The Kiss That Launched 1,000 GIFs Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for The Kiss That Launched 1,000 GIFs by Sheralyn Pratt!

Each weekday from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Grace and Ashton cohost Battle of the Sexes, a radio program arguing the he-said/she-said issues of the day. Their fiery debates often have listeners wondering if there’s more to their relationship than just talk, even though Grace has been dating Phillip, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Perfect, since long before she ever met Ashton Miller. 

Yet when news comes that Battle of the Sexes is on the bubble for cancellation, Grace and Ashton need to step up their efforts to engage their audience to keep the show alive. When a charity organization approaches them and proposes that the two of them kiss for a fund raiser, Grace and Ash agree to kiss for a good cause. A kiss is just a kiss, right?

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Author Sheralyn Pratt

Sheralyn's first job was as a karate instructor, which taught her that practice does not make perfect; practice makes habit--good or bad. Martial arts also taught Sheralyn that a master is simply a person who can effortlessly do all the actions a beginner finds difficult or maybe even impossible.

Sheralyn has worked in many fields throughout her life, but her 12 years as a karate instructor have shaped how she does everything, including writing and mentoring. She likes to keep things light and fun, but she's also aware that life is journey and that if you're going to buy a book, your life should better for it.

So, fiction or nonfiction, know that each of Sheralyn's books are designed to take you to a new place. Maybe that book is designed to help you escape for a few hours, or maybe it's a book designed to teach you a new skill. Either way, Sheralyn hopes it's unforgettable...in a good way. ;)

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Review:

Grace and Ashton love to debate each other on their radio program Battle of the Sexes. Grace is independent and sure of herself, while Ashton loves to rile her up with a distinctly masculine point of view. However, their radio show is now on the bubble, so Grace and Ashton need to try and do something to keep the show going. At first it involves simple things like interacting on social media, but then agree to kiss for charity. A kiss between frenemies seems harmless, but is it really?

This was such a fun book. I definitely related to Grace. She is very strong and knows what she wants out of her life and out of her relationships with people. I especially liked that she was serious about her career while still having fun. She was so professional that a kiss was no big deal. Or so she though. Ashton was hard to get a read on at first. I am not impressed by men who try to be so stereotypical, but Ashton really liked to argue with Grace. It was hard to determine what was real and what was just Ashton egging Grace on. They had developed though a friendship of sorts, and watching it grow was one of the more fun parts of the book.

The author clearly has a good grasp on social media as well. Talking about the shippers and the names they come up with was so spot on. This was such a fun way to tell a story and make it feel very real and current. Grace was very social media savvy while Ashton didn't know as much about it. However, the interactions they had felt very real and added another layer to the story. Overall this was a very cute and entertaining read. I think people who know a lot about social media and fans will particularly enjoy this story.

Book provided for review.

$25 Blog Tour Giveaway

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Ends 8/5/15

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.

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Maybe In Another Life Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reed!

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college, but on the heels of a disastrous breakup, she has finally returned to her hometown of Los Angeles. To celebrate her first night back, her best friend, Gabby, takes Hannah out to a bar—where she meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

It’s just past midnight when Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. Ethan quickly offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay.

Hannah hesitates.

What happens if she leaves with Gabby?

What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into surprisingly different stories with far-reaching consequences for Hannah and the people around her, raising questions like: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author and essayist from Acton, Massachusetts. She is the author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and her dog, Rabbit. You can follow her on Twitter @TJenkinsReid.

FIND TAYLOR ONLINE:

http://www.taylorjenkinsreid.com/

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Review:

Hannah is ready to start over. After a bit of a toxic relationship, Hannah is heading back home to LA. On a fun night out, she reconnects with her high school boyfriend Ethan. At the end of the night, Hannah is faced with a choice-go home with Ethan or stay at the bar. In this intriguing book, we get to see the results of both choices. Staying or going. Both mean vastly different outcomes for Hannah, but which is better? Is happiness dependent on our choices or our outlook? 

I was so interested n this book, and it did not let me down. I was afraid it might be hard to follow two completely different storylines, but this wasn't the case. Each story switched off from chapter to chapter, but the author did an amazing job of make the book still flow very well. Everything made sense and was not too difficult to keep up with. That's a pretty fantastic feat in a story that is set up this way. 

I was curious if I would prefer one storyline to the other, and I kind of did. However, I was drawn to the questions asked in this book. Are we happy as a result of the choices we make, or do we make an active decision to be happy? Could we be happy with any number of people and results in our life? I won't tell you how either story ends, but I will say that I found the conclusions to be very satisfying. This book will both entertain and make you think at the same time, which is a hard balance sometimes. It was definitely a lot of fun to read though.

Book provided for review.

Zion's Call Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Zion's Call by Jeremy Maughan!

