Tuesday, June 27, 2017

$100 Blast: Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Series

Escape to Indigo Bay…
Six authors. Six Sweet Romances. One small South Carolina beach town.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweet Dreams by Stacy Claflin
Ever since her twin became a singing sensation, Sky Hampton has struggled to be appreciated for who she is—apart from her sister. She wards off Aspen’s fans, who beg for autographs and selfies everywhere Sky goes. She can’t even find a guy who likes her for her. Sky flees to the small coastal town of Indigo Bay in hopes of blending in and building her blossoming career.
Jace Fisher is the textbook definition of the strong silent type—nobody can break through his tough exterior. He has suffered more than his fair share of tragedies, and to protect his shattered heart, he pushes everyone away. Jace spends his days fixing the Indigo Bay cottages, and his nights… nobody really knows. He keeps to himself.
When Jace shows up to fix Sky’s AC, he barely notices her and she’s distracted with settling in. It takes an emergency situation to get them talking, and when they do, the two find they have more in common than first appeared. As their attraction grows, defenses soar. Will they be able to risk love when they’ve both been burned in the past?
Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweet Matchmaker by Jean Oram
Ginger McGinty hates liars. And she just married a spy.
Bridal shop owner Ginger McGinty excels at matchmaking unless it’s for herself. That is, until she meets the dreamy Aussie who helps her get into an event meant for engaged couples. Logan Stone is sweet, caring, thoughtful and fun—everything she desires in a man. But it turns out, her new fake fiancΓ© could use a bit more than just a pretend engagement to get him into parties—he needs a quick marriage keep him in the country so he can be with his adopted special needs daughter.
With a marriage of convenience pro-con list longer than the average wedding veil, Ginger puts her faith in romance and offers Logan her hand in return for one thing—no lies.
But little does she know, almost everything she knows about her new husband is based on a lie.
Everything except his kisses and the way he accidentally spills his soul whenever they meet. And that’s quickly becoming a problem for Logan Stone who depends on distance and deceit to keep civilians such as Ginger safe from his enemy’s clutches.
Will the two find love in their marriage of convenience, or will everything break apart when the truth rises to the surface, shattering everything, including their trust?
Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweet Sunrise by Kay Correll
Sometimes life has a way of teaching lessons whether you’re ready to learn them or not…
The last place on earth Will Layton wants to be is Indigo Bay, but his younger sister needs him and he’s never been able to say no to her. But she left out a few details… like their father staying with her and the girl who dumped him years ago is living right next door.
The last person Dr. Ashley Harden thought she’d see in Indigo Bay is Will Layton, but he’s back in town and just as irresistible as when they were young. Seeing Will again is a complication that isn’t on her carefully mapped out life plan.
In spite of Ashley’s best intentions, she starts falling for Will again, but nothing has changed. She’s still focused on getting the townspeople to accept her and see her as more than the girl from the wrong side of town, while Will is determined to guard his heart at any cost.
Not the easiest road to true love… especially when secrets from the past are revealed and history threatens to repeat itself.
Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweet Illusions by Jeanette Lewis
Eva Malone was very young when her mother forced the family to join a violent doomsday cult, but she remembers a little about how normal life used to be. As a young woman, she escapes the cult and relocates to Indigo Bay, South Carolina to pursue her dream of peaceful anonymity.
After several tumultuous years as a policeman in Atlanta, Ben Andrews has had enough. He returns home to Indigo Bay and joins the Indigo Bay PD, where the most exciting part of the job is getting a kitten out of a tree or rescuing tourists who lose their keys at the beach.
Eva and Ben are immediately drawn to each other. But as the prophesied date of the apocalypse draws near and the cult steps up its efforts to find her, Eva realizes she can’t maintain her sweet illusion forever.
Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweet Regrets by Jennifer Peel
Melanie Dixon never thought she would find herself divorced, pregnant, and living back with her parents in Indigo Bay. Not one to let misfortune get the best of her, she picks up the broken pieces of her life and bit by bit puts them back together. She’s determined to go it alone, but her loving and equally determined family and friends have another idea.
Enter Declan Shaw, the boy next door from long ago. The boy she wasn’t quite ready to commit forever to at eighteen. Back in Indigo Bay due to a recent job promotion, Declan sees this as a second chance to reunite with the girl who has owned his heart since the day they met in their junior year of high school. But Melanie is a tougher sell on the idea than he thought she would be. Now it’s up to him to prove to Melanie that she can trust him with her heart and that he’s the man she and her baby deserve.
Will the regret and hurt of the past win out? Or will love prevail?
Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweet Rendezvous by Danielle Stewart
On her last tank of gas Elaine Mathews drives South. Spontaneity had never been her strength, but there was something about being publicly fired that had a way of changing things. An empty bank account, broken heart, and enough humiliation to last a life time was all Elaine could claim as her own. Her car choked to a stop in the quiet beach town of Indigo Bay and all she could do was sit on the curb and wait for the sun to set on her misery.
Davis Mills has a routine. Wake. Work. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. It hadn’t always been that way. He’d left indigo bay once and returned a broken man. Now he kept his dreams small and his schedule tight. If there was no room in his life for anything new then he’d never repeat his mistakes.
When fate has them, quite literally colliding Elaine and Davis are faced with an important question. Can you live a full life if you never take a risk? Or is life made up of every mistake, miracle and chance that comes with being in love?
Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Google
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
amazon or paypal$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway
Ends 7/17/17
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

