Mailbox Monday and In My Mailbox: Lots of Romance and a Little Portable Reality

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia at The Printed Page, is on a blog tour!

This month, Mailbox Monday is being hosted at Library of Clean Reads , so stop by and join the fun!

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren!

It is so much fun to see what everyone is getting in the mail.

Thanks for taking the time to visit ~ I just love hearing from you! Please let me know if you have read any of these books - I'd love to hear how you liked them!! :)

Lots in my mailbox last week!

Bathsheba by Jill Eileen Smith ~ Fiction / Biblical Fiction ~ Available March 1st~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for a Revell book tour March 13-19

Can love triumph over treachery?

Bathsheba is a woman who longs for love. With her husband away fighting the king's wars, she battles encroaching loneliness--which makes it all too easy to succumb to the advances of King David. Will one night of unbridled passion destroy everything she holds dear? Can she find forgiveness at the feet of the Almighty? Or has her sin separated her from God forever?

With a historian's sharp eye for detail and a novelist's creative spirit, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the passionate and emotional story of David's most famous--and infamous--wife. You will never read the story of David and Bathsheba the same way again.

A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell ~ Fiction / Historical Fiction  ~ Available March~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review and tour with CFBA March 9-11

The elegance of Madame Forza's gown shop is a far cry from the downtrodden North End of Boston. Yet each day Julietta, Annamaria, and Luciana enter the world of the upper class, working on finery for the elite in society. The three beauties each long to break free of their obligations and embrace the American dream--and their chance for love. But the ways of the heart are difficult to discern at times. Julietta is drawn to the swarthy, mysterious Angelo. Annamaria has a star-crossed encounter with the grocer's son, a man from the entirely wrong family. And through no intent of her own, Luciana catches the eye of Billy Quinn, the son of Madame Forza's most important client. Their destinies intertwined, each harboring a secret from their families and each other, will they be found worthy of the love they seek?

The Legend of Michael ARC by Lisa Renee Jones ~ Fiction / Paranormal Romance ~ Available May 2011 ~ Received courtesy of the Publisher For Review in May

He is sin and satisfaction, lust and damnation, a lethal weapon created from greed. A human soldier injected with alien DNA, he is a legend. Untamable, he has walked on the dark side, and returned to the light. Women desire him, hungry for his raw passion. Men envy his power; they lust to control him. But there is no controlling a creature such as he, no taming the primal fires within him. Michael revels in his superior strength and trains as a fighting machine. But when he encounters scientist Cassandra Powell, he begins to long for a more human connection...

Love Drunk Cowboy ARC by Carolyn Brown ~ Fiction / Romance ~ Available May ~ Received courtesy of the publisher for review in May

A hot new cowboy trilogy from award winning author, Carolyn Brown! Saddled with an inherited watermelon farm, Austin Lanier wants to sell the place, slip on her stilettos and run back to corporate America. Until drop dead sexy neighbor cowboy Rye O’Donnell shows up and tempts Austin to trade her heels for cowboy boots...

Carolyn Brown’s first five cowboy/country music single title mass market romances from Sourcebooks Casablanca have sold over 65,000 copies, and her new series, Spikes & Spurs, is chock full of her signature wit, down home appeal and feel good love stories. Taking city girls who trade in their stiletto high heels for cowboy boots, they find love in the most unexpected places, and with the most unexpected, but sizzling hot cowboys!

The Portable Pediatrician by William Sears, MD, et al. ~ Non-Fiction / Parenting / Health ~ Available Now~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review

Imagine you are up at three o'clock in the morning with a sick child. Wouldn't it be nice to have expert advice readily at hand to help get you through the night? Encyclopedic in scope, THE PORTABLE PEDIATRICIAN features timely and practical information on every childhood illness and emergency, including when to call the doctor, what reassuring signs can help you know your child is okay, how to treat your child at home, and much more-all in a convenient A-to-Z format. Among the scores of topics covered:

teething; sprains and broken bones; nosebleeds; measles; ear infections; choking; rashes; colic; headaches; eating disorders; fever; hip pain; warts; allergies; obesity; seizures; Asperger's Syndrome; bronchitis; masturbation; sunburns; pneumonia; speech delay; lice; vomiting; asthma; heart defects; blisters; sleep problems; and more.

The Searses guide parents and caregivers from a child's infancy through the teen years, teaching them what to expect at regular checkups as well as how to boost a child's well-being, devise a family health plan, work effectively with their pediatrician, and more. Distinguished by the Searses' trademark comprehensiveness, reliability, and accessible, comforting one, this book is a must-have for all families who want to keep their children healthy and happy.

Sealed Forever ARC by Mary Margret Daughtridge ~ Fiction / Contemporary Romance Romance ~ Available May ~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review

Navy SEAL Garth Vale is on a CIA Mission in the middle of nowhere…. Specifically in Podunk NC. He's trying to figure out who he pissed off, and how, when while cleaning a plane, he finds a box labeled BANANAS, FRAGILE, and THIS SIDE UP. Containing a baby.

Bronwyn Whitescarver, looking for life in the slow lane, has come to Podunk to open a medical practice, as soon as she has rehabbed her rundown Victorian mansion into a clinic downstairs and apartment upstairs. For now, she's taking shifts at ER's all over Eastern NC.

After a chance meeting at their friends’ wedding last year, Brownwyn surprisingly meets Garth again, only to find he has a baby whom someone intended to make disappear on his hands, the baby is acting sick, and Garth has nowhere to turn except to Bronwyn, and no cover story except to claim the baby is his...

Wickedly Charming by Kristine Grayson ~ Fiction / Romance ~ Available May ~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review

Cinderella’s Prince Charming is divorced and at a dead-end in his career, so he opens a bookstore and travels the land, ordering books and discovering new authors. Though still handsome and still charming, he has given up on women, royalty, and anything that smacks of a future.

Mellie is sick and tired of being called the “Evil Stepmother.” She did her best by her stepdaughter Snow White, but the girl resented her to no end and made all kinds of false accusations. But when she finds herself divorced and bumps into the Prince while protesting her bad wrap at a book fair, she decides to leave her inhibitions at home and see what happens with this rather charming young man, who believes she could hold the key to a new trend in literature, “stepmother lit”… Neither of them believes in happily ever after anymore, but both of them believe in happily for the moment!

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate

Review ,Tour and Giveaway Details: The Me Project: 21 Days to Living the Life You’ve Always Wanted by Kathi Lipp

I know from experience that Kathi's books are life-altering in a very real, very good way!  Kathi Lipp, author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project, has brought us a brand new book in her "Project" books: The Me Project: 21 Days to Living the Life You've Always Wanted.  In her book, she admits that it is the most personal of the books she has written, and it is easy to see why.  She shares her dreams and how she is working towards making them a reality.

She encourages us to document our dreams and then helps us to get going in a direction that will begin making some of them happen. 

The Me Project reminds me a little of the movie The Bucket List, where a dying man has a list of things he wants to do before he dies, and together with friends, he tries to accomplish them.  While certainly not as morbid, and definitely more upbeat and empowering, Kathi has us make our own list, but it is a list of dreams you want for the next 50 years.  She then walks us through the project aspect of the book and helps us to get going down the path to actually making a dream come true.  The book is filled with plenty of real-life examples and stories that really make an impact and bring to life what she is saying.

Kathi writes in an open and honest style that makes looking at goals and relationships much easier.  Additionally, there is no right or wrong with Kathi - she makes a point to say that she doesn't believe in telling people that because she was able to do it, you need to follow her and do it her way, instead, she shows how important it is to embrace the steps you take to make your dream a reality, even if it means making yourself less than comfortable and taking a risk. 

I highly recommend Kathi's newest book, along with her past books.  She is giving us the tools to make our dreams come true.


