Synopsis

 

An introverted horse-whisperer, a famous equine artist, and the mare who brings them together.

Tori Reynolds has never liked the term “breaking” horses to ride. Instead, she earns their trust, and can climb aboard a wild mustang the same day she meets it. Her farm, an historic bed and breakfast, sits along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan in the small town of St. Ives, and her life as a B&B owner and sought-after horse whisperer is pretty much perfect. Until a visit to New York City changes everything.

Matt Cheval is a handsome, nationally-known artist. When Tori steps into his Manhattan art show, she unexpectedly finds herself and her horse in his paintings. Angry and frightened, she is now faced with the memory of a day she has spent years trying to forget.

Tori flees back to the security of her farm and the comfort of her horse, but Matt follows to apologize for a wrong he isn’t sure he knows how to fix. Torn between anger and her growing feelings for Matt, she wonders if she has wrongly judged this sensitive artist. Maybe some wounds can be healed.

But when tragedy strikes, will their hope in the future, and their faith in God hold their relationship together? Or will they lose each other forever?

 

 

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound * Apple * Google

 

Praise

 

Pamela Gossiaux is fast becoming a major player in the realm of writing. She deserves the wards and attention that are bound to come her way!” – Grady Harp, Top 50 Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer

 

“If you are looking for a read to give you comfort, boost your faith, and make you remember how it feels to fall in love, this book is for you!”- Pamela Stewart, Amazon bestselling author

 

 

Trailer

 

 

 

 

 

Review

 

I’m always a sucker for a good romance novel.  To top it off, it has horses.  Ok, dogs are better in my book but horses are so majestic and to top it off, Hope, the horse in this book, is blind.  But that does not stop Hope from trusting Tori and that is something we can all learn from – trust.

The novel will appeal to anyone that enjoys a good romance, loves horses, and has a strong personal faith.  I enjoyed all (or almost all) of the characters and felt like each contributed to the story.  Tori and Matt are strong characters but have their weaknesses.  Tori’s is her relationship with her deceased husband.  I appreciated the steps she had to go through to resolve her issues and accept that there was nothing she really could have done to change the outcome.  Matt’s weakness doesn’t really make an appearance until near the end and his defeatist attitude towards events that occurred. I am purposely being vague so as to not spoil any part of the story.

While this story may be romantic and happy, there are some tense moments and even a time where I disliked Tori for her words and her actions.  Thankfully, she redeems herself and I realize the situation she was in when all of this happened was the driving force, but it was callous of her to say what she said to Matt.

I think that my favorite character is Phyllis.  She has seen a lot in her life and is able to guide Tori when she feels like all hope is lost.  Emma is my other favorite character because she embodies what a friend should look like.

I wanted to share this one passage because I felt like it brings all of the pieces of the story together and a happy ending for all.

“Separately, those blades of grass are weak, and if I tied one around my wrist, it might break. But when they are braided together, they become stronger. We are like that. You and me and God. Alone, you and I are weaker, and can only accomplish some things. But together, with God as the third strand strengthening us, we become stronger. We can hold up against much more.”

This is an enjoyable story and if you like romance, horses, and inspirational stories then you will enjoy this one.

We give this 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Pamela Gossiaux an international bestselling author and the author of the books Good Enough, The Russo Romantic Mysteries, Ordinary Girl, Why Is There a Lemon in My Fruit Salad? How to Stay Sweet When Life Turns Sour, and A Kid at Heart, as well as the highly praised Horses and Hearts inspirational romantic series.

An avid horse enthusiast, she enjoys being outdoors and working in her garden. She also loves chocolate and prefers to curl up with a good book in her downtime. Pamela lives on her horse farm in Michigan with her family and three cats.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Instagram * Pinterest * BookBub

 

 

What Momma Left Behind

 

by

 

Cindy K. Sproles

 

 

Christian Historical Fiction

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: June 2, 2020

Number of Pages: 256

 

 

 

 

Worie Dressar is seventeen years old when influenza and typhoid ravage her Appalachian Mountain community in 1877, leaving behind a growing number of orphaned children with no way to care for themselves. Worie’s mother has been secretly feeding a number of these little ones on Sourwood Mountain. But when she dies suddenly, Worie is left to figure out why and how she was caring for them.

 

Plagued with two good-for-nothing brothers—one greedy and the other a drunkard—Worie fights to save her home and the orphaned children now in her begrudging care. Along the way, she will discover the beauty of unconditional love and the power of forgiveness as she cares for all of Momma’s children.

 

Storyteller and popular speaker Cindy K. Sproles pens a tender novel full of sacrifice, heartache, and courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

 

 

Amazon • B & N • Baker Publishing

 

IndieBound • More Purchase Options

 

 

Praise

 

“Worie Dressar isn’t your typical heroine—she’s tough, she’s opinionated, and she’s loud. But at her core she wants to love and be loved—just like the rest of us. Cindy’s special talent is in telling about life the way it is—hard parts and all—while preserving the beauty and wonder of love shining through even the darkest night.” —Sarah Loudin Thomas, Christy Award-nominated author of Miracle in a Dry Season

“Seldom does a story move me to tears and encourage me to examine my life. A powerful story. Highly recommended.” —DiAnn Mills, author of Fatal Strike

“Cindy Sproles has a way of placing readers inside the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her ability to transport readers into her Appalachian adventures is nothing short of genius. Leaving us hanging on every word, Cindy writes with feeling and incredible historical knowledge. This book is a must-read!” —LaTan Murphy, writer, speaker, author of Courageous Women of the Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lately, I have really enjoyed reading books that are based on actual events from the past but are fiction in nature.  What Momma Left Behind takes a peek into life in the Appalachian Mountains in the late 1800s when illnesses such as typhoid and influenza were wiping out the population,  Living in the mountains, many were isolated from doctors and towns and the ability to receive medical attention was low.  Those on the mountain did what they could for each other and this story beautifully addresses the compassion given to the many orphans so that they may survive.

Worie Dressar is a complex character for just seventeen years old which is actually not surprising or uncommon for that time period.  Most young women and men were more mature and grew up faster during that time.  In fact, many were married by Worie’s age and might even already have several children.  Worie had dreams for her life that were shattered when she finds her mother dead.  But perhaps it just means a new path was forged for her without her knowledge.  I discovered this line within the book that sums up Worie to a T.

There it was – laid out on the mornin breeze.  I was selfish and judgemental. I was angry, stubborn, a tad hateful.

As I read this book, the admiration I felt for Worie grew.  She was not afraid to confront anyone, even when she should have tempered her words.  She stood up to anyone and everyone when protecting herself, her family, and the orphans she was taking care of at the time.  She fought for these children and keeping them together when others might want to split them apart for their “benefit.”  On the flip side, that strength was also her biggest weakness because she didn’t trust anyone.  She might have had a modicum of trust for Ely and Bess, but there were so many others that wanted to help her, she just needed to see past her pride and allow them into her life.

While the focus of the story is primarily on Worie, we also have interactions with her two brothers, Justice and Calvin, and these brothers are nothing alike.  Calvin is cruel to everyone and is only looking out for himself.  Justice is a little more compassionate but has his own demons to battle.  We also learn more about Momma through slips of paper left in a mason jar.  Her words of wisdom and the bits of her life that are revealed were a little shocking but also gave us greater insight into her character and why she took care of the other children that lost their parents.  That sort of compassion cannot be taught, it is inherent.

There are other characters that help round out the story and provide the help and guidance that Worie needs in this life.  After all, she is still young and has a lot to learn.  But how she adapts to taking her mother’s place in caring for the young children is admirable.  She doesn’t question taking care of anyone else and feels that it is her duty to ensure the children thrive but also understand what family means – it doesn’t necessarily mean it is who is related to you by blood, but anyone that cares about another.

Ultimately, this book is a story about trust, forgiveness, and love.  All three things that Worie exhibits and learns over the course of the novel.  It takes a lot of time because she is stubborn and sometimes those lessons have to be repeated over and over again.

Here are some of my favorite lines:

“Life ain’t easy in these mountains,” Momma would say. “When the messes happen, you swallow the ache and do what has to be done.”

“I ain’t nothin but a drunk.  But you, little lady. You are Momma made over, and that ain’t nothing but good.”

There was still more questions than answers, but a momma bird only feeds her babies a bite at a time. I reckon that was my bite.

“You understand, Worie, it ain’t your job to fix me. It’s your job to love me despite my downfalls.”

“if a man is to overcome something that has a hold on him, they has to be some trust.”

There was that word again. The same one Justice had give me, Trust. I thought trust was something you could find, but I’m seein it ain’t found – it’s gived.

If the good Lord wasn’t doin nothin else other than teachin me what it meant to trust, then I was the better for listenin.

I understood that forgiveness wasn’t for the other person.  It was for me. It was what the good Lord would use to set me free and help me make my own way.

Despite all them children had lost…there was laughter. It was a lesson I needed to learn.

