RUGGED HEARTS by AMANDA MCINTYRE ~ SPECIAL EARLY RELEASE DAY BLAST~

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JENN FRASER'S REVIEW OF MISS CHATTERLEY ~ PART I: HUNGRY by LOGAN BELLE

I dug into, Hungry, the first episode in Logan Belle’s new serial, Miss Chatterley, with enthusiasm.  I’ve been intrigued by the story of Lady Chatterley since reading D.H. Lawrence’s controversial classic.   In this modern retelling, Connie Chatterley is the live-in boyfriend of Cliff, a rising star in the tech world with millions of dollars hanging in the balance and a new company on the rise.  She’s a smart and independent woman, but agrees to move to California with him as he gets closer to the action.  While Cliff embroils himself in his world, Connie is left without much stimulation, in or out of the bedroom.  Cliff and his assistant, Ivy are busy attracting investment banker, Tommy Dukes.   Meanwhile, Connie is busy attracting her new Crossfit trainer, Oliver Mellors.   He’s everything Cliff is not: passionate, earthy and very into her.   The realization that Cliff may not be all she needs is about to turn her life upside down.       

Knowing that Miss Chatterley is a retelling of Lawrence’s classic isn’t required to enjoy this serial, but definitely enriched my reading.  Logan Belle does a wonderful job at giving the story new life.  It feels refreshing and real, while keeping some basic themes that ran through the original.  Cliff is one of those pretty men that you want to beat over the head.  For all his smarts, he can’t see that his absorption in his career is killing his relationship with Connie.   A neglected woman is an unhappy woman.  Oliver , her Crossfit trainer, is sexy but commanding.  He’s clearly as alpha as they come: a Marine with a never-quit attitude.  He’s a little scary in the way that makes me freeze and take notice.  He sees Connie’s beauty and her need….and capitalizes on it.  It’s explosive and toe-curling and made me want to read the next episode now!!!!    Three more parts to come and a lot of territory travel.  Waiting a week in between episodes may be torture….

~JENN FRASER~

4 Stars (Brilliant)

WHERE THE FOUR WINDS COLLIDE by HILDIE MCQUEEN

Where the Four Winds Collide by Hildie McQueen is one of the many reasons that I listen to recommendations by my reader and author friends. I inevitably find some obscure or lesser known author that deserves to be seen and heard.

Virginia, 1865: Adeline Buckley has run away from an abusive father and a fiancee who promises to be her worst nightmare. After being beaten by her father, she escapes to the local whorehouse where she is taken in and cared for by those who live and work there. Adeline in return helps out as much as she can by cleaning until it becomes too dangerous for her to be there for fear of discovery.

Four Winds, West Texas: Hardworking rancher, Jackson Pruitt is a lonely man who has seen his partner and friend, Lucas flourish with his wife Peggy Ann. His tinge of jealousy has Jackson knowing he needs a wife. In the meantime, his brother Heath, the local sheriff, had written letters requesting a mail order bride, to little response.

Adeline needs to get far away from Virginia, so the Madame, Mae, puts her on a coach heading to Texas where Adeline has hopes of becoming a teacher or taking care of children . After a few mishaps and a lot of nausea along the way, Adeline ends up on a coach full of would-be mail order brides, heading to Four Winds. When the coach arrives in the Texas town with Adeline still ill from the journey, she winds up married to Jackson Pruitt in the oddest of ceremonies and wakes up on a ranch not knowing how she got there and who brought her.

Jackson had no idea he was coming home with a wife but he would make the best of it. He would allow Adeline to adjust a while before making their marriage a true one, but he had no delusions about love, even if he finds himself attracted to the  pretty green eyed, redhead . When Adeline awakens to find she is Jackson's wife, she is confused and torn between whether she should leave or make a go of the cards she's been dealt. Jackson is determined to have a marriage and build up his home, but Adeline has secrets and she is hesitant to reveal them. These secrets will be her downfall when her not so distant past eventually catches up to her and rips away any trust that Jackson afforded her.

