Monday, August 31, 2015

My first travel books by Anna Othitis. #children #books

Off Kilter: A Buffalo Steampunk Book by Laura Strickland.

Touched to the soul by Elsa Winckler. #romance #BookBlitz


Touched to the Soul
by Elsa Winckler
Series: Touched, #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 6, 2015



A passion that runs soul deep... 

Zoe Sutherland can't stand the pushy, arrogant architect Dale Cavallo. He was just too damn sure of himself, too handsome, too…everything. Maneuvered into working as the interior decorator on his latest project, a glamorous new hotel, Zoe can't keep her mind on the job. And worse, the strange man won't give her access to the hotel's floor plans. How is she supposed to finish the design when she doesn't have the plans? And when the obnoxious man distracts her with every smoldering look, every touch...

Dale has one goal: get rid of the pesky interior designer. Since he's been forced into close proximity with the beautiful Zoe, everything's gone downhill. And to make matters worse, she's only out to further her own career—and he's not about to give her the hotel's plans so she can steal his ideas. He needs to get her out of his system, and sleeping with her seems like the best way to do that. When it comes to women, he's found the best way to handle them is to love 'em and leave 'em. But something strange is happening...because after a night of loving Zoe, he's finding it harder than ever to leave…



Desperately she tried to get her sluggish brain cells to work, tried to rationalize what she was feeling. If she thought about it, her reaction was normal. She was young and unattached; he was a sought-after, rich tycoon—what girl wouldn’t swoon a little bit? And anyway, this was probably the way he always danced with any woman. She’d read enough about him to know he seldom had the same girl on his arm. So she knew this was just for tonight.

Slowly she became aware that the music was farther away, that they’d moved on to the wide terrace overlooking the sea. He steered her farther away around a pillar. And for the first time, she looked up at him.

His eyes were dark with an expression she’d never seen before. What was it? Desire? But that was impossible; it had been obvious from the start that he could hardly stand the sight of her. Surely he wasn’t interested in her in that way, was he?

“Zoe, this is exactly the reason why I’ve stayed away from you, why I haven’t danced with you tonight. This is so not what I want, but I can’t seem to help myself around you…”

Before she could ask what he was talking about, he kissed her.

His lips were warm and demanding, and with a sigh she surrendered. It never even occurred to her to deny him this. To deny herself this pleasure. Because that’s what it was. Pure, unadulterated pleasure.

With a shaky exhale, she pulled him closer and thrust her fingers into his hair. He groaned while his hands restlessly explored her body. Don’t stop, please don’t stop, a voice begged inside her head. For a split second she worried that she’d said the words out loud, but quickly remembered her mouth was otherwise engaged. As far as she was concerned, it could stay that way forever.





Inspired by the writing of Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Henry James, and the Brontë sisters, Elsa Winckler likes her heroines beautiful, feisty, independent and headstrong. She married her college boyfriend who, after 40 years, still makes her weak in the knees. They have 3 interesting children, 3 beautiful grandsons and live in the picturesque little seaside village of Betty's Bay, South Africa.







The hut in the woods by VLZ. #suspense #mystery

The Hut - Banner

 

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – The Hut in the Woods AUTHOR – VLZ GENRE – Mystery/Suspense PUBLICATION DATE – 07/13/15 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 10hrs 46min PUBLISHER – vlzbooks

The Hut - Cover 

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Carly Ruth Laden moved away from the small town she was born and raised in, and headed for the city of Carmingden. At the tender age of 22 years, Carly met her husband, Dorian Shiffer, a man every woman wanted for their very own. Dorian carried a secret which Carly unearthed and that secret shocked not only Carly, but her family as well. Strange events began to surround the Laden family. Unanswered questions along with the disappearance of Carly Ruth Laden Shiffer set in motion a series of events that would forever haunt the townsfolk of Burl and Helmsdale. Versions of the truth were what gathered together the townspeople of both these small towns. Everyone had their own opinions as to what happened to Carly and her brother, Decker Laden, and to Dorian Shiffer. Carly felt her seemingly perfect marriage was crumbling because her husband was having an affair. When she discovers Dorian was in fact having an affair, the truth of her husband’s apparent change is a shock Carly was not prepared for. Things turned from bad to worse when Carly decides to confront Dorian. Carly disappears. Her parents, Barbara and Drew, and her brother, are left to endure the agonizing and horrifying events about to take place. Events that no one ever thought possible. Carly’s past nightmares come back to haunt her, to take revenge. The Laden family becomes swept inside a tornado of changing degrees, where their lives are turned inside out, and where hope becomes a lost treasure buried somewhere unknown, somewhere deep and dark. No one is aware of the evil lurking in the woods along Laden Lane. Carly informs the sheriff of Burl of a mysterious truck parked just near Laden Lane. No one pays much mind to Carly’s suspicions. Everyone believes Carly has a crazy head. Since childhood, Carly has had an over-active imagination. Carly Ruth Laden Shiffer had become the boy who cried wolf.

