This OR That #Giveaway № 73 ~ Crushed by Deborah Coonts OR Incendiary Girls by Kodi Scheer #Crushed #IncendiaryGirls

 

I have sooooo many books!

The This or That Giveaway! feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to cull my collection and to share some of the many books I have. I get to clear off some of my shelves to make room for more books and give someone else the chance to enjoy these treasures.

Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

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Crushed

by Deborah Coonts

Paperback ~ Published February 2016

In Napa Valley, he who has the best grapes wins. And in the pursuit of perfection, dreams and hearts can be crushed.

Sophia Stone is a widow on the brink of an empty nest, stuck in an unsatisfying job managing the vineyard for a mediocre Napa vintner. Faced with an uncertain future she wonders how do you choose between making a living and making a life? Between protecting your heart and sharing it? Five years ago, after her husband was killed in an accident, Sophia put her heart and dreams on ice to care for those around her. Now her home, her dreams, and her family's legacy grapes are threatened by the greed of the new money moving into the Valley. Sophia has a choice--give up and let them take what is hers, or risk everything fighting a battle everyone says she can't win.

Nico Treviani has one goal in life: make brilliant wine. A woman would be an unwanted distraction. So, while recognized as one of Napa's premier vintners, Nico finds himself alone... until his brother's death drops not one, but two women into his life--his thirteen-year-old twin nieces. In an instant, Nico gains a family and loses his best friend and partner in the winemaking business. Struggling to care for his nieces, Nico accepts a job as head winemaker for Avery Specter, one of the new-money crowd. And he learns the hard way that new money doesn't stick to the old rules.

When Sophia Stone gets caught in the middle of Nico's struggle to remain true to himself or sacrifice his convictions to make stellar wine, both Sophia and Nico are faced with a choice they never imagined. A choice that might extinguish the hope of a future neither expected. 

Read my thoughts here

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Incendiary Girls

by Kodi Scheer

Paperback ~ Published April 2014

Incendiary Girls explores our baser instincts with vivid imagination and humor. In these stories, our bodies become strange and unfamiliar terrain, a medium for transformation. 

In “Fundamental Laws of Nature,” a doctor considers her legacy, both good and bad, when she discovers that her mother has been reincarnated as a thoroughbred mare. In the title story, a mischievous angel chronicles the remarkable life of a girl just beyond death’s reach. In Scheer’s hands, empathy and attachment are illuminated by the absurdity of life. When our bodies betray us, when we begin to feel our minds slip, how much can we embrace without going insane? How much can we detach ourselves before losing our humanity? 

Scheer’s stories grapple with these questions in each throbbing, choking, heartbreaking moment.

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Crushed by Deborah Coonts ~ My Thoughts

Crushed

Crushed by Deborah Coonts
Series: The Heart of Napa #1
Paperback and e-book, 281 pages
Published February 17th 2016 by Deborah Coonts

In Napa Valley, he who has the best grapes wins. And in the pursuit of perfection, dreams and hearts can be crushed.

Sophia Stone is a widow on the brink of an empty nest, stuck in an unsatisfying job managing the vineyard for a mediocre Napa vintner. Faced with an uncertain future she wonders how do you choose between making a living and making a life? Between protecting your heart and sharing it? Five years ago, after her husband was killed in an accident, Sophia put her heart and dreams on ice to care for those around her. Now her home, her dreams, and her family's legacy grapes are threatened by the greed of the new money moving into the Valley. Sophia has a choice--give up and let them take what is hers, or risk everything fighting a battle everyone says she can't win.

Nico Treviani has one goal in life: make brilliant wine. A woman would be an unwanted distraction. So, while recognized as one of Napa's premier vintners, Nico finds himself alone... until his brother's death drops not one, but two women into his life--his thirteen-year-old twin nieces. In an instant, Nico gains a family and loses his best friend and partner in the winemaking business. Struggling to care for his nieces, Nico accepts a job as head winemaker for Avery Specter, one of the new-money crowd. And he learns the hard way that new money doesn't stick to the old rules.

When Sophia Stone gets caught in the middle of Nico's struggle to remain true to himself or sacrifice his convictions to make stellar wine, both Sophia and Nico are faced with a choice they never imagined. A choice that might extinguish the hope of a future neither expected.

My thoughts about Crushed ~~ 

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First line—'Sophia Stone knew life held few absolutes: good wine is art, good Italian cooking is passion, a good child is a gift, and good news never comes in a certified letter.'

I have read some of Deborah's Lucky series books in the past and loved them. I jumped at the chance to read Crushed, book 1 in a new series, The Heart of Napa, that she is writing. Crushed is very different from the Lucky books but it was just as enjoyable.

We get to spend time with Sophia and Nico in the beautiful Napa Valley. And we learn a little about growing grapes and making wine.

'Anybody could grow grapes. But growing good grapes was an art.' 

Sophia thinks she has found someone who believes in her vision of producing a great wine. But at the same time, she is on the brink of losing everything that is important to her. Can she and Nico find the magic needed to make that perfect wine, and that perfect relationship, or is he out to get all that she holds dear?

There are so many wonderful characters in this story and I was immediately enthralled with all of them. And I loved all the different relationships in this story. I can't wait to see what the next books in this series will bring.

Thank you to Kate Tilton and the author for a copy of Crushed in exchange for my honest opinion. 

About the Author

My mother tells me I was born a very long time ago, but I’m not so sure—my mother can’t be trusted. These things I do know: I was raised in Texas on barbeque, Mexican food and beer. I am the author of Wanna Get Lucky? (A NY Times Notable Crime Novel and double RITA™ Finalist), its five sequels, Lucky Break being the latest, four between-the-books novellas and the first in a new series, Crushed, a novel of wine and love.

Currently I’m stretching my writer muscles working on a women’s fiction/contemporary romance series set in Napa, a dark thriller, a romantic suspense series featuring a female helicopter pilot, as well as the next Lucky adventure—all very different projects. So, if you see me with a glass of Champagne in hand, you’ll understand. I can usually be found at the bar, but also at www.deborahcoonts.com.

Connect with Deborah

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? July 4, 2106

First of all, I would like to wish everyone a

Happy 4th of July!

And now, let's talk books!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

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This past week has been rough one. A very dear, dear friend of mine passed away on Wednesday. She has been living with cancer for 9 years and finally her body said 'Enough!'. I have known her for 18 years and we met because of books. When I moved to town and didn't know anyone, I would sit in my car during my son's soccer games and practices. Sometimes the Huskers football games were on the radio too, so there was some multi-tasking going on. Well, anyway, Kris noticed me reading and came over and introduced herself. She figured we could be good friends since we both loved to read and that was the beginning of a wonderful friendship. We actually started a book club together with some other friends and The Book Bags have been meeting every month for over 10 years now. Through her, I met a lot of other wonderful women whom I now call my friends. She is going to leave a big hole is a lot of people's hearts. Please keep Kris in your thoughts this week as we celebrate her life and say our final farewells.  

The Book Bag (circa 2014)

What I'm currently reading/listening to

Falling
by Jane Green
New to me author and I am loving it so far!


The Tumbling Turner Sisters
by Juliette Fay
(audiobook)
I am super excited that I was able to get a copy of this. I've just started it but I am hooked already.

What I recently finished

Gitchie Girl: The Survivor's Inside Story of the Mass Murders That Shocked the Heartland

by Phil Hamman and Sandy Hamman

This was given to me by a friend and it's a true crime account of what happened in the area in 1973. The authors will be visiting my local library later this month. 

Crushed (The Heart of Napa #1)
by Deborah Coonts
Great start to the series! My thoughts will be posted later this week.

Look Again
by Lisa Scottoline
(audiobook)
This author has gained another fan! I'll post my thoughts soon.

What I am going to read next



The Ocean at the End of the Lane
by Neil Gaiman
Believe it or not, I have not read a book by this author yet.

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? June 27, 2016

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

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Not a very exciting week, this past week. The weekend was busy with grandkids, which is always wonderful. At work, a woman retired last week after working in our library for 35 years. That is just amazing to me, 35 years at the same job. She is a reader so I am sure she is looking forward to more reading time. I know I would be! Not sure what our plans are for the upcoming 4th of July/3 day weekend but I am sure it will be busy. Happy reading everyone! 

Click on the book image to read more on Goodreads.

What I'm currently reading/listening to


Crushed (The Heart of Napa #1)
by Deborah Coonts
I loved Deborah's Lucky series and I'm excited to be reading her new one.


Look Again
by Lisa Scottoline
(audiobook)
I think she is going to be added to my 'must-read' author list.

What I recently finished

Lowcountry Stranger (Sweeney Sisters #2)
by Ashley Farley
Loved this! My thoughts will be posted on Friday.

Santorini Sunsets

by Anita Hughes 
Another new author to add to my 'must-read' list! My thoughts will be posted later this week.

Things We Once Held Dear
by Ann Tatlock
An okay read and book discussion at book group.

What I am going to read next


Falling
by Jane Green

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Book Blast: Crushed, Latitudes, and Dance With Me by Renee Novelle and a Giveaway!

Three Books, One Author

Publication Date: June 6, 2014

Genre: New Adult Romances

Amazon: Crushed | Dance With Me | Latitudes

B&N: Crushed | Dance With Me | Latitudes

iTunes: Crushed | Dance With Me | Latitudes

Formerly a freelance journalist, Novelle has found placement of her pieces in both online and print publications since 2008. Additionally, she has written multiple screenplays, and contributed her writing to many non-profit and for profit organizations. She has launched several blogs over the years, which garnered international attention.

In 2013, Novelle returned to her first love – fiction. Writing under the names Renee Novelle and R.S. Novelle, she has a publication schedule that includes Psychological Thrillers, Suspense, Paranormal Fiction, Contemporary Women’s fiction, Chick Lit, and New Adult.

Though she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication, summa cum laude, she considers herself a constant student of the written word. She’s an avid reader, an enthusiastic quote poster, and rarely takes “no” as a final answer. She has an unhealthy obsession for theater, dance, music and art, and strongly believes that wine is simultaneously the beginning of, and resolution to, all of life’s problems. She believes in following dreams, and that in the end, you always end up where you’re meant to be.

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Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram

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