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            News & Bookshelf

Review: Uncaged Wallflower by Jennae Cecelia

6/29/2017

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Uncaged Wallflower is for those who feel trapped in the thoughts their minds produce, unable to express them with the rest of the world out of fear of critique or disagreement. 
For the people who need an extra dose of positivity in their day. 
This is not a poetry book for you to read and relate to in a sorrow filled way.
It is for you to read and say yes, I can be better, and I will.

~ My Review ~

It took me a few days to read this short collection but I feel like it needed to be that way. I wanted some of Jennae Cecelia's words to not just flow over through me, but to live inside my heart for a bit. Plus, I didn't want to rush into a collection that clearly needed to have moments of self reflection.
I've become such a fan in her work and I'm probably (most likely) reading her collection of out of order.  But I'm a firm believer that nothing in life is coincidence and this book of encouragement need to be in my hands. Most of us, at some point in life, look at the edge of this great beginning to something and hesitate. What if I fail? What if this is what my family and friends laugh at me or be upset with this leap? 
If some of my life experiences have taught me, it is this: you will fail. You will be laughed at, mocked and some people will be upset......but you know what? It's YOUR LIFE. 
Whose life are you living for right now?
I am in awe that in her age, she understands this. She tells us this in multiple poems, in between lines, and phrases. I'm about to be 35 years old. In my early 20s, I was still living for my parents' goals and expectations of me.  In my early 20s, I was "fine" being in the background. I was "fine" keeping the peace as I was shy but, it's funny that being a mama has changed me. You would think I appreciate fading in the back and letting my children bask in the light. But isn't parenting and to some extent, how your children behave, a reflection of you? I don't want them to stay silent and  live in regret later in life. I want them to grow up knowing that yes, things are still possible; yes, things can be painful but those scars of words and hurt left behind tell our stories of where we were and serves as a reminder of who we are now. I want to tell them, yes, "speak your thoughts." It's also okay to be want to stay in the background just as long as you no one but you put yourself there. I've only learned to be an "uncaged wallflower" myself.....and now I've taken a leap and still learning to fly. 


*one of my favorite ones but there are just so many here:

Caged
I felt bad for the bird in its cage.
Looking out at
the blue sky
and trees.
Because I too felt like I was looking at
something I wanted but couldn't have.
Until you were the one the one to set me free.

About the Author

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Jennae Cecelia is the self-published and best selling author 
of the poetry books,  Bright Minds Empty Souls and 
Uncaged Wallflower.
She has developed a strong passion for writing uplifting poetry that encourages her readers to reach their full potential.  I Am More Than a Daydream is the next book in the positive poetry series titled, JC Collection.

To get in touch with the author:
Website: jennaececelia.com 
Instagram: @Jennaececelia
Twitter: @JennaeCecelia

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Review: Stepping on Cheerios by Betsey Singleton Snyder

6/27/2017

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Being a mother isn't easy. Sometimes it's hard to experience a personal connection with God and community when you are caught up in the chaos of just "doing family". 

​Independent and self-sufficient, author Betsy Singleton Snyder lived a full and busy life as a pastor, missionary, and wife to a husband who served in the U.S. House of Representatives. She had her first child at age 44, then at 47, she found out she was carrying triplets. Suddenly finding herself overwhelmed is an understatement.

Stepping on Cheerios is a collection of funny, warm, and charming tales from the frontlines of parenthood, written for women who are juggling to accomplish everyday feats of work, motherhood, marriage, church, and more. It's a comical story of one woman's realization that her crazy life is a gift and how she found the grace in it.
Discover God's grace in the busyness of motherhood.

~ My Review ~ 

I needed to read this book a year ago when I was knee deep in prayers and needed a way out of my life. I had postpartum depression when my son was born last year, which stemmed from the anxiety of having a first born who was in the NICU for six weeks of her life. I had preeclampsia with both and although he didn't spend nearly as much time in the NICU as his older sis, he still spent 11 days in there. I was a wreck, as you can imagine and reading some of Betsy Singleton Snyder's memories conjured up my own. I remember the pressure of pumping milk for both. I remember well-intentioned friends and family that would come in and out of our lives that were both lovely to have but internally, I was screaming.
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Motherhood is hard. Period. It's messy and only in looking back at our parenting mistakes do we learn to appreciate the messes and find God's comforting hands in the thick of it all. 
I found myself both entertained at Snyder's words and nodding along, as if I needed some validation that I'm okay. My children are okay. And our household will more than likely be messy for a long time but God's love, and grace keeps us together when we're seemingly the only ones in the planet to not have picture/social media style lives. I appreciated Snyder's candor and found her disorganized thought pattern matched my own haphazardness views of motherhood messes and truths and faith....... but then again, perhaps we've both been Stepping on (too many) Cheerios.

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. However, these thoughts and opinions are my own. I'm not required to write a positive review.***

About the Author

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Betsy Singleton Snyder, author of Stepping on Cheerios, is a pastor, former missionary to the arts community, writer, and blogger. She and her husband, Dr. Vic Snyder, who formerly served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 14 years, live in Arkansas with their four sons, Penn (10) and triplets Wyatt, Sullivan, and Aubrey (8). 

Visit her online at WomenadeStand.com.

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One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A copy of Stepping on Cheerios
  • A $75 Visa cash card
Enter today by clicking the banner above, but hurry! The giveaway ends on June 27. The winner will be announced June 28 on Betsy’s blog.
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Author Spotlight: Alberto Arcia

6/24/2017

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Book 3 (2017) Korina goes to Aburkia to fight; she schemes and meddles in Uruk, causing the demise of the Kassarov’s rule. Princess Jana is still waiting for Alexis to notice her, while her sister Marika, on a whim steals his heart with a reckless kiss. The Calaisian armies are on the brink of total defeat when the ‘girl with hair the color of the sun’ joins up with the ‘death warrior,’ and together they bring the war to a favorable conclusion. Marika is deposed and thrown into an Urukian dungeon, forcing Alexis to mount a rescue attempt. Jana, spurned by Alexis, marries Daghbi, the new Sultan, and moves to Arabia.
Buy Link:
www.amazon.com/Korina-Queen-Fern-Adventures-Sisters/dp/1546434712

More on the Adventures of the Danube Sisters

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​Book 1 (2016) Princess Jana finds the restraints placed upon her gender unacceptable. She enters a race that is for men only and wins it. Her success causes a ruckus, and she’s insulted. Alexis, a young man Jana has fallen in love with comes to her rescue and kills the Crown Prince of Astoria, starting a war. Marika is engaged to Alexis. Jana rebels against family authority, and leaves home in search of adventure. When Beatrice, their mother is kidnapped by Marcus the wizard, and locked in an Urukian tower, Marika joins an effort to free her, and faces the dragon guarding her mother. Samara kills a man in cold blood. Jana crosses the Dorrian desert and enters the forbidden zone. 

Buy Link:
 https://www.amazon.com/Jana-Barkom-Adventures-Danube-Sisters/dp/1533658323

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Book 2 (2016) Queen Samara meets with Mistofeles, the cave devil and collects a set of riddles to do with impending doom. Jana and Alexis decide to conquer the territory of Aburkia, a wild and mystical land inhabited by ghouls, dragons, and Soira, a young sorceress who keeps a man she likes locked in a room. Marika plans to hunt one of Soira’s dragons, but the sorceress is tipped off, and she kidnaps her. The Arabs invade Calais, they defeat the forces under Alexis. He escapes to fight again, and rides towards Aburkia. When the war spills into her territory, she, Alexis, Jana, and Marika, together with an army of ghouls and dragons battle the sandmen.  

Buy Link:
www.amazon.com/Alexis-Aragon-Fern-Adventures-Sisters/dp/1540563898

More books from the Author

The Adventures of Alex Perez
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Buy Link:
​https://www.amazon.com/Cut-Run-Misadventures-Alex-Perez/dp/155885438X
Buy Link: 
​https://www.amazon.com/Search-High-Ground-Amorous-Adventures/dp/147921649
​Book 1 (2009) The Misadventures of Alex Perez - This is the story of Alex Perez, a Panamanian immigrant from Texas who travels through Mexico and Guatemala with his fiancé' and his obstinate future mother-in-law. Along the way they encounter a slew of colorful characters, including two young Mexican kids on the lam, a lustful priest, a drunken boat captain and his blind first mate, and a police officer who owns several whorehouses. This is a satirical and humorous take on the clash of cultures between north and south of the U.S border.

​​Book 2 (2012) The Amorous Antics of Alex Perez - The story of a Panamanian lothario who tries to find high ground. Throughout his surrealistic European journey, Alex is always in the company of men who chastise his immoral behavior, and women who encourage it. While recuperating in a Paris hospital from two gunshot wounds, God invades his dreams, and shows him what heaven and hell are going to be for him. Then he tells Alex that the Grim Reaper has his name.  Knowing God is giving him a second chance, he decides to behave and walk the high moral road. Playing it safe, he leaves Paris and goes to Munich. Unable to escape temptation there, he flees to Switzerland. Then while on a train going to Zurich, he meets Helga, a lonely, innocent widow. 

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Buy Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Moolah-Perez-Afghanistan-Adventures-ebook/dp/B01M5D13Z6
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Buy Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Wind-That-Blows-Good/dp/1492333530
Book 3 (2013) Alex Perez’ Mexican Adventures - A hilarious, bawdy, and politically incorrect novel about Alex, a destitute Panamanian scoundrel who tries to better himself by going into business taking American tourists into Mexico on a Mayan archeological tour. What happens to him, his crew, and his customers will make Murphy’s Law look tame.

Book 4 (2016) Alex Perez Goes to Afghanistan - The story of Alex, an immigrant from Panama who is employed by a Texas newspaper.  He is invited to interview Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader hiding in the Kondoz Mountains. As he travels to the rendezvous point, his group is taken over by an American army colonel who is obsessed with capturing the Mullah, and collecting the bounty on his head. 

About the Author

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​Alberto Arcia is the Panamanian Humorist from Texas, and he is best known for penning the bawdy, funny, and politically incorrect series about Alex Perez, a man enamored with the female form. Alberto left his native Panama in 1964 and settled in Texas, where he still resides. Arte Publico Press, out of the University of Houston published his first Alex novel, Cut and Run, in 2009 - Arcia is new to the fantasy genre. You may be curious as to why a writer who prefers to write books for adults goes into fantasy for young and new adults. The answer is available in his website: www.albertoarcia.com, in Alberto’s Corner. The Adventures of the Danube Sisters is a series for Young and New Adults. It’s a cradle to grave story about two sisters who defy a male dominated world.

​To see Alberto’s books of short stories, please log into his website: www.albertoarcia.com
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Review: The Thousand Tiny Miracles of Living Twice (Angel Aid Book 1) by Katarina West

6/20/2017

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​The Thousand Tiny Miracles of Living Twice
​ANGEL AID BOOK 1

Meet Irene Nylander, a frumpy housewife from Finland … and a yo-yo dieter. She feels trapped in an unhappy marriage, looking after her domineering mother-in-law and living vicariously through romantic movies.

Meanwhile, in Florence, Mimi Kavanough’s star is rising. She has the body of a Barbie princess, the iron will of an army sergeant – and Hollywood in her sights. 

On her fiftieth birthday, Irene discovers her husband is having an affair. Devastated, she prays for a way out: she wants to die.

In heaven, a mischievous angel called Aaron hears her prayers. He decides to make Irene and Mimi swap bodies.

How will the two women cope with their unexpected, and very different, second lives? And will Aaron’s meddling get him evicted from heaven? What will happen if he has to transform into a human being and live on Earth?

~ My Review ~

We've all wished we lived someone else's life at least a few times throughout our lifetime. For me, I'd love to trade a quiet evening with someone who didn't have children. But someone else who wishes they had the chaos, would want to trade places with me. I think it is only in seeing, and living in another person's shoes that we maybe appreciate our dysfunctional life. I'm also a firm believer in guardian angels but to have a different picture of Heaven being bureaucratic and business like was a little too much for me. Then again, I'm not sure I like the idea of all singing, all praises that someone else imagines it to be. These angelic creatures Katarina West have imagined have their own rules, their own thoughts, fears and justifications of following said rules. I love love Aaron. If I could have a guardian angel, it would be him. I'd want someone in my corner that looks at life a little different, and would find humor in just about anything. 
I've never read any of West's books but this may not be the last. Her words painted the setting so beautifully for me and switching thoughts between Aaron, Irene and Mimi without getting lost in the shuffle was a wonderful relief. But overall, I enjoyed this book! It's not everyday you have the opportunity to read 'A Thousand Tiny Miracles of Living Twice," with some Angel Aid, of course! 

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. However, these thoughts and opinions are my own. I'm not required to write a positive review.***

About the Author

​Katarina West is the author of Witchcraft Couture and Absolute Truth, For Beginners. She was born in Helsinki, Finland, into a bilingual family that in addition to humans consisted of dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, canaries, rabbits and – thanks to her biology teacher mother – stuffed owls and squirrels. She spent time travelling in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and went on to study at Queen Mary and Westfield College in London and the European University Institute in Florence, where she completed a PhD in political science and published a book based on it, Agents of Altruism. During those student years she started work as a journalist, and continued writing for various Finnish magazines and newspapers for over ten years, writing on various topics from current events and humanitarian issues to celebrity interviews and short stories. She also briefly worked as a university lecturer on humanitarian issues in Northern Italy. Katarina lives in an old farmhouse in Chianti with her husband and son and when not writing, she is fully immersed in Tuscan country life, from jam-making and olive-picking to tractor maintenance.
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Social Media and Website Links
Website http://katarinawest.com
Blog http://www.katarinawest.com/things_I_know_about_life
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/katarinawestwrites?ref=hl
Twitter @WestKatarina
Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1201091.Katarina_West
Amazon.com Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Katarina-West/e/B001KHHKNW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Amazon.co.uk Author Page http://www.amazon.co.uk/Katarina-West/e/B001KHHKNW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 Instagram https://instagram.com/westkatarina/
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Author Spotlight: T.K. Chapin

6/17/2017

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​Blurb:
Samantha had everything a wife and mother could ask for in life. A loving husband, a beautiful daughter, and a baby on the way. Her life is thrown into a tailspin when her Army Sergeant husband Dakota goes missing in Afghanistan and assumed dead . . .

It's because of him she lost everything . . .
. . . It's because of her he's able to go on
Buy Links:
Because of You- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XXYRF8C/
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If Only - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WRR5J39/
One Thursday Morning – book 1 of the Diamond Lake Series https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IAU6GXQ/    ​

Other books by T.K. Chapin:
If Only 

Christian Romance Series - Diamond Lake Series
(Book 1) One Thursday Morning
(Book 2) One Friday Afternoon
(Book 3) One Saturday Evening
(Book 4) One Sunday Drive
(Book 5) One Monday Prayer
(Book 6) One Tuesday Lunch
(Book 7) One Wednesday Dinner

Firefighter Christian Series - Embers & Ashes
(Book 1) Amongst The Flames
(Book 2) Out of the Ashes
(Book 3) Up in Smoke
(Book 4) After the Fire

Contemporary Christian Romance - Love's Enduring Promise Series
(Book 1) The Perfect Cast
(Book 2) Finding Love
(Book 3) Claire's Hope
(Book 4) Dylan's Faith

About the Author

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T.K. CHAPIN is an award winning Inspirational Christian Fiction author who designs his stories to inspire and tug on your heart strings. He believes that telling authentic stories of faith, love and family helps build the faith of believers while inviting non-believers into the reality of God. Each story highlights how God can work in the lives of those who follow Him. 

Chapin gives all credit for his writing and storytelling abilities to God. The majority of his stories take place in and around his hometown of Spokane Washington. Chapin & his wife reside in Southeast Idaho and have three children. When not writing, he enjoys traveling, swimming and spending time with friends & family.
​** Visit his website (get a free Gift) - www.tkchapin.com
** Follow him on twitter - www.twitter.com/tkchapin
** Connect on Facebook - www.facebook.com/officialtkchapin

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Review: Table for One by Laura Ashley Laraque

6/12/2017

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This collection of poetry talks about a woman who has experienced what many have, heart break. In the midst of her pain, she takes on a journey to learn to love herself. Also, expressing emotions and looking back on memories that although left scars, have led her to sit at her table alone. Finding yourself is crucial and she explains how she accomplishes this day by day.

~ My Review ~

I felt like this collection oscillated between wanting to find strength in whom the poet is as a woman, and a woman who is scorned trying to get her thoughts in prose. And I get that.
I get the need to look through our heartbreak, and sifting through emotions to look for when, and where the relationship failed. I understand shaking the deluded thoughts of the 'what ifs' and 'if onlys,' as those thoughts will only do more harm than good. 
I could hear the frustrations from Laura Ashley in each word she wrote. I heard and felt her anger and saw her bitter tears, as she tried to form enough coherent thought to tell us what this heartbreak did to her.
And whoever you are, mister, this woman absolutely did not deserve you.
In between some heavy piercing pieces for this "character," she kept some pieces of strength for herself. Those pieces touched me. Here she is broken and haunted. But her sureness that one day she'll wake from this heartache is evident throughout. She still had hope within her. She still had love in her.
Throughout this collection, her heart and mind battled between holding on to false promises and toxic love, and letting go of her insecurities. I applaud you, Laura, on your tenacity to fight for your heart. After all, when it comes to love and putting ourselves first, I'd rather have a Table for One than sit in pained and uncomfortable silence with mixed company. 

And in her own thoughts, "This is me and I am new and you can leave." Bravo, superwoman.

About the Author

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​Laura Ashley is an indie author who has published her first collection of poetry. She started writing from the 6th grade and has displayed her words as art on canvas for others to dive into. She plans on continuing to write and is ready to release more books to come! Stay tuned.
Social Media:
Blog: speakunspokenly.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaNillaRose
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakunspokenly/

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Author Spotlight: April W. Gardner

6/10/2017

3 Comments

 
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For those who enjoy saga-length Christian historical romance. Bitter Eyes No More is a single, complete story. It is book four in the Creek Country Saga.

A man of abiding honor, tested by a woman of ruinous passion. A woman of unspeakable sins, pursued by a God of unquenchable mercy.

Spanish Florida once sheltered Lillian McGirth from her fears. Now, it feeds them. Mercy is for the deserving; for Lillian, an unwed mother accused of treason, there is only battering and defeat, but her fall breaks softly in the arms of an unexpected arrival, a man too beautiful of soul to stain with her lost character.

Captain Marcus Buck sails in on a pledge to save Miss McGirth from herself and from her child's father, a ruthless don. All the while, he’s to regard her as virtuous and worthy of protection and to guard said virtue from pilfering. But the terms are flawed since he must first guard her from himself. Regardless, he is determined. He will free her, repair her name—simple labor compared to dodging the army’s noose, mending wounds three years deep, and navigating a host of rebel Natives bent on inflicting more.

Through the steady crumble of his pledge, their friendship becomes a consolation, for she knows his pain as no other can or will. Their scars are one; their paths, however, might irrevocably become two…

Buy Links:
Red Feather      http://amzn.to/2oKBRzE
Sacred Writings http://amzn.to/2oJtgi1
Ebony Cloak     http://amzn.to/2oJhep5
Untold Stories   http://amzn.to/2o0OB7V
Boxed Set         http://amzn.to/2pezHeI
Bitter Eyes        http://amzn.to/2okSK2A


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Editorial Reviews

​"The depth of this book is outstanding, not only did it read as though extensive research was done but it held such a high quality penmanship." ~Bibliophile Reviews
 
"An epic tale and swash buckling adventure that both educates and entertains." ~Christian Bookaholic
 
"Gardner has richly supplemented the story line with amazing details of the historical 1817 era, proving that taking time in  researching details turns an average story into an epic book." ~ Brice's Mice Christian Book Reviews

"Mrs. Gardner's thorough research shines throughout the novel and has encouraged me to want to know more about these famous forts and their history." --Reviews by Van Daniker

​From the Author
The Drawn by the Frost Moon trilogy consists of three standalones that are closely connected through a single historical event. It will take you on a three-layer journey through the incidents that kicked off the First Seminole War and whisked Spanish Florida toward its inevitable doom.

By three-layer, I mean that all the characters you'll come to know (and hopefully love!) in Bitter Eyes will be reappearing in the follow-on book and skipping backwards in time to show you this period from other angles. Tall Bull and Mink will give you the Red Stick perspective in Love the War Woman (2017). Through entirely fresh eyes, you'll learn where Mink went after she left Neamathla's lodge, what transpired while Marcus was outside Fort Scott, what becomes of Water Moccasin, why Tall Bull cannot see past Bitter Eyes to the war woman who adores him, and so much more.

War Woman will take you deeper into the historical events surrounding San Marcos and leave you excited to dig into Strong Bear and Pretty Wolf's adventures. Their romance will be told in Finding Pretty Wolf (2018), which will carry you through to the closing of this period in history. 

Why have I chosen to lay out the story this way? Because the setting is so rich and full I couldn't bear to do away with any part of it. It's tricky as all get out to braid these three plots together without revealing too much too soon, but I trust the finished product will be worth the effort.

About the Author

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APRIL W GARDNER is an award-winning author who writes Christian historical romance with a focus on our Southeastern Native Tribes. She is a military wife and mother of two teens who lives in Texas. In no particular order, April dreams of owning a horse, learning a third language, and visiting all the national parks.




​Social Media links:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4456445.April_W_Gardner
https://www.pinterest.com/awgardner/?eq=April%20W%20Gardner&etslf=9066
http://www.aprilgardner.com/
https://twitter.com/AprilWGardner

April loves to hear from her readers at: aprilgardnerwrites@gmail.com


!!!GIVEAWAY!!! 

***There is a giveaway happening over in Goodreads for 5 autographed prints for Drawn by the Frost Moon: Bitter Eyes No More (Creek Country Saga #4). The contest runs from June 6th - June 30th, 2017. To enter for your chance to win, click here. *** 
3 Comments

Review: Chasing Eva by Camellia Hart

6/9/2017

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If you love books by the likes of Sylvia Day, Vi Keeland, Lauren Blakely, you’ll love this addictive, suspenseful & sensual second chance romance trilogy about a man and a woman whose lives are about to get sizzling hot…
After living through her share of disloyal relationships, Evangeline Avery will be damned if she lets another man cheat her. A beautiful and confident woman, Eva is the owner of an interior design firm at the brink of collapse. She swears to bring her company back to its past glory, even if it involves sweet talking the one man who caused this turmoil in the first place - Clive Stanton.

Notorious playboy Clive Stanton is a powerful businessman and a formidable enemy of many. He doesn’t do love, or at least not until he meets her again, fifteen years after he saw her last. Eva, his crush from teenage years, the one that got away, is back in his world and he is determined to do anything to make her his.

Will passion and lust bring them together or conflict and the unforgettable scars from their pasts forever tear them apart?

~ My Review ~

I wanted to shake off the hallucinogens from the other day's read and immerse myself in what I call my "comfort blanket." I love YA anything and Sci-fi, and fantasy, and epic adventures but my go-to comfort read is romance. In any genre, told by different points of views, taken from history, star-crossed, friends to lovers, realistic or happily-ever-afters; it is the deliciousness of how two people meet, and then fall in love that gives my world a breath of fresh air. Of course, this "fresh air" was pretty heated. This is not a clean reads by ANY means. There was definitely a few erotic scenes. 
This story moved at the right amount of speed for me. I finished Clive and Eva's story in a matter of hours and I've already downloaded the next book to their "continuing saga." Clive Stanton is all male, handsome, rich and has a sweet spot for the ex-chef turned CEO, Eva Avery. 
With the wealthy and powerful, it seems you also get a touch of scandal, a mystery surrounding a death, car chases, and a lots of wine and ice cream. Camellia Hart took us on this ride that very few average income holders get to experience, including the glitz and glam of the MET Gala.
I loved the quick and flirtatious banter between Clive and Eva. And finally! A woman who can go toe to toe with a man is a welcome to the "damsel in distress, lip biting two dimensional characters" that's been a fixture for years.  Yes, there is danger lurking around for Eva, but she's no damsel needing a prince to rescue her. If anything, she values facts and freedom, and tries to fight her own battles. We don't know what or who she's up against in this book, but it was fun to read about this little love story wrapped within this mystery..... and how sweet and sexy it was for the Prince that was Chasing Eva. 
I can't wait to read the next installment! 

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own.***

About the Author

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Camellia Hart, a techie turned author of romance, lives in San Francisco with her husband, the love of her life. Other than writing her next romance novel, her hobbies include traveling, lazing on a beach with a good read, watching movies with happy endings while gorging on endless buckets of popcorn, red wine, and champagne truffles.


​Camellia's Official Website: www.camelliahart.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/camelliahartbooks
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/HartCamellia

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Review: Galefire 1 by Kenny Soward

6/8/2017

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He wields Hell's power. She has a dragon's voice.

Lonnie is a drug runner for the infamous Eighth Street Gang when he gets an urgent phone call to back up his crew after trouble follows them home from a drug deal gone bad. 

During the ensuing firefight, Lonnie sees some things he wishes he hadn’t, including the gang’s leader, Selix, channeling her powers from a place called the Fade by getting high and dancing. Memories unravel inside Lonnie’s iced mind. Memories of dragons and fiends and fire-swept otherworlds. Memories Selix controls with a simple touch.

But what is real and what is not?

In the strange and violent world of Galefire, Lonnie comes to realize not everything is as it seems, including his own identity. But will Lonnie and Selix reconcile the past before they are caught by those who seek to drag them home in chains?

THE GALEFIRE SERIES

Galefire I : Fade Rippers
Galefire II : Holy Avengers (4/14/2017)
Galefire III : Tether War

Galefire is an adult urban fantasy series that will appeal to lovers of the occult, horror, supernatural forces, demons, angels, vampires, paranormal romance, and, of course, fire.

 ~ My Review ~

This book had magic, and mystery, and action, and I'm satisfied with how it ended. That being said, it's not my cup of tea and had to force myself to read this dark and twisted story. Lonnie keeps having visions and I was so lost in the back and forth. Was he high during the entire time? Was he finally coming down from his fix? It was too in your face and detailed. I told my husband that this was literally "Dresden on crack." Soo, if you happen to like that sort of thing, this book has it all. Intrigue, power, lust, revenge.....all to Hell and back. 

I'm giving this read 3 stars, in part because it's not the type of book I'm used to. It's dark and horrific and bloody. But Kenny Soward did a phenomenal job with details and there were twists I didn't see coming. 

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to write a positive one. These thoughts and opinions are my own.***

About the Author

Kenny Soward grew up in Kentucky in a small suburb just south of Cincinnati, Ohio, listening to hard rock and playing outdoors. In those quiet 1970's streets, he jumped bikes, played Nerf football, and acquired many a childhood scar.

Kenny's love for books flourished early, a habit passed down to him by his uncles. He burned through his grade school library, reading Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien. He spent quite a few days in detention for reading in class.

In later years, Kenny took inspiration from fantasy writers such as China Mieville, Poppy Z. Brite, and Caitlin R. Kiernan. 

The transition to author was a natural one for Kenny. His sixth grade teacher encouraged him to start a journal, and he later began jotting down pieces of stories, mostly the outcomes of D&D gaming sessions. If you enjoy urban and dark fantasy, paranormal and horror, with brooding, broken characters and fast paced action, you can visit Kenny at www.kennysoward.com.

Kenny's latest release is Galefire I : Fade Rippers.
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Blog Tour My Not So Normal Life: Spy Recruit  by Liz Laz

6/5/2017

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​This is my stop during the blog tour for My Not So Normal Life: Spy Recruit by Liz Laz. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 29 May till 18 June. See the tour schedule here: http://www.lolasblogtours.net/blog-tour-my-not-so-normal-life-spy-recruit-by-liz-laz
 
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My Not So Normal Life: Spy Recruit (My Not So Normal Life #1)
By Liz Laz
Genre: Fiction/ Action/ Adventure
Age category: Middle Grade
Release Date: May 23, 2017


Blurb:
My name is Lily Anne Gemorski. I am not your normal eleven-year-old. I am a spy. I speak four languages and know how to defend against someone three times my size.
 
As a new recruit, I have learned a lot about being a spy. What I haven't learned is how to lie to my best friend, Becky; or how to get my team captain to stop hating me.
 
You can find My Not So Normal Life: Spy Recruit on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34852799-my-not-so-normal-life
 
You can buy My Not So Normal Life: Spy Recruit on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/My-Not-So-Normal-Life-ebook/dp/B072LSDJXT/

About the Author

​Liz Laz began writing as a child and penned her first novel, My Not So Normal Life: Spy Recruit at the age of 15. Liz continued writing in her spare time while attending college at Dominican University and law school at the John Marshall Law School. Liz works as an insurance attorney and writes in her spare time. Liz loves binge watching Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock on Netflix, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. Liz lives with her rescue dog, Robin Hood, just outside of Chicago.
 
You can find and contact Liz Laz here:
- Website: http://liz-laz.blogspot.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012944979498
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LizLaz3
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6429160.Liz_Laz  
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     I use Goodread's rating scale

    1 star – didn’t like it
     2 stars – it was OK
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     4 stars – really liked it
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Hi there! Here's a quick bio

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Leila Tualla is a Filipino-American poet and author based in Houston, Tx. Leila’s books include a YA contemporary romance called Letters to Lenora and a memoir/poetry collection called Storm of Hope: God, Preeclampsia, Depression and me. Her poetry is featured in several mental health anthologies and she is currently working on a poetry collection based on Asian American stereotypes and identifies. Her chapbook “pmdd & me,” will be out this Spring 2022. ​

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