Title: Cowboy SEAL Homecoming

Author: Nicole Helm

Series: Navy SEAL Cowboys, #1

Pub Date: January 2, 2017

Synopsis

Three former Navy SEALs

Injured in the line of duty

Desperate for a new beginning…

Searching for a place to call their own.

Alex Maguire never thought he’d go home again. The perfect soldier, the perfect leader, he’s spent his whole life running away from Blue Valley, Montana—but when a tragic accident bounces him and two of his men out of the SEALs, there’s nowhere left to turn but the ranch he used to call his own…and the confusing, innocently beguiling woman who now lives there.

Becca Denton’s like nothing he could have imagined. She’s far too tempting for her own good, but when she offers to help turn the ranch into a haven for injured veterans, he can’t exactly say no. He’ll just need to keep his distance. But something in her big green eyes makes Alex want to set aside the mantle of the perfect soldier and discover the man he could have been…safe and whole within the shelter of her arms.

The Prodigal SEAL has come home.

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Excerpt

Alex remained frozen in place and Becca didn’t know how to let go of him. How to step away. Even when he’d ordered her not to kiss him, she didn’t know how to walk away.

Because he hadn’t answered her question. Not fully. If he’d only tell her that…that all he cared about was her well-being and safety. That this had nothing to do with the attraction she felt, then she would give this up. She would go back inside and sit with Mac and know that nothing with Alex was ever going to happen.

But he had to tell her. She needed to hear it from his lips to really be able to give it up.

He lifted the hand that had been hanging at his side and curled his long, blunt fingers around her elbow. He removed her arm from around him, but as he pulled her arm off and released her elbow, his fingers trailed—probably accidentally—down her forearm.

It jittered through her, like nerves and electrical shocks. Something swirling low in her stomach, sparks rioting in her chest.

His breath hitched, but his gaze didn’t meet hers as he pulled her other arm from around him.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to get at. I don’t know what other reason there could be.”

But he didn’t look at her, which was so weird. Alex always looked her in the eye.

“You’re lying.” Which she hadn’t meant to say out loud, but it was such a surprise to see it. To read him so well and so easily. “You’re really bad at it.”

His gaze finally met hers, and that she couldn’t read, whatever war was going on in his dark depths.

“Maybe you think I’m lying because that’s what you want.”

Which was true, but there was too much lining up to her way of thinking. He’d brought up not sleeping together this morning. Jack’s words—as drunken as they might have been—the whole not looking her in the eye and shuddering when they touched.

“Okay, that is what I want.”

She could tell she’d surprised him. That he’d expected her denial or maybe her to stutter and scamper away, but she wasn’t going to do that. “I’m attracted to you. Yup. Not going to deny it. You’re hot. You’re a good person—such a good guy, even when you’re annoying the piss out of me. I feel comfortable around you in a way I don’t with a whole heck of a lot of people. So, yeah, I’m not going to stand here and try to deny it, because I am not a coward—but you are.”

The shock written all over his face sharpened. “Excuse me?” he said, dangerously calm.

Clearly the word coward got under his skin. But that’s what he was being. Hiding behind lies and whatever else. It was cowardly. She should know. She was always a coward when it came to people.

Well, not anymore.

“I said you’re a coward,” she replied, giving a shrug she wished felt a little more nonchalant. “You won’t admit you feel exactly the same way. Because you’re afraid. Or is that for my protection too?”

He took a deep breath, clearly trying to find some calm, but his eyes were furious and his jaw was so tight it was a wonder it didn’t crack in half. Everything about him vibrated with anger, and she felt powerful.

Her. Becca Denton. She felt in charge and right. Not a doubt or a second of uncertainty.

“A coward, huh?” he finally muttered through gritted teeth, one of his hands flexing into a fist and then open again.

“Yes. A big ole fraidy-cat over the fact that you’ve got some feelings for your much younger step—” But before she could get the remaining words out of her mouth, he used the front of her shirt to jerk her against the hard wall of his much larger body. She was too shocked to jump back or fend it off, and even though nerves slammed through her, well, she liked being this close. Not just hugging close, but pressing close.

Then his mouth crushed against hers, hard and unrelenting, and whatever powerful feeling she’d had evaporated on the spot. Incinerated completely. She didn’t even have time to think about how she didn’t know how to do this. His hands were in her hair, her hair, tangling and moving her head whichever darn way he pleased.

