Unwrapping a Review of THANKFUL FOR LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novel by Peggy Bird

I think I’ve expressed my joy over the Holiday for Romance series by Peggy Bird, from Crimson Romance enough times that you should know I want you all to read them. THANKFUL FOR LOVE is one that although a bit different, keeps the romance alive and you cheering for it, and just in time for Thanksgiving.

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review

Blurb for THANKFUL FOR LOVE:

Eastern Oregon rancher Jack Richardson needs someone to wrangle his two sons, and Quanna Morales is the available candidate. She needs a steady job badly, so she jumps on the opportunity, even though she’s focused on her education and busy helping her mother take care of her disabled brother.

Jack and Quanna can’t fight their attraction, but Quanna worries his family and friends will exhibit the anti-Indian prejudice she’s only too used to encountering. And if things go badly between them, Quanna will not be able to help support her family and the boys will have lost yet another mother figure. When her worst fears come true and a feud erupts at the Thanksgiving table, will Jack be able to convince her that their love is strong enough to overcome any obstacle?

~*~           ~*~             ~*~              ~*~             ~*~

Quanna Morales needs a better job that will pay a steadier income that will allow her to continue living on her own, help her family, and go to college. When the opportunity to be a ‘kid wrangler’ for a handsome and very sexy cowboy pops up, she knows she wants it even if she’s worried she’s not really qualified. Once she arrives at the interview, meets the kids, and sees the ranch, she knows she definitely wants the job. The fact that her new boss is irresistible is a complication she’ll just have to deal with…at least until he starts to express interest in her. Jack Richardson is a sexy cowboy. A dozen or so years older than Quanna and very much out of practice since he married the only woman he ever dated or loved, he is adorably clumsy in his charming attempts at coming on to Quanna. I didn’t connect the name right away, but as soon as Sam Richardson showed up in the story, I realized this was an older brother to the gorgeous and sexy police detective who married Amanda St. Claire after clearing her of murder in LOVING AGAIN, book two in the Second Chances series by Peggy Bird. Whoot! I was so happy.

Whereas, all Jack worries is how folks might see his being so much older than the beautiful Quanna, she is more worried about the fallout that might follow Jack and his wonderful boys if he were to become involved with her. Prejudice is an ugly thing but strength comes in facing the fear of it, rather than giving into the prospect.

I think what I loved the most about this story, THANKFUL FOR LOVE, was the vulnerability of the characters from Quanna’s worry over prejudice about her half-Indian blood to Anne Salazar’s feeling as if her family was abandoning her and her deceased daughter - Jack’s wife. Sometimes unfounded fears can be stronger and more debilitating to the psyche than phobic fears. Even the boys, Daniel and Lucas – adorable kids, by the way – carried their own fears of losing the memories and feel of their mother’s love. This story is about love overcoming the fears each carried and Peggy did it brilliantly.

I highly recommend the amazing, sensitive, and character driven THANKFUL FOR LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novel by Peggy Bird, not just because it’s a wonderful Thanksgiving treat but because it makes us all think about how what we do, what we say, or how we act can have more impact on someone else’s life than we ever realize. It reminds us to be kind, be respectful, and when in doubt about what someone means when they say something, don’t be afraid to confront your fear because it might just be the other person is just as afraid of something.

Happy Reading Everyone!

THANK FOR LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novel by Peggy Bird, Crimson Romance, releasing November 16, 2015, available in ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links above or cover below for purchasing information, remember even pennies per sale using my links helps keep this blog alive. Thank You.

Unwrapping a Review of THE GIFT OF LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novel by Peggy Bird

There is something about Peggy Bird’s creation of her characters, which always allows me to connect with them on a personal level. We first met Isabella Rodriguez in TRUSTING AGAIN…she was Marius’s friend for whom he bought the beautiful Cleopatra necklace created by his heroine. Now it’s Isabella’s turn in THE GIFT OF LOVE: A Holiday for Romance novel by Peggy Bird, and it’s not going any easier for her this time than it did with Marius. Ahh…Marius…it’s not easy to forget a man like him, but then maybe a new man might just make it possible...at least for Isabella.

