First Lines...

"Like the luxury co-ops and five-star French eateries located in Manhattan's Silk Stocking District, Benchley East Side Parking was outrageously exclusive. Tucked side by side and bumper to bumper within its four temperature-controlled underground levels beneath East 77th Street were several vintage Porsches, a handful of Ferraris, even a pair of his-and=hers Lamborghinis."

...Tick Tock by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge ( this is an alert for all you James Patterson fans that a new book is coming your way! This will be published in January!)

First Lines...

"Jack Rosenblum switched off the wireless and nestled back into his leather armchair. A beatific smile spread across his face and he closed his eyes. "So there is to be more rain," he remarked to the empty room, stretching out his short legs and giving a yawn. He was unconcerned by the dismal prognosis; it was the act of listening to the bulletin that he savored. Each evening during the weather forecast he could imagine he was an Englishman." ...Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons

The Sunday Salon and Giving Thanks with a November Romance Giveaway!

Hey it's Sunday! And just like an ice cream Sunday with a cherry on top, I've got a delicious treat for you romance readers out there! So, pull up a chair, grab a cup of joe, and take a peek at today's Sunday Salon...

Thanksgiving is coming just around the corner, and courtesy of Hachette Books, I'm Giving Thanks to Chick with Books readers with a November Romance Giveaway! Escape into a great unexpected romance in Vermont, or fall for a hunky Cowboy in Montana. How about playing your luck at love in wild Las Vegas, or cook up some romance in the windy city, Chicago! This giveaway is for the whole bundle! That's one copy each of It Happened One Night by Lisa Dale, Montana Legacy by R.C. Ryan, Tall Tales and Wedding Veils by Jane Graves and Talk of the Town by Sherrill Bodine! AND 3 Lucky Readers will win a November Romance Bundle! Here's what these books are all about...

It Happened One Night by Lisa Dale... Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it. Lana Biel has always wanted to shake the dust of Vermont off her feet and see the world, one exotic country after another. But when a lighthearted spring fling changes her life forever, she turns to the one man whose strong shoulders can lighten any burden: her best friend, Eli Ward. Eli has always been there for Lana--after all, that's what best friends do. But Lana isn't the only one hiding something. Eli is keeping secrets of his own that threaten their relationship.

Montana Legacy by R.C. Ryan...They're the McCords...three rugged, sexy cowboy cousins who'll inherit the family range--if they seek the treasure hidden on it. But even more precious are the women who can

tame their wild hearts... She was the one person who shook Jesse McCord's quiet determination. She was the only one he ever let in, body and soul. Then suddenly Amy Parrish was gone and the oldest McCord cousin devoted his life to the family ranch. Now Amy is back, offering help to Jesse find the McCord gold. Yet Jesse's not about to give her a second chance, and he hopes his pride will protect him from her irresistible charms. But under the wide prairie skies a dangerous, unseen enemy is fast closing in, threatening Amy and Jesse's very lives and the promise of their... Montana Legacy.

Tall Tales and Wedding Veils by Jane Graves... Accountant Heather Montgomery is a planner. So never in her wildest dreams did she think she'd run into sexy charmer Tony McCaffrey in Vegas, play lady luck, and celebrate his jackpot with a champagne-soaked night. And she certainly never expected to wake up the next morning married! How could this good girl pick a man whose fridge is empty and whose apartment is a disaster zone, yet still drives her so crazy with lust she can't see straight? Quickly hitched and happily ditched, Tony can't wait to get back to his playboy ways. But when Heather's family is thrilled that their no-nonsense daughter is finally in love, he proposes a plan: stay married for a month to repay his good luck charm, even though she sterilizes his toothbrush and forbids anything between the sheets. But Heather is more than he bargained for--a sharp-witted, passionate woman who just might turn his near miss into wedded bliss!

