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Bloggers Help Paws with a Cause: Tara


Hello Everyone! We have a total of 59 blogs that have gotten together to help raise money for a great cause. There are going to be some awesome prizes up for grabs for people that donate money to the cause. Here is a little about the company that we are raising the money for:

 
Paws With A Cause® enhances the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities nationally through custom-trained Assistance Dogs.






PAWS® increases awareness of the rights and roles of Assistance Dog teams through education and advocacy. Founded in 1979, Paws With A Cause is dedicated to helping its clients who are challenged by many disabilities, such as Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Seizure Disorders, and Hearing Disorders to name just some. Each of our dogs are trained to meet the specific needs of our clients. Tasks may include opening and closing doors, picking up objects, pulling a wheelchair, turning lights on and off, and alerting a person to particular sounds like a telephone, doorbell, smoke detector and many others. Our dogs change lives by enhancing the independence of our clients. By just opening a door, a dog opens up the world for a person with a disability and your donations will go to making that happen. PAWS thanks you so much for your donation and allowing us to open more doors.
 
Paws With A Cause
4646 South Division
Wayland, MI 49348
 
How to donate:
2. Click on "Make a Donation"
3. Enter a amount you wish to donate. Everibbon will add a small fee to your donation for processing. My fee for donating $5.00 was .49 cents. So keep this in mind when deciding your donation amount. You will receive 1 entry into the giveaway for every $1 you donate.
4. In the box that says "on the behalf of" please put your name. This is the name that will be listed on the everibbon website so put a name you do not mind being visible to everyone. Do not check the box to make a anonymous donation because I will not be able to track your donation to enter you into the giveaways.

5. Next it will ask you for your credit or debit card information.
6. Then it will ask for your email address to send you a receipt. This is so that you can submit it for tax purposes.
7. Ta Da! Your all done making your donation. Now you need to contact Danielle to enter the giveaway.
8. Please email Danielle at
RomanceBookJunkiesDanielle@Yahoo.com with the name you used to donate your money. For example the name I used to donate on behalf of was Romance Book Junkies. Do not send me your name off your credit or debit card because I will not be able to see this. Along with the name you used please tell me how much you donated and if you live in the US or are International.
9. Your all done. Thank you for donating!

Warning: Do not try to email Danielle the name and donation amount of another person that is not yourself. If Danielle recieves more than one email with the same persons name and donation amount she will have to ask for your copy of the receipt from everibbon to verify that you are the correct winner. Thank you.
 
We will have 4 winners for the main giveaway.
We have 2 $65 gift certificates to any online book store.
Also we have 2 huge boxes of books and swag from Romance Book Junkies and Bitten by Paranormal Romance for US residents only.

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In addition, the wonderful Sparkle Abbey is generously contributing a signed copy of one of their Pampered Pets Mystery series books (winner's choice) to anyone who leaves me a comment on any of my Bloggers Help Paws with a Cause posts that they donated to this wonderful cause.

KittyKitty GetFluffy DesperateHousedogs
 
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This is the story of my Tara:
 





My angel kitty Sashi crossed the Rainbow Bridge on February 15, 2006. She was almost 17  years old, and had struggled with various health problems for a couple years prior. Her final illness and passing was a devastating loss for my family, and though the house was so empty without a cat, we allowed ourselves time to grieve.
 
After a year went by I started scouring the local Petsmart Adoption Center every couple weeks. A few caught my eye, but I knew I would know it when the right one came along. On May 15, 2007, I was scanning the cages when suddenly I just gasped. I saw her. The shelter had named the beautiful tortie Kelly; she had recently been picked up as a stray. I knew immediately that she was "the one". I went home and looked her up online, applied for her the next day and got the call that afternoon that I was approved. What fun it was to ready the house for a cat again!



I knew the name Kelly had to be changed. It just did not fit the most beautiful cat I had ever seen. I was stumped until my mother suggested Tara, because of our favorite movie Gone with the Wind. Tara the tortie...it was perfect!

On May 20th Tara came home. (I'll never forget how she hissed and growled at another cat in a cage on her way by as if to say "Ha ha...I'm going home and you're not!) She immediately made it hers. There was no fear or shyness; it's like she knew she was where she belonged. Now one thing I never knew was that torties are no ordinary cats. They are known for their "tortie-tude" and we soon discovered that Tara has it in spades! For the first several months she got herself into plenty of trouble before learning what was acceptable behavior, even managing to fall out the bathroom window 5 weeks after coming home. She despises all other cats, and we think she may have pushed the screen out trying to move a neighbor cat out of "her" yard. On another occasion she carried on at the door so badly that the unwanted visitor ran across the street all the way home like he was screaming for his mommy.

Eventually she settled down and has become a treasured family member and an absolute joy. But she still has opinions on most everything and has the most expressive face on a cat you will ever see. I can just imagine what she would have to say if she could talk.

The years haven't been particularly kind to Tara. During the summer of 2011 she was diagnosed with diabetes. Then in the summer of 2012 we discovered she was in congestive heart failure, and also has a mass on her spleen, which apparently is very rare in cats. I chose to manage the mass holistically, because surgery and chemo would have been just too much when combined with all of her other issues. She's also on a series of medications for her heart. It's been six months now and she's become the bravest little girl I've known and hangs in there even when I'm falling apart. 
I cherish each day with her, but it's always in the back of my mind that good-bye is going to come much sooner than I'll ever be ready for it to.
 



 
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Book Trailers: Beth Ciotta and Ellery Adams

I love book trailers...little mini-movies designed to entice book buying :)

I've recently come across trailers for two new March releases, both second books in series that I've been eagerly anticipating.

First, Ellery Adams' Peach Pies and Alibis, the second in her Charmed Pie Shoppe mystery series, to be released 3/5/13:


Second, Beth Ciotta's The Trouble with Love, the second in her Cupcake Lovers novels, to be released 3/26/13:

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Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop


Welcome to my stop on the Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop!

There will be a different book given away at each of the stops. At the bottom of this post are all the sites participating in the book hop. Make sure to visit (and follow) everyone and enter their giveaways :)

So, on to my part in the hop!

I'm giving away two brand new mystery paperbacks released this week: Black Sheep by CJ Lyons and Heart of Ice by PJ Parrish. Simply leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you...I'll award additional entries for anyone who chooses to follow my blog, Facebook page, or Twitter. Good luck and have fun!!!

 


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Waiting on Wednesday #6


“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

My picks today are two upcoming mysteries with a horse theme. I was one of those horse-crazy little girls that never grew out of it, even though I've *gasp* never been on a horse in my life! I'm a big fan of Michele Scott and Laura Crum's horse mysteries, so I'm really excited for these two releases.

Foal Play: A Mystery
Blurb:  Fire Chief Colleen McCabe enjoys working with her men at the firehouse and sharing a home with her border collie Sparky. But when a dead body washes up on shore, she knows trouble has arrived in Corolla.

Colleen is ready to start work on the investigation, but much to her irritation her best friend, Sheriff Bill Dorman, makes it clear he doesn’t want her butting her nose in or poking around. The stubborn Colleen, however, is not so easily deterred. When a man with a gun is spotted lurking around the lighthouse and her former school teacher’s house explodes with the teacher presumably inside, she adds arson and a second suspicious death to her informal investigation. Colleen soon finds herself juggling her job, amorous advances from the town’s developer, and intrusions from the local press, all while keeping information from Bill. Her secret sleuthing quickly comes to an end, however, when a bigger threat enters the picture.

