Posted in 4 paws, fiction, Review, suspense on February 4, 2020

 

Synopsis

Everyone wants new followers…until they follow you home.

Audrey Miller has an enviable new job at the Smithsonian, a body by reformer Pilates, an apartment door with a broken lock, and hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers to bear witness to it all. Having just moved to Washington, DC, Audrey busies herself impressing her new boss, interacting with her online fan base, and staving off a creepy upstairs neighbor with the help of the only two people she knows in town: an ex-boyfriend she can’t stay away from and a sorority sister with a high-powered job and a mysterious past.

But Audrey’s faulty door may be the least of her security concerns. Unbeknownst to her, her move has brought her within striking distance of someone who’s obsessively followed her social media presence for years—from her first WordPress blog to her most recent Instagram Story. No longer content to simply follow her carefully curated life from a distance, he consults the dark web for advice on how to make Audrey his and his alone. In his quest to win her heart, nothing is off-limits—and nothing is private.

With “compelling, suspenseful” (Liz Nugent) prose, Kathleen Barber’s electrifying new thriller will have you scrambling to cover your webcam and digital footprints.

 

 

 

The book releases 2/25/2020

 

Review

I am amazed at the things I learn reading books about technology and crazy people. I have never heard of Ratting and now I am going to be super cautious about what I open from anyone I know (or don’t know!).

There are many twists and turns in this book and when I thought I had figured out who “him” was, I find out at the end I was dead wrong. OMG, I did NOT expect that reveal.

Audrey is self-absorbed and I suppose that is common for influencers – they think the world revolves around them. Plus it goes to show that their life is NOT perfect and is just a stage to gain attention from the public. She claims she didn’t want to be a mean girl, but not caring about those around you is a way of being mean.

Cat lacks self-esteem and some of her past that is revealed throughout the book, especially at the end was surprising.

I do think some things were left unanswered about some of the characters in this book. I would have liked to have seen some resolution to these characters and some specific incidents.

This book will definitely keep you up at night wondering what might happen next.

We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

Kathleen Barber’s first novel Truth Be Told (formerly published as Are You Sleeping) is the inspiration for the Apple TV+ series of the same name, produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and starring Octavia Spencer and Aaron Paul. Kathleen was raised in Galesburg, Illinois, and is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Northwestern University School of Law. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and son. Follow Me is her second novel.

 

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Posted in Book Release, fiction, suspense on February 3, 2020

 

Synopsis

 

Twenty years ago Emily Mills’s father was murdered, and she found his body hanging in the backyard. Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room. Her older sister, Tara, claims she was out with friends. The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever. The killer was caught. The case closed.

Ever since, Emily and Madison have tried to forget what happened that night—until an eerily similar murder brings it all back. It also brings FBI special agent Zander Wells to the Oregon logging town. As eager as he is to solve the brutal double slaying, he is just as intrigued with the mystery of Emily’s and her sisters’ past.

When more blood is shed, Zander suspects there’s a secret buried in this town no one wants unearthed. Is it something Emily and Madison don’t know? Or aren’t telling? And Tara? Maybe Emily can’t bear to find her. Because when Tara disappeared, she took a secret of her own with her.

 

 

 

 

Praise

 

“Elliot skillfully unravels layers of intersecting stories, each one integral to the overall story of the Mills family and their small-town secrets. Readers will want to see more from this author.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“Part budding romance, part compelling backstory, part prescient tale of racism: provocative on all fronts” – Kirkus Reviews

 

 

About the Author

Kendra Elliot has landed on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list multiple times and is the award-winning author of the Bone Secrets and Callahan & McLane series, as well as the Mercy Kilpatrick novels: A Merciful DeathA Merciful Truth, and A Merciful Secret. Kendra is a three-time winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award, an International Thriller Writers finalist, and an RT Award finalist. She has always been a voracious reader, cutting her teeth on classic female heroines such as Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and Laura Ingalls. She was born, raised, and still lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest with her husband and three daughters, but she looks forward to the day she can live in flip-flops.

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Posted in Cozy, Giveaway, Monday, mystery on February 3, 2020

 

 

A Crafter Quilts a Crime: A Handcrafted Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (February 11, 2020)

Synopsis

Perfect for fans of Betty Hechtman and Maggie Sefton, Holly Quinn’s third Handcrafted mystery aspires to wrap you in its warmth.

