Daddy's Girl by J.M. Kelley (Author Guest Post / Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Goddess Fish Promotions, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Daddy's Girl by author J.M. Kelley!

Author Guest Post

A Day In My Writing Life

(AKA The Rare Day Off I Can Attempt Writing)

1. Alarm goes off at 8 a.m.
2. I hit snooze.
3. Again. Snooze.
4. 10 a.m. Awakened by the deafening silence of having hit the snooze so many times that it gives up on you.
5. Laundromat time.
6. Sit in car at Laundromat, hunched over laptop that you can’t see because the sun’s glare is in your eyes.
7. Check Facebook.
8. Email check.
9. 11:30ish. Lulu text. Respond. Get distracted by Angry Birds.
10. Take unfolded laundry home. Dump in corner, convinced you’ll fold them shortly. You won’t.
11. Peek at open document on laptop. Type a line. Delete it because it’s terrible, after all.
12. Afternoon news on television. Hey, something important might have happened overnight. Gotta stay current-affairs-savvy.
13. Go to lake. Glare at strangers crowding the dock you want to utilize for afternoon writing.
14. Find someone you know at lake, waste six hours aimlessly chatting and watching his fishing pole for sudden twitching.
15. Go home. Eat something after you realize your stomach has been hurting all day because you forgot to eat.
16. Get text from Lulu. Lie, when she asks if you got any good writing in.
17. Chat time. AIM is the ultimate time-suck.
18. 11 p.m. news. Something important might have happened while you were at the lake.
19. 12 a.m. snack. Usually involving chips, cookies, a pickle, and some Frosted Flakes.
20. Stand on scale. Lament your weight gain and wonder why the heck you keep packing on the pounds.
21. Go get a sandwich.
22. 2 a.m. Great idea for the story! Type it out as fast as possible.
23. 3:30 a.m. Look up, realize you work in four hours, go to bed.
24. Lie in bed and stare up at ceiling, wishing there were more hours in the day so you could devote more time to goofing off. Err…writing.
25. 6 a.m. Wake up, bitter, grumpy, and you just don’t know why.

About The Author

Three years ago, native Pennsylvanian J.M. Kelley packed her bags and moved south. Now, the wannabe Carolina Girl can’t speak a single sentence without adding the word y’all at the end of it, and regards a blast of snow flurries as a doomsday-level event. When the day job allows, and when she can pull herself away from George Takei’s Facebook fanpage, she likes to go on writing jaunts to her favorite lake, or a local coffee shop with delicious shakes and questionable Wi-Fi connections.

J.M. Kelley is a proud recipient of a Carrie McCray Memorial Literary award, and is a member of The South Carolina Writers Workshop and Romance Writers of America (PAN). Readers interested in more information may visit her website at www.jmkelleywrites.com.


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Daddy's Girl by J.M. Kelley ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Goddess Fish Promotions

Book Review

Daddy's Girl by J.M. Kelley

Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press

Publication Date: January 27, 2013 e-Book / May 21, 2013 paperback

Format: Paperback - 304 pages / eBook- 258 pages / Kindle - 1022 KB / Nook - 875 KB

ISBN: 162237150X

ASIN: B00B76P58S

Genre: Women's Fiction 

BUY THE BOOK: Daddy's Girl

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PUBLISHER: TURQUOISE MORNING PRESS

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Book Description:

Sometimes, returning home isn’t about confronting your past; it’s about discovering your future.

Janie McGee, the black sheep of her family, is free-spirited, uninhibited, and never one to stay in the same place for too long. When Janie learns her father, Joe, is gravely ill, she reluctantly returns home to rural Pennsylvania to care for him. Joe’s neighbor, David Harris, sports a pocket protector, collects coins, and is addicted to Antiques Roadshow. Everything about him rubs Janie the wrong way, from his nerdy wardrobe to his enviable friendship with Joe. And to make matters worse, her father thinks they’re perfect for each other, proof positive of how little Joe knows his own daughter…or so Janie thinks.

A shared devotion to the elder McGee begins to close the gulf between Janie and David, but a burgeoning romance opens the door to new problems and unexpected consequences neither could foresee. Joe, however, remains steadfast in his resolve to show Janie that Daddy knows what’s best for his little girl. Can Janie finally open her heart to David while watching the first man she ever truly loved fade away?


Book Excerpt:

Before he even opened the door, David knew something was off. Late night visitors, in his experience, rarely brought good news. When the visitor turned out to be Janie, his heart leapt into his throat. “Janie,” he said when he threw open the door. “What’s wrong? Is Joe okay?”

“Yeah. He’s fine.” Relief hit him so hard he took a step back and leaned against the doorjamb.

“You scared me.”

“I didn’t mean to.” Janie rubbed her hands up and down her arms and looked over her shoulder. “It’s cold out here. Mind if I come in?”

“Oh. Right.” David gestured for Janie to enter. “Come inside.” He followed when she slid past him and walked into the living room.

“It’s late.” As if she needed to tell him. The atomic clock on the wall, a Christmas gift from his mother, showed the time at almost two in the morning. Janie stood in the middle of the room and focused her gaze on the bookcase in the corner. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“I was reading. A little too wired to sleep, I guess.” David moved up behind her and raised a tentative hand to her shoulder. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”

The sound of his voice jolted her out of her thoughts and she jerked her head toward him. Her movements were stunted. Wooden. “Ever have one of those moments when you’re convinced you may float away, and no matter what you do, you can’t keep yourself grounded? And you need to hang on tight to something until the sensation passes?”

Whatever was going on, he thought, she was not in a good place. David gently spun Janie toward him and gazed at her. “Tell me what you need from me.”

Janie closed her eyes and lowered her forehead to David’s shoulder. “Ground me, David,” she whispered and laid her hand on his chest.

My Book Review:

Daddy knows what's best for his little girl ...

Daddy's Girl is a wonderful story about reconnecting with family and finding love. Author J.M. Kelley weaves an emotional tale written in the third person narrative that follows the journey of Janie McGee, a free spirited artist, who returns to her hometown to reconnect with her estranged family when her father Joe becomes terminally ill. As the black sheep of the family, Janie is unwillingly thrust into the role as her father's caregiver, a role that she is not prepared for nor one that is easy to accept. As Janie struggles to rebuild her relationship with her dad and older sister Colleen, she watches the close relationship that Joe has with his nerdy neighbor David Harris. When Joe's illness progresses, Janie reaches out to David for strength and comfort, and along the way discovers that daddy really does know what's best for his little girl when they find themselves falling in love.