  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press
  • Publication date: 5/7/2013


  • Murder, She Rode
    Blurb: Tink Elledge, an expert horse trainer, discovers the motives behind a mysterious death and a disappearance during the Brandywine Three-Day Event. An adept horse trainer and former champion rider, Tink Elledge is a woman with a mission: to see her prized horse take home the victory at the prestigious Brandywine Three-Day Event. Tink is whip-smart, headstrong, and used to making her own way - so when an accident forces her onto the sidelines, giving the ride on what may be her last horse to a protégé for the first time in her career, she struggles with the realization that her peak days as a horsewoman may be behind her. Then, before the event can begin, a truck accident kills a respected horseman. And when a young rider disappears, what began as a seemingly freak accident reveals sinister roots that lead directly to the tightly-knit equestrian community and that Tink, in her newfound and uneasy role as a spectator, can't help trying to uncover. During the three-day event, horses will perform with inspiring grace. Their riders will navigate treacherous obstacles. And Tink will unravel a plot that threatens the reputations - and lives - of the very men and women she hopes to defeat on the course.

  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press
  • Publication date: 8/13/2013
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    Author Chrystle Fiedler's Favorite Scents/Scent to Kill Giveaway



    SCENT to KILL, my latest Natural Remedies Mystery, is a fun combination of a cozy story and tips about aromatherapy, which is the practice of using essential oils to improve health and well-being. Aromatherapy can ease stress, insomnia, anxiety, depression, aches and pains, and more. Three of my favorite scents are lavender, jasmine and roses, so I thought I’d share a few simple tips on how to use them today.

    Lavender


    Not only does Lavender (the Latin verb lavare means “to wash”) smell terrific, it’s calming and soothing and good for cuts and burns, insomnia, diaper rash, tension headache, PMS and cramps (use with clary sage and Roman chamomile). The phytochemicals (plant-based chemicals linalool and linalyl acetate) in lavender are absorbed in the skin and in the membranes inside your nose, slowing nerve impulses, and reducing stress. An easy way to start using lavender is to put five to ten drops of essential oil in your bath. Add the oil after you have filled the tub so you can enjoy the full benefits of this wonderful aroma.

    Jasmine


    The aroma of jasmine (Jasminum officinale v. grandiflorum) is intoxicatingly sweet, exotic, and floral. It’s also incredibly therapeutic for a variety of conditions. Jasmine essential oil eases mild depression, anxiety, and tension. It also balances energy and helps you feel more optimistic. It calms coughs and laryngitis, soothes sore muscles, stiffness, and sprains. You can apply it topically, use it on a warm or cool compress, put it in the bath, inhale it from your palm, or put it in your diffuser. It will make any room an oasis.

    Roses


    I love the rich, sweet floral bouquet of roses and the approximately 275 compounds have a myriad of therapeutic uses. For example, if you apply it topically, rose oil can help banish eczema, wrinkles, and acne. If you feel blue, rose essential oil will naturally lift your mood. If you have painful periods, it helps to balance hormones (just put the oil on a warm compress and apply to your lower abdomen). Rose oil also eases nervousness, anxiety, anger, sadness, and grief and can be helpful if you have respiratory problems such as allergies and hay fever. You also use rose oil to help you sleep better and feel happier. For all these conditions, simply put some on your palm and inhale it or put rose essential oil into a diffuser. Your bedroom will smell like an English garden.

    Here’s the scoop on Scent to Kill: A Natural Remedies Mystery



    Willow McQuade, naturopathic doctor, along with her hunky ex-cop boyfriend Jackson Spade, attend a party for a psychic TV show that is filming on Long Island’s idyllic East End. However, Willow is much more interested in visiting the estate’s lavender farm, seeking inspiration for the new aromatherapy workshops she'll be holding at her store, Nature’s Way Market & Café.

    Before the party is over, Roger Bixby one of the producers is dead and the police suspect murder. Roger was working on the show, MJ’s Mind, with Carly Bixby, his ex-wife and the new girlfriend of Willow's ex from L.A., TV writer/producer Simon Lewis.

