Showing posts with label harlequin heartwarming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label harlequin heartwarming. Show all posts

Saturday, October 2, 2021

Review: "The Single Dad's Holiday Match" by Tanya Agler


Oh, Harlequin ... you really know how to create titles 🤣. Believe it or not, The Single Dad's Holiday Match is not about online dating, takes place over the span of three holidays, and is just as much about the "match" as it is about the "single dad." It's also a better book than the title would imply.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Spotlight + Giveaway: "A Ranger for the Twins" by Tanya Agler

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Hi, everyone! I'm popping in today with a book spotlight and giveaway post for Tanya Agler's A Ranger for the Twins! This is a sweet contemporary romance in Harlequin's Heartwarming line. Check it out, and be sure to enter the giveaway below!

Friday, January 4, 2019

Review: "The Rancher's Fake Fiancée" by Amy Vastine


I love a good fake relationship story (almost as much as I love a good marriage of convenience story😉), so the title of this one had me immediately!

Thursday, March 8, 2018

"Heart's Desire" by Catherine Lanigan

On Tour with Prism Book Tours
***Premiering as The Sweetest Heart on the Hallmark Channel March 17th 9 PM ET***

By now, you know that I'm loving comparing books and the movies based on them. So when I came across a tour for Catherine Lanigan's Heart's Desire, which was being made into a Hallmark movie, I just couldn't resist 😉.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

"The Happiness Pact" by Liz Flaherty

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

I love a good "best friends falling in love" story. That premise is what drew me to The Happiness Pact, a book in the Harlequin Heartwarming line.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

"make me a match" grand finale + giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Review & Excerpt Tour Grand Finale for
Make Me a Match
By Melinda Curtis, Cari Lynn Webb, & Anna J. Stewart

Did you enjoy meeting Cooper, Ty, and Gideon, three childhood friends all grown up and seeking love? If you missed any of the excerpts or reviews, go back and check them out now...

Launch - Intro to the Compilation

And in Kenkamken Bay, Alaska, childhood friends: Cooper Hamilton, Ty Porter and Gideon Walker are family: they’ve dreamed together, failed together and stalled out in life together. And now they plan to change their futures together as match-makers.

Heidi Reads... - Review

". . . once they put their efforts into helping the single members of the community improve their social lives the stories got more fun as they came up with interesting group activities to do in the dead of winter. The first two stories were okay but I loved the third one!"

I Am A Reader - Excerpt from Baby, Baby

The inner front door opened and a woman stepped in. She was wrapped from neck to snow boots in a reddish-brown parka that made her look like a stuffed sausage. Conversation in the room died away as every pair of male eyes turned toward her. She peeled off her knit cap, revealing shoulder-length, glossy blond hair and artfully applied makeup.


"Sometimes, novellas that are connected but are written by different authors don't feel cohesive, but in this case, the collection flowed seamlessly from one novella to the next."

Colorimetry - Excerpt from Baby, Baby

And the witty, handsome man she’d met ten months ago with the mischievous smile? He wasn’t witty—he was speechless. He wasn’t handsome—his dark hair brushed his shoulders unevenly and grew from his chin in short, thick stubs. He wasn’t smiling—his lips formed a shell-shocked, silent O.

Zerina Blossom's Books - Excerpt from The Matchmaker Wore Skate

Kelsey Nash, the beautiful, backstabbing columnist, had returned to K-Bay. The pretty looks belied an icy inner strength; the watered-down bourbon doe eyes camouflaged a shrewd nature.

deal sharing aunt - Excerpt from The Matchmaker Wore Skates

Ty leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Let’s be clear, K.J., we’ve seen these ladies before. They’ve taken our survey before. You’ve done nothing for me.”

Wishful Endings - Excerpt from Suddenly Sophie

As gray as Gideon saw his world, Sophie lightened up any space she walked into with her ebullient and gregarious personality—character traits Gideon both appreciated and worried about. Not everyone was as protective as he was prone to be when it came to Sophie Jennings.


