Showing posts with label novella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label novella. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Heavenly Bites Novellas by Christine S. Feldman Giveaway!

The lovely Christine S. Feldman is out with the new Heavenly Bites series: short and sweet novellas with just the right dose of romance right when you want it! The first book, Pastels and Jingle Bells, just dropped—right in time for the holidays, which is appropriate, considering it's a Christmas-themed story that'll definitely keep you warm!

Christine is giving away a copy of this new novella, as well as an Amazon gift card—a contest exclusively for Books à la Mode readers!—so be sure to check this fabulous series out!

Pastels and Jingle Bells—book 1

Trish Ackerly never expected to cross paths with Ian Rafferty again, but when she spots the former bully of her childhood years through her bakery window, she thinks she may just have been given the best Christmas gift ever: the opportunity to finally give Ian the comeuppance he deserves.

But clearly she does not have a knack for this whole revenge thing, because before she can make good on her plans, Trish gets inadvertently drawn into Ian’s life in an unexpected way that lets her see just how different the man is from the boy he used to be. In fact, much to her astonishment, she actually starts to like the guy.

A lot.

Trouble is, Ian doesn’t know who she really is, and explaining it to him is going to be a little difficult now—which is bad news, because Trish is starting to realize that all she really wants for Christmas this year... is Ian.
Buy the book from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Love Lessons—book 2

Self-assured Nadia Normandy knows everything there is to know about men and dating, which seems to be why little old Mrs. Beasley maneuvers her into taking unsuspecting and bookish accountant Benji Garner under her wing. Her mission? Shape him up for the opposite sex, preferably in time for New Year’s Eve. 

A challenge? Sure, but Nadia discovers that Benji’s got a charm all his own, and she finds herself avoiding her usual social scene in favor of time spent with him—all in the name of mentoring him, of course. 

Except that after a while, it starts to feel less like mentoring and more like something else—which could present a problem, because just as Nadia begins to realize she didn’t know quite as much about men as she thought, other women are starting to notice her unlikely protégé.

Much like Nadia is beginning to notice him in a whole new way herself...


Playing Cupid—book 3

Much as she loves her meddling matchmaker of a grandmother, free-spirited Aimee Beasley is tired of dodging the dull and downright tiresome dates the older woman keeps trying to arrange for her. So when she notices her beloved Gran preening in the presence of a distinguished elderly gentleman who’s been visiting their apartment building, Aimee is delighted at the prospect of turning the tables on her. 

But her plans to match her grandmother up with the gentleman in time for Valentine’s Day hit a snag when Aimee realizes he’s the uncle of their downstairs neighbor, a stodgy thirty-something history professor named Doyle with whom she butts heads on a regular basis. She’ll need to find a way to make nice and enlist his help, or her plan to see her long-widowed Gran happily matched again will never work. 

For Gran’s sake, she’s determined to find a way. In the process, she starts to realize that her cranky downstairs neighbor has a softer side she never suspected existed.

And when it comes to romantic heroes, history professors may not have gotten a fair shake...

Giveaway!

Books à la Mode is giving away a Kindle download of Pastels and Jingle Bells and a $10 Amazon gift card—yay!! To enter, leave a comment in response to Christine's question:
Since Pastels and Jingle Bells features an unlikely pairing (Ian used to be a bully when the heroine knew him as a child—don't worry, he's reformed now!), who do you think would make an unexpected romantic pairing that could lead to a very cute happy-ever-after?

Remember to leave your email address so I know who to contact as a winner. Don't make me track you down!!
Please make your comment MEANINGFUL. Comments solely consisting of stock responses or irrelevant fluff like "Thanks for the giveaway!" will not be considered for entry. Christine and I really want to hear you guys' preferences! :)

You may earn ONE extra entry by liking Christine on Facebook and leaving your Facebook name in your comment. This optional entry is not required to enter the giveaway; however, if you choose to take advantage of it, you will have two entries in the drawing which would increase your chances of winning.

Don't forget the entry eligibility terms and conditions!
Sponsored wholly by the author—a huge thank you to Christine!
Giveaway ends November 19th 2013 at 11.59 PM (your time).
Open to anyone in the world! Woohoo! However, please keep in mind the Amazon gift card is only redeemable through the Amazon US website. Void where prohibited.
Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize once they are chosen, or else their winnings will be forfeited.
Although I do randomly select winners, I am in no way responsible for prizes, nor for shipping and handling.
As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤
Good luck!

Friday, October 4, 2013

6 Heart Review: Sugar and Spice by Kimberly Kincaid and Giveaway!

Sugar and Spice (The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap anthology #3)
Kimberly Kincaid

Page Count: 123

Release Date: 24 September 2013
Publisher: Kensington
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher, via tour publicist, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Kensington and Tasty Book Tours!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Christmas cookies come once a year, but true love is forever...

For friends Clara, Abby and Lily, only one thing is more delicious than the Pine Mountain holiday cookie exchange—finding the right man before they ring in the New Year!

When caterer Lily Callahan goes up against hotshot pastry chef Pete Mancuso in the bake-off of the season, the stakes are high—and scandalously passionate. Will the gorgeous gourmand steal Lily's heart—and the top prize in the Christmas cookie competition?
Lily might not have gone to a fancy culinary school in Philadelphia, but she'd still been around enough chefs to know Pete's suave, I-know-best type. She hadn't spent the last month refining her skills and perfecting countless cookie recipes just to be upended by an overly confident pretty face.
Even if Pete's smile had threatened to knock her knees out from under her.

