Peek Between The Pages - DIPPING IN A TOE by Linda Carroll-Bradd

PEEK BETWEEN THE PAGES is a monthly blog feature that introduces readers to authors who may be new to their reading experience. Enjoy these excerpts, and if you feel inclined, drop a comment for the authors. 
~(Writers interested in having their work showcased may find more information here.)  



Book Title: DIPPING IN A TOE
Author: Linda Carroll-Bradd
Buy link:
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Page Length: 36 pages
Monthly Theme: Ocean, Ship, Swimming
Theme Connection: The heroine watches her teen children in a swimming match and has a secret crush on the swim coach.

BLURB:
Jessa Landers has a secret crush on her teens’ swim coach. A widow for three years, she’s managing her life and enjoys her freedom—except for long, lonely evenings when she craves an attentive man.

Coach Rick Grant loves being a high school teacher and swim coach. Surrounded by families has him yearning for his own romantic connection—and his eye is on Jessa.

Will Jessa protect the balance of her family life, or take a second chance on love?

EXCERPT:
 As if pulled by an invisible thread, my gaze went to the tall, fit man with the ever-present clipboard in one hand and a stopwatch in the other. Normally an adult wearing tropical-print board shorts and a faded surfboard tee-shirt looked like he clung with desperation onto his youth. Instead Rick Grant wore the attire like a medal of honor—like he’d earned the right to promote a Hawaiian surfing competition from a decade earlier.

Maybe he had. The image of his tan, lean body balancing on top of a surfboard flittered through my mind. I pictured him, thinner but still muscular, body sparkling with water droplets, wavy hair streaked with blonde highlights, outlined against a cerulean blue sky. A heartfelt sigh escaped.

Christy stopped to turn in her ascent up the metal bleachers, and cocked her head. “You okay, Jessa?”

Caught. I whirled toward the bleachers and set a foot on the lowest step. “I’m fine. Where do you want to sit?” Heat burned my cheeks and I ducked my head, pretending the need to focus on placing my wedge sandals on each step. I didn’t want the other mothers to learn about my pathetic infatuation with the swim coach.

An infatuation I kept telling myself was wrong. Didn’t I have enough to do between my paralegal job, keeping up the house, managing the kids’ activities, and arranging visits with their grandparents? How could I possibly add dating to this hectic lifestyle?

Even if by some wild chance the man in question were to show interest…

Lynda's Amazon Author's Page - Writing timeless romance you'll read again and again

Book Review - OH BROTHER A NICO AND TUGGER TALE - by Kimberly Sentek

AMAZON Buy Link
Page Length: 28
Genre: Children's Literature

About The Book: 
Two stories in one - double the reading fun! Meet Nico and Tugger, two dogs that became brothers. Their story is an endearing and fun look at sibling rivalry. - from two points of view.





Breeze's Review (Between The Pages Guest Reviewer)

This book was unique in the way it told each side of the story. You got to see the story through Nico's eyes and then through Tugger's eyes, and I thought this was such a creative way to approach a story like this. Nico and Tugger are new brothers who are adjusting to life together. I appreciated how valuable a story like this is for families who perhaps are going to be introducing a new sibling soon. I can see how this book would make a great gift for a soon to be big brother or big sister. I thought the illustrations were very cute and the storyline held my four-year-old daughters attention. I was glad to share this story with her.

Lynda's Amazon Author's Page - Writing timeless romance you'll read again and again

Book Review - HOME FIRES by Lois Greiman

AMAZON Buy Link
Page Length: 288
Genre: Women's Literature

About the Book:

This sequel to Finding Home is the second book in Lois's Hope Springs series. 

Casie Carmichael's accidental dude ranch is well on its way, but the residents of her Hope Springs haven are running wild. With an unwed mother-to-be, a turbulent teen romance, and a bronc-riding grandmother to contend with, the last thing Casie has time for is a romantic relationship. But convincing recently returned Colt Dickenson she's not interested in him--or the confusion he causes her--is easier said than done.

Yet as Casie's ragtag crew saddles up to help with everything from birthing babies to legal woes, she finally begins to see that family wears many faces--and being independent isn't the same as being alone.  
 
Lynda's Review: 

 



 ~Listen, son..." Monty lightly squeezed the strained muscle above Ty's right arm."Where women are concerned, sometimes there ain't nothing you can do but cinch up tight and pray to God," he said, and Ty felt his heart break just a little more.~ Page 128

What a dysfunctional group of characters! That was my first impression as I began to read this story, then, as I got deeper into the lives of Casie and the people who inhabit her world, a certain poignant concern for each of their circumstances compelled me to keep reading. 