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for THE GIFT OF LOVE:

Isabella Rodriguez put her life on hold to return to Portland and take care of her ailing parents, but now they’re gone. When her four overbearing brothers confront her insisting it’s time for her to move on with her life and that they’re selling the house, it might just be Bella’s worst birthday ever. Luckily, an unexpected promotion and a transfer to Seattle might mean a bright new future awaits.

Tech consultant Taylor Jordan’s career is on a huge upswing and he’s sure to make partner soon. He has no time and little interest in a personal life, especially after an embarrassing breakup with his last girlfriend. But when he meets the gorgeous Bella at a business mixer, he can’t help but be intrigued.

Sparks fly between them immediately, but when Taylor discovers Bella was behind one of the most humiliating experiences of his life, will they be able to find a future together?

~*~              ~*~              ~*~             ~*~             ~*~ 

Isabella, or Bella, as she prefers, wants to live her life on her terms not those set by her interfering older brothers. After the family home is sold, she is offered a fabulous opportunity to start up a branch of Makeup/Breakup, the company she writes letters for customers who don’t know what to say themselves. The only problem seems there is a neighborhood woman who is doing her best to block their opening in Seattle. As she tries to work through the business problems, life brightens delightfully when she meets Taylor Jordan…a gorgeous Viking god who has a penchant for organization.

The first time Taylor lays eyes on the gorgeous dark-haired beauty, he has to know who she is and how to meet her. When she appears in his office as one of his boss’s clients, he recognizes her as one of the women responsible for his ex-girlfriend leaving him and breaking up with him through a letter from some busybody business called Makeup/Breakup in Portland. Now he had a problem…the more he got to know her, the more he wanted to be with her but if she finds out what he’s done…well, it can be over before it gets started.

Peggy Bird does a wonderful job of conjuring endearing, realistic, and energetic characters, which draw you in, make you think of them as friends, and want only the best for them even when things look like they’re not going to work out well. THE GIFT OF LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novel is just such a story. Isabella wants to put her trust in Taylor but sometimes, he just seems off in his behavior. She even wonders if he has a personality conflict problem because she never knows what to expect, but she has to admit he’s a Viking god and is mighty fine in bed. What she doesn’t know is he’s always walking on eggshells worrying about her learning the truth about what he’s done to hurt her business, or the kind of family life he survived.

I know Isabella Rodriguez. I know her need to do what she wants because she’s always done what her family has asked of her. It’s her turn now. It’s her life and she wants to be the best at what she does, and succeed on her own. She hasn’t been very lucky in love and so it’s time for that luck to change. Taylor Jordan is careful when it comes to trust so it’s time for him to give in to that need and to have others trust in him. They're perfect for each other...once they get past a few things.

THE GIFT OF LOVE by Peggy Bird is a quick read, sweet, and unusual in that it takes quite some time for the hero and heroine to finally come together in the same room but when it happens, sparks fly and you know beyond a doubt, they belong together. Peggy creates a wonderful, sweet story about two people who have both tried to create and lead their own lives with confidence and faith.

I highly recommend THE GIFT OF LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novel by Peggy Bird to anyone who loves romance, romantic dates, and a guy who will totally step out of his comfort zone to prove to the woman he loves that he truly loves her. Taylor is smart, sexy, good looking, plans great dates, and really comes through to prove he is sorry. Love it.

Happy Reading Everyone!

THE GIFT OF LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novel by Peggy Bird, Crimson Romance, release date – June 22, 2015, available in ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links above or cover below for purchasing information, please remember that even pennies per sale using my links help keep this blog alive. Thank You.

   

Unwrapping a Review of RINGING IN LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novel by Peggy Bird

I love how Peggy Bird has pulled characters from her Second Chances series into her new series, Holiday for Romance. I fell in love with Tony Alessandro in TOGETHER AGAIN, book three of the Second Chances series and so in RINGING IN LOVE, a Holiday for Romance, we are treated to meeting Tony’s sister, Catherine and are introduced to a hero who could definitely rival Tony for the title of sexiest hero. Releasing today, I hope you celebrate the New Year by reading RINGING IN LOVE.

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for RINGING IN LOVE:

With a business to grow and a teen-aged son to raise, Catherine Bennett doesn’t have time for a social life. Even if it is the holiday season. Besides, after her ex’s betrayal, she's not willing to open up her heart again. But when she leases office space in Dominic Russo’s building, she can’t keep her mind—or her eyes—off her new landlord. Only problem is he happens to be a known womanizer…and her professional rival.

