“Picture Perfect” is the first installment of the new Janice Thompson series Weddings by Design. This series is also set in Galveston and features all new characters BUT fans of Thompson’s previous series Weddings by Bellawill be thrilled at the chance to catch up with D.J. and Bella, their families and those splendidly quirky ladies from Spendora.
Fiercely competitive Hannah McDermott is determined to live up to her Irish family’s tradition of always coming out on top but she fears she has found a strong rival in Drew Kincaid. As Hannah does everything she can to best Drew to become Bella’s number one recommended wedding photographer, he seems to pop up everywhere she turns. The problem is that instead of trying to one up her, Drew turns out to be a really nice and helpful guy. Not only that but he seems to like her – a lot. Will Hannah manage to overcome her insecurities and accept Drew’s help (and possibly more) or will she continue her frantic attempts to advance her career?
I loved seeing Bella as a confidante, role model, and mentor for Hannah in “Picture Perfect” as she shared from her own experience. As I have come to expect, it’s difficult to be depressed when reading one of Janice’s novels and “Picture Perfect” lived up to my expectations. It is a perfect blend of romance, drama, and humor. The only problem is that it left me wanting more and I will have to wait awhile for the next edition. I definitely am looking forward to it albeit impatiently.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She’s trying to focus on her future. How can one man make everything feel so . . . fuzzy?
Hannah McDermott has a successful photography studio. She’ll soon be featured in Texas Bride magazine. And she has a celebrity client whose Galveston ceremony will be her ticket to the top spot on wedding coordinator Bella Neeley’s list of recommended photographers. But it could all come crashing down around her because of one man: archrival and photographer extraordinaire Drew Kincaid.
As the competition between Hannah and Drew heats up, Hannah is surprised to find that it’s not the only thing getting more intense. She can’t get the handsome man out of her thoughts-or even out of her line of sight-and the job of her dreams is turning into a nightmare. Will everything she’s worked for slip out of her hands? And can she see past her pride to find a picture-perfect love?
With contagious humor and a cast of quirky characters, Janice Thompson gives you crazy bridal-business drama, sweet romance, and a satisfying dose of laughter.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson offers an inside look at the wedding business, drawing on her own experiences as a wedding planner. She is the author of…
Back on the set of Stars Collide, “The Director”s Cut” places director Tia Morales and cameraman Jason Harris front and center stage for this fun and romantic novel. Tia is good at what she does on the job but she can’t quite get her own life to stay on the track she’d like it to take, especially when it comes to her family. New members to the staff, including her sister, stretch Tia’s patience while unexpected attention from Jason encourages her to loosen up a bit.
With the inclusion of the characters we have come to love from the previous novels in the Backstage Pass series and Thompson’s trademark humor, “The Director’s Cut” is the perfect summer read, whether on the beach or in an easy chair with air conditioning. As always, Janice has woven a strong spiritual lesson throughout the story but its enjoyable context helps it go down so well. May we all learn along with Tia to let go of our control and give it to the Lord. He has an even better plan for us than we can imagine.
I heartily recommend “The Director’s Cut” as well as the rest of the Backstage Pass series. In fact, I’ve never met a book by Janice Thompson that I didn’t like. If you are not familiar with her books, this would be a good series to begin with.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Janice Thompson spins a story full of humor and crazy family dynamics in this colorful inside look at Hollywood with a healthy dose of romance.
Tia Morales is used to calling the shots. She’s the director of the popular sitcom Stars Collide, and her life on set is calculated and orderly. Well, most of the time. But her life outside the studio is another matter. If only she could get her family to behave as well as her stars do! When she starts butting heads with handsome camera operator Jason Harris, it’s enough to send a girl over the edge. Will she ever learn to let go and take life—and love—as it comes?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson offers an inside look at TV land, drawing on her experiences as a screenwriter. She is the author of the Weddings by Bella series, Stars Collide, and Hello, Hollywood! She lives in Texas.
Praise for Janice Thompson:
Hello, Hollywood!
“Thompson writes an enjoyable story that will make you want to adopt the Pappas family as your own.”—RT Book Reviews
“Janice provides an upbeat and engaging story and her readers will adore Hello, Hollywood!.”—RelzReviews.com
“This fun entry in Thompson’s comic Hollywood series (after Stars Collide) features humor, romance, and breezy dialog.”—Library Journal
Stars Collide
“An eclectic mix of the sort of zany characters Thompson is known for adds levity to this modern, star-studded romance. Glimpses into a Hollywood television studio and a series of lively comedic events make for a contemporary low-key inspirational romance that will appeal to readers who enjoyed the setting and humor of Rene Gutteridge’s Occupational Hazards series.”—Booklist
“A fun novel of love, paparazzi, and family, Stars Collide is a read that won’t easily be put down.”—Midwest Book Review
“Hello, Hollywood” is another fun filled tale from Janice Thompson that is filled with her trademark quirky humor. Set in the same sitcom TV studio as “Stars Collide”, first installment of Thompson’s Backstage Pass series, the primary character is Athena Pappas, the head screenwriter for the wildly popular TV series. Included are some beloved old friends as well as several new friends the reader will love, including Athena’s fun and loving crazy Greek family.
Athena’s world tilts when a new writer is added to the writing team. It doesn’t help that he is a somewhat famous comedian who has just starred in his own HBO TV special and has been nominated for an award. Her lack of self-confidence has her convinced that it is only a matter of time before everyone knows she is a fraud and her job security is gone. Prepared to hate the new writer, Steve Cosse, Athena finds herself liking him against her better judgement. But in her mind, there is NO WAY an Adonis like Steve could ever be interested in someone like her.
Well, it is a given that “Hello, Hollywood” is a romantic comedy featuring Steve and Athena. What you don’t know is how much fun it will be on the journey to the expected conclusion. Let me just say, “Conflict, conflict, conflict!” I loved the mentions of classic TV comedies and the chapter titles of old TV shows. Athena’s tendency to script her own romantic moments in her head as she experienced them was hilarious. As I can always expect from one of Janice’s novels, “Hello, Hollywood” has a well paced plot, wonderful characters, plenty of humor, a sweet romance, and an unobtrusive but clear message of faith. I know I can count on Janice to supply me with stories that brighten my day. If you have never read one of her books, “Hello, Hollywood” (and “Stars Collide”) would be a good place to start.
This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Say Hello to Hollywood! Find out just how funny life can be when you try to script it.
Popular romance author and screenwriter, Janice Thompson, is charming her readers once again with a behind-the-scenes look at life in Hollywood. Her new book, Hello, Hollywood! (ISBN: 978-0-8007-3346-9, $14.99, 288 pages, September) is the second installment in the Backstage Pass series. This time, Thompson takes her readers inside the writer’s room.
At 28, Athena Pappas has a pretty great gig. She’s the head writer of one of the most popular sitcoms in television history, Stars Collide. Yet, something’s still lacking: her love life.
Athena finds nothing wrong with still living at home with her large, wacky Greek family and making her bed with the same Strawberry Shortcake sheets she had as a kid. None of that has prevented Athena from plotting her characters’ romances. So why is her own love life so hard to script?
Athena’s love life gets the shakeup it needs when her boss hires up-and-coming Vegas comedian, Stephen Cosse, to help boost the show’s sagging ratings. Feeling her position as head writer threatened, she starts to doubt her talents, and the fact that Stephen is as good looking as Adonis doesn’t escape Athena’s attention either.
Sparks fly as the competition—and attraction—between the two heats things up. While they struggle to create conflict and comedy for their characters on the page, Athena and Stephen develop a relationship they never would have scripted for themselves and discover that not being in control of the plot of their lives may just be the best thing that’s ever happened.
Hello, Hollywood! delights readers with its charm and humor. Every character will jump off the page and into the readers’ hearts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson affords an inside look at TV land, drawing on her experiences as a screenwriter. She is the author of the Weddings by Bella series and lives in Texas. To learn more about Janice visit her at: www.janicethompson.com
Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Christy Award Finalist, a Carol Award Finalist and an IRCC Award finalist.
