~~~Winner~~~Winner~~~Winner~~~

 

Roses are red.

Violets are blue.

We love receiving

book recommendations from you!

 

A HUGE thank you for all the wonderful books you guys mentioned last month.  We had quite a few and I’ve been busy filling my Kindle just from that one post.  Can’t wait to see what you guys come up with this week.

 

A recap of the books you all loved for January:

 

Don’t Say a Word by Barbara Freethy

Borrowed Scott by Karen Ranney

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon

Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann

Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband? by Susan Carlisle

Endings & Beginnings by Nora Roberts

Still the One by Robin Wells

One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake

Potent Pleasures by Eloisa James

Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton

V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

It Happened One Christmas by Leslie Kelly

Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr

Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell

Finance Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey

Desperate Betrayal by Hildie McQueen

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Saints Astray by Jacqueline Carey

Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Hellraisers by Zoe Archer

A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Someone Knows my Name by Lawrence Hill

Seal of My Dreams by lots of authors

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen

All Fall Down by Megan Hart

In Death series by JD Robb

Viridis by Calista Taylor

The Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward

Lucky Harbor books by Jill Shalvis

A Sister’s Quest by Jo Ann Ferguson

 

Whew!  That caused a hand cramp.

 

All that from 25 different comments.  You guys rock!!!

 

Using my handy dandy hubby to choose between 0 and 24, he happily chose number 17. 

 

Woohoo!!! Stacie D recommended the book All Fall Down by Megan Hart.  To thank her for stopping by and recommending a book, she will receive a $5 gift card.  Stacie, shoot us an e-mail with your preference of Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million and we will get that sent to you ASAP!!!

 

With all that said, we’d love to see what you guys have in store for us this month.

 

Leave a comment and tell us what you are reading and recommend.  Remember, no book bashing or hating.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

 

Winner of the February gift card will be chosen March 3rd and posted then.

 

So, what do you have in your reading pile?

Photo Credit http://www.sxc.hu/home

 

~Getting to know the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales Crew~

January’s Spotlight is on Susan Carlisle

 

Who are the ladies of the Petit Fours and Hot Tamales Blog?  Why should you spend your precious time reading our daily posts?  Why do we want you to follow us and read our books, our personal blogs, our FB status updates and our Tweets?  Let us tell you why…

 

Once upon a time ~ ~

I wanted to be a lawyer but found out I didn’t like school that well.

 

How many “careers” have you had throughout your lifetime?

Worked in a paper mill, worked in two medical records departments in two different hospitals, and have worked as a substitute teacher for 17 years. Now I’m a writer. That would be 4 but that doesn’t count  raising 4 children which adds about another 10 positions         .

 

What is your current “day” job?

I write. I still substitute teach but not as much. With two books coming out this year and another three in the works, I’m writing full-time.

 

What advice would you give someone just starting to dip their toe into the writing world?

Know that if you want to be published it requires work. You have to stay at it all the time. Rejection is part of the process.

 

Why you should read my books?

Because they are great! Really, my books are strong emotional reads. My heroes are men who are lost emotionally in the love department and the heroines save them. Despite their differences the hero and heroine find that there is no one in the world that fits them perfectly except the other. All my books are a happily-ever-after, feel good experiences.

 

Anything else?

Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband? is available in the US in Feb. The Nurse He Shouldn’t Notice will be out in August

I love being a writer and sharing my stories. I also love to hear from my readers. Please stop by and say hi at my website www.SusanCarlisle.com

My Website:                www.SusanCarlisle.com

My Blog (s):                http://www.susancarlisle.com/blog/

FB page/Fan Page:      www.facebook/SusanCarlisle

Twitter:                       www.twitter.com/SusanCarlisle1

 

What Susan’s friends have to say~

Susan is the sweetest person you could ever meet. She doesn’t think twice about rolling her sleeves up and pitching in to make whatever she’s working on the best.  Whether it be with her writing, with her friends or with her family, Susan is 100% dedicated to getting the job done.

There is no doubt that Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband is a great book.  Not only does Susan put her whole heart into her writing, but she also brings an experience that would bring most people to their knees.  Susan writes about her experience with her own young son’s heart transplant in the book, Nick’s New Heart under the name Susan C. May.

 

 

~BONUS REVIEW~

 

Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband?

by Susan Carlisle

 

Reviewed by Carol Burnside/Annie Rayburn

Publisher: Mills & Boon Medical

Kindle AISN: B00699I7UG

Genre: contemporary medical romance

Length: Category novel (50K words)

 

Publisher Blurb:

Rescued by the brooding heart surgeon

Discovering her tiny son desperately needs a new heart terrifies Hannah Quinn – especially when she realizes ex-flame Scott McIntyre is the skilled surgeon in charge of the transplant. Entrusting her baby to Scott’s miracle-working hands is one thing, but whether Hannah’s own heart will survive Scott’s devastating charm intact is quite another…

It’s not often that readers find a debut of this caliber. Readers worldwide will identify with Susan Carlisle’s Hannah, a single mother who learns her very young son is in dire need of a heart transplant. That alone is a lot of conflict for one book, but Carlisle writes romance and doesn’t stop there. Dr. Scott McIntyre is a heart surgeon with a love-‘em-and-leave-‘em past which includes Hannah. She’s been hurt enough, left behind enough and can’t think about romance when little Eric is gasping for every breath.

However, the situation with Eric means that Hannah and Scott are together quite often. They were once friends. His genuine concern for her at a highly emotional time is a volatile combination and Hannah finds herself falling for the doctor once again. Through the highs and lows of the medical situation they face, Scott is steady and dependable, no longer the consummate flirt. Will this time be different, or end in heartbreak once again?

Seeing as Susan Carlisle’s experience with her own son’s heart transplant was the bulk of her research, this book could have easily been overloaded with the medical issue at hand. Instead, Carlisle uses a deft hand to balance Hannah’s motherly concern with the building romance so that Hannah remains sympathetic. She uses that same deft hand to balance Scott’s doctor duties with those of a friend protecting a friend and later, a man in love with both his patient and the mother.

While Heart Surgeon, Hero…Husband? is far from maudlin, have the tissues handy when you read this book. There’s plenty of emotion to be experienced as Hannah and Scott face the challenges of falling in love during tragic circumstances. The resolution inspired a deep sigh and a wide smile of satisfaction from this reader.

 

The Doctor’s Mission

Debbie Kaufman

http://www.debbiekaufman.com/  

Harlequin LoveInspired Historical

ISBN-10: 0373828942

ISBN-13: 978-0373828944

 

A woman doctor! Missionary William Mayweather can’t hide his disappointment. The Nynabo mission in Liberia, Africa, desperately needs help, but he’s vowed not to put another female in jeopardy. Too bad flame-haired Dr. Mary O’Hara refuses to turn back—and he cannot allow her to go into the jungle alone.

Medicine or marriage? For Mary, the choice was clear. Far away from the patriarchal medical community, she resolves to be of real service. She’ll willingly go head-to-head with the handsome, opinionated missionary, even in the face of deadly danger. Yet the greatest tests lie in trusting God’s plan—for the mission, and her future happiness in this untamed, beautiful land…

~~~

I’m going to give a disclaimer right up front – I’m bias where this book is concern. That being said I wouldn’t lie or even write a review just because I know the author. Now you have my proviso I’ll give you my thoughts on The Doctor’s Mission. As a Loveinspired, The Doctor’s Mission more than hits the mark. It is a sweet romance that still has titillating tension. The characters are well-developed and likeable, and the reader roots for the characters to get together. As a historical, the research shines and is woven into the story so that the reader is drawn in, instead of being hit over the head by the information. Its most striking element is that it is some of the finest writing I’ve read. It is spot on for the time period. If you like tender romances with a spiritual element I would highly recommend this book. If you just want to read a well-written book this is the one.

FORTUNE’S SON

 By Emery Lee

http://www.authoremerylee.com/

ISBN-10: 1402256442

ISBN-13: 978-1402256448

 

From the back cover:

Love is the ultimate gamble…

Seasoned gambler Philip Drake knows every trick and uses most of them. After years of infamy, he’s ready to accept the mantle of respectability with his earldom– until a devastating racing loss and the threat of debtors’ prison force Philip right back into his gaming ways…

Susannah, Lady Messingham, is a woman with a past who refuses to belong to any man again. But Philip’s skill catches her eye and she persuades him to teach her how to win at the tables. Their new partnership turns into an exhilarating high-stakes game that entangles them in terrifying risk and unimaginable rewards…

Immerse yourself in the risky side of Georgian England with a pair of lovers who aren’t afraid to risk it all on a toss of the dice…

Emery Lee brings Georgian England to life in her recent release Fortune’s Son. With its cast of colorful characters and a love story rife with twists and turns, this meticulously researched book is a captivating from start to finish. Not your typical beach read, it accompanied me everywhere I went on a recent cruise vacation: poolside, afternoon tea, even to the beach in Cozumel. I simply couldn’t put it down.  It’s that good.

After you finish this one, you will want to go back and read Emery’s debut novel, The Highest Stakes, for more background on some of the characters.  I can hardly wait to find out where this gifted author will take us next!

Bring Me Home for Christmas

By Robyn Carr

http://robyncarr.com/

Publisher: Mira

Release Date:  October 25, 2011

ISBN-10: 0778312712

ISBN-13: 978-0778312710

Three years ago, Denny Cutler broke Becca Timm’s heart when he re-enlisted in the Marines and ended their relationship before shipping out for Afghanistan.  Reeling from the death of his mother, Denny convinced himself he was doing what was best for Becca, who was still in college.  By the time he came home two years later, he had realized his error but it was too late.  Becca had moved on…or so she said.  Denny left San Diego and settled in Virgin River, a small mountain community in the northern California mountains.  In the past year, he’s put down roots, found a job that fulfills him and made good friends he considers his extended family.  But he hasn’t forgotten the girl he let get away.

