SPOTLIGHT: A Princess by Christmas by Jennifer Faye

A Princess by Christmas

By: Jennifer Faye

Releasing October 1^st, 2014

Harlequin

A royal kiss under the mistletoe…

Prince Alexandro Castanovo arrives in snowy New York intent on protecting his royal family from scandal. And when Reese Harding—down-to-earth and heart-stoppingly beautiful—finds room for him at her inn, it seems like the perfect twist of fate.

Not long ago Reese's world came crumbling down, shaking her foundations. But this enigmatic stranger intrigues her! She's learned to be wary of secrets…but when she discovers Alex's true identity, might there be enough magic in the air to make this regular American girl a princess by Christmas…?

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Buy Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1mWwFyv

B&N:  http://bit.ly/UHokYs

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1tkjAHr

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1xrxvsT

Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming romances. Jennifer has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous awards. Now living her dream, she resides with her patient husband, amazing daughter (the other remarkable daughter is off chasing her own dreams) and two spoiled cats. She'd love to hear from you via JenniferFaye.com

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The Enchanted Land by Jude Deveraux Review

Last Summer I stumbled across a box of old Jude Deveraux books at a yardsale. I ended up paying a few bucks for the whole box and I’ve been slowly working my way through them. I love old historical romance novels, especially Julie Garwood and Johanna Lindsey (but you already know this). Deveraux is another favorite, but sometimes Deveraux can take extreme directions with the storyline, which I do not appreciate.

One of the ones I read this was The Enchanted Land, which I thought had a great premise. Morgan must marry and live in New Mexico for one year or she will never receive her inheritance. She meets the rugged Seth Colter at a local dance and proposes a business arrangement: one year of marriage for $25,000. Seth accepts, but not because of the money – he can’t help be fascinated with the tiny woman.

The story starts out wonderfully. Seth and Morgan are full of chemistry as their friendship and love grows. There is humor in their banter and I couldn’t wait for their marriage to start working. If you haven’t read The Enchanted Land then I suggest you stop reading because I’m about to reveal some major spoilers.

As Morgan and Seth head to New Mexico they encounter a lot of misfortunes – mainly Morgan getting kidnapped. Add in Seth’s raging jealousy and you have the works of a classic old school romance. As Morgan and Seth finally reach their New Mexico home (about 30% through the book) I realize that Deveraux is probably going to start throwing curveballs into the story. Boy, was I right. Add in another kidnapping and when Morgan is sold into white slavery by a devious and dastardly neighbor I give up…seriously. I put the book down and decided to move on. Why? At the point the Morgan is sold into white slavery, the story is 50% done. That leaves 200 or so pages for Deveraux to throw any random kink into the story. Who knows…maybe a sharknado!

I know it sounds like I’m complaining, but I started out falling madly in love with Morgan and Seth. Their friendship flowed easily and they seemed to be really developing genuine feelings for each other. This is how I like my romances. I’m not a big fan of “every single thing that goes wrong does “ storylines. So I gave up….for an hour.

I wanted to see how Deveraux wrapped it all up. The separation of Morgan and Seth lasts for 3 years with one meeting that results in their son Adam. When Seth finally realized that Morgan never betrayed him and that she wasn’t willing working as a prostitute (he was mistaken about that as well), he is determined to seek her forgiveness. But first he must conceal his identity and get a job on her ranch. Sigh.

I’m glad I finished this novel because I wanted to see how Deveraux wrapped up the story. If you are determined to read The Enchanted Land I suggest you read the first hundred pages and then the last hundred pages…trust me and skip everything in the middle. I think you will find yourself just as aggravated at all the crap that is thrown into this story.

Project Read All The Books - May Recap

I was able to read 19 books this month – some a mix of library book, e-books, and from my TBR pile.

May proved to have some major shake up with the TBR bookcase. I knew I was going to bring a lot back from RT14 and I did. To better prepare myself, I did a quick cleaning of my TBR bookcase and removed about 15 – 20 books. Most were Harlequin Presents that I wasn’t really interested in reading.

