Serf and Turf: A Silicon Valley Mystery
BGM Press (October 9, 2019)
Paperback: 213 pages

Synopsis

He’s afraid of losing his girlfriend. But maybe he should be more concerned about the dead body she’s crying over?

Marty Golden can barely string a voicemail message together, let alone keep up with his new love. This quirky uncle’s hectic Silicon Valley lifestyle needs a reboot when a youth league soccer game becomes a murder scene. And nothing can stop him from donning his amateur sleuth uniform when he discovers his sweetheart used to have quite a thing for the dead guy …

With a not-so-helpful paw from Buddy the Labrador,  he does his best to sniff out a long list of possible suspects. But between gossipy soccer moms and the costume-clad members of a Renaissance Faire, Marty’s theories fall harder than a jousted knight.

Can Marty solve the case before the trail and his new flame grow cold?

Serf and Turf is the third book in the zany, Silicon Valley cozy mystery series. If you like laugh-out-loud comedy, dorky sleuths, and a festival of old-world fun, then you’ll love Marc Jedel’s humorous murder mystery.

 

 

Review

With all of the possibilities available for the who the killer might be, the answer came out of left field!

Marty is still a quirky engineer that helps design a driverless car for a company called Rover.  I crack up every time he has the car “stay” especially when he is in an area that getting another car would be nearly impossible.  He has two adorable nieces that are spitfires, a compassionate neighbor that helps him out especially when he doesn’t even know he needs help, a girlfriend that has many interests that confound Marty at times, and a sister that loves to drive a “loud” car when it comes to the paint color.  And we can’t forget Buddy, his sister and niece’s dog, that Marty somehow gets roped into taking care of more than he expects.

I have to laugh at how Marty thinks he is a special investigator for the police, but it is his sleuthing that usually helps solve the case and this book is no different. Detective Mace has given Marty a code name so when they type Marty’s name into the computer it pops up and the police tend to treat Marty a little differently.  I had to laugh when he learns what his codename is in the system.  Normally he has his coworker Raj helping him, but Raj is out of the country and he has a new coworker assisting, Fernando.  There are some tense situations that arise but everyone keeps their cool and escapes unscathed, at least somewhat.

I enjoy the witty banter between characters and trying to solve the mystery.  The concept of the driverless car is always fascinating and what new features they are adding to the vehicle.

At the end of the second book, we were left hanging to the color of the new car for Laney and we finally learn the color about 2/3 of the way through the book.  WOW is about all I’m going to say.

Overall we enjoyed the book and give it 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

For most of my life, I’ve been inventing stories. Some, especially when I was young, involved my sister as the villain. As my sister’s brother for her entire life, I’m highly qualified to tell the tale of this evolving, quirky sibling relationship.

My writing skills were honed in years of marketing leadership positions in Silicon Valley. While my high tech marketing roles involved crafting plenty of fiction, we called these marketing collateral, emails, and ads.

The publication of my first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave me permission to claim “author” as my job. And achieving Amazon Best Seller status gave me even better adjectives to use in front of “author.” This has led to way more interesting discussions than answering “marketing.”

My family would tell you that Marty’s character isn’t much of a stretch of the imagination for me, but I’m comfortable with that situation.

Like Marty, I live in Silicon Valley and can’t believe that otherwise normal people would willingly jump out of an airplane and call it fun. Unlike Marty, I have a wonderful wife and a neurotic but sweet, small dog, who is often the first to weigh in on the humor in my writing.

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Giveaway

 

 

Dragonwatch: Master of the Phantom Isle

 

by Brandon Mull

 

Publication Date: 10/1/19

Page Count: 496

Juvenile Fiction / Fantasy & Magic

Ages 10 And Up, Grades 5 And Up

Cover Illustration by Brandon Dorman

Book Design: © Shadow Mountain

Art Direction: Richard Erickson

Design: Sheryl Dickert Smith

Author Photo: Busath Photography

 

Synopsis

Cursed by the Key of Forgetting, Seth has lost all memory of his past—his relationships, his experiences, and who he really is. For now he will align with his new mentor, Ronodin, the dark unicorn, who takes him to the Phantom Isle, the secret gateway to the Under Realm. Though Seth is not formally a prisoner, Ronodin wants to use him and his shadow charmer powers for his own dark ends.

Kendra is frantic to find her missing brother, but the quest will take her and her companions, including Warren, Tanu, and Vanessa, far from Wyrmroost to Crescent Lagoon—a recently fallen dragon sanctuary made up of many islands and underwater domains. Its caretaker has regained a foothold on one of the islands. If Kendra and her friends can save that sanctuary, they might uncover the answers they need to rescue Seth.

With each sanctuary the dragons overthrow, Celebrant, the Dragon King, comes closer to the dawn of a new Age of Dragons. With the forces of darkness on the march, can Kendra and her allies gather enough power to win the epic dragon war?

 

 

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Walmart * BAM * Deseret Books

 

Praise

 

“Fans of Mull’s popular Fablehaven books will be delighted with this rousing opener to a new sequel series, which builds upon familiar characters and plot points from the original fantasy series. . . . The excitement of the adventure will sweep up existing fans and undoubtedly create new ones.” -Booklist

“Will intrigue young readers with a fondness for Tolkien’s Middle-earth. With dragons on the loose and key characters missing, there’s plenty of scope for sequels.” -Foreword Reviews

“Fans of the series will welcome a new story arc stocked with familiar characters, settings, and adventures.” -Kirkus

 

Trailer

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Brandon Mull is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his four children and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.

