The last day of Apple Trail Week has arrived...*sniff* I hope everyone had as much fun as Keri and I had with this week and I want to thank Keri for all her hard work in making this week happen because without her contributions I only would have had 3 reviews. Today she has another awesome guestpost for us in which she shares some interesting information on what's in store for us next in Apple Trail. I pre-read this post and all I can say is: Bring on these books and that Bald and Tatt’d + those triplets are sooooo mine LOL

Give Keri a warm welcome and enjoy her post!


Thanks for having me today…and all week!!! Up next in Apple Trail, we get a little more on the town and the people in it! Mike Gable is the man in charge of Apple Trail and he keeps an orderly, calm town…that is if you don’t count Tiffany McBride.

Tiffany has kept Mike’s tail in knots since they were in high school. But he’s not the only one. As much as Tiffany grates on Mike’s skin, he’s under hers just as much. When these two finally admit their attraction for each other, the pages are lit on fire.

I had a lot of fun writing MAKING HER NIGHTS. When I was writing it, I was all but keeping permanent flushed cheeks because the sexual tension is just off the charts hot. I kept writing thinking, this is the hottest book I’ve ever written. I got to the end…and there’s two (2 ½ if you count that tease moment) of sex scenes. Turns out there’s less sex in Nights than in any other book in the Apple Trail series so far but it reads so hot because the tension is just off the charts.

My editor is calling this her favorite of the series so far and she’s already said she wants more! Should be out around June 20th.

After MAKING HER NIGHTS is SATISFYING HER TASTES and I gotta tell ya, I am so excited for this one! The heroine is in-your-face direct with what she wants and the hero (who I was calling on twitter at one point, Bald and Tatt’d) (note from Pearl: I'm ALL over this hero...*sigh*) is so taken with her. But one of my favorite parts of this story is what it led me to! While there are only six books in the Apple Trail series, I am so not done with this town because of this book!

The hero of Tastes is the youngest of four brothers who are ancestors of the founders of the town Apple Trail. I’ve pitched the idea to my publisher and these three older brothers (triplets!) are planned for Summer of 2012! Currently they’re titled (and might change!) ROUGH PLAY, ROUGH RIDE and ROUGH TUMBLE. They’re scheduled to be a little bit longer than Apple Trail novellas and I can’t wait to dig into them next month.

And finally, last for Apple Trail is Jessie McBride. You’ve seen her in every book so far in some form or another. Either directly by name or mentioned as a “blonde”. She’s got a huge heart that’s taken some hard hits over the years, but there’s a man coming her way who has enough patience to put a smile on her face.

Pearl, thank you thank you so much for having me all week, for the reviews---you’re awesome! Can’t wait to give away some books and stuff! Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered!


GIVEAWAY-reminder:
By commenting on this vlog or one of the other posts this week (every comment is an entry) your name is thrown in the hat to win the following prizes:

- one autographed print copy of Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Vol.1 --open to international residents
- eCopies of Through The Wall, On The Fence, In The Hay. --open to international residents (Winner's Choice)
- 2 Apple Trail Jars --US residents only

It’s been a White Picket Fence life for Nicolette. Charming, but tedious. She graduated high school, raring to go. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems though. The fear of being stuck in a rut, living a dull day-to-day life keeps Nicolette from settling on a career, despite her six years of college. When the chance arrives for her to housesit, she takes opportunity by the horns for a little playtime. She would experience life and find something that would make her happy.

Drew knows exactly what he wants. To run the family construction business. Too bad his dad doesn’t think he’s ready. They make a deal. Drew will help his cousin put up a new fence and after he’s learned hard work, the construction business is his. Drew's not sure learning how to string fence line together will see him suitable for a career of paper pushing, but he’ll do it.

When Drew meets the wanna-be-free-spirited Nicolette, his determined thoughts of what he’s always worked for begins to sway. Nicolette’s finding the fun in life. But their relationship is temporary. A week tops.

Title: IN THE HAY
Author: Keri Ford
Series: Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Arkansas, book 3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Year of release: 2011, April 18
Format: eBook
Source: Received an e-ARC for review from the author

First line:
“You’re changing your degree.” Ted shook his head. “Again.”

Memorable Scenes:
- Nicolette's dancing skills > I might have snickered...and snorted
- Drew telling Nicolette exactly what he wants to do with her > *fans self* and Nicolette's reaction to it > made me smile in recognition
- Nicolette googling sex > burst out laughing and scared hubby to death


Nicolette 'Lette' Jones is free-spirited and restless. She decides to use her stay in a strange town to try out and do a few things she's never done before. What surprised me about this book was that Nicolette was a virgin. I loved how Keri Ford ingeniously incorporated that into the romance with her usual humorous note and voice.

Drew Hamilton is steadfast, determined, laidback and quiet, but it's the quiet ones people! He is a naughty dirty-talker and that’s just the way I like them!

IN THE HAY is my favorite Apple Trail book so far. The humor I love so much shines through in the entire book and is paired with some genuinely emotional stuff. LOVE that! I laughed out loud several times while reading this book but I also got a little teary-eyed at the end.

What I love about this series, besides the humorous writing, the subtle yet sexy sensuality and the wonderful characters, is the small-town feel and how everyone is connected in some way: Nicolette and Drew are cousins to former main characters in this series and hero and heroine of the second book make an appearance in this book too. With each book you get to know more people in Apple Trail and start to feel like they could be living right next to you. I also met the main couple from the next book and I can’t wait to read their story. Going by what I read in this one, it’s going to be explosive.

Keri Ford's writing is like a scalding bubble bath. It seeps into your pores and makes you feel all fuzzy and comfy and hot, very hot. This book just made me happy! It was funny, endearing and steamy! I will not be able to see or hear the word pineapple and not think back to this book. Thanks for that Keri!

Favorite Quotes:
She gripped the edge of her enchilada plate and sent it flying across the table to crash into another chair where an explosion of melted cheese, sauce and whatever else was in that thing flew into the air and rained to the floor. Satisfaction bloomed in her chest and pulled out a smile. Now that she enjoyed and could do again.

That burning hot kiss in the bar had lit her head on fire and singed down to her curling toes.

His thumb rolled over her nipple and, oh, God, just like that. She arched off the ground against his body, wanting more.
Not knowing what to do, she combed her fingers through his short brown hair as he took her in his mouth. Teeth nipped her and she tugged at his soft strands, wanting to voice something, anything to get him to do that again, but words were gone. She existed only in a state of tingling need, craving his touch.

“I can’t work with you saying this dirty stuff in my ear.”
He tried to look offended. “I haven’t said one dirty thing.”
Her hand flicked up I the air. “It’s not what you’re saying, but how.”
He grinned. “You’re hearing things. If I wanted to be dirty, I would just say I want to reach under that short skirt you’re wearing and see if you’re wet and waiting for me.”

He leaned against the barn door and watched her walk out of his life. An itch to call her back crawled up his throat, but he swallowed it down. There was no room for a woman like her in his life now and she deserved what he couldn’t give.

Today I have a special treat for the loyal Apple Trail Week followers: A Vlog. Not by me because I am camera shy, would die of stage fright and most importantly, you don't want to see me on screen...trust me, you really don't! No, I have the pleasure of introducing you to the wonderful Keri Ford herself. She'll read a scene from IN THE HAY and I'm sure that, like me, once you've heard Keri speak, you will not be able to read the Apple Trail books without hearing that lovely, southern accent.

Sit back, relax and enjoy!



If the link above doesn't work for you, you can also access the video-blog directly by clicking HERE

GIVEAWAY-reminder:
By commenting on this vlog or one of the other posts this week (every comment is an entry) your name is thrown in the hat to win the following prizes:

- one autographed print copy of Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Vol.1 --open to international residents
- eCopies of Through The Wall, On The Fence, In The Hay. --open to international residents (Winner's Choice)
- 2 Apple Trail Jars --US residents only

If Shellie Chambers has to hear one more condescending comment from her mother about life or men, she might scream. She packs up and takes a trip to see her long-missed high school friend, Riley. He’ll know exactly what she needs to loosen up. But instead of the girl-chasing jock she remembers from their youth, Riley’s gone country, keeping up a farm of his own.

Riley Hamilton has settled down on a farm his uncle left to him. Not the life he ever envisioned, but after getting a girl pregnant in college and then watching helplessly as the baby was aborted, he learned the hard way it was time to settle down. Shellie’s reentry into his life reminds of his wild past and it’s a fight to ignore the tempting woman Shellie has become.

