Wild Hearts

Book 5 in the series keeps the flow and suspense going.

This time it's Delphi's turn to fall in love with the man her dead father picked out. Dad sure did have his daughters all figured out!

I really enjoyed how Delphi slowly came out of her shell, enjoyed taunting Jeremy, and became a far more likable chick than she'd seemed previously in the books. Be ready to enjoy the emotional roller coaster ride she and Jeremy embark on, complete with romance, death threats, and a super cute tattoo, even though I personally don't advocate ink on the body. Though I do love the cover!

The book is on par with it's partners as to Ms. Tullis' standard of writing. You'll have trouble putting it down. I even read it when I was brushing my teeth!

Enjoy.

Now I need to get my hands on book 6!

http://smile.amazon.com/Wild-Hearts-DiCarlo-Brides-Book-ebook/dp/B00EOS39PM/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=00Y63RV1XDRP1PFHGGZ6

Delphi Gifford has nearly given up on finding someone she could love as much as her dead husband, Fallon, who had died while they were still in college. Certainly local photographer Jeremy Litster wasn't at the top of her list, egomaniac that he is--even if he did drive the hottest racing motorbike she'd ever touched. 

Jeremy knew George DiCarlo had hand-picked him to marry Delphi, but hadn't counted on her not being in the loop. After working together for six months, though, he seriously regrets his misstep and begins a careful campaign to win her over. When someone tries to take the two of them out, he has to figure out what they did or saw that put them both in danger.

Wedding Cake

Wedding Cake is the final installment in the Sadie Hoffmiller culinary mystery series. After 12 books it all comes to an end. Tear. 

Ms. Kilpack posts a serious warning at the beginning of this book that you need to have read the previous 11 books to understand this one as many old characters reappear. I would agree. You will probably be lost and not understand all of the relationships without the knowledge of the other books. Besides, who wants to miss all that yummy murder mystery! 

There is danger, suspense, a wedding, and all the usual delights I've come to expect with this series. This last book doesn't disappoint. Sadie once more fights for her life, but this time for all of her family as well. No one is safe. Sit down with a delicious snack, a big glass of water, and read it all in one go! 

Then, when you are done, pick up a copy of Sadie's Little Black book of recipes. It has all the ones from the books, plus bonus recipes all in one place. I've already added it to my recipe book shelf. It'll be easier to reach for then running upstairs to look at the series of books and try to remember which one the recipe I want to make came from! 

With this being the conclusion of this series, I am sad to lose an author whom I test kitchen for. My family has greatly benefited from trying lots of new recipes over the past 8 books I've had the pleasure of being a willing guinea pig in the test kitchen. If anyone is looking for a test kitchen participant, direct them my way. I love doing it! 

Wedding Cake: A Culinary Mystery (Culinary Mysteries): Josi S. Kilpack: 9781609079321: Amazon.com: Books

Didn't I tell you you'd never be free of me?

When Sadie Hoffmiller receives a threatening, anonymous text message just days before her wedding, she is determined not to let it interfere with the celebration she has carefully planned for months. But when the threat changes from a distant fear to a frightening reality, Sadie realizes just how much she is underestimated the situation. Desperate to put an end to the game she has been forced to play, Sadie, her fiancé, Pete, and her children pull out all the stops resolved to stop running and see justice done. What they do not know, however, is just how far Sadies nemesis is willing to go and just how many people may be hurt in the process. There is no turning back for anyone in this riveting conclusion to the twelve-volume series, and the question becomes whether or not Sadie will have a future left when the game finally comes to an end.

Wishing on Baby Dust Blog Tour & GIVEAWAY

Infertility stinks. No one knows that better than Megan. After six years of insanity-inducing hormone drugs and desperate prayers, all she has to show for her efforts are enough negative pregnancy tests to fill a bassinet. All around her women are accidentally getting pregnant—like her star piano student—while Megan remains hopelessly barren. Megan’s never felt so alone. But she’s not the only one struggling.

Christina has just entered the world of infertility, made worse by the fact her husband isn’t ready to be a father. Their marriage, already hanging in the balance, is being torn apart.

Then there’s Kyra, the mother of a precocious three-year-old. She’s shocked to be struggling with secondary infertility. A baby is priceless, but sometimes Kyra feels like she’s being forced to choose which commandment to keep: stay out of debt, or multiply and replenish the earth.

When Megan and Christina are assigned as Kyra’s visiting teachers, they all realize that what you see isn’t necessarily what’s beneath the surface. Some secrets aren’t worth the cost of keeping them.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wishing-Baby-Dust-Lydia-Winters-ebook/dp/B00R2BJ9K2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23677518-wishing-on-baby-dust

Lydia Winters decided in first grade that she’d grow up to be three things—a mom, a teacher, and a writer. She’s lucky enough to have accomplished all three tasks. Lydia received her bachelor’s in history education from Utah Valley University. Soon after leaving her teaching career behind, she became a mother to adorable twin boys, who guarantee her life is never dull.