Talk of the Town by Sherrill Bodine... Darlings, what a to-do at the Daily Mail today! After fifteen years as Chicago's gossip guru, Rebecca Covington has been demoted from divulger of secrets for the city's elite to headlining recipes in the Home and Food section. Apparently, a touchy senator is threatening legal action for Rebecca's latest extramarital scoop. But Windy City rumor has it that new CEO and dreamy Pierce Brosnan look-alike David Sumner downgraded Rebecca in favor of fresher, younger blood on the social beat. Industry insiders expect Rebecca to fight her denouement, and inquiring minds have already seen the feisty maven trading quips and searing glances with her arresting new boss. Rebecca swears she'll reclaim her shining star status, but can the dishy diva even cook? And how can she ignore David's arousing effect on her sensibilities? Don't miss a trick, darlings. Sparks are going to fly.

It's Easy To Enter! Here's how...

*To Enter leave me a comment with your email address!

*Get an extra entry for following my blog! Just leave a comment letting me know you're a follower! ( Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button on the sidebar to the left! Just let me know you became a new follower!)

*For another entry Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (No PO boxes). The books will be shipped to the winners directly from the publisher. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on November 27th. I will randomly pick the winners the next day and email them! Good Luck!

The Edge of Sight by Roxanne St. Claire... Blog Tour & Review

The killer she can't escape . . .

The heartbreak she can't forget . . .

The one man who can stop them both.

Edge of Sight by Roxanne St. Claire

When Samantha Fairchild witnesses a murder in the wine cellar of the restaurant where she works, the Harvard-bound law student becomes the next target of a professional assassin. Desperate for protection the authorities won't provide, Sam seeks help from Vivi Angelino, an investigative reporter who recruits her brother, Zach, to protect Samantha. A Special Forces vet with the scars to prove he's equally fearless and flawed, Zach takes the job, despite the fact that he and Sam once shared a lusty interlude that ended when he left for war and disappeared from her life. Now, as they crack a conspiracy that leads to Boston's darkest corners, Sam and Zach must face their fears, desires, and doubts, before a hired killer gets a second shot...

I absolutely LOVED this book! Edge of Sight had just the right mix of suspense AND romance! The writing was great and I was hooked right from the start! At the beginning of the book, when Samantha Fairchild was huddled in that wine cellar, hiding from the killer, I was right there with her holding my breathe! And I actually kept holding it for quite some time because the suspense was that "edge of your seat" kind that just kept me turning those pages. No wimpy heroine here either, Samantha is a strong lead character with enough femininity to hold the attention of the man who ends up protecting her and falling back in love with her, Zach Angelino. There's enough sexual tension and passion between Zach and Samantha to keep romance readers happy (really happy!), but there's also a interesting plot. As the story progresses all the characters become fully fleshed out as you learn their backgrounds and connections. Things aren't all serious though, because Roxanne St. Claire adds some lighter moments to the investigation, as Vivi Angelino, Samantha's best friend and sister of that hunk Zach, forms her new security company, the Guardian Angelinos, in which Zach will provide the protection for their first pro bono client, Samantha Fairchild, and Vivi will do the investigation into the murders. As the plot weaves in and out, we actually are following what the killer is thinking and doing too, which just makes it even more interesting. And let's not forget the wrap up because that's good too! PLUS, there will be more from The Guardian Angelinos ( Zach never did get Vivi to change the name!) in Roxanne St. Claire's next two books Shiver of Fear and Face of Danger! But before we get to the next two books (which you can read excerpts from by clicking on those titles), let's read The Prequel to Edge of Sight! Taken To The Edge is the prequel to Edge of Sight...the short story of how Sam and Zach met, their passionate fling, and painful parting. You can read it for free on Roxanne St. Claire's website!

Chick with Books is part of the Edge of Sight Blog Tour! I want to thank Hachette Book Group for the review copy of Edge of Sight! And thank Roxanne St. Claire for a wonderful start to what looks to be a great series! Don't forget to check out Roxanne St. Claire's guest post later today on Chick with Books!

The Peanuts Collection by Nat Gertler... A Review! (and a perfect gift for any Peanut fan!)

