review and tour: face of danger by roxanne st. claire

When Hollywood actresses begin to fear someone dubbed “The Red Carpet Killer,” the Guardian Angelinos are hired to protect the latest Oscar winner. They land the job because Vivi is the spitting image of Cara, the actress believed to be the next target. Although Vivi is the one who started Guardian Angelinos, she doesn’t get her own story until the third installment of the series. This familiar face finally reveals the 16 year old trauma that closed her off to romantic relationships as she begins to fall for the FBI agent assigned to guard the actress she’s pretending to be. Even as Vivi and Lang grow closer, the investigation remains at the forefront. And what an investigation it is. They soon discover “The Red Carpet Killer” isn’t the only after Cara whose whereabouts are now unknown. There were so many twists here, I was kept completely on guard and needing to read the next page.
5/5
ARC Review
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.

review and tour: shiver of fear by roxanne st. claire

Shiver of Fear picks up the story from the first book in Roxanne St. Claire’s Guardian Angelinos series though the perspective shifts from Zach and Samantha to Marc and Devyn. Even though the plots are connected, Shiver of Fear can be read as a standalone because the pertinent background information such as the murder of Devyn’s husband shortly after her discovery that a well-known mobster is her biological father. It is this discovery that sets in motion the action of this suspenseful second installment. After Devyn feels compelled to go to Ireland in search of her scientist biological mother, the Guardian Angelinos are hired to get Devyn out of Belfast. While it seems a little odd the FBI would need their help, Marc is former FBI; furthermore, Marc soon uncovers a terrorist plot that has Devyn’s mother at the center. As Marc tries to keep Devyn safe, the pair also starts to fall for each other bringing a slow romance to an increasingly tense hunt for the truth within layers of deep undercover work and conspiracy.
5/5
ARC Review
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.

review and tour: the sweetest thing by jill shalvis

This post contains affiliate links.

Six months after their mother’s death brought three estranged sisters to Lucky Harbor, they are actually making a go of running the inn they inherited. While Simply Irresistible focused on Maddie’s life, The Sweetest Thing shifts to Tara, who had previously been revealed to have given up a baby at seventeen. Given how much time Tara was spending with the man who fathered that child, it wasn’t surprising when that child (now seventeen herself) appeared on the scene. This is where I wish the story had focused. I found the dynamics between a man and woman starting to come together after seventeen years (and a baby!) and the teenager looking to connect with her birth parents to be quite compelling. The fact that Mia is exactly the age Tara was when she gave up Mia adds another layer as Mia stays for the summer and falls for a boy working at the inn. But much of the plot centers around Tara and her two potentials—the aforementioned baby daddy and the man she just divorced (yeah, he wants her back now that she’s gone)—which led to a lot of machismo between the men.
3/5
ARC Review
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.

You can win a copy of The Sweetest Thing here!

review and tour: welcome to last chance by hope ramsay

This post contains affiliate links.

When Last Chance’s local matchmaker predicts that Clay’s “soulmate [will] arrive on the nine-thirty bus from Atlanta,” he didn’t expect that three women would do so. There’s two of his exes (one pregnant with another man’s child) and Jane, who has a secret past. Although the two exes provide some complications, it’s clear from the moment Clay and Jane immediately get into bed that these will be the “soulmates.” But there are further complications involving what Jane’s hiding.

There are some cute moments as well as bits of danger when one of the bad men from Jane’s past comes after her. Overall, it was a sweet love story that kept me entertained. The one distraction was the business of the angels. First there’s Clay’s young niece seeing angels while her grandma hears the gossip about Clay hooking up with Jane, then it’s revealed that seeing angels runs in the family as Clay’s father (a very minor character) sees them too. This could’ve been something, but it just wasn’t really developed thus making it a very odd plot point.
4/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever Romance.

There’s a giveaway with this tour! Plus, check out the other participating sites:
foreveryoungadult.blogspot.com
libslibrary.blogspot.com
threeboysandanoldlady.blogspot.com
simplystacie.net
rannthisthat.blogspot.com
paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com
cuzinlogic.wordpress.com
bridget3420.blogspot.com
justanothernewblog.blogspot.com
masoncanyon.blogspot.com
novelreaction.com
onebookshy.blogspot.com
bodicerippernovels.blogspot.com
thebookgirl.net
saveyspender.com
theromancereviews.blogspot.com
myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com
booksoulmates.blogspot.com
urbangirlreader.com
marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com
fredasvoice.blogspot.com
bookwormygirl.com
teddyrose.blogspot.com
simplyali.blogspot.com
j-rabbits-corner.blogspot.com
thebooktree.blogspot.com
kballard87.blogspot.com
kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com
bookslikebreathing.blogspot.com
iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com
renees-reads.blogspot.com
asthepagesturn.blogspot.com
bfaos.blogspot.com

review and tour: miss scarlet's school of patternless sewing by kathy cano-murillo

To make money to attend a design program, Scarlet decides to hold a sewing class. Her gimmick is that they won’t use patterns. Among her students are a neurotic, work-obsessed woman with a failing marriage and an elderly woman with an air of mystery about her. It didn’t take long for me to figure out exactly who Rosa was; what was surprising was the fact that Scarlet never figured it out, but then Scarlet never came across as very bright. There were times when I was absolutely screaming at Scarlet for being so stupid. For example, when she went all out making dresses based on her boss’ email of potential sale even though Scarlet had previously been screwed over by her boss.

I can’t say I liked any of the characters (at least the ones who received any sort of development), but they did start to grow on me a bit by the end. Scarlet still grated with her exclamations about her brilliant EmergiSew creation, but she did get a little smarter.
3/5
ARC Review
Review copy provided by the publisher, Grand Central Publishing.

With this tour comes a giveaway!

review and tour: deadly lies by cynthia eden

Now this, this is romantic suspense. The team from Deadly Fear returns in Deadly Lies with Agent Sam Kennedy now at the forefront. The race to find the serial kidnapper turned killer is intense, gripping, and full of twists. Every time I thought I knew exactly who was behind the kidnappings of the college-aged sons of wealthy men, another twist was thrown in.

And here, the romance works. Sam is quite clear at the beginning that casual sex is not something she does, but there was something about Max that drew her to him. The strain put on the no-strings relationship by the kidnapping of Max’s stepbrother and Sam’s revelation that she’s an agent is evident and well-done. The third book in Cynthia Eden’s Deadly series finally hits every mark perfectly.
5/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.
ARC Review
Enter the giveaway to win a copy of this book as well as the second in the series, Deadly Heat. Also, see these other participating sites:
fictionvixen.com
simplystacie.net
libslibrary.blogspot.com
cuzinlogic.wordpress.com
dreyslibrary.blogspot.com
rexrobotreviews.com
maryinhb.blogspot.com
booksoulmates.com
booksoulmates.com
brokenteepee.com
saveyspender.com
bookofsecretsblog.com
frugalplus.com
paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com
bridget3420.blogspot.com
onebookshy.blogspot.com
renees-reads.blogspot.com
thebookgirl.net
theromancereviews.blogspot.com
booksandmakeup.blogspot.com
simplyali.blogspot.com
ashleysbookshelf.blogspot.com
marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com
rundpinne.com
chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com
thefictionenthusiast.blogspot.com
teddyrose.blogspot.com
masoncanyon.blogspot.com
martasmeanderings.blogspot.com
lovetoreadforfun.com
hangingwithbells.blogspot.com
urbangirlreader.com
carolsnotebook.wordpress.com
j-rabbits-corner.blogspot.com
justjenniferreading.blogspot.com
justanothernewblog.blogspot.com
mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com
bookslikebreathing.blogspot.com
myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com

review and tour: deadly heat by cynthia eden

Eventually Cynthia Eden’s Deadly Fear sucked me in; it was a slow start, but the murder mystery was intriguing. The second book in the series also suffers from the slow start, but Deadly Heat never hooked me. The main reason is that I never cared about the characters. Although Agent Monica Davenport from the first book makes an appearance, the focus is on a firefighter named Lora Spade and FBI agent Kenton Lake, who hook up frequently throughout the novel. While I expect a romantic coupling in a romantic suspense, this one didn’t work. Lora is repeatedly said to not be over the loss of her lover, another firefighter, who died in one of the serial arson fires Kenton has been brought in to investigate. Given her grief, I felt Lora fell too quickly into bed with Kenton; an explanation would’ve greatly helped me understand how she moved on so fast. Furthermore, there were far too many indistinguishable characters; when all are involved in law enforcement or firefighting, something needs to make a few stand out. By the time the arsonist was revealed, I couldn’t remember who he was or the interactions he’d previously had with Lora and Kenton. Nothing is more frustrating than having to go back to the beginning of the book to read about an unremarkable character all over again.
1/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.
ARC Review
Enter the giveaway to win a copy of this book as well as the third in the series, Deadly Lies. Also, see these other participating sites:
fictionvixen.com
simplystacie.net
libslibrary.blogspot.com
cuzinlogic.wordpress.com
dreyslibrary.blogspot.com
rexrobotreviews.com
maryinhb.blogspot.com
booksoulmates.com
booksoulmates.com
brokenteepee.com
saveyspender.com
bookofsecretsblog.com
frugalplus.com
paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com
bridget3420.blogspot.com
onebookshy.blogspot.com
renees-reads.blogspot.com
thebookgirl.net
theromancereviews.blogspot.com
booksandmakeup.blogspot.com
simplyali.blogspot.com
ashleysbookshelf.blogspot.com
marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com
rundpinne.com
chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com
thefictionenthusiast.blogspot.com
teddyrose.blogspot.com
masoncanyon.blogspot.com
martasmeanderings.blogspot.com
lovetoreadforfun.com
hangingwithbells.blogspot.com
urbangirlreader.com
carolsnotebook.wordpress.com
j-rabbits-corner.blogspot.com
justjenniferreading.blogspot.com
justanothernewblog.blogspot.com
mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com
bookslikebreathing.blogspot.com
myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com

