Appealed by Emma Chase #XOXpert 

  
Overview 

When Brent Mason looks at Kennedy Randolph, he doesn’t see the awkward, sweet girl who grew up next door. He sees a self-assured, stunning woman…who wants to crush the most intimate – and prized – parts of his anatomy beneath the heels of her Christian Louboutins.

Brent has never let the loss of his leg in a childhood accident affect his ability to lead a fulfilling life. He sets high goals–and then he reaches them.

And now he has his sights set on Kennedy.
**

When Kennedy looks at Brent Mason, all she sees is the selfish, Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue-worthy teenager who humiliated her in high school to join the popular crowd. A crowd that made those years a living hell. 

She’s not a lovesick social outcast anymore – she’s a DC prosecutor with a long winning streak behind her. Brent is the opposing attorney in her next case and she thinks it’s time to put him through a little hell of his own. 

But things aren’t exactly working out that way. 

Because every fiery exchange has her wondering if he’s as passionate in the bedroom as he is in the courtroom. Each argument and objection only makes him want her more. In the end, Brent and Kennedy may just find themselves in love…or in contempt of court. 

APPEALED is a sexy, humorous romance about first crushes, second chances and the final verdict of the heart. 

Review 

Brent and Kennedy have a past together. Will Kennedy be able to get over the wrongs done to her or will she make him pay? 

Brent is a wonderful character. I love his wit and his charming self!! I fell in love with him in the first paragraph. Kennedy is a tough, hot chick with a soft side which comes out in the end. These two heat up the story and keep the reader very well entertained….in more ways than one!! 

I laughed and nearly fell off my chair in several places during this read. Brent has a personality like no other. He kept me in stitches. He also has a tender heart.  These traits absolutely make his character irresistible.  

I am so hooked on this series. I have only read books in this series and I must expand.  This author has several series I must investigate. 

I received this novel from Simon and Schuster as XOXPERT. 

  

  
Purchase here

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Amazon


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Rom-Com round up!!! #XOXpert

Well!!! This is going to be a different post!! 

ROMANTIC COMEDY MOVIES!!! YES!!! What can be better than snuggling up with a blanket, a glass of wine or a hot toddy (or chocolate- both are acceptable) and your significant other….whether that is dog, cat or a human…I guess humans can be a part of this…

I just love Rom-Com movies.  And I have a few favorites! Well, more than a few….but there are several I will watch over and over and yes….over again!!! 

Ok! I am now showing my age…but how can you pass up Pretty Woman!  

 
It is a classic Cinderella story and Richard Gere….oooooolala!!!! 

   

Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks have such GREAT chemistry. Plus this is set in one of the best bookstores on screen!
  

Oh The Wedding Date…enough said!!

 

Who doesn’t love these two…and the setting of Alaska!!!!

But, I have to admit my all time favorite is…..drum roll…….. 
 

This is my favorite because of the way Sabrina changes and grows. And Harrison Ford!!! Oh my word….you cannot help but fall for this guy!!! 

  

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Two Tales of the Moon by Jennifer Sun plus GIVEAWAY

  
Two Tales of the Moon

By Jennifer Sun

Genre: Literary fiction

 Overview

Two lives converge over a high stake international deal between U.S. and China – Will Donovan, a successful cyber technology business owner and Lu Li, a Wall Street investment banker. From New York City to Washington, DC, to Shanghai, together they have to face ethical dilemmas, make life choices, and come to terms with their past. 

 East meets West, past clashes with present. Blending romantic suspense with ethical intrigue. TWO TALES OF THE MOON is a compelling story that reveals that human struggle is the same regardless one’s past or cultural upbringing. 

Clarion/Forward gave the book a four star rating, calls it “a thoughtful portrait of a modern woman who must choose between the burden of memory and a future of her own making…the writing takes on the sharpened focus of a play… the work effectively captures the effects of communism in searingly personal ways. 

Review 

A very unique read. Lu Li works in finance on Wall Street. She has a riviting, fightful past and it is about to collide with her future. 

Learning about communist China and Lu Li’s experiences is fascinating. This part of the book keeps you on the edge of your seat. I really wish there had been more about this in the book and less about finance (I am a science nerd). 

Lu Li is a strong, delightful woman. She has to be to overcome her many obstacles and experiences. 
   

I was impressed with this compelling story. Would love to read more about communist China. 
 

BlueInk Review says:

“Jennifer Sun draws on personal knowledge of China and a former career in telecommunications/finance for her well-crafted debut novel about the meeting of East and West. Blending romance and ethical intrigue, Two Tales of the Moon is a unique novel, with characters of psychological depth. 

  

Author Bio

  

 Jennifer Sun has a MBA from George Washington University and a B.A. in English Literature from Fudan University in Shanghai, China. She has held several executive financial management positions at Fortune 500 companies in telecommunication and web technology industries. She currently writes full time and lives with her husband in Vienna, Virginia. She is also an avid reader, a runner and a foodie. 

http://www.Facebook.com/JenniferSunAuthor 

@JenniferSun8

http://www.JenniferSunAuthor.com 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14554078.Jennifer_Sun 

Available on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Ns0irQ

 

The author is giving away a digital copy of Two Tales of the Moon.

