Safe Haven: Homecoming by Heather Justesen Blog Tour (and Contest)

I have long been a fan of Author Heather Justesen's style of writing romance. Her stories are clean, with just the right amount of steam, and full, rich characters that keep you begging them to just get together already.

So when her publicist contacted me to ask if I wanted to be part of her blog tour, of course I had to say yes. Of course! I would be reading this one anyway, and the awesome thing is that now you all get a chance to enter to win an Amazon gift card!

So here are the details:

About the book:

When the US Marshall sends the newly-married Bo and Tosca into hiding in a little Montana town, they settle in for a safe, quiet life while they prepare for the court case against Tosca's former boyfriend. Charles has other plans, though—he wants her dead before she can testify. And he's found their safe haven.

You can purchase your copy of Safe Haven: Homecoming on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, and follow the author on her Facebook page.

About the author:

Heather Justesen was getting lost in books before she learned to read, and her love for them has never waned. She started writing in the year 2000 and has dabbled in several genres though her main interest is romance with some culinary mysteries thrown in. Her current book count is 14 with several books being released each year.

When she's not glued to her laptop, Heather loves to decorate cakes, work in the garden and play with her many pets. You can check out the first chapter for any of her books, see the book trailers, or learn more about Heather on her website at www.HeatherJustesen.com, or check out her blog at HeatherJustesen.blogspot.com

Enter to win here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also enter to win on all of these participating blogs:

Schedule:
April 13th
Ilana - www.eager-reader.com
Nichole Giles - www.nicholegiles.blogspot.com

April 14th
Lori Twining - http://www.lvtwriter.com/
Jared Quan
Mary Ann - http://www.thestubbypencilreviews.com

April 15th
Danyelle Ferguson - www.queenoftheclan.com
Lisa Swinton - www.lisaswinton.blogspot.com

April 16th
C.S. Janey - https://agirlinacorner.wordpress.com/
Julie Casey - http://www.julielcasey.com
RaShelle Workman - http://www.rashelleworkman.com

April 17th
Donna Weaver
Maria Hoagland - http://mariahoagland.blogspot.com/

Exciting New Release: Sun & Moon by Lee Strauss (Book One in the Minstrel Series) and TWO Giveaways!

Sun & Moon by Lee Strauss

(Book One in the Minstrel Series)

Coming January 26th! If you’re a fan of the movie Inside, Llewyn Davis, ABC television’s Nashville or Colleen Hoover’s upcoming novel, "Maybe Someday", the Minstrel Series is for you! The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each are complete standalone stories with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!

My thoughts on the book:
After I was able to get past the gorgeous cover (couldn't stop looking at it) and read the first page, I knew this was going to be my kind of story. This is big for me, because I've never read anything by Lee Strauss before, and I'm always hesitant to start reading a book by a new author--especially one that comes so highly recommended. But I was drawn in immediately, turning the ten minutes of reading time I had into two hours and 100 pages.

I have a soft spot for flawed, but lovable characters, and Lee has done a great job in creating this with both down-on-her-luck Katja and mysterious, brooding Micah. Both have troubled backgrounds and lots of baggage, and both are searching for redemption, love, and happiness (though neither of them realizes it). Another thing I love is the rich German culture and beautifully unique setting that gave the story another whole dimension. On top of all that, the author has included ORIGINAL MUSIC, which is, in my opinion, off the hook cool, especially because the main character is a singer/songwriter. So yeah.

If you're a fan of happily ever after stories that are steamy without being explicit, I definitely think this is one to add to your collection.

Katja Stoltz is a risk-taking singer-songwriter hoping to make it in the indie music scene in Dresden, Germany. Micah Sturm's a brooding uptown banker on a quest. Driven to the streets, Katja is picked up by Micah - but he doesn't want what she thinks he does. There’s an undeniable attraction between them, a gravitational pull they both struggle to resist. Katja knows she mustn’t fall in love with this handsome enigma. There’s something dark lurking beneath the surface. He could be dangerous. And even if her life isn’t on the line, her heart most definitely is.

 *not erotica - no explicit sex or coarse language

This series is an exciting collaboration between Lee Strauss as an Indie Author and several very talented Indie Singer-Songwriters. Four original songs produced by Norm Strauss are featured in Sun & Moon and are performed by award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Kim McMechan. MP3 links are included at the end. Check out the music video!

All the songs from the Minstrel Series can be found at Bandcamp. The Minstrel Series also has its own Facebook page. Go Like it to follow all the upcoming Minstrel Series news! Pre- orders now available at the pre-release price of 2.99! (Price goes up after launch) itunes | kobo | Barnes & Noble

Also, now available on Amazon.
Lee is giving away prizes to celebrate the upcoming launch of Sun & Moon. 

