Excerpt & Giveaway: CHARMING THE DUKE by Holly Bush

*Holly will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Title: Charming the Duke
Author: Holly Bush
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: March 18, 2014

1849 . . . Matilda Sheldon, the middle daughter of the sixth Earl of Bisset, has never been interested in the fashionable society events that so preoccupy her parents and siblings. Her loving, albeit, daft family cannot understand why. But Matilda has little use for silly rules and dramas. She would rather occupy her time with a worthwhile cause such as opening The Sheldon Home for Orphans, much to the chagrin of her mother and grandmother. They are quite certain a venture of this nature will discourage suitors. Matilda is quite certain that if suitors are discouraged it is because she is clever, plain, a bit clumsy, and inevitably compared to her beautiful sisters.

The Duke of Thornsby is in tight spot. After receiving the title on the death of his father, he discovers the inheritance is to be gifted elsewhere if he does not marry before his thirtieth birthday. Unfortunately, our man-about-town is embroiled in a scandal, not of his own making, and the marriage mamas won’t let any eligible misses anywhere near him. What’s a Duke to do? Get invited to a house party hosted by the notoriously absent-minded Earl of Bisset, who just happens to be Papa to some young ladies of marriageable age!

Thornsby finds himself fascinated, not with the two Sheldon debutantes actively seeking a husband, but rather with the ‘brown wren’ he first mistakes for a servant. Matilda is counting the hours until the house party ends when the necessity of conversing with the guests will be over, and ridiculously handsome men go far away. Can a worldly Duke convince a sensible girl to accept his court? Find out in Charming the Duke.

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday (25): ONLY WITH YOU by Lauren Layne

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.

This week’s spotlight is on:

 

ONLY WITH YOU by Lauren Layne

Release Date: July 29, 2014

Here’s the blurb from Lauren Layne’s Website:

Love is the Biggest Gamble of All . . . 

Cocktail waitress Sophie Dalton doesn’t exactly have a life plan. She’s perfectly happy being everyone’s favorite party girl. But when a Las Vegas bachelorette party goes awry and an uptight businessman mistakes Sophie for a prostitute . . . well, Sophie wonders if it’s time to reevaluate her priorities. Swearing off her thigh-high boots for good, Sophie slinks back home with damaged pride-and a jackpot of a hangover.

Yet what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay there. On a trip to Seattle to open a new office, Grayson Wyatt meets his latest employee-who turns out to be the same woman he recently called a hooker. Wealthy and gorgeous, Gray is a man used to getting what he wants. And it doesn’t take long to figure out that smart, sassy, sexy Sophie is everything he’s been looking for. As their late nights at the office turn into hot morning-afters, they realize their Vegas misunderstanding may lead to the real thing . . .

Guest Post & Giveaway: LIFE’S WHAT YOU MAKE IT by Theresa Troutman

Title: Life’s What You Make It (Love’s Great Adventure Series)
Author: Theresa Troutman
Genre: Mature Young Adult +16
Publisher: Indie Published
Publication Date: April 28, 2014
Cover by: James GoOnWrite.com
Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Barnes and Noble

 

“She’s everything I’m not and everything I want to be.”

Sebastian Iron’s life is spiraling out of control. Over the course of one week: Sebastian witnesses death, runs away with his best friend’s girl, gets kicked out of his English prep school, and is banished to America by his domineering mother to repeat his senior year of high school.

In America, Sebastian struggles to find self-discipline and a purpose to turn his life around. He meets Tess Hamilton, the only person to show him any kindness in his new school. Little does he know, she is the savior tutor hired by his mother to help him improve his grades. The two slowly begin to build a friendship.

As their friendship blossoms, Sebastian begins to have romantic feelings for Tess. She claims to only wants a plutonic relationship, but Sebastian feels the undeniable spark that sizzles between them every time they are together.

Forces beyond their control will either bring Sebastian and Tess closer together or tear them apart.

Will Sebastian return to his old habits or find the strength to be the person worthy of Tess’ love?

 

Guest Post, Review, Excerpts, & Giveaways: TWO DUKES AND A SCANDAL Book Tour

Girl meets Books is happy to host not one but three lovely historical romances from three lovely authors. We’ve got blurbs and excerpts from all three and a Guest Post from author Caroline Linden. Plus, check out my review of IT TAKES A SCANDAL.

