Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Seaside Surprises by Stacy Claflin (The Seaside Hunters Book 1)


Tiffany prefers to keep the painful memories of the past where they belong—in her rear view mirror. But dark secrets cannot stay hidden forever. Just as the walls around Tiffany’s heart start to come down, the past catches up with her. Will true love be able to conquer all?

Seaside surprisesSeaside Surprises by Stacy Claflin
– Clean Romance
Tiffany Saunders is on the run. When she winds up stranded in a seaside town, she wants nothing more than to forget her horrific past and kept moving. But a chance meeting with a handsome local changes everything.
Jake Hunter has some deep emotional scars and is trying to cope with running the family business. The last thing he wants is a relationship—until a mysterious brunette walks into his store and complicates it all.
  • File Size: 1475 KB
  • Print Length: 251 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publication Date: March 15, 2015
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00UR1IVCQ





My review:  Seaside Surprises by Stacy Claflin (The Seaside Hunters Book 1)

4 STARS

This is the first book of the Seaside Hunters and it was good to introduce the family.  It had drama, family and clean romance.  I liked the characters and would like to read the rest of the series.

 Tiffany Saunders is running from abusive husband. I was surprised how trusting she was after going on.  Tiffany was kind and was willing to help where she saw a need.  She left her only family her grandfather behind.

Jake Hunter is the only child beside his deceased sister to not leave home.  He has been running the family store with no help since his sister died.  Now his father was rushed to the hospital.  Jake is the responsible son.  He hardly gets paid anything and lives at home.  He is worn out and tired.  He does notice Tiffany when she comes into the store that she is alone.  Most people come in as a group in this tourist town.

Jake and Tiffany hit it off.  Tiffany steps in and is willing to work in the store while Jake gets the sleep he needs after being up for over 24 hrs. Which was pretty trusting of him.

Tiffany's car has broken down in Seaside and the mechanic is not in a hurry to fix it after he sees Tiffany and Jake together.

This is a sweet book and is easy to escape into it.  I would be willing to read more by Stacy Claflin in the future.

I was given this ebook to read in a exchange for a honest review.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Blog Tour: The Little Girl and Her Shadow by O.K. Reade Illustrated by Alexa Terry Hanson









Little Girl and Her Shadow blog tour





Blog tour: ‘The Little Girl and Her Shadow’About the book:
Having the cutest dresses, the best toys, and the softest bed isn’t enough to make this little girl happy. All she ever does is whine and complain. Finally, her shadow decides to teach her a lesson she’ll never forget! With a gentle reminder about the value of gratitude and friendship, this delightfully illustrated picture book will charm children and parents alike.
  • Hardcover: 32 pages
  • Publisher: Sweetwater Books (June 9, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1462116183
  • ISBN-13: 978-1462116188
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 10.2 x 0.3 inches 


About the author:
O. K. Reade lives in New York City with his son. He is a mathematics teacher by day and a writer/cartoonist by night.

My review: The Little Girl and Her Shadow by O.K. Reade

4 STARS

I read this to my six year old niece and she gave it a thumbs up. She likes likes the story and the pictures.  It surprised me when I asked her if she liked it by showing the thumb up.

The story is short and sweet.  But it has some many points in it.  Like we can decide our attitude. Things don't make us happy for long.

It also has a good rhythm and it  rhymes too. It makes it fun to read and listen too.

The pictures are bright and cheery.  The expressions on the little girls faces capture the feelings as well as the words do.

I would read it to another child or let a child read it to me again without getting fed up with the story.

I was given The Little Girl and Her Shadow by Cedar Fort Publishing.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of it and be part of it;s blog tour.

June 15: Readalot
June 16: Jorie Loves a Story
June 17: Eternal Principles Simplified
June 18: Inklings and Notions
June 19: Reidhead Random-ness
June 20: A Casual Reader’s Blog
June 21:
June 22:
June 23: Literary Wonders
June 24:
June 25: The Power of One Girl
June 26:
June 27:
June 28:
June 29:



Book Blast: Zion's Call by Jeremy Maughan Plus Giveaway $50 Amazon gift card or Paypal Cash


Check out Zion's Call below and enter to win $50 Amazon gift card or Paypal cash

Zions Call

Zion's Call by Jeremy Maughan

1830's LDS Historical Fiction

Howard Egan has left his life at sea to try his hand at the new america. A dream of owning land and a better life for himself. More than anything he wants to find a woman to spend this new life together. To his surprise he finds her on his first day on shore. He just didn't expect her to be so beautiful or to be so harsh.

Thrown into the middle of a political firestorm between a Mormon missionary and local business men. Tasked with being the Mormon's Bodyguard Howard has to find a way to secure his love, fulfill his duty and keep himself and the Mormon alive.

 

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Excerpt
Howard spoke up. “Ladies.”
The three turned to face him. The woman in the center gave him an exasperated look. “Pardon me?” she asked. “Did you speak to us?” She looked him up and down. She gave a little click of her tongue and looked on unapprovingly.
Howard was taken aback by her harsh tone. He struggled to get words out, “Yes. “He stammered, “I wanted to meet you.” he said slowly so he could be understood. He cursed his swollen tongue.
The girl on the left giggled a little, the one in the middle gave her a rueful glance before looking back at Howard. She frowned. “Do you always speak like you have a mouth full of marbles? Are boots a foreign concept from where you’re from?”
Howard started to turn red. He didn’t expect to be talked down to by this woman or any other. His anger started to rise. “I just wanted to meet you and get your name.”
“A little forward aren’t you sir? I don’t think you gave me yours, for starters.”
“My apologies ladies. I am Howard.” He said putting one hand to his breast.
The girl on the left raised her eyebrows, waiting for more. “Just Howard? Are we to call you Mr. Howard?” she asked.
He looked at the other girl. Are all girls of Salem so forked tongued, he thought, or just these? “Sorry, Howard Egan.” He again found his name difficult to pronounce correctly.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Egan” the girl on the right said.
“I don’t know about that,” the black haired girl said. “Come, ladies.”
The three turned to go.
Howard took a step closer. “I didn’t get your names.” He didn’t want them to leave.
They turned again. The girl in the middle tapped her toe lightly on the cobble stones. “No, and you didn’t earn the right.” She paused to look him over again. “Clean up. Stop fighting and some day you will get to. But not today.”
She looked up at the wagon and saw the man sitting there. She nodded quickly to him and said, “Good day Mr. Chisholm. How is Mrs. Chisholm?”
“Good day to you too. She is doing well. You will have to come by sometime for pie. She so does love your company.” Mr. Chisholm replied.
“I just might do that.”
She turned and looked at Howard. He felt he was being judged, like a pig at the fair.
“Do you know this man?” she asked,
“I do. I have agreed to take him on as an apprentice.”
She inspected him one more time and looked back at Mr. Chisholm. “Well you must see something I don’t then.”
“I suspect my wife will feel the same way.” “Good Day, Mr. Chisholm” She inclined her head. Her friends did the same. The curls framing the black haired girl’s face bounced as she nodded. “It was a pleasure seeing you. I will take you up on your wife’s pies.”
They turned to leave, leaving Howard standing dumbstruck in the road.
Mr. Chisholm looked down and saw Howard was still watching the women walk away. He laughed and called to Howard to climb back on. Once he was back on the wagon, Howard asked, “Who is that girl?”
“I don’t know if it is my place to tell you. She made it pretty clear she didn’t want you to know her name. As well as I can remember, she has always been like that.” Mr. Chisholm replied.

 

 

Jeremy MaughanAuthor Jeremy Maughan

Jeremy Maughan a seventh generation member of the LDS Church, was born February 1978 in Provo Utah. As a young man he had a passion for reading. One of his fondest memories is laying on the back on his parents boat reading for days at Lake Powell. He would spend days reading Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, David Eddings,Terry Pratchett and many of great fantasy writers. He says that the only way he passed English in high school was because his teachers allowed him to turn in book reports as extra credit.
After High School Jeremy attended Devry Institute of Technology and studied to become a programmer. After two semesters he dropped out, having already landed a great programming job. He didn't find the need to continue his education to get a job he already had.
A few short months after dropping out of school he was convinced by a close friend, who was a recent convert to the LDS church, to serve a mission. In May of 1997 he was called to serve in the Oregon Portland mission. He reported to the MTC just 6 weeks after submitting his mission papers. There he gained a deep testimony of the gospel that has stayed with him throughout his life.
Once he returned home from his mission his love of the North West pulled at him and he moved to Seattle to pursue his profession programming career. While attending institute his meet the love of his life and married her for time and all eternity in the Timpanogos Temple. In their 14 years of marriage they have had 5 children. Two boys and three girls.
Jeremy’s writing career started with a simple 30 day challenge and the desire to fulfill a item on his bucket list. Wanting to do a challenge to write every day for 30 days he needed something to write about. After days of struggle he was studying the writings C.S. Lewis and was inspired by the story behind The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Jeremy decided to follow in Lewis’s footsteps and write about his own children. A story was hatched and he set out to write a novel for his kids and about his kids.
He caught the writing bug and has written many stories for his family and friends. His most recent work, “ZIon’s Call” is a full length historical fiction novel based on one of his ancestors and his conversion to the gospel.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest


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$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/30/15

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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Blog Tour: The Burnt Island Burial Ground by Mindy Quigley Giveaway









 the burndt island  large banner640






burnt islandA Lindsay Harding Mystery
(Book 3)

Cozy Mystery
File Size: 2592 KB
Print Length: 222 pages
Publisher: Little Spot for Stories (June 11, 2015)
ASIN: B00VU1DB3G
Synopsis:
“We hid the body. The money belonged to everyone, but we stole it for ourselves. You have to help me give it back before it’s too late. If I don’t stop this, that money’s gonna drag us all straight down to hell.”
With these words, whispered to hospital chaplain Lindsay Harding as part of a cryptic confession, the stage is set for another intricately-plotted Mount Moriah mystery. All signs point to murder, but no one can find any trace of a body. Lindsay’s sure not all is as it seems, but she’ll need true grit and quick wit to follow a trail back through history to Burnt Island, a remote patch of North Carolina swampland.
Lindsay’s task is complicated by the shifting landscape of her personal life. After pre-wedding jitters jeopardize a relationship that seemed destined to be her best shot at happily-ever-after, Lindsay falls under the spell of a charming stranger. Whether she gets another chance at love will depend on following her heart…and on whether she can keep that heart beating long enough to unlock the mystery of Burnt Island.

She has won a number of awards for her short stories, including the 2013 Bloody Scotland prize. Her non-fiction writing includes an academic article co-authored with the researcher who created Dolly the Sheep. More recently, she was project manager of the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, a research clinic founded in Scotland by the author J.K. Rowling. Her work as the coordinator of a pastoral services program at the Duke University Medical Center provided the inspiration for her bestselling Reverend Lindsay Harding mystery series.
She lives in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, with her Civil War history professor husband, their daughter, and their miniature Schnauzer.



mindyAbout This Author
Historian by training, globe-trotting university project manager by necessity, and fiction writer by the skin of her teeth, Mindy Quigley has had a colorful career.
She has won a number of awards for her short stories, including the 2013 Bloody Scotland prize. Her non-fiction writing includes an academic article co-authored with the researcher who created Dolly the Sheep. More recently, she was project manager of the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, a research clinic founded in Scotland by the author J.K. Rowling. Her work as the coordinator of a pastoral services program at the Duke University Medical Center provided the inspiration for her bestselling Reverend Lindsay Harding mystery series.
She lives in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, with her Civil War history professor husband, their daughter, and their miniature Schnauzer.



Author Links:

https://mintyfreshmysteries.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mindy-Quigley/155979074451368

https://twitter.com/mintyfreshbooks

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7281258.Mindy_Quigley

Purchase Links:

Murder in Mount Moriah (Book 1): http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Reverend-Lindsay-Harding-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00FAQXQ5U/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

A Death in Duck (Book 2): http://www.amazon.com/Death-Duck-Lindsay-Harding-Reverend-ebook/dp/B00LUVAMRO/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=16GGRD006RBRGKAQY0FM

The Burnt Island Burial Ground (Book 3), Available for pre orderhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VU1DB3G


My review:  The Burnt Island Burial Ground by Mindy Quigley A Lindsay Harding Mystery
(Book 3)


4 STARS

This is the first book of the Lindsay Harding mystery that I have read, while it does a good job standing alone I wish I had read the first two books in the series.

The mysteries are confusing and I was really lost on who were the good guys and who not too trust.  

I was confused about who would Lindsay be better off with.  Who does she really want or what does she want.  I guess she has gone through a lot of trials this year.

Lindsay Harding is the main character.  She is a chaplain at the hospital.  That would be a tough job.  She has been dealing with some depression from events that happened in the first two books.  Her boyfriend is confused by his love life too.

Lindsay is staying with her father while she is getting some remodeling done so her grandmother can move in with her.  Her mother is in prison.

A patient in the hospital starts to confess to something but does not come out and tell her everything before he dies.  Did he really confess to murder or just hiding the body.

I like the characters and want to see where they go from here.  Who belongs together?  Who can Lindsay turn to when things go wrong with her life?

This is a clean read that is full of drama, history and mystery.  I had never heard of the historical people and natives before.  I would like to read more up on the Lowery band or Lowery war.

I was given The Burnt Island Burial Ground to read and in return I agreed to give a honest review and be part of it's blog tour.









