A Perfect Proposal

Title: A Perfect Proposal
Author: Katie Fforde
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 9, 2013

** I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from GoodReads:
Sophie Apperly's family has never taken her seriously. Fiercely academic, they see her more practical skills as frivolous whilst constantly taking advantage of her. So when her best friend Milly invites her over to New York, she jumps at the chance. It'll do her ungrateful family good to do without her for a while. What s more, she's on a quest America holds the key to solving her family's financial woes, even if they don't deserve her help.

From the moment Sophie hits the bright lights of Manhattan she's determined to enjoy every minute of her big adventure. So when an evening at an art gallery throws her into the path of Matilda, a spirited old lady who invites her to Connecticut for Thanksgiving, Sophie willingly accepts, much to the dismay of Matilda's grandson Luke. Undeniably attractive but infuriatingly arrogant, he is very protective of his grandmother and seems to doubt Sophie's motives for befriending her. No match for the formidable Matilda, he eventually admits defeat, but first he has a proposal to make. He'll help Sophie in her quest to save her family from financial ruin if she repays the favour. But just what does she have to do in return...?

****************
I don't quite know what to say about A Perfect Proposal. It is a likeable book with likeable characters. But here was just something about it that didn't work for me.

Sophie Apperly is a young woman whose entire family are academics. That is all well and good except that there isn't much money in academia apparently. And since Sophie chose not to go to "uni" and instead focus on her talents of altering thrift store clothing into masterpieces, cooking, mending, cleaning, and generally running the household for her parents and older siblings, she is considered the pretty but dumb one in the family. There's a bit of a Cinderella theme here but for some reason it just didn't grab me. I didn't really become interested in Sophie until about 100 pages in when she finally seemed to grow a backbone. She gets a job as a nanny in America and leaves her ungrateful family for a bit. In New York, things finally get a bit more exciting.

When Sophie arrives in New York, she is informed that the family that hired her has had a family emergency and no longer requires her services, so she decides to spend some time with her friend, Milly. Milly works for an artist and while attending a gallery opening, Sophie meets Matilda.

Matilda Winchester is an older lady who turns out to hail from the same part of England as Sophie. The two immediately hit it off and become fast friends. So much so that Matilda invites Sophie to spend Thanksgiving in Connecticut with her and her family.

Matilda's grandson, Luke, takes issue with this, however. You see, Matilda is quite wealthy and Luke is fearful that Sophie is after Matilda's fortune.

Luke Winchester is a handsome and very wealthy man - one of America's most eligible bachelors. He's an attorney and Sophie finds that he's very mistrusting. Luke does endeavor to get to know Sophie better though, for his grandmother's sake.

Blah, blah, blah...lots of other things happen eventually culminating in a HEA.

As I sit here writing this review and thinking about these characters, I see there really is a similarity to Cinderella with Sophie cast in the lead, Matilda as her fairy-godmother, and Luke as the prince. But as I said, there was just something about A Perfect Proposal that didn't work for me. There were points in the novel where I thought, "okay, now it's getting good." But then it didn't. I wanted to love these characters, but it never happened. It is well written - but I never really connected with the characters. However, I do realize that reading a book is a personal experience and what doesn't work for me might work for someone else. Maybe it's just my current mood? Whatever it is, A Perfect Proposal, for me, fell sort of flat.

Feature & Follow #13

Welcome to the Blog Hop!

Feature & Follow is a weekly blog hop hosted by the talented ladies behind AlisonCanRead and Parajunkee's View. The intent behind this blog hop is to get out there and meet other bloggers and gain new followers yourself. What sets this blog hop apart is the Feature. Each week, two blogs are featured, one at AlisonCanRead and one at Parajunkee's View. So make sure to hop over to those blogs to check out this week's Features.



This week's Features are:
The Luv 'NV
Ginger Reads

This week we have something a little different. It's an activity, courtesy of author, Kelly Walker. 

Write a letter to your favorite character. Rant, rave or gush...just pretend like they are real and you just want to let them know a "few things".

My Dearest Mr. Darcy,

If I may be so bold as to borrow from your words, you must allow me to tell you how much I ardently admire and love you. I must also tell you that I was always able to see your true nature beneath your proud exterior. I truly understood your struggles with your feelings for Elizabeth and her inferior station, as well as your concern over Bingley's attachment to Jane. Although I did not always agree with your methods, I saw the care behind them. 

In my opinion, you are the epitome of all that is good. It is in complete earnestness that I tell you I am so very happy that you and Elizabeth were able to put words, events, and harsh feelings behind you and join your lives together. You enable me to believe that true loves always wins.

Yours,
Brandee

**In Love With Romance Book Tour** ~ The Quintessential Gemini

Welcome to my final stop on the In Love With Romance Book Tour! I would like to express my extreme gratitude to Sapphire Star Publishing, who presented this tour in honor of Valentine's Day, for allowing me to participate in the tour and for introducing me to some amazing authors! 

Today, I'm reviewing The Quintessential Gemini by Linn B. Halton. And before I get started, I want to say that I LOVE this book because it is quintessentially British! :)

Synopsis from GoodReads
For twenty-one years, the focus of Katherine Dale's life has been her work. Love interests and hobbies came and went, but what has always been there for her was her nine to five habit. Until she's replaced. With her confidence dented, Katherine is angry at life and at herself. She's ignored hints of "changes to come" in her horoscope forecasts, written by the wonderful and renowned astrologer, Mark Ainsley-Thomas. Mark is now an "A" list celebrity in the UK and his new Agent is determined to raise his profile in America, so he has to take on the new, but talented, astrologer James Kingman to help him run his web-site. Katherine lives her life according to her daily horoscope. When Katherine finds James has been writing her daily horoscopes rather than Mark, Katherine's life explodes in confusion and, unexpectedly, love as the three lives become inextricably tangled. Now Katherine has to learn that the stars might be telling her that love is going to feature in her life, but when Katherine finds herself implicated in the headlines 'Mystic Love Triangle Surprise' she's just as surprised as everyone else None of the men in her life are love interests - so what exactly does fate have in store?

****************
My Review
What a lovely story! Reading this novel is like sitting down with an old friend and catching up on life. And it was such a pleasant chat! :)

Katherine Dale is a woman who has always lived her life in a well though out, pragmatic and sensible way. She has devoted her life to work - as an accountant - and it has always worked well for her. Now she suddenly finds herself having to forge a new life. She's been made redundant (laid off for non-Brits) and it's thrown her into a bit of a tailspin. You see, Katherine has always kept close tabs on her horoscope and yet she didn't see this coming! However, paying close attention to her forecasts, she has made the well-considered decision to try her hand at writing a novel. Problem is, she can't seem to make sense of her forecasts recently and she's therefore, a bit off-kilter.

James Kingman has been a bit down on his luck lately. However, he has recently accepted a position to assisting a renowned astrologist, Mark Ainsley-Thomas, in writing the daily forecasts, as he has become a bit of a celebrity as of late and due to publicity commitments is in need of help. It is all going so well for James until he gets a rather nasty email from a follower complaining of his forecasts. However, after both sides calm and apologize, James embarks on a relationship or sorts with one Katherine Dale.

Mark Ainsley-Thomas, the genius astrologer whom Katherine has followed for decades, unwittingly becomes the third in a mystical love-triangle with James and Katherine. This comes about when Mark agrees to a book signing and talk for Katherine's writing group. It's all silliness due to his sudden celebrity and Mark manages to keep his cool as well as aid James and Katherine as they wade through the media spectacle. In many ways, Mark is a father figure/mentor to both James and Katherine.

All the characters of this novel are very well developed. It really is like sitting down with a friend and chatting about the goings-on with all the neighbors you grew up among. Even Katherine's cat, No. 4, has a distinct personality and I could imagine him purring on my lap or taking a swipe at my hand while sitting at Katherine's dining table. I must admit to not being that knowledgeable about astrology. I know the basics and that's about it. But I enjoyed the astrological element to this story. I particularly liked how Ms. Halton incorporated the personality traits of a Gemini - Katherine's sign - into the plot. Geminis are said to be pulled in opposing directions and throughout the story, Katherine experiences just that.