<a class=”rcptr” href=”http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/70954c79105/&#8221; rel=”nofollow” data-raflid=”70954c79105″ data-theme=”classic” data-template=”” id=”rcwidget_7bqzagrj”>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

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Beautiful Carnage, A Neo Geisha novel by Monica L. Patton AND INTERVIEW 

  
Beautiful Carnage–a Neo Geisha novel

By Monica L Patton

Genre: Steamy Psychological Thriller

Orphaned and brain-washed from the age of six, Philomene Doucette is a beautiful assassin programmed to be a soulless killing machine by the CIA— and death has never looked so good.

In the, steamy, psychological thriller, Beautiful Carnage, Philomene is given her most important assignment yet: executing Haruto Mori, the leader of a deadly Japanese clan. To conceal her identity, Philomene is smuggled into Japan under the guise of being a sex worker and is presented as a gift for Haruto. Philomene’s mission to kill Haruto becomes an inner battle as she struggles between her conditioning, the affection she feels for Haruto and her increasing desire for Tadakai, her CIA handler.

When Haruto is unexpectedly murdered, Philomene uses her deadly training to find answers. She learns of a shocking government plot for mass murder at an upcoming Yakuza Summit—where Tadakai will be in attendance.

Philomene rescues Tadakai, and together they find a haven in a remote, abandoned farmhouse. As they forge a deeper connection, the two make a life-changing decision to leave this dangerous lifestyle behind to create a new life together…but their past misdeeds will not be absolved without exacting bloody sacrifices

Author Interview

1. Catherine Mckenzie must have her tunes, Dan Brown must have his gravity boots, what must you have to be able to write? 

A drink! Wine. Coffee. Take your pick.

2. What was a turning point in your writing or how did you know this was something you should do? 

 I am a performing artist, and I travel for a living with a family in tow. I have conditioned myself to write anytime, anywhere. I write when my daughter is doing her school work independently. I write in the offstage dressing booth at the theater, in between scenes. I love performing but of late, my desire to write has me wanting to take a holiday from the theater.

3. The standard question….who has inspired you and why? 

Not really who but what. Drama! Theater shaped me. I am surrounded by larger than life characters

4. Another standard question….who is your favorite author and book?

 James Lee Burke and Tennesse Williams. Dave Robicheaux series, Baby Doll, Glass Menagerie–A caldron of a southern gothic hot mess!

 5. What are some of your hidden pleasure books…and I know you have some….everyone does!!!!

 Laurell K. Hamilton–Anita Blake series. The Queen of Paranormal Romance. Keep your chaste vampires. I want my fangs with a side of sex!
Author Bio

 Currently performing in the Broadway National Tour of The Book of Mormon, Monica has worked with such notables as Jesse Norman, Diahann Carroll and Freda Payne. She covered Eartha Kitt as the Fairy Godmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s’ Cinderella and sang opposite Jon Secada as the Narrator in the National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Her other credits include; Broadway: Finian’s Rainbow, Abby’s Song, and Ragtime. Off-Broadway: Little Ham. National Tours: Disney’s The Lion King, Annie 30th Anniversary; City Center Encores! productions: On The Town, Pipe Dream, Fanny, Anyone Can Whistle, Purlie, Finian’s Rainbow and Applause. The Distinguished Achievement in Production award was presented to Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices, by Walter Dean Myers. Monica was honored to have been a featured Narrator on the production. when she is not onstage, you can find her in a quick change booth–writing, playing video games with her daughter or perched on a stool, having a craft cocktail.

 

https://m.facebook.com/neogeishaforever/&nbsp;
Monica Patton @neogeishaforeve

monicapattonforever.com  

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Easy Thank You Cards

I saw similar cards on Etsy and I thought….I can make those….so I did!!!

  
The stamp is Stampin Up.  EASY PEASY!!

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!!!!

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The Dean Machine by Dylan Lee Peters BOOK SPOTLIGHT 

  
OVERVIEW

​Meet Dan Delacor, an utterly boring citizen of Yellow City. Every day he puts on his yellow shoes, yellow shirt, yellow pants, and yellow tie, and catches a ride on the Tunnel Runner from the suburbs into downtown. He has a job, a home, and a girlfriend, and he never wonders what waits beyond the giant glass wall that surrounds Yellow City.Except… Dan isn’t as boring as he seems. He often wonders why everything in Yellow City has to be yellow. He wonders why he suffers frequent anxiety attacks, and why he can’t help himself from strolling through dangerous neighborhoods, or running wildly through the fields that separate downtown from the suburbs. Mostly though, Dan wonders why he can’t remember how he lost his right arm, or anything that happened before five years ago.

​So, when Dan’s mundane yellow world is interrupted with the seemingly impossible presence of a little red dog named Dean, he quickly finds out there are answers to his questions, and that everything he knows is a lie.

