Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Featured General Fiction Books of the Week - Goddess of the Wild Thing

This Week's Featured
General Fiction



Goddess of the Wild Thing
by Paul DeBlassie III

Goddess of the Wild Thing is a dramatic tale of one woman’s spiritual journey where magical happenings, unexpected turns of fate, and unseen forces influence her ability to love and be loved. Eve Sanchez, a middle-aged woman and scholar of esoteric studies, encounters a seductive but frightening man who introduces her to a supernatural world in which the wicked powers of a surrogate mother’s twisted affection threaten love and life. In the mystic realm of Aztlan del Sur, Eve and three friends struggle with whether bad love is better than no love and discover that love is a wild thing.


More books to check out!

You decide if they're rock stars.


You Dear Sweet Man
by Thomas Neviaser

The subway ad is enticing. One might even consider it elegant as well. A beautiful woman, sitting atop a desk in a sparsely decorated office, staring directly at Bobby Fastow, a blue collar worker, on his way to his monotonous yet physically exhausting job. The photograph has an unusual charisma, a spectacular presence. It seemingly leaps off and out of the poster.

Bobby Fastow intensely absorbs the information directed at him. BurgerBlast, his favorite fast food restaurant, famous for quick service and reliable, if not artery-choking fare, is announcing a new name and a new direction.

But, in the world of advertising, nothing is as it seems. What if the line that separates an advertisement from the real world were erased? What if an image stepped from an ad and beckoned you to follow it back, inviting you to melt into its world. Could you resist? Bobby Fastow couldn't, and his decision would turn his world upside down.

Rewrite
by Stephanie Rose


Rewrite is a STANDALONE novel.

Once upon a time, a girl loved a boy and he loved her back. They lived happily ever after.

But our story was never that simple.

I loved Josh with all I had, right until the day he left. Now, all these years later, he was back—and wanting me the way I’d always longed for him. Except now, I belonged to someone else. Someone who never left me the way Josh had. I figured that was the end of our story. I couldn’t alter the past.

I didn’t want to rewrite my future.

Brianna was always more than my best friend. She was the shining light in my black hole of an existence, and I loved her with every cell and bone in my body. I wasn’t good enough for her, though—more the villain than the hero in our fairy tale. When I had to leave, I vowed to come back a better man—for her. But when I finally did return, she wasn’t waiting for me anymore. She had someone new, her very own Prince Charming. Did that mean our story was over? I couldn't change our past.

It was time to rewrite our ending.
 

The Vicissitudes of Fortune
by Bob Siqveland

Five teenagers from diverse backgrounds are brought together by a war. A Japanese, a Jew, a Native American, an African American, and a white kid from middle-class America form an interdependent relationship in the jungles of Vietnam. They become the most highly decorated squad in a war they don’t understand, but their relationships transcend the social structures of racism formed through historical injustices, and they remain best friends for decades. Their iconic leader, Billy Stone, one day finds himself entangled with a Medicare scam dreamed up by his sister’s husband. For his sister’s sake, he must find a solution. The livelihoods of the others form within the law enforcement communities in their individual and collective quest for justice as they grow from boys to men of great character. Even the strongest of character has its flaws, but these men are the best of the best, and there is only one adversity they cannot overcome. From the Selma-to-Montgomery march, the internment camps of WWII, the poverty and desolation of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation; to the estrangement of a father and son and a suicide of great consequence, this team of five becomes one. At the same time, there are “takers” like Billy’s brother-in-law who infect the American system. They need to be brought to justice, but the price will be high. On the smallest of scales, this is an epic tale of how the dream of a world community can become a reality.

And Nothing But The Tooth


And Nothing but the Tooth: 

Still More Humorous (and Sometimes Touching) Tales from a Globe-Trotting Dentist's Storied Life (Tooth Is Stranger Than Fiction Book 3) 


And Nothing but the Tooth offers up a continuation of bizarre episodes during Dr. James's forty-plus years of dental practice--including perhaps the worst hires in employment history. On the personal side, we catch a glimpse of some questionable family lineage, a hilarious first ski trip, amateur sheep herding, and a soggy camping trip sure to test a marriage. As always, we get to tag along with young Carroll as he gets into summer mischief with his cousins at his grandparents' home in the backwoods of Nealy Ridge, VA, this time toying with a treasure chest of found explosives and almost--but not quite--getting away with it.




Monday, October 30, 2017

Featured Children/Young Adult Books of the Week - The Tail of Max the Mindless Dog

This Week's Featured
Children/Young Adult



The Tail of Max of the Mindless Dog
by Florenza Lee

Cute, adorable Max is sure to become your child's favorite story character. And by the time you are even half way through reading, your little one will be able to say with you Max's words of affirmation!

In this beautifully written and spectacularly illustrated story of The Tail of Max the Mindless Dog, Max has a habit that is preventing him from enjoying his life fully. Seeing his friend missing so much happiness, Ross sets out to teach Max newer, more productive habits. Through the technique of belly breaths, with words of affirmation, Max learns to apply the practice of Mindful living to his previous mindless way of existing.

We all have habits; some are beneficial, others are not. We learn some conscientiously, others we develop slowly over time. Usually, habits are minor, and are not harmful to those we love or us. Even minor habits, when left unattended may develop to become obstacles. Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you are mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.

Through this beautiful story, the child in your life will learn to experience living in a state of active, open attention on their present – each and every day.



More books to check out!

You decide if they're rock stars.


This Body Won't Break
by Lea McKee

The truth doesn’t always set you free.

Orphaned as a child, Joanna has lived her entire life in the care of the New Terra Alliance. On the verge of turning eighteen, she eagerly awaits her release into what remains of society.

It was a beautiful lie.

Joanna was never meant to leave. She is part of the August Harvest, slated to die before the month’s end. With a rogue soldier’s promise to find her a way out, Joanna dares to hope. But if the NTA finds out what she knows, it won’t only be her own life at stake, but the life of the handsome soldier who has vowed to set her free.

Fans of Divergent, The Darkest Minds, and The Handmaid’s Tale will love this dystopian story of twisted secrets, romance, and page-turning suspense.

This Body Won’t Break is Book One of The O-Negative Series and will be published in 3 Parts (each approx. 25k words in length). Parts will be published on the first Tuesday of every month.

Julia Dream
by Fabia Scali-Warner


In a not too distant future, a nuclear war has decimated mankind. Three centuries later, survivors live barricaded in cities controlled by the Human Empire, while the inhabitants of the countryside have been mutated by radiation and live in the forests surrounding urban settlements, waging war on the humans.

When both her parents die in a fire, Julia is left to cope alone with a highly bureaucratic and regulated system, with very few select allies. As her loyalty undergoes increasingly harsh tests, Julia draws attention to herself with her cold blood and fierce resolve in battle.

Constantly on the edge between independent spirit and military discipline, Julia will have to decide how to use the power that has been granted her.
 

Glasses
by Marlene W. Potts

Young Kasey is new to Swan Quarter , North Carolina, but it's his new neighbor, old Mrs. Whitlock, that makes him more uncomfortable. He has to adjust to new kids and a new school when suddenly he is swept up in a mysterious disappearance of several of the communities' children. With the help of his new best friend, Tammy, he helps solve the mystery of the lonely old woman.

The Billion Dollar Byte



The Billion Dollar Byte
by D. Justhy

 

The Billion Dollar Byte equips high-level businesspeople and technologists with the tools and strategies to leverage Big Data to drive ethical “Good Profit.” Traditional legacy companies need a framework for making data strategy central to their business models in the same way that the newer Digital Native companies have. The Billion Dollar Byte provides that framework by providing concrete models for creating smart data infrastructures, accurately weighing the value of data and data systems, investing in the right technologies, hiring entrepreneurial people with tech skills, leveraging the full value of data, and much more. It aims to help companies aligns their data strategy with their business model. There is a special importance placed on attracting and retaining the right entrepreneurial-minded technologists that can help leverage data for profit.



Sunday, October 29, 2017

Next Door Infatuation



“One. Two. Three. Four.” Robin counted her breaths out, slowing her heart rate and calming herself. “One.” Robin noticed someone staring at her in the distance. “Two.” He was clearly watching her. “Three.” Robin tried to maneuver herself so that she could get a better look at her stalker without giving it away that she saw him too. “Four.” She let out her breath. The man watching her stepped forward slightly. She felt like she recognized him from somewhere. She couldn’t really see his face, but something about him seemed vaguely familiar, like from a dream. He stepped on a twig which cracked loudly beneath his foot. Robin startled giving it away that she saw him and he ran from the scene. 


“Wait! Who are you?” Robin yelled after the hooded figure. “Why are you following me?” She chased...



Saturday, October 28, 2017

Featured Thriller Books of the Week - October 28, 2018 - Cowboys and Angels

This Week's Featured
Thriller



Cowboys and Angels
by Graham Sclater

Harry Clark was a young soldier stationed in Cyprus where he met and married Xanthi, but within weeks of the birth of their daughter, he left to join the Special Forces.

His precarious life was cut short when he was shot by Malik an Iraqi insurgent and left for dead.

Twenty years after getting married Harry finally returned to Cyprus to fulfil his dream of opening his own restaurant. That dream was quickly shattered when he was unwittingly dragged into the seedy world of people trafficking and the reappearance of Malik.

Will he survive this time?



More books to check out!

You decide if they're rock stars.


Where Did They Go?
by A. Nation

Susan was devastated when her husband dies in a car accident. Friends and family cannot fill the void left in her heart from his passing. One thing after another keeps disappearing around her home until she steps into another world. The characters she encounters help her with lost memories until she realizes who killed her husband.

Mirror, Mirror
by Jessica Jesinghaus


Nearly twenty years ago a teenage girl was murdered...

Samantha Williams was just a young girl when her cousin, Emily, was brutally raped and killed in her own home. As a child, Sam's family did their best to shelter her from the gruesome details. Now, working the crime beat for the Portland Tribune, Sam has the resources at her fingertips to investigate the case for herself.

Through the eyes of a killer...

After inheriting a family heirloom, an antique vanity table that once belonged to her murdered cousin, Sam begins seeing visions in the mirror's depths. Like watching an old home movie, she bears witness to Emily's murder. As if that weren't frightening enough, she starts to see other things too: fleeting glimpses of the killer himself! Are the things she sees just a figment of her imagination or could something otherworldly be trying to communicate with her? When the killer strikes again and leaves clues behind meant specifically for Sam it becomes a race against time to try to catch him.
 

Dead Man Talking
by Jana DeLeon

Welcome to Everlasting, Maine, where there’s no such thing as normal.

Meteorologist Zoe Parker put Everlasting in her rearview mirror as soon as she had her college degree in hand. But when Sapphire, her eccentric great-aunt, takes a tumble down the stairs in her lighthouse home, Zoe returns to the tiny fishing hamlet to look after her. Zoe has barely crossed the county line when strange things start happening with the weather, and she discovers Sapphire’s fall was no accident. Someone is searching the lighthouse but Sapphire has no idea what they’re looking for. Determined to ensure her aunt’s ongoing safety, Zoe promises to expose the intruders, even though it means staying in Everlasting and confronting the past she thought she’d put behind her.

Dane Stanton never expected to see Zoe standing in the middle of her aunt’s living room, and was even more unprepared for the flood of emotion he experiences when coming face to face with his old flame. Zoe is just as independent and determined as he remembered, and Dane knows she won’t rest until Sapphire can return to the lighthouse in peace, so he offers to help her sort things out.

Armed with old legends, Sapphire’s ten cats, and a talking ghost, Zoe has to reconcile her feelings for Dane and embrace her destiny before it’s too late.

Friday, October 27, 2017

A Tear for Eternity.com



A Tear for Eternity.com
by Virginia Alison

A timeless energy encircles the world, drawing humanity into its grasp, eternally swirling, pulling souls together, tearing them apart in the eternal struggle of love, life and loss and amidst this cacophony there are thousands, who every day opt to open their computers hoping and believing that there is someone out there for them.

One of them is Mia, a fifty something author and self-confessed hermit whose garden is the bane of Mr Jenkins life. Juggling reality with fantasy and a lot of wine, there is no happy medium and after corrupting Mr Jenkins grandson, her reputation is a bit ragged around the edges, much like the leaves strewn across the only unkempt yard in the street, namely hers.

Calamitous, outrageous and with a flagrant disregard for the rules her one passion in life is Kip and for six years they have been involved...Over the internet.

More than aware of the pitfalls of online dating, Mia’s rather wry and cynical view of relationships from the safety of a computer screen should be enough to deter anyone, anyone except this stubborn, passionate woman who has had him in her life for so long, she yearns to know where the dream ends and the fairytale begins.

It has long been their desire to meet, yet they are both reticent to see it to fruition as too many ifs and maybes shape their path, that is until the opportunity arises.

What does destiny hold in store for two people, bound by a golden thread across the sands of time?
Will it be exquisite passion or agonizing sorrow that fuels the tears for eternity?



Thursday, October 26, 2017

Liberating Inner Eve



I wrote "Liberating Inner Eve" as a result of my encounters with female clients from a Christian background who struggle to find a sense of personal strength, high self-worth, love, and acceptance.
"Liberating Inner Eve" offers psychological insight around the impact of commonly found interpretations of the teachings of the Old Testament (in particular the Genesis account of Adam and Eve) and New Testament (the lifetime of Jesus), on various themes relevant to women's daily lives, such as how they experience their identity, self-acceptance, and self-worth.
Every Chapter of this book includes simple exercises, encouraging readers to take time to review their thoughts and feelings, relating to a particular topic.
Through "Liberating Inner Eve" I long to share with others how empowering the Bible can be in helping women find self-love, self-acceptance, and personal strength.





Featured Romance Books of the Day - October 26, 2017 - Butterfly Serenade

This Week's Featured
Romance



Butterfly Serenade
by Julianna Douglas

Rose
Whore. Slut. Tramp.

I don’t want to believe the words, but they’re true. Having sex with strangers temporarily affords me the necessary control to quiet the demons from my nightmares. But each unfulfilling encounter leaves me more emotionally empty than before. I’m trapped in a dead, brown shell, unable to break free.

Until the day he walks into my life.

Colin is everything that's good and pure–a beacon of light to my dark, lost soul. His music is a soothing balm, warming long-frozen places inside me. His kindness disarms me, making me long for more. But to have more, I’d need to reveal the horrors of my past.

And I can’t tell anyone. It’ll tear me apart.

Colin
I’ve been waiting for her all my life.

From the moment I laid eyes her, I knew Rose was my soul mate. I’m drawn to her inner beauty and yearn to show her the love she’s never known. The pain reflected in her lovely amber eyes rouses emotions deep within me, stirring the music in my soul and making my fingers take flight over the keyboard.

But Rose is a woman holding closely guarded secrets.

More than my next breath, I want to quell the haunted look in her eyes ... heal her broken spirit and make her whole again. She doesn't believe that's possible. But I won't give up.

Not until she lets me love her–all of her.

Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of abuse that may distress some readers.


More books to check out!

You decide if they're rock stars.


A Tear for Eternity.com
by Virginia Alison

A timeless energy encircles the world, drawing humanity into its grasp, eternally swirling, pulling souls together, tearing them apart in the eternal struggle of love, life and loss and amidst this cacophony there are thousands, who every day opt to open their computers hoping and believing that there is someone out there for them.

One of them is Mia, a fifty something author and self-confessed hermit whose garden is the bane of Mr Jenkins life. Juggling reality with fantasy and a lot of wine, there is no happy medium and after corrupting Mr Jenkins grandson, her reputation is a bit ragged around the edges, much like the leaves strewn across the only unkempt yard in the street, namely hers.

Calamitous, outrageous and with a flagrant disregard for the rules her one passion in life is Kip and for six years they have been involved...Over the internet.

More than aware of the pitfalls of online dating, Mia’s rather wry and cynical view of relationships from the safety of a computer screen should be enough to deter anyone, anyone except this stubborn, passionate woman who has had him in her life for so long, she yearns to know where the dream ends and the fairytale begins.

It has long been their desire to meet, yet they are both reticent to see it to fruition as too many ifs and maybes shape their path, that is until the opportunity arises.

What does destiny hold in store for two people, bound by a golden thread across the sands of time?
Will it be exquisite passion or agonising sorrow that fuels the tears for eternity?


The Sea Witch and the Mage
by Katherine Smits


When Athenia decides she must defeat the wizard who killed her twin sister, she finds there is only one way—enslave Thorne, a human mage with powers she can use to overcome her enemy. However, she doesn’t count on finding him mesmerizing or needing him so much. What happens when a shapeshifting mermaid teams up with a man who controls the elements?
 

Heartlands Series Boxset
by Kris Pearson

Over fifty four and five-star reviews on Amazon US and UK for these three linked love affairs set in the wild beauty of New Zealand. Now you can buy the three novels together and save big.

Melting His Heart – a passionate story of misplaced trust in the alpine resort of Queenstown. Is Kate spying for her famous father?

Christmas Holiday Hearts – Ellie’s dream job becomes her worst nightmare when she discovers the wealthy widower she’ll be working for is the father of her son.

Cowboy Wants Her Heart – Ellie’s shy friend Alfie is expected to marry brash cowboy Rory to save her inheritance of Glenleighton Estate.

WARNING: Hot men, willing women, beds optional.

All my books can be read as stand-alones, and there are no cliff-hangers. You can read the stories in any order. If you would like to know when my next book is published, please go to my website krispearson.com and sign up for my newsletter. Thank you for your wonderful support!

Contemporary romances by Kris Pearson:

Currently being written – The Scarlet Bay Series

The Heartlands Series:
1. MELTING HIS HEART (Kate and Matthew)
2. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY HEARTS (Ellie and Tony)
3. COWBOY WANTS HER HEART (Alfie and Rory)

The Wellington Series:
1. THE BOAT BUILDER’S BED (Sophie and Rafe)
2. SEDUCTION ON THE CARDS (Kerri and Alex)
3. RESISTING NICK (Sammie and Nick)
4. OUT OF BOUNDS (Jetta and Anton)
5. THE WRONG SISTER (Fiona and Christian)
6. RAVISHING ROSE (Francesca and Jake)
7. HOT FOR YOU (Melanie and Cody)

Sheikhs of Al Sounam:
1. TAKEN BY THE SHEIKH (Laurel and Rafiq)
2. DESIRED BY THE SHEIKH (Stacy and Akil)

Ingus and Pingus



The Wildest Children’s Books You’ll Ever Read

The Ingus and Pingus Books Are Like Dr. Seuss For the Hip-Hop Generation 

The rhythms and rhymes of the Ingus and Pingus Rap NoveLs may be hip-hop, but the adventures of these unlikely friends are destined to be classics. Everything starts with the magic opening lines of the first book:

Outraged Ingus jumped high up

With all of his might

And stomped both his feet with a thump

Into a puddle full of muddiest of all mud,

As soon as he dropped back down

With a boom onto the dirty ground,

Splashing sludge

All over the walls and the floor,

While swinging forcefully shut his barn door.

-- “I’ve finally had it,” in despair, he swore.

-- “Enough is enough!

-- I need a new Amazonian life! ”

When Dr. Ingus takes a walk to find some new friends, he quickly gets lost deep in the Amazon jungle. It’s when Ingus is at his most desperate that he meets the wild Pingus. Ingus and Pingus are instant friends and set off together on a series of adventures that take both of them places they never imagined.
Dr. Ingus and his apprentice Mr. Pingus are determined to be the best animal doctors in the wild Amazon jungle. But, they soon learn that there is a whole jungle full of obstacles waiting to stop them.
The Ingus and Pingus Rap NoveLs are filled with unforgettable characters, beautiful illustrations, thrilling adventures, and rhymes that will make you smile and won’t leave your mind.
You will be hooked from the opening lines of the first book. Your children are sure to love Ingus and Pingus too. Finally there is a children’s book you will be excited to share with your kids. These books get better every time you read through them.

So What’s Your Delay? Get Your Copy of Ingus and Pingus and Make Your Child’s Day.





Wednesday, October 25, 2017

The Wrath of the Revenant


The Wrath of the Revenant

He's been watching . . . and waiting.

On New Earth, Tremain has made a new acquaintance, but Alice is not what she seems. She hands him a calling card, but it can’t be deciphered. Tremain is called to view a satellite image which shows something that should not be there. Upon investigating, they find Alice.
She brings Tremain and Christopher face to face with a vengeful being who resents humanity’s growing presence on his planet. The two have one chance to prove that humanity is worth preserving.


Can they pacify the Wrath of the Revenant?





Featured Non-Fiction Books of the Day - October 25, 2017 - God Answered Me

This Week's Featured
Non-Fiction



God Answered Me
by Marsha L Ceniceros

Dramatic descriptions and insight, for foster parents, teachers, social workers and those who seek to understand and detect behavioral patterns and signs relating to mental and physical abuse. This is a book series of the survival of child maltreatment, bullying and hate. To understand the present situation of a child, teen or an adult, one must understand the past of their difficulties. This is a must read true story of actual events.


More books to check out!

You decide if they're rock stars.
The Billion Dollar Byte equips high-level businesspeople and technologists with the tools and strategies to leverage Big Data to drive ethical “Good Profit.” Traditional legacy companies need a framework for making data strategy central to their business models in the same way that the newer Digital Native companies have. The Billion Dollar Byte provides that framework by providing concrete models for creating smart data infrastructures, accurately weighing the value of data and data systems, investing in the right technologies, hiring entrepreneurial people with tech skills, leveraging the full value of data, and much more. It aims to help companies aligns their data strategy with their business model. There is a special importance placed on attracting and retaining the right entrepreneurial-minded technologists that can help leverage data for profit.


No One Comes Close: A Memoir
by J. A. Newman

*free on Amazon through 10/27

Many women dream from time to time of the man they would have married if only circumstances had allowed, but very few attempt a solution.

No One Comes Close is a true story of how one woman, unhappy in her marriage, set out to find her first love and the consequences it incurred.
 

Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? Volume 3
by Marti Smiley Childs and Jeff March

Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? – Volume 3 celebrates talented singers and band members who reached the pinnacle of popularity between the 1960s and ’80s. Through conversations with performers and family members, we share fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpses into the lives of:

•ANNE MURRAY, who after soaring to popularity with “Snowbird” in 1970, topped the pop, country, and adult contemporary charts with many of her 80 singles, including “You Needed Me,” and earned John Lennon’s admiration for her rendition of the Beatles’ “You Won’t See Me”;
•BILLY JOE ROYAL, the versatile singer who recorded 1960s pop favorites “Down in the Boondocks” and “Cherry Hill Park,” then experienced a resurgence in the ’80s with a string of country music hits, including “Burned Like A Rocket” and “Out Of Sight And On My Mind”;
•B.J. THOMAS, the bluesy pop and country crossover singer whose chart-topping hits included “Hooked On A Feeling,” “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” and the beloved Oscar-winning movie theme “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”;

AND MEMBERS OF FOUR BRILLIANT BANDS:
•Buddy Buie, Barry Bailey, Dean Daughtry, J.R. Cobb, Paul Goddard, and Rodney Justo of the ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION, the top-notch session musicians too good to remain just a backing band, whose hits included “So In To You,” “Imaginary Lover,” and “Do It Or Die”;
•Arthur Lee, Johnny Echols, and Michael Stuart-Ware of the group LOVE, who recorded fan favorites “My Little Red Book,” “7 And 7 Is,” and “Alone Again Or,” and whose masterpiece Forever Changes is widely regarded among the best rock albums ever recorded;
•Larry Tamblyn and John "Fleck" Fleckenstein of the STANDELLS, known equally for “Dirty Water,” the anthemic rallying cry for Boston pride, and “Try It,” the mildly titillating song that unintentionally provoked a nationwide controversy about lewd lyrics; and
•Chuck Negron and Floyd Sneed of THREE DOG NIGHT, which during a nine-year span attained a seemingly unstoppable run of success, with 21 consecutive top 40 hits, including the No. 1 smash hits “Mama Told Me (Not To Come),” “Joy To The World,” and “Black And White.”

Along the way, they encounter twisted monsters, mad mages, a draconic demigod, and a wacky sorceress. Stumbling their way through adventure, romance, and evil, Daven and Talia forge their legend as they become the first in a new crop of Heroes of Majestia.

Inspired by the works of JRR Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, Glen Cook, and HP Lovecraft, Bryan C. Laesch has created a unique and entertaining fantasy series. A new legend has begun.

A Key to Whispers



A Key to Whispers

by Jacob Albrecht

When Daniel Masterson was four years old, he watched helplessly as his father was killed in a horrific car accident, which resulted in terrifying nightmares, vivid hallucinations, and a fear of anything related to horror. Years later, after a high school prank induces a frightening hallucination, Daniel decides that the only way he can get on with his life is to face his fears by going through the local scare attraction, called the Horror House, on his own. But the further he ventures into the house, the more real it becomes. Trapped within the walls of the Horror House and unable to discern if what is happening is real or not, Daniel must survive five hellish rooms, filled with unspeakable terrors, in order to make it out alive and discover the terrible secret hidden within.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Carved Wooden Heart



A sexy encounter with a talented native artist, a broken heart, and a knight in shining armor are just the beginning in this passionate romance. Dani Stone never expected to fall in love with carver Jesse Wolf Carver. She certainly didn't foresee the results of her intense one night stand with the sexy hunk. From the wealth of New York City to the southern city of Knoxville, Tennessee, follow Dani as she journeys the winding path fate has laid out for her. Will she ever forget Jesse and the passion she felt in his arms? Can any man replace him in her heart? And most importantly, will her secret be revealed? This is a story of passion, love, loss, and courage.




Featured General Fiction Books of the Day - October 24, 2017 - Ocean in a Drop

This Week's Featured
General Fiction



Ocean in a Drop
by Tami Shaikh

 

Ocean in a Drop by Tami Shaikh follows the life stories of three siblings: Miraj, Adam and Asad. Told through varying narrative voices, the novel explores the complexities of family life and how siblings can grow up, grow apart and ultimately find their own happiness.

Alternating between Pakistan and The United States, the story transports its readers with its characters as they maneuver new worlds and must grow to meet the challenges. There are themes around domestic abuse, gay romance in traditional Pakistan, terrorism and the fear of becoming just like the generation that preceded. Through the stories of the three siblings, Shaikh allows an exploration of these complex themes while at the same time using them to push her story forward. There are subtle complexities to each narrative and readers will enjoy getting to know the characters.

One problem with the novel is its constant change in narrative voice. While the chapters are given headings, the switching voices sometimes add little to the plot and they do not provide real character development. There are also chapters, named “Ten Years Later” and “Regrets,” which both relate to Miraj, and yet do not follow the preceding format of chapters named by character. This and some spelling and grammatical mistakes are the main problems with Ocean in a Drop. All of which could be fixed with a good editor.

Overall, Shaikh has written a book that has family at its heart. It looks at past failings and how generations learn and grow within the family structure. There are loves lost, trauma and the hope of a better future. Ocean in a Drop has an honest story at heart and will leave the reader with a chance to take part in that family journey.

Originally critiqued by a member of the Authors Talk About It team.


More books to check out!

You decide if they're rock stars.


Last Man She'd Love
by Summerita Rhayne

When best laid plans fall apart...

Lyna is all set to marry a movie mogul, when she finds his pregnant ex at her office, begging her to break the engagement and keep her name out of it. Forced to take her flirtatious boss Guy's help, she sets about to break the engagement. But now she's pulled into deeper involvement with Guy.
One trouble leads to another!

She agrees to visit his palatial country house, posing as his fiancée and is drawn into the family and their antics. Sorting out who's who takes time. A stringent grandfather, an ambitious mother, a frustrated half brother are only the beginning!

Attraction makes things complicated...

Propinquity with someone as charming and attractive as Guy doesn't help. But Guy himself is as much of a puzzle as ever. Is he the playboy she thinks him or is there someone else beneath the sardonic pose? Will she ever find out?

Will she break her heart in the process?

Cousins' Club
by Warren Alexander


Cousins’ Club, a satirical novel, erupts when a grandmother decides she is tired of being the matriarch of the least successful Jewish family in America. She consults mystical medieval texts that divine the next born grandchild will be a genius who will change their fortunes. But her worries do not stop there. She is also convinced that no one in her clan is smart enough to raise a genius by themselves. Her solution—the child will be passed from household to household to gain their collective wisdom.

This picaresque romp takes place in 1950’s Brooklyn. The unusual events and the menagerie of characters, which includes radical rogues, cockeyed intellectuals, and pie-eyed strivers, will be familiar to readers of Phillip Roth, Bruce Jay Friedman, and Stanley Elkin. 


In the end, this fantastical story about family begs the question—how wrong can a grandmother be?
 

El Hermano
by Carmen Baca

El Hermano takes place during the forty days of Lent in 1928 as José and his cousins conspire to spy on one of the brotherhood’s secret rituals to see what lies ahead for them as novices. José knows his time to join the cofradías (of which his own father is Hermano Mayor) is near, but having seen Hermanos who appear to be in pain after a night spent at the morada, a meeting house and chapel, and having heard stories about those who even died in the past because of whatever went on within the sacred structure, his fear guides him to join his cousins in their clandestine scheme. Little do they know, certain New Mexican legends conspire against them; La Muerte , Saint Death, warns José to leave his future unknown, a ball of fire thought to be a witch crosses their path, and even la Llorona, ghost of the Weeping Woman, and el Diablo, the Devil make an appearance.

The Backwards K



Baseball was the only thing Jet Brine was ever good at. Well, baseball and slot machines. Except when his moment came, bottom of the ninth, game seven of the World Series, Jet struck out without swinging.

Now, years later, he's stuck in a cubicle, haunted by the ghosts of a marriage cut short, and dragging around the remains of his baseball career in a beat-up duffle bag.

Then he meets Linda and it seems things might be turning around at last. But old habits die hard and old fears fuel new failures. After a string of tough losses, a solemn promise may be the only thing that can convince Jet to step up and swing away one more time.

The Backwards K is the latest inspirational novel from bestselling author J.J. Hebert. Featuring relatable characters facing heartfelt struggles, The Backwards K is for anyone who believes winning begins with having the courage to take a swing.

PRAISE FOR THE BACKWARDS K

"J.J. Hebert's inspirational sports-themed novel, The Backwards K, follows the efforts of aging baseball great, Jet Brine, as he tries to get past [the] awful defining moment of his baseball career and reclaim his life. Hebert's story examines the concepts of forgiving oneself for the past and finding the courage to start fresh and new... The Backwards K is an uplifting and inspiring tale that is most highly recommended." --Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)

"The Backwards K was an excellent read which I found wholly entertaining and enjoyable. Author J.J. Hebert is a well-honed storyteller, who did a superb job of creating a narrative that instantly draws the reader into the emotion-ridden world of Jet Brine. This narrative proved to be an engaging, evocative, insightful and inspirational read ... Will draw a tear, as well as make you cheer. I enthusiastically recommend this book as it is well worth the read." --Pacific Book Review (Starred Review)

"[Hebert's] supporting characters come across as particularly credible. More than merely stock players, they feel like real flesh and blood inhabitants of Jet's world. Hebert keeps his prose straightforward and devoid of lyricism. In addition to sounding like it's actually coming from the mouth of a real ex-ballplayer, it also enhances intimacy with, and empathy for his protagonist whose continued use of rationalization reveals an individual under the influence of addiction. Jet's history of lessons learned too late, promises broken too often, and resolve compromised too easily, makes him not just flawed but human. In fact, it is the author's exploration of the human qualities of transgression, forgiveness, and redemption, that raises this tale above the level of mere sports yarn." --The US Review of Books


Monday, October 23, 2017

Always Finding Time



This is a story coming from the child’s point of view. Explaining the way he/she sees the parents way of life from always being busy to always finding a positive outcome. I hope you are able to find joy in this book.





Featured Books of the Day - Children/YA - Jorie and the Magic Stones

This Week's Featured
Children/YA



Jorie and the Magic Stones
by A. H. Richardson


In A. H. Richardson’s Jorie and the Magic Stones, Marjorie Weaver, who prefers to be called Jorie, is a spunky almost-nine-year-old with a personality as bright as her long red hair. After going to live with her aunt in the intimidating Mortimer Manor, Jorie discovers a mysterious book about dragons under the floorboards of her room. Soon after, she finds herself magically transported to the mystical land of Cabrynthius. There, Jorie discovers that she is the prophesied “Child with the Hair of Fire,” who must locate the three Stones of Maalog and return them to the great dragon, Grootmonya. She returns with her friend, Rufus, and the two children then embark on an imaginative adventure, full of dragons, magic, and peril around every corner.

Jorie and the Magic Stones is a wonderfully creative chapter book for children, similar to classics like The Chronicles of Narnia in depth and content. It’s full of complex magic and an alternate world detailed enough to satisfy adult readers, while narrated by the innocent, age-appropriate voice of a child. While Jorie and the Magic Stones does contain themes of darkness and/or evil, it never feels too scary. Rather, it promotes kindness, intelligence, creativity, and perseverance in a manner that is both straightforward and thought-provoking.

A. H. Richardson’s descriptive writing style and pure creativity made Jorie and the Magic Stones a pure joy to read. It’s exciting and immersive, and chock full of humor, adventure, and magic that will thrill readers of all ages. Although it is meant to be a children’s book, Jorie and the Magic Stones is the type of exhilarating fantasy book that the whole family will enjoy.

Originally critiqued by a member of the Authors Talk About It team.



More books to check out!

You decide if they're rock stars.


Penelope the Lost Pelican
by Penny Beevor

Join Penelope and Dolly in their adventure to find Penelope's parents before they migrate. Together, they search for clues across the Florida coast and meet some other fun animials along the way. Penelope the Lost Pelican is a tale of friendship, cooperation, and family enjoyed by parents and children across the world.

Tears of Remembrance
by James Ruby


Although a fictional story, Andre takes the reader through conflicts involving addiction, crime, resentments, hate, betrayal. There is a turning point when, with assistance from a priest, a loving son, and his fathers triumph over addictions, Andre finds redemption, in helping others. Times of joy is what gets us through, Remembering those moments is what brings the tears.
 

Trial by Song
by Alicia Gaile

As the youngest of seven brothers born with magical gifts, Jack's often felt he has something to prove. But revealing their powers makes them targets of the fae, who will stop at nothing to hide their existence from mankind.

In spite of the danger, Jack sneaks out on Halloween to compete in the Battle of the Bands, shattering his family's rule to guard their secret at all costs. When Jack gets dragged through a portal and winds up in Faerie, he finds an ancient relic he simply can't leave behind. But escaping from Faerie is only the beginning as the harp's former owner is determined to see Jack pay for his crime.

With old enemies returned new enemies awaken, revealing the Sorleys aren't the only family in Straifield with ties to the fae.