    After Willow leaves the party, she gets a frantic text from Simon asking for her help. Since Simon had a fight with Roger earlier in the evening, and because of his death is now the primary shareholder in Galaxy films, Willow's ex becomes the prime suspect. Simon begs her to crack the case and clear him of the murder. MJ McClellan, the psychic and star of the show also asks Willow for help. She hires Willow to provide natural remedies, including aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture and yoga to soothe the agitated crew of her show.

    To find the killer, Willow has to deal with ghosts in a haunted mansion, a truly dysfunctional family, death threats and “accidents,” while trying to untangle a homicide identical to one committed during prohibition. Thankfully, Jackson has been hired to provide security and is there to watch her back and help Willow solve this spooky mystery.

    As a bonus, you’ll find dozens of natural aromatherapy cures throughout the book that can improve your health. I think you’ll be surprised as how much they can help you feel better in mind, body and spirit!

    For a chance to win a copy of Scent to Kill: A Natural Remedies Mystery just leave a comment here about your favorite natural cure.



    BIO:
    Chrystle Fiedler is the author of SCENT TO KILL, (Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster) the second in the NATURAL REMEDIES MYSTERY series, DEATH DROPS: A Natural Remedies Mystery, the non-fiction title THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO NATURAL REMEDIES (Alpha, 2009), co-author of BEAT SUGAR ADDICTION NOW! (Fairwinds Press, 2010), currently in its fourth printing, the BEAT SUGAR ADDICTION NOW!COOKBOOK (Fairwinds Press, 2012) and THE COUNTRY ALMANAC OF HOME REMEDIES (Fairwinds, 2011). Chrystle’s magazine articles featuring natural remedies have appeared in many national publications including Natural Health, Vegetarian Times, Better Homes & Gardens and Remedy. Visit www.chrystlefiedler.com andwww.killerhobbies.blogspot.com every Monday for more natural remedies, book news and other cool stuff!

    Chrystle Fiedler
    208 Monsell Place
    Greenport, NY 11944
    631-477-2256
    cfwrites@optonline.net
    www.chrystlefiedler.com
    www.chrystlecontent.com
    Follow Me on Twitter: @ChrystleFiedler
    Scent to Kill: A Natural Remedies Mystery (Gallery/Simon & Schuster Feb 2013)
    Death Drops: A Natural Remedies Mystery (Gallery/Simon & Schuster)
    The Country Almanac of Home Remedies (Fairwinds Press 2011)
    Beat Sugar Addiction Now! (Fairwinds Press 2010)
    The Complete Idiot's Guide to Natural Remedies (Alpha 2009)
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    Laser Therapy for Knee Problems, Helping Dogs with Cranial Cruciate Disease


    Increasing number of dogs are blowing out the ligament in their knee called the cruciate ligament. This is similar to what humans do when they run, plant a foot and twist. You know how debilitating that can be. Your knee becomes painful and swollen. Without therapy, it takes months to return to previous function, if it does so.
    Research in dogs has shown that laser therapy reduces inflammation and reduces edema. Laser therapy stops white blood cells from flooding the knee and releasing enzymes that damage the cartilage. Laser therapy stimulates cartilage cells within the knee to make new cartilage and stimulates new capillaries to come into the cartilage of the knee.
    The new cartilage, new blood capillaries, and blocking of enzymes all work together to improve the knee and reduce pain. Dogs that had been toe-tapping lame are gradually able to bear weight on both hind legs. Thus, laser therapy, along with other forms of integrative treatment, such as swimming, acupuncture, & physical therapy, are wise treatment choices for many lame dogs. This is true whether these dogs have surgical knee repair or are treated conservatively with rest but no surgery.
    We use laser and other forms of alternative medicine to treat many dogs with cruciate disease, helping them return to their playful, energetic selves.
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    Benefits of Laser for Dogs & Cats: Nerves Regenerate, Endocrine System Stimulated, Wounds Healed, Pain Controlled

    We use soft laser in our practice daily because it helps dogs and cats with pain and nerve regeneration. Research supports the clinical benefits dogs & cats experience.