And then I brought tons back from RT14 –in my defense I took a bunch I had already read with me.

Here is what I read in May:

I discovered 2 books on my TBR bookcase that I had previously read when I was a teen – so that was a helpful start.

I also knocked out The Duchess Hunt by Jennifer Haymore, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean, and One Night Pregnancy by Lindsay Armstrong.

With RT14 and Summer Reading looming, I really did not get as much read from my TBR pile as I intended. I did read 3 books that I brought with me from RT - yay! Since I didn’t count before I downsized the bookcase or when I came back from RT14, I had to do a recount.

Total number of To Be Read Books as of today:  120

That's not too bad right?

My goal for June: 10 books from the TBR bookshelf. I usually read just romance during the summer (aka Summer of Smut!). Also, since I now have so many autographed books I had to designate a whole bookcase for my autographs! Looky....

Wish me good luck! What are you planning on reading this Summer? 

@TessaDare Interview & Giveaway

My love of romance novels is no secret and I have written about my trip to RWA Librarian Day 2013 several times. One of the highlights was that I met Tessa Dare. In preparation for the Librarian Day I tried to read some of the works of authors that I knew were attending. A friend had given Tessa Dare's Any Duchess will Do high stars on Goodreads, so I thought that would be a good place to start. This book is filled with a great cast of characters that are not only dreamy, but real. They are flawed and that is what makes them wonderful. And let me tell you about the desk scene in Any Duchess will Do. I think I said "oh, my" aloud probably a good 6 or 7 times. Talk about sizzle. Since then I have been hooked! 

Ms. Dare was gracious enough to submit to one of my zany interviews. I hope you enjoy her answers and if you haven't read any of her work, go now! Her novels are full of witty and lovable characters.  I would start with Any Duchess will Do. Even though it is a later Spindle Cove book, her books are stand alone. This is hands down my favorite of hers. If you are a night reader, be prepared to stay up all night. They are just impossible to put down. Her works have easily claimed some of my favorite romance novels spots. She is definitely an author to look out for! I also have another treat for you. I'm giving away not one, but THREE Tessa Dare books (including my favorite, Any Duchess will Do) to one lucky winner (US residents only). Good luck and enjoy! 

Tessa Dare Interview

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Cheesiest Scenes

Day 3 – The CHEESIEST ROMANCE scenes or topics you have read in a book.

Okay, this one is a little bit more difficult for me. I instantly thought of two books...but I couldn’t remember the titles! For the first one, it is about a man who is drowning or has washed up on the shoreline. A young woman spots him and rescues him, but only to realize that he has amnesia. Oh, and that she recognizes him as her brothers worst enemy. They bond...yada yada yada and he gets his memory back, but he doesn’t realize who she is related to. The woman ends up getting the flu. She knows she needs to go to the doctor, but she is too weak. She is able to dial the hero’s number, but can’t speak. So she types out S.O.S. This was the cheesiest thing I had ever read and I busted out laughing. For the life of my I couldn’t find the name of the book. I read it recently (in the last year) but nothing came up when I scoured through my Goodreads. If you know the name of the book, please let me know. I want to say it was either written by Maya Banks, Linda Howard, or Diana Palmer. The 2nd book is written by Diana Palmer. Again, Goodreads did not help me find the name, but Diana Palmer books are all pretty much the same. The heroine has been kidnapped and the hero has called in all of his cowboy/texas ranger friends to help find her. They are at his house strategizing and decided to make breakfast. Next thing all the cowboys are assigned cooking tasks..either frying the bacon, making French toast, or fixin’ the coffee. It was ridiculous! I know I probably should have named the cheesiest love scenes, but this is what I think of when I think of cheesy scenes.

                

Restricted Reads...

