Monday, October 29, 2018

Book Blast and Giveaway: The Sweetest October by Megan Slayer



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan Slayer will be awarding a prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author and a signed swag pack to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.



Love and Halloween are an odd couple, but they can be the best means to heal a broken heart.
Allison Prince never planned on leaving her job with the Waite Gazette, but when the chance to discover her past comes along, she can’t say no. She’s determined to learn about her grandmother and make the advice in her column more relatable. With her rescue dog, Woofy, beside her, she sets out to learn as much as she can about Hallowsville, Ohio.
Erik Greene doesn’t believe in love and isn’t fond of Halloween. He’s convinced his broken heart won’t heal—until he meets Allison and visits the local animal shelter. He doesn’t want a journalist snooping around Hallowsville. But Allison isn’t all she seems and the pup at the shelter proves love is possible.


Can he open his heart to new opportunities and chase the love of his life? Or is he destined to be the Dandy Devil of Hallowsville all alone?

Excerpt:


©2018 Megan Slayer, All Rights Reserved


“I knew about you long before your emails, even if I didn’t realize I did.”


“Erik?” He had to have said something. He hated her.


“Mr. Surly?” Delilah laughed and shook her head. “No.”


“Does he ever smile?” She toyed with the class covering the counter. “Or would that break his face?”


“He’s good at distant.”

“Too bad. He’s cute.” She hadn’t wanted to blurt that out. “But petulant.”


Delilah’s brows rose and she stopped laughing. “Remember the cute comment when you’ve fallen in love with him and he doesn’t return your feelings. Trust me. He’s cute, but he’s a handful very few women want to take on.”


“He can be all the cute he wants. I can tell you he won’t make a move.”


“Why wouldn’t he ask you out?” Delilah asked. “You’re adorable. It runs in the family, you know. We’re all adorable.”


“Compared to you and the other women I’ve seen, I’m nothing great. I’m short, curvy and not perfect,” Allie said. She knew her limits. Her exes liked to remind her as to where she could improve. Erik would be the same. “Why aren’t you with him? Or are you? You make a handsome couple.”


“Erik? No.” Delilah rewrapped a spool of ribbon around the cardboard. “He’s not my type, but I’ve dated him. It was a disaster.” She tapped the spool on the counter. “You’re more his type.”


“No thanks.” She refused to even try when she had the feeling she’d be shot down on the first date.


“Well, don’t think you’ll cure him. He’s beyond help.”


“I don’t know what you mean, but I won’t.”


“Remember that.”


“I’m not looking to date anyone. I dumped my boyfriend right before I left because I found out he’d cheated on me. I don’t have time to go through that again. Plus, once the month-long trip down memory lane is over, I’m back at the Gazette.” So she’d slipped and said she was home. So what? The word change was a simple goof-up. Nothing more.


“We don’t have a paper here in Hallowsville,” Delilah said.


“Okay?” She didn’t understand. “You share one with the next town over? The county?”


“Nope.” Delilah put the ribbon down. “You are an Astor. You’ve got the right to stick around and since you’re in the newspaper business, you’d know how to run one. Why not stay a while after the month and give us a newspaper? There’s still a press and once people found out we had a paper again, you’d have business.”


“I write columns, not oversee publications.” Running a newspaper? Half the time she struggled with balancing her checkbook. The thought of accounts, advertising, stories…she’d sink in weeks.


“You helped run the student paper in college.”


“It was a free paper and mostly used by the students to line bird cages and for house-breaking dogs.” Her heart sank. “I don’t know anything about the day-to-day operations of a paper.”


“It’s not like you’d be running it alone.” Delilah left her stool and retrieved three spools of ribbon from the other end of the counter. “Hallowsville is a remarkable place. When we see a need, we find a way to fill it and come together while doing so. You might be better at running the paper than you think.”


“Delilah.” No matter what she said, she wouldn’t change her cousin’s mind.


“I hope you rethink the paper, but I really hope you stick to your gut feeling concerning Erik.”

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GV43J1Q/

Universal Link: https://www.books2read.com/u/3G97vr

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sweetest-october-megan-slayer/1129446661

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-sweetest-october

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-sweetest-october/id1434747968


Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.



When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm. Sign up for the newsletter here: http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj .


Website: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm

Blog: https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com

Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Slayer/e/B008BJCFSC

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/megan-slayer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendizwaduk/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer

Megan Slayer will be awarding a prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author and a signed swag pack to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, October 21, 2018

New Women's Fiction Release: Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler


From the screenwriter of the Netflix Original viral hit, A Christmas Prince, comes another heartwarming holiday story about a beautiful Grinch who’s determined to get her dream job even if it means spending a week at a Christmas Camp where she discovers an unexpected love.

Haley Hanson’s idea of the perfect Christmas is escaping to the Caribbean to work so she can avoid all the traditional Christmas distractions. Over the years, she’s sacrificed her personal life to climb the corporate ladder at a prestigious Boston advertising agency. Now she just needs to land a coveted Christmas toy company account to make partner. But first, her boss, Larry, thinks she needs a holiday attitude adjustment, so he ships her off to a Christmas Camp at Holly Peak Inn to help her find her Christmas spirit.

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (October 16, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062883690
ISBN-13: 978-0062883698

Purchase here!

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Book Review & Giveaway: A Simple Christmas by Charlotte Hubbard



Christmas is coming to Willow Ridge. This growing Amish community has been blessed with some wonderful people you'll definitely want to me.

Rosalyn Riehl crafts wreaths from evergreen boughs, pine cones and other natural materials. It gives her some time away from her gruff dat, who has been receiving envelopes marked Past Due, despite the many hours he spends working in his shop.

Marcus Hooley's reputation arrived in Willow Ridge before he did. A gifted horse trainer, he's also known for being full of himself and entertaining too many ladies. He was happy to escape his Amish roots years ago and he has no intention of being drawn back in. When his attraction to Rosalyn interferes with his original plans, he wonders if what he's really looking for is a second chance and a brighter tomorrow.

Oh, my gosh! I loved everything about this book. The only thing that could make one of Charlotte Hubbard's books better is to set it during the Christmas season. This sweet romance is full of surprises and touching moments. You get a chance to catch up with your friends in Willow Ridge and meet some new people along the way. The spirit of love, faith, and community that fills these pages makes it the perfect seasonal read. The moment I finished, I wanted to read it all over again. Books like A Simple Christmas are why I am such a huge fan of Hubbard's work. She always delivers a superb story and leaves me eagerly waiting for her next book.


EXCERPT

As Rosalyn Riehl walked alongside the county highway pulling a cartload of Christmas wreaths, she gazed up at the sky in surprise. When she’d left home a few minutes earlier, the sun was shining but now low, gray clouds were rolling in and the wind picked up—and for a brief moment tiny pellets of hail pelted her.

It’s going to be a tricky winter, she thought. The weather seems as crazy and mixed up as I feel.

Rosalyn adored the holidays—Thanksgiving was only a week away—yet the thought of the approaching winter made her sigh. Her youngest sister Edith lived across the road with her husband, Asa, and their twins, and her younger sister Loretta was sharing the bedroom down the hall with her new husband, Drew, so Rosalyn felt like the odd woman out. All her life she’d longed for a husband and a family, yet at twenty-eight she saw no probability of fulfilling that dream.

Her cheeks tingled when the season’s first snowflakes met her cheeks. It’s a gut thing I have my new job at Simple Gifts to look forward to, Rosalyn thought as she made her way up the hill toward the store housed in a huge red barn. Working for Nora on Wednesdays and Saturdays sure beats dealing with Loretta and Edith’s moony-eyed gazes and happy chatter about being married to the Detweiler twins whenever we’re all together.

It wasn’t that she begrudged her sisters their happiness. She just wanted some of her own.

Series: Simple Gifts (Book 3)
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Zebra (September 25, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1420138731
ISBN-13: 978-1420138733

Order Ebook

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Christmas-Gifts-ebook/dp/B078QTS92M

Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078QTS92M/

Kindle Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B078QTS92M/

Kindle Australia: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B078QTS92M/

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-simple-christmas/id1330331465?mt=11

iBooks UK: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/a-simple-christmas/id1330331465?mt=11

iBooks Canada: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/a-simple-christmas/id1330331465?mt=11

iBooks Australia: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/a-simple-christmas/id1330331465?mt=11

iBooks New Zealand: https://itunes.apple.com/nz/book/a-simple-christmas/id1330331465?mt=11

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-simple-christmas-charlotte-hubbard/1127750875

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-simple-christmas-4

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Charlotte_Hubbard_A_Simple_Christmas?id=R19EDwAAQBAJ

Order Print

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1420138731/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ISBN=1420138731

Amazon Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ISBN=1420138731

Barnes & Noble:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781420138733

Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/product/9781420138733

Chapters Indigo: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/a/9781420138733-item.html

IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420138733

The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9781420138733


Charlotte Hubbard will be awarding $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2018/08/vbt-simple-christmas-by-charlotte.html

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.