"The first book sets things up and the last one ties things together. I liked that each book was by a different author. It helped separate the characters and define them as individuals with their own voice."

Mel's Shelves - Review

"The authors did an amazing job of making the stories seamless. The major characters were in each of the stories and they were consistent. I also love that the stories are all clean! If you're looking for a fun Valentine's Day read, check this one out!!"


"4 STARS! . . . This is a compilation of three short stories that revolve around a group of friends."

Underneath the Covers - Excerpt from Suddenly Sophie

If she’d ever doubted the universe was determined to make her its comic relief, she now had solid proof. Stuffy Gideon probably disapproved of Sophie’s tendency toward taking chances, but what was the point in living if you weren’t going to go after life with a bit of gusto and purpose?


"I loved that each story has a unique voice, which is really pronounced by having a different author write each one. I enjoyed my time in Kenkamken, Alaska with these great people!"

Make Me a Match: Baby, Baby\The Matchmaker Wore Skates\Suddenly SophieMake Me a Match
by Melinda Curtis, Cari Lynn Webb, and Anna J. Stewart
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
February 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Three bachelors turned…matchmakers?

BABY, BABY: One special night with Cooper Hamilton gave Nora Perry a precious gift. But no way is the sweet-talking salesman the right guy for her…or is he?

THE MATCHMAKER WORE SKATES: Former pro athlete Ty Porter could get burned when he falls for the beautiful reporter who ruined his career—and could now expose his most zealously guarded secret!

SUDDENLY SOPHIE: Gideon Walker has a long history with free-spirited flower shop owner Sophie Jennings. But when the banker-matchmaker fixes her up with potential candidates, he realizes he's made a terrible mistake…


Award winning, USA Today bestseller Melinda Curtis writes the Harmony Valley series of sweet and emotional romances for Harlequin Heartwarming, and the sweet romantic comedy Bridesmaid series. A Memory Away is Book 6 in the Harmony Valley series. Brenda Novak says: “Season of Change has found a place on my keeper shelf”. Melinda also writes hotter romances as Mel Curtis. Jayne Ann Krentz says of Blue Rules: “Wonderfully entertaining.



Cari Lynn Webb lives in Alabama with her family. If she isn’t at her computer, she can usually be found: picking up her daughters from school, dropping off at swimming or soccer practice or running into the grocery store for that one thing she forgot on her shopping list. She loves escaping into a romance and her e-reader can usually be found in her passenger seat. Visit her at: www.carilynnwebb.com.


You’ve met Anna J. Stewart (or someone like her) before. She was the girl who spun in circles on the playground hoping her Wonder Woman costume would magically appear before playing cops and robbers a la Charlie’s Angels–as Sabrina (she was the smart one). Anna was the girl in the back of the class with a paperback romance hidden in her algebra book (and yes, she failed algebra).

Growing up in the 70′s and 80′s meant there weren’t a lot of YA books, so she ventured early into mainstream fiction and read Stephen King’s CARRIE at the age of 8. Discovering Nora Roberts and romance novels early in high school opened her eyes to the wonders of storytelling and the beauty of a happily ever after.

So here she is, many years later with an English degree from CSU Sacramento, an RWA Golden Heart nomination behind her, countless stories in her head, and a serious addiction to STAR TREK, SUPERNATURAL, and SHERLOCK. She recently wrapped up a nearly 8-year stint working as assistant to NYTimes bestselling author Brenda Novak where she helped run Brenda's annual online auction for diabetes research. When she's not writing or reading (which she never has enough time for!), she's working on dollhouse miniatures and tolerating her overly-affectionate cat named Snickers (or perhaps it's Snickers who tolerates her).


Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)
Copy of Make Me a Match (print if in the US, ebook if outside the US)
Copy of A Memory Away by Melinda Curtis (print if in the US, ebook if outside the US)
Copy of The Bad Boy from Butterfly Harbor by Anna J. Stewart (print if in the US, ebook if outside the US)
Ends February 12th

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Grab Our Button!


