Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Murder by Perfection by Lauren Carr (Review and Giveaway!)

Murder by Perfection is the third book in the Thorny Rose Mysteries and I was very happy to revisit characters that I've fallen in love with.

Book Details:

Book Title: Murder by Perfection by Lauren Carr
Series: Thorny Rose Mystery Series (Volume 3)
Category: Adult fiction, 322 pages
Genre: Murder Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: May 31, 2018
Tour dates: Oct 8 to Nov 2, 2018
Content Rating: PG (mild violence and sexual suggestion)

Book Description:

Perfection can be a fatal endeavor.

Frustrated with their busy schedules, Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday attempt to find togetherness by scheduling a weekly date night. The last thing Jessica Faraday expected for her date night was to take a couple’s gourmet cooking course at the Stepford Kitchen Studio, owned by Chef Natalie Stepford―the model of perfection in looks, home, and business.

When Natalie ends up dead and Murphy goes missing, the Thorny Rose detectives must peel back the layers of Natalie Stepford’s life to discover that the pursuit of perfection can be deadly.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

Murder by Perfection is the third book in the Thorny Rose Mysteries. I have read the first two: Kill and Run and A Fine Year for Murder and was very happy to revisit characters that I've fallen in love with. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but if you want a great intro to newlyweds Jessica and Murphy Thornton, I suggest you read the first book.

Jessica and Murphy have settled into their first year of marriage. Life is very busy with Jessica studying forensics psychiatry in med school and Murphy on occasional assignments with covert military operations. So when Murphy agrees to take a couple's cooking class to get some inside info for a US Navy doctor friend, little does he know that this will start a series of events in which he goes missing and everyone is scrambling to find him before he ends up as another dead body.

Once again, Lauren Carr brings together her great cast of characters on a crazy ride to solve a few murder mysteries with the usual twists and turns that make her books great page-turners. With all the plot threads she introduces into the story, the reader is kept guessing how everything ties together. And the best part is that there are never any loose threads. Lauren Carr brings it all together smoothly (and almost effortlessly) by the end.

As is her trademark, Carr develops her animal characters just as well. The subtle antics of Newman, Murphy's couch potato Basset hound-mix dog, are hilarious. Spencer, the blue merle, is as cute and adorable as ever. And the virtual butler Nigel? Let's just say I wