Construction Beauty Queen by Sara Daniel

Construction Beauty Queen

by Sara Daniel

Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled (Bliss Imprint)

Release Date: September 25, 2012

Heat Level: Sensual

Word Count: 67,000

Buy Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Construction-Beauty-Queen-ebook/dp/B00BFQ7B96/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/construction-beauty-queen-sara-daniel/1113013431

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/construction-beauty-queen/id603614878?mt=11

For more buy links and to preview the first chapter visit: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/construction-beauty-queen/

Blurb

Chicago socialite Veronica Jamison is determined to shake off her sheltered lifestyle and overbearing parents. She heads to her grandfather’s small town of Kortville, ready to roll up her sleeves and work for the family construction business. She’ll prove her worth, even if it means answering to the company’s ruggedly handsome co-owner, Matt.

Matt Shaw just wants to run his business, spend time with the niece he’s raising on his own, and give back to the townspeople who have stood by him. Managing a spoiled-rotten princess he knows he’ll never be good enough for? Not part of his plan. But as he gets to know Veronica, he learns there’s more to her than her beautiful looks and designer clothes. She’s got a heart as rich as her background.

With the quirky townspeople rallying against Veronica inheriting her grandfather’s business, it’s up to Matt to try to drive her out of town. But how can he, when instead she’s driving her way into his heart?

Excerpt

"You left your tools behind," Veronica noted as Matt backed out of the driveway. "We didn't finish hanging the gate, and I really wanted to meet the owner of that house."

"I'll come back and finish up. The job's almost done."

"So I'm your top priority." She leaned her forehead against the window. "That's so sweet."

His chest tightened, but he kept his voice impassive. "You have a warped idea of top priority if you think someone who makes you beat yourself up with tools and then pass out is sweet."

She lifted her head enough to smile weakly at him. "Matt Shaw, you are without a doubt the sweetest boss I've ever had."

His fingers twitched. He clenched the steering wheel, but it was a poor substitute for the skin he longed to touch. "You're only saying that because I haven't fired you yet."

Reviews

“I loved Matt and Veronica and fully enjoyed this book.  I laughed and cried, it kept me entertained and it was hard to put down.” –Crystal from My Reading Room, 5 stars http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com/2012/10/author-interview-review-giveaway.html

“This book was exactly what I needed today.  It was sweet, funny and something to get completely lost in for a couple of hours.”  --Shannon from Cocktails and Books, 4 stars http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/2012/10/review-construction-beauty-queen-sara.html

About the Author

Sara Daniel writes what she loves to read—irresistible romance and captivating emotional drama. She writes to entertain and to give people hope and a belief that everything can and will turn out happily ever after. On the personal side, Sara is a frazzled chauffeur, chef, personal assistant and slave to her children. She's crazy about country music and the drama of NASCAR. She has her own happily-ever-after romance with her hero husband. In addition to Construction Beauty Queen, she is also the author of The Wiccan Haus: A Man Worth Fighting For, The Wiccan Haus: Psychic Lies, Mr. Forever, More Than a Fantasy, Zane’s Art, and Wyatt’s Guilt.

Connect with Sara Daniel:

http://www.SaraDaniel.com

http://saradanielromance.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/SaraDanielSaraShafer

http://www.facebook.com/SaraShaferDaniel

http://www.twitter.com/SSaraDaniel

http://pinterest.com/ssaradaniel/

https://plus.google.com/116527894393652698361/posts

http://www.goodreads.com/SaraDaniel

 More tour stops :

http://www.cblspromotions.com/2013/04/blogbarrage-construction-beauty-queen.html

Caramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson

 

Crushed by a broken heart ten years ago Cleo Tanner walked away from her acting dreams and now leads a quiet secluded life in Seattle. Sylvia her best friend from college is trapped in a loveless marriage distraught by her inability to conceive a child - until an adoption agency owner in relentless pursuit of Cleo offers to help.

Just as Sylvia begins to experience a profound love that only a mother can feel, a detective approaches Cleo with disturbing questions about the adoption agency. Determined to protect her friend Cleo jumps into a dangerous investigation that forces her to confront the ghosts of her past.