 

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cindy K. Sproles is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries. An author, storyteller, and popular speaker, Cindy teaches at writers’ conferences across the country and directs the Asheville Christian Writers Conference in North Carolina. Editor of ChristianDevotions.us and managing editor for Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, Cindy has a BA in business and journalism and lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her family.

 

 

Website ║ Facebook  ║ Twitter ║ Goodreads

 

Instagram ║ Amazon Author Page ║ BookBub

 

 

 

 

 

 

————————————-

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS 

 

First Winner: Copy of What Momma Left Behind + $20 B&N Gift Card 

 

Second Winner: Copy of What Momma Left Behind + $5 Starbucks Gift Card 

 

Third Winner: Copy of What Momma Left Behind

 

 June 23-July 3, 2020

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily. 

Or, visit the blogs directly

 

6/23/20	Book Trailer	Texas Book Lover
6/23/20	Author Video	Hall Ways Blog
6/24/20	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
6/25/20	Author Interview	Reading by Moonlight
6/26/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
6/27/20	Excerpt	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
6/28/20	Author Interview	All the Ups and Downs
6/29/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
6/30/20	Excerpt	Jennifer Silverwood
7/1/20	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
7/2/20	Review	Forgotten Winds

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

When Graham Barnett named his diner The Tourist Trap, he meant it as a joke. Now he’s stuck slinging reindeer dogs to an endless string of resort visitors who couldn’t interest him less. Not even the sweet, enthusiastic tourist in the corner who blushes every time he looks her way…

Two weeks in Alaska isn’t just the top item on Zoey Caldwell’s bucket list. It’s the whole bucket. One look at the mountain town of Moose Springs and she’s smitten. But when an act of kindness brings Zoey into Graham’s world, she may just find there’s more to the man than meets the eye…and more to love in Moose Springs than just the Alaskan wilderness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CRACK THE CODE: 10 Proven Secrets that Motivate Healthy Behavior and Inspire Fulfillment in Men Over 50 by Louis Bezich

Category: Adult Non-fiction 18 yrs +, 302 pages

Genre: Men’s Health / geared towards Men Over 50

Publisher: Somo Press, LLC

Release date: November 2018

 

 

Synopsis

 

“Crack The Code” presents an unconventional, motivation-based approach to health for men 50 and over. Ten strategies for creating and maintaining inspiration for a healthy lifestyle are advanced from a platform of survey research, interviews and the author’s personal experiences. Primary audiences for the book are men over 50 and the people that love them; their wives, partners, children and grandchildren. Additional audiences include health care providers, insurers, policy makers, men of all ages who want to find motivation for healthy behavior and anyone who has struggled with their health.

Asserting that without motivation no diet, exercise program, technology or other strategy will produce sustained results, “Crack The Code” describes how healthy-living men, one of the most health-challenged segments of the American population, exhibit a strong cognitive association between their life’s priorities and their behaviors; a catalytic awareness in which men often integrate their valued relationships into their health behaviors (they take walks with their wife). What the author terms Male Cognitive Behavioral Alignment. The secret sauce of male motivation outlined in the book is derived from a nationwide survey of 1,000 healthy-living men. “Crack The Code” translates the findings into strategies and tactics with actionable exercises.

Personal stories from interviews and focus groups add practical insights and emotion that engages readers. A discussion of relevant theories from psychology, management science and the fields of decision making and behavior change anchor the model in a context of well-established thinking. “Crack The Code” concludes with a call to action for a new culture of men’s health, outlining a confluence of social, economic and political factors in the US and beyond that represent a tipping point where healthy behavior among 50 plus men will become the new norm. Crack The Code’s focus on motivation and the psycho-social underpinnings of behavior fills a gap in a market dominated by publications on traditional diet and exercise. By digging deeper and using everyday men as a source, “Crack The Code” breaks new ground for a burgeoning segment of the baby-boomer population that is in desperate need of help. The potential to influence men of other ages as well as health care providers, insurers and policy makers, creates a tremendously valuable read.

 

 

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ IndieBound

 

Guest Post

 

Behavioral Activities That Help You Reach Your Goal

 

I love my morning routine. It’s my personal time to reflect on the day ahead and get my exercise. It makes me feel great and gets me ready for what lies ahead every day. During the week, I typically awake at 4 a.m., enjoy a cup of coffee, and shave. While I’m shaving, I’ll contemplate the day ahead, what I need to accomplish, and what’s outstanding, or particularly challenging. I’ll quickly check my overnight email and perhaps add some items to my daily to-do list (another habit that keeps my life in order).