Community Craft proprietor Sammy Kane must piece together a patchwork of clues when a “live” mannequin ends up stone-cold dead.

Snowcapped pines and glittery dusted sidewalks adorn tranquil Heartsford, Wisconsin, while residents cuddle beneath heirloom quilts in front of cozy wood fires. But come the next day, the below-zero temperatures won’t keep the locals away from Heartsford’s annual Fire & Ice event. To boost customer traffic at Community Craft’s one-night-only sale, Samantha “Sammy” Kane persuades a few of the craftspeople who sell their wares at the store to participate in a live mannequin window display contest.

Local quilter Wanda Wadsworth emerges as a favorite to win the contest, as she manages to not move a muscle for an unusual amount of time. Onlookers outside the window try everything to get her to crack–tapping on the glass and making funny faces–but nothing disrupts Wanda’s stillness. When the eagle-eyed spectators realize Wanda isn’t breathing, a blanket of grief and fear descends upon the wintry town.

Detective Liam Nash can’t seem to piece the clues together. Fortunately, Sammy’s cousin, Heidi, and her sister, Ellie, are on hand to reconvene their detective team, S.H.E. They set out to solve Wanda’s untimely death before the case grows as icy as a sub-zero Wisconsin winter. But they are all too aware that the killer is too close for comfort.

 

 

Amazon – B&N – BAM

IndieBound – Powell’s Books – Kobo

 

 

About the Author

Holly Quinn is both an avid reader and crafter. Holly sells her artistic creations locally and dreamed of one day opening a gift shop to sell local artist’s handiwork. Instead, she began writing about it and thus her journey of the Handcrafted Mystery series was born.

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Giveaway

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Posted in Giveaway, Historical, romance, Western on February 2, 2020

 

The Mail Order Bride’s Secret

 

Outlaw’s Mail Order Bride, Book Three

 

by

Linda Broday

 

Genre: Historical Western Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication Date: January 28, 2020

Number of Pages: 352 pages

 

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GIVEAWAY! 

 

 

 

 

When the West was wild and man’s law favored the few, these extraordinary women could be found…in the heart of an outlaw.

When three young children show up on outlaw Tait Trinity’s doorstep, he knows he can’t help them―a wanted man has no business raising kids. And yet he can’t bring himself to turn them away. At a loss, he sends for the mail order bride he’d been writing to, hoping the demure dressmaker will be the answer to his prayers.

Melanie Dunbar is nothing like the bride Tait was expecting. She’s rough and tumble…and hiding an ulterior motive. Dangerous men have taken her sister hostage, and if Melanie wants to see her alive, she’ll have to betray her new husband. There’s only one problem―the more time she spends with Tait, the more she comes to care for him. Yet as the noose begins to tighten, Melanie will have to make a terrible choice: save her sister…or the man she loves.

 

 

iBooks │ Amazon │ Indiebound

Barnes and NobleKobo

 

PRAISE

 

“This is another page-turning period romance from Broday.” Publisher’s Weekly

“Broday does a fabulous job of telling a story filled with humor, angst and some candid truths just so we don’t romanticize this period in our history.” Fresh Fiction

“This book was absolutely mesmerizing with nonstop action, full of laughter, tears and just a downright good Old fashioned Wild West story as only Linda Broday can do.” Glenda (Goodreads reviewer)

 

 

 

 

Linda Broday’s Favorite Foods

 

I grew up in the Southwest and my favorite foods reflect a lot of that. We were poor when I grew up, so Mama fixed a lot of red beans and potatoes and the mention of that makes my mouth water even though a lot of years have passed. I still love them to this day. As you can see, most everything is a Southern dish. It’s what happens when you grow up a great distance from the Gulf of Mexico or any ocean.

 

  1. Enchiladas
  2. Chicken Fried Steak
  3. Grilled Salmon
  4. Turkey and Dressing
  5. Homemade Onion Rings
  6. Fillet Steak with all the trimmings
  7. Fried Catfish
  8. Chicken and Dumplings
  9. Fried Chicken
  10. Red Beans and Fried Potatoes

**Linda and I could eat nearly every meal together except for the fish.  But I am down for at least 7 of her top 10!**

 

 

 

 

 

I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty historical western romance novels and short stories. I reside in the Texas Panhandle on land the American Indian and Comancheros once roamed, and at times if the breeze is just right, I can hear their voices whispering in the wind. Texas’ rich history is one reason I set all my stories here where cowboys are still caretakers of the land. I’m inspired every day by their immense dedication and love for the wide-open spaces.

