#MMBBR #Highlight All Summer Long by @dorotheafrank @WmMorrowBks @Morrow_PB

Filled with her trademark wit, poignant themes, and rich characters, the perennial New York Times bestselling author returns with a sensational novel that follows the travels of a one couple though a tumultuous summer.

Dorothea Benton Frank’s magical stories take us deep into the heart of her beloved Carolina Lowcountry. In her novels, this lush landscape comes alive in all its vibrancy and color. She ignites all of our senses with her vivid descriptions of landscape and atmosphere. In her novels you hear the ocean washing the shore on different islands so profoundly that you can nearly hear the sea gulls squawking too. 

This is a story of people whose lives are changing—a southern gentleman returning home to lead a more peaceful life and his talented New York wife who is not quite sure she is ready to make the transition. They are moving north to south, fast pace vs slow pace, downsizing. And while they are doing this, they are getting glimpses into other people’s lives over the course of a summer, holidays that will amuse, shock and transform them.

This irresistible story is home to captivating characters as funny, complicated, and real as our best friends—husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, friends and family who wrestle with the complexities, pain, and joys familiar to us all.

Finally, we’ll come to recognize the face of love, the kind that deepens and endures but only because one woman makes a tremendous leap of faith. That leap changes them all.

I am the author of sixteen novels placed in and around the Lowcountry of South Carolina and thanking God for my chance to speak. When I'm not writing, I'm reading or gardening or cooking. Love to travel, shoot the breeze with people and most of all, be with my husband and children - not always necessarily in that order. My most recent, ALL THE SINGLE LADIES (William Morrow) went on sale June 9, 2015. Love to have company so come visit at www.dotfrank.com or on Facebook. And by the way, serious huge gushing thanks for everything - your kind words, posts and emails. Writing saves me, but without your support it wouldn't mean as much. (So I'm a little sentimental - big deal.) xxoo Dot

#MMBBR Mega Highlight Round-Up

Sometimes books come in and I do not have time to read them right away, but I still want to share them will all of you!  
So, here are some books that arrived on my doorstep and that I now have on my TBR pile!  
Enjoy! 

John Knox and Grace Chu, the incomparable duo of the Risk Agent novels, team up again in the latest international thrill ride from New York Times–bestselling author Ridley Pearson.

When ex–military contractor John Knox receives a text from partner Grace Chu warning that she fears her cover may have been blown while on assignment, he jumps into action. Knox must locate her overseas handlers, convince them of the threat, and then attempt to retrace the well-hidden steps of a woman who had been attempting to determine how one million euros’ worth of AIDS vaccine disappeared, all while eluding angry poachers on a parallel trail.
            Corruption isn’t a “problem” in Kenya, it’s the way of doing business. The poaching of ivory from African elephants, driven by insatiable demand from mainland China, fuels constant blood and slaughter. Knox faces police, national rangers, journalists, and safari companies who are each in their own symbiotic relationship with elephants, both good and bad. As the threat from Al-Shaabab militants interferes with his pursuit of Grace, Knox finds himself pitted against the most savage and suicidal fighters in the world. And there’s this woman, Grace, always in his head. His gut. As Grace watches as her civilized self slips away while abandoned in the bush, Knox races against the clock to find her.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Colors andBreakwater Bay comes this heartwarming story of love, family, and redemption. Two young girls pledged to be best friends forever. Separated by circumstance and hurt, they are reunited years later as they struggle to put their differences aside for the sake of a special little girl—perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand, Jane Green, and Kristin Hannah.

Two women…
One little girl…
Can they forgive the past in order to ensure the future of an innocent child…?

Once a foster child herself, Sarah Hargreave can’t wait to finalize the adoption of her foster daughter Leila. Sarah longs to give her all the love and stability she was denied in her own childhood. She’s put her own friendships and even her relationship with Wyatt, her longtime lover, on hold in order to give Leila her full attention. 

