Review: An Angel by Her Side by Ruth Reid

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-1595547903
Pages: 368
Format: eBook
Rating: 5

Katie has lived through tragedy and heartache. But with the angel Elias by her side, the best years of her life are just ahead.

When Katie Bender’s fiancé died in a tragic accident, so did her hope of finding love. Though heartbroken, Katie is also practical. In the years since the accident she has discovered her gift for teaching. But when a tornado destroys her small Amish settlement, including the schoolhouse, Katie doesn’t know how she will provide for herself.

Seth Stutzman arrived in Hope Falls days before the storm. And when he helps usher Katie and the children to safety, sparks fly. But Seth is only in town to help his brother, Amos, get back on his feet following the death of his wife. He can’t afford to have feelings for Katie.

Rebuilding the community is a huge task, and soon, Katie and Seth are working side by side. As they privately wrestle with their feelings for each other, another silent—and ultimate—battle for their hearts rages unseen.

Sworn to protect what God has ordained, the mighty angel Elias appears to them as a mysterious visitor. And with his guidance, Katie and Seth find the courage to take the first small steps toward the life, and love, they were destined for.

Review

An Angel by Her Side caught me by surprise, literally. Okay, I knew that according to the synopsis, there’s an angel in the story. What I didn’t expect was the supernatural play out – demon vs. angel – in the story. I usually steer away from such books, but this one? It was good. Never mind that this could be included in the paranormal genre and I don’t read paranormal. The good vs. bad scenarios were just too interesting. I found myself cheering for Elias as he battled the evil demon.

I gotta admit that the reason I requested for this book was because it’s an Amish stories. Although I enjoy reading Amish stories, I sometimes feel disgruntled with certain portrayal of the characters. However, I was completely satisfied with the portrayal of the characters. They weren’t super-holy people just because they are Amish. The protagonist, Katie, had her flaws aka attitude problems and so did Amos and the other characters.

The “would-they-or-would-they-not-get-together” kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. The author certainly did well in keeping the suspense about the relationship until the end. There was definitely no moment to get bored with the story, especially when I *needed* to know the outcome of Katie and Seth’s relationship! Even though I got impatient and was sorely tempted to skip to the end of the book to find the answer to my question, I patiently read, read some more, waited, and waited.

Besides the main characters, the supporting characters were interesting as well. Yes, the story is mainly a love story, but the drama involving the other characters made the story exciting. There wasn’t only love, there was also bitterness, hatred, being lost, and finding God’s purpose in life.

In conclusion, I loved reading An Angel by Her Side. This is the 3rd book in the A Heaven On Earth series. I don’t know if there will be other new books in the series, but will definitely read them if there are. It would be especially interesting if there’s a story about Amos’ teenaged daughter.

About the author

Ruth Reid is a full-time pharmacist who lives in Florida with her husband and three children. When attending Ferris State University School of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan, she lived on the outskirts of an Amish community and had several occasions to visit the Amish farms. Her interest grew into love as she saw the beauty in living a simple life. Besides An Angel by Her Side, she has also written two other books in the A Heaven On Earth series, The Promise of an Angel and Brush of Angel’s Wings. Visit her website at www.ruthreid.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author through the Booksneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review: Accidental Romance by Jessica E. Subject

Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
ASIN: B00B0P2GME
Pages: 52
Format: eBook

At twenty-two, Leanne Declan has graduated from college and hopes to take over the family farm until a tragic accident changes her life forever. Unable to do the simplest everyday chores, she must depend on her family and friends as she learns to face life’s challenges. But when her fears threaten to destroy her future, can an unexpected love be strong enough to help her dreams come true?

Excerpt

A million needles pierced her wrist. She had to get away from the fire. Leanne flicked open her eyes, screaming, longing for the agony to stop.

White walls surrounded her. Machines beeped. Taking in the new scenery, she closed her mouth, the pain forgotten. Bags filled with clear liquids as well as blood hung from a metal pole. She followed the tubes from the bags into her left hand. Was that where the burn came from? She glanced at the other arm, the end of which was wrapped in thick bandages. The image of spinning blades and her mangled flesh flashed before her eyes. She screamed again, tears falling down her cheeks. This can’t be happening.

Bodies rushed into the room, many in scrubs. With her vision blurred, she didn’t recognize anyone. All strangers. She was in the foreign place by herself. A nightmare. Has to be.

“Shh, calm down, sweetie. You’ll be okay.”

A familiar voice. She glanced to her other side to see her mom standing beside her, her eyes glassy. She held her hand, but Leanne couldn’t feel it, only the throbbing which had returned to her other one, the one that was…gone? She groaned, turning on her side, and pulled her knees up to her chest.

“Mom, is it really…?”

She brushed her fingers over her forehead. “Don’t worry about it right now. You need to rest.”

“It hurts so bad.”

“I know.” Her mother stroked her face again. “But the nurses will help it go away.”

“Leanne,” one of the nurses hovering around her said. “I want you to take deep breaths and count backward from ten.”

“Ten.” She sucked in air and cried out in agony.

Between clenched teeth, she continued. Anything to stop the pain. “Nine.”

Ice traveled through her veins. “Eight.”

The throbbing slowly ebbed away. Seven.

Darkness swept over her and pulled her down with it.

Review

Accidental Romance is the shortest book I’ve reviewed in a long time. At only 52 pages, it’s understandable that the story moves quite fast. From Leanne’s accident, to a romance, to a “problem” resulting from that romance, and finally to the ending surprise which could be considered remarkably fast for some people. After all, romances usually don’t move at such lightning speeds!

While the ending is cliche-ish, the story was quite easy to read. I finished it in less than half-an-hour. There was drama (plenty of it, in fact, for a 52-page book), romance (albeit somewhat unrealistic), and highs and lows in the plot. Considering all the pluses and negatives, Accidental Romance was quite a nice short read. Not the type that I would compulsively reread, but still not bad.

About the author

Jessica Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica isn’t reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author through Sizzling PR. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review: Love in the Balance by Regina Jennings

Regina Jennings is celebrating the release of Love in the Balance with a Kindle Fire Giveaway and a Facebook Author Chat Party on 4/4!

One “lovely” winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
  
• A copy of Regina’s Sixty Acres and a Bride and Love in the Balance

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 3rd. Winner will be announced at the “Love in the Balance” Author Chat Party on April 4th. Connect with Regina, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways — gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Love in the Balance and join Regina on the evening of April 4th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don’t miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 4th!

Molly Lovelace dreams of a life without cares in Lockhart, Texas. She also dreams of handsome wrangler Bailey Garner, her ardent but inconsistent beau. The problem is, with Bailey’s poor prospects, she just can’t fit the two dreams together.

Then mysterious stranger Edward Pierrepont sweeps into town-and her life-and for the first time Molly wonders if she’s met the man who can give her everything. But he won’t be in Lockhart long and while it certainly seems like he talks about their glorious future together, she can’t quite get Bailey out of her mind.

What’s a girl to do with all these decisions when love is in the balance?

Review

My first impression of Molly was that she is such an immature girl. It was difficult to empathize with her and I couldn’t see how such a person could be a heroine in the story. It didn’t help that her money-loving parents were characters you just wish you could… throttle. As I read on, I could see the gradual change in Molly’s character and attitude brought on by the circumstances and problems in her life. From an “annoying” personality, she became a responsible, godly woman.

Bailey has plenty of faults, but he has intention and determination, albeit somewhat misguided, to do what he thinks is right. He is a very real character. We are shown his struggles between his want to do right and his want for Molly. You can’t help but like him, especially when he shows forgiveness (no spoilers here!).

The storyline is a mix of seriousness and humor. The dialogue between the characters, especially between Bailey and Molly, is often humorous even though their discussions are supposed to be serious. Love in the Balance was no doubt interesting and I liked the humor very much. However, I thought that the story was predictable. There weren’t many surprises. After all, it’s not difficult judging the good and bad characters based on the description in the synopsis. Nevertheless, I had an enjoyable time reading Love in the Balance and might even reread it in the future.

About the author

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children. Visit her website at www.reginajennings.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author through Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review: Unbreakable by Nancy Mehl

Celebrate the release of Unbreakable with Nancy Mehl by entering her Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVPing to the March 5th Author Chat Party on Facebook!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Books one & two in Nancy’s Road to Kingdom series (Inescapable and Unbreakable)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 4th. Winner will be announced at the “Unbreakable” Author Chat Party on March 5th. Connect with Nancy, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be gift certificates, books, and fun Mennonite-themed giveaways.