 

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Longing for a Cowboy Christmas

with stories by

Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley,

Amy Sandas, Leigh Greenwood, and Anna Schmidt

Genre: Romance Anthology / Western / Historical
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of Publication: September 24, 2019
Number of Pages: 528

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

Find your very own cowboy to keep warm these long, wintry nights as you cozy up with six sweeping, epic tales of heroism, passion, family and celebration from bestselling authors Leigh Greenwood, Rosanne Bittner, Linda Broday, Margaret Brownley, Anna Schmidt, and Amy Sandas.

Fall in Love with Christmas

Whether it’s a widower finding an unexpected new start, a former outlaw and his new wife welcoming their very own Christmas miracle, a long-lost lover returning just in time for a special holiday celebration, a second chance at love between two warring hearts given peace at last, an unlikely pair working together to bring joy to a small Texas town, or a cowboy and his dark-eyed beauty snowed in one unforgettable wintry eve…every Christmas with a cowboy is filled with light, laughter, and a forever kind of love.

 

 

Amazon  ⬥  iTunes

Barnes & Noble  ⬥  IndieBound

 

Praise for Longing for a Cowboy Christmas

“Greenwood is a master at westerns.” ―RT Book Reviews for Leigh Greenwood

“An emotional powerhouse! This classic historical western is destined for the “keeper” shelf.” ―RT Book Reviews, Top Pick for Rosanne Bittner

“Fun and sensual…great for fans of history, romance, and some good old Texas grit.” ―Kirkus for Linda Broday

“A great story by a wonderful author.”―#1 New York Times bestselling author DEBBIE MACOMBER for Margaret Brownley

“The perfect read.” ―RT Book Reviews for Anna Schmidt

“A genuine page-turner…electric and absorbing.” ―Kirkus for Amy Sandas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Margaret Brownley

AUTHOR OF A LOVE LETTER TO SANTA

Included in Longing for a Cowboy Christmas Anthology

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author MARGARET BROWNLEY has penned more than forty-five novels and novellas. She’s a two-time Romance Writers of American RITA^® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is also a recipient of the Romantic Times Pioneer Award.

Her story, A Pony Express Christmas, appeared in the Old West Christmas Brides collection, and book three of her Haywire Brides series will be published May 2020.  Not bad for someone who flunked eighth-grade English.  Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.

 

About A Love Letter to Santa

 

She’s turned his life upside-down.  Could she really be the right woman for him?

Holly Sanders plans to make this the best Christmas for a town hard hit by the drought.   Okay, maybe she’s overdone the bows, baubles and garlands.  But is that a reason for the new blacksmith Tom Chandler to declare war on tinsel?

Tom doesn’t mean to play scrooge. But when his dog’s objections to the endless caroling gets them tossed out of his boarding house, he decides enough is enough.

The escalating battle takes an unexpected turn when he spots Holly struggling against the wind with an armload of presents and rushes to help her. Before he knows what happened, the green-eyed beauty recruits him to play Santa’s helper. After helping make one small boy’s Christmas wish come true, he’s utterly hooked, and suddenly has a wish of his own!   But convincing Holly he’s the right man for her would require a miracle—and maybe even a little help from Santa.

 

 

Excerpt From A Love Letter To Santa

 

Holly picked up a piece of chalk. “All right, boys and girls. Today, we’re going to write letters to the North Pole, and I want you to use your best handwriting.” She turned her back to the class and began writing on the blackboard. “This is the correct way to begin a letter.”

She wrote Dear Santa on the board. The name Santa had grown in popularity in recent years and had replaced St. Nick. As she wrote the last sample on the board, she heard whispers behind her.

She dropped the chalk in the ledge and turned to face her class. “Is there something you wish to share, Bobby?”

Bobby Baker sat back in his seat, arms folded, his expression too hard and cynical for an eight-year-old. “Santa ain’t gonna bring us any toys. He didn’t bring us anything last year, and he ain’t gonna bring anything this year.”

Since hurt feelings were more important than grammar, Holly ignored the urge to correct his speech. There would be time enough later for that. Instead, she folded her hands together and surveyed her class. Fifteen pairs of eyes turned to her. Little Alice Harper looked close to tears, and she wasn’t the only one.

Holly sighed. She’d hoped the English assignment would bring smiles, not tears. But then she could hardly blame Bobby for feeling the way he did.

“Last year was a bad year for everyone.” She spoke in a calm voice that she hoped would both soothe and encourage. “Even Santa had a bad year. But this year will be different. Santa has a lot more helpers, and he promises to do his best to pay a visit to each and every one of you on Christmas Eve.”

Her assurances brought a look of relief to some, but not Bobby. The poor boy had had too many disappointments in life to believe that things would be different. Bobby was the oldest of four. His mother had died in childbirth, and his father had his hands full keeping his business running and taking care of the children, the youngest being two.

“Any questions?” she asked.

Sandra Miller raised her hand and Holly called on her. “Can Santa bring me a baby brother or sister?”

