BLUEBELL by Roma Gray AUDIOBOOK REVIEW – 5 Stars richly deserved – This will scare your pants off, especially if you don’t like clowns

Title: BLUE BELL

Author: ROMA GRAY

Narrator: TERRY F. SELF

Genre: FICTION, HORROR

Length: 23 MINUTES

Publisher: ROMA GRAY

Price: $2.77 USD on AUDIBLE

Type of Book: AUDIOBOOK

Received From: THE NARRATOR

Release Date: FEBRUARY 16, 2018

Rating: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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DESCRIPTION:

Jasper is having a very, very bad day. However, after he meets an unusual clown by the name of Blue Bell, he soon realizes his day is about to do something he never imagined possible – it’s about to get worse.

MY REVIEW:

This short audiobook only lasts for 23 minutes, yet those few minutes are enough to hook any listener.

Firstly, the clown, Bluebell, on the cover of this audiobook is enough to have potential readers freaked out even before the story begins.

Readers are introduced to Jasper, a regular guy. Someone normal. With normal problems. Out of desperation to help his ailing father, he does something he normally never would.

This leads (somehow) to him discovering a clown doll named BlueBell. This doll will change his life…forever.

It is a difficult task to create characters and a storyline that will
grab and hold a reader’s attention in only 23 minutes, yet author Roma Gray accomplishes this with ease.

I did not want this story to end and am thrilled that the story continues with her full length novel HAUNTED HOUSE HARBOR.

Bluebell is narrated by Terry F. Self whose enunciation and pacing are perfect for this creepy tale.

I rate BLUEBELL as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Roma Gray began writing at the age of 8 and wrote her first novel when she was 13.

Besides writing, she is also a project manager in the IT field. Her other interests include painting, hiking, archeology, and physics.

She lives in Oregon with her two cats, dog, and parrot.

To learn more about this author, visit the following links:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

AUDIBLE

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

AMAZON

CHAPTERS

ABOUT THE NARRATOR:

Terry F. Self has been narrating audiobooks for Audible for over a year, but he’s been talking for a living for more than twenty years.

Terry is a Traffic & Weather anchor/reporter for iHeartMedia, responsible for weather & traffic reports for over 30 radio stations in the Southeast United States.

When not sitting behind a microphone, Terry can usually be found watching or playing sports, reading, or learning life lessons from his dog, Moses.

Terry lives in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.

To learn more about this Narrator, visit the following links:

AUDIBLE

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

AMAZON

FUCHSIA LAKES RELEASE BLITZ

Title: The Fuchsia Lakes
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Editor: Barren Acres Editing

Cover Designer: Covers by Christian
Photographer: Paul Henry Serres

Publication Date: Mar. 22nd, 2018

Blurb:
One Azure prince. One Fuchsia queen. Two hearts on the line.
Elliott Azure was a powerful knight who wanted nothing more than to protect his kingdom and realm. When tasked with a special mission, he journeyed to a neighboring land to assist their queen in search of the one that betrayed her. Plagued by memories of their previous encounter, Elliott was more than ready to be in the presence of the enrapturing queen again.
Karis Fuchsia was born among the realm’s four lakes. Losing her parents when she was only twenty-three, she became queen of a land she wasn’t ready to lead. Even at her young age, she ruled with kindness, but anyone who threatened the safety of her people felt a wrath like no other. With Elliott by her side, she felt protected for the first time in years.
With her lakes and people at risk, Elliott and Karis must join forces to restore balance to her kingdom. Lives were lost, hearts were shattered, but in the darkest hour, fate stepped in and proved that everything does happen for a reason.

Michelle Dare is a romance author. Her stories range from sweet to sinful and from new adult to fantasy. There aren’t enough hours in the day for her to write all of the story ideas in her head. When not writing or reading, she’s a wife and mom living in eastern Pennsylvania. One day she hopes to be writing from a beach where she will never have to see snow or be cold again.
Author Links:
Newsletter Sign-Up: http://eepurl.com/bt14zX

Buy Links:
The Azure Kingdom, Book #1
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2oR1Cj3
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1TdWKfR
B&N: http://bit.ly/1V7DLGb
iBooks: http://apple.co/1TgBupE
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Yqlcf7
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2CowYCX

The Pine Forest, Book #2
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2pt3E90
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2hqytba
B&N: http://bit.ly/2io50wS

The Azure Kingdom, Book #1
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2oR1Cj3
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1TdWKfR
B&N: http://bit.ly/1V7DLGb
iBooks: http://apple.co/1TgBupE
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Yqlcf7
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2CowYCX

The Pine Forest, Book #2
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2pt3E90
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2hqytba
B&N: http://bit.ly/2io50wS

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2CnSHuM
The Fuchsia Lakes, Book #3
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2DIMGYR
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2DebFmr
B&N: http://bit.ly/2DfdAad
iBooks: https://apple.co/2ttGG6h
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2FmLnVb
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2De797s

I am joining the Bookish Reading Challenge and YOU Should Too – Read On For Details

Here at Bookish, reading isn’t just a hobby. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a religion. We’re never without a book in our hands, and we know that you aren’t either. To ensure that your 2018 is packed with diverse new books, we’ve put together our biggest reading challenge yet! This year we’ve listed 52 individual challenges, one for each week of the year.