The Hut - Button 

BUY & TBR LINKS



The Hut - Author Photo 

AUTHOR BIO

VLZ is an Auburn, New York born author currently living in Savannah NY. Due to hard work and perseverance, VLZ believes writing is her way to reach readers so that they can escape for a while from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, where they can enter her imagination. When VLZ is not writing, she enjoys the theater and the arts and loves to dance. The author thanks her mother who believed in all she strived to achieve. Born and raised in a small town, being one of ten children, the youngest of ten, the baby, VLZ’s daddy died when she was but five months old, and so she never got to know her daddy. Her mama raised ten children all on her own. Dirt poor in the 50’s was a hard time, but times were much different then. VLZ persevered through many tribulations. Tuberculosis at age six. Polio at age nine. The loss of her mother due to pancreatic cancer was a very hard time. Now retired and doing what she loves most, writing for you so you the reader can have a moment to yourself and a moment with her as well, VLZ looks forward to hearing your praises as well as any complaints. So look for this inspiring writer and welcome her into your home and your imagination.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS


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Friday, August 28, 2015

Book review: Kolea by Russell Cahill.



Kolea
By Russell Cahill
Genre: Historical Fiction

Book's Description:  

The illegitimate child of Maui’s King is spirited away and raised in seclusion by a mysterious Hula Dancer and a blind warrior. Follow the child, Kolea, to Molokai where he is trained by the warrior and pursued by an evil half-brother. A daring escape in a voyaging canoe leads north and the adventure continues as the Hawai’ian men and women warriors meet natives of the North American Coast. The voyagers join a community of Tlingit Indians and Kolea grows in wisdom and courage. Thoughts and yearning draw the voyagers south and point their hearts and the bows of their canoe toward home. 





Author Bio: 


Russell Cahill, a retired park ranger, lives in a forest adjacent to a salmon stream near Olympia Washington. He is of Native Hawaiian ancestry and writes about the people of Hawaii and Western North America. Russell was born in San Francisco prior to World War Two and says he is old enough to have played American Football while wearing a leather helmet. He is married to Narda Pierce and is the father of three children, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Mr. Cahill is a graduate of San Jose State College, (now University) with a degree in Biology. He has served in Yosemite, Glacier Bay, Katmai and Haleakala National Parks and has been the Director of the Alaska and California State Park Systems and the Deputy Director of Washington’s State Parks.

During the 1970s Russell with his late wife Susie took their children to a remote place in Alaska and built a cabin using only hand tools. He spends part of each summer at the cabin in Gustavus, Alaska. He and his wife Narda have kayaked in Alaska, Mainland United States and Western Australia. Since his retirement he has served as a member of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, State Parks Commission, and as a Community Services volunteer. Russell and his wife have travelled extensively based on the theory, “retire early and often.” The two of them once walked from Idaho to Seattle just for the heck of it. He claims his most interesting job was as a bouncer at a go-go club during college years.


Book Review

I received the book from the author for an honest review.
As I have never read any book on the Hawaiin beliefs and experiences, I  found the book difficult at times.  But the book made for interesting reading.
The author painted a vivid picture and I was pulled along through all the adventures with Kolea and his crew.
Something that stuck in my mind is when Koi said to Kolea 'You have to look your enemy in the eye'.  A valuable lesson learned!
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.
Kind regards,
Leonie

Men under Fire by Jacki Delecki. Book 3 in the Grayce Walters series.


Men Under Fire
by Jacki Delecki
Series: Grayce Walters, #3
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 25, 2015



Hollie Thomas, the feisty, tattooed office assistant to Grayce Walters, has come a long way from living on the streets. Along with finding a job she loves, she’s found friends and safety. When her new life unravels, she faces dangers that dwarf her troubled past. Fighting to survive, she discovers that sometimes what you need the most might be found in the one person you failed to see coming.

Returning home from the war and struggling to find his way, Sergeant Nick Welby, and his bomb-sniffing golden lab, use their skill set in the last place he’d ever imagined—Seattle’s Waterfront. To protect the one woman who matters, Nick and his trusty canine partner will risk everything to rescue her and Seattle from disaster.

Embroiled in Grayce Walters’ most perilous case—a terrorist plot with the threat of deadly explosives—can Nick and Hollie work together to save themselves and each other before it’s too late?









Jacki Delecki is a Best-Selling, Romantic Suspense writer. Delecki’s Grayce Walters Series, which chronicles the adventures of a Seattle animal acupuncturist, was an editor’s selection by USA Today. Delecki’s Romantic Regency The Code Breaker Series hit number one on Amazon. Both acclaimed series are available for purchase at http://www.JackiDelecki.com.

To learn more about Jacki and her books and to be the first to hear about giveaways join her newsletter found on her website. Follow her on FB—Jacki Delecki; Twitter @jackidelecki.





Book Review: Juror Number Ten by Caroline Taylor

Genre: Thriller/romantic suspense Bio:  Caroline Taylor is a novelist and short-story writer who grew up in the mountain west and traveled...