Book review: Barefoot in the Sand ( Barefoot Bay series) by Roxanne St Claire

When all you hold dear is taken away . . .


When a hurricane roars through Lacey Armstrong's home on the coast of Barefoot Bay, she decides all that remains in the rubble is opportunity. A new hotel is just what Mimosa Key needs, and Lacey and her teenage daughter are due for a fresh start. And nothing, especially not a hot, younger architect, is going to distract Lacey from finally making her dreams a reality.

A second chance is the only thing you have left.

Love has already cost Clay Walker everything. And if he's going to have any chance of picking up the pieces of his life, he needs the job as Lacey Armstrong's architect. What's not in the plans is falling for the headstrong beauty. Her vision of the future is more appealing than anything he could have ever drafted for himself. Will Clay's designs on Lacey's heart be more than she can handle, or will she trust him to build something that will last forever?

I've read a lot of Roxanne St Claire's romantic suspense. In fact I've devoured it once i discovered it. Her romantic suspense is pure magic. Barefoot in the Sand in Roxanne St. Claire's foray back into contemporary romance something I've read some of as well. This is book one in what will be 4 books in the Barefoot Bay series. The series is about 4 women who have been best friends since college. You get a peak at all 4 of them and what their books might be about but Barefoot in the Sand is all about Lacey. The book opens with Lacey and her daughter Ashley riding out a vicious hurricane in their bathtub with only a mattress over it for protection. Somehow they survive but there is nothing left. The house and everything surrounding it is wiped out. Lacey has been a single mom for 14 years when her then boyfriend David Fox got her pregnant and wanted her to abort the baby. Lacey kept the baby and raised her. Now she wants her dream. If she was going to rebuild she figures now is the time to build the bed and breakfast she's always wanted. In trying to get the architect she wants she meets Clay Walker. She was expected a much older man though and Clay is several years younger than her. Turns out there is a Clay walker Sr and this is Clay Walker Jr. She brushes him off at first until she sees his ideas. Clay is attracted to Lacey but also is using her and her property to help himself get fully licensed as a architect. Betrayed more than once by his father he's got to find a way to make it on his own and become the architect he wants to be. I loved Clay his charisma shines through on the pages even though now and then he i kinda wanted to kick him. Lacey is this great mom with a confidence problem and Clay is the one to build that up and get her to stand up for what she wants. This  is  a fun and flirtatious story with some pain and hurt mixed in. Clay and Lacey each have their own hurts to let go of but can Lacey show Clay that's she's a good bet where love in concerned. I HATED to see this one end and 6 months when the next one comes out feels like a eternity already. lol I'm going to say that Roxanne St Claire hit it out of the ballpark with this one. 5 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick Stars. Be sure to read a excerpt to the next installment Barefoot in the Rain at the back of this book.

Find out more about Roxanne St Claire and her books on her website here www.roxannestclaire.com and the Barefoot Bay section to read a excerpt from Barefoot in the Sand and find out more about the series as well. Barefoot Bay

Bookreview: Wreck of the Nebula Dream by Veronica Scott

A re-imagining of the Titanic disaster set in the far future among the stars…


The Story


Traveling unexpectedly aboard the luxury liner Nebula Dream on its maiden voyage across the galaxy, Sectors Special Forces Captain Nick Jameson is ready for ten relaxing days, and hoping to forget his last disastrous mission behind enemy lines. He figures he’ll gamble at the casino, take in the shows, maybe even have a shipboard fling with Mara Lyrae, the beautiful but reserved businesswoman he meets.

All his plans vaporize when the ship suffers a wreck of Titanic proportions. Captain and crew abandon ship, leaving the 8000 passengers stranded without enough lifeboats and drifting unarmed in enemy territory. Aided by Mara, Nick must find a way off the doomed ship for himself and several other innocent people before deadly enemy forces reach them or the ship’s malfunctioning engines finish ticking down to self destruction.

But can Nick conquer the demons from his past that tell him he’ll fail these innocent people just as he failed to save his Special Forces team? Will he outpace his own doubts to win this vital race against time?

This book was a couple of firsts for me. My first Veronica Scott book and my first sci fi romance. The Wreck of the Nebula Dream is reminiscent of the Titanic in a lot of ways only upgrades to a different more advanced world but both ships had similar problems. The Nebula Dream is a premier air ship of it's time. It has all the bells and whistle and more. Almost anything you can imagine. Sectors Special Forces soldier, Captain Nick Jameson could care less. He's pretty sure he just completed his last ever mission considering how badly he thinks it turned out. Very quickly he's added to the Nebula Dream luxury liner hoping to get to relax a little before facing his superiors and finding out his fate. He meets a beautiful business woman way out of his league but that doesn't stop him from thinking about  her even if he's all wrong for her. After passing a few days on the ship and getting a tour of the massive vessel he sees everything is not quite up to snuff. Never did he think he would be facing a disaster on the luxury ship though. Suddenly that's just what happens. The Nebula Dream crashes into a asteroid field. Nick discovers there are no crew directing people on how to escape and once he hooks up with Mara the beautiful business woman and Khevan a D'dvannae brother (kind of a high priced exotic bodyguard per book description). It's seems as it's left to Nick to find out what's going on and see if he can do anything about it if they were going to survive. There's more going on than a asteroid field though. Nick has to work fast to find out who the enemies are and how to outsmart them.  I started reading this book not knowing what to expect. I've never read any sci fi type romance before and wasn't sure if i would like it or not. I like some of the reference to Titanic but more so how that was twisted and made more with imagination and effects. I liked the relationship between all the characters I especially liked Nick Jameson. Even the names says sexy to me. lol I wouldn't mind trying this genre out again. 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars for Wreck of the Nebula Dream by author Veronica Scott.

Find out more about this book and author Veronica Scott on her website here www.VeronicaScott.com . Buy this in ebook form for 99 cents right now. Buy links on Veronica's website.

Mancandy Monday! A real kick!!

Book review: Endless Heart ( Heart series book 3) by Emma Lang

Endless Heart

May 29, 2012 (eBook)

Order eBook: Samhain Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble

She’s learning to live. He’s forgotten how. Love will be their teacher.

Lettie Brown has lived in the shadow of violence. After escaping her brutal past, she’s finally at home in Forestville, Wyoming, where she would live a normal life—if she knew how. She’s content working at The Blue Plate and printing the town newspaper, if not happy. Then a stranger stumbles into her world and turns everything upside down.

Shane Murphy is a shell of a man, destroyed by the aftermath of the war, his personal tragedies and a penchant for cheap whiskey. When he lands, literally, on Lettie’s feet, his future takes a hard right turn.

As they fumble through a relationship that should not have been, a deep love takes root, one that cannot be denied. Together they discover a bond as unbreakable as steel and as undeniable as life itself—until the past rears its ugly head and threatens the happiness they’ve found in each other.

Endless Heart is book 3 in Emma Lang's Heart series. I love a good western/cowboy romance. Lettie Brown seems have had a very rough life until she escapes to Wyoming with her friend Angeline. She's working at the Blue Plate restaurant trying to mind her own business and just get by with a minimal amount of contentment. It all comes crashing down on her when Shane Murphy falls on her feet. Literally on her feet. Shane's been on a 3 week drunk and was beat up and left for dead i guess. Somehow he ends up at the door of the Blue Plate and on Lettie's feet where he throws up all over her shoes.  The owners of the Blue Plate who took Lettie and her friend Angeline in take Shane in too. They doctor him up and try to help him recover. He has nothing. No money not even clothes since they had to burns his. Lettie is attracted to Shane though and it scares her to death. Shane likes her too and due to old emotional wounds neither think it's a good idea to be together. To bad they can't help it. When they are tasked to make a run for supplies for the Blue Plate things go bad for them quickly and they forced to rely on each other to survive. They decide they can't fight their feelings while trying to out run some bad guys. I really enjoyed this book. You can read it alone but I felt like i was a bit in the dark in a few area and if i had the could have i would've read the first two in this series before attempting this one. If you can over look that you can read it alone. Both Lettie and Shane have tortured souls. It's kind of heartbreaking to find out about what they went through. There is a little of what i call mystical magic in this book too in the form of a spirit that's really fun. A really nice enjoyable read. I want to get the backlist now. 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick Stars.

Find out more about Emma Lang ( Also knows as Beth Williamson) on her website here. www.bethwilliamson.com

Read a excerpt for this book and find out about her other books too.

Jill Shalvis Blog tour! Book review: Lucky In Love (Lucky Harbor series book 4) By Jill Shalvis

Available May 22nd
Lucky In LoveMallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she’s expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she’d like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he’s only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he’s gone…




For the first time in his life, Ty can’t bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't?including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all…anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.


Lucky in love is the continuation of Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series. I was really excited to learn the series was going to continue with at least 3 more books. This is the first of the next three. In the first 3 books we got to meet a set of long lost sisters. Now we're going to start finding out about 3 friends. Mallory Quinn has always been the good girl or least she has been after something terrible happened to her sister. Since then she is as straight laced as they come. Trying to please everyone around her. She is a wonderful person with a big heart but hanging on to guilt over her sister. In comes Ty Garrison. A Sexy bad boy who is trying to recover from losing his entire team in a terrible accident. He has survivors guilt. He's no match for Mallory once he sets eyes on her though. She worms her way right into his heart. They decide for a no strings attached kind of affair while he's in town recovering from some injuries. Ty is going to help her loosen up and be her sexy little self. He's pretty sure he can walk away in the end. Or can he??? If i really want a book i can sit down and be entertained and laugh and feel really good when I'm done it's a Jill Shalvis book for me. Lucky in Love certainly fits right in with that. I can honestly say it was a pleasure to read. Pretty sure i had a dopey smile on my face a dozen times or more. If you haven't read the first three books in this series you can still start right out with this one and not be lost. I would recommend if you can, to back and read them too though. You get a small glance at the characters from the previous books in Lucky in Love but it doesn't feel like you are missing something if you haven't read the first three in the series. A awesome fun delectable read! 5 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars for Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis.

Find out more about Jill Shalvis and her books by checking our her website here www.jillshalvis.com. There are excerpts for this book and the next two on her website also.

Book review: Summer Days ( Fools Gold book 7) by Susan Mallery

Releaseses May 29th


Locked in an unexpected land dispute, Rafe Stryker is trapped in the one place he vowed never to return to – the Castle Ranch in Fool’s Gold, California. He made millions facing ruthless adversaries in the boardroom, but nothing could’ve prepared him to go head-to-head against stubborn, beautiful Heidi Simpson. No one is more surprised than Rafe to discover that he’s finding Heidi – and life as a cowboy – much more compelling than he wants to admit. For Heidi, the Castle Ranch is the home she’s always wanted. After a life on the road, the vivacious blonde has finally put down roots. She won’t give that up without a fight, not even for a man whose late-night kisses make her yearn to be a little less…wholesome. As the two turn from passionate adversaries to passionate, period, they’ll discover that summer love can last a lifetime.