Join in the conversation and share your reading challenge progress by using #killyourtbr on social media.

1. A book whose title uses alliteration

2. A book written by a trans author

3. A book you regret not reading last year

4. A book with the moon or stars on the cover

5. The first book in a series

6. A novel told in verse

7. A book published the year you were born

8. A book featuring a character with a disability

9. A book you picked up based on the title

10. A book recommended by a librarian

11. A book won in a BookishFirst raffle

12. A book told through letters

13. A book from an independent publisher

14. A book with an LGBTQ romance

15. A book with a five-word title

16. A book that has been translated

17. An #ownvoices book

18. A book whose cover features nature

19. A book written by an immigrant

20. A book you’ve lied about reading

21. A book that has fewer than 200 pages

22. A book whose title begins with K, Q, J, X, or Z

23. A book given to you by a friend

24. A book you bought for the cover

25. A book written by an author who wrote one of your favorite 2017 books

26. A graphic memoir

27. A book that addresses mental illness

28. Listen to an audiobook

29. A book with a one-word title

30. A book by an author from your state

31. A book whose cover is your favorite color

32. A collection of short stories from a genre you are unfamiliar with

33. An author’s debut book

34. A book with a pun in the title

35. A book with a biracial main character

36. A book by an author who uses a pen name

37. A book with an LGBTQ character on the cover

38. A book inspired by Asian mythology or folklore

39. A book with a number in the title

40. A book by a South American author

41. A book whose cover uses three or fewer colors

42. A book that explores the concept of beauty

43. A book about intersectional feminism

44. A book that has more than 500 pages

45. A book with an animal on the cover

46. A book with a character’s name in the title

47. A book set in a country you’ve never been to

48. A novel inspired by true events

49. A book written by a Native American author

50. A book with a character of color on the cover

51. A book that has been banned in your state

52. A book whose title includes an ampersand

I think this #tbrchallenge and the hashtag #KIllyourTBR will lead to finding some terrific new books to discover.

**If you are interested in joining this Challenge, you can find the original post on BOOKISH.

WAITING FOR AEGINA AUDIOBOOK BLOG TOUR, REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Author: Effie Kammenou

Narrators: Emily Lawrence

Length: 11 hours 2 minutes

Series: The Gift Saga, Book 2

Publisher: Effie Kammenou

Released: Feb. 16, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Book two in the Gift Saga: the continuation of Evanthia’s Gift….

In 1961, five little girls moved into a suburban neighborhood and became inseparable, lifelong friends. They called themselves the Honey Hill Girls, named after the street on which they lived. As teenagers, they shared one another’s ambitions and dreams, secrets and heartaches. Now, more than 30 years later, they remain devoted and loyal, supporting each other through triumphs and sorrows.

Evanthia’s Gift follows the life of Sophia Giannakos. In Waiting for Aegina, the saga continues from the perspectives of Sophia and her friends as the story drifts back and forth in time, filling in the gaps as the women grow to adulthood.

Naive teenage ideals are later challenged by harsh realities, as each of their lives takes unexpected turns. Now nearing their 50th year, Sophia, Demi, Amy, Mindy, and Donna stand together through life-altering obstacles while they try to regain the lighthearted optimism of their youth.

Effie Kammenou is a first generation Greek-American who lives on Long Island with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not writing, or posting recipes on her food blog, cheffieskitchen.wordpress.com, you can find her entertaining family and friends.
Evanthia’s Gift: Book One in The Gift Saga was a 2016 Readers Favorite Awards finalist in the women’s fiction category. Waiting for Aegina: Book Two in The Gift Saga is Kammenou’s latest release. For updates on the release of Book Three, the conclusion of The Gift Saga, follow Effie on Twitter, Facebook or Amazon.

WebsiteTwitterFacebookGoodreadsInstagramPinterest
Narrator Bio

Emily is an actor and writer passionate about bringing stories to life. Her greatest strength as a performer is her ability to bring herself to the role, creating a wide range of emotionally resonant performances that leap off the page, stage, or screen. Her favorite characters are complicated, conflicted, and still searching for their inner truths. Emily’s passion for her work is complimented by her persistence, resilience, and inexhaustible work ethic. She’s narrated more than 160 audiobooks, half of which were USA Today or New York Times bestsellers, and has also worked in film, television, and theater. Born and raised in New York, Emily moved to Los Angeles shortly after receiving her BFA in drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She also had the privilege of living in London while studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
Emily’s greatest loves are acting and reading, so narrating audiobooks is a dream come true. Her other passions include traveling, LARPing, aerial circus, and chocolate.

WebsiteTwitterFacebookInstagram

This book is the second in a series, however, it can easily be read as a standalone novel (which is exactly what I did.)

The author, Effie Kammenou, has created a story that is compelling, believable, and entertaining.

The character building is terrific and the storyline will hold a reader’s attention with ease.

