Synopsis

 

The Sheehy witches are the most feared and detested family on the island of Inisliath, and none more so than Rowan.

As a deathwalker, Rowan ferries island souls to the Otherworld, experiencing their deaths and carrying their memories like ghosts within him. It’s a fated role he accepts even as it inexorably destroys him.

When the magic on the island starts to seep away from the other founding families, everyone blames the Sheehys—especially when islanders start dying.

Ash is sick of their father’s fists and constantly having to apologize for who they are. Life on Inisliath might be the fresh start Ash and their mum need, and meeting soft-spoken, curly-haired Rowan feels like the ray of sunshine Ash has desperately needed—but everything goes sideways when Ash’s mum becomes lead detective on a series of ritualistic murders allegedly tied to island magic, and Ash’s family history.

The islanders are convinced Rowan is guilty, but Ash refuses to believe it. When Ash does some investigating of their own, they discover Rowan is far more likely to be the next victim. With time running out to save Rowan, Ash will have to choose between a life free of their father or the boy they’re starting to love. Meanwhile, Rowan will have to decide just how much he’s willing to sacrifice to save his family from the darkness about to be unleashed on the island.

 

 

 

This book will be released in September 2021 – Add the book to your TBR pile!

 

 

Excerpt

 

Rowan

 

My sisters danced in the waves as I bled on the shore.

Their hair unspooled in the wind; their hands lifted toward the moon hanging like a scythe above the black ocean. They raised their voices, the spell harmonized in four parts, and I felt its pull.

The ghosts within me joined in the chorus, every soul shard ululating to the bruised night and fading stars. I let them sing; I was powerless to stop them. Instead, I closed my eyes, feeling the familiar thrum of the departed within my bones as my sisters chanted in the old tongue, the language of the tamed gods from whom we claimed our power.

Salt stung the wounds cut across my forearms by each of my sisters’ blades. Four fresh lines gouged between old scars. I knelt on the sand turning red beneath my knees and let the water take what it would of me.

My sisters’ song rose in pitch and volume, their voices straining, beseeching the waves to accept this offering from my veins. Ribbons of light rippled through the foam, darting toward their naked bodies as they spun and splashed.

The waves lapped hungrily at my blood, soaking my jeans, icy fingers in my skin. A final pull, as if I were being dragged below by a rip current, swallowed by the sea, and my sisters gasped as one.

My ghosts fell silent, spent.

Dawn slashed its talons across the horizon sending gold and vermilion bleeding through the shredded clouds, and in the light, my sisters’ hair turned to flames, each an inferno circling a delicate face.

The spell complete, they dragged their limbs made heavy with renewed power from the waves and pulled clothes over sticky skin.

“Thank you,” Iona said as she removed bandages from her satchel. She bound my arms as the others toweled their hair and gathered their blades. “See you back at the house?”

I nodded.

“You’ll be all right?” She cast a glance toward the cliffs at my back, their shadow receding from the sand but never from my heart, or what was left of it.

“Aye, I’ll be fine. Just need a minute.”

Iona patted my shoulder as I gingerly rolled down my sleeves.

I heard them leave, clambering along the pebble-strewn path that zig-zagged up the cliffs, but kept my gaze on the ocean. The tide was coming in, the waves thundering against the rocky arms extending in a deadly embrace from either side of the cove.

Cold and drained, I retreated from the waves racing higher along the beach and dusted the sand from my jeans, stiff with salt.

Having pulled on my boots, I started the steep climb, my legs weak, and my arms still numb from the spell. With my sisters gone and their magic dissipating, the birds returned, screeching their greetings to the dawn as they whirled above the black rock.

At the top of the cliff, I whistled for Auryn. She came at once, trotting through the meadow with a mouthful of dewy grass. She followed me as I traced a path along the edge of the cliff. I couldn’t help it, as if an invisible hook had caught within my sinews, reeling me back to this same spot every time I drew near.

Years of storms had washed the stone clean, but I didn’t need to see the stain to know the place my heart had beat its last. The breath caught in my lungs like wool tangled in a brier. Auryn nudged my shoulder, huffing sweet breath in my face.

Taking hold of her mane, I leapt onto her back, letting her carry me away from memories of death as it began to rain.

 

 

About the Author

 

Climber, tattoo-enthusiast, peanut-butter addict, and loyal shibe-minion, Xan van Rooyen is a genderqueer, non-binary storyteller from South Africa, currently living in Finland where the heavy metal is soothing and the cold, dark forests inspiring. Xan has a Master’s degree in music, and–when not teaching–enjoys conjuring strange worlds and creating quirky characters. You can find Xan’s short stories in the likes of Three-Lobed Burning Eye, Daily Science Fiction, and The Colored Lens among others. Xan hangs out on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook so feel free to say hi over there.

 

Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

An incendiary and utterly compelling thriller with a shocking twist that delves deep into the heart of institutionalized racism, from an exceptional new YA voice. Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now. Because anonymous texter, Aces, is bringing two students’ dark secrets to light. Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can’t escape the spotlight when his private photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn’t afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power. Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they’re planning much more than a high-school game…

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Indiebound

 

If you have triggers when reading a book, please check out the list of content warnings

 

Check out the trailer on the author’s Twitter account

 

 

Review

 

I was not expecting the twists that this book provides the reader and it kept me glued to the pages wanting to know who was involved, why, and how would it all turn out.

Devon and Chiamaka are the only two black students at this private academy and they have both been chosen as prefects their senior year. What they don’t expect is for their world to start falling apart without any clue as to who or by whom. The answer will surprise you.

This YA novel includes many topics including racism, LGBTQ, death, drugs, sexuality, and so much more. But all of these topics wind together to create an amazing tale that will appeal to many different readers. The chapters alternate between Devon and Chiamaka’s point of view and it provides the reader with different views of the same situation. We also see how these two characters handle the situation at hand and if their upbringing plays a part in their decisions. Chiamaka is from a family of wealth while Devon is at the academy on a scholarship, this means they handle situations quite differently but it plays to their advantage in the end.

The tension builds as the story progresses, but the real excitement is in the last 10% as everything comes to a head. There are so many things that are unbelievable, but believable at the same time. I think my jaw might have dropped a few times in disbelief. But sadly, I’m sure much of this can still be found across the world and that saddens me in how we have progressed over time in our thoughts and actions of other people no matter their background.