Lily sticks to the rules. That's just her thing; whether it be a recipe or a "type," she adheres to her own restrictions, and seldom strays very far. Pete, rebellious and charming, is the exact opposite. The fun-loving chef takes tremendous risks both in and out of the kitchen, which is why when he and Lily come face to face in a cutthroat Christmas cookie competition, something's going to simmer... if not explode.

Sugar and Spice is the last of the three stories in The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap. It's short and sweet, exactly the kind of Christmas romance quickie you want to read when you're in between holiday festivities and can't sit down and concentrate on something heavy. Kimberly Kincaid's voice is frank, but she manages to make her characters sentimental. I love the honesty and realness she breathes into Lily as a character. Even though there isn't much character development and obviously with such short length, there isn't much complexity or texture either, Lily is easy to sympathize with and love, which is why readers will relate to her frustration upon meeting Pete, who's trouble from the moment she sets eye on him. Not only does he happen to have the most bone-melting smile she's ever seen, but he'll also be her competition... but then again, who said there's anything wrong with sleeping with the enemy?

Pete's daredevil personality is matched with an equally troubled past, and as Lily is the first and only girl to ever coax him to comfort, both realize there's something there. The concept is cute, but it's inevitable that a Christmas romance would be tacky. The entire story is unrealistic (they just happen to run into each other, they just happen to be partners, the media just happens to love them on TV, resulting in even more duo time... blech) and extremely predictable but I'm not too disappointed by that. After all, this is a cute, cheerful holiday read, one meant to lift your spirits and indulge you in a sugary, spicy, contemporary Christmas fantasy.

While I didn't read the other two stories in the anthology, I did peruse the prologue and epilogue; love how the three best friends' stories all come together! Sugar and Spice was a decent read, but I didn't like it enough to go back and read the other stories; the epilogue, as hurried as it was, was more than enough of an indicator of each of the women's fate: a far-fetched, optimistic happily-ever-after.

Pros


Very quick read // Light tone // Fun, festive, and spirited // Warm and cozy—a feel-good story for a feel-good season! // Likable characters // Each romance story is integrated into the others, and the characters all involve each other

Cons


Way too predictable // "Happily ever after" is really cheesy // Ending is rushed and unrealistic // Not much chemistry because short stories leave little room for relationship development

Verdict


The warm, heartfelt romance that blossoms in the midst of a tense, frenetic Christmas baking contest in Sugar and Spice makes for both a merry, diverting holiday quickie that'll make you smile, and a sizzling, intense affair that will make you blush. I liked how the preceding stories in the anthology are all incorporated into Kincaid's contribution to the collection because it draws three otherwise disengaged women together, but the story itself isn't anything noteworthy. As light contemporary romances go, it's quick, unmemorable, and has both its hot moments, as well as its dull—I enjoyed myself keeping the holiday spirit in mind, but otherwise, I wasn't that impressed Americanflag

6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back (x)

Giveaway!

Two lucky readers will get the chance to read the entire The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap anthology, themselves—we have two finished digital copies up for grabs! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for the chance to win. 

Don't forget the entry eligibility terms and conditions!
This is a tour-wide giveaway and is neither sponsored nor hosted by Books à la Mode. I am merely participating in the promotional tour.
Giveaway ends October 5th at 11.59 PM (your time).
Open internationally—that means anyone in the world can enter. Woohoo!
Void where prohibited.
As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤
Good luck!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Promises by LaVerne Thompson

Promises
LaVerne Thompson

Page Count: 50
Release Date: 19 May, 2009
Publisher: Red Rose Publishing
Source: Received as a gift from the author (thank you so much!!!!!) in no way expecting a review, let alone a positive one


Can the promise of love withstand the test of time?

Childhood friends, David and Mia know there is something special, something different about their friendship. But the David moves away and whatever that something is they never have the chance to explore.

Mia waits twelve years for David to come back to her, knowing deep in her heart that one day he would. She made him promise the day he left, she would wait for it, and she kept it.

Unbeknownst to her, he has also. He never forgets her. Not where it counts, in his heart. Now he has to prove it to her.

Unforgettable or is it a game he is playing?

What Stephanie Thought:
Promises is short and sweet, a mere 50-page novella with an exceptionally hot cover :) Full of nostalgia of childhood innocence and loyal sentiment, it's one that you're likely not to forget.

David and Mia grew up together, did everything together, understood each other. Until David abruptly decided to join the army, that is. Mia was shattered, but she made a promise to him that she would wait for as long as it would take him to return, and she was determined to keep it.

When almost all hope is gone, David comes back. And though Mia feels inner anger, she takes one look into his familiar eyes and realizes she is still in love with him.

I didn't like how short this novella was; I wish it had been drawn out a little more! Besides that though, it was a warm, not quite erotic but more sensual read that I think has something to say about every relationship.

Stephanie Loves: "Watching her the entire time, he took his time lowering his head to hers. He didn't close his eyes until his lips were touching hers, devouring them. This was no kiss of innocence.
He was right. Nothing had changed between them.
Everything had changed.
David raised his mouth far enough away from hers to whisper, 'My Mia, I came back for you.'
'David, I waited because I knew you would.'"

Radical Rating: 
8 hearts: An engaging read; highly recommended. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