#Starstruck Blog Tour and Giveaway!

“You’ve done better.”

With one uncharacteristically sassy tweet to her longtime celebrity crush, Zoe Miller’s life turns upside down. Ultra hot A-lister Chase Covington doesn’t just respond to Zoe’s tweet, he does the unthinkable: he messages Zoe directly. Now she must decide between walking away or meeting her crush in person.

Chase knows better than to trust anyone from the Internet, but Zoe’s saucy challenge has totally caught his interest—and her girl-next-door personality is keeping it. He’s been burned enough to know he needs to keep his heart close. But his feelings for Zoe might be a lot more than just an online flirtation. He just has to convince her…

When the press gets wind of Zoe and Chase’s secret relationship, their romance turns into tabloid headlines. Will they be able to hold on to their Hollywood love story?

Click here to read my review!

Book Links:

#Starstruck Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35995497-starstruck
#Starstruck Amazon buy link: http://a.co/hiB5NbL

Author Bio:

Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).

Sariah's book ROYAL DATE was selected as one of the first winners in Amazon's Kindle Scout program and is Kindle Press's most successful author to date. She has sold five books to Montlake Romance, three to Kindle Press and helped launch Amazon Publishing's Kindle In Motion technology with her latest release, ROYAL DESIGN. She was given her own Kindle World for THE ROYALS OF MONTERRA. Sariah has repeatedly hit Amazon's overall Top 100 (both in and outside the U.S.) and been a #1 bestseller on Amazon category lists multiple times. Her books have been featured in USA TODAY and GLAMOUR UK.

Connect with Sariah:

Sariah’s Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6471623.Sariah_Wilson

Sariah Twitter: https://twitter.com/sariahwilson
Sariah website: http://www.sariahwilson.com/
Sariah Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sariahwilsonauthor
Sariah Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sariah-Wilson/e/B00YB6ARUM/

Blog Tour Schedule:

January 15 - Bookworm Nation / KJ’s Book Nook
January 16 - Literary Time Out / Getting Your Read On / Katie’s Clean Book Collection / Why Not? Because I Said So
January 17 - My Book a Day / Wishful Endings / LDS Writer Mom
January 18 - Empower Moms
January 19 - Bookworm Lisa / Min Reads and Reviews

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#Starstruck by Sariah Wilson

Synopsis:

“You’ve done better.”

With one uncharacteristically sassy tweet to her longtime celebrity crush, Zoe Miller’s life turns upside down. Ultrahot A-lister Chase Covington doesn’t just respond to Zoe’s tweet, he does the unthinkable: he messages Zoe directly. Now she must decide between walking away or meeting her crush in person.

Chase knows better than to trust anyone from the Internet, but Zoe’s saucy challenge has totally caught his interest—and her girl-next-door personality is keeping it. He’s been burned enough to know he needs to keep his heart close. But his feelings for Zoe might be a lot more than just an online flirtation. He just has to convince her…

When the press gets wind of Zoe and Chase’s secret relationship, their romance turns into tabloid headlines. Will they be able to hold on to their Hollywood love story?

My Review: 5 Stars

Zoe and her best friend, Lexi, have been in love with Chase Covington since they were 12 years old. For years he's been that dream that was always and forever out of reach. So imagine Zoe's surprise when one sassy tweet from her gains a reply from Chase. Did he really just acknowledge her for all the world to see?! And is he really carrying on a conversation with her through Twitter?! She just can't believe it! But through all her excitement a nagging voice in the back of her mind informs her that there is no way Chase Covington would even look twice at someone like her.

When Zoe calls Chase out in a tweet, he can't help but be intrigued by her. Never has anyone ever disagreed with anything he said or did. He's Chase Covington and everyone, including his own mother, is always out to get something from him. So when someone like Zoe comes along, he finds her refreshing. Finally. Someone who is real and is not afraid to tell it like it is. Call him crazy but fate seems to be working in his favor.  

Is this really happening?! Is Zoe really hanging out with and getting to know Chase?! It just seems too good to be true! With everything so new, she doesn't want anything or anyone messing up what little chance she might have with Chase. Thank goodness for that NDA she had to sign. Now she legally CAN'T tell anyone about her and Chase. When it's just the two of them, it's easy to get lost in the moment. But when they are not together, guilt for lying to her best friend and family slowly starts eating away at her. Soon. She will tell them soon. She just needs a little more time with Chase. She's not ready to come out of their bubble and face the real world. 