This is a heartwarming yet also heartbreaking story that takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride as they follow the complicated family dynamic of the McGee family as they work towards reconnecting while also dealing with the progression of the father's terminal illness. Author J.M. Kelley weaves a realistic tale that delves into the complications within a family dynamic, and how a devastating terminal illness can bring them back together to reconnect and strengthen the family bond. You can't help but become drawn into the McGee family's story, as their family trials and tribulations unfold, they discover the depth of forgiveness and the undying power of family love. I also loved that the author woven in the story of a man and woman discovering love along with all its complications. This is a story that will make you laugh, smile and cry, it will make you think about your own family and love relationships.

With a realistic cast of characters who endear themselves into the reader's heart; engaging dialogue and emotional interactions; and a passionate two-fold storyline about family relationships and finding true love; Daddy's Girl is a truly wonderful story that will tug at the heartstrings and resonate with you for a long time.


RATING: 5 STARS *****

Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway

Win A Gift Basket Of Goodies:

$25 Amazon Gift Card 

&

Signed Copy of Foreign Affairs - Romance Anthology

By Turquoise Morning Press

Author J.M. Kelley will be awarding a gift basket of some of the author's favorite things, including a $25 gift card from Amazon and a signed copy of the Foreign Affairs - Romance Anthology from Turquoise Morning Press to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment on each tour stop; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-book-tour-daddys-girl-by-jm.html

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Daddy's Girl by J.M. Kelley ~ Virtual Book Tour Page

Tour Schedule:

5/27/2013 Long and Short Reviews
5/28/2013 Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
5/29/2013 Christy McKee Writes for Women in the Sweet Spot of Life
5/30/2013 Book 'Em North Carolina
5/30/2013 SECOND STOP Writers and Authors
5/31/2013 Beyond My Writing Space
6/3/2013 Farm Girl Books
6/3/2013 SECOND STOP MeganJohnsInvites
6/4/2013 The Write to Read
6/5/2013 Andi's Book Reviews
6/6/2013 Black Velvet Seductions Readers Blog
6/7/2013 Bunny's Review
6/10/2013 Enjoying the Unique Flavors of Life
6/11/2013 Romancing the Book
6/12/2013 Sexy Adventures, Passionate Tales
6/12/2013 SECOND STOP House Millar
6/13/2013 Chris Redding Author
6/14/2013 LizaOConnor
6/17/2013 Rogue's Angels
6/18/2013 Loose the Hounds
6/18/2013 SECOND STOP Full Moon Dreaming
6/19/2013 Wicked Readings by Tawania
6/19/2013 SECOND STOP Jersey Girl Book Reviews
6/20/2013 A Chick Who Reads
6/21/2013 Illustrious Illusions
6/24/2013 My Devotional Thoughts
6/25/2013 Harlie's Books
6/26/2013 Reviews by Crystal
6/27/2013 JM Stewart, Contemporary Romance Author
6/28/2013 You Gotta Read Reviews

Crime & Passion by Chantel Rhondeau (Author Guest Post / Book Review)

In association with Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Crime & Passion by author Chantel Rhondeau!

Author Guest Post

Chasing Tough Dreams

Motivation is a tricky beast. When life throws tough stuff at us, it’s easy to give up, to move on to something easier. Although needing to keep motivation high applies to many situations, I often get asked how I keep motivated to continue writing. Being a self-published author, it’s not as though I have a publisher and a strict deadline. I’m my own taskmistress. However, I’ve learned to be tough on myself, because that is the only way to accomplish things.

In my day job, I’m a medical transcriptionist and I am only paid for the work I get done, so self-motivation has always been important. I set a goal every day of how much work I need to get done, and then race to do better than I did the day before. I’ve been working as a medical transcriptionist for ten years, so when I started writing fiction seven years ago, I already had knowledge of what it took to push myself to complete projects.

That’s not to say it’s always easy. My first book, Always & Forever, took quite some time to write because it was about abuse and healing from that, and some scenes were so emotional for me that it took some time to recover. Crime & Passion also had many emotional scenes, but it is a different tone and also a mystery. I had no motivation problems with it because I couldn’t wait to figure out what was going on in the mystery and who the actual ‘bad guy’ was (I don’t pre-plot, so this was a surprise to me).

My current work in progress presents more problems. I’m starting over on it for the third time (which means I’ve thrown away 40,000 words in total). When it’s that hard, part of me whispers, “Give up, do something else.” My muse pitches ideas for newer, easier stories. However, I really believe in this project and I know it can be wonderful. If all things in life were easy, we’d all be great at everything. It’s time to dig in with this book, set some goals, and the most important element, believe in myself.

Insecurities kill motivation, no matter what you’re trying to do. My most favorite quote ever is from Audrey Hepburn – “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible.’” I try to live my life this way. When things look the bleakest, I tell myself that I can do it, if I want it bad enough. Giving up is very rarely an option for me. When I compare my challenges to other people’s, I’m so blessed in my life with my family, friends, great readers who I love chatting with—I can’t let myself give up. People count on me to deliver what I promised with my fiction writing, same as my boss counts on me in my transcription job. I suppose being a people pleaser helps my motivation.

Optimism is key for me. Sometimes life gets us down. Bad things happen, we get overwhelmed, and we want to give up. The trick is to look for the silver lining in any situation. Failure is a part of life, but anything worth having is worth working for. To stay motivated, believe in yourself and know that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. I believe persistence is the key to getting whatever we want. That knowledge keeps me motivated to chase my dreams.

Always remember, nothing’s impossible!

About The Author

Chantel Rhondeau once thought a great mystery or fantasy book with strong romantic themes was the highest level of reading bliss. After reading her first romantic suspense novel, she never looked back. Before long, the need to create her own stories took over. She spends her daytime in the clinical profession of medical transcriptionist, but her passion is in the blissful hours she spends with her characters in the evenings.

Chantel lives in the western United States. When she isn’t writing, she loves playing cards with her family, bowling, or snuggling with her lazy kitties.


