Tuesday, May 31, 2016
#Giveaway: Big Hair and Buttermilk Pie e-Book and a buttermilk pie ends June 6, 2016
Thursday, May 26, 2016
#Review: Bait and Snitch by Erin Lynn and ReGina Welling #Mysteries #CozyMysteries
Summary:
Ponderosa Pines used to be the safest place on earth.
Lately, though, EV Torrence and Chloe LaRue are wondering if their once-sleepy town has caught a ride in a handbasket–with a one-way ticket to someplace hot! When visiting attorney Stacey Hawthorne is brutally attacked, EV and Chloe launch into a new investigation–one that will expose several of their neighbor’s deepest secrets.
One of those neighbors has a past, and it’s about to come back to haunt the whole town.
My review:For me, this book had a small town feel that I was quite familiar with; everybody knows everybody, there are the true town gossips, the small town cops, the small group that really runs the town, and then the outsiders. In truth, the description of the town made me smile and feel nostalgic.
However, coming into this series for the first time, and this being the forth book, I feel like I have missed something. I feel like one of the newbies in town who has just started to settle in to Ponderosa Pines and its inhabitants. This is not to say this is not a stand alone book because it is. It just assumes that the reader already knows some of these folks.
The story opens with a woman on her way in to Ponderosa Pines, only to be caught up in a terrible attack that almost leads to her death. This sends the whole town spinning with theories and gossip that only small towns can do. In the midst of it all are town secrets and two cops who are intertwined with ladies who are wannabe sleuths.
I seriously loved these two ladies and their penchant for getting into the muck of things. They simply cannot help themselves. The fact that one of them is engaged to the town cop is irrelevant. She is going to do what she has to and that makes it a bit humorous, although, I am certain that the authors do not intentionally mean to make it that way.
The story is a whirlwind of informational sessions coupled with gossip sessions and who-done-it questions that make for a fine story. The only drawback I had for it was many things were easy to figure out but the reader had to get to the end to figure out how they all tied together.
The ending was plausible but certainly left the reader wanting to know more about certain characters fates. This I am sure will be answered in next books.
Overall, for me this was 4 stars.
If you would like to win your own copy of this book, GO HERE
For PURCHASE
Disclosure: I was given a Kindle copy in exchange for my open and honest opinion. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. This review is also part of the Great Escapes Virtual Tours.
~M.M. Hudson aka Naila Moon
Where to find the author:
ReGina Welling is the author of the Psychic Seasons series
and co-author of the Ponderosa Pines series
written with her lovely daughter, Erin Lynn. She has recently moved back to Maine where she was raised in a small town with certain similarities to Ponderosa Pines–one that felt like an extended family.
Erin Lynn is the co-author of the Ponderosa Pines series
. After living in Syracuse, NY for 8 years, she recently returned to the middle of nowhere, Maine with the intention of hibernating, writing lots of books and turning a neglected house into a beautiful home.
. After living in Syracuse, NY for 8 years, she recently returned to the middle of nowhere, Maine with the intention of hibernating, writing lots of books and turning a neglected house into a beautiful home.Saturday, May 21, 2016
#Review: The Murder That Never Was by Andrea Kane #thriller #AdultBooks
Summary:
Given the opportunity, would you assume someone else's identity and leave your old life behind? A serendipitous crossing of paths between Lisa Barnes, a down-on-her-luck job seeker, and Julie Forman, a personal trainer to an Olympic hopeful, forever changes the course of both women's lives. One winds up dead and the other finds herself a fugitive, hiding behind one lie after another as a cold-blooded killer methodically hunts her. Desperately trying to stay alive, the terrified woman enlists the help of Forensic Instincts, a rogue investigative team that clandestinely operates in the gray area between legal and illegal. Safeguarding their client's deception, Forensic Instincts digs into dangerous territory as they try to find out who's after their client and why. Meanwhile, bodies are piling up in Chicago, New Jersey, and Vermont as a megalomaniacal genius will stop at nothing to eradicate anyone who threatens the success of his medical breakthrough. With an unhinged client and a monstrous criminal enterprise as its adversary, Forensic Instincts is forced into uncharted territory to protect their client and save one of their own from becoming the next corpse. Forensic Instincts is an unorthodox, criminal investigative team that carefully navigates the fine line between legal and illegal. The team consists of a behaviorist, a former Navy SEAL, a techo-wiz, an intuitive, a pickpocket, a retired FBI agent, and a human scent evidence dog."
My review:
This book was a very different genre than I normally will read. So, I began with an open mind and steeled myself for a ride of epic proportions. I was not disappointed. The author built up her story which came in waves of anticipating breaths.
The only real problem for me is it seemed to build up almost too slow and I found the last half of the book more thrilling and on edge of your seat reading than the first half. It seemed non-plausible that a fairly naive teen could get wrapped up in a scheme so diabolical that it was a mind blow. In fact, it seemed a bit confusing to me that the characters who were the clients and main characters in the first half became minor characters in the second half of the book.
Did this make me not like the book? The answer is no! Overall, I felt the characters were well worked and genuine in all aspects whether they were sinister or good. In fact, I could not wait to turn the pages as the book continued to build and build. The whole non-plausible thing in my mind, was crafted beautifully by the author to become something in the end that could be quite plausible and something you might eventually see on a news broadcast.
There is one thing that I would personally like to direct to the author and that is that maybe there should be a warning of possible triggers to individuals that read the book. I will not reveal what those are for the purposes of my review but I do think there should be warning.
This book is not for the faint of heart but in the same sense it is not blood and guts that would have turned me off of further reading. No, this is a psychological mind game and a good one at that.
This book gets 4 stars from me.
Disclosure: I received this book in exchange for my open and honest opinion. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~M.M. aka Naila Moon
PURCHASE AMAZON
If you would like to enter to win a copy of this book, GO HERE
Where to find the author:
http://www.andreakane.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
Friday, May 20, 2016
#Spotlight: The Florentine Deception by Carey Nachenberg #Mystery #Technothriller #AmateurSleuth #adultfiction @climberkip @iReadBookTours
NOTE: I am spotlighting this book as part of the tour for iRead Tours but more importantly, I am highlighting this book because the author is donating all the proceeds from sales of this book to charities. These charities help underprivileged and low-income students.
To date: 1,620 books sold, $8,173.00 donated as of December 31st (with $182 pending)!
Let's help him reach his goal of selling 2,000 books and donating $10,000!
to see the list of charities.
About The Florentine Deception:
A seemingly mundane computer clean-up leads to an electrifying quest for an enigmatic—and deadly—treasure in this gripping techno-thriller.
After selling his dorm-room startup for millions and effectively retiring at the age of twenty-five, Alex Fife is eager for a new challenge. When he agrees to clean up an old PC as a favor, he never expects to find the adventure of a lifetime waiting for him inside the machine. But as he rummages through old emails, Alex stumbles upon a startling discovery: The previous owner, a shady antiques smuggler, had been trying to unload a mysterious object known as the Florentine on the black market. And with the dealer’s untimely passing, the Florentine is now unaccounted for and ripe for the taking. Alex dives headfirst into a hunt for the priceless object.
What starts out as a seemingly innocuous pursuit quickly devolves into a nightmare when Alex discovers the true technological nature of the Florentine. Not just a lost treasure, it’s something far more insidious: a weapon that could bring the developed world to its knees. Alex races through subterranean grottos, freezing morgues, and hidden cellars in the dark underbelly of Los Angeles, desperate to find the Florentine before it falls into the wrong hands. Because if nefarious forces find it first, there’ll be nothing Alex—or anyone else—can do to prevent a catastrophic attack.
Buy the book: Amazon~ Barnes & Noble
Would you like to win a copy of this book? Giveaway HERE Good luck! ~Naila Moon
Author's Bio:
Carey Nachenberg is Symantec Corporation's Chief Engineer and is considered one of the inventors of Norton AntiVirus. As Chief Engineer, Carey drives the technical strategy for all of Symantec's core security technologies and security content. He has led the design and development of Symantec's core antivirus, intrusion prevention and reputation-based security technologies; his work in these areas have garnered over eighty-five United States patents.
Carey holds BS and MS degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from University of California at Los Angeles, where he continues to serve as Adjunct Professor of Computer Science.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
My Book-Tortured Souls: The House On Wellfleet Bluffs #paranormal
- File Size: 374 KB
- Print Length: 124 pages
- Publication Date: April 25, 2016
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
- Language: English
- ASIN: B01EU1OJUQ
Synopsis:
In some towns, the past is easily forgotten. Not in Wellfleet Bluffs. Lynne and Jason buy their dream house online and quickly move to the quaint little town. After unexplained events send them looking for answers, will they become a forgotten part of history or will they find the answers and help the ghosts of the past find peace?
Find me at:
Amazon
Goodreads
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Book Tour #Giveaway for Bait and Snitch
a Rafflecopter giveaway
– SPOTLIGHT
– REVIEW, INTERVIEW
– INTERVIEW
– SPOTLIGHT
– SPOTLIGHT
– REVIEW
– INTERVIEW
– REVIEW
– SPOTLIGHT
– REVIEW
Tour Participants
May 19 – I Read What You Write
May 20 – Omnimystery News
May 22- Reading Is My Superpower
May 23 – LibriAmoriMiei
May 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy
May 25 – Reading Authors
May 26 – Brooke Blogs
May 27 – Back Porchervations
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Kid Lit Blog Hop-May 2016 #KLBH #KidLitHop
Hello! Welcome to the May 2016 Kid Lit Blog Hop. This exciting,monthly hop, is where we develop an engaged group of people who love everything that has to do with children's literature. Everyone is welcome to join us: bloggers, authors, publicist, and publishers!
Simply make a post related to Children’s literature and add it to the linky. (Please make sure to add your direct post only) If you are an author, feel free just to link to your blog.
Once you are done, then hop around to visit others. Please follow the co-host and visit at least the two people above your link. Please leave a comment when you do visit, we all like those.
Also, it would be appreciated if you grab the Kid Lit Blog Hop Badge and display it on your blog and/or your post.
We would also be grateful if you tweet about the blog hop. Let’s grow this wonderful community.
Our next hop will be June 15, 2016. The hostess will be around to see you. Happy Hopping!
Monday, May 16, 2016
#Spotlight & #Giveaway: The Murder that Never Was by Andrea Kane #thrillers #MurderMysteries
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Book Tour #Giveaway for Florentine Deception
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
May 16 - Cheryl's Book Nook - spotlight / giveaway
May 16 - Corinne Rodrigues - spotlight / giveaway
May 16 - Bound 4 Escape - spotlight / giveaway
May 16 - Dab of Darkness - review / author interview / giveaway
May 17 - Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine - review
May 17 - #redhead.with.book - spotlight / giveaway
May 17 - Words And Peace - spotlight / giveaway
May 18 - Book reviews nature photos and everything in between - spotlight
May 18 - T's Stuff - spotlight / giveaway
May 18 - Take It Personel-ly - review / author interview / giveaway
May 19 - Book Crazy Scrapbook Mama - spotlight / giveaway
May 19 - Fantastic Feathers - spotlight / giveaway
May 19 - 3 Partners in Shopping Nana, Mommy , + Sissy, Too! - spotlight / giveaway
May 19 - Life as Leels - review
May 20 - Celticlady's Reviews - spotlight / giveaway
May 20 - Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine - guest post
May 20 - Reading Authors - spotlight / giveaway
May 20 - Olio by Marilyn - review / author interview
May 23 - Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes - spotlight / giveaway
May 23 - Ali - The Dragon Slayer - review / guest post / giveaway
May 23 - Deal Sharing Aunt - spotlight / giveaway
May 24 - Rockin' Book Reviews - spotlight / giveaway
May 24 - The Travelogue of a book addict - The Book Drealms - spotlight / giveaway
May 24 - Blooming with Books - spotlight / giveaway
May 25 - Brooke Blogs - review / guest post / giveaway
May 25 - Book and Ink - spotlight / giveaway
May 25 - alwaysjoart - spotlight / giveaway
May 26 - the bookdragon - spotlight / giveaway
May 26 - Svetlana's Reads and Views - spotlight / giveaway
May 26 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway
May 27 - Create With Joy - review / giveaway
May 27 - Bookworm for Kids - spotlight / giveaway
May 27 - Storeybook Reviews - spotlight / giveaway
Friday, May 13, 2016
#Review: The Changing Season by Steven Manchester #YABooks
Summary:
This was supposed to be a simple summer for Billy: one more lazy expanse of time before college began. He'd fill the hours playing with Jimmy – his canine best buddy – going camping and doing all the things he promised Jimmy they'd do before Billy left. But that was before the accident that shook the entire town. It was before the summer job that turned into something so much more than a way to get a paycheck. And it was before Vicki. This summer was destined to be many things to Billy, things he didn't truly understand until now. But it was definitely not going to be simple.
My review:
I was very excited to get to read yet another book from Steven Manchester. His books always have terrific intertwining of characters and interesting outcomes. The Changing Season did not disappoint.
"...one wrong choice..and your whole life..."
This is the story of a teen boy who is getting ready to graduate from high school and has nothing but his life ahead of him. Life is good but no idea what is in store for the future is for him. He has two best friends and one furry friend that makes life complete but they change everything. Then there is Vicki who becomes the love of his life but...
One wrong choice is made. Once choice that will affect his life and all of those that surround him. I cannot reveal who makes the choice, for that you will have to read the book.
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I was astounded by these characters. Although the book mainly focuses on Billy and his relationships, the supposedly minor characters are the ones that really make the impact for the book. Without them, Billy would have no story and pretty much an ordinary life with his dog. However, Steven Manchester is a master story teller who knows how to weave words. He peels back the layers that reveal the essence of ones soul.
I was able to tell early on in the book what would eventually happen to Billy and the direction he would take in life. It was inevitable because of the Summer job he had. I do wished that part of the book had not been so obvious but it was. It took several chapters to get to the ending of what already could be figured out and that made the book a little cumbersome but not too bad,
His relationship with his dog was one that could be relate-able for anyone who has a pet that is considered family. I wondered if the author has such a pet?
A chunk of the book told of his relationship with Vicki. So many surprises for them. Their love story is beautiful and I could view them as if I was their best friends watching it blossom. There was hope for them and it felt good but..."One wrong choice..."
For me, I felt disappointment, I was invested in them. There was such build up for them. I thought that the author would leave it all nice and toasty and all would be good, but he didn't and it was abrupt.
In fact, the book is not at all what one would expect and the characters are flawed.
Is that a spoiler? I think not. Sometimes, things cannot always be nicey-nice and again, that is what makes the author stand out and is a plus for the book as a whole.
The characters throughout the book interject thoughts about the world around them and what they thing should or should not be. Although these moments were written as character spoken, I felt as I was reading that this, was actually the author's own thoughts coming through. This was not a negative but rather, an observation.
So, where does that leave me?
I liked this book but was not in love with it as I have been with others. Still, I give it 4 stars!
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book for my open and honest opinion. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own and may differ with yours.
~Naila Moon
Where to find the author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
#Spotlight: Urban Boys by K.N. Smith @knsmith_author @iReadBookTours #YAfiction #action #paranormal
The Urban Boys: Discovery of the Five Senses is an action-adventure story about five teen boys who are mysteriously exposed to a foreign energy source that gives them extremely heightened senses. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell become hypersensitive gifts that forever change the world! The story chronicles their effortless interrelations and later exposes the testing of their deep bonds, and introduces the reader to an array of supporting characters who alter the boys’ lives forever. The Urban Boys offers young and mature readers central themes of loyalty, responsibility, honesty, fear, and triumph, which become artfully integrated with cinematic-level action and high drama. We wonder, will they pass the test of fate, and will each of us pass the test of our very own lives? Intriguing, intelligent, and full of action, The Urban Boys offers a memorable, emotion-packed, thrilling ride for traditional and digital readers of all ages! (first in a series)
Buy the book: Amazon ,Barnes & Noble
Praise for The Urban Boys:
"An energetic YA adventure debut with stellar action sequences. Smith's writing is intelligent and often lyrical. Her exuberant prose never fails to dazzle."- Kirkus Media "
Author K.N. Smith uses her mastery of the written word to weave an entrancing, yet powerful tale of adventure that keeps you turning pages in an unquenchable desire to find out what happens next. The author's matchless prose details cinematic fight sequences and fully developed characterizations especially in a final, stupendous scene that will take your breath away and leave you limp with spent emotions. Five stars for this imaginative and inspiring story, sure to be as appealing to general audiences as it will be to the YA crowd!" 5-stars - Publishers Daily Reviews
"I LOVE to read, but live a hugely busy life. It gets more complicated upon that rare occasion when a book is so captivating, so enthralling, that it is impossible to walk away. With only definitive hours in a day, something has to give. For me, that was sleep! And it was worth every sacrificed minute. “The Urban Boys” was the grand slam home run and exceeded my wildest expectations and I would bet, maybe yours, as well. Totally new concepts and a rich crew of characters – good, bad and ugly… and suspenseful twists that keep you guessing, and such beautiful, strong writing! A must read for fans of YA action/adventure/fantasy!!" 5-stars - Indie Book Reviewers
See more reviews: www.knsmith.com/reviews
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