Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Historical, mystery, Spotlight on October 21, 2016

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Deadly Wedding (The Deadly Series Book 2)

Genre – Cozy Historical Mystery 
JDP Press (October 17, 2016)
E-Book 266 pages
ASIN: B01LW0HO5L

 

Synopsis

Why murder a dying man?

Olivia Denis is hesitant to help an old family friend get ready for her wedding outside London. The so-called friend is a master at using people. As a young widow trying to find her way through a new romantic relationship, Olivia would rather avoid the large party.

She definitely didn’t plan to find the bride’s grandfather stabbed to death. The cruel, enormously rich aristocrat had changed his will only the day before, angering all his children.

As Olivia is forced to investigate the murder, she’s called away by her employer, the owner of an influential London daily newspaper. She must carry out another secret assignment, one that will take her to Vienna, now part of Nazi Germany.

With war on the horizon and attacks on the old man’s family increasing, can Olivia find a way to save lives in two countries?

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Praise

The author did a good job in capturing the time and place in which the story takes place. Her characters were well developed and likeable. ~A. Holland Reads

The Author did a very great job with the details of the story and the characters were very believable. ~Books, Dreams, Life

You will be captivated by this beautifully written story and the characters come to life right from the start. ~Shelley’s Book Case

About the Author

kate-parkerKate Parker has wanted to travel to 1930s England since she read her mother’s Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers mysteries when she was a schoolgirl. After many years of studying science, she decided a time travel machine was out of the question so she found herself limited to reading about the period and visiting historic sites. Her love of this fascinating and challenging period led her to the research from which the Deadly series grew. Eventually, she found it necessary to spend several days in the British Library reading old newspapers, which meant another trip to England. Near Christmas. A sacrifice she’d gladly make every year.

The first story in the series is Deadly Scandal, released January 14, 2016.

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Check out the other great blogs on this tour

October 17 – Back Porchervations – Review

October 18 – A Holland Reads – Review, Giveaway

October 19 – Books, Dreams, Life – Review, Spotlight

October 20 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review, Giveaway

October 21 – The Power of Words – Review

October 21 – StoreyBook Reviews – Spotlight, Giveaway

October 22 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Review

October 23 – Brooke Blogs – Guest Post, Spotlight, Giveaway

October 23 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & sissy, Too! – Spotlight, Giveaway

October 24 – Booklady’s Booknotes – Review

October 25 – Island Confidential – Interview, Giveaway

October 26 – Deal Sharing Aunt – Review, Giveaway

October 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Cozy Wednesday

Posted in Book Release, excerpt, Short Story on October 20, 2016

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Synopsis

Radar Road: the Best of On Impulse highlights an exploration of twenty-first century narrative. In four collections that move from raw to refined, the On Impulse series invites the reader to contemplate how we use language now: online, in full-length books, and with each other. Morgan Kiger arranged this fifth collection to stand on its own while showcasing the series’s original trajectory from catharsis to craft.

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Excerpt

Excerpt from “Rogues”

She was immediately on the offensive. “What do you know?” But he didn’t need a defense. He shook his head slowly, drew her down easily, disarmed the moment that had flared accidentally in a misunderstanding. Kris realized he didn’t know anything about Regina’s threat. He whispered, “I know enough.” Kris leaned closer to him and then pulled back a bit, enough that they wouldn’t get too hot sticking together, enough so that no one would give them a hard time about being together. She said, “Good. I thought you probably did.” People left Melanie and Jason alone but they’d been together forever. Everyone accepted it. As much as Regina had pressured Kris to make some declaration to Kyle, she would be the first one to call them out about getting physical on the bus. So Kris left just enough space between them that everything could touch if either of them wanted it to. And for the moment, she didn’t. She just wanted them to share the privacy of the seat.

She added, “I do though, like you.” He said nothing, seeming a little stunned.

She was irritated at taking the risk when he didn’t have to.

He recovered quickly, knowing exactly what she needed somehow. He kneed the seat in front of them to get a rise out of Regina. She twisted around, saw them in their newfound togetherness, said, “Good. About time,” and then turned right back to her absorbing chatter, leaving them to their inescapable discovery of each other.

About the Author

nathjonesauthorBest New American Voices nominee Nath Jones received an MFA in creative writing from Northwestern University. Her publishing credits include PANK Magazine, There Are No Rules, and Sailing World. She lives and writes in Chicago.

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Posted in 4 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Review on October 20, 2016

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Synopsis

 

A lost work of art linking India to the Italian Renaissance. A killer hiding behind a centuries-old ghost story. And a hidden treasure in Italy’s macabre sculpture garden known as the Park of Monsters… Can treasure-hunting historian Jaya Jones unmask a killer ghost?

