Sunday, March 29, 2015

The Academic Bride by Lucy McConnell


Synopsis:

Early on, Pamela Jones realized she had an unusual talent for putting two people together. Over the years, she's turned it into a successful matchmaking service for the ultra wealthy: Billionaire Marriage Brokers. While she specializes in "business" marriages -- paring people off because of their skills, education, or training -- she can spot a potential love match a mile away. When Pamela has a "good feeling" about a bride and groom - a business marriage can become so much more.

Janel Fendrick is a go-getter. Her dream of excavating a Mayan temple is within reach -- until the funding is pulled and she's left scrambling for an alternative. Pamela Jones comes along with a proposal...and a groom! Janel hesitates, until she realizes that one year of marriage is a small price to pay to have all her dreams come true. What she doesn't realize, is that she's about to get more than she ever dreamed of.

My Review: 5 Stars

The Academic Bride was such a cute book! I absolutely loved it and could not put it down!

We have our heroine, Janel, who is going to school for her PhD. Her dream is to excavate a Mayan Temple. She is so close and then the funding gets pulled and she is left trying to figure out how in the world she is going to achieve her dream now. She overhears an opportunity and decides that if she is going to make it to Guatemala then she'll need to take a chance. Little did she know exactly what she was getting herself into.

Now our hero, Nick. *dreamy sigh* He is a billionaire. He is so tired of people taking advantage of him and trying to get close to him just for his money. When he hears about Billionaire Marriage Brokers from his friend he decides to take a chance.. a wife for a year or two.. just to get people off his back and then when it's over he can really try to find the woman of his dreams. Little did he know that what he's been looking for just might be right in front of him.

I absolutely LOVED Janel and Nick! They are both strong, lovable characters. Watching them get to know one another and seeing their chemistry had me doing dreamy sighs throughout the majority of the book. Nick is such an AMAZING hero! He would do little things for her.. always looking out for her... and taking care of her when she needed it. And yes... Janel was just as AMAZING! Baking for him... being the calming presence when needed... being unlike any woman he had ever met. These two were seriously perfect for each other!

If you're looking for a cute, fun and swoon worthy book then I say check this book out! I seriously could NOT put it down! I just HAD to see Janel and Nick get their Happily Ever After! It was perfect for a Sunday read! :)

This was my very first book by Lucy McConnell and I have to tell you that after only ONE book she is on my favorite authors list! I can't wait to read more books by her and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series!

And yes... I did do a casting for Janel and Nick! What do you think?! Did I do good?! ;) Hehe.

 

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Taken by Katie Lee O'Guinn


Synopsis:

Maysie Baptiste is settling into married life and making a place for herself in Paskell with all the other werewolves, but when Zoe and Rory M'Guire come back to town with their hybrid, Eve, it sets off an explosive chain of events. At the same time, Harry and Sam's relationship is heating up and while Harry would love to talk commitment, Sam is positive being involved with an Alpha is a one-way road to disaster. But with Spartak still hunting werewolves, love might have to wait.


My Review: 5 Stars

I have been waiting for Taken to be released ever since I finished Hunted! And I have to tell you, I was NOT disappointed! It was definitely worth the wait for me and I could not put it down!

We pick up shortly after Maysie and Gideon are married. They are enjoying life and everything is going great! And then Zoe, Rory, Poppy and Kirk return to Paskell after discovering they were being hunted by the werewolf hunters in Ireland. And all I have to say is... let the adventures begin!

First off... what in the world is going on with Zoe?! Maysie is at work, minding her own business when all the sudden Zoe turns into a crazy woman and starts accusing her of trying to steal her family. Huh?! Anyone can see that that would NEVER happen! Hello! She loves and adores Gideon and only has eyes for him! I'm thinking there is more to Zoe's story then hormones. If you have followed her from the Taming the Wolf series then you know that she didn't have the best of childhoods. I'm thinking that may have something to do with her actions in Taken. And can I just say that I am proud of Rory! He may be the Beta in their relationship but when push came to shove he definitely made the right decisions sticking up for the people that needed it the most. I'm secretly hoping that his relationship with Zoe brings out a little alpha in him! ;)

Now for Maysie and Gideon... *sigh* I love these two! They are completely perfect for each other! Gideon is extremely protective of Maysie and will NOT let anyone or anything hurt her! He also protects her innocence and I think that's one of the things I love the most about him! He lets her come to conclusions on her own and lets her tell him in her own way and time. When you read it you will know what I am talking about! It's the sweetest thing! And I think it's one of my favorite parts in this book!

