly) will also be disqualified.
– US Only
– Ends January 20th

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