Besides this being such a pleasant read, I also liked the insight offered into human nature and relationships. For example,

"I resolved never to let the stupidity of other people grind me down again; compared to one's health, it's all petty."-Katherine

"However, if you've lived a full life, you have a wealth of memories that you can re-live in your head each day, remembering people you knew and loved, places you've been. It serves to remind me that life is all about living in the moment - you can't keep putting things off because  you don't know what tomorrow will bring."-James

"It's not really about people; it's about people who matter to you. You can be surrounded by a multitude and still feel as if you're alone."-Katherine

"This is a reminder that life is all about the people with whom you choose to surround yourself; what happens outside of that circle really doesn't matter."-Katherine

The Quintessential Gemini was thought-provoking and profound for me. I also appreciated that James and Katherine matured - showing that even though you're supposedly grown-up, you can still develop emotionally. I don't mean to say there wasn't humor intertwined as well. Thought-provoking can be fun too! :) Overall, I am delighted to have read this novel. Not only did I giggle while learning about astrology but I garnered some life lessons as well!

**I received this ebook from Sapphire Star Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author:

Linn B Halton lives in the UK, in the small Gloucestershire village of Arlingham, on the banks of the River Severn with her adorable husband and cat with attitude – Mr Tiggs! She writes romantic fiction with a psychic or astrological theme and many of the paranormal events that feature in her books are real life experiences.

Linn is also a featured new Author on http://loveahappyending.com/ and Editor of the feature ‘Author & Associate Catch-Ups’ including ‘Reader/Author Team Reports’ on the website’s magazine-style blog.

Find Linn here:

Author page: http://loveahappyending.com/linn-b-halton/
Twitter Account - @LinnBHalton: http://bit.ly/ksXMDS
Facebook- Author Linn B Halton: http://on.fb.me/mnvJJs

Buy The Quintessential Gemini here:

Amazon Kindle
Amazon Paperback
B&N

FORTY DAYS Book Blitz ~ Excerpt & Giveaway

Happy Release Day to Stephanie Parent! 

I'm thrilled to be a part of the Book Blitz for Forty Days. This book looks to be amazing! It's premise is definitely unique. I can't wait to get my hands on it. I've been jonesing for some historical fiction! This Book Blitz was organized by Xpresso Book Tours.

Forty Days by Stephanie Parent 

Series: Neima's Ark #1

Publication date: February 12th 2013

The entire village knows Neima’s grandfather is a madman. For years the old man has prophesied that a great flood is coming, a flood disastrous enough to blot out the entire earth. He’s even built an enormous ark that he claims will allow his family to survive the deluge. But no one believes the ravings of a lunatic…

…until the rain starts. And doesn’t stop. Soon sixteen-year-old Neima finds her entire world transformed, her life and those of the people she loves in peril. Trapped on the ark with her grandfather Noah, the rest of her family, and a noisy, filthy, and hungry assortment of wild animals, will Neima find a way to survive?

With lions, tigers, and bears oh my, elephants and flamingos too, along with rivalries and betrayals, a mysterious stowaway, and perhaps even an unexpected romance, FORTY DAYS is not your grandfather’s Noah’s Ark story.

FORTY DAYS is approximately 45000 words, the length of a shorter novel, and is the first installment in a two-part epic story. It does contain a cliffhanger ending.

Readers looking for a traditional, religiously oriented version of the Noah’s Ark story should be warned that FORTY DAYS may not appeal to them. The novel will, however, appeal to lovers of apocalyptic fiction, historical fiction, and romance, as well as anyone who’s ever dreamed of having a baby elephant as a pet.