Unfortunately for Dominic, Philadelphia’s most eligible bachelor is definitely experiencing a dry spell. He hasn’t dated in months, contrary to the rumors, yet convincing career-minded Catherine that there’s more to him than his reputation will be a challenge. Since she’s determined to focus on work, he offers her an irresistible chance at winning a huge contract if she partners with his company.

Can he show Catherine that mixing business with pleasure wouldn’t be such a bad idea this New Year’s Eve?

~*~                ~*~                ~*~                ~*~               ~*~

Catherine Bennett has focused on her business and her son for so long she’s out of practice when it comes to men. So much so that when the sexy, handsome, and very successful Dominic Russo, her greatest business competition, flirts with her, she doesn’t realize that he is doing so at all. Finally, giving in to having lunch with him after he sends her enough flowers to start her own florist shop, he awakens the sleeping sexy woman in her who has been asleep for far too long. But what does he really want? Her? Or a means to getting information about her business and her success?

The very charming, very sexy Dominic wins over her son, her assistant, and eventually, Catherine, but now he may have stolen her ideas to get the account that everyone wants. How does he prove she’s wrong about him?

Peggy Bird creates the sexiest men and I fall in love with every single one of them so yes, I fell for Dominic. She promised me a hero who would rival Tony Alessandro for my affections, and Dominic came very, very close to winning over Tony with his charm, his classy demeanor, and the way he treats a woman, but Tony still has a little somethin’ somethin’ that keeps him at the top of my list. Don’t get me wrong, Dominic Russo is to die for and I would love to be in Catherine’s shoes. Even the way he calls her ‘Ms. Bennett’ conjures the sound of Colin Firth speaking her name in my wildest imagination. Dominic is sexy…he’s seductive…he’s to die for dreamy. I thought my knees would melt out from under me when he asked Catherine how she liked to be seduced. Phew, my temperature is rising just thinking about it. And Catherine...well, she’s a fiery, business minded, beautiful Italian woman with the feminine side of the appeal that her brother, Tony, carries with confidence. She’s the perfect match for Dominic and when she gets mad, she really gets mad. It's awesome!

RINGING IN LOVE by Peggy Bird is a delightful, steamy, and sexy seductive story about two people who never expected to fall in love, never expected anything lasting but in the end, they get the sweetest, most romantic ending on New Year’s Eve. I actually found myself thinking that if I were ever blessed with a romantic New Year’s Eve like that, I’d never complain about sitting home watching the ball drop again.

I highly recommend RINGING IN LOVE, a Holiday for Romance by Peggy Bird to everyone who believes in love, a happily ever after, and how you just never know who might be your perfect match or where you might meet him. Some romances are spicy, surprising, and ultimately, the sweetest in the end. This is exactly what RINGING IN LOVE is and like when you enjoy Tiramisu, it ends with a big satisfied smile. 

Happy Reading, and to everyone – HAPPY NEW YEAR!

RINGING IN LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novel by Peggy Bird, Crimson Romance, available now in ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links above or cover below for purchasing information, remember even pennies per sale using my links help keep this blog alive. Thank You.

   

Unwrapping a Review of LIGHTS, LATKES, AND LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novella by Peggy Bird

The Holiday for Romance series by Peggy Bird from Crimson Romance is so much fun and so full of delights that I eagerly look forward to each one as it releases. So it goes with Peggy’s newest – LIGHTS, LATKES, AND LOVE – a delightful all inclusive holiday adventure that will leave you feeling the spirit and it’s available now!

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for LIGHTS, LATKES, AND LOVE:

Ah, the holidays. David Shay can’t get enough of the December festivities. He especially enjoys sharing his love of the season with the underprivileged children at his non-profit organization SafePlace for Children and Parents. Hannah Jenkins, on the other hand, turns into a jaded Scrooge every year on Black Friday. As manager of a large retail store, she’s seen first-hand how the rampant commercialism of the holiday can bring out the worst in people.

When David’s organization is the charity Hannah’s boss picks for their annual donation, it falls on her to organize a huge holiday party, whether she likes it or not.

Can a nice Jewish boy—with the help of some Christmas lights, a little girl, and a latke party—teach Hannah the true meaning of the season and guarantee them both a New Year’s Eve kiss to remember?

