SHADOW OF DOUBT by Nancy Cole Silverman

Carol Childs works as a reporter for talk radio station KCHC in Los Angeles and in a new relationship with a hot FBI Agent named Eric Langdon when a huge news story drops in her lap pertaining to the death of Pepper Millhouse, a talent agent for elite movie stars and owner of ACT Agency.

Carol becomes concerned when her neighboring friend and niece of Pepper Millhouse, Samantha is arrested for the murder and begins her own investigation into the case because Carol believes Samantha is innocent. As Carol digs deeper into ACT Agency, more suspects come into the light that she cannot convince Eric to investigate when the body count begins to raise as Carol’s overbearing boss pressures her to produce a newsworthy report.

Shadow of Doubt is a good murder mystery complete with suspense and plenty of suspects that include a kooky but lovable psychic and a surprise ending. Everyone will enjoy reading this novel and should consider as a gifting opportunity for any amateur crime drama sleuth.

I received this book free from Henery Press through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS by Melissa Rae Madison

Tiffany ‘Tay’ Bellagio works for the Morris Cramton law firm and does not like her boss Ed or his work ethics on the law firm’s legal cases. Ed continually degrades her work while consistently piling up her workload causing her to work past the normal five o’clock quitting time. On the social side, Tay is trying to keep a relationship with a bartender friend named Dean afloat and from ending too soon but Dean thinks she is ashamed of his job status that causes a rift between them. Family and friends think Tay is a snob when it comes to wanting the better things in life but she does not see it that way. How can Tay mend the rift with Dean and prove her family and friends wrong?

The Pursuit of Happiness is a story of self-discovery and learning that it is okay to want the simply things out of life without sacrificing friendships. The storyline is very good but there was superfluous narrative and very wordy without enough dialogue but is definitely worth the read.

I received this book free from CLP Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

IF THE SHOE KILLS by Lynn Cahoon

Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More is active on the city council as liaison for the business community in South Cove, a coastal tourist town in California. Ted Hendricks is director of the welfare-to-work program in Bakerstown who offered the services of participants to work in the local businesses of South Cove. Ted Hendricks is not the most liked person anywhere and when he is found dead in his shiny red Mustang convertible, there are questions that need answering as the obvious is not the obvious.

Jill who considers herself an amateur sleuth begins piecing together clues, with caution from her police officer boyfriend, of Ted’s work and life and gets a little too close to finding the truth putting her life in danger when a man arrives in town investigating Ted’s activities.

Lynn Cahoon’s novel If the Shoe Kills is a crime drama mystery with suspense and humor that all crime drama book lovers will like for a day or evening read. The book is full of mystery and humor that is entertaining for all amateur sleuths who love solving a mystery.

I received this book free from Kensington Books through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

PURITY IS POSSIBLE by Helen Thorne

“I’m going to be honest with you because in what follows, I’m going to be asking you to be honest with yourself. In the past:

-      I have created sexual fantasies in my mind.

-      I have read women’s erotica.

-      I have watched porn on the web.

And I have enjoyed it.”

 -Helen Thorne

Helen Thorne discusses issues of her own struggles with sexual fantasies, written erotica, and the use of pornography sites that many Christian women face and not strangers to and how these issues can be overcome by avoiding them, asking forgiveness from the Lord, and refreshing your faith by walking with God. The topics in this book are rarely brought to the forefront of any discussion in daily talks with friends, in the church, or with pastors even though the problem is widespread and exists among Christian women more than previously known.

My opinion on the subject is this would be a great topic of discussion in bible study groups for female teens and women to assist in facilitating a support group for those wanting more information to abstain from such activities.

Helen Thorne’s testimony is nicely written in an honest and humble presentation being an easy and fast read that I am recommending for women struggling with the same issues discussed who in addition want to restore their walk in faith.

