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Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: book spotlight, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 22 of 22
1. Book Spotlight: Guardians of the Galaxy by Abnett & Lanning: The Complete Collection Volume 1

guardians

With the fabric of the universe torn, all that stands between us and invading horrors is a team of cosmic misfits. Led by Star-Lord, the newly-minted Guardians of the Galaxy include a who’s who of the mightiest -and most bizarre – protectors the stars have ever seen! Rocket Raccoon, Drax the Destroyer, Groot, Gamora, Adam Warlock, Mantis, the all-new Quasar, Cosmo the telepathic space dog and more take on the universe’s most dangerous menaces…and have fun while doing it!

COLLECTING: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2008) 1-12

Series: Guardians of the Galaxy
Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Marvel (August 12, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0785190643
ISBN-13: 978-0785190646

PURCHASE HERE!


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2. Book Spotlight: Seconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley

I’ll be focusing on graphic novels this week. Hope you enjoy it.

seconds

The highly anticipated new standalone full-color graphic novel from Bryan Lee O’Malley, author and artist of the hugely bestselling Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series

Katie’s got it pretty good. She’s a talented young chef, she runs a successful restaurant, and she has big plans to open an even better one. Then, all at once, progress on the new location bogs down, her charming ex-boyfriend pops up, her fling with another chef goes sour, and her best waitress gets badly hurt. And just like that, Katie’s life goes from pretty good to not so much. What she needs is a second chance. Everybody deserves one, after all—but they don’t come easy. Luckily for Katie, a mysterious girl appears in the middle of the night with simple instructions for a do-it-yourself do-over:

1. Write your mistake
2. Ingest one mushroom
3. Go to sleep
4. Wake anew

And just like that, all the bad stuff never happened, and Katie is given another chance to get things right. She’s also got a dresser drawer full of magical mushrooms—and an irresistible urge to make her life not just good, but perfect. Too bad it’s against the rules. But Katie doesn’t care about the rules—and she’s about to discover the unintended consequences of the best intentions.

From the mind and pen behind the acclaimed Scott Pilgrim series comes a madcap new tale of existential angst, everyday obstacles, young love, and ancient spirits that’s sharp-witted and tenderhearted, whimsical and wise.

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books (July 15, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345529375
ISBN-13: 978-0345529374

PURCHASE HERE!


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3. Book Spotlight: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

The Lil’ Diva wanted to read this one so badly, the librarian sped up getting their copy into the system so that she could borrow it. Have any of you read it?

stayJust listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.

I open my eyes wide now.
I sit up as much as I can.
And I listen.

Stay, he says.

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it’s the only one that matters.

If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Speak; Reprint edition (April 6, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 014241543X
ISBN-13: 978-0142415436

 

For interesting facts about the author, visit her website at http://gayleforman.com/


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4. Curl up with FOUR today!

Four: A Divergent Collection Complete your Divergent library with Four: A Divergent Collection, and hear from Tobias Eaton himself before he joined Dauntless, and his first encounters with Tris. Three exclusive scenes included in the hardcover edition! Find more retailers Divergent Series Ultimate Four-Book Box Set by Veronica Roth Available together for the first time — all three books in the #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy, plus the companion...

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5. Three New Volumes of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book

  HarperCollins.com | HarperCollinsChildrens.com | EpicReads.com Copyright © 2014 HarperCollins Publishers. All Rights Reserved. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007

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6. Hot summer reads for a cool price!

Focusing on short stories and novellas, HarperTeen Impulse gives you the opportunity to learn more about worlds of your favorite books and characters, keep up with your top authors, and discover new writers. Feed your ereader with new titles every month! Outcast: A Defiance Novella by C. J. Redwine A thrilling, dangerous adventure, this digital prequel novella to C. J. Redwine's Defiance and Deception features Quinn, a popular character from the series. Quinn...

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7. Prepare to be lost in the new ASYLUM story

Focusing on short stories and novellas, HarperTeen Impulse gives you the opportunity to learn more about worlds of your favorite books and characters, keep up with your top authors, and discover new writers. Feed your ereader with new titles every month! ...

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8. Book Spotlight: Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

HarperCollins.com | HarperCollinsChildrens.com | HarperTeen.com Copyright © 2014 HarperCollins Publishers. All Rights Reserved. HarperCollins Publishers, 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022   ...

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9. Book Spotlight: Panic by Lauren Oliver

HarperCollins.com | HarperCollinsChildrens.com | HarperTeen.com Copyright © 2014 HarperCollins Publishers. All Rights Reserved. HarperCollins Publishers, 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022 ...

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10. Book Spotlight: Dead Dreams by Emma Right

emma cover

 

Eighteen-year-old Brie O’Mara has so much going for her: a loving family in the sidelines, an heiress for a roommate, and dreams that might just come true. Big dreams–of going to acting school, finishing college and making a name for herself. She is about to be the envy of everyone she knew. What more could she hope for? Except her dreams are about to lead her down the road to nightmares. Nightmares that could turn into a deadly reality.

Book Title: Dead Dreams, Book 1, a young adult contemporary psychological thriller and mystery

Print Length: 170 pages

Publisher: Right House Books; 2013 First edition

(August 26, 2013)

Format: Kindle

ASIN: B00ESVEVBQ

Purchase at Amazon!

Music video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM7MI_3vqyo

emma

Emma Right is a happy wife and Christian homeschool mother of five living in the Pacific West Coast of the USA. Besides running a busy home, and looking after their five pets, which includes two cats, a bunny and a Long-haired dachshund, she also writes stories for her children. She loves the Lord and when she doesn’t have her nose in a book, she is telling her kids to get theirs in one.

Right worked as a copywriter for two major advertising agencies and won several awards, including the prestigious Clio Award for her ads, before she settled down to have children.

Social Links:

Email Address: [email protected]

Website: http://www.emmaright.com

Twitter link @emmbeliever

Facebook link https://www.facebook.com/DeadDreamsEmmaRight

Goodreads User:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18396455-dead-dreams

https://plus.google.com/u/0/111644513292318573575/posts

http://pinterest.com/emmaright/

https://twitter.com/emmbeliever

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7036571.Emma_Right

http://www.librarything.com/profile/emma.right.author

http://www.shelfari.com/emmaright

http://www.freado.com/users/35467/emma-right

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Emma-Right/e/B00BD7C4A8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

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1 Comments on Book Spotlight: Dead Dreams by Emma Right, last added: 11/9/2013
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11. First Chapter Review of and Excerpt from Down Under Calling by Margot Finke

Down Under3_cover

When a reluctant grandson in Oregon is pressured into writing to his grandma in Australia, wonderful things happen. Both have a need for love and reassurance, and between letters their daily lives go on.  Back and forth the letters go: Josh shares his  problems, while Grandma Rose shares stories, and past memories that astonish her grandson and his friend Kelly. His Xbox gathers dust, while he and Kelly ride bikes and bird watch. Googling the weird and wonderful Aussie critters that visit Rose’s garden becomes a hobby for them.  Soon, Andy and Grandma shrink the Pacific Ocean into a puddle they can easily ford.

There is a glossary of Aussie words and animals at the back of the book.

A SAMPLE from the Beginning:

CHAPTER ONE

Grandma Rose

On the other side of the Pacific Ocean, where water lapped the sandy eastern shores of Australia, Rose Larkin slept. She lived on the edge of the Queensland bush in a small town called Morningside. At sixty plus Rose was a light sleeper, so the sound of the rifle crack snapped her awake.

Silence. This was followed by the mutter of distant voices. Rose’s cat, Lady, sleeping at the foot of the bed, had not twitched a whisker.

“The same hooligans again I’ll bet,” Rose muttered, “Shooting at whatever moves.”

Stiff from sleeping, Rose threw on a dressing gown and headed for the back door. Outside the door she grabbed a long handled garden fork that leaned against the wall. She hefted it. Not a bad weapon – just in case.

A skimpy moon left the back yard in complete darkness. But Rose didn’t need a flashlight. Her feet had long ago memorized every pebble, dip, and curve that lead to the back fence. The voices now grew more distinct.

“Cripes mate, I killed somethin’!”

“Dumb git! You offed a ‘roo. The old biddy’s heard us for sure. Let’s scarper.”

The voices faded, lost in the far reaches of the wild bush area that backed onto Rose’s property.

Grim-faced, Rose reached the fence line. Soft scrabbling noises came from the bush side of the fence. Leaning the garden fork against a fence post, she hiked up her nightie and dressing gown. Climbing over the broken section of the fence wasn’t easy. Rose struggled. Then a tearing sound. Blast! My favorite nightie, too!

Finally, she made it over the fence and into the bush, hoping to find whatever was making those distressed rustling sounds. Aha… She peered down at the ground around her – dim and blurry. Stupid woman – forgot my glasses! Her toe hit something furry. Kneeling in the darkness Rose searched the ground with outstretched hands. She felt something warm and soft. Oh Lord, NO!

In front of her lay a still warm but very dead female kangaroo. Snuggled beside his dead mum, yet very much alive, was her joey.

“There, there,” murmured Rose. “Not to worry little mate. You come with me.”

It took a few more rips and tears to her nightie, but she finally got the joey over the fence and safely back to the house. Tucking him into a spare pillowcase, Rose hung the makeshift pouch on the back of a kitchen chair. His small head peeked out, all big ears and long snout, a wistful look on its face. The pillowcase, loosely knotted at the open end, was the best she could do to provide a pouch.

Oh-ho, he’s shivering. Mustn’t let the little bloke go into shock. Rose quickly filled a hot water bottle and slipped it into the pillowcase. A swift look through her winter woolies, and her young guest wore a blue beanie scrunched down over his ears. She had knitted the beanie last winter.

“That’ll have to do for now. First thing in the morning I’ll find out what to feed you. Then I’ll phone the police. I just hope they catch the hooligans that killed your poor mum.”

Rose, chilled to her toes, made herself a steaming cup of tea. The joey, blue beanie askew over one eye, ducked inside his makeshift pouch every time she ventured near.

AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/Down-Under-Calling-Margot-Finke-ebook/dp/B00FZXORQK/

=========================

I want to thank Cheryl for allowing me to chat with her wonderful readers and introduce a book that means so much to me. Writing “Down Under” took me back to my long ago Aussie roots.  It was a book I had to write, and it came right from my heart. In some ways it is a tribute to my mum.  She was the most honest person I have ever known.  Also a fantastic story teller,  a terrific judge of character, and she always showed her love for me in caring ways.

Some of the stories Grandma Rose tells grandson Andy in her letters are ones told to me by my mum.  Mum was shy, and only opened up to close friends or relatives.  I know she would be delighted to know that I have connected her stories to a far wider audience.  Mum is long gone. . . yet I still miss her a whole bunch.

Website:  http://www.margotfinke.com
Young Teen and Picture Books  + Manuscript Critiques and Help for Writers.

Download a FREE “Sneak Peek” inside ALL my books:
http://tinyurl.com/9npjy9n

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/margotfinke/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Margot10

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margot.finke

TC&TBC

COVER: I love this hand drawn cover that captures where Grandma Rose lives as well as Andy and his friend Kelly together. Cover artist Agy Wilson chose wonderful colors to attract readers and the drawing has a down-home style that works well for this book.

FIRST CHAPTER: Grandma Rose is awakened by the crack of a rifle. Grabbing a long handled garden fork for protection, she heads out to the fence line. Climbing over the fence, she discovers a mother Kangaroo has been shot and killed, but her joey is very much alive. Rose takes the joey back to her house to care for it. The next day, a letter arrives from Rose’s grandson, Andy, who lives in Portland, Oregon. She wonders if Andy would like to hear about her new animal friend and sits down to draft her reply.

KEEP READING: What I admire about Finke’s work is the way she pulls you in. The opening pages drop you right into the story, as Rose is woken in the middle of the night by the noise of the rifle. You feel her urgency to discover what has happened and the pain of her discovery. That is tempered by the introduction of Andy’s letter and Rose wondering what his mother did to con him into writing. This looks like it will be a great book and I want to know what happens next.

I purchased a copy of this book for my Kindle. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.


1 Comments on First Chapter Review of and Excerpt from Down Under Calling by Margot Finke, last added: 10/22/2013
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12. The Astral Ordinance Book II by Meltem Y K

book ii cover copyWith special permission from the Ascended Masters, Jayna and Ethan have a spectacular wedding in the Astral plane. Jayna’s family and close friends are also transported to the wedding and they experience the Astral plane for the first time. Life goes on in a happy monotone for the next few years. Jayna and Ethan are together every night, but they are still forbidden to see each other on the Earth plane. One morning, Jayna and Liam do not wake up from their state of suspended animation. Their family is frightened out of their wits and hold vigil by their beds. With a lot of help from Hope and guidance from the other side, the siblings finally awake. Something major has happened on the Astral plane and Jayna is not telling them the whole story, but there is no denying the sense of danger. Their almost perfect lives are about to unravel.

Excerpt:

Cassie screamed with pain.

“How does it feel to be on the receiving end of pain, Dr. Jewel?”

“How do you know my name,” the Shadow woman asked squirming on the floor.

“I know a lot of things about you, and none of it is good. Did you feel real powerful when you had helpless people kidnapped?”

There was shock on Cassie’s grey face.

“Yeah, I know all about it. You had three innocent people killed to get your dirty hands on that gold. You are scum Cassandra Jewel.” Jayna grabbed Cassie from the floor and threw her against the wall.

Cassie cowered.

“Were you planning to go to their funeral,” Jayna asked, “and pretend you were their friend? Maybe shed a few tears?” Jayna threw a powerful punch into Cassie’s solar plexus. Cassie doubled over with pain, coughing.

“Stop it,” Cassie whispered hoarsely.

“Why should I? Tell me one good reason I should not kill you?”

Cassie coughed, still trying to catch her breath.

Jayna, that’s enough. Ethan warned her. We are not here to kill anyone.

That’s what the bitch deserves.

Jayna turned around and saw a new stack of gold plates on the dining room table. “I see, you brought more gold from the Underworld,” she said to Cassie.

She walked up to the table and scooped up the plates in her arms. They were about ten pounds.Awesome! We’ll make a few more miracles with these.

Cassie screamed with rage again. “Put those back. You can’t have them. They are mine.”

“Not on your life,” Jayna said and walked through the wall. Ethan and Colin followed her; they didn’t want to lose sight of Jayna for a second, in case the demon came back.

Buy Links:

Amazon:

Astral Ordinance Book 1: http://www.amazon.com/The-Astral-Ordinance-Book-ebook/dp/B00AS1EUCU/

Astral Ordinance Book 2: http://www.amazon.com/The-Astral-Ordinance-Book-ebook/dp/B00CCWELBI/

Astral Ordinance, Ayshen’s Story:  http://www.amazon.com/Ayshens-Story-Astral-Ordinance-ebook/dp/B00ETNC8ZY/   

Smashwords: 

Astral Ordinance Book I: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/267847  

Astral Ordinance Book 2:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/306411  

Astral Ordinance, Ayshen’s Story: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/351814

A university graduate in Economics, this mother of three and foster mother of 25 has been drawn to the world of paranormal since childhood. A devoted reader herself, Meltem Y.K has always had the aspiration to create her own brand of fantasy. 

While working full-time and raising a family, into the late hours of the night, Meltem Y.K dreamed the fantasies that only she could and created a story that’s grown into the Astral Ordinance Series.

Social Media Links:

Author Website:  http://www.meltemyk.com/about-the-author.php

Twitter: @MeltemY_K

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meltem-Y-K/165499443586418

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6862855.Meltem_Y_K_

AO - Banner

 

 


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13. Project ELE (ELE Series #1) by Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels

project ele

Is it possible to fall in love when the world is crashing down around you?

Millions have already died, and thousands more are perishing daily. As a last ditch effort to preserve the human race, the government implements Project ELE. With the earth heating at rapid speeds, all remaining survivors are forced to turn to F.E.M.A. shelters to wait out ELE’s wrath.

Fifteen-year-old Willow Mosby’s life, as she knows it, ends the moment she walks through the shelter’s door. Willow has to quickly adapt to the new challenges that shelter life demands, the least of which includes making new friends, working a full time job and experiencing her first relationship.

Soon after making an interesting discovery, Willow and her friends start exhibiting strange abilities. Seeking answers, they embark on a mission to find out what these new abilities mean and whether they are a gift or a curse. This new adventure can send her world crashing down around her. The question is: Can Willow survive the fall?

PROJECT ELE is now available in all ebook formats for FREE!

Get it today by clicking on one of these links:
Amazon  * Smashwords
Barnes and Noble  *  iBookStore


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14. Spotlight + Excerpt:BRINK OF DISTINCTION SERIES

BRINK OF DISTINCTION SERIES by Jon Messenger   We are excited about todays release of Jon Messenger's Brink of Distinction Series published through Crimson Tree Publishing. (The adult imprint of Clean Teen Publishing.)  Burden of Sisyphus Between the alien Alliance and the Terran Empire, a neutral zone stretches between the galaxies, a demilitarized zone that was established 150 years previous, following the Great War. The peace accord...

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15. Spotlight + Giveaway: Reluctant Guardian by Melissa J. Cunningham

by Melissa J. Cunningham Release Date: September 27, 2013  Guarding Brecken Shaefer—a dark and dangerous rebel—is harder than it looks.  Death was nothing like sixteen-year-old Alisa Callahan thought it would be. Resting on pink, fluffy clouds for eternity with her gram and best friend sounded like a dream come true. After all, enduring one torturous experience after another in her short life deserved some kind of reward, right? Unfortunately, eternal rewards...

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16. Spotlight + Excerpt:RISING by Holly Kelly

RISING by Holly Kelly (New Adult- Paranormal Romance) Release Date: September 6, 2013 Published by: Clean Teen Publishing Add it to your Goodreads TBR list Available Now!  In a war between the humans and the inhabitants of the sea—humans will  lose. Xanthus Dimitriou—the most lethal Dagonian to rise from the ocean—is on a mission to save mankind from annihilation. But first there’s one small thing he needs to do… kill a beautiful young woman in...

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17. Spotlight (Excerpt): THE WOODLANDS by Lauren Nicolle Taylor

THE WOODLANDS by Lauren Nicolle Taylor (Young Adult Mature- Dystopian Romance) Published by: Clean Teen Publishing Available Now Through Amazon!  Rosa never thought she’d make it to sixteen... When being unique puts you in danger and speaking your mind can be punishable by death, you might find yourself fighting to survive. Rosa lives in The Woodlands, one of eight enclosed cities where the lone survivors of a devastating war have been...

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18. Spotlight + Free Book: The ELE Series by Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels

The ELE Series by Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels Project ELE (Free), Finding ELE, Exposing ELE and Surviving ELE Available Now Through: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBookStore, Smashwords and Sony Kobo View the book trailer for Project ELE! Millions have already died, and thousands more are perishing daily. As a last ditch effort to preserve the human race, the government implements Project ELE. With the earth heating at rapid...

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19. Countdown to Launch of Storm: Cover Reveal, Sneak Peek & Giveaway!

I am jumping out of my chair excited to share my latest project and soon-to-be-published novel with you… *drum roll*


STORM!!! A young adult mystery-drama about a creative and complex teen boy. Here is the official synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Storm enjoys skateboarding, fixing broken electronics, and building things with his hands. They distract him from the tormented thoughts surrounding the circumstances of his mother’s death. But his problems can’t be avoided forever…
Since his mother’s death, tensions are high at home, the girl of Storm’s dreams is dating someone else, and an argument with his father lands him in the school counselors’ office.
Will Storm overcome his fears, let go of the feelings that have been haunting him, and reveal his long-held secrets? Can his dad ever forgive him? Will the girl of his dreams ever see him as more than a friend?
A true-to-life young adult novel teeming with mystery, romance and intrigue.
This book is full of lots of juicy drama and fun, colorful characters but it's ultimately about relationships, connections and overcoming obstacles. The story has a beautiful message - one that I believe both teens and adults will relate to.

Because this book deals with many issues that teen’s today face, I am donating a portion of the proceeds from sales to youth organizations - something that is very important to me. Some of the organizations that I will be supporting are: Born This Way Foundation, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Hey U.G.L.Y, To Write Love On Her Arms, Love Is Louder, Do Something and Half Of Us.

Storm is scheduled for print release on December 14th, 2012 by DreamFusion Press, LLC, but you can pre-order autographed copies today. Click ELECTRIC to pre-order paperback copies of Storm.

The 6-week countdown to launch starts today, which means you will have many opportunities to win an autographed copy of Storm!

Each week, I will post an activity, puzzle or question related to Storm and all participants will have a chance to win a copy of Storm - just for participating! I will randomly select a winner from the participants of each post, per week to win 1 autographed copy of Storm (6 books in total will be given away). Countdown and giveaway ends on December 14th, 2012. Limit 2 books per person.
That's it! So here's this week's activity to kick off the countdown:

Judge this book by its cover! What do you like most about the cover art? What feelings, thoughts or messages does it convey? What is the boy on the cover thinking about? Answer one or all of these questions in a comment below for a chance to win a copy of Storm!

Be sure to check back next week for an exclusive character interview with Storm himself!



1 Comments on Countdown to Launch of Storm: Cover Reveal, Sneak Peek & Giveaway!, last added: 11/21/2012
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20. Blog Tour: Book Giveaway & Spotlight: People of the Book by Kathi Macias

People of the Book by Kathi Macias:


Farah lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with her family, and wants nothing more than to develop a deeper devotion to her Muslim faith. She sees the month of Ramadan as her chance to draw nearer to Allah, and pursues that goal. All goes well until the prophet Isa—Jesus—appears to her in a dream and calls her to Himself. Her brother, Kareem, who has never liked her, seeks to discredit her.
Farah’s cousin, an only child, frequents an online chat. She discovers former Muslims discussing their new belief that Isa is much more than a Muslim prophet—He is actually the Son of God. She becomes acquainted with an American girl of Muslim ancestry—now a devout Christian—Sara. Sara has problems of her own due to her brother Emir’s suspicious behavior.
Each finds their faith put to the test. Will they be true to their beliefs? Will God protect them, or will they pay the ultimate price for their faith?


About Kathi Macias

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored more than 30 books and ghostwritten several others. Her most recent release is People of the Book, the fourth and final book in her Extreme Devotion series. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences, and was named 2008 Member of the Year by AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association). Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend their free time riding in Al’s new sunburst orange Corvette.

Kathi's Website: 1 Comments on Blog Tour: Book Giveaway & Spotlight: People of the Book by Kathi Macias, last added: 5/5/2011
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21. Blog Tour: Book Spotlight - Adventures in Nowhere by John Ames

Adventures in Nowhere by John Ames:
On the bank of a river sits a moss-covered mansion, moldy and foreboding. Yesterday it was a cheerful bungalow with a dog lazing on a sunny porch. There is no predicting what it will be tomorrow. A young boy sits on the opposite bank, his brow furrowed.

Adventures in Nowhere is told from the wry perspective of ten-year-old Danny Ryan whose realm is 1950s Florida, long before theme parks crowded out the possibility of real magic. Danny refers to his neighborhood as Nowhere, because it seems trapped in time, some parts on the verge of rebirth and others slowly falling apart. Among the things falling apart is the Ryan family, which is dominated by a schizophrenic father who makes every day an adventure, yet Danny keeps his good humor, seeking escape on the nearby Hillsborough River or in the little community of Sulphur Springs with its puzzling mix of the glorious and the shameful. These outings provide Danny a diverting blend of comedy and drama.

But Danny’s adventures take a fateful turn when he begins seeing a mysteriously changing house across the hyacinth-choked Hillsborough. Is he going crazy like his father? Though he feels terribly alone, Danny comes to realize that he has faithful allies among Nowhere’s eccentric inhabitants: Alfred Bagley, a quirky youngster whose fondest desire is to become a junk dealer; Abigail Arnold, an intellectual eleven-year-old with a penchant for blunt talk and red candy lipstick; Donna, a young woman of supernatural beauty and unfathomable motives; Al Gallagher, proprietor of Al’s Swap Shop, a business that is more than it seems; and Buddy Connolly, a confident teenager who prompts Danny toward an odd but powerful salvation.

Adventures in Nowhere is an absorbing story of the search for self, allowing a reader to live for a while in the mind of a remarkably thoughtful and intense boy caught at the final edge of childhood.

View all the Adventures in Nowhere Tour Stops

I'm behind in my reading but will be posting a review of Adventures in Nowhere soon.  Stop by tomorrow for a book giveaway of Adventures in Nowhere.

http://www.johnamesauthor.com/

2 Comments on Blog Tour: Book Spotlight - Adventures in Nowhere by John Ames, last added: 3/15/2011
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22. Book Spotlight: Semper Cool by Barry Fixler

I'm happy to be spotlighting a great book for those who are/were in the military, or knows someone who is/was. All royalties from the sales of this book are donated directly to wounded troops and their families, and to non-profit organizations on a case-by-case basis, which I think is really cool so if you have any interest in the book be sure to purchase it to donate to a great cause.

Semper Cool: One Marine's Fond Memories of Vietnam
Semper Cool is the wrenching, sometimes hilarious and always thought-provoking true story of a mischievous teenager who enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps seeking adventure and his father's approval and finds both, plus more danger than he ever could have imagined. With its vivid imagery, Semper Cool thrusts readers into a grunt's-eye view of the blood, guts, tears and laughter of war, as told by a Marine who returned home a man and a patriot. Be prepared to laugh and cry and ultimately thank God for the men and women willing to risk their lives for the freedoms that so many Americans enjoy.


FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"Many Vietnam veterans look back in anger on their wartime experiences, but Fixler, who endured one of the bloodiest battles of the war, isn't one of them... an intriguing, rare bird: a man who survived "hell in the raw" without a trace of trauma--or remorse… "[read full review]

FROM FOREWORD REVIEWS

"Raw energy and emotion... an unabashedly honest memoir without a trace of touchy-feely sentiment…"[read full review]

About the Cover Photograph

Author Barry Fixler holds the skull of an North Vietnamese soldier at an outpost near the DMZ. The Marine to his right was killed shortly after this photo was taken. The Marine to his left lost both legs in battle.

Check out the official website for Semper Cool for more info!

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