Giveaway: "The Perfect Match" by Kristan Higgins

"The Perfect Match"
by Kristan Higgins

Publisher: Harlequin HQN

Release Date: Oct 29, 2013

Summary from goodreads.com:

What if the perfect match is a perfect surprise? Honor Holland has just been unceremoniously rejected by her lifelong crush. And now—a mere three weeks later—Mr. Perfect is engaged to her best friend. But resilient, reliable Honor is going to pick herself up, dust herself off and get back out there…or she would if dating in Manningsport, New York, population 715, wasn't easier said than done.

Charming, handsome British professor Tom Barlow just wants to do right by his unofficial stepson, Charlie, but his visa is about to expire. Now Tom must either get a green card or leave the States—and leave Charlie behind.

In a moment of impulsiveness, Honor agrees to help Tom with a marriage of convenience—and make her ex jealous in the process. But juggling a fiancé, hiding out from her former best friend and managing her job at the family vineyard isn't easy. And as sparks start to fly between Honor and Tom, they might discover that their pretend relationship is far too perfect to be anything but true love….

GIVEAWAY RULES

The publisher has generously provided a copy of this book for a lucky reader of my blog.

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

• US/CAN
• Prizes will be mailed out by the publisher
• Must be 18 or over 

• Ends Nov 8

Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, I was not compensated for this post.

Giveaway: "One Night with the Laird" by Nicola Cornick

"One Night with the Laird"
by Nicola Cornick
 
Publisher: Harlequin HQN

Release Date: Oct 29, 2013

Summary from goodreads.com:

A wicked attraction!

Fashionable society widow Lady Mairi MacLeod cannot understand the dark passion that binds her to Jack Rutherford. He is everything she dislikes in a man, rakish, arrogant and charming, and she would prefer to forget the night of wicked passion that she spent in his arms.

But when Mairi is threatened by a blackmailer, Jack is the only man who can protect her. As they work together to uncover where the danger lies, their passion reignites. Little by little, the masks they wear burn away, and their most private secrets come to light...

Scottish Brides - Where Regency elegance meets Highland passion!

GIVEAWAY RULES

The publisher has generously provided a copy of this book for a lucky reader of my blog.

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

• US/CAN
• Prizes will be mailed out by the publisher
• Must be 18 or over 

• Ends Nov 7

Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, I was not compensated for this post.

Giveaway and Review: "The Last Ride of Caleb O'Toole"

"The Last Ride of Caleb O'Toole"
by Eric Pierpoint

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Release Date: Sep 3, 2013
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

"I need you to be strong."

Caleb O'Toole could hear his mother's last words as clearly as if she was sitting right next to him. He promised her he'd keep his sisters safe. But safety is over a thousand miles away in the rugged Bitteroot Mountains--past dust-choked deserts and thorny tumbleweeds and as sun so hot, it's hard to breathe. Tornadoes and hungry wolves wait for them on the path ahead. But with the infamous Blackstone Gang hot on their trail, Caleb has no choice but to keep going. There's no telling how far the gang will go to keep their latest murder a secret. And Caleb is the number one witness to their crime.

Caleb O'Toole can hear his mother's last words: "I need you to be strong." and he can't let her down.

My Review:

There is never a dull moment Caleb O'Toole's western adventures. He and his sisters are on their own after their parents lose their battle with Cholera. They do get some guidance from the misunderstood and infamous Henderson, while being chased by murderers, disease, and the wilderness of the old west. The adventures are one right after another, they never have a second to breathe or relax! This makes for some very exciting reading.

I liked that Caleb was so smart and he was able to get out of many predicaments using his brains. He kept a very level head when the heat was on.

The only drawback for me was that there was a lot of gun use. I do realize that this was the old west, and that was a way of life, but I'm still unsure about it being so prevalent in a kid's book. I'm not sure I would feel comfortable recommending this one, without a warning first.

Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5

Bottom Line: A fast-paced, mile-a-minute western adventure with a smart hero.

GIVEAWAY RULES

The publisher has generously provided a copy of this book for a lucky reader of my blog.

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

• US/CAN
• Prizes will be mailed out by the publisher
• Must be 18 or over 

• Ends Nov 3

Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Hunger Games: Catching Fire Barbie Dolls

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Barbie dolls are available for pre-order!

I have the original Katniss doll, and I love her. I've been waiting for the images of the Catching Fire dolls to become available, and finally http://www.barbiecollector.com has them available for pre-order.

So what do you think?

Katniss

available at Barbie Collector for Pre-order $24.99

Peeta 

 available at Barbie Collector for Pre-order $24.99

Effie

 available at Barbie Collector for Pre-order $24.99

Finnick

  available at ToysRUs (I believe he's a TRU exclusive) $29.99

How do you think the dolls look? Personally, I'm still biased towards the original Katniss doll from the first movie. Maybe I will like this one more after I see Catching Fire. I was honestly expecting Effie to look a little more flamboyant, but I still think she's pretty, maybe one of her different colored hairstyles would have impressed me more. I WANT to love the Peeta doll, but I'm just not sure yet. I'm sure I will cave and buy him, haha!

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, I just wanted to share the new dolls!

Review: "Little Red Writing"

"Little Red Writing"
by Joan Holub, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Release Date: Sep 24, 2013
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Acclaimed writer Joan Holub and Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet team up in this hilarious and exuberant retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, in which a brave, little red pencil finds her way through the many perils of writing a story, faces a ravenous pencil sharpener (the Wolf 3000)... and saves the day.

My Review:

This is such a fun picture book! There is so much to see and read on every page. It doesn't follow the typical picture book format. I think kids will really love reading this, since it is so interactive with all the things to see on each page.

The story is a retelling of Red Riding Hood, from an all new perspective. Red herself is now a number 2 pencil going to school, and the wolf is an evil pencil sharpener that has captured Principal Granny! Red has a basket packed with words. She uses different words to help her along in  her journey.

The story and the illustrations in the book are non-stop fun, while being quite educational about words and sentence structure. And the best part of all, is the overall message of bravery!



Bottom Line: This is such a fun book, it's one that you and the little ones in your life won't want to miss.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: "Doon"

"Doon"
by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

Publisher: Blink

Release Date: Aug 20, 2013
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Veronica doesn't think she's going crazy. But why can't anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months.

But the Scottish countryside holds other plans.

Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna's great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica's daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they've longed for...or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.

DOON is loosely based on the premise of the musical Brigadoon, with permission from the ALan Jay Lerner Estate and the Frederick Loewe Foundation. Follow the journey at http://www.DoonSeries.com

~Destiny awaits!

My Review:

A YA book based on a musical? Yes please! This book was on my to-read list before I even read the complete description. And believe me, it did not disappoint! I loved the book, and I honestly can't wait for a sequel. I grew so attached to the two main characters, their love interests, and the romantic fantasy world of Doon.

Usually, I'm iffy on time-travel books, but this one was just done so well! The book is so romantic, and I was biting my nails the entire time, trying not to get too attached to either of the couples. Because I wasn't sure it was going to end with a happily ever after! No spoilers, you will have to wait and see what happens to these two star-crossed couples.

I loved that the book was told from both Veronica and MacKenna's points of view. Veronica definitely has a larger chunk of the story devoted to her, with MacKenna getting one chapter for every three of Veronica's. I may have been a bit biased towards MacKenna, she was the musical lover in the book after all! And I preferred her love story as well. But that didn't stop my from enjoying Veronica's parts of the story too!

The the girls were so different, I loved seeing Doon from two different viewpoints. I also liked that the reader was able to see two totally different types of love interests, without the dreaded love triangle! For me, I just fell in love with Duncan, he was head over heels in love with MacKenna and not afraid to show it! He was sweet, lovable, and always smiling, definitely my type of guy. Jamie was the brooding type for sure, and held back with his feelings for Veronica. Yes, it all was explained, and she generally called him out when he was acting like a jerk. It was kind of fun to see both kinds of romantic interests in the same book, something for everyone in a way.

I was swept away by the story, the romance, and especially the fantasy world of Doon in the Scottish mist.

Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

Bottom Line: You don't have to know the story of the musical Brigadoon to enjoy this time travel romance. It was a great escape with two swoon-worthy romances!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"The Passion of the Purple Plumeria" Review

"The Passion of the Purple Plumeria"
by Lauren Willig

Publisher: NAL Trade

Release Date: Aug 6, 2013
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Colonel William Reid has returned home from India to retire near his children, who are safely stowed in an academy in Bath. Upon his return to the Isles, however, he finds that one of his daughters has vanished, along with one of her classmates.

