Thursday, August 30, 2018

First Chapter Review: Crossing Fire by Kim Baccellia


Today I am featuring a first chapter review of Crossed Fire by Kim Baccellia. This is a YA paranormal series.



BLURB:  Stephanie Stewart is a typical sixteen-year-old girl—she loves hanging out with her friends, going to concerts, and sipping mocha lattes. Yup. Just your average teenager . . . Except for one difference—she can see and talk to the dead. In fact, Stephanie helps dead girls who who’ve been murdered or killed, cross over. Just as Stephanie is getting used to her unique “gift”, her mom stumbles into some dangerous witchcraft that backfires and triggers similar abilities in Stephanie’s best friend Cura, and nemesis Hillary. Stephanie already has enough trouble trying to maintain a “normal” life between school and her cute boyfriend Dylan, who happens to have a supernatural talent all his own. But now she has to help her friend Cura and her “frenemy” Hillary cope with their new-found powers as well as cross over two murdered cheerleaders and battle an evil demon who wants to use Stephanie’s supernatural strengths as a free pass to The Other Side. And she needs to do it all while still getting her term papers in on time. She’s definitely going to need an extra-large mocha latte for this.

COVER: Love it! This cover is appropriate for the genre and catches the eye. Interesting that it is so different from the cover of the first book in the series, but I prefer it. 

FIRST CHAPTER: Stephanie, her best friend (Cura), and her frenemy (Hillary) are brought to an old sorority house by their mothers. When their witching ceremony unexpectedly triggers abilities in Cura and Hillary, it also brings forth another girl that Stephanie has to help cross over. 

KEEP READING: One hundred percent yes. Paranormal isn't the genre I typically flock to, but the blurb on this novel caught my eye and I'm familiar with the author, so I decided to give it a shot. I am so glad I did. Told in first person, Stephanie shares an incident that happened between Dylan, his grandma and her, before moving forward to the day the moms get the girls together at the condemned sorority house in the hopes of stopping any more strange events in town. Superbly told, this is definitely a book I want to read to the end. If you enjoy the paranormal, Crossing Fire should be on your "want to read" list. 

Excerpt:

Funny how a little thing like a dead chick showing up at a witching ceremony can really clear the room. Or in this case, a condemned sorority building. I’m sure there was a cheesy horror movie idea in there, but I didn’t want to stick around to figure out the ending.
Emily’s screams bounced down the staircase after me like a rubber ball from Hell. I dashed down the rickety staircase, on my mother’s heels. I almost toppled us both the rest of the way after I tripped on a loose board.

Mom yanked me out the front door and we ran to the car. Getting in, Mom quickly pressed a button and I heard the reassuring thwack of the door locks sealing us in. Whew. She gunned the engine of our Toyota Rav4 and sped away. I swear she must have left tire marks.
Neither of us spoke. I knew she had to be pissed at me for trying to “do my thing.” Well, whatever. I was pissed at her for lying to me.

After a few minutes, I peeked at her from the corner of my eye. Her face was a frozen mask that had nothing to do with her bi-monthly trips to the dermatologist. She didn’t look my way or comment on the mess back at the sorority house. They should have realized that they were playing with fire. I mean, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out I was one huge ghost magnet.



Amazon:
Barnes & Noble:
Books a Million:
IndieBound:
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/crossed-fire-book-2-crossed-series

I received a free digital copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions. This first chapter review contains my honest opinion, which I have not been compensated for in any way.


Kim Baccellia has always been a sucker for the paranormal. She blames it on her families’ love for such things as having picnics at cemeteries, visiting psychics, and reading her mother’s copies of the daily horoscope. In middle school, Kim wrote a horoscope column for the school newspaper. It was a huge hit!

Kim’s other published YA fantasies include NO MORE GODDESSSES, GODDESSES CAN WAIT, and EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA. All are available on Barnes & Noble.com and Amazon.

A member of RWA, Kim is currently revising a YA post-apocalyptic novel where a Latina teen questions her cult’s faith. She’s working on a romance set in Tuscany, Italy. She lives in Southern California with her husband, son, and Damon, her pet cockatiel.


Author links:



GIVEAWAY

Kim Baccellia will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Monday, August 27, 2018

Pre-order Blitz & Giveaway: Fragments of Ash by Katy Regnery



Coming October 1st

My name is Ashley Ellis…

I was thirteen years old when my mother - retired supermodel, Tig - married Mosier Răumann, who was twice her age and the head of the Răumann crime family.

When I turned eighteen, my mother mysteriously died. Only then did I discover the dark plans my stepfather had in store for me all along; the debauched “work” he expected me to do.

With the help of my godfather, Gus, I have escaped from Mosier’s clutches, but his twin sons and henchmen have been tasked with hunting me down. And they will stop at nothing to return my virgin body to their father

…dead or alive.

This “Cinderella”-inspired contemporary romance finds young beauty, Ashley Ellis, on the run from her evil stepfather when she meets ex-Secret Service agent, Jesse Ducharmes.

FRAGMENTS OF ASH is part of the ~a modern fairytale~ collection by New York Times bestselling author, Katy Regnery.

RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2018
E-BOOK PRICING: $2.99 (pre-release/new release price), $5.99 (regular price)

PRE-ORDER LINKS:
♥ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FYSHWMK
♥ Apple: https://apple.co/2LXgINl
♥ Barnes & Noble: https://www.books2read.com/u/bP57Pl
♥ Kobo: https://bit.ly/2LJr72c
♥ Paperback: Coming soon!


Excerpt:
My mind skitters to her face—her beautiful fucking face—and the way she stared at me with those wide eyes and her lips lightly parted. Those lips. She has Angelina Jolie lips. Scarlett Johanssen lips. Liv-fucking-Tyler from the “Crazy” video lips. Except this chick doesn’t look like Liv. She’s got blonde hair and a perfect pout like Alicia Silverstone. I remember the beginning of that video when our girl, Alicia, climbs out a bathroom window in her Catholic school uniform, her skirt riding up to show her black lace panties…and ahhh, yes, I feel my cock twitch just picturing it.
Fuck my life.
            Shit. Shit. Shit.
Because yeah, I was yelling at Jock, but she was standing behind him, and I didn’t miss the tight lines of her teenaged body under a pair of new jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. Her rounded tits strained just a little against the fabric of her top. Not enough to be dirty. Just enough to hate her. Because no guy alive—least of all me—has a right to want someone like her. Or sure, we can want her, but we’ll never have her. Not in a million years.
            She looked to be about Noelle’s age—somewhere between eighteen and twenty, and ridiculously young to suddenly arrive alone in the middle of nowhere, put up in an old farmhouse by a couple of aging queens.
            How in the fuck is this her best option?
            Who is she?
            And what exactly is her deal?
I grimace because the headlines of her story—the easy parts—start materializing as I think about what I know about her. I didn’t do all that training for nothing. Plus, I have good instincts. I could practically smell it on her—the fear, the desperation, the way she wouldn’t meet me eyes except to insist that she was an adult.
God, what a joke. If she’s an adult, I’m a French poodle.
Then something occurs to me: it was Jock’s boyfriend, Gus, who gave away the most important part of her story away.
She has nowhere else to go.
And then something else occurs to me, and I wonder, Is she in hiding?
This girl—what’s her name? Amber? Audrey?—is in trouble. Big trouble. The kind of trouble that gets other people in hot water when they were just trying to live their lives and mind their own business. And she’s been dumped on my doorstep. Literally.


New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract, and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013.

Thirty-five books later, Katy claims authorship of the multititled New York Times and USA Today bestselling Blueberry Lane Series, which follows the English, Winslow, Rousseau, Story, and Ambler families of Philadelphia; the six-book, bestselling ~a modern fairytale~ series; and several other stand-alone novels and novellas, including the critically-acclaimed, USA Today bestselling contemporary romance, Unloved, a love story.

Katy’s first modern fairytale romance, The Vixen and the Vet, was nominated for a RITA® in 2015 and won the 2015 Kindle Book Award for romance. Katy’s boxed set, The English Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, hit the USA Today bestseller list in 2015, and her Christmas story, Marrying Mr. English, appeared on the list a week later. In May 2016, Katy’s Blueberry Lane collection, The Winslow Brothers Boxed Set, Books #1–4, became a New York Times e-book bestseller.

Katy’s books are available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Turkish.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, two dogs, and one Blue Tonkinese kitten create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories begin at home.


WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:


WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK


GIVEAWAY!

Katy Regnery is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card or Disney Store Gift Card!

Terms and Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
  • This giveaway ends midnight August 31.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on September 1.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Shelf Control - Aug 22



Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves sponsored by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up!

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. Here's how to jump on board:

  • Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
  • Add your link in the comments!
  • Link back to Bookshelf Fantasies in your own post.
  • Check out other posts, and…
Have fun!


Here is another book from my Kindle freebie list. There is no excuse for me not to have read this because it is only 39 pages.



BLURB: Anna is content with her life. She works as a kindergarten teacher for a local school, and gives as much of her time as she can to her church. The new pastor at her church has caused quite a stir among the single females, because not only is he a single pastor, but he’s a handsome single pastor. Anna knows she doesn’t have a shot with him. Or does she?

DATE BOUGHT: 1/2/13 (Over five years to read a short story. Shame on me.)

WHY I BOUGHT IT: I like trying authors new to me, but I'm hesitant to start a series with an author I'm not familiar with. Silly, since that's how I discovered Marilyn Meredith and Kathi Macias, but it's one of my quirks that is still being worked out. I'm also picky on the romance novels I read, so this short story is a way to check out the author's style and see if it works for me.

How do you feel about series books? Will you try a new author when you know you're picking up the first book in a series?

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Book Review: An Everyday Thing by Nancy Richardson

If you're looking for a moving collection of poetry that makes you think, shines the light on the political landscape, and reflects upon coming of age during a challenging time in Ohio's history, then you'll wish to grab a copy of An Everyday Thing by Nancy Richardson.

From the Kent State shootings to working on the Kerry campaign in 2004 to child abuse and beyond, An Everyday Thing is raw and complex and a bit angry. The author digs into momentous, and not so momentous, events and happenings and provides a glimpse into how they impacted her. If you're looking for a walk through the forest lyrical kind of poetry, it won't be found here.

My mind couldn't help but wander to Emily Dickinson's dislike of households and chores expected of a wife when I read "Guide to Meal Planning," which shares words from the 1960 Better Homes and Garden Cookbook. 

While this type of poetry isn't something I would enjoy on a regular basis--bring on the walk through the forest or something uplifting and inspirational for me--it was interesting to see how the author viewed those historical moments and to get a glimpse into a state I know little about. Life is tough. It's not always clean and tidy. It's often lots of gray and very little black and white. An Everyday Thing by Nancy Richardson reflects those social and political struggles.

Paperback: 70 pages
Publisher: Finishing Line Press (July 27, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1635345235
ISBN-13: 978-1635345230

I received a free copy from the author through Poetic Book Tours. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.


Monday, August 20, 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Aug 20




It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Monday! I came crawling in the house after midnight after working at the in-laws' all day. Thankfully, the bulk of the work is done and I can soon turn my attention to other things. The girls are getting ready for back to school and I'm eager to be on a more regular schedule.

I need to finish reading this one now. I missed my deadline, but the review will go up this week.


This review is coming this week too. 


Then I really need to finish this one before too long.


What's going on in your reading world? 


Book Spotlight: Scene of the Crime by Jennifer Chase

I apologize for not having the review up. It's about 1 am on Monday morning and I just walked in the door from working all day at my in-laws's place getting it ready to sell. I'm not quite done with the book, but my review will appear this week.




SCENE OF THE CRIME by Jennifer Chase
Mystery, 300 pp., $.99 (Kindle)




Title: SCENE OF THE CRIME

Author: Jennifer Chase

Publisher: JEC Press

Pages: 300

Genre: Mystery Suspense


A calculating cold-blooded predator closes in…

When a community has barely recovered from a ruthless serial killer six months earlier; now two more horrifying murders hit the radar again. It leaves police burdened with two of the most shockingly contaminated crime scenes ever documented in California’s law enforcement history.
The Slayer works behind the scenes as a sinister puppet master, precisely pulling the strings, taunting the police without leaving any viable evidence, and orchestrating his killer hit squads.