Casie is a woman who isn't afraid to try anything to build the life she wants. Of course, she's her own worst enemy, at times, because she can't pass up a person or critter in need, complicating and creating new sets of problems. And she's not too keen on starting a romantic relationship either, but what's a girl to do when it presents itself in the form of Colt Dickenson.

I found this to be an easy, warm, and entertaining read.

Lynda's Amazon Author's Page - Writing timeless romance you'll read again and again

Peek Between The Pages - LOST HONOR by Loreen Augeri

PEEK BETWEEN THE PAGES is a monthly blog feature that introduces readers to authors who may be new to their reading experience. Enjoy these excerpts, and if you feel inclined, drop a comment for the authors. 

(Writers interested in having their work showcased may find more information here.)  

Book Title: Lost Honor
Author: Loreen Augeri
Amazon Buy Link 
Genre: Historical romance
Page Length: 350 pages
Monthly Theme: Ocean, Ship, Swimming

Theme Connection: Lost Honor is set in 1818 and takes place on a brig in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. As the hero, a sea captain, attempts to find his brother kidnapped by pirates, he discovers a female stowaway on his ship. She wants to become a member of his crew. He refuses.

Blurb:

Captain Morgan Danvers sets sail to rescue his brother, kidnapped by pirates. Fearing he will become like his father who abandoned him, he has cut himself off from his emotions. Then a willful stowaway crashes into his life, awakening dormant feelings and firing his lust. Soon he finds his all-important honor threatened, for even though he is betrothed to another, he is drawn to her against his will.

Arianna Pemberton hides in a barrel she thinks will be loaded on her brother's ship but lands on Morgan's brig. Her father has forbidden her to sail, and this is her only course of action. Unwilling to allow a man to control her, she is determined to make her way as a seaman, a profession she knows and loves. But when Captain Danvers discovers her deception, he refuses to permit her to prove herself. As she struggles to convince him, unwanted passion emerges, jeopardizing her plans for independence.

Excerpt:

Shoved by powerful hands, she fell to her knees before booted feet. “Found her in the hold, Cap’n. Thought she was a boy at first, her wearin’ pants and a cap, but she has tits.”

 “I can see that, Jurgens.” 

Arianna followed the shiny boots up to tight-fitting, brown breeches hugging muscular thighs, and slim hips. A loose, white shirt covering broad shoulders next met her gaze, then a corded neck, square jaw, stern lips, crooked nose, and cold, dark eyes that stared down at her. “Where’s my brother? Who are you?”

“I will be asking the questions. Who are you, and why are you on my ship?” The deep voice thundered through the cabin. 

Her stomach flip-flopped. Dizziness swamped her. Swallowing convulsively, she battled to contain the contents of her queasy stomach. Hiding in that empty molasses barrel hadn’t been the brightest idea of her twenty-one years. “I’m not talking to anyone but my brother.” 

Jurgens’s forceful hands yanked her to a standing position. “You answer the cap’n.”

The abrupt movement snapped the fragile control she clung to. Spasms seized her throat. Arianna struggled to turn away, but the fingers digging into her arms held her in place. The contents of her stomach erupted. 

All over Captain Danvers’s boots. 

Her captor released her and jumped back in horror.

Lynda's Amazon Author's Page - Writing timeless romance you'll read again and again

Book Review - DESTINY'S FLOWER by Linda Harley

AMAZON LINK
Page Length: 
Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance 

About The Book:
~Will Lynn live long enough to fulfill her destiny and save the kingdom of Saldiora?~

Doctor Lynn Davis is kidnapped by handsome Lord Kyle von Talion and taken to a far off planet, Saldiora. As she finds herself in this unfamiliar culture, she must learn to fight with a sword, ride a talking horse, and endure the politics of a royal court if she is to survive. 

Kyle has his hands full keeping Lynn from making cultural blunders and ensuring her safety. The Juntu's are plotting to take over Saldiora and consider Lynn to be a threat to their success. 

Lynda's Review: 

~ Can an alien abduction be a good thing?~

You'll have to make that decision for yourself after reading Destiny's Flower. The heroine, Lynn, is not your standard victim; she's spunky and has her own way of getting her point across that is both humorous and dangerous. She may not win every battle, but she never gives up. For that reason, I found this character easy to like and I thoroughly enjoyed her adventure. 

Author Linda Harley didn't rush the pacing on this plot which makes it easy to understand, an important feature when being introduced to an alien culture and fantastical new creatures. Despite her predicament, Lynn plans to change the oppressive slavery system in her new environment. Of course the bad guys, the Juntu family, aren't about to let her have her way without a fight, and the story takes off...

And by the way, this is only the first book in the Saldiora series.

