One Lucky Night Anthology-Blog Tour and Giveaway

One Lucky Night Anthology Blog Tour and Giveaway

One Lucky Night Banner

One Lucky Night Anthology
by Ana Blaze, Grace Teague, Melinda Dozier, Aria Cane, Constance Phillips
Release Date: May 7, 2014

One Lucky Night

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

One night can change everything…

The crew at Boston’s Brazen Head Pub hasn’t been very lucky in love. Can a mysterious visitor inspire them to look past old hurts and misconceptions and give romance a chance? One Lucky Night is a collection of five sexy interwoven novelettes by Aria Kane, Grace Teague, Ana Blaze, Constance Phillips, and Melinda Dozier.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Lucky Break by Aria Kane
Four years ago, chef Derek Chase walked out of Andrea Rivera’s life after a tragedy neither of them were prepared to deal with. When she’s called to the Brazen Head to repair a dishwasher, old sparks ignite buried feelings.

Lucky Star by Grace Teague
When her life is threatened by a mugger, Charlotte Price realizes she’s in love with her best friend, Tommy Leung. The Brazen Head seems like the perfect neutral place to confess her feelings, but nothing goes according to plan.

A New Tune by Ana Blaze
When it comes to dating, Holly Hall has one unbreakable rule: no musicians. Not even gorgeous ones. Especially not gorgeous ones. Dating them only leads to heartbreak. So why did she let singer-songwriter Cian O’Neill kiss her? And why is she thinking about doing it again?

Lexi’s Chance by Constance Phillips
As a bartender, Sean Whelan meets all kinds of women every night, but none turn his head the way that Lexi has. She’s been playing cat and mouse with him for weeks. Tonight, Sean’s determined to get Lexi to quit teasing and take a real chance on him.

Drink or Dare by Melinda Dozier
A bachelorette party Drink or Dare game pairs paramedic students, Rachel Robertson and Killian Whelan, in a flirting match. Soon, the dares threaten to turn their academic rivalry into something much more.

 

review

4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

This is a harder review for me as One Lucky Night is an anthology written by five different authors and consists of five different stories. I tend to avoid anthologies as they usually are short stories weaved into a series and I’m rarely reading all the series that are involved. I decided to approach this anthology differently and not worry about whether any series were involved and just appreciate five short stories by authors I have never read before. I am some glad I did that, because this was a REALLY REALLY good collection.

We have one setting called Boston’s Brazen Head Pub that features all five stories. Unlucky in love, the patrons just may find that luck is changing when a mysterious individual decides to become a little busy body …. LOL

LUCKY BREAK by Aria Kane

After four years of no communication and heart break, Andrea (Andy) and Derek cross paths suddenly when Andy is called to the pub to fix an appliance. Well it doesn’t take long for sparks to ignite and unsaid emotions bubble to the surface. Derek is Andy’s brother’s best friend and has vowed to stay away from his sister. Easier said than done though when fate decides it’s time for these two to sort it out already! I have to say, problems that arise from lack of communication drive me bonkers, especially when it’s so avoidable. Four years have been wasted and these two stubborn, meant to be together souls, really need to get it together is they want a happy ending.

LUCKY STAR by Grace Teague

What happens when you are in love with your best friend but fearful of the “friend” card being played against you? Well Charlotte and Tommy are about to find out. They have been the closest of friends for some time now, but have decided it’s time to take a chance and spill their feelings in the hope that the other will feel the same. I am a sucker for a friends to lovers story and this one was heart warming and so beyond sweet. A little “oops” near the end of the story, but when something is meant to be, fate makes sure it happens.

A NEW TUNE by Ana Blaze

After taking a chance and being left heart broken, Holly has no interest in dating a musician .. again. After sharing a New Years Eve kiss with Cian (a musician that works at the pub), Holly is fearful of heart break once again. She builds up her walls and does all she can to push Cian away. I do love a persistent man and before Holly realizes it, she is being full on pursued. Cian isn’t messing around either … he wants Holly, and he’ll do whatever he can to break down those walls. Full of sweet endearing moments, this was a perfect love story.

LEXI’S CHANCE by Constance Phillips

Sean is a co-owner of the pub and takes his job seriously, knowing that sweet words and flirting gets the ladies through the front door, and coming back for more. When he begins to flirt with Lexi, he sees something very different about this woman and really wants to pursue her and see if they would make a good couple. A couple problems though, Sean doesn’t date his customers and Lexi thinks he is just a player. Lexi spends her days helping the needy and every Friday night she enjoys kicking back with her colleagues and having a couple of drinks. She is attracted to Sean but realizes that he flirts with all the girls, so she certainly isn’t anything special. If they both can stop long enough to realize that there is something pretty great between them, they just may have a chance at love.

