Tuesday, February 25, 2014

RELEASE DAY SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY: THE CHASE by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg


IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CHASE! 

On Sale Now!

The Chase by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling authors of The Heist, return in this action-packed, exciting adventure featuring master con artist Nicolas Fox and die-hard FBI agent Kate O’Hare. And this time around, things go from hot to nuclear when government secrets are on the line.

 Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare. Together they’ll go undercover to swindle and catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals.

Their newest target is Carter Grove, a former White House chief of staff and the ruthless leader of a private security agency. Grove has stolen a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian, a crime that will torpedo U.S. relations with China if it ever becomes public. Nick and Kate must work under the radar—and against the clock—to devise a plan to steal the piece back. Confronting Grove’s elite assassins, Nick and Kate rely on the skills of their ragtag crew, including a flamboyant actor, a Geek Squad techie, and a band of AARP-card-carrying mercenaries led by none other than Kate’s dad.

 A daring heist and a deadly chase lead Nick and Kate from Washington, D.C., to Shanghai, from the highlands of Scotland to the underbelly of Montreal. But it’ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, and the fate of a dynasty’s priceless heirloom to outsmart Fox and O’Hare.

 Watch The Chase Advertisement: 

 ABOUT The Authors:

JANET EVANOVICH 
Connect with Janet on her Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Google + | Fancorps

 Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O’Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.

LEE GOLDBERG 
 Connect with Lee  on his Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google +

 Lee Goldberg is a screenwriter, TV producer, and the author of several books, including King City, The Walk, and the bestselling Monk series of mysteries. He has earned two Edgar Award nominations and was the 2012 recipient of the Poirot Award from Malice Domestic.

ENTER THE CHASE GIVEAWAY! 
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Monday, February 24, 2014

Early Review of The Chase, Fox and O'Hare, Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg


    Classification: Adult Fiction 
    Genre: Mystery/Romantic Suspense 
    Format: Hardcover; 320 pages
    Publisher: Bantam (February 25, 2014)
    ISBN-10: 0345543084
    ISBN-13: 978-0345543080
    Notes: Received and eARC from the publisher.

It's been mere months since Special Agent Kate O'Hare and Criminal Mastermind Nicholas Fox were paired together by the FBI for an under-the-table set of missions--to go after a class of criminals that operate outside the reach of the law. People so rich and powerful that they can manipulate the legal system so they never have to answer for their crimes, assuming that they are ever caught at all. While the pairing seems to be a match made in heaven, the risk involved is staggering. If either is caught, the FBI will not acknowledge they are acting on behalf of the government and Kate will be considered an agent gone rogue.

Kate and Nick's latest assignment is to retrieve a politically charged/tainted one-of-a-kind piece of art dating to the Qing Dynasty which ended up in the Smithsonian. The piece is part of a collection of 12 Chinese century-old zodiac figure heads which were once mounted on a fountain in the Imperial Gardens. The figures disappeared in 1860 when British and French soldiers pillaged the area. The artifact is estimated to be worth 20 million dollars and unbeknownst to anyone but a trusted few,  was stolen from the Smithsonian ten years ago and replaced with a fake. With the Chinese requesting that the figure head be returned to their country as an act of Good faith on the part of the US, its imperative the original rooster be reclaimed. With China being one of the US's biggest lenders, the political fallout if the statue isn't returned could be devastating to American and Chinese relations.

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This is the second book in the Fox and O'Hare series written by the fabulously talented authors Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg. On a personal level, straight laced Kate is having issues with Nick who appears to be attempting to seduce her with his wit and charm. With each new assignment, he appears to be setting up situations to throw the two together whether it be posing as a married couple or a couple having an affair. He can see the affect he has on her and seems to be unable to stop himself from teasing, tempting and flirting with her. Kate is resisting, but as the two keep getting close and personal she admits to herself it would be easy to fall into his trap and let her defenses fall. She, however, is determined not let that happen.

