Forever Texas Blog Tour with 2 Book Set #Giveaway

Today we have a special treat. This is a two book tour with two really fun romances. Both Jane Graves and Christie Craig have written a guest feature and both have graciously offered a set of their books to three lucky readers. That's right - the winners will be getting both "Heartstrings and Diamond Rings" AND Don't Mess With Texas". (See below to enter)

Heartstrings and Diamond Rings 
By Jane Graves
ISBN: 9780446568487
Published by: GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING
Genre: FICTION , ROMANCE
Published on: 10/01/2011
Format: MASS MARKET

HE'S THE MAN OF HER DREAMS . . . In a world full of frogs, Alison Carter is determined to find her prince. Maybe her dating past is more Titanic than Love Boat, but she's seen enough happy marriages to know that true love is possible. No matter what, she won't give up on happily-ever-after. If she can't find Mr. Right, she'll simply hire someone who can. ...

A note from Jane Graves:

Plano, Texas is a perfect setting for my series because it's an exercise in contrast, just as my characters are. In West Plano, people live in McMansions, drive Lexus SUVs, drink a lot of Starbucks coffee, and play a lot of golf. West Plano is upper-class Texas living with a sprinkle of glitter and a swimming pool in every backyard. East Plano used to be home only to blue collar folks who live in fifty-year-old tract homes with pickup trucks out front. Then the light rail came through and connected Plano to downtown Dallas, and the old downtown area was revitalized with trendy condos, restaurants, and bars. East Plano is middle-class Texas living with a touch of urban cool.

Alison Carter from HEARTSTRINGS AND DIAMOND RINGS owns a condo in downtown Plano, while the hero of that book, Brandon Scott, lives in a Victorian house on the edge of downtown he inherited from his grandmother. Because of its diversity, Plano, Texas gives me a great opportunity to show who my characters are by where they choose to live.

My Thoughts:

Alison Carter is that not-so-perfect main character that want so badly to settle down and get married, but she keeps getting involved with the wrong guy. All she wants is the nice guy who will be a good husband and father - on that is responsible and holds a decent job. That shouldn't be so hard to find, right? Not for Alison.



Since her choices aren't working out so well, she goes to a matchmaker that was recommended to her by a friend. Sadly, she finds out the woman died a few weeks ago, and her grandson, Brandon Scott, has taken over the business. Alison gives the guy a chance to find her perfect man, but hasn't a clue what's in store for her by agreeing.

This story had so many great qualities to it. It was full of humor, love, hopes, dreams, and the need for all of them. Alison was a loveable character - one that we can all identify with. She is charming, witty and smart, but so in need of love, she tries to settle beneath what she deserves. Brandon, on the other hand, is the total opposite - smooth, charming, and a hustler - and gorgeous. He doesn't want to be tied to one woman, yet he is running a matchmaking business. This provides for some very interesting and funny situations.

I love Alison's writing style. She has a charm that captures the reader and makes one want to linger with her stories. I found her style refreshing and just plain fun. I enjoyed this book so much, that I really want to get her other book "Black Ties and Lullabies". This book is previewed in the back of "Heartstrings and Diamond Rings".

Please note: This book contains adult language, sexual situations and somewhat descriptive sex.

Don't Mess with Texas
By Christie Craig
ISBN: 9780446582841
Published by: GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING
Genre: FICTION , ROMANCE
Published on: 9/01/2011
Format: MASS MARKET
  
Nikki Hunt thought her night couldn't get worse when her no-good, cheating ex ditched her at dinner, sticking her with the bill. Then she found his body stuffed in the trunk of her car and lost her two-hundred-dollar meal all over his three-thousand-dollar suit. Now not only is Nikki nearly broke, she's a murder suspect

Christie Craig presents: 15 Things you’ll learn from Don’t Mess With Texas that might surprise you

1.      Never, ever feed a dog broccoli.

2.      You might be surprised how the weight of a dead body in the trunk of your car can go unnoticed.

3.      Don’t ever joke about killing your ex . . . in front of witnesses.

4.      In the right situation, vomiting on someone can endear them to you.

5.      When a good-looking detective steals your underwear, he may not be a pervert; he could just be looking for blood splatter evidence.

6.      Some men think hospital gowns are sexy, especially when a breeze comes by and a detective already stole your underwear.

7.      When your grandmother is getting more action than you are, something’s not right with that picture.

8.      Bed bugs are nasty little creatures but they can come in handy when trying to get someone to fall back in love with you.

9.      In the right set of circumstances, morphine can be an aphrodisiac. 

10.  The consumption of five cupcakes when your heart is hurting is not always a bad thing.

11.  The way a couple shares an ice cream cone tell the viewing public if they’re sharing bodily fluids.

12.  Nothing can bring all the unresolved issues to the surface in a romance more than finding a naked woman in your boyfriend’s bedroom.

13.  The journey to fall in love isn’t all sweetness and light; it can also have its darker moments where you hurt like hell but it’s still a journey that makes life worth living.

14.    Love can make you laugh so hard you pee in your pants, but it can also make you feel like as though a pit bull just used your heart as a chew toy.

15.   Things really are hotter in Texas.

My Thoughts:

Artist Nikki Hunt is a gorgeous woman who married a wealthy but controlling lawyer. It was no surprise that she ended up divorcing him after finding him being unfaithful. When her ex-husband calls and wants to have dinner, she decides to go and see if she still has feelings for him. Dinner is a disaster, he leaves her stuck with the bill, she ends up really ill, and then finds her ex dead in the trunk of her car. Nikki's night can't get any worse, right? Wrong!


Nikki ends up being the lead suspect of her husband's murder. She hires Dallas O'Connor to prove her innocence and find who really did kill ex-husband. Dallas is the brother of the police officer who is leading the investigation that is building a case against Nikki. He has a spotted past and understands Nikki's situation in more ways that she knows...

This book was a fun read. With hunky Texas investigators, gorgeous women, and a dangerous situation, it kept me interested and on my toes. The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing for quite a while, but I did figure it out before the end.

I didn't get really involved with any character - at least not the way I like to. Maybe it was because everyone was so beautiful and it didn't feel realistic. I had the attitude that if Nikki wasn't so pretty, no one would really care. There was a lot of focus on looks and desire between characters.

I did enjoy the parallel story of Austin (brother of Dallas) and his estranged wife. I found that story more realistic and I found myself cheering Austin on.

Note, this book contains adult language and situations and descriptive sex scenes.

Giveaway 

Three lucky winners will receive 1  paperback copy each of "Heartstrings and Diamond Rings" and "Don't Mess with Texas". That's right! You will be receiving a 2 book set!!  This contest is open to US and Canada only. To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!