From My Journals: I Promised My Dad

This weekend marks the 21st anniversary of the death of Michael Landon, star of Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, and Highway to Heaven. This book was written by his step-daughter Cheryl, and is the closest we will ever get to an autobiography since he was taken from us so young. Cheryl was a child when Michael married her mother Lynn, and he instantly became a true father to her. He was with her every step of the way after she was almost killed in a tragic car accident, and her subsequent drug addition that inspired his work with Nancy Reagan and the Just Say No campaign. It covers his divorce of Lynn and marriage to his third wife Cindy, ending with his devastating death at the age of 54 after a 3 month battle with pancreatic cancer. This part of the book was heartwrenching to read.

Michael grew up in a house void of love, but what love he gave to the world. He wasn’t perfect; he was a flawed human being as we all are in spite of his public persona. But he left us a legacy of timeless shows that honor family values, goodness, decency and love…things this country is sorely lacking in today. Michael was a national treasure; there will never be another like him.

Unfortunately this book is out of print, and not available in ebook form. If you ever run across it in a used book store, pick it up and remember a time when we were all a little more innocent.

From My Journals: Willow

Book Description: In 1883, the railroad had only recently come to Montana Territory, and outlaws still lurked in the hills. Willow Gallagher, who spent her early childhood in an outlaw camp until her father finally found her, is torn by divided loyalties. Newly married to handsome railroad baron Gideon Marshall, she finds fiery passion in Gideon’s embrace, until she discovers he is on a mission . . . a mission to capture Willow’s outlaw brother, Steven. Now Willow must choose—betray her brother, or risk the love she has found with Gideon, the love she has dreamed of all her life, to save Steven. It is a choice that could break her heart. . . .

My Thoughts: Linda Lael Miller is the queen of western romance, whether it’s contemporary or historical. Willow was first published in 1984; this is the expanded version that was re-released in 2010. Willow is the story of a strong-willed young woman torn between love for her outlaw brother and her railroad baron husband who is out to capture him. I absolutely adore this book; it is my all-time favorite western historical. I loved the back story of the posse that killed Willow’s mother and stepfather; the intense passion that developed between Willow and Gideon; and the secondary love stories, especially Steven and Daphne, and Willow’s father and his mistress Dove.

This book is being re-released in ebook form on July 17th and can be preordered here.

From My Journals

Do you keep a journal? For 10 years I've kept a daily journal, as well as a book journal, and I now have stacks of them. Every book I read gets a copy of the cover photo glued to the entry, a brief synopsis and my thoughts and feelings on the book. I enjoy looking back and remembering the wonderful (and some not so wonderful) books I've read through the years, and think it will come to mean even more in the years to come. 

Which brings me to a new feature on my blog. Once or twice a week I'm going to dig into my archives and blog about a book I've read in the past.  My book journals inspired this blog; I wanted to find a way to share my love of reading with the world. There are so many books I still want to talk about and bring to your attention.

The first two features I have planned for the next couple days include my all-time favorite western romance, and a biography of someone who means a great deal to me.

Stay tuned!!!

Pies and Prejudice Book Trailer

Received word that my sweet friend Ellery Adams' sister-in-law passed away this morning following complications from a C-Section. Ellery doesn't have the heart right now to promote her new book, Pies and Prejudice, the first Charmed Pie Shoppe mystery due July 3. I have read this book and it is absolutely fantastic (read my review here.) Please join me in showing Ellery our love and support by spreading the word and pre-ordering ourselves. Let's make this a bestseller!!!

And check out the "charming" book trailer as well...it is absolutely adorable!!!

Sundays in Bed With...#2

This weekend I'm curled up with an ARC of Beth Ciotta's Fool for Love, the first of her Cupcake Lovers novels, due out August 28th. A couple months back I was corresponding with Beth on Facebook. When she realized I was a lifelong Vermonter, she asked if I would like to give the book an advance read from a Vermonter's perspective, and to Beta read for subsequent novels in the series! It's an amazing opportunity for me that I'm very excited about...and I must say, just part way through this first book, she has it spot on. The fictional setting of Sugar Creek, Vermont brings to mind the northern Vermont town of Richford, a special place for my family, and is making me very proud to live in such a beautiful state. This is definitely a book you will want to look out for later this summer.