And there is no way that I can forget Sam and Harry! Oh my goodness! I have been waiting for this to happen since Hunted! They both have been through a lot and they both deserve to be happy. The only problem is one of them has to convince the other that love and HEA's do exist and if anyone deserves it, it's them! Harry sure does have his work cut out for him when it comes to Sam but that's one of the things he loves about her... she's a challenge and this is one challenge that he is not stepping down from! ;)

Can we talk about the ending?! Well...not really talk about it because I refuse to spoil it! But let's just say if you add in things like werewolf hunters, kidnappings, hybrids, evil individuals that just need to disappear.. you have all the components that makes a Katie Lee O'Guinn novel amazing! And I will tell you that I want book 3 like NOW!! Can't wait to see what's going to happen next! I foresee lots of twists, turns and of course more adventures and HEA's!

And since we had so many couples I am just going to throw all my casting choices out there just because! Hehe. And yes... I have also put Ava and Cyrus into the mix because we do get to see and catch up with them in this book as well! Ok fine... I'll just admit it... I'm in love with casting! Hehe.



And The Winner Is... Oh!! And More Swoony Reviews!!


Is it just me or did this month literally FLY by?! Please... someone tell me that it was not just me!! I am so sad to see Shannon Guymon aka Katie Lee O'Guinn's Swoon Fest come to an end!! It has been so crazy that I didn't even get to read half the books that I wanted too!! But don't fret.. I WILL read them all!! Shannon's books are a MUST read on a yearly basis!! Okay.. okay.. maybe twice a year!! ;) Hehe.

So... before we go any further I've decided that there are going to be two winners! Yes... you heard me right... TWO winners for KJ's prize! One will go to the participants and the other will go to one of the Swoon Fest ladies! Hehe. Are you ready to find out who the winners are?! Yes?! Well that's FANTABULOUS because I'm about to tell you!! ;)


*Amberly W*

*Katie W*

Congrats Amberly and Katie!! I'll be sending you guys an email asking a few questions like what book of Shannon's you want... favorite chocolate... address... you know... all the important stuff I'll need to send your prizes!! Eeeek!! I am SUPER excited!! Can't wait to hear which book you guys choose!! :) 

Now... before we get to the reviews I just want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who has participated this month!! We couldn't have done it without you!! And another HUGE thank you to Kathy, Katie and Heidi for helping with all things Swoon Fest!! I had a blast this month!! You ladies ROCK!! And of course I can't forget the HUGEST thank you of all.... Thank you... thank you... THANK YOU Shannon for writing all these amazing books... for allowing us to do a Swoon Fest for you... for participating in Swoon Fest right along with us... and for just being AMAZING!! You seriously are a ROCKSTAR!! 

And now the time has come for... Swoony Reviews!! A little heads up... I went stalking all of Shannon's books and whether or not people participated in Swoon Fest... I'm sharing their reviews that were posted after the announcement of Swoon Fest! And for Heidi, Kathy, Katie and mine... they're getting posted even if they weren't read in March! Haha! That's how much fun I've had reading reviews!! I love hearing what other people have to say about these WONDERTASTICAL books!! Raise your hand if you think Shannon is a ROCKSTAR!! *jumping up and down waving arms in the air like a mad woman* Okay... enough craziness... scroll down and read all the fun reviews we have posted!! ;)


The Alpine Series:

Makeover

Taking Chances

The Broken Road

Katie

Do Over

Katie
Kathy
SLK

Sophie's Christmas Wish

Katie

Allison's Christmas Carol

Katie

Love and Dessert Trilogy:

You Belong With Me
I Belong With You
My Sweetheart
KJ
Amberly
Emily
Katie
Heidi

Love and Trust Trilogy:

Come To Me
Tough Love

SJ C
Love and Flowers Trilogy:

Falling for Rayne
Dreaming of Ivy

A Passion for Cleo

Love and Weddings Trilogy:

My One and Only

Aime
Rebecca
KJ
Kathy
Heidi
Cici
Rebecca

The Lost With Trilogy:

Freak of Nature

Diana T
KJ
Kathy
Toni

Blood Rush

KJ
Kathy
Toni

Fate Changer

KJ
Kathy
Toni

Taming The Wolf:

Werewolf Dreams

KJ
Heidi
Kathy

Werewolf Rage

KJ
Heidi
Kathy
Toni

Werewolf Revenge

KJ
Kathy
Heidi
Toni

Werewolf Betrayal

KJ
Heidi
Kathy
Toni

Chasing The Wolf:

Hunted

KJ
Diana
Kathy

Taken

KJ

Friday, March 27, 2015

Hunted by Katie Lee O'Guinn


Synopsis:

Maysie LaRouga is on the run. She has taken her younger brother and fled to Paskell, the only place on earth she might be safe from the werewolf hunter. Her mom, Sam LaRouga is trying to get him off their tail, but making it there is the easy part. It's falling in love with an Alpha that might be the death of her.

My Review: 4.5 Stars

I loved Hunted! I couldn't put it down!

Maysie, Elijah and Sam are being hunted by werewolf hunters. Sam heads in one direction and sends her kids in the other direction to Paskell.

Sam has not had the best of luck when it comes to men. And because of that she has brought her kids up thinking all Alphas are horrible and mean. She tells them that when you see one, run the other way as fast as you can! So of course when Maysie and Elijah meet Cyrus they are completely scared to death! But Ava and Cyrus treat them like they would any other person in trouble, with love and compassion and do what ever they can to make them feel comfortable.

Ava helps Maysie not only find a job, but a place to live as well. She is able to get Elijah enrolled in school and quickly starts to feel at home in Paskell.

When Maysie first meets Gideon, she doesn't really know what to think. She has never felt the things that she feels towards him so it's totally understandable that she's scared. When he sees her for the first time he instantly knows that she is his mate. But because of her past she is extremely skittish. Gideon is absolutely amazing! He's so patient with her and is totally fine with moving slow until she can wrap her head around the fact that not ALL Alphas are bad!

When Sam finally gets to Paskell she is not happy at what she sees... Maysie kissing Gideon goodnight. There is an almost attack on Gideon and a completely shocked mama who is brought into submission by none other than Maysie! She will do anything to protect her mate! Sam is not happy that Maysie has attached herself to an Alpha and is bound and determined to break them up.

While all this drama is going on, they still have to deal with the hunters. They followed Sam up to Paskell and are very determined to get what they want. Between attacks, abductions and withdrawls, Hunted does not lack in adventure!

I loved meeting all the new characters and also getting reacquainted with old characters from Taming the Wolf series. The set up for the next book in this series has me extremely excited! I can't wait for it to be released! It's going to be amazing... I just know it! :)

And of course I've gotta add my casting choices... ;)




Fir-Day Winner - Week 4


Today's post is brought to your by Kathy over at Bookworm Nation. Stay tuned tomorrow for the winner of KJ's Prize and more Swoony Reviews!! Happy Friday and Happy Reading!! :)


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Today is the last day of Shannon’s Swoon Fest. It has been such a fun month. I’ve loved reading her books again. I’ve read her Fircrest series a few times, but there were a few from the Alpine series I hadn’t read until this month. It was fun filling my month with her books, they never disappoint. This week for Rafflecopter I asked some questions about how people found Shannon, what they’d like to see next and so I thought I’d share what was submitted.

The number one place people heard about Shannon’s books…Amazon. Second place, was through book stores/libraries, a few through blogging friends and Goodreads. I personally found Shannon’s books through Amazon, you know how they give recommendations “if you like that, then you’ll like this” type thing? Well, they recommended You Belong With Me so I gave it a try and fell in love! I’ve been a devoted fan every since. The winner for favorite book…My Sweetheart!.

I don’t know if Shannon takes recommendations, but here are some of the fun suggestions we received on what people would like her to write about next. For me, I’d love a dystopian novel (maybe since I’m just in that genre-mood right now, but I think she’d write a great dystopian type book.) Other suggestions were:

*A contemporary western set in Montana
*A crossover with the Fircrest crew mixing with the Alpine crew
*Fantasy
*Another witch series
*More werewolves
*More Firecrest (which, from what I understand we still have five more books to come)
*More books set in the Alpine series
*Soul Searching update
*Medieval
*Regency

As for favorite quotes, we had a lot of great submissions. I decided to share one of mine. It comes from You Belong With Me, “Beauty isn’t a one size fits all. No one is more or less. We’re all just different, which is good, because so are men.” I always loved the quote. So much time is wasted comparing ourselves to other people, when we are all beautiful in our own ways.

I just wanted to give a big thanks to Katie, Kathy Jo and Heidi for all their help with this Swoon Fest. It was so fun working and chatting with you behind the scenes. You really helped make this a success and so much gun! A big thanks to Shannon again for not only written such fun, swoony books, but for participating and helping make this a fun event.


$25 iTunes Gift Card
Brandi Dagwan

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Character Casting and Bios - Week 4



It's our final character casting and bio post! This week we are featuring the characters from The Alpine Series! Funny story! We have been having SO much fun doing Swoon Fest that we literally forgot we had not cast this series yet! Lol! But guess what?! I think it actually worked out in our favor because we were able to ask Shannon who SHE saw as each of the characters! She was SO much fun to work with on casting and I absolutely LOVE who she picked! Take a look and tell us what you think!

Makeover

Taking Chances

The Broken Road

Do Over

                                                   Character Interview

This weeks Character interview is of Iris and Trey from the Alpine Series. Katie's choice! katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com

Iris & Trey
What do you like to do on a romantic date?
          Motorcycle ride up the canyon.
What do you like most about each other?
           Trey: I like that Iris has a mind of her own.
           Iris: I like that Trey likes that about me.
What is your favorite way to spend time together?
           Trey:  Eating Ben and Jerry's on the couch
           Iris:  Kissing
What are  three things on your bucket list?
           Trey:  Start my own company, have two more children and race my Ducoti on the Salt Flats.
           Iris:  Open an art studio for disadvantaged children to come and learn and create, I'd also like to race my Ducoti on the Salt Flats and I'd like to cut my hair super short and bleach it bright white on the tips.
What is “your song”?
         Wild Women Do by Natalie Cole
Beach or Mountains? Mountains!
Book or Movie?  Iris: Movie,  Trey: Book
What is the craziest date you’ve been on?  
        We rode our bikes up to  Park City and spent the day skiing. On our way back home, a deer jumps out in front of us and we both almost crash.  Scariest date anyways.
How would you describe each other to someone else in three words?
        Trey: Wild, Amazing, Perfect.
        Iris: Perfect, Perfect, Perfect


Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Gabbing With Guymon - Week 4

This is our final week for Gabbing With Guymon. I have really enjoyed our weekly Q&A's and getting to know Shannon better. I loved hearing the story of how she came up with her pen-name, Katie Lee O'Guinn. Getting to know Shannon through these interviews has made me appreciate at her books all the more.

What superpower do you wish you had? Can I say all? Okay, I’ve always thought Professor X from the X-Men was cool. The ability to not only read minds, but control them. My kids’ rooms would always be clean.

Best date you ever had? Worst date? Ugh. Dating. The best date I ever had was in college. I went dancing with a guy named Kevin and it was probably the most fun I’ve ever had on a date. The worst? It was New Year’s Eve and I froze to death standing outside up in Salt Lake. Thought I was going to die waiting for it turn midnight.

Where would you rather go on vacation, Hawaii or Alaska and why?
Hawaii. Hands down. It’s hot, I could learn how to surf and eat roasted pork and watch beautiful Polynesian men dance with fire. They don’t do that in Alaska sadly.

With such a large family, where do you find time to write?
I write when my kids are in school or late at night. During the summer I wake up early and get a few hours in before they wake up. Being a mother is my number one priority for sure.

If you could have your choice of actor to play Harry from Werewolf Dreams, who would you choose?
I’m thinking Bradly Cooper.

How did I pick Katie Lee O'Guinn as my pen name?
I picked Katie Lee O'Guinn as my pen name because I was doing a lot of family history at the time and I found out about this amazing woman. She's my Great Grandmother and she had a very interesting but sadly short life. She was the daughter of a Cherokee woman and an Irish immigrant. She fell in love with a son from a well off family and they got married and had a family. She came down with Tuberculosis and died at a very young age leaving her children motherless and her husband a widower. A couple years later, her husband died of exhaustion and poor health. Many people assumed it was from a broken heart, which left my grandmother an orphan. My heart has always gone out to her and so I wanted to pay tribute to a woman who never had the chance to see her children grow up.

What is your favorite snack while writing?
My favorite snack while writing is: Kombucha ( a probiotic drink) and pistachios. I know, not cool, and not chocolate but I'm trying to be healthy!

What is my favorite thing to do with my family?
I love going to Bear Lake with my family. No TV, no computers, just sand and water and sun.

How do I get inspiration for my stories?
I get inspiration from everything around me. I have so many interesting people in my life and the world we live in is fascinating so there's never a problem coming up with inspiration.

What has been my favorite book to write?
Before this last month, I would have said, Do Over or Werewolf Dreams, but Pule's story has taken things to a new level and I have to say it was quite the experience.

Thanks again Shannon for taking the time to answer our questions!!

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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Tuesday Trivia - Week 4


This is Katie here, from Katie's Clean Book Collection.
This is the last week of our Swoon Fest with Shannon Guymon,
Take a Chance on Love.
It's been a month full of fun recipes,
trivia quizzes, getting to know you Q&A's,
casting, character bios, and winners!

For the last week of Tuesday Trivia, I've
put together a mix of questions about
Shannon's stand alone books, 
as well as a quiz on some of her
answers from our Gabbing with Guymon
segments. Have fun and if you'd like to,
comment and let us know how you did!
Be sure to enter the giveaways below
for your chance to win!


Quiz created by snapdragon77 with ExamTime


© 2015 Microsoft Terms Privacy & cookies Developers English (United States)
Monday, March 23, 2015

Monday Munchies - Week 4


Hi guys! KJ here from KJ's Book Nook! It's my last post for Monday Munchies for Shannon's Swoon Fest! *tear* I have been going back and forth trying to decide what in the world to post! Should I do Ava's Enchiladas from Taming the Wolf series?! Should I do something from Tai's Diner?! Or should I feature another Iron Skillet recipe?! I just couldn't decide!! And then something magical happened!! I was scrolling through my FB news feed and a recipe just jumped out at me! I just could NOT pass this up! It looked so amazing, and scrumptious and I just HAD to share it! So for the final Munchies post I will be featuring a recipe from Nikki over at Chef In Training. I have never met her nor have I ever talked to her but I do follow her on FB and oh my heck! The recipes she posts all sound SO amazing! Seriously... you should check her blog out! You can thank me later.. ;) Hehe.

So... without further adieu... I present to you...


Samoa Sheet Cake!!

Didn't I tell you that it looks and sounds amazing?! I seriously cannot WAIT to try this recipe out!! My mouth is watering just looking at the picture!! So are you wanting to know how to make this little slice of heaven?! Well then take a look below!! Sounds easy enough, don't ya think?! ;)

INGREDIENTS
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
½ cup butter
1 cup water
4 Tablespoons cocoa
½ cup shortening
½ cup buttermilk
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

FROSTING
½ cup butter
6 Tablespoons milk
2½ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
⅛ cup caramel sauce, I used caramel ice cream topping in the jar

ADDITIONAL TOPPINGS
2½ cups toasted coconut, See instructions below for how to make it
7 to 8 ounces caramel, either Kraft Caramel Cubes or from a block of Caramel. I used a block of Peter's Caramel.
⅛ cup evaporated milk
¾ cup milk chocolate chips
1 teaspoon shortening or oil

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Before making the cake, line an 18x13x1 inch cookie sheet with foil and spread shredded sweetened coconut evenly over cookie sheet.
2. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes, checking and tossing coconut regularly, every 2-5 minutes, to make sure all the coconut gets toasted evenly and does not burn. Coconut is done when it is golden brown.
3. In a large mixing bowl, measure flour and sugar. Set aside.
4. In a medium sauce pan, combine butter, water, cocoa and shortening. Bring to a boil. After mixture reaches a boil, add it to the flour mixture and stir to combine.
5. Add buttermilk, then baking soda, then eggs, then vanilla in that order, mixing in-between each addition.
6. Pour into a greased 18x13x1 inch cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes.

