Posts Categorized: HarperCollins

Micheal Rhineheart P.I. Series~Book Blast & Giveaway

30 Dec, 2014 by in adult, HarperCollins 3 comments

The Last Private Eye

 

 

23171432Title: The Last Private Eye Michael Rhineheart, P.I
Author: John Birkett
Genre:Thriller
Series:Micheal Rhineheart P.I.
Publication Date:December 30, 2014

Nasty horseplay at the Derby lands Rhineheart in a race against time to stop a murderous scheme …

Michael Rhineheart is a Louisville private eye with a taste for bourbon and a nose for trouble. He’s as tough and savvy as they come. His sleuthing secretary, Sally McGraw, is desperate to learn the ropes. Their pal Farnsworth is a crusty old pro who hasn’t lost his touch.

Together this hardboiled trio sets out to solve a mysterious disappearance at the racetrack. Soon they are galloping onto a trail of lust, greed, and murder … and enough dirty deeds to turn Kentucky’s bluegrass red with shame.

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links for The Last Private Eye

AmazonBarnes and Noble /HarperCollins

queen
Title: The Queen’s Mare Michael Rhineheart, P.I
Author: John Birkett
Genre: Thriller
Series: Micheal Rhineheart P.I.
Publication Date:December 30, 2014

All bets are off when it comes to kidnap, mayhem, and murder …

When the “Grand Dame of Kentucky Racing” enlists private eye Michael Rhineheart to deliver the ransom for a kidnapped broodmare and her foal, Rhineheart thinks it will be a speedy transaction.

But what should have been a simple mission turns into a deadly double-cross, and soon Rhineheart is on the hunt for the horses … and a ruthless killer.

Fans of Dick Francis will love Birkett’s hardboiled gumshoe and his Kentucky bluegrass flavor.

Add to Goodread

Buy Links for The Queen’s Mare

Amazon /Barnes and Noble /HarperCollins

About the Author

JOHN BIRKETT is the author of The Queen’s Mare and The Last Private Eye, both to be released by Witness. He is a winner of the Shamus Award, given by the Private Eye Writers of America.

 Witness Impulse / Witness Suspense Thriller Book Club

Giveaway

 Giveaway 5 Promo Codes for each book, for digital download. Winner must have access to Bluefire Reader and have an Adobe account to receive free

Divider

Review ~Joyful: Return to Sugarcreek, Book Three

01 Oct, 2014 by in adult, amish fiction, HarperCollins Leave a comment

I received this book for free from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review ~Joyful: Return to Sugarcreek, Book Three

Joyful

by Shelley Shepard Gray
Series: Return to Sugar Creek #3
Published by HarperCollins on September 2, 2014
Genres: Adult, Amish Fiction, Christian, Clean Romance
Pages: 266
Format: Paperback
five-stars
Source: HarperCollins
Buy the BookGoodreads
Return to Sugarcreek with bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray for a heartwarming story of second chances with a young Amish couple

Randall Beiler will sacrifice anything to take care of his younger siblings and the family farm, even if it means forsaking love. But when his brother offers pretty Elizabeth Nolt a job cleaning and cooking for the family, Randall is furious—and feels guilty about the way he once broke Elizabeth's heart. Then he learns that Elizabeth and her grandmother are struggling to make ends meet and he knows the offer, no matter how painful, is the right thing for everyone.

Elizabeth wants to refuse but she needs the work. Though she vows to protect her heart, spending time in the Beiler household makes Elizabeth realize that her love for Randall still burns strong. And though Randall keeps his distance at first, time and teamwork reveal that something deeper still connects them.

Elizabeth isn't sure what to think: Does Randall want her because he truly loves her, or because he needs a housekeeper? And if his feelings have changed for sure, Randall must find a way to show Elizabeth what she really means to him or risk losing his partner in life and love forever.

It was a rainy day yesterday and I picked up three different books in hopes for an escape, and struck out. So I turned to Shelley Shepard Gray…bingo! Once again, her Return to Sugar Creek series was the ticket to a clean, sweet diversion. The third installment picks up three different story lines and follows the theme of second chances, tender mercies from a loving God. There’s the couple who has broken up, the young couple who has miscarried and is looking to adopt, and a divorced restaurant owner who is afraid to trust again. At firs, I was hesitant to have so much going on at one time and I found myself drawn to the story of Elizabeth and Randall. I wasn’t quite as engaged in the other two stories, until the very end, when I was surprised to find I was in tears at the sweet story of a foster baby finding a home.