So you have probably realized that I read some pretty smutty material...and that's okay. I deal with nonfiction all day long, so I balance it out with my trashy reads. Plus in the summer, during SR, I read nothing by romance (my Summer of Smut, if you will). Sometimes with the erotica books, I can get a little embarrassed to have them delivered to my library. I try just to stick to e-books or having a friend check them out at her branch (her branch owns most of them in the county) and just give them to me later. Mainly, I am embarrassed because my branch is small so I don't want to be teased. The fiction librarian knows about my trashy reads and jokingly teases me, which I don't mind, but I would be slightly more embarrassed if my director or the circ. manager saw them. So I don't have them sent to my library. Sometimes I'll send them to my old library (in the adjacent county) and have BF pick them up on the way to work. He just loooooves that. 

Four days a week, we have a van go around to all the libraries and pick up holds and other routed materials. Usually the fiction librarian will unload the boxes after they are dropped off, but sometimes me or the circ. manager will. Today, I was assisted the fiction librarian with the holds. We were casually chatting about various books, when she mentioned one that was a little risque. 

Fiction Librarian: Look at this! It even has a sticker warning that it is restricted to 18 years old and up. It must be pretty hardcore.

(I didn't look up, but I was listening)

Fiction Librarian: Sometimes it just cracks me up what people put on hold! *Scans Barcode of Book*

Hey, this is on hold for you!!! 

Cover Reveal: Johanna Lindsey's Stormy Persuasion

On June 10, 2014, Johanna Lindsey will release her 51st book, Stormy Persuasion, which is the 11th in the Malory-Anderson Family series.  Here is a quick overview:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey returns to the dazzlingly passionate world of the Malorys, an aristocratic family of rakehell adventurers and spirited ladies, in a thrilling new tale of unbridled desires.

James Malory sets sail for America to honor a promise he made to his in-laws: His and Georgina’s daughter, Jacqueline, will have her come-out in America. Judith and Jacqueline Malory are not simply cousins; they are inseparable best friends. Refusing to miss Jacqueline’s come-out in Connecticut, Judith convinces her parents to let her delay her London debut by a few weeks so she can accompany her cousin. Neither girl intends to fall in love during her first Season. But Judith’s plans are overturned when aboard ship she comes face-to-face with the ghost who has been haunting her dreams.

Unknown to the Malorys, deckhand Nathan Tremayne is a smuggler with a noose around his neck. Determined to carry out a covert mission in America that could gain him a pardon, Nathan senses that beautiful Judith Malory is trouble. Somehow the minx knows his secret—and now she’s blackmailing him into doing her bidding. While passions can soar on the high seas, Nathan knows this aristocratic beauty is merely amusing herself with a scoundrel like him.

When the unthinkable happens in Connecticut and the elder Malorys’ hands are tied, Nathan takes command of a dire situation. Captaining his own ship, he turns the tables on Judith, as he steers them into some intense Caribbean heat where he will fight with all his mettle to win the right to her heart.

Reasons Why I Am Beyond Excited About Stormy Persuasion:
1. I'm a big fan of the Malory Series. My all time favorite book is Gentle Rogue, which stars James and Georgina. Lindsey has written a great deal of the Malory family, and while some are forgettable, I think Stormy Persuasion will be a throwback to the original Malory clan that made Lindsey so famous. Since Judith is Tony and Roslynn's (Tender Rebel, #2) daughter, I feel that Lindsey will take great care crafting this story.
2. Lindsey's 50th novel showed me that the old Johanna Lindsey was still there. While she might have written some mediocre novels as of late, One Heart to Win gave me hope that the author I fell in love with as a preteen could still sweep me up into a fantastic story. 
3. The heroine has my name! Seriously, no one ever has my name! 
4. Look at the cover? Yum. Definitely a whole Chris Hemsworth thing going on and I'm totally ok with that. 

I'm thinking I need to pre-order this book. Mark your calendars! 

Summer of Smutty Reads: Harlequin Present

   In the last post I admitted my guilt pleasure of reading Johanna Lindsey novels. Since my summers are known as “Summer of Smutty Reads” (where I usually indulge myself in trashy romance novels...how else do you suggest I survive Summer Reading?), I have decided to admit another guilt pleasure: Harlequin Presents.

