The Wives by Tarryn Fisher ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

New York Times bestselling author Tarryn Fisher delivers a pulse-pounding, fast-paced suspense novel that will leave you breathless. A thriller you won’t be able to put down!

Thursday’s husband, Seth, has two other wives. She’s never met them, and she doesn’t know anything about them. She agreed to this unusual arrangement because she’s so crazy about him.

But one day, she finds something. Something that tells a very different—and horrifying—story about the man she married.

What follows is one of the most twisted, shocking thrillers you’ll ever read.

You’ll have to grab a copy to find out why.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

I would like to write a novel that every, single person loves, but not even J.K. Rowling could do that. Instead, I try to write stories that pull on people's emotions. I believe that sadness is the most powerful emotion, and swirled with regret the two become a dominating force. I love villains. Three of my favorites are Mother Gothel, Gaston and the Evil Queen who all suffered from a pretty wicked case of vanity (like me). I like to make these personality types the center of my stories. I love rain, Coke, Starbucks and sarcasm. I hate bad adjectives and the word "smolder". If you read my book-I love you. If you hate my book-I still love you, but please don't be mean to me; I'm half badass, half cry baby.

Author's Website.

Review: 

This is the first time I have read one of Tarryn Fisher's novels. I was definitely not disappointed! This book left me needing time to sort everything out in my own head. If all of Fisher's novels are like this I need to read them ALL! This is not a romance at all. This is a psychological mind blowing thriller. Tarryn definitely takes reader's on a crazy roller coaster. These characters will have you roped in and wondering who has it right. It is so hard not to give anything away! To be honest I didn't see that end coming and I really should have. I am just too excited about this book. It was fantastic! I miss Thursday already, I want more. Just know if (and you really should) pick up this book you will love it! I didn't find any of it slow moving but I did see a few reviewers mention it. I was wishing I could have sat and devoured the whole book at once.

I give this a huge 5 out of 5 stars! 

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachel Hauck ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

December comes to quaint Hearts Bend, Tennessee, with a blanket of white and the glitter of Christmas lights.

For JoJo Castle there is no place like home. Her onetime love of adventure ended when her life in the big city came crashing down. Now that she’s home, she never wants to leave again.

Country music sensation Buck Mathews has charmed the world with his smile and his music. However, news of his mother’s illness brought him home to Hearts Bend for the holiday season.

Working with her cousin Haley in The Wedding Shop, JoJo has no aspirations of love. But when her high school crush returns to town, her buried feelings surface.

Busy with his career, Buck hasn’t had time for family and friends, much less love. Seeing JoJo in The Wedding Shop reminds him there are things more important than his career.

But JoJo and Buck have opposing life goals, and there’s no middle ground. Can love, especially the kind that touches hearts at Christmas, overcome her fears and his quest for greatness?

With the help of a very special wedding dress, there just might a Christmas miracle.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida.

A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real life issues.

Her book, Once Upon A Prince, was made into an original Hallmark movie.

The Wedding Dress has been optioned for film by Brain Power Studio

She loves to hear from readers. She also loves to encourage new writers and sits on the Executive Board of American Christian Fiction Writers..

A graduate of Ohio State University with a BA in Journalism, Rachel is an avid OSU football fan. She hopes to one day stand on the sidelines in the Shoe with Ryan Day.

Author's Website.

Review: 

Such a great Christmas read! A sweet, fun romance with a bit of magic to boot. Buck, cowboy musical sensation is back home in Hearts Bend. Jojo ran from Dallas back to Hearts Bend after an incident. Crossing path around the holiday with Jojo's crush from ninth grade sets Jojo on a path to get over her fear to let love in. Is Buck met to hit the road touring or settle down? The special wedding dress is ready to choose again the next bride. 

To be honest I fell in love with the characters of The Wedding Dress Christmas. Falling for both Buck and Jojo and rooting for a forever happy ending. I did find myself sometimes thinking - ya right, like that would happen? but then I remembered this is suppose to be a fun light quick read for the holidays and the author did just that. I have read one other book by Rachel Hauck (How to Catch a Prince) and remember just loving the book. I can't wait to read more from this author. 

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.  

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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Haunting of the Blackthorne House by Bruce Knapp ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

Could the curse of a rural town warp Joseph Blackthorne enough to make him commit murder?

When Joseph Blackthorne gets the opportunity of a lifetime, he jumps at it. But he does not believe in the supernatural and thinks it's the result of folklore or the fallible human psyche.

However, he disregards the warning from a local and relocates his house to a forbidden hill, which begins a series of events that will shake this town to its core.

As the dark history of Blackwater unravels, Joseph conceals his problems with alcohol, but history like his drinking keeps repeating itself. Is it too late to save his family, business, town, or hell even himself?

The town of Blackwater is fraught with evil, which consumes us all, one way or another.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Bruce Knapp grew up in the Jacksonville, FL area. Now he lives in Tampa and after years as a software developer now pursues his passion for writing. Join him on this journey into the unknown. 

Author's Goodreads.

Review: 
A short horror story that can be read in a sitting. It took me a little longer than I thought to get through this one. I am going to blame reading when I was tired and not feeling great. It is a twisted paranormal/horror story, cult like set in the 1950's. Gruesome in parts, slow in others. Evil lurks in the Blackthorne house which was built on a hill by an old cemetery and water well that had a witch hung from it.

I found the author's writing style did fit the theme of the story and I did enjoy it. I would recommend it to readers of short stories. I think that it could have been developed a bit more and had some more interaction in it with the characters.

I give this a 3 out of 5 stars. 
 

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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Can You Feel This? by Julie Orringer ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

In the chaos of a maternity ward, memories of tragedy and grief come flooding back for an anxious mother-to-be as she struggles to balance her child’s needs with her own healing.

Rushed into an emergency cesarean section, a woman finds herself in the same hospital where her suicidal mother died. She’s buried the trauma of her mother’s last hours—and also the dread that she might be just as vulnerable to breaking. As the new mother relives one crisis in the midst of another, prize-winning author Julie Orringer turns the joyous event of birth into a harrowing, poignant short story.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author:

 
Julie Orringer is an American author born in Miami, Florida. Her first book, How to Breathe Underwater, was published in September 2003 by Knopf Publishing Group. She is a graduate of Cornell University and the Iowa Writers' Workshop and was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University. Her stories have appeared in The Paris Review, McSweeney's, Ploughshares, Zoetrope: All-Story, The Pushcart Prize Anthology, The Best New American Voices, and The Best American Non-Required Reading. She received the Paris Review's Discovery Prize, two Pushcart Prizes, The Yale Review Editors' Prize, Ploughshares' Cohen Award, the Northern California Book Award, and the Anne and Robert Cowan Award from the Jewish Community Endowment Fund. She was the recipient of a 2004-5 NEA grant for her current project, a novel set in Budapest and Paris before and during the Second World War.

Author's Website.

Review: 

Another great short story in the Inheritance collection. This one was written in the second person. A women is rushed to the hospital to deliver her first baby after being diagnosed with placenta previa. The same hospital her mother was brought to after she committed suicide when she was just a child.

It is hard to say too much without giving this short story away but I really enjoyed the writing style and having it written in second person. I was definitely felt the pain, fear, exhaustion and love while reading this short, right from page one until the end.

I give this a 4 out of 5 stars.

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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Not Home for the Holidays by Isabelle Drake ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

Not Home for the Holidays is the reverse-Hallmark Christmas movie where the country girl finds her city HEA.

The week before Christmas, quirky, country girl Emma Lopez is in New York City, aiming to win a social media contest for small-business owners. Minutes before her high-stakes interview, an impulsive, sizzling kiss under the mistletoe with a handsome businessman turns into an even bigger surprise

She goes all-in enjoying the holiday excitement of the city and shaking up a certain dapper businessman. Thanks to a snowstorm, her phone, and a couple more kisses, she counts herself a winner. Then, her high-spirited attitude leads to an unexpected opportunity of a lifetime, one she’s certain she can’t accept.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Isabelle Drake got her start writing confession stories for pulp magazines like True Confessions and True Love. Since publishing those first few stories she has written in many genres, but tends to write about everyday people in extraordinary situations.

When away from her keyboard, she likes watching classic horror films, especially Hammer films such as the Karnstein Trilogy, and reading (of course). An avid traveler, she'll go just about anywhere--at least once--to meet people and get story ideas.

Author's Website.

Review: 

A very cute and quirky romance for Christmas time. This was a fun, quick read that is perfect to curl up in front of the fireplace with. A nice twist on the typical boy meets girl in the country setting. In this short novella, country girl , Emma goes to the big city for a social media contest and meets a super sexy and sweet city boy. Emma steps out of her comfort zone to enjoy her time in the big city after her ex boyfriend said she wouldn't be safe alone there. I really enjoyed this novella and look forward to reading more by this author. Super cute, feel good romance that deserves a 5 star!

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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War in My Town by E. Graziani ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

Teenaged Bruna's life is turned upside down when her small Italian village becomes the centre of fighting in the last months of the Second World War.

Bruna is the youngest of seven children, living an idyllic life in a small village in Italy in the 1940s. As the Second World War unfolds Bruna's life remains largely the same. By 1943, her biggest disappointment is that food rationing means there is no cake to celebrate her fourteenth birthday. The Italian leader Mussolini's allegiance to Hitler and the distant reports of fighting seem far away from their lives.

But when the Italian people turn against their fascist regime, war comes to their region. Bruna struggles to cope as Nazi soldiers descend to occupy their village, and she must help her mother and sisters stand up to the occupying soldiers. Her peaceful life is turned upside down by the fact that her beloved little village is now the centre of the final stage of fighting between the Allies and the Germans, the only front left defended by the Nazis in Italy.

Including photographs and maps, War In My Town is a true story based on the experiences of author E. Graziani's mother and her family.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

E. Graziani writes books for adults and teens. She is the author of Breaking Faith (Second Story Press), a contemporary fiction novel, most recently selected for the 'In the Margins' Book Award 2018 Recommended Fiction List, and one of Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, War in My Town (Second Story Press)--one of Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens and finalist in the Hamilton Arts Council 2016 Literary Awards for Best Non-Fiction. E. Graziani is also the author of 'Magenta' YA Urban/Sci-fi, women's fiction '6 Days in April' & new edition releases of 'Alice-The First 500' series Parts I&II coming in 2020! She resides in Canada with her husband and four daughters.

Author's Website.

Review: 

This is a middle school boarding on YA novel but I really feel that any age 10+ could read it and really enjoy it. I am not huge on historical novels but I have always enjoyed family stories. One thing I love about working with the elderly is when they tell stories when they were young. There is so much to learn from these stories that you won't learn else where. This novel is about a young girl (author's mother) who lived in a small Italian village during World War II. I also find it easier to learn about wars when it is coming from an individual that has lived it. Bruna's story is heart wrenching, scary and full of love and passion of a close knit family and village. The author has retold this story with great detail and I found myself hanging on every word to see how things would unfold with Hitler taking over this small village. I enjoyed how easy the story flowed and kept me engaged. I have recommended it to both of my children to read in the near future.

I give this book a 4.5 stars out of 5 and would definitely read more from this author.

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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Good News! It's Christmas! by Glenys Nellist ~ Children's Book Review

Book Description:

Good News! It’s Christmas! is a playful and joyful introduction to the Christmas story. Written by Glenys Nellist, the best-selling and award-winning author of Love Letters from God, the simple, skilled rhythm of the text makes it an ideal read-aloud experience for both parent and child. With its vivid images and biblical narrative of Jesus’s birth, this book makes a perfect gift for the little ones in your life.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

I'm an author of twenty books for children, including the best-selling Twas The Evening of Christmas, The Wonder That is You, and two popular series: Love Letters from God and Snuggle Time. Here's my little story...

Although I live in Michigan, USA, I was born and raised in a little village in northern England.

I grew up in a big old house, with two wonderful parents and seven siblings. My dad was the one who introduced me to the gospel. My mum was the one who encouraged me to work with children.

And at primary school, my teacher was the one who urged me to write. One day a week, I was one of the lucky few withdrawn from the classroom to sit in big, comfy armchairs in the teachers' lounge. There, in front of a roaring log fire, with pencil and paper at the ready, I would write.

Four long decades later, I would find myself living across the pond, married to a wonderful man, mum to four adult children and three daughters-in-law, and grandma to three bouncing boys and one gorgeous girl. And as if all that wasn’t blessing enough, I somehow became an author, despite giving up on my first book half way through.

And if you would have told me then, that this book would one day become a series, that I would begin a second series, and a third… I never would have believed you. The only possible explanation is that our great God is able to do immeasurably more than all I could ever ask or possibly imagine.

And to God alone, be the glory.

Author's Website. 

Review: 

Getting into the Christmas spirit my daughter and I were looking for some Christmas books to read together (She is twelve but still loves flipping picture books from time to time especially Holiday ones). This was a great little book for young children. The pages only contain a few sentences in a beautifully written poem that flows throughout the book. Great News! is given all around from Mary and Joseph to the donkey's and the birds. The illustrations are beautiful and would easily keep any  child's attention while reading this short version of the birth of Christ. I definitely recommend this board book as one to add to your Christmas reading list.

~Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*~

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Everything My Mother Taught Me by Alice Hoffman ~ Short Story Book Review

Book Description: 

In this haunting short story of loyalty and betrayal, a young woman in early 1900s Massachusetts discovers that in navigating her treacherous coming-of-age, she must find her voice first.

For fatefully observant Adeline, growing up carries an ominous warning from her adulterous mother: don’t say a word. Adeline vows to never speak again. But that’s not her only secret. After her mother takes a housekeeping job at a lighthouse off the tip of Cape Ann, a local woman vanishes. The key to the mystery lies with Adeline, the silent witness. New York Times bestselling author of The Rules of Magic Alice Hoffman crafts a beautiful, heart-wrenching short story.

Alice Hoffman’s Everything My Mother Taught Me is part of Inheritance, a collection of five stories about secrets, unspoken desires, and dangerous revelations between loved ones. Each piece can be read or listened to in a single setting. By yourself, behind closed doors, or shared with someone you trust.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The World That We Knew, The Rules of Magic, The Marriage of Opposites, Practical Magic, The Red Garden, the Oprah’s Book Club selection Here on Earth, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, and The Dovekeepers. Her most recent novel is The World That We Knew. She lives near Boston.

Author's Website.

Review: 

This is the first time I have read an Alice Hoffman novel and I was really impressed. In only 28 pages Hoffman pulls us into this story right from page one and leaves the readers wanting so much more from the main character twelve year old Adeline, who was named after a soap. After her father passed away Adeline stopped talking, she wouldn't talk to anyone. Her mother lived an adulterous life pushing her own daughter to the side for a man.  This was a heart-wrenching coming of age story that you will definitively read in one sitting as you wont want to put it down until the very last page. I was left with so much hope and love for young Adeline.

I am looking forward to reading other novels by Alice Hoffman in the future. I give this short story a 5 out of 5 stars.

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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Author Spotlight Saturday with Fusty

Welcome to Genuine Jenn, Fusty Luggs. We are happy to have you on Author Spotlight Saturday! 

Tell us a little bit about yourself and why/what inspired you to write? When did you start writing? 

I’m a visual artist. I trained as a ceramicist and specialised in figurative sculpture. I kept a blog for several years and thought: ‘I’ll write a book’. That was the summer of 2013. A disaster, I published, from the sheer excitement of writing 80,000 words, unedited.

What was your inspiration for ‘Jack the Ripper. The Long Arm of the Law'? 

I read several books on the Ripper murders, and one-man stood out. He is such an obvious suspect. He was caught holding, not the smoking gun, but a slice of bloodied cloth, which matched Eddowes pinafore. My suspect had damaged frontal lobes, causing minimised inhibition. He also, I believe, suffered from PTSD, its negative symptoms triggered by the riots at Trafalgar Square. Journalists named him the ‘silent’ killer, but this wasn’t inexplicable. He wore regulation rubber boots issued by the Metropolitan Police.

The lives of the murdered women are so often portrayed as victims devoid of personality and mere bit-part players in the drama that is Jack the ripper. They had families and friends. I wanted to show their lives and how their deaths affected the people closest to them.

What three words would you use to best describe The Pompey Sagas?

An Edwardian Romp.

Can you tell us if you’re working on anything else at the moment?

The mysterious Mary Jane Kelly.

What was your very first book that you wrote?

Blanket Hornpipe.

Other than your own, what are your favourite books?

Historical, thrillers and mysteries.

When you are writing do you like to listen to music? What is on your playlist?

No, I don’t. I find music takes command of my mood. I listen to Radio 4, background television noise, and in the summer, with the patio doors open, the chirrup of birds and the rumble of traffic.

Who is your favorite character in your books?

Charlie Price, a psychopath with a soft spot.

Do you ever take characteristics or nuances from close friends or family when working on character development and if so has that friend or family member noticed and what was their response to it?

Yes, and yes. Although, funnily enough, only the flattering characteristics; negative traits remain unclaimed or ignored.

What’s your favorite treat?

It’s not a treat, well, I suppose it is, but also essential. Coffee sprinkled with chocolate. I have a bean to cup coffee machine. I’m not a kitchen gadget girl but this beastie is welcome to clutter my counters.

What’s your Favorite place to read/write?

I write with my laptop balanced on my lap in the living room. I type on a small notepad. This keeps me from the office and straying online, which I find a distraction. I always want to look up something. One piece of research leads to another, and before I know it, I’ve used/misused several hours. Now I make a list of items to explore and follow those up, online, later.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Ah, that’s easy, Berne Switzerland.

Thank you Fusty for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us here on Genuine Jenn

 Purchase a copy on Amazon and check out our review of Jack the Ripper The Long Arm of the Law by Fusty Luggs. 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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The Beijing Memorandum by JB Morris ~ Guest Post & Giveaway!

Join us for this tour from Nov 25 to Dec 20, 2019!

Book Details:
​Book Title:  The Beijing Memorandum by JB Morris
Category:  Adult Fiction, 538 pages
Genre:  Thriller
Publisher:  JB Morris
Release date:   November 25, 2019
Tour dates: November 25 to December 20, 2019
Content Rating:  PG-13 (There is violence and profanity including f-word. There is no explicit sex.)

Book Description:

The headlines read:

U. S. Bolstering Pacific Military Forces to Counter ‘Massive’ Beijing Buildup.
Pentagon Acknowledges Beijing Seeks Global Supremacy.

This is what the news media is saying. But what exactly is happening behind closed doors?

The Beijing Memorandum takes reader on a thrill ride from the heavily guarded Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing to the FBI Headquarters in the Nation's Capital to the White House's Situation Room to the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City.

Former Marine Gunnery Sergeant Moses Remington knew terror firsthand. He saw it during his combat deployments in Fallujah, Iraq and in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He saw it again in Mexico when he stumbled across China’s secret plan.

Now, he must dodge Chinese assassins and an FBI dragnet to save Consulate General Gao Quan and his family from certain execution to disclose China’s secret plans to the world.

Get Your Copy of JB. Morris' Latest Release Now:
Amazon.com 
Add to Goodreads

 

Meet the author:    

JB Morris is an international bestselling thriller author with a unique writing style & received two Reader's Favorite FIVE-STAR awards for writing excellence.

Connect with the author:   Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  

Book Tour Schedule:

Nov 25 - Library of Clean Reads – book review / giveaway
Nov 26 - JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 27 - Books for Books – book review
Nov 28 - b for bookreview – book spotlight / author interview
Nov 29 - Bookmark and fork – book spotlight / guest post
Dec 3 - Locks, Hooks and books – book review / giveaway
Dec 4 - Book Corner News and Reviews – book review
Dec 5 - Life as Leels – book review / giveaway
Dec 6 - Casia's Corner – book review
Dec 9 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 10 - Sefina Hawke's Books – book review
Dec 11 - Olio by Marilyn – book review
Dec 12 - Genuine Jenn - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Dec 16 - Jessica Belmont – book review
Dec 17 - StoreyBook Reviews – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Dec 18 – Jypsylynn – book review
Dec 20 -fundinmental - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Dec 20 - To Thine Own Shelf – book review / giveaway
Dec 20 - Adventurous Jessy – book review / giveaway
Dec 20 - Reading is My Passion – book review
Dec 20 - The World As I See It – book review / giveaway
Dec 20 - Mystery Suspense Reviews – book review

Enter the Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Guest Post by JB Morris 

What kind of person does that? Puts the family to bed and sneaks into a small cluttered room and closes the door? Works late into the night? Their hair in total disarray from hands constantly brushing and scrubbing their head. Snacks sustain life. Eyes become blurred but they must continue. Words demand release. The first draft—the second draft. Will there ever be a final draft?

Sleep becomes fitful. They return the next day to the human race and their families. But, they must hurry. Gulp the remaining hot coffee and swallow the last of the toast. Eight will soon announce itself and there will be hell to pay if they are late.

Work. The dead-end job.

Such a distraction.

A supervisor constantly in their face. A cubicle without privacy. An office without windows. Inane government requirements to complete a form. And it is only nine am. Will five ever arrive? The need to get home is urgent.

The injured spy discovers he’s surrounded. Is escape impossible? The flower lady’s heart is broken. Will true love survive? Teenagers remain trapped in a haunted house. They hear footsteps and a door opens. Will they live to see the morning sunrise?

What kind of person lives that lifestyle? Trapped with the need to return to the cluttered room and close the door.

An author.

They are found in every corner of America. A mother living in rural Montana. A police officer in The Big Apple. A young adult lying on the beach in Florida. The English major sitting in a classroom.

They are a fraternity—a sorority—a family.

Such is the life—Such is my life—JB Morris.

I’m confident my author’s experience is shared by many other writers. My wife once worked in a casino. She does not enjoy a television program on how to play poker. I too suffer limitations. I struggle to enjoy watching TV or movie dramas. My retired life allows me to surround myself with plots and dramas each day. I need distraction for entertainment. Something that allows me to shut down, relax

The effort required to write The Beijing Memorandum consumed many months. I researched the Zhongnanhai Compound in central Beijing and the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City along with a host of other Chinese and Mexican government and security organizations, The U.S. Senate, Tijuana, FBI, Mexican drug cartels, and Afghanistan consumed countless other hours.

I am proud of my effort. I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I did writing it.

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Christmas in Silver Springs by Brenda Novak (Book #6 Silver Springs Series) ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

Come home to Silver Springs for the holidays, where broken hearts learn to love again…together.

So much for forever. When Harper Devlin’s rock star husband ditches her on his way to the top, she takes her two daughters to her sister’s place in Silver Springs for the holidays, hoping family can heal her broken heart. But comfort comes in unexpected places when she crosses paths with Tobias Richardson.

The moment Tobias spots Harper, he recognizes a sadness he knows all too well. After spending thirteen years in prison paying for his regretful past, Tobias is ready to make amends, and maybe helping Harper is the way to do it. But offering her a shoulder to cry on ignites a powerful attraction and a desire neither saw coming.

Fearing her reaction, Tobias doesn’t divulge his ex-con status, let alone the shameful details. So when Harper’s ex shows up in Silver Springs and reveals the truth in a bid to win her back, Tobias is sure he’s lost her for good. But maybe this Christmas he’ll receive the forgiveness—and the love—he deserves.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

Head over to Brenda Novak's website to check out the other books in the series and don't forget to join her book club on Facebook (soo much fun!)

Review: 

This is the second book I have read in this series. Yes, I know this is the latest and I read book one. I have all the books in the series just need to get reading faster. Maybe I need a month off work to read... hmm.. Anyways back to my review. I really enjoy the Silver Springs stories this one included. Harper is in the middle of a divorce, not by her choice and she is trying hard to get her ex husband back even though he has cheated on her and is living the high fame life as a huge famous singer. Tobias is trying to live a modest and quiet life since being released from jail five months earlier.
Novak has her readers following both these characters and getting to know them pretty well. I really started to feel for both of them and sometimes actually found myself upset with Harper because I have been through a rough relationship with a cheater/liar/all about him kinda guy. I wanted to yell at her "things are not going to change he is just feeling threatened that you might actually have a great life without him!" so it did take me a little longer to read this one than I thought it would. I had to walk away sometimes as I still get triggered by certain topics.

The relationship Tobias and Harper start to form is amazing and both of them are having a hard time realizing then deserve each other and a happy relationship. Tobias can't figure out how to tell Harper about his past without scaring her away so he keeps quiet. Super easy to fall for these characters and hope for a happy ending. A great story about forgiveness and rebuilding a new life.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and more from this author.

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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All His Pretty Girls by Charly Cox ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

Detective Alyssa Wyatt is hunting a serial killer.

She doesn’t know that he’s hunting her.

A woman is found naked, badly beaten and barely alive in the New Mexico mountains. The shocking discovery plunges Albuquerque Detective Alyssa Wyatt into a case that will test her to the limit.

It appears that Callie McCormick is the latest plaything of a shadowy psychopath that leaves a long shadow on the streets of New Mexico – an individual linked to a string of deaths but leaving no evidence.

But when Alyssa makes a breakthrough that just might reveal the killer, she unknowingly puts herself in the crosshairs of a brutal maniac – one with an old score to settle.

Because the killer knows Alyssa very well, even if she doesn’t know him. And he’s determined that she’ll know his name – even if he has to extract his deadly revenge on her and everything she loves.

The launch of a dark, gripping, completely unputdownable crime thriller series, All His Pretty Girls introduces Albuquerque detective Alyssa Wyatt. Fans of Kendra Elliot, Melinda Leigh and Angela Marsons will be utterly engrossed.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Born in the South, raised in the Midwest, Charly now resides in the Southwest in the Land of Enchantment where she enjoys eating copious amounts of green chile and other spicy foods. When she's not reading, writing, or plotting sinister evils with her antagonists, she enjoys doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles, hanging out with her husband and her spoiled Siberian Husky, visiting her son in Arizona, and traveling, preferably to places surrounded by sun, sand, and warm uncrowded beaches. 

Author's Website.

Review: 

This is a debut book in a new series called Detective Alyssa Watt. I found it a little slow in parts and then picks up again. Alyssa Watt's younger brother was kidnapped right out front of their house while Alyssa was to be watching him. Only to turn up dead. Years later Alyssa has these memories pulled up when a young female goes missing. Detective Watt and her partner Cord think there is a serial rapist/killer on the loose, targeting females that resemble Alyssa Watt. The author has us following a few characters perspective including the "killer", what really happened to him in the past and why is he after these innocent females? With a twist of a plot some might not see coming this was a good read especially for a debut novel. 
I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed it but I am not 100% sure I will continue with the series. 

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey ~ Book Review

Book Description: 

A moment on the platform changes two lives forever. But nothing is as it seems...

'Take my baby.'

In a split second, Morgan's life changes forever. A stranger hands her a baby, then jumps in front of a train.

Morgan has never seen the woman before and she can't understand what would cause a person to give away her child and take her own life.

When the police question Morgan, she discovers none of the witnesses can corroborate her version of events. And when they learn Morgan longs for a baby of her own, she becomes a suspect.

To prove her innocence, Morgan frantically tries to retrace the last days of the woman's life. She begins to understand that Nicole Markham believed she and her baby were in danger. Now Morgan might be in danger, too.

Was Nicole a new mother struggling with paranoia?

Or was something much darker going on?

Pulse-pounding, heartrending, shocking, thrilling. This is one book you won't be able to stop thinking about.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Samantha M. Bailey is a Toronto-based novelist, freelance editor, and journalist who has written extensively for Now Magazine, Oxford University Press, and many other publications. She is the co-founder of “BookBuzz,” a promotional and interactive author event held in New York City and Toronto. She holds a Master of Education in Applied Linguistics and credits that degree with her writing career because she wrote her first (unpublished) novel after taking a course on imagination. Now her imagination leads her to create dark and twisty stories, and her debut psychological thriller, WOMAN ON THE EDGE, will be published by Simon and Schuster Canada and Headline UK, and translated into seven languages. She loves reading as much as writing, so when not tapping away on her computer, she’s probably curled up with a really good book.

Author's Website.

Review: 

Where do I start with Woman on the Edge? Hmm.. a debut Canadian author! Woot! This was a great book. I picked it up and got sucked in right away. I have read numerous thriller, psychological, crime books this fall I thought I can't read more, can I? Answer was a quick yes!

Imagine minding your own business waiting for your train home one evening when a lady with a baby comes towards you looking freaked out or strung out pushing her baby into your arms and telling you to take care of the baby and love her, adding your name in there. Only to watch in horror as she tumbles backwards to her death!?!?! That's what this book is all about. Morgan has always wanted a baby but that thought was derailed when her husband commits suicide because he stole millions from her clients and Morgan knew nothing about it. Morgan downsized her life and tried to lay low and keep to herself.

Things are very different know that she is a witness/person of interest in this woman's death. In a new debut novel of a who dunnit/thriller/suspense type novel you start to wonder if Nicole is losing it or if someone is actually messing with this new mother.

This was a well read plot along with great in depth characters. Yes, of course we all wonder why would Morgan keep doing some of the things she does but it all plays out and had me guessing and actually being wrong. Fast paced, thrilling, psychological that I am sure you will also enjoy.

I give this book a 4.5 stars out of 5! Can't wait to read more from this new Canadian author!

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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My Wellness Toolbox by Alison Swift ~ Self Help Book Review

Book Description: 

Introducing My Wellness Toolbox, an innovative and amusing guide on how author and real-life example, Alison Swift, learned to cope and overcome her crippling anxiety. Contained within the book are 26 tools Alison has collected along the highs and lows of her journey. These include: Water, Daily Self Care, NO, Gratitude, and Affirmations.

These (largely free) tools are tried, tested and still proven daily by Alison and others, from simple everyday worriers to those dealing with serious anxiety and depression, and are discussed in each chapter in a colloquial tone that helps build an encouraging rapport between Alison and her reader. Although Alison’s toolbox may be slightly different to yours, she hopes this will be a launchpad that will propel the reader into a changed and better life. Readers who are battling with their own mental health challenges, as well as those interested in affecting a more positive outlook, will enjoy this humorous guide with its surprisingly powerful tools.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

Review: 

This is a great little book that can easily be read in one sitting (I just did that) or can be flipped through to the Tool you want to use or learn about. Each tool is a new chapter of only a few pages - not super in depth but a good idea on how each can be used and help one with anxiety. A lot of the tools the author writes about are ones I have learned over the years with dealing with my own anxiety and others are new ones I may not have used or known about. I would like to one day try Rieki, I do sometimes go for a massage and really find they help. 

This would make a great gift for friends and family, also a great book to keep on hand to remind us that there are tons of different tools we can add to own our Wellness Toolbox. It is easy to say you will do them when you are stressed or anxious but putting them into everyday life helps make it easier to use when really needed or also helps to relieve stress before it gets out of hand. 

I give this self help book a 4 out of 5 stars. I have received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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Chewish: 36 Recipes of Love with Stories from Nama's Kitchen by Sandra Goldberg Wendel ~ Cookbook Review

Book Description: 

You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy these family stories or the ethnic-flavored goodies. Just pull up a chair to our dining room table and savor the love (served with a hearty dollop of butter and sour cream) in every recipe.

Like dessert, the best is saved for last, and you'll find Diana "Nama" Goldberg's easy recipe for the world's best cheesecake, along with family favorites for every course: matzo ball soup, beef tenderloin, farfel, strudel, kugel, mandelbrate, schnecken, and more, seasoned with dining room table talk and kitchen hints.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

Review: 

A great cookbook that will make you feel like you are going down memory lane of your own childhood with your own Nanny. Sweet heartwarming stories and easy to make recipes of Jewish background, this is a great cookbook for all your cookbook lover friends and family. I love how easy the recipes are and that I have most ingredients on hand and if not they are easy to find at my local grocery store without having to go to a specialty shop. If you love streusel coffee cake, roasts, Rubens, kugel you will love this book too. If you are looking for something fancy then this isn't the cookbook for you. Be prepared from some nice home cooked food. 

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. 

~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own. *~

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Book Tour - Interview & Giveaway: Great Kids Don't Just Happen by Dr. Paul Smolen

Book Details:

Book Title:  Great Kids Don't Just Happen, 5 Essentials for Raising Successful Children by Dr. Paul Smolen
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction
Genre:  Parenting/Family
Publisher:  Torchflame Books
Release date:   October 22, 2019
Tour dates: Nov 4 to Nov 29, 2019
Content Rating: G

 

Book Description:

If there are children in your life, you need Dr. Smolen's research and wisdom!

Physically and emotionally healthy children are Great Kids. They are happier when young and thrive as adults.

Pediatrician Dr. Paul Smolen identifies five essential parenting elements which help develop happy and successful kids.

In Great Kids Don't Just Happen you will learn how to use those elements and nurture the children in your life.

The author's observations and advice are supported by scientific studies referenced throughout the book and personal observations from his many years of practice as a pediatrician. The five essential elements and how to apply them are made easy to understand in the warm words of one who knows, practices, and teaches from research, observation, and experience.

Learn how to provide:

1.         Realistic praise
2.         Consistent limits
3.         A healthy emotional environment
4.         Strong parental commitment
5.         Stability

Dr. Smolen's research and wisdom are sure to be of great help for your family and loved ones.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon * Torchflame Books
Add to Goodreads
 

Meet the Author:

Dr. Paul Smolen, also known as Doc Smo by his friends, is a pediatrician with 37 years of experience caring for children and families. He is a graduate of Duke University (1974), Rutgers Medical School (1978), and Wake Forest University-N.C. Baptist Hospital (1982). At Wake Forest University he completed a residency in general pediatrics, served as chief resident, and completed a fellowship in ambulatory pediatrics. Subsequently, he became board certified in the American Academy of Pediatrics (1983) and completed his recertification in 2014. For the last 37 years, he has been an Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, helping to train a generation of medical students and pediatric residents as well as author several research papers. He is also the author of a parenting book called, Can Doesn’t Mean Should.

With 37 years under his belt, Doc Smo is a bona-fide expert in knowing what parents want and need to know about parenting and child health. Imparting practical and useful advice is the goal of every “Pedcast”. Smiling along the way can’t hurt!

Click Here to Listen to One of Doc Smo's Pearls!

Connect with the author:      Website      Facebook    Twitter   

Interview with Dr. Paul Smolen

1. How do you research a book?

My book is non-fiction, dealing with the subjects of child health and well-being. I have been blogging about these subjects at my blog/podcast (Portable Practical Pediatrics, www.docsmo.com) weekly for the past 11 years. My book is simply an extension of what I have learned blog while doing my blog/podcast research. For my blog, I read and research subjects I know parents will find interesting. How do I know what parents know and don’t know you ask? That’s where face-to-face pediatric care families and children for 37 years comes in very handy. All that experience is my secret sauce and served as the basis for Great Kids Don’t Just Happen.

2. What made you write this book?

After practicing pediatrics for 37 years, I thought I had gleaned a unique view of families and children. I didn’t want to waste all my cumulative experiences so I decided to summarize what I feel are the most important things parents need to provide for their children in order for them to thrive-become what I call in my book, “Great Kids”. Great Kids Don’t Just Happen is the summation of those observations and three years of research and thought. We have learned so much in the past few decades about best practices that parents can employ to maximize their children’s health and well-being. I thought this must be shared with parents of today because to me, it is obvious that good parenting matters.

3. Where do you write?

I started my blog/podcast after my children went off to college. Aha, two empty bedrooms. I chose my son’s room and rebranded it into studio 1E (first child’s bedroom on the East side of the house). There, I have a computer and a small recording booth I built to make high quality sound recordings. I spend most evenings in studio 1E, listening to classical music, reading, writing and recording. Three years of writing produced Great Kids Don’t Just Happen, my second parenting book.

4. Is there one thing that you want readers to remember about you?

I really don’t consider my story important. I do think, however, that parents understanding what they need to provide for their children in order for them to thrive is vitally important. I am passionate and unambiguous about helping current and future generations of children live happy healthy lives.

Book Tour Schedule:

Nov 4 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 4 - Working Mommy Journal / book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 5 – fundinmental – book spotlight
Nov 5 - Over Coffee Conversations – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 6 – Reading Authors Network – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 7 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 8 – b for bookreview – book spotlight / author interview
Nov 11 – The Clipped Nightingale – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 12 –Character Madness and Musings - book spotlight /
Nov 13 – To Thine Own Shelf – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 14 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 18 – Momfluenster - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Nov 19 – Laura's Interests – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 20 – Genuine Jenn – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Nov 21 – On My Bookshelf – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 22 –From the TBR Pile - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 26 – Bookmark and fork – book spotlight / author interview
Nov 27 – #redhead.with.book – book spotlight
Nov 28 – Library of Clean Reads – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 29 -  Celticlady's Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 29 - Svetlana's reads and views - book spotlight / giveaway

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