Posted in Giveaway, Kindle, Review, romance on August 26, 2016

UntilSummerEnds

 

Synopsis

Sophie Newton is determined to prove herself to her father, who insists she could never run a successful business. She opens a beachside taco stand called The Sandy Tortilla and plans to make her own way, one burrito at a time.

When she loses her summer help, Sophie rushes to find somebody to help take orders. She finds that somebody in Montgomery Winters, a struggling actor from LA. Mont takes the job; the money’s useful, though he finds that his curvy boss is what really keeps him around.

As Sophie and Mont work together, they discover an intense attraction between them. But when Mont’s agent calls him about a career-making audition, he decides he must pursue the opportunity, even though he can’t get Sophie out of his head. Now, Sophie must choose between chasing after the man she’s falling in love with and the business she’s fought so hard to build.

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Review

This was an enjoyable read, and it was clean too! Sophie is a woman with issues from her past that impede her present. While I know many people have a past and sometimes those issues cloud their judgement, I wanted to ask her what she was thinking about running away at various times throughout the book. We all have to deal with our past, but Sophie kept running away.

Mont is the hunky man in the picture, but don’t be fooled, he has his own issues too including running from his past (including his name) and trying to find his path in life.

Despite the baggage they both bring to the table, I enjoyed their slower paced relationship with its ups and downs. It made them seem more down to earth and approachable. While Mont may be an actor seeking the role of a lifetime, he was no different than anyone else.

I thought the name of Sophie’s food stand was ingenious – The Sandy Tortilla – because it was on the beach and served Mexican food. I’m always impressed by food trucks/stands and what they can accomplish in such a small space.

Overall a great read!  We give it 4 paws up.

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About the Author

Elana JohnsonElana’s work includes the young adult dystopian romance seriesPossession, Surrender, Abandon, and Regret, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster). Her popular ebook, From the Query to the Call, is also available, as well as a young adult dystopian short story in the Possession world, Resist.

Her newest release is the beginning of a new adult fantasy series. ECHOES OF SILENCE came out with Amazon Publishing on May 3, 2016. See all of her books here.

Elana also writes inspirational western romances under the pen name Liz Isaacson. Check out all 5 books in the Amazon #1 Bestselling Three Rivers Ranch Romance series, and get ready for the rest of the series by the end of 2016.

Her newest release is UNTIL SUMMER ENDS, a contemporary romance novel from Cleis Press/Start Media.

Blog * Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Join her romance-only newsletter (get a free novella when you do!)

Giveaway

Elana is giving away a Kindle Paperwhite

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Posted in 4 1/2 paws, fiction, Review, suspense on August 25, 2016

The House of Kane

Synopsis

Aislinn Marchánt, a writer and editorial consultant, is hired by the major New York publishing company, Kane Publishing House, to help determine why several submissions sent to them have mysteriously disappeared only to be published later by another publisher. Are the editors at Kane simply not being diligent enough with the in-coming material, or is there something more sinister going on? Working from her West Palm Beach home, Aislinn quickly becomes involved with the House of Kane as well as with Caldwell Kane, the man who hired her.

As Aislinn works toward uncovering the various layers of truth of her former husband, her elderly neighbor, and Kane Publishing House, she continues to research her own novel, the story of a love between two people that becomes fractured because of the misunderstandings created by two different cultures. Her research takes her to abotanica where a Santerian priest reveals the truth in her own life and a destiny that is joined to that of Caldwell Kane.

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Praise for The House of Kane

Simultaneously wise and poignant, exotic and suspenseful, House of Kane is a fascinating story of loyalty, treachery and the power of destiny. With an insider’s view into the world of high stakes publishing, Barbara Casey weaves a masterful story that haunts the reader long after the final page.  – Nancy Steinbeck, Author of The Other Side of Eden: Life with John Steinbeck

Barbara Casey’s House of Kane is a touchingly tender love story, set in an intrigue-riddled publishing industry. Her characters are interesting and varied. Her story is refreshing and engagingly told. Aspiring writers will want to read House of Kane to tap her wisdom about getting into print. – John DeDakis, Former CNN Senior Copy Editor, Author of Fast Track

Review

What a tale for readers as it is woven with the publishing industry.

Aislinn is a talented writer/editor and knows what will sell books, that is why she is sought out by many aspiring authors. I liked how her character was kind about her suggested rewrites and how many authors took it to heart and realized that their book was going to be so much better with those changes.

Caldwell Kane is the owner of a publishing house, yet books that were submitted to them are being published by a rival house. How is this happening? He asks Aislinn for her help in getting to the bottom of this mystery. But he doesn’t expect to fall in love with her along the way.

The book has many twists and turns, mystery and romance, deceit and truth. There are many bible quotes in the book so I’m not sure if it is meant to fall somewhere in the Christian book genre.

The characters are all well developed and each one brings depth to the book. Lottie, the next door neighbor, that lost her forbidden love when she was 16. It has haunted her all these years and writing a book about her father was very cathartic for her. Richard, Aislinn’s ex-husband, is still in love with her but realizes that his life as a doctor was all encompassing and didn’t leave much time for his home life and Aislinn. It takes a medical issue for him to understand what he has lost. Charles, a homeless vet that has some mental issues, but has a support system around him that helps him out however they can without infringing on his pride.

There are characters that learn some life lessons too, but you have to read the book to find out!

One thing I didn’t really understand was the story line of Margaret Peters – I’m not sure this added much to the book, but perhaps others will think differently. There is another character that just disappears at the end (can’t reveal too much!) but it would have been nice to see that story line resolved.

Overall though, a very good book and we give it 4 1/2 paws up.

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About the Author

Barbara CaseyBarbara Casey is a partner in Strategic Media Books, and president of the Barbara Casey Agency, representing authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. She is also a manuscript consultant and the author of numerous articles, poems, and short stories.

Her award-winning novels have received national recognition, including the Independent Publishers Book Award. Her novel, The House of Kane, was considered for a Pulitzer nomination, and The Gospel According to Prissy, also a contemporary adult novel received several awards including the prestigious IPPY Award for Best Regional Fiction. Her most recent young adult novel, The Cadence of Gypsies, received the Independent Publishers Living Now Award and was reviewed by the Smithsonian for its list of Best Books.

Ms. Casey makes her home on the top of a mountain in northwest Georgia with her husband and three dogs who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix, Fitz, a miniature dachshund, and Gert, a Jack Russel terrier of sorts.

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Win one of three copies of The House of Kane (choice of print or ebook). One winner will also receive a $25 Amazon gift card (open internationally)

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Posted in Book Release, mystery, Spotlight, Thriller on August 25, 2016

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The Devils Analyst

Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Date Published: 08/11/2016

Synopsis

Danny Lahti had it all: fame, fortune, friends, love – and an obsessed stalker.

Obsession can be a powerful curse. What happens when you think your world is perfect, but someone behind the scenes is determined to test you in every way possible? As the clock ticks toward the year 2000, Danny’s world starts unraveling without explanation. An unknown hacker unleashes a digital attach on his Internet company just months before its public debut. A prowler attempts to break into his historic mansion which houses, according to Hollywood rumor, secret vaults. A long-time friend goes missing. Is it all coincidence, or are these just the first feats by a crazed admirer determined to force the truth from Danny?

And what is the truth? The complicated days that follow force Danny to have another look at his own relationships, misdeeds, and damaged past. But will he ever learn the lesson that will satisfy the devil who taunts him?

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Excerpt

Chapter One

Midnight

Twenty minutes to midnight, and the ice on the frozen lake outside cracked. The loud reverberations of winter echoed through the night and invaded Danny Lahti’s peace.

Danny was prepared to let time move forward in whatever incremental way it chose. At that moment . . . sitting on a sofa in an enormous room near midnight . . . huddled within a century-old hunting lodge of a long-dead lumber tycoon . . . on the shoreline of a lake nearly forgotten in the isolated woods of northern Wisconsin, Danny Lahti was not concerned about the potential for a technological apocalypse as time turned to the year 2000.

But he did feel on the brink. Something was about to happen. Things should change; they needed to change. He couldn’t really say why. Danny never felt he was the introspective type. But he had always felt connected to a larger universe, one in which he received premonitions of what was to come.

The end of the century. Or maybe the start of a new millennium. It depended on the pundit. But computers only knew what they were programmed to know, and they weren’t programmed to deal with changing from 1999 to 2000. Maybe early computer scientists never thought about a century starting anew. December 31, 1999 could prove an existential threat. They called it “Y2K.” Who knows, maybe every generation deserved its opportunity to restart the clock.

For Danny, his past was too painful, but the future felt too uncertain. In a way, his life could be the snowdrift-covered lawns that surrounded this house. On the surface, the drifts were unblemished and glistening in the weak moonlight. But beneath their surface, under the shapeless accumulated flakes, were the remains of years of living. If Danny had the time and the tools and the energy, he could shovel his way into discovering the dead flowerbeds, the abandoned lawn furniture, and the century’s worth of trails across the grounds. But who could be bothered? Eventually, the warm sun of spring would surely melt the snow. Just wait. The past would be exposed.

Danny had always been the kind of person willing to wait. When he was only twelve, his mother committed suicide and he found her dead body. He waited then, always expecting someone would eventually arrive to explain what had happened and why. When his father withdrew into a hermit-like life that barely acknowledged his adolescent son’s existence, Danny still waited. Someone would surely make his father forget his dead wife and remember his child. He was still waiting.

And when Josh came into his life, promising an escape from these cold woods into the warm, loving life of the Los Angeles sun, Danny followed and waited for Josh’s direction.

He waited. He always had. Perhaps he always would. It was his nature not to rebel and not to question, to try to be good and not rock the boat. A new year, a new century, a new millennium, not even “Y2K” could change that. Because Danny Lahti had never been able to find the energy to grab the reins of his own life. And he didn’t intend to start now. And yet something was changing. He felt it.

The ice cracked again. Nineteen minutes to midnight.

About the Author

Dennis FrahmannDennis Frahmann is a former journalist and marketer,who now resides in Cambria, CA.

He is the author of two other novels: Tales from the Loon Town Cafe and The Finnish Girl.

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Posted in Guest Post, mystery, Spotlight on August 24, 2016

 

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Synopsis

Mina Calvi, Italian transplant to Southern California, thinks her love life might finally come together, just as her professional life has. Her Furry Friends Foundation, a no-kill shelter for rescued cats and dogs, is a success, and Mina hopes she may find a loving forever home for her-self, in the arms of Diego Moran, her elusive, frustratingly mysterious, on again-off again, lover.

When a seemingly innocent night out with friends lands Mina in a hospital bed and Diego undercover, and not the covers Mina wants him to be under, Mina has to draw on all her new-found maturity, and all her supportive friends for strength.

Meanwhile, a Best in Show cat takes up residence at the Ritzy Cats B&B, Mina’s other venture, setting Mina on the trail of a suspicious character who might not have the cat’s best interests at heart.

Add a Matchmaker to the Stars, a temperamental Italian chef and the usual menagerie of people and pets, stir it all up and you have an entertaining, hard to put down romantic tale of suspense.

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Guest Post

Of Mascara and Memories by Maria Grazia Swan

Why Mina’s adventures?

“If I didn’t have my own voice, I’d like to have the voice of a young Italian girl named Mina” Sarah Vaughan. 1968.

Growing up, American teens had James Dean.

Italian teens had Mina.

Yes, the namesake that inspired me is a very real woman.

She was everything I wanted to be and I don’t mean just physically—she was a foot taller than me and she had breasts.

Mina represented rebellion and freedom from parental tyranny and public opinion.

She shaved her eyebrows, smoked cigars in public, wore fashion so extreme it should have been named after her.

But those were the sixties and the seventies, celebrities stuck to what they did best, they didn’t design clothing lines or perfumes.

Mina sang.

I’m talking about the real Mina, the Italian singer who inspired my Mina’s adventures series. Those of you who read Love Thy Sister will know what I mean.

Mina’s eyes, without eyebrows, but thick mascara.

Mascara in Italian is called rimmel and my Mina never leaves home without it. When I wrote that I had no pictures of Mina, it was all from subconscious memories.

And the part where I explain about the love child? All true.

Seems like such a long, long time ago.

The real Mina still sings, but hasn’t been seen in public in years…she records in her own studio, she’s still beloved by Italians at home or abroad…As for the eyebrows? No clue, but will live forever in my memory.

About the Author

MariaG SwanAward winning author Maria Grazia Swan was born in Italy, but has also lived in Belgium, France, Germany, in beautiful Orange County, California where she raised her family. She is currently at home in Phoenix, Arizona.

As a young girl, her vivid imagination predestined her to be a bestselling author. She won her first literary award at the age of fourteen while living in Belgium. As a young woman Maria returned to Italy designing haute couture. Once in the U.S. and after years of concentrating on family, she tackled real estate. These days her time is devoted to her deepest passions: writing and helping people and pets find the perfect home.