Filled with the unexpected twists, vivid historical details, and cross-cultural connections Pandian is known for, Michelangelo’s Ghost is the most fast-paced and spellbinding Jaya Jones novel to date.

When Jaya’s old professor dies under eerie circumstances shortly after discovering manuscripts that point to a treasure in Italy’s Park of Monsters, Jaya and her brother pick up the trail. From San Francisco to the heart of Italy, Jaya is haunted by a ghost story inexorably linked to the masterpieces of a long-dead artist and the deeds of a modern-day murderer. Untrustworthy colleagues, disappearing boyfriends, and old enemies—who can Jaya trust when the ghost wails?

 

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Praise for Gigi Pandian’s Jaya Jones Mysteries

 

“Charming characters, a hint of romantic conflict, and just the right amount of danger will garner more fans for this cozy series.” – Publishers Weekly on Quicksand

“Pandian’s sprightly prose celebrates the pleasures of Italian painting, food, and landscape. The light touch, swift pace, and verve maintained throughout the novel disguise the deeper thought and scholarship underpinning the story, which like the stage props of a conjurer, make the magic happen.”– Linda Lappin, Author of Signatures in Stone: A Bomarzo Mystery

 

Review

 

In this series I have read the first book and this most recent release, but not read books 2 and 3. While they aren’t necessary to read this book, I do think that it would be helpful because of references to events in those books. There is enough to sort of fill in the holes, but not enough for my personal preference. But then I’m one that likes to read books in order. If there had been a bit more time, I would have read the other two books first.

Anyway, aside from my issues of reading books in order, this was a very good book! The amount of research that had to go into forming the story about this artist (that does exist according to the author’s notes) and then creating a story around it was genius. I know authors do it all the time, but to just imagine the time it takes is mind boggling. I won’t even get into the food descriptions, makes me want to visit Italy very soon.

Jaya and Lane are in a secret romance (and is she in love with her friend Sanjay too?) and even her brother has a new woman in his life. Now there are things I guessed about Ava (or halfway guessed, I was wrong on part of it) and I wonder if we will see more of her in future books. Time will tell. The mystery has several twists and turns and there is a moment at the end that I thought “oh no” but things will be turned around very soon. Academia is a tough business.

Enjoyable book, definitely check this series out.  We give it 4 paws up.

 

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About the Author

 

gigi-pandianUSA Today bestselling author Gigi Pandian is the child of cultural anthropologists from New Mexico and the southern tip of India. She spent her childhood being dragged around the world, and now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Gigi writes the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries, the Accidental Alchemist mysteries, and locked-room mystery short stories. Gigi’s debut novel, Artifact, was awarded a Malice Domestic Grant and named a “Best of 2012” debut by Suspense Magazine. Her fiction has been awarded the Lefty Award and short-listed for Macavity and Agatha Awards.

 

Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Newsletter

 

 

Giveaway

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

– Signed copies of the first 3 books in the series
– 6 book-themed recipe cards from the locations where each book is set (Italy, Scotland, India, France, and the US)
– $20 gift certificate to the winner’s favorite bookstore

Open to USA & Canada
Giveaway ends on Oct 29

 

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Posted in Book Release, women on October 19, 2016

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OUT OF PRACTICE

When your relationship is on life support, the Breakup Doctor is on call.

There’s no shortage of broken hearts in Breakup Doctor Brook Ogden’s successful breakup counseling practice—if love is a battlefield, then Brook is the cavalry. Luckily her own love life is in full recovery: after a long, tortuous road, she and Ben Garrett are finally headed down the aisle.

But when a local TV personality—and former frenemy—invites Brook onto her show, she’s blindsided live on the air when the interview turns into an act of long-delayed revenge meant to publicly humiliate her. Brook’s an expert at getting back on your feet when life knocks you down, but as the blows keep piling on—with a betrayal she never saw coming and a family crisis that threatens to pull the foundation out from under her—her confidence starts slinking away. With her clients dropping her faster than a one-night stand, suddenly the Breakup Doctor’s career is in critical care.

Brimming with both the sublime and ridiculous aspects of love—romantic and otherwise—Out of Practice is a funny and heartwarming tale about loss, grief, and failure that will resonate with all who have loved, lost…and dared to love again.