Tuesday, February 2, 2016

"make me a match" by melinda curtis, cari lynn webb, & anna j. stewart + giveaway


Make Me a Match: Baby, Baby\The Matchmaker Wore Skates\Suddenly SophieThree bachelors see a way out of their small Alaskan town when they make a bet with their high school hockey coach.

Make Me a Match
by Melinda Curtis, Cari Lynn Webb, and Anna J. Stewart
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
February 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Three bachelors turned…matchmakers?

One special night with Cooper Hamilton gave Nora Perry a precious gift. But no way is the sweet-talking salesman the right guy for her…or is he?

Former pro athlete Ty Porter could get burned when he falls for the beautiful reporter who ruined his career—and could now expose his most zealously guarded secret!

Gideon Walker has a long history with free-spirited flower shop owner Sophie Jennings. But when the banker-matchmaker fixes her up with potential candidates, he realizes he's made a terrible mistake…

Make Me a Match is an enjoyable novella collection centering on three best friends who are promised hockey jobs outside of Alaska if they can get six couples together before Valentine's Day. The premise is the stuff of Hallmark films, and it's great for a rainy day. (Or in my case today, a snow day!)

Baby, Baby by Melinda Curtis: When Nora shows up in town with a baby in tow, Coop is hesitant to believe she could be his. But soon Nora—and her baby—begin to soften Coop's heart. I really loved Nora, and I enjoyed her interactions with Coop's dad. It was Coop himself I didn't care much for, and the "happily ever after" ending came a little too quickly to be realistic. 3 stars.

The Matchmaker Wore Skates by Cari Lynn Webb: Journalist Kelsey ruined Ty's life once. When she returns to K-Bay looking for another story, Ty is determined to keep her away from his biggest secret. But the chemistry the two once had is stronger than ever, and Ty begins to wonder if he and Kelsey may really have a future. I definitely enjoyed this story, but I felt like I never truly understood Kelsey and her motivations. While the romance was believable, it also felt a bit rushed. 3-1/2 stars.

Suddenly Sophie by Anna J. Stewart: When Sophie asks Gideon to find her a match, he can't find anyone worthy of her ... because he wants her for himself. Of the three stories, this one was by far my favorite. I felt like it was the most complete of the stories, and I loved Gideon and Sophie's interactions. Also, it was quite funny! 4 stars.

While I enjoyed some of the novellas more than others, they all felt like they went together. Sometimes, novellas that are connected but are written by different authors don't feel cohesive, but in this case, the collection flowed seamlessly from one novella to the next. While I wouldn't call Make Me a Match a must-read, it is an enjoyable way to pass an afternoon. 3-1/2 stars.

Content note: The Harlequin Heartwarming line, of which Make Me a Match is a part, promises clean romances—no explicit sex or language and traditional values. These novellas do focus a little more on drinking than I'd have liked, and there are a few times where "God" is used as a curse word, rather than when someone is praying.

Buy the book: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin



Award winning, USA Today bestseller Melinda Curtis writes the Harmony Valley series of sweet and emotional romances for Harlequin Heartwarming, and the sweet romantic comedy Bridesmaid series. A Memory Away is Book 6 in the Harmony Valley series. Brenda Novak says: “Season of Change has found a place on my keeper shelf”. Melinda also writes hotter romances as Mel Curtis. Jayne Ann Krentz says of Blue Rules: “Wonderfully entertaining.”

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram
Cari Lynn Webb lives in Alabama with her family. If she isn’t at her computer, she can usually be found: picking up her daughters from school, dropping off at swimming or soccer practice or running into the grocery store for that one thing she forgot on her shopping list. She loves escaping into a romance and her e-reader can usually be found in her passenger seat. Visit her at: www.carilynnwebb.com.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest

You’ve met Anna J. Stewart (or someone like her) before. She was the girl who spun in circles on the playground hoping her Wonder Woman costume would magically appear before playing cops and robbers a la Charlie’s Angels–as Sabrina (she was the smart one). Anna was the girl in the back of the class with a paperback romance hidden in her algebra book (and yes, she failed algebra).