Shelley Shepard Gray wraps things up in a neat tidy package. She writes feel good novels with faith intertwined. If you are looking for a simple plot with predictable resolution you will be pleased. One finds themselves transported to a community where horse drawn buggies are still used, homemade sugar cookies are cut out with the top of a glass. Yet, modernization is afoot and modern characters are woven in quite nicely. I love the Amish charm and the goodness that emanates from their lives. Recommend this series for a Fall rainy day read! There’s study questions in the book and a sneak peek to book four…going online to pre-order!

heather shelleyshepardgray2013-240x300

Author Bio

I grew up in Houston, Texas, went to Colorado for college, and after living in Arizona, Dallas, and Denver, we moved to southern Ohio about ten years ago.

I’ve always thought of myself as a very hard worker, but not ‘great’ at anything. I’ve obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree…but I never was a gifted student. I took years of ballet and dance, but I never was anywhere near the star of any recital. I love to cook, but I’m certainly not close to being gourmet…and finally I love to write books, but I’ve certainly read far better authors.

Maybe you are a little bit like me. I’ve been married for almost twenty years and have raised two kids. I try to exercise but really should put on my tennis shoes a whole lot more. I’m not a great housekeeper, I hate to drive in the snow, and I don’t think I’ve ever won a Monopoly game. However, I am the best wife and mother I know how to be.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that in God’s eyes that is okay? That from His point of view, we are all exceptional? I treasure that knowledge and am always so thankful for my faith. His faith in me makes me stand a little straighter, smile a little bit more, and be so very grateful for every gift He’s given me.

I started writing about the Amish because their way of life appealed to me. I wanted to write stories about regular. likeable people in extraordinary situations-and who just happened to be Amish.

Getting the opportunity to write Inspirational novels is truly gratifying. With every book, I feel my faith grows stronger. And that makes me feel very special indeed.

 

Divider

Harper Collins Young Adult Back To School Round-Up

14 May, 2014 by in harper teen, HarperCollins 1 comment

Harper Collins has some brand new YA titles coming out in Fall 2014.

Check out the new ones coming your way soon…

YOUNG ADULT

Positive: A Memoir

by Paige Rawl

9780062342515 – $18.99 – Ages 13 and Up – On Sale 8/26/2014
In this compelling and compulsively readable memoir, 19-year-old Paige Rawl, who has been HIV+ since birth, delves into the events in middle school that would change her life forever.

Anatomy of a Misfit

by Andrea Portes
9780062313645 – $17.99 – Ages 14 and Up – On Sale: 9/2/2014
Contemporary YA with an edgy twist, a la GINGERBREAD or THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, Andrea Portes’s emotionally devastating debut novel lays bare the futility in pretending to be something we’re not and the value in finally celebrating all that we are—inside.

Falling into Place

by Amy Zhang
9780062295040 – $17.99 – Ages 14 and Up – On Sale 9/9/2014
One cold fall day, high school junior Liz Emerson steers her car into a tree. This haunting and heartbreaking story is told by a surprising and unexpected narrator and unfolds in non-linear flashbacks even as Liz’s friends, foes, and family gather at the hospital and Liz clings to life. For fans of BEFORE I FALL and 13 REASONS WHY.

Rites of Passage

by Joy N. Hensley
9780062295194 – $17.99 – Ages 13 and Up – On Sale 9/9/2014
In this high stakes debut novel, sixteen-year-old Sam McKenna discovers that becoming one of the first girls to attend a revered military academy means living with a target on her back.

Divider

Listen to The Exile Soundtrack by Kevin Emerson

30 Apr, 2014 by in epic reads, HarperCollins, soundtrack, the exile 1 comment

Listen to The Exile Soundtrack by Kevin Emerson

The Exile

Catherine Summer Carlson knows how to manage bands like a professional—she’s a student at the PopArts Academy at Mount Hope High, where rock legends Allegiance to North got their start. The never-skipping-class Catherine part of her knows, though, that falling for the lead singer of her latest band is the least professional thing a manager can do. But Caleb Daniels isn’t an ordinary band boy—he’s a hot, dreamy, sweet-singing, exiled-from-his-old-band, possibly-with-a-deep-dark-side band boy. And he can do that thing. That thing when someone sings a song and it inhabits you, possesses you, and moves you like a marionette to its will.

Over tacos on lunch dates to far-off outlet-mall planets and during practices at the Hive with their new band, Dangerheart, Catherine—no, Summer—falls in love with Caleb.

She also finds herself at the center of a mystery she never saw coming. When Caleb reveals a secret about his long-lost father, one band’s past becomes another’s present, and Summer finds it harder and harder to be both band manager and girlfriend. She knows what the Catherine side of her would do, but she also knows what her heart is telling her. Maybe it’s time to accept who she really is, even if it means becoming an exile herself. . . .

 

 

Kevin Emerson has a new book called EXILE publishing this month. He’s an author as well as a musician!  Listen to the songs at Harper Collins site, plus read the first 60 pages or download the songs.

Divider

Early Book Breview~ Royally Lost by Angie Stanton

01 Apr, 2014 by in HarperCollins, new adult, royally lost 2 comments

I received this book for free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Early Book Breview~ Royally Lost by Angie Stanton

Royally Lost

by Angie Stanton
Published by HarperCollins on May 6th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
three-stars
Source: Edelweiss
Buy the BookGoodreads
What would it be like to fall in love with a prince?

Dragged on a family trip to Europe's ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, overeager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. That is, until she meets Nikolai, a guy as mysterious as he is handsome. And she unknowingly finds herself with a runaway prince.

Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for—he's a crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn't have . . . is freedom. After staging a revolt, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour.

When Nikolai and Becca meet, it's their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca's family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say good-bye when his destiny catches up to him, or will they change history forever?

If you’re looking for a a light, fluffy summer book that can be read quickly, Royally Lost is a great pick. It’s the story of one family on vacation in Europe trying to “bond”, and a runaway prince from Moldovia who isn’t quite ready to claim the throne.  Becca and her brother Dylan have had it with their workaholic father and the recorded tours on the stops of their cruise. They are ready to break off on their own and explore all that Europe has to offer. Nikolai spots Becca, a gorgeous American girl by chance and the two keep running into each other. Can he convince her to stow away with him?

It’s a case of instant crush turned love for Becca and Nikolai. While dodging papperazzi and trying to fend off security from Nioklai’s country, these two love birds are in for an adventure. Meanwhile there are new adult themes of choosing a college and career, breaking the ties with mom and dad, loyalty to siblings and choosing one’s one path. There’s also the side plot of trying to form a relationship with a new step mother after the loss of a mom. Overall, this wasn’t overly deep or moving. It’s an easy read, and I wish the characters would have dug deeper into exploring and taking their rich setting…Costa Rica, Budapest. There are so  many thing to see along their path! I wasn’t super attached, as I felt things could have been fleshed out a little more, but I did enjoy Royally Lost.  Overall, a fun new “close to clean” addition to the New Adult genre.

Content: (highlight to reveal) mention of skinny dipping, swimming in underwear, drinking, lying to parents, moderate swearing

heather

About the AuthorAngies-Professional-Head-Shots-003-e1378407382251

Angie Stanton never planned on writing books—she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in rural America with her brothers’ 4-H pigs as pets, she found that dance didn’t quite work out. Instead, she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head, she began to write them down, and the rest is history. When not writing, she loves watching natural disaster movies, going to Broadway musicals, and dipping French fries in chocolate shakes. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Enter to win on Goodreads

Divider

HarperCollins Summer Reading Round-up

24 Mar, 2014 by in harper teen, HarperCollins 1 comment

Harper Collins have some amazing Summer Reads coming out soon! Check out these YOUNG ADULT titles…

Salvage
by Alexandra Duncan
9780062220141 – $17.99 – Ages 13 and Up – On Sale: 4/1/2014
With one life-altering decision, a sixteen-year-old girl from an isolated community in space is exiled to the over-populated and crumbling Earth. A sci-fi coming of age tale that’s THE HANDMAID’S TALE meets ENDER’S GAME.


Great
by Sara Benincasa
9780062222695 – $17.99 – Ages 14 and Up – On Sale: 4/8/2014
In this contemporary retelling of THE GREAT GATSBY, a teenage girl becomes entangled in the drama of a Hamptons social circle and is implicated in a tragedy that shakes the summer community.