    Shimon Rochkind, neurosurgeon in Israel has shown lasers encourage axon growth in nerves.  He has shown nerve regrowth both in the lab (in vitro) and in clinic (in vivo).  In one of Rochkind’s studies, he showed 70% more intensive axon growth in laser treated group compared with non-treated group. Not only did the nerve axons grow, but 75% of  animals had increased sensation due to regrowth. In the lab, Dr. Rochkind and other researchers have done cell studies (in vitro research) confirming that  nerves in  spinal cords and brain tissue grow when stimulated by laser.
    Using rats with damaged spinal cords, researchers showed that laser-treated rats had nerve regeneration so complete that  after 3 months their damaged spinal cords were similar to rats that had no spinal cord damage. Researchers felt s  laser-treated rats experienced significant pain benefit. Because the rat spinal cord and peripheral nerves are similar to those of dogs & cats, we can hope for similar results with dogs & cats.

    In addition to helping nerve regrowth, lasers affect endocrine system and neurotransmitters. A study done in Turkey almost 10 years ago showed that humans with myofascial pain had improved serotonin and increased tryptophan and  a 45% decrease in pain scores. These are large-scale systemic effects caused by laser therapy.

    Even more significant are the multiple studies showing improvement in wound healing, decrease in musculo-skeletal pain, and enhanced quality of life following laser therapy.
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    Cat Trick by Sofie Kelly

    Currently Reading

    Blurb: Kathleen Paulson enjoys her life as a small-town librarian with two extraordinary cats, Owen and Hercules, who provide companionship during the quiet times and have a remarkable talent for sleuthing when murder disturbs the peace....

    The local businesses of Mayville Heights hope to convince Chicago-based company Legacy Tours to sell a vacation package for their town. Legacy Tours partner Mike Glazer grew up in Mayville Heights, but he’s no longer the small-town boy people once knew. Even the local bootlegger has an issue with the bossy loudmouth Mike has become—until someone shuts him up for good.

    When Kathleen discovers Mike’s body on the boardwalk, she can’t help but get involved in the investigation—even if her beau, Detective Marcus Gordon, would rather she didn’t. Now, with a little help from Owen and Hercules, it’s up to Kathleen to make sure the killer is booked for an extended stay in prison before someone else takes a permanent vacation.

    My Review: This is one of those series that the more time you spend with Kathleen and her magical cats, the more they feel like good friends. With each book her relationships with friends Maggie, Roma, and Rebecca, her co-workers, and Marcus grows and the quaint town of Mayville Heights comes alive in my eyes.

    In this book the town is planning an art show and food tasting to coincide with the arrival of Legacy Tours' Mike Glazer, a hometown boy they hope to sell a vacation package to, who manages to annoy everyone he comes into contact with. When Hercules finds Mike dead, sitting in a plastic lawn chair under one of the tents, an old friend asks Kathleen to look in to his death. She ends up discovering Mike has a few skeletons in his closet involving the suspicious death of his brother many years ago and some shady goings on at Legacy Tours. In spite of her love interest Detective Marcus asking her to keep her nose out of his case, Kathleen once again dives in full force, with a little help from her fur babies, of course. Both of these cats have completely stolen my heart. While Hercules seems more the cuddlebug of the two, Owen and his funky chicken escapades just crack me up.

    I simply adore Sofie Kelly's Magical Cats mysteries!


    Check out Sofie Kelly's fun website, which even features the recipe for Owen's Stinky Crackers!

    I received a copy of this book from the publisher with the request for a review.

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    The Sunday Post #30















    The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.
    Happy Daytona 500 morning!!! Go #29!!!
     