Growing up in the 70′s and 80′s meant there weren’t a lot of YA books, so she ventured early into mainstream fiction and read Stephen King’s CARRIE at the age of 8. Discovering Nora Roberts and romance novels early in high school opened her eyes to the wonders of storytelling and the beauty of a happily ever after.

So here she is, many years later with an English degree from CSU Sacramento, an RWA Golden Heart nomination behind her, countless stories in her head, and a serious addiction to STAR TREK, SUPERNATURAL, and SHERLOCK. She recently wrapped up a nearly 8-year stint working as assistant to NYTimes bestselling author Brenda Novak where she helped run Brenda's annual online auction for diabetes research. When she's not writing or reading (which she never has enough time for!), she's working on dollhouse miniatures and tolerating her overly-affectionate cat named Snickers (or perhaps it's Snickers who tolerates her).

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.
Tour Schedule

January 31st: Launch
February 1st: Heidi Reads... & I Am A Reader
February 7th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)
Copy of Make Me a Match (print if in the US, ebook if outside the US)
Copy of A Memory Away by Melinda Curtis (print if in the US, ebook if outside the US)
Ends February 12th
Copy of The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor by Anna J. Stewart (print if in the US, ebook if outside the US)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Grab Our Button!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review through Prism Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

warming hearts at walmart: blog tour+giveaway

On tour with Prism Book Tours.

Book Nirvana: Reading With All Your Senses


It's impossible for me to think about books without thinking about my childhood. As a little girl, I devoured books, thought the library was a wonderland and loved listening to stories before I could even read. Does that sound familiar? I'm not talking about whether you were an early reader or not, I'm talking about the love of a story. I'm talking about when you held your first picture book in your little hands and lost yourself in it using ALL your senses—including taste—as you gnawed and slobbered at the corner while teething. Now stop and think about your reading experiences from those first bookí days to right before the first time you read an ebook.
You don't simply recall the act of reading. Right? You're also remembering the musty scent of that old book you discovered on the bottom shelf in the school library or the crisp scent of the new release your mom bought you. Or maybe you recall the aroma of your favorite cookies in the oven, while you were engrossed in the third book of your favorite series on a Saturday morning. You're remembering the sight of hundreds of books with covers in every color imaginable surrounding you in a maze of bookshelves. You're remembering what those books felt like as you ran your fingertips along the bindings, from the smooth paperbacks to the textured hardcovers. You're remembering the array of papers used for printing, from rough, antiqued pages of a fantasy or history book to the glossy, thick pages of a photographic journey. Oh, and the way a page curled up like a wave as you turned it to uncover the next or the rippling sound as you flipped the pages in rapid fire against your thumb the way you would with a deck of cards.
Now, apart from that first book you teethed on, I'm hoping you didn't go around tasting books lol, but that doesn't mean your sense of taste doesn't factor in. For one thing, everyone knows taste and smell are connected, but beyond that, don't tell me you never curled up with a cup of tea, coffee or cocoa while immersed in a book. Or maybe the taste of freshly baked pie will forever bring up The Hobbit and images of Bilbo's pantry.
And what about that sixth sense some believe in? Perhaps that's what draws you into the bookstore you're passing in a rush while running errands. Or maybe it's what makes your fingertips land on a book you've never heard of but feel compelled to check out.
Books. All those secrets uncovered with all our senses.
I'm not coming down on ebooks. They have their benefits and I even own one. But buying, browsing or reading ebooks simply doesn't provide the same sensory experience as print books. To me, it's like the difference between decaf coffee and the real thing. Or the difference between watching someone skydiving or hiking through woods on TV or in a movie versus experiencing it yourself. All those sensory book experiences I described? None of that will happen to the same degree through a computer or ereader screen. And could you imagine people tossing an ereader on a coffee table and telling guests all their coffee table books are loaded on it? Think of all the fingerprints. Or what about dead batteries or power outages? That actually happened to me when I was at the dark moment (no pun intended) of a fantastic romance novel!! I couldn't even read the ending by candlelight!
For that reason, when I read an ebook I love, I buy the print version for keeps. 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. I'd even understand if they gave it a big old kiss. But if I see someone doing all that to an ereader, I'd probably just think they're weird. Then I'd hand them a polishing cloth.