It's that time of year again... the time to think about some gorgeous books for Holiday gift giving! If you're a fan of The Peanuts or know someone on your list that is, you are in for a treat! The Peanuts Collection: Treasures from the World's Most Beloved Comic Strip by Nat Gertler is a treasure trove full of Peanut's paraphernalia! It is a BIG beautiful oversize hardcover book which comes in its own slipcase, and is filled with everything and anything a Charlie Brown & Company fan would want...

This fully authorized, one-of-a-kind illustrated book celebrates the 60th anniversary of the world's most beloved comic strip characters. A compendium of rare materials from the Charles M. Schulz Museum and family archives, The Peanuts Collection comes in a sturdy slipcase and features high-quality reproductions of original sketches, comics, and photographs from the world of Peanuts. Removable film cels, stickers, and booklets are included, as well as reproduction prints of Peanuts artwork ready for framing. Written by Peanuts aficionado Nat Gertler, with quotes from Schulz family members and a foreword by daughter Amy Schulz Johnson, the text offers insight into the making of the comic strip and its impact beyond the realms of newspapers and books to film, television, and popular culture. The Peanuts Collection is a must-own keepsake for anyone who loves Snoopy and the gang.

I grew up on The Peanuts. Every year The Great Pumpkin would fail to show up in our home as I was virtually sitting in the pumpkin patch with Linus while glued in front of the tv. A Charlie Brown Christmas was a once a year tradition, and I learned that Charlie Brown would forever trust Lucy to hold that football steady for his kick. This book brings all those memories to life again PLUS! What makes this book so much fun besides all the wonderful full color photos of Peanut paraphernalia and collectibles, are the wonderful pullout items and flip-through booklets! There is a pull out booklet of The Peanuts Pumpkin Carols, a pull out reproduction film cell, and a reproduction of a letter to Charles Schultz from a fan urging integration in the strip. There are cute little reproduction flip open booklets of Snoopy's First Code Book, and a reproduction flip open booklet of Snoopy's Doghouse Cookbook and sample recipe. All in all a feast for the eyes and a great look into history and development of The Peanuts Gang.

Nat Gertler knows his Peanuts. He is the founder and author of Aaugh.com, a comprehensive resource for Peanuts collectors and fans. So check out Nat's website, check out The Peanuts Collection Slideshow, and put a check mark next to The Peanuts fan on your Holiday gift list with this book! This is a great gift book! And a fun look back on 60 years of The Peanuts! BTW, did I tell you it's the 60th anniversary of the world's most beloved comic strip? Well, it is!

I want to thank Hachette Book Group for sending a copy of The Peanuts Collection by Nat Gertler my way! It was such a treat!

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World GIVEAWAY!

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat dresses up for the Holidays!

And the Winners are... Kara, Linda & Debbie! Congrats! And Thank you to Everyone who joined in on the fun!

Here's the book that started it all- Dewey: The Small-Town Library Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron. This sweet story will touch your heart. It definitely touched mine. If you are owned by a cat, if you love animals or just love heartwarming tales, I highly recommend opening up the pages of Dewey by Vicki Myron. This is the story of one very special cat, and how he changed the lives of the people of Spencer, Iowa. I highlighted this wonderful book on a Memoir Monday a few weeks back, so check out my review of Dewey if you missed it. You can learn more about Dewey, the book, the cat & the author, at DeweyReadMoreBooks.com. Read an Excerpt! And in the meantime, here's the synopsis from the publisher...

DEWEY is the heartwarming, true story of an abandoned kitten who went on to live an extraordinary life, inspiring a struggling single mother, transforming a sleepy library and the inhabitants of its depressed Iowa farm town, and ultimately capturing the hearts of animal lovers around the world.

