giovedì 30 giugno 2016

Review & Giveaway: Executed in Paradise by Deborah Brown


When a body turns up at the Cottages, Madison and Fab are on the case. But when the killer makes a habit of discarding bodies on Madison’s property… it’s personal.

While on the hunt for the killer, the duo track down a double-crossing bail jumper, repossess a Lamborghini, and Madison lands her first case.

As more bodies pop up, the cops are eager to name a suspect. When a close friend is arrested as the prime suspect, Madison and Fab will stop at nothing to prove her innocence, but will they be too late?

Executed in Paradise, the ninth book in the scorching Paradise series about best friends who maintain the peace in the paradise of Tarpon Cove through unconventional ­– and highly entertaining – measures.

The Paradise series, are Florida Keys mysteries, “great as stand-alone reads, but they're like chips...you won't be able to devour just one!”
Available to buy from.....
Amazon Kindle    Amazon Paperback 

My Review


Another mythical adventure of this fantastic and indivisible duo, Madison and Fab. I love them, I look forward to every new release for to have fun with them. I hope that this series would never end: the plot is very well developed and well-woven, the characters are witty, colorful and lovable, the setting is really amazing. There is mystery, love, friendship, humor, action, suspense ....
Madison and Fab are always willing to save their friends, often ending up in trouble. To help them, there are their really sexy and charming boyfriends. In this episode the two protagonists must find a serial killer who is leaving corpses in Madison's properties. A Madison's friend is accused of being the murderess then he disappears suddenly. Madison must quickly solve the case to save her friend and her properties.
Although it is the ninth book in the series can be read as a standalone, but these books are so compelling that once read one will want to read all of them.
I recommend it to those who love the cozy mystery





"The Paradise series has it all! There is action, mystery, murder, romance, humor, & the greatest friendship of all time." 


"Multiple story lines made it impossible for me to put it down. The suspense, humor, love, romance, and of course touches of sarcasm, make this book the best one yet."

"I absolutely love the stories of Fab and Madison. You never know what is going to happen next. Adventures, drama, love, and all the humorous situations they find themselves in make wonderful reads."
Above reviews from Goodreads/Amazon

About the Author
I've been writing, in one way or another for as long as I can remember; writing poetry, short stories, a romance novel secretly stashed under the bed and sappy love letters. Fiction should be fun. I wanted to create the perfect beach book, to make the reader laugh, cry and cheer... and then run out and tell their friends about it.

My love of reading began when I was seven, the day I opened the cover of my first Mrs. Piggle Wiggle book. Mrs. P gave lessons to other children in how to behave and to me I learned to love the written word. I live with my family and demon children aka rescue cats in South Florida.

Find the author on the following sites...

Also available in the Paradise Series



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I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
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Review & Giveaway: Someone Like Him by Ann Herrick


Someone Like Him
by Ann Herrick

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GENRE: Teen Romance

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BLURB:

When New-York-City girl Emily visits her cousin Janelle in Oregon, Emily wonders how she'll survive the wilderness.  Janelle wonders if the wilderness will survive Emily's visit—and if she can convince her cousin to help save part of an old-growth forest. 

Meanwhile, Emily also wonders if a big-city girl can get along with a county guy—named Bret. Under forest canopies and by crystal-clear waters she struggles with her growing attraction to him. But they're so different. Whoever thought she'd fall for someone like him?
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My Review:

A funny and light romantic comedy, a love story between a city spoiled girl and a country boy who loves adventure.
Emily's parents leave for Paris for a second honeymoon. can't leave her daughter alone in New York, she is still too young. So they entrust her to the care of an aunt who lives in Oregon. Emily doesn't want to go but is forced. She hates the countryside and doesn't meet her cousin for so long, maybe they are so changed that they can't be friends anymore. When she discovers that must make even camping,  is more and more distressed. But there will be Brett to console her.
Emily is a spoiled girl, hates the countryside, the desert, the insects, the camping. She has never known love and begins to discover it along with Brett that will make also appreciate the beauty of nature.
It 's a read quick, pleasant, relaxing, ideal for an afternoon on the beach. There is a soft, clean love story between teenagers and also a lot of adventure and lots of nature
If you are looking for a cute and funny book then you need to read this one.




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EXCERPT:


It wasn't easy trying to fit all my stuff into one small suitcase and an overnight bag. But Dad said that was the limit. I wished I had room to pack my old scout manual. I vaguely remembered there was a section about survival in the wilderness. I figured I might need that.

"Now, Cheryl," Dad said to Mom. "Don't start getting teary-eyed."

"But Richard, we're sending our only daughter off to Oregon." Mom sniffled.

A fine time for Mom to have second thoughts—just as I was about to board the plane. I let out a long sigh and tried to look really sad. Maybe she'd give in to her misgivings and let me stay.

"She'll be in good hands," Dad said reassuringly.

"We'll be in Europe, six thousand miles from my baby!"

Ordinarily I would have moaned and declared that I was not a baby. Now, however, I worked at getting my lower lip to tremble.

"Everything will be fine!" Dad's voice was getting high and squeaky, a sure sign that he'd had it. "Emily will love Oregon. It'll be an educational trip. It's time she sees something besides the cities of the world. Now let's say good-bye before she misses the plane!"

Dad hit just the right combination of panic, annoyance, and determination.

"You're right, dear." Mom kissed me goodbye.

Dad gave me a hug and kiss, then stepped back and put his arm around Mom. They both stood there with smiles on their faces.

"Bye," I said as cheerfully as possible. I could tell there was no point in any last-minute hysterics. I squared my shoulders and headed toward the plane.

I thought there could at least have been some appropriately dreary background music as I marched off to my doom.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Ann Herrick is the award-winning author of several books and short stories for kids and teens. Included in the awards her books have won are the ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers, IRA/CBC Children’s Choice and EPIC Best YA Novel Finalist.

Ann grew up in Connecticut, where she graduated from The Morgan School and Quinnipiac University.  She now lives in Oregon with her husband, who was her high-school sweetheart.  Their wonderful daughter is grown, married and gainfully employed, and has given Ann her only grand-dog, Puff, a bloodhound-Rottweiler-beagle mix and six grand-kitties.  While she misses the East Coast, especially houses built before 1900, she enjoys the green valleys, fresh air and low humidity in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  Ann loves cats, walking, the Oregon Ducks and working in her back yard.  In addition to stories and books for children and young adults, Ann also writes copy for humorous and conventional greeting cards. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her web site:  http://annherrickauthor.com   

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Ann Herrick will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


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Release Tour for Willem by Victoria Danann with Giveaway

Promo Tour for Ameerah by Rebekkah Ford with Giveaway

mercoledì 29 giugno 2016

Interview, Review & Giveaway: The Last Great Race by Mark Morey


The Last Great Race
by Mark Morey

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GENRE: Historical Fiction

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BLURB:

This story is based around the life of one of the most fascinating and enigmatic sportsmen of his era, Achille Varzi: multiple race winner, twice Racing Champion of Italy and a hero to his many followers.  Told partly through the eyes of Varzi and partly by fictional Italian-Australian racing journalist Paul Bassi, we follow the many triumphs and tragedies of Varzi's life: his passionate love affair with Ilse, his tragic morphine addiction, his recovery from his addictions, his marriage to Norma and his re-signing to race for Alfa Romeo.

Only war intervenes, and Paul and his wife Pia leave Achille to spy for the British at the naval base in Naples.  Paul and Pia endure hundreds of Allied air-raids, they join the partisans who fought off the German army until the Allies could rescue them, and then they survive in a near-ruined city as best they can.

By 1946 Italy is still shattered but life is returning to normal, and no more normal is Achille Varzi winning the Grand Prix of Italy that year.  Over the next two seasons Achille Varzi scores more successes, until he makes his only ever driving mistake and is killed in Switzerland in 1948.  Even though he died too young, Paul and Pia know that Achille Varzi would never have lived in his life in any other way.
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My Review:


I really loved this novel, the fictionalized story of one of the greatest drivers of the Italian automotive history. In my family are all fans of Formula One and big fans of Ferrari. On Sunday when there is the Grand Prix are all motionless to follow the races. This great driver unfortunately has been overshadowed by the presence of Nuvolari: almost everyone knows Nuvolari, Varzi much less, and it is a big shame because he was a great character.
Varzi was a Piedmontese driver, eternal friend and rival of Nuvolari. He was much loved by women, some threatened to ruin him forever. He eventually chose to share his life with his longtime girlfriend Norma. A tragic accident marked the end of his brilliant career.
This novel is really compelling, is excellent from the cover till the end. Wonderful idea to alternate the protagonist's point of view and that of a journalist who follows and tells his races. It made the story even more captivating and intriguing. The pace is fast, never boring, the dialogues are well built, the characters are amazing and believable. Excellent historical reconstruction of the period. The history of Varzi and his family is intertwined with the history of Italy and especially with the Second World War and the great tragedy of the Holocaust. I thank the author for making me better know a great Italian character of which I had only heard vague talk.
This novel is perfect for fans of Formula One but also for those who love a well-written romance. From the story of Varzi you can learn to never give up, fighting to achieve your dreams.


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EXCERPT:



The porter nodded slowly.  “My name is Ludwig Broder and I was a journalist once.”

“What happened?”

“It’s the way of things.”

Paul wondered the way of what things, until he realised.  He looked around and nobody was close.  “Persecution?” Paul asked quietly.

Herr Broder nodded slowly.

“I’m sorry to hear about your misfortune, Herr Broder.”

“It was only a newspaper in Koblenz, but....”

Paul was sure that persecution would get worse.  “Should you leave?” Paul asked quietly.

“To where?  My family has lived in this region for more than four generations.”

“If you leave, one day you can come back when it’s better.”  Paul thought about options.  “You speak good English.  Go now, while you can.”

Herr Broder demurred.

“I was born and raised in Australia and I moved to Italy two years ago,” Paul said.  “Because I spoke Italian, Italy became my home.”

“Where are you staying Herr Bassi?”

“Hotel Ringhaus.  We can take our luggage; it’s not far.”

Her Broder nodded and Paul opened his wallet and took out a twenty mark note.  “Thank you for your trouble, Herr Broder.”

“Thank you,” Herr Broder said before placing the note in his pocket.

Paul picked up his case and bag and Pia, looking baffled, grabbed hers.

“One day it may be too late,” Paul said.  “Goodbye and good luck.”

“Enjoy your racing Herr Bassi.”

Paul headed towards the hotel with Pia alongside.

“Che cosa?” Pia asked.

“He’s Jewish,” Paul said in Italian.  “I told him to leave now, while he can.”

“People shouldn’t have to leave their country just because they’re Jewish.”

“If you were Jewish; what would you do?”

“I would leave.”

“He used to work for a newspaper, but as you know....”

“No public servants, no teachers, no writers, no academics, no journalists.”

“I’m sure it will get worse.”

Pia shrugged her shoulders and Paul wondered how much worse it could get.  But he was sure it would get worse.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Writing technical documentation and advertising material formed a large part of my career for many decades.  Writing a novel didn’t cross my mind until relatively recently, where the combination of too many years writing dry, technical documents and a visit to the local library where I couldn’t find a book that interested me led me consider a new pastime. Write a book. That book may never be published, but I felt my follow-up cross-cultural crime with romance hybrid set in Russia had more potential. So much so that I wrote a sequel that took those characters on a journey to a very dark place.

Once those books were published by Club Lighthouse and garnered good reviews I wrote in a very different place and time.  My two novels set in Victorian Britain were published by Wings ePress in July and August of 2014. These have been followed by a story set against the background of Australia's involvement on the Western Front, published in August 2015. Australia's contribution to the battles on the Western Front and to ultimate victory is a story not well known, but should be better known.

Staying within the realm of historical fiction, one of the most successful sportsmen of the 1930s, Achille Varzi, lived a dramatic and tumultuous life.  It is a wonder his story hasn't been told before, beyond non fiction written in Italian.  The Last Great Race follows the highs and lows of Varzi's motor racing career, and stays in fascist Italy during the dark days of World War Two.

Mark Morey


@markmorey5

When did you first start writing?
I have always liked reading good books, and about ten years ago I went to the local library to borrow a book, but I couldn't find one that interested me. Many books by male authors had stereotyped, cliche characters: typically the loner who eventually rights all wrongs but never finds love or companionship.  I thought I could do better than that, which became the inspiration for my first novel, The Red Sun Will Come, which I wrote during the period 2005 to 2007.  That and a sequel, Souls In Darkness, were published by Club Lighthouse in 2012.  I had two more novels published in 2014 by Wings ePress: The Governess and the Stalker and Maidens in the Night.  Last year I self-published One Hundred Days and this year I have The Last Great Race.


What is the hardest thing about writing?
At first when you start writing, the hardest thing is to stick with your idea and your concept.  In those early days you never seem to get it right, and this is where the help of other people is invaluable.  Once you've done the best you can then get other authors to look at it for their constructive criticisms, and pay a line editor to help you with story, pacing, grammar and use of language.  The more eyes who look at those early works the better they will be, and you can carry lessons learned into future writing.

These days I find it easier to write, as long as I have a good concept and a theme to write towards.  I always use beta readers to give my stories a final polish.

What authors have influenced your writing and life?
My favourite author is Paolo Coelho, but he has a unique style of storytelling and I haven't let that influence me.  I have a few authors who I won't name, but who I don't like because of their one-dimensional characters and their lack of character relationships!  I like stories with interesting characters, strong and sometimes fractious relationships, and a good plot.  For me, characters are more interesting than a circuitous plot.

As far as influencing my life goes, I have suffered a number of difficulties over the years, from when I was quite young until now and ongoing.  Those difficulties are many and varied, and have influenced my life for the better in many, significant ways.  I learned to seize the moment, because we must all make the most of the time we have.

What else do you enjoy doing, when you're not writing?
I like travel and I have been fortunate enough to have travelled much over the years.  When I travel I like to rent apartments to make the most of my time in other countries.  This can be difficult when you're not used to local customs or perhaps can't speak the language, but the great experiences you enjoy far outweigh any difficulties.

I am also a keen motorcyclist and I own a Triumph motorcycle.  I am a member of a motorcycle club for riders aged 40 and over, and we have many good motorcycle roads in the area of Australia where I live.

What are your dreams and plans for your future as a writer?
I'm staying in Italy with my writing while I work on a story set in 15th Century Venice, based on a major scandal which happened in 1428.  That scandal is intertwined with sub-plots around the discrimination of gay men at the time, and the discrimination of women at the time.  The sad thing is that even though I speak Italian, my source material is in Vèneto dialect, as will be any threads of conversations to give my story a sense of place and time.  I have finished a first draft, which means there's a long way to go with this story.



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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Mark Morey will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


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martedì 28 giugno 2016

Review & Giveaway: Homicide in the House by Colleen J. Shogan



Homicide in the House
by Colleen J. Shogan

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GENRE: Cozy Mystery

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BLURB:

During a government shutdown, Kit’s congresswoman boss is found standing over the dead body of a top staffer she tangled with in front of the press. The police are about to name her as the prime suspect. The weapon was the Speaker’s gavel, an item entrusted to the congresswoman the previous night. The killer knows Kit is on the case. Can she solve the mystery in time to save her job and her life?
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My Review:

It's a cozy and very compelling mystery set in the world of politics. The author is very good at capturing the reader's attention and keep it alive throughout the story.
Kit has to juggle in the difficult world of politics, to solve strange and twisted murders, to keep alive the relationship with her boyfriend and doesn't neglect her dear friend Meg. Now she is working for freshman congresswoman Maeve Dixon. When her boss is involved in a murder, Kit  should investigate to save her reputation and her career.
It's the second book in the series but can be read as a standalone, I have not had any trouble. But I am very curious to read even the first one.
The plot is very engaging and intelligent, with several twists, it's really hard to put down this book before the end. The characters are well developed and believable. It 's really been a pleasant journey to discover Washington and its political intrigue. 
Highly recommended



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EXCERPT:


Smartphones are great time wasters. I fiddled with various apps as I waited. The next level of “Angry Birds” was within my grasp when I heard footsteps and voices across the hallway. I got up and stood in the doorway to greet my boss.

From the look on her face, she was not pleased. She charged like a linebacker to the exit of the Speaker’s lair with Jack Drysdale on her heels.

“Stop, Congresswoman Dixon. You’re not listening to reason!” From behind, Drysdale placed his hand on Maeve’s left shoulder in an attempt to prevent her from leaving the suite.

Maeve had impressive reflexes. She turned her body toward him and grabbed his wrist with her right hand. “Don’t touch me! Is this how the Speaker’s staff treat members of the House?” Her voice was loud and filled with vitriol.

The gaggle of reporters who had been relaxing inside the anteroom trailed behind me. This was better than a boring pen and pad session. One of them murmured, “I think that’s Dixon from North Carolina.”

This was not a good development, but Maeve didn’t know that the press had a front row seat to her implosion.

Maeve clutched Drysdale’s wrist for several seconds until she let it go. Apparently her physical assault didn’t intimidate him. He ran ahead and stopped directly in front of her.

Stretching his arms out wide to slow her down, Jack made his last stand. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have done that. Please come back in the office so we can sort this out. You’re a valuable part of this caucus and the Speaker wants to work with you on this deal.”

Maeve shook her head. “You guys in House leadership are typical politicians. You can’t take no for an answer. I’m not ready to make a decision. Now get out of my way.”

Unmoving, Drysdale locked eyes with Maeve. She didn’t look away and squared her shoulders. I could almost feel the tension around me as the reporters anxiously waited for the outcome. What was Maeve going to do? Knee him in the groin if he didn’t back down?

After a moment that seemed like an eternity, Drysdale gave in and stepped aside. I breathed a deep sigh of relief and hurried into the hallway to catch up with her. As we exited the corridor, I glanced back to the doorway where I’d been standing. Every reporter was on his or her phone, ostensibly calling in the most salacious story of the shutdown thus far. A junior member of Congress and the Speaker’s top aide had nearly come to blows in the Capitol. A high school reporter could make that story fly.



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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Colleen J. Shogan has been reading mysteries since the age of six. She writes the Washington Whodunit series published by Camel Press. A political scientist by training, Colleen has taught American politics at Yale, George Mason University, Georgetown, and Penn. She previously worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative staffer in the United States Senate and as the Deputy Director of the Congressional Research Service. She is currently a senior executive at the Library of Congress. Colleen lives in Arlington, Virginia with her husband Rob and their beagle mutt Conan.

Twitter:  @cshogan276





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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Colleen J. Shogan will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Review & Giveaway: Seducing the Chef by Janet Lane-Walters


Seducing the Chef
by Janet Lane-Walters

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GENRE: Romance, Contemporary

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BLURB:

Seducing the Chef - Allie Blakefield, editor of Good Eatin' wants to do a feature on Five Cuisines a restaurant across the river from NY City. Her father forbids the feature and won't say why. She's not one to sit back and be ruled by someone. She borrows a friend's apartment.

While leaning over the balcony she sees a handsome dark haired man doing a Yoga routine. He looks up and she is struck by the Blakefield curse. Love at first sight.
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My Review:

This short novel is perfect to read in a relaxing afternoon in the pool or the sea. It's a fast and short read but very addictive and enjoyable. A romantic love story with a sad feud between two families that has lasted for years. Is the case to stop it?
Greg's restaurant Fives Cusines  is going really well. Now is the turning point. He is going to receive a visit from a famous food critic, if the review is positive, his restaurant will take off. But this newspaper belongs to his father's rival. He will destroy him as he did with his father? The daughter of his rival, Allie sees him do yoga from the window of her room and she's just very attracted to him .....
It 's a truly immersive reading, a very intriguing plot that kept me glued to the pages curious to know what would happen. I read it in one sitting.
This is the first book in a series, I'm really curious to read the other romantic stories that this author has created.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a sweet and amazing story.


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EXCERPT:


Greg dashed inside. He sped through a shower and dressed. As he dashed to the door he halted. Champagne. He had brought a bottle from the restaurant and had chilled it overnight. Mimosas went with everything and might take the edge off his raging desire to claim Allie’s body as soon as he entered Steve’s apartment.

With the chilled wine in hand he walked upstairs and knocked on the door. Allie answered. Her smile broadened and she tapped the bottle. “Mimosas, the perfect touch. Come with me.” He followed her to the kitchen where she took a carafe of orange juice from the refrigerator. She indicated the glasses on the table. “Do the honors while I tend to the rest of the meal.”

He smelled cinnamon and coffee. As he opened the champagne he watched her pour a mixture into two metal omelet pans. She stood so he couldn’t see what she added. She accepted a glass and sipped. He caught a hint of vanilla on her skin. The way to a man’s heart might be through the stomach. For this chef, aroma, taste and presentation did the trick. She aced all three. He feared he was lost.

“To a new friendship,” he said.

She touched her glass to him. “May it long endure.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Janet Lane Walters, an award winning author has been published for 46 years. Before graduating to novels, she published short stories and poetry. She writes romance from sweet to spicy. Some are contemporary, some paranormal and some fantasy. She has also written mysteries and suspense and even strayed into non-fiction. Becoming Your Own Critique Partner written with Jane Toombs won an EPIC award.

Janet Lives in the scenic Hudson River valley with her husband of many years. Her psychiatrist husband considers her writing an obsession, but one he refuses to cure. She's the mother of four and the grandmother of seven - four biracial children and three Chinese children. In the past she has composed music and earned enough money casting Horoscopes to fund a trip to Ireland. She tries to live up to her eclectic writer name by living an eclectic life.

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Janet Lane-Walters will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


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Release blitz for THE DRAGIL: BROKEN MAGIC by Holly Barbo.

Release Tour for TANGLED SIN by Georgia Lyn Hunter

lunedì 27 giugno 2016

Review &Giveaway: Gone Wild by Dakota Madison


Gone Wild
by Dakota Madison

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GENRE: Romantic Comedy

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BLURB:

Tenured English professor Bly Daniels believes the short walk from her campus office to the university library is too much exposure to the harsh elements of the outdoors. She would prefer to spend her days (and nights) comfortably seated indoors reading classic literature.

When Bly is arrested for reading one of the great books while driving home, a judge sentences her to thirty days of community service with The Wild Way, a therapeutic wilderness program for troubled teens.

There she meets Turner Wild, the owner and operate of the wilderness program. Turner is everything Bly despises: rugged, unrefined and outdoorsy. For Bly a trip to hell sounds more desirable than spending an entire month with Turner and his band of hooligans as they traverse the woods of rural northwest New Jersey communing with nature.

Bly certainly never expects to form a bond with the troubled teens she’s been assigned to mentor and forge an unlikely relationship with their fearless leader, Turner Wild.

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My Review:


Since I discovered this author I have seen her work with various genres and has never disappointed me. Not even in this case. It 's a funny and brilliant comedy, which also deals with some sensitive issues.
Bly is a forty year old single teacher who loves to read. If it was for her she  would live in a library. For a series of unfortunate events she must spend a month at The Wild Way, a desert camp and take care of some rebellious teenagers. Mud, snakes, spiders is not exactly her ideal environment but discovers she has a great ability to adapt. To help her there is Turner Wild, the fascinating and mysterious boss  of the camp.
All the characters are amazing. Bly is a smart woman but very private, has suffered a lot in the past and she is closed in on herself. She seems arrogant and cocky but she is actually very sensitive and sweet. Her dialogues and interactions with Turner are really hilarious no to mention her monologues.
It 's a funny story, full of humor but also romantic and moving. It 's written very well with a brilliant and witty style, It will grab your attention from the beginning and hold it through to the end and leave you begging for more.
Highly recommended







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EXCERPT:



What was I thinking packing so much stuff? I was thinking I’ll be here an entire month and I need reading materials.

Here is no water but only rock

Rock and no water and the sandy road.

Those words from T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land’ seem appropriate right now. I take a seat on my suitcase and wipe the sweat from my brow with a tissue that I just happened to have shoved in my pocket. I can’t even remember the last time I sweated. It may have been in high school when we were forced to play those utterly horrendous sports in our Physical Education classes.

I was supposed to be at the apex of my career this year. I was finally promoted from Associate to Full Professor. Edgar had been hinting that when he retired I was first in line to take over as Chairperson of the English Department. I was just a few months away from paying off the mortgage on my house.

Now it looks like I might lose everything, and I’m sitting in the middle of the woods helpless to do anything about it. Edgar was not happy when I told him I needed to take a month of personal leave and he’d need to find a substitute to teach my classes. That coupled with the fact that my arrest and conviction has tarnished the reputation of the institution does not bode well for me still having a career upon my return from this journey into the wilderness. 

The sun is starting to get higher overhead, and it’s beating down on me. I’m not sure how much of the blistering brightness my pale skin can take. I should probably edge closer to the tree line where it’s shaded, but I’m too exhausted to move. 

I’m just about to fall asleep seated on my suitcase when a large pickup truck whizzes by. I try to raise a hand to wave the driver over, but to no avail. My arm won’t lift high enough.

Instead I choke on the dust left in the truck’s wake.

Then to my surprise the trucks comes to a screeching halt, reverses and heads back towards me.

When I rise to greet the driver my legs feel like cooked noodles. They’re so weak I can barely control them as I move towards the truck.

My eyes go wide when I see who has hopped out of the vehicle. The driver is a young, petite woman of Asian descent.

From the neck up she’s beautiful, with long silky dark hair and perfect features. From the neck down she’s dressed like a man. She’s wearing well-worn jeans, black combat boots and a green Army jacket.

“Are you lost?” Her tone is accusatory, definitely not friendly.

I shake my head.

“You know this road leads to a wilderness camp for troubled teens.”

“I do.”

She looks me up and down. “You don’t look like you’re ready for the wilderness, and you’re definitely not a teenager.”

“I’m aware of that.” My voice is weary. “I’m court ordered to be here. Community service.”

She rolls her eyes. “Lucky us.”

“Unfortunately the cab driver wouldn’t take me beyond the main road. I’ve been walking for hours.”




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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

USA TODAY Bestselling author Dakota Madison is known for writing new adult, love in midlife, and contemporary romance with a little spice and lots of heart. Dakota is a winner of the prestigious RONE Award for Excellence in the Indie and Small Publishing Industry. When she's not at her computer creating spicy stories Dakota likes to spend time with her husband and their bloodhounds. Dakota also writes under the pen names SAVANNAH YOUNG, SIERRA AVALON and REN MONTERREY.

Where to find DAKOTA...


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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Dakota Madison will be awarding 3 eCopies of Still Fine at Forty by Dakota Madison to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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