Title:
I’ll be Home for Christmas (A Coming Home Novella)
Author:
Jessica Scott
Publisher/Publication Date: Forever Yours, November 5, 2013
Format/Source: E-Galley Novella, Author/Publisher/NetGalley
Genre:
Contemporary Romance, Fiction
Price/ISBN-13: $0.99, 978-1-4555-5424-9
Book
Summary
There's
nothing in the world Army Sergeant Vic Carponti loves more than his wife and
his country. Smart-mouthed and easy tempered, he takes everything as a joke .
. . except his promise to come home to his wife, Nicole, for Christmas. As he
prepares to leave for his latest deployment into Iraq, Vic will do everything
he can to shield his beautiful, supportive wife from the realities of war . .
. and from his own darkest fears.
As a
career army wife, Nicole Carponti knows just what to expect from her
husband's tour of duty: loneliness, relentless worry, and a seemingly endless
countdown until the moment Vic walks through the door again. But when the
unthinkable happens, Nicole and Vic's bond is tested like never before and
changes everything they believe to be true about the power of love and the
simple beauty of being home for the holidays.
My
Thoughts
I’ll
be Home for Christmas by Jessica Scott
introduces us to Nicole & Sergeant Vic Carponti as Vic goes off to war.
This is the first book that I’ve read by Scott, so I wasn’t familiar with her
writing style. I love stories about men in uniform and was excited to read
this novella. I enjoyed the book; although, I had mixed feelings
along the way. My first impression was that the characters were a little sex
crazed and that there were some elements that I needed a unique sense of
humor to enjoy. Yet, as the story unfolded I began to enjoy Vic’s and
Nicole’s emotional journeys as they dealt with the turmoil of war and
separation. I also liked how the story
alternated between Nicole’s experiences on the home front and Vic’s struggles
and insecurities on the battlefield during the same time frame.
Overall, I liked I'll be Home for Christmas and I plan to read Back to You, the next book in the series. Back to You is the story of "Captain Trent Davila and his wife, Laura...." It was evident that their relationship was strained in I'll be home for Christmas, and from the preview of Back to You, the novella was off to a great start. As such, I am definitely
looking forward to reading Scott's future work.
Rating:
3.5/5
Click
here for author links and to read an excerpt.
I received an E-ARC
of I’ll be Home for Christmas by Jessica Scott from the Author/Publisher/NetGalley in
exchange for an honest review, Thank You.
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Sunday, November 17, 2013
ARC Review: I'll be Home for Christmas by Jessica Scott
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Cover Reveal & Giveaway: All She Wants for Christmas by Sara Olds
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Ebenezer
Herod is a descendent of King Herod. His family has never stopped trying to
destroy Christmas. This year they may actually get their wish, but not if Ben
can help it.
George
wants nothing to do with restoring balance to the Christmas season, and she
certainly isn't interested in the shockingly handsome and devilishly rich
Ben. A determined do-gooder, Ben's used to saving the day, but he can't
rescue Christmas alone. Can George and Ben find a way to work together
despite their opposing heritages to make the Season bright?
Mother
of three: Large, Medium and Small, she welcomes her newest role, that of
mother-in-law.
Life
has taken her from thither to yon and back again—she's moved 22 times during
her marriage. She breathes to travel. Longs to fulfill a lifelong dream of
owning a horse. Is an addictive reader. Enjoys swimming, skiing, violin and
movies. Wonders if she'll ever get to SCUBA dive again. And has found a
calling that fulfills her in ways she never could have imagined—teaching
history to—wait for it—8th Graders.
Her
stories consume her. There's nothing she'd rather do than spend all day, all
night and the next day conversing with her latest set of characters. History,
adventure, action, romance, humor. Adults, YA and kids. Yep, she does it all.
Looking for something to enjoy on a quiet rainy afternoon? Or wanting a
pulse-pounding, stay up all night turning pages adventure? Or a
you've-GOT-to-be-kidding romp? You'll find them in her pages.
Sara’s social media links
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/saravolds
Website:
http://www.saravolds.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SaraVOlds
Rafflecopter Giveaway
Help spread the word about All She Wants for Christmas via Twitter and/or Facebook and enter for a chance to win a $25 Pay Pal Gift Card!
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Monday, November 4, 2013
Jagged by Kristen Ashley Launch Day Blitz & Giveaway
Buy links
November
5, 2013; Forever/E-Book; $3.99; 978-1-4555-9914-1
Book Summary
Zara Cinders always knew Ham Reece
was the one, but he wasn't interested in settling down. When she found
someone who was, Ham walked out of her life. Three years later, Zara's lost
her business, her marriage, and she's barely getting by in a tiny apartment
on the wrong side of the tracks. As soon as Ham hears about Zara's plight,
he's on her doorstep offering her a lifeline. Now, it will take every ounce
of will power she possesses to resist all that he offers.
