2014 Whitney Awards Finalist Spotlight: DEADLY ALLIANCE by A.L. Soward (Historical)

From Covenant: Amidst the darkest days of WWII, will one star-crossed couple’s love survive?

When Peter Eddy and his commando team inadvertently upset the Soviets during their most recent mission, they never imagined the diplomatic nightmares that would ensue. They have one chance to redeem themselves: tasked with destroying a bridge in Nazi-occupied Bosnia, Peter and his war-weary team reluctantly agree to drop behind enemy lines. The assignment should be a simple one—were it not for the fact that they are being deployed on a suicide mission.

Genevieve Olivier is devastated by the news of Peter’s disappearance. After all they’ve endured in this war, the determined OSS worker is unwilling to simply let go of the man she hopes to spend her life with. Desperate for information, her work as a courier soon escalates into a counterintelligence duel with a Fascist assassin—and Genevieve is his newest target . . .

Genre: Historical, Inspirational

Audience: Adult (Clean)

Length: 336 pgs

Rating: 4

Review: That moment when you know you have to add all the author's books to your TBR? That. (Don't mind my hysterical laughter as my TBR lists grows increasingly out of control...) I love World War II stuff. I have a degree in history and specialized in World War II, specifically women in World War II so the cast of women in this novel was so dear to my heart. Realistic, but still satisfying to someone who needs a happy ending. (Perhaps there were a few things that turned out better than they might have in real life, but I love that about books.) Even though it is part of a series, I didn't feel lost at all, only very curious about the rest of the books! It's low on romance, but I expected that so it didn't bother me. Definitely recommend it if you're into historical books and especially World War II and resistance stuff (Me me me!!)

Content:

Sex - 0

Language - 0

Violence - 2 (War stuff, work camp stuff, injuries, etc. Nothing too graphic but its definitely there throughout the book)

Preachy - 1 (It's woven in perfectly with the narration and never out of place or overbearing)

Overall rating - PG-13

See the other 2014 Whitney Nominees here.

Robyn Reviews: THE HUSBAND MAKER by Karey White

From Amazon: Charlotte’s a girl with nicknames. She may not love being called Charles or Chuck, but the hardest nickname to take is the one she was given in college, the one that’s followed her now for too many years. They call her “the husband maker” and sadly, it fits. Every guy she's dated since high school has gone on to marry the next girl they date. Not two or three girls down the road. The very next one.  

Is she doing something wrong or is she just cursed?  

When Kyle Aldsworth enters the picture and sweeps her off her feet, Charlotte begins to hope that maybe she's not destined to be single forever. A senator’s son with political aspirations of his own, Kyle's wealthy, handsome, and in need of a wife. Will Charlotte be disappointed yet again, or will she finally be able to make a husband for herself?

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Audience: Adult (Clean)

Length: 258 pgs

Rating: 4

Review: Spoiler Alert: you must read all three of the books in the series to get to the happy ending. 

I gave this book 4 stars because I got the end of the book and the story was not finished. This is a three book series and I feel that it should have been written as a 3-part novel. I read all three books and Charlotte's story is definitely worth reading three novels to find out who she ends ups with. 

In The Husband Maker, all of Charlotte’s boyfriends end up marrying he next girl they date. She goes to all of their weddings and tortures herself in the name of being friendly. Her best friend, Angus is always here to pickup the pieces. It is obvious that Angus is in love with Charlotte and wants to be with her. Right away, I was drawn into the story and felt for Charlotte in all her embarrassing moments and heartbreaks. I even got frustrated with her that she was so blind to the obvious. I liked Kyle. He was a good guy who thought he loved Charlotte and wanted to be with her. There was great interaction with Kyle and his family. I really liked Kyle's mom; she was a sweetheart. The best thing about this book was that the guy she didn't end up with wasn't a bad guy, just not the right one for her. I was actually torn between wanting her to wake up and see Angus as a man instead of as a friend and making things work with Kyle. I felt her longing to be married and have a family. Charlotte’s story is full of love, family and friends. It is full of hard choices and happy funny moments. I liked her story a lot, I was just surprised when I got to the end and it wasn't finished and I ‘had’ to read two more books to complete her quest for a husband. This is a clean, sweet romance with lots of love and a little heartache. If you like series and romance, then this one is for you. 

Content:

Sex - 0

Language - 0

Violence - 0

Overall Rating - PG (for adult romance and relationship themes) 

Whitney Finalist Spotlight Review: REMAKE by Ilima Todd (YA Speculative Fiction)

From Shadow Mountain: Imagine a future without family. 

