Deceit by Brandilyn Collins

Book Description
Sometimes the truth hides where no one expects to find it. Joanne Weeks knows Baxter Jackson killed Linda---his second wife and Joanne's best friend---six years ago. But Baxter, a church elder and beloved member of the town, walks the streets a free man. The police tell Joanne to leave well enough alone, but she is determined to bring him down. Using her skills as a professional skip tracer, she sets out to locate the only person who may be able to put Baxter behind bars. Melissa Harkoff was a traumatized sixteen-year-old foster child in the Jackson household when Linda disappeared. At the time Melissa claimed to know nothing of Linda's whereabouts---but was she lying? In relentless style, Deceit careens between Joanne's pursuit of the truth--- which puts her own life in danger---and the events of six years' past, when Melissa came to live with the Jacksons. What really happened in that household? Beneath the veneer of perfection lies a story of shakeable faith, choices, and the lure of deceit.


My Thoughts:
Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was my first time reading this author, but it definitely won't be my last! Joanne's best friend, Linda Jackson, dies and Joanne believes Linda's husband Baxter murdered her but no one will listen to her. Baxter is a 'wonderful' man according to everyone who knows him. When his second wife dies, that is two wives in six years, Linda is determined to find the truth, but it may cost her life...
Every character in this book was realistic and so well developed that you honestly believe they could be someone you know! I loved how Joanne is so determined and loyal. The flashbacks keep you guessing and thinking you know exactly what is going to happen next but then there is a huge twist that leaves you quickly turning to read more. The way the spiritual aspect of the story comes at you makes you reevaluate your life and it just fits so well into the story line!
This book is a 5/5. Go get it and read it!
Thank you to Zondervan for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

The Thyssen Affair by

Product Description
New York City, Saturday, September 27, 1980 Cane Eliot knew he was being followed before he reached the shuttle to Lufthansa for his overnight flight to Germany. It was the same thing that made the skin on the back of his neck crawl during the war when something was wrong. Making a quick decision to try to lose who ever was tailing him, he called Lufthansa and cancelled his flight. Taking a taxi downtown, the shadow still with him, he got out at Rockefeller Center, slipped through the restaurant near the skating rink to the subway. Finding the small hotel he had known in the Village thirty years earlier and paying for the day, he carried the valise, and entered the elevator. At the fifth floor he left the elevator, ran down two flights and into the men s room at the end of the hall. He had to change his appearance and do it fast. The Stetson had to go. He stowed it deep in a swing-top garbage can, pulled off his boots and dropped them after the hat. Goddamn bloody shame to leave such old friends! For a minute he considered retrieving the rattle snake hat band, but thought better of it. It takes years for a hat and boots to conform to a man s own brand. Well, hell, I ll just have to start over in Colorado when this damn mess is finished. He opened the valise and pulled out his straight-edged razor. Peering intently at his reflection, and twisting his lips first one way and then another he shaved off his moustache. Name of the game. To lose your identity is part of it. He ran his finger across his smooth upper lip and down the scar across his cheek. That brought back memories of the war that he d just as soon forget. It is also as positive an identification as a set of fingerprints. Changing into the gray suit, white dress shirt, knotting the blue silk tie, putting on the black oxfords he d seldom worn except to funerals, he shook his head. The unfamiliar clothes made him feel awkward and uncomfortable. But a quick glance in the mirror, adjusting his tie and smoothing his vest Cane admitted that a suit made a hell of a difference in appearance. Securing the German skull with his jeans, jacket and cowboy shirt in the valise, he cursed under his breath. The satchel was a dead giveaway. But it couldn t be helped. How the devil had he been spotted so soon? Who was following? It must have been the man who passed him on the road to Cummings. Who was he? Well, for Christ sake, he had to be KGB and that meant the Russians knew they had the wrong skull. It meant too, that they could move pretty damn fast. He opened his billfold, cut up his credit cards with the Lapis knife and buried them in the trash. That was a big mistake using credit cards in Oklahoma City. He wracked his brain. Was there anything else to connect him with Cane Eliot? God, yes! The plane ticket from Denver to New York had been in his name! He had been out of it too long. Peter had made a goddamn poor choice for a Company man. Shape up, Cane! This isn t as simple as Peter had thought. He opened the door slowly, satisfied he was alone, walked briskly down the hall. The damn valise. It has to be gotten rid of. Taking the stairs again, this time to the basement he left through the alley door, walked several blocks, took a cab to a small residential hotel he remembered in the Bronx. The lobby was empty. He rang for the clerk and in a heavy German accent asked for a room and signed the register Wilhelm Swartz. Well, by God that ought to take care of any snoopers! He immediately called the number that would locate Peter and briefed him about the tail that had followed him from Oklahoma City. But not about his carelessness. He d rather Peter didn t know about his getting a plane ticket to New York from Colorado via Oklahoma City in his own name. And then to rent a car My God!