Becca Timm is at a crossroads.  The private school where she’s been teaching has been closed and the wealthy law student she’s been dating for the past year is talking about engagement rings.  As Christmas approaches, there are major life decisions to be made but Becca can’t seem to take that final step forward.  She may have told everyone that she’s over Denny but the truth is she still has feelings for him.  She decides that the only way to put those feelings firmly in the past is to tag along with her twin brother (Denny’s friend and fellow ex-Marine) to their “guy’s week” of fishing and hunting in the “backwoods” town of Virgin River, see Denny and confirm that she made the right decision in not giving him a second chance.

At first, that’s exactly the conclusion she reaches.  She and Denny can’t seem to be in the same room without arguing and she can’t believe he’s made the decision to spend his life in what she considers a hick town in the middle of nowhere.  She’s sure she could never leave her beloved beach and all the city has to offer.  But when Becca injures her ankle, forcing her to stay in Virgin River beyond the planned week, things begin to change. She begins to realize how much Denny has grown up in the past three years and remembers why she once hoped to spend her life with this man.  And, as she comes to know the people of Virgin River, she begins to wonder if perhaps she’s been looking for her happiness in the wrong place.  Only time will tell if the magic of a Virgin River Christmas will open her eyes to the man, and town, that are perfect for this city girl.

Bring Me Home for Christmas is another heartwarming tale from Robyn Carr’s Virgin River.  While I’ve enjoyed some of the books in this long-running series more than others, I never tire of visiting with the warm-hearted people of Virgin River and the surrounding area and am already looking forward to returning December 27th for Hidden Summit. 

If you’re looking for a heartwarming, small town, second chance romance to put you in the holiday spirit, I recommend curling up with a copy of Bring Me Home for Christmas.

~PJ

An Irish Country Christmas

by Patrick Taylor 

http://www.patricktaylor.ca/index.html

Publisher: Forge Books

ISBN: 978-0-7653-6685-6, ISBN10: 0-7653-6685-1,
Genre: General Fiction

From Jacket:

Barry Laverty, MB., is looking forward to his first Christmas in the cozy village of Ballybucklebo, at least until he learns that his sweetheart, Patricia, might not be coming home for the holidays. He has little time to dwell on romantic disappointment. Though Christmas may be drawing nigh, there is little peace to be found on earth for a young doctor working in the glens of rural Ireland, along with his senior partner, Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly.

To add to the doctors’ worries competition arrives in the form of a patient-poaching new physician whose quackery threatens the health and well-being of the people of Ballybucklebo. Can one territory support three hungry doctors? Barry has his doubts.  But the wintry days and nights are not without tidings of comfort and joy. Despite their hectic medical practice the two doctors still find time to play Santa Claus to a struggling single mother with a sick child and not enough money in the bank. Snow is rare in Ulster, and so are miracles, but that doesn’t mean they never happen.

~~~

This is the third book of this series I have read, and I love this one, too!  You feel as if you should be in front of the fire place with a cuppa enjoying following the lives of Doctors Barry Laverty and Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly.  I laughed out loud at the pageant and could not put this book down.  The author, Dr. Patrick Taylor, was born in Ireland and lives in Canada and Ireland.  If you enjoy letting his writer’s voice transport you to a small Irish Village of years past, then his books are for you.

~~~

The books we review on this site, unless otherwise noted, are our own personal copies. The Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog members do not accept payment in exchange for a review or mention.

The Tycoon’s Christmas Proposal

By Jackie Braun

http://jackiebraun.com/

Harlequin Romance

ISBN-13:978-0-373-17551-2

Hired: one Christmas angel!

With the dreaded holidays nearing, the last thing widowed businessman Dawson Burke needed was a personal shopper who wanted to get personal. What part of “I want to be left alone” didn’t Eve Hawley understand? She just seemed intent on getting him into the Christmas spirit…

Eve could see Dawson had stopped wishing on the future, and he didn’t know how lucky he was to be surrounded by loving family. But once she’d helped him find the joy he’d been missing, Eve couldn’t help wishing Dawson would give her the best Christmas present of all—by proposing to her.

Dawson is a poor tortured soul and Eve is the upbeat woman with her own problems that pulls him back into living again. I liked Dawson, Eve and Dawson’s family. Just a good down home book. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.  Keeper.

~~~

The books we review on this site, unless otherwise noted, are our own personal copies. The Petit Fours and Hot Tamales blog members do not accept payment in exchange for a review or mention.