Before Holly could answer, the minister’s grandson, Jimmy Johnson piped up. “No, silly. That’s God’s department.” Jimmy considered himself an authority on the subject.

Since Sandra seemed content, Holly let Jimmy’s answer stand and called on Willie Tustin. “You have a question, Willie?”

“Can I ask for two things?”

“Only if you’ve been very good,” Holly said. Since no one else raised a hand, she looked at her pendant watch. “You have twenty minutes to write your letters.”

As her students began writing, she wandered from desk to desk, looking over each child’s shoulder.

Some children asked after Santa’s health. Others made sure to describe themselves in such saintly terms, Holly couldn’t help but smile.

Jerry Maine wrote that he wanted a folding knife. This made Holly wonder whether the new blacksmith would be willing to donate one. Probably not, the old Scrooge.

Actually, the man wasn’t that old. Probably not a day over thirty. Too bad he had such an aversion to Christmas.

Shaking the thought away, she stopped at Bobby’s desk. His paper was still blank.

 

Order the first two Haywire Brides books now

And watch for book three in May 2020!

PS these are GREAT books!  I’ve read the first two and can’t wait for the 3rd one

 

 

 

 

Rosanne Bittner:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Blog * Amazon

Linda Broday:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Pinterest * BookBub * Amazon 

Margaret Brownley:

Website * Facebook  * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon

Leigh Greenwood:

Website * Goodreads

Amy Sandas:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Instagram * Amazon

Anna Schmidt:

Website * Pinterest * Goodreads * Twitter

 

 

————————————-

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

Grand Prize: Copies of: Longing for a Cowboy Christmas, The Cowboy’s Honor,

Logan’s Lady, Cowboy Charm School + $25 Amazon Gift Card

2nd Prize: Copies of:  LFACC, The Cowboy’s Honor, Logan’s Lady + $25 Amazon Gift Card

3rd Prize: Copies of: LFACC, Logan’s Lady

October 15-October 25, 2019

(U.S. Only)

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Visit the other blogs on this tour

 

10/15/19	Book Trailer	Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/15/19	BONUS STOP	Hall Ways Blog
10/16/19	Review	Book Fidelity
10/17/19	Author Spotlight	That’s What She’s Reading
10/18/19	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/19/19	Author Spotlight	All the Ups and Downs
10/20/19	Author Spotlight	StoreyBook Reviews
10/21/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
10/22/19	Author Spotlight	The Page Unbound
10/23/19	Review	Missus Gonzo
10/24/19	Review	Forgotten Winds

 

 

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An indispensable new cookbook from James Beard Award-winning food writer Michael Ruhlman 

From Scratch looks at 10 favorite meals, including roast chicken, the perfect omelet, and paella—and then, through 175 recipes, explores myriad alternate pathways that the kitchen invites. A delicious lasagna can be ready in about an hour, or you could turn it into a project: try making and adding some homemade sausage. Explore the limits of from-scratch cooking: make your own pasta, grow your own tomatoes, and make your own homemade mozzarella and ricotta. Ruhlman tells you how.

There are easy and more complex versions for most dishes, vegetarian options, side dishes, sub-dishes, and strategies for leftovers. Ruhlman reflects on the ways that cooking from scratch brings people together, how it can calm the nerves and focus the mind, and how it nourishes us, body and soul.

 

My Thoughts

I love to cook and trying new dishes (as you know if you have followed me for any length of time!).  There are some things I have never done like roasted my own chicken in the oven.  I’ll admit it, it is easier to purchase a rotisserie chicken then figure out how to roast a chicken.  That was until I read this book and realized that it really isn’t that hard to do at all or at least not according to Michael Ruhlman’s directions.

Besides the chicken, I have discovered many new twists to some dishes I already make, like risotto.  I also learned a new way to make slow-roasted ribs.  I usually put them in my crockpot and they meat just falls off the bones, but I’m going to give his method in the oven a try next time.

I do wish that there were more photos but Michael Ruhlman does a great job of describing everything so you have a feel for what the dish should look and taste like when it is done.

This book covers so much that it would be a great starter cookbook for a new cook or one that has some basic skills and looking to perfect a few basic dishes.

Here is the recipe for what I made so go out and buy a whole chicken and try it out, you won’t be sorry!

Roast Chicken with Jalapenos, Lemon, and Garlic

1 3-4 lb whole chicken
Kosher salt to taste
2 jalapenos, cut into 1/4 rounds – seeds and all
1 lemon cut into 8 wedges (I actually used 2 lemons)
10-15 garlic cloves, peeled but left whole (you can never use too much garlic)

Preheat your oven to 450° degrees or 425° if you are concerned about smoke (I cooked it at 425°).

Salt the chicken aggressively and put it breast side up in an oven-safe skillet (I used a stoneware but will try our iron skillet next time).  Scatter the jalapenos, lemon wedges, and garlic around the chicken.

 

Roast for 1 hour, basting the chicken several times during the last 30 minutes of cooking.  **I have to note that I cooked my chicken for 1 1/2 hours.  I guess I read it wrong and thought it was cook for 1 hour and then baste over the next half hour.  My chicken still came out very moist so I’m not sure if it was the lower temperature or what!  Also, my bird didn’t put off a lot of juices so I added some chicken broth to the pan during the last half hour so the flavors could meld with the garlic, jalapenos, and lemon.**

Remove the bird from the pan and let it rest on a cutting board for 15 minutes before carving (I actually left it in the pan).  After carving, serve with the juices and pepper/garlic/lemon over the top.

