Tuesday, November 29, 2016

#Book #Review "When All the Girls Have Gone" by Jayne Ann Krentz



Description:
Jayne Ann Krentz, the New York Times bestselling author of Secret Sisters, delivers a thrilling novel of the deceptions we hide behind, the passions we surrender to, and the lengths we’ll go to for the truth...

When Charlotte Sawyer is unable to contact her step-sister, Jocelyn, to tell her that one her closest friends was found dead, she discovers that Jocelyn has vanished.

Beautiful, brilliant—and reckless—Jocelyn has gone off the grid before, but never like this. In a desperate effort to find her, Charlotte joins forces with Max Cutler, a struggling PI who recently moved to Seattle after his previous career as a criminal profiler went down in flames—literally. Burned out, divorced and almost broke, Max needs the job.

After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn’s closest friends, women in a Seattle-based online investment club, for answers. But what they find is chilling…

When her uneasy alliance with Max turns into a full-blown affair, Charlotte has no choice but to trust him with her life. For the shadows of Jocelyn’s past are threatening to consume her—and anyone else who gets in their way...

MY TAKE:
4 STARS!
This was my first Jayne Ann Krentz novel, and I enjoyed it for the most part. It was a little different, refreshing, actually, to have a Private Investigator on the case instead of a police related person investigating what had happened, although the reason there is a PI on this case is because the police have pretty much just blown off the death of Louise Flint as a suicide only based upon this person having had a history of drug use. Somehow Daniel Flint, Louise’s cousin, does not believe her death was a suicide, especially because of the state of her apartment, including the fact that her technology was missing, ie., her computer and phone. Who and why would that have been taken? Daniel contacts Max Cutler, Private Investigator, new to the area ready and willing to start his own PI firm. They are standing in the apartment and it’s clear as day to them someone killed this woman just from the way the apartment looks tossed. This starts the hunt to find out what is going on and why this person was killed.
In the meantime, this person’s friend, Charlotte Sawyer can’t get a hold of her sister, Jocelyn, who was supposed to be at a convent retreat going technology free. Apparently this is the new rage for vacations, but this leaves Charlotte at a loss to be able to tell her sister that her friend had been killed. Charlotte now knew with the disappearance of Jocelyn that this definitely meant she was worried for her own life, thus the disappearance. Something major is going on and Jocelyn knows her own life is in danger, and most likely the lives of her friends.
Charlotte ends up working this case with Max Cutler, the PI, and he finds Charlotte very attractive. A romance between the two happens, but there is not enough heat between them that would make you think a romance would even be likely, but there is one. I would have liked to have seen more of this attraction between the two develop, In order to have romance, in my opinion, you need to have that heat, and the author definitely fell short here. Jocelyn and some of her friends had formed an investment group,  and these friends were the friends who were at danger. There is also something about Jocelyn getting raped and that he could possibly be the killer as she had continued to follow rapes of other girls because they could not catch her rapist and her evidence box disappeared. This story had a lot in it that made for a great yarn. The author lead you in several directions, and you enjoy the ride. The book picks up pace towards the end again with all the twists and turns along with the unexpected events you deserve a good mystery to give you.

I have to say in the beginning with these four friends, a sister, the dead girl, her cousin with the same last name, the PI, I began to get a little over-charactered. It took a while to get used to all of the characters, and at one point I wondered if I would ever catch on to ALL the characters. I did. It was a good one you should enjoy. I don’t know that if this book becomes a series that the author has me dedicated enough to it that I would continue reading it, though. The publisher, Berkley Romance, provided me with a free copy of this book to read and write a review of my own opinion, and I thank them for this.
About the Author:
Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers and has sold 40 million novels.  She has written romantic thrillers under that name, as well as futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively. Learn more at jayneannkrentz.com and connect with her on facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz.




ebook: $13.99
print:   $21.98

Monday, November 21, 2016

#StackingtheShelves #59 plus blog updates and week's end for 11-19-16!!


Thanks to our Sponsor, Tynga's Reviews!

How Stacking the Shelves works! 

Hello everyone! It's that time of week again, that time to do an awesome "SHOW AND TELL" of the books I have been given, from authors, from publishers, I bought, borrowed, or received somehow, the library, a yard sale, or some way this past week! I LOVE showing books off like this! This is one of MY favorite posts to write!!
I also use THIS POST EACH WEEK to do somewhat of a wrap-up AND to post my NEW REVIEWS, NEW GIVEAWAYS, and whatever else I should bring to your attention!
After you are done reading HERE, click on the Sponsor's name up above and see THEIR post for Stacking the Shelves, too! They have a link-up with OVER 100-200 other blogs that also participate!
I'm also finding OTHER PLACES TO LINK UP TO AS WELL! I'm finding these places from other blogs, and they are GREAT ideas! The following NEW one is Talk of the Town where we can add ALL THINGS BOOKISH! Check it out! 

I will also be linking this post AND my reviews to Saturday Situation as well from now on, too! That is a place to link ALL THINGS BOOKISH! I'm anxious to start posting there!! Check it out, too!

Welcome Everyone!!
I have to confess I have been focusing on my swimming these last few weeks SO much that I have not been reading AS FAST as I usually do, and I AM behind on my reviews. SO SORRY!!! I WILL catch up! PROMISE!!!!
I just finished reading The Story People by Heather M Kaufman




I WILL be writing a review on that book, too! I still have The Water's Edge to write, too! I AM getting behind, but I would like to report that I have lost close to 30lbs!!! In 2 MONTHS of swimming it has worked!!! At least this week I was able to take class 4 days this week! A FIRST for me!!!! I stay after and swim the lap pool for a while, at least I do what I can!! I LOVEEEEE IT!!!! I have to force myself OUT of the water!!! 
For any of you with health problems, swimming is a GREAT form of exercise!! You should totally try it!
I NEEDED to lose weight!!! All that reading had me sitting WAYYYY too much!! I gained weight, so this was coming! I HAD to do this! So I did!!! I am SO happy because that scale moved after 2 weeks of it doing nothing! Then 2 weeks later I lost another 6lbs!!! Wooooooo!!! I now have a goal of another 45lbs! I have lost 30lbs, so another 45 to go! I CAN DO IT!!!! I feel GREAT!!!!!! WONDERFUL! I really look forward to going as OFTEN as I AM ABLE!!

GIVEAWAYS THIS WEEK:
THANKFUL FOR CASH $250 GIVEAWAY!!! NOW TO 12-15! HERE!!! 
*********************************************

"HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!!!" 
May you and your families enjoy a WONDERFUL turkey day, safe travels, and fun time spent together!!! Most importantly, may you SHOP, SHOP, SHOP on Black Friday!!! 

*********************************************

TWO BOOKS RECEIVED THIS WEEK FOR REVIEW:


Gone Without A Trace by Mary Torjussen - Releases: 4-11-17



Everything You Want Me To Be by Mindy Mejia - Releases: Jan 3, 2017

HAPPY READING!! TILL NEXT WEEK!!!


Sunday, November 20, 2016

#Thankful for #Cash $250 #Giveaway!!! NOW to December 15th!!! See blog for MORE DETAILS!!

Thankful for Cash Giveaway



Thankful for Cash

$250 Giveaway

November 15th to December 15th

Enter for your chance to win a $250 Amazon Gift Code or $250 in Paypal Cash!!

Thanks to this awesome group of bloggers and authors who have joined with me to bring you one fabulous prize!!


Sponsor List
I Am A Reader
Ebooks For Review
Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love
Pat Esden
Helen Smith
The Book Referees
Lori's Reading Corner
Cynthia Luhrs Author
Heather Gray
Bookworm Lisa
Elizabeth Isaacs
Diana's Book Reviews
Niki Danforth, author
Barefoot by the Sea
Caroline Clemmons
Glistering: B's Blog
Krysten Lindsay Hager
Melissa A. Hanson, Author
Bookroom Reviews
Talia Jager
Simple Wyrdings
Every Free Chance Books
Author Melissa Wright
Laurie Here - Cont Fiction and MORE
B. Kristin McMichael
Author Inger Iversen
Rockin' Book Reviews
Nicole Tone
Everly Frost, YA author
Rachelle J. Christensen
Cindy C Bennett
Book Crazy Scrapbook Mama
Melissa Giorgio


Giveaway Details

$250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card

Ends 12/15/16

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



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, November 13, 2016

#StackingtheShelves #58 Blog updates, week's end for 11-12-16 and books I received for review + #Giveaways!