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card, MP3s of all four songs featured on Sun & Moon, and a 12 month calendar from Dresden, Germany featuring many of the settings found in Sun & Moon.

Dresden, Germany

One More Giveaway:

Just because you read about it here, Lee has graciously offered to give away one e-copy of her book East of Eden to one of my readers. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post. Something along the lines of, "Please enter me," or, "Count me in," or something else that tells me you'd like to be considered for the prize. Be sure to include your email address. If I can reply to your comment and have it arrive in your inbox, that works too, as long as I can track down my winner. (And by that I mean I don't want to have to employ the help of the NSA to find you.) If you follow my author page on FB, make sure to mention that as well, and I'll give you an extra entry. (And yes, I will be checking.)  

You have until midnight, central time, on Saturday, February 1st. The winner will be notified via email and announced here next week. (I don't usually do a big announcement for prize winners here, but for this one, I will.)

**UPDATE** This contest has changed. First, due to East of Eden being offered free on Kindle this past week, Lee has offered to send the winner their choice of one of her ebooks. Also, since I had some unexpected distractions come up last week, I'm extending the contest deadline to midnight, February 14th, 2014. Valentines Day, because everyone could use a little more romance in our lives, right? Good luck!

About Lee Strauss: 

Lee Strauss writes romantic mixed genres set in the past, present and future for YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff as Elle Strauss. She divides her time between BC, Canada and Dresden, Germany, and enjoys drinking coffee and eating chocolate in both places. Find out more at www.ellestraussbooks.com.

Social Media Links:
The Minstrel Series Facebook page

Lee Strauss Facebook author page

Twitter: @elle_strauss

Pinterest

Blog: www.ellestraussbooks.com

YouTube channel

Book Review: "Agent In Old Lace" by Tristi Pinkston

By Nichole Giles

About the book:

Shannon Tanner has it all, a perfect family, perfect job, perfect boyfriend—or so she thinks. What Shannon doesn’t know is that her boyfriend, Mark, is stealing money from her father and making money doing it. When Shannon learns Mark’s secret, he turns on her, and Shannon’s life abruptly goes from perfect to perilous.

In an effort to protect Shannon, the FBI assigns their only female agent to go undercover as her personal bodyguard. But when the agent gets injured the day before the assignment, they turn to the next best thing: their top agent, Rick Holden—in a dress.

Life seems safe again for Shannon with Rick by her side and Mark apparently gone for good. Then Shannon gets word that her best friend has been kidnapped, and it becomes clear that Mark isn’t going to stop any time soon. Shannon realizes the only way to save herself and her friend—and stop Mark once and for all—is by sending Rick, her only source of protection, away. Can Rick save Shannon before it’s too late?

My Take:

I have to be honest. This is not my first experience with a Tristi Pinkston book. And while her only other published novels are historical fiction, the switch from historical to humorous romantic suspense seemed like a natural transition to me. That might sound crazy, unless you know Tristi personally. She just has that many facets—humor being a prominent, shiny one for her.

From the first line of the book, Tristi had me hooked. “Shannon Tanner felt as though she’d stepped into a Fortune 500 magazine…” And the story takes off from there, launching right into the main conflict—Shannon’s seemingly perfect boyfriend gone a little postal and throwing all sense of religion out the window by trying to murder Shannon and keep millions of dollars stolen from her father. In steps the hunky FBI agent, Rick Holden—and well, you’re going to have to read to know the rest. I’ll give you a hint, though…the plan involves pantyhose, a wig, and lipstick—but not for Shannon.

Tristi delivers romantic suspense with a humorous twist in this not-so-classic thriller. It was a delightful read, one that kept me up—on the edge of my seat, or, okay, bed—until three a.m. so I could get to the conclusion.

More honesty: I was one of the lucky people who got to read this book before it went to print. (Look for my name in the acknowledgements!) I loved it the first time I read it (yep, that was the three a.m. time) and the second time—bound and covered—as well. This is one of those books you can read over and over again and enjoy even more each time.

“Agent in Old Lace” rates a five out of five on Nichole’s Diamond Scale.

To purchase your copy of “Agent in Old Lace” by Tristi Pinkston, check out your local Deseret Book, or click here.

To learn more about the author, click here.

INSIDER TIP: Tristi will be launching another book this October. “Secret Sisters” is the first in a series, and a definite MUST HAVE. Don’t miss Tristi’s next book—it’s absolutely hilarious!