Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Thanks to Kayleigh Clark of Penguin Group, I am giving away one print copy of A Pinch of Ooh La La.

Pinch of Ooh La LaBook Description:

To get to happily ever after, sometimes you need to start from scratch….
 
Abbey Ross, who runs her own bakery in Oakland, California, is known for her visually stunning wedding cakes. But lately, Abbey’s own love life has become stale. According to her best friend, Bendrix, Abbey’s not the spontaneous young woman she was when they were teenagers listening to the Cure and creating attention-grabbing graffiti. Of course, her failed relationship with a womanizing art forger might have something to do with that. Nevertheless, it’s time for Abbey to step out of the kitchen—and her comfort zone—and Bendrix has even handpicked a man for her to date.

Samuel Howard is everything Abbey’s dreamed of: handsome, successful, and looking to raise a family. But a creamy icing might be needed to hide a problem or two. When Samuel complains about disrespect for the institution of marriage, Abbey’s reminded of her nontraditional family, with thirteen children from various mothers. And when Samuel rails about kids having kids, Abbey thinks of her twenty-year-old sister who’s recently revealed her pregnancy.

Soon Abbey is facing one disaster after another and struggling to make sense of it all. Her search for love has led her down a bitter path, but with the help of her unique family and unwavering friends, she just might find the ooh la la that makes life sweet.

Praise for ‘A Pinch of Ool La La:

“Renee Swindle writes about the complications of love with great humor, compassion and sass. A Pinch of Ooh La La is a pure delight!”Ellen Sussman, New York Times bestselling author of French Lessons and A Wedding in Provence

 
I dare you to read Renee Swindle’s delicious new novel, A Pinch of Ooh La La, without pulling out mixing bowls and scanning your music collection for the perfect jazz-fueled accompaniment. Swindle hits all the right notes with this unique and satisfying tale of love, friendship, and family.—Julie Kibler, bestselling author of Calling Me Home

 
“Touching and honest, with humor and romance in just the right measures. Swindle’s novel confirms the healing power of family, and her writing sparkles with endearing characters. A fully satisfying read, A Pinch of Ooh La La left me with heaping spoonfuls of hope.”—Amy Sue Nathan, author of The Glass Wives

 
You might think you know where A Pinch of Ooh La La is going when you begin reading it, but you are in for a surprising and outrageous journey. I laughed, I nodded, I shook my head and said, ‘Girl…’ I could not put this book down, and when I finished, I felt like I was saying goodbye to now dear friends. I’m still missing the likable lead and her colorful family. So worth a read.”—Ernessa T. Carter, author of 32 Candles and The Awesome Girl’s Guide to Dating Extraordinary Men

 

About Renee Swindle:

Renee Swindleearned her BA from UC Irvine and MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University.  She lives in Oakland, California with three rescue dogs and three cats.  Visit her online at www.reneeswindlebooks.com and www.facebook.com/reneeswindlebooks.

This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on August 20, 2014.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.

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Thanks to Leslie Schwartz of Berkley Trade, I am giving away one print copy of The Art of Arranging Flowers.

Book Description:

THE ART OF ARRANGING FLOWERS by Lynne Branard, is a compelling, moving and eloquent new novel about love, grief, renewal — and the powerful language of flowers.

Ruby Jewell insists she is perfectly happy with her life, with her faithful dog by her side, surrounded by the beautiful flowers that are her stock in trade.  A florist in the small Washington State town that she calls home, she has a flair for creating arrangements that get right to the heart of the matter. Whether intended to rekindle a romance, mark a celebration, offer sympathy, or heal a broken heart, her expressive designs can inspire every emotion for her customers.However, still broken after the death of her beloved sister, she is not quite able to find and express her own heart’s desires. It is the arrival of a little boy, sent to live with his grandparents after the death of his mother, a terminally ill astronaut, and the arrival of the new veterinarian in town who find a way to open Ruby’s heart.

About Lynne Branard:

Photograph by Robert Branard

Photograph by Robert Branard

Lynne Branard is a pseudonym for New York Times bestselling author Lynne Hinton. She has written over a dozen books, including Friendship CakePie Town, and Welcome Back to Pie Town.
This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on June 17, 2014.  Please use Rafflcopter to enter.

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I had the pleasure of kicking of the tour of When Camels Fly on May 12th.  Today I am sharing my review.

Book Description:

Publisher: NLBHorton, via Amazon’s White Glove (May 15, 2014)
Agent:  Mary Keeley at Books & Such Literary Management
Category: Contemporary suspense, thread of Romance
Tour Date: May/June, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 370 Pages

A mother’s fatal shot. A daughter’s deadly choice.

In Israel, archaeologist Grace Madison shoots her daughter’s abductor. Seconds later, a handsome shepherd drops from the sky to kill a second assassin. Their world changes in two blinks of an eye.

Unbeknownst to them, a fiercely ambitious evil is destroying everything in its path—the unconventional path Grace and Maggie take. They struggle to right a wrong as old as time, and discover time is running out in the race for their lives. Family and friends are swept into their vortex, extinguishing old flames while igniting new loves.

While the scale tips dangerously toward disaster, millions of lives hang in the balance. And the mother-and-daughter team soon realizes nothing is as it seems. Even each other.

Because choosing what’s right is all that’s left.

My Thoughts:

When Camels Fly grabbed my interest from the first page and didn’t let go until the end.  NBL captured the landscape so well that I was automatically transported from Canada to Israel every time I picked up the book.

The characters were so well drawn out.  Grace, the mother of two grown children, was like a fierce mother bear, protecting her cubs.  The entire family had secrets that came out during the story especially Mark, the father, and Jeff, the son.

Though the family was busy trying to protect each other and on the run the entire time, they had a great sense of humor. I loved the family dynamics and felt welcomed into their lives and their bantering back and forth.  I also liked the subtle ecological message about water.  You could even call it a water thriller.

NbL Horton is a graduate degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, I never felt preached to.  Sure there was reference to religion and even a couple of religious artefacts but that is to be expected in Israel, of all places.  Like her character, Grace, NBL has surveyed Israeli, archaeological digs.  I think her personal background is what helped make this story so good.

I can hardly wait for her next book, The Brothers’ Keepers!  I highly recommend When Camels Fly!

5/5

I received the ebook for my honest opinion.

NLB with Shushi, the camel

About NLB Horton:

After an award-winning detour through journalism and marketing and a graduate degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, NLBHorton returned to writing fiction. She has surveyed Israeli archaeological digs accompanied by artillery rounds from Syria and machine gun fire from Lebanon. Explored Machu Picchu after training with an Incan shaman. And consumed afternoon tea across five continents.

When Camels Fly is her first novel. Her second, The Brothers’ Keepers, will be available November 2014.

Website: http://www.nlbhorton.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NLB-Horton/289059931145461
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NLBHorton
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nlbhorton/
G
oodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121286.N_L_B_Horton

Buy When Camels Fly:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords
Kobo
iBook

Don’t forget about the book giveaway, already in progress.  This giveaway is open internationally and is for the choice ebook or print.  Sorry, print is only available to the U.S. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
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