DRINK OR DARE by Melinda Dozier

This one was my fave! Must be because it was full of sass. Killian is a co-owner of this pub. His heart and passion however are in becoming a paramedic and he is currently in school earning his degree. Rachel is one of Killian’s classmate and his competition in academics. Always trying to one up each other, they push the other to do better. Rachel attends a bachelorette party that just so happens to be hosted at the pub, and can’t believe it when she discovers Killian is one of it’s owners. Before we know it, these two are engaging in a heated game of drink or dare, once again trying to upstage the other. This time however, the line of friendly rivalry is crossed and before they know it, they are playing for keeps … of each other. This was soaked in humour and fun but the stakes were always high … good thing they both end up winning! LOL

Overall, a wonderful collection of stories. I do love when authors collaborate with each other and we get peeks of another story before or after they have happened. This was well done throughout the entire book. If you enjoy romance and need a quick fix, this is a great selection to add to your collection.

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Copy supplied by the blog tour operator

Reviewed by Rachel T

About the Author

Aria Kane is a recovering mechanical engineer and romance writer. As a military brat, she grew up all over the country, but now lives in sunny Florida with a 60 lb mutt who thinks he’s a chihuahua.

Website | Twitter | Facebook |

Grace Teague lives in Pittsburgh with her spouse, children and a cat named Mr. Sushi.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads |

Ana Blaze lives near Washington DC with her charming husband and three cats who firmly believe they are royalty. Ana is a member of Romance Writers of America.

Website | Twitter |Facebook |

Constance Phillips lives in Ohio with her husband, two ready-to-leave-the-nest children, and four canine kids. Her perfect fantasy vacation would involve hunting Dracula across Europe with her daughter, who also digs that kind of stuff.

Website | Twitter | Facebook |

Melinda Dozier teaches English to middle schoolers by day and writes at night. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her college sweetheart and three sons.

Website| Twitter | Facebook|

rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour promoter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share

Ana Blaze-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

Ana Blaze-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

Interview fuscia:black

Ana Blaze

TRC: Hi Ana and welcome to The Reading Café.  Congratulations on the release of THE BEST MAN.

Ana: Hi. Thank you so much for having me. It’s really a dream come true; so many of my favorite writers have been interviewed here. I’m getting bruised from pinching myself.

 

 

Website: www.anablaze.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AnaBlazeLove
Twitter: @ana_blaze

TRC: We would like to start with some background information.  Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Ana: Certainly. I grew up mostly in New England, but currently reside a few miles south of Washington DC. I miss the ocean, but all the museums and cultural events around here are pretty great. Most importantly, this is where my husband is. Together we take care of our three rather pampered cats, watch way too much television and debate our relative preparedness for a zombie apocalypse.

TRC: You are a writer of several different genres. Which genre do you believe is the most difficult to write?  The easiest?

Ana: I’d say I’m a reader on many genres, but as a writer I’ve basically stuck with romance, some contemporary and some paranormal. While the paranormal elements can be fun, I think in the end a love story is a love story whether it’s between humans, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, djinn, witches, or anyone else. I would love to try my hand at an urban fantasy series if the right idea ever comes along. I think I’ll have a difficult time not wrapping things up in a pretty bow at the end of the first book.

The Best ManTRC: THE BEST MAN is your latest (April 29, 2013) release in the contemporary romance style.  Would you please tell us something about the premise of the book?

Purchase Link:  Entranced Publishing / Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble/

Ana: Beth Chase is a professional wedding planner. She’s well on her way to a coveted partnership with Ever After Weddings when she meets Colin Pratt, the shockingly drunk best man at an event she is working. I love the idea that Colin, who you’ll find is normally a very responsible gentleman, had this one day of outlandish behavior and that day just happened to be the day he met the girl of his dreams. So he’s stuck trying to overcome that crazy first impression.

TRC: Are the characters based on anyone you know or an amalgamation of people –real or imagined?

Ana: I’d say my characters are always bits and pieces of lots of people.

The Best Man collageTRC: If you could virtually cast the lead characters of THE BEST MAN, which actors and models would be represent your ideal image?

Ana: I would love to see Beth Chase played by Kristen Bell and Colin Pratt played by Hugh Dancy.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception about you?

Ana: I have no idea. What a question! I can tell you that during college I had a crazy good girl reputation that was very hard to shake. I think there was an assumption that getting good grades meant you did nothing but study. I studied plenty, but it wasn’t all I did. 😉

TRC: If you could change something about yourself personal or professional, what would it be and why?

Ana: I would love to successfully become more of a plotter. I’m a pantser, but I’ve tried plotting my stories out in more meaningful ways a few times. I find that when I have a very detailed outline it takes away a lot of my excitement and drive to actually write the story. Basically, once the story is completed in my head I feel rather done with it.

TRC: Who is the first person you think about when you need someone to talk with and why?

Ana: Probably my mom, though I’ve been inordinately lucky in the friend department. My closest girlfriend, I usually call her my sister because blood isn’t as important as love, has been my rock since we were teenagers and my husband and I were friends for ten years before we dated, so that is very much the foundation for our relationship.

TRC: What five things would you like to accomplish in the next ten years?

Ana: I’d very much like to:
Grow as a writer.
Find a position with a publisher in editing or publicity.
Celebrate ten more anniversaries with my husband.
See our family grow.
Learn to age gracefully.

TRC: How do you balance family life and writing?