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Advance praise for OUT OF PRACTICE

“Phoebe Fox is an engrossing storyteller with the enviable ability to tap into the hearts of her readers… A heartfelt and satisfying conclusion to one of my favorite book series. I’m a forever fan of Phoebe Fox.”—Girl with Book Lungs

“Phoebe Fox makes us fall in love with an entire family, a whole cast of characters, and love itself.  Painfully, hilariously relatable.”— Dr. Duana C. Welch, author of Love Factually: 10 Proven Steps from I Wish to I Do

“Phoebe Fox does it again with a perfect ending for the Breakup Doctor, Brook, and all of her friends—this series is truly one of my favorites.” —Hello…Chick Lit

Out of Practice, carrying on the great tradition of the Breakup Doctor series, is the kind of book that will have you dialing your girlfriends so you can read sections out loud. Vivid, true, and frequently comedic. Goes down as a favorite finale.”—MM Finck, WomenWriters,Women[‘s]Books magazine

“So very touching…but throughout the entire series Phoebe inserts her wonderful sense of humor—along with the deep emotions there are plenty of laughs….A great finish but I am sorry to see it all end!”—Susan the Book Bag

“Once I started reading OUT OF PRACTICE I found it very hard to put down…. Phoebe had my emotions all over the place with OUT OF PRACTICE as she has with each and every book in this series. One minute I was crying and the next I was giggling out loud….I kept saying just a few more pages and before I knew it I was done. I just don’t want this series to end.”—Susan Loves Books

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Good advice, bad decisions. Therapist Brook Ogden is a genius when it comes to helping others move past their painful breakups–but when her own heart is broken, will she take her own advice?

“Heartwarming and…spot-on” (Liz Tuccillo), The Breakup Doctor is “funny, poignant, witty, smart, and memorable” (Girl with Book Lungs).

The Breakup Doctor (only 99 cents through 10/23)

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About the Author

Phoebe Fox is the author of the Breakup Doctor series, and has been a contributor and regular columnist for a number of national, regional, and local publications (she currently writes about relationships for the Huffington Post, Elite Daily, and She Knows). She has been a movie, theater, and book reviewer; a screenwriter; and has even been known to help with homework revisions for nieces and nephews. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two excellent dogs.

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Posted in Giveaway, Review, Short Story on October 19, 2016

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SHORT STORIES BY TEXAS AUTHORS,  Volume 2

Short Stories by Texas Authors, Volume 2 is comprised of winning stories

submitted in an annual contest to highlight Texas Authors

while raising money for literacy programs.

  

Genre: Short Stories

Publisher: Texas Authors, Inc.

Date of Publication: October 3, 2016

# of pages: 110

Scroll down for Giveaway!

synopsis

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Texas Authors have once again allowed their creative minds to open up and expand the Universe in which they live with short stories that captures one’s emotions through the everlasting aspect of storytelling.

In this, the second volume of award winning short stories, readers are taken on a personal ride of growth and understanding then through history both factual and fictional as they explore each side of two wars. Then fear grabs hold of readers and shakes them with terror before unleashing giggles and out-right laughs. These are just a few of the emotions readers will experience as they read these 17 short stories from all parts of Texas.

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Chosen as a Library Journal SELF-e publication
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$2.00 from the sale of every book goes to DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) Texas literacy program, which gets books into schools, libraries, and those in need.  Last year, we donated $5,000 worth of books by Texas Authors, Inc., and we are currently on track to donate $10,000 for 2016.

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$2.00 from every sale is donated to DEAR Texas literacy Programs

Review

I chose one of the short stories to read just to get a flair for what might be included in this book.  As they are all short stories I don’t think they will take long to read, in fact the story I chose, Homecoming Queen (YA) took maybe 5 minutes to read.  Great when you just need a little something and don’t have a lot of time.

Homecoming Queen is about a young woman, Pam, that loses her life in an auto accident and is learning how to cross others over when it is their time.  In this story, there are two older ladies in a hospital room and one is ready to go and the other is not…and of course it is the one that is not ready to go that is being called home.  As is with most people that are younger, they do not understand there is a method to all the madness and why one person is chosen over another.  While the story is short, it is also poignant and has a lesson for us.

I can’t wait to read the other stories!

AboutTheAuthors

Story Titles & Winners

click the authors’ names for their bios and books!

Non-Fiction/Inspirational

1st Place – The Bluest Eyes in Texas by ElizabethGarcia

2nd Place – Tough Love by Jackie Smith

Fiction/Horror

1st Place – John Sleeps by David Hughes

2nd Place – Cheeseburgers by Teresa Trent

Fiction/Humor

1st Place – Cactus Anne by Lorri Allen

2nd Place – Getting Even by Jackie Smith

Fiction/Biography

1st Place – Bluebonnets for Naomi by Teri Metcalf

Non-Fiction Biography

1st Place – A Diamond in the Rough by Roger SFriedman

2nd Place – Hodge Podge by Teri Metcalf

Fiction/Political

1st Place – Funny How Things Turn Out by Robert DeLuca

Fiction/YA

1st Place – Homecoming Queen by Elizabeth Garcia

Fiction/Suspense

1st Place – A Private War by Mary BryanStafford

Fiction/Science

1st Place – Todd by Fern Brady

Fiction/Historical

1st Place – Mountain Laurel by Jan Sikes

2nd Place Tie – Dawn of the Angry Guns by Pat Hadock

2nd Place Tie – Gone by Curt Locklear

Non-Fiction/Historical

1st Place – The Last Day by William Harper

Texas Authors Website * Texas Authors Facebook * Texas Authors Twitter * Dear Texas Twitter

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1 GRAND PRIZE: $25 Gift Card to Texas Authors Book Store

5 RUNNERS-UP: Copies of Short Stories by Texas Authors!

US ADDRESSES ONLY

  October 10 – October 24, 2016

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

10/10 Hall Ways Blog
10/11 Syd Savvy
10/12 Chapter Break Book Blog
10/13 The Page Unbound
10/14 Country Girl Bookaholic
10/15 The Crazy Booksellers
10/16 Kara The Redhead
10/17 Reading By Moonlight
10/18 Texas Book Lover
10/19 StoreyBook Reviews
10/20 It’s a Jenn World
10/21 Forgotten Winds
10/22 Momma On The Rocks
10/23 Books and Broomsticks
10/24 A Novel Reality

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Posted in 3 paws, excerpt, Giveaway, Review, Romantic Comedy on October 19, 2016

My Grandfather's Pants by Tegon Maus

My Grandfathers Pants by Tegon Maus My Grandfather’s Pants by Tegon Maus

Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing (Jan  21, 2014)
Category: Contemporary Romance, Humor, Romantic Comedy, Suspense
Tour Dates: Oct/Nov, 2016
ASIN:  B00HZH5A7O
Available in: ebook,  164 Pages

Synopsis

Jack Laskin is an ordinary man. More than ordinary according to some. Running the family hardware store and a life that would bore a snail, nothing exciting ever seems to happen to him.

Then, at his mother’s urging, he tries on a pair of his late grandfather’s old pants and everything changes — most importantly his emerging love life. It’s not long before his mother and her meddling friends get involved.

When an old friend of his grandfather’s tells Jack he has something she wants, his new-found life takes another turn. Having no idea what he is supposed to have, Jack looks to his girlfriend, Connie, and her brother, Robert, for help.

In the end, the answers will all be found in his Grandfather’s Pants.

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Praise for My Grandfather’s Pants by Tegon Maus

“This story is fantastic! It is totally different to anything I have read before. As the storyline unfolds, it is sexy, humorous and very entertaining – absolutely brilliant!”- Susan Keefe, Book Reviews By Susan Keefe, Author

“I was definitely not expecting to laugh as often as I did while reading My Grandfather’s Pants. Mr. Maus has a fantastic sense of humour that translates extremely well to the written word. He is adept at teasing out the funny side of even the most serious or mundane parts of daily life. It was especially entertaining to see how he plays around with a wide range of assumptions most of us make about certain groups of people in order to keep his readers on their toes.
My Grandfather’s Pants is a great choice for anyone in the mood for something quirky and original. This is the kind of book that begs to be read more than once. I, for one, will be revisiting it quite soon!”- LAS Reviewer, Long and Short Reviews

“My Grandfather’s Pants is a funny and surprising novel. An enjoyable combination of fantasy and suspense with a touch of romance. The protagonist, Jack is a likeable old soul thrown into a bizarre situation, and the way he handles the bizarre challenges he faces will keep you guessing . . . and laughing. Pick up this book if you want to take a ride on a saucy, madcap rollercoaster. You won’t be disappointed!”- Joseph N. Sidari, Amazon Reviewer

Excerpt

Excerpt 2 – My Grandfather’s Pants

 

I was embarrassed and shocked beyond words.

“Ah hell, he ain’t got it,” Harriet sputtered, covering up again.

“Mom, I don’t need any help, really.” I struggled to form the words.

“Oh, no, dear, not you. We’re here to help Connie. She’ll be the one who will need the help if your dad passed on his gift.”

“Gift? What gift?” I asked, concerned what the answer might be.

