Magic Touch Giveaway Hop and Swag Bonanza!!!

This Hop is hosted by author Kallysten and book blog Riverina Romantics.

In addition to individual prizes provided on each blog, we are offering assorted swag to the first 100 participants who simply tell us they want some!

See all details and sign up here.

 

 

 

 

The Magic Touch.....

To me, all books have a "Magic Touch"!

 Books are magic...

 They take you away to an imaginary world all their own.

 

You can go back in time

Be a detective

Fall in love

Go to a new planet

Befriend a vampire

 

There are so many places to be & people to see when you read a book!

 

But, for today (and this hop specifically) let's talk literal magic....

 

One of the first books (series) I read that included literal magic was author Lauren Dane's Witches Knot series:

 

 

 

                

 

This series not only got me hooked on the "Magic" theme but also on Lauren Dane and almost anything she has written!

 

 

 Now for some "magic" for you....

I am giving away a $10 Amazon GC so you can purchase some "magic" of your own!

Please fill out the rafflecopter form below for your chance to win
Then hop on over to the other blogs to see what "magic" they are giving away

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dangerous Refuge by Elizabeth Lowell - spotlight & review

 

Today the tour stops here!

 

 

Dangerous Refuge

By: Elizabeth Lowell

 

Blurb:

Beautiful, sweet Shaye and dark, dangerous Tanner don’t have a lot in common. He’s a suspicious big city cop come home to his family’s ranch and she’s a bleeding heart who works for a group that seeks out ranches to conserve after the owners have passed away.
But the suspicious death of Tanner’s uncle at his ranch throws the two opposites together and sparks fly.

Working as a pair, using Shay’s sweet personality and town connections, as well as Tanner’s experience, they set out to find justice - they never expected to find love along the way as well.

They both say it will just be temporary but when Shay is put in danger, Tanner realizes that he’ll give up just about anything to save the woman he loves. But will he have to sacrifice his life to save hers?

 

Author Info:

Elizabeth Lowell’s many remarkable historical and contemporary novels include New York Times bestsellers, Forget Me Not, Only Love, A Woman Without Lies, Autumn Lover and Winter Fire. Amber Beach, Jade Island, Pearl Cove and Midnight in Ruby Bayou were also instant New York Times bestsellers. Ms. Lowell has more than twenty million books in print. She lives in Nevada with her husband with whom she writes mystery novels under a pseudonym.

 Links:

http://www.elizabethlowell.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethLowellFans

http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Dangerous-Refuge-Elizabeth-Lowell?isbn=9780062132710&HCHP=TB_Dangerous+Refuge

 

Review:

It's been many years since I read an Elizabeth Lowell novel. Why is that? You may ask...simple, I read every single historical she put out & then I stopped reading the historical genre altogether. I never bothered to read any of her contemporary novels she put out (or many other of my favorite historical authors that put out contemporary for that matter) I had just moved on to new to me authors in new to me genres.
I was given the opportunity to read & review this contemporary romance by Elizabeth Lowell and I jumped on the chance. I am so glad I did. I should have known it would be great because all the historicals I read of hers were fantastic! This was no different! It was her great writing as usual (smacks head for being stupid)

This book was so fast paced & intriguing that I read it in one sitting. It opens with a great "who dunnit" mystery that had me baffled for almost 3/4's of the book. I loved the "back & forth" between Shaye & Tanner. Shaye seemed sweet and innocent of life except when it came to tough guy Tanner, where she showed she could hold her own in conversation & hard loving! These two were a perfect pair and balanced each other well.

 I absolutely loved this book!

ALL 5 KEYS!

 

 

 

 

Welcome author of Chica Bella, Carly Fall!!!!

Thank you to author Carly Fall for stopping by today!

 

 

Five Facts About Navy SEALs

In Chica Bella, Landon is a Navy SEAL who is ready for retirement. He had spent a long time on deployment, and he is ready to leave the military life and settle down in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where the woman he loves, Maya, lives. But he's uncertain if he will be able to get that retirement he wants before the next deployment.

However, Maya is tired of worrying about him when he deploys, and isn't sure if her heart can take him back.

One phone call can make or break their relationship.

We all know that Navy SEALs are highly trained bad asses, but here are some facts that you may not know about the SEALs:

1. Between 75-80% of men who volunteer to go through the grueling SEAL training don't make it.

2. "The Budweiser" is the nickname for the SEAL trident. It was given this name because the Eagle on the badge resembles the eagle on can of Budweiser.

3. To become a Navy SEAL, it takes at least a year and half from boot camp until he is ready to join a SEAL team. After being placed on a team, he usually had another year or more for training prior to his first deployment.

4. The Navy SEALs aren't open to women.

5. Navy SEALs make up less that 1% of all United States Navy Personnel.

Although Landon is fictional, he is definitely the best of the best. Who doesn't love a SEAL?

Chica Bella by Carly Fall

Blurb

Landon “Blackhawk” Walker is ready to get out of the Navy SEALs. He has seen and done enough, and can’t wait to get to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where three tasks await him: get back into civilian mode, take a boat out to the El Arco Rocks, and win back the heart of the woman he lost because of his career.

Maya Gonzalez has tired of the heartbreak that comes with Landon’s deployments year after year. When he walks back into her life, she cannot deny her heart, despite her reservations.

As they lose themselves in each other and the beauty of Cabo, their passion is rekindled once again, but Maya knows that one phone call means deployment for Landon, putting an end to their reunion, and possibly their relationship.

 

 

Excerpt

“Where were you?” she finally asked, her voice quiet.

“Afghanistan.”

He didn’t look at her, but he felt her body tense next to his. “Were you hurt?”

He shrugged, but then thought better of trying to blow off her questions. Maya had always said she wanted nothing but honesty from him, and he had been the one to offer this Q&A.

“I took some shrapnel in my chest, but it was all superficial.” He gazed down at her as she studied his chest as if she could see the wounds he was talking about.

“Did you kill?” she whispered, her stare never leaving his chest.

Dammit. This was the part he hated because she abhorred violence, but killing was his job. If he didn’t take out the bad guys, they would kill American soldiers, and he would be damned if that happened on his watch. “Yes.”

She closed her eyes for a moment.

“Did you think of me?”

“Oh, God, Maya.” He put his finger under her chin and turned her face to his. Her brown eyes sparkled with tears that made his heart feel as though it might quit beating. “Maya, it’s always you. It’s thinking of you that made me want to stay alive. It’s the thought of your smile, your face, your body pressed up against mine that kept me warm at night, the sound of your laughter that made me smile when I felt like I couldn’t smile again. Maya....”

He didn’t know what else to say, so he did what he had wanted to do since the day he left her almost a year ago. He brought his lips to hers.

 Available from:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00C50WRDQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00C50WRDQ&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelthouse-21

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C50WRDQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00C50WRDQ&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelt-20

 

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chicabella-1150406-149.html?referrer=6bdb1f9160564c0525b41f36e51861a0
 

http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=754&osCsid=p5opkc7r052pg0uqghpucifcq3

 

Author Bio & Links

Carly Fall is a wife, a mother and a slave to Nicky the dog.

She loves to laugh, and thinks chocolate and wine should be considered their own food group. She also wishes Christmas happened twice a year.

When she isn't spending time with her family or reading a good book, she can be found writing fantasy and contemporary romance.

www.carlyfall.com

Twitter:  @CarlyFall1

FB:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carly-Fall/135934843166283?ref=hl

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/CarlyFall 

 

My Review:

Chica Bella was a fun, sexy, sensual read! WOW! As much as I think I would love to have a SEAL of my own....to have to live your life around waiting for that phone call that would take him away again would be so hard. It's a  wonder that Maya didn't give up on Landon. This is the first book that I have read from the Honor Guard series and I know I will be reading more.

Giveaway Details:

ANY DECADENT PUBLISHING EBOOK (winner's choice).

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

just in case the rafflecopter is not working please follow the link below:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/OTkwY2YxYjA3ZGJmM2FiMDQ5MGM0OGQ2NzYwZjE2OjMy/

Evernight Book Boyfriend Blog Hop

Book Boyfriends...

They can be strong and sexy, dark and dangerous, rebellious and reckless or cute and quirky. We love to escape into their world and fall in love with these irresistible heroes. Evernight Publishing has them all and I’m helping them show off their favorites in the Book Boyfriend Blog Hop!