When I’m not writing, I collect old coins and I’ve also been accused (quite unfairly I might add) of making a nuisance of myself at museums, libraries, and historical places. I’m also a movie buff and love sitting in a dark theater, watching the magic unfold on the screen. As long as I’m confessing…chocolate is my best friend. It just soothes my soul.

 

 

 

 Website  ║  Facebook  ║  Pinterest

Twitter  ║   Goodreads  ║   LinkedIn  ║   BookBub

 

 

————————————-

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

Three Winners

1st: $25 Amazon Gift Card; 2nd: Autographed Set of All 3 Books in the Series; 3rd: Autographed Copy of The Mail Order Bride’s Secret.

January 28-February 7, 2020

(US Addresses Only)

 

 

 

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

1/28/20 Notable Quotable All the Ups and Downs
1/28/20 BONUS Post Hall Ways Blog
1/29/20 Excerpt That’s What She’s Reading
1/30/20 Review Carpe Diem Chronicles
1/31/20 Review Chapter Break Book Blog
2/1/20 Character Interview It’s Not All Gravy
2/2/20 Top Ten List StoreyBook Reviews
2/3/20 Review Books and Broomsticks
2/4/20 Series Spotlight Jennifer Silverwood
2/5/20 Review Missus Gonzo
2/6/20 Review Reading by Moonlight

 

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Review on February 1, 2020

 

 

Statue of Limitations (A Goddess of Greene St. Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Kensington (January 28, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages

Synopsis

In this delightful new series by the New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mysteries, Athena Spencer comes back home to work with her crazy big Greek family at their garden center. But she never expected a return to her roots would mean protecting her family from murder . . .

After her divorce, Athena has returned to coastal Michigan to work in her family’s garden center and raise her son, while also caring for a mischievous wild raccoon and fending off her family’s annoying talent for nagging. Working alone at the garden center one night, Athena is startled by a handsome stranger who claims to be the rightful owner of a valuable statue her grandfather purchased at a recent estate sale.

But she has even bigger problems on her plate. The powerful Talbot family from whom her pappoús bought the statue is threatening to raze the shops on Greene Street’s “Little Greece” to make way for a condo. The recent death of the family’s patriarch already seemed suspicious, but now it’s clear that a murderer is in their midst. Athena will have to live up to her warrior goddess namesake to protect her family from a killer and save their community from ruin . . .

 

Kensington – Amazon – B&N   – Kobo

 

Review

If you thought you had a loud boisterous family. you need to meet Althena and her Greek family.  It is reminiscent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding – so if you have seen that movie you will understand.  The nosy sisters, the overbearing mother, and the love that can be found despite everything.

Althena is divorced with a son and living back in her hometown with her family and working at the family garden center.  She is the secret author of a blog that features her family but they don’t know it even though they read it every day.  One day they are going to realize it is about them!  Althena is dating Kevin.  Kevin is not going to win any awards with Althena but she can’t figure out how to extract herself from him without hurting him or having her mother start back down the matchmaking path.  Everything is going along swimmingly until Case Donneley appears inquiring about a statue in their garden center.  He claims it was stolen from his grandfather’s museum.  Is he going to try and take it back?  Will he be able to find the provenance to prove his claims?

This is a fun new series that had me giggling and trying to figure out the mystery.  I had my suspicions in regards to the killer but couldn’t decipher how they were involved until near the end as nuggets of clues were dropped into the story.  I felt for Althena dating someone like Kevin that she obviously doesn’t like but doing it to keep the peace in the family.  Case could be an interesting new twist because I think there is some chemistry between the two and will be interested to see how a relationship plays out for them.