“Last night…you get any? Did you give it to her good?” Harriet asked, thrusting her hips toward me, puffing to the end of her cigarette.

“No,” I protested, backing away.

“He ain’t got it, Moraine,” Harriet hissed, waving a dismissive hand in my direction, stepping away and buttoning up at last.

“Got what? What are we talking about here?” I pressed.

No one spoke, all three of them just stood there.

“Go on tell him. If he’s a late bloomer he’ll know eventually,” Stella crossed her arms and nodded.

“Jack, your father had an appetite unlike any…” she began.

“The man was a machine,” Harriet injected, lighting another cigarette.

The tone of her voice made my heart pound with panic and the gleam in her eye struck fear in my heart.

“Insatiable really,” Stella offered, flipping her hand back and forth.

“Mom…I…You can’t possibly…” I was lost for words, confused.

“You don’t understand. Your dad…he was relentless. There was no end. Two and three, sometimes four times a day. Outside, in the kitchen, in the garage, in the car, in…”

“In the trunk.” Stella pointed at herself.

“You know he asked, but I could never bring myself to do it,” Mom said, turning to Stella.

“It wasn’t so bad. I kind of got to like it,” Stella confessed.

“Are you telling me Dad cheated on you?” I asked in shock.

“Oh, no, dear. He would never cheat on us, never,” she soothed, patting me.

“Never,” Stella and Harriet said in unison, both with the same tone of affirmation.

“Dad was sleeping with…?” I had to sit down.

The pictures that suddenly filled my head took the very breath out of me, making me gasp like a fish out of water.

“It wasn’t like that. I didn’t believe it in the beginning either. When your father and I were dating, his mother came to me with the same story.

At first, I thought she was simply trying to get rid of me, like I wasn’t good enough for your father. Then as time went by I began to see the truth of what she said. Little things at first…soon they grew more and more urgent, more demanding. I watched as your grandfather fell apart a little more each day. He refused the gift, refused to bend to the need that roiled inside him. It devoured him.

As time went by he became bitter, angry, less of the man he had been and more of a miserable wretch.

Your grandmother did everything a woman could do but as hard as she tried there was no convincing him that things would be alright. Henry was a stubborn man.

I promised myself I would never allow that fate to befall your father or you,” she said placing a hand on my shoulder.

“So because Grandpa was cranky you what?” I asked, now bewildered.

“I had to do something for sanity’s sake if nothing else. I saw the same madness begin to show itself in your father and it began to overshadow our relationship. I promised myself then and there I would never allow it to come between us. Harriet’s husband died in a car crash and she was devastated. She cried almost every day for two years afterward. She was lonely and your father was amorous and insatiable and I was tired. You have no idea how exhausting it was.  Every time you turned around. It was a natural fit. Harriet had needs that hadn’t been filled since her husband’s death and your father didn’t seem to mind. Harriet felt better, your dad felt better and I was so relieved to have a break it was like Christmas in July. It was a win-win. Everyone was happy,” she said with a smile.

“Dad and Harriet?” I gasped, pointing at the wrinkled, old, mean spirited, chain-smoking gnome standing in front of me.

Harriet blew a smoke ring, put on a smug smile, bouncing her eyebrows in acknowledgment.

“Well…” she hesitated. “Even Harriet had her limits and after a few years, it only seemed natural to include Stella.”

“Stella?”

“Yes. We switched off so everyone had at least a day to recoup. I had Thursdays and Saturdays. Stella took Wednesdays and Fridays, while Harriet took Mondays and Tuesdays and the odd day we weren’t available. She has always been the trooper,” Mom said proudly.

I bent forward, leaning over my knees, trying to catch my breath.

“How could you…how…?” I couldn’t form a thought with the pictures that pushed themselves into my head.

“We had needs, each of us. Your father had a family trait handed down for generations, ardent cravings that I…let me correct that. Cravings that no one woman could fulfill. He was a good man. He didn’t drink, didn’t smoke, never missed a day of work, never lied, never cheated…he had this one little quirk. He was a…”

“A sexual dynamo,” Harriet interrupted.

“Oh yes,” Stella agreed, rolling her eyes back in her head, fanning herself with the magazine she held.

“And you all shared him?” I choked.

Review

This was a very bizarre story. I bounced from being kinda weirded out at the actions/comments of Jack’s mother and her friends to being intrigued at the mystery portion of the story.

I think this goes into the fantasy category because i wasn’t quite sure how the pants his grandfather wore fit into the story. Do these pants make the men more insatiable when it comes to their physical needs? Why are the women ok with there being a “harem”? Why do the older ladies call Jack by his grandfather’s name of Henry? Lots of unanswered questions.