*Avon is hosting a TOUR WIDE Rafflecopter Commenter Giveaway of Three Prize Packs including a piece of Custom Jewelry and Print Copies of Romances from each author.

Title: It Takes A Scandal
Author: Caroline Linden
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes

The second book in a deliciously sexy new series from USA Today bestselling and RITA award winning author Caroline Linden, in which an utterly shocking book–Fifty Shades of Grey for the Regency era– has all of London talking and gives more than one young miss a mind for scandal.

Sometimes it takes a scandal . . .
Abigail Weston has everything: beauty, wit, and one of the largest dowries in England. Her parents hope she’ll wed an earl. Abigail hopes for a man who wants her desperately and passionately. But the money seems to blind every man she meets-except one.

Sebastian Vane has nothing. He came home from war with a shattered leg to find his father mad and his inheritance gone. He’s not a fit suitor for anyone, let alone an heiress. But Abigail lights up his world like a comet, bright and beautiful and able to see him instead of his ruined reputation. And it might end happily ever after . . .

To reveal your heart’s desire

Until Benedict Lennox begins courting Abigail. Ben is everything Sebastian isn’t-wealthy, charming, heir to an earl. Sebastian won’t give up the only girl he’s ever loved without a fight, but Abigail must choose between the penniless gentleman who moves her heart, and the suitor who is everything her parents want.

 

Title: How To Lose A Duke in Ten Days
Author: Laura Lee Guhrke
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes

From USA Today bestselling author Laura Lee Guhrke comes the story of a bargain, a marriage of convenience…and the chance for love to last a lifetime

They had a deal…

From the moment she met the devil-may-care Duke of Margrave, Edie knew he could change her life. And when he agreed to her outrageous proposal of a marriage of convenience, she was transformed from ruined American heiress to English duchess. Five years later, she’s delighted with their arrangement, especially since her husband is living on another continent.

But deals are made to be broken…

By marrying an heiress, Stuart was able to pay his family’s enormous debts, and Edie’s terms that he leave England forever seemed a small price to pay. But when a brush with death impels him home, he decides it’s time for a real marriage with his luscious American bride, and he proposes a bold new bargain: ten days to win her willing kiss. But is ten days enough to win her heart?

 

Title: Redemption of the Duke
Author: Gayle Callen
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | iTunes

USA Today bestselling author Gayle Callen concludes her new series with a tale of generosity, passion, and the true kindness of the heart.

A duke who needs to be tamed…a lady who refuses to be rescued.

Adam Chamberlin was the third son of a duke, known for gambling binges and drunken nights. No one expected anything of him …until tragedy strikes. Now Adam is the new Duke of Rothford, determined to right the wrongs he’s done. Except a secret in his past means helping the one woman who doesn’t want his help at all…

It’s not every day that a duke introduces himself to a woman sitting by herself in Hyde Park. Faith Cooper is even more surprised when Adam offers her a position as a lady’s companion to his elderly aunt. Faith refuses to be beholden to a man again-certainly not this man, who both infuriates and attracts her. But with the simmering passion between them, will Faith surrender to forbidden desire?

 

Quote-tastic Monday (5): TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE by Jenny Han

 

QUOTE-TASTIC is hosted by Anna @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup.

Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that’s grabbed ya for one reason or another.

Everyone’s welcome to join in. Authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier!

Just grab the button and toss up your post 🙂 

Don’t have a blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.

 

TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE

by Jenny Han

 

 

Sunday Post (12)

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @
Caffeinated Book Reviewer. This meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~. It’s a chance to share News; a post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

 

Last Week on the blog

I still haven’t gotten to starting some of the memes/features that I had been planning to. I had a pretty busy schedule at work this week and TGIF was not TGIF for me as I was sick. I was barely able to post last Friday. That’s also the reason I wasn’t able to reply to comments and have my usual round of visits to other blogs. I am feeling better although not completely well but I’m getting there.

And despite the stomach flu that seemed to have found me, I was able to drag myself to attend the book signing of one of my favorite authors, Tahereh Mafi, when she came to Manila with Ransom Riggs and Veronica Rossi. I will be posting on that later this week.

 

Review: CONFESSIONS OF A ROYAL BRIDEGROOM by Vanessa Kelly

Title: Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom
Series: The Renegade Royals #2
Author: Vanessa Kelly
Publisher: Kensington Books – Zebra
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Format: eARC via Netgalley
Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | TBD

They are the Renegade Royals, illegitimate sons of the Royal Princes, each finding his rightful place in society–and the woman destined to be his perfect match. . .

Some men are born into scandal. Others pursue it with a passion. Griffin Steele, secret son of the Duke of Cumberland, is guilty on both counts. Yet somehow London’s most notorious scoundrel has been saddled with an abandoned baby boy–and with the unflappable, intriguing spinster summoned to nurse him. . .

Justine Brightmore may be a viscount’s niece, but she’s also a spy’s daughter, determined to safeguard the infant when his suspected royal parentage makes him a target. Yet how to protect herself from the rakish Griffin? Marriage might shield her reputation, but it can only imperil her heart, especially with a groom intent on delicious seduction. . .

“Has all the elements of my favorite novels–a bad boy hero, a spirited heroine, a dash of intrigue, and a sizzling romance. Put her on your auto-buy list; you won’t be disappointed.” –Shana Galen

Excerpt: TO CATCH A SPINSTER by Megan Bryce

*Get TO CATCH A SPINSTER for FREE during the Blitz!

 

Title: To Catch A Spinster
Author: Megan Bryce
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: June 2012
Buy Link: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Google Play

Come back to a time when manners are everything and rules are made to never be broken. Come back to a time when men are in charge and women do what they are told…

Yeah, that never happened.

Welcome to Megan Bryce’s Regencyland, where ladies with backbone get what they want. Where a woman can thumb her nose at rules and care little for convention, and yet somehow, unexpectedly and most reluctantly, find love.

To Catch A Spinster 

Olivia Blakesley, self-proclaimed spinster extraordinaire, is quite happy with her life. She has her studies and her duties, what need does she have of a husband? With five sisters married she knows the reality does not live up to the promise, and does not need to personally experiment with the state to know she would be ill-suited to it. However, she finds herself envious of at least one aspect of marriage. But to experience the physical side of marriage, one doesn’t need a husband, all one needs is the right man…

Nathaniel Jenkins knows his duty. Marry a young girl from a respectable family and father an heir, no matter how cold the endless parade of suitable girls leaves him. But a shocking proposal from a scholarly spinster leaves him wondering if unsuitable is just what he’s looking for. Can he convince his spinster that marriage is the greatest experiment of all?

Interview & Giveaway: CUTLASS by Ashley Nixon

* Cool prizes up for grabs (INTL). Check Rafflecopter below.

 

Book Details:

Title: Cutlass (Cutlass Series #1)
Author: Ashley Nixon
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Release Date: April 23, 2014
Buy Links: Amazon Paperback | Amazon Kindle

Notorious pirate Barren Reed has one thing on his mind: Revenge against the man who killed his father. So kidnapping his enemy’s fiance seems a perfect plan… until he actually does it. 

Larkin Lee is more than a pretty face and fiance to a powerful man. Her fierce personality is enough to make any pirate want to push her overboard.

But when the King of the Orient comes to Barren with a task–to find the Bloodstone, a powerful gem thought only to exist in legend, Barren sees another opportunity to destroy his enemy. Together, Barren, Larkin and a crew of pirates set off to find the stone, only to discover it caused the death of Barren’s own mother and Larkin’s, too. As his strongest allies turn into his greatest enemies, and the life of the girl he kidnapped becomes more important than he ever dreamed, Barren’s quest for revenge becomes a fight to save the Orient.

Throwback Thursday: Historical Romance Edition (24): THE SPYMASTER’S LADY by Joanna Bourne

Throwback Thursday: Historical Romance Edition is a meme hosted by Tin @ Love Saves the World and Mary @ Buried Under Romance where you get to feature historical romance novels published before October 3, 2008.

Visit Ki Pha @ Doing Some Reading and check out her pick for the week as well.

 

This week, I’m featuring Joanna Bourne.

   

The Spymaster’s Lady, published in January 2008