    If you have never read them, don’t worry there is a pretty basic format. Super rich billionaire (or some foreign equally rich prince) who has either lost his wife, girlfriend, fiance  or perspective female in one way or another. In whatever way he has lost her, it has caused him to despise her and he is usually seeking her out for revenge or divorce. Throw in a pregnancy or a baby or some deep dark family secrets. And don’t forget to throw in a few bullying/blackmail scenes where our “hero” is forcing the female character to bend to him. Usually this is added because the female character is scared that the super rich hero will take away their child that she has mysterious kept hidden or will refuse to grant her a divorce. You get the idea?

    Gosh, after writing that I am beginning to question why I read this stuff. Oh, yeah…because they are addicting and pure brain candy. I can read a Harlequin Presents novel by reading maybe a paragraph each page. So why do that? I like the simplicity of the stories. You know what you are going to get. Yes, they are very cookie cutter, but sometimes that predictability is nice when you just want to turn off you brain.

    Though I am confessing this love of Harlequin Presents to you doesn’t mean I am ready to start placing HP on hold at my local library. Remember, I work in a library? Ah, the ridicule and teasing. No thank you. Nor do I want to pay $3.59 at Walmart. Buying them used is too much trouble. So how do I get my grubby hands on them? Netgalley.

    If you have an e-reader and haven’t heard of Netgalley, shame on you! It is a great site that solely deals in e-book ARC (Advance Reader Copy). I can usually get 5 or 6 HP at a time and that will tie me over for a few months. In exchange for the ARC I will give an honest review. Normally, I write a couple of sentences because that is usually the extent of a HP. No long in depth reviews because HP aren’t really that deep in my opinion. I still love them though.

    I will usually give 3 to 4 stars on Goodreads for a HP. 5 stars for a HP is very rare. Like Halley’s Comet rare. I have easily read hundreds of HP and I can count on one hand the number I have given 5 stars too.

   That being said, I wanted to mention a HP that I recently acquired from Netgalley, Princess in the Iron Mask by Victoria Parker. This is Ms. Parker’s debut novel. Here is a summary of the book from Goodreads:

A princess in hiding

   Dispatched by the king to retrieve his headstrong, errant daughter, Lucas Garcia thought this was just another day at the office. That's before he meets Princess Claudine Verbault, who's adamant that returning to the kingdom that banished her as a child is never going to happen.

A barely concealed attraction!

   Hidden from the spotlight, the now-independent Claudia has learned the art of being the anti-perfect princess. But Lucas does not look like the kind of man to accept insubordination! If only she could bargain with this frustratingly immovable man and give him something to distract him from his duty.

    While the summary is a little bland, I decided to give this a try. I was extremely surprised to find myself drawn in by the characters of Claudia and Lucas. Their dialog and chemistry are a perfect combination to keep you invested in the story. Ms. Parker was able to do what a lot of HP writers can’t do. In 185 pages, she had you fully invested in these characters. I really wish she would have focused more on Claudia’s family and their back story. There is a big rift between Claudia and her family and it was a golden opportunity to take this HP one step further. There was actually a lot of potential for this story to be drawn out. In fact I could easily see Princess in the Iron Mask as being a full fledged contemporary romance novel. Kudos to Victoria Parker for creating a unique set of characters and for constructing a HP novel that goes above and beyond the standard. 

SIDENOTE: Are the covers absolutely terrible? Terribly awesome that is. I love cookie cutter covers. I just don't know where to start when making fun of them. Don't get my started on Amish Romance covers.....

