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Saturday, July 16, 2016

Blog Tour: Bring Your Own Baker by @denaehaggerty #review



Cozy Mystery / Comedy
Date Published: June 20, 2016

Anna just wants to earn enough money on the side to buy into the bakery, Callie’s Cakes, where she works together with her best nerd pal Callie. The last thing she expects to see when she walks into Arthur’s apartment to do some moonlighting is a blood bath. Callie’s ready to jump into the investigation into Arthur’s murder, and she’s bringing another bakery worker, Kristie, into their hijinks whether Kristie wants to or not. But things aren’t as they seem. There are gang affiliations, illegal gambling dens, and ladies of the night to wade through. Will Anna and Callie discover who murdered Arthur or will Callie’s detective boyfriend Ben and Anna’s self-appointed protector put a stop to such aspirations? 
Come join us at Callie’s Cakes, where murder investigations are on the menu, but make sure to bring your own baker because Anna’s a bit preoccupied at the moment. 
Warning: This is NOT your mom’s cozy mystery. Bring Your Own Baker may be a ‘clean’ read, but if gangs, illegal gambling, and pimps make you turn your nose up at your e-reader, you might want to skip this one. Although you’ll be missing some sizzling chemistry between Anna and her protector. Not to mention a whole bunch of witty dialogue. 



Review

Laugh out loud moments, scratch your head moments, and did that really just happen moments. That is what I loved about this novel. 

DE Haggerty has a great way of keeping her reader on their toes with her novels. You will be right there along with Anna trying to put clues together. Her novels are definitely not at all predictable. Very great reads for fans of Mystery and Suspense. And plenty of humor laced throughout.





I grew up reading everything I could get my hands on from my mom's Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew to Little Women. When I wasn't flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although I did manage every once in a while to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. Another job change, this time from lawyer to B&B owner and I was again fed up and ready to scream I quit, which is incredibly difficult when you own the business. Thus, I shut the B&B during the week and in the off-season and started writing. Several books later I find myself in Istanbul writing full-time.

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Blog Tour: Lioness of Kell by @PaulEHorsman and read my #review




Young Adult / Light Fantasy Adventure
Date Published: March 16, 2016

Secure in his position as the Prince-warlock's son, seventeen-year-old Basil is content with his solitary life of study and magic. He has a comfortable set of rooms in his father's tower, he has his books and scrolls, and he is perfectly happy. Until the Warlockry Council summons him, and their demands sets his whole, safe existence tottering. Scared and unsure, he decides to run, and takes the first ship out of town. On board he meets Yarwan, the handsome midshipman, who awakens feelings he never knew existed.

Maud of the M'Brannoe, at eighteen already a mighty warrioress, is about to graduate as a Lioness, a special duty officer answering to the Kell Queen and no one else. The Prince-warlock asks her to fetch a certain boy from a pirate town, who could act as a double for his son. On their way back, someone sabotages their airship and the two find themselves marooned in an ill-reputed forest. Together, the young lioness and Jurgis the lookalike battle their way to the coast and a ship home, while finding solace in each other's arms.

Then the four young people meet, and Basil learns of a spell that might help him. Only the spell's creator, the infamous Arrangh Warlock, disappeared nearly a century ago. When the four young people decide to go searching for him, they start on a path leading to an old war and unsolved mysteries that will change the world. Or kill them.

A spirited fantasy story of high adventure and romantic love in a world where both magic and early modern technology flourish.



Review

I enjoyed the way that the author was able to grasp the reader from the very beginning. I felt like I was transported to the world I was reading about and that is a huge testament to imagination and writing ability of an author. 

I enjoyed the fact that these were younger characters who I was able to relate to even being a little bit older. I love Young Adult, but I felt like even if I only liked fantasy in general, I would have been satisfied with this novel. 

A great balance between the action and drama as well as the Fantasy / Adventure. 



Paul E. Horsman (1952) is a Dutch and International Fantasy Author. Born in the sleepy garden village of Bussum, The Netherlands, he now lives in Roosendaal, a town on the Dutch-Belgian border.
He has been a soldier, a salesman, a scoutmaster and from 1995 till his school closed in 2012 a teacher of Dutch as a Second Language and Integration to refugees from all over the globe.
He is a full-time writer of light fantasy adventures for Y.A. and older. His books are both published in the Netherlands, and internationally.

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Saturday, July 9, 2016

Blog Tour: Divorced & Scared No More Trilogy by @Divorced_Scared #review

 

Self-Help, Divorce, Relationships
Date Published: March 2016



Author Tasher releases three new books on life after divorce – Divorced and Scared No More! Therapist and clinical author Justin Nutt LSCSW, LAC consults as her technical advisor. Co-Author Tony Haynes is a practitioner of Acrostic Poetry -poetry where the first, last or other letters in a line spell out a particular word or phrase. At the end of each chapter, you can look forward to reading a clever poem from words found within the word DIVORCE.  

On her 26th wedding anniversary, Tasher divorced and embarked on a new life. Her marriage was broken all to pieces, she was not going to let the divorce break her. Tasher quickly discovered that single life was very different from all those years ago. Like many, she initially was scared. Yet she was determined to become Divorce and Scared NO More!

Despite her dyslexia, she decided to share with others things she learned while rebuilding her life. The launch of DASNM.com quickly received a worldwide following. The logo was inspired by a set of broken pilot wings. No two people will have identical situations, hopefully the DASNM series will assist others with the least amount of trepidation, during this difficult transition.

Book one, Divorced and Scared No More: Emotional Support for the Newly Divorced (ISBN: 978-1498465854) is the first installment of the three-part trilogy written to assist readers in post-divorce related matters while providing you the motivation you need to move on.

Book two, Divorced and Scared No More: Practical Advice for the Newly Divorced (ISBN: 978-1498465106) shares views on maintaining cordial relationships with ex-spouses, with a focus on children and extended families. Topics readers can look forward to discovering answers to include: attending special events with your ex-spouse, the impact of divorce on children, ways to arrange custody issues, how to handle separate holidays, and handling finances. You'll find ways to embrace your new found freedom and turn the lemons life threw at you into a Zesty Lemon Sorbet!

Book three, Divorced and Scared No More: Dating After Divorce: From Lemons to Zesty Lemon Sorbet (ISBN: 978-1498465120) shows readers how to turn the lemons of divorce into an experience of acceptance and renewal, carrying this into dating. In this reading, Tasher gives you tools to help you get back out there and find the love that awaits you. Inside this book, you'll gauge your emotional availability to see if you're ready to accept the fun and excitement that comes with dating. Here you'll learn how to put your ex and baggage behind you to engage in the present moment. Divorced and Scared No More: Dating After Divorce: From Lemons to Zesty Lemon Sorbet shows you where to find love, dating safety and how to set up your profiles on dating sites.


Review

This was a series that was full of a lot of great advice for anyone who has either been through a divorce, is going through divorce, or even contemplating divorce.

Divorce is a very difficult time for women. Often times our lives have become so centered around our other halves that we aren't as independent as we once were and are quite frankly scared to face the world alone again. 

I really enjoyed Tasher and the way that she approached the topic. I liked that each installment focused on different parts of the Divorce journey. 





Tasher was divorced on her 26th wedding anniversary, and she embarked on a new life. Her marriage was broken all to pieces, she was not going to let the divorce break her. Tasher quickly discovered that single life was very different from all those years ago. Like many, she initially was scared. Yet she was determined to become Divorce and Scared NO More!
Despite her dyslexia, she decided to share with others things she learned while rebuilding her life. The launch of DASNM.com quickly received a worldwide following. The logo was inspired by a set of broken pilot wings. No two people will have identical situations, hopefully the DASNM series will assist others with the least amount of trepidation, during this difficult transition.
Tasher is not a professional therapist, rather she is sharing because she has “been there and done that” understanding how it FEELS.
Therapist and clinical author Justin Nutt LSCSW, LAC consults as her technical advisor. Insuring everything presented be accurate and quality material while still being a comforting, easy-to-read guide to surviving divorce.

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Thursday, June 30, 2016

PROMO: Bound


Bound
Release Date: 10/19/15

Summary from Goodreads:
Bound by Vengeance.

Sadie has found the resolve to fight the man who caused so much pain in her life. Her tentative alliance with the HCA underground gives her the resources to train both her body and Talent for when she comes face to face with her grandfather.

Bound by Loss.

Being separated from her friends at St Vincent’s is harder than she could have ever realized and it doesn’t help that Kian has withdrawn from her as well. With help from a new friend, Sadie uncovers more about her past and that someone close to her has been keeping secrets from Sadie her entire life.

Bound by Fear.

Tragedy strikes close to home, giving a longstanding enemy, one desperate and willing to do anything to have Sadie on their side, an opportunity to arise. Allies and friends come together to stand against evil, but at a terrible cost. Sadie’s history and future collide while the world is thrown into chaos.

Sadie must overcome or forever be Bound. 


Buy Links:
AmazonBarnes & Noble

Book One:
(cover linked to Goodreads)


About the Author
Hello! Donnielle here. I’m a new indie young adult author. When I’m not writing, I spend my time reading, binge watching Netflix, homeschooling my two children, and hanging out with my husband.

Author Links:
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Friday, June 24, 2016

Blog Tour: Surrender of Trust by @mariel_grey read my #review and enter the #giveaway



Historical Romance / Regency
Date Published: April 15, 2013

Lucy Goodwin knows more about horse breeding than a proper young lady should. Her brother’s thoroughbred business has given her purpose and independence, but when an accident leaves her solely in charge, despair and destruction threaten her every move. Trapped in an impossible position, Lucy must do the right thing and watch their dreams crumble, or save their livelihood at a cost too great to bear. 

Lord Philip Lyton, Marquess of Chalifour is a member of the prestigious Jockey Club, dedicated to eliminating cheating in horse racing. Trouble raises its ugly head when his business partner falls foul of an accident and he’s suddenly forced to deal with the man’s sister, who seems alarmingly out of her depth.

Chalifour respects Lucy’s steely resolve, but knows that single-mindedness can be the most dangerous trait of all. She might be beautiful and beguiling, but Lucy Goodwin is keeping secrets and Chalifour is determined to find out what they are.


Review

I truly enjoyed that Mariel Grey added in horse racing to a Historical Romance novel. I think that reading about that aspect and how it was back then was a different layer of this novel.

The typical Historical Romance elements were well done. The characterization and setting both felt like the time period I was reading about. 

I liked how Lucy wasn't a complete typical naive Historical Romance lead. 


About the Author

From the moment she could put pen to paper, Mariel Grey knew she wanted to be a writer. Like all good adventures however, it didn’t happen overnight; it was after several decades of working in litigation that the desire to create dramatic worlds and characters became too great to ignore. Her first foray into historical romance, Surrender of Trust, explored the grime and glamour of regency horse racing, following the determined but impoverished Lucy Goodwin and upright Lord Chalifour. Her second novel, A Gentleman’s Surrender,  released in January 2016,  introduced the innocent Lady Monique and tortured Mr. Stanton, both struggling to find love in a world filled with deceit.

Though entirely at home in the ballrooms and street alleys of London past, Mariel Grey is currently working on a contemporary story set in Florida, a landscape dear to the author’s heart. When she isn’t conjuring words on her computer screen, Grey can be found on the water fishing, snorkeling, and enjoying the incredible natural beauty of her home.

Mariel has a wonderful husband (the hero of her own romantic story) as well as a mischievous cat (who seems happy to play the role of villain). In addition to being a dutiful wife and animal wrangler, Mariel is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Ancient City Romance Authors chapter.


Contact Links
Twitter: @mariel_grey


Thursday, June 23, 2016

Blog Tour: Synchronicity by @KTjebbenAuthor with a #review


YA supernatural romance novel with NA and contemporary fantasy appeal
Date Published: April 2016

“Hayden is alive.” Those three words hurl Kate and her friends towards a mission unlike any other. While honing Kate’s Asteri powers, Kate and Alex delve deeper into their relationship as they untangle Kate from Sarah’s past. Zoe and Evan are entrusted with the task of destroying a magical ring and finding a cure for a poison that threatens their existence. And Nick is determined to locate and free Hayden from whatever monster imprisons her. Working together, their success will ensure that Hayden will no longer be a ghost sketched on paper, but a woman reborn to thrive in Nick’s arms. 


Purchase Links


Review

This novel and series has a lot of heart and a lot of action. Kate is an interesting lead, she is misunderstood and considered weak yet is such a strong character and I loved that. It was nice getting to know her as a person and not just for things that happen to her. 

I found the plot to be riveting with plenty of twists and turns, drama, and much more along the way. 

The writing style was fluid and fast paced, which I really enjoyed!




Karen Tjebben lives in central North Carolina with her encouraging and supportive husband, twin daughters, and two hamsters. When her girls left for kindergarten, Karen discovered that she needed to fill her days with something, and that was the beginning of her new career in writing. She loves to create worlds filled with unique creatures that she hopes will delight and raise goose bumps on her readers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and seeing the world through her daughters’ eyes.   

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