Title: ON THE FENCE
Author: Keri Ford
Series: Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Arkansas, book 2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Year of release: 2011, February 21
Format: eBook
Source: Bought via Smashwords

First line:
There was no way around it. Catching Mr. Right was damn hard work.

Memorable Scenes:
-the four-wheeler scene > wow!
- bathroom scene > double wow!


Shellie Chambers and Riley Hamilton are childhood friends. The last time they saw each other was 6 years ago but when her mom is driving her bat-shit crazy, Shellie seeks refuge with the friend she knows will pull her back from the ledge. But devil-may-care, good-times Riley has transformed into responsible and controlled Riley while Shellie is determined to have a little fun.

I did not take very extensive notes on Shellie’s character but do remember she was another female character I really liked. Keri Ford has a knack for writing likeable heroines I easily connect with and having read the third book in this series I know this is something that this isn’t just a fluke of the first two books.

I met Riley in the first book of the series and was immediately drawn to him. He’s careful and intense. One little thing I did miss was a little more background on the change in Riley as I would have loved to know the cause for the change was, but that's me nitpicking.

Like THROUGH THE WALL this book was pretty short so both the stories in this series were fun and quick reads and left me wanting a little bit more when finished. However by bringing the characters back in the next books keeps you connected and I like those little peeks into how they’re doing.

I really like Keri Ford's voice and style. It's easy, fluent and fun and every time I read her stories she puts a smile on my face. In the span of 8 chapters Keri Ford gave me a wonderful character-driven story with likable and developed characters, subtle humor and enough sexual tension to set the pages on fire.

Favorite Quote:
And at that moment, Riley’s hand dropped to Shellie’s thigh. His large palm covered the top of her leg, his long fingers rested between her thighs, and she completely lost her train of thought. He wasn’t doing anything suggestive or dirty under the table, but it was just that his hand was on her, warming her and zapping her words before they could even reach her tongue.

GIVEAWAY-reminder:
By commenting on this review or one of the other posts this week (every comment is an entry) your name is thrown in the hat to win the following prizes:

- one autographed print copy of Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Vol.1 --open to international residents
- eCopies of Through The Wall, On The Fence, In The Hay. --open to international residents (Winner's Choice)
- 2 Apple Trail Jars --US residents only

It's Apple Trail Week on Pearl's World of Romance and today I have the pleasure of welcoming the lovely Keri Ford herself to share with you all a favorite excerpt from one of the Apple Trail books. Make sure you comment on the post as each comment is thrown is in hat for some great prizes, offered by Keri:

- one autographed print copy of Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Vol.1 --open to international residents
- eCopies of Through The Wall, On The Fence, In The Hay. --open to international residents (Winner's Choice)
- 2 Apple Trail Jars --US residents only

Please help me give Keri a warm welcome and get this Apple Trail Week rolling!


Thanks for having me this week!! I am so excited to be here and talking about Apple Trail, and even better, watching others talk about it. The chance for interaction is awesome, so if anyone has any questions on anything, drop it in the comments! I’ll be checking in!

The excerpt below is from THROUGH THE WALL and I really like it cause it’s when Stephanie (heroine) really overcomes her nerves and asks for what she wants. This moment is what this entire series is all about. Taking that step out of your comfort zone, thumbing your nose at what someone might think and just going for it. While for some, that’s a not a big deal, for others, you just don’t do that kind of thing! Why your Great Aunt May might hear about it and she’ll tell her bridge club crew and then the whole town will be knowing all your business and before you know it, your momma can’t show her face in church.

This is from the first chapter, but it’s a changing moment for Stephanie mentally. A moment of, I’m in it now, like hell am I backing out!

Excerpt:

Parker squeezed her against his side, hugging her close and then loosened his grip. “Well, here I am, at your service all night long.”
That was a loaded statement if she’d ever heard one. If she had ovaries worth some salt she’d yell, okay! But she didn’t. Instead, she swallowed again and fumbled around for a polite way to ask for dirty-ish sex. She was pretty sure there wasn’t one. Well, bock-bock and cluck the walk home or take a risk. She was going to do it. “Parker, I need some help.”
He didn’t wait a beat. “I’m all yours, doll, ask away.”
She nodded and walked, drawing him away from the barbeque and the crowd, steering him toward home. Home was an apartment across the street, so it wasn’t much of a walk. Which meant she better get it out before they crossed the double yellows in the middle of the road. She would never voice her question out loud once they were inside the building where all the neighbors might hear. Plus the middle of the road offered the added bonus of being able to run anywhere if he laughed. Like head-first into a car.
He hugged her against his side, gently jostling her. “Never known you to be so quiet.”
Parker was right. And she needed this. She pulled in a deep breath, stopped right there in the middle of the dead Sunday afternoon road and stared right into his eyes. “I want rough…er, sex.”
He looked at her for a long moment and finally he chuckled. “Funny.”
There was her way out of this conversation. She could laugh with him and that’d be it. But she didn’t want out. “I’m not being funny.”
“Uh-huh. And how much did you have to drink?” He tugged on her hair. “Not like you to drink this much.”
“I’ve only had a few.”And she was feeling darn sober at the moment. “I’m serious.”
His mouth dropped and his arm fell away from her shoulder. His eyes drifted closed as he shook his head. “We’ve never...”
She was in deep now, she wouldn’t back away. The margaritas were a help. Ding! Point two for having four. She swallowed and sucked in a deep breath. “I know. I want to. To find out.”
His mouth snapped shut. His jaw tightened, giving her the first sign of just how big of a mistake this might be, but she refused to give up, so she forced onward. He had to at least think about it. “I want something more than plain vanilla. Nothing extreme like cherry blizzard blast, but maybe a little chocolate with syrup.” She rubbed her neck. “And a little squirt of whipped cream.”
Or a big squirt.
He wasn’t looking at her. In fact, he had turned away until his tight jeans curving along his nice ass faced her. The sun blazed down even hotter on the pavement somehow or maybe it was embarrassment burning her through and through. That scent of melting tar? That wasn’t from the hot sun on the pavement but her body catching fire from her blush.
Noise and laughter from the barbeque carried over and echoed off their apartment building and back to them. Which meant, their words could also go back to the barbeque. They weren’t quite as alone as she’d like, especially with a couple of kids coming down the sidewalk toward them. Sweat trickled down her temple and she shifted her feet, kicking a stray rock from the road. There was no breeze or shade. She was sitting under a heat lamp while her future paced about in front of her trying to figure out if she was indeed serious or drunk off her ass.
Parker stopped and stared up at the bright blue sky. “Why me?”
Liquid courage pushed her on. “We’ve been neighbors for months now. Our beds are on the same wall.” He was turning. She could picture his slack-jawed mouth and yep, there it was, right along with big eyes. Not quite horrified, but then, he didn’t exactly looked thrilled. She squared her shoulders and forged ahead. “Well, I think, from what I’ve heard, that is, you could help me.” Before he could say anything, the hum of an engine revved. She glanced back and saw a truck headed their way. Parker put his hand to her back and steered her off the road, toward their building. So much for being in the street to put her out of her misery should this little chat get any worse. And one thing was for certain, this conversation was surely going to get worse.
Parker was shaking his head again. “No. This isn’t a good idea.”
She shrugged, trying to maintain this casual I’m-so-cool-I-can-ask-for-sex look. “It would just be a couple of… encounters.”
“Encounters,” he echoed with a shake of his head. “No. We’re going to our apartments and we’re going to forget this.”
She shook her head. “I’ve never had anything exciting. It’s always been just a rub over my hip, a stroke down my thigh and that’s it. And that was okay, but I want more. I want to be used and—” “I don’t want to hear this.” He jabbed his key in the main door and pulled it open for her.
She stopped in front of him and held him there in the doorway. The blast of the air conditioning slapped her with a whole new sense of drive. She could do this. She could push through. Maybe if she put her chest against his, and slid her leg up his thigh, but she hadn’t drank quite enough for those kinds of moves. “What I’m saying is, it was always the same. Eighty percent of the time, I’ve been on the bottom.”
“Not listening.” He put his hand to her back and turned her in the building.
But he was listening. He wouldn’t be wiping at his brow and tugging at his shirt otherwise.
“I’m not asking for a lot, just something up against a door. Or in the shower. I don’t want to be chained up and beaten with a whip. I just want a little something more. I need this, Parker.”

*Behind the scenes*

-THROUGH THE WALL was just a stroke of luck. I had never wanted to write short. It just wasn’t my thing. Tell an entire story in so FEW words? Terrifying. But I was in a hard place with my writing at the time. I didn’t know what to do, what direction to take. So I decided to write something short and just have fun with it. And, that’s where THROUGH THE WALL came from.