My Thoughts
This was a good book. Caine is a 'former' spy who is now a rancher. He is content with his life but when his friends call on him for a 'quick mission' he goes to Germany. There are all sorts of problems with the 'quick mission' and no one is who they appear to be, everyone has their own agenda and there is a skull involved. If they can figure out what importance the skull is, that could solve everything...
This book captured my attention from the first sentence. After all--who can REALLY resist being pulled into a story that starts with someone feeling danger by being followed? Caine, who is an old OSS officer, is easy to like and empathize with. Caine does a lot for his country without even really knowing what he is getting into. He becomes involved with other agents from other countries without any intention. The embroiled web that he is pulled into seems to be unweaving all around him and he looses and gains a lot in a very short period of time. This book will make you laugh....make you sad....and make you wonder where the justice can be. It was a bit more predicatable than I expected it to be, but that didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. It is an enjoyable book that is quick and easy to finish.

Overall I would rate this book a 4/5. It was a good read!



Thank you to the Candace Group for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

The Devil Wears Plaid by Teresa Medeiros

Book Description:
AN INNOCENT WOMAN
Emmaline Marlow is about to wed the extremely powerful laird of the Hepburn clan to save her father from debtor's prison when ruffian Jamie Sinclair bursts into the abbey on a magnificent black horse and abducts her in one strong swoop. Though he is Hepburn's sworn enemy, Emma's mysterious captor is everything her bridegroom is not -- handsome, virile, dangerous...and a perilous temptation for her yearning heart.

A DANGEROUS MAN
Jamie expects Emma to be some milksop English miss, not a fiery, defiant beauty whose irresistible charms will tempt him at every turn. But he cannot allow either one of them to forget he is her enemy and she his pawn in the deadly Highland feud between the clans. Stealing his enemy's bride was simple, but can he claim her innocence without losing his heart?

My Thoughts
This was a captivating book! Emma is at the alter, ready to marry the earl to save her family from financial ruin when Jamie barges in and kidnaps her! Jamie has no quarrel with Emma or any reason to want her harmed, he just wants what is rightfully his that only the earl has. Emma is scared but doesn't want to show it as she is whisked away by her abductor, she is caught in the middle of a feud between the Highlanders and the earl. Jamie's plan is looking less and less like a good idea the more he gets to know Emma, he starts to want to keep her more than ransom her.
I liked almost every character in this book. Emma is the strong, dutiful daughter, who always does as she is told and what is expected of her, but she has always had spirit and been a bit of a rebel. Jamie is a caretaker of his men and a strong, if confused man. Those two are of course my favorite characters, but I also like Bon with his whit and charm. Ian who is a stubborn and a good man. All the men of Jamie's group are wonderful! Not to mention the attraction between Emma and Jamie is sweet but red hot!
I rate this book a 4/5. Very good, fun, and romantic read!
Thank you to Gallery & Pocketbooks for this review copy. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Giveaway! The Island by Elin Hilderbrand Audio Book