The story is different, was a pretty fast read and was a little humorous in places.  We give it 3 paws up.

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About Tegon MausMy Grandfathers Pants by Tegon Maus

Tegon Maus was raised pretty much the same as everyone else… devoted mother, strict father and all the imaginary friends he could conjure. Not that he wasn’t friendly, he just wasn’t “people orientated”. Maybe he lived in his head way more than he should have, maybe not. He liked machines more than people, at least he did until I met his wife.

The first thing he can remember writing was for her. For the life of him he can’t remember what it was about… something about dust bunnies under the bed and monsters in my closet. It must have been pretty good because she married him shortly after that. He spent a good number  of years chasing other dreams before he got back to writing.

It wasn’t a deliberate conscious thought, it was more of a stepping stone. His wife and himself had joined a dream interpret group and we were encouraged to write down our dreams as they occurred. “Be as detailed as you can,” we were told.

He was thrilled. If there is one thing he enjoys it’s making people believe him and he likes to exaggerate. Not a big exaggeration or an outright lie mind you, just a little step out of sync, just enough so you couldn’t be sure if it were true or not.  When he writes, he always write with the effort of “it could happen” very much in mind and nothing, he guarantees you, nothing, makes him happier.

He has consistently placed in the top 3 in 189 writing contest in a variety of genres and has been featured in magazines a couple of times to raise money for Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Author on Tirgearr WebsiteTwitterFacebookPinterestGoogle+

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Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct 3 Interview & Giveaway

Rainy Day Reviews Oct 4 Review & Excerpt

SolaFide Book Club Oct 5 Guest Post

Rockin’ Book Reviews Oct 6 Guest Post & Giveaway

Pomegranate Radio Oct 7 Review

Christy’s Cozy Corners Oct 10 Review & Giveaway

Cindy’s Notebook Oct 13 Review

Christa Reads and Writes Oct 18 Review & Giveaway

StoreyBook Reviews Oct 19 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Lisa’s Writopia Oct 24 Review

Infinite House of Books Oct 25 Excerpt

fuonlyknew Oct 27 Review & Giveaway

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers Nov 2 Review

Carole Rae’s Random Ramblings Nov 4 Review

Books, books, and more books Nov 8 Review

JBronder Book Reviews Nov 16 Review & Guest Post

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Nov 22 Review

Bassgiraffe’s Thoughts Nov 30 Review

Posted in 3 1/2 paws, Book Release, Cozy, mystery, Review on October 18, 2016

deadly-bubbles

Synopsis

After Simone Ryan is stood up at the altar by her fiancé, Elliott, she decides to enjoy her would-be honeymoon in paradise alone. She checks into the Aloha Lagoon Resort’s bridal suite and promptly begins to drown her sorrows in champagne. But when Simone steps out onto the balcony to take in the glorious Hawaiian scenery, she gets an even better view. Hot local baker, Liam Bentley, is out for a stroll on the beach. Maybe being single isn’t so bad after all.

But when Elliott makes a surprise appearance at the resort—with a younger woman in tow—things turn deadly, and suddenly Simone finds herself not in the role of newlywed but prime murder suspect! Fighting for her life—not to mention her dignity—Simone must uncover secrets from her ex-fiancé’s past which may just have killer consequences for her own future. With the help of the ever-so-tempting Liam, his feisty grandmother, and the quirky Aloha Lagoon staff, Simone finds herself tracking down a murderer who may just be closer to home than she thinks…

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The Aloha Lagoon Mysteries

Ukulele Murder (book #1)
Murder on the Aloha Express (book #2) coming in Aug!
Deadly Wipeout (book #3) coming in Sept!
Deadly Bubbles in the Wine (book #4) coming in Oct!
Mele Kalikimaka Murder (book #5) coming in Nov!
Death of the Big Kahuna (book #6) coming in Jan 2017!
Photo Finished (book #7) coming soon!

About Aloha Lagoon

There’s trouble in paradise…

Welcome to Aloha Lagoon, one of Hawaii’s hidden treasures. A little bit of tropical paradise nestled along the coast of Kauai, this resort town boasts luxurious accommodation, friendly island atmosphere…and only a slightly higher than normal murder rate. While mysterious circumstances may be the norm on our corner of the island, we’re certain that our staff and Lagoon natives will make your stay in Aloha Lagoon one you will never forget! visit us at alohalagoonmysteries.com

Review

I’m not sure where the title came from because there isn’t really any wine in the story….but that aside, the story was engaging and enjoyable. Simone is the jilted bride that takes her honeymoon anyway (nothing wrong with that in my book!) and who shows up, but the groom…who ends up dead and of course Simone is a suspect.

