This is my first experience doing this. And why I decided to do it I will never know. There was an empty altoid tin in my car….and there you have it.
I used this video on you tube
Thanks for stopping by!
-
Tall Poppy Blogger
bloglovin
Altered Altoid Tin
Write to Influence by Carla D. Bass – BOOK SPOTLIGHT
Early Praise for Write to Influence!Rated 5 of 5 Stars – “This book is fantastic! It is spot-on for persuasive writing. This should be the textbook for a class required of all incoming college freshman, and a high school class, a class for all military officers, and a refresher at most companies …I don’t know of anyone who would not benefit from this book!” —Net Galley Consumer Reviewer
“Write to Influence! is a gem — much more than the typical “how-to” book on writing. It’s more specific in its approach, teaching writing skills to purposefully craft words to present a powerful message intended to influence readers … This book is specialized and important — translating to a host of business and professional pursuits.
Write to Influence! is a powerful tool for individuals wanting to get ahead, as well. Why? Selections for jobs, scholarships, fellowships, and more are often made based on the strength of the written application or resume. This book teaches writing skills to put forth the strongest possible case needed to edge out the competition.
Anyone interested in not just adequate but powerful, super-charged writing will appreciate this clear discussion of how to produce effective, attention-grabbing pieces in all kinds of business and real-world scenarios where standout writing means the difference between success and failure.
Write to Influence is unique in its genre. In short, it is a winner!” —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“Write to Influence! is an essential guide for anyone seeking to improve their writing skills and inform or influence others with the written word. I write every day, and I constantly seek ways to improve my writing skills. Write to Influence will be on my desk to help me on that journey.” —Mark Amtower, Managing Partner, Amtower & Company
“Write to Influence! will rejuvenate the lost art of clear, concise, professional writing. Moreover, corporate CEOs will rejoice at no longer being encumbered by reports difficult to read and frustrating to unravel!” —Judith A. Sprieser, Non-Executive Director Allstate Corporation, InterContinental Exchange Inc., and Reckitt Benckiser plc.
“Carla brilliantly captured in one entertaining, easily read document nuances of writing that infuse products with clarity, focus, and direction. If effective writing is your goal, put this book in your tool kit!”
—Dr. Lani Kass, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategic Advisor, CACI
“Write to Influence! should be in every professional’s library. I heartily recommend Write to Influence! As a lawyer for whom effective communication is essential, clear, convincing writing is key to making a compelling, successful argument. This book sets out a road-map for achieving that goal. Beyond being informative and very useful, it’s fun to read! ” —Baba Zipkin, Former Senior Counsel, IBM
“Write to Influence! will be my go-to-guide for many years to come. Read this book if you want to improve your communication skills. It is now a must-read reference for all of my employees.” —Rick Mix, President & CEO, Cleared Solutions Inc.
“Where has this book been? Write to Influence! has it all—brilliant tools to teach writing fundamentals and strategies to compose products with that competitive edge.” —Robert J. Butler, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Cyber Strategies, LLC
Genesis for this book: As a lieutenant colonel, Carla commanded 480 troops, many of whom were being passed over for awards and other recognition critical for successful careers. Why? Their bosses couldn’t write winning nomination packages! To resolve this, she developed writing techniques, composed a small handbook, and taught her unit to write. They catapulted from the most losing in the state to the one to beat! So successful was this handbook and her class, she taught thousands of people for the next 15 years.
http://carladbass.com/
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens
Overview
Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash escaped into the night with her young daughter and left an abusive relationship.Her ex-husband was sent to jail and she started over with a new life. Now, Lindsey is older and wiser, with a teenage daughter who needs her more than ever. When her ex-husband is finally released, Lindsey believes she’s cut all ties. But she gets the sense that someone is watching her. Her new boyfriend is threatened. Her home is invaded, and her daughter is shadowed. Lindsey is convinced it’s her ex-husband, even though he claims he’s a different person. But can he really change? Is the one who wants her dead closer to home than she thought?
Chevy Stevens targets her readership with a novel that hits all the notes they come to expect from her—and ratchets up the stakes even more in a novel that explores the dark.
Review
Lindsey thought she had escaped. Just knew it! Then her ex-husband was released from prison. She is being watched..she feels it.
Chevy Stevens is a master at the bob and weave. She always leads you expertly through highs and lows. Lindsey is a character much to be admired. She and her daughter escape an abusive relationship in the middle of the night. She starts her own business and creates a whole new life for herself and her child. She has a boyfriend and a great support group. Then her ex husband turns all of it upside down.
Chevy always adds a twist in her books. I always try to figure them out before it happens. I was oh so close on this one, just didn’t quite make out the connection. There were places in this read I had to stop and catch my breath! This story will almost traumatize you! It takes all your emotions and twists them into knots! This tale moves like a lightening bolt through your brain!
I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.
Purchase here
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
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/
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
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!
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.
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
Purchase here
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/
Pre-order link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBB4QYD
Posted in Book Spotlight
Leave a comment
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
Purchase here
reecaspieces 