When Leila’s biological mother suddenly reappears and petitions the court for the return of her daughter, Sarah is terrified she’ll lose the little girl she’s come to love as her own. Convinced the mother is still addicted to drugs, Sarah and her social worker enlist the help of high profile family lawyer, Ilona Cartwright. But when they meet, Sarah recognizes her as Nonie Blanchard who grew up in the same group foster home as Sarah. They’d promised to be best friends forever, then Nonie was adopted by a wealthy family, and Sarah never heard from her again. Sarah still hurts from the betrayal. But Nonie harbors her own resentment toward Sarah who she believes abandoned her when she needed her most.

Mistrustful of each other, the two women form a tenuous alliance to ensure Leila’s future, but when Leila’s very survival is on the line, they’ll have to come to terms with their own feelings of hurt and rejection to save the child they both have come to love.







Lydia has vanished.

Lydia, who’s never broken any rules, except falling in love with the wrong boy. Lydia, who’s been Piper’s best friend since they were children. Lydia, who never even said good-bye.

Convinced the police are looking in all the wrong places, eighteen-year-old Piper Sail begins her own investigation in an attempt to solve the mystery of Lydia’s disappearance. With the reluctant help of a handsome young detective, Piper goes searching for answers in the dark underbelly of 1924 Chicago, determined to find Lydia at any cost.

When Piper discovers those answers might stem from the corruption strangling the city—and quite possibly lead back to the doors of her affluent neighborhood—she must decide how deep she’s willing to dig, how much she should reveal, and if she’s willing to risk her life of privilege for the sake of the truth.

From the glitzy homes of the elite to the mob-run streets of 1920s Chicago, Stephanie Morrill’s jazz-age mystery shows just how far a girl will go to save her friend.








#1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines returns to Rosemary Beach one last time in this highly-anticipated finale.

Spoiled. Selfish. Rich girl. Villain. Slut.

As the Prada-clad bad girl of Rosemary Beach, Nan Dillon has been called every vile name under the hot summer sun. Some of her reputation is deserved—she’s never had to worry about anything but maintaining her perfect figure and splitting Daddy’s private jet with her brother, Rush.

But Nan is far from happy. Rush has another kid on the way and doesn’t have time to catch up with his sister. Grant, the last guy she truly cared about, chose to be with her half-sister, Harlow, instead of her. And Harlow, who has never gotten over the way Nan treated her when she first moved to town, remains distant.

So when Major asks her out, she jumps at the chance to date the gorgeous charmer. Though she doesn’t know much about the sweet-talking Texan, and though it’s clear he doesn’t want to be exclusive, dating him beats hanging out with vapid socialites or watching Netflix alone at home.

For a while, Nan deals with Major’s playboy ways, but after he burns her one too many times, she takes off for an impromptu wild weekend in Vegas. There, she meets Gannon, a darkly seductive and oh-so-dangerous businessman who knows exactly how to handle her.

With Major asking for a second chance and Gannon haunting her dreams, Nan has to decide who to give her heart to. But what she doesn’t realize is that these players are involved in a much bigger game—and they’re already two moves ahead of her. 

It is in the darkest hours of a universe’s past that their legends are born and their heroes rise…

No one knows exactly how much heart they have until their mettle is put to the hazard and they reach the lowest point of hell. There, they have only two choices. Lie down and die. Or find the strength to push themselves to their feet and fight back with everything they have.

Dagger is the alias that is used by Ushara’s husband, and the father of the twins, who is on the run for his life. This is his story and shows how he became a member of the Tavali and what happens to them after Born of Betrayal ends.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes the explosive third book in the latest Eve Duncan trilogy.

Iris Johansen's third book in her latest explosive trilogy starring forensic sculptor Eve Duncan takes readers on a high-energy adventure with Eve fighting to overcome the odds. Protecting Cara Delaney from the enemies who want her dead leads Eve to be their target. It will take everything she has to rescue Cara, and doing so will put that which is dearest to her at risk. Night and Day is the pulse-pounding race to a conclusion that will have readers on the edge of their seats. 

With Joy, Love and a Little Trepidation, Courtney, Sienna and Rachel Invite You to the Most Emotional Wedding of the Year… Their Mother's

Courtney

~ The Misfit ~ 

As the awkward one, Courtney Watson may not be as together as her sisters, but she excels at one thing—keeping secrets, including her white-hot affair with a sexy music producer. Planning Mom's wedding exposes her startling hidden life, changing her family's view of her—and how she views herself—forever. 

Sienna

~ The Free Spirit ~ 

When Sienna's boyfriend proposes—in front of her mom and sisters, for crying out loud—he takes her by surprise. She already has two broken engagements under her belt. Should she say "I do" even if she's not sure she does? 

Rachel

~ The Cynic ~ 

Rachel thought love would last forever…right up until her divorce. As Mom's wedding day draws near and her ex begs for a second chance, she's forced to acknowledge some uncomfortable truths about why her marriage failed, and decide if she'll let pride stand in the way of her own happily-ever-after.

@SheReadsBookCLB Review: BEFORE THE FALL by @noahhawley @GrandCentralPub #MMBBR

I am part of the amazing SheReads Blog Network! Which means that I am fortunate enough to partner with some of the most savvy, talented, and intelligent book bloggers in the business. Every month we wonderful women read our selections and review them on our personal sites. We are kind and witty and love books more than air. We would love for you to visit each of us online and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You don’t want to miss all the book goodness we have to offer! 

MY SUMMER PICK:

BEFORE THE FALL by Noah Hawley 

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

From the Emmy, PEN, Peabody, Critics' Choice, and Golden Globe Award-winning creator of the TV show Fargo comes the thriller of the year.

On a foggy summer night, eleven people--ten privileged, one down-on-his-luck painter--depart Martha's Vineyard on a private jet headed for New York. Sixteen minutes later, the unthinkable happens: the plane plunges into the ocean. The only survivors are Scott Burroughs-the painter-and a four-year-old boy, who is now the last remaining member of an immensely wealthy and powerful media mogul's family.

With chapters weaving between the aftermath of the crash and the backstories of the passengers and crew members--including a Wall Street titan and his wife, a Texan-born party boy just in from London, a young woman questioning her path in life, and a career pilot--the mystery surrounding the tragedy heightens. As the passengers' intrigues unravel, odd coincidences point to a conspiracy. Was it merely by dumb chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something far more sinister at work? Events soon threaten to spiral out of control in an escalating storm of media outrage and accusations. And while Scott struggles to cope with fame that borders on notoriety, the authorities scramble to salvage the truth from the wreckage.

Amid pulse-quickening suspense, the fragile relationship between Scott and the young boy glows at the heart of this stunning novel, raising questions of fate, human nature, and the inextricable ties that bind us together.

This book is quite a wild ride!  You are taken into the lives of all the people who were on the plane the night it went down. As a reader, you get to pick through their lives to try to figure out what happened in the moments before the crash.  You also become witness to the aftermath and how the survivors try to put their lives back together.  You know that all the people on that plane are pieces to the puzzle, but you can never quite figure out how all the pieces fit together.  I was not sure how it was going to be resolved until it was revealed to me at the very end! What an intense, well developed story that is perfect for summer or book club! I highly recommend this for a read or a listen! 5 stars

BUY THE BOOK:

#MMBBR #Highlight Of Better Blood by @SusanMoger

Susan Moger brings her historical expertise to bear in her debut novel Of Better Blood (2/1/2016; ISBN: 978-0-8075-4774-8, $16.99), an intriguing blend of mystery and history that sheds light on one of the darker moments in America’s past.

Rowan Collier had the perfect life before polio took her mobility and her family in one fell swoop. After being paralyzed in one leg, Rowan is abandoned by her father and forced to play the part of Ruthie the Cripple in a carnival sideshow designed to show the public that the “unfit” should be kept from procreating at all costs. However, she finds an unexpected friend in a carnie orphan named Dorchy, who helps her realize that her past doesn’t have to determine her future, and that the strength she thought she’d lost to the disease may still be inside her after all – a strength she’ll need if she hopes to stop the sinister plans of the eugenics movement that’s slowly taking root.

Of Better Blood lends a human element to a grim history that isn’t often discussed, though it left a lasting mark and influenced horrors from Jim Crow to the Holocaust. An author’s note separates fact from fiction, making this book an excellent jumping off point into difficult but timely discussions about the similar prejudices we are still battling today, as well as current issues of universal healthcare and vaccinations.

About the Author: Susan Moger has a graduate degree in history and was a senior editor at Scholastic magazines before becoming a writing instructor. She has written several teaching guides for young people about history, including Teaching the Diary of Anne Frank. She lives in Maryland.Of Better Blood is her debut novel.

BUY THE BOOK:

#MMBBR #Showcase The Castle in the Bubble by Lori Forrest @magicbubblewand

The Castle in the Bubble (Magic Bubble Wand #1)

POP! An old bubble wand. A hazy image in a bubble. POP! And suddenly, Erin is pulled into a new world -- a medieval town, complete with a castle. Mistaken for the princess who has gone missing, she finds herself in danger and on the adventure of a lifetime. With the help of her new friend, Jeffrey, Erin finds clues to the missing princess and struggles to save the kingdom. Join Erin on her first adventure in the magic bubble as she discovers the past of this new world. She must decide who to trust and learns she is braver and stronger than she thought!

Lori Forrest has a BA in English from the University of Puget Sound.  She creates marketing material for a local non-profit, UP for Arts, that promotes public art and local artists.  She served for a year as president of the organization.  She lives in University Place, Washington with her four amazing children that keep her inspired day after day, and on her toes! 

Q.  What inspires your writing?

A.  Being a mom of four wonderful children has really been an inspiration to me.  Not only rekindling my own imagination but also filling me with the desire to create books with strong characters and fascinating worlds as children begin the process of independent reading.  I want to instill a joy of reading in my children and give them books that will fill them with imagination and a sense of adventure.

Q.  What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

A.  My favorite part of being a writer is getting to spend time with my characters and creating new worlds.  When I was a child I would imagine a different world existed inside each bubble that I came out of the bubble wand and I longed to be able to explore each of these worlds.  Now, as a writer, I get to do just that. 

Q.  What is the toughest part of being a writer?

A.  For me it would be putting myself out there.  After working so hard to create something, I really want to share it with the world.  But as a writer you face a lot of rejections and to continue to persevere and believe in what you have accomplished and created at times can be hard.

Q.  If you could not be writer, what would you do/be?

A.  I enjoy teaching and have in the past taught a drawing class that was very enjoyable for me.  I would like to teach writing and editing and creating writing prompts to help fellow writers. 

Q.  What would the story of your life be entitled?

A. “The Unexpected.”  During key times, my life has taken very unexpected turns that changed the direction I had planned to go greatly.  This lead to many unexpected challenges and many unexpected joys.  The first, having my first daughter right after graduating college changed the direction I had been planning for my life, grad school and becoming a professor.  But it gave me not only an amazing daughter that I am so proud of but also the chance to become an artist and writer which I would probably not have done otherwise.

Q.  What is your favorite book of all time?

A.  Lord of the Rings!  I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve read it.  I’ve lost count.  What I love about that book is the fact that you are not just put into a new world, but the world has a rich and extensive history that is eluded too throughout the book.  The characters are also well thought-out and purposeful. Each has a specific role that lends to the storytelling in the book. 

Q.  Which character from ANY book are you most like?

A.  Éowynne from Lord of the Rings.  Partly because she is my most favorite character of all time, but also because she is strong in the face of adversity.  She does what is needed to be done no matter how hard it is and defies a traditional female role without losing her femininity. 

Q.  What character from all of your book are you most like?

A.  I am most like my main character, Erin.  The journey she faces of finding out she is brave and strong and can accomplish things in her own story mirrors the journey I am currently on as I face many changes in my life requiring me to be braver and stronger than I thought I could be.

Q.  Which book would you love to take a weekend vacation inside of?

A.  I would love to take a weekend inside the trilogy, “The Dark Heavens” series.  I am fascinated by eastern culture and lore and martial arts.  I would really enjoy a trip to China and to explore Hong Kong and see the various temples.

