Thursday 30 May 2013

Cover Reveal: MY LIFE AS A LUMBERJACK (or how I fell for the wrong guy(s)



About MY LIFE AS A LUMBERJACK (or how I fell for the wrong guy(s)):


 Good-looking rangers, fresh mountain air and an avalanche of crazy adventures await unsuspecting Mercedes “Benz” Bennion in her summer job with the US Forest Service.

 Buy links for LUMBERJACK:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Life-Lumberjack-Fell-Wrong-ebook/dp/B00D3D42KK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369924206&sr=8-1&keywords=my+life+as+a+lumberjack

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-life-as-a-lumberjack-or-how-i-fell-for-the-wrong-guy-sara-v-olds/1115454537?ean=2940016705811

About Sara Olds:
 
 Sara V. Olds has been telling stories for as long as she can remember. One of her favorite memories is of unfolding a tale for friends while they were all bundled in sleeping bags watching a comet shower in the Uintah Mountains.

Mother of three: Large, Medium and Small, she welcomes her newest role, that of mother-in-law.

Life has taken her from thither to yon and back again—she's moved 22 times during her marriage. She breathes to travel. Longs to fulfill a lifelong dream of owning a horse. Is an addictive reader. Enjoys swimming, skiing, violin and movies. Wonders if she'll ever get to SCUBA dive again. And has found a calling that fulfills her in ways she never could have imagined—teaching history to—wait for it—8th Graders.

Her stories consume her. There's nothing she'd rather do than spend all day, all night and the next day conversing with her latest set of characters. History, adventure, action, romance, humor. Adults, YA and kids. Yep, she does it all. Looking for something to enjoy on a quiet rainy afternoon? Or wanting a pulse-pounding, stay up all night turning pages adventure? Or a you've-GOT-to-be-kidding romp? You'll find them in her pages.


Sara’s social media links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/saravolds
Website: http://www.saravolds.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaraVOlds

Wednesday 29 May 2013

Book Review : Tight Knit by Allie Brennan

Genre: Mature YA Contemporary romance
Author: Allie Brennan
Buy links: Amazon


Book blurb courtesy of Goodreads:
Talia Gregory relies on her Nan for everything, especially helping her calm the anxiety that controls her life. But Nan gets sick, and it couldn’t be worse timing. Talia’s panic attacks are getting worse, her boyfriend is a jerk, her best friend is distant, her parents are more absent than usual and she’s stuck planning the Cozy Christmas Charity Drive for her knitting group in place of Nan. If that’s not panic inducing enough, enter Lachlan.

Lachlan McCreedy doesn’t rely on anyone. Not after what he’s been through. It’s him and Gram, nothing else matters but keeping his past buried, and his secrets hidden. So when Gram forces him to help with her Christmas sale, Talia is the last thing he expected, and trusting her with his secrets comes as a shock to both of them. But when he unexpectedly falls for her, the question becomes can he trust her with his heart?


My review:

I have to admit when I first saw this book, that cover snagged my attention. Then the title. Yep. I am a knitting addict, so me and Talia got along very well in this book. Sometimes I use knitting a therapy. It helps me calm down to rearrange my thoughts in a more lineal fashion. (My thoughts get to be chaotic at times)  Talia did the same to calm down.

So about Tight Knit: 

I loved the characters. Talia, who suffers from panic attacks, meets Lachlan *swoon* when he drops by the shop to pick his grandmother - the shop where Talia attends knitting sessions with other ladies (mostly elderly) Ooh I loved this about Talia. Lachlan is this tattooed boy with a troubled past. As much as he tries to resist Talia, he is drawn to her.

Talia is shy, doesn't have many friends -two actually - who end up betraying her. The only other person who manages to keep her sane, is her grandmother. Her parents are rarely at home. I'd say she is the quiet strong-type heroine who knows what she wants in life, and despite everything that has been thrown her way, she manages to rise above it all.

Lachlan - where do I begin? Other than his swoon-worthiness, he is trouble. Some things happened in his past that made it hard for him to trust people. And the only person he trusts, is his grandmother. By the end of the story, he pulls through, even after his losses -which are many, poor boy - he rises above everything, with Talia by his side.

I loved the slow build-up of their relationship. Talia wasn't afraid to speak her mind when it came Lachlan. And what a HEA for these two. I highly recommend Tight Knit. :)
 

Friday 24 May 2013

24 Bones by Michael Stewart Blog Tour - Review





Book Title: 24 Bones
Format: ebook
Price: $2.99
Pages: 305
Publisher: Non Sequitur Press
Release: February 14, 2013












Book Summary:

Every five hundred years the phoenix dies.

Samiya, born-into-shadow, is soon to battle her born-into-light brother. Abandoned by their parents, neither wishes to play the preordained role of beast and hero. When their loved ones are taken hostage, they are forced to follow the path laid out in myth, culminating in a battle first fought six thousand years ago in ancient Cairo. A mythic clash where one defeats the other and both become gods.

To break free from their fates, Samiya and her brother must unravel a mystery twisted by cults, greed, and magic. But myth is a powerful force and failure to live up to it may not only destroy their lives but the lives of the ones they love most.

When the phoenix dies, the only certainty is flames.

Kindle buy link ($2.99):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BGCQGNG?tag=tributebooks-20

Smashwords buy link ($2.99):
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6567858-24-bones


About the author:

After crewing ships in the Antarctic and the Baltic Sea and some fun in venture capital, Michael anchored himself (happily) to a marriage and a boatload of kids. Now he injects his adventurous spirit into his writing with brief respites for research into the jungles of Sumatra and Guatemala, the ruins of Egypt and Tik’al, paddling the Zambezi and diving whatever cave or ocean reef will have him. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers and SF Canada, and the author of the Assured Destruction series, 24 Bones, The Sand Dragon, Hurakan, Ruination and several award winning graphic novels for young adults.

Michael F. Stewart's Web Site:
http://www.michaelfstewart.com/

Michael F. Stewart's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MichaelFstewart

Michael F. Stewart's Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2969126.Michael_F_Stewart

24 Bones' Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6567858-24-bones

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

24 Bones' blog tour site:
http://24bonesblogtour.blogspot.com/


My thoughts:


Thank you Tribute tours for the opportunity taking part in this tour. 



First off, I love that cover! 


About the story. I was pretty excited when I saw this book was based on Egyptian Mythology. It started out well, loved the beginning, even liked Samiya's character. As the events unfolded, I got lost somewhere along the way, and I couldn't really keep up with the many characters. I really enjoyed the Egyptian Mythology and Christian religion, and was drawn into the world the author created, along with the fantastic vivid descriptions. 


If you enjoy urban fantasy, I recommend this book. 

My rating:  4 stars 



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Thursday 23 May 2013

Drowning In You by Rebecca Berto Blog Tour






Book Title: Drowning In You by Rebecca Berto
Publication date: April 12th 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Secretly crushing

Crushed by a tragedy

Charlee May’s been crushing on Dexter Hollingworth since she was fifteen. Five years later, a horrific skiing disaster at Mason’s Ski Lift Resort leaves her millionaire dad critically injured and her mom dead at the hands of Dexter operating the lifts. Charlee is suddenly the sole caretaker for her little brother while their world falls apart.

Dexter couldn’t be more different from Charlee. He’s tattooed, avoids exclusive relationships and his Dad has a fair share of illegal dealings. With Dexter’s reputation, almost everyone believes he planned the Mason’s skiing disaster.

And after all these years he’s still crushing on Charlee May, the girl who’s too good for him.

When this cruel twist of fate ties Charlee’s family and Dexter’s reputation together, Charlee and Dexter wonder if their feelings are reciprocated, while Dexter discovers his dad is trying to steal the May’s millionaire fortune.

But like an addiction, one look, one touch, one taste—they’re hooked no matter the consequences.


Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17206928-drowning-in-you


Purchase:
Amazon paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Drowning-You-Rebecca-Berto/dp/0987456628/
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Drowning-in-You-ebook/dp/B00C83XWN4/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302783
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Drowning-in-You/book-M3hQgv8Al0mA7rZ-wyjJPg/page1.html

Chapter Excerpt



Charlee

Dad and I look at each other at the same time and I need to speak first or else I’ll cop it, I know I will, and I need to explain that I was just being silly and I’m doing the best I can to be nice for Darcy.
However, getting in first, Dad says, “I’m never getting out of here.”
He doesn’t rub my shoulders or pull me to the bed so he can lean in, trembling with the effort, to kiss my forehead like he used to before a bedtime story. There’s no contact, no connection.
I want my mom. I don’t want to be Darcy’s mom.
There, I thought it. Did you hear that, Dad? I’m not ready for this. I’m not ready because Mom shouldn’t be dead and you’re not dead yet. You hear me?
He just says, “Charlee? You hear that?”
I bop my head up, left, down. It started as an I-don’t-know but I’m not sure what I did in the end. My brain didn’t compute his message. Refuses to compute it.
“Oh, Charlee.” Dad sighs a ragged breath.
This shouldn’t have happened. My best friend Rosa’s dad isn’t like this, so why should mine be? My dad’s not even fifty and hers is fifty-five! Dad winces as he tries to push himself up in bed and it’s so feeble that I can’t watch the same man who used to pin me down and tickle me ‘til I had cramps of pain from laughing struggle like this. I can’t watch, so instead his grunts pierce my ears because I close my eyes. I clench my fists by my thighs until he stops making those God-awful sounds and…
And would you look at that! My father is sitting upright.
“My liver now isn’t—”
“Dad!” Darcy hooks his arm around the doorjamb and skids to a stop inside. He puts his hand to his chest and says, “She’s coming right now.”
“Okay, okay. Come here. Whoa, did she give you coffee?”
“No, I just came here as quick as I could, Dad. I promise she said she’ll come real soon.”
“You’ve done great. Come sit down.”
Darcy, smiling and satisfied with what he’s achieved for Dad, trots over to his chair and sits on the edge. He pulls out his handheld game from his pocket and starts jamming buttons. Then, apparently remembering something, pulls out his cell from his other pocket and starts texting.
Dad’s eyes say come here so I scoot closer.
“He’s a smart ki—” Dad starts, but footsteps are approaching our door. He says, “No tomfoolery with him. You tell him straight up, Charlee. You’re Melissa now and I am —”
“Walter!” someone says from the door.
It’s Lisa. She’s my favorite, because she sometimes has a sour candy for Darcy to suck on, and she always says how Dad’s improving, giving him smiles and pats on the back.
As Mom to Dexter, Lisa has the same shocking blue eyes as he does. She wiggles her hips at the door, fingering her pocket. She has a somewhat round face, whereas Dexter’s is square and bulging with veins and all that sexy stuff I could only dream of touching, but Lisa Hollingworth is cute, in a Mom way. I bet if Dexter never opened that potty mouth I used to hear while I ogled him from the sidelines of the football field he’d look like a Mama’s Boy, too. But when he opens that mouth, his voice is sex oozing from those luscious lips.
“Watermelon,” she says to Darcy.
Darcy drops his electronics on his chair as if they are plastic toys from a McDonald’s Happy Meal and grabs the twenty-cent candy from her. Shame, really. That kid doesn’t know value. But there’s something comforting in that; Darcy is still learning, and I guess I can still tell him our Dad is going to be fine.









AUTHOR BIO

Rebecca Berto is the author or the dark contemporary/literary novella, PRECISE and the upcoming new adult contemporary romance novel, DROWNING IN YOU. She is also a freelance editor.

She writes stories that are a bit sexy, and straddle the line between Literary and Tear Your Heart Out. She gets a thrill when her readers are emotional reading her stories, and gets even more of a kick when they tell her so. She’s strangely imaginative, spends too much time on her computer, and is certifiably crazy when she works on her fiction.

Rebecca Berto lives in Melbourne, Australia with her boyfriend and their doggy.

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