THE WINEMAKERS by Jan Moran – BOOK SPOTLIGHT TOUR & GIVEAWAY

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

1956: When Caterina Rosetta inherits a cottage in the countryside of Italy from a grandmother she’s never known, she discovers a long-buried family secret — a secret so devastating, it threatens the future of everything her mother has worked for.

Many years before, her mother’s hard-won dreams of staking her family’s claim in the vineyards of California came to fruition; but as an old murder comes to light, and Caterina uncovers a tragic secret that may destroy the man she loves, she realizes her happiness will depend on revealing the truth of her mother’s buried past.

From author Jan Moran comes The Winemakers, a sweeping, romantic novel that will hold you in its grasp until the last delicious sip.

Buy the book:   Amazon  ~   Barnes & Noble  ~   Kobo  ~  Chapters  ~  Books-a-Million  ~   Book Depository   ~  iBooks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Jan Moran is a Rizzoli bestselling and award winning author. She writes historical women’s fiction for St. Martin’s Press (Scent of Triumph, The Winemakers), contemporary women’s fiction (Flawless, Beauty Mark, Runway), and nonfiction books (Vintage Perfumes, Fabulous Fragrances). Her stories are smart and stylish, and written with emotional depth. Jan often draws on her international travel and business experiences, infusing her books with realistic details.

The Midwest Book Review and Kirkus have recommended her books, calling her heroines strong, complex, and resourceful. She likes to talk to readers at http://www.janmoran.com and on social media. She lives in southern California and loves lattes and iced coffee, anything chocolate, and Whole Foods Double Green smoothies to balance it all out.

Connect with the author:  Website   Twitter   Pinterest   Facebook   Instagram

 

BOOK SPOTLIGHT BLOG TOUR STOPS:

April 18 – Working Mommy Journal – author interview / giveaway
April 18 – Lavish Bookshelf – guestpost / giveaway
April 18 – Coffee books & Art – giveaway
April 18 – Brooke Blogs – guest post / giveaway
April 19 – Corinne Rodriges – guest post / giveaway
April 19 – JustOneMoreChapter – giveaway
April 19 – The Cheshire Cat’s Looking Glass – giveaway
April 19 – Words And Peace – author interview / giveaway
April 19 – The Autistic Gamer – spotlight
April 20 – Paulette’s Papers – giveaway
April 20 – Olio by Marilyn – author interview
April 20 – Discovering/Writing Life – author interview / giveaway
April 20 – Svetlana’s Reads and Views – giveaway
April 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – guest post
April 20 – thoughts on this ‘n that – giveaway
April 21 – Fantastic Feathers – author interview
April 21 – First Impressions Reviews – spotlight
April 21 – Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes – giveaway
April 21 – The Travelogue of a book addict – The Book Drealms – giveaway
April 22 – ABookGeek – spotlight
April 22 – Celticlady’s Reviews – giveaway
April 22 – Carole’s Book Corner – giveaway
April 22 – The Bookish & The Romantic – giveaway
April 25 – XoXo Book Blog – giveaway
April 25 – Il mio tesoro – author interview
April 25 – A Bit Bookish – giveaway
April 25 – Jayne’s Books – spotlight
April 26 – Mystery Suspense Reviews – guest post
April 26 – The Booktrail – author interview
April 26 – #redhead.with.book – giveaway
April 26 – Essentially Italian – giveaway
April 27 – Library of Clean Reads – giveaway
April 27 – Studentessa Matta – guest post / giveaway
April 27 – Kritters Ramblings – spotlight
April 27 – A Bookaholic Blog – giveaway
April 28 – A Holland Reads – giveaway
April 28 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – guest post / giveaway
April 28 – 3 Partners in Shopping Nana, Mommy , + Sissy, Too ! – giveaway
April 28 – History from a Woman’s Perspective – giveaway
April 29 – Amie’s Book Reviews – giveaway
April 29 – Anglers Rest – spotlight
April 29 – FLY HIGH! – guest post / giveaway
April 29 – Italophilia – spotlight

 

GIVEAWAY:

Enter to win  $25 Amazon Gift Card and some “The Winemakers” Swag

Giveaway is only open to US Residents

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

4.5 Stars for ORPHANS: ORIGINS by Mike Evans – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

Title: ORPHANS – ORIGINS

Author: MIKE EVANS

Series: ORIGINS: Book One

Type of Book: Audiobook – Unabridged 

Narrator: Jack Wallen Jr.

Length: 11 Hours

Genre: Contemporary Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction 

Release Date: August 3, 2015

Publisher: Mike Evans

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ I received a free copy of this audiobook through Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review. 

I have read A LOT of zombie fiction and it takes quite a bit to impress me – ORPHANS: ORIGINS did just that. 

When the audiobook first started I was worried that there would be nothing new in this audiobook and that I would be bored listening to it. My concerns were quickly put to rest as the story began to unfold.

Frank Fox is a man who gave up his prestigious position as an army research doctor to raise his four-year-old son after his wife dies of cancer. Sounds noble right? 

Well, twelve years later, his son, Shawn doesn’t think so. All Shawn remembers from that time is that his father was not there for Shawn or for his mother. Shawn is angry and feels that his father abandoned them. Shawn was only 4 years old and was left to care for his dying mother alone. You can’t blame Shawn for feeling that way. Imagine a tiny four year old left alone to watch his mother (the Center of his life) wither and ultimately die. 

Obviously from what I just wrote, you realize that this book has much more depth than just your typical zombie story. 

I do not want to give too much of the story away, but I do want say that this book contains one of the most plausible explanations as to the circumstances of how the zombie virus originates that I have ever read. I think future readers will agree.

Not only is there lots of action and some very scary scenes, but it also contains very believable human drama. 

The characters are well written and it is easy to visualize the people in the book.

I rate this book as 4.5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I highly recommend ORPHANS: ORIGINS Book One to all lovers of zombie fiction.

It is well written and the narrator does a terrific job and keeps listeners on the edge of their seats. 

The half star loss came from me being overly nit picky. There were a couple of pronunciation issues but nothing that was so glaring that it detracts from the story as a whole.

I will be looking forward to listening to the next audiobook in this series. I am very interested to know what happens next with Shawn and his friends. 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

MIKE EVANS lives in Iowa with his wife and children. He writes for character depth because he wishes for you to love the character, regardless if they are the villain or the hero. He likes to write from a unique perspective, doing things with books that no one has done before. He keeps his characters realistic, there are no superhero like events that will happen. There are no perfect characters in his books, everyone has their flaws much like that of life.

Visit the author’s website  

Facebook 

Twitter

ABOUT THE NARRATOR: 

The path to becoming a professional writer was certainly the one less traveled for Jack. 

Originally, Jack’s artistic bent led him to a career as an actor. Working on Broadway and with regional and Shakespeare theatres across the country, Jack is proud to have held his own as an actor for over twenty years.

Before the economy had a chance to completely destroy the theatre arts, Jack decided to take his final curtain call during a production with the heralded Stage One Theatre for Young Audiences. It was, however, during that long career that Jack discovered he had a knack for the written word. His first, full-length novel was written between 2000 and 2003. That book, A Blade Away, eventually became his first published work. It didn’t take Jack long to fall in love with the creative process of writing and he followed that first book up with the cult-favorite, Shero.

It wasn’t until Jack woke up one summer morning with a simple question on his mind, that he would finally dive into the craft of horror fiction tooth and nail. That question, “What would it be like to transform into a zombie?”, led Jack to pen the first novel in the I Zombie series — I Zombie I. From there, Jack dove into the deeper waters of horror and has never looked back.

You can follow the mis-adventures of Jack in a number of ways. 

Website 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Zombie Radio 

IT’S ALWAYS COMPLICATED by Julia Kent – NEW RELEASE and GIVEAWAY

New York Times Bestselling Author Julia Kent’s long-awaited IT’S ALWAYS COMPLICATED is finally here! Find out more about this next installment in the Her Billionaires series and enter to win a $200 giftcard to your choice of stores below!

 

About IT’S ALWAYS COMPLICATED

Take two men, one woman, three children. Stir in one best friend and her fiancé doctor. Whisk one best friend’s niece, her two rock star boyfriends, and add a grizzled old octogenarian diner owner with a naughty mouth and her eighty-something boyfriend who loves every minute of her.

Put them all in a campground in northern Maine where the owners’ daughter has two special men of her own. Bake for 400 pages.

It’s Always Complicated is the sprawling saga of how Laura, Mike and Dylan (Her Billionaires) and Josie and Alex (It’s Complicated) have the wedding of a lifetime at Escape Shores Campground (the Obedient series) while Darla, Trevor and Joe (the Random series) make an appearance with a cast of characters that includes cameos from the Warlock Waitress and maybe…just maybe…Mavis the Chicken.

This book combines three of Julia Kent’s series in a madcap spectacle that yields one universal truth: love is a journey and not a destination, but people will drive you crazy along the way.

Enjoy the ride.

Add IT’S ALWAYS COMPLICATED to Goodreads here!

Get your hands on IT’S ALWAYS COMPLICATED now:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Need to catch up on the series?

Pick up the first book, HER BILLIONAIRES, now!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble| iBooks | Kobo

Read a Sneak Peek of IT’S ALWAYS COMPLICATED

They hadn’t had a quickie like this—so unplanned, so forbidden—in, well…

Not in ever.

“Do you remember our first date?” she asked, as if reading his mind. “The alley? After we ate dinner? We almost had sex right there, up against that brick wall.”

“Remember it?” he asked in a voice thick with sex. “I wish we had. God, I wanted you so much. I knew the second I laid eyes on you that you were mine. Ours.”

Her throat tremored as she swallowed, the delicate line of her neck screaming for a kiss. A suck. His mark, to show the world she was his.

Maybe that’s what this massive thunderstorm of sexual need was all about. If society wouldn’t let them make what their hearts knew to be true legally, then he needed to imprint his scent on her. Claim her. Make her his.

And Mike needed to do the same, too.

It was almost feral. So alpha, so animalistic that as he tucked himself back in his shorts he realized he was hardening again. The thrill of heated desire poured through his muscles, making them tense and loose at the same time, a strange paradox that only Laura could trigger.

“Damn it,” he said, pursing his lips and blowing out a frustrated breath.

“What?” When she brushed her long, blonde waves away from her face like that, all he could think about was having Laura naked beneath him, writhing in ecstasy with the blue sky above them, a field of wildflowers their only bed.

And…fuck.

He was hard as a rock.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but—”

Her kiss was an unexpected blow, a strike of pure power, her tongue plundering his like she was taking him prisoner and he was doomed. Doomed by the flesh, by the ritual of lust between them that needed no prelude.

Mine, she was screaming with teeth that nipped and lips that would be raw and red tomorrow.

Mine.

He picked her up and set her down on the bare ground, reaching between them with fast fingers to unleash what had just been inside her.

“Again,” she begged.

“I came out here to comfort you.” “

Then do it, damn it. Comfort me like this.”

Enter to Win

Because life IS always complicated, let’s keep this contest simple.

For a chance to win one $200 gift card from Gyft.com, good for more than 200 stores including Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Macy’s, Whole Foods and more, just enter via the Rafflecopter below!

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About Julia Kent

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge, and new adult books that push contemporary boundaries. From billionaires to BBWs to rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every book she writes, but unlike Trevor from Random Acts of Crazy, she has never kissed a chicken.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Facebook Reader Group | Instagram

WITCH DANCE by Elizabeth Burgess – RELEASE DAY IS TODAY

Witch Dance by Elizabeth Burgess

Series: Book 1 of The Hopewell Coven

WHERE TO BUY THE BOOK

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1WJbNRj

ABOUT THE BOOK

Centuries ago, The Cailleach entrusted the Hopewell Coven with the honor of guiding the Apacik Indians, a Native American tribe hailing from the Mississippi Flatwoods. Natural-born Healers, the Apacik’s innate ability, to either restore the sick or inflict pain upon the healthy, made them vulnerable and desperate for clear direction about how to use their gift. The Hopewells could advise them, instruct them, even befriend them, but under no circumstances could they fall in love. Pure bloodlines were essential to power, and as the Supreme Order of Witches, The Cailleach demanded all their members marry within covens.

Birthed out of the forbidden marriage between an Apacik man and a Celtic witch, fifteen-year-old Starling Hopewell is the only one of her kind. A half-breed. The Cailleach never allow her or her parents to forget it. Because of her mother’s position as leader of the Hopewells, Starling is allowed to train for Elementals, testing that will confirm if she is worthy to enter their Order, but evil lingers. Within The Cailleach—dark magick infiltrates its leader and its Elders—and will stop at nothing to bring the half-breed down.

Four trials. Four elements. Four weeks to master them all.

Embrace Destiny. Face the Fire.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

FACBOOK ~ WEBSITE ~ TWITTER 

For Elizabeth Burgess, writing is not only what she loves to do, it is freedom, salvation, and escape. It is life. Introduced to the art of words at a young age by Junior High English teacher, she poured herself into a self-study of all things poetry and prose throughout the entirety of her high school and college career—hoping to one day become a lyricist in Nashville. As the years went on, her dreams changed and morphed, but her love for words did not. 

 A nurse by trade, Elizabeth loves incorporating the medical field in each book she writes. Her favorite characters are always flawed, and if you see her wearing any color besides black, you know she’s sick. Thanks to her maternal grandparents, she believes she can do anything if she sets her mind to it, and will always offer you a glass of sweet tea if you come over. When she’s not working on her next novel, she enjoys Saturday nights in Death Valley, listening to Fleetwood Mac on rainy days, and taking pictures of her beloved Louisiana. 

Elizabeth is the author of The Waiting Series and the upcoming novel, Witch Dance, Book 1 of The Hopewell Coven. She lives in Northeast Louisiana’s farming country with her partner Terri, two Catahoula Curs, Bowie and Pike, and host of spoiled cats.

CADENCE OF GYPSIES BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY

 

Book Description for The Cadence of Gypsies:

On her 18th birthday Carolina Lovel learned that she was adopted and was given a letter written by her birth mother in an unknown language. After years of research she travels to Italy on a mission to find the truth about her past. Carolina is accompanied by three extremely gifted but mischievous students the FIGs from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women. In an effort to help their favorite teacher, the FIGs will have to use their special abilities to decipher the Voynich Manuscript, the most mysterious document in the world, and the one thing that is strangely similar to what Carolina was given. Their search will take them into the mystical world of gypsy tradition and magic, more exciting and dangerous than any of them could have imagined.

Buy the Book:  Amazon  ~  Barnes & Noble

 

MY REVIEW: 

Dara, Mackenzie and Jennifer call themselves the FIGs. They all live and attend school at Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women.

With only a few months until graduation the girls are bored and are not intellectually stimulated by their classes. Unfortunately for the school’s frustrated Headmaster, the girls channel their energy into pulling elaborate pranks.

Young teacher, Carolina Lovel is hired to help teach the young geniuses since Carolina could relate to the girls and their lives.

On Carolina’s 18th birthday she discovered that she had been adopted. She was given a box containing a picture and letter from her biological parents. BUT, (and, it is a big BUT) the letter is written in a language she is unable to decipher. The writing on Carolina’s letter is eerily similar to that of a mysterious document on display in Italy.

Carolina comes up with a brilliant plan. She decides to take the FIGs to Italy for a few weeks. She wants to challenge the girl’s extensive intelligence and hopefully unearth information that will lead to her finding her biological parents.

CADENCE OF GYPSIES is an amazing story filled with wonderfully inspiring female characters. It is wonderful to read a Young Adult novel where the protagonist is a strong, capable woman and the people who help her on her journey are also female.

Thank goodness this is not a typical female in peril who is rescued by the strong alpha male. I think it is important that young women realize that you do not need a man to achieve great things.

The addition of mysterious historical documents and a connection to the Italian gypsies just adds to this wonderful story.

Gypsies are a subject that somehow seems to fascinate readers and even television junkies.

There is some special quality about the gypsy life that draws the reader into the story and makes you want to know more.

Most of us will never meet a true gypsy. However, it is a fascinating subject and the idea that magic might actually exist is an intriguing one.

So, with all the praise I have heaped upon this book, people might wonder why I rated this book as 4 out of 5 stars rather than 5 out of 5. The answer to that question is that I deducted a star due to editing/proof-reading errors that I found in the book. For example: it says “pales” when it should say “pails” and “insure” when it should say “ensure”. When these errors are fixed, this book will definitely rate as 5 out of 5 stars.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels for both adults and young adults, and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. In addition to her own writing, she is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency, established in 1995, representing authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan.

In 2014 Barbara became a partner in Strategic Media Books Publishing, an independent publishing house that specializes in true crime and other cutting-edge adult nonfiction.

Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with her husband and three dogs who adopted her: Benton, a hound-mix, Fitz, a miniature dachshund, and Gert, a Jack Russel terrier of sorts.

Connect with the author:  Website

 

 

BLOG TOUR STOPS:

April 25 – Amie’s Book Reviews – review / giveaway

April 25 – Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine – review

April 26 – #redhead.with.book – review / giveaway

April 26 – Mystery Suspense Reviews – guest post

April 27 – Working Mommy Journal – review / author interview / giveaway

April 27 – Bookishly Devoted – review / guest post / giveaway

April 27 – Confessions Of The Perfect Mom – review

April 28 – Cassidy Salem Reads & Writes – review / giveaway

April 28 – Bound 4 Escape – review / giveaway

April 29 – The Autistic Gamer – review

April 29 – Library of Clean Reads – review / giveaway

April 29 – Jayne’s Books – review

May 2 –    Bookroom Reviews – review / guest post

May 2 –    The Bookish & The Romantic – review / author interview / giveaway

May 2 –    Svetlana’s Reads and Views – review

May 3 –    JBronder Book Reviews – review / guest post

May 3 –    Rockin’ Book Reviews – review / author interview / giveaway

May 4 –    Discovering/Writing Life – review / guest post / giveaway

May 4 –    Il Mio Tesoro – review / author interview

May 5 –    Corinne Rodrigues – review / guest post / giveaway

May 5 –    Readers Muse – review / guest post

May 5 –    Sahar’s Blog – review

May 6 –    Anglers Rest – review

May 6 –    First Impressions Reviews – review

 

GIVEAWAY:

Prizes:

Win 1 of 5 print / 1 of 5 ebooks of The Cadence of Gypsies (international)

One winner will also receive a $25 Amazon gift card

CLICK BELOW TO ENTER:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

5 Massive Stars for SOLEDAD by D.L. Young – Book Review – One of the Best Dystopian Books I’ve Ever Read

SOLEDAD – Dark Republic Book One – 5 Stars

Title: SOLEDAD

Author: D.L. Young

Series: DARK REPUBLIC: BOOK ONE

Type of Book: EBOOK

Length: 244 pages

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

Release Date: May 2016

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~ I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

** Please be aware that this book is not suitable for those under the age of 16 due to bad language and adult situations.**

“It’s a shitty world and people are the shittiest thing in it.”

Our protagonist is Soledad and she is a ‘Reader.’ In fact, if you have previously read D.L. Young’s short story collection; “Juarez Square,” you will recognize that this book is based on his short story: ‘The Reader’.

WHAT IS A READER?

A “Reader” in this story, is not someone who reads books (although Soledad does love her books, that has nothing to do with her ‘gift’) The use of a plant’s leaves; known as “hierba” is central to being a Reader.  “For anyone else, hierba’s just a bitter tasting desert plant, but for those… with the gift, chewing a weed changes us, alters how we see people and the world around us. It heightens perception, expands awareness. The plant flips a switch in us somehow, enabling us to see the complex hidden language of facial tics, breathing rhythms, body posture, the countless physical giveaways the conscious mind normally ignores.”

MY REVIEW:

This book is set in a dystopian future in what had once been the state of Texas.

Natgas is the currency of the day and Texas’s Natgas fields are under the control and protection of three groups. The group with the most wealth and power are the Bullocks, then there are the fields controlled by Guzman and the smallest territory belongs to the Fundies.

Soledad lives in Guzman’s camp and works for him as a Reader, helping him determine who can and cannot be trusted.

Soledad sees the truth about people, and all she desires in life is to know if her parents still live or if she is truly alone in the world.

But, as Soledad learns more about herself and her world, she comes to realize that knowing the truth isn’t always all it is cracked up to be. She comes to understand that life consists of a spiderweb of interconnecting threads that may not lead her where she had initially thought they would.

D.L. Young has an phenomenal ability for perfection in character development. His characters come to life on the pages of this book and readers will find themselves enthralled with their adventures.

The author’s amazing gift for story telling and world building will make readers become instant fans. D.L. Young is a Master of unique dystopian fiction.

Soledad is the first book in “The Dark Republic” series and I will be eagerly awaiting book two. I am definitely a fan.

I rate this book as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dystopian fiction just doesn’t get better than this.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading D.L. Young’s collection of short stories: Juarez Square and Other Stories, click on the link to read my 5 Star review of his amazing collection.

JUAREZ SQUARE AND OTHER STORIES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

D.L. Young is an award-winning writer and founder of the Space City Critters Writers Workshop.

Juarez Square and Other Stories, his short fiction collection, includes the best of his previously published work. Read more about Juarez Square.

D.L.’s stories often take place in near-future dystopias where drug lords employ robots to sell narcotics, holy wars are fought with drone aircraft, rogue artificial intelligences take over whole industries, and advanced technologies amplify both the best and worst of human nature.
He’s a member of Mensa, an English football fan, and a cigar lover.

4 Stars for BOKO HARAM by Charles River Editors – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

Title: BOKO HARAM: The History of Africa’s Most Notorious Terrorist Group

Author: Charles River Editors

Type of Book: Audiobook – Unabridged

Narrator: Wanda J. Dixon McKnight 

Length: 1 hour and 19 minutes

Release Date: April 23, 2015

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

* I received a free copy of this audiobook through AudioBookBlast in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Boko Haram was not a group that was on anyone’s radar until one day in April of 2004, when the group kidnapped 276 girls from a school in Nigeria. It was not a coincidence that most of those kidnapped girls are Christian.

This audiobook explains the deeply religious ideology that Boko Haram espouses. Boko Haram members are Muslim and they believe that Sharia law is the only true law. 

The narrator of this audiobook was the perfect choice. Many of the African names and pronunciations are extremely difficult for most people to pronounce but Wanda J. Dixon McKnight was flawless in her performance.

Much of the initial information in this audiobook is quite ‘dry’ but it was necessary to include it in order to really understand the African region and its complicated history. 

I found this audiobook very interesting although at times it came across less like a “book” and more like a university lecture. 

I rate this book as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Charles River Editors is an independent publisher of thousands of ebooks on Kindle , Nook , Kobo , and Apple iBookstore & provider of original content for third parties.

To find out more visit https://m.facebook.com/pages/Charles-River-Editors-LLC/184364271587581 

To find out more about Boko Haram and the kidnapping of the schoolgirls visit the following links: 

Multiple Articles from Newsweek

ARTICLE FROM THE GUARDIAN: The night Boko Haram kidnapped our girls: a Chibok resident remembers

FACT SHEET FROM THE COUNTERTERRORISM GROUP 

BOOK SPOTLIGHT – Accepted Secured Significant by Kemley Whiteside

  
Book Details:

Book Title: Accepted, Secured, Significant: Empowering, Igniting and Fulfilling your Purpose

Author: Kemley Whiteside 

Category: Adult non-fiction, 100 pages

Genre: Inspirational / Motivational

Publisher: Copper Owl Press

Release date: June 2015

Content Rating: PG-13
Book Description:

This text is a spiritual and inspirational journey for those drawn away from their purpose by the circumstances of their lives. This book is dedicated to those told they would never amount to anything.

It is for those told they would be just like their mother or father, that they are idiots, mistakes, and failures. It is for the pushed aside and ignored. It is for those under shadow, and for those abused from childhood. It is for the molested, and the ones told that no one loves them and no one ever would. It is for the misled and mistreated. It is for the suicidal. It is for the victims of domestic violence and abusive relationships. It is for those in spiritual bondage, and those who don’t believe in themselves. It is for those suffering from cancer or other diseases. It is for the motherless, fatherless, jobless, and homeless. It is for the depressive and anxious, the lonely and isolated. This book is for the hopeless.

To my brothers and sisters who need a way out: This book was written just for you. It is to polish your existence and your purpose on this earth.

This book was inspired and written by the Holy Spirit to assure you that, as a child of God, you no longer have to feel bound by labels and curses spoken over the course of your life. God wants to reinforce in your heart how valuable you are and how much you mean to Him. He wants you to know that through Him, you are Accepted, Secured, and Significant.
Meet the author:   

  
Kemley Whiteside is a native of the Republic of Panama, a survivor and overcomer. Kemley resides in the state of New Jersey with her husband and children.

She is ordained to help build by empowering, igniting, and fulfilling people into their purpose. She is a life-coach, mentor, inspiration, motivational speaker, and a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

She is the survivor of an anxiety disorder, depression, cancer, Lyme disease, domestic violence, and suicide. She is the survivor of physical, emotional, and mental abuse. These obstacles have strengthened her life and her purpose.

She is a woman birthing life to others by embracing them with confidence, and helping them achieve their calling. Kemley Whiteside earned her MA in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University, and her MBA in Project Management from Ashford University. She holds a BS in Information Technology from Phoenix University and has over fifteen certifications.

Connect with the author: Website Twitter 
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY 

CLICK HERE TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

3 Stars for THE KILLING COUSINS by Jack Rosewood – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

  

Title: THE KILLING COUSINS: The True Story of the Slaying Cousins 
Series: True Crime by Evil Killers, Book 11

Author: Jack Rosewood 

Type of Book: Audiobook- Unabridged 

Length: 3 hours and 8 minutes

Narrator: Miles Taylor 

Genre: Non-Fiction, True Crime

Release Date: February 9, 2016

Publisher: Wiq Media

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
~ I received a free copy of this book through AudioBookBlast in exchange for an honest review. 
Description by Audible.com: 

When Killing Cousins David Alan Gore and Fred Waterfield realized as teens that they shared the same sick, twisted sex fantasies of raping helpless, bound women who were completely at their mercy, Florida’s quiet Vero Beach would be never be the same.

 

DAVID ALAN GORE

 
Some of the least remorseful of all American serial killers, the deadly duo stalked their victims, often hitchhikes they believed would never be missed, using Gore’s auxiliary deputy badge as a ruse to lure them into their vehicle. After that, they were most likely to be driven to their deaths. 

Their evil, sadistic story from the annals of Florida history is one that will chill even longtime fans of true crime murder, especially after reading excerpts from the letters Gore wrote from prison, in which he shared deplorable secrets that made him one of the most demented sex criminals of all time. 

Gore once told a psychologist that “the devil made me do it,” but those who came in contact with Gore – including the law enforcement officials that ultimately put him on Death Row – believed he was the devil due to his depraved levels of cruelty.

Among the psychopaths and sociopaths that have walked the earth, Gore was one of the worst, although those who knew them say that it was Fred Waterfield, the more popular cousin who always played the good guy to Gore’s bad, who was the true brains of the outfit. As it happens, he probably was, because Waterfield almost got away with murder.
MY REVIEW: 

 Before listening to this audiobook I had never heard of Cousins David Alan Gore and Fred Waterfield which is surprising since their crimes must have garnered a lot of media attention. I assume the reason for my lack of information on the subject is due to geography. I live in Ontario, Canada and the cousins’ crime spree took place in Florida. 

I have listened to and read many True Crime books over the years and they all tend to follow a particular pattern. First, you learn about the killer’s childhood and family life; any early signs of psychopathy are outlined. This leads to the telling of the escalation of the killer’s crimes.

In “The Killing Cousins” this formula is only partially used. Other than learning that both David Alan Gore and his cousin, Fred Waterfield both had violent and deviant sexual fantasies during their adolescence, I did not feel that their early histories were adequately examined. 

I did find the story interesting, but felt there were a few problems with the way it was presented to the reader/listener. 

It was lacking in cohesiveness and the story came across as disjointed. For example, the listener learns that David Alan Gore was executed before they learn the details of his crimes. I believe that the author assumes that his readers will have previous knowledge of this criminal duo, but that is not always the case.

Another issue I had was with the recording quality. In two separate places the narrator repeats himself. I believe is probably when he took a break and went back to it later and a few words ended up being said twice; either that or whoever did the editing made the errors. 

I also would have liked to hear more about the victims. While there were a few details given, such as their ages, I felt that not enough details were given for the reader to feel any true empathy for them. They came across as victims in a story, rather than real people.

Based on the comments above, it would seem that I did not enjoy this audiobook, but that is not true. I found it interesting and I have to admit that the psychopathic mind is fascinating to me. What turns seemingly ordinary people into depraved monsters? I guess we will never really know.

If you are looking for a shortened version of the story of David Alan Gore and Fred Waterfield this audiobook is perfect for you.

I rate this audiobook as 3 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you are interested in more information about this crime spree, visit the following links:

THE PALM BEACH POST ARTICLE OUTLINING GORE’S CRIMES:

TAMPA BAY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT DAVID ALAN GORE’S EXECUTION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

  
Jack Rosewood is the author of many books on True Crime.

Jack lives in Jupiter, Florida with his wife, two kids and their golden retriever, Vincent. 

Jack Rosewood has been a full time author for the last 15 years and he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world!

His father was a journalist and wrote about some of the worst crimes you could ever imagine, and that’s where Jack’s interest from serial killers and other horrible crimes comes from. Just to hear his father talk about the evil acts of Ted Bundy as they were out fishing when he was a kid are some of his best memories.

Join His Newsletter and get a FREE E-Book and more deals: http://jackrosewood.com  

Facebook Fan Page   

ABOUT THE NARRATOR:

Miles Taylor is a voice actor from Upstate NY. He specializes in adult romance, fantasy, mystery & thrillers. 

THIN LIES by Bethany-Kris COVER REVEAL Blog Tour

THIN LIES
by Bethany-Kris
Donati Bloodlines, #1
Publication Date: May 2, 2016
Genres: Romantic Suspense, Erotic Romance, Organized Crime

#PREORDER (#Free with #KU): Amazon

Synopsis: Calisto Donati

She was just a woman. That’s what Calisto wanted to tell himself; that’s what he wanted to believe. Emma was nothing more than a woman. There were other women for him to want. To obsess over.
It couldn’t be Emma Sorrento.
Not for Calisto.
She was taken.
She was claimed.
She was not his.
In a few days, Calisto would hand her off, and that would be that. He wondered why it wouldn’t be that easy to let her go.
What good had saving her done?
He had simply taken her from one monster to give her to another.

Emma Sorrento

Emma slid on her mask. All someone would need to do was look close enough to see what was really beneath the sheer falseness of her smile.
At the other end of the table, Emma found her lies staring her right in the face.
He smirked.
And winked.
Calisto Donati was her worst mistake, her greatest shame, and the one thing she still wanted more than anything. Emma could still feel him all over her, long after his touch and kiss was gone. In thirty days, her entire world had changed—he had changed her.
Emma had a feeling that if she played another game with Calisto, she would surely lose.
She had already lost once.
Wasn’t it enough?

WARNING: The first two books in the Donati Bloodlines Trilogy end on a cliffhanger, and are not considered safe romance.

EXCERPT- THIN LIES

“It does hurt me,” Calisto said before he could stop himself.

He wanted to take the words back immediately.

Emma stilled in the passenger seat. “Then why play?”

To remember.

To punish himself.

To apologize.

“For a lot of different reasons,” Calisto settled on saying. “But tonight, I played so that you wouldn’t have to. You didn’t seem comfortable. I didn’t think you wanted to have everyone looking at you after what happened. It was a small sacrifice.”

“But you hurt now,” she said, seeming confused. “Don’t you?”

“But you didn’t have to.”

For Calisto, that was all that mattered.

Turning his head, Calisto stared out the opened driver’s window. He wondered if anyone had noticed that both he and Emma had left the dinner party without a goodbye. He supposed it didn’t make a difference.

Calisto didn’t mind Emma’s presence disturbing his peace, either.

“Calisto?” Emma asked softly.

“Hmm?”

Her hand rested on his thigh, and Calisto jerked in the seat at the innocent touch. The problem was, her touch couldn’t be innocent at all. Not with the way he currently felt, the things he had done, or the lines he had already crossed with a mighty “fuck you.” He hadn’t been expecting it, and he didn’t even hear Emma move in her seat.

Calisto barely had the chance to spin around and face Emma again before her mouth pressed against his. It was soft at first, smooth like her plump lips, and then her fingers dug into his leg like she was demanding something from him.

He didn’t know what it was.

Instinctively, Calisto wanted to push her away. He wanted to kiss her back, too. The crazy side of his brain won, the side that listened to his selfish wants and not his needs.

Or maybe he needed it, too.

Calisto didn’t know.

But he did grab onto Emma’s dress. He fisted the fabric around his taut knuckles, and pulled her a little closer. His tongue swept the seam of her lips, wanting more, needing to be deeper, seeking her heat and taste.

A little wouldn’t hurt, right?

Just a little more.

Emma sighed a sweet sound, giving into his unspoken demand by parting her lips. Calisto took the offering for what it was, kissed her harder, and let his tongue war with hers until she was gasping for air. Pulling away enough to catch a breath, Emma tipped her head up and hummed.

Calisto couldn’t help himself but lean forward and kiss her chin.

He was fucking stupid.

Why did she make him so stupid?

“I should go in and say goodbye,” he heard Emma say.

Calisto was too distracted by the flimsy fabric of her dress in his hands. A little pull with just enough strength and he knew that the dress would rip. She was close, and he could grab her around the waist before pulling her into the backseat.

The windows were tinted.

No one would see.

A little more wouldn’t hurt.

#EmmaSorrento

#CalistoDonati

ABOUT BETHANY-KRIS

Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to three young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something … when she can find the time.

To keep up-to-date with new releases from Bethany-Kris, sign up to her New Release Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bf9lzD

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