Ana: This is something I’m still learning to do. The thing about writing is it’s a job, but it’s also the thing you love to do, so stopping for housework can be tricky. That said, I try to put away my laptop for a while most evenings and my hubby and I always eat dinner together.

TRC: How do you deal with the stress and anxiety of writing deadlines?

Ana: Wine and kissing. 😉

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Ana: I always have half a dozen WIPs, but right now I’m most excited about a contemporary novella I’m writing as part of an anthology with a few writer friends. It’s all still early stages and very hush-hush, but I think there are going to be some hot stories.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Ana: Just thanks again for having me. I’m incredibly excited to introduce Beth and Colin to your readers.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food- Saag Paneer with warm naan

Favorite Dessert-Vanilla cake with a mango curd. It was our wedding cake.

Favorite TV Show(s)-Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Trek, X-Files, True Blood, Sherlock, Doctor Who, Once Upon a Time, Torchwood, Veronica Mars, Firefly, The Colbert Report, Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, The Walking Dead, The West Wing, The Daily Show, Vampire Diaries

Last Movie You Saw- Side Effects-it was quite good.

Dark or Milk Chocolate- Milk Chocolate, preferably with peanut butter.

Famous Secret Crush- None of my crushes are very secret: Alan Rickman, James Marsters, Alexander Skarsgård, David Tenant, Robert Carlyle, Benedict Cumberbatch.

TRC: Thank you Ana for taking the time to answer our questions at The Reading
Café.  Congratulation on the new release and we wish you all the best in
your writing career.

••••••••••••

FREE BONUS e-novella

Mr. Right

 

No one has ever called Kara Stevens patient. When she wants something, she goes for it with a surefire mix of charm and perseverance. But when she wants her big brother’s best friend, Grant Pearce, to be her first lover things get messy. Five years is a long time to avoid someone who is practically family, but if it wasn’t for her only brother’s wedding, she’d keep trying. Now there is only one question: What kind of shoes does a girl wear to see the only man who’s ever broken her heart?

Click HERE for aFREE download from SMASHWORDS: Mr. Right by Ana Blaze

Find out more here: http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/readers-club-4/entranced-extras/

••••••••••••

Rafflecopter Giveaway Black and Purple
One lucky reader will win The Best Man ebook and a goodie pack to share with the best man or woman in their life. The pack contains candles, Godiva chocolate, Tuscan lavender soap, Sensual Massage Oil from The Body Shop and two lip treatments from The Body Shop. It will come packaged in a pretty photo box.

Giveaway open to US residents only.

Ana Blaze Giveaway

NOTE:  The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway.  If you have any questions, please contact the tour promoter or the author.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share

The Best Man by Ana Blaze-a review

THE BEST MAN by Ana Blaze-a review

The Best Man

Purchase Link:  Entranced Publishing / Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble/

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 29, 2013

Beth Chase is too busy planning perfect weddings to worry about the lack of action in her own love life. But if she was looking for a man, she wouldn’t be looking at Colin Pratt. Her boss swears that Best Man Colin is a quiet scholar and science fiction writer who couldn’t possibly cause a fuss at his own brother’s wedding. He’s clearly never met the man in question. Snarky, sexy and more than a little inebriated, Colin is the final obstacle between Beth and the last perfect wedding she needs to make partner. Of course, when she helps him into a taxi at the end of the night she has no idea that he’s only just begun to poke holes in her professional exterior. Colin might have the skills to seduce a romance professional, but can he convince her that he’s the best man to share her happy ever after?

••••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE BEST MAN is a contemporary romance storyline focusing on wedding planner Beth Chase and Colin Pratt-a self proclaimed quiet Scottish professor who, but for the quick actions of Beth, almost destroyed an entire wedding ceremony before it ever began. As the best man at his brother’s wedding, there is more to Colin than meets the eye.

The storyline follows as Colin endeavors to apologize to Beth for his recent behavior at his brother’s wedding. A quick series of mishaps will force the couple together and out of guilt, Beth invites Colin to stay at her place for a few days. Colin and Beth are instantly attracted to one another, and Beth tries but fails, to keep Colin at arm’s length. Beth doesn’t do relationships-although we are not privy as to ‘real’ reason why- and Colin wants more from Beth than a couple of days of relaxation and fun- he wants forever.

Colin is a man possessed-possessed by the need to be loved and find a woman who will accept him. There is plenty of humor as we watch Colin seduce his way into Beth’s bed on numerous occasions. Colin’s backstory is revealed and we learn that he really is the quiet, nerdy professor. And Beth-she is a strong, independent, successful woman, who is afraid to lose everything to the man who has stolen her heart. But she may be too late when she finally realizes that Colin is the man for her.

THE BEST MAN is a fast paced, short story and humorous look at one week in the life of Beth Chase and Colin Pratt. From Colin’s first drunken stumble to his last declaration of love, he is the man who would find his way into Beth’s heart and her life. Ana Blaze has written a cute storyline that pulls you into the hectic life of a successful wedding planner who is reluctant to find love in a quirky Scottish professor.

Copy supplied by the publicist.

Reviewed by Sandy

Share