Waves of Fiction: May 2016

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Launch Week Blitz Review & Giveaway: Hot Cowboy Nights by Carolyn Brown

Hot Cowboy Nights (Lucky Penny Ranch #2) by Carolyn Brown

Publication Date: May 31st 2016 by Forever $7.99 e-book & Mass Market Paperback

Purchase Links:

About the book:

Let’s give ‘em something to talk about…

If gossip is the lifeblood of a small town, then Lizzy Logan has been its beating heart. After being dumped by her fiancé for another woman, she could have decided to crawl under a rock. But no, she'd rather really set tongues wagging by "moving on" with one of the hottest cowboys in Texas, who happens to live next door at the Lucky Penny Ranch. Those busybodies don't have to know it's actually all pretend. And just because Lizzy has no aim to tame her wild, blue-eyed neighbor doesn't mean she can't enjoy the ride of her life.

Toby Dawson never was and never will be the settling-down type. But what harm could there be in agreeing to be Lizzy's pretend boyfriend? They'll put on a show for a few weeks and be done. Yet the more he gets to know Lizzy-really know her-the harder it is for him to keep his hands off of her in private. Soon this rough-and-ready cowboy is hoping to heal Lizzy's bruised heart and turn their fake affair into a true romance…

My Thoughts:

Oh, man, I just loved this story! I wanted to lock myself away and just read! As it was, I started and finished Hot Cowboy Nights in one day.

Lizzy Logan and Toby Dawson shared three weeks of lusty hot nights, sex only, and very much on the-down-low. It started out as a rebound fling, and with a player like Toby, Lizzy knows it won’t amount to anything. Lizzy knows she wants more than a booty call; she wants marriage and kids, and she doesn’t want to waste time with someone who won’t settle down, so Lizzy breaks off the affair.

Toby hasn’t ever had a relationship, just one-night stands and gets hives thinking of commitment, but the thought of Lizzy with someone else brings twinges of pain. Two things happen that make their parting unattractive: Sharlene, a very determined Dry Creek single woman, sets her sights on Toby, and Mitch, Lizzy’s ex is set to come back to town with his new woman. So they decide to embark on a fake dating relationship to keep Sharlene at bay and let Mitch know Lizzy has moved on with her life.

I just loved this romance so hard! Toby and Lizzy kind of did things backwards. They had a physical relationship first, ended it, and then started “dating” so it was a gradual, slow burn romance. Toby never pictured craving a long-term relationship but the appeal slowly creeps up on him with each and every minute he spends with Lizzy. They got to know each other deep down and gradually fell harder and harder into love. I admired Lizzy for keeping a level head and for not compromising on her dreams. She got on my last nerve in the first book, Wild Cowboy Ways, when she was set to marry that preacher, Mitch. Lizzy was so self-righteous but I found out she had completely changed her true nature to conform to Mitch’s wishes, so when he leaves her it’s a complete relief! I was thrilled to see her loosen up and be herself, even if it did take a painful breakup to wake her up.

Got to say that this might be my favorite Carolyn Brown to date! As usual with Ms. Brown’s books, there’s plenty of humor and sass in Hot Cowboy Nights! I laughed more than a few times at the absurd and prissy church group that felt the need to monitor and condemn Lizzy’s romance. She gave as good as she got though, which was hilarious and part of Lizzy reclaiming her true self. She also had support of her sister, Allie, and her mother, Katy. I relish seeing the strong bonds of family/female friendship!

I love me a sexy-cowboy-romance and Toby Dawson burned up the pages, whether in his sweaty shirts and cowboy hat after working on the ranch all day or all dressed up in a button down and shined boots to take his lady dancing at the local honky tonk! Ms. Brown definitely knows how to write smoking hot chemistry and drool-worthy cowboys! Can’t wait for Fiona and Jeb’s story next, in Merry Cowboy Christmas.

5 Suns

Hot Cowboy Nights – Excerpt

Lizzy let herself into the house quietly and went straight to her room. She heard the rattle of glass as her mother unloaded the dishwasher, but Lizzy didn’t want to talk to or see anyone that night. Especially her mother. Mama would’ve immediately sniffed out the lie, and the house would have exploded if Lizzy had admitted that she’d been screwing around with Toby Dawson almost every day for three weeks.