Nine is the ninth female born in her batch of ten females and ten males. By design, her life in Freedom Province is without complications or consequences. However, such freedom comes with a price. The Prime Maker is determined to keep that price a secret from the new batches of citizens that are born, nurtured, and raised androgynously.

But Nine isn’t like every other batcher. She harbors indecision and worries about her upcoming Remake Day—her seventeenth birthday, the age when batchers fly to the Remake facility and have the freedom to choose who and what they’ll be.

When Nine discovers the truth about life outside of Freedom Province, including the secret plan of the Prime Maker, she is pulled between two worlds and two lives. Her decisions will test her courage, her heart, and her beliefs. Who can she trust? Who does she love? And most importantly, who will she decide to be?

Audience: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian, Speculative Fiction
Length: 304 pages

Rating: 4+

Review: A while back my husband watched this Christian dystopian movie. It was kinda crazy and weird, and I posted about it on Twitter. Ilima tweeted me back that she was worried about why I thought it was weird since her book REMAKE had a Christian dystopian theme.

Don't worry. REMAKE is anything but weird. I loved it. It was so goofy to me to consider Nine changing her gender by choice because anyone could be what they want, but Ilima set it up to be exactly that. A really great, imagine if scenario that, considering the way human culture works right now, is not actually that far fetched. And it's brilliantly set up in my opinion. I got the world. I got the culture. And then Nine gets plopped down into the middle of something we all know--families.

I adored this family theme. I adored the way Nine discovered her femininity and strength. How she discovered her family.

The only thing that I sort of shrugged at (the only reason I didn't rate it a full five) is that the stakes are pretty different from most books in the genre. And it wasn't in a bad way exactly. (Let's be honest, when I read dystopian, I'm cringing at every every-day comfort they don't have...) Things definitely got crazy, but I never got a sense that things were unsolvable.

My favorite line; I have to share. "You're not a mistake. [...] Sometimes I think you're the most deliberate thing I've ever seen. The rest of us are just shadows of what could be."

Loved this book.

Content:
Sex - 2+ (Much of theme surrounds choosing a gender and the differences, so there's discussion, in an absolutely tasteful and mild way, of gender differences, especially as Nine begins to notice her own changes.*)
Violence - 1
Language - 0
Overall Rating - PG

*For instance, I usually highlight or make note of content I feel needs noting. I made no notes in this book.



Check out the other 2014 Whitney Finalists here.

Whitney Finalist Review: LADY EMMA'S CAMPAIGN by Jennifer Moore (Romance)

Jennifer also has TWO books as finalists in the romance category, BECOMING LADY LOCKWOOD and the companion, LADY EMMA'S CAMPAIGN. Good luck!

From Goodreads.com: She would follow him through peace and war.

London, 1811

The London Season is ushered in with a thrilling flurry of invitations, gowns, and parties. But despite her status as belle of the ball, lovely socialite Emma Drake simply cannot fathom becoming entangled with any gentleman of her acquaintance. For in truth, since childhood her heart has belonged to Captain Sidney Fletcher, a man of the sea—and her brother’s best friend. Emma knows that Sidney’s directive to free the Spanish city of Cadiz from French occupation will be dangerous, but when word arrives of his capture, she is frantic. Determined to aid her brother in Sidney’s rescue, she hides aboard his ship and sets a course to Spain. But the realities of war are a far cry from the drawing rooms of London, and Emma finds the man she loves a mere shadow of his former self. When a series of events leaves them trapped together behind enemy lines, Emma and Sidney must embark on a journey fraught with danger—from a bloody hunt for Spanish treasure to the battlefields of war-torn Spain, new threats lurk around every turn. As their flight becomes increasingly perilous, Sidney and Emma must trust each other with their lives—but can they trust the other with their heart?

Audience: Adult (Clean)
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency
Length: 224 pgs

Rating: 4+ 

Review: Who didn't L-O-V-E Sidney in Becoming Lady Lockwood? He was just so fun, and the way he teased William was fantastic. It reminded me of the awesome BFF relationship between Sarah Eden's the Duke and Henry, two of my favorite characters. And here, in Lady Emma's Campaign, I got to get deep into Sidney and find out so much more about him. It really rounded out his character. While the way Emma got to Spain was a bit of a stretch for me, once there everything went really well. I've discussed on Twitter with Sarah (and also Jennifer) about how we love that Jennifer's characters can get into trouble but still remain ladies. One big pet peeve of mine in historical fiction is how many authors try to make heroines too modern in order to appeal to modern audiences. Lady Emma's Campaign walks that fine line with excellence! Emma behaves exactly as a lady would when first thrown into the situation, but also grows exactly as we want to see her and becomes stronger while still behaving as a lady would. :) I'm pretty sure I loved this book even more than Becoming Lady Lockwood.  