This thriller will definitely keep you on your toes. The epilogue is wonderful and the last line of the book?  Oh my! Things do come full circle.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

 

Asbury High and the Kidnapper’s Drive: Asbury High Series
Young Adult Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher: Purple Milk Publishing (February 6, 2021)
Paperback: 383 pages

 

Synopsis

 

On a quiet summer night, in the peaceful seaside town of Asbury, a local girl is kidnapped from her home.

That very same day, a car thief is chased through an empty car lot, narrowly escaping from their teenage pursuer.

Can the two be connected?

Once again, it’s up to Asbury’s favorite, fearless foursome to find out.

Carly, Maddie, Pilot and Cornelious enter the summer before their junior year ready for normalcy. After a few weeks of calm, it seems that Carly may finally have the drama-free summer of her dreams—other than her boyfriend returning from his two-week vacation hotter than ever, drawing interest from her peers.

Just as Asbury is lulled into a sense of serenity, tragedy strikes when a local six-year-old is kidnapped from her home…with no sign of a break-in, no ransom, and no reason. While the town is desperate to find the missing girl, car parts from Maddie’s father’s shop suddenly go missing, and the gang begins to wonder if the two are connected. With little faith in law enforcement, and prodding from Maddie’s younger siblings, the gang finds themselves at the center of the investigation.

Unfortunately, solving both cases isn’t so easy, as the gang must work around the continually growing criminal enterprise of the Pitbulls, the constant construction occurring around town from Governor Gibbz’s Grant, as well as their changing feelings towards each other. When Maddie and Cornelious begin to sense their friendship might be more than what they realize, jealousies arise as the teens garner attention from others.

With all these distractions, can the foursome save the missing girl and figure out who is stealing from Petrozza Auto?

Asbury High and the Kidnapper’s Drive is the fourth book in a thrilling young adult cozy mystery series, that fans of Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys and Scooby Doo will love.

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

Today we have Carly here to tell us a little bit about herself. Take it away Carly!

 

How you take care of yourself/practice self-care?—Carly Cosentino

 

Hi!

So as the only member of the gang who actually cares what they look like, and also knows how feeling good can positively affect your daily outlook, I’ve decided to share how I take care of myself.

Basically, my daily regimen of positivity.

Living in Asbury, where its more of a summer boom town than anything, I’ve learned the importance of taking time for myself. And with my three besties (yes, including my adorably awesome boyfriend, Pilot Owens), that also means being mentally and physically ready to spring into action. For some reason, mysteries are attracted to us like flies.

You can’t just swat them away either. I’ve tried.

Anyway, don’t let me forget I’m also a Cheer Captain of my high school squad—which means my arm strength and core is killer, so I’m usually ready to go (although I like to use physical strength as a last option, as opposed to my friends…they’re brutes!).

To begin my day, after ensuring a full eight hours sleep—don’t downplay the importance of sleep, I highly doubt the business moguls and billionaires of the world who claim they sleep two hours are telling the truth. Sleep is vitally important! Now, where was I…Oh yeah! After doing my best to ensure a full eight hours, I have an alarm set to wake me up to whatever song I’m currently obsessed with. I find that’s a good and fun way to pull me out of bed (especially on test or project presentation day).

After rising from bed, I spend the next ten minutes doing some light yoga stretches and mindful meditation. I’m a huge believer of yoga as it helps me set my goals for the day.

Wrapping up the yoga, I head to my bathroom and jump into the shower and continue my hair and face wash regimen. After drying off, I take a moment to add moisturizer with SPF onto my face and neck (if you plan to copy this, please DON’T FORGET YOUR NECK! I mean, you don’t want to have a nice face and then a gobbly chicken wrinkly neck, do you?!).

After choosing my outfit for the day—depending on the mood, or what shenanigans I’m likely to get up to—I then brush my hair and, more often than not, utilize my favorite red tie-back headband here. It’s from my grandmother and I try not to go anywhere without it. Even on the days where my hair looks flawless down, with no accessories needed. Because you can also bet those are the days that Maddie drags us into some dangerous mystery…

Next, I apply some mascara and sometimes light eyeliner. I’m lucky to have pretty blue eyes, so I feel like I don’t need too much eye makeup. Or at least I think so, and Pilot agrees.

Because I’m a teenage girl and life’s not always fair, I do need to occasionally put on some light coverup over problem areas, but the face wash and moisturizing routine does wonders to minimize that, so I feel fortunate there.

Before I leave my oasis of a bedroom for the day, I take a moment to look over my vision board (I make one each year) and scan over the images that I hope will soon come to fruition. I’m a big believer in goals and visions, as you can tell.

After eating some breakfast, always fruit and a protein shake, sometimes more (my mom is the world’s best baker—well, besides Heidi over at Heidi’s Hub in town), I head over to school.

Practicing self-care is not as easy when I get to school. It is high school after all, and let’s be real, I do love gossip. However, I do my best to get to the truth and not spread things that likely aren’t true. And if it’s mean, then that piece of gossip ends with me.

Anyway, the only way to practice self-care in school, at least for me, is to do my best to focus on my teacher’s lessons and try to have fun too. Life’s too short to be too serious.

On good days, I’ll have cheerleading practice, which is a great release of energy.

Keeping me happy and sane, are my three besties, Cornelious, Maddie and Pilot. We tend to meet at Brady’s to catch up, laugh and yes, solve crime.

When I do get home, I make sure to eat dinner, sometimes a snack (never go to bed hungry, if you don’t have to. Too many unfortunate people on this Earth have no choice here, so appreciate your life people!).

After showering, remoisturizing, and reflecting on my day, I’ll call Pilot, and talk to him. Sometimes even until one of us fall asleep (not gonna lie, it’s always me who falls asleep first)!

And that’s a day of self-care. To sum it up, respect yourself and others, and please, don’t take yourself too seriously! Remember to smile, laugh and enjoy your life!

 

 

About the Author

 

For as long as she could remember, Kelly Brady Channick loved making up stories and leaving her listeners/readers on the edge of their seats.

Perhaps that’s why she always managed to talk herself out of trouble…

After graduating from NJ’s own Ocean City High School, Kelly accepted a basketball scholarship to Holy Family University, in Philadelphia. As a lifelong athlete, Kelly understands the importance of teamwork and overcoming adversity, something she hopes translates into her books.

Before writing page-turners, she taught first, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade — like a dessert menu, she simply had to test them all out. But her favorite job is the one she’s now doing full time: writing. Kelly loves to craft whodunit mysteries, leading readers through various twists and turns filled with red-herrings, hidden clues, and more peculiar characters than a reality show.