Narrator Emily Lawrence proves that she is a professional Narrator with her flawless voice and her impeccable timing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this Audiobook and I rate it as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

**I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Effie Kammenou. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.**

Giveaway

Waiting For Aegina Giveaway: 3-month Audible Membership

Mar. 25th:
Jazzy Book Reviews
Amie’s Book Reviews

Mar. 26th:
T’s Stuff

Mar. 27th:
Happily Ever BookWorm
London’s Scribbles

Mar. 28th:
What Is That Book About

Mar. 29th:
The Book Junkie Reads . . .

Mar. 30th:
Blogger Nicole Reviews

Mar. 31st:
The Book Addict’s Reviews

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CRUISE WITH AN ADORABLE FAT GIRL BLOG TOUR and GIVEAWAY

Cruise with an Adorable Fat Girl Blog Tour, Review and GIVEAWAY

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Title: CRUISE WITH AN ADORABLE FAT GIRL

Author: BERNICE BLOOM

Rating: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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SYNOPSIS:

Mary Brown – our full-figured heroine – is off on a cruise. It’s the trip of a lifetime…featuring eat-all-you-can buffets and a trek through Europe with a 96-year-old widower called Frank and a flamboyant Spanish dancer called Juan Pedro in attendance. Then there’s the desperately handsome captain, the appearance of an ex-boyfriend on the ship, the time she’s mistaken for a Hollywood film star in Lisbon and tonnes of clothes shopping all over Europe.

Purchase from Amazon UKhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Cruise-Adorable-Fat-Girl-frolicks-ebook/dp/B077Y5XZWK/

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MY REVIEW:

CRUISE ADORABLE FAT GIRL

Mary Brown is: THE ADORABLE FAT GIRL. She may be fat, but that is only one small part of who she is. In this installment of her life’s journeys, Mary has been invited along on a Mediterranean cruise. Her friend Dawn is a blogger and has been given a free cruise for two in exchange for being featured on her blog.

A FREE 20 day Mediterranean cruise. Who could possibly resist? Not Mary. She is as excited as a toddler receiving its first ice cream cone. Of course, the “Eat-All-You-Can Buffet” is a huge bonus.

When boarding the ship, Mary meets the gorgeous Captain of the Angel of the Seas – Will Homarus. He is so strikingly gorgeous that Mary thinks to herself; “I knew instantly that I would have to keep right away from this guy when I’d had a few glasses of wine or I’d be wrapping my legs round his neck and asking him to marry me.”

Mary’s first night on the ship passes in a blur and when she wakes up in the morning she cannot remember what she did the night before. But, she learns a bit about it in the morning when one of the men sharing her table says: “Yes, the captain was telling that you were performing YMCA last night and doing high kicks to New York, New York. You were quite the party animal by the sound of it…The captain said your Elvis impersonation was one of the best he’d ever seen.”

I laughed out loud at this.

I do not want to give too much more away because I am excited to let readers discover all the hilarious hijinks when they read this book. It is filled with colorful characters, wondrous scenery and is. incredibly hilarious.

I rate this book as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and I highly recommend it. This would be the perfect beach read or even a winter weekend read to remind readers that summer is coming.

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BEST QUOTES FROM THE BOOK:

My favorite line in the entire book is the following:

“I don’t know a great deal about politics: only that Theresa May wears great shoes and Donald Trump is a giant orange loon-bucket and no one knows how he was elected.”
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“Always a joy to meet someone who doesn’t take life too seriously… Life’s supposed to be full of surprises, Mary Brown. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hello, my name is Bernice Bloom and I am a writer (I write light-hearted rom-com style novels and also work as a magazine journalist and advertising copywriter) and jewellery designer. My recent series of novels is called ‘Adorable Fat Girl’ and it features a heavily overweight woman called Mary Brown. She is bright, funny, friendly and bonkers. She’s also fat. The books blend the comedy of her efforts to lose weight with a more serious backstory about what happened to her in the past that had led to the issues that make her prone to over-eating. I’m fascinated that there are so few overweight heroines in literature. Women can be manipulative, evil, even murderers in fiction, but not fat! Certainly not fat and beautiful with loads of friends! Then along came Mary and she’s developed quite a fan base of people who love the fact that the heroine is large. She gets lots of letters and I have ended up taking her on lots of adventures!

To learn more about this author visit the following links:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

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ENTER TO WIN:

Giveaway – Win a Daisy Bracelet and Earring set created by Bernice Bloom (Open Internationally).

Giveaway – Win a Daisy Bracelet and Earring set created by Bernice Bloom (Open Internationally).

*Terms and Conditions

Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

ENTER BY CLICKING THE FOLLOWING LINK:

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DIARY OF AN ADORABLE FAT GIRL BLOG TOUR, REVIEW and JEWELLERY GIVEAWAY

Title: Diary of an Adorable Fat Girl: The Complete, Full-length Novel

Author: BERNICE BLOOM

Rating: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SYNOPSIS

Mary Brown is funny, gorgeous and bonkers. She’s also about six stone overweight. When she realises she can’t cross her legs, has trouble bending over to tie her shoelaces without wheezing like an elderly chain-smoker, and discovers that even her hands and feet look fat, it’s time to take action. But what action? She’s tried every diet under the sun.

This is the hysterical story of what happens when Mary joins ‘Fat Club‘ where she meets a cast of funny characters and one particular man who catches her eye.
The story is laugh-out-loud funny and will resonate with anyone who has dieted, tried to keep up with any sort of exercise programme or spent 10 minutes in a changing room trying to extricate herself from a way too-small garment that she ambitiously tried on and is now completely stuck in.
Bernice Bloom is the big, new name in comedy writing…this is the first full-length novel after her series of laugh-out-loud mini books.

Purchase from Amazon UK

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MY REVIEW:

I have a new favorite heroine. Her name is Mary Brown and guess what, she is F-A-T and she relishes it.

The ADORABLE FAT GIRL SERIES by hilarious author BERNICE BLOOM features real people. There are no blonde barbie dolls who look like they might die if they so much as look at a cheeseburger. Nope. Mary Brown is FAT and in this series, fat is not a bad word.

If you are in the mood for a good laugh, this is the book for you!

I rate DIARY OF AN ADORABLE FAT GIRL as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hello, my name is Bernice Bloom and I am a writer (I write light-hearted rom-com style novels and also work as a magazine journalist and advertising copywriter) and jewellery designer. My recent series of novels is called ‘Adorable Fat Girl’ and it features a heavily overweight woman called Mary Brown. She is bright, funny, friendly and bonkers. She’s also fat. The books blend the comedy of her efforts to lose weight with a more serious backstory about what happened to her in the past that had led to the issues that make her prone to over-eating. I’m fascinated that there are so few overweight heroines in literature. Women can be manipulative, evil, even murderers in fiction, but not fat! Certainly not fat and beautiful with loads of friends! Then along came Mary and she’s developed quite a fan base of people who love the fact that the heroine is large. She gets lots of letters and I have ended up taking her on lots of adventures!

To learn more about this author visit the following links:

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

AMAZON

.

Giveaway – Win a Daisy Bracelet and Earring set created by Bernice Bloom (Open Internationally).

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

@rararesources

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COVER REVEAL for SAVE ME by Cecy Robson PLUS Enter to WIN A $50 AMAZON OR PAYPAL GIFT CARD

SAVE ME

by Cecy Robson
O’Brien Family, #5
Publication Date: April 25, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Standalone

#PREORDER YOUR COPY NOW!

SYNOPSIS:

RT Book Reviews proclaims that the O’Brien Family series from award-winning author Cecy Robson “has the hottest brothers ever!” And in SAVE ME, it’s time for Seamus, the family’s most notorious bachelor, to find true love.

Three weddings. No date. What’s a hot stud to do when all the women on his speed dial are either serving dinner to their families or serving time?

Out of all the O’Briens, Seamus is the best-looking, most creative, and, did I mention, best-looking? Single at almost forty wasn’t a big deal until every sibling in his large and loud Irish family found “the one.” Now, he’s desperate for a wedding date, one he doesn’t have to worry will make out with the limo driver or rob the bride and groom blind.

Allie Mendes is the good daughter, who’s spent her life living in her perfect sister’s shadow. But when her sister steals the man Allie was supposed to marry, that shadow she’s lived in threatens to swallow her whole. Allie wants to believe a bright future awaits. But when she begs God to save her from this disastrous twist of fate, the last person she expects Him to send her is Seamus O’Brien.

Allie needs a stand-in boyfriend to avoid appearing as lonely as she feels. Seamus needs a decent woman without an ankle bracelet or a rap sheet as long as his muscular arms. The two make a deal to pose as each other’s perfect date. But weddings mean romance and a chance at forever neither had planned.

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EXCERPT

“Me little Finnie is right,” Ma says from the door, her Irish accent as thick as the day Grammie popped her out on a potato field.

“He’s the baby and already getting married. Promising me grandbabies like a good boy.”

He points at her and making a clicking sound. “You know I’ve got you, Ma.”

That did it. The moment Ma leaves, we’re throwing down.

Ma shakes her head like people do when all is lost and there’s nothing that can be done. “Look at you, Seamus. All strapping male with the strength and charm of an Irish prince.” She walks in, her steps slow and steady. It’s the same way she walked in when we were kids and we knew we were fucked.

“I just have one question,” she says, her voice light as it often is before she strikes. “Are you trying to kill your mother?”

Jesus. Here we go.

She holds her hand. “Oh, me handsome son. It’s a simple question really. Do you want me to die?”

“You want Ma to die?” Wren yells from the other room. She shuffles in with enough white fabric trailing behind her to sail across the Atlantic. Brenda’s other daughters, the not so slutty ones, charge after Wren, lifting the eighty feet of material high in the air.

Wren points an irate finger at me. “If you give Ma the big one, you’re going to really piss me off. You and me both know we never thought this shit was going to happen,” she adds, motioning to layers of dress.

Brenda’s daughters, Finnie, and Ma nod their heads in unison. My sister is beautiful. I can say that because it’s true, even though right now she looks like a Barbie doll shoved into a giant cupcake. Like me she has black hair, blue eyes, and light skin. If you cut us, we’d bleed Leprechauns that would dance a jig the moment their little feet hit the floor. We’re that Irish.

Wren’s problem is she has a mouth most sailors would run screaming from, and an attitude that’s even less polite. Let’s face it, none of us ever thought Wren would meet a man strong enough to tame her.

I’m happy for her and everything, but right now it sucks balls.

Wren was my safety-net because of her mouth. Finnie was too, because he was the youngest and always in trouble. As far as I was concerned, I had years, no, decades before I had to worry about settling down. But life can be a real bitch and here she is waving two giant middle fingers at me now that Finn and Wren are getting hitched.

“So what if I’m not married? So what if I haven’t popped out a few kids?” I hold out my arms. “Plenty of women have had the absolute pleasure of sampling the merchandise—”

I wince when Ma slaps me upside the head. She might be five feet nothing, but she has the agility of a cobra, and possibly the ability to fly. I’m almost 6’2. How the hell can she can reach me?

“And what happened to all these ‘ladies’ who sampled the merchandise?” Ma demands.

“I think the one is back in prison,” Finnie offers. He frowns, giving it a lot of thought. “Larceny and Fraud. Right, Seamus?”

“It’s where most of the skanks he dated belong,” Wren agrees. “Remember Kenna O’Sullivan?” We all collectively cross ourselves, including Miss Brenda’s daughters. “They never did find the body.”

“Yeah. She was a nutcase.” My voice trails. I’m not doing myself any favors. Thank God Finn has my back.

“Hey, Shoshana Greenstone was nice. Oh, and her husband was pretty damn understanding when he found out you were banging her.”

“I didn’t know she was married!” I yell for the hundredth time. “I just, you know, thought she worked odd hours.”

Wren grins. “No, she just had trouble finding a babysitter for her kids.”

“What about the others?” Ma asks. “The girls have liked you since you were a wee boy.”

“I don’t know,” I answer truthfully, my annoyance making my voice sound gruff. “No one’s really ever done it for me.” I look at them. “You want them to do it for me, don’t ya?”

Wren places her hands on her hips. She may look like a lady, all soft and dainty in all that lace, but she’ll never exactly think or talk like one. “You mean besides in the backseat of your truck?” She nods. “Yeah, that would be nice.”

Ma leans in. I know what she’s going to say, even before she says it. “I was younger than you when I pushed out your baby brother onto the cold kitchen floor.”

Finn holds out his hand, looking a little green. “Ma, please don’t. Miss Brenda won’t like it if I puke on her stuff before I pay for it.”

“Then you better pay for it,” Wren says, knowing once more it’s time to tell the divine tale of Finn’s birth.

Shoot me.

The birth of a child is supposed to be a good thing, a beautiful thing, filled with miracles, stuffed animals, and balloons. Maybe for most families it is, under the right conditions. But my family doesn’t tend to do things the right way. I suppose it’s one of the many things that makes us “us.” Our hearts are usually in the right place. But the right way for birthing babies means a hospital and under sanitary conditions—not in a kitchen barely big enough for a refrigerator and stove.

I remember that day clearly. Ma was making shepherd’s pie, until she wasn’t. Her water broke like an extra-large water balloon thrown on the floor by a very pissed off toddler. She started screaming, then Angus started screaming, and Curran almost fainted. Five contractions later, Finnie was coming out and there wasn’t anything we could do to stop him.

Bastard. I missed my baseball game because of him.

ABOUT CECY ROBSON

Cecy Robson is an author of contemporary and new adult romance, young adult adventure, and award-winning urban fantasy. A double-nominated RITA® Finalist, Winner of the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and published author of more than twenty titles, you can typically find Cecy on her laptop or stumbling blindly in search of caffeine.

Connect with Cecy online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Profile

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REVOLVER by Michael Patrick Hicks AUDIOBOOK REVIEW – This is one of the most terrifyingly eerily plausible future scenarios I Have EVER Read. 5 Massive Stars!

Title: REVOLVER

Author: MICHAEL PATRICK HICKS

Narrator: PATRICIA SANTOMASSO

Genre: FICTION, SPECULATIVE FICTION, SCIENCE FICTION

Length: 1 HOUR, 14 MINUTES

Type of Book: AUDIOBOOK

Release Date: 2016

Price: $1.99 on AUDIBLE.COM

Rating: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

DESCRIPTION:

Cara Stone is a broken woman: penniless, homeless, and hopeless. When given the chance to appear on television, she jumps at the opportunity to win a minimum of $5,000 for her family.

The state-run, crowdfunded series, Revolver, has been established by the nation’s moneyed elite to combat the increasing plight of class warfare.

There’s never been a Revolver contestant quite like Cara before. The corporate states of America are hungry for blood, and she promises to deliver.

MY REVIEW:

Although this Audiobook is not long in the length of time it will take a reader to listen to, it’s storyline and content will remain on a person’s mind for a very long time.

The thing that struck me most about this story was it’s terrifying plausibility.

The story is set in the future United States where it is law to carry a gun openly. It is illegal to not carry a gun. Some people may scoff at this notion, but you only have to turn on the news to realize that this type of thing may come about all too soon.

Although this story was written in 2016, it seems like it was written this past month. Within the last few weeks there have been TWO school shootings and when discussing solutions, President Trump actually offered up the idea that maybe teachers should carry guns.

It is a short step from this to the dissolution of the United States, as happened in the book. They become instead, the Corporate States of America. Scary!

In the audiobook, Cara, who has struggled with depression is labeled “lower class.” These citizens have no rights and horrible things can be done to them without fear of retribution.

The television show REVOLVER offered desperate people a way to help their families and would earn each participant a minimum of $5000. What do they have to do on the show? You need to listen to this audiobook to find out. I will say that it is Reality TV taken to the extreme.

From the very first minute, listeners will be drawn into the story. This book is so enthralling that you will find yourself tuning out the rest of the world and becoming completely immersed in this terrifying tale.

In an audiobook whose length is just over one hour, I did not expect much in the way of world-building. I was WRONG. The world-building in REVOLVER is top-notch. In fact, I am hoping that author Michael Patrick Hicks has since written a full length novel, or at least more short stories about this same dystopian future.

I am rating this audiobook as highly as possible. The narration was quite simply PERFECTION. Narrator PATRICIA SANTOMASSO’s voice and the emotion she is somehow able to instill in that voice, make the story seem even more realistic. Listeners will feel as if they are living in the story itself. I admit to being extremely impressed by both the author and the narrator.

I rate REVOLVER as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

MICHAEL PATRICK HICKS is the author of a number of speculative fiction titles. His debut novel, Convergence, was an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award 2013 Quarter-Finalist. His most recent work is the horror novel, Mass Hysteria.

He has written for the Audiobook Reviewer and Graphic Novel Reporter websites, in addition to working as a freelance journalist and news photographer.

In between compulsively buying books and adding titles that he does not have time for to his Netflix queue, he is hard at work on his next story.

To learn more about this author, visit the following links:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

PATREON

PINTEREST

TUMBLR

AMAZON

AUDIBLE

YOUTUBE

GOOGLE+

ABOUT THE NARRATOR
(COPIED FROM HER WEBSITE):

I grew up in CT, a child obsessed with scary stories. I was so horrified by Camilla by Sheridan Le Fanu that I slept with garlic on my windowsills for a year when I was 10. I’m mostly over it now, but I order a New Haven clam pie light on the garlic. You may think that incident would have stopped me from reading every Stephen King novel I could get my hands on. Spoiler: it didn’t.

I got my BA in English Lit because I love reading, and then moved to NY because I love the MTA. Who doesn’t? After graduating from acting conservatory, I spent a number of years traveling across the country doing plays, until I realized I could make a living talking to myself in a padded room – and here we are!
When I’m not reading, I’m baking, organizing things (I’m sick, I know), riding around on my razor scooter, and finding any excuse at all not to go to the gym.

To learn more about this Narrator, visit the following links:

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ACX

BLUE MOON LUCK by Linda Collison AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

Title: BLUE MOON LUCK

Author: LINDA COLLISON

Narrator: JOSEPH JOHN RAYMOND ROCCA

Genre: FICTION

Length: 4 HOURS, 26 MINUTES

Publisher: FICTION HOUSE, LTD.

Type of Book: AUDIOBOOK

Received From: THE AUTHOR

Release Date: FEBRUARY 19, 2018

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

DESCRIPTION:

For his entire life, twenty-two-year-old Chance Lee has been dreaming of greatness — something far beyond getting high in his mother’s old farmhouse, and much more prestigious than playing in a twangy West Virginia country band on the weekends. Unlike many other small-town boys with lofty dreams, Chance see his future of musical greatness, with his best friend Tollie by his side, as an undeniable fact. And when a reading from a local fortune-teller seems to affirm his unstoppable luck, it’s not long before he’s ready to break out of Falling Waters and put his plans in motion. But when creative differences and the undeniable pull of home begin to get in the way, Chance is finally given reason to doubt his lucky star — at least, until he finally hits the road alongside an unexpected companion.

MY REVIEW:

Sometime in the 1980s, Chance and his best friend and band mate, Tully, visit a fortune teller on the night of the full moon. That night changes everything. Of course, they were unaware of the changes at the time.

Young men, a bit of weed, raging hormones, a lot of music, women, sex, rock’n’roll, friendship and a desire for something more all come together in the mish-mash of indecision which faces all youth.

Witty and engaging, this fictional memoir will have readers reminiscing about their own youth.

The narrator for this audiobook may be new to the profession, but he did an commendable job and his accent made the scenes come alive. The only issue with the narration was that at one point you hear him grunt which actually provided a bit of comic relief. Also, the pauses between chapters are a bit too long for my taste.

I rate the book itself as 5 out of 5 Stars, but the Audiobook as 4 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Linda Collison’s fiction, nonfiction, and articles have appeared in a variety of publications. Her debut novel, “Star-Crossed,” was chosen by the New York Public Library as a Book for the Teen Age-and her writing has received awards from the “Literary Fiction Review,” “Foreword Reviews,” “Honolulu Magazine,” and more.

In addition to her career as an author and freelance writer, Collison has worn many other hats-including mother, registered nurse, volunteer firefighter, skydiving instructor, and restauranteur.

Born and raised in Maryland, she lived in Hawaii for many years with her husband Bob Russell. Currently, the couple resides in Colorado.

To learn more about this author, visit the following links:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

LINKEDIN

GOOGLE

AMAZON

AUDIBLE

SPARROW SQUADRON BOOK BLOG TOUR, REVIEW and GIVEAWAY

This blog tour is organized by:

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Sparrow Squadron
by D.L. Jung
Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Action-Adventure
Release Date: February 2018

Summary:

“There was a time when flying didn’t mean looking over my shoulder for death coming at me.”

World War II. June 1941. Hitler’s war machine turns to the Soviet Union.

Escaping her hometown ahead of the Nazis, 16-year-old Aelya Makarova seizes a chance to live her dream. Obsessed with flying, she joins a women’s fighter squadron to defend her homeland against the invaders. She’ll go faster and higher than she’s ever gone before.

But the harsh reality of Air Force life shatters her expectations and forces her to grow up fast. The squadron is split by petty rivalries, male pilots treat them like a joke, and the ideal country she thought she was fighting for doesn’t really exist.

Finally given a chance to prove herself in battle, Aelya is pushed to breaking point. With all her talent, the help of her comrades, and a lot of luck, she might just make it through. But will there be anything left of her humanity?

With fast-paced action and a heart-rending mix of humour and tragedy, Sparrow Squadron is an adventure novel for young adults that brings an overlooked episode of history to life.

Title: SPARROW SQUADRON

Series: AELITA’S WAR, BOOK ONE

Author:  D L JUNG

Genre: YOUNG ADULT FICTION, HISTORICAL FICTION, CANADIAN AUTHOR

Length: 334 PAGES

Publisher: XINLISHI PRESS

Type of Book: SOFTCOVER ARC – UNCORRECTED PROOF

Received From: THE AUTHOR

ISBN: 978-1-9834455-4-5 (ARC)

Rating: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

MY REVIEW:

Russian involvement in fighting against Hitler’s fascist regime is a topic that is often overlooked by North American authors. This is a travesty. We hear and read about the U.S. involvement in the war often through both Fiction and Non-fiction. Why is Russia so often overlooked? Is it because in the years since WWII Russia had been consistently seen as the ‘bad guy?’

Whatever the reason, I was very glad to read this book and to learn about Russia and especially about its female fighter pilots.

I enjoyed the story of how one young girl follows her dreams in Communist Russia despite the many roadblocks and obstacles placed in her path which Aelya must overcome.

Aeyla’s progression from naive young girl to hardened fighter pilot is an interesting part of the story.

At the beginning, Aeyla’s believes all the Communist propaganda she has been taught her whole life.

The author has done an incredible job of humanizing people whom history deems as evil. For example, The German fighter pilot that is captured and questioned.

Author D.L. Jung has also used this wonderfully written work of fiction as a tool to inform his readers about the horrors of war.

Action packed and full of interesting characters and set in a time in history where emotions often overruled good sense, SPARROW SQUADRON is a MUST READ novel, not only for Young Adults but also for everyone else. I rate this book as 5 out of 5 Stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

About the Author

DL Jung has been an enthusiastic student of history since grade school, when he spent lazy afternoons flipping through an old Encyclopedia Britannica set. He enjoys blogging about history and writing historical fiction. He also writes fantasy and horror fiction as Darius Jung.

Jung is married, with two children, and lives in Toronto, Canada. They are lucky enough to spend part of the time in New Zealand. Outside of writing, he has tried stints as an industrial engineer, a film and TV script supervisor, an IT consultant, a professional game show contestant, and a grossly under-qualified business wear model. Sparrow Squadron is his debut novel.

Jung is married, with two children, and lives in Toronto, Canada. They are lucky enough to spend part of the time in New Zealand. Outside of writing, he has tried stints as an industrial engineer, a film and TV script supervisor, an IT consultant, a professional game show contestant, and a grossly under-qualified business wear model. Sparrow Squadron is his debut novel.

Author Links:

Blog Tour Schedule –

March 5th

Booked http://BookedLQ.wordpress.com Review

The Reading Life http://anneclarence.wixsite.com/thereadinglife Promo Post

Katie’s Stories https://kjhstories.blogspot.com/ Promo PPos

March 6
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Amie’s Book Reviews
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March 7th
Wishful Endings
Camillea Reads

March 8th

Reading for the Stars and Moon
fundinmental

March 9th

YA/NA Book Divas http://www.yabookdivas.comPromo Post

Adventures thru Wonderland http://adventuresthruwonderland.blogspot.com/ Review

March 12th
For The Love Of The Page https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/ Review

Indie Wish List https://indiewishlist.weebly.com/ Promo Post

March 13th
NewbookcatsREADS www.newbookcatsreads.blogspot.com RRevie
This and That Book Blog http://thisandthatbookblog.blogspot.com Promo Post

March 14th
Bitches n Prose https://bitchesnprose.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

Blog Tour Schedule –

March 5th

Booked http://BookedLQ.wordpress.com Review

The Reading Life http://anneclarence.wixsite.com/thereadinglife Promo Post

Katie’s Stories https://kjhstories.blogspot.com/ Promo PPos

March 6
Bibliobibuli YA

YOU ARE HERE:

Amie’s Book Reviews
The Avid Reader

March 7th
Wishful Endings
Camillea Reads

March 8th

Reading for the Stars and Moon
fundinmental

March 9th

YA/NA Book Divas http://www.yabookdivas.comPromo Post

Adventures thru Wonderland http://adventuresthruwonderland.blogspot.com/ Review

March 12th
For The Love Of The Page https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/ Review

Indie Wish List https://indiewishlist.weebly.com/ Promo Post

March 13th
NewbookcatsREADS www.newbookcatsreads.blogspot.com RRevie
This and That Book Blog http://thisandthatbookblog.blogspot.com Promo Post

March 14th
Bitches n Prose https://bitchesnprose.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

eview

March 12th
For The Love Of The Page https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/ Review

Indie Wish List https://indiewishlist.weebly.com/ Promo Post

March 13th
NewbookcatsREADS www.newbookcatsreads.blogspot.com RRevie
This and That Book Blog http://thisandthatbookblog.blogspot.com Promo Post

March 14th
Bitches n Prose https://bitchesnprose.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

Blushing Bibliophile http://blushingbibliophile.wix.com/blog Review

March 15th

Lukten av trykksverte https://luktenavtrykksverte.blogspot.no Review

Afire Pages www.afirepages.wordpress.com Promo Post

March 16th
La libreria di Beppe http://libreriabeppe.blogspot.it/ Promo Post

Off the Margin http://themarginlooksblank.wordpress.com Review

forthenovellovers https://forthenovellovers.wordpress.com/ Review

Blog Tour Schedule –

March 5th

Booked http://BookedLQ.wordpress.com Review

The Reading Life http://anneclarence.wixsite.com/thereadinglife Promo Post

Katie’s Stories https://kjhstories.blogspot.com/ Promo PPos

March 6
Bibliobibuli YA

YOU ARE HERE:

Amie’s Book Reviews
The Avid Reader

March 7th
Wishful Endings
Camillea Reads

March 8th

Reading for the Stars and Moon
fundinmental

March 9th

YA/NA Book Divas http://www.yabookdivas.comPromo Post

Adventures thru Wonderland http://adventuresthruwonderland.blogspot.com/ Review

March 12th
For The Love Of The Page https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/ Review

Indie Wish List https://indiewishlist.weebly.com/ Promo Post

March 13th
NewbookcatsREADS www.newbookcatsreads.blogspot.com RRevie
This and That Book Blog http://thisandthatbookblog.blogspot.com Promo Post

March 14th
Bitches n Prose https://bitchesnprose.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

eview

March 12th
For The Love Of The Page https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/ Review

Indie Wish List https://indiewishlist.weebly.com/ Promo Post

March 13th
NewbookcatsREADS www.newbookcatsreads.blogspot.com RRevie
This and That Book Blog http://thisandthatbookblog.blogspot.com Promo Post

March 14th
Bitches n Prose https://bitchesnprose.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

Blushing Bibliophile http://blushingbibliophile.wix.com/blog Review

March 15th

Lukten av trykksverte https://luktenavtrykksverte.blogspot.no Review

Afire Pages www.afirepages.wordpress.com Promo Post

March 16th
La libreria di Beppe http://libreriabeppe.blogspot.it/ Promo Post

Off the Margin http://themarginlooksblank.wordpress.com Review

forthenovellovers https://forthenovellovers.wordpress.com/ Review


Blog Tour Schedule –

March 5th

Booked http://BookedLQ.wordpress.com Review

The Reading Life http://anneclarence.wixsite.com/thereadinglife Promo Post

Katie’s Stories https://kjhstories.blogspot.com/ Promo PPos

March 6
Bibliobibuli YA

YOU ARE HERE:

Amie’s Book Reviews
The Avid Reader

March 7th
Wishful Endings
Camillea Reads

March 8th

Reading for the Stars and Moon
fundinmental

March 9th

YA/NA Book Divas http://www.yabookdivas.comPromo Post

Adventures thru Wonderland http://adventuresthruwonderland.blogspot.com/ Review

March 12th
For The Love Of The Page https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/ Review

Indie Wish List https://indiewishlist.weebly.com/ Promo Post

March 13th
NewbookcatsREADS www.newbookcatsreads.blogspot.com RRevie
This and That Book Blog http://thisandthatbookblog.blogspot.com Promo Post

March 14th
Bitches n Prose https://bitchesnprose.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

eviewMarch 12th
For The Love Of The Page https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/ Review

Indie Wish List https://indiewishlist.weebly.com/ Promo Post

March 13th
NewbookcatsREADS www.newbookcatsreads.blogspot.com RRevie
This and That Book Blog http://thisandthatbookblog.blogspot.com Promo Post

March 14th
Bitches n Prose https://bitchesnprose.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

Blushing Bibliophile http://blushingbibliophile.wix.com/blog Review

March 15th

Lukten av trykksverte https://luktenavtrykksverte.blogspot.no Review

Afire Pages www.afirepages.wordpress.com Promo Post

March 16th
La libreria di Beppe http://libreriabeppe.blogspot.it/ Promo Post

Off the Margin http://themarginlooksblank.wordpress.com Review

forthenovellovers https://forthenovellovers.wordpress.com/ Review