Bestselling author Tess Thompson, whose debut novel Riversong touched the hearts of readers worldwide, delivers a captivating and suspenseful tale of the possibilities that await us in life and in love - if we can find the courage to get off the sidelines.

A toast to friendship, motherhood, mended hearts and new beginnings, Caramel and Magnolias reminds us it's never too late to reawaken the heart.

Note from the Author:

I’m not sure about other writers, but I find I don’t necessarily know, thematically, what I’m writing about in my novels until after the first draft is finished. When I read through the completed draft for the first time I see clearly how it is reflective of my current circumstance. This was the case with Caramel and Magnolias. There was a primary aspect of my personal life where I had chosen to remain on the proverbial sidelines, as is the case with all four of my main characters. I was in an unhappy marriage, much like the one I describe for Sylvia (although there was no infidelity) and felt there was no way to get out. I have young children and like so many of us, would do anything to protect the family unit and the thought of hurting a good man who was loyal and supportive was excruciating. So instead of acknowledging to myself how dead I felt inside, I turned all my energy into my work and my children. However, there came a time when I could not squelch my feelings any longer and made the hardest decision of my life. Ending a marriage is painful and messy. But on the other side of it was feeling alive again - just as it was for my characters. Now I just need the happy ending I wrote for them for myself.

RATING: 4 Chirps

Overall, I enjoyed this story.  The problem for me was the mash up of character views.  I found myself confused a bit from the very beginning, going from one POV to another, everyone having a say.  I found it a bit hard to keep them straight in my head.  Aside from that, the story was touching and  shocking at the same time.  

Sylvia is desperate for a child.  She'll do anything, and her friends will do anything to help her.  Her husband, however, wants nothing to do with adoption.  Eventually he leaves her, which leaves her to adopt alone.  As with any good romance, this leaves room for the knight in shining armor, and another love connection develops.  It turns out her husband was not "her person" after all, and everything comes together for her in the end.

In the meantime, Cleo absorbs herself in finding the truth about the adoption agency.  Having been manipulated into dating a man to help her best friend move to the top of the list, Cleo uses her connections to determine the secret he's hiding.  With the help of Peter Hall, a detective who has opened her mind and her heart after years of seclusion from men, she discovers much more than she bargains for.  And more people than she could have imagined are affected by the truth.  

Overall, the story has as wonderful message, which is summed up in one line in the book.  Throughout all the turmoil, fear and betrayal the characters felt - the choice was in their hands.  Don't shut yourself off from love.  Take the opportunity where you can, and savor every moment of it.  You never know when it will be threatened, or taken away.  And I wish Tess all the best of luck in finding that for herself.

"Choose to live, to love, to be chosen." 

Tess is giving away an eCopy of Caramel and Magnolias to one lucky reader who comments below.  There will also be a grand prize giveaway of print copies of both Caramel and Magnolias and Riversong.  Enter using the Rafflecopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


And for those of you who just can't wait to get your hands on this book :

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Caramel-Magnolias-Tess-Thompson/dp/1935961829/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365595782&sr=8-1&keywords=caramel+and+magnolias

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caramel-and-magnolias-tess-thompson/1114233277?ean=9781935961826&isbn=2940015972092&itm=1&usri=caramel+and+magnolias

ITunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/caramel-and-magnolias/id595846568?ls=1

Kobo:

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Caramel-and-Magnolias/book-G2w8KPbu5Ua1tjqHsdnaHg/page1.html?s=CkRaZlFnmEea0Qa-pXxsCA&r=1


Feel free to contact Tess and say hi. 



Tess Thompson Contact Links
FB Author Page https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTessThompson?fref=ts
Website https://www.tesswrites.com
Amazon Author page http://www.amazon.com/Tess-Thompson/e/B004W3WOTG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1677547.Tess_Thompson


You can also follow Tess on the rest of her Caramel and Magnolias tour at these stops.  

 
4/8 RomFan Reviews / Ariesgrl Book Reviews

4/9 For the Love of Bookends / Storm Goddess Book Reviews

4/10 Kricket's Chirps / My Secret Romance

4/11 Romance Book Craze / Rambling Reads / Twinsie Talk 

4/12 Queen of all She Reads / Salacious Reads