She grabbed for purchase, a little afraid her knees were wobbly, holding on for dear life. Letting his lips and tongue lead hers, guide hers.

It was fire and it was shock and it was good. It was good to be hollowed out and feel as though she was filled with liquid gold. Shimmering and lazy. To be pressed up against nothing but hard muscle and skilled mouth and know not a thing could touch her here.

Not a thing but him.

“Christ, we can’t do this,” he muttered, but it was against her mouth, his arms banded around her so that whether they could or not, they certainly were.

She wanted to keep doing it. Experiencing it. Participate instead of just letting it happen and soak it up—which was good, oh it was good, but she wanted more.

About the Author

NICOLE HELM writes down-to-earth contemporary romance specializing in people who don’t live close enough to neighbors for them to be a problem. When she’s not writing, she spends her time dreaming about someday owning a barn. She lives with her husband and two young sons in O’Fallon, Missouri.

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Synopsis

Liv’s words cut off as Finn got closer. The man approaching was nothing like the boy she’d known. The bulky football muscles had streamlined into a harder, leaner package and the look in his deep green eyes held no trace of boyish innocence.

It’s been twelve years since tragedy struck the senior class of Long Acre High School. Only a few students survived that fateful night—a group the media dubbed The Ones Who Got Away.

Liv Arias thought she’d never return to Long Acre—until a documentary brings her and the other survivors back home. Suddenly her old flame, Finn Dorsey, is closer than ever, and their attraction is still white-hot. When a searing kiss reignites their passion, Liv realizes this rough-around-the-edges cop might be exactly what she needs…

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Excerpt

Finn rubbed a hand over the spot where his scar was in what looked like an absentminded gesture. “I signed up for a gun-safety course as soon as I healed so I could deal with the fear.”

Liv rubbed the chill bumps from her arms. “That must’ve been ridiculously hard.”

He gave a humorless laugh. “The first few weeks, all I could do was sit there and watch other people do target practice. Listen to the sounds. Let the panic come and force myself not to run. It sucked. But then I met this cop who offered to help me. She pushed me, and I started to get used to handling the gun and began to train.” He focused on a spot somewhere over her shoulder like he was seeing the memory play out on a screen. “She taught me how to switch off the emotion of it. It’s going to sound ridiculous, but it became like football used to be for me. One mission. No emotion attached to it. Get the ball into the end zone. But this time it was hit the target. It was the only thing that helped.”

“Jumping into the fire.”

“Yeah. But it was the best thing I could’ve done. Learning from Eileen, the officer I met, seeing how confident and dedicated she was, made me want to do the same thing. When I eventually went into the academy, I was ready. I had to go through simulations where people would attack me or come at me with a weapon over and over again, in a hundred different ways. It diluted the power of my fears because now I had the skills to protect myself and the people around me.”

She leaned back against the headboard, impressed and a little awed. “So no one is going to catch you off your game again.”

His lips kicked up at the corners, some of that old arrogance breaking through. “Let’s just say it’s probably not going to go well for them if they try.”

She laughed, his playful smirk helping some of her jittery feelings dissipate. “Now I see it. I couldn’t picture you with a badge, but there it is. Cocky Finn does law enforcement.”

“What? Afraid I couldn’t pull it off?” He lifted an eyebrow, his face stern. “Ma’am, can you please step out of the vehicle? Hands where I can see them.”

She bit her lip. Of course with his authoritative tone, her mind put him in a uniform and some aviators. She’d never had a particular fetish for men in uniform, especially after her own run-in with the police. But the thought of Finn wearing a uniform and manhandling her a bit had her reconsidering. She would definitely get out of the vehicle. Maybe even let him cuff her. And as inappropriate as the thought was, considering the circumstances, it was a welcome respite from her nightmare. She cleared her throat. “I think you pull it off just fine.”

His dimple appeared beneath the stubble. “You’re blushing, Arias.”

“I am not.” She tipped up her chin. “I’m just…still flushed from all the adrenaline.”

“Uh-huh. Or you’ve got a secret cop fetish.”

“Stop flirting.” She pointed a finger at him.

“Am I flirting?” he asked innocently.

“Yes. And that’s not allowed. You yourself said that kiss was a mistake. So don’t come prancing around here half dressed with your Batman abs and talking about where to put my hands. No one likes a tease, Dorsey.”

His grin turned roguish. “I said that kiss was a mistake, not a regret.”

