AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Jenny Hale

 Good morning, readers.

We're still celebrating #ChristmasInJuly with some great holiday reads.  This week, I'm shining the spotlight on author, Jenny Hale.

Let's learn a bit about Jenny Hale:

Jenny Hale is a USA Today and international bestselling author of romantic contemporary fiction. Her books have sold over a million copies worldwide, have been translated into multiple languages, and adapted for television. Her novels Coming Home for Christmas and Movie Guide Epiphany Award winner Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses are Hallmark Channel original movies. She was included in Oprah Magazine’s “19 Dreamy Summer Romances to Whisk You Away” and both Southern Living’s “30 Christmas Novels to Start Reading Now” as well as “Beach Reads Perfect for Summer” in 2020 as well as 2023. Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family. Jenny is at work on her next novel, delighted to be bringing even more heartwarming stories to her readers. When she isn’t writing or heading up her romantic fiction imprint Harpeth Road, she can be found running around her hometown of Nashville with her husband, two boys, and their labradoodle, taking pictures—her favorite pastime.

Chances are if you watch Hallmark Christmas movies, then you've probably seen at least one of hers. My favorite was Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses with Danica Keller and Neil Bledsoe.

I'll be reviewing MEET ME AT CHRISTMAS (2023) on the Review Wednesday post tomorrow. I hope you'll come back.

There are several links, giving you the opportunity to learn more about Jenny Hale, her works, and to follow her. I'm listing them all below. Also, once on her website, I suggest signing up for her newsletter.

WEBSITE   BLOG   FACEBOOK   INSTAGRAM   TWITTER   LINKED IN   YOUTUBE

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

GOODREADS   BOOK BUB   PINTEREST   AUDIO   MEDIA/TV

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Once Upon A Royal Christmas: A Sweet Holiday Romance

 Good morning, readers!

I'm excited to kick off the Christmas in July series today with a book by previously featured author; USA Today Bestselling author, Robi Bielman.

AMAZON

Once Upon A royal Christmas is Book 2 in the Palotay's of Montana series. We met the family last week with Book 1. 

BLURB:

After a cringeworthy first encounter, Rowan Palotay hopes she’s seen the last of Prince Theodore Chenery. But fixing her mistake garners even more attention from the prince, and when he requests she be his reporter for a news story, she can’t say no.

Prince Theo is completely enchanted with Rowan and finds her special brand of kindness and honesty impossible to ignore. Back home, his choices are made for him, but here in this small town where his mother grew up, he feels connections he never has before. And the more time he and Rowan spend together, the more he wants her—all of her.

When obligations back home take a turn he didn’t see coming, he’s ready to stake his claim. But when his father and the media get wind of his relationship with Rowan, Theo must decide whether to follow his heart or his royal duty.

Once I got into the story, I really enjoyed the ease of which we saw a 'royal' be like normal people - in this case, we really saw Theo's mom in him. 

At first, for me at least, there seemed to be a dump of information I felt could have been shown in a smaller bite. But again, that's just me. Some readers enjoy the deeper dive up front.  But as the story progressed, Robin did an excellent job of peeling back the layers of the heroine, Rowan. She is memorable, for sure. A little moody, speaks her mind and pretends not to be afraid of what other people will think.  

I also loved how Rowan's character brought Prince Theo out, making him comfortable. The way she did the interview over the course of days while showing him the town his mother loved so much was creative on both Rowan and the author's part.

My only contention with the story is actually part of the title. A Sweet Holiday Romance. While the overall tone is very sweet and loving, I don't equate 'sweet' and  'visual lovemaking scenes' to mean the same thing. When I think sweet, I think Harlequin. And, while a few of Robin's books have been made into Hallmark ( I need to look for those this month), this one didn't fit the advertising bill with me. 

For that alone, I'm giving ONCE UPON A ROYAL CHRISTMAS: A Sweet Holiday Romance... 

.8

You'll find out more about Robin by following any of the links below:

WEBSITE    FACEBOOK   INSTAGRAM   TWITTER-X   GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Robin Bielman - Repeat Performance

 Good morning, readers.

Hoping I can get this posted before the power flickers again. This heat and all the rain is playing havoc with the power grid.

I got home from my trip yesterday so I'm getting caught up. I there's a delay, it's only because I'm spending time with Bob.