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Crime & Passion by Chantel Rhondeau ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours

Book Review

Crime & Passion by Chantel Rhondeau

Publisher: Self Independent Publishing

Publication Date: March 11, 2013

Format: Paperback - 324 pages / Kindle - 591 KB / Nook - 2 MB

ISBN: 1482547473

ASIN: B00BT71C0U

Genre: Romantic Suspense 

BUY THE BOOK: Crime & Passion

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

Book Description:

A decorated police officer, more intent on justice than following the letter of the law, lands in trouble when a schoolteacher finds a dead body on the beach. 

Officer Donovan Andrews knows how to have a good time—ask any woman in town. But when it comes to men abusing their wives or children, Donovan takes it upon himself to make them regret it.

Madeline Scott is unlucky in love. All she wants is a quiet place to heal, away from cheating, womanizing men. However, her life is far from peaceful once she stumbles across the body and witnesses someone fleeing the scene.

Terror spreads in Pleasant View when the small community hears a killer is on the loose. All evidence points to Donovan, and he realizes someone is trying to frame him. When troubling suspicions from his past surface, even fellow officers believe he’s guilty. Madeline might be the only person who can clear his name, but first he has to win her trust.

The body count rises and no one is safe. The murderer makes it clear Madeline is next. Soon, Donovan’s whole world is focused on protecting her and keeping himself out of prison. The more time he spends with her, the harder it is to fight his growing attraction. Since she’s been burned by love, convincing Madeline he’s interested in something more than hot sex may prove harder than keeping her alive.


Book Excerpt:

Brandon grabbed her around the waist before she could turn. “At least give me a proper kiss goodnight.”

Madeline shoved him away from her, irritated by his aggression. She had known it was a bad idea to go out with him, but she’d been upset to learn the truth about Donovan and made a rash decision. “I’m sorry if you expected more, but that’s not happening tonight.”

Footsteps sounded in the hallway behind her. At least the little gossips would be able to spread around the fact that she didn’t let every stray man into her apartment. Though apparently having Donovan there before did enough damage to her reputation.

“Come on,” Brandon begged in a low voice. “Just one little kiss?”

“I think you should leave,” she said. “Goodnight, Brandon.”

Suddenly, Madeline felt a presence behind her as someone loomed over her shoulder. She knew who it was without looking. A delightful shiver passed through her as the heat from his body pressing against her back elevated her pulse.

“I think the lady wants you to leave,” Donovan said, his breath puffing against her neck. “Looks like the date’s over.”

No matter what her betraying body wanted her to do, Madeline refused to melt against Donovan. She stiffened her spine and turned the key in the lock, opening the door and stepping inside. She looked at the two men facing off against one another on her doorstep.

“Why are you here, Donovan?” she asked. “Did you have to leave the restaurant because they didn’t have a sippy cup for your date?”

Brandon laughed. “I think you’re the one who’s not wanted here.”

Donovan glared at Brandon. “I’m here on official business, and I do believe Maddie asked you to leave.”

“My name is Madeline!”

Memories of her father came crashing in. He’d lovingly called her Maddie McFatty her whole life, never knowing how much her weight bothered her, or how it crushed her when he said that. She worked hard to lose the extra weight once she reached adulthood, but the breakup with Cameron had not been easy.

Her mom’s life theory was ‘chocolate cake solves all problems.’ Madeline had solved her problems to the tune of twenty extra pounds and only managed to work ten of those off so far. Did Donovan see a fat girl when he looked at her?

Donovan was staring at her, and Madeline realized he had spoken to her. “What did you say?”

“I need to talk to you about some things. Can I come in?”

Uncertainty gripped her. If he only wanted to scold her again about her dating habits, she didn’t want to deal with that.

“It’s about the case,” he said when she hesitated.

“It’ll have to be quick.” Madeline stepped back and swept her arm toward the living room, indicating he should go there.

“Wait,” Brandon protested. “He gets to come in?”

Donovan stepped past Madeline, a smirk on his face as he headed for the living room.

My Book Review:

Thirty-three year old Madeline Scott has moved from her childhood home in Utah to the small coastal town of Pleasant View, California after calling off her wedding when she discovers her fiance in bed with her Maid of Honor. Seeking peace and quiet, and a time to heal, Madeline loves to walk the beach ... but her life is once again turned upside down when she discovers a man's dead body on the beach and sees the killer jogging away from the murder scene.

Forty-Two year old Pleasant View Police Officer Donovan Andrews is the first to respond to the murder scene. When he recognizes the dead man's face, he knows that the murder will cause him trouble. He has a problem with men who abuse their wives and children, and it looks like his past has caught up with him as someone frames him for the murder. Donovan is known as the town's womanizer, he is not the marrying type, and has cycled through every available women in town, including the Police Chief's daughter.

When Madeline and Donovan meet there is mutual attraction, but Madeline has trust issues and avoids dating men after her failed wedding. Donovan's player reputation doesn't exactly help him woo Madeline, but when he is framed for the murder of Frank Johnson, a known domestic abuser, Madeline comes to Donovan's defense. When a second murder occurs and Madeline becomes the next target for the killer, Donovan will do anything to protect her, and together they search for the real killer while learning to trust each other and fall in love.

In Crime & Passion, author Chantel Rhondeau weaves a riveting and dramatic suspense story written in the third person narrative that interweaves murder, mystery and romance. This fast paced whodunit captivates the reader's attention from the beginning, and leads them on a thrilling adventure along with Madeline and Donovan as they search for the real killer. It is a dramatic action packed story full of suspenseful and romantic twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing who the real killer is among a town full of suspects, all the while watching as Madeline and Donovan navigate the murky waters of building a love relationship.

I loved that the author interweaves the murder mystery with a love story, she engages the readers with a balance of both that flows seamlessly throughout the story. I really enjoyed Madeline and Donovan's banter and romantic development, it was sassy, flirty, passionate, and down right humorous. I loved that the love story featured a woman who has been previously burned in love and has to learn to trust again, while the man has to overcome his troubled past and womanizing ways in order to find true love. As a huge fan of suspenseful murder mysteries, I really enjoyed how the author engaged me to guess who the real killer is with an intriguing list of suspects, and the riveting twists and turns kept me on my toes until the conclusion.