​Follow Dan as he learns the secrets of his true identity, the scope of the world beyond the wall, and the true intentions of Yellow City’s mysterious leader, Chancellor Elgrey Vinsidian. Meet Wendy, the twelve-year-old girl on a rescue mission, Echo Valkzdokker, the woman with a love for danger, James Perkins, the wily pilot who has a way with words, and Bianna Kensington, the cold-mannered rebel with a cause. Look through the cracks of this new world with Dan as he learns why his little friend is nicknamed The Dean Machine, what special bond they share, and why the dog deserves a legacy that should live on forever. 

He lives to love.

He would die to protect.

His heart is a machine.

FROM THE AUTHOR

I have pledged to donate a portion of my royalties from the book to animal rescue shelters for as long as the book is in publication. This is how I plan to honor Dean’s memory. I implore you to visit my website, http://www.dylanleepeters.com. I have an area set up for The Dean Machine with the preface of the book (which explains my relationship with Dean and why I was inspired to write The Dean Machine), a sample chapter, book artwork, and pictures and video of the real Dean (he was a very cute old man).

The book is currently available to the public on Amazon.com, for kindle ($2.99) and in paperback ($9.99).

I appreciate your time and hope you are interested in reading The Dean Machine.

Thank you sincerely,
Dylan Lee Peters

Official Website

http://www.dylanleepeters.com

Amazon

Twitter

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Author-Dylan-Lee-Peters-109222362447009/

Goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28259263-the-dean-machine

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Lowcountry Bordello by Susan M. Boyer 

  
OVERVIEW

The Charleston streets are dressed for the holidays in sophisticated Southern style: topiaries adorned with red ribbons, garland entwined with white lights, and poinsettias potted in gold planters. The high class bordello in a stately historic home is certainly no exception. When Private Investigator Liz Talbot’s dear friend Olivia swears she saw a dead body in the parlor of this bordello, one Olivia accidentally co-owns, Liz promptly comes to her aid. 

With her wedding back home on Stella Maris less than a week away, Liz must juggle one elderly madam, two ex and future in-laws, three ghosts in the bordello, four giddy bridesmaids, five lovely courtesans, six suspicious patrons…and a partridge in a pear tree as she tries to keep her bridesmaid out of jail and live to walk down the aisle. 

REVIEW

I admit, I have only read one of these books in the series. I am behind!!! After reading this one, I must go back and pick up the others. This is such a cute, quirky mystery.

Liz is a private eye.  Her best friend calls her in a panic. She thinks she has seen a body in her Aunt’s home. When she goes back…the body is gone!! Liz finds herself in a neat, little murder mystery surrounded by the ladies of a private bordello.

I love that this book is set in Charleston. I felt like I was walking the streets myself. 

Liz is a wonderful character and her friend, Olivia keep this mysterious tale hopping right along. Between dead bodies and ladies of the night, you never know what to expect next. 

Being from the south, parts of this novel had me rolling on the floor laughing. The author hit the nail on the head when it comes to some of the southern ways.

An adorable read…not to be missed!

I received this novel from the author for a honest review. 

  

PURCHASE HERE 

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

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First pages of San Francisco album

I wanted to see the Golden gate as soon as I opened the album, so I printed a large picture of the bridge. The paper is Cosmo Cricket.  I took so many pictures on this trip I doubt there will be too much room for embellishments. 

   
If you will notice, I punched holes in this paper for the three ring binder. I have decided that is not the way to go. I will put these in page protectors.. 

 

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Altered Album 

We went to San Francisco and the surrounding area this summer. I took a load of pictures. I wanted to put as many as I could in an album. 

I bought this album on line. I knew it wasn’t exactly what I wanted but I thought I could fix. I just love the way it turned out!! 
BEFORE

  

I painted around the album and added all the trimmings. 

AFTER 

   
   
NOW!! Stay tuned for the inside. Should be interesting. I have never worked a three ring binder.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!! 

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Whiskey Devils by Brandon Zenner

 
 
Whiskey Devils

By Brandon Zenner

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Action

 

Book Description

Running a criminal enterprise is hard work

Evan Powers has become the new manager in Nick Grady’s well-established marijuana growing operation. Led by his roommate and best friend, little has changed in Nick’s secretive business since the late ‘60s, which is just the way the aging hippie would like it to remain. However, Nick’s complex past comes full circle, thrusting Evan in a scramble to decipher the truth behind the enigmatic lives of the people he holds dear. Deep in the woods, demons will be unleashed.

***Nominate Whiskey Devils on Kindle Scout TODAY, and Amazon will send you the ebook for FREE if it is published! https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/2LQVZULLLRYJM

  

Author Bio

   
 Brandon Zenner is an American fiction writer. His short fiction has been published in both print and online publications, the first being submitted when he was just 19 years old. THE EXPERIMENT OF DREAMS, his debut eBook thriller, has reached Amazon’s top-ten charts within its genre many times. His categories of choice are thrillers, dystopian, crime, and science fiction.

Find Brandon:

http://www.BrandonZenner.com

https://www.facebook.com/brandon.zenner&nbsp;

 

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