“Finn.”

“And Batman abs?” He grabbed the lapels of the robe like he was going to open it and check. “These old things?”

She stretched out her leg and kicked his thigh. “Stop it. You’re terrible.”

He lifted his palms in surrender and laughed. “At least you’re smiling now.”

“Yeah, well, there’s that.”

Even after all the years that had passed, Finn still seemed able to get her mind off things. When her mom was going through chemo and everything was doom and gloom at home, Finn could somehow figure out ways not just to make her laugh, but to do so in a way that didn’t make her feel guilty for feeling a moment of happiness.

She leaned forward, bracing herself on one hand, and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

She looked up, meeting his gaze, and realized how close she still was. Close enough to see the flecks of gray in his green eyes, close enough to kiss him. She wet her lips. “Being you. I’ve missed that guy.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed, his attention flicking to her mouth before sliding upward again. Her heart picked up speed, and his hand closed around her upper arm. “Liv…”

“I…” Whatever she was going to say died on her lips, because the way he was looking at her made her forget her words. There was want in those green depths—lust—but there was something else. Something that made her breath stall. Need mixed with something more dangerous. A wildness.

A curl of heat went up her spine, twining with unease. So much of her wanted to give in to it, to see what exactly was simmering between them. Just grab him and say to hell with it all and make the sheets even sweatier than they already were. But as much as he was drawing her in with that look, he was also warning her off. She didn’t know how she got that sense, but it was there, loud and clear. Push me away. Run. He wanted her to stop this.

He’d told her outside what he had to offer—nothing but a one-night stand. And though right now that sounded all kinds of enticing, she wasn’t going to go there. He didn’t want this. Plus, even sober, it would be too close to how she’d handled her anxiety in college. She didn’t need to chase away her nightmare with a hookup she’d regret in the morning. She wasn’t that girl anymore.

“Finn.” The word was strained.

“Yes?”

She swallowed past the dryness in her throat. “We should get my stuff moved. It’s late.”

He stared at her for a moment, and then his grip on her arm softened. His breath tickled her hair. “Right. Of course.”

 

About the Author

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. She holds a master’s degree in social work and spent years as a mental health counselor, but now she writes full time from her cozy office in Dallas, Texas where she puts her characters on the therapy couch instead. She is a two-time RITA Award winner and a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

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The Vengeance of Indra 

(Vikramaditya Veergatha #3)

by Shatrujeet Nath

 

VENGEANCE IS A CAGE
FORGIVENESS IS FREEDOM

In their greed to possess the deadly Halahala, the devas and the asuras have employed every dirty trick against Vikramaditya and his Council of Nine. But the humans are still standing, bloodied but unbowed.

When the wily Shukracharya discovers the secret to breaking the Council’s strength and unity, he forges an unlikely alliance with his arch-enemy, Indra, to set a deceitful plan in motion.

As cracks emerge between the councilors and their king, ghosts from the past threaten to ruin Vikramaditya and Kalidasa’s friendship, signaling the beginning of an eclipse that will cast a long shadow over all that Vikramaditya holds dear. And into this shadow steps Indra, bearing an old grudge — and a devastating new weapon.
How much longer before the Guardians of the Halahala finally fall apart?

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Synopsis

THE PRICE OF A PROMISE. PAID IN BLOOD.

The deadly Halahala, the all-devouring poison churned from the depths of the White Lake by the devas and asuras, was swallowed by Shiva to save the universe from extinction.

But was the Halahala truly destroyed?

A small portion still remains – a weapon powerful enough to guarantee victory to whoever possesses it. And both asuras and devas, locked in battle for supremacy, will stop at nothing to claim it.

As the forces of Devaloka and Patala, led by Indra and Shukracharya, plot to possess the Halahala, Shiva turns to mankind to guard it from their murderous clutches. It is now up to Samrat Vikramaditya and his Council of Nine to quell the supernatural hordes – and prevent the universe from tumbling into chaos!

A sweeping tale of honour and courage in the face of infinite danger, greed and deceit, The Guardians of the Halahala is a fantastical journey into a time of myth and legend.

Synopsis

VICTORY IS TEMPORARY. THE BATTLE IS ETERNAL.

Vikramaditya and his Council of Nine have fought valiantly to repel the rampaging hordes from Devaloka and Patala – but Avanti has been brought to its knees. Ujjayini lies battered its citizens are scared and morale is badly shaken. Meanwhile, the barbaric Hunas and Sakas are gathering on the horizon and cracks are emerging between the allied kingdoms of Sindhuvarta.

The only silver lining is that the deadly Halahala is safe. For now.

Bent on vengeance, Indra is already scheming to destroy Vikramaditya, while Shukracharya has a plan that can spell the doom for the Guardians of the Halahala. How long can the human army hold out against the ferocity and cunning of the devas and asuras? And will Vikramaditya’s love for his queen come in the way of his promise to Shiva?

About the Author

Shatrujeet Nath is the creator of the runaway national bestseller series Vikramaditya Veergatha, a four-book mytho-fantasy arc which includes The Guardians of the Halahala, The Conspiracy at Meru and The Vengeance of Indra. Described as “a new face to Indian mythology” by DNA, Shatrujeet writes for movies and web shows as well. He is also the author of The Karachi Deception, an Indo-Pak spy thriller.

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Synopsis

Every time Gwen closed her eyes, she saw him in her nightmares. Now her eyes are open, and he’s not going away.

Gwen Proctor won the battle to save her kids from her ex-husband, serial killer Melvin Royal, and his league of psychotic accomplices. But the war isn’t over. Not since Melvin broke out of prison. Not since she received a chilling text…

You’re not safe anywhere now.

Her refuge at Stillhouse Lake has become a trap. Gwen leaves her children in the protective custody of a fortified, well-armed neighbor. Now, with the help of Sam Cade, brother of one of Melvin’s victims, Gwen is going hunting. She’s learned how from one of the sickest killers alive.

But what she’s up against is beyond anything she feared—a sophisticated and savage mind game calculated to destroy her. As trust beyond her small circle of friends begins to vanish, Gwen has only fury and vengeance to believe in as she closes in on her prey. And sure as the night, one of them will die.

Review

You must read Stillhouse Lake before reading this book or you will be totally lost.

This book is much like the first in the way that it keeps me on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next. I am always surprised at each turn. While I hope to never have to deal with a serial killer, the way their minds work is nothing like I have ever encountered. Very manipulating!

I enjoyed how this book was told from the viewpoint of 4 pivotal characters – Gwen, Lanny, Connor and Sam. Now if there had been a viewpoint of Melvin (the serial killer) that would have been even more eerie! But since this is more about what the family endures it is appropriate to have it from these 4 voices.

There are times I wanted to yell at the characters for doing something stupid – it is like watching the horror movie and the characters doing something you know aren’t good decisions! But that aside, the mistakes they make help round out the storyline and really drag you into caring about what happens next and that all will be ok.

My understanding is that there will be a 3rd book and I’m wondering what could possibly happen next as this book wrapped a lot of things up nicely. I have my suspicions but can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment.

We give this 5 paws up

Synopsis

Gina Royal is the definition of average—a shy Midwestern housewife with a happy marriage and two adorable children. But when a car accident reveals her husband’s secret life as a serial killer, she must remake herself as Gwen Proctor—the ultimate warrior mom.

With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Though still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband’s crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace.

But just when she’s starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake—and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address. Gwen Proctor must keep friends close and enemies at bay to avoid being exposed—or watch her kids fall victim to a killer who takes pleasure in tormenting her. One thing is certain: she’s learned how to fight evil. And she’ll never stop.

Review

Whoa, talk about an engaging, edge of your seat psychological thriller.

I felt back for Gwen/Gina and what she had to endure being married to serial killer, Melvin. But like many, he put on a good front and if not for a freak accident no one would have known what he was doing to all those women. I also hated that while acquitted (she didn’t help him), there were still people out there harassing her and trying to track her down to possibly kill her. That is nothing anyone should have to deal with in this world. Especially the children.

There are some twists that I didn’t see coming and the ending leaves you hanging just enough to want to read the next book out in a few months (Dec 2017).

We give this 5 paws up!

 

Book Title:  Seeking a Familiar Face: The Transformational Journey of Connecting with God by May Patterson
Category:  Adult nonfiction,  175 pages
Genre:  Christian Living
Publisher:  Exploration Press
Release date:  September 2017

Synopsis

The greatest adventure of your life awaits. And it will change everything.

Ever feel disappointed? Like your life isn’t as fulfilling as you had always dreamed it would be? Are you laden down with responsibilities, feeling overwhelmed and empty, or maybe even a bit caged?

You’re not alone.

Many people in the Bible felt the same way. Most had difficulties. Some felt stuck. Others were depressed, afraid and uncertain. And some just wanted to get closer to God. So they set out on life’s adventure —seeking God—and encountered the One who fulfilled their longings and changed their lives forever.

The same can happen for you.

Seeking a Familiar Face guides you on the transforming journey of connecting with God, through simple, yet extraordinary ways. It doesn’t matter if you are already seeking Him or just getting started, this book will encourage you to go a little farther toward locking hearts with God.

In this book you will discover engaging narratives from ten biblical characters, along with stories, humor, and practical ideas for seeking God. There are thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter to discuss with a friend or a group. Most of all, “Seeking a Familiar Face” will offer you fresh hope for deepening your intimacy with God.

Video of May Patterson explaining how she came to write her book

About the Author

May Patterson has been writing and teaching bible study classes for several years. Her new book, “Seeking a Familiar Face,” was birthed from a Bible study she wrote in 2014 called “A Time to Seek.” She was trained in small group dynamics for over ten years at Bible Study Fellowship, serving as a leader for four years. She has written for several magazines including Focus on the Family, Upper Room Magazine and Shattered Magazine, among others. She is married to her dear friend, Mike, and they have three grown children. She loves to tell stories, laugh, and talk about the adventure of seeking God.

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HOLDING THE FORT

The Fort Reno Series, Book 1

by

REGINA JENNINGS

  Genre: Historical Western Christian Romance

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Date of Publication: December 5, 2017

Number of Pages: 353

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With Miss Bell as the Teacher, Everyone’s Bound to Learn an Interesting Lesson

Dance hall singer Louisa Bell has always lived one step from destitution. When she loses her job at the Cat-Eye Saloon, she has nowhere else to go but to her brother, a cavalry soldier stationed in Indian Territory. But he’s run afoul of his commanding officer. Unsure what she can do to help him and desperate for a job, she doesn’t protest when she’s mistaken for a governess at the fort. How hard can teaching really be?

Major Daniel Adams has his hands full at Fort Reno, especially raising two adolescent daughters alone. If this new governess doesn’t work out, his mother-in-law insists she’ll raise the girls herself–far away from the fort. Miss Bell bears little resemblance to Daniel’s notion of a governess–they’re not supposed to be so blamed pretty–but he finds himself turning a blind eye to her unconventional methods. Louisa has never faced so important a performance. Can she keep her act together long enough to help her brother and to secure the respectable future she’s sought for so long?

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PRAISE FOR HOLDING THE FORT & THE FORT RENO SERIES:

“The first book in Jennings’ new Fort Reno series is a delightful read that helps solidify what a wonderful and imaginative writer Jennings is. She manages to create unique stories with interesting and well-developed characters while combining humor, mystery and a sprinkle of faith.” –RT Book Reviews

“In this character-driven series launch, Jennings offers a powerful lesson on the freedom of truth and forgiveness wrappd in a delightful story of love against the odds.” —Publishers Weekly

“This series launch is a charming historical romance set in 1880s Fort Reno, OK. . . . Jennings kicks off a new series with a light and enjoyable tale that will delight her fans as well as lovers of historical romance.” —Library Journal

 

When you are in the mood for a trip to the old west, life in a fort, and a sweet story about faith, love and forgiveness then this should be one of the books you pick up to indulge that feeling.

While this book is labeled as western Christian romance, it is not heavy on the religious aspect.  There is the right balance of faith/religion, love, action and the wisdom of two young ladies.

This story touched my heart in many ways.  Louisa was way out of her element pretending to be a governess to the Major’s two daughters.  But she would stay up reading ahead so that she could instruct these young ladies in their studies.  Don’t get me wrong, she was not unintelligent, she had just not gone very far in school which is not surprising for the time. But when it came to instruction on areas such as singing – this is where she excelled.  The way Louisa handled herself in various difficult situations was admirable…however, she probably should have come clean much sooner about who she was and why she was at the fort.  Daniel (the Major) was a widower trying to do his best in raising two rambunctious girls, away from civilization…and with an overbearing mother-in-law that wanted the girls to live with her.  He is strong in his faith which is what ultimately helps Louisa admit her past and accept her destiny.  I cringed at the thought of how Daniel would react when the truth came out about Louisa.  However, his reaction was that of a Godly man that believed in truth and forgiveness.  I laughed along with Daisy and Caroline as they fought against instruction from Louisa, but came to love her in the end.  Daisy’s innocence is quite captivating as she has no filters on what comes out of her mouth.  As they say, “out of the mouths of babes!”  But I felt this just added to the complexity of the characters and the situations they faced.