With an intriguing cast of characters; witty dialogues; suspenseful and dramatic interactions; and a two-fold storyline that features a richly detailed and descriptive murder mystery and passionate tale of finding true love; Crime & Passion is one heck of an entertaining romantic suspense novel that lives up to its title.


RATING: 4 STARS ****

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

 Crime & Passion by Chantel Rhondeau ~ Virtual Book Tour Page

Tour Schedule:

June 17 – Chick Lit Plus – Review
June 18 – Samantha March – Q&A & Excerpt
June 19 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt
June 19 – Musings From an Addicted Reader – Review
June 20 – Keep Calm and Blog On – Review
June 21- Dr. Pepper Diva – Guest Post
June 24 – Storm Goddess Book Reviews – Review & Q&A

San Francisco Secrets by Greg Messel (Author Guest Post / Book Review)

In association with Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for San Francisco Secrets by author Greg Messel!

Author Guest Post

The Women of 1958

As I journey back into the 1950s to write my mystery series Last of the Seals, Deadly Plunge and San Francisco Secrets, the most striking change I notice is in the treatment of women.

It is a world that many younger readers may find difficult to believe once existed. What options were open to women in the 1950s as they hoped for a career or a chance to see the world before they "settled down?" "Settle down" was a euphemism in earlier eras to refer to the time in a young woman's life when she should shun the working world, get married and start having babies.

There is certainly nothing wrong with women getting married and raising children. However, in 1958, it was "either or" not both. In the world of my novels, I tried to make the character of TWA stewardess Amelia Ryan, reflective of the narrow opportunities for women in the 1950s.

I found an old job application for stewardesses from the 1950s. The requirements show how far we have come as a society and specifically how far women have come in their quest for equality in the work place.

Here is a laundry list of the requirements for stewardesses. They are:
Appearance: Height and weight proportionate
Attractive ("just below Hollywood") Standards
Gender: Female
Martial Status: Single, not divorced, separated or widowed.
Race: White
Age: 21 to 26 years old
Education: Registered nurse or two years of college
Height: Between 5 feet, 2 inches and 5 feet, 6 inches
Weight: 135 pounds maximum

I'm not sure how a woman is supposed to react to the qualification--"attractive, just below Hollywood standards." Is it a compliment or an insult to be told that you are "just below Hollywood standards?" It's astounding to think of a job application which would list the "qualifications" as "white, single, female, a range for height and of course, a weight restriction. The weight restriction was a sliding scale. For instance, the fictional character, Amelia Ryan is 5 feet four inches which means she could only weigh 125 pounds. If a stewardess shows up for a flight above weight, she is grounded.

The airlines wanted pretty young, single women to provide eye candy for their well-heeled passengers who flew--mostly affluent businessmen. Once a woman was over 26 or was married she was asked to resign.

That of course changed.

On February 11, 1958, Ruth Carol Taylor was hired by Mohawk Airlines and became the first African-American flight attendant in the United States. Ironically, despite her historic breaking of the racial restriction, Ruth's career ended just six months later due to another discriminatory barrier: she married and was dismissed by the airline. Incidentally, only stewardesses had the age restriction and the marriage ban. No other airline employees and especially pilots, were under the same type of requirements.

In my novel, stewardess Amelia Ryan falls in love with Sam Slater. They want to get married. But Amelia also loves her job. She has to choose between marriage and continuing as a stewardess. It was a great dilemma for her.

The glamorous world of stewardesses was one of the only avenues open to women in the 1950s to "see the world" and have a career. But it came at a great price.

In San Francisco Secrets another challenge rears it’s head for Amelia--sexual harassment.

A womanizing pilot, Mark Silver, is essentially Amelia’s boss and aggressively pursues her with unwanted sexual advances. There was no such term as “sexual harassment” in the 1950s. As she tried to fight off Capt. Silver, Amelia ponders the avenues she has to protect herself. There are basically none.

Amelia wonders if she goes to the airline to complain about Silver if it will cause her problems, not the pilot. She fears that when she complains about the “sexual harassment,” the airline will just say that “boys will be boys.” Stewardesses routinely had to evade grabby male passengers and the unwanted advances of pilots.

Sam is upset by the groping of Amelia and complains about her work environment saying that if anyone is attracted to my girlfriend they can “take a sample.”

It would be several years before the stewardesses unionized and stood up to the airline. There was a series of lawsuits that knocked down the discriminatory barriers for women.

About The Author

Greg Messel grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and now lives in Edmonds, Washington on the Puget Sound with his wife, Carol. San Francisco Secrets is his sixth novel and is the third in a new series of Sam Slater mystery novels. Greg has lived in Oregon, Washington, California, Wyoming and Utah and has always loved writing, including stints as a reporter, columnist and news editor for a daily newspaper.


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San Francisco Secrets by Greg Messel ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Pump Up Your Book!

San Francisco Secrets - Book Trailer

Book Review

San Francisco Secrets by Greg Messel

Book 3: Sam Slater Mystery Series

Publisher: Sunbreaks Publishing

Publication Date: April 22, 2013

Format: Paperback - 448 pages / Kindle - 1713 KB 

ISBN: 0985485949

ASIN: B00CHD1UAM

Genre: Historical Romance / Mystery - Suspense - Thriller

BUY THE BOOK: San Francisco Secrets

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BUY THE SERIES: A Sam Slater Mystery

Book 1: Last of the Seals

Book 2: Deadly Plunge

Book 3: San Francisco Secrets

AMAZON

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GOODREADS

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours.

Book Description:

Noted novelist and newspaper editor Edgar Watson Howe once said. “A man who can keep a secret may be wise but he is not half as wise as a man with no secrets to keep”.

As the spring of 1958 arrives in San Francisco, it seems that baseball player turned private eye, Sam Slater and his fiancée, TWA stewardess Amelia Ryan, are surrounded by people who have secrets.

A prominent doctor, John O’Dell is being blackmailed by someone who has discovered a dark secret from his past. When the private investigator trying to catch the blackmailer is murdered, Dr. O’Dell hires Sam Slater to try to pick up the pieces. Someone is playing for keeps and will do anything to protect their own secrets.