What are you reading this Sunday? Post a comment and tell me all about it! This fun little weekly meme was created by my fellow book blogger, The Midnight Book Girl.

Stardust Miracle

Book Description: A miracle is going to happen...

Becky Diedrich is the cheesemaker's daughter.
The minister's wife.
The good sister.

What she's not is her own woman.
What she can't be is a mother.

And then she catches her husband with another woman.
And she moves in with her sister.
And she starts to see sparkles.

And this is just the beginning...

My Thoughts: I really grew attached to sisters Becky and Sarah (and their respective husbands Jim and Marsh) in the novella Must Worship Cats, and was anxious to read more about them. I never could’ve imagined their lives would change so drastically in the course of this first full-length novel set in the special little town of Miracle. In spite of the sad subject matter of a marriage coming to an end, the first half of this book really made me smile (you have to see how Becky gets even with her cheating husband via his own cell phone!) And I enjoyed watching Becky learn how to live as a single woman, even confronting the demons from her childhood, after living her entire life as her father and husband had expected her to. Halfway through I had the feeling something really bad was going to happen that would change the sisters’ lives, and this led to the second half of the book, which had tremendously heartfelt moments dealing with heartbreak, loss, and finally hope for the future.

This isn’t a long novel, and it’s fast moving with no filler. Each character is unique and feel like ordinary people you’d like to get to know better. This isn’t a traditional romance, it’s just a really fantastic story.

FTC Full Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book by the author with the request for a review.

Welcome, Eliza Knight/Annabelle Weston

I'm so excited to be interviewing Annabelle Weston today, who also writes as Eliza Knight. The first book in her Desert Heat series, Wicked Woman (reviewed here), is one of my favorite historical westerns of the past year. When I saw that the second book in the series was coming out this week, I eagerly emailed her to ask if she would answer a few questions for me, and she graciously accepted :)

And even better news for my wonderful readers, she's giving away a copy of Scandalous Woman (ebook form) to one lucky commenter...be sure to leave your email address!!!

*********************************************************************

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hello! I write erotic romance under the name Annabelle Weston. Annabelle is actually the pseudonym for two historical romance authors, Eliza Knight and my uber-secret writing partner, Sarah. Annabelle’s books are a bit grittier and edgier than my typical stories, but definitely hot! They push the boundaries with every page.

How did you get started writing erotic historicals?

I’ve always written hot historicals (even in high school, Julie Garwood was my hero!). So delving into the erotic wasn’t hard, and in fact I had quite a bit of fun with it.

I love how the Desert Heat series revolves around the dollies of the Lonesome Saloon. What inspired the series?

Several years ago, my writing partner Sarah—crit partner at the time—contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in collaborating with her. She’d never written hot and I had. She wrote westerns, and I’d always wanted to try it. It was a perfect match, so we started plotting out the story for WICKED WOMAN. Many revisions and rejections later, we finally perfected the story and were offered a three book contract for the series. One of the hardest parts of two people writing a book is making the voice seamless--so it doesn't sound like two people wrote it.

What kind of research do you do to write your westerns?

Well, Sarah is always traveling out to the Wild West, so she does a lot of onsite research. There is a Wild West show near our beach spot that I visit every year, just to get in the mood, and I also do research online, listen to period music, read books in that genre and of course, watch old Westerns.

Are you a fan of western romance? Who are your favorite authors?

I do enjoy western romance. Julie Garwood’s For the Roses, The Clayborne Brides and Come the Spring were really good. I do also love the Lawless line at Ellora’s Cave, which is where the Desert Heat series is published.

If you could go back to one time period in history what would it be and why?

This is a very tough question, because I am obsessed with history… So, I am going to answer under the guise of Annabelle, and that would be to Tucson, Arizona. I’d twirl my parasol and walk the decks observing the town, then I’d head on down to the saloon like a good lady shouldn’t and drink some whiskey and sing some songs. I’d ride out of there on my horse and try to shoot the town sign :-)

What do you think is the sexiest time period in history?