Thanks to our Sponsor, Tynga's Reviews!

How Stacking the Shelves works! 

Hello everyone! It's that time of week again, that time to do an awesome "SHOW AND TELL" of the books I have been given, from authors, from publishers, I bought, borrowed, or received somehow, the library, a yard sale, or some way this past week! I LOVE showing books off like this! This is one of MY favorite posts to write!!
I also use THIS POST EACH WEEK to do somewhat of a wrap-up AND to post my NEW REVIEWS, NEW GIVEAWAYS, and whatever else I should bring to your attention!
After you are done reading HERE, click on the Sponsor's name up above and see THEIR post for Stacking the Shelves, too! They have a link-up with OVER 100-200 other blogs that also participate!
I'm also finding OTHER PLACES TO LINK UP TO AS WELL! I'm finding these places from other blogs, and they are GREAT ideas! The following NEW one is Talk of the Town where we can add ALL THINGS BOOKISH! Check it out! 

I will also be linking this post AND my reviews to Saturday Situation as well from now on, too! That is a place to link ALL THINGS BOOKISH! I'm anxious to start posting there!! Check it out, too!

Hi Everyone!
Hope you had a great weekend! I did!!! I went out with some friends on Saturday and we went shopping, to one of their homes, then out to eat! I had a LOT of fun!! Hope you did, too! 
Lately I've been SO BUSY working out at the gym, this last month my reading has suffered! I have to get back to reading MORE!! I AM getting more used to the swimming and feeling better after I get home and eat now! I am no longer IN BED DYING from working out!! I am only able to do the three days, as by the time Friday comes along, I am flirting with muscle spasms and really would rather NOT get them! LOL! NO!!!! Those bad boys can stay FAR away!!!! I am LOVING the swimming, though! I am STUCK on the weight loss!! The scale does NOT want to move, but I've been told I'm making heavy muscle but losing inches! Yes, I have definitely been losing inches!! Wow! The clothes that fit NOW that did not last year OR the year before!! I'll take it!!! I NEED to lose that bad stuff! I am and I'm VERY happy!
My timing for the swimming has worked out fabulous with book reviews because I haven't had any that are due now, not really until the end of the month, and most of the books are due to release in the Winter and Spring, giving me plenty of time to workout now! 
Thanks for putting up with me and still supporting me while I do this!!

Thankful for Cash $250 #CASH #GIVEAWAY! -  Starts Nov 15th! - Come on back to #enter!!!


Books I received this week:


Ashes, a novel, by Steven Manchester
A novel about two brothers who have cut each other out of their lives, that is until dear old dad dies and leaves both of his sons ONE envelope. The content of the envelope cannot be opened and found out what is in it until the two brothers go on a trip across the country depositing their father's ashes where he tells them to. This brings the two brothers together again, along with their differences while having to travel in the same vehicle.
This is the point that dear old dad has made. He wants his sons to get back together and bury their issues they have with one another, and this is dad's ONLY way of controlling the issue after he has departed. He can HOPE this works out between the brothers, but we'll see.
I am VERY interested in reading this book brought to us from The Story Plant! I have a brother I am at odds with as well, and I only have ONE brother. I am going to read this book and see where it takes me. Will I send this to my father and have him give it to my brother? I don't know? I need to read it first, but it sure could be a GREAT olive branch!! 

That is ALL the books I received this week! I think I do have one more coming from NetGalley, but I need to catch up on my email! I will show it next weekend if I am going to be reviewing it. 

Sunday, November 6, 2016

#StackingtheShelves #57 plus blog updates and week's end for 11-5-16!


Thanks to our Sponsor, Tynga's Reviews!

How Stacking the Shelves works! 