Meanwhile, Amelia begins her new job as an international stewardess which takes her on adventures to New York City, London, Paris and Rome. In hot pursuit is a womanizing older pilot who has his sights set on Amelia.

Their lives get even more complicated when a mysterious woman from Sam’s past returns.

Sam and Amelia’s relationship will be tested as they work together to solve the mystery on the foggy streets of San Francisco.


Book Excerpt:

CHAPTER 1
THE STASH
March 6, 1958

On a quiet sunny Thursday afternoon, a quaint, little Spanish-style bank on Macarthur Boulevard in Oakland was robbed.

Two career criminals, Lloyd Wells and Doug McAllister, who were down on their luck, were elated as they pulled off a big score and made their getaway towards San Francisco.

The small neighborhood bank, made of white stucco with a red tile roof, had minimal security provided by an ancient bank guard who seemed to be dozing when the robbers stormed in. In the middle of the afternoon, there were just a few old people putting some money in their passbook savings accounts or cashing their Social Security checks.

Wells and McAllister needed this score badly. They planned to grab their loot and head for the Reno area where McAllister had a small rundown house. The score at the bank would set them up for future exploits in Reno.

Wells was anxious to get out of the Bay Area where he had already had several run-ins with the law. The bank robbery went flawlessly. It was over in just a few minutes with the tellers quickly emptying their cash drawers into McAllister’s bag before the thieves fled.

After making a clean getaway from the bank in Oakland, the pair caught the on-ramp to the Bay Bridge and headed for San Francisco. They kept checking their rearview mirror but there was no one in pursuit, even though they expected a lot of heat after the robbery.

McAllister and Wells wanted to get as far away as possible until things cooled down a bit after the heist. Wells had a plan to stash most of the loot from the robbery and then come back later to retrieve it before they permanently relocated to Reno.

McAllister tried to do a quick count of their haul while Wells drove the car cautiously over the bridge into San Francisco. It all happened so quickly inside the bank, but to his astonishment, it looked like they might have gotten away with as much as $70,000.

Wells drove out to Ocean Beach near the Cliff House on the western edge of the city, where he had parked his light-blue and white 1953 Chevy. He pulled the stolen aqua-colored 1954 Ford into the parking lot by the beach.

The men emptied everything out of the Ford. Wells popped the trunk on his Chevy and retrieved a burlap bag. The men put their black masks, hats, gloves, and two bricks into the bag.

They inspected the interior of the stolen car one last time and then locked it. McAllister looked around and then threw the keys to the Ford as far as he could out onto the sand of Ocean Beach. Wells transferred the bag full of money into the Chevy. The two men got into the car and drove away slowly.

They drove north past the Cliff House on the roadway that snaked along the seaside heading toward the Presidio grounds.

“Pull over here,” McAllister said.

Wells complied. McAllister retrieved the burlap bag and walked to the edge of a cliff near China Beach that overlooked the Pacific Ocean. He gave the bag a few swings and then threw it as far as he could off the cliff. McAllister watched the bag create a large splash as it landed in the ocean below.

When McAllister returned to the car, Wells said, “Time to go visit uncle.”

The men then headed to a house on O’Farrell Street in the heart of San Francisco. Wells’ uncle, Andrew Griffiths, was 85 years old and lived in an old Victorian townhouse that appeared frozen in time.

Wells had always been very fond of his uncle, who had raised him after his troubled parents abandoned him. Andrew Griffiths thought of Lloyd Wells as the son he never had, but he knew in his heart that attempts to keep his nephew on the straight-and-narrow were largely in vain. Griffiths had stopped asking Lloyd about his activities. He had come to the sad conclusion that it was best if he didn’t want to know a lot of details about his nephew’s life.

Wells knew that his uncle’s health was beginning to fail and he was spending more and more time in bed. His uncle’s only child was a daughter, Yvonne, who lived in Vacaville near Sacramento.

As the men parked in front of Uncle Andrew’s house, Wells gave final instructions to his partner.

“When we get in there, I’ll go into the back of the house and keep my uncle busy. There are two high-backed overstuffed antique chairs with green upholstery by the front window,” Wells explained. “Take the bank money and stuff it in the bottom of the two chairs. Just take your pocketknife and carefully pry off the covering on the bottom of the chairs. Put the cash inside and reattach the cloth on the bottom of the chairs. Got it?”

“Got it,” McAllister replied.

“Just make sure the covering on the bottom of the chair is securely fastened so the wad of cash stays put. Put the cash in these paper bags and secure it to the frame of the chair.

“Understand?”

“Yeah, no sweat,” McAllister said.

“It’s important that no one suspects that there is anything stashed in the bottom of the chairs. Those chairs haven’t been moved for a hundred years, so it’s the perfect place to hide our money until we come back to San Francisco and get it. I just want to make sure no one gets wise about what’s in those chairs.”

“Okay. You’re sure you can keep your uncle occupied and he won’t hear me tinkering with the chairs?” 

“You could run a herd of cattle down my uncle’s hallway and he wouldn’t hear it. Just be quick about it and I’ll talk with him. I need to make sure he’s taken care of and I’ll explain that I’ll be out of town for a few weeks.”

“Sounds good. I’ll keep enough cash to get us through while we’re waiting for things to calm down,” McAllister replied.

“Right,” Wells responded. “Let’s get to work.”

My Book Review:

How far would you go to protect your secrets?

In San Francisco Secrets, the third book in the Sam Slater Mystery series, former baseball player turned private investigator Sam Slater is back with a new case to investigate. Sam and his fiancee, TWA stewardess Amelia Ryan are hired by prominent San Francisco Dr. John O'Dell, who is being blackmailed by someone who has discovered a dark secret from his past. Dr. O'Dell had initially hired another private investigator to solve the case, but he is murdered when he gets too close to the truth, and Sam is hired to pick up the pieces of the case. But secrets abound everywhere in San Francisco ... even Sam and Amelia have secrets that they protect ... and exposed secrets can be dangerous and deadly.