In real life history, I’m not sure there was—the smells you see. But if you’re talking fashion, I love Renaissance fashion for women, and definitely 19th century American Western fashion for men!

What are you working on now?

Sarah and I have just finished and turned in the 3rdbook in the series, NOTORIOUS WOMAN. We’ll be working on edits soon. WICKED WOMAN, the first book in the series will be in print come the Fall, so that is very exciting! We have a novella idea in the works, but I can’t say more than that!

Thanks so much for allowing me to stop by and share with your readers!! I'd be happy to give away one ebook copy of SCANDALOUS WOMAN (Book 2 in the Desert Heat series).

***********************************************************************

Carly Buchanan knows who and what she is. She’s the owner of the Lonesome Saloon, a bawdy place in the harsh West where any man can have his darkest desires fulfilled—for a price. But life at a saloon isn’t easy. After hearing too much one night, Carly is caught in the middle of a deadly dispute. Now no-accounts are shooting up the streets, good men are dying and no one will do a thing about it.

Until he comes to town…

Sheriff Jeddah Poole is lethally serious about cleaning up Tucson. But he can’t stop thinking of Carly’s bright eyes and passionate nature…or the way her lush curves feel pressed beneath him as he takes her again and again and again. In a town on the brink, caught in a divine passion they can’t escape, Jed and Carly have only each other to rely on. And only their love can help them survive.

Five Questions for Jess Michaels

I am thrilled to be hosting one of my favorite erotic historical authors today, Jess Michaels (aka Jenna Petersen). She is currently celebrating the release of An Introduction to Pleasure, the first book in her Mistress Matchmaker series, with Samhain Publishing.

**************************************************************************

1) I know why I love to read erotic historicals. (Corsets coming off is so much sexier than anything modern day!!!) Why do you love to write them?

Writing a book with a sexual conflict central to the story is really challenging and fun. Plus I like to add a lot of emotional stakes in with the eroticism (which has been the most praised element of my erotic historicals). So it makes for a very intense writing and hopefully reading experience.

2) What inspired the Mistress Matchmaker series?

Actually I've been wanting to write these books for over five years. They were a proposal I wrote after I turned in EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN and my publisher wanted more stories in that series rather than to start something new. With three sisters to write about, plus a related book in that series, I just never got to come back to the Mistress Matchmaker before I stopped writing as Jess Michaels for a while, so I'm just so excited to be able to finally write these stories after all this time.

3) Does a lot of historical research go into your writing?

I've been writing in the Regency period for a long time (7 years since my first book came out and I wrote Regency for five years before that) so at this point it's mostly spot research on elements or events and that sort of thing.

4) Is it harder to write historical romance than contemporary? Which do you prefer?

I'm not sure harder is the right term, at least for me. It's different because there are different rules to Society and behavior in general and that makes it fun. As for what I prefer, I don't write a lot of contemporary (just a few stories have been contemporary romance, though I do write contemporary urban fantasy under my Jesse Petersen name), so I prefer and get more story ideas for historical.

5) Can you tell us a little about what's next in the series?

The first book is about a woman who has no experience as a mistress and needs training, the second book is about a more experienced woman and a friendship turning to lovers. The last book is about the mistress matchmaker herself. :) I'm almost done writing the third book now and the release dates are : AN INTRODUCTION TO PLEASURE (June 19); FOR DESIRE ALONE (November 6), HER PERFECT MATCH (March 5, 2013), so they're releasing very quickly, first as ebooks and then as paperback from Samhain Publishing.

Thank you so much for joining me today, Jess! I wish you continued success with the new series. I know An Introduction to Pleasure will be burning a hole in my Kindle until I get around to reading it!

**************************************************************************

An innocent lady’s education could be a gentleman’s wicked seduction.

Lysandra Keates is running out of options. Her father is dead, her mother is ill, and her efforts to find respectable employment have ended in failure. With her small savings bleeding away, she swallows her pride—and her terror—and turns to Vivien Manning, an infamous courtesan, to match her with a wealthy protector.