Lydia is married to the most supportive man in the world. He regularly takes care of the twins and cooks dinner so she can escape with her laptop to chase her dream of being a writer. When she has time for hobbies, Lydia is a reality TV junkie, loves to cross-stitch, and sometimes even finds time to play the piano. She eats way too much chocolate and wishes she liked things like running or yoga.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlindzeearmstrong

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindz_armstrong

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindzarmstrong/

Website: www.lydia-winters.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10319067.Lydia_Winters

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Lydia-Winters/e/B00R3KYWK4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1420300219&sr=1-1


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Family Matters

Family Matters is the fourth DiCarlo Brides novel.

This time we're catching up with Rosemary. And her secret is a nine year old daughter.

This book is all about choices. Past choices that affect the present and present choices that affect the future. Some have been for good and others have yielded bitter fruit.

Rosemary is a tough nut to crack, but when you do, she's full of gooey marshmallow like every one else. You just have to get through her layers, and there are a lot of them. Good thing Harrison is persistent and consistent about persuading her to let him into her life and her heart.

Stakes are high again as threats are made on Rosemary and Cleo. Accidents turn into sinister attempts on their lives.

Watch the family, blood and extended, band together to pull through another stressful situation.

All these people are going to need serious therapy at the end of this series.

As in the previous novels, all the sex is alluded to, but happens off page, which works great for me.

This is my least favorite cover so far. I think it's the dress.

Bring on the next sister.

http://www.amazon.com/Family-Matters-DiCarlo-Brides-book-ebook/dp/B00COMUGY2/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0WG8G402ZMWFE0AF2388

Rosemary Keogh considers herself pretty adaptable—she dealt with her father’s death-bed edict that she move across the country to work at his latest hotel with five half-sisters, (most of whom she hadn’t known existed) hadn’t she? She settled into the routine, even grew to like most of them, but when tragedy leaves her birth daughter parentless—and she is named as the guardian—her world spins again. 

Trying to raise a nine-year-old who shares her spunk and determination isn’t always an easy thing. When Rosemary starts having mysterious ‘accidents,’ though, her worries shift from being a bad mother to leaving her daughter an orphan yet again. 

Adding to the confusion, Harrison Forest, head of the resort’s human resources department, decides it’s time to shift their relationship from semi-adversarial to something a whole lot more interesting. Can they get past the roadblocks she’s been throwing in their way to make things work? More importantly, will she survive that long?

The Paladin Pawn

The Paladin Pawn by Michael Young

When nerdy Rich Witz unwittingly becomes a Paladin, a white knight, in training, he is thrust into a world where flunking a test can change the course of history and a mysterious bully is playing for keeps with his life. 

Rich’s grandmother leaves him with one thing before disappearing for good: a white chess pawn with his initials engraved on it. The pawn marks him as the next in an ancient line of white knights. He must prove himself in a life or death contest against his Nemesis, a dark knight in training, all while dealing with math homework and English projects.  With the ghost of an ancestor for his guide, he has seven days to complete four tasks of valor before his Nemesis does, or join his guide in the realm of the dead. 

As Rich rushes to complete the tasks, he realizes the chilling truth: his Nemesis is masquerading as someone at school and will stop at nothing to make him fail. As the tasks grow ever harder, the other knights reveal to him that his failure will break a centuries-old chain and bring the Paladin order to ruin. If he fails, the dark knights win the right to control the fate of the world, a world without hope or the possibility of a new dawn.  So this is one exam Rich has to ace, with no curve and no extra credit.

Here's one of several excerpts to give you a sneak peak of the book: 

They arrived, and Rich pointed to the door. “Here we are. Detention.”

            Aaron backed away a few steps, “What does this mean? It sounds unpleasant.”

            Rich shrugged with one shoulder. “It’s not really too bad. They keep us locked up in a room without speaking for a while and make us work.”

            Aaron’s face went pale. “Are they going to cast us into a dungeon? Do they have torture devices?”

            Rich’s face broadened in a laugh. “No, not unless you consider the old desks torture devices. Come on, it’s only for half an hour.”

            “Surely there is a way to protest this unjust treatment. You did nothing wrong. I thought your society had progressed beyond such barbarism,” said Aaron.

            “Society, maybe. But here in high school, we’re still in the Dark Ages.” 

One more cool thing about this book . . . There's a playlist! Get jammin' to these great tunes to get an idea of the vibe of this cool novel. 

