Sunday, December 21, 2014

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop


Merry Christmas!!!  I hope this post finds everyone having a wonderful holiday season.  For my stop on the hop one person will win a $10 Amazon GC code to get themselves a little stocking stuffer.  Many Blessings to you & yours.



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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Review & Blog Tour: Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined by Rachel Anderson

Rough Around the Edges
Around the Edges Meets Refined (Meet Your Match #2) by Rachael Anderson 
 For Noah Mackie, life is finally back on track. He has a great support system, a promised promotion is on its way, and he's finally getting the hang of this single father thing. But when the job falls through and his neighbor's matchmaking efforts become more aggressive, Noah is in for yet another unwanted detour. With his career and two spirited daughters to worry about, he doesn't have time for dating—especially not someone like Cassie Ellis, his girls' beautiful and sophisticated dance instructor, who is about as open and approachable as a brick wall. Rough around the Edges Meets Refined is about two people who think they know exactly what they want but who have no idea what they really need. It's about learning that people aren't always what they seem and that sometimes life’s detours take you exactly where you need to go. 

Excerpt:
  Carpet samples were way too small. How was Cassie supposed to know what an entire room would look like from a small little swatch? There were too many choices. Nylon or polyester? Plush, frieze, textured, or cut? Not to mention all the color options. And then there was the tile for the bathroom and the complicated dance flooring, with its subfloor and all of its choices.
She felt a headache coming on.
“How will I ever make up my mind?” Cassie whispered to Noah.
“It’s called trusting your instincts.”
“Instincts? I’m supposed to have an instinct about carpet samples?”
“Doesn’t everyone?” Noah grinned. “Isn’t one calling out to you? Telling you that it’s the one you’ll be able to coexist with for the next ten to fifteen years?”
Ten to fifteen years? Noah wasn’t helping at all. Cassie frowned at the samples, willing one to shake or glow or whatever carpet samples did to call out to a person.
“Which one would you choose?” she finally said.
“Uh-uh. This is your house, your carpet, your choice. I’m just here as a friend, remember?”
A friend who was sitting way too close for comfort, Cassie thought as the touch of his shoulder sent a bunch of tingles down her arm. “Friends are allowed to give opinions.”
“No. Only dates are allowed to do that,” said Noah. “If you really want my opinion, you know what you have to do.”
Despite her distress about all the decisions facing her, Cassie couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, fine. It’s a date. Now if you were me, what would you choose?”
Noah blinked as he shook his head. “Wow, that was easy. I should have gone for more. Like a kiss or boyfriend status or—”
She nudged him. “Stop it. I need you to help me, not tease me.”
“I wasn’t teasing,” he murmured, pulling the samples toward him.

My Thoughts: 
Reading one of Rachel Anderson's books is like wrapping myself in a warm cozy blanket.  Every book of hers that I've read I've loved.  She writes books that don't need a ton of needless drama to stay interesting.  Her characters are always complex and intriguing.  Noah & Cassie are no exception.  I related to Cassie in so many ways.  Some relationships forever change us and shape our adult selves.  It's hard to let someone in you've spent years as one person on the outside but you're not sure who you are on the inside.  I understood Noah's apprehension as well.   When raising kids, even the simple day to day tasks can build up and make you feel like you're barely keeping your head above water.  Thank goodness they had some pushy friends & family to help them navigate the dating waters.  If you've never read any of Rachel's books don't hesitate.  They are wonderful!  



Purchase Your Copy from Amazon.com
add to goodreads new   Rough Around the Edges

  RachaelAuthor Rachael Anderson USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

25_Amazon_Paypal
$25 Blog Tour Giveaway Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/19/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
 
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