Monday, July 13, 2015

"eyes unveiled" by crystal walton

While I love reading Young Adult fiction and romance, I haven't read much New Adult fiction (where the protagonist is college aged to mid-20's). This is because much of what I've seen is overly focused on sexuality, and I want to read about love, not sex. So when Crystal Walton contacted me about reviewing her clean New Adult romance, I was intrigued.

Twenty-one-year-old Emma Matthews lost the song in her heart the same night she lost her dad. With an unfulfilled promise and an ultimatum shadowing her junior year of college, maybe it’s better that way. You can’t hurt if you can’t feel. 

But when the reflection she sees in musician Riley Preston’s eyes borders dangerously close to the one she’s spent the last five years searching for, Emma discovers her walls can’t guard her heart from its fiercest desire. Terrified of what she’s experiencing, and even more afraid of what she might lose, Emma grapples for the courage to hold on to one dream without abandoning the promise of another. 

Contemporary Inspirational Romance novel Eyes Unveiled lets you relive those heartfelt moments when you don’t know how you’d survive a day without your best friend, when you’re trying to figure out who you are and what you’re supposed to do with your life, and when falling in love changes everything. 

While love at first sight/instant attraction stories aren't my favorite, Walton did an excellent job of conveying the pull between Emma and Riley. I definitely felt like I was experiencing everything along with Emma, and I could buy into her feelings. (Though I think I preferred A.J., the rival for Emma's affections, to Riley. Not sure that was supposed to happen ...) While I thought Emma and Riley's relationship progressed too quickly, that's the 33-year-old me talking. The 21-year-old me would have found everything to be wonderfully romantic ... and that's what makes Eyes Unveiled a great New Adult romance. The romance and passion are there—along with a healthy dose of uncertainty that often accompanies the college years—but there's no sex or foul language.

The faith element in Eyes Unveiled is very light—so light that, had it not been called an inspirational romance in the description, I would have thought it was just a clean romance. I think it will appeal to both girls who are Christians and girls who aren't. It is perfect for those who want to read New Adult romance without the sexual content common to the genre. 3-1/2 stars.

Buy the book. (You can also borrow it free if you're a Prime member.)


Amidst multiple moves up and down the east coast, Crystal received her bachelor of arts from Messiah College in PA, married her exact opposite in upstate NY, and earned her master of arts from Regent University in VA, where she currently resides with her husband. Crystal writes contemporary inspirational fiction fueled by venti green teas from Starbucks.

When not working her accounting day job, she's delving into the wonder of words, supporting her Starbucks habit, or laughing over movie quotes & singing eighties songs with her husband. She'd love to connect with you at crystal-walton.com.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."

Sunday, July 12, 2015

"gone without a trace" by patricia bradley

With a plot that keeps you guessing, Gone without a Trace will have romantic suspense lovers flying through the pages.

The past is repeating itself—and time is running out.

It's been more than two years since homicide detective Livy Reynolds's cousin disappeared from Logan Point. Unlike most people in her hometown, Livy has never believed that Robyn left voluntarily. When Dallas private investigator Alex Jennings contacts her concerning a senator's missing granddaughter who was last seen in Logan Point, Livy notices eerie similarities between the two disappearances. With self-doubt plaguing her and an almost instant dislike of the self-assured PI, she's finding this investigation an uphill battle. But with the prospect of finding her cousin on the horizon, she'll have to find a way to work with Alex--before it's too late.

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley keeps you on the edge of your seat with a case—and a relationship—that is anything but certain.

The covers of Patricia Bradley's Logan's Point novels may look like posters for Lifetime movies, but there's nothing cheesy about the stories inside. In the third book (which can be read as a stand alone), Gone without a Trace, Bradley amps up the suspense with a story that feels like it could happen just about anywhere, making it all the more scary.

One of my favorite things about Gone without a Trace is the way Bradley drops clues about the abductor's identity without actually giving anything away. Basically, there are four or five men who could be the bad guy, and I kept changing my mind about who it was! But I also felt like I could follow along and make intelligent guesses, so when he was revealed, I didn't feel cheated—everything lined up based on the story.