Ham was always a traveling man, never one to
settle down in one town, with one woman, for more time than absolutely
necessary. But Ham's faced his own demons, and he's learned a lot. About
himself, and about the life he knows he's meant to live. So when he hears
that Zara's having a rough time, he wants to be the one to help. In fact, he
wants to do more than that for Zara. A lot more. But first, he must prove to
Zara that he's a changed man.
Excerpt
When I saw who was
outside, my mouth dropped open.
Luckily, the
doorbell buzzing stopped.
Unluckily, the last
person on earth I wanted to see was standing outside my door.
“Jesus, you don’t
have a peephole?” Ham growled, looking incensed and Graham Reece looking, or
worse, being
incensed was a very bad thing. I’d learned that five months ago.
I didn’t have it in
me to concern myself with Ham being incensed. I was more concerned with him
being there
at all.
To express this, I
asked, “What the hell?”
“Open the fuckin’
door, Zara.”
I stared a beat,
then pulled myself together.
This was not
happening.
We were done.
I pushed the door
closed.
The problem with
this was it didn’t work, seeing as the toe of Ham’s boot was wedged between it
and the jamb.
“Open the door,
Zara,” he repeated.
“We’re done,” I told
him through the gap in the door. “Move your foot.”
“Open the door.”
“We’re done, Ham,” I
snapped.
“Right, then move
back.”
“What?”
He didn’t repeat his
order. He moved his foot but only so he could rear back and plant his shoulder
in the door.
The chain popped
right open, as did the door, and I went flying.
I righted myself as
Ham, now in my apartment, slammed the door.
“You’re payin’ for
that!” I yelled.
His eyes were beyond
me, examining my new space as his mouth moved.
“Not a problem. I’ll
reimburse what they take out of your security deposit when we move you out of
this dump.”
I didn’t know what
he meant and I also didn’t care.
I switched subjects.
“How did you get
here so fast?” I asked, and his eyes finally came to me.
“I hope to Christ
you didn’t miss local gossip because you’re spendin’ your days at Deluxe Home
Store and your nights at some titty bar.”
“I’m not working at
a titty bar, Ham, so you can stop concerning yourself with me and move on”—I
paused—“again.”
I bit off the last word then what he said penetrated and I asked, “What
gossip?”
“Managing The Dog,
Zara, have been for a week. I live in Gnaw Bone.”
I felt my eyes get
huge as my stomach clenched.
“You’re managing The
Dog?” I whispered, aghast.
“Yeah. And you just
got a new job. You start after you work out your notice at Deluxe,” he
returned.
“What?” This also
came out quiet and horrified.
“You’re waitressin’
for me. Shit hours but, if I remember correctly and since the view hasn’t
changed except to get better, with your face, tits, and ass, great tips. In the
meantime, we’re movin’ you out of this shithole and, you don’t got a girl who
can take you on, you’re bunkin’ with me.”
Bunking with him?
Was he high?
“I am not
moving in with you,” I declared.
Author Bio
Kristen Ashley grew up in
Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the West Country
of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the
globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want
to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multigenerational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake. Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Author Social Media links
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristenAshley68
Rafflecopter
Giveaway
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I'll Be Home for Christmas by Jessica Scott Launch Day Blitz & Giveaway
November 5, 2013; Forever Yours/E-Novella; $0.99; 978-1-4555-5424-9
Book Summary
There's nothing in
the world Army Sergeant Vic Carponti loves more than his wife and his
country. Smart-mouthed and easy tempered, he takes everything as a joke . . .
except his promise to come home to his wife, Nicole, for Christmas. As he
prepares to leave for his latest deployment into Iraq, Vic will do everything
he can to shield his beautiful, supportive wife from the realities of war . .
. and from his own darkest fears.
As a career army
wife, Nicole Carponti knows just what to expect from her husband's tour of
duty: loneliness, relentless worry, and a seemingly endless countdown until
the moment Vic walks through the door again. But when the unthinkable
happens, Nicole and Vic's bond is tested like never before and changes
everything they believe to be true about the power of love and the simple
beauty of being home for the holidays.
Excerpt
“You’re not
serious.”
Carponti turned
around, his shoulders covered in flecks of red hair. “What?”
Nicole grinned as
she leaned against the door. “Garrison is going to kill you.”
“Garrison is going
to love my new hair cut. It looks just like his.”
Nicole arched one
blond eyebrow. “Except for the bright red fuzzy patch in the center of your
head.”
Carponti shrugged
and rubbed his hands over his freshly shorn scalp. “I can’t wait to see what
the sergeant major says.”
“Isn’t he going to
be mad?”