Monday, October 15, 2018

Interview with Jamell Crouthers, Author of Code Blue

Jamell Crouthers is a poet, author, blogger and podcaster who has taken on a journey of writing in the prime of his life. He has been writing poetry since the age of 13 but never thought he could utilize his talent to tell stories and write books. He is not the traditional author as he writes his books in poetry format with a focus on storylines and societal issues.

After publishing 11 books (so far), his goals and plans are to continue writing books on taboo subjects that aren't discussed enough in today's world and bringing those main subjects to the forefront. Jamell's blogs tackle societal issues, how he writes his books, his journey as an author and some motivational blogs that will get you to focus on your goals. His goal and moniker is, "to change the world, one book at a time."

Jamell’s Code Blue series can be purchased at Amazon.

Website Address: www.aquarianmind.info

Blog Address: www.aquarianmind.info

Twitter Address: www.twitter.com/aquarianmind1

Facebook Address: www.facebook.com/aquarianpoet1


Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I love to listen to music, I can't go a day without it. I'm close to my family and best friends, they keep me grounded. In my spare time, I'm running or on the basketball court getting a workout in or playing against my friends.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in the Bronx, New York, then lived in Queens, currently in Long Island for the past 22 years.


What is your fondest childhood memory?

Spending my summers at my grandfather's house for sure. I was always outside with my friends playing basketball, football, bike riding, rollerblading, water fights, we did everything. We were always doing something fun, I miss those days for sure.

When did you begin writing?

I've been writing poetry since the age of 13 years old. I had a love/hate relationship with it for the longest time where I would write in spurts and then stop for months at a time. Then a few years ago I was leaving a job I had been doing for years and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life and I started thinking of writing books and here I am, enjoying the journey.



Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I write mostly at night, I'm a night owl. Sometimes I write during the day on my days off since I have the most time to get things done.

What is this book about?

Code Blue: An Oath to the Badge and Gun is about a police officer named Gary who gets caught up in racism, corruption, and lies within his police department. He's a good cop so the question becomes whether he reports his superiors and partners or does he focus on his paycheck, pension and health benefits. There's a lot of twists and turns with the series and his starts to lose himself mentally and trying to keep up with the lies he tells his son and his wife.

What inspired you to write it?

With all that's going on in America with police brutality, racism, and corruption, I felt I needed to write a story but it be different than the average police book you read. I decided to write it in a poetry prose format and to write it from a police officer's perspective. I wanted the book to be more character driven so the reader always wonders what will happen next.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My mother is my biggest supporter, she listens to all of my book ideas, how I write my books, the process, my blogs, podcasts, the whole journey. She has read a few of my books and by the 3rd book she started to realize I definitely had something going.


Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

It was definitely a bumpy ride, a lot to learn and understand (synopsis, editing, formatting, pricing your book, book covers and book promotion).

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

I definitely would've done more research on websites to utilize early on, I would have made my books 6x9 from the beginning instead of having them 8x11. I wish I didn't make a few investments but you live and you learn, that's for sure.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

My books are on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, Scribd, 24 Symbols, and Tolino

What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

A few websites that I've utilized to get book reviews and boosting my sales. Fiverr has been great to me with promoting my book too, you have to do some research to find the good gigs though.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Write what you love, not what's trendy right now. The market always changes and you should stick to what you know. Always try to stand out from the crowd and follow your own journey and path. Just because other people are successful, it doesn't mean you have to do exactly what they're doing to achieve great results.

The grind of this is not easy at all, there will be days where you won't like it and that's perfectly fine. Stick with it if you want to do well with this, it's not easy and there definitely won't be any overnight success. If I'm 11 books into this in 2 1/2 years, just know you have to be relentless at achieving greatness.

What is up next for you?
I've finished 6 of my 7 books I plan on publishing next year so I want to get back to writing scripts based on my books, recording more YouTube videos and getting back to recording audio books to post on my website for sale.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Whatever your goals are in life, write them down, work at them everyday and don't stop until you achieve them all. I have a podcast named The Aquarianmind Podcast on Apple iTunes, Podbean and Stitcher where I discuss societal issues weekly. My website www.aquarianmind.info has a few audio books recorded and daily blogs posted weekly.