But when information about their secret relationship is leaked to the press, everything starts to unravel around her. She's losing not only Chase but her best friend as well. How can something so amazing cause so much pain and anguish?! She loves Chase with all her heart and would never do anything to jeopardize what they have together. But Chase doesn't believe her. Everyone else around him is always using him to get whatever they want. What makes Zoe any different? 

Broken and alone, Zoe does her best to pick herself up and move on. But without Chase in her life, everything feels wrong. And she's not the only one that notices it. Chase has been miserable since their breakup. Things were said in the heat of the moment that can't be taken back. He didn't mean what he said. He knows that Zoe would never do anything to hurt him or use him. He has to earn her trust back. He has to win HER back. He doesn't know how he's going to do it, but he's determined to make Zoe his once again. She needs to be back in his life where she belongs. Never, ever underestimate a man in love... you will lose.. Every. Single. Time!

*dreamy sigh* 

Oh. My. Gosh! You guys! Drop whatever you are reading right now and grab this book! I just can't tell you how much I loved it! It was SO good! And that ending! How perfect was THAT?! I have to tell you that I kept getting mad when real life got in the way  of my reading time! I did NOT want to stop reading to be an adult! I mean come on! Who wants to be an adult when you could be reading #Starstruck?! I can tell you right now that I will definitely be reading this book over and over again! 

Ms. Wilson did such an AMAZING job of sucking me into her book! I did NOT want to put this one down! I really need to check out more books by her! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

And of course we need a casting! I saw these two pretty much from the beginning. Aren't they perfect?! *dreamy sigh*

*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.*

Author's Corner #13

Welcome to Author's Corner hosted by KJ's Book Nook, Katie's Clean Book Collection and Bookworm Nation! Once a month we will feature either a favorite author or new to us author. We will share the author's bio, one of our favorite books of theirs and a review. Each of us will be featuring a different author each month so there will also be links to each of our posts.

For this month's Author's Corner I am going to choose...

Crystal Walton

Crystal received her bachelor of arts from Messiah College in PA, married her exact opposite in upstate NY, and earned her master of arts from Regent University in VA, where she currently resides with her husband, David.

She writes modern clean romances with humor, broken characters, and emotional plots full of grace and hope. Her popular Home In You series includes Write Me Home, a 2017 RONE Award finalist, and Begin Again, a 2017 Readers' Favorite Gold Award winner. When not working her accounting day job, she's delving into the wonder of words, supporting her Starbucks habit, or laughing over movie quotes with her husband.

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I've been trying to figure out how I discovered Crystal Walton and it was either from a couple of my bookish friends or the Swoony Awards. Either way I am SO glad I found her! She is a pretty amazing author! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next! But until then... allow me to share with you one of my all time favorite books of hers! 

Three weeks. That’s all the time self-made billionaire Cooper Anderson has to respond to discovering he’s a single dad, sell his lake house, and catch a one-way ticket across the world. The quick-witted nanny responding to his ad couldn’t be more of a life saver … and maybe a nice distraction. Until the secrets she’s hiding get a little too close to exposing his own. 

The one lead guaranteeing Quinn Thompson a promotion just has to land her back in her hometown to finagle an interview out of Mr. Elusive, of all people. But she can hack it, right? Even while mistaken for the nanny, she can keep things quick and professional. No running into her embarrassing southern family, no stirring up the wounds that’d sent her packing four years ago, and definitely no melting over a stockbroker’s unfair dimples and boyish charm. 

Why, oh, why doesn’t anything ever go according to plan? 

With both their deadlines closing in before they’re ready, Quinn and Cooper must decide whether the life they’re set on pursuing alone is worth more than the one they could be missing together.

You can check out my review here.

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And don't for get to check out Katie's post here and Kathy's post here! 

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Do you have a blog and want to join us for Author's Corner? Then grab the picture and post with us! We will be posting the 2nd Saturday of each month. Make sure you share your link with us so we can check out your favorite authors as well! 

Happy reading my fellow bookworms!

2018 Swoony Awards!

What are the Swoony Awards?

The Swoony Awards are a reader’s choice award recognizing excellence in clean secular, wholesome romance. We wanted a way to show our appreciation to these awesome authors who write the kind of books that we love. It’s also a great way to find new books and a good go-to when looking for something fun to read.

What books are eligible for a Swoony Award?