Vicki Myron was a single mom who, after surviving the loss of her family farm and an abusive husband, went back to school and became a librarian (and her family’s first college graduate!). As the director of the Spencer (Iowa) Public Library, her biggest challenge was to raise the spirits of her beloved library’s patrons, the residents of an out-of-the way town deeply mired in the farm crisis of the 1980s. Her solution came in the unlikeliest of places when Vicki found a tiny, bedraggled kitten almost frozen to death in the library’s night drop box. Recognizing the extraordinary strength and uniqueness of this kitten, Vicki received approval from the library board to adopt him as Spencer’s resident library cat. From that moment on, her life – and the town of Spencer – would change forever.

Dewey, as the townspeople named the kitten, grew into a strutting, affable library cat whose antics kept patrons in stitches and whose sixth sense about those in need created hundreds of deep and loving friendships. As his fame grew, people drove hundreds of miles to meet Dewey, and he even ended up the subject of a hit documentary in Japan! Through it all, Dewey remained a loyal companion, a beacon of hope not just for Vicki Myron, but for the entire town of Spencer as it slowly pulled itself up from the worst financial crisis in its long history.

When Dewey died in 2006 at the age of 19, his obituary appeared in over 250 newspapers, including the New York Times, USA Today and the Des Moines Register, and was announced on the national television evening news.

It feels like Dewey week here at Chick with Books! We started the week with a great giveaway for Dewey's Nine Lives, the book that Vicki wrote after this book. If you haven't read Dewey: The Small-Town Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron yet, here's your chance to win a copy! Courtesy of Hachette Book Group I have 3 copies of this charming book to give away! It's the new trade paperback edition of Dewey with a special Holiday cover! Here's how to enter...

To Enter this Giveaway...

*Leave me a comment with your email address! That's it!

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only (No PO boxes). The book will be shipped to the winner directly from the publisher. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on October 23rd. I will randomly pick the winner the next day and email them! Good Luck

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris... A Review

Why would someone hail a cab and open the door only to keep walking?

October is National Reading Group Month, and do I have a great book for your reading group! It's The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris and, after having just turned the last page, words almost escape me how amazing this book is. The Unnamed captured me, threw its arms around me and didn't let me go until the very last word. It's about being in love & the strength needed to endure lifes' detours together, the simple joys that we sometimes overlook until it is too late, and the forces of nature that can grab ahold of us for no good reason, threatening all that we know & love. Here's the blurb from the publisher...

Tim Farnsworth is a handsome, healthy man, aging with the grace of a matinee idol. His wife Jane still loves him, and for all its quiet trials, their marriage is still stronger than most. Despite long hours at the office, he remains passionate about his work, and his partnership at a prestigious Manhattan law firm means that the work he does is important. And, even as his daughter Becka retreats behind her guitar, her dreadlocks and her puppy fat, he offers her every one of a father's honest lies about her being the most beautiful girl in the world.

He loves his wife, his family, his work, his home. He loves his kitchen. And then one day he stands up and walks out. And keeps walking.

Author Joshua Ferris paints Tim Farnsworth as a workaholic. His life is wrapped up in the prestigious law firm where he is a partner. One day he left work... he hailed a cab, got in the cab, opened the other door of the cab, and got out of the cab... he started walking... and he didn't stop walking until his body was so exhausted he sat down on a bench and went to sleep. He woke up in the freezing cold... it was snowing... his fingers and toes were frostbitten. But this was only the start, you see Tim Farnsworth suffers from this condition where he is compelled to walk. He will have to walk until his body is exhausted, no matter how long it takes or where he is at the time that it overtakes him.

At first I thought The Unnamed might be a light-hearted story and that Tim's walking would lead him into some funny situations. But I soon discovered that Tim's walking was no joke... Tim's compulsion created serious issues for his safety- physically if not mentally. If he was underdressed he could get frostbite. He could walk, and wake up, anywhere. He could be attacked or become injured. Tim's wife Jane waited for the phone calls to tell her where to pick Tim up, but soon the phone calls stretched out longer than the night... Tim was such a sympathetic character- what he went through, the internal torture as well as the inability to control his walking, was so well written. You could really feel what he was going through. The frustrations with trying to cure what no doctor could diagnose. And you could empathize with what his wife and his daughter were also going through - their frustrations while trying everything in their control to help.

The story doesn't just spiral down though- Tim has remissions and you begin to hope that he will overcome this "unnamed" disease. His family has hopes for him too. How he deals with his attacks, his job, his co-workers & clients, and his disease makes for some great reading. The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris is both compelling and tragic...

Grab the Reading Guide for The Unnamed! Even if you read this book on your own, the reading guide is a great way to enrich your reading experience. Learn more about Joshua Ferris at the author's website. Read an excerpt of The Unnamed!

*I want to thank Hachette Books for sending along a copy of this great book for review!

GoD And DoG by Wendy J Francisco... A Review

Wendy Francisco's sweet little book, GoD and DoG, is a testament to the unconditional love of both God and our furry four legged companions. If you are fortunate to share your love with a dog, you will not be able to resist this book! If you are an animal lover, you will understand the special relationship Wendy illustrates here. I wouldn't characterize Wendy's book as "religious" because of her references to God, but inspirational. With sparse, but heartfelt words, GoD and DoG is charming and expresses what every dog lover knows...

"I take it hard... each time I fail. but God forgives... Dog wags his tail."

Originally a YouTube Video of Wendy's cute animated illustrations and accompanied by her original song, GoD and DoG became a huge sensation with over 2 million views! Now, Wendy's song and illustrations are put down on paper, along with the sheet music for the song, and we can all be thankful, because it is simply wonderful. I just love this book! 48 pages that will swell your heart with happiness.

I want to thank Anna of Hachette Book Group for sending along a review copy to me of GoD and DoG, which is available now from your local book seller! A perfect gift for someone special or just for yourself! Enjoy the YouTube Video of GoD and DoG and let me know what YOU think!

The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean... It's not a "Memoir" this Monday, but it's True Tales of Madness, Love and History !

True Tales of Madness, Love and The History of The World From

The Periodic Table of The Elements

We're all familiar with the Periodic Table of Elements, it's that big chart in the science classroom that has all the known chemical elements arranged by atomic number. We can find Helium (He), Oxygen (O), and Mercury (Hg)...Great, right?! Sam Kean writes, "Probably the biggest frustration for many students was that the people who got the periodic table, who could really unpack how it worked, could pull so many facts from it with such dweeby nonchalance... People remember the table with a mix of fascination, fondness, inadequacy and loathing." Sam Kean was one of the people who got the Periodic Table, but his love of those chemical elements developed into a love of history, and in The Disappearing Spoon Sam Kean mixes science with our love of a good story and the final product is a wonderful adventure! Here's what the publishers have to say...

The Periodic Table is one of man's crowning scientific achievements. But it's also a treasure trove of stories of passion, adventure, betrayal, and obsession. The infectious tales and astounding details in THE DISAPPEARING SPOON follow carbon, neon, silicon, and gold as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, war, the arts, poison, and the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them.

We learn that Marie Curie used to provoke jealousy in colleagues' wives when she'd invite them into closets to see her glow-in-the-dark experiments. And that Lewis and Clark swallowed mercury capsules across the country and their campsites are still detectable by the poison in the ground. Why did Gandhi hate iodine? Why did the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium? And why did tellurium lead to the most bizarre gold rush in history?

The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean is written like a short story collection. Contained within the pages are these great, interesting stories, written in a way that it's like your favorite Uncle telling you a story - enjoyable and understandable. This makes sense because that's what Same Kean enjoyed as a physics major- the stories his professor shared with him,

" I realized that there's a funny, or odd, or chilling tale attached to every element on the periodic table. At the same time, the table is one of the great intellectual achievements of humankind. Its' both a scientific accomplishment and a storybook..."

What does Shakespeare and the first virus ever discovered have in common? Why did the Parker Pen Company hire a metallurgist? You'll read about Lewis & Clark, Madame Curie, Mark Twain. The stories are relatively short and can be enjoyed in bits and pieces. Hey, while you're enjoying the "tales", you'll probably learn something too! Read an EXCERPT of The Disappearing Spoon and see for yourself if Sam Kean has what it takes to make science interesting to you!

I want to thank Hachette Book Group for sending along a review copy of The Disappearing Spoon!

Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro... An Audiobook Review & Giveaway!

The world's most powerful investigation firm,

takes on three twisted,

almost unsolvable crimes...

Giveaway Has Ended!

CONGRATS TO...Kathy, Jessica & Allison! They each won a copy of James Patterson's Audiobook Privat! Thanks to EVERYone who joined in on the fun by entering, blogging and tweeting about the giveaway!

Like your mysteries & suspense with a PI hunting down the bad guy?! How about a story packed with not one but three crimes?! Then Private by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro is for you! Great characters whose lives are so cleverly entwined, and 3 great cases that Jack Morgan and his investigation company, Private, is working on that will have you on the edge of your seats.

Jack Morgan runs Private, a large private investigation firm, where the rich and famous go, but also anyone who wants discretion... Jack and his investigators have a world wide network of technically savvy resources to help them solve even the most difficult crimes... and they're going to need it. First Jack begins investigating a high stakes NFL gambling scandal. Looks like the games are rigged somehow, and with lots of money on the line, Jack's firm is hired to investigate if it's even possible, let alone happening. At the same time, Private is asked to be part of the police investigation of the unsolved murders of thirteen young girls. The crimes seem related, but at the same time they look to have been committed by different people, but how? and why? Finally Jack gets a call from his best friend; it seems his best friends wife ( and Jack's former lover) has been murdered. The husband looks guilty, but Jack knows his friend would never do it, and as Jack investigates who else may have a motive, secrets start coming out of the closet that turn his perceptions of who his best friend really is and who his ex-lover really was upside down. The story starts out slowly, laying down all the players, their relationships and the scenes, but quickly moves to a faster pace, with twists and turns that make you want to keep turning the pages, or in my case, because I listened to the audiobook, keep listening by driving around the block a few more times! Having 3 crimes being investigated at the same time really holds your attention. The characters are well developed with intertwined histories that are interesting and create a whole other set of possibilities in the story as people are motivated because of their past with each other. And Jack sure has a "past" with quite a few of the ladies in the story, but I guess that's common among PI's, right?!

But my review is really for the audiobook version of Private. And as much I can tell you I really liked the story, (And I really did!) the narrator really has a big part in how well you enjoy an audiobook. Peter Hermann is the narrator and does an excellent job of holding your attention with his wonderful buttery voice. Hermann's credits are in film, television and Broadway productions. He has full command of his characters (and there are quite a few) and does a great job of separating them through subtle nuances with his voice. Good timing, an interesting voice, the talent of Peter Hermann and a great story to back it all up make Private a great audiobook! Fans of James Patterson will enjoy this, but also fans of Maxine Paetro who is gaining a following in her own right.

Want to listen to a great audiobook?! Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is unabridged, on 6 CD's and is approximately 7 hours. AND Courtesy of Anna of Hachette Book Group, I have 3 copies of the audiobook Private to GIVE AWAY! Learn more about James Patterson! Then Listen to an excerpt of Private! And finally enter to win a copy of the unabridged audiobook of Private! Here's how to Enter...

Giveaway Has Ended!

To Enter this Giveaway...

*For one entry leave me a comment with your email address!

*Get an extra entry for following my blog! Just leave a comment letting me know you're a follower! ( Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button on the sidebar to the left! Just let me know you became a new follower!)

*Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (No PO boxes). The books will be shipped to the winners directly from the publisher. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on August 14th. I will randomly pick the winners the next day and email them! (please check your email.. winner must reply to me within 3 days! Thanks!) Good Luck!

Barely a Lady by Eileen Dreyer... A Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway!

Barely a Lady... Book One in the Drake's Rakes Series

Giveaway Has Ended!

Congrats to Aimee, Cheryl and Chanelle!