    Don't you just love receiving unexpected books? On Tuesday I received two books completely by surprise, one in my mailbox, the other in my inbox:
     

    For upcoming blog tours:
     

    Author Review Request:


    NetGalley:
      

    Audible $4.95 Sale:
      

    Bought/Downloaded/Freebies:
    A Curious Affair by Melanie Jackson
    The Body in the Boudoir by Katherine Hall Page
    A Death in the Family by Caroline Dunford
    Death by Cucumber by Lisa Ammerman
    Witch Way by Caroline Mickelson
    Lady in the Mist by Alicia Dean
    Bedding Lord Ned by Sally MacKenzie
    High Desert Haven by Lynnette Bonner
    Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas
    The Face in the Mirror by Rhys Bowen
    Happy Hour by Michele Scott
    Living with Miss Scarlett by Sandy St Clair
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    Page Turner Bonanza Tour: River of Love by Rosanne Bittner


    River of Love {Book 3 ~ Savage Destiny Series}



    Amazon (Book is exclusive to Amazon)

    Zeke Monroe will do anything to protect his Abbie and make sure she is happy, which is why he opts to settle into ranching and build his Abbie-girl a home of her own where they can begin raising a family on the plains of Colorado along the Arkansas River.

    But the encroachment of white settlers and its affect on Zeke’s Cheyenne brothers begins to threaten his and his family’s safety, and the paradise he and Abbie find is short-lived. Still, nothing can kill the devotion these two share toward each other, and it’s love that holds them together through heartbreaking adversity outside their private world.


    Excerpt
    “Come back to bed, Zeke,” Abbie told him softly. “You know how I hate storms. Come and hold me.”

    The rain started pelting the roof then, and he came back beside her. Both were naked, for that was the way they always slept. … She pulled the buffalo robe over them, snuggling close to him, finding perfect shelter from the storm that frightened her. She was afraid of nothing when Zeke was beside her. He was like a rock, indestructible, strong, hard, never afraid. She lifted her face to his. Then his lips covered hers and she had no defense against the way he had of enticing her, as if his manliness and his touch were not enough. …



    Portrait 1



    Author Bio:
    I’ve been writing for nearly thirty years and to date have had 57 novels published, all about the American West of the 1800′s and Native Americans. I write romance, but not the typical bodice-ripping adventures. My stories are deep love stories, often family sagas told as a series. It is the hero and heroine’s love that holds them together through the trials and tribulations of settling America’s western frontiers. I absolutely love the Rockies, the Tetons, the Sierras, and the wide-open plains, prairies and desert land west of the Mississippi. In my books, I strive to tell the truth about the settling of the West and how it affected our American Indians, as well as the gritty depth of what our brave pioneers suffered in their search for free land and a better life.

    I am a member of the Nebraska and Oklahoma Historical Societies, my local southwest Michigan historical society, Women Writing the West, Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America (treasurer) and the national RWA, and a local charity group called the Coloma Lioness Club. I help run a family business and love doing things with my three young grandsons. If you visit my web site at www.rosannebittner.com, where all my titles are listed as well as a page that lists all my many writing awards; or you can visit me on Facebook. At either site you will learn news of new books to come as well as reprints of many of my past titles soon to be published in trade paperback and as e-books! I also have an author site at Amazon.com.

    Author Links:
    Website
    Blog
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Goodreads

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    Romancing the West Blog Hop




    Why do we enjoy writing and reading about the West? What is it about cowboys that is just plain irresistible? Over thirty authors and bloggers tackle these and other questions by explaining why we love Romancing the West.


    But that’s not all, as you enjoy some awesome blogs and find fantastic books, for every post you comment on with your email address, you will be entered for some amazing prizes.


    ***PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO QUALIFY***


    Grand Prize: A swag pack which includes books (both ebooks and paper), Amazon gift card, custom made butterfly jewelry, book cards, magnets and much more all tucked away in a keepsake box. (Available to US residents only. Winner will be announced on February 26 at 10 PM EST)

     
    My love for the west began at an early age with Little House on the Prairie. I freely admit that to this day Michael Landon is the hero I picture in any romance novel that I read. From there I followed him to old Bonanza reruns, more the "classic" western of days gone by. It was only natural that as I got older I started scouring bookstores for western romance. My preference is definitely historical, I'm not really a fan of contemporary romance at all. To me there is something magical about reading of the past...I find it much more romantic than anything modern day. I love my historical westerns in all heat levels...I read everything from Love Inspired's inspirational historicals to the erotic westerns of Gem Sivad and Beth Williamson.
     
    My favorite subject matter to read about is wagon trains, probably because of that opening scene of the covered wagon in LHOTP. I can't imagine what those pioneers went through as they made their way west to carve out a new life for themselves, with only their dreams for a better life driving them forward. Isn't that the quintessential American story?
    
    Last spring I was shopping at Tractor Supply and stumbled upon the cutest covered wagon planter which now sits in my living room and holds my collection of Little House books. It expresses my love for a genre that is essentially the story of our heritage.





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    Three Sisters by Helen Smith


     

    Blurb: Three Sisters introduces twenty-six-year-old amateur sleuth Emily Castles in this popular new British mystery series.

    Emily has been invited to a party in the big house at the end of her street in London. How could she know, as she left her house that evening, that she was making an appointment with death?

    My Review: This is just about the most unusual cozy mystery I've ever read...completely unique. Emily Castles is mourning the death of her beloved golden retriever Jessie when she's invited to a neighborhood bonfire party at her new neighbors' flat in London. She doesn't know she's about to experience the craziness evening of her life as her hosts have hired a performance troop complete with knife throwers and fire jugglers. Who and what is part of the act and what isn't? Emily starts to think her grief is causing her to imagine things when she's sure she witnessed a murder, only to moments later see the "victim" alive and well.

    This is an extremely clever mystery and I'm anxious to see what further adventures await Emily.




    a Rafflecopter giveaway
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    Baked Alaska Book Blast


    Baked Alaska by Josi S. Kilpack

    An Alaskan cruise is the setting for amateur detective Sadie Hoffmillers latest adventure. Sadie plans to spend time relaxing with her two grown children, Breanna and Shawn, and her boyfriend, Pete, while enjoying the luxury and cuisine of an elegant cruise ship and helping to plan her daughters upcoming wedding. But even as the crew prepares to leave port, Sadie has suspicions about the voyage ahead and the relationship between her normally easygoing son and a mysterious female passenger he obviously knows but refuses to discuss. When the woman is discovered unconscious during the second night at sea, Sadies apprehension escalates. Over the last few years, Sadie has developed an extreme dislike for secrets and it would seem her son is keeping one from her. *Includes eight new mouthwatering recipes, tested and approved by the official bakers of Sadies Virtual Test Kitchen.




    Praise for Baked Alaska
    Josi Kilpack has done it again. You would think that all these events that occur in Sadie's life wouldn't be natural, but Josi Kilpack has a way of making you believe that it just "happens" and it is normal. I have grown to love Sadie's character, even if she is a busybody, you can't help but cheer for her as she attempts to solve a mystery or crime. One of my favorite series. :)
    ~Goodreads Reviewer Lacey McNeill









    Author Josi S. Kilpack

    Josi S. Kilpack grew up hating to read until she was thirteen and her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began her first novel in 1998 and hasn’t stopped since. Her seventh novel, Sheep’s Clothing, won the 2007 Whitney Award for Mystery/Suspense, and Lemon Tart, her ninth novel, was a 2009 Whitney Award Finalist. Josi was the Best in State winner in literature for 2012 and currently has two books (Banana Split and Tres Leches Cupcakes) as finalists in the 2012 Whitney awards.

    Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her family.




    Tour Schedule




    Book Blast Giveaway
    $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
    Ends 3/17/13

    Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



    a Rafflecopter giveaway
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    Fiery Hot Reads for Icy Cold Nights: Linda Lael Miller Westerns

    Cambria Hebert

    I'm excited to be participating in FIERY HOT READS FOR ICY COLD NIGHTS! This event is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Love of Books,Mostly Reviews, Rainy Day Ramblings, and Cambira Hebert.

    For my post, I'm featuring one of my favorite western romance authors, Linda Lael Miller, and one lucky reader will receive a Kindle copy of her story Resurrection.

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    There's a reason why Linda Lael Miller is known as the "First Lady of the West"...whether it's historical or contemporary, LLM writes western romance like no other. The author of over 100 novels, her body of work is astounding. Today I've picked a few of my favorites to share with you.

    I'll start with my favorite, Willow. This is one of the first westerns I ever read and it has stayed with me ever since. Read my review here.


    In 1883, the railroad had only recently come to Montana Territory, and outlaws still lurked in the hills. Willow Gallagher, who spent her early childhood in an outlaw camp until her father finally found her, is torn by divided loyalties. Newly married to handsome railroad baron Gideon Marshall, she finds fiery passion in Gideon’s embrace, until she discovers he is on a mission . . . a mission to capture Willow’s outlaw brother, Steven. Now Willow must choose—betray her brother, or risk the love she has found with Gideon, the love she has dreamed of all her life, to save Steven. It is a choice that could break her heart. . . .
    I haven't read Banner O'Brien yet, but it's patiently waiting in my TBR pile. Because of my love for Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, I love westerns about lady doctors in the Old West, so this one certainly calls out to me.


    In 1886, lovely Banner O'Brien overcame every obstacle and won her coveted medical diploma. Still she longed to escape from Oregon...and the nightmares that left her shaking, screaming one man's name.

    Banner fled to the Washington Territory to accept a position with Dr. Adam Corbin...arrogant, handsome and rumor said, violent. Although Banner respected his skills, she was unnerved by the very nearness of this moody, powerful man, His past was a mystery that would challenge her to her utmost...for Banner wad determined to win Adam Corbin's heart.
    And of course, no list of favorites would be complete without a Christmas story or two...
    Currently Reading
    With his wild heart, Sawyer McKettrick isn't ready to settle down on the Triple M family ranch in Arizona. So he heads to Blue River, Texas, to seek a job as marshal. But in a blinding snowstorm he's injured—and collapses into the arms of a prim and proper lady in calico.

    The shirtless, bandaged stranger recuperating in teacher Piper St. James's room behind the schoolhouse says he's a McKettrick, but he looks like an outlaw. As they wait out the storm, the handsome loner has Piper remembering long-ago dreams of marriage and motherhood. But for how long is Sawyer willing to call Blue River home?

    As the gray skies clear, Piper's one holiday wish just might bring two lonely hearts together forever.
    Read my review here.
    The sudden death of the town marshal leaves Blue River, Texas, without a lawman…and 25 year old Dara Rose Nolan without a husband. As winter approaches and her meager seamstress income dwindles, she has three options. Yet she won't give up her two young daughters, refuses to join the fallen women of the Bitter Gulch Saloon and can't fathom condemning herself to another loveless marriage. Unfortunately she must decide—soon—because there's a new marshal in town, and she's living under his roof.

    With the heart of a cowboy, Clay McKettrick plans to start a ranch and finally settle down. He isn't interested in uprooting Dara Rose and her children, but he is interested in giving her protection, friendship—and passion. And when they say "I do" to a marriage of convenience, the temporary lawman's Christmas wish is to make Dara Rose his permanent wife….
    Read my review here.
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    How about a giveaway? Do you love western romance as I do? Leave a comment with your email address...I'll be giving away a Kindle copy of LLM's story Resurrection.
    Available as a stand-alone eBook for the first time ever, #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller's charming Western short story about an abandoned bride in search of a love she thought forever lost.

    In Resurrection, the writer whose “talent knows no bounds” (Rendezvous) travels back to 1880s Montana, where an abandoned bride searches for a love she thought forever lost in a story that makes it easy to see that “the sweetest kind of magic comes from the pen of Linda Lael Miller!” (The Literary Times).

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