Winners of A CHRISTMAS WISH by Holli Winters

First, I'm on a cloud nine here as I just found out I won a Kindle reader from Samhain. I'm so elated! I wanted this one or the Sony, and now I'll get to read so much more! I so wanted everyone to win it too! I am so lost for words!




I picked two winners for A CHRISTMAS WISH!

The two winners are:

HOTCHA

and

EVA

You will be getting a email from Fictionwise with your download for the book! Enjoy this Christmas treat of a read!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I should be putting up another review this week or maybe next week so those of you away, will see it.

Review & Giveaway - A CHRISTMAS WISH by Holli Winters

A Christmas Wish...by Holli Winters

Its so much a joy to share this review of Holli Winters's Christmas romance ebook that was released last year. As A CHRISTMAS WISH is a re-read for this holiday for me, I found it to be so much more emotionally charging this second time around along with the comfort of the Christmas spirit surrounding this book. Holli Winters is a new author, this being her first sensual romance book (she also has sweet stories under her name as Pamela Fischer at The Wild Rose Press) and does a beautiful debut in this sizzling Christmas romance. Holli Winters also had her second release with Whispers Publishing this week, FRENCH KISS, that I'm so also looking forward to. A CHRISTMAS WISH is so much a passionate romantic story and so much an emotionally driven story of a hero and heroine that center around both a re-united theme and a friend to lovers theme. It really has this both which makes it even more unique! Here's a blurb to start.

A CHRISTMAS WISH by Holli Winters
Whispers Publishing
Blurb from Publisher:

Two years ago, Brady and Macy kissed and walked on the edge of giving into their desire, but the time was not right. She was newly widowed after the death of her abusive husband, who was also Brady's cousin. Now it's Christmas Eve in the midst of a snow storm. Macy heads to Brady's bar for a drink and ends up stranded when the storm turns into a blizzard. Now, she's trapped with a man she's wanted for a long, long time...and the timing couldn't be better.

One night of passion isn't enough for Brady, but can he convince Macy they have more going for them than just the desire that's been simmering for years?

My review:

Set in Spokane during a heavy snowstorm on Christmas eve, heroine, Macy Witters visits to 'Silver Lining' bar to spend this Christmas eve with her best friend Veronica. As her and Veronica spend this holiday eve together at the bar, a storm is brewing outside as well as within Macy's heart as memories flood back of her past. 'Silver Lining' bar is owned by a friend and a love from her past, Brady Vaughn. With the superb descriptions of the setting both within Silver Lining and the town, the author, Holli Winters, gives a enticing vision that will have the reader feeling the cozy warmth within the bar, hearing the jukebox playing the Christmas sounds and songs and seeing the snow fall on a night surrounded by everything Christmas. Brady is Macy's friend that was there for her during her difficult marriage. They also had a brief kindle of romance that was cut short when life spiraled out of control for Macy with the ending of her marriage. With so much healing physically and emotionally Macy had to endur, Brady stepped back without pursuing the strong feelings he had for her to allow her the time to nourish her heart. When Macy realizes that Brady is working this Christmas eve, she feels the need for flight and Brady realizes how staying back was a mistake and wants to fight for her to act for what heart feels. Macy wants to dodge the many problems with their family and more if they come together and act on their feelings for each other. Trust now comes so difficult for Macy and is strongly reluctant and fearful not to act on her strong feelings she has for Brady. Brady too is determined, but to spend this Christmas eve with Macy to put her back into his life. His Christmas wish is to spend this Christmas and many more with her. As Macy fights internally her growing love with taking a step with Brady, she commits herself to just one night.

So beautifully romantic is the love that Brady and Macy share with each other that the passion they share sizzles up the cold Christmas eve to Christmas day. As they re-uniting that sizzling kiss from two years pass to a loving passionate night and face the beginning of the healing of her past with their Christmas together, they make up for the years apart. So much suspense within this book unfolds and so many surprises and struggles along the way, that it made for a captivating and tear-jerking story. Reading to the very end and hours after, a warmth is felt that lingers within the reader from such a beautiful story.

You can catch this sizzling contemporary romance from Whispers Publishing as well as on sale at Fictionwise right now! It was a joy to share this review with fellow readers of romance during this holiday! One little tease, after reading this book, I so wanted to know all the terms on playing darts! You'll have to read the book to find out more!

I so love reading these Christmas related romance books! In many genres too! What are some of your favorites as well as those that you read this year so far. Post and I'll put you in for a giveaway of this ebook from Fictionwise! Do leave your email address with it written out such as: address(at)domain(dot)com so I can send the email GC for the book from Fictionwise to you.
***Contest open til Monday night 12/21 9***

News And Reads!