This is book 7 in Susan Mallery's Fools Gold series. We get some fresh faces in this set of 3 books coming out this year. Rafe Stryker left Fools Gold years ago to make his way in the world and be something.  He's forced back to Fools Gold when his mom is swindled by a local man when she tries to buy the ranch they used to live on years ago. Rafe and his family lived on Castle Ranch when Rafe was a kid and when his dad passed away he was forced as the oldest to work hard to take care of everyone. The man that owned the ranch at the time promised to leave the ranch to Rafe's mom. He didn't though he died and they had to leave. Now Heidi Simpson owns the ranch or at least she's making payments. She has led a life as a carny wander around the country with a slightly out there grandfather Glen  to take care of her when her parents died when she was very young. The ranch is Heidi chance for a home. She's got her goats and her small business and she's making it although just barely. The her grandfather sells part of the ranch that he doesn't even own to raise money for a friend who is fighting cancer. That's when the trouble starts. Rafe comes in now all rich and successful to claim the ranch for his mom The money is gone so Heidi can't pay it back. She might lose her first and only real home. The judge decides to make them share for a while and look into the case more and that's when the fun stars. This was a fun book. Like I said there are a bunch of new characters. Heidi was introduced in a previous book but many of the other characters are new along with some old favorites. I've wondered if Ms. Mallery could keep this series fresh. It's looking pretty good she is on a good path for that. I love that Rafe nicknames Heidi "Goat Girl". Normally it's not a cute name but the way he does it, it is. There are some hard lessons some wounded hearts and souls and some fun stuff too. Rafe's mom is a hoot with all her crazy animals she adopts. Can't wait to see where this series goes next! 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars for Summer Days by Susan Mallery.

Find out more about Susan Mallery on her website www.susanmallery.com Find out anything you could possibly need to know there. There are links to the Fools Gold, Ca website and her Blackberry series as well. Special members section also for juicy tidbits of information too.

Mancandy Monday! Lickable!

Free ebook Friday! The Last Good man by Kathleen Eagle

The Last Good Man

He's one of the gentlest cowboys you'll ever meet. She's a woman who thought her physical beauty was all she had going for her--before her mastectomy.


Find out more about Kathleen Eagle and her books here on her website www.kathleeneagle.com

Get it from Amazon in ebook form for free right now www.amazon.com/The-Last-Good-Man

Book review: Big Sky Country (Swoon Worthy Cowboys book 1) by Linda Lael Miller

Releases May 29th

The illegitimate son of a wealthy rancher, Sheriff Slade Barlow grew up in a trailer hitched to the Curly-Burly hair salon his mother runs. He was never acknowledged by his father…until now. Suddenly, Slade has inherited half of Whisper Creek Ranch, one of the most prosperous in Parable, Montana. That doesn't sit well with his half brother, Hutch, who grew up with all the rights of a Carmody—including the affections of Joslyn Kirk, homecoming queen, rodeo queen, beauty queen, whom Slade has never forgotten.


But Joslyn is barely holding her head up these days as she works to pay back everyone her crooked stepfather cheated. With a town to protect, plus a rebellious teenage stepdaughter, Slade has his hands full. But someone has to convince Joslyn that she's responsible only for her own actions—such as her effect on this lawman's guarded heart.

Seems like it's been a while since a new Linda Lael Miller came out. This is book 1 of her new series. I am a sucker for cowboys and Linda Lael Miller writes some darn good cowboy romances. Back in high school Slade Barlow was the poor boy, the outsider and unclaimed child of a very rich man (John Carmody).Slade and his mom had to struggle to survive. Joslyn on the other had was a rich kid who had everything. Big house fancy car when she turned 16 popular and dating Slade half brother Hutch. Slade always had a thing for Joslyn but at the time she only had eyes for Hutch. Years later Slade is now the sheriff and his father has passed away but finally claims him in his will  leaving him half of his huge ranch to him and half to Hutch. The two brothers have never gotten along and now it's either figure out a truce or things get even more difficult. Joslyn is back too. She left town years ago when it was discovered her step dad was running a scam and bilked friends and family out of a lot of money. He's died in prison now but Joslyn has felt guilt over the whole thing for years even though she was a kid and it wasn't her fault. She has worked for years for a way to repay all his victims. Finally feeling like she's done that. People have been getting checks and they don't realize it's actually come from her. To that end she's pretty much broke. She comes home for closure and to be with her friend Kendra who is having a hard time personally right now.  You've got the thing going on between Joslyn and Slade, Hutch and Slade banging on each other over the ranch and the mystery with Kendra and the man she was married to and the attraction between her and Hutch.  Throw in Slade's 16 year old ex step daughter who comes to stay with him and there is a lot going on. You only gets bits and pieces of some things that will be eventually  addressed I'm sure in the next couple of books. It's a fun book but not in my opinion as good and some of Linda Lael Miller's other books. I just didn't feel as excited as i have reading some of her previous books. I'm hoping book two will come out stronger and i can get that feeling back. 3 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars for Big Sky Country by Linda Lael Miller.

Find out more about this book and Linda Lael Miller's other work here.www.lindalaelmiller.com

Book review: About that Night (FBI/US Attorney series) by Julie James

He’s playing games.