With each new case, Nick submerges Kate further and further into his lifestyle and world to the point that even her boss notices the effect Nick's influence has on her. She seems to be emerging from her shell and growing as an individual as she quickly learns to adapt to each new situation Nick throws the team into. In some ways I think he's testing her and trying to find out what she's capable of. I kind of liken Nick to what I imagine 007 would be like if he'd lead a life of crime instead of espionage, and I can't help but wonder if he's looking to make Kate his latest bond girl or perhaps something more? For now, however, the relationship is about as platonic as one can get.

In addition to the two main characters having great chemistry, there is also wonderful cohesion among the secondary characters who Nick has hand picked for their unusual talents and abilities. There is Boyd Capwell, a struggling actor who couldn't follow a script to save his life, but can improvise like nobody's business. Wilma 'Willie' Owens is a 50 something divorcee who, as Kate puts it, could be turned on by grass growing and has never met a vehicle she couldn't drive. She just has a knack for it. Then there is Joe Morey, a tech expert who was black balled from the industry after being fired from his job for being a whistle blower. He was down graded to a lowly Geek Squad employee when his life was shot to hell by the experience. Yes, I don't deny there are some similarities between the series and Ocean's Eleven, but this group is utilizing their talents for things on a somewhat grander scale.

Overall, Evanovich and Goldberg did an awesome job of creating a funny, fast paced series that grabs the readers attention and doesn't let it go until the last word is written. I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. A highly entertaining and delightful series that I recommend to anyone who wants a series that lifts their spirits and puts them in a good mood. Something I was desperately in need of, so thank you Janet and Lee for creating such a fun and wonderful read.

Notes to keep you in the know:
According to an article entitled 'Talking Heads' published on May 18, 2013 in The Economist, there do exist 12 politically charged bronze Chinese-zodiacal figures which were looted when foreign troops burned the Yuanmingyuan imperial gardens outside Beijing in 1860. The reason the figures once again became newsworthy is that French billionaire, François-Henri Pinault, whose family owns Christie’s, stepped in after a botched auction (the highest bidder refused to make good on his bid) and announced he would take on the two statues (the rat and the rabbit) as losses in order to donate them to the government of China. To read more, check out the full article at:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/analects/2013/05/artefacts

I can't help but wonder if this portion of the story was inspired the above events. Here's a picture of the statues in question: 
(Picture credit: Wikimedia Commons)

According to Wikipedia, "The Qing Dynasty (Chinese:; pinyin: Qīng Cháo;Wade–Giles: Ch'ing1 Ch'ao2;IPA: [tɕʰíŋ tʂʰɑ̌ʊ̯]), also Empire of the Great Qing, Great Qingor Manchu Dynasty, was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and succeeded by the Republic of China. The Qing multi-cultural empire lasted almost three centuries and formed the territorial base for the modern Chinese nation." You can read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qing_Dynasty

The Heist (Fox and O'Hare #1) by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg


    Classification: Adult Fiction 
    Genre: Mystery/Romantic Suspense 
    Format: Hardcover; 320 pages
    Publisher: Bantam; 1st Printing edition (June 18, 2013)
    ISBN-10: 0345543041
    ISBN-13: 978-0345543042 
    Notes: I bought a copy and received an ARC at BEA.

    FBI Special Agent Kate O'Hare is a woman who lives and breathes her job. For the past several years her job has been to hunt, find and stop a criminal mastermind--Nick Fox--whose creative, innovative and over-the-top schemes have conned millions from unsuspecting wealthy victims. Every time Kate gets close to nabbing the infuriating man, he slips from her grasp like the slippery snake that he is. Learning from her mistakes and goaded by the man who dared to breach her hotel room and raid her minibar while she was off looking for him, she's determined this time she'll get her man. Once she's got him, however, the sweet thrill of victory will be short lived as her life will take an unexpected twist...

         “Okay, now I am really confused,” Kate said. “We’re going to be chasing him?” 
     “Of course,” Bolton said. “He’s a federal fugitive.” 
     “But we’re the ones who set him free,” Kate said. “He’ll be out there doing missions for us.” 
     “We don’t know that,” Jessup said. 
     “Yes, we do,” Kate said. “That’s the deputy director of the FBI sitting next to you.” 
     “It was worth getting arrested just for this moment,” Nick said. 
     “Fox is still going to be on our Most Wanted list,” Bolton said to Kate, “and every agent except you will be on the lookout for him.” 
     “What will I be doing?” she asked. 
     “Keeping him from getting caught,” Bolton said. “While pretending to be pursuing him, of course.” 
     
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This is the first book in a new series written by the dynamic duo of Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg. It contains Ms. Evanovich's trademark sense of humor, and while the outlandish situations she tends to create for her character are still present, they've been slightly tamed (I dare guess by Mr. Goldberg's influence) giving it a more realistic and sophisticated feel. I didn't think I could love anything created by Ms. Evanovich more than her Stephanie Plum series, but after reading this one, I believe I was just proved wrong. Of course, teaming Ms. Evanovich up with the very talented Lee Goldberg (the creator of the Monk series) was utter brilliance.

Kate O'Hare is a smart, beautiful, by-the-book agent who doesn't play well with others. An ex-Navy SEAL, she's got a quick temper which got her honorably discharged when she decked her commanding officer after he tried to cop a feel. She's dedicated herself to truth, justice, and the American way. Okay, not quite superman, but she runs a close second. *smirk* She's also obsessed with taking down one of the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives, Nick Fox. A man she's willing to take down dead or alive.

Nick Fox lives up to his name, as he's clever and has a prize winning combination of personality, good looks, wit and charm that can steal the rug right our from under you while you thank him for the privilege--that is, until you come to your senses and realize what he's done. By that time, however, he's long gone. His IQ has got to rate in the genius level, and he reminds me of  Frank Abagnale Jr who was played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie 'Catch Me If You Can'. His love of messing with Kate is second only to his love of planning and executing the perfect heist. Ironically, he finds himself attracted to the smart young woman who seems to be able to keep up with him on a mental level that few can. She, however, is off-limits for obvious reasons.

For their first mission together, Kate and Nick have been assigned to take down Derick Griffin, a big-time investment banker who went into hiding after making off with five hundred million dollars of his client's money. They need to uncover his location, locate the stolen money, and steal it back before he knows what happened. And they need to do it without anyone else being the wiser. With two such mismatched individuals working together you can bet you're in for a fun time.

This one gets a full 5 out of 5 roses from me. With humor, suspense, action and a dash of a possible romance-in-the-making, this ones has the perfect blend for one delightful new series. I highly recommend this one. I'm forgoing my Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale because this one wasn't so much aimed at romance as setting the building blocks for what could be one delectable delightfully complicated relationship.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Giveaway; Win a Signed copy of Crystal Cove and Godiva Chocolate


Lisa Kleypas hosted a contest for her Divas (aka street team)  where the winner won a signed copy of Crystal Cove. The task was to use four or more of her book titles to create a reasonably comprehensible, meaningful sentence. If you know me, I'm always up for a challenge, and creating sentences out of book titles is something I excel at (even if they usually end up being run on sentences. lol). Here are the two I came up with. The one that is more of a rhyme is the one that, I believe, took the cake, er, book.:

Entry #1:

'It Happened One Autumn' as a 'Smooth Talking Stranger' tried to 'Tempt Me at Twilight', 'Seduce Me at Sunrise', and I found myself 'Married by Morning' to a 'Blue-Eyed Devil'. *giggle*

Entry #2:
"Forever My Love" I've been "Dreaming of You" 
and that "Because You're Mine" "Somewhere I'll Find You" 
and "Where Dreams Begin" you'll "Give Me Tonight" 
and we'll discover "The Secrets of a Summer Night" 
"Where Passion Leads" us to pleasurable heights

Here are the Titles I had to work with:

Historical Series:

Berkley-Faulkner Series:
Where Passion Leads
Forever My Love

Gamblers of Craven's Series:
Then Came You 
Dreaming of You
Where's My Hero?| (Against All Odds is in the anthology Where's My Hero) 

Stokehurst Family Series:
Midnight Angel
Prince of Dreams

Capitol Theatre Series:

Somewhere I'll Find You
Because You're Mine
Wish List ("I Wish" is in the anthology Wish List)