As you might guess, I’m the only one up at this hour. The stillness of the house is peaceful and provides me with a clarity of thought that helps me prepare for the day ahead.

By about 10 minutes to five, I’m on my way to the gym, which is only five minutes away (an important factor). My rhythm stems from a schedule of weight training on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and cardio workouts on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I particularly like the cardio days for the good sweat. While running, I’ll usually think about the day ahead and use the challenges of the upcoming day to power my run on the treadmill. By 6:00 a.m., I’m on my drive home, stopping to pick up some oatmeal, which I eat while I’m reading my three newspapers (two local and the Wall Street Journal). After a shower, it’s off to the office. My day is officially underway.

As you can see, there’s nothing terribly glamorous here. That’s the point of rituals, and what I heard from the men I interviewed reinforced it. While we all have the “big ticket” milestone activities (i.e., the trips to Europe I took with family in 2000 and 2013) that motivate us to maintain our health, but in large measure I find that it’s those small day-to-day actions that have the most impact on sustaining behavior and providing inspiration and accomplishment. In my case, six days a week, I have an opportunity to check off a box on my list of personal objectives. Being able to check that box, even mentally, is one small way that I contribute to the larger goal and physically feeling good in the process. You get it.

Do I sometimes miss my morning routine? Absolutely, if I’m not in bed by 9:30 p.m. (preferably nine o’clock) then 4 a.m. doesn’t work. So, a late meeting or other commitment can get me out of rhythm and feeling just a little “off” that day. Nevertheless, having institutionalized the practice, my body wants to get back in rhythm the next day, which I’m typically able to do. As much as humanly possible, the morning routine carries on during vacations and business trips. I may waive the 4 a.m. wake-up call for a later hour, but I generally maintain the basic exercise and diet regimen when I’m on the road.

 

An excerpt from CRACK THE CODE: 10 Proven Secrets that Motivate Healthy Behavior and Inspire Fulfillment in Men Over 50 by Louis Bezich

 

Trailer

 

About the Author

 

An executive for over 40 years in the public and private sectors, Louis Bezich currently serves as a Senior Vice-President with a major health care system. He is an adjunct professor in the Graduate Department of Public Policy and Administration at the Camden Campus of Rutgers University and sits on various public, non-profit and corporate boards. Bezich has published numerous articles in the field of public administration and health and is a contributing author to Corporate Lawbreaking and Interactive Compliance, edited by Jay A. Sigler and Joseph E. Murphy. He holds a master’s degree in public policy from Rutgers University, a bachelor’s degree in social science from the University of Tampa and is a graduate of Harvard University’s Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.

 

Website  ~  Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

 

 

Giveaway

 

Prizes: ​ One of Four $25 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Louis Bezich, author of CRACK THE CODE (ends May 1)

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

In October 1939, Albert Einstein warns President Franklin D. Roosevelt that Nazi Germany is actively pursuing an atomic bomb and urges him to make sure that the United States develops the bomb first. Roosevelt heeds the warning and launches the “Manhattan Project” in June 1942.

In October 1942, Roosevelt tells Einstein that prudence calls for the U.S. to have a back-up plan to the Manhattan Project in case Hitler gets the bomb first. Roosevelt commissions Einstein to secretly construct a usable time travel machine code named the “White Hole Project.”

In June 1974, an adventurous group of teenage friends, who call themselves the “Bad Love Gang,” discover a tunnel leading to the White Hole Project. They learn how to use the time machine and become the first known humans to travel back in time and return. Their mission is to save Jews and Gypsies from the Holocaust in November 1944 by using a U.S. Air Force B-17 bomber that was known as “The Phantom Fortress.”

 

 

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Trailer

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

On this Wednesday night in June 1942, something happened that forever changed the course of history for Indian Spring Airfield in the remote southwestern Nevada desert.

As they all approached within a couple hundred yards of the site, it became apparent that this was not a plane crash.

What Bucky and his small team of enlisted soldiers were looking at from one hundred yards away was a metallic-appearing space craft that glowed white, and the blue tint was emanating from the material that was leaking or extruding from breaches in the hull due to the crash damage.

He was more excited to discover the truth than afraid for his own safety.

Everything began to change at Indian Springs Airfield as the reality of the alien spaceship cash began to sink in.

One day before the alien ship crashed at Area 51 (AKA Groom Dry Lake, or Indian Springs Airfield) on June 16, 1942, Roosevelt had approved the all-out effort for the U.S. to be the first country to build the atomic bomb.

What has not been known until recently was that there was a separate, even more secretive project running parallel to the Manhattan Project, one that far fewer people knew even existed.