If I Only Had Today


This post has been in the making for a while. Just over a week ago, Chad Seely, a dear family friend suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. He was only 45. He and his wife have been stellar examples and teachers for me - I had the wonderful opportunity to have them as my Sunday School teachers for a whole year! They truly lived what they taught and am so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to know and associate with them.

Chad’s passing affected me more than I expected. My grandpa (Grandpa "Perfect") passed away a little over a year ago, and while it was hard, it was time - he was in a lot of pain and had lived a good life. For the last few years, my family and I realized that our time with him was limited, so we treated our time with him like we knew it might be the last time we saw him, talked to him, and made jokes with him. With my family friend, nobody knew that his time was growing short.

This got me thinking: if I or someone I know pretty well passed away suddenly, what would my biggest regret be? I think it would be the things I never said. Although I'd like to think I express my appreciation pretty often, there are still things I haven't said that I wished I had. Little things like "thank you for calling me that day or for the example you set for so many years".

This has been a bit of a wakeup call - when I think about thanking someone, I automatically think, "no, I have to do it in a pretty card and it has to be PERFECT". With Chad's passing, I am reminded that no one's time on earth is guaranteed and it's better to have a simple text that they actually read than a gorgeous card that is never seen.

In at least one of President Monson's talks, he quoted John Greenleaf Whittier's "Maude Muller",

For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’”


President Monson, in his talk, Love - The Essence of the Gospel said, “Usually our love will be shown in our day-to-day interactions one with another. All important will be our ability to recognize someone’s need and then to respond. I have always cherished the sentiment expressed in the short poem:

I have wept in the night
For the shortness of sight
That to somebody’s need made me blind;
But I never have yet
Felt a tinge of regret
For being a little too kind.” (Author unknown)
This was a poignant reminder to me to fully LIVE life and not just let it pass me by. You never know when that moment won't be there anymore. What am I waiting for?! What is holding me back? How do I want to be remembered? If another friend were to pass away, would they know what they meant to me and how they impacted my life?
I took this heart - I thought of my former boss and how grateful I was for her influence and example, so I texted her. This revived a connection and created an opportunity to stay in contact. Lately, if I think about someone, I send them a message, see how they are doing, or thank them for the example they have been (and maybe tell them how much I appreciate seeing cute pictures of their baby...). It's may not be earth-shattering, but thinking about if I only had today has helped me to be more mindful of those around me, especially those I love.
If I Only Had Today by Hillary Weeks

*This song is beautiful with wonderful lyrics (included below) and helped me to develop and process my thoughts for this post.

If I Only Had Today - HILARY WEEKS
It seems like I've watched a million sunsets
And stared at a thousand full moons.
Sometimes it feels like I've been here forever
And sometimes it all feels brand new.


I could never count the heartbeats
From the day I was born until now.
But not a single one goes unnoticed
By Him who breathes life in me somehow.


But if there were no more tomorrows
If I knew that I could not stay.
I know how I'd spend every minute.
If only I had today.


I'd hold you and listen
And I'd let the dishes sit in the sink.
I'd tell you I loved you over and over
And for once I'd just let the phone ring.
Then I'd remind you of forever
And how our love would never change.
If I only had today.


I'd wake up before the sun did
And I'd watch as you quietly sleep.
I'd pray for time to move slowly
Knowing the moment won't keep.
All the gifts that Heaven has given
Every blessing that's come my way.
Wouldn't mean anything without you


So if I only had today.
I'd hold you and listen
I'd memorize every detail of you face.
I'd tell you I loved you over and over
I wouldn't let excuses get in the way.
Then I'd remind you of forever
And how our love would never change.
If I only had today.


There's no time like the present.
Life doesn't come with any guarantees.
The sun will set and time won't wait
So while I have today:
I'll hold you and listen
And I'd let the dishes sit in the sink.
I'll tell you I loved you over and over
And for once I'll just let the phone ring.
Then I'll remind you of forever
And how our love would never change.
If I only had today.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

This novella packs a punch! - A Midwinter's Wedding: A Four Kingdoms Novella


By Melanie Cellier
The Four Kingdoms #3.5

🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴(5)

This was a fantastic novella! Even though it was short, it still had phenomenal character development and progression. Great balance of romance and adventure, all in a beautiful take on a fairytale that is done very well!

For more by this author and in this series, click here

*This is available for purchase and on Kindle Unlimited. Don't know what Kindle Unlimited is, check it out here! 

Beautiful reimagining of a classic fairytale - The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty

By Melanie Cellier
The Four Kingdoms #4

🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴(5)

I have LOVED these books so much! This was a fantastic addition. Like always, Melanie Cellier has managed to take a well known story and completely rework it into a gorgeous, multi-faceted gem with romance, adventure, flawed characters and masterful character development. Clean, I'd rate it PG

For more by this author and in this series, click here


*This is available for purchase and on Kindle Unlimited. Don't know what Kindle Unlimited is, check it out here! 

Phenomenal fairy tale reimagining - The Princess Pact: A Twist on Rumpelstiltskin

By Melanie Cellier
The Four Kingdoms #3

🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴(5)

This was quite an interesting book! It was unique and I love the twists on well-known fairytales that were used. I really enjoyed switching between the perspectives of different characters, it added a great depth and was very natural, not at all forced or choppy. All in all, sweet and fun twist on a fairytale. I would rate it PG and clean.

For more by this author and in this series, click here

*This is available for purchase and on Kindle Unlimited. Don't know what Kindle Unlimited is, check it out here! 

Fantastic Novella - Happily Ever Afters: A Four Kingdoms Novella

By Melanie Cellier
The Four Kingdoms #2.5

🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴(5)


I adored this novella! It was the perfect fit with the series and with the "minor" characters that I really wanted to see more of! It was full of adventure and sweet romance! Well-written and worthy of this series!

For more by this author and in this series, click here


*This is available for purchase and on Kindle Unlimited. Don't know what Kindle Unlimited is, check it out here! 

Kindle Unlimited Catch of the Day: Series Edition

The Four Kingdoms Series by Melanie Cellier

#1

#2
#2.5

Phenomenal fairy tale reimagining - The Princess Fugitive: A Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood

By Melanie Cellier
Book 2 in the Four Kingdoms Series

🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴 (5)

I ADORED this book too! The author brilliantly reimagined this story! The character development was phenomenal, as usual. It was so unique and beautiful. The romance and adventure were well done and balanced. I would rate this clean, PG. 

For more by this author and in this series, click here

*This is available for purchase and on Kindle Unlimited. Don't know what Kindle Unlimited is, check it out here! 

Skillful Reimagination - The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea

By Melanie Cellier
The Four Kingdoms Book 1

🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴(5)

This was quite an interesting book! It was unique and I love the twists on well-known fairytales that were used. I really enjoyed switching between the perspectives of different characters, it added a great depth and was very natural, not at all forced or choppy. All in all, sweet and fun twist on a fairytale. I would rate it PG and clean. 

For more by this author and in this series, click here

*This is available for purchase and on Kindle Unlimited. Don't know what Kindle Unlimited is, check it out here! 

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

May Reading List

Indulgence Row
Sweet Confections by Danyelle Ferguson
Love Under Construction by Danyelle Ferguson

No Match for Love
Strike a Match  by Lindzee Armstrong
Meet Your Match by Lindzee Armstrong
Miss Match by Lindzee Armstrong
Not Your Match by Lindzee Armstrong
Mix 'N Match by Lindzee Armstrong
Mistletoe Match by Lindzee Armstrong

Magnolias and Moonshine
Taste of Tara by Shanna Hatfield
From Now On: Atlanta Belles by Raine English
The Sassy Bride: Gone with the Brides  by Ciara Knight
A Strange Twist of Fate by Debra Erfert
Sweet Georgia Peach by Amelia C. Adams
Hit and Run Love  by Jennifer Peel
It Could Happen to Us by Lucy McConnell
A Kiss is Just a Kiss: The Summer Bridesmaids by Melinda Curtis
Sweet Love of Mine by Lindi Peterson
The Wedding Charm by Susan Hatler
Anxious in Atlanta (At the Altar Book 12) by Jennifer Peel
Paige's Turn by Jennifer Peel

The Sweethaven Circle
A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh
A Sweethaven Homecoming by Courtney Walsh
A Sweethaven Christmas by Courtney Walsh

Griffin Force Series
The Captive by Julie Coulter Bellon
The Captain by Julie Coulter Bellon
The Capture by Julie Coulter Bellon

REAL life fairy tale - Kindle Unlimited
Beauty and the Beast: a REAL life fairy tale by Jamie Brook Thompson
The Frogg Princess: a REAL life fairy tale by Jamie Brook Thompson
Sleeping Beauty: a REAL life fairy tale by

Destined for Love: Europe - Kindle Unlimited
Desperately Seeking Mr. Right  by Sally Johnson
Kiss Me in the Moonlight  by Lindzee Armstrong
Meet Me At Sunrise by Lucinda Whitney
Once Upon a Wish  by Danyelle Ferguson

Hold Me At Twilight by Lucinda Whitney *Companion to Meet Me at Sunrise

Hearts in Peril: Destination Billionaire Romance by Kaylee Baldwin
End Zone: Book 7 Last Play Romance Series by Taylor Hart
Grace to Save: Contemporary Christian Romance  by Carol Moncado
The Lifeguard, the New Guy, & Frozen Custard by Carol Moncado
A Twist of Faith: Will a wager against her future steal her chance at true love? by Pepper Basham
My American Angel by Brooke St. James
Matchmaker for Hire by Rachel John
Accidentally in Love: Kam's Story by Shannon Guymon
Beauty and the Billionaire Beast: Destination Billionaire Romance by Maria Hoagland
A Nashville Collection: Nashville Dreams and Nashville Sweetheart by Rachel Hauck
The Dating Experiment by Elodia Strain
Right Where We Belong by Deborah Raney, Melissa Tagg, Courtney Walsh
Cancun Getaway by Cami Checketts
Tomorrow's Lullaby by Lindzee Armstrong
Cowboy Reality Romance: Tayson by Erica Penrod

Going Home by Robbin J. Peterson
Sense and Second Chances by Brittany Larsen
Wrong For You by Jenny Proctor



April Reading List

Enchanted Inc. 
Enchanted Inc by Shanna Swendson
Once Upon Stilettos by Shanna Swendson
Damsel Under Stress by Shanna Swendson
Don't Hex with Texas by Shanna Swendson
Much Ado About Magic  by Shanna Swendson
No Quest for the Wicked  by Shanna Swendson
Kiss and Spell by Shanna Swendson
Frogs and Kisses by Shanna Swendson
*I ADORED this series and will be writing up reviews soon!