review and tour: how sweet it is by sophie gunn

This post contains affiliate links.

The male and female protagonists of How Sweet It Is are both dealing with some weighty issues, but Sophie Gunn keeps things fairly light . Lizzie, a waitress, is the mother of a 14 year old who has never met her father. Tay, who has just arrived in town, is haunted by the fact that a car accident he caused took the life of a woman with a college-aged daughter. Tay tries to make things right for the young woman by offering her all the money he has in the world. But Candy doesn’t want the money, so she throws it off a bridge. When Tay finds out, he stays in town to look for the money and ends up finding love with Lizzie, who had sworn off men.

Despite Tay’s trauma and Lizzie’s hurt, their romance is pretty cute. How Sweet It Is does get a little bogged down with some of the subplots (Lizzie’s sister’s jealousy, Lizzie’s daughter’s sudden embrace of a father who fled) and I could’ve used some explanations up front (it takes far too long to find out why the paternal grandparents aren’t helping), but those things don’t detract too much from the sweetness of these two unlikely people finding love.
4/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.
ARC Review

Check out the giveaway! The following are also participating in the tour:
thebooktree.blogspot.com
simplystacie.net
rexrobotreviews.com
threeboysandanoldlady.blogspot.com
martasmeanderings.blogspot.com
renees-reads.blogspot.com
masoncanyon.blogspot.com
lovetoreadforfun.com
asthepagesturn.blogspot.com
teddyrose.blogspot.com
bookwormygirl.comsteelergirl83.blogspot.com
urbangirlreader.com
paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com
cuzinlogic.wordpress.com
iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com
marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com
simplyali.blogspot.com
armsofasister.com
j-rabbits-corner.blogspot.com
bookslikebreathing.blogspot.com
libslibrary.blogspot.com
onebookshy.blogspot.com
kballard87.blogspot.com
socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com
dkay401-challenges.blogspot.com
haleymathiot.blogspot.com
amusingreviews.blogspot.com
justjenniferreading.blogspot.com

review and tour: how to marry a duke by vicky dreiling

Duke Tristan is in need of a wife. As a handsome, wealthy duke, he really shouldn’t have a problem finding a suitable bride, but Vicky Dreiling’s amusing debut finds him seeking the help of a spinster matchmaker. Tessa, the matchmaker, finds him 24 potential mates in a setup reminiscent of The Bachelor. But here there are unexpected sparks between bachelor and host! Of course, there wouldn’t be much of a story if Tristan and Tessa immediately acknowledged their feelings for each other. So they keep up with Tristan’s elimination of girls while bucking societal norms to meet privately. Scandal!! What Tristan doesn’t know is that Tessa is no stranger to scandal. She has a secret, which threatens to come out with the sudden return of someone from her past. How to Marry a Duke is an entertaining mix of comedy, romance, and intrigue.
5/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.

You can win a copy of How to Marry a Duke! Also, check out the other tour sites:

martasmeanderings.blogspot.com
saveyspender.com yankeeromancereviewers.blogspot.com
onebookshy.blogspot.com
renees-reads.blogspot.com
libslibrary.blogspot.com
simplystacie.net
startingfreshnyc.com
thebooktree.blogspot.com
booksandmakeup.blogspot.com
bridget3420.blogspot.com
maryinhb.blogpsot.com
threeboysandanoldlady.blogspot.com
paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com
mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com
booksoulmates.blogspot.com
marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com
book-obsessed.blogspot.com
cuzinlogic.wordpress.com
seductivemusings.blogspot.com
becksbookpicks.blogspot.com
dkay401-challenges.blogspot.com
theromantictype.blogspot.com
mindingspot.blogspot.com
bookwormygirl.com
urbangirlreader.com
asthepagesturn.blogspot.com
j-rabbits-corner.blogspot.com
simplyali.blogspot.com
chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com
justjenniferreading.blogspot.com
thefictionenthusiast.blogspot.com
bookslikebreathing.blogspot.com
kballard87.blogspot.com
inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com
masoncanyon.blogspot.com
teddyrose.blogspot.com

review and tour: edge of sight by roxanne st. claire

The first in a new series, Edge of Sight is action-packed. It all starts when Sam witnesses a murder at the restaurant where she’s a waitress. This isn’t the first time Sam’s witnessed a crime; she once identified the wrong man, who was then convicted (and now released thanks to Sam’s help), which means she has little credibility with the Boston PD. In fact, it could be that someone on the force is behind the harassment that starts soon after the murder…or it could be the killer! As the story unfolds, conspiracies abound and it becomes clear that Sam can trust no one but the family of her friend, Vivi, which just happens to include Vivi’s brother who Sam had a brief fling with before Zach left for war. Sparks fly when Sam and Zach reconnect and are then forced into constant companionship as Zach’s enlisted as Sam’s bodyguard. There are plenty of twists that I never saw coming along with a hot romance and a story of family.
5/5
ARC Review
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.

There's a giveaway with this tour! Plus, check out the following sites for more reviews and opportunities to win:
libslibrary.blogspot.com
diana-book-of-secrets.blogspot.com
simplystacie.net
cherylsbooknook.blogspot.cm
booksandmakeup.blogspot.com
justanothernewblog.blogspot.com
rockville8.blogspot.com
bridget3420.blogspot.com
mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com
blog.imbookingit.com
rexrobotreviews.com
kmomjdk.blogspot.com
threeboysandanoldlady.blogspot.com
masoncanyon.blogspot.com
cuzinlogic.wordpress.com
booksoulmates.blogspot.com
novelthoughts.wordpress.com
dkay401-challenges.blogspot.com
fredasvoice.blogspot.com
rundpinne.com
myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com
avidbookaholic.blogspot.com
thebookgirl.net
ashleysbookshelf.blogspot.com
j-rabbits-corner.blogspot.com
paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com
marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com
chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com
bookslikebreathing.blogspot.com
renees-reads.blogspot.com
chickwithbooks.blogspot.com
amusingreviews.blogspot.com

review and tour: simply irresistible by jill shalvis

This post contains affiliate links.

Simply Irresistible is pretty cute. Upon the death of their mother, three half-sisters come together at the dilapidated inn they inherited. The women’s mom was a little scattered, so the sisters were raised separately—Chloe, the youngest, by their mom; Maddie, the middle child, by her father; and Tara, the oldest, split her time between their mother and her father’s parents (her father traveled a lot). Maddie, who grew up in Los Angeles, was the only to not spend much time in Lucky Harbor, WA (and I just have to mention how amused I always am that all these Washington towns are so close to Seattle, which is frequently mentioned in the book) and is the only one who actually wants to stay. Tara is particularly eager to sell the inn and get on with her life. Maddie, on the other hand, has just broken up with an abusive boyfriend and lost her job; she really has no reason to return home and has even more reason to stay when she almost literally runs into Lucky Harbor’s very attractive bachelor carpenter/mayor/ex-lawyer. Simply Irresistible is a romance with a secondary focus on the relationships between the sisters. They frequently argue, especially regarding what to do with the inn, but it’s clear they love each other. As Maddie explores a relationship with Jax, Chloe and Tara are encouraging while also protective. The balance between the sister story and the romance was terrific. The recipe cards from mom that start each chapter are a nice touch—a great way to get to know more about the woman who played a major part in these women’s lives.
4/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.

Be sure to check out the giveaway that goes along with this tour!

review and tour: last to die by kate brady

Whoa! In the very first pages of Last to Die, Kate Brady reveals the serial killer is a woman. Who exactly that woman is remains a mystery, but she’s hunting prostitutes who have sold their babies. That’s where Detective Dani Cole comes in. This case is important to her because one of the murdered women was someone Dani had helped turn her life around. Dani discovers yet another tie to her own life when it comes out that before she died Rosie had been in contact with Mitch Sheridan’s surrogate father, who also suspiciously dies. Mitch just happens to be who Dani dated as a teenager—a time when her family was in turmoil thanks to Dani’s crooked cop father. There are so many layers here, it would be easy to lost parts of the plot, but Kate Brady skillfully handles every element. Even better than the suspenseful One Scream Away (the first in the Sheridan series), Brady shows talent in a novel where women are at the forefront as not only victims, but also the killer and detective.
5/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.

