Legacy of Luck by Christy Nicholas BOOK SPOTLIGHT 

Legacy of Luck
By Christy Nicholas
Genre: Historical fiction
Irish Traveler Éamonn loves gambling, women, and drinking, not necessarily in that order. But he’s entangled in a true mess when he falls for fiery redhead, Katie. When she’s married to a Scottish Traveler, Éamonn travels to Scotland to find her, with the help of Katie’s sister and cousin, and the magical brooch gifted by his father. Their quest takes them across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Skye, encountering war, betrayal, death. In the end, Éamonn must make his own luck.
Author Bio

My name is Christy Nicholas, also known as Green Dragon. I do many things, including digital art, beaded jewelry, writing and photography. In real life I’m a CPA, but having grown up with art and around me (my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are/were all artists), it sort of infected me, as it were. I love to draw and to create things. It’s more of an obsession than a hobby. I like looking up into the sky and seeing a beautiful sunset, or a fragrant blossom, a dramatic seaside. I then wish to take a picture or create a piece of jewelry to share this serenity, this joy, this beauty with others. Sometimes this sharing requires explanation – and thus I write. Combine this love of beauty with a bit of financial sense and you get an art business. I do local art and craft shows, as well as sending my art to various science fiction conventions throughout the country and abroad.
http://www.greendragonartist.net

Blog: http://www.greendragonartist.com

http://www.facebook.com/greendragonauthor

On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTUZNIO
On Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2jgaHwo
Publisher Website:
http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Nicholas_Christy/index.htm

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A Flash of Red by Sarah K. Stephens – BOOK SPOTLIGHT 


A Flash of Red

By Sarah K. Stephens

Genre: Psychological Thriller

 

Focusing on three main characters, A Flash of Red details the chaos that ensues when mental illness invades our most intimate relationships. Professor Anna Klein and her husband, Sean, are a young couple each struggling with their own misperceptions of reality. While Anna’s daily anxieties turn on the axis of her mother’s path into psychosis, Sean escapes to the alternate reality of love and sex offered online. When Bard, a student of Anna’s, develops his own obsession with the couple, their already unsteady world collapses with irrevocable consequences. As focused on providing a driving plot as it is in presenting multi-faceted characters, A Flash of Red ultimately asks the question: What happens when we can no longer tell the difference between what we want and what is real?        

 

About the Author


Sarah K. Stephens earned her doctorate in Developmental Psychology and teaches a variety of human development courses as a lecturer at Penn State University. Although Fall and Spring find her in the classroom, she remains a writer year-round. Her short stories have appeared in Five on the Fifth, The Voices Project, The Indianola Review, and the Manawaker Studio’s Flash Fiction Podcast. Her debut novel, A Flash of Red, will be released in December 2016 by Pandamoon Publishing.
https://twitter.com/skstephenswrite 

https://www.facebook.com/sarahkstephensauthor/

About Me & Contact

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The Taste of Air by Gail Cleare


Overview 

A simple phone call disrupts Nell Williams’s well-ordered life. Her mother, Mary, is in a hospital in Vermont. But her mother is supposed to be safely tucked away in an assisted-living facility in Massachusetts, so Nell can’t fathom why she would be so far from home.

After notifying her sister, Bridget, Nell hops on a plane and rushes to her mother’s side. There, she discovers that her mother has been living a second life. Mary has another home and a set of complex relationships with people her daughters have never met.

When Nell and Bridget delve deeper into their mother’s lakeside hideaway, they uncover a vault of family secrets and the gateway to change for all three women. 

Review

Nell’s mother, Mary, has fallen ill. This throws her whole family into turmoil. Mary is supposed to be in an assisted living facility in Massachusetts, instead she is in Vermont. 

When I started reading this tale it was a firm 3 star read.  But as the story developed and I continued delving into the lives of Nell, Bridget and Mary, I quickly moved it into the 4 star category.  The secrets and the twists and turns wrapped up in this family saga really threw me into a tizzy. I could not stop till I found out all of the mysteries hidden inside this novel. 

Nell and Bridget could not be more different. This added so much to their complex relationship and each had a different relationship with their mother. Add the neighbors at the cabin in Vermont and you really have some complications. 

Some places are overly dramatic and did not sit well with me. But, the story really keeps you reading. The mystery surrounding a Vermont neighbor’s death  and Mary’s secret hideaway keep you in your reading chair! I enjoyed the setting of a lake in Vermont I could just picture the sunsets and the beautiful area. 

Purchase Here 

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The Art of Sage by Melanie Munton – BOOK SPOTLIGHT 

The Art of Sage (Cruz Brothers #2)By Melanie Munton

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

With death came new life.

She was my new life.

And I would never be able to let her go.
Social work was never an easy job but somebody had to do it. Fortunately for kind-hearted and tattooed Sage Tucker, she wanted to do it. Day in and day out she saw kids who reminded her of her past and she needed to do everything in her power to give them the help that she never received when she was young. The more kids she helped, the more layers she thought she could shed of her dark childhood. But nothing ever worked. She was haunted by her memories, consumed by her anger. She slowly felt herself slipping further down into a hole, one she didn’t know if she would ever escape from.
Art made sense to Mason Cruz. Keeping his hands busy was his therapy. Being able to do both at his auto body shop was his sanctuary. Despite everything he had to overcome in his life, he had finally made something of himself and was where he wanted to be professionally. With every car he painted and every motorcycle he restored, he could keep the demons inside his head at bay. He just wished he was as good at repairing his soul as he was at repairing vintage fenders.
Sage had never felt so exposed than when she was around the smooth and charming Mason. Talking to him made her feel like she was under a microscope, but maybe that was exactly what she needed. Nobody had ever wanted to understand her like he did. Nobody had ever cared enough to ask and she had never cared to share.
And now she knew why.
Because she knew that whenever Mason learned everything about her, heard all of her darkest secrets, he would never want to look at her again.

 

About the Author


Traveler. Reader. Beach-goer. St. Louis Cardinals fan. Pasta-obsessed. North Carolina resident. Sarcastic. Bit of a nerd.

Author of the Cruz Brothers, Possession and Politics, and Timid Souls series, Melanie loves all things romance, comedies and suspense in particular because it’s boring to only stick to one sub-genre. From light-hearted comedies to sexy thrillers, she likes to mix it up, but loves her some strong alpha males and sassy heroines.

Sign up for her newsletter to read exclusive excerpts and teasers from her latest projects!

http://www.melaniemunton.com

 

https://www.facebook.com/melaniemuntonauthor/ 

 

Amazon – http://bit.do/cSEwt 
Goodreads – http://bit.do/cSEwB

 

The Art of Sage playlist: http://spoti.fi/2gyNK70

EXCERPT

“Plymouth Road Runner. 1970. Not bad.” I followed Sage around to the front of the car, trying my hardest—appropriate word—to not stare at her ass in that skirt.

She lifted the hood, sighing as she propped it up. “Yeah, she’s a champ. I don’t see any leaks and everything else looks normal from what I can see. It made a kind of knocking sound before it died, so I’m thinking it might be an issue with a flywheel. God, if it’s a camshaft I’m screwed. That’s the original 383 in there, so it’s not as if it’s a brand new engine.”

I was speechless.

Who the hell was this woman?

She looked over at me when I didn’t respond, choosing instead to stare at the poor woman like a dumbass. She hadn’t known she was going to pick up a fucking stalker when she walked into my shop earlier, but damned if I could control my reaction when a woman who looked like her talked cars to me. She obviously knew what she was talking about and it was by far one of the most attractive things about her. Purr some more of that sweet stuff my way, baby.

Not that she wasn’t probably the most incredible-looking woman I’d ever seen in my life because she definitely was. In fact, I’d nearly had a heart attack the second I laid eyes on her. Long, luscious hair, the purple color suiting her perfectly. Sharp eyes, seductive smile, and a banging body. But those tattoos of hers were something else. Attention-grabbing from a distance, but the closer you got to them, the more mesmerizing they were. The intricacy to them was a work of art, some of the best I’d ever seen.

Whoever had marked her was a genius. Because not only were the designs beautifully done but the placement of them on her body was perfection. The way the stems of the flowers curled around her shoulder, the delicacy of the feathers that looked to almost touch her neck, the colors blending together in a magnificent moving tapestry. Each one complemented her in the most tasteful way. I was going to have to find out who her artist was because they had already ranked pretty high in my book.

“Mason?”

Sage was looking at me with a concerned expression. Yeah, you’re still staring, you idiot. I turned my attention to the car but couldn’t help my curiosity. “So, you know cars?”

“Not a lot but my dad taught me some stuff, so I know a little more than the basics. Doesn’t really help me much if I can’t actually fix the problem myself,” she added in a disgusted voice. I made sure to hide my grin and kept my back facing her.

“But if you and everyone else could fix their issues themselves, people like me would go out of business.”

She hummed in acknowledgement. “I guess that’s true. You seem pretty good at what you do if your car is anything to go by.”

Oh, I’m good at a lot of things I do, sweetheart.

 

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Upload by Collin Tobin 


Overview 

Someone’s always watching.

Jay Brooks’s life is in chaos. His mother’s sudden death has unhinged his father, making Jay a stranger in his own home. He seeks solace by spending his spare time with his best friend, Bennie, but matters are further complicated by his crush on Chloe, Bennie’s older sister.

A wheelchair-bound hacker, Bennie Welch practically lives in his basement computer lab. Longing to make genuine connections to the outside world, he secretly films people’s precious memories for later sale and surfs the crowds at rave parties, despite the danger to his frail body.

One night, Jay’s hobby of Wi-Fi hotspot hunting turns serious when he unwittingly blunders into the scene of a crime and downloads a mysterious transmission. When Jay brings Bennie the contents of the transfer, Bennie embraces the opportunity to use his skills to investigate.

As Jay and Bennie dig deeper into the world of electronic secrets, they find that the simple video has far-reaching implications that not only threaten their lives, but society as they know it. Tracing the mysterious coalition responsible leads them on an inexorable journey that will change them forever. 

Review

Let me start with saying..this is not my type of read. I did finish it but it did not appeal to me like it would some readers. 

Jay, by happenstance, finds himself in the middle of a murder, then a conspiracy. All of this leads to a series of superb complications and family discoveries. 

I have a soft spot for Jay. His bungling and his insecurities help to make him very appealing. I wanted to jump through the pages and be his guide!! Bennie started out as a character I wanted to hate. But, I ended up respecting his strength and intellect.  

The story itself is action packed and moves very quickly.  There is way too much technical jargon in this book for me. I was lost most of the time. Now, if this had been medical jargon, I would have been all over it! Therefore, this book may very well be a 5 star read for several tech junkies. I will give it 3 and 1/2 stars. The story and characters made up for the “above and beyond” tech speak! 

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review 


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Sunset Reads: Damian & Layla by D.C. Triana – BOOK SPOTLIGHT 


 

Sunset Reads: Damian & Layla (A Sunset Reads Novel 2)By D.C. Triana

Genre: Romance Suspense

 

Book Description

 

One year.

It’s been one year since Agent Damian Trent left for Washington without a word.

One year since he’s seen her beautiful face.

One year since he’s heard his name on her lips.

He’s been recently called back to New York City on assignment, to catch a criminal who’s trying to infiltrate Sunset Reads. The last thing he expects is to work side by side with the woman he turned his back on. 

Having her close is an unwanted distraction that he’s more than willing to ignore, if only she wasn’t so damn tempting. 

Everything seems under control, until a night of feverish passion has him abandoning all thoughts of reason. Now, he will do everything in his power to get her back, and even more so to protect her.

Layla Reece wants nothing to do with the man who left her a year ago. 

The man who took her heart with him, leaving her broken. 

After a year of trying to forget Damian Trent, she is finally ready to move on. 

But trying to forget him becomes a tedious task when he suddenly reappears in her life. 

Although she fights to stay away, his magnetism is too strong and she finds herself giving into the deep timbre of his voice, and the strength and safety of his arms. 

Staying away from Damian turns out to be futile, especially when his kisses consume her and his heart shatters the walls she spent so much time building. 

Finding herself in danger, she now has to turn to the only man she trusts to keep her safe, but can she trust him enough to give him her heart once again?

 

About the Author


D.C. Triana is a new romance author and novelist. She was born in raised in New York and is currently residing in Florida. Last March, Her dream of publishing a romance novel came true with, Sunset Reads: William & Cristina. The novel is currently holding a 4.5 star rating on Amazon as well as GoodReads. She is excited to announce her second novel in the series, Sunset Reads: Damian & Layla, releasing on December 26, 2016.

 

When she is not delving into her hopeless romantic thoughts, she is expanding her experiences and travelling around the world. She also will not miss an episode of the Walking Dead, has an obsession with Superman, and has watched Pride and Prejudice at least ten times. An avid fan of all types of music and dancing; she enjoys cuddling up with her puppy Obi, and helping new authors like herself. You can visit her at http://www.dctriana/com, or be part of her newsletter where you can take part in giveaways, receive updates on upcoming storylines, and get reviews on hot new titles. Sign up for her Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bXH-P9

 

@DCTriana1

https://www.facebook.com/D.C.Triana82/
https://www.goodreads.com/DCTriana

https://www.instagram.com/dctriana82/

http://www.dctriana.com/

Pre-order link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBB4QYD

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Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley #XOXperts


Overview

From the author of Before I Go comes an unconventional love story perfect for fans of the emotional novels of Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes.

One time a boy kissed me and I almost died… 

And so begins the story of Jubilee Jenkins, a young woman with a rare and debilitating medical condition: she’s allergic to other humans. After a humiliating near-death experience in high school, Jubilee has become a recluse, living the past nine years in the confines of the small town New Jersey house her unaffectionate mother left to her when she ran off with a Long Island businessman. But now, her mother is dead, and without her financial support, Jubilee is forced to leave home and face the world—and the people in it—that she’s been hiding from.

One of those people is Eric Keegan, a man who just moved into town for work. With a daughter from his failed marriage who is no longer speaking to him, and a brilliant, if psychologically troubled, adopted son, Eric’s struggling to figure out how his life got so off-course, and how to be the dad—and man—he wants so desperately to be. Then, one day, he meets a mysterious woman named Jubilee, with a unique condition…

Close Enough to Touch is an evocative, poignant, and heartrending exploration of the power and possibilities of the human heart. 

Review

Jubilee has a rare allergy to people. She cannot be touched. She will literally die! She has not left the house in 9 years. She can order everything she needs from the internet, so why leave. Then, her mother dies and her money stops. She has to leave to get a job. 

When I first received this novel in the mail I was sure it would not be as good as I wanted it to be. Not enough words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. I totally fell in love with Jubilee. She is one of the greatest characters ever. She is flawed, introverted, and totally loves books. Plus, she gets my dream job in a library!! 

Jubilee and Eric have a very interesting relationship.  Add Aja, Eric’s adopted son, into the mix and and life turns upside down for all envolved. Aja is another character which I adored. He is a strange young boy into telekinesis.  This gets him into massive amounts of trouble. When Jubilee almost died trying to save him….aaaahhh…you will have to read the book!!

The book references in this tale have me scrambling. Now I am going to have to read The Virgin Suicides and Dolores Claiborne.  Can’t believe I have not read these anyway. 

I could go on and on about the many great qualities of this book, the family and friend issues, the issues of living life with this type of allergy. However, I will just say…For any booklover…this is a fantabulous read. 

I received this novel from Simon and Schuster as part of XOXPERTS


                                  

                                                             

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In the Shadow of the Hanging Tree by Michael McLellan – COVER REVEAL plus #giveaway 


In the Shadow of the Hanging TreeBy Michael McLellan

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: January 2017

 

Henry was born into slavery; his young life spent working in tobacco drying sheds on Missouri plantations. Freed at the onset of the Civil War, he’s alone, starving, and on the run from Confederate militiamen.

 

Five years later, Clara Hanfield, the daughter of a powerful New York shipping magnate, escapes her tyrannical father and travels west in pursuit of John Elliot, the man she loves. John, a U.S. Army lieutenant, was sent to the Dakota Territory where he discovers a government conspiracy to incite an all-out war with the Indians; a war meant to finally eliminate them as an obstacle to the westward expansion.

 

Henry finds himself caught in the middle.

 

Aided by Clara, John, and his native ally, Standing Elk, Henry must battle hatred, greed, and the ghosts of his past during this turbulent and troubling time in American history.

 

About the Author

 

Michael’s love of books began with Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and the Motorcycle when he was seven-years-old. Later influenced by the works of John Steinbeck, Harper Lee, Stephen King, and Cormac McCarthy, Michael developed his style of storytelling. A self-proclaimed blue-collar writer, he draws on his experiences and observations to bring relevant and compelling topics to life.
Michael lives in Northern California, and when he’s not writing, he can usually be found wandering around the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges.

 

His body of work includes the 2014 novel After and Again, the 2015 novel American Flowers, and the shorts Joe Price and Anywhere But Here. Michael’s newest novel, Shadow of the Hanging Tree, is expected to be published in January 2017 by Sweet Candy Press.

 

Author’s Website: http://michaelamclellan.com/

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelAMcLellanOfficial

On Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9802085.Michael_A_McLellan

 

Publisher: Sweet Candy Press http://www.sweetcandypress.com

 

The publisher is giving away 5 Advanced Reader Copies! Enter below:

 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/70954c79148

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Always by Sarah Jio 

OVERVIEW
From the “New York Times” bestselling author of “Blackberry Winter “and “The Violets of March” comes a gripping, poignant novel about the kind of love that never lets go, and the heart s capacity to remember. 

While enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner with her fiance, Ryan, at one of Seattle s chicest restaurants, Kailey Crane can t believe her good fortune: She has a great job as a writer for the “Herald” and is now engaged to a guy who is perfect in nearly every way. As they leave the restaurant, Kailey spies a thin, bearded homeless man on the sidewalk. She approaches him to offer up her bag of leftovers, and is stunned when their eyes meet, then stricken to her very core: The man is the love of her life, Cade McAllister. 

When Kailey met Cade ten years ago, their attraction was immediate and intense everything connected and felt” right.” But it all ended suddenly, leaving Kailey devastated. Now the poor soul on the street is a faded version of her former beloved: His weathered and weary face is as handsome as Kailey remembers, but his mind has suffered in the intervening years. Over the next few weeks, Kailey helps Cade begin to piece his life together, something she initially keeps from Ryan. As she revisits her long-ago relationship, Kailey realizes that she must decide exactly what and whom she wants. 

Alternating between the past and the present, “Always” is a beautifully unfolding exploration of a woman faced with an impossible choice, a woman who discovers what she s willing to save and what she will sacrifice for true love. 

Praise for Sarah Jio 

“Goodnight June” 

Sarah Jio s delightful and uplifting novel is guaranteed to melt even the toughest cynic and deserves a top rating of five stars (plus the moon). “Historical Novel Society” 

A tribute to family and forgiveness. “Booklist”

“”

“Morning Glory” 

Jio explores the degree to which time and distance give comfort to those who have experienced loss [with] a depth of feeling in her writing. “Publishers Weekly” 

Jio has become one of the most-read women in America. “Woman s World” 

“Blackberry Winter” 

Compelling . . . an intoxicating blend of mystery, history, and romance. “Real Simple” 

Ingenious . . . imaginative. “The Seattle Times”” 

REVIEW

I have been a fan of Sarah Jio forever. Her books have a little of everything plus, they are immensely entertaining. This one made me want to throw the book across the room. Or better yet, jump up and down on it and then dunk it in water. I guess it is a sign of a good writer which can elicit this kind of response from a reader. May not be exactly what the author went about to achieve. But, success is sucesss, I guess. 

Cade and Kailey were very much in love. Then he just up and disappears. Kailey has searched for him to no avail. She decides to move on with her life and she becomes engaged to be married to a great guy. She and her fiancé are leaving a restaurant one evening and she sees a homeless  man sitting on the sidewalk. Kailey realizes it is Cade. This sets off a turn of events which change both of their lives forever.

Kailey is a character which frustrated the devil out of me. She cannot tell the truth for the life of her. If she has such a great fiancé, he will understand about Cade…and she just keeps lying. I just want to pinch her head off.  And her fiancé….don’t get me started on his weak little self.

Characters aside, there are some great aspects to this book. I enjoyed the setting of Seattle. And all the music references are truly amazing. Took a lot of research to nail some of those. I will say the plot in this book just sort of died toward the end. Almost like the author was trying to hurry up and finish. 

This sounds like a harsh review but I did enjoy the book. I could not get Cade and his deterioration out of my mind. I still can’t. Like I said earlier….sign of a good author. 

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review. 


PURCHASE HERE 

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Steam Ahead! DIY for Kids by Sumita Mukhjee – BOOK SPOTLIGHT 

STEAM AHEAD! DIY FOR KIDS

By Sumita Mukherjee

Genre: Educational Projects for Kids

  

STEAM AHEAD! DIY FOR KIDS is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step instruction book for parents and children. It introduces kids between the ages of four and ten to the magic of electronics, game and toy designing, printing, understanding basic scientific principles and most importantly, they’ll have a blast making them. Inside this book you will find projects on LED cards, dance pads, handmade soaps, bubble blowers, Play-Doh circuits, cloud lanterns, scribbling bots and more!

 Created by NASA STEM certified leader, Sumita Mukherjee, this book is jam packed with projects that will engage any bored child. The hands-on projects are broken into areas of practical implementation: Party, Build, Toys and Art. They have also been sorted according to levels of difficultly and STEAM relevance. Adding one or two experiments per week can get your child excited about science, inventions, science fair projects and overall classroom performance.

There is also a BONUS material list for STEAM DIY KIDS, to make it easier for parents to plan and prepare in advance.

What’s particularly exciting is that STEAM AHEAD! DIY FOR KIDS is available for only $1.99 through December. Perfect for keeping children busy during the holiday season. And that’s not all! For those who purchase the book this week, a freebie downloadable brain doodle book is also available by entering your purchase information at http://wizkids.club/freegift. Don’t miss out. Visit Amazon today to grab this special deal! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRIRG69

 

About the Author


 

Sumita Mukherjee is a NASA STEM certified leader and children’s book author. She has been fortunate enough to travel around the globe, explore many countries and meet different people. Mysteries and adventures have been captured from there in the form of Keiko and Kenzo’s travel adventure series. These books are to inspire young readers to know and appreciate various countries, develop a love for discovery and learn about the world around them. Her series of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) books encourages kids to invent and explore, to empower themselves and see themselves as world leaders and problem solvers. Her books celebrate diversity, spark curiosity and capture children’s imaginations! Sumita currently lives in Toronto with her family.

 

Her website, WizKids.Club was created with a vision to raise the next generation of creative leaders. WizKids.Club offers highly engaging kids activities, educational books, experiments, hands-on projects, DIYs, travel stories and engineering books perfect for children 4-12 years to spark creativity and scientific learning.

 

https://twitter.com/wizkidsdotclub 

https://www.facebook.com/wizkidsdotclub/

http://wizkids.club/

 

On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRIRG69

 

The author is giving one lucky reader a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

 

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