tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14006201112905425012024-03-24T16:32:13.670-07:00Rainy Days With AmandaA.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-11661156131207375722024-03-22T05:00:00.000-07:002024-03-22T05:00:00.150-07:00Book Blitz | Frown & Gowns: The Mischief Series<p> </p>
<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSjs0mQ1UvTB_jZcBArf2JWHbQVtoNgmiU1e2DyTmYQP7_CLUidkbozKl5sdhFXZJgxPhJvhDW4tum14g7Q22oqnhfJw77sV8deb9SQnKgKc9FTno-mPsLZgsUI_AEtYEXFtEN4w8QCPKar98ZNMxlHbvnKaJAzjtRVYAVYqYt958xEEOw9dF3L18hz9M/w577-h264/BNR%20Frowns%20&%20Gowns.png" style="text-align: center;" width="577" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>FROWNS AND GOWNS</i></span></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Mischief Series, Book 5</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">By AMANDA M. THRASHER</span></b></div></b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Children’s Chapter Book / Fantasy / Fairies</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press</div><div style="text-align: center;">Page Count: 236</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publication Date: September 12, 2023</div></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="1838" height="575" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS90DIjhH9RB3fePrUhEe1ZDVQWZubLXPVWqi-FsJCvzeNhHudGf-Q40Upudada4CbEHe2mv7RPBjIUUlDBwqBut2i23K24pkZixNNC9fsrMmzDD0W8iu27R1C1n1TmliGd_gDhy70j8pdnkYbL7C7mFEbZZSal6XARauujeQJ4qDpMgODsfLT70YamZd/w381-h575/Cover%20Frowns%20and%20Gowns%20Mischief%205.jpeg" width="381" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx60uYY5fPh7Sli4KcggNFEj0oeIsEAeOmWCoRztAVrJMuesueDEeeZ2qYN2l6xaCNuRsqFFbyi2gYLV4FMFvaOYT36vDBqK4zyJtg5ZlC3iKmQpE9earX9s9pwjQlAXe6thpcrP6YDFQph2ACnTJ1jvk4ZdCraOrGIRK3PLJWhBt9YS7AawXgCoA7hyphenhyphen8/s820/Ciao!-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx60uYY5fPh7Sli4KcggNFEj0oeIsEAeOmWCoRztAVrJMuesueDEeeZ2qYN2l6xaCNuRsqFFbyi2gYLV4FMFvaOYT36vDBqK4zyJtg5ZlC3iKmQpE9earX9s9pwjQlAXe6thpcrP6YDFQph2ACnTJ1jvk4ZdCraOrGIRK3PLJWhBt9YS7AawXgCoA7hyphenhyphen8/s320/Ciao!-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Embark on a Magical Adventure with Lilly, Boris, and Jack!</b></div></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Get ready to join Lilly, Boris, and Jack on an unforgettable journey filled with excitement, laughter, and a touch of mayhem. Brace yourself for a whirlwind of mishaps as these three fairies plan a magnificent magical ball, only to encounter an unforeseen disaster! Experience the magic of friendship with Lilly, the quick-witted and resourceful fairy, Boris, the mischievous fairy with a heart of gold, and Jack, the troublemaker with a curious, adventurous spirit on their latest adventure.</div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Throughout, Lilly, Boris, and Jack teach the true meaning of friendship and teamwork. Together with their friends, they'll overcome challenges, learn valuable lessons, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Don't miss out on this enchanting tale!</div></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">CLICK TO PURCHASE:</span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://shop.lightningsource.com/b/085?VR3Jf1tA80okkHwrqVPTmE49l5VjrIflQsN2TdF6N8r" target="_blank">Progressive Rising Phoenix Press</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Frowns-Gowns-Mischief-Book-5/dp/1950560767/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> │ <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/frowns-and-gowns/id6463661899" target="_blank">Apple iBooks</a> │<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/frowns-and-gowns-amanda-m-thrasher/1143965611" target="_blank">B&N</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvP8bBN5wTCH7K7tMSwIuE39omhp19wg_8bWccwbbi9iGRHk4z2lAsZjeQUldWb2A1NxK9vHLw9ohtyVnknIcSnHl52ENnH3V8-AfuSPfinSInJ51jQ6mk53gK3Yieg8Xi2xfv3e9Yz2KUCs_HdanUTP8tw9k9nX-GdtH4M901IB4ylTBX__6vaOtN_SE/s820/Ciao!-5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvP8bBN5wTCH7K7tMSwIuE39omhp19wg_8bWccwbbi9iGRHk4z2lAsZjeQUldWb2A1NxK9vHLw9ohtyVnknIcSnHl52ENnH3V8-AfuSPfinSInJ51jQ6mk53gK3Yieg8Xi2xfv3e9Yz2KUCs_HdanUTP8tw9k9nX-GdtH4M901IB4ylTBX__6vaOtN_SE/s320/Ciao!-5.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></b><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/apn7Vm-RRRI?si=6k3G90-Lo7IXM0MS" target="_blank"><b>Click to view on YouTube</b></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/apn7Vm-RRRI?si=6k3G90-Lo7IXM0MS" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uSGOil5P1wmoHrqOwbU7zXqh-xmGEExVd0PYq5W4_BTSi-LeMbV0SzhIZbeiprQMvjRrxSfeWHsJXKJUWPfXpqry81UVZTDNrt0MsNth3QjdtL1IDeiA4mUq4cGVdW7uxXHtBOEr-PAn_3zU3SjCjFp0H8cTgY4kty-x4S4mowtgYMtwBmdJBOXO3A8/s820/Ciao!-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uSGOil5P1wmoHrqOwbU7zXqh-xmGEExVd0PYq5W4_BTSi-LeMbV0SzhIZbeiprQMvjRrxSfeWHsJXKJUWPfXpqry81UVZTDNrt0MsNth3QjdtL1IDeiA4mUq4cGVdW7uxXHtBOEr-PAn_3zU3SjCjFp0H8cTgY4kty-x4S4mowtgYMtwBmdJBOXO3A8/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMr2EH5Ut-zf_MSEsos82YVcKAhJQHYmpKRcqfS1yTNBLAVKDVJkGEehRBUAzi8vRhv7us5-3bLTHodyo7kdRNb8yzGEEl5BGuL9NEqqiMN6Qu3gRqhV2X31xmwjmphWWfjZVvKXNbGRRQUMVAzM3_35Q84E2YydzA_PEmyHhc9gz70uumD4qRKsxtz-J/s824/Author%20Photo%20Thrasher.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="793" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMr2EH5Ut-zf_MSEsos82YVcKAhJQHYmpKRcqfS1yTNBLAVKDVJkGEehRBUAzi8vRhv7us5-3bLTHodyo7kdRNb8yzGEEl5BGuL9NEqqiMN6Qu3gRqhV2X31xmwjmphWWfjZVvKXNbGRRQUMVAzM3_35Q84E2YydzA_PEmyHhc9gz70uumD4qRKsxtz-J/w206-h213/Author%20Photo%20Thrasher.jpeg" width="206" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Award-winning author <b>Amanda M. Thrasher</b> was born in England and moved to Texas, where she lives with her family. She writes YA, general fiction, middle grade, early reader chapter, and picture books. She is the founder and CEO of Progressive Rising Phoenix Press.</div><br /><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://amandamthrasher.com/" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3236124.Amanda_M_Thrasher" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amandamthrasher/" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a></b></div> <div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/authoramandamthrasher" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amanda-M.-Thrasher/author/B003QZKAQ0" target="_blank">AMAZON </a>◆ <a href="https://twitter.com/AmandaMThrasher" target="_blank">X/TWITTER</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">PROGRESSIVE RISING PHOENIX PRESS</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Progressive-Rising-Phoenix-Press/61551105197915/?mibextid=LQQJ4d" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/progressiverisingphoenix/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.lightningsource.com/b/085?VR3Jf1tA80okkHwrqVPTmE49l5VjrIflQsN2TdF6N8r" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="5224" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp9NCe06tEt19uGZbjzXxoW_PbXXEqLqyMHMvU78XqqdjPM1Q9jECPpDqlW3hSnad5VFpezvRQ9QJLI8t-mETwHkNY3ZWq9joxTSo09G3S9j46fu9MKy17gPqHuyBy2lFl18kI1DerBWXnqsWjkTXhJlfdLXXaegQJgE0asiYm3mHLWXqZPM6SjLiT-rA/w566-h111/Newsletter%20Ad%20Frowns%20&%20Gowns.png" width="566" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">TWO WINNERS</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">receive autographed, paperback sets</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">of all five books in The Mischief Series</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">+ $25 Starbucks gift card</div></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 03/28/24)</i></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl28gFDRv5QpqTgVJprQzE1wlWB5FLW0HMyYNGEOtCa3bLAswLNEC1QVtHQGhZ-n2mEBL4auDAFXpt8lkDalaDQNjXby6eUgfEAJxWGOK37Uiy5UhFcYTGnLpIIgpH-eNLkpb1dXlQA3ZaHRXX6X_D2wL7KO6qyywjKvoU3m3epnD1C9JEn8xGqlRWyZO1/w453-h453/Giveaway%20Frowns%20&%20Gowns.png" width="453" /></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="10c3976b567" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/10c3976b567/" id="rcwidget_8g0b6nl7" rel="nofollow">Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-49837718718673023322024-03-19T05:00:00.000-07:002024-03-19T05:00:00.135-07:00Book Talk | The Desk from Hoboken<p> </p>
<div class="separator"></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMreM1nDxZtvK-8BX93kE9CtFFwGbKzN_R6qFSUl1SSSzvU7ZeWg0_1hM_oko99gnCVZQkAe5PT5Z7Rk0xfWWf5pZ5LZoF4LV1Lji21xOVmhXq2eg5MO4QlSFFz_0ggRQHG0vu3yG_6pVANjj6U8PZWOkF0nHE2bGlX-EkxfWzCeawPyj29qwZnsV52wT/w616-h282/BNR%20Desk%20from%20Hoboken.png" width="616" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE DESK FROM HOBOKEN</span></b></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A Genealogy Mystery, #1</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">by</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">ML Condike</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Mystery / Women Sleuths / Forensic Genealogy</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publisher: Harbor Lane Books, LLC</div><div style="text-align: center;">Date of Publication: March 5, 2024</div><div style="text-align: center;">Number of Pages: 446 pages </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Scroll down for Giveaway!</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL_6_vC9t96Vq7ZHO8JWiQJzijpmsVSzcwuDDQ2PCihLXJecv9O0ipha1YgXDnMOyXxELJ1ceR7WxMUutSkwC0ylQhetrAoWZVa5JQ-UktFbvovbNuz6mh1KjBjZkuetB606SFkYjwkY0AcP8NS_f-o-3rnjSw15qSUGOzSd5UfW5HTfVH_ZOcfl8X7Y/s820/Ciao!-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL_6_vC9t96Vq7ZHO8JWiQJzijpmsVSzcwuDDQ2PCihLXJecv9O0ipha1YgXDnMOyXxELJ1ceR7WxMUutSkwC0ylQhetrAoWZVa5JQ-UktFbvovbNuz6mh1KjBjZkuetB606SFkYjwkY0AcP8NS_f-o-3rnjSw15qSUGOzSd5UfW5HTfVH_ZOcfl8X7Y/s320/Ciao!-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></i></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="938" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7pAPLAj7o8QLni_gCiw0NSNxRA7ZTNgEijmbcvgpFW6pjnD51iHwhXr3SIIF6vePpOHQUo3BVIvOWJ2xAZ4VlXLxXezKoFAsq6mehJqciC6JAzgkzld3MvWVYTWgXSjhgbUbMJcLOPs5aYFqk_y5CiSE3PYHx0mOMB_kEu7INisgOkIffyUTiU10UAa-/w205-h328/Cover%20The%20Desk%20from%20Hoboken.jpg" width="205" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a personal loss, forensic genealogist RaeJean Hunter accepts what she believes is a straightforward case to ease back into the game: a student at Connecticut College has found human remains on the school campus. The College hires RaeJean to confirm their tentative identification that it’s a woman named Mary Rogers, whose cause of death has never been determined.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, it becomes downright dangerous. Someone thwarts her investigation of the same case that inspired Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Mystery of Marie Rog<span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;">ê</span>t.” Still, she meets relatives, some helpful and others not, amid escalating threats. Using her skills, including DNA analysis, historical records research, genealogy mapping, and guidance from a mystical antique desk, she follows every clue.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVs41nGjhq2YTTMmHufQPHyubnCzErMifjX_fsATAtxEluMMwQVwxogAeXjyy_7equ5FA5rvFpboFn-uecJlAYNL2RistFq4hwfcdpApjouigiIOMaWvIR75wpUefZPszj54HFCdkWO0mqfddJZTCho0wz06SMG7pys6HQuBXe86u5HpycPHuvzxKitE/s820/Ciao!-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVs41nGjhq2YTTMmHufQPHyubnCzErMifjX_fsATAtxEluMMwQVwxogAeXjyy_7equ5FA5rvFpboFn-uecJlAYNL2RistFq4hwfcdpApjouigiIOMaWvIR75wpUefZPszj54HFCdkWO0mqfddJZTCho0wz06SMG7pys6HQuBXe86u5HpycPHuvzxKitE/s320/Ciao!-3.png" width="320" /></a></div><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> The Desk from Hoboken</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> was a very up-and-down ride with plenty of twists, loops, and drops to keep you entertained throughout its run. From the very beginning, I was hooked on this interesting take on a mystery story. The forensic genealogy side to this book is something I haven't read but was completely fascinated by, especially since I'm a big fan of </span><em style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Forensic Files</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> AND literary history. I found myself looking up different things about how genealogy works and got myself into one rabbit hole after another.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">With the forensics and the history aspects of this story, there's just a lot of meat on these pages. There was so much to gravitate to and different places to look, such as the whole Chinese puzzle scenario (which was another interesting thing to look into). Although there's a lot of meat, it never feels too overwhelming. Everything goes chapter by chapter, instead of skipping around so you don't get confused. So instead of a mountain of meat, our author gives us piece by piece, thus opening the world but by bit as we are uncovering an over 100-year-old mystery. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The only caveat I have about this book is that you have to pay attention to the characters because there's ALOT. There are quite a few people alive you have to keep track of and then there are the dead people you are investigating along with our main character. I found myself having to go back a few times to remember how one person is related to another, but after a few chapters, it got easier and I just made little mental notes to myself.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Overall, I was engrossed in </span><em style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The Desk from Hoboken</span></em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">. Readers will enjoy finding out how everything, including the desk, connects to the case that our main character is solving. It's a very unique read and if you're interested in mystery crime novels, this is one you need to put on your list. Until next time, Happy Reading!</span></p></div></span><div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/the-desk-from-hoboken/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span><b><span style="font-family: arial;">CLICK TO PURCHASE!</span></b></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198809766-the-desk-from-hoboken" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="116" data-original-width="350" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIdINrMB-4ohhm_847k3AO6k_xbw9rtioSykvDOSoQCii8d9b6q0YdPEvgbypFsWhPXMe0uqROxLbzdfWFWFlpAmuG8HvlphLFumK8vpY3VEr384b6cqdUEfbLyfGbTQ18R0TauhNw04vIBCLRQSsHwj608ieymOP6RwzEdPSfau4HyamEPHzf2ef2IeZ/w157-h52/add-to-goodreads.png" width="157" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGE-gvLZz1BI_kQcKyIDwLcMzsQgWd8Pax84_6uJ1lx2oFXZKWwltbA52yx-42L7Qz-zhdikOPviTf5Q6pm_z8JSDA1YjLwF8ZtjhQjkxGPtqEBDpY05Cx7kA97xjYmjtDL_JD4cbROAzKvX9VSMtmGaCi5dFU-jXg-FKrfkarS04yMDmobm1L0yzLMg/s820/Ciao!-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGE-gvLZz1BI_kQcKyIDwLcMzsQgWd8Pax84_6uJ1lx2oFXZKWwltbA52yx-42L7Qz-zhdikOPviTf5Q6pm_z8JSDA1YjLwF8ZtjhQjkxGPtqEBDpY05Cx7kA97xjYmjtDL_JD4cbROAzKvX9VSMtmGaCi5dFU-jXg-FKrfkarS04yMDmobm1L0yzLMg/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5356" data-original-width="4285" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs_wT4ICJoOoRBwo1h0EIqS32mD1KZoyqVjgsB_lZEBV2fcWh_MyuARmFO6XD3O2J61d4cZN-VZ8XiJlh14J3F1JBJtgmqm20p60IUvpHiotNiWKQiHuOKa3om3-GE605ZEshdwIIs5YKAB6mxb2jbmoSbWgUy_1F37nq0Sm3mB_lVw5wI7mF1RYMhMoW/w157-h197/Author%20Photo%20Condike.JPG" width="157" /></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>ML Condike’s</b> novel, <i>The Desk from Hoboken</i>, is the first in a genealogy mystery three-book series. She also has short stories published in five anthologies. ML Condike completed Southern Methodist University’s Writer’s Path in Dallas in 2019 and is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime North Dallas, Granbury Writers’ Bloc, and Key West Writers Guild.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://mlcondike.com/" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mlcondike/" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mlcondike" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-lou-c-b16117187/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">LINKEDIN</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/ML-Condike/author/B09PNWBSLL" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">AMAZON</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/84804491-marylou-condike" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://twitter.com/mlcondike" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">X/TWITTER</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://books2read.com/the-desk-from-hoboken/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="5224" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWWNWDEtIBtQi33ll4zeB5TSnQGFt-z_vXVDkT5FOczyHwKxHyhDf0TaoU_-BX25zzexrqXOeQN80wx0UrFz2CUJzM46iOpa3CW3MvOQjt0aWEBHftigbgrCdR4zlD6wK4PocOMm3beBgaYoyUzT4Hhl9GLhVc-fJzuVoMklwBDGJGPf71NgjbMCkbyAz/w553-h109/XTRA%20ad%20Desk%20from%20Hoboken.png" width="553" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: center;">GIVEAWAY! 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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/21/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://karensiddall.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Boys' Mom Reads</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/22/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/22/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.chapterbreak.net/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter Break Book Blog</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">BONUS
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/23/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/24/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/25/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/26/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/26/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/27/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/27/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/28/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">03/28/24<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.bibliotica.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bibliotica</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="243" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtooKGY0xQJXn492eG9GiHwRnI2ChxNMnUixNRbf3Win4QQ4Vaw8pe52yJCzvgyq_Z58_DrNST2AzdGGHo6bo_DW8eCeyI7wvJoFQuz6DBuCYspby5PIgOlWrGJ4rFpKzh15rMQf0tO-d0qbBiTGvkVirVX-cRGlULncyMpm-FecgA1C4XGWQbE-5rITv/s1600/LoneStarLitLife.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>blog tour services provided by</b></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/lone-star-book-blog-tours" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="320" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ivSMNt0PPaiwmmSCe9nQHyNlnqILeKLYPSA-gTCLjUGWKyzxz7137uCW7inw5wIiT1dMkeEovmqWBa9BzL1AIsW_PBLdOpkBUfIDZeVwIIATM2X8YWF5LuA8IL2wkzmJDamu6Vqslj5G6c25WPvgU3T09FJo0m92eXvLg1okSm2_WHimN13JVEsdwzwe/w217-h214/LoneStarBookBlogTours.png" width="217" /></a></div></div>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-68931010568359460432024-03-09T14:31:00.000-08:002024-03-09T14:31:40.514-08:00Book Talk | Plum Lucky: A Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers Novel<p> Happy St. Patrick's Day Ya'll! I was waiting to read this Stephanie Plum book to be closer to St. Patrick's Day to get into the St. Patrick mood. I really enjoy reading the between-the-numbers books from this series because they feel a little different from our non-holiday-esque books. I'll talk more about this later in the blog. Anyways, let's talk <i>Plum Lucky</i> by Janet Evanovich.</p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">About the Author<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17wqGD0ajlYBPP43jB7KopYUQyfHiMoerOSwHtQx9oTudnCdVRgDPM8W7pS_DINg64pQGl6Sslf49aaTBgn3sZa7QMVDyuqy8jtHxVONgCmWGXhqrHBKXisI_3rVXtqIMVqoWTiXLZMTyvEuhcphVfAZIJQJqUvdKQsb0eN1HkQ0F9zp2DmC_-AwTfk8/s4080/PXL_20240309_222418471.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17wqGD0ajlYBPP43jB7KopYUQyfHiMoerOSwHtQx9oTudnCdVRgDPM8W7pS_DINg64pQGl6Sslf49aaTBgn3sZa7QMVDyuqy8jtHxVONgCmWGXhqrHBKXisI_3rVXtqIMVqoWTiXLZMTyvEuhcphVfAZIJQJqUvdKQsb0eN1HkQ0F9zp2DmC_-AwTfk8/s320/PXL_20240309_222418471.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /></h3><div><br /></div><div><p style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">Janet Evanovich has been and still is a #1 New York Times bestseller for multiple books she has put out over the years. Her first installment of the Stephanie Plum series is called <i>One for the Money</i>, which was released in 1994 (the year before I was born), and is still going with <i>Dirty Thirty,</i> the 34th book in the series. <i>Fearless Fourteen</i> is the 17th book in the Stephanie Plum series (including the Holiday specials) which came out in June 2008.<br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;"> If you haven't heard of the Stephanie Plum series, it is basically about a young, bounty hunter from New Jersey who just wants to pay her rent and does not want to have a regular 9-5 job, a.k.a not the button factory!</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></p><h3>About the Story</h3></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915; font-size: 16px;">Stephanie Plum is back between-the-numbers and she’s looking to get lucky in an Atlantic City hotel room, in a Winnebago, and with a brown-eyed stud who has stolen her heart.</span><span face="Proxima Nova, Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #1e1915;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1e1915; font-family: "Proxima Nova", Montserrat, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;">Stephanie Plum has a way of attracting danger, lunatics, oddballs, bad luck . . . and mystery men. And no one is more mysterious than the unmentionable Diesel. He’s back and hot on the trail of a little man in green pants who’s lost a giant bag of money. The problem is, the money isn’t exactly lost. Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur has found it, and like any good Jersey senior citizen, she’s hightailed it in a Winnebago to Atlantic City and hit the slots. With Lula and Connie in tow, Stephanie attempts to bring Grandma home, but the luck of the Irish is rubbing off on everyone: Lula’s found a job modeling plus-size lingerie. Connie’s found a guy. Diesel’s found Stephanie. And Stephanie has found herself in over her head with a caper involving thrice-stolen money, a racehorse, a car chase, and a bad case of hives.</p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3>Book Talk</h3><div>Stephanie Plum stories always hit the little mystery book spot, and when it's a holiday-centered story, it feels even warmer. One of the reasons why I enjoy a between-the-numbers Stephanie Plum book is because, like any good holiday special, it takes us out of the everyday normal function of a series (even though nothing is normal about Stephanie's life, but you know, her normal). We get to see Stephanie go outside of her home city of Trenton New Jersey, which I don't think she has really done, except maybe go to the very outskirts in book 12. So her going to a casino in Atlantic city was a nice breath of fresh air.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another out-of-the-ordinary occurrence that I appreciated was more Connie. Yes, the elusive and hot secretary of the bond office finally gets out of the bond office and is out with Stephanie and Lula, which makes for a fun time. Speaking of out-of-the-ordinary characters, something that our author created while writing these holiday special books was a between-the-number exclusive character, Diesel. We don't really see Diesel outside of these special books, at least not that I have read, so it's nice to see him again when we're reading these stories. I'd also say he's a crossover of Morelli and Ranger, our two male leads of the Stephanie Plum stories that always seem to take a backseat in the in-between-books in favor of Dieseal. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, this is another fun and whacky Stephanie Plum adventure. If you are an avid Stephanie Plum reader, I suggest reading the between-the-numbers books as they are fun to read. Do they forward the plot? I don't think so. But are they entertaining? Yes, very much so. I'm sad to only have one of these stories left, but hopefully, in the future, we'll get another one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Until next time, Happy Reading!</div></div>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-29167250561723333632024-02-20T18:13:00.000-08:002024-02-21T13:50:58.533-08:00Book Talk | Mexican Gothic<p> I've been wanting to read Mexican Gothic for whwat seems like a couple of years now. This year, I put it on my Christmas list and was pleasantly surprised when my mother-in-laws gift was just what I wanted! I also decided to start it right away because I've been in a more Victorian/older literature mood and Mexican Gothic by <span><span>Silvia Moreno-Garcia was able to scratch that itch!</span></span></p><h3><span><span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1IdTY6I8nSvI716ZSDMnjnE28KTno54I66Q1eGa___m3q0XzPDOfEsvXHtyb0_HYcnx_fUOrPNkvJRS8jcZxXnviFmV0JRFZ4VpBAMgZWJVKqd9RzmW3wodv-nKjzE_aJHUUUxGnLW-LCkFg8-UnpI-_jK0AaeuQuWUDQWql_ekREJzLskvmvJgE0E8/s4080/PXL_20240218_232648444.PORTRAIT.jpg"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1IdTY6I8nSvI716ZSDMnjnE28KTno54I66Q1eGa___m3q0XzPDOfEsvXHtyb0_HYcnx_fUOrPNkvJRS8jcZxXnviFmV0JRFZ4VpBAMgZWJVKqd9RzmW3wodv-nKjzE_aJHUUUxGnLW-LCkFg8-UnpI-_jK0AaeuQuWUDQWql_ekREJzLskvmvJgE0E8/s320/PXL_20240218_232648444.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="241"></a></div><br>About the Author</span></span></h3><p>Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination. Cachanilla and Canuck,
originally from Baja California, she now resides in Vancouver. She has
an MA in Science and Technology Studies from the University of British
Columbia.</p><p>Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of a number of critically acclaimed novels, including <em>Gods of Jade and Shadow</em> (Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic, Ignyte Award), <em>Mexican Gothic</em> (Locus Award, British Fantasy Award, Pacific Northwest Book Award, Aurora Award, Goodreads Award), and <em>Velvet Was the Night</em>
(finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Macavity Award).