Prisoner of Night and Fog
by Anne Blankman
9780062278814 – $17.99 – Ages 13 and Up – On Sale: 4/22/2014
Meticulously researched and hauntingly real, this is the story of a girl forced to question everything she’s been taught to believe during the terror of Hitler’s regime during World War II.

The Taking
by Kimberly Derting
9780062293602 – $17.99 – Ages 14 and Up – On Sale: 4/29/2014
THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER meets THE FIFTH WAVE in this blockbuster new series from Kimberly Derting.

Tease
by Amanda Maciel
9780062305305 – $17.99 – Ages 14 and Up – On Sale: 4/29/2014
A provocative and unforgettable novel, inspired by real-life incidents, about a teenage girl who faces criminal charges for bullying after a classmate commits suicide.


How to Meet Boys
by Catherine Clark
9780062264510 – $9.99 – Ages 13 and Up – On Sale: 5/6/2014
In the tradition of EPIC FAIL and THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, Catherine Clark has crafted a heartwarming tale about two best friends and the summer that changes everything.

The One
by Kiera Cass
9780062059994 – $17.99 – Ages 13 and Up – On Sale: 5/6/2014
The hotly anticipated conclusion to the #1 New York Times bestselling SELECTION series. A fresh take on dystopian romance in which a seventeen-year-old girl living in a highly stratified society must choose between a chance at royalty and a life of poverty with her first true love.


Royally Lost
by Angie Stanton
9780062272584 – $9.99 – Ages 13 and Up – On Sale: 5/6/2014
From bestselling self-published author Angie Stanton. Dragged on a family trip to Europe, Becca wants nothing more than to go home—until she meets Nikolai, a mysterious, handsome runaway prince. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, but Becca’s trip ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say good-bye forever, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?

Rebel
by Amy Tintera
9780062217103 – $17.99 – Ages 13 and Up – On Sale: 5/13/2014
In the thrilling sequel to REBOOT, Wren and Callum may have escaped from HARC in order to stop being soldiers, but the war isn’t over yet.


The Secrets of Lily Graves
by Sarah Strohmeyer
9780062259608 – $9.99 – Ages 13 and Up – On Sale: 5/13/2014
GONE GIRL meets the TV show “Six Feet Under” in this romantic YA mystery about a girl’s quest to uncover the hidden secrets in her town before it’s too late.


The Art of Lainey
by Paula Stokes
9780062238429 – $9.99 – Ages 14 and Up – On Sale: 5/20/2014
When Lainey gets dumped, she employs the tenets from THE ART OF WAR to get her boyfriend back… but is getting him back really what she wants? Fun contemporary realistic fiction.


Guy in Real Life
by Steve Brezenoff
9780062266835 – $17.99 – Ages 14 and Up – On Sale: 5/27/2014
An achingly real and profoundly moving love story about two Minnesota teens whose lives become intertwined through role playing games.

Say What You Will
by Cammie McGovern
9780062271105 – $17.99 – Ages 14 and Up – On Sale: 6/3/2014
John Green’s THE FAULT IN OUR STARS meets Rainbow Rowell’s ELEANOR & PARK in this beautifully written, clever, and emotionally poignant novel that tackles serious issues amidst the story of a star-crossed love.


Born of Deception
by Teri Brown
9780062187574 – $17.99 – Ages 13 and Up – On Sale: 6/10/2014
The suspenseful sequel to BORN OF ILLUSION! Anna Van Housen, now living in London, must harness her special powers and successfully navigate the underworld of magic before her murderous enemies catch up with her.

Divider

Book Review: A Promise at Bluebell Hill by Emma Cane

26 Feb, 2014 by in adult, avon, HarperCollins, Romance 2 comments

I received this book for free from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Book Review: A Promise at Bluebell Hill by Emma Cane

A Promise at Bluebell Hill

by Emma Cane
Series: Valentine Valley #4
Published by Avon, HarperCollins on February 25th, 2014
Genres: Adult, Romance
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
four-stars
Source: HarperCollins
Buy the BookGoodreads
Welcome to Valentine Valley, where romance blooms and love captivates even the most guarded of hearts . . .