Grab your copy of Unbreakable and join Nancy on the evening of the March 5th for a chance to connect with Nancy and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don’t miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

Gentle and unassuming, Hope Kauffman has never been one to question the traditions of her Mennonite upbringing. She quietly helps her father run Kingdom Quilts and has agreed to the betrothal he arranged for her with the devout but shy Ebbie Miller.

Despite the attempts of Hope and other Kingdom residents to maintain the status quo, changes have already begun to stir in the small Mennonite town. The handsome and charismatic Jonathon Wiese is the leader of the move to reform, while Ebbie insists Kingdom must remain true to its foundation. When Hope’s safety is threatened by a mysterious outsider, she can’t help but question what she’s always been taught about the Mennonite tradition of nonviolence.

As it swiftly becomes apparent the threat Hope faced is only the beginning, the town that’s always stood so strong finds itself divided. With tensions high and their lives endangered by an unknown enemy, will Hope and the people of Kingdom allow fear and division to break them or will they draw on the strength of the God they serve?

Review

Unbreakable took my breath away. When I first started to read it, I thought that it would be purely a romance read. That was the reason why I chose to review this book. I hadn’t expected the mystery element in the story. The mystery was so good, that I didn’t guess the identity of the perpetrator until it was revealed towards the end of the story.

Hope’s relationship with Ebbie and Jonathon was one of the highlights in Unbreakable. Me being me, I was definitely Team Ebbie all the way. Ebbie is a nice man and so is Jonathon and although Jonathon might look like the guy I would usually side with in stories, I admired Ebbie’s faith and beliefs.

Ebbie and Jonathon had vastly differing views. Their views would be summed up in one question – is it right to take up arms to defend loved ones? This moral question resonated repeatedly in the story. Both parties had valid points. This scenario and storyline had me thinking about the current gun rights debate in United States. In the end, I had to agree with this point – he who takes up the sword shall perish by the sword (or the gun, in this case). Hope had to learn to make her own choices, not the choice of the elders or her father. She had to decide if using a gun in the face of adversity is a right choice or not. And she definitely made the right choice (no spoilers here!).

About the author

Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband Norman and her very active puggle, Watson. She’s authored fourteen books and is currently at work on a new series for Bethany House Publishing. All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.” Readers can learn more about Nancy through her Web site: www.nancymehl.com. She is also active on Facebook.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author through Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

FIRST Wild Card Tour: The Color of Light by Nancy Thelen

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today’s Wild Card author is:

Nancy Thelen

and the book:

The Color of Light

Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

***Special thanks to Nancy Thelen for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am a life-long resident of a small town in Northeastern Wisconsin. I work full-time, and dedicate my spare hours to writing. I’m a member of a small country church, where I am responsible for our church library. I am widowed, and I do not have any children. I enjoy cooking and baking, and am working diligently on down-sizing recipes to just one or two servings. I have additional books in the works for my Rivers Run Cottage Series, as well as a cookbook.
Visit the author’s website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Jackie O’Reilley preferred her tranquil life on the shores of Sunset Lake, where she could create her stained glass artwork. Not even winning a room makeover on a popular TV show could change her mind. She asked to pay it forward to a friend who was in greater need, and was informed that her help would still be needed to complete the project. That meant working with Doug Sterling, one of the show’s hosts. She would never admit to anyone that she watched every episode just to see him. But that was just a silly girl’s crush on a star. He would be leaving after they were finished with the show, and she would never see him again. Or would she?

Product Details:

Kindle Edition
List Price: $2.99

File Size: 404 KB
Print Length: 193 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B009EG6R8U
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Not Enabled
Lending: Enabled

Review: Archimedes’ Claw by Theodore Morrison Homa

Publisher: AuthorHouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-1463438791
Pages: 260
Format: Paperback
Rating: 3

The Epic Novel of one man’s journey back through time and his encounter with Mankind’s Greatest Mystery.

Driven for Truth, One Man, Uncovers a secret, Hidden in Time, That catapulted the Roman Empire to find Archimedes. Hunted by the Government, Haunted by his past, Driven by passion, he must risk all. Travel back through The Vortex of Time and encounter Mankind’s Greatest Mystery.

Why I Love Family-Based Romance Series by Bella Andre

Please enjoy this guest post by Bella Andre, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the contemporary romance series, The Sullivans. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards!

Why I Love Family-Based Romance Series

A guest post by Bella Andre

I love reading romance (I read one book a day when I can!), and one of my favorite tropes is the family-based series. I absolutely love Julia Quinn’s historical romance Bridgerton series and have loved taking that idea of the big family into present day with my Sullivan contemporary romance series.

What I love when I read – and what I want my readers to get from The Sullivans – is to feel like they’re a part of the family, and to know each of the characters so well that they can begin to know anticipate what the will start saying and doing at family gatherings. I love it when I’m reading a big family scene and I know, “Oh, this character is going to react like this” or “This character will hate this!” I love it even more when the characters surprise me and I learn new things about them.

One of the advantages of writing a series about a large family is that even as the hero and heroine are having conflict with each other, we can see them being loving towards their families, so we know the depth of love they’re capable of.

There are plenty of big family scenes in my Sullivan books for you to get to know each character, what they’re like, and how they feel one another. Just like a real family, every Sullivan has a special relationship with each of the others. Smith and Sophie are extra close, as are Marcus and Lori. Ryan and Zach are so close in age that they spent a lot of time together as kids and have a special bond as adults.

The Sullivans are on tour with Novel Publicity. Follow along for your chance to win amazing prizes. We’ve got special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards. WOW!

You’ll also get introduced to this amazing contemporary romance series via excerpts as well as interviews with and guest posts from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Bella Andre. You’ll definitely want to learn more about the family that has captured the world’s heart.

All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!

To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase any of the Sullivan ebooks by Bella Andre for just $4.99 (optional)
2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity (go here)
3. Visit today’s featured social media event (that’s where the HUGE prizes are)

About The Sullivans: In this sexy, emotional and funny contemporary romance series, each member of the Sullivan family will eventually find true love…usually where he or she least expects it.

Get the eBooks via Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, the iBookStore, or the Kobo Store.

Audiobooks are also available for the first five in the series (with more coming soon). Plus, keep an eye out for paperback editions coming from Harlequin Romance starting Summer 2013.

About the Author: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Bella Andre has always been a writer. Songs came first, and then non-fiction books, but as soon as she started writing her first romance novel, she knew she’d found her perfect career. Known for “sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance” (Publishers Weekly) about sizzling alpha heroes and the strong women they’ll love forever, nearly all of her novels have appeared on Top 10 lists at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Kobo.

Her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine “Red Hot Reads” twice and have been translated into nine languages. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post has called her “One of the top digital writers in America” and she has been featured by NPR, USA Today, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. She has given the keynote speech at Book Expo America on her self-publishing success and has sold more than one million books.

If not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors, hiking, swimming or laughing. Married with two children, Bella splits her time between the Northern California wine country and a 100 year old log cabin in the Adirondacks.

• Sign up for Bella’s newsletter at www.eepurl.com/eXj22
• Visit Bella’s website at www.BellaAndre.com
• Follow Bella on twitter at www.twitter.com/bellaandre
• Join Bella on Faceboook at www.facebook.com/bellaandrefans

Alpha Heroes & Happily Ever Afters by Bella Andre

Please enjoy this guest post by Bella Andre, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the contemporary romance series, The Sullivans. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards!

Alpha Heroes & Happily Ever Afters: The Perfect Combo

A guest post by Bella Andre

Alpha heroes are my favorite kind of hero: sexy, rugged, independent and take-charge. Yum!

Take Chase Sullivan, the hero of THE LOOK OF LOVE, the first book in my best-selling Sullivan series. He’s a jet-setting photographer, a mind-blowing lover, and is surrounded by gorgeous models all day long. But it isn’t until he meets Chloe Peterson on the side of a road during a rainstorm in the Napa Valley wine country that he falls in love.

One of my favorite things about an alpha hero falling in love is that all those alpha traits – his single-minded determination, his focus – are then devoted entirely to the woman of his dreams. Chloe’s been burned by men before, but Chase is determined to show her that he’s worth trusting. What follows is his relentlessly sexy pursuit of Chloe, because now that Chase has found love, he won’t accept anything less.