The Me Project - 21 Days to Living the Life You’ve Always Wanted
by Kathi Lipp
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (Feb 1, 2011) ~ 224 pages
Non-Fiction /

Edition Reviewed: Paperback - Review copy received courtesy of the publisher, many thanks to both the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review for this Kathy Carlton Willis Communications Blog Tour!

About the Book:

(San Jose, CA) Has that rush to make (and break) New Year’s resolutions already waned? According to Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, taking small steps every day will not only help you stay committed to your goal, but will also help you ultimately achieve that goal when obstacles come up. Author Kathi Lipp wants you and your friends to live out those dreams—and have some fun along the way.

As women, we forget the goals and dreams of our younger years. The busyness of everyday life gets in the way. To-do lists replace goals. The Me Project provides women with fun and creative ways to bring back the sense of purpose and vitality that comes with living out the plans and dreams God has planted in our hearts. Kathi Lipp’s warm tone and laugh-out-loud humor motivates women to take daily steps toward intentional goals. The end result? We get back our lives and enjoy living in the confidence of a purposeful life in spite of our chaotic schedules.

This handy guide coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving our goals each day for three weeks. A woman experiencing the exhilaration of a rediscovered life offers more as a wife, mother, friend, volunteer, career woman.

Finding the balance between living day-to-day with purpose while pursuing the passions God has placed in our hearts is a delicate pursuit. In this refreshing, insightful book, Kathi lays out a doable plan that makes sense and helps make our God-given dreams a reality. Never stop dreaming, because women who dare to dream do make the world a better place.
—Jean Blackmer
author of MomSense: A Common Sense Guide to Confident Mothering
Publishing Manager, MOPS International www.MOPS.org

Three Super-Simple Kick Start Living Your Dreams in the next 15 minutes by Kathi Lipp

Is there a dream that God has given you, but you are waiting until the kids are grown and you have money in the bank before you get started?
You may not be able to enroll in a month long pastry making class or take a week off of work to get started on your novel, but today you can take three little baby steps to making your dream a day-to-day reality.

1. Go Public with It
It’s a little scary to tell the world what you want to do when you grow up—but this is one little step could get you closer to living your dream than almost any other. Plus—it takes very little time and you don’t have to raid your kid’s college fund to make it happen.

When you gather up all your courage and tell your best friend, “I want to learn how to paint,” suddenly she remembers an old art book she has laying around she would love to give you, or her friend from church who teaches art classes. The people you know and love want to be a resource. Give them the privilege of being a part of making your dream happen.

2. Join an Online Group
This is one of the simplest—and cheapest—ways to start exploring your passion. Find out who else is talking about restoring antiques and listen to their conversation. Start by Googling your interest along with the term “online groups.” You will be amazed with the number of people who want to talk about the proper way to care for 1950’s lunchboxes as much as you do.

3. Don’t be Afraid to Pray
I remember the first time I put an offer in on a house—I wanted it more than I had wanted almost anything else in my life. While I knew that I had dozens of other people praying on my behalf, I was too scared to pray.

I didn’t want God to tell me no. I was afraid to pray until my co-worker Kim asked me (in a loving, kind way), why I didn’t believe that God wanted His best for me. Don’t be afraid to pray—as with anything amazing in my life, the path is never what I expected, but it has always been obvious that God’s hand has been on it the whole way.
Copyright © 2011 by Kathi Lipp. All rights reserved.

About the Author:

Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker, currently speaking each year to thousands of women throughout the United States. She is the author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project, serves as food writer for Nickelodeon, and has had articles published in several magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman and Discipleship Journal. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four teenagers and young adults. For more information visit her website: www.kathilipp.com

Giveaway Details:
Leave a comment now through March 4th, 2011 and get a chance to win the Grand Prize Giveaway for The Me Project Blog Tour!  One person from each participating blog will be chosen to be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing that will be held March 7th.