Well how do I put this? I LOVED his story.Where the Four Winds Collide by Hildie McQueen, has every element I love in a historical romance,  uncertainty, the adventure the mystery. The romance slowly builds here which is exactly how it should. These virtual strangers come together in the oddest of circumstances to make a go of a life together. Jackson from minute one is an honorable man, a bit gruff but lovable all the same. Once Adeline sets her mind to a task, she is no shrinking violet, which makes her a character I totally adore. There are tears and joy and danger all wound into one awesome story. I hope you give this book a try, because you will be glad you did. Now if only Ms. McQueen would hurry on up with her next book, WESTBOUND AWAKENING, because I am not so sure I can wait until October for Captain John McClain and Mae.

~KIMBERLY~

5 Stars (Hook Line and Sinker)

Where you can find Hildie McQueen:

Website

http://www.hildiemcqueen.com/

Facebook Author Page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hildie-McQueen-Author-Page/336419999707636?fref=ts

Twitter

https://twitter.com/HildieMcQueen

IF HE'S TEMPTED ( The Wherlockes) by HANNAH HOWELL

If ever there was evil, it comes in the form of Lady Leticia Mallam. This time, the notorious lady of the ton is planning on marrying her own sixteen year old daughter, Agatha to a depraved man three times her age, all for monetary gain. When Lady Agatha appears on Lady Olympia Wherlocke's doorstep in search of Lord Ashton Radmoor, she finds only Olympia in residence. Agatha has been attempting for weeks to get word to her brother, Lord Brant Mallam, the Earl of Fieldgate,to no avail. Her letters have gone unanswered, leaving Agatha at the mercy of the unscrupulous matriarch of the Mallam family.

When Olympia Wherlocke of the gifted Wherlocke/Vaughn clan, hears Agatha's story, she is spurned into action to help this young lady. Once Olympia sets her mind to something, she jumps into it full force. This beautiful woman from this odd and reclusive family, has the gift of foresight and what she sees makes her intent on alligning herself with Brant and Angela against the abomination that is Lady Leticia Mallam.

Brant Mallam, the Earl of Fieldgate has the reputation of a deviant and a rake. Ever since the apparent betrayal and death of his love, Faith, Brant has been wallowing in self loathing and on a steady course to self-destruction until Lady Olympia Wherlocke forces her way into his home and forces him to take a really good look at himself. Together, Olympia and Brent attempt to uncover the multitude of illegal activities Lady Mallam is involved in, and right so many wrongs. In the meantime, Brant is fighting tooth and nail his extreme attraction to Olympia, who has decided that whatever may come of their time together, she shall accept.

Although I own every single one of these books, I had not had the time to read them, until THIS book. I loved If He's Tempted by Hannah Howell so much, that I immediately went back and immersed myself in all that is The Wherlockes. If He's Sinful may be read without reading the first four books in the series. Hannah Howell does and excellent job of explaining the necessary components and back story one might need to know. If He's Sinful is dark, mysterious and excitement all in one convenient package. Lady Olympia Wherlocke is a brilliant character with the knowledge and forethought of someone twice her age. She is strong and sassy. Lord Mallam becomes, through Olympia's urging, the man he was meant to be. I so enjoyed this book by Hannah Howell and cannot wait for the next in the series. NOTE TO HANNAH HOWELL: Um MODRED????? PLEASE????

~KIMBERLY~

5 Stars (Hook Line and Sinker)

SLADE by BIANCA D'ARC Reviewed by Cass

Redstone Construction  ran by The Redstone Clan of cougars is a place where shifters can shift without the fear discovery has just learned that the matriarch has been skilled, actually partially skinned while shifting in her cougar form. It is considered a desecration and defilement at the most basic level. And the shifters of Redstone are furious and want vengeance.

Slade is part snowcat considered a holy being has been selected by the Lords because of his tracking skills to help the Redstone Clan find the person or persons who would do such a evil deed. Wanting to help the clan with getting their matriarchs' pelt back so she can rest in peace.

Kate is a priestess who serves the Goddess is performing a cleaning ritual when she feels the evil that has desecrated the matriarch, an evil so intense it almost knocks her out with the shift from good to evil. An evil that pulsates with such power.

When they first meet Slade is unable to take his eyes off of Kate, such beauty with magic the colors of gold, green and sunshine. She even challenges him by holding his gaze. To her Slade is the most intimidating man she has ever met, and when they first touch the sparks are instant and full of heat. They come together to find the evil that has come upon the Redstone Clan.

During their journey to find the ones responsible for bringing evil they also find a good- their love. And along the way there are twists and turns to kill more of the clan. Can they survive the evil themselves and see what this new healing will do for the clan.

