Monday, November 18, 2024

Cover Reveal Spotlight: Grit & Grace: The Transformation of a Ship & a Soul by Deborah Rudell

Today, I am joining the cover reveal for memoir, Grit & Grace by Deborah Rudell! Check out the cover, learn about the book and author & pre-order the book!

  Grit & Grace

The Transformation of a Ship & a Soul


Memoir

Date Published: February 27th, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing


 
 
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About the Book

 

Deborah Rudell’s world unravels when the leaders of her spiritual commune are exposed, arrested, and imprisoned for bioterrorism and attempted murder. Crushed and adrift, she moves her family off the commune to create a sense of normalcy. But when her husband seeks an opportunity to dismantle and rebuild a derelict fifty-foot schooner, Deborah uproots their children once again and joins him in Kauai. For the next five years, she dedicates her life to restoring a boat.

Pouring herself into the work at hand can only distract her so much as disillusionment about the cult’s lies and manipulation slowly rises to the surface. While she grapples with emotional turmoil and contemplates a new life path, Deborah sets out to accomplish something she never thought possible: sailing across the Pacific to the Olympic Peninsula. Will the dangers that come with navigating the ocean be too much to bear, or will she find resolution and fortitude in the turbulent adventure?


Grit & Grace: The Transformation of a Ship & a Soul is one woman’s account of conquering overwhelming challenges with tenacity and ingenuity and ultimately discovering her inner strength.

 

Pre-Order the Book!

Amazon

 

About the Author
 

A college professor in San Diego, California, Deborah Rudell participates in her city’s vibrant writing community. She is a graduate of Hay House Writer’s Workshop and the Certificate in Memoir Writing program at San Diego Writers, Ink. Her work has been published in the International Memoir Writers Association’s anthology, Shaking the Tree: I Didn't See That One Coming.

Deborah lives with her black cat in a tiny house built in 1906 by a retired sea captain, who carved a sailing ship into the front door. This is her first book.

 

Connect with the Author

Website

Facebook

Instagram


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Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Young Adult Book Review: The Bad Luck Nickel by Matthew Leslie

While I have shifted away from the genre a little over the past few years, I do love a good coming-of-age story! Today, I have a young adult book in our book review spotlight that should appeal to both teens and adults! Check out The Bad Luck Nickel, learn about author Matthew Leslie, and read my thoughts on the book!

 

 

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About the Book
 
 
When Blair Matthews, teen celeb and son of rock legend, The Blade, shows up at a high school in Montreal amidst rumors of a drug-fueled sex scandal, it’s the most excitement the students at Trudeau High have seen in years.

And when Marco and his twin sister Julianna become fast friends with Blair, it seems like a dream. For Marco, Blair lifts him out of his post-breakup funk, and joins his band, The Bad Luck Nickel, instantly making it one of the hottest groups in town. And for Jules, Blair is her celebrity crush come to life in her living room.

But can Blair leave his past behind and start fresh at Trudeau High? Or will his infamy follow him from LA to MTL?
 
 
My Review   
 
Great Coming of Age Story with Wonderful Characters. This is definitely a book that will appeal to older teens and young adult readers. At first, I thought it would be a little lengthy for that audience--but, I was ready to follow the characters for hundreds more pages by the end! The teens in the novel face many challenges and teen-dramas as the storylines progress. Expect to root for every character (except maybe Blair) from the very first page. This is a book that I would have read with my teens, and one that we all would have enjoyed. The writing style is engaging and entertaining and the characters are realistic and well-developed. 
 
Expect to Become Invested in the Characters' Stories.  I love reading a book that makes me sad to leave it on the last page. I would love to follow these characters through a whole series of books--and will definitely look for more stories from this author in the future. His writing style caught my interest on page one and completely pulled me into the book and the characters' lives.

Would I Recommend The Bad Luck Nickel by Matthew Leslie? This book is written suitably for a teen audience--but, also engaging and interesting enough for an adult audience. If you enjoy coming-of-age stories with well done characters and entertaining plots--this is a great book for your reading list. There are some scenes with some heavier topics, so it may be better suited for older teens and adults--but, it is a wonderful coming-of-age novel. 
 
 
Buy the Book

 
Meet the Author
 
 
Matthew Leslie grew up in Windsor, Ontario, where he played bass in bands during high school and university. He reckons himself a writer, musician, and lover of lovely things. He lives in Montreal, where he teaches his favourite books to teens with the goal of inspiring a love of reading...
 
connect with author: website ~ X/Twitter ~ instagram goodreads
 
 
 

 


Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Historical Thriller Spotlight: Memories of MK-Ultra by Bill Yarborough

This morning, I have a coming of age / historical thriller in our book blitz spotlight! Check out Memories of MK-Ultra and learn about author Bill Yarborough!



Coming of Age / Psychological /Historical Thriller / Metaphysical

 

 

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About the Book

 

Memories of MK-ULTRA traces the development of three siblings from their early childhood—marred by harrowing mind control experiences in the CIA’s MK-ULTRA program—through their coming of age during the turbulent 60s and into their early adulthood in the 1980s. As the story develops, an incredible chain of events uncover the dark forces shaping their lives . . . until an unexpected source of light appears.

 

Buy the Book

Amazon



About the Author
 

Bill Yarborough has enjoyed writing for many years. Manhattan Book Group will publish his debut novel, Memories of MK-ULTRA, in September 2024. The story is inspired by repressed memories from his young childhood where he, his brother, and his sister recall undergoing experiments of the CIA’s MK-ULTRA mind control program. Bill is also working on a sequel to his first novel, and his short story “Night Mother” was published by Prolific Press in an anthology of short stories, Jitter Issue # 8. Bill also co-authored emotional health articles in The Diablo Gazette Magazine, and he and his wife, Inge, are working on a book entitled EFT on Steroids.

 

Connect with the Author

Website

Facebook

X "Twitter"

 


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Monday, November 4, 2024

Children's Book Spotlight: Maggie the Cat Loves Pip's Thanksgiving Surprise by Julia Russo

Today, we have a fun Thanksgiving themed children's book to share! Check out Maggie the Cat Loves Pip's Thanksgiving Surprise & learn about author Julia Russo!

 

Maggie the Cat Book 2

 

Children's Book

Date Published: October 15th

Publisher: Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.


 

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About the Book

Wonderful illustrations bring us back up to Grandpa's mountain farmhouse for a Thanksgiving homecoming. Pip will soon have a Thanksgiving surprise, but what exactly will it be? Will it have to do with the treats in the oven? Pecan pie with oatmeal? Cornbread? Dutch apple pie? Mmmmm, they all smell so good!

Will it have to do with a new park for all of the children to play in, being built at a neighbor's farm? Wow! A brand new park where everyone, and I mean everyone, is working very hard. Will it have to do with little Barney who is the littlest goat ever and who is really working hard and chomp chomp chomping away to make the park soft and free of brush?

Or finally, will it have to do with Pip's best friend ever, Maggie? Read along, and let's find out together. We don't have that long. Thanksgiving is coming very soon!

 

About the Author

 

Julia Russo spent many winters in the mountains along with her little dog, Chloe, and her sweet husband, Kent. She continues to live in Atlanta but her heart is really in those woods. 

One of her favorite things ever was hearing her first graders read aloud. She sometimes wrote for the government and companies, and later wrote descriptions of homes. She even spent time as what is called a roustabout!

After her debut book, Maggie the Cat Who Came Home for Christmas, released in 2023, Julia is excited to continue the series. She visits her mountainside cabin often. One of these days, she’s hoping to get a little goat.

 

 

Connect with the Author

 Goodreads

 

Buy the Book

Purchase Today



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Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Young Adult Fiction Spotlight: Dear Hero by Hope Bolinger & Alyssa Roat

This morning, I have a young adult fiction book to share! Check out Dear Hero, learn about authors Hope Bolinger & Alyssa Roat, and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.  



Book Title:  DEAR HERO by Alyssa Roat & Hope Bolinger
Category:  YA Fiction (Ages 13-17),  394 pages
Genre:  YA Romance, Superheroes, Chat Fiction, Humor
Publisher:  Torchflame Books
Release date:  October, 2024
Content RatingPG-13 for MCU-level superhero violence; PG when it comes to language and sexual content (kissing).
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About the Book


There's an app for everything--even meeting a new nemesis.

Up-and-coming teen superhero Cortex is on top of the world—at least, until his villain dumps him. If he’s going to save his reputation, he needs a new villain to fight, and fast. Meanwhile, the villainous Vortex has once again gotten a little overeager and taken out a hero prematurely. Will any young hero be able to keep up with her? Maybe she should work on finding a steady relationship with an enemy she won’t kill in the first round.

Enter Meta-Match, a nemesis pairing site for heroes and villains. The two match right away, and after throwing punches at each other behind coffee shops, practicing their fight choreography, and hiring henchmen to do their bidding (mostly just getting them coffee), they realize they have a lot more in common than names that annoyingly rhyme. After all, they're still rising through the ranks in their respective circles, and their reputations need good press.

But not everything in the superhero world is as it seems. Can a hero really trust a villain to do the right thing? And can a villain trust a hero not to screw them over? As darkness from the past threatens them both, they may need each other for the fight to come—one with much higher stakes than their choreographed meet-ups on weekends.

Told entirely through texts, transcriptions, and direct messages, this darkly humorous chat fiction rom-com goes behind the scenes of the superworld.
 
Buy the Book
 

Meet the Authors

Alyssa Roat lives in the cornfields of Indiana, but she hopes to soon discover a portal to a fantasy world where she will run a bookshop for magical creatures. For now, she is an award-winning multi-published author and has worked in a wide variety of roles within the publishing industry as an editor, agent, writer, and publicist. She and her partner have four black cats who allegedly have never been fed in their lives and occasionally help her write by walking across the keyboard. Her name is a pun, which means you can learn more about her at www.alyssawrote.com or on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as @alyssawrote.

connect with the author: website X/Twitter ~ instagram ~ facebook goodreads


Hope Bolinger is the author of more than 25 books, including the award-winning Blaze trilogy, and has contributed to many more. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of 300+ authors. She has won awards for her essays, poetry, children’s books, novels, and plays. She’s a theater nerd and spends too much time hiking and petting her fat cats, Freya and Odin. She can be found online @hopebolinger and @hopekbolinger.

connect with the author: website X/Twitter ~ instagram facebook ~ goodreads

 
Enter the Giveaway

DEAR HERO by Alyssa Roat and Hope Bolinger Spotlight Book Tour Giveaway



Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Haunted Halloween Spooktacular Feature: A Prophecy Awakened by Angie Barton

Today, I am joining the Haunted Halloween Spooktacular with another fun post! Take a few minutes and check out another great fantasy novel, A Prophecy Awakened, and get some Halloween-party inspiration with a fun vampire-themed punch recipe from the author Angie Barton!




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Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
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About the Book


A Prophecy Awakened
Immortal Wounds Series
Book Two
Angie Barton

Genre: Fantasy Fiction/Magical Realism
Publisher: Angie Barton 
Date of Publication: June 13, 2024
ISBN: 979-8990647220
ASIN: BOD73FHPSH
Number of pages: 448
Word Count: 104,000
Cover Artist: Donnell McKenzie

Tagline: The time has come for the two worlds to collide the prophecy has spoken.

Book Description: 

Family. Destiny. Magic. Lore.

Forced to leave behind her only known family, on the night of her eighteenth birthday Charlotte Delgado flees through the invisible veil that has granted her safety since birth, with only an age-old diary to guide her. Given less than a day to read the four-hundred year-old tales scripted amongst its pages, she barely understands the predetermined path her ancestor writes of, let alone believes it.

However, despite the dangers the journal warns of—supernatural creatures that will hunt her along her journey—it’s the ominous twist of fate that surrounds the last bloodline witch in her family that fills Charlotte with the most fear.

Is she that witch or merely a pawn moving the prophecy forward?
 
 
Buy the Book


 
Try this Fun Halloween Recipe!

 
Vampire Punch

I LOVE all things vampire and I LOVE to host!
 
Planning and setting up the décor is just as much fun as the event itself, and this punch looks great on the table!

It is perfect for Halloween parties and can be made for  kids or adults! It’s the perfect blend of sweet and tart, and its deep red color makes it both fun and delicious! 

*If you’re familiar with using dry ice, it can be added for a spooky effect!




Ingredients: 

• 2 liters ginger ale or club soda, or lemon lime soda (Sprite or 7Up)
• 1 quart black cherry juice
• 2 pints (32 ounces) Pomegranate Juice 
• 16 ounces frozen cherries 
• alcohol your choice (I typically add Vodka)
 
Instructions: 

1. Combine the juices and ginger ale together in a large punch bowl. If you are using alcohol, add it now.
2. Add the frozen cherries and stir.
3. Serve with ice and any decorations you may have for your spooky punch! I’ve used plastic vampire teeth and my guests thought it looked “fang-tastic!”
 


About the Author

Award winning author, Angie Barton, published her first novel, Immortal Wounds, in 2022. Angie’s love for writing centers around the fantasy genre, but she also enjoys writing thriller and romance. Her passion for reading, which led to her love of writing, began in elementary school with the Scholastic Book program. Her parents, who are life-long avid readers, have been a huge influence on her reading. Therefore anything and everything Angie could get her hands on she read.

Angie has been an early childhood educator since 1986 and hold a B.S. in Child Development. Her love for literacy has continued throughout her career, not only for herself, but also with the children she has cared for and taught. What Angie is most passionate about is helping others discover the excitement that reading brings. Her greatest desire in writing is to create and bring joy and entertainment to everyone she touches.

Currently, if Angie isn't reading at least three books at a time or working on a rough draft for her next book, she can be found outdoors gardening, woodworking, or relaxing by her pond. She shares that she's a Capricorn, tried and true, drinks way too much tea, and that her "to be read" pile of books can spike at any time.








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Friday, October 25, 2024

Haunted Halloween Spooktacular Spotlight: Immortal Wounds by Angie Barton

Today, I have a fun Halloween post to share! Check out Immortal Wounds, learn about author Angie Barton & add her fun Halloween Spooky Cookies onto your to-do list this week too! 




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Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner.  
 

About the Book

 



Immortal Wounds
Immortal Wounds Series
Book One
Angie Barton

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Magical Realism
Publisher: Angie Barton 
Date of Publication: April 22, 2022
ISBN: 979-8990647206
ASIN: BOD9XTF25K
Number of pages: 392
Word Count: 93,000
Cover Artist: Donnell McKenzie

Tagline: Did Isobel make an error in landing in the wrong time, or was it part of her destiny?



After witnessing the brutal deaths of her mother and husband, Isobel overhears a confession from one of the murderers, a ruthless vampire who claims to be her father. For fear that she and her unborn daughter’s death could come next, Isobel uses the only magic she possesses and summons a portal to take her two hundred years in the past to revisit an ancestor in Scotland who she believes may know the truth of her parentage. However, in her haste, Isobel lands in the wrong century. Before she realizes her mistake, she stumbles upon a family: a ferocious Highland warrior and his two sisters.

Isobel could not have prepared herself for what she discovers during her stay: the vampire who claimed to be her father, alive three hundred years in the past! With the help of Meg, the youngest sister, and Mariam, both women’s ancestor, Isobel finds herself belonging in a world she never dreamed of—one entangled with vampires and webbed with revenge, curses, and a prophecy that has dictated all of their lives for the last four hundred years. 

Did Isobel make an error landing in the wrong time, or was it part of her destiny?

Buy the Book


Fun Halloween Spooktacular Recipe
Spooky Cookies

I LOVE baking, especially around the holidays! 

Every October I make these amazing double chocolate  chip cookies and it’s easy to say that they are a hit  with both children and adults! They are soft and chewy  with just the right amount of chocolate, but it’s the candy eyeballs that are the star of the show!
 


INGREDIENTS
• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
• optional: black food coloring
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup + 2 Tbsp. Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet)
• Candy Eyeballs for topping the cookies

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugars. You can add black food coloring at this time to get a deeper shade of black in the cookies. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Blend in the egg and vanilla, scrape down the bowl if needed.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in the mixer on low speed just until mixed. Mix in the milk on the lowest speed and fold in the chocolate chips.

3. Roll about 2 tablespoons of dough into balls and place on the baking sheets. Flatten slightly. Top cookies with candy eyeballs. 

Place cookie sheet in freezer for 10-15 minutes.

4. Bake for 10-11 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. ENJOY!



About the Author

Award winning author, Angie Barton, published her first novel, Immortal Wounds, in 2022. Angie’s love for writing centers around the fantasy genre, but she also enjoys writing thriller and romance. Her passion for reading, which led to her love of writing, began in elementary school with the Scholastic Book program. Her parents, who are life-long avid readers, have been a huge influence on her reading. Therefore anything and everything Angie could get her hands on she read.

Angie has been an early childhood educator since 1986 and hold a B.S. in Child Development. Her love for literacy has continued throughout her career, not only for herself, but also with the children she has cared for and taught. What Angie is most passionate about is helping others discover the excitement that reading brings. Her greatest desire in writing is to create and bring joy and entertainment to everyone she touches.

Currently, if Angie isn't reading at least three books at a time or working on a rough draft for her next book, she can be found outdoors gardening, woodworking, or relaxing by her pond. She shares that she's a Capricorn, tried and true, drinks way too much tea, and that her "to be read" pile of books can spike at any time.









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