I happen to believe that time travel in the wrong hands could be far more devastating to world history and mankind than atomic weaponry.

I saw a sign with the phrase The White Hole. My heart jumped in my chest and time stood still; my life would never be the same again.

We set out to learn about the secrets of the White Hole and this marvelous time machine, how it worked, and what we could do with this life-changing discovery.

The more I read about the Holocaust, the more it haunted me.

“This whole White Hole Project is a time travel machine that was designed as a backup plan to the Manhattan Project.”

Being from Oak Ridge, all of us knew about the Manhattan Project, and had since we were very young.

This will be an adventure above and beyond any movie or science fiction novel any of us have seen or read, only this is big, real, and bad!

A virtually brand-new Eighth Air Force B-17G Flying Fortress named Bad Love, on its third mission ever, hijacked and commandeered by the Bad Love Gang, was about to bomb a Nazi German oil refinery.

It’s time to stand and deliver! Let’s see if our grand plan will sink or swim.

Our take off into the destiny of time travel in a WWII B-17 named Bad Love…

I already knew that we were going to have to shoot our way out of here.

What happened next was one of those moments of hope and destiny that defy gravity.

When we discovered time travel, we made it our first mission to save some Holocaust souls from certain death.

From my perspective and that of the other fourteen-time travelers, the time travel process in no way matched what Hollywood or television shows had made it out to be. It was a totally different experience!

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

 

 

Kevin L. Schewe, MD, FACRO is a board-certified cancer specialist who has been in the private practice of radiation oncology for 32+ years. He is an entrepreneur, having founded Elite Therapeutics and Bad Love Cosmetics Company, LLC. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of a small, publicly-traded, renewable, green energy and animal feed company called VIASPACE, Inc. Bad Love Strikes is his debut novel.

 

Website * Instagram * Twitter * Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

Movie Synopsis

Gabriel Ngandu is a young Congolese revolutionary running from the terrible mistakes of his past. His journey of escape leads him to new experiences and even a new religion that challenges long-held beliefs about his destiny and world around him. He find himself torn between the influences and expectations of two very different father figures- Mwabila, his revolutionary leader, and President Kabasubabu, his new religious leader. Called to serve as a missionary, he is sent back to his native village to build an orphanage with Jason Martin, an American who also has a tragic and secret past. Together, they struggle to understand and overcome their histories, cultures, and prejudices to serve the people around them.

Caught between enmity and reconciliation, revenge or forgiveness, intolerance or understanding, they begin to see the potential for a better; more peaceful future for themselves and for the Congo. Worlds finally collide when explosions rock the new orphanage and Kabasubabu is kidnapped by Mwabila’s revolutionaries. Gabriel is faced with choosing between the two different worlds of these father figures… or finding his own path toward a new world inspired by understanding and redemption.

 

Learn more about the movie here

 

 

 

Trailer

 

 

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Synopsis

From the creator of the Jersey Devil comic book comes a story about four cousins cursed by their ancestors, brought together by destiny and trying to keep South Jersey from going to Hell.

In 1732, Mother Leeds gave birth to the infamous Jersey Devil, which has roamed the Pine Barrens ever since.

Or so the story goes…

The truth is, Mother Leeds was a witch and opened the portals to Hell unleashing hundreds of devils into woods. But the villagers next door in Abe’s Hat noticed and formed a secret hunting society to track down the fiends and send them back to the Abyss. Their descendants continue the Hunt in secret to this day.

So grab your pork roll, put on your Piney Power hat and join the hunt, because the Galloway cousins are coming to save you whether you like it or not.

 

 

 

About the Author

Tony DiGerolamo is a New Jersey screenwriter, novelist, comic book writer, game designer, and comedian. He is best known for his work on The Simpsons and Bart Simpson comic books. He has also been a joke writer for Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, a scriptwriter for Space Ghost: Coast to Coast and a blogger for Comedy Central’s Indecision website. He has written the screenplays including Mafioso: The Father, The Son starring Leo Rossi. His novels, Fix in Overtime and The Undercover Dragon are available through Padwolf Publishing. After publishing his own comic books ( Jersey Devil, The Travelers, and The Fix) with SJRP, he eventually got a publishing deal with Kenzer & Company. Kenzer published The Travelers. Tony also wrote Everknights (another Kenzer comic book), as well as the Hacklopedia of Beasts (Volumes 1 thru 8) and Slaughterhouse Indigo (an adventure for the Hackmaster RPG). He also adapted Mark Twain’s Personal Reflections of Joan of Arc for Campfire. Performing in the Philly comedy scene for over ten years, Tony performed and directed such improv groups as Next Line Improv, The Cabal, The Ninjas and Bulletproof Giraffe.