 

1830's LDS Historical Fiction

Howard Egan has left his life at sea to try his hand at the new america. A dream of owning land and a better life for himself. More than anything he wants to find a woman to spend this new life together. To his surprise he finds her on his first day on shore. He just didn't expect her to be so beautiful or to be so harsh.

Thrown into the middle of a political firestorm between a Mormon missionary and local business men. Tasked with being the Mormon's Bodyguard Howard has to find a way to secure his love, fulfill his duty and keep himself and the Mormon alive.
 

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Author Jeremy Maughan 

Jeremy Maughan a seventh generation member of the LDS Church, was born February 1978 in Provo Utah. As a young man he had a passion for reading. One of his fondest memories is laying on the back on his parents boat reading for days at Lake Powell. He would spend days reading Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, David Eddings,Terry Pratchett and many of great fantasy writers. He says that the only way he passed English in high school was because his teachers allowed him to turn in book reports as extra credit.

After High School Jeremy attended Devry Institute of Technology and studied to become a programmer. After two semesters he dropped out, having already landed a great programming job. He didn't find the need to continue his education to get a job he already had.

A few short months after dropping out of school he was convinced by a close friend, who was a recent convert to the LDS church, to serve a mission. In May of 1997 he was called to serve in the Oregon Portland mission. He reported to the MTC just 6 weeks after submitting his mission papers. There he gained a deep testimony of the gospel that has stayed with him throughout his life.

Once he returned home from his mission his love of the North West pulled at him and he moved to Seattle to pursue his profession programming career. While attending institute his meet the love of his life and married her for time and all eternity in the Timpanogos Temple. In their 14 years of marriage they have had 5 children. Two boys and three girls. Jeremy’s writing career started with a simple 30 day challenge and the desire to fulfill a item on his bucket list. Wanting to do a challenge to write every day for 30 days he needed something to write about. After days of struggle he was studying the writings C.S. Lewis and was inspired by the story behind The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Jeremy decided to follow in Lewis’s footsteps and write about his own children. A story was hatched and he set out to write a novel for his kids and about his kids.

He caught the writing bug and has written many stories for his family and friends. His most recent work, “Zion’s Call” is a full length historical fiction novel based on one of his ancestors and his conversion to the gospel.

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Review:

After a stint at sea, Howard Egan finds himself in Salem, Massachusetts. While there he runs into an intriguing young lady and decides his time might be better spent in Salem. Taking a position making ropes, he soon sets forth a great future for himself. Things change though when some Mormon missionaries come to town. Howard becomes the bodyguard for the Mormons, but this puts him in a difficult position. Everything he has carefully planned may be destroyed for some men he hardly knows. Will it all be worth it? 

I love historical fiction, so I was excited to read this book. There was a great story mixed with some real historical things. That made for a really fun story. I did feel a little thrown into things at the beginning though. I feel like the introductions could have been a bit smoother. Once you get to know everyone though and their backgrounds, things fall into place. I thought Howard had a very compelling story. He wanted to make a better life for himself, and he worked very hard to get there. He also was a man of great conscience. He did was he was supposed to, and he did it to the best of his ability. 

Of course in all this there was a love story as well. Howard is immediately taken with a girl, but he has to work to get her for sure. Her name is Tamson, and she's a girl with a sharp tongue and a very clear idea of what she wants. Howard will work just as hard to earn the girl of his dreams as he will for the life of his dreams. Things get a bit complicated with Tamson becomes a believer in the Mormons that Howard has been a bodyguard for. Overall this was a fun story with a lot of good historical context. It was a very good read.

Book provided for review.

 

$25 Blog Tour Giveaway

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Ends 7/20/15

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.

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Stick In the Mud Meets Spontaneity Blog Tour

Blog Tour Schedule

Welcome to the blog tour for Stick In the Mud Meets Spontaneity by Racheal Anderson!

 

Home from college for the summer, Samantha Kinsey steps into her role as nanny for her two favorite little charges. But when she finds herself playing chauffeur more than playmate, her summer outlook quickly turns from fun to bleak. That is, until she drives the girls to a family-owned ranch and meets Colten McCoy—a genuine, hard-working cowboy, who's as set in his ways as he is handsome. Although he claims he doesn't need any fun in his life, Sam’s determined to help him find it. But she'll soon discover that cowboys are about as easy to train as wild mustangs.

Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity is about an adaptable girl and a not so adaptable guy. It’s about learning to accept people for who they are and realizing that sometimes who they are is exactly who they should be.

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Author Rachael Anderson

USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

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Review:

Sam is excited for this time in her life. She's been offered an amazing internship at a design firm in New York City, so now all she needs to do is have an awesome summer. Things don't start off quite as planned when she finds herself ferrying her young ward Kajsa to a ranch for riding lessons. Life gets even more complicated when a cute (but serious) cowboy gets involved. Now Sam will be forced to make some big decisions about where she wants her life to go. Can one girl really have it all?