We think this is a great start to a new series and can’t wait to see what is in store next for Althena and Case.  We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

Credit: Edda Taylor Photographie

About the Author

Kate Collins is the New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mystery series. After publishing numerous historical romances, Kate penned the long-running mystery series, three books of which were made into Hallmark movies starring Brooke Shields. An Indiana native, Kate graduated from Purdue University with a master’s degree in education. When not growing roots at her computer, Kate loves to garden. Other passions include yoga, reading, spending time with family and friends, sampling great wines and fine dark chocolate, and enjoying every moment of life. Kate lives in Northwest Indiana and Key West, Florida.

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Posted in 5 paws, Book Release, excerpt, romance, Romantic Comedy on January 31, 2020

 

Synopsis

Jackson Schmidt is the biggest jerkity jerk ever. They should totally erect a statue to commemorate his jerkityness, jerkdom— Uggh! There are literally not enough words for ‘jerk’ to depict the man.

Unfortunately, Jackson is also the most gorgeous specimen of manhood I’ve ever laid eyes on. One look at him and I want to jump and climb him like a tree. But whenever he opens his mouth, his status as the biggest bastard on the planet is immediately reinstated. It’s impossible for the man to say anything remotely nice – at least not to me. To my best friend, though? To her, he’s Mr. Perfect Gentleman. Did I mention he’s carrying a torch for my engaged best friend?

My libido does not give one flying hoot Jackson is a dick who has a crush on my bestie. Nope. Not at all. No matter how much of a schmuck the man is – and trust me he takes schmuck to the next level – I continue to pant after him like a nerdy freshman crushing on the prom king. If I want to keep my sanity, I’m going to have to keep Jackson at arm’s length.

Sanity is totally overrated.

 

 

Review

This follow up book to About Face is a top notch book. The characters are hilarious, especially Grandma), the characters feel real and the story is engaging.

I enjoyed reading Shelby’s story and her obsession with Jackson and perhaps his obsession with her as well. They each have some issues but their chemistry is off the charts. The book is peppered with quick wit and humorous situations. I found myself chuckling throughout the book at the situations with Shelby, Jackson, Frankie, Grandma, and now Bailey. Brodie is in there too, but he is more of a minor character.

I have really enjoyed all of this author’s books and while I thought at first there might be a situation that wasn’t addressed, it was towards the end of the book.

A couple of my favorite lines:

“No need. I’m sure I’ll stick my foot in my mouth several times tonight. It makes conversation difficult, but somehow I manage.”

“But I’ve prepared at least a dozen nasty names to call her, ” Frankie pouts. “True story,” Brodie chuckles as he pulls his fiance close. “She’s been researching synonyms for skanky ho.”

Now the wait for Bailey’s story…and I think that might be a doozy.

We give this book 5 paws up!

 

 

 

Excerpt

“Woman, can we have one dinner when we don’t have to deal with your infernal matchmaking,” Frankie’s grandpa growls.

My eyebrows raise of their own accord at his grumbling. Bill is usually a mild-mannered dude, but I guess even the mild-mannered have their limits.

“You’re ruining my fun,” Grandma pouts. Seriously, pouts. She sticks out her bottom lip and flutters her eyelashes at him.

“You can flutter your eyelashes until the cows come home. I stopped falling for that bologna approximately three decades ago.”

“Cuddle-pumpkin, you didn’t have a problem with my eyelash fluttering the other night.”

He grunts. “You were offering something I wanted.”

“Oh my god, are you talking about sex?” Frankie shrieks. “Stop!” She slams her eyes shut and covers her ears. “La la la. My grandparents do not have sex. Nope. Nope. Nope.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t hear us when she lived here. Guess it was a good thing she had those pain pills to put her to sleep,” Grandma remarks.

I choke on the piece of lamb I’m chewing on. Jackson pats my back as he bursts out laughing. “I thought there was nothing that could phase you, babe.”

I take a sip of water. “Oh, I’m not phased.” I smirk when I see Frankie take her fingers out of her ears. “I’m perfectly okay with Grandma and Bill having loud sex.”

Frankie screams and jumps to her feet. “I’m…” She looks around as if the walls will offer her some type of excuse. They don’t. She throws her arms in the air and stomps out of the room.

Bailey watches her leave before turning to me with a grin on her face. “You were right. Sunday meals at Frankie’s grandma’s house are the best.”

 

 

About the Author

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

 

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Posted in fiction, Giveaway, Interview, Literary on January 31, 2020

 

 

Book Title: Stefan’s Promise by Sam Rennick

Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 546 pages

Genre: Literary Fiction

Publisher: Hugo House Publishers

Release date: September 3, 2019

 

 

Synopsis

 

The Vietnam War Changed America. Two Best Friends Weren’t Spared. Only One Was Drafted.

It’s 1968. America is rocked by assassinations, war protests and political upheaval. Alan Young, 21, is brooding over having been dumped by his girlfriend. This won’t last long. His draft notice is in the mail. Stefan Kopinski isn’t about to let the war get in his way. He spends his days at the mercy of his reckless ambition. When fate steps in, will he finally understand what has been right in front of him for 30 years? “Stefan’s Promise” is the story of Alan and Stefan. Circumstances part them and sharply diverging temperaments further erode their bond. Yet, Alan and Stefan are wrong in supposing their friendship has ended. It’s just getting started.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Hugo House

 

Praise

“We were at war in Vietnam and my fiancé was drafted the day after he proposed to me. I hadn’t thought of that September day for so long, and then I began “Stefan’s Promise.” Soon I was recalling that day and others, events and circumstances shared by those of us who lived through the “tumultuous year of 1968” and the following 35 years. In the Preface, Sam Rennick states his intention to deliver a completely absorbing tale. He does!”  —D.W.G.Artist

The author brings great sensitivity to one powerful scene after another. There is Mike Huxtable, victim of an unprovoked blow, aimlessly wandering the aisles of a drug store, day after day. There is Stefan Kopinski, half-pondering his friend’s illness, half-observing the Midwestern city in which he finds himself. These scenes but two among many in this compelling novel.”  —Silvia Lorente-Murphy, PhD Professor Emerita Purdue University

 

Interview

 

Today we welcome author Sam Rennick to StoreyBook Reviews where he answers a few questions about his writing and his books.

 

How did you research my novel?

 

Not a great deal of research was necessary, in truth, since the story takes place entirely within my lifetime. No need to go back to the 12th century to check what so-and-so did! My story opens in 1968, a chaotic and profound year in our nation’s history. I am careful to identify the key events, up to and including the politics of an election year.

 

What was the hardest character to write?

 

Alan Young, one of my two main characters. It is easy to dismiss Alan as a selfish ne’er-do-well, but there is a great deal more to him than this. Alan is a carefree college senior when the story begins, but he is drafted upon graduation. He is badly overmatched by his circumstances, and how he comes to deal with them is his story. I leave to the reader to decide for himself if Alan ultimately prevails, or not.

 

Have you been to the places in which your story is set?

 

Montreal, Pasadena CA and St. Louis are the primary venues for my story. I lived briefly in St. Louis long ago and acquired some knowledge of the city. I have visited Pasadena and Montreal. Of course, it isn’t necessary to go to a place to learn something about it. I am confident my readers will find my depiction of each of these places entirely persuasive.

 

Do you have another profession besides writing?

 

Yes. I am a lawyer. One of my two main characters, Stefan Kopinski, is a lawyer, and my novel describes his law practice and includes, near the end, an advocacy. I do not permit this, or, for that matter, anything else, get in the way of the narrative, but the reader who elects to give some thought to the advocacy will definitely get more from the novel.

 

In what genre do you write?

 

I realize books are shoved into all manner of pigeonholes. I am not talking about genres like Westerns and Science Fiction, which have been around a long time. I am referencing a whole new set of genres, like Women’s Fiction and Upmarket Adult Fiction. I don’t even know what these labels mean. When I was in school, I was taught a novel is transcendent. That’s the only kind of book I know how to write, and that’s the book “Stefan’s Promise” is.

 

About the Author

Sam Rennick began writing Stefan’s Promise forty years ago, but it wasn’t until fairly recently, when he retired from his law practice that he was able to take his manuscript from its drawer and finish it. He admits he wishes he could say he planned this all along, since the two books comprising the novel, though written many years apart, combine perfectly into a compelling narrative.

While many authors have influenced him, he singles out Somerset Maugham as his muse, observing that Maugham always starts with a good story, but often finds a way to insert that “something extra” separating merely a nice tale from literature. Sam’s interest in books is only exceeded by his love for baseball, which began when he was nine years old.