For years, Viscount Andrew Callis has lived a monastic existence at his country estate, hardening his body against the snobbish, lazy young man he once was, hardening his heart against grief over the deaths of his wife and infant son. When Vivien asks him to spend one month training a young woman in the ways of a mistress, his mind resists…but his body responds with an ache he thought long dead.

As Andrew begins his gentle tutelage, he finds himself falling under the spell of Lysandra’s innocent charms. And as they give in to the powerful hunger, the last thing Andrew ever expected, or wanted, forms between them. An emotional connection that could carry them well past the training period—if only Andrew can open his heart to the possibility of love.

Pies and Prejudice

Book Description: When the going gets tough, Ella Mae LaFaye bakes pies. So when she catches her husband cheating in New York, she heads back home to Havenwood, Georgia, where she can drown her sorrows in fresh fruit filling and flakey crust. But her pies aren't just delicious. They're having magical effects on the people who eat them--and the public is hungry for more.

Discovering her hidden talent for enchantment, Ella Mae makes her own wish come true by opening the Charmed Pie Shoppe. But with her old nemesis Loralyn Gaynor making trouble, and her old crush Hugh Dylan making nice, she has more than pie on her plate. and when Loralyn's fiancé is found dead--killed with Ella Mae's rolling pin--it'll take all her sweet magic to clear her name.

My Review: Recipe for the perfect Southern cozy: Start with a cast of strong, sassy women; mix in delectable dollops of mystery, magic, mayhem, and mouthwatering descriptions of scrumptious sweet and savory pies; add in a dash of romance. Grab a tall glass of iced cold sweet tea, head out to the sunniest spot in your yard and let Ellery Adam’s charming town of Havenwood, Georgia whisk you away to the genteel south.

Women’s relationships are a hallmark of great Southern lit (think Fried Green Tomatoes and Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood), and Ella Mae has surrounded herself with a special group of women: her mother, aunts, and special friends. (Her aunt Dee is my favorite with her menagerie of pets, and how I’d love one of her specially crafted with love metal sculptures of dearly departed pets.) I loved the process of Ella Mae discovering her magical powers as she strived to learn more about herself (especially the scene where the uninhibited townsfolk started taking their clothes off!) I also enjoyed the horse racing element to the mystery, and was saddened, but not shocked at the extreme measures greedy owners and breeders will take to win the big bucks, putting their animal’s safety and well-being on the back burner.

Any new release by Ellery Adams is cause for celebration in my book, and this first Charmed Pie Shoppe mystery is a winner right out of the starting gate!

Tara’s Thoughts: Chewy (Charleston Chew) is still a very young pup; a great source of love and comfort to his Mom, but way too young to involve himself in the dangerous job of hunting down killers. He’s much safer at Hugh’s doggie day care. Mommy hopes we’ll get to see more of Dante as Ella Mae and Hugh’s relationship develops. She loves Harlequin Great Danes. Me, not so much.

Sundays in Bed With...#1

Just found this fun meme from Midnight Book Girl, asking book bloggers to share the book or books they're curled up in bed with today, or the ones they would be reading if only they had the time to stay in bed reading! For me, nothing is more perfect than lounging around in bed any day of the week with my fur baby and a stack of books. Unfortunately, I don't get much reading time until late in the evening when most people are already sound asleep (I'm a total night owl), but a girl can dream, right?

I'm currently reading Ellery Adam's Pies and Prejudice (the first in her new Charmed Pie Shoppe series), an early copy I received from the author. It's due out July 3rd, and I am absolutely loving it. Add it to your Wish List immediately!!! I can't wait to tell you about it later this week.

What are you reading this Father's Day Sunday?