Rula


Award winning and USA Today bestselling author Rula Sinara lives in Virginia's countryside with her husband, three boys and zany but endearing pets. When she's not writing or doing mom stuff, she loves organic gardening, attracting wildlife to her yard (cool bugs included) or watching romantic movies. For updates on her latest releases, gluten free recipes and more, check out her website, blog, sign up for her newsletter or like her on Facebook.


The Promise of Rain (From Kenya, With Love #1) After the Silence (From Kenya, With Love, #2)

Tour Schedule

Check out these Heartwarming authors' own selfies...

January 3rd: Launch
January 4th: I Am A Reader - Amy Vastine
January 5th: Mel's Shelves - Anna J. Stewart
January 6th: deal sharing aunt - Cari Lynn Webb
January 7th: Reading Is My SuperPower - Carol Ross
January 8th: Katie's Clean Book Collection - Catherine Lanigan
January 10th: Babs Book Bistro - Leigh Riker
January 11th: Love, Laughter, Friendship - Melinda Curtis
January 12th: Heidi Reads... - Pamela Tracy
January 13th: Christian Chick's Thoughts - Rula Sinara
January 14th: Bookworm Lisa - Tara Taylor Quinn
January 15th: Grand Finale

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

Grab Our Button!

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

free short story: "thankful for you" by karen rock

On tour with Prism Book Tours.

Today, I'm happy to be a stop on the Heartwarming Thanksgiving Tour! I love promoting clean reads, and the books in the Harlequin Heartwarming line fit the bill. Throughout this tour, we'll be highlighting 13 FREE short stories by beloved Harlequin Heartwarming authors that will be available from Harlequin during November. All Heartwarming titles are 30% OFF during November from Harlequin as well! Use code HEART1115.

TODAY'S FREE SHORT STORY:

Thankful for You by Karen Rock

A HAPPY REUNION?

Way back when, Hunter Boone thought he and Josie Stephens had something that would last forever. Then she got her ticket out of town and took off—alone. The hurt nearly tore him apart. By the time Josie realized she'd made a mistake, Hunter had already married.

Now Josie's back in Stonewall Crossing, and while instant fire flares between them, she can't come between the now single dad and his son. As the whole town gets ready for Christmas, Josie finds it hard to avoid Hunter. No matter how much he tempts her with the promise of a future together, she has to tell herself—for her own survival—that relationships just aren't her thing…

Maggie James has worked hard to get over her commitment phobic ex, Lt. Eric Langley. Yet old feelings resurface when they’re reunited to put on a Thanksgiving dinner for foster children displaced by their group home’s fire. She still loves Eric, but she’d grown up vowing to have the traditional, nuclear family her loving parents provided and won’t accept anything less. This time around, does she dare give them a second chance?

After watching his vibrant mother retreat from life following his firefighter father’s tragic death, Lt. Eric Langley vowed never to inflict that pain on anyone, especially Maggie. When she’d begun talking kids, marriage, it’d nearly killed him to break things off. But how could he take the risks his job required, if he worried about a family counting on his safety? Although he’d shut away his pain when he and Maggie had broken up, his old feelings rush back after one glimpse of her beautiful face. He should want to avoid her, but feels thankful for this time together instead. Is it possible some surprising wisdom from the children he saved, could rescue him, too?

Read it HERE!