 

So in the photo above, I asked my husband to baste the chicken with the juices and he decided to put EVERYTHING on top of the bird.  He is a bit nuts but hey it still tasted divine!  And we enjoyed the leftovers for several days.  So much that I have already bought another whole chicken and the other items needed to make this again.

I also made the Quick Sauteed Brussels Sprouts recipe but had to add garlic and red onion to spice it up.  Plus I cooked it in a garlic olive oil and to me, it was just perfect.

 

 

About the Author

Michael Ruhlman (born 1963 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American writer. He is the author of 11 books and is best known for his work about and in collaboration with American chefs, as well as other works of non-fiction.

Ruhlman grew up in Cleveland and was educated at University School (a private boys’ day school in Cleveland) and at Duke University, graduating from the latter in 1985. He worked a series of odd jobs (including briefly at the New York Times) and traveled before returning to his hometown in 1991 to work for a local magazine.

While working at the magazine, Ruhlman wrote an article about his old high school and its new headmaster, which he expanded into his first book, Boys Themselves: A Return to Single-Sex Education (1996).

For his second book, The Making of a Chef (1997), Ruhlman enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America, completing the course, to produce a first-person account — of the techniques, personalities, and mindsets — of culinary education at the prestigious chef’s school. The success of this book produced two follow-ups, The Soul of a Chef (2000) and The Reach of a Chef (2006).

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Synopsis

This delightful collection of short stories offers insight into the lives of Syrian women, both the married and the brides-to-be. It reveals the warmth and humor as well as the oppression in the Syrian society. The stories make the reader laugh while addressing serious issues such as domestic violence.

Um Hussam can’t find a suitable bride for her son, testing each candidate’s sight, hearing and reading skills, occasionally cobbing a feel. Jamila’s husband Hassan can’t forget his deceased wife until she makes sure he never mentions her again. Rami can’t help but wonder whether his new bride is a natural beauty or a talented surgeon’s masterpiece. Khadija’s maid stabs her in the back while Rana’s husband Muafak can’t find the right excuse to avoid a fight.

 

Review

This is an interesting collection of short stories.  While the stories are set in Syria, the issues they deal with span the globe and aren’t limited to just their country.  Some of the stories made me chuckle and some were a little heartbreaking especially when it came to domestic abuse.  The women in Syria have just as many issues with their men as I see in the US.  Men that abuse their spouse, those that are shallow, infidelity, and so much more.  But the women don’t let that stop them!  Some are very clever and devious, and some are just trying to survive.

Each story had a moral to it but not all stories ended where I felt that it was wrapped up and concluded.  I wanted to know what happened next in a few cases.  I liked one story where a woman wanted a divorce and the “judge” said for her to bring him a cake but she had to ask for all of the ingredients from her neighbors.  On this journey, the woman realizes that maybe her life isn’t as bad as she thinks.  Sometimes I think that needs to happen in my country!

Overall I enjoyed reading these stories and give it 4 paws up.

 

 

About the Author

Inspiration for writing the stories:

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Title: Enamored

Author: J.S. Scott

Release Date: October 15, 2019

Publisher: Montlake

 

Synopsis

Like his brothers and sisters, Seth Sinclair went from blue-collar to billionaire overnight, and he’s decided to invest in what he knows best: construction. There’s only one thing in his way—the endangered birds nesting on a piece of prime beachfront real estate. And fighting for the birds is Riley Montgomery, a stubborn, pain-in-the-ass, drop-dead-gorgeous environmental lawyer. The worst part? Seth will do anything to keep her around—even if it means hiring her to be his fake girlfriend.

With a cause to fight for, Riley agrees to Seth’s scheme. If she keeps the superficial women away from Seth, then he’ll leave the wildlife sanctuary alone. But pretending to be his girlfriend comes with ground rules: No ass grabbing. And absolutely no sex. Ever. The problem? The sexual tension sizzles when they’re together.

Seth isn’t so keen on Riley’s rules, but he’ll keep his word, at least until she decides otherwise. But bringing Riley into his circle has brought her past back to haunt her in ways that neither of them expected. Now it’s less about broken rules and more about broken hearts, and Seth will do whatever it takes to protect the woman he loves.

 

 

Excerpt: Enamored by J.S. Scott

“You said you’d trade for my services,” I prompted. “But I don’t have much to offer to a man like you.”

He studied me for a moment, which made me uncomfortable.

I didn’t want anyone to know me better.

A man like Seth would never understand me.

“You have a hell of a lot to offer any guy,” he considered.

“Not exactly true,” I disagreed. “I was engaged once, but I was never enough for Nolan Easton,” I muttered, instantly wishing the name hadn’t left my mouth.

For some odd reason, Seth was easy to talk to, but I needed to guard my words better.

He whistled softly. “Nolan Easton? Head of Easton Investment Firms? The very wealthy Nolan Easton?”

“Yes,” I said tightly.

“Even so, I can’t believe he dumped you,” Seth answered.

“He didn’t,” I admitted. “I finally broke it off. He didn’t know how to keep it in his pants, and I didn’t want to spend my entire life being who he wanted me to be.” I coughed nervously. “Now can we get back to the business at hand?”