**Excerpt**

A bit farther off, two strange, solid-looking animals are tethered to a small juniper tree by a length of rope, though it looks like between the two of them, they could pull the tree out by its roots if they were determined enough. As I move nearer, I see that their gray skin is wrinkled and tough-looking, almost like leather, with reddish hair scattered across their heads and backs. They have wide, floppy ears and, oddest of all, each has a long, tubular protrusion where its nose or snout should be. I think these creatures are elephants, the source of the huge tusks traders occasionally bring to our village. But only one of the two has anything remotely like those tusks, and they’re short, barely peeking out from either side of its long snout. Despite the animal’s size and the weathered look of its skin, it somehow reminds me of a baby smiling, displaying its first two teeth. 
“They’re so big!” I say when I’m close enough to realize the larger of the two—the one with the tusks—is nearly as tall as I am, and its four legs appear solid as tree trunks beneath its ample bulk. 
The trader beside me begins to laugh, a deep, solid rumble that lasts long enough to concern me. 
“What? What is it?” I ask, inching away from the strange beasts. 
“It’s just”—he places a hand to his chest, as though he can push the laughter down—“if you think they’re large, I’d love to see your face if you ever catch sight of their mother.” 
I still don’t understand. 
“These are three years old at the most,” he says, “and still immature. A full-grown elephant looms above any man, and it weighs, I’d say, three or four times as much as these young ones here. The elephant is to other animals as…as this great ark behind us is to the cottages in your village.” 
I try to picture such an animal, and a shiver skitters up my arms despite the heat. It sounds as if a full-grown elephant could crush me beneath just one foot. I’m ready to back away even from these smaller specimens, but the trader places a hand on my arm. 
“They are gentle giants,” he says. His voice is calmer now, all the laughter expelled. “Plant eaters, peaceful and intelligent.” He releases my arm but beckons me forward, and, though I’m still a bit wary, I follow. “And friendly—look how they’re greeting you.”
Both animals are waving their long snouts in an almost comical manner, reaching them up and down, twisting and curling them, stretching toward—me? 
“They’re trying to scent you,” the trader says. “Here—” He reaches for the nearest snout. “Take hold of the trunk and blow into it, like this.” 
Trunk? I decide I prefer the term to snout as I follow his lead. The elephant’s skin is as tough as I imagined, but not unpleasant. 
“There,” he says. “Now you’ve greeted her, and she’ll remember your scent. Best not leave her brother out.” 
“Are they really brother and sister?” I ask as I take the trunk of the small-tusked elephant and blow gently into it.
He shrugs. “They may as well be, now.” The elephant opens his mouth in a kind of smile and waves his trunk before my face witheven greater enthusiasm, brushing against my forehead and nose. The female butts her head against the trader, demanding equal attention, until he pats her trunk. They really are as friendly as he said, and, in their own strange way, lovely. I hate to think of them separated from their parents, whether they’re truly siblings or not.

Add to your GoodReads TBR here:

Goodreads

Purchase here: 

Amazon

About the Author:

Stephanie Parent is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major. She moved to Los Angeles because of Francesca Lia Block's WEETZIE BAT books, which might give you some idea of how much books mean to her. She also loves dogs, books about dogs, and sugary coffee drinks both hot and cold.

Find Stephanie here:

Website: http://www.stephanieparent.blogspot.ca/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6449665.Stephanie_Parent

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BookCrazySteph

Stephanie is graciously offering an ebook of Forty Days. This giveaway is open to US/CAN/INT.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Stephanie is also offering a $20 gift card. You can enter this giveaway on her website.

** Mogul Blog Tour** Interview, Review & Giveaway

YEA! I'm today's stop on the Mogul Blog Tour! As you may know, Mogul is the final book of the Groupie Trilogy. If you haven't read my reviews of Groupie and Rock Star, you can do that here. I just may be the tiniest bit of a fanatic about these books! :) Oh, who am I kidding?!? I'm a HUGE fanatic...but um, not in the scary, stalker-y way! Seeing as I'm such a fan, I'm almost vibrating in excitement over getting to have the fabulous Ginger Voight here on my blog today - and she brought a few friends! *squee* Yes, those two friends!! 

I'd like to welcome Ginger, Andy and Vanni to my blog. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me.

Thanks so much! This is exciting to reunite with Andy and Vanni again. Thank you for the opportunity.

Okay, the first and most important question I MUST ask you, Ginger, is do you ENJOY torturing your readers?? No, seriously. Because you did some super-de-duper torturing over the course of this trilogy!

The main job of any writer is to make your reader feel something, so it is extremely gratifying when I hear that readers invested themselves heavily enough in the story to be tortured. My best friend finished his early draft of Groupie by sending me a simple email that said, “You are evil.” It was like hitting a home run. But you run the risk of pushing your reader *too* far over the edge. During “Rock Star” especially, there were moments when I’d finish a passage and say to my husband, “OMG They’re going to hate me.” As such several people got off the ride, simply fatigued by the drama. I truly hated to see them go, but I get it. I’ve read books where I wondered what the heroine had done to the author to make them torture them so, and it can be frustrating-good, or frustrating-bad. I figure if you’re still in the passenger seat of my crazy ride by “Mogul,” I definitely owed it to you to make it worth your while. So the torturing will have a satisfying emotional payoff. (I hope!)

Is there anything you want to share about your inspiration for this series? 

I’m a groupie from way back. I fell in love with Davy Jones when I was nine, and wanted to marry Steve Perry of Journey when I was 13. It’s a fantasy that I think many women share, so I wanted to live vicariously through an ordinary girl who got her chance to make her fantasy come true. Of course, it had to come with necessary complications. I think the darker side of fame/celebrity excited me more than having a sexy romance with a rock star. There’s just so much organic drama surrounding the famous folk and all the people who want to get close to them, it was very fertile ground to toil. And I had a blast doing it.

