When Summer Comes by Brenda Novak/ RABT VBTour Review

Contemporary Romance

Date Published: February 2013

One day, Callie Vanetta receives devastating news . . .

She needs a liver transplant. But her doctors warn that, in her case, the chances 

of finding a compatible donor aren’t good. Determined to spend whatever time 

she has left on her own terms, she keeps the diagnosis to herself and moves out 

to her late grandparents’ farm. She’s always wanted to live there. But the farm 

hasn’t been worked in years and she begins to fear it’s too much, she’ll have to 

return to town.

One night, a stranger comes knocking at her door…

He’s an attractive and mysterious drifter by the name of Levi McCloud who 

offers to trade work for a few nights’ shelter. Callie figures she doesn’t have 

anything to lose. He needs a place to stay until he can fix his motorcycle; she 

needs an extra pair of hands. The arrangement seems ideal until what was 

supposed to be temporary starts to look more and more permanent. Then she 

realizes she does have something to lose — her heart. And, although he doesn’t 

yet know it, Levi stands to lose even more. 

 Brenda Novak

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak is the author of more than forty-five books. A three-time Rita nominee, she has won many awards, including the National Reader’s Choice, the Bookseller’s Best, the Book Buyer’s Best, the Daphne, and the Holt Medallion. She also runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May atwww.brendanovak.com (her youngest son has this disease). To date, she’s raised over $1.6 million. Come meet the long-time friends who have made Whiskey Creek the “Heart of Gold Country” with WHEN WE TOUCH, WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES, WHEN SNOW FALLS and WHEN SUMMER COMES.

www.brendanovak.com

No blog

Twitter: Brenda_Novak

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Brenda-Novak/120794854630624?fref=ts 

Buy Link

http://amzn.com/B009YEVFQQ

From my Perspective:

2013 must truly be my year to read great novels.   When Summer Comes by Brenda Novak was just such a great book!  I love a book that moves you  and touches your very soul and this one did that for me.   Our heroine, Callie, has non alcoholic fatty liver disease and is in need of a liver transplant.   She is brave and selfless and facing the possibility of death on her terms.   I certainly learned a lot about the disease process and by the end of the book, were I not already an organ donor, I would have run out and become one!!   That is how compelling this read was for me.

I loved the characters and the circle of friends that grew up together in Whiskey Creek.    Each one of them provided lasting and loving friendships.    Each contributed to the support Callie would need in the near future.   The drifter,  Levi, was a strong alpha male outsider, who gave Callie something to focus on  other than her own problems, and eventually gave her the passion she so desired to experience before her time ran out.   He was not immediately welcomed into the circle of friends, but he eventually found a place amongst them.    I liked his character so much as he seemed real to me.   He was strong and protective, but a bit of a mess himself.....could he really say good-bye in her darkest hour?

The storyline was smooth and well thought out.   There was tension between the renters down the road and Callie due to the renter's irresponsibility with their dangerous pit bulls.   There was a power driven sheriff who wanted Levi out of town yesterday.   There were secrets guarded by both Callie and Levi and secrets with the minor characters as well, and it all melded together depicting small town life and love, acceptance and forgiveness, trust and thanksgiving.   It was a powerful story;   I wish I had written it.   And I am certainly thrilled to have had the opportunity to read and review it!

5 out of 5 winks!   Peeps, it's a good one!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Security by Mandy Baggot/ Review

Good Afternoon Peeps!!  I am excited to share with you my review of the book SECURITY  by Mandy Baggot.   First though, the synopsis from GoodReads:

Autumn Raine is a pop vocalist at the very top of her game. She’s a style icon, the paparazzi’s darling and everyone wants to be her friend. But when her safety is threatened, her whole life starts to unravel.
Enter Nathan Regan, an ex-elite soldier who is assigned to protect her. He’s a good man doing bad things but what drives him? Passion? Madness? Or grief? Demons from his past are threatening to consume him. Can he win the fight alone or will he have to admit he needs help?
As the threat deepens, Autumn starts to find out who she really needs in her life. Is there still room for personal assistant Janey or rapper boyfriend Rockweiler? When everyone around her is feeding her lies, how does she work out the truth? Does her record producer know more than he’s letting on? What is her mother, the British Foreign Secretary’s involvement in the situation? And can Autumn put her faith in a forty-something Jamaican woman who handles an automatic weapon as expertly as she cooks?
Eluding kidnap and trying to stay alive, can Autumn find the strength to be the person she longs to be? And can two people, poles apart, forge something strong enough to survive anything?

from my perspective: 

I will give this author credit, she can develop characters well and make you feel very attached to them.  I didn't care much for Autumn when the story began.   She was self centered, self absorbed, demanding and showed very little concern for those around her.    As the story progressed however, we saw a change in the main character.    She began to care for others and realized what a diva she had become and she really didn't care for the image she had created for herself.    My favorite character had to be Tawanda, the practical cook and body guard assistant who provided balance for both Autumn and her body guard, Nathan.

People and characters do strange things when placed in situations where they feel there is no way out.   Autumn found herself in the middle of a terrorist abduction, a willing participant fearing for her own life and for Nathan's.   Quite a plot line that provided suspense and sharply inhaled breaths as I read.

I enjoyed the read.   It was certainly filled with liars and people Autumn found to be undependable and not looking out for her.  The storyline was a tad unbelievable, but the love story between the diva and the bodyguard, certainly redeemed the unbelievable bits and made it easy to accept and love the story as a whole.

I'm rating it four out of five winks!    A truly enjoyable read!    Thanks Mandy, I look forward to much more from you!

 

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.  I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Candy and the Cankersaur by Jason Sandberg

Good Morning my Peeps!   Today I have a real treat for you-- a children's book, Candy and the Cankersaur.   As anyone who follows me is aware, I love to read and I believe reading is of utmost importance to our young people.    I have books and I have grandchildren and I love to read with my grands.  

 With that said, Mr Sandberg provided me with a PDF copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.   He is author and illustrator of this fun little book .  "Candy and the Cankersaur" is a picture book about a girl who receives a dinosaur as a gift and her determination to train him to be a good pet.  It's a fun homage to Syd Hoff and will make all dinosaur-crazy boys and girls happy.

First of all, let me say the art work is top notch!   I can hardly wait to read this story to my two year old grand daughter   and even the boys will enjoy it, although it's perhaps geared for a younger audience than them at this time.   However, they still like to have fun and I think they'll get a kick out of it too!  It's a short read at 32 pages, but it is fun.   Candy tries to teach her cankersaur to be a good pet, but they both learn that sometimes, the rules you set, have to be broken in certain circumstances.

As a bedtime story Picture Book it’s aimed for children ages 3-6.

As a read-alone Picture Book it’s appropriate for children ages 6-9.

 

 

 You can contact Jason Sandberg at: 
http://www.jasonsandberg.com
http://www.jasonsandberg.com/ebooks.htm

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.  I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Love Me For Me by Kate Laurens/ Review

Happy May 6th My Peeps!  Is this weather as confusing for you as it is for me?    I do not recall snow in May, EVER.  However, I don't claim to be the sharpest pencil in the box either, but we turned cold and snowy the first of May in Iowa and I am now totally disillusioned!!   There ought to be a law as I've been sick of winter for many moons now!

I will say, it is awfully nice to curl up with a good read and make the most of the inexplicable happenings outside my window.    One such interesting book was Kate Laurens book, Love Me For Me. 

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

A fresh start...

It’s been three years since Serena King learned to say no—no to the boys that were a desperate cry for help, no to the extra weight she put on in self defense, and most of all no to the abuse that has haunted her since she was fifteen. Now a sophomore in college, all she wants is to be normal. The last thing she expects is a guy who can make her want... make her want everything.

A new guy...

Alex Blackthorn is a bundle of contradictions, a sexy dark haired badness who goes slow... deliciously slow. And despite the iron will that has gotten her through the last few years, Serena finds herself unable to ignore the heat that sizzles between them whenever they’re together.

A dark past...

Serena never thought she could be involved in a relationship, but Alex makes her long for things she thought were out of her reach forever. When he finds out her secret... when he finds out what she did to keep herself sane... will he still want her, or he will treat her just like everyone else?

And Alex has a secret of his own.

Recommended for mature readers aged 17+ due to language and sexual content.

And here's the rest of the story from my perspective:

Both Serena and Alex are very well developed characters that carry a lot of baggage with them.   Both have secrets they would rather not share.   But if they are going to make their relationship work, that baggage has to be dealt with and the secrets revealed.   As in any good relationship, TRUST is a key issue.

I enjoyed the storyline for the most part.   I liked that Ms Laurens incorporated sexual abuse and the resulting self esteem issues and behaviors that follow such abuse.   I also found it encouraging that she addressed diabetes as an issue as well.  Either situation could be a challenge in a blooming romance.  And both issues can be overcome.   And the romance was definitely Hot! 

This is the first in Ms Laurens Safe Haven series and as much as I enjoyed this first book, I am definitely looking forward to the following two books:  
 Love Me If You Dare, (will be available summer 2013)
and  Say You Love Me, (will be available Fall 2013).    She says she falls in love with each hero she writes about and I'll bet you will too....(oh yes, I did!)

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like.  I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Dead Light by Mike Pace/ RABT VBTour with author interview

Top of the Morning Peeps!    This morning I am so pleased to present an interview with the talented author of Dead Light, author Mike Pace!   I can tell you ahead of time, he is very ornery as a couple  of his responses will soon reveal.   First the synopsis of his book, Dead Light:

…a matter of light and death…
                In the sleepy college town of Cumberton, MD, an old cemetery must be moved to make room for a new dormitory, and an ungodly Light, buried for centuries, escapes. A rash of gruesome student suicides rocks the town. Sheriff Estin Booker teams up with former Baltimore homicide detective Anna Tucci to investigate the deaths. What neither expects is to have all roads point to a 2000-year-old legend which, if true, could lead to the destruction of mankind.
                The most frightening account of the power of evil breeching our world since The Exorcist, DEAD LIGHT will teach you the most improbable lesson you will ever learn:
 FEAR THE LIGHT!

Interview with Mike Pace:

When did you know you were born to write?

Grade school. I much more enjoyed helping to write the Christmas play than performing in it. (Although my portrayal of the Chief Elf remains the gold standard for the role.)

Who influenced you in becoming the author you are today?

Every person with whom one comes in contact can influence the content of one’s writing. Characters are based on amalgams of people we meet throughout our lives. My parents were very influential. They met performing in a play at the Pittsburgh YWCA, and later traveled around the city putting on marionette shows for kids. Dad made the puppets and Mom provided the costumes. They wrote their own scripts and that’s probably where my inspiration came from.

What was your favorite book and author as a child?

Loved Grimm’s Fairy Tales and the Hardy Boys series. Probably why I read and write thrillers.

Who do you read now?

I try to read as many thriller and horror-thriller authors as I can and listing any, thereby excluding others, is unfair. So I will simply list by way of example, Doug Preston and Lincoln Childs, Daniel Silva, David Balducci, John Grisham, Jack Ketchum and, of course, Stephen King.

Do you read as much as you write?

More.

If you could meet any author of past or present, who would it be?

As a member of the International Thriller Writers Association, I’ve fortunately been able to meet many of my favorite contemporary thriller authors. With respect to past authors, probably Mark Twain because I can’t imagine a more interesting evening than listening to his stories over a few adult beverages.

What would you ask them?

Again, with respect to improving my craft, I’ve had the opportunity to chat with great thriller authors through the ITW. I’d probably ask Twain about the delicate subject of race and how his own views, seen in the light of his time, infused his writing.

What made you select the thriller genre?

Easy. I write the kinds of books I’d like to read. If I tried to write a romance, my attempts at a steamy love scene would cause my wife to laugh so hard she might hurt herself.

How did you conceive the idea for Dead Light?

The story began as a screenplay entitled, The Flickering. The germ of the idea for the screenplay came from my Hollywood manager and friend, Rob Kesler. Rob had read about Vicary's 1957 experiment with subconscious marketing through the flickering light of a movie projector. We thought there might be a story idea there. Originally, the story centered wholly on a group of students and a sinister theater owner who kept his hypnotized victims hidden in a secret room below the theater. (Still a good idea, by the way.) Two cops were minor characters. As the story evolved, the roles of the cops grew and we fell in love with the Estin and Tucci. The focus on the flickering projector raised the question: what would happen if light from lots of everyday sources became a weapon of death? And I was off to the races. Like real germs, idea germs are all around us, ripe for the picking.

What advice would you share with a would be writer?

No matter how good you think your manuscript is, show it to others before you submit it anywhere. And that means people other than your family. The cost of a professional content and line edit is money well spent.

Who is the first person you share the written word with?

My patient and immensely talented wife, Anne. She’s learned to be brutally honest. (Sometimes too brutal.)

Can you tell us a little about your current WIP?

Called Red Island. A grad student is one of a group of tourists on a Caribbean cruise who are lured to a private island where they’re forced to participate in deadly games of death to entertain international captains of crime. Think Hunger Games meets Saw.

Now for fun:

Favorite drink?

Adult: Kettle One on the rocks with a twist of lemon.  Non-adult: Club soda with a splash of Cranberry juice.

Cookies, pie or cake?

Molasses cookies, Rhubarb pie and Anne’s Irish Whiskey cake.

Coffee or pop?

Coffee.

  

Happy endings, surprise endings, or cliffhangers?

Surprise endings with a tiny cliffhanger to allow for a sequel if needed.

What is your ultimate goal with your writing(s)?

To make people late for work in the morning because they were up all night reading my book.

Thank you for participating with my interview.   I am sure I have helped fulfill your goal with Dead Light.

 My Review:

 I can not believe this thriller/horror story is a first novel out of Mike Pace...let me say awesome!!   This book is dead scary in my humble opinion and had me saying, what if this could really happen.  Oh my goodness, I wanted a come to Jesus meeting and wanted to bring the characters along with me!    Mike did an excellent job of character development.   The protagonist, Estin Booker, was a good ole boy, pretty well laid back and definitely in for the long haul when it came to being the Sheriff in Cumberton, MD... aka as Mayberry.  Anna Tucci, although a detective with anger issues out of Baltimore, vacations on demand by her boss in Cumberton and is immediately sucked into the investigation of a co-ed suicide, or is it murder?  Anna is as sarcastic as she is angry, but she rather enjoys her days in Mayberry, until both Booker and Tucci start to believe the unbelievable and come to grips with their own what if's.

Mike's humor comes through loud and clear in his storytelling and I found myself laughing at different times throughout.   The humor was almost a necessary reprieve from the dark horror of the story which had me rivoted.

Do you like a tense thriller?   Do you enjoy horror?    I think Mike Pace may be in line with some of the major names in horror/suspense  and yes, I'm giving Dead Light 5 winks!   I guarantee those eyes will not be winking shut through this read!!

Mike Pace

Author Bio

Mike Pace was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Illinois on an art scholarship, and graduated with a BFA degree. He taught public school in Washington D.C.’s inner city, while attending law school at Georgetown University. As an attorney, he prosecuted numerous cases, including those involving murder and rape. He resigned in order to practice law part time, thereby allowing him the time to devote to his first love, creative writing. He lives on the Chesapeake Bay with his wife and two dogs, Blueberry and Scout. DEAD LIGHT is Mike’s first novel.
 Website- http:// Mikepacebooks.com
Twitter- www.twitter.com/MikePacebooks

BUY LINK

Amazon Paperback- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1938404416/sr=1-2/qid=1365031131/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1365031131&seller=&sr=1-2

Kindle- http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Light-ebook/dp/B00C5QOTVS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1365031310&sr=1-1&keywords=dead+light

Nook- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dead-light-mike-pace/1111926819

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

What I Read in April

Good Morning Peeps!

How's it going for you?   I borrowed the above picture of little peeps from the girl I used to babysit for when she was 2 yrs old.    Man, time flies when you spend it with those you love!   She is all grown up with a grown family of her own and grandbabies too!    Certainly dates me, huh?   That was a good chapter in my life story!

Today's post shows the books I read in April--9 books this month!   Thankfully  I even got some stamping in as well!   I must be feeling better than I've felt in awhile---Yahoo!

Christmas stories read now, but reviews to be posted in December....I know, Having to wait is a fate worse than death, lol.    Centaur Legacy is the second in my favorite fantasy series and I'll be reviewing Centaur Rivalry sometime in MAY!   I can not wait to get into it!   Kate Hardy's little romance about ballroom dancing broke up the heaviness of the Partners in Crime Tours, I hosted.  I love suspense, mystery thrillers, but sometimes it kind of gets to you and you need something light and fun!

 I read a little bit of everything in April, romance, mystery, suspense, fantasy, Christmas and even Science Fiction.   I love the diversity of reading!  My grandson Noah, now twelve years old, still shares his reading with me.   He had a book of sci-fi short stories and he wanted to share it with me, well one of the shorts.   It was called Fear Shouter by Jay Williams and the book was

Out of This World: Science Fiction Stories by Edward Blishen.

I love that we still have that connection 

with reading.   The story packs quite a little surprise at the end and he wanted to share that with me.    How cool is that?    I hope as long as I live, he will want to share his readings with me.    It is truly a blessing to have reading in common with him.   Although I can tell his taste in reading materials is far different from mine.   But I'm glad he is into age appropriate reading.

 Amanda P won a paperback copy of No Way Back by Andrew Gross this month.   Congratulations Amanda, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.   

    Guess that about wraps up April for me Peeps.   I hope you all had a fabulous April as far as reading is concerned.     Reading keeps your brain sharp!








So keep the eyes and a good book open!

Ageless Sea by M R Polish Supa Party/SGVBTours

          Today marks the first month that Ageless Sea has been out and I am excited about it. I am so excited that I want to give you an ereader with the cover of Ageless Sea on it, AND I will even sign it! It is just a small token of my appreciation. BUT I have even better news, I will let the winner pick if they would like a Kindle (to use with Amazon) OR a Nook Touch (to use with Barnes & Noble)!!! That's right, should you win, YOU get to pick!

             Now, on to the good stuff! How can it get any better than winning an ereader? Well, getting a look at the book that started this awesome giveaway of course! First, let's set the mood...           I think this song fits so well for the whole book. If you have read it - do you hear it? I can hear Brady singing  it to Karis lol. I listened to this song while writing Ageless Sea and it is on my playlist over on Spotify, should you want to listen to the whole "soundtrack" I used. Can you pick out any songs for certain scenes???            While writing Ageless Sea I didn't sleep much, my keyboard became my pillow. From beginning to end, my characters kept me on my toes. They changed into amazing people that I am happy to share with you. Ageless Sea started off with a dream I had in the middle of the night. I remember rolling over and grabbing my phone to take notes because it was perfect and since then I haven't been able to get Karis or Brady too far out of my mind.             One thing I didn't realize until I started writing, was that Brady was funny. I laughed out loud many times while writing and my family would look at me with that 'she's losing it' look and move on. Here is a part of one of the first scenes where he shows his humorous side:

“What is that?”

Karis looked up from the fire with a scowl. “Dinner. What did you think it was?”

“Oh no, I’m not eating that, that thing.” Brady pointed at the sea urchin she held in her hands.

She let her shoulders droop. “We don’t eat the whole thing, just this part.” She dangled a small portion of it with her fingers.

“Oh hell no!” He held his hands up. “I won’t eat Rocky Mountain Oysters, what makes you think I’d eat them off a sea creature.” He placed a hand over his mouth. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”

She laughed. It never crossed her mind that eating that part of the urchin would be distasteful to him. She’d eaten them for so long it was like second nature.

Karis shrugged. “We could go fishing if you prefer?”

“Yes, I prefer.” He glanced at the urchin one more time and cringed. “Can you please just toss it out or something? I can’t believe you eat those.”

Karis rolled her eyes at him. “For such a strong guy, you’re sure weak.” She picked up the basket of urchins and laid them aside.  “So are you fishing or am I?”

He grabbed the fishing basket and started down the trail. “I think I can figure it out.”

I love to write fantasy, so it was fun to create the world's inside this book. Romance with fantasy, that is my favorite, so that is what I did. I can't tell you how much you all mean to me. I love that you enjoy my stories as much as I do and how excited you get with your favorite characters... or sometimes even the messages about how you lost sleep because you couldn't put the my book down, makes me happy. I love hearing from all of you and can't thank you enough. I really hope you love Karis and Brady and their journey as much as I do! 

M.R. Polish Don't Forget to join us Tomorrow May 2nd for the LIVE Blog Talk Radio Show!! You can call in and talk to us and listen in on the fun. The Winner of the Giveaway will also be announced!!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/supagurl/2013/05/02/ageless-sea-by-mr-polish-par-tay

Call in to chat with us 

(718) 664-9345

SUPA GIVEAWAY a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kindle: Ageless Sea for Kindle

Nook: Ageless Sea for Nook

Paperback: Ageless Sea Paperback on Amazon 

Also, if you would like a signed paperback, you may email me at m.r.polish.author@gmail.com and I would love to do that for you as well. It is 15.00 and that covers S&H.

Stalkers find me here:

Facebook: M.R. Polish

Twitter: @_MRPolish_

www.mrpolishauthor.com

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