Besides writing for various comedy websites, he had a long running comics review column in Knights of the Dinner Table magazine. He was the marketing director for comics publisher, Silent Devil. He is creator of Tony DiGerolamo’s Complete Mafia for d20, creator/biographer for the online webcomic, Super Frat, the co-creator of the Webcomic Factory and writer for the over two dozen webcomics on the Webcomic Factory site including Lester Crenshaw is Dead, Miserable Comedians and Weird Biker Tales. Look for his book, F*ck You, I’m Italian: Why We Italians Are Awesome, from Ulysses Press. He recently finished a political satire, Wokeistan: A Novel, with Christian Beranek. His current project is a comedy/horror novella series about the hunters of the Jersey Devil called The Pineys.

 

The Webcomic Factory * Super Frat * YouTube * Bitchute Channel

Brighteon Channel * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

 

 

The Nutcracker Conspiracy (A Thorny Rose Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr

Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 388 pages

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Acorn Book Services

Release date: January 30, 2020

 

Synopsis

Three years ago, the nation gasped in horror when the President of the United States barely escaped an assassination attempt that left two dead—the vice president’s wife and the attempted assassin. Even after numerous investigations proved otherwise, conspiracy theorists argue that the assassin was acting on orders from the CIA, FBI, and every federal agency within a hundred miles of the capital.

Aspiring Author Dean Conway is the last person Lieutenant Commander Murphy Thornton wants to spend his Saturday afternoon when they end up at the same wedding reception table. While their wives tend to bridesmaid duties, Murphy is trapped listening to Dean’s latest work-in-project—completing the manuscript of an investigative journalist who’d disappeared months earlier.

“She was number twelve,” Dean says.

“Twelve?” Murphy asks.

“Twelve witnesses connected to or investigating The Nutcracker shooting have died either in an accident or suicide.”

Two days later, Dean dies suddenly―but not before sending a text message to Murphy:

“13”

 

 

Pre-Order Your Copy Today!

Scheduled release date is Jan 30, 2020!

 

Trailer

 

 

Interview with Lauren Carr

 

Today I’m excited to have Lauren Carr here today sharing some insights into her books, characters, and what her life has been like since taking over a blog tour company.  I’m tired just thinking about her schedule!  Thanks for stopping by Lauren.

 

Can you share a bit about your journey to becoming a writer/published author? Looking back at your childhood were there any early signs you would become an author?

 

I was making up stories since I could talk. My mother used to marvel at my imagination. Also, I was one of those kids who had an imaginary friend. His name was Sam. I remember him. I would tell him stories. I was telling stories to the dogs. When I would read books, a love I inherited from my mother, I would rewrite them. I’d turn The Bobbsey Twins mysteries into stories about a kidnapping.

I believe writers are born writers. It is something you are born with. You can always spot a writer. When you ask a “normal” person how their day is going, they will say, “Fine.” But when you ask a writer, they’ll set up the scene and characters, and give you a blow by blow about their day.

 

Where do you find inspiration for your storylines? For the characters you create? What kind of research do you do to help with the details?

 

I can get inspiration from anywhere. I confess, I watch a lot of true crime shows to get inspiration from actual murder cases. Forensics Files. Even fiction shows. I use them as a jumping off point.

Even though my books are character driven, the murder mystery always comes first. Since I write a number of different series, I then have to decide which series is a better fit for the mystery. For example, the mystery in The Nutcracker Conspiracy had to go to the Thorny Rose series because that series is placed in the Nation’s Capital. There was no way I could have placed a conspiracy involving an attempted assassination on the president in the resort town of Deep Creek Lake.

I’ll get a germ of an idea and bounce it off other writers. Then I will think on it while working on other things. Sometimes I’ll think about a storyline for weeks, or months, or even years. The plotline for my next work in progress, the next Mac Faraday, is one that I have turned over in my mind for more than a year.

I’ve been asked if I write down story ideas. The answer is no. Someone once asked Stephen King that. He said that if he wrote down his ideas, he would have a journal of bad ideas. I have found that to be true.

The good plotlines will stick with you. I’ve been inspired with what I thought was a great idea only to have it fade away and disappear. That’s why I don’t’ start writing a book until I have everything sorted out in my head.

 

How does the writing process work for you? Do you schedule a time every day, work madly when inspiration hits or ?

 

I make time for writing. I love to write, and it is something that I look forward to every day. Since I took over iRead Book Tours, that is basically my day job. Writing is my escape. I dive into the world of my characters and shut everything else out.