Product Description
Birdie Cousins has thrown herself into the details of her daughter Chess's lavish wedding, from the floating dance floor in her Connecticut back yard to the color of the cocktail napkins. Like any mother of a bride-to-be, she is weathering the storms of excitement and chaos, tears and joy. But Birdie, a woman who prides herself on preparing for every possibility, could never have predicted the late-night phone call from Chess, abruptly announcing that she's cancelled her engagement.
It's only the first hint of what will be a summer of upheavals and revelations. Before the dust has even begun to settle, far worse news arrives, sending Chess into a tailspin of despair. Reluctantly taking a break from the first new romance she's embarked on since the recent end of her 30-year marriage, Birdie circles the wagons and enlists the help of her younger daughter Tate and her own sister India. Soon all four are headed for beautiful, rustic Tuckernuck Island, off the coast of Nantucket, where their family has summered for generations. No phones, no television, no grocery store - a place without distractions where they can escape their troubles.
But throw sisters, daughters, ex-lovers, and long-kept secrets onto a remote island, and what might sound like a peaceful getaway becomes much more. Before summer has ended, dramatic truths are uncovered, old loves are rekindled, and new loves make themselves known. It's a summertime story only Elin Hilderbrand can tell, filled with the heartache, laughter, and surprises that have made her page-turning, bestselling novels as much a part of summer as a long afternoon on a sunny beach.


Thanks to Hachette AudioBook Group I have 2 copies to Giveaway!!! Here are the rules.

• You must be a follower to participate
• Leave Me a Comment on THIS post with your e-mail (no e-mail you can't win)
• US & Canadian Residents only
• No PO Boxes
• Hachette Book Group will be sending the copies to the winners
• You have 24 hours to respond if you are contacted as a winner, if you miss the deadline, a new winner will be chosen and contacted.
• Contest is open until September 10, 2010
• Winners will be chosen using a randomizer

THE ISLAND (Unabridged) by Elin Hilderbrand ready by Denice Hicks

Book Description:
Birdie Cousins has thrown herself into the details of her daughter Chess's lavish wedding, from the floating dance floor in her Connecticut back yard to the color of the cocktail napkins. Like any mother of a bride-to-be, she is weathering the storms of excitement and chaos, tears and joy. But Birdie, a woman who prides herself on preparing for every possibility, could never have predicted the late-night phone call from Chess, abruptly announcing that she's cancelled her engagement.
It's only the first hint of what will be a summer of upheavals and revelations. Before the dust has even begun to settle, far worse news arrives, sending Chess into a tailspin of despair. Reluctantly taking a break from the first new romance she's embarked on since the recent end of her 30-year marriage, Birdie circles the wagons and enlists the help of her younger daughter Tate and her own sister India. Soon all four are headed for beautiful, rustic Tuckernuck Island, off the coast of Nantucket, where their family has summered for generations. No phones, no television, no grocery store - a place without distractions where they can escape their troubles.
But throw sisters, daughters, ex-lovers, and long-kept secrets onto a remote island, and what might sound like a peaceful getaway becomes much more. Before summer has ended, dramatic truths are uncovered, old loves are rekindled, and new loves make themselves known. It's a summertime story only Elin Hilderbrand can tell, filled with the heartache, laughter, and surprises that have made her page-turning, bestselling novels as much a part of summer as a long afternoon on a sunny beach.

My Thoughts
This book was ok. Birdie and her husband of thirty years have recently been divorced and she has just started a relationship with Hank. Her oldest daughter Chess is getting married to Michael and Birdie is planning the whole lavish affair! Then, out of the blue, Chess calls off the wedding and quits her job. Bridie's sister, India, is a widow and a curator. Tate, Birdie's other daughter is a computer genius. After some tragic news that sends Chess into a deep depression, Birdie makes arrangements for all of them to go to her childhood summer home of Tuckernuck for vacation. That is where the story starts getting really interesting...
It took me a while to get into this book, but I suspect it was the reader's voice and not the story. I thought the characters were very well developed and loved that Birdie was so nurturing. Chess comes across as a spoiled know-it-all who is used to everyone fawning over her and getting her way. Tate is sometimes juvenile and sometimes a wonderful character. I liked India, she is a world savvy, strong, capable woman. All the men in this book, even the ex-husband are written to be strong, successful, handsome men and that is always a good thing to read about! The four women together seem like an unlikely cast of characters, especially to put on an remote island together but it works!
I rate this a 3/5. I would probably go buy the book instead of listening to the Audio version again.
Thank you to Hachette Audio Books for providing this review copy. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Breaking Dawn (Twilight Book 4) by Stephenie Meyer

Book Description:
When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?
To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.
Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life-first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse-seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?


My Thoughts
I loved all the books of this series but this one is my favorite! Bella has chosen Edward. Jacob doesn't want to be anywhere around her 'happily ever after' and is determined to stay in his werewolf form. Edward and Bella's wedding is fast approaching, they have to remember their promise to the Voltouri, and Bella is quickly drawing closer to getting what she says she wants. The problem is, when things seem too good to be true, there is usually a downfall coming quickly!
I love that though she has chosen Edward, Bella is once again confused by her love for both Edward and Jacob. It isn't at all fair to the wonderful Jacob. He is still warm and kind but also can be cunning and manipulative and I love that he is written with so many dimensions. Edward is amazing and has the maturity that Jacob lacks, all he wants is for Bella to be happy. The characters in this book are all so vivid and the portrait painted so fantastic that I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it!
I rate this a 5/5. It is a wonderful ending to the series that you will greatly enjoy!

She's Gone Country by Jane Porter

Book Description:
Shey Darcy, a 39-year-old former top model for Vogue and Sports Illustrated led a charmed life in New York City with a handsome photographer husband until the day he announced he'd fallen in love with someone else. Left to pick up the pieces of her once happy world, Shey decides to move back home to Texas with her three teenage sons. Life on the family ranch, however, brings with it a whole new host of dramas starting with differences of opinion with her staunch Southern Baptist mother, her rugged but overprotective brothers, and daily battles with her three sons who are also struggling to find themselves. Add to the mix Shey's ex-crush, Dane Kelly, a national bullriding champ and she's got her hands full. It doesn't take long before Shey realizes that in order to reinvent herself, she must let go of an uncertain future and a broken past, to find happiness--and maybe love--in the present.

My Thoughts:
I was hooked from page one! Shey's world has turned upside down and she's moved back to her hometown to right it. Her husband of seventeen years has announced he is gay, her brother has died, and nothing seems to be going right in her life. The ranch seems like a good idea at the time, but she's taken on more than she realizes the longer she stays the more she finds herself. Her mother pushes, her brothers are protective, her husband is annoyingly sorry, and her sons are driving her crazy. When Dane walks back into her life, that is just the icing on the cake and she wonders if she can make her life happy again, and maybe with him!
This book was completely realistic. Shey's family isn't perfect, in fact far from it and I think that is what is so good about this book. Her mother and she don't agree on much of anything except the fact that they love each other and their family. Her brothers team up against her 'for her own good'. Her sons can't get along for anything. It is all wonderfully REAL! I loved reading and watching how Shey rediscovered herself through her country roots. The ups and downs of parenting and add in a new/old romance that is far from perfect but what was meant to be even if the timing is not good.
I love how close the extended family is through the whole book, they have arguments but in the end, they are family and there for each other. The author also does a wonderful job of showing how difficult raising teenagers is and that there are many different parenting styles, some more effective than others but all need to be tailored to the child. Also, the romance in it isn't over the top. It is real and Dane is a family friend but has always been a love interest of Shey's and it is a fun relationship to watch develop.
This book is a 4.5/5. It is a good realistic read that will engross you from the beginning.
Thank you to Hachette Book Group for the review copy of this book. I was given this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Rules of Betrayal Winners!

The Winners are:
Lilk13 & BlueberryMuffin! They now have 24 hours to contact me with their mailing address. If they fail to meet the 24 hour deadline, a new winner(s) will be chosen!


There were 14 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1.9. Lilk13
2.1. BlueberryMuffin
3.6. Sandra
4.5. Rubynreba
5.13. sharon54220
6.8. Monique
7.10. skkorman
8.12. Cindy W.
9.7. JoanneR
10.4. Benita
11.3. Leslie
12.11. D.A.
13.14. TennyK
14.2. Linda
Timestamp: 2010-08-21 17:48:58 UTC

Swept Aside by Sharon Sala

Book Description:
Shell-shocked after a nightmarish school shooting, Amalie Pope retreats to an aging plantation house near Bordelaise, Louisiana, to heal, physically and emotionally. She's there barely an hour when a tornado rips through bayou country, mercifully leaving the house intact. She's stranded, but unafraid -- until a knock on the door.

Four escaped prisoners barge inside, and in an instant Amalie is a hostage again. These men are wounded, desperate and dangerous -- with one exception. Undercover DEA operative Nick Aroyo is on the run with the gang he's infiltrated. The only thing he wants more than this collar is to protect fragile, frightened Amalie, who has surrendered herself to his care, body, soul...and heart. But he'll have to play the thug in order to keep her -- and his secret -- safe, because even though the storm has passed, the danger remains....

My Thoughts:
This was a good book, and the third in a series. It does stand alone though. Amalie goes from a horrific day at school, taking a bullet for a student back to her hometown of Bordelaise to recover at the place her grandmother left her. Just as she gets settled, a tornado comes through the town and four escaped prisoners barge into her house! Nick is an undercover cop and one of the four prisoners. Now he has to keep both he and Amalie alive despite the other three prisoners and their attraction.
Amalie is a very compassionate, caring person. Though she is the ‘prisoner’ in this situation and recovering from her own injury, she takes care of the criminal that is injured. I like that this book shows the love the two brothers (two of the criminals) have for each other and how they would do anything for each other. Nick is a good guy and a caretaker. He is protective of Amalie from the beginning and their attraction is ill timed for him but inescapable!
I rate this book a 4/5. It is definitely a good read, as is the rest of this series.

Thank you to netGalley for the review copy of this book. I received this book in return for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Giveaway! She's Gone Country by Jane Porter

Book Description:
Shey Darcy, a 39-year-old former top model for Vogue and Sports Illustrated led a charmed life in New York City with a handsome photographer husband until the day he announced he'd fallen in love with someone else. Left to pick up the pieces of her once happy world, Shey decides to move back home to Texas with her three teenage sons. Life on the family ranch, however, brings with it a whole new host of dramas starting with differences of opinion with her staunch Southern Baptist mother, her rugged but overprotective brothers, and daily battles with her three sons who are also struggling to find themselves. Add to the mix Shey's ex-crush, Dane Kelly, a national bullriding champ and she's got her hands full. It doesn't take long before Shey realizes that in order to reinvent herself, she must let go of an uncertain future and a broken past, to find happiness--and maybe love--in the present.

Thanks to Hachette Book Group I have 3 copies to Giveaway!!! Here are the rules.

• You must be a follower to participate
• Leave Me a Comment on THIS post with your e-mail (no e-mail you can't win)
• US & Canadian Residents only
• No PO Boxes
• Hachette Book Group will be sending the copies to the winners
• You have 24 hours to respond if you are contacted as a winner, if you miss the deadline, a new winner will be chosen and contacted.
• Contest is open until September 2, 2010
• Winners will be chosen using a randomizer

Ghost Mountain by Nichole R. Bennett

Ghost Mountain
Moving is stressful enough, but when Cerri Baker moves with her family to the Black Hills of South Dakota, she begins seeing things—things like murder.
Named after a pre-Christian Celtic Goddess, Cerri has spent her life trying to avoid the spirituality and "hocus-pocus" her mother embraces. Once in the Black Hills, Cerri doesn't seem to have much choice as her spirit guide insists she find justice for a
murdered man. As she struggles with her own destiny, Cerri must also convince the FBI that she is getting her information from another realm and not from first-hand knowledge of the murder.

My Thoughts:
I liked this book. Cherri is a mom, writer, and (against her wishes) a 'chosen one' to help avenge wrongs with the help of the spirit world. She and her family are moving and she gets some information from her spirit guide about a murder that has taken place on one of the Native American 'sacred' places. She calls in an anonymous tip which turns out to not be so anonymous when the FBI shows up at her door with lots of questions. Now she has to convince the stubborn, icy FBI agent that she didn't commit the murder only has information that no one else has....
I honestly wasn't sure how the author was going to fit all this together but she did it well! I love the fact that Cherri wants nothing to do with the 'mumbo jumbo' of the spirit world and even considers if she is crazy or not because of her spirit guide. He Who Watches cracks me up. He is the wise old man, who has his own agenda and a pretty good sense of humor. Agent Oliver is a rude, obnoxious, understandably suspicious man who is convinced Cherri knows more than she is telling, but wouldn't believe her if she told him how she got the information so in his mind, she had to have done it. Cherri's mother and sister are wonderfully fun, her husband amazingly supportive and her children are sweetly real! All the characters are very well developed.
I did feel that the ending felt almost rushed. There are some questions I still have about why certain things randomly happened, but maybe they will be answered in the next book, which I'm looking forward to reading!
I rate it a 4/5. It is a good read, but expect some lingering questions!
Thank you to the author for providing me a free review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Giveaway! The Recessionistas by Alexandra Lebenthal

