 Darwin's Secret Sex Problem: Exposing Evolution’s Fatal Flaw—The Origin of Sex by F. LaGard Smith by F. LaGard Smith Published March 1st 2018 by WestBow Press | 364 pages Book Description: Dr. F. LaGard Smith, author of the new book, “Darwin’s Secret Sex Problem: Exposing Evolution’s Fatal Flaw—The Origin of Sex,” says one insoluble problem in particular is reason alone for serious scientific dissent. “ "The most crucial problem with evolution that Darwin never acknowledged was natural selection's inability to bridge the gap between non-gendered asexual replication (mitosis) and fully-gendered sexual reproduction (requiring meiosis),” says Dr. Smith. "Natural selection could not have provided simultaneous, on-time delivery of the first compatible male/female pair of millions of sexually-unique species—in the absence of which evolution’s bedrock assumption of common origin from lower to higher life forms could not possibly have happened. This is quietly acknowledged in the scientific community as the 'Queen of evolutionary problems’—the origin of sex—which, after countless studies, stubbornly defies evolutionary explanation.” Smith’s research for “Darwin’s Secret Sex Problem” led him to conclude that evolution’s bedrock thesis of microbe-to-man common descent is not science, but science fiction. "Given the unique nature of gendered, sexual meiosis compared with non-gendered, asexual mitosis," Dr. Smith explains, "the first-ever generation of sexual reproduction would have required 1) a never-before-seen male organism and a novel female organism, 2) magically having compatible chromosomes, and 3) a death-defying process of precisely halving their chromosomes, mixing them together in a revolutionary way, and then recombining to produce, not a clone (as in asexual replication), but a unique offspring unlike any on the planet. Not to mention the minor details of geographic proximity and an evolved instinct to mate—all absolutely required in Round One of sex to start the sexual ball rolling." REVIEW by LAWonder10: This author points out "insurmountable, unabridgable gaps" in Darwin's "microbe-to-man" evolution theory. The key word is "theory", being taught as fact in most educational institutions. Ths work by author F. LeGards Smaith is a very interesting, factual account of the serious flaws in Darein's theory, flaws Darwin himself admits. F. LeGard Smith establishes the fact that scientists have great imaginations which accounts for numerous, amazing discoveries and inventions. Yet, he points out many things seem impossible but are more correctly termed "improbable". There are truly impossible things such a pigs flying. Darwin's "Theory" falls into the latter category and he gives, proven, logical, absolute facts to strengthen his stance. This book is enlightening, engaging and thought-provoking, well-written with a touch of humor. The only negative I can add is the Cover is not "eye-catching' and, I feel, the Title does injustice to the book's content. Other than this, the book is a great, educational read! I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating. *This book was gifted me by the publisher with no suggestion for a positive review. This is my honest review.
Darwin's Secret Sex Problem is a witty, engaging, scientifically sound exploration of perhaps the greatest secret of sexuality the utter inability of Darwinian evolution to explain its origin (John E. Silvius, PhD, Senior Professor Emeritus of Biology, Cedarville University). Darwins Secret Sex Problem is a witty, engaging, scientifically sound exploration of perhaps the greatest secret of sexuality the utter inability of Darwinian evolution to explain its origin (John E. Silvius, PhD, Senior Professor Emeritus of Biology, Cedarville University).
For Immediate Release (Murfreesboro, TN) — Over 1,000 academically-qualified, reputable scientists have publicly signed a statement dissenting from Darwinism. The growing list available for download at www.dissentfromdarwin.org includes respected scientists from the US National Academy of Sciences, Russian, Hungarian and Czech National Academies, as well as from universities such as Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and others. The statement being signed, “A Scientific Dissent From Darwinism,” is simple and straightforward: “ "We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged. There is scientific dissent from Darwinism. It deserves to be heard.”
What Darwin Ignored . . . For all his revolutionary insight into the fascinating processes of evolution so useful to current scientific research, health care, and technology, Darwin never seriously confronted the crucial, insurmountable gap in his grand theory between asexual replication and sexual reproduction. Nor could Darwin's famed natural selection have provided simultaneous on-time delivery of the first male/female pair of millions of sexually unique species required for evolutions bedrock premise of common descent a fundamental flaw fatal to the romanticized microbe-to-man Evolution Story. What Darwin Ignored . . . For all his revolutionary insight into the fascinating processes of evolution so useful to current scientific research, health care, and technology, Darwin never seriously confronted the crucial, insurmountable gap in his grand theory between asexual replication and sexual reproduction. Nor could Darwins famed natural selection have provided simultaneous on-time delivery of the first male/female pair of millions of sexually unique species required for evolutions bedrock premise of common descent, a fundamental flaw fatal to the romanticized microbe-to-man Evolution Story.  An author of over 30 books, Smith is best known as the compiler and narrator of “The Daily Bible”, which has sold over two million copies. But Smith says it was not his faith that was the catalyst for the book’s thesis. “ "As a believer, I’m naturally concerned about the moral and spiritual implications of any explanation for the existence of life that does not need God or heed God. The theory of microbe-to-man evolution is inherently godless, providing no foundation for either morality, social justice, or an afterlife for the soul. But it was not those concerns that ultimately prompted the writing of this particular book. Rather, it was what I sensed to be a fundamental problem with evolution science that led me into deeply researching its fatal flaw—namely, evolution’s inability to explain the origin of sex."  About F. LaGard Smith: After graduating from Willamette University School of Law in 1968 and serving for three years as District Attorney for Malheur County, Oregon, F. LaGard Smith has spent a career as a professor of law, principally at Pepperdine University School of Law. Smith is the author of over 30 books on a wide variety of legal, social and religious topics. He is most widely known as the compiler and narrator of the best-selling The Daily Bible®. For five years, Smith was Scholar in Residence for Christian Studies at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. After serving as Visiting Professor of Law at Faulkner University's Jones School of Law in Montgomery, Alabama, Smith has now retired to write full time. Smith and his wife, Ruth, reside in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but also spend time at their cottage in the rural Cotswolds, northwest of London, England. For more information, visit www.lagardsmith.com. For a Q&A with Professor Smith, click this link. Contact ADAM's PR GROUP on TWITTER  ONE Lucky U.S./Can.. WINNER will receive his/her own Print Copy of Darwin's Secret Sex Problem. Enter by clicking on the Rafflecopter link below!(Sorry, U.S./Can. resident only) RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!  This Book & Giveaway is Presented by The Adams Group
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  Book Details: Charleston Buzz Kill ( Nick Janzek Charleston Mysteries, #2) by Tom Turner Publication date: December 1st 2019 | Genres: Adult, Mystery Synopsis: When one of the stars of the boozy, risqué reality show, Charleston Buzz, takes a bullet to the head in mid-tryst, homicide cops Nick Janzek and Delvin Rhett swing into action. Within twenty-four hours they have five suspects…problem is all of them have solid alibis. Meanwhile, across town, is that a clandestine brothel being run by the fat cats of Charleston? And what’s with all those college girls hanging out there? As new partners Janzek and Rhett stumble along looking for a break, it becomes clear that some of Charleston’s most prominent citizens are up to their eyeballs in it all. Add to Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon  AUTHOR BIO: A native New Englander, Tom Turner dropped out of college and ran a Vermont bar...into the ground. After limping back to college to get his diploma, Tom became an advertising copywriter, first in Boston then New York. After ten years of post-Mad Men life, he made a radical change and got a job in commercial real estate. Not long after that he ended up in Palm Beach, buying, renovating and selling houses along with collecting raw material for his novels. On the side, he wrote Palm Beach Nasty, its sequel, Palm Beach Poison, and a screenplay called Blood Red Sea. While at a wedding a few years later, he fell for the charm of Charleston, South Carolina, and moved there. Recently, wandering Tom moved again. This time, just down the road to Skidaway Island, outside of Savannah, where he's writing a novel about passion and murder among his neighbors. Author links: Website | Twitter | BookBub | Facebook | Goodreads |  GIVEAWAY Derails: Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!  In The Heart of Windy Pines by Holly Tierney-Bedord Book Blitz & Giveaway! {Ends 12/12/19}12/5/2019   Book Details: In the Heart of Windy Pines by Holly Tierney-Bedord Publication date: November 24th 2019 | Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery Synopsis: From the author of Kindle Unlimited All-Star winner Sweet Hollow Women comes a new novella featuring characters from Murder at Mistletoe Manor, Carnage at the Christmas Party, and The Port Elspeth Jewelry Making Club! Klarinda Snow is the innkeeper of Mistletoe Manor in beautiful, remote, Windy Pines, Idaho, where she brings her unique brand of hospitality to the tiny mountain town. When she finds her inn unexpectedly fully booked on a snowy Tuesday night in November, it brings back memories of a tragedy years before. Before she knows what hit her, she and her trusty team of employees (Myrtle, Pierre, and her new night manager, Josephine), have found themselves back at the task of solving another mystery at Mistletoe Manor! While this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novella, if you plan to read the books in the Windy Pines Mystery series or The Port Elspeth Jewelry Making Club, it’s highly recommended you read those first, as this book contains spoilers that could affect your ability to enjoy them. Add to Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon  GoodreadsAUTHOR BIO: Holly Tierney-Bedord is the author of over twenty novels and novellas including Kindle Unlimited All-Star winner Sweet Hollow Women. Her books feature quirky, flawed characters and the kind of crazy scenarios that could only happen to someone you probably know. Count on her stories to have unexpected twists and turns, dark secrets, and lots of laughs. Holly is also an artist and miniaturist, creator of the mid-century dollhouse restoration blog flipthisminihouse.com, and the author of several non-fiction books about creating miniatures. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin. When she's not writing or decorating her real house or mini houses, she's traveling. Visit her website at www.hollytierneybedord.com where you can connect to her blogs and subscribe to her newsletter. Author links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads  GIVEAWAY Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
Enter with this link. RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!   Don't miss the latest novel by award winning author of The Mallard Conspiracy!  Book Title: Jeanne: A Journey from abandonment and abuse to forgiveness and truth by Sylvia Hornback Category: Adult Fiction (18+) | Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Briggs and Schuster | Release date: November 1, 2019 Tour dates: December 2 to December 20, 2019 Content Rating: PG - There are less than five cuss words plus adult themes of parental neglect. BOOK DESCRIPTION: Jeanne: At dawn on a sweltering summer day scrabbling sounds alerted Jeanne of the intruder downstairs. The pull chain rattled against the light bulb in the kitchen. Instantly a sliver of yellow light raced up the stairs and into her bedroom. Someone was moving about inside the house, and had even been bold enough to turn on a light. It wasn’t the first time she’d awakened to the sounds of this intruder. Buy the Book: Amazon.com | ~ Add to Goodreads
"A well written cativating story with realistic settings that create a true to life picture of the 1940 time period." "A revealing focus of neglect and abuse between a self centered mother and coming of age daughter who tugs at your heart!!" "One almost expects Jeanne to step out of the pages into your life at any time." "REAL LIVE PERSON FEEL." "Truly, a book that you DO NOT want to put down!"   MEET THE AUTHOR: Sylvia Hornback received her Doctorate of Education Administration from Texas A&M University. She is the current Chair of the Board of Directors for ENERGY Worldnet, Inc., and served as an educator, principal and school superintendent for over two decades. Among her many accolades, she was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School Principal by the U.S. Secretary of Education. For the past ten years, she has served as a Bible study teacher at First United Methodist Church near her home in Decatur, Texas. Her first novel, The Mallard Conspiracy, was published last year. Connect with the authors: Website ~ Facebook
   BOOK DETAILS: Blue Girl on a Night Dream Sea by Ginny Fite Category: Adult Fiction, 274 pages Genre: Suspense/Paranormal/Time Travel Publisher: Black Opal Books | Release date: September, 2019 Tour dates: Dec 2 to Dec 20, 2019 Content Rating: PG-13 + M (There are no explicit sex scenes but an implied threat of rape; there is some profanity) BOOK DESCRIPTION: Sometimes the last person you save is yourself. Elena must take her city back from terrorists. Hana must save her tribe from the wrath of a ruthless king. They’re stronger together. The problem is they’re 4,000 years and 6,000 miles apart. Wounded during a terrorist attack, NYC police commando Elena Labat wakes from her coma aboard a Phoenician boat on the Mediterranean Sea to find a young girl lashed to the mast. The girl is Hana, who has trekked across Bronze Age Lebanon with Danel to prevent a king from destroying her tribe. Elena knows she must save Hana. And Hana must escape the barbarians who abducted her before she can find Danel and go home. Slipping in and out of unconsciousness, Elena teaches Hana everything she can, protecting her from barbarians, a priestess, and a king. But Elena’s family needs her, and she can’t stay in the past. Hana will have to succeed on her own. BUY THE BOOK: Website | Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo | ~ Add to Goodreads REVIEW by LAWonder10: This was an interesting book centered on two key women, who lived courageous lives. Ech experiencing tragedy in very separate ways. Elena was an ex-military, special division policewoman. Terrorists were attacking her city. Suring this time, she kept dreaming strange dreams and seeing a vision. Hana was devastated with what her parents and village was forcing her to do! She accomplished the task, receiving needed help from a young man in the city Hana was to go to. During the worst time, she felt strength from a goddess. Each individual path, though the women were centuries apart, connected the two in remarkable ways. I enjoyed reading this book, although at times I felt there were slight gaps in the tale. The story flowed steadily, keeping the reader's interest. The characters wren developed well and felt very real. The scenes were, also, depicted quite well. To me, the Title never really fit that well. The Book Cover was colorful, depicting the two events on a very clever subtle way. It would catch the attention of "a browser". The ending was weak. It felt rushed and had too many gaps, but it was still a good story. I offer a Four Stars rating. *This book was gifted me with no request for a positive review. This s my honest review
Blue Girl on a Night Dream Sea is a combination time-travel fantasy, a historical thriller, and a modern-day suspense. Well written, fast paced, and intense, this one will keep you glued to the edge of your seat all the way through. –says Reviewer Regan Murphy Expertly combining the past and present, science fiction, and suspense, Fite weaves a tale that will keep you enthralled from beginning to end. –says Reviewer Taylor Jones
Lying to Get at the Truth By Ginny Fite Writing is like dreaming with our eyes open. And, it's also like lying — very convincing lying. In our dreams, anything can happen—tumbling through the sky to our deaths, besting an enemy in battle, or being embraced by endless love. Dreams are where we practice skills (like flying), where we put two and two together, and where insights come from. Writers dream on the page and, hopefully, readers find something in the story that resonates for them. When I write, I create a set of (hopefully) plausible bridges between my dreams and the reader’s. That's where the lying comes in. For the lie to work it has to evoke a shared reality, a world the reader and I both know, or agree to believe exists. How to imagine and create on the page a place I had never been was the central challenge in Blue Girl on a Night Dream Sea, since none of us alive right now has ever found ourselves in Bronze Age Cyprus, or standing outside the walls of Sidon, or out on the Mediterranean in a one-mast boat surrounded by evil-smelling barbarians. Although I researched the period extensively and peered at every photograph of every reported archaeological find, those places are now devoid of the life they once teemed with—the people. That’s where dreams and imagination come into the mix. Everything I think, see, taste, smell, hear and feel gets added to the huge steaming compost pile of experience in my mind. Dipping into that experience is part of the research I do for each novel. Depending on the situation my characters find themselves in, they may acquire reactions I know from my own experience to be true. But it's not like placing a cut-out dress on a paper doll. I lend my experience in bits and pieces: how my mouth felt when someone disappointed me, how a man's face turned grey at hearing his mother died, what fury looked like in a friend who was betrayed. Everything else — the situation, motivation, resolution — is invented. And yet, it feels true because it's based on human experience. When you feel Hana’s homesickness or Elena’s confusion, that’s the truth.   ABOUT the AUTHOR: Ginny Fite is an award-winning journalist who has covered crime, politics, government, healthcare, art and all things human. She has been a spokesperson for a governor and a member of Congress, a few colleges and universities, and a robotics R&D company. She has degrees from Rutgers University and Johns Hopkins University and studied at the School for Women Healers and the Maryland Poetry Therapy Institute. Her three murder mysteries, Cromwell’s Folly, No Good Deed Left Undone, and Lying, Cheating, and Occasionally Murder, are set in the rolling hills of Jefferson County, West Virginia. No End of Bad, a thriller, was released in June 2018. She resides in Harpers Ferry, WV. Connect with the Author: website ~ facebook ~ twitter Here is the tour schedule.  Giveaway Details: Prizes: Win one of two $10 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Ginny Fite, author of BLUE GIRL ON THE NIGHT DREAM SEA (open to wherever Amazon.com delivers) (2 winners) (ends Dec 27, 2019) RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!   We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:  Launch - Note from the Author Home for Christmas was pure Joy for me—in every chapter and word. I was thrilled when my editors gave me the green light to write this, the first Christmas story set in Indian Lake. I certainly hope it’s not the last for my beloved characters. This story is especially dear to me because it’s cut right out of my life. In my hometown of La Porte, Indiana, there was a magical all-glass greenhouse just like the one Joy Boston inherits. From my earliest memories of Christmas, visits to the Bernacchi Greenhouse to choose the right poinsettias for aunts and friends was practically part of my DNA. For decades, even when I moved out of town and lived in big cities and foreign countries, Christmas memories always began in those greenhouses. . .  Home for Christmas (Shores of Indian Lake #12) By Catherine Lanigan Contemporary Romance | 384 Pages November 1st 2019 by Harlequin Heartwarming Book Blurb: Can a magical Christmas under glass… …bring them back together for good? Widowed dad Adam Masterson still doesn’t understand why Joy Boston left Indian Lake and broke his heart all those years ago. Now she’s returned to sell her grandfather’s beloved poinsettia greenhouse—and Joy and Adam’s connection is as strong as ever. But Joy has a life in New York. And Adam has only until Christmas to convince Joy that she belongs in Indian Lake—with him. (Affiliate links included.) Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Harlequin | iBooks Cover Lover Book Review - Review "I absolutely loved the setting, too! The poinsettia greenhouses anchor this story with their potential and fascinating, town-edifying history. Grandfather Frank’s dreams are renewed, and his memory is revived in a surprising and sweet way. Home for Christmas infused me in the spirit of Christmas and satisfied me with its ending." Andi's Book Reviews - Review "This is your typical second-chance romance with a bunch of Hallmark movie thrown in. And because it is a Christmas book, that makes it fit absolutely perfectly. You can't help but love this formula at this time of year, because it always makes you feel good." Pause for Tales - Review "This was like Hallmark in a book. Another sweet second chance romance between two people who have had their love rekindled again."  Paulette's Papers - Guest Post A CAROLING WE GO This is my front door where yes, last year, a small group came to my door and sang Christmas carols. Luckily, I still had some Christmas cookies to gift them. . . onemused - Review ". . . the second chance romance, Christmas setting, and lovely characters all bring the book together in a lovely way. I would highly recommend for fans of Hallmark movies- this is a sweet and heartwarming (clean) book!" Woven From Words - Review "Home For Christmas displays how the magic of community and holiday spirit come together to rejuvenate a person’s spirit. Even if you’re away from an extended period time, one can truly return home and find the key to inner peace. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a holiday tale with a strong sense of community!" Nicole's Book Musings - Review "I really loved this book. If you are looking for a book to get you into the holiday spirit look no further. This one did get me a little teary eyed in the beginning because it is sad. This book gave me plenty of heart and feels. It's also a great second chance romance." My Devotional Thoughts - Review "First of all, this is a beautifully-composed, sweet romance with no offensive content. In fact, if you love Christmas rom-coms that appear on the Hallmark Channel every year, this is the book for you. This is just like a Hallmark Christmas movie, except it’s even better!" It's All About the Romance - Excerpt Roy drove into town, past the red sandstone county courthouse with its one-hundred-and-forty-year-old clock tower and onto Maple Boulevard. They passed houses she remembered, belonging to Sarah Jensen and Mrs. Beabots. Saint Mark’s Church. The Indian Lake Police Station. Specters of past, happy days flew around Joy, pulling her back to Indian Lake like magnets. And with each memory, she missed her mother, her father and especially her grandfather all the more. That was why when Roy drove up to the three glass greenhouses, which her grandfather had built right after World War II, her vision had been blurred by her tears. She couldn’t possibly be seeing correctly. “What is this?” she asked Roy, like a stupefied tourist. “Boston Greenhouses.” He waved his hand across the expanse of the windshield. “This is it.” Splashes of Joy - Review "Home for Christmas was just the right book to get me in the mood for Christmas. I really enjoyed following Joy and her friends as they prepared to reopen the old greenhouses Joy’s grandfather loved so much. It was interesting to learn everything involved to reopen the greenhouses. . . . If you are looking for good Christmas stories to read during the Holiday season, this is a really great one to check out." Reading Is My SuperPower - Review "Whether you’ve been a fan of Lanigan’s long-running Shores of Indian Lake series from book one or you’re just arriving on the scene, the close-knit small town’s charm will quickly wrap you in twinkle lights and hot chocolate. Joy and Adam’s story is a look at grief, bitterness, forgiveness, restoration… and coming home again. Second chances abound in more ways than one in Home For Christmas, and you’ll love discovering each one." Baroness' Book Trove - Review "Home for Christmas by Catherine Lanigan is a great book that I devoured it. Joy jumped out of the pages and into my head along with the other characters. I love happy endings. Ms. Lanigan is an excellent writer. I am giving Home for Christmas five stars and recommending it to everyone."  Wishful Endings - Guest Post - TREE FARM DAY It was a year to pull out all the stops. And I did. The tree farm was the first stop. I hadn’t been to our “Pine Country Tree Farm” in decades. What an eye-opener. Trust me, the scenes in any movie you’ve seen don’t compare to the real thing. What an operation. There was a gift store. A Santa all suited up sitting in his own cabin! Florals, garlands, wreaths were being shipped out by truckload. A horse-drawn wagon took folks up to the rolling hills to chop down their own tree. Hot apple cider and cocoa awaited them upon their return. . . Britt Reads Fiction - Review "Home for Christmas set a beautiful scene for the upcoming holidays for me as I read it. This second chance love story had such heart ad a great setting. . . . This was a very heartwarming story and was lots of fun to read." The Power of Words - Review "Home for Christmas is a touching story of forgiveness and second chances – on a personal level between Adam and Joy, and also as the community comes together in support and help. Home for Christmas would make a moving Hallmark movie and the company is missing a great opportunity if they don’t snatch this one up. But the book is even better than a potential movie because of all the richness and depth that a movie can’t convey."  Heidi Reads... - Guest Post - THE CHRISTMAS POPS CONCERT The Christmas Pops is truly unique. It’s held at our Civic Auditorium, built in the 1920’s and houses over 3,000 people. The main floor, where basketball used to be played when I was in high school, is filled with linen covered tables and chairs, decorated with flowers and candles and the ceiling is draped, flung and crisscrossed with thousands of Christmas lights. The La Porte County Symphony plays as various choral groups, the Children’s Choir, soloists and local harmonizing groups perform. The night is upbeat and fun. Everyone dresses up, lots of tuxes and gowns; Christmas dresses and fun Christmas ties, I have to say. . . Rockin' Book Reviews - Review "This is a wonderful, heartfelt story of love, betrayal, misunderstandings, confusion, forgiveness and grief. The setting is in a small town during the Holidays. . . . The characters are so endearingly realistic, the scenes described in a way they are easily visualized. . . . I feel this novel earns a Five Stars rating. . ." Cover To Cover Cafe - Review & Excerpt "Another hit by one of my favorite heart warming authors! Lanigan has done it! Once again, she has created a Hallmark worthy story for readers. Every page turn pulled me farther into the story, and help me captive until the very end." She looked toward the back of the retail gift area. Two French doors led to a smaller greenhouse where specialty orchids, amaryllis and hybrid poinsettias used to be displayed on long wooden tables. That was Joy’s favorite area, where her grandfather would test his yearlong projects of coral-and-white-striped poinsettias, yellows, ambers, and try as he might, the absolute impossible task of creating a blue poinsettia. Blue poinsettias didn’t exist naturally, and he would dye white ones to please designers in Chicago, but he was a dreamer. He’d often told her he wanted to create a flower that was not only beautiful but timeless. Something the world would never have seen if it hadn’t been for him. janicesbookreviews - Review "The book has so much meaning to it. There are lessons we can learn — especially one concerning Joy’s grandfather." Locks, Hooks and Books - Excerpt & Review Adam took off his hat, and as he did, his thick black hair fell over his forehead. Joy nearly gasped as the movement reminded her of when they’d been in love. “I know that Frank didn’t want to destroy your memories of this place. How it was.” “ It was glorious, wasn’t it?” Joy felt her first smile creep slowly to her lips as she remembered so much. “It was,” he replied wistfully, still staring at her. "I loved this magical tale! . . . I am giving Home for Christmas a very well deserved five plus stars. It is most definitely a must to add to any reader’s Christmas reading." Remembrancy - Review "This settles it. I want to live in Indian Lake surrounded by friends who show up, a mentor like Mrs. Beabots, and the romance that permeates the town. . . . Catherine Lanigan gifts readers with a story of second chances, forgiveness, and finding home again through Joy and Adam’s eyes. I didn’t want this story to end." Kat's Corner Books - Interview & Review 5. What is your favorite thing about having a “story world” that you can return to in new books? C: For my series set in Indian Lake, I truly cherish the ability to go back with each story and see what mysterious, elegant and tight-lipped Mrs. Beabots is up to. Though she is the doyenne of the community, she is the wise sage. The giver of all gifts. The mirror for every heroine or hero to face at one point during the story. "This was my first book by Catherine but it won’t be my last. Beside sharing a name, and thus automatically qualifying as awesome, she has a talent for weaving a sweet story with just enough depth to keep the characters growing throughout. . . . I look forward to returning to Indian Lake and getting to know the residents better." Hearts & Scribbles - Excerpt “So, Dad,” Titus said as he dipped thin chicken tenders in a mix of flour, chili powder, granulated garlic and black pepper, “do you think we should ask Mr. Boston’s granddaughter over for Thanksgiving dinner?” Adam stopped pouring the olive oil into the frying pan. “How do you know anything about Joy Boston being in town?” “Mrs. Beabots. She came over to Timmy’s house and made oatmeal cookies for us.” “Oh, she did? And how many did you eat?” Adam asked, hoping to change the subject. For Him and My Family - Review ". . . when you find a romance as good as this one (and the whole series really) you just have to keep reading! Home for Christmas will keep you reading. It will feel like you just sat down with a good friend and before you know it, the whole book is over and you’re still longing for more time to chat." Peaceful Pastime - Review "Catherine Lanigan has become one of my favorite authors because she truly does write heartwarming novels that are suitable for all readers, ones you can share with your daughters, mothers. grandmothers, friends and family. I love a sweet, clean romance and Ms. Lanigan is one of the best authors in this genre." Beauty in the Binding - Excerpt The excitement on Titus’s face hit mega wattage. “We’re gonna have the biggest, bestest tree ever! We’re going out to Pine Country Tree Farm, where you can ride out to the groves and pick any tree you want. They cut it down, unless you wanna do it yourself.” He tilted his head up to Adam. “You gonna do it again this year, Dad?” “Probably.” Titus turned back to Joy. “Then we ride back and they bundle it up and put it in our truck. I want a really, really huge one this year.” “Wow,” Joy replied. “Just how big is that?” Liberty's Literary Loves - Review "If you are ready for some happy tears and heartwarming scenes, start looking for HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. It will have you in a festive and giving mood in no time plus you might just end up a happy puddle of happy Holiday goo!"  Katie's Clean Book Collection - Guest Post - CHRISTMAS COOKIES I get it that a lot of people don’t bake anymore. Slice and bake or pick up from the local bakery or grocery store. As long as they look like Christmas cookies that’s good enough, right? Well, not in my house. Every year I make hundreds—bordering on a thousand—Christmas cookies for friends and family. I mail them all over the country and to Canada. I know. I must be nuts. That’s another thing. I order my nuts from a local charity every year. If I’m not Suzanne’s larger client/supporter, then the honor must go to a retailer. I plow through a lot of nuts, butter, flour and sugar. Hallie Reads - Review "Travel to Indian Lake for a sweet, second-chance romance this Christmas. . . . Catherine Lanigan’s Home for Christmas is everything I love to find in a holiday romance. Heartwarming and feelgood, it’s one to add to the Christmas TBR if you love contemporary romance." Harlie's Books - Excerpt & Review Adam pulled up to the bank. He put the truck in Park and turned to her. “What are you asking me?” “Have you got an ulterior motive, Adam Masterson? Because if you do, it’s time to lay your cards on the table.” “Initially, I wanted to show you that Indian Lake wasn’t the hall of horrors you thought it was. That the people here were wonderful and loving and that maybe you could come to need them.” "Y'all, this book had all the feels. I got caught up with all my friends from the other books and it warmed my heart to see them come together for Joy and Adam. Sometimes it does take a village and it was evident here. . . . If looking for a feel-good second chance romance with the backdrop of poinsettias, this is for you. Adam and Joy are ranking up there as one of my favorite couples in Indian Shores. Mica and Grace, you have competition. Thank you, Ms. Lanigan, for this book. It is what I needed for the start of the holiday season."  underneath the covers - Guest Post - IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS WITOUT POINSETTIAS My love for this book, HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, is far more emotional than I’d thought when I started out writing it. Poinsettias remind me of nearly every “passed on” family member of my life. My grandmother, Ethel, who was born in the deep South and lived in Northwestern Florida most of her adult life, adored tropical flowers. Both she and my mother not only absolutely, indisputably had to have poinsettias in the house, but they also always had red anthuriums on the dining table for Christmas dinner. Jorie Loves A Story - Review "I love how Home for Christmas opens the door into Joy's life by a heartfelt wave of sentimental nostalgia for her grandfather's Thanksgiving at Indian Lake. . . . I personally have always appreciated the compelling ways in which Ms Lanigan pulls you back through her vision for Indian Lake. . . Lanigan makes us feel as cosy comfortable in Indian Lake as if we had been reading it since the first novel released. And, that is one of the reasons I love this series as much as I do. . . . The story was a bit sweeter round the edges due to the Christmassy inclusions and the back-drop of this revolving round a favourite (and cherished!) holiday flower which is only available during the holiday seasons." Red Headed Book Lady - Review ". . . I loved loved this story on 2nd chances. . . . Her story is putting me in the Christmas spirit and I can almost see this as a Hallmark movie with a happy ending for Joy and Adam. . . . This is a new to me author that I will look forward to in the future. Her writing is sweet. I love sweet and heartwarming stories like this one." Becky on Books - Interview What 5 things should readers know about you?
EmpowerMoms - Review "I love holiday books and I have read other books by this author so I was excited to read this book.This story is book 12 in the “Shores of Indian Lake” series but they can be read as stand alone books. I have only read one other book in this series and I really enjoyed it! . . . This was a sweet romance about second chances, family, and making a home with the people around you. I really enjoyed reading it!"
 Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post...  ABOUT the AUTHOR: Catherine Lanigan is the international bestselling and award-winning author of over forty-five published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Ms. Lanigan’s novels have been translated into over twenty-four languages. Lanigan was tasked by the NotMYkid foundation to pen a collection of compelling and informative true stories of teen addicts. Ms. Lanigan’s SHORES OF INDIAN LAKE series for HARLEQUIN HEARTWARMING includes LOVE SHADOWS, HEART’S DESIRE , A FINE YEAR FOR LOVE, KATIA’S PROMISE, FEAR OF FALLING, SOPHIE’S PATH, PROTECTING THE SINGLE MOM, FAMILY OF HIS OWN, HIS BABY DILEMMA, RESCUED BY THE FIREFIGHTER and HERS TO PROTECT (2019). Ms. Lanigan is a frequent speaker at literary functions and book conventions as well as inspiring audiences with her real stories of angelic intervention from her Angel Tales series of books. She is an outspoken advocate for domestic violence and abuse and was honored by The National Domestic Violence Hotline in Washington, D.C. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs including “Coast to Coast” and on television interview and talk show programs as well as blogs, podcasts and online radio interview programs. She writes a monthly blog for Heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com. Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | BookBub | Pinterest  TOUR GIVEAWAY! - One winner will receive a $100 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally) - Two winners will each receive a signed copy of Home for Christmas with a bookmark (US only) - Ends November 27, 2019 HURRY! Enter for chances of WINNING by Clicking on the Rafflcopter link below! RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Book Details: Book Title: The Tender Birds by Carole Giangrande Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 305 pages | Genre: Literary Fiction Publisher: Inanna Publications | Release date: October 2019 Tour dates: Nov 11 to Nov 22, 2019 Content Rating: PG-13 + M (References to mature themes. The f-word and s**t are used about six times each. There are two non-explicit sex scenes (one is a reverie) and there is no physical violence.) Book Description: Matthew Reilly is a busy academic, a lonely priest haunted by secrets. Young Alison is the shy and devoted keeper of Daisy, a falcon which suffered an accident and can no longer fly. The three of them meet in a Boston parish, but Matt has forgotten a momentary but disturbing meetup with Alison, homeless eight years earlier in Toronto. Close to exhaustion, he's forced to reflect on what's become of his life, including the loss of a son that no one knew he'd fathered. Alison and Matt had a fateful encounter during her homeless period, but Matt doesn't connect that frail teenager with the healthy young woman she'd become. It's left to Alison to uncover Matt's past and for Matt to come to terms with it. Buy the Book: Amazon.com ~ Amazon.com.ca ~ Chapters Indigo ~ | Add to Goodreads
“…prose that absolutely shimmers. What’s more, her recapitulation of what is was like to watch 9/11 unfold on television is engrossing in its verisimilitude. DeLillo, Amis and Foer could learn a thing or two from her.” — Quill and Quire “This is a softly unsettling book, effective in showcasing the confusion that follows such a personal yet public crisis.” — Publishers’ Weekly “…a deftly crafted meditation on what happens in the aftermath of tragedies both public and private, calling into question the idea that time heals all wounds.” — Room Magazine “Giangrande has written a thought-provoking story that will have your heart racing, bursting, and breaking. The story is thoughtful, slow-going, and emotional. The prose is beautiful. The characters are interesting, flawed, and realistic. And the ways in which this book explores life and death through the pain of waiting and not knowing is superb. I just loved this book so hard. It was terrific!” — A Bookish Way of Life “The wording is both elegant and poetic… the author, accomplished painting vivid images within my mind’s eye that will never be forgotten. Overall this book is unique, being unlike anything I have read before. Go get a copy! You will not be disappointed.” —Readaholic Zone
Messy Wisdom There’s a yarn about two luminaries meeting at a party — one the legendary Canadian writer Margaret Laurence and the other the celebrated brain surgeon Wilder Penfield. The doctor spoke to Ms Laurence and said, “So you’re a writer. I’ve often thought that when I retire, I’d like to take up writing.” To which she replied, “I’ve often thought that when I retire, I’d like to take up brain surgery.” I have no idea if this story is true, but it’s a witty comeback, one that pops a ballooning misconception about writing — namely, that anyone can do it. No kidding — literacy is widespread and we can all write. Yet composing tweets won’t turn you into Margaret Atwood, any more than balancing your checkbook will make you a mathematician. Like every other profession, writing takes a lot of work and discipline. Just like...brain surgery. Serious writers know this and don’t worry too much about other peoples’ misunderstandings. Yet I can tell you from experience that sometimes writers have to overcome a few weird ideas of our own. I, for one, like things tidy and organized, and when I began writing fiction, I was horrified by the total mess of my first drafts, and even more dismayed by the patchwork way in which the pieces of the narrative stumbled and fell into place. Eventually I made peace with this sloppy process by comparing it to ... baking a pie. Nobody cares about all those patched-up rips in the dough, buried under that tasty custard filling. A review of my new novel The Tender Birds praised my “ability to let the story unfold at a reasonable pace” - neither too brisk, nor too slow. No need for that reviewer to know about the chaos of botched chronology, tangled story lines, two and a half points of view (the half being Daisy the falcon’s) and the chill dread that nothing will fix up the mess on my screen. I used to feel embarrassed by good reviews, as if by arriving at my goal in such an untidy fashion, I couldn’t claim to be talented, just lucky. Now I know better. I’d fallen for the mystique of writing, not the reality. The truth is that every writer messes up. No one gets it right the first time. This is about the most wisdom I have to impart to beginning writers — love what you do, and accept that it’s a messy process. Your impulse to write is alive, like a squalling baby who’s frustrated, wanting to join in the conversation and lacking the words. As the parent of a new creation, your job is to give your bundle of life the language to say what it wants to say. Writing is untidy work, but like that newborn, it brings joy.  About the Author: Carole Giangrande is the award-winning author of ten books, including the novella A Gardener on the Moon (winner of the 2010 Ken Klonsky Award) and the novel All That Is Solid Melts Into Air (2018 Independent Publishers Gold Medal for Literary Fiction). The Tender Birds is her fourth novel. She’s worked as a broadcast journalist for CBC Radio (Canada's public broadcaster), and her fiction, poetry, articles and reviews have appeared in literary journals and in Canada’s major newspapers. In her spare time, she loves exploring nature with her partner Brian, photographing birds and studying French. Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook  Giveaway Details: Win an autographed print or one of three ebooks of THE TENDER BIRDS by Carole Giangrande (4 winners) (ends November 29, 2019) Enter by clicking & completing the link: RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Book Details: Wolf (Reed Security, #19) by Giulia Lagomarsino Publication date: November 20th 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance Synopsis:Craig I met my little pixie in a coffee house and we hit it off right away. That is, until she saw me shoot someone. But in my defense, they were coming to rob the coffee shop. Who does that? Now, I’ll do anything to get her back and make her realize that she’s mine. Kidnapping? I’m not too good for that. Getting shot? Play up the sympathy card. Marry her? You’re damn straight I will. Lay down my life for her? In a heartbeat. I would do anything for this woman and I will make her mine. Reese It was one non date. We had coffee together. After we bumped into each other. It was more of a meet-cute than anything. It was fun until I realized how very naive I was. I mean, the man said that he had a gun on him and I laughed it off like an idiot. Who actually carries around a gun with them. Apparently, everyone from Reed Security. But I didn’t see that, and now I have a stalker. Not just any stalker though. This man takes everything to the extreme. But I can survive him. I will survive him. And when all is said and done, I’ll go back to my life and the boring men I date. Right? Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon   AUTHOR BIO: I'm a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, "No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book." I didn't think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn't already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven't been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full. Author links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website |  GIVEAWAY Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!   Book Details: MY BEAUTIFUL DETOUR: An Unthinkable Journey from Gutless to Grateful by Amy Oestreicher Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+) (529 pages) Genre: Memoir | Content Rating: PG-13 Singing Tree Publishing } Release date: November 2019 Tour dates: Nov 19 to Dec 17, 2019 Book Description: An estimated 70 percent of adults in the United States have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their lives and up to 20 percent of these people go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. An estimated 5 percent of Americans—more than 13 million people—have PTSD at any given time. Amy Oestreicher was one of them. So, what happens when an ordinary teenager has to turn into a warrior just to survive? And can the journey through Post Traumatic Stress Disorder really become an “adventure?” Amy had ambitious plans for college and a Broadway career, until her stomach exploded the week before her senior prom. Months later, she awoke from a coma to learn that she might never be able to eat or drink again. After years on IV nutrition, her first bite of food awakened her senses to life's ordinary miracles but also brought back memories of being sexually abused by a trusted mentor for months, just before the unexpected rush to the emergency room that fateful Passover night. With determination, imagination, relentless resilience, and an inner “hunger” for life, Amy created a roadmap where none existed. Her journey through life's unthinkable detours is nothing short of miraculous, but the creative path to healing she forged is accessible to anyone. As a survivor—and “thriver”—of abuse and extensive medical trauma, Amy discovered sources of resilience she didn’t know she had but it turns out we all possess. In this book, she creates a tapestry made from each of each thread of her journey, empowering others to find gratitude in every setback and discover their own infinite inner strength. Amy’s search for “home” proves to be the greatest test of cultivating resilience after near-death, and reclaiming identity after both sexual assault and medical trauma. Amy’s journey is ultimately a celebration of ordinary and extraordinary challenges and miracles. In this coming of age story, Amy shares her struggles and discoveries living with both visible and invisible illness, the tremendous gifts to be reaped from trauma, its lessons which have illuminated her path, and how these gifts can be discovered as a unique, yet universal way to navigate any kind of uncertainty. Interwoven through her remarkable story are insights on navigating any kind of uncertainty, including: • What is a “detourist”– and why is it important to take those detours? • The importance of detours for college students • How to transition from being a “survivor” to a “thriver” • Amy’s” Four Hardcore Skills” to resilience • Finding your own uniqueness not through what’s happened to you, but what you choose to do with it • The power of art to heal • Our innate ability to be artists, and why creativity is an essential mindset • How sharing your story becomes imperative to healing • How humor is a way through • Turn messes, mistakes and setbacks into creative detours My Beautiful Detour offers practical strategies for individuals and unexpected tools for the families of trauma survivors, helping communities build new, limitless futures. The book includes numerous “trauma insights,” and is enriched with humor, art, poetry, and useful takeaways for readers. Reading one woman’s heroic adventure through trauma, recovery, and discovery of new directions in healing the body and the mind is an empowering tale of not just getting through, but thriving. BUY THE BOOK: Amazon ~ Add to Goodreads  About the Author: AMY OESTREICHER is an international keynote speaker, Huffington Post columnist, actor, artist, songwriter, playwright, Audie Award-nominated PSTD peer-to-peer specialist, and author. A survivor of extensive medical trauma, including 27 surgeries, and sexual assault, she shares her life story and creative strategies with therapists, medical professionals, patients, sexual abuse victims, and general audiences nationwide. Creator of the #LoveMyDetour movement to inspire individuals to thrive because of, rather than in spite of, obstacles, she has been featured on the Today show, delivered three TEDx talks, and performed her one-woman musical, Gutless & Grateful, in more than 200 venues across the country. She is also a passionate voice in the ostomy community and presents narrative medicine workshops. Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
   Home for Christmas (Shores of Indian Lake #12) By Catherine Lanigan Contemporary Romance | Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages November 1st 2019 by Harlequin Heartwarming Book Blurb: Can a magical Christmas under glass… …bring them back together for good? Widowed dad Adam Masterson still doesn’t understand why Joy Boston left Indian Lake and broke his heart all those years ago. Now she’s returned to sell her grandfather’s beloved poinsettia greenhouse—and Joy and Adam’s connection is as strong as ever. But Joy has a life in New York. And Adam has only until Christmas to convince Joy that she belongs in Indian Lake—with him. (Affiliate links included.) Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Harlequin | iBooks REVIEW by LAWonder10: Joy was settled in New York. She couldn't get away from her home rown quick enough, Now after a few years, she would have to return long enough to settle her beloved gtandfather;s estate. Adam had suffered much loss in his life. The only real family he felt he had, other than his young son, was Frank, and now he was gone. Joy had accepted his promise ring then fled and never kept in contact with him. Adam had been so close to her grandfather for years so was informed on what was happening in Joy's life. He was surprised, hopeful and angry when he ran into her. If he helped her, perhaps she wouldn't sell everything and leave again, never to return. This is a wonderful, heartfelt story of love, betrayal, misunderstandings, confusion, forgiveness and grief. The setting is in a small town during the Holidays. The action on the story steadily flows from one scene to another, never allowing the reader's interest to leave the book. The characters are so endearingly realistic, the scenes described in a way they are easily visualized. The Book Title and Cover are simple, eye-catching, yet very applicable to the story. I feel this novel earns a Five Stars rating, even though it is slightly predicable. *This bppk was gofted me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.
 About the Author Catherine Lanigan is the international bestselling and award-winning author of over forty-five published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Ms. Lanigan’s novels have been translated into over twenty-four languages. Lanigan was tasked by the NotMYkid foundation to pen a collection of compelling and informative true stories of teen addicts. Ms. Lanigan’s SHORES OF INDIAN LAKE series for HARLEQUIN HEARTWARMING includes LOVE SHADOWS, HEART’S DESIRE , A FINE YEAR FOR LOVE, KATIA’S PROMISE, FEAR OF FALLING, SOPHIE’S PATH, PROTECTING THE SINGLE MOM, FAMILY OF HIS OWN, HIS BABY DILEMMA, RESCUED BY THE FIREFIGHTER and HERS TO PROTECT (2019). Ms. Lanigan is a frequent speaker at literary functions and book conventions as well as inspiring audiences with her real stories of angelic intervention from her Angel Tales series of books. She is an outspoken advocate for domestic violence and abuse and was honored by The National Domestic Violence Hotline in Washington, D.C. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs including “Coast to Coast” and on television interview and talk show programs as well as blogs, podcasts and online radio interview programs. She writes a monthly blog for Heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com. Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | BookBub | Pinterest  - One winner will receive a $100 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally) - Two winners will each receive a signed copy of Home for Christmas with a bookmark (US only) - Ends November 27, 2019 Enter by clicking on the link below! RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Book Details: A Whole New Duke by Samantha Holt Publication date: November 10th 2019 Genres: Adult, Historical, Romance Synopsis: The Dark Duke they call him. And he certainly matches up to his name. From his looks to his constantly furrowed brow, Miss Beatrice Edgerton is under no illusions as to the status of their arranged marriage. It will be very much one of convenience. With him conveniently providing the title her family so desperately wants and her family bringing in plenty of money for his dilapidated home. She is simply grateful he is younger than her first husband. Lord Morton, Duke of Hartwich, is only a little perturbed by the vibrant Beatrice. After all, he sets her straight from the very first day of their marriage—this is one of mutual benefit. In one way only. She can expect no affection or romance from him. Because, frankly, he is incapable of such things. Being a one-legged duke with a slightly dark past brings enough challenges without him having to worry about a wife too. His days of concern for anyone are long gone. Unfortunately, It is not only the duke’s dark demeanor she has to deal with. Someone is trying to cause trouble for them but they cannot fathom who or why. Grace is determined to make the best of the situation, even whilst spending Christmas with the duke alone in the eerie Hartwich Hall. Why, perhaps she might even be able to change the duke’s mind about their relationship. Especially after they share a fiery kiss…or three… Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon  Excerpt 2 “I’m very tired,” she said through a yawn. “You need to stay awake, Bea. You may have a concussion.” “Concussion?” Her words sounded slurred to her but she was not certain they actually were. “When one is struck on the head, it can make one feel a little strange. I have suffered it myself falling from horses.” “Oh.” She put an arm over her face to block out the unwelcome light but Adam pulled her arm away from her face and she scowled at him. “You need to stay awake, Bea. Just until we can be certain you are feeling better.” “I would rather sleep,” she muttered. “Mrs. Howard, will you get some ice and tea, please?” Bea didn’t see the housekeeper leave but she heard her footsteps scurrying off. Adam cupped her cheek and she sank gratefully into the comforting warmth of his touch. “You are quite handsome,” she said softly. “And you are still charming somehow.” “I like it when you touch me. ”A smile grazed his lips. “I like touching you.” “See? That was not so hard to admit was it?” “Especially because you will likely not remember a thing of what you said tonight.” “I know exactly what I am saying,” she declared, although the words did seem strange and still incoherent. She yawned and closed her eyes. “Tell me of this intruder.” Opening her eyes, she frowned. “It was dark but he was tall.” “Taller than me.” “Yes. No...Perhaps.” She let her eyelids flutter shut and found the darkness behind them quite pleasant. “Anything else you can recall?” she heard him say but it was too hard to respond. Her jaw felt heavy and her tongue thick. “Bea?” A hand tapped her cheek and she ripped her eyes open. “Stop,” she protested. “You need to tell me all, Bea.” “He seemed skinny but strong. He pushed me hard.” She forced her attention to his concerned features. “Adam, will you let me sleep with you tonight? I do not want to be alone.” His lips tilted. “You will not be alone. I promise.” “Good.”   AUTHOR BIO: USA Today Bestselling author Samantha Holt lives in a small village in England with her twin girls and a dachshund called Duke. If you’re not sure where to start why not try… ▶ Amelia and the Viscount (Bluestocking Brides #1) for a fun, slightly hot shorter length read. Meet the Chadwick sisters and follow their adventures in each of their standalone stories. ▶ You’re the Rogue That I Want (Rogues of Redmere #1) is a longer read with heat, witty dialogue, a feisty heroine and adventure. All books in the series are standalone. ▶ Sinful Confessions is the first in the Cynfell Brothers Series. These are all novella length and standalone–ideal for a quick dip into the world of the sexy Cynfell brothers. ▶ Wake Me With a Kiss is a sweet, fairytale romance. Twists on Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella are also available if you love a clean, fun read. ▶ To Steal a Highlander’s Heart is a full length dive into the world of sexy highlanders. For those who love braw Scots, some steamy scenes, and medieval romance, this series is a perfect escape. Author links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads |   GIVEAWAY DETAILS Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
Enter by clicking on the Rafflecopter link below. RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    INTO BONES LIKE OIL by Kaaron Warren RELEASE DATE: 11/12/19 | GENRE: Dark Fantasy / Paranormal BOOK PAGE: SUMMARY: In this gothic-styled ghost story that simmers with strange, Warren shows once again her flair for exploring the mundane—themes of love, loss, grief, and guilt manifest in a way that is both hauntingly familiar and eerily askew. People come to The Angelsea, a rooming house near the beach, for many reasons. Some come to get some sleep, because here, you sleep like the dead. Dora arrives seeking solitude and escape from reality. Instead, she finds a place haunted by the drowned and desperate, who speak through the sleeping inhabitants. She fears sleep herself, terrified that the ghosts of her daughters will tell her “it’s all your fault we’re dead.” At the same time, she’d give anything to hear them one more time. BUY LINKS: IndieBound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads  EXCERPT - OPTION 2: FIRST DAY - TUESDAY NIGHT The reception desk sat empty when Dora arrived at nine p.m. Good. That was the plan. The key to her room was in a lock box that wasn’t locked (“It looks locked, that’s the main thing,” the landlord had told her). The key was there, along with a grease-stained sheet of rules and conditions (No Cooking In The Rooms ) and a hand-drawn map showing her where to find her bedroom. She was on the ground floor, although it was really the lower ground level now since the building had sunk further into the ground over the years. She passed the doorway her map indicated opened into the breakfast room (7 a.m.–8 a.m. sharp). The room was dark except for the light of the hallway spilling in, but she could see six or seven tables already set up. Each table was laid for one person and she smiled; that was one less thing to worry about. The idea of having to eat with a stranger horrified her. She could barely stand eating with her own family. She thought she could smell bacon, but there was also mustiness and something else, like hot metal. Someone had hand lettered a sign for the bathroom door—vacant—and that was a relief too, unless someone thought it was funny to turn the sign over when someone else was inside. She glanced up and down the hallway and, seeing no one, ducked into the bathroom, flipping the sign. The other side said: fuck off I’m in here. The bathroom’s floor and walls were tiled in pale purple streaked with gold. It gave the room an odd glow because the pale green glass-globed light fixture was set high in the ceiling and dimmed by dust and dead insects. The toilet was old but clean. There was no sign of spare toilet paper in the room. Against the wall was a shower and bath combination with a large, pale purple bathtub that sported rust stains and paint chips. The shower curtain was moldy and stained, but at least it existed. She hated showering without one. She’d wash later, once she figured out who was around and where they were. She listened at the bathroom door and, hearing nothing, stepped into the hallway. She flipped the sign back to vacant. There were three doors off this stretch, one marked linen, with a lock, the others numbered. It was very quiet, but from each room came a slow murmur, a hum like a one-sided conversation. She heard the gentle ticking of a large clock but couldn’t see one. The map said her room lay at the end of the hall. The key was small and flimsy, and she hoped it would work. She was relieved when it turned smoothly as it must have done a thousand times before. Dora slid the door open. It was lightweight, shaking in the track as it moved. It would provide very little security. But then she was in an inner-city rooming house, so her expectation of security was low. Her room had once been the foyer, when the house was much smaller and the entrance faced the other way. Now, after renovations and changes, it faced an alleyway. The old front door, now most of one of the walls, was covered with clothes hooks of many kinds. Her wardrobe. She thought previous tenants must have hammered the hooks in as there was nowhere else to hang clothes. There was no chest of drawers in the room, only one shelf over the bed, set into the wall. It looked like the place where, decades ago when a family lived here and milk was delivered to the door, the milkman would have put the bottles. She didn’t remember those days, but her grandmother did, once wistfully and now as if it were still the case, as if milk was delivered each morning. There were six or seven books on the shelf. Dora had very little with her. One small suitcase that she’d used as a seat and a pillow over the last week. There was no room to lay her suitcase out on the floor so she hefted it onto the bed. Opening the zip, she threw back the lid. She hung T-shirts and skirts and pants, two of each, on the hooks, folded her underwear onto the shelf. She had one book (Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul) but no photos. She zipped the suitcase closed, lifted it off the bed, and placed it upright on the floor. Once she covered it with a pillowcase or a towel it would be a fine bedside table. She moved the seven books, all by R.L. Stephenson (Confessions of the Dead, Parts I–V, Lore of the Sea, and The Wreck) from the shelf and placed them beside her suitcase. There was a blue bottle she left on the shelf, and—beside it—she placed two children’s hairbrushes, pink and run through with strands of hair. It was dead quiet outside. She hadn’t eaten since lunch but was loath to go out. She wished she could leave by the old front door, but it was nailed shut. At least she had a window, a bay window looking onto the alleyway. Thick lace curtains covered it, and successive tenants had layered paper over the window for privacy, but someone had scratched a small square at the top to let light in. She placed her book on the suitcase-table. She had half a cheese sandwich she’d saved from lunch so she ate that, then turned the light out and changed. The single bed creaked as she climbed into it, and the sheets felt slightly clammy. The rooming house shifted and she could hear footsteps, voices, cars outside. She could hear the ticking of the old clock. She heard something heavy being dragged, and a creaking noise where the door used to be, as if that door was being opened. She sat up. The door was only a reach away, and she could see by the streetlight leaking through the layers on the window and streaming through the bare patch. She could feel when she touched it that the door was nailed shut. She lay back down, hoping for sleep. It had been many months since she’d slept well. Even before the children disappeared and were found, her worries had weighed her down, kept her awake and thinking when all she wanted was blessed sleep. Even when her mother looked after the children and she was on her own, still she couldn’t sleep. Back then, she’d convinced herself her ex-husband was a monster, and she sat curled up in an armchair (one they’d paid a fortune for, which she’d never regretted) swamped by the large blanket crocheted by her grandmother, holding her phone, waiting for the call to confirm he’d taken them, that her children were kidnapped by their own father, the man who’d loved her once. The call never came. The children were always fine at her mother’s. Dora pulled the blanket up under her chin. It felt clammy and smelled faintly of wet hair and bleach. A gentle noise streamed from a corner of the room: the rhythmic wash of the sea rolling into shore and back. The sound came from a speaker in the ceiling. She’d heard about this, the white or pink noise that would supposedly help her sleep. Over that, she could hear the upstairs neighbor moving around. It sounded like they were dragging furniture and bouncing a ball and throwing glasses onto the floor—all at the same time. She was tired. Very, very tired at her core. The body shuts down, sleeps when sick or starving or dying. You only had to look at footage of starving children to see that.
GUEST POST - The Visual Background by Kaaron Warren Creating vivid background scenes in fiction is tricky. In movies and TV, you can show a whole scene with a pan of the camera, picking up details such as what sort of art is on the wall, how tidy or messy a room is, whether there is a spilled glass of wine and a dull knife on the carpet. You can show more than is relevant to the story because you don’t have to focus on it. In fiction, you need to choose what’s important. You can’t get bogged down by describing every detail of a scene; you only have room to show the reader what’s relevant. With a story like “Into Bones Like Oil”, the atmosphere is everything. I wanted to create a sense of claustrophobia, and of people living in a place filled with items they hadn’t chosen themselves, so that we get a sense of displacement, of being not quite at home. Dora, the main character, is trying to anchor herself, so she familiarizes herself with everything. “It was quiet. Along the corridor leading to the front entrance were old, faded photographs in dented and marred mismatched frames. There were photos of a group of young cyclists, standing proudly beside their bikes. There were cups and tankards on shelves and china cats, dozens of them, all damaged in one way or another.” I’m hoping to trigger an image in the reader’s mind, without going into too much detail about what the cats look like, so they can bring their own memories or thoughts to it.  ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kaaron Warren has been publishing ground-breaking fiction for over twenty years. Her novels and short stories have won over 20 awards, from local literary to international genre. She writes horror steeped in awful reality, with ghosts, hauntings, guilt, loss, love, crime, punishment and a lack of hope. AUTHOR LINKS: Website | Twitter | Goodreads Presented by MEERKEET Book Tours
  The Cowboy's Christmas Baby (The Sweetheart Ranch #3) By Cathy McDavid Contemporary Romance | Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages November 1st 2019 by Harlequin Heartwarming Book Blurb: She gifted him with a daughter He stunned her with the truth When Tanner Bridwell discovers he’s a father, he gains some much needed hope. A year ago, Tanner lost his livelihood as a champion bull rider, and—more important—Jewel Saunders, the love of his life. Now this cowboy wants to do right by his family. But first he must reveal a stunning secret that will send Jewel and his beloved daughter either packing…or into his arms forever! (Affiliate links included.) Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin | iBooks REVIEW byLAWonder10: Jewel had suffered severe ridicule and persecution because of her ex-fiancé. It had been over a year since that dreadful day. However, it wasn't all bad. Unbeknown to her ex-fiance', she had a beautiful baby daughter. A daughter she felt pressed to earn a good living for. After much searching online, Jewel found the perfect opportunity. A ranch in Arizona needed a photographer, plus nearby, another ranch had a top notch barrel racing trainer. Her parents offered to pay for the trainer and her horse's room and board. She could train to get back into the Nationals, while indulging in her new passion at the same time. Tanner was shocked when his ex-fiancé bumped into him on the ranch he had been working at. What is she doing in Arizona rather than in Oklahoma where she lived? In her arms was a beautiful baby girl. He wasn't an expert, but it didn't take a rocket scientist to calculate the months and realize that was his daughter. Did she think she could keep his baby from him and his family? If so, she had better re-think this situation. This is a poignant story of love, betrayal, judgement, redemption, family values, and integrity. It steadily moves along, keeping the reader captivated. Although the story is somewhat predictable, there are enough twists to make it emotionally touching and interesting. The only thing I can think of I didn't like, was how slightly drawn out the main points were, plus, slightly repetitive. The character were described in a way, the reader felt he/she knew them. The scenes were detailed in a way they were easily visualized. The Book Cover and Title were perfect in depicting the story and were appealing to "the Browser". I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating for this book. *This was gifted me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.
 About the Author As a sophomore in high school, NY Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author Cathy McDavid won a local writing competition with her self-illustrated children’s book. Who knew that small triumph would eventually lead to a career writing contemporary romances with over 1.3 million books sold? With forty-seven titles to date, Cathy is also a member of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll. This “almost” Arizona native and mother of grown twins recently married her own real-life sweetheart. After leaving the corporate world four years ago, she now spends her days penning stories about good looking men who ride the range or fight fires or hunt creatures all while sweeping the girl off her feet. It’s a tough job but she’s willing to make the sacrifice. Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | BookBub | Amazon  - One winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card and one of Cathy's backlisted titles, winner's choice of print (US only) or ebook - Three winners will each receive one of Cathy's backlisted titles, winner's choice of print (US only) or ebook - Open internationally - Ends November 20, 2019 Just Click on the Rafflecopter link. RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY! For Tour Schedule, Click HERE.    Book & Author Details: Begin with Me (Chaotic Love #1) by Claudia Y. Burgoa Publication date: July 24th 2018 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance Synopsis: From the outside, Abby’s life looks like a fairytale. Loving family, wealthy lifestyle, education at a prestigious university. The truth? She’s barely managing to survive. Few know the nightmare she lived before she was adopted. And no one knows the secret agony that still haunts her nightmares. With a degree from Berkeley, she could have gone anywhere, but she’s back in Colorado. Not for a fresh start—fresh starts are only an illusion—but for Wes Ahern. Her protector, who throws around words like “therapy” and “talk to me.” Her brother in every way but blood. The one man she wishes could be so much more. Maybe, just this once, she can stop running from her demons. But does she dare let Wes see inside the darkest closets of her pain…or will love be the biggest mistake of her life?   AUTHOR BIO: Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. She lives in Colorado, working for a small IT. She has three children and manages a chaotic household of two confused dogs, and a wonderful husband who shares her love of all things geek. To survive she works continually to find purpose for the voices flitting through her head, plus she consumes high quantities of chocolate to keep the last threads of sanity intact. Author links: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads| GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
To Enter, Complete the Rafflecopter by clicking on below link. RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY! Hi, Everyone! I have been having some issues with my Blog company. Although on my end, this posting looked great, many couldn't find the Guest Post, so here it is again at the end of the Tour!   Book Details: Book Title: The Tender Birds by Carole Giangrande Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 305 pages | Genre: Literary Fiction Publisher: Inanna Publications | Release date: October 2019 Tour dates: Nov 11 to Nov 22, 2019 } Content Rating: PG-13 + M (References to mature themes. The f-word and s**t are used about six times each. There are two non-explicit sex scenes (one is a reverie) and there is no physical violence.) Book Description: Matthew Reilly is a busy academic, a lonely priest haunted by secrets. Young Alison is the shy and devoted keeper of Daisy, a falcon which suffered an accident and can no longer fly. The three of them meet in a Boston parish, but Matt has forgotten a momentary but disturbing meetup with Alison, homeless eight years earlier in Toronto. Close to exhaustion, he's forced to reflect on what's become of his life, including the loss of a son that no one knew he'd fathered. Alison and Matt had a fateful encounter during her homeless period, but Matt doesn't connect that frail teenager with the healthy young woman she'd become. It's left to Alison to uncover Matt's past and for Matt to come to terms with it. Buy the Book: Amazon.com ~ Amazon.com.ca ~ Chapters Indigo | ~ Add to Goodreads  GUEST POST: Messy Wisdom There’s a yarn about two luminaries meeting at a party — one the legendary Canadian writer Margaret Laurence and the other the celebrated brain surgeon Wilder Penfield. The doctor spoke to Ms Laurence and said, “So you’re a writer. I’ve often thought that when I retire, I’d like to take up writing.” To which she replied, “I’ve often thought that when I retire, I’d like to take up brain surgery.” I have no idea if this story is true, but it’s a witty comeback, one that pops a ballooning misconception about writing — namely, that anyone can do it. No kidding — literacy is widespread and we can all write. Yet composing tweets won’t turn you into Margaret Atwood, any more than balancing your checkbook will make you a mathematician. Like every other profession, writing takes a lot of work and discipline. Just like...brain surgery. Serious writers know this and don’t worry too much about other peoples’ misunderstandings. Yet I can tell you from experience that sometimes writers have to overcome a few weird ideas of our own. I, for one, like things tidy and organized, and when I began writing fiction, I was horrified by the total mess of my first drafts, and even more dismayed by the patchwork way in which the pieces of the narrative stumbled and fell into place. Eventually I made peace with this sloppy process by comparing it to ... baking a pie. Nobody cares about all those patched-up rips in the dough, buried under that tasty custard filling. A review of my new novel The Tender Birds praised my “ability to let the story unfold at a reasonable pace” - neither too brisk, nor too slow. No need for that reviewer to know about the chaos of botched chronology, tangled story lines, two and a half points of view (the half being Daisy the falcon’s) and the chill dread that nothing will fix up the mess on my screen. I used to feel embarrassed by good reviews, as if by arriving at my goal in such an untidy fashion, I couldn’t claim to be talented, just lucky. Now I know better. I’d fallen for the mystique of writing, not the reality. The truth is that every writer messes up. No one gets it right the first time. This is about the most wisdom I have to impart to beginning writers — love what you do, and accept that it’s a messy process. Your impulse to write is alive, like a squalling baby who’s frustrated, wanting to join in the conversation and lacking the words. As the parent of a new creation, your job is to give your bundle of life the language to say what it wants to say. Writing is untidy work, but like that newborn, it brings joy.   About the Author: Carole Giangrande is the award-winning author of ten books, including the novella A Gardener on the Moon (winner of the 2010 Ken Klonsky Award) and the novel All That Is Solid Melts Into Air (2018 Independent Publishers Gold Medal for Literary Fiction). The Tender Birds is her fourth novel. She’s worked as a broadcast journalist for CBC Radio (Canada's public broadcaster), and her fiction, poetry, articles and reviews have appeared in literary journals and in Canada’s major newspapers. In her spare time, she loves exploring nature with her partner Brian, photographing birds and studying French. Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook Here is the tour schedule .  Giveaway Details: Win an autographed print or one of three ebooks of THE TENDER BIRDS by Carole Giangrande (4 winners) (ends November 29, 2019) Enter by completing the Rafflecopter Link Below. RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!  |
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