Monday, June 24, 2013

Blog Tour : Tripped Up Love by Julie Farley

Tripped Up Love

Author: Julie Farley
Release date: May 8th, 2013
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Tour: Irresistible Reads Book Tours

Book Description:

Heather Meadows lost the only love she’s ever known. Her perfect, yet ordinary life was turned upside down the day her 38-year-old husband died. Her happily ever after was gone in the blink of an eye. Heather’s life becomes the subject of scrutiny and pity as she tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered world and raise her three children on her own. In the midst of suburbia and gossipy neighbors, Heather tries to re-build a normal life. Little does she know she’s about to trip into a new adventure. An adventure she could never have imagined. Where will her misstep take her and how will Heather handle the prying eyes of those around her?

Book Excerpt:

Prologue

Heather stood at the altar and read the eulogy. The eulogy for her dead husband.

I met Hank on the first day of kindergarten. He was building with the big blue plastic blocks and knocked them over on top of my head. I went to the nurse and got a boo boo sponge and Hank had to sit on a chair in the corner. We both ended up in tears. On the second day of kindergarten, I accidentally ate Hank's snack. Meadows and Nester, our cubbies were right next to each other. So were our seats. We both ended up in tears, again. The alphabet pushed us together - Heather and Hank, Hank and Heather. 

In first grade, we had our first sleepover and shared our first kiss under his bed. In fourth grade, we played Joanie and Chachi at recess. In seventh grade, I lip-synched “Let's Hear it for the Boy” and dedicated it to Hank at the middle school talent show. In high school, he asked me to prom. I said no. Things got complicated. 

For 32 years, Hank was my life, my everything. I can't remember my life before Hank. I can't imagine a world without him in it. And he's gone.

But, now, as I look at the faces he loved most, I know Hank is still here. Hayes has his inquisitive mind and all of his hair. Gracie has his eyes and relentless dedication. And Henry, he has his laugh and wicked sense of humor. 

We lost the sunshine in our days, the cherry on our sundae, the strong arms that kept us safe and wiped away our tears. I lost my Chachi. We lost our everything. 

She got through the entire thing without a tear, which was a minor miracle. But, Heather doubted there were any left anyway. The sun shining through the skylights made the tears streaming down everyone else’s faces glisten. She walked unceremoniously back to her seat in the first pew and sat next to their kids - Hayes, Gracie and Henry. She knew she would have to resume her position as rock of the family shortly, but for this moment she let the rest of her family and friends carry her. Jenny rubbed her back from the next pew back and her mom, who was sitting right next to Jenny, gripped her shoulder so hard Heather could feel nails digging into her skin. Her mother-in-law, Hank’s mom, sobbed as she held her head in her hands, but her father-in-law gave Heather a small smile and a wink. Lauren, Hank’s sister, gave her a sweet, tear-filled smile.

After the ceremony, Heather stood in the back of the church with the kids and shook the hands of all the mourners. The mourners needed to see Heather wasn’t going to crumble. They needed her to be strong, and they needed to see life could and would go on. It took every ounce of Heather’s strength not to fall down onto the floor of the church screaming. Her happily ever after was over.




About the Author:


Julie Farley was born and raised on Long Island. Even though she now lives in Virginia, a piece of her heart still lives in New York. And there's one in Chicago and South Bend, IN home of her alma mater Notre Dame. When Julie's not writing she's teaching preschool or taking care of her own four children. Julie grew up with her nose in a book and her love of books turned into a love of writing as well. Julie published her first book, Tripped Up Love, in May of 2013. The sequel, The New Ever After, will be released in July of 2013.

Website: www.juliefarley.com


Tour Giveaway:





Prize: 5USD Amazon Gift Card



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Book Review: Not My Mother's Son by R. K. Avery

Not My Mother's Son

Author: R.K. Avery
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Brighton Publishing LLC (November 20, 2012)
Amazon Link

Kindle Edition
File Size: 396 KB
Print Length: 215 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Brighton Publishing LLC; 1st edition (May 30, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Amazon Link

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, R.K. Avery. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

The story picks up months after Bea Miller was sent to prison. The story now focuses on David. When his Aunt Benita died and left him money, he started a foundation he called, Never Give Up. This foundation is dedicated to finding kidnapped/lost kids. 

While the plot and set of characters have improved, still there's some stuff in the book that I found not convincing. Never Give Up foundation is working on some kidnapping/lost kids cases and they were written in a way like I was just reading it on a newspaper. I mean, some scenes felt rushed. Like this one case where a child got kidnapped in Portugal. I was just starting to imagine the scene and then the bad guy became too obvious after getting into just a few paragraphs. And then when the bad guy was caught, the foundation interrogated him and so surprised that he didn't deny the allegations. Overall, this book/story had so much potential but it was not executed well. To read 5-star book reviews, click HERE.

About the book:

NOT MY MOTHER'S SON Back Cover Blurb R. K. Avery Devious. Conniving. Deceitful. Insidious. David Miller thought he knew his mother. He thought kidnapping three children was the most appalling and horrendous thing any human being could do and she couldn't possibly do anything more monstrous. He thought there was nothing else she could do or say that would astound him. How wrong he was. After Beatrice Miller, David's serial-kidnapping mother, is sentenced to thirty years, David moves to Phoenix, Arizona; and with the help of a trust fund and an old friend, he starts the Never Give Up foundation, an organization dedicated to finding and returning exploited and missing children safely to their families. With all the wicked things his mother had done, David feels it is his unspoken duty to do something worthwhile. Hesitant at first, but after reading his mother's journal, David is determined to mend their dysfunctional relationship. Every time David visits Bea in prison, she seems deranged, insisting that people are trying to kill her. She ends each brief encounter with the chilling statement, "Remember David, things aren't always what they seem." As word about the foundation spreads, the services of Never Give Up are requested time-and-time-again to help where other agencies have failed. That is, until the police come knocking on David's door and arrest him, taking him back to Bunting Valley, North Dakota, for the murder of a newborn baby boy. Forced to shut down Never Give Up, David is amazed at how quickly the entire world turns their backs on him. The trial begins and his mother's testimony is the only thing that can save him. Telling the truth is as foreign to Beatrice Miller as giving up drugs is to an addict. As everyone in the courtroom holds their breath, you will, too. Remember, things aren't always what they seem.

About the author:

R. K. Avery was born and raised in Northeast Ohio and after taking a writing course at the Institute of Children's Literature, she fell in love with the entire writing process; from creating an outline to developing characters and plot. Being able to make someone laugh or cry simply by using the written language is something she finds so powerful and hopes one day her name will be mentioned among the authors that possess it. Her first novel, Be Careful What You Wish For, reached Best Seller status at Brighton Publishing and was quickly followed up by her second novel, Not My Mother's Son. R. K. Avery lives in Macedonia, Ohio, with her husband, two kids, and three dogs. 

Please visit her at www.rkaverybooks.com

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Guest Author: EJ Caulder

Sunshine: Diary of An Affair

Author – E.J. Caulder    
Email ejcaulder@gmail.com    
Genre – Romantic Suspense
Series – Book one of three of The Sunshine Affair series
Format – Kindle e-book
Pages – 441

Comments from the author  

Writing the Sunshine Affair series was one of the most difficult undertakings I've had as a writer. Now, writing isn't new to me but writing the type of story that fell in front of my keyboard was. As a writer the three things I look for in any story are realism, a compelling plot, and the main character(s) motivation. When Eric came to me and said, "Here. I think you're the person to tell my story" all three of those elements and more were suddenly in front of me. What Eric had given to me out of the blue were the journals he kept during a secret affair he had over the course of years. This was an affair of which no one knew. 

I read Eric's journals. Page after page of his handwritten jotting revealed his thoughts, feelings, and actions...some of which were shocking to me. He put everything is exquisitely defined detail, making me feel as though I were standing next to him as everything unfolded. I felt as though I was finding out what was happening the same moment he was. It took me almost a year to read the secret life he led. This was a story I could not pass up telling. I told Eric I would do my best to do his and Tina's story justice.

Synopsis 

Eric Simmons is a man on a mission to pursue his ultimate goal of being inducted to the radio broadcasting hall of fame. But not all is going as planned. Eric is at a crossroads in life and questions whether his personal and professional decisions have all been the wrong ones. As he questions his life, fate brings Tina Cook into Eric's life and he believes she's the woman he's meant to spend the rest of his life with. There's just one problem: Tina Cook is married. But she is unhappily married and seeks comfort in her friendship with Eric. As their friendship grows into something more, Eric wonders if Tina will leave her husband to build a life with him. Tina's husband becomes suspicious of their friendship and it causes Tina and Eric to take their friendship to the shadows in an effort to keep their budding affair a secret. Eric conspires to win Tina's heart and show her why leaving her husband is exactly the right thing to do. Tina struggles with her attraction to Eric and the vow she made to her husband. Tina tries to keep Eric close to her by trying to set him up with a friend of hers...not to mention concocting scenarios where it is appropriate and not suspicious to be seen with Eric. In the meantime, Tina's husband uncovers his wife's feelings for Eric though he can never confirm she is having an affair. Eric and Tina are able to stay one step ahead of her husband...but for how long? 


Get Sunshine: Diary of An Affair now : Click HERE                                                                      

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Guest Author: Paul Cavilla

With the birth of the internet, pop culture has become inundated with urban legends and conspiracy theories. Some of the claims that people make are outrageous, others seem disturbingly possible. Shadow governments, evil reptilian shape shifters, ancient astronauts and the Illuminati are just a few of the incredible hypotheses that are being presented to us on YouTube. What does it all mean?

I thought it would be fun to weave all these myths into an exciting mystery adventure novel, and that’s where I got the idea for The Compostela Cube. I took every conspiracy theory I could find, and combined them with new age spirituality and cutting edge technology to create a world that oddly reflects the one that we live in.

The story revolves around an ancient artifact that is recovered by a relic hunter named Dr. Gabriel Parker, and an alluring artifact historian named Dr. Natasha Rossi. Together they begin to piece together a dark mystery that they seem to be directly connected to; a mystery that if solved in time could reveal a secret knowledge capable of saving the world from certain destruction.

Gabriel and Natasha are assisted by a loyal collection of unforgettable characters, while being pursued by a tormented villain who has just inherited control of a powerful organization poised to draw the world into a fascist, New World Order. His name is Christian Antov, and he struggles desperately to destroy Gabriel and Natasha, and the one artifact that stands in his way: The Compostela Cube.

The Compostela Cube - Part One : The Book

Author: Paul Cavilla
Publisher: Polymath Publishing
Page count: 493
Amazon link

Synopsis:

When they come into possession of a mysterious prehistoric cube, relic hunter Gabriel Parker, and the alluring artifact historian Natasha Rossi, find themselves inexplicably bound to a dark mythology dating back to the roots of civilization. The 2012 doomsday prophecies have come and gone, but now, without warning, the feared revelations are coming true. Under the apocalyptic shadow of global war and rampant natural disasters, Gabriel and Natasha race to prevent an unspeakable horror from being unleashed onto the planet. With nothing but a tattered journal to guide them, they travel from Italy to North Africa, and then set course for the mountains of Spain, where they must locate a lost labyrinth spoken of by the ancients. Within is said to reside the answer to the mystery of mysteries:The Meaning Of Life. Hunting them is Christian Antov, heir to a secret organization poised to draw the world into a global fascist regime. He will stop at nothing to destroy Gabriel and Natasha, and the one artifact that stands in his way: The Compostela Cube.


Monday, June 17, 2013

Blog Tour: Flames by Jessica F.F. Evans

Flames

Author: Jessica F.F. Evans
Release date: May 5th, 2013
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Tour: Irresistible Reads Book Tours

Book Description:

Seven years ago Jenna Farley left her hometown of Cedarville, Indiana and vowed never to look back. She created a thriving business and a quiet life on the sunny beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama. But seven years and hundreds of miles can’t keep the nightmares of her past and visions of a hellish future from plaguing her dreams.

With the fate of her first love resting solely in her hands Jenna must go back to the town she despises and risk everything for a man who is not at all pleased to find her on his doorstep talking about a murderer on the loose and asking him to trust her.

Nathaniel McGregor has put many years and many women between him and the memory of the only woman he ever loved. Now she's back and doing what she does best. Turning his life upside down and warning him of an obsessed pyromaniac hell bent on killing him. Can he trust her? Does he even have a choice? The clock is ticking, both their lives are on the line and they must work together to stop a determined killer or die.



About the Author:

Jessica F.F. Evans lives in a little village in rural Indiana with her husband, daughter and crazy large family. She spends every chance she gets on the Gulf Coast. When not writing romance novels she enjoys woodturning, hiking and passing on her love of reading to her daughter.

Flames is her debut novel. Carry On is coming in September 2013 and is her second romantic suspense novel followed by her suspense novel: Under the Cajun Moon in December 2013 and her Young Adult novel: Lessons Learned by Arnold St. James in June 2014.

Website: http://www.jessicaffevans.com/

Tour Giveaway:

Prize: 10USD Amazon Gift Card

Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway


Sunday, June 16, 2013

Blog Tour: Peggy Webb

Join Peggy Webb, author of the romantic comedies, Can't Stop Loving You, Only His Touch, Bringing Up Baxter, and Angels on Zebras, as she tours the blogosphere June 3 - June 28, 2013 on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!



ABOUT CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU

Brick and Helen Sullivan had been a team, onstage and off. When she walked out of their marriage without an explanation, he swore he’d never play another role with her, in the bedroom or otherwise. But Fate brings them together to reprise their roles in The Taming of the Shrew, and the sparks begin to fly. Laugh – and cry – as the famous and lively lovers try to untangle a web of misunderstanding and find their way back to the place where they belong. (Forever Friends, Book 1).



ABOUT ONLY HIS TOUCH

Kathleen Shaw has lost everything – the only man she’ll ever love, the husband who had rescued and adored her, her career, and now her eyesight and hearing. She has even lost the Forever Friends because she’s too proud to call for their help. That she survived the boat explosion is a miracle. When Hunter La Farge returns to Jefferson Parish searching for her, is it too much to ask for another miracle? (Forever Friends, Book 2.)



ABOUT BRINGING UP BAXTER

Attorney B. J. Corban’s fiancée is on their honeymoon – with another woman! When her zany sister packs her off to the mountains to get over being jilted at the altar, B. J. takes enough camping equipment to fight off mosquitoes, bears and famine. But she hadn’t counted on a heart-stealer on a Harley, appropriately called Crash. Nor had she counted on a little stray dog she calls Baxter. Crash lays claim to the dog – and her heart. She fights to keep both, but can Crash teach B. J. that to lose her heart is also to keep it?


ABOUT ANGELS ON ZEBRAS

When her sister B.J. asks Maxie to be godmother to her son, the zany interior designer is happy to comply – until she learns she will be sharing god-parenthood with Mr. Perfect. Lawyer Joseph Beuregard is successful, drop-dead handsome and lethally sexy. There are only two problems: he’s the cause of Maxie’s Most Embarassing Moment and he’s B.J.’s brother-in-law. Maxie ruins every man she touches. She’s not about to follow her heart and in the process destroy her sister’s family. Besides, she and Joe can’t even see eye to eye on the christening party. How could they ever have a relationship? But Joe has other ideas. Can two people so totally opposite give their godson the best party in the world and find true love?



ABOUT PEGGY WEBB

Peggy Webb, author of 70 novels and 2 screenplays, lives in a cottage in Mississippi surrounded by gardens she designed and planted. A musician and actress as well as writer, she sings in her church choir and has sung in musicals at Tupelo Community Theater as well as played dramatic roles in Steel Magnolias and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She started her career in 1985 with a romantic comedy that took the number one spot on romance bestseller lists. Romantic Times presented her with the prestigious Pioneer Award in recognition for her contribution to romantic comedy. Peggy is currently bringing the best of her romantic comedies back to fans as eBooks. In 2008 she turned her talents to mystery with the hilarious Southern Cousins series starring Elvis, the sleuthing basset hound who thinks he’s the King reincarnated. This multi-talented author also pens literary fiction as Anna Michaels and Elaine Hussey. Pat Conroy calls her literary work “astonishing” and former Disney exec Kathie Fong Yoneda calls it “brilliant.” The author composed the blues lyrics that appear throughout her literary novel, The Sweetest Hallelujah, Elaine Hussey, due in bookstores July 30, 2013.

To learn more about this bestselling, award-winning author, visit her websites at www.peggywebb.com and www.elainehussey.com.

The Forever Friends Virtual Book Publicity Tour Schedule

 Monday, June 3 - Book featured and First Monday at Faerotic Prose
Wednesday, June 5 - Book featured at Miki's Hope
Monday, June 10 - Book reviewed at Rainy Day Reviews
Thursday, June 13 - Interviewed at Review From Here
Sunday, June 16 - Book featured at Bookingly Yours
Monday, June 17 - Book featured at Authors and Readers Book Corner
Monday, June 17 - Book reviewed at Books+Beach=Escape
Tuesday, June 18 - Interviewed at Herding Cats & Burning Soup
Wednesday, June 19 - Interviewed at Digital Journal
Friday, June 21 - Interviewed at Examiner
Monday, June 24 - Book featured at Confessions of a Reader
Tuesday, June 25 - Book reviewed at Janna Shay
Thursday, June 27 - Book featured at CelticLady's Reviews
Thursday, June 27 - Guest blogging and First chapter reveal at Queen of the Night Reviews
Friday, June 28 - Bringing Up Baxter reviewed and Guest blogging at Melina the Reader

Pump Up Your Book


Saturday, June 15, 2013

Guest Author: David Thomas Roberts

Political Thriller Uncovers Attacks On Texas Tea Party

An action-packed, fast-moving novel addressing the most current challenges facing America today has grabbed the attention of radio show hosts as well as readers and earned critical acclaim from the nation’s top reviewers.

Patriots of Treason (ISBN 978-1-936688-36-4, 2012, AKA Publishing, 300 pages, http://www.patriotsoftreason.com Paperback $16.32, Kindle $7.99 and Hardcover $23.69 available on Amazon) by David Thomas Roberts is a novel filled with political intrigue, heroes, scumbags, and amazing characters that addresses over-extension of anti-terrorism measures, trampling on the rights of a citizens group, burgeoning federal power, states’ rights and Texas secession.

“Patriots of Treason” presents a ‘what if’ scenario throughout the pages and crescendos to a surprise ending no one would predict,” says Roberts, who is a proud Texan actively involved in politics who has researched Texas history and the issue of secession to great depth. Roberts describes himself as a fiscal conservative bordering on a constitutional libertarian who got tired of complaining about the rapid growth of federal abuse and decided to write a book instead.

Patriots of Treason is so popular among readers that Roberts is in great demand on radio talk shows all over the USA, especially throughout the south and southwest. “Listeners almost always get excited about secession, which for some reason is controversial for many,” says Roberts. “I say if we spend billions of dollars in blood and treasure to bring democracy to communist countries and nations led by tyrannical despots why would we ever have a problem with one state wanting to be more independent?” Citizens who believe secession is a treasonous act, adds Roberts, should ask themselves whether Washington, Franklin, Sam and John Adams were traitors for revolting against an oppressive England.

A technology entrepreneur who loves to write, Roberts is already working on a sequel to Patriots of Treason which should be released by Independence Day.

About the Author
David Thomas Roberts, who attended Texas A&M and the University of Texas, is CEO of a technology company. A resident of Houston, Roberts has lived in Texas since 1966. He has been twice nominated by as Entrepreneur of the Year for the Houston region. He is a Tea Party organizer, member of the NRA, and political activist. He loves Texas music, hunting, fishing, racquetball and bicycling in addition to writing and spending time with his wife, four adult children, and one grandchild.

Media Contact: For a review copy of Patriots of Treason or to schedule an interview with Dave Roberts please contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing, 734-667-2090 or scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or http://www.Book-Marketing-Expert.com 

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Book Review: Be Careful What You Wish For by R.K. Avery

Be Careful What You Wish For

Author: R.K. Avery
Paperback: 236 pages
Publisher: Brighton Publishing LLC (September 3, 2011)
Amazon Link

Kindle Edition
File Size: 405 KB
Print Length: 236 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Brighton Publishing LLC; 1 edition (April 28, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Amazon Link

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, R.K. Avery. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★   

My thoughts: 

Bea Miller is a widow with four boys. She believes having a little girl will definitely complete her life. Since she cannot produce her own baby girl, she decides to take one from Lake Gerber.

The first quarter of the story immediately grabbed my attention. Maggie Taylor was abducted just in front of her parents. I can imagine how they must have felt during the time they found Maggie missing. It was such an intense kidnapping incident, it was surprising to know how Bea was able to take Maggie away from the beach resort. When the police got involve with the investigation, it was that intense that I couldn't take breaks. I was reminded of this famous kidnapping case involving a two-year old baby girl in Portugal. 

However, it slowed down once I reached more than half of the story. When Bea was apprehended and the police found her journal, I began to skim the book. I just didn't find Bea's life stimulating, Bea isn't a likeable character. Probably because she's been a bad mom throughout the whole story. The only thing that made me want to finish the book was David. Even though there's too much negativity in that boy, I still found myself connecting with him. 

Overall, it was just an okay book. I have just started reading book #2, Not My Mother's Son - about David putting up a foundation called Never Give up, dedicated to finding and returning exploited and missing children safely to their families. Review to follow shortly.    

5-star Amazon book reviews, click here.

About the book:

Bunting Valley, North Dakota-a scenic and picturesque town where nothing dreadful ever happens-is a place where people feel safe leaving their front doors unlocked and their cars running in the driveways. So when beautiful, blue-eyed, three-year-old Maggie Taylor mysteriously vanishes, the Bunting Valley Police Department begins a kidnapping investigation that uncovers crimes spanning many years-not only in Bunting Valley, but also in surrounding states and jurisdictions. Bea Miller is a penniless widow, living a meager existence among the town's residents with her four young, rambunctious boys. Unable to have any more biological children, she is haunted by her wishes and dreams of having a little girl of her own. Bea takes matters into her own hands and follows the chilling advice of her estranged father, "If you want something, take it." Through the handwritten journals of Bea Miller, you will venture into the mind of an individual who believes you can make your own wishes come true-at any expense; and sadly, also at the expense of others.

About the author:


R. K. Avery was born and raised in Northeast Ohio and after taking a writing course at the Institute of Children's Literature, she fell in love with the entire writing process; from creating an outline to developing characters and plot. Being able to make someone laugh or cry simply by using the written language is something she finds so powerful and hopes one day her name will be mentioned among the authors that possess it. Her first novel, Be Careful What You Wish For, reached Best Seller status at Brighton Publishing and was quickly followed up by her second novel, Not My Mother's Son. R. K. Avery lives in Macedonia, Ohio, with her husband, two kids, and three dogs. 


Please visit her at www.rkaverybooks.com

Book Giveaway Winner: The Age of Desire by Jennie Fields


THE AGE OF DESIRE by Jennie Fields

Congratulations!!


Confirmation email sent, please reply with  mailing details. 

Guest Author: Kurt Kamm


HAZARDOUS MATERIAL  - The Fourth Firefighter Mystery Novel 
by Kurt Kamm

Bucky Dawson is a HazMat Specialist with Los Angeles County Fire Department HazMat Task Force 103. His station is in Lancaster, CA—an area populated with meth labs and outlaw motorcycle gangs, as well as some of the smartest people in the world at Edwards AFB, NASA, and  at top-secret aerospace facilities.

Bucky—divorced and lonely—struggles with a painkiller addiction. One night Task Force 103 is toned out to support a Sheriff's raid on a meth lab in the Mojave. On scene, Bucky thinks he sees his sister at the door of a double- wide trailer just before it explodes.

Bucky's life is in chaos and he is unable to kick his Percocet habit, which threatens his career with the fire department.



While he searches for answers to his sister's death, he is drawn into a mystery which involves the Vagos, an outlaw motorcycle gang; the death of several endangered desert tortoises; and Dubkova, a top-level aerospace and drone engineer, who lives in a converted 747 in the desert. 

Bucky soon discovers that the fate of his sister, the source of the meth being sold in the area, and the death of the desert turtles are all related. 

A confrontation with the Vagos leaves Bucky severely injured. A confrontation with Dubkova, leaves Bucky mentally shaken.



The novel twists and turns, bringing together firefighters; Dubkova the sinister aerospace engineer; the Vagos—led by the Dwarf, their seven foot tall Sergeant at Arms; and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The rarified world of high-tech aerospace and the brutal world of low-tech meth manufacture and motorcycle gangs are not far apart.

There is a surprise ending you will not anticipate but you will certainly enjoy.

Hazardous Material won the 2012 Hackney Literary Award for best (unpublished) novel, and was a finalist in the 2012 Dana Awards


HAZARDOUS MATERIAL  - The Fourth Firefighter Mystery Novel 

Author: Kurt Kamm
Mass Market Paperback and Kindle Edition - 222 pages
Publisher: MCM Publishing May 1, 2013
Amazon Link

About the Author

Malibu resident Kurt Kamm has used his contact with CalFire, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department and the ATF, as well as his experience in several devastating local wildfires, to write fact-based firefighter mystery novels.

Kurt Kamm has built an avid fan base among first responders. Each of his firefighter mysteries features a firefighter in a particular expertise (wildland, arson investigation, paramedic, hazardous material response, and search and rescue).  His first novel, One Foot in the Black (2008) has become a favorite of firefighters.  Subsequent novels, Red Flag Warning: A Serial Arson Mystery (Aberdeen Bay, 2010) and Code Blood (MCM Publishing, 2012) have won numerous fiction awards. 

Visit Kurt Kamm's  first responder/author website  www.kurtkamm.com  to see some stunning fire pictures and for free chapter downloads and information about all his novels.


Saturday, June 8, 2013

Guest Author: Steven Manchester

My Writing Process
by Steven Manchester


I suppose I discovered the writing world by accident – or perhaps it discovered me. I’d just returned home from Operation Desert Storm, and was working as a prison investigator in Massachusetts. Needless to say, there was great negativity in my life at that time. I decided to return to college to finish my degree in Criminal Justice. During one of the classes, the professor talked about police work but nothing else. I finally raised my hand and asked, “The criminal justice system is vast. What about the courts, probation, parole – corrections?” He smiled and told me to see him after class. I thought I’d finally done it! In his office, he explained, “There’s no written material out there on corrections or prisons, except from the slanted perspective of inmates.” He smiled again and dropped the bomb. “If you’re so smart,” he said, “why don’t you write it?” Nine months later, I dropped the first draft of 6-5; A Different Shade of Blue on his desk. From then on, I was hooked. I was a writer.

I’d written a lot at my job (report writing), but it all started with my college professor’s challenge. Perhaps because of my age and experience, I understood right away that writing is a craft that takes time to evolve; to mature, so I spent the next several years PRACTICING my chosen craft. Under the pen name, Steven Herberts, I wrote in every venue of print I could get my name in: newspaper, magazine, etc. I also penned two collections of poetry, and wrote drafts for two more books. After five solid years of writing, I finally believed that I’d found my voice; MY STYLE – and was ready to contact an agent.

The greatest challenge for me has been time. First and foremost, I am a dad and my children come first. After that, there are other responsibilities that need my attention. Yet, my passion to write has constantly gnawed at my soul. To overcome the obstacle of time, I made writing a priority over watching TV and sometimes even sleeping. Once my family is taken care of and the world closes its eyes, I’m up for a few more hours each day – chasing my dreams on paper.

It has taken thousands of words, hundreds of pages, before I finally identified with a particular genre. I decided that my voice was a more sensitive one: a male perspective to a female audience. 

Now that I have nearly two decades of writing and getting published under my belt, I enjoy trying to help new writers break in. My advice is always the same: 

o Be true to yourself, always.
o Write constantly.
o Keep the faith!!!
o And NEVER, EVER, EVER quit. Most people in this industry would agree that more than talent or skill or even luck, perseverance is the one trait that will always get the job done.
o Knock on every door you can, and keep knocking. I promise that eventually someone will open and the warmth you feel on your face will more than validate every hour spent alone in the darkness. 

Friday, June 7, 2013

Happy Friday!



It's time for the weekly hop!! If you want to meet new friends, visit Alison Can Read  or Parajunkee's View and join the blog hop. 

Q: Have you broken up with a series? If so which one and why.

Oh, there are too many book series to mention but first on the list is Sookie Stackhouse, after  the 10th book, I stopped reading. Another one is the Anita Blake series, book 8th or 9th? I forgot. When Anita started having sex with all the supes in the book it got yuccckyy... 

How about you? Happy Friday!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Thursday Trailer: The Island by Jen Minkman

The Island

Author: Jen Minkman
Kindle Edition
File Size: 231 KB
Print Length: 138 pages
Publisher: Patchwork Press (May 29, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Amazon Link

Follow Jen Minkman
Blog / Website / Facebook

Synopsis:

‘I walk toward the sea. The endless surface of the water extends to the horizon, whichever way I look.

Our world is small. We are on our own, and we only have ourselves to depend on. We rely on the Force deep within us, as taught to us by our forefathers.

If I were to walk westward from here, I would come across a barrier – the Wall.
Behind it, there are Fools. At least, that’s what everyone says.
I have never seen one.’

Leia lives on the Island, a world in which children leave their parents to take care of themselves when they are ten years old. Across this Island runs a wall that no one has ever crossed. The Fools living behind it are not amenable to reason – they believe in illusions. That’s what The Book says, the only thing left to the Eastern Islanders by their ancestors.
But when a strange man washes ashore and Leia meets a Fool face to face, her life will never be the same. Is what she and her friends believe about the Island really true?

Or is everyone in their world, in fact, a Fool?


Sunday, June 2, 2013

Book Spotlight: Chad Gayle's LET IT BE

LET IT BE
by Chad Gayle

Paperback: 220 pages
Published by Bracket Books

Synopsis:

LET IT BE is a novel with a soundtrack, a story that is intimately linked to the music of the Beatles.

When Michelle Jansen moves to Amarillo to get away from her abusive husband, she struggles to meet the emotional needs of her two children as she continues to rebuff the demands of her overbearing ex, but she finds love and support in the arms of a coworker who is as much of a Beatles fan as she is, and she begins to gain the confidence and the strength that she needs to stand on her own. Michelle's ex can't bear to see her happy, however, and she's blindsided by an unexpected betrayal as her ex turns her very own son against her; when this family that has already been split down the middle is thrown into chaos, it's up to Michelle to find a path toward healing and forgiveness, a way to right the wrongs that have hurt them all.

With chapters named for and influenced by songs that appear on the Beatles final album, LET IT BE is a mesmerizing novel filled with true-to-life characters, a touching tale of loss, longing, and forgiveness that chronicles the breakup of a marriage, the destruction of a family, and the struggle to come together in the aftermath of what remains.


Saturday, June 1, 2013

Guest Author: Jane Bennett Munro

I’m a pathologist. To most people, that means Quincy, or Ducky, or Lainie, forensic pathologists on TV who do only autopsies. Most pathologists do much more; evaluate surgical specimens, review abnormal Pap smears, perform bone marrows, fine-needle aspirations, and run the clinical lab. Most pathologists only do an autopsy once in a while.

I spent 24 years as a solo pathologist in a rural hospital. During that time, I had occasion to do quite a few forensic autopsies for the coroners of several counties here in southern Idaho. Also during that time, I had encounters with certain people whom I would cheerfully have killed had it been legal. 

But it isn’t. So I write about them instead.

Below is what various folks have said about Too Much Blood, my second Toni Day mystery.

Author Jane Bennett Munro brings readers back into the life of Dr. Toni Day in her second murder mystery Too Much Blood. In Munro’s novel, a sequel to Murder Under the Microscope, Day once again becomes the center of a complicated web of deception and murder. Underlying themes of questionable investment strategies, financial scams and relationships between medical professionals help to create a novel that is much more than just a murder mystery.

Using her background and experience, Munro hopes to entertain readers while giving an inside look into the nature of her career. “Pathology is not a well-understood medical specialty,” said Munro. “This book offers readers a taste of what most pathologists do on a daily basis and combines that with a story of greed, romance, sex and murder.”

Pathologist Toni Day returns in this gory tale of a sleazy lawyer and his scam involving the doctors at Perrine Memorial Hospital, in which their earnings go directly into his hedge fund via an offshore leasing company, avoiding taxation. That is, until the economy takes its worst dive since 1929, and Jay Braithwaite Burke’s hedge fund is revealed as a Ponzi scheme. The Feds move in. Jay declares bankruptcy and disappears, only to reappear two months later, dead in his car in the middle of the snowy interstate.

At autopsy, Toni discovers that Jay bled to death. Shortly thereafter, Jay’s partner also bleeds to death. Jay’s widow and four children are kept on the move by a series of house fires, and soon everybody ends up at Toni’s house. Toni’s life is already complicated enough; her work schedule is brutal, and she fears that her husband, Hal, is having an affair. Her mother comes to visit. In the meantime, a mysterious illness casts a bloody pall over the Christmas season. Toni must use all her pathological expertise to keep her loved ones from a similar fate, and in so doing nearly comes to a bloody end herself.  

Too Much Blood is a gripping book that reveals how one midnight call drastically changes everything in the life of a brilliant and young female pathologist—leading her to a life-threatening situation. Between its covers, you will follow Toni Day as she must use all her expertise to unmask a killer and save herself and her loved ones from a gory death. Follow her as she attempts to uncover the truths of the suspicious circumstances and complex web of events and resolve the conundrum. Riveting and action packed, this book will take you on a mind-blowing journey of a lifetime! 
  
Jane Bennett Munro, M.D., is a hospital based pathologist who has been involved in forensic cases during the course of her thirty-six year career. She also spent 8 years on the Idaho State Board of Medicine and was chairman 1997-1999. Now semi-retired, she lives in Twin Falls, Idaho, where she enjoys music, gardening, scuba diving, and skiing. She is the author of Murder Under the Microscope, winner of an IPPY Award, and Too Much Blood.


Too Much Blood

Author: Jane Bennett Munro
Mass Market Paperback: 389 pages
Publisher: iUniverse (July 19, 2012)

Kindle Edition
ISBN: 9781473929195
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Amazon Link

Also available at bn.com and as a Nook book.

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