She writes in a variety of genres including fantasy, horror, noir and
historical.</p>She has edited several anthologies, including <em>She Walks in Shadows </em>(World Fantasy Award winner, published in the USA as <em>Cthulhu’s Daughters</em>). Silvia is the publisher of <a href="http://www.innsmouthfreepress.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Innsmouth Free Press</a>. <p></p><p><span> </span></p><h3><span>About the Story </span></h3><p><span>After receiving a frantic letter from her
newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom,
Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican
countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a
handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the
region. <br> <br>Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous
debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited
for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and
smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her
cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his
father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and
not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with
visions of blood and doom.</span></p><p><span> </span></p><h3><span> Book Talk </span></h3><p><span><i>Mexican Gothic</i> is not exactly what I was expecting at first, but it turned out to be a true gem of a story. I've read some other gothic literature throughout the years and this story felt like a few elements from pieces that I have read, which makes sense since our author states that she was inspired by other great gothic stories, such as Jane Eyre. Knowing this, I could see little pieces of other stories coming together, but instead of being completely a knock-off of all it's predecessors, it stands on it's own two feet just fine.</span></p><p><span>When reading a Gothic story, it is usually set in Europe during dreadful times. Mexican Gothic, however, is set in Mexico. Sure, the family that our main character, Noemí, has to venture to are all European, it still gives a different twist such as having a Curandera, someone you may not easily find in Europe at the time. We also see Noemi and one of our male leads, Francis, talking in Spanish and being sneaky using different languages for their advantage. I also appreciate the story just being set in the 1950's, something I feel Gothic Literature specifically doesn't touch into very often.</span></p><p><span>Two big topics that this story covers are colonialism and eugenics, two elements that aren't touched on a lot in everyday Gothic Literature because, again, they're already set in Europe. The backstory on the family that Noemí stays with, the Doyle's, are all about colonization and taking advantage of the people living in this small town. The eugenics part is touched on when we start digging deeper into the traditions of the Doyle's and how they keep up their European blood and appearances. Together, these two elements tack onto the frightening events that happen throughout the book. </span></p><p><span>It wouldn't be a Gothic story without a little bit or terror tacked onto the story line. Throughout our time with Noemí in the Doyle house, we find that the house may or may not be haunted, may or may not be alive, and may or may not be making Noemí and everyone living in the house go a little insane. On top of the house situation, we also have Howard Doyle, the top of the food chain when it comes to the Doyle household and he's just a creepy old man in general, but once you learn more about him, he'll make you feel truly icky on the inside. <br></span></p><p><span>Overall, this story is a wonderful, updated, piece of Gothic Literature. I recommend giving it a try and putting it on your bookshelf. Until next time, Happy Reading! <br></span></p>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-77463725331976749232024-02-02T05:00:00.000-08:002024-02-02T05:00:00.142-08:00Book Blitz: To Rescue a Witch<p> </p>
<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuefnP0cCKxbjN9ExWcgiYsYYeQst8_3m5LwRSLLSvHpXkqK24_h2AgczdTcCJJ4NYa3NAWFHjcTUsttnvRs5-2k1fWm7Bsy6xwmfxouF7AjqlhV_YbhGrN7rpgoVvNsZ1PpolvLFo26E5b0Q4o_xF5Ez1PCyedfaSL-5ZeczTUKE9ygzJsmeqXh0EOJ7/w585-h268/BNR%20Teaser%20To%20Rescue%20a%20Witch%20Blitz.png" style="text-align: center;" width="585" /></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">TO RESCUE A WITCH</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>By LISA A. TRAUGOTT</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Historical Fiction / Action & Adventure / Fantasy</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Coming March 1, 2024</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTM5XZB4" target="_blank">CLICK TO PRE-ORDER</a></b></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lisa-A.-Traugott/author/B082H9TMQT" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="677" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8b2ztdX8wOaMw0qfX_lkD8QpztW7sWOO6GZU-PPvknGzYEHjnhI1oR1y3ZpDunnclqiQPp4fruWEn61oigFvcPxJbd_zbbzjqE0Rx50y5X-7B-3HsRVaOwCiWwPauYS4edjgdZYevlamvOeR1-Z8jkrrMU935LeN8TmcKsq6ADbxYBHF6_bkgv81Cchb8/w451-h677/COVER%20Traugott_RescueWitch_Ebook.jpg" width="451" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>It’s 1739. An abused girl accused of witchcraft must be defended by a man married to an actual witch.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">William MacLeod, a fierce Scottish lawyer with a kind heart, takes on a daunting task—rescue young Annaliese from the clutches of her tormentors in the untamed wilds of Virginia colony and deliver her safely to her aristocratic father in London. But lurking in the shadows are enemies eager to expose MacLeod’s own wife, Fiona, as a witch with a dark secret.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Their perilous journey takes an unexpected turn when their ship wrecks, and Annaliese’s haunting nightmares and unexplained “Devil marks” trigger suspicion among the crew. Tension peaks when MacLeod must become Annaliese’s unwavering protector in a witch trial, where Fiona’s clairvoyance and a murder are unveiled.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>To Rescue a Witch</i> navigates themes of betrayal and redemption, in a spellbinding narrative that blends history, magic and the unyielding resilience of the human spirit.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTM5XZB4" target="_blank">CLICK TO PRE-ORDER</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lisa-A.-Traugott/author/B082H9TMQT" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="5224" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGgU88mE1kHC2FupTCIxPvcqiC2cgarGdkrFOUxQvLSJ3hHBE1X6BUmt1rwn7fCO0M8iBYsvYaKNFn7AjFff8DPwhJklqEpg8OJCEXTMYEt3oErSoi2yvLhYtJ5PyMzUIEuYagarNeCZfKStMij9E9EtmPVymLJPNt3WPkCP-zyMThyZzDeK6TRdkKJSy/w537-h105/XTRA%20Ad%20Rescue%20a%20Witch%201.png" style="font-weight: 400;" width="537" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P_Ee0KlcGhe7UdJrOweqVsJ2bvjzBgQsXKZBuXP9ygzkmnLkZDAuflkExTlkmWHVjusmvqkU19rKHlqZ8qMySZ0LFNy1gZpA6st-4X8cuSuJo4yt5loewk6DgWV8VxvJfdBwakM80dD0uNCs2NHbFRmkEd98wqcoTOD4pRktd87yhWgEReg5qsgM04s/s820/Ciao!-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P_Ee0KlcGhe7UdJrOweqVsJ2bvjzBgQsXKZBuXP9ygzkmnLkZDAuflkExTlkmWHVjusmvqkU19rKHlqZ8qMySZ0LFNy1gZpA6st-4X8cuSuJo4yt5loewk6DgWV8VxvJfdBwakM80dD0uNCs2NHbFRmkEd98wqcoTOD4pRktd87yhWgEReg5qsgM04s/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="171" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRwkAb1UJ6NQkozAG0gl0rjJRdhhVvquYqkKjlQsL7t_EfbEvhGISOlo7-Pe3SH8GQ5kkPnJK3nL32xSBq_b61hVWvESuT4psrDze-Q7UFtrVvJngzcsl9IzGLZzsQ1MI-p1DIXA3GRz7zu8vEyUiAePcbyeqj7NUtP52lYVPGzuqBX-exEG8zD4sDB7Y/w141-h197/author%20photo%20Traugott.jpg" width="141" /></div><b style="font-weight: bold;">Lisa A. Traugott</b> is an award-winning author and World Championship public speaker semifinalist -- who also spoke five lines on <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>. She lives in Austin with her husband, two kids and English bulldog, Bruno.</div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lisatraugott.com/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://lisatraugott.com/blog/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">BLOG</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/LISA__TRAUGOTT" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">◆ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LisaATraugott" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a><span style="font-weight: 700;"> </span><span style="font-weight: 700;">◆</span><span style="font-weight: 700;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lisa-A.-Traugott/author/B082H9TMQT" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">AMAZON </a><span style="font-weight: bold;">◆ </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/2375595736" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">BOOKBUB</a></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-------------------------------------</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">CLICK TO VISIT</span><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/content/rescue-witch-lisa-traugott" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"> THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #741b47;">FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH BLOG PARTICIPATING IN THIS BOOK BLITZ!</span></span></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="243" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLA2qVHdTMU1HbwGkkl-dDqAX4AzUp9aSTSVZBoYHbMAOaO4MXqIi2DdPXnclEGI9xddy-astks9uywYGEzfM5tkYw1S51_ygkm6wWt6Box2ErYbfCbU-dabHahA5alNz5iHJKDa3ewJ0oghbleG0d5ItabSAoTPrzqp30Gl_OjPmVUp9Jx_vY-WF6a0nS/w283-h157/LoneStarLitLife.jpg" width="283" /></a></div></b></span><p align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>blog tour services provided by<br /></b></span><b style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/lone-star-book-blog-tours" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="320" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpg7MRSHa2slqt523iPRZZS5MEn-Q9a0BSC4FWqL9VfRSEbYUXN9DhFjiwphwSyLL2nmhDILCb2QDgMRswjZ32vXidSkreyL_7pkNDPcFoJCbt5waBPzE3CNQ-UAIlHVWKCxdt3jRjjD_aoCW1Ovq07-MySsgvdB1KDth23r-PBaPQD_d7zIfQEwbSWGx/w230-h226/LoneStarBookBlogTours.png" width="230" /></a></b></p></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> </span></div></div>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-27314760682047176302024-01-23T19:30:00.000-08:002024-01-23T19:30:49.902-08:00Book Talk | A Tree Grows in Brooklyn<p> Hey Everyone and Happy New Year! I'm back with another book that caught my attention at Barnes & Nobles and they were having a sale, so I thought, why not? What I ended up picking up was a story about going through the motions of establishing generational wealth and just establishing yourself in a new country and how each generation keeps walking up the ladder. Where does the ladder end? No clue. Here are my thoughts on <i>A Tree Grows in Brooklyn</i> by Betty Smith.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayZnZO587VC0Q74rqptnBnPDnGqxFOfvNPg80MudH7xs2dOWYyUrHJI0qwYZVEihO0QGjXGDqm75p-pUql5ul5FTtYHuj5R7HSpY4L6d-VF4dEFCrYSfV8mTVZk01mHthwPaep3p46zjkOH2pPniZOVtD_kGpFYuYEZ1NegzrOTqRHv7IwN5z-Dn7ALI/s4032/PXL_20240123_230251886.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayZnZO587VC0Q74rqptnBnPDnGqxFOfvNPg80MudH7xs2dOWYyUrHJI0qwYZVEihO0QGjXGDqm75p-pUql5ul5FTtYHuj5R7HSpY4L6d-VF4dEFCrYSfV8mTVZk01mHthwPaep3p46zjkOH2pPniZOVtD_kGpFYuYEZ1NegzrOTqRHv7IwN5z-Dn7ALI/s320/PXL_20240123_230251886.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />About the Author</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextauthor2327917">Born in Brooklyn, New York to
German immigrants, she grew up poor in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. These
experiences served as the framework to her first novel, A Tree Grows in
Brooklyn (1943).<br /><br />After marrying George H. E. Smith, she moved with him to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he pursued
a law degree at the University of Michigan. At this time, she gave
birth to two girls and waited until they were in school so she could
complete her higher education. Although Smith had not finished high
school, the university allowed her to enroll in classes. There she honed
her skills in journalism, literature, writing, and drama, winning a
prestigious Hopwood Award. She was a student in the classes of Professor
Kenneth Thorpe Rowe.<br /><br />In 1938 she divorced her husband and moved
to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. There she married Joseph Jones in 1943,
the same year in which A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was published. She
teamed with George Abbott to write the book for the 1951 musical
adaptation of the same name. Throughout her life, Smith worked as a
dramatist, receiving many awards and fellowships including the
Rockefeller Fellowship and the Dramatists Guild Fellowship for her work
in drama. Her other novels include <i>Tomorrow Will Be Better</i> (1947),
<i>Maggie-Now</i> (1958) and <i>Joy in the Morning</i> (1963).</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextauthor2327917">About the Story </span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">Betty Smith's <i>A Tree Grows in Brooklyn</i> is
a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter
and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The story of
young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet
formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired
millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming,
sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the
unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with
family connectedness -- in a work of literary art that brilliantly
captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of
universal experience.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">My Thoughts </span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">When girls are young, they often daydream about boys, girls, animals, a fantasy world, the future. Our main character dreams of none of that, well except maybe the future. Our main character, Francis, is a young Irish girl growing up in the middle of 1900's Brooklyn to a mother that was too young to know how to love her and a father that was too naive to know how to love anyone but himself. She is also second generation Irish, lighting up a fire under her to dig her roots a little deeper than her parents or her grandparents ever did. Thus, Francis finds herself daydreaming about her drunken father, her possibly future, and sometimes, when the house is cold and the food is scarce, her mind wanders off into nothingness. Our author does a tremendous job, probably because she has been through these events herself, of portraying what it was like for a young, poor girl trying to find the American dream in a world that was less than dreamlike for her.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">As the reader is going through the story, we are put into these interesting tidbits of everyday life in the 1900's - 1910's and are able to grasp what life was like back then. As always, it's astonishing what you could get away with for a penny and also what you could get away with in general, such as child labor. For someone who has never dived into this time period, this book does a great deal to paint the whole picture for you without seeming overbearing. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">I feel that this story also dives into the generational wealth aspect and generational things all-together. Francie lived in no such luxury, so as a young child, that's all that she could see for herself. She never mentioned dreaming of what the future could hold, because everyday was a day of survival. It wasn't until she was older in her teens that she started wanting something a little more for herself and her family. No matter how harsh her family may have been at times, she never could see herself without them, because it is the unit she has always known. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">I've talked a lot about Francis, but our other characters are just as intriguing. We have Francie's aunt, Sissy, who seems to go from husband to husband, which seemed a little weird to me considering the time period. She's a complex side character that strives to be a mother, even though all her attempts fail because the system has failed her (which is something we find out at the end). We also have Francis' brother, Neeley, who the whole time you feel like is going to go down the wrong path, but because he too has felt starvation and the stress of the winter winds, he also strives move his branch, just in a different way than Francie. And then we have Francis' mother, Katy, who doesn't even come close to being a perfect mother, but in the end, she was a mother who was just trying to survive and keep her kids alive to the next day.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">Towards the end of the story, we start to see how Francis started to stop living for survival, but for more meaning and that was a beautiful way to end this beautifully, tragic, but wonderful story. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">Until next time, Happy Reading!<br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"><br /></span></h3>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-36027680084991922102023-12-15T07:53:00.000-08:002023-12-15T07:53:56.414-08:00Book Blitz | Porter & Midge: Paws and Playtime<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6w2MysbzilkpTwUyUYCLVro82fv5abgov2y_5v1grl0XZqPvbLJFqo_fTOUyQAQlbw_7VzEND_bp2Q8vf1z0CrWEdQYZ5nwGcjMgyUt8ENLDCcCPseBxPnDWOudcWG_Q59FGVK9wPBYjZbMSGygXn9P_6j8rjd4I-01r9vIE8bE6yFqAQXPSAQIUD-X3/w576-h265/BNR%20Paws%20&%20Playtime.png" width="576" /></div><p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>PORTER & MIDGE:</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>PAWS AND PLAYTIME</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jennie Chen and Giselle Nevada</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Children's Picture Book / Pet Care / Dog Training</div><div style="text-align: center;">Series: Porter and Midge series</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publisher: Raise the Woof Press LLC</div><div style="text-align: center;">Page Count: 32 pages</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publication date: December 12, 2023</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Scroll down for Giveaway!</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div></span><div><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyg8jYGca8CybzWRKE0ag8atrR6KJhc7FtpsrwYY_WBoAg5TjO8h2JG6-WQoKWT3z-5a4B7yvTAhHDjy_qbDIrSyTq6dP1zfDFh_80OWsBveExbvf5ZmXJPFnLF7JGUz8UkLSOUgREiCSb2uXHGkiQOPftgjDfI54UnevGelUutw2bjFpyZVDQq1k6NJA/s820/Ciao!-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyg8jYGca8CybzWRKE0ag8atrR6KJhc7FtpsrwYY_WBoAg5TjO8h2JG6-WQoKWT3z-5a4B7yvTAhHDjy_qbDIrSyTq6dP1zfDFh_80OWsBveExbvf5ZmXJPFnLF7JGUz8UkLSOUgREiCSb2uXHGkiQOPftgjDfI54UnevGelUutw2bjFpyZVDQq1k6NJA/s320/Ciao!-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2146" data-original-width="2126" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgziP3EBG5CVA4EZaZIkXJTtHRznYdvf8iaV8ka1QurBMB7FFkUG3BBVRV7NGwahfIl6d3qA7xF2Q0okJ-CuWzFvIZuCCvG69VCEvTX7kTpKWuherQpMITHbSGA17FUxktQ7eKyAP9y9P1gvzrziV9azSHujfVQ9RgG0F-2CG8gplh-ptsFzOYmWVLtxQ/w268-h271/Cover%20Paws%20and%20Playtime.jpg" width="268" /></div></div></i></b><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Discover the enchanting world of Porter and Midge: Paws and Playtime - a rhyming children's book that follows the heartwarming bond between two furry friends, Mastiff Porter and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Midge, and their devoted companions, CJ and Lora.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">On a sunny day, CJ's thoughtful idea sets the stage for a joyful exploration of new ways to make Porter and Midge's days even brighter.</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Through rhythmic verses, follow their journey as they uncover imaginative games, canine enrichment activities, and thrilling dog sports, all while strengthening their unbreakable connection.</div></span><span><br /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Porter-Midge-Playtime-Guide-Childrens/dp/B0CMTKNP4R/" target="_blank">Click to purchase!</a></b></span></div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201492977-porter-and-midge" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="116" data-original-width="350" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSD74oMUFdIYC5orrkXij5K57fzXlJGKeQMxPUoQPK9Du7_QfNeorFwiUOX59rNL9Ygjs36J4OwheahLmhdEVm6S9Y2s9HBuEYlQJjut_CqjOvyzHJeHYbsAzGwRh5Ui9ioBrIPRfeY6Sk71M4dLfKADewA0zNvVNcrTxWfpC1nSnKv_Iu4JFV8c9yCyUI/w174-h58/add-to-goodreads.png" width="174" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo147RCZc4KKWdGyTsOhQjdHJvv217cgKpG9PGusufatR442zfbCXU8UIYheoxgB0v3K4ajBjOgNzHUP8at-JVC5thrFYZK94fS02p6XDb23SzXySBMMUaQ331VBcYa-CKN77lvx25PHslmcNrStAxI706PeDDCnKAg55GeZl2R5baXEPTsdJG5a1TxG4/s820/Ciao!-5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo147RCZc4KKWdGyTsOhQjdHJvv217cgKpG9PGusufatR442zfbCXU8UIYheoxgB0v3K4ajBjOgNzHUP8at-JVC5thrFYZK94fS02p6XDb23SzXySBMMUaQ331VBcYa-CKN77lvx25PHslmcNrStAxI706PeDDCnKAg55GeZl2R5baXEPTsdJG5a1TxG4/s320/Ciao!-5.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><p align="center" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://youtu.be/c1wMp4bRkTI?si=l5AYJqUdrgVGKvLb" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Watch on YouTube</span></b></a></p></span></div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c1wMp4bRkTI?si=l5AYJqUdrgVGKvLb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr7X64oxo6GkBb9jbR9gH3ypenbuLgqXM-q6ku_cNLzI3XS5sxzieeW4TXA_YA-6Qkl4TrQoXwjKCVp_rQL1o8IWoLflDNqrU-TwKyc7ca6cHB0092LG-OxcCNpmUk2f_vodm-FkcTlznPZt-csxLZGcd1DlOa6X4_T483cz_1bWbxgMZL4Ti0j6vOCs/s820/Ciao!-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr7X64oxo6GkBb9jbR9gH3ypenbuLgqXM-q6ku_cNLzI3XS5sxzieeW4TXA_YA-6Qkl4TrQoXwjKCVp_rQL1o8IWoLflDNqrU-TwKyc7ca6cHB0092LG-OxcCNpmUk2f_vodm-FkcTlznPZt-csxLZGcd1DlOa6X4_T483cz_1bWbxgMZL4Ti0j6vOCs/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhY_QM8n114WQvSfRyPmYpavytTVlFrBtIozp1y2g78ngn4GjZPYYAVS82QbwB2vuSlglRMeh7D4r_YAMTpK-Gb7wFQ-nsMzChJz2OT2XJuCADpkurKpZMfY9L9lFkfHGjQGlEeShetuZUmWA9rFSQ1aZfTdHujh1Hj0VeLYj0IBGobv2x465l5WcG3Q1V/w225-h225/Author%20Photo%20Giselle%20Nevada.png" width="225" /></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Giselle Nevada</b> has owned several mastiffs, acquired both from reputable breeders and via rescue. Fostering rescued mastiffs and helping them work through their issues led to a keen interest in socialization as a means of preventing future issues. She loves working with her dogs and has dabbled in carting, conformation, agility, rally, trick dog, nose work, and many other canine sports. Her puppy Porter is a testament to early socialization - he has achieved many performance dog titles and has done commercial work. He also has a role in a movie called <i>Match Me If You Can</i> directed by Marian Yeager.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzTjMtCE_gJcIn5f1vEsdGF07UpBba8ILVKf9YiUv2RJu0McdsxO1IcrHLOoGsoFO1TamaVzo_O3SIfQ0iAE0qnj5Y2mXSm87ee4Tc8tjZykbv4C7XgX86HEQK-1oqM92jBDaBXnlOmvD_mFO9dLQ3xOi_jYWm1D9OjSPRK5aF58p4UkTZsJtDX9_pYCR/w221-h221/Author%20Photo%20Jennie%20Chen.png" width="221" /></div></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Jennie Chen</b> is a homesick Austinite who founded Keep Austin Dog Friendly. Over the last 20 years, Jennie has owned Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and Lowchen. She has earned numerous titles in conformation, competitive obedience, rally, herding, animal assisted therapy, and more. She is passionate about the relationship people build with their beloved canines, and she has been an advocate for people living with disabilities who need a service dog to live independently. She is active in various dog clubs and can be seen on AKC.TV from time to time.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://porterandmidge.com/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">WEBSITE </span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">◆</span></b><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PorterandMidge/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">FACEBOOK </span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">◆</span></b><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/porterandmidge/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">INSTAGRAM</span></b></a></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Porter-Midge-Playtime-Guide-Childrens/dp/B0CMTKNP4R/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="5224" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3ejm2HUywI5G5JfO47UETiEFFluKQV8t7sR27ddoxjCzvLEA5kUYNLOnKD-4B0mwA3ChSLgxusuWP_y3BLWorcVX0J0VdYeJp_zwYsp5XG5HFFuWHv11uv2qjBAe4Xvjyv8t_z3sALjII7IjrP9GKkgRbdWf03Ad6dmLsfB3nHiHhsMELgi7gzy0QSLT/w592-h116/Newsletter%20Ad%20Paws%20and%20Playtime.png" width="592" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">--------------------------------------</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ONE WINNER</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Pawtographed hardcover copy of Porter and Midge: Paws for Safety</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>+ a series water bottle</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(US only; ends midnight, CST, 12/21/2023)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHFL5KCa0QFlx5xOT9nozg1YSKnOMutn7FiTgth_ELpWRcouDyCFSMiQohSGLTLYUYcmlEs1GwBfBUOZIsGr0rh3Jk3K9zjSBxSfWzFDcmrSx1ksZC-pSNChxozw30QjT40pLqHwVmeDlSjVHi8Az1uUQFiuvE-qT3Beoh1VCOodLfDSTRaglV8A83_Iv/w478-h478/Giveaway%20Paws%20&%20Playtime.png" width="478" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="10c3976b562" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/10c3976b562/" id="rcwidget_eaya03z2" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Agatha and Lefty Award-nominated author of the Sassy Cat Mysteries. Her
new series is the L.A. Night Market Mysteries, and <i>Death by Bubble Tea</i>, which the <i>New York Times </i>called
“the first in a fizzy new series,” hit the SoCal Indie Bestseller List.