Having served as second-in-command to the Pink Carnation, one of England’s most intrepid spies, it would be impossible for Gwendolyn Meadows to give up the intrigue of Paris for a quiet life in the English countryside—especially when she’s just overheard news of an alliance forming between Napoleon and an Ottoman Sultan. But, when the Pink Carnation’s little sister goes missing from her English boarding school, Gwen reluctantly returns home to investigate the girl’s disappearance.

Thrown together by circumstance, Gwen and William must cooperate to track down the young ladies before others with nefarious intent get their hands on them. But Gwen’s partnership with quick-tongued, roguish William may prove to be even more of an adventure for her than finding the lost girls…

My Review:

Lauren Willig's books are always great, so even though this one wasn't my favorite of hers, it was still a good, entertaining read. I think my biggest hurdle with the book was William. Usually, Willig makes me fall head over heels for her love interests, even though her books aren't truly "romances." However, this time, the romantic lead just didn't work for me. I didn't see many redeeming characteristics in him. He was kind of an oaf, for lack of a better word. I'm all for strong heroines, but the hero has to keep up! William was just left in the dust by Gwen, she totally overshadowed him.

Gwen, however was a fun character to read about. She was a very no-nonsense, tell it like it is type of character. She didn't take any flack from anyone, and I loved it!

Gwen's strength, and the quick-paced mystery were what kept me reading. There was definitely a 'mystery' formula in this book, we jumped from suspect to suspect, and clue to clue, very quickly. However, this formula did keep me reading and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next.

As usual with this series, the present day parts of the story were unnecessary to me. I just don't need the present day aspect in order to be interested in the historical part. I would rather just jump right into the historical world, without all the hopping back and forth from present to past.

Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 3/5
Writing: 5/5

Bottom Line: While this isn't my favorite installment of the series, it's a good addition for readers who already love "The Pink Carnation" series.

If you think this book sounds good, you might be interested in reading my reviews of other books by this author:

"The Orchid Affair" (Pink Carnation #8)

"The Garden Intrigue" (Pink Carnation #9) Includes a guest post by Lauren Willig!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: "Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes"

"Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes"
by Gina Lamm

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: Sep 3, 2013
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Leah Ramsey has always loved historical romance novels and dressing in period costumes. So when she has a chance to time travel and experience the history for herself, she jumps at it—figuring it can't be too hard to catch the eye of a duke. After all, it happens all the time in her novels.

Avery Russell, valet and prize pugilist, reluctantly helps Leah gain a position in the Duke of Granville's household . . . as a maid.

Domestic servitude wasn't exactly what she had in mind, but she's determined to win her happily ever after. Even if the hero isn't exactly who she's expecting.

My Review:

This is a fun, cute time-travel romance, it's a great rainy day read. Although it was a bit on the fluffy side, it was still a fun read, and I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen.

Time travel is a hard sell for me, because I would rather just be immersed in the fantasy of a historical world. But this book didn't overdo the silly factor, and there wasn't too much back and forth between the worlds.

The best part of the book for me, was the fact that the hero was a servant, the Duke's valet. I really liked reading about the other side of historical life, not just the royals and aristocrats. I think after Downton Abbey, everyone has a hearty appetite for seeing how the 'downstairs' set lives. If it weren't for this aspect of the book, it might have blended into a bit of cliche and read like a lot of other time travel books.

The ending was summed up a little too neatly, but there's nothing wrong with a happy ending!

Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 4/5 (adorable!)
Writing: 4/5

Bottom Line: Overall, this a fun, light read, with the added interest of reading about a working class hero instead of an aristocrat.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Waiting on Wednesday 242

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Palace of Spies"
by Sarah Zettel
HMH Books for Young Readers
Release Date:  Nov 5, 2013

The following description is from goodreads.com:

A warning to all young ladies of delicate breeding who wish to embark upon lives of adventure: Don't.

Sixteen-year-old Peggy is a well-bred orphan who is coerced into posing as a lady in waiting at the palace of King George I. Life is grand, until Peggy starts to suspect that the girl she's impersonating might have been murdered. Unless Peggy can discover the truth, she might be doomed to the same terrible fate. But in a court of shadows and intrigue, anyone could be a spy—perhaps even the handsome young artist with whom Peggy is falling in love...

History and mystery spark in this effervescent series debut.

I love historical YA and this looks like such a different time period than what is usually available!

What are you waiting for this week???