I love when you get to come back to characters you are familiar with, so this book was like seeing old friends. In this case, we get to see Sam just a little bit more grown up and embarking out on her own. This includes an amazing opportunity in NYC. Of course, life is never easy, and Sam discovers that maybe there are good things in Colorado as well. Particularly things that come in the form of a very sweet and endearing cowboy. 

What I particularly enjoyed about this story was that Sam was asked to answer some very tough questions, but she was never willing to compromise on what she wanted. She knew that the NYC internship was super important for her life and career, but that didn't mean that she should just reject anything back home as well. Sam was determined not to let anything bring her down, That made this book all the more enjoyable. A lot of times in stories like these the girls are forced to give up something just to have the other, but Sam was not going to do that. She was bound and determined to find a way to live life on her terms, and that made for a very fun story.

Book provided for review.

$50 Book Blast Giveaway

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Ends 7/31/15

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.

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Blog Tour: 3,000 Miles to Eternity

Welcome to the blog tour for 3,000 Miles to Eternity by Duane & Selena Pannell!

Years before online dating became a respectable option, two broken and imperfect souls digitally crossed paths as they tried to find their way back to God. This fascinating true story, told through journals and emails, will have you smiling from start to finish and shedding a few tears along the way. Engaging and entertaining, it’s the perfect reminder of the power of love, redemption, and hope.

About the authors:

DUANE AND SELENA PANNELL “met” online while living in Virginia and Alberta, Canada.  After a complicated long-distance relationship spanning four years, they married and have a son together. Their first book is borne of yet another separation in their lives when Selena was in Alberta for several months in 2013 with her dying father.

Duane was going through their old correspondence because he is a “mushy man” and thought this was a story worth telling.  After some coaxing, he convinced Selena, and with a little help from Google Docs, they began their collaboration on “3,000 Miles To Eternity.”

Today they serve as missionary group leaders in the LDS (Mormon) Addiction Recovery Program where they lead two 12 Step meetings a week.  Duane is putting the final touches on a manuscript addressing addiction recovery while Selena homeschools their son and teaches archery in her spare time.

Review:

As the internet began booming, there were new things being explored all the time. One of these includes online dating. Enter LDS Singles Online, a group where people were looking for love. Or not in the case of Selena. As a divorced mother of 5, Selena decides that studying the men on LDSSO would be an interesting undertaking. One day she begins talking to Duane, a man 3000 miles away. What unfolds becomes an intriguing tale of forgiveness, letting go of the past, and learning to open yourself up to new possibilities.

The story of Duane and Selena begins separately, told through their individual journal entries. Both of the have led lives that are different from many of their fellow congregation members. Duane was a drug addict and alcoholic, married to an equally self-destructive woman. As Duane hit bottom and began the long road to cleaning up his life, his wife was less interested. They eventually divorced. So Duane was left with children and a good sense of humor. Selena meanwhile married a nice man, but someone who was not LDS. This led to some conflict eventually, and she soon began to realize that the love was not there anymore. It was Selena's sense of humor that made Duane message her, while Selena found a willing partner in answering her probing questions about men in general (and LDS men in particular). 

This book was fascinating! I think the circumstance of meeting online allowed Selena and Duane a certain freedom. They both intended on never seeing the other one really. Of course, like many great stories things didn't happen how they planned it. They soon found themselves looking forward to their conversations and talking to each other. They do have some ups and downs like any couple. I appreciate that they were so willing to show everything. There were so many things they they talked about that I found so interesting. This book reads like a romance novel with the satisfaction of knowing that it was in fact real. It was a super fun book to read!

Book provided for review.

Review: California Dreamin Collection

Title:		California Dreamin' Collection
Author:		Heather B. Moore, Kaylee Baldwin, Annette Lyon, Jennifer Moore, Shannon Guymon, and Sarah M. Eden
Publisher:		Mirror Press
Pub. Date:		4/2015
Pages:		350

Amazon #1 Bestselling series in *New Release* for Clean Romance

Six brand new contemporary romance novellas with bestselling and award winning authors.

In the sweet novella TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Heather B. Moore, Gwen uses her wedding photography business to keep her life simple and focus on something other than her own broken heart. When Jack, a guy too handsome for his own good, helps her clean up after a photoshoot, then asks her out, she doesn’t know if she can handle dating again. But Jack’s charm wins her over, and she agrees to meet him for dinner. The more she gets to know Jack, the more she likes him, but everything about him seems too good to be true. 

GONE FISHING, a charming novella by Kaylee Baldwin, follows Claire as she tries to convince her dad to leave his start-up company as a boat guide and come back home to Colorado. He’s the only one who can defend Claire against her domineering mother. But when she arrives at the San Diego harbor, she’s met with more than one surprise. First, that her dad is truly living his dream and has never been happier, and second, she’s unexpectedly attracted to his business partner, Miguel.

In THE PIER CHANGES EVERYTHING, an enchanting novella by Annette Lyon, Alexandria has one last task to perform for her late husband, who died much too young: scatter his ashes in the Pacific Ocean. She goes to the Santa Monica Pier to do just that, but her plans get sidetracked after meeting Michael and feeling an immediate connection to him. They grab lunch, and the more time they spend together, the more they discover that they have in common—including past romantic hardships. As the day wears on, Alexandria begins learn that her heart just might be able to find love again.

In Jennifer Moore’s captivating novella A HERO’S SONG, AnneMarie’s career as a romance novelist is skyrocketing and her agent books her on a late night talk show. The host gets her to admit that she was in love once, with a guitar player. Moments after her segment, Lance Holden appears on the same stage, to perform his newest song. Is it a terrible coincidence? AnneMarie hasn’t seen Lance ever since he broke her heart ten years ago, and she has refused to think about him again. Their lives are worlds apart, but as Lance tries to reconcile with AnneMarie, she finds herself taking a second chance. 

In STAY WITH ME, an endearing novella by Shannon Guymon, Jolie moves to L.A. to take on a nanny position for the summer, since apparently having a degree in art doesn’t translate to getting a job as a graphic designer. When Fitz, the family’s chauffeur, picks her up at the airport, she wonders if every man in LA is model-gorgeous. When Jolie meets her two charges, she finds them adorable and needy. But it’s harder to hold onto her job than she thought with a hostile Mrs. James and her spoiled brother. Fitz becomes both the silver lining of her job and the man who just might convince her to stay in L.A.

In the delightful novella, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, by Sarah M. Eden, Ada is the best realtor around. The best. She prides herself in matching each client with the house that will fit all of their needs. She hasn’t failed yet. So when Craig hires her to find him the perfect condo for him and his son, Ada is up for the challenge. What she may not be prepared for is her unforeseen attraction to Craig, her immediate attachment to his nine-year-old son, and her heart telling her that it’s okay to take another chance.

Summary and picture via Goodreads.

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California brings thought of the sand and sun. In this collection of short stories, it's all about sand, sun, and romance. From new love that was never imagined to love lost and possibly found again, this collection covers a wide variety of stories and characters. First chances and second chances are all possible, and these stories will make you believe in love.

Full of sweet tales, this collection of stories manages to make California itself a character. You feel like you are there in the best way possible. Seriously, if you can't make it out a beach anytime soon, just relax and open this book up. You'll be there in no time. There was a great variety to the stories. Some were tales of instant attraction, while some showed love growing between two people who seemed unlikely to be a good match in the beginning. Some of the stories were about love that had been lost then found. All of them though are about taking a chance on romance and happiness, even if it is not what we thought would happen.

One of my favorites was The Pier Changes Everything. I just found the characters to be realistic and engaging. They had dealt with things in their lives that had shaped them, and that ultimately helped them grow into people who could work on things together. It wasn't a heavy story though. There was lots of lightness and fun well balanced with the more serious parts. Each of the stories in this collection will leave you feeling warm and happy and ready for love. They'll also give you a little piece of California to keep in your heart.

Book provided for review.

The Little Girl and Her Shadow Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for The Little Girl and Her Shadow by O.K. Reade!

Having the cutest dresses, the best toys, and the softest bed isn’t enough to make this little girl happy. All she ever does is whine and complain. Finally, her shadow decides to teach her a lesson she’ll never forget! With a gentle reminder about the value of gratitude and friendship, this delightfully illustrated picture book will charm children and parents alike.

About the author:

O. K. Reade lives in New York City with his son. He is a mathematics teacher by day and a writer/cartoonist by night.

Review:

For the little girl who has it all, life can still be hard. Sometimes it's never enough. So the little girl with it all with complain and complain, until one day her shadow has had enough. Will her shadow leaving be enough to teach the grumpy girl a lesson?

This book was so cute, and it had a great message as well. The little girl is never given a name, but she's certainly not very happy. Despite everything she has, she constantly complains about everything and everyone. She certainly does not like herself. One day though, her shadow leaves to play with another, much happier girl. The little girl with everything manages to learn a thing or two from her shadow and this girl.

I thought the drawing were so bright and fun. Also, this book is written in rhyme, and it manages to have a wonderful rhythm to it. It just seems to bounce along. Young kids will certainly enjoy this book, and it has a wonderful lesson for them to learn as well. It's a story that can brighten up your day.

Book provided for review.