Though Rylann Pierce tried to fight the sparks she felt for billionaire heir Kyle Rhodes the night they met, their sizzling chemistry was undeniable. But after being stood up on their first date, Rylann never expected to see him again. So when she finds herself face-to-face with Kyle in a courthouse nine years later, she’s stunned. More troubling to the beautiful assistant U.S. attorney is that she’s still wildly attracted to him.

But she’s making the rules.

Just released from prison, Kyle Rhodes isn’t thrilled to be the star witness in a high-profile criminal case—but when Rylann comes knocking at his door, he finds she may be the one lawyer he can’t say no to. Still as gorgeous and sharp-tongued as ever, she lays down the law: she doesn’t mix business with pleasure. But Kyle won’t give up on something he wants—and what he wants is the one woman he’s never forgotten. . .

This is the third book in Julie James FBI/US Attorney series. I've been following this series and so i have and read and reviewed the first two as well. You can read this as a stand alone or in series order. You won't be totally lost if you pick it up to read on it's own. We meet Kyle Rhodes in the previous book in the series A Lot Like Love. In that book Kyle's sister is the main female character. Kyle makes a huge colossal mistake in that book as he is a huge tech wizard and upset and in a drunken state goes in and hacks twitter and shuts it down. Then he jumps a plane out of the country to get away. Finally when he sobers up he goes to fly home and is arrested. Prosecuted and sent to prison with a 18 month sentence. His sister helps get him out after only 4 months. In this book he goes before the judge to get his final motion is his case so he could be a free man. When he steps into the courtroom he finds himself face to face with Rylann Pierce. Kyle met Rylann 9 years ago when she was a law student. Now she's a assistant US attorney and he is her first case in her new office. He was supposed to take her out on a date the day after they met but his mother was killed in a terrible car accident and life got in the way. They had this big connection that apparently 9 years apart didn't dampen.  Rylann finds herself needing his help with a case and in the midst of that they start seeing each other. Kyle is a new man and has a plan for his life. He's building a new company of his own and trying to get past his past mistakes. He'll always be the twitter terrorist though and Rylann is afraid of damaging her reputation by taking their relationship public. This was a really fun read. Loved Kyle and Rylann. The secondary characters were nice and I'm curious to see who the next book is going to be about. I don't feel this book had as much sizzle as the previous two but it's got plenty of great dialogue and funny bits. I look forward to what comes next. 3 out of 5 Modokker Book pick stars for About that Night by Julie James.

Find out more about Julie James this series,  and her other work on her website here www.juliejames.com

Book review: The Last Boyfriend (Book 2 The Inn Boonsboro series) by Nora Roberts

On sale May 1, 2012.



"Owen is the organizer of the Montgomery clan, running the family’s construction business with an iron fist—and an even less flexible spreadsheet. And though his brothers bust on his compulsive list-making, the Inn BoonsBoro is about to open right on schedule. The only thing Owen didn’t plan for was Avery McTavish...

Avery’s popular pizza place is right across the street from the inn, giving her a first-hand look at its amazing renovation—and a newfound appreciation for Owen. Since he was her first boyfriend when they were kids, Owen has never been far from Avery’s thoughts. But the attraction she’s feeling for him now is far from innocent.

As Avery and Owen cautiously take their relationship to another level, the opening of the inn gives the whole town of Boonsboro a reason to celebrate. But Owen’s hard work has only begun. Getting Avery to let down her guard is going to take longer than he expected—and so will getting her to realize that her first boyfriend is going to be her last…" - Penguin Group


This is the 2nd book in a new trilogy by Nora Roberts. The Inn Boonsboro series has been partly about the reconstruction of a old Inn in the town of Boonsboro. It has served at a backdrop to the series with a mystery inside it's walls. There is a ghost inside the Inn that makes herself known to the oldest brother Beckett and Clare's little boy Murphy in the first book. In the second book she makes herself known to Owen and Hope although Avery also tries talking with her. You get a bit more of the puzzle of the ghost Lizzie in book 2. By book three we should find all the answers to that mystery but so far it's been very interesting. This also happens to be Owen and Avery's book. Owen was Avery's very first boyfriend when she was only 5 years old and Owen was 8. All these years there two family's have been close and the Montgomery boys have always watched out for Avery especially Owen. Right from the beginning they love each other but they now have to decide if they should take that love to the next level. Owen likes things in order and makes lists for everything and is very organized while Avery is a bit more fly by the seat of her pants. Therefore the her issues with her mother abandoning her as a child cause some problems with their relationship they have to get through. Owen is patient and loving and supportive along either Avery's friends and help her get through it. This is not a fiery romance but i enjoyed it all the same. Sometimes a relaxed but intense love is just the ticket. You get quite a bit of fire between Hope and Ryder anyway. I love how you get peaks into Hope and Ryder's interactions and where that might lead to in book 3. You also get Beckett and Clare's house building and wedding and a surprise with them as well. The whole book is a family affair with the Mongomery's mom and their aunt too. It was a fun book that i really enjoyed and felt was very romantic. Interested in how Nora Roberts will ties up the series in the next and last book and what's going to happen with the ghost. 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars for Nora Roberts "The Last Boyfriend".

Find out more about the book on Nora Roberts website here www.noraroberts.com

Mancandy Monday! I'll hold that truck up with you!

Free ebook Friday!! Healer by Lisa Renee Jones

Healer


The battle with the Arions continues. The genetically enhanced Black Knights battle to save the world from the Arions. But to harness their special powers, they need help from the outside, someone who understands how to seize the power and complexity of the mind. Marcella Alexander, a woman considered myth by most, is named the Witch Doctor for her unique healing powers. But Marcella has gone into hiding. Diego, doctor of the Knights, is picked to lead the search to find Marcella and bring her back to join them in the battle. But upon locating her, Diego makes a shocking discovery…she is his mate. As they travel through Mexico, fighting their way back to the Black Knights, Diego and Marcella discover that the passion they share and their entwined soul empower them, allowing them to face any

Buy it for Amazon kindle here www.amazon.com

Find out more about Lisa Renee Jones and her books on her website here www.lisareneejones.com

Lisa Renee Jones has several giveaways going on her blog and website right now. Be sure to check them out when you visit.

Welcome Guest Carrie Ann Ryan! Writing a Series, Giveaway!

Writing a Series

I write series books because I love reading them. I love reading about a couple and then in the next book, reading about another, but still having the previous couple in the background so I can learn more. I love reading large series that has individual stories but still are part of a whole.

But how does the author keep the thrill alive? As a reader, as long as each individual book as a dynamic plot, I can get engaged. It’s when nothing happens the entire time because you know the characters so well that I won’t read the series anymore. That’s why I’m a fan of the multi-couple series.

In my Redwood Pack series, there is an overall story arch. Meaning the Centrals will be there until the end. But that doesn’t mean the Redwoods won’t win a few battles along the way. The dynamics of each pack will change as the series progresses. It’s always nice to have a group of villains to pick off LOL.

And of course, bring in new characters. Keeping the same four characters or so for twenty books can be tiresome. But most authors know this and keep it fresh. Of if they don’t, they’ll get hammered. I like reading series where they author says, “Yes, this is a Trilogy” or something. I like knowing they have an end in sight where they plan.

Or that they at least know that a story arch will end after a certain amount of books and they they’ll bring in a new conflict within the same series. That I love as well.

With A Night Away, I’m writing a novella after the third book. I’m still at the beginning of world building in some respects, but people know my characters a bit more from my previous books. How do I keep it fresh? Well, you don’t know every character. And you won’t know the Jamenson boys’ future mates. Though some people can guess. 

I love reading series books because I get to have a longer time with my characters. And with each book, if done right, you get a new conflict and story line that keeps us entertained. I hope I do that for you guys with my Redwoods. Mel and Kade are back and have missed you!

What do you like about series books? Dislike?



Contest Info: Carrie Ann is giving away an autographed swag pack to a commenter. Be sure to leave your email so we can reach you.



Author Bio:

Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate - even if its just in her books. Happy endings are always near - even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.

Her first book, An Alpha's Path, is the first in her Redwood Pack series. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.

Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at:
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blog
Heartthrob Haven
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Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan
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An Alpha’s Path Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ARe

A Taste for a Mate Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ARe
Trinity Bound Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ARe
A Night Away Amazon,Barnes and Noble, ARe





A Night Away

Book 3.5 in the Redwood Pack Series

Kade Jamenson has been mated to Melanie for almost two years. They’ve been through mating circles, battles, loss, misunderstandings, and finally, the birth of their son, Finn. The world is in turmoil around them as the Redwoods engage in war with the Centrals. But for Kade and Melanie, the turmoil is also happening at home. The responsibility of a restless baby and their Pack has taken a toll and they need a break.

Not from each other. But from their Pack. Just for a night.

Kade takes Mel away for a romantic getaway and leaves Uncle Maddox alone with baby Finn. The Omega of the Redwood Pack may be adept at emotions but the idea of a baby may be beyond his immense capabilities.

Author’s Note: This is a novella set between books 3 and 4 to give you a taste of Mel and Kade. It is best that you have already immersed yourselves in the Redwood Pack world, however even new readers will enjoy a glimpse of one of the Redwood’s favorite couples.



A Night Away Excerpt



Mel looked into Kade’s green eyes and focused. She needed time with this man. Just the fact that she’d thought for a moment he’d leave her meant she did. And Kade cemented the fact that she was scared. Yes, she could admit that at least to herself. She was scared to death. She was floundering as a mother, as a mate, and a Pack leader. She needed a moment to escape. To sit back and remember why she loved doing all these things. To remember that she loved her mate and needed him more than the air she breathed.

She placed her palm on his face, his unshaved cheek scraping against her skin and she shivered at the thought of where else his five-o’-clock shadow could scrape her. His tanned skin looked like caramel against her pallor. She wanted to see where else they’d contrast when they lay naked in a sweaty pile.

She needed a break. If only for a night.

“Okay,” she finally whispered. “That sounds wonderful.”

Maddox released a sigh, and Kade smiled. “Good.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.” Kade gave a smoldering look and Mel melted into a puddle.

Shades of Desire(Special Investigations Groups Series) by author Virna DePaul

Releases May 29th. Shades Of Desire, Book 1 in the Special Investigations Groups Series (HQN - Now available for pre-order on Amazon, B&N, Powell’s and Indie Bound


Natalie Jones is the lucky survivor of an elusive killer who preys on young women and then disappears from view. And since her harrowing ordeal, the once gutsy photojournalist has remained isolated in her home, paralyzed by fear and her failing vision.

Special Agent Liam “Mac” McKenzie has scars of his own. But despite his efforts to ignore the attraction that simmers between him and Natalie, he needs her help to catch a predator. Soon, they will forge a tentative alliance—charged with desire. Through a soft-focus lens, Natalie dares to envision a future with Mac beyond the investigation...never guessing that the clues hidden within her photographs are drawing them into an explosive confrontation with a madman.