Maria loves travel, opera, good books, hiking, and intelligent movies (if she can find one, that is). When asked about her idea of a perfect evening, she favors stimulating conversation, Northern Italian food and perfectly chilled Prosecco.

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Posted in excerpt, Guest Post, Inspirational, nonfiction, Spotlight on August 24, 2016

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Synopsis

Without question life can be difficult and challenging. But what if all the challenges in your life were really just stepping stones to living the life of your dreams?

Join Coach Michael Taylor as he shares how he was able to overcome being a high school dropout, a divorce, depression, bankruptcy and foreclosure and is now living his dream as an entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker and radio & TV show host.

In this book you will learn that adversity really is your greatest ally and when you learn to accept this fact you can create the life of your dreams.

Adversity is your Greatest Ally Website

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Excerpt

Back in 1977 (I was 17 at the time) a friend and I were hanging out late one night and decided we would go check out a movie. Neither of us knew what movie we wanted to see, so we began looking at the movie posters in the theater. I then noticed a poster for a new sci-fi movie that had recently been released and based on the poster it looked pretty interesting. We decided to go and check it out, even though we knew nothing about the movie.

From the very beginning of the movie I knew it was going to be special. I was instantly transported into outer space and the story, actors, visuals, and soundtrack were all out of this world. By the time the movie was over, I had been on an amazing journey that I didn’t want to end. I loved the movie so much that I convinced my friend to go back the following night to see it again.

During that summer I ended up watching the movie more than twenty times in the theater. I couldn’t stop watching it. Each time I watched it I discovered something new, and after each viewing I couldn’t wait to see it again.

It may sound a little odd, but the movie somehow changed my life. It gave me a new perception of reality, and as a result of watching it so many times my attitude changed about the Universe and my place within it.

The movie was Star Wars and even today it is my all-time favorite movie. I still watch it once or twice a year.

The most intriguing concept of the movie was “The Force”, which was defined as a universal energy that is within all things and controls all things. The primary character of the movie was Luke Skywalker, and the movie follows him as he learns how to access The Force within him and how he ultimately uses it to save humanity from an evil character named Darth Vader, who used The Force for evil unlike Luke, who used the force for good.

What really caught my attention after the movie came out was the amount of religious leaders who were using the movie to promote their religion and were actually referring to “The Force” as a metaphor for their God. During this time I was more of an agnostic and I really didn’t believe in God; it was the non-religious message in the movie that actually attracted me. I really resonated with the idea that every human being has access to this Force and you didn’t have to be religious to connect with it. You simply had to learn how to access it and believe in it and it would become a source of amazing abilities and powers.

I had been doing some research about science and physics and there were some very interesting ideas that I had been exposed to that seemed to confirm what The Force in the movie was actually talking about. It reminded me of a famous quote from Albert Einstein (my favorite scientist) in which he stated, “Everything is energy that’s just the way that it is. Match the frequency of the reality that you want to create and there is no way that you can’t create that reality. It can be no other way. This isn’t philosophy, this is physics.”

Guest Post

I’d like to welcome Michael Taylor to StoreyBook Reviews today.  When I read his message that he wrote for us today, all I could think was “he gets it!”.  I cannot agree more with turning off the media (am I considered media with this blog?!) and making your life what you want it to be because only you have that power and it doesn’t matter if you are black, white or purple!  I’ll stop now and share Michael Taylor’s words with you.

Is There Reason For Optimism For Black America?

If you pay attention to our media you may have concluded that the future is bleak for Black America. We are constantly inundated with stories and images of police shootings, incidents of racism, black on black crime statistics and a myriad of other challenges that currently plague our communities.  With this over proliferation of negative media it’s no wonder that a large segment of this country is pessimistic about the future for black people.

But is this pessimism warranted? Should black people be worried about the future? Are things really getting worse?  Are there any reasons for optimism?

Contrary to negative media generated news reports; I personally believe that black people are positioned to experience unprecedented levels of success in America today. As a matter of fact, I fervently believe that there has never been a better time to be alive in this country than right now.

Without question my way of thinking is in the minority. Most people will say that I am in denial of the obstacles and challenges facing black people and that in some way I am selling out black people by being so optimistic. I have been attacked, vilified and condemned because of my optimism, but never the less, I am absolutely positively optimistic about the future.

But how can I be so optimistic about the future when so many people are filled with such negativity and pessimism? It’s actually pretty simple. I am optimistic because I believe in facts versus what the media would have you believe.

Facts do not lie although some people may deny them. Here are a few facts that are the reasons for my optimism.

Fact #1. Despite the unnecessary police killings of black men, violence by police and violence in general has been seeing a steady decline over the past few decades. This doesn’t excuse police brutality or other unnecessary violence. It is a verifiable fact that overall violence is actually on the decline in this country.

Fact #2.  The black male incarceration rate has decreased by 23% over the last decade and with the recent focus on overhauling our criminal justice system I believe that number will continue to decline.

Fact #3. The total number of black males and females who are receiving college degrees has been steadily increasing for the past decade or so. More and more black males are graduating high school than ever before and there has never been more black men in prison than in college despite the media reports to the contrary.

These three facts fuel my optimism but they pale in comparison to the fact that this country and the world at large is currently changing very rapidly for the better. The media would have you believe that it is black against white or us against them when the fact is it isn’t us against them. We are all in this together and more and more people are beginning to accept this idea and are beginning to work together.

After some racially motivated killings President Obama stated; “As painful as the week has been, I fully believe that America is not as divided as people have suggested.” I strongly concur with his statement. I do not deny the challenges this country still has to face in regards to race, but, as a child of the 60’s I remember the segregation, anger and hatred that I experienced simply because of the color of my skin and though there are still obvious incidents of racism, in comparison to what I experienced approximately 50 years ago, I believe we are on a trajectory to heal this country of racial issues within the next few decades.

With the advances we are making in technology, like artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and flying and self-driving cars, there are lots of things to be optimistic about. When it comes to health, people are living longer, diseases are being cured and more and more people are choosing healthier lifestyles. In addition, we are making incredible strides with environmental issues like cleaning up the environment, moving to solar power and green energy and making a conscious effort to reduce pollution and heal the planet.

The truth is there are a lot more things that are right in the world than things that are wrong with it. It all depends on what you choose to focus your attention on. I choose to focus my attention on the positive things and therefore I believe there are lots of reasons for optimism regardless of your race.

The key is to turn off the media and get engaged with doing something that changes the world for the better. And remember: “No one can do everything but if everyone did something everything would get done.”

Let’s do something together!

About the Author

Michael Taylor Author PhotoCoach Michael Taylor is an entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker and radio show host who has dedicated his life to empowering men and women to reach their full potential. He knows firsthand how to overcome adversity and build a rewarding and fulfilling life and he is sharing his knowledge and wisdom with others to support them in creating the life of their dreams. He is the author of Adversity Is Your Greatest Ally, Black Men Rock, A New Conversation with Men, and Brothers, Are You Listening?

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Posted in excerpt, Giveaway, romance, Spotlight, Young Adult on August 23, 2016

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BATTERED

not broken

by CHARITY WEST

Contemporary/Romance/Young Adult

40K, Evernight Teen Publishing

 

Synopsis

Who knew falling for a man in Khaki could cause so much trouble?

Battered and bruised, Wren has taken a lot from her father over the years, but when he throws her out of the house, she sees it as a blessing in disguise. She has no job, no home, and never finished high school, but what’s all that compared to a life without abuse? When she starts over in a new town, under a new identity, she makes it her goal to fly under the radar.

New town, new life. Only, there’s a corrupt deputy intent on stealing Deputy Gray Frampton’s family fortune, a slight case of aggravated identity fraud, and a night in the local jail. It’s enough to make any girl’s head spin. Wren Michaels has to find a way not to spend the next three years in jail, warn Gray that Deputy Pritchard is after him, and somehow hold onto the happily-ever-after that is finally within her grasp—assuming Gray wants a felon as his girlfriend. Who knew falling for a man in khaki could cause so much trouble?

14+ due to violence and adult situations

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Excerpt

The shadows crept closer as a deep cold settled into my bones. I cowered on the floor of my closet, hidden behind shoes and clothes, as I listened to the slap of flesh against flesh. He’d come home drunk again, even more so than usual, and he’d barely cleared the door before landing the first blow. It was cowardly of me to hide. I should stand up and fight—do something to make him stop. My phone was still clutched in my hand, and my heart pounded in my chest, the thump-thump loud in my ears. I knew I should call 9-1-1 and get help for Mom, but I also knew that even if they arrested him, they’d never keep him. Mom would give the cops some bullshit excuse as to why he was beating her, or say she fell, and then she’d refuse to press charges. If I thought things were bad now, they’d be even worse if he went to jail for the night. We’d lived through that horror once already, and once was more than enough. No one had to tell me my dad was an abusive asshole who thrived on being a bully. I’d experienced it firsthand.