Carol Moncado Books (Most on Kindle Unlimited)
Gifts of Love: Contemporary Christian Romance  by Carol Moncado
Manuscripts & Mistletoe by Carol Moncado
Good Enough For a Princess by Carol Moncado
Along Came A Prince by Carol Moncado
More Than A Princess by Carol Moncado
Hand Me Down Princess by Carol Moncado
Winning the Queen's Heart by Carol Moncado
Prince From Her Past by Carol Moncado
Protecting the Prince by Carol Moncado
Finding Mr. Write by Carol Moncado
Finally Mr. Write by Carol Moncado
Discovering Home by Carol Moncado
Glimpsing Hope by Carol Moncado

Finding Love Romance
Finding Love In Big Sky, Montana by Angela Ruth Strong
Finding Love in Park City, Utah: by Angela Ruth Strong
Finding Love in Sun Valley, Idaho by Angela Ruth Strong

Chasing Red by Lauren Winder Farnsworth
How to Train a Husband  by Sarah Gay
How To See With Your Heart  by Jennifer Youngblood

Walk of Infamy (Rhea Jensen Series Book 6) by Sheralyn Pratt
Pimpernel by Sheralyn Pratt

Happily Ever After (Cinder & Ella #2) by Kelly Oram
Love Stung by Brooke St. James
Table for One: An Inspirational Romance by Leah Atwood
I Heart You: 5 Contemporary Christian Romances by
Lost Without You by Annette Lyon
Love at First Laugh: Eight Romantic Novellas Filled with Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever After by
Saints & Suspects (Saints & Spies Book 2) by Jordan McCollum

Suddenly Starstruck  by Brooke St. James
Delay of Game by Lucy McConnell
Cowboy Reality Romance: Jaxon by Erica Penrod
Reluctant Rescue  by Cami Checketts
Never Ever After by Lucy McConnell

March Reading List

Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden
Friends and Foes by Sarah M. Eden
Drops of Gold  by Sarah M. Eden
As You Are by Sarah M. Eden
A Fine Gentleman by Sarah M. Eden
The Athletic Groom by Lucy McConnell
Always Will by Melanie Jacobson
Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore
Lady Emma's Campaign by Jennifer Moore
Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince by Jennifer Moore
Simply Anna by Jennifer Moore

Fircrest Series
Love and Dessert: 
You Belong with Me by Shannon Guymon
I Belong with You by Shannon Guymon
My Sweetheart by Shannon Guymon
Love and Trust: 
Come to Me by Shannon Guymon
Be Mine by Shannon Guymon
Tough Love by Shannon Guymon
Love and Flowers: 
Falling for Rayne by Shannon Guymon
Dreaming of Ivy by Shannon Guymon
A Passion for Cleo by Shannon Guymon
Love and Weddings: 
My One and Only by Shannon Guymon
Free Fallin  by Shannon Guymon
At Last by Shannon Guymon

The Most Important Catch by Jaclyn Hawkes
At the Stroke of Midnight: A Sweet Romance  by Kate Palmer
Shot to the Heart: A Sweet Romance Novella by Kate Palmer
The Athletic Groom: Billionaire Marriage Brokers by Lucy McConnell
How to Love a Dog's Best Friend  by Cami Checketts
Arizona Forever by Jaclyn Hawkes
A Trusting Heart by Shannon Guymon
The Lost Groom: Bachelor Billionaire Romance (A Park City Firefighter Companion) by Taylor Hart
Sweet Water: Destination Billionaire Romance by Laurie Lewis
An Informal Christmas  by Heather Gray
An Informal Arrangement  by Heather Gray
An Informal Introduction  by Heather Gray
Statistically Improbable  by Jennifer Peel

*Most of these books were part of Rereading Madness

Have you read any of these? What did you think?