Whitney Finalist Review: TOMORROW WE SPY by Jordan McCollum (Mystery/Suspense)

I am SO excited for Jordan. She earned two nominations, one in the Mystery/Suspense category for Tomorrow We Spy and one in the romance category! I love, LOVE this books. I always associate this series with moving to Alaska, because I, Spy was the first book I read after getting here. There was a power outage for a day and a half, and I curled up and read books--including I, Spy. Yay, Jordan! Congrats!

Jordan and I last summer when she and her husband visited Alaska.

This post was originally published December 16, 2014

From JordanMcCollum.com: CIA operative Talia Reynolds (Fluker) is off the clock, off the continent and off on her Paris honeymoon. But the happy couple’s trip to the City of Love is cut short when the CIA tracks them down for a top secret mission. Only this time, the Agency’s assignment isn’t for Talia — it’s for her husband Danny.

As an aerospace engineer, Danny’s the one with the connections they need to get to their target, an aerospace executive and a dangerous Russian FSB officer. After all she’s done to protect Danny from her spy life, Talia won’t okay the op until she’s allowed to accompany her husband. And the only safe way for her to do that? Deep undercover.

Balancing her personal and professional personas requires more precision than a Russian ballet. But all the covers in the world can’t protect Danny and Talia when the FSB officer turns the tables on them. Now Talia must use her every skill to save her marriage, her husband and herself — or their first mission together will be their last.

Audience: Adult (Clean)
Genre: Romantic Thriller
Length: 295 pgs

Rating: 5 (I really loved it)

Review: Danny and Talia are married! Yay. I so much enjoyed getting to see more of Danny and how he fights for him and Talia. She can be frustrating, in a good way, and I like seeing Danny stepping out and setting her straight. :) I loved going back to where Talia served her mission and getting immersed in Russia. Tons of great action in this one, and like all the others, I read it FAST.

Content:
Sex - 1 (The book opens on their honeymoon, and the wedding night is mentioned, but so cleanly. Really.)
Language - 0
Violence - 1 (Spy book. Action book. Nothing graphic)
Rating - PG

Find the rest of the 2014 Whitney Finalists here.

Whitney Finalist Review: BECOMING LADY LOCKWOOD by Jennifer Moore (Romance)

I, oh-so-thoroughly enjoyed this book. Maybe you remember my swooning about finding love on a boat? And Jamaica? *Dies* How anyone will choose between the amazing finalists--especially in the romance category--I'll never know.

This post was originally published on July 22, 2014

Becoming Lady Lockwood Amelia Beckett is delighted to be a widow. Married by proxy to a man she'd never met, Amelia recognizes that a fortuitous entry into widowhood frees her from meddlesome chaperones and matchmakers. Heiress to her mother's sugar plantation in Jamaica, she happily anticipates working in a man's world, with the additional credibility of her new title: Lady Lockwood. But with the arrival of Captain Sir William Drake, her plans quickly go awry . . . William has traversed the Atlantic with one purpose. If he cannot prove that Amelia's marriage to his brother was a fraud, she will be entitled to a sizeable portion of his family's estate. He is determined to return this duplicitous Lady to London for an official hearing, and he carries with him a letter that will ensure her cooperation . . . Left with no choice, Amelia joins the captain on his return voyage to England, and the two quickly find that ship life does not allow for evasion. Amelia and William are ceaselessly thrown together, and amidst fierce storms and ocean battles, what began as antipathy seems to be evolving quite unexpectedly. But as they draw ever closer to their destination, will the impossibility of their circumstances shatter any hope of a future together? 

Praise for Becoming Lady Lockwood

"Moore does a lovely job of showcasing sizzle in this must-read for fans of regency and historical romance." ~ Foreword Reviews

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Deseret Book

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My Review

Genre: Regency Romance
Audience: Adult (Clean)
Length: 199 pgs

Rating: ****+


Review: I am the biggest sucker for regency romances and I haven't read one in a very long time. I lucked out and got a chance to read this one early. (Not the first time I've sung the praises of knowing people in the writing world!) So many fun and unique aspects about this story, like a glimpse into a Regency colony like Jamaica. Or life aboard a ship. The author clearly knows her stuff and has spent her time doing research. Everything feels so real. Loved the romance too, of course. It worked so well. I wished we could have learned more about William and his relationship with his family. I recommend this book highly to anyone who loves the genre. You will love the romance and adventure it provides!