From the moment Secret Service agent Travis Beaumont strides into the town and through the door of Monica Shaw's flower shop, she feels a sizzle of attraction. After years of putting everyone else's needs first, Monica is ready to grab hold of life. If she can just persuade the ultimate protector to let his own walls down for once . . .

The President's son is getting married in Valentine Valley, and Travis should be avoiding all distractions . . . not fantasizing about a forthright, sexy-as-hell florist. Especially when she's keeping secrets that could jeopardize his assignment. But just this once, Travis is tempted to put down the rulebook and follow his heart—right to Monica's door.

Roses are red, violets are blue, and in Valentine Valley, love will always find you.

This is the first book I’ve read in the Valentine Valley series, but it is actually #4 in sequence. A Promise at Bluebell Hill can be read as a standalone, but ultimately I think readers will enjoy getting to know the back story behind this small town group of activists, shop owners and close friends.

I loved:

The small town setting. Valentine Valley, Colorado has a homey feel. Its a timeless community where everyone knows each other.

The loyalty between the characters and the depth of relationships between family and friends. This is a feel good about women book.

That the two main characters were willing to settle down and commit to one another, putting high push careers and political differences aside. They recognized the importance of marriage and family.

The scenic backdrop of bluebell fields and mountains. It’s a romantic place we would all want to visit.

The exploration and resolution of marital problems between Monica’s parents. There is a good plot arc as we see empty nesters work out how to enjoy each other without being directly involved in each others hobbies.

The trade market price. A paperback for $5.

I Struggled With:

The heavy and descriptive romance scenes. I admit, I typically do not read adult romance unless it leaves details to the imagination. This one was a little too fast moving and TMI for me. It’s definitely an adult romance, not for children or teens.

The push at political agenda and correctness. It felt forced to have an activist group against big development and preservation of fossils, flag burning protests, a female President of the US all rolled into one small town novel.

Overall, for me as a reader, the good outweighed the bad and I would read the rest of the series. But it would mean skipping right over the pages with detailed love scenes. I prefer a clean read with tension instead of having it all spelled out.

I loved the writing and the well developed characters and I am glad to have found out such a place as Valentine Valley really exists! You can learn more on the author’s site. Thanks so much to HarperCollins for a fun Valentine’s read!

heather

About the AuthorEmma Cane

Emma Cane was born in Erie, a small Pennsylvania town on beautiful Lake Erie, where the sunsets are some of the best in the world. Though Emma enjoyed figure skating and skiing (good sports in the northeast), she brought a book everywhere she went, usually science fiction and fantasy. Yes, Emma was a Trekkie. Early in her teen years, she decided maybe she could be a writer, and wrote passionate stories of teenagers in space, first by hand until her fingers cramped, and then on her dad’s manual typewriter, which she still can’t bear to give away. In high school she discovered historical romances, starting with Kathleen Woodiwiss’s Shanna, and Emma never looked back. The first romance she ever tried to write was a historical Western, but now she’s changed to the 21st century, where cowboys can ride pickup trucks as well as horses. Emma fell in love with small-town, heartwarming stories, and created the fictional town Valentine Valley, a small ranching community in the Colorado Rockies, where she sets her novels. A Town Called Valentine was the first in her new series. A Promise at Bluebell Hill is the fourth book, and there’ve also been two novellas.

Emma always wanted a career. She determined she wouldn’t be good at the family business, funeral directing, mainly because a funeral director is a social creature, out in society, joining lots of committees and being involved in the community. She likes to pick and choose her committees (she’s served in almost every capacity in her local writers’ group) She especially enjoys being at home in the evenings, her face buried in a book. When she went to college, Emma figured it might be difficult to earn a living writing, so she tried many different jobs. After majoring in aerospace engineering and taking all her electives in English, she realized writing was her future. While she learned her craft and raised her children, she worked several jobs, from fitness training to programming computer-controlled machines. She joined her local chapter of Romance Writers of America, found her best friends, and with their help, sold her manuscript to Avon Books. At last, writing has become her full-time career.

Now that her three children are grown, Emma loves spending time crocheting and singing (although not necessarily at the same time), and hiking and snowshoeing alongside her husband Jim and two rambunctious dogs Apollo and Uma.

Emma also writes as USA Today Bestselling historical romance author Gayle Callen.

Find out more at HarperCollins * Author’s website

Divider