-ONLY books PUBLISHED December 1, 2017 – November 30, 2018 are eligible.
-Books must be published OR have arc reviews before nomination. Since the award is based on readers having actually read and enjoyed the book(s) they are voting for, the book has to have been published or arcs read in order to receive votes.
-Intimacy: No sex, no/low closed door/fade-to-black, no/low innuendo, nothing crude or crass. G-PG13.
-Language: None/mild (No F words or other explicit language) nothing overly crude.
-Violence: Mild/low.
-Page Count: 100 pages or higher, anthologies are okay. No short stories.
-Age: Only Young Adult, New Adult and Adult. NO children’s or middle grade.
-Religious: No Christian fiction, some *very mild* religious elements may be allowed.

*non-Goodreads votes can be submitted here: https://tinyurl.com/y9lrm6hh ... since these votes won't show on this list, the Goodreads rankings won't reflect votes that have come in via the external link.

On Goodreads, you can vote for up to 100 books on the list. Books will be added throughout the year so be sure to check back often and vote whenever you finish and love a book. Voting ends December 31, 2018.

Where do you vote for the Swoony Awards? 

On Goodreads! If you don't have an account it is really easy to sign up for one! And it's an AMAZING place to keep track of which books you have read, which books you want to read and of course see all kinds of reviews on books!

For those of you who are not on Goodreads, we have created a Google form for you to fill out! Click here to go directly to the form!

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We are SO excited for this year's Swoony Awards! You can click here and go straight to our list! Head on over, check out the list and if there are any books on there that you have read and LOVED then make sure you VOTE! If you have read a book that is eligible but has not been added yet then make sure you VOTE to add it to the list for everyone to see! But make sure you check the entire list before voting. Again, please make sure to DOUBLE check the eligibility before voting! 

One last thing...

Note to Authors:

If you’ve written a book that matches the above criteria fill free to nominate it for a Swoony! We have been told that authors cannot nominate their own books on Goodreads so please visit our Google form to nominate it. You can also help bring awareness to your nomination. We are doing some promoting, but sometimes a newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or blog post directly from the author is the best way to let your fan base know your book has been nominated and help it get all the votes it can get.

Note to Voters:

This is a great way to let authors know you appreciate all their hard work. You can vote for up to 100 books on the Goodreads list. We’ve also learned that the order you rank the books you vote on does affect the overall score of the book. So take a minute and make sure you have your books in the order you want them. Invite your friends to vote! Voting ends December 31, 2018.

So what are you waiting for?! Let's show all these AMAZING authors how much we love them AND their books! Ready?! GO VOTE!

The Sheriff's Bride by Kimberly Krey

Synopsis:

Trent Lockheart might be the new sheriff in town, but he can’t stop Jessie Jean from stealing his heart.

Sheriff Trent Lockheart knew he’d be in for a challenge when he moved from the big city and a large police force to the small Wyoming town of Cobble Creek. But at least he’d be able to stick to his bachelor ways without temptation. So he thought. Cobble Creek isn’t overflowing with young, single ladies, but Jessie Jean—the gorgeous brunette who runs the Country Quilt Inn—proves more tempting than any woman he’s known.

Jessie doesn’t care much for the new sheriff in town. After an explosive first meeting that almost ends in Jessie’s arrest, she’s even more determined to plan on dinner for one for the rest of her life. Sure, the new sheriff is seriously attractive, and after a second, much less dangerous run-in, he might not be that bad, but Jessie has no plan to marry, date, or even let a man into her life. Still, as the days pass, Trent’s surprising charm works past Jessie’s determination, and she finds promise in their budding relationship.

After opening up about the difficulties in her past, Jessie finds that Trent is guarding a dark tragedy of his own, one that might threaten their chance at a future together.

My Review: 5 Stars

After seeing her mother jump from one abusive relationship to the next, Jessie swore that she would never date, let alone get married. She knows that not all men are like her mother's boyfriends, but she just can't take the chance that she'll end up hurt and broken. It's safer for her to just stay far away. 

Trent's life hasn't been the easiest. Not since the accident. There's a reason he is the way he is and there's a reason why he keeps people at arms length. Allowing them to get too close can be disastrous. He's sworn off relationships and marriage because he can't face the past. It's safer for him to just stay far away. 