Q.  What is your favorite season?

A.  Fall.  Where I live the weather can change moment to moment from sun to rain to storm and the dynamics of the weather is very exciting.  Also, all the trees changing colors is very beautiful and makes me want to get outside before winter.

Q.  What inspired your book cover(s)?  Or what is your favorite book cover and why?

A.  I have a wonderful illustrator, Thi Nguyen (Houdi), who not only did the book cover for my book but also several amazing interior illustrations.  I chose her based on the quality and style of her art.  Her style looks inspired by anime my favorite genre to watch.

Q.  Tell me something funny that happened while on a book tour or while promoting your book.

A.  I had the pleasure of reading excerpts of my book to local 3^rd grade classrooms and answering questions about being an author.  There were many questions concerning the actually publishing and physical book creation process as well as my writing process but the funniest comment came when one of the children upon finding out my oldest daughter was not a featured character in my first book suggested that she should be the villain in my second book.

Q.  Are you working on something new?

A.  Yes!  I am currently writing the second book in the series, “The Underwater Bubble.”  It is scheduled for release November 2016.

Q.  Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping by?

A.  Always keep a sense of adventure!  When life itself is an adventure you will never be bored.  

You can tweet to me or get updates by following my twitter: @magicbubblewand or by visiting my website www.magicbubblewand.com.

#MMBBR #Q&A with Mimi Marten

Tiarra Simon comes from an impressive international family of diplomats. She now lives a comfortable and somewhat routine life as a soccer mom on the island of Maui. But that changes when she, and Reese Martinez, youth soccer coach, arrive to London for a meeting with Alexei Ibramovich, the powerful, intimidating, and rich owner of the Chelsea United Football Club. 

Buy it: http://amzn.to/29HCjJ4

Life experience taught Simona to be tough and self-reliant, but underneath she is more vulnerable than she likes to admit. Finally living in Paris, and hiding behind the ‘mysterious stranger’ facade, Simona has her perfect life. She has great familial support, fulfilling friendships, and an exciting job. That is until he walks back into her life, and with him comes trouble. 

Buy it: http://amzn.to/29BqsZV

I was born in former Czechoslovakia, behind the Iron Curtain, and under the Communist regime. I grew up with stories from grandparents who survived both World Wars. I was surrounded by boys, naturally turning into a rebellious tomboy. That trade carried me through life and everyone close to me knows not to dare me. 

I had been poor and I had been rich. I have lived in many countries; with every color and nationality imaginable. I was raised Christian, but I'm more spiritual than religious. I'm fascinated by the human body and the mind. Philosophy and psychology are my passions. Interestingly enough majority of my heroes are male. Somehow, tough, I keep writing about strong women. 

The older I get, the less I know. It must be wisdom. Keep in mind, I'm still just work in progress. I'm an organized freak, a minimalist, a passionate reader and an expert gourmet. I love life, travel, my two amazing boys, my partner and people in my tribe with the same vibe. I'm truly blessed. 

Q.  What inspires your writing?

A. I feel like I’m on my life #5. My inspiration definitely comes from my life experiences, all the continents I lived on and all the colorful cultures and people I’ve met. I loved and cried, I had people die in my arms, worked for the mafia, bribed customs officers in communist Czechoslovakia, flew on private jets with suitcases full of money tied to my wrist, I got married and had kids, then divorced. Now I am in love again. My life had been a real rollercoaster, and it never stops. 

Q.  What is your favorite thing about being an author?

A. To wake up every morning with the feeling of “I can’t wait to go to work.” :-) 

Q.  What is the toughest part of being an author?

A. As Hemingway said: “Writing at its best is a very lonely life.” Being motivated is a huge self-discipline part, but getting fired up with self-encouragement is not always easy. 

Q.  If you could not be author, what would you do/be?

A. I feel like I have already been many things. I had different careers almost every decade. This one is by far the most satisfying on spiritual level. My soul is the happiest. My life slowed down, but it also gained a lot in quality. 

