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Archive for February, 2019

The Haunted

Posted in 4 Star Books on February 27, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Hargrove House
The Haunted Book 1
by Allie Harrison
Genre: Paranormal Romance
What waits for her in the cellar?
As a child, Torrie Reynolds entered the haunted Hargrove House on a
dare. Terrified by what she’d heard while inside Hargrove House, she
avoided it since.
Now fifteen years later, Will Dalton offers Torrie the job of
refurbishing it, and she has no choice but to take the offer to keep
her business afloat. But there is something about Will Dalton that
Torrie’s heart can’t ignore, something that calls to her in her
dreams, something about him that her soul recognizes.
As the house is restored and rooms come alive with character and color
Torrie brings to them, her fear of the house fades and her attraction
to Will grows stronger. Hargrove House begins to even feel like home
to her. With each finished renovation project, it is harder for
Torrie to leave the house…Or Will.
And although she wants nothing more than a life with Will Dalton within
Hargrove House, she discovers there are things more terrifying than
ghosts when she learns why Will is digging in the dark, frightening cellar…
This is a stand-alone Paranormal Romance with a hot hero and a crafty
heroine that will keep you turning the pages to the very end.
**Only .99 cents!!**
My Review
4 stars

The Hargrove House has always been haunted and when Torrie Reynolds was young she entered the house on a dare. But when she heard it call her name she ran and never went back. Until Will Dalton, the new owner, asks her to renovate the house. But the more Torrie is in the house the more it starts to feel like home. Plus her attraction to Will doesn’t hurt either. But things start taking a strange turn and the past seems to be reaching out to the present.

This is a great read. Torrie is a wonderful character and although she would rather be anywhere but at the Hargrove House, she does need the money. But there is more to this story than a simple haunting. I loved the connection to the past and what happened. But I really enjoyed the sweet romance between Torrie and Will.

I loved the story and the unexpected twists. I admit that I kind of expected the ending but the story needed to wrapped up and this did a great job. Allie Harrison wrote a great story and left me wanting to know what is going to happen in book two.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

Montgomery Manor
The Haunted Book 2
Welcome to Montgomery Manor, a beautiful Bed & Breakfast complete with
gorgeous guest rooms, a five-star restaurant, and a haunting history
of true love, betrayal, and murder…
When soulmates Quint and Meg Falkner inherit moldering Montgomery Manor,
they are in way over their heads. With a bit of faith and strange
push they cannot ignore, they jump head first into bringing the
large, compelling house back to its original grandeur.
But something is different…something is…wrong. Quint isn’t acting
himself, and Meg keeps seeing visions, images of the past seeping
into her very soul. When Meg becomes the target of a mysterious,
dangerous admirer, her world implodes, leaving her vulnerable to the
otherworldly inhabitants of the house…the very house calling out to
her, its secrets begging to be uncovered.
Endless corridors, echoing darkness, and hidden treasure weave together in
this tale of everlasting love and second chances.
Can Meg and Quint make a new life for themselves in Montgomery Manor, or
will Montgomery Manor’s secrets tear them apart forever?
This is a stand-alone Paranormal Romance with a hot hero and a crafty
heroine that will keep you turning the pages to the very end.
**Only .99 cents!!**
My Review
4 stars

Quint and Meg Falkner have just inherited the Montgomery Manor. It is a rundown Bed and Breakfast with a murder in it’s past. Meg wants to get rid of the manor, she thinks it is too big of a project to restore and wants nothing to do with the house. Then Quint seems to be changing and when she jokes around about being possessed by a ghost he agrees. Meg is also having strange dreams and visions that are making her think she is slowly going insane. But the final straw is when she gets a stalker that can’t wait to see her at the grand opening of Montgomery Manor.

I really enjoyed Hargrove House and couldn’t wait to see what scared Allie Harrison would come up with next. I was not disappointed. Once again we have a haunted house, a haunting, and some serious shady business. I felt for Meg, especially when she started noticing the changes in Quint. But her stalker really got under my skin. That with the original owner, Joshua Montgomery’s hanging really had me hooked.

This is an amazing sequel to Hargrove House could easily be read as a standalone story but I loved how it kept them theme going. And when I learned about Joshua I was hooked and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what was going to happen next. This is a great series and I recommend checking it out.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

Camden Place
The Haunted Book 3
Her past is a mystery. His future is in jeopardy.
From the first moment Clare Newman steps into Camden Place—from the
squeak in the floor and the sweet scent of apple pie to the candles
she lights on the dining room table—it feels like home. It’s a
place she can find refuge from her nightmares. It’s a place where
she can make a fresh start…
…Except there’s a misty figure with a knife who disappears into the library.
…Except there’s Liam Camden, the man who built Camden Place over a century
and a half before, who doesn’t disappear, who seems to be the only
one who can see and talk to Clare.
But who is the real ghost? Clare, who somehow found the doorway to 1847?
Or Liam, who died mysteriously one hundred and seventy years ago?
When danger creeps closer, will the timeless love they share be enough to
keep them safe?
This is a stand-alone Paranormal Romance with a hot hero and a crafty
heroine that will keep you turning the pages to the very end.
**Only .99 cents!!**
Winsgate Drive
The Haunted Book 4
Was it a dream? Or was it real?
He visited her at midnight in a dream. He was a stranger yet her lover,
whose touch started a fire in her soul. His passion left her yearning
for more even after she awoke.
With the morning light, she discovered him at her door, leaving her to
question just how much of her midnight fantasy had been a dream.
Kate McCoy can’t resist Jake Casperson. Nor can she resist the passion
that flares between them day or night. At the same time, neither of
them can escape the dreams. But the dreams soon become a nightmare
that is overshadowed by something darker…
A murder that happened seventy years ago. Two young lovers who share
Kate and Jake’s names.
Can she believe the dreams? Are they real, shared memories of a love cut
short by murder?
And if they are, will history repeat itself and make Kate the next victim?
This is a stand-alone Paranormal Romance with a hot hero and a crafty
heroine that will keep you turning the pages to the very end.
**Only .99 cents!!**
Allie Harrison also writes as Allie Quinn. She lives with her husband in
Southern Illinois. When she isn’t enjoying fun family time, games
with friends, reading, crafts, music and winemaking, she’s working to
build fictional worlds and unforgettable characters.
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
Enter for your chance to win a $10 Amazon Card (3 Winners)
I would like to thank Silver Dagger Book Tours for the opportunity to read and share these books.

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Bad Seed

Posted in 5 Star Books on February 27, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Bad Seed (DI Kate Fletcher #3) by Heleyne Hammersley

When the body of a woman is discovered near Doncaster’s red light district, DI Kate Fletcher is called to the scene.
 
The victim has an abdominal wound that looks like a Caesarean incision, leading the police to believe she may have been pregnant.
 
Kate’s team establish the woman’s identity but it soon becomes clear that those close to her have something to hide.
 
The post-mortem reveals the victim wasn’t pregnant and, when a second body is discovered with similar wounds, the police realise they are hunting for a serial killer with a sinister fixation.
 
Can Kate solve the case before another woman dies?
 
And can a ruthless, methodical killer be brought to justice?

Amazon UK     Amazon US     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

About the Author

Heleyne Hammersley is a British writer based in Cumbria. She writes psychological suspense thrillers and crime novels.

Heleyne has been writing since junior school – her first work was a collection of poems called ‘Give Them the Works’ when she was ten years old. The poems were carefully handwritten on plain paper and tied together with knitting wool.

When she’s not writing, Heleyne can often be found wandering on the fells or in the local park with her dog.

Website     Facebook     Twitter

My Review

5 Stars

DI Kate Fletcher is called in to investigate a woman that has been raped and murdered. What’s odd is she has a cut on her abdomen like a caesarean surgery. She is identified by her husband, who has an alibi and the detectives seem at a loss with the case until another woman is discovered. The detectives quickly realize that there is a serial murder on the loose and they need to catch him before another woman is murdered.

Kate Fletcher is a great detective and a strong lead. But her team is having some personal issues that are affecting their performance with this case. She realizes something is wrong with her one of her team and think it has to deal with the case. Unfortunately they have other things going on and Kate has to tell them to take time off, even though they need all the bodies they can get.

I loved the mystery and the twists and turns to the story. I was quickly sucked into the story and had a hard time putting it down. This is my first book from Heleyne but it won’t be my last. Now I need to catch up on the first two books in the series to see what I have missed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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From Frights to Flaws

Posted in 5 Star Books on February 26, 2019| 2 Comments »

photo unnamed_zpst0gtyuxm.jpgMiddle Grade Fantasy

Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions, Book 1
Publisher: S.A. Prasad Publishing
Published: October 2018
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An Adventure of Modern Magic
Twelve-year-old Alyssa McCarthy longs for a better life. She lost her parents at age seven and her aunt at nine. Her uncle also enforces unfair rules. But Alyssa discovers something she has never thought existed before… magic. A wicked sorcerer hunts her down. He kidnaps her from her ordinary New Jersey town to Yanowic, an enchanted island in Fiji.
Alyssa is trapped in the country due to a giant shield covering it. She must defeat dangerous creatures and the evil wizard in order to leave. But with sorcerers and enchanted technology getting in her way, can Alyssa succeed?
Originally published in 2013, the book has been updated to its full potential with edits, while keeping the storyline the same.

Purchase Link

Amazon     Goodreads


About the Author

photo unnamed 2_zpsi2th9fpa.jpgSunayna Prasad has published a few books between her late teens and her mid-twenties. She has won a Pacific Book Review Award for her novel, Wizardry Goes Wild, which will return as a new edition, like From Frights to Flaws. Sunayna also has a blog on different creative and entertaining topics, including writing and fiction. It is called “Sunayna Prasad’s Blog”.

Aside from writing, Sunayna also likes to cook, do art, and watch videos online. She has graduated from college in May 2017 and is looking to continue more writing as well as hold a graphic design job soon. Sunayna lives on Long Island, NY.
Contact Links
My Review
5 stars
Alyssa lost her parents to a car accident so she lives with her Uncle Bruce and cousin Hailey. But she is having a hard time adjusting. Bruce home schools the girls and is very strict and Alyssa dreams of lazy days like she had with her parents. Through a series of events, Alyssa and Hailey’s babysitter is put under a spell. Alyssa is then kidnapped and taken to Fiji by an evil wizard that plans on killing her. Alyssa is in a race against time to learn how to use her magic to defeat Master Beau before she can return home.

I felt for Alyssa since she lost her parents and how she wants to return to doing nothing. She does not like all the rules and the chores. But there is a point and purpose that she doesn’t know about. I do love all the action and adventure she finds herself in even if it is not all good. I loved following along as she desperately learns to use her magic to survive.

I have read and reviewed this book previously but with the revisions I figured that I would read it again. Things have been revised and the story reads a lot smoother. I loved revising this world and the adventure that Alyssa goes on.

This is a great story and if you like fantasies I recommend checking it out. It will appeal to any age. At one point I thought it was supposed to be a first in a series. I do hope it is. I would love to read more about Alyssa and her new world.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 
RABT Book Tours & PR
I would like to thank Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours and PR for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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The Case of Billy’s Missing Gun – Cover Reveal

Posted in General Information on February 25, 2019| Leave a Comment »

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(Sherlock and Me series)
Cozy mystery
Date Published: March 2019
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Super sleuth Lucy James is hired to find the Colt pistol that may have belonged to Billy the Kid. Hampered by dishonest weapon experts, a pawnshop murder and unusual architecture at a downtown casino, her investigation is rocky at best. A massive snowstorm has blanketed Reno leaving Lucy to slog her way to interviews with uncooperative witnesses. Her father’s abrupt firing from his job as the host of a local children’s television show and the impending marriage between her best friend Cindy Floyd and her detective fiancé Skip Callahan grab chunks of Lucy’s fleeting attention. But she is determined to find the missing gun before the next snowstorm even though she on and off relationship with handsome professor Eric Schultz is off again. With sheer tenacity and a pair of thick snow boots, Lucy muscles through to the mystery’s resolution. It isn’t easy but the mystery and murder never are.

Purchase Links

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Kobo     iBooks

photo unnamed 1_zps9z4xdvyr.jpgAbout the Author

SJ SLAGLE started her writing career as a language arts teacher. Her initial interest was children’s stories, but she moved on to western romance, mysteries, and historical fiction. She has published 24 novels, both independent and contract. SJ contributes regularly to guest blogs and has her own blog called anauthorsworld.com in which she discusses the research involved in the books she writes. SJ has established Twitter and Facebook fan bases, a quarterly author newsletter and a website under her pseudonym: JEANNE HARRELL at jeanneharrell.com.
Her first historical fiction novel, LONDON SPIES, was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2018 and Slagle was a finalist in the 2017 UK Independent Book Awards. She was given the Silver Award with the International Independent Film Awards for her screenplay called REDEMPTION. SJ conducts writing/publishing symposiums in her local area. OSLO SPIES, her second historical fiction novel will be published in September. She lives and works in Reno, Nevada.
Contact Links
Website    Facebook      Twitter    Blog     Pinterest     Goodreads
RABT Book Tours & PR
I would like to thank Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours and PR for the opportunity to share this book.

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Justice Gone

Posted in General Information on February 25, 2019| 2 Comments »

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Justice Gone
By N. Lombardi Jr
Genre: Legal Thriller

Justice Gone, a mystery/legal thriller which publishes February 22, 2019, touches upon many topical, controversial issues in today’s society as well as being a thrilling and engaging read. The story encapsulates current social issues: police brutality, homelessness, the plight of returning war veterans, the frenzy of the press, and the mechanics of the US judicial system.

“When a homeless war veteran is beaten to death by the police, stormy protests ensue, engulfing a small New Jersey town. Soon after, three cops are gunned down.

A multi-state manhunt is underway for a cop killer on the loose. And Dr. Tessa Thorpe, a veteran’s counselor, is caught up in the chase.

Donald Darfield, an African-American Iraqi war vet, war-time buddy of the beaten man, and one of Tessa’s patients, is holed up in a mountain cabin. Tessa, acting on instinct, sets off to find him, but the swarm of law enforcement officers gets there first, leading to Darfield’s dramatic capture.

Now, the only people separating him from the lethal needle of state justice are Tessa and ageing blind lawyer, Nathaniel Bodine. Can they untangle the web tightening around Darfield in time, when the press and the justice system are baying for revenge?”

Justice Gone is the first in a series of psychological thrillers involving Dr. Tessa Thorpe.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

N. Lombardi Jr.

About the Author

Lombardi Jr, the N for Nicholas, has spent over half his life in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, working as a groundwater geologist. Nick can speak five languages: Swahili, Thai, Lao, Chinese, and Khmer (Cambodian).

In 1997, while visiting Lao People’s Democratic Republic, he witnessed the remnants of a secret war that had been waged for nine years, among which were children wounded from leftover cluster bombs. Driven by what he saw, he worked on The Plain of Jars for the next eight years.
Nick maintains a website with content that spans most aspects of the novel: The Secret War, Laotian culture, Buddhism etc. http://plainofjars.net

His second novel, Journey Towards a Falling Sun, is set in the wild frontier of northern Kenya.

His latest novel, Justice Gone was inspired by the fatal beating of a homeless man by police.
Nick now lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Goodreads     Facebook

 

Author N. Lombardi Jr is giving away 20 signed copies of Justice Gone. Enter below!

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Excerpt

Chapter 1

Bruntfield, New Jersey, just another banal town in a part of the country that nobody thinks about, was about to become famous; or rather, more aptly put, infamous. People sauntered past lackluster shops unaware that in a few days, the lackadaisical streets would bear the rabid frustrations that divided the nation; a pus-like bitterness that was held in check by the demands of everyday survival and the distractions offered by obsessive consumerism and brazen media.

Some would inevitably blame the cascade of events on the weather, since the origins could be found on a hot summer day in 2006. Sure, just about all summer days are hot, but this one was close to the record, and humid to boot. By the end of July, the Northeast coast was suffering under a sweltering heat wave. Despite the humidity, no one could remember the last time it had rained. A hundred-year drought was predicted, they’d said.

Bruntfield, among the many places under this curse, had its water supply so severely depressed that the city authorities were forced to impose water rationing. As if that wasn’t enough, the excessive load on air conditioners led to incessant brownouts. With the weather nothing less than insufferable, suffocating, oppressive, even provoking, tempers flared along with the temperature.

But the local situation, as bad as it was, was about to get worse.

In the heart of this small town, just a block up from the bus depot, sat Sliders, a rather successful drinking establishment catering to young adults, and noted for its ecstasy-fueled rave parties. At four in the afternoon, the owner, Joe Poppet, a burly man with a thick red beard and a well-developed beer belly, was staring out the large glass facade of his bar.

“Screw this heat, man.”

Joe was sweating because he didn’t want to turn on the air-conditioning; as a rule, he didn’t put it on until a half hour before opening. He possessed a rather cynical personality, considering himself continually persecuted by life’s little aggravations. Now it was the heat ramping up his electricity bill; soon it would be the freezing temperatures inflating his heating bill…always something. His worries constantly exceeded his hopes. He was sort of a “glass-half-empty” man.

Rudy Glum, the shaven-headed bartender, was an easygoing optimist, a “glass-half-full” kind of guy. He was whistling as he washed the glasses in the sink behind the bar. “Tell me about it,” he chuckled. “I hear ya, buddy.”

But Rudy’s sanguinity did not rub off on Joe. “There’s that guy again.”

“What guy?”

“That fucking guy we saw yesterday.”

“Oh, yeah, he’s probably from the bus depot. Lotta homeless hang out there.”

Joe continued to stare out the glass facade, feeling helpless. “For Chrissakes, why can’t the city do something and get rid of those bastards. They’re a fucking eyesore…it’s bad for business. Probably got diseases too.”

Rudy finished drying the glass in his hand and hung it up on the beer mug rack. “Yeah, it’s a goddamn shame,” he said noncommittally, trying to get these glasses done before the evening crowd surged in.

“He doesn’t have a shirt on.”

“Yeah, well it’s hot, ain’t it? Wish I could take mine off.”

“And we’re opening in an hour. Ladies Night tonight.”

Rudy said nothing while reaching for another glass from the sink behind the bar.

“Call the cops.”

The bartender froze with the glass still in his hand. “And tell them what?”

“I don’t know, tell ‘em there’s someone suspicious hangin out on the corner…trying to break into cars or something. That way they’ll come fast.”

Reluctantly, Rudy put down his dishrag, picked up the phone, and dialed 911, not feeling good about it at all.

I would like to thank Sage Adderley-Knox for the opportunity to share this book.

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The Prodigal Captive

Posted in 4 Star Books on February 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »

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The Prodigal Captive (A Palmchat Islands Mystery – 1) by Rachel Woods

A mind-blowing mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat until the shocking ending.

On a gorgeous morning in paradise, tourists find a dead body on the pristine white beach of St. Killian, an island in the Caribbean.

The victim was killed in a ritualistic murder. The dead man was castrated and branded. Burned into his skin is a strange word—“eros.”

Investigative journalist Vivian Thomas-Bronson heads to the scene of the crime. She’s got to cover the story alone. Her husband, Leo Bronson, has to do a mysterious favor for his father.

Leo is less than thrilled when he’s asked to find the missing son of a billionaire. There’s only one clue to go on—something known as “eros.”

Could the missing scion be connected to the dead man on the beach? And what is the mystery behind “eros”?

Their investigation uncovers an ultra-secret cult whose members perform bizarre rituals.

When Leo goes undercover to get more information, he finds himself face to face with a demented killer. Can he escape with the truth? Or, will he fall prey to a psychotic villain who believes that murder is a sacrifice worth making?

Amazon     Goodreads

Praise for The Prodigal Captive

“This reader was on the edge of her seat flipping pages as quickly as they were read.” Bobbie

“The storyline is excellent with lots of twists and turns.” LeMiliere

“It is full of suspense and twist and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.” Heather

“A fast paced action filled story.” Helen

Rachel Woods

About the Author

As a pre-teen, a young Rachel  quickly tired of the Sweet Valley High Series and moved on to work by Sidney Sheldon, Jackie Collins and Dominick Dunne, which was just the spark necessary to fuel her love of writing.

Her first stories were written on a Brother typewriter during long summer days in Texas, where she always had an extra typewriter ribbon and correction tape handy.

Rachel later studied journalism and graduated from the University of Houston where she published articles in the Daily Cougar. She is a freelance writer and blogger with a penchant for melodrama and a frequent traveler to beach locales. Many of her stories take place on the islands, which she has visited around the world.

Rachel writes complex, multicultural stories centered on strong women in jeopardy, fighting for love and their own lives.

When not writing, this read-a-holic can be found listening to audio books, reading the Book of Jeremiah, or scouring soap opera blogs. Rachel resides in Houston with her three sock monkeys.

Website

My Review

4 stars

A man’s body has floated onto the beach at St. Killian’s Island resort. What’s strange is a brand on his foot “eros” and his penis is missing. Investigative journalist Vivian Thomas-Bronson got in hunt of the killer. But she is alone as her husband Leo is called in by his father to investigate the disappearance of a billionaire’s son later found with the brand “eros” on his foot too. Clearly the cases are linked but Leo is going to find out way more than he expected when he goes undercover.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. Just by this description I can’t be the only one wanting to know why he was killed, the meaning of the brand, and the whole missing penis. What I got was one heck of a thriller as Vivian and Leo discover some seriously messed up people.

This book was well written and drew me in right away. I loved the story and all the twists and turns. For those that love a great thriller/mystery you need to check out this book. I can’t believe that this is my first book from Rachel Woods. I will honestly say that it will NOT be my last.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Ari at Candid Book Reviews for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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CeeGee’s Gift

Posted in 5 Star Books on February 23, 2019| Leave a Comment »

After posting the review for Down into the Belly of the Whale I couldn’t resist sharing this book too. Both are worth checking out!!

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CeeGee’s Gift by Joy H. Selak

A young girl is born with a mysterious gift.
An old man teaches her what it means to be gifted.
Together they learn the reason we are here on earth is to discover and give our gifts. Everyone has a gift.

Set in a small island town on the Texas coastal bend, CeeGee’s Gift takes readers to a simpler time, when neighbors sat on front porches, kids took off on bikes all day, and the library was the gathering place for all ages. Twelve-year-old Celia Gene Williamson and her friend, old Mr. Tindale, work together to transform her ability to foretell the future into a gift for others—a chance for the people of Southport to prepare for what is to come, or even change their direction and change the future.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

Joy H. Selak 

About the Author

You Don’t LOOK Sick! Living Well with Invisible Chronic Illness, co-authored with her physician was first published in 2005. A fully revised second edition was published by Demos Health in December 2012. The authors take the reader on a journey through the 4 stages of chronic illness, Getting Sick, Being Sick, Grief and Acceptance and Living Well. They believe it is possible to live well, even if you cannot get well and are passionate advocates for compassionate, comprehensive healthcare.

Joy was raised in San Antonio, TX, attended Arizona State University for 14 years, earning 4 degrees. She taught in the English Department at ASU for 7 years, then left academics to become a stockbroker. After becoming ill, Joy turned to writing.

Joy is board president of ZACH Theatre in Austin, TX and through ZACH and MindPOP she advocates for the arts and arts education across the curriculum. Joy was a founder and consultant for A Legacy of Giving, an organization that teaches children to be philanthropists through their school curriculum.

Website     Facebook    Twitter

My Review

5 Stars

Celia Gene, CeeGee, is almost twelve years old and a great kid on the little Magdalena Island. We start the story with her offering to help the elderly Mr. Tindale with his flower beds. But what happens is a prediction and learning about her special ability/curse. CeeGee gets Knowings, a light comes down and tells her different things.

The ones she had three years ago lead to people being hurt or dying and she has locked her ability away for three years and tried to be a normal kid. But this is a constant struggle and she decides to talk to Mr. Tindale to see if he can help her.

This is a touching story of a young girl and a very special yet misunderstood ability. CeeGee is a great kid and it broke my heart to see her struggling with her Knowing. I understand why she thought they were horrible but I was so happy when Mr. Tindale got it through that it wasn’t the case, like when she saved her mom from the baseball. And to see how she used her Knowing was just wonderful.

This is a great story and one that I recommend checking out. I love how it shows to embrace your abilities and how they are really gifts. Joy Selak does a great job with this story. I can’t wait to read more books from her.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank The Authors’ Assistant for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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Down in the Belly of the Whale

Posted in 4 Star Books on February 23, 2019| Leave a Comment »

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Down in the Belly of the Whale by Kelley Kay Bowles

A contemporary story about family and friendship for fans of Eleanor Porter and L.M. Montgomery.

Harper Southwood is a teenage girl who can sense when people will get sick—but so what? She can’t predict her best friend’s depression or her mother’s impending health crisis. Being helpful is all Harper ever wanted, but she feels helpless in the face of real adversity. Now, she’s got a chance to summon her courage and use her wits to fight for justice. Laugh and cry along with this irrepressible, high-spirited teen in her journey of self-discovery, as she learns that compassion and internal strength are her real gifts, her true superpower.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Goodreads

Kelley Kay Bowles

About the Author

Kelley Bowles Gusich writes young adult novels under the pen name Kelley Kay Bowles and cozy mysteries under Kelley Kaye. Her debut novel, cozy mystery Death by Diploma, was released by Red Adept Publishing on February 2016, went #1 on Amazon for cozy mysteries in August that same year, and is first in her Chalkboard Outlines® series. Book # 2, Poison by Punctuation, was released April 2018.

Kelley’s new young adult novel, Down in the Belly of the Whale, was released May 5th, 2018, by Aionios Books, and won their title ‘Victor Indie Book of the Year’. Look for it in Kindle, paperback, and audio book (narrated by Kelley!).

Kelley taught high school English and drama for twenty years in Colorado and California, but a 1994 diagnosis of multiple sclerosis has (circuitously and finally) brought her to the life of writer and mother, both occupations she adores and dreamed about way back when she was making up stories revolving around her Barbie and Ken dolls.

Kelley has two wonderful and funny sons and an amazing husband who cooks for her. She lives in Southern California.

Website     Facebook     Twitter

My Review

4 Stars

Harper Southwood is a typical teenager that feels like the odd man out from her family, has school issues, and a crush on her lab partner. But where she is not normal is her ability to sense when people are ill. We start the story as she is meeting up with her best friend Cora who has been acting strange and making Harper’s knees itch. Cora tries to play everything off until Harper notices cuts on her legs and learns about Cora’s abuse. As Harper navigates this new world she also learns that her mother is ill also.

This is a deep story. Harper is a wonderful teenager that can annoy you but make you care about her at the same time. She is trying to find her place in the world while feeling like an outsider. My heart breaks for Cora and everything she goes through. I also felt for Harper as we see what her mother is going through too.

This is an amazing story that touches on several hard topics. It tries to balance the darkness with humor which is how I live my life so I could easily see how this was used. Although this story is more of a coming of age story I really would have liked to see Harper’s ability been used more, it was a big draw to me when I decided to read the book.

Overall I recommend checking out this book. It’s a great read on some tough topics that could trigger some people. I love how she tackled these topics. This is the first book of Kelley Bowles that I have read but it won’t be my last.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank The Author for the opportunity to read and share her book.

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Doug Liberty Presents Bandit the Dancing Raccoon

Posted in General Information on February 23, 2019| 2 Comments »

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Humor
Published: November 2018
Publisher: Paragraph Line Books
 
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Effete alcoholic Tris Edgar finds a talking raccoon digging through his trash one evening. Tris tells a story of heartbreak, loss and self-defeat, and of his life as an instant celebrity in the internet age. At turns dark and whimsical, Doug Liberty Presents Bandit the Dancing Raccoon is a uncanny fable for the 21st century.

Purchase Links

Amazon     B&N     IndieBound

Praise for Doug Liberty Presents Bandit the Dancing Raccoon:
“Sheppard is a hugely imaginative writer, deftly balancing humor, pathos and lyricism.” -Self-Publishing Review
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Excerpt
When I went to work the next night, Delores wasn’t there. She was supposed to be there. She left behind a note on the back of an order pad that said she was returning to Zanesville, Ohio, and that I shouldn’t follow her because nothing good could come from my following her to Zanesville. She’d double-underlined and capitalized Zanesville in each instance of its use in the note. She helpfully wrote down the address for what she said was her parents’ place in Zanesville at the bottom of the note.
This is how people get in trouble, you know. Not following directions.
It was an adventure. I took the note, left the restaurant, locked the doors and shoved my key under the front mat. I could have tried to drive my car to Zanesville, but it wouldn’t have made it.
I didn’t have much money. I’m not very good with money. This is a problem of mine going way back. All the way back. And all the way forward, too, to the present day. Ask the raccoon, if you can find him. He didn’t appreciate my situation.
I walked down to the Trailways bus station with the intention of buying a ticket to Zanesville, or maybe Cincinnati or Cleveland. I was unsure concerning the geography part of the adventure. Ohio was north. I knew that much.
At the bus station, a dude wearing a white, bellbottomed jumpsuit with “FATTU” spelled out in golden sequins sparkling on his back and sequined flames sewn into the seams from his armpits to his white ankle boots, hired me to ride shotgun with him from Florida to Ohio. I found him pacing around the bus station near the coin-operated TV sets. I’d been on my way to the ticket counter. I expected him to speak in an Elvis-inspired drawl, but he didn’t. His voice was Midwestern flat. There was no musicality to it whatsoever. He spoke quickly, too. “You want to go to Ohio? Let’s do this. Here’s two hundred dollars.” He handed me $300 in twenties. I counted it in front of him and tried to give back the extra hundred. “You keep it! You keep it! Good job! You’re trustworthy. We have a circle of trust going.”
I was wearing my work uniform. We were quite a pair walking out of the bus station to his waiting car, a mid-1970’s Camaro painted gold, like the car in the Rockford Files, glowing under a streetlight. Or was it a Pontiac Firebird? The engine was running. I could see blue smoke rising out of the tailpipe and up into the humid air. It was the rainy season. Everything was wet—ground, trees, people, air. I flung my straw boater onto a palmetto bush growing at the edge of the lot.
Where did I leave my car? Should I have sold my car? It wasn’t worth the effort to think about the car, so I didn’t.
He produced an glass amber bottle of black beauties. The bottle had been around since the 1970’s, like his car. Maybe he’d found it under the bucket seat. I popped a tablet, he popped four. He told me he was going to dictate his novel to me, and I was going to type it all down. He handed me an Olivetti in a brown leatherette zipped case and a roll of paper from a paper towel dispenser. “This is going to be my masterpiece. Type it all down! I’m the new Kerouac!” The speed made me feel like there were invisible live wires under my skin. I kept shouting, “Woop! Woop!” I typed the guy’s masterpiece while he drove. He had an organist’s keyboard built into the dash, and he played it. Bach fugues, mostly, to accompany his dictated writing. There were pipes in the doors. Every note vibrated through them. 
“Her lips were pillows for my psionic mind.” I remember that line. I don’t remember a lot of the rest of it. Most of it was like that, though.
All the roadsigns that I’d read from my annual trips north were still there somehow (Stuckey’s, See Rock City, etc.).
I typed, and the paper kept getting stuck. The ribbon was on its last legs. The paper tore, so I ripped it and tossed it in the seat behind me. I looked back at some point and there were all these curls of typed-upon paper back there.
“Is it done?” he asked me, riffing on the keyboard. “Is it done? Is it done?”
“Yes,” I told him. “It’s done.”
“Cool,” he said, and drove us off the side of a low bridge in Kentucky, bounding over rocks ten feet down before sloshing nose first into the river below.
“I should have asked for more money,” I muttered as the car splashed down.
“What’s that?!” he shouted.
“Never mind.”
We somehow survived. I rolled down the window, climbed out of the car, swam ashore and looked back. The car was gone. So was the author.
About the Author

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John L. Sheppard, a graduate of the MFA@FLA creative writing program at the University of Florida, is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He lives in Illinois. He wrote a series of books about the adventures of Audrey Novak.
Contact Links
RABT Book Tours & PR
I would like to thank Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours and PR for the opportunity to share this book.

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Inside Out & Stitches

Posted in General Information on February 22, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Inside Out
Michael Taylor Book 1
by Tiffany Christina Lewis
Genre: Crime Fiction
Detective Michael Taylor, of the Oakland PD, is the lead on a horrific serial
killer case. For six weeks, he has been cleaning up mounds of the
killer’s mess. Bodies of men have been found chopped up and left,
skin down, for display. Michael, mysterious to many in his
department, is desperate to solve this case.
Michael’s only form of stress relief, Candy, a stripper employed at a San
Francisco club, begins to show genuine interest in him and they form
a relationship a midst all the chaos that is Michael’s life.
Between interviews and police reports, Michael makes time for her.
Candy, more commonly known as Vanessa, gets tangled in Michael’s case as
things unfold. A killer’s desire for retribution leaves her a
victim of crime. Vanessa has to use her wit and charm to keep a
killer at bay as she leaves bread crumbs for Michael to follow. The
lovers must survive a serial killers plot for vengeance while
practicing trust and loyalty throughout.
**Only .99 cents!!**
Stitches
Michael Taylor Book 2
Oakland Police Detective Michael Taylor is faced with another gruesome case:
a dead man with no eyes and lips sewn shut.
After catching a grisly Bay Area serial killer, Michael is hit on all sides by change.
He starts his investigation with a rookie detective for a partner,
his love life is in turmoil, and the pressure at the PD is mounting
as the newly minted partners receive a second case that is being
pressed as a priority. Michael, the consummate loner, has to manage
all of his new relationships, keep his wits and juggle the demands of
the PD as he tries to get justice for his victim.
Just as the tag team start to hit a stride, the murder attempts start to pile up
and Michael is in the crosshairs. The duo must work fast to defend
their victim and save Michael’s life.
**Only .99 cents!!**
Tiffany has been writing since her adolescence.
Her passion for writing took a backseat to a career in Education as well
as her personal education. Tiffany was honored to have work published
for the first time in May 2011. Since then her work has been featured
in many books and online publications. From fiction to non-fiction,
murder to relationships, Tiffany’s range as a writer is wide and
deep. Crazy about killing, Tiffany’s favorite genre to write is Crime Fiction.
Tiffany writes for readers and wants their full input as she creates her
work. “It is my job to satisfy readers. Everything they say
about my work is invaluable. I use it to make myself and my writing
better.”
Tiffany’s hobbies include reading, Just Dance, and watching hours of ID Channel
shows.

Inspiration behind Inside Out

Tiffany Christina Lewis: The inspiration for Inside Out really came “from the sky”. I had been writing short stories for a long time and all of a sudden I had a huge idea for novel length story. I made it a novella out of fear that I couldn’t write a full novel. Yes, authors have irrational fears too. The story of Michael Taylor, his lover and a ruthless killer was a literally an epiphany. Compared to the sequel, which released four years later, Inside Out was barely outlined or thought about in no great detail at all. I was able to write the book within 3 months because the ideas we just washing over my mind relentlessly. I had no control over it.

It all worked out! My editor was amazing, I still work with her to this day, and the book has been really well received despite the lack of serious planning that was involved with the completion of the project.

Inspiration behind Stitches

Tiffany Christina Lewis: Stitches has literally been four books in four years. I did three rewrites on this book. The inspiration for this story came “from the sky”, kind of like Inside Out. Or maybe, the inspiration came from my characters! I had been forcing a story that I hated. Nurturing negative relationships from the first book, skipping far into the future, and Michael just wasn’t interested in that. Ask any author: characters lead your books where they want them to go. I couldn’t lie to myself. Michael hated what I was doing to his life. I finally let the ideas I had go away, and once I did that, I got my story. I was again, able to write this book pretty quickly and after that, the ideas flowed like water. The dam broke. Books three and four in the series are already written.

What to expect from Tiffany Christina Lewis:

Tiffany Christina Lewis: After Stitches, I have book three and four written in the Michael Taylor series. They need to be edited and prepared for release. I would like them released this year but I will be realistic and make it a requirement to get book three released before the year is up, at the least. We will be opening an independent press to release the works and getting ready to start accepting queries from other authors.

I am also starting a new character! Alyssa Fairfield is a spunky, smart and determined private investigator with a troubled past. I love her! Her adventures will be a bit more romantic but there is still a good crime element. I’m also doing some blogging and potentially crafting a Wattpad YA Sci-Fi story with apocalyptic themes.

Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
Enter for your chance to win a $20 Amazon & Book Swag pack – 1 winner for all!
I would like to thank Silver Dagger Book Tours for the opportunity to share these books.

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