This story was also educational as it depicted life in a fort during the late 1800’s.  There were Indian raids from those tribes not wanting to change their ways.  The author researched the background on this story quite well and I might have even learned a few things.

Overall a very enjoyable read and we give it 4 paws up.

 

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a minor in history. She’s the winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, a two-time Golden Quill finalist and a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award. Regina has worked at the Mustang News and at First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.

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Visit the other great blogs on this tour

12/18/17	Excerpt	Hall Ways Blog
12/19/17	Review	Texan Girl Reads
12/20/17	Notable Quotable	Books and Broomsticks
12/21/17	Author Video	Forgotten Winds
12/22/17	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
12/26/17	Excerpt	Tangled in Text
12/27/17	Notable Quotable	A Novel Reality
12/28/17	Review	Missus Gonzo
12/29/17	Top Ten List	The Page Unbound
12/30/17	Review	Books in the Garden

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Title: YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD: BE A CHANGE WIZARD AND GET IT LIKE YOU LIKE IT
Author: Bever-leigh Banfield
Publisher: Twinkle Entertainment
Pages: 366
Genre: Nonfiction

Synopsis

You have an ultimate magic within you, capable of transforming yourself, your life and everything that exists. You needn’t fear change, leave it to others, or get stuck with whatever happens next. You can pull heaven right out of your hat with the alchemy of your heart and mind. You just have to know how to use your abracadabra presto change-o. You can make things disappear or pop up because you are the change you crave. Your dream is a reality somewhere, ready for you to experience it by making change your BFF. Tap into who you’re meant to be, and the special thing you’re meant to do – with this book about your mission in life, and how you can have it materialize to be happier, healthier, wealthier, wiser, and make the world a better place.

Guest Post

CHANGE CHALLENGE

How To Be A Change Wizard In Seven Steps

by Bever-leigh Banfield

Here we are in the holidays again! And you may be asking why all those things you thought would magically change this year may not have morphed as quickly as zombies transmute in The Walking Dead. It might feel like this year has streaked by at the speed of light and left nothing to show for it. That five pounds that was going to melt away still clinging and turning into ten? Still no date for New Years Eve? Drinking too much or sleeping too little? Closet still packed with clothes you never took the price tags off of and never wore or, worse yet, are still sporting despite their, shall we say, tattered appearance, advancing age and glaring out-of-styleness? Well, help is here. Or at least on the way – depending on how you transform your life by changing your state of mind.

Change is an inside job that can happen in the blink of an eye or at glacial pace. The good news is it’s up to you. You are The Changer and you are The Change. When you change, you change the world. You can commit to BE the change and work to see it come about. You can decide to work for change and make change work for you. Not just any old change, but change for the better. Change big enough to change the world.

You’re wired for change. You’re supposed to transform. It’s the reason you’re alive. Feeling you need to change is not an embarrassment or a sign of weakness. It’s the seed of greatness planted in you germinating, sprouting, budding, signaling it’s time to bloom. Change is what you’re here for – to become much more of YOU. 2018 is calling your name and you’re ready. Here’s how to take it on for you and those around you. You’re entering the realm of the Change Challenge now. Ready? C’mon, let’s go!

STEP ONE – DECIDE

Decide that you want to change, that you’re willing and ready and up for change. That you’re able to change anything you want – from top to bottom, from inside out. Take a breath. Close your eyes. Envision yourself. See your loftiest self where you most want to be. What are you doing? Who are you with? How are you at your happiest? Explore this. Touch it. Taste it. Smell it. Hear it. Capture the feeling. Meditate on your miracle.

STEP TWO – EXPLORE

Identify what you need to change. Is it your living situation? Is it the state of your finances? Is it a job that you’ve outgrown? A relationship that doesn’t serve you anymore or never did? Is it the way you treat yourself, your parents, your mate, your kids, your friends? Whatever it is, call it out. Nail it down. It’s on its way to change.