The Lassoed in Texas Series, Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and Gingham Mountain. Petticoat Ranch was a Carol Award Finalist. Calico Canyon was a Christy Award Finalist and a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now contained in one large volume called Lassoed in Texas Trilogy.
The Montana Marriages Series, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. Montana Rose was a Carol Award Finalist.
Cowboy Christmas—the 2010 Carol Award for Best Long Historical Romance, and an Inspirational Readers Choice Contest Finalist.
The Sophie’s Daughters series. Doctor in Petticoats, Wrangler in Petticoats, Sharpshooter in Petticoats.
She is also the author of; Black Hills Blessing a 3-in-1 collection of sweet contemporary romances, Nosy in Nebraska, a 3-in-1 collection of cozy romantic mysteries and she’s one of the three authors contributing to Alaska Brides with her Carol Award Winning historical romance Golden Days.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Julia Gilliland has always been interested in the natural world around her. She particularly enjoys her outings to the cavern near her father’s homestead, where she explores for fossils and formations, and plans to write a book about her discoveries. The cave seems plenty safe–until the day a mysterious intruder steals the rope she uses to find her way out.
Rafe Kincaid has spent years keeping his family’s cattle ranch going, all without help from his two younger brothers, who fled the ranch–and Rafe’s controlling ways–as soon as they were able. He’s haunted by one terrible day at the cave on a far-flung corner of the Kincaid property, a day that changed his life forever. Ready to put the past behind him, he plans to visit the cave one final time. He sure doesn’t expect to find a young woman trapped in one of the tunnels–or to be forced to kiss her!
Rafe is more intrigued by Julia than any woman he’s ever known, but how can he overlook her fascination with the cave he despises? And when his developing relationship with Julia threatens his chance at reconciliation with his brothers, will he be forced to choose between the family bonds that could restore his trust and the love that could heal his heart?
The title Out Of Control is an apt one in more ways than one. Like a team of wild horses, the plot takes off from the very beginning and its breakneck speed has you holding on to your hat until the very end. Out of control also describes what happens to Rafe Kincaid’s very carefully planned life when he stumbles upon Julia Gilliland trapped in a cave on his property. Sparks fly from their first encounter and the heat between them builds until the conclusion.
Out Of Control is all that I expected from Mary Connealy’s newest novel. The imaginative and well paced plot is laced with plenty of action, adventure, humor, and romance. The primary characters are well developed, likeable and just plain fun. Interaction between them was often witty and entertaining. The women are smart and spunky and the men are true heroes who seem to have been raised right by their mama. Even if the guys come across as a bit dense at times, their hearts are in the right place. They did manage to overcome some deeply seated fears in order to help protect the women.
I loved the story’s setting and how everything revolved around the caverns. The historical background added to its interest. It also helped that we were given a good peek into what I suspect could be the next Kincaid romance. A strong message of faith is a natural part of the story without being obtrusive. Can’t wait for the next installment.
I write Christian fiction with a few giggles, quite a bit of sass, and lots of crazy. My novels include the Katie Parker Production series and So Not Happening. I would also like to take credit for Twilight , but somewhere I think I read you’re not supposed to lie.
When I’m not typing my heart out (or checking email), I teach at a super-sized high school in Arkansas.
My students are constantly telling me how my teaching changes their lives and turned them away from drugs, gangs, and C-SPAN.
Okay, that’s not exactly true.
Some facts that are true include:
I’ve always been refined!
A. I got my camera confiscated by big boys with guns at the American Embassy in Europe this past summer. O la la!
B. I once worked in a seed mill office and cleaned out mice on a regular basis. Ew.
C. I’m a former drama teacher.
D. I didn’t pass my drivers test the first time. Or the second…
E. I attract stray animals like a magnet.
F. I used to assemble and test paint ball guns for a local factory…
Since my current job leaves me with very little free time, I believe in spending my spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits such as:
-watching E!