Both have sworn off the opposite sex, but that doesn't stop fate from getting involved. After a pretty explosive meeting, these two try their best to fight against their attraction, fight against fate. But they soon realize that there's more to the other than meets the eye. The more time the spend together, the closer they become. Just as they realize their feelings have grown into love, the past comes back to haunt Trent. 

He can't allow his love for Jessie to grow any more. If she knows what he did, she'll leave him for sure. It's better that he breaks it off before she finds out. He'll just go back to life as it was before she came along. She'll be better off without him. 

But when the truth finally comes to light, Jessie and Trent have a decision to make. Do they stay apart? Both going their own separate ways and living miserable lives? Or do they face the past together and fight for the future they both deserve?

*dreamy sigh* 

Have you ever picked up and book and started reading it without reading the synopsis? Well, that's exactly what I did with The Sheriff's Bride! And all I can say is wow! Just wow! I had no clue what I was getting into but I will say I loved every minute of it! I laughed out loud, growled in frustration, got teary-eyed, and let out little dreamy sighs while reading this book! It was the perfect Saturday read for me! 

Every time I read one of Ms. Krey's books I always seem to ask myself, "why in the world have I waited so long to read her books?!" I have gone and added several to my TBR list and will probably be reading more sooner rather than later. An author who can suck me in from the very beginning and make me forget about reality is one that I definitely need to be reading more by! I can't wait to see what journey her books will lead me on next! 

And of course we cannot forget about my casting! What do you think?! 

**Book Blast** Hothouse Flowers by Taylor Dean

BOOK THREE IN THE SOUND OF SILENCE SERIES IS NOW AVAILABLE!!!

Did you miss Book One, STONE SILENCE?

No worries. It’s FREE for five days, Jan. 1-5!!!

Grab it on AMAZON

 

HOTHOUSE FLOWER

by

TAYLOR DEAN

Hothouse Flower by Taylor Dean

I loved Jace Faraday with all my heart.

I loved everything about him, from his huge smile to his fabulous laugh. Another man never caught my eye. It was always Jace and Shay, together forever.

Until it wasn’t.

He devastated me, he ruined me. I’ve never gotten over it.

But, I’m a survivor. I’m not a precious flower that can only thrive if kept safe from the perils of the outside world.

Except now Jace has returned home. He’s just across the street from me, so close I swear I can actually feel his presence.

I can’t avoid him forever. At some point I have to face him. And when I do, I know sparks will fly.

To redeem himself for his past actions, I need major remorse. I need a profuse apology and maybe even a little begging for forgiveness. I won’t settle for anything less.

However, when the truth behind our break-up is revealed, I’m stunned. It leaves me reeling—and yearning for the six years that have been lost to us.

The thing is, once the truth is known, there’s nothing to keep us apart.

Absolutely nothing.

Dear Reader: This book deals with a sensitive issue.

 

The Sound of Silence Series is a three book series.

Book One: Stone Silence, Spencer’s Story
Book Two: Jailbird, Mia’s Story
Book Three: Hothouse Flower, Shay’s Story

Each book has a happy ending and there are no cliffhangers. They are not standalones and should be read in order.

Read an excerpt from HOTHOUSE FLOWER:

I’LL BE RIGHT down to help with dinner, Mom,” I holler. It will just be a few minutes because I’m busy staring out the window at the man I’ve loved nearly all my life.

He’s home. He’s actually home—just across the street from me, only yards away. I swear I can physically feel his presence and it’s killing me.

Jace Faraday. The love of my youth.

He just arrived at his mother’s house across the street. It’s early evening and I’m watching from my upstairs bedroom window just like I used to do as a teenager. All those old feelings I had for him are rushing over me just as strong as ever. Except now I’m a twenty-six year old woman and, sadly, I feel as though I’m too old to feel giddy over a man.

He is the one man in my life that I have ever truly loved. I loved everything about him from his huge smile to his soft voice to his fabulous laugh. I loved his brawny physique, yet the fact that he had such a gentle touch.

I loved his sense of humor the most of all. When we first started to say I love you to each other, they were serious moments and I knew he meant it as much as I did. As time went by, I would whisper I love you to him and he’d respond in a silly voice, “And I’ve grown fond of you.” It reduced me to a writhing mass of giggles every time.

I was young when I first met him. His family moved in across the street when I was in kindergarten. By the time I was in fifth grade, I was sure he was the man I would marry. I was just a little girl with stars in her eyes, someone who was in love with love. By then Jace was in the eighth grade and seemed larger than life to me.