Hello everyone! It's that time of week again, that time to do an awesome "SHOW AND TELL" of the books I have been given, from authors, from publishers, I bought, borrowed, or received somehow, the library, a yard sale, or some way this past week! I LOVE showing books off like this! This is one of MY favorite posts to write!!
I also use THIS POST EACH WEEK to do somewhat of a wrap-up AND to post my NEW REVIEWS, NEW GIVEAWAYS, and whatever else I should bring to your attention!
After you are done reading HERE, click on the Sponsor's name up above and see THEIR post for Stacking the Shelves, too! They have a link-up with OVER 100-200 other blogs that also participate!
I'm also finding OTHER PLACES TO LINK UP TO AS WELL! I'm finding these places from other blogs, and they are GREAT ideas! The following NEW one is Talk of the Town where we can add ALL THINGS BOOKISH! Check it out! 

I will also be linking this post AND my reviews to Saturday Situation as well from now on, too! That is a place to link ALL THINGS BOOKISH! I'm anxious to start posting there!! Check it out, too!

Hi everyone!!
Hope your week went well! I am still swimming, but Thursday I started losing my ability to do the Arthritis class. I was getting muscle spasms, and sure enough! Got them bad! BARELY made it home on Thursday, and the bus driver had to put me on the bus. It was BAD! Friday I crashed. I've been in bed since then with muscle spasms! AGAIN! (I was writing this yesterday, Saturday, and I had to quit, but NOW I'M FEELING BETTER!!! I even went back to the pool for a little over an hour today, about 1-1/2 hours! YEAH!!!) I'm pushing it too hard for my body, but I have lost 22lbs!!! Woooo-hooooo!! I have to slow down, though. I did lose 3 more pounds this week!! YEAH!!!!! Seriously, though, I need to edit down what I'm doing so I CAN do it! I don't know how, yet??? I was tired today after almost 1-1/2 hours, and I needed a nap, but I'll figure this out! I get to see the Personal Trainer tomorrow evening, I believe, so she should be able to help me out!! I feel SO BAD!!! I ONLY was able to work the machines 3 times (and once was with her!!) since I first met with her, and really should have worked them 9 or 10 times by now! Wow! I couldn't though. My muscles??? I NEED her help!! 
I did NOT get my review written on The Water's Edge because of this last week and I WILL have it done for this week! I have another to write, The Story People by Heather Kaufman, as well! I forgot to show this book to you! Go see it below!! I will TRY to have that book read and have the review written, but it ALL depends on my muscles. We'll see. I'm TRYING!!!! :)

Reviews last week:
Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan HERE!



Books I received for Review this week:


The Story People by Heather Kaufman - Releases Tuesday, Nov 8th, 2016 (Voting day which you need to vote for the ADULT of the two!!!)

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

#Book #Review - Miracle on 5th Avenue (From Manhattan with Love #3) by Sarah Morgan


Description:

Look for Miracle on 5th Avenue, the exciting new novel from Sarah Morgan, available from Harlequin books Nov 29, 2016. Pre-order your copy today down below!

It will take a Christmas miracle for two very different souls to find each other in this perfectly festive fairy tale of New York! 

Hopeless romantic Eva Jordan loves everything about Christmas. She might be spending the holidays alone this year, but when she's given an opportunity to house-sit a spectacular penthouse on Fifth Avenue, she leaps at the chance. What better place to celebrate than in snow-kissed Manhattan? What she didn't expect was to find the penthouse still occupied by its gorgeous—and mysterious—owner. 

Bestselling crime writer Lucas Blade is having the nightmare before Christmas. With a deadline and the anniversary of his wife's death looming, he's isolated himself in his penthouse with only his grief for company. He wants no interruptions, no decorations and he certainly doesn't appreciate being distracted by his beautiful, bubbly new housekeeper. But when the blizzard of the century leaves Eva snowbound in his apartment, Lucas starts to open up to the magic she brings…This Christmas, is Lucas finally ready to trust that happily-ever-afters do exist?