Cat Cozy Spotlight: Alice Nestleton Mysteries

Have you read Lydia Adamson's Alice Nestleton mysteries? Probably not, as they were released back in the '90s. I collected most of them when I first started reading cat cozies about 10 years ago. Alice is an actress/cat sitter in NYC who of course also gets roped into playing detective. Here is a listing of the series in order:

1. A Cat in the Manger (1990)
2. A Cat of a Different Color (1991)
3. A Cat in Wolf's Clothing (1991)
4. A Cat in the Wings (1992)
5. A Cat by Any Other Name (1992)
6. A Cat with a Fiddle (1993)
7. A Cat in a Glass House (1993)
8. A Cat with No Regrets (1994)
9. A Cat on the Cutting Edge (1994)
10. A Cat in Fine Style (1995)
11. A Cat on a Winning Streak (1995)
12. A Cat Under the Mistletoe (1996)
13. A Cat in a Chorus Line (1996)
14. A Cat on a Beach Blanket (1997)
15. A Cat on Jingle Bell Rock (1997)
16. A Cat on Stage Left (1998)
17. A Cat of One's Own (1999)
18. A Cat With the Blues (2000)
19. A Cat With No Clue (2001)
20. A Cat Named Brat (2002)
21. A Cat on the Bus (2002)

The exciting news is Berkley is going to be republishing many of the books later this year in ebook format! An omnibus of the first two books in the series will be released October 2 in trade paperback and ebook, titled A Cat Tells Two Tales. I think I will be buying the trade paperback even though I already have the books...don't you just love the cover? The purple, the cat, the candles, the fireplace, the skull on the bookshelf! This is a great series that gets a second chance thanks to our beloved ereaders!

Hearse and Buggy

Book Description: Claire Weatherly has fled a high-stress lifestyle for a slower pace—in Amish country: Heavenly, Pennsylvania. She only planned a short visit but instead found herself opening an Amish specialty shop, Heavenly Treasures, and settling in. Claire loves her new home, and she’s slowly making friends among the locals, including Esther, a young Amish woman who works in the shop. So when the store’s former owner,the unlikable Walter Snow, is murdered, and the man Esther is sweet on becomes a suspect, Claire can’t help but get involved.

Newly returned Detective Jakob Fisher, who left Heavenly—and his Amish upbringing—as a teenager, is on the case. But his investigation is stalled by the fact that none of his former community will speak with him. Claire’s connections make her the perfect go-between.

As Claire investigates, she uncovers more than she wanted to know about her neighbors. And suddenly, everything she had hoped to find in this peaceful refuge is at risk . . . 

My Review: Laura Bradford creates characters with such depth it feels as if you've known them for years. This book contains not only a compelling mystery, but also a fascinating look at Amish culture. The town of Heavenly is a character all it’s own, depicted so vividly you’ll want to have tea with Claire and Diane in their parlor, browse the Amish wares in Heavenly Treasures, and enjoy coffee and a slice of pie at the Shoo Fly Bake Shoppe. Doesn’t the beautiful cover art make you want to step inside the pages and stay awhile?

I can’t wait for the next book in the series (Assaulted Pretzel, March 2013), to watch Ester and Eli’s relationship grow; to see how Claire handles her complicated feelings for both Jakob and Benjamin; and to hopefully see Jakob and his family heal. This is truly one of the best debut series of the year.

Tara’s Thoughts: No cats??? Did Mommy say there are no cats in this book? I’m shocked, I’m horrified, I’m appalled, I’m…going back to my nap now.

 

Welcome, Tonya Kappes!!!

I am beyond thrilled to be interviewing the lovely and talented Tonya Kappes today. Author of bestsellers Carpe Bead Em, Ladybug Jinx, Splitsville.com, Happy New Life, Never Tell Your Dreams, and the brand spankin' new A Charming Crime, in just a short period of time Tonya has become one of Indie publishing's biggest success stories. So without further adieu...

Thank you so much for joining me today, Tonya! 

Thank you for having me! I'm so honored!!!

Can you tell us a little about your new Magical Cures mysteries? 

Here's the blurb (I love it!)

                                                  Bubble... Bubble...

June Heal has nothing to lose when she relocates her homeopathic cure shop, A Dose of Darla, from the flea market booth in her home town, to a quaint shop in the cozy but unusual little town of Whispering Falls, Kentucky. Or so it seems.

                                                  Cures and trouble...

Whispering Falls has a lot of secrets. From talking snow globes to whispering animals not to mention a few sprinkles of fairy dust, June realizes Whispering Falls is more magical than she thought. . .literally.

                                                      

                                                      Magic stirs...

June discovers she was born into a family of psychics, and her homeopathic cures truly are magical. Unfortunately, they are not magical enough to save her from being the number one murder suspect when a member of the community that she had just had a disagreement with shows up face down in the lake with June’s lucky charm in the victim’s grasp.

                                                  And troubles double...

Add to that an attraction to her high school best friend, Sheriff Oscar Park and  Mr. Prince Charming, her cat, is stealing charms from Belle’s Baubles, June is forced to clear her name in more ways than murder. After all, they don’t have cauldrons in jail.

What inspired this series?

A Charming Crime is a made up world of magical/psychic stuff….I’ve never written anything where I completely make up the entire world and words with in that world. It was a ton of fun!

You have so many projects going on, frequent book releases, yet each new book is fresh and unique. How do you keep up with so many different series?

Series are so easy for me. I'm a person who invests in relationships. I don't have a MILLION friends. When I make friends with someone, I completely invest in them. And it's the same with my characters. I want to be a part of their life and it takes more than one book to get through their story.

If you were stranded on an island and could only have 3 books with you, what would they be? (Besides a loaded Kindle, of course!)

OH, man!!! I was going to say my Kindle....

The Secret (because I believe in the Universe and all it has to offer!)

Notebook to write in.

Another notebook to write in!

Pick one:

Cats or dogs? Dogs

Morning or evening? Morning

Chocolate or vanilla? . . .RED HOTS!

Walking in the sunshine or dancing in the rain? walking in the sunshine

Reading by a cozy fire or on a sunny porch? cozy fire

Reading or writing? writing

What are you working on now? 

I use to try to get one book out and take a little break between them, but I'm finding that more and more difficult because all of the people in my head start to fight and want to kick the other out. So to keep the peace, I go from one story to another. I'm working on the second novel in the Magical Cures Series, A Charming Cure and the second Olivia Davis Paranormal Mystery, Color Me A Crime.

What do your fans have to look forward to?

More and more quirky characters and some belly laughs!

Thanks so much for having me, Melissa!! It has been a ton of fun!!!

****************************************************************

Make sure you leave a comment...one lucky person will win a copy of A Charming Crime!!!

Moose Mania!!!

A little something different...today's blog isn't about books (gasp!) or Tara (double gasp!!!) It's about something else I love...moose! Luckily I live in Vermont, where the occasional sighting in city limits isn't all that uncommon...yet just rare enough that it's a newsworthy event when it happens!

This big guy has been spotted twice in the past 3 days around the area...isn't he handsome???

A Charming Crime

Book Description: Bubble... Bubble... June Heal has nothing to lose when she relocates her homeopathic cure shop, A Dose of Darla, from the flea market booth in her home town, to a quaint shop in the cozy but unusual little town of Whispering Falls, Kentucky. Or so it seems.

Cures and trouble... Whispering Falls has a lot of secrets. From talking snow globes to whispering animals not to mention a few sprinkles of fairy dust, June realizes Whispering Falls is more magical than she thought. . .literally.

Magic stirs... June discovers she was born into a family of psychics, and her homeopathic cures truly are magical. Unfortunately, they are not magical enough to save her from being the number one murder suspect when a member of the community that she had just had a disagreement with shows up face down in the lake with June’s lucky charm in the victim’s grasp.

And troubles double... Add to that an attraction to her high school best friend, Sheriff Oscar Park and Mr. Prince Charming, her cat, is stealing charms from Belle’s Baubles, June is forced to clear her name in more ways than murder. After all, they don’t have cauldrons in jail.

My Review: Looking for a fun and fresh summer read? Look no further than the first Magical Cures mystery, A Charming Crime. Tonya Kappes has created a completely original world of potions, secrets, and murder that is sure to appeal to fans of HP Mallory and Rose Pressey. Of course any fan of Tonya knows, you can't go wrong with anything she writes.

