Friday, August 29, 2014

Virtual Book Tour for Close to the Sun by Donald Michael Platt

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Close to the Sun
By Donald Michael Platt

Publisher:  Fireship Press
Release Date: June 15, 2014
Genre: Historical Fiction 
Length: 404 Pages

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Buy the Book :  AmazonBarnes & Noble


About the book: 

Close to the Sun follows the lives of fighter pilots during the Second World War.

As a boy, Hank Milroy from Wyoming idealized the gallant exploits of WWI fighter aces.

Karl, Fürst von Pfalz-Teuffelreich, aspires to surpass his father’s 49 Luftsiegen.

Seth Braham falls in love with flying during an air show at San Francisco’s Chrissy Field.

The young men encounter friends, rivals, and exceptional women.

Braxton Mobley, the hotshot, wants to outscore every man in the air force.

Texas tomboy Catherine “Winty” McCabe is as good a flyer as any man.

Princess Maria-Xenia, a stateless White Russian, works for the Abwehr, German Intelligence.

Elfriede Wohlman is a frontline nurse with a dangerous secret.

Miriam Keramopoulos is the girl from Brooklyn with a voice that will take her places.

Once the United States enter the war, Hank, Brax, and Seth experience the exhilaration of aerial combat and acedom during the unromantic reality of combat losses, tedious bomber escort, strafing runs, and the fire- bombing of entire cities.


As one of the hated aristocrats, Karl is in as much danger from Nazis as he is from enemy fighter pilots, as he and his colleagues desperately try to stem the overwhelming tide as the war turns against Germany. Callous political decisions, disastrous mistakes, and horrific atrocities they witness at the end of WWII put a dark spin on all their dreams of glory.




Blogger Praise for Close to the Sun

"Donald Michael Platt’s Close to the Sun is an amazing story told from the perspective of average male fighter pilots in the onset and during WWII, juxtaposing between various men from many sides of the war. The details in this novel were spectacular, creating imagery and depth in the scenes and characters, as well as the dialogue being so nostalgic and well-written it felt right out of a 1950’s film. The romantic nuances of his storytelling felt incredibly authentic with the tug and pull of the men being called to serve and the women whom they loved who had their own high hopes, dreams, or work. I loved how he portrayed this women the most—strongly and fiercely independent. I’ve read several other books by Platt, and this is the best one I’ve read yet! I couldn’t stop reading. " - Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi, Hook of a Book

"Donald Platt's Close To the Sun, is nothing short of Historical Fiction gold. Platt's flair for emotionally provocative storytelling makes this book attractive to both male and female readers. Seamlessly weaving the threads of action and feeling into a brilliant tableau of humanity. This is a masterfully penned tale of war, ambition, love, loss, and ACES!" - Frishawn Rasheed, WTF Are You Reading?

"Fast-paced and riveting I couldn’t get enough of Hank, Karl and Seth’s exploits! CLOSE TO THE SUN is a thrilling novel that leads readers through idyllic dreams of heroism and the grim reality of war. Platt provides readers with a unique coming-of-age story as three adventure-seeking boys discover far more than how to be an aerial combat pilot. CLOSE TO THE SUN is an amazing tale of adventure, heroism, war and the drive within us all that keeps us going when things look bleak." - Ashley LaMar, Closed the Cover

"I found Close to the Sun to be an entertaining read, it was well written, with well developed characters, these characters had depth and emotion. A unique plot, told from the point of view of pilots prior to and during World War II. It was a well researched and interesting book" - Margaret Cook, Just One More Chapter



About the Author
Donald Michael Platt AuthorAuthor of four other novels, ROCAMORA, HOUSE OF ROCAMORA, A GATHERING OF VULTURES, and CLOSE TO THE SUN, Donald Michael Platt was born and raised in San Francisco. Donald graduated from Lowell High School and received his B.A. in History from the University of California at Berkeley. After two years in the Army, Donald attended graduate school at San Jose State where he won a batch of literary awards in the annual SENATOR PHELAN LITERARY CONTEST.

Donald moved to southern California to begin his professional writing career. He sold to the TV series, MR. NOVAK, ghosted for health food guru, Dan Dale Alexander, and wrote for and with diverse producers, among them as Harry Joe Brown, Sig Schlager, Albert J. Cohen, Al Ruddy plus Paul Stader Sr, Hollywood stuntman and stunt/2nd unit director. While in Hollywood, Donald taught Creative Writing and Advanced Placement European History at Fairfax High School where he was Social Studies Department Chairman.

After living in Florianópolis, Brazil, setting of his horror novel A GATHERING OF VULTURES, pub. 2007 & 2011, he moved to Florida where he wrote as a with: VITAMIN ENRICHED, pub.1999, for Carl DeSantis, founder of Rexall Sundown Vitamins; and THE COUPLE’S DISEASE, Finding a Cure for Your Lost “Love” Life, pub. 2002, for Lawrence S. Hakim, MD, FACS, Head of Sexual Dysfunction Unit at the Cleveland Clinic.

Currently, Donald resides in Winter Haven, Florida where he is polishing a dark novel and preparing to write a sequel to CLOSE TO THE SUN. For more information please visit Donald Michael Platt's website. You can also connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.


Close to the Sun Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 18

Wednesday, August 20
Spotlight at A Bookish Affair

Thursday, August 21
Review at Tribute Books Mama

Friday, August 22
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews

Saturday, August 23

Monday, August 25

Tuesday, August 26
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story

Wednesday, August 27
Spotlight at Princess of Eboli

Thursday, August 28
Guest Post at The Writing Desk

Friday, August 29

Monday, September 1
Review at Book Nerd

Tuesday, September 2
Review & Guest Post at My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews

Wednesday, September 3
Review at Book Babe

Thursday, September 4
Spotlight at Layered Pages
Spotlight at Kinx's Book Nook

Friday, September 5
Guest Post at Cynthia Robertson Blog

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My review will post this weekend - I apologize that I am behind schedule

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Release Day Launch for Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid

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Beauty and the Mustache
Publication Date: August 28, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Humor, Romance
Purchase from: Amazon  Nook  Kobo  iBooks 

Blitz and Tour: Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid
Add to Goodreads.

About the book:
There are three things you need to know about Ashley Winston: 1) She has six brothers and they all have beards, 2) She is a reader, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Former beauty queen, Ashley Winston’s preferred coping strategy is escapism. She escaped her Tennessee small town, loathsome father, and six brothers eight years ago. Now she escapes life daily via her Amazon kindle one-click addiction. However, when a family tragedy forces her to return home, Ashley can’t escape the notice of Drew Runous— local Game Warden, bear wrestler, philosopher, and everyone’s favorite guy. 

Drew’s irksome philosophizing in particular makes Ashley want to run for the skyscrapers, especially since he can’t seem to keep his exasperating opinions— or his soulful poetry, steadfast support, and delightful hands— to himself. Pretty soon the girl who wanted nothing more than the escape of the big city finds she’s lost her heart in small town Tennessee.

This is a full-length novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the fourth book in the 'Knitting in the City' series.


Also in the Series 
Neanderthal Seeks Human (Knitting in the City, #1) Tour: Neanderthal Marries Human by Penny ReidFriends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City, #2) Love Hacked (Knitting in the City, #3)
 


About Penny Reid
Author-Photo-Penny-Reid-300x300SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is A-OK with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. 

Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).

By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.

Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway for The Hexed by Heather Graham


Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Book Tour, presented by TLC Book Tours, for The Hexed by Heather Graham.  Please leave a comment or question for Heather to let her know you stopped by.  You can enter to win a copy of one of her books, winner’s choice between The Cursed, The Hexed, or The Betrayed, by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.  You can also follow the rest of the tour here, the more stops you visit, the better your odds of winning. My review is running a day late but will be posted by tomorrow.


The Hexed
By Heather Graham
Krewe of Hunters, Book #13

Publisher:  Harlequin Mira
Release Date: January 1, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Suspense
Length:  400 Pages
ISBN:  978-0-77831-637-4
ASIN:  B00IWU47YK



BUY LINKS:  AMAZON | B&N | KOBO | iTUNES | AUDIBLE

About the book: 

A place of history, secrets…and witchcraft.

Devin Lyle has recently returned to the Salem area, but her timing couldn’t be worse. Soon after she moved into the eighteenth-century cabin she inherited from her great-aunt Mina—her “crazy” great-aunt, who spoke to the dead—a woman was murdered nearby.

Craig Rockwell—known as Rocky—is a new member of the Krewe of Hunters, the FBI’s team of paranormal investigators. He never got over finding a friend dead in the woods. Now another body’s been found in those same woods, not far from the home of Devin Lyle. And Devin’s been led to a third body—by…a ghost?

Her discovery draws them both deeper into the case and Salem’s rich and disturbing history. Even as the danger mounts, Devin and Rocky begin to fall for each other, something the ghosts of Mina and past witches seem to approve of. But the two of them need every skill they possess to learn the truth—or Devin’s might be the next body in the woods….



About Heather Graham

New York Times and USA TODAY  bestselling author Heather Graham has written more than a hundred novels and has been published in more than 20 languages. An avid scuba diver, ballroom dancer and the mother of five, she enjoys her south Florida home, but loves to travel as well, from locations such as Cairo, Egypt, to her own backyard, the Florida Keys. Reading is still the pastime she still loves best, and she is a member of many writing groups. 
She’s a winner of the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Thriller Writers’ Silver Bullet. She is an active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, and also the founder of The Slush Pile Players, an author band and theatrical group.

Heather annually hosts the Writers for New Orleans conference to benefit both the city, which is near and dear to her heart, and various other causes, and she hosts a ball each year at the RT Booklovers Convention to benefit pediatric AIDS foundations.

Connect with Heather

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Virtual Blog Tour & Giveaway for Her Highland Hero by Terry Spear

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Her Highland Hero
Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Genres: HistoricalRomance
Purchase from: Amazon • Nook • Kobo 
Add to Goodreads.


Tour: Her Highland Hero by Terry Spear

About the book:


Lady Isobel is a Norman laird’s daughter, living near the Scots border where her father, Lord Pembroke, is trying to keep the peace. But her mother was a Highlander and the man Isobel loves most of all is Laird Marcus McEwan, who has been bringing news of her mother’s people for years. But now Isobel’s father wishes her wed to an English nobleman, who will carry on his title. Isobel will wed no other man but her heart’s desire—and that is one braw Highlander from her mother’s homeland.

Laird Marcus McEwan has loved the feisty lass forever. For years, Marcus has tried to convince Lord Pembroke to allow him to wed his daughter. But the Norman lord will not allow it. Then ambushes and murders make it too dangerous for Marcus to reach a peaceful resolution.

Nothing goes as planned and keeping the lass for his own is fraught with danger, as they try to determine who was behind the killings. Isobel and Marcus will do everything in their power to ensure they are together as they have always vowed they would be.


Excerpt
 
"She loves you," Rob said, "just like I said. How you ever won her over is beyond me when Finbar and I are so much brawer."

Shaking his head, unable to find the humor in the situation as much as he usually could, Marcus stiffly mounted his horse. "Unless I can change the earl's mind, there is no hope for us."

"Dinna be daft, man," Finbar said. "She is worth moving mountains for."

"He wants someone to produce an heir who will inherit his title and lands. No' a Highlander who wouldna live with her in the earl's world."

"Mayhap ‘tis time for the lass to learn the truth of her heritage," Rob said darkly.

Marcus did not want to be the one to tell her the truth. The word should come from the earl. He suspected the man would not speak with her about it ever, if he could hide the secret from her forever.

"Come," Marcus said. "'Tis nearly time for the celebration, and a bonny lass awaits my first dance." Marcus wondered though. Mayhap it was time that she learned the truth even if it meant he was the one who would have to tell her. Would she hate him for it?

That's what he feared.

When he arrived at the keep, the evening did not go as planned. He was permitted the first dance and tried to keep his distance from the lass as deemed appropriate, but the way Isobel looked so adoringly at him and moved in closer than was considered proper, he heard quite a few grumbles. She was declaring her heart to him, and her actions were not lost on the assembled lords and ladies.

He loved her for it, but feared for her, too. What if her da decided to force her to wed any Englishman of his own choice just to ensure Isobel didn't ruin her chances because of the affection she showed Marcus?

About Terry Spear

58e52-terry2bspear252c2brightUSA Today Bestseller, TERRY SPEAR writes urban fantasy and Highland medieval romance: hot wolves, jaguar shifters, medieval Highlanders and lots more. She also pens young adult paranormal romance. She has over fifty paranormal books to her name, earned Publisher’s Weekly Best Books of the Year, and has been featured in The International Wolf Magazine, Woman’s World and BGS Book Review Magazine.

She creates award-winning teddy bears in the heart of Texas and gardens. She retired from USAR after rappelling, mountain climbing, learning water survival, qualifying with a number of firearms, survived the obstacle courses, leadership reaction courses and confidences courses – and knows if she can do it, her characters can overcome any obstacle she puts in their path.

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

Cover Reveal & Giveaway for Raine by J.C. Valentine


Welcome to my stop on the Cover Reveal Tour, presented by Indie Sage Promotions, for Raine by J.C. Valentine.  Please leave a comment or question for J.C. to let her know you stopped by.


RAINE
by J.C. Valentine
Publication Date: October 7, 2014
Genres: New Adult Romance
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Amazon Pre-order 


About the book:

Shy.
Intelligent.
Naive.
Statistic.