Olivia Grace has secrets that could destroy her. One of the greatest of these is the Earl of Gracechurch, who married and divorced her five years earlier. Abandoned and disgraced, Grace has survived those years at the edge of respectability. Then she stumbles over Jack on the battlefield of Waterloo, and he becomes an even more dangerous secret. For not only is he unconscious, he is clad in an enemy uniform.

But worse, when Jack finally wakes in Olivia's care, he can't remember how he came to be on a battlefield in Belgium. In fact, he can remember nothing of the last five years. He thinks he and Olivia are still blissfully together. To keep him from being hanged for a traitor, Olivia must pretend she and Jack are still married. To unearth the real traitors, Olivia and Jack must unravel the truth hidden within his faulty memory. To save themselves and the friends who have given them sanctuary, they must stand against their enemies, even as they both keep their secrets. In the end, can they risk everything to help Jack recover his lost memories, even though the truth may destroy them both?

Eileen Dreyer will not disappoint Historical Romance readers in Barely a Lady. What I found refreshing was the setting of this romance. Coming out of the pages of my usual Highlander romances, Barely a Lady is set during the 1815's, in Brussels and during the Battle of Waterloo. Dukes & Dutchesses, Lady's and Earls fill the pages, but so does deceit, betrayals, scandals, passion and treason (And let me tell you backstabbing doesn't even come close to what Olivia experiences from her husbands family). Well developed strong characters (and Olivia makes a perfect heroine), that seem to command the page even from the start, a good story with plenty of history and romance. The romance between Jack and Olivia was enjoyable, but Gervaise is an "interesting" charmer (and Jack's friend) and part of the picture too. Plus, Jack's amnesia makes for some very interesting reading! A good leisurely read for summer!

About Eileen Dreyer... Dreyer won her first publishing award in 1987, being named the best new Contemporary Romance Author by Romantic Times. Since that time she has also garnered not only five other writing awards from Romantic Times, but five RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, which secures her only the fourth place in the Romance Writers of America prestigious Hall of Fame. Since extending her reach to suspense, she has also garnered a coveted Anthony Award nomination for her last paperback, Bad Medicine. She has over three million books in print world wide, and has made regular appearances on the Waldenbook and B.Dalton bestsellers list, and now the USA Today list. Eileen is an addicted traveler, having sung in some of the best Irish pubs in the world, and admits she sees research as a handy way to salve her insatiable curiosity. She counts film producers, police detectives and Olympic athletes as some of her sources and friends. She's also trained in forensic nursing and death investigation, although she doesn't see herself actively working in the field, unless this writing thing doesn't pan out. You can learn more about Eileen at her website EileenDreyer.com.

Want to know a few fun fact about Eileen?

* Eileen has written 25 contemporary romances as Kathl

een Korbel and am a member of the RWA Hall of Fame.

* Hugh Jackman and Kate Winslet were the models for Jack and Olivia.

* All my characters did their own stunts.

* Olivia's name was originally Annie. My characters' names tend to change as I write the book and get to know them better. And Olivia wasn't an Annie. I try and make sure all the names are corrected in editing, but occasionally, I miss one or two.

Now, if all that doesn't entice you, courtesy of Hachette Book Group I have 3 copies of Barely a Lady for a GIVEAWAY! Here's How to Enter...

Giveaway Has Ended!

* Let's all get in a little romance in this summer! All you need to do to enter is leave a comment with your email address!

* If you want to Tweet or Blog about the giveaway, that's great too! You'll get a bonus entry for spreading the word! Just leave me a link to where you tweeted or blogged!

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (No PO boxes). The books will be shipped to the winners directly from the publisher. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on July 27th. I will randomly pick the winners the next day and email them! (please check your email.. winner must reply to me within 3 days! Thanks!) Good Luck!

I want to thank Anna of Hachette Book Group for sending along a copy of Barely a Lady to review! Today's post is also part of Eileen Dreyer's Blog Tour for Barely a Lady!