Content:
Sex - 1/5 (Minor, it is mentioned that Amelia needs a guard because she is the lone woman among so many men aboard the ship.)
Language - 0/5
Violence - 2/5 A shipboard battle is described, and Amelia helps with the wounded.

Source: I was provided a copy for the blog tour in exchange for my honest opinion.

Try this. Enjoy Regency romance on the high seas? Read The Guise of a Gentleman by Donna Hatch.

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Excerpt

He finally stopped and pulled his chair closer to her, raising her chin. “Amelia. I cannot begin to thank you for what you did. It was brave and brilliant, and it terrifies me to think that you put your life at risk for—”

“For my shipmates, Captain.” She kept her eyes lowered.

“I would never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to you.” He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb.

“I would never have forgiven myself if I had not tried. These men, this ship, it has become . . . I care for them, William, for all of you.”

He raised her chin even higher, so that she was forced to lift her gaze his face. He stared at her for a moment. Then his eyes dropped to her lips, and Amelia’s pulse began to race. Would he kiss her again? They sat, frozen for a heartbeat, and then William stood, stealing with him all of the warmth in the room.

* * *

Author Jennifer Moore Jennifer Moore is a Passionate reader and writer of all things romance, helping her find balance with the rest of her world, which includes a perpetually traveling husband and four active sons, who create heaps of laundry that are anything but romantic. Jennifer has a BA in linguistics from the University of Utah and is a Guitar Hero champion. She lives in northern Utah with her family. You can learn more about her at authorjmoore.com. The author's first book, Becoming Lady Lockwood, is a regency romance centered on the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800s.   

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Whitney Finalist Review: STILL TIME by Maria Hoagland (General Fiction)

From Amazon: Thrust into the chaos of her mother-in-law’s hoarding and forgetfulness, LDS church member Alyssa Johnston wishes she could retreat to a simpler time when her kids were small and almost anything could be fixed with a hug. But reassurance and a quick distraction no longer erase the pain of a missionary son who is struggling, a young teen who is bullied, or a daughter who is distant. As Aly’s own life and relationship with her husband plunge out of control, she wonders if her faith will be enough to keep her family—or herself—from falling apart. 

Still Time is a deeply moving story about a woman’s faithful journey into the next phase of her life. You will laugh with Aly, feel her sorrow, and see yourself in Maria Hoagland’s realistic, heartfelt portrayal of a woman’s struggle to keep her family safe and hold back time as long as she can.

Audience: Adult (Clean)

Genre: Women's Fiction

Length: 324 pgs

Rating: 4

Review: This is the second of Maria's book that I've read and I have to say this is my favorite of the two. I love Alyssa and how she copes with all the things happening and the changes in her life. I think I especially related to her because I picked up and moved my family thousands of miles from the lives they were used to just like her. I love how in the book there are definite struggles, yet things are still able to work out. The interplay between her and her MIL is just fantastic--it's great to see the heartbreak and how Alyssa struggles to fit things in and do what she feels is the right thing. Excellent book!

Content:

Sex - 0

Language - 0

Violence - 1- (The MIL throws things and gets angry)

Overall Rating - G

Find all of the 2014 Whitney Finalists here.

Robyn Reviews: WORKING IT OUT by Rachel Anderson

From Amazon: A chance encounter . . .

Grace Warren's life is safe and predictable—exactly the way she likes it. But when she gets roped into going to an auction to help out a friend, everything changes. She meets Seth Tuttle—a guy who unexpectedly kisses her then disappears, leaving her flustered and upset. If she never sees him again, it will be too soon.

A chance for love . . .

Weeks later, when Seth limps into Grace's rehab clinic post surgery, he's every bit as frustrating and annoying as she remembered. Yet there's something about him that makes her second-guess her carefully placed boundaries even though he's everything she's sure she doesn't want in a man. But maybe Seth is exactly what Grace has needed all along—assuming she's willing to risk safe and predictable for a chance at love.