My palms grew slick as I heard my mother’s whimpers and then booted steps coming down the hall. Was I going to be next? The footsteps grew louder, and I heard my bedroom door slam into the wall. I bit my lip to stifle my cry, hoping he wouldn’t find me. He shuffled around my room, his boots clomping and scraping the wood floor as he searched for me. When the closet doors were flung open, I squeezed myself as far into the corner as I could, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough.

An iron grip closed around my arm, his fingers biting into my skin, as he jerked me out of the closet. I stumbled and fell to my knees at his feet, bracing myself for what would happen next. My head was wrenched back, tears stinging in my eyes as he fisted my hair. There was such hatred in his gaze, such contempt, as if he couldn’t even stand to look at me. I’d always done everything he’d ever asked, and still it wasn’t enough. As far as my dad was concerned, I’d ruined his life, and he was going to make me pay for it until I was able to leave this place behind.

“Thought you could hide from me?” he slurred. “Stupid little bitch.”

The slap across my cheek made tears spill down my face, but I ground my teeth together so I wouldn’t make a sound. When he knew he was causing me pain, he seemed to enjoy it more, and I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. He pulled hard until I was standing upright, my hair still clutched in his fist, and then he punched me in the stomach. I folded at the waist, gasping for breath as stars danced in my vision and bile rose in my throat.

“Worthless. That’s what you are.” He kicked out and knocked me to my knees again. “You should be groveling, thanking me for your life. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even be here, you ungrateful shit.”

Yes, because thanking him for the abuse he heaped on me day after day, thanking him for all the hurtful names I’d been called, thanking him for the days I’d had to skip school because I couldn’t hide the bruises—that was exactly what I wanted to do. One day, he would get what was coming to him. I didn’t know how or who would do it, but I knew someday he’d piss off the wrong person and they’d beat his ass until he cried like a baby. And I hoped like hell I was there to see it. I’d kick back with some popcorn and enjoy the show. I hated him. Hated him.

“You think I don’t see the way you look at me?” he demanded. “Well, I’m tired of it. I’m finished with you. My life was better before your mother got knocked up. Ever since she popped you out, you’ve been nothing but a financial drain. Not anymore. You have five minutes to pack your shit and get the fuck out of my house. And if I ever see you again, I’ll make you wish you were never born.”

Like I didn’t already wish that every day of my life. I should thank him for offering me freedom, even if I had nowhere to go. Anything was better than staying here. Plenty of people lived on the streets, so there wasn’t any reason I couldn’t do it, too. It just meant I’d have to find a way to get my GED sooner rather than later. Dropping out of high school hadn’t been the best decision in the world, but when Dad had broken my arm, Mom had thought it would be better than facing questions we couldn’t answer.

He stomped out of the room, and I heard his bedroom door slam. After grabbing a bag out of my closet, I shoved several outfits, underthings, and socks into it. I snatched my toothbrush and hairbrush out of the bathroom and crammed them in there, too. As an afterthought, I grabbed the travel pouch from under the sink that had shampoo, soap, and a razor tucked inside. I didn’t know where I would go to shower, or where I was going to sleep tonight, but I would figure it out. Maybe Mom would let me come home to bathe while Dad was at work a few times a week. Plus, it would give me a chance to check on her.

I zipped up my bag and then grabbed my backpack and purse off the bed. With my keys clutched tight, I walked out of the only home I’d ever known. Mom didn’t say a word as I passed her, and she didn’t try to stop me. Maybe she figured I was better off living anywhere but at home, and she may have been right.

About the Author

Charity West is a young adult romance author who has always had her head in the clouds. She had her first crush when she was four, and it lasted for six years. Then she quickly fell head over heels for another boy, until she had to move away and leave him behind. Jumping from one boy to another, she finally found a keeper when she was twenty, and she’s been married to him ever since.

By the time Charity was twelve, she was sneaking her mother’s Harlequin romances and reading them in secret when she was supposed to be asleep. Teased throughout middle school and high school for the bodice ripper covers on the books she openly read in class, she knew that one day she wanted to write her own happily-ever-afters.