It was nothing short of a miracle that they hadn’t gotten caught.

Already the rumors were hovering like buzzards waiting for roadkill. From day one the Lucky Penny couldn’t buy an ounce of good luck, and everything that happened on the ranch was fodder for the gossip mill. Half the folks in Dry Creek, Texas, were hoping that Blake and his family joined the long list of owners who failed at trying to make the Lucky Penny a profitable ranch. The other half was rooting for the three Dawsons—Blake, Toby, and their cousin, Jud, who would be joining them in the fall.

Lizzy pulled off her boots, kicked them somewhere close to the closet door, and changed into a faded nightshirt that she pulled from last week’s laundry still tossed in the rocking chair in the corner. Cleanliness was a virtue, according to the Good Book, but neatness was not mentioned. Unlike her sisters, Allie and Fiona, Lizzy must have been out chasing butterflies or playing with baby lambs when they passed out neatness be- cause she didn’t get a bit of it.

She fell back on the bed, legs dangling off the side and her head nowhere near a pillow. Staring at the ceiling with nothing but the small bedside lamp to light the room, she let the past run through her mind again for the hundredth time since Mitch had called to tell her he loved another woman. He and the preacher’s daughter had decided to become missionaries, and he would preach at the little church they’d gone to Mexico to build.

Her world had shattered. And then Toby had taken her in his arms at Blake and Allie’s wedding and she realized maybe all wasn’t over for her after all. He’d charmed her and made her feel alive again—like a woman to be desired. It hadn’t ended with the dance but they’d talked on the phone, exchanged text messages, and when he moved to town they were both primed and ready for a hot little affair. But that night when Allie told them she was having a girl, Lizzy knew it was time to end the secretive, wild nights.

Lizzy crawled under the covers and turned out the light.

So which was she? A sweet little preacher’s-wife type who would let her husband lead her around by his every whim, like she’d been with Mitch? Or a brazen hussy, like the loose women who’d founded Audrey’s Place, who took what she wanted from life and didn’t have any regrets?

She’d far rather be the latter if she had to choose. She’d come out of the Mitch experience a stronger woman than ever, and she’d been honest when she told Toby that it hadn’t made her shy away from guys in general. And it damn sure hadn’t made her feel sorry for herself. It had taught her to be brutally honest and not let anyone try to change her into something she wasn’t.

She picked up her phone to check for a sexy text message from Toby, but there was nothing. Nada. Nil. Zilch. Not a single missed message. Finally she wrote one to him: Changed my mind. See you tomorrow at six at Mama’s store.

With one thumb on the delete button and the other on the send button, she sat there in the darkness, her body telling her to send the message and her heart telling her that she was in for misery if she didn’t press delete.

THE LUCKY PENNY RANCH SERIES

Wild Cowboy Ways, #1

Hot Cowboy Nights, #2

Merry Cowboy Christmas, #3 (September 2016)

Wicked Cowboy Charm, #4 (January 2017)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author and RITA® Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than sixty books. Brown presently writes both women's fiction and cowboy romance. She has also written historical single title, historical series, contemporary single title and contemporary series. She lives in southern Oklahoma with her husband, a former English teacher, who is not allowed to read her books until they are published. They have three children and enough grandchildren to keep them young. For a complete listing of her books (series in order) check out her website at www.carolynlbrown.com

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Review: Savage Urges by Suzanne Wright

Savage Urges (Phoenix Pack #5) by Suzanne Wright

Publication Date: May 3rd 2016 by Montlake Romance

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book:

She’s a lone wolf with a cause.

As a volunteer at a shelter for lone shifters—the same one that rescued her—Makenna Wray has dedicated her life to finding homes for its residents. And when she discovers that a teen in her care is related to Ryan Conner, the broody, handsome-as-sin enforcer of the Phoenix Pack, she’s eager to help connect the two. She just wasn’t prepared to feel a connection of her own.