Q.  What would the story of your life be entitled?

A. Buckle up, there are no easy roads here.  

Q.  What is your favorite book of all time?

A. Gone with the Wind & Three Musketeers.  

Q.  Which character from ANY book are you most like?

A. Hmmm, not sure about that, but I would like to be as strong as Scarlett O’Hara, and as sweet as Melanie Hamilton. :-) 

Q.  What character from all of your books are you most like?

A. There are bits and pieces of me in all my characters. But Simona in Trouble finding Blondie and Tiarra in My Name Is Tiarra are obviously better versions of myself.  

Q.  Which of your books was the hardest for you to write?

A. The first one. I think the debut is the hardest. Invariably you are writing your life story, in one way or the other. It’s not easy to open up old wounds and invite other people into your life. 

Q.  Which of your books was the easiest to write?

A. The series I’m writing now. She is a goodie-goodie with a very shady past…  

Q.  When reading your books I am always moved by the strong female relationships you create, are they based on relationship experiences you have had?

A. Absolutely. I take experiences I’ve been through and they inspire the stories I write.  

Q.  What is your favorite season?

A. Fall. The changing colors are my favorite part. Living on Maui, I miss the four seasons very much. 

Q.  Tell me something funny that happened while on a book tour or while promoting your books.

A. Funny… not sure about that. But interesting, definitely. I find that a lot of women who read my books find themselves wishing they were as strong as my main character. I feel that I give hope and inspiration to a lot of my readers. The feedback I get a lot is that they strive to become better in their everyday life. 

Q.  Are you working on something new?

A. My second book in the second series is now in the editing process. I am writing the third book in that series right now. The second should be published in July-August. 

Q.  Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping by?

A.  I love to entertain people and make them smile. I arrived at the privileged age of forties, and I’m loving it. Forties are all about using your life experiences to practice the wisdom. It’s also a lot easier to tell people to bugger off… When you know who you are, you don’t have to compromise as much. I finally know what I want from life, who I want to be and whom I want to have in my life to be part of the journey. 

#MMBBR #Giveaway #preview #BabyDollBook @hollieoverton

BABY DOLL

by Hollie Overton

In stores July 12^th

ABOUT THE BOOK

"What a compulsive read! A brilliant first novel that kept me transfixed and entertained until the very last page." -- Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of Die Again 

Escape was just the beginning.

Held captive for eight years, Lily has grown from a teenager to an adult in a small basement prison. Her daughter Sky has been a captive her whole life. But one day their captor leaves the deadbolt unlocked.

This is what happens next... to Lily, to her twin sister, to her mother, to her daughter—and to her captor. 

For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, BABY DOLL is the most tense thriller you will read this year.

First Line:  A dead bolt has a very specific sound.  

Thoughts:  I have read a bit of this book and it is really intriguing!  It has one of those starts that compels you to continue to read.  Early thoughts on this book is that is it going to pull the reader in and keep them guessing throughout.

Watch the book trailer here:  

https://www.facebook.com/authorhollieoverton/videos/538924306294661/

GIVEAWAY:

One (1) winner receives a hardcover copy of BABY DOLL.

Giveaway open to US addresses only.

Prizing and samples provided by Redhook.

Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*credit: Heather Overton*

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A tense, unique psychological thriller, Baby Doll is a remarkable first novel from TV writer Hollie Overton, who has worked Cold Case, The Client List, and the new Shadowhunters on ABC Family.

Debut author Hollie Overton was raised by her single mother, and Hollie—an identical twin herself—draws on her unique childhood experiences for her first novel, Baby Doll. Overton's father was a member of the notorious Overton gang in Austin, Texas, and spent several years in prison for manslaughter. Hollie is a television writer and resides in Los Angeles.

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-million

Google Play

iBooks

IndieBound

Kobo Books

Indigo

LEARN MORE:

Visit Hollie Overton’s official website

Follow Hollie Overton on Twitter or like on Facebook

#BabyDollBook

DISCLOSURE:  

This post is brought to you in partnership with Redhook.