Book Description:
It's the day after Labor Day, 2008, and the elite universe of New York's Upper East Side is about to unravel along with the economy. Socialite Grigsby Somerset is barely aware of her changing world, and has no idea her investment banker husband Blake is about to enter into a devil's bargain with hedge fund owner John Cutter. As autumn unfolds, Grigsby's fairytale life starts to unwind. Street-smart Renee Parker has been hired as John's executive assistant and is convinced that something is amiss with her new boss. Renee enlists her friend Sasha Silver, CEO of Silver Partners, to help her decipher what is happening. They soon discover that John is nearly ruined, except for the assets he is hiding in the Cayman Islands from his wife Mimi, and has concocted with Blake a scheme to redeem himself. This tale of expulsion from a modern-day Garden of Eden captures what happens when economic decline spells ruin for Manhattan's pampered elite.

Thanks to Hachette Book Group I have 3 copies to Giveaway!!! Here are the rules.

• You must be a follower to participate
• Leave Me a Comment on THIS post with your e-mail (no e-mail you can't win)
• US & Canadian Residents only
• No PO Boxes
• Hachette Book Group will be sending the copies to the winners
• You have 24 hours to respond if you are contacted as a winner, if you miss the deadline, a new winner will be chosen and contacted.
• Contest is open until September 1, 2010
• Winners will be chosen using a randomizer

The Secret of Ka by Christopher Pike

Book Description
One minute Sara's bored on vacation in Istanbul. The next, she's unearthed a flying carpet that cleverly drags her to the mysterious Island of the Djinn—or genies. By her side is Amesh, a cute guy she has a crush on but doesn't yet trust. When Amesh learns the secret of invoking djinn, he loses control. He swears he'll call upon only one djinn and make one wish. The plan sounds safe enough. But neither Sara nor Amesh are any match for the monster that that swells before them. It hypnotizes Amesh, compelling him to steal Sara's flying carpet and leave her stranded on the island.

Discovering the carpet has sparked a new path for Sara, one that will lead her to battle creatures even deadlier than djinn. In this fight, Sara can save mankind, herself, or the boy she cares for. Who will she be forced to sacrifice?

My Thoughts
This was a fun book! Sara is on vacation with her father on his job site in Istanbul and bored to tears. She meets Amesh and the adventure begins. Sara discovers a magic carpet and she and Amesh go on a great adventure where there are djinn (magical genies) and other creatures that are supposed to be imaginary. She learns several things she believed were actually lies and her world is quickly turned upside down.
I started reading this book and was immediately completely captivated by the story. I enjoyed Sara very much. She is a hard-headed, loyal to a fault and self sacrificing. Amesh is a sweet but troubled boy. The magic carpet was neat and I'd never thought of doing the 'tricks' with it that the author used! The djinn were portrayed different than I expected and it was a very interesting story and there are some tense moments that surprised me. This was a really fun book and a great start to a new series...I can't wait to read the next one!
I rate this a 4/5. It was a fun, magical read.

Thank you to netGalley for the review copy of this book. I received this book in return for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Sarah's Garden by Kelly Long

Book Description
When Sarah realizes that she has fallen in love with an Englisch doctor, she must choose between her family and her forbidden love.

Deep in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains, shy Sarah King is happiest when working in her vibrant Amish kitchen garden, but new family responsibilities lead her into the confusing world of the Englisch.

Sarah finds her life turned around when she encounters the community’s new Englisch veterinarian, Grant Williams. His blue-gold eyes and his obvious concern for her people attract her immediately. Sarah seeks solace and direction from the Lord as she creates a quilt pattern which details her struggle between two worlds.

The Lord is guiding Sarah to follow His will, but will she listen?