I really enjoyed this book and not because I love Bianca D'Arc but because there is something going on with every page that you turn. I enjoy stories that are different, with plots and actual story lines and Bianca has that in Slade. There are a few sex scenes and  even a ménage, more of the good vs evil and little romance.  There were even a few ' oh no she didn't' moments for me.

I would recommend Slade to my avid reader friends because of all that she has incorporated with in the story. Then y'all will also need to get the next story, Sweeter Than Wine. So go check it out for yourselves.

 Happy Reading

~CASS~

Indigo Sin Tennessee Heat Reviewed by Michelle Boone

Brock Moore, a successful business man, has tried for years to make contact with his old flame. Regret followed him for this long stretch of time as he pined for the one woman who could make him whole again. Determined to get answers, Brock makes the drive to Tennessee to make one last effort to make contact with the woman his heart aches for. Will one night, and his heated seduction be enough to rekindle what had once been, or will it end in disastrous consequences?

Read along as a once dead passion ignites, transforming into a salacious tornado of heated rivalry as they go up in flames.

Indigo Sin’s short novella Tennessee Heat was a truly enjoyable short read. In the opening scene she draws you to the heroine who was with her soon to be ex-fiancé. At first I was a little skeptical since the hero was clearly not the fiancé, but soon learned Brock the hero was her first and only true love.

The two ex-lovers hadn’t seen or talked to each other in over 15 years and both were deeply hurt thinking the other had forgotten about them. Passion ignites immediately and they realize they were being kept apart by others.

Ms. Sin wrote the story so beautifully the reader won’t feel sorry for the ex-fiancé, will in fact be cheering for Brock. If you need a quick steamy read I highly recommend Tennessee Heat by Indigo Sin. I plan to peruse her website for another incredibly hot read.

REVIEWED BY MICHELLE BOONE

4 Stars (Brilliant)

Author Spotlight on JENNIFER MCQUISTON & a Review of her debut Novel WHAT HAPPENS IN SCOTLAND

Hi  Jennifer! Thank you so much for joining me at Book Obsessed Chicks.  Can you tell us a bit about yourself? When did you become a writer?

Hi Kimberly, thank you so much for having me on! Hmmm… let’s see. I am a veterinarian who mostly works on people (I track zoonotic diseases, which are those swapped between animals and humans). I work for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and have been lucky enough to travel the world as part of my job. I am also a wife and mother who hates to do laundry.
See? Perfectly normal.
I never imagined I would become a writer—writing scientific manuscripts doesn’t exactly provide the skills needed to pull off a full length genre fiction novel. But I have always been a voracious reader, and romance has been the type of fiction I always reached for when the day job got too stressful. I found myself discovering more and more amazing authors, and they, more than anything else, inspired me to try it myself.
Please tell us about your inspiration for your new book, What Happens In Scotland.
What Happens in Scotland is a historical romp that was inspired by the movie The Hangover. I conceived it when I was planning my 40th birthday party in Vegas, and wrote it in a frantic 2.5 months. It is a classic “she woke up married” story, only set in the decidedly proper Victorian era.Which is, of course, wicked fun. As you can tell from this decidedly unproper book trailer! 



I have always had what I would loosely term “an inappropriate sense of humor”, meaning my mouth opens to insert a snarky comment before my brain can shut me off. With What Happens in Scotland, I just turned off my filter, and the result is something pretty close to how my imagination rolls. I didn’t specifically set OFF to write a comedic historical, but once I started, my internal GPS took me right there.

I have to tell you, I love Lady Georgette. How did you come up with her?

Lady Georgette is one of those fun characters who comes up with you. I had no idea who she was when I started writing, but from the first sentence (Though she would never admit it to polite Society, Lady Georgette Thorold hated brandy almost as much as she hated husbands), her character took on its own life. She is proper, widowed, a little prudish, and aching for something more after a disastrous first marriage. She is horrified to wake up in bed with someone she doesn’t know—but also can’t help but wistfully imagine what she might have done.

Can you tell us your favorite character from your book so far and why?

Honestly, my favorite character is William MacKenzie, the hero’s brother. A strong secondary character in What Happens in Scotland, William is a burly, comedic presence of a guy. He has a big heart, a big laugh, and strong protective instincts toward his family. William is not currently slated to have his own book, but I am secretly plotting him a novella, and already know the perfect woman for him.

