Book Tour, Guest Post + Giveaway for 'Dying Made Easy(er)' by Myra Bennett! (Ends 10/2/19}9/17/2019   Book Details: Dying Made Easy(er): Creating Your Happy Ending by Myra Bennett Category: Adult non-fiction (18 +), 270 pages Genre: Self help | Tour dates: Sept 16 to Sept 27, 2019 Publisher: Balboa Press | Release date: June 2019 Content Rating: PG-13 + M (My book discusses death and dying) Book Description: Stories of American prowess in technology and medicine abound. And while these achievements have extended the lives of patients, they have not always extended the quality of those lives. As the older population in America skyrockets, more and more people who have received a terminal diagnosis, as well as those who love them, must grapple with the devastating decision of how they will forestall--or face--death. In Dying Made Easy(er) by Myra Bennett, we are guided through the diverse phases and considerations of the end of life by an experienced traveler who's spent many hours "as a guest in the sacred place of the dying." Bennett, a hospice nurse and certified end of life doula, who has also grappled with death in her personal life, invites us to contemplate dying from many different angles: legal, social, physical, psychological, and spiritual. Her Dying Made Easy(er) is both a handbook of pertinent information and a medley of informed suggestions for us to consider when experiencing or sharing the phenomenon that is the end of life. Bennett believes it is imperative that we--as a community--are aware of how to find help when faced with death and dying. In Dying Made Easy(er), she provides the resources to address this pressing need. Bennett, who is the co-founder of Compassionate Crossings in Sacramento, has seen it all. She's witnessed the dying process unfold in beautiful ways, with gifts for all involved, and she's seen it devolve into a series of anguished mishaps that leave the family praying for an early transition. As there are no opportunities for rehearsals or do-overs, Bennett is committed to helping us better understand dying as the last--but not the least--chapter of life, and to helping us dream what this chapter might look like. In her warm and wise book, we learn how to turn this dream into a personal reality that will meet not only our deep-felt needs and desires but also those of our family and loved ones. Buy the Book: Amazon.com ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Add to Goodreads REVIEW by LAWonder10: This very interesting non-fiction book is a powerhouse of information in preparation in preparing for, and aiding in the aftereffects, of ones last days of this life. The author explains the availability and details of Hospice and Palliative Care. Do you know the terms MAID or EOLD? Discover their meaning and importance within the pages of this book. What services are available in your area (Both Profit and Non-profit)? After the painful death of her husband, the author has researched and become an expert, in both, the preparation for ones future demise and for the final days. She suggests many options most are not aware of and the importance of addressing this in early adult life. It will, indeed, make it easier on loved ones and for ones comfort and ease of mind in final days. Many fail to seek out this information due to lack of education on the topic of dying, fear of dying, being in denial that one will actually have too face this. The end of one's life will come and being prepared will make it easier on those left behind and on probable need of it when one cannot coherently address it when needed. This book is of great worth to ones facing this issue but is even a more valuable tool in preparation for easing the trauma dying has on oneself and ones loved ones. After each chapter, the author has dedicated one page to make notes or add personal thoughts. This book is highly recommended to all adults, in all "walks of life". The book cover is appealing and the title fits perfectly. I offer a Five Stars rating. *This book was gifted me with no requirement for a positive review. This is my honest review.  DO YOU WANT A DOULA? By Myra Bennett If you must take a journey--a journey you have not chosen and to a place you have never been, do you imagine that having a knowledgeable and compassionate guide would make the experience more successful, more pleasant… and a lot less frightening? From what archeologists have discovered in ancient burial sites, we are certain that as far back as 60,000 years, humans have assisted with the afterlife care of others. So if this is true, it is likely that they also assisted with the care of the dying before death as well. Most cultures--and particularly many indigenous peoples have long practices of assisting the family of the dying person. Unfortunately--in the 20th century--our nation began calling death a medical condition and people started dying in hospitals, with more medical care and less love. Saying goodbye to loved ones--forever--is hard, painful and, most of all, frightening. No one should do so without being surrounded by love in the comfort of their own home environment...and without the compassionate guidance and support of a knowledgeable and caring guide. Fortunately, there is a new care provider in the field of death and dying that goes by the title of end of life doula. This person specializes in all matters regarding dying and provides emotional, physical and spiritual support to all those involved. When the choice is made to die at home--with or without hospice services--there is an opportunity to allow what life and nature calls us all to do, without unnatural human intervention. Unlike dying in the hospital--where death is considered a medical failure--when a person dies at home, the natural event occurs in a more holistic manner. The doula is there for the entire family, whenever there is a need. The end of life doula can be helpful in many ways. She acts as a hands on teacher for family caregivers--teaching the signs of dying and demonstrating bed care and comfort measures--often reinforcing what is taught by hospice. And although a doula is not a medical provider, most have come from long careers in medical fields such as nursing. They can be a valuable partner to hospice and a voice for the patient and family. The final days on planet Earth can be as meaningful as every other chapter, filled with what we value most, shared with those we love. Envisioning and planning our end of life assures a better experience for all involved, and arranging the care and support of a doula assures greater success and less complications for everyone. MYRA BENNETT Author of 'DYING MADE EASY(ER)'   Meet the author: Myra has been a student of death and dying since she experienced the loss of her husband in 2001. The years that would follow saw the loss of many friends and family as well, which gave her life experiences she would later use to care for patients as a hospice nurse at a large national hospice agency. Today Myra is a certified end of life doula at Compassionate Crossings in Sacramento where she not only guides and supports terminally ill persons and their families, she also speaks and educates on all subjects related to death and dying. Connect with the author: Website ~ YouTube ~ Facebook ~ Instagram  Giveaway:
Prizes: Win one of two hard copies and 3 ebooks of Dying Made Easy(er). One winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card (US only) (six winners) To enter, click on the Rafflecopter Giveaway link! RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!
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Sea of Darkness by Isadora Brown & Rebecca Hamilton Book Blitz + $25. GC Giveaway! {Ends 9/26/19}9/16/2019   Book Details: Sea of Darkness (The Vampire Pirate Saga #1) by Isadora Brown & Rebecca Hamilton Published by: Evershade Publishing Publication date: May 10th 2018 Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance Synopsis:Working with a supernatural enemy is Kelia’s only hope of solving her father’s murder. But her investigation puts her own life in danger. The Society’s sole purpose is to protect the general population from vicious Sea Shadows, and Kelia’s their top Slayer. But when her father is murdered and her handler insists it’s suicide, she starts to question whether The Society really has her best interests at heart. Now, to solve her father’s death, Kelia must work with an unexpected ally: Drew Knight, an infamous Sea Shadow and the most beautiful creature Kelia has ever set eyes upon. A Sea Shadow who, without intending to, just may show her who the real enemy is…and it’ll only cost her one unnamed favor to be collected at a future date. But after her affiliation with Drew Knight is discovered, Kelia is forced to choose between what she’s known since the beginning of her existence…or a dark, terrifying truth that puts her life at risk. Find out who dies and who survives in SEA OF DARKNESS, the first installment of The Vampire Pirate Saga, an exciting new urban fantasy romance readers of Sarah J Maas and Karen Marie Moning are sure to devour! Add to Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon  Excerpt 2: “I will help you, Slayer,” he said, “because, like you, I have my suspicions about The Society. In exchange, I want a favor from you. I do not yet know what it is, but you must give it to me when I ask, at any point in the future.” Kelia wanted to say no. She didn’t want to be bound to someone like Drew Knight, especially for some unspecified favor. But he had information she would never obtain on her own. If she wanted to solve her father’s murder, she would have to do this. “Do we have an accord?” he asked, pushing up his brow. She hated the arrogant sparkle dancing in those dark eyes, as though he knew she didn’t have a choice. AUTHORS' BIOS:
  GUEST POST:  Book Details: Protecting Yourself from Emotional Predators: Neutralize the Users, Abusers and Manipulators Hidden Among Us Category: Adult Non-Fiction | Content Rating: G Genre: psychology, self-help, relationships, divorce Publisher: Amare Press | Release date: January, 2019 Tour dates: Sept 9 to Sept 27, 2019 Book Description: Steven Wolhandler, JD, MA, LPC knows how abusive and manipulative people prey on the emotions of good people - and how good people can protect themselves. He offers a radically different view of these Emotional Predators and provides practical effective solutions. For Emotional Predators, life is a strategy game to dominate and control, and you are either a player to be defeated or a game piece to be used. Without empathy or remorse, they’ll ruin your life, and traditional approaches will make things worse. You’ll learn 5 essential steps for protecting yourself, valuable guidance for safe relationships and over 30 specific defensive tactics for:
VIEW the TRAILER BELOW! GUEST POST: Using humor and gratitude to deal with an Emotional Predator. When you’ve been targeted by an Emotional Predator – a toxic, manipulative abuser – it is easy to fall into depression, anxiety and guilt. The Emotional Predator’s abuse is bad enough, but most targets beat themselves up by comparing the way things are with an imaginary better world. And getting down on yourself just makes you more vulnerable to emotional manipulation, so it creates a downward spiral. The antidote to feeling down because of the gap between reality and an imaginary better world is to either focus your attention on what’s good and right with your life as it is, or imagine an alternative life that would be worse than your life as it is, or both. Arlo Guthrie made a macabre joke of this by pointing out that it always makes you feel a little better to know there’s someone else who has it worse than you. Rather than regret for what isn’t, chose appreciation and gratitude for what is. And that choice to feel grateful is always available to you; it’s a matter of where you focus your attention. Even when you’re enduring difficult even horrible things, you always have positive things to be grateful for. You can control your imagination and attention. Use it to help, not hinder, you. (Practicing gratitude is explained in more detail in Chapter 5.) In all things, and particularly in dealing with Emotional Predators, it’s very helpful to find and maintain your sense of humor. Humor is priceless, free and easily overlooked. Easier said than done when you’re in dark times, but finding humor in all things widens your perspective and immunizes you in powerful ways. In almost every case, you can choose whether to laugh or cry at the outlandish things an Emotional Predator does. Choosing to see humor in yourself and your situation relieves the stress that Emotional Predators prey on. Cultivating your sense of humor is as important as anything else you do. Humor has been defined as benign transgressions - favorably going beyond limits - and favorably going beyond limits is one way to describe the change in your beliefs that can be so protective. Humor connects you to your humanity and strengthens your humility, both important for staying grounded and connected to reality. And when you’re more humble, it’s easier to loosen your grip on the stories you live by and try alternatives. Finding ways to laugh about yourself and others, including the Emotional Predator (but not in front of him), is a great way to expand your options, relieve stress and calm yourself. Even the most frightening Emotional Predator can be brought down to size and made less scary by the judicious application of a little humor. If you can’t imagine that, watch Charlie Chaplin making fun of Adolph Hitler in the 1940 film, The Great Dictator. Winston Churchill is reputed to have said that he calmed his nerves before meeting with Joseph Stalin by imagining him on the toilet. But don’t ridicule or make fun of an Emotional Predator to his face. Dealing with an Emotional Predator can feel like a deep tragedy. But tragedy and comedy are the same thing viewed from opposite perspectives. As Joni Mitchell put it, “Laughing and crying, you know it’s the same release.” So make every effort to find the humor in what may feel tragic. Laughter is one of the greatest, and most easily overlooked, antidotes to toxic adversities in life. No matter how grim things seem, there are always opportunities to laugh. Today YouTube offers an endless supply of funny clips, from classic comedians of the past to current talk show silliness. Time spent watching clips that make you laugh is time well spent. When you’re laughing, you can’t feel fearful, anxious, doubting, depressed or other uncomfortable emotions that Emotional Predators prey on. Closely aligned to opportunities to laugh, there are always opportunities to feel grateful. Practicing gratitude is useful in every aspect of living. David Stendl-Rast described this well in a TED talk that’s worth listening to. To summarize, in each moment there are many things to be grateful for. That’s not to say that we should be grateful for everything. There are certainly plenty of things that aren’t so great and for which we aren’t grateful. But in every moment there also are plenty of things, often very simple things, that we can choose to be grateful for. In each moment that we choose gratitude, there’s no room for negative emotions or thoughts. Try it. Pick something in your life that you can be grateful for and let yourself feel gratitude for it. Notice how, as long as you are feeling gratitude, the gratitude pushes out all negative feelings and brings calm. Each moment offers you many opportunities to laugh and feel grateful. And if you miss the opportunity in one moment, the next moment offers it again. So seek out laughter and gratitude even in the darkest hours. Choose to laugh and be grateful. Don’t let negative people impose their negativity on you. ^^Copying notice for Wolhandler’s guest blog posts Please freely copy and distribute this post, but be sure to include that it was written by Steven Wolhandler, author of Protecting Yourself from Emotional Predators. (It’s copyright, Steven Wolhandler, 2019) Thanks!  Meet the Author: Steven Wolhandler, JD, MA, LPC is a psychotherapist, mediator, arbitrator, custody evaluator, national consultant and retired attorney. He has decades of experience dealing with, and learning from, difficult and manipulative people, and helping their victims with penetrating insight, effective solutions, warmth and humor. He lives in Colorado, consults with people internationally through www.creativeresolutions.org. Connect with the author: Website Facebook  Giveaway Details: Win one of 3 ebooks (mobi) of Protecting Yourself from Emotional Predators, or one $25 Amazon Gift Card, or GRAND PRIZE of 30 min FREE Consultation with Author (phone or video) (Open Internationally) (five winners) (Deadline to enter is October 4, 2019) ^Note: The GRAND PRIZE is transferable. This means if the winner knows someone who could use the free consultation, then they may transfer the prize to him/her. Click on the Rafflecopter link below RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Book Details: The Healer's Daughters by Jay Amberg Category: Adult Fiction, 312 pages | Genre: thriller Publisher: Amika Press | Release date: July 2019 Tour dates: Sept 9 to Sept 20, 2019 Content Rating: Pg-13 + M (Some strong language, terrorism and violence) Book Description: A terrorist bombing in Bergama, Turkey kills twenty-three people including three children. Modern Bergama is built on the site of ancient Pergamon, a city whose art and wealth and culture rivaled Athens. It was also the home of the Aesklepion, the world’s greatest healing center, and the birthplace of Galen, the Roman Empire’s most famous doctor. Tuğçe Iskan, a Turkish Ministry investigator, finds evidence that links the terrorism to a powerful criminal family and to Galen’s life and Pergamon’s lost treasures. But Iskan is alone, an outcast in the Ministry because she is honest, diligent, and a woman. As Iskan delves more deeply into the heinous attack, she needs allies outside the Ministry. She must turn to Özlem Boroğlu, a local archeologist, and Boroğlu’s daughter Elif, an artist with an affinity for ancient Aegean goddesses. Can these three women defeat ISIL terrorists, criminal oligarchs, and corrupt officials? Can they even survive? Buy the Book: Amazon.com ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Amika Press ~ Add to Goodreads REVIEW by LAWonder10: This is an entertaining story about several people whose lives were in chaos before a dreadful bombing in a small area of Turkey. It also briefly ties some ancient background information, to clarify the sacredness of the mystery. It is a tale of the evil, greedy men who claim they are honoring Allah by such horrors. It is about devastation which crumbles the remaining "victims" lives in a way they can never truly recover from. This is a story of corruption, greed and power mongers. However, it is, also, an account of the good in most people, and family. It is intriguing and culturally descriptive. The author's research is impressive. My main concern is, the "flow" of the story from one event, or group, to another was not smooth. It took me many pages to feel at all connected with the story. Personally, I did not appreciate the large amount of profanity. I offer a Three and a Half Stars rating. *Thi book was gifted me, with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review, Praise for The Healer's Daughters: "Amberg...shines at creating distinctive characters. Elif and others, for example, conduct a ritual to remember lost lives, which is a striking contrast to others who use the "Bergama Bombing" to boost their political careers. Moreover, Amberg deftly shows how viewing unfamiliar cultures as exotic can be insensitive; Özlem confronts a crass British photographer who thinks nothing of snapping pictures of praying mourners... A large, memorable cast augments this dramatic mystery/thriller." --Kirkus Reviews "Keep[s] readers on their toes. With its powerful blend of Turkish cultural explorations, international intrigue, a treasure hunt, historical references, and characters who hold their own special interests close to their hearts, The Healer's Daughters is an exceptional thriller that proves hard to put down." --Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review "All the elements [of] a compelling thriller--international terrorism; a greedy, powerful and ruthless criminal family; a group of inept, corrupt and "bought" government officials; a secret, elite, and clean anti-terror department of the said, corrupt government; and a principled, high-minded academic who will stop at nothing to ensure her country's past and valuable heritage is preserved for the ages." --Grant Leishman, Readers' Favorite "Drama, pressure, and tensions mount in a plot with great descriptive writing and scene setting.... A glimpse into different cultures, beliefs, and economies [and an] adventure filled with fear, danger, and discovery." --K.J. Simmill, Readers' Favorite GUEST POST: By Jay Amberg, author of The Healer’s Daughters Research is integral to every novel I write. Normally, I spend a year researching, a year writing, and a year editing. With The Healer’s Daughters, I was teaching in İzmir, Turkey near the Aegean coast. I did not go to Turkey planning to write another novel, but living in the Aegean area stoked my energy. As I traveled in the region, the story began to form in my mind. I was particularly taken by Bergama, a Turkish market town built on the ruins of Pergamon, an ancient Hellenistic city that was the artistic and cultural rival of Athens. The tremendous advantage of doing research while living in İzmir was that I could imagine a scene and then visit the site. It is much easier for me to see and hear my characters if I am in a place where they would be. In Istanbul, for example, I could write a scene’s dialogue while at the Süleymaniye Mosque or Gülhane Park just outside of Topkapı Palace. I could sit on the bench where the characters sat while they argued. I was also able to interview archeologists in the field. Scholars and other experts gladly shared their time and their knowledge about the coastal Aegean area from Ephesus to Troy. Friends I made took me to villages so that I could meet local people. Because I was living in Turkey, the research for The Healer’s Daughters stretched into the year of writing and even into the editing phase. The research included reading texts like Pergamon, A Hellenistic Capital and The Prince of Medicine: Galen in the Roman Empire. I also, as I mentioned, visited quite a few sites and talked with many people. Some of those conversations still continue even though the novel has gone to print. The research was sometimes difficult and at times no fun at all (I fell off a mountain and broke a rib), but there was always an underlying sense of joy because of the people I met and the places I visited. Everyone with whom I spoke was not only informative but also amicable. My experiences in Turkey definitely enhanced the authenticity of The Healer’s Daughters.  Meet the Author: Jay Amberg is the author of twelve books. He received a BA from Georgetown University and a PhD from Northwestern University. He has taught high school and college students since 1972. His latest book, The Healer’s Daughters, is now available from Amika Press. Amberg has also published Bone Box, Cycle, America’s Fool, Whale Song, and compiled 52 Poems for Men. Prior to Amika Press, Amberg published thriller novels Doubloon (Forge), Blackbird Singing (Forge) and Deep Gold (Warner Books). Among his books on teaching are School Smarts and The Study Skills Handbook, published by Good Year. Amberg wrote The Creative Writing Handbook (Good Year) with Mark Henry Larson and Verbal Review and Workbook for the SAT (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich) with Bob Boone. Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook  Giveaway: Prizes: Win one of five print copies (USA & Canada); or one of 15 ebooks (international) of The Healer's Daughters. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card (anywhere Amazon will ship.) (21 winners) To enter, click on the Rafflecopter link below! RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Book & Author Details: Married to the Lord (The Wallflower Brides, #2) by Samantha Holt Publication date: September 9th 2019 Genres: Adult, Historical, Romance Synopsis: Waiting for one’s fiancé to set a date is never fun. Especially when it has now officially been years. Particularly when one is a veritable wallflower with little chance of anything better coming along. More so when said fiancé’s brother is paying particular attention to one’s life and causing all sorts of confusing emotions. All Miss Augusta Snow wants is for Evan to return home and set the date. If that means trying as hard as she can to break out of her quiet temperament to gain his attention, then she’ll do her best. But it seems she’s attracted the wrong brother’s attention… The brooding Miles Stanton, Viscount Ashwick has always been quietly fascinating to her. She knows he was a little less than a gentleman in his past but she cannot help be intrigued now that he is showing interest in her wellbeing. He only intended to protect his brother’s interests… Miles always had a soft spot for Gus. However, everyone knew she was meant for his brother and all he wants is for her to be happy—especially with the specters of his past hanging over him and guaranteeing to bring trouble. He has to protect Augusta from doing something silly and somehow persuade Evan to cease being a fool and return home. All the while ignoring his feelings for her… Augusta’s plans to show Evan that she is not just some dull wallflower seemed doomed to fail and now Miles is back in her life and behaving…well…strangely. She cannot help but wonder if she has been hanging her hopes on the wrong brother this whole time. Goodreads | Purchase: Only 99¢! - Amazon   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... You can find Samantha on Facebook and join in her weekly Funday Friday giveaway: https://www.facebook.com/samanthaholtromance Author links: Website | Facebook | Goodreads |  GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
To enter, click on the Rafflecopter Link below! RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Book Details: Book Title: The Root of Murder (A Lovers in Crime Mystery #4) by Lauren Carr Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 332 pages | Genre: Mystery Publisher: Acorn Book Services | Release date: March 20, 2019 | Tour dates: September 9 to October 25, 2019 Content Rating: PG-13 (Lauren Carr's books are murder mysteries, so there are murders involved. Occasionally, a murder will happen on stage. There is sexual content, but always behind closed doors. Some mild swearing (a hell or a damn few and far between). No F-bombs! Book Description: Homicide Detective Cameron Gates learned long ago that there is no such thing as a typical murder case. Each mystery is special in its own right—especially for the family of the victim.The homicide of a successful executive, husband, and father seems open and shut when the murder weapon is found in his estranged son-in-law’s possession. The circumstantial evidence is so damning that when her step-son, J.J. Thornton, agrees to act as the defendant’s public defender, he assumes his first murder case will be a loss. Only the report of a missing husband proves that this case is not as open and shut as it seems. Strap on your seat belts for a wild ride in this mystery rooted in decades of deception that sprouts into murder. Buy the Book: Amazon.com | Add to Goodreads REVIEW by LAWonder10: Izzy was excited she was to be the Maid of Honor to her future sister-in-law. In the midst of the pressing plans, her mother, Cameron, was called to investigate a gruesome murder. A body was discovered on a long-established elderly couple's farm. It was ore shocking when the body was identified! Cameron used much persuasion to convince her step-son, who is an attorney, to represent him. There were two very valid reasons why he did not ant to do this. In her usual fashion, Lauren Carr mixes intimacy in relationships, humor, and intrigue in her murder mystery stories. Just as the reader determines "who did it?", she adds further information, which successfully keeps the reader guessing to the very end. The characters are all very well developed and one feels he/she knows them, personally, and is in the scenes, experiencing the whole intrigue. Although there are intimate scenes, alluding to sexual situations, these series are free of explicit details. There are a few crude words but no strong profanity. This novel earns a Five Stars rating. *This book was gifted me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review. OTHER BOOKS In THIS SERIES:
GUEST POST: Character Blog: Mom and Dad: Lovers in Crime by Izzy Thornton - by Lauren Carr Okay, like I need to write this essay about my family and I need to write at least five-hundred words. Problem is this. I don’t think five hundred words can do it. You see, I don’t have your regular family. I mean they’re normal to me because I live with these people and I think they’re pretty special. My name is Izzy Thornton and I’m fourteen years old. I was adopted. That means the Thorntons picked me to join their family. I think that’s really cool. A while back, my mom was murdered. She was the only family I had. The investigator in her case was Murphy Thornton. When he saw that I was in danger, he took me home to stay with him and his wife Jessica. She’s rich and gorgeous. She has a room dedicated just to her shoes! Now she’s my sister-in-law. When the investigation got really dangerous, Murphy’s dad and stepmom stepped in. That’s right. My Mom is a bad ass, too. I started out with no family. Now I have a BIG family! I have five big brothers and sisters and a huge dog named Admiral and Irving, a cat who looks like a skunk, and a beautiful horse named Comanche! So anyway, DAD is Joshua Thornton. He’s Hancock County’s prosecuting attorney and he’s a really cool guy. If you’re a murderer, then you’d think he was really uncool. My Mom is Lieutenant Cameron Gates, a homicide detective with the Pennsylvania State Police, which can be sticky because Dad is the prosecutor in West Virginia. The state line is only a mile or so from our house in Chester. I call Cameron “Cam” because I had a mom before her and I don’t feel right calling Cam Mom. Cam understands. Cam packs a nine-millimeter semi-automatic and carries a badge. Like I said, she’s a bad ass. She isn’t a very good cook. Dad does most of the cooking. But she can make the best hot fudge sundaes! Cameron’s idea of cooking is heating up hot fudge sauce in the microwave and spooning it on the ice cream. If she feels like being fancy, she’ll toss a few extra cherries on top to brighten up the color. I have three brothers and two sisters. My sister Sarah goes to the naval academy in Annapolis. She’s going to be the first woman Navy SEAL! My other sister Tracy is a caterer. She and my brother J.J. are opening a restaurant together. Donny is a football player at West Virginia University. I already told you about Murphy. He has an identical twin named Joshua Junior. Everyone calls him J.J. After J.J. graduated from law school, he came home to Chester and moved in with his first love, Suellen Russell, but she was really sick. She owned Russell Ridge Farm and Orchards. Suellen was such a nice lady. She had rescued Comanche, who was being neglected, and gave her to me! She also hired Poppy to train her horses. Poppy is a real honest-to-goodness horse whisperer—at least, I think she’s a horse whisperer. She says she just knows how to listen. Poppy’s got beautiful red hair and freckles all over. She also has a horse name Gulliver. He’s got spots all over him, too. He’s an appaloosa. He’s also an escape artist. When Suellen died, she left all of it to J.J.! Now J.J. is marrying Poppy and I’m going to be her maid of honor at the wedding! Believe me, I’m taking my duties as maid of honor very seriously. Whatever the bride wants, she gets. Well, Poppy has been having dreams about this wedding gown and we can’t find it anywhere! It’s white, but it’s got a gold lace overlay. Poppy insists that we have to find this particular gown because it’s in her dreams. We’ve been to every bridal shop and they think we’re crazy. Poppy doesn’t seem worried, but I am. What happens if we don’t find it? Poppy says she’ll walk down the aisle in her birthday suit! On top of all that, we have a murder to solve. Cameron got called out on a case where a body was dumped at a farm out in Hookstown and set on fire. The victim ended up being the father of Heather Davis, an old girlfriend of J.J. When they found the murder weapon at his estranged son-in-law’s place, the case seemed like a slam dunk. Right? Then, the son-in-law’s mother talked Dad into helping. Dad couldn’t take the case on account of him being a prosecutor and all, so he asked J.J. to do it for him. With so much evidence against the suspect, J.J. assumed his first murder case was going to be a loser. But no, that wasn’t what happened at all. Right after the bail hearing, the mother of another one of J.J.’s old girlfriends reported her husband missing and this slam dunk case got blown wide open! Now this simple murder case is much more complicated. When two of the prime suspects ended up being J.J.’s ex-girlfriends, Dad and Cameron dragged him into the case. Less than two months to his wedding day, the last thing J.J. wanted was to cozy up to his old flames. But, like Dad and Cam always say, when it comes to murder, you do what you have to do to get to the truth. No, my parents are not your average dad and mom. How many brothers marry horse whisperers who dance the Viennese waltz? How many parents go chasing after killers? How many people own an orphaned lamb who thinks he’s a dog (his name is Oliver) and a watch rooster named Charley? No, I don’t have your average family. But they’re my family and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.
 Meet the author: Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Thorny Rose, Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries—over twenty titles across four fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns! Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor. Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV. Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram  Giveaway Details: Prize: Win a $50 Amazon gift card courtesy of Lauren Carr, author of the Lovers in Crime Mysteries. To enter, click on the Rafflecopter link below! RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY! Here is the tour schedule    Book & Author Details: Ambush in the Everglades by Petie McCarty Publication date: May 19th 2019 | Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense Synopsis: Plenty of action-adventure in this romantic-suspense tale. Photographer Kayli Heddon is given the biggest assignment of her career—a photo essay on the Everglades Restoration—and a special airboat safari is arranged, so Kayli can get her pictures. What she doesn’t count on is being stranded alone in the Everglades with her handsome and unpredictable airboat guide. Kayli is forced to learn some tough lessons. Trust means everything in the dangerous River of Grass, and a skilled partner makes all the difference in your survival. Skye Landers takes the airboat safari gig as a favor to his cousin who is called out of town. Skye doesn’t expect the governor’s photographer to catch his eye, but Kayli Heddon is unlike any woman he has ever met. He knows he should keep his distance, but common sense flies out the window whenever she gets near. Unfortunately, Kayli thinks honesty is the most important thing in a relationship—any relationship—and Skye Landers is a fraud. When secrets surface from his past, Kayli and Skye are soon on the run from more than just alligators. Goodreads | Purchase: Amazon  AUTHOR BIO: Petie spent a large part of her career working at Walt Disney World -- "The Most Magical Place on Earth" -- where she enjoyed working in the land of fairy tales by day and creating her own romantic fairy tales by night, including her new series, The Cinderella Romances. She eventually said good-bye to her "day" job to write her stories full-time. These days Petie spends her time writing sequels to her regency time travel series, Lords in Time, and her cozy-mystery-with-a-dash-of-romantic-suspense series, the Mystery Angel Romances. Petie shares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee with her horticulturist husband and an opinionated Nanday conure named Sassy who made a cameo appearance in No Angels for Christmas. Author links: https://www.petiemccarty.com/ https://twitter.com/authorpetie https://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094579.Petie_McCarty  GIVEAWAY Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Book Details: No More Bad Dates (High Team #1) (Cozy Cottage Café, #5) by Kate O’Keeffe Publication date: September 5th 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance Synopsis: Three friends form the No More Bad Dates Pact: stop dating the wrong guys and start dating the right ones - weirdos and jerks need not apply. Twenty-five-year-old Sophie McCarthy's career is virtually nonexistent, her family expects her to "do something important" with her life, and she's totally sick of dating the wrong guys: the self-absorbed, the arrogant, the borderline criminally insane. After she's unceremoniously dumped during the vows at her boss's wedding, she and her two equally disappointed-in-love best friends agree to help each other find decent guys to date. Together, they form the No More Bad Dates Pact: stop dating the wrong guys and start dating the right ones--weirdos and jerks neednot apply. When Sophie's roommate Jason Christie--a.k.a. doctor-in-training and serial nurse-dater--joins the pact, he vows to weed out the bad ones for her. But with his rejection of every guy Sophie meets, she begins to wonder if he's got an ulterior motive. And anyway, why does she always have so much more fun with Jason than with the guys she's actually trying to date? While desperately seeking her "happy for now," could Sophie stumble into her "happily ever after?" High Tea is a spin-off of Kate O'Keeffe's bestselling Cozy Cottage Café series. Escape to New Zealand in this fun, feel-good chick lit series! Books in the High Tea series: Book 1: No More Bad Dates Book 2: No More Terrible Dates - releasing very soon! Book 3: No More Horrible Dates - releasing soon! Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46804975-no-more-bad-dates Purchase: Amazon: https://books2read.com/u/mgGEGx?store=amazon PRAISE for Book: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "The perfect fun-filled escape from reality. Kate O'Keeffe at her delightful best!"- Whitney Dineen, bestselling author of Relatively Normal ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ "I love this book! If you want a novel you won't be able to put down and will leave you with a smile on your face after you finish it, this is a great choice! So sweet and romantic!" - Annabelle Costa, bestselling author of My Perfect Ex-Boyfriend  AUTHOR BIO: Visit kateokeeffe.com and sign up to her newsletter so you never miss out on new releases and great book deals again! Follow her on Bookbub to learn about deals on her books. Just cut and paste this link into your browser: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-o-keeffe Kate O'Keeffe is a bestselling author of fun, feel-good romantic comedies. She lives and loves in beautiful Hawke's Bay, New Zealand with her family, two scruffy dogs, and a cat who thinks he's a scruffy dog too. He's not: he's a cat. When she's not penning her latest story, Kate can be found hiking up hills (slowly), traveling to different countries, and eating chocolate. A lot of it. Kate is excited to announce her new series High Tea! It's a spin-off from the bestselling Cozy Cottage Café series, and Book 1 is currently on pre-order, due to be released on September 5th, 2019! Author links: https://twitter.com/kateokeeffe4 http://kateokeeffe.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kateokeeffeauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/kateokeeffeauthor https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8195990.Kate_O_Keeffe  GIVEAWAY Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Book Details: Till I Found You by Michelle Fernandez Publication date: September 3rd 2019 Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense Synopsis: Former Navy SEAL, Julian “Booker” Cruz, joined an elite security ops agency with one goal in mind: to forget his past. With the overload of work, there’s no time for romance, nor does he want it. His rule—don’t mix business with pleasure. Until one assignment puts that rule to the test. Chloe Channing is not to discover his undercover role as her protective detail from an unknown psychopath. But as their days pass together in tropical paradise, it becomes difficult to keep his desire from compromising everything. Including her safety. All Chloe wants is to remember, but so much of her memory was l | ~ ost after her assailant left her unconscious. On a summer trip with friends at her family’s estate in the Bahamas, she yearns for the quiet respite from a previous heartbreak and her tortured nightmares. She never expects a man like Julian to help her find emotional peace and physical healing. But as she falls deeper, her flashbacks slowly come together, and they include glimpses of one handsome, mysterious, yet all-too-familiar face: Julian’s. Is Chloe’s mind playing tricks on her again… or has she met this man before? Even if Julian could let go and risk it all, could he ever forgive himself enough to fall in love again? Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon     AUTHOR BIO: Michelle is a wife, mother and an avid reader of multi-genres. She's always been passionate about reading and impressed by the influence it has on people. Which is why she started writing in the first place. Romance suspense is her most favorite genre. The damsel heroine and the alpha gentleman hero are who she writes about. It started as a hobby. One chapter turned into ten, then a novel was born. Making up worlds and characters for readers to fall in love with, is the most rewarding for her. May her words give you the 'feels' and may it be an unputdownable book! Author links: https://mcfernandez0430.wixsite.com/website https://www.instagram.com/michellefernandezwrites/ https://www.facebook.com/michellefernandezauthor/  GIVEAWAY Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
To Enter, click on the Rafflecopyer link below! RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!   Lose weight and save time in the kitchen with easy, set-and-forget recipes from The Healthy Low-Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook.Eating a low-carb diet can be hard―but cooking for it doesn’t have to be. The Healthy Low-Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook combines the convenience of your slow cooker with satisfying, low-carb recipes to lose weight and save energy cooking. From Sausage and Egg Scramble to Kale Lasagna to Beef Enchilada Casserole, this healthy slow cooker cookbook offers delicious, wholesome meals that have 20g of total carbs per serving. With 15-minute prep times for each recipe, The Healthy Low-Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook makes losing weight as easy as tossing in ingredients―leaving your slow cooker to handle the rest of the heavy lifting. The Healthy Low-Carb Slow Cooker Cookbook includes:
REVIEW by LAWonder10L I must admit, I have not tried all of the recipes in this book. However, the ones I have tried are very pleasing to the pallet. For instance, if ever you question how ro cook spaghetti squash, try Shannon's Herbed Spaghetti Casserole which is sure to tantalize even the most picky eater's taste buds. While experiencing cooler temperatures, experience the savory taste if this author's g Garden Vegetable soup. It is very tasty, yet nourishing. Spinach and artichokes never paired better than they do in her Spinach Artichoke Casserole. Bring the delight of the Caribbean into your home by preparing and serving the delicious Caribbean Chicken Curry, or offer a Gourmet Feast with Balsamic Beef Roast! J do not know why she would title her savory dish by naming it "Jerk" Pork Chops, because there was nothing "jerky" about them! A meal is not complete without dessert. trying her scrumptious Strawberry Cobbler is a must! For something more simple and one can eat while "on the run", be sure to try her tasty Pecan Cookies. I am anxious to try her other recipes. Along with 98 pages of appetizing recipes, is an index, conversion chart, analysis of various low carb diets, meal planning and "Top Tips and Takeaways'" I offer a strong Four Star rating for this book. *This book was gifted me by the publisher with no request for a positive review. This is my honest review.  About Shannon Epstein
Shannon Epstein is the author of The Easy & Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook & The Low Sodium Slow Cooker Cookbook. She also runs several blogs including FitSlowCookerQueen and TweetEatTravel. Shannon lives in Los Angeles with her husband. Amazon Author Page |
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