I received this book free from Cross Focused review program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

MERRY AND BRIGHT Six Tales of Christmas Cheer by Lauren Clark, Cindy Arora, Nancy Scrofano, Isabella Louise Anderson, Libby Mercer, Laura Chapman

A Very Dixie Christmas
by Lauren Clark

'The Christmas that wasn’t' is how single mom P.D. thinks when her eight-year-old daughter Ella Rae is abruptly told by schoolmate Arthur that Santa Claus is not real. P.D. hatches a plan to prove Arthur wrong with the help of her boyfriend Billy but things awry when P.D. catches Billy in the act of cheating with Christmas three days away causing P.D. to come up with Plan B quickly before it is too late.

Lauren Clark has written a novella about believing in the magic of Christmastime whether you are young or old. It is sweet and entertaining for the young-at-heart and those who love the goodness that come from the hearts of all who believe in Santa.

Christmas at Mulberry Inn 

by Cindy Arora

Saffron Smith will be spending Christmas at Mulberry Inn owned by soon-to-be ex-sister-in-law and best friend Taylor Swift as they prepare for the annual pie-bake-a-thon. Just as everything is going smoothly, Saffron’s ex-husband Patrick arrives with his girlfriend Delta so he can introduce her to his sister Taylor causing Saffron to plan a quick getaway. Taylor has other ideas to make Saffron stay and show Patrick that she has moved on.

Cindy Arora has penned a cute story of moving forward after divorce, making new friends, and learning to open your heart to love again.

Ice Dating 
by Nancy Scrofano

Quinn, Dani, and Britt are on ice skates at an ice skate speed-dating event determined to find dates before Christmas. Speed Ice Dating does not quite pan out for the girls and Quinn goes into hiding at the ice rink ice cream stand when Dani find hers. The man behind the counters helps Quinn convince Dani that his Quinn’s date from the speed dating and is only helping at the counter for his father who owns the rink. For Quinn, nothing matters because she misses her ex-boyfriend and fiancé Aaron.

Nancy Scrofano shares a tale of women and men relationships using ice skates for speed dating to find companions. This is an interesting plot with the ice dating as a theme for finding love to be enjoyed in the spirit of Christmas.

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe 

by Isabella Louise Anderson

Lexi Davenport is on her way to a cabin in Halletsville, Texas for a writing retreat to complete her manuscript that is due by December 31^st. After arriving at her destination, she receives an email moving the deadline to December 27^th and if that is not enough on her plate the owner Sterling Bradenton arrives unexpectedly. Thinking of the break-up with her boyfriend, Lexi wonders if she will have an opportunity to love again.

Isabella Louise Anderson brings an instant romance in true chick lit form with a handsome widower and a novelist both looking for the chance to love again.

Secret Santa 

by Libby Mercer

Abbie MacQueen is celebrating at the office Christmas party complete with Secret Santa gifts when she receives her Christmas gift of a treasure hunt where “your Christmas dreams will come true” but the only problem is Abbie does not have any Christmas dreams or so she thinks.

Libby Mercer creates a nice and original story line with a treasure hunt as a Secret Santa gift that is sure to please the avid reader. The problem I had with the novella was the cursing in the beginning and again near the end which seemed to be out of place. Nonetheless, this is a good story with plenty of Christmas Cheer.

Twelve Drummers Drumming 

by Laura Chapman

Autumn and Tuck are headed to Westminster, Colorado for Christmas with their families while staying at a home built into the side of a mountain with a breathtaking view. This is a much deserved vacation for Tuck who is a band drummer and Autumn because of Tuck’s band schedule that rarely allows them time alone together. This will be a special Christmas for Autumn and Tuck that neither knows about the special gifts they will share with each other.

Laura Chapman’s romantic Christmas story is full of love, family, and friends that may bring a tear to your eye (Not that it happened to me, I am just saying…wink, wink).

Merry & Bright has six great Christmas tales that will surely delight any faithful chick lit genre reader on a cozy afternoon or evening with a cup of joe or glass of wine. This collection would definitely be appreciated as a gift to a fellow avid reader for Christmas or anytime which I am highly recommending.

I received this book free from CLP Blog Tours in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

CLP BLOG TOURS presents MERRY & BRIGHT Book Tour #clpblogtours

About the Book

Sip your eggnog, linger under the mistletoe, and make a Christmas wish. 

