Eternity Springs Reading Group

Calling all Romantics ...

Have you discovered the Eternity Springs series by Emily March?

If not...consider spending your summer in Eternity Springs, Colorado!

Come with us on a virtual journey to Eternity Springs and fall in love ... Join the  Eternity Springs Book Club on Goodreads!

You are enthusiastically invited to be part of a truly unique networking and reading opportunity for anyone who loves heartwarming, romantic reads complete with happy-ever-afters. The Eternity Springs series, by USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and NY Times bestselling author Emily March will take you to a world you will never want to leave. Fans of Robyn Carr, Susan Mallery, and Debbie Macomber will feel right at home in Eternity Springs, Colorado, where broken hearts come to heal.

This summer, Emily, her publisher, and her promotions team are collaborating to sponsor a re-read of the first nine books in this popular series ... all leading up to the release of its tenth novel, HeartSong Cottage, (coming to readers on  November 3rd from Emily's new publisher, St. Martin's Press). New readers are more than welcome. Emily's romantic novels are contemporary, romantic and passionate, heartwarming and uplifting. Suitable for audiences of young adult, new adult, and adult contemporary romance ages 16 and over. The setting for the series is a rural, western, small town - with traditional social values. The sexual scenes are descriptive, but not explicit. The series is also classified as inspirational romance, because of Eternity Springs is a place where broken hearts come to heal. The overall theme of the series is that new beginnings are always possible - even when you least expect them, or don't believe you're worthy of them. Life happens, love heals.

The Eternity Springs Book Club has been created on Goodreads so that current Emily March fans - and new readers - may experience these contemporary romance novels together. The club has attracted 137 members already - and we haven't started reading yet! Reading "officially" begins June 17th and continues through October 13th.  Each book in the series will be featured for reading/re-reading every two weeks, with discussions, Q&A, author appearances, contests, lots of giveaways and so much more. We even have a Pinterest board and a Spotify playlist for members to add to and enjoy. A complete schedule is posted on the group page, with links to the book series.

About the Author

Emily March is the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Eternity Springs series. Publishers Weekly calls March a "master of delightful banter," and her heartwarming, emotionally charged stories have been named to Best of the Year lists by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal,and Romance Writers of America.  A graduate of Texas A&M University, Emily is an avid fan of Aggie sports and her recipe for jalapeño relish has made her a tailgating legend.

Social Media Links
Facebook
Twitter(@emilymarchbooks)
Website
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Carry Me Home - Rosalind James

By now, you all know that I'm a little fan girl for Rosalind James. Most of her work has been self-published, but her newest release not only starts a new series, it also is the first of her books published by the Montlake imprint. Congrats to Rosalind!

Paradise, Idaho, may not be the largest town, but for newly minted professor Zoe Santangelo, it’s the first step on the path to her big break. After teaching in a small Idaho school, her next stop is the Ivy League, and no one is going to stand in her way. She’ll do what it takes to move up, to protect her students from a creepy campus stalker—and to protect her heart from Cal Jackson, the hot, hunky cowboy who keeps coming to her rescue. After a career-ending injury, Cal has left professional football behind and come home to work the family farm. He’s determined not to get mixed up with any more city girls who don’t want to settle down with a country boy. But after he rescues sassy geologist Zoe from a snowy ditch, he can’t stop thinking about her. Can Cal keep Zoe safe from whoever is targeting her—and can he show her that having ambition doesn’t mean she has to sacrifice love?

Elizabeth's Review

5 Stars

Review Copy provided by author

Before I started reading Carry Me Home, I knew that I enjoyed Rosalind James’ work. I knew that she wrote strong female characters that are “real” and easy to relate to along with male characters that are strong and gentle at the same time. I knew that she could write a really good sexy scene and that she could make me laugh.

What I didn’t know was if she could make me nervous and sit at the edge of my seat waiting to find out what was going to happen next.

What I found out is that she can!

In Carry Me Home we meet Cal and Zoe. He is a retired NFL player turned farmer in a small Idaho community and all around good guy. She is a newly minted PhD and associate professor at the local college. At first, this seems like Ms. James’ other works; a slightly unlikely couple meet and start working on whether or not they want to pursue the attraction that is present. An attack on one of Zoe’s students leads her to get involved to help the young lady feel safer on campus, making her the bad guy’s new target.

Cal and Zoe’s budding friendship has him helping her and sheer luck has him rescuing her which paves the way for their romantic relationship to grow. Ms. James does a great job of balancing the romantic aspects of Cal and Zoe’s relationship while building and maintaining the suspense of trying to figure out who the bad guy is.