“Not yet,” he insisted. “I’m still trying to get why any guy would want to change a single thing about you. Not that I exactly love your line of work right now, but you’re passionate about it. You’re beautiful. You’re smart. You seem to know exactly what you want. Considering our circumstances, I can’t say I’ve seen your sense of humor, but I’m assuming you have one of those, too. What the hell else did he want?”

I ignored his question. “I have three older brothers,” I shared. “I have to have a sense of humor or they’d drive me crazy.”

He rested his arms on the table and leaned forward. “You didn’t answer my question, Riley. What else did he want?” His voice was low and persuasive.

“It’s not important. My engagement has been over for a while, and I’m happy. I finally found my own home here in Citrus Beach, and I’m pretty content with being alone. It’s a lot nicer here than San Diego. Quieter.”

It was a hell of a lot better than being with a man who made me feel like I was less than nothing.

“When exactly did you move here? And where are you living now?”

“Almost two years ago,” I ground out, growing impatient to get back to business. It wasn’t wise to dump a lot about my personal life to a defendant—no matter how good a listener he might be. “I had a condo, but I recently purchased your sister’s cottage. I’ve settled there now. She and Eli have the bigger home next door, so I already knew I’d have good neighbors.”

“I’m right down the beach from there,” Seth said, sounding surprised. “I’ve never seen you.”

“Like I said. It’s recent. I just moved in.”

I was squirming in my chair. I didn’t care for the feeling of being interrogated. I was usually the one asking the questions.

He shot me a playful grin that made my heart trip. “Welcome to the neighborhood,” he said jokingly.

“Thanks,” I said uncomfortably. “Now tell me what you want from me to leave that piece of property alone.”

He took his time answering, and the silence seemed to stretch out forever.

I gulped down the last of my tea while I waited for him to answer.

Was he playing with me?

Or did he actually have some kind of proposition?

Probably the former—since I really didn’t have much to offer him in the way of services. I could guarantee that Eli Stone had set Seth up with his gaggle of business attorneys. Why in the hell would he need an environmental attorney?

“If you’re playing with me, this encounter ends right now,” I said tersely.

“I’m not,” he said emphatically. “I’m just wondering how to explain what I want.”

“If it’s acceptable, I’ll write up the contract today,” I offered.

“It’s not exactly the contract I’m thinking about,” he said thoughtfully.

God, I was jittery, and I wasn’t used to feeling that way. I was pretty certain that it wasn’t the extra-large chai I’d just consumed, either.

It was him.

Maybe it was the way he studied me.

Or the way his steely gray eyes never left my face.

I couldn’t read him, and that completely pissed me off. As an attorney, I’d gotten very good at judging exactly where a defendant’s mind might be, and what their motives were.

“Just name your terms,” I said irritably. “I’ll work out the details.”

I forced myself to meet his eyes in what I thought would be a battle of wills, and then was sorry that I had even glanced his direction.

My breath hitched as I fell into a stormy gaze that wouldn’t let me go.

I was stunned at the possessive way he eyed me.

I was confused about the emotions I saw there.

And I was mesmerized by the carnal desire that flared up in his steely irises like a bolt of lightning as he held me still with a single look, unable to rip myself away from his fixed stare that was holding me in place.

I knew I was blushing like a damn teenage girl with her first major crush. My brain was begging my body not to react, but my stupid body wasn’t listening.

His voice was hoarse and beguiling when he finally said, “I need a woman, Riley. And that woman has to be you.”

About the Author

J.S. “Jan” Scott is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of numerous contemporary and paranormal romances, including the Sinclairs and the Accidental Billionaires series. She’s an avid reader of all types of books and literature, but romance has always been her genre of choice—so she writes what she loves to read: stories that are almost always steamy, generally feature an alpha male, and have a happily ever after, because she just can’t seem to write them any other way! Jan loves to connect with readers. Visit her website at www.authorjsscott.com.

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Giveaway

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Journey Of The Pale Bear

by

Susan Fletcher

 

Middle Grade / Medieval Historical Fiction

(grades 3-7)

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Date of Publication: October 2, 2018

Paperback: October 1, 2019

Number of Pages: 302

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

A runaway boy befriends a polar bear that’s being transported from Norway to London in this lyrical and timeless adventure story about freedom, captivity, and finding a family.

The polar bear is a royal bear, a gift from the King of Norway to the King of England. The first time Arthur encounters the bear, he is shoved in her cage as payback for stealing food. Restless and deadly, the bear terrifies him. Yet, strangely, she doesn’t harm him—though she has attacked anyone else who comes near. That makes Arthur valuable to the doctor in charge of getting the bear safely to London. So Arthur, who has run away from home, finds himself taking care of a polar bear on a ship to England.

Tasked with feeding and cleaning up after the bear, Arthur’s fears slowly lessen as he begins to feel a connection to this bear, who like him, has been cut off from her family. But the journey holds many dangers, and Arthur knows his own freedom—perhaps even his life—depends on keeping the bear from harm. When pirates attack and the ship founders, Arthur must make a choice—does he do everything he can to save himself, or does he help the bear to find freedom?

Based on the real story of a polar bear that lived in the Tower of London, this timeless adventure story is also a touching account of the bond between a boy and a bear.

