Best Served Cold by Tawdra Kandle - Cover Reveal

Releasing soon: BEST SERVED COLD, a new adult contemporary romance by Tawdra Kandle! Julia worked for weeks planning the perfect surprise birthday party for her boyfriend, Liam, but that night, she was the one who got the biggest shock. He broke up with her in front of all their friends, humiliating her in the process. Clearly revenge was in order. The plan is simple. Make him jealous, win him back, and then crush his heart. Fair is fair. However, there is one little hiccup—and he has curly brown hair and dimples. Jesse is everything she wants. With him, she could almost forget her bruised heart. Almost. Julia has one choice: let Liam walk away after everything he did, or lose a chance at love in pursuit of payback. The beautiful cover for this book was designed by Stephanie Nelson of Once Upon A Time covers. She's an artist. . .and here it is. Stay tuned for a release date and other updates from Tawdra! Facebook/Twitter/Website/Tumblr/Newsletter  

Dressed In White by Jessica Gibson - Review

Dressed In White Lorelei Peters had everything she had ever dreamed of. Amazing friends, a sexy boyfriend, and a job that she absolutely loved. Dillon Brockwell was all she had ever wanted. Handsome, successful, and he loved her as much as she loved him. Life was going along the way it was supposed to, until someone from Dillon’s past shows up and shatters everything to pieces. Can Lorelei and Dillon get through all the craziness and make it down the aisle? Or will lies of omission be enough to derail them forever. Purchase on Amazon - Kindle / Paperback Follow on Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Literary Addicts 

My Review: Dressed in White was an interesting romance. Lorelei and Dillon seem meant to be, that is if they can get past the mess Dillon’s past keeps creating. I enjoyed their sweet moments and felt for them during the hard moments. Occasionally I felt like the story was a little forced or rushed, but for the most part I just loved finding out if they would ever get married.

Lorelei and Dillon are both ambitious and persistent people. I thought they were pretty perfect for each other. I loved Roxie, she was a lot of fun. I hope there will be a book about her in the future. I also really loved Kayla and Dane. I may have actually been more interested in them at times. I cannot wait to read the next book just because I want to know how they end up.

I thought this book was a fun read. I did feel like a few things almost seemed unresolved from Dillon’s past, but overall I loved the ending. I think once a few kinks get worked out this book will be even better. Either way, I am ready to read more. I will be looking forward to what Jessica Gibson writes next. 

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  About Jessica Gibson Jessica Gibson is a recovering bookaholic, she's down from four books a week to a more reasonable one. It was that love of words and creativity that made her dream about writing her first book. That dream was hidden for years, always put on the back burner, filed away in the "someday" section, until her husband Matt gave her the kick in the pants she needed to actually get off her butt and write. Jessica and Matt live in Southern California and have a serious addiction to reality tv shows like Pawn Stars and American Restoration. They have one son and hope to add to the family in the near future. Follow the Book Tour

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Mirror Deep by Joss Landry - Review

Mirror Deep by Joss Landry

DANGER AND ROMANCE

…Roll like thunder in Kat Bonner’s world, when a known felon comes to the ranch to drop a bomb about her past. Kat turns to Pierce for help, the same Pierce who bucks her every chance he gets … and whose feverish investigation lands them in trouble with the law and directly in the path of a serial killer. Mystery deepens, fraught with wrong turns, bumbling detectives, old murders, and Kat’s doppelganger no one ever sees but her, just as she never sees the change in Pierce’s feelings toward her brewing, mounting, until she can no longer deny them.

Buy on Amazon | Paperback | Kobo | B&N | EBookPie | Scribd

 My Thoughts: I love a good romance and I love a good mystery. Joss Landry delivered both in Mirror Deep. The book has a wild plot that just keeps thickening. As I was reading I would think I knew what was coming, only to have something else make me suddenly doubt myself. It was a definite page turner as I tried to find out all the answers.

I enjoyed the characters quite a lot. Kat is sassy, caring, and mostly optimistic. This book mostly centers on her journey, and I liked reading it. I found myself invested in what would happen to her. There were so many other characters throughout the book. I loved reading Pierce’s parts. He was such a sweet guy, and so busy trying to protect Kat. By far, my favorite character was Charles. He was a spunky old man.

I really enjoyed the story line of Mirror Deep. Kat learns some news that makes her feel like her world is falling apart; add in mysterious deaths, people lurking about, and a few possible love interests and Joss Landry has done an amazing job. Oh, and the horses. You cannot forget the beautiful horses. I loved how unpredictable the mystery was and the ending was perfect. I think that lovers of mystery and romance alike will enjoy reading Mirror Deep. 

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Meet the author:

With a degree in commerce, Joss has worked as a consultant for more than twenty years, writing copy for marketing firms and assisting start-up companies launch their business. She recently made the switch from composing copy and promos, to writing fiction and prose. She is developing her style through courses and the support of other writers. A recent graduate of the Long Ridge Writer’s Group, she is a member of the Romance Writers of America and is presently working on honing three other novels for publication. Blessed with four children and five grandchildren, she resides in Montreal with her husband, a staunch supporter, and enjoys spending her time biking, rollerblading, playing tennis and swimming. She loves creating stories, as she says that it fulfills her need to think outside the box. Follow Joss Landry: Website | Blog | FaceBook Page | Twitter | Pinterest | LinkedIn | Follow the Book Tour The author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card for two readers a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

The Spirit of a Sultan by Ahmad Javid (Sarwari Qaderi) - Promo & Schedule

One of the most venerated Sufi poets and saints, Hazrat Sultan Bahu’s life has been as veiled as the divine. Through countless stories, the loveable and fully illumined spiritual master’s life has been told mostly through oral tradition. Using the deep emotions of his teachings, this inspiring new book uses the depth of Sultan Bahu to ignite the love of God in readers’ hearts while uplifting them to greater heights. The Spirit of a Sultan is a mystical new novel based on the true life accounts of Sufi reverend, poet, and saint, Sultan Bahu. A historical biography reminiscent of Autobiography of a Yogi, the novel uses a slight fictional component to create a spiritual atmosphere throughout the story. A spellbinding tale of enlightenment, this wonderful book follows Sultan Bahu’s life history and spiritual journey while showing us all how to connect with God in our hearts and minds. Written in an extraordinarily unique and intriguing style, The Spirit of a Sultan portrays the true account of a saint who shares a great many parallels with Guatama Buddha. Following a man who gave away his wealth, land, and legacy in order to pursue an austere existence in search of the truth while teaching others the realization of God and special meditation techniques, the novel inspires readers everywhere to re-examine their own lives and their relationships with God.

Buy on Paperback / Kindle

About the author

Born in Pakistan, author Ahmad Javid (Sarwari Qaderi) is a twelfth generation Sufi with ancestral lineage going back to Syed Muhammad al Hussaini Gisudiraz the saint of Decan, a descendant of Iman Hussain, the son of Ali Ibne Abi Talib, and eventually, to the fountainhead of all spirituality, the prophet Muhammad. He spent seventeen years in Iran extensively studying Sufi literature and poetry before coming to the United States in 1993 to finish his residency training in pediatrics from Columbia University. He is the author of Sufi Light: The Secret of Meditation, which is available on amazon.com. Follow the author: Literary Addicts | Website | Facebook
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Shardfall by Paul E. Horsman - Review

Shardfall

Muus is only a thrall, a chattel without rights, but he knows the small, blue shard he picked up belongs to him alone. Kjelle, heir to the Lord of a rich mininghold, is strong, and covetous of his thrall's tantalizing find. The one's greed causes an avalanche that leaves both young men marooned on an icy mountain slope. The other's commonsense saves their lives from cold and starvation. Now the antagonists are bound together on a danger-laden journey to a lost and burning land, where Muus needs to connect the skyshard to the Kalmanir, the standing stone that is the world’s fount of all magic. The Kalmanir's time is almost up and it urgently needs to be replenished before the magic of Gods and men runs out. The two antagonists have to learn to trust each other, for all around them, enemies abound. Rebels threaten both the kingdom and Kjelle's holding, and a tribe of mad idolaters is trying to recall the banned primordial Old Gods. Even more imminent is Muus' danger, for it comes from nearby, from the shard itself. Muus is the only one person in the world who can wield the powerful skyshard. Will he succeed with Kjelle's help to reach the standing stone before the world's magic dies? Shardfall is an epic, non-gritty journey through a wild, snowy land. Each of the four main characters, Muus, Kjelle, the young wisewoman Birthe with her baby son Buí and the naive Tuuri, who serves the enemy, will have to overcome not only the dangers of their journey, but also their own shortcomings

My Thoughts: Shardfall is the first book in The Shardheld Saga. Sometimes with a first book the kinks are still getting worked out, but I didn’t find that problem at all with Shardfall. I was interested immediately, and I thought the book was very well written. The characters are engaging, the scenery explained well, and the plot exciting.

The book centers around four main characters, with plenty of secondary characters throughout. I was invested in each of these characters and how everything would turn out for them. I enjoyed Muus in all of his strength. I started out disliking Kjelle, but I loved the growth he went through in this book. Birthe is a bit in your face, which I really enjoyed. Tuuri is a character that I assume we’ll learn more about later. He is the only character that I didn’t completely connect with, but that may be because I was so distracted by Muus, Kjelle, and Birthe’s adventure. There were also many secondary characters that I loved, especially Hraab.

I have read some fantasy books, and while they all tend to center around some type of journey, I found Shardfall to possess plenty of aspects that made it very original. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and following along on their adventure. I loved the magic, the gods, and the interesting glimpse into the society’s hierarchy. I think that lovers of fantasy will enjoy reading this book. I can’t wait to read the next one. 

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Buy on Amazon | Amazon.UK | Smashwords | B&N

About the Author:

Paul E (Erik) Horsman (1952) Lives in Roosendaal, The Netherlands. I was born in the year 1952, in the Dutch town of Bussum, a sleepy, well-to-do place that was home to many artists, musicians, writers and publishers. As my family were neither artists nor well-to-do, we moved when I was nine. When I was seventeen, I started my career as paperclip counter with a worldwide Dutch producer of baby food. After some months, I was finished counting, and I looked around for something more interesting. A love of books drove me to work in a small bookstore in Rotterdam. An ancient establishment, since 1837, in an old building just too far away from the city’s modern shopping center. It was a nice job, but there wasn’t any future in it. Still, I left it a licensed bookseller. In 1972 I had to do my stitch for Queen and Country, and as a bad back tied me to a desk job, I applied for a posting overseas. For the Army, that meant Surinam, then still a member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and one of the most beautiful. Once you’ve seen the jungle, you will never forget it. To keep it short, I stayed in business, slowly climbing the ladder, until in 1995 I changed direction. That year I joined a large educational institution, at a school specialized in Dutch language and integration courses for foreigners. That meant immigrants, refugees and international businessmen, an interesting mix. It was great work, on the one side teaching crash courses Dutch to high-powered people (we got a lot of very well-educated refugees) and on the other teaching reading and writing to people who had never ever held a pen before, let alone a computer. To see them growing was a reward in itself. Unhappily, due to changed legislation the language school closed in mid-2012. In the meantime, I had started my first book (Rhidauna) in 2009 and it got published by Zilverspoor Publishers just before I got laid off. As my age, five years from retirement, made it nigh on impossible to find something else, I started building a career as an independent author. SF and Fantasy have fascinated me since my high school days, but apart from some juvenile trash, I never seriously tried to write anything. But after several false starts and associated discouraged intervals, a spark began to grow and mid-2010, the first two parts of Shadow of the Revenaunt were more or less written. My style is probably a bit old-fashioned, Fantasy as a heroic tale with sympathetic heroes/heroines and black villains, in which good always triumphs in the end. I don’t use my characters as cannon fodder; they get hurt, but their dying is rare. One of the other elements in my writing I think important is, that both male and female characters have their own lives and goals. Most of them exist primarily for themselves, not as a prop or a love interest for other MC’s. The only character who did die, was actually a prop and I had him killed just to take that away from my lead MC. A word about the book cover of ‘Shardfall’ Designed by top illustrator Jos Weijmer of JW Art Studio, Maastricht (2013). The cover gives an impression of a scene from the book, the two main male characters, Muus and Kjelle, wrestling for possession of the blue stone Muus found. The style of all my covers is purposely old-school Fantasy, to give all my books their own, distinct identity. Because of their nostalgic look, these covers have been met with acclaim among fantasy fans.