STEP THREE – COMMIT

Commit to implementing change to make yourself healthier, happier, more effective, more at peace. Commit to letting yourself be changed for the better in every way you can, and to changing the ills around you, by your example if nothing else. Claim the life you want to live and the way you want to live it. Realize that you change the world every glorious minute of every day, with every thought, word and deed you bring to it, every vibration you emit. You’re lifting up people in your sphere or causing derision in your midst. You’re encouraging people or tearing them down. You’re creating or destroying. You’re an up or a Debbie or Donald Downer. Face it, you matter, you have an effect. Commit to being a benefit.

STEP FOUR – DREAM

Dream a huge dream, and make it good. Set your imagination free. Set goals that can bring about lasting, impactful changes as far as your eye can see. Imagine a better world that works for everyone, everywhere, all the time. Let it come into focus as sharp as a camera lens or magnifier. Protect your dream from negatives. Be convinced that your dream life exists somewhere, that it’s yours and it’s meant to come true.

STEP FIVE – PLAN

Take the time to make a plan. It can change and become more detailed as you go, but you must have a plan you can implement to bring what may now just exist in your mind into form that the world can experience. Brainstorm the steps you’ll need to take. Write them down. Make notes as your ideas form. Create as coherent a plan as you can. You may only be able to see the first step when you start. Have faith. A plan will form.

STEP SIX – TASKS  

Plot the tasks your plan demands and set out to perform them one at a time. You can multitask if you do it well, as long as you focus on one thing at a time and you prioritize. Keep in mind what’s important and do that first. Organize a team to help you.

STEP SEVEN – PERSEVERE

A determined mindset is key to ensuring maximum performance. Avoid letting anything get in the way of doing what you know you must, or allowing people, circumstances or events to dissuade or discourage you. Be brave. Stay on course as it twists and turns. Be consistent and flexible. Research. Learn. Keep going until your dream comes true.

I’m rooting for you and I send you love. Go out and change the world!

Trailer

Excerpt

Welcome. I’m so glad you’re here. You are my brothers and sisters, and I’m excited to get into this. Okay, first let’s claim your ideal life—because it is ready to bring you joy. Your ideal life is the one the world is waiting to experience, watching to see it reveal and unfold.

When you envision the life you most want to lead, what do you see? Great health, of course. Maybe the perfect body, at the weight and shape that makes you feel invincible, relatable, and up for anything at any time. A high-paying, cool job, with health benefits—or maybe self-employment you can’t wait to get to every day. Let’s toss in some work that fulfills you, stretches your talents and abilities, and challenges your mind. Perhaps you desire Prince Charming too, riding up on his mighty steed to take your hand, or a Sleeping Beauty awaiting your sexy kiss to awaken her love. You might only long for a roof above your head that doesn’t leak, or that new car that doesn’t break down, puff smoke from the tailpipe, or embarrass you when you pull up to valet park. You may simply desire security, whatever your concept of that is. Maybe you crave a weekly mani-pedi or massage, relaxing vacays in exotic ports, a closet full of designer clothes, the latest tech, some diamond bling, a pair of name-brand athletic or red-soled shoes and cozy creature comforts. You could be aiming to play a sport, or pursue a hobby you adore. And who doesn’t want some excitement, adventure and fun to liven up their days? If you’ve chosen to have children, you will want them to grow up happy, healthy, prosperous, kind, educated and free. You will want all that’s good for them, and resolve to help that happen.

Though you might not want any of these, it might also be true you want all of them. And yet, there is something you must want most. Are you in touch with what that is? If not, then this is the time to seek it out and have it come to you. When you’re alone—or not alone—in the dark at night with your active mind, or when you wake up in the morning and realize the universe has gifted you with another day of living your life, what do you want to do with it? Do you want your life to shine, or are you content to just get through it, putting one foot in front of the other, surviving as the clock ticks and the years fly by like soaring jets.

When someone discovers an abnormality in some vital body part, or loses a parent, a child, a marriage, their business or a job, or is presented with some other ginormous hill to climb to reclaim their life, things tend to zoom into focus. Disparate ideas seem to coalesce into helpful realizations. They’re given to epiphany, become open to insights they’ve never received before. They often drop all pretense, and become able to skirt trivialities that might have irked them earlier. Other people in their life come closer or fall away. Those remaining are held cherished, and communication blossoms. Longrepressed yearnings surface that may cause them to rethink their choices and mull over past mistakes or missteps they may feel have brought them to that point. People look for the meaning of their lives, and seek to address and fulfill it when the rubber is meeting the road, the chips are down, and their back is to the wall.