This is the first book I've ever read by Virna DePaul. This is the first book in a series (Special Investigations Groups Series, or SIG) so it's a nice place to start with a new to me author as well. Natalie Jones is a very complicated character with a very difficult past and possibly a very difficult future as well. Abused by her mother as a child and then sent to a foster home when her mother was committed to a hospital diagnosed insane. Her mother had a degenerating eye problem that she blamed on Natalie. Punished her cruelly for it as well. When she was 17 she finds out she has the same thing.She's going blind. In spite of that she becomes this awesome well know photojournalist. Years later it finally starts to happen she starts losing her eyesight. One of the last thing she shoots pictures of is the local Farmers market. Already she can't see very well but still she is enjoying herself when sudden pain in her head takes her to the ground and her eyesight disappears. Although she gets enough of it back later to mainly just see shadows she has to now learn how to live with it. In steps Liam "Mac" McKenzie cop extraordinaire. OK lol He's actually a part of the Special Investigations group or SIG for short. He's had a bout of bad luck in the relationships department. Given up on relationships all together. He figures with the kind of life and career he leads he's not made for it. Then he gets a load of Natalie Jones. He's immediately drawn to her. He's is investigating a murder that leads him to her door when she is attacked by who he thinks is the same killer.

I really enjoyed this book. There is the suspense part of the book with a killer or killers on the loose. Your never really sure who is involved til later in the book. There is the romance part. Mac has a thing for Natalie right from the start. He fights it and fights it but it's no use. She feels it too, but has her own demons. She's trying to figure out how to live like she did before she was blind. She goes back and forth between being tough and doing things she feels she needs to, to feeling as if she is not enough anymore. I leads her to do some stupid things. The heroine being blind i thought was a interesting idea and different for me. I was curious to see how the author would portray that and make it work especially with the suspense pieces of the story. She really works it out nicely though. Natalie is a strong character and so she is determined to live her life to the fullest. She sure takes a beating in this story but it doesn't keep her down. The action starts out fast and quick but there were a few times it felt off. I think that's where you have to remember this is a contemporary romantic suspense. A mixture of the two separate genre's. In that case i think the author hits it about right. 4out of 5 Modokker Book Pick Stars for Shades of Desire by Virna DePaul.

Find out more about Virna De Paul and her other work on her website here www.virnadepaul.com

Checking Your Baggage! Welcome! Guest post with author Dara Young

Checking Your Baggage


Anytime you open a new book as a reader you have to check your baggage at the door. All passengers are limited to one small carry-on that contains their ability to suspend belief. Okay, so that isn’t really how it works, but wouldn’t it be nice? I would love to be able to write any damn thing I want and have the readers believe it. 

In the end, unless I am writing SFF, the sky will still be blue, the grass green, and the atmosphere made of oxygen (among other gases). At least, that must be true without a really good explanation. In The Cancan Dancer and the Duke, the scenario I established is believable. Perhaps a bit of a stretch, but believable.

Considering some of the craziness I have dug up while doing research on the Victorian period, accepting that a young noble woman was chaffing under societal rules enough that she might run off for a little adventure is doable. I think the one point of contention might be that she got the job as a dancer. But upon further reflection, maybe not.

Charise is a lady, which means she has had years of dance lessons that imbue her with a certain musicality. She has also likely had pianoforte and singing lessons, adding to her skills. Being a wild child, it is not unreasonable to expect that she is rather dexterous from her years living in the country. She rides astride and climbed trees as a girl, making it easy to assume she is fairly robust in constitution. All of this could easily translate into her being capable of becoming a chanteuse at The Moulin Rouge.

Ditching her chaperones also wouldn’t be that hard considering the limited ability to communicate over long distances. Keep in mind she is a resourceful girl, not a simpering miss. In the end, I think it all works, right down to how she is exposed. No spoilers, so all I can say is read the novella! 

I can only hope, as a writer, that I have sufficiently told a compelling enough story that my stretches work. In the end, the amount of reader baggage will dictate their ability to believe.

If the reader is a historian, or even a history buff, a lack of (or just wrong) historical facts and details can kill a book in the blink of an eye. Their ability to suspend belief is lost. Whereas, someone with no expectations or detailed knowledge is far more likely to roll with a story as long as the plot is realistic. Clearly, putting a heroine in trousers in the middle of a ball with no likely explanation would not fly with anyone. But if I could come up with just the right scenario, it might work. So, I hope as a reader that you find stories magical enough to strip you of your baggage while sucking you in.

What are some of your pet peeves that can derail a book for you? Is it the newly coined mistorical? Maybe a weak heroine?

Thanks for stopping by to celebrate with me and remember to comment on each post during the blog tour for more chances to win! (Not sure what I'm talking about? click here.)



The Cancan Dancer and The Duke

The Wild Rose Press


Can a lady on the lam and a duke on the make find love at the Moulin Rouge?

Cathedrals and museums are not Lady Charise Colton’s idea of European adventure. Turn-of-the-century Paris beckons, and she wants to grab it while she can…or rather, cancan. Flirting with fate and half of Paris, Charise eludes her chaperones and joins the cancan revue at the Moulin Rouge.

Ethan Greer, Duke of Lofton, is in Paris to settle some estate business. Chafing under his responsibilities, he discovers an enchanting distraction at the Moulin Rouge, a flirtatious dancer who stirs his lust and something more. He must have her—even if it means offering carte blanche.

Terrified of discovery, Charise tries to hold her persistent suitor at bay, though her heart has already surrendered. Will she lose him if he learns the truth, or is love enough to bind the cancan dancer and the duke?

