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Book Review: Careful What You Wish For by Michelle Escamilla

Ebook cover for Wish
Synopsis
One simple wish would change everything…Unless you didn’t even wish for it
Harley Simpson had one wish – to find Prince Charming and settle down. However, she still had yet to find that one guy, so she buried herself in her work and decided to just have fun.
On her way out for a night with the girls, Harley meets a mysterious cab driver. The woman starts to question what she’d really like in life. Although Harley found it rather odd for a cab driver to ask such deep questions, Harley told her.
A wish gone bad…
Harley finds herself the next morning, married to her boss and two small girls running around the house. She’s at a loss for words, especially since she’d never even kissed the guy and now she has two kids. Is this the life that she truly wanted or has fate gone completely wrong? Can she get out of her suburban nightmare or will Harley learn how to become that mom she never thought she’d be – in this messed up fairy tale –
Careful What You Wish For

 

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Book Review 

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

 

Careful What You Wish For  is a sweet story about Harley Simpson, a woman who has been career driven and has little to show when it comes to relationships. She’s had a crush on her boss Ethan since she laid eyes on him and has been secretly pining for him. She becomes a fumbling mess when he’s around and can’t help, but daydream of him and their happily ever after. One day after landing a project at work she heads to a bar for a girls night out. On her way out to catch a cab she has run in with Ethan and is left a bit out of sorts. The cabbie seems interested in her life and what she wants. After a brief talk she admits some of her desires especially about her boss. The cabbie wishes her well and she spends a night out with the girls. After one too many drinks, Harley heads home, but when she awakens the next morning she’s not exactly in Kansas anymore.

 

She has somehow stepped into a new life with Ethan as her husband and two daughters she doesn’t remember having. Terrified and confused, Harley wants nothing more than her old life back, but is it that simple now that she’s got everything she’s ever wanted? And is everything she ever wanted truly the best thing for her? Careful What You Wish For, Harley, you just might get it…

 

To be honest I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I had never read any of the authors earlier works so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it is a quick and enjoyable read that you will likely finish in one setting. I actually emailed the author to tell her I put my life on hold to finish the book because I got so into it. It’s also a very funny read. I think most people still enjoy the magic of fairy tales so this, to me, is a charming adult read with a magical twist. It makes you think about all the things you’ve ever desired and how right they may have seemed in your mind until you actually get them. It’s kind of like the adage, “the grass is greener on the other side”…or is it really? Harley’s biggest obstacle will be realizing if this reality meant for her or one better left unexplored. The ending is perfect. I’d definitely recommend this book to romance readers. This is also a great beach read. Check it out and let me know your thoughts!

 

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I am a stay at home mom to two wild and crazy kids. I started writing when my husband suggested instead of waiting around for books – create my own. He never realized (nor did I) that it would become more than a short story here and there. I have officially written 5 books and 2 novellas. When I’m not writing (which is rare) I love to be hiking and enjoying the outdoors.

 

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Seconds Before Sunrise (The Timely Death Trilogy, #2) Cover Reveal and Scavenger Hunt

Seconds Before Sunrise

Synopsis: 
 
Two nightmares. One memory.
 
“Chaos within destiny. It was the definition of our love.”
 
Eric has weeks before his final battle when he’s in an accident. Forced to face his human side, he knows he can’t survive if he fights alone. But he doesn’t want to surrender, even if he becomes the sacrifice for war.
 
Jessica’s memory isn’t the only thing she’s lost. Her desire to find her parents is gone and so is her confidence. But when fate leaves nightmares behind, she decides to find the boy she sees in them, even if it risks her sanity.  

 

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Seconds Before Sunrise is slated for release on March 22, 2014
 
Fact #38 The first book is focused on what it’s like to be in the Dark
 
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About the Author
At sixteen, Shannon A Thompson became the young-adult author of “November Snow.” In 2012, Shannon became a published poet. Both of her published works are dedicated to lost loved ones, her mother and her roommate. Her latest novel, “Minutes Before Sunset,” released May 1st by AEC Stellar Publishing. The award-winning, young-adult, paranormal romance is the first novel in A Timely Death series, and the second book is expected to release in March of 2014. Her first short story, Sean’s Bullet, was published in an anthology in October of 2013. 
Currently, she’s finishing her senior year at the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in English, while working as a Social Media Marketing Manager. 
Shannon spends her free time writing, but she loves spending time with her father and brother. She also has one black cat named after her favorite actor, Humphrey Bogart.  
 

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Unholy Nights (A Twisted Christmas Anthology) Cover Reveal

For folks who like their Christmas a little twisted, seven tales of charms and magic, curses and intrigue…

Featuring novellas from popular authors Linda Barlow, Andra Brynn, Carly Carson, Alana Albertson,  Kara Ashley Dey, Nicole Blanchard and Cherie Chulick.

Snap up this Christmas collection and spice up those frigid winter nights with a great story at an irresistible price. Seven riveting romances by award winning authors for $0.99. The perfect gift for you favorite bookworm. (Regular price: $4.99)

Releases December 2, 2013 at your favorite retailer in ebook and print. 

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A Kiss is Just a Kiss by Linda Barlow

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Synopsis

It’s Christmastide, but Holly Mathers can’t seem to get into the spirit. She’s been obsessing for weeks over a hook-up gone wrong with the hot, green-eyed Will MacIvey, who’s treating her like the ghost of Christmas past. When she and her roommate are invited to a Winter Solstice celebration by their faculty advisor, Holly is thrilled to learn that Will is going to the party. Holly’s roommate has procured a sprig of enchanted mistletoe that she plans to use to steal a kiss from the sexy professor. When she chickens out, Holly decides to try the spell on Will, hoping that a kiss under the mistletoe will remind him of the steamy night he seems to have forgotten. But magic always comes with a price… 

Linda BarlowAbout the Author

Linda Barlow lives in New England with her mysterious spouse (who sleeps during the day, which has often made her wonder if he’s a vampire) and their equally enigmatic and nocturnal cat.

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In the Bleak Midwinter by Andra Brynn

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Synopsis 

In the bleak midwinter…

With no money and nowhere to go, Ayla MacFarlane’s first midwinter break from college returns her to the decaying house she grew up in–and to the shadow of her father, whose perverse obsession with her made her years there a misery. Now under her father’s control again, Ayla knows that if she leaves once more it will only be a matter of time before their father turns his sights to her little sister Julia…

“There’s a boy in the woods…”

But the hunted are not always without protection. While Ayla has been away, Julia has made friends with a mysterious boy in the woods that surround their property. Certain he is up to no good, Ayla sets out to confront him, only to find a beautiful young man who speaks in riddles and makes her heart race. What is stranger is that he knows things no human should know, and he tells Ayla that he can help her…for a price. 

The hunt is on…

As the solstice nears, the time of reckoning is at hand. Will Ayla have the courage to reclaim all her father stole from her and protect her little sister, or will she be be a slave to her fear, and lose her chance to save herself forever?

 AndraBrynnAbout the Author

I write books. Obsessively. And I read books. Not quite as obsessively as I’d like, since there are all these books I have to write, you see. One day I will take a book vacation and do nothing but read my TBR list.

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Love Charm for Dakota by Carly Carson

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Synopsis

Nantucket is the home of hedge fund titans, old money and hidebound tradition. Habits are comfortable, and the habits of the rich are very comfortable. Into Cabot Saltonstall’s sedate world blows Dakota Bishop, possessor of a wild spirit and a magical love charm. Cabot’s blue-blood family history includes an ancestor who resigned from the Salem Witch trials, because he refused to believe in witchcraft.

But Cabot is all too willing to be bewitched. 

Dakota can’t stay still long enough for anyone to tie her down, nor is Cabot the right kind of guy for her. If only he’d have sex with her so she could get him out of her system. Why does he need to be so traditional with his emotions and plans for the future?

Does she know enough of witchcraft to overcome the spell of the accidentally cast love charm? 
CarlyCarson

About the Author 

Carly lives near Nantucket Island, where the Christmas Stroll is an annual event. Having found her own Prince Charming at a young age, she’s never needed a love charm, but please join her as she tells the tales of other women who’ve used a bit of magic to find true love.

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The Snow Queen by Alana Albertson

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Synopsis

Five years ago, Cambridge Ballet’s Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier vanished after performing The Nutcracker. Despite extensive city and statewide searches, no traces of them, besides their ballet slippers, were ever found. Every year since, another member of the cast has gone missing after closing night: the Mouse King, an Arabian Dancer, The Dew Drop Fairy, a Flower. Nieves Alba, who as a thirteen-year-old played Clara in the first ill-fated performance, is now cast as the Snow Queen. On closing night, every police officer in Boston surrounds the theater, determined to catch the perpetrator whom they’ve dubbed “The Nutcracker.” Can Nieves break the curse or will she be the next victim of America’s favorite ballet?

AlanaAlbertson About the Author

Alana Albertson never was fortunate to get cast as the snow queen though she did play the soldier. She has extensive collections of snow globes and nutcrackers but none of them have ever been enchanted.

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How Lovely Your Branches by Kara Ashley Dey

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Synopsis 

Recluse, Katie Crowe, has observed the world from a window in her father’s loveless house. With the death of her father and the departure of her only friend, Katie sees no point in venturing out. Then a new neighbor and his three female companions take up residence across the road in the very house her friend had vacated four months ago. Gabe’s eyes hold a promise to Katie when she gazes into them–a way out of her lonely prison, if she could but step beyond her threshold. Something holds her back: Though the past and its people seem far from her now, the trees still know her haunting secret.

KaraAshleyDey About the Author  

Kara Ashley Dey is a writer of UF and Sci-Fi Romance. Her alter ego is an abbynormal cg artist.

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The Perfect Gift by Nicole Blanchard

Perfect Gift

Synopsis 

Sera Flaherty would rather take lumps of coal and be committed to the naughty list for life than admit that she has a role to play in her failing marriage. She deludes her way into a negative bank balance  and is left with no chance of getting her husband Spencer a present. When faced with the reality of their relationship, Sera finds she’s willing to sacrifice anything to fix her mistakes and find her husband the perfect gift…even if doing will cost more than she bargained for.