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Tour Participants

June 8 – Brooke Blogs – Guest Post

June 9 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review

June 10 – Babs Book Bistro – Spotlight

June 11 – readalot – Review

June 12 – Back Porchervations – Review

June 13 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review

June 14 – Frankie Bow – Guest Post

June 15 – Jane Reads – Review, Guest Post

June 16 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Interview

June 17 – Author Michele Lynn Seigfried’s Blog – Review

June 17 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy,&, Sissy, Too ! – Spotlight

Blog Tour: Farmed and Dangerous by Edith Maxwell Giveaway Print copy

farmed and dangerous large banner640

Farmed and Dangerous
by Edith Maxwell

 

farmed and dangerous
Farmed and Dangerous
(Local Foods Mystery)

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (May 26, 2015)
• ISBN-13: 978-0758284679
E-Book ASIN: B00ONTR4IU
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Synopsis:
Snow is piling up in Westbury, Massachusetts, and Cam Flaherty’s organic farm has managed to survive the harsh New England winter. Unfortunately murder seems to be the crop in season…
Cam is finding the New Year just as hectic as the old one. Her sometimes rocky relationship with Chef Jake Ericsson is in a deep freeze, she’s struggling to provide the promised amount of food to the subscribers in her first winter CSA, and her new greenhouse might just collapse from the weight of the snow. Supplying fresh ingredients for a dinner at the local assisted living facility seems like the least of her worries—until one of the elderly residents dies after eating some of her produce.
Cantankerous Bev Montgomery had a lot of enemies, from an unscrupulous real estate developer who coveted her land to an aggrieved care provider fed up with her verbal abuse. But while the motives in this case may be plentiful, the trail of poisoned produce leads straight back to Cam. Not even her budding romance with police detective Pete Pappas will keep him from investigating her.
As the suspects gather, a blizzard buries the scene of the crime under a blanket of snow, leaving Cam stranded in the dark with a killer who gives new meaning to the phrase “dead of winter.”



MaxwellAbout This Ahttps://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2698328651934443079#editor/target=post;postID=3241721484764908298uthor
  • EDITH MAXWELL is a former farmer of a certified organic farm, holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics, and is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. Her short stories have appeared in the anthologies Stone Cold, Fish Nets, Burning Bridges, Thin Ice, Riptide, and The Larcom Review. She lives with her beau and three cats in Massachusetts, where she’s currently working on her next Local Foods mystery when she isn’t out gardening. Readers can visit her website at edithmaxwell.com.


Author Links

www.EdithMaxwell.com
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5826191.Edith_Maxwell
https://www.facebook.com/EdithMaxwellAuthor
https://twitter.com/edithmaxwell


Purchase Links

My review: Farmed and Dangerous by Edith Maxwell

4 stars 

This is the third in the series but first book that I have read.  It was good suspense I was not sure who the murder was.  I liked the characters.  There was a sense of community.   It was clean read too.

Cam Flaherty is the main character.  She is single.  Now she is farming her Uncle's farm. She is trying to be organic farming.  Even trying to have greens going all year long.  Her boyfriend Pete

Pete Pappas is dating Cam but when she becomes a murder suspect he has to draw back from dating her or even talking much to her.  Pete is police detective for the state.

Bev Montgomery is murdered at the care center.  She was poisoned and Cam brought the produce for a special dinner so she have a chance to sale the care center vegetables this coming spring.

It was interesting how she was doing some of the things like her worms, hoop garden and had shares where people had products come and get fresh produce.

They were really into eating local some of the people.  It makes you think about where your food comes from and what is sprayed on it.

The setting is  Westbury, Massachusetts in  winter.

I would like to read the first two books in the series.

I was given this book by Net Galley and Kensington to read.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of Farmed and Dangerous and be part of its blog tour.

 


 






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Tour Participants 

June 1 – Brooke Blogs – Spotlight
June 2 – My Devotional Thoughts – Review
June 3 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review
June 4 – Babs Book Bistro – Review
June 5 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review, Interview
June 6 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post
June 7 – Kaisy Daisy’s Corner – Review
June 8 – Bunny’s Review – Review
June 9 – Mystery Playground – Interview
June 10 – readalot – Review
June 10 – Lilac Reviews – Review, Guest Post
June 11 – Carstairs Considers – Review
June 12 – LibriAmoriMiei – Review
June 13 – MysteriesEtc – Review
June 14 – Laura’s Interests – Review

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Blog tour: The Charity Chip by Brock Booher

Charity Chip blog tour







Blog tour: ‘The Charity Chip’About the book:
Humanitarians unite to teach street kids like Julio how to manage their money and become self-sufficient—all through a chip implanted in their hands. But after he’s accepted into the program, Julio discovers its sinister objective has nothing to do with charity. To save his friends from a terrible fate, Julio must stop the program at all costs, even if it means his own death.