Lynda's Amazon Author's Page - Writing timeless romance you'll read again and again

Book Review - STUCK IN THE DOLDRUMS - by Carole P. Roman

AMAZON LINK
Page length: 36
Genre: Children

About the Book:  When the wind stops blowing, Captain No Beard and his crew, including First Mate Hallie, Linus the Lion, Fribbet the Frog, Mongo the Monkey and Polly the Parrot, are stuck on a desert island. Maroon with nothing to do, they begin to play and enjoy themselves. However, Captain No Beard has other ideas, bossing his crew around and making playtime cheerless for everyone. Soon, Captain No Beard decides he has had enough and storms off. When his ship is attacked by a giant squid, he realizes he needs his crew more than ever. Captain No Beard and his crew show young readers that's it's important to cooperate and share your belongings. The crew teaches us that if you want to have friends, then you must be a friend too.

Breeze's Review ( Between The Pages Guest Reviewer)

I have enjoyed each one of the books in this series about Captain No Beard. I read them with my four-year-old and each time she is excited to see what new adventure we get to take with Captain No Beard and his crew. I have always appreciated the lesson these books teach, this one focuses on the importance of sharing. Each time the illustrations are creative and fun to look at. Something I have enjoyed is that the books stay true to the pirate theme, you can always count on hearing some cool pirate language in the book. My daughter often says "shiver me timbers" after reading these books. I look forward to reading more in the future!

 

Lynda's Amazon Author's Page - Writing timeless romance you'll read again and again

PEEK BETWEEN THE PAGES - Fiery Possession by Margaret Tanner

PEEK BETWEEN THE PAGES is a monthly blog feature that introduces readers to authors who may be new to their reading experience. Enjoy these excerpts, and if you feel inclined, drop a comment for the authors. 

(Writers interested in having their work showcased may find more information here.)

 Book Title: Fiery Possession
Author: Margaret Tanner
Buy Now Link
Genre: Historical Romance
Page Length: 330
Monthly Theme: Reluctant Hero and Feisty Heroine
Theme Connection: Set in colonial Australia, the heroine a feisty American schoolteacher, challenges the hero, a rugged frontier man.

Blurb: 

 Jo Saunders, a fiery American beauty, arrives in frontier Australia to save her debt- ridden brother’s farm. She clashes with her wealthy neighbor, Luke Campton, but neither of them can deny the attraction sizzling between them.

When Jo is involved in his brother’s death, Luke seeks revenge by forcing her to become his mistress. Branded a rich man’s whore and ostracized by the townsfolk, pride is the only thing between Jo and total degradation.
Hate, lust and murder. How can Jo and Luke overcome these obstacles and allow love to flourish?

Excerpt: 

“Bloody fool.” Luke Campton stepped forward as the driver hauled in on the reins to pull up the Melbourne stagecoach. The horses’ sides heaved, sweat glistened on their coats and flecks of foam clung to the harnesses. They had been driven hard under the whip. No need for such cruelty. If any Campton employee had showed such little regard for an animal, he would be dismissed.

With any luck the English letter he had been waiting months for would be amongst the mail. He flicked a cursory glance at the young female passenger as she alighted, but when she stepped away from the coach and he could see her full on, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

What a beauty. A swathe of flame-colored hair had escaped from the confines of her green bonnet and drifted across one milky white cheek. As he gazed into her fiery emerald eyes, his heartbeat escalated. He surveyed her now, making no attempt to disguise his admiration. She had undone the top two buttons on her gown, giving him a tantalizing glimpse of smooth creamy flesh. What he saw he liked - very much.

Jo Saunders returned the tall stranger’s intense gaze. What a splendid specimen of arrogant, proud manhood. 

  

Lynda's Amazon Author's Page - Writing timeless romance you'll read again and again

Book Review - MARRIAGE BY MISTAKE by Alyssa Kress

 Amazon Link
Page Length: 349
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ASIN: B006SMMW64

About The Book:
He woke up to discover two days of his life completely gone.

Workaholic Boston blueblood Dean has made it his life's goal to be the opposite of his irresponsible, womanizing father.

But Dean discovers that while in a hypnotic trance he'd acted exactly like his father, travelling to Las Vegas where he'd wooed and wed some sexy, airhead dancer.

Now, Kelly may be sexy, but she's no airhead. She knows the cold and puritanical man who claims to be her husband is not the man she'd married. But she suspects the warm and tender man she does love is buried somewhere deep inside. And she's determined to find him...

Lynda's Review:

Don't let the cover fool you on this one. It's humorous, not silly.  It's meaty, not shallow. In other words, I really was surprised by the substance the author brought to this mishap of a relationship, and how how she proved that with patience, love, and faith, even the most difficult relationships could be saved. I Liked the fact that Kelly understood Dean even when he didn't have a clue, or if he did, didn't know how to express his feelings. The secondary characters flesh out the story, especially, Dean's little brother Robbie.

Lynda's Amazon Author's Page - Writing timeless romance you'll read again and again