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Posted in 2 1/2 paws, England, Novella, Review, romance on August 23, 2016

village romance

Synopsis

As a heatwave rolls into Little Perran, so does love. Billy Baxter, the has-been rock star, and Rafe Wylde, the hunky farm worker arrive, both destined to cause havoc as they touch the lives of the villagers. Milly finds a new job and things start to look up for her, but she is unaware that a ghost from her past is looking for her.

Funny, Compassionate and Sizzling Sexy, A Village Romance is a page-turning summer read. A Village Romance is the second book in The Little Perran Romance series by Lynda Renham writing as Amy Perfect.

The Village Romance story continues in the book ‘A Summer Romance’.

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Review

This is the second book in a series and while you don’t have to read the first book, it might help to introduce some of the characters of the town. I didn’t realize it was the 2nd when I agreed to review, but as it is a novella, I don’t think I missed too much other than maybe some more details on the townspeople.

I am not sure if the copy I read was edited. The story has a lot of potential but I felt like there was a lot of back and forth that made it feel disjointed. There is one section that I thought was accidentally put in there twice until I realized it was from another POV. I didn’t quite understand why the author did this other than to understand what each character felt….but don’t think it was totally necessary. There was also a mention of a character wanting to hire a housekeeper for $25 (or 25 pounds) an hour…maybe he was used to London prices? Or maybe because he was rich he could afford it? It just didn’t seem to fit.

There are a couple of celebrities that move into town..one a brash musician and the other a quite author that is hiding from himself. However, several ladies in town see past their gruff exteriors and work their way into the men’s hearts.

The novella just sort of ends and you have to read the next one to pick up the story and where it leaves off because it does just leave you hanging.

I would give this 2 1/2 paws up.

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About the Author

Lynda Renham has been writing for as long as she can remember and had her first work published in a magazine at age nine and has continued writing in various forms since. She has had several poems published as well as articles in numerous magazines and newspapers. Recently she has taken part in radio discussions on the BBC.

She has studied literature and creative writing and has a blog on her web page.

Lynda lives with her second husband and cat in Oxfordshire, England. She is Associate Editor for the online magazine The Scavenger and contributor to many others. When not writing Lynda can usually be found wasting her time on Facebook.

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Monday, mystery, Spotlight on August 22, 2016

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MURDER-AT-THE-MANSION

Murder at the Mansion
Cozy Mystery
Lyrical Underground (June 7, 2016)
Paperback: 190 pages

Synopsis

Fortunes, fineries, and foul play . . .

It’s whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson’s battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter’s lifeless body, menial tasks don’t seem so terrible. Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the “Silver Sentinels,” Kelly’s on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion’s glamorous façade. . .and for a killer who may want to make history of her next!

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About the Author

janet-finsilverJanet Finsilver is the USA TODAY best-selling author of the Kelly Jackson mystery series. She worked in education for many years as a teacher, a program administrator, and a workshop presenter. Janet majored in English and earned a Master’s Degree in Education. She loves animals and has two dogs–Kylie and Ellie. Janet has ridden western style since she was a child and was a member of the National Ski Patrol. One of the highlights of her life was touching whales in the San Ignacio Lagoon. MURDER AT REDWOOD COVE, her debut mystery, was released on October 13, 2015. Her second book, MURDER AT THE MANSION, was released on June 7, 2016.

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check out these other blogs on the tour

August 15 – Bea’s Book Nook – REVIEW

August 15 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

August 16 – Sleuth Cafe – REVIEW

August 16 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – INTERVIEW

August 17 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

August 18 – Queen of All She Reads – REVIEW

August 18 – Classy Cheapskate – SPOTLIGHT (Sharing previous review)

August 19 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW

August 20 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW, GUEST POST

August 20 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 21 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW

August 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy  – INTERVIEW

August 22 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

August 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 23 – Mysterious InkSpot – REVIEW

August 23 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

August 24 – The Book’s the Thing – REVIEW

August 24 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST

August 25 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

August 25 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

August 26 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW

Posted in excerpt, nonfiction, Spotlight, Trailer on August 22, 2016

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Title: Scapegoat: A Flight Crew’s Journey from Heroes to Villians to Redemption
Author: Emilio Corsetti
Publisher: Odyssey Publishing, LLC
Pages: 472
Genre: Nonfiction Narrative

Synopsis

“This is the kind of case the Board has never had to deal with-a head-on collision between the credibility of a flight crew versus the airworthiness of the aircraft.” NTSB Investigator-in-Charge Leslie Dean Kampschror

On April 4, 1979, a Boeing 727 with 82 passengers and a crew of 7 rolled over and plummeted from an altitude of 39,000 feet to within seconds of crashing were it not for the crew’s actions to save the plane. The cause of the unexplained dive was the subject of one of the longest NTSB investigations at that time.

While the crew’s efforts to save TWA 841 were initially hailed as heroic, that all changed when safety inspectors found twenty-one minutes of the thirty-minute cockpit voice recorder tape blank. The captain of the flight, Harvey “Hoot” Gibson, subsequently came under suspicion for deliberately erasing the tape in an effort to hide incriminating evidence. The voice recorder was never evaluated for any deficiencies.

From that moment on, the investigation was focused on the crew to the exclusion of all other evidence. It was an investigation based on rumors, innuendos, and speculation. Eventually the NTSB, despite sworn testimony to the contrary, blamed the crew for the incident by having improperly manipulated the controls, leading to the dive.

This is the story of an NTSB investigation gone awry and one pilot’s decades-long battle to clear his name.

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Excerpt

When TWA 841 departed JFK on April 4, 1979, no one onboard had any idea of the drama that would soon unfold. One passenger, travelling with her husband, wrote in a journal about the smooth takeoff. She had been keeping a personal journal of her travels to share with her children on her return. She documented everything down to the most inconsequential detail such as her ears popping as the aircraft climbed. Days, weeks, and years later, after TWA 841 had become the subject of one of the longest NTSB investigations in the agency’s history, investigators would scrutinize every minute of the flight in a similarly detailed manner. Much like a criminal investigation, the movements, actions, and whereabouts of each crew member were documented. Routine tasks such as when and where the meal trays were exchanged between the cockpit and cabin crew would take on added significance. Unraveling the mystery of TWA 841 was a monumental puzzle that needed to be solved. But unlike any accident investigation before or since, the same evidence investigators would use against the crew would be used by others to challenge the theories put forth by Boeing and the NTSB. Readers can draw their own conclusions as to which version is correct.

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About the Author

Emilio Corsetti IIIEmilio Corsetti III is a professional pilot and author. Emilio has written for both regional and national publications including the Chicago Tribune, Multimedia Producer, and Professional Pilot magazine. Emilio is the author of the book 35 Miles From Shore: The Ditching and Rescue of ALM Flight 980. The upcoming book Scapegoat: A Flight Crew’s Journey from Heroes to Villains to Redemption tells the true story of an airline crew wrongly blamed for causing a near-fatal accident and the captain’s decades-long battle to clear his name. Emilio is a graduate of St. Louis University. He and his wife Lynn reside in Dallas, TX.

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Spotlight on August 21, 2016

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the black thumb

The Black Thumb (Professor Molly Mysteries) (Volume 3)
Paperback: 342 pages
Publisher: Hawaiian Heritage Press (April 18, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-1943476183

Synopsis

When a violent death disrupts the monthly meeting of the Pua Kala Garden society, Professor Molly Barda has no intention of playing amateur detective. But Molly’s not just a witness-the victim is Molly’s house guest and grad-school frenemy. And Molly quickly finds to her dismay that her interest in the murder of the stylish and self-centered Melanie Polewski is more than just…academic.

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About the Author

frankie bowLike Molly Barda, Frankie Bow teaches at a public university. Unlike her protagonist, she is blessed with delightful students, sane colleagues, a loving family, and a perfectly nice office chair. She believes if life isn’t fair, at least it can be entertaining.

In addition to writing murder mysteries, she publishes in scholarly journals under her real name. Her experience with academic publishing has taught her to take nothing personally.

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Check out these other blogs on the tour

August 18 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

August 19 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

August 20 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

August 21 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 22 – FictionZeal.com – SPOTLIGHT with Excerpt

August 22 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – CHARACTER INTERVIEW/SPOTLIGHT

August 23 – CelticLadyReviews – SPOTLIGHT

August 24 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

August 25 – Lori’s Reading Corner – GUEST POST

August 26 – Jane Reads – REVIEW, GUEST POST

August 27 – fundinmental – REVIEW

August 27 – Cozy Up With Kathy – INTERVIEW

August 27 – Reading Authors – SPOTLIGHT

August 28 – Author Annette Drake’s blog – INTERVIEW

August 29 – The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW

August 30 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

August 30 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT

August 31 – Mallory Heart’s Cozies – REVIEW

August 31 – Ashleyz Wonderland` – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

 

 

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