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (June 9, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1462116698
  • ISBN-13: 978-1462116690
  •  

About the author:

Brock Booher grew up on a farm in rural Kentucky, the fourth of 10 children, where he learned to work hard, use his imagination, and believe in himself. He graduated from Brigham Young University and served in the US Air Force flying the A-10, and as an Instructor Pilot in the T-37. He is a commercial pilot for a major US carrier. In addition to technical writing for the USAF, his essays have been published in local newspapers, and in Kentucky Monthly. “Charity Chip” is his second novel. He resides in Gilbert, Arizona, with his wife and has six children.



My review:  The Charity Chip by   Brock Booher

4 STARS

This story grabs you right from the start.  It is full of drama, makes you want to give your kids a hug,.  What would you be willing to do if your starving. Also wants me to keep cash on hand and if see kids begging to help some.  It opened my eyes.  I did guess pretty early about what they were doing really.  Did not stop till I had read the story.

I liked Julio. He is a strong character that was trying to survive and take care of his twin brother.  Julio is a orphan.  He wants to be a doctor some day.  He remembers what his mother had taught him and tried to balance what he was taught with his promise to take care of his brother.

Julio juggled with fire batons trying to earn money.  Most everyone was chipped and did not carry money any more.  It was harder for orphans to survive.

Raul was Julio's twin brother but he turned to a gang for survival and wanted Julio to join too.

Caritas was a charity that helped some children.  They had a lot of rules. They made the kids get a medical exam before they could join.  They made the kids get chipped.  They fed them, were educating them and controlled what they could eat and drink.

Caritas hoped to expand in other countries and more kids.  They worked with the UN.

The book was entertaining but it sure made me think about so many different issues and made me want to help more.

I was given this ebook to read by Cedar Fort Publishing. In return I agreed to give a honest review and be part of The Charity Chip blog tour.



 The Charity Chip” blog tour schedule:
June 7: Every Free Chance
June 8: Readalot
June 9:
June 10:
June 11: Bookworm Lisa
June 12: Mel’s Shelves
June 13:
June 14: Inklings and Notions
June 15: Katie’s Clean Book Collection
June 16: Reidhead Random-ness
June 17: Laura Walker
June 18: Paranormal & Romance Suspense Reviews
June 19:
June 20:







Colton Cowboy Protector by Beth Cornelison (The Coltons of Oklahoma #1)


Description

Rancher and single dad Jack Colton must face an assassin in the thrilling first book of The Coltons of Oklahoma…

A beautiful stranger appears at the Colton ranch during a party, and Jack is none too pleased. With ties to his ex-wife, Tracy McCain claims to be on a mission to bond with his son. But this intriguing widow also has a target on her back. As the Colton family brings Tracy under its broad wing, a relentless assassin puts everyone in jeopardy. Jack's protective instincts go into overdrive…and only fuel his secret attraction to Tracy. Living closely together under Jack's roof, the heat between them starts to sizzle. In fact, the only thing stronger than Jack's heady desire for Tracy is his will to keep her safe…so that one day they can become a family.
  • ISBN9780373279210
  • Price5.50
  • CurrencyUSD
  • EditionMass Market Paperback

  • My Review: Colton Cowboy Protector by Beth Cornelison (The Coltons of Oklahoma #1)

    4 STARS

    This is the first book in the Colton's of Oklahoma a continuities. It introduced us to the Colton family.
    It set up a few mysteries.  So that I want to read more and find out what is going next.

    John Big J Colton is the patriarch of a large successful ranch.

    Abra Colton is the matriarch  she left most of the raising of her kids to nannies and housekeeper
    .
    Jack Colton is ranch manager divorced father too Seth

    Greta Colton is planning her wedding. She is only girl and the youngest.  She is a horse whisper.

    Brett Colton works on the ranch. He wants to expand into horses.

    Daniel Colton half brother horse trainer.  Abra still does not accept him as part of the family.

    Ryan  Colton is a policeman.

    Eric Colton is a trauma surgeon

    Tracy McCain has come to the ranch she wants to meet Seth her only relative.  She is a widow. She has someone after her.

    Jack does not want Tracy on the ranch at all but Greta invited her to stay at big house.  The rest of family is accepting of Tracy as Seth's family. 

    I love how everyone cares about Seth and steps up and shows there love for him, teaching him, playing with him.

    There is two love scenes in the book easy to skip over them if you don't want to read. There is violence in the book.
    I like Beth writing style.  She keeps the readers wanting to keep reading.   I will read more of Beth's books in the future.

    I was given this ebook to read by Netgalley and Harlequin.  In return I agreed to give a honest review of Colton Cowboy Protector.