She currently serves as President on the national board of Sisters in
Crime and blogs at <a href="https://jenniferjchow.com/press-kit/chicksonthecase.com">chicksonthecase.com</a>.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">About the Book </h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span>When Yale Yee discovers her cousin Celine is visiting from Hong
Kong, she is obliged to play tour guide to a relative she hasn’t seen in
twenty years. Not only that, but her father thinks it’s a wonderful
idea for them to bond by running a food stall together at the Eastwood
Village Night Market. Yale hasn’t cooked in years, and she hardly
considers Celine’s career as a social media influencer as adequate
experience, but because she’s just lost her job at her local bookstore,
she feels she has no choice.<br /> <br />Yale and Celine serve small dishes
and refreshing drinks, and while business is slow, it eventually picks
up thanks to Celine’s surprisingly useful marketing ideas. They’re quite
shocked that their bubble tea, in particular, is a hit—literally—when
one of their customers turns up dead. Yale and Celine are prime suspects
due to the gold flakes that Celine added to the sweet drink as a
garnish. Though the two cousins are polar opposites in every way, they
must work together to find out what really happened to the victim or the
only thing they’ll be serving is time.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span>Book Talk </span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span>If you are looking for a little cozy mystery to complete your mornings, or evenings, with a hot drink while you're under a warm blanket, then this might be up your ally. I found <i>Death By Bubble Tea</i> to be a delight while reading. It's something you can easily pick up, and sit down and read for a sitting. The mystery part of the book, does make you try to connect the dots, but it's not overly complicated, nor does it have you taking out a paper and pen to figure out how everything connects to each other. The mystery is just enough.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>While we're figuring out who the mysterious killer is, we get to go on this goose chase with Yale and Celine, two cousins that are the complete opposites of the each other, which makes for a fun read. We get the more down-to-earth, living paycheck to paycheck, doesn't do technology, not quite sure what she want to do person paired with the someone who is used to the finer things in life, does things on a whim, and is a force of a character. Together, they keep each other's lives exciting and it makes for a fun dynamic to read.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>Our author does a good job at keeping the reader engaged throughout the whole book, by having us wonder how all the puzzle pieces will fit in together. Overall, I enjoyed my time reading <i>Death By Bubble Tea</i>. It's a more chilled read, nothing overly complicated. I'm excited to start a newer series and will be picking up the next book in this series soon. Until then, happy reading!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-83544717378079308552023-11-16T05:00:00.000-08:002023-11-16T05:00:00.164-08:00Book Blitz | The Third Dawn: From Bethlehem to Golgotha<p> </p>
<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsSvtPLkYQQZ1tzcduGKJqO-Vsm9fO1zW-cZJ_qwfcEtVTjP4oeXKldLarUKKRu6QlaqbrYjjSEmlCNONa0DCnE6NyL8OcZwkUD-uqSTsZxGuESriQiySf-5fpkYeXFocQJmkZV9RbgbSH1eFAlJvBhSDOW-x6lTe8Pzvx8qgSPB427FSQU-ebOqGwWt3/w604-h277/BNR%20The%20Third%20Dawn.png" width="604" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE THIRD DAWN:</span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>FROM BETHLEHEM TO GOLGOTHA</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>by</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Thomas J. Nichols</b></div></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Inspirational Religious Fiction / Historical Fiction</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publisher: Nicholson Books</div><div style="text-align: center;">Page Count: 212 pages</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publication Date: September 14, 2023</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Updated version with new dialogue and more detailed descriptions</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><i>Scroll down for a giveaway!</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></b></div></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uBCVG-Lqs-MD-9RzKOGfilFxbcnB6G3xVTuaHxSrSWLgDdVHJY7cc2wjGUszqUQSwCBA5fD_FWgEJaPcTzvx8ytI0YxmU6UaDsW3NC33MvBAMiAgrLYrGZFV6Ap2skLz2ywwU3xQzZIVSQ3AXKoJ2wNw1O12eWuYpLNLAojPRhS-UgPH3wxaYGexmDg/s820/Ciao!-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uBCVG-Lqs-MD-9RzKOGfilFxbcnB6G3xVTuaHxSrSWLgDdVHJY7cc2wjGUszqUQSwCBA5fD_FWgEJaPcTzvx8ytI0YxmU6UaDsW3NC33MvBAMiAgrLYrGZFV6Ap2skLz2ywwU3xQzZIVSQ3AXKoJ2wNw1O12eWuYpLNLAojPRhS-UgPH3wxaYGexmDg/s320/Ciao!-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="296" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6BNFgJoyyiQOMNS9mNZrYQEQA9KdzI1URERFZzILfBm36x5DCG1GrqaxrtAoYH9MpsCcKk5SNhPQ834KPwr30NQJ5A96ZUkKFF-H6_3bDxNT550N5_A3mCKxkWuVRKdEdJ1GTEdyH_yCGXKAw834o5fh-40Td-coT3SxXVcf1JVipq_XYeMYFzdM2EuS/w241-h362/Cover%20Med%20Res%20The%20Third%20Dawn.jpg" width="241" /></div></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Nichols turns his award-winning writing career to the greatest mystery of all time in <i>The Third Dawn: From Bethlehem to Golgotha.</i></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Accompanied by His lifelong friend, Nur, the young Jesus ventures throughout the towns and villages of Israel, Palestine, and across the sea to the port city of Ephesus. With Nur always at His side, Jesus experiences the joys and hardships of humanity—Jews and gentiles, rich and poor, believers and nonbelievers, freemen and slaves.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nichols’s gifted storytelling brings forth this unique perspective on the life of the Messiah, providing a rare insight into His personal joys and suffering. The reader will experience the emotions of His power and authority when, on a mountaintop above Capernaum, He pronounces the future, and a spectacular miracle occurs in the city below.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The Third Dawn</i> was initially published in 2011 but is now updated with new dialogue and more detailed settings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div></i></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNlGKvyOoAXa4ZE05Xg8rUPkEa8okae1EQWQ7_zFsIaiAioh1UrJOK6oNcScqQVLsebggJT26s-WZgqpj2OHhxQZqoQs8IRE81NsltTS34AjbR43wJG2aD1ZBLS-g3nguGrTJqendji4ibu73leC9oY-Qn1D3skQXQUT1J88Mowqik9jG38U9vfYaFm8/s820/sneak%20peek.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNlGKvyOoAXa4ZE05Xg8rUPkEa8okae1EQWQ7_zFsIaiAioh1UrJOK6oNcScqQVLsebggJT26s-WZgqpj2OHhxQZqoQs8IRE81NsltTS34AjbR43wJG2aD1ZBLS-g3nguGrTJqendji4ibu73leC9oY-Qn1D3skQXQUT1J88Mowqik9jG38U9vfYaFm8/s320/sneak%20peek.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div></i></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div></i></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Message from the author: I have chosen an excerpt that is a great one for the time of year, with Christmas approaching. It introduces the child Nur, who plays an important part of the story as Jesus's friend and protector, and covers the reason they have to return to Bethlehem, forcing Mary and Joseph to be away from home for Jesus's birth. </b></div></i></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;">Joseph lowered himself to the floor and crossed his legs. “This very morning a soldier from Nazareth came through. He delivered a message for all of us. Every citizen must return immediately to his homeland and be counted for a census.” He placed his hand on Mary’s bare foot. “That means my wife must accompany me. We both must go.” Looking up at Anne, he continued, “I tried to explain to the soldier about my wife’s condition, but he said the census has been ordered by Cyrenius, so there are no alternatives. We must go.”</div></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;">Anne gave a soft laugh when she spoke. “Then, that is why God sent us to you at this time. We’re here to help you, can you not see?” She leaned over and put her hands on Joseph’s shoulders. “Let Rachel go with you. They will never know the difference, and your wife can stay here. We will care for her.” She looked at her daughter. “You cannot travel, Mary. Do you understand that? You must not go. The time for the child is at hand.”</div></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;">Mary put her arms around her mother and held her tightly. “Oh, Mother, if it were only that simple.” She turned to Nur, who sat on the floor close to the door. “Please, Nur, go see if Rachel needs help. We’ll call you if we need you.”</div></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;">Mary stood up. “Please, Mother, put your hands on my stomach. Feel the child inside me. Feel the Lamb of God. We cannot let Him come into the world while we bear false witness, even if it is to a Roman. We cannot lie.” Leaning forward, she kissed her mother’s forehead. “I know of your love for all of us, and that you want only what’s right for God in heaven, but this must be.”</div></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;">“I, too, have an idea,” Joseph said as he walked to the door, calling for Nur. “Nur, come talk with us.”</div></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;">Nur raced into the house where Joseph motioned him onto the blanket. </div></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;">“In the best of times, it’s about an eight-day trip from here to Bethlehem.” Joseph paused. “Indeed, Mother, the Lord God sent you to us because it will be a hard journey, but your being here has made it easier for us. Let Nur go with us. He has proven to be an able worker, has he not? Mother, lend us one of your donkeys, and with the one we own, we’ll be able to travel with reasonable comfort and speed. I’ll pack one with our goods for the journey, and the other I’ll prepare for Mary to ride.” </div></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;">He gazed at Mary with his eyes smiling and sparkling. “I’ll make you comfortable, or at least as comfortable as you can be with child. This boy shall become a man and help us. We know the way is fraught with robbers and highwaymen, but Nur can run ahead of us and warn us of danger. Mother, with your blessings, your animal, and this strong young man to help, we’ll have a safe and good journey.”</div></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;">“Oh, please,” Nur begged. “I’ll be a big help to them. I give you my word.” </div></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;">“I know you will, child,” Anne said as she kissed the boy’s cheek. She turned to Joseph, nodded her approval, then took her daughter with the unborn child into her arms. She whispered softly into her daughter’s ear, “Be careful, my child, and may the glory of God go with you.” </div></i></span></div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></i><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://geni.us/DawnLSLTOM" target="_blank">CLICK TO PURCHASE!</a></span></b></div></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181529180-the-third-dawn" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="116" data-original-width="350" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNKGNPNQIQB9rhwTSY1sTnefSukM3df9_-7ao71UZxhMIvTwyMMm2K04KY0J2juKeP5D_g7gG5T5VUhRwGsHAspLJAPjI5xbzaXleT-yGWLVkw-66Gjejt1hBCZlaquBkR_xVVHjQV3Z9-VDFTCVbzewFXm9KmdFt47kgPL3ee5suGvumVgvoFJodTLKE/w190-h63/add-to-goodreads.png" width="190" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pkWjpWxAveiGq2ggQQq0Fz_rDIxz-ocU25Z5tXNhps1jg7eC1J7y0zWpIzFWrzJzOpimdB9ngZUgFgivszql6fs3ZutKMv4CB1C-wsHrV3VkoUF4re6Wk7wb6AAL8Wvhkso1SwNX9wNd5x3ElLx_v-pxzNzn5sFz25WoItFELF087YHmvXLNhGb3tBQ/s820/Ciao!-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pkWjpWxAveiGq2ggQQq0Fz_rDIxz-ocU25Z5tXNhps1jg7eC1J7y0zWpIzFWrzJzOpimdB9ngZUgFgivszql6fs3ZutKMv4CB1C-wsHrV3VkoUF4re6Wk7wb6AAL8Wvhkso1SwNX9wNd5x3ElLx_v-pxzNzn5sFz25WoItFELF087YHmvXLNhGb3tBQ/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="280" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPQmC2HuUBDoA9_HGvwAI1MhfARTqO72LZ2JhQvhVyOFdd7ooDChIo9TMYLS7qHh22VJlYaXUZqwSSRJDEeOVMuo2J7Uybo_7Hs8JFGWL7Fyxhx_L5OXgj_Z8TbzS8u9RtrwSHA7FZEIEO0kRLHJMEy6XzPTkPmgkicegEu_Luds5GHv7mSFbmS_N3myK/w199-h199/Author%20Photo%20Nichols.png" width="199" /></div><b style="font-weight: bold;">Thomas J. (Tom) Nichols’s </b>law enforcement career ranged from patrol, detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Deputy Chief, and Chief of Police. spanning the era of the growth of the Mexican drug cartels and war on drugs. He has written seven novels and three short stories with themes of the border wars, espionage, international intrigue, and the supernatural.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Tom's latest work is </span><i style="font-family: arial;">The Third Dawn</i><span style="font-family: arial;">, an inspirational retelling of the early life of Jesus galvanized by his devotion to local and international church affairs. His ideas were brought to life while traveling with Gwen, his wife who also serves as his editor, to experience of the Holy Land—the Church of the Nativity, the Holy Sepulcher, The Annunciation, the Mount of Olives, the River Jordan, Capernaum, Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee, Jericho, and Ephesus.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.thomasjnichols.com/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Website</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/Tomsnewsletter" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Newsletter</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://thomasjnichols.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Blog</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThomasJNicholsAuthor" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Facebook</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-J.-Nichols/author/B00BD861OM" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Amazon</a></b></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18291666.Thomas_J_Nichols" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/thomas-j-nichols" target="_blank">BookBub</a> ◆ <a href="https://twitter.com/Tomas0274" target="_blank">X/Twitter</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-nichols-682556b/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="5224" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgihv4emqIxNkGFrnHzqpAbXYb3B8EgXmRltgiBn-_dYaJ64fTL6caXoazFN_j57cN31ljeuFLiSFffTTmIRGlWnp1e-w2QTgNOi5tBGb_9vdhECNYwVjf9BvKGZQ6dm-xfOcg8pmsMw0f2mutENkEQ7AhoypMw3T1_B-nDWzhkWgQ-9IC76KlnNlNA47/w564-h111/XTRA%20Ad%20The%20Third%20Dawn.png" width="564" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>--------------------------------------</b></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: center;">GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!</div></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b>THREE WINNERS:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>First Prize:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Signed copy of THE THIRD DAWN + $25 Amazon gift card </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Second & Third Prizes: signed copy.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">(US only; ends midnight, CST, 11/24/23)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfLtH7Idqn9nyduD-JAcKoLx0wB6J_XLKadKKjw-9x7YfHv5PKPPCDpxEXBtARi2QcMt1foB6lJSVIUGwL6WPYUSc6JThGduiozAdz6U6-DH-Y4c8Mn6GAu_2-wl80c9RzTKAffeMm9lw9gYdgl3Ydtpmj_XREFB_xnDwIEfb7QQeV8rw9EY16PepCkh8/w476-h476/Giveaway%20The%20Third%20Dawn.png" width="476" /></div></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="10c3976b554" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/10c3976b554/" id="rcwidget_ag44rd8x" rel="nofollow">Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<div class="separator"></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUzUNUAwyuy00Bs7yRSKc3sVG1sLAu_2Pol0u_HTnSHbClH9KLvQH8y26HkLledMXE2LvaHB7iBoRyDNu07ExPWCY5UPMh33NZPM_nuMjhfLxeICwHA2CAdbbr_tyjKOLnZ-ItC4pCF2sRnav9vSRwr6Ink1hHl81gf8wxWCffb36jsuhQ3YRS6pjb1i-/w577-h264/BNR%20Courting%20Miss%20Emma.png" style="text-align: center;" width="577" /></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">COURTING MISS EMMA</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Hangman’s Daughters, Book 2</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">by</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Linda Broday</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Western / Clean & Wholesome / Sweet Romance / Historical Fiction</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publisher: Severn House</div><div style="text-align: center;">Date of Publication: November 7, 2023</div><div style="text-align: center;">Number of Pages: 203 pages </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Scroll down for Giveaway!</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAm_qtCTh3fIR9-F4hPrDcHlrrzjSvRE0ZOYcngeDfIwEIdRb2LasheU-Dkv7hdOIB1mBRXDexlgmQ_-ZaJHshh86WSQbIF8HIvee4788ES_J1KaL7GN63r3vm9lFl539dDUOdX1sjKcp9hB0omjA9DnoO9L2whCer7TsK84YslRtrQZxTXVYoHjg-w-Y/s820/Ciao!-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAm_qtCTh3fIR9-F4hPrDcHlrrzjSvRE0ZOYcngeDfIwEIdRb2LasheU-Dkv7hdOIB1mBRXDexlgmQ_-ZaJHshh86WSQbIF8HIvee4788ES_J1KaL7GN63r3vm9lFl539dDUOdX1sjKcp9hB0omjA9DnoO9L2whCer7TsK84YslRtrQZxTXVYoHjg-w-Y/s320/Ciao!-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2593" data-original-width="1708" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsFJd91PMQGbtQyx81uvopWOsqUFIVeXWRxRfKoKpk4-skCoCr0PUx6kKUybGZzewECitMBj3fZM4Pbj-EqTFbG5RjLxr8XZPdC0_7PqtBpHUVI6oF6mFtCJujc4O74-24hh4B8GIyImFL4i9f-OcKiE-KLhXiS2ZBHm9R1t_AWMFit2PJNSJtm8D3mhh/s320/Cover%20HI%20RES%20Courting%20Miss%20Emma.jpg" width="211" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Texas, 1868. Emma Taggart has finally found a place to belong – setting up Heaven's Door orphanage with her sister Maura was a new beginning for her – and one she will do anything to protect.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When guarded ex-army man Stone Landry buys the neighboring land and moves in - camels and all - Emma's world changes forever. He is an infuriating man who instantly gets under her skin - in ways she never dreamed possible, and despite herself, Emma starts to wonder if, just maybe, he is man enough to take on a Hangman's daughter . . . But their newfound connection is quickly tested by violent night raids, kidnappings, and underhand tricks by powerful rancher Zeke Parker, who is intent on running them out of town and taking the land he deems to be his. Can Emma find enough courage to trust in Stone to give her the life, the family, she's always dreamed of?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfrHobW8jTo5vJaBW4WNJuOXFPwOlPbuXTkqSEEPVuX5pG3kdV5ONGlKD6KAKqGJMbHSXUi1RvMt5JzVw0Xe8wohzf_hYkzX6G0Lql4y6Ay3IdLxPAG9_wfhMBAeIh_FYk69vKDuTOTPna_8Xcb4nAjHoq1fobyOFj5bIakNoQ307KIAWSIlBZXAx73s/s820/Ciao!-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfrHobW8jTo5vJaBW4WNJuOXFPwOlPbuXTkqSEEPVuX5pG3kdV5ONGlKD6KAKqGJMbHSXUi1RvMt5JzVw0Xe8wohzf_hYkzX6G0Lql4y6Ay3IdLxPAG9_wfhMBAeIh_FYk69vKDuTOTPna_8Xcb4nAjHoq1fobyOFj5bIakNoQ307KIAWSIlBZXAx73s/s320/Ciao!-3.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Courting Miss Emma</i> was a wild adventure and I found myself rooting for the victory of our characters all the way through to the end. Our characters find themselves in one pursuit after another. From the very beginning when the main love interests meet and fight with each other, to them coming together to fight for their land against the horrible antagonists, it's a fight to survive in the outskirts of San Antonio in the days of old.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also found myself rooting for these fictional people because they all crept silently to my heart. Our author was able to bring to life the sweet and kind-hearted Emma and her sister as they navigated their way in life living in their father's shadow. As I was reading, I was finding hope for the orphans at Heaven's Gate, that they would all be able to come out the other side in the end, especially Alphie. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In creating a great story with great characters, our author gives great attention to detail when it comes to livening up the world. Main characters, side characters, the main setting, and the side settings are all taken into account and detailed out in this story, so that the reader can easily imagine the time and world that envelopes <i>Courting Miss Emma</i>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Overall, I enjoyed my time reading <i>Courting Miss Emma</i> and if you are a romance fan, then you will want to add this to your bookshelf, digitally or tangibly. It was a pleasure reading this book and I give this story a 4 out of 5 stars. Until next time, Happy Reading!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2UZ6uX755YkYPTY_xl9A158gGp9uJrIUS-lVOBnAgvNzG_7sUJykcXDAM63k0e3HeRQRZUaW9hPQL6L8EYKQe9DHMQtj_ZNGrqC0D8ih5ECyUsE1VpaOhLcyWfPYejYLt3HL-HBcrvLnwp6PDVYJCmiEfiR8ngBw82KLT3DhHZo-E3t6O0b9mhgD_0vw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="49" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2UZ6uX755YkYPTY_xl9A158gGp9uJrIUS-lVOBnAgvNzG_7sUJykcXDAM63k0e3HeRQRZUaW9hPQL6L8EYKQe9DHMQtj_ZNGrqC0D8ih5ECyUsE1VpaOhLcyWfPYejYLt3HL-HBcrvLnwp6PDVYJCmiEfiR8ngBw82KLT3DhHZo-E3t6O0b9mhgD_0vw=w57-h57" width="57" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiH5b6GH8i-nw60JX4fkp0Vwo3Z2LfCpneABS0tafJFPB4DQksl_j0uJvmYK4e9r3xQ2MTeGgwBqlPaRtd1vPMet9zLzRYnWFA2TFB8-_eZnFpNRAe4NJW7RJaNGAGHTtfa2-ZrWdAn0CTGLDfXdcFDlnxFZ0nFsIK1s0kvcWD-UCgzn2F5FbPHPX_MIo0" style="margin-left: 1em; 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font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiys2MZIOBxO7_0MOA-4ez8zpMIkDEW4uVPfrdkCN_f75A9DE60b7tZNlLE_d8UyhTXVJrsrx2u4gWoHnBxu7_7joV7xiEDaniUQx0R9e_nB7AtCPQoBkaz0mHlGQnpDHU4Cy5wRaLMhYRgyZoJUuC-9y75TiC77AEx5YqYERKOd00AZIoPX2PFnPkDFjs/s820/Ciao!-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiys2MZIOBxO7_0MOA-4ez8zpMIkDEW4uVPfrdkCN_f75A9DE60b7tZNlLE_d8UyhTXVJrsrx2u4gWoHnBxu7_7joV7xiEDaniUQx0R9e_nB7AtCPQoBkaz0mHlGQnpDHU4Cy5wRaLMhYRgyZoJUuC-9y75TiC77AEx5YqYERKOd00AZIoPX2PFnPkDFjs/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1002" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue60-nzeWoYpKVCOy9bpjIOfg6uifS4v8UeJbmhmPnz9EgZQQhvCTa202AiHn1NDkWl3Z5K5Un31joeaH4pU4zrltNOAsthEQNZP3E-klHW7lX29pcYc3D8tx0YXVLv9i0jE7Vk19d3OhmTDL0zvitGGzvuPsEP2Avy8MtN-TI7x4fqZ3K6F19QjEjao7/w244-h197/Author%20Photo%20Broday.jpg" width="244" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm a <i>New York Times</i> and <i>USA Today</i> bestselling author of western romance novels and short stories. Watching TV westerns during my youth fed my love of cowboys and the old West and they still do. On a still day, I can often hear the voices of American Indians, Comancheros, and early cowboys whispering in the breeze here on the high West Texas plains. We refer to this land as “cowboy” country and men here still ride the range just as cowboys of old. My stories focus on family life and almost all have children.</div></span><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://lindabroday.com/" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lindabrodayauthor" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a> ◆ <a href="https://twitter.com/lbroday" target="_blank">X (TWITTER)</a></b></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/lindabroday1/%20" target="_blank">PINTEREST</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1204489.Linda_Broday" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-broday" target="_blank">BOOKBUB</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Linda-Broday/author/B001JRXWB2" target="_blank">AMAZON</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="5224" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXo0GoByEHGgLklF14QA6N0VHfiopg4zEHDakoOiboy-8SOlbzpeporuGgiLX2yzsdxLQq6xaTHtZlcaq9qvrvhXh4_0Ys2Bo95164gald-CRPgj8ZdFjSHlfvaPdva9lSPz9Hs7XCSJMMg6W4K_bDq9F8pXYygsqeg4i9_VaDyY5xJ8m5EPNl-TWwHIz/w584-h115/XTRA%20Ad%20Courting%20Miss%20Emma.png" width="584" /></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">--------------------------------------</span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">FOUR WINNERS:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">1st $25 Amazon gift card; </div><div style="text-align: center;">2nd autographed hardcover copy of WINNING MAURA’S HEART;</div><div style="text-align: center;">3rd eBook copy of COURTING MISS EMMA;</div><div style="text-align: center;">4th audiobook of ONE SHOT AT LOVE.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 11/17/23)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9MaSTEUm8E6CcxjdIduxT0eppS0-m1Sx0Y1mnMYOYv_nGtyB_FNu_3auPmjxk-FRmMhDVhyEYTh0BuhuwxL6QwIa2zCpfq1r1zIB9QIkd8lfiVG5D0HRujFH7YxGn1WkZQN_aWx0eanU3hb1Fk7cuQukTQ6-KUVL2FzYG79uefzLd9IRXji2AFdm0BHS/w460-h460/Giveaway%20Courting%20Miss%20Emma.png" width="460" /></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="10c3976b555" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/10c3976b555/" id="rcwidget_l4rz3hyx" rel="nofollow">Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #741b47;">CLICK TO VISIT <a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/content/courting-miss-emma-linda-broday" target="_blank">THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE</a></span></b></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, </span></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">or visit the blogs directly:</span></b></div></b><div style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 576px;">
<tbody><tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="90">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk147236082"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11/07/23<o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Review<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="90">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11/07/23<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><a href="http://kristinehallways.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hall Ways Blog</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BONUS
Stop<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
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<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="90">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11/08/23<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><a href="https://carpediemchroniclesbymaidamalby.com/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Carpe Diem
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><a href="https://lonestarbookblogtours.wordpress.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LSBBT
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BONUS
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</td>
</tr>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><a href="https://maryannwrites.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's Not All Gravy</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<tr style="height: 14.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
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by Moonlight</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="174">
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</tr>
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<td nowrap="" style="height: 14.5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="bottom" width="90">
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</tr>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><a href="http://thepageunbound.com/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
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</tr>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><a href="http://www.chapterbreak.net/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter Break Book Blog</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><a href="https://jansikesblog.com/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Writing