Merry & Bright brings you six tales of Christmas cheer, featuring stories of budding romances, Southern charm, lost loves, heaps of humor, and lots of pie by authors Isabella Louise Anderson, Cindy Arora, Laura Chapman, Lauren Clark, Libby Mercer, and Nancy Scrofano. 

From sunny Los Angeles to the Rocky Mountains to the Deep South, Merry & Bright will take you on a heartwarming adventure you’ll love to visit again and again. 

Wrap yourself in holiday mirth and prepare to be swept off your feet.

 TOUR SCHEDULE

December 8 – Polished and Bubbly

December 8 - The Book Bag

December 9 - Writer in a Wheelchair

December 9 - Ski-Wee’s Book Corner

December 10 - Wanderlust, Books and Tea

December 11 - Chick Lit Plus

December 11 - The Little Reading Cabin 
       

  December 12 - Winey Mommy 

December 15 - Corazones Literarios

December 15 - Reecas Pieces

Author Bios:

Lauren Clark

Lauren Clark writes contemporary novels sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets. She is the author of Dancing Naked in Dixie, Stay Tuned, Stardust Summer, and Pie Girls. A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local bookstores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends. Lauren is a member of the Gulf Coast Writers Association, the Mobile Writers Guild, and a regular contributor to Parents & Kids Magazine's Mississippi Gulf Coast Edition. 

Check out her website at www.laurenclarkbooks.com

Cindy Arora

Cindy Arora was a staff writer at The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, The Orange County Register and Sacramento Magazine. She’s been published in Saveur, Tasting Table, Orange Coast Magazine, and Fodor’s.  Her debut novel, Heartbreak Cake, was released November 2013 by Simon and Fig and her novella, “Cake Therapy”, appeared in the anthology Petit Four: Four Stories, Frosted with Love in November 2014. She’s also mama to an adorable little boy, a feminist, a whiskey enthusiast, and proud to call herself a Chick Lit author. 

To learn more about Cindy, please visit her website at www.cindyarora.com

Nancy Scrofano

Nancy Scrofano grew up watching classic television shows, classic movies, and listening to oldies, all of which she still adores today. Nancy has a penchant for the fifties, mostly because of her favorite show, I Love Lucy. She has seen every episode countless times and will happily share the trivia she knows with anyone who will listen. Nancy worked as an editor and a journalist for her college newspaper, then went on to develop sociology textbooks for an academic publisher. She has a master’s degree in media psychology, as well as undergraduate degrees in communication, radio and television, and liberal arts. Nancy is a freelance writer and the author of True Love Way, Cupid on Deck, and American Honey.

Additionally, she is the founder and managing editor of Fictionella, a book blog that promotes and celebrates women’s fiction. Nancy lives in southern California where she is at work on her next novel. 

For more about Nancy, please visit her website atwww.nancyscrofano.com

Isabella Louise Anderson

Isabella Louise Anderson grew up with a book in her hand, and to this day nothing has changed. At the young age of ten, she was reading everything from Judy Blume to Danielle Steel, so in 2010, Isabella signed up for a creative writing course, deciding it was time to turn her passion for writing and books into a career. A year later, Isabella finished writing her first book,Redefined Dreams. Her second book, The Right Design, was published in 2014. Her website, Chick Lit Goddess, features books and other Chick Lit and Romance authors, along with sharing book reviews. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and has been featured on several blogs. Isabella lives in Dallas with her husband and cat. If she’s not eating spicy Mexican food and drinking margaritas, she can be found spending time with family and friends, cheering on the Texas Rangers, and reading books, often two at a time. 

For more about Isabella, please visit www.chicklitgoddess.com

Libby Mercer

Born and raised in the Heartland of America, Libby Mercer's adventurous spirit kicked in after graduating from high school and she's since lived in Boston, NYC and London. San Francisco is the city that she currently calls home. For several years, Libby worked in fashion—first as a journalist and then as a shopkeeper, and for a while she dabbled in design. Libby is the author of Fashioning a Romance, Unmasking Maya, and The Karmic Connection. 

To learn more about Libby, please visithttp://libby-mercer.blogspot.com

Laura Chapman

Laura Chapman found a way to mix her love of romance and humor as a women’s fiction blogger and author. A 2008 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Laura studied journalism, English and history. She spent four years traveling the country as a writer/photographer, and currently works in communications. Born and raised in Nebraska—in a city, not on a farm—she is a devoted fan of football, British period drama, writing in bars, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Her debut novel,Hard Hats and Doormats, was released in December 2013. 

For more about Laura, please visit her website www.laurachapmanbooks.com

Lucie Simone 
(Editor of Merry & Bright)

Lucie Simone has a passion for travel, romance and all things Chick Lit. She also has a degree in Journalism and a Master of Fine Arts in Television Production. She is the author of the novels, Picture Perfect and Hollywood Ending. Her short story, “Aprez Vous,” is featured in the anthology, Petit Four: Four Stories Frosted with Love. Lucie lives, loves and writes in the City of Angeles. 

For more about Lucie, please visit her website at www.luciesimone.com.

IF YOU'VE GOT IT, HAUNT IT by Rose Pressey

Cookie Chanel owns a vintage clothing boutique named It’s Vintage Y’all and is on her way to the estate sale of Charlotte Meadows who was murdered a few weeks ago. Cookie arrives at the estate sale and heads straight for the designer vintage clothing racks to choose pieces for her boutique when a well-dressed woman starts a conversation. Cookie soon realizes that the woman is none other than Charlotte Meadows who asking for help to find her killer and that no one else can see Charlotte or hear what she is saying. Cookie tries leaving the estate and the weird vision she thinks is not real but Charlotte stays with her all the way to It’s Vintage Y’all and that’s when Charlotte believes she has gone crazy and enlists the help of her friend Heather, a psychic to make the ghost disappear.

If You’ve Got It, Haunt It is a murder mystery novel with tips on vintage clothing buying and how to get rid of a ghost tips throughout. The novel was interesting until the scene with the cat and Ouija board that I could not get past but am sure other readers will not think about twice. The writing and storyline is good and will entertain all mystery crime drama book lovers during a cozy afternoon read.

I received this book free from Kensington Books through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

CLP BLOG TOURS presents THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS by Melissa Rae Madison #clpblogtours

About the Book

Tay Bellagio, a former tomboy from rural Pennsylvania, has finally achieved the life of her dreams, or so she thinks. She’s a successful lawyer for a top law firm in Philadelphia, making more money that she ever imagined. She has a group of dear friends and a loving extended family, and the attractive bartender at the local Irish pub has just asked her on a date. She has everything she wants, except happiness. 

Why is Tay so miserable? Maybe it’s her boss, a power-hungry partner at her firm who thrives on humiliating his subordinates. Maybe it’s her friends, who are getting fed up with her diva attitude, or her family, who thinks she’s pulling away from them. Maybe it's the bartender, who thinks she’s shallow. Or maybe it’s because the life of her dreams is becoming a nightmare. 

When family obligations and an ethical dilemma at work crumble Tay’s carefully constructed world, she has to take another look at her dreams and ambitions and decide what she wants out of life. And to her surprise, it may not be what she’d planned. 

Author Bio:

Melissa Rae Madison, a partially reformed lawyer, is formerly from Pennsylvania but now lives in sunny Southern California, where she regularly laments the scarcity of really good cannoli. 

When she's not writing or lawyering, she enjoys reality tv marathons, sugary cereal, and being bossed around by her pushy Siamese cat.

Links: 

Facebook:

http://tinyurl.com/melissaraemadisonfaceboo

Amazon:

http://tinyurl.com/pohamazon

December 1 - Chick Lit Plus - Kickoff

December 2 - Fiction Dreams – Excerpt

December 4 - Doorflower- Guest Post

December 5 - Ai Love Books – Excerpt

December 8 - Chick Lit Club Connect – Guest Post

December 9 - eBook Addict- Excerpt

December 11 - Chick Lit Plus – Review

December 12 - The Little Reading Cabin - Review

December 15 - Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Guest Post & Excerpt

December 15 - Ski-Wee’s Book Corner   - Review