Andy & Vanni, I'll start off with an easy one for y'all...how's married/family life? How's Renata? Congratulations, by the way!

Andy: Thank you! It’s been a long, crazy ride to get here. Looking at my husband and my daughter, I can honestly say I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. 

Vanni: Well, we might have changed a couple of things! 

Andy: Nah, that just makes it more worthwhile. 

Vanni: She makes it worthwhile. And Renata is an absolute joy. I never thought I’d fall in love once, much less twice. I couldn’t be happier.

Andy, if you'd had any inkling of what was to come, would you still have gone to that first DIB concert? 

At the time, probably not. I wasn’t looking to fall in love way back in 2007. I liked my life simple enough to pack into a suitcase. Honestly, I was probably just as scared as Vanni to get involved. The only reason I went to New York was because it was still simple. I was being romanced by a rocker on his rise to the top. It was fun. It was sexy. It was supposed to be one really memorable night. Before I knew it, it got really complicated, really quickly. By then, though, I was unknowingly locked into the roller coaster. There was no getting off until the ride was over, good or bad. 

Andy, what was the moment you KNEW you loved Vanni? 

Good question. I’d say I was in denial about the depths of my feelings until Christmas in Nashville. But like I was saying before, something had to keep me coming back even as it got more and more complicated. I can blame my work or my friends who kept pulling me back into his world, but I think my heart must have known on some level that it was meant to be something more. 

How about you, Vanni? Can you recall exactly when you knew Andy was it? 

I knew I loved her when I saw her dancing with Graham that first time. Before then, I could stay unattached. I could easily romance someone and then leave before I got too invested. That was just my M.O. I chalked it up to a conquest that had never been won that kept her in my thoughts, even when we were apart. It was the curiosity, the mystery of the unknown. When I saw her dancing with another man, I felt something I had never felt before. I felt jealous. That was brand new territory for me. I knew I had to do something, anything, to get her back before I lost my chance for good. It started with getting out of my first contract so that I wouldn’t be stuck in any other relationships. And as usual, Andy was my lifeline to sanity. 

Vanni, can you speak to what exactly was going on in your brain that kept you from committing to Andy? Particularly since she was so CLEARLY the one? And you instead allowed relationships with Kat & Holly? (I'll let Lourdes slide...) 

After I finally told her how much I loved her over my 30^th birthday, it all got suddenly very real. Honestly, I was scared shitless because the stakes were so much higher for me than they had ever been. I was afraid that she was too good for me, because she is. I was afraid that I was going to let her down and disappoint her, because that’s what I do and had consistently done. Why would someone like Andy ever choose me when she had options? I knew eventually she’d figure out what I already knew – that she could do better. Superficial relationships were fun and comfortable because I honestly didn’t love them enough to let them. It was safe. And I was a selfish douche who catered to my ego first. It amazes me every single day that Andy didn’t give up on me. 

And just so Vanni doesn't think I'm picking on him, Andy what were you thinking with Graham? I know you'd get irritated when both Vanni and Graham acted as though you were a prize to win but did you realize you were kinda playing the two against one another? 

I think on some unconscious level I knew, which is why I was so driven by guilt because it was never my intention to do that. So many times I was so torn between them. They’re both phenomenal men on the opposite sides of the spectrum, and my heart responded to both. How could it not? You’ve met them. You know. Ultimately I tried to shade my behavior more nobly, but it was a lot like what Vanni was doing. My mistake is that instead of finding someone I didn’t care about, I picked someone I could truly love on a real level. That made everything worse, because I ended up leading Graham on when he deserved a woman who was completely interested in him for real, and for the right reasons. Fortunately he’s found that now, and we can be the close friends I had always hoped. 

Andy, you've had to deal with quite a lot to have your HEA (?). Crazy fans, attempts on your life...are you glad you stuck it out - dealt with all the crazy and waited for Vanni to figure out what he really wanted and to grow up? Do you resent it at all?  