Grand Prize Giveaway:Deluxe Starbucks Coffee Gift Basket

* Three 2.5-oz. bags of Starbucks coffee
(Sumatra, House Blend, and French Roast)
* Tazo black tea
* Starbucks marshmallow cocoa
* Almond roca
* Almond roca buttercrunch toffee cookies
* White chocolate and raspberry cookies
* 2 Starbucks mugs
* Keepsake black bamboo basket

$62 value

* Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate

Review and Tour: Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones

Alex needs votes in an upcoming election, and Lucy needs money to save her non-profit home for girls... after they are seen together and his rating goes up, Alex comes up with a plan to pose as a couple "temporarily" until he wins the election, or will it remain temporary??? Save the Date is a very fun inspirational romance with a great sense of humor from Jenny B. Jones.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Save The Date Thomas Nelson (February 1, 2011) by Jenny B. Jones

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I write Christian fiction with a few giggles, quite a bit of sass, and lots of crazy. My novels include the Katie Parker Production series and So Not Happening. I would also like to take credit for Twilight , but somewhere I think I read you’re not supposed to lie.

When I’m not typing my heart out (or checking email), I teach at a super-sized high school in Arkansas.

My students are constantly telling me how my teaching changes their lives and turned them away from drugs, gangs, and C-SPAN.

Okay, that’s not exactly true.

Some facts that are true include:

I've always been refined!

A. I got my camera confiscated by big boys with guns at the American Embassy in Europe this past summer. O la la!

B. I once worked in a seed mill office and cleaned out mice on a regular basis. Ew.

C. I’m a former drama teacher.

D. I didn’t pass my drivers test the first time. Or the second…

E. I attract stray animals like a magnet.

F. I used to assemble and test paint ball guns for a local factory...

Since my current job leaves me with very little free time, I believe in spending my spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits such as:

-watching E!
-updating my status on Facebook
-catching Will Ferrell on YouTube and
-writing my name in the dust on my furniture

I’d love to hear about you, so drop me a note. Or check me out on Facebook.

ABOUT THE BOOK

You’re invited to the engagement of the most unlikely couple of the year.

When the funding for Lucy’s non-profit job is pulled, she is determined to find out why. Enter Alex Sinclair, former professional football star and heir of Sinclair Enterprises—the primary donor to Lucy’s Saving Grace organization. Alex Sinclair has it all . . . except for the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Both Lucy and Alex have something the other wants. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancée in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn’t quite what he seems, Lucy finds her heart – and her future – on the line.

Save the Date is a spunky romance that will have readers laughing out loud as this dubious pair try to save their careers, their dreams . . . and maybe even a date.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Save The Date, go HERE

Join My Family In Participating In The Primrose Family Dance Off For Happy, Healthy Hearts! Join In The Fun And Enter To Win!

I want to let you know about a great opportunity you can participate in!  Upload a quick 30 second video of your family dancing and compete to win a great cash prize and a $30,000 donation to your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital! Want to participate in a fun promotion and help promote wellness for yourself and your family? Stop by the official Primrose Family Dance-Off page and enter, then make sure you vote and watch other videos.  It is easy and fun, and best of all, it is a great way to get your family up and active!

Join me in the Primrose Family Dance Off... benefitting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and encouraging everyone to get up and dance for a Happy, Healthy Hearts! Primrose Schools is the leader in educational child care.

I sure hope you will join me in the Primrose Family Dance Off, and that you will come back here and leave me a comment with your link so I can visit your video!!

From MomSelect and Primrose Schools:

The New Year is upon us which means most of us have resolutions on our mind! And for many of us, those resolutions are centered around health- and not just for us, but for our families too. Most moms are committed to find ways to help their children stay active, which can be especially tough during the chilly winter months. Well, what if we told you we had a way for the whole family to move their bodies, create lasting memories and support a great cause all at the same time? All you need to do is cue the music and press record to take part in the 2011 Primrose Schools® Family Dance-off!

Childhood obesity is a critical issue for young children in America. Dance is a fun, easy way to introduce physical activity into your family's routine while enjoying quality time together. The Family Dance-off supports Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals, which collectively treat 17 million children annually for every illness and injury imaginable.