That feeling of hero worship I felt as a little girl has never left me.

    

   

 Stone Silence by Taylor Dean

Great big beautiful love.

Does it really exist?

Everyone tells me it does. They say, “Spencer Elliott, don’t worry, you’ll find it one day. You just have to find the right man and when you do, it will surprise the heck out of you.”

I’m still waiting for that heck of a surprise to hit. It has proven to be elusive thus far. I’m pretty sure the entire world is lying about love and the joke is on me.

I know I want a man in my heart and in my life. Unfortunately, most men immediately push my OFF button and I lose interest quickly.

Feeling pressure to prove I’m trying to find my soulmate, I finally give in and agree to a date. Huge mistake. Afterward I find myself abandoned in the middle of nowhere, in desperate need of help.

That’s when I meet Stony by chance.

He’s a silent and unsmiling man who intrigues me with his ability to keep going after life has knocked him down. Suddenly the abstract notion of love becomes tangible and within my reach. Once I experience it, I wonder how I ever lived without it.

That’s when I stay with Stony by choice.

But when Stony’s hidden past and present-day reality collide, his silence is broken. And the truth about his life nearly brings me to my knees. I can’t compete with ghosts from the past.

I refuse to fight for a man’s love. He either loves me or he doesn’t. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.

My only hope is . . . he does.

   

Catch Book Two, JAILBIRD.

  

Jailbird by Taylor Dean

My hometown decided to rename me Jailbird.

Every day I silently scream out, “My name is Mia Faraday!” My time in jail does not define me. I am so much more than one heated mistake.

And yet, my slip-up weighs on me. There’s so much more to the story than anyone realizes. I must face Stony, my ex, and confess everything.

I don’t want to. I’d rather have five teeth pulled. While I’m awake. Without anesthesia.

But this is something I have to do, something I need to do. Not just for Stony. I need to do it for me. Especially for me. I can’t move forward with my life until I gain closure from the past.

When I meet Grayson Elliott, I am easily pulled into his orbit and it’s exactly where I’d love to stay. He makes me laugh and not take life so seriously. He makes me want to live again.

But I don’t love me right now, and that healing needs to come first. I’m not relationship-ready or marriage material. My mind is focused on redemption. I want it. I need it.

Besides, when Grayson hears about my colorful past, I’m sure he’ll be gone before I have time to utter the word goodbye.

After all, who could ever love a jailbird?

    

Praise for JAILBIRD:

Mia’s story about forgiveness and redemption is packed with emotion and will leave you wanting more! -Jana, Amazon Review

An adventure from start to finish, a wonderful sequel to Stone Silence. -atvtnv, Amazon Review

Once I started reading, I just couldn’t stop! It has been a LONG time since a book has kept me up WAY past my bedtime! -KJ’s Book Nook

 

Author Taylor Dean

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of clean romance in her line-up.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Newsletter

 

Blast Giveaway Details
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/21/18

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. 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 author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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2017 Favorites!

2017 was an amazing year for books! I laughed.. I cried.. I got so angry I wanted to throw my kindle across the room.. I let out a lot of dreamy sighs.. and I loved every minute of it! I found new authors that I absolutely adore and wait with great anticipation for their next book baby to be released! I was able to read over 100 books!

Before I look ahead to the New Year and new books, I thought I would pay tribute to some of these favorites that I fell in love with in 2017. I will tell you that my list is not in any particular order. I absolutely LOVED all these books and there is NO WAY I'll be able to choose a ranking for them! It just is NOT possible! So don't even ask!

So... without further adieu... here are my TOP 17 of 2017!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are some of your favorites from 2017?

Swoon Worthy Spotlights #12

Welcome to Swoon Worthy Spotlights hosted by Bookworm Nation, Katie's Clean Book Collection and KJ's Book Nook! Once a month we will feature 1-3 of our favorite books that we have read during the month. We will share the cover(s), our review(s) and a link to each other's post so you can check out which books we have all chosen!

For this month's Swoon Worthy Spotlights I am going to choose...

Jailbird by Taylor Dean

Sawdust and Mistletoe by Michelle Pennington

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And don't for get to check Kathy's post here and Katie's post here!

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Do you have a blog and want to join us for Swoon Worthy Spotlights? Then grab the picture and post with us! We will be posting on the last day of each month. Make sure you share your link with us so we can check out your favorite authors as well!

Happy reading my fellow bookworms!