Want to win a copy of your own? Enter the giveaway. Also, check out the other tour participants:
froggaritasbookcase.net
maryinhb.blogspot.com
rundinne.com
extremepersonalmeasures.com
mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com
haleymathiot.blogspot.com
justjenniferreading.blogspot.com
thethriftythings.blogspot.com
couponscribbles.com
paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com
booksoulmates.blogspot.com
thebooktree.blogspot.com
dreyslibrary.blogspot.com
rexrobotreviews.com
myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com
booksandmakeup.blogspot.com
fredasvoice.blogspot.com
bridget3420.blogspot.com
frugalplus.com
onebookshy.blogspot.com
marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com
kballard87.blogspot.com
eclecticbooklover.com
diana-book-of-secrets.blogspot.com
bibliophile23.wordpress.com
detweilermom.blogspot.com
momblogshowcase.com
libslibrary.blogspot.com
renees-reads.blogspot.com
confessionsofabookaholic1.blogspot.com
dkay401-challenges.blogspot.com
kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com
tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com
masoncanyon.blogspot.com
simplystacie.net
momblogshowcase.com
myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com
ashleysbookshelf.blogspot.com
chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com

giveaway winners: she's gone country

Congratulations to Virginia C., Karen B, and Brenda, who each win a copy of She's Gone Country!

And be sure to catch Jane Porter on tour:
Sunday, September 12: 2-5pm
BORDERS BOOKS
Visalia, CA

Monday, October 11: 7pm
LOVE AND WAR IN TEXAS
Plano, TX

Thursday, October 14: 5-7pm
THE TWIG BOOK SHOP
San Antonio, TX

Friday, October 15: 4-6pm
HILL COUNTRY BOOKSTORE
Georgetown, TX

Sunday, October 17: 12-3pm
KATY BUDGET BOOKS
Houston, TX

Sunday, October 17: 4:30-6pm
BRAZOS BOOKS
Houston, TX

Monday, October 18: 10am
BLUE WILLOW BOOKS
Houston, TX

Sunday, October 24: 3-5pm
STAR GUILD FUNDRAISER
Woodinville, WA

Thursday, October 28: 7pm
AUNTIE'S BOOKSTORE
Spokane, WA

Monday, November 8: 7pm
THIRD PLACE BOOKS
Lake Forest Park, WA

Saturday, November 13: TBA
KENTUCKY BOOK FESTIVAL
Frankfurt, KY

Wednesday, December 8: 7 pm
A BOOK FOR ALL SEASONS
Leavenworth, WA

Friday, January 14: 7 pm
LAGUNA BEACH BOOKS
Laguna Beach, CA

review and tour: deadly fear by cynthia eden

Cynthia Eden’s new romantic suspense series begins with two sexually, but not really romantically, involved FBI agents trying to track down a serial killer in the normally quiet town of Jasper, TX. This killer is particularly cruel as he stalks his victims until discovering their biggest fear and then uses that information to torture and kill them.

Deadly Fear’s serial killer plot kept me on edge, but I did have a few grips with the story. I was willing to buy Monica as an agent as it made for good drama (her past makes it somewhat suspect), but there were various details the author should have been able to easily check for accuracy, such as having the Romeo Killer throw Mary Jane into the backseat of his Corvette. Such things are forgivable, but distracting. My biggest complaint was how long it took for me to really become invested in the book. For the first 100 or so pages, Agents Monica Davenport and Luke Dante spent far too much time pursuing sex with each other than doing what they were in town to do—finding the killer. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy the hunt for the killer who ends up being dubbed “The Watchman.” As his character became more fleshed out, I tried to connect him to someone who had already come on scene. Since the killer likes to play games, it was entertaining to play my own trying to guess who he was.
4/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.

There's a giveaway with this tour! Check out the following sites for more reviews, chances to win, and content from the author.
libslibrary.blogspot.com
maryinhb.blogspot.com
extremepersonalmeasures.com
SENSIBLESHOPPERS.BLOGSPOT.com
fictionvixen.com
thebooktree.blogspot.com
eclecticbooklover.com
booksandmakeup.blogspot.com
froggaritasbookcase.net
jeannesramblings.com
masoncanyon.blogspot.com
seductivemusings.blogspot.com
rexrobotreviews.com
chaoticbookobbsession.blogspot.com
mommyreadstoomuch.blogspot.com
booksoulmates.blogspot.com
blog.imbookingit.com
paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com
triciareads.blogspot.com
kballard87.blogspot.com
rundpinne.com
saveyspender.com
therempels4.blogspot.com
dkay401-challenges.blogspot.com
mom2mycrazy2.blogspot.com
bridget3420.blogspot.com
thebookgirl.net
amusingmother.blogspot.com
justjenniferreading.blogspot.com
mindingspot.blogspot.com
martasmeanderings.blogspot.com
marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com
myfoolishwisdom.com
chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com
candidclevercosteffective.net
tweezlereads.blogspot.com
startingfreshnyc.com
renees-reads.blogspot.com
thefictionenthusiast.blogspot.com
simplystacie.net
kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com
tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com