Tara’s Thoughts: Mr Prince Charming, what is your story??? I suspect there is a lot about you June doesn’t understand yet…

***And be sure to stop by on Wednesday, June 13th, when I will be interviewing the lovely Miss Tonya!!!***

Launch of Entangled Publishing's Dead Sexy Line

There is so much positive buzz surrounding Entangled Publishing and their exciting collection of digital category imprints. Their newest line premieres June 15...the Dead Sexy romantic suspense line.

Take a look at this exciting lineup of launch titles:

Her Forgotten Betrayal, by Anna DeStefano

Remembering will save her life. But will the truth destroy their love forever?

When the CEO of a global technology empire retreats to her ancestral mountain home to heal from a brutal shooting, she discovers the danger has just begun. The FBI suspects her of selling top-secret government research, and has sent an undercover agent to find evidence of her treason. Still suffering from amnesia, she is at the mercy of nightmares that soon morph into something much more terrifying—a determined enemy, plotting to make sure she never regains her fragile memory. When a handsome stranger sweeps in from the cold, claiming to be her protector—and her former lover—she suspects he’s not telling her the whole truth about his sudden appearance on the mountain. As their unwilling attraction blossoms to sizzling passion, she begins to trust him…unaware that he is about to repeat the most painful betrayal of her past—a past she doesn’t remember…a past that just may kill her.

No Hero, by Mallory Kane

A darkly handsome New Orleans detective who insists he’s no hero is blindsided by his one-time lover, a sexy investigative TV reporter, who exposes his secret troubled past to the whole world…and nearly costs him his job. When the at-risk teens he mentors start turning up dead, his vow to protect the other kids hits a major snag…his only clue to finding the determined killer is held by the one woman he never wants to see again. Compelled to work together to solve the vicious murders before another child dies, their passion reluctantly reignites, and their mutual mistrust slowly turns to respect as she realizes there’s much more to being a hero than outward appearances, and his deeply wounded heart gradually opens to the possibility of love.

Sacrifice of Passion, by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

A tall, dark, single-dad Texas rancher finds himself facing more than his stubbornly silent son when the chupacabra, a supposedly mythical blood-sucking beast, starts killing his livestock—and stalking the town’s newly returned veterinary assistant, the sensual woman who ran from the altar and broke his heart twelve years earlier. Determined to purge his sizzling memories of her from his all-too-vivid imagination, he seeks her help to get to the bottom of the disturbing animal mutilations, only to have her break through to his sullen son…and rekindle the love he’d thought was lost forever. But her refusal to share a terrible secret sends her running straight into the lair of the chupacabra, plunging her back into her worst nightmare, and forcing them both to confront the wrongs of the past—in order to stay alive for the future they desperately want.

Deadly Secrets, Loving Lies, by Cynthia Cooke

Family secrets must be kept, and painful wounds must be ignored.

After an all-out assault by a vicious terrorist bent on destroying her entire family, a former government agent must break the strict rules she has always lived by when she emerges from hiding to reluctantly accept the help of her all-too-sexy ex-lover. Running a deadly race against time, they rush to rescue her kidnapped sister, find her missing father, and bring the notorious villain to justice. But nothing ever goes as planned. Bullets fly, danger abounds, and their passion reignites even faster than the lies are flowing. But their stubbornly held secrets just might spell the end of their rekindled love and hopes for the future…as well as their very lives.

Must Worship Cats

Book Description: She’s a cat on a mission...Only two years old, Cat is tired of being sent to stay with humans who don’t appreciate her. She escapes the latest mismatch, deciding this time she'll choose who she stays with, not the other way round. But finding the perfect home is more dangerous than she thought, and for Cat, food and shelter are no longer enough. They must worship her.

My Review: I worship cats and I’m proud of it!!! This perfect little novella written entirely from a cat’s point of view is a must read for cat lovers everywhere. It warmed my heart and reaffirmed every reason why I love these angels with fur so much. This novella is also a wonderful little teaser for the new Miracle Interrupted series set in the village of Miracle, Wisconsin. I already can’t wait to learn more about Becky and Pastor Jim, Sarah and her family, and especially Cat’s mysterious new human. Any fan of small town contemporaries owes it to themselves to check out this new series by Edie Ramer!