“Lux Aeterna” from “Requiem for a Dream”

 “Prologue” from the “Harry Potter Soundtrack”

 “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel

 “Arival at Aslan’s How” from “The Chronicles of Narnia”

 “The Impossible Dream” from “Man of LaMancha”)

 “Chariot’s of Fire” by Vangelis

“Hello” by Lionel Ritchie

“One-Winged Angel” from “Final Fantasy”

 “Chevaliers de Sangreal” from “The DaVinci Code”

Buy it Here:
http://www.amazon.com/Paladin-Pawn-Chess-Quest-Book-ebook/dp/B00Q7XXNR6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417064247&sr=8-1&keywords=Paladin+Pawn

My Review: 
I really like the concept of this well thought out book. The plot is unraveled bit by bit like pulling on a string that unravels a sweater. Lots of questions and cliffhangers keep the pace moving along.  

The characters are well rounded with strengths and weaknesses and very little info dump. You can get to know the characters as they get to know themselves. Rich is especially well crafted. 

There are lots of twists and turns to figure out who is a good guy, who is a bad guy and who just may be an innocent bystander caught in the cross fire. 

The dialogue is suited for the age group and will make a fairly easy and fast read for the intended audience. 

My only real hangup is the structure of the ending. It happens in an odd place for me. I dearly hope there is a sequel/series to finish out this tantalizing story and answer all my questions. In other words, I want more. 

Reclaiming His Bride

Reclaiming His Bride is the third book in the DiCarlo Brides series.

We jump the birth order of sisters to number 4, Lana. Guess, we'll catch back up to Rosemary later.

Lana's life is all about secrets, her marriage, her attempts at divorce, her pregnancy. Good thing she's a legitimate child of her father and wasn't a secret on like four of her sisters.

But secrets have a way of coming out and Lana's are no exception, esp. when her husband Blake can't hide his love for her.

This is a good take on how we see what we want to see, even when it's not true, and that time and perspective can straighten out our view. That's all Lana needs to do, even if she does fight it every step of the way.

The one secret that needs discovering is 'Who is the ghost?'. Sadly some will die before the ghost's true nature will be revealed.

Ms. Tullis weaves in some more suspense into this tale of romance.

It's a clean romance, seeing as Lana and Blake are already married, so nothing is amiss in their physical relationship in that regard. Their story may be my favorite so far.

But then, there's always book 4 to read!

http://www.amazon.com/Reclaiming-Bride-DiCarlo-Brides-book-ebook/dp/B00BVXQS1U/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=033H1AW66JQVNPFJB89D

Secrets rule Lana’s life. Her father’s death brought some out into the open, but she has a few of her own: 1) she’s been married to Blake for nearly a year—and trying to get a divorce for most of that time. 2) A moment of emotional weakness and too much champagne ended with her in her husband’s arms—and now she’s pregnant.

Blake hasn’t thought of another woman since they first met, though she believes otherwise. When Lana’s hotel-magnate father offers him the job of regional manager—and an office in the hotel Lana would be managing, Blake jumps at it. Keeping her attention when it’s split between her sisters, the ins and outs of running a resort, and the ‘ghost’ who’s been haunting the building isn’t easy. Learning about the baby convinces him to redouble his efforts though—he isn’t going to give up without a fight, and when someone comes after Lana, the stakes are raised again.

SEALed with Love

SEALed with Love is the second installment in the DiCarlo Brides series.

This time it's all about Sage, her stalker, and former Navy SEAL Joel. And while Sage's disturbingly accurate powers of precognition can be a blessing to those she loves, she can never see anything directly about her own future. Sucks. It should would be helpful if it could reveal her stalker to her!

It is a constant tug of war between Sage and Joel hiding their true feelings from one another and you'll cheer when the rope finally breaks and that longed for kiss finally takes place.

Joel is the perfect protector for Sage, but she's not a weakling and when it counts she fights for those she loves.

It's fun to read a series when you have the opportunity to get to know each character in depth and still have in play those you've already gotten to know and see bits of characters you'll have the chance to get to know in other books. It creates a nice unity thread that keeps you reading the spin-off series.

This isn't a true clean read as the characters don't save sex for marriage and kisses get 'deeper'. There isn't any foul language. Of course, with a stalker in play, there is some violence. Ms. Tullis will keep you guessing to the end who it is. She has a knack for writing suspense.

I'm ready for book three to learn about the next sister. Once you start the series you won't want to stop.

http://www.amazon.com/SEALed-Love-DiCarlo-Brides-book-ebook/dp/B00BSOU4IU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1414610129&sr=1-1&keywords=SEALed+with+Love

It isn't Sage Parker's fault that she mistakes former Navy SEAL Joel Watts as the stalker who had been sending her disturbing letters--he shows up every time she turns around. Too bad her father doesn’t tell her he sent Joel to protect her. When the stalker tracks Sage from LA to her new job in Colorado, she's glad to have Joel on her side. She didn’t plan to falling in love with him though—now if he would see her as more than just a client.

Joel takes his job as head of resort security seriously, but Sage is his number one priority, and the one woman he can’t get out of his mind. He isn't sure if he believes in her precognition, or some of her other hokey beliefs, but he soon finds he can't live without her. He just has to catch the stalker before he or Sage end up dead.