Author Greg Messel once again weaves another tale of romance, mystery and suspense set in 1958 San Francisco. Written in the third person narrative, the reader follows Sam and Amelia on their latest investigative case. In this riveting fast paced story, secrets protected and exposed are the key to solving the case of who is blackmailing Dr. O'Dell and the murder of the private investigator. But there is someone who will do anything to protect their own secrets, and Sam's discovery could have deadly results. Sam and Amelia's latest mystery adventure takes the reader on a thrilling ride with enough twists and turns that will keep them guessing. And if that isn't enough to whet your appetite, Sam and Amelia's relationship will be tested as they have their own secrets to deal with; in addition to the appearance of a mysterious woman from Sam's past; complications arise for Amelia when her new job as an international stewardess is put in jeopardy when a womanizing older pilot has set his sights on her!

Of the three books in the series, this book is my favorite as the focus on Sam and Amelia's relationship and past is more prominently explored. I loved the balance of mystery and romance that the author interweaves throughout the story. I was thoroughly fascinated with Ameila's portion of the story, and the late 1950s stewardess requirements and lifestyle.

San Francisco Secrets is rich in detail and vivid description of the authentic 1958 San Francisco time period. The author provides the reader with some really wonderful historical facts, statistics and pictures from that time period, you can't help but become captivated with the amount of interesting information that the author provides the reader throughout the story.

With a cast of characters who are interesting and draw the reader into their lives with their witty dialogue and dramatic interactions; and a riveting storyline that has enough intrigue, suspense, twist and turns, and a steamy romance that keeps the reader engaged and turning the pages, San Francisco Secrets is one heck of an entertaining romantic mystery novel.

San Francisco Secrets will captivate your imagination, and the mystery and amount of secrets will keep you guessing as you follow Sam and Amelia on their latest investigative adventure.

San Francisco Secrets is the third book in the Sam Slater Mystery Series, but can be read as a stand alone story. The author does reference characters and storyline plots from the other two books in the series, but he interweaves them so smoothly that the reader won't get lost or feel like they have missed anything. However, I would recommend that you follow the sequence of the books in the series, because once you have been drawn into Sam Slater's latest investigative adventures, you will be hooked and want to follow him onto his next adventure!


RATING: 4 STARS ****

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

San Francisco Secrets by Greg Messel ~ Virtual Book Tour Page

Tour Schedule:

Monday, June 3 – First Chapter Reveal at Pump up Your Book
Tuesday, June 4 – Interview at Straight From the Author’s Mouth
Wednesday, June 5 – Book Review at Kaisy Daisy’s Corner
Thursday, June 6 – Guest Blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner
Friday, June 7 – Book Review at Miki’s Hope
Monday, June 10 – Book Trailer of the Week at Pump Up Your Book
Monday, June 10 – First Chapter Reveal at Vic’s Media Room
Tuesday, June 11 – First Chapter Reveal at The Writer’s Life
Tuesday, June 11 – Book Trailer Reveal at Vic’s Media Room
Wednesday, June 12 – Guest Blogging at Vic’s Media Room
Thursday, June 13 – Book Featured at Examiner
Thursday, June 13 – Character Guest Post at Vic’s Media Room
Friday, June 14 – First Chapter Reveal at Beyond the Books
Friday, June 14 – Book Review at Vic’s Media Room
Monday, June 17 – Book Review & Guest Blogging at Jersey Girl Book Reviews
Tuesday, June 18 – First Chapter Reveal at Beauty But a Funny Girl
Wednesday, June 19 – Guest Blogging at Confessions of a Reader
Thursday, June 20 – Interview at Janna Shay’s Fair Play
Friday, June 21 – Book Review at Bless Their Hearts Mom
Monday, June 24 – First Chapter Reveal at Literarily Speaking
Thursday, June 27 – Character Guest Post at My Book Addiction and More
Friday, June 28 – Book Review at My Devotional Thoughts
Monday, July 1 – Book Review & Guest Blogging at From the TBR Pile
Tuesday, July 2 – Book Review at Mary’s Cup of Tea
Wednesday, July 3 – Guest Blogging at Paperback Pursuer
Friday, July 5 – Interview at The Dark Phantom
Monday, July 8 – Book Trailer Reveal at Beyond the Books
Monday, July 8 – Interview at Blogcritics Tuesday,
July 9 – First Chapter Reveal at Read My First Chapter
Wednesday, July 10 – First Chapter Reveal at Between the Covers
Thursday, July 11 – Book Review at Sara’s Organized Chaos
Friday, July 12 – Interview at Examiner
Monday, July 15 – First Chapter Reveal at As the Pages Turn
Tuesday, July 16 – Book Trailer Reveal at The Writer’s Life
Wednesday, July 17 – Book Feature at Authors & Readers Book Corner
Thursday, July 18 – Interview at Books Books the Magical Fruit
Friday, July 19 – Book Review at My Cozie Corner
Monday, July 22 – Book Trailer Reveal at If Books Could Talk
Thursday, July 25 – Book Review at The Self-Taught Cook
Friday, July 26 – Release Day Diva Facebook Event
Friday, July 26 – First Chapter Reveal at I’m Shelfish

Mismatch by Nana Malone (Book Review)

Mismatch by Nana Malone

Book 2: Love Match series

Publisher: Self Independent Publisher

Publication Date: May 21, 2013

Format: Paperback - 232 pages / Kindle - 416 KB / Nook - 962 KB

ISBN: 1489535799

ASIN: B00CV2D4HQ

Genre: Romantic Comedy / Chick Lit / Women's Fiction

BUY THE BOOK: Mismatch

ALL ROMANCE eBOOK

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

iTUNES

KOBO

SMASHWORDS

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BUY THE SERIES: Love Match

Book 1: Game, Set, Match

Book 2: Mismatch

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

GOODREADS

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author via Reading Addiction Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description:

​Spunky artist manager, Jessica Stanton, isn’t looking for love. She’s looking for a savior. When a business rival steals yet another of her rising stars, she’s in danger of losing everything she’s worked so hard for…and the only person who can save her fledgling business is the one man she shouldn’t want.

Art authenticator, Eli Marks, doesn’t have time for love. He’s too busy saving his brother from the demons of his drug addicted past. For the past ten years he’s cultivated a façade to keep his distance from everyone else. But when a string of high-profile art forgeries threatens the security of the only family he has left, he must turn for help to a woman who breaks through his carefully constructed façade every time she’s near.

Will Jessica and Eli save each other? Or will secrets and lies stop them from finding true love?


