WHO WILL SAVE YOUR SOUL? BOOK BLITZ & $15 Amazon Gift Card GIVEAWAY!!!

Who Will Save Your Soul: And Other Dangerous Bedtime Stories
Skye Warren
Publication date: April 14th, 2020
Genres: Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Features four novellas by New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren. Each standalone story ends in a happily ever after.

WHO WILL SAVE YOUR SOUL
Emily's a pathological liar. When her life is at stake, will anyone believe her?

MAFIA CINDERELLA
One dress. One dance. Lucia has one chance to change her life—and the lives of her family.

BEDTIME STORY
Jessica is on the run when her car breaks down. A small-town sheriff can't be her knight in shining armor.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT
Cold. Rough. Merciless. The foreman of the construction crew is going to make her pay every last cent.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

“What are you doing here?” I sputter.
He lifts a crystal tumbler, one finger of some no-doubt expense liquor at the bottom. “Having a drink. You said the kitchen was off-limits, but I was thirsty. Hope this is okay.”
His twinkling dark eyes tell me he knows it’s not okay.
Challenge lights the air between us, electric and hot. Part of me wants to pick up the phone on the side table and call mother. The second she knows he’s stomped all over her oriental rugs with his muddy work boots, he’s fired.
That would be a cheap win, though. Too easy. Too banal. Besides, I like the thought of him stomping all over her oriental rugs with his muddy work boots.
“Of course,” I say, sarcasm sharpening my words. “We always offer gardeners top-shelf vodka.”
He merely lifts a dark eyebrow. How is it possible for eyebrows to look, low class? His do. They’re a mess, broad and unruly. I want to run my tongue over them, smooth them out.
“Do you always show up half-dressed for them, too?” he asks in a musing tone. “Because that’s a real perk. They should put that in their classified ad.”
My cheeks burn hot as I realize how little I’m wearing. The bath towel covers from the slope of my breasts to the tops of my thighs. It’s held together by so little—only the tuck of terry cloth. If it came undone right now I’d be naked in front of him.
“Tell me your name,” I demand, lifting my chin.
“So you can tell your mother about me?”
“Maybe I will.”
“And if I tell her that you came downstairs in only a towel? That you tried to have sex with me? That you were the one who drank half the bottle of scotch?”
My mouth drops open. “That’s a lie.”
“Does that surprise you? That other people lie, too?” He must see the shock on my face; his smile is smile and smug. “Yes, I know about you. Poor little Emily Coulter, can’t tell the truth to save her life.”
A knot around my throat, pulled taut by thick dirt-stained fingers. “How would you know that?” That’s my family’s dirty little secret, but not the worst one. Not by far.
“I know lots of things.”
“And anyway, why are you back already? It’s only been three days. The hedges don’t need to be trimmed every damn day.”
His smile comes slow. “You don’t trust me?”
“Not as far as I could throw you.”
There’s something strange about him, something a little dangerous.
Unfortunately, that only makes me like him more.

Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of dangerous romance. Her books have sold over one million copies. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, sweet dogs, and evil cat.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review of DAVID KOEPP'S book COLD STORAGE

For readers of Andy Weir and Noah Hawley comes an astonishing debut by the screenwriter of Jurassic Park: a wild and terrifying adventure about three strangers who must work together to contain a highly contagious, deadly organism

When Pentagon bioterror operative Roberto Diaz was sent to investigate a suspected biochemical attack, he found something far worse: a highly mutative organism capable of extinction-level destruction. He contained it and buried it in cold storage deep beneath a little-used military repository.

Now, after decades of festering in a forgotten sub-basement, the specimen has found its way out and is on a lethal feeding frenzy. Only Diaz knows how to stop it.

He races across the country to help two unwitting security guards—one an ex-con, the other a single mother. Over one harrowing night, the unlikely trio must figure out how to quarantine this horror again. All they have is luck, fearlessness, and a mordant sense of humor. Will that be enough to save all of humanity?

BUY A COPY⇓

GOODREADS / AMAZON / B&N / BAM!

Hi fellow readers, hope you are finding time to catch up on some reading while COVID-19 has us all quarantined. Speaking of quarantined, this book revolves around a fatal fungus that will go to any expense to escape detainment. The amusing dialogue kept me entertained. Accordingly, what I enjoyed the most about reading COLD STORAGE was how the author gave the fungus its own point of view. It was as if the fungus was a conscious being aware of its surroundings and had an opinion regarding the situation it was in. COLD STORAGE is not your typical bioterrorism, end of the world, book. Instead, the author has a sense of humor producing a more quirky reading experience; reducing the typical hair on the back of your neck standing up response. Besides, what it lacks in terror it makes up with an abundance of wretched grossness. Koepp’s writing is incredibly descriptive. He definitely has a talent for repulsiveness. 


Now, I did find it a bit far fetched that they would turn a military repository into a public storage facility. I could be wrong. The one thing about the book that I didn’t much care for was the character Teacake’s dialogue. I can’t pinpoint it but the way he conversed with other characters got on my nerves. Not a lot but enough. Finally, some parts of the story where predictable. I won’t tell you where or what but for speculation purposes what’s up with the good guys have to prevail in the end?

David Koepp is a celebrated American screenwriter and director best known for his work on Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, Panic Room, War of the Worlds and Mission: Impossible. His work on screen has grossed over $6 billion worldwide.

Review of ROBYN CARR'S new book SUNRISE ON HALF MOON BAY!!!!

SUNRISE ON HALF MOON BAY 

On Sale: April 14th, 2020 

Trade Paperback: $16.99 | ISBN-13: 978-0778309482 

Kindle: $9.99 | ASIN: B07T2BM5ZS 

Justine and Adele have never been close. Sisters born 20 years apart, Justine had already flown the nest by the time Addie came along, and in the decades since, the two women’s lives have led them down dramatically different paths.

Justine is a chic, powerhouse Silicon Valley attorney and the mother of two teenage girls. At 52, she seems to have it all: a high-powered job and income to match, and a seemingly picture-perfect family. But under the glitz and gloss, the reality is much different: Justine works around the clock and has a fraught relationship with her husband, Scott. With her marriage falling apart, Justine is suddenly unsure of what the future holds and where she should go from here.

At 32, Addie has spent the last eight years in her hometown of Half Moon Bay, caring for her and Justine’s ailing mother. While Addie dropped out of school and put her life on hold for so many years to be a primary caretaker, Justine covered the bills and kept her distance emotionally. But now, after their mother has passed on, Addie faces an entirely new challenge: how to rediscover long-buried dreams and start living life for herself again.

Both at a crossroads, Justine and Addie come together in their family house in Half Moon Bay and support each other as they try to answer the question: Does anyone have a real chance to start over? Together, the two sisters will find strength, joy, and a closeness they’ve never known before as they learn to overcome failure, create new dreams, and find love in unexpected places.

Set against the stunning backdrop of coastal California, SUNRISE ON HALF MOON BAY is a story of second chances and the bond that only sisters can share—and its readers will discover that sometimes the happiness we’re searching for has been there all along.

BUY A COPY ⇓

AMAZON / BAM! / B&N / GOODREADS

I am back! Did anyone miss me? I had to take a hiatus from reviewing due to my health. I am a bit rusty so please bear with me as I get back into the groove of reviewing.

Sunrise On Half Moon Bay is the second book I’ve read by Robyn carr, both being stand-alone novels, I found both phenomenal. This is a binge-worthy book and has been a great distraction during the mundane isolation from our current COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to mention to all the non-romance book readers checking this out I don’t like romance books either and this is far from one. The plot contains realistic situations within today’s society. Our population is getting older and sicker causing many families to make hard decisions about what they must sacrifice to care for the ones they love. The vast differences in the age of siblings (and step-parents) are also becoming the norm changing the family dynamic. Though not always for the better. Roaming outside the marriage for a little nooky has been going on since we lived in caves. It’s a quick read about real-life situations that pertains to a larger audience than just the romance genre.   

"They've all been held captive, of their own free will, of course, and yet when set free, they are lost."

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Carr has plot building and character growth down to a science. I could relate the most with Addie and her isolation. After years of having terrible chronic health issues, I live that isolation every day. Though completely different situations it gave me a bit of hope. This book is an emotionally gripping read filled with betrayal, tragedy, and heartache leaving you with a knot in the pit of your stomach, but don’t despair, the author does as well on the opposite side of the spectrum. Thus, bringing to the story a warm feeling of unconditional love, laughter, and a lot of personal growth. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read. 

"A friend encouraged me to start focusing on what I have rather than what I lost" 

Finally, I would like to thank Katie Olson from Little Bird Publicity for giving me the opportunity to review this book and the author for writing it.     

Robyn Carr is the bestselling author of over 50 novels, which have sold more than 28 million copies. Her 20-volume Virgin River series alone has netted more than 13 million copies; the Netflix television adaptation of Virgin River debuted in 2019 and has since become one of the streaming service’s most popular shows. Eleven of Robyn’s books have reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, collectively spending 250 weeks on the list since Virgin River made its debut there in 2008. In 2016, the Romance Writers of America recognized Robyn with the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2019, she was inducted into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame.

Voices & Visions BOOK BLITZ and $25 Amazon Gift Card GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Touched, #1
Publication date: March 27th, 2020
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense

A psychic so powerful his abilities come at a cost. A woman so special she alone has the power to touch him.

Detective Isaac Taylor is a broken man. Isolated by his strange abilities and what others perceive as weird behavior, he keeps his head down and excels at his job. But he hears the whispers of his colleagues and family members, and he feels like a freak among them. Then one wrong number phone call changes everything.

Sidney Fairchild is no stranger to danger. She’s a woman on the run, in hiding and existing below the radar. Despite her efforts to stay invisible, she witnesses a crime she knows could get her killed. Then she answers a wrong number phone call that changes her life.

Bound by their undeniable connection, Isaac and Sidney forge a bond stronger than anything either has ever known. But will his psychic abilities save her or lead to their mutual destruction?

Voices & Visions is book 1 in Touched, a new romantic suspense series. If you like compelling characters, realistic dialogue, and heartwarming bromances, then you’ll love this new thought-provoking series from Lashell Collins.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

“Can we talk about what happened back at the safe house?” she asked, finally breaking the awkward silence.
“I’m not sure rehashing that shootout is such a good idea, Sid. It’s only going to make you feel lower than you already do.”
“No, I don’t mean that.”
“Oh.” He glanced at her again and knew immediately what she wanted to talk about.
“You said that when you touch someone, you can see things about their life somehow? Things about their past or what’s going on with them.”
“That’s right.”
“When we met at the restaurant and you shook my hand… you saw something then, didn’t you? That’s why you looked at me the way you did.”
The intrigue in her light brown eyes held his attention captive for a moment, but the certainty in her voice told him there was no point in trying to sidestep her question. He pulled his gaze away from hers and swallowed.
“Yeah, I did.” His reply was quiet, resigned to the notion that their earlier conversation on this subject wasn’t quite finished.
“What did you see?”
The images came back to him in technicolor, every detail crisp and fresh in his mind. But he knew he couldn’t tell her about them. Not until he’d had a chance to sort them out. He couldn’t tell her that the flashes he’d seen involved him. Involved them. Together. Scenes from their future presumably.
But what was it they always said in those science fiction shows he and Adam loved to watch as kids? That the future wasn’t set in stone, and any glimpse of it was just one possible outcome.
Of course, that was science fiction. This?
He had no clue what the hell this was.

Lashell Collins is an American author of romantic suspense, paranormal romance and rockstar romance. She walks to the beat of her own drum, but that's okay 'cause she's got a pretty good sense of rhythm. Basically, she's a geeky, quirky, laid-back, rocker-loving kinda girl who's married to a retired cop, motorcycle-riding, bad-boy alpha all her own, and she likes to write about sexy police officers, werewolves and rockstars, or some inventive combination of the three!

When she's not busy tapping away on her laptop and living vicariously through her characters, she can usually be found watching Grimm, rocking out to Slash, stuffing her face full of Chinese food, or riding on the back of her husband's Harley-Davidson. Between her book characters and the ones she knows in real life, her plate stays pretty full. But she loves to hear from readers, so give her a shout sometime!

 Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review of THE FLOATING DOOR Poems By M.E. Silverman

The Floating Door

by Matthew Silverman

Paperback, first, 92 pages

Published February 18th, 2018 by Glass Lyre Press

ISBN 1941783465

This is a moving collection of poems that captures several different series into one bound volume. He writes about old wives' tales, the American suburbs, and a series about the last living Jew in Afghanistan. These poems are narrative and full of magical realism. M.E. Silverman’s The Floating Door moves from the peculiar and vivid details of growing up Jewish in America to a series of musings about the last Jew in Kabul, over whom “the sun snaps shut/ like a casket.” Noah and Abraham and Isaac vie for attention in a child’s mind with schoolyard rhymes like step on a crack, break your mother’s back. A menorah takes center stage, then a Captain America glass. Throughout, there’s a daring coupling of whimsy and pathos. Shoes from the piles in the Holocaust Museum, “rise leisurely, puppets on strings” to “sweep through the air like Astaire and Rogers.”

PURCHASE HERE:

AMAZON/GOODREADS/BAM!

I found this collection of poetry and narrative paragraphs quite interesting. It covers a broad range of topics but the main one is Judaism. Don’t fret if the Jewish terms in the book elude you because there is a glossary in the back of the book. A few of the poems such as “Spaces” and “Imaginary Prop List For An Abandoned Temple” have a different yet intriguing format. Silverman’s writing has a nice flow with plenty of delightful descriptions that makes the poems come alive. Also, synonyms and idioms used are marvelous. I think the front runner in that department comes from “Finding My Father’s Kinnor”; “...they break open my father’s lungs like a pistachio…” is impressive. Finally, I am going to finish this review with one of the poems that I could really relate to.

Friday At Publix In Atlanta At checkout, a tall man in an overcoat stands with two kids, one in each tight hand. The store is crowded. Everyone has dinner to make, company to keep. My cart looks deep and hollow, one frozen meal, a bottle of soda, and a bar of chocolate. The woman, getting checked out by an old grocer, is half my age, buttoned in a yellow parka like a ripe banana. I almost laugh- except her cart is flowing with cans and meals and sweets. She must have a lover and two or three kids, a minivan, Washed and bright as stars. She singing showtunes on the way to her two-story home, hopes she has time for her yoga class, hopes all is safe and right. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a kid wiggle free to touch an Impulse item while the dad seizes the moment to check stocks or Sports on his new phone. I pretend not to hear when the grocer pauses to let me know the self-checkout is free. I think no rush. she points a puffy finger my way. I avoid eye contact until she resumes the blips and beeps a steady sound of something achieved.

Matthew Silverman

Born in New Rochelle, NY, The United States

WEBSITE: 

http://metsilverman.com

Other books include:

Best Mets

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12...

100 Things Mets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die

New York Mets: The Complete Illustrated History

Mets Essential

Baseball Miscellany

--Co-Author of

Mets by the Numbers

Red Sox by the Numbers

Cubs by the Numbers

--Former associate publisher at Total Sports Publishing

--Managing editor of Total Baseball, Total Football and ESPN Baseball and Pro Football Encyclopedias

WHEN LIGHT SHATTERS Book Blitz & GIVEAWAY of a Clean Teen Publishing Mystery Box

When Light Shatters 

Laney Wylde 

Published by: CTP Pulse- Crimson Tree

Publication date: August 26th, 2019

Genres: Contemporary, LGBTQ+, New Adult, Romance

Harlow’s parents are dead. So is her brother. So is Tenley.
Probably.
Hopefully.
She’s like… ninety-five percent sure about that last one.
Seventeen and orphaned, Harlow is eager to leave her past behind when she moves in with her guardians. But in her new environment, she’s drawn to Brighton, a senior in her art class who is haunted by ghosts similar to her own. It’s not long before Harlow realizes their friendship has turned into something deeper—something that Brighton would have to sacrifice everything to pursue.

And Brighton does.
Their secret romance is perfect…until the precarious life Harlow has built crumbles beneath her. In the collapse, they both come face to face with Tenley.
Who, it turns out, is far from dead.
Perfect for fans of The Kiss Thief and The Book of Essie, Laney Wylde’s coming-of-age, bisexual romance When Light Shatters is a heady and gripping read. With a touch of irreverence and suspense, Wylde’s most vulnerable work yet will keep you guessing from the first page to the last.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

—

EXCERPT:

His door is cracked, so I push it open. “Jackson, your mom wants you to––” I don’t remember what I was going to say because when I see Jackson, his cheeks are red. It’s hard to see them under his Oakland A’s cap, but his eyes look red too. Sitting on his bed, he wipes some tears off his face and sniffs.
“Did you get hurt?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
“Did something make you sad?”
He nods.
I climb up onto his bed and sit next to him. “Are you sad about Tyler getting hurt?”
Jackson looks at me. “Tyler died,” he whispers. “We’re not going to see him again.”
I shake my head. “That’s what I thought, but then I heard my dad say…” that Tyler should never have been riding my bike. If my dad wanted me riding the bad bike, he wanted me to die. He wanted to never see me again. And that can’t be true because Daddy loves me, and he tells me so whenever I’m with Tyler. But if Tyler’s gone, maybe Daddy won’t tell me anymore. Daddy hasn’t said anything to me at all since Tyler’s crash.
“Never mind,” I say. “I think you’re right.”
“I’m just sad,” Jackson says.
“Okay.” He looks down and I look around his room at all the baseball posters on the walls. “My mom holds my hand when I’m sad.”
“Does it help?”
“Sometimes.” I open my hand to him. “We could try it.” He reaches for it and holds it tight in his.
After a while, I say, “I’m sorry you’re sad.”
He nods.
“Your mom said you need to set the table.”
“Okay.” He sniffs and wipes under his nose with the back of his hand. Not the hand holding mine. The other one.
We hop down from his bed, and he lets go of my hand. I walk toward his door, but he catches up to me and gives me a hug. I hug him back, resting my head on his shoulder when he rests his head on mine. I don’t know if holding his hand made him less sad, but I hope this does. It makes me feel a little better. Because if Jackson is hugging me, maybe he didn’t want me to get hit by the truck. Maybe he just wished nobody got hit.

Laney Wylde is enamored with all things southern California--the traffic, smog, surprise earthquakes, and nonindigenous palm trees. Consequently, it's the landscape her strong and sometimes lovable female leads paint their stories on. Her New Adult novels Never Touched and the After Twelve series are bright with provocative themes, steamy romance, and inappropriately timed humor.

When Laney isn't writing, she's singing Taylor Swift with her little boy or asking her husband not to tell her about his work as a surgical resident while she's eating. She daydreams about using her math degree to get into law school, then realizes that would be too much work and that she should just play pretend court on paper instead. While she loves a good book, nothing beats 30 Rock with a bag of popcorn and M&Ms.

 Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MIDNIGHT Book Blitz & $25 Amazon Cift Card Giveaway!!!

Midnight 

J.V. Speyer 

Publication date: August 14th, 2019

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

Brandon loved Adrian, so when Adrian abruptly moved out of their apartment Brandon was devastated. Six weeks later Brandon is ready to start to ease his way back into life again, but a chance encounter leaves him questioning everything he thought he knew – about Adrian, their relationship, and himself.

His friends are there to see him through it, especially his best friend Greg. Greg wants what’s best for Brandon. He’s always wanted what’s best for Brandon, even when it’s not necessarily what’s best for Greg. As Adrian’s true nature is revealed, Greg starts to wonder if maybe what’s best for both of them wouldn’t be each other.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

—

EXCERPT:

Brandon sat down on one of the chairs. “Yeah. I mean I know he had to hide. I knew that going in. A lot of guys had to do that. Most of them figure it out. And I’m not mad at him or anything. I just want to move on.” He frowned. ”What are you trying to get at here, Greg? Why does Adrian have anything to do with tonight’s party?”
Greg inclined his head down, toward the spot on the street that he hadn’t been able to tear his eyes from. “Because he’s been here this whole time.”
Brandon choked on his gin and tonic. “What?”
“He’s been sitting outside the condo, watching the building, this whole time. I mean, I get it.”
“I don’t!” Brendon declared, standing up again. He clutched his drink in his hand and couldn’t decide if he wanted to hurl it at the ex standing on the ground or if he wanted to go inside and hide. Throwing the glass would be wrong. It would be irresponsible; it would get people hurt. He didn’t want to hurt Adrian, even if this latest stunt was creepy and stalker-ish. “He’s the one who walked away. Why is he hanging around outside my building like some kind of lonely ghost?”
“He wanted your attention. He didn’t know how to get it, and his ploy backfired spectacularly. I think he regrets what he did.” Greg sighed. “I’ve been watching him all night, trying to figure out what to do. I was thinking about bringing him in.”
Brandon spun, bringing himself face to face with his best friend. “Why would you do that?”
“Because you love him, Bran!”
“So what? I’m moving on, trying to rebuild my life. Something you have not been shy about encouraging, I’ll point out. And you want to just… what, drag him back in here? What could that possibly accomplish?” He pulled at his hair.
“I thought it might give you guys a second chance.” Now it was Greg’s turn to sit down, flopping into one of the other patio chairs like it was the only thing holding him up. “I want to see you happy, Bran. I keep hopping this fence – I know you weren’t with the people who made you happy, but you seemed so perfect for each other. And I desperately want you to be happy.” He sighed heavily, gesturing back in Adrian’s general direction. “But I didn’t do it. The guy’s in his thirties. If he wanted to come up he could ring the doorbell like an adult.”
Brandon shook his head and rubbed Greg’s shoulders. “I knew I could trust you.” Greg leaned into the touch, just a little bit, and Brandon grinned. “I thought we established that Adrian can’t make me happy at this point. We’re not right for each other, even if we thought we were.”
“I know. I just don’t know what to do here.” He leaned back. “I mean, this is kind of creepy. He’s just out there, watching. If I’m not going to invite him inside, I probably ought to call the cops.”
Technically, Greg was right. Brandon probably ought to call the police, because no good ever came from one ex staking out the other’s home like this. “Do you think he’s dangerous?” Brandon hedged. “Seriously, has he said anything that’s struck you as dangerous?”
“Other than creepily hanging around outside your house? Nah. Not that he’d say anything to me, you know?” Greg snorted. “I’m pretty much the last person he’s talking to right now, except maybe you.”
“What do you mean?” Brandon’s arms froze on his friend’s shoulders.
“He’s all pissy because I lit into him about stalking you through the rally.” Greg waved a calloused hand in dismissal. “Like okay, fine, he wants to be with someone new. Okay. And so what if the guy’s an undergrad – it’s a little weird, he’s a little young for a midlife crisis but who am I to judge? But that whole thing – like anyone didn’t know what he was up to.” He shook his head again, and Brandon could feel his shoulders tensing up again underneath his hands. “I wasn’t going to just sit there and not say anything.”
Brandon let his hands fall. “Oh, Greg. I’m so sorry.”
“What the hell for?”
“I never wanted to come between the two of you. You’re friends. You should be doing friend things, not arguing over me.” He turned away, clutching at his drink so he could do something with his hands.

Author Bio:
J. V. Speyer has lived in upstate New York and rural Catalonia before settling in the greater Boston area. She has worked in archaeology, security, accountancy, finance, and non-profit management. She currently lives just south of Boston in a house old enough to remember when her town was a tavern community with a farming problem. (No, really. John Adams complained about it. A lot.)
When not writing, J. V. enjoys watching baseball and seeking out all of New England’s creepiest spots. Her Spawn has turned her into a hockey enthusiast. She can be bribed with gin, tequila, and cats.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Bookbub

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE MINIMALIST BABE BOOK BLITZ & $30 AMAZON Gift Card Giveaway

The Minimalist Babe: Tidying-Up Your Whole Life 
Lola R. Marie 
Publication date: September 7th, 2019
Genres: Adult, Self-help

Lola is every bit the minimalist babe – she lives simply, is intelligent and sassy, emotional and strong, calm and composed. Realizing that less is more, she traded in material possessions to focus on what was truly important to her. Lola’s inspiring guide delivers real-world advice on how to consume less, clear out clutter, find authenticity, and live a life based on freedom. It is a sincere attempt to help those who want to end their obsession with stuff.

Echoing the thoughts behind Leonardo da Vinci’s quote that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” this book teaches you how to value the simple things. From learning to declutter and live with less to living life with passion, good health, and great relationships. The Minimalist Babe is for anyone who desires a more intentional life. Drawing from real-life experiences, it is filled with stories that will teach you step-by-step how to be:
Authentic, self-assured, calm and composed, mindful, minimal and self-sufficient, financially stable, purposeful, free, healthy and happy.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

Why am I writing this?
I’m not one to preach. In fact, I find the act of trying to convince someone of a different lifestyle quite unnatural. Everyone has their own path in life and their own timing. I understand the principles of minimalism may not be for everyone. You may now be wondering why then have I taken the time to write this book? The thing is that I believe everyone is a minimalist at heart; we were simple at birth, after all.
I often hear others reminisce about the old days. How life was simple and vivid during childhood. Music was heavenly, the outdoors was our domain and ice cream was everything! There was an authentic nuance to life that now most of us only have access to through our memories; the bitter-sweet nostalgia.
This book is about reviving that childlike glee. It’s about happiness and what it really takes to be happy. It’s about realizing that less is more, and about letting go of your possessions and the depressions that come with it. It’s about doing away with the unessential so we can concentrate on the things that are truly important to us. Finally, it’s about living in the present and being ready to accept the wonderful things waiting to reach you.

Our need for more: One of society’s most grave and (until now) ignored illnesses.
The Minimalist Babe is about saying goodbye to the extras in life from time to time, finding happiness in having less, and finding your inner badass through your newly acquired freedom. It is the culmination of all my research; a toolbox of sorts filled with tips, techniques, exercises, and prompts that have helped me be my most authentic self.
When I’m not writing, I spend my time nurturing relationships and learning new skills. I focus on being healthy and purposeful and it’s working like magic. I am in the happiest phase of my life and want the same for each one of you. This book is an attempt to manifest that vision. Let us cut out the bitter side of nostalgia and bite into the sweetness of life that is now
Love,
Lola

Author Bio:
Hi All!

I love to write, bathe in sunrays and ponder the mysteries of life. Follow me as I write my way to a better live.

OXOX Lola

Website

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Short Review of THE FOLD by Peter Clines

The Fold
(Threshold #2)
by Peter Clines
Hardcover, 384 pages
Published June 2nd, 2015 by Crown

STEP INTO THE FOLD.
IT’S PERFECTLY SAFE. 

The folks in Mike Erikson's small New England town would say he's just your average, everyday guy. And that's exactly how Mike likes it. Sure, the life he's chosen isn’t much of a challenge to someone with his unique gifts, but he’s content with his quiet and peaceful existence.  

That is, until an old friend presents him with an irresistible mystery, one that Mike is uniquely qualified to solve: far out in the California desert, a team of DARPA scientists has invented a device they affectionately call the Albuquerque Door. Using a cryptic computer equation and magnetic fields to “fold” dimensions, it shrinks distances so that a traveler can travel hundreds of feet with a single step. 

The invention promises to make mankind’s dreams of teleportation a reality. And, the scientists insist, traveling through the Door is completely safe. 

Yet evidence is mounting that this miraculous machine isn’t quite what it seems—and that its creators are harboring a dangerous secret.  

As his investigations draw him deeper into the puzzle, Mike begins to fear there’s only one answer that makes sense. And if he’s right, it may only be a matter of time before the project destroys…everything

AMAZON / B&N / GOODREADS

This read was so enjoyable because I love science. Using a few of the most interesting scientific theories in science today, such as the multiverse and the superstring theory, Clines creates a well-written story by taking these theories beyond the scope of what we actually know. Though, the consequences of what comes to be a great scientific breakthrough that the story is focused on may not always be as it appears making for a great plot. I did not like the ending. I think that Clines could have left off the last part of the story. It felt like the story had been wrapped up, but it just went on ridiculously. I definitely would recommend this book even though I didn’t care for the ending.    

SEE NO MORE Book Blitz & 50$ Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

See No More 
W.B. Dineen 
Publication date: July 2nd, 2019
Genres: Adult, Thriller

Thirty-three-year-old music therapist, Kate Randolph, is at the top of her professional game. Her life is happily on track, until she receives a phone call announcing the death of the man who abounded her when she was eight-years-old. Kate has no interest in going to her father’s funeral, but soon realizes she must confront the past to move forward.

While in Oregon, Kate discovers why her scientist/father disappeared, and what she learns will set her on a path that will change her life forever.

With her father’s good friend, Jake, she uncovers conspiracies beyond imagination. She learns of secret societies, cover-ups, and that and the planet is in jeopardy from both terrestrial and extraterrestrial threats.
With the aid of a mysterious stranger, Kate must help save the world. Can she stay alive long enough to succeed?
—
“Dineen writes in a sharp, lively prose that is equally comfortable rendering emotional domestic moments, flashy action sequences, and humorous observations. The premise is wonderfully mysterious and immediately gripping. An expansive thriller that satisfies every absent-father fantasy.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A thriller filled with twists, turns, and many layers that unfold in the most wonderful, unexpected ways. This book is simply awesome.” —Readers’ Favorite, 5/5 Stars

“One of the year’s best thrillers, See No More is a near-perfect blend of sci-fi and spy fiction. Credit author W.B. Dineen with creating a powerful novel about personal identity wrapped within a breathtaking thriller. Sure to please fans of both Douglas E. Richards and Daniel Silva ” —BestThrillers.com

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Oregon is the greenest state I’ve ever seen. Abundant, lush foliage carpets gentle, rolling hills as far as the eye can see. Farmland abuts forested areas. It’s breathtakingly gorgeous, and I can definitely see how someone could get lost here.
The green landscape whizzes by and hypnotizes me as my brain begins to wander. I think of my childhood in Pasadena, just off the Caltech campus. We didn’t live in opulence, but we lived comfortably. Jen and I went to the private polytechnic school down the street from our house. It was where a lot of the professors’ kids went. I don’t know how my mom was able to afford to keep sending us there after Dad left, but we spent all twelve years of our education happily ensconced within its walls.
Caltech was my playground when I was very little. My dad taught aeronautics and applied physics. In the summer, I used to run through campus and meet him in the green space in front of Beckman Laboratories for picnics. I remember lying on a blanket next to him discussing the possibility of him shrinking me some day like in the movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
He used to look around all shifty-eyed before leaning toward me and whispering, “Can you keep a secret?” Of course, I always said I could. He’d respond, “I’m closing in on the technology and I should be able to do it by the end of the year! What do you think we should do with all the money we’ll make once I sell the patent to my people-shrinking machine?”
Then we’d plot what to do with our newfound riches. I wanted to spend a month at Disneyland before spending another month at Universal Studios in Orlando. Dad wanted to take my mom on a honeymoon, because they’d never gone on a real one. Then we tried to decide which house we’d buy. I had my eye on one we passed during our weekly walks to Huntington Gardens. It was a two-and-a-half story Spanish Colonial Revival with a pool. My dad joked that he wasn’t sure it would be big enough for the four of us, even though it had to be at least five times the size of our bungalow.
Memories burst through my subconscious like a storm-engorged river breaching a failing dam. As soon as one pops into my mind, at least thirty more push their way forward with unstoppable force. I’m sitting on the plaid blanket we always used for our picnics, and my dad says, “Katie, life is never what you perceive it to be.” Then I’m lying in bed and he whispers, “Believe the unbelievable. Things are never what you think they are.” Suddenly, I’m flying through the warm Southern California breeze on my bicycle, and he yells out, “Just because you think these are trees, doesn’t make them trees. Always be open to the truth. Believe in what you can’t see.”
In retrospect, it’s clear he was trying to prepare me for something. At the time I just remember thinking, Silly, Daddy, of course they’re trees. What else would they be? In my child’s eye, everything was exactly as it appeared. My dad was my rock, my mom and sister were ever-present love and comfort, the sky was blue, and life was good. Until it wasn’t.

Author Bio:
Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.
Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.
She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.
Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2017.
Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.
Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.
Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.
Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017
Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review of THE SUNLIGHT PILGRIMS by Jenni Fagan.

The Sunlight Pilgrims
by Jenni Fagan
Hardcover, 310 pages
Published July 19th, 2016 by Hogarth

It's November of 2020, and the world is freezing over. Each day colder than the last. There's snow in Israel, the Thames is overflowing, and an iceberg separated from the Fjords in Norway is expected to drift just off the coast of Scotland. As ice water melts into the Atlantic, frenzied London residents evacuate by the thousands for warmer temperatures down south. But not Dylan. Grieving and ready to build life anew, he heads north to bury his mother's and grandmother's ashes on the Scottish islands where they once lived. 

Hundreds of miles away, twelve-year-old Estella and her survivalist mother, Constance, scrape by in the snowy, mountainous Highlands, preparing for a record-breaking winter. Living out of a caravan, they spend their days digging through landfills, searching for anything with restorative and trading value. When Dylan arrives in their caravan park in the middle of the night, life changes course for Estella and Constance. Though the weather worsens, his presence brings a new light to daily life, and when the ultimate disaster finally strikes, they'll all be ready.

AMAZON / B&N / BAM!

For some reason, I thought this book would be more apocalyptic than it was. It turned out to just be really cold, nothing more. The storyline is nothing spectacular and at times I felt like throwing in the towel when it came to finishing the book. So, why didn't I? Fagan’s ability to describe every small detail was a delight to my imagination. Especially, when it involved the snowy and icy conditions.

The setting is a small caravan park on an island in Scottland. It is told from the viewpoint of 12-year-old Stella along with an older man named Dylan. Dylan was displaced from the only home he has known in London. For reasons that will not be mentioned Dylan ends up living in this remote caravan park in Clachan Fells. Through his eyes, the reader is transported and experiences what it is like to live there, which is quite mundane. Stella’s personal story is thought-provoking and just from this reader's point of view thought the author could have focused more on this controversial topic, giving the reader something deeper to sink their teeth into.

To sum up the review, I found this to be your basic fictional story, telling about the lives of others. It will not make the hair on the back of your neck stand-up like in a thriller or trying to guess who killed the mailman in a mystery. Instead, you get a peek into the lives of ordinary people just trying to survive in this cruel world. I am right down the middle with this story. I liked 50% of the book the other 50% is just meh.       

Jenni Fagan was born in Livingston, Scotland, and lives in London. She graduated from Greenwich University with the highest possible mark for a student of Creative Writing and won a scholarship to the Royal Holloway MFA. A published poet, she has won awards from Arts Council England, Dewar Arts, and Scottish Screen among others. She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize twice and shortlisted for the Dundee International Book Prize. Jenni works as a writer in residence in hospitals and prisons.