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Thursday, January 31, 2019

Book Tour: He Made Me Brave by Pam Ogden @Pam__Ogden #review #nonfiction #christian #memoir @RABTBookTours


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Non-Fiction - Parenting, Christian Living, Inspirational
Date Published: June 14, 2018
Publisher: Lucid Books

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This is not a fairy tale--but it does have suspense, humor, a quest, and a happy ending. When Jason and Pam Ogden decided to adopt a baby, they had no idea that their adoption process would stretch over a period of two years, and that their baby would be a toddler by the time they were able to bring him home. Taken straight from Pam's personal travel journal, He Made Me Brave chronicles the long-awaited emotional trip she and her husband took to South Korea to meet their new son. Through these powerful journal entries, you will:

·         Experience Pam's fear, grief, anticipation, and joy as you read her private, honest thoughts.

·         Discover the challenges faced by these adoptive parents as they started the bonding process.

·         Be encouraged by God's sovereignty and power over anxiety.



He Made Me Brave is the touching memoir of a mother defying fear to be united with the little boy she had been dreaming of for two years, and an account of hope fulfilled.




Review

This one made me cry. So much emotion is put into the writing of this memoir and I think Pam Ogden did a fabulous job of letting herself be vulnerable and opening herself up completely. It really allows the reader to become a part of her journey and feel even just a shred of the emotion she has. A true testament to her writing ability. 

This is a wonderful guide of sorts for adoption. It really does show you the ups and downs and how even the bleakest moments are worth the journey and the destination. 




About the Author

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Homeschool mom and pastor's wife Pam Ogden had dreamed of being a mom since she was a little girl. She and her husband wanted six children, but their plans were waylaid when high-risk pregnancies and premature births threatened their first four babies. In 2012, they adopted their son, and in 2017, they started the process to adopt one more child. Pam graduated with honors from George Fox University, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Writing and Literature, and a Master's degree in Counseling. Pam loves her small town life in Sweet Home, Oregon, with her husband, Jason, and their five children, Kelly, Luka, Ivan, Ember, and Hudson. Pam and Jason hope to add one more child soon.


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Book Blitz: Saving Paludis


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Science Fiction
Date Published: June 2018
Publisher: Publicious Pty Ltd

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Finalist in the Readers’ Favorite 2018 International Book Awards


An alien revolution centuries in the making will change mankind’s future forever …

Police agent Stefan Lattanzis never expected his planet to become a battlefield, nor Earth for that matter. But when scientists from Paludis share a technological breakthrough with Earth authorities, peace escalates to the brink of war in a hurry. It doesn’t help that the local aliens have a dangerous and mystifying agenda of their own. Meanwhile, a desperate human cult has its own plans to exploit the powerful new technology…

To keep his homeworld alive, Stefan must team with two strangers, a botanist, and a mysterious seer. As embattled factions vie for control of the universe, the trio must trust in each other to keep the new technology from ripping time and space apart.

Saving Paludis is an electrifying sci-fi thrill-ride. If you like futuristic technology, alien political intrigue, and high-octane, paranormal action, then you’ll love Clayton Graham’s interstellar adventure!


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Excerpt


SELMA RETURNS HOME

Rain was falling in a steady drizzle as Selma turned into the road that led to her domicile. It was not yet fully dark and the final vestiges of sunlight creeping through a solitary hole in the clouds had turned the aluminium domes of the dwellings to a blood red. The roadway, smooth and black and shiny, snaked like a ribbon through the glistening streetscape and dark, low clouds threatened to crush the buildings beneath their ponderous weight. 

Strangely, she’d encountered few individuals as she walked through the streets and, like on the drive south, very little traffic. It was as if a giant hand had been placed over the mouth of Kentucky, stifling its usual raucous behaviour. Selma assumed most people were indoors and she wondered if a storm was approaching.

She stopped outside her home, unable to resist a glance back to that part of the road where she had been abducted by Serpentine. Serpentine! Where was he now? She palmed the switch, pressed the code buttons in the right sequence and her door slid open. Entering, Selma turned on the light and the door closed behind her. The rain suddenly increased in ferocity, and she heard its rattling on the dome of the house. She looked around. Nothing had been disturbed, nobody had gained entry.

She strolled into the lounge and sat down. The videoscreen stared at her blankly. Selma switched it on. There was a message scrolling across the bottom of the monitor. She stared at it in amazement, leaning forward in the chair. Then she shook her head and palmed the screen off, then back on again. The message was still there, scrolling innocuously over a documentary film displaying the attractions of Martian architecture. A change of channels did not remove the words. A cold, dark chill seemed to grip her mind and Selma just sat there, unable to move even a finger. The words clutched at her sanity:

Following a savage attack on Saltzburg, Earth forces are now occupying East Paludis. West Paludis authorities have every reason to suspect an assault on our continent is imminent. Our forces are well prepared and confident of repelling the aggressor. If you are not involved in any military or civil defence body, please stay in your homes … 

After several minutes Selma rose, left the screen on, and walked through to the bedroom. She changed into her work uniform and sat on the bed, staring at the red sash of the Natural Order as it lay on the cover. If Kentucky was to be attacked, she would have been better staying with Joby and Marta. Earth forces! It didn’t make sense. Why were they here? Should she go to work? Was nurturing babies not important anymore?

She left the house and went next door. There was nobody in, so she tried further along.

“Please,” she said, as an elderly man answered the door. “What’s going on? What’s this about an invasion?” Raindrops trickled down her face.

The man looked at her quizzically. He was tall and frail with a head full of grey hair, large bags hung under his bloodshot eyes. Selma could not recall seeing him before.

“I’ve been away,” Selma added. “I don’t understand the message on the screen.”

“It’s that fool, James,” the man replied eventually. “Thinks he can take on the entire universe.”

Selma paled. “So it’s true. We’re going to be attacked.”

The man shuffled his feet. “Won’t worry me none,” he said. “I’ve had my share of implants, transplants and injections. I’m about done for this world, anyway.”

Selma backed away, turned and ran back to her home. Something niggled at her mind, something she had to do. A copter swooped low over the rooftops, the sound whining through her head, and she panicked, expecting some kind of attack. Frantically, heart beating madly, she fumbled with the door code and burst into her home. The words were still crossing the screen. She slumped in a chair, pondering what to do. She just couldn’t wait here to die!



About the Author

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As a youngster growing up in the cobbled streets of Stockport, UK, Clayton Graham read a lot of Science Fiction. He loved the ‘old school’ masters such as HG Wells, Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov and John Wyndham. As he left those formative years behind, he penned short stories when he could find a rare quiet moment amidst life’s usual distractions.

He settled in Victoria, Australia, in 1982. A retired aerospace engineer who worked in structural design and research, Clayton has always had an interest in Science Fiction and where it places humankind within a universe we are only just starting to understand.

Clayton loves animals, including well behaved pets, and all the natural world, and is a member of Australian Geographic.

Combining future science with the paranormal is his passion. ‘Milijun’, his first novel, was published in 2016. Second novel, ‘Saving Paludis’, was published in 2018. They are light years from each other, but share the future adventures of mankind in an expansive universe as a common theme.

In between the two novels Clayton has published ‘Silently in the Night’, a collection of short stories where, among many other adventures, you can sympathize with a doomed husband, connect with an altruistic robot, explore an isolated Scottish isle and touch down on a far-flung asteroid.

He hopes you can share the journeys.


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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Book Tour: The Faberge Entanglement by @tymslyder #review #giveaway #romance #suspense #thriller @RABTBookTours


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Romance, Thriller, Suspense, Adventure
Date Published: July 2015

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THE FABERGÉ ENTANGLEMENT

Sabinne ‘Saber’ Darrieux’s father, the billionaire CEO of Frontenac Global Security has been kidnapped. His ransom is not cash in a numbered offshore account, or a briefcase of Bearer Bonds but something utterly unique, incredibly valuable, and until recently, hidden away from the world.

The kidnapper seems to know Saber very well and knows that the next day, through her work as an elite translator she will be in the same location as the Object. She must steal the Object and deliver it to the kidnapper to ransom her father.

Adrian Steele, a British Intelligence agent has just come off of two harrowing missions. Upon returning to London for a well-earned rest, he learns that his friend and a fellow agent have been murdered in Moscow, but not before he made use of a unique Object as a mobile ‘drop site’ for the valuable intelligence he was carrying.

The drop site is traveling from Moscow to England. Steele insists on completing the mission to honor the death of his friend, Gerry Cornell.

At an ultra-chic quasi-diplomatic gathering in a mansion in Windsor, England, Saber and Steele meet and find themselves faced with a powerful, undeniable attraction. But at the moment, this compelling attraction is very inconvenient.

In reality, they are at the mansion to check out the security arrangements — for their own reasons — to steal the Object, a Fabergé egg worth thirty million dollars. But who will get to the egg first?

Fabergé eggs are very famous for their unique surprises. Saber and Steele are about to be very surprised, indeed.

And when Saber clashes with Steele; more than sparks will explode!




Review


Wow, this one really delivers in many areas. This was the perfect curl up and get lost in a book type of novel. I think that everything from the writing style, plot, to the characters and the mystery that kept me guessing was expertly done. I really enjoyed getting away for a bit with this one! 
There is a great balance between the Action/Suspense part of it and the Romance. I found myself one the edge of my seat the whole way through, and being wrong quite a bit, while laughing out loud. A Great Combination! 



About the Authors

LESLEY MERYN

Enjoyed an exotic, adventure-filled childhood, following her anthropologist father and travel writer mother to the farthest corners of the world. She later took inspiration from her Aunt Sophia Francesca and became the author of romantic adventure novels. She alternates her time between Los Angeles, and a family property located in Yorkshire England.


ELLE BROOKES

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She is the author of the first two books of the Time Frame Series. Loves travel, discovering new foods to try, reading and writing. She currently lives in the central highlands of Costa Rica with her cat Nikola and her hedgehog Quiller.







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Thursday, January 24, 2019

Book Tour: Live to Thrive by Amir Rad with a #review of the #selfhelp #book and a #giveaway @RABTBookTours


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Success, motivational, inspirational, self-help, entrepreneurship, health/wellness, personal development
Date Published: November 26th, 2018.

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Amir Rad has moved to the top of the fitness industry with an approach that’s about much more than muscle. In Live to Thrive, he delivers his methods of attaining success from an entrepreneurial perspective, as a master personal trainer, and a competitive athlete. What is success? How is it related to health and fitness? How does a powerful mindset lead to success? Most important, Amir teaches readers HOW to get ready to succeed physically and mentally, and then maintain that level. Using stories and examples from his own life and those of his clients, Amir picks out the elements of a thriving life and spells just what it will take to get there yourself. Amir Rad is an entrepreneur, health and fitness expert, and a motivator. He started his first business, Thrive Fitness, in Ann Arbor, MI when he was 22 years old. As a competitor and personal trainer, Rad is most passionate about helping people reach their full potential and conquering their goals. He says, “Every individual, regardless of their athletic ability, age, or skill level, deserves to obtain the highest quality of life.” In other words, they deserve to thrive. Rad lives to thrive, and his goal is to help as many people as possible to learn to do the same.


Amazon Reviews

Drew - Amazing book. I trained with Amir for a year and I can promise you he walks the walk! I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in becoming their best self! Not another self-help book, 5 star

Tony - A very good, easy and well-written read. Amir Rad is a young entrepreneur who practices what he preaches about the mind/body connection for success. Without getting lost in details, his book effectively discusses topics such as proper nutrition, exercise regimens, surrounding yourself with the right people, and developing and maintaining good, positive attitudes. Testimonials from clients of Amir are incorporated throughout the book demonstrating how "Thrive" ideas have worked positively in their own lives. "Live To Thrive" is a book I highly recommend!
Thank you!

Arjun -  As my personal trainer who has helped me lose and keep off a significant amount of weight, it is amazing to see Amir expand into writing.

Simply put - a wonderful read.

Holly - Just ordered and can't wait to read it! Amir is an amazing trainer. He's beyond inspiring, he will help you achieve your goals and then some!!



Review

Sometimes you need a kick in the butt, metaphorically of course. : ) I really feel like what this book can be is a jump start to changing your perspective and making yourself better. It's empowering and motivating and really gives you a positive outlook on how to accomplish your goals. 


About the Author

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Amir Rad is an entrepreneur, health and fitness expert, and a motivator. He started his first business, Thrive Fitness, in Ann Arbor, MI when he was 22 years old. As a competitor and personal trainer, Rad is most passionate about helping people reach their full potential and conquering their goals. He says, “Every individual, regardless of their athletic ability, age, or skill level, deserves to obtain the highest quality of life.” In other words, they deserve to thrive. Rad lives to thrive, and his goal is to help as many people as possible to learn to do the same.


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thrivetrained.com is coming soon

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Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Book Tour: Retrieve by Sarah Addison-Fox @saddisonfox #review #ya #youngadult #action #giveaway @RABTBookTours


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YA action adventure
Date Published: 26 December 2018
Publisher: Double Edged Sword Publishing

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What if the job you took to stay alive might be what kills you?


Kade knows what it is to suffer. He knows what it's like to lose everything and everyone around him.

His job in a Stormer Unit guarantees not just his survival in the decimated country of Azetaria, but his sister Meg's. Even if it means facing the Numachi warriors baying for his blood, he'll do what it takes to keep her safe.

Hadley is alone and surviving the only way she knows how. By hiding where predators won't find her and scavenging enough just to keep her alive.

When desperation drives Hadley to search for her missing brother, she mistakenly accepts the offer of recruitment into the Stormer's camp, only to be partnered with Kade and sent as a scout into Numachi territory.

The intimidating young Stormer may just know where her brother has gone. But can they stay alive long enough to find him?



Review


This was a fresh and exciting Young Adult novel. It was unlike others that are flooding the market right now. 
The writing was superb. Everything from the setting and imagery to the flow and the timing of the suspense was well done. It was a novel that kept me engaged the entire way through.

There is an immense level of detail the author puts into her setting and characters and I think that helps the reader imagine the characters and world vividly.

A great start to a new series and I look forward to seeing where Addison-Fox takes it from here! 


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About the Author

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Sarah Addison-Fox is a New Zealand-born misfit who writes action-packed fantasy with a smattering of punch-ups, mega amounts of romance and a dash of family values. She has an astonishing amount of nail polish, has all her creative writing credentials shoved in a drawer somewhere, and has a husband who, after 28 years, can still make her blush. When she’s not working on her multiple YA fantasy romance series' she can be found binge watching Mission Impossible movies, drinking lager and eating curry.



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Monday, January 21, 2019

Book Tour: Hidden by Megan Morgan @morgan_romance #review #pnr #paranormal #giveaway #fantasy @RABTBookTours


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Hidden (Fire and Iceland #1)
Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy
Date Published: October 31, 2018
Publisher: Evernight Publishing

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After a breathtaking journey through Iceland, Vanessa Evanston finishes her dream vacation with her two best friends in the capital city of Reykjavik—and wakes up the next morning on the ground, on a tiny island 250 kilometers north, with no memory of how she got there.

Luckily, handsome and kind-hearted local Gunnar Heimirsson stumbles upon her—unluckily, he can’t explain her mysterious journey either. Nor can anyone explain why Vanessa soon discovers “last night” actually happened a year ago, and everyone thinks she’s dead.

Iceland is known for its folklore, but beyond the elves and mountain trolls, there are other creatures: beautiful, powerful, and vengeful, known as the huldufólk. Gunnar has been alive for a century, trapped by their curse after angering them. From the far flung Westfjords to the black sands of Reynisfjara, the answer to Vanessa’s missing year might be connected to Gunnar’s punishment—as well as his long-lost wife, Hera—but the truth lies somewhere in the realm of magic, myth, and love, and Vanessa has only just discovered fairy tales are real.




My Thoughts

Megan Morgan has great attention to detail and makes everything from the setting, to the characters feel very real. It makes for a wonderfully written and very authentic novel. 

Morgan manages to take the reader through a barrage of other emotions besides the typical and they will find themselves submerged in the world and feeling every single things that happens to Gunnar and Vanessa. The characters were charismatic and drew the reader in. 

Fun, addictive, and full of surprises. There wasn't any time to have my mind wandering. From the get go, there was lots of things happening at once. It was a full ride!



About the Author

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Megan Morgan is an award-winning paranormal and contemporary romance author from Cleveland, Ohio. A mild-mannered airport bar supervisor by day and purveyor of things that go bump in the night, she lives on the often-wintry shores of Lake Erie with her spoiled cat and adult son, both of whom shed too much.



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Friday, January 18, 2019

Book Tour: Of Metal and Earth by Jennifer M. Lane @Metal_and_Earth #review #fiction #booktour @RABTBookTours


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Mainstream Fiction
Date Published: July 19, 2018

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In 1964, a rural town is rocked to its core when only one young man returns from Vietnam. Emotionally scarred, James hides from their pity and only finds the determination to lift himself up when he realizes what remains to be lost. He buys a little green Jeep, like the one that gave him shelter in the war, and hopes it will lead to salvation again. But the fortune it brings tarnishes, and James is left to sacrifice the thing that gave him hope for the people who need him most.

Over the next thirty years, the Jeep changes hands, passing between friends, family, strangers, and lovers. A single mother who buys a car for her reckless son nearly destroys a friendship with a man who silently loved her for two decades. An insecure youth at the start of his career learns that the most important lessons are the ones you never set out to learn. A family torn apart by their differences finds that love can be the hardest road to take. And a city architect must choose between the easy way to restoration or a difficult path that could save far more than just a rusty old Jeep.

Fans of THIS IS US, MITCH ALBOM, and NICHOLAS SPARKS will enjoy this heart-warming tale of restoration and redemption, a must read book for anyone inspired by the the resiliency of the human spirit.


Review

Things I immediately thought after reading this one. #1, this is a very unique book. #2, there are characters and situations in this book that many can relate to. #3, many aspects will really stick with you after reading it.

Jennifer M. Lane has managed to bring us a book that really encompasses different time spans, different ways of life, different types of people, and so much more. I was amazed at how well she was able to keep these separate yet connect them and have them each feel authentic. 

An emotional, inspiring, and very real feeling book. 



About the Author

A Maryland native and Pennsylvanian at heart, Jennifer M. Lane is a resident of East Norriton, PA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Barton College where she served as editor of the newspaper. She also holds a master’s in liberal arts with a focus on museum studies from the University of Delaware, where she wrote her thesis on the material culture of roadside memorials. She once co-hosted a daily automotive blog and served as the president of a large car club. She enjoys coffee, whiskey, Earl Grey tea, and spending time with her partner Matthew and their own 1964 Jeep CJ-5.



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Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Home for Wounded Hearts



Title: Home for Wounded Hearts  
Author: Ashley Farley 
Genre: Women's Fiction 
Release Date: January 15, 2019
Cover Designer: Damonza 



A novel of hope and renewal by the author of the bestselling Sweeney Sisters series.
Faith Neilson, survivor of an abusive marriage, has finally discovered her life’s passion. She’s established a shelter for women in crisis. Not only for homeless women but also for those who are suffering from abuse, dealing with addiction, or coping with grief over the loss of a loved one. Faith’s mission, when she opens her doors, is to help the residents mend their broken hearts. In the midst of that challenge, she struggles to find additional funding to keep her program afloat while balancing the demands of career and home.
This standalone spinoff of the bestselling Sweeney Sisters series presents a cast of memorable characters. Tilda, who is convinced she has Alzheimer’s. Molly, a street-smart homeless woman who has an endearing childlike quality. Caroline, whose gardening hobby has become an obsession since the death of her son. And Jenny, a young woman whose anger at her husband for having an affair with her best friend has spiraled out of control
Join these women in their day-to-day lives as they endeavor to move from uncertainty toward independence. When the actions of a young resident’s abusive stepfather threaten the residents’ lives as well as the future of the shelter, tension mounts and bonds of friendship are tested in a dramatic conclusion.

Kindle Unlimited












Ashley Farley is a writeaholic, exercise junkie, photography enthusiast. The author of the bestselling Sweeney Sisters Series, Ashley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her goal is to keep you turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. If her story stays with you long after you've read the last word, then she's done her job. After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote SAVING BEN in honor of Neal, the boy she worshipped, the man she could not save. Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she's lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry where she grew up. Through the eyes of her characters, she's able to experience the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kind-hearted folks with lazy drawls that make the area so unique. Ashley loves to hear from her readers. Feel free to visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ashleywfarley or twitter.com/ashleywfarley. Visit her website at http://www.ashleyfarley.com