Books, cats and fine wine are the best things in life.

Facebook

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Rare Disease Day 2013 - Info & G!veaways

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown No comments

On this day, millions of patients and their families will share their stories to focus a spotlight on rare diseases as an important global public health concern.

“There are nearly 30 million Americans—and millions more around the world—affected by rare diseases,” said Peter L. Saltonstall, president and CEO of NORD.  “Everyone knows someone with a rare disease.  But, while many of these diseases are serious and lifelong, most have no treatment and many are not even being studied by researchers.  This leaves patients and families without hope for a better future.”

On Rare Disease Day, people with rare diseases around the world promote awareness of the challenges of living with a rare disease.  The global theme for 2013 is “Rare Disorders Without Borders.” 

World Rare Disease Day was launched in Europe in 2008 and last year was observed in more than 60 nations.  It is always observed on the last day of February.  On that day, patients and patient organizations will post stories, videos and blogs online and host events to raise awareness of these diseases, which are often called “orphans”.

This year, the observance has special significance in the U.S. because 1983 is also the 30th anniversary of the Orphan Drug Act, which provides incentives to encourage companies to develop treatments for rare diseases, and of NORD, which was established by patient advocates in 1983.

“More than half of the people who have rare diseases are children,” Saltonstall said.  “Challenges faced by patients and their families include delayed diagnosis, few treatment options, and difficulty finding medical experts.  Many rare diseases have no approved treatment.  Insurance may not cover treatments that aren’t approved.  Also, treatments for rare diseases tend to be more expensive than those for common diseases.”

In 1983, the Orphan Drug Act was passed by Congress to create financial incentives for companies to develop treatments for rare diseases.  Since then, more than 400 orphan drugs and biologics have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  It is estimated that approximately 15 million Americans benefit from these products, but that still leaves millions more with diseases for which there is no approved treatment.

For more information about Rare Disease Day activities in the U.S., go to www.rarediseaseday.us.  For information about global activities, go to www.rarediseaseday.org).

*******

In conjunction with Rare Disease Day, Pandora Poikilos' books will be free from 28th February 2013 till 15th March 2013. To download your free copy, please click on the links below.

Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out is free via KDP Select (Kindle) from now till 3rd March.
Dora's Essentials - Examining Anxiety is free via Smashwords from now till 15th March.
Genetically Modified Foods vs. Sustainability is free via Smashwords from now till 15th March.
Pandora's Reading Room (Short Story compilation) is free via Smashwords from now till 15th March.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Personal Pick - No Foolin'

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown No comments
No Foolin'No Foolin' by Lisa Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Did the book description relate to the story? Yes, and it was refreshing to actually read a description. My book club members and I have noticed several books that have little or no description and it spoils the discovery of a good (or bad) read. In this case, the author's description is to the point and gives a good feel of the story.

How did you feel about the opening / ending sequences of the book? I liked the beginning sequence more than the ending. The ending was somewhat expected but the beginning was interesting with the author giving each character a different layer for the reader to discover.

Who was your favourite character and why? Tough choice. But I'm going to go for Kate. She's simple in some ways and complicated in others. She seems to push and pull what she wants and it can be irritating but it makes for a great read.

What were the main relationships explored in this book? Honesty to self. The two main characters have their judgement clouded by what other people think of them, they each forget what they actually want and need for themselves.

Was this book worth reading? Yes, and I would definitely recommend this book to others. Excellent writing.

Disclosure - I received a complimentary copy from the author which did not affect my honest opinion.

View all my reviews

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Orangeberry Book of the Day – Birds of A Feather by Kara Stefanowich

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments

birds of a feather

When Shiloh Lashley, an International Assassin, breaks all the rules and falls in love with Monty Wright, her latest target, she finds herself in a conspiracy with her own name on the hit list — and a deep, dark secret surfacing in the fight to save her love, her life and a past she’s hidden for so long.

Birds of a Feather is a sexy tail spin of murder, money and conspiracy that gets blown to bits when Monty Wright and Shiloh Lashley are both hired by opposing agencies to kill each other. When the assassins finally meet the sparks fly, along with a hail of bullets which lead them straight into each others arms. But when their agencies discover their affair, cities crumble and a barrage of car chases, explosions and gun fights stalk the lovers around the globe, from Berlin, Germany to Tijuana, Mexico. Even as their affair blossoms, the shock still grips the pair as there are secrets a plenty in the world of spies and contract killers.

Can their love withstand the smoke of gunfire, or will their secrets tear them apart and take their lives?

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Suspense / Thriller

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with  Kara Stefanowich on Facebook & Twitter

Author Interview – June White

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? I’m trying to figure that out for myself now.

What is your favorite Quote? Just because you have the right to do it doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you “grew up”? I had no clue.

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why? I’d want someone who is very good at their trade to play me, it wouldn’t have to be someone who is currently famous, just a very good actress.

Hidden talent? I do water color painting, photography, quilting, stained glass, really good at interior design, I am a jack of all arts but master of none.

Favorite Food? Fish and chips at the beach.

Favorite Candy? Any good, expensive dark chocolate.

How do you react to a bad review? As I stated I am a jack of all arts, master of none so I wouldn’t take it personally, not everyone is going to like it.

If you were a bird, which one would you be? An eagle, grand, majestic, powerful and beautiful.

If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why? Not a novel but the story, The Night Before Christmas, from the first time I heard the story it made me happy and excited that a special holiday was coming. I love the look on children’s faces when it’s read to them. Very creative mind that wrote it.

 

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – Biography

Rating – PG13

More details about the book

Connect with June White on Twitter

Website http://junewhitemma.com/

 

As a single mom and high school dropout June worked hard to give Dana a better life. Against all odds she raises him to be a rich and powerful man, the man known to millions around the world as the King of MMA. Dana is President and part owner of the UFC, a multi-billion dollar international empire and a self made multi-millionaire before the age of 40.

You will find no other owner/president of a company like Dana. He is brash, outspoken, does not care what any one else thinks and is brutal in his business dealings. June gives the reader a glimpse into the life of Dana White, who he was, where he came from and the person he is today. But did Dana’s power and money come at a cost and was the cost too great?

Monday, February 25, 2013

Orangeberry Book of the Day – No Foolin’ by Lisa Scott

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments

Welcome to Willowdale, North Carolina, a small town where the folks are friendly, the romances are as sweet as the tea, and the biddies at the diner gobble up gossip like it’s peach cobbler. This may be their biggest scoop ever.

When sexy Hollywood bad-boy Teague “T-Rex” Reynolds comes to this quiet Southern town, he needs a fake girlfriend to hide the secret that brought him there. School nurse Kate Riley takes the job, but she won’t fall for a movie star, no ma’am. That’s fine with Teague. He hung a closed sign on his heart years ago.
Convincing the press they’re in love is one thing. Fooling each other they’re not is getting harder each day. Despite scandal, heartache, and misunderstandings galore, they might just find the sweet thrill of true love. Book one of The Willowdale Romances.

Lisa Scott is a former TV news anchor who now makes up stories instead of sticking to the facts. Learn more about where her ideas come from and what’s on the way at ReadLisaScott.com

Buy now @ Amazon

Genre – Contemporary Romance

Rating – PG15

More details about the author

Connect with Lisa Scott on Facebook & Twitter

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Orangeberry Book of the Day - Kaleidoscope World - Tomica Scavina

2:24 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments

Tomica Scavina

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Psychological Thriller

Rating – PG

More details about the author & the book

Connect with Tomica Scavina on GoodReads & Twitter

Website http://www.tomicascavina.com/

 

A collector of kaleidoscopes and lousy relationships, Dahlia Kasper leaves her possessive alcoholic mother and moves from New York to Barcelona. In search of lost bits of her childhood, she starts living in an apartment where her father was murdered when she was four. As soon as she enters the apartment, strange things begin to happen.
Her favorite kaleidoscope becomes a gateway to another dimension where she encounters a ghost of a famous physicist from the 19th century who tries to persuade her that reality is like a moth-eaten sweater - full of holes. He needs her to help him plug up these holes and save the world from vanishing, while the only thing Dahlia really wants to save is her sanity.
This is just a part of Dahlia's problems. An elderly cello-playing neighbor turns her emotional world upside down and her longing for lost home takes her further than she ever imagined she could go. To collect all the scattered kaleidoscope-bits of her life together, Dahlia needs to go through an intense inner transformation that takes courage and a sharp sense of humor.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Orangeberry Book Tours – Rock My World by Sharisse Coulter

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments

Jenna Jax-Anders hit rock bottom in high school. Or so she thought. From rock star heiress to knocked-up has been, she turned it all around, marrying the punk rock baby daddy love of her life. The perfect Hollywood fairytale. Until the day she walked in on him kissing her best friend.

As she struggles to find herself and redefine the world around her, she faces the challenges of raising her over-achieving teenage daughter, the heartbreak of losing her best friend (backstabbing aside), and emerging from the shadows of two famous last names to find her own identity. Oh, there’s also the tiny issue of her husband’s record label, backed by an anonymous mogul whose morally ambiguous creative direction may ruin them all.

But she doesn’t know about that yet.

Buy Now @ Amazon, Barnes & Noble & Kobo

Genre – Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Rating – PG13

Connect with Sharisse Coulter on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://leecoulter.com/tour/

Author Interview – Sharisse Coulter

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments

Buy Now @ Amazon, Barnes & Noble & Kobo

Genre – Contemporary Women’s Fiction

Rating – PG13

More details about the book

Connect with Sharisse Coulter on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://leecoulter.com/tour/

 

What is your favorite food? My husband’s coconut curry.  It’s amazing.

What’s your favorite place in the entire world? Ooh, that’s a tough one.  My favorite writing place is the Encinitas public library.  It has a view of the ocean, a coffee cart outside, and the perfect cozy chairs for writing. My favorite city is definitely New York, though.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing? I grew up in the mountains and spent a great deal of time outside, playing sports. I learned a lot about pushing through the difficult times in order to achieve something I was working for and I think that mentality is what got me through my first draft.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? I’ve loved stories and reading since I was two years old.  I can’t remember a time I wasn’t interested in writing, but for a long time I was intimidated by all the wonderful writers I admired, worried I could never be good enough to compare.

When and why did you begin writing? I really started writing in college, particularly grad school.  I’d just been through a really traumatic experience—my boyfriend at the time committed suicide—and I needed a way to work through my grief and find a way to come to terms with it.  Writing saved me.

How long have you been writing? In some form or other, since elementary school.  Writing novels? About two years.

When did you first know you could be a writer? I don’t think there was a deciding moment.  It’s been something niggling me for many years, but I only started seriously writing when I stopped thinking about myself and started thinking about my story as its own entity.

What inspires you to write and why? Life.  People. Traveling.  Being frustrated and wishing I could control the world around me.  When I reach my limit, it’s time to create a fictional world that I can bend to my will.  It’s possible I have control issues.

What genre are you most comfortable writing? Contemporary women’s fiction.  I discovered my natural writing voice suits the genre and, as an added bonus, I am my own demographic. I find it easier to explore because I know what I wish I could be reading, and if I can’t find it, I write it.

What inspired you to write your first book? ROCK MY WORLD is my first book, and it started with the idea of Jenna and Alex, two of my main characters. They rattled around in my imagination for a couple years aimlessly, until finally, a year after having my son, I was struck by sudden inspiration and knew their story.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Orangeberry Book of the Day – Undertow by Elle Chardou

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments

undertow

Five years ago, Evie Sandstrom and Finn Reilly were best friends and each other’s first love. Although neither has forgotten this time of their lives, they have moved on from one another and the secrets that continue to haunt them from the past.

Evie, now a college student, has decided to transfer for her junior year to Boston University to be closer to her family…and Finn Reilly is still there — waiting for her — in Charlestown.

During part of a gorgeous summer, the beauty of their love is rekindled again only to be torn apart by Evie’s mother, the beautiful and untouchable superstar, Athena Donahue.

Evie, angry and humiliated, is determined to avenge her mother for what she has done. Athena’s recently married Etienne Fournier, a thirty-year-old French model, and he is dangerously attracted to Evie.

Love and lust collide in the cruelest ways and now Evie finds herself conflicted, swept in the undertow and caught in the crossfire of temptation and desire for Etienne though she desperately wants to maintain the loyalty and fidelity she has promised to Finn.

Evie learns the most valuable lesson of all: falling in love is easy but for a young woman who doesn’t like to commit, maintaining a relationship is the hard part.

Publisher’s Note: Due to mature behavior, sexual references, drug references and language, this novel is recommended for those 17+.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Contemporary Romance

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with Elle Chardou on Facebook & Twitter

Blog http://thebeautifulpeopleawritersjourney.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

5 Star Review -- Trapped by George Bernstein

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown No comments

 

TrappedTrapped by George A. Bernstein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What were the main themes of the book? Betrayal, acceptance, friendship, love. The author wrote a book that I will think about for years to come. Utterly stunned while reading this, the author based this on a real life event.

Describe 2 different settings or locations. I refuse to give my favorite. If I did, it would give away everything with the plot. I do not want to ruin it for other readers.

One - Jackee, learns that she is able to communicate with her boys. This was truly a great play with words and a very creative imagination.

Two - After Jackee wakes up from surgery and realizes that she is only thinking thought and not able to communicate with others. This would be hard to accept. Knowing that I was able to complete anything before and now after a minor surgery not able to even feed myself.

Were you able to connect with the main character and why? Oh yes, Jackee was very easy to connect with. Her closest relationships appear to be flawed and she slowly discovers the people she trusted have betrayed her.

Which did you find more appealing, the introduction or the conclusion? I enjoyed the conclusion. It wrapped everything up nicely.


I received this book in exchange for a read/review. This in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

View all my reviews

Orangeberry Book of the Day - Secrets by Liz Schulte

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments

Secrets by Liz Schulte

While Olivia Martin observed life through her camera, the Abyss gazed back at her. She discovers mysterious men follow her around, people close to her are dying, and her dreams are no longer her own as she falls head over heels for a perfect stranger. A chance encounter leads to an obsession that could destroy everything she has ever known or loved. Olivia is about to find out there is a lot she doesn’t know and sometimes what you don’t know can kill you.

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – Paranormal Romance

Rating – PG13

Connect with Liz Schulte on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://www.lizschulte.com/

George Bernstein – Tips on Becoming a Better Writer

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , , No comments
Tips on Becoming a Better Writer
by George Bernstein
So you’ve written your novel, and edited the heck out of it, but how do you get it good enough to actually get published? I went through that problem for a long time, slowly getting to where I had to be. Here are some of my suggestions, now that you’ve got a workable product. How do we turn an everyday Volkswagen into a Lexus?
My first suggestion to every new writer is to find a GOOD writers conference (or 2 or 3!), hopefully somewhere near enough to drive to…unless you’ve got cash to burn. Then I recommend you fly to Maui. That’s the Cadillac of conferences.
A well-run conference is usually run by local writing groups. The Florida Writers Association, for instance, hosts a 3-day event every October, usually in the Orlando area. While these better conferences will almost always have several agents and editors to whom you can pitch your work, the real reason for going is for the classes. You’ll find a plethora of sessions on every phase of writing, publishing, promotion and how to find agents and editors. More classes than you can possibly attend.
Once you start listening to professionals show you what makes great writing, you’ll be stunned at how little you actually knew. There often are critique sessions, too, and you’ll have a chance to network with other aspiring writers, and maybe establish some critique partners. And if you’re lucky, you may connect with an agent or editor who will be willing to read your work. Personal contact can get you past their slush pile, even if they don’t eventually take you on. At least you may get some real feedback.
Okay, you’ve attended a conference or two, and are fired up over transforming your work into the gem you know it should be. Here are a few things to make your novel stand out as professional.
The first thing to do is to go back and shorten your chapters. Three to five pages each, sometime even less. Occasionally, one may need to be a bit longer. I took many chapters from TRAPPED and made three or four chapters out of them. Start a new chapter every time you change a point of view. TRAPPED has several of little more than one page.
Look at James Patterson. You’ll see that even though it’s all the same basic scene, there are chapter breaks. This makes the story more immediate, and keeps the pages turning. Instead of wishing this damned chapter will finally end so you can go eat, you’ll want to stay with the next short one, just to see how things pan out. Believe me, it works.
In the same vein, keep paragraphs short…seldom more than 3 sentences. This keeps white spaces on the page, and makes everything easier to read. Nothing is more daunting than looking at a paragraph that’s a half-page long.
And anything you want to stand out…to make important…should be on its own line.
Keep dialog brief and punchy. In real life people ramble and make many verbal pauses, but that’s a no-no in a novel. Use contractions, as we all do in every day speech, and don’t overdo accents that are tough on the reader to follow. You want your audience to know who is talking without adding a “Tag,” by use pacing, and maybe colloquial words, like “y’all,” and “Miz Maren,” as my character Kevin does in TRAPPED.
And speaking of tags, stick as much as possible with “he said; she said,” when you do need one for clarity. Groaning, muttering, cursing, etc. get pretty quickly overdone. Let you reader know the speaker was “groaning” by how it was said, not by describing it. Several professionals complimented my limited use of tags in TRAPPED. Direct inner thought is usually done in italics, compared to described thoughts, that are in regular fonts.
i.e.; What the Hell’s going on? How can he treat Kevin like that?
Challenge yourself on your dialog. A popular technique is to read it out loud to someone else. You may suddenly see how stilted it might sound.
Then, in your final edit, change static words into more descriptive action words. He “shambled across the room,” rather than “walked.” She “studied his face” rather than “looked.” He “darted out the door,” rather than “ran.” And cull out extra words, and try not to repeat a descriptive word in the next sentence.
All little things that may help differentiate you from the pack.
Good luck.
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre – Mainstream / Suspense
Rating – PG13
More details about the book
Connect with George Bernstein on Facebook & Twitter

Orangeberry Book Tours – Trapped by George Bernstein

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , , No comments

The darkness is still, silent. Jackee Maren’s heart pounds reverberating through her body as fear sears her veins. Someone’s coming. No way out. This time they will kill me. Her breath is short, her chest burns. Must run. Faster. Faster! Her eyes fly open, her heart still racing with blinding fear. Jackee breathes deeply with relief and stares at the ceiling desperately trying to calm herself. The same dream. Something, someone is watching . . . and waiting.

A tragic car accident leaves beautiful, vibrant Jackee Maren completely paralyzed, able to move only her eyes. Jackee’s husband, Phil, is devastated and her two young boys left with nothing but a shell for a mother, but still, Jackee senses the foreboding of an evil presence and knows time is short. Slowly, Jackee learns to communicate with her physical therapist, Kevin, by blinking her eyes.

As evidence comes to light that her car accident was no accident, Jackee knows she must expose the person who wants her dead before they get a second chance. While Jackee works to put all the clues together, she discovers she has the ability to sense the thoughts of others, but she hides this talent from everyone but her sons, not knowing who she can trust. By actively exercising her new psychic ability, Jackee finally learns who masterminded the accident but feels helpless to stop them from trying to kill her again.

Slowly a plan forms to not only ensure her boys are safe forever, but to exact revenge on her would-be murderer. Jackee vows not to rest until this killer understands what it is to be TRAPPED!

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Mainstream / Suspense

Rating – PG13

Connect with George Bernstein on Facebook & Twitter

Blog http://georgeabernstein.wordpress.com/

Website http://suspenseguy.com/

Monday, February 18, 2013

Orangeberry Book Tours – The Lucky Escape by Dr. Heather Manley

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown No comments

Merrin and Pearl’s little brother Robbie has swallowed a penny. Now through magic and imagination they find themselves on an adventure through his digestive system where they must grab the penny, save Robbie, and narrowly escape his poopy diaper.

Buy now @ Amazon

Genre – Children’s Book

Rating – G

Connect with Dr. Heather Manley on Facebook & Twitter

Author Interview – Alex A. Akira

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , , No comments

 

What is your least favorite quality about yourself? I am tremendously optimistic, almost to the point of naiveté. I am easily awestricken. Internally I am eleven years old.

What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why? ”We are all accidents waiting to happen.” Radiohead

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life? Staying alive and loving life more each day.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing? My upbringing is totally reflected in my writing. My characters despairs, joys and hopes pretty much reflect mine at various points in my life. I’m also a beauty addict with a manic attention to detail, which anyone who has had occasion to read the initial edition of Dojo Boys: Dragon & Crow, my first effort, can tell you.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? I’ve always written and drawn. When I was fourteen, my English teacher read a passage of mine out loud to the class. I was mortified, as I was one of the hidden [avoid attention at all costs] but the way he looked at me after reading it, well for the first time in my life I felt…I had… worth.

When and why did you begin writing? After the above incident I read and wrote constantly. But I also drew. My peers liked my drawings, which kept me from being beat up, so when the time came for me to apply to college, I chose one college that focused on writing and one that focused on art. The art school gave me a full five-year scholarship… I stopped writing and started painting.

Orangeberry Book Tours – Dojo Boys: The Italian Connection Volume 1 by Alex Akira

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , , No comments

 

Dojo Boy's Button

 

This swiftly-paced two-volume romantic Yaoi love story tells the tale of the multi-talented thief/dancer Philippe Michael Ponty. First introduced in Dojo Boys: Dragon & Crow Volume II, the now twenty-two year old platinum haired, petite Adonis struggles to make a home for himself in America.

Volume I finds Philip settling in Connecticut in disguise, as he doesn’t want to draw too much attention to his true line of work. Despite his caution, he meets and befriends a local rock musician, Tommy Sear, who despairs of ever having his band make it.

Quickly smitten by the dark-haired, shy Asian male that is Philip, Tommy seeks to make the young man his, but Philip doesn’t believe in love; besides, he has a very real problem. He can’t seem to get the victim of his last burglary, a green-eyed, virile Italian male… out of his mind.

With Philip’s encouragement, Tommy renews his efforts to get his band, Sear, a record deal. He makes a demo and shortly after a scout contacts him, from Italy no less. The Italian scout is coming to America hear them play in the hopes of signing Sear to the much sought-after label, Romano Studios.

But Tommy has a secret and he’s afraid that without Philip’s help, they may not get the deal.

Publisher’s Note: This book contains sexual content, explicit language and situations that some readers may find objectionable: male/male sexual practices.

Genres: Yaoi, Boy’s Love, M/M Romance, Gay, Action Adventure

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – M/M Romance

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with Alex Akira on Facebook & Twitter & GoodReads

Review: The Italian Connection 1 (Dojo Boys, #4) by Alex A. Akira

4:30 AM Posted by Unknown No comments
The Italian Connection 1 (Dojo Boys, #4)The Italian Connection 1 by Alex A. Akira
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In your own words, what was the beginning of the book. Someone breaking in to Julian’s home in Tuscany. Julian wakes up and sees the intruder go in to a room and wonders if anyone else is in the house.

Who do you think the author intended to read this book and why? Anyone who enjoys reading m/m romance.

What part would you change in the story, and why? Really do not think I would change anything in the story. I enjoyed reading what this author wrote.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

View all my reviews

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Orangeberry Book of the Day – Genetically Modified Foods vs. Sustainability – Bruno McGrath

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments
clip_image001
“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein
This ebook points out the surrounding issues of genetically modified fruit and vegetables that consumers are unaware of. While several parties defend the use of technology to create food, there seems to be little being done to increase awareness about this matter to the end consumer. It also points out alternative food sustainability options such as organic farming and land management.
This ebook will indicate that although some parties agree that genetically modified food items are cost effective and considered safe, its long-term results have not been adequately researched and the use of pesticides on these items are far higher than for other types farming or food products.
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre – Food & Cooking (PG)
Connect with Bruno McGrath on Facebook

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Orangeberry Book of the Day - Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out - Pandora Poikilos

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , 1 comment
Anya Michaels is having the time of her life. She has the man of her dreams by her side. She has graduated at the top of her class. She has the job others were lining up for. Between late night drinks at her favourite bar and fancy dinners at the most expensive restaurants, she has a string of adoring friends. Everything changes when she hears the dreaded words, “You are sick.”
Being diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder, her world starts to fall apart, one piece at a time. Now dumped, her four year relationship is nothing but a memory filled with pictures, thoughts and a very broken heart. Her job becomes an even further challenge as she tries to hide her condition. Her friends suddenly have more important things to do, what is a party without a party girl? Perfect could not crumble any faster.
Soon, caught between situations, people and pieces of life that she never dreamed of planning for herself, Anya begins to wonder if her brain condition is all that bad. As she absorbs the changes in her life and realization sets in, she begins to wonder if she is the only one saying: Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out.
Buy Now @ Amazon Kindle
Genre – Women’s Fiction
Rating – PG
Connect with Pandora Poikilos on Twitter

Friday, February 15, 2013

Quality Reads UK - Special Feature

9:09 PM Posted by Unknown , No comments
HOT STUFF

This is a monthly feature where we will share our top reads of the month.

Books are picked by our book club members and we do not receive any compensation for the books listed on this page.

PRAISE FOR BROKEN PIECES:

‘So ridiculously amazing, I can’t take it’ ~ Gabe Berman, Author ‘Live LIke A Fruit Fly

‘Engrossed. It is a grippingly brilliant work’ ~ Frank Feather, author and blogger

‘Any woman who has had a former lover (or two or three) will be able to relate to this. Her writing is very poetic.’ ~ LS Hullinger, reader, writer

‘A brilliant and intense must read’ ~ Jeffery Rowan, reader

Out less than three weeks, Broken Pieces already hit the Paid Top 10 list on Women’s Studies!

Welcome to bestselling author Rachel Thompson’s newest nonfiction work! Vastly different in tone from her previous essay collections A Walk In The Snark and The Mancode: Exposed, BROKEN PIECES is a collection of pieces inspired by one woman’s life: love, loss, abuse, trust, grief, and ultimately, love again.

This is NOT a humor book! It IS a book about relationships, a study of women, a book with heart.Want to see why people love it? Why they call it ‘riveting, powerful, insightful?’

Read it and see why Broken Pieces is tearing up the lists for Nonfiction, Women’s Studies, and books for women!

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Non Fiction

Rating – PG13

More details about the author

Connect with Rachel Thompson on Twitter & Facebook

Marching With Caesar-Conquest of Gaul is a first-person narrative, written in the form of a memoir as dictated to a scribe of Titus Pullus, Legionary, Optio, First Spear Centurion of Caesar’s 6th and 10th Legion. The memoir is written three years after his retirement as Camp Prefect, when Titus is 61 years old.

Titus, along with his boyhood friend Vibius Domitius, joins the 10th Legion in the draft of 61 BC, when Gaius Julius Caesar is the governor of Spain. Titus and Vibius are assigned to a tent group, with seven other men who will become their closest friends during their times in the legion. Titus, Vibius and their comrades endure the harsh training regimen that made the legions the most feared military force in the ancient world. The 10th Legion is blooded in a series of actions in Spain, led by Caesar in a campaign that was the true beginning of one of the most brilliant military careers in history.

Three years after joining the legions, the 10th is called on again, this time to be part of the subjugation of Gaul, one of the greatest feats of arms in any period of history. During the subsequent campaigns, the 10th cements its reputation as Caesar’s most favored and trusted legion, and is involved in most of the major actions during this period.

This first book of a completed trilogy closes with Caesar crossing the Rubicon, and the 10th preparing to march to war, this time against fellow Romans.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Historical Fiction

Rating – PG

Connect with RW Peake on Twitter

Website http://www.marchingwithcaesar.com/

In the second book of the critically acclaimed Marching With Caesar series, Titus Pullus and his friends in the 10th Legion are called on to serve as the agents of change as their general, Gaius Julius Caesar singlehandedly changes the Roman Republic to Empire. From Spain and the dusty plains of Pharsalus, to the streets of Rome itself, Titus must survive the battlefield and navigate the treacherous world of Roman politics.

Helping Titus are his surviving tentmates, including his best friend Vibius Domitius, but like the rest of the Republic, their friendship is tested by the strife and fratricide that comes with civil war. At the same time, Titus has to deal with the challenges that have confronted career military members throughout the ages as he tries to balance the demands and heartache created by the long absences from his young family.

Nevertheless, through it all Titus and the men of the 10th Legion continue Marching With Caesar.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Historical Fiction

Rating – PG13

Connect with RW Peake on Facebook & Twitter

Blog http://blog.rwpeake.com/

Evolved Publishing presents a wild journey to a sister planet of Earth, in “The Silver Sphere” by Michael Dadich. [YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi]

~~~~~

Shelby Pardow never imagined she could kill someone. All she wants to do is hide from her troubled father… when she is teleported to awaiting soldiers on the planet Azimuth. Here she is not a child, but Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members whom Malefic Cacoethes has drugged and imprisoned. He seeks to become dictator of this world (and then Earth by proxy).

His father, Biskara, is an evil celestial entity, tracked by the Assembly with an armillary device, The Silver Sphere. With the Assembly now deposed, Biskara directs Malefic and the Nightlanders to their strategic targets. Unless….

Can Shelby find the other Kin, and develop courage and combat skills? Can the Kin reassemble in time to release or replace the Assembly, overthrowing Malefic and restraining Biskara?

~~~~~

This eBook is DRM-Free.

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – YA / Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Rating – PG

Connect with Michael Dadich on Facebook & Twitter

Orangeberry Book of the Day - Perception & Volition by Lee Strauss

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments




Eternal Life is To Die

For seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans. Her brother Liam is missing.

Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.

Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.

Want to read PERCEPTION? It's FREE on Kobo itunes B&N Smashwords
and .99 on Amazon!

VOLITION is the exciting continuation of Noah and Zoe's story from Perception.



What doesn't kill you ...

Zoe Vanderveen is on the run with her captor turned rescuer, Noah Brody.

They're in love.

Or at least that’s what he tells her. Her memories have returned but her feelings are dreamlike—thin and fleeting. Her heart can’t be trusted. Just look at what happened with Taylor Blake.

Senator Vanderveen’s new team of cyborg agents are in hot pursuit, and a reward for their capture is broadcast nationwide. Record breaking cold and snow hinder their escape. Someone dies helping them.

And their fight for survival has only begun.

Mark to read on goodreads.


To celebrate Lee Strauss is giving away a $200.00 Amazon, Nook or itunes gift card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author
Lee Strauss writes historical and science fiction/romance for upper YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff under the name Elle Strauss. To find out more about Lee and her books check out her facebook page. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/elle_strauss To find out about new releases sign up for her newsletter at www.ellestraussbooks.com


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Orangeberry Book of the Day - Ethan Justice: Origins by Simon Jenner

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown No comments

He’s a new kind of hero. Join him for his very first adventure.

John Smith’s life is dull and uneventful. Despite a privileged upbringing and education, he is an underachiever of the highest calibre. When Smith wakes up with Savannah Jones, an escort provided by his best friend, Mark Bradshaw, his life is changed forever. Eager to pay Jones, to avoid her pimp breaking his legs, he confronts his friend for the money – but there is one small problem – Bradshaw is dead. But what was the murderer after?

Fisher has lost his job and wants payback. Bradshaw had the one weapon that could grant him the ultimate revenge but torture hadn’t loosened his tongue. Smith and Jones are dragged into Fisher’s grand plot to destroy the bureaucrats responsible for taking the one job where his lust for murder was an asset. No longer part of the elite SAS, Fisher’s licence to kill is revoked. With only vengeance and an unnatural lust for his sister on his mind, Fisher will relish the destruction of anyone that stands in his way.

Jones, an escort for less than a day, must pay her pimp a thousand pounds or be sold to an interested third party with highly unsavoury tastes. Jones needs Smith to pay the money and Smith needs Jones to… well he’s not quite sure, but he clearly likes having her around. Together, armed with nothing but their wits, they become the pawns of an anti-terrorist agency in a plan to capture Fisher before he exacts a revenge that will take thousands of innocent lives.

Can the underachiever become the hero, save the day and get the girl? Find out in this dark story of murder, deceit, lust and revenge. It’s a fun and wild ride into a disturbing world.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Action / Adventure

Rating – PG15

Connect with Simon Jenner on Facebook

Website http://simonjenner.com/

Orangeberry Book of the Day - A Stairway To Danger - Ben Woodard

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown No comments

1923. An eyeless body. A menacing stranger. And a tangled mystery.

If Clive Cussler and Lee Child wrote a teen book featuring a deadly gang, resourceful boys, and nonstop excitement it would be A STAIRWAY TO DANGER.

Fourteen-year-old Tom is learning farm life from his older cousin, Will, when they stumble on a deserted barge—or is it? The boys smell a mystery and snoop around, but what they find is bigger and more dangerous than anything they could have imagined.

A STAIRWAY TO DANGER is a fun, page-turning thriller with a dark side.

Buy now @ Amazon

Genre – YA / Mystery

Rating – PG

Connect with Ben Woodard on Twitter

Monday, February 11, 2013

Orangeberry Book of the Day – Grimm End by ST Cameron

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown No comments

Grimm end

Sara Cross never knew that her great-grandfather was still alive until an evil creature sent by his enemies burns down their house and sends her family to seek refuge at his estate on the shores of Lake Superior in northern Minnesota.

Arriving in the small, isolated town of Shadow Bluffs in the valley below his estate, they find that they have stepped into a strange world filled with magic wielders, shape shifters, and the living dead. It is also home to the Moira Sisters, three dark wielders who want to use Sara and her family to steal from her great-grandfather a centuries-old chest containing a dangerous power.

Sara’s family, already fragile after the disappearance of her father several years earlier, is brought to the breaking point as Sara, trying her best to hold her family together, sees them torn apart one-by-one by the strange creatures that inhabit the dangerous town.

When Sara learns that she too has an ability to wield magic, will it be enough combined with the developing talents of her two brothers to fight back against the Sisters? Can she rebuild what is left of her family and keep them together and, more importantly, alive?

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Paranormal Horror

Rating – PG15

Connect with ST Cameron on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://stcameron.com/

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Murder on the First Day of Christmas by Billie Thomas

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown No comments
Murder on the First Day of ChristmasMurder on the First Day of Christmas by Billie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Describe 2 different settings or locations. Chloe, Amanda, and Cassie decorating the Piped Pipers. I enjoyed hearing how Amanda would set Chloe up with anyone nice looking. I think this is something all mothers try with their children.

Chloe talking about her latest dates and how horrible each was in their own way.

Were you able to connect with the main character and why? I easily connected with Chloe. She had several characteristics similar to me.

Which did you find more appealing, the introduction or the conclusion? I enjoyed the conclusion more than the introduction.

Why would you recommend or not recommend this book? I recommend this book to anyone who loves reading mystery/whodunit books.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

View all my reviews

Fighting the Effects of Gravity: A Bittersweet Journey Into Middle Life by James Robinson Jr.

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments
Fighting the Effects of Gravity: A Bittersweet Journey Into Middle LifeFighting the Effects of Gravity: A Bittersweet Journey Into Middle Life by James Robinson, Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What were the main themes of the book? Aging, how the body changes physically, mentally and emotionally.

Were you able to connect with the main character and why? Yes, it was like he and I were having a conversation. He kept telling me what was happening and I kept agreeing. I related to everything in the book.

Which did you find more appealing, the introduction or the conclusion? I love the introduction.

Why would you recommend or not recommend this book? I recommend this book for those who want to know what middle age is like.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

View all my reviews

Orangeberry Blast Off - Cargon: Duty & Sacrifice by Kimberly Gould

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown No comments

In a post-apocalyptic world, Eve has discovered power of more than one nature. In Honour and Privilege, Eve became heir to the throne. In Duty and Sacrifice, she explores and defines the power of the elite. At the same time, electricity is being harnessed for the first time in centuries, providing the first glimpse into the ancient people who left the world as it exists. The horror of this revelation could shake their society as much or more than a servant becoming monarch.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – YA / Sci-Fi Fantasy

Rating – PG13

About the author

In 2009 Kimberly returned to writing beginning by expanding on the work of others, filling in scenes left out of books she enjoyed, elaborating back stories of lesser known characters, and in some cases, writing beyond the end of a book or series.

With these stories, she learned how to craft a novel of her own and finally saw the opportunity to explore ideas she had jotted down, not expecting to return to again. She also found she enjoyed the endeavour so much that the need to write and create filled her. Now she can’t imagine going a week without writing a short story or a chapter for a novel.

Kim and Allen still live in Edmonton with their daughter Delilah, born at the end of 2006.

Connect with Kimberly Gould on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://kimmydonn.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Chloe Carstairs – What Makes the Perfect Book Blog?

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments

What makes the perfect book blog?

by Chloe Carstairs

Use your blog to promote your book – and vice versa – by finding the right hooks.

If you’ve written a book, by now you know that “The End” is only the beginning. You now have to be a brilliant blogger, not to mention a Facebook aficionada and a Twitter buff, to let the world know your book even exists. Daunting, right? Well, the blogging part doesn’t have to be. In fact you’ve already done the hardest part – the writing the book part. And if you’ve done that properly, you’re well on your way to building a successful blog around it. Forget scratching your head for content.  (That’s a word bloggers toss around a lot, by the way, “content”. Sounds very official.) You’re just 3 steps away from having all the ideas you need to generate content for several posts a week. Let’s get started.

Step 1: List your book’s hooks:

What are some cool things about your book’s main character, setting, time period or theme that you used to hook your reader. For my book, Murder on the First Day of Christmas, my hooks would include: hilarious main character, decorating , mother-daughter relationships, Christmas, amateur detectives, humor, dating disasters, mystery, Birmingham. Don’t forget themes too. My friend wrote a book about a girl who is disfigured in a fire, so her hooks might include alienation, leaps-of-faith and self-discovery. Oh, and since you’re a writer, you get two freebies. “Writing craft” is automatically one of your hooks. “Author” is another. If you’ve already made a name for yourself or lead an interesting life, you should definitely be the subject of your own blog, but knowing your hooks can still be helpful.

Step 2: Choose the hooks with the biggest crooks

By that I mean, look over your list and decide which of those hooks can generate the most content. On my list, decorators, mother-daughter relationships and mystery immediately jump out. There are entire channels, magazines and blogs dedicated to decorating but, small confession here, my author, Billie Thomas, isn’t an expert. She’s also pretty shy, so I’m going to replace decorator with hilarious main character. Billie turned this blog over to me, figuring that I’d be more fun. (I love an author that knows her limitations.) Mysteries and being an amateur detective are definitely two more angles worth pursuing, since I’m starring in a mystery series. Finally, while mother-daughter relationships are rich with content possibilities, dating disasters are funnier. So my hooks with the biggest crooks are: hilarious main character, mystery/amateur detective and dating disasters. Note: While my blog will be mostly about these things, I’m not losing the other hooks just yet. Which brings me to…

Step 3: Blog with baited hooks

Ready to use your hooks to generate content? Good, because this is the fun part. As a ‘hilarious main character’, on my blog I can do interviews with other author’s characters and there have been a lot of them on chloegetsaclue.com. I can also blab Billie’s writing tips like they’re my own, write about decorating without being an expert and talk about my fictional mother-daughter relationship rather than Billie’s real one. Mystery is probably my biggest hook and I’m having fun creating mini mysteries or giving tips on being a savvy – not to mention stylish– amateur detective. Oh, and I’m dating, often with disastrous results, so I can easily dish the dirt on those. Notice how I haven’t abandoned my minor hooks, like decorating and mother-daughter relationships? I just use them as a fresh angle for my bigger hooks.

Now if you’re books aren’t a series, can this exercise still work for you? Sure. If you’re blogging as yourself, find hooks about your life, your expertise or your writing that you can blog about. Using your minor hooks to give a fresh take on your major ones will keep the content coming. It’s still your writing – both in your book and in your blog – that will win over readers.

Hope these tips help take some of the mystery out of creating a book blog. And, hey, speaking of mysteries, I hope you’ll check our mine, Murder on the First Day of Christmas. Here’s how:

Links to books

Amazon or B&N

 

About Murder on the First Day of Christmas

Finding a severed hand at a client’s house might throw lesser decorators off their games. But Chloe Carstairs and her mother, Amanda, won’t let a little thing like murder keep them from decking the halls. With a body under the partridge’s pear tree and a dead Santa in a sleigh, they have to crack the case before the killer strikes again – this time much too close to home.

Filled with laugh-out-loud humor, romance and a delightfully difficult mother-daughter relationship, this new series from Billie Thomas offers a fast-paced caper as these two southern ladies try to keep their very merry Christmas from turning into the Noel from hell.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Mystery

Rating – PG

More details about the book

Connect with Chloe Carstairs on Facebook & Twitter & GoodReads

Orangeberry Book Tours – Murder on the First Day of Christmas by Billie Thomas

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , , No comments
It’s beginning to look a lot like murder.
Finding a severed hand at a client’s house might throw lesser decorators off their games. But Chloe Carstairs and her mother, Amanda, won’t let a little thing like murder keep them from decking the halls. With a body under the partridge’s pear tree and a dead Santa in a sleigh, they have to crack the case before the killer strikes again – this time much too close to home.
Filled with laugh-out-loud humor, romance and a delightfully difficult mother-daughter relationship, this new series from Billie Thomas offers a fast-paced caper as these two southern ladies try to keep their very merry Christmas from turning into the Noel from hell.
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre – Mystery
Rating – PG
Connect with Chloe Carstairs on Facebook & Twitter & GoodReads





James Robinson Jr – Pet Peeves of the Publishing Industry

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , , No comments

Pet Peeves of the Publishing Industry

by James Robinson Jr.

I see the publishing industry broken up into two sections: 1. Traditional Publishing and 2. Digital or online publishing. I’ve tried both and I do have pet peeves with each one. In terms of traditional publishing, I always hated the fact that the author has to write polished query letters and generally jump through hoops to secure an agent just to get to the publisher who, in most cases, eventually turns down the author. Traditional publishers now offer very small advances—if any at all—and maybe 5% royalties.

But when it comes to online publishing, the author has total control over his/her work. They have control over all of their writing, editing, artwork, marketing, and sales. The problem is, most of us are laymen. We don’t know what the heck we’re doing—it’s learn as you go. And, if you sell online, you’ll never see your book sitting on that table with the other bestsellers when you walk into the book store. But, not to worry, soon there won’t be any bookstores.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – NonFiction Memoir

Rating – PG

More details about the author & the book

Connect with James Robinson Jr. on Facebook & Twitter

Orangeberry Book Tours – Fighting the Effects of Gravity by James Robinson Jr.

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , , No comments

12

Fighting the Effects of Gravity is an Indie Excellence Award Finalist and recipient of a Readers Favorite 5 Star Review.

James Robinson, Jr. had it all: three beautiful children, a loving wife, a new home, a good job. But at age 36, the bottom would literally fall out of his life. He would watch his once firm deriere fall overnight never to rise again–succumbing to the evil forces of gravity.

Fighting the Effects of Gravity is a humorous, midlife, memoir full of anecdotes and life lessons. You’ll find yourself laughing out loud at the author’s experiences and how much they relate to your own. Life is short; don’t let gravity get you down.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – NonFiction Memoir

Rating – PG

More details about the author

Connect with James Robinson Jr. on Facebook & Twitter

Friday, February 8, 2013

Broken Pieces by Rachel Thompson

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments
Broken PiecesBroken Pieces by Rachel Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Did the book description relate to the story? This wasn't a fiction story and we were given a separate book description than the one that is available on Amazon. The one we were given describes the book far better than the commercial blurb.

How did you feel about the opening / ending sequences of the book? The opening and ending sequences end on two different notes. It starts in a bad place where the author appears to be broken and as the book concludes, she is seen picking up the pieces in a thought provoking manner.

Who was your favourite character and why? There were no fictional characters just the strong voice of the author that carries you through the significant moments in her life. She has a way of expressing herself that can reach out different people in different ways and this is what makes this book so special.

What were the main relationships explored in this book? She explores different stages in her life so it would be difficult to pinpoint one or two relationships. If I had to choose one, then it would be the relationship she has with her older self as she accepts what has happened in the past and tries to move on.

Was this book worth reading? Yes, and I would recommend it for anyone who is at the healing stage of a bitter experience.

Disclosure - I received a complimentary copy fromthe author which did not affect my honest opinion.

View all my reviews

Street Team - Dark Side of Sunset Pointe - Michael Allan Scott

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown , No comments

 

Excerpt:

image

Early evening in Phoenix. A blazing sun still high above the western horizon. One hundred nine degrees in the shade. Those with the wherewithal and accumulated vacation time fled north to the cool pines or west to the balmy California coast weeks ago. Only the dregs of humanity, conscripted company workers and hardcore entrepreneurs are left to bake in the Valley of the Sun’s August heat. Yet beneath the surface layer of superheated atmosphere and social veneers there is another, more subliminal furnace raging—its fumes, stoking the fires of Hell.

Just off the intersection of Greenway and Tatum a white stucco box of an office building squats under a clay tile roof, heat rising off the reddish tiles in shimmering sheets. Mounted on the wrought-iron entry gate, the building directory announces the tenants: Suite 101—Whiting Realty & Development. The office is closed for the day yet the overburdened air conditioning units grind away, sheltering the last remaining occupant from the sweltering heat.

Bloodshot eyes stare at a spreadsheet, the monitor’s image shimmering with harsh reality. Too many negative numbers expose an ugly truth. Anxiously perched on the edge of his high-backed leather executive chair, Gary Whiting waits with the phone to his ear. Dreading the final ring, Whiting lets it go to voicemail, again. He loosens the knot in his power tie and hangs up. This time, without leaving a message.

The four Excedrin have knocked his headache down to a dull throbbing at the base of his skull, but his eyes still ache. He’s been crunching numbers for their Sunset Pointe development project, staring at the monitor all damn day. He rubs at the knots in his stomach through his rumpled white dress shirt, thinking maybe he should eat or maybe he should just shoot himself. He taps the return key with a jittery thumb, hitting it too many times, trying to put the numbers out of his mind. He needs to talk to his partner, Rodriguez. As a last resort Whiting tries Rodriguez’s home number and gets his wife, Connie.

“Is Mike there?”

“Hi Gary. Did you try his cell?”

“Yeah, a couple times”

“Try again in a couple minutes. He’s not around here, haven’t heard from him all day.”

“Thanks Connie, tell him to call me if you talk to him.”

As he hangs up, his pulse pounds in his temples. Shit! Got to get ahold of that asshole, Rodriguez.

Whiting runs a trembling hand through thinning hair, his scalp hot and moist. They’ve got to do something about these numbers. Short stubble on raw cheeks twitches as he anxiously works his jaws. They could lose the whole damn project. Thirty million! He can’t believe it, he’s bet everything on this project. And with the hard-money loan, they’ve got a bigger nut than ever. Shit! Those hard-money bastards, they’re Rodriguez’s contacts. Of course they had to have the money to finish—all the construction cost overruns. Fucking Rodriguez. His fingers manically drum on the hardwood desktop, their nails ragged, bitten to the quick. They’re in way too deep to quit now.

Sunset Pointe

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Mystery & Thrillers

Rating – R

More details about the book

Connect with Michael Allan Scott on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://michaelallanscott.com/

Book Blast: Wildflowers by Schledia Benefield

5:30 AM Posted by Unknown No comments
From the author of Plain Jane comes a new young adult novel by Schledia Benefield
 


Have you ever feared what may be hiding deep within you?

Darkness often skulks in the blood of unsuspecting victims, but Aster McGrath is acutely aware of the violence coursing through his veins. After all, he is the son of a murderer, and everyone in the town of Bayville, Mississippi says he will end up just like his father.

When Susan Blackman moves into town, Aster has already embraced his brutal nature, but her gentle spirit draws him in and slowly melts the icy exterior of his heart. Taming his savagery, she professes her love, but will the good within him be able to overcome the evil lurking deep inside? Or will the fiend break free of its fetters and seek blood?
Fans of Nicholas Sparks' A Walk to Remember will fall in love with the young love, tough choices, sacrifice and redemption found within the pages of WILDFLOWERS.
Buy it TODAY in ebook & paperback at Amazon
 
 
 
About the Author:

imageSchledia Benefield is the author of Plain Jane, Pretty Boy, and her soon to be released novel, Wildflowers. She attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College but chose to be a stay-at-home mom for many years. She devoted eight years of her life to working with youth as a youth minister and has been invited to speak in a rehab to hurting and wounded women, giving them hope for a better future. She was the Keynote Speaker for Division 14 of the Key Club International’s divisional rally.
Born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Schledia holds a sense of pride in her southern heritage. She presently lives in Big Point, Mississippi with her husband and four of her five children. On top of writing novels, she writes youth and children’s church curriculum, and she works as a substitute teacher at East Central Middle School. In her spare time, she reads, sews, and spends time with her family.

Social Media Links:
http://schlediabenefield.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/Schledia

Buy Link:
Amazon (ebook & paperback) http://amzn.to/WPszMD

Followers

Blog Archive