 

 

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Accolades and Praise

 

Honor Book, Golden Kite Awards, 2019
Vermont’s 2019-2020 Dorothy Canfield Fisher list
2020 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award Children’s Masterlist
School Library Connection highly recommended book
Junior Library Guild Selection
50 Must-Read Historical Fiction Books for Kids, bookriot.com

“…a stupendous coming-of-age-tale stuffed with adventure and laced with deeper questions… A richly satisfying story saturated with color, adventure, and heart.” –Kirkus, starred review

“I simply adore this novel. It has it all: gorgeous prose, fascinating history, riveting adventure. But it’s the unlikely tender friendship between a lonely boy and a polar bear that makes this a story to cherish. A lovely little miracle of a book.”  –Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan

“I loved every single thing about this large-hearted and riveting medieval adventure.” —William Alexander, National Book Award-winning author of Goblin Secrets

 

 

The Journey of the Bear

Guest Post by Susan Fletcher

 

The bear was a gift from the king of Norway to the king of England in 1252.  We have no records of the bear’s journey, but she must have gone by ship from a medieval port in Norway (I’ve chosen Bergen), across the North Sea, and up the Thames River in England to the Tower of London.  In the 13^th century, most ships sailed near land whenever possible, so I imagine that they hugged the coastlines of Norway, Denmark, and the Low Countries.  Arthur and the bear run into some trouble (no spoilers!), so the journey turns out to be longer than expected.  But the distance, by sea, from Bergen to London is roughly 600 nautical miles, or roughly 690 land miles.

 

 

 

 

Although Susan loves to write about long-ago and faraway places, she can’t bring those worlds to life without grounding them in the details of this one. To that end, she has explored lava tubes and sea caves; spent the night in a lighthouse; traveled along the Silk Road in Iran; ridden in a glider, on a camel, and on a donkey; and cut up (already dead!) baby chicks and mice for a gyrfalcon’s dinner. To research Journey of the Pale Bear, she explored the grounds of the Tower of London and went backstage at the Oregon Zoo, where, standing breathtakingly near, she watched polar bears Tasul and Conrad lip grapes from their keepers’ open palms.

Journey of the Pale Bear is Susan’s 12th book, including the Dragon Chronicles series, Shadow Spinner, and Alphabet of Dreams. Collectively, her books have been translated into nine languages; accolades include a Golden Kite Honor Book, the American Library Association’s Notable Books and Best Books for Young Adults, BCCB Blue Ribbon Books, and School Library Journal’s Best Books.

Susan has an M.A. in English from the University of Michigan and taught for many years in the M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College. She lives in Bryan, Texas with her husband, historian R.J.Q. Adams, and their dog, Neville.

 

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THREE AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF JOURNEY OF THE PALE BEAR

OCTOBER 10-20, 2019

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check out the other great blogs on this tour

 

10/10/19	Excerpt	Texas Book Lover
10/10/19	Excerpt	Max Knight
10/11/19	Review	Hall Ways Blog
10/12/19	Guest Post	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/12/19	Author Interview	That’s What She’s Reading
10/13/19	Review	Tangled in Text
10/14/19	Review	Books and Broomsticks
10/15/19	Guest Post	All the Ups and Downs
10/15/19	Deleted Scene	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/16/19	Review	Forgotten Winds
10/17/19	Review	The Page Unbound
10/18/19	Guest Post	StoreyBook Reviews
10/18/19	Scrapbook	Missus Gonzo
10/19/19	Review	The Clueless Gent
10/19/19	Review	Librariel Book Adventures

 

 

 

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Synopsis

No monster wants you to read this book. The more you know about monsters, the more you will know how to defeat them.

Little kids have big fears, which they often imagine to be scary creatures, like monsters. But this book helps explain how knowing “Monster Facts” can help kids outwit them.

Want to avoid monsters?

Fact: Monsters love dirt and grime, so when faced with two kids, the monster will choose the dirty one every time.

And if toys and clothes are all over the floor, you may get ambushed by a mess-loving monster.

Survival Tip: Take baths and keep your room clean.

Smarter Than a Monster will arm young readers with practical advice in this innovative and imaginative parenting tool that teaches common sense and positive and healthy habits.

 

 

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Review

I loved this book!  It is written to engage children in combatting their fears of monsters but at the same time encouraging them to be clean and tidy to keep the monsters away.  Genius!

This would be a great book to read together at bedtime and makes me wish I had a little one to read to at night.

I love the illustrations.  The monsters and other characters are very colorful and make for a rich feeling book.

We give this book 5 paws up and recommend it to anyone with a young child especially if they are afraid of monsters.  This book might just help them overcome that fear.

 

 

About the Author

Brandon Mull is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his four children and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.

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Title: A Lie for a Lie

Author: Helena Hunting

Release Date: October 15, 2019

Publisher: Montlake

Synopsis

Sometimes I need an escape from the demands, the puck bunnies, and the notoriety that come with being an NHL team captain. I just want to be a normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.

Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a month long sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I’m called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.

A year later, a chance encounter throws Lainey and me together again. But I still have a lie hanging over my head, and Lainey’s keeping secrets of her own. With more than lust at stake, the truth may be our game changer.