NicoleBlanchard

About the Author

Nicole Blanchard loves receiving gifts from strangers so long as they don’t come with an ominous warning or risk of dismemberment. She also enjoys taking full advantage of the fringe benefits of being on the naughty list in her spare time.

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Until the Twelfth Night by Cherie Chulick

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Synopsis 

Lady Elizabeth Darling has fled her overbearing family to spend the holidays with her late husband’s Aunt at Scarsbury Manor in the hills of Herefordshire. What she hoped would be a quiet Christmas quickly turns upside down as strange sightings begin to stack up and rumors fly that the great house is haunted. She tries to stay out of the drama, but when a young maid who also lost her lover in tragic circumstances asks for her help to move forward she drops everything to come to her aid. With age old traditions underway and a diverse guest list including the handsome and outspoken Captain Wolfe on the premises, can Lady Elizabeth heal both their hearts and find love before it’s too late?

 CherieChulickAbout the Author  

Cherie Chulick will not be spending her Christmas holiday at a haunted manor, but she does keep an eye out for the occasional ghost. Fortunately the glow of her Kindle seems to keep them at bay. 

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Colour Wielders Book Blast & Giveaway

Behind the Faerying Mysts, hidden from Mortal eyes, is a land where gods and creatures of myth and legend dwell. And in the Mortal Realm, their Princess is hidden away.

Quinn Sinclair lives an ordinary life with her less-than-loving mother in Conifer, Colorado, clueless of her true nature. On the night of her birthday, a staggering betrayal sends her life spinning out-of-control. As she struggles to pick up the pieces, a vision of a man with haunting tourmaline-blue eyes begs her for help, and she is transported into a Magykal battle-forever changing her life.

Arik Morgaine-Demigod bad boy and outcast of the Magykal Realm-tried to avoid contact with Princess Quinn for eighteen years, not wanting to make good on an old threat. But the fates have other plans. Arik can no longer deny his growing desire for Quinn, or the need to protect her from those wanting to control her burgeoning powers. Can the two of them come together and save the Magykal Realm from being destroyed by the Darkest of Magyks?

New Adult. Recommended for 18 and above. Mature themes, sexual situations, and profanity. 

 

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Chapter One
Virgin Territory 

Gentle fingertips grazed the edge of her jaw, trailing down her neck to her collarbone. His citrine gaze stared deeply into her eyes, and her body heated at his tender touch.
“You’re okay, yeah?” Thaene asked, his voice hoarse from their lovemaking.
Am I okay? She hardly knew. Though she had nothing to compare it to, this feeling was more than giving her virginity to him. Quinn felt like something bigger inside had stirred to life, wanting to escape.
“You know I love you. I’m sorry if it hurt.” He kissed her again, his lips caressing hers, as if he could take the ache away.
“Say something, Quinn. Please.”
“I love you, Thaene.” She pressed herself into him, passionately returning his affection. As their kiss continued, Quinn wondered if he wanted more. She also wondered if she had more to give.
“I want us together, always. Do you want that, Quinn?” Thaene’s eyes danced with a mixture of emotions—love, passion, possessiveness, and something else she couldn’t name.
“We can have forever. You want that, don’t you?” Thaene asked.
“Yes,” Quinn answered breathlessly, before realizing what she’d agreed to. She smiled, finding his need for her exciting.
“Forever is a long time. But I could do it with you.”
Thaene smiled back. Happiness lit his face. He looked like he’d just won a major prize—he looked triumphant.
“Being with you on your twenty-second birthday was very special to me. You’ve given me such a precious gift.”
“I love you. I can’t imagine my first time with anyone else.”
Besides, my gift of Sight showed you to me, over and over. How could I not give myself to you?
Her gift had shown her something else as well. Since she didn’t understand it, Quinn ignored it. She’d followed her heart where Thaene was concerned. Not even her mother’s dislike—or in spite of it— changed her mind. Following your heart always led you down the right path.
Thaene lightly brushed her hair from her face, then he rested his forehead on hers.
“There’s something else I’d like you to give me. Will you do that? Give me what I desire the most?”
The longing in his voice made Quinn squirm underneath him. Right now, she’d give him anything.
“It’s the most precious gift of all. One I’ll cherish forever.”
Oh my God. He wants to marry me.
“Yes,” Quinn said, drawing in a breath. “I’ll give you anything.”
“Good.” Thaene nuzzled her neck. “I want you to show me your Magyk.”
“What?” Quinn blinked at him, wondering if she’d heard him right.
“If you want us to have forever, you must show me your Magyk.”

 

Buy it…
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Want a Review copy? Colour Wielders is live at Story Cartel, available for download for review. Also each review is entered for a chance at 3 $10 Amazon Gift Certificates. 🙂
 

Story Cartel – CLICK HERE. 

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Dawna Raver is an author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Colour Wielders, Book One, is her debut novel. When she’s not spending time in her fantasy world, Dawna loves football, reading, and pretending she’s a top chef in the kitchen. Oh, and fawning over her dogs and husband, sometimes in that order.

 

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