There are many interesting characters and the killer was a huge surprise! I never suspected this person and the story that unfolded never would have crossed my mind!

I don’t know if Simone & Liam will be back in future stories, but there could be more to that budding relationship.

We give it 3 1/2 paws.

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Spotlight on October 18, 2016

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An Act of Murder (Professor Prather Mystery)

Series: Professor Prather Mystery (Book 1)
Setting – South Dakota
Paperback: 236 pages
Publisher: Camel Press (October 15, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-1603813754

Synopsis

In the sleepy college town of Copper Bluff, South Dakota, English professor Emmeline Prather is enjoying the start of a new semester. But when one of her students dies working on the fall musical, it disrupts life on the small, quiet campus. Although the police rule the death accidental, Prof. Prather has good reason to suspect foul play.

Unmasking the murderer proves much more challenging than finding dangling participles, so Em recruits fellow English professor Lenny Jenkins for assistance. Together, they comb the campus and vicinity for clues, risking their reputations and possibly their jobs. After an intruder breaks into Em’s house, Lenny advises caution–and perhaps a change of address. Em, on the other hand, is all the more determined to forge ahead, convinced they’re on the brink of an important breakthrough.

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About the Author

mary-angelaLike her protagonist in the Professor Prather mystery series, Mary Angela lives on the Great Plains and teaches college writing and literature. When she’s not grading papers (when is she not grading papers?), she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. She and her husband have two amazing daughters, one adorable dog, and a cat who would rather not be limited by an adjective.

 

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Giveaway

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Check out the other great blogs on this tour

October 15 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

October 16 – Books,Dreams,Life – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

October 17 – Island Confidential – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

October 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 19 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT

October 20 – Shelley’s Book Case – REVIEW

October 21 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW

October 22 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW, SPOTLIGHT

October 23 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW

October 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – INTERVIEW

October 25 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

October 26 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

October 26 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW

October 27 – Jane Reads – REVIEW

October 28 – Varietats – GUEST POST

Posted in Cozy, Guest Post, mystery, Spotlight on October 18, 2016

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A Memory of Muskets (A Chloe Ellefson Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Midnight Ink (October 8, 2016)
Paperback: 408 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738745152
E-Book ASIN: B01APSYQ1A

Synopsis

Curator Chloe Ellefson is happily planning to spotlight home-front challenges and German immigrants at Old World Wisconsin’s first Civil War reenactment―but her overbearing boss scorns her ideas and proposes staging a mock battle. And when a reenactor is found dead at one of the historic site’s German farms, Chloe’s boyfriend, cop Roelke McKenna, suspects murder.

The more Roelke learns about reenacting, the more he fears that a killer will join the ranks at Chloe’s special event. Then Chloe discovers a disturbing secret about Roelke’s Civil War-era ancestors. Together they struggle to solve crimes past and present . . . before Chloe loses her job and another reenactor loses his life.

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Guest Post

Please welcome author Kathleen Ernst as she tells us more about reenactments.  Seems like a lot of work to me!

A Complicated Hobby

By Kathleen Ernst

 

Have you ever attended a Civil War reenactment?  Perhaps a few men dressed in uniform came to your local historical society to demonstrate drill.  Or maybe you got to see a huge battle reenactment, with ten or twelve thousand soldiers on the field.

I was active in the hobby for about a decade.  I thought nothing of jumping in the car after work on Friday with a few others, driving through the night, and participating at a distant event.  While dressed in 1860s attire I had some amazing experiences, made lifelong friends, and met my husband.

That’s not to say, however, that everything is peaches and cream in the reenacting world.  Every unit has it’s own focus.  Some stress authenticity; others are more relaxed.  Some welcome women into the ranks; the very idea makes others apoplectic.  Some are willing to don Confederate or Union uniforms, depending on an event’s needs; others most definitely are not.  The diversity isn’t surprising, but I was distressed by the amount of antagonism that sometimes develops between units.

Now, years later, I’ve put some of my memories to good use.  My latest Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites mystery, A Memory of Muskets, has curator Chloe busy planning a Civil War-themed special event for the site where she works, Old World Wisconsin.  She and her maniac boss have very different ideas about the appropriate approach.  The discovery of a dead reenactor at a restored German farm doesn’t help.

The book also features a plot strand set in the 1860s, letting readers see the struggles facing newly-arrived German immigrants as the Civil War disrupts their plans for peacefully settling into their new homes.