 

Guest Post: Lainey vs. Puck Bunnies in A Lie for a Lie

A Lie for a Lie is a heartwarming, sexy, emotional romantic comedy. It’s a second chance romance, filled with secrets and there are definitely some exciting, fun twists. It’s also a story of empowerment, self-discovery, and independence.

Rook Bowman, aka RJ or Rookie as he has been known as previously, has recently taken on the role as captain of Chicago’s NHL team, and with that role comes big responsibility and more fame than he sometimes knows how to handle. As with any professional sport, the NHL lifestyle can often be full of excess and decadence; money, fame and an endless stream of women who will do just about anything to get into bed with them, and it’s not always easy to avoid that kind of temptation.

When we meet Rook in A Lie for a Lie we learn that he has a less than shiny past when it comes to the excess and the puck bunnies (hockey groupies). NHL players are often drafted quite young—just watch a game and you’ll notice that the rookies can often barely grown peach fuzz, let alone a full beard. They’re still teenagers when they start their careers, and Rook was no different. Having grown up on an alpaca farm in rural New York, his focus was mainly hockey and the family farm, but once he hit the pros he found himself surrounded by women who literally threw themselves at him. And being young, attractive and full of testosterone, he fell headfirst down that rabbit hole. At least until the drama found him in the form of a fake pregnancy and a social media firestorm. Because of that, and the impact it had on his relationship with his family, Rook swears off the bunnies and refocuses on his career, rather than extracurricular activities.

He meets Lainey on the way to Alaska, where he’s gone every summer since he was a teenager with his dad and his brother. He lost his father a few years earlier, but kept the tradition with his brother because he craves the escape from the demands of his life as an NHL superstar. Lainey encapsulates everything he misses about being a “normal guy.” She doesn’t recognize him or seem to even know anything about hockey, and that makes her even more alluring. For once, he can just be himself. He doesn’t have to worry about ulterior motives or being used. Lainey is refreshingly innocent, incredibly smart, genuine and overwhelmingly sweet and Rook finds himself enamored with her sense of adventure. As they get to know each other, Rook learns about her traumatic past and realizes that despite the challenges she’s faced, Lainey possesses a quiet strength and resilience. Add some insane chemistry and you’ve got a recipe for love. Unfortunately for Rook, he built their entire fragile relationship on lie he can’t take back.

***

A Lie For A Lie Excerpt

When Lainey excuses herself to the bathroom, I rush upstairs and throw on a T-shirt. I know she said whatever makes me comfortable, but sitting around shirtless is such a douche move.

I make it back to the kitchen and pour her a fresh drink before she returns from the bathroom.

“How can I help with dinner?” Lainey drapes her sweater over the back of a chair.

And my mouth goes dry. Like I ate an entire sleeve of saltines and chased it with a tablespoon of salt. So far I’ve only seen Lainey in a giant parka or an oversize sweater. Under all that bulky fabric is one hell of a body. She’s wearing a simple white waffle shirt that conforms to her curves. A pair of dark-wash skinny jeans encase her toned legs.

I’m used to bunnies throwing themselves at me, often in questionable states of undress. I stopped getting excited about miniskirts and revealing tops a long time ago. There’s something infinitely sexier about a woman who can show off her body without actually showing it off at all.

Lainey tips her head to the side. Her teeth press into her full bottom lip. I want to do that. Suck that pouty, full lip between my teeth and bite it. I want to do a lot of other, far more explicit things than that, but a kiss seems like a good place to start.

“RJ? Is everything okay?” Her eyes dip down to my chest. I’m wearing a shirt from one of my endorsement campaigns. It afforded me the extensive renovations on this cabin a few years ago.

“Huh?” I give my head a shake. “Oh. Yeah. Everything’s good. Sorry, zoned out there for a second.”

She smiles and pushes up on her toes, her eyes twinkling—like, they legit light up, and her excitement makes her entire body vibrate. It also makes her boobs jiggle. I try to keep my eyes glued to her face. It’s not easy, though.

“I do that all the time! Sometimes my brain is busy with so many thoughts I miss entire conversations. Does that happen to you too?”

I grin. I love that she seems to say whatever is on her mind. “All the time.”

“It’s actually a helpful skill when you’re being lectured, because I can sort through stuff in my head, but it’s not so great when your supervising professor is telling you what’s wrong with your thesis.” She pulls her hair over her shoulder and finger combs it.

“I take it that’s happened to you.”

“It did. Thankfully he also emailed all his criticisms, so missing out on it the first time wasn’t that big of a deal.” She divides her hair into three sections and deftly braids it without looking at what she’s doing even once. It’s pretty damn impressive. I almost want to pull it apart so I can watch her do it all over again. “Anyway, enough about that. Let’s get started on dinner!” She nudges me out of the way so she can wash her hands. She dries them on her jeans and moves over to the fridge, opening it to check out the contents.

I kind of like that she makes herself at home. I’m used to women who expect to be catered to. It’s refreshing to meet someone who doesn’t want me to pander to her.

I start pulling things out of the fridge as she starts naming items she’ll need and set them on the counter. I manage to locate most of what she asks for.

“What about garlic? Do you have any of that?” She leans over, peering into the fridge beside me. Her braid slips over her shoulder, skimming my arm.

“Uh, maybe we could forgo the garlic?”

“Are you allergic? My oldest brother gets bloated when he eats it. It took us forever to figure out what was causing it. Sometimes I’ll still put some in when he’s coming for dinner, because it’s funny to see him look like he’s expecting.” She tips her head to the side. “Or you just don’t like garlic?”

“I like it sometimes, but it depends.”

Her brows pinch together. “On what?”

“Who I’m eating with. I mean, if I’m going out with buddies, you bet I’m gonna order the honey garlic wings, or the cheesy garlic bread, or the pasta Alfredo. But if I’m eating dinner with a pretty girl, I’m gonna pass on the garlic.”

“Oh.” She twists the end of her braid around her finger.

I hope I’m not reading things wrong and making her uncomfortable.

“Does that mean you think I’m pretty?”

That she sounds genuinely curious as to my answer is unexpected. “You see yourself in the mirror every day—what do you think?”

She averts her gaze, still playing with the end of her braid. “My eyes are too big, so I always look like I’m surprised. My nose is small, and my lips are too full, so my mouth doesn’t really fit the rest of my face.”

“Wow. I think you need a new mirror, because all I see is a whole lot of gorgeous.”

She snorts a laugh and waves me off. “Once, I took a portrait class, and we learned all about proportion and symmetry of the face. Those are just my flaws based on what I was taught.”

“Well, I’m a big fan of all your flaws, and I think they make you more beautiful, not less.”

“Thanks. I think you’re beautiful too.” She cringes. “I mean handsome. You’re very nice to look at, with or without a shirt on. When I fell in your lap on the airplane, I remember thinking, At least I fell on someone nice looking.”

“Is that so?”

“Mm-hmm.” She opens a drawer, maybe to avoid looking at me. “And as much as I was mortified when you sat beside me on the Cessna, I couldn’t complain about the view, inside or outside of the plane. That you turned out to be really nice, and just so helpful, was a great bonus.” She hands me a roll of foil. “Why don’t you wrap the potatoes? They take the longest, so we should get started on those first.”

I put the potatoes on the barbecue and let Lainey order me around. She definitely knows her way around a kitchen. When I was growing up, my mom did most of the cooking, but my dad could make a mean Saturday-morning brunch. He also made great bread, which I miss a lot.

An hour later we’re seated at the table, plates full of steak, twice-baked potatoes, and crispy brussels sprouts cooked in bacon fat. I open a bottle of red wine and offer Lainey a glass.

“Just a little bit? I’m not sure I like red wine.”

“Maybe you just haven’t had the right red wine.” I pour a little into her glass.

She picks it up and gives it a swirl, then sniffs it. “I’ve seen people do this in the movies, but I don’t really know what the point is,” she admits, then tips the glass back and takes a tentative sip. Her expression turns thoughtful; then she takes another, slightly more robust sip. “This is actually really nice. I like it. Maybe the red wine I had before was bad.”

“Maybe. Some of the cheap stuff tastes pretty awful.” I pour more into her glass before filling mine. I hold up my glass and wait for her to raise hers.

“To chance meetings.”

“To new adventures and great company to share them with.” We toast and take a sip, each smiling behind the rim.

 

 

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance with all the feels to romantic comedies that will have you laughing until you cry.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

 

Giveaway

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Synopsis

America’s most prominent Latino chef shares the story behind his food, his family, and his professional journey 

Before Chef Aaron Sanchez rose to fame on shows like MasterChef and Chopped, he was a restless Mexican-American son, raised by a fiercely determined and talented woman who was a successful chef and restaurateur in her own right—she is credited with bringing Mexican cuisine to the New York City dining scene. In many ways, Sanchez, who lost his father at a young age, was destined to follow in his mother Zarela’s footsteps. He spent nights as a child in his family’s dining room surrounded by some of the most influential chefs and restaurateurs in New York. At 16, needing direction, he was sent by his mother to work for renowned chef Paul Prudhomme in New Orleans.

In this memoir, Sanchez delves into his formative years with remarkable candor, injecting his story with adrenaline and revealing how he fell in love with cooking and started a career in the fast-paced culinary world. Sanchez shares the invaluable lessons he learned from his upbringing and his training—both inside and outside the kitchen—and offers an intimate look into the chaotic and untraditional life of a professional chef and television personality. This memoir is Sanchez’s highly personal account of a fatherless Latino kid whose talent and passion took him to the top of his profession.

 

My Thoughts

 

It is always interesting reading the back story of chefs and how they came to be in the position they are in, where they learned to hone their craft, and what it took to get to the top because let’s face it, being a chef is a hard job!

This new book about Latino Chef, Aaron Sanchez, gives us an in-depth look into his life – from his struggles to his successes.  This book covers it all!  I have to admit that I don’t watch many cooking shows…mostly because I’m sure I would become addicted but mostly because we cut the cable cord so just don’t have those channels.  I am curious about the Masterchef Jr because I love that kids are learning to cook and more than just a poptart or grilled cheese sandwich.  I love when role models take younger children under their wings and encourage them to fly high.

Peppered throughout the book are some of his favorite dishes that cover a wide range of dishes from chili to etouffee to hominy and to salmon.  Many of these dishes have my mouth watering!  So while this book may be mostly about his life you’ll be able to find a new recipe or two to add to your repertoire.

But I’m not going to be selfish and I’m going to share this book with a lucky follower.  Just enter below and you just might be the winner.

 

Giveaway

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