 

The authors of Evernight invite you to a Speed Date challenge. Their cowboys, Doms, detectives, millionaires, royalty, vampires, soldiers, shifters, even steam-powered heroes are waiting to meet you on each author website.

So pull up a chair and get to know every single one. Here’s who you’ll meet:

 

Nicola Cameron’s IAN WEST

Karyn Gerrard’s DEEGAN BLACK

Stacey Espino’s CALLUM O’SHEA

Raven McAllan’s RYAN CULLIVER

Cait Jarrod’s JAKE GIBSON

 Jenika Snow’s DOMINIC

CR Moss and RM Sotera's ANDREW MATHISON/DALTON DOUGAN

Morgan King’s ARTHUR EARL OF HENTONBURY

Sandra Bunino’s JASON ROYCE

Carlene Love Flores’ LUCKY MASON

R. Brennan’s RICHARD HALSTEAD

Nicky Penttila’s ELLIOTT

Doris O’Connor’s GRISHA

D.C. Stone’s BARI DEXTER 

Robin Badillo’s TUCKER WILDE

Tyler Robbins’ JARED PROPHET

Erin M. Leaf’s SETH DUSTIN

Marie E. Blossom’s ZERFIRINO

Elyzabeth M. VaLey’s ADRIAN ORMONDE

Michelle Clay’s JAMES "SULLY" SULLIVAN

Emma Shortt’s GEORGE CONSTANTINOU

Christle Gray’s DRACO TARALUNDAR

Ella Grey’s ALEX WINCHESTER

Lila Shaw’s ADAM

Ashlynn Monroe’s SAWYER

Kastil Eavenshade’s MATT

Lilith Duvalier’s ALARIC

Kacey Hammell’s HUNTER SULLIVAN

Shyla Colt’s KELLY QUINN

Diane Thorne’s STEPHEN

TC Collins’ ADAM RIVERS

Luxie Ryder’s MALACHI BANE

Michaela Rhua’s MICHAEL

Charisma Knight's DANE 

Lorraine Nelson’s LUKE MANNING

Tina Pollick’s GABRIEL 

Avril Ashton's WES DUMONT

Sam Crescent's WAYNE 

Marie Medina's BASTIAN

London Saint James' LORD ASHTON ARCHER

Kathleen Grieve's DR. CRUZ AVERY

Siobhan Muir's FREDRICK MACGREGOR

Shawn Lane's JOE 

Adonis Devereux's KAMEN 

James Cox's THE OUTLAW 

Hazel Gower's CALEB 

Angelina Rain's DANIEL

Stephanie Berget's SEAN O'CONNELL

Isabella Olivia Ellis' LORD LUKE STONE

Anna Keraleigh’s WICK 

 

Wow! What a line-up!

 What’s up for grabs?

•             One lucky hopper will win a KINDLE PAPERWHITE eREADER sponsored by Evernight Publishing.

•             I am a book addict...and proud of it is giving away one free eBook from Evernight (winner’s choice of any eBook from Evernight Publishing’s website).

•             Plus, visit each blog hop stop for a host of fabulous prizes!

How to enter?

Tell me about your favorite hero trait and why in the comment section below. Be sure you leave your email address to be eligible to win a prize.

Keep hopping to the next author or blogger. After you’ve met each hero click here to vote for your favorite book boyfriend. You’ll earn an extra grand prize entry!

 You’re one step closer to meeting your next Book Boyfriend...

 

 

 

Stuck On You by Heather Thurmeier spotlight, review, & contest

 

 

 

Today, the tour stops here!

Check out all the info & my review about the book. Then enter to win a $20.00 Amazon/B&N Gift Card! Don't forget to check out the other stops along the tour.
 

 

Stuck On You by Heather Thurmeier

 

Blurb:

If being forced to team up with reality TV’s favorite bad girl wasn’t enough, falling for her brother might just make this reality show a real nightmare.

Paige Anderson agrees to be on a new reality show called Treasure Trekkers, a show where contestants use handheld GPS units to find hidden caches filled with prizes, with her good friend Cassidy. But when Cassidy is unable to compete, Chip Cormack, the show’s producer, steps in with a last-minute replacement to be Paige’s partner - Zoe Oliver, reality TV’s favorite bad girl.

Jack Miles (aka Miles) is a mountain climber with the body to prove it. Miles convinced his climbing partner Ben to come on the show with him for one reason - to prove to Ben that they can still hike together, regardless of the fact that Ben lost his foot in a tragic accident. Miles isn’t about to let anything get in his way of winning - not even beautiful Paige.

But when Miles and Paige are thrown into an alliance with their teammates, working closely together leads to more than just good strategy. Can Paige steal Miles’ heart while surviving Zoe long enough to win the game?



 

 



 Excerpt:

Paige Anderson stood on the outskirts of the staging area under a clear blue sky trying her best not to hurl on her new hiking boots. She’d made a mistake. She didn’t stand a chance against teams like Mr. Muscles and Friend—Team Everest, according to the official game team names—or any of the others for that matter.

Speaking of Mr. Muscles, every time she glanced his way—which seemed to be more and more often—she’d catch him staring at her when he was supposed to be engaging in conversation with his teammate. This time when her eyes caught his, she noted his subtle eyebrow raise and a tiny smirk pulling up the corners of his mouth. Combine that with his light brown hair and sun-kissed skin, and it was hard to look away. Not to mention a little twinkle of something interesting in his dark chocolate eyes she couldn’t quite pinpoint but found incredibly intriguing nonetheless. She tried to look away but it was difficult when Mr. Muscles stood there with his arms folded across his chest, biceps bulging against his thin cotton t-shirt.

Poor material doesn’t stand a chance.

She swallowed the sudden urge to comfort the pathetic t-shirt that looked as if it were a single pushup away from tearing and forced her eyes to keep moving. She couldn’t enjoy the man-candy competition fully while her own teammate was still MIA.

Where the hell was Cassidy? She should have arrived yesterday or the day before like everyone else, and yet Paige hadn’t heard from her. Nor had Cassidy answered any of the texts or voicemails she’d left before the show’s producer Chip had confiscated her phone. How were they supposed to survive on an adventure show if they couldn’t even communicate their whereabouts before the show started?

Cassidy and Paige had become fast friends the year before while on a different reality show—one where they’d both vied for a bachelor’s attention, along with eight other women. Out of all the women on the show, Cassidy was the nicest and most beautiful and it came as no surprise to Paige when not only the bachelor, but also a cameraman, had fallen in love with Cassidy during the show.

Of course, Paige hadn’t made it anywhere near the finale with bachelor Brad. Nope. She’d been sent packing at the third elimination—humiliated and crushed.

Thank God this wasn’t another dating show. No chance of major televised rejection to tarnish the experience. No sexy bachelor to distract her and Cassidy from winning the money and prizes.


Her eyes flickered back to Mr. Muscles again as if to prove her theory wrong right from the start. Damn. He was built to climb mountains. She’d like to climb his mountain.


     Yeah, right. In my dreams.

Review:

This book was funtastic!! I read it straight through from begining to end  - non-stop! 
It had adventure, sweet romance, humor, and even a tiny bit of mystery! I loved how Paige wasn't quite comfortable with who she was and tried all sorts of things to change but, in the end she realized she was perfect just the way she was. I thought that Miles pushing Ben to "get back out there" was very sweet and he honestly thought he was doing the right thing for his best friend. By the end, I even liked Zoe (and look forward to finding out if she will get her own book)

 5 KEYS!!!!

 

 

 



Buy links:

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stuck-on-you-heather-thurmeier/1114192566?ean=9781440552038 iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/stuck-on-you/id593166777?mt=11

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Stuck-You-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B00B03EHTG/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_4_G5DT

Author bio:

Heather Thurmeier is a lover of strawberry margaritas, a hater of spiders, and a reality TV junkie. She was born and raised in the Canadian prairies, but now lives in upstate New York with her own personal romance hero (aka her husband) and their two little princesses. When she's not busy taking care of the kids and an adventurous puppy named Indy, Heather's hard at work on her next romance novel.