My Love Affair with Johanna Lindsey

         

      We all have our guilty pleasure authors. Authors, no matter how terrible their material may have gotten over the years, we are still loyal to. I have always loved reading but my love of romance novels can be pretty much summed up with one author: Johanna Lindsey. The first book I ever read by Lindsey was Gentle Rogue (Malory Family #3). I picked this up at the grocery store when I was in junior high. I had just started reading romance novels, but nothing prepared me for Johanna Lindsey. Gentle Rogue hooked me in forever. Georgina’s and James adventures, family,  and love story captured my inner romantic. I became addicted to her novels. This was right when the Internet was really taking off for the masses so I began scouring whatever I could find on her works. Since I was in middle school when all this started, I was too embarrassed to check out her novels at my local library (this was waaaay before the days of the privacy of self-check out). I had to get my mom to get them at the grocery store or dig through boxes at my local used bookstore. When I discovered Ebay, I was in Johanna Lindsey heaven! 

           So what makes Johanna Lindsey’s writing so wonderful in my opinion? Her characters. All are filled with their own unique characteristics and the way she compliments each couple with pinches of humor, steaminess, and chemistry is utterly awesome. 

       Over the years, I have eagerly awaited every new novel. I always manage to be the first on the hold list at my library or will abuse my librarian power to have cataloging give me the book before anyone else.

       About a year ago, my book club read One Summer by David Baldacci. This was my first Baldacci book so I was very intrigued to see what all the fuss was about. I read it and  I loathed this book. By page 10 I wanted to gouge my eyes out at the predicable and terrible storyline. I ended up discussing my disgust with the person who recommended this book to the club. He said that everyone has that one author who they will read everything they put out because you remember that feeling of how amazing their work can be. This really struck a cord with me because I had been pretty disappointed in the last 3 Johanna Lindsey novels: Let Love Find You (Reid Family #4)  (2012), When Passion Rules  (2011), and That Perfect Someone (2010). All earned 3 stars according to my Goodreads. Each deserved a 2 but my love and dedication to Ms. Lindsey’s previous work guilted my conscience into giving each that last additional star.

     So when I read that her 50^th novel would be coming out this year (6/11/13), I was excited. I prayed that she stepped it up and would return with a comeback novel that would make me fall in love with her writing all over again.

      Once I discovered One Heart To Win on the processing cart yesterday in the cataloger’s office I begged for her to immediately process it. I went straight home and dived right in. To my joy, I discovered that the Johanna Lindsey I remember was coming back! Though it wasn’t up to par with my favorites, One Heart To Win did a great job of stomping over Ms. Lindsey’s recently novels. The characters had chemistry, humor, and a wonderful sparkling repartee.

     Though it was a well improved step above her recent works, Ms. Lindsey did forget one teeny tiny part in One Heart To Win: the sex.  No I’m not saying that Ms. Lindsey went all conservative on me and left out the sex. The characters do have sex…well I’m pretty sure they did…it was super short (about one paragraph) and so vague I had to reread that one scene a few times to make sure I comprehended what was going on. I’m not saying that Lindsey’s work is up there with the descriptiveness of some of today’s erotica, but it definitely wasn’t flatlining either. I was quite surprised that Lindsey just copped out on this. I felt that by skipping a love scene(s) Lindsey was shortchanging her fans. Don’t get me wrong, I still stand by my statement that this novel is a definite improvement over her recent ones. Cake is still good without the icing, but icing always makes it so much better.

      Every summer, I completely forget everything on my to-be read list and indulge in nothing but smutty romances. My summer, I do what I want! That being said, I have included a list of my favorite Johanna Lindsey novels. If you never have read anything by Ms. Lindsey I encourage you to dive on in. Though she has had her ups and downs, most of her novels are truly wonderful and I cannot recommend them enough.

  

     Enjoy!

Top Favorite Johanna Lindsey Novels

1. Gentle Rogue(Malory #3) – Though this is the 3^rd in the series, you can easily figure out the family structure without reading in order.
2. Once  A Princess (Cardinia’s Royal Family #1)
3. Man of My Dreams
4. Paradise Wild
5. Tender Rebel(Malory #2)
6. Secret Fire
7. Fires of Winter
8. You Belong To Me(Cardinia’s Royal Family #2)
9. Angel (Wyoming #3)
10. Prisoner of My Desire
11. A Gentle Feuding
12. Glorious Angel(Southern #1)
13. Captive Bride