Wednesday, November 30, 2016

First Chapter Review: Save the Last Dance by Eric Joseph & Eva Ungar






Title: Save The Last Dance
Author: Eric Joseph & Eva Ungar
Publisher: Hargrove Press
Pages: 360
Genre: Literary Fiction

Save The Last Dance is available at Amazon

Blurb: A tale of the power and peril of first love rediscovered.

           
Adam Wolf and Sarah Ross were teenage sweethearts who grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio in the late 50’s and early 60's. They set a wedding date when they turned fifteen. The day came and went. For most of their lives the two were out of contact.
With their 50th high school reunion approaching, Adam and Sarah reconnect. Email exchanges - after the first tentative "hi", then a deluge- five, ten- by the end of the week twenty emails a day. Soon Sarah admits, "All my life I've been looking for someone who loves me as much as you did".

Written entirely in email and texts, Save the Last Dance allows the reader to eavesdrop on Sarah and Adam's correspondence as their love reignites. It also permits the reader to witness the reactions of significant others, whose hum-drum lives are abruptly jolted by the sudden intrusion of long-dormant passion. Can Sarah and Adam's rekindled love withstand the pummeling they're in for?

Cover: I love the imagery - we have a birdcage, baby shoe and black birds flying off.  Definitely it makes me wonder what the book is going to be about. 
Title: Love the title!

First Chapter: Chapter One opens with email exchanges between Adam Wolf and Sarah Ross who are reestablishing their love.  Sarah is widowed and Adam has remarried but through these email exchanges, their romance is blossoming.  Man, there was a soul mate connection thing going on for sure. Just gave me good fuzzies if you know what I mean.  Sorta like You've Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. 
Would I Keep Reading: They have a reunion coming up and would I continue reading the first chapter?  You bet your sweet bippy I would.  As soon as I'm finished reading the book, I'll post my full review on Amazon.
About the Authors





Eric Joseph and Eva Ungar (Grudin) were teenage sweethearts in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, who set a wedding date when they turned 15. The last time they saw each other they were 21 years old. Three years ago they reunited, around the time of the 50th high school reunion. Although their book is a work of fiction, it's about a couple like them, who fall in love again, almost instantly, via email.

Eric is in public health, a consultant/educator at hospitals and clinics, concentrating his career on Native American health services across the country. Eva is an art historian who taught at Williams College in Massachusetts for 40+ years. She specialized in African and African-American art; the history of European painting: also Holocaust Studies - memorials and museums; In addition, she has performed in and written Sounding to A, a multi-media work about inheriting the Holocaust. It premiered at the Ko Festival of Performance in 2004.

Learn more about Eva and Eric and their history together by visiting hargrovepress.com - At the website you'll find memories about their time together in the late 50s, early 60s, as well as interviews from today.

Their latest book is the literary fiction, Save The Last Dance.

For More Information

First Chapter Review: Bodybuilding for Weight Loss by James Eaton





Title: Bodybuilding for Weight Loss
Author: James Eaton
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 61
Genre: Health/Fitness



Blurb: Do you want to take part in a workout that has stretched across the ages, from all around the globe? Do you want to build muscle while dropping pounds? Body building might just be for you!
With a detailed history of body building from its first appearances until its inception into the Olympics, you will find all the tips you need to succeed in body building for your specific goal. Complete with formulas to discover your perfect weight loss plan, detailed exercise instructions (with images), and tips on dieting, this guide has everything you need to begin your journey.

Cover: I can't imagine a better cover for this book.  The bodybuilder on the front draws you in and the colors of the cover are pleasing to the eye.  Good job!

Title: Being as this is a nonfiction, the title needs to be as explicit as possible.  The author couldn't have come up with anything better.

First Chapter:In the first chapter of Bodybuilding for Weight Loss, Eaton draws you in by first explaining the history behind bodybuilding as part of weight loss which I found rather fascinating. Even though "bodybuilding'" has been around since the advent of man (they just didn't know it yet), it really didn't take until the 60's and that this happened because after WWII, people were encouraged to start working out more (to become buff for the next war I suppose).  Lots of really interesting tidbits.

Would I Keep Reading: I'm a fitness buff which is the reason I requested this book for review. James Eaton does an excellent job guiding me through the process of what it takes to use bodybuilding to lose weight.  While I'm not a man, a woman can certainly do bodybuilding.  I will definitely keep reading and my review will be on Amazon as soon as I finish the book.

About the Author




James Eaton is a passionate Self-Help, Fitness, & Education Author who resides in Hinesville, Georgia. He is also a seasoned Affiliate Marketer, Entrepreneur, and Private Protection Officer. Hailing from Selma, Alabama, James’ love of helping people and all-things fitness began early on and it has stayed with him ever since.

During his youth, James would spend countless hours locked up in his room jotting down his book ideas. It wasn’t long before he realized that his newfound passion could become something more: a platform in which he could positively impact other people and enhance their lives in a multitude of different ways.

One of James’ main influences throughout his writing career has been a wellness book by Kevin Trudeau entitled “Natural Cures.” But most of all, he is inspired by his amazing family and his unwavering drive to succeed so he can help as many people as possible on their journey to optimum health, wealth, and happiness.

Fitness and writing aside, James enjoys reading inspirational books (“The Magic of Thinking Big” is one of his all-time favorites) and maintaining a positive attitude through the inevitable ups and downs of life. He is also big on organic food—especially organic chicken, turkey, and roast beef.

Additionally, James’ favorite color is blue and his favorite movie star will forever be Rachel McAdams. One of his most notable accomplishments to date is remaining on gold phase for eight consecutive months during his stay at Job Corps. James holds a Certification in Security & Private Protection Services.

Both infinitely determined and loving, James aims to write books that empower individuals to become their very best versions and lead fulfilling, healthy lives. Just as persistent, he will do whatever it takes to become a bestselling author.

Recently, James released “How to Save Money Through College” and is planning on creating more books that assist people from all walks of life in bettering their lives.

Book Spotlight: Beethoven in Love; Opus 139 by Howard Jay Smith



We're happy to host Howard J. Smith's BEETHOVEN IN LOVE: OPUS 139 Virtual Book Tour today! Please leave a comment to let him know you stopped by!



Title: BEETHOVEN IN LOVE; OPUS 139
Author: Howard Jay Smith
Publisher: SYQ
Pages: 385
Genre: Literary Fiction/Biographical Fiction

At the moment of his death, Ludwig van Beethoven pleads with Providence to grant him a final wish—one day, just a single day of pure joy. But first he must confront the many failings in his life, so the great composer and exceedingly complex man begins an odyssey into the netherworld of his past life led by a spirit guide who certainly seems to be Napoleon, who died six years before. This ghost of the former emperor, whom the historical Beethoven both revered and despised, struggles to compel the composer to confront the ugliness as well as the beauty and accomplishments of his past. 
As Beethoven ultimately faces the realities of his just-ended life, we encounter the women who loved and inspired him. In their own voices, we discover their Beethoven—a lover with whom they savor the profound beauty and passion of his creations. And it’s in the arms of his beloveds that he comes to terms with the meaning of his life and experiences the moment of true joy he has always sought.

Purchase Information:

Amazon



Book Excerpt:
Prologue:
The Death of Beethoven
Vienna, 5:00 pm, March 26, 1827  
Outside Beethoven’s rooms at the Schwarzspanierhaus, a fresh measure of snow from a late season thunderstorm muffles the chimes of St. Stephens Cathedral as they ring out the hours for the old city.
    Ein, Zwei, Drei, Vier… Funf  Uhr.  Five O’clock.
    Beethoven, three months past his fifty-sixth birthday, lies in a coma, as he has now for two nights, his body bound by the betrayal of an illness whose only virtue was that it proved incurable and would, thankfully, be his last. Though his chest muscles and his lungs wrestle like giants against the approaching blackness, his breathing is so labored that the death rattle can be heard over the grumblings of the heavens throughout his apartment. 
     Muss es sein? Must it be? Ja, es muss sein. Beethoven is dying. From on high, the Gods vent their grief at his imminent passing and hurl a spear of lightening at Vienna.
     Their jagged bolt of electricity explodes outside the frost covered windows of the Schwarzspanierhaus with a clap of thunder so violent it startles the composer to consciousness. 
     Beethoven’s eyes open, glassy, unfocused. He looks upward – only the Gods know what he sees, if anything. He raises his right hand, a hand that has graced a thousand sonatas, and clenches his fist for perhaps the last time. His arm trembles as if railing against the heavens. Tears flood his eyes.
     His arm falls back to the bed… His eyelids close… And then he is gone ...




About the Author

Howard Jay Smith is an award-winning writer from Santa Barbara, California. BEETHOVEN IN LOVE; OPUS 139 is his third book. A former Washington, D.C. Commission for the Arts Fellow, & Bread Loaf Writers Conference Scholar, he taught for many years in the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and has lectured nationally. His short stories, articles and photographs have appeared in the Washington Post, Horizon Magazine, the Journal of the Writers Guild of America, the Ojai Quarterly, and numerous literary and trade publications. While an executive at ABC Television, Embassy TV, and Academy Home Entertainment, he worked on numerous film, television, radio, and commercial projects. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Santa Barbara Symphony - "The Best Small City Symphony in America" -  and is a member of the American Beethoven Society.

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Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Talking Books with Sam Reed, author of 'Fair to Hope'



Sam Reed is a born and bred southern girl who grew up reading Toni Morrison, Archie Comics, Christopher Pike, Octavia Butler, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King. When she’s not thinking of what to write, she is napping or eating, going to church, wishing she could sing, trying to perfect her Grandma’s biscuit recipe, watching A Different World reruns, sitting in the sun—or reading a book.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS


About the Book:

Velma had lived two lives: her first as a former foster kid, and her second as an unlikely recruit into a secret order that
satisfied her need for retribution. Her fifteen-year-old self had given up on hope, but after three years with the Taram, she’d found her life’s purpose.

That is, until she is surprisingly named Kachina, the fabled chosen empowered to fight the last battle for the fate of the world. Having to kill someone she loves was never part of the bargain, even if it means saving everyone else from damnation.

Building a normal life free from the pull of the Taram—seems like the only answer to her prayers. Except her best friend, the other Kachina, is coming. The legend is clear that one of them must die.

Velma will have to weigh the cost of her life against a world that’s constantly betrayed her and quite literally decide if she’ll be damned in dying, taking the whole world with her.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Thanks for this interview, Sam.  Can we begin by having you tell us about yourself from a writer’s standpoint?

Sure! Or at least I’ll try, talking about myself is always the hardest part, lol. From a writer’s standpoint, I grew up reading Toni Morrison, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Christopher Pike, Octavia Butler and Archie Comics. I hope all of those influences find their way into everything I write. I’m also a born and bred southern girl, an introvert, and a person who’s first love was and always will be words on the page.

When not writing, what do you like to do for relaxation and/or fun?

I love going to the movies, anything action, horror, sci-fi, thriller, the kind of things that you can escape into, that sort of give you a break from the real world. Anytime I’m able, I’ll prop myself up on anybody’s beach, I love being near the water, it calms me and inspires me. I love to cook, so sometimes I’ll make cake or cookies to relax…and then give them away so I don’t end up eating them all in one sitting. I’ll read of course, it’s probably my first go to, because it’s cheap and easy, I can always find some corner to fold into for a little bit and get lost in somebody’s story. And I like to take naps, does that count? When I get a chance to take a nap in the middle of the day, that can feel like I’ve just won the lottery.


Would you say it’s been a rocky road for you in regards to getting your book written and published or pretty much smooth sailing?  Can you tell us about your journey?

I would say it’s definitely been more rocky than smooth. Fair to Hope has gone through many revisions, from the first draft that I workshopped almost a decade ago, and was told I should add in some vampires or werewolves or zombies to make the book more marketable; that zombies were going to be the next big thing. Then I went the traditional route of querying agents in an attempt to secure publication, but got rejected, a lot, (over 100 times), but those rejections were well deserved. The story wasn’t as flushed out as it needed to be. So I worked on it some more, and by the time I felt like the story was where it needed to be, I decided I would try to self-publish. I’d been doing some research on the whole self-publishing process, what that would mean for me since I knew I wanted to be able to approach major bookstores and ask them to carry the book. My research led me to Mill City Press, where I was able to pick a la carte the services that I felt were best for me, and for what I wanted for Fair to Hope. Through Mill City, my book was designed, formatted, released, and given extended distribution so that I was able to have actual bookstores stock it, including my local Barnes and Noble. That was a really good day, when I walked into the store and saw my book on the shelves next to other YA authors that I’ve read and admired. So, all in all, from first draft to finished book, the whole process has taken about 12 years. And it’s on going. It doesn’t stop once the book is published, you still want to work and push and engage to continually get the word out and keep the momentum up. It’s not always easy, but I can’t think of a more fulfilling reason for hard work.

If you had to summarize your book in one sentence, what would that be?

Velma will have to weigh the cost of her life against a world that’s constantly betrayed her, and quite literally decide if she’ll be damned in dying, and take the whole world with her.

What makes your book stand out from the rest?

It’s a diverse book, that was extremely important to me, both Velma (my main girl) and Josh (my main guy) are black. I wanted to write something where the protagonist and the love interest were people of color - and where the world in which they interact is like the world I live in, with characters who span the spectrum of race. It also involves a system of secret societies that is brand new. It builds on the age old concept of good versus evil, but the way in which they do what they do, and how it affects the fate of the world, are new concepts. And it’s swift, which isn’t usually the case for urban fantasy – but I wanted to write something that wouldn’t require a huge time commitment or be intimidating for folks just approaching the genre.

If your book was put in the holiday section of the store, what holiday would that be and why?

Christmas, because I feel like it’s a holiday where everyone tries their best to believe in the goodness of everyone around them, when people feel charitable and are most aware of how a small gesture can have a huge impact on someone’s life, even someone you don’t know. Those are themes that run throughout Fair to Hope, so I think the book could reinforce that same Christmas spirit.

Would you consider turning your book into a series or has that already been done?

I’d always thought of Fair to Hope as a stand alone, though I have had some readers who were kind enough to reach out and say they’d be interested in reading a prequel to the book. While I’m not sure if it’ll actually happen, I can say that I’m considering it…

What’s next for you?

More writing and more books I hope. I’m currently shopping an adult literary fiction novel I wrote called Gray Salt, while promoting Fair to Hope and starting to lay down some bones for my next book. I’m hoping to have it flushed out by early 2017, and then hopefully I’ll be able to fit in that beach vacation, I’d be completely ok with finishing my next book while enjoying an ocean view.



Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Introducing Dani-Lyn Alexander's BATTLE FOR CYMMERA BOOK BLAST! Enter $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway - ends tonight!



We’re happy to host Dani-Lyn Alexander’s BATTLE FOR CYMMERA Book Blast today! Dani-Lyn is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card.  Enter below!

Title: Battle for Cymmera, Kingdom of Cymmera Book Three
Author: Dani-Lyn Alexander
Publisher: Lyrical Press/Kensington
Pages: 226
Genre: YA Fantasy

With Chayce Maynard on the run, Ryleigh and Jackson can finally begin rebuilding their kingdom. But when a cryptic message suggests Chayce was seen in Argonas, chaos creeps back into Cymmera once more . . .

Jackson knows Cymmera will never be safe until Chayce, guilty of treason, is detained and executed. After ordering Cymmeran guardsmen to scour the land, he and the Death Dealer team brave wild Argonas in search of the informant who spotted his foe. And in his absence, Jackson not only leaves the throne empty, but the kingdom vulnerable to attack . . .

As a vicious army descends on Cymmera, Ryleigh is forced to flee to an uncharted realm with a small group of survivors—a place Jackson has no chance of discovering. Alone, but for the few people she was able to save, Ryleigh must decide whether to reclaim her kingdom or remain in the new realm forever, forsaking all she left behind . . .

Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Book Excerpt:

As she slid past her throne, Ryleigh’s sword caught on the arm, and she took a step back and untangled it. She’d never get used to wearing the stupid thing everywhere she went. If not for Jackson’s insistence, it’d probably be stuffed under her bed beside the baseball bat she kept hidden there.
She pulled open a drawer on the side table behind her throne and rifled through the papers she’d stuffed in there in search of her leather appointment book. If she couldn’t find answers, may as well get some work done. It was either that or dwell on Jackson’s mission and the terror it brought. She pressed a hand against her heaving stomach. No. She couldn’t think about that. She had more immediate problems she might actually be able to do something about.
Several meetings had to be scheduled, and without writing them down, she’d never keep track of where she was supposed to be. Especially with her mind so jumbled with images of Jackson going up against Chayce.
She snatched the book, shoved the drawers shut, and turned to leave.
Ryleigh’s vision blurred. The air shimmered in the center of the throne room, and her ears popped.
She ripped her sword from its sheath even as the portal opened.
A seven-foot-tall beast built of solid muscle tore through the portal. A triple headed flail swung from one massive hand.

About the Author


Dani-Lyn lives on Long Island with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She loves spending time with her family, at the beach, the playground, or just about anywhere. In her spare time, which is rare, she enjoys reading and shopping—especially in book stores. Some of her favorite things include; Bernese Mountain Dogs, musicals, bubble baths and soft blankets. She’s an incurable insomniac, and she has an addiction to chocolate.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK



            Giveaway Details:

Dani-Lyn Alexander is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Card
  • This giveaway ends midnight November 22.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on November 23.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mark Connelly Talks About 'Wanna-be's'



Mark Connelly was born in Philadelphia and grew up in New Jersey.  He received a BA in English from Carroll College in Wisconsin and an MA and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  His books include The Diminished Self: Orwell and the Loss of Freedom, Orwell and Gissing, Deadly Closets:  The Fiction of Charles Jackson, and The IRA on Film and Television.  His fiction has appeared in The Ledge, Indiana Review, Cream City Review, Milwaukee Magazine, and Home Planet News.  In 2014 he received an Editor’s Choice Award in The Carve’s Raymond Carver Short Story Contest; in 2015 he received Third Place in Red Savina Review’s Albert Camus Prize for Short Fiction. His novella Fifteen Minutes received the Clay Reynolds Novella Prize and was published by Texas Review Press in 2005. 
Mark’s latest book is the literary fiction/humor/satire, Wanna-be’s.
Connect with Mark on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Book:

With his new girlfriend – a soccer mom with a taste for bondage – urging him to “go condo,” failed screenwriter Winfield Payton needs cash. Accepting a job offer from a college friend, he becomes the lone white employee of a black S&L. As the firm’s token white, he poses as a Mafioso to intimidate
skittish investors and woos a wealthy cougar to keep the firm afloat. Figure-skating between the worlds of white and black, gay and straight, male and female, Jew and Gentile, Yuppie and militant, Payton flies higher and higher until the inevitable crash. . .

Praise for Wanna-be’s:

This book right here! What can I say about Winfield Payton...is he the most unlucky pasty or most unlikely fall guy...what a schmuck...I laughed so hard at this,for this guy....with this guy....every character described in this book will immediately remind you of a real life joker in the in the 24 hour news cycle on all of the Major networks and cable television channels regurgitating skewed facts benefiting them and lining their pockets....it's hip and fresh writing which could easily become a HBO series....or Starz..maybe..anyway get this book....I laughed so hard...almost popping my recent stitches from surgery...Mr. Connelly...thanks for making my recuperation fun...this book is not for the faint of heart..or PC sensitive readers...

-- Lynda Garcia Review

For More Information

  • Wanna-be’s is available at Amazon.
  • Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Thanks for this interview, Mark.  Can we begin by having you tell us about yourself from a writer’s standpoint?

      I began writing poems and short stories in high school but did not get anything
      published until I was in college.  I love writing fiction, but have mostly published
      academic books – textbooks and literary criticism.  I have published books about
      George Orwell, Saul Bellow, and the IRA on film.  But my first love is still fiction.

When not writing, what do you like to do for relaxation and/or fun?

       Work out, travel, read, watch good films.

Congratulations on your new book! Can you give us the very first page of your book so that we can get a glimpse inside?

INSIGNIFICANT OTHERS



            Winfield Payton awoke to a mother’s voice.  Not his mother—but someone’s mother. It was the commanding yet compassionate voice mothers develop, stern but apprehensive.  It was a voice rarely heard in Downer Estates, a brick apartment complex housing the usual collection of upscale “singles” who live within Frisbee range of urban universities, attend jazz concerts in the park, practice safe sex, drive alphabet cars (BMWs, SUVs, VWs), cybersex on company laptops, faithfully recycle Perrier bottles, and sip low-cal cappuccino in Starbucks while checking the fates of their mutual funds.
            It was a suburban voice, a beach voice, a picnic voice.  The voice of a concerned mother directing her brood.  “Now, look, Brandy, I told you before.  Mommy will be home in just a little while.  You can have cereal.  Where is Heather?  OK, tell Heather to give you some raisin bran.  Take your vitamin.  And don’t go near the pool until I get back. Do you understand? Don’t go swimming until Mommy comes home.”
            As yet Win had not opened his eyes; he was too exhausted. Confronting daylight would be painful. Feeling the……



Would you say it’s been a rocky road for you in regards to getting your book written and published or pretty much smooth sailing?  Can you tell us about your journey?

            Wanna-be’s started as a series of related short stories featuring Winfield Payton,
            a classic fall guy hero in a satirical send-up.  Payton is a mashup of Fitzgerald’s
            Pat Hobby, Bellow’s Augie March, and Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm
            character.  Like Winfield, I was briefly the lone white employee in a black
            enterprise.  As the company’s “chicklet” – or token white – I had some amusing
            experiences I thought could be exaggerated and expanded into a satire about our
            wanna-be culture.  I added more stories until I thought I had enough for a book.
            After the first story was published in a magazine, I realized I could reorganize the
            stories to form chapters in a novel.  Although there is a single narrative plot, each
            chapter can stand alone like an episode in a TV series, something my first
            reviewer remarked on.


If you had to summarize your book in one sentence, what would that be?

           Whether we want to admit it or not, all of us are wanna-be’s.

What makes your book stand out from the rest?

            It does not avoid being politically incorrect.  It takes on all the stereotypes and
            plays them for laughs.  Insightful laughs I hope. 

If your book was put in the holiday section of the store, what holiday would that be and why?

Halloween.  Everyone in the book is wearing a mask whether they know it or not.

Would you consider turning your book into a series or has that already been done?

      I’m already concocting new adventures for Winfield Payton with titles like “Too
      Much Information,” “It’s Complicated,” and “Friends w/o Benefits.”  I want to
      explore new themes and take him to a broader landscape.

What’s next for you?

       I’m working on a novel called Newman’s Choice.  It’s a departure from Wanna-be’s
      because it a serious literary book.  Three parts of it have been published, so I am
      anxious to complete it.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Book Blast: In Jesus' Arms by Mary E. Keenan

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Inside the Book:

in-jesus-arms
Title: In Jesus' Arms 
Author: Mary E. Keenan 
Publisher: iUniverse 
Genre: Religion 
Format: Ebook

What if you could literally see Christ and listen to Him answer some of your deepest spiritual questions: Who receives eternal life, and why? Are we still “us” after death? What happens in heaven? And is there an unseen dimension here on earth?

In In Jesus’ Arms: One Woman’s Trip to Heaven, author Mary E. Keenan shares here amazing journey being in the arms of Jesus Christ. Opening with the story of her life as an unworthy sinner who once rejected God’s forgiveness—but who found restoration through a relationship with Christ—she reveals her experience of being held and carried by Jesus as she and Christ walked together on the earth and ascended to heaven. There, Mary receives Christ’s lessons and is able to offer a glimpse into the inner workings of heaven, the mind of Christ, the preparations for the second coming, and the important messages God wants individuals and churches to heed today about the difference between faith and religious practice.

Whether you are a curious and skeptical unbeliever, a believer who avoids the church, or an active church member involved in the pastorate or other Christian organizations, In Jesus’ Arms will compel you to delve deeper into the scriptures and provide you with a joyous, hopeful account of a victorious Christ—where His lessons from the past are still current, where His plans are being carried out, and where heaven is still very much involved in our lives.  

Meet the Author:
Mary E. Keenan was born and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and she has a master’s degree in adult and technical education from Marshall University, West Virginia. Now retired from a career in nursing administration and education, she loves to paint and lives with her husband, Dale, in Weirton, West Virginia.  

Giveaway

Mary is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins November 14  and ends on November 25.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on November 26.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Cover Reveal: A Warrior's Pledge by Emma Prince



Title: A Warrior's Pledge (Highland Bodyguards Book 3)
Author: Emma Prince
Genre: Historical Romance


Today we feature the cover for A Warrior's Pledge by Emma Prince. Details on the book and purchase links will be available soon, but we just couldn't wait to give you a glimpse and get you ready for the hunkiness that is Finn Sutherland!


MEET THE AUTHOR



 Emma Prince is the bestselling author of steamy historical romances jam-packed with adventure, conflict, and of course love!

Emma grew up in drizzly Seattle, but traded her rain boots for sunglasses when she and her husband moved to the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Emma spent several years in academia, both as a graduate student and an instructor of college-level English and Humanities courses. She always savored what she calls her fun books—normally historical romances—on breaks or vacations. But as she began looking for the next chapter in her life, she wondered if perhaps her passion could turn into a career. Ever since then, she's been reading and writing books that celebrate happily ever afters!

Emma has completed the Sinclair Brothers Trilogy, a series of books set in medieval Scotland, during the harrowing Wars for Independence. In the Viking Lore series, she delved into the rich history of the Viking conquests. Now she is returning to medieval Scotland for a new series on historical Highland bodyguards!

Emma loves to connect with readers and writers—sign up for her newsletter and get all the latest on current and future projects, plus sales and giveaway alerts. Happy reading!

For More Information
 Visit Emma’s website.
 Connect with Emma
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Book Watch: I, Angus by Mike Hartner




Title: I, Angus
Author: Mike Hartner
Publisher: Eternity 4 Popsicle Publishing
Pages: 260
Genre: Historical Fiction

During a time of civil strife and purging the North has lost more men to Wars then it ever did to Nature.

Angus has grown up learning that his life is better off with only him and a family. But is that really in the Grand Plan.

The North needs someone to build community.

But first, Angus needs to be forged... beaten, shaped, bolded and trained.

Watch as Angus hits both lows and highs across the lands of England, Scotland and France, before meeting a challenge of new land.

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Book Excerpt:

Using my hunting knife, I clean the fur away from the meat. Then I cut the rabbit meat into strips and put it into the smaller pot of water. I add some carrots Alice had stashed away, and a few turnips that I have found on my own, and an onion. While everything is cooking, I take a large pail of hot water to where Angela is sitting on a bench in the kitchen and help her clean her legs and knees. Yes, I’m more than a little curious.
She startles me when she asks, “Why are you doing this?” I say nothing and she asks again, “Why are you doing this?”
All I can say is, “What do you mean?”
“What I mean is, why are you helping me? Why are you tending to my scrapes and my hurt ankle? Why are you cooking food for me? Why are you the first man who hasn’t tried to beat me? Or worse?”
“Is there a problem with my taking care of you, lass?”
She hesitates. “I don’t know. Nobody has ever taken any notice of me like this. Not even Da’. He’s been too busy grieving Mother to pay attention to me except to take out his anger. If my own da’ won’t pay attention to me, then why should you?”
This strikes me to my core, and I stand up in shock. The blow of those words is akin to being kicked in the gut by a horse. How can anyone so young be so wrong about life? The look of discomfort and disbelief on her face is just as hard to understand. I search for the necessary words but they escape me.

About the Author

Mike Hartner was born in Miami in 1965. He’s traveled much of the continental United States. He has several years post secondary education, and experience teaching and tutoring young adults. Hartner has owned and run a computer firm for more than twenty-five years. He now lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and child. They share the neighborhood and their son with his maternal grandparents.

Mike’s latest book is I, Angus (The Eternity Series Book 4).

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