Each of the Sullivan heroes is an alpha in his own way. Marcus (FROM THIS MOMENT ON) is the de-facto family patriarch. He looks after the rest of his family and takes care of them. Gabe (CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE) is a take-charge firefighter. He rushes into danger to save lives – what’s not to love? Zach (IF YOU WERE MINE) is a handy, self-sufficient mechanic and businessman. In addition to being wealthy and successful, he’s useful with a wrench.

What’s hot is when those alpha traits are turned towards pursuing – and catching – the women of their dreams.

The Sullivans are on tour with Novel Publicity. Follow along for your chance to win amazing prizes. We’ve got special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards. WOW!

You’ll also get introduced to this amazing contemporary romance series via excerpts as well as interviews with and guest posts from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Bella Andre. You’ll definitely want to learn more about the family that has captured the world’s heart.

All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!

To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase any of the Sullivan ebooks by Bella Andre for just $4.99 (optional)
2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity (go here)
3. Visit today’s featured social media event (that’s where the HUGE prizes are)

About The Sullivans: In this sexy, emotional and funny contemporary romance series, each member of the Sullivan family will eventually find true love…usually where he or she least expects it.

Get the eBooks via Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, the iBookStore, or the Kobo Store.

Audiobooks are also available for the first five in the series (with more coming soon). Plus, keep an eye out for paperback editions coming from Harlequin Romance starting Summer 2013.

About the Author: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Bella Andre has always been a writer. Songs came first, and then non-fiction books, but as soon as she started writing her first romance novel, she knew she’d found her perfect career. Known for “sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance” (Publishers Weekly) about sizzling alpha heroes and the strong women they’ll love forever, nearly all of her novels have appeared on Top 10 lists at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Kobo.

Her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine “Red Hot Reads” twice and have been translated into nine languages. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post has called her “One of the top digital writers in America” and she has been featured by NPR, USA Today, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. She has given the keynote speech at Book Expo America on her self-publishing success and has sold more than one million books.

If not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors, hiking, swimming or laughing. Married with two children, Bella splits her time between the Northern California wine country and a 100 year old log cabin in the Adirondacks.

• Sign up for Bella’s newsletter at www.eepurl.com/eXj22
• Visit Bella’s website at www.BellaAndre.com
• Follow Bella on twitter at www.twitter.com/bellaandre
• Join Bella on Faceboook at www.facebook.com/bellaandrefans

7 reasons to spoil yourself with the Sullivans by Bella Andre

Did you get a new eReader for Christmas, and are now looking for something awesome to read? Or, maybe you didn’t get anything good and want to spoil yourself a little with the chance to win that coveted eReader, some major gift cards, or other awesome prizes. Maybe you just need to relax after hurry-scurrying around all season. Well…

Wouldn’t it be nice to take a long hot bath or snuggle under your favorite blanket with a great read? Sounds like the perfect day, right? Hey, we can offer you something even better than that.

In fact, we can offer you something seven times better!

For starters, we can offer you up to seven review copies of Bella Andre’s New York Times and USA Today best-selling contemporary romance series The Sullivans.

We’ll introduce you to—not just one, but—each and every member of the Sullivan family on their quests to find happiness. Even though most of them aren’t even really looking for love, it has a way of finding them anyway. These sexy, emotional and funny novels will nurse all your literary and metaphorical desires. You’ll laugh and cry right along with the characters, and get hooked into these great stories right from the very first page. They even take place in lovely California, giving you the opportunity to travel by proxy and escape the windy winter doldrums.

What’s that you say? The books sound awesome, but you’re not sure why you have to join the tour to enjoy their awesomeness? There are so many reasons to sign-up. Since there are seven books (so far) in The Sullivans series and seven that will be taking part in this extraordinarily large tour, let’s stay right on theme and discuss seven reasons why you need to join the fun, pronto.

CLICK ME > What are you waiting for? Go sign-up now! <CLICK ME

The perks

Not only will you get to read a great novel—or two, or three, or seven—but you’ll also get…

1. The opportunity to network with other bloggers and avid readers.

2. The option to host a guest post, excerpt or interview with best-selling author Bella Andre. This will bring new readers to your blog AND give you content for your blog—what’s better, a post you didn’t even have to write yourself. If your New Year looks as hectic as mine, having a guest post is almost as good as reading an awesome book… because it means I’ll have TIME to READ that great book.