Follow Paul: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

Rufus and Ryan Go To Church! by Kathleen Long Bostrom Illustrated by Rebecca Thornburgh - Review

Title: Rufus and Ryan Go To Church!

Author: Kathleen Long Bostrom

Illustrator: Rebecca Thornburgh

Synopsis: In Rufus and Ryan Go to Church!, four-year-old Ryan explains to his stuffed monkey, Rufus, what is happening as they attend church on Sunday morning. He lets Rufus know when it’s time to sing and to pray and to be quiet. Author Kathleen Bostrom brings a delightfully light touch to the text as she provides an introduction to an experience that most children are exposed to long before they understand why. And children everywhere will relate to the idea of explaining their surroundings to their favorite companions as they go about their daily activities.

This is just one of the first titles in a new series of inspirational books for preschoolers.

My Thoughts: I loved reading Rufus and Ryan Go To Church! with my children. I have five children ranging from 2 to 7 and they all enjoyed listening to the book. My 7 year old liked reading the book on her own. She enjoyed that he took his monkey to church and asked me not to lose the book so she could read it again. My two year old twins especially loved the monkey. They pointed him out on every page. I found the story to be sweet and easy for my children to understand. I really think a little boy and his monkey is an adorable way to introduce children to church and, in the next Rufus and Ryan book, prayer. I enjoyed the illustrations as well. They were colorful and full of cute details, such as the little turtle figurine and frog lamp in Ryan's room. My children have already requested that we get Rufus and Ryan Say Their Prayers. 

Rating:

My girls enjoying Rufus and Ryan Go to Church!

Keep reading for some awesome tips, info about the books, and a great giveaway!

TOP TEN TIPS FOR INTRODUCING YOUR CHILD TO WORSHIP

1.         Attend a child-friendly church.

A church that invites children to attend worship, that has a children’s time during worship or a service in which children are included, will not mind the noise and commotion that comes with having young children in worship.

2.         Bring your child to church on a day other than Sunday morning.

Call the church office and make an appointment with a pastor, Christian education director, or church school teacher. Go on a tour of the church facility, and locate the Sunday school rooms and bathrooms as well as the sanctuary. Let your child explore the sanctuary, see how it feels to sit in the pew, and leaf through the Bibles and hymnbooks. Look behind the pulpit, Communion table, and baptismal font, and explain the use of these.

3.         Take home a worship bulletin and go through the service at home.

Show your child that there are times to sit, to stand (and in some places, to kneel), to sing, to pray, and to listen. If the Lord’s Prayer is used, write down the words and let your child practice at home. Prepare offering envelopes and let your child put money in the envelope, and explain why the offering is important.

4.         Play “Let’s go to church” at home.

Practicing the worship service at home will help your child feel more comfortable with what happens in worship.

5.         Read the Bible and pray at home.

Purchase an age-appropriate Bible for your child and read the stories. Let your child handle the Bible and encourage questions. You can explain that the Bible is where we learn God’s story, and how we are part of that story. If you let prayer be a part of your everyday life, not just something you do at church, your child will understand its importance.

6.         Sit near an aisle or in a place where you can make an exit if needed.

If your child needs to go to the bathroom, or is feeling overly stimulated or having a disruptive day, don’t be embarrassed. Walk your child out of the sanctuary until she can work off a little energy, and then come back in. This is much easier if you don’t have to crawl across a row of other people in the pew!

           

7.         Be prepared with a worship notebook or bag.

Many churches provide materials for children to use during worship, but if not, bring your own supplies. Colored pencils can be used to mark the parts of worship in the bulletin as you go through them one by one. Get to church a few minutes in advance and use a bookmark to mark the hymns that will be sung that day. Have some coloring pages from a Bible coloring book for your child to color, or some blank pages for doodling. This is not disrespectful, and can help your child listen more attentively. Have the words of the Lord’s Prayer printed on a page for the child to follow, if he or she is of reading age. Let your child draw a picture of the anthem or hymns being sung, or the sermon, and give this to the choir director or pastor afterwards.