Carry Me Home has the hallmarks of Ms. James’s work. It is well written with romance, relationship and personal growth elements, humor, and characters that you like and really root for. This book adds the excellently executed element of suspense – when Cal figured out who the attacker was I was shocked!

I genuinely enjoyed Carry Me Home and hope we can come back to Paradise to see what happens next.

Carry Me Home comes out TOMORROW - click to go order a copy so you can come back and tell me what you think.

How to find Rosalind:
rosalindjames.com
Amazon
Facebook

Quarterback Draw - Jaci Burton

Today's review is a library find from the great Jaci Burton. Quarterback Draw is the 9th book in her Play by Play series and was published in February 2015.

Grant Cassidy knows how to be a football star—flash that dazzling smile, throw the winning pass, get the girl. But while the hot quarterback loves the game and the lifestyle, no woman has come close to catching his heart. Then he matches wits with a smart, gorgeous model, and Grant finds himself wanting more than a fling. Supermodel Katrina Koslova might live in a world of glitz and camera flashes, but she works hard to provide for the family that relies on her. She doesn’t have time for fun—much less a boyfriend—but Grant seems determined to be the exception to Katrina’s rule. Their explosive chemistry is undeniable, but Katrina’s afraid to let go and rely on anyone but herself. Grant intends to ease her fears and prove he’s a man of style and substance

Elizabeth's Review

4 stars

Jaci Burton does it again!

In Quarterback Draw we meet super sexy, all around great guy Grant and the smart, beautiful Katrina while they are working together on a photo shoot. Grant bulldozes his way into Katrina’s life, but it’s done in a sweet way that makes you like him even more.

To be honest, I really liked both Grant and Katrina. They were both pretty down to Earth people for being in the positions that they were. Grant couldn’t have been a nicer guy and that’s on top of being a professional athlete and basically sex on a stick. Katrina is a very successful model who doesn’t seem to take herself too seriously because she’s been focused on taking care of her siblings to explore certain aspects of her own life.

I also liked Grant and Katrina together for the most part. The only snag for me, was that as much as Katrina’s inner dialogue was telling her to do one thing, she almost always let herself be swayed to what other’s wanted. Sometimes it was hard to tell if she was doing what she really wanted versus going along with what Grant and her siblings wanted.

Overall, this was a super sweet and sexy story. There wasn’t a whole lot of conflict, it was mainly an internal conflict for Katrina. There were a couple of times that felt a little too pat, which is only thing that kept it from being a 5 star review for me. This is definitely a fun, quick read, perfect for a day at the beach.

You can buy Quarterback Draw here.
You can connect with Jaci here:
Goodreads
Amazon
Facebook

New Release - Forever: A Lobster Kind of Love

Today's book is actually one I haven't read yet, but it sounded good when the authors sent me the links. It's Free in Kindle Unlimited! If you read it, make sure to comment and let us know what you think.

When a drunk truck driver claimed Lydia’s husband and son, her world shattered. The small town that once embraced her was now her personal hell. She made the decision to leave her hometown of Nazareth, Pennsylvania and move to Eastport, Maine, to start over in the last happy place she ever knew. When the sea tried to claim Ryan, he was left a broken man. Starting over in a wheelchair was the last thing he expected to do. Ryan was born to be a lobster fisherman, not a buoy. When Lydia became his home care nurse, he never expected her to be the light at the end of his tunnel. Will their broken hearts survive a second chance or will they remain locked in their cages?

Here are links for where to buy the book:
Amazon US>>http://amzn.to/1eYSqRZ Amazon UK>>http://amzn.to/1MjfHsv Amazon CA>>http://amzn.to/1eYSSzE

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E Reichert

Today's Review is for a brand new author, Amy E Reichert. I found her book on Net Galley and grabbed it just because it sounded good - the power of a good blurb! The expected date of publication is July 21, 2015.

YOU'VE GOT MAIL meets HOW TO EAT A CUPCAKE in this delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities. In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern. Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst. The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future? Set in the lovely, quirky heart of Wisconsin, THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE is a charming love story of misunderstandings, mistaken identity, and the power of food to bring two people together.

Elizabeth's Review

4 stars

Review Copy provided by Net Galley

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is a debut novel as sweet as its title. Ms. Reichert takes us to Milwaukee to meet Lou and Al, a chef and a restaurant critic.

When we first meet them, Lou has a beginning to be successful new restaurant and a fiancée who doesn’t appreciate her. Al is writing under a pen name and has a reputation for being cruel. Several coincidences come together to have Al review Lou’s restaurant on a really bad day and them have them officially meet on the day the review is published.