Looking back I realize that it was all part of Vanni’s journey, and made him the man he is today. How can I truly resent that, when he’s become the man I always wanted him to be? Because of that journey, I know just how strong we are together. This is more than that initial attraction that might have led us to a random, isolated hookup we both thought we wanted in the beginning. It’s also been a crash course on how to create certain boundaries to protect each other and our family. I share him with the world, I knew that going in. Unfortunately that reality means there will be certain dangers and complications, even beyond those we’ve already suffered. I hope, if nothing else, we’ve grown wiser through it all. 

Vanni, how happy are you that Andy stuck it out? 

Every moment of every minute of every day. I am a better man because of her. She’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted to marry because she’s the only person I feel I owe every promise of my future. I just hope I can make it up to her for all the stuff I’ve put her through. 

Andy, there were many times in the last 4 years where you doubted the strength of your and Vanni's relationship. Do you have times of doubt now? Or has he more than proven his love is stronger than ever? 

Not every guy will run into a burning building to pull you out or die with you. How could I question anything after that? Every day, in every way, he reassures me that his love belongs only to me and our family. It took a while, but when he finally made his promise I knew I could trust it. 

Ginger, do you believe in Fate? I mean, I'm not sure the average person could deal with all that Andy & Vanni have dealt with and still end up together. But it seems like Fate wanted them together - even if they had to go through hell to get there... 

I absolutely believe in fate, and I believe in the idea of a soul mate. I think once you find the one that fits you like the other half of a puzzle, you’ll walk through fire to be with them. I know I would. It makes me proud that my children, both literary and physical, feel likewise. J 

Okay - enough grilling...  :)

Vanni, how's the band? Are you and DIB planning on touring soon? We all know Andy was the inspiration behind several of DIB's hits...how is being married and a father affecting your song writing? 

The band is great. We’ve got everyone back together, even Iain, so it feels just like old times. All of us have been able to parlay our life experiences into new music, which is finally a true blend of all our different personalities. You’ll see that on the third album, especially now that Yael is finally able to flex his muscle on the guitar in the edgier stuff that he likes. As for the songwriting, I think it’s deeper and more authentic now. Andy and Renata have filled out my emotional palate. I think it shows in the songs. 

Andy & Vanni, what more can we expect from you two? Andy, are you going to tour with DIB? Are you still working on that novel? Do you two hope to have more kids? 

Andy: I try to write when possible but Renata is a demanding boss! She gets my full attention for the time being. I hope to publish eventually, though. If I can ever sleep again! 

Vanni: DIB will definitely tour to support our third album, and Andy and Renata will be with us. I don’t want to miss a moment with my girls, and I know Iain feels the same about his family, so it’ll be a real family affair. But don’t be surprised if I resume judging duties next year for another season of Fierce. We haven’t had our finale yet, but with the crop of talent we have this year, I think we’ll definitely earn our place as hit-making, star-making TV. Touring and recording are great, but I like the stability of having a regular home life, too. Plus I’ll need the steady paycheck because we both want to have more kids. We’re just trying to decide on a number. Since we’re both essentially orphans, we’d like a big family. I say six. She says two. So, what do you think, babe? Four? 

Andy: We’ll see!! 

Ginger, I know you have Fierce on the way and we'll see a little of Andy & Vanni - but will we see another book with only them? What else do you have in the works? Anything else you want to share with us? 

I think it is entirely possible we’ll revisit Vanni and Andy (and Renata) eventually. We still have to sort out Vanni’s relationship with his dad, and I’m sure that will come into play as his own journey as a father truly takes off. Until then, we’re going to let them enjoy their HEA before we put them through the meat grinder again. ;)

My goal is to publish three more books in 2013. “Fierce,” of course, but I am also itching to jump into a fun, sex revenge book called “The Leftover Club.” A group of high school friends who had only one thing in common – they were overlooked by the most popular guy in school – end up fighting to seduce him at a ten year reunion, when he dares to go after one of them. (I plan on using Adam Levine as the prototype for the popular guy in question… so I really can’t wait to write that. ;) ) I also wanted to write a paranormal story called, “The Lovely Haunting,” where a ghost helps a traumatized woman heal from her wounds and emotionally connect again. But it will take an ugly turn when the ghost becomes obsessed with bringing her over to the other side so they can be together forever. In other words, it’s a lovely haunting… until it isn’t. 

Thanks again for taking time out and allowing me to interview y'all!  

Thank you! It was lots of fun, thanks for inviting all of us to chat. J 

Andy: Thanks for sharing our journey with us and supporting us! 

Vanni: See you when I roll into your town. Until then, if you have a dream, do whatever you can to make it happen. Because they really do come true. 

About Ginger:

Ginger Voight is prolific author, freelance writer and optioned screenwriter. Her fiction is diverse, with novels like the edgy, coming-of-age drama DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, and the fun family adventure for kids of all ages, COMIC SQUAD.

Having grown up reading different authors like Danielle Steel and Stephen King, Ginger has always been drawn more to story than to genre. This shows up in her various stories. Titles such as MY IMMORTAL and TASTE OF BLOOD are a delicious, heady mix of horror, suspense, and romance.

Genre romance, however, has held a special place in her heart, ever since she read her first Harlequin novel when she was only eleven. As a result, Ginger is making a name for herself writing romances of her own, starring women who look more like the average American woman rather than those traditionally represented in the size-biased American media. Her Rubenesque romances were created especially for those heroines with fuller figures, who can still get the man of their dreams if only they believe they can. Such titles include UNDER TEXAS SKIES, LOVE PLUS ONE, GROUPIE and PICTURE POSTCARDS.

Ginger was included in the best-selling book by Smith Magazine NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING, featuring her six-word memoir.

Stalk Ginger Here:

Website: http://gingervoight.com/

Blog:  http://gingervoight.com/Blog.html

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GingerVoight?ref=ts&fref=ts

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Twitter: @Geevie

My Review:

I was warned prior to starting this last book in the trilogy that the prologue just might kill me. It almost did! OMG! How much more does this couple have to endure to get their HEA?!? Oh yeah -- tons o' shit and HEAs are for wimps! *laughs*

Again Andy and Vanni have battles to face in order to make it together. Legal battles, stalkers, enemies within. But this time Vanni means it - he's truly committed to Andy. And I truly loved watching this man finally grow up!

"After all they had been through, words were insufficient now. He was going to spend the rest of his life proving to her that he was the man she already believed him to be."

-Vanni 

Does it all go smoothly? Hell no! Did I still want to strangle Vanni or smack him up-side the head? Hell yeah! But the important thing is he made it. Andy, too, seems to finally mature enough to realize she really has to let Graham go in every sense so he can move on. And Graham has a few epiphanies himself - one involving his lovely fiery-haired nurse!

Of course, as the day Andy and Vanni have been working toward for four years approaches, a plan has been set in motion to keep our woeful lovers from ever being together. Will Vanni lose everything?

Well, you'll have to read the book to find out! But I will tell you this...YOU.WILL.LOVE.IT!

One of the things I liked most about these books, and this book in particular, was watching the characters grow and mature. Mogul kept me on edge wondering what was going to happen next. I love a book that keeps me guessing. :) It was like being on a roller coaster...feeling the free fall, a few twists here and there, being jarred while taking a turn, possibly a loop in between...you make it back to the gate safely but your adrenalin is pumping and your body's feeling the effects. And you're ready to do it all again...oh what a ride! This was the perfect ending to a fabulous trilogy! 

Ginger is generously offering an autographed copy of the complete Groupie Trilogy. If you haven't already entered, just obey the Rafflecopter below.  :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Ginger is also kindly offering an ebook ARC of the Groupie Trilogy. To enter this giveaway, leave me a comment letting me know a favorite quote from Mogul, if you've read it. If you haven't read it, let me know your favorite part of my interview with Ginger, Andy, and Vanni.

The contest ends at 11:59 p.m. February 15, 2013. The winner will be chosen randomly.

COVER REVEAL - FAKING IT - CORA CARMACK

I'm am absolutely ecstatic to reveal to you the cover for Faking It by the oh, sooo talented Cora Carmack! This is a book I'm very much looking forward to reading! I read Cora's best-selling debut novel, Losing It, and LOVED IT! Losing It will be available in paperback starting February 26, 2013!  

So, what do you think?? I.CAN'T.WAIT!!

FAKING IT by Cora Carmack

releases 06/04/2013 
from William Morrow Paperbacks

Mackenzie "Max" Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they're expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he's kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they're forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

**In Love With Romance Book Tour** ~ Dangerous Embrace by Dana Mason

Welcome to my 2nd stop on the In Love With Romance Book Tour! This book tour is being presented by Sapphire Star Publishing in honor of Valentine's Day...sharing romance through reading! :) Today it is my pleasure to share with you my review of Dana Mason's Dangerous Embrace. 