Bow-Street Runners Series:
Worth Any Price
Lady Sophia's Lover
Someone to Watch Over Me

Wallflowers:
Secrets of a Summer Night
It Happened One Autumn
Devil in Winter
Scandal in Spring
A Wallflower Christmas

Hathaways:
Mine Till Midnight
Seduce Me at Sunrise
A Hathaway Wedding
Tempt Me at Twilight
Married By Morning
Love in the Afternoon
Note: A Hathaway Wedding is a free short story available on Lisa's website:

Standalone Books:
Love, Come to Me
Stranger in My Arms
When Strangers Marry (Only in My Arms before rewrite) 
Only With Your Love
Suddenly You
Where Dreams Begin
Again The Magic

Short Stories and Novellas not part of a series:
"Promises" in the anthology "Three Weddings and a Kiss"
"Surrender" in the anthologies "Christmas Love Stories" and "Gifts of Love"
"I Will" in the anthologies "A historical Christmas Present" and "Wish List"
"Against the Odds" in the anthology "Where's My Hero?"

Contemporary Romances:

Travises Series:
Sugar Daddy
Blue-Eyed Devil Smooth 
Talking Stranger

Friday Harbor Series:
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor
Rainshadow Road
Dream Lake
Crystal Cove


About the Book:
Crystal Cove

ONE WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN CURSED NEVER TO FIND LOVE . . .

ONE MAN WITHOUT A SOUL WHO WANTS HER MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF . . .

THEY MEET IN A SMALL ISLAND TOWN IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, WHERE MAGIC IS IN THE AIR AND FATE IS A FORCE TOO POWERFUL TO DEFY. . . .

In New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas's Crystal Cove, Justine Hoffman has made a comfortable life for herself on the island of Friday Harbor. She is the proprietor of a successful boutique hotel, and she has the safe, predictable life she has always wanted. Growing up with her flighty, nomadic mother, Marigold, has instilled in her a deep longing for stability. But in spite of everything Justine has achieved, there is still something missing. Love. And after years of waiting and dreaming, she is willing to do whatever it takes to change her destiny.

What Justine soon discovers is that someone cast a spell on her when she was born, with the result that she will never find her soul mate. Determined to change her fate, Justine finds a way to break the enchantment, never dreaming of the dangerous complications that will follow.

And when Justine meets the mysterious Jason Black, she accidentally unleashes a storm of desire and danger that threaten everything she holds dear . . . because Jason has secrets of his own, and he wants more from her than fate will ever allow. (Description found on Goodreads)

~ GIVEAWAY ~


While I won the contest, I had just won a prize a couple of months prior in a different contest, so instead of claiming this prize as my own, I opted to use it in a giveaway. Therefore...

I'm giving away ONE signed copy of Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas and Godiva Chocolate

How do you win?

Make sure to enter via Rafflecopter and leave a comment which: 

 Contains a fun sentence you created using at least three titles from Lisa Kleypas' books
~ OR ~
 Lets me know which of Lisa's books is your favorite
~ OR ~
Tells me which of the above Covers and/or Titles is your favorite and why

Rules of Eligibility:
- Only residents of the US who are 18 years of age or older are eligible.
- Please leave your email address so I may get in contact with you to get your mailing address. **No P.O. Boxes, please**.
- Become a follower of my blog, if you aren't already. (Required)
- Leave a comment which contains information pertaining to one of the three options requested above.(Required)

Winner will be randomly chosen. Only one prize per person and per address. Giveaway ends on February 21st at midnight Eastern time. Winner will be posted on my blog and notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond with requested information before another winner will be selected. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the author:
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Lisakleypas
Check out her blog: http://www.lisakleypas.com/
You may also wish to check out the Goodreads group We Love Lisa Kleypas:

Lisa Kleypas is a RITA award winning author of 39 novels. She graduated from Wellesley College with a political science degree, and published her first novel at age twenty-one. Her books are published in 14 different languages and are worldwide bestsellers. She lives in Washington State with her husband and two children.

***Please note, the first photo used (the heart in the sand) in this post is not my own. It was found in the sharing area of Photobucket. Lisa Kleypas' photo was found on Goodreads.
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