While the mystery was fantastic and the romance between Livy and Alex was believable, I did feel like a few other relationships resolved a bit too conveniently. One of them, the relationship between Livy and her father, didn't have a huge bearing on the story anyway, so I don't know why it needed to be included. However, it was just a minor sub-plot; I absolutely loved 95% of this novel.

I know I joked about Lifetime earlier, but I could absolutely see Gone without a Trace being made into a Lifetime-type movie. And I for one would love to watch it. 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my review of Bradley's A Promise to Protect (4 stars.)

Patricia Bradley is the author of Shadows of the Past, A Promise to Protect, and Gone without a Trace. Bradley has been a finalist for the Genesis Award, winner of a Daphne du Maurier Award, and winner of a Touched by Love Award. Bradley is a published short story writer and cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America, and makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell through the Revell Reads program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."

the friendship tour grand finale + giveaway


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

We're blitzing The Friendship Tour Grand Finale for:
The Friendship Pact
&
Once Upon a Friendship
By Tara Taylor Quinn

We hope you've enjoyed getting to know more about Author Tara Taylor Quinn and the friendships in these two stories throughout the tour. If you missed any of the stops, go back and check them out...

Launch - Introductions
Intro to The Friendship Pact
I've written a lot of books. From thriller/suspense to romance, I've given you many kinds of stories. This one isn't like any of them. It's a story of heart. Of soul-searching. Of tough questions with no easy answers. It's a story of relationships. Of friendship. It's the story of two very different women who, as children, make a pact to travel life's journey together.
Intro to Once Upon a Friendship
On the surface, Once Upon a Friendship was kind of ordinary when I started writing. . . . But as I've come to accept over the years, the book wasn't really mine. The story belongs to Liam and Gabi and Marie. And the things that happened to them are not mine to change.

Christian Chick's Thoughts - Once Upon a Friendship Review
"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."


underneath the covers - TTQ Signature
Both books celebrate friendship. Both come straight from my heart and soul to yours. I can promise you that, if you read them, you'll take an emotional journey. You'll be made to question a thing or two that matters to you. And you'll find something to take with you, too.

deal sharing aunt - Elderly Couple
In Once Upon A Friendship, three friends buy an old apartment building to prevent the elderly people who've been living there all their lives from being put out on the street. They had no idea what a bounty their investment would be to them in terms of the gifts they'd get in return from the residents they'd saved. But I knew. And I had a great time showing them what I knew.

The Friendship Pact: "As I started getting into the story, I really couldn't put it down, had to finish it all, but of course there is life, work and dinner to be cooked. But this story really touched my heart, and even a lesson in this story. Each person in this story had something to give and take, and the emotions were raw and real."
Once Upon a Friendship: "I just love the way Tara Taylor Quinn writes, you can feel the emotion in her stories, the people seem real, and I love to read stories that seem real."

beck valley books - 70th Book
The release of Once Upon A Friendship this month marks my seventieth published novel with the Harlequin/MIRA/Harper Collins team. When the publisher sent me the list of my titles recently, telling me that I was at number 70--a number they consider a milestone--I took a quick glance. I knew I'd written close to seventy books. But then a title caught my eye. Not because of the particular title. Or because of the particular book. But because I'd written the book years ago, saw the name, and got that rush feeling in my stomach that you get on Facebook when you see that an old friend has found you.

Mel's Shelves - Once Upon a Friendship Review
"I love a good romance, especially when there's a secondary storyline and this book delivered! I wasn't expecting the mystery so that was a pleasant surprise. I had a pretty good idea of who was behind the scheme early on but there were still some twists and turns along the way that I didn't see coming."

Words for the Journey - Once Upon a Friendship Review
"True to Harlequin Heartwarming's style, Once Upon a Friendship is a clean story centered around traditional values of family, friendship, and personal growth. These are so rare nowadays, it's always a joy to find one!"

Wishful Endings - Once Upon a Friendship Excerpt
Liam didn't remember getting back to his car. He knew he'd done so on his own. Without escort. He climbed behind the wheel, starting the car with a calm he'd probably feel if he felt anything at all.

Christy's Cozy Corners - Once Upon a Friendship Review
"If you like sweet romance stories with endearing characters, you will love Once Upon a Friendship by Tara Taylor Quinn. It is filled with emotion and it will keep your attention throughout!"

Getting Your Read On - Once Upon a Friendship Review
"I did enjoy the cast of characters here. It was easy to feel their camaraderie and loyalty to each other. Friendship is the best base for a romantic relationship, I think. Well, friendship and attraction. :) This was an easy going book. It was gentle in nature and never really got my heart pounding but it was solid and had a good flow to it."

Life as Leels - Once Upon a Friendship Review
"I will say, the big twist in the mix really through me for a loop though. It wasn't what I expected and left me turning the pages to see what was all going to come of the entire situation. While it wasn't my usual type of read, I did enjoy it and recommend that if you are looking for a good, clean read; this is it!"

Colorimetry - My Best Friend
I learned the value of friendship at a very young age. I was five when I met my best friend. Not a best friend in the moment. Or a bestie. Not one of several. Just the one. She was four at the time. I don't know why she was different from every other person I would meet in life. No clue why she was the one.

And this is the message I hope you get from The Friendship Pact and Once Upon A Friendship. Cherish your friends. Tend to them. Let the little things go. Work through the big ones. Because they are the ones who will always be there to catch you when you fall. To hold you up. And help put you back together again.

The Friendship Pact: "The story was in a way like riding a roller coaster, because it would be so sweet in one moment and so heartbreaking the next, but strangely enough I liked that. For the most part it felt extremely realistic and I just couldn't put it down."
Once Upon a Friendship: "I enjoyed that this wasn't just a romance, but a story about a father and son and their relationship with each other. I didn't see the ending coming, the part without the romance, and that's always nice. If you enjoy these type of books I recommend you give it a read."



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.


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?


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.


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. 


Tour Giveaways

$10 VISA Gift Card & ebooks of The Friendship Pact and Once Upon a Friendship (US only)
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

Saturday, July 11, 2015

"shadows of ladenbrooke manor" by melanie dobson

A delightful mix of family drama, intrigue, and romance make Melanie Dobson's Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor the perfect summer read.

When Heather Toulson returns to her parents' cottage in the English countryside, she uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the truth about a decades-old murder.

Libby, a free spirit who can't be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver's death.

Decades later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family's cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She's mourning her father's passing but can't let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family's belongings left behind in the cottage. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family's history.

Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways.

Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

I've read several of Melanie Dobson's novels, and they seem to just get better and better. I opened up Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor expecting to like it, but I had no idea just how invested I would become in this novel!

The book is told from multiple perspectives in both the present and the past. While this could get confusing, it does not, and it also allows the reader to view events from multiple perspectives, causing characters who could seem like villains (like Libby's boyfriend Oliver) to come across as more sympathetic and relatable.

The portion of the story told in the past begins when Maggie, pregnant and alone, accepts Walter Doyle's offer of marriage. Maggie's decision to allow Walter to believe Libby is his sets off a cycle of lies and deception that is not broken until their younger daughter Heather returns to the family cottage following Walter's death. The novel powerfully shows how secrets and lies can affect families for generations.

Beautifully written with an intriguing and thought provoking plot, Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor is unlike any other book I've read. I almost wish I hadn't finished it yet, just so I could still have the pleasure of discovering how everything turned out for the Doyle family. 5 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Dobson's The Courier of Casewell Hall (5 stars), Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan (3.5 stars), Refuge on Crescent Hill (4 stars), and Where the Trail Ends (4.5 stars).

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of thirteen historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels. Two of her novels won Carol Awards in 2011, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana in 2010. Melanie lives with her husband Jon and two daughters near Portland, Oregon.

Find Melanie online: website, Twitter, Facebook


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

"picture perfect love" by melissa mcclone


Zondervan's delightful Year of Weddings (Year Two) series continues with a story about a second chance at love.

When image becomes everything, it's up to love to refocus the heart.

Photographer Jenna Harrison wants every bride and groom to look picture perfect on their special day, putting her heart into every wedding to give the couple memorable images of their love. But her own heart is still broken, the unworn wedding dress hanging in her closet a reminder that relationships aren't always as perfect as they look through her camera lens. But Jenna has faith that she will find true love. Until then, she must be patient and trust in God's plan and His perfect timing.

Attorney Ashton Vance is the one that got away. When an embarrassing Photoshopped picture of put an end to his political aspirations, he blamed Jenna. So what if the photo led to his being offered a dream job and changing his life for the better? Jenna betrayed his trust, and two years later, Ashton's heart still hasn't recovered.