My Thoughts
This book was pretty good. It was my first Amish fiction in a long time and this was a good, sweet read! Sarah takes over the family's roadside fruit/veggie stand and meets Grant Williams who is not Amish. The couple grow as friends then fall in love. Grant leaves and Sarah is left to sort out her feelings.
I loved the language used through the book. The writer definitely did her research on this and incorporated it well into the book. Her father knows from the beginning that Sarah is special and I love how that is shown. Sarah is such a sweet soul and the heartbreak so real that you hurt for her. Grant is a wonderful man with a great heart. The story is realistic and the family is wonderful, can't wait to read more about them!
I rate it a 4/5. Good read with a good message!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

GIVEAWAY!!! Desperate Deeds by Dee Davis

Book Description:
As the demolitions expert for A-Tac, a black-ops CIA unit masquerading as Ivy League faculty, Tyler Hanson has two great loves: literature and explosives. She lives by the motto "Duty First" and doesn't have time for personal attachments . . . until a steamy one-night stand turns into a professional partnership.
When Tyler meets Owen Wakefield, a handsome British operative, she seduces him with no intention of ever seeing him again. But then the sexy Brit is brought into A-Tac, and despite Tyler's efforts to keep her distance, she finds herself falling for him. Trusting him.
Owen seems too good to be true - and he is. He's hiding his true motives and identity, and no matter how he feels about Tyler, he can't keep her secrets. One of A-Tac's members has turned traitor and helped terrorists to hijack a shipment of nuclear weapons. As witnesses start dying and evidence starts disappearing, Owen and Tyler must race to find the mole - and prevent a final, cataclysmic act of destruction.


Thanks to Hachette Book Group I have 3 copies to Giveaway!!! Here are the rules.

• You must be a follower to participate
• Leave Me a Comment on THIS post with your e-mail (no e-mail you can't win)
• US & Canadian Residents only
• No PO Boxes
• Hachette Book Group will be sending the copies to the winners
• You have 24 hours to respond if you are contacted as a winner, if you miss the deadline, a new winner will be chosen and contacted.
• Contest is open until September 1, 2010
• Winners will be chosen using a randomizer

Desperate Deeds by Dee Davis

Book Description:

As the demolitions expert for A-Tac, a black-ops CIA unit masquerading as Ivy League faculty, Tyler Hanson has two great loves: literature and explosives. She lives by the motto "Duty First" and doesn't have time for personal attachments . . . until a steamy one-night stand turns into a professional partnership.

When Tyler meets Owen Wakefield, a handsome British operative, she seduces him with no intention of ever seeing him again. But then the sexy Brit is brought into A-Tac, and despite Tyler's efforts to keep her distance, she finds herself falling for him. Trusting him.

Owen seems too good to be true - and he is. He's hiding his true motives and identity, and no matter how he feels about Tyler, he can't keep her secrets. One of A-Tac's members has turned traitor and helped terrorists to hijack a shipment of nuclear weapons. As witnesses start dying and evidence starts disappearing, Owen and Tyler must race to find the mole - and prevent a final, cataclysmic act of destruction.


My Thoughts:
I very much enjoyed this book. Tyler is the A-Tac team's explosives expert and a literature professor. Owen is a pseudo MI-5 agent, he is Tyler's 'one night stand'. He is trying to catch whoever is selling out the US and British governments and specifically who on the A-Tac Team is a traitor, with Tyler as the main suspect. They soon have to trust each other to find the traitor and keep everyone alive.
I love how the book starts out with action. From the very beginning it catches your attention and doesn't let go until the last page! The relationship between Tyler and Owen is white hot! They have such chemistry in their physical relationship as well as their working relationship. The twists in this book are great and the trust between the A-Tac members is so real! I completely enjoyed it.
I rate this book 4.5/5. It is a great read and part of a wonderful series!
Thank you to the publisher for the complimentary review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

The Recessionistas by Alexandra Lebenthal

Book Description:
It's the day after Labor Day, 2008, and the elite universe of New York's Upper East Side is about to unravel along with the economy. Socialite Grigsby Somerset is barely aware of her changing world, and has no idea her investment banker husband Blake is about to enter into a devil's bargain with hedge fund owner John Cutter. As autumn unfolds, Grigsby's fairytale life starts to unwind. Street-smart Renee Parker has been hired as John's executive assistant and is convinced that something is amiss with her new boss. Renee enlists her friend Sasha Silver, CEO of Silver Partners, to help her decipher what is happening. They soon discover that John is nearly ruined, except for the assets he is hiding in the Cayman Islands from his wife Mimi, and has concocted with Blake a scheme to redeem himself. This tale of expulsion from a modern-day Garden of Eden captures what happens when economic decline spells ruin for Manhattan's pampered elite.