8.         Teach basic church etiquette.

Speak to people before and after worship, and teach your child how to shake hands and greet others.  If your child is shy, don’t force it, but practice at home and let your child see you greeting others. Let the child put the hymnbook and Bible away after use, and be sure to take your bulletin with you, rather than leaving it in the pew. Meeting other people and taking care of the church facility helps a child feel that “This is my church!”

9.         Get to know the pastor.

Pastors of child-friendly churches love to get to know the children of the church. Introduce your child to the pastor after worship, and participate in other church activities so that the pastor becomes a friend and not a scary adult.

10.       Don’t give up!

It may take awhile for your child to become comfortable in worship, and to learn how to sit quietly. The best way for this to happen is to attend worship on a regular basis. There may be days when it doesn’t go well, but don’t let this stop you from coming the following week. Practice makes perfect!

About the Rufus and Ryan

Rufus and Ryan is a new series of books for preschoolers, featuring Ryan, an energetic little boy, and his stuffed monkey Rufus. Basic Christian and church concepts serve as the foundation of the series, with an additional focus on character traits and development. The text is presented in young Ryan’s voice as he teaches Rufus about the concepts he is learning himself. Each story is about 150 words, using age-appropriate vocabulary and themes.

Also available now, Rufus and Ryan Say Their Prayers

WHO is this book for?

- Children ages 2 to 5 and their parents, grandparents 

- These faith-based board books make great gifts during any season: Christmas, Easter, baby

- Toddler birthday 

- Gift from grandparents

- Gift for your child's Sunday School teacher of children's minister

- Perfect for church nurseries, Sunday school classes, preschools, and church worship settings

About the Author

Kathleen Long Bostrom is a published children’s author in both the Christian and trade markets. She has a Master’s in Christian Education and a Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching, and she has worked in children’s ministry for many years. Kathy and her husband, Greg, have three grown children and live in Illinois. 

About the Illustrator 

Rebecca Thornburgh began illustrating children’s books full-time in 1996 and today has almost 100 books to her name. Rebecca’s vibrant watercolors have been showcased in previous Ideals titles, including the new edition of The Story of Christmas. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two daughters.

Available at IdealsBooks.com / Amazon

Now for a great giveaway! Enter for your chance to win a copy of Rufus and Ryan Go to Church on the rafflecopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Mirror Deep by Joss Landry - Promo and Tour Schedule

Mirror Deep by Joss Landry

DANGER AND ROMANCE

…Roll like thunder in Kat Bonner’s world, when a known felon comes to the ranch to drop a bomb about her past. Kat turns to Pierce for help, the same Pierce who bucks her every chance he gets … and whose feverish investigation lands them in trouble with the law and directly in the path of a serial killer. Mystery deepens, fraught with wrong turns, bumbling detectives, old murders, and Kat’s doppelganger no one ever sees but her, just as she never sees the change in Pierce’s feelings toward her brewing, mounting, until she can no longer deny them.

Buy on Amazon | Paperback | Kobo | B&N | EBookPie | Scribd

 

Meet the author:

With a degree in commerce, Joss has worked as a consultant for more than twenty years, writing copy for marketing firms and assisting start-up companies launch their business. She recently made the switch from composing copy and promos, to writing fiction and prose. She is developing her style through courses and the support of other writers. A recent graduate of the Long Ridge Writer’s Group, she is a member of the Romance Writers of America and is presently working on honing three other novels for publication. Blessed with four children and five grandchildren, she resides in Montreal with her husband, a staunch supporter, and enjoys spending her time biking, rollerblading, playing tennis and swimming. She loves creating stories, as she says that it fulfills her need to think outside the box. Follow Joss Landry: Website | Blog | FaceBook Page | Twitter | Pinterest | LinkedIn | Follow the Book Tour The author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card for two readers a Rafflecopter giveaway