Who are your heroes? Mentors?

My hero would be former President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter. Not because of his political views, per se, but because of the incredible things he has done since his presidency through the Carter Center. His world vision, commitment to basic public health, and conciliatory approach to conflict resolution has changed the lives of millions of people all over the world.
For writing mentors, I would have to say my critique partners provide me with amazing inspiration alongside their raw criticism, and I count myself fortunate to have them!

Was it difficult for you to get published?

The honest truth is that it wasn’t easy. I wrote five books before I wrote one that was accepted for publication. I more or less had to retrain my scientific writing persona to write something people would want to read. I am probably lucky it didn’t take ten books! 

How many more books are planned in this series?

A 3 book series is planned. Book #2 is called Summer is for Lovers, and will be published September 24, 2013. Summer is for Lovers is an unrequited love story set in the Victorian seaside resort of Brighton, and features David Cameron, the almost-villain from book #1, as the hero. Can he be redeemed? You’ll have to read to find out! 
Book #3 is called Moonlight on my Mind, and will be out in Spring 2014. It features Patrick Channing, another character you meet in book #1, as its hero. Patrick is hiding from a murder charge, and he has just been discovered by the most notorious gossip in Britain.

Who are your favorite authors/reads?

My favorite author is Ken Follett (whom I am convinced actually writes romance…..shhhhh.) My favorite historical authors include Meredith Duran, Sarah MacLean, Joanna Bourne, Madeline Hunter, and far too many to actually name.

Hobbies?

Writing is my hobby! You really need to be careful of hobbies like this, though, they hijack your life. I also love spending time with my girls and their horse. My family also loves to travel, and we do it every chance we get.

Do you use an inspiration board for your characters? Who do you picture as your characters?

Sometimes I will see a picture (usually a model in an Eddie Bauer catalog or something of that ilk) and tear it out and save it, but mostly I just have the characters in my head. My lead males do tend to resemble hunky country music stars… what can I say, I love me a country boy.
What’s next?
Finishing book #3, the planned novella, and then taking a big, big breath to figure out what I want to do next. The pace of writing under deadline with the day job has definitely proven more challenging than I imagined… and I am someone who normally thrives on challenge. Whatever I do will involve writing, but I am hoping for a slower pace.

Where can readers find you?

My website, www.jenmcquiston.com is open for business! I also love connecting with readers on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jennifermcquistonauthor) and Twitter (@jenmcqwrites)

Recent widow, British, Lady Georgette Thorold groggily wakes up naked, in places unknown with feathers everywhere,and a very large man sleeping by her side. When she realizes she also has a wedding ring on her finger she panics and wonders what in heavens name she has done. Especially after the fact that she is finally free from an awful marriage and never wanted to marry again.

As Scotsman, James MacKenzie awakens from his apparent drunken stupor he can hardly tell what has happened when Georgette clocks him with a chamber pot and makes a run for it. When he finally is revived by his brother William, he tries to piece together the puzzle that is before him in the room that has been left in complete disarray. When he finds his money missing, he is sure that the missing woman has stolen it so he angrily sets off after her, his only clue, her very beautiful corset.

Georgette in the meantime, while making her swift exit, comes face to face with her cousin, Randolph, who has his own plans for his disheveled cousin of means. Great, yet another dilemma facing the evidently newly married woman. She quickly realizes that she must find this handsome stranger and get out of this marriage.

What Happens in Scotland continues to be a whirlwind trek of discovery. Once James finally finds Georgette,  mishaps continue and they have more than one mystery on their hands, primarily, are they married or are they not married? Can these two people from two totally different walks of life come to terms with what fate has dished out for them or will they throw in the towel? This very important question and many more will be answered in the immensely entertaining What Happens in Scotland by Jennifer McQuiston.

From page one I was enthralled with this McQuiston masterpiece. What Happens in Scotland evokes a large spectrum of emotions as it brings these quirky characters together. I had just come from reading some disappointing reads and was so relieved when this book had me laughing only a few pages in. I am very much looking forward to the next Jennifer McQuiston read, SUMMER IS FOR LOVERS. Thank you Jennifer McQuiston, for such an entertaining ride.

~KIMBERLY~

5 Stars (Hook Line and Sinker)