review and tour: tempted by a warrior by amanda scott

Tempted By a Warrior reveals what happened after Fiona ran off with Will during Seduced By a Rogue. Turns out Fiona didn’t have such a great life with Will who turned abusive when her father changed the terms of his will so that she didn’t inherit nearly as much as was expected. Now Fiona is suspected of murdering Will, who has mysteriously disappeared. As Fiona is pregnant and Will’s father is likely to die soon, Will’s cousin Dickon is brought in as trustee. Initially Fiona believes Dickon to be just as cruel as his relatives, but later discovers he’s a different sort (although I would argue he’s a little too much like the Jardines for my taste—he spanked Fiona!).

Although Tempted By a Warrior doesn’t have nearly the intrigue that the first book in the trilogy (Tamed By a Laird) had, there’s more excitement to be found than in the second book. Curiously, the circumstances that caused Will’s absence for the birth of his son aren’t of much concern once Old Jardine is dead. Dickon believes Fiona to be innocent given the unlikelihood of a woman close to giving birth being able to kill a man twice her size. The focus shifts away from, “Where is Will?” (though it comes up a few times to cause some drama for Fiona) and moves to the tension between Dickon and Fiona. As a result, the middle drags a bit, but the pace picks up substantially when Hod (a servant who was asked to leave after Old Jardine died) returns to cause trouble.

It was a nice end to the trilogy, featuring appearances by characters from the previous two books and updating the lives of the three girls from Dunwythie Hall.
3/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Forever.

I have a giveaway with this tour! Also, check out the following sites for reviews, giveaways, and guest posts from the author:
bibliophile23.wordpress.com
maryinhb.blogspot.com
masoncanyon.blogspot.com
amomentwithmystee.blogspot.com
mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com
justanothernewblog.blogspot.com
amusingreviews.blogspot.com
ajourneyofbooks.halfzero.net
momofboyswithtoys.blogspot.com
tweezlereads.blogspot.com
mgpblog.com
rundpinne.com
mom2mycrazy2.blogspot.com
thedmlibrary.com
martasmeanderings.blogspot.com
detweilermom.blogspot.com
justjenniferreading.blogspot.com
thethriftythings.blogspot.com
brokenteepee.blogspot.com
paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com
marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com
triciareads.blogspot.com
myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com
booksoulmates.com
inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
rexrobotreviews.com
thisbookforfree.com
fallingofftheshelf.blogspot.com
candidclevercosteffective.com
mommyreadstoomuch.blogspot.com
thefictionenthusiast.blogspot.com
renees-reads.blogspot.com
booksandneedepoint.blogspot.com
dkay401-challenges.blogspot.com
simplystacie.net
libslibrary.blogspot.com
startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com
tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com

review and tour: secret lives of husbands and wives by josie brown

On the surface Paradise Heights seems idyllic—lush surroundings, good schools, and a fairly close-knit neighborhood filled with people who have money to spend on extravagances. But of course, nothing is as it seems. The well-to-do couples of Paradise Heights aren’t exactly the happiest people in the world. Even so, it comes as quite the shock when one of the women (DeeDee) finally decides to do something about it and leaves her family. Granted, she does hire a lawyer to get custody of the kids and house, but her motivation seems to be more about sticking it to her soon-to-be ex. This event changes everything for another woman in the neighborhood, Lyssa. Her children are friends with the children of the divorcing couple, but Lyssa and her husband never really associated with the parents (in fact, DeeDee mistakes Lyssa for a Nordstrom shopgirl!). Now, Lyssa takes it upon herself to befriend and guide the jilted husband, who really has no idea what to do with his own children since his focus was always his career. As Lyssa and Harry grow closer, the rumors fly; but the accusers just might want to take a peek at their own behavior instead!

A few parts of the book dragged and I had figured out who was really having the affair long before it occurred to the people of Paradise Heights, but I found the book enjoyable. I laughed at a few scenes between Harry and the members of the Paradise Heights Women’s League as the (married) women wormed their way into Harry’s life in their own unique ways that fit their respective personalities.
4/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Downtown Press.