Lone wolves are loners for a reason—and most of them bad. Or so Ryan assumes until he meets the mysterious Makenna. Quirky and sensual, she seems to enjoy riling him, especially when she refuses to discuss her past. Although there is no mating bond, he’s sure she’s the one. All he has to do is be patient and wait. But when another pack’s sinister Alpha comes sniffing around, threatening Makenna and her shelter, this enforcer is ready to let his wolf off the leash…

My Thoughts:

Mackenna is a lone wolf, and as such looked upon with suspicion from pack wolves. A lot of them being without pack support and resources become easy prey for other shifters, doing anything for protection and money, such as assassin work or other nefarious pursuits.

Mackenna didn’t choose to be a lone shifter, but she’s made the best of it, finding “home” in the volunteer shelter that took her in years ago. Mackenna has made it her life to help other lone wolves by either getting them situated in a new pack or adjusting to life outside. When Zac, a teenage wolf, lands on her doorstep with nowhere to go, and on the run from his own pack, Mackenna tracks down his next of kin for help: Ryan Connor an Enforcer from the Phoenix Pack. There’s immediate attraction on both sides, but both are cautious at first. Ryan Connor has always thought of lone wolves as untrustworthy, but he begins to see the other side of their plight after meeting Mackenna and seeing all the good she’s done for his cousin, Zac.

Mackenna and the residents of the shelter find themselves in a precarious situation when another pack Alpha, Remy, sets his sights on taking over the shelter by any means necessary. There’s no way Ryan can just sit by and watch, not when his attachment to Mackenna and her wolf grow exponentially every time they meet.

I love the thought of a mating bond or imprinting, because it’s so sure, unbreakable and intense. Every romance in the series has been all-consuming and super hot, but each has had their own obstacles to overcome. In Mackenna’s case she worries about going all in with Ryan and his Pack, and then suffering the pain when/if she loses them because she lost her mom and could barely endure that. Ryan’s battle is helping her get over her fears, and convince her to take a chance.

I’ve been excited to pick up Savage Urges, because Suzanne Wright’s Phoenix Pack series has been a favorite of mine from the beginning! Melt-the-panties-of-you-HOT, with everything about shifter stories I love: primal instincts, mating bonds, pack hierarchy, and plenty of action. There’s an also a good amount of humor, usually from Dominic or that old hag, Greta. She’s so awful it’s comical! It seems I never grow tired of this series, so I hope Ms. Wright continues with more sexy shifters!

4 Suns

Connect with Suzanne Wright:

Website | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Review: Desire After Dark by Marie Force

Desire After Dark (The McCarthys of Gansett Island #15) by Marie Force

Publication Date: May 23rd 2016

Tobias “Slim” Jackson has the perfect life as a pilot on Gansett Island in the summer and in Florida in the winter. He’s happiest when he’s in the air, or at least that was the case before last summer when he met Erin Barton, Gansett Island’s newest lighthouse keeper. Now he can’t seem to find his usual enthusiasm for flying, winter in the sunny South or anything that doesn’t include her.

Erin has been stuck on pause since she lost her twin brother. She’ll tell you herself that her life has been a hot mess since Toby died. After dropping out of law school, she’s flitted from one pointless job to another, existing rather than truly living. Then she comes to Gansett Island to take over as the new lighthouse keeper and meets Slim, who happens to share her beloved brother’s first name. That small coincidence is enough to convince Erin that she needs to spend more time with the dashing pilot—except for the fact that he’s spending the winter more than a thousand miles from her.

Now Slim’s come home to Gansett for the holidays and to hopefully pick up where he left off with Erin. He’s got twelve days before he’s due back in Florida to finish out the remainder of his winter obligations. A lot can happen in twelve days, but will it be enough to convince Erin that it’s time to start truly living again? Read Slim and Erin’s story and catch up with the rest of the Gansett Island cast in Desire After Dark!

My Thoughts:

I’ve fallen for Marie Force’s writing in the Green Mountain series, and her knack for making small towns and big families so appealing. I’ve only read one of The McCarthys of Gansett Island series, and it was some time ago, but I enjoyed getting back on the island, and falling into one of Ms. Force’s delicious romances.

