Monday, April 15, 2013

The Love Shack - TLC Book Tours + Giveaway!



Synopsis:  Return to USA TODAY bestselling author Christie Ridgeway's Crescent Cove, California, where the magic of summer can last forever…


Globe-trotting photojournalist Gage Lowell spent carefree childhood summers in Crescent Cove. Now that he desperately needs some R & R, he books a vacation at Beach House No. 9—ready to soak up some sun and surprise old friend and property manager Skye Alexander. Their long-distance letters got him through a dangerous time he can't otherwise talk about. But when he arrives, the tightly wound beauty isn't exactly happy to see him.

Skye knows any red-blooded woman would be thrilled to spend time with gorgeous, sexy Gage. But she harbors secrets of her own, including that she might just be a little bit in love with him. And she's convinced the restless wanderer won't stay long enough for her to dare share her past—or dream of a future together. Luckily for them both, summer at Crescent Cove has a way of making the impossible happen….

My Review:  I really enjoyed The Love Shack.  It is the third book in the Beach House No. 9 Novels, but it is a stand-alone book as well.  I can't wait to go back and read the first two: Beach House No. 9 and Bungalow Nights

I loved the setting (take me to the beach any day!), the characters, the mystery/family legend behind the story and how I was drawn in from the first chapter.  The Love Shack takes place in Crescent Cove - I have no idea if it is a real town or not, but I would love to visit/live there.  The author, Christie Ridgway, does such an amazing job describing the cove that I could picture it so clearly in my mind.....and wanted to be transported there!

The characters in The Love Shack are so much fun (and the guys are pretty hunky!).  My favorite is a tie between Polly and Skye.  Their friendship was very strong and they were so supportive of each other and seemed to have a ton of fun together.  The twins Griffin and Gage are two wild, globe-trotting photojournalists.  As kids they spent summers in Crescent Cove in Beach House No. 9.  They spent summers with Skye, whose family managed the beach property.  Skye and Gage have been "pen pals" and it was Skye's letters that kept Gage going in a very dangerous situation and Gage's letters that kept Skye going as she faced her demons from a recent break in.  They are brought back together for Griffin's wedding.  This was predictable, but I still loved it!

Skye's family legend of lost jewels is part of the story too. The mystery is unraveled during the story.  It was great how the legend tied all the stories going on in The Love Shack together (don't want to give too much away here).  I thought it was great what becomes of the family jewels too!  Perfect ending.....but I am hoping there might be another book coming?  The good news, is I still have Beach House No. 9 and Bungalow Nights to read!

The Love Shack is a very quick and engaging book.  I recommend The Love Shack and looking forward to other two books (and hopefully a 4th!).


Meet the Author:  An avid reader, Christie began writing romances in the fifth grade when she wrote stories starring her teen idol (and herself as the heroine, of course!). These stories remain intact, in a locked box with a mercifully missing key.

After college as an English major, she became a technical writer in the computer field for a number of years. That led her into computer programming, a geeky profession that was not-so-surprisingly satisfying for the daughter and sister of accountants.

Christie married her college sweetheart and gave up     full-time programming when her first son was born. A visit from an old friend prompted her to take up writing again, and she joined her local chapter of Romance Writers of America two weeks later.

Thanks to the camaraderie and support she found there, Christie persevered, making her first sale to Harlequin. When another son joined her family, she continued to write, juggling motherhood, wifehood and the writing life. She makes her home in Southern California, doing work that she loves thanks to the support of her math-teacher husband and their two sons.

If Christie is not at her computer writing contemporary romances, she is washing clothes or folding clothes or washing some more clothes or folding yet another load of clothes. She does a lot of laundry due to active sons, as well as a husband who likes to surf, bike and fix things!

While the yellow Labrador retriever, the cat, the fish and the tortoise do not add to the laundry piles, they do add to the excitement. As often as possible, though, Christie escapes it all with — what else? — a romance.

Connect:  Keep up with Christie online.

Purchase: You can purchase The Love Shack or any of the other three Beach House No. 9 Novels online at Amazon for $7.99 (Kindle version available).


Beach House No.9 - RidgwayBungalow Nights - RidgwayThe Love Shack - Ridgway

GIveaway:  I am so excited that I have one copy of The Love Shack, Beach House No. 9 OR Bungalow Nights to giveaway (US/CAN only; no P.O. Boxes).  All you have do you is leave a comment letting me know which of the 3 books in the Beach House No. 9 series (Beach House No. 9, Bungalow Nights and The Love Shack) you would want to read most. 

Comments must be in by Friday,April 16th midnight EST.  Good Luck




TLC Book Tours:  Make sure you check out the other TLC Book Tour Stops!


Monday, March 11th:  Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews – Beach House No. 9
Wednesday, March 13th:  Romancing the Book - The entire series!
Thursday, March 14th:  A Chick Who Reads – Bungalow Nights
Wednesday, March 20th:  Simply Stacie Bungalow Nights
Friday, March 22nd:  Peeking Between the Pages – The Love Shack
Friday, March 29th:  Books on the Brain – Friday First Lines guest post
Monday, April 1st:  Passionate Encounters – Beach House No. 9
Tuesday, April 2nd:  Urban Girl Reader – The Love Shack
Thursday, April 4th:  Ticket to Anywhere – Bungalow Nights
Monday, April 8th:  Col Reads – The Love Shack
Wednesday, April 10th:  Urban Girl Reader – Beach House No. 9
Thursday, April 11th:  Good Girl Gone Redneck  Beach House No. 9
Friday, April 12th: From the TBR Pile Bungalow Nights
Monday, April 15th:  Seaside Book Nook The Love Shack
Wednesday, April 17th:  Urban Girl Reader – Bungalow Nights
Thursday, April 18th:  Chaos is a Friend of Mine The Love Shack
TBD:  Babbling About Books, and More! – Beach House No. 9
TBD: Adventures of an Intrepid Reader – Beach House No. 9
TBD:  Book Junkie – Bungalow Nights

6 comments:

  1. I would love to read Beach House No9.
    trichie@windstream.net

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love a beachy setting too!
    I'm a traditionalist (meaning I like to start at the beginning!) so I'd opt for Beach House No. 9
    paulinewiles(at)gmail(etc)

    ReplyDelete
  3. bungalow nights

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I haven't read any of this series but would like to! Possibly starting with Beach House No. 9!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would most like to read The Love Shack. Sounds like a great series. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  6. I hope you enjoy the other books in the series as much as you enjoyed this one!

    Thanks for being a part of the tour.

    ReplyDelete

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