Other sites participating in the tour:
bookwormygirl.blogspot.com
thebooktree.blogspot.com
maryinhb.blogspot.com
armsofasister.com
booktumbling.com
detweilermom.blogspot.com
busyjulieblog.blogspot.com
bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com
thestuffyouneedtoknow.blogspot.com
memybookandthecouch.blogspot.com
startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com
frugalplus.com
tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com
martasmeanderings.blogspot.com
eclecticbooklover.com
notquitesusiehomemaker.blogspot.com
booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com
bookswithcoffee.wordpress.com
jewelknits.blogspot.com
justanothernewblog.blogspot.com
simplystacie.net
mustreadfaster.blogspot.com
booksiesblog.blogspot.com
reminderlist.blogspot.com
tableforseven-julie.blogspot.com
takingtimeformommy.blogspot.com
juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com
myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com
jeannesramblings.com
bridget3420.blogspot.com
brokenteepee.blogspot.com
tetheredmommy.com
justjenniferreading.blogspot.com
purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com
readingwithtequila.com
booknaround.blogspot.com
ajourneyofbooks.halfzero.net
bellasnovella.com
cuzinlogic.wordpress.com
rundpinne.com

review and tour: the art of devotion by samantha bruce-benjamin

Four interconnected women tell their tale in The Art of Devotion. At the beginning, the reader is immediately told that the loss of Sebastian devastates his mother and sister. His sister Adora had devoted herself to him and really goes off the deep end. Eventually she finds some happiness by essentially stealing away the daughter of Miranda, who is married to the best friend Adora's husband. The story unfolds as the stolen daughter prepares to marry--an event the bride-to-be doesn't seem all that thrilled about.

The only way I can think to describe the prose of The Art of Devotion is to say that it's beautiful. I was sucked in right away, but then I realized that the descriptive nature of epistolatory (or perhaps, diary) chapters would continue throughout the novel and result in little present action. That's when the story really started to drag. I would've lost all interest if weren't for some of the hints at what the "web of lies" from the back cover would be. I just had this suspicion that Bruce-Benjamin was going to go the V.C. Andrews-esque route with at least some of the secrets being kept. Let's just say I was somewhat right.
3/5

Review copy provided by the publisher, Gallery Books.

Check out the other tour participants:
bookwormygirl.blogspot.com
thebooktree.blogspot.com
maryinhb.blogspot.com
armsofasister.com
booktumbling.com
detweilermom.blogspot.com
literarilyspeaking1.blogspot.com
busyjulieblog.blogspot.com
thestuffyouneedtoknow.blogspot.com
teresasreadingcorner.blogspot.com
memybookandthecouch.blogspot.com
startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com
frugalplus.com
tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com
martasmeanderings.blogspot.com
eclecticbooklover.com
notquitesusiehomemaker.blogspot.com
booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com
bookswithcoffee.wordpress.com
jewelknits.blogspot.com
thegirlfromtheghetto.wordpress.com
justanothernewblog.blogspot.com
simplystacie.net
mustreadfaster.blogspot.com
booksiesblog.blogspot.com
reminderlist.blogspot.com
tableforseven-julie.blogspot.com
amusingreviews.blogspot.com
thisbookforfree.com
chickwithbooks.blogspot.com
takingtimeformommy.blogspot.com
luckyrosiescreations.blogspot.com
juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com
myfoolishwisdom.blogspot.com
jeannesramblings.com
bridget3420.blogspot.com
bellasnovella.com
cuzinlogic.wordpress.com
rundpinne.com

review and tour: the devlin diary by christi phillips

There are two stories inside The Devlin Diary: Hannah, a widow practicing physick, in 1672 and Claire, a visiting professor at Trinity College, in 2008. The stories come together when Claire finds Hannah’s coded diary in the library. Unfortunately, Claire trusts the wrong person with that information and he steals her research idea. But then he ends up murdered, so to solve the murder and get back the diary, Claire works with the man who recommended her for the job. Both of the stories are incredibly interesting with their respective murder mysteries, but Hannah’s is fleshed out the best. Both also kept me guessing as to who the murderer would be, but again Hannah’s has a far better resolution. In fact, the reveal of the murderer in the 2008 story was quite disappointing.
4/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Gallery Books.