The sheriff and district attorney bring in the best investigators. Reunited again, Dr. Chip Palmer, a reclusive forensic expert, joins DA Inspector Kate Rawlins to sort through the crime scene aftermath in search of the truth—all without a probable suspect or a solid motive. Complicating the investigation—sparks reignite between the two.


Ratcheting up the suspense, Chip suffers a nasty fall hitting his head, impairing his perception and giving him a mind-blowing ability for specific detailed recall. Palmer and Rawlins assemble an unusual team including a rookie detective, a forensic supervisor, and an ex-military operative turned bodyguard. After one of their own is kidnapped and the investigation is taken over by the FBI, the now rogue team must pull together their own resources—alone—with a killer waiting to take each
one of them out. Scene of the Crime takes no prisoners and leaves everyone fighting to stay alive.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon

 



Chapter 1

NOTHING CAPTURED HIS ATTENTION. IT wasn’t as if
he wasn’t looking for anything specific or that he didn’t care about anything,
but everything became like white noise. Looking down, he spotted a couple
squashed beer cans, which had resulted from the constant compression of car
tires repeatedly running over them. Now they lay in the gutter unnoticed—as
discarded litter. Out of boredom, he kicked the aluminum pancakes with his worn
out running shoes. The compressed disks clattered a ways before landing back in
a different part of the same gutter, just as his life.
Roger Case was in one of those moods where everything seemed
futile. It was a time when his temperament plummeted; he entertained the spirit
of defeat, which was becoming more common these days. His concentration slipped
farther into the dwindling mindset of drugs and crime to the point of mania.
Rationalizing his motives, he preferred to enact self-medication.
He needed something strong to take away his thoughts of
negativity. The repetitive movements of his hands and arms worsened. He wanted
anything that would take away his fears, his depression, and his unrelenting
obsession for the next quick fix. Roger knew that even when he felt the most
empowering high that there was a high price to pay—and it was predictable and
inevitable—the hard, downward crash.
Roger hadn’t always been teetering on that slippery slope,
dangling over the life of crime; in fact, he still remembered when things were
normal and even mundane. He grew up in a typical middle class family with his
mom and dad, along with his older brother and sister. Reflecting on those
memories now, he would trade just about anything to have those times back.
Now he waited with anticipation for his contact. It was going
to make everything better—at least for a while. He convinced himself that just
a little bit of crystal meth would help him get back on track—to see things
clearly again. It wasn’t as if he was a full-blown addict, he just needed
something to help motivate and push him in the right direction.
He heard a hollow scraping noise and stopped to listen.
Standing quietly, still straining to hear, but that sound never repeated. He
looked around. Curious. The sound seemed to resonate in his head instead of
around the street. Upon further inspection, he realized it came from inside the
cement structure.
The old water treatment plant had been decommissioned by the
county some time ago, now outdated, and was nothing more than an eyesore
gathering the grime and deteriorating aspects of time gone by. Something loomed
in Roger’s vision and waited in darkness—he strained his eyes looking into the
long structure that seemed to lead to nowhere.
Maybe his connection made a change of plans and the meeting
place was at the cement sinew, and out of sight from any onlookers, or cops
happening by on their route. It was possible. At this point in Roger’s life,
anything was possible.
Roger contemplated his options for a moment and then decided
to check it out. He turned toward the water treatment plant and headed inside.
The first thing he noticed was the temperature difference—cold and damp
compared to the warmer street areas.
He slowed his pace, unsure if he should call out or announce
his presence. Fidgeting nonstop with his hands, pressing his fingers tighter
and then releasing them, Roger moved farther into the tunnel.
A shuffling sound came from the other end.
“Hello?” he finally said, his voice weak and tinny which made
him unconsciously twitch.
A muffled dragging sound was the responded answer. It
resonated from the back-left area.
“Hey, I don’t have time for this… you either want the money
or not.” He tried to sound tough but his nerves were frayed. It wasn’t
something he was used to feeling. In fact, Roger couldn’t remember the last
time he felt scared, frustrated, angry or anxious.
The damp cement tunnel seemed to pull him closer to the heart
of it—into the bowels of no return. Instead of turning around and leaving,
Roger slowly moved deeper into the cavern. It was as if someone or something
else had control over his body. His insatiable curiosity had put him in
troubling situations throughout his life. It contributed to him getting into
deep trouble with a growing rap sheet to prove it.
Most memories had a calming effect on Roger, which had
initiated his fidgeting to cease and his hesitation to subside. He didn’t
understand many people’s fears and phobias, most things were just benign and
didn’t amount to anything remotely scary or debilitating.
There it was again—a dragging sound followed by what he
thought were hushed whispers.
Kids.
He would smack a kid if they jumped out at him or gave him
any crap. Most likely, they were tagging gang symbols and looking to get into
trouble.
There was the distinct sound of two people whispering to each
other.
Roger tried to sharpen his vision but the darkness played
tricks on him with weird shadow figure apparitions. He blinked his eyes quickly
trying to concentrate on the area and where the kids were hiding; his eyes
began to water from the extreme effort. Wiping away the aggravated tears, Roger
felt his surroundings close in tightly around him as his perception changed.
The darkness seemed to give a strange rippled effect.
The voices became louder. There was nothing sinister about
the voices, but they were speaking faster with more of an urgent tone.
“Hey, you little maggots, I know you’re here,” stated Roger.
He stopped and stood still.                                                         
The darkness still loomed around him, but there was a quietness
that overcame him.
A brief hundredth of a second, a peculiar whizzing noise
filled Roger’s ears and then a brutal blow struck his head and knocked him off
his feet. With a ringing in his head and a groggy consciousness, he tried to
sit up but more savage blows pummeled his body. It sounded as if a tree
splintered just before it fell in the forest. His breath caught in his lungs.
Everything went dark.
The anonymous whispers stopped.
All buzzing in his ears stopped.
Roger Case’s heart stopped too.




Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime
fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a
bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology
& criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her
curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience
with a violent sociopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal
investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds
certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.  She is an
affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic
Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Other Books in the Series


Body of the Crime













Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent sociopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling.  She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic
Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK







Friday, August 17, 2018

Book Review: Little House in the Hollywood Hills by Charlotte Stewart

For those who thought maybe Charlotte Stewart was defined only as the beautiful and kind schoolteacher on Little House on the PrairieLittle House in the Hollywood Hills will show what a diverse and talented actress she really is. Though definitely more well known as Ms. Beadle (LHOP) or Betty Briggs from Twin Peaks, Stewart's career has spanned decades and found her on everything from soap operas to TV shows to big screen movies like Tremors

In her classy, eloquent style Stewart shares her work, her life and her personal struggles. She shares glimpses into what an actor's life is and about the addictions and breast cancer diagnosis she's had to fight along the way. She shares memories of her husbands and the actors she has the chance to work with. You come away feeling like you really know her.

It took me a while to read Little House in the Hollywood Hills, mostly due to my other commitments, but it also reads at a much slower pace than some other celebrity memoirs. Three other female stars from Little House on the Prairie have written memoirs, and you'll notice the slow and steady pace of Stewart's book is different from the others. You're really immersing yourself into her life, and she brings you in calmly and casually and holds you there for a moment or two before bringing you further. It's very much a book that captures the essence of the Charlotte Stewart I met at a cast reunion in 2014.

Little House in the Hollywood Hills is the perfect addition to your Little House on the Prairie book or TV tie-in collection.

Paperback: 326 pages
Publisher: BearManor Media (April 7, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 159393906X
ISBN-13: 978-1593939069

I purchased this book from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I read this book for the following challenges...





Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Shelf Control - Aug 15



Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves sponsored by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up!

Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. Here's how to jump on board:

  • Write a blog post about a book that you own that you haven’t read yet.
  • Add your link in the comments!
  • Link back to Bookshelf Fantasies in your own post.
  • Check out other posts, and…


Have fun!

***


A new meme for me...how exciting! I'm always looking for new memes to try out. This meme will be dedicated to all those authors whose Kindle freebies I so easily grabbed, but have not yet read. Shame on me. Be forewarned--this might take a while. I have about 550 of them. 




BLURB: Set in Manhattan, The Secret Formula follows the adventures of Bella, a cool, skateboarding champion and daughter of a glamorous fashion editor, and her friend Felix, a jazz musician and crime buff. Felix is convinced New York is still a seething mass of hard talking criminals - Bella laughs at him but Felix will have the last laugh.

Doc Gutson and her band of misfits scheme to steal the Secret Formula for a new perfume which will make the wearer irresistible. But, while securing the Secret Formula will bring Doc Gutson riches beyond her wildest dreams, her other motive for moving into Bella's apartment becomes apparent as revenge drives her to destroy Bella's life.

Can Bella and Felix thwart Doc Gutson and her evil henchmen Johnny Sequins and Pauly Three Toes? Or will they end up in the East River wearing cement shoes? Noir for tweens.

DATE BOUGHT: 12/2011 (Yikes!)

WHY I BOUGHT IT: Mysteries have been one of my favorite genres since childhood. I also write for children. I consider this book indulging my love of cozy mysteries and market research.

Do you have books that have been in your TBR pile as long as this one?

Monday, August 13, 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Aug 13




It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

We have found our way back to Monday again. It was a good weekend filled with family and real estate activities. Today, I am on my way to Devens, MA for a strategic thinking event for the board of directors. I might be late in visiting your blogs.

This week I finished Charlotte Stewart's book. It was good. My review should be coming soon.


I'll start this one today so I'll be ready for my August 20 review.


Next up I'll be continuing with this long overdue book for review...


And I'll be reading this one as well for another review coming up. 


After that, I am hoping for something I just want to read for me. Maybe one of these....




Or another book that is overdue for a review like one of these...





What are you reading? Anything good I should add to my very large Goodreads list?

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Flip the Beat by Roxanne D. Howard


WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR

Molly Ivers thought she found Prince Charming, but without a devilishly sexy accent, and six months ago she gave into their undeniable attraction. But the swarm of ever-present groupies was so not part of the fairy tale. As much as it hurt her heart, she shut out rocker Evan Castle.

Now, on the verge of finishing her graduate degree and moving to Paris—she even hires a French life coach—Molly begins to realize Evan, who hasn't given up on her, might be the man of her dreams after all.



Excerpt

“So, you’re going through with it?”

“Going through with what?” They both looked into the living room, where a bemused Evan stood half-naked and barefoot in a pair of black pajama bottoms. Molly licked nectar off the peach on the end of her fork to save it from dropping to the floor. Evan’s jaw tightened, and his eyes gleamed as he zeroed in on her. He cleared his throat and lifted an empty half gallon of milk. “Sorry, you left the door cracked open. I came to borrow milk.”

“Jesus, Evan! Knock next time, or at least text. I’m in my panties!” Nell smacked him on the arm and tugged down her nightshirt as she ran past him into her bedroom.

“Sorry,” he said, but he seemed distracted as he strode toward Molly, eyes glued to her lips. She sucked the rest of her peach slice into her mouth and wiped at a little of the nectar at the corner of her lips. Her cheeks blazed at the hungry longing in his eyes. She turned away to open the fridge to get the milk. It wasn’t uncommon for them to borrow food from one another, and he always watched out for them. He had a comforting, protective nature she’d gotten used to.

She grew painfully aware of her night shorts, which had a tendency to ride up her butt and cut off at midthigh, and her thin white tank top. Could he see her nipples? And jeez, Louise, why did they have to harden every time he came near her?

She pushed hair out of her face and began to pour the milk into his empty half gallon. “Help yourself to the fruit in the bowl there. Nell had leftovers. How much milk do you want?”

