Review of The Last Prejudice by Bill Blodgett with Giveaway

Welcome to the review tour for The Last Prejudice by Bill Blodgett. I previously featured an excerpt over on another blog at Books to Light Your Fire. Today, I am sharing with you my review of this book about family, love, loss, and understanding. First I am sharing an excerpt with you. Then I invite you to grab a box of tissues and download your own copy after you read my review. I think anyone who has gone through family drama of any kind can relate to this story. It's well worth reading. There's also a giveaway at the end for you to enter. More chances to win are available as you follow the tour. Please also leave a comment or a question for the author. Thank you for taking the time to stop by today. 

Please note that affiliate links are present in this post. Should you make a purchase through one of these, I may earn a small commission to help me support my websites at no additional cost to you. Also, I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Neither of these factors played any role in my thoughts and opinions.

The Last Prejudice

When Ed Connor slips into a coma his wife, children and their families arrive at the hospital to await his recovery. They gather around his bedside and begin reminiscing about the good old days but as the hours pass stress begins to take its toll causing long held family secrets and unresolved issues to surface. A disagreement over a DNR order put Ed’s sons, Steve and Peter, at odds and the family speculates that their anger is really about an event that led to their falling out when they were teens. While in his coma, Ed exists somewhere between life and death and wonders what he could have done differently when Steve tried to tell him that he was gay. The family is drawn into the bitter battle between Peter and Steve, and they fear things will never be right between them again. It’s now up to the family to devise an intervention as a last ditch effort to bring these two battling brothers back into the family.

Read an excerpt:

The coffee cup shattered when it hit the white porcelain kitchen sink. She had just poured it and added a splash of half and half before she looked out the kitchen window to check on him. Oh well, if it makes him happy. Some things I just can’t change, she thought. Then he slumped over the steering wheel of the lawn mower. Fortunately the mower’s safety mechanism shut the mower down when he fell to the side and onto the newly mowed lawn.

The shattering of the cup had barely quieted before she was through the screen door and at his side. She pulled him the rest of the way off the mower and felt for a pulse. She found it. Thank God.

“Ed! Ed, can you hear me? Don’t do this to me, you stubborn old fart. I told you not to be mowing this damn lawn.”

His eyes opened when she cradled his head in her lap, and he mumbled something. She leaned closer. “… broken…” was all she heard.

“Broken? Ed, what’s broken?”

When he didn’t respond, she pulled back to look at him. His eyes went vacant and then slowly rolled back and closed.

“Help me, please… Anyone, please help me!”

She shrieked until someone heard her. Within minutes Beth, her neighbor, was at her side. “Jan, my God, what’s happened?”

“Call 911.”

Read another excerpt here. 

Buy links

Amazon / Kindle / Barnes and Noble / Nook 

**My thoughts**

As I am reading this book, I am in the middle of the anniversary of my own father being in a coma. While my father had a brain bleed and not a stroke, a lot of those medical moments are extremely familiar to me. My father also had a DNR. The other differences are my mother has Alzehimer's and was unaware of what was happening with my father, and I only have one sister with whom I get along. But all of that emotion with making DNR decisions and still going through family history and drama is quite familiar. I found myself tearing up and crying throughout reading this book. I think even if you haven't been through this kind of a family situation, you may still need a tissue to read this book.

I think all families experience some form of dysfunction, but it varies from family to family. In this case, Ed, the father, didn't necessarily handle his son Steve coming out to him in the best way. Steve's brother Pete has been unable to handle him being gay, for quite selfish reasons, only he has never explained this to anyone else. It's sad that in this day and age this kind of battle has to continue, but it does. You really get to witness the pain on both sides of the issue.

And then there is that pain of trying to figure out what to do when a loved one has a DNR, when you feel like family business is unfinished, when you're trying to let go. It's not easy. What I liked in this book was how you got a sense of this pain from two different sides. You witness how the family members are dealing with Ed's situation. But you also get Ed's perspective from the other side. We often hear that people encounter loved ones on the other side, whether they are coming back to earth or moving on to heaven. Ed spends time with his first wife, who had been taken from him by cancer, and with his own father, as he reflects back on his own life.

I think this book is one of those that is going to make you think about your own life and family, even if you aren't dealing with exactly the same situations. What has divided you from someone in your family? How can you make it right before it's too late? 

About Bill Blodgett

Bill still lives in the community where he met and married his lovely wife, Janice. Actually, she lived around the corner from him and they both ignored each other until their teen years when the hormone thing kicked in and they suddenly realized that the cute little girl skipping rope and that goofy boy riding a bike had both grown up.

They are the proud parents of April and Lindsay; both of whom are now married. April married Darren and they have two beautiful boys, Brian and Owen. Lindsay married Tim and they have a beautiful little girl, Kailyn.

Bill enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping with his family, golfing, making candles, and restoring his antique European sports car, a 1972 MGB.

They say to write from what you know, so he does. He writes of love, life and relationships.

Find him online:
www.billblodgett.com

https://www.facebook.com/authorbillblodgett

Bill will be awarding an digital copy of Unrequited to 5 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Dead Giveaway (The High Sierras) by Diane Benefiel with Giveaway

Thanks for stopping by today to check out Dead Giveaway by Diane Benefiel. You can read an excerpt before you download your own copy. Please leave a question or a comment for the author. And then check out the rest of the tour for even more chances to win the giveaway at the bottom!

Dead Giveaway

THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN

If asked, Gwendolyn Ballard would admit she co-parented her best friend Chloe's son, Cameron. Now Gwen is all he's got as they flee from the man who murdered his mother. There's only one place Cameron will be safe, and that's with his uncle, Elijah MacElvoy. Arriving on his doorstep at the Broken Arrow Ranch is a desperate decision, and Gwen knows he'd slam the door in her face if she didn't have his nephew with her. But she'll do anything for Cam, even if it means putting up with Elijah's distrust and judgment.

Chloe's dead. Cam's orphaned, and Elijah is confronted with the prospect of living with the one woman who's driven him crazy for the past ten years. He'll fight to keep her safe. That's encoded in his DNA. But can he trust her with a little boy who just lost his mother? As Eli watches how Gwen loves and cares for his nephew, he reevaluates his thinking and gives in to the smoldering attraction he felt the first time he saw her. With so much on the line, Eli comes clean about his past, making way for a future that's all about silver linings.

Read an excerpt:

A quiet sound had him glancing toward the door. Gwen stepped into the room, her gaze fixing on his. As always when she was near, his body tightened and he had to fight back the urge to touch. To touch that glorious hair, the smooth skin, the subtle curves. His reactions to her were visceral and made him crave the impossible. They always had. Acting on the attraction would be suicide. Gwendolyn Ballard was all the things he didn’t need in a woman, and self-preservation demanded he reject the temptation.

She broke their contact and glanced around the room. He took the moment to make a careful survey. Her damp hair spread across her shoulders, hair that when dry curled into a mass that held all the colors of a wheat field in summer, from golden brown to sunny blond. Like her hair, her eyes couldn’t seem to settle on one color. They were a whiskey brown shot through with gold, and right now lit by the warm light of the lamp, they gave away her exhaustion. Finally, her gaze returned to his, and she appeared to tamp down on whatever emotions she felt. He’d seen those eyes glow with a warm light when she looked at Cameron, then turn cool and aloof when she looked at him.

The memory of the first time he’d seen her flashed across his mind. He’d arrived at his mother’s house for the Thanksgiving holiday after the long drive south. And there Gwen had been, his sister’s college roommate standing in front of a window, the sun bringing out the warm tones of her hair. She’d been flirting with a neighbor kid, a young man about her own age, her face alight with fun and laughter. Then she’d caught sight of him, eyes still shining. He’d felt himself scowl, and watched the animation fade, replaced by a carefully blank look that had irked him even more. He shook off the memory.

“Cameron asleep?”

“Yes. Oreo is sleeping with him. Thank you again for taking us in.”

He frowned. “What did you think I’d do? Send you hiking back to your car?”

She lifted a shoulder. “You could have. Honestly, I did think you would give us a safe place to stay for a few days, or else I wouldn’t have risked coming. But I wasn’t one hundred percent sure.”

He moved to the recliner and sat, gesturing to the sofa. “Sit before you fall down, Gwen. Tell me what happened to Chloe.”

She perched at the end of the couch, feet flat on the floor, body rigid. He wondered if she would ever loosen up enough to relax when he was near. She glanced at him, then down at her hands tightly clasped in front of her. She remained silent for so long he thought she wasn’t going to speak. Then, attention resolutely focused on the hands in her lap, she spoke in a quiet voice. He listened carefully, sensing the emotion held tightly in check.

“Cameron and I were going on vacation. Thursday was the last day of school for both of us, so I’d gotten the car packed and we were going to leave early Friday morning.”

“Wait. What do you mean it was the last day of school for both of you? Are you still in college? I thought you’d graduated.”

He caught the confusion in her expression. “Of course I did. I graduated several years ago. I’m a teacher.”

Disbelief had him sitting back in his seat. He couldn’t have been more surprised if she’d told him she made her living as a rodeo clown. “A teacher? With your background?”

She raised her head, whiskey eyes narrowed. “And what background would that be, Eli?”

He decided he’d be better off leaving that one alone. “Never mind. What grade do you teach?”

“Kindergarten.”

He tried to reconcile his memories of her with the kind of person who taught kindergarten. To him a kindergarten teacher meant someone with a sunny personality who could shift from teaching shapes and letters to tying shoelaces and keeping kids from eating paste. Maybe he was stereotyping, but he had a hard time equating party girl with wholesome. “Huh, kindergarten.” He shook his head.

Buy links

Boroughs Publishing / iTunes / Barnes & Noble /  Kobo / Smashwords / Amazon    

About Diane Benefiel

National Readers' Choice Award winner for her novel, Solitary Man, Diane Benefiel has been an avid reader all her life. She enjoys a wide range of genres, from westerns to fantasy to mysteries, but romance has always been a favorite. She writes what she loves best to read – emotional, heart-gripping romantic suspense novels. She likes writing romantic suspense because she can put the hero and heroine in all sorts of predicaments that they have to work together to overcome.

A native Southern Californian, Diane enjoys nothing better than summer. For a high school history teacher, summer means a break from teenagers, and summer allows her to spend her early mornings immersed in her current writing project. With both kids living out of the house, in addition to writing, she enjoys camping and gardening with her husband. Diane loves hearing from her readers.

Website: dianebenefiel.com

Facebook: facebook.com/DianeBenefielRomance

Twitter: twitter.com/dianebenefiel

Instagram: diane_benefiel

Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/8075321.Diane_Benefiel

BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/diane-benefiel

Pinterest: diane_benefiel

Diane will be awarding a $15 in Boroughs Bucks + a copy of Flash Point to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Review of Willow's Way (A Sweet Life Novel) by Sharon Struth

Welcome to the review tour for Willow's Way by Sharon Struth. I previously read and reviewed her book The Sweet Life, so when I saw this new one was an option, I simply had to jump on it. (Read my review of that book here.) Please keep on reading to check out an excerpt, as well as my honest review of this women's fiction novel. Be sure to leave Sharon a comment or a question. And of course follow the rest of the review tour for even more chances to enter the giveaway at the end!

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help me to support my websites, at no additional cost to you. Please also note that I did receive a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way.

Willow's Way

Willow Armstrong, the once-famous “Queen of Weight Loss” and president of Pound Busters, succumbed to stress eating after her divorce. Now the scandal of getting caught on camera binging on pizza, and the internet-wide mocking of her new curves, may destroy her career. Add in a business advisor who drained her finances, and Willow is out of options—until she learns she’s inherited a house in England’s most picturesque locale, The Cotswolds.

Willow’s trip across the pond to sell the property and salvage her company soon becomes its own adventure: the house, once owned by grandparents she never met, needs major work. Plus, single dad Owen Hughes, the estate’s resident groundskeeper and owner of a local tour outfit, isn’t thrilled about the idea of leaving . . . Yet as Willow proceeds with her plans, she’s sidetracked by surprising discoveries about her family’s history--and with Owen’s help, the area’s distinctive attractions. Soon, she’s even retracing her roots—and testing her endurance—amid the region’s natural beauty. And the more she delves into the past, the more clearly she sees herself, her future, and the way home . . .

Read an excerpt:

Willow swallowed the lump in her throat, took the luggage handle, and hoisted it up the steps. A low howl of a dog, followed by rustling from the nearby woods, made her pause.

She turned to the sound, laughing as a short legged, shaggy dog approached, its long tail raised high in the air, wagging like a flag of surrender. The cute canine bellowed another generous howl and came toward Willow; she swore it wore a smile—if a dog could.

Willow stepped off the porch. “Hello there, little fella.” She crouched down and extended her hand. “Come here.”

Woooowooowoooo. This time he offered a softer, less frantic cooing that warmed and welcomed. He swarmed her calves while she ran a hand along his thick, wiry fur, trying to figure out the breed. A body like a basset hound, with the same white, black, and tan coloring, yet his thick, wiry hair was very un-bassett-like.

She touched his long, silky ears. “You’re a cute little guy.”

With that he rested his short, thick legs on her knees, giving her the once over, too.

Long snout. Pronounced black nose. Smiling dark brown eyes peeked out beneath a mop of hair atop his crown-shaped head. A real cutie. He licked her cheek.

“Are you lost or just part of the welcome wagon?” He licked her again. “Then part of the welcome wagon it is.”

She checked his collar for ID. A metal tag read Henry and listed a phone number.

“Well, Henry, why don’t I call your—”

“Henry!” A child yelled. “Henry!”

The voice came from the direction of the same thick trees where the dog had exited.

“He’s over here,” Willow hollered back and a moment later a young girl of maybe five or six dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt emerged.

She marched over. “Oh, Henry.” She shook her head and her fawn-colored pigtails danced. “You are not always a good listener.”

The dog abandoned Willow. As he rushed to meet the girl, his back end swayed to one side, as if it couldn’t keep up with his front half. He ran right into the young girl, but she braced herself from falling and leaned over to give him an affectionate pat on the back.

“Henry! You can be such a bad boy.”

Henry licked her cheek, making the girl giggle. Willow couldn’t wipe the smile from her face if she tried. Besides the young girl’s contagious laugh, her accented voice and reprimand sounded so grown compared to American children.

Willow walked toward them. “What kind of dog is he?”

“Oh, he’s a petite.”

“I’ve never heard of those.” Willow squatted down and ran her hand along his low, long body. “Just a petite?”

“No. A Petite Basset Griffon Vendéen.” She pronounced the words with a beginner’s French accent.

“That’s a mouthful. Well, I’ve definitely never heard of that either.”

“That’s why we call him a petite, or sometimes a PBGV.” She cupped the dog’s snout in her hands and kissed the top of his head. “My mum used to breed them.” She frowned. “Now we only have Henry.”

“Oh, so she doesn’t breed them anymore?”

She quieted and stroked the dog’s long ears. “My mum passed away. But my daddy let me keep Henry.”

Sadness tore at Willow’s chest. To hear that such a young child had suffered the loss of a parent didn’t seem right. “I’m sorry about your mother. I lost mine, too. It’s hard.”

The little girl played with the dog for a bit then glanced up at Willow. “You’re American?”

Buy links

**My thoughts**
I was excited to come across this book, because I really liked Sharon Struth's previous Sweet Life book, which is the inaugural book in the series. (And I do hope that more of these are in the works!) There is a quick nod to the first book, but the two are completely separate from each other. 

I think I liked this one even more than the first one. Then again, I feel like I related to Willow a lot more. We're the same age and suffer from some of the same physical and psychological ailments. So it was extremely easy for me to put myself in her place in the story.

Willow's Way is another one of these stories where the MC has to travel and ends up finding herself along the way. I just love these and completely understand how that happens. I think that is why I like to travel. In this book, Willow has to go over to England to take care of some family business that she uncovered after her mother died. She ends up learning about even more family secrets, and therefore more about herself. She also learns how to love herself, which can be difficult to do, especially considering her past.

Conveniently there is a beautiful divorced man who is the caretaker for her family's estate. He is ever so charming and gets compared to Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. I kept having thoughts of Mark Darcy from Bridget Jones, especially with his insistence that Willow is perfect just the way she is. They fit together so well. We could all use an Owen in our lives.

Adding to Owen's charm is Jilly, his young daughter. She just lights up every page on which she appears. I fell madly in love with her, and of course, Henry her faithful canine companion.

Just as in the previous book, the landscapes and settings are so vividly described that I felt as if I was right there with the characters. I could so easily hop on a plane and go to the other side of the pond, if I had the money to do so. Maybe I could look up some of my long-lost relatives and discover more about myself. And I seriously want to do the Cotswold Walks to explore that part of the country.

I loved every minute of this book. And while it went quickly, I didn't zip through it super fast, because I wanted to savor every moment of it. I was a little sad when it was over. But I can't wait for another book to come along.

About Sharon Struth

Sharon Struth believes you’re never too old to pursue a dream. The Hourglass, her debut novel, was a finalist in the National Readers’ Choice Awards for Best First Book. She is the author of the popular Blue Moon Lake Novels, which include Share the Moon.

When she’s not working, she and her husband happily sip their way through the scenic towns of the Connecticut Wine Trail, travel the world, and enjoy spending time with their precious pets and two grown daughters. She writes from the friendliest place she’s ever lived, Bethel, Connecticut. For more information, including where to find her published essays, please visit sharonstruth.com or visit her blog, Musings from the Middle Ages & More at www.sharonstruth.wordpress.com.

Sharon Struth will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Read an excerpt from Special Ed Mom Survival Guide by Bonnie Landau

Welcome to the book tour for Special Ed Mom Survival Guide by Bonnie Landau. This is a cause that is very near and dear to my heart, so when presented with the opportunity to review the book, I jumped on it. Please read on for more information about Bonnie and the book, as well as my thoughts and opinions. While I did receive a complimentary copy of the book, I was not influenced by this as I was crafting my review.

Also note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help support my websites at no additional cost to you.

Special Ed Mom Survival Guide

“Your son’s brain function is severely abnormal. I would recommend you begin saving for his group home care as an adult.”

Any mom would be crushed by this dire pessimistic prediction, but Bonnie did not let this UCLA neuropsychologist’s edict determine her son’s fate. Combining relentless determination with research, learning and in-depth discussions with professionals, Bonnie found ways to help him progress from ‘severely abnormal’ to honor roll student.

In the Special Ed Mom Survival Guide, Bonnie leads you through the vital steps necessary to survive as a Special Ed Mom. From learning how to manage the emotional overwhelm, to figuring out how to get the school to say yes, Bonnie presents a roadmap that leads you through this confusing obstacle course. Sharing tried and true methods, Bonnie teaches you to find your own inner compass so you can gain the ability and confidence to make decisions that bring results for your child. Based on personal and professional experience, Bonnie will help you to:

• Create the Right Mindset
• Take Care of Yourself
• Take Care of Your Child
• Understand the Special Ed Process
• Take Charge of the Special Ed Process

“If only I had had a guide to help me navigate all the challenges,” Bonnie says. “Then I could have focused more on my child and less on learning how to get help.” Every Special Ed Mom needs this guide to help make the journey easier!

Read an excerpt:

Chapter 1: Believe In Yourself: You DO Have the Ability to Help Your Child! 

            You are your child’s best hope of having a successful educational experience. I know there’s a big team at school that claims it knows best how to help your child. The truth of the matter is, YOU are the consistent thread from that early preschool experience on up through high school and beyond. Hopefully you will always be there for your child making sure that he gets exactly what he needs.
            There is no alternative: you MUST be your child’s support system. Try and accept that, otherwise you are short-changing your child; because if not you, who will take the lead and run with it? Your child needs you to have confidence in your ability to take charge. You need to have confidence in your leadership ability so as to counteract the many, many naysayers that you will encounter along the way.

Buy on Amazon

Read my extensive review here.

About Bonnie Landau

Bonnie has spent the better part of 25 years as a graphic designer and artist. Always a lover of psychology and the forces that influence behavior, it was a natural transition for her to begin working to resolve her oldest son’s special education challenges. When he was six, a neuropsychologist said he was beyond help, and to plan for his group home care as an adult. Bonnie could not accept that nothing could be done, and she set on a path to find solutions to help her son. He is now an honor student and destined to live a typical life.

Having been through the special ed system as a mom, and now as a advocate and counselor, she saw the need for support for the parents who carry this challenging burden. She has helped parents who struggle with districts who refused services, and she has coached parents in finding ways help their child succeed against the odds. Bonnie knows the fear a mother feels when her child’s future is uncertain, and that is why she chose to shift her life focus into educational consulting. She has a thriving practice as an educational consultant and advocate for parents who find themselves struggling with the special education journey.

She is the author of Special Ed Mom Survival Guide: How to prevail in the special ed process while discovering life-long strategies for both you and your child. She is also the creator of Grounded for Life: 52 Exercises for Daily Grounding, and co-author of Same Journey, Different Paths: Stories of Auditory Processing Disorder. She has a masters in educational counseling and another in spiritual psychology. Her bachelors degree is in architecture. She lives in Ventura County, California with her husband, two boys and their two furry felines.

Find out more:

www.SpecialMomAdvocate.com / / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram / linkedin / Google Plus

Follow the Book Tour

Review of The Nevada Escapists' Club by Jane Lark with Giveaway

Welcome to the review tour for The Nevada Escapists' Club by Jane Lark. Today I have an excerpt for you to check out, in addition to my honest review of the book. You can also follow the book tour to see what other readers think of this thrilling women's fiction offering. As you do so, please remember to leave a question or a comment for the author. And of course, please enter the giveaway!

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to help me support my websites. I also received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, which in no way was swayed by this.

The Nevada Escapists' Club

Zac senses the connection he has with the single stranger within minutes of their meeting. She, like him, sought a place to escape. But she isn't running anymore. He is. Ali falls into a holiday affair with a troubled young man. She would never choose a man like him if she was at home. So what will happen when the Las Vegas fantasy is over and her sunglasses tinted view of the world returns to reality? She is supposed to forget everything. It was meant to stop there...

Read an excerpt:

The odds of him being a murderer were virtually none. The odds of him being a rapist… I’d make sure we stayed in public places. A thief or a trickster… They were real risks but if I did not leave my purse lying around in his presence, so what. And even if he took my purse most of my cash and cards were in the safe in my room.

If we went out I could have fun and forget about Joseph and the past.

‘Yes.’ I took my first step into the proper spirit of Las Vegas; that was why I had come here, not to hide in my room or aimlessly walk about shops. ‘Thank you, I would like to meet up. Where?’

‘I’ll meet you outside the nearest Walgreens twenty minutes after I have left the table. OK?’ The statement was made with his head down and slightly turned.

‘OK.’

‘End of conversation.’

The waitress arrived with my drink as couples sat either side of me filling up all the chairs.

He was less flirtatious with men at the table, but he still smiled a lot and spoke to me at times in a way that brought me into the couples’ conversation. Spending an evening with him would make Las Vegas exciting. Nothing would be exciting on my own.

The woman arrived to replace Zac.

I stood up even before he had left. ‘I think that’s my signal to give up.’ I had lost a hundred and sixty dollars. I walked away.

I cashed in the chips I had left then went to the bar and bought a gin and tonic that I could drink quickly.

For a woman who a week ago had been a successful, level-headed lawyer, I had lost my mind. Every bit of evidence, if I read it in a client’s file, would say, do not do this. But I had come here to do what I wouldn’t normally do and I had come here to fight fear.

The gin and tonic trembled in the glass as my hand shook when I lifted it.

I drank the clear, deceivingly pure looking liquid in gulps, watching the gilded clock behind the bar tick the seconds away.

Buy it on Amazon

The book will be $0.99 during the tour.

**My thoughts**
Ali is clearly a lost soul. She has flown over to Las Vegas on holiday to rid herself of thoughts of her husband, who has been cheating on her with an office mate for the past six months. She also seeks to rid herself of as much of her income as she can, so that he isn't entitled to as much money in the settlement. She also has a lengthy, intense history of abuse and hurt, which is physically visible to the world through her many scars.

Zac is the dealer playing at the first Blackjack table that Ali finds herself at. He also hails from Britain, so they form an instant connection that way. He is taken with the single woman and recognizes a fellow victim. He, too, has suffered at the hands of vicious abusers and connects to her even more that way. He wants to help her out, protecting her from her past and even herself.

As the story unfolds, it is told mainly from Ali's perspective. She isn't sure at first if she should trust this handsome young man, and yet finds herself inexplicably attracted to him. Can we say rebound? She also has a strong suspicion that he is only interested in her because she has all of this money that she is trying to blow. When he asks her out and they start doing stuff, he keeps saying it's fine, as long as she pays. He also swears up and down that he isn't after her for just her money. They can go out on his dime, but it is going to be significantly less exciting and less extravagant that way. And yet, I don't trust him. Neither does Ali's sister Mandy from afar.

I think that Jane realizes that Zac comes across this way, because she intersperses Ali's narrative with quick chapters where Zac is explaining his point of view and how he recognizes Ali as a fellow victim and just wants to help protect her. And as the book progresses and the relationship between Ali and Zac deepens, we hear from him more and more and I start to come around a bit.

The story then shifts to the other side of the pond, and Zac is forced to confront his past. Ali becomes almost an entirely different person, showing all kinds of confidence that she had been lacking when she set out on her trip to Las Vegas some weeks before. There is also a more vulnerable side to Zac that comes out, especially with the twists and turns from his past. In some ways, I have a hard time reconciling the two versions of the couple, and yet a completely different location could easily cause that to happen. And there was more action in the British side of the book that kept me even more engrossed until the end. 

About Jane Lark

Jane has been shortlisted for several industry and reader awards. She is a Kindle bestselling author and a writer of authentic, passionate, and emotional stories, and she’s a sucker for a love story. “I love the feeling of falling in love and it’s wonderful to be able to do it time and time again in fiction.” She loves writing intense relationships and she is thrilled to be giving her characters life in others’ imaginations.

Join Jane’s Songbirds Street Team through her Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/674600796017531/

Follow Jane on:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jane.lark/

Website http://www.janelark.co.uk/index.html

Blog http://janelark.wordpress.com/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Janelarkauthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/JaneLark

Jane Lark will be awarding two beaded bookmark sets (US and International) to two randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Tangled Ends (Magnolia Series #5) by Taylor Dawn

Welcome to the release celebration for Taylor Dawn's Tangled Ends, the fifth book in the series. This contemporary romance suspense from the international bestselling author is available today on all of your favorite book platforms! Check it out and then give it a download!

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to support my sites, at no additional cost to you.


Title: Tangled Ends

Author: Taylor Dawn

Genre: Contemporary Romance Suspense

Publisher: Princess Press

Publication Date: April 24th, 2018

Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

Tangled Ends

Liam McDermott of the DEA had one job. Bring the infamous hacker, Kat McCormick to the FBI field office in Biloxi Mississippi. With her secure in handcuffs, Liam finds himself running from the people who want her dead. He must protect her no matter what, but can’t resist the temptation of the pink haired tech wizard. Lives are on the line as he races the clock to help bring down one of the biggest human and drug trafficking rings in the United States. Can he slay his attraction to Kat long enough to get the job done? Or will he end up in an even more tangled web than before?

Kat McCormick has spent her life hiding behind strings of binary code and screen names. Her hacking ability is second to none but soon she finds herself stumbling across information that puts her at the top of someone’s hit list. As she dodges bullets, Kat fights the brewing attraction to the Agent in charge of keeping her safe. Can she open up her heart and mind to help bring down the bad guys, or will she tuck tail and run like she’s done most of her life? Follow Kat and Liam as they try to unravel the truth in the fifth and final book in the Magnolia Series by Taylor Dawn.

Buy Links: 

Amazon *  Kobo *  B&N * iTunes

International Bestselling Author Taylor Dawn began writing as an item to check off her bucket list. She resides in the southernmost part of Illinois, right on the mighty Mississippi river. She enjoys the quiet country life with her husband, son and the many farm animals that make up the rest of the family. Deciding that farm life was just a little too mundane, Taylor began writing romance and fantasy to liven things up, so far so good. Before starting her writing career, Taylor entered the field of cosmetology. When she isn't writing, she can usually be found sitting around a table making people laugh. She has always wanted to be a standup comic. She loves pulling practical jokes, dresses up in a costume every Halloween and believes that dancing is the key to a happy life (even if you aren't a good dancer). She believes that life shouldn't be taken too seriously, we will never get out alive anyway. More than anything, she is a kid at heart, she doesn't believe in bedtimes, eating everything on her plate, or having ice cream only for dessert. Her favorite quote is by Dr. Seuss..."Why fit in, when you were born to stand out." You can find Taylor at taylordawnauthor.com

Author Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2HHsQTD

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13486877.Taylor_Dawn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTaylorDawn/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TAYLORDAWNBOOKS

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/taylor-dawn

Web: http://www.taylordawnauthor.com/

Read an excerpt from Edger by David Beem with Giveaway!

Welcome to the blurb blitz tour for Edger by David Beem! You'll enjoy the quirky humor in this book, so I highly recommend checking it out! For this moment, though, you can check out an excerpt and then download it on your favorite platform. Be sure to leave David a comment or ask him a question. Make sure you give him more cowbell, too! And then follow the rest of the tour for extra chances to win the giveaway.

Note that there are some affiliate links present in this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to support my websites (and maybe get more cowbell of my own). It won't cost you anything extra!

Edger

It’s been said every story must start somewhere. Ours begins with a professional dork. The kind who fixes computers and lives in his gran’s basement. The kind tapped by destiny (that saucy minx) to become the world’s first superhero! And not a moment too soon… A nano-sized artificial intelligence is on the loose! It got itself dart-gunned into a cow butt by a frog man in a porn store! Two stoners are corrupting it on twitter! And that’s just the first three pages!! Join our dork of destiny as he channels the collective unconscious—his psychic superpower—in a harrowing tale of high drama, romance, betrayal, revenge, Jesus chickens, cocaine, weirdos, magicians, ninjas, NFL spies, and disco ball water torture administered to the tune of Rapture, by Blondie. My God, man, what does it all mean!? It means uncorking that next bottle of wine isn’t only a good idea—it’s advisable.

Buy it on Amazon

Read an excerpt:

Water and glass shower the dance floor. Needle scratches vinyl. Hattori Hanzo seizes control instinctively and I land with the grace of a ninja. Mary, who has no dead ninja in her head, thuds with the grace of a turkey carcass dropped from the Level Two parapet of Westfield Horton Plaza.

“Kill them!” someone yells.

“Don’t kill them!” I yell back, figuring that’s got to be worth a try.

Shots are fired. Screaming patrons run and duck for cover. A bullet ricochets off the wall. I grab Mary by the ropes binding her, and drag her behind a nearby couch.

More gunfire.

I chance a peek. Caleb Montana is near the front door, exchanging shots with two Nostradamus agents hiding behind a life-size statue of Caleb in his quarterback uniform, one arm cocked back, preparing to pass the football, and the other stretched out in front, pointing.

I round on Mary, who flings her wet hair back like a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. Water sprays my supersuit’s visor.

“Cut me loose.”

“Right, right,” I say, feeling around on my utility belt. Jeez, I’ve never tried to locate anything without someone helping me from the Collective Unconscious. There are a lot of things here. I pull a tiny ball out, and the nano-technology grows into a switchblade-shaped object. Seems promising. I flick it on. Blue flame blows out from the end.

“Holy crap!”

“Come on, quit fooling around.”

“Don’t rush me! Do you have any idea how stressful this is?”

“Come on,” she says, her voice husky, cheek to floor, back arched, butt in the air.

“You never see Batman having this problem,” I mutter.

Check out an interview with David Beem here.

About David Beem

David Beem enjoys superhero movies, taekwondo, and flossing. He lives in Djibouti with his family and crippling self-doubt. Help actualize David’s inner confidence. Visit his website today, and buy all the stuff.

www.davidbeem.com
https://www.facebook.com/david.beemauthor
https://twitter.com/davidbeem

David Beem will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Meet Philip Wilson, author of Songs for Lucy with Giveaway!

Thanks for stopping by Andi's Book Reviews today. I'd like to introduce you to author Philip Wilson. Take the time to get to know him a little bit better and also check out his new book Songs for Lucy. You can check out an excerpt and my review and even ask him some of your own questions in the comments section. Be sure to enter the giveaway and travel along the rest of the book tour for even more chances to win!

Please note that affiliate links are present. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission to support my websites at no additional cost to you. I also received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Songs for Lucy

It’s spring, and Allison Connelly has it all – pretty, popular and smart. With a summer job teaching tennis and starting Harvard Law School in the fall, Allison plans on a successful law career, marriage and kids – and dreams of becoming a Supreme Court Justice. When relentless headaches drive her to her doctor, Allison receives a terrifying diagnosis that destroys her plans and imperils her life. Devastated, Allison struggles to accept her shattered dreams and uncertain future. One night, she happens into a small-town pub and, on a whim, takes a job singing, finding solace and a measure of peace in her music. She settles in the town, and from that small beginning finds love, a new life and a new reason for living.

Read an excerpt:

Doctor Mackay spoke for the first time. “Allie, I’ve known you since you were a kid,” he began sadly. “You’re a fighter. Your first reaction is to look for other options, to refuse to accept defeat. But — both Doctors Smythe and Graham are experts in their fields. They’ve conferred with some of the leading oncologists at Johns Hopkins, the Cleveland Clinic, and others; and the response has been unanimous and unequivocal. If I thought there was the remotest chance that something might work, I’d say go for it. You’re young, healthy, and should have your whole life ahead of you. But I just don’t believe there are any legitimate realistic treatment options out there, and I don’t want you spending your remaining time chasing false hopes, only to be disappointed. I’m so terribly sorry.”

Allison looked at him, hearing the pain in his voice and seeing the anguish in his face. Doctor Mackay had known her since she was a baby. He’d watched her grow up; he had been close friends with her father. Now he was telling her she was going to die – and it was tearing him apart.

“How long do I have?” Allison asked quietly.

“Each case is different,” Doctor Graham replied.

“We’d estimate two months. Could be one, conceivably three. We’ll prescribe corticosteroids which reduce the swelling around the tumors. This should also reduce the headaches and any drowsiness you’ve been feeling. You will probably feel fine for a month or so.”

“And then?”

“The headaches and nausea will eventually recur, and will increase in frequency and severity. All we’ll be able to do then is treat the symptoms.”

Buy links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

**My thoughts**

I was drawn to this story because I am a sucker for those dealing with life tragically cut short from devastating illness. Of even more interest to me is how Allie is suffering from a glioblastoma. While usually fatal, I do have one friend who has managed to survive one and is still symptom-free now five years later. It's a horrific experience for the people who are suffering from this cancer, as well as difficult for loved friends and family to watch happen.

In some ways, this book has too much tragedy in Allie's life for her and all of those around her. She is also almost too perfect, other than her diagnosis. For a little while in the beginning, I found her hard to relate to because of this. But the more that I read and the more that I got to know her, the more I did relate to her and like her. She became a real person and I found myself swept along her journey.

I also realized that this was part of the point of the book. Just because your life appears to be perfect, that doesn't mean that it can be. It also shows that glioblastomas, and cancer in general, aren't picky in whom they attack. Allie appears to have it all, but she doesn't. Her best friend that she meets at Second Journey (the hospice) is her complete opposite, in appearance and life history. Cancer didn't care and attacks her just as hard. But the friendship that develops between Allie and Terri is a beautiful one and one that not many of us get to experience in our lives. 

I think the biggest lesson of his book is to appreciate life. Be grateful for what you have and spend your time with those you love and doing good in this world. You never know when all of that is going to change. Allie thought her whole life was still ahead of her, and in the twinge of a headache, it was all gone. We really just don't know.

This book will also make you fall in love with New England. I'm aching to go visit my family out there. I'll even take spring finally arriving so that I can get out along Lake Ontario, which I believe also inspired some of the scenes and descriptions in the book. And if you don't find yourself somewhat choked up and thinking about your loved ones, I'll wonder if you're even human.

 *******************************

What was the inspiration for this book?

After writing The Librarian – a revenge thriller in which a shy librarian finds the will and determination to fight back against a group of men who destroyed her life, I wanted to try writing a novel that would be more thoughtful, emotive and inspirational and I needed a storyline that would support these objectives. Unfortunately, there was no flash of inspiration. I contemplated a number of storylines that might work, before deciding on one with a young woman suddenly diagnosed with a devastating and probably terminal disease.

How did you go about researching it?

Most of the research related to glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer that is almost always fatal and for which the progression includes cognitive decline, physical disabilities, personality changes and increasingly severe headaches. (This is the same disease that killed Edward Kennedy and Joe Biden’s son and from which John McCain is now suffering.)

Which character spoke to you the most?

A number of them spoke to me. Certainly Allison who, faced with the loss of her dreams and an uncertain future, contemplates ending it all; but gradually builds a new life, finds love and a renewed sense of purpose. Marion Siegel, Allison’s aunt, who is tough, principled and compassionate. Against the wishes of both her husband (a lawyer) and Allison’s doctor, she assures Allison that if the fight becomes more than she can bear, she will support and enable her decision to give up the fight.

What was one of your favorite scenes?

Unfortunately describing my two favorites, one of them being the final scene in the book, would provide spoilers. However, in another scene I like, Allison, standing at the top of a cliff overlooking the ocean during a savage storm, is overcome by feelings of despair and hopelessness.

Will we ever see these characters again?

Probably not. I liked the characters and how they developed through the novel. Lucy actually started as a minor character but, to my surprise, developed to the point I named the book after her. However, the thought of writing a sequel or otherwise carrying them forward doesn’t have much appeal. I like the feeling a fresh start with a new plot and new characters.

What do you want readers to get out of your book?

I feel I should have a ready answer for this, but I don’t. I hope they find it thought-provoking, moving, and inspirational. One of my early readers called it ‘beautiful’ – and that certainly works for me.

Tell us about your other published works.

Songs for Lucy is my second novel. My first was The Librarian, which I briefly described above. At the risk of a little self-promotion, the response to The Librarian has been gratifying. The book has been featured in The Huffington Post as one of the best Indie books in 2017, reviews have been excellent and sales are growing steadily.

What are you working right now?

I’ve started a third novel, tentatively titled ‘Ayla’s Arc.’ It is about a young Syrian woman who is orphaned during the recent Syrian civil war and goes to work for the CIA in the Middle East, first as an interpreter, then as a spy and ultimately as an assassin. She becomes one of the most successful and prolific assassins on the CIA payroll, but eventually realizes she can’t do it forever. She finally gives it up and moves to New York to pursue a legal career, but still finds the occasional need to fall back on her old skills.

What are you reading right now? On your TBR?
I am part way through The Rooster Bar by John Grisham and The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. I’m also reading a non-fiction book on a theoretical area of mathematics than intrigues me. However, I probably only finish half the books I start.

When not writing, what can we find you doing?

I have a 32-foot sailboat on Lake Ontario and spend much of the summers sailing. (Hence the sailing scenes in both my books.) I spend winters in Florida and do a fair amount of kayaking and some tennis. (Hence the kayaking and tennis scenes in Songs for Lucy.) Although, I’m retired from a career in finance, I still do some work in that area.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Unlike The Librarian, Songs for Lucy is not the type of book I would typically buy, and certainly not the type of book I would have imagined myself writing. That said, I enjoyed writing it, and I like it. Even more so than for The Librarian, I’m curious to see what kind of reaction it gets.

About Philip Wilson

Philip Wilson is a retired financial executive who spends winters in Florida and summers sailing on the Great Lakes in his 32-foot sailboat. Songs for Lucy is his second book. His first, The Librarian, was rated one of the best reviewed books of 2017 by IndieReader and featured in the Huffington Post. Learn more at

Website: www.philipmwilson.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/authorphilipwilson/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16684168.Philip_Wilson

Philip Wilson will be awarding a signed paperback copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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