FROSTING

1. In a medium microwave safe bowl, combine butter and milk and bring to a boil. Stir caramel sauce and then add powdered sugar and vanilla and stir until smooth.
2. After cake has cooked, remove from oven and poke holes in hot cake with a fork. Pour frosting evenly over top. Immediately sprinkle with top of warm frosting with toasted coconut.
3. In microwavable bowl, add caramel and evaporated milk and cook on high in 30 second increments, string in between each increment. Continue to cook and stir until caramel is smooth. Drizzle over coconut.
4. In another microwavable bowl, add chocolate chips and shortening (or oil). Microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between each increment until the chocolate in melted. Drizzle over caramel.
5. Let Caramel and Chocolate drizzle set before cutting into it.

WOWZERS!! Is your mouth watering as much as mine?! Yummy, right?! *dreamy sigh* If this is not a Swoon Worthy recipe I don't know what is!! Let us know if you give it a try!! I am DYING to hear what everyone thinks!! ;)



The 411 For The Last Week Of Shannon's Swoon Fest!!


This post is brought to you by Kathy over at Bookworm Nation!

This is the final week of Swoon Fest! I can’t believe how quickly this month has gone by. I wanted to thank Shannon for all her participation and of course for writing such fun books for us to enjoy. Below is the new rafflecopter for this week, we’ll try and include it on our posts throughout the week as well.

Be sure and mark your calendars for March 24-28 because Falling for Rayne will be FREE on Amazon! Let all your friends know as well!

Tomorrow Shannon will be posting the first chapter of Pule’s story on her blog, you won't want to miss that! I always love those teaser chapters. From what I hear, Pule’s story is going to keep us on our toes!!

Thanks again to everyone who has participated and helped make this a success.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Come To Me by Shannon Guymon


Synopsis:

Will the past repeat itself? Rob hasn't had the best of luck when it comes to women and his epic failure with Kit Kendall is still very fresh. Rob might be successful in sports and in business but does he have what it takes to be successful in love? When Rob gets to know Wren Tyler, his sous chef, he's willing to try again even knowing he could get hurt. Wren on the other hand, is very attracted to Rob, but she knows she's not in his league. So when he starts to pay her attention, who could blame her for being a little suspicious? But have Wren's past heartbreaks destroyed her ability to trust? And will Rob be able to overcome his past failures and become the man Wren needs him to be? Only true love will be able to heal Wren's heart and help her trust again.

My Review: 5 Stars

*dreamy sigh* Come To Me was exactly what I needed to get me out of my reading rut! I LOVE it!

So I've had this love/hate relationship with Rob since the Love and Dessert trilogy. I loved him... then hated him... then liked him... then thought he was a putz... and in the end... I loved him again! Rob has been burned before in the past and decided that all beautiful women are nothing but trouble and he will just stay far away from them! (Hence the reason he was such a putz!)

Wren is his sous chef at The Iron Skillet and everyone loves her. She is adorable, sweet, caring, talented and a bit shy. She believes that food should be an adventure and tries to get the head chef to branch out a bit. Of course he completely disagrees and yells at her. When Rob finds out what had happened, he became a bit over protective of Wren. And when he finds out that she has the same feelings about food that he does?! Let their adventure begin!

And what an adventure it was! Between falling in love, someone trying to sabotage the restaurant, a crazy mom, new friendships being built, rugby games, jealousy, fights, heartbreaks... all I have to say is there is never a dull moment in Fircrest!

And can I just say how much I LOVED seeing Kam in Come To Me?! I absolutely LOVE him!! He is the BESTEST ever!! I love all those Matafeo boys!! They just make me all giggly and girly!! Trust me... you will love all of them too!! I promise!! And if you don't?! Well... we just can't be friends anymore!! ;) Hehe.

I absolutely LOVED the ending! And yes... I literally did the *dreamy sigh* at the end! Hehe. I got my HEA but I also got set up for Be Mine... the next book in the series! YAY! Another amazing book by Shannon and you will NOT be disappointed!! ;)

So... if you are looking for an amazing book that will sweep you off your feet and get you out of your reading rut then I say grab this book and read it!! Not in a reading rut?! Who cares!! I still say grab it and read it!! You will love it!! I promise!! And if you don't... well then you know what will happen... ;) Hehe.

And now for my casting choices... Eeeeek!! I just LOVE these two for Rob and Wren!! Perfect, right?! ;)
 

Shannon's Swoon Fest - Week 4


Sad day! We are starting the last week of Shannon/Katie's Swoon Fest! I can't believe how fast this month has gone! A little too fast in my opinion! I didn't even get to read half of her books that I wanted too! But that's okay because I'm going to keep reading even after it ends! ;) Hehe. I have had SO much fun this month! I am SO glad that we decided to Take a Chance on Love and that YOU were able to join us!

What are some of your favorite things that we have done?? I loved sharing recipes... castings... taking the quizzes... getting to know Shannon better... rereading all her books... just about EVERYTHING!! If you haven't guessed already I love all things Shannon!! She is seriously one of my all time favorite authors!! In a book rut?! Grab her books!! Need to smile?! Grab her books!! Want to swoon?! Grab her books!! Seriously she is AMAZING!! I hope doing a Swoon Fest for her has helped those of us who already love her, love her even more and those who have never read her books before become fans for life!! :)

So... with it being the last week of Swoon Fest... I thought I would do my own personal prize this week! There will only be ONE winner for my prize and even the other Swoon Fest hosts will be eligible to win! Are you wondering what you will have to do in order to be entered?! Well... it's simple really. WRITE A REVIEW!!


I know... I know... for those of you who don't write reviews it can be a bit scary and even intimidating. Trust me! I really do know! You should have seen me the first time I decided to write a review. It literally took me like 4 hours because I thought it HAD to be perfect! But guess what... it doesn't! You know how you always talk to friends about the books you've read?! That's exactly what you do for reviews! Instead of talking you are typing! Easy peasy... I promise! ;)

There are a couple of rules for my prize. The books HAVE to be read during Shannon's Swoon Fest. So only reviews written in the month of MARCH are eligible. And your review has to be a minimum of 75 words. I know... it sounds like a lot but honestly... IT'S NOT! That little paragraph above this one?! 91 words! Seriously... I counted them! Lol. And that's it! Those are the only 2 things that you need to do in order to win KJ's Prize!! What is KJ's prize you ask?! Well... it is your choice of one of Shannon's paperback books, a bookmark and a little chocolate! All the things to make reading PERFECT in my opinion! ;) Hehe.

But don't worry... there will still be another Rafflecopter going on this last week that you can enter if reviewing books is not for you. :)

So come on... let's show our love for Shannon and tell her THANK YOU for all her HARD work in writing the books that we all LOVE so much!! Happy reading my fellow Bookworms!!

It's Here!! It's Here!! Burnt Devotion by Rebecca Ethington is HERE!!



Barnes & Nobles: http://bit.ly/157aTGB
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1KZoDV6


Burnt Devotion, Book 5 in the Imdalind Series. Dawn of Ash - the previously announced book five has now been moved to book 6. Yes! An extra book. If you have been waiting for the next installment of The Imdalind Series this is the book you have been waiting for!

--

It was supposed to be the final battle, the one to end Edmund’s line, his life, and free the magic Edmund had taken from the world. That was how it was foreseen. The end of the battle that has raged for centuries, unbeknownst to the mortals around them, the battle that would end with Joclyn’s death.

But it did neither.

The battle still reigns, Joclyn still lives, and the sight that was given eight hundred years ago is broken.

And it’s not the only one.

Sights that were once thought infallible have become nothing more than scattered glass, with broken pieces shattering into incorrect visages. Sain clings to the magic that he knows to be true, but there is something else, something that he is not saying. And what he does say is no longer adding up.

Something is wrong.

Ilyan and his people move through the caves, following a sight they hope to be correct, fleeing a battle that should have been the end while the battle within each of them grows with each step.

Ryland fights the monsters his father has infected him with.

Wynifred fights the confusion of who she is.

Dramin fights to live.


Prague may not survive this battle, it may be ripped to shreds… or burned to ashes.


  Rebecca Ethington is a story teller and author from Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been telling stories since she was small. First, with writing crude scripts, and then in stage with years of theatrical performances. Rebecca’s first stint into the world of literary writing, The Imdalind Series, was released in October 2012 and since its release each book has been found in several top 100 lists on Amazon. Rebecca is a mother to two, and wife to her best friend of 14 years. Her days are spent writing, running, and enjoying life with her crazy family.













Friday, March 20, 2015

Fir-Day Winners - Week 3

 
  Brought to you by Katie's Clean Book Collection:

Our third week of Swoon Fest has come to an end! Did you have as much fun as we did? I loved the Gabbing with Guymon segment this week. The trivia was a lot of fun with so many quizzes about so many favorite characters. And of course, the casting was great! Did you all get a chance to vote for your favorite Matafeo man? We want to send out a  HUGE thank you to everyone who participated!

1st Place: $20 Amazon Gift Card
(sponsored by Katie's Clean Book Collection)
Emily F
2nd Place: $15 Amazon Gift Card
(sponsored by Bookworm Nation)
Jessica Schank Snow
3rd Place: $10 Amazon Gift Card
(sponsored by KJ's Book  Nook)
Elisa Difino

Gift certificates will be sent to the email addresses provided, let one of us know if you don't receive it.

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Thursday, March 19, 2015

Character Casting and Bios - Week 3



Heidi here again, and it's time to get to week 3 of our Casting and Interviews. This week we head back to the world of Fircrest to the Love and Flowers and Love and Weddings Trilogies. We were SOOO excited to hear from Shannon yesterday that book two of Love and Weddings, Pule's Story, is done! We at Swoon Fest are all doing a happy dance and waiting anxiously to get our hands on it! Until then, here are a few castings from KJ at KJ's Book Nook, to help you out while you wait. We hope you enjoy!

                                                           Love and Flowers
Falling for Rayne
Dreaming of Ivy

A Passion For Cleo












Love and Weddings
My One and Only

Matafeo Men
The Swoony ladies and I had a hard time picking our favorite "Matafeo". We want to hear your opinion. Who is your favorite Matafeo in Fircrest and why? We'd love for you to leave a comment below!

TATE


KAM

TAI


 
PULE



                              Character Interview Week 3

This weeks interview is of our favorite witch couple. :) Kathy's choice!! Remember these two??!! A big thanks to Shannon once again for the fun insight to some of our favorite characters!



The Lost Witch Trilogy 
by Katie Lee O' Guinn (a.k.a Shannon Guymon)

Sarah & Zane
What do you like to do on a romantic date?
                  Zane: Sarah likes to pretend she's normal so she loves dinner and a movie. For me? I prefer flying on the beach followed by a candlelit dinner on the roof.
What do you like most about each other?
                  Sarah:  I love that Zane was never scared of me. He's so strong, he never had to be.
                  Zane:  I love that Sarah is the most extraordinary woman I know I'll ever meet.
What is your favorite way to spend time together?
                  Sarah:  Walking through town and knowing we're safe and happy.
                  Zane:  Kissing
What are  three things on your bucket list?
                  Zane:  Visit Europe and meet new witches there. Surf in Australia. Climb Mt. Everest. 
                  Sarah:  Visit Lash and Jenny. Go to Disneyland. Visit all of our friends who helped us beat Charles.
                  Zane:  Except Jericho.
                  Sarah:  Especially Jericho.
What is “your song? Accidentally in Love by the Counting Crows.
Beach or Mountains? Beach
Book or Movie?  Movie
What is the craziest date you’ve been on?
              We were down in Florida for a little getaway and Sarah decides she wants     some Cuban food. So we get all dressed up and we find the best place down by the beach.  Best food I've ever had in my life. We then go on a little chartered boat ride and one of the other passengers is drunk and falls overboard. Sarah dives into the ocean and brings the man up before he can drown, but she had a little too much power flowing so she ends up flying up into the boat with the guy in her arms. I had to use a little mind control to fix a few memories.  But the guy lived and Sarah now loves Florida.  
How would you describe each other to someone else in three words?
                  Zane:  Powerful, sexy and good
                  Sarah:  Ultra powerful, gorgeous and sweet.