“Enough for a bowl of cereal, please. I’ll get some at the store later.” She’d only heard his voice drop as low and husky during sex. She stopped after she poured enough milk, then gave him extra.

Evan reached over her to open a nearby drawer. He took out a fork. He inserted it into the flesh of a peach slice and brought it to his lips.

“Forbidden fruit, hmm?”

He teased the fruit around his lips with a wicked smirk. He winked at her and sank his teeth into half the peach as he watched her, licking it. Her mouth went dry. Oh, he knew what he was doing. He chewed, licked his bottom lip, and held out the fork.

“Want some?”

Before she could gain common sense and say no, she closed her eyes and parted her lips. He slid the remaining slice in. Molly closed her mouth around it. He withdrew the fork tines slowly from her closed lips, and his finger grazed her lower lip.

“You’ve got a bit on your…”

She opened her eyes and sharply inhaled. He’d moved closer, right there, and was about to kiss her. She turned away, burning.





Roxanne D. Howard writes sizzling erotic romance with Boroughs Publishing Group and The Wild Rose Press. She is a U.S. Army veteran, and a Columbia College alumni. She loves to read poetry, classical literature, and Stephen King. Also, she is an avid Star Wars fan, musical theater nut, and marine biology geek. Roxanne resides in the western U.S., and when she's not writing, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, children, and furry companions. Roxanne loves to hear from her readers, and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.




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Interview with John Alexander, Author of Timeless Tales


John Alexander lives in Frisco, TX. During the last five years of his career in the high tech industry John discovered his love for writing. He now spends full time pursuing that passion.

His work includes:

Technical books:
Co-author of two editions of CallManager Fundamentals (2001 & 2005)

Mystery/Suspense:
The Enclave (2010)

Children’s Chapter books
Amber – Autumn Mystery Series (Four Books, 2014 – 2017)

Poetry
Timeless Tales – his debut book of poetry release date August 12, 2018.

John served as Grant Committee chairman for North Texas Book Festival for two years, is an active member of SCWBI, and participates in two monthly critique groups in Frisco.

Website: http://www.alexandernovels.com
Blog: http://www.alexandernovels.com/blog1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandernovels
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexandernovels


Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Rusk, a small town in east Texas. I had the privilege of graduating high school with friends I’d known since first grade. After college at the University of Texas, I spent a few years in Florida, a few years in Ohio, and then settled in North Texas, with a two year stay in California inserted during the 90s.

When did you begin writing?

I coauthored two technical books in 2001 and 2004. I completed a mystery suspense novel in 2010. I began writing children's chapter books in 2014, completing a four book mystery series. I began writing stories in rhyme in the spring of 2017, releasing my debut book of ten poems August 12, 2018.

What is this book about?

The rhymes in Timeless Tales grew out of some tough times, and the stories in the book helped me to cope. I pray they will bring hope, courage, and inspiration to others.

What inspired you to write it?

Sitting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office during my wife’s office visit, one of many during the past months, feeling sorry for myself and our situation, a poem rose within me and caused me to smile. It seemed that trash kept falling on us and I wrote the first poem, Mouse in a Dumpster, in doctor’s office waiting rooms over the course of the next two days. I had written a short poem for my wife’s birthday thirty years earlier, and I wrote an open house invitation in the form of a rhyme a few years ago, but I’d never really written poetry. I found writing stories in rhyme soothing and the stories brought my hope and joy. My love of writing stories in rhyme was born out of that experience.

How is it similar to other books in its genre? How is it different?

This book is similar to other books that provide the reader with inspiration through collections of lyrical poems. Many of the poems in those collections are from the past. I think Timeless Tales is different because they are fresh and new, yet reminiscent of rhymes from years gone by.

What is the most important thing readers can learn from your book?
I hope readers are inspired to find peace and joy in the midst of their present circumstances.

Where can readers purchase a copy?

The book is available for pre-order (release date is August 12, 2018) from several sources including Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Here are some links:




What is up next for you?

I am working on my next collection of poems.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I would love feedback from readers. I have no formal training in poetry. I’m just a novice who loves the flow of rhyme and rhythm.