*                 *                *                 *                 * 

With Black Friday upon her, Hannah Jenkins is not in the holiday mood this year, but then that seems to be usual for her. Every year, she loses more and more of the Christmas spirit to seeing the commercialism of the season take over. Working retail confirms her belief that the holidays bring out the worst in people not the best, but then her faith in people’s goodness during the holidays began to fade in her youth. So when her assistant manager goes on maternity leave early and her boss informs her the office Christmas party is going to involve a local charity, she’s definitely not in the mood – especially since the charity liaison is a sexy man named David Shay who is far too full of holiday cheer. When he challenges her that he can help her rediscover the true meaning of the holidays and if he wins, she has to kiss him on New Year’s Eve, she takes the bet confident he’ll never win.

LIGHTS, LATKES, AND LOVE by Peggy Bird is a blend of A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens mixed with every holiday movie you’ve ever enjoyed along with that good feeling, which makes you eager to hear Christmas music playing everywhere. This novella made me smile, laugh on occasion, and even melted this old Scrooge heart a bit. It’s been difficult for me to catch any holiday cheer the past few years because of personal reasons but after reading LIGHTS, LATKES, AND LOVE, even this doubting Thomasina is looking forward to whatever kind of magic the holiday season might bring. I forgot that I’ve seen the good this season can bring to so many people, and even to a little girl who once asked for something she’d been told she couldn’t have, yet Santa made happena anyway. Yes, my darlings, there is a Santa Claus – he lives in the spirit of giving and sharing with a little magical luck thrown in.

So, grab yourself a copy of LIGHTS, LATKES, AND LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novella by Peggy Bird and get that magical feeling. It is that time of year after all. I highly recommend this novella to everyone who loves a good holiday story and believes even the smallest miracles are possible in the season of LIGHTS, LATKES, AND LOVE. You'll fall in love with it too.

Happy Reading Everyone!

LIGHTS, LATKES, AND LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novella by Peggy Bird, Crimson Romance, available now in ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links above or cover below for purchasing information, remember even pennies per sale using my links help keep this blog alive. Thank You.

   

Cover Reveal for RINGING IN LOVE, A Holiday For Romance novel by Peggy Bird

RINGING IN LOVE

A Holiday For Romance novel

by Peggy Bird

Coming December 29, 2014 from Crimson Romance

With a business to grow and a teenaged son to raise, Catherine Bennett doesn’t have time for a social life. Even if it is the holiday season. Besides, after her ex’s betrayal, she's not willing to open up her heart again. But when she leases office space in Dominic Russo’s building, she can’t keep her mind—or her eyes—off her new landlord. Only problem is he happens to be a known womanizer…and her professional rival.

Unfortunately, for Dominic, Philadelphia’s most eligible bachelor is definitely experiencing a dry spell. He hasn’t dated in months, contrary to the rumors, yet convincing career-minded Catherine that there’s more to him than his reputation will be a challenge. Since she’s determined to focus on work, he offers her an irresistible chance at winning a huge contract if she partners with his company.

Can he show Catherine that mixing business with pleasure wouldn’t be such a bad idea this New Year’s Eve?

*                  *                  *                  *                  *

About the Author:
A message from Peggy,

Born in Philly, raised in the suburbs, I moved to the Northwest as an adult and, other than a year in England and a couple years in Montana, have happily lived here ever since.
My work life has been more complicated. I was a nurse, political staffer, lobbyist, association executive, and community affairs consultant before I followed my passions to writing and art glass. Not as much money but a whole lot more fun.
In 2012, my life changed dramatically when several of the books I'd started out writing as mysteries were contracted for publication by Crimson Romance. Since June of that year, I've had six books in the Second Chances series released as ebooks and trade paperbacks, and a second series, A Holiday for Romance, begun.
Some of the characters in my books share my love of glass art--there's a gallery owner and a kiln-formed glass artist, a glass jewelry artist who has better luck making perfect beads than I do and, in the first Holiday for Romance book, a glass blower. It's an enjoyable way to share my love for glass art through my other love, writing.
All of the books take place primarily in the Pacific Northwest where I live but sometimes Philly, where I grew up, slips in. It's easy writing romances in such a beautiful setting!
I love to hear from readers so feel free to visit my website, and follow me on Facebook and/or Twitter.  

Be sure to check out all of Peggy's fabulous romances. 