I’ve worked with a number of writers and I tell them that if you want to be an author, you need to make time for your writing. There are always going to be chores and family and duties and jobs that can fill up your time until you find you have no time left to write. Granted, if you have a full-time job and a family, there will be things that you have to take care of. But there are also time thieves that will eat up time that you could otherwise spend writing. I cut out television. Time in the evening that others would be watching television shows, I spend working on my next book.

 

As an author – what do you enjoy most about the writing process? What feels like a chore?

 

Working out the murder case. Figuring out the entire plotline of how the murder was committed and then how my detectives solve the case—that I enjoy the most. I also enjoy editing the book. I know that sounds weird, but when I read through it after having written it and seeing everything coming to life is a kick.

The chore is getting the words on the page after I have put everything together. I enjoy writing the first half of the book because at that point, everything is still coming together. But by the time I reach the last half, the book is written in my mind. It’s done for me. Then, I still have to type the words out on the page and that is a chore. Sometimes, I feel like my own typist.

 

What’s next for you as an author? Do you have any new books in the planning or writing stage?

 

The next Mac Faraday mystery! This is book fourteen—Came Upon a Midnight Murder. This will be released this summer. It will have a Christmas theme to it. So look for Christmas in July—or June. We’ll see.

 

 

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Thorny Rose, Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries—over twenty titles across four fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram

 

 

Giveaway

Prizes: ​ $50 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Lauren Carr, author of THE NUTCRACKER CONSPIRACY (ends March 6)

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Beyond the Horizon

by

Ella Carey

 

Historical Fiction / Friendship

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Date of Publication: October 15, 2019

Number of Pages: 326

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

 

From the author of The House by the Lake comes a powerful novel of friendship during World War II, fighting for the truth, and making peace with the past.

At the height of World War II, Eva Scott’s dream comes true. Accepted into the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), she leaves balmy California and the man she loves for grueling training in Texas, ultimately landing at formidable Camp Davis in North Carolina.

Vastly outnumbered by men and amid contempt, discrimination, and sabotage, Eva and her closest friends, the unconventional Nina and straight-laced Helena, remain loyal to their mission and to each other. They stay focused on the horizon, determined to prove themselves capable women pilots. Until a fatal mission sends Eva’s dream crashing to earth . . .

Now, decades later, is it possible to discover the truth about the night that changed her life? Is there any hope she’ll recover all that she’s lost? When Eva finds herself embroiled in the fight to get military recognition for the WASP, she’s forced to confront the past and to make a decision that could forever change her future.

Thrilling and inspiring, Beyond the Horizon is a portrait of love, friendship, and valor in a time of war—and a tribute to the brave women who risked their lives for their country.

 

 

Praise

“With snappy dialogue, impressive historical details, a sense of adventure and courage on every page, and even a love story, Ella Carey has hit all the markers that make fine historical fiction.” —Ann Howard Creel, bestselling author of The Whiskey Sea

“Fans of inspirational World War II fiction will cheer on Eva and her fellow pilots as they chase their dreams, endure heartbreak, and discover their true strength. Carey’s evocative descriptions bring home the exhilaration of flight—and the everyday indignities endured by young women who challenged the expectations of their time. The story’s final twist makes for a surprising and moving conclusion.” —Elizabeth Blackwell, author of On a Cold Dark Sea and In the Shadow of Lakecrest

“A moving, beautifully written novel about the amazing WASP during WWII. True to life and packed full of emotion. I thoroughly enjoyed feeling like I was one of these extraordinary women pilots as I read the story.” —Soraya M. Lane, Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Girls of Pearl Harbor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is so much in history that I don’t know and this book brings to light another aspect of WWII, the female pilots in the US that helped support our military troops.  I’m talking about WASP – Women Airforce Service Pilots.  This group of women did things to assist the military in training the men for combat – like pulling targets in the air for men to shoot at to perfect their aim.  That takes some guts to be willing to drag a target and be shot at in the air!

While this book is fiction it is based on real places and events. This enabled me to learn more while enjoying the story about a band of women that forged a bond over planes and their love of flying.  These women endured many hardships during their five month training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater Texas, but it made them stronger both physically and mentally.