The two spend time together and what develops is a truly sweet friends to lover’s story. I liked that they took their time exploring the city and getting to know each other. I also liked the fact that Al felt guilty for not telling Lou who he really was, especially after he realized who she was.

I enjoyed both Al and Lou. They were great characters and both experienced their own kind of growth as they dealt with professional challenges and changing feelings. The secondary characters also added a lot to the story. They were great sounding boards, gave wonderful advice, and helped Al and Lou find their way.

This is a great start for a brand new author and I am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next. 

You can pre-order The Coincidence of Coconut Cake here. 

You can connect with the author:
Goodreads
Amazon
Facebook

The Secret Life of Bryan - Lori Foster

For today's review we are going in the way back time machine courtesy of the library and talking about Lori Foster's The Secret Life of Bryan. This was originally published in 2004.

Bounty hunter Bryan Kelly is back, head-over-hormones in lust with a woman he thinks is a hooker. Bryan will do anything for his twin brother, even switch places to find out who wants to sabotage the naive preacher's charity work with a bunch of sassy, flirtatious prostitutes. But that means Bryan will have to be his brother in every way that counts - and he hadn't counted on Shay Sommers.

Elizabeth's Review

3 Stars

I discovered Lori Foster a couple of years ago and really enjoy her work. I have gradually been working my way through her back list with the help of borrowing ebooks from the library. I enjoyed this one, but it didn't knock my socks off.

Bryan and Shay are great together, the misunderstanding at the beginning is especially funny. I do wish they had both been more honest with each other, but the secrets they kept worked with the premise of the story.

The Secret Life of Bryan is part of a series, but I didn't feel lost for having not read the other books. There is just enough suspense to keep things interesting, but not so much to over power the story. This was definitely a book worth the time if you are in the mood to check out a back list book.

I'm not going to ask you to like me.....

Got your attention with that one, didn't I?
This post isn't strictly book related, more book blog related, so please bear with me as I go off on a little tangent today.

A lot of author's have closed Facebook groups dedicated to talking about their work. Each group is different and has it's own personality, just like the authors who have set them up. I popped onto Facebook on my phone recently to correct a spelling error my husband was kind enough to point out when I saw a post to one of these closed groups - it was someone plugging their brand new blog. Having my own brand new blog, my first thought was "that's an idea...." then I clicked on the comments to the post and they consisted of, "I liked your blog, so go like mine." That got me to thinking....

Thought 1 - Do I want people to like my blog? Yes, of course I do. Anyone who takes the time to create something hopes that someone else will like it and find it worthy.

Thought 1, Part 2 - WHY do I want people to like my blog? Well - I want people to like the blog because they find some value in what I have to say. Do I talk about authors you like? Is there a book in your TBR pile that you haven't read yet, but the review intrigued you? Did I share a post on Facebook for a book that's on sale, just released, or has a giveaway going that you are interested in? Those are the types of reasons I want someone to like E-Reading After Midnight, not because I agreed to go click like on their blog's Facebook page.

Thought 2 - Is an author's closed Facebook group the place for the "Go like my blog" post? Honestly, I don't think so. The author's group is a place to discuss the author's work, book signings, etc. For some authors, it may be a little broader than that. It goes back to the personality thing, but I don't agree with randomly hawking your blog in a closed group.

Thought 3 - When is it okay to plug your blog in a closed group? When you are blogging about the author of course! My rule of thumb has been that if I have a blog post about an author, then I will share the link to the review with them either in a closed group (If I am a member) or just on their Facebook page.

Thought 4 - When is it okay to ask for likes? I have decided that I will occasionally participate in giveaways hosted by other people where the criteria for entering will be liking my blog, so I guess I am asking you to like me. But, I kind of look at that like advertising.... What is the difference you ask... Well, for starters - in the giveaways, someone has reached out and said "I am looking for authors/bloggers to sponsor contests, get in touch if you are interested." Things are arranged privately and when the contest runs, there will be some fun blog advertising. I'm not jumping into a group willy nilly and shouting "like my blog." That may seem like splitting hairs, but just the way I see it.....

**Disclaimer** I'm in no way trying to judge or dis other bloggers here. I completely understand wanting to see that "like" count go up... it's exciting to see (I say this as my page just hit 41.... woo hoo), these are strictly my thoughts on what's right for me.

Okay, there is my little Editorial for the day. I promise not to go off on tangents too often.... I'd love to hear your thoughts. Happy Reading!