Content
Sex - 1ish (Sidney and Emma go off together alone as part of a plan and some men assume naughty things)
Language - 1 (Strong language of the Regency era. ;) )
Violence - 2 (Battles are mentioned, details, not too graphic, of death, injuries, etc related to war)
Rating - PG

Find the rest of the 2014 Whitney Finalists here.

Whitney Finalist Spotlight: PAINTING KISSES by Melanie Jacobson

From Amazon: Lia Carswell is good at what she does—even if it isn’t as glamorous as her old life in Manhattan. The popular waitress works hard in a small Salt Lake City diner, with the goal of easing her sister’s financial strain. And with her witty personality and good looks, she’s something of an enigma to the male customers who vie for her attention. Ever the professional, Lia keeps her distance—with one exception. Aidan is a breakfast regular, and Lia’s easy rapport with him draws her attention, though she would never let their relationship get serious—especially since he’s not the only one trying to catch her eye. Her handsome neighbor Griff has been hinting that he wants more than a neighborly relationship.Then her old New York artist life comes knocking, and an offer is made for a series of commissioned paintings. Lia knows it would ensure financial security for her family, but she doesn’t know if she wants that life anymore. When she undertakes one final project, she reawakens her heart and soul. And as she finds herself falling in love and needing an outlet more and more, she realizes her paintings might be her saving grace.

Audience: Adult (Clean)
Genre: Romance
Length: 240 pgs

Rating: 5+

Review: I saw a review of this book a few weeks ago that said it was Melanie's best yet and it made me eager to read it. The paperback has been sitting on my bookshelf forever, but with other reading responsibilities crammed into my life, I had to set it aside. Plus, I have it in paperback, and lately it's easier for me to read on my Kindle.

But, the reviewer is absolutely right. This is Melanie's best yet. Maybe you caught a conversation on Twitter that I had with Sarah Eden about romance, but we discussed how we loved Melanie's heroines and how they fought hard for what they wanted and sometimes even against what they wanted, but how we understood every choice they made because it was always in character. That's exactly what makes THIS book awesome-tastic. Lia is a great character. She is cool and an artist and the way she sees the world is so so wonderful. I loved the way the romance grew--in a slow-burn way that usually drives me nuts, but everything was perfect. Perfect. So yeah, my favorite so far of Melanie's!

Content
Sex - 1 (kissing)
Language - 0
Violence - 0
Overall Rating - PG

View the complete list of Whitney Finalists here.

Cover Reveal FOR ME! Playing for Keeps!

Remember a year ago when I wrote this post? (You probably do. I reposted the link just a few days ago!) The great thing about writing that post you always wanted to write--the one about your book getting published or landing an agent--is that you get to keep writing posts you've always wanted to write.

Like your very own cover reveals!

Without further adieu...

I was able to look at some mock-ups of my cover a few weeks ago, and when I saw this one, I was absolutely smitten. I think my exact words to Christina, my cover designer, were, "I want to kiss it and marry it."

When I first started writing PLAYING FOR KEEPS, it was originally titled Marry Me, Anthony Rogers, and the cover I pictured was a girl holding up a sign at a game with the title on the cover. Fun, right? :) Then I realized I hated that title and my friend Kaylee helped me come up with a new title, "The Game Plan." At that point, the cover above is pretty much exactly what I pictured--a game plan drawn out with hearts and O's I ahhhhhhdore the title font--the cute hearts and the cursive "for."

It's really just perfect. So. Perfect.

Covers are one of those things you give up control over when you go the traditional publishing road, and it was the only thing that worried me about going that direction. With my novellas, I'd been able to choose exactly what I wanted. I was so worried about what this cover would look like. I should not have been. They actually gave me four really good options that had elements I really loved too.

You want to know the other AWESOME news about this? You can actually pre-order PLAYING FOR KEEPS on Amazon! When my friend Jenny showed me that yesterday (and ordered it--she's SO fun. I love her) I almost fell off my chair. My book. For preorder. I am so legit. :)

So ENJOY. And share my cover everywhere so people will see it's awesomeness and want to go buy it.

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.