 

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Giveaway

 

Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or one of three ebooks of STEFAN’S PROMISE (4 winners) (open internationally) (ends Feb 14)

 

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Posted in excerpt, nonfiction on January 30, 2020

 

Synopsis

Your Future Depends on Your Decisions

Sorting out our lives amidst chaos, confusion, and innumerable options is a process we all have in common. The decisions we ultimately make can affect our lives and the lives of others. It’s not always easy. In this empowering guide, an expert in business strategies shares the choices of notable, visionary decision-makers–from Harry Truman and Henry Ford to Marie Curie and Malala Yousafzai–and explains how you can apply their principles to your own personal and professional real-life scenarios.

Resolve, patience, and practical thinking–take it from these politicians, scientists, economists, inventors, entrepreneurs, theologians, activists, and commanders of war and peace. Their inspiring counsel will give you the tools you need to help change your life. Both big and small, your choices can shape the minutes, days, weeks, and years ahead. This book is the first motivating step in the right direction.

“Upgrade your daily decisions with the wisdom of two dozen renowned influencers who changed history.” —Mehmet Oz, M.D.New York Times bestselling author of You: The Owner’s Manual

“A truly inspiring book about how to become a leader. Highly recommended!!” —Douglas Brinkley, New York Times bestselling author of American Moonshot

“The best decision you will make today is to read and learn from this array of bold thinkers.” —Harvey MackayNew York Times bestselling author of Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive

 

 

Excerpt

But there was no decision to make. This was my calling. Some powerful force had come to dwell inside me, something bigger and stronger than me. —Malala Yousafzai

 

Malala Yousafzai, as the world knows, was shot in the head by the Taliban on October 9, 2012, as she rode home on the school bus in the Swat Valley, Pakistan. Malala was fifteen at the time. She survived the attack, recuperated in England, and has continued her education. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her “struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.”

Can a child, an adolescent, a young person—make a world-changing decision? Is someone ever too young?

Let’s take a look at Malala’s story, because none of this came out of the blue. The “struggle” the Nobel Committee cited, was a decision that was so deeply embedded into her character that, at age fifteen, it had already become her way of life. And continues to be.

Seemingly from birth, Malala loved education. Her biographical material makes much of the fact that she sought to emulate her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, who was so dedicated to education that he had founded his own school, the one she attended. Such “private” schools are not uncommon in Pakistan.

But Ziauddin’s school and his outspoken daughter became special targets of the Taliban. The fundamentalist group had issued an edict against educating girls and death threats against the entire family (mother Toor Pekai Yousafzai and two sons). The school was forced to close for a time and had re-opened shortly before Malala was shot.

You might say that the child was merely following the example—or the dictates—of the father (who was supported in all endeavors by the mother). That the child made no decisions on her own. That happens in families all the time. I can think of many examples in my own life—involving my parents and the decisions they made for me when I was young, and about how my wife and I did the same for our sons. None of these decisions involved defying the Taliban and bringing danger to our family. But, that may not be the right way to look at what Ziauddin did. Were his decisions part of doing what parents claim we always try to do—leading by example?

Do you ever think about the phrase “an accident of birth”? It means that none of us are responsible for the circumstances of our birth—who our parents are, our family, our nationality or state or town, our genetic make-up, economic status and so on.

Among the things that Malala was not responsible for: That she was a first-born daughter in a culture that values boys over girls; that she was born into a troubled country being over-run by violent extremists. But it was also an accident of birth that she had two parents who were, by all accounts, as dedicated to her welfare, education, and growth as they were to that of her two younger brothers. It seems to me that Malala took what she was given and decided to run with it.

By the time she was shot in 2012, Malala had shown by her own example that she recognized her “accident of birth.” Her dedication to education for girls was in fact her own decision based on parental example. Consider her words, written just a year later in her autobiography:

“I was very lucky to be born to a father who respected my freedom of thought and expression and made me part of his peace caravan and a mother who not only encouraged me but my        father too in our campaign for peace and education.”

At an even younger age than fifteen, Malala was already an ardent activist. She blogged for the BBC on the oppressions of life under the Taliban and was the subject of a New York Times documentary. She made speeches often, including one entitled “How dare the Taliban take away my right to an education.” The year before she was shot, she won both the International Children’s Peace Prize and Pakistan’s first Youth Peace Prize. As the Taliban’s noose ever tightened around her country, her family, and her safety, Malala’s outspokenness and visibility grew. As she wrote in her autobiography, “I decided I wasn’t going to cower in fear of [the Taliban’s] wrath.”