Erin Barton has lived through the epic tragedy of losing her twin brother in 9/11. Still, fifteen years later she has periods of darkness and hang-ups. Struggles with OCD (although, her case seemed to be mild), fear of flying, and the worry that anything good in her life will be snatched away continue to plague Erin. Slim Jackson, the sexy pilot who rescued her after she twisted an ankle last summer, seems too good to be true, but the last four months they’ve been separated they’ve been keeping in touch every single day through texts and Face Time, and Erin begins to fall hard. Slim’s coming back to the island for the holidays so they’ll have twelve days to figure out if they truly have something worth a go.

Slim’s never felt the desire to commit or settle down, but sweet, sexy, cautious Erin has him changing his mind. He was taken with her from the moment they first met and his desire has only grown in the months they’ve got to know each other. Slim knows Erin has some fears and doubts, but he’s hoping their twelve days together will convince her to take a chance on him and love.

Ms. Force makes the pages sizzle with Erin and Slim’s hot and sweet romance! Even though I found Erin’s hang-ups a little trying at first, I could understand how someone could get stuck in the emotional rut she did. Slim was patient, understanding, and irresistible! I had little doubt Erin would succumb to this sexy pilot and his push for more.

Even though I’ve only read Janey and Joe’s story some time ago, I enjoyed all the other romances contained in Desire After Dark, the sexy times they shared, humor and high jinks. I hardly noticed I hadn’t been in on their original stories. I’m sure any fan of the McCarthys of Gansett Island series will adore Erin and Slim’s romance in addition to all the updates on past couples. The strong bonds between family and friends were very moving.

4 Suns

On 50 Books and 50 Years: Things I Know for Sure

By: Marie Force

This week marks a major milestone in my publishing career. Desire After Dark is my 50^th book, and it releases 17 days before my 50^th birthday. To those who would ask, I didn’t plan that. Like many things in this life, it just sort of worked out that way. I wish I could say I’d written a book a year, but in fact most of them have been written in the last five frantic years that have gone by like a flash.

I thought this 50-50 combination platter was a good time to reflect on what I’ve learned writing 50 books and living for a half century. (God, it sounds DREADFUL when I put it that way!) So in no particular order, here’s what I know for sure halfway through my life. Note to my kids: I intend to stick around for the entire second 50, so batten down the hatches.

1. I’m acutely and painfully aware that too many of my high school classmates didn’t live to be 50, so I’m thankful for every day I’ve spent on the right side of the ground. I’m not planning on indulging in a middle-age funk or crisis or anything like that because being 50 certainly beats the alternative.

2. I’ve accepted that my arms are never going to look like Michelle Obama’s guns. I’m learning to live with that and letting them out to see the world more often than I used to, taking comfort in the fact that they are still smaller than my thighs. I’ve also learned that eating salt and vinegar potato chips makes me happy, so I will continue to eat them in my second 50 years. This is nonnegotiable as is my relentless war against all forms of chin hair.

3. My mom had a magnet on her fridge declaring that FIFTY IS PRIME TIME. I believe that. This time next year, my youngest will graduate from high school and next fall he will head off to college, leaving his parents with now two empty bedrooms and hearts full of memories. In my fifties, I’ll be able to do just about anything I want any time I want. If that’s not PRIME TIME, I don’t know what is.

4. That said, being a mother has been the greatest thrill ride of my life. There is, simply, nothing better in my world than my two wonderful kids, who are both better people than I could ever hope to be. No matter what they do or don’t do or achieve, all I care about is that they are healthy and happy and productive. The rest is up to them, and I can’t wait to see what they get done while I sit in my tub and eat bon bons, knowing I was never a perfect mother, but I always tried to be a fun mom and I did my very best for them always.

5. Family is everything. Parents, siblings, cousins, close family, extended family—if you got lucky in the family department like I did, then you know what I mean. They know you better than anyone and don’t let you get away with anything, which is actually a good thing—until they tell people you look like Nick Nolte’s mug shot in the morning with photographic evidence to prove their point. I’m grateful for the brother who has traveled all but one year of this journey with me as well as our posse of cousins who made us feel like we had a huge family when it was only the two of us.