Kelly lives in South Jersey with her handsome husband, energetic baby boy, two cookie-stealing dogs, and an awfully smart cat.

 

Goodreads * Facebook * Website * Instagram * Amazon

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

Title: THE MYSTERY AT TURKELTON MANOR

Author: Kraig Dafoe

Publisher: Independent

Pages: 188

Genre: Middle-Grade Mystery 10 years and up

 

Synopsis

 

Twelve-year-old Nathaniel Jones wants to be a detective. Though his imagination tends to run wild, Nate knows something strange is going on and he is determined to figure it out. Hearing noises at night, the young detective sees a strange figure lurking about. The Turkeltons are rich and Nate’s grandfather is their groundskeeper. As a result, Nate gets to spend the summer on the manor grounds. With priceless art and expensive jewelry in the mix, and someone creeping around at night, Nate becomes determined to catch a thief. There’s just one problem; nothing seems to be missing.

 

 

 

Review

 

This middle-grade mystery will interest mystery loving kids. I have to admit, even I didn’t figure out all of the pieces until it was revealed to us in the book.

Nate has had a strong influence on him via his father and paternal grandfather since they are both in the mystery solving world as private investigators. However, this summer, Nate is visiting his maternal grandparents and they have a different outlook on life. That doesn’t prevent his detective skills from emerging when he thinks something is afoot next door at the Turkelton Manor. He isn’t wrong, but it takes some investigation and the help of some new friends to uncover the mystery but not without putting himself in a little bit of a sticky situation.

Nate seems to be an odd kid and doesn’t seem to have a lot of friends. That is hard on him when it comes to befriending the Turkelton children, but it shows how hard it can be to meet new people at a young age when you are more of an introvert than an extrovert. Nate also has good deduction and reasoning skills despite not sharing that information with people that might be able to help him out.

I enjoyed the mystery, and as I said before, even I didn’t figure out all of the pieces of the puzzle. There is a lot of misdirection but that is what made the book fun.

I’m not 100% sure if I read an ARC, but there were some oddities in the book. When Nate was thinking about what he had seen or trying to figure out the mystery, it referred to him as the detective. It was like he had an alter ego or something. I did notice a fair amount of typos/spelling errors that may or may not have been caught before publishing.

Overall a good book and we give it 3 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Chapter One

 

Picasso, Dali, and Monet were just a few of the artists whose works graced the walls of Turkelton Manor. The museum-like display was worth a small fortune, but no ropes or security guards kept visitors from getting too close.

Around mid-day on Friday, Nate was riding his bicycle along the long paved driveway of the manor when he noticed a small white delivery van enter through the open gates of the estate.

Usually closed and controlled by remote, the twelve-foot double gate was currently broken, along with many other things at the estate, which its new owners were in the process of fixing.

The day could never be boring if Nate’s imagination had anything to do with it, but it seemed he rarely had to depend on his imagination to keep him busy for long, and this sunny summer day was no exception.

The vehicle had no windows except for the ones up front and, at first, Nate thought it might be Fed Ex, but a sharp glint of sunlight bouncing off the hood of the van kept him from seeing it had no Fed Ex markings, until it got closer and the glare went away.
Nate was always paying attention to the little things, and his observation skills often amused his family, but it never surprised them as Nate’s father was a police detective and his grandfather on his father’s side of the family was a famous private investigator. Family members commented that it ran in his blood.

The delivery van stopped just before it reached the detective and the driver got out and buttoned his suit jacket. The idea that he wore a dark suit struck Nate a little odd, as he was driving a delivery van. The man was small, around five feet, eight inches tall, and very lean. He looked to be in his late forties or early fifties as his hair was beginning to gray above the ears and recede at the top, but it was possible that premature graying made him look older than he was.

“Hello,” the stranger said politely as Nate stopped his bicycle and stood with it balanced between his legs. “I have a delivery of art for the Turkeltons. Do you know if they are at home?”

There was something in the man’s tone that made Nate think he sounded like a bit of a snob, but he wasn’t able to put his finger on it. The man spoke as though he had an accent, though only with certain words.

“I’m not sure,” Nate replied. “I know some people are working at the house though. Just follow the drive straight down,” Nate said, as he looked the direction of the house and pointed.

The man smiled at him. “Of course,” he said, looking down the drive. The man gave him a little bow and then he unbuttoned his suit jacket before hopping back into the van. As he slowly pulled away, he waved and smiled again.

The boy turned his bike and followed the vehicle down to the huge house looming in the distance. Pink Dogwood trees lined both sides of the driveway which ran pretty much straight down to the manor. The trees offered, aside from their visual beauty, an aroma that varied from day to day. This day they smelled as pretty as they looked, while other days the odor was downright unpleasant. Nate was familiar with these trees, but didn’t dwell too much on why their smell changed.

Through the trees, Nate could see much of the grounds. To his right, as he rode toward the manor, was a thick batch of woods. The many oaks and maples intertwined with various other trees struggling for sunlight through the thick canopy. Where the woods ended, a lush green paddock for the horses began. On the opposite side of the driveway was a large pond, or a small lake depending on who was referring to it.
The boy’s curiosity started getting the best of him and he wanted to see some of the art that was in the van. When the vehicle approached the circular round about in front of the house, the driver was careful not to hit the various other work trucks parked there or drive on the grass in the center. The house was under renovation and the construction crew was still hard at work.

Nate rode around the circle a couple of times after the man found a place to park. An empty water fountain sat in the center of the grass circle and Nate couldn’t help but think it was big enough to swim in, if it were full. He watched as the man made his way up the curvy brick walk that had low flowering shrubs on either side of it, and then climbed the steep wide stairs leading to the large front door of the manor.

 

About the Author

 

Kraig Dafoe was born in New York.  Kraig went back to college at the age of 42 earning his BA in English writing, and graduating cum laude from Washburn University in 2017. Deciding to continue his education, Kraig received his Master of Liberal Studies degree in 2019. Kraig is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society, and The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

 

Website

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Sixteen-year-old star basketball player, Luc Ponti wins an important tiebreaker game for the Palo Alto Vikings with a three-point basket during the last few seconds of play. He is simultaneously critically injured with a flagrant foul by a player from the opposing team. Luc dies for several minutes but is revived after having a near-death experience (NDE). He inexplicably begins to develop superpowers, which change the course of his life and have a profound impact on the world.

Luc becomes caught in a tangled web of espionage, blackmailed by the CIA to use his powers of remote viewing to spy for them. This creates conflict in his life, most significant—how can he pursue his long-time dream of playing varsity ball for a top college; major in engineering; and possibly go pro after graduation. I Can See Clearly is the story of a talented teenager seeking the Meaning of Life and his Life Purpose, while fighting the grip of the CIA.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for free through Kindle Unlimited

 

Praise

 

“If you love a great story with profound wisdom woven into it, you will love I Can See Clearly. Not only does the story take us into the thrilling world of a new kind of superhero, it also explores a theme that is dear to any seeker’s heart: that we must make our life’s journey a quest to find and fulfill our true Life Purpose. . . . I highly recommend that you read this book and enjoy its many levels of adventure and wisdom.” — Gay Hendricks, Ph.D., New York Times best-selling author of The Big Leap and Conscious Luck

“I Can See Clearly is an engaging story of enlightenment. Beneath Luc Ponti’s journey toward understanding his life purpose lies spiritual guidance on how to use our innate gifts to make the world a better place!” — Joe Robert Cole, co-writer of the Black Panther screenplay; writer-director of All Day and a Night

“Jim Cusumano has created unforgettable superheroes for the 21st century. If you like Marvel and DC, you’ll love what Jim has cooked up for our postmodern world. He has created characters who live, breathe, feel, and dream while standing on the shoulders of the greatest that the East and West have to offer—including the power of quantum and spiritual physics to help us find our life purpose. A must-read!” — Jon Katzman, former president of New Regency Television; TV and film producer

“An enormously entertaining novel that brilliantly integrates metaphysics, espionage, and ethics. Unputdownable!” — Jill Kramer, author and literary agent

 

 

Guest Post

 

How I Made A Difference By Doing Things My Way

by James A. Cusumano

 

 

I‘ve been an entrepreneur nearly all my life, practiced in the fields of entertainment, science, and technology. At times, people have asked how I managed such a diverse number of pursuits. One important point is that I always tried to draw on my strengths—what I knew best—and find a creative way to connect that with a need that would make a difference.

The sense of purpose and passion generated by this approach was always more than enough to help me achieve what I had set out to do—often more. I think the following story may help explain the general philosophy behind my thinking over the years.

It was June 1969, and although I’d been out of grad school for two years, working as a research scientist, I was still smack dab in the middle of rock and roll, singing every weekend at clubs in New Jersey and Manhattan. After 10 years as an entertainer and recording artist during one of the most exciting periods of contemporary music, I found it difficult to cut the umbilical cord. I’d been on the road with many of the pioneers of rock and roll music. Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Little Richard, among others, were my constant companions.

 

 

 

On a dreamy Friday evening, I was driving my red 57’ Chevy convertible with the top down, soaking up a warm summer breeze, the radio blasting out what today are referred to as “oldies but goodies.” I was on my way to Danny’s Hideaway on Route 22 in Union, New Jersey, where the group I was with was booked for several weekends. During a commercial, I impatiently flipped through the stations and stumbled on to easy-listening music. And there it was, I heard it for the first time, “Ol’ Blue Eyes” singing “My Way.” I could not get myself to change the station back to rock and roll. The melody and the lyrics touched me deeply. I have probably sung My Way a thousand times since then and I never tire of it.

The song, written by French artists, Claude François and Jacques Revaux, was put to haunting English lyrics by Paul Anka. My Way was custom made for Sinatra. The lyrics, more often than not, touch the soul of anyone who’s been an entrepreneur. Certainly, Frank was one in his own right.

For me they paint a vivid picture of a man at the end of his life, looking back on his journey.

And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain.
My friend I’ll say it clear, I’ll state my case of which I’m certain.

These lyrics embraced me even more so as I progressed along my path from rock and roll to corporate America, to founding and leading the growth of two public technology companies, to making and releasing a feature film, to my life now in Prague as a holistic hotelier and an author.

I’ve lived a life that’s full, I traveled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.

Mine has been a life of many ups and some downs, and it most certainly has been full. I spent a good part of my professional career founding and leading the growth of ventures that have made a difference in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America—and what a ride it’s been! Often, I was on a path that “experts” said would never work. But, just like “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” I had the brilliant counsel, guidance, and support of a few dedicated “giants” along the way. So when Frank sang My Way, he didn’t necessarily mean his life was a solo journey; however, in the end, it was he who looked destiny straight in the eye and took personal responsibility for his final decisions—so, yes it was My Way.

Regrets I’ve had a few, but then again too few to mention.
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption.

Sure, I had regrets on occasion, like taking on two wealthy investors who ruthlessly pulled their funding during the early stages of our company, forcing us to lay off 20 percent of our talented team—some were close friends. But something always lifted me up again, and I could see that precious light on the distant horizon. An inner voice propped me up more than once; “Don’t give up! Dammit! Follow your dream!”

I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway.
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.

We planned and planned, and it didn’t always work out, but “mistakes” for us were “learnings,” and they were minor compared to our successes. It’s been a journey I will never forget.

Yes there were times I’m sure you knew, when I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all,
And I stood tall and did it my way.

Yes, there were times we pursued projects I wasn’t sure we could deliver, but with the unmitigated dedication of our inspired management team and employees, we made it happen. In less than five years, we grew our pharmaceutical business from five people to 2,000 with sales of $500 million and a billion dollar market value on the NASDAQ stock exchange. We had to jump through hoops for the Security Exchange Commission, but our creative financial and legal teams always found a way, and everyone in the company shared in the dream—and in the rewards.

We were driven with intense personal passion because we saw ourselves creating technologies that enabled us to manufacture critically needed drugs at low cost and without environmental impact. All of us had someone in the family who could not readily afford their monthly prescription bills. We wanted to make a difference.

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried, I’ve had my fill, my share of losing.
And now as tears subside, I find it all so amusing.

Sure, I’ve laughed and cried along the way. With two beautiful daughters, watching my wife lose her battle with breast cancer was more than a personal tragedy—it tore at my soul for quite some time. But the Universe has been good to me and eventually gifted me with a beautiful soulmate—inside and out. And now, we work as a team, following our dream, doing our best to make this a better world.

To think I did all that, and may I say not in a shy way.
Oh no, oh no, not me, I did it my way.

As I look back over the years and contemplate my journey, I’m deeply grateful for the people I met along the way, compassionate “giants” who helped me, who cared for me, who loved me, who helped me trust my inner voice.

For what is a man, what has he got, If not himself then he has not.
To say the things he truly feels, and not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows,
And did it my way.

Those lyrics have inspired me for nearly five decades, through my darkest hours.

I believe when that final moment knocks on my door, it won’t be about the money or the “toys,” and it won’t be the awards or festive celebrations. It will be, “Did you make a difference? Did you put at least a small dent in the universe? Did you show compassion, love and understanding to those you met along the way? Did you follow your heart, your soul, that inner voice?” I hope to respond with a resounding “yes,” and four final words . . .

It was My Way!

 

 

About the Author

 

James A. Cusumano is chairman and owner of Chateau Mcely, chosen by the European Union as a leading Green, 5-star, Castle Hotel and Spa in Central Europe, and by the World Travel Awards as The World’s Leading Green Hotel. Chateau Mcely offers holistic programs for body, mind, and spirit, which promote the principles of Inspired and Conscious Leadership, and finding your Life Purpose and Long-Term Fulfillment.

 

Website * Amazon

 

 

Synopsis

 

Bestselling author Laurie Faria Stolarz returns with a thrilling novel where an eighteen-year-old girl’s search for answers lands her in one of the most terrifying situations imaginable.

Four days…
Trapped in a well, surrounded by dirt, scratching at the walls trying to find a way out.
Four days of a thirst so strong, that when it finally rains, I drink as much as possible from the dripping walls, not even caring how much dirt comes with it.

Six months…
Since my escape. Since no one believed I was taken to begin with – from my own bed, after a party, when no one else was home…
Six months of trying to find answers and being told instead that I made the whole incident up.

One month…
Since I logged on to the Jane Anonymous site for the first time and found a community of survivors who listen without judgment, provide advice, and console each other when needed.
A month of chatting with a survivor whose story eerily mirrors my own: a girl who’s been receiving triggering clues, just like me, and who could help me find the answers I’m searching for.

Three days…
Since she mysteriously disappears, and since I’m forced to ask the questions: will my chance to find out what happened to me vanish with her? And will I be next?

 

 

 

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Book releases March 16, 2021

 

 

Review

 

This book took me on a wild ride, one I wasn’t sure how it was going to end.

It starts with a very unreliable narrator, Terra. She was kidnapped but all of the evidence points otherwise and this causes a lot of grief and anxiety for Terra. Luckily, she finds an online support group to share her fears and story. But we all know that people may not be who they appear to be online, is that the case here?

Besides her own life, she has become attached to one of the other survivors on the board, Peyton. There are other characters in the chat and it is interesting how they interact with each other and show concern for the others. I had to wonder why Terra was so honest with all of the details. I think her age and naivete played a part in her actions, she is 18 after all.

I felt for Terra and thought her character might be able to move forward. That is until nearly everyone seemed to believe that her story wasn’t true. It is hard to prove when there is no physical evidence that proves she was kidnapped and her aunt doesn’t seem to miss her for the four days she was gone. The stress of the event has Terra on edge and acting erratically. I can’t blame her, I can’t imagine the stress of surviving the kidnapping can take on a person.

This book had my thoughts and beliefs all over the board. I wanted to believe Terra, but here was all this evidence (or lack of evidence) that said otherwise. Thankfully, she has a new friend, Garrett, that believes her. He seems like a good guy, but in the back of my mind, I wondered if he was involved in the situation. The story picks up steam near the end as everything comes to a head. The truth was quite surprising and not one I expected.

Overall, we enjoyed this book and give it 3 1/2 paws

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Laurie Faria Stolarz grew up in Salem, MA, attended Merrimack College, and received an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College in Boston.

Laurie Faria Stolarz is an American author of young adult fiction novels, best known for her Blue is for Nightmares series. Her works, which feature teenage protagonists, blend elements found in mystery and romance novels.

Stolarz found sales success with her first novel, Blue is for Nightmares, and followed it up with three more titles in the series, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, and Red is for Remembrance, as well as a companion graphic novel, Black is for Beginnings. Stolarz is also the author of the Touch series (Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, Deadly Little Games, Deadly Little Voices, and Deadly Little Lessons), as well as Bleed and Project 17. With more than two million books sold worldwide, Stolarz’s titles have been named on various awards lists.

 

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

 

 

Synopsis

 

She is bound to serve. He is meant to kill. Survival is their prison. Choice is their weapon.

As the sacred slave of a goddess, Roma is of a lower caste that serves patrons to sustain the balance between gods and men. What she wants is her freedom, but deserters are hunted and hanged, and Roma only knows how to survive in her village where women are vessels without a voice. When her younger brother is condemned to the same wretched fate as hers, Roma must choose between silence and rebellion.

Leviathan is the bastard son of an immortal tyrant. Raised in a military city where everyone knows of his blood relation to the persecuted clans, Leviathan is considered casteless. Lowest of the low. Graduating as one of the deadliest soldiers, he executes in his father’s name, displaying his worth. When he faces judgement from his mother’s people—the clans—Leviathan must confront his demons and forge his own path, if he ever hopes to reclaim his soul.

But in the struggle to protect the people they love and rebuild their identities, Roma’s and Leviathan’s destinies interlock as the tyrant hunts an ancient treasure that will doom humankind should it come into his possession—a living treasure to which Roma and Leviathan are the ultimate key.

Set in a colonised Indo-Persian world and inspired by pre-Islamic Arabian mythology, The Descent of the Drowned is a tale about power, identity, and redemption, and what it takes to hold on to one’s humanity in the face of devastation.

 

 

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Book releases March 15, 2021 – preorder now!

 

 

Excerpt

 

Roma clutched the hairpin in her hand. The daunting frame of the Firawn’s son was shrouded in a black cloak, the curved-sword pendant tucked out of sight, but his hood was drawn back from his head. Shadows haunted the hollows of his face and obscured his emotions to anyone who might search beyond the surface. She met his unwavering stare with a cumulative numbness within her chest and the promise of blood in her eyes. She didn’t want to feel such despair, nor did she want darkness to swaddle her mind, but she had accepted that her auction would end with her death.

What did it matter if it were an executioner who took her life or if it were her?

When the Firawn’s son took a deliberate step toward her, the blood promise blazed like a fuelled torch, and she touched the tip of the blade to her throat.

“Don’t come near me,” she warned.

Every sound, smell, and taste overpowered her heightened senses. Her frantic pulse throbbed like drumbeats in her ears. She smelled the scattered rose petals and tasted the subtle vibration in the air at his slightest shift. It somehow reached her, pricking her sensitive nerves and exposing his invisible stealth. She shifted as he did. Her mirrored movement caught his attention, and he looked at her with a different awareness.

“You don’t want to do this, Roma.”