NEWS!

Hi Romance Readers! Miss you all visting here and miss me visiting you there at your blogs! Things are getting better, so visit often and I will too. I have so much to catch up on. I shall be starting my giveaways again! I love sharing my love of reading with you all.

Did you check out my review and post of Deb Stover's THE GIFT in the below post? I had fun writing this one. I had to keep taking out parts because I told too much. Its a must read! Just click HERE!

Remember my review of RION by Susan Kearney, book 2 in the Pendragon Series? Its now out! Check out the MY REVIEW HERE and her SITE HERE. I will be reading and reviewing JORDAN soon. See what I have coming below. There will be more books I plan to read and post about too. The books stand alone but you'll want to read them all. Check out book one review for LUCAN!

I'm posting some reviews of erotic romance reads! So I changed the blog to an adult one for those books/reviews for over 18 years of age. So that's why you have to click to come in to the blog now. I planned to do a separate blog but decided to put all the romance reads in one place! I write reviews on books I read both that authors ask me to write but too those I buy and read, so one of my goals for next year is to write more reviews of those too. Its one way to thank the authors for all they write. What I'd do without their books!

UPCOMING REVIEWS!

SURVIVE MY FIRE by Joely Sue Burkhart (Dark Erotic Fantasy)

SEDUCED BY TWO by Stephanie Julian (Book 7 in the Magical Seduction Series erotic romance)













And this month will be writing up reviews and posting for:


THE SECOND DATE by Mary Lydon Simonsen (Contemporary Romance-She also writes historical romance sequel to Pride & Prejudice)

SINS OF THE HEART by Delle Jacobs (historical romance)

DARK DESIRES OF THE HEART II SEX AND SUBTERFUGE by Isabel Roman (and more in this series!) (erotic romance)

BEAUTY TEMPTS THE BEAST by Leslie Dicken (Historical Romance)



JANUARY 2010 REVIEWS!

DEMONFIRE by Kate Douglas (new upcoming Paranormal Romance Series)

JORDAN by Susan Kearney (3rd in Futuristic-Paranormal Romance series)

AWAKENING THE BLOOD by Tara Nichols (vampire erotic romance)

THE ROSE OF SHANHASSON by Joely Sue Burkhart (Book 1 of the Shanhasson Trilogy and more of her reviews to come)

and many others!

JUST READ!

Just read this print, DESPERATELY SEEKING A DUKE by Celeste Bradley (Book 1 in the Heiress Brides-Historical Romance). I shall be reading book 2, THE DUKE NEXT DOOR next. This is a historical trilogy that was out last year with 3 cousins competing to be the first to inherited money if they are the first one to marry a duke. But what happens if they find love first? These will make you smile reading this author. Blurb from Celeste Bradley's site:

DESPERATELY SEEKING A DUKE
ONLY A DUKE WILL DO.

The only way for vicar's daughter Phoebe Millbury to inherit a family fortune is to find herself a duke--just as her late grandfather demanded in his will. But Phoebe, who's still trying to make good after a romantic scandal, also has her two cousins to contend with. They're all competing for the same money, maybe even the same men...until Phoebe meets her match in the terribly handsome and charming Rafe Marbrook.

BUT WILL IT BE "I DO"--OR ADIEU?

When she receives a proposal from the Marquis of Brookhaven, Phoebe is thrilled to learn that Rafe is headed for dukedom...and accepts his offer. There's only one problem: It's from Rafe's older, less captivating brother, Calder. Now Phoebe finds herself on the verge of yet another scandal as she faces a desperate choice: Marry Calder for his money and status--or follow her own heart? Either way can only lead to trouble.

I go back and forth between ebooks and print books. So recently I read a bunch of ebooks, so these are some I recommend:

SIN'S GIFT and LOCKDOWN by Delilah Devlin (Books 1 & 2 in the Shadowlands series-Erotic Paranormal romance. Its got Demons! Bad Demons! and a sizzling and intense romance! One of my favorite authors to read. Lots of books and different romance heat at her site. She has so much to offer.)



WANTON WOMAN by Isabel Roman (Short hot historical romance. This author is from Ravenous romance and so been enjoying her Dark Desires Of The Druids which is a fantasy/paranormal and historical romance in one! This book is a short hot read for a quick evening read.)

THE LADY'S BARGAIN by Leslie Dicken (Short hot historical romance. Once I read this, I was on a roll with her books! Great regency romances. She also has two novellas/novels at her site.)

IMPROPER NIGHTS by Leslie Dicken (Short hot historical romance. Same author as above, a quick enjoyable evening read. I'll too be reading and posting a review on her novel from Samhain.)