In the years since she survived the Taliban assassination attempt, Malala has become a global symbol for the cause of education for girls specifically and for the welfare of all children. Not even a year after she was shot, she addressed the “Youth Takeover” at the United Nations. Two years almost to the day after she was shot, the Nobel Committee announced that she would share the 2014 Peace Prize with Kailash Satyarthi, who made his name with international peaceful protests on behalf of children. Even with constant visibility while traveling the world to event after event, she completed the studies necessary to be accepted in 2017 into Oxford University (which fact she announced on her new Twitter account). Also in 2017, Malala was designated a United Nations Messenger of Peace “to help raise awareness of the importance of girls’ education.”

Malala is still enveloped in the support of her family, which left Pakistan to settle in the UK. The Economist, noting that “Pakistani education has long been atrocious,” included the following in a detailed and dismal examination of the current status:

“From 2007 to 2015 there were 167 attacks by Islamic terrorists on education institutions . . .    When it controlled the Swat River valley in the north of the country, the Pakistani Taliban closed hundreds of girls’ schools. When the army retook the area it occupied dozens of them itself.”

Malala has written two books. The first, I Am Malala, was published a year after her shooting and tells, with the help of writer Christina Lamb, of her early life in Pakistan and the event that put her onto a new trajectory. Published in 2017, the second book is for children, Malala’s Magic Pencil. In it, young Malala yearns for a special pencil that would let her do all sorts of special, interesting things, including drawing “a lock on my door, so my brothers couldn’t bother me.” I think every child wants a lock like that. Eventually, she describes what we adults will recognize as an intention, a determination, a decision: “I knew then that if I had a magic pencil, I would use it to draw a better world, a peaceful world.”

Time will tell us how Malala’s decisions as a girl, a teenager, a young adult, and into the future will all play out, how world-changing they will be. My hope is that the answer is— immensely.

Malala’s story offers all of us one overarching lesson about decision-making that will help us all lead better lives:

If you are a parent or other adult in a position to influence children and young people, remember how important your own example is. The decisions you make on behalf of others may turn out to be the template that helps form their lives.

If that’s all you glean, that’s enough. But there are many other lessons to take:

  1. Have courage to do the right thing, whether it is large or small.
  2. Understand you may be attacked and plan for that in advance. I mean physically attacked, as well as the more expected verbal criticisms.
  3. Recognize you may be a symbol for others and prepare for that in ways they will embrace and admire. And behave that way.
  4. Follow your decision. Give it a chance to shape your life.
  5. Do not give up.
  6. Depend on each other. Know whom you can trust, and be that trustworthy person to others to the best of your ability.
  7. Seek education and take every other opportunity to broaden your knowledge of the world and its people.

 

Excerpted from DECISIONS by Robert L. Dilenschneider. Reprinted with permission from Kensington Books. Copyright © 2020 Robert L. Dilenschneider.

 

About the Author

Robert L. Dilenschneider has hired more than 3,000 successful professionals, and advised thousands more. He is founder of The Dilenschneider Group, a corporate strategic counseling and public relations firm based in New York City. Formerly president and CEO of Hill & Knowlton, he is the author of the bestselling books Power and Influence, A Briefing for Leaders, On Power and newly released Decisions: Practical Advice from 23 Men and Women Who Shaped the World.

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Posted in Giveaway, nonfiction, self help on January 30, 2020

 

The Permanent Weight Loss Plan: A 10-Step Approach To Ending Yo-Yo Dieting

by Dr. Janice Asher; Jae Rivera

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

Release date: January 2020

Synopsis

 

Diets come and go, and the scale needle swings as you drop pounds and then gain them back. But what if there were a weight loss solution for forever? Not another fad diet based on deprivation and restriction, but a holistic system for shedding pounds and maintaining your weight?