Tipping back her head, she pressed the point of the blade into her skin. A warm line of blood seeped down the side of her bared throat. His face hardened and his movement stilled.

“I don’t want you to touch me.”

“If I wanted to touch you,” he said, disturbingly calm, “you’d already be on the bed.”

Her knees trembled from exhaustion and her skin still burned from the fever. Fear had eroded her for hours, days, years. Now she came full circle. It would all end tonight. “Then why am I here?” she asked in no more than a whisper. He was silent. Because he didn’t have an answer that could convince her of his lies. “I’m not educated like you, Saheb, but I’m not stupid.”

“No, you’re not,” he murmured.

“I know what you want. You want power. And it makes you feel powerful when you subdue me.” The blade burrowed deeper and the blood trail thickened. A surreptitious shadow of emotion came and went in the nadirs of his eyes. She didn’t care to define it. “I won’t be broken by your kind again.”

“My kind?”

“Your kind, Saheb. Men.”

“You’re a survivor.”

“This is my survival,” she whispered.

Drawing back her hand to stab her throat, she saw him close the distance in mere heartbeats. She should have killed herself, but an instinctual part of her—a part far too strong that always sought life over death—overwhelmed her, and she switched to sink the blade into him in the very last second.

It was a mistake.

 

 

About the Author

 

Ana Lal Din is an #ownvoices author who was born in a Danish southwestern city and raised in a small town outside Copenhagen. Passionate about culture, language, religion and social justice issues, Ana’s story worlds are usually full of all four. What drives her as a writer is developing characters that are psychologically and emotionally complex, reflecting human nature at its darkest and brightest — and everything in between. Since Ana is a Danish-Pakistani Muslim with Indian heritage, she often explores the intricacies of a multicultural identity through her characters. “The Descent of the Drowned” is her debut novel.

 

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Synopsis

 

All he wants to do is skate. But they have other plans for him.

Michael Daniels is seventeen and dreams to enter professional skateboarding contests. But beneath New Manhattan, a city under the oppressive shadow of climate change, exists another world altogether—secret laboratories which threaten society as he knows it.

Those with power will get what they want. No price is too high, even if it means making someone special or robbing them of their dignity, freedom . . . or life.

The price is too high for Michael, though. He has endured his stepfather’s abuse and mind games for almost as long as he remembers. Until one day he takes matters into his own hands, ruining the lives of those he loves most. And his skateboarding friends, Alien and Victor, are his only hope for freedom.

When there is no hope left, friendship is what remains.

 

 

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Preorder now for just $0.99 for the Kindle version

 

 

Excerpt

 

1st: To do the ollie (the basic and, according to many, the simplest of tricks) follow these steps. Put your front foot across the middle of the board. Your back foot is in the center of the tail. The tail of the board extends from the back truck to its rear end while the nose of the board extends from the front . . .

 

 

HE IS SEVENTEEN. A FREE ENTITY of a six-and-something million New Manhattan population, panicky in their effort to keep up with the time and catch a break in short nightly intervals before the challenges of a new day. The fact that it is summer is of no importance to anyone. The pulse of New York City continues to beat in its wild, crazy, and exhausting way.

He is young, very young. Healthy, too, except for a swollen lip and a bruised eye. His face will soon become a specimen of various colors. That doesn’t concern him much because he must think about other things. More important than just the one bruise.

The afternoon he finds himself in is sunny, but chilly—a story of this summer. This summer is cold, the coldest in this century. New Yorkers have already come up with a name for it.

Cruel summer.

Cruel summer, Michael thinks, shaking with cold. His washed-out T-shirt, over which he had pulled only a hooded sweatshirt with a drawing of a grinning skeleton printed above the sign Blind, is doing a poor job in keeping him warm. If someone asked him, he wouldn’t hesitate to take that pathetic sun out of the sky with one shot.

Or rather those who made it so . . . uneconomic.

This time, too, the main, alternative energy source dries up insidiously, opening the door wide to a new wave of pollution and new atmospheric changes.

A new climate disorder.

Michael grimaces. He imagines the reaction of the mayoress of the largest metropolis in the world, with hundreds of thousands of households reaching for heating in the middle of August, causing an overload of the power grid and triggering a new chain reaction of chaos.

Like he cares about it! He is not the Greenpeace green.

But the grass he stands on is green. Although slightly bitten by the morning frost. A perfect setting for his gloomy feelings and depressing thoughts.

The cemetery is empty and quiet, and it looks rather sad. Who would have thought of stumbling into a place like this during the biggest hustle and bustle of the city? Who but its tenants, perhaps some homeless people, thieves, human organ snatchers, or necrosadists . . . ?

Or maybe Michael.

Michael looks down from the sky wrapped in a haze of various vapors and particles of dubious origin. He stares blankly and seemingly absentmindedly at the marble tombstone in front of him. Elegant, not big, but enough to have the names of spouses with their birth and death years. And their children—assuming they will want it and that the rivers of life will not take them to other places.

Nothing more. Humble and simple. That’s what Michael’s mother wanted. Michael’s father didn’t object. Michael knows his reasons: Hank doesn’t like to spend money on unimportant things. But this is another story that never questioned the greatness of Hank’s love for his late wife. Michael is a living witness to this, isn’t he?

Melanie Hope Daniels.

Melanie Hope Daniels—gold lettering carved in white marble.

A face surrounded by an aura of tenderness. Forgiveness. Compliance.

Modesty.

Modesty.

It was his mother, a self-effacing look full of love.

That’s all Michael has from her now, with the promise he’d given her before she passed away: he will look after his sister and keep an eye on her.

Melanie Hope had high hopes for him, in reality still a boy. She believed in the power that lies behind his casualness, seeming disinterest, and defiant rebellion. She believed the contempt in his eyes with which he looks upon most of the world around him. She put her hopes in a “rebel without a cause” in a world that offers thousands of reasons for rebellion, into an unhappy child to whom even the unconditional maternal love has not dulled the blade of the evil fate of birth.

(Wrong place? Wrong time? Who would know?)

The mother’s vision slowly fades, devoured by the cold marble.

The world is at its end. Or is it the beginning of something new?

Hope is dead. What will tomorrow’s dawn look like? Toward the end of the millennium.

“Mother,” Michael says dreamily.

One word. One sigh.

A warm cloud swallowed with haze. And grayness. In the city of light, money, success, and synthetic kitsch. That’s how Michael experiences it—the intersection of contradictions and unimaginable extremes.

Yet . . .