TWO KNIGHTS IN CAMELOT by Charlene Teglia (Short erotic contemporary romance with the King Arthur theme. I always am looking for the King Arthur theme reads. I want to read more and learn more about it. At first I thought this book was a time travel but its not but still has this them with Guinevere as Gwen and Arthur as Art and a happily ever after this time. Very unique and fun sizzling read.)

Hope you have a good reading week!

Review - THE GIFT by Deb Stover

THE GIFT by Deb Stover
November 2009
Love Spell-Dorchester Publishing
ISBN: 987-0-505-52606-9
Amazon link

Have you recently had one of those reads that you so had to know the ending, but try so hard to not cheat by reading the end? Plus you had to know everything that happened by staying up to read all night? THE GIFT by Deb Stover had me reading until the wee hours of the morning until I knew this ending to Beth and Ty story! THE GIFT is a strong and enthralling paranormal romance with the romance suspense of the heroine that had the gift of visions .... and a cowboy hero, who has a strong stance to move on with his life and children by declaring his missing wife dead. As they come together, they investigate an unraveling of what happened to Ty's wife and chancing an intense and stirring love for each other.

Heroine Beth Dearborn, a recovering alcoholic and working in a newer career as an insurance investigator, hoped that this change in jobs, formerly a homicide detective, would hold back her gift she has been guarding for three years. Beth's gift is to use all her senses when she's reliving what the victim of homicide has. The suffering Beth experience from visually seeing what the predicament, hearing what transpires and being the audience to hearing all including the voices and mind of the criminal, made her 'gift' of hers become her curse. Beth too has strong reactions with her gift when thunderstorms are occurring. They grip her in ways that she loses conscious. She had hoped the changing her career would help repress these episodes as she takes on an assignment to settle a missing person case to declare the victim as deceased. Her gift returns with fierceness as she investigates the disappearance of Ty's wife's and mother of his children. But too, the love Beth grows to feel for Ty and his children too comes with a force that opens up hope, love and life back to her.

Our hero Ty Malone is a single cowboy living on a ranch in a small town of Brubaker Tennessee As a loner within himself, giving little to his own needs, his attention, plans and life are for his three children. As he attempts to let go of the history and rumors surrounding the disappearance of his wife eight years ago, he's determined to have his wife, Lorilee declared dead. As Beth is stranded on his ranch, Ty reluctantly accepts the need for Beth to investigate his wife's disappearance for the insurance coverage. Ty planned to close this chapter of his life, knowing some answers may never come to fruition but was unprepared for his reaction to Beth. At the get go their feelings for each other become feverish. He's enamored to seduce Beth but too comes to fall in love with her. As they both seek so many answers in life, together they anchor each other through their healing with a heightened thriller and warm and tender romance.

Reading THE GIFT by Deb Stover, so captured me with vivid feelings of a beautiful and exciting romance reading Beth and Ty's romance! The buildup of the drama and the increasing tension of the romance was so potent and pure. I was full of emotions with smiling at their love for one another and tears of the pain they both went through. Both characters had so much growth in this story. Beth had so much to overcome with her past addiction and her gift and Ty with his healing through the lost of his wife for his children and the ability to move on with his love for Beth. There is so much more to this story that I often went back through this review and took out parts so that the reader will too read the surprises and drama that's in store through the events of this book. Long after I read this book many parts of the story and scenes returned to my mine, time after time. But even more, the feelings that overcame me, remained with me, still today. The empathic gift that Beth had to feel the victim brought forward a story where the reader will too feel so much empathy for every one of the characters, including Pearl, keeper in house and Ty's children. As strong as the romance was, the plot and story of the suspense and paranormal theme was captivating. Beth's gift of her living through the spirits of victims was at times chilling and others as heartbreaking. As the story moves to find the answers to Ty's wife's disappearance, there was so much unexpected and unique that made this book set apart from other paranormal romances.

I've been so anticipating this release by Deb Stover as I have had the joy to read her books, her last one being in 2004. The dedication of her book was so moving. Her former books and stories of magical Irish contemporaries, wild west historical romances, unforgettable time travels romances have all been on my keepers shelf when I discovered her books. I went backwards until I found everyone of them I could then. When finding out that she had her first book out, THE GIFT, in 6 years, it was all that I've always loved reading of her heroes and heroines but so much more. Beth and Ty were like no other characters of hers, so individually themselves, so realistic throughout. The building and tension of the romance and climate of the story that this author Deb Stover so unleashed with her romance books is another great signature to add to the keeper's shelf.