Tara’s Thoughts: I’ve walked in Cat’s paws on my journey home. I think it makes Mommy sad that she doesn’t know what I went through during my years on the street. All she knows is the shelter picked me up as a stray; a middle-aged lady who hadn’t even been spayed yet. All I care about is that we’re together now; I’ve forgotten about all the bad stuff. What makes me sad is that so many kitties will never be loved as I am, never know the safety of a home, the confidence that the next meal will come and of a warm bed at night…things we all deserve. I got lucky; I found a Mommy that worships the paws I stand on. In my opinion if more people worshipped cats the world would be a much better place.

Copycat Killing

Book Description: Everyone thinks their cats are special—but Owen and Hercules have powers that go far beyond an adorable look or an irresistible purr. Along with their owner, librarian Kathleen Paulson, they have an uncanny instinct for solving crimes...

It's been raining cats and dogs in Mayville Heights. The small town's been deluged, and now the local artists' co-op is on the verge of flooding. Kathleen has been up all night helping her friends move their creations to the safety of the upstairs studio.

The artwork survives, but when controversial mask maker Jaeger Merrill is found drowned in the co-op basement, Kathleen questions whether the death was accidental. After she discovers the artist was using an assumed name, she realizes she can't actually assume anything about him. With the help of handsome detective Marcus Gordon—and her cats' extraordinary powers of detection—it's up to Kathleen to unmask a killer.

My Review: I love when cozies have a historical mystery to solve as well as the modern day one. This one is very complex and had me guessing until the very end. The secrets hidden on Wisteria Hill have affected so many lives, and the difficult subject matter involved made me form an even deeper attachment to these characters.

With each book in this series Owens and Hercules are getting more and more involved in Kathleen’s cases, and she actually pays attention to what they’re trying to tell her. They are an unbeatable team in a series that keeps getting better and better! (Don’t you just want to scoop up those little fur angels on the cover and take them home???)

Tara’s Thoughts: Owen and Hercules are two awesome cats! They sure are lucky having magical powers. As magnificent as I am, I don’t have any, and it sure would be wonderful to have the ability to disappear when it’s time to go to the vet! One thing we do have in common is our love of people food. I’ve never tried peanut butter on toast, but I do love Cool Whip, cereal milk and cheese slices (in moderation of course; I’m lucky that dairy products don’t hurt my tummy).

First Tuesday-June 2012

First Tuesday is upon us once again. Seriously, isn't it the best day of each month???

Here's my personal shopping list:

*Quilt or Innocence-Elizabeth Spann Craig
*Dead Man Waltzing-Ella Barrick
*Azalea Assault-Alyse Carlson
*Hearse and Buggy-Laura Bradford
*Grace Among Thieves-Julie Hyzy
*Threaded for Trouble-Janet Bolin
*Corpse in the Crystal Ball-Kari Lee Townsend
*The Diva Digs Up the Dirt-Krista Davis
*Hot Button-Kylie Logan

Happy Shopping!!!

Moosed Up

Book Description: Stay out of the woods...the moose are loose and the men are hungry.

Nurse Practitioner Eva Stuart’s life is messed-up. She found her fiancé in bed with her best friend Jeremy, which has killed her confidence as a desirable woman and brought her judgment into question when it comes to men. Needing a change of scenery, she leaves Cincinnati behind for the wilds of Alaska and opts for running a medical clinic in a remote town. Her life quickly changes from messed-up to moosed-up as nature takes a stab at her.

Wildlife Refuge Officer Lynx Maiski is big... and hot... and hungry for a mate. He’s more than willing to show Eva just how sexy she is. After all, sometimes what a street-smart woman really needs is a forest-smart mountain man. But he’s keeping a secret that seems destined to ruin his chances at love.

Soon they are dealing with small town interference, a sun that refuses to set, deadly poachers, out of control lust, and a matchmaking moose on the loose.

My Review: This is a book I bought on a whim because of the cover…who could resist that moose??? I was pleased to find it was an enjoyable tale with romance, adventure in the beautiful Alaskan wilderness, some laugh out loud moments, danger involving really nasty poachers, and an adorable match-making moose. Lynx will make you swoon even before you learn the secret he’s hiding! Great fun!