The story opens in 1977 at a farmer’s market and Eva’s son rushes up to her informing her that someone is trying to get the WASP recognized as part of the military for everything they did during the war.  This simple action brings back some memories for Eva but not many as we learn she was in a horrible accident which wiped that event from her memory.  Eva’s story unfolds as she decides to assist by testifying in front of Congress about her time in the WASP.  Each chapter opens with a question from Congress followed by Eva’s response.  If you have ever listened to inquiries by a congressional committee, they are very dry and sometimes you have to wonder if someone thought about the question before asking.  We are then brought back in time as events unfolded in Sweetwater, California, and North Carolina over the span of about a year and followed a small band of women – Eva, Nina, Rita, and Helena as the primary group.  We follow their lives, the rough conditions they endured while training, the lack of respect from many men, the fear of washing out from the slightest impropriety, to the success of earning their wings at the end of the training.

Eva is the main focus of the story, and for a woman in the 1940s, she is progressive thanks to the influence of her father.  Her mother is fairly typical of the time and only wants to see Eva married with children.  Thankfully, Eva’s dreams a bigger and brighter.  Eva’s mom was annoying at times, but that is my perception based on being born and raised decades later.  Eva has two close friends, Harry and Nina.  Harry works with Eva at the Lockheed facility and teaches her to fly, including some intense training once she is accepted as a WASP.  Harry is also Eva’s first love but unfortunately he doesn’t see her in the same light.  Nina has the same dream as Eva, to fly through the skies.  Both women feel a sense of peace when up in the clouds.  Being accepted to the WASP program is a way for Eva and Nina to spread their wings beyond their community in Burbank CA.

I was enraptured by this story from beginning to end. The intertwining of stories from the past to the present, the joy and heartbreak that the characters endure.  There were some surprising twists and turns that caught me by surprise and Eva too since it affected her life.  Because many of these happened near the end I won’t go into detail since some of it is spoilers.  But suffice it to say that I wondered about the motivation of some of the characters, especially Jack who Eva eventually marries.

There were a few lines that stood out to me while reading that I feel captured the essence of the story the author is telling.

“Mom, Dad, have you ever experienced a true taste of freedom?  Have you ever known what it feels like to soar, high over the land? Its as if nothing matters when you are up there.  It’s as damned close to infinity as you can get.”

“Ever since Meg died, I feel like I’ve been just existing.  Pushing one foot after the other.  Nothing feels alive anymore.  But when I’m up in the sky with you….”

“It’s an opportunity that women of my generation would never have had.  That’s why I say it’s doubly important.”

“The freedom to fly and be paid for it.  The chance to contribute in a real way to our country and to the war.”

“We need to keep today with us.  Always. We need to remember the women who dies flying for the WASP. We must not pretend our time as WASP never happened.”

“The gavel came down on the WASP bill, and the House of Representatives moved straight on to the next matter in two seconds flat.”       

 

This is a story for anyone that loves to fly or enjoys learning about WWII history.  I learned a lot and enjoyed the author’s notes at the end that told about her personal connection and interest in this subject.  We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

Ella Carey is the international bestselling author of The Things We Don’t Say, Secret Shores, From a Paris Balcony, The House by the Lake, and Paris Time Capsule. Her books have been published in over fourteen countries, in twelve languages. Her sixth novel is Beyond The Horizon, set around the Women Air Force Service Pilots during World War Two.

Ella is incredibly excited to share this book with her readers, as her mother was a W.A.A.A.F during World War Two, and her father was in the R.A.F, flying airplanes over occupied France. Ella travelled to Sweetwater, Texas, to research the novel, and is grateful to Ann Hobing, the then Executive Director of the WASP museum for sharing her wonderful knowledge of the WASP. Ella also worked with two pilots to craft the flight scenes.

Ella loves to connect with her readers For more information on the background to her novels and updates about her next release, and to contact her about appearances at your local book club, please visit her website.

Website ║ Facebook  ║ Goodreads

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————————————-

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THREE PAPERBACK COPIES OF BEYOND THE HORIZON

OCTOBER 17-27, 2019

(U.S. Only)

 

 

 

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Check out the other blogs on this tour

10/17/19	Promo	Texas Book Lover
10/17/19	Promo	Hall Ways Blog
10/18/19	Review	Sydney Young, Stories
10/19/19	Excerpt	Forgotten Winds
10/20/19	Review	Bibliotica
10/21/19	Character Interview	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
10/21/19	Excerpt	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/22/19	Guest Post	Nerd Narration
10/23/19	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
10/23/19	Review	Book Fidelity
10/24/19	Excerpt	That’s What She’s Reading
10/24/19	Scrapbook	All the Ups and Downs
10/25/19	Review	Reading by Moonlight
10/26/19	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
10/26/19	Review	The Clueless Gent

 

 

 

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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?

 

 

IndieBound * Amazon * B&N

 

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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