Families nationwide can record a 30-second video of their family's best dance moves and upload it to www.FamilyDanceoff.com. They will compete to win amazing prizes, including the grand prize of $5,000 and a $30,000 donation to their local Children's Miracle Network  Hospital! Not only is dancing good for your body, it's good for your community, with Primrose Schools donating a total of $65,000 to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in the top three winning families' hometowns.

About Primrose Schools:

At Primrose, we truly believe that With The Right Foundation, Anything Is Possible.^®

Visit any Primrose School, and you'll notice the Primrose difference from the moment you walk in. Parents tell us it feels like home. Everything we do at Primrose, from our professional staff, to our school accreditations, to our clean, safe environment assures parents that their child will be safe, happy, and learning.

Our proprietary Balanced Learning^® curriculum is brought to life each day by passionate teachers who nurture your child’s mind, body, and heart. In Primrose Schools across the country we train our teachers to consistently deliver our standards-based curriculum. Because we are committed to furthering each child’s development and learning, we make sure teachers have what they need to teach and to focus their energies on understanding your child and what he or she needs to learn and grow.

For over 25 years, the extraordinary quality of our people and culture has been the major reason parents give for choosing Primrose. With our passionate staff, comprehensive curriculum, and high standards, we partner with parents to provide the best education and care for every child.

We encourage you to take a look at the Executive Summary of a new White Paper

Get more details on this
topic by downloading our White Paper Executive Summary.

by David M. Schwartz, Ph.D., in which he reviews Early Childhood research to date and highlights the kinds of educational experiences and care children need to build a strong foundation for success in school and in life. A downloadable PDF of the Summary is available on this page.

*Disclosure:  I was chosen to host a Primrose Family Dance-Off Party and received a fun party pack, including a Flip camcorder so I can record our dance-off party!  Many thanks to Primrose Schools and MomSelect for giving me this great opportunity.  I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place.

Teaser Tuesday: The Me Project: 21 Days to Living the Life You've Always Wanted by Kathi Lipp

TEASER TUESDAYS :
hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading ~

"Listen, this isn't about being everything to everybody. There are dozens of books on the market that say, "You can have it all! You can do it all!"
You and I both know what the problem with that is -- it just doesn't work. But there is a big difference between devoting yourself to being a great mother, wife and worker and giving up on your dreams completely."

[Let me jump in here and say that this is an empowering teaser, Kathi is telling us that we can be great and still achieve our dreams, then she proceeds to share with us how we can manage both in a realistic way. I'm loving this book! ~ Wendi]

~ page 14 “The Me Project: 21 Days to Living the Life You've Always Wanted" by Kathi Lipp

About the Book (from Amazon):

Most women in the midst of careers, marriage, raising children, and caring for parents set their personal goals aside. The Me Project provides women with fun and creative ways to bring back the sense of purpose and vitality that comes with living out the plans and dreams God has planted in their hearts. Kathi Lipp’s warm tone and laugh-out-loud humor will motivate women to take daily steps toward bringing purpose back into their lives and give them the confidence they can do it in spite of busy schedules.

A woman who reads and applies The Me Project will

* discover the unique plan God has for her life and her role as a wife, mother, worker, or volunteer
* gather a community of like-minded women who want to make their goals a priority
* change her attitudes toward her roles in life, as well as how she approaches her personal goals

This handy guide coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving their goals each day for three weeks, bringing a sense of vitality and exhilaration back into their lives.

I always look forward to reading everyone's teasers! ~ Wendi

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate.

Mailbox Monday and In My Mailbox: A Week of Romance and a Project for Me!

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia at The Printed Page, is on a blog tour!

This month, Mailbox Monday is being hosted at Library of Clean Reads , so stop by and join the fun!

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren!

It is so much fun to see what everyone is getting in the mail.