Guest Post by Karen Rock

Rushing headlong to make a deadline for an upcoming Harlequin Heartwarming, HERS FOR KEEPS, I received an email from our Senior Editor, Victoria Curran, subject line: Thanksgiving Short Read. Intrigued, I bypassed the oh-so-tempting Bed Bath and Beyond savings offer and opened her note. Was I ever glad that I did! Our marketing department approved a plan for select Heartwarming authors to write eight thousand word short reads that would be free downloads all through November.

I was honored to be asked and immediately said, “YES”! Then, reality set in. I still had over fifty thousand words on my current WIP to write in just five weeks. How could I also create and pen an additional story that would be due during the same time period? I took a long hard look at my calendar (I always write my writing goals in it), and immediately started penciling in writing days on the weekends. I also extended my work day into evening hours (buh-bye to America’s Got Talent and the start of fall TV line-up… sigh*) But, in the end, it was worth it and my Thanksgiving Short Read, THANKFUL FOR YOU, was born. I’m absolutely thrilled with the second chance love story I wrote for a secondary character in another romance I’d set in the Adirondacks, RAISING THE STAKES. In that book, two best friends co-own a diner. I wanted to give Maggie James, a woman who admires the gutsy gals she grew-up watching in black and white films with her grandmother, the happily-ever-after she deserved.

From her retro, vintage style, independent spirit, and traditional values of wanting a nuclear family, Maggie is a lot like her idol, Katharine Hepburn. She’s strong willed and knows what she wants, and what she wanted from her ex, firefighter Lt. Eric Langley, was her white picket fence dream. Instead, he broke her heart six months ago by ending their two-year relationship when she’d begun talking marriage and kids. Now he’s back, and talking kids again, only this time it’s to ask for her help in putting on a dinner for the displaced foster kids after their group home burned. It was fun to imagine how Maggie, who admires strong, traditional woman, would handle herself as she works with Eric during a holiday that makes everyone grateful for the ones they love and appreciate the value of family.

Lt. Eric Langley is carrying on his generations-old family legacy of fighting fires. After watching his vibrant mother retreat from life following his father’s death, he’d vowed never to inflict that pain on anyone, especially Maggie. When she’d begun talking kids, marriage, it’d nearly killed him to break things off. But how could he take the risks his job required, if he worried about a family counting on his safety? The dynamic of putting together two great people, like Eric and Maggie, who are so perfect for each other but can’t see how to overcome their obstacles, made this an engrossing story to write. I hope you’ll feel the same way when you read it.

I’m thankful for many things this holiday season and at the top of the list is being a part of the wonderful Heartwarming family! If you are interested in learning more about me or my books, please stop by http://www.karenrock.com or click on the follow button beneath my picture on Amazon’s author page http://amzn.to/1NSRVrT You can also find me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/karenrock5 or facebook at http://facebook.com/karenrockauthor Happy Holidays everyone!



Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary author. She holds a master’s degree in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time author. Most recently, her Harlequin Heartwarming novels have won the 2015 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award and the 2015 Booksellers Best Award. When she's not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales, cooking and hiking. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, daughter and Cavalier King Charles spaniels.

Other Heartwarming Titles by this Author

Wish Me Tomorrow His Hometown Girl
Someone Like You A League of Her Own
Raising the Stakes Winter Wedding Bells

TOUR SCHEDULE

Don't miss any of these FREE novellas or the extra tour content! Stop by each of the tour stops each day:

11/2: Snow Day Baby by Amy Vastine
Singing Librarian Books, The Power of Words, & Katie's Clean Book Collection


11/4: Wedding at Turkey Run by Liz Flaherty
My Love for Reading Keeps Growing, Babs Book Bistro, & Heidi Reads...