My Thoughts:

This book was ok. It follows a series of people of the 'elitists' of New York through their lives and chronicles what happens to them. Grigsby is the envy of all her friends and EVERYONE who is anyone wants to be close to her. Sasha is a working mom who is being taken for granted and getting the raw end on several deals. John is divorcing Mimi and he and Blake, Grigsby's husband, are making a deal to save face. The financial market tanks and they go with it!

I had a hard time getting into this book. Each chapter is about someone new but they are all intermingled in each others' lives. The author gave lots of details which is generally good, but it seemed monotonous in this book. She obviously knows much about the market and what goes on, but it did not translate well into a fiction book (for me anyway). The characters are very well developed and it is very interesting how all their stories are related.

I rate this book a 2/5. I was hard to get into, but got better the farther you go.

Thank you to Hachette Books for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Guestblogger Kim Upstone Author of All I Want is Everything

Good morning everyone! Please help me welcome my guest blogger Kim Upstone!!

Kim Upstone
All I Want is Everything
Genre: Self-Help/Women’s Issues
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
ISBN:0741458195

Bio
I am one of 9 children born to a business entrepreneur father (still living) and a housewife (deceased). I’ve been married 32 years to my husband Doug who is a sports writer. I have 2 children Melissa who lives in Hawaii and Brent who is married and lives in Tempe, AZ and his wife and they are expecting their first child Grace in August. My husband and I care for my sister Debbie(who is 5 years older than I) she has special needs and of course we have Frank our 4 year old cocker spaniel! (he’s in one of the pics I attached for your amusement) We moved to AZ 7 years ago to get away from the cold.
Kim Upstone is the owner of A New Day A New Vision which is not only the name of her company, but her life philosophy. Kim believes that each new day we can create a new vision for ourselves, home and environment. As an author, motivational speaker and intuitive designer she resides with her family in Scottsdale, Arizona. With a background in interior design and interest into the effects of environment upon individuals. Accreditation in staging and feng shui soon followed, in addition to study in the field of neuro- architecture. Her first book Step by Step To Sold and Feng Shui to Sell are reflections of those principals. Created as guide for home sellers looking to prepare their home by combining Feng Shui and Staging techniques.

Feng Shui for Special Needs, her second book, is given out as a free ebook for people with life and learning challenges. Based on her own personal experience, and working with special needs children and adults to make enhancements to their environments all in an effort to allow them to flourish.

Her new book All I Want Is Everything released in December 2009 is drawn from her life’s journey of searching how to find her everything and learning to dance in the storm. All I Want Is Everything is a guide to help women reclaim happiness and peace in the search for their everything.

Website: http://www.anewdayanewvision.com/

Purchase book on Amazon

Thank you Kim! It's been a pleasure to have you with us today :)

GIVEAWAY Rules of Betrayal by Christopher Reich

The most riveting novel yet in Christopher Reich’s New York Times bestselling series—featuring Dr. Jonathan Ransom and his undercover-agent wife Emma, a dangerous woman with a mysterious past who has gone rogue in the high-stakes, serpentine world of international spies.
In 1980, a secret American B-52 crashes high in a remote mountain range on the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. Nearly thirty years later, and spanning locales from those peaks to New York City, a terrible truth will be revealed.
Jonathan Ransom returns as the resourceful doctor thrown into a shadowy world of double and triple agents where absolutely no one can be trusted. To stay alive, Ransom must unravel the mystery surrounding his wife—an enigmatic and lethal spy who plays by her own rules—and discover where her loyalties truly lie.
Rules of Betrayal is a masterfully plotted novel that cements Christopher Reich’s reputation as one of the most admired espionage thriller writers today.

Thanks to Double Day I have 2 copies to Giveaway!!! Here are the rules.

• You must be a follower to participate
• Leave Me a Comment on THIS post with your e-mail (no e-mail you can't win)
• US Residents only
• No PO Boxes
• Double Day will be sending the copies to the winners
• You have 24 hours to respond if you are contacted as a winner, if you miss the deadline, a new winner will be chosen and contacted.
• Contest is open until August 20, 2010
• Winners will be chosen using a randomizer