Synopsis from GoodReads
Sarah Jennings wants nothing more than a quiet life—alone.
Raised by an eccentric mother, their life on the road only taught her how to run away from hard times. But when she finds herself in an abusive relationship, this lesson serves her well. 

Now, back in her hometown, she's found a place she loves. She’s a first grade teacher, and with few friends and less family around, she has what she wants, a quiet life under the radar where she can be free of her past and live quietly. Finally comfortable in her own skin, she’s settled, and less fearful than she’s ever been in her life.

But it only takes one night and one act of violence for everything to change. Injured and afraid, Sarah wants to run again, but Mark Summors refuses to let her go.

Just when Sarah thinks she can have Mark and the life he promises, her past comes back to haunt her.

Mark Summors was born and raised in Santa Rosa. He married his high school sweetheart and never questioned his life, until he found his wife with another man.

Now divorced, he wants something more. He’s passionate about his job, he wants to protect people, and he devotes his life to it.

This time he’s protecting more than just another client, he’s protecting his future; at least, Sarah Jennings will be his future, once he convinces her she loves him.

***************
WOW! This was definitely a thrilling read! It began with pulse-pounding action and kept my adrenalin spiking all the way through! It has it's tender moments as well, but man! I thought at times my heart was going to stop or pound its way out of my chest.

Sarah Jennings is a first grade teacher living a quiet, if lonely, life. The night she is brutally attacked and almost raped while walking to her car one evening after work changes all that. She manages to fend off her attacker and she runs straight into Mark Summors...literally.

Mark Summors is an ex-cop who now owns his own security company. He is just picking up his mom from work in advance of sharing his birthday with dinner with his parents. The last thing he is expecting as a gift is to spend the evening at the ER with a beautiful woman who is lucky to have avoided more serious injury.

These two certainly do not meet under the most auspicious of circumstances. Sarah is suffering from the trauma of her attack and Mark refuses to leave her vulnerable. The danger that Sarah is facing and the feelings she starts having towards Mark only increase her desire to run. Sarah is carrying around huge amounts of baggage or "dark waters" as she refers to it. That Mark wants to help her and protect her forces her to face her vulnerability, which makes her uncomfortable. She hasn't allowed anyone to get close for years and she repeatedly tries to push Mark away. But he won't give up. Mark can't explain why he feels such a connection to Sarah or his almost primal need to protect her, but there it is. And it almost breaks him that Sarah can't let him in. However, he won't stop trying until he knows she's safe and he's convinced her they have a future.

I was taken with Mark and Sarah as characters. They're both survivors in their own ways and I was happy to see them survive the odds that were stacked against their relationship. I felt Ms. Mason did a wonderful job in exposing the reasons both Mark and Sarah started out where they do and then showing us their evolution to where they ended up. The supporting characters were also well developed. The relationship between Sarah and her brother, Devon, added to our understanding of Sarah. Mark's ex-wife, Ali, was also a strong figure in the story. And I'm  hoping to see her story expanded -- especially if it involves one Johnny Rhay Bennet! :) Mark's friend Brian, who was the lead investigator on Sarah's case, is a straight-talking cop. He never has any qualms telling Sarah or Mark exactly what he thinks.

As I said, this book is full of spine-tingling suspense...a book I wanted to stay up into the wee hours reading so I could find out what happens next. Also, I look forward seeing a few of the side characters get their own stories told. All in all, this was an excellent read! I will be reading future books in this series. :)

I rate this 4 1/2 worms!

**I received this book from Sapphire Star Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author
Dana Mason starting writing to prove to her computer geek husband and her math & science geek kids that she actually has a brain; it’s just a right functioning brain instead of a left. She’s lived all over
the country and uses that experience in her writing and character studies. Her debut novel, Dangerous Embrace is the first in a contemporary suspenseful romance series about group of friends who learn the hard way that life is short and you shouldn’t take it for granted. Second chances don’t come easy…but sometimes love is worth the risk.

When not writing, Dana specializes in professional development and training. She’s also a board member on the local Art’s Council and does what she can to support continuing education in the art community.

As an avid reader and movie watcher, she always requires a happily ever after ending.

Find Dana here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danamason97
Twitter: www.twitter.com/danamason06
Website: www.danamasonromance.com

Buy Dangerous Embrace here:

Amazon (eBook)
Amazon (paperback)
Barnes & Noble