April 2018 Book of the Month Giveaway
May 18, 2018 08:17 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
My latest Book of the Month is a slightly older book that’s one of this author’s earliest works. When perusing reviews after reading it, I noticed that several readers weren’t as enamored of it as I was, feeling that the heroine was too much. Normally I’m not as big a fan of feisty spitfire heroines, but in this case Lily made sense to me. She’s without a doubt a headstrong, independent woman, but at the same time, her life underscores the difficulties a female in her position and with her temperament faced in an era where the word feminism wasn’t yet a part of the mainstream consciousness.
Left at the altar by a man who didn’t understand or appreciate her personality, Lily became a traveling companion to a spinster aunt who was as eccentric as she was and left Lily her fortune when she passed. Then Lily was sweet-talked by a silver-tongued Italian devil into giving up her virginity, only to have him leave her pregnant and alone. Still she was determined to raise her daughter by herself until the little girl was kidnapped at two years of age. After spending her entire inheritance hiring investigators and paying blackmail money to keep her child safe, Lily had no other option but to win the money she needed to continue the search, so she spends her evenings at a gambling hell doing just that. Then she discovers that her shy, retiring sister is about to marry a man who doesn’t seem suited to her at all, so Lily shows up on his doorstep, intending to disrupt their wedding by fair means or foul, never expecting to fall in love with the man herself. But she isn’t sure if she can trust him with her deepest, darkest secret. Despite her being impetuous and stubborn, I found Lily to be likable. She never gives up on anything or anyone whom she cares about, whether it’s finding her lost child or freeing her sister from the clutches of a man she knows isn’t right for her. And yet underneath all that bluster, beats a vulnerable heart that doesn’t trust easily, which made her relatable to me.
Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways
Tags: Lisa Kleypas
Inspirational Butterfly Ornament + eBook Giveaway
April 13, 2018 07:54 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
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This month, for my second giveaway, I’m offering a pretty butterfly ornament with a ribbon hanger. The inspirational message charm that hangs below it reads: “Put on your brave girl wings.” What a great reminder to step out and take chances! In addition, the winner will also receive an eBook copy of my book Butterfly Serenade. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for your chance to win. International entries on this one are OK. Good luck! |
Categories: Giveaways
Tags: Butterfly Serenade
March 2018 Book of the Month Giveaway
April 13, 2018 07:18 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
I had only one five-star romance read in March, but it was a book I’d been looking forward to trying for the past several years. I’m happy to say that it definitely didn’t disappoint. It was actually a novella, so being on the shorter side, the plot is a pretty simple one of two people who become stranded in an elevator together and form a connection, leading to an unexpected attraction and plenty of luscious steam. I felt like this couple fit together perfectly, so in spite of it’s short length, I loved their story.
Makenna is a forensic accountant, tired from a crappy day, who is rushing to make the elevator, while Caden is an EMT in the same building on personal business. He plays the gentleman, holding the elevator door for her. Neither get a good look at the other before the lights go out and the elevator stops, leaving them stranded together in the dark for several hours. Due to a past trauma, Caden is claustrophobic and afraid of the dark, but he finds Makenna’s voice soothing to his anxious psyche. As a result, they pass the time getting to know one another, leading to an instant but deep connection.
Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways
Tags: Laura Kaye
Heart Necklace & Earrings Set + eBook Giveaway
March 18, 2018 03:34 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
This month, for my second giveaway, I’m offering a pretty heart pendant with faux diamond center along with a pair of matching faux diamond stud earrings. In addition, each winner may also choose an eBook copy of any one of my books: His Heart’s Desire, Heart of the Season or Butterfly Serenade.
Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for your chance to win. Good luck!
International Entrants: You are welcome to enter my contest, but due to the high cost of shipping overseas, if the winner chosen is outside the US, they will receive the eBook prize, along with a $5 Amazon gift card instead of the necklace & earring set. Please note that the gift card will be issued from Amazon.com (the US site), as I am unable to purchase one on any international Amazon sites. It’s my understanding, however, that the card can only be used to purchase items on Amazon.com, and not any other Amazon sites. So please be aware of this limitation before entering.
Categories: Giveaways
Tags: Butterfly Serenade, Heart of the Season, His Heart's Desire
February 2018 Book of the Month Giveaway
March 18, 2018 03:25 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
In February, I only had two romance reads that I rated five stars. My enjoyment of both was nearly equal, so I had a hard time choosing my favorite. After much deliberation, I finally settled on a historical romance by one of my favorite authors. In it, we have a grieving widow paired with her dead husband’s friend, who is a rake of the first order. The desire she thought had died with her husband has been stoked by her latest book club read, a salacious memoir that has the ton all abuzz, and she couldn’t be more surprised to find this old friend starring in her literary induced fantasies. He has lusted after her from afar for years, and now finally has the opportunity to find out if she could feel the same way. Both of them enter the relationship thinking it will be nothing more than a casual affair, but soon discover their emotions run much deeper. But it takes a murderer bent on killing all the hero’s past lovers to spur his declaration of love.
Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways
Tags: Jacquie D'Alessandro
Inspirational Spiral-Bound Journal + eBook Giveaway
February 17, 2018 06:36 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
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This month, for my second giveaway, I’m offering a lovely hardcover, spiral-bound journal. It features inspirational quotes either at the top or bottom of each lined page, along with more motivational phrases all over the front and back covers. Great for jotting down your thoughts or doing creative writing. In addition, each winner may also choose an eBook copy of any one of my books: His Heart’s Desire, Heart of the Season or Butterfly Serenade. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for your chance to win. Good luck! Note: Apologies to my international readers, but due to the high cost of shipping overseas, this giveaway will be open to US entrants only. |
Categories: Giveaways
Tags: Butterfly Serenade, Heart of the Season, His Heart's Desire
January 2018 Book of the Month Giveaway
February 17, 2018 06:27 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
I had a number of five-star reads in January, but the one that stood out the most was the latest release from one of my all-time favorite authors, whose books I’ve shared again and again. In this particular book, we get not one but two love stories complete with two very sweet and passionate HEAs. One features two relatively new characters, who we’ve only known for a couple of books, while the second pairs a character who’s been around a while in this world with someone who is brand new. I ended up loving both couples and thought they were amazing together, and I hope you do, too.
Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways
Tags: J. R. Ward
Butterfly Serenade 1st Bookaversary Giveaway -- Week 4
January 24, 2018 12:24 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
Tags: Butterfly Serenade
Butterfly Serenade 1st Bookaversary Giveaway -- Week 3
January 17, 2018 03:36 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
Tags: Butterfly Serenade
2017 Best of the Year & Choose Your Own Giveaway
January 15, 2018 04:22 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
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Long before becoming a writer I was an avid reader, and in 2008, I decided to start reviewing books, as well. That’s when I founded my review website, The Hope Chest Reviews. Since becoming a published author, I haven’t stopped writing reviews of the books I read for pleasure, in part because I’m now more aware than ever just how important reviews can be to a author in helping readers discover them. That’s why I stubbornly insist upon keeping this up indefinitely, despite the extra time it takes. Ever since I started my review site, I’ve followed the annual tradition of posting my Best of the Year list to highlight all the very best books I read the previous year. Once again, I have an eclectic group of books from a wide variety of genres. |
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Categories: Giveaways
Tags: Best of the Year, J. R. Ward, Jessica Bird, Lisa Kleypas
