tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3452802895445619092024-03-13T06:03:55.428-04:00Pure Jonel ~ Confessions of a BibliophileAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.comBlogger2340125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-4005290324562259412016-11-13T04:00:00.000-05:002016-11-13T04:00:13.640-05:00Thank You All!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a long and rewarding journey, but after 4 years and over 2,300 reviews & interviews<i> Pure Jonel: Confessions of a Bibliophile</i> is closing it's doors, figuratively speaking of course. <br />
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Take a moment or two to wander through the archives to see where I've been and what books I recommend.<br />
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Don't worry though. This blog may be closing but you can still find me around on <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/15432163-jonel-boyko">Goodreads</a> </b>reading, reviewing, and chatting. Feel free to look me up there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-20861273863645803132016-11-12T09:44:00.001-05:002016-11-12T09:44:55.750-05:00Guest Post with author Linda Weaver Clarke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The Rebel Series–Stories of Love and Liberty by Linda Weaver Clarke</b><br />There was a time when swashbuckling men and brave women engaged in daring and romantic adventures, those who fought with bravery and valor. These courageous men and women were looked up to because they defended the people.<br /><br />“This creative take on a Robin Hood-like story is charming and touching, and teaches some great morals about agency and choice. It reminded me of childhood fairytales of good versus evil, with a nice romance weaved into it.” –Author Charissa Stastny<br /><br />In <i>The Rebels of Cordovia</i>, a group of men and women who called themselves Robin’s Rebels realize they must help the people survive this oppression. In this battle for freedom, a love story begins to blossom. Daniel, a rogue and a leader of the Freemen, doesn’t realize that the sweet feminine woman he has met and is falling for happens to be the leader of Robin’s Rebels. Realizing the importance of uniting all the rebel groups, Daniel tries to recruit Robin’s Rebels but they refuse. Now he has to find a way to convince them. When he finds out the leader is actually a woman, what will his reaction be?<br /><br />After reading this story, Susan Ortlieb from Suko’s Notebook Reviews wrote: “Linda Weaver Clarke writes with passion and grace, and the love story in this book is simply wonderful. In fact, this aspect of the story was the strongest draw for me. (Are love stories set in the past more romantic than those set in the present day?) I thought that Robin and Daniel sounded perfect for each other, and I enjoyed the steady development of their relationship. This charming book was a pleasure to read, and I relished it.”<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The tales from The Rebel Series have adventure, sweet romance, and delectable kisses. These are stories of love and liberty that takes place between the 18th and 19th Century. In the sequel, <i>The Highwayman of Cordovia</i>, the people enjoy their new-found liberty but all is not well. One year after Cordovia gains its freedom, a group of powerful men plan to take over the small country and replace the leader with a king.<br /><br />With the help of a bold highwayman and a pastor’s daughter, they try to save their country from being taken over by a power-hungry leader. As they strive to stop the Kingmen and thwart their plans, Christine finds herself falling in love with Austin Knight. The only problem with their relationship is that she thinks he is her knight in shining armor instead of a highwayman. If she finds out his trade, what will her reaction be? As a pastor’s daughter, will love override her values?<br /><br />“Linda Weaver Clarke has a storyteller's talent for enchanting and mesmerizing the audience. There are also some exciting surprises and twists that will delight the heart. Definitely a must read!” --Cindi Clubbs, Mommasez Reviews<br /><br /><i>The Highwayman of Cordovia</i>, the second book in The Rebel Series, will be available on Dec 3rd, 2016. Read sample chapters of both books at <a href="http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com/">http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com</a>.<br /><br /><b>About the Author</b><br />Linda Weaver Clarke has traveled throughout the United States, teaching people to write their family history. She is the author of historical romances, mystery/adventure series, a children’s book, and a cozy mystery series. All her books are family friendly. Visit <a href="http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com/">www.lindaweaverclarke.com</a>. <br /><br />Watch a book Trailer below!<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/189211843">The Rebels of Cordovia</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/lindawclarke">Linda Weaver Clarke</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-5017739720012094722016-11-10T21:00:00.002-05:002016-11-10T21:00:32.977-05:00A Texas Cowboy's Christmas & Q&A with author Cathy Gillen Thacker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>1) How did you come up with the relationship between Molly and Chance? </b><div>
I imagined two business rivals—a single mom/general contractor designer and a bull rancher/general contractor, both vying for the same job, who also have a history of really rubbing each other the wrong way. She thinks money buys happiness and he has grown up with wealth and knows that is not the case. Things really heat up when, a few days before Thanksgiving, her son decides he wants Santa to bring him a live baby bull for Christmas—just like the one Cowboy Chance has—and Chance does nothing to disabuse him of the notion.<br /><br /><b>2) What is your favorite part about writing holiday books? </b></div>
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It makes me think about what each holiday means, and or should mean—and gets me in the spirit of the season, too!<br /><br /><b>3) Do you have a signature Thanksgiving dish? </b></div>
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I make a great traditional dinner every year for the family--roast turkey and sage stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, fresh cranberry sauce, corn and zucchini saute, rolls, and then pumpkin, chocolate, pecan and chocolate chip pecan pies. Then I take a nap….:-)<br /><br /><b>4) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? </b></div>
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I was 11 when I began crafting stories on paper. I think I always made up stories in my head before that, though. I was 21 when I started writing in earnest and 26 when my first novel was published. I wrote 7 full length novels before finally selling my first, and have sold steadily ever since—although not every idea gets picked up by my publisher.<br /><br /><b>5) How long does it take you to write a book? </b></div>
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3-4 months for a short contemporary, and 6 months for a long contemporary.<br /><br /><b>6) Where do you get your inspiration for Bullhaven Ranch? </b></div>
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I read an article on bucking bulls and the people who invest in them, and my research took it from there. I was amazed that for many families their bucking bulls are like pets to them—not the feared, angry snorting animals you see in the movies. They’re great in the ring, because they are trained to buck a rider off, but docile and sweet and loving otherwise.<br /><br /><b>7) How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite? </b></div>
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I’ve authored 120 published novels. My favorite book is usually the one I have just finished.<br /><br /><b>8) What book are you reading right now? </b></div>
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SOMEWHERE SAFE WITH SOMEBODY GOOD by Jan Karon. I love the adventures of Timothy and Cynthia. I also picked up the new Maria Semple book, TODAY WILL BE DIFFERENT.<br /><br /><b>9) What are your current projects? </b></div>
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I am finishing up book #4 in the Texas Legacies: The Lockharts, a new Laramie, Texas series. It’s about Lucille Lockhart and her five adult offspring, who have all returned to her home county in rural Texas, to claim their inheritance, and find out what really matters most to them. (It’s not what they thought.)<br /><br /><b>10) What advice do you have for writers? </b></div>
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Read as much as possible. Newspapers, magazines, blogs, novels in and out of the genre you are writing in, biographies, memoirs. Really, anything that interests you. Then write every day. Finish what you write. It’s easy to begin a story, not so easy to see it through to the end, and seeing it through to the end is what teaches you the craft of writing. Then start the next project, while you try and sell the finished one.<br /><br /> <b>About the author:</b></div>
CATHY GILLEN THACKER is a full-time wife, mother and author who began writing stories for her own amusement during "nap time" when her children were toddlers. Twenty years and more than 50 published novels later, Cathy is almost as well-known for her witty romantic comedies and warm, family stories as she is for her ability to get grass stains and red clay out of almost anything, her triple layer brownies, and her knack for knowing what her husband and children are up to almost before they do! Find out more by checking <a href="http://www.cathygillenthacker.com/">Cathy’s website</a>.<div>
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Title: </b>A Texas Cowboy's Christmas<br /><b> Series: </b>Texas Legacies: The Lockharts<br /><b> Author: </b>Cathy Gillen Thacker<br /><b> Publication Date: </b>November 8th 2016 by Harlequin<br /><b> Length: </b>224pgs<br /><b> Genre: </b>contemporary romance<br /><b> Shelf: </b>review<br /><b> My Rating: ★★★★</b><br /><b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29870165-a-texas-cowboy-s-christmas">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Cowboys-Christmas-Legacies-Lockharts/dp/0373757336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478828228&sr=8-1&keywords=a+texas+cowboy%27s+christmas">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Texas-Cowboys-Christmas-Legacies-Lockharts-ebook/dp/B01ERPUJPO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478828241&sr=8-1&keywords=a+texas+cowboy%27s+christmas">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-texas-cowboys-christmas-cathy-gillen-thacker/1123664823?ean=9780373757336">B&N</a> - <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/a-texas-cowboy-s-christmas">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/a-texas-cowboys-christmas/9780373757336-item.html?ikwid=a+texas+cowboy%27s+christmas&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cathy_Gillen_Thacker_A_Texas_Cowboy_s_Christmas?id=a50TDAAAQBAJ">Google Play</a><br /> <br /><b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><div>
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A GIFT AS BIG AS TEXAS <br /><br />Molly Griffith is ambitious and only wants to give her little boy the opportunities she never had. Which means moving to Dallas, no matter what Chance Lockhart says! Though being with the handsome rancher does make the idea of small-town life more tempting… <br /><br />Molly has always gotten under Chance's skin, and now that he's bonded with her little tyke, he can't imagine Bullhaven Ranch without them. But the single mom is so focused on her big-city fairy tale, she could miss Chance's offer of the most important gift of all—the love and support of a real family.<div>
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<b>My Review:</b></div>
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Family drama meets romance in this intimate tale that I enjoyed during a rainy afternoon. Thacker’s vivid descriptions and solid narrative bring everything to life in a big way. The plot was interesting and unique, without ever becoming convoluted. This was a nice, quick, crisp read. <br /><br />The characters that Thacker develops here were interesting individuals. My heart went out to them more than once. This character-centric novel was not only heartfelt, but also fun. This novel is a prime example as to why Thacker is a go-to author for western romance. I love how she develops the characters so individually while also fulfilling readers with this intimate plot. <br /><br />All in all this was a good, solid novel that I had fun with. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a nice, light, and at times swoon worthy novel.<br /><div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-87503153696009304822016-11-10T07:34:00.001-05:002016-11-10T07:34:12.883-05:00Amish Christmas Blessings & Q&A with authors Marta Perry & Jo Ann Brown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>1) How did you come up with the relationship between Anna and Benjamin?</b><br />
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When I started thinking about writing this story, I began with Anna as the young midwife who was dedicated to her calling but still struggling for acceptance. I liked the character, with all her vulnerability, but I needed to find a hero who would complement her. So I began considering a man who had left the Amish to explore the outside world. They are both daring, in a way, but while Anna finds strength and satisfaction in her faith, Benjamin has looked for satisfaction in the outside world, only to find that what he really wants is home. The idea that the two of them had a past relationship which no one else knew about jumped into being when I started putting them on the page—one of those delightful things that surprise the author!<br />
<b><br />2) What is your favorite part about writing holiday books? </b></div>
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I’m a traditionalist, so I like to celebrate each holiday in the same way every year. Christmas brings back lovely memories of Christmases past—being a child on Christmas morning, seeing my own children with their eyes shining, and now enjoying my grandchildren’s awe and wonder. When I write a holiday book I get to experience it all over again through my characters.<br />
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<b>3) Do you have a signature Thanksgiving dish? </b></div>
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The dish I consider my specialty for Thanksgiving is my pecan-crusted sweet potato casserole. For some reason, sweet potato casseroles come in long after the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy in the Thanksgiving popularity pool, but I love the sweetness of the potatoes contrasted with the crunchy brown sugar pecan topping. If no one else wanted it, I’d eat it all myself!<br />
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<b>4) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?</b> </div>
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When I was about eight, we moved to a community that had a wonderful library. My mother soon realized that she had a bookworm on her hands, and we spend many happy hours there enjoying stories together. But it was when I picked up my first Nancy Drew mystery that the longing struck. Most little girls read the books and want to be Nancy. I read that first one and wanted to be the person who created her. While I’ve never written a Nancy Drew mystery, I still owe her a great deal.<br />
<b><br />5) How long does it take you to write a book?</b> </div>
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I think about the idea for a book for a long time before I’m actually ready to start writing, but I guess I can’t count that time! As for the actual writing, I allow myself three months for a shorter novel, like a Love Inspired, and four-five months for a longer book, like the romantic suspense novels I write for HQN Books.<br />
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<b>6) Where do you get your inspiration for Lost Creek’s Amish community?</b> </div>
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When I write about the Amish, I always write about Pennsylvania Amish, because that’s what I know. In recent years, more Amish families have been moving into our area of north central Pennsylvania and even farther north. So it was an easy choice for me to set my fictional Lost Creek in a valley very like the one in which I live. If I want to know what the scenery looks like, I just glance out the window.<br />
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<b>7) How many books have you written? </b></div>
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I’ve had over sixty books published, as well as writing a few that never saw the light of day! Do you have a favorite? It’s very hard to pick a favorite, since that’s like choosing among my children. I think my favorite book is actually always the one I’m going to write next!<br />
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<b>8) What book are you reading right now? </b></div>
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Right now I’m reading “The Friendly Air,” a romance by Elizabeth Cadell that was written some years ago. I recently discovered that those older books are seeing new life as e-books, and it’s delightful to re-discover books I once loved.<br />
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<b>9) What are your current projects? </b></div>
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I’m writing a Lost Creek book for Love Inspired, tentatively called, “His Last Love,” as well as doing revisions on my forthcoming Amish romantic suspense, “Echo of Danger,” which will be out from HQN Books in May.<br />
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<b>10) What advice do you have for writers? </b></div>
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Read what you want to write, but also read much more widely, especially non-fiction. You never know when two seemingly unrelated topics will come together in your imagination to create a book, and it will be something that isn’t exactly like everything else the editor has seen.<br />
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<b>About the author:</b></div>
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MARTA PERRY is a Pennsylvania-based author of more than 35 novels, many of them inspirational romances. She uses her rural Pennsylvania life and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage in writing her books, especially in her Pleasant Valley Amish series for Berkley Books and her new Amish-set suspense series for HQN Books. Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.<br />
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<b>1) How did you come up with the relationship between Amos and Linda?</b><br />
JAB: Because the novella is part of my Amish Hearts series, I knew one of the Stoltzfus brothers would be the hero. It seemed like it was the turn for Amos, the brother who owns the general/grocery store at the Stoltzfus Family Shops in my imaginary Lancaster County town of Paradise Springs. Because readers wouldn't know a lot about him at the beginning because he's not been front and center in the previous titles, I decided to give him a heroine who knew nothing about herself. I hoped the readers would find it interesting to learn about the two of them together. As I'd suffered from a short-term memory loss (after an accident) thirty years ago, it seemed like a "natural" fit for Linda to go through some of what I went through.<br />
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<b>2) What is your favorite part about writing holiday books?</b></div>
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JAB: It gives me a chance to celebrate the holiday twice in one year. While working on the novella, I had Christmas music on and simply enjoyed letting Christmas go from the "twelve days of" to an extra couple of months.<br />
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<b>3) Do you have a signature Thanksgiving dish?</b><br />
JAB: I do. I make what we call graham cracker pie. My grandmother made it every year for Thanksgiving, and I now do the same. It's simple -- graham cracker crust, vanilla pudding filling and meringue topping, but everyone in the family considers it an absolute necessity for the end of the meal.<br />
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<b>4) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?</b><br />
JAB: I always spun stories for my younger sisters, but I finally put pen to paper when I was around 12. I was supposed to be doing a history assignment about the trans-Atlantic emigration, and, all of the sudden, the story of a 12-year-old girl making that journey filled my head. I wrote my first novel in high school and have since buried it at the back of my file cabinet.<br />
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<b>5) How long does it take you to write a book?</b><br />
JAB: It depends on the book and how the characters and story cooperate with me. Usually I can write the first draft in around 4 weeks. Then it needs to sit while I get disconnected with the story and start something else so I can come back for the final draft with fresh eyes.<br />
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<b>6) Where do you get your inspiration for the Stoltzfus Family Shops?</b><br />
JAB: The Amish are close-knit, and they drive buggies and make other decisions in the hopes of being able to spend more time together. So I thought: If all these brothers needed to make a living off the family farm, how would they keep that family closeness and still have learned skills to provide for themselves and family? Having them all working nearby allows the brothers to pop in and out of each other's stories.<br />
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<b>7) How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?</b><br />
JAB: Over 110 books. My favorite is always the one I'm going to write next because I'm excited about spending time with the characters and to see how the story unfolds.<br />
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<b>8) What book are you reading right now?</b><br />
JAB: I'm reading science fiction at the moment -- just started Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough's Power Play. I never can read what I'm currently writing.<br />
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<b>9) What are your current projects?</b><br />
JAB: I'm currently writing the 6th book in the Amish Hearts series. It's the story of Micah (the next to last brother in the family) and the girl who broke his heart, but now needs his help.<br />
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<b>10) What advice do you have for writers?</b><br />
JAB: Read, read, read and write, write, write. Repeat. Also don't think that every word you've written is golden. Any project can be made better through hard work and good editing.<br />
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<b>About the author:</b><br />
JO ANN BROWN is a lifelong storyteller and the award-winning author of numerous romantic novels. She also writes as Marianne Ellis. A former U.S. Army officer, she has taught creative writing at Brown University and is thrilled whenever one of her students publishes. She is active in adoptive family support. She currently lives in Nevada with her family, which includes one very spoiled cat.<br />
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<b>Title: </b>Amish Christmas Blessings: The Midwife's Christmas Surprise\A Christmas to Remember<b><br /> Author: </b>Marta Perry & Jo Ann Brown<br /><b> Publication Date: </b>October 18th 2016 by Love Inspired<br /><b> Length: </b>224pgs<br /><b> Genre: </b>contemporary romance<br /><b> Shelf: </b>review<br /><b> My Rating: ★★★★</b><br /><b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30073018-amish-christmas-blessings?from_search=true">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Amish-Christmas-Blessings-Midwifes-Surprise/dp/0373719884/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478779914&sr=8-1&keywords=an+amish+christmas+blessing">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Amish-Christmas-Blessings-Midwifes-Surprise-ebook/dp/B01F1R4WUU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478779970&sr=8-1&keywords=amish+christmas+blessing">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/amish-christmas-blessings-marta-perry/1123748344?ean=9780373719884">B&N</a> - <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/amish-christmas-blessings">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/amish-christmas-blessings-the-midwifes/9780373819430-item.html?ikwid=amish+christmas+blessings&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Marta_Perry_Amish_Christmas_Blessings?id=AzkaDAAAQBAJ">Google Play </a><br /> <br /><b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><br />
Holiday Greetings From Amish Country <br /><br /><i>The Midwife's Christmas Surprise by Marta Perry </i><br /><br />Three years ago, the man Anna Zook hoped to marry left her and their Amish community for the English world. Now devoted to proving her abilities as a midwife, Anna has given up on marriage and children for herself. But when Benjamin Miller returns, now a changed man, can delivering a Christmas baby reunite these two hurting hearts? <br /><br /><i>A Christmas to Remember by Jo Ann Brown </i><br /><br />When a little girl leads shop owner Amos Stoltzfus to an Amish woman in distress, he rushes them to his family's farm. "Linda" has no memory and doesn't know if the sweet child is her daughter or even her kin. As Christmas arrives and Linda's identity is revealed, will Amos be able to claim his holiday guests as his own?<br /><br /><b>My Review:</b><br />
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These stories were simultaneously lighthearted and heartbreaking. Love and loss are forever linked in ways that readers can’t escape. The story was emotionally turbulent, highlighting aspects of the characters and their lives. Both authors also had me in stitches with this one. The balance of hope and loss was phenomenal.<br /><br />I loved the mix of characters in this novel. Love Inspire tales by these two never fail to draw you to the characters, warm your heart while giving you a peak at that perfect, fantasy romance, that’s never ‘too perfect.’ </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-8079565238025160972016-11-09T07:10:00.002-05:002016-11-09T07:10:25.977-05:00A Child Under His Tree & Q&A with author Allison Leigh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>How did you come up with the relationship between Kelly and Dr. Caleb?</b><br />Kelly and Caleb’s high-school relationship was introduced several years ago in The Rancher’s Dance. At the time, I can’t say that I intended to reunite them in their own story, but the more I thought about it, the stronger appeal it had. <br /><br /><b>What is your favorite part about writing holiday books?</b><br />It’s fun to wrap holiday trappings around romances. The “feel good” sense that people have that time of year is a sharp contrast for those in turmoil.<br /><br /><b>Do you have a signature Thanksgiving dish?</b><br />Oh, goodness. My signature anything out of the kitchen tends to be a dessert. So I would have to say it would be an early sampling of my Christmas Storybook Cookies, which are decorated sugar-cookie cut-outs. I can’t take credit for the name of the cookies—that comes from a really ancient magazine (I’ve been making them since I was a teenager), but I like to think it’s fitting for me as a writer. Ha! I also almost always make my Fudge Drop cookies, too, which are a lot less work and equally loved by my family year-round. <br /><br /><b>When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?</b><br />Second grade. Hands down. But as I got older, I didn’t really think I could be a “real” writer until I actually sold my first book, Stay…. (This is NOT the advice I give aspiring writers, by the way.)<br /><br /><b>How long does it take you to write a book?</b><br />When I’m in the midst of one? It seems to take forever. Ha! I don’t have the luxury of writing every single day, so that means I have to be diligent when planning my writing time. I’m a terrible procrastinator and know that I work better under pressure. (Don’t know what that says about me psychologically, but there you have it.) All that being said, it takes me anywhere from 15-20 very long writing days to finish a manuscript. This is assuming that I have a fully fleshed-out synopsis first.<br /><br /><b>Where do you get your inspiration for Weaver, Wyoming?</b><br />As a girl, I lived for a few years in a small town in Wyoming. It made an impression, to say the least. I love small towns and I love open spaces. Weaver is my mind’s perfect fantasy location.<br /><br /><b>How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?</b><br /><i>Fortune’s June Bride</i> in 2015 was my 50th. So that makes <i>A Child Under His Tree</i> my 52nd. Hard to believe. I can’t say that I have a true favorite, but obviously Stay… was pretty important as it was not only my first book, but my first book set in Weaver, Wyoming. A lot of books have come as a result.<br /><br /><b>What book are you reading right now? </b><br />Right now, I’m actually reading two: a non-fiction book called <i>None Braver</i> by Michael Hirsh and a romantic suspense by Karen Robards called <i>The Last Time I Saw Her</i>. Enjoying them both.<br /><br /><b>What are your current projects?</b><br />Currently, I’m finishing <i>Wild West Fortune</i>, which is one of the terrific Fortunes of Texas series of which I’ve been so fortunate to be a part. Hard on the heels of that will be my next Double C title. Both to be released in 2017.<br /><br /><b>What advice do you have for writers?</b><br />First off—if you write, you are a writer. (Don’t take my path of not taking yourself seriously as a writer unless you’ve sold a book.) But if you want to be a PUBLISHED writer…then write what you love. And finish what you write. You won’t ever get there if you don’t sit your rear in the chair and actually do the work. I love writing. I really do. But doing the work? That’s not always champagne and roses. It’s hard. It takes time. It takes effort. But when you write those last words of the manuscript and know you’ve given it your all? It’s one of the best feelings in the world.<div>
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<b>About the author:</b></div>
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ALLISON LEIGH'S high point as a writer is hearing from readers that they laughed, cried or lost sleep while reading her books. She makes her home in Arizona where she’s blessed with an immensely patient family who doesn’t mind (much) her time spent at her computer and who gives her the kind of love she wants her readers to share in every page. Stay in touch at <a href="http://www.allisonleigh.com/">http://www.allisonleigh.com</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/allisonleighbks">@allisonleighbks</a>.<div>
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<b>Title: </b>A Child Under His Tree<br /><b> Series: </b>Return to the Double C Ranch #15<br /><b> Author: </b>Allison Leigh<br /><b> Publication Date: </b>November 1st 2016 by Harlequin Special Edition<br /><b> Length: </b>224pgs<br /><b> Genre: </b>contemporary romance<br /><b> Shelf: </b>review<br /><b> My Rating: ★★★★</b><br /><b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30618788-a-child-under-his-tree?from_search=true">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Child-Under-Tree-Return-Double/dp/0373659911/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478690283&sr=8-1&keywords=a+child+under+his+tree">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Child-Under-Tree-Return-Double-ebook/dp/B01DSPOWCU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478690298&sr=8-1&keywords=a+child+under+his+tree">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-child-under-his-tree-allison-leigh/1123625871?ean=9780373659913">B&N</a> - <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/a-child-under-his-tree">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/a-child-under-his-tree/9780373659913-item.html?ikwid=a+child+under+his+tree&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Allison_Leigh_A_Child_Under_His_Tree?id=_AniCwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a><br /> <br /><b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><div>
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'Tis the season for second chances…and secrets! <br /><br />Forget the mistletoe maneuvers. Kelly Rasmussen isn't planning on having that reunion kiss with Dr. Caleb Buchanan any time soon. Things had long ago gone south for these former high school sweethearts. Except for that one night six years ago—which resulted in an explosive secret Kelly's kept till this very day. <br /><br />Now career and family have brought them both back to Weaver, Wyoming. Their unavoidable clashes—and instant chemistry—make them realize this town isn't big enough for the two of them. Or three of them—counting Kelly's son. Because there's something about that little boy… For one thing, he has Caleb's eyes… <div>
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The in-depth scene development of this story really drew me in. I could picture so many different aspects of the story. I felt as if I were part of the community, rather than just a bystander. <br /><br />Leigh's intricate character development leaves you with a sense of what really makes everyone tick, without bogging you down with irrelevant details. The complex relationships between the characters, really made me consider all aspects of the situations at hand. The relationship between the main characters is a rollercoaster that in turn made me laugh, cringe, & want to sit them in a room alone together so they have to talk. That said, the story really could have used a bit more background on the relationship between them. We only get the basics, and none of the why's and how's. <br /><br />As a whole, this was a fantastic read that has me hooked on this new to me author. I can’t wait to return to this intricate world that she's created.<br /><div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-1821518354730501722016-11-08T04:00:00.000-05:002016-11-08T04:00:12.142-05:00Guest Post with author Ellen Chauvet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>When Does a Writer Become a Writer by Ellen Chauvet</b><br />The Inimitable Anne Rice<br /><br />There are hundreds of articles out there on “How to Become a Writer”, but as I did my research for this blog, nowhere could I find an unequivocal answer on when that happens. Is it when we first put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard)? We’ve written our first draft, am I a writer now? Or when after months (sometimes years) of rewrites we have a product ready to go to Beta readers? Perhaps it’s when we’ve done all the editing, polishing, agonizing over and finally we’re sure our baby is ready to go to a publisher? Can you start to see this could be a never ending process?<br /><br />So, when IS that magic moment when we can finally declare “I am a writer”? The secret may be in that definitive word “declare or declaration”.<br /><br />DEFINITIVE: Conclusive, Final, Decisive, Ultimate, Absolute, Complete<br /><br />DECLARE/DECLARATION: State, Announce, Assert, Affirm, Pronounce, Proclaim AND, my favorite of all STATE PUBLICLY.<br /><br />I AM A WRITER!!!<br /><br />Tell your friends, tell your family, share it on social media, share it with writing groups. Get it out of your head and into the public. <br /><br />And then there must be ACTION.<br /><br />Action that is consistent with our declaration of being a writer. For example:<br /><br />1. Make time to write every day – even if it’s only 10 minutes. It’s the practice that makes a difference.<br /><br />2. Ignore your inner critic – this voice can sometimes be so loud it’s overwhelming, but if you can learn to tell it to sit down and shut up, you’ve taken a huge step in the right direction.<br /><br />3. Write first – edit later. Remember, you are not an editor, so don’t waste your time editing as you write. Just keep writing, leave the editing to a professional.<br /><br />4. Keep learning – join a writing group/groups (there are tons out there on the internet who want to support you), take a writing class, hire a writing coach. This was probably one of the most important things I did when I first started writing. I hired a coach and I took her coaching (the other key element). <br /><br />5. Attend a conference. There are some wonderful conferences out there. Do your research and decide which one is best for you.<br /><br />6. Be YOU – there is no one else quite like you.<br /><br />7. Get published. Send out submissions or decide to self-publish.<br /><br />8. BUILD AN AUTHOR PLATFORM AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE. Choose 1 or 2 social media opportunities (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest) and work them every day. If you don’t know what an author platform is, google it, or ask a writer you admire and follow. I can’t stress enough how important an author platform is and this can often be the most difficult part of being a writer.<br /><br />1. Have fun!!! Enjoy being a writer. <br /><br />2. Set goals. Some writers find doing a 1,000 word challenge a day inspiring and productive. But whatever challenge you create it has to work for you. <br /><br />“A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.” <br /><br />Harvey McKay<br /><br />And remember, perhaps the biggest hurdle for writers is getting past the internal dialogue of “I can’t”, “Nobody will want to read my work”, “It has to be perfect (or) it isn’t perfect”, “What I have to say isn’t interesting enough”, and so on. We are our own worst enemy.<br /><br />What you have to say matters, so happy writing everyone.<br /><br /><b>About the author:</b><div>
<b><br /></b>Ellen lives in Vancouver, British Columbia and finds the months of rain and gloom particularly conducive to creating in this genre. Ellen’s love for reading and writing developed at an early age and she wrote several short stories and plays which were lost over the years and many moves. In 2003 a friend introduced her to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Ellen was fascinated by the idea of good and evil vampires. At that point she started reading every vampire novel she could find, particularly loving Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris and Laurell K. Hamilton. “When Darkness Falls” is the first in a series of books called The Vampire Redemption Series and is adult fiction. <br /><br /><b>Connect with Ellen:</b>Blog: <a href="http://ellenchauvet.wordpress.com/">http://ellenchauvet.wordpress.com</a><br />Web: <a href="http://www.ellenchauvet.com/">www.ellenchauvet.com</a><br /><br /><b>Available on Amazon and Goodreads: </b>Kindle: <a href="http://amzn.com/B01D4WYV96">http://amzn.com/B01D4WYV96</a> <br />Create Space: <a href="http://www.createspace.com/6145373">www.createspace.com/6145373</a> (Amazon’s print version) <br />Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29585481-when-darkness-falls">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29585481-when-darkness-falls</a><br /><br /><div class="MsoListParagraph">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-14807931866676884572016-11-07T07:20:00.002-05:002016-11-07T07:20:36.039-05:00Tainted by Christina Phillips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>Tainted<br /><b> Series: </b>The Druid Chronicles #4<br /><b> Author: </b>Christina Phillips<br /><b> Publication Date: </b>November 7th 2016 by Phoenix 18 Publishing (first published August 28th 2013)<br /><b> Length: </b>360pgs<br /><b> Genre: </b>historical romance<br /><b> Shelf: </b>review<br /><b> My Rating: ★★★★</b><br /><b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30987761-tainted?from_search=true">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tainted-Druid-Chronicles-Book-4-ebook/dp/B01M5ART1R/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478520874&sr=8-1&keywords=tainted+phillips">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Tainted-Druid-Chronicles-Book-4-ebook/dp/B01M5ART1R/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478520973&sr=8-1&keywords=tainted+phillips">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/tainted-46">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/tainted-the-druid-chronicles-4/9781533704689-item.html?ikwid=tainted+phillips&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a><br /> <br /><b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><div>
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A dangerous love that Rome will never allow…<br /><br />Driven by the knowledge he failed to protect his king, Druid warrior Gawain abandons his gods and vows to destroy the Roman invaders by any means possible.<br /><br />Nothing and no one is more important than protecting his fellow Druids from the enemy until he meets the beautiful Roman patrician, Antonia. She is everything he’s never wanted in a woman, yet she fascinates him like no other. Despite the danger of discovery he embarks on an illicit liaison with her, determined to uncover the reason for the infinite sorrow that haunts her eyes.<br /><br />Newly arrived in Britannia from Rome, Antonia is inexplicably drawn to the cold, tough Celt. His touch stirs a passion she long thought died at the hands of her brutal former husband and his unexpected tenderness thaws her frozen heart. But she hides a deadly secret that could be her undoing, and knows her growing feelings for him can lead nowhere. Yet when a shadow from her past threatens her future Antonia is torn between the Empire of her birth and betraying Gawain, the man she’s grown to love.<div>
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Phillips has put together yet another breathtaking portrayal of forbidden love during the Roman expansion into Britannia. Her fluid writing draws you in and paints a very vivid picture for you. As a reader you can walk along with the characters through their very unique tale. Illusion runs rampant as Phillips builds scenes that you can walk through and trials you feel like you’ve experienced yourself. Everything combines in a racy, provocative, emotionally charged novel you’ll love.<br /><br />It was very nice to be able to immerse myself in the perspective of both the male and female leads of this story. It gives a very well rounded feel to their relationship and the story as a whole. Not only do we get the views of the opposing sexes, but we also get the views of two different cultures at war. And from the ruling class of each to boot! This gives the readers a unique look at the time period and it’s challenges while keeping you thoroughly entertained.<br /><br />I also absolutely love the characters in this novel. They’re so well developed that you can’t help but get to know them as you would your friends and neighbours. The naivety combined with worldly experience that Phillips presents through her characters is a heady combination in this story.<br /><br />Overall, political turmoil mixes with romance and personal dilemmas to create a hot story you won’t soon forget.<br /><div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-77492306429043729872016-11-06T04:00:00.000-05:002016-11-12T10:04:32.108-05:00Brea's Tale by Anthea Sharp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>Brea's Tale<br /><b> Series: </b>A Feyland Novella (Feyguard)<br /><b> Author: </b>Anthea Sharp<br /><b> Publication Date: </b>October 28th 2016 by Fiddlehead Press<br /><b> Length: </b>59pgs<br /><b> Genre: </b>YA Fantasy<br /><b> Shelf: </b>review<br /><b> My Rating: ★★★★★</b><br /><b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32806119-brea-s-tale">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Breas-Tale-Feyland-Novella-Feyguard-ebook/dp/B01M2AQW8L/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478962021&sr=8-1&keywords=brea%27s+tale">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Breas-Tale-Feyland-Novella-Feyguard-ebook/dp/B01M2AQW8L/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478962028&sr=8-1&keywords=brea%27s+tale">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breas-tale-anthea-sharp/1125023460?ean=2940156759897">B&N</a> - <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/brea-s-tale">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/breas-tale/9781680130492-item.html?ikwid=brea%27s+tale&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anthea_Sharp_Brea_s_Tale?id=kihmDQAAQBAJ">Google Play</a> – <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/676556">Smashwords</a><br /> <br /><b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><div>
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<i>~A novella set in the USA Today bestselling world of Feyland, where faerie magic collides with a high-tech human world~</i><br />Once a mortal girl, Brea Cairgead discovers her magical heritage and escapes the human world to dwell in the Realm of Faerie. But fate has more in store for Brea than a simple existence as one of the fey folk, and when she runs afoul of the Dark Queen, she must embark on an adventure that will change her future... forever. <div>
<br /><i>Approximately 65 pages. Portions of this story previously appeared in the Shapeshifter Chronicles, the Nightshade Anthology, and Chronicle Worlds: Feyland. </i></div>
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I cannot say just how much I enjoyed this novella. This quick trip back into Feyland was one that I couldn't put down and was sad to see end. I loved how Sharp continued to develop the different types of magic that those from Faerie are able to use and how differently they manifest in each individual. We also get to see parts of Faerie that aren't quite so apparent in the main novels in the series, but that explain a whole lot about the why's and how's of things.</div>
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And Brea was a fantastic main character for this novella. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and what it means to be part human and part Faerie. Her personality was so unique that she really drew me in. Her actions and reactions were genuine yet not predictable.</div>
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As a whole this was a fantastic read both as part of the Feyguard series and for those new to this world. It's a must read for any and all who enjoy the genre and if you're anything like me it will leave you dying for the next tale.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-90077502905558372202016-11-05T04:00:00.000-04:002016-11-05T04:00:03.739-04:00Interview with author Barbara Underwood - Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about yourself?</b><br />
A: OK, I’ll try not to make this boring! I’m from Sydney, Australia, and have been writing just for the fun of it since 4th grade. When I began writing about my travels during my 20s, friends who read them kept saying “You should write a book!” so one day I took it seriously and did a correspondence course in professional writing. Besides writing, my other passions in life are art (I sketch, paint in oils and other mediums) and music: I listen to all kinds of music, and I used to play several stringed instruments, including the 5-string banjo when I went through my Bluegrass phase! Nowadays I’m doing mostly just writing and art, crosswords and Sudoku to unwind, and a bit of family genealogy research just because it’s interesting and fun.<br />
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<b>Q ~ What’s something that you never leave home without?</b><br />
A: I suppose you expect me to say that I always carry pen and paper with me in case I get a brilliant idea for my books. Actually, I do, along with my purse/handbag which I always take, but I’ve only used that pen & paper once so far. What I really can’t leave home without is...well, it’s a bit embarrassing... tissues. I hate the thought of not having anything to wipe or blow my nose, especially in hayfever season!!<br />
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<b>Q ~ List two books you’ve read more than three times.</b><br />
A: Uhm...I don’t think I’ve ever read any book more than twice! I think it’s because I’m always reading new stuff, both fiction and non-fiction.<br />
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<b>Q~ Who is your favorite literary villain and why? </b><br />
A: Can I include the villain of my own series?! In my series, the Dark Master is my favourite type of villain because he has believable motives for what he does, even if they cause misery or even death for others. That makes a villain intriguing because you can almost sort of understand him or relate to him a bit.<br />
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<b>Q ~ What was the first romance novel that you ever read?</b> <br />
A: Oops – I don’t think I’ve ever read a straight-out Romance novel. I’ve always been more interested in ghost stories, mysteries and adventure, just like I always preferred cars and trains to dolls when growing up! <br />
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<b>Q ~ What’s the best interaction you’ve ever had with a fan?</b><br />
A: Just recently, actually, a reader contacted me on Facebook just to say that she thought my first book, which she had just finished reading, was “a Masterpiece” so that was definitely the best feedback/interaction so far!<br />
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<b>Q ~ What does your family think of your writing?</b><br />
A: Couldn’t be better! My husband is also a writer, so it’s an ideal situation because we understand each other’s ups and downs, problems and frustrations, but also the highs, and we can be happy for the other’s success and creative work.<br />
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<b>Q ~ What is one thing that you absolutely need when writing?</b><br />
A: My glasses! Apart from that, I need to be in a comfortable environment: comfortable chair, not too hot or cold...that sort of thing. <br />
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<b>Q ~ How do you decide on the setting of your book?</b><br />
A: As I started out basing my Urban Fantasy series on historical legend, myth and some fact, I’m continuing to use elements of real life and history for my settings. Rhuna lives in the time of Atlantis, when they were able to travel all over the world with their advanced technology, so I’m using places with ancient history as inspiration for the settings. Books 2 & 3 are set in Ancient Egypt, which readers will recognize. The next book, which I’m working on right now, is set in Ancient India, which might not be too obvious, but I’m also using bits of history and legend for this setting.<br />
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<b>Q ~ Can you tell us a little bit about your latest release and what inspired you to write it?</b><br />
A: My latest book, “Rhuna, The Star Child” is the sequel to “Rhuna: Crossroads” and both are set in Ancient Egypt. The latest book follows on from the previous one, but also opens some new doors for Rhuna to go through and explore, as well as meeting her father whom she believed was dead. The climax at the end is the situation that forces Rhuna to leave Ancient Egypt and go to mysterious India. (The places all have different names, so you don’t need to know history or geography to appreciate Rhuna’s adventures!)<br />
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<b>Q ~ Is anything in your new release based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?</b> A: Even though it’s Fantasy, there is a lot of real life in each of my books, and many things are from my own life experience, just altered a bit here and there. The latest book draws on situations I’ve either experienced first hand, or was involved with, such as Rhuna’s teenage daughter falling in love with a much older man whose reputation is not exactly perfect. <br />
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<b>Q ~ Do you prefer to write in a small town or big city setting? Why?</b><br />
A: Probably a big city because there’s more going on, more people and events for my characters to interact with, but in the book I’m currently writing, Rhuna lives in a beautiful country house on a lake for a while. This setting contrasts with other things happening in the book, and while I enjoy writing about country life (I lived in a big city all my life until 5 years ago, and now live in a pretty country town in the mountains) it still depends on the plot and story a lot.<br />
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<b>Q ~ If you were stranded on a desert island with one of your characters (from any novel you’ve written) who would you choose and why?</b><br />
A: I’d choose Goram because he’s enough of a bad guy to get any messy business done properly, but enough of a good guy to feel safe with. <br />
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<b>Q ~ What are you working on next?</b><br />
A: The fourth book in the Rhuna series, while at the same time planning the 5th! If I have the energy, I might also write a short story featuring Rhuna, which is exclusive to my newsletter subscribers. I’ve already written one, so I’m planning another one in the next 6 months or so.<br />
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<b>Q ~ If you could give aspiring authors one piece of advice, what would it be?</b><br />
A: Just keep writing and don’t give up your dream, if you really believe in it!<br />
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<b>About the author:</b></div>
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Barbara Underwood was born and raised in Sydney, Australia; the only child of German migrants who provided a rich and diverse childhood environment. Already in third grade she wrote a short children's book for a class project and realized that she was deeply satisfied with creating stories. In sixth grade, for another class project, her teacher was so impressed by the lengthy story she submitted, that he commented at the end "I see we are going to have another author". <br />
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Over the years Barbara kept writing one thing or another, but only as a hobby while she pursued other interests and goals. In the 1990s, she completed a correspondence course in professional writing, doing it in her spare time after work. This led to having a few short stories published, but what she really wanted to do was write a proper novel.<br />
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At this time, Barbara had travelled extensively and gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in subjects that held special appeal for her, namely ancient history, myths and legends (such as Atlantis, the builders of megaliths around the world), folklore (the belief that a god-like race gave mankind its technology), human psychology and the culture of other countries. What better subject for her novels than to combine all these elements into one big adventure!<br />
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Find out more about Barbara on her <a href="http://www.rhunafantasybooks.com/">website</a>. You can also <a href="http://eepurl.com/beljf9">sign up</a> for her monthly newsletters with exclusive materials, contests and the usual news and updates on the books and series.</div>
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<b>And now, be sure to enter the fantastic giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of author Barbara Underwood!</b></div>
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Contest is open internationally, where applicable by law. </div>
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Entries close at 11:59pm Nov 5/16. </div>
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Winners will be drawn Nov 6/16. </div>
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Winners will be notified via email to the email provided to the giveaway and will have 72h to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-89353876019893417172016-11-04T04:00:00.000-04:002016-11-04T04:00:06.297-04:00Legacy & an Interview with author Jesikah Sundin <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about yourself?</b><br />I’m a human female from planet Earth. But, really, I’d like to be a forest elf and live out my days with woodland animals, making music, singing to the wildflowers, and hugging trees. Since the latter will never be, I write books where I can vicariously live many lives in many worlds and escape my reality so that a reader might discover something beautiful about their own. <br /><br />Also, I like cheese. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ If you could have coffee (or tea) with any author who would it be and what would you ask them? And what would you have?</b><br />Normally with questions like this one I squeal in all my fangirl glory that I would have tea with Jane Austen, because she was a revolutionary writer for her era and I believe her brand of sarcasm would get along well with mine. However, my *true* answer today, in this interview, is entirely different. I would shamelessly gossip over coffee with Maggie Stiefvater and ask her if she would be my spirit animal! OK, for reals, though … I would ask Maggie to walk me through the process behind her immensely detailed world building while trying not to gush over “The Scorpio Races.” My efforts would be pathetic, but totally worth it.<br /><br /><b>Q ~ Are there any new (or new to you) Authors that have grasped your interest recently and why?</b><br />Absolutely! In fact, I love questions like this. Presently, I love works by Maggie Stiefvater, Veronica Rossi, Leigh Bardugo, Mary E. Pearson, Marie Lu, Sarah J. Maas, Kate Morton, and Sara Raasch. Their SciFi/Fantasy worlds are gripping and vivid. I savor their poetic writing styles like my favorite dessert, slow and full of sighs. And their characters are beautifully complex and memorable. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ What is one thing that you absolutely need when writing? </b><br />My earbuds. I listen to an eclectic ensemble of musicians on a <a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/jesikahsundin/playlist/404fbi8WVRgf5NqQTp0gct">playlist</a> and block out all other external stimuli. <br /><br /><b>Q~ You get a brilliant phrase/idea/thought at an inopportune time (while driving, drifting off to sleep/in the shower) what do you do? </b><br />Repeat the idea/phrase a few times to myself and hope for the best. I’m not fatalistic, typically. But when it comes to receiving a burst of inspiration or a missing, interlocking piece of the plot puzzle at an inopportune time, I just take on the attitude that if it’s truly meant to be, I’ll remember. So far, so good. *bites fingernails* <br /><br /><b>Q~ How do you decide on the setting of your books?</b><br />Well, I write a subgenre of cyberpunk known as “ecopunk fiction.” This subgenre takes place in the same setting as cyberpunk, but focuses more on the off-grid, wilderness, junkyard communities that spring up. This means, I have two settings to play with: A sprawling cityscape and some kind of off-grid rural environment. For “The Biodome Chronicles,” the setting is even more specific as part of the story takes place within a confined, isolated social experiment housed inside a hermetically sealed Mars prototype biodome. Additionally, the community sealed within the biodome is emulating an agrarian medieval reconstructed society. So, long story short, my ecopunk fiction settings feature the near-future city of Seattle and the anachronistic medieval community of New Eden Township. <br /><br /><b>Q~How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning? </b><br />Names are hugely important in my books. The featured characters inside the biodome belong to nobility, their houses named after the four elements: earth, fire, wind, and water. Therefore, names match those elemental themes. Willow Oak, Leaf, Laurel, Coal, Ember, Skylar, Rain, and Canyon are a few notable names inside New Eden Township. <br /><br />In the “Outside” world of 2054 (the real world beyond the biodome panes), names are still rather thematic. The meaning behind the main character’s name, Fillion Malcolm, is twofold. On the surface, he’s named after an actor (Nathan Fillion) and that actor’s character (Malcolm Reynolds) from the SciFi TV series Firefly. Fillion’s father (Hanley) is not only a huge fan of the show, he wants to homestead planets and has devised a way to do so. As the mastermind behind the experiment, Hanley is known for playing multiple plot points at once and claims that “Gamemasters” don’t waste time on the obvious, but ponder the hidden. Therefore, Fillion has a “hidden” meaning behind his name as well. “Fillion” is Old French for “son” and “Malcolm” was inspired by the story behind Malcom III, whose father was murdered by Macbeth. Years later, once grown, Malcom III murdered Macbeth as well as Macbeth’s son, reclaiming the Scottish Throne. Throughout Fillion’s life, he’s had to deal with public criticism because of his father, named “Son of a Killer” by the media. The father-son relationship between Fillion and Hanley is critical and illustrates one side of the nature vs nurture theme explored in “The Biodome Chronicles.” Fillion’s sister, Lynden, also has an interesting tale behind her name, too. But I’ll allow readers to discover that meaning on their own. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ Can you tell us a little bit about your latest release and what inspired you to write it?</b><br />TRANSITIONS: Novella Collection (The Biodome Chronicles #2.5) is my latest release, published back in May 2016, and written for the fans who wanted stories from my secondary characters. This novel is a prequel to book three, GAMEMASTER, and contains five novellas of fresh story content from the point-of-view of Ember, Skylar, Rain, Mack, and Lynden. Although fans of the series can read the final book in the trilogy without first reading this novella collection, the third book will make far more sense if they do. <br /><br /><b>Q~ Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?</b><br />Occasionally I hear from my readers. The most common things they share are their love for my characters, which character they most connect with and why, or that they found my story healing. I’m always so touched and humbled when readers reach out to me. I absolutely love it when they interact with me on social media, too!<br /><br /><b>Q~ What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has? Write it out here, then answer it.</b><br />Two questions.<br /><br /><i>1) Why are the characters on the cover always wearing black or white?</i><br />My answer: “Everyone is a pawn on a chess board, awaiting your move, Son of Eden.” *winks at reader*<br /><br /><i>2) Since your books revolve around the cycle of life, do the books themselves each carry a specific theme relating to life, death, and rebirth?</i><br />My answer: Yes! LEGACY is death, ELEMENTS is life, and GAMEMASTER is rebirth. TRANSITIONS are the emotional seasons we face when in-between those personal cycles physically, mentally, and emotionally. <div>
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<b>About the author:</b></div>
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Jesikah Sundin is a sci-fi/fantasy writer mom of three nerdlets and devoted wife to a gamer geek. In addition to her family, she shares her home in Monroe, Washington with a red-footed tortoise and a collection of seatbelt purses. She is addicted to coffee, laughing, and Dr. Martens shoes ... Oh! And the forest is her happy place.<div>
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Connect with Jesikah Sundin: <a href="http://jesikahsundin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Transitions-front-cover-RGB.jpg">Website</a> - <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/blog/thebiodomechronicles">Tumblr</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7742330.Jesikah_Sundin">Goodreads</a> - <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/jesikahsundin/">Pinterest</a> - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jesikahsundinauthor">Facebook</a> - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGMsJa6jB-kYwZnrxqHw82w">YouTube</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/JesikahSundin">Twitter</a> - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=223663215&trk=hp-identity-name">LinkedIn</a> - <a href="https://instagram.com/jesikahsundin/">Instagram</a></div>
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<b>Title: </b>Legacy<br /><b> Series: </b>Biodome Chronicles #1<br /><b> Author: </b>Jesikah Sundin<br /><b> Publication Date: </b>January 20th 2014 by Just Imagine...<br /><b> Length: </b>499pgs<br /><b> Genre: </b>YA cyberpunk<br /><b> Shelf: </b>review<br /><b> My Rating: ★★★★</b><br /><b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20558569-legacy?from_search=true">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Biodome-Chronicles-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01KBAL1JM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478122359&sr=8-1&keywords=legacy+sundin">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Legacy-Biodome-Chronicles-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01KBAL1JM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478122349&sr=8-1&keywords=legacy+sundin">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/legacy-jesikah-sundin/1119345425?ean=2940156976560">B&N</a> - <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/legacy-158">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/legacy-the-biodome-chronicles-1/9780991345380-item.html?ikwid=legacy+sundin&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/657831">Smashwords</a><br /> <br /><b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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A sensible young nobleman, Leaf Watson, and his sister, Willow Oak, live a rustic medieval life rich in traditions and chivalry. Sealed inside an experimental biodome since infancy, they have been groomed by The Code to build a sustainable community devoid of Outsider interference. <br /><br />They are unwitting pioneers on a path toward confined interplanetary homesteading. <br /><br />Life within their walled garden is predictable and peaceful until the unthinkable happens. With his dying breath, Leaf and Willow’s noble father bequeaths a family secret, placing an invisible crown of power on Leaf’s head. Grief-stricken and afraid for their lives, the siblings defy their upbringing by connecting with Fillion Nichols, a punk hacker who, unbeknownst to them, is linked to their lives in shocking ways. Their encounter launches Fillion into a battle with his turbulent past as he urgently decodes the many secrets that bind them together, a necessity for each to survive. <br /><br />Youth cultures clash when the high technology of the Anime Tech Movement collides with the Middle Ages in a quest for truth, unfolding a story rich in mystery, betrayal and love.<div>
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<b>My Review:</b></div>
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This is a fantastic launch to what promises to be a vivid and engaging series. The exquisitely vivid world building brought everything to life in a manner that I couldn't help but picture. Each aspect of this world, and subsequently, the world around it came to life. The manner in which Sundin developed not only the scenery but also the customs, mythology, and religion of this world allowed me to enter it from every perspective. Details are prevalent throughout the entire novel, in character development, world building, and plot intrigue. I loved how everything fit together. And the story itself was exciting. I found myself trying to guess what would happen next and how the intertwining storylines would all come together. I loved the feeling.</div>
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This novel is one that will be loved by readers of all ages. The seamless manner in which the story flows allows the intriguing characters to stand out well and for you to journey along with them in this intriguing tale. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-86265330068531265902016-11-03T04:00:00.000-04:002016-11-03T04:00:16.722-04:00Rhuna: Box Set by Barbara Underwood - Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>Rhuna Box Set<br />
<b> Series: </b>Rhuna #1-3<br />
<b> Author: </b>Barbara Underwood<br />
<b> Publication Date: </b>May 14th 2016<br />
<b> Length: </b>946pgs<br />
<b> Genre: </b>YA Historical Fantasy<br />
<b> Shelf: </b>review<br />
<b> My Rating: ★★★★★</b><br />
<b> Book Links: </b>Goodreads – Amazon(US) – Amazon(CA)<br />
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<b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><br />
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Have you ever wondered who built the pyramids or the eerie statues on Easter Island - and how they were made?<br />
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Maybe they were made with superhuman powers - or magic - by a highly advanced civilization like Atlantis! <br />
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And maybe there was a young girl named Rhuna who finds out that she has these powers, and that she is the only one with special magic to defeat the Dark Master who has brought evil and chaos to her idyllic utopian civilization. <br />
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This box set features the first three books in the series: Rhuna, Keeper of Wisdom, Rhuna: Crossroads and Rhuna, The Star Child. <br />
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The first book describes Rhuna's adolescence as she learns about her Atlan heritage and the special powers which help capture and defeat the Dark Master. <br />
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<i>Book 2: Rhuna: Crossroads</i> <br />
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This book is set in exotic Ancient Egypt and features unforgettable characters and a riveting adventure. <br />
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"full of twists, many unexpected" - Melissa <br />
"fast paced and quite a page turner" - Simone <br />
"a gripping sequel" - amazon reviewer <br />
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Some years have passed since Rhuna helped to defeat the Dark Master in her new home of Atlán, and now Rhuna has a teenage daughter who accompanies her on an assignment in Ancient Egypt to investigate some disturbing reports. <br />
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She soon discovers an astonishing underground network of the Dark Master's followers, along with the secret group of Atlans dedicated to stopping them. In the process of trying to carry out her assignment, Rhuna is confronted with enormous challenges that could drastically change her entire life and everything she has ever believed in! <br />
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<i>Book 3: Rhuna, The Star Child </i><br />
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In the thrilling sequel to Rhuna: Crossroads is set in mystical Ancient Egypt where Black Magic was developed by the followers of the legendary villain, The Dark Master. As strange and frightening curses plague the population, Rhuna discovers the underground organization that performs this uncanny new magic, but she can only combat it with the help of her long-lost father. Having learned from her father amazing new skills to empower her on the Astral Plane, Rhuna once again strives to preserve peace and harmony in the idyllic Atlan civilization. </div>
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Far more challenging than fighting powerful Dark Forces, however, is Rhuna’s personal anguish when her daughter becomes involved with the leader of the Black Magic movement, and the once-perfect Atlan society based on utopian principles begins to crumble all around her. Shocking events escalate Rhuna’s world to a breathless climax as she and her family undergo a momentous upheaval, and she is forced to make great personal sacrifices for her loved ones. </div>
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<b>My Review:</b></div>
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Fantastic world building and an intensely gripping plot draw you into this vividly penned novel from page one. Underwood easily & fully transports readers into the fantastic world that she's created, keeping them there. The change in locale during the second novel allows for even more enticing world building, drawing me deep into the mystery that Underwood develops in the beautiful locations that she transports readers to. The seamless plot kept me hooked throughout as Rhuna battles through the challenges before her. Plot twists that I never could have imagined kept me on my toes throughout these enticingly written novels. I couldn't put them down, dying to know what the next twist would bring; and believe me, there were many. Underwood's writing style also called to me. I love how she involves her audience in the story, leading them forward as if they're there alongside her, rather than simply telling them what happened to her characters.<br />
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This very character driven series provides a myriad of characters for readers to fall in love with (or to hate, whichever the case may be). I love how these individuals provoke strong emotions in the reader, creating a lasting bond that had me dying for more. I loved the individuals that we met throughout this story. I couldn't get enough of them. They were so easy to get to know and to connect with. I felt as if I'd made friends, rather than simply reading a novel. I loved meeting the new characters as they appeared, but also fell deeper in love with those who journeyed throughout all the novels. The continuous character development made everyone seem so real. The way that their thinking changes, even if minutely, through the events that they face was fantastic.<br />
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This is definitely a set of novels that will be loved by readers of all ages. It's clean enough for a YA audience and exciting enough to grip adults and not let go. I know I sure couldn't put it down. Nor can I wait for the next novel in the series.<br />
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<b>And now, be sure to enter the fantastic giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of author Barbara Underwood!</b></div>
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Contest is open internationally, where applicable by law. </div>
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Entries close at 11:59pm Nov 5/16. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Winners will be drawn Nov 6/16. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Winners will be notified via email to the email provided to the giveaway and will have 72h to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-53242231373106742772016-11-02T06:51:00.001-04:002016-11-02T06:51:07.050-04:00Interview with author Christina Phillips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about yourself?</b><br />I’m a Leo and a mad cat lover (just check out my little corner of FB and you’ll see lots of cute kitty memes and pics!) Yes, I’m all about the grim and serious on FB :) I’m addicted to take away coffee and completely hooked on this gluten free lightly salted, slightly sweet popcorn that my daughter introduced me to a while back, a handful is never enough! My not so secret dream is to have a live in chef so I never have to cook again :)<br /><br /><b>Q ~ What’s something that you never leave home without?</b><br />I should say my phone, but unlike my kids I remember a time when mobiles and cells weren’t surgically attached to the ear! Although I have to confess whenever I do forget to take my phone with me I suffer panic attacks that *today* will be the one day when I desperately need to contact someone!<br /><br /><b>Q ~ List two books you’ve read more than three times.</b><br /><i>Clan of the Cave Bear</i> by Jean M. Auel. I read it for the first time when I was 18, and have read it several times since. I just love it so much! When I was eleven I first read <i>Wuthering Heights</i>, and that’s another book I’ve read several times since.<br /><br /><b>Q~ Who is your favorite literary villain and why? </b><br />Okay I’m going to totally cheat here and say the movie adaptations of the Harry Potter books with Voldemort because OMG Ralph Fiennes!<br /><br /><b>Q ~ What was the first romance novel that you ever read? </b><br />I honestly can’t remember. I know when I was eleven I started reading Victoria Holt’s dark gothic romances, but I was also about eleven when I first discovered Barbara Cartland. Then someone loaned me <i>The Flame and the Flower</i> by Kathleen Woodiwiss and I devoured many more “bodice rippers” before I stumbled into Harlequin Mills and Boon!<br /><br /><b>Q ~ What’s the best interaction you’ve ever had with a fan? </b><br />I absolutely LOVE interacting with my fans. When I receive an email from a reader, it really makes my day and I always respond. Sometimes readers will friend me on FB or join my fan page, so we can chat there, which is lovely. So it’s hard to answer this question because I really treasure all the contact I have with my lovely readers.<br /><br /><b>Q ~ What does your family think of your writing?</b><br />When I started writing my kids were too young to read my books but even then they were very supportive. As they got older, they actively avoided reading my books because hello, mum and sex, um no thank you!! But they’ve always been incredibly supportive and proud of my achievements, for which I’m very touched. My husband is my rock, and is patiently waiting for me to earn enough so he can retire and become a kept man :)<br /><br /><b>Q ~ What is one thing that you absolutely need when writing? </b><br />Inspiration! Honestly, there’s nothing I really need when I’m writing to capture the muse or force the words to flow. Over the years I’ve learned to write through all kinds of distractions (although when I’m writing the sexy I do like to be alone and have some peace and quiet!) I do like having a lip balm to hand though, although I’m not sure it really helps with the thinking process!<br /><br /><b>Q ~ How do you decide on the setting of your book?</b><br />With<i> The Druid Chronicles</i> the setting was integral to the stories, so it wasn’t a case of me wondering where I’d like to locate my characters. It was the same with my upcoming <i>Highland Warrior Chronicles</i>. However, it’s different with my contemporaries. For my US publisher, they wanted the books set in the US so that’s what I did.<br /><br /><b>Q ~ Can you tell us a little bit about your latest release and what inspired you to write it?</b><br />Tainted is the fourth book in <i>The Druid Chronicles</i> and each book is a standalone with no cliff hanger. However the hero, Gawain, was in Forbidden, and also briefly appeared in <i>Captive</i> before disappearing on a mission for his king. I often wondered what happened to him, and also readers wanted to know if he was going to have his own book, but it was hard finding him his perfect heroine.<br /><br />Antonia is a wealthy Roman noblewoman and at first glance is everything that Gawain despises. But there’s more to her than first meets the eye and he soon comes to realise that while she isn’t a warrior, she’s the bravest woman he’s ever met.<br /><br /><b>Q ~ Is anything in your new release based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?</b><br /><i>Tainted</i> is set in first century Britain, so it’s mostly all from my imagination and from my historical research but I think I bring a little bit of my real life experience into every book and character I write, even though I’m not anything like any of them :)<br /><br /><b>Q ~ Do you prefer to write in a small town or big city setting? Why?</b><br />In my contemporaries I tend to go for the big city setting. I’m not sure why, it’s not something I’ve ever sat and thought about but it just seems to come more naturally to me.<br /><br /><b>Q ~ If you were stranded on a desert island with one of your characters (from any novel you’ve written) who would you choose and why?</b><br />This is very hard! I love all my heroes and ideally would like to rotate them! But I think on a desert island I’d pick Gawain, the hero from <i>Tainted</i>, as he’d be able to build a shelter and hunt as he’s a tough Celtic warrior who can survive in the wild.<br /><br /><b>Q ~ What are you working on next? </b><br />I’ve recently regained the rights to <i>Her Savage Scot</i> and <i>Her Vengeful Sco</i>t, the first two books in <i>The Highland Warrior Chronicles</i>. Set in the 9th century these books follow my tough Scots warriors and their brave Pictish princesses. At the moment I’m going through the books giving them a light edit, new covers and hopefully a new life once I republish them at the end of the year!<br /><br /><b>Q ~ If you could give aspiring authors one piece of advice, what would it be?</b><br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Jonel/AppData/Local/Temp/OICE_7FAEEA23-ABEF-4215-A04C-6E629461460A.0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif" />It’s really important to find your tribe! This business can be tough, and sometimes it’s easy to let things that are out of your control overwhelm you. Surround yourself with a positive, supportive community of like minded people who understand what you’re going through. It’s also important to recognize valuable feedback on your work and be willing to rewrite, revise and polish your book. And of course – never give up :)<div>
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<b>About the author:</b></div>
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As a child, Christina always loved reading about far away places and magical worlds, but never imagined that one day she’d spend her days writing about them! Thankfully, when she grew up she decided her brave heroines deserved a gorgeous warrior to share their journey with, and hopes you enjoy the world of The Druid Chronicles as much as she enjoyed writing it :)<br /><br />Keep in touch with Christina - <a href="http://christinaphillips.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christinaphillips.author/">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristinaPh_">Twitter</a> <br />If you’d like to receive notification of when my next book is released, sign up for my <a href="https://madmimi.com/signups/122570/join">Newsletter</a> <br /><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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About <i>Tainted:</i></b><div>
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<i>A dangerous love Rome will never allow… </i><br />Driven by the knowledge he failed to protect his king, Druid warrior Gawain abandons his gods and vows to destroy the Roman invaders by any means possible. <br /><br />Nothing and no one is more important than protecting his fellow Druids from the enemy until he meets the beautiful Roman patrician, Antonia. She is everything he’s never wanted in a woman, yet she fascinates him like no other. Despite the danger of discovery he embarks on an illicit liaison with her, determined to uncover the reason for the infinite sorrow that haunts her eyes. <br /><br />Newly arrived in Britannia from Rome, Antonia is inexplicably drawn to the cold, tough Celt. His touch stirs a passion she long thought died at the hands of her brutal former husband and his unexpected tenderness thaws her frozen heart. But she hides a deadly secret that could be her undoing, and knows her growing feelings for him can lead nowhere. Yet when a shadow from her past threatens her future Antonia is torn between the Empire of her birth and betraying Gawain, the man she’s grown to love. <br /><br /><i>Previously published in 2013 </i><br /><br />Tainted is the fourth book in The Druid Chronicles and this time I mixed it up a little. The hero is a tough Celtic warrior we first met in Forbidden, and although at the time I didn’t know if I’d write his book, readers were keen to find out what happened to him. And so was I! But it was hard to find the perfect heroine for him, until Antonia appeared. <br /><br />A beautiful Roman noblewoman, she’s nothing like he first assumes and what starts out as a fleeting affair soon develops into something much deeper, and deadlier, for them both. <br /><br /><a href="http://christinaphillips.com/?page_id=706">Read Chapter One</a> <br /><br /><b>Buy Links - </b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1112131066">iBooks</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M5ART1R">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tainted-jd-phillips/1026861374?ean=2940153489230">B&N</a> | <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/tainted-46">Kobo</a> <br />#1 Forbidden - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1108480422">iBooks</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JGRXBOO">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forbidden-christina-phillips/1100256389?ean=2940153371429">B&N</a> | <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-forbidden-2087507-157.html">ARe</a> | <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/forbidden-152">Kobo</a> <br />#2 Captive - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1109444486">iBooks</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KFY1X56">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/captive-christina-phillips/1100249926;jsessionid=AC9CB31B435FC51E180F5E498D9FDA77.prodny_store01-atgap05?ean=2940153339788#productInfoTabs">B & N</a> | <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/captive-97">Kobo</a> <br />#3 Enslaved - <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1109430725">iBooks</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LMZMPKY/#nav-subnav">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/enslaved-christina-phillips/1124566275?ean=2940153322742">B&N</a> | <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/enslaved-45">Kobo</a><div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-17327812454130449472016-11-01T04:00:00.000-04:002016-11-01T06:57:08.407-04:00Dark Heart of the Sun by SK Ryder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>Dark Heart of the Sun<br /><b> Series: </b>Dark Destinies #1<br /><b> Author: </b>SK Ryder<br /><b> Publication Date: </b>August 10th 2016 by Soul Mate Publishing<br /><b> Length: </b>386pgs<br /><b> Genre: </b>paranormal romance<br /><b> Shelf: </b>review<br /><b> My Rating: ★★★★</b><br /><b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31312756-dark-heart-of-the-sun?from_search=true">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Heart-Sun-Destinies-Book-ebook/dp/B01JGNEWQY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477996653&sr=8-1&keywords=dark+heart+of+the+sun">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Dark-Heart-Sun-Destinies-Book-ebook/dp/B01JGNEWQY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477996662&sr=8-1&keywords=dark+heart+of+the+sun">Amazon(CA)</a><br /> <br /><b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><div>
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She is determined to live life on her own terms. Destiny has other plans. <br /><br />Rookie journalist Cassidy Chandler wakes to an ugly bruise on her neck, a hole in her memory, and a fiancé who seems to know more about what happened than he's telling. It's enough to make Cassidy call off the engagement and move out, even if that means trading a posh South Florida mansion for a dilapidated beach house. Unfortunately, she also trades one devious man for another questionable character in her unexpected new roommate: the darkly enigmatic and exasperatingly French Dominic Marchant. <br /><br />For Dominic Marchant secrecy is a matter of survival. As a newborn vampire with dangerous enemies, he's sure the headstrong young woman invading his lair with an unknown vampire's mark on her throat is about to get him killed. But the charming Cassidy resists his every effort to make her leave and even embroils him in her own tumultuous life. Before he knows it, she has stolen his heart and helps him rediscover his lost humanity. Now he's fighting to protect her not only from the ancient vampires hunting him, but also from his own deadly desire for her. <br /><br />But her secretive ex isn’t done with her yet, and neither is the dark prophecy Cassidy and Dominic’s unlikely relationship has set in motion. Together they are swept up in a battle where nothing is as it seems, love and deception are the weapons of choice, and the only way to survive is to risk everything—for each other.<br /><br /><b>My Review:</b><div>
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I quite enjoyed this tale. Ryder combines the wonder of vampires with the dark and gritty life that they must lead in order to stay hidden in plain sight. What it means to be a vampire becomes just as vivid as the world in which this story is placed. Throughout the well plotted story Ryder also develops the world and setting in a manner that allows readers to enter it.</div>
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The characters that Ryder develops are also a lot of fun to get to know. They are developed intricately yet not in excessive detail. I enjoyed the way the relationships came about and how easy it was to get to know everyone.</div>
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As a whole, this was a great start to Ryder's new series. I definitely can't wait to see what happens next.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-53459575102141177692016-10-31T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-31T04:00:15.563-04:00Rhuna: The Star Child by Barbara Underwood - Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y540/purejonel/book3-reworked_finalSMALL_zpsn7iu1jgo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y540/purejonel/book3-reworked_finalSMALL_zpsn7iu1jgo.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Title: </b>Rhuna: The Star Child<br />
<b> Series: </b>Rhuna #3<br />
<b> Author: </b>Barbara Underwood<br />
<b> Publication Date: </b>January 21st 2016<br />
<b> Length: </b>260pgs<br />
<b> Genre: </b>YA alternate history fantasy<br />
<b> Shelf: </b>review<br />
<b> My Rating: ★★★★★</b><br />
<b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28576066-rhuna-the-star-child">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rhuna-Alternate-History-Fiction-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B01ANDQ73W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1477136607&sr=1-1&keywords=rhuna+the+star+child">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Rhuna-Alternate-History-Fiction-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B01ANDQ73W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1477136631&sr=1-1&keywords=rhuna+the+star+child">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rhuna-the-star-child-barbara-underwood/1123303518?ean=9781514444856">B&N</a> - <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/rhuna-the-star-child">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/rhuna-the-star-child-sequel/9781514444870-item.html?ikwid=rhuna+the+star+child&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Barbara_Underwood_Rhuna_the_Star_Child?id=dPF1CwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a> – <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/609503">Smashwords</a><br />
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<b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><br />
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This thrilling sequel to Rhuna: Crossroads is set in mystical Ancient Egypt where Black Magic was developed by the followers of the legendary villain, The Dark Master. As strange and frightening curses plague the population, Rhuna discovers the underground organization that performs this uncanny new magic, but she can only combat it with the help of her long-lost father. Having learned from her father amazing new skills to empower her on the Astral Plane, Rhuna once again strives to preserve peace and harmony in the idyllic Atlan civilization. <br />
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Far more challenging than fighting powerful Dark Forces, however, is Rhuna’s personal anguish when her daughter becomes involved with the leader of the Black Magic movement, and the once-perfect Atlan society based on utopian principles begins to crumble all around her. Shocking events escalate Rhuna’s world to a breathless climax as she and her family undergo a momentous upheaval, and she is forced to make great personal sacrifices for her loved ones.<br />
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<b>My Review:</b></div>
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Underwood has done it again! I couldn't put this novel down for a second. Plot twists that I never could have imagined kept me on my toes throughout this enticingly written novel. Intricate world building continues throughout as we visit different areas of the world that has been so carefully crafted.</div>
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This very character driven novel provides a myriad of characters for readers to fall in love with (or to hate, whichever the case may be). I love how these individuals provoke strong emotions in the reader, creating a lasting bond that had me dying for more.</div>
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This was a fantastic 3rd novel in Underwood's series & I was very sad to see it end. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, or the rest of the series, to readers of all ages. That said, for the full experience I would also suggest reading the entire series in order.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>And now, be sure to enter the fantastic giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of author Barbara Underwood!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Contest is open internationally, where applicable by law. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Entries close at 11:59pm Nov 5/16. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Winners will be drawn Nov 6/16. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Winners will be notified via email to the email provided to the giveaway and will have 72h to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-31337934774659731062016-10-30T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-30T04:00:01.317-04:00Guest Post with author Taylor Houhlin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i>The Cloud</i> Playlist by Taylor Houhlin</b><br />
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I like writing, and I like music. This is my excuse to talk about both at the same time.<br />
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Now let's get to the playlist.<br />
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<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #3d596d; font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; text-align: center;">
House of Heroes - Remember the Empire</h3>
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<i>Here they threaten with murder and bribe us with peace.</i></div>
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<i><i>Here they treat us like slaves and convince us we're free.</i></i></div>
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<i><i>There's no turning back once enough is enough.</i></i></div>
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<i>We can't, but we must, so</i></div>
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<i>Stand! Stand up!</i></div>
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<i>What choice have they given us?</i><br />
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The big conflict at the heart of this trilogy has always been Ethan and the crew of the Marian against HydroSystems Worldwide. Sure, there's the Priesthood and the Empire and Those Beyond, but so much of what happens in the series is driven by these little smugglers against the big corporation. This is the book where the crew stops reacting and attacks the Goliath head on. I won't talk at all about their plan, in case you haven't read The Hunted yet, but it's drastic, risky, and the only option they have.<br />
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John Mark McMillan - Love at the End</h3>
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<i>Out of the gaslight</i></div>
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<i><i>Off the roads we've traveled on</i></i></div>
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<i><i>Down by the wayside</i></i></div>
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<i>Against the sheen of a Babylon</i></div>
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<i>I've seen an empire</i></div>
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<i>Taste the tempest of a gathering strong</i></div>
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<i>But I found love at the end of the world</i><br />
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In writing The Cloud, I've realized how much the post-apocalyptic genre ties in with my own view of the human race. There's this built-in assumption in the genre that, in the absence of authority to keep everyone in line, people will be awful to each other. If there's no one to enforce laws, people will steal, kill, and otherwise abuse each other. There's just an instinct in people that leans that way. <br />
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But that's not the end of the story. There's another built-in assumption that the world isn't supposed to be a wasteland where the strong take advantage of the weak. Even if laws and rules occasionally fail, there is something intrinsically good that they're trying to achieve. And so in the midst of the fall of humanity, there's always a need for community and for justice. Even at the end of the world, as impractical and silly as it can be, love matters.<br />
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Remedy Drive - Wings of the Dawn</h3>
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<i>Justice in the hands of the ordinary </i></div>
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<i><i>Frustrate the plans of the dignitary </i></i></div>
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<i><i>If we didn't know then we wouldn't have to care, would we?</i></i></div>
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<i>But i saw it with my own eyes over there</i><br />
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The crew of the Marian isn't a highly qualified group of superheroes. They're all good at their jobs (well, except Lester, but he gets a pass), but at the end of the day, they're just ordinary people. I didn't go into writing this series specifically wanting ordinary people to be my heroes, but the more I think about it, the more I'm glad I did it the way I did. They just wouldn't have been as compelling as government officials or otherwise "important" people. There's something special about a regular person who sees something broken and then goes to great, sacrificial lengths to fix it, and that's exactly what these characters are.<br />
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Project 86 - Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)</h3>
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<i><i>Deep in the recess of every man</i></i></div>
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<i><i>Is a thief, a robber, a criminal</i></i></div>
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<i>Below the surface of every hero</i></div>
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<i>Is an envy, a restless evil</i></div>
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<i>And though I try to resist, I find the thing is this</i></div>
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<i>Until I get it, there's no satisfaction</i><br />
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So, if you want to get technical about it, this song is about the Christian doctrine of humanity's sin nature, but, at least in a few places, it describes the effects of the Cloud on people pretty well. Once it gets its claws in you, it's nearly impossible to escape. When you read The Cloud, you'll see just how dangerous it can be to expose yourself to that dark power and how hard it can be to tear yourself away from it.<br />
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Tenth Avenue North - Losing</h3>
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<i>Oh, Father won't You forgive them?</i></div>
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<i><i>They don't know what they've been doing</i></i></div>
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<i><i>Oh, Father, give me grace to forgive them</i></i></div>
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<i>'Cause I feel like the one losing</i><br />
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The deeper I've gotten into this series, the more I've realized how many of my characters are holding grudges against each other. It's been a long journey, and with so many people with so many different motivations all thrown together, toes were bound to get stepped on. As much as I like having multiple sources of conflict to up the tension, I've found that too many grudges make it hard to write about camaraderie and teamwork. More and more, the crew of the Marian has been feeling fractured. More and more, it feels like their common goal is all that's been holding them together. As I realized this, I knew I had to make forgiveness one of the themes running through The Cloud. With so many grudges being held, I had a real opportunity to look at forgiveness, unforgiveness, and the effects of each on community and individuals. I tried not to hit it too hard on the nose - and hopefully I succeeded - but it's definitely in there.<br />
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I've always liked how this song talks about forgiveness in comparing it to losing. Because that's what happens. You let someone else have the last word. You give up your right to even the score. You lose...and somehow, that's good.<br />
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<b>About the author:</b><br />
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Taylor Hohulin is the author of the The Marian Trilogy, a post-apocalyptic pirate series. He lives in Iowa with his wife, where they are owned by a cat and a dog.<br />
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About <i>The Cloud</i>:</b></div>
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When the bomb dropped, everything changed.<br />
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Even worse than the mountains of salt where oceans used to be, worse than the armies of mercenaries, worse than HydroSystems Worldwide’s rise to power, was the Cloud.<br />
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In the area closest to the bomb’s blast, the very fabric of reality was damaged. The air there can steal a person’s humanity, even as it gives great power. The Cloud is home to a deadly cult and nightmarish creatures, and it is fifteen-year-old Ethan Denby’s only hope of survival. If he ever wants to make it home, he’ll have to go where he always knew his journey would end. He will have to go into the heart of the Cloud.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-27811552404311793362016-10-29T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-29T04:00:15.486-04:00Guest Post with author Barbara Underwood - Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><a href="http://barbaraunderwood.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/dystopia-vs-utopia.html">Dystopia vs. Utopia</a> by Barbara Underwood</b><br />
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Wow, I just had a look at Sci-Fi and Fantasy sub-categories of ebooks on amazon.com, and guess which ones are by far the biggest, with over 13,000 titles? Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic! Not that I'm surprised, mind you, with all the TV shows and movies with those themes, not to mention even the daily news in the real world! But it made me stop and think about how I've been describing my book to people.<br />
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You see, my Rhuna series is set in mystical Atlantis, which was said to be a Utopian society, the definition of Utopia being "a community or society possessing highly desirable or near-perfect qualities." That's the setting I've used, but of course, writing about a perfect world would just be boring, so I add characters that go against those idyllic rules and lifestyles to create conflict.<br />
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The idea is to show that there is no such thing as a perfect society, even if it appears to be so on most levels. There will always be some people and some issues that don't fit, and that's where rebellion starts. <br />
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But Rhuna is still living in an overall peaceful, idyllic world, thanks to the rulers of Atlantis. <br />
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There is no "Utopia" category at amazon.com, and doing a search for "utopia" gets you all kinds of things, but try "Dystopian", and there are thousands and thousands of books, images and other things. Why does Dystopia have so much more appeal than Utopia? Because, I mean, you'd think it would be the other way around, wouldn't you? Don't people prefer pictures of paradise instead of a post-apocalyptic ruin of a city? <br />
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There are probably many reasons and topics you could philosophize over (and please do share any thoughts you may have in the comments below!) but my main concern now is whether a utopian theme in books would fare well in such an environment as we have right now?<br />
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Is Dystopia only popular now because some books, movies and TV shows were hits, and that started a fad? Are people reading Dystopia because there's no real alternative (except for my books, perhaps?!) <br />
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I read somewhere that readers think a utopian setting is political propaganda of some sort, which might be the case if the book is not Fantasy or Sci-Fi, and so far, no reader or reviewer has had anything negative to say about the utopian setting of my books. <br />
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Far from being political or propaganda, however, I do admit to making social commentary in my books, merely by bringing up age-old issues that still have relevance today, or that the reader can relate to, even though two books are set in Ancient Egypt, for example. (see <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UFCPWV0/ref=series_rw_dp_sw">Rhuna: Crossroads</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ANDQ73W/ref=series_rw_dp_sw">Rhuna, The Star Child</a>)<br />
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My hope is that readers will find some thoughts about human society and ways of governing as described in Rhuna refreshing, stimulating and worthy of deeper consideration. So, tell me what you think! <a href="http://www.rhunafantasybooks.com/">Rhuna Fantasy Books</a><br />
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<b>About the author:</b></div>
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Barbara Underwood was born and raised in Sydney, Australia; the only child of German migrants who provided a rich and diverse childhood environment. Already in third grade she wrote a short children's book for a class project and realized that she was deeply satisfied with creating stories. In sixth grade, for another class project, her teacher was so impressed by the lengthy story she submitted, that he commented at the end "I see we are going to have another author". <br />
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Over the years Barbara kept writing one thing or another, but only as a hobby while she pursued other interests and goals. In the 1990s, she completed a correspondence course in professional writing, doing it in her spare time after work. This led to having a few short stories published, but what she really wanted to do was write a proper novel.<br />
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At this time, Barbara had travelled extensively and gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in subjects that held special appeal for her, namely ancient history, myths and legends (such as Atlantis, the builders of megaliths around the world), folklore (the belief that a god-like race gave mankind its technology), human psychology and the culture of other countries. What better subject for her novels than to combine all these elements into one big adventure!<br />
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Find out more about Barbara on her <a href="http://www.rhunafantasybooks.com/">website</a>. You can also <a href="http://eepurl.com/beljf9">sign up</a> for her monthly newsletters with exclusive materials, contests and the usual news and updates on the books and series.</div>
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<b>And now, be sure to enter the fantastic giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of author Barbara Underwood!</b></div>
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Contest is open internationally, where applicable by law. </div>
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Entries close at 11:59pm Nov 5/16. </div>
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Winners will be drawn Nov 6/16. </div>
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Winners will be notified via email to the email provided to the giveaway and will have 72h to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-4743260596029998082016-10-28T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-28T04:00:27.322-04:00The Return of the Di Sione Wife & Q&A with author Caitlin Crews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>1) How did you come up with the relationship between Dario and Anais?</b><br /><i>The Return of the Di Sione Wife </i>is actually a part of a continuity, which means I was given a little brief on Dario and Anais’s relationship when I started. I knew that they were married, estranged, and had a child—but it was up to me to infuse all of that with angst and emotion! (The fun part, in other words!)<br /><br /><b>2) What is your favorite part about writing for The Billionaire’s Legacy?</b><br />I really loved my characters and my book, but the really great thing was that the incomparable Sharon Kendrick was writing my hero’s estranged twin brother at the same time. That meant we spent a lot of time discussing our delicious heroes, and sent each other any mentions of them in our books, so we could make sure to maintain the tone and story between both books. It was so much fun!<br /><br /><b>3) Do you prefer to write classic romance or heroes and heroines?</b><br />I don’t know what this question means. I love all kinds of romance. I love getting to immerse myself in the love stories of complicated people. I love learning all their secrets and figuring out the unique keys to their hearts. Writing romance isn’t just fun, it’s deeply rewarding!<br /><br /><b>4) What was the first book that made you cry?</b><br />I’m pretty sure it was <i>Misty of Chincoteague</i>. :)<br /><br /><b>5) How long do you spend researching before beginning a book?</b><br />I prefer to jump in and get a feel for the characters and their dynamic. Once I have that, it’s a lot easier to research different things and see where that takes me. But the central relationship is the key. It’s what everything else hinges on. I could research for years, but if the reader doesn’t invest in the romantic relationship between the main characters, the book is a failure no matter how in-depth and annotated my thoughts on the scenery are.<br /><br /><b>6) How do you select the names of your characters?</b><br />Sometimes they just come, fully named. Other times I think they have one name and halfway through the book it turns out they have another one. Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve also written whole books and known the characters’ names were wrong. But I couldn’t figure out the right one! Books are strange. Sometimes they have minds of their own. :)<br /><br /><b>7) If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?</b><br />I shudder to think.<br /><br /><b>8) Do you believe in writer’s block?</b><br />I don’t. You’re always going to hit walls in your productivity and creativity. That’s the nature of things. Whether that’s because of external issues or internal ones based on the writing, there’s no escaping them. Writing is hard. Living life as a creative professional is hard. But at the end of the day, writing isn’t just my passion. It’s my job. If I worked at a big company I couldn’t call in and announce I’d hit a block and wouldn’t be in until it passed. (I mean, I could. But I’d expect to be fired.) If the block is there because of external issues, I think you grit your teeth and try to angrily get the words down, because when you look back, all you’ll see are words, not your feelings while writing them. If the problem is that the book is broken? Well. 85% of the time it’s that I don’t know the characters well enough or I haven’t quite captured their voice. Taking a day or so to think and read and try to come at things a different way is key. But eventually you have to sit down and write, even if you hate it. I always tell myself to just tell the story. And when I concentrate on that, things seem to fall into place.<br /><br /><b>9) What is your favorite thing about fall?</b><br />EVERYTHING. Especially cozy sweaters and cute boots!<br /><br /><b>10) Are you excited for Halloween? If so, do you have a favorite scary story? </b><br />I like Halloween, though I don’t participate. I like seeing all the little kids out in the dark in their cute costumes!
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Title: </b>The Return of the Di Sione Wife<br /><b> Series: </b>The Billionaire's Legacy #4<br /><b> Author: </b>Caitlin Crews<br /><b> Publication Date: </b>October 1st 2016 by Harlequin Presents<br /><b> Length: </b>224pgs<br /><b> Genre: </b>contemporary romance<br /><b> Shelf: </b>review<br /><b> My Rating: ★★★★</b><br /><b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31309199-the-return-of-the-di-sione-wife">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Return-Sione-Wife-Billionaires-Legacy/dp/0373134711/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477608753&sr=8-1&keywords=the+return+of+the+di+sione+wife">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Return-Sione-Wife-Billionaires-Legacy-ebook/dp/B01BKKIHGC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477608766&sr=8-1&keywords=the+return+of+the+di+sione+wife">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-return-of-the-di-sione-wife-caitlin-crews/1123539612?ean=9780373134717">B&N</a> - <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/the-return-of-the-di-sione-wife">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-return-of-the-di/9780373139484-item.html?ikwid=the+return+of+the+di+sione+wife&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Caitlin_Crews_The_Return_of_the_Di_Sione_Wife?id=5EaKCwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a><br /> <br /><b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><div>
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<i>"I'll have the earrings now. Or are there more hoops to jump through?" </i><br />Dario Di Sione should be feeling triumphant—he's about to fulfill his grandfather's wish and retrieve the precious earrings, but all he feels is fury. The beautiful lawyer handling the sale is the woman who betrayed him six years ago…his wife! <br /><br />Discovering Anais has kept their child a secret makes Dario determined to be the father he never had. But Anais's return to his side casts a new light on past events, and now it's not just the child he wants to claim! <div>
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<b>My Review:</b></div>
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Crews never fails to create a romance that is turbulent yet also tugs at your heart. The characters are both believable and likable, while also being somewhat unattainable to the masses. Emotions run high as Crews and her characters lead readers through an exciting and spicy tale that was difficult to put down. I loved how different this story was, and how intricately each aspect of the characters was developed. The plot was well developed and easy to follow. It was also in depth and held my attention throughout. </div>
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This novel can easily be read as a standalone to ward of the chill of a winter's evening, or as part of this intriguing series that I'll definitely be delving further into. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-58628052433973815842016-10-27T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-27T04:00:07.120-04:00Rhuna: Crossroads by Barbara Underwood - Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>Rhuna: Crossroads<br />
<b> Series: </b>Rhuna #2<br />
<b> Author: </b>Barbara Underwood<br />
<b> Publication Date: </b>March 8th 2015<br />
<b> Length: </b>310pgs<br />
<b> Genre: </b>YA fantasy<br />
<b> Shelf: </b>review<br />
<b> My Rating: ★★★★★</b><br />
<b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25173935-rhuna">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rhuna-Crossroads-Science-Supernatural-Thriller-ebook/dp/B00UFCPWV0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477135342&sr=8-1&keywords=rhuna+crossroads">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Rhuna-Crossroads-Barbara-Underwood-ebook/dp/B00VFKJ3MA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1477135351&sr=1-1&keywords=rhuna+crossroads">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rhuna-crossroads-barbara-underwood/1121632125?ean=9781503503854">B&N</a> - <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/rhuna-crossroads">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/rhuna-crossroads/9781503503861-item.html?ikwid=rhuna+crossroads&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=1">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Barbara_Underwood_Rhuna_Crossroads?id=-jy6BwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a> – <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/526860">Smashwords</a><br />
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<b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><br />
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The sequel to Rhuna, Keeper of Wisdom, and the second book in an exciting and unique historical Fantasy series, Rhuna: Crossroads is set in exotic Ancient Egypt and features unforgettable characters and a riveting adventure.<br />
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Some years have passed since Rhuna helped to defeat the Dark Master in her new home of Atlán, and now Rhuna has a teenage daughter who accompanies her on an assignment in Ancient Egypt to investigate some disturbing reports. She soon discovers an astonishing underground network of the Dark Master's followers, along with the secret group of Atlans dedicated to stopping them. </div>
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In the process of trying to carry out her assignment, Rhuna is confronted with enormous challenges which could drastically change her entire life and everything she has ever believed in! </div>
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<b>My Review:</b></div>
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Underwood returns to her fantasy world with the same vibrant and inviting writing style that I loved in the first novel. The change in locale allows for even more enticing world building, drawing me deep into the mystery that Underwood develops in the beautiful locations that she transports readers to. The seamless plot kept me hooked throughout as Rhuna battles through the challenges before her.</div>
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I loved meeting the new characters that Underwood presented here, but also fell deeper in love with those who returned from the 1st novel. The continuous character development made everyone seem so real. The way that their thinking changes, even if minutely, through the events that they face was fantastic.</div>
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Once again Underwood has created a novel that I couldn't put down. It was a one of a kind experience that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others. That said, for the full experience I would also suggest reading the entire series in order. </div>
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<b>And now, be sure to enter the fantastic giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of author Barbara Underwood!</b></div>
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Contest is open internationally, where applicable by law. </div>
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Entries close at 11:59pm Nov 5/16. </div>
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Winners will be drawn Nov 6/16. </div>
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Winners will be notified via email to the email provided to the giveaway and will have 72h to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-55240168446271947342016-10-26T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-26T04:00:25.960-04:00Guest Post with author Carl Schmidt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>The Importance of a Good Editor: by Carl Schmidt, author of the mystery novel, Dead Down East</b><div>
<br />Every seasoned novelist will tell you that there is absolutely no substitute for a good editor. <br /></div>
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An editor doesn’t just alert you to mistakes in spelling, grammar, sentence structure and punctuation; editing goes way beyond that. Your story needs to be consistent, factually correct, clear, and succinct. This might sound obvious, but when you are dealing with a 90,000 word novel, there are plenty of ways to muck it up on every single page.<br /><br />So. You’ve written your first novel, or maybe you’ve just completed a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Chances are you’ve read it several times, and it looks good to you. You’re excited about it. You’ve created a likable story or perhaps you’ve made some kind of definitive statement. Now you want to have it published.<br /><br />Hold your horses, Kemosabe.<br /><br />This last sentence is a perfect example of why you need an editor. I know what “Kemosabe” means, but do you? I was raised on The Lone Ranger and Tonto, but if you are considerably younger than I, you might not have a clue. And if you don’t, I may have just lost you as a reader. A good editor will bring this to your attention and make sure you use references that will be familiar to your target audience.<br /><br />Every chapter in your novel needs to have a fresh beginning and a logical conclusion. The fresh beginning will keep your reader awake, and will revitalize his/her interest in your story. The logical conclusion will wrap up that particular scene and give the reader a breather. It may have taken you a week to write the chapter, and in that time you have been so wrapped up in the content of the storyline that you may have lost sight of what your reader knows at this point, and the pace of his reading experience. If your editor suggests that the chapter rambles, then clean it up and shorten it. If your editor says that something is missing or unclear, then you probably have left too much to the reader’s imagination.<br /><br />Another important purpose of editing is to broaden your vocabulary so that highly descriptive words or phrases are not overused. A Thesaurus can help with this, but every author has a tendency to repeat himself in some way, either with specific words or sentence patterns. Repetition will blemish your story, and a good editor can spot it.<br /><br />JanMarie Moullen edited my first three novels. She has an uncanny ability for recalling my use of unique adjectives and adverbs, and letting me know when they appear too often throughout the book. There were instances where she went back 50 pages or more in the text to find that I had used an unusually graphic word, and when it appeared for just a second time, much later in the book, it stood out to her as tiresome. And…she was right.<br /><br />Overall, I took her advice about 95 percent of the time. I learned to trust her judgment, and it paid dividends. Several reviewers have commented on how crisp the editing is in my first novel. She deserves most of that credit.</div>
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<b>About the author:</b></div>
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<br />Carl Schmidt graduated from Denver University with a degree in mathematics and physics. As a Woodrow Wilson Fellow he studied mathematics at Brown University. <br /><br />Carl lived and traveled widely throughout Asia for seven years, including two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines and five years in Japan, where he taught English. <br /><br />Carl has spent dozens of summers in Maine, on lakes and in the woods. He chose it as the setting for this novel because he loves its rugged natural beauty and the charming idiosyncrasies of Mainers. He has also written and recorded three musical albums. This, along with his formal education, proved invaluable when molding the persona and voice of Jesse Thorpe, the narrator of Dead Down East, and endowing him with both a creative eye for detail and a sense of humor. <br /><br /><i>Dead Down East</i> is the first novel in the Jesse Thorpe Mystery Series, which includes <i>A Priestly Affair and Redbone</i>. In 2001, New Falcon Press published his non-fictional book, <i>A Recipe for Bliss: Kriya Yoga for a New Millennium</i>. <br /><br />Currently, he is a freelance writer living in Sedona, Arizona with his lovely wife, Holly, and their faithful German shorthaired pointer, Alize. </div>
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Connect with Carl: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CarlSchmidtAuthor/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel">Facebook Page</a> - <a href="http://www.lightformfilms.com/Carl-Schmidt-Author.html">website</a><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>About<i> Dead Down East:</i></b></span></div>
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<i>Dead Down East,</i> a fictional murder mystery, is both detective noir and smart screwball comedy rolled into one. Jesse Thorpe, a young private investigator operating out of Augusta, Maine, receives a mysterious phone call from a former client, Cynthia Dumais. She begs to be rescued from an island south of Brunswick, within a mile of where William Lavoilette, the governor or Maine, was assassinated the night before. She insists that her life is in danger, but is unwilling to provide any further information. Reluctantly, Jesse goes to fetch her. <br /><br />Within a week, Jesse has three separate clients, each with his, or her, own desperate need to have the murder solved. He assembles a motley team of compadres, including rock band members, a tie-dye psychic and his rousing girlfriend, Angele Boucher, to help him with the case. While the FBI and the Maine State Police investigate political motives, Jesse looks for the woman—Cherchez la Femme—as the trail draws him through the lives, and DNA, of the governor’s former mistresses. <br /><br />Fresh, witty and loaded with eccentric characters, this first novel in the Jesse Thorpe Mystery Series is both clever and stylish. It’s an old-school private eye tale with inventive twists and local charm. If you enjoy a well-crafted and zesty narrative, lively banter, or take pleasure in the company of Mainers, you’ll love<i> Dead Down East</i>.</div>
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Get your copy here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Down-Jesse-Thorpe-Mysteries/dp/1533502188/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469661229&sr=8-1&keywords=dead+down+east">paperback Amazon</a> - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Down-Jesse-Thorpe-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B01G6872IC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1469661229&sr=8-1#nav-subnav">Kindle Amazon</a> - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30300648-dead-down-east?from_search=true">Goodreads</a> - <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Dead+Down+East">Smashwords</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-43443297668430372292016-10-25T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-26T18:25:04.875-04:00A Sure Thing & Q&A with author Marie Harte<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about yourself? </b><br />I’m a book lover, a romance novelist, mother to two boys, caretaker of a puppy and cat (who rules the house), and was lucky enough to hit the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists in my career. Oh, and I’m a coffee addict. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ If you were stuck in a dingy floating in the middle of the ocean, who and what would you want with you and why? </b><br />A large Viking, for eye candy, and to row us to shore. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ Are there any new (or new to you) Authors that have grasped your interest recently and why? </b><br />I’m a huge Faith Hunter fan. She’s not new at all, but kind of new to me. I’m really into urban fantasy lately. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ What was the first romance novel that you ever read? </b><br />I love this book: <i>A Gentle Feuding</i> by Johanna Lindsey <br /><br /><b>Q~ Who is your favorite literary villain and why? </b><br />The devil. Because he’s portrayed in so many varied ways, and I think the guy gets a bad rap. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ How did you begin writing? Was there a single catalyst or a series of events? </b><br />I used to write as a child because I had so many stories swirling in my brain. Plus it was a form of defiance if sent to my room without TV. I might not have TV, but I always had entertainment. Professionally, I started writing (seriously) while working at a job I didn’t like. I had always wanted to be a full-time writer, but I never wrote! I just dreamed about it. So during a job I wanted out of, I wrote during lunch breaks, before work, and at home at night. Until finally I quit to write full-time. Took me two years to get published, and this was back before Amazon became a powerhouse. So different back then! <br /><br /><b>Q ~ What is one thing that you absolutely need when writing? </b><br />My coffee cup at hand. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ How do you decide on the setting of your books? </b><br />Depends on the book and publisher. A lot of my work for Sourcebooks is set in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. So my overlapping series continue from that area. My paranormal stories take place in urban or rural settings I’ve visited or hope to visit. Someplace intriguing. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ You get a brilliant phrase/idea/thought at an inopportune time (while driving, drifting off to sleep/in the shower) what do you do? </b><br />Repeat it over and over until I can note it in my phone or a notebook. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say? </b><br />My readers are great. Nice, demanding, kind. As they should be! LOL Then they ask why certain books aren’t available when they used to be. Because I keep getting my rights back to older titles and am so busy I haven’t been so good about putting the older stuff back out. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ Can you tell us a little bit about your latest release and what inspired you to write it? </b><br />A SURE THING was a concept I had five years ago, the first of the McCauley cousins to get a happily ever after. Except it took a while to get my McCauley Brothers published. And the first cousin I’d planned on writing about will be in the third book instead. Landon, the oldest, goes first. J <br /><br /><b>Q ~ Have you written an outline for the The Donnigans series or do you make it up as you go? </b><br />I tend to write on proposal for Sourcebooks, so an abbreviated synopsis is needed before I begin. I have a rough idea of where the story is headed, but no outline, and things can change as I go. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has? Write it out here, then answer it. </b><br />Why do you keep hinting that J.T. Webster looks like The Rock? Because he does! I think The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) has a super cool personality, muscles to die for, amazing sex appeal, and yes, he’s funny. Who wouldn’t want that man in their book? Or, um, a likeness of him, at least? <br /><br /><b>Q ~ Of the works you’ve written, which is your favourite? Is there also a character that holds a special place in your heart? </b><br />The one I’m working on at present. Ha. So that would be…edits for Just the Thing, the second Donnigans book. <br /><br /><b>Q ~ Do you have anything in the works at the moment? Care to give us a hint about it? </b><br />I’m currently getting ready to start a new project for Sourcebooks that I’m really stoked about. It’s not connected to anything I’m doing for them right now, and I can’t mention exactly what it is yet. But it’ll be out next year! I’ll update the minute I’m given the green light. J <br /><br />Thanks for having me! <br /><br />Marie <br /><a href="http://marieharte.com/">marieharte.com</a><div>
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<b>Title: </b>A Sure Thing<br /><b> Series: </b>The Donnigans #1<br /><b> Author: </b>Marie Harte<br /><b> Publication Date: </b>November 1st 2016 by Sourcebooks Casablanca<br /><b> Length: </b>352pgs<br /><b> Genre: </b>contemporary romance<br /><b> Shelf: </b>review<br /><b> My Rating: ★★★★</b><br /><b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28755321-a-sure-thing?from_search=true">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sure-Thing-Donnigans-Book-ebook/dp/B01HN3X3EG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1477517647&sr=1-1&keywords=a+sure+thing">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Sure-Thing-Donnigans-Book-ebook/dp/B01HN3X3EG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477519047&sr=8-1&keywords=a+sure+thing+harte">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-sure-thing-marie-harte/1123276733?ean=9781492631859">B&N</a> - <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/a-sure-thing-5">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/a-sure-thing/9781492631859-item.html?ikwid=a+sure+thing+harte&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Marie_Harte_A_Sure_Thing?id=qzCMDAAAQBAJ">Google Play</a> <div>
<br /><b> Back Cover Blurb:</b></div>
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<i>Meet the Donnigans</i><br />With the eldest Donnigan brothers adjusting to civilian life, their younger sister constantly in trouble, and their little brother clueless about life in general, falling in love is the last thing on anyone's mind...<br /><br /><i>Can this Bossy Badass Marine...</i><br />The Marine Corps was everything Landon Donnigan ever wanted in life...until a bullet sent him home with a medical discharge. Teaching a self-defense class at the gym is old-hat for a marine, but when he meets sexy Ava Rosenthal, his combat skills are useless for protecting his heart.<br /><br /><i>Be her Mr. Right? </i><br />Ava can take care of herself and likes quiet, bookish men-not muscular warriors who think women need to be coddled. But Landon is more than he seems, and when they come together, the results are explosive.<div>
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<b>My Review:</b></div>
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Wow! Harte has definitely created the backdrop for a fantastic series with this one.She brings the entire town to life, while focusing on the main couple that we come to love. Vibrant scenery melds with a vivid story that definitely captured my heart.</div>
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The characters in this novel were loveable and easy to get to know. I love how things weren't easy for them, nor were they unnecessarily hard either. It was all so real & I could picture myself in the story with them. And a hero who was drool-worthy amidst his imperfections didn't hurt either. </div>
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This was a fantastic start to Harte's new series. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to others and definitely can't wait to see what comes next.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-53833268986262952142016-10-24T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-24T04:00:12.832-04:00Wind River by Lindsay McKenna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>Wind River Wrangler<br /><b> Series: </b>Wind River #1<br /><b> Author: </b>Lindsay McKenna<br /><b> Publication Date: </b>October 25th 2016 by Zebra<br /><b> Length: </b>384pgs<br /><b> Genre: </b>contemporary romance<br /><b> Shelf: </b>review<br /><b> My Rating: ★★★</b><br /><b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28814948-wind-river-wrangler">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wind-River-Wrangler-Book-ebook/dp/B01BAYVCPQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477267550&sr=8-1&keywords=wind+river+mckenna">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Wind-River-Wrangler-Book-ebook/dp/B01BAYVCPQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477267558&sr=8-1&keywords=wind+river+mckenna">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wind-river-wrangler-lindsay-mckenna/1123344401?ean=9781420141740">B&N</a> - <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/wind-river-wrangler">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/wind-river-wrangler/9781420141740-item.html?ikwid=wind+river+mckenna&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Lindsay_McKenna_Wind_River_Wrangler?id=uRmICwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a><br /> <br /><b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><div>
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<i>WIND RIVER VALLEY<br /> <br />First in a new series by the author of Night Hawk and Out Rider<br /> <br />Still waters run deep . . .</i><br /> <br />From the moment Roan Taggart picked up the pretty redhead at the Jackson Hole airport, his training and experience told him she was spooked. She’s left New York City to visit the Wind River Ranch, where Roan is a wrangler, and just as he can pick up a horse’s mood, he can feel the tension coming off her body. And that vulnerability is triggering all his protective instincts...<br /> <br />Shiloh Gallagher likes the gray-eyed cowboy’s dry humor—and the Special Forces background that lends him a stoic, powerful presence. But she’s been scarred by trauma and her mother’s murder . . . and knows a strong man can be dangerous. She came to wide-open Wyoming to flee a threat that’s left her unable to write her novels. Now, as she rides horses with Roan and helps him build an isolated cabin, she’s slowly letting down her guard. But danger has followed her west, and they won’t have a future together unless they defeat a killer from her past…<div>
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McKenna's new series launcher definitely sets the stage well for upcoming novels. Throughout the story McKenna takes the time to explain a lot of the technical aspects of the story and the characters' lives. It made everything supremely easy to understand. As much as I loved the details, sometimes it was a little too much, detracting from the story. I found I was about 2/3 of the way through the book before anything really happened with the plot proper. Don't get me wrong, there was lots of character development and scene setting, which one would expect in the first novel in a series, but a lot of the time I felt that was all that happened. It was still an enjoyable read but not one that I couldn't put down.</div>
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There was loads of character and relationship development at the beginning of this novel. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters so well but felt that it stalled the forward motion of the plot as a whole. The author switches views between the main characters to let readers get both of their feelings and thoughts. Sometimes I felt as if this was done a little too quickly & I felt a little jarred from the story, but for the most part it really added to the tale. Also, the predictability of the identity of the 'bad guy' was also, well, predictable. From the moment he was first mentioned in the story I knew he'd be back. That said, what McKenna did with said character was interesting. </div>
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As a whole this was an enjoyable story with likable, original characters. McKenna is off to a good start with this new series.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-73983311139948897992016-10-23T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-23T04:00:00.164-04:00Rhuna: Keeper of Wisdom by Barbara Underwood - Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>Rhuna: Keeper of Wisdom<br />
<b> Series: </b>Rhuna #1<br />
<b> Author: </b>Barbara Underwood<br />
<b> Publication Date: </b>October 16th 2014<br />
<b> Length: </b>327pgs<br />
<b> Genre: </b>YA Urban Fantasy/Historical Fantasy<br />
<b> Shelf: </b>review<br />
<b> My Rating: ★★★★★</b><br />
<b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23431523-rhuna-keeper-of-wisdom">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rhuna-Keeper-Wisdom-Barbara-Underwood/dp/1478101237/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477132945&sr=8-1&keywords=rhuna+keeper+of+wisdom">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Rhuna-Ancient-Historical-Fiction-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B008YN2QMK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477132958&sr=8-1&keywords=rhuna+keeper+of+wisdom">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rhuna-keeper-of-wisdom-barbara-underwood/1119967346?ean=9781499005394">B&N</a> - <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/rhuna-keeper-of-wisdom">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/rhuna-keeper-of-wisdom-an/9781499005363-item.html?ikwid=rhuna+keeper+of+wisdom&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Barbara_Underwood_Rhuna_Keeper_of_Wisdom?id=_MgWBAAAQBAJ">Google Play</a> – <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/485255">Smashwords</a><b><br /> <br /> Back Cover Blurb:</b><br />
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Barbara Underwood marks her debut in the world of fantasy fiction with the spellbinding novel, “Rhuna, Keeper of Wisdom” which follows the adventures of a young heroine with an extraordinary gift. It also features a cast of richly drawn characters and compelling storytelling that will rivet readers from beginning to end.<br />
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The story is set in an idyllic utopian society, not unlike the Atlantis of myth, and follows the adventures of the title character, Rhuna. A series of extraordinary events unfold after the young girl discovers the startling truth about her father and the enemy that caused his demise known as The Dark Master. As Rhuna struggles with her newfound discovery, her beloved homeland is thrust into chaos, threatened by her father’s old nemesis. In the midst of the unfolding cataclysm, Rhuna must find her extraordinary destiny and the courage to stop The Dark Master from destroying everything and everyone that she loves. Suffused with magic and menace, “Rhuna, Keeper of Wisdom” will send readers on a journey to astonishing realms, as only the most exquisite kind of fiction can do.<br />
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<b>My Review:</b></div>
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Fantastic world building and an intensely gripping plot draw you into this vividly penned novel from page one. Underwood easily & fully transports readers into the fantastic world that she's created, keeping them there. I couldn't put this novel down, dying to know what the next plot twist would bring; and believe me, there were many. Underwood's writing style also called to me. I love how she involves her audience in the story, leading them forward as if they're there alongside her, rather than simply telling them what happened to her characters.</div>
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And the characters! Oh wow the characters! I loved the individuals that we met throughout this story. I couldn't get enough of them and was definitely sad to see them go at the end of the novel. They were so easy to get to know and to connect with. I felt as if I'd made friends, rather than simply reading a novel.</div>
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This is definitely a novel that will be loved by readers of all ages. It's clean enough for a YA audience and exciting enough to grip adults and not let go. I know I sure couldn't put it down. Nor can I wait for the next novel in the series.</div>
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<b>And now, be sure to enter the fantastic giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of author Barbara Underwood!</b></div>
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Contest is open internationally, where applicable by law. </div>
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Entries close at 11:59pm Nov 5/16. </div>
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Winners will be drawn Nov 6/16. </div>
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Winners will be notified via email to the email provided to the giveaway and will have 72h to claim their prize or another winner will be drawn.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-57486266274011072632016-10-22T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-22T06:36:34.722-04:00Necessary Evil by Jamie K. Schmidt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Title: </b>Necessary Evil<br /><b> Series: </b>Sentinels of Babylon #1<br /><b> Author: </b>Jamie K. Schmidt<br /><b> Publication Date: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span>November 1st 2016 by Loveswept<br /><b> Length: </b>234pgs<br /><b> Genre: </b>romantic suspense<br /><b> Shelf: </b>Netgalley<br /><b> My Rating: ★★★★</b><br /><b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29775606-necessary-evil">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Necessary-Sentinels-Babylon-Jamie-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B01AQNZQFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477130889&sr=8-1&keywords=necessary+evil+schmidt">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Necessary-Sentinels-Babylon-Jamie-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B01AQNZQFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477132013&sr=8-1&keywords=necessary+evil+schmidt">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/necessary-evil-jamie-k-schmidt/1123424549?ean=9780399594021">B&N</a> - <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/necessary-evil-13">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/necessary-evil/9780399594021-item.html?ikwid=necessary+evil+schmidt&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jamie_K_Schmidt_Necessary_Evil?id=f0BmCwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a><br /> <br /><b> Back Cover Blurb:</b><div>
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<i>In this steamy series opener from bestselling author Jamie K. Schmidt—whose writing has been called “hot and sexy, with just the right amount of emotional punch,” by Lauren Layne—a vigilante biker takes the power of love into his own hands.</i> <br />Lucy Simmons comes from a rough family, but she’s a damn good public defender. Even though she hates to see criminals walk due to sloppy police work, the law’s there to make sure everyone gets a fair trial, and Lucy certainly doesn’t believe in the kind of justice meted out by the leather-clad ex-cop they call “Evil.” He’s stubborn, cynical, and out of control—but he plays her body like no man ever has. For once, both Lucy’s boss and her brother agree: The biker is trouble.<br /> <br />Evan Villiers took a sacred vow to let no killer, rapist, or pedophile go unpunished. When scumbags fall through the system, his motorcycle club cleans up the garbage. Although the Sons of Babylon and their methods may not be to Lucy’s liking, the beautiful lawyer has become Evan’s light in the dark. But his next hit is Lucy’s own brother—a murderer who got off on a technicality. Now, with his loyalties split, Evan must turn his back on his brothers . . . or lose the woman who has claimed his reckless heart.<br /> <br /><i>Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.</i><br /><div>
<b>My Review:</b></div>
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Wow! Just wow! Was this novel ever hot! The main characters sizzled whenever they were near each other. The plot was solid with some interesting twists. The descriptions were vivid yet dark at times, changing the entire mood of the story. Schmidt brought everything to the forefront in remarkably intriguing ways.</div>
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In this novel the vigilante justice tends to overshadow the MC aspect of the tale, yet at the same time, for this club, they appear to be one and the same. This gives a very different feel from so many of the MC novels out there on the marked at the moment. There are definitely some subplots left unfinished at the end of the novel that lead into the rest of the series. This is to be expected in a series launching novel but be warned, not everything in this novel is tied up in a pretty little bow at the end. It's like real life, only much darker. </div>
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I also enjoyed the character development in this novel. We got to know everyone as we me them, yet the development didn't stop there. Little tidbits appeared throughout the novel as we got to know all the major players quite well.</div>
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As a whole this was a hot, exciting start to Schmidt's new series. I'd definitely recommend it to others and can't wait to see what happens next.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-70035225307111243132016-10-21T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-21T17:11:19.101-04:00Her Halloween Treat & Q&A with author Tiffany Reisz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>1) How did you come up with the relationship between Joey and Chris?</b><br />
I have a lovely Twitter friend who used to live in Hawaii and she’s in love with actor Chris Evans especially when he’s wearing a beard. She posts a lot of sexy Chris Evans pictures and gifs and in one picture he’s wearing flannel and looking like your ultimate HGTV sexy handyman fantasy. It wasn’t too hard to come up with the sort of woman who’d fall for a guy like that.<br />
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<b>2) What is your favorite part about writing for Men at Work?</b><br />
Hard to say because I had so much fun writing every single book. I think the most fun I had was with the supporting characters. In HER HALLOWEEN TREAT, Joey’s best friend is a co-worker named Kira who keeps her encouraged and entertained. In HER NAUGHTY HOLIDAY, I had a blast writing Erick’s snarky 17-year-old daughter who is playing matchmaker for her boss and her dad. And in ONE HOT DECEMBER the heroine’s neighbor is Mrs. Scheinberg, a feisty 88-year-old woman who can’t stop giving my heroine and hero very good advice. Writing the funny best friend or wacky neighbor never stops being fun. <br />
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<b>3) Your Harlequin Blaze novels seem to be either around Halloween or Christmas, which one is your favorite?</b><br />
The entire trilogy is set around the holidays. In HER HALLOWEEN TREAT it’s Halloween. In HER NAUGHTY HOLIDAY it’s Thanksgiving. And in ONE HOT DECEMBER it’s Hanukkah and Christmas. Christmas is my favorite holiday because it’s when all my family gets together. I’m a vegetarian so Thanksgiving is kind of wasted on me. And Halloween is great but when you have as many fillings as I do, you tend to avoid candy. <br />
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<b>4) What was the first book that made you cry?</b><br />
I picked up a copy of THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY by Karleen Koen when I was on vacation with my parents in Virginia when I was, oh, 14 or 15, I think. I probably got the book because it had a pretty cover and was very long, and I liked to read big books since I thought that impressed people. I devoured the book in just a few days and remember weeping onto the pages when Roger dies. That was the first historical romance I’d ever read and loved and Roger was the first bisexual character I think I’d ever encountered in fiction. I adored the book and still have that giant purple hardcover at my parents’ house. <br />
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<b>5) How long do you spend researching before beginning a book?</b><br />
I didn’t do any research for the Men at Work books. My father has been a contractor/handyman type all his life so I knew a lot about the work the guys do. I usually research as I write. Too many writers use intensive research to put off the actual writing. Write and research simultaneously and then you can pinpoint exactly what you need to research and save yourself time and trouble. <br />
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<b>6) How do you select the names of your characters?</b><br />
Names are hard. You want to get them just right and I’ve been known to “Find and Replace” on a draft when a name just isn’t working. I’ll try several out until I find one that works. <br />
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<b>7) If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?</b><br />
I’d probably die. But before I was a writer, I worked in a bunch of bookstores. I could easily go back to working in a bookstore tomorrow. <br />
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<b>8) Do you believe in writer’s block?</b><br />
I’ll quote Steve Martin here—“ Writer's block is a fancy term made up by whiners so they can have an excuse to drink alcohol.”<br />
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<b>9) What is your favorite thing about fall? </b><br />
How happy it makes my husband. That and long-sleeved shirts. I’m a big fan of long-sleeved shirts. <br />
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<b>10) Are you excited for Halloween? If so, do you have a favorite scary story? </b><br />
I’m excited for Halloween decorating. In fact, I already did it. Favorite scary story? Probably “The Haunted House” from the original SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK. I was in a school play version of that story. I had one line and that line was just a scream. I do a very good scream. <br />
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Title: </b>Her Halloween Treat<br />
<b> Series: </b>Men at Work<br />
<b> Author: </b>Tiffany Reisz<br />
<b> Publication Date: </b>October 1st 2016 by Harlequin Blaze (first published September 20th 2016)<br />
<b> Length: </b>224pgs<br />
<b> Genre: </b>contemporary romance<br />
<b> Shelf: </b>review<br />
<b> My Rating: ★★★★</b><br />
<b> Book Links: </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29387316-her-halloween-treat">Goodreads</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Her-Halloween-Treat-Men-Work/dp/0373799160/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477003919&sr=8-1&keywords=her+halloween+treat">Amazon(US)</a> – <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Her-Halloween-Treat-Men-Work-ebook/dp/B01BSFBTWI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477003937&sr=8-1&keywords=her+halloween+treat">Amazon(CA)</a> - <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/her-halloween-treat-tiffany-reisz/1123427083?ean=9780373799169">B&N</a> - <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/her-halloween-treat">Kobo</a> - <a href="https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/her-halloween-treat/9781488000379-item.html?ikwid=her+halloween+treat&ikwsec=Books&ikwidx=0">Indigo</a> - <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Tiffany_Reisz_Her_Halloween_Treat?id=_7STCwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a><br />
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<b> Back Cover Blurb:</b> <br />
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<i>Trick…or wicked treat! </i><br />
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It was a devastating dirty trick—Joey Silvia just found out her boyfriend of two years is married. What. A. Dick. Joey knows her best chance to get over one guy is to get under another. Of course, heading home to her family's remote cabin in Oregon poses some challenges in the "available men" department…until she discovers this cabin comes with its own hot handyman! <br />
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Holy crap, Chris Steffensen. When did her brother's best friend turn into a hard-bodied pile of blond-bearded hotness? He's the perfect Halloween treat—and a surprisingly dirty rebound guy. For a couple of weeks, anyway. Except that Chris has other ideas…like proving to Joey that this blast from the past is a whole lot more than a naughty Halloween hookup.<br />
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<b>My Review:</b></div>
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This novel is explicitly vivid. Reisz's descriptions pop and truly do the story justice. The spice and chemistry between the characters is unmistakable. I thought that my ereader was going to go up in flames as these two combusted. I loved how the characters had both friendship and chemistry. These weren't two strangers coming together, but rather two individuals with a very close and personal past. </div>
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I really enjoyed how much we got to know about the characters and their pasts, both their childhoods together and their adult lives apart. </div>
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This story was hot and fun at the same time! Reisz has definitely created a tale that will keep you warm on those cool winter nights!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17515810061350075712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345280289544561909.post-78241504637470107852016-10-20T04:00:00.000-04:002016-10-20T19:19:57.771-04:00Guest Post with author CJ Burright - GiveawayHalloween is one of my favorite holidays (and to celebrate, get your FREE copy of my novella <i>The Druid, the Witch, and the Love Curse</i> at the end of this post). It might be the change in season, the falling leaves and crisp winds whispering of things to come. It could be the perfectly valid opportunity to dress up and scare kids and eat all that leftover candy. Or maybe it’s just the pumpkins, skeletons, and ghosties and goblins on every corner.<br />
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Personally, I think it has more to do with my Celtic roots, Samhain, and the thinning veil between the living and spirit worlds. There are just too many spooky stories surrounding Samhain to completely discount the possibility of visiting phantoms, and I have a few family tales, too weird to be explained away. Want to hear one? I thought you might. :)<br />
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It was a dark and stormy night. Kidding. It was night, and it was dark, but I don’t remember any storm happening. A quick C.J. history lesson—I grew up in the boonies. Miles from town, boxed in on two sides by endless acres of government-owned forestland, the closest neighbor a run-across-the-field away. On a good day, we got two television channels, and HBO wasn’t one of them. We lived in a double-wide mobile home with an attached garage, and the long driveway led straight into the garage. Any headlights shone right into the living room windows, so when visitors showed up, you knew it. <br />
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This particular night was the parental units’ romantic Saturday evening (aka bowling league) and my older sister was at a friend’s house, so it was just me and my younger sister, Cathy. We were hanging in the living room, watching whatever questionable television show our antennae would pick up, Hee-Haw, I think…did I mention this was long, long ago? Headlights reflected in the windows, and as it was about time for mom and dad’s return, we didn’t think much of it. The motor’s rumble echoed from the garage and cut out. The back door leading from garage to house clicked open and shut softly.<br />
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But no one came into the living room.<br />
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It took a couple minutes for my curiosity to kick in. What was taking mom and dad so long to come into the living room and why was it so quiet? Dad loved to prank us, and even though mom never played along, I suspected foul play. I strolled from the living room to the kitchen, fully prepared to foil his plans. <br />
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No one was there.<br />
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I peeked through the kitchen window into the garage.<br />
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No car.<br />
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Prickles ran down my arms as I tried to connect the empty garage with what my senses told me only minutes ago. A car had come up the driveway. Someone had come in.<br />
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Crap.<br />
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Not willing to turn my back on the kitchen or the garage, I backed into the dining room. The large windows looking out into the night didn’t help the cold racing through my veins. The dining room and living room were connected, and Cathy was lounging in a recliner, still watching television. I said, “Mom and dad aren’t here. You saw the headlights, right? Didn’t you hear the car, the door open and shut?”<br />
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Thankfully, her disbelieving expression told me if I was going crazy, then so was she. Clinging to each other, we crept back into the kitchen. Nothing had changed, no car, no parents. We agreed we had to check the house because someone had come in. Someone was in our house with us, and there were three bedrooms and two bathrooms they could be hiding in. No way would we sit around, waiting.<br />
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Like so many horror movie victims before us, we armed ourselves with kitchen knives and inched down the hallway. My sister’s room was dark, the door open. Shaking, our knives gripped tight, we flipped on the light.<br />
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The room was empty. The closet held the usual clothes and shoes, no axe-wielding ghost clowns. But we had more rooms to go.<br />
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The bathroom was easy, nowhere to hide other than the shower. We slid further down the hall, to the room we shared. I made Cathy turn on the light, my knife raised right behind her, ready to slash, stab and gouge. <br />
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Nothing hid behind my bookcase or beneath our bunkbed. My heart roared, a stampede in my ears. We looked at each other. Only our parents’ room remained. This was it. The showdown. I could hardly breathe and my fingers ached from holding the knife so tight. Together, we opened the door and hit the light switch. <br />
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The bed was made, no red eyes peering from beneath. The bathroom was empty. We both turned to the closed closet door. Final spot. Cathy flung open the door as I yelled and flicked the switch. <br />
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Nothing. Nothing in the hanging clothes. Nothing crouched behind shoes boxes. Nothing clinging to the ceiling. <br />
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What the hell? <br />
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As relieved as I was to not confront some horror that my brain could never erase, it made no sense. We’d both seen the headlights. We’d both heard the car. We’d both acknowledged the door opening and shutting. <br />
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My parents came home some time later and didn’t seem to notice the way we huddled together on the couch, every light in the house on. Neither one of us mentioned anything. What could we possibly say? <br />
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Now, I can’t blame that weird incident on the thinning of the veil on Samhain, but it was during the autumn season, when life is dying and settling in for winter. Whatever the cause, I have never forgotten it. <br />
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Do you have any unexplainable occurrences to share? Any family haunts or tales? <br />
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FREE FOR YOU! Just in time for the Samhain season, the novella start-up of my future series, Moonlight and Madness, is available for anyone who wants it. The key to unlocking <i>The Druid, the Witch, and the Love Curse</i> is signing up for my newsletter <a href="http://eepurl.com/cfjt7X">HERE</a>. Have a fabulous Halloween!<br />
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With only three days to live, an ancient druid must choose between true love or ultimate freedom. <br />
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Druid Kellen Ravenwood yearns for freedom. Cursed to an enchanted dungeon with only three days out every half century, he determines to finally break the hex during his respite, no matter the cost. <br />
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But when fresh-out-of-divorce court Maggie O’Malley shows up on Samhain with the key to his prison–and his heart–Kellen must decide what to sacrifice…love or liberty.<br />
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<b>And before you go!</b></div>
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