There's a giveaway for this tour! Also, check out the other participating sites:
rundpinne.blogspot.com
frugalplus.com
tableforseven-julie.blogspot.com
bibliophilicbookblog.com
ajourneyofbooks.halfzero.net
mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com
justanothernewblog.blogspot.com
thebookgirl.net
tweezlereads.blogspot.com
booktumbling.com
maryinhb.blogspot.com
renees-reads.blogspot.com
takingtimeformommy.blogspot.com
startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com
starshadowblog.com
writeforareader.blogspot.com
bibliophilesretreat.com
jeannesramblings.com
blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com
tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com
booksandmakeup.blogspot.com
luckyrosiescreations.blogspot.com
celticladysreviews.blogspot.com
bibliophile23.wordpress.com
detweilermom.blogspot.com
chrissysworldofbooks.blogspot.com
dkay401-challenges.blogspot.com
amusingreviews.blogspot.com
bridget3420.blogspot.com
juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com
thatsanovelidea.blogspot.com
reading-extensively.blogspot.com
jewelknits.blogspot.com
thriftyandfrugalliving.com
seemichelleread.blogspot.com
tilwereadagain.blogspot.com
reminderlist.blogspot.com
lovingheartmommy.com
hip2bhomeschooling.blogspot.com
thebooktree.blogspot.com
thestuffyouneedtoknow.blogspot.com
twilightsdance.blogspot.com

review and tour: prospect park west by amy sohn

I enjoyed Prospect Park West, but these women were absolutely crazy! Each of the four has some sort of issue with both husband and child. Rebecca is jealous of the attention her husband pays to their daughter, especially since he no longer shows interest in her sexually. Rebecca seeks sexual gratification in a variety of ways--there's a kiss with a woman and sex with another woman's husband. Rebecca's sort of friend Lizzie finds it difficult caring for her son alone when her musician husband is always on the road. Her husband encourages her to rely on his mom for help, but Lizzie is uncomfortable with her mother-in-law given the racial tension between the two--Lizzie is white, her husband is black. Then there's Karen who desperately wants to two things: to live in Rebecca's building and conceive a second child. Unfortunately, her husband isn't quite on board with either idea. Rounding out the unhappy group is celebrity Melora, who doesn't really like the child she adopted, has a rocky marriage, and is developing quite the problem with prescription pills. All four are connected in some way or another which makes the separate stories flow nicely. I enjoyed Rebecca's story the most (I could probably read a book that focused solely on her) while finding Karen the least interesting of the group (Karen was an unsympathetic social-climber).
4/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Downtown Press.

There's a giveaway with this tour! Also, check out the other sites:
frugalplus.com
countrybookshelf.blogspot.com
justanothernewblog.blogspot.com
booktumbling.com
maryinhb.blogspot.com
renees-reads.blogspot.com
startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com
starshadowblog.com
jeannesramblings.com
tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com
bibliophile23.wordpress.com
bridget3420.blogspot.com
juniperrbreeeze.blogspot.com
jewelknits.blogspot.com
ziarias.blogspot.com
detweilermom.blogspot.com
booksiesblog.blogspot.com
bookswithcoffee.wordpress.com
booksnyc.blogspot.com
teresasreadingcorner.blogspot.com
reminderlist.blogspot.com
lovingheartmommy.com
tetheredmommy.com
wiseowlbookreviews.com
thebooktree.blogspot.com
thestuffyouneedtoknow.blogspot.com
twilightsdance.blogspot.com

review and tour: the bridegrooms by allison pittman

When the Allenhouse girls were small, their mother took off one night. The girls never knew exactly what happened to their mother, though eventually their father told them she'd died. Years later when the youngest is nearly an adult, a man arrives who has some answers--he had an affair with their mother and might be the father of the youngest daughter! Unfortunately not much more is done with this plot point as the focus of the novel is the love lives of the four girls. I wish the possibility Lissette isn't an Allenhouse had been at the forefront because the romances were unremarkable and rushed. Vada dates a man who won't commit, so she ends up tempted by others including a baseball player. Hazel thinks herself unattractive and simply wishes to marry anyone, probably a stranger in Wyoming, so she can gain the right to vote. Althea, who hasn't said a word since their mother ran off, falls for the man knocked out by a ball hit by Vada's crush. Lissette is a stunning beauty never without a suitor. She doesn't think much of the one pursuing her--a baseball player who feels he would've caught the ball that knocked out the man in the crowd if he hadn't been distracted by Lissette's beauty. By the end of the book, the love lives of all four are wrapped up a little too neatly.

Although there were interesting parts to The Bridegrooms, I found myself distracted by some little inaccuracies. For example, in the first chapter Vada spots the time on the wristwatch of a male newspaper reporter; the chapter heading is "Spring 1898." I immediately put the book down. It seems very unlikely that Dave Voyant would be wearing a wristwatch as they didn't become popular until the 1920s and women were the primary wearers. In 1898, a man would've likely used a pocket watch, but then Vada wouldn't have been able to do her lame "oh look at the time" routine. Although I did continue reading and finish The Bridegrooms, I couldn't help but remain on alert for more mistakes.
2/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, WaterBrook Press.