Audience: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 262 pages

Rating: 5

Review: This is a fun, clean romance that will have you laughing outline and sniffling into your sleeve. I enjoyed the character development and delving into the thoughts and actions of each character. Grace and Seth each have a lot of growing to do in this book. They are real people with real hang ups and real feelings. Sometimes they are so real, you want to smack them! I also enjoyed the side story about Grace’s brother and Seth’s “sister”.  Rachael does a wonderful job of making her characters real. You get to experience their ups and down and see their growth. In this book I cheered for them and wanted to give them a swift kick in the pants for their antics. If like good clean romance with no sex and lots of fun and some kissing, you will love this book and all of Rachael's books!

Content

Sex - 2 (Passionate kissing and expressions of restraint)

Violence - 1 (Bike wreck, skiing accident)

Language - 0

Overall Content Rating - PG

Source: Review copy

Read Ranee's original review here.

Book Blast! RULES OF ROME by A.L. Sowards

   The Rules in Rome With Hitler’s forces firmly entrenched in Europe, countless heroes seek to end the madman’s reign. Bastien Ley is one of the best. Working in Italy for the Office of Strategic Services, he’s been tasked with sabotaging German convoys. When his team kills an officer headed for Rome, the man’s similarity to Bastien is undeniable, and seeing an opportunity to turn the tide of the war, Bastien makes a bold decision: he will assume the dead officer’s identity. He becomes Dietrich, an Iron Cross–wearing German officer—an ideal position from which to infiltrate the Nazi ranks in Rome. To help with his stressful assignment, his superiors send him a reinforcement in the form of the lovely Gracie Begni, an intelligent and eager radio operator with absolutely no undercover experience. With a gulf of resentment between them, these two agents must find a way to portray a couple in love. Soon their reluctant alliance becomes much more as Bastien and Gracie find themselves getting lost in their feelings for each other. But as they engage in battle against the deadliest foe the world has ever known, the pair quickly realizes their love may be doomed. As the Rome Gestapo threatens to destroy all they’ve worked for, will Bastien and Gracie survive their charade?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords * Deseret Book

  Praise for The Rules in Rome

  Readers who hunger for a great espionage thriller with an extra helping of romance will devour The Rules in Rome. A.L. Sowards is at the top of her craft with this terrific WWII suspense novel. It is definitely a book not to be missed! Gregg Luke, author of Bloodborne and Deadly Undertakings  


  The Rules in Rome has it all. Romance, adventure, and epic themes illustrating the unconquerable human spirit. From the moment Gracie met Bastien, I knew I would love this book. He’s the perfect hero, Gracie is his match. I fell in love with these characters over and over again. Thank you, Sowards, for another fabulous read! Stephanie Fowers, author of the Twisted Tales Trilogy and Jane and Austen

   Author A.L. Sowards A.L. Sowards has always been fascinated by the 1940s, but she's grateful she didn't live back then. She doesn't think she could have written a novel on a typewriter, and no one would be able to read her handwriting if she wrote her books out longhand. She does, however, think they had the right idea when they rationed nylon and women went barelegged. Sowards grew up in Moses Lake, Washington. She graduated from BYU and ended up staying in Utah, where she enjoys spending time with her husband and children or with her laptop. She does not own a typewriter. She does own several pairs of nylons.

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    $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 3/15/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Whitney Finalist Review: HOPE SPRINGS by Sarah M. Eden (Romance)

Am I surprised that Hope Springs got a Whitney Finalist nod? Nope. Not at all. This book had ALL THE FEELS. Good luck, Sarah!

From Amazon: Katie Macauley gave up her lifelong dream of returning to Ireland in order to make a home for herself in Hope Springs, Wyoming, but her future has never been so uncertain. Katies heart still remains sharply divided between playful Tavish and steady Joseph, though she feels ill-prepared to make a decision. Furthermore, the town is more divided than ever with both the Irish and the Reds stealing property, burning buildings, and endangering lives. In the midst of the growing unrest, temperatures drop quickly, too quickly, and Irish nightmares of famine and cold resurface as the little Wyoming town struggles to beat the harsh winter. Katie makes one sacrifice after another to keep the peace and help see her loved ones through the difficult days ahead, but will her efforts be enough? Can the town make amends before their hatred consumes them all? And will Katie find the love she has been searching for as well as a home to call her own?