3. The chance to interact directly with the author through a number of social media activities, discussions, and awesome giveaways .

But wait, there’s more!

4. Literally, there are more books. If you love The Sullivans, you can find half a dozen more books just waiting for your eager hands and mind. AND REVIEW COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL SEVEN! WOWZA!

5. Kick start your New Year’s resolution to read more! Plus you get hours of entertainment absolutely free—you may even win something (which makes the deal even sweeter).

6. The Sullivans will make you fall in love. You’ll love the writing, the humor, the characters, and the stories. You might even find hope for true love within these pages.

7. If you’ve ever wished for your own happy ending—heck, even if you’ve already found it—there’s something in each of these novels you’ll be able to identify with. We all know life isn’t perfect, and the Sullivans know that too. They’re so real, reading the book is almost like watching a movie or watching somebody’s real life unfold right in front of your eyes.

Did I forget to mention the prizes?

The prizes are ridonkulous. We’ve got romantic swag baskets, hundreds of dollars gift cards, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, AND a Sony eReader to name a few.

Well I guess there’s just one more reason to join us on the biggest tour Novel Publicity has ever put together. More books, more bloggers, more buzz and, of course, more prizes!

CLICK ME > What are you waiting for? Go sign-up now! <CLICK ME

Oh, did you want specific details?

Learn what all the buzz is about when you receive review copies of the first 7 books in this on-going series. Read one, or read them all. Or, you could host an excerpt, interview, or guest post instead–and we’ll even put that together for you.

Tour Dates: January 7 to 20, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Page Count: approx 300 pages each

CAUTION: Explicit language, very steamy love scenes…and lots of emotion!

The Prizes:

* iPad Mini

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Hospitality Can Be About Time… One-on-One by Hannah Packham

Sometimes, it’s hard to find special time for your mom because she always seems available. The holidays can make it more difficult to nurture the mother-daughter relationship. However, this season allows for activities to do with your mom that are not available at other times. Here’s a list of activities that I enjoy doing with my mom:

1. Make Christmas cookies. You and your mom can make cookies for friends, a charity or for the family. In this case you are getting to enjoy time together, while serving others. The time alone baking is a good time to just talk about life.
2. Go Christmas shopping together. It’s gotta be done so why not do it together and make it a date!
3. Wrap together! You can talk while doing it and it puts you in the Christmas spirit. You could even add some hot chocolate and a Christmas movie into the mix to make it even more festive.
4. Everyone gathers around and shares a meal during the holidays, but someone has to make it. Most likely that person is your mother. Not only would she appreciate your help, but also your company in the kitchen. This is a wonderful time to bond over tradition, family and yummy food.
5. Take time for tea. Whether it’s at a cozy tea place or in your fire-lit living room, conversation over a cup of tea goes a long way.
6. One of my family’s favorite parts of the holidays is the decoration. My mom is usually in charge of decorations and I happen to love helping decorate for the holidays. So, set aside a day or a few hours to deck the halls together.
7. Choose a charity you both support. Make a meal, take people those cookies you made, think of some way you can give back in your community and do it together. Serving can draw you closer and change lives.
8. With all the family, friends and parties that happen around the home during the holidays, the home itself takes quite a beating. Maybe, one way to spend some time together while showing your mom you want to help is helping her clean. Cleaning the house together can be fun and can result in some laughs and great conversation.
9. Sit down together and write Christmas cards, or write individual cards to loved ones to accompany the gifts. You could even sneak your mom a note during this activity. It’s a gentle way to say you care. A little note goes a long way.
10. Now, I don’t knit, sew or garden, but I can paint and so can my mom. If there’s any artsy activity that you both do, sit down together—or get up and go—and get creative. It might even make good gifts for your other loved ones.

Some of these activities appeal to different people, and some are easier than others, but all are good ways to bond with your mom during the holidays while having fun and getting into the spirit! Enjoy!

Reposted with permission. Credit: Roxanne and Hannah Packham 2012 Inspired Design