-updating my status on Facebook
-catching Will Ferrell on YouTube and
-writing my name in the dust on my furniture
I’d love to hear about you, so drop me a note. Or check me out on Facebook.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
You’re invited to the engagement of the most unlikely couple of the year.
When the funding for Lucy’s non-profit job is pulled, she is determined to find out why. Enter Alex Sinclair, former professional football star and heir of Sinclair Enterprises—the primary donor to Lucy’s Saving Grace organization. Alex Sinclair has it all . . . except for the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Both Lucy and Alex have something the other wants. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancée in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn’t quite what he seems, Lucy finds her heart – and her future – on the line.
Save the Date is a spunky romance that will have readers laughing out loud as this dubious pair try to save their careers, their dreams . . . and maybe even a date.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Save The Date, go HERE
MY REVIEW:
Although Save The Date was filled with Jones’ signature humor and romance, I found this book to be more profound than previous ones I have read by this author. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, in fact I think it’s excellent. I felt like Jones really revealed the heart of her characters by exposing them with all their strengths and vulnerabilities. I even found myself liking Clare by the end which was just one of the surprises in store for me.
Both Lucy and Alex had deep insecurities despite the wide difference in their backgrounds and financial status which amplified their mutual distrust of each other. However as they spent time together in their deceptive engagement, each of them began to discover that perhaps their first impressions of the other had been mistaken. And as difficulties arose, they found themselves supporting and even caring for each other.
I enjoyed Save The Date from beginning to end. It was fun filled yet thought provoking, light-hearted but with great spiritual depth. The story was full of unexpected moments that added extra dimension to an already good tale. I have deliberately left out most details because you just need to read this book yourself. I would definitely recommend Save The Date to anyone who loves chick lit or romance.
A Suitor for Jenny is a humorous and entertaining story set in Rocky Creek, Texas during the late 1800’s. Jenny Higgins has arrived in town with her two younger sisters with the intention of finding suitable husbands for them. Basing her criteria for appropriate husband material on “The Compleat and Authoritative Manual for Attracting and Procuring a Husband“, Jenny soon finds that there is only one man in the area who meets those exacting standards. Unfortunately, neither sister can abide him and soon fall in love with totally unsuitable men. To complicate matters, Jenny finds herself becoming more and more attracted to Marshall Rhett Armstrong. Both Jenny and Rhett have things in their past that have convinced them that they do not deserve to be happy.
Will Jenny overcome her stubborn determination to find suitable husbands for her sisters or will she allow God to choose the perfect men for them? Can she and Rhett give up control over their own lives and permit the Lord to heal their wounded spirits? The answers to these questions and more can be found within the pages of A Suitor for Jenny.
I recommend A Suitor for Jenny for those who enjoy historical romance that is tempered with both humor and faith.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.combloggers’ book review program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When looking for a husband, it’s best to go where the odds are in your favor.
And that would be Rocky Creek, Texas, 1880. But Jenny Higgins’s plan to find husbands for her two sisters hits a snag when enthusiastic applicants fail to meet her stringent requirements.
Rejecting her sisters’ choices for mates and riding herd on her growing feelings for Marshal Rhett Armstrong, she refuses to give up.
Jenny thinks choosing a husband is not a job for the heart. It’ll take one strong and handsome marshal to convince her otherwise.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this, except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, “Maybe God’s calling you to write fiction.”
It turns out God was and Margaret did. She now has more than 20 novels to her credit. In addition, she’s written many Christian articles and a non-fiction book. Still, it took a lot of prodding from God before Margaret tried her hand at writing inspirational fiction which led to her Rocky Creek series. “I love writing about characters at different stages of faith,” she says of the new direction her writing career has taken, “and I’m here to stay.”
Happily married to her real-life hero, Margaret and her husband live in Southern California.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Many links on this site are supplied by the Reviewer groups that provide the books I review. Occasionally other links may be my personal associate links.
She’s trying to focus on her future. How can one man make everything feel so . . . fuzzy?
Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson offers an inside look at the wedding business, drawing on her own experiences as a wedding planner. She is the author of…