It was me. His younger sister's three words turn Ashton's world upside down. He must ask Jenna's forgiveness, but can he risk his heart a second time? Even if Jenna can forgive him, dare he hope for a second chance at her love?

I've very much enjoyed many of the Year of Weddings novellas, and I wanted to like Picture Perfect Love. I liked Jenna a lot, and I wanted her to find her happily ever after. The problem? I didn't like her ex-fiance, Ashton, at all. He was spiritually immature and made the same mistakes repeatedly. At two points in the novella, other men were introduced, and I thought that maybe one of them would be Jenna's true love. But no, it's Ash that she belongs with. Sometimes, I don't particularly "buy" a couple in a romance novel, but rarely do I actively root against them—and that's what happened in this case.

While I didn't enjoy the romance, I did like other aspects of the novella. I loved seeing the difference that good friends, a great church, and strong faith made in Jenna's life. As I said before, I liked her a lot, and she was interesting enough that I would have enjoyed reading about her life sans romance. The novella is written well, but I just couldn't get behind the romance. However, while this novella wasn't my cup of tea, I'm sure many romance lovers will really enjoy it. 2-1/2 stars.

See what others are saying (hint: my opinions are in the minority).
Buy the novella.
Read my reviews of the other Year of Weddings and Year of Weddings 2 novellas.

Melissa McClone has published more than thirty novels with Harlequin and Tule Publishing Group. She has also been nominated for Romance Writers of America's RITA® award. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three school-aged children, two spoiled Norwegian Elkhounds and cats who think they rule the house.

Find Melissa online: website, Twitter, Facebook


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."

"beyond the ashes" by karen barnett

After tragically losing her husband, Ruby Marshall is determined never to love again. But when she meets her brother's partner, Dr. Gerald Larkspur, her head and her heart can't seem to agree.

Where better to rebuild and face one's fears than in 1906 San Francisco, a city rising from the ashes?

Ruby Marshall, a young widow, is certain she'll discover new purpose assisting her brother Robert with his cancer research, but she doesn't anticipate finding new love.

Dr. Gerald Larkspur dreams of filling his empty home with family, but he'd always hoped it would be a wife and children. In the aftermath of the great earthquake, the rooms are overflowing with extended family and friends left homeless by the disaster. When Robert's widowed sister arrives, the close quarters seem close indeed.

Ruby and Gerald's fledgling romance is put at risk when Gerald develops symptoms of the very disease they're striving to cure. Together they must ask---is it worth a second chance at love when time might be short?

Beyond the Ashes is the second book in Karen Barnett's Golden Gate Chronicles, but it can be read without having first read Out of the Ruins. This novel picks up in the months following the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake as the city and its citizens are trying to recover from the tragedy.

Gerald and Ruby are both interesting characters, and I especially enjoyed reading about Gerald's work with cancer patients. One patient in particular, a young woman named Dee, especially caught my attention. Her story was heartbreaking, but I loved the way she handled her illness and looming death. I did struggle to like Ruby in the beginning, but she grew on me as the book progressed, and she ended up being a very sympathetic character.

The romance in this book, though sweet, does suffer from what I like to call "just talk about it already!" syndrome—where if the hero and heroine would simply have a conversation about their problems, they could easily be resolved. But this is one of those books that I enjoyed for things other than the romance, and Barnett's description of medicine at the time is particularly strong. I also liked Gerald's story line, and I'll be very interested to see what happens to him in the future.

While Beyond the Ashes didn't grab me in the same way as Out of the Ruins did, it still is a good story that looks back on a fascinating time in our nation's history. I'll certainly be looking for the third book in the series next year. 3-1/2 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Barnett's Out of the Ruins (4 stars) and Mistaken (4 stars).

Karen Barnett is the author of Beyond the Ashes, Out of the Ruins, and Mistaken. Named the 2013 Writer of Promise by Oregon Christian Writers, Karen lives in Albany, Oregon, with her husband and two kids. When she's not writing novels, she loves speaking at women's events, libraries, and book clubs.

Find Karen online: website, Twitter, Facebook


Beyond the Ashes Karen Barnett

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."

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."