REVIEW WEDNESDAY will post on THURSDAY July 3rd as we kick off the Christmas In July series.

Thank you for your patience.

Repeat Performance...

Good morning, readers.

This week I'm shining the spotlight on author, Robin Bielman. Actually, I'll be showcasing her both this week and next. Robin has a Christmas book that will kick off our #ChristmasInJuly series.

When I feature a Christmas book by an author over the course of this month, I'll also link you to their most recent book (usually non-Christmas) so you can have more great books to read.

Let's get started!

About Robin Bielman:

USA Today bestselling author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her awesome family and her very cute dog, Harry. She writes fun, flirty romantic fiction with one goal in mind: to leave you with a smile on your face. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, and frequent coffee shops with friends. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! Xoxo

I'll be reviewing FALLING FOR HER BACHELOR tomorrow then next week, ONCE UPON A ROYAL CHRISTMAS

 In the mean time, you'll find out more about Robin by following any of the links below:

WEBSITE    FACEBOOK   INSTAGRAM   TWITTER-X   GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

 

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Robin Bielman

 Good morning, readers.

This week I'm shining the spotlight on author, Robin Bielman. Actually, I'll be showcasing her both this week and next. Robin has a Christmas book that will kick off our #ChristmasInJuly series.

When I feature a Christmas book by an author over the course of this month, I'll also link you to their most recent book (usually non-Christmas) so you can have more great books to read.

Let's get started!

About Robin Bielman:

USA Today bestselling author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her awesome family and her very cute dog, Harry. She writes fun, flirty romantic fiction with one goal in mind: to leave you with a smile on your face. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, and frequent coffee shops with friends. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! Xoxo

I'll be reviewing FALLING FOR HER BACHELOR tomorrow then next week, ONCE UPON A ROYAL CHRISTMAS

 In the mean time, you'll find out more about Robin by following any of the links below:

WEBSITE    FACEBOOK   INSTAGRAM   TWITTER-X   GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

 

WEDNESDAY REVIEW - Maverick's Secret Daughter

 Good morning, everyone!

Okay, I confess. I'm posting this on Tuesday night. Bob left for his 21 day rotation on the boat this morning. The house was so quiet... almost unsettling. With the feeling overtaking me, I dove right in to reading MAVERICK'S SECRET DAUGHTER by Catherine Mann. 

Let's talk about it!

AMAZON

BLURB:

He was a father—but he longed to win over her mother, too…

When sales rep Gabrielle Hammond wound up pregnant after a very out-of-character fling at a convention, she was sure Ryan Taylor would want no part of fatherhood. Now, two years later, the wealthy rancher has discovered Bella is his, and he is proposing marriage to Gabby—right away! Wary of his offer, Gabby agrees only to spend some time on the Taylor ranch, to let the daddy get to know his daughter. But the closer Gabby gets to Ryan, the harder it is to fight the hunky cowboy’s appeal…

Another secret baby story, true. But this is also a second chance. A chance for two people who had an amazing connection, conceived a child then went their separate ways. 

At first, I thought Ryan was a cad (read the book then tell me in the comments below if you picked up on that). Tall drink of Texan charms, beds then leaves a woman to figure out the rest for herself.

Mind you, Gabby is no slouch. She is a fierce Momma Bear willing to protect Bella at all costs... even if her decision means heartbreak. 

Another interesting character in this book was Thaddeus Taylor. The man is portrayed as a horrible person. His children tolerate him, sometimes. His wife lives almost reclusive in her wing of the huge log mansion. You have to wonder, what made Thaddeus Taylor the way his? I'm anxious to read the other books in the series to learn more about the family Ryan grew up in and secrets lurking in Thaddeus' past. 

I put the book down one time. Dishes and food called. LOL So you can bet I'm giving MAVERICK'S SECRET DAUGHTER:

There are 6 other books in the series. (This is Book 2). Here are the links to the other books. Book 3 releases next month.

NOTE: I believe the links below are for eBooks. I picked up my hard copy at Walmart.

Other books in this series with Amazon links:

Book 1: Sweet-Talkin' Maverick by Christy Jeffries

Book 2: Maverick's Secret Daughter by Catherine Mann

Book 3: The Maverick's Marriage Deal by Kaylie Newell

Book 4: The Maverick's Thirty-Day Marriage by Rochelle Alers

Book 5: Starting Over with the Maverick by Kathy Douglass

Book 6: A Lullaby for theMaverick by Melissa Senate

You can find out more about Catherine Mann by following any of the links below. 

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   TWTTER-X   INSTAGRAM   TIKTOK   GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

WEDNESDAY REVIEW - Fortune's Baby Claim

 Good morning!

First off, I can't believe I'm staying on top of posts. With Bob home, sometimes life is interesting and he is always my number one priority.  That said, I'll have a video coming soon to talk about 'A Day In the Life' kind of chat so if you like those kind of videos, please subscribe to my AuthorTube channel.

AMAZON

FORTUNE'S BABY CLAIM is Book 1 in The Fortunes of Texas series. How I managed to finally land on the first book in a series is a surprise to me! 

Here's the blurb:

An unthinkable mistake…Might be their good fortune!

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare come true when two babies are mistakenly switched at birth! Single mom Esme Fortune already loves the infant she brought home from the hospital, but she can’t possibly deny her own flesh and blood. And even if businessman Ryan Hayes never expected to be parenting a baby alone, he certainly doesn't want to give up his son. Their unconventional solution: Why not join forces—and raise the kids together? The pair's unbreakable love for their children brokers an unlikely partnership…and as an undeniable respect and attraction grows, perhaps so much more.  

I loved the fact that, though the characters are unaware, they make contact in the prologue. As a reader, I like to at least know who the players are early on in the first chapter even if they don't come together until the beginning of chapter two. 

The situation, while stretched, is believable. Bringing the couple together using DNA testing showed promise and the pompous hospital attorney was true to form. We don't see him after the initial confrontation but the story is peppered with his determination to cover the hospital's you know what. 

Though I didn't care for the heroine's name, I enjoyed Esme's character. When all else failed she fell back on her strength and she took initiative. Her late ex-husband tried to beat her self-esteem to a pulp but inside, she knew who she was at her core. 

Ryan Hayes comes to the interesting relationship with his own set of issues that nearly cost him everything he truly wanted. Together, he and Esme had one goal... to be the best parents they could be to two cuddly little boys who didn't ask for any of this. A stormy night truly brought this family together.

My only disappointment in this book was the addition of so many other characters that aren't important to the overall story. I'm sure at some point in this series they will be but as I got to those parts, I felt my eyes glaze over. I just wanted to see how Esme and Ryan made this unfortunate incident in their lives a true blessing.

For that, I'm giving FORTUNE'S BABY CLAIM:

You can find out more about Michelle Major and her long list of books by checking out her website or Amazon Author Page. Those and her other social media links are listed below.

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   TWITTER-X   INSTAGRAM   PINTEREST

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

GOOD READS   BOOK BUB

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Michelle Major

 Good morning, dear friends!

While shopping at a big box store the other night I found the perfect book and author for this week. Guess what... The book I chose is even BOOK 1 in a new series by author, Michelle Major.

Here's a bit about Michelle:

USA Today bestselling author Michelle Major loves stories of new beginnings, second chances and always a happily ever after. An avid hiker and avoider of housework, she lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two teenagers, and a menagerie of spoiled furbabies. Connect with her at www.michellemajor.com.

I especially love that she is from my home state of Colorado and has a menagerie of spoiled furbabies.

I'll be reviewing her latest release, FORTUNE'S BABY CLAIM. As I mentioned before, this is Book 1(of 3) in the Fortunes of Texas - Digging For Secrets series.

You can pick up your copy by clicking on the Title above and catch up with Michelle through any of the links below.

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   TWITTER-X   INSTAGRAM   PINTEREST

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

GOOD READS   BOOK BUB

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Susan Hatler

 Good morning!

I'm shining the spotlight on NYT and USA Today best selling author, Susan Hatler.

I found Susan on  Amazon while searching for this week's book. I'll tell you more about that tomorrow.

Here's a bit about Susan Hatler:

SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan’s books have been translated into German, Spanish, and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.

She also has an 'unofficial' bio on her website: http://susanhatler.com/susan-hatler

Because her most recent release is a Christmas book, I've stepped back to 2020 for this week's review of ONCE UPON A DATE. We'll check that out on our Wednesday Review.