Why wait for such a cataclysm? Life is occurring with every breath. Every now gives way to another now that presents great opportunity. Every instant is calling you to rise up and reach your highest consciousness, and nothing is standing in your way. On the contrary, even the beat of your heart is designed to uplift and support you.

You are the answer to all of your questions.

You are the change you’ve been waiting to see.

About the Author

Bever-leigh Banfield, M.F.A. is a writer, actress, voice over artist, host and speaker. She has penned numerous celebrity interviews, one of which, published in Essence magazine, won the American Diabetes Association National Media Award for journalism. As an actress, Bever-leigh has performed in television shows, movies, Broadway and off-Broadway theater and national commercials. Her voice has been heard in TV and radio ads, as an ABC network announcer, in animated films and cartoons, and as narrator of planetarium space shows at landmark Griffith Observatory in Hollywood. Ms. Banfield holds an M.F.A. from the Yale University School of Drama and a B.A. from Stanford University. She has lived in Europe and the Caribbean, and traveled in Africa, South America, and across the United States. She has been gifted with psychic perception since childhood, and as an intuitive, has experienced a vision of world peace. Creating is her joy. Her debut non-fiction book You Can Change The World is about helping you be who you are meant to be, and do what you are meant to do – live your dreams, and change the world for the better!

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

As a holiday gift to you (and me!), I’m giving away some book(s) from my shelf.  I try to match books to the winner’s genre preference but no promises!

Enter below on the rafflecopter and visit the other blogs participating for a chance to win more!

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The Discombobulated Decipherers: A Brilliant, Minnesota Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Self Published (November 21, 2017)
Print Length: 195 pages

Synopsis

It’s Christmas in Brilliant, Minnesota, and Brilliant is known for its glitzy Christmas traditions. A world-renowned Christmas pageant, the town square decked out with Santa’s Village and a live nativity scene bring visitors to Brilliant each year. Just as the tourists arrive, Jezabelle Jingle and her mystery writer friend, Miranda, find the body of Ernest the elf dead and wrapped in a bundle of Christmas lights in the town square. Is Ernest part of a new holiday puzzle the Discombobulated Decipherers need to solve? Or is dead Ernest part of a bigger plot? Will Jezabelle decipher the clues so Brilliant can celebrate Christmas in peace? Or will Jezabelle be the next gift-wrapped box under the village tree?

Recipe

Jezabelle and I would like to thank Gladys Johanson and her family for letting us use her recipe for Lemon Love Notes in the Brilliant Bistro. Gladys celebrated her 100th birthday on October 19, 2017. She fed 14 children with her fabulous cooking. Thank you for sharing love through your baking.

LEMON LOVE NOTES

Ingredients

½ cup butter

1 cup flour

¼ cup powdered sugar

Mix together – pat in 9” pan. Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool.

2 tbsp. lemon juice

1 grated lemon rind

2 eggs beaten

1 cup sugar

2 Tbsp flour

½ tsp. baking powder

Blend together ingredients, pour over baked crust. Bake 25 minutes at 350 degree. Cool.

Frosting

¾ cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp. butter

1 ½ tsp. milk

Mix well. Frost lemon bars.

About the Author

As human beings, we are always a work in progress. From birth to death we live, hurt, laugh, cry, feel, and with all of those emotions we grow as people, as family members, and as friends. I am a dreamer and feel blessed to have the opportunity in my writing to pass those dreams on to others. I believe you are never too old to dream and to turn those dreams into a creative endeavor. I live in rural Minnesota and I am a wife, mother, and grandmother.

I have worn many hats throughout my lifetime such as working as a waitress, nursing home activities, office manager and finally computer repair person eventually owning my own computer repair business. I never forgot my love of writing and quit my computer business in 2012 after signing a contract with Cozy Cat Press for Granny Hooks A Crook, the first book in my Fuchsia, Minnesota Series.

Adding four more books to the Fuchsia Series, adding a new Brilliant, Minnesota Series and writing a column for local newspapers feeds my writing creativity.

I also dabble a bit in watercolor painting and hope to eventually add pictures to my children’s book series, Granny’s In Trouble.

Oh, and did I tell you I like to be a little bit silly.

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Granny’s Facebook Page

Goodreads * Instagram * Pinterest * Amazon

 

Giveaway

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