Book Excerpt:

Jessica shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of the strange man’s jade green gaze. Tsk Tsk Jessica, you’re just horny from watching sex d'art. Poindexter isn't even my type. At least that’s what she told herself. But she was powerless to tear her gaze away from his. With dark hair to contrast the jade green eyes, and an angled jaw to make male models jealous, he was handsome enough to draw any woman's attention.

But he wasn’t her style at all. From the looks of him, he was way too buttoned up. His suit, though exquisitely tailored, was extremely conservative. Same for his shoes—expensive but bland. He screamed, I’m repressed. Except for his hair. Touching his collar and curling at the ends, it was the only non-conservative part about him. She preferred tattooed, too-skinny guitarist types. She was willing to bet Poindexter didn’t have a tat anywhere.

All her misgivings aside, she couldn't tear her gaze from his as she pushed her way toward the bar. He looked like an accountant. No, strike that, too polished. Like a Wall Street type, except he didn't have the air of smarm. Maybe it was his too-direct gaze. There was nothing hidden in his eyes. Just interest and lust. And it made the hairs on her arms stand up. God, what was he doing staring at her? The uptight type generally preferred too-thin models with no hips. Oh, and normal. They veered away from alternative types.

As Jessica pushed through the crowd, his gaze followed as if he were silently drawing her to him, willing her to come to him. The way he insolently leaned against the bar made him even more appealing. When he said something to the bartender, she glanced at his companion. Also handsome, darker, more olive-toned skin, bulkier, too.

The green-eyed devil had the build of someone who worked out for the pure purpose of staying in shape, not to bulk up.

Jessica dragged in a breath to calm her racing heartbeat. She wasn't here for this. She was here for Samson Marks. Unfortunately, so was every other woman in the room. Some men, too. With everyone who wanted to talk to him, she’d already been waiting forty-five minutes, and she wasn’t interested in waiting any longer. She’d just leave her card with Gabe and try and track him down if he didn't call by Monday. She wasn’t letting this guy get away from her. If he could whip her into a sexual frenzy, he had something special.

When she momentarily lost sight of Poindexter, Jessica felt more like herself and less like a throbbing, heaving-bosomed mess. What the hell was wrong with her?

She finally made it to the end of the bar and made eye contact with the bartender. Over by the other end, she caught sight of her mystery man. She might be here to work, but what would it hurt to play a little? It had been a while. Okay, longer than a while considering the last two guys she'd dated she hadn’t even bothered sleeping with.

“What can I get you?”

“Are you Gabe?”

He grinned. “You want to bid on the piece sight unseen?”

She grinned back. “Nope.”

He frowned. “You here to tell me I got a kid out there or something? 'Cause I’m not particularly interested in hearing that.”

“That happen to you a lot?”

“You’d be surprised.”

She laughed. “Tonight’s your lucky night. I'm not here for that either. I need to get a message to Samson Marks.”

Gabe raised his eyebrows and nodded as if this wasn’t the first request of this type he'd had tonight.

“Yeah, what’s the message?”

She handed over her card with a note scrawled on the back. “I'm a manager. Tell him to call me.” She shrugged and glanced at Poindexter again. “You can tell him he's safe from me. I have something else entirely planned for tonight.”

Moving away from the end of the bar, Jessica spotted the guy in the suit again and made her approach.

“So are you going to stare all night, or were you ever going to come and talk to me?”

His lips twitched as he met her gaze. “Excuse me?”

Jessica raised a brow. “'Cause I gotta tell you, if you weren't so good looking, it would be borderline creepy.”

Poindexter barked a laugh. “Only borderline creepy?”

She shrugged as her eyes met his. “This is L.A. after all. There’s a whole different definition of creepy.”

A small smile tugged at his lips. “Do you always say what's on your mind?”

“I know it's a little odd for L.A., right? But I find it cuts through the bullshit.” She looked around. “Is that your friend?” She nodded in Mr. Italian Stallion wannabe’s direction. His bulky build and darker skin, combined with the gel he wore in his hair gave him a Jersey Shore effect.

The beefy guy grinned and his face transformed, making him look like a schoolboy with his first crush.

“I’m his only friend.”

“Well hello, friend.”

Friend smiled at her and said, “Hello, gorgeous. You going to cheer my friend up here? He’s in a bit of a mood.”

This was fun. Go figure. Since Ryan’s call, she’d been in freak out mode. This felt easy and natural. “Now why are you in a mood? There are a dozen women that are throwing you hungry eyes right now.”

He blinked as if her candor surprised him. “Too bad for them. I’m otherwise engaged.”

“Lucky bitch.” She grinned. “I’m appointing myself as your cheer up committee for the rest of the evening.”

There it was again. The corners of his lips twitched. If just a partial smile was enough to tantalize her, then what would it look like when this guy really grinned? Jessica pictured panties dropping in neighboring cities. 

“What, you mean to tell me you don’t have any friends here ready to rescue you from the creepy, staring guy?” His tone was teasing.

“I prefer to rescue myself.”

This time he did grin. And holy fuck, what a smile. Straight, even teeth. Eyes crinkling at the corners. Her own panties, if she’d been wearing any, would have started migrating south.

“You really will say anything, won’t you?”

So this was what flirting felt like; it had been so long since she’d bothered. Man, she missed it. Nothing like flirting to heighten the anticipation. “You never did answer my question.”

“What question was that?”

“Whether or not you were going to work up the courage to talk to me.”

He chuckled. “I was working my way up to it, but I figured you might be trouble.”

“You were right about that. Lucky for you, I believe in taking matters into my own hands. Now, do I have to lead too, or can you dance?” she asked as she tugged him to his feet. Music thrummed and vibrated through Jessica's entire body. His big, warm hand wrapped around hers, and she shivered in anticipation.

This was something she could hold onto. Something she could use to drum out the annoyance at her mother, the insecurities of her job. The loneliness over losing Izzy. All of it. She could use the anonymity on the dance floor to combat the feelings she wasn’t ready to confront.

Bodies of other dancers jostled her until she found a spot with enough space. Her partner looked unsure. She leaned in to make sure he heard her. “Relax, forget about them. All you need to do is concentrate on me.”