. . . yet he still loves it in some bizarre way and still doesn’t leave its harbor in search of a better life in the Old World. He has three good reasons for this. Three good reasons that still keep him here. For now.

The first lies at his feet; the second enjoys the blessings of school vacations in the wilds of Colorado; and the latter, though no less important, patiently waits for Michael to turn his attention to it. That’s exactly what he does.

Leaving a fresh imprint in the damp earth, Michael takes his skateboard, adjusts a Creature flex fit baseball full cap all the way to his eyes, and sets off.

Toward the streets he will storm through. Toward the asphalt that will rattle under his wheels.

Thuuunderooously!

 

 

About the Author

 

“There is no greater joy than to share what you love with those who appreciate it.”—Bernard Jan

Bernard Jan is a pen name of an award-winning novelist and a poet from Croatia, and he has released four books in English.

Readers’ Favorite Gold Medalist 2020

Readers’ Favorite Bronze Medalist 2019

A World Without Color is a true story of the last three days he spent with his cat, while Look for Me Under the Rainbow in a unique and gentle way sheds light on the plight of harp seal pups in Canada. It warms the heart of all readers concerned about our planet and its treasures. January River is a heartwarming cross-genre novel about five friends, one dog, and one river carrying a secret. His latest YA cross-genre novel, Cruel Summer, is a gripping story of an abused teenager from New Manhattan who only wants to skate, but they have other plans for him.

His first two books were written at the beginning of the war in Croatia in 1991 amidst air alerts and illusory attempts when he wanted to believe and think that life is normal, that everything is all right with the world. He has published five novels, two novellas, and one book of poems in Croatian. Four of his books, including the book of poems, were translated into English.

His passion for music and entertainment resulted in his becoming a partner of Tom’s Music Place, which was established in 2009 by his friend Thomas Carley Jr., whose objective was to raise the respect of music.

His desire to help others came to the fore during his years advocating environmental protection and advocacy of animal rights. He did volunteering work for the refugees, because suffering does not know any borders. When it comes within your reach in your home, you simply have to do something. As part of his animal advocacy activities, it has been a great honor and pleasure to translate Eternal Treblinka: Our Treatment of Animals and the Holocaust by Charles Patterson into Croatian.

 

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All Author * Authors DB * Steemit * BookLife

 

 

Synopsis

 

Eighteen-year-old Amelia Griffin is obsessed with the famous Orman Chronicles, written by the young and reclusive prodigy N. E. Endsley. They’re the books that brought her and her best friend Jenna together after Amelia’s father left and her family imploded. So when Amelia and Jenna get the opportunity to attend a book festival with Endsley in attendance, Amelia is ecstatic. It’s the perfect way to start off their last summer before college.

In a heartbeat, everything goes horribly wrong. When Jenna gets a chance to meet the author and Amelia doesn’t, the two have a blowout fight like they’ve never experienced. And before Amelia has a chance to mend things, Jenna is killed in a freak car accident. Grief-stricken, and without her best friend to guide her, Amelia questions everything she had planned for the future.

When a mysterious, rare edition of the Orman Chronicles arrives, Amelia is convinced that it somehow came from Jenna. Tracking the book to an obscure but enchanting bookstore in Michigan, Amelia is shocked to find herself face-to-face with the enigmatic and handsome N. E. Endsley himself, the reason for Amelia’s and Jenna’s fight and perhaps the clue to what Jenna wanted to tell her all along.

Ashley Schumacher’s devastating and beautiful debut, Amelia Unabridged, is about finding hope and strength within yourself, and maybe, just maybe, falling in love while you do it.

 

 

 

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Review

 

What an unexpected book. I started this, not knowing what to expect (and I didn’t go back and read the synopsis) and I was drawn in from the start and had a hard time putting the book down. It was only when my eyes were drooping did I put the book down. Something woke me early this morning and so of course I picked up the book and finished reading it because I had to know how the book ended.

This book is heavier than what you might expect, it deals with death/dying, grief, and guilt. But it also has wonderment, friendship, and hope for the future.

I loved the friendship between Jenna and Amelia. While it might have seemed one sided, you could see how Jenna and her family cared about Amelia by taking her in and treating her like one of the family. However, part of that friendship did cause Amelia to feel like she had to do certain things because it was what Jenna wanted and because she died, Amelia feels obligated to keep those dreams alive.  But at what cost?  That is part of the journey for Amelia to discover her dreams and passions without Jenna.

I really enjoyed Amelia’s trip to Michigan to discover where this book came from and who sent it to her. In her wildest dreams, she never expects to meet the author herself in this quaint little town. But he has some secrets of his own that keep him from living a full life. The interaction between these two is heart-wrenchingly good. (ok that is probably not a word but how I felt reading the book).

There are a few other characters (Alex and Val) that bring some levity to the story, but they are only looking out for Nolan. You can see the love for each other that has spanned many years.

These are a few of my favorite lines:

 

“What have you done with my devil-may-care friend?” I grin, “I canoodled him.”

Jenna ordered informational pamphlets from the top three contenders on what I had come to call her College Deathmatch Spreadsheet.

This is beyond bizarre The mighty N.E. Endsley is showing me phone pictures? A fever dream, that’s what this is. I’m dying and this is apparently all my brain can manage to give me in my final moments.

“You must choose, Amelia, what you want your life to be. Only you can provide the courage necessary to tirelessly pursue your choices, and therefore it must be you who decides the path before you.”

“What I wrote made somebody light up from the inside and made her fearsome to behold without her having to move a muscle.”

 

This book really spoke to my soul and we have to give it 5 paws ups.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

ASHLEY SCHUMACHER is a young adult author with a degree in creative writing from the University of North Texas. She lives in a small town with her antisocial but lovable husband and more books than is strictly necessary. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her belting Disney or Broadway songs, protecting her snacks from her greedy golden retriever, hand embroidering, or playing Mario Kart. Amelia Unabridged is her first novel. She lives in Dallas, Texas.

 

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PUDGE AND PREJUDICE

 

by

 

A.K. PITTMAN

 

 

Categories: YA / Clean & Wholesome Romance / ’80s

Publisher: Wander (a division of Tyndale House)

Date of Publication: January 12, 2021

Number of Pages: 352 pages

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

A Mixtape of Big ‘80s Style, High School Angst, and a Classic Jane Austen Tale

It’s 1984 and after moving to Northenfield, Texas, with her family, Elyse Nebbit faces the challenge of finding her place in a new school, one dominated by social status and Friday night football. When Elyse’s effortlessly beautiful older sister Jayne starts dating golden boy Charlie Bingley, Elyse finds herself curious about Charlie’s popular and brooding best friend, Billy Fitz. Elyse’s body insecurities eventually complicate her relationship with Billy, leaving Jayne and Elyse’s exceedingly blunt friend, Lottie, to step in and help Elyse accept herself for who she is, pant size and all.