11/6: Her Thanksgiving Soldier by Leigh Riker
Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima, Mel's Shelves, & Brooke Blogs

11/9: Mr. Right All Along by Jen Snow
Katie's Clean Book CollectionMin Reads and Reviews, & Love thy Shelf

11/11: Falling for the Cowboy by Sophia Sasson
Kindle and Me, The Power of Words, & Colorimetry

11/13: The Marriage Gift by Tara Taylor Quinn
deal sharing aunt, Babs Book Bistro, & Brooke Blogs

11/16: Heart of a Hero by Pamela Tracy
Writing Pearls, Wishful Endings, & Waiting For Wentworth

11/18: Thankful for You by Karen Rock
Christian Chick's Thoughts, Getting Your Read On, & Love, Laughter, Friendship

11/20: Autumn at Jasper Lake by Carol Ross
Reading Is My SuperPower, I Am A Reader, & Colorimetry

11/23: The Firefighter’s Promise by Kate James
Canadian Book Addict, Mel's Shelves, & Beck Valley Books

11/24: Wedding of His Dreams by Cari Lynn Webb
Bookworm Lisa, Kindle and Me, & Zerina Blossom's Books

11/25: The Sweetheart Tree by Rula Sinara
The Written Adventure, Reading Is My SuperPower, & Writing Pearl

11/26: Married by Thanksgiving by Melinda Curtis
Heidi Reads..., Love, Laughter, Friendship, & Singing Librarian Books 

11/29: Grand Finale
11/30: Facebook Party

GIVEAWAYS

Goodreads Giveaway

13 Harlequin Heartwarming Books
Enter on Goodreads HERE.

Pinterest Giveaway

 
Pin one or both of these images to spread the word and enter to win this adorably festive Thanksgiving Table Set:


Pinterest Prize includes: four reversible, quilted placemats, four matching napkins, hand-painted matching napkin rings, matching table runner, matching quilted hot pad/trivet, floral centerpiece in pot, and hand-crafted pilgrim pair.
- Enter via the Rafflecopter below
- Open to US/CAN only
- Ends December 4th


Tour Giveaway

Grand Prize: Harlequin Heartwarming Year Subscription (Provided by Harlequin and to US/CAN only)
$40 VISA card (US only)
13-Book Heartwarming Prize Pack: The Best Laid Plans, Back to McGuffy's, If I Loved You, Love, Lies & Mistletoe, First Comes Marriage, Once Upon A Marriage, Small Town Secrets, Winter Wedding Bells, If Not For A Bee, When The Right One Comes Along, Wedding of His Dreams, After The Silence, and A Memory Away (print copies if US, ebooks if international)
9-Book Prize Pack: The Best Laid Plans, If I Loved You, Love, Lies & Mistletoe, First Comes Marriage, Once Upon A Marriage, When The Right One Comes Along, Winter Wedding Bells, If Not For A Bee, and After The Silence (print copies if US, ebooks if international)
Ends December 4th

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Grab Our Button!

Monday, July 6, 2015

"once upon a friendship" by tara taylor quinn + giveaway

What happens when two best friends become something more? Find out in Once Upon a Friendship, one of the books featured in Tara Taylor Quinn's Friendship Tour.

Once Upon a Friendship
(The Historic Arapahoe #1)
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
July 1st 2015 by Harlequin Heartwarming

They're a team...not a couple!

Falling for Liam was unthinkable. He and Gabi had been best friends since college, nothing more. And crucially, now Liam was her client and needed her to be focused on his case. Gabi could never risk their friendship—or Liam's freedom—over these feelings. They could never be a couple, anyway. He was Liam Connelly, the handsome and privileged son of a billionaire. She was Gabrielle Miller, the girl who'd fought her way out of poverty and put herself through law school. They were unlikely friends to begin with. Anything more was impossible. Unless...he felt it, too.

As I began reading Once Upon a Friendship, I wasn't sure how much I'd end up liking it. The prologue, which does a good job of setting up Liam's friendship with Gabi and Marie, went on longer than I thought necessary, and when the present day portion began, I just wasn't that interested.