His intense green eyes focused on hers, and in a second of irrationality, she wanted to shrink from the feeling of intimacy. She didn’t even know his name, but felt like he could see deep inside her.

“Am I going to get a name out of you?” As he leaned in, his breath warmed her, and his stubbled chin rubbed against her temple.

She shivered. “Giving you my name would only ruin the spell.” And while he didn’t look the type, he was still club crawling in L.A.. He wasn’t likely to give his real name anyway, so why pretend?

His lips twitched in that sexy way that made her stomach flip.

God, being that handsome should be a sin. Jessica studied him, confused about her reaction to him. Buttoned-up was so not her thing. She preferred tats and piercings and some good old-fashioned hair dye. But this guy set all her receptors to come and get some. Worse, something about him made her want to spill her darkest secrets.

“And if I want to call you tomorrow?”

She shrugged, even as his large hand landed on her waist, drawing her hips into his. “That’s the thing about cheer up committees. You don’t want to overuse them. It affects their potency.”

His eyes traveled her body and heat flushed her whole body. “Somehow I doubt that.”

Jessica met his eyes again. Once more, electricity crackled between them, and again she shut down the connection by turning in his arms to dance. The DJ changed tracks to the latest bass-pumping song by a female rapper, and Jessica let her partner meld their bodies together, enjoying the feel of him around her. For a moment, she let herself relax and enjoy the music.

When he gently turned her to face him, she tried to resist, but then he smiled.

They were jostled again, and he took her hand to lead her through the throngs into the back lounge area. The bouncer at the door greeted him like an old friend and said something she couldn’t decipher. When they were let into the closed lounge area, the door shut, silencing the din from the club.

“What did you say to the bouncer to get us back here?”

“A magician never reveals his secrets.” He smiled again, and Jessica forgot her own name. “Besides, I wanted to be able to hear you. It was a little crazy out there. If you're going to be my personal cheer up committee, I'd rather it be quiet.”

Jessica chewed on her top lip and averted her gaze. He might look like Poindexter, but his thought process was right up her alley. “I couldn't have said it better myself.”

“I prefer it when I can see your eyes.”

She tried to avoid his gaze and swallowed around the lump in her throat. Intimacy was not on the menu tonight, at least not the emotional kind. If he kept insisting on seeing her and talking to her, he’d ruin her about-to-have-anonymous-sex buzz. And he was replacing it with something else that felt like nerves. She searched through her cache of awesome one-liners for a flippant quip but couldn’t think of one. The slow caress of his fingers at her lower back robbed her of the ability to think properly. Her instincts told her to bolt. Get out before he saw too much. Before he got a gander at her soul. Before he had the chance to run first.

She cleared her throat and made an effort to disengage. But he held her still. “You can run if you want to, but I have a feeling you want to find out if what you’re feeling is as combustible as you think it'll be.”

“I—” She froze when his head dipped down to hers. Even though her brain gave the command to bolt, her body rooted itself in his arms. His body heat wrapped around her like flames. His scent mingled with hers, and the combination of citrusy musk, spice, and flowers made a potent combination. She swayed into him, and she sensed his smile of triumph. Before his lips met hers, one of his big hands scooted to the top of her ass and tucked her body flush against his. She gasped as she felt the full length of his arousal throbbing and pulsing against her belly.

On the parting of her lips, his mouth covered hers.

My Book Review:

Mismatch is a sassy romantic comedy that has plenty of humor and steamy romance that will keep the reader thoroughly entertained.

Mismatch is the second book in the Love Match series that picks up where Game, Set, Match (book 1) left off, but this book focuses on Jessica Stanton. Set in trendy LA and written in the third person narrative, author Nana Malone weaves an engaging tale that follows the introduction and relationship development of two very different people: Jessica Stanton and Eli Marks.

Jessica Stanton is an artist / entertainment manager who is trying to build up her struggling art gallery and artist management company. She's too focused on her businesses to go looking for love.

Eli Marks is an expert art authenticator who consults for the FBI on art forgery cases. Between his work and keeping Samson, his twin artist brother in recovery and walking the straight path, he doesn't have time for love.

When Jessica goes to a nightclub to check out Samson's show and recruit him for her artist management company, she meets Eli, who is not her usual type of guy: he is too conservative, she likes bad boys with tats and piercings. Instant mutual attraction leads to an intended one night stand that becomes anything but that, turning this mismatched couple's world upside down with a chance of finding true love!

This was such a fun story to read! Author Nana Malone weaves a story that has sassy humor, mystery and hot sex and passionate romance scenes interwoven into one heck of an entertaining read. Jessica and Eli are very different people, a mismatch that find themselves undeniably attracted to each other. Jessica is a reformed misfit whose love of tats, piercings and colored wigs had her marching to her own beat. Eli is a conservative and serious type of guy that has always been his twin brother's protector. Both have secrets and walls that they've never let anyone breakdown, that is until they meet each other. With a high profile case of art forgeries and deception comes threats ... can Eli protect his brother and still find true love with Jessica?

I loved both Jessica and Eli, their chemistry was palpable and their humorous dialogue and sensual interactions kept me engaged and wanting more! Jessica is a saucy, in-your-face, tell-it-like-it-is woman, I found myself immediately liking her. As for Eli, he's simply yummy .... hot, hot, hot! I loved the development of their relationship, and I really enjoyed how the storyline alternated between their perspectives. It is so easy to get caught up in their story and the art forgery case, that before you know it the story ends leaving you wanting more!

With a quirky realistic cast of characters who will keep you in stitches with their dialogue and interactions; a richly detailed setting and description of the art industry; and an engaging storyline that mixes romance and mystery; Mismatch is an enjoyable contemporary romantic comedy that will put a smile on your face.

Even though I did not read the first book in the series, I feel that Mismatch can be a stand alone read, but to do it justice read the books in order. I definitely will go back and read the first book, and I look forward to reading more books from this author. If you want a fast paced, fun, sassy, humorous and sexy story, then Mismatch is a must read, you won't be disappointed.

RATING: 4 STARS ****

About The Author

Nana Malone's love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin. It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She's been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.

Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, in the meantime Nana works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is. Though, until that ninja job comes through, you'll find her acting out scenes for hubby, baby and puppy while catching up on her favorite reality television shows in sunny San Diego


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