Thanks for taking the time to visit ~ I just love hearing from you! Please let me know if you have read any of these books - I'd love to hear how you liked them!! :)

Lots in my mailbox last week, and I hope you'll stop and check out my new weekly feature called Weekly ARC Expo, Bringing New Life to ARCs via an ARC Swap... here is the current one!

The Me Project: 21 Days to Living the Life You've Always Wanted by Kathi Lipp ~ Non-Fiction ~ Available now~ Received courtesy of the Publisher and Kathi Carlton Willis Communications

Most women in the midst of careers, marriage, raising children, and caring for parents set their personal goals aside. The Me Project provides women with fun and creative ways to bring back the sense of purpose and vitality that comes with living out the plans and dreams God has planted in their hearts. Kathi Lipp’s warm tone and laugh-out-loud humor will motivate women to take daily steps toward bringing purpose back into their lives and give them the confidence they can do it in spite of busy schedules.

A woman who reads and applies The Me Project will

* discover the unique plan God has for her life and her role as a wife, mother, worker, or volunteer
* gather a community of like-minded women who want to make their goals a priority
* change her attitudes toward her roles in life, as well as how she approaches her personal goals

This handy guide coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving their goals each day for three weeks, bringing a sense of vitality and exhilaration back into their lives.

Deadly Lies ARC by Cynthia Eden ~ Fiction / Romantic Suspense  ~ Available March~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review

She wants to hide the past
FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy is haunted by memories of the serial killer who abducted her. To keep the darkness at bay, she pretends to be a different, more confident woman. This Samantha doesn't fear every unknown face. So she throws caution to the wind and shares a night of unbridled passion with a handsome stranger.

He needs to uncover the truth
One night isn't enough for successful entrepreneur Max Ridgeway. He wants more of the sexy, smart, mysterious woman who slipped away before dawn. When they meet again, their attraction is undeniable-until his stepbrother goes missing, and Max realizes that Samantha isn't who she seems. But they must trust each other to trap a ring of bloodthirsty kidnappers before the nightmares that terrorize Sam become irrevocably real.

As a merciless criminal spins a web of . . .
DEADLY LIES

Eternal Rider ARC by Larissa Ione ~ Fiction / Paranormal Romance ~ Available March 2011 ~ Received courtesy of the Publisher For Review

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

Never A Gentleman ARC by Eileen Dreyer ~ Fiction / Historical Romance ~ Available April 2011 ~ Received courtesy of the publisher for review

HE HIDES HIS TRUE COLORS . . .

Miss Grace Fairchild is under no illusions about her charms. Painfully plain, she is a soldier's daughter who has spent her life being useful, not learning the treacherous ways of the ton. She may have been caught in a scandal with society's favorite rogue, but how can she marry him when it means losing herself?

WHILE SHE HIDES HER TRUE SELF . . .

Diccan Hilliard doesn't know which of his enemies drugged him and dumped him in Grace's bed, but he does know the outcome. He and Grace must marry. To his surprise, a wild, heady passion flares between them. Yet Diccan is trapped in a deadly game of intrigue Grace knows nothing about. Will his lies destroy Grace just as he realizes how desperately he needs her? And how can he hope for a future with her, when an old enemy has set his murderous sights on them both?

Notorious Pleasures ARC by Elizabeth Hoyt ~ Fiction / Historical Romance ~ Available Now~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review

Their lives were perfect . . .
Lady Hero Batten, the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wakefield, has everything a woman could want, including the perfect fiancé. True, the Marquis of Mandeville is a trifle dull and has no sense of humor, but that doesn't bother Hero. Until she meets his notorious brother . . .

Until they met each other.
Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, is far from perfect - and he likes it that way. How he spends his days is a mystery, but all of London knows he engages in the worst sorts of drunken revelry at night. Hero takes an instant dislike to him, and Griffin thinks that Hero, with her charities and faultless manners, is much too impeccable for society, let alone his brother. Yet their near-constant battle of wits soon sparks desire - desire that causes their carefully constructed worlds to come tumbling down. As Hero's wedding nears, and Griffin's enemies lay plans to end their dreams forever, can two imperfect people find perfect true love?

