Bookalicious Travel Addict

TripFiction: 100 Years of The Chelsea Flower Show, LONDON

2013-05-20T12:32:00.001+01:00

TripFiction: 100 Years of The Chelsea Flower Show, LONDON: "It is difficult to imagine life without the Chelsea Flower Show; it seems strange that it has only been around for 100 years." (...

Have a look at Trip Fictions blog post, showcasing several books with a gardening theme.

Guest Blog Post - Having A Large Time in Small-Town Texas by Linda Akins

2013-05-19T03:00:00.000+01:00

Well, I am continuing my series of Travel Guest Blogs, which I am delighted to say are being well received. Today's blog is from my good friend in Texas, Linda Akins, who is sharing her love of her home State with us and introducing you all to the beautiful area of Texas, known as Texas Hill Country. Make sure you click on the link for Texas Peach Pie!

Welcome Linda and thank you for sharing this beautiful region with us.

Having A Large Time in Small-Town Texas

Texans have a saying. They claim to be having a large time when they are experiencing a grand adventure. If you want to live large in one of the loveliest towns in Texas, just make your way to Fredericksburg, the jewel of the Texas Hill Country.

Local Artist

This central Texas town has that special combination of scenic beauty, rich history and friendly locals. Backed by a sound track of country music classics, Fredericksburg offers the traveller a varied and unique travel adventure.

Lovely Local Peaches

Fredericksburg offers the optimal experience in the spring especially in the month of May when the bluebonnets, primroses, lavender fields, and wisteria are at their peak.

May and June are also prime peach season and the roadways are dotted with charming market stands loaded with the juicy fruit. Pick one that has the added treat of freshly churned peach ice cream or warm-from-the-oven peach pie.

Local Bed and Breakfast

The town is tourist-friendly with a variety of accommodations but the best option is one of the hundreds of bed and breakfast inns.

These homes offer comfort, flexibility, and privacy. Many are located within blocks of Main Street making it an easy walk to the most popular attractions.

Admiral Nimitz

If you are a history buff, you'll want your first stop to be the National Museum of the Pacific War. The museum preserves the memory of the Pacific Theater of WWII and commemorates the heroism of military personnel like Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz who commanded more than two million men and women, 5,000 ships, and 20,000 planes at the height of the war. Nimitz was raised by his widowed mother in the small community of Fredericksburg and the museum is partially housed in the restored steamboat-shaped hotel of Nimitz's grandfather.

But if music is your passion, you'll want to go, as Texans put it, down the road a piece.

Classic cars

There you will run upon the town of Luckenbach where "Everybody's Somebody." Read up on Luckenbach's only-in-Texas beginnings and rebirth in 1970 when it was purchased by Honda Crouch and his cohorts. They formed a make-believe town of the post office, general store and beer joint/dance hall and hosted signature events like the Mud Dauber Festival. The whimsy went global when country-rocker Jerry Jeff Walker chose Luckenbach as the backdrop for his gold album Viva Terlingua and spread even wider when Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson immortalised the locale in their hit Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Life).

Luckenbach open air dance hall.

Every night in laid-back Luckenbach, you can join a lively dance crowd on the open air dance floor and try the Cotton Eyed Joe, the Texas Two Step, and the Electric Slide. Expect to bump into an international crowd--I met a group of 14 from cosmopolitan Paris who were in the middle of a cowboy themed trek through Fort Worth, San Antonio, Luckenbach and concluding in Bandera, the self-proclaimed Cowboy Capitol of the World.

Traditional Texas fare like barbecue and steaks. Your Texas adventure can be fuelled by some of the best culinary experiences anwhere via the varied offerings of Hill Country restaurants. The town has exceptional gourmet choices at chef-owned restaurants, bakeries, wineries and micro-breweries, farm-to-table- markets, and seasonal produce stands. German favorites are popular as are Traditional Texas fare like barbecue and steaks. You can even enjoy a delicious Bomber Burger and watch aircraft take off and land at the Airport Diner. Order it with chocolate malt made from ice cream prepared just up the street in Fredericksburg.

You can combine experience and eating by picking your own fruits and vegetables, tasting the local honey, stomping grapes, harvesting lavender, or sampling local cheese and wine at a scenic vineyard. The 600+ acres of the Hill Country Wine Region make up the second most visited wine region in the United States, second only to California's Napa Valley.

Outdoor markets double for western movie sets with their wide assortment of antiques, weathered wood, and architectural cast-offs

Fredericksburg is the perfect jumping off point for any of your Texas fantasies. Texans will tell you, "Y'all come." You will be glad you did!

Thank you Linda for sharing your wonderful views of Texas Hill Country. Next time I'm in Texas it's on my "To Do" list.

Great video about Fredericksburg The Texas Hill Country.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

Title - The Fredericksburg Home Kitchen Cook Book

Author - Texa Ladies Auxiliary of Fredericksburg

Buy from - Amazon - Click here

Title - Lone Star Cafe

Author - Lisa Wingate

Buy from Amazon - Click here

Guest Travel Blog post - The Beautiful City of Lincoln, England by Anne Cater.

2013-05-17T03:00:00.000+01:00

My Blog visitor today is my book friend Anne. Please join me on her tour of Lincoln.
Welcome Anne!

I have lived within 20 minutes of Lincoln for all of my life. I grew up just over the border in Nottinghamshire and moved across the Trent to Lincolnshire 18 years ago.

We are so lucky to have the beautiful cathedral city of Lincoln on our doorstep, it really doesn’t matter how often I visit, there is always something to see and do.

Anne & Treez at Lincoln Cathedral

I have to start with the wonderful Gothic cathedral that can be seen for miles around, sitting high on the high, keeping guard over the city. Building on the cathedral started in 1088 and for 238 years it was the highest building in the world. Tours of the building take place every day, with roof top tours for the brave.

Just alongside the cathedral is Lincoln Castle, home of the Magna Carta and has recently undergone a lengthy restoration. Free tours of the castle are available daily. Lots of events are held at the castle throughout the year, one of my favourites being the Sausage Festival which is held every October.

Other buildings of note which are situated in the Cathedral Quarter are The Church of St Mary Magdale, Ellis Mill and Leigh Pemberton House. It would be easy to spend the whole day in the Cathedral Quarter and regular tours are held.

As you travel down Steep Hill from the Cathedral and Castle (it’s not called Steep Hill for nothing – be warned), you enter what is known as the Cultural Quarter. Again lots of quirky and ancient buildings, bursting with history. Jews Court on Steep Hill is a 14^th Century building and is the head office of the Lincolnshire History Society as well as housing a wonderful bookshop, full of interesting and sometimes very unusual books – factual and fiction. Jews House, next door, is one of the oldest town houses in England and at the moment is the home of a high-class restaurant.

As you descend Steep Hill, down to the more modern part of the city you will come across lots of quirky, individual and independent shops. Selling everything from Lincolnshire sausages to designer handbags, this street is a shopper’s paradise. Dotted along the way are cafes, tearooms and restaurants to suit any taste. Everything from an English Breakfast to a Thai meal can be eaten along here.

Steep Hill meets the top of the High Street and this area is fast becoming known for its excellent

range of vintage and second-hand shops. Both independent shops and charity shops are represented here and special mention has to be made of The St Barnabas Hospice Shop. Their second floor is called The Attic and is a joy to visit. Totally decked out with vintage furniture and fittings, it is a thrifty shopper’s dream land. Mingling in with the old is the new and here you will find a wide range of high-end designer fashion, everything from Agnes B, Vivienne Westwood to Hugo Boss and Armani. Again, if you get hungry or thirsty it’s not a problem with cakes to delight in the window of Patesserie Valerie or an Italian treat from Carluccios – all available here.

The Attic – St Barnabas Hospice Shop

Lincoln High Street is where you will find the larger chain stores; Marks & Spencer, Primark, Waterstone’s, Topshop, and although these shops are less traditional, some of the buildings that house them are still beautiful – ancient and gothic.

Over the past few years, and especially since Lincoln University was opened, the City has gained more and more places to spend a night out. The Brayford area has been transformed and now includes a multiplex cinema and a range of eating places including Nandos, ASK and Prezzo.

Art, theatre and music lovers are well catered for in the city too.

Lincoln Drill Hall is an arts and community venue, with a 500 seat auditorium and a café bar. An eclectic mix of jazz, dance, theatre, comedy and children’s workshops are hosted here, along with the yearly Beer Festival.

Lincoln Theatre Royal was built in 1893 and although small, is a popular venue to see pantomimes, musicals and concerts.

The Engine Shed is located on the University campus and is fast gaining a reputation for hosting up and coming performers alongside names such as the Stereophonics and Kasabian

Alongside the large Odeon multi screen cinema there is also The Venue – an independent digital cinema

This is just a small taste of what Lincoln has to offer. There are many more parts of the city – many tours, lots of open spaces and so much history.

Watch your choice of videos about the lovely City of Lincoln. Choose from the Steep Hill area Anne has spoken about or the Cathedral, or just take the scenic tour of the city in General. Three lovely videos to choose from.

Cathedral Character Area

Steep Hill

Views of Lincoln

Book recommendations - Books set in Lincoln.

Title - The Fleethaven Trilogy

Author - Margaret Dickinson

Publisher - Pan Macmillan

Buy from Amazon UK - Click here
Buy from Amazon US - Click here

Title - Dead Money (A Detective Inspector Paul Amos Lincolnshire Mystery)

Author - Rodney Hobson

Publisher - Endeavour

Buy from Amazon UK - Click here
Buy from Amazon US - Click here

For more details on the Beautiful City of Lincoln - Click here
For more details on the County of Lincolnshire - Click here

To follow Anne on her blog - Random Things Through My Letterbox - Click here

Book Tour - Stranded, Stalked and Finally Sated by Amelia Rose

2013-05-15T03:00:00.000+01:00

Stranded, Stalked, and Finally Sated

by Amelia Rose

Stalked, Stranded, and Finally Sated
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance
Publisher: Psion Publishers
Release Date: January 30, 2013
Amazon

Book Description:

Clara Roberts has found herself forced to flee across country, pursued by a madman who seems to have access to every aspect of her life. Consequently, she is off the grid and under the radar when her truck breaks down in a small corner of South western, Oklahoma, and she finds herself at the mercy of a local cowboy. While she knows that she will eventually have to keep running to stay one step ahead of her stalker, she begins to find herself drawn to this man. With his support she decides that her life is something worth fighting for.

Shad Brandt wasn’t sure what to expect when he pulled over to help out the girl on the side of the road, but it isn’t long before he realizes that she was a lot more than he bargained for. He knows that she is running from something, but he can’t quite place his finger on what it is. However, he cannot turn his back on this woman in need and when he opens his home and his heart to her he finds something else entirely. So when danger comes to lay claim to Clara, he finds that he is willing to sacrifice everything to make sure she stays safe.

About The Author:

Amelia Rose is a shameless romance addict with no intentions of ever kicking the habit. Growing up she dreamed of entertaining people and taking them on fantastical journeys with her acting abilities, until she came to the realization as a college sophomore that she had none to speak of. Another ten years would pass before she discovered a different means to accomplishing the same dream: writing stories of love and passion. Amelia has always loved romance stories and she tries to tie all the elements she likes about them into her writing.

Website

Excerpt:

Running was tiring and she so badly wanted somewhere to call home. She had been on her way to stay with a childhood friend in Wichita Falls when her truck broke down, and even though it had only been two days ago, it felt like another lifetime.

“I guess that happens sometimes with older vehicles. The parts aren’t as easy to find as they used to be,” she finally said when she got the coffee swallowed. “Isn’t your friend in Wichita Falls going to be worried about you?” Shad asked, walking around the now clean desk and inspecting the files she had neatly stacked on one side.

“Oh,” she said, setting down her cup next to his on the desk and picking up an envelope from the top of one of the filing cabinets. “Could you mail this for me? It’s a letter telling her what happened.”

Shad smiled at her. “A letter? You have heard of phones, right? We may be out in the country, but we’ve got fancy things like phones and electricity.”

“Old school is just how I roll.” She winked and turned away from him, hoping he wouldn’t catch the fear in her eyes. If her experience with the stalker had taught her nothing else, it had made her very aware of the influence technology had over everyone’s life, even technology as basic as a telephone.

“I’m going to start getting lunch ready. I’ll be sure to come and get you whenever it’s done.”

“What are you making?” she asked, licking her lips mockingly.

“It’s a special recipe. You’ll just have to wait to find out,” he told her, winking a little as he headed to the door.

“You know, as good as you cook, I’m surprised you live in this house alone.” she joked, putting her hands on her hips and smiling broadly. He had cooked all of the meals for the two of them since her arrival. “You’ve put five pounds on me already.”

He looked her up and down, appraising her, and suddenly Clara felt almost naked in the shorts and button-up shirt she was wearing, as if his eyes were searing into her flesh. “You were too skinny. The five pounds filled you out in all the right places.”

He reached out and ran the palm of his hand down her arm. She shivered under his touch, but she didn’t take her eyes from his. They had darkened again, and she could see the desire there and knew it was reflected in hers as well. Before she could think about what she was doing, she put her arms around his neck, drew his face to hers, and kissed him.

His lips were hard at first, but after a moment, they softened, and he returned her embrace. When his tongue slipped into her mouth she groaned low and leaned into him as a fire uncoiled in her abdomen. It had been so long since a man had made her feel this way, and she felt herself slipping into unknown territory.

For once, she let herself go.

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VBT & Competition - The Wonderful Adventures of Godfrey and Chucky by Daitoku Daiichi

2013-05-14T03:00:00.000+01:00

The Wonderful Adventures of Godfrey and Chucky: Hot Spring

by Daitoku Daiichi

Genre: Drama/Teens/Young Adult Fiction
Publisher: Daitoku Daiichi
Release Date: January 2013
Kobo

The Wonderful Adventures of Godfrey and Chucky

Godfrey is young, wealthy and able-bodied. He has all the women you can imagine, and unbelievably deep pockets. But Godfrey wants more. His Great Greatness wants to rid the world of a menacing scourge, and restore what is truly superior to an elevated position. Why would anyone stop him? Who could possibly stop him?

Chucky arrives as the new assistant, and tries to perform every duty that is handed to him. What challenges for a dull servant! Look at him muddling through! With passports of exclusive privilege, the two adventurers make a splash in tropical Langkawi, where the water is blue and the girls are brown. Then they rendezvous with the locals in Singapore, where pleasures are plentiful and multicolored. Food and money are found in piles. Life in a global city should be, possibly, one of uninterrupted leisure…shouldn’t it?

Desire is a seductively red piece of jade, which resides even in our dreams.

"I am a healthy, strong and sexy male with a life, most of it sex life." - Godfrey Mann

"I did not know how to reply, since the words were difficult to speak." - Chucky

About The Author:

Inspired by English and Japanese gardens, Daitoku Daiichi is committed to sharing scenes of beauty with his readers. He hopes that through the mansion-like device of the novel, he can host a tea party to serve his readers exotic delights. In the day, he is a tutor, essayist, gourmet and world traveler. People somehow love to share their secrets with him, and he wants use his gifts of perception to tell innovative stories.

Readers are always welcome to chat with him at ddaiichi@gmail.com

Website | Facebook

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Book Review - The Wedding Diary by Margaret James

2013-05-13T15:23:00.000+01:00

Title - The Wedding Diary

Author - Margaret James

Publisher - Choc Lit Publishing

Published date - 07th May 2013

Purchase from - Amazon UK // Amazon US // Choc Lit

Blurb from Amazon -

Where's a Fairy Godmother when you need one? If you won a fairy-tale wedding in a luxury hotel, you'd be delighted - right? But what if you didn't have anyone to marry? Cat Aston did have a fiance, but now it looks like her Prince Charming has done a runner.
Adam Lawley was left devastated when his girlfriend turned down his heartfelt proposal. He's made a vow never to fall in love again.
So - when Cat and Adam meet, they shouldn't even consider falling in love. After all, they're both broken hearted. But for some reason they can't stop thinking about each other. Is this their second chance for happiness, or are some things just too good to be true?

This book attracted me from the start with its cover. Until I found this publisher, Choc Lit publishing, I wasn’t really a chic lit kind of reader. I have to say so far I’ve not been disappointed with any of the authors I’ve come across and this book was no exception.

Cat Aston, entered a competition in a magazine and won her dream wedding, in a luxury country hotel with all the trimmings and a magazine photographic deal. Who wouldn’t want that? Only problem is that her fiancé has done a runner and despite her trying desperately to contact him, he hasn’t got in touch with her. He’s gone to find himself!

Elsewhere, Adam Lawley’s girlfriend has left him after he proposed. He feels that life is at an end. Two lost souls. In a way from reading this you feel that the book is going to be a bit predictable, however there are so many obstacles placed in their way, that the predictability soon fades!

I loved the flow of this book and how the chapters seamlessly led into each other. It was a light hearted read with some wonderful characters. Cat comes across as a well balanced girl on the outside, but then you want to shake her when she says stupid things about her loser of a fiancée as she is blinded by love. I totally immersed myself in the story.

Adam seems like every girls dream; Kind, good looking and a real gentleman. It makes you wonder why his girlfriend turned down his proposal in favouring of going off travelling. I fell in love with him straight away! I started trying to picture who would play him in a rom com version of the book.

The authors’ description of people and places really brought them to life, and you just romanticised as you read through the book. This is another book that I read in two sittings. I have now bought the next book by Margaret James, The Silver Locket, which is part of a trilogy and I can’t wait to get started on it.

Thoroughly recommend this as another “curl up on the sofa” book.

About the Author - courtesy of Amazon author page.

Margaret James was born in Hereford, a beautiful cathedral city in the English Midlands.

She started writing fiction when her children were very small, and published her first novel A Touch of Earth in 1988. Since then, she has expanded her range of writing-related activities to take in journalism, short story writing, teaching creative writing, and editing other people's books.

She was delighted when her novel Elegy for a Queen was featured in the UK's Woman and Home magazine in a selection of the five best time slip novels. The fact that Margaret's own favourite time slip novel The House on the Strand was also featured put a big grin on her face!

Since becoming a novelist, Margaret has realised that having a name like Margaret James leads to lots of confusion, and in her next life she intends to have a name that she shares with absolutely nobody else.

When she's not writing, Margaret loves walking, reading anything and everything, gossiping, gardening and eating chocolate. She quite often manages to eat chocolate and write at the same time, which occasionally makes for a somewhat sticky keyboard, but also makes for happy writing.

Just for the record - this Margaret James wrote: A Touch of Earth, Fortune's Favourite Child, The Treasures of Existence, The Snake Stone, A Green Bay Tree, The Ash Grove, A Special Inheritance, The Final Reckoning, Hallowed Ground, The Morning Promise, The Long Way Home, The Penny Bangle, Elegy for a Queen, The Silver Locket, The Golden Chain, and she contributed to the anthology Loves Me, Loves Me Not. Margaret's latest novel The Wedding Diary is published in 2013.

She was thrilled when The Silver Locket won a prestigious Cataromance Single Titles Award in 2010, and when the cover of The Golden Chain was chosen to feature on the design of a KLM airliner in 2011.

This book was given to me as a review copy. This did not influence my review in any way and I was not paid for my review.

Book Release Blast - Bluffing the Devil by CL Foster - Published May 2013

2013-05-12T03:00:00.000+01:00

Title-Bluffing the Devil

Author - CL Foster

Expected Publication Date - May 2013

Cover by the amazingly talented Regina Wamba of Mae I Designs <3 ~

https://www.facebook.com/MaeIDesignandPhotography

Bluffing the Devil Trailer ~ Click here

Blurb-

After losing her fiancé to a freak accident, Alexia Riley decides to swear off relationships and focus her energy on conquering the male-dominated sport of professional poker.

When Alexia finds herself being visited in her dreams by a mysterious new man, she begins to wonder if her world is slowly starting to unravel around her.

Tested by a double-dealing nemesis on the tables and tempted by a mysterious "dream man", Alexia soon contemplates making a deal with the Devil to rid herself of these torments. What bargain will she strike with the Dark Prince to get what she wants? As temptation for a mysterious dream man weakens her resolve, a desire to defeat her greatest rival beckons her. Will she sacrifice her soul for victory? Love? Or does she want something else entirely?

The stakes have never been higher for Alexia than they are when she is bluffing the Devil.

Links-

Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17238423-bluffing-the-devil

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CL Foster is a brand new writer with big dreams and lots of avenues she wants to travel.

Originally from Florida, she has lived all over the world, but has settled down in Pennsylvania.... for now! She has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, minoring in Psychology and Forensics. Which means you don't want to cross her because she knows how and where to hide a body so it's never found!

She proudly admits to hearing voices in her head, but at times, her characters' impromptu visits can be rude and annoying. Thankfully, she has adequate patience for their shenanigans and can out ninja them any day of the week.

Links-

Goodreads- click here

Twitter- Click here

Facebook- click here

Amazon Author Page- click here

Facebook Event- click here

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May 11th

Mythical Books

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Guest Travel Blog - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic by Laraine Drage.

2013-05-11T02:30:00.000+01:00

Welcome to another Guest Blogger, Laraine, who through her love of travel has been to some of the most beautiful places in the world. She would like to share with you all, her trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, where she stayed in different hotels and had some wonderful travel experiences.

Welcome Laraine.

Getting there.

Punta Cana Dominican Republic

"We travelled in style with BA in club class. We checked in smoothly and were fast tracked through to the club lounge where we enjoyed a light sanck and drinks before boarding our flight to Punta Cana via Antigua. On arrival we were again fast tracked through immigration and collected our luggage on were soon on our way to our first hotel.

The hotels.

We spent the first two nights at the Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana, only a short distance from the airport which is good after a long flight. A huge hotel with everything you would wish for. It was so big it was like being in a shopping mall, there are 8 a la carte restaurants, 4 swim up bars in 11 pools, a casino, a nightclub and every room has a Jacuzzi.

We were entertained the following night at the Dreams La Romana which is beautiful and much more my style of hotel. Again the hotel is only a short distance from the airport and on arrival they greet you with welcoming cool towels and a local drink. No need for wrist bands here, they whisk you through check in and straight to your rooms with all your luxuries there. If you have forgotten any of your bathroom essentials you need not worry as they have thought of everything. Room service is 24/7 (like most of the hotels in the Dominican that are all inclusive) and if your favourite tipple is champagne they will replenish your fridge daily with it.

The next day we had lunch at the Zoetry Agua which was calming and gentile, then onto the Hostal Nicolas de Ovando in Santo Domingo for our overnight city stay.

Hostal Nicolas de Ovando

This hotel is an old colonial style property which is almost reminiscent of staying in a museum. The rooms are spacious and very minimalist. Breakfast is served in a pretty courtyard and there is a rooftop pool. We made our way back from the capital and stopped off overnight at the Now Larimar. This hotel looked lovely, but we were told that we had been upgraded to the Secrets Palm Beach. The hotel is on another beautiful beach with plenty of sun beds and an abundance of restaurants. No complaints here, we ate in the seafront ocean grill and were once again spoilt.

Finally we moved onto the Barcelo Bavaro Deluxe Palace for 2 nights. This hotel is again huge, very family orientated but has an adult's only section on the far side. There is an adult's only water park along with children's one so they don't feel left out, a 19 hole golf course and plenty of a la carte restaurants along with a casino and nightclub to keep you busy.

Trip highlight.

Saona Island

There were so many highlights on the trip, but for me the boat trip to Saona Island was the best. We saw how the islanders still live and survive and how happy they are with life. We got to the island by speedboat, which was a challenge in itself especially if you know what I am like on water. We had a BBQ on the beach and even got to choose our own lobster before chilling in the sun.

We had the ultimate treat at the Hard Rock by having a session in the spa, we were able to experience the whole rock spa and hydrotherapy centre with its lagoons, whirlpools and colour therapy steam rooms. We used the clay steam room and relaxed in the sensory pool. Just what we needed after all of that hard work....... We also visited a sugar beet plantation and learnt how the sugar is extracted and used, along with a lesson in rolling a cigar in one of the factories.

Favourite hotel.

My favourite hotel has to be one that we didn't stay at but had lunch at. The Casa de Campo. I was amazed and would love to have had more time there. Lunch was lovely we ate down at the beach restaurant. There is a huge marina with a great choice of restaurants and the whole complex had a very pleasant feel to it.

The hotel that I most enjoyed staying overnight at has to be the Barceló. The atmosphere is so laid back; it is big but not too big. The staff are attentative but not intrusive and the beach is out of this world.

Santo Domingo

Most fun night.

This has to be the night in Santo Domingo. We went to the Colonial Zone and dance the merengue and bachata with the locals.

A great evening was enjoyed by all. We felt safe with the locals and they were very welcoming and willing to teach us their dance moves.

Biggest surprise.

Having visited the island 25 years ago and not having the opportunity to visit since, I was really looking forward to seeing how and what had changed.

The island is still being developed and there are more and more hotels springing up on such beautiful beaches. These hotels are of such a good standard, you are totally spoilt by the facilities; the choice of restaurants and the service you experience. They are such good value for money and for me, the best I have seen in the Caribbean of late.

There is still so much culture evident which is important as so many islands lose that with tourism. The locals are so welcoming and helpful and clearly love to speak and embrace you as a visitor to their island.

Final thoughts.

I have totally been spoilt. I never dreamt that the island would be so impressive and so diverse. I have had to eat my words as I know for sure that in the past I have tried to switch sale clients to other islands for fear of them not enjoying the destination. I am happy to recommend it to families, couples, golfers, honeymooners and even backpackers that like to go off the beaten track. I shall be returning myself without a doubt very soon."

To speak to Laraine about your travel desires (if you are in the UK) click here
Laraine is a self employed Travel Consultant for Travel Counsellors.

SPOTLIGHT TOUR - Deadly.com by Cindy McDonald

2013-05-10T03:00:00.000+01:00

Deadly.com

by Cindy McDonald

Genre: Murder/Suspense
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: September 2, 2012Amazon

Book Description:

Make a note: never agitate a madman. Successful Thoroughbred trainer Mike West just made that mistake-and he’s gonna pay-more than he ever realized. But it’s all in the family; his sister, Kate, has been the object of the madman’s desire on the social network “My Town”. Her constant rejections have infuriated him! People who seem to be in the way start turning up dead, and he’s got Mike and Kate next on his list! In the first book of The Unbridled Series, Cindy McDonald introduces you to the world of Thoroughbred racing, while taking her cast of characters on a wild ride through a maniacs mind.

"Very well done." -A Book Vacation

"Deadly.com" is a collection of thriller short stories compiled into one gripping narrative. -Midwest Book Reviews

Deadly.com | Hot Coco | Dangerous Deception

BIO FOR AUTHOR, CINDY McDONALD

For the past twenty years Cindy has helped her husband raise, train, and race Thoroughbreds at their forty-five acre farm known as Fly-By-Night Stables near Pittsburgh.

During those years Cindy has paid close attention to the characters that hang-out at the back-side of the track. She found the situations and life style most intriguing. In 2005 she sat down at her computer and began a journey into writing about this life that few understand.

Cindy has recently retired from making her living as a professional choreographer. She owned and operated Cindy McDonald’s School of Dance since 1985. She studied at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School and with the Pittsburgh Dance Alloy at Carnegie Mellon University to name a few. She has choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards.Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Excerpt:

The heat of a summer night wrapped its arms around Westwood Thoroughbred Farm. The farm’s vast one hundred acres nestled in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania outside the small town of Grantville. Westwood was a lucrative, bustling horse farm. In the mornings exercise riders would put the horses through their daily workouts. The stable hands would scuttle about the barn chattering in Spanish while cleaning stalls and filling water buckets. In the afternoon, the farm manager, Punch McMinn would deliver the horses to the racetrack where they would dash hell-bent–for-leather toward the finish line.

Not tonight. Not for Kate West anyway. Kate was only looking for peace and quiet tonight. The glimmer of candlelight and the comforting scent of sweet lilac filled the room. She took a long, gratifying sip of her Sleepy Time tea with a drizzle of honey, a tiny indulgence to help her unwind. She ran her fingers through her blonde, silky hair. Dressed in a soft cami and a pair of pajama pants, she was feeling cozy and glad to have the evening off. She often worked late into the evening as a veterinary assistant at the racetrack. Tonight was going to be a hot one.

She stretched out on the sofa in her father’s study. The sweat dribbled down her neck to between her breasts. Her cami clung to her like a contestant in a wet t-shirt competition. She propped her feet on the coffee table. Her lips curled devilishly as she thought how her father would disapprove.

Twenty-five-year-old Kate was much too old for scolding, but Eric West could be somewhat over-bearing. He loved the grandeur of the old Victorian-style farmhouse. He claimed that installing a modern convenience such as central air would compromise the home’s integrity. But he wasn’t home. She wiggled her toes, lifted her laptop from the couch, and logged onto a local networking website. The Wi-Fi delivered the site speedily to announce “MY TOWN” across the screen in bold letters.

The blueness from the laptop’s screen illuminated Kate’s face. She arched a brow and she bit her lip softly when the picture of Giorgio appeared on the screen.

He’s logged on! Oh yes! There he is a delicacy of pure eye candy.

Giorgio had smooth olive skin. His long, dark hair swept across his broad shoulders. His eyes were a cool, inviting green. His jaw was square and strong. It was as if he wasn’t real, as if he was one of those erotic-looking characters on the cover of a romance novel.

Kate chuckled to herself. She could easily picture this half-naked Adonis, embracing a buxom beauty with her brunette hair cascading over her shimmering bare shoulders with a title like Desire at Dawn scrawled over their heads.

She had been cautiously chatting with Giorgio for several weeks after he had requested her friendship on the site. His picture was so stimulating, how could she resist? A congregation of attractive woman worshipped him with suggestive messages and invitations on his page. And why wouldn’t they adore him? His half unbuttoned shirt clarifies one thing. He’s ripped.

Among the women who paid daily homage to Giorgio was Ava West, Kate’s ex-sister-in-law. Kate had a healthy disdain for her. She was unfaithful to Mike, Kate’s older brother. Ava blatantly flaunted her beauty in men’s faces to get what she desired. Tall and leggy, beautiful Ava allowed her auburn hair to dangle so she could brush it back with a coquettish smile when in seduction mode. Like Giorgio, she too had green eyes, but they weren’t soft. They were definitely piercing.

Every man’s wet dream featured Ava, and she knew it. She could be quite the smooth manipulator. Her messages to Giorgio weren’t so much suggestive as straight to the point. Ava liked men in multiples. One man, no matter how handsome, was just never enough for very long.

In general, Kate thought little of women who participated in cyber-sex; she considered it a pathetic, desperate activity. But merely flirting with a gorgeous man in cyber-space couldn’t hurt, right? She laid her fingers thoughtfully on the laptop’s keys just as a message popped onto her screen.

“Want some company?”

Her fingers jerked from the keyboard. Giorgio! Has he been waiting for me to log on? Hmmm. Maybe he prefers sultry blondes over auburn, green-eyed manipulative monsters.

The cat and mouse game she’d been playing with him for several weeks had been a lot of fun. He had suggested hooking up several times, but she wasn’t prepared for a face to face meeting. Not yet anyway.

She licked her lips in delight as her fingers found their way back into position. I have to hold him off a little longer... make him want me... make him really want to be with me. She typed, “Soon... maybe.”

****

In a crummy trailer park across the street from the racetrack, he waited for her answer in dark, rumpled bedroom. The old ceiling fan made a clacking sound while whirling the stench of sweat and body odor throughout the room.

In a pair of boxers and a dingy white wife-beater T-shirt, he stared at his laptop. A blop of brown meat sauce dribbled down the shirt. The wrapper from a half-eaten taco rested next to the laptop amongst five empty crumpled taco wrappers. His shoulders were damp with perspiration. He rubbed his thigh and then his groin.

Her reply popped-up on the screen. He was almost a relieved. He had created Giorgio as an alter ego to talk to her...flirt with her. Yes, possibly even be with her.

Kate was the beautiful daughter of Eric West, the imposing patriarch of Westwood Thoroughbred Farm. She‘s a woman I can only dream about. Maybe I could touch her through Giorgio. He wasn’t exactly sure how, but he would find a way. Soon...very soon.

****

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Giveaway: One signed paperback or ebook (winners choice, US/Canada), International – one ebook

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My Cruise stop & Travels in Vietnam -- Guest blog by Linda Hardy

2013-05-08T00:30:00.000+01:00

I'd like to introduce you to Linda. She is my Husbands Cousin, somewhere along the line in our family tree. We found each other a few years ago whilst doing our family history research. We haven't met yet because I live in the UK and she lives the other side of the world in Tasmania. We both have a love of travel and Linda's passion is cruising. Here she is sharing a destination she fell in love with, Vietnam. I'm sure it will fascinate you.

Welcome Linda.

Costa Classica Cruise Ship

In May 2011 I ventured on a 14 day cruise around parts of Asia, it was the first time I had been on a Costa Cruise – the ship was Costa Classica, but not the first time I had been on a cruise, in fact I love cruising!

I flew from Melbourne, Australia to Singapore where I stayed in a hotel and spent a few days prior to the cruise, doing a spot of sightseeing and shopping! I tend to be an independent traveller preferring to go exploring by myself and finding my way around. Though the ship does offer shore excursions, these can be expensive, whereas if you leave the ship you will often find other tours a lot cheaper.

The first port of call was to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, formerly known as Saigon. This was my

Linda in Ho Chi Minh City

first trip to Vietnam. The ship provided a shuttle bus to the city from the port which was not far. My first impression of Ho Chi Minh City is one of being a very pleasant city, easy to get around if you're walking and it's quite flat so if you have any difficulties with walking it shouldn’t be a problem.

There's lots of traffic everywhere, especially motorbikes. The city is quite charming in places with some old buildings, I was quite surprised how elegant some of the buildings are.

So many motorbikes!

The only thing I found annoying is some of the people, some of the locals approached me speaking in English wanted to sell their wares ie: sunglasses, watches or cigarettes, and would follow you down the street, to get away I would walk into a shop, while other locals stood outside some of their own shops asking you to come in.

On one occasion one of the locals grabbed my arm wanting me to go with him to his shop, however I did not feel threatened in any way and kept politely saying No thank you, eventually if you ignore them completely and pretend you do not know English they will leave you alone, saying that though if your appearing a bit lost and looking at your tourist map the people are also very helpful to point you in the right direction going along with you to make sure you know where you are going.

The tourist industry is quite new in Vietnam and is yet to fully boom in this country and the people I think see us Westerners as quite a novelty and they are just trying to be friendly and helpful, to the point of being too friendly and too helpful, but don’t let this put you off.

Hoi Ann Temples.

Next stop on the cruise was Da Nang in Vietnam. There's not a great deal to see here sightseeing wise, but I took a taxi ride and about 20 minutes later I was in the old village of Hoi Ann; a fascinating place that feels very olde worlde. At one stage I was in one of the temple’s in Hoi Ann and some Korean tourists wanted to have their picture taken with me so I obliged. I would suggest spending more time in Hoi Ann, well worth the taxi ride, which is not expensive at all and the taxi drivers do speak some English.

　

Ha Long Bay floating village.

The final stop on the cruise in Vietnam was the UNESCO World Heritage site - Ha Long Bay.The Bay seems very mysterious especially when it is cloudy and misty. Most visitors to this area opt to do cruises around the Bay. The town itself is very small and not much to see here though the market is worth a visit. I opted for a small boat tour around the Bay which included visiting the floating fishing villages. What a sight! Whole families live on these including pet dogs.

Overall I enjoyed my visit to Vietnam, it was not your typical commercial tourist spot, in fact commercialism has not arrived yet in Vietnam .I did notice several resorts being built so I’m sure the country will change as more tourists visit.

Da Nang & it's many sculptures.

To visit the Vietnam Tourist Office click here

To visit Linda's home of Tasmania, click the tourist office link click here

Books based in Vietnam

Title - Cracker

Author - Cynthia Kadohata

Ages - 10 and up.

From Amazon - Click here

Blurb from Amazon

CRACKER IS ONE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY'S MOST VALUABLE WEAPONS:

a German shepherd trained to sniff out bombs, traps, and the enemy. The fate of entire platoons rests on her keen sense of smell. She's a Big Deal, and she likes it that way. Sometimes Cracker remembers when she was younger, and her previous owner would feed her hot dogs and let her sleep in his bed. That was nice, too. Rick Hanski is headed to Vietnam. There, he's going to whip the world and prove to his family and his sergeant -- and everyone else who didn't think he was cut out for war -- wrong. But sometimes Rick can't help but wonder that maybe everyone else is right. Maybe he should have just stayed at home and worked in his dad's hardware store. When Cracker is paired with Rick, she isn't so sure about this new owner. He's going to have to prove himself to her before she's going to prove herself to him. They need to be friends before they can be a team, and they have to be a team if they want to get home alive. Told in part through the uncanny point of view of a German

Title - The Coroners Lunch

Author - Colin Cotterill
From Amazon - Click here

Blurb from Wikipedia
Despite a total lack of training, an utter dearth of experience and a complete absence of inclination, Dr. Siri Paiboun has just been appointed state coroner for the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It's 1976, the royal family has been deposed, the professional classes have fled and the communists have taken over. And 72-year-old Siri - a communist for convenience and a wry old reprobate by nature - has got the coroner's job because he's the only doctor left in Laos.
But when the wife of a Party leader is wheeled into the morgue and the bodies of tortured Vietnamese soldiers start bobbing to the surface of a Laotian lake, all eyes turn to the new coroner. Faced with official cover-ups and an emerging international crisis, Siri will be forced to enlist old friends, tribal shamans, forensic deduction, spiritual acumen and some good old-fashioned sleuthing before he can discover quite what's going on...

For other books set in Vietnam, click here. Sadly a lot of them are military books and war books, which is a shame when it seems such a beautiful and fascinating country. There must be an opening for an author there!

Thanks for joining me today and welcoming Linda. And thanks Linda for sharing your experiences.

VBT and blog post by the author - Yikes! Another Quirky Audiobook by Adele Park

2013-05-07T05:00:00.000+01:00

Yikes! Another Quirky Audiobook

by Adele Park

About The Author: Adele Park worked as a TV and radio reporter, news anchor and on-air personality for more than 20 years. In 2008, Park formed Straight to Audio Productions LLC and opened a recording studio in St. George, Utah. Park's first audio book, WHEN RADIO AND POLYGAMY COLLIDE . . . Jitters-AQuirky Little Audio Book, received a 2011 Audie Award from the Audio Publishers Association for Multi-Voiced Performance. Jitters-A Quirky Little Audio Book was also honored with a spot on Jimmy Fallon's Do Not Read List. Website | Amazon

Genre: Comedy/Satire
Publisher: Straight to Audio Productions
Release Date: September 22, 2013
Amazon | Audible

When marijuana enthusiast Blue McKenna suffers an apocalyptic case of writer's block, reality TV seems like an easy way out. A conglomerate of kooky contestants invades the polygamist community of Navel, Utah, to compete in a reality show called Yikes! Participants include Steven Finch, a loveable stoner who develops a conspiracy theory involving a rock band called the Rectal Surgeons, and Randall Smoot, a member of the Gay Mafia.

WHEN MARIJUANA AND REALITY TV COLLIDE . . . Yikes! Another Quirky Audio Book features a cast of 11 actors who portray the characters in funny, engaging narratives. This 10.5 hour MP3 audio book is available for sale at Audible.com and Amazon.com. For more information, please visit www.yikesaudiobook.com

Excerpt:

Yikes! Sample

Guest Blog post by Adele Park

Adele Park's Favorite Books

Young Adult Genre

The Great Brain Series by John D. Fitzgerald

These stories offered everything that appealed to me as a child – humor and unique adventures, all beautifully illustrated by Mercer Mayer. I was so intrigued by The Great Brain Series it made me want to visit Utah – now I live here!

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

These stories by C.S. Lewis were delightfully intriguing! The Magician's Nephew was my favorite, although I read each book several times. I was happy when they stated making some of the books into movies.

Favorite Novels

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

I was in high school the first time I read this book. I was enamored by the love story between Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. I didn't get a chance to see the movie until after I had read the book at least two times.

Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins

It's hard to select a favorite book written by Robbins. All his work expertly combines humor with a profound and sometimes profane commentary on the human condition. In Jitterbug Perfume, Robbins outlines a delectable recipe for a long and happy life. I liked all the ingredients except for the beets!

Coyote Blue by Christopher Moore

I have thoroughly enjoyed every book released by Moore, but Coyote Blue stood out for me because it was infused with aspects of the Native American culture. Moore has a very unique sense of humor which has me laughing out loud when I read his work.

Business Books

Do You: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success by Russell Simmons.

This book advocates using a spiritual element in the workplace to create an inspired sense of purpose. The cornerstone of my personal business plan involves talking to God and having fun – ideas promoted by Simmons.

The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz.

Schwartz offers a lot of practical ideas for anyone in business. This book covers a combination of good business practices along with advice on how to adjust attitudes to affect a positive outcome.

Audio Books

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher

“Brangelina” can't hold a candle to the love triangle involving Fisher's parents, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, with Elizabeth Taylor starring as “the other woman.”

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, read by Lynn Redgrave and Ruthie Henshall

This gothic style story featured many interesting characters and unexpected twists. The ending caught me completely off guard. In addition to being a great story, the narration was wonderful!

Spiritual Books

The Four Agreements by Don Miquel Ruiz

Based Toltec beliefs, this book explains how to live a life filled with love and peace. The best part is, I only have to remember four things!

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

The mystery of Taoism is unlocked as Hoff describes this Eastern philosophy in terms of characters from Winnie the Pooh. The book illustrates how the characters from The Hundred Acre Wood represent different personality types. For example, Owl collects knowledge but isn't wise; Eyore sees the glass as half empty or knocked over altogether. Pooh, on the other hand, simply is!

Adele Park's Website: www.yikesaudiobook.com

YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPotQyyPsuo&feature=g-upl

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GIVEAWAY IS US/CANADA ONLY - Sorry

Book Tour & Book Review - Defiant Heart by Marty Steere

2013-05-07T03:00:00.001+01:00

Title - Defiant Heart

Author - Marty Steere
Publisher: Penfield Press (April 15, 2013)
Category: Historical Fiction, WWII, General Fiction
Tour Dates: April-Mid May, 2013
Available in: eBook, 385, and paperback.

Purchase from:-
Amazon UK // Amazon US //

BOOK BLURB

Set against the backdrop of small town America on the eve of World War II, Defiant Heart features two extraordinary characters and one unforgettable love story.
In the spring of 1941, young Jon Meyer’s family dies in a tragic accident, and he is sent to live in a small Indiana town. He arrives to find himself unwanted and shunned.
Mary Dahlgren is the daughter of the town’s mayor. A pretty girl, she could have the pick of the boys in town, including Vernon King, the star of the vaunted high school basketball team. To the chagrin of her friends, though, Mary has always been more interested in books than boys. That is, until she meets Jon.
But Jon and Mary are kept apart by an insidious campaign orchestrated by Mary’s father, who perceives their relationship a threat to his political aspirations, and Vernon, to whom Jon is a rival for Mary’s affections. For months Jon is subjected to a painful ostracism. Then, just when the young man’s earnestness and perseverance begin to win over many of the townsfolk and it appears that love may conquer all, tragedy strikes.
As the country is caught up in war, so too are the young lovers swept up in events beyond their control, leaving both fighting for their very lives. If, against the odds, they are to be together, each will need to find the strength, the courage and the resourcefulness that beat only in a defiant heart.

MY REVIEW

It has been quite a while since a book brought me to tears; made me laugh and made me angry. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It wasn't just a book of romance it was so much more and a great wartime fiction novel.

I loved the main character Jon Meyer. Sadly he lost his parents and brother in a car accident and was sent to stay with a grandmother he hardly knew who seemed to resent him being there. It seemed that life would get harder for him, and you start feeling sorry for him for the word go. Jon then fell in love with Mary but her Father, in fear of scandal, refused to let her see him as it may destroy his political career. He was bullied at school by Vernon, the sports star, and his gang of followers. Through it all though, he retained his dignity and came across as a really strong character who could triumph through adversity.

There were some other great characters in the book. Ben Wheeler, a local pilot, who took Jon under his wing. Ben's own son was away in the military; His English teacher at the school and Walt who worked in the local hardware store, where Jon got a job and then lost it. Mary is also a great character who comes across as strong and determined to get her man.

After being accused of a crime he didn't commit, Jon's punishment was to be sent away to join the army. This left Mary heartbroken as she had continued to see Jon in secret. The war scenes in the book are extremely well written and moving. Quite horrific in parts. Jon proved himself to be a great role model throughout the book and was extremely likeable.

I could write so much more about this book, but don't want to give away the plot line. I had a job to put it down, but had to when I realised I'd been reading all evening and I only had 4 hours left before I had to get up for work. Needless to say I finished it in two sittings. I would certainly love to read other books by this author as I love the depth he gave his characters. One of his other books is previewed at the end of the e-book and I will certainly be buying it.

** I received this book free of charge in order to provide a review. This did not influence my review in anyway **

About Marty Steere:

The son of a career air force officer, Marty Steere grew up on or near military installations across the country and overseas before settling in Southern California, where, when he’s not writing, he practises law. His debut novel, Sea of Crises, was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best of 2012.

Marty Steere’s Website

On Facebook

Defiant Heart on Goodreads

Also from Marty Steere:-

Sea of Crises

Praise for Marty Steere’s Award Winning Book, Sea of Crises:
“Steere’s high-octane suspense tale takes off with all the intrigue and honor of the best space-age Westerns and political thrillers.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Steere’s assured prose is compelling, and the book’s intriguing plot will keep readers turning pages until the very end.”—Publisher’s Weekly

“Author Marty Steere is brilliant!… The action is non-stop and fast-paced and is mixed with just the right amount of mystery to make a perfect thriller…. [The] plot is plausible, the characters are realistic, and the writing is superb…so stunning a read that you will be unable to stop reading until the very end.”—Readers Favorite

“Sea of Crises is a mystery set amongst exploration, very highly recommended.”—The Midwest Book Review

“Marty Steere’s Sea of Crises drew me in, held me at the edge, and gave my hand a comforting squeeze when I couldn’t stand to see what happened next. This is a thriller with heart that will leave its readers satisfied they followed the Cartwright boys into a dangerous adventure.” —BookIdeas.com

“[P]ulse-pounding…. I highly recommend you check out Marty Steere’s novel Sea of Crises!”—BestsellersWorld.com

Follow the Tour:
So Many Precious Books April 5 Review & Giveaway
Books, Books & More Books April 8 Review
Books, Books & More Books April 9 Guest Post
Dr Bill’s Book Bazaar April 10 Review
Cuzinlogic April 12 Review
Literary Addicts April 12 Interview
Raging Bibliomania April 15 Review
Joy Story April 17 Review
Bookworm Brandee April 23 Review
Bookworm Brandee April 24 Guest Post
Green Mountain Couple April 25 Review
Broken Teepee April 26 Excerpt
Every Free Chance May 2 Review & Giveaway
Book Lover’s Library May 3 Review
Book Lover’s Library May 3 Interview
My Devotional Thoughts May 6 Review & Giveaway
Bookalicious Traveladdict May 7 Review
Recent Reads May 8 Review
No Wasted Ink May 8 Interview
Bass Giraffe May 9 Review & Giveaway
Romance & Inspriation May 10 Review
Book Mark Blog May 13 Review
The Self Taught Cook May 14 Review & Giveaway
Teena in Toronto May 15 Review
BookFan May 17 Spotlight
Books Complete Me May 20 Review

Book Review - Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas - New York Times bestseller

2013-05-06T16:24:00.004+01:00

Title - Crystal Cove

Author - Lisa Kleypas

Publisher - Piatkus

Purchase from Amazon UK - Click here
Purchase from Amazon US - Click here
Purchase from Alibris - Click here

Blurb from the back cover -
Justine Hoffman has made a safe and comfortable life for herself on the Island of Friday Harbour, but there is still something missing. Love. And after years of waiting and dreaming, she is willing to do whatever it takes to change her destiny.

But when Justine discovers that someone cast a spell on her when she was born, with the result that she will never find her soulmate, she is determined to change her fate. But she could never have dreamt of the dangerous complications that would follow. . .

Meeting the mysterious Jason Black, Justine unleashes a srom of desire and danger that threatens everything she holds dear - because Jason has secrets of his own, and he wants more from her than fate will ever allow.

My review

I have never read any of Lisa Kleypas' novels before and believe this is the 4th book in the "Friday Harbor" series. From reading the book you do not have to have read the previous 3 and is an okay standalone novel.

I was quite disappointed with the book I have to say. I found the storyline quite weak and far fetched. The main two characters, Justine who runs what is well described as a guest house/inn & Jason Black who is portrayed initially as aloof and demanding, only then to be seen as a weak and bland character.

I normally don't mind books with a paranormal twist and have read many of this paranormal romance genre. However this book with it's spells; curses and witches covens was quite boring and lame and I have to admit to skipping arts on several occasions. There was too much witchcraft and I soon got bored with the story.

I still read the book to the end, as I always think that's fair as the author puts a lot of work into writing a book. I also don't think you can write a fair review if you haven't read the whole book.

I just think that adding too much about witches and spells into the book spoilt it for me. The story was just too "busy". I would read other books by this author if this element was missing as she does have a good descriptive writing style.

This book was just not for me I'm afraid.

(I was given this book to review. No payment was received and the thoughts are entirely my own)

For more about the author - Click here

Lisa Kleypas on Fantastic Fiction - Click here
Facebook page - Click here
Twitter page - click here

Conversations with Hattie: Guest Blogging Bonanza

2013-05-05T17:38:00.001+01:00

Conversations with Hattie: Guest Blogging Bonanza: Today's Guest Blog is written by Lisa Briggs Hardy. Lisa is an esteemed book reviewer who often has the opportunity to interview author...

Guest Travel Blog - Catalina Island, The Ultimate Beach Town, USA - by Shinazy

2013-05-05T03:00:00.000+01:00

Today I am welcoming Guest Blogger Shinazy from the blog www.BOBBblog.com.

She has kindly agreed to share with you her travels to Catalina Island, off the West Coast of America.

Welcome Shinazy

Catalina Island - Ultimate Beach Town Ó

On Catalina Island with Shinazy of BOBBblog.com

There’s a feel to Beach Towns. I live on the San Francisco peninsula, where I try to live as if I were in a beach town - this takes effort. Living in a beach town you just connect with other people – that’s simply how you live life.

I’m on Catalina Island, the 26 miles across the sea Santa Catalina Island. I’m here with my sister and brother; we’re on our Third Annual Sibling Reunion. We arrived yesterday afternoon from Long Beach, after staying on the Queen Mary. Once you leave the Catalina ferry dock, you can sense you are in a Beach Town.

We asked the cab driver where he eats when going out and he recommended the Buffalo Nickel. Our GPS showed it was near to our condo, when actually it was a 20-plus-minute-up-the-hill-no-sidewalk trek. And, of course, we go lost. We stopped a man named Campos and asked for directions. He told us the Buffalo Nickel has a shuttle, he then called them; and told us to wait by the two palm trees. A few minutes later, a van arrived. This pick-up service is offered to everyone and when your meal is over; someone in the kitchen will drive you home. Would this happen in your downtown? Not mine, but remember this is a Beach Town.

The next morning, while walking to the Zip Line, I stopped a man driving a golf cart, carts are the major mode of transportation on the island, and I asked the man if we could pay him to drive us to the Zip Line. “No problem, hop in.” and off we went. It was his day off, he was driving to the store, and although the zip line was out of his way . . . well, this is what folks do in a Beach Town, they do favors for each other and for strangers. Folks do this without thinking about pay back.

---------------------------------

Wherever you are, you can make that place a Beach Town. But How? Well, talk to the person behind you while you stand in line. Chat with the store clerk about something other than what you intend to buy. Hold open the door for the person entering or exiting. Offer to take the vacationing couple's picture. Try talking to folks you just met . . . You will be surprised how open people are and how much joy you will get from the conversations. You, too, can live life in a Beach Town.

Thanks Shinazy for a great blog feature. I love your thoughts on how to make a place a Beach Town. Thanks for sharing.

Books based on Catalina Island

Title - Terminal Island
Author - Walter Greatshell
Available from Amazon - Click here and many other leading booksellers.

Blurb from Amazon -
As a child, Henry Cadmus lived on Catalina Island, a scenic vacationland off the Southern California coast. But Henry's experiences were far from idyllic. Today, even though Henry has seen firsthand the horrors of war, the ghastly images that haunt his dreams are ones he associates with his childhood... and the island: a snarling pig-man holding a cleaver; a jackal-headed woman on a high balcony, dripping blood; strange occult rituals... and worse. If it was up to Henry, he would avoid the island entirely.

But Henry is returning to Catalina Island. At his wife Ruby's insistence, Henry, Ruby, and their infant daughter are coming to Avalon, so that Henry can face his fears, exorcise his demons, and reconcile with the one he dreads most... his mother.

From Walter Greatshell, author of Xombies comes Terminal Island, a novel of cosmic horror.

Title - Wild Catalina Island
Author - Frank J Hein & Carlos de La Rossa
Available from Amazon - Click here and other leading booksellers
Published - 22nd March 2013

Blurb from Amazon -

A year-round escape for one million annual tourists, Catalina Island is gaining popularity as a world-class eco-destination. Eighty-eight percent of the island is under the watch of the Catalina Island Conservancy, which preserves, manages and restores the island's unique wild lands. Bison, foxes and bald eagles are its best-known inhabitants, but Catalina is home to more than sixty other animal and plant species that exist nowhere else on earth. And they are all within the boundaries of one of the world's most populous regions: Los Angeles County. Biologists Frank Hein and Carlos de la Rosa present a highly enjoyable tour through the fascinating origins, mysterious quirks and ecological victories of one of the West Coast's most remarkable places.

Title - Hollywood Isle Catalina Island Picture book
Author - Greg Reitman
To view or purchase - click here

For more information on this island, please visit the tourist information site for Catalina Island. Please click here

Book Tour and Giveaway - the Equation by James Tarrantin

2013-05-04T03:00:00.000+01:00

The Equation

by James Tarrantin

Genre: Action/Adventure, Spirituality, Personal Growth & Inspiration

Publisher: Tarantin Ent.

Release Date: November 22, 2012

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBookStore

Book Description:

The Legendary Larry King writes “The Equation is a Cross-Cultural Odyssey, an asset that will inspire in people the science of accomplishment.”

The Equation Book tells a true, cross-cultural saga that spans over 58 Years and explores exciting adventures on 4 continents.

The Story of a young lad named Omer, born to a wealthy family and shackled on an island of battling hierarchies.

The youth leaves his home, and meets great dangers and tragedies as he seeks to discover Time’s Silent Secret.

At the turn of the Millennium, the mission was to track historic clues and discover an Equation that was lost through the times … hidden in the margins. An Equation that whoever finds it will be Transformed. And with its 4 Rings of Power … design destiny.

A Revolution is inspired! Time Stops!

Will the lad transform or bite from the forbidden power and be carried to the brink of Death?

Excerpt One:

Over 13 billion years ago ...when the universe sparked to life ... the spiritual Big Bang accelerated fluctuations of light that swept the void of space with galaxies and dark energy.

Within this creation, a promise was made. In its heart lies the greatest light. The watchmaker watched the creation, as the universe was endowed with the freedom to move on its own.

One infinite garden, yet many trees of life. One humanity, yet many stories. This book is a small story from the inner light: a story that shall explore the Physical World and the Spiritual World. The body of the story shall embark upon exotic adventures across the lands of Planet Earth: from the continent of Asia to the continent of Europe, and from the ancient civilizations of the Middle East to the continent of America.

The mind of the story will travel from a little roof to the vastness of the stars, from the fires of the valleys to spiritual summits, from War to Peace, and from the sorrows of a heart to the pursuit of a dream.

There is a treasure. Yes! There is a treasure. A treasure that had been lost for millennia, hidden in the margins of History. A force beyond Time and Space – the source of all innovations. The myth tells that whoever discovers this treasure shall be bestowed 4 Rings of Power: The Fountain of Youth – Water, Designing Destinies – Wind, The Moment – Earth, and Cosmic Energy – Fire. So let us light the torch of the future and sail towards the unseen!

An exchange of energy always occurs among all living things. Within this circle, within this network of energy ... a small family once lived. But in order for the family to be here today, past generations decided to design the sands of time.

With no fuel or oil, every day, 7 days a week, Planet Earth orbits the sun. Every dawn, when the morning star shines high above, a new hope is born. A long time ago, in a far away holy land, on one of these mornings, an old man named Mati decided to transform.

About The Author:

“I believe that success is indivisible; the success of anyone anywhere is the success of all of us everywhere.”

James Tarantin is a Philosopher, Game Architect, Author, the Executive Chairman of Tarantin Ent LLC and the Creator of 4=T²D².

An American Citizen who immigrated to the United States alone with no family, money or any formal education … as a Philosopher, James studied 5 Chief avenues; The Mind, Pragmatism & Enterprises, Morality, Metaphysics and Aesthetics. These avenues are explored in his written works, such as The Equation.

After several months of deep research and traveling to Rome, James saw the Equation in a dream at age 16. From 9/22/10 – 12/25/10 he handwrote the entire book.

James believes that each person is just around the corner at accomplishing their mountain top. And though he was a poor young man at the time, James was the first immigrant to America, and one of the youngest spiritual thinkers in history, to write a memoir at the age of 25, in a language that isn’t his mother tongue and with no training in writing whatsoever. The first memoir to present a new philosophical theory and explores a rich array of issues: Family Life, History, Mystical Science, Philosophy, Human Evolution, Personal Success, Enterprises, Spirituality, Beauty, The Universe and Cultures on 4 Continents.

At the age of 22, the legendary broadcaster Larry King took James under his wing, and he founded Tarantin Ent LLC … A company to be structured after a 50 page model that includes international business classes, classified strategy science, culture and values, and long-term Life-Cycle vision.

As the company’s Executive Chairman, James has 5 responsibilities: Content Creation, Global Strategy, Legislation, Balancing the Budget, and Transparency.

Before the age of 26, with fierce belief, James created, almost single-handedly: complete screen manuscripts, a library of stories, animated superheroes, a trading card game, the mobile game design script, a technical design document, goods and services, distribution channels, and the platform for a new social network.

“You go anywhere in the world, from The Big Apple to Paris and from Brazil to Berlin … the borderline between success and failure is blurred. In this new century, people want something fundamentally different.”

“The Equation is the answer spoken by the hearts of young and old, rich and poor.”

Website | Book Site | Facebook | Twitter

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Guest Travel post --- The New Forest, England by Kate Milner

2013-05-03T03:00:00.000+01:00

Well this is the start of my month long travel features from guest bloggers, with book recommendations for the destination too. I will slot them in alongside my book blogs, so you can enjoy both of my passions and hopefully yours.

I'd like to introduce you to my first guest blogger who is Kate Milner. Kate is sharing with us her love of The New Forest, a beautiful area of England with a lot to do and see.... Join her on her journey below.

Ten exciting family days out in the New Forest

This morning, the sky is blue and the sun is shining. At last! After months of winter, it looks like things might finally be changing. And it makes me want to go out and enjoy it, somewhere like the New Forest.

So, in that vein I’m going to give you 10 things you could do in the Forest on a sunny weekend. Pack sun cream and water (it never hurts to be optimistic!).

1) Take a picnic and find a scenic spot somewhere in the woodland. There are picnic areas with toilets dotted around the Forest, and you can pick up some food on the way from the deli in Sway. Food and fresh air, what more could you want?

2) Go kayaking from Buckler’s Hard. You can take either a 2 hour tour, or a full day one and no previous experience is necessary. Skimming through the cool water under the sun is a great experience and you’ll learn a new skill too.

3) Archery on the Beaulieu Estate. Beaulieu is full of history and ghosts (and I mean that literally) and you can channel that medieval feel by trying your hand at archery. Just tell everyone to stand back if your aim is as bad as mine…

4) Go for a long walk. There are 143 miles of pathway through the Forest. I can’t promise you’ll get through them all in a day, but you can give it a go! Just don’t forget a good pair of walking boots.

5) Another way to explore the pathways of the Forest is by bike. There are plenty of places to hire a bike, so you don’t even need to take one with you. You can also hire helmets and child bike seats. Then grab a map and go!

6) Go Geocaching. Geocaching is a new craze that’s like a 21^st century version of a scavenger hunt. Using the GPS function on your phone, you track down a small box that’s hidden somewhere in the Forest and see what’s been left inside. Bring something to refill the box with, so the next person can enjoy it too.

7) Try some orienteering. The 20^th century version of geocaching, orienteering is still a lot of fun. You’re dropped in the Forest at a random point with only a map and compass to find your way out. I did it in the New Forest when I was 10, and lived to tell the tale so it is possible. Besides, you can always cheat and use your phone…

8) Follow one of the New Forest Treasure Trails. Available to download online, these trails take you round one of the historical towns of the New Forest with things to see and do along the way. You uncover a mystery at the same time. Lots of fun if you have older kids.

9) Go on Deer Safari. The deer is one of many kinds of wildlife to be found in the Forest, but they are shy and hard to spot. On the safari, the deer are fed fruit from a tractor, and they have become so used to it that they will come right up to the trailer to say hello. It’s a great way to see these elusive creatures.

10) If all the options above sound like too much effort, why not find a country pub to relax in? The Rising Sun in New Milton has a large beer garden, with ponies and cattle grazing nearby. Enjoy a meal or a cold beer, while taking in the gorgeous scenery.

Feeling inspired yet? Get out of the house this summer and go and play in the New Forest!

Recommended books set in the New Forest

Title - A year in the life of the New Forest

Author - Beata Moore

Buy from Amazon - Click here

Blurb from Amazon

The New Forest's name is misleading, as it is neither new – it was created nearly 900 years ago – nor is it a forest, as it consists mainly of heathland, wetland, estuaries and grassy plains. It is Britain's smallest National Park, yet one of the most varied, boasting a wealth of flora and fauna, not to mention historic villages, churches, monasteries and palaces.

In this book, photographer and writer Beata Moore captures the New Forest's changing moods through the course of a whole year – its natural and cultural heritage, its timeless villages and of course its famous wild ponies and donkeys.

Title - Children of the New Forest
Author - Captain Marryat
Buy from Amazon - Click here
Blurb from Amazon -
Cavalier and Roundhead battle it out in the turbulent setting of the English Civil War and provide the background for this classic tale of four orphans as they face adversity, survival in the forest, reconciliation and eventual forgiveness.
This is the first enduring historical novel for children, which conjures up as much magic today as it did on first publication. The freedom from adult constraint allied with the necessary disciplines to survive in a hostile world make for a gripping read.

For more information on the New Forest, Hampshire, England, click here

For more information on New Forest Activities, click here

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway - The Torment, The Shadow, The Heart by T.M.Shannon

2013-05-02T03:00:00.000+01:00

The Torment, The Shadow, The Heart

by T.M. Shannon

Genre: Epic/Heroic Fantasy
Publisher: Self-published through CreateSpace.com
Release Date: 11 February, 2013
Amazon

Book Description:

“To a kingdom facing darkness, a Hero will come…”

As the King of Talbadas nears his end, and treasonous parties seek to usurp the throne, young farmer Halm Dresden finds that his father’s dying advice, the actions of two elves, and a nightmare vision have put him on a destined path. While impressionable youth and some of his friends join this treacherous league, Dresden has a sword made and prepares for looming conflict…

About The Author:

T.M. Shannon works full time, pays rent, and has a head full of ideas.

He is currently living the dream in Sydney, Australia with his darling other half, and a 99% well-behaved son.

TM Shannon Blog | History of Talbadas | Facebook

Excerpt - “Grab”

Dresden got to his feet, stretched his arms and legs, and cracked his neck and knuckles both. He looked to his family with eyes that no longer showed compassion, but dreadful finality; and he made peace with the possibility that he may never see them again.

“Dresden?” Kethis asked uncertainly. Bindie and Gorden peered at him.

“This will not be,” he said bluntly, his voice calmly level, different. “I will not have my family, nor the people of my town, fear for their lives.” He had nothing else to say; and having uttered those words, he strode for the hallway.

“Mum, where is he going?” Gorden asked excitedly. “Where are you going, Dresden?!”

He moved for the study, his eyes set in cold, calculating slits. “Out for a walk,” he growled…

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VBT & Giveaway - Softly & Tenderly by Lisa Binion

2013-05-01T03:00:00.000+01:00

Softly and Tenderly

by Lisa Binion

About The Author:

Lisa Binion is a writer, editor, and wife. She makes her home in the beautiful state of Kentucky. Her two children are now grown, but she has been blessed with two beautiful grandchildren, Tyler and Zoey. Her family also includes four dogs, four cats, and two goats.
As the Fiction Writing Editor for BellaOnline, she writes articles, reviews fiction books, and interviews fiction authors. She is also an editor for Silver Tongue Press and Edit 1st. In her spare time, she attempts to clean house and relax. You can find her at https://www.facebook.com/pages/BellaOnline-Fiction-Writing/125143070846792., http://www.silvertonguepress.com/, and http://edit1st.com/.

Genre: Horror Short Story

Publisher: Silver Tongue Press

Description:

“Mom died in her sleep last night.” Those are terrifying words for a child to wake up to. The beetle that falls off the stretcher and stares at her is only the beginning one of the strangest and most frightening times in Lori’s life. Death is not a pretty thing, especially not when the funeral is to be at the Lights Out Chapel and Crematorium. Once she walks into the funeral parlor, she experiences things that no little girl should ever have to experience. No one is acting normal. No one can see what is going on. Is Lori the only one who sees the blood oozing from the pictures of Jesus on the cross? Doesn’t anyone else see the beetles? Is Lori hallucinating when she sees her mom sit up and hears her speak? There is absolutely nothing soft and tender about what happens to Lori. From her overly morbid piano teacher to the creepy preacher and a father that just isn’t acting like himself, Lori is surrounded by people and things that hint of something bizarre. Once she leaves the Lights Out Chapel and Crematorium, things will go back to normal. Or will they?

Excerpt 1:

“Lori, it’s your turn to say bye now. You need to tell her that you love her and how much you will miss her.” Daddy put me down next to her coffin and placed his hands on my shoulders. He pushed me so close to her death box that I felt the white satin that overlapped to the outside. It rubbed against my hands. At least it was soft for Mommy. She would be comfortable in there.

I decided to speak out loud this time. Maybe no one else would bring me back up here again if I spoke my goodbyes out loud. “Mommy,” I began, but then I started crying so hard I couldn’t speak. Daddy rubbed my shoulders until I quieted down and could begin again. “Mommy, I love you. I don’t want you to leave me. Please come back. No one, not even this Jesus, is worth leaving me over.” I opened my eyes and looked at her. She hadn’t moved since Mrs. Minuet had dragged me up here. But then her eyes opened, and she stared at me. She was staring at me! I sucked my breath in and felt my legs grow weak as my head began to spin. With one hand I grabbed on to the edge of the coffin, while with the other hand I grabbed hold of Daddy’s arm.

“Daddy! Daddy! Mommy’s not dead! She looked at me!” I screamed as I jumped up and down. “She was still alive when they took her out of the house. I saw her trying to get out from under the sheet.” I pulled on his arm and shook it. “Please, Daddy. You’ve got to save her.”

Daddy was beginning to sound a bit mad. He picked me up and held me over top of Mommy. “Maybe if you give her a goodbye kiss you’ll understand she’s dead, and believe me when I tell you she isn’t coming back.” I was so close to Mommy’s cheek that I could see the makeup was beginning to cake in her pores. There was no warmth rising up from her body, only icy coldness.

Giveaway:

5 eCopies of Softly and Tenderly

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Book Blast & Giveaway - Chrysalis by Michelle Cornwell-Jordan - YA Paranormal novel

2013-04-29T03:00:00.000+01:00

CHRYSALIS

YA Paranormal Novel

Set to release Summer 2013

About The Book:

After the war between Man and the Supernatural. The world settled back into a harmonious rhythm. Man and Preternatural existing side by side, building a society that was technologically advanced and beneficial to both kinds. Ruled by ThunderKins(Children of the Sun). But there was dissatisfaction in several of the Divisions one of Fire and the other Rain. (Fire) Division did not accept the rule of ThunderKin. The Thunderkin heir was targeted for destruction, believing this would cause the Thunderkin rule to be overthrown. So Chaos was birth and Chaos had a name….Ayda

Ayda Blackhawk was the beautiful, mysterious new girl at Eagle Ridge High School, in the Mountain Division of the New World, She was not there to make friends but to bring destruction. Her assignment? To kill the Thunderkin heir. But Ayda meets Adrian the ThunderKin leader, and through a twist of fate, the rules change which places Ayda, Adrian and their world at the cross roads to either destruction or redemption
The cover was created by the amazing (Amy Rooney-CVWriterDesigns)
Website: http://www.courtneyvail.com/

Photography by the fantabulous (Tiffany McDonald- Anecdote Photography)
Website: http://www.anecdotephotography.com/home.html

Big Hug and Much Gratitude to the very awesome duo Models
Jessica Becerra - FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/jessica.becerra12?fref=ts
And Javier Gonzales - https://www.facebook.com/#!/javier.gonzalez.1804?fref=ts

Michelle Cornwell-Jordan is a Young Adult/ New Adult author.

Her titles include a co-written work with Danny Jones calledReahket, her solo young adult novella series Night School Vampire Hunter Trilogy and a contribution to the HerStory Anthology released March 08th2013(Pagans Writers Press)

She is also the producer/host of the online radio segment, IndieReview Behind the Scenes, where she and her co-host Jamie B Musings interview Indie authors and musicians.

Michelle has been married for seventeen years and has a fourteen-year-old daughter. A book lover, her favorite genre has always been paranormal adventures.

Find out more about her on her website http://michellecjordan.wix.com/author#!

Follow her on twitter at @mcjordan37

Fan her on FaceBook at IndieWritersreview YA blog http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indiewritersreview-YA-blog/243295842393117

And FaceBook at IndieReview Behind The Scenes Internet Radio
https://www.facebook.com/#!/IndiereviewBehindTheScenes?fref=ts

Website | Twitter | Facebook | IndieReview Behind The Scenes

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VBT & Giveaway - Changing Gears: A Family Odyssey to the End of the World by Nancy Sathre-Vogel

2013-04-26T03:00:00.000+01:00

Changing Gears:

A Family Odyssey to the End of the World

by Nancy Sathre-Vogel

Nancy Sathre-Vogel is a 21-year classroom veteran who made the decision to leave her teaching career behind to travel the world on a bicycle. Together with her husband and twin sons, she cycled 27,000 miles throughout the Americas, including traveling from Alaska to Argentina. Now she lives in Idaho, pursuing her passions of writing and beadwork.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

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Genre: Travel memoir/Cycling

Publisher: Old Stone Publishing

Release date: March 21

Amazon

Changing Gears: A Family Odyssey to the End of the World by Nancy Sathre-Vogel

What would you do if you were not afraid?

Changing Gears is the true story of one woman asking herself that very question. What followed was a family journey of epic proportions – a journey ofphysical challenge, emotional endurance, teamwork, perseverance, and tremendous learning opportunities. It was a discovery of self, of priorities, of accepting hardships, of appreciating blessings, and of contrasting a comfortable past life with the extreme hardship and poverty of those they met.

Would the journey be a dream come true – or a mother’s worst nightmare?

Excerpt:

Highs and lows in Costa Rica

“Congratulations Daryl,” I said. “You’ve just entered your eighth country.”

My son turned to me and said, “What difference does it make, Mom? Crossing a border doesn’t change anything. A border is just a line on a map.”

As I passed through the border formalities, I thought about Daryl’s words. He was right. We were still in the Central American jungle. People on Costa Rica looked exactly like those in Nicaragua. They spoke the same language and worshiped the same god. Nothing changed as we crossed that border except that we spent a different currency.

After spending so many years of my life poring over maps and dreaming of visiting far-flung places, I had developed a bit of a “map syndrome.” I saw a very distinct, physical line at that border. I saw a new country with a new government. In my mind, each country was a separate, unique entity and, of course, the people belonging to that country were unique and different from those from neighboring countries.

Daryl’s words brought me back to reality. There was no line at the border. The people who lived on one side of the border were no different from those who lived on the other. Once we strip away all the wrappers we tend to wrap around people – when we look beyond the language they speak, the clothes they wear, the god they worship, and the food they eat – we are all more alike than we are different. Underneath it all, there isn’t any difference between us at all.

My sons, at age eleven, understood that. I, at 48, was still working on it.

For miles on end, we cycled through a tunnel of green.

I was pedaling along the Costa Rican road and was quite bored. It was just another day in paradise. Nothing in particular to look at. No villages to keep me entertained. Just mile after mile of lush green jungle.

Then I thought, “This is crazy! Here you are in Costa Rica – COSTA RICA – and you’re bored? Costa Rica is paradise on earth! It’s a traveler’s utopia! Costa Rica is one of the premier vacation destinations in the world! And you’re bored?”

I feared I had become jaded. I was so accustomed to fabulous scenery and people that I zoned out when I only had tropical jungle to look at. We were pedaling through a lovely area and I wanted to fall in love with the jungle and the green all around and the monkeys swinging in the trees.

Yet I wasn’t quite there. I was so focused on getting out of the blasted heat that I wasn’t paying attention to the small details surrounding me like I generally did. My mind was so centered on getting to the next town and away from the interminable heat that I missed everything else.

For the first time ever I started to wonder if it was all worth it. Cycling through the jungle was miserable; there’s no other word for it. We awoke in the middle of the night and packed up as sweat poured out of our pores. By first light we were on the road, but it was still blazing hot and the humidity level made it hard to breathe.

I mentally drew a map in my head and figured we still had 800 miles of jungle. 800 miles of being covered with layer upon layer of sweat, sunscreen, and road grime. 800 miles of nothing but lush green jungle on either side of the road. Was it worth it?

I wasn’t quite ready to give up yet – that would come later – but I knew I wasn’t enjoying the journey.

The following day I sunk even lower. We had been amply warned by other cyclists about two things: the hills and the truck drivers in Costa Rica. By all account the hills were the steepest in Central America and the drivers were the worst. In our short time in the country, I had to agree.

We slowly ground up hill after hill while sweat fell like a river from beneath our helmets. At one point, John even took his helmet off and strapped it onto his trailer – he figured he was safer without the helmet than blinded by sweat.

And the truck drivers did their thing. Their Costa Rican thing. Regardless of whether the far lane was open or not, each and every truck driver that passed by held his ground and refused to budge an inch. It seemed like the attitude was that the lane belonged to them and us cyclists hugging the edge of the road were nothing more than pests.

The third time a truck cut me so close my knuckles actually scraped the side as it whizzed past, I lost it. “What the hell is with this country?” I screamed to nobody in particular. John and Davy were too intent on controlling their own bikes on the narrow road to pay any attention. “This is crazy!” I hollered into the jungle.

All I wanted was to get safely through the country and out the tail end. Was that too much to ask?

Book Tour & Giveaway - Deadly to Love (Elemental Killers #1) - Mia Hoddell - Young Adult

2013-04-23T03:00:00.000+01:00

Title: Deadly to Love (Elemental Killers #1)

Author: Mia Hoddell

ASIN: B00BDQ3QGA

ISBN: 9781291319170

Genre: YA/Paranormal/Urban Fantasy/Romance

Description

There is a love that is so dangerous, so powerful, so intoxicating that it embraces your heart and smothers your mind until it leaves you defenceless.

Serena knew that but still, it didn't stop her. His name was Kai. He was the most beautiful, irresistible man she had ever encountered. Their attraction was too compelling to fight and she knew she would go to the end of the world beside him. That is love.

However behind the allure was hidden a deadly secret – a secret that threatened her fragile life... But secrets best left unsaid never remain hidden forever. When Kai reveals his true identity, she is exposed to a frightening world she had no idea existed. Controlled by powerful Elemental forces her life is placed in mortal danger.

Unbeknown to them, their lives have been entwined from the beginning and it leads her to discover an even greater secret about who she really is. As the pieces begin to unravel and death becomes a reality, Serena is forced to decide what is more important...her love or life.

Buy Links:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Paperback (Lulu) and will be available on Amazon soon

What People are Saying:

“I read this book in one sitting as I just couldn't put it down. The story line was original, intriguing and made you feel like you were part of the action. As well as this there were many twists and turns that kept me hooked and the book was really well written with a solid plot. The book didn't reveal everything straight away which was great as it left in suspense right up until the end.” ~Lucy M 5/5

“ I found that it's surprisingly original concept was quite common in real life but not so much in books. I found it a delightful read that I will look forward to reading in the future. And the new cover! Marvelous.” ~ Kathy H 5/5

“All I can say is WOW! This book was amazing and different. I love the twist and detail she used I was instantly pulled in and felt like I was there with the characters.” ~Brianna 5/5

About the Author

Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading and her preferred genre is Young Adult, Paranormal Romance. Before 2009, Mia wouldn't even pick up a book and was more interested in sports. However she finally found some novels that captured her interest and developed a love of both reading and writing. Mia began with poems and after getting two published in separate anthologies she moved onto short stories. Although she enjoyed this, Mia found she had too much to tell with too little space, so later on she created her first series The Wanderer Trilogy and from there other ideas have emerged which she hopes to turn into novels as well. Elemental Killers is her second series and book two will be out soon.

Author Links

Blog, Facebook Page, Twitter, Goodreads

Giveaway!

1 ebook copy of Deadly to Love - Gifted through Amazon Giftcard (INT)
Deadly to Love Swag (UK ONLY) - minimum of 2 winners

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Looking for people to do mini travel reviews for my blog - Read below

2013-04-18T22:23:00.000+01:00

Tenerife, Canary Islands

Southam, Nr Cheltenham, UK

As my blog is not just about books but about travel too, which is my major passion being an ex travel agent, I am looking to do a week of travel features from the 1st week in May.

Would anyone like to write a mini feature about somewhere they have been on holiday that they would like to share with others? It can be about family activities; sightseeing e.g beaches or historical sites; it can be about anywhere in the world.

If you live outside of the UK and would just like to share the area in which you live with others then that would be great too.

Any suggestions gratefully received. Just send me an e-mail via the blog. Photos welcome too.

Sinai Mountains, Taba, Egypt

VBT & Giveaway - I Don't Sing Anymore by April Williams

2013-04-17T03:00:00.000+01:00

I Don't Sing Anymore

by April Williams

About The Author:

April Williams was born in Bainbridge, Georgia in August of 1974. The fourth child born to her mother, a fieldworker and a father, a brick mason. When she was just a toddler, her mother relocated the family to Florida and settled in the All-American city of South Miami. April attended all the local schools including Miami-Dade Community College.

April was an active volunteer in her community. For years working on programs including the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Celebrations, and many South Miami Community Outreach Gospel Programs. Along with her writing, singing she has always been a passion. She was one of the founding members for the Miracle Voice Ensemble.

Many years ago, her pen was her way of escaping some of the hard times she has faced. She discovered that she could live victoriously and help others by writing about her experiences, triumphs and pains. April’s writing brings concrete reality to the issues within the 21st Century world. She exhorts and motivates her readers to remain constant and dedicated to their passions.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Publsiher: Self-Published at CreateSpace

Release Date: July 29, 2012

Amazon

Book Description:

Josie Gibbs is a young woman who works in the cotton fields of Fowlstown, Georgia. She has had three failed relationships all producing offspring. She only now wants to concentrate on finding a better life for her young family. But her circumstances quickly change when Keith Anderson, May’s father, result to terrifying acts of violence. She is now forced to leave and find a new life in the big city of Miami, Florida.

Keith Anderson is a war veteran who vows to be with Josie at all cost. But the demons of war he has in his mind continue to haunt him. He hasn’t had a peaceful night of sleep in spite of his addiction. His life spirals out of control when his dreams manifest to reality and will cost him everything.

May Gibbs is their daughter who will struggle with the effects of physical and sexual abuse. The path she walks is full of pain and leads her to live a joyless life. What can be done to save this creature that seemed to be doomed from the day she was born?

I Don’t Sing Anymore is a story of a family who battle through all of life’s circumstances. We don’t always know our path in life but we do have a say in how we get to live it. A heartbreaking tale drenched with every kind of emotion you can imagine.

Excerpt: Chapter Eleven

Josie was so excited that John was going to be stopping by before he headed back up to the base. She chose to put on a white sundress that draped so beautifully below her shoulders. She had her hair up in a ponytail that made her look younger. The children were outback playing with Peeps. Josie was excited when she heard the knock on the door. She opened the door to find John standing there in his uniform. The first thing John did was to pick her up in a strong bear hug and plant a nice big kiss on her lips. John was excited just to hold her again. Josie moved away from John as Mrs. Freda appeared in the living room. “Mom, this is Mr. John Flenn. Mrs. Freda did not hesitate to shake his hand. She walked over to her rocking chair and picked up the snuff can. She used to spit out her tobacco. Mrs. Freda sat quiet for a moment before she decided to ask John some questions.

“So, Mr. Flenn where are your people from?” she asked.

Well, we are originally from Attapulgus, but my father lived in Tennessee for a while.

“What does he do now?” she asked

“He is a retired Lieutenant from the Air Force.” He said.

“Are most of the men in your family military?” she asked

“Yes, we can trace our history back to the Civil War” he said.

“Well, I think that is just fine.” Mrs. Freda said,

“Thank you, my father was part of the Tuskegee Airmen.,” he said.

“Is that right?” she said.

Josie gave John a great big smile. She did not know he had a long line of military men in his family. John picked up her hand to hold in his hand. He wanted to hold her so much, right now.

“Mr. Flenn would you like some sweet tea?” Mrs. Freda asked.

“That would be just great Mrs. Gibbs.,” he said.

As soon as she got up out of rocking chair a loud knock on the door. Josie got up to open the door. She was shocked to see the man standing there in a Sunday morning suit.

“Hello, Josie.” Keith said.

Josie just did not know what to do. She did not know whether to slam the door or just say come in. Mrs. Freda recognized the voice right away. Keith stepped inside the door without an invite. Josie nervously closed the door behind him. John stood up to shake Keith’s hand. The smirk Keith had on his face faded quickly as he shook John’s hand. Josie made the introductions.

“Keith, this is my friend Private John Flenn.,” she said as her voice cracked.

“Afternoon” Keith said.

Mrs. Freda returned from the kitchen with the glass of ice tea. She could feel the mood of the room shift, quickly.

“John this is Keith, he is May’s father,” she said.

Josie rushed from the room to wake May so that Keith would be able to hold her. Mrs. Freda’s eyes became fixated on him. She could see the vein popping out of his neck. It was obvious to her that he was furious to see Josie there with another man.

“Keith would you like some sweet tea?” she asked him.

“No, thank you.” he said with a great deal of restraint.

Josie appeared from the back and placed May in Keith’s arm. He had not seen her since the night she was born. She was big baby now. May started crying soon as Josie put her in his arms. This only infuriated Keith even more. Keith could not take it anymore. And before anyone knew it, he jumped with the baby in his arms and headed for the door.

“Where are you going with my baby?” Josie asked

“Move out of my way you whore!” he screamed.

John jumped to his feet to protect Josie and the baby.

“You are not leaving with the child.” He said.

John was careful as he grabbed Keith’s free arm.

“You better get your damn hands off me.” Keith said.

Mrs. Freda moved towards Keith and said give me the baby. You don’t want that kind of trouble.

Keith stared at the baby for a second and handed her to Mrs. Freda. John followed him out of the door.

“You ain’t nobody.” Keith shouted at John.

Josie stood at the side of her man. She was wishing that he just get in his truck and drive away. Keith did not intend to leave quietly.

“You ain’t nothing but a punk!” he continued to shout.

John did not utter a word because he did not want another confrontation. But that quickly changed when he began to curse Josie.

“Witch” he said.

John had left Josie’s side before she could call his name. Even if she had it was too late. The two men were now in a fistfight. Both men matched blow_ for_ blow. Keith being a marine had more skill. Josie could see the fight turning in favor of Keith. She was almost frozen and not knowing what to do. Mrs. Freda appeared with her shotgun and fired off one around. The two men stopped in their tracks. The children came screaming and hollering from the back. Now Mrs. Freda had her sight on Keith.

“You had better get off my property,” she said.

Keith straightened himself up and walked over to his truck. He spit on the ground just before leaving. Josie rushed to John’s side. She could see how upset he was.

“John are you O.K.?” she asked.

I’m fine!” he snapped.

Mrs. Freda did not like the way he said this.

“Young man, I think you better be leaving now, because Keith is crazy enough to comeback,” she said.

ohn walked over to his car and Josie followed with her head down. She was so embarrassed by the entire incident. John turned around to look at her in the eyes. He lifted her chin. “Haven’t I told you not to hide your beautiful eyes from me.” he said. Josie managed to give his a slight smile.

“Don’t worry it is not your fault.” he said.

He leaned forward and kissed her good-bye. Josie stood on the porch alone, retreating inside.

John was listening to music as he drove down highway 309. He was trying to calm down while listening to music. Then he noticed a truck driving up fast and close to his bumper. John began to speed up to try to get away from the truck. He kept checking his rearview mirror and finally realized that it was Keith. John felt it as Keith rammed the back of his car with the truck. John slid off the road into a ditch. He was a little bit dazed but he soon saw Keith running towards his car. Keith had lit a bottle of vodka that he had in his truck. John saw the flames gushing from the white rag. He knew he had to move quickly. John managed to get out the passenger seat window. Just as he did, he heard the bottle crash against the car. Keith realized that John had escaped the car. He ran back towards his truck to get his rifle. By the time he returned he could no longer see John in the rows of cotton that never seemed to end.

Keith spit on the ground as John’s car went up in flames. He was so proud of the fact that he had taken something from him. John stopped running somewhere in the middle of the field. He had a watchful eye as he headed back towards the road. He took off his military jacket and started walking back towards Josie’s house. He was only about six miles away and it would not take him that long. John walked at a rapid pace as he continued to look over his shoulder.

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Book Review - Happy Families by Janey Fraser

2013-04-16T16:53:00.000+01:00

Title - Happy Families

Author - Janey Fraser

Publisher - Arrow - 28 March 2013

Purchase from Amazon UK // Waterstones // Book Depository

Another literary triumph from author Janey Fraser!
This book sucks you in right from the start. Whether you have children or not you won't fail to enjoy this book. A mixture of ups and downs, happy times and sad times, but also lots of laughs.

Centering around 3 main characters, Bobbie, Vanessa and Andy, you are fully immersed into the pit falls of parenthood; the worries; the trials and tribulations.

I love the way the author writes the book, with each chapter being centred around each of the main characters. Each chapter also often ends on a cliffhanger, leaving you waiting until that characters next chapter comes around again.

The book is full of humour. Especially with the children's characters which are wonderfully written, and they say the most amusing things. You can't help but love them, especially Daisy and Sunshine.

Many people come into contact with the varying characters as their lives unfold and I love the way the author, with her literary expertise, makes all their paths cross towards the end of the book. Whilst reading you think that somewhere along the lines the paths will cross but the book is so well written in that it's not at all predictable, which makes it all the more enjoyable.

I have also read The Au Pair and The Playgroup by the same author and I think this is the best so far, even though I thoroughly enjoyed the other two, especially as I'm normally and "Thrillers & Murder" kind of gal!

Even though some of the characters from The Au Pair are mentioned in this book, you don't have to have read them to enjoy this book as the stories are all new.Give it a go. Its a great book to chill on the sofa with, alongside a cup of coffee and a cookie.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janey Fraser is the pen name for journalist Jane Bidder who also writes as Sophie King. You might have read some of her previous novels such as THE SCHOOL RUN and THE WEDDING PARTY which was short listed for Love Story of the Year 2010. Her new book The Honeymoon is due out next year.

For many years, she was a journalist on women’s magazines and until recently, edited the family page of Woman. Now she writes ‘ MUM LIT’ novels about the ups and downs of family life.

OTHER BOOKS FROM JANEY FRASER

The Au Pair by Janey Fraser

Bonjour! Je m’appelle Antoinette Malfille and I am enormously excitable about becoming au pair! I have 19 years of age and have forever desired to visit Angleterre. My hobbies are clubbing and drinking. I tolerate children. I have (almost) forsaken smoking. I am available to work for you until Christmas as I do not pass my Baccalaureate. I await to meet you!

So starts the opening to THE AU PAIR, a romp through the world of foreign bodies and unsuspecting families. Jilly, a harassed mother of three, decides to set up an au pair agency around her kitchen table to help with family finances. Over the Channel, Marie-France signs up for Jilly’s agency in order to search for her English father who’d had a fling with her mother when she’d been an au pair, some twenty years earlier. Then there’s eight year old Lottie who is determined to drive away one au pair after another – until she meets her match. With a cast of characters drawn straight from real life, The Au Pair takes a hilarious look at what happens when an au pair takes over your family.

From the author of The Playgroup a hilarious book about families, au pairs, and the chaos that ensues when the two come together.

The Playgroup by Janey Fraser

Take three adults and mix them with a group of under-fives at Puddleducks Playgroup.

What do you get?

A steaming story about love, envy, laughter and tears. Gemma, the young acting playgroup leader has a secret which could wreck someone else’s life.

Nancy, a panicky first-time mum needs to save her child – and her marriage. Joe, the handsome, moody new head of Reception has to learn some lessons himself before he can pass them onto his class.

Then little Lily, the daughter of a celebrity singer, goes missing and Danny, her small friend is diagnosed with the kind of illness that every parent dreads.

Will they all pull through? All is revealed when Puddleducks Playgroup puts on its annual nativity Christmas play – with an unexpected ending.

There’s lots of fun, humour and romance but, as one reviewer said, ‘it will also make you hold your breath until the last page’.

Contact Janey Fraser here

I was given this book to review by the author. I was not paid for my review and it in no way influenced my review.