6. I honestly believe the outcome of your entire life can be determined by who you are born to. I was born to two of the best, and they are as much responsible for the life I have today as I am.

7. Friends who stick with you through bad times—and good—are worth holding on to. Everyone is there for the bad times. The ones who show up during the especially good times, who share in your joy selflessly and without reservation, are the people you want on your journey with you. I have been enormously blessed in the friend department.

8. I also got lucky in the husband department. We don’t always see eye to eye (what fun would that be?), but I always know I can count on him and so do our kids. He gives me Valentine’s Day cards that say things like “I’m still not sick of you,” which is the perfect sort of card for the nonromantic romance author. And his family is rather awesome, too.

9. I’m grateful every day for the series of fortunate events that led to my career as an author. If you had told me at 40 that THIS would be 50, I probably would’ve laughed myself senseless at your delusions of grandeur on my behalf. However… Here I am with 50 titles to my name, 5 million books sold, 22 times on the New York Times list, my closest friends and family members working with me, a new house that Mac McCarthy bought for my family and a life that five years after it happened still feels like a dream in progress. For that I thank the readers who’ve taken my books to heart and me along with them. You have made all of this happen, and I never lose sight of that fact. I’ve also learned that never allowing myself to be entirely satisfied with where I am at the moment can lead to new challenges that broaden and expand my sense of the possible.

10. I have learned that I can do just about everything right, be the best possible friend/family member/colleague/author (fill in your own blank) I know how to be, and it won’t be enough for some people. What I know at 50 is that I’ll never make everyone happy. I’ve learned to be okay with that and to know FOR SURE that if I can make myself and those who matter most to me a little happy every day, then I’m doing something right. And that is more than enough for me.

Here’s to the next 50 books and the next 50 years. As Sam Holland would say, bring it on.

Connect with Marie Force:

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Spotlight Tour, Review & Giveaway: What Happens in Texas by Carolyn Brown

What Happens in Texas by Carolyn Brown

Publication Date: June 7th 2016 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

About the book:

Carolyn Brown brings her unique voice to this tale of twin sisters finding love in a small Texas town

Cathy Andrews’s biological clock has passed the ticking stage and is dangerously close to “blown plumb up”. While her twin sister Marty thinks settling down with one man is just a waste of good cowboys, Cathy wants it all: the perfect husband, the baby, and a little house right there in Cadillac. But even as the town is laying bets on whose wedding will be next, Cathy doesn’t see happily-ever-after happening anytime soon.

Fortunately, Cathy and Marty have best friends who aren’t afraid to stir up a ruckus—and if it means Cathy’s got to bust out and set the town on its ear they’ll back her up—no matter how hot things get.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author and RITA Finalist, Carolyn Brown, has published more than seventy books. These days she is concentrating on her two loves: women’s fiction and contemporary cowboy romance. She and her husband, a retired English teacher, make their home in southern Oklahoma.

My Thoughts:

I’d say What Happens in Texas is more in the Women’s Fiction category than romance, but there is some of that. I won’t say much, but Cathy and Trixie held a special place in my heart. Cathy got the courage to finally stand up and be herself, finding happiness in the process. Poor Trixie with her (highlight for spoiler) stupid, cheating (now ex) husband! I can’t believe Trixie or the other girls didn’t scratch Anna Ruth’s eyes out, or shoot off Andy’s bits! (end of spoiler) What a complete dog. I didn’t get as much insight into Marty, but she was fun, as well.

What Happens in Texas is very much about the amazing support and strength friends and family can provide through tough times. All this is told with a hefty amount of humor. Carolyn Brown always makes me laugh. Aunt Agnes was definitely the comedic star, so outrageously funny, and clever.

4 Suns

An Excerpt:

If Prissy Parnell hadn’t married Buster Jones and left Cadillac, Texas, for Pasadena, California, Marty wouldn’t have gotten the speeding ticket. It was all Prissy’s damn fault that Marty was in such a hurry to get to the Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society monthly meeting that night, so Prissy ought to have to shell out the almost two hundred dollars for that ticket.