 

 

Bookshop.org│ IndieBound │Books-a-Million

 

Barnes and Noble│ Parable│ Christianbook

 

Target│ Walmart │Tyndale │Amazon

 

 

Praise

 

Written with wit and considerable insight into the highs and lows of first love, this coming-of-age twist on the Jane Austen classic had me laughing out loud, singing ‘80s lyrics in my head, and cheering on the brilliant, yet self-deprecating heroine. Pudge & Prejudice is a joy to read from beginning to end! —Lorie Langdon author of Olivia Twist and the Disney Villains series

Allison Pittman will have readers laughing (and singing) on every page of this delightfully tenderhearted novel for all ages…[She] crafts a particularly savvy character who learns that beauty really is soul-deep…. —Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of Perennials

I can’t remember the last time I loved a book as much as I love this one. It’s an instant classic I will return to time after time. —Bethany Turner, Award-Winning Author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I LOVED this book!  It isn’t because it is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice (I don’t think I have read the original by Jane Austen, don’t shoot me!). I connected to this book on multiple levels. This book is set in a small Texas town in the mid-80s and I attended high school in a small town in Texas in the 80s. I wasn’t part of the popular clique, much like Elyse, and wondered where I fit in with my classmates. I am the oldest of five (almost all girls) and Elyse is the second oldest of five, and I could relate to her and Jayne babysitting and watching the younger siblings. Then there are all of the 80s references, from clothes to music to movies and so much more. There are also the Texas football references that are so true. Texans seem to revere football and they go big and bold with anything related to the sport. And when they spoke about the rectangular pizza served in the school cafeteria? Yup, that was my favorite lunch day too. I don’t know why that piece of pizza was so good. Talk about a giant flashback!

Elyse is like many fifteen year olds. She is self-conscious about her body, has a hard time knowing where she fits in and has fallen in love with someone that might be unattainable. But that doesn’t seem to stop her from making the best of her life. I loved that her best friend is her sister, Jayne. They have many wonderful conversations during this novel, and I think both of them are able to give fitting advice when the need arises. They also support each other and never seem to let each other down. Elyse’s mother, while loving, always seems to make comments about her weight. That is hard on a teenage girl no matter the decade.

Lydia…this slightly younger sister is in too much of a hurry to grow up and is boy crazy at a young age. She definitely puts an interesting spin on their family and somehow manages to stay one small step ahead of trouble. Lydia is a sister you love to hate, but love that much more especially when she is helping you with your fashion sense.

Do you remember your teenage crushes? Elyse has it in spades for Billy Fitz, the star quarterback. Billy is rather aloof to Elyse and really a lot of people. As the story progresses, we learn more about Billy and his life and the pieces fall into place. I loved how he realizes that perhaps the way he has been going through life isn’t the best and despite all of his initial thoughts about Elyse, she is the one that speaks to his soul and forces him to take another look at reality. There is a lot of miscommunication between the two and you wonder if they will work things out or not.

My least favorite character was Lottie. Lottie is rather blunt about many things and doesn’t mince words when speaking her mind. While she may be correct with some of her thoughts, she hasn’t learned how to temper her words so perhaps they don’t stab you through the heart. Every story needs that one character that forces you to see reality and that was definitely Lottie.

I did question some of the locations which forced me to do an internet search. Many times I was surprised at the results of my searches and learned some new things. I still wonder where the state football game was played because there weren’t many large stadiums in Arlington in the mid 80s that I remember. The only stadium that might have been large enough is the UTA Maverick Stadium since that might have been the largest football field compared to the local high schools, but there isn’t seating in the end zones, and this is supposedly where the band sat during the game. This is a curse when you live in the town that is mentioned as hosting the state playoff game, you try and see it through what you know of the area.

There were so many lines that spoke to me throughout the book. Many of Elyse’s thoughts and feelings were those that I had growing up and sometimes even today. I really think Elyse is a kindred soul. Here are some of my favorite lines:

 

“I’ve always found something I needed more than a smaller waist. Like to read more books…”

“I would rather stand my ground in all my wrongness than step one foot into someone else’s idea of right, even if it means I’m sometimes left standing alone.”

“She had perfected the vernacular of the Valley Girl, even though we’d never spent more than a week in California.”

 

We have to give this book 5 paws up for the memories and the angst of being a teen in the 1980s. I think this book will resonate the most with anyone that grew up in the 80s or anyone that is fascinated with that time period. Or anyone that likes clean romance, YA, or a retelling of P&P set in Texas.

 

 

 

 

If you feel like you need a playlist of all the songs listed in the book, check out this playlist from That’s What She’s Reading

 

 

 

 

 

Allison Pittman is an award-winning author of thirteen novels, including the Christy-nominated Sister Wife series and the critically acclaimed The Seamstress. An enthusiast for all of the writing world, Allison holds active leadership in her local American Christian Fiction Writers chapter, and she heads up a thriving critique group in the San Antonio area.

When not writing, Allison teaches middle school English, working as a conduit to introduce her students to new, fresh literature. You can follow her around on Instagram or Twitter and keep up with her writing news on her Allison Pittman Author Facebook page. Here you’ll learn what’s going on with new books, next books, and day-to-day life with Allison and her husband, Mikey. You’ll also get a peek at Snax, the world’s worst dog.

 

 

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————————————— 

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

 THREE WINNERS 

 

Each winner receives a SIGNED COPY of the book,

 

a hair scrunchie, and a $25 Visa Gift Card

 

Giveaway ends Midnight, CST, 2/13/2021

 

 (US ONLY)

 

 

 

 

 

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:

 

2/3/21	Review	The Page Unbound
2/3/21	Review	Missus Gonzo
2/3/21	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
2/4/21	Review	All the Ups and Downs
2/5/21	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
2/5/21	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
2/6/21	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
2/7/21	Review	Rebecca R. Cahill, Author
2/8/21	Review	Nerd Narration
2/8/21	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
2/9/21	Review	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
2/10/21	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
2/10/21	Review	Momma on the Rocks
2/11/21	Review	Book Fidelity
2/3/21	BONUS Promo	Hall Ways Blog
2/12/21	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
2/12/21	Review	Jennifer Silverwood

 

 

 

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