Cowboy Trouble by Joanne Kennedy

COWBOY TROUBLE

By Joanne Kennedy
Publication Date: March 2010

About The Book:

Fleeing her latest love life disaster, big city journalist Libby Brown's transition to rural living isn't going exactly as planned. Her childhood dream has always been to own a chicken farm—but without the constant help of her charming, sexy, cowboy neighbor; she'd never have made it through her first Wyoming season.

Handsome rancher Luke Rawlins is impressed by this sassy, independent city girl. But he yearns to do more than help Libby out with her ranch…he's ready for love, and he wants to go the distance. When the two get embroiled in their tiny town's one and only crime story, Libby discovers that their sizzling hot attraction is going to complicate her life in every way possible…

About The Author:

Joanne Kennedy lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming with two dogs and a retired fighter pilot. The dogs are relatively well-behaved. "Cowboy Trouble" is her first novel.

My Thoughts:

All romances have a set formula and guaranteed happy ending. I should know, I've read a million of them. So for a contemporary romance to keep my interest, it has to have that little bit of something extra that sets it apart. I found that in Joanne Kennedy's book, Cowboy Trouble. 

The first thing that made me laugh and endeared me to the book's heroine, Libby Brown, was her big fat lie about owning a ferocious guard dog. Believe me, she had handsome rancher Luke Rawlins stepping lightly on her front steps. Then her insisting that he refer to her chicken farm as a 'chicken ranch', and to her flock of chickens as a 'herd of chickens', hooked me on this feisty lady. Luke Rawlins, a tough but sensitive man, wants to make a ranchers wife out of this hard-to-coral city-girl. Add to this mix a little mystery, intrigue and danger, and you've got a read that will tickle your funny-bone and warm your heart.

 

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Sourcebook, Inc. 

One Picture = 1000 Words - # 4

One Picture Can = 
A 100 Words
You've heard the saying that "a single picture is worth a thousand words" and we all know that to be true. As a writer, I have used this exercise many times to jump start that part of my brain that daydreams, imagines, wonders, and creates.

Variations of light and shadow combined with soft slivers of sensuous color do magical things when we least expect it. They inspire and awe us. They demand that we interpret their beauty with whatever medium is at hand. For a writer, poet, or reader, that would be words.  

Play along with me as I periodically post a photo along with my interpretation. Please add yours in the comment area, as well. It can be a paragraph, or just a single word. The important thing is to free your imagination. Allow it to go wherever it will and to bring back what only you can find.

For me, this photo brings to mind such words as: Conquest, Invasion, Isolation, Enduring Love, and Hope. Following up on that train of thought, I now try to write something that uses both the feeling the photo conjures and the actual description of the photo. It's great fun and helps me keep my thought processes fluid and unrestrained.

NARRATIVE EXERCISE:

Elinore gasped and clutched the protruding rock just in time to prevent a downhill slide, one that would end with her body smashed against the boulders below.  She was a fool to walk this close to the edge. But then, being a fool was the very least of her faults, if Sir Gaius Thornehill were to be believed. The hateful knight had hardly cleared the castle gates before stripping her of her home, her dignity, and her freedom.

~Lynda Coker~ 

GIVEAWAY:  

 I'm going to give away a child's Matching Game, handmade by me, to one person who comments on this post. 

1. You must live in the U.S. or Canada and be a blog follower to win. 

2. Deadline is March 15th.

3. Leave an email address for contact purposes

WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY EMAIL

Susan Palmquist Interviews Gail Delaney of Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.

Susan Palquist Interviews Gail Delaney of Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.


If there’s one certainty in the current publishing environment, it’s that once a month at least one new electronic publisher will set up shop. It’s a crowded market but every once in awhile one publisher grabs my attention. Desert Breeze Publishing did just that and did it the old fashion way by publishing top notch books that I couldn’t put down. I’d read three of their mystery novels and was intrigued not only by the quality of writing but the high level of editing too. I wanted to find out more about the company so here is my chat with editor in chief and co-owner, Gail Delaney. www.desertbreezepublishing.com

Susan Palmquist( SP)- My favorite question to anyone who starts a business…how did you get the idea?

Gail Delaney (GD)-That is a very interesting question…


Prior to opening Desert Breeze Publishing, I was published with another e-book publishing company that has since filed bankruptcy and closed – much to the surprise of the authors, but that's another story.  Anyway, while with them my family and I traveled across the country to visit with my closest friend – Jenifer Ranieri (co-owner of DBP, btw) who lived in California.


While there, I was sent artwork for one of my future releases. The cover was… awful. I hated it. I won't go into which book or why it was horrible, but sufficed to say it was bad. It wasn't appropriate for the story, the characters, or my style of writing – and it looked amateur and thrown together.


Jenifer, who is a gifted artist, told me I should beg my publisher to allow HER to make my covers. They refused. Somewhere through the course of this conversation one of us said "We should just open our own company".


That was a few years ago. Since then, the publisher closed their doors and my family and I relocated from New England to California. At every turn, another door opened leading us in the direction of opening a publishing company of our own. Finally, we both threw up our hands and said "Fine!" We then began the 'research' stage… finding out all we could about opening an e-book publishing house. We refined what we wanted to be about, and worked out as many kinks as we could before opening our doors. It took months of preparation, but in the end, it was well worth it.


And now… here we are.

SP-Do you think the publishing business is easier today because so many books are now in electronic format or has this just made it more competitive environment?

GD-I wouldn't call it easy… not by a long shot.  The business environment is competitive because you need to find new ways to make your books stand out amongst the others. 

SP-You’re also an author. How long have you been writing and what genre do you write?

GD-I've written stories and such since I was in fourth grade, and wrote a fantasy novel when I was fifteen (which is still under the 'proverbial bed').  But, I began writing with the intent of seeking publication in January of 1996.  I remember that date so clearly because it was just a few months after my mother passed away. While helping my father organize all the necessary paperwork, I found a box my mother had kept for years.  In that box was everything I'd ever written… poems, book reports, short stories, and every draft of that fantasy novel.  It helped me see what my mother always had… I was a writer.

It took many years before I got that first contract.  J

All my novels fall under the big umbrella of romance, but I've written in contemporary romance, romantic suspense and science fiction/futuristic romance.  My favorite genre is sci fi romance, but I recently went back to my roots and wrote a contemporary romance.

SP-I recently read one of the Desert Breeze titles, Book One of the New Orleans Detectives by Melanie Atkins. I loved it and noticed you publish many mystery series. Have you been seeking mystery series or did this happen just by chance?

GD-I am a fan of series.  I enjoy them because as a reader I can become emotionally vested with the world and people the author creates.  So, I did actively seek series – especially suspense.  I have known Melanie for many years, and I was ecstatic when she contacted me about her New Orleans Detectives series.  In fact, I just signed another brand new series with Melanie that will begin releasing just as the New Orleans series ends.

SP-I know you’re closed to submissions until July 2010, but when you do start reading manuscripts again, what will you be looking for?

GD-I would be excited about seeing a few different genres, the first probably being epic science fiction romance.  I love science fiction and I love romance – so when I can get them both together in the same place, I'm ecstatic.  J I like space operas and character-driven stories with sweeping storylines and elegant arcs to tie the books together.

I also want suspense, and while my first choice is a contemporary setting, I'll look at romantic suspense in any setting.  I love the thrill and edge of danger in a good suspense novel.  This can be an individual book or a series.

I recently read an article that said 20th Century Historicals would be the next big thing… but I've been saying that for a couple years now, and have said since opening DBP that I'd love to see some historical fiction set in the first half or so of the 20th century.  Novels set around any of the major conflicts of the 20th century, novels intricately woven through the era of the Great Depression… anything along those lines

SP-What are common problems you’ve seen with submissions?

GD-Two things… first, not thoroughly reading our submissions page to understand just what it is we publish and what we're looking for.  Second, not sending me a book that is polished and edited within an inch of its life.  

Of course, if you send me a manuscript that doesn't meet our guidelines, which in the most basic of terms would be a fictional romance novel that is not erotica or erotic romance, then I will reject the submission.

Equally, if you send me a novel that has a wonderful concept that meets our guidelines, but your manuscript is riddled with problems – i.e:  head hopping, passive voice, poor grammar, etc – I will most likely reject the submission.  I have been known to take on a book that needs extensive editing because I see the potential of the book itself, but don't bet on that getting you in the door.  Time is a precious commodity, and generally speaking, I need to sign books that are well written, well planned, and well executed.

I will not reject your manuscript for not being formatted as I state on the website… but it's got to be well written. 

SP-Any particular Desert Breeze titles you’d recommend writers read to get a feel for what you’re looking for?

GD-Oh, wow… that's a tough one.  I'm exceptionally proud of all the books we offer and really feel we've gathered some of the best authors in their particular genres.

I guess you'd have to look at each category.  For instance, for Inspirational Romance I'd say read either Deborah Kinnard, Michelle Levigne or Michelle Sutton.  J. Morgan writes great humorous novels with a paranormal twist.  In Science Fiction, read P.I. Barrington, Vijaya Schartz or myself.  And in suspense, Melanie Atkins is just chilling.  If you like a wonderfully sweet and outstandingly hilarious read, then you've got to read Sandra Sookoo.  She's wonderful.

SP-You don’t accept erotic romances or erotica but what about heat and sensuality levels in your books? What would be going too far and get an instant rejection from you?

GD-We grade our books on four 'heat' levels.

Sweet novels have nothing more than a few brief kisses and physical intimacy wouldn't exceed hand holding or an embrace.  Many – but not all – of our inspirational novels fall into this category.

Warm novels would involve more heated kisses and embraces.  Physical intimacy may or may not occur in the book, but if it does it 'goes to the door' and no further.  Firmly shut that door and let the reader's imagination go from there.

Sensual novels have a higher level of intensity in the physical contact.  Kisses are intense, physical contact more frequent and with high sexuality and sensuality in its intensity.  If physical intimacy occurs, it will be 'on the page' but not in extensive detail – leaving the description more to implication rather than detail.  But… no purple prose.

Finally, the Intense rating would imply a much higher level of physical need, intense sexuality and more mature themes.  However, scenes of physical intimacy will be appropriate to the story and characters and will never be gratuitous in nature.  Many of our intense novels may have one detailed love scene, with the implication of others that go behind that proverbial door.  Descriptions will be more detailed than the Sensual rating, but always tasteful and never using terms and descriptions common to erotica or erotic romance.

I've actually never rejected a book for sexual detail unless the author clearly states their book is intended to be erotic in nature (usually because they haven't read the guidelines).  What I will reject a book for is if the plot of the book is intricately tied to sex.  The book shouldn't be about sex, about getting sex, about how sex is so important to the arc of the story that it couldn't exist without it. 

I've had numerous cases where I've enjoyed the book, but found the sex scenes to go a little further than I felt was necessary or appropriate for the rest of the novel – and for our guidelines.  In those cases, I've contacted the author and explained that while I'm interested in the book, I would ask for changes to those scenes should they accept a contract.  I would say that 95% of the time the author has been more than willing to make the necessary adjustments.  In fact, in most cases, the author tells me that they only put that much detail in the book because they felt it was necessary in the current market environment and they weren't comfortable with it themselves. 

SP-Do you make the final decision about a manuscript or do you leave it up to your editors?

GD-I am the final say on all manuscripts.  Truth be told, right now I am the only editor.  I have copy editors who review the books after they've gone through edits between myself and the author – I'm a firm believer that at that point all manuscripts need a new set of eyes to make sure they're correct.  I will be bringing on editors in the future, but for now I have such a high standard for editing that until I can train editors in the way I want things done, I do it myself.

That probably makes me sound like a control freak, but I hold myself and Desert Breeze to a very high standard.

SP-Any recent acquisitions you’d like to tell us about?

GD-I just closed up submissions for all of 2010, and yes… there are definitely some exciting releases in the works. 

I mentioned before the new series by Melanie Atkins, titled Keller County Cops.  I've also just signed a series written by new author Jennifer Harts titled Future Savior, which is a science fiction/fantasy series with a strong Christian-based theme.  Many of our already established series will be carrying through 2010 and beyond. The Love Bites series by J. Morgan is exceptionally funny and shines a whole new light on the paranormal world.  Esther Mitchell will be joining us in 2010 with a wonderful new fantasy series beginning in June of 2010.

I could go on and on.  

SP-Any genres or sub genres you’d like to publish but as yet haven’t come your way?

GD-I would like to see some more dramatic contemporary romance pieces.  Not suspense, but stories with a sharp emotional edge.  And in contract, some more modern cowboy romances. 

SP-What sets your books apart from others, what can a reader expect to find between the pages?

GD-In a market flooded with erotica and erotic romance, Desert Breeze Publishing has tried to return to a more classic form of romance storytelling.  We like to say that books at DBP are classic romance novels told in not so classic settings.  We have vampires and werewolves and time traveling Vikings, but the stories are always character driven and all about the romance.  We want romance to be about the slow boil of falling in love… the rush you get when he looks your way and smiles or takes your hand unexpectedly. 

SP-What’s ahead for you?

GD-Over the next year, we are going to focus on expanding our catalog size by slowly increasing the quantity of books we release each month.  We are also going to be offering our novels at several outlets to best offer our books to as many readers as possible.  We are already at Amazon for the Kindle, but soon we will also be at Barnes and Noble for those readers with The Nook (myself included!) and I hope to be at several other sites in the near future.  Further ahead, we are considering options for growth such as going to print and expanding our offerings to include mainstream novels.  But, that is further down the road.

Susan Palmquist is a freelance writer and also writes romances and mysteries. Her latest novel, Sleeping With Fairies was published by Lyrical Press in December 2009. She’s currently working on a romantic suspense set in the Pacific Northwest and two novellas. Find out more about Susan and her work at www.susanpalmquist.com

 

On The Brink By Henry M. Paulson, Jr.

ON THE BRINK

By Henry M. Paulson, Jr.
Listen To An Excerpt

About The Book:

When Hank Paulson, the former CEO of Goldman Sachs, was appointed in 2006 to become the nation's next Secretary of the Treasury, he knew that his move from Wall Street to Washington would be daunting and challenging.

But Paulson had no idea that a year later, he would find himself at the very epicenter of the world's most cataclysmic financial crisis since the Great Depression. Major institutions including Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers, AIG, Merrill Lynch, and Citigroup, among others-all steeped in rich, longstanding tradition-literally teetered at the edge of collapse. Panic ensnared international markets. Worst of all, the credit crisis spread to all parts of the U.S. economy and grew more ominous with each passing day, destroying jobs across America and undermining the financial security millions of families had spent their lifetimes building.

This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime economic nightmare. Events no one had thought possible were happening in quick succession, and people all over the globe were terrified that the continuing downward spiral would bring unprecedented chaos. All eyes turned to the United States Treasury Secretary to avert the disaster.

This, then, is Hank Paulson's first-person account. From the man who was in the very middle of this perfect economic storm, ON THE BRINK is Paulson's fast-paced retelling of the key decisions that had to be made with lightning speed. Paulson puts the reader in the room for all the intense moments as he addressed urgent market conditions, weighed critical decisions, and debated policy and economic considerations with of all the notable players-including the CEOs of top Wall Street firms as well as Ben Bernanke, Timothy Geithner, Sheila Bair, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, and then-President George W. Bush.

More than an account about numbers and credit risks gone bad, ON THE BRINK is an extraordinary story about people and politics-all brought together during the world's impending financial Armageddon.

About The Author:

Henry M. Paulson, Jr. served under President George W. Bush as the 74th Secretary of the Treasury from June 2006 until January 2009. Before coming to Treasury, Paulson was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs since the firm's initial public offering in 1999. He joined Goldman Sachs Chicago Office in 1974 and rose through the ranks holding several positions including, Managing Partner of the firm's Chicago office, Co-head of the firm's investment Banking Division, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Co-Senior partner.

Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Paulson was a member of the White House Domestic Council, serving as Staff Assistant to the President from 1972 to 1973, and as Staff Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon from 1970 to 1972.

Paulson graduated from Dartmouth in 1968, where he majored in English, was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and an All Ivy, All East football player. He received an M.B.A. from Harvard in 1970.

My Thoughts: 

Okay! Everyone step back a few feet because I'm wading deep water here! Economics and Global Financial Systems are not subjects I read about every day. Nor do I expect to have a front row seat on a financial roller coaster with a faulty breaking system. Picture me with my arms raised, screaming as I plunge off the first monstrous hill. That's what it felt like to follow Author Henry M. Paulson, Jr. through his book ON THE BRINK - Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial System. This is not a work of fiction, but at times it reads like a really good 'End-Of-The-World-As-We-Know It' blockbuster.

One of the things that jumped off the pages for me was the idiotic political-posturing of some key players. I wanted to grab them by the ears and shout, 'The ship is going down, quit polishing the brass!' I enjoyed sitting in on all those high-level meetings with the author. I kept waiting for someone to throw me out because I lacked the right security clearance.

Even for a financial novice, like myself, I was surprised that I could follow most of what was going on. Some of the language and references went over my head, but all-in-all, the author's style makes it easy to read and comprehend a lot of the deeper material. Getting a first-hand glimpse behind the scenes of what we were all viewing on TV and newspapers is worth the read.

Getting a closeup view of the giants of 'Big Business and Finance' as some of them teetered, wobbled, and toppled, was nothing less than traumatic. When names like AIG, Fannie Mae, Merrill Lynch, and others like them are synonymous with instability, well...  You'll just have to buy the ticket and take the ride yourself to understand what I mean.

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Hachette Book Group

SEALed With A Ring by Mary Daughtridge

SEALed With A Ring

By Mary Daughtridge

On Sale: March 2, 2010

About The Book

Navy SEAL Davy Graziano is a happy-go-lucky lady killer, so nobody is surprised when he goes for some "local action" at a fellow SEAL's wedding. But JJ Lewis turns out to be a generous, beautiful businesswoman and civic leader, and Davy's gotten in way over his head. She's got motives to find herself a husband double-quick and she has the brilliant idea of picking a military husband who'll be away on tours of duty and she won't have to deal with him much. She allows Davy to think he's seduced her at the wedding, but that one nightstand was all the interview process she needed.

Davy has ulterior motives of his own to accept her out-of-the-blue marriage proposal, which is supposed to be strictly a business proposition. But it doesn't take long after the wedding ceremony for both of them to discover they've gotten a lot more than they bargained for.

About The Author:

Mary Margret Daughtridge, a Southerner born and bred, has been a grade school teacher, speech therapist, family educator, biofeedback therapist, and Transpersonal Hypnotherapist.

She has been a member since 2002 of Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Romancing the Military Soul, an online writing group, and she is a sought-after judge in writing contests.

My Thoughts:

A quote from the cover of Author Mary Margret Daughtridge’s new book, SEALed with a Ring, says: “Sometimes you get a lot more than you bargained for…” 

In this contemporary romance, those words do come true. Through skillful storytelling, insightful character development, and quirky little twists and turns, SEALed with a Ring kept me reading, sentence-after-sentence.

Navy SEAL medic Davy Graziano is my favorite kind of hero. He’s alpha to the core, but oh so vulnerable when it comes to that one special woman in his life, the one that can wrap this bigger-than-life hero in knots and leave him squirming. JJ Caruthers is that a woman.

JJ is in a predicament. In order to inherit the business she’s worked her whole life to obtain, the one that means more to her than her personal happiness or freedom, she’s got to marry. And in a hurry! Why not choose Davy Graziano? Well, there are lots of reasons, notwithstanding the fact that, he doesn’t remember her as the girl of his dreams. With little time left, she makes the choice and takes a chance on Davy.

Why doesn’t Davy remember JJ?  With separate schemes, can these two find a basis for a merger? Why is a Navy SEAL the perfect choice for JJ, who doesn’t want a husband at all? You’ll enjoy discovering the answers to these questions as you read SEALed with a Ring.

 A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review by Sourcebooks

Can You Spend Too Much Time Reading?

Can You Spend Too Much Time Reading?

Let's think about that question in light of something King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 12:12.  

"To the making of many books there is no end, and much devotion to them is wearisome to the flesh."

It's apparent from those words that there can be a down-side to reading if we're not balanced both in what we read, and in how much precious time we spend reading. Not an easy point to find if you're a person who loves the feel, smell, touch, and joy of diving into a new book. Here are a few guidelines I created for myself.

1. Be Selective
2. Do not ignore important responsibilities in favor of reading.
3. Use discernment, Do not accept every fact or philosophy as truth.
4. Do not sacrifice your moral or ethical principles when making book selections.
5. Despite your sincere efforts to choose wisely, if a book turns out to violate your rules, put it down.

What would you add or take away from this list?

The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock

THE MOON LOOKED DOWN
By Dorothy Garlock

The new Americana romance from bestselling author Dorothy Garlock, this time set against the backdrop of WWII. Sophie Heller's family immigrated from Germany to Victory, a small town in Illinois, before WWII began. Now that the war has affected the town, the townspeople discriminate against Sophie and her family. When a train derails, it is an accident but the Heller family is blamed. Coming to Sophie's rescue is a teacher from the high school, and despite their cultural differences, a romance starts to bloom.
  

GIVEAWAY 

You must live in the US or Canada and be a blog follower to win.
Winners will be randomly chosen.
Cannot ship to  P.O. Boxes
Deadline is March 7th

I have 5 copies to give away with thanks to Hachette Books.

Here's how this works.
1. Leave a comment telling why you'd like to read this book
2. Be sure to include your email so you can be contacted if you're chosen as one of our winners.

Winners: Our three commenters have been notified as winners.

The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley

THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE

By Carla Buckley

About The Book:
How far would you go to protect your family?
Ann Brooks never thought she’d have to answer that question. Then she found her limits tested by a crisis no one could prevent. Now, as her neighborhood descends into panic, she must make tough choices to protect everyone she loves from a threat she cannot even see. In this chillingly urgent novel, Carla Buckley confronts us with the terrifying decisions we are forced to make when ordinary life changes overnight.

A year ago, Ann and Peter Brooks were just another unhappily married couple trying–and failing–to keep their relationship together while they raised two young daughters. Now the world around them is about to be shaken as Peter, a university researcher, comes to a startling realization: A virulent pandemic has made the terrible leap across the ocean to America’s heartland.

And it is killing fifty out of every hundred people it touches.

As their town goes into lockdown, Peter is forced to return home–with his beautiful graduate assistant. But the Brookses’ safe suburban world is no longer the refuge it once was. Food grows scarce, and neighbor turns against neighbor in grocery stores and at gas pumps. And then a winter storm strikes, and the community is left huddling in the dark.

Trapped inside the house she once called home, Ann Brooks must make life-or-death decisions in an environment where opening a door to a neighbor could threaten all the things she holds dear.
Carla Buckley’s poignant debut raises important questions to which there are no easy answers, in an emotionally riveting tale of one family facing unimaginable stress.

About The Author:

Carla Buckley is the debut author of The Things That Keep Us Here (Delacorte Press, February 2010.) She was born in Washington, D.C., attended Oberlin College and The Wharton School for Business, and has worked in a variety of jobs, including a stint as an assistant press secretary for a U.S. senator, an analyst with the Smithsonian Institution, and a technical writer for a defense contractor. Orion in the UK and Wunderlich in Germany pre-empted rights to The Things That Keep Us Here and Buckley’s next book, and Random House has purchased audio rights. She is the Chair of the International Thriller Writers Debut Program and currently lives in Ohio with her husband and children. She can be reached at www.CarlaBuckley.com, on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/carla.buckley), and Twitter (http://twitter.com/CarlaBuckley.)

My Thoughts:  
PREPARE TO BE TOUCHED! I couldn't read this book in one sitting because the emotions it invoked were too strong. I had to step away and think about what was happening, adjust my own emotional response so that I could return with the unbiased thought processes of a book reviewer. So it took me three sessions to complete The Things that Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley. 

Carla Buckley does a superb job of putting her readers smack in the middle of a life-shattering pandemic. We experience this through the eyes of Ann Brooks, her two children, and estranged husband. An ordinary family, too much like our own to be comfortable. But comfort is not what this book is about. It raises all the hard questions, the impossible decisions we hope we never have to make, and the tragedy, despair, and strength of the human spirit. This is not a cozy read! It will raise goosebumps and cast an unwelcome light on those fears we keep hidden away in the recesses of our hearts and minds. 
If there was a down side to this read for me, it was that some of the questions raised by the author seemed left unanswered, some situations unexplained. But then maybe that is what the author intended. After all, life never wraps itself into neat, tidy packages we can all store away and forget...

A complimentary advance reader copy was provided by the author

Try Darkness by James Scott Bell

TRY DARKNESS

By James Scott Bell

About The Book:
Ty Buchanan is living on the peaceful grounds of St. Monica's, far away from the glamorous life he led as a rising trial lawyer for a big L.A. firm. Recovering from the death of his fiancée and a false accusation of murder, Buchanan has found his previous ambitions unrewarding. Now he prefers offering legal services to the poor and the under-represented, from his "office" at local coffee bar The Freudian Sip. A mysterious woman with a six year old daughter comes to him for help. She's being illegally evicted from a downtown transient hotel, an interest represented by his old law firm and former best friend, Al Bradshaw. Buchanan won't back down. He's going to fight for the woman's rights.
But then she ends up dead, and the case moves from the courtroom to the streets. Determined to find the killer and protect the little girl, who has no last name and no other family, Buchanan finds he must depend on skills he never needed in the employ of a civil law firm.

About The Author:
A former trial lawyer associated with one of L.A.'s top law firms and later working out of an independent office, James Scott Bell has written over 300 articles on trial law, as well as six books for trial lawyers. Now a prolific fiction writer, he applies his in-depth knowledge of the justice system to his legal thrillers. His Web site is: www.jamesscottbell.com.

Audio and Video

My Thoughts: 

This book, Try Darkness, is the third book in a series including the main character Ty Buchanan.  It reads really well on its own. Since I hadn't read the first two books, I didn't know what to expect. What a nice surprise this book turned out to be. I fell in love with Ty Buchanan, the heart-broken lawyer who's trying to get the pieces of his life back together after the death of his fiance. Living on the grounds of a convent, he's befriended by a basketball-playing nun, and an very unique priest. Having become disillusioned with his former law company, he now represents the poor and underprivileged. This leads to some very quirky situations that are super entertaining. I loved James Scott Bell's writing voice. It's different, comes out of left-field sometimes, but has that quality that makes you want to follow him, wherever he may lead.

Snippet:

~  "Usually, you don't go to a nun to get connected to a call girl. But in this case Sister Mary had gotten some names off of L.A. Night Silk. She handed me a list of four based, she said, on their profiles. She did this at my trailer, as far from the office as she could get and still on the grounds of St. Monica's."

A complimentary copy for review was provided by The Hachette Book Group

GIVEAWAY 

You must live in the US or Canada and be a blog follower to win.
Winners will be randomly chosen.
Cannot ship to  P.O. Boxes
Deadline is March 3rd

I have 3 copies to give away with thanks to Hachette Books.

Here's how this works.
1. Leave a comment telling why you read Mystery/Suspense.
2. Be sure to include your email so you can be contacted if you're chosen as one of our winners.

WINNERS:
Lori, Simply Stacie, Jeff

Capturing Karma by K. M. Daughters

CAPTURING KARMA

By K. M. Daughters
Watch The Video

About the Book:
Veterinarian Matty Connors’ visions lead her to homicide detective Brian Sullivan once again despite her resolve to remain anonymous the past four years.  Her official work with the police in California resulted in the brutal murder of her fiancé, and since, a recurrent nightmare she barely survives.  Brian, the reputed ladies man of the Sullivan family, has yet to give his heart to a woman until Matty lays claim to it.  His black-and-white approach to solving crimes doesn’t jibe with Matty’s spooky pronouncements or her reputation for alleged infallibility.  A wild goose chase searching for a murder weapon casts doubt on Matty’s “truths” and threatens their smoldering romance.  Is Brian her nightmare slayer and ultimate truth?  When the puzzle pieces fall in place for Brian, will it be too late to save Matty?

About The Authors:

K.M. Daughters is the writing team of sisters, Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare. Their penname is dedicated to their parents: Kay and Mickey Lynch. Pat is married to Nick Casiello and has three children, Jen, Emilie and Brian. Kathie is married to Tom Clare and has two sons, Tom and Michael. She has one granddaughter, Natalie, and a new grandbaby is expected in April.
Visit K. M. Daughters www.kmdaughters.com

My Thoughts: The writing voice of K.M Daughters is fresh, innovative, and entertaining. In their new book, Capturing Karma, that voice comes through with a well-crafted story that will keep Suspense/Mystery lovers enthralled. And for those who lean more toward Romance, you'll love the relationship between the book's main characters, veterinarian Matty Connors and homicide detective Brian Sullivan. Polls apart in personality and immediate goals, these two come together with a bang, literally, and the bumps don't stop there. There is a murder to solve, but before they can do that, they need to find a way to trust each other. Attraction isn't a problem, but the twisting, turning circumstances that ensue, don't make falling in love easy for these two. If you haven't read any of the works of K.M. Daughters, now's the time to add this writing team to your list of favorite authors.

Snippet:

~  "Her breath caught in her throat as the execution scene replayed in the recesses of her mind, as it did then and with nightmarish frequency since. Eric, Eric, my darling. Don't..."

 

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by the authors

The Confident Woman - Start Today Living Boldly and Without Fear By Joyce Meyer

THE CONFIDENT WOMAN Start Today Living Boldly and Without Fear

By Joyce Meyer

About The Book:
What keeps women from being their best? Joyce has been helping women better themselves by helping identify emotional barriers and physical, mental, and spiritual obstacles in their lives for years. Now she provides another answer-confidence.

Our society has an insecurity epidemic, women in particular. Compensating by pretending to be secure-a common response-only leads to feelings of shame. Lack of self-confidence causes great difficulty in relationships of all kinds, and in marriage instances can even lead to divorce.

In THE CONFIDENT WOMAN, Joyce explores the seven characteristics of a woman with confidence, which include a woman who knows she is loved, who refuses to live in fear, and who does not live by comparisons. Joyce explains that confidence stems from being positive in your actions and living honestly, but most importantly from having faith, in God and in ourselves.

About The Author:

Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, she has written more than eighty inspirational books, including Never Give Up!, The Secret to True Happiness, 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life, the entire Battlefield of the Mind family of books, her first venture into fiction with The Penny, and many others. She has also released thousands of audio teachings, as well as a complete video library. Joyce's Enjoying Everyday Life radio and television programs are broadcast around the world, and she travels extensively conducting conferences.

My Thoughts: 

~ "Confidence allows us to face life with boldness, openness, and honesty. It enables us to live wothout worry and to feel safe. It enables us to live authentically."

This quote from THE CONFIDENT WOMAN touches on a point that is so essential to everyone, especially women. To thrive, in what is indisputably a man's world, each woman must be free of fear, free to discover and grow into the authentic person she was meant to be. Author Joyce Meyer gives women many sound, reasonable, and doable suggestions as to how to get there. While I don't agree with all of the author's spiritual conclusions, I do agree that God loves, appreciates, and wants women to find their rightful place in his arrangement. And that, without question, this place is one of  dignity and happiness. You'll enjoy the author's voice, her enthusiasm, humor, and sometimes, her slap-in-the-face wake up calls.

 

A Complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Hachette Book Group

Beauvallet by Georgette Heyer

BEAUVALLET

By Georgette Heyer

About The Book:

A swashbuckling tale set in the second half of the 16th century, when Elizabeth was on the throne and the Spanish Armada ruled the waves. Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, pirate and nobleman, captures a Spanish galleon and discovers a lovely lady on board. Chivalrous to the core, he woos and wins her heart, then returns her and her father to their homeland, vowing to come after her—even though there's a price on his head and discovery of his identity will mean certain death. In the midst of much adventure, Beauvallet masquerades as a Frenchman, is betrayed, and must fight his way to freedom while stealing the lady willingly away…

About The Author:

The late Georgette Heyer was a very private woman. Her historical novels have charmed and delighted millions of readers for decades, though she rarely reached out to the public to discuss her works or personal life. She was born in Wimbledon in August 1902, and her first novel, The Black Moth, published when she was 19, was an instant success.

Heyer published 56 books over the next 53 years, until her death from lung cancer in 1974. Her work included Regency novels, mysteries and historical fiction. Known also as the Queen of Regency romance, Heyer was legendary for her research, historical accuracy and her extraordinary plots and characterizations. Her last book, My Lord John, was published posthumously in 1975. She was married to George Ronald Rougier, a barrister, and they had one son, Richard.

My Thoughts: Like thousands of other women, I'm one of Georgette Heyer's devoted fans. I've read almost all of her 56 books, Beauvallet being the latest. Her book, Corinthian,  has long been my favorite, but Beauvallet has just overtaken that position. Romance! Romance! Romance! The kind that puts roses in your cheeks, butterflies in your stomach, and a yearning in your heart. What's not to love in a Swashbuckling Pirate who has more charm than any man has a right too. One who makes a woman both fear and crave his touch. Dominica is a heroine equal to this hero in daredevil courage, love of adventure, and heart-melting passion. If you don't read this book for yourself, well...why deny yourself the pleasure?

Snippet:

~ 'Senor, a word I do not know. I have warned you. Take what precaution you will, but whether you are quick or dead, I shall have your daughter, in spite of anything you may do.'

   'Sir Nicholas, you have a brave spirit, and that I like in you. I have no need to take precautions, for you could never penetrate into Spain.'

   'God be my witness, senor, I shall penetrate.'

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review by Sourcebooks

Corked by Kathryn Borel

CORKED

By Kathryn Borel

About The Book:
Meet Kathryn Borel, bon vivant and undutiful daughter. Now meet her father, Philippe, former chef, eccentric genius, and wine aficionado extraordinaire. Kathryn is like her father in every way but one: she's totally ignorant when it comes to wine. And although Philippe has devoted untold parenting hours to delivering impassioned oenological orations, she has managed to remain unenlightened. But after an accident and a death, Kathryn realizes that by shutting herself off to her father's greatest passion, she will never really know him.

About The Author:

Kathryn Borel was born in 1979 in Toronto, the daughter of a hotelier.
After several years, she became the older sister to Nico, who was named after the family cat. She spent her early years living in hotels in Paris, Bermuda, Dallas, and New Jersey, finally settling in Quebec City.
In 2002 she moved to Toronto to follow a man. The relationship ended.
She continues to live in Toronto where she works at the Canadian Broadcasting Company. She has written food and wine reviews for radio and print. Her journalism includes a column which ran in the National Post under the title "Indignities." Corked is her first book.

My Thoughts: The thing I enjoyed best about reading this book, was its eye-catching mustard-yellow cover. I even loved the font used for the title. I was sure I was going to enjoy immersing myself in the romantic wine country and culture of France, but I have to say with honesty, that did not happen. The book focuses on the rather pathetic  relationship of Kathryn Borel and her father, Philippe. In itself, that might be okay for the sake of reality, but it's not at all entertaining or engaging. I think the author forgot that a reader needs to feel something for the main characters, at the very least,  pity, compassion, or mild interest, in order to stick with the reading. Personally, I detested Philippe, and felt no compunction to listen to Kathryn's recounting of her story. While the author gives us some very nice descriptions, at times, the foul language and repulsive crudeness at other times, nullified its impact. I guess you could say, as a reader, I just didn't get it. So I'm giving this book my lowest rating. I use Acceptable to allow that others might feel differently.

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Hatchet Book Group

About Author

Kathryn Borel was born in 1979 in Toronto, the daughter of a hotelier. After several years, she became the older sister to Nico, who was named after the family cat. She spent her early years living in hotels in Paris, Bermuda, Dallas, and New Jersey, finally settling in Quebec City. ... more

Audio and Video

ICONS & IDOLS Pop Goes the Culture

ICONS and IDOLS Pop Goes the Culture

The Art of Victor Pross

Paperback: 168 pages
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN-10: 1438934483
ISBN-13: 978-1438934488 

About the Book:
ICONS & IDOLS Pop Goes the Culture is an eye-popping visual homage and satire of pop culture that is sure to tickle a funny bone. ICONS & IDOLS is comprised of Victor Pross’ “extreme caricatures” of the famous—such as Elvis Presley, Sylvester Stallone, Marilyn Monroe, George Bush, Albert Einstein—and others icons from the world of film, music and literature. Victor Pross’ most important works –over 70 paintings and drawings–is assembled under one volume to entertain and astound.

About the Author:

Victor Pross is a professional artist born and raised in Toronto now residing in British Columbia. He is known for his “extreme caricaturing.”

He has many high profile commissions to his credit including painting Ron Howard’s caricature portrait as a gift for the famous director as well as painting various agents of the William Morris Agency. He has rendered numerous International celebrities and Canadian media personalities for commercial and private purposes. Victor Pross has been interviewed on television shows such as: Canada AM, Breakfast Television, News at Noon and has been pegged by Canadian Media as “Canada’s foremost caricature artist.”

He has worked on various posters, comic books and CD covers bringing to each work his own unique style. He is currently instructing an art class as well as offering his services as an editorial caricaturist. Victor’s first book, Icons & Idols, will feature a collection of the artist’s paintings and drawings and is now available.  You can visit his website at www.victorpross.com.

My Thoughts:  Take a good look at this book cover. I'm a reader who is very susceptible to book covers. Some make me look twice, some excite my imagination, some grab me by the throat and won't let go until I pick it up and look between the pages. Icons and Idols Pop Goes the Culture is of the last variety.

Not being an art critic or collector, in fact, not having any art credentials beyond knowing very emphatically what I like and don't like, I wondered how I would do justice in reviewing such a book. Duh! Then I remembered, I'm a book lover, book author, and avid reader. Who better to discuss the merits of a book, of any kind,  than the very ordinary kind of reader who enters a bookstore and browses the tables looking for something different, unique, and worthy of inspection.

Let me quote from the book. "Our mythology of film stars and politicians and musical celebrities is much less about reverence than it is about interpretation." ~ Foreword by Edward Keenan

It's the interpretations, the caricatures by Artist Victor Pross that give us an insight into this mythology in the pages of Icons and Idols pop goes the Culture. Whether these caricatures singe your sensitivity, give you pause to think, or draw you into their allure and mystic, they are above all, compelling. 

It is absolutely essential that as you study the caricatures with their background stories, that you let the words of the artist lead you. And I quote. "The playful and mischievous child in me has never died, but he does battle with the angry and frustrated idealist that also resides within me. If you ever feel demoralized, beleaguered, appalled or befuddled by the times we all inhabit, I'm simply trying to give a visual voice to those feelings." ~ Victor Pross

With that said, I hope you will venture into the world of Artist Victor Pross. I found it to be a world of fantasy verses reality, make believe verses truism, and confusion verses understanding. You'll shake your head, hold your breath, and giggle. And then you'll go back for more.

 

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by the author.

The Devil in Merrivale By Jackie Griffey

THE DEVIL IN MERRIVALE
By Jackie Griffey

About The Book:
Murder isn’t the usual order of business in the little town of Merrivale, Tennessee, so the brutal stabbing death of popular high school student Denise Davis sends a shock through the community. Sheriff Cas Larkin is determined to find the killer, and the last thing he needs is distractions like the increasing reports of missing cattle and other livestock. But as he digs deeper, Cas uncovers another mystery–a strange “club” the members are afraid to talk about, and for good reason. One of the recruits is brutally beaten when he refuses to take the club’s activities seriously. He also refuses to talk about those activities–until they turn turn deadly.

There’s something dark and sinister going on in Merrivale, and if Cas can’t figure out what it is and put a stop to it, there’ll be the devil to pay.

About The Author:

When she’s not reading one, Jackie Griffey is more than likely working on a cozy mystery or a romance-suspense novel. She and her family live in Arkansas and she loves to meet and hear from readers and fellow writers. Her web is www.jackiegriffey.com and her blog, Breaktime With Jackie is jjgbreaktimewithjackie.blogspot.com.

My Thoughts:  A cozy mystery with just enough chilly parts to keep you turning pages. What is a Satanic Club of teenagers up to in the small town of Merrivale? Could it be the reason one teenage girl is already dead. Most of us have better sense than to mess with anything remotely connected to Devil Worship. Not so some of the kids in this town. Sheriff Cas Larkin has to figure this mess out before somebody else dies. But, I did say this was a cozy mystery, so not everything is as it appears. The plot is well paced and moves smoothly to a conclusion that might surprise you. This is the first book of the Cas Larkin Mysteries.

Snippet:

~   Marilyn paled. Her nervousness returned, worse than before. She shook her head without speaking. There was something different in her eyes now. She squirmed a little in the chair, glancing at the door as if she wanted to escape.

 

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by the author.

Schooled In Lies By Angela Henry

Schooled In Lies

By Angela Henry

About The Book:
GED instructor Kendra Clayton’s high school days were nothing to brag about. So she’s not too thrilled when on top of having to take a class to renew her teaching certificate or be fired, she gets roped into serving on her high school’s reunion committee.

Spending time with her former classmates is even less fun than having a root canal. Then to make matters worse, Kendra and the other committee members start receiving strange messages and having freak accidents. When one of the accidents results in a death, Kendra is convinced it’s murder. Unfortunately, neither the reunion committee nor the police take her seriously.

To try and prevent another death-and to keep from worrying about all the time her sweetie, Carl, has been spending with his scheming ex-wife-Kendra digs into the lives of her fellow committee members and uncovers enough secrets, lies, and betrayal to make her head spin. When a second murder occurs, Kendra realizes she needs to watch her back in her search for the truth before a killer turns her into another buried secret.

 

About The Author:

Angela Henry was once told that her past life careers included spy, researcher, and investigator. She stuck with what she knew because today she’s a mystery writing library reference specialist, who loves to people watch and eavesdrop on conversations. She’s the author of four mysteries featuring equally nosy amateur sleuth Kendra Clayton, and is also the founder of the award-winning MystNoir website, which promotes African-American mystery writers, and was named a “Hot Site” by USA Today.com. When she’s not working, writing, or practicing her stealth, she loves to travel, is connoisseur of B horror movies, and an admitted anime addict. She lives in Ohio and is currently hard at work trying to meet her next deadline. You can visit her website at http://www.anglehenry.com and her blog at http://angelahenry.blogspot.com. Connect with Angela on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/mystnoir.

My Thoughts: The first thing I want you to know about this author is that she can draw you into this story in just 2 1/2 pages, literally. And in the next 20 pages, she has you so hooked on her growing list of characters that, not reading this book is never going to be an option. I know all of that sounds dramatic, but it's really what happened to  me.  This is a mystery/suspense with lots of twisty turns, cutting humor, brilliant narrative, and gritty revelations about Kendra's past high school life and classmates, some of which, are dieing. Author Angela Henry's voice is witty and sharp. Her characters are so complete, I've added them to my list of neighbors. *smiles* Only the good ones, that is. Secrets, secrets everywhere. They're yours to discover in Schooled In Lies.

Teaser Snippet"

~In retrospect, looking down at my torn shirt on the drive home, I was lucky she hadn't blacked my eye. The moment after the words had come out of my mouth she'd grabbed me by the front of my shirt, dragged me wordlessly to the front door, opened it, pushed me out, and slammed the door behingd me...

 

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by the author.

Countess of Scandal By Laurel McKee

Countess of Scandal 

By Laurel McKee
Listen to Audio Excerpt

About The Book:
As children, Eliza Blacknall and William Denton ran wild over the fields of southern Ireland and swore they would be friends forever. Then fate took Will away to England, while Eliza stayed behind to become a proper Irish countess.

Years later, Will finally makes his way home-as an English soldier sent to crush the Irish uprising. When he spies the lovely Eliza, he is captivated by the passionate woman she has become. But Eliza's passions have led her to join the Irish rebel cause, and Will and Eliza now find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous conflict.

When Ireland explodes in bloody rebellion, Will's regiment is ordered to the front lines, and he is forced to choose between his duty to the English king and his love for Eliza and their Irish homeland.

My Thoughts: If you love historical novels where the setting is paramount, the action intense, and the romance blends well with the first two, then you'll like Author Laurel McKee's new book, Countess of Scandal. As readers we're transported back in time to Kildare, Ireland in the 1790's, a time of rebellion, spies, and resistance.  The two main characters, Eliza Blacknall and William Denton stand on opposite sides of a struggle between Ireland and England, which is about to explode.  An old love coupled with tested loyalties provide enough conflict to keep these two moving through this story. On a down note, the excessive sexual content detracted rather than added to the reading enjoyment, for me.

Teaser Snippet:

~   Death and blood, burning homes, screams. A lash flashing through the air. But how could he tell her that? Let her not hate him, just for a little longer. Let him not discover what she had been doing, either.

 

A complimentary review copy of this book was provided by Hatchett Book Group

Who Owns The World By Kevin Cahill with Rob McMahon

Who Owns The World

By Kevin Cahill with Rob McMahon
Pages 384

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About The Book:
You don't have to be a student of geography or cartography to have an interest in the world around you, especially with globalization making our planet seem smaller than ever. Now you can IM someone in Alaska, purchase coffee beans from Timor-Leste, and visit Dubai. But what do we really know about these lands?

WHO OWNS THE WORLD presents the results of the first-ever landownership survey of all 197 states and 66 territories of the world, and reveals facts both startling and eye-opening. You'll learn that:

--Only 15% of the world's population lays claim to landownership, and that landownership in too few hands is probably the single greatest cause of poverty.
--Queen Elizabeth II owns 1/6 of the entire land surface on earth (nearly 3 times the size of the U.S.).
--The Lichtenstein royal family is wealthier than the Grimaldis of Monaco.
--80% of the American population is crammed in urban areas.
--The least crowded state is Alaska, with 670 acres per person. The most crowded is New Jersey, with .7 acres per person. --60% of America's population are property owners. That's behind the UK (69% homeownership).
--And much, much more!

With its relevance to contemporary issues and culture, WHO OWNS THE WORLD makes for fascinating reading. Both entertaining and educational, it provides cocktail party conversation for years to come and is guaranteed to change the way you view the U.S. and the world.


My Thoughts: I suppose this book would accurately be categorized as a research book. But I'm here to tell you that it is also fascinating reading. From experience, I have one caution for you. Don't drive the people in the room with you crazy by relating every fascinating detail you come across. After about 50 such interjections, they're likely to leave the room.

This book is a real eye-opener in many categories. I enjoyed the 'Background' sections, lots of great little-known material in those sections. With the wealth of information on each of the U. S. states, it's easy to make comparison from one state to the next. And one outstanding fact that just blew me away, was how much actual land in this country the Federal Government owns. WOW! Information doesn't stop with the U.S., many other world nations are covered also.  

Another great point about this book is that the information is given in an easy to follow format, including detailed descriptions and easy to read charts, making it easy to make mental notes.
 

Teaser Snippet;
~ What this book seeks to do is simple but also unprecedented.
~This distribution of land amongst the 26 monarchies makes them richer by far than anyone on the Forbes list of the world's billionaires.

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