- THROUGH THE WALL was never intended to be part of a series. I purposely wrote it to be self contained. My publisher told me to pitch more when I was ready, so I looked at this story, looked at what I could do with it and BAM—Apple Trail, Arkansas was born with a few edits.

-My editor flagged the line about bock-bock asking if I meant something else and I replied with no, “I mean bock-bock, like chicken speak.” I couldn’t hardly type it for laughing, because it was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever said before and just knew she was going to write me off as crazy.

About the Author:
Keri Ford was raised in South Arkansas on a farm surrounded by family, horses, cows, donkeys, ostriches, emus, chickens, ducks, Canadian Geese, and enough dogs one would think they were a pound…and then she bought a Cosmopolitan when she was twenty-two. She doesn’t recall the fantastic sex tip that drew her to the magazine, but she vividly remembers reading an excerpt of Christina’s Skye’s Code Name: Princess. One elevator scene and quick thought of, I didn’t know people wrote stuff like this… and her life would never be the same.

You can find and connect with Keri here:
Website|Twitter|Facebook

This review is the prequel of my APPLE TRAIL WEEK that will run from today until Friday May 27th. There will be reviews of the first 3 Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Arkansas series, guestposts by the author Keri Ford with a vlog on Wednesday and of course there will be prizes...lots and lots of prizes, graciously offered by the lovely Keri Ford. I hope this review will whet your appetite for the coming week and you'll come back tomorrow for one of Keri Ford's favorite excerpt from this series and to find out what the prizes are and how you can win them (one hint: start commenting on this review *wink*).

Stephanie Faulker doesn’t want wild and raunchy, just a little spice. She’s been hearing her neighbor’s nightly sexcapades through her bedroom wall and she wants a turn!

But Parker Madison isn’t so easily swayed. He wants Stephanie all right, but not just in the bedroom. He wants commitment and long-term, not a quick roll.

Short-term does not lead to long term. Or can it….hmm…we’ll have to wait and see what these two can do!

Title: THROUGH THE WALL
Author: Keri Ford
Series: Uninhibited in Apple Trail, Arkansas, book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Year of release: 2010, December 20
Format: eBook
Source: Bought via Smashwords

First line:
Summer in the south was like living in a sauna 24/7.

Memorable Scenes:
- breakfast scene > This scene made a lasting impression on me.

Neighbors, friends and coworkers Stephanie Faulkner and Parker Madison are about to take their friendship to another level at Stephanie’s instigation. She wants Parker and isn’t taking no for an answer.

The star of THROUGH THE WALL for me was the heroine Stephanie Faulkner. Most of the time it’s the hero who stands out for me in the stories I read and in this book, while Parker isn’t too shabby, Stephanie definitely stole the show. She’s smart, sweet and determined.

Keri Ford was a new-to-me-author, once again found via Twitter. I saw a mention of her debut at Turquoise Morning and once I read the blurb I was a goner. Contemporary romance with a friends-to-lovers trope? I didn’t know how fast to hit that buy-button and I’m so very glad I did because it led me to a lovely read.

One thing that really stood out to me in THROUGH THE WALL was the humor that was there from the very start. I really like Keri's voice a lot and she made me instantly like Stephanie. As far as tropes go…you say: friends-to-lovers and I immediately say: Yes, please! And Keri Ford's THROUGH THE WALL is one of the better ones I've recently read with this trope.

My first taste of Keri’s Ford’s work has certainly left me wanting more. THROUGH THE WALL was a quick, enjoyable and well-written story even if the ending was rather sudden. Still, in the short span of the story Keri Ford managed to put her Apple Trail series on my radar and I'll definitely be looking out for the future books.

Favorite Quotes:
She licked the last bit of salt from her now empty plastic cup and eyed the fine piece of hardened, tanned flesh prowling through the crowd. Yes, prowling. Parker took long strides, his eyes always searching and looking around; his mouth perfectly kicked up in this little grin that made the butterflies in her belly smile.

Parker breathed and continued working at talking himself out of it. A few moments of fun. Catch a bit of ass and apparently, possibly, spank some of it, too. Not how he’d wanted Stephanie Faulkner all these years. She was supposed to be a slow and torturous unwrapping. Hours spent learning each creamy, soft inch of her skin. Time taken to see what set her off and what made her beg and ache for more.