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Sunday, November 30, 2014

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Intrigued: The Captured Hearts Trilogy by Averielle Lynch



Intrigued: The Captured Hearts Trilogy
By Averielle Lynch


Genre: New Adult Romance

Description:
There has always been one word to describe Isabelle's love life: disappointing. After growing up in poverty and in a broken home, Isabelle makes the decision to attend college in order to make a new life for herself. Now at Abernathy University, Isabelle is living the life of her dreams with a new friend named Demi and a whirlwind romance with her new beau Noah. Isabelle's relationship with Noah is the sweetest feeling that she's ever known, but will it prove to be detrimental to her? Noah's the perfect guy, but is he really hiding something? Will Isabelle's past come to haunt her? Demi proves to be a true friend and is always there for Isabelle, but are her intentions sincere?

Author Bio:
Averielle is a southern girl from North Carolina that enjoys spending her days writing stories that you can visualize and feel. Aside from YA romance, she enjoys mystery, crime and drama genres. There's nothing more relaxing for her than to dive into a new book while cuddled beside her Yorkie, Londyn. Blondie brownies and cheesecake are her addictions, so she probably munched on one of the two while writing her latest book. Averielle currently resides in the DMV area and is enjoying every moment of it.




EXCERPT:
At first she was saddened deeply and in many ways depressed, but now she was just mad. She was mad that she's let herself get caught up in a guy that she’d just met and fooled herself into having feelings for him.

“Isabelle, you just don’t understand. Can I please come in?” Noah looked more handsome than the first time she'd laid eyes on him. His brunette hair stood frazzled on his head and the muscles in his arms tugged at his sweaty t-shirt. In many ways he looked better because she’d been deprived of him for what seemed like an eternity.

“No,” she replied solemnly. She wanted him to come in more than she wanted her next breath, however appearing weak was the last thing she wanted to do.

“Why are you so unsure of yourself?” he asked as he stuck his foot in the doorway.

Isabelle stared at him for several moments riddled with confusion. She wanted to see herself through his eyes, but she couldn’t. It was obvious to her why she was unsure of herself, however he didn’t see it. To him Isabelle represented perfection and when he gazed into her eyes the only thing filthy or disgusting were his thoughts of what he wanted to do to her.

Isabelle buried her face into her hands and sighed deeply before opening her door and signaling him to come in.

Noah walked through the threshold slowly, while admiring the paintings on her wall.

“Those are breathtaking. Did you paint them?” he passionately asked while walking over to the one that was of a small child playing in paint.

“No, my mom did and I’m not unsure of myself for the record,” she said with certainty.

“Of course you’re not. Of course you believe in yourself and you notice how beautiful you are everyday, right?” he laughed.

“Don’t act like you know me when you don’t and why are you here so late and how do you know where I stay?” Isabelle’s voice began to get louder with each word.

“Calm down, Isabelle. Why can’t you believe that I’m meant to be right here, right now, and with the right girl?” he smiled.

“You sound like the real charmer, but we both know that’s not true,” Isabelle folded her arms in disgust.

“I never claimed to be a charmer. I only showed you interest, but my heart showed you love,” he gushed. Noah walked closer to where Isabelle stood, but she slid her slender body away from his.

LINKS: 

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004576367831
GOODREADS:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7349458.Averielle_Lynch

Saturday, November 29, 2014

BOOK SPOTLIGHT & REVIEW: Shrink Rapt by Freda Hansburg



Shrink Rapt
By Freda Hansburg

Genre: Psychological Thriller 


Sypnosis

Psychologist April Simon reaches that conclusion when four of her most unstable patients begin to violently unravel following the murder of their psychiatrist, Lowell Morgenstern, April’s arrogant department chairman.  She suspects it’s no coincidence that all four were subjects in his research project.


As April tries to undo Morgenstern’s mayhem, she finds her colleagues turning resentful, her career on the line, and the chairman’s killer closing in.  Who can she trust?  Maybe Sam Perone, the attractive, cynical detective who seeks her help in solving Morgenstern’s murder – that is, when he’s not treating her as a suspect.   






My Review

Just finished Shrink Rapt, the spectacular debut novel by New Jersey psychologist Freda Hansburg.

This dark psychological thriller centers on young Philadelphia psychologist, April Simon,  who stumbles on the body of her domineering department chairman. The police rule his death a homicide, which launches Dr. Simon into a world of deceit, where not even her closest colleagues can be trusted.

This stunning book has a cast of rich characters, razor sharp dialogue, and Breakneck plot twists that made it nearly impossible to put this book down, and the novel’s climax is a gut punch!


If you like suspense, this is the book for you. 



Author Bio

Freda Hansburg is a psychologist who lives with her husband in New Jersey.  She is the co-author of the self-help books PeopleSmart and Working PeopleSmart.  Shrink Rapt is her first novel.



Links




Freda Hansburg is giving away one signed paperback of Shrink Rapt!



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Friday, November 28, 2014

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: A Nation Under Judgment by Richard Capriola

A Nation Under Judgment
By Richard Capriola

Genre: Nonfiction, Christian


Synopsis

What does it mean to be "one nation under God"? Our Founding Fathers believed the words were more than a political slogan. Have we strayed from their vision? A Nation Under Judgment examines issues currently facing our country, such as hunger, homelessness, poverty, marriage, the environment, income inequality and the power of political campaign contributions in shaping policy. Each of these issues is examined from a social policy and Scriptural point of view, empowering readers to decide whether or not our nation is moving away from God and headed for judgment.








Author Biography

Richard Capriola has been a hospital chaplain and completed four years of Clinical Pastoral Education in preparation for chaplaincy work. He has also led a church-based outreach ministry. In additions to his pastoral care experience, he has served as a mental health crisis counselor and has worked at both a regional mental health center and psychiatric hospital.











Links:  

Thursday, November 27, 2014

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Belle, Belle, Where Are You? by Jo Alex



Belle, Belle, where are you?
By Jo Alex

Genre: Young Readers (Toddler, Preschool)


Book Synopsis

The story is about a little boy who comes home one day and is looking for his best friend, his dog, Belle. He cannot find her. He searches for her in various parts of the house. Halfway through the story, he is beginning to wonder if Belle is lost, but he doesn’t give up. His worry grows as he continues searching for her. What happened to Belle? You have to read to find out if he finds her or not. May be you can help him look for Belle?


Excerpt:
Belle, Belle, where are you? You are not beside your favorite table. Belle, Belle, where are you? You are not behind the big red couch, where you like to take naps. Belle, Belle, where are you?




Jo Alex Bio: 

Jo Alex is a resident of Seattle, and was inspired to move here years ago after seeing a magnificent view of Mount Rainier. She draws inspiration for her writing from many sources, by her travels, and also the many memories of her dog Belle. An avid Northwest foodie, she loves the eclectic restaurants of the Northwest.

Belle, Belle, where are you? is her first Apple iBook and she is excited to introduce it to children. It is only available for the Apple iPad and purchasable on the Apple iBookstore, and this is because Apple’s special iBook format allows for sounds and clickpoints to be added to the book.



Links:

Free coloring printables: http://joalexbooks.com/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joalexbooks 

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Max Blizzard & the Gem of Camelot by Patrick Hatt

Max Blizzard and The Gem of Camelot
By Patrick Hatt


Book Genre - Fantasy
Release Date - November 3rd, 2014

                                                                                                                                                            

Synopsis:

Max Blizzard was like any other drone living in Earth's realm until the arrival of his eighth birthday. On that day his imagination awoke and Max started thinking for himself. He was an outcast the moment he let people know about his imagination. That moment also unknowingly set forth a chain of events years in the making. By having imagination, Max had given Sir Dreadvent exactly what he wanted, a way into Camelot's realm.

Now Max and his friends, Trudesile and Lester, must complete the quest that Max's father, Merlin, set out for him years ago. They must find the Gem of Camelot to defend the realm from Sir Dreadvent's and his sevesties. Their perilous journey will take them from the shores of Merlinia and the ship of Davy Jones to the fields of Avalon, in the hope that they can save Camelot, save Earth and save all the lost realms that have been consumed by Sir Dreadvent and his sevesties on their quest to remake the universe.

A tale about where your imagination can lead if you choose to follow it, with creatures large and small joining Max Blizzard on his journey. King Arthur, Oberon, Hercules, Apollo and other heroes of imagination believed to be myth will become truth as Max and his friends face the trials ahead. Let your imagination lead the way to Max Blizzard and The Gem of Camelot.




Author Bio:

Patrick Hatt can be found in the East Coast of Canada. He hates writing these things but doesn't mind talking in the third person. He dabbles in a little of this and a little of that, not afraid to attempt something new.

He is owned by two cats, one of whom has his own blog, It's Rhyme Time. Yeah a rhyming cat, who knew? He would be considered a both person when it comes to cats and dogs.

He is also quite the movie and TV buff. As you can probably tell does not take himself seriously and has more stuff in his head than is needed. Thus the novels as just one more form of release. Thanks for the visit and enjoy! 

Links:




GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card OR $25 Pay Pal cash (winners choice) Rafflecopter code below:


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Monday, November 24, 2014

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Fake it with Confidence by John Freund

How to use Improv Comedy to be More Confident in Social Situations
By John Freund
Genre: Nonfiction, Comedy, Self-help


Synopsis

What do improv comedy and socializing have in common? EVERYTHING!! 'Fake it with Confidence' offers you ten core principles of improv comedy, and shows how they can be used to create confidence both on stage and in your social life. Each chapter highlights a different principle, and uses specific examples from the author's experience performing improv, and from his personal life as well. 'Fake it with Confidence' is an insightful look at the world of improv comedy, and how it can impact your world right away!




Author Bio

John Freund received his BA from UPENN and his MBA from USC (too many letters…). John first performed improv comedy with his college improv troupe Without A Net, and went on to become director of the group. He has since performed at both the Upright Citizens Brigade and the People’s Improv Theater in New York City.

This is John’s first e-book, and he recently completed his first full-length nonfiction book called ‘TurtleBunny: The Two Roads To Wealth For 20 & 30-Somethings.’ TurtleBunny explains the basics of personal finance and entrepreneurship in a light-hearted and humorous way; it aims to be the first book on personal finance and entrepreneurship that 20 and 30-somethings will actually want to read!

When he’s not travelling the world, John is living and writing in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

For hilarious tweets on all things personal finance and entrepreneurship-related, as well as some random things that aren’t, you can follow John on Twitter! @theturtlebunny

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Imogen and ISIS: A Story of Terrorism and Manhattan Apartment Rents
By Jack Mauro
Genre: Fiction, Dark Comedy

Novella, 128 pages.  

Synopsis:
A modern and dark comedy combining one woman's struggle to live in a city she cannot afford with a native New Yorker's rather different path. Imogen Curtis - 40, idealistic, and a fool for New York - is thrown in multiple directions as she negotiates with the madness that is securing a place to live in Manhattan.  At the same time, Ahmad Bertesh's personal pain seizes upon the monstrous presence of ISIS as inspiration for avenging himself on a heartless city. Destinies finally collide in a remarkably non-violent way, with a cast of manic secondary characters, insight, and just enough satire to emphasize the crazy of these lives and the metropolis in 2014.






Author Bio: 
After years in the South and several works of fiction set in his beloved Knoxville, Tennessee, Jack Mauro has returned to New York City. He has as well published a guide to Internet dating (Simon & Schuster, 2007), done extensive work for singer/songwriter Carly Simon, and a wide array of national magazine reviews and commentary. Mauro also reviews theater for StageBuddy.com, when he is not prowling the streets of the town he knows so well and captures in Imogen and ISIS. 







Friday, November 21, 2014

BOOK BLITZ: HENGE ~ Le Fay Series by Realm Lovejoy



Henge (Le Fay Series)

By Realm Lovejoy

Genre: YA Fantasy



Book Description:

Inspired by one of the greatest legends of all time…

Modern-day Camelot. Where knights no longer carry swords. Magic is dangerous. And those who seek control are not to be trusted.

Sixteen-year-old Morgan le Fay is a fire user. An ordinary girl with an extraordinary skill, she has the ability to create and command fire at will. Her dream is to become the Maven—the right hand of the future King Arthur. In the chance of a lifetime, Morgan is selected to join Arthur’s Round, an elite group of young magic users from which the new Maven will be chosen.

Along with the other fire, water, and wind users in Arthur’s Round, Morgan is rigorously trained and tested. The handsome Merlin, a brilliant water user, takes a particular interest in her. Is his friendship to be trusted, or is Merlin simply trying to win the position of Maven for himself? Among the many rivals Morgan faces is the current Maven, Mordred, who seems determined to see her fail.

But Morgan has a secret—years ago, her mother was executed for using fire magic, and Morgan’s desire for justice makes her more than ready to take on the challenge before her. Can she prevail in Camelot’s tests of survival and magic? Only time—and Morgan’s powerful fire—will tell.

Realm Lovejoy’s modern Arthurian series features one of literature’s most complicated and powerful female figures. Henge is the first book in the LE FAY series, and—like Morgan le Fay’s magic—it is sure to dazzle and amaze.




Author Bio:

Realm Lovejoy is an American writer and an artist. She grew up in both Washington State and the Japanese Alps of Nagano, Japan. Currently she lives in Seattle and works as an artist in the video game industry. CLAN is her first book. You can find out more about her and her book at realmlovejoy.com










Author web links:






Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Henge-Fay-Book-Realm-Lovejoy-ebook/dp/B00PBV1HKK

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Crimson Son by Russ Linton

Crimson Son
By Russ Linton

Genre: Superhero Fiction/ Fantasy/ SciFi

Synopsis:

His mother kidnapped, his superhero father absent, powerless Spencer Harrington faces a world of weaponized humans to prove himself and find the truth.

Nineteen-year-old Spencer is the son of the Crimson Mask, the world's most powerful Augment. Since witnessing his mother's abduction by a psychotic super villain two years ago, he's been confined to his father's arctic bunker. When the "Icehole" comes under attack from a rampaging robot, Spencer launches into his father's dangerous world of weaponized human beings known as Augments.

With no superpowers of his own save a multi-tool, a quick wit and a boatload of emotional trauma, Spencer seeks to uncover his mother's fate and confront his absentee superhero father. As he stumbles through a web of conspiracies and top secret facilities, he rallies a team of everyday people and cast-off Augments. But Spencer soon discovers that the Black Beetle isn't his only enemy, nor his worst.



Author Bio:

In the fourth grade, Russ Linton wrote down the vague goal of becoming a “writer and an artist” when he grew up. After a journey that led him from philosopher to graphic designer to stay at home parent and even a stint as an Investigative Specialist with the FBI, he finally got around to that “writing” part which he now pursues full time.

Russ creates character-driven speculative fiction. His stories drip with blood, magic, and radioactive bugs. He writes for adults who are young at heart and youngsters who are old souls.







Social Media:

Website - www.russlinton.com



Purchase Links:

Amazon-



Amazon UK-

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: ANTITHESIS by

THE ANTITHESIS: RENOVATIO
By Terra Whiteman

Genre: Grimdark Sci-Fi / Dystopian Sci-Fi



Synopsis:

Civil war between demons and angels lies just on the horizon.

Alezair Czynri, member of the Purgatorial Jury, is thrown into a world of murder, exploitation, chemical substances, betrayal and bureaucratic red tape as he and his court attempt to diffuse escalating conflicts.

Yet things are not as they seem. Ever since his induction into the Celestial Court, Alezair has been treated with cool indifference by the Justice Commander, Leid Koseling. A former prisoner of the Nexus Initiative, Justice Czynri exists without any memories of his former life, the consequence of being a slave merc for hire.

But Purgatory is strangely familiar, and slowly little pieces start coming back. There might be a good reason why Alezair's boss keeps him at arm's length.



Author Bio: 


Terra Whiteman is a clinical scientist who writes dystopian science fiction in her spare time. Her life is a dish of pipettes, refractometers and immunossays, heavily seasoned with grimdark worlds and their battlegrounds. She’s profane, opinionated, and if you met her you’d think she’s really weird.














Goodreads: http://bit.ly/YT7Dwa 





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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Homeward Bound: a novella of idle speculation by Josh Greenfield

Homeward Bound
By Josh Greenfield

Genre - Autobiographical Stream of Conscience

Synopsis:
A young man sits alone in a public garden contemplating the big questions; the origins of the Palisades Cliffs, cold sesame noodles and his father's mortality. In the spirit of James Joyce, Josh Greenfield, follows the thought process of Jordan Fineman, where ever it leads.










Bio:
Josh Greenfield is a graduate of both Phillips Andover Academy and Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. He holds two masters degrees from the City University of New York, one in History and one in English Literature. He also completed the better part of a doctorate in English at Fordham University. His desire in writing is to tell a entertaining and engaging story, to look for laughs in dark places. He is the author of "The Obsessive Chronicles: a novel."





Links:

Friday, November 14, 2014

BOOK BLITZ: The Lebrus Stone by Miriam Khan


WATCH THE EXCITING BOOK TRAILER FOR
 'THE LEBRUS STONE' by MIRIAM KHAN








The Lebrus Stone
By Miriam Khan
Genre: Paranormal Romance


Synopsis:

When eighteen-year-old orphan, Crystal Valdez, accepts an invitation to the small town of Blacksville, West Virginia, she hopes to have a summer to remember and a chance learn more about her parents, to also get to know the family she never knew existed.

But the Lockes begin to act strange and erratic; eerie movements in the night fuel her vivid and gruesome nightmares. To complicate her summer further, she becomes attracted to the menacing yet handsome Cray Locke: her none blood related cousin. He seems determined to keep his distance. The only bonus seems to be the housekeeper and gardener.

And when a local informs Crystal of the secrets buried at Thorncrest Manor, the kind consisting of a forbidden relationship and war between hidden worlds, and witchcraft, she must decide whom to trust. Even if it means leaving behind those she has come to love.

Bio:

Miriam is from Cheshire, England and a family of six siblings. Her love for creativity led to acting at her local theatre before being a lead vocalist in rock bands. During those years, she often found solace penning her thoughts and feelings through lyrics or poetry. She chose not to continue singing in 2006, and two years later she woke up with the idea for The Lebrus Stone and began typing. revising and editing it for the next six years. She is now eager to see what readers will think.


Links:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007806765011

http://miriamkhannovels.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9793155.Miriam_Khan



Giveaway:


The author is giving away a Purple Crystal Wing Heart Necklace.


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Friday, November 7, 2014

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Montague Portrait by Matt Drabble

"The Montague Portrait"
By Matt Drabble

Genre: Horror
Release Date: October 31, 2014 (preorder now!)


"Matt Drabble is a name that will one day be as widely recognized as Stephen King & Dean Koontz" 
- READERS FAVORITE 

From the award winning and best selling author of "Gated" & "Asylum" comes "The Montague Portrait"

Hugo Montague was a man of boundless cruelty that lived on beyond his mortal days. The portrait that he commissioned has hung on many walls, but has always overseen tragedy and murder.
The painting was long thought destroyed in a fire, but now there are those desperate to find the portrait if it still exists
Travis Parker was an insurance investigator, but now he is a widower trapped within his own pain and broken promises. When he is approached by the mysterious Telfer Vargas to track down the portrait he reluctantly agrees to one last case.
Charlotte Goode has a long personal history with the painting and will let nothing stand in her way to avenge her family.
The race across Europe to find the painting soon becomes littered with death as dark supernatural forces converge and threaten to consume those foolish enough to look.


AUTHOR BIO:
Born in Bath, England in 1974, a self-professed "funny onion", equal parts sport loving jock and comic book geek. I am a lover of horror and character driven stories. I am also an A.S sufferer who took to writing full time two years ago after being forced to give up the day job.
I have a career high position of 5th on Amazon's Horror Author Rank of which I am immensely proud.

"GATED" is a UK & US Horror Chart Top Ten Best Seller

"ASYLUM - 13 TALES OF TERROR" is a US Horror Chart #5 It was also voted #5 on The Horror Novel Review's Top 10 Books of 2013 & is a Readers Favorite 2014 Gold Medal Winner.

"ABRA-CADAVER" won an Indie Book of the Day award.
2014 has also been a milestone year for me so far as I recently passed 100,000 downloads of my work.

Visit me at www.mattdrabble.com
Twitter: MattDrabble01
Facebook: matt.drabble.3
or to sign up for a newsletter: http://mad.ly/signups/95503/join


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

BOOK REVIEW & SPOTLIGHT: The Dance of the Spirits by Catherine Aerie



Title: The Dance of the Spirits
Author: Catherine Aerie
Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

Spring 1951: it is the fiery zenith of the Korean War, a war that the youthful US Army lieutenant Wesley Palm and his men thought that they had won … until the Chinese swept across the Yalu River. Traveling with the million-man army bent on driving back the march of “American imperialism” is Jasmine Young, a Chinese surgeon who has volunteered herself into the war for unspoken, grave reasons. Through a chronicle of merciless battles, freezing winter, and the brutality and hypocrisy of human nature, the two will find themselves weaving through the twist and turns of fate and destiny, where an unquenchable passion, a resilient pursuit of liberty, and an inherent dignity light the darkness against the vast sky of a warring world and of nation and cultures that stand shattered and divided by the same forces that unify them.



My Review:

The Dance of the Spirits is an incredible book! Exhaustively researched, richly descriptive and beautifully written, and a complexity of storyline seen only in some of the finest classics. The story weaves its way through the lives separately and together of a young Chinese doctor named Jasmine Young and US Army Lieutenant Wesley Palm and the fateful alliance they forge against the brutal and foul backdrop of the Korean conflict. An ugly conflict largely and unfairly overlooked in history. The author details the gilded and then unfortunate coming of age of the protagonist as the communist regime comes to power in her homeland, and the harsh reality of war and government’s disregard of individual value.
The character development is stunning, the narrative poetic and Catherine Aerie’s astonishing command of the language is absolutely beyond compare. This book will take a special place on my bookshelf and in my heart as a book cherished and reread for the rest of my life. It’s that good. You will be doing yourself a tremendous disservice to not read this masterpiece.



About The Author:

Catherine Aerie, a graduate from the University of California, Irvine with a master degree in finance. She was inspired to write “The Dance of the Spirits” while researching a family member’s role in the Korean War, deciding to revive an often neglected and overlooked setting in fiction and heighten the universality of resilient pursuit of love and liberty. Her debut novel was finished after about two years of research. She currently resides in southern California.



Website: www.catherineaerie.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/098969092X/?tag=bdsitelogin-20

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dance-of-the-spirits-catherine-aerie/1117019491?ean=9780989690928&itm=1&usri=9780989690928