Carponti brushed the
hair off his neck. “We’re going to war. My hair isn’t on the list of things
he’s going to worry about.”
Nicole looked down
at the pile of hair on the floor and sighed. “Then why do it?”
Carponti smirked.
“Because it’ll get a rise out of him and I live to make his blood pressure go
up.”
She laughed. “You
need a hobby. Other than blowing things up.”
He sidled across the
room and hooked his thumb into the waist of her jeans and tugged her close
until their hips met. “I have a hobby. Keeping you well satisfied.”
She sniffed but her
lips curled at the edges. “You’re going to be derelict in your duties for a
while.”
“But I’ll be home
soon enough and then I’ll make up for it.”
“I think I’m going
to need a deployment boyfriend.”
He grinned wickedly.
“Did you already get one?” He backed her up against the wall, his body hard
against hers. God but she loved this man. “Can I see it?”
A slow flush crept
over her face and she tried to look away. He threaded his fingers with hers
and lifted her arms over her head. Her back arched with the movement.
“Please?” he
whispered against her lips. “That would be an awesome memory to take with me
downrange. Just think of me, alone in the middle of the desert. One visual of
you with your deployment boyfriend and it could make a lonely night go by so
much faster.”
Nicole giggled until
the laugh overwhelmed her and she was gasping for air. He released her hands
and she threaded them around his neck. She buried her face against his throat
and laughed.
“There’s something
really wrong with you,” she said when she could breathe again. “I’ll send you
a video.”
He brightened
instantly. “Really?”
“Yes. And dirty
letters.”
“Promise?” He
nibbled along the edge of her jaw, guiding her slowly backward toward their
bed, stacked high with his two duffle bags and all the crap he still hadn’t
packed.
But he didn’t care.
“I promise. And
you’re going to be late.” Her voice caught in her throat.
“Screw it,” he
whispered. “This is the last chance to make love to my beautiful wife before
I have to go traipsing across the desert like Lawrence of Arabia.” He nibbled
at her earlobe while his hand slipped down her belly to the moist head
between her thighs. “Tell you what. You send me a picture of yours and I’ll
send you a picture of mine. Maybe I can get him a little horse and saddle and
send you a picture. Maybe a Barbie camel. I can put him in a little man
dress.”
She laughed and
Carponti’s heart swelled in his chest at the sound of it.
“I’m going to hold
you to that.” She traced her fingers over his scalp, her body soft and warm
against his erection. “I want a picture of him in a man dress in exchange for
a video of the deployment boyfriend.”
Her legs bumped into
the back of the bed and he followed her down. Tangled between the duffle bags
and his uniforms, he made love to her one last time before he got on a plane
and headed to war.
Author Bio
USA Today
bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer; mother of two
daughters, three cats and three dogs; wife to a career NCO and wrangler of
all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse
housekeeper, but she's a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and
someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty
well-adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a
messy house.
She's written for the New York Times At War
Blog, PBS Point of View: Regarding War Blog, and Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans of America. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of Operation Iraqi
Freedom/New Dawn and has served as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas.
She's pursuing a PhD
in Sociology in her spare time and most recently, she's been featured as one
of Esquire Magazine's Americans of the Year for 2012.
Author Social Media links
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaScott09
Rafflecopter Giveaway
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ARC Review: Malicious Mischief by Marianne Harden
Title: Malicious Mischief
Author: Marianne Harden
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Select, October 22, 2013
Format/Source: E-ARC, Publisher
Goodreads Book Summary Is it strange to have the unemployment office on speed dial? Not for twenty-four-year-old college dropout Rylie Keyes. Her current job at a small retirement home is worlds more important than all her past gigs, though: if she loses this one, she won’t be able to stop the forced sale of her and her grandfather’s home, a house that has been in the family for ages. But keeping her job means figuring out the truth about a senior citizen who was found murdered while in her care. Explain that one, Miss Keyes. Read More My Thoughts
In
Malicious Mischief by Marianne Harden we are introduced to Rylie. Rylie finds
herself in an accident while she is in the process of transporting the
trash from the Fountain of Youth Retirement Home. But the accident is the
least of her problems. She finds herself at the center of a murder
investigation and she wants to try her hand as an amateur sleuth to dig
herself out of her current predicament.
When
I first saw the cover and read the synopsis, I thought that this would be a
fun mystery to read. Although the premise was great and it started out on a
humorous note, the pacing became slow as I read further on into the story.
The
character development was lacking. A host of characters were introduced. Some
of them had more depth than others. The characters were diverse, but I didn’t
like the stereotypical characterizations/stereotypes found throughout the book.
Overall,
I did not enjoy the book and would not personally recommend it to others.
Rating
1/5 stars
I received an E-ARC of Malicious Mischief from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, thank you.
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