Readers have told me that one of the things they enjoy about the Chloe Ellefson series is the chance to peek behind the scenes of the historic site and museum world.  In A Memory of Muskets, you can also glimpse the complexities of reenacting.

About the Author

kathleen ernstKathleen Ernst is a former museum curator who remains passionate about history!  In addition to the Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites series, she has written many books for American Girl, including nine about the historical character she created, Caroline Abbott. Over 1.5 million copies of Kathleen’s 33 titles have been sold. The Chloe series has earned a LOVEY Award for Best Traditional Mystery, and several of her mysteries for young readers have been finalists for Edgar or Agatha awards.

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Check out the other great blogs on this tour

October 6 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST

October 7 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT

October 8 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

October 8 – Books, Dreams, Life – SPOTLIGHT

October 9 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW

October 10 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW

October 11 – View from the Birdhouse – INTERVIEW

October 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – COZY WEDNESDAY

October 13 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST

October 14 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

October 15 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT

October 16 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

October 17 – Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT

October 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

October 19 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW

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Posted in excerpt, Giveaway, Historical, nonfiction on October 18, 2016

Madam President
Madam President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson

by William Hazelgrove

After President Woodrow Wilson suffered a paralyzing stroke in the fall of 1919, his wife, First Lady Edith Wilson, began to handle the day-to-day responsibilities of the Executive Office. Mrs. Wilson had had little formal education and had only been married to President Wilson for four years; yet, in the tenuous peace following the end of World War I, Mrs. Wilson dedicated herself to managing the office of the President, reading all correspondence intended for her bedridden husband. Though her Oval Office authority was acknowledged in Washington, D.C. circles at the time–one senator called her “the Presidentress who had fulfilled the dream of suffragettes by changing her title from First Lady to Acting First Man”–her legacy as “First Woman President” is now largely forgotten.

William Hazelgrove’s Madam President is a vivid, engaging portrait of the woman who became the acting President of the United States in 1919, months before women officially won the right to vote.

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Praise

William Hazelgrove’s riveting style lets us into the backrooms of the White House to see how a woman who had only two years formal education was able to pull it off and do it for two years! A great read and ride!
~Robin Hutton New York Times Bestselling Author of Sgt Reckless

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Excerpt – Chapter One

The Cover-Up

President Woodrow Wilson lay with his mouth drooping, unconscious, having suffered a thrombosis on October 2, 1919, that left him paralyzed on his left side and barely able to speak. The doctors believed the president’s best chance for survival was in the only known remedy for a stroke at the time: a rest cure consisting of total isolation from the world.

His wife of four years, Edith Bolling Wilson, asked how a country could function with no chief executive. Dr. Dercum, the attending physician, leaned over and gave Edith her charge: “Madam, it is a grave situation, but I think you can solve it. Have everything come to you; weigh the importance of each matter: and see if it is possible by consultation with the respective heads of the Departments to solve them without the guidance of your husband.”

From there, Edith Wilson would act as the president’s proxy and run the White House and, by extension, the country, by controlling access to the president, signing documents, pushing bills through Congress, issuing vetoes, isolating advisors, crafting State of the Union addresses, disposing of or censoring correspondence, and filling positions. She would analyze every problem and decide which ones to bring to the president’s attention and which to solve on her own through her own devices. All the while she had to keep the fact that the country was no longer being run by President Woodrow Wilson a guarded secret.

hazelgroveAbout the Author

William Elliott Hazelgrove is the best-selling author of thirteen novels, Ripples, Tobacco Sticks, Mica Highways, Rocket Man, The Pitcher, Real Santa, Jackpine and The Pitcher 2. His books have received starred reviews in Publisher Weekly and Booklist, Book of the Month Selections, Junior Library Guild Selections, ALA Editors Choice Awards and optioned for the movies. He was the Ernest Hemingway Writer in Residence where he wrote in the attic of Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace. He has written articles and reviews for USA Today and other publications. He has been the subject of interviews in NPR’s All Things Considered along with features in The New York Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Richmond Times Dispatch, USA Today, People, Channel 11, NBC, WBEZ, WGN. The Pitcher is a Junior Library Guild Selection and was chosen Book of the Year by Books and Authors. net. His next book Jackpine will be out Spring 2014 with Koehler Books. A follow up novel Real Santa will be out fall of 2014. Madam President The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson will be out Fall 2016. Storyline optioned the movie rights. Forging a President How the West Created Teddy Roosevelt will be out May 2017.

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amazon or paypal$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Ends 11/8/16

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 

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