Wednesday, December 5, 2012

All I Want Blog Tour



Welcome to my stop on the All I Want blog tour!  Below, you will find my review and then keep scrolling to find a special Christmas Top Ten list from author Jolene Perry and a Rafflecopter giveaway to win a $25 Amazon gift card!

Book:  All I Want
Authors:  Rachael Renee Anderson, Kaylee Baldwin, Jolene B. Perry
Date:  Available now
My grade:  A

Pretty Near Perfect
by Jolene Perry

The last thing Norah needs is to be attracted to anyone – especially in her deceased fiancé's parents' home. Collin’s starting a new career, and has no business getting involved – especially while staying with his roommate’s family, who very kindly offered to take him in for the holidays. Unfortunately, you just don’t always pick the most convenient time and place to fall for someone.

Six Days of Christmas
by Kaylee Baldwin

When Natalie goes home with her best friend for Christmas, she expects plenty of quiet time to work on a winning ad so she can turn her dream internship into her dream job. Instead, she gets time-consuming Christmas festivities, a house full of children, and Jimmy, her best friend’s brother - someone who makes her question everything she’s always thought she wanted.

Twist of Fate
by Rachael Anderson

When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty's mailbox, Ty's faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he’s wanted to do since he met her - make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won’t be a wedding after all.


Initial reaction
This book was like curling up by the fire on Christmas Eve with a mug of hot chocolate.

Cover story
I love the title because it is so fitting.  The cover was ok.  I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it.  Of course, it does have the kissing on the cover, which I don’t usually care for, but at least it’s not a close-up.

What’s the story? (or stories!)
I wasn’t really sure about this book when I even signed up for the blog tour.  I thought that it sounded like it would be fluffy and fun, just perfect for Christmas, but I had no idea if it would really be any good.  I am thrilled that it more than exceeded my expectations!

All 3 of the stories were wonderfully heartwarming.  I kept expecting one to not be quite as good, but honestly, at the end of the book I loved them all!  I don’t think I could pick a favorite one because each one of them had something that touched me.  It was so special to see these people find someone perfect just in time for Christmas. 

I love Christmas anyway.  I think it’s such a magical time of year, so combining that with these lovely romantic stories was perfect.  There was nothing life-changing here, but each story put a smile on my face as I finished it.  The only thing I can complain about is that the stories were not long enough.  In fact, if any of the authors were to expand one of these stories into a novella or a novel, I would be first in line to buy it!

If you love to read romance that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling, download this collection of stories right away!

Soundtrack

You’re All I Want for Christmas by Bing Crosby



Christmas Dreaming by Frank Sinatra



This Christmas by Donny Hathaway



What Are You Doing New Year’s? by Harry Connick Jr.


Snowflakes of Love by Toni Braxton



The Final Grade
My final grade for this book is an A.  It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside reminisce about the joy of new love at Christmas.  I know that I will be revisiting these stories in the next few weeks to bring back that wonderful feeling of Christmas love.



JOLENE PERRY’S TOP TEN CHRISTMAS MOVIES LIST

Today, I have author Jolene Perry here to tell about her favorite Christmas TV specials.  Ms. Perry is the author of the first story, Pretty Near Perfect, in the All I Want short story compilation.  Thanks for stopping by my blog!

TOP TEN CHRISTMAS MOVIES (sort of):

It's A Wonderful Life - I don't even cry at the normal parts. I cry when she leans over and says, "George Bailey, I'll love you til the day I die." *sniff*

Christmas Vacation - I used to watch this movie all year round. It's not AS funny as it used to be, but I ADORE this movie. "SQUIRREL!"

Love Actually - The whole scene with the Christmas music and the guy with the cards, telling the girl how much he loves her... "Now let me say without hope or agenda. Just because it's Christmas. (And at Christmas you tell the truth). To me, you are perfect." *swoons*

Serendipity - I may be cheating, because it's not really a CHRISTMAS story, but it starts AND ends in the winter. Close enough. "It was only a moment, a fragment really. But it was like, in that moment, we were supposed to be together."

Holiday Inn and White Christmas - because the DANCING, and the SINGING... And because I LURVE old movies.

Scrooged - because the ORIGINAL tale just isn't the same to me off a stage. And b/c Bill Murray is HILARIOUS. "I never liked a girl well enough to give her twelve sharp knives."

The Holiday - FAB cast, fun story. Sexy and sweet and just...lovely. "Because you're hoping you're wrong. And every time she does something that tells you she's no good, you ignore it. And every time she comes through and surprises you, she wins you over, and you lose that argument with yourself, that she's not for you."

And because I live in a house filled with people who love Sci-Fi, I have to say that every Christmas episode of Doctor Who (the newer ones) that have aired must be on the list (I was told by my daughter that all of them except the spider one...).

And I'm going to end here because I asked my family for help with this (which I mostly ignored) and we're now down to shouts of GROUNDHOG DAY! And then after that - "It's a holiday, and there's snow!" (Jolene gives a disapproving look) "What?? It counts!" (Jolene shrugs and goes back to her computer) "What about Die Hard? That took place over Christmas!"

And now you see why I've ended my list...

Thanks so much for having me!!!

~ Jolene










Author Jolene Perry

Jolene Perry is an enigmatic figure. She is most often seen behind her laptop, staring at the words flying onto the screen with reckless abandon.

She survived growing up in rural Alaska, driving like a lunatic, and her husband’s careers in the military, as a perpetual student, and an Alaska State Prosecutor. She also survived as a middle school math teacher using her degree of Political Science and French.

One day Jolene was playing her guitar (probably some-thing juvenile for her kids) when she wondered what it would be like to write a song for a rockstar, and her first book was born. (that book is shelved)

She now lives a very glamorous life as a stay at home mom, elbow deep in dirty dishes and peanut butter sandwiches. She doesn’t even attempt to keep up with the laundry because non-writing time is precious, and her family is sorta awesome.

Links:


Author Rachael Anderson

Rachael Anderson is the author of four contemporary romances: Divinely Designed, Luck of the Draw, Minor Adjustments, and The Reluctant Bachelorette. She's the mother of four, 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.





Links:


Author Kaylee Baldwin

I grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in English literature.
I currently live in southern Arizona with my husband, Jeremy, and our three children. When I am not writing, I enjoy reading, starting new craft projects, and spending time with my family.




Links:


Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card
Ends 12/24/12

Open to anyone 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's permission. 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. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.




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