The novel begins with the three friends purchasing an apartment building, and knowledge of that event is necessary for the story, but it did feel like the "set up" portion went on too long. Once the story got rolling, though—especially with the intrigue revolving around Liam's father and his possible illegal dealings—I started really caring about the story. Eventually, I was flying through the pages to see how everything would resolve—not that I had any doubts about whether Gabi and Liam would end up together, but I was so curious about how things would turn out with Liam's father.

I definitely felt the chemistry between Gabi and Liam, and I pulled for their happy ending. I also enjoyed a couple other non-romantic relationships that Liam developed throughout the novel. The touch of mystery also added to my enjoyment of the novel. And now I'm very curious about where Marie's story will go.

After a rough beginning, Once Upon a Friendship turned into a very enjoyable romance novel, and I look forward to continuing the series. 3-1/2 stars.

Content note:
The Harlequin Heartwarming line, of which Once Upon a Friendship is a part, promises clean romances—no explicit sex or language, no sex outside of marriage, and traditional values. These are not inspirational romances, so they won't include much mention of God or faith. Basically, I consider these romances to be the book equivalent of Hallmark movies! Once Upon a Friendship does contain several mild curse words.

Follow the tour.
Buy the book: Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin

Now keep reading to learn about the other book on tour, and enter to win some great prizes! 


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.
Check out all of Tara's events HERE.

The Friendship PactThe Friendship Pact
by Tara Taylor Quinn
Adult Romance, Women's Fiction
Paperback & ebook, 245 pages
June 1st 2014 by MIRA

This is a story for every woman who has a best friend...

Bailey Watters and Koralynn Mitchell consider themselves "sisters of the soul." Their circumstances growing up couldn't have been more different; Kora came from a wealthy, privileged family, while Bailey's home life was hard. They'd do anything for each other. "I'd give you a kidney," they always say. There are no secrets between them--until there's one secret Bailey can't share.

This is a story for every woman who's been in love.

Danny Brown is the only man Kora's ever wanted, ever loved, and her marriage seems as flawless as everything else in her life. Bailey, however, doesn't want a husband. She does want a baby--but only by IVF. And the perfect donor, the perfect biological father, would be a man like...Danny.

What happens when love and friendship collide?

Kora might be willing to give Bailey a kidney. But what about a baby?

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. She is known for delivering deeply emotional and psychologically astute novels of suspense and romance. Tara is a recipient of the Reader's Choice Award, a five time finalist for the RWA Rita Award, the Reviewer's Choice Award, the Bookseller's Best Award and appears frequently on bestseller lists, including #1 placement on Amazon lists. Tara is the past-president of Romance Writers of America and served eight years on that board of directors. She has appeared on national and local TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning and is a frequent guest speaker. In her spare time Tara likes to travel, climb Arizona mountains, and inline skate.

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. 




Just as the social sharing contest Tara is running through all her tour events this summer (details here) she's also hosting a giveaway for those who share quotes from her about friendship. There are three different choices all provided below to share. Share one or all just once or every day this week!

QUOTE #1

QUOTE #2

QUOTE #3 

Prizes include:
US PRIZE: Girlfriend note cards, mini-book full of quotes, "friends" picture frame, friends wall plaque, and ebooks of The Friendship Pact and Once Upon a Friendship.
INT PRIZE: Two (2) winners will receive ebook copies of The Friendship Pact and Once Upon a Friendship.

*Share must be public to be eligible. Can share once each day. Ends July 17th. Enter via the Rafflecopter link below.



Tour Giveaways

$10 VISA Gift Card & ebooks of The Friendship Pact and Once Upon a Friendship (INT)
Print copy of Once Upon a Friendship & a Spend the Summer with TTQ T-shirt (US only)
ebooks of The Friendship Pact and Once Upon a Friendship  (INT)
Ends July 17th

(All to one winner - US only.)
$10 VISA Gift Card
Copies of all five books on Tara's Summer Tour
Spend the Summer with TTQ T-Shirt
Ends July 16th

a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review through Prism Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."