Saturday, October 13, 2018

WriteAngles Conference 2018 Registration Has Started



Registration for this year's WriteAngles Conference has opened. The conference will take place on Saturday, November 17 at the Willits-Hallowell Center at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA.

Morning Speaker - Andrea Hairston

Afternoon Speaker - Edie Meidav


8:15 to 9:00 am – Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 to 9:30 am – Morning Keynote Speaker: Andrea Hairston (Morrison Room)

NOTE: Individual agent meetings will run concurrently with the morning panels, 9:45 to 12:30, by pre-arranged appointment.

PANEL SESSION I – 9:45 to 11:00 am (Choose one)

The Elemental Journey of Purposeful Memoir: Writing the Journey of Your Life (Morrison Room)
Workshop leader: Jennifer Browdy

Writing Sex (Andreola Room)
Panelists: Sacchi Green, Emily Nagoski, Jupiter’s Slut (moderator), Cecilia Tan

She Did What? Weaving the Elements of Fiction into a Story (Executive Board Room)
Panelists: Liz Bedell, Jennifer Jacobson, Ellen Meeropol (moderator), Lisa C. Taylor

PANEL SESSION II – 11:15 am to 12:30 pm (Choose one)

Writing the Short Story (Executive Board Room)
Panelists: Jennifer Acker, Linda Rowland-Buckley (moderator), Linda McCullough Moore, Kate Senecal

Just the Facts: The Ins and Outs of Writing Historical and Research-Based Fiction & Nonfiction (Andreola Room)
Panelists: Joy Baglio, Maxine Schmidt, Jacqueline Sheehan, Marya Zilberberg (moderator)

Open Mic (Morrison Room)
Moderator: Ilya Parker

12:30 to 1:30 pm – Buffet Luncheon

1:30 to 1:45 pm – Celebration of WriteAngles Community Grant (Morrison Room)

Legal Clinic 1:30 to 4:00 pm (concurrent with afternoon keynote speech and panels)

1:45 to 2:45 pm – Afternoon Keynote Speaker: Edie Meidav (Morrison Room)

PANEL SESSION III – 3:00 to 4:15 pm (Choose one)

Agents Panel: Successful Loglines (Morrison Room)
Panelists: Serene Hakim, Christine J. Lee, Julie Stevenson, moderator TBA

Publishing Your Poems (Executive Board Room)
Panel moderator: Gail Thomas

4:15 to 4:30 pm – Wrap-up (Morrison Room)
Names will be drawn for attendance prizes. You must be present to win

Visit the WriteAngles website for more information

Friday, October 12, 2018

Happy 10th Anniversary to Goddess Fish Promotions - Giveaway



Welcome to the Goddess Fish Promotions Tenth Anniversary Month Long Celebration!


Who is Goddess Fish Promotions? And what do we do? We're glad you asked!




We didn't want your visit here to be dry and boring, so we decided to have a poetry competition and put what we do into verse. Here are the initial entries:


Marianne:

Roses are Red.
Violets are Blue.
I'm awful at poetry.
Coffee.


Judy:

We can edit your book
find things you didn't see
It will be fun to look
at the changes from me.


Yeah, for some reason, Judy won!


Even better, her poem is correct. We DO offer editing as one of our options. Here are a couple of testimonials from clients:

I worked with Marianne on a complete edit and was very happy with the results. Her feedback was clear, easy to follow, and she probed on things I hadn’t thought of. She was also responsive whenever I had questions and helped me work through a few issues. Her feedback and guidance improved the quality of my manuscript, all at a very fair price. I’m working on my next book and plan to use their services again.

-J B Glazer, author, In Search of Mr. Anonymous

*

Choosing the right editor for a project is incredibly important to an author. Let’s face it, we want the best for our books. When I was considering editors for my first indie-published book, Regenerate, I naturally thought of Goddess Fish Promotions–and I’m so glad I did.

Marianne Arkins and Judy Thomas are incredibly attentive and professional during the entire editing process. Their input was invaluable and the story is much stronger because they cared enough to help unsnarl plot points and find order in the chaos.

I can’t wait to work with them again. Truly, a top-notch editorial team! – Sarita Leone, award-winning author of Regenerate

We also offer Virtual Book Tours, Graphic Design, Social Media Promotion and more. You can see more testimonials here.

We hope you enjoyed getting to know us a little (more information is below) and we'd like to do the same. We'd LOVE to see a little poem that tells us a bit about you in the comments. We'll be awarding random book giveaways and $5 Amazon GCs to some of the best poetry we find. It might not be at every stop, but when something really makes us smile, we'll reward it! Come on, be daring...

And now, more about us:

About Goddess Fish Promotions
Goddess Fish Promotions was established October 14, 2008. Why? Well, when Marianne became a published author and got her the first taste of trying to promote a book on a budget, there was only one other virtual book tour company in place at the time, and their fees were simply too high for a small press author. After coordinating and running her own tour, she knew other authors could use the same service for a reasonable price. Thus, Goddess Fish Promotions was born.

Because both Judy and Marianne were authors and editors prior to running Goddess Fish Promotions, they approach the business with a unique point of view, and treat their clients how they would expect to be treated.

The people behind the fish



Judy Thomas -- The Goddess

Judy has a college degree in English and she’s worked in retail, education, at her local library as well as an editor for a small press and for the now defunct ShadowKeep Ezine. She’s also a published author so can see things from both sides of the fence. In 2013, she “retired” and now spends her days helping authors make their dream come true—as well as working as much as she can with her local theater group.

Marianne Arkins - Fish

Grammar freak and coffee lover, Marianne wrote her first novel at ten years old, built her first commercial website in 2000, and published for the first time in 2006. She worked as a professional editor for just over a year, and knows what it’s like to write, edit and promote a book on a budget.
One of our interviews during the tour explains our nicknames ... keep visiting daily to find out!



http://www.goddessfish.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoddessFishPromotions

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoddessFish

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/goddessfish/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariannejudy/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Goddessfish

Now, the goodies ... want to win stuff? Here are the rafflecopters:



Readers:
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Authors:
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday: Longest Books I’ve Ever Read



Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I'm not sure I can come up with ten for this week's Top Ten Tuesday, but I'll give it a shot. This week's topic is: Top Ten Longest Books I’ve Ever Read


All 1152 pages of it (I swear it was 1183). 
Best book I've ever read.





I still have my mother's copy of this book. 


Forced to read it in high school. Never liked it. 








These last one I tried my best to read, but could never get through it.












Monday, October 8, 2018

New Romance Novella Collection: The Christmas Heirloom by Karen Witemeyer Et al.


In this sweet collection of novellas by award-winning, bestselling authors, four charming romances are connected by an heirloom brooch passed down for over 200 years. This multigenerational compilation includes Kristi Hunter's Legacy of Love, Karen Witemeyer's Gift of the Heart, Sarah Loudin Thomas's A Shot at Love, and Becky Wade's Because of You.


Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (October 2, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780764230783
ISBN-13: 978-0764230783
ASIN: 0764230786


Purchase here!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - October 8




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 Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends. Here in Massachusetts, we are just starting to see the leaves change over and some have dropped. I spent some time out in the garden this morning weeding and cultivating. I think the frost cover is going to have to come out soon. Overnight on Saturday we are supposed to dropped down to 38 degrees. Yikes! Not sure if I'm ready for that.

It's been a slow reading week, but work kind of got in the way. Started this one.


I'm using these books for some research on my current work in progress, which is always fun.





I'll need to start on these for future reviews.





After that, I really want to read the next book in one of my favorite series.



What does your reading week look like?

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Shelf Control - Oct 3



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's a fun seasonal cozy mystery that I grabbed free on Kindle.


BLURB: It’s a Cowabunga Christmas in Corsario Cove for newlyweds, Kim and Brien. Surf’s up at the exclusive resort they’ve chosen as their honeymoon destination. The Sanctuary Resort and Spa at Corsario Cove has everything: a spectacular location with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, luxurious accommodations, 5-star cuisine, spa services, and a staff that aims to anticipate and meet your every need. A romantic midnight swim in the Club Level terrace pool changes everything when an unexpected guest drops in wearing a Santa Suit with a couple bullet holes in it! Who killed Santa? Kim and Brien are soon swept up in murder and mayhem trying to unravel the mystery.

DATE I BOUGHT IT: 12/11/15

WHY I BOUGHT IT: The only thing better than mixing cozy and Christmas is a cowboy story set at Christmastime. I'm a sucker for seasonal fiction anyway. This one sounds fun.

What is a book from your TBR pile?

First Chapter Review: Cruel Candy by Mildred Abbot


I'm reviewing the first chapter of Cruel Candy by Mildred Abbot, which is the first book of her Cozy Corgi Mysteries.

BLURB:  Estes Park, Colorado: picturesque mountains, charming shops, delightful bakeries, a cozy bookstore… and murder.

Winifred Page and her corgi, Watson, move to Estes Park to hit the Reset button on life. Fred is about to open her dream bookshop, and the only challenges she anticipates are adjusting to small-town life, tourists, and living close to her loveable mother, Phyllis, and hippy stepfather, Barry.

When Fred steps into her soon-to-be-bookshop for the first time, she expects dust bunnies and spiders… not the dead body in the upstairs kitchen. The local police have an easy suspect—Barry.

Determined to prove quirky Barry innocent of murder, Fred puts on her detective hat, and with Watson by her side, she explores her new town and gets acquainted with her fellow shopkeepers. Could one of her friendly neighbors be the real culprit? And what would be the motive for killing the owner of the Sinful Bites candy store? The secrets Fred discover put her at odds with the local police sergeant and threaten her cozy future in Estes.

With snow falling outside, all Fred wants to do is curl up by the fire with a good book and Watson snuggled at her feet. But before she can begin her new life and put her plans for her bookshop into action, Fred and Watson have a mystery to solve…

COVER: Is there anything cuter than a dog on a cover? Well, maybe a kitten, but certainly a cute dog is just as adorable. The candy-striped wallpaper and sweet treats let you know this will be a fun cozy.

FIRST CHAPTER: Fred arrives in Estes Park with Watson to make a fresh start and winds up meeting the neighbors on either side of her new bookshop.

KEEP READING: How could I not? Fred is funny and Watson adorable. The reader is drawn into how Fred feels starting over and her apprehension over the whole thing. Then she meets the owners of the two stores on the other side of what will be her bookstore and it turns weird. Definitely need to keep reading to see what happens next.

Series: Cozy Corgi Mysteries (Book 1)
Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: Independently published (December 5, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1973449293
ISBN-13: 978-1973449294

The author provided me with a free digital copy of the book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.



Tuesday, October 2, 2018

New Release: The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo

When Ichabod Crane arrives in the spooky little village of Sleepy Hollow as the new schoolmaster, Katrina Van Tassel is instantly drawn to him. Through their shared love of books and music, they form a friendship that quickly develops into romance. Ichabod knows that as an itinerant schoolteacher of little social standing, he has nothing to offer the wealthy Katrina – unlike her childhood friend-turned-enemy, Brom Van Brunt, who is the suitor Katrina’s father favors.

But when romance gives way to passion, Ichabod and Katrina embark on a secret love affair, sneaking away into the woods after dark to be together – all while praying they do not catch sight of Sleepy Hollow’s legendary Headless Horseman. That is, until All Hallows’s Eve, when Ichabod suddenly disappears, leaving Katrina alone and in a perilous position.

Enlisting the help of her friend – and rumored witch – Charlotte Jansen, Katrina seeks the truth of Ichabod Crane’s disappearance, investigating the forest around Sleepy Hollow using unconventional – often magical – means. What they find forces Katrina to question everything she once knew, and to wonder if the Headless Horseman is perhaps more than just a story after all. In Alyssa Palombo's The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel nothing is as it seems, and love is a thing even death won't erase.

File Size: 3979 KB
Print Length: 432 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (October 2, 2018)
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
Sold by: Macmillan
Language: English
ASIN: B079DWS56D


Purchase here!






ALYSSA PALOMBO is the author of The Violinist of Venice and The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence. She has published short fiction pieces in Black Lantern Magazine and The Great Lakes Review. She is a recent graduate of Canisius College with degrees in English and creative writing, respectively. A passionate music lover, she is a classically trained musician as well as a big fan of heavy metal. She lives in Buffalo, New York.


Twitter: https://twitter.com/alyssinwnderlnd


Monday, October 1, 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Oct 1




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.

Welcome to October! The leaves are changing. The mornings are crisp. The smell of wood-burning fireplaces fills the air. This is the reason we live in New England. All four seasons--love them or hate them--are right here.

While the schedule hasn't loosened up any, I managed to clean half the house this weekend and finished two books. After I post this, I need to edit a chapter for a client and then put together real estate paperwork.

In my reading world, I polished these two off:



I'll need to fit this one in:



Then I'll start these next two:



What is going on in your reading world?