"Heather Thurmeier's hunky heroes and feisty heroines will have you laughing out loud, falling in love ... and coming back for more!" ~ Carly Phillips, NY Times Bestselling Author

"Heather Thurmeier writes sweet, funny romances that capture your heart!" --NYT and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Probst

Author Links:

Website: http://heatherthurmeier.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HeatherThurmeierAuthor?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hthurmeier

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5211580.Heather_Thurmeier

Pinertrest: http://pinterest.com/hthurmeier/

email: heatherthurmeier@gmail.com

 Heather is offering a $20.00 Amazon/B&N Gift Card to

 ONE LUCKY COMMENTER

(Just Comment below to enter)

Then check out the other stops on the tour here:

 

 



Her Cowboy's Heart by Marissa Dobson

Her Cowboy's Heart by Marissa Dobson

 

 

Blurb:

A life threatening attack woke Jackie Wilder up. Tired of waiting, her lioness is determined to convince her mate to claim her.
Haunted by his past, Kevin Roberts doesn’t dare allow anyone close, not even the woman he knows is his mate. Years spent as a lab experiment left their scars on his body.

 But when a lioness hunts, his desire may be their undoing.
Can Jackie help him shed the shackles of his past? Or will his scars rend them apart?



Buy Links:

 

Sunshine Press ~ Kindle ~ Nook ~ Smashwords ~ All Romance Ebooks

ISBN: 978-1-939978-01-1


Excerpt:
Jackie Wilder struggled to sit up and her head swam. Every fiber of her body screamed out in pain when she moved, but she was tired of being stuck in bed. Tired of staring at nothing, but the pale blue walls of her room at Half Moon Harbor Resort. Her twin sister, Jacey, pushed open the bedroom door and relief washed through Jackie. It wasn’t Kevin Roberts.

Jacey, Jay, and she had always been the closest of the Wilder siblings. While the rest of their sisters were off exploring the world, they had stayed in Wilderville to assert themselves as leaders of their family pride.

“Jacey, what happened with Kevin? He sits here by my side hour after hour, yet he won’t speak to me. When I ask him a question, I get nothing but a few words. Things were always so easy between us. The friendship we shared is gone, and I don’t understand why.” The words poured out the moment Jacey shut the door giving them at least the idea of privacy. In a house full of lion shifters privacy was rare.

“Jackie, you were brutally attacked. He’s coming to terms with the fact we almost lost you.” Jacey sat on the edge of the bed, ignoring the damp spot created by her wet pink bikini. “You should have seen him when we got the news. It hit him hard, he’s realizing he could have lost you before he had the opportunity to claim you as his mate. Give him time.”

Jacey still struggled with finding her mate at such an inopportune time. She wasn’t prepared to accept Blake until her abusive ex Gray was completely out of her life and the only way that would happen was with his death.

“Give him time? Time to what? Deny what’s between us? I can’t sit around waiting for him forever. We’re supposed to be—destined to be together and he needs to accept that.” The pain of his denial ran through her like ice water. Quickly she closed the dam, refusing to give him satisfaction of tears, yet her heart broke knowing her mate was in the other room denying her. What’s so wrong with me that he would deny me?

“What do you want him to do, claim you while you’re still recovering?” Jacey tried to laugh it off but when Jackie remained mute, her twin raised an eyebrow in question.
“Yes.” Ignoring the nausea swamping her when she moved, Jackie scooted up further in the bed. “After the attack, I didn’t know if I’d make it. I was so cold. He was all I could think about. I wanted him there with me, to feel his touch one last time. To feel his lips on mine. Nicholas kept telling me Kevin would be there soon.”

 Tears coated her throat. “But damn it, I’ve known for over a year he was my mate, and he had to have known longer. I shouldn’t have had to wait all this time and I sure the hell won’t have to wait any longer.”

Author Bio:

Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, Marissa Dobson now resides about an hour from Washington, D.C. She is a lady who likes to keep busy, and is always busy doing something. With two different college degrees, she believes you are never done learning.
Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave her the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read she has always had her nose in a book. It wasn’t until she was a teenager that she started writing down the stories she came up with.
Marissa is blessed with a wonderful supportive husband, Thomas. He is her other half and allows her to stay home and pursue her writing. He puts up with all her quirks and listens to her brainstorm in the middle of the night.
Her writing buddies Max (a cocker spaniel) and Dawne (a beagle mix) are always around to listen to me bounce ideas off them. They might not be able to answer, but they are helpful in their own ways.

She love to hear from readers so send her an email at marissa@marissadobson.com or visit her online at http://www.marissadobson.com.

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