Excerpt:

The singular sound was a soft whisper at first. The audience strained forward to catch even a note of the eerie melody carried on the fetid air of the cafe. As the song picked up, her voice grew stronger, the words more clear. Ethan relaxed into his seat and let the warm rich alto caress him. His body grew warm with the promises carried by the witch’s husky tones.

He remained unaware of anything in the room except the siren walking toward him. Each steady, unhurried step she took further drew him in. His gaze feasted on the curve of her hip, the swell of her breast. Ethan rode the knife’s edge between lust and propriety.

The song described, in lurid detail, two lovers in the throes of passion. Upon reaching him, the dancer propped the toe of her boot onto the edge of his seat—square between his thighs. The luscious creature presented impossibly sheer bloomers which hid everything and yet nothing, causing him to let out the breath he, until now, unknowingly held. His cock grew rigid, the uncomfortable throbbing causing him to shift. The desire to haul her into his arms and demonstrate every action she described with the most sensuous mouth he’d ever seen rode him hard. Her full lower lip begged for his kiss. Ethan wanted to see it slick and glowing pink from his attentions.

The wanton dancer continued to taunt him, but his good breeding won out. Forcing himself to stay seated, his fists balled and his jaw grew rigid with frustration, but his raging lusts remained leashed. The song ended, sending her into the nether regions of the cafe in a swirl of skirts.

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Mancandy Monday!!! Sizzling HOT!

Pic via The Man crush Tumbler

Bonus 2 Free ebooks Friday!!! The Vampire's Warden by S.J. Wright Already Home Vicki Lewis Thompson

It was a flash in the moonlight, a blur of motion like I’d never witnessed before.


No human had the capacity to move like that. When I found myself face-to-face with him there in the meadow, I knew that the journal was authentic. I knew that my grandfather hadn’t been crazy at all.

Because a foot away from me stood a vampire.

Sarah Wood reads her grandfather's journal in stunned disbelief. What was once her grandfather's responsibility has passed to her father and now to her.

She has become the Warden. Her life will never be the same.

Find out more about S.J. Wright and her other works here www.sjwrightbooks.com

Buy for Amazon Kindle here www.amazon.com/Vampires-Warden
This is a novella book one and about 200 pages. Enjoy!!




Already Home

SONS OF CHANCE: Novella 6.75
Daredevil videographer Langford "Hutch" Hutchinson has put his career on hold to help his widowed father run their family store in Wyoming. He doesn't mean to stay in town for long—though it's long enough to rekindle his lust for Trina Bledstone. Hutch always had a thing for Trina, but she's his best friend's sister—and that meant hands off!

But Trina still has the power to set his pulse racing—and her brother isn't around to stop them from exploring their sizzling chemistry this time?

Find out more about Vicki Lewis Thompson and her other work here www.vickilewisthompson.com

Buy it for Amazon kindle here www.amazon.com/Already-Home-Sons-Chance
This is a 40 page novella and part of a series. Enjoy on your lunch hour.

Book review: The Lost Girls of Johnson's Bayou by Jana DeLeon (Harlequin Intrigue #1331)

by Guest reviewer Sarah Jordan



 She was only six when she walked out of the swamp after the LeBlanc School for Girls caught on fire. Sixteen years after the terrifying night that stole her memory, a child's scream lures Ginny back into the woods…where a strong arm encircles her. The gun-wielding stranger is Paul Stanton, a cop-turned-P.I., who's come to Johnson's Bayou looking for answers of his own.




Paul has spent almost two decades searching for his missing sister and now, this Southern beauty could be the key to his quest. But someone would rather see Ginny dead than have her memories resurface. And although uncovering the dark secrets of the past could put them both at risk, it's a chance Paul's willing to take if it means finding his future…with Ginny.



Review: This is the 3rd Harlequin Intrigue by Jana DeLeon that features danger and romance in the steamy Louisiana bayous. (The Secret of Cypriere Bayou and Bayou Bodyguard , and Trouble in Mudbug.)

DeLeon really knows her stuff, and the Harlequin Intrigue line is perfect for her. She writes the best books chock full of characters you can see in your mind and believe in who happen to be involved in dangerous, spooky adventures. Ginny is one of the "Lost Girls", a group of orphaned or unwanted girls who were gathered together at the LeBlanc School for Girls in Johnson's Bayou. Sixteen years ago Ginny was one of only two girls who survived a tragic and suspicious fire at the school. Suffering from amnesia, both girls have grown up and made lives for themselves, never knowing that they were being watched carefully, in case they started remembering what happened that night at the School.

Ginny has already started remembering when handsome Paul arrives in the small town. Ginny and Paul start out as partners in mystery-solving, but soon are experiencing an intense attraction enhanced by their dangerous adventures as they try and solve the mystery of what happened that night sixteen years ago.

It was hard to put this book down - I wanted to keep reading and see who the bad guy was, and how Ginny and Paul's relationship would evolve. Considering the Harlequin Intrigue line exists for solving mysteries and happy endings, creating a story that kept me reading late into the night is a real testament to the author's skill. This was my 4th book by DeLeon and all 4 have been excellent.

5 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick Stars

For more information check out the author's website at www.janadeleon.com.

Book review: The Third Scroll (Hardstorm Saga book 1)by Dana Marton

Sold into slavery, Tera, a budding healer, is thrust into the savage realm of barbarian warlords, the same realm which claimed her mother years ago. She must avoid the displeasure of her warrior lord and survive the cruelties of the concubines, even as war threatens on the horizon.


Yet a greater danger looms when she catches the eye of the most powerful lord of the land and he takes her for his Pleasure Hall. Tera struggles to escape, while searching for the secret behind her mother’s death. But what she discovers challenges everything she believes in. A path set long ago beckons. A path that could lead to triumph, or the destruction of her world.

I have read many Dana Marton romantic suspense books. When i was offered the chance to read her new fantasy novel, The Third Scroll I didn't know what to expect. First i don't usually read any fantasy. Wasn't sure i could get into it no matter if it was well written or not because i didn't think it could be my thing. I admit i did have a hard time getting through the first 20% of it. Mostly because the first book in a series has to have some back story and more detailed info on the setting and I also was struggling thinking i wouldn't like it. When i finally got a nice block of time to sit and read with out work, kids etc going at me I found myself entranced. The more i read the more i liked. I read the last 80% (book is 450 pages) in one sitting. The writing is just beautiful. It flows sometimes like water. I don't know how else to describe it other than to say i enjoyed how it felt reading it. Does that make sense? lol  I was really afraid there would be any romance at all and was happy when it finally showed up. It takes a while to get to that though. Well worth the wait. Tera struggles to live up to her mother's legacy. She's a healer but without the true healing abilities her mother had. She's sold by her step father into slavery and for a good portion of the book is treated horribly until she is gifted to the warlord Batumar. Tera is pretty much a innocent at the beginning of this book. Struggling with her healing abilities or rather lack of true abilities and then her world is turned completely upside down when her stepfather sells her into slavery. She then has to deal with many  hardships from living in a totally different climate, to being a slave to being beaten and the list goes on. By the time Batumar gets her she is pretty well ingrained to not expect anything good. It takes a while for her toget used to  Batumar and his thoughts on her aren't immediately shown. Your left wondering what his intentions are. Dana Marton definitely can write romantic suspense and it's safe to say she can add fantasy to her writing abilities. I was thoroughly involved in the book. Wonderful thought out characters and a awesome plot. I can't wait for more. 5 out  of 5 Modokker Book Pick Stars.

Find out more about this book, read a excerpt and see what else Dana has to offer on her websitewww.danamarton.com

Happy Release Day and Giveaway!! Dana Marton. New Epic Fantasy "The Third Scroll!"

Modokker Book Picks welcomes Dana Marton to the blog today. Dana is debuting her new book a switch in genre's for her. The Third scroll is a epic fantasy. Read below what she has to say about it and check out the announcements she has and the giveaway chance also. Tomorrow I'll be posting my review for the Third Scroll so be sure to come back for that.



SEXY, BROODING WARLORD LOOKING FOR CONCUBINE…




How is that for a tagline for a book? Short. And therein lies the trouble.



The most difficult part of your job is never what other people think it is. For me, as a writer, it’s not coming up with the idea, it’s not even spending month and month in front of the computer writing the book. The most dreaded part of my job that makes me want to run screaming into the night, is trying to summarize the book.

And of course, because life has a twisted sense of humor, summarizing the story is what the writer has to do first. I have to hand in a synopsis to my editor so she can see whether she’d like the book. If she does, then I get to do the fun part, the writing. Here is a hint, if I could tell my story in ten pages, I would be writing short stories. I’m writing novels that run to several hundred pages, because that’s how much room I need to do the job right. So the question is: what to cut? All my characters are my babies. Everything that happens to them is important to me. Chopping a whole sweeping plot into a couple of bare bone pages is downright painful.

But okay, I do it, sweating bullets. And then, happy days, I write the book. But just as I sit in all that post book euphoria, terror strikes again. I must condense the story again, and this time not into a few pages, but two paragraphs (!) for the back blurb. Never have I struggled more with this than in my new epic fantasy, THE THIRD SCROLL. At 450 pages, it’s the longest book I’ve ever written. I thought I’d go gray by the time I managed to compress all that into two coherent paragraphs. Here is what I came up with:

Sold into slavery, Tera, a budding healer, is thrust into the savage realm of barbarian warlords, the same realm which claimed her mother years ago. She must avoid the displeasure of her warrior lord and survive the cruelties of the concubines, even as war threatens on the horizon.

Yet a greater danger looms when she catches the eye of the most powerful lord of the land and he takes her for his Pleasure Hall. Tera struggles to escape, while searching for the secret behind her mother’s death. But what she discovers challenges everything she believes in. A path set long ago beckons. A path that could lead to triumph, or the destruction of her world.—

What do you think?

The book is being released today, and as a gift to all the wonderful friends who stop by and visit me on blogs and put up with me on Twitter and Facebook, I’m lowering the price to 99c for one day only. To sweeten the deal even more, the first 20 people who post an online review and email me about it (danamarton at yahoo dot come) will receive a free THE THIRD SCROLL book bag.

What is the most difficult part of your job?
Dana

Answer Dana's question or leave a comment and you are entered for a chance to win a special 2-in-1 edition Saved by the Monarch by Dana , and Priceless Newborn Prince by Ann Voss Peterson. Be sure to leave your first name at least and your email address so we can contact you. Use this formula when leaving your email. YOU at Yahoo dot com. Keeps the crawlers away. Giveaway ends Friday May 4th. Good Luck!


(The Third Scroll.com)
Find Dana here as well
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Dana Marton website www.danamarton.com

Buy The Third Scroll here for 99 cents today only
Amazon www.amazon.com
Barnes and Noble www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-third-scroll
Smashwords www.smashwords.com
All Romance www.allromanceebooks.com