and Music</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"></span><a href="https://roxburkey.com/" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rox
Burkey Blog</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk147236082;"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></p>
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</tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="243" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QLcp6odExMFQlA4Ls6oMkKjqGEqt4rqMY5zq2xtRFzTy9VQKUVQjkMUAYwI6otS8ajDni6L-zM81IdfM2r7AcUfkaXnY8PqM0pkPqCJpuhOLwAjdCA2yFzkjDIeRxXnUviOoTXjMqQCl_6opXbeQ7EeYv_PFfNrsOXqCrPEsD-oUcNhwlHOl_2BWNJgN/s1600/LoneStarLitLife.jpg" width="243" /></a></div></span><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>blog tour services provided by<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/lone-star-book-blog-tours" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1849" data-original-width="1880" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0e4fEYUa8IqzNhBqRS0eT11c2HWKdjk89XvG4xYecpKbaGjaMedi9NDr9pGkXayvOopQnj4_DEydvzrt-M8lTqgLBSehJE67Q4tY8xY1ayvcUkgQOjjuEmYNy7amuPTzV5mDlJAl6TrF19wlDwF_OSrj5_axMu04bur4OTV1ce8iBe9q5Y26hrDFjxSZ-/w205-h202/LoneStarBookBlogTours%20sm.png" width="205" /></a></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span><!--more--></span><span><!--more--></span></div></span>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-26896666925183812022023-10-23T15:42:00.003-07:002023-10-23T15:42:16.726-07:00Book Talk | Fearless Fourteen: A Stephanie Plum Novel<p> He ya'll! We're back again with another book from the Stephanie Plum series. I actually read this one a tiny bit out of order. I was supposed to be reading the St.Patrick's Day "in-between" book, but I wanted to save it for closer to St.Patrick's day, but I had an itch to read some Stephanie Plum, so I went rouge and went on to the next book. But don't worry, I'll get back to St.Patrick's book when it's closer to February/March. Anyways, let's talk about this book.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleRIZqEbvqWtveBemVP3ZtFYI7tzQP4Q5VbSKeeIjsMpeJuvOtPDe7OOfYBHZH99NM06QCZpsMsj0WJll4S5Qy32cSULIH-GgL9nFvWzpmGaSWXuFFZbpkgmklV31ubWLYDXuCGG8ODFT7iWlMKzqVKcqmTwi5SNmlIOfVR4OwOP_Jnd6aQ-HCnWdO1I/s4032/PXL_20231023_223127796.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgleRIZqEbvqWtveBemVP3ZtFYI7tzQP4Q5VbSKeeIjsMpeJuvOtPDe7OOfYBHZH99NM06QCZpsMsj0WJll4S5Qy32cSULIH-GgL9nFvWzpmGaSWXuFFZbpkgmklV31ubWLYDXuCGG8ODFT7iWlMKzqVKcqmTwi5SNmlIOfVR4OwOP_Jnd6aQ-HCnWdO1I/s320/PXL_20231023_223127796.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">About the Author</h3><p style="text-align: left;">Janet Evanovich has been and still is a #1 New York Times best seller
for multiple books she has put out over the years. Her first installment
of the Stephanie Plum series is called <i>One for the Money</i>, which was released in 1994 (the year before I was born), and is still going with <i>Dirty Thirty,</i> the 34th book in the series. <i>Fearless Fourteen</i> is the 17th book in the Stephanie Plum series (inlcuding the Holiday specials) which came out in June 2008. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> If you haven't heard of the Stephanie Plum
series, it is basically about a young, bounty hunter from New Jersey
just wanting to pay her rent and not wanting to have a regular 9-5 job,
a.k.a not the button factory! </p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>About the Story </b></h3><p>Stephanie’s desperate for a bit of extra cash. That means working
odd jobs for her mentor, and greatest temptation, Ranger. It also means
she needs to find out if millions of stolen dollars are really buried
in her boyfriend and cop, Joe Morelli’s, basement. Someone else thinks
the loot is hidden there, and he’s willing to kill for it.</p><p>Between
body guarding high-maintenance celebrities and babysitting Moonman
Murphy and his potato cannon, it’s starting to seem like all the money
in the world isn’t enough.</p><p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Book Talk </h3><p style="text-align: left;">I think I said this on my last review, but I love the way the story keeps progressing with time. In the fourteenth installment of this series, bounty hunter reality shows are a big thing and it took me back to watching <i>Dog The Bounty Hunter</i> and other shows alike and how I learned more about bounty hunters that way than I did at any other point in time. We also have people using security cameras, cell phones, etc. There's still some dated things, but it's just cool to see a long running series adapt and change with the times without aging too much in the story timeline. </p><p style="text-align: left;">As time goes on for a long-running story, sometimes things can seem like they're getting dull. Jokes get old, running plot lines can get old, even characters can sometimes feel like they are losing their magic...but not Stephanie Plum. Evanovich does a tremendous job of keeping long-time readers engaged and interested not only in the current story, but future ones as well through great character development. fun story lines, and fresh comedic relief. </p><p style="text-align: left;">With most stories and shows, I tend to not be too keen on new characters, especially right away, BUT I actually really don't mind any of the new characters that we meet in this book...and we meet A LOT. We have Morelli's young cousin, Zook, we have the 80's popstar Brenda, we have Brenda's weird cousin, we have Zook's mom and uncle, we have a full house of new characters and none of them bothered me much. They all bring a fresh of breath air to the series and brought a whole-Lotta chaos for this particular story. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Overall, Janevt Evanovich stories are a fun time and <i>Fearless Fourteen</i> is no exception. If you haven't picked up a Stephanie Plum book and you decide to randomly pick this one up, you won't be disappointed. It's a fun and wild read and I can't wait to read the next one! Until next time, Happy Reading!<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></p>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-10853018682902616762023-09-27T17:15:00.002-07:002023-09-27T17:15:18.832-07:00Book Talk | Abroad in Japan<p> Hey Ya'll! I'm back with a new book review. So ironically, one of my favorite YouTubers, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AbroadinJapan">Abroad in Japan</a>, put out his first book at the beginning of August. It was only fitting that I start this book during my trip to Japan (<a href="https://rainydayswithamanda.blogspot.com/2023/09/rainy-travel-my-return-to-japan.html">read about that here</a>). I had been hearing about this book from Chris on his podcast for what seemed like a year now, so having it in my hands, I felt super proud of someone that I have never met in person but who's voice I would recognize from a mile away. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbyfVtXTJaP_9i3QzByRmX44o-Ga0L3cj7VWBIaG9mu_zOB3YezSmYLzbOex9DtgUWFa7NRt6hFG9nZAE4EPkyX0Rl42MOFitk9GLewCbzqKe-CFCDPVE2NbTH1kmj2aidb6Nn5hlQPjKMI_m1CswfzYqmdBj6w8GAQr3frNxeBKjnr8HSakdWJyMJtI/s4032/PXL_20230927_230407112.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbyfVtXTJaP_9i3QzByRmX44o-Ga0L3cj7VWBIaG9mu_zOB3YezSmYLzbOex9DtgUWFa7NRt6hFG9nZAE4EPkyX0Rl42MOFitk9GLewCbzqKe-CFCDPVE2NbTH1kmj2aidb6Nn5hlQPjKMI_m1CswfzYqmdBj6w8GAQr3frNxeBKjnr8HSakdWJyMJtI/s320/PXL_20230927_230407112.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><b>About the Author</b></p><p><span class="Formatted">Chris Broad is a British filmmaker and founder
of the Abroad in Japan YouTube channel, one of the largest foreign
YouTube channels in Japan with over 2.5 million subscribers and 400
million views. Over ten years and two hundred videos, Chris has visited
all of Japan's forty-seven prefectures, focusing Abroad in Japan on
travel, food and culture. He has also covered contemporary issues
through documentaries on the Fukushima nuclear disaster and the Tohoku
earthquake and tsunami. His experiences have made him a sought-after
voice on life inside Japan and he has been featured on the BBC, TEDx,
NHK and the Japan Times.</span></p><p><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><p><span class="Formatted"><b>About the Book </b></span></p><p><span class="Formatted">When Englishman Chris Broad landed in a rural
village in northern Japan he wondered if he'd made a huge mistake. With
no knowledge of the language and zero teaching experience, was he about
to be the most quickly fired English teacher in Japan's history?<br /><br /><i>Abroad in Japan</i>
charts a decade of living in a foreign land and the chaos and culture
clash that came with it. Packed with hilarious and fascinating stories,
this book seeks out to unravel one the world's most complex cultures.</span><span class="Formatted"><b> <br /></b></span></p><p><span class="Formatted"><b>Book Talk</b></span></p><p><span class="Formatted"><b> </b>I wasn't too sure on what to expect from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised from the very first chapter. There are a lot of things to be surprised about in this book, especially if you don't know too much about Chris, but one of the big things I want to point out is how well written his story is. From the descriptions to the settings, Chris has a way of transporting us to the time and place where his past self resides along with describing the people that he interacted with in detail not just by appearance, but by interests and mannerisms. </span></p><p><span class="Formatted"> Another aspect of this story that I would like to point is how much of an underdog story this is. I have been attracted to underdog stories ever since I can remember (hence why Spider-Man is my favorite superhero) and Chris' story is just that. We see this point in our author's life where he is completely new to Japan, is feeling like a foreigner, and is having hard time adjusting, but wants to immerse himself in his new home. Chapter by chapter, our author pushes on through the every hardship and, from my point of view, comes up on top...of Mount Fuji (figuratively and literally). </span></p><p><span class="Formatted"> I also love the way a writer can relate to things in your everyday life. At the end of the story, Chris reflects back on the little moments in his life that he goes back to from time to time. When I get in a nostalgic mood, I too go back to those simple moments of driving my unreliable car late at night from college with the windows down listening to my <i>Meatloaf </i>CD. Those are the moments that I'm sure almost everyone can relate to and we love a relatable story. <br /></span></p><p><span class="Formatted"> Lastly, I love our authors honesty. Sometimes, we want to kind of sugarcoat the truth on things to make us seem like something we want to the greater masses...but not Chris. He lets you know all of his embarssemets, his highs and lows, and his honest opinions and feeling about various situations throughtout the story. We always appreciate honesty here.</span></p><p><span class="Formatted"> Overall, I enjoyed my time reading </span><span class="Formatted"><i>Abroad in Japan. </i>It's a story about someone taking a chance on adventure and how the decisions we make and the people we meet are what put the pieces of our puzzles together. If you're into autobiography's, definitely check out Abroad in Japan by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AbroadinJapan">Chris Broad</a>. Until next time, Happy Reading! </span></p><p><span class="Formatted"><i>"They key to turning a good trip into an unforgettable one is the encounters you have along the way."</i> </span><b> </b></p>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-49911907744518893002023-09-18T16:57:00.002-07:002023-09-20T19:19:40.412-07:00Rainy Travel | My Return to Japan<p> Five years ago, my husband and I celebrated our honeymoon by taking our first international trip to Japan. Five years later, it's still the magical place that leaves me yearning for more. Last time we went to Japan, we mainly stayed in Tokyo, besides a day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko to see the world-renowned Mount Fuji. This time, we started our trip in Osaka, then Kyoto, then Lake Kawaguchiko, climbed Mount Fuji, and ended the trip in Tokyo. Here's how it all went. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BaeDgadkfDa4_kQf_eky1mM9JqZMFHhDxTjeSSRKwldABAgO4LRtXk-kLI9EqPAQ9plpXrbCPGUfemRWBc8-N3S3VGJSYL_yOppB_FAGaht_ANxdnLHCrgo4AwS_APP09Vr0eSHCScgpH6h5PvhKhCmhm8dmqxTlP4XfWUdnC-zyocIcLYcNPHYc6EQ/s2240/Rainy%20Travel%20Return%20to%20Japan.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BaeDgadkfDa4_kQf_eky1mM9JqZMFHhDxTjeSSRKwldABAgO4LRtXk-kLI9EqPAQ9plpXrbCPGUfemRWBc8-N3S3VGJSYL_yOppB_FAGaht_ANxdnLHCrgo4AwS_APP09Vr0eSHCScgpH6h5PvhKhCmhm8dmqxTlP4XfWUdnC-zyocIcLYcNPHYc6EQ/w400-h225/Rainy%20Travel%20Return%20to%20Japan.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The trip started when I just so happened to wake up at 4am on Thursday, 4 hours before our flight I received a text saying that our plane was delayed due to a technical issue and we would be put on a whole different flight path. Our 17 hour travel day quickly and horribly turned into a 26 hour travel day. If hell is a place, it's a 26 hour day with a never ending flight while you're still battling a sinus infection and you only sleep for one hour tops. Needless to say, our arrival travel day was brutal, but our misery quickly turned around once we stepped foot in the bright and lively city of Osaka.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Osaka </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ygKy60XqQYrlAr8VesAlvEFi_o3BUhxp1WooF7xMUqgozjacrhUOGjGAXISLtaLYQjxmbFPo3HrFiZS3TQ0jc8H3KW5qqBX09ZcsetLUx23lCMpnleDvnNL-AMGp78MEXN_PHfbQ7TvgX91Lop0707sFAz81pIjmKBVXGHcT_FHQJPyw6h2ZudfXF8c/s3089/19830026.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3089" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ygKy60XqQYrlAr8VesAlvEFi_o3BUhxp1WooF7xMUqgozjacrhUOGjGAXISLtaLYQjxmbFPo3HrFiZS3TQ0jc8H3KW5qqBX09ZcsetLUx23lCMpnleDvnNL-AMGp78MEXN_PHfbQ7TvgX91Lop0707sFAz81pIjmKBVXGHcT_FHQJPyw6h2ZudfXF8c/s320/19830026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I would describe Osaka as the hip and more gritty younger brother of Tokyo. While Osaka can feel like the a smaller version of Tokyo, with it's mix use of nature and city and their similar towers, it is its own city in every right. </p><p>Osaka wasn't originally on our travel itinerary, but I had heard great things about the neon lit town, and it is located only an hour away from Kyoto, our original first destination, and we'd have to go through Osaka anyways because they have their own international airport. With further thought, we decided to dedicate one full day to explore Osaka (would have been a day and a half, but see paragraph 2). </p><p>In one full day, we got to eat a traditional Japanese breakfast, went up and slide down Osaka Tower, checked out Osaka Castle, shopped around Denden Town, and ended the night on the Dotonbori river with the famous running man advertisement. It was a busy day and it was a hard day for me, as I was still getting over my sinus infection and battling through the grips of jet lag, but through it all, I enjoyed my day in Osaka. It's a magical place filled with tons of great shopping, lots of people, and wonderful food options. If you are in the Kyoto area, please don't skip out on this vibrant city.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Kyoto</b></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><br />After Osaka, we headed west to Japan's best kept historical city for the next 3 days, Kyoto. The city of </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYENmNcnxm0kNX_yXpzR-5EsbthAO7qJZr2d3cRVdtlBjGn-WWK2e2WC9itYzFlcM9Ht9I5SzlTUy_R1c4It6ljK1OMz1svLH04F_FIVFirUJ-CXAilK3T6y470EQbkwDhRtO1sLPsyhk8WmGxM6gRNPcU-qFGNgzhDmTYVQ5jgCFAEX_Ry1NetHDjHk/s2048/369152741_9907409905967545_3536870128260538402_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYENmNcnxm0kNX_yXpzR-5EsbthAO7qJZr2d3cRVdtlBjGn-WWK2e2WC9itYzFlcM9Ht9I5SzlTUy_R1c4It6ljK1OMz1svLH04F_FIVFirUJ-CXAilK3T6y470EQbkwDhRtO1sLPsyhk8WmGxM6gRNPcU-qFGNgzhDmTYVQ5jgCFAEX_Ry1NetHDjHk/s320/369152741_9907409905967545_3536870128260538402_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Kyoto makes you feel like you are stepping back into the Edo period of Japan...besides the Miffy cafe and shop and the Rilakkuma cafe and themed shop and the Snoopy chocolate shop. Yeah, so there's quite a bit of modernism to Kyoto, but it's intertwined with historic homes and buildings and lest not forget the irresistible beauty of Geisha's walking around town. <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I enjoyed my time in Kyoto and found myself in love with the going through different areas of the city and finding some places more modern and fast-paced while other areas were older and slower-paced. In our 3 days in the city, we hiked up to the <a href="http://www.monkeypark.jp/">Arashiyama Monkey Park</a> to find wild monkey's roam the area and while you can feed them, staring at them is not tasteful. We also walked through the beautiful Kimono forest, enjoyed my first sip of melon soda (which I absolutely fell in love with), ate green tea soba noodles, and just walked around and got lost in all the hustle and bustle.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In Kyoto, we opted for an Airbnb and took the opportunity to stay in a more traditional home. We had tatami mats, sliding doors, floor mattresses, and a small garden. It was my absolute favorite place we stayed at on this trip and I recommend staying in one of these more traditional homes when in the Kyoto area.</p><p style="text-align: left;">After the three days were over, it was time to hop on a bullet train and head to a very big highlight of our trip, Lake Kawaguchiko/Mt. Fuji.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Lake Kawaguchiko/Mount Fuji </h3><p style="text-align: left;">When we first visited Japan, my favorite part was our day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko. It's a smallish town that has some of the best views of Mount Fuji and beautiful hilly greenery all around. Everything feels slow, but in a way that you don't mind. It was also where we drove our Mari Karts and where we let ourselves get lost in between the unique-looking homes. A day trip felt too little, so I vowed that the next time we came back, we would stay here for more than a day. Five years later and that's exactly what we did. </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqZqRC5EUckCsi2Kp12BwYvJ2jCLg6sfQ-_OK1XDW7MrQp9xKfEFQ0XbSOm-7HQ0t5AqosONLfkUfLBrNenD0O0-7mSAMC35QrzZnSqUMrLmobUEjEqdrR6YKIYCPhp3SR2BYTrNUOqKFP6o88DZ6ceUqv-hgwz5P3hjdH3aRwdQOkq8bfZf6CQbRUqc/s3089/19830023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3089" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqZqRC5EUckCsi2Kp12BwYvJ2jCLg6sfQ-_OK1XDW7MrQp9xKfEFQ0XbSOm-7HQ0t5AqosONLfkUfLBrNenD0O0-7mSAMC35QrzZnSqUMrLmobUEjEqdrR6YKIYCPhp3SR2BYTrNUOqKFP6o88DZ6ceUqv-hgwz5P3hjdH3aRwdQOkq8bfZf6CQbRUqc/s320/19830023.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>When we first stepped foot in Lake Kawaguchiko, we noticed that the weather was perfect. Mid 80's, breezy, and we weren't sweating after a minute of walking. We stayed in a little glamping retreat area not too far from the busy Kawaguchiko Station. It was cute but a little too small for our luggage, but we made it work. After unpacking, we walked over to this lavender shop we had found when we first came to Japan and was happy to find it still operating and full of pretty smelling lavender. After this, we walked around the onsen hotel district and let ourselves just walk and take it slow. After all, the next day, we would be climbing Mount Fuji.<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Mount Fuji Climb </b></p><p style="text-align: left;">We woke up bight and early to climb the 12,388 foot mountain. Climbing Mount Fuji was one of the main reasons we wanted to come back to Japan (and the ONLY reason we visited in the summer). I admit, I was pretty nervous that my body wouldn't acclimate to the air pressure, but as we saw the elderly and some kids starting their ascent up to the top, my fear went away. We stayed at our bare-bones, but well-insulated hut on the 7th station. People usually stay at the 8th station, but we had terrible luck in grabbing a reservation in time, so 7th station it was. We were the first ones to the hut, so we relaxed, saw a rainbow and caught up on internet things (there's actually pretty good WiFi on Mount Fuji). It was a chill day, but the challenge going to be the next day.</p><p style="text-align: left;">We went to bed early, since it would take us about 3-4 hours to reach the top of Mount Fuji for the sunrise, which was around 4:15am. The path directly after our station was all rock. Climbing up rocks, in the dark, at 1am was not a walk in the park. I felt nauseated, but seeing other people trekking their up the mountain, and with the help of my husband, I had the motivation to push through. The higher we went, the more crowded the trail got and the colder it felt. At one point, we took a short break next to a guy laying on his backpack who was from Japan, but had lived in different major cities around the U.S.. He commented on how beautiful the stars were and when we looked up, I was in awe. When we got back to our hike, he was still laying on his backpack, admiring the Milky Way.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The Tori gate was upon us and I felt like Rocky getting up to my final steps to the top. As I entered through the Tori gate, I felt my nausea wash down with a big grin on my face. We had done it. We had made it up Mount Fuji just in time to see the sunrise. As the sun shined it's light the world, we could start to see parts of Japan come to life and look like prop sets from a movie. While everyone was gasping in delight, David and I sat down on the rocky gravel and at sweet melon bread and washed it down with warm hot chocolate. It's a moment I hope to never forget. But what I do hope to forget is the descent of Mount Fuji. </p><p style="text-align: left;">From the moment you start your descent down the mountain, your knees and calves want to cry. Now try feeling those cries for 3 and a half hours. It's not great. I thought climbing up Mount Fuji was hard, but no amount of preparation could have prepared me for going down the zigzag and completely gravel pathway that left us back to where our journey started. It was terrible, but once we made it back to the 5th station, we rewarded ourselves with steaming hot jumbo pork bums. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Back to Lake Kawaguchiko </b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBXbiW3MUQeDZmZIznn5ga28rK5P4An4PAvXfNQdeHWAmChO1k-GFTmVqvL4dL-aTyRCR6Vc93CozNncEXtziPHlZ4WlaynI69mijHxggkWf95mwAwGr39OBpPsUeR5WEMoCmnjGFNs8N8SlBLRxuPbfARESS9QHFLBZuHCPsQWDfJFTVjYXwc8_JP5A/s3089/19830020.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3089" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBXbiW3MUQeDZmZIznn5ga28rK5P4An4PAvXfNQdeHWAmChO1k-GFTmVqvL4dL-aTyRCR6Vc93CozNncEXtziPHlZ4WlaynI69mijHxggkWf95mwAwGr39OBpPsUeR5WEMoCmnjGFNs8N8SlBLRxuPbfARESS9QHFLBZuHCPsQWDfJFTVjYXwc8_JP5A/s320/19830020.JPG" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">We returned back to our Airbnb in Lak<b>e </b>Kawaguchiko after eating our pork buns and taking the hour long bus ride back to town. It was about 10am by the time we reached our sleeping quarters and needless to say, we<b> </b>took a shower and crashed for a few hours. But, being that it was our last day in Kawaguchiko, we decided to walk around the serene town one more time. Along the way, we found a really great mom and pop restaurant away from the heavily populated train station area. We also sat and drank in the charming and welcoming <a href="https://oarblue.com/">Oar Blue</a>, a bar in a Japanese traditional warehouse that was converted by the bartender and owner. We highly recommend this place to stop by at when you're in the area. The drinks are great and the bartender/owner, who speaks English<b> </b>and loves to converse with<b> </b>his visitors. We ended the night seeing Fuji as the clouds cleared up, grabbing a couple of frozen Seven Eleven pizzas<b> </b>and drinks, and enjoying a night in watching anime and kdramas as we rested before embarking on the last leg of our trip.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Tokyo</b></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><b> </b>As we took the bus up to Shinjuku station in the middle of Tokyo and I overlooked the untouched green landscaped with house intertwined into the greenery and not the other way around, I felt nothing but excitement. It had been five years since we set foot in the world's largest populated city. Tokyo is hard to describe, since it's a city made up of so many different prefectures. If I really had to, I'd say Tokyo is like big bowl of fruit salad, it all goes together but each fruit is distinct and gives it's own contribution to the bowl as a whole. I guess maybe all of Japan feels like that.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlhCADrBv58JNyMiEyQmeasUbQEHgnrvEF8PlHN1YYeoLeBRZNUFG5NZ4qOnQpKe3X5a3dtwTbzuXfqSWWOlIFiOZdYEd0PFBKKJTkOoJuxGpxVLXp5_ZPWVJnhfDyHnHtjlwCoM5TR8vCYo8jiw7sunGn34ltbxvgXQxYTuqaaya59c22HIV1PpBoKY/s3089/19830006.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="3089" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlhCADrBv58JNyMiEyQmeasUbQEHgnrvEF8PlHN1YYeoLeBRZNUFG5NZ4qOnQpKe3X5a3dtwTbzuXfqSWWOlIFiOZdYEd0PFBKKJTkOoJuxGpxVLXp5_ZPWVJnhfDyHnHtjlwCoM5TR8vCYo8jiw7sunGn34ltbxvgXQxYTuqaaya59c22HIV1PpBoKY/s320/19830006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Anyways, we spent 6 and a half days in Tokyo. We started our Tokyo adventure in Ginza, where we took a stroll through the beautiful <a href="https://artaquarium.jp/">Aquarium Art Museum</a>. This aquarium is definitely a unique and artistic experience that only the creative people of Tokyo could have come up with and keep pristine. We also visited the twelve story, flagship Uniqlo store because of course we had to grab some soft shirts!</p><p style="text-align: left;">The next day, we ventured through Haraujuku and stumbled upon a parade/festival going on. I was hoping to be part of a summer festival during our trip and happy to have gotten a taste of the action. The parade was made up of groups of performers, each with their own uniform and their own choreographed movement.After the parade, we walked around Harajuku looking through thrift stores and enjoying the more colorful streets of Tokyo. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Another night brought us to the lit up streets of Shinjuku, where we found a familiar branch of bars that we had hoped to find again. <a href="https://barmoonwalk.jp/">Bar Moonwalk 250 yen bar</a> are little hole in the wall, probably in the basement or on the 5th floor, type of bar with drinks priced at 250 yen (about $1.80 USD) per drink and they do not skimp out on the alcohol or presentation. It's a nice little bar if you just want to hang, play some card games, or pre-game before going to an expensive club. </p><p style="text-align: left;">A different day took us to the land of Kawaii - a.k.a <a href="https://www.puroland.jp/">Sanrio Puroland</a>! If you are a Sanrio person, definitely take a little trip out there. It's a fun and completely magical experience for people of all ages. We saw families, couples, and friends just wandering around dressed in their Sanrio best.</p><p style="text-align: left;">We spent another day having fun and eating good food in Odaiba. Odaiba is filled with so many things to</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwChifbqL7vjyjko-NxsvU5vRv5OYMNvexg2W-gdKlK3PyudmpePOnyzSrsNSxRf2x3Xn2hKKcJpsAap0_D3ho2KgIthduZPgXeAiAmkCFFQzQXNNh6vZqG33bXcijDTs0aLF7IS34JUOmVLdAWjPnuAiJxPyCCHzJAzRhntvhRMfKFzyIlrttiky3oWM/s2048/370640534_9963211403720728_7227986115197221004_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwChifbqL7vjyjko-NxsvU5vRv5OYMNvexg2W-gdKlK3PyudmpePOnyzSrsNSxRf2x3Xn2hKKcJpsAap0_D3ho2KgIthduZPgXeAiAmkCFFQzQXNNh6vZqG33bXcijDTs0aLF7IS34JUOmVLdAWjPnuAiJxPyCCHzJAzRhntvhRMfKFzyIlrttiky3oWM/s320/370640534_9963211403720728_7227986115197221004_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>do, and this time we started out at the <a href="https://www.teamlab.art/jp/e/planets/">teamLabs Planets </a>interactive exhibition, where you take off your shoes and use your senses to control the exhibits. Weird but fun. Then we ate Wagyu beef for lunch and it was Heaven in my mouth. We then waited in lines and rode some interesting rides that I haven't rode anywhere else at <a href="https://tokyo-joypolis.com/">Tokyo Joypolis</a>. We ended our day in Odaiba by checking out the giant Gundam Unicorn. <br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">During our last night in town, we booked a reservation to <a href="https://gonpachi.jp/nishi-azabu/">Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu</a>, or most notably known as the Kill Bill restaurant. It's a super cool restaurant and while it felt like the most western type of restaurant, the food did not disappoint! Usually we try to have at least once fancy meal and this was the restaurant we decided to go all out on and we have no regrets. If you want to check it out, make sure to make reservations (we did this through Google) and note that on Sundays they have Taiko drummers perform.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Overall<br /></h3><p style="text-align: left;">Overall, we had a great trip. This was the longest international trip that we have taken thus far. It did feel long, but at the same time, I could've spent more time here, but more time will probably never be enough. It was cool getting to come back to this country and exploring new places and reminiscing on the old and seeing what has changed and what has stayed the same (or slightly tweaked). I'll never not recommend a trip to Japan, let alone a trip outside of your country. Anyways, I've got some books to write about, so until next time, happy travels!</p><p style="text-align: left;">You can watch a little recap video I made on my <a href="https://youtu.be/GQo3ssiaaj0">YouTube channel</a>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk7KaFOmS7TEw5etwT5M3frcBxB-iA2Vd--Cv9QSSjcxi09exUtNO9ymfxKklRo1gcmU9uIogTdV8v0Zs843ISAaLTYvfL8HaN5AOdpJodWfXbTFHoylAxxaIwljr49QfcyfBM8jxz9o_VAspfQ05ROCAQhwFd1lPNNnV928NFnC8IMHxpgDJVGeMgg0/s2048/370323215_9963213523720516_7943069414470749593_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk7KaFOmS7TEw5etwT5M3frcBxB-iA2Vd--Cv9QSSjcxi09exUtNO9ymfxKklRo1gcmU9uIogTdV8v0Zs843ISAaLTYvfL8HaN5AOdpJodWfXbTFHoylAxxaIwljr49QfcyfBM8jxz9o_VAspfQ05ROCAQhwFd1lPNNnV928NFnC8IMHxpgDJVGeMgg0/s320/370323215_9963213523720516_7943069414470749593_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-85291022234873288642023-08-18T05:00:00.001-07:002023-08-18T05:00:00.141-07:00Book Blitz | Killer Enigma<p> </p>
<div class="separator"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Ezxjt2ODR-qg1Y3b1qykVQuu58eCET20Bg7jBCBb6_M25OA1EzDJqtOn7NSXq249UmA7K7oetUI7urA95dOeBl49ssL5_cEs9BxrzHqr12qoumvAKbe449qJxkpnceORLORVUm8xX1tzG9MKPDsHCgjxcFF8BwmiNzFojCkIVdXc4ALf4-OQ6VdRlT5o/w519-h237/BNR%20Killer%20Enigma.png" width="519" /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE KILLER ENIGMA</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Book 16</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">by BREAKFIELD & BURKEY</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Enigma-Magnolia-Bluff-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B0C4TWZQFB" target="_blank"><b>NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER</b>!</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cozy Mystery / Suspense / Cozy Mystery Series</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publisher: ICABOD Press</div><div style="text-align: center;">Coming August 19, 2023</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="576" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRjBtxr0EzWfIeQObhKEkGuzHJoxSv3ICW0i_KdmpomGUaYyU9bdipc6tp_renqFhPJaD7nXdjR2-cneJI8hSCRh6zSO_k1qukkzT4NvZGCVWMj3vnAEYcxz7PNJu5P7A0PVY_fWdrZ6vxQdbY2Q9gRhwZjWwUUoxEuzCil2jMpTQ_tGwm8kSXYFc-0Zx/s320/Synopsis.jpg" width="320" /></div></div></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="314" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRuQ39jOcKS1Z_qBQ66QCP3phFxz70fWpQBkL3ZxDLgHHH3jFs61Zc5jlVRywv3hrD-V8HPq7K-D1tPi9opKbv0lpbx2yGZWbBfrW7zob6GO4Thz4wU_AHB2GgwoJ4CUc50VGjvuEJbz8asMFYR1LsrYSOHsux9aY4fjbVak08Jl656P9wgjMi3Iid_9C/w226-h359/cover%20Killer%20Enigma.jpg" width="226" /></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Enough is Enough – JJ rumbled when the paparazzi invaded dinner.</i></b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">JJ and Jo realize privacy doesn’t exist for them. They return to Magnolia Bluff to check on their friends and recapture the small-town anonymity. In Magnolia Bluff, no one suspects their fame.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They discount the status of urban legends in favor of acceptance and a quiet, peaceful life. After all, a supermodel needs time and space to recharge between jobs. A geek wants time to adore his wife.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Does Magnolia Bluff hold the answers to their prayers?<br />Will their desires get clouded by a hidden secret?</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Past, present, and future collide in a perfect storm no one expected. JJ and Jo take action to uncover the truth. Chief Tommy Jager likes them but feels they’re a lightning rod for trouble and disruption.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Who will live or die to prevent the truth from being exposed? The answers may be in the graveyard with fresh flowers on the gravestone.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Their friends are targets – Their dreams are broken – They must fight</b></div></b></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="324" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipYonjnSxgpFRTdJBvt5pL8rwWiyyMNHWuekPLNCunW7js1mlB2fzExwtcC5UDByRIUD5A6s-O9gdTIjdT2HFxS57E2FQWFpP--KzuREXvaJPeD18_Wgng-4mhWYLMF_ylnU1Wobp-aKblBhzbPW7-9fzT7uC8_E-y7-0A8_KL0TkXGXrHPNS7JucGHKR/s320/book%20trailer.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://youtu.be/Otk0tpCssHE" target="_blank">Watch on YouTube</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Otk0tpCssHE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Enigma-Magnolia-Bluff-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B0C4TWZQFB" target="_blank">CLICK TO PRE-ORDER</a></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/152118418-the-killer-enigma" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="116" data-original-width="350" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx8vE5Ji6Qyx68NmZKR33i210Ftp4dth8Vbg2-x7dNN9mvxf9ULPFyNXGCEpVayY5nQr4ZxM5oOeKBlJ19QA1KRtQqo7niKOAQrURYSSRo0Fxy0lvVDYDww8R-PjVee3OB87W_Vd_oZuwEUP2c0kl1afaKI-lTPLFE2yzZSdB2p8Ntgad_COHo-nsrGKA/w176-h58/add-to-goodreads.png" width="176" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="318" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdYEnuefQl87-p-Kb5wGPoclf9hCcPoJ8Zlk3JS60ORpZ9Kn1qX8r-_F323ZcSWvIpFfMjQHqF-6rAg-ISnxEcWEerUoh4kEC8Z0l62IcNSDCV9fvQUZP3ZEeQAe6fLaxyDv0UCM-Z6aNWbOK94oe-xGuPcvJ__svJ6q-AYSGD-PGd1elVTjQ4AUKELg2/s1600/AboutTheAuthors.jpg" width="318" /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbou6lWPGACEKFNgQomj1pOXLPIT7-5cumUUC6TrvN2YsF3FOIWLEVcyDdPbeqaWI0D_WUkaF7LTEds-aWSzfJQVtD6CcBzMwCsL1GUr2WERZEdfb8VyUMeEyPbvIqf5Vvwa129D7bJDknwOsLxW5CgEfXjp7CjTOEsYw19PC4an58gBPpGcuO5x5JHMmP/w187-h281/authors%20photo%20killer%20enigma.%20the%202.jpg" width="187" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Charles Breakfield</b> is a 25+ year technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. He also enjoys wine tastings, wine-making, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Rox Burkey</b> is a 25+ year applied technology professional who excels at optimizing technology and business investments for customers worldwide with a focus on optimized customer experiences. She writes white papers and documents with a marked preference for fiction.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>Together</u></b> they create award-winning stories that resonate with males and females, young and experienced adults, and bring a fresh new view to technology possibilities today.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Series Social Media:</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.enigmabookseries.com/" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheEnigmaSeries" target="_blank">FACEBOOK </a>◆ <a href="https://twitter.com/EnigmaSeries" target="_blank">TWITTER</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Vz4x5ctTnx3yUhZk1OJkw" target="_blank">YOUTUBE</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Rox Burkey Social Media: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://roxburkey.com/" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a> ◆ <a href="https://twitter.com/1rburkey" target="_blank">TWITTER</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.burkey.50" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18534251.Rox_Burkey" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/roxanne-e-burkey" target="_blank">BOOKBUB</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Enigma-Magnolia-Bluff-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B0C4TWZQFB" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="5224" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcFwQeOSeHAVFmxL7JLwx8bQdELR3riB1aqhqoHzARvso17TGD_PFK4dLBt_f21p7YnpanYpHR7qaHKB9Yr6WxkIb3RoYnJ1ey_HzuptYTrNy30bB9ToA1G3-4DG_01cDnCLgmJYs-Hyk779JH6m2mr38BODBf8Oqss2UHoOmhs3XAEcNmVXgoITTE7CE/w562-h110/Newsletter%20Ad%20Killer%20Enigma.png" width="562" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">--------------------------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">GIVEAWAY! 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tour services provided by</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/lone-star-book-blog-tours" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="320" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHGatCHR9_GxeADgJmUf0HNQoT7AjHeJ0MM9SOwMEnZ6EMps31r2u531-fyH7HhwJ45K1unYOleYUmAzvKaAanhgw9G9JTEaeoLNiLRk00LOUuYwjY0EG52hCRY81YTffa3309LaJZZQMJ19I9XxiQDRyBsrLXYwlkped21HAVN9SaA_A2RzmZCvJQ0pK/w200-h197/LoneStarBookBlogTours.png" width="200" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-80950921543490773832023-08-15T05:00:00.002-07:002023-08-15T05:00:00.138-07:00Book Talk | MUMENTOUS <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlAmEly_RwQ6vCiva7dWdpxbVbHh9kboAU7XWIQSbORutsbSRh1v2p4pPqJdBbQIJKpaIAUOupfjG8M3HFAVtaWxwgN271H8EFGrol7RmqgUg2VYHlpAO_NljjaimuIALZc-gyjeX57daQcPWJ8krHKKcoUc_52Nk8dJtxvYzrlyPvciRG3wOR4c_gJ99/w400-h183/BNR%20Mumentous.png" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">MUMENTOUS:</span></b></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Original Photos and Mostly-True Stories about Football,</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Glue Guns, Moms, and a Supersized High School Tradition</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">That Was Born Deep in the Heart of Texas</span></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">by</span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Amy J. Schultz</span></b></div></span></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Nonfiction / Photo-Driven Memoir / Women’s History / Pop Culture / Texana</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publisher: Atmosphere Press</div><div style="text-align: center;">Page Count: 178 pages</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publication Date: April 25, 2023</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Scroll down for a giveaway!</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5nC_9jlZMZNTTVr6XqT6o0YlWv6wv66Eb7u6lLPOUn2XdLwsGuS2wUM-gEbSd9nMNbn4ZisICOSRn-w_pvermOLLic9CX5EvLd_5sLHqcEEKI4teEhB7I7ACFriy_JglIHC9a7IUJQjsCIAoOgY3Bbz6Jen3t1t1v3NWAZcQ73Pg7MtFOZruzvnR4qY/s820/Ciao!-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5nC_9jlZMZNTTVr6XqT6o0YlWv6wv66Eb7u6lLPOUn2XdLwsGuS2wUM-gEbSd9nMNbn4ZisICOSRn-w_pvermOLLic9CX5EvLd_5sLHqcEEKI4teEhB7I7ACFriy_JglIHC9a7IUJQjsCIAoOgY3Bbz6Jen3t1t1v3NWAZcQ73Pg7MtFOZruzvnR4qY/s320/Ciao!-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="2550" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpBmifjYPaGXQEBv28raOx_gJKV4RhhoJRSIGNBAMz-XIbYK6AiZM9Wpbk7RzdeUzBPgNvolQVGflHf6jAHTyh8fnyzV7iSkEWk42I2CxemyMt1ZMHIJAaQhOwdP8p3QeS_qMSrZ-0XWZfRTxLs4c3tWw1Oy0B3aMCLbwRxdqvjMJfZAkkTDAhEm17ulu/w291-h291/Cover%20Mumentous.jpg" width="291" /></div></i></b><div style="text-align: justify;">The closest you'll ever get to seeing someone actually wear their heart on their sleeve is in Texas, every fall, at the local high school homecoming game.</div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">They're called homecoming mums. They are as bodacious as football, as irresistible as a juicy rumor, and as deep as a momma's love. Over a hundred years ago when the custom began, mum was short for chrysanthemum, a typical corsage that boys gave to girls before taking them to the big football game. But through the decades, mum went from a simple abbreviation to a complicated shorthand for an eye-popping tradition that's as ingrained in the culture as it is confounding to outsiders.</div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Through her original photography and collection of stories from across and beyond the Lone Star State, Amy J. Schultz takes us deep in the heart of mum country. You'll meet kids who wear them, parents who buy them, and critics who decry them as just another example of consumerism gone wild. But mostly, you'll discover that just like every ritual which stands the test of time, someone is keeping the tradition alive. Someone like Mom.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7qO2e_WToF_OuHIF0p4IA8UN3puFMGOjguqhw9caWw3dcblukZxOpBCpUtQMjvqsuOqzQq5hz7k5nOlXuK4m6bB-SPXAP_uRQeobYU4uBgeqZJ6A52yH1UgsuOlzACmSLpEiLHJzz9bTKPx3XwfUf7qRb3pJTBM4cZeNC5U7ix9jkrXulHBuw5CTGwI/s820/Ciao!-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7qO2e_WToF_OuHIF0p4IA8UN3puFMGOjguqhw9caWw3dcblukZxOpBCpUtQMjvqsuOqzQq5hz7k5nOlXuK4m6bB-SPXAP_uRQeobYU4uBgeqZJ6A52yH1UgsuOlzACmSLpEiLHJzz9bTKPx3XwfUf7qRb3pJTBM4cZeNC5U7ix9jkrXulHBuw5CTGwI/s320/Ciao!-3.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p><i> Mumentous</i> is the type of book I love to stumble upon on my reading
journey. The author narrates the history, the highs, and the lows of the
mum industry in Texas through various points of views and pictures of
the people, places, and mums to correlate. I love that this book felt
like it was a mum coming together through the picture, stories,
memories, and self-reflection at the end. It's truly a fun and different
way of telling a story of an object through a multitude of stories.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrN9fN-RgkpgFZlUKB-YQSE__hI3Kwnz00sYtmWt2i5cy923IbGNjsHqjEQu2NZ_kRWN1IpQriOc_yaGnGBuzlZT6hWpN6_CuqlCXPWJ7DKMS6wZF3Of7z-g9-ltzuj16odFolSvODLTuixzX4J2OlWxn8PD_n22jZ8uNQbCGtXJGC5PyNKcbF2D83kAY/s4032/PXL_20230814_163749399.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrN9fN-RgkpgFZlUKB-YQSE__hI3Kwnz00sYtmWt2i5cy923IbGNjsHqjEQu2NZ_kRWN1IpQriOc_yaGnGBuzlZT6hWpN6_CuqlCXPWJ7DKMS6wZF3Of7z-g9-ltzuj16odFolSvODLTuixzX4J2OlWxn8PD_n22jZ8uNQbCGtXJGC5PyNKcbF2D83kAY/s320/PXL_20230814_163749399.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />As
we go through the book, I found myself learning so much about mums,
despite attending a Texas high school. The history of the mum and what
it stands/stood for never came up, it was just something you did because
everyone else had a mum. I wasn't a big homecoming person, but my best
friend and my mom made sure I wasn't left out of the fun. My best
friend's mum was misplaced through one of my many moves in my early
20's, but I still have my mom's um that she got for me that really
represented who I am - someone that wants to be included but not the
center of attention. <p></p><p>I also appreciated that our author brought
multiple viewpoints together in her book. As a reader, we are able to
see and understand the different stories and viewpoints of the mum
world. We get to hear from the viewpoint of people who come from out of
state and don't know anything about mum culture. We also get to look
into the people who have made a business around mum and from the the
people who are anti-mum. Reading the story this way had me feeling like I
was reading a well put-together documentary about every angle of mum
culture.<br /></p><p>Overall, I enjoyed my time reading <i>Mumentous</i> and
found myself reaching back into my memories of homecoming. It's not a
book you would expect or something you thought you would want to read,
but once you discover it, you should give it a shot. I give <i>Mumentous</i> a 5
out of 5 stars for it's creativity, narration, and curiosity. </p> Until next time, Happy Reading! </div></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;">Click to Purchase!</b></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mumentous-Original-Mostly-True-Supersized-Tradition/dp/163988565X" target="_blank">Amazon</a> │ <a href="https://www.powells.com/book/mumentous-9781639885657" target="_blank">Powell’s Books</a> │ <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/mumentous-amy-j-schultz/18966919" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mumentous-amy-j-schultz/1143073532?ean=9781639885657" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> │ <a href="https://www.target.com/p/mumentous-by-amy-j-schultz-hardcover/-/A-88090571#lnk=sametab" target="_blank">Target</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63009723-mumentous" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="116" data-original-width="350" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsolZ1GdDnEcntEO4Y-mBQ9EM_XvsuvFat2l8PL-NMWzUr431QkhH2aturJBoQ9MQ3-ncyvOx7XYEd4RjeXLmmiGym7iKVlq-pxfaG3D06sV64bCBRvlJUuWEicdsDSReNicRw9BrynXOtzQEs_BoxcFePuVnXRk1yZSUDggouXRqCS32AnZNQKPZyG8d/w193-h64/add-to-goodreads.png" width="193" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkkkW6YTF4BjAorm2k-mOMIEqhWARARnjgDdlq0Uc1Xf5ePjyX5_H72Mw05ftdOh6TJjFQ6bDvVTzaQUY3ZH-YZ6kaWKQc0ntsMXgLvhA67OnfZJE1Kac_EqcJpqD8B-NMQR8SngE2NHjbkOW8fCQ2D1mWMW3pHlz93XExMMO_yXT-q40G-vTOQYE810/s820/Ciao!-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkkkW6YTF4BjAorm2k-mOMIEqhWARARnjgDdlq0Uc1Xf5ePjyX5_H72Mw05ftdOh6TJjFQ6bDvVTzaQUY3ZH-YZ6kaWKQc0ntsMXgLvhA67OnfZJE1Kac_EqcJpqD8B-NMQR8SngE2NHjbkOW8fCQ2D1mWMW3pHlz93XExMMO_yXT-q40G-vTOQYE810/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1039" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_v8G5cJA1wlh-DzZ4vVeWRYzYbBOKLbEof_fxbYjHTIaQbp565kkJz0mkM2W-wFDVjOTQzntzy6-faIrT2fA-EuOvc5AR3G82GFBsDNmwQeLOyOe6kTkd0VF24RytUrxxBy7hANoJ7yfStBgD-2c77n5_X92m1bEmZGBGFUayhP1mMqIW1Qr0zBrLcfg/w226-h216/Amy+J+Schultz+headshot-2022.jpg" width="226" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Amy J. Schultz is an author and award-winning photographer who explores unique aspects of modern culture that hide in plain sight. When she isn’t talking about homecoming mums, Amy is writing, taking photos, working on other creative projects, traveling, snort-laughing, or vacuuming up dog fur.</div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mumentousbook.com/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Website</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/txhocomum/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Instagram</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amy-J-Schultz/author/B0C4XF3WWN" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">◆ </span><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/books/mumentous-original-photos-and-mostly-true-stories-about-football-glue-guns-moms-and-a-supersized-high-school-tradition-that-was-born-deep-in-the-heart-of-texas-by-amy-j-schultz" target="_blank"><b>BookBub</b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22960851.Amy_J_Schultz" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://www.mumentousbook.com/contact" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Newsletter</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ◆ </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/@txhocomum" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Facebook</a></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/mumentous-amy-j-schultz/18966919" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="5224" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisd53tRPB_5kHdGKHsNbNXzInACAkZLC3RvGYhl9wFmld3JSVM0wZjsMbpmdiSL8tmsnaqsS4msEDE2xQ4vBXe83xXTnJAb5RaMDz2fr7E1Mld_whveo6XJCnwAQVHYY6rwo1W7BsA7eKSQwhfK1tqiEqUSpMkc8T2Xi8apA2hYMFc_ydro0pLQ2qMHzs-/w565-h111/Newsletter%20ad%20Mumentous.png" style="font-family: arial;" width="565" /></a></p></div></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!</b></span></div><span><div style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;"><b>TWO WINNERS:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First Prize: signed hardback copy + enamel pin; </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Second Prize: eBook + enamel pin</span></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(US only; ends midnight, CST, 9/8/23)</i></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCxabM0-wBeEEYdjup-FIlwn0MyXjKSJAzkHPuScI-amLTZZjRkIB2RaiM0mW509WO3fd5jTGE2iTWQh7Qo0sqbfBr0N2hGHCluwend-jbMkxveHv8ijdnk8DoxqSVv18X9Mp7I0GboIKSeG5QcikBWQpOXTI3A2v61FqGmWhy9UVvqQvkB7VkkLwCz46/w412-h412/Giveaway%20Mumentous.png" width="412" /></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="10c3976b542" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/10c3976b542/" id="rcwidget_noj9zz3c" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-3444835562591234172023-08-01T05:00:00.001-07:002023-08-01T05:00:00.152-07:00Book Talk | For The Minds and Wills of Men<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1ljAsFN79FrGoU59IlOikSUbsQJdJmOzmMJ9DiAqgmXxoLe9DLJ811_1ihkBNRwdFjA_iv237guJxEFlo7R1Y9Jh1KuPC7lLU51Lx8ZJBvxfYdosOmBEZ8xDwzjebtpPboOaTqYDIV9R12LKVp0OBk_yUmuG5pN_SyFc9WZhk9wPGDmjUx_srkP9h5PX/w400-h184/BNR%20For%20the%20Minds%20and%20Wills.png" width="400" /></div>FOR THE MINDS</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">AND WILLS OF MEN</span></b></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">by</span></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jeff Lanier</span></b></div></b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mystery / Art History</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Publisher: Boyle & Dalton</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Date of Publication: October 16, 2022</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Number of Pages: 310 pages </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Scroll down for Giveaway!</i></b></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIb3cgQICNYm9RPmtNErrk7jE7S0o2ZxEfsutfRtyezo4UT7eDtJ3wldVH9wcS39wa7yOnElpw4YF58JE7m-iLMGmmBd4sZOtt_gW0dLhC8i602rY5P7zpYV39Xrse04f0EgCoRwl7ntRpCI2NhatCli8oS1cawoRugLXwVuo6DtRGZU9XQvArrfQbAoU/s820/Ciao!-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIb3cgQICNYm9RPmtNErrk7jE7S0o2ZxEfsutfRtyezo4UT7eDtJ3wldVH9wcS39wa7yOnElpw4YF58JE7m-iLMGmmBd4sZOtt_gW0dLhC8i602rY5P7zpYV39Xrse04f0EgCoRwl7ntRpCI2NhatCli8oS1cawoRugLXwVuo6DtRGZU9XQvArrfQbAoU/s320/Ciao!-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="1204" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcm5bQRU46S228ppXE18NEx_OiJtd-DyvvLxxSWgUo3tEbYbR4Md6_O4-6veuHeuhivlRbxi_byXNZCPniC5Rqtymk8jr6URAPQ1Fq5lYC81udMRt6QS2BByG_xV8BgjGghrobwM58B4_RzO_M24NQF8iThFoS2MYn945VCQqdQsY3h1K4uHOF1nChfWiK/w238-h367/cover%20for%20the%20Minds%20and%20Wills.jpg" width="238" /></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>A gripping, historical art mystery set in 1950s New York, For the Minds and Wills of Men is a story of art, love, and Cold War fear, suspicion, and betrayal.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">MANHATTAN, 1953. Fear of communist subversion and espionage are tearing America apart. Abstract expressionism is on the verge of exploding, making New York the cultural epicenter of the world. While recovering a stolen Jackson Pollock for a wealthy client, art insurer Will Oxley falls for the client's daughter, Liz Bower, who leads him deep into the rebellious and seductive world of the abstract expressionist painters, their Village bar haunts and East Hampton binges. But when Will learns the painting-and Liz-may be hiding communist secrets better left hidden, he finds himself torn between exposing the girl he loves or risking his life by trusting her instead. Realizing nothing is as it seems, Will is caught between communist espionage, secret government programs, and the grip of cold war fear, suspicion, and betrayal where trust is all he has left...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With post-World War II New York, 1950s avant-garde art world, and the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings as background, the novel tells the story of abstract expressionism and mid-century American politics- through the thrilling search for a stolen Jackson Pollock.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFmXT3H5Ts9gZbNvSTytD95gqKJgSy3l_SMtg3uB2Ox6WZLveZ1Kpfdjq_5h76iv8nRTECsOMFFzYbbLXvgRGED_1Gg5ru7L4ltwbQpF1_vp7yYUU3uCnl0BZcj5VZh51WX22cqT1JXMqkA6pW4QkhxlaEEJ801sV6q8l056GuDW42N00HIrexzkkBW0/s820/Ciao!-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFmXT3H5Ts9gZbNvSTytD95gqKJgSy3l_SMtg3uB2Ox6WZLveZ1Kpfdjq_5h76iv8nRTECsOMFFzYbbLXvgRGED_1Gg5ru7L4ltwbQpF1_vp7yYUU3uCnl0BZcj5VZh51WX22cqT1JXMqkA6pW4QkhxlaEEJ801sV6q8l056GuDW42N00HIrexzkkBW0/s320/Ciao!-3.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I love a good double-agent type of book and <i>For The Minds And Wills of Men</i> did not disappoint! From almost the very beginning of our story, you notice that things are not what they appear to be at first glance. Our author keeps us on our toes the whole book wondering what Liz is really hiding and if the missing painting is even real or all a ploy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our characters are also written to make us feel like secrets are in every corner of this book. Our main character's love interest, Liz, is written in a cool and mysterious way that you don't blame Will, our main character, for falling head over heels for her in an instant. Other characters we meet along the way also makes the reader wonder if they are telling the truth or are just great liars that blend in with everyone. Even Will, at times, can make us feel his doubts on everything come to fruition throughout the book. But besides being mysterious, our author did a great job shining a light on Will and his journey with PTSD. We got to see and feel how our main character moves through life with something that seems will always be on his shoulder and are brought to peace and calm when he is feeling steady with his paintings that he protects.<br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Besides plot and characters, I was also just engulfed in this world that doesn't feel talked about as much. This is not just a post-war world, it's one where people left for a war and didn't come back completely the same. Our author's incredible attention to detail, without a sense of over-explaining the setting, made for a great time piece. While reading, I could envision where our main character was, his mannerisms, and how he interacted with his surroundings without using too much brain power. <br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Overall, I enjoyed this detective-like story. A a reader, we are kept on our toes by our outstanding cast of characters and are able to envision everything perfectly through our author's words. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. Until next time - Happy Reading!<br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSDtDsRkf61UyOSfuezKr2SXPcfMqzqLeqKyihG4wL1HsFze59YtDDBjKXAyfR0ZSWQXSkuLWKG5HnoO3FlbkcJl4AW-FmvFpmgHph_87OnbBPVbbtln6WOOL7YBBLU7cIljO1y9cdylVeSXlPmi4LiQc0vTnbUa8m4-njUuxxQCn4swDKeRHiOAVROU/s2048/image-from-rawpixel-id-2024457-png.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSDtDsRkf61UyOSfuezKr2SXPcfMqzqLeqKyihG4wL1HsFze59YtDDBjKXAyfR0ZSWQXSkuLWKG5HnoO3FlbkcJl4AW-FmvFpmgHph_87OnbBPVbbtln6WOOL7YBBLU7cIljO1y9cdylVeSXlPmi4LiQc0vTnbUa8m4-njUuxxQCn4swDKeRHiOAVROU/w70-h70/image-from-rawpixel-id-2024457-png.png" width="70" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSDtDsRkf61UyOSfuezKr2SXPcfMqzqLeqKyihG4wL1HsFze59YtDDBjKXAyfR0ZSWQXSkuLWKG5HnoO3FlbkcJl4AW-FmvFpmgHph_87OnbBPVbbtln6WOOL7YBBLU7cIljO1y9cdylVeSXlPmi4LiQc0vTnbUa8m4-njUuxxQCn4swDKeRHiOAVROU/s2048/image-from-rawpixel-id-2024457-png.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSDtDsRkf61UyOSfuezKr2SXPcfMqzqLeqKyihG4wL1HsFze59YtDDBjKXAyfR0ZSWQXSkuLWKG5HnoO3FlbkcJl4AW-FmvFpmgHph_87OnbBPVbbtln6WOOL7YBBLU7cIljO1y9cdylVeSXlPmi4LiQc0vTnbUa8m4-njUuxxQCn4swDKeRHiOAVROU/w70-h70/image-from-rawpixel-id-2024457-png.png" width="70" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSDtDsRkf61UyOSfuezKr2SXPcfMqzqLeqKyihG4wL1HsFze59YtDDBjKXAyfR0ZSWQXSkuLWKG5HnoO3FlbkcJl4AW-FmvFpmgHph_87OnbBPVbbtln6WOOL7YBBLU7cIljO1y9cdylVeSXlPmi4LiQc0vTnbUa8m4-njUuxxQCn4swDKeRHiOAVROU/s2048/image-from-rawpixel-id-2024457-png.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSDtDsRkf61UyOSfuezKr2SXPcfMqzqLeqKyihG4wL1HsFze59YtDDBjKXAyfR0ZSWQXSkuLWKG5HnoO3FlbkcJl4AW-FmvFpmgHph_87OnbBPVbbtln6WOOL7YBBLU7cIljO1y9cdylVeSXlPmi4LiQc0vTnbUa8m4-njUuxxQCn4swDKeRHiOAVROU/w70-h70/image-from-rawpixel-id-2024457-png.png" width="70" /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSDtDsRkf61UyOSfuezKr2SXPcfMqzqLeqKyihG4wL1HsFze59YtDDBjKXAyfR0ZSWQXSkuLWKG5HnoO3FlbkcJl4AW-FmvFpmgHph_87OnbBPVbbtln6WOOL7YBBLU7cIljO1y9cdylVeSXlPmi4LiQc0vTnbUa8m4-njUuxxQCn4swDKeRHiOAVROU/s2048/image-from-rawpixel-id-2024457-png.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSDtDsRkf61UyOSfuezKr2SXPcfMqzqLeqKyihG4wL1HsFze59YtDDBjKXAyfR0ZSWQXSkuLWKG5HnoO3FlbkcJl4AW-FmvFpmgHph_87OnbBPVbbtln6WOOL7YBBLU7cIljO1y9cdylVeSXlPmi4LiQc0vTnbUa8m4-njUuxxQCn4swDKeRHiOAVROU/w70-h70/image-from-rawpixel-id-2024457-png.png" width="70" /></a></span></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><b><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">PRAISE FOR <i>FOR THE MINDS AND
WILLS OF MEN</i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">*2023
INDIEREADER AWARD WINNER: 1<sup>ST</sup> PLACE FICTION*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Yu Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br />
</span><i><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Yu Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">"Lanier brilliantly evokes the energy and
excitement of the New York art world in this Cold War thriller with an artistic
twist. Along the way, he gives us fascinating insights into Abstract
Expressionism and the power of art to communicate values and ideas." </span></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Yu Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">-<b>Ross
King</b>, Acclaimed art historian and <span class="a-text-italic"><i>New
York Times</i></span> bestselling author of <span class="a-text-italic"><i>The Judgment of Paris, Brunelleschi's Dome</i></span>,
and <span class="a-text-italic"><i>Michelangelo and The Pope's Ceiling</i></span>. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Yu Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Yu Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Click to Purchase!</span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Minds-Wills-Men-Jeff-Lanier/dp/1633376109/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> │<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-the-minds-and-wills-of-men-jeff-lanier/1142206675" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> │ <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/for-the-minds-and-wills-of-men-jeff-lanier/18820072" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">│</span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.jeffdlanier.com/" target="_blank">More Purchase Options</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62948981-for-the-minds-and-wills-of-men" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="116" data-original-width="350" height="64" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhie7yQsl1vKRrRhRN4Z_-NTO8Al6ptrvmFREVyJmti-0qjzXXledye0THxxT3b75wyKujaMnqib3TEXlN7dXP1j3JiSqgI0e1aumwXZyfTarTFjGWmRfbQLUvrAjeIxdB9XaB273ggnm89kvmWwYL6A8FDy2lDn9GSaZzllj8KWqdx8I2aOcPqtyS-YT3_/w193-h64/add-to-goodreads.png" width="193" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzd7I3aHndL9ojeeOq_vBIxg_FRHMULwOpbVSKa0aasVANQApKmTxkzlrBtZZoQIOxCbN8I8GYt7v635zRUpyiIy_lovRuorhiYqdeZ_PjQa9c_Eks30ZTHORlzDn81Ek-k9fGcTELYoRbXkNIP7Lxu2ahrcVFqFgUk6UPMSak94MQnLPuRlEFieZxdU/s820/Ciao!-5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdplBzYqnG0GNqR8wwjmjkrZFyBYKMudVkjDIybZvH8SqRcHGFWwUEdZihZPMEAhBYqZ4_Jb_iD_Smqc7gCzWndlb7cPAHgZJPsDR7Bjc_NxPlVuuG_TQwc9XlgGNqanjAm39pf5JTPC6rkOi0KUUgW-aYxB8wW-tYE8i2N3mcA7FEmt0fpAdL0EW_6SA/s820/Ciao!-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdplBzYqnG0GNqR8wwjmjkrZFyBYKMudVkjDIybZvH8SqRcHGFWwUEdZihZPMEAhBYqZ4_Jb_iD_Smqc7gCzWndlb7cPAHgZJPsDR7Bjc_NxPlVuuG_TQwc9XlgGNqanjAm39pf5JTPC6rkOi0KUUgW-aYxB8wW-tYE8i2N3mcA7FEmt0fpAdL0EW_6SA/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1182" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHbfdMO7kN9A2Vrwh3CExS2lTbcUIRjGwwdRfHYDHZ63Z4wgwNXsvgkUyotP-xXm-NbmSCBlLZlVTbr1BBqS7UZ3BgpR2el09lvQoU4ICLD9p274K_8kOQZQQtGELJKd9yihjyHJjSbhPeZcqK_q4m531wezlqnl-2Rn3ujveTHAiuXy7XOnsWwxIdNAn/w224-h170/Author%20Photo%20Lanier.jpg" width="224" /></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Jeff Lanier</b> is an award-winning author. He earned bachelor’s degrees in history and art History at the University of Texas, Austin, with a focus on the History of American Culture through Art and Literature. He has a master’s from Rice University, is a member of the American Society of Aesthetics, and currently lives in Houston with his wife and three children. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">◆ </span></b><a href="https://www.jeffdlanier.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">WEBSITE</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">◆</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jeffdlanier/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">INSTAGRAM</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">◆</span></b></span></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">◆</span></b><b style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: -webkit-center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCYWCQWV" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">AMAZON</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">◆ </span></b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22942881.Jeff_Lanier" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">GOODREADS</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></b></span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">◆</span></span></b></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.jeffdlanier.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="5224" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzIUVpYTl7nSguJGL8FVWbXIferFrBm2WmYemozsQ3DVOeibdEbItWdLaNE-ptytz_0KHKM5HGmsEq6KytJv8wFbEl9Bn3t7vEtey7C5dELk4a4-QyOdsjDP7Fq4v2gZbuppR-H_DZG30qnqbzduQ2jD2OeWBgnson0JB-iy5rAM13ZMiMq2F8UFTC0Sy/w585-h115/XTRA%20Ad%20For%20the%20Minds%20and%20Wills%20of%20Men.png" width="585" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">--------------------------------------</span></b></p></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!</span></b></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">ONE WINNER:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Autographed hardcover copy of</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>For the Minds and Wills of Men</i></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><i>(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 8/4/23)</i></span></span></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPwPLEINrssLGTN4ydb3rEj5H1lhpUXzFcTqrN6d4butskG875oUIMTmKggF1ycdVQfZSa1bDuDRofHesGNCG_E1c-kcUxixkRir-IHNm1L3DgenikPQEZpquPnoby_aV0UhfNIhc3de5o44xyPnLiG9PNBrq6XcpdhLffaXjUTCB6vTx-KYQlhfizdpw/w441-h441/Giveaway%20For%20the%20Minds%20and%20Wills%20of%20Men.png" width="441" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="10c3976b540" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/10c3976b540/" id="rcwidget_tjprn94o" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://karensiddall.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Boys' Mom Reads</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">07/25/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="http://kristinehallways.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hall Ways Blog</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">BONUS Stop<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">07/26/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://cjpetersonwrites.com/shelf-life-blog" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shelf Life Blog</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">07/26/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://jansikesblog.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Writing and Music</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">07/26/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://lonestarbookblogtours.wordpress.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LSBBT Blog</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">BONUS Stop<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">07/27/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://maryannwrites.com/blog/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's Not All Gravy</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">07/28/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="http://www.chapterbreak.net/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter Break Book Blog</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Scrapbook Page<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">07/28/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://roxburkey.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rox Burkey Blog</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">07/29/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://jenniereads.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jennie Reads</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">07/30/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="http://storeybookreviews.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">StoreyBook Reviews</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">07/31/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://www.cluelessgent.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Clueless Gent</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">08/01/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="http://forgottenwinds.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Forgotten Winds</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Book Club Kit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">08/01/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://rainydayswithamanda.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rainy Days with Amanda</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">08/02/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://ruthiejones.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reading by Moonlight</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">08/03/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://jennifersilverwood.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jennifer Silverwood</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 0.2in; mso-yfti-irow: 16; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">08/03/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 195.6pt;" valign="top" width="261">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="https://theplainspokenpen.com/" target="_blank"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0563c1; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Plain-Spoken Pen</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="height: 0.2in; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 103.95pt;" valign="top" width="139">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Review<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="243" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHvkAuWSQrGIvmvOtwW6ePVrSwm055ZxHx1InoEs95ZbxvMTvsM1xbfGHFIg9JyJTn37TmCM5lnaeclhdB9GnJ-_rSrdWrbdWdVs4-VXKNFgnxfut_rU_LAeALL4sYe_2SYE8NuKlpzM_3bSRTw0iMhSSJJLYVBGhnT2D-fzyENac4brDoTlwfqj1C2A6/s1600/LoneStarLitLife.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>blog tour services provided by<br /></b></span><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/lone-star-book-blog-tours" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1849" data-original-width="1880" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlrSV6Zy-px-MNS2GtIjjOB3H5bw9AHUxGkJAyZoHmu3TaWUI9CXv2qRVZ_ieTCH6QbpYqY59jMol50o9qIRLMe0fn2tq1gpzR2M7CZTocEacsO4TEnEQ_uTCL88nC7QC3lF-rUGn6MmhDwRQsRjf-q0jCj_cbwCUBesPl2mI8H7y4pQR7zGmRhLENrZM/w231-h227/LoneStarBookBlogTours%20sm.png" width="231" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-55129143349744070732023-07-16T16:31:00.001-07:002023-07-16T16:37:51.447-07:00Book Talk: Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle<p> So I've been into more cozy videos, cozy YouTube, TikTtok, you name it if it's cozy, I want to be there. What I have found is that people have varying definitions of what they consider to be cozy, the same with cozy books. A lot of people find chill science fiction books to hit the spot, while other find cute tomance novels. Both are valid and great reads. However, I think what I find cozy is mystery, especially when the mystery book makes you feel like you're reading an episode off the classic show, <i>Murder, She Wrote</i>. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQDcjBVlNHC7aiFGhYu30jbW0-TvcM02N5ECZ_CK_T9B1eSqnxlBmF95otm5Xr8sOPjDZ0ftHjS_aZv6wpXf8OQG0HXjaR_i15K3Y0nJZfXO-ndeeijj-mtWdTUXVcyDk5HcMuVN1dDIECdi_sJRrdRqqjhnJFYnY5k04dMo0xYNdZnCJoIrwRnAHsos/s4032/PXL_20230712_215436875.PORTRAIT.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQDcjBVlNHC7aiFGhYu30jbW0-TvcM02N5ECZ_CK_T9B1eSqnxlBmF95otm5Xr8sOPjDZ0ftHjS_aZv6wpXf8OQG0HXjaR_i15K3Y0nJZfXO-ndeeijj-mtWdTUXVcyDk5HcMuVN1dDIECdi_sJRrdRqqjhnJFYnY5k04dMo0xYNdZnCJoIrwRnAHsos/s320/PXL_20230712_215436875.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">About the Author</h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextContainerauthor61934">Dorothy Gilman started writing when she was
9 and knew early on she was to be a writer. At 11, she competed against
10 to 16-year-olds in a story contest and won first place. She attended
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and briefly the University of
Pennsylvania. She planned to write and illustrate children's books. She
married Edgar A. Butters Jr, in 1945, this ended in divorce in 1965.
Dorothy worked as an art teacher & telephone operator before
becoming an author. She wrote children’s stories for more than ten years until she stated her adult mystery series on Mrs. Pollifax, which brought her to acclaimed fame. </span><span id="freeTextContainerauthor61934"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextauthor61934">Many of Dorothy’s books, feature
strong women having adventures around the world. In 2010 Gilman was
awarded the annual Grand Master Award by the Mystery Writers of America.
Dorothy spent much of her life in Connecticut, New Mexico, and Maine.
She died at age 88 of complications of Alzheimer's disease. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextauthor61934"> </span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextauthor61934">About the Book </span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextauthor61934"></span><span class="Formatted">Although Mrs. Pollifax is determined to give up
spying for good, she can't help but agree to carry a small object to an
agent in Thailand, and get one in return. The moment she lands, however,
Mrs. Pollifax is horrified to find her contact dead and her husband
kidnapped. The next thing she knows, she's tramping through the ominous
Thai countryside, led by a curious fellow who may be trying to help her
find her husband. Or he may have other, more sinister plans.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">My Thoughts </span></h3><p style="text-align: left;">Cozy. That is truly what I felt when reading this. Cozy and<i> </i>naturally placed into 1985 without all these indications of the 80's being thrown in my face. Both our characters and the setting was easy to imagine and see in my mind. And the whole time<i>, </i>I pictured the story as an 70's - 80's cop show, which I don't think is too far off.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">I also really loved the fact that our author chose to make an older woman the premise of the story and this series as a whole. I feel that old age is looked at as the end of your life and old people can't do anything because they're frail. But watching things like <i>The Golden Girls</i> and <i>Murder, She Wrote</i> and reading stories like Mrs. Pollifax, give us the sense that life doesn't have to be over once you turn a certain age. Of course, this is a work of fiction, but still, sometimes the most unreal people, can give us the most motivation. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">I would also describe this 184-paged book as wild. Utterly and completely wild. Our main character loses her husband, meets a strange man with a false identity, walks miles on miles through the jungles on Vietnam in the 80's, all while having no phone to find her GPS location and on vacation. It's a wild ride, but a fun one nonetheless.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">The last point I want to talk about it that even though this was the 8th installment of the Mrs. Pollifax series, I didn't feel like I had missed too much when I started reading. The story picks off where the last book ends and our author does a great job of giving us insight into what we need to know for this book without going into a whole synopsis of the previous books. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted">Overall, I enjoyed my short time reading <i>Mrs. Pollifax and the Golden Triangle</i>. It's a cozy, murder-mystery throwback that knows exactly what it is and what it wants you to feel. It's a great story if you want to read something not too long, but also can keep your attention throughout the entire read. I recommend this book and I'll be sure to pick up some more Mrs. Pollifax books next time I'm browsing my local bookstores. Until then, happy reading!<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextauthor61934"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span class="Formatted"><i> Side note: The entire time I was reading, I thought of Murder, She Wrote and found out that the late Angela Lansbury actually starred in the only Mrs. Pollifax movie that was made in 1999. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://youtu.be/tcS3zb-1HZA" target="_blank">Watch my full review and other videos on my booktube!</a></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span id="freeTextauthor61934"></span><br /></h3>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-86200663171540722562023-06-08T16:12:00.003-07:002023-06-08T19:54:16.641-07:00Book Talk | The Devil Takes You Home <p> <br />Hey ya'll! So I was volunteering for the San Antonio Book Festival this year and after my volunteer shift, of course I had to roam the grounds. For those of you who may not know, the San Antonio Book Festival invites a bunch of Texas-based authors to come out and talk about their craft, their advice, their writing pains and much more. Whoever the featured authors are, there is a giant tent with all of their newest books for purchase. This year, I walked around the tent until I came upon this book. The cover/title intrigued me, but it was the synopsis that really reeled me in. I've been in a assassin mood recently and this was right up my alley. Here are my full thoughts on <i>The Devil Takes You Home</i> by <span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"><a class="fl" data-ved="2ahUKEwiRhP3Bpor_AhWtl2oFHQ77DxQQmxMoAHoECB0QAg" href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=APwXEdc-DzVdFVOXlBWJCcOZ1NuwoFmytA:1684805750057&q=Gabino+Iglesias&si=AMnBZoEv-6I3nbvT8LVh9Y4ZdcGhiLKCu_qk6pku7MxgRC5XI98sBQpTI-xABQRYToIk-xJGVq4yNA_36I8sFJvX7YpYaI-EHOY5NfvHqFDHxqRzxaWfGCq2eZSgCNpHf4IB8zEwBsj1h12jaCv5dEoeJ-Jn2wRmhn7hXxeeccDqEN4ODXoLb4HiVjJdLIXVtGWT8fYmuCOfabobuJ9da3ED1hxckzjSbw%3D%3D&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiRhP3Bpor_AhWtl2oFHQ77DxQQmxMoAHoECB0QAg">Gabino Iglesias</a>. </span></span></p><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"><br /></span></span><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib26uF-D1UUie0JSTpslnmIu3EhLCD-gelDkUWpYsycQTcmyoqIZv0MDnw1k1sHCZWbYoK3tNFLzf0RoHUu5j9HE8wi-pXlI7LkaSOrH1f63c9b5sd8DrIgITQCwc0xHxvAoAp0weUM1UKlnIInm9w-oF4liBy-WulZM8p88ud2w0X_HmPnD4cMNbC/s4032/PXL_20230605_211546190.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib26uF-D1UUie0JSTpslnmIu3EhLCD-gelDkUWpYsycQTcmyoqIZv0MDnw1k1sHCZWbYoK3tNFLzf0RoHUu5j9HE8wi-pXlI7LkaSOrH1f63c9b5sd8DrIgITQCwc0xHxvAoAp0weUM1UKlnIInm9w-oF4liBy-WulZM8p88ud2w0X_HmPnD4cMNbC/s320/PXL_20230605_211546190.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />About the Author </span></span></h3><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Gabino Iglesias is a writer, journalist, professor, and literary critic living in Austin, TX. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed and award-winning novels Zero Saints and Coyote Songs. Iglesias' nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Electric Literature, and LitReactor, and his reviews appear regularly in places like NPR, Publishers Weekly, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Boston Globe, Criminal Element, Mystery Tribune, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. He's been a juror for the Shirley Jackson Awards twice and the Millions Tournament of Books, and is a member of the Horror Writers Association, the Mystery Writers of America, and the National Book Critics Circle.</span></span></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"><span>About the Book </span></span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span>Buried in debt due to his young daughter’s illness, his marriage
at the brink, Mario reluctantly takes a job as a hitman, surprising
himself with his proclivity for violence. After tragedy destroys the
life he knew, Mario agrees to one final job: hijack a cartel’s cash
shipment before it reaches Mexico. Along with an old friend and a
cartel-insider named Juanca, Mario sets off on the near-suicidal
mission, which will leave him with either a cool $200,000 or a bullet in
the skull. But the path to reward or ruin is never as straight as it
seems. As the three complicated men travel through the endless landscape
of Texas, across the border and back, their hidden motivations are laid
bare alongside nightmarish encounters that defy explanation. One thing
is certain: even if Mario makes it out alive, he won’t return the same. </span></p><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e">My Thoughts </span></span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e">This book is not for the faint of heart. It's a good read, but there are a lot of heavy topics in this 305 page story. Our main character, Mario, goes through a lot of turmoil and heartbreak from losing his daughter to cancer, to losing his wife, to losing his mind. From these hardships, our author is able to do a great job of having our character react in a realistic way with anger, sadness, regrets and all the feelings you feel when life keeps throwing you unripened lemons. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e">We don't only go through the motions with our character, but we also get a great glimpse into his thought. Our author transmits us into the mind of someone who has lost it all and has given into the anger and the resentment. He does a great job of letting us into the thought process of Mario and how he comes to the conclusions that he does. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e">I also find it interesting how juxtaposed our main character has about faith. He gets angry with God and I believe there is a moment where Mario completely doesn't believe in him. But when he thinks of his daughter, his faith comes back. It's this interesting take on how we as humans want to get angry at someone and therefore choose the one entity that we think we can break, but at the same time, we all want to believe that there's something beyond this life. Maybe I'm looking into this a little hard, but I just found this to be an interesting take.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e">There are plenty of twists and turns that occur throughout the story and it's a good read for those who have heavier stomachs. Overall, I enjoyed my time reading The Devil Takes You Home and I recommend to put on your shelves. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e">Until next time, happy reading!<br /></span></span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"><br /></span></span></div><p><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv wHYlTd z8gr9e"><br /></span></span></p>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-47237331957969284212023-05-22T05:00:00.002-07:002023-05-22T18:38:56.594-07:00Manga Monday: My Little Monster <p> I have been wanting to read My Little Monster for a long time now. I watched the anime series (that was never completed) sometime when I first got my Netflix subscription. Since we never received a proper ending, I have wanted to watch the conclusion on Haru and Shizuku and the crew. I bought a couple of the manga volumes but have always seemed to put other manga ahead of it. The latter part of 2022, I decided to go through it all and I've finally finished it so here are my thoughts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6NBdKwgR1VPEIuOtb0qWnAYnXanQDpBbmr53VFqWEUSnoiOL4DkNCPZAhY0L6UyY1_U19BG3Wxb-18XveDEBG5ypd2zrDBSWaxr2UlAN5p1z9B3uxMyfe1N7FPqmkhZRsiXuPvf0cgSAXLIHNrPDo5UgeylXWvd9z5Nq2dDYiZifFO34pK21uqtL/s4032/PXL_20230520_011126339.PORTRAIT.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6NBdKwgR1VPEIuOtb0qWnAYnXanQDpBbmr53VFqWEUSnoiOL4DkNCPZAhY0L6UyY1_U19BG3Wxb-18XveDEBG5ypd2zrDBSWaxr2UlAN5p1z9B3uxMyfe1N7FPqmkhZRsiXuPvf0cgSAXLIHNrPDo5UgeylXWvd9z5Nq2dDYiZifFO34pK21uqtL/s320/PXL_20230520_011126339.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">About the Mangaka (Author)</h3><p>Before we get into my thoughts, let's take a look at our mangaka, Robico. Robico is our authors pen name, and her name is uncertain at this point. Robico attended vocational school with the thought of becoming an illustrator. In 2005, Robico made her debut with <i>Demekinikku</i> published in the May edition of the shojo magazine <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dessert_(magazine)" title="Dessert (magazine)"><i>Dessert</i></a>. She then went on to create <i>My Little Monster </i>in 2008 where it was serialized in<i> Dessert </i>until 2013<i>.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>About the Manga</b></h3><p>Shizuku Mizutani is a self-absorbed overachiever, concerned only with
maintaining the highest grades in school. Haru is an impulsive short-tempered brute, who scares everyone with his explosive bursts of
violence. Haru gets suspended on the first day of school when he
encounters some bullies harassing a student and dispatches the bullies
with great bloody violence. Shizuku is tasked with delivering school
materials to Haru who interprets this as an act of friendship and
latches on to Mizutani, much to her dismay. And so, begins a strange and
potentially combustible relationship!</p><p> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Anime Vs. Manga </b></h3><p><b> </b>First off, the<b> </b>anime
ends before the manga can even finish. I believe the anime ends at
about chapter 16, so there's quite a few more chapters to go. There has
been no update for a season 2 and I doubt we will ever get one, as most
Shojo genres tend to not get a second season. Maybe a remake, but we can
only home.</p><p> Because of the anime stops so early on, we get kind
of an ending, but not really. When you watch, you know there has to be
more of the story, but unfortunately, we just never see it. </p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">My Thoughts</h3><p> </p><p>I enjoyed this manga from beginning to end. Even though I'm well beyond my teen years, reading and living through Haru and Shizuku (Mizutani) was a nice way to decompress from the day and dive into. It's not a shonen manga by any means, there are no power ups, there aren't really antagonist per-say as well. This story is about life, love, and learning to grow-up. It's also about learning that the true antagonists in your life, is yourself. This is nice coming-of-age story if you will, which I'm always a sucker for these kinds of stories. </p><p> Shizuku and Haru seem like very opposite people, and while they are, our mangaka does a good job of showing readers just how similar they are. Just like in real life, people tend to be going through difficult tines and sometimes those things can be similar, but we choose not see it, which is exactly how Haru and Shizuku are. They both refuse to see a little piece of themselves in each other, because they are essentially opposites personality wise. So as the manga progresses, it's nice to see the two of them learn how similar they are with each other and with the rest of the cast and learning that they aren't alone in this big world. <br /></p><p>There are some points of concern while I was reading <i>My Little Monster</i>. For one, watching this as an adult, I thought Haru's behavior in the beginning of our story was laughable. Reading this as an adult, I felt that Haru was a little shit that needed to grow-up in the very beginning, but he comes around. </p><p>I am also not a fan of the character Natsume. She is a high school student who, for a large chunk of time, is in love with Haru's adult cousin, Misawa. It's this weird thing that takes up a quite a bit of chapters. Misawa never reciprocated these feelings, which is great, but Natsume keeps it up and I found myself skimming through this plot, knowing full well that she would end up with Sasahara at the end.</p><p> Overall though, I enjoyed my time reading this manga. I felt like some story lines I could have gone without, but the main story line kept me reeled in, so I didn't completely mind. It's a true coming-of-age story that has it's moments of adorable banter that you know will be resolved by the end. I recommend this manga, especially if you are a more of Shojo reader, as it seems that most Shojo readers tend to like this one. </p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/nho1a6PYrvM" target="_blank">You can watch my full review on my YouTube channel here!</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b> </b><br /></p><p><b> </b><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><i><br /></i></p>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-85184864386701299462023-05-09T05:00:00.001-07:002023-05-09T05:00:00.146-07:00Book Blitz: So Sorry for Your Loss<p> </p>
<div class="separator"></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZB7Zi275qIHQFXVwI0ZEvlRM7x_UoclxM52vmcmKPX__txB11cijiMklyBs8JrHQMU-ehkT0Y7k9sP2k7gqGcpPEia-BwU2eu1clyZk4sqg8x3qHZXdIfW4YRFwOhmb2yjiCl41O7ShiR470bOPWr2QqusZcY7WENb4l5kM_uUhA621hKr9IEaFe6A/w400-h184/BNR%20So%20Sorry%20for%20Your%20Loss.png" width="400" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-large;">“SO SORRY FOR </b><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-large;">YOUR LOSS”</b></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: center;">by</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dina Gachman</span></div></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Grief & Bereavement / Love & Loss / Parenting & Relationships</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;">Publisher: Union Square & Co.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Page Count: 240 pages</div><div style="text-align: center;">Publication Date: April 11, 2023</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"><i>Scroll down for a giveaway!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKYBZ9W8ZDI1YruNqaBMKAXcaxWcFe5NQt5UpUgTkJZI2acl1wvczNsaxHwhZ843_70gVSxieBz-2_TxRbG9cYB2a-vYigJwsAxmLD7qV1B5eCsOx9DmJBUbPbq7lhsVtQux6FD4FaqzxiS5uUujOZtRtscPS0rAQcpk7ttJOLVLIDE3nPnzZm8TT/s820/Ciao!-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKYBZ9W8ZDI1YruNqaBMKAXcaxWcFe5NQt5UpUgTkJZI2acl1wvczNsaxHwhZ843_70gVSxieBz-2_TxRbG9cYB2a-vYigJwsAxmLD7qV1B5eCsOx9DmJBUbPbq7lhsVtQux6FD4FaqzxiS5uUujOZtRtscPS0rAQcpk7ttJOLVLIDE3nPnzZm8TT/s320/Ciao!-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4921" data-original-width="3281" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgogbJjgdxbSQ5TEB-JwRBPgdu_XVZpbHy93v6FOGU9tNJy-pjzylQwTcWnLcjj1wU1YR_ESBTS0CYuBfc7KiwpVZHFBgIYP6EwqmkMFpIfAPbKSIOkaK83UJEh9DtTYTgxgsfG71RSPJtD4qv0lzg1KeuctrkEATa_IDaPvotCD0TS18B_fDo8PIOAQ/w251-h377/Cover%20So%20Sorry%20For%20Your%20Loss.jpg" width="251" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A heartfelt exploration about what it means to process grief, by a bestselling author and journalist whose experience with two devastating losses inspired her to bring comfort and understanding to others.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since losing her mother to cancer in 2018 and her sister to alcoholism less than three years later, author and journalist Dina Gachman has dedicated herself to understanding what it means to grieve, healing after loss, and the ways we stay connected to those we miss. Through a mix of personal storytelling, reporting, and insight from experts and even moments of humor, Gachman gives readers a fresh take on grief and bereavement—whether the loss is a family member, beloved pet, or a romantic relationship. No one wants to join the grief club, since membership comes with zero perks, but So Sorry for Your Loss will make that initiation just a little less painful.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the spirit of Elizabeth Kubler Ross books like <i>On Grief and Grieving</i>, or C.S. Lewis’s<i> A Grief Observed</i>, <i>So Sorry for Your Loss</i> is the perfect gift for someone who is grieving. With her blend of personal experiences, expert advice, and just a little bit of humor, Gachman has provided a compassionate and compelling resource for anyone looking for grief books.</div><div><br /></div></div></span><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /><b>PRAISE FOR <i>SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS</i>: </b><br /><br />Gachman perceptively puts words to the uncomfortable realities of loss…and deconstructs its social myths, helping readers feel less alone. Those facing loss will find solace here.” <b>—<i>Publishers Weekly </i></b><br /><br />“<i>So Sorry for Your Loss</i> is a monument to the work of remembering and a testament to the immutable love of family and the grief that forever changes us.” <b>—Lauren Hough, </b><i>New York Times</i> bestselling author of <i>Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing</i><br /><br />“<i>So Sorry for Your Loss</i> is a meditation on loss that reminds us how to go on living.” <b>—Deirdre Fagan</b>, author of <i>Find a Place for Me</i> and <i>The Grief Eaters</i></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">CLICK TO PURCHASE ON:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/product/dp/1454947608/?tag=unionsquare" target="_blank">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/so-sorry-for-your-loss-dina-gachman/1142386967?ean=9781454947608" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> * <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/so-sorry-for-your-loss-learning-to-live-with-grief-even-if-it-kills-you-dina-gachman/18829822?ean=9781454947608" target="_blank">Bookshop</a></span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62349954-so-sorry-for-your-loss" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="116" data-original-width="350" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfiY1mXeX5tdElfpLE3LNWfYbtD6phV7NtPBBwMRiI1Qg8IIMxUjxNZwZQ4S9f8fP911RBWq-qj0dnKdJclyJrHfsRsssC5YQ_2_rNeJZiCD49TeOSXXPky3u-Rqvm_6_Ya20gEIzSouSBKsm3ZUbD0BKQGj7eXLHZBdJm3Y7dN2GvdXozrYEW07SBg/w213-h71/add-to-goodreads.png" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTW8MBOrPoENv4gCZ4Jhpc1ObGGEFp52Dgkkh0Ad1bjjzKaP2KkahodOsZzmXuCx6naxl4CI-XI9ZU6hW6ZLvkCxERdURGAqsNydugRTkD_5xQW4C79084SXIvJsGcgLrretwH3iVsxFebx5xQXDtDroHTAYDu6F9ypHHvxPQcdjVWuY2DULYfqtU/s820/Ciao!-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTW8MBOrPoENv4gCZ4Jhpc1ObGGEFp52Dgkkh0Ad1bjjzKaP2KkahodOsZzmXuCx6naxl4CI-XI9ZU6hW6ZLvkCxERdURGAqsNydugRTkD_5xQW4C79084SXIvJsGcgLrretwH3iVsxFebx5xQXDtDroHTAYDu6F9ypHHvxPQcdjVWuY2DULYfqtU/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3600" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LLtN5y1fPZTORmTkJvYQB-a617P_Tk5B9eoHa7_h9mx3QePkghR3-a3x99iYeNrM1uyznoE9MtiLs2wPTJ6BL6nw8jPqsxYDYy3BcILBPGHZf_9FEhnbHf4d7Y7SFTw2A75BQX12v_v368RYfYQyLhDqcVEuurYyHoyjTgDQ2DSax0FW41OpA6BKWw/w304-h202/Author%20Photo%20Gachman%20credit%20Jessica%20Comiskey.jpg" width="304" /></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Dina Gachman is a Pulitzer Center Grantee and a frequent contributor to the <i>New York Times</i>, <i>Vox, Texas Monthly,</i> and more. She’s a <i>New York Times</i> bestselling ghostwriter and the author of <i>Brokenomics: 50 Ways to Live the Dream on a Dime</i>. She lives near Austin, Texas, with her husband and son. <i>Photo credit Jessica Comiskey.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.dinagachmanwrites.com/" target="_blank">Website </a>◆ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dgachman" target="_blank">Instagram </a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://twitter.com/DinaGachman" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </b><b>◆ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5874463.Dina_Gachman" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="5224" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItHFwXzlUn3drnHnTNgfcUomTI3MwZuacQqugbB_2R9eN0yFc-P3kUK3g1BX4DP-RZKJZZMSaRPjdBEUbpwHmRwbGzTkDq9TZCOdNWjlH2YRgde7-6jixV44h0_YMPLih3GDYU2wRj_m64RrmHsqvI3Q3k8mLn_x3f-7s36FqRgM1wKfcIeoM0o3I3Q/w547-h108/XTRA%20Ad%20So%20Sorry%20for%20Your%20Loss.png" width="547" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Three winners each receive a signed copy of</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">So Sorry for Your Loss</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">(US only; ends midnight, CST, 5/12/23)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhycajDmAZoWr9_d_hmdyhTDH-ceuPHcBAxjvS8A3lPeSqSD7SmkdsM89KEw16TdJ2j7a5tUffoEx13pWlwNmqUApgKJwq1-rsh6aOjoQin0xakaimGLaY_5mlga4NkIiFdu2mQO4O6_tM_rjAb_pUCLODYrT6rj-0Fr-1KDI6aPCKmub4RkQCSYVdw/w465-h465/Giveaway%20SSFYL.png" width="465" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="10c3976b528" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/10c3976b528/" id="rcwidget_zsa96c0x" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HTEbknmFBcccUafa9oV5GcYCFjHdBxLCt8BvTpERVJo0dK_-0CuZHPbRpcbWF1wDK11ikZhrnbsms8nuL8Mqj0EhRhH3yuhuyQ35cyVFgvda7u-2aafVFtx4Wt4wtG9SS-4iYKhfoZQ3RuV_hqjrB6g_4d5WHVlYebXNLjQD5BfUG02AZi9fXjOYtA/w589-h271/BNR%20The%20Gold%20Rose.png" width="589" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE GOLD ROSE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>by</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Jodi Lea Stewart</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Historical Fiction / WWII / Action & Drama / International Mystery</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Date of Publication: February 21, 2023</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Number of Pages: 372 pages </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><b>Scroll down for Giveaway!</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRhXmYunuV2M7f8kyMQGTCQvKZiLYe3RS60H5ym4MgIIRlDnMA3EEZPQuiTx15xCngfsGHQnMfnXteSL1-yHLEK--LljeuLk-d7cv1JeG0ZGijnICLKekxUcNMq5oIJiahUhNwxPGQHV5yI5MRCVioDTTcXczEFwf_6ot2GYwoigSFBeHvGfim4sN/s820/Ciao!-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRhXmYunuV2M7f8kyMQGTCQvKZiLYe3RS60H5ym4MgIIRlDnMA3EEZPQuiTx15xCngfsGHQnMfnXteSL1-yHLEK--LljeuLk-d7cv1JeG0ZGijnICLKekxUcNMq5oIJiahUhNwxPGQHV5yI5MRCVioDTTcXczEFwf_6ot2GYwoigSFBeHvGfim4sN/s320/Ciao!-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="404" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKgyNzKbyLGb7WHGhR-Lte943dtIbk705Iur5ZWBdMoyj8BETyocqvv47IB7zB9B48q4sjLeaFX0A3MWJ_b_y6ZJUKH1P5q-zFcoVpF-1WCkM0qvfDvUnGxQty117kcz-JbY99PXnjmvvDep-FY4j5XNc8GiKTzEhDHO4eJaYqvjiM5dNjsH31SzMEw/w229-h354/Cover%20The%20Gold%20Rose.png" width="229" /></div></div></i></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Since the early 1940s, THE GOLD ROSE, a secret rescue agency with Asian origins, has used unique systems to ferret out and save victims in every corner of the world. Charlotte Hunt-Basse has faced dangerous and often deadly challenges in her decade as an agent with the agency, not the least of which was the past rescues of two of her assignments, Pinkie and Babe.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two-year-old Pinkie is discovered abandoned on a dirt road during a violent storm. She is whisked off to Mexico by oil heir Clint Sutton and his girlfriend, Angelina, as they attempt to escape the lies of Clint's father's second wife. Three years later, Pinkie is stolen away to Argentina by an aging Romani. Pinkie suffers from the malice of her captor but wins the fatherly love of a Buenos Aires circus owner and his fiance. Shortly after landing in the crosshairs of THE GOLD ROSE, Pinkie's life takes two more shocking twists. When the agency locates Pinkie again, Agent Charlotte must throw all caution to the wind to rescue her.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Babe, the child of Texas-based missionaries, is hidden by two Chinese families during the Japanese invasion and ensuing Communist takeover of China. She is forced by the second family to live incognito as a "boy" for several years to save her from soldiers invading China from the North. Martial arts are banned, but the grandfather of the family teaches Babe Yǒng Chūn in deepest secrecy. The civil war escalates, and Babe finds herself on a dangerous quest for survival as she journeys alone through enemy territory toward the faintest hope of rescue.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzYIQBETTVJfEgr2QLbvzQa1l8IGMA1rlMgWvKfwus2z1Eup__MQ5igbApCV-PfmR15AFs4ajZw4ztT6O8It8ZY7y5Ak0U8ZJygU-RRzgMUantfLoWbfLqb_Lgw0QOZN8inT0VM0Y-ZS443yUWY5mh6C3lGsm0PAoL6xq4TtmkGYkN5zRUZ9XCKBq/s820/Ciao!-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzYIQBETTVJfEgr2QLbvzQa1l8IGMA1rlMgWvKfwus2z1Eup__MQ5igbApCV-PfmR15AFs4ajZw4ztT6O8It8ZY7y5Ak0U8ZJygU-RRzgMUantfLoWbfLqb_Lgw0QOZN8inT0VM0Y-ZS443yUWY5mh6C3lGsm0PAoL6xq4TtmkGYkN5zRUZ9XCKBq/s320/Ciao!-3.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEN2OSFp83Ig910fxszu30iau9RxjKaPMkNxBwvqe9za6J1uE4DkIWUhC9kqROVQHYS-eVKIs6NnH2dm2C4msPGSOy5ovt5sEqQusmwi-xc50Mh_aLKc0SC08TA-MyNGn0Qhm_NSUFvs7v5SikbbO6SWQR3EGktUKDTDupJdR4nvkdEX9tpU0uIHh9/s4032/PXL_20230412_215906535.PORTRAIT.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEN2OSFp83Ig910fxszu30iau9RxjKaPMkNxBwvqe9za6J1uE4DkIWUhC9kqROVQHYS-eVKIs6NnH2dm2C4msPGSOy5ovt5sEqQusmwi-xc50Mh_aLKc0SC08TA-MyNGn0Qhm_NSUFvs7v5SikbbO6SWQR3EGktUKDTDupJdR4nvkdEX9tpU0uIHh9/s320/PXL_20230412_215906535.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />I'm going into this review saying I only read about the first paragraph of the synopsis and decided I wanted to check out this book. So I came in not completely knowing I would be reading three people's stories. After the first couple of times switching points of view, I was able to follow along pretty quickly and really got into each story.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I found myself reading this book as if I were reading three different short stories, one about Pinkie, one about Babe, and the other about Charlotte. Even though they were their own stories, I loved the concept of how the author tied each unique story into the other. The stories had some similarities, especially the lost child theme, but overall, our main characters were strongly written in a way that each felt like its own and that I was reading something completely different that still tied in by the end.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The reader will also appreciate our author giving our main characters lots of growth through their trauma. There are some mediums that I have come across where they talk about children characters having trauma but then the child doesn't really change their personality at all. In real life, if someone is going through something traumatic, such as being kidnapped or having to flee from their government, that's going to inevitably impact their character. I was glad our author showed us how with each traumatic event, our three main characters reacted appropriately, even when I wanted them to act happy, such as Pinkie seeing Luka for the first time in like 4 years, but she didn't because she thought he was dead this whole time and didn't want those feelings of hope to come back to her again. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My only complaint about this story, other than getting used to going through the points-of-view was Clint's character. I just didn't like him and I'm sure that was the author's point, but he's this guy who claims that this girl who he hasn't seen in years is just going to marry him because he loves her and it was just very toxic masculinity in my eyes. Unfortunately, the girl he is waiting for does end up marrying him, but there was something about him feeling this need to be a stereotypical knight-in-shining-armor rubbed me the wrong way and I could have read this story without his character and been just fine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Overall though, I enjoyed reading the story of Pinkie, Babe, and Charlotte. It's a story that gives you hope that there are people in this world that care. It's also a story of survival and triumph and not losing hope, even if you have just a sliver left. I give <i>The Gold Rose</i> a 4 out of 5 stars and I recommend giving it a read. Until next time, Happy Reading! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">CLICK TO PURCHASE ON:</span></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Rose-Jodi-Lea-Stewart/dp/195864031X/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> * <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gold-rose-jodi-lea-stewart/1143031203" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> * <a href="https://jodileastewart.com/" target="_blank">Author Website</a></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/109565027-the-gold-rose" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="116" data-original-width="350" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxQ4g2F66qYNKlbg4HP2mVJymxQMvuiv9vFVkxzxhN38LK0QxTa29dpyFPd5B0rjSG7_8Ff5XTJgQr8eSIbDem0cVZ-Tj6fjJoGzWJERG1cwc3vmKCSOoZg5FZ7-NPQKoIgFpQqhXxEaVxjPc4XXH2qU1uNF7IOt-MaFKN9hT0mjNIYtuzA6yja8Z4Q/w174-h58/add-to-goodreads.png" width="174" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Nf03TN3_kWiB8Ys37bJdH465SF-S1zp2blaqqxH-0tGCU6pYCTSD6ilHjY96jqBEY4XaT6iKBtb6vAZU-XGOF6JVCoR9EWzrSzKZix8pLInvoNn05K7PuKiGiCkRZv_WqtkC7cDQ6sZ8lHGg90ad2N_Gkd5IOcxRurGjQC19GcjgBAWZ_OFyCySS/s820/Ciao!-5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Nf03TN3_kWiB8Ys37bJdH465SF-S1zp2blaqqxH-0tGCU6pYCTSD6ilHjY96jqBEY4XaT6iKBtb6vAZU-XGOF6JVCoR9EWzrSzKZix8pLInvoNn05K7PuKiGiCkRZv_WqtkC7cDQ6sZ8lHGg90ad2N_Gkd5IOcxRurGjQC19GcjgBAWZ_OFyCySS/s320/Ciao!-5.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://youtu.be/Me86nMB11S8" target="_blank">view on YouTube</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Me86nMB11S8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9jvtNf5mXVLDFPWCLzd_jcvUTJO1kQ0TKfuS3OvIAcBnueNA6dOeM9bEyaoK7k0GAIeh0syPO94q2sAeO1EcPBSgIynjI7pwzrgkZsUyuLz0y57lHB9wrhhZ3f_0Qn-LxyX8Sm6E6dh894DPl-s6WZkEnY5obzL8J004Cb9PtKmejSF45-JwTKse/s820/Ciao!-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9jvtNf5mXVLDFPWCLzd_jcvUTJO1kQ0TKfuS3OvIAcBnueNA6dOeM9bEyaoK7k0GAIeh0syPO94q2sAeO1EcPBSgIynjI7pwzrgkZsUyuLz0y57lHB9wrhhZ3f_0Qn-LxyX8Sm6E6dh894DPl-s6WZkEnY5obzL8J004Cb9PtKmejSF45-JwTKse/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2318" data-original-width="2147" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNTSLh3Ypr1pBqGTdkRCTERcnNpIQqBJL_IeVCzMHa8lVX6irxON-YkVeWydcfnxeHzKz2CMnwwUMf4l_oCvn4JknjzjVoPL-ug_qZp_oxOnZHvOWF9Y6nysBkEg8TFQI-ui5S1HbGs78iJf1fBnPoPlTHqXmm_mfDElCDgPrBam4PgvOZaMRgMnR9w/w223-h241/Author%20Photo%20Stewart.jpg" width="223" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jodi Lea Stewart is a fiction author who centers her themes around the triumph of overcoming adversity through grit, humor, and hard-rock tenacity. Born in Texas and growing up in Arizona smelling cedar berries and cow pens on a large cattle ranch wedged between the Navajo Nation and the White Mountain Apache Tribe, most of her friends were Native American and Hispanic, with a few Anglos thrown in for good measure. On the ranch, she climbed petroglyph-etched boulders, sang to chickens, bounced two feet in the air in the backend of pickups wrestling through washed-out terracotta roads, and rode horseback on the winds of her imagination through the arroyos and mountains of the Arizona high country. Later, she left her studies at the University of Arizona in Tucson to move to San Francisco, where she learned about peace, love, and exactly what she didn’t want to do with her life. </div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Moving back to her native Texas, Jodi graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Business Management, raised three+ children, worked as an electro-mechanical drafter, penned humor columns for a college periodical, wrote regional western articles, and served as managing editor of a Fortune 500 corporate newsletter. Her lifelong friendship with all shades of folks, cowpunchers, southern belles, intellectuals, and "outlaws" propels Jodi into writing comfortably about the Southwest, the South, and far beyond. She currently resides in Arizona with her husband, two wild and crazy Standard poodles, one rescue cat, her fun-loving ninety-plus-year-old mom, a never-be-still-four-year-old tornado, and numerous bossy houseplants.</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>◆ <a href="https://jodileastewart.com/" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJodiLeaStewart/" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a> ◆ <a href="https://twitter.com/JodiLeaStewart" target="_blank">TWITTER</a> ◆</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>◆ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@jodileastewart/featured" target="_blank">YOUTUBE </a> ◆ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5830653.Jodi_Lea_Stewart" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jodileastewart/" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a> ◆</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://jodileastewart.com/blog/" target="_blank">BLOG</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodileastewart/" target="_blank">LINKEDIN</a> ◆</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">--------------------------------------</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">GIVEAWAY! 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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">04/14/23<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</tbody></table><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="135" data-original-width="243" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEjyveFYDnZu_qmYVU4JPQSYQwdwcMXLE7fUBm2wljOJKQie5GMt0of37T7ONbZxdAAvJYMsJaB_0x5dHpVgRyEDcZQK3G_wolyP5sILdEt-lKox7smy8OFIETWRpJfuu5wo4n37K8kyL53VyWcY8hgF4yCpXBZwrYeK49TW1kZAIeUFioLElps9Jbg/s1600/LoneStarLitLife.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>blog tour services provided by<br /></b></span><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/lone-star-book-blog-tours" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1849" data-original-width="1880" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzaMcQgiimtnmI26j-vHKEHZSy7ycdy9TxxnuseRGpWrKynATMPh9kpw1TxzJU3JoXYfEaKYOhbblxmELcqykcXnv50MDVnPTQic4HUTzZiWXAo_QJxLx3j6oPmn7XsbLm7ttrQD7UaxDVRsUJqDPfW1drhUBgHI7p7NkGrTn36cuJ3O5Sg7pozVhDQ/w219-h215/LoneStarBookBlogTours%20sm.png" width="219" /></a></p></div></div><p></p>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-67528750376450922142023-03-29T15:25:00.004-07:002023-03-29T15:25:46.041-07:00Book Review: Middlesex<p> I have been wanting to read Middlesex for a while now. It's one of those books that I've heard is a good read but not really anything about the plot, the characters, or the author, except for the fact that it's about a male born intersex. I've always been intrigued but as books came and went from my shelf, I remembered and unremembered this book until I remembered it one day at work and told my good friend and former co-worker that I wanted to read it and she gave me her copy. So here goes my thoughts and insights into this Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">About the Author</h3><div>Jeffrey Ken Eugenides is an American novelist and short story writer who has written numerous short<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGV_GJTHyAdsKRPqcewiLrqEEobd2j2MQwkO50DKKtHc3clx0tUcyAKuHEvZJQhFw9gKMq38OQIxe90cLuuZvn9llbhCf3abOvhBHutsEZlGmxNIg10hLYt4vfC4ystdyG-y_j2xjKZTXWc4lUF2znBQnBs3jO5GJfKhHMYrNVAsRV7T_XMyZd5NO/s4032/Tezza_2023_03_27_214355419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGV_GJTHyAdsKRPqcewiLrqEEobd2j2MQwkO50DKKtHc3clx0tUcyAKuHEvZJQhFw9gKMq38OQIxe90cLuuZvn9llbhCf3abOvhBHutsEZlGmxNIg10hLYt4vfC4ystdyG-y_j2xjKZTXWc4lUF2znBQnBs3jO5GJfKhHMYrNVAsRV7T_XMyZd5NO/s320/Tezza_2023_03_27_214355419.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> stories, essays, and a few novels including <i>The Virgin Suicides</i>, <i>Middlesex</i>, and <i>The Marriage Plot</i>. In 2018, Eugenides joined New York University's Creative Writing Program as a tenured full professor and the Lewis and Loretta Glucksman Professor in American Letters. Eugenides has been inducted into The American Academy of Arts and Letters and The American Academy of Arts and Science. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">About the Book</h3><div><br /></div><div>Middlesex was published in 2002 and has sold more than four million copies since its publication. The 21st Century gender novel chronicles the effect of a mutated gene on three generations of a Greek family, causing momentous changes in the protagonist's life. </div><div><br /></div><div>So begins the breathtaking story of Calliope Stephanie's and 3 generations of the Greek-American Stephanie's family who travel from a tiny village overlooking Mount Olympus to Prohibition-era Detroit, witnessing its glory days as the Motor City, and the race riots of 1967, before they move out of the to the tree-lined streets of suburban Grosse Point, Michigan. To understand why Calliope is not like other girls, she has to cover a guilty family secret and the astonishing genetic history that turns Callie into Cal, one of contemporary fiction's most audacious and wondrous narrators. Lyrical and thrilling, Jeffrey Eugenides takes us on an exhilarating reinvention of the American epic. </div><div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">My Thoughts</h3><div><br /></div><div>Middlesex is now on my top books. Easily top 5 for multiple reasons which I will get into right now.</div><div><br /></div><div>First off, after reading this book, I have learned that I tend to like to read and watch immigrant stories, which is fitting because my college senior capstone was on an immigrant story. But I have learned I love learning about different immigrant stories, whether it's an American immigrating to France or a Greek immigrating to America in the 1920s.</div><div><br /></div><div> I find it fascinating and also sad, especially older immigration stories because most people don't really want to leave their home country, such as one of our main characters, Desdemona. I found the whole concept of her and her brother leaving their home country to immigrate to the U.S. because of the Turkish war and how that move affected her, her children, and her grandchildren to be devastating. And for readers who also enjoy immigrant stories, we see the sad effect of losing one's culture after just a couple of generations in this story. </div><div><br /></div><div>I felt that while this was one part immigrant story, this is also a story about gender and sexuality. Emphasis on sexuality. Reflecting now, I'm realizing that there was a strong theme of "forbidden love" or the shame one feels about more "taboo" sexual desires. From Lina being a lesbian in the 1920s, to Desdemona and Lefty's more than sibling love for each other, to Milton and Jessie's unknowing cousin love for each other, to Cal's sexuality and gender, there's a whole plethora of "taboo" or at least what was once seen as taboo love for others (okay maybe not the brother and sister thing, but you get what I mean). </div><div><br /></div><div>It's something that makes the reader think of the people in their lives who may have gone through the same thing and how others in earlier time periods had to go through this unnecessary shame they had to feel. It also sheds light on gender and sexuality and how the two aren't the same and how people are still the same people, regardless of who they choose to love and be. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Our author does a great job of going into depth with each of our sets of characters. From exploring the world through the eyes of Desdemona and Lefty and their journey into assimilating into America to getting to know more about Cal and his upbringing, we are fed with so much detail but nothing ever feels unnecessary. Throughout the story, all the characters felt familiar, as if I had seen or read them somewhere else before. Thus they felt real, and I kept finding myself double-checking to make sure this was non-fiction.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't finish off my thoughts without talking about that car chase scene. The car chase scene at the end with Father Mike and Milton was the only instance where I kind of had a tinge that I was reading a fiction book, but it read so realistically that I felt it could still be real. That chapter was truly an epic way to end an epic tale. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I enjoyed every moment of Middlesex. I loved the way Cal was the narrator and how it all came full circle at the end. I enjoyed learning about our characters and getting insight into their strife and yet come out better in the end. This is one of those stories that sticks with you and I know I'll be keeping this one on my shelf for years to come.</div><div><br /></div><div>Until next time, Happy Reading!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://youtu.be/JO6mU5pRSpA" target="_blank">Watch my full review on my booktube!</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-38671894703474384132023-03-09T05:00:00.002-08:002023-03-09T08:08:54.286-08:00Book Blitz: Sweet Comfort<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Oc2okEw_448uVJ_O6AUMmSQ2sEWIh9rxWy-pGznrQRbFzaZ5Q8SA8h7ZoxXB4ly97D-etiDICYfJRtn_Xf4gAWWQM8lUEKwdQGggW_WgI-DjNpR9UwKRKQqtrUH3txaaI4h-E4CCzVgOu_pU3z-ZZsOLhD6iOh8c-bQzKnzhJUn-MiSANRQTH1QTBg/w543-h250/BNR%20Sweet%20Comfort.png" width="543" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>SWEET COMFORT</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Comfort and Joy Trilogy, #1</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>by</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>KIMBERLY FISH</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Women's Fiction / Later-In-Life Romance</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Second-Chance Romance / </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Cozy Mystery</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Publisher: Fish Tales</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Page Count: 359 pages</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Publication Date: January 21, 2023</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Scroll down for a giveaway!</i></b></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHCs6xpkiHhLHkSnmUrYeKzgD8sF5Uz_4kTHpwJq_3cxYJ15R7pPdjy3o98lrgc7i6gjFCnVmZ_yoboLrLkibMOY080ZXrqvlVnp9hJnaMvvNNT7qpKoXWcusGnd0i_ON1PwDu7pKqkyfVQ0dW5M1aQZeHShyppJ4E32horO4bzQJwbCkQJl1vVLn/s820/Ciao!-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHCs6xpkiHhLHkSnmUrYeKzgD8sF5Uz_4kTHpwJq_3cxYJ15R7pPdjy3o98lrgc7i6gjFCnVmZ_yoboLrLkibMOY080ZXrqvlVnp9hJnaMvvNNT7qpKoXWcusGnd0i_ON1PwDu7pKqkyfVQ0dW5M1aQZeHShyppJ4E32horO4bzQJwbCkQJl1vVLn/s320/Ciao!-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrrfqpvWnjEr5LEdDymDREDns4UqV_XuxGWfw_tNORDAjD0o1hw0M6AJW6zwWFkakx7jwnY-RsbSE5y5Drupr67Oz_LBQSSgET1roh7BTvKb9SpgBGNvcpJbC8GTW14GytzRKWfgcP1JvP9VcB5oz2ulYL_tnpVyU3UyPelz5c99tVCl6xD8hYbqfYw/w266-h400/Cover%20Sweet%20Comfort.jpg" width="266" /></span>Welcome to the hometown everyone wants to call their own.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gloria Bachman, a retired bank executive, has eight weeks to flip a location on Comfort’s High Street into a boutique chocolate shop. Defying expectations for “women of a certain age,” Gloria rediscovers talents and a sharpening of skills. If only she could read people as well as she does a spreadsheet. Even with the renovation in good hands, the subsequent struggle to name the shop brings Gloria and her business partner into conflict with a shady citizen. While Gloria is capable of remaining in her retirement rut while opening a business, two competing social groups try to lure her into their networks, causing Gloria to wonder if she ever knew Comfort at all. A murder rocks the community and revives investigative instincts honed by years in the banking industry.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mason Lassiter, a disgraced CEO, has his own dramas to escape and the offbeat town seems the perfect place to recover his self-esteem. What was to be a quick reversal of fortunes becomes a quest to right a deeply felt injustice. Fascinated by the women driving the energy of Comfort, he extends his stay to find out why the small town is the backdrop to their best tales. Tangling with his neighbor Gloria becomes his favorite pastime and the key to unlocking the mystery of his past—if he can convince her to trust him.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Chocolate and joy become the glue bringing an unlikely cast together, which just might change Gloria’s and Mason’s course for the better. With characters familiar from previous Comfort novels and introducing fresh names, <i>Sweet Comfort</i> will entertain those who like their stories seasoned with coziness and sweet, second chances.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Comfort-Kimberly-Fish/dp/B0BST822C8/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Purchase on Amazon</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/82338331-sweet-comfort" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="116" data-original-width="350" height="66" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnBzVqSOmCTzDdF1Zs9LDPVDMsZ0jXgGXxBTlJ1DcuMtHKIIFW_Fs80YUrjLTCFvRog_GLrRumADyrZXXESe5dxb3nysZXVMi1_uEnnYIzLFxGsZA9csGnY315U1_znD2PiJhCxcszganXD0_MJO7M9SLfoPRsqSu8IwRHip50pKbeiCELJ68amuTjw/w200-h66/add-to-goodreads.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0w-9HkLh7les91X4DWTw_CikXGoU66C1RhmkyOfflJUB61uXKVRohd2Iyv2OTR4XNoD7lLPywcRzR3FvlmabQecBy-ZprY0hHN-fEBtwmvdEF2RqnfI_W9dtJ9d226AC6D7VzDOomDmhX216yqInj_MoUQw6Um6ZAm-f7yyRnB566lKnljffOIHlo/s820/Ciao!-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0w-9HkLh7les91X4DWTw_CikXGoU66C1RhmkyOfflJUB61uXKVRohd2Iyv2OTR4XNoD7lLPywcRzR3FvlmabQecBy-ZprY0hHN-fEBtwmvdEF2RqnfI_W9dtJ9d226AC6D7VzDOomDmhX216yqInj_MoUQw6Um6ZAm-f7yyRnB566lKnljffOIHlo/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="481" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrkq5S6ZrV2z5LMQ4ZYSeHZnH6Du-_CjwK9NLgAMDFUPfhHgggg3wqs5I1866drklctOCHom8h6qJkSiWEf2XsqMqEtqVokgf_zJWKRGfqzKFrOtJ2p4SCcGtuwxg5fGMoz2lfK3L-i_Z17C0ZxgnD1dL50p0vLxRWF3EyIjCU0hSTyEWTFq5XJSA6Q/w185-h229/Author%20Photo%20Fish.jpeg" width="185" /></div>Kimberly Fish has been a professional writer in marketing and media for over thirty years, with regular contributions to area newspapers and magazines. As an accidental historian, she wrote two novels, <i>The Big Inch</i> and <i>Harmon General</i>, both based on factual events in Longview, Texas that changed world history. Kimberly also offers a set of contemporary women’s fiction novels and novellas, based in the Texas Hill Country, that reveal her fascination with characters discovering their grit and sweet, second chances; all four of the novels have won distinguished awards. <i>Sweet Comfort</i> is her latest novel, the first book in the Comfort and Joy Trilogy.</div></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kimberlyfish.com/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Website</span></b></a><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> * </span></b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fish_writer/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Instagram</span></b></a><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> * </span></b><a href="https://twitter.com/kimberlyfish" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Twitter</span></b></a><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> * </span></b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kimberlyfishauthor/"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Facebook</span></b></a><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> * </span></b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16341602.Kimberly_Fish" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Goodreads</span></b></a><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Fish/e/B01N4PZTKQ/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Amazon</span></b></a><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> * </span></b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUvL0ztm9vUjZ7gxX7gL3OA/featured" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">YouTube</span></b></a><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> * </span></b><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/teamkimber/" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Pinterest</span></b></a><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> * </span></b><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kimberly-fish" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">BookBub</span></b></a></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp9DU5uohH9S5lPm6Ke8xKA6pX-pTkJ0w7rT9xFtkKtQZFSAdwaMHiEFLLmg1tSITnhKQTruA71ZzqU5SiqbvCdmNy3uCVhaqDrDt3BNX8B3UAkzgbfQRfZx7wmMtcK29A2xQC7I9V0fN2XexNJIlmMGocWKUiriWpeLiqXC2u1fdbj3AFI3g3r-F/s820/sneak%20peek.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp9DU5uohH9S5lPm6Ke8xKA6pX-pTkJ0w7rT9xFtkKtQZFSAdwaMHiEFLLmg1tSITnhKQTruA71ZzqU5SiqbvCdmNy3uCVhaqDrDt3BNX8B3UAkzgbfQRfZx7wmMtcK29A2xQC7I9V0fN2XexNJIlmMGocWKUiriWpeLiqXC2u1fdbj3AFI3g3r-F/s320/sneak%20peek.png" width="320" /></a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>SNEAK PEEK AT AUTHOR KIMBERLY FISH'S WRITING SPOT</b></span></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Friends on the blog tour, here’s a photo of me at my current writing spot because I have decided to share my office with my mother who was recuperating from an illness with us. She needed a quiet space to relax away from the family. I normally have a shoebox of an office with a sofa and bookcase and lots of art, but I really like this corner of the living room and the view of the backyard. I may stay here a while.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXw8--IyLJBbXtoDkq5Ts-nEkcFdnuvGaBrAGdfa2kuJG1oZEs4P2_8JHE5cyuUaN68HcLsmSKXbnOicMQbI1TlsiOBNiaqEe6AtR26kLiDktbzViL29bgXp3NCcxhjSW0Ni6BuGVRUp0XC-1ssgHuxgpYWSKjJCUNv9H47pdBIVmgmS7_KMdsTgK/s1048/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-09%20at%2010.08.13%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="764" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXw8--IyLJBbXtoDkq5Ts-nEkcFdnuvGaBrAGdfa2kuJG1oZEs4P2_8JHE5cyuUaN68HcLsmSKXbnOicMQbI1TlsiOBNiaqEe6AtR26kLiDktbzViL29bgXp3NCcxhjSW0Ni6BuGVRUp0XC-1ssgHuxgpYWSKjJCUNv9H47pdBIVmgmS7_KMdsTgK/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-09%20at%2010.08.13%20AM.png" width="233" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b> </b></span><br /><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!</span></b></div><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: center;">Two winners each receive a signed copy of <i>Sweet Comfort</i> plus a box of</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sweet Shop USA candies!</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">(US only; ends midnight, CST, 3/31/23)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQpgarGfeftGDF9hUtsAokRhCeM0kbC57-rDj9TaOBcefmZdbhHoBuGPx-DT24ZPOyayvRGbYCqHkXcUm2wX0Dv6zRUqNBtcrdLfuLkio4HJVniSqcNPU3eTomnyVbdpOIdTRbe7XExhaqpg9-RNfr6l6JTwC6TR6ruHcMIXlDWmpNCNkF2NfhW5eLg/w399-h399/Giveaway%20Sweet%20Comfort.png" width="399" /></div></span></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="10c3976b521" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/10c3976b521/" id="rcwidget_jcsbx9bf" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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by</span></i></b><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #606060; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1849" data-original-width="1880" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmPDjSagH1xuFM4o6JZcQxAk_zEMbc_dKdby8jllEMHUfpe2tUiIV5daEvWwu6RZ0xs40nYc8x6tgbeEVs-StEb9cUc-QIzQtCAqeAjUZ6GZol7ckhsNVtsMSHQfcPKMscOevWq8HL4iedecdDittXpJmPJumcDzfqtDJPe972hP8gphF8HzI5Jo2lA/w232-h228/LoneStarBookBlogTours%20sm.png" width="232" /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-16426668451871122782023-03-01T14:29:00.001-08:002023-03-01T14:29:06.933-08:00Book Review: What Alice Forgot<p> Hi Ya'll! Im back with another Liane Moriarty book. I think I have read almost all her books now, but maybe have 1 or 2 more books to read from her for now. But I went to the trusty Half Price Books and found a copy of <i>What Alice Forgot</i>, which I had read the summary of a while ago, but chose to read another one of her books instead. Now, months, maybe even a couple of years later, I finally read <i>What Alice Forgot</i> and I'm here to tell you my thoughts, per use. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEme13dYj8Se4KV_zqWwIBuTd2_fHtg9iHWGPNS0i5RE8wyZZ9YRoUwZgPYeIO4AL6BQEqY9jchk71H-wvtHACrtv04pkVt92j9v35XNe3IErkkHTDCaqyfw7AUpT7dOY6iXZFvjYZAK2XxBUIoTPCtt2QGChknHBmUI4wyjcPmI2IlpeVKo-qu8iK/s4032/PXL_20230228_152355371.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEme13dYj8Se4KV_zqWwIBuTd2_fHtg9iHWGPNS0i5RE8wyZZ9YRoUwZgPYeIO4AL6BQEqY9jchk71H-wvtHACrtv04pkVt92j9v35XNe3IErkkHTDCaqyfw7AUpT7dOY6iXZFvjYZAK2XxBUIoTPCtt2QGChknHBmUI4wyjcPmI2IlpeVKo-qu8iK/s320/PXL_20230228_152355371.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">About the Author</h3><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Ember, amazon_ember, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Liane Moriarty is the Australian author of eight internationally best-selling novels: Three Wishes, The Last Anniversary, What Alice Forgot, The Hypnotist’s Love Story, Nine Perfect Strangers and the number one New York Times bestsellers: The Husband's Secret, Big Little Lies and Truly Madly Guilty. Her books have been translated into over forty languages and sold more than 20 million copies. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Ember, amazon_ember, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(55, 62, 62); color: #373e3e; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><h3> About the Book</h3><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. So imagine Alice’s surprise when she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! She HATES the gym) and is whisked off to the hospital where she discovers the honeymoon is truly over—she’s getting divorced, she has three kids, and she’s actually 39 years old. Alice must reconstruct the events of a lost decade, and find out whether it’s possible to reconstruct her life at the same time. She has to figure out why her sister hardly talks to her, and how is it that she’s become one of those super skinny moms with really expensive clothes. Ultimately, Alice must discover whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse, and whether it’s possible to start over.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><h3>My Thoughts</h3><div><br /></div><div>First off, this was a fun ride to be on. The concept of losing your memory from the past 10 years is hard to think about, but I imagine it happens to some people and our author does a tremendous job of taking us on the ups and downs of losing one's memory. It's a concept that we don't read nearly enough about and it makes for a very entertaining read.</div><div><br /></div><div>Along the ride, readers are kept wondering who Alice really is. We are introduced to 29-year-old, 1998 Alice, but we don't know who the real Alice is and if we're being frank, we probably didn't want to know her throughout the read. Younger Alice let things slip off her shoulder, while older Alice seemed to let every little thing stay on her shoulders. In the end, we get this happy medium of both versions of Alice, the one that she forgot and the one that she grew into. This concept made me think of my own growth and how there is a 20-year-old version of me and then there's 27, about to be 28 version of me and we're not the same. I may have certain aspects of her here and there and this made me ponder if that's a good thing or a bad thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Besides making us wonder about the different versions of ourselves wandering around the different timelines, our author does a great job of making us guess which direction the story would head in. Will Alice and her husband make amends? Will she ever regain her full memory? Did Alice grow to be a horrible person? Everything is answered by the end and I appreciate that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Something that I found to be a little convoluted was one of the side stories. There are two side stories to this book, one being Alice's sister's infertility and the other is her un-biological grandmother writing letters to her (SPOILER ALERT) dead fiancé. The sister story fit into the whole Alice was close but then drifted as she got older, but the un-biological grandmother writing letters to her dead fiancé didn't make sense to me. I thought that maybe it would somehow tie into everything, but it never did, at least that's how I felt. That was the only complaint I had with this book was the side story. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, I recommend this read. Besides the one side story, it's a great read that keeps the reader engaged and mind wandering about all the possibilities. Definitely one to put on the shelf especially if you are a Liane Moriarty fan. Until next time, Happy Reading!</div><div><br /></div>A.Borroelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14821349625462895227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400620111290542501.post-63522958325787123652023-02-24T05:00:00.001-08:002023-02-24T05:00:00.165-08:00Book Blitz: Brutal Season<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="2692" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6e5VxETNaz1-hbtnJtueUNQvxNmxoHRe5QrgsQqNAolkbeV7nfdWuAZiLAOL1bKu2C1_xsrzdj_qU2x1IfN9Y_5ZpoxPt9YOu73jX_9MWfI-twyI3K1VRZTnIru7zXf6ENosJD9kThvB5m4paJiUdA2KPr3l7tUDzBHMNbJt7LX65NERZjQgWXTaXg/w546-h251/BNR%20Brutal%20Season%20Blitz.png" style="text-align: center;" width="546" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>BRUTAL SEASON</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>The Seasons Mysteries Series #4</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>BY MARYANN MILLER</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTMTTS7D"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!</b></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Police Procedural / Mystery</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Publisher: MCM Enterprises</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Coming April 10, 2023</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Scroll down for Giveaway!</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ63909eWR-sf2WnmQuDIUECVMHPn_7U5-VvjMvhv92rW3cGCIWr1TBlHdkQOyudPv3W5_RZnR9mwtDdIhkHZfcTldLSVxpdHMjtMx_HdLG78TGqLTWrT1pHjBgdr5eZzZovXpsgyLkTeSIWQx6xeVFvxKMAQMJMvqdwRgJGmNIEnhnKPUTkC1cm6/s820/Ciao!-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ63909eWR-sf2WnmQuDIUECVMHPn_7U5-VvjMvhv92rW3cGCIWr1TBlHdkQOyudPv3W5_RZnR9mwtDdIhkHZfcTldLSVxpdHMjtMx_HdLG78TGqLTWrT1pHjBgdr5eZzZovXpsgyLkTeSIWQx6xeVFvxKMAQMJMvqdwRgJGmNIEnhnKPUTkC1cm6/s320/Ciao!-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="338" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFf37t9rn_Da5VmrZNsrsRsquk2gXWnVWmRgU5P_UZLHP1x5sHMTbnPNXnaKH6G5pNHqRQuNZfXkutDIt4kkaUzp-_YMxk6K7xR9xlAFFwJZrivEWtyz5xpCEmJe_EzjOZhJQRHmAhaKEWeCCM8An40N7QCDH_e2KhZCtFcE9u7PNfDRRTnPml6v2Mkg/w409-h606/Cover%20Book%204%20Brutal%20Season.jpg" width="409" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Eighteen-year-old Jamel Frederickson is shot and killed by a white, rookie Dallas police officer. His crime? Being black and mentally ill.</b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Following that unwarranted death, anger, and violence erupts on the streets, leading to the murders of two protestors who were marching around the downtown federal building.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Detectives Sarah Kingsly and Angel Johnson are thrust into the investigation of those murders, while desperately clinging to the threads of their partnership.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The shootings also raise questions about whether the alt-right white supremacists that invaded the city with their guns and inflammatory rhetoric are responsible.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Will more people get killed?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Is there more than one person out there with an agenda?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When a member of the team, Ryan O’Donnell, is shot while attempting to prevent looting, the tension in the city, and the department, ratchets up even higher. And it deeply affects Angel who’s been pretending she really isn’t falling for this white man.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Angel joins the protests to take a stand against racism in the city and within the department; an action that puts her job, her relationship with Ryan, and her fragile partnership with Sarah at risk.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For her part, Sarah comes to realize that she is not as enlightened as she thought she was, and both women just hope they can come through the personal and professional challenges and end up with something that resembles a true partnership.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While catching the killers in the process.</div></span><p class="yiv6493133181msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><br /></p><p class="yiv6493133181msonormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-line-height-alt: 11.75pt;"><br /></p><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ADVANCE PRAISE FOR <i>BRUTAL SEASON</i></span></b><br /><br />"In the compelling fourth installment of the Seasons Mystery series, Miller once again tackles difficult subjects in this absorbing, page-turning crime thriller."--<b>Carrie Rubin,</b><b> author of <i>Fatal Rounds</i>,</b> a <i>Publishers Weekly </i>BookLife Prize Finalist</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span>
<p align="center" class="yiv6493133181msonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTMTTS7D" target="_blank"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 24pt;">CLICK TO PRE-ORDER</span></b></a></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fOPZLNfV9h-oVT6MXjcPiv42P-dlGZ1pGYeNjhfM0A8bzSpFM5vSWnWdOHwy9Un4WULNjfx5guvvw9y1en39Us5dZ3R7ApwjIPGIFWSqPA-ww2ZqvHW83nyeopeDeCx9lFeTLS7kYe7HMfLWHIcbsFJ5TN-yUpsHUEW4R5LEcdIs05XnwrD8-nSf/s820/Ciao!-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="820" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fOPZLNfV9h-oVT6MXjcPiv42P-dlGZ1pGYeNjhfM0A8bzSpFM5vSWnWdOHwy9Un4WULNjfx5guvvw9y1en39Us5dZ3R7ApwjIPGIFWSqPA-ww2ZqvHW83nyeopeDeCx9lFeTLS7kYe7HMfLWHIcbsFJ5TN-yUpsHUEW4R5LEcdIs05XnwrD8-nSf/s320/Ciao!-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1710" data-original-width="1368" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1RJ-2CRR8BLJt8FPb6JVO-GkYtc_I8wglpNfz4ybAruEUYc1WxCq28c65DEbnmB_F0VB5eOzlDaxYDNsa74gpGA1zZIAASZIQh5vWM_L55N_S-Z_RggOFZqCS5st-Dy16GxhHS-xjnnXX8IvuwJ1XplZmTy1XHgjWyWNdO9VzU0NmDuNCgRVuzvxgQ/w206-h258/Author%20Photo%20Miller.jpg" width="206" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Maryann Miller</b><b>, </b>an award-winning author, has been in love with storytelling since she was a child and used to scare her sister with stories of the monsters in the cellar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When she grew up, she started her professional career as a journalist, writing newspaper columns, feature stories, and short fiction for regional and national publications. Her novels are primarily mysteries, with an occasional mainstream novel thrown into the mix.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miller is the recipient of the Page Edwards Short Story Award for her story <i>Maybe Someday</i> and the New York Library Best Books for Teens Award for her nonfiction book, <i>Coping with Weapons And Violence In School and On Your Streets.</i> Her mystery, <i>Doubletake</i>, was honored as the Best Mystery by the Texas Association of Authors. She took first place in the short story and screenwriting competition at the Houston Writer's Conference and was a semi-finalist at Sundance for her script “A Question of Honor.” She was also a semi-finalist in the Chesterfield Screenwriting Competition with the adaptation of <i>Open Season</i>, the first book in the Seasons Mystery Series.</div><br />When not writing, Miller loves to play on stage and play in her garden. She lives in Texas with her dog and three cats. The cats rule.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">◆ <a href="https://maryannwrites.com/" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Maryann-Miller-176896965725974/" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a> ◆ <a href="https://twitter.com/maryannwrites" target="_blank">TWITTER</a> ◆</div><div style="text-align: center;">◆ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Maryann-Miller/e/B001JP7Y1S/" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/551516.Maryann_Miller" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a> ◆ <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maryann-miller" target="_blank">BOOKBUB</a> ◆</div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0749RK9VS" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="5224" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1V-tpQWi_eGllNA_O7uJuXf9_sBli7_gX3ExvyAMlmyRt7jXPNlL2wY-9Bucsf30rvc_TZyrFe3Oh2K4NTRQrM72TCSNolFMPblo_sSruoH7pwEIMcIH1zUZ0xihBrvnwNb5fJwDOUc8GMDzSXrVwBNrkpXfVzec5th2yXss5zB-DWew8kD2_aBCj6Q/w538-h106/Newsletter%20Ad%20Seasons%20Series.png" width="538" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div></b></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>--------------------------------------</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>TWO WINNERS!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>FIRST: $50 Amazon gift card</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>+ signed copies of the first three books in the series.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>SECOND: Signed copies of the first three books in the series.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>(US only; ends midnight, CST, 3/2/23)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_2PMxEBhwjvEIgqvQbkGP62hIr7lfe5hT9n0sb8xO50Nz960JnYM0cN4xAEbfu9oE6KWzekWfk-v6EFn4YuQ8AZc-kayQjjspy4g8isYD2VnWKYMeRIIt0Ds5TYw6okY2b0lu2RsZWMXW7lW7DS643_O0LAFXk6qYYyO2N9U1unu0j--BKH_TAp6AQ/w400-h400/Giveaway%20Brutal%20Season.png" width="400" /></div><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="10c3976b518" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/10c3976b518/" id="rcwidget_3fr74pyr" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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