Releasing on November 24, 2014 is Peggy’s LIGHTS, LATKES, AND LOVE, a Holiday For Romance novella which I’m going to be reviewing it right here on release day so stay tuned for that one. Her Holiday For Romance series has been an absolute delight so far, so I doubt we’ll be disappointed with Christmas and New Year’s treats.

Happy Reading Everyone!

Stop on the Tasty Virtual Book Tour for UNMASKING LOVE, a Holiday for Romance Novel by Peggy Bird + #Giveaway

Welcome to my review stop on the Tasty Virtual Book Tour for UNMASKING LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novel by Peggy Bird. Already a huge fan of Peggy’s amazing characters and stories, I am truly enjoying this series built around holiday fun. Can you guess which holiday we are treated to in this one? Stay tuned for a fun giveaway after my review.

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review

Blurb for UNMASKING LOVE:

Getting a life do-over in the small theater town of Ashland, Oregon, has suited lawyer Julie Payne to a T. After ten years in the Portland prosecutor’s office, she’s enjoying her new, easy lifestyle, and she’s not looking for any complications.

Trace Watkins comes to town seeking the same refuge from life as a big city banker. A new job might make Ashland his permanent address, and he likes what he sees of the place, especially when he meets Julie one hot Halloween night.The sparks fly instantly between the costumed couple, and Julie and Trace waste no time connecting beneath the sheets while literally hiding behind their masks.

But when the holiday hook-up ends, their real identities present a serious snag: Trace manages the bank Julie happens to be suing. The only way they can turn this trick into a treat is if both of them are willing to face their pasts and finally bury the skeletons in their closets.

*                  *                   *                   *                   *

Julie ‘Greer’ Payne feels she has no choice but to leave her dream position in the Portland prosecutor’s office after falling victim to the manipulations of a man who she believed cared for her. On the way home to California, car trouble sidelines her in Ashland, Oregon. In just the few days she spends in this wholesome and inviting town, Julie decides it’s as good a place as any to start over – new job, new name (she drops Greer for her true name, Juliet/Julie), and very quickly makes new friends. Life is good and when Halloween comes, she decides to throw a party to get to know the rest of the town.

Trace Watkins comes to Ashland with the idea of a new job, and a quieter life from that in Portland. It happens to be Halloween and his old college buds talk him into dressing as a Shakespearean character and going with them to a Halloween party. Only planning to stay a short time, he has no interest in such things until he sees his Juliet across the room. Mesmerized and intrigued, he must find out who she is and meet her. When she disappears and the crowd moves outside to watch a parade, he finds her again. What happens next is only the beginning of a wonderful romance, a town mystery, and a steamy love match as sweet as any amount of Halloween treats, or is it all just a trick of the heart?

UNMASKING LOVE by Peggy Bird is a fun, sweet, romantic, and definitely deliciously sexy story centered around one of the most fun holidays, and when Margo Keyes and her hubby, Tony Alessandro show up, everything comes to head. I can't help but thank the writing gods for Peggy's decision to put Trace and Tony in the same pages. (I have a huge crush on Tony.) I only wished he’d hung around a little longer, although having sexy Trace around made up for it. The banter between Trace and Julie is fun, intimate, teasing, and very sexy.

I enjoy the way Peggy has branched this series out of her original Second Chance series so we are treated to visits with those wonderful characters as well as making new acquaintances. Great characters I don’t mind visiting with any time. Tony can come to my house whenever he wants and stay as long as he wishes.

I highly recommend treating yourself to the wonderful and sweet holiday romance, UNMASKING LOVE by Peggy Bird. You might even think yourself tricked a bit when you find out there’s a bit of evil lurking among the pages. I have to admit I was only half tricked, but it was definitely part of the fun.

Happy Reading Everyone!

About the Author:

Peggy Bird lives in the Pacific Northwest where she sets most of her novels. To stay out of trouble—and the rain—she writes stories about smart women and sexy men and creates the occasional piece of glass art.

If you’d like to learn more about Peggy and her fabulous books, please visit her website, and feel free to follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads, she’d love it.

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UNMASKING LOVE, a Holiday for Romance novel by Peggy Bird, Crimson Romance, available now in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links above or cover below for purchasing information, remember even pennies per sale using my links help keep this blog alive. Thank You.