Seduced by Destiny ARC by Kira Morgan ~ Fiction / Historical Romance ~ Available March~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review

SWORN TO REVENGE

All her life, Josselin Ancrum has been trained for combat, hoping to exact vengeance for her heroic mother, who was killed fighting the English. When asked to spy for the Scottish Queen, Jossy joyfully accepts. But when a handsome stranger rescues her from sudden danger, his charm distracts her from her mission.

SHROUDED BY SECRECY

On the surface, Drew MacAdam may appear to be nothing more than a carefree champion, but his heart harbors a dark secret: This Highland hero is actually a skilled English soldier with a hatred for war and for the Scottish. Yet from the moment he meets the feisty Jossy, he's captured by her fiercely loyal heart. He's determined the honey-haired lass will be his ultimate prize - until the tragedy of their entwined legacies is revealed. Are these star-crossed lovers to be divided by their pasts? Or will they be...

Shiver of Fear by Roxanne St. Claire ~ Fiction / Romantic Suspense ~ Available April ~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review

The legacy that haunts her . . .

The mystery she must solve . . .

A man who threatens to reveal her secrets . . .

and break her heart.

Burned by a failed marriage, former FBI agent Marc Rossi wants back in the investigation game with no emotional strings attached. Taking an assignment for his enterprising Angelino cousins, he heads to Northern Ireland to pry a key piece of evidence from a missing socialite-any way he can. But when the ice queen turns out to be warm, beautiful, and on a secret mission of her own, the job becomes a passionate reminder of what happens when duty and desire mix. The daughter of an infamous fugitive, Devyn Sterling has survived betrayal only to find that her mother has mysteriously disappeared. When her search uncovers secrets, lies, and threats, Devyn and Marc must trust each other when every instinct says they can't . . . and a terrorist wants to make sure they won't live to try.

The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis ~ Fiction / Romance ~ Available April ~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review

Two Men Are One Too Many . . .

Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life.

But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.

Treasure Me ARC by Robyn DeHart ~ Fiction / Historical Romance ~ Available March ~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review

The Legend Hunters . . .

The Men of Solomon's meet in secret, their very existence only a rumor among the best of Victorian society. They are treasure hunters, men of wealth and title, seekers of myths and legends. And no legend is as captivating as the Loch Ness monster . . .

Graeme Langford, Duke of Rothmore, has always been torn between his beloved Scottish homeland and his duty to the English Crown. Yet his is truly an adventurer's soul-and he's determined to find a long-lost stone hidden near Loch Ness.

Bookish Vanessa Pembrooke heads to the Highlands to prove the existence of the legendary beast. Instead she finds the first man who has ever shared her hunger for adventure. Soon Graeme and Vanessa are fighting a dangerous battle as well as their own simmering attraction. As their passion grows, so does the danger. Ultimately, they must risk everything to keep the cursed stone out of a murderer's hands. But can they survive without losing the greatest treasure of all-their love?

Welcome to Last Chance ARC by Hope Ramsay ~ Fiction / Contemporary Romance ~ Available March ~ Received courtesy of the Publisher for review

Dear Reader,

Yes, our town is way off the beaten path, but strange, wonderful miracles happen a lot around here.

I've owned the Cut 'n' Curl beauty shop for years, and I've seen folks come for a visit, then stay for a lifetime. Take Jane-that pretty firecracker of a girl who just arrived in town. I would swear she's running from something. She came with only five dollars in her pocket but she's worked real hard to make a fresh start. She's turned my son Clay's life upside down without even realizing it.

And thank goodness for that! Ever since Clay left his country western band, he's played everything too safe. He needs to take a chance on Jane. Besides, the more he tries to keep his distance, the more he'll realize that he and Jane are singing the same tune.

But I should quit ramblin' and go check on Millie's permanent wave. Next time you're in Last Chance, be sure to swing by. We've got hot rollers, free coffee, and the best gossip in town.

See you real soon,

Ruby Rhodes

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate