London Belongs to Me - Review #FRC2016

Aspiring to be a playwriter, shortly after graduating Alex heads to London.  She’s always been fascinated by that part of the world and just knows that it’s the perfect place to start a new life.  After her boyfriend’s deception, with enough money to hold her over for a year, Alex packs up and head across the pond to stay with a friend and focus on her writing.  But the second she steps foot off the plane chaos ensues.  It takes no time at all for Alex to realize that this move is going to be a bit more difficult than she thought. 

You can’t help but fall in love with Alex.  She is such a kindhearted person, even naïve at times.  She can be so over giving of herself that she is an easy target of being taken advantage of.  But her trip to London is a good one filled with self-discovery and following one’s dreams.

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About the author:

Jacquelyn Middleton is an award-winning freelance writer with articles published by several of the most popular magazines, newspapers, and websites in North America including Canadian Living, Best Health, National Geographic Travel, the Toronto Star, Reader's Digest, Chatelaine, Today's Parent, and Flare. She previously worked in television broadcasting, and lives in Toronto. When she's not writing, you can find her hanging out in London, waiting in a comic con line with her husband, or chasing after her bossy Schipperke. LONDON BELONGS TO ME is her first novel.

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Learn more about the BookSparks 2016 Fall Reading Challenge #FRC2016 HERE

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The Other Sister - Pub Day Promo and Giveaway

Would life be better without Ali? Probably. At least then people might think about Morgan. Ali's always gotten everything ― she doesn't even realize how much Morgan resents her.

Ali also doesn't realize that when she shuts Morgan out entirely, she will unleash a chain of events that show just how dangerous the underside of love really is. As their lives spin toward something neither one of them can control, a terrifying crime reveals how those who know us best can destroy us...or save us.

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About the author:

As a television writer Dianne Dixon (winner of the Humanitas Prize for Excellence in Screenwriting and double Emmy nominee) regularly received glowing reviews: “Her characters dance off the page.” (Jane Hewland/Sky Television, UK) “An enormously gifted writer.” (LaVerne McKinnon/CBS Television)  “Her knowledge of storytelling is both clear and articulate.” (Nate Hopper/Sony Pictures). Now Dianne is receiving equally enthusiastic response to her work as a novelist: “Captivating, fascinating.” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) “Absorbing and provocative.” (Huffington Post) “Convincing prose, particularly the dialogue.” (Kirkus) “An exciting new writer, capable of creating a well-paced, emotional page-turner of the best kind.” (Katie Crouch, New York Times bestselling author of Girls in Trucks and The Magnolia League).

Dianne is a former Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, a nominee for the Mary Routt Chair of Writing at Scripps College, and has taught screenwriting at the Dodge College of Film & Media at Chapman University in Orange, California.

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Behind Closed Doors - #FRC2016 Review

Review by Marlene Engel

Jack is a handsome, successful attorney who fights for the rights of those involved in domestic violence.  Grace spends a lot of time traveling as a buyer for Harrods.  But things change drastically shortly after they marry. While on their honeymoon, Grace learns who the real Jack is.  The one with a violent, criminal past, the one who’s controlling and abusive, and the one who is plotting to kill her special needs sister. 

To the outside world they appear to be the perfect couple: living in a beautiful house, hosting nice dinner parties.  While around friends Jack always plays the role of doting husband; always at Grace’s side and even agreeing to allow Grace’s sister to come live with them after graduation.  But her friends start getting concerned when she’s constantly turning down lunch invites.  Of course Jack has the perfectly scripted answer:  she’s anxious about having her sister stay with them.  But they aren’t buying it. 

Since being married she no longer works, is unreachable (as she has no cell phone or email address) and seems to hole up in her house with no contact with the outside world.  What they once thought was a storybook marriage, they are now beginning to question …

Behind Closed Doors is a heart pounding, psychological thriller debut novel by B.A. Paris.  To think that things like this happen in real life is terrifying, but the author writes it in a way that captivates you.  With complex characters and a hauntingly addictive storyline, this is a book that will be talked about for a long time to come.

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About the author:

B A Paris grew up in England but has spent most of her adult life in France. She has worked both in finance and as a teacher and has five daughters. Behind Closed Doors is her first novel.

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A Lowcountry Christmas - Pub Week Giveaway

A wounded warrior and his younger brother discover the true meaning of Christmas in this timeless story of family bonds.

As far as ten-year-old Miller McClellan is concerned, it’s the worst Christmas ever. His father’s shrimp boat is docked, his mother is working two jobs, and with finances strained, Miller is told they can’t afford the dog he desperately wants. “Your brother’s return from war is our family’s gift,” his parents tell him. But when Taylor returns with PTSD, family strains darken the holidays.

Then Taylor’s service dog arrives—a large black Labrador/Great Dane named Thor. His brother even got the dog! When Miller goes out on Christmas Eve with his father’s axe, determined to get his family the tree they can't afford, he takes the dog for company—but accidentally winds up lost in the wild forest. The splintered family must come together to rediscover their strengths, family bond, and the true meaning of Christmas.

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About the author:

Mary Alice Monroe is known for her intimate portrayals of women's lives and keen eye to setting. Monroe brings to life the many colorful people and the compelling story layers of her home--Charleston and the the beaches of the lowcountry. 

Mary Alice Monroe's books have achieved several best seller lists including the New York Times, SIBA, and USA Today. Mary Alice has received numerous awards, including the 2014 SC Book Festival Award for Excellence in Writing, the 2015 SW Florida Book Festival Distinguished Author Award, 2008 South Carolina Center for the Book Award for Writing, The RT Lifetime Achievement Award, and the International Book Award for Green Fiction. She serves on the board of the South Carolina Aquarium, the Leatherback Trust, and the Charleston Volunteers for Literacy. Her children's books received several awards, including the ASPCA Henry Bergh award. 

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The Heart of Henry Quantum

In the bestselling tradition of A Man Called Ove and the beloved film Love Actually, a quirky, socially awkward man goes on a quest to find his wife a last-minute Christmas gift and encounters several distractions—including bumping into his ex-girlfriend who was the one who got away.

Henry Quantum has several thoughts going through his head at any given time, so it’s no surprise when he forgets something very important—specifically, a Christmas gift for his wife, which he realizes on the morning of December 23. Henry sets off that day in search of the perfect present for her: a bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume. But much like Henry’s ever-wandering mind, his quest takes him in different and unexpected directions, including running into the former love of his life, Daisy. His wife, meanwhile, unhappy in her marriage, is hiding a secret of her own. And Daisy, who has made the unsettling choice of leaving her husband to strike out on her own, finds herself questioning whether she and Henry belong together after all.

A sweet, funny, and touching debut from author Pepper Harding shows how the seemingly insignificant events of one single day can change our lives forever—perhaps, if we’re lucky, for the better.

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About the author:

Pepper Harding is the pen name of a San Francisco writer known for an entirely different kind of literature. Born in far-away New Jersey, educated in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and finally at the University of Chicago, Pepper is a long time resident of the city, with stints in Marin, Berkeley and, currently, Sonoma County. Pepper has two kids, two cars, one spouse, and, some say, multiple personalities.

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Oliver the Cat Who Saved Christmas - Review & Giveraway

Review by Janine Rowe

An enjoyable tale for any age.

From the first page, I knew I was going to love this book.  It is heartwarming and entertaining.  The story starts with Oliver telling a new kitten about the night he was separated from his human George when the pub burned down and how he ended up being shared between two families.  Oliver comes to be known as a cat with magical qualities with the things he does for the people in his little town.  

 

Oliver’s main goal is to make sure everyone has a good Christmas.  While doing so, he helps a lot of people in different ways from bringing families together, helping a little girl recover from the loss of losing her cat and another little girl who has leukemia and no friends to play with.  He also helps the adults in his life by helping them build better lives for themselves, and in one case, even find love.  You will also meet Oliver’s cat friends and learn all about them as well. 

As you are reading this, you are probably thinking this is a child’s book, but I assure you people of all ages who love cats (or any animals) will enjoy this book.  It is well written and the story kept me turning the pages and not wanting it to end.  Even though it is a Christmas book, it’s a wonderful inspiring story for any time of the year.

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About the author:

SHEILA NORTON lives near Chelmsford in Essex with her husband and worked for most of her life as a medical secretary before retiring early to concentrate on her writing. Sheila is the award-winning writer of numerous women’s fiction novels and over 100 short stories published in women’s magazines.

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Sweetly, Deeply, Absolutely - Virtual Tour Stop & Giveaway

Sweetly, Deeply, Absolutely
Sweet Love #3

By: Kira Archer

Releasing October 17, 2016 
Entangled Lovestruck

Blurb

Hello, Mr. Right...for Now.

With a month off from culinary school, Jenny Boyd has some serious party plans. Especially when the hottest guy in the club literally lands in her lap.  He’s 6’2” of cocky, sexy, man-candy, and just as commitment-phobic as she is. 

She’s definitely off limits…

Graphic designer Jared Crew is shocked when his best friend's sister-in-law doesn’t remember him right away. Luckily, she is more than willing to let him jog her memory, no complications required.

It’s all fun and games...until the condom breaks.

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Author Info

Kira Archer resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kiddos, and far too many animals in the house. She tends to laugh at inappropriate moments, break all the rules she gives her kids (but only when they aren't looking), and would rather be reading a book than doing almost anything else. She has odd, eclectic tastes in just about everything and often lets her imagination run away with her. She loves her romances a little playful, a lot sexy, and always with a happily ever after.

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