In The Permanent Weight Loss Plan, Janice Asher, MD, and Fulbright Open Research Fellow, Jae Rivera, reveal (from their own first-hand experiences) that it’s not just about the food you eat or don’t eat—it’s about a mindset and lifestyle change. After collectively losing 170 pounds and maintaining their weight for years, Janice and Jae share scientific evidence, personal experiences, and practical insights on how you can successfully reframe your relationship with food.

It’s about stopping the shame associated with body size, recognizing instances of disordered eating, equipping yourself with the knowledge of what behaviors contribute to lasting weight loss, and making use of proven strategies. Get actionable tips on how to:

*Overcome barriers like stress, shame, and emotional eating
*Escape the comfort food circle of hell
*Eat food that nourishes your intestinal microbiome and brain
*Replace unhealthy habits with new ones that will treat your body well
*Boost your metabolism by eating during the right times of the day
*Commit to an exercise regime you can enjoy
*Transform your kitchen from danger zone to a safe space
*Survive potential landmines like holidays and parties
*Develop strategies for not gaining back the weight you lose
*Stop the cycle of fat-shaming and treat yourself with kindness

Complete with 26 recipes for cauliflower quinoa puttanesca, “umami bomb” roasted portabella mushrooms, blueberry breakfast smoothie, curried lentil salad, and more, The Permanent Weight Loss Plan encourages readers, with gentle humor and compassion, to embrace a paradigm shift and transform their lives for good.

 

 

About the Authors

Janice Asher is a gynecologist at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to being a clinician there, she began the MILE (mindful, intuitive living & eating) Program, and the PANDA (Physicians And Nurses Domestic Abuse) Program. She is a co-author and co-editor of a textbook on sexual assault.

 

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Jae Rivera is a biological anthropologist specializing in human osteology. She received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania, and continued on to work at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Presently, she is living in Peru analyzing human remains with a Fulbright Open Research Grant. and will begin her PhD when she returns in 2018.

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

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(ends 2/10/2020)

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Posted in 4 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Review on January 29, 2020

 

 

A Field Guide to Homicide (A Cat Latimer Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Publisher: Kensington (January 28, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages

Synopsis

Cat Latimer and her writer’s retreat group go on a hiking trip—but a murderer has been lurking off the beaten path . . .

Cat’s sweetheart, Seth, is going all out on an outing into the local mountains—for the benefit of the writing group Cat’s hosting at her Colorado B&B. But when they try to identify some plant and animal life, they find death instead. The body belongs to a man with a gold claim a few miles away. Instead of striking it rich, he’s been struck down.

To his surprise, Seth recognizes the victim from his military days—and up to now believed he’d already died during his last tour of duty. Now Cat has to solve this mystery before the killer takes a hike..”

 

 

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Review

 

It’s time for another journey back to Colorado and Cat’s writer’s retreat.  This retreat is different than others since there are two couples plus the college student from the local college.  It is an interesting bunch and while they are featured in the book, I don’t think that they were the main focus.  The main characters were tied to Seth’s past in the military and those that were in town for a reunion of sorts.  I’m not sure we learned much about Seth’s military buddies but that didn’t stop me from thinking something was off about the deceased and those he served with all those years ago.  I feel like there is so much more that Seth hasn’t revealed yet about his time in the military and I wonder if more will be revealed in future books.

We discover a little bit more about Cat’s deceased husband, Michael.  The author has a way of keeping me engaged in this series because I want to know what he was involved with and how it will affect Cat.  Especially since the dead body from Seth’s unit has notes about Michael and others in his cabin.  What is the secret?  When will we learn more?

The mystery and the interactions between the various characters (Cat, Seth, Shauna, Uncle Pete, and Shirley) kept me engaged and made it hard for me to put the book down.  I had my suspicions about the killer but there was more to the story than I ever expected.  Shauna has some family issues that she hides from Cat for most of the book, but I’m glad she trusts their friendship and opens up about what is happening with her family.

Overall we give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lynn Cahoon is the award-winning author of several New York Times and USA Today bestselling cozy mystery series. The Tourist Trap series is set in central coastal California with six-holiday novellas releasing in 2018–2019. She also pens the Cat Latimer series available in mass market paperback. Her newest series, the Farm to Fork mystery series, debuted in 2018. She lives in a small town like the ones she loves to write about with her husband and two fur babies.

She lives in a small town like the ones she loves to write about with her husband and two fur babies.

 

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Giveaway

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