Audience: Adult (Clean)
Genre: Romance, Historical, Western
Length: 400 pgs

Rating: A million

Review: I read this book so, so long ago, and I didn't review it then because of ... reasons. Reasons that still exist--but now I want to highlight it because it is a 2014 Whitney Finalist! What is there to say about this book that I didn't already spill about when I reviewed it's predecessor, Longing For Home? It's just a beautiful, just as wonderful, just as heartbreaking in the best ways possible. I love how Sarah weaves in history and romance and the hopes and dreams of a whole town. I loved and hated how it ended, again, for reasons. But oh, this book. And oh, how I want to know all the stories about all the other people in this book!

Content: (Disclaimer: It's been quite a while since I read the book, so my memory is not at its best for the content ratings.)
Language - 0
Sex - 0
Violence - 1 (There is fighting in town, a huge fire.)
Overall Rating - PG

Find all the 2014 Whitney Finalists here.

Blog Tour Review: WATER SO DEEP by Nicole Giles (Jelly Bean Press, 2015)

Tour Schedule

  Water So Deep by Nichole GilesWater So Deep Seventeen-year-old Emma Harris is drowning on dry land. No one knows what’s happening to her, and she’d like to keep her evolution from human to mermaid a secret, but the truth is getting harder and harder to hide. From her adoptive family, from her friends, and especially from the irresistible James Phelps. Her time in the ocean is spent dodging a possessive merman, while her time on land is split between caring for her special-needs brother and squeezing in every last possible moment of human life. She soon realizes falling for James is unavoidable when he constantly comes to Emma’s rescue and somehow manages to see through her carefully constructed icy facade to the vulnerability she lives with every day. Everything about James makes Emma yearn for a life on land she just can't have. When Emma’s brother disappears on her watch, James is the only person she trusts to help her save him. But even if they can save her brother, nothing can prevent her return to the sea. Whether she likes it or not, Emma is changing—unable to breathe without yielding to the tide—and it's only a matter of time before she's forced to surrender forever.

Amazon

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My Review

Audience: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Length: 294 pgs

Rating: 4

Review: Isn't the cover so gorgeous?! I am so intrigued by mermaid fiction. I know there's a ton out there but I haven't sat down with any yet, so Nicole's is the first. I loved the way she portrayed how Emma was changing, and it was easy to feel the panic of being on land too long and then the release in the water, even though she hated it. Loved the conflict that drove her to and and away from the water! Emma was super easy to love, though frustrating sometimes in her decision making--though I understood why she did what she did. Good frustrating, I guess. James is a great co-main character for her. Sometimes it was difficult to see what drew them together beyond their physical attraction, but they made a good pair. It was great to see James there for her. Merrick is such an awesome puzzle. I can't wait to see how things play out for him. It was great to see a character who was not all good or not all bad. Though it wrapped up well (which is more than I can say for another book I read recently...), the first thing I did was go to Nicole's website to see about how long the sequel would be. :) I had a few picky believability issues. MILD SPOILERS: Rumors about Emma and her ex, Tom, are all over the school, yet it takes several months for James to hear the full story, he doesn't even get surface talk. If Tom was arrested, wouldn't there be some kind of news story with at least bare facts? And the kids in school were talking about it. It also feels like far too into the story when we start to learn about some of Emma's backstory and see interaction with her Gran. At some points it felt like I'd missed a book--things the narration assumes we already knew are alluded to but not talked about.

Content:
Language - 3+ (Frequent use of damn and hell, 6 Sh*, 3 A*, 1 B*)
Sex - 3 (Nothing is ever onstage just a handful of discussions about the two main characters having sex, about other characters who have, Merrick is described as being seen naked in a few instances)
Violence - 2 (Nothing graphic. A sexual assault occurs, but nothing described. There is a fight between Emma and some merpeople)
Overall Rating - PG-16

Source: Review copy as part of a blog tour event.

   Author Nichole Giles 

Nichole Giles, the author of the Descendant trilogy, has lived in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Texas. She loves to spend time with her husband and four children, travel to tropical and exotic destinations, drive in the rain with the convertible top down, and play music at full volume so she can sing along.

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