They were already passing around the crystal bowl to take up the voting ballots when Marty slung open the door to Violet Prescott’s sunroom and yelled, “Don’t count ’em without my vote.”

Twenty faces turned to look at her and not a one of them, not even her twin sister, Cathy, was smiling. Hell’s bells, who had done pissed on their cucumber sandwiches before she got there, anyway? A person didn’t drop dead from lack of punctuality, did they?

One wall of the sunroom was glass and looked out over lush green lawns and flower gardens. The other three were covered with shadow boxes housing the blue ribbons that the members had won at the Texas State Fair for their jalapeño pepper entries. More than forty shadow boxes all reminding the members of their history and their responsibility for the upcoming year. Bless Cathy’s heart for doing her part. She had a little garden of jalapeños on the east side of the lawn and nurtured them like children. The newest shadow box held ribbons that she’d earned for the club with her pepper jelly and picante. It was the soil, or maybe she told them bedtime stories, but she, like her mamma and grandma, grew the hottest jalapeños in the state.

“It appears that Martha has decided to grace us with her presence once again when it is time to vote for someone to take our dear Prissy’s place in the Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society. We really should amend our charter to state that a member has to attend more than one meeting every two years. You could appreciate the fact that we did amend it once to include you in the membership with your sister, who, by the way, has a spotless attendance record,” Violet said.

Violet, the queen of the club, as most of the members called it, was up near eighty years old, built like SpongeBob SquarePants, and had stovepipe jet-black hair right out of the bottle. Few people had the balls or the nerve to cross her, and those who did were put on her shit list right under Martha, aka Marty, Andrews’ name, which was always on the top.

Back in the beginning of the club days, before Marty was even born, the mayor’s wife held the top position on the shit list. When they’d formed the Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society, Loretta Massey and Violet almost went to war over the name of the new club. Loretta insisted that it be called a society, and Violet wanted it to be called a club. Belonging to a club just sounded so much fancier than saying that one belonged to a society. Loretta won when the vote came in, but Violet called it a club anyway and that’s what stuck. Rumor had it that Violet was instrumental in getting the mayor ousted just so they’d have to leave Grayson County and Loretta would have to quit the club.

Marty hated it when people called her Martha. It sounded like an old woman’s name. What was her mother thinking anyway when she looked down at two little identical twin baby daughters and named them after her mother and aunt—Martha and Catherine? Thank God she’d at least shortened their names to Marty and Cathy.

Marty shrugged, and Violet snorted. Granted, it was a ladylike snort, but it still went right along with her round face and three-layered neck. Hell, if they wanted to write forty amendments to the charter, Marty would still do only the bare necessities to keep her in voting standing. She hadn’t even wanted to be in the damned club and had only done it because if she didn’t, then Cathy couldn’t.

Marty slid into a seat beside her sister and held up her ballot.

Beulah had the bowl in hand and was ready to hand it off to Violet to read off the votes. But she passed it to the lady on the other side of her and it went back around the circle to Marty, who tossed in her folded piece of paper. If she’d done her homework and gotten the numbers right, that one vote should swing the favor for Anna Ruth to be the new member of the club. She didn’t like Anna Ruth, especially since she’d broken up her best friend’s marriage. But hey, Marty had made a deathbed promise to her mamma, and that carried more weight than the name of a hussy on a piece of paper.

The bowl went back to Violet and she put it in her lap like the coveted jeweled crown of a reigning queen. “Our amended charter states that only twenty-one women can belong to the Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society at any one time, and the only time we vote a new member in is when someone moves or dies. Since Prissy Parnell got married this past week and moved away from Grayson County, we are open for one new member. The four names on the ballet are: Agnes Flynn, Trixie Matthews, Anna Ruth Williams, and Gloria Rawlings.”

Even though it wasn’t in the fine print, everyone knew that when attending a meeting, the members should dress for the occasion, which meant panty hose and heels. Marty could feel nineteen pairs of eyes on her. It would have been twenty, but Violet was busy fishing the first ballot from the fancy bowl.

Marty threw one long leg over the other and let the bright red, three-inch-heeled shoe dangle on her toe. They could frown all they wanted. She was wearing a dress, even if it only reached midthigh, and had black spandex leggings under it. If they wanted her to wear panty hose, they’d better put a second amendment on that charter and make it in big print.

God Almighty, but she’d be glad when her great-aunt died and she could quit the club. But it looked like Agnes was going to last forever, which was no surprise. God sure didn’t want her in heaven, and the devil wouldn’t have her in hell.

“One vote for Agnes,” Violet said aloud.

Beulah marked that down on the minutes and waited.

Violet enjoyed her role as president of the club and took her own sweet time with each ballot. Too bad she hadn’t dropped dead or at least moved to California so Cathy could be president. Marty would bet her sister would get those votes counted a hell of a lot faster.

There was one piece of paper in the candy dish when Beulah held up a hand. “We’ve got six each for Agnes, Trixie, Anna Ruth, and two for Gloria. Unless this last vote is for Agnes, Trixie, or Anna Ruth, we have a tie, and we’ll have to have a runoff election.”

“Shit!” Marty mumbled.

Cathy shot her a dirty look.

“Anna Ruth,” Violet said and let out a whoosh of air.

A smile tickled the corner of Marty’s mouth.

Saved, by damn!

Agnes was saved from prison.

Violet was saved from attending her own funeral.

The speeding ticket was worth every penny.

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Thursday, May 5, 2016

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Infinite Dolls by Emalynne Wilder

Infinite Dolls by Emalynne Wilder
Publication date: May 3rd 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance

Purchase Links: Amazon | iBooks | B&N

Born to be the best.

Head of his class.

No strings attached.

The third year of medical school is supposed to be the hardest, but Callum Trovatto has no idea what he’s about to face when Everly Anne Brighton stands between him and a passing grade, shaking up his world with her secrets, and digging into his dark past.

Hopeless.

Trapped by her father’s rules.

Longing for freedom.

Expected to die before her twenty-first birthday at the hands of a rare medical condition, Everly Brighton begins to defy the carefully crafted routine her father enforces to keep her alive, despite the fact that it could kill her.

INFINITE DOLLS is an emotionally charged love story about finding faith, coping with loss and living in the preciousness of Now.

My Thoughts

I knew going into Infinite Dolls by Emalynne Wilder I’d probably be pulled in all different directions emotionally, and seeing the initial reviews with such promising ratings, I had high hopes for this story. Well, Wilder’s debut novel was everything I expected… unique, emotional and most of all hopeful. Well done!

Callum Trovatto is in his third year of medical school and knows that the last thing he has time for is falling in love. Well as fate would have it, Callum is expected to complete a differential on a patient for one of his classes, however Everly Anne Brighton has no intentions of making this easy on him. Everly Anne has spent her entire life being questioned, probed and treated by insensitive doctors because of her rare condition, so when Callum is expected to diagnose her condition she takes a standoff approach. Therefore, Callum decides to use an unconventional method, which is to get to know her first in the hopes she will open up. But as he and Everly Anne begin to spend time together, a love between these two slowly transpires, and Everly Anne and Callum must face fate’s cruel hand.

First off, I really enjoyed that Infinite Dolls was told in Callum’s perspective. I was worried that as a reader, I’d be submerged into a painful medical experience from someone suffering from a rare condition. Wilder proved that she can make her story just as emotional coming from a third year medical student that refuses to let fate and cruel doctors dictate how and when he and Everly Anne can build a life together.

Secondly, I was pleasantly surprised at how Wilder was able to take a rare disease and have her readers journey along with Callum as he tried to diagnose her condition. I never heard of the disease and learning about it was a combination of fascinating and heartbreaking.

Overall, the high ratings don't lie. Emalynne Wilder hit it out of the ballpark with her debut novel and I can’t wait to see was she writes next. Emotional story that was both unique and heartfelt.

4 Suns

AUTHOR BIO:

Emalynne Wilder is the voice of the Broken-Hearted. The Forgotten. The Unheard. Painfully shy in person. Unapologetic on paper. She’s the girl listening to your dirt from the corner of the room as she plots how to turn tragedy into triumph.

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