MY TAKE:
5 Stars!
This was an extremely delightful story full of sexual tension between these two very interesting characters, and Eva knew she had found her happily ever after as her heart had fallen in love with Blade while he could still not decide if he was even ready to fall in love. Eva had her work cut out for her. 
Eva Jordan was hired by the Grandmother of this writer, Lucas Blade, to go to his home on 5th Avenue (a penthouse!) to decorate it for the holidays, and to cook and freeze what she cooks so when her Grandson returns home from his getaway to write his book, he will have food ready and waiting for him, extremely wonderful food! Eva has a business in which she cooks food and caters parties, to individuals, and anyone who would like her service. She is extremely good at what she does and her business is thriving. Lucas' grandmother happens to be a very close friend of Eva's, and when Eva finds out Lucas has never left his apartment in New York City, she about dies!
Lucas Blade about dies when he finds out his Grandmother has hired Eva to decorate his house with holiday cheer and for Eva to cook food for him that he can pull out of the freezer because everyone thinks he took off to a cabin in some woods to write his latest psychological thriller that he is extremely well known for writing. Everyone knows and loves Lucas Blade except Eva! She does not like his books because they are about murder and she does not like to read about it!
The two of these characters are very complex characters who are extremely lovable, Eva especially! Eva with her positive views on life and love make you love her. Then we have Blade who has a bleak outlook on life, and wants nothing to do with Christmas OR LOVE! 
However, the sexual tension between these two characters is so thick, you can cut it with a knife! Still, Blade decides he does not need Eva to do what his Grandmother wanted her to do for him, and he sends her away. After she tells him it's not nice to do that to his Grandmother because he is surely not doing it to her, he starts to beg her to return and stay. Eva had a wonderful way of getting Blade to see her side of things the way she saw them which went totally against how he looked at life, but there is that sexual tension, again!
In order for Eva to stay, she tells Blade she'll stay under one circumstance. He must take her to one particular Ball during the holidays. The night of that Ball did Blade in! He wanted Eva, and wanted her badly! She turned out to be his muse for writing, but it started to go even deeper than that. He went through a lot as he thought about losing his wife three years ago, and he was not interested in a new relationship, but there was something about Eva he could not let go!
The longer Eva stayed and was cooking for Blade, the more he fell in love with her cooking! She could make anything, and it was so professional. She knew how to throw things together he never would have thought to put together and she created a miracle for his palate! They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach!! Perhaps this is one of the plusses of being a professional chef!!
One of the things I really give this author credit for is for having the male author, Blade, love Eva's curves! Eva was not depicted as a skinny minny little thing, but as a woman with curves, curves Blade thought were extremely attractive! I really liked this!
I'm going to say this again, the sexual tension between these two characters have you cheering them on! It is so thick, you can cut it with a knife, and this is a great deal of what made this book one of the most enjoyable ones I've read for the holiday season! The author writes so well you cannot not miss these characters going through this!
I HIGHLY recommend this book to those of you who love a good banter back and forth between the characters, and of course the sexual tension these two have that is so strong between them! I have also never laughed so hard while reading a book, or cheered so loudly while reading a book than I did for these two characters! This was a book I was sad to see end! The great part is this is book three, (which I read as a standalone, and you do not need to read the other books in this series in order to enjoy this one because I have not read them but enjoyed this book to no end!) which means there are two previous books and then there will be MORE books coming!! This author, Sarah Morgan, is a delight to read! I want to read more of her books I enjoyed this one SO MUCH! This was the perfect romance for the holidays! Grandma knew what she was doing when she hired Eva as Grandmothers often DO know what's best for their grandchildren, even if they are adults!
I received this book for FREE from the Publisher, Harlequin and NetGalley in exchange that I enjoy the sheer pleasure of reading this book, and then write a review of my honest opinion about this book, regardless if my opinion is positive or negative. "Free" means I was provided this book for ZERO MONIES to do read it and to write the review about this book. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the law set here: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html
The Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, 16 CFR 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Click on the link below to Pre-Order "your copy" of this book NOW - Release Date: November 29th, 2016, so you don't forget about this book! This is one book I HIGHLY suggest reading this holiday season! You'll LOVE it!



ebook: $5.99
Print:   $7.43