In the mean time, you'll find Susan a little bit of everywhere on social media by clicking on any of the links below.

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   INSTAGRAM   TWITTER-X   PINTEREST

YOUTUBE   TIK TOK   TUMBLR

AMAZON AUTHOR SITE   GOODREADS   AUDIO   

All my best!

~Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Sasha Summers

 Good morning, everyone!

The rib continues to heal. Bob is home so my mornings are usually cut into. With him getting up at 4 a.m. every day on the boat, he needs a few days to get used to sleeping in again. My couple of hours work are in the morning before he gets up - when he does't get up until 8 a.m. LOL

As I continue to heal, I will be getting back on track. Thank you for your patience.

Today, we're shining the Author Spotlight on USA Today Bestselling author, Sasha Summers.

Let's find out a bit about this talented author:

USA Today Bestselling Author Sasha Summers writes stories that celebrate the ups and downs, loves and losses, ordinary and extraordinary occurrences of life. Sasha pens fiction in multiple genres and hopes each and every book will draw readers in and set them on an emotional and rewarding journey. When not writing, she’s reading or spending time with her family somewhere in the Texas Hill Country. With a puppy on her lap and her favorite Thor mug full of coffee, Sasha is currently working on her next novel.

 She adores hearing from fans and invites you to visit her online.

AMAZON

BLURB:

Former soldier John Mitchell has come home after being discharged and asks his best friend, Natalie, to help him decompress. They’re both in for a shock when a precious baby girl is dropped on Natalie’s doorstep—and John is the father! Now John needs Natalie’s help more than ever. But Natalie has been in love with John forever. How can she help him find his way to being a family man if she’s not part of that family?

REVIEW:

While the plot seemed to come in a bit late for my personal taste, I did love the fact we knew from the beginning John and Natalie have a deep - rooted friendship. In my opinion, long-standing friendship is the best foundation for a solid relationship. 

Solely for the slow to grab me, I'm giving this book:

.8

THE RANCHER'S BABY SURPRISE is Book 3 in the TEXAS COWBOYS & K-9 series:

BOOK 1

BOOK 2

You will find Sasha Summers by visiting the following links:

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   TWITTER   INSTAGRAM   GOODREADS   PINTEREST   

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best

~Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Adriana Locke

 

Good morning, friends.

Have you noticed more and more authors are going with avatars such as the one Adriana uses here? I'm not sure I understand the purpose so if someone wants to enlighten me in the comments, please do. 

I clipped this bio from her webpage - 

I’m a USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author of contemporary romance. I like to say I show ordinary people finding extraordinary love. That sounds lovely, doesn’t it? I’m also married to my high school sweetheart and the mother to four chaotic, sticky, adorable boys. (I might be a little biased. Ha!) Welcome to my page.  (click the link to be taken to her page) Feel free to take a look around and make yourself at home. And, while you’re at it, make sure to grab your free ebook from me just for being awesome. xo, Addy

Her most recent book released on February 16th...

AMAZON

This is the first book in her Honey Creek series. I have to wonder, will I find this one set in Texas as well? 

Here is the book blurb:

To save her Tennessee bed-and-breakfast, Sophie Bates needs a fast-cash miracle. Holden McKenzie, her childhood best friend, needs to prove to a prospective employer that he’s a committed man. Their fortunes on the line, Holden proposes…a solution.

He’ll take care of Sophie’s bills if she agrees to a temporary marriage of convenience. And why not? They’re comfortable together, they have fun, and they trust each other. It’s as simple as saying “I do.” But the off-the-cuff wedding has all of Honey Creek talking—and Sophie and Holden realizing that their perfect arrangement is working too well. If they’re not careful, this marriage could turn into a love story.

You can find out more about the book on Adriana's Blog Post about the release.

I seem to be on a book buying spree. I purchased this one and hope to have a review up for you tomorrow.

In the mean time, you can catch up with Adriana by clicking on any of the following links:

WEBSITE   BLOG   FB   AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE   

GOODREADS   AUDIO   BOOK BUB   PINTEREST  

Speaking of Honey Creek, Jodi Thomas has a new book in her Honey Creek series. Picnic in Someday Valley releases April 27th.  I'll be sharing lots of promos for the book over the next several weeks as well as posting a review on April 21st. 

All my best

~Angela