Raine Miller was an average girl leading an average life. She slipped beneath everyone's radar, until Camron Moss, the most popular guy in school, took interest in her and changed everything.

Some acts are unforgivable.
Raine thought she'd been accepted. She thought she was one of them. She thought she was in love... until one moment made her realize she'd trusted the wrong person. Lies are told, hearts get broken, secrets are revealed, and sometimes, true love is found in the least likely places.


Excerpt

Thanks to the dreams dogging him every night for the past week, his mind was filled with pictures of Raine. All kinds of dirty, inappropriate thoughts, like what would she taste like if he licked her between her thighs? What would she sound like in the throes of an orgasm? The sound of his name, high and keening, when he walked into the kitchen and caught her by surprise had him hard all over again.

If she knew the kind of thoughts that ran through his head every time he looked at her, no doubt it would get him slapped in the face. Or worse. He needed to come home for another Raine fix.

She was becoming an addiction. One that he needed to kick before it spun out of control, but he just couldn’t seem to help himself.

Imagine his shock when he’d walked through the door, expecting… well, he didn’t know what he was expecting exactly, but it wasn’t that.

What the hell was she doing, sitting in the middle of the kitchen with her robe gaping open? Was it on purpose? Did she hear him pull in and decide to give him an eyeful?

Camron’s warning rose up in his head, giving him pause.

Could Raine really be the kind of girl his brother claimed she was? Was she playing him?

The thought angered him. He wasn’t someone to be played, and he’d be damned if he walked blindly into a trap. If she was up to something, he planned to get to the bottom of it.

Shutting off the water, Jarret snapped the towel off the rack and wrapped it around his waist. His focus was no longer on what he couldn’t have, but what he would have. If Raine was playing, then she was about to get beat at her own game.

He found her in the kitchen in the exact spot he’d left her. She had her head bent down and her hands in her lap. Hearing him approach, she jerked her head up, her brows furrowing as he marched toward her. Her eyes skated over him, taking in the towel tied around his hips and the water still clinging to his skin.

It was a quick appraisal that filled those brown eyes of hers with heat and him with satisfaction.
She likes what she sees, does she?

“Why are you here, really?” he asked, his tone brooking no argument. He wanted answers, and he was going to get them.

“What?” Confusion laced her tone, adding to the air of innocence that clung to her, but it could just be another layer to her game. “You brought me here. You made me come.”

“Not yet I haven’t.” His eyes narrowed as he stopped in front of her, her knees pressing into the fronts of his thighs. Looking uncomfortable, she tried to scoot back, but he refused to give her an inch. Leaning over her, Jarret held her gaze captive. “You argued about living with me. An hour ago, you asked me to take you home. I’m wondering why you don’t fight harder. If you really didn’t want to be here, you wouldn’t be. So, I’ll ask you again, why are you really here?”

Lips parting, Raine choked on her words. “I…don’t know what to say,” she said finally.

“How about the truth.”

She studied him for one long, silent moment. “No one’s ever helped me before. I don’t know how to take it, but I…” She looked away briefly, and when her eyes came back to his, they were wide and pleading. “I need it. And I like being with you.” Those last words were spoken in a whisper, almost as if she didn’t want him to hear them.

But he did.

And they gave him so much pleasure, he couldn’t help himself. Despite their connection to each other, he’d made up his mind. Not allowing himself time to think, Jarret grabbed ahold of her face and kissed her.

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR


USA Today Bestselling author J.C. Valentine is the alter-ego of Brandi Salazar, whose enjoyment of tales of romance spurred her to branch out and create her own.

She lives in the Northwest with her husband, their wild children, and far too many pets. As a university student, she studies literature, which goes well with her dream of becoming an editor. Brandi entertains a number of hobbies including reading and photography, but her first love is writing fiction-in all its forms.

Follow J.C. Valentine.
Website:    www.jcvalentine.com
Twitter:      https://twitter.com/AuthorJCV


Monday, August 25, 2014

Review for Plantation Nation by Mercedes King


Plantation Nation
By Mercedes King

Publisher:  Astrea Press Publishing
Release Date: May 27, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
Length: 295 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-62135-287-7
ASIN:  B00KL13VPY

Buy Links:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble Kobo




About the book:  

Sixteen year old Emma Cartwright runs away from her family’s South Carolina rice plantation after a slave is beaten to death. Determined to join the fight against slavery, Emma enlists in the Union Army disguised as a young man. Nothing could prepare her for the sacrifices needed—and for falling in love for the first time.

Discovering who and what we are when we transition from being a child to an adult is a journey everyone must take.  Some people seem to find a seemingly easy path to follow, while others, like the main character in Mercedes King’s Plantation Nation, follow a path filled with rocks, pit holes and many weeds.  A coming of age tale for both a country and a young woman, Ms. King’s story is filled with diverse, well developed characters, emotional and physical angst and good dialogue.  Set during the beginning years of the Civil War, this gripping story captures the reader’s attention from its frank, and somewhat brutal beginning, to its satisfying ending.  A well written and entertaining story, this is a book I would gladly recommend to any library, school teacher or parent wanting to teach their child about our country’s past, the need to stand up for what we believe and how we can make a change for the better if we are willing to make a sacrifice.

Raised on a plantation with slaves, young Emma Cartwright has come to the realization that slavery of any kind, including the slavery of marriage where a woman is her husband’s property, is wrong.  Determined to make a difference, Emma’s actions; teaching slaves to read and helping them escape to the North, result in a brutal whipping that leaves her bedridden for days and her student dead.  When the war between the States breaks out a few days later, Emma manages to make her own escape to the North and posing as a man joins the Union Army to help make a difference.  She could never have imagined the difference she would make to both her life and the life of her fellow soldiers.

Ms. King does an excellent job developing Emma’s character from start to finish; a 16 year old girl who has grown up in a pampered existence on her family’s South Carolina plantation, Emma is intelligent, stubborn and determined to have some control over her life.  Unlike her mother, Emma is not interested in beautiful dresses, fancy parties or in marrying someone for social station, especially since she’s been allowed to ride horses, learn to shoot and allowed to play with her brothers like a boy.  

When an “incident” on the plantation highlights the evils of slavery, Emma realizes she must take a stand and finds herself pitted against the wishes of her grandfather, her mother and her “intended” groom.  While Emma is sure her feelings and ideas about slavery are right, and they are, she doesn’t realize how much she will have to sacrifice to make a difference.  Ms. King does a good job showcasing just how much personal sacrifice Emma will make during the war and it is not lost on this reader that her message – that change requires both fortitude and personal sacrifice – comes through loud and clear.

The secondary characters are also well developed and I especially enjoyed getting to know Emma’s siblings, her fellow soldiers and the commanders she serves under while pretending to be a man.  I especially enjoyed her viewpoints on the “men in charge” of the army, the medical services they were able to provide wounded soldiers, and her encounter with President Lincoln himself.  I also enjoyed how Ms. King highlighted that war required sacrifices from both men and women and how a determined woman could help shape her own future.

Will Emma’s time as a soldier help her realize who she is and wants to become? Will she be able to keep her real identity secret until the end of the war? You’ll have to read Plantation Nation to find out.  I really enjoyed this book and can’t recommend it highly enough!


My Rating:  5 Crowns and a Recommended Read



*FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange of a fair and honest review.   

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway for Plantation Nation by Mercedes King


Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Book Tour, presented by Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours, for Plantation Nation by Mercedes King.  Please leave a comment or question for Mercedes to let her know you stopped by.  You may enter her tour wide giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter form below.  You can also follow the rest of her tour here, the more stops you visit, the better your odds of winning.  My review will post this morning. 

Plantation Nation
By Mercedes King

Publisher:  Astrea Press Publishing
Release Date: May 27, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
Length: 295 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-62135-287-7
ASIN:  B00KL13VPY

Buy Links:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo




About the book:  

Sixteen year old Emma Cartwright runs away from her family’s South Carolina rice plantation after a slave is beaten to death. Determined to join the fight against slavery, Emma enlists in the Union Army disguised as a young man. Nothing could prepare her for the sacrifices needed—and for falling in love for the first time.



Mercedes King

Mercedes King is an Ohio native and founding member of Sisters in Crime Columbus, Ohio (affectionately dubbed SiCCO). With a degree in Criminology from Capital University and a passion for writing, she crafted O! Jackie, a novel focusing on the private life of Jackie Kennedy. She has also written The Kennedy Chronicles, a series of short stories featuring JFK and Jackie before they were married and before 'Camelot'. Mercedes writes in a variety of genres, including historical and mystery / suspense. In fact, she's working on creating a new genre, 'modern historical'.

Her newest release, Plantation Nation, follows the journey of Emma Cartwright, a 16 year old Southern girl who disguises herself as a young man and joins the Union Army.

Visit her sites, OJackiebook.com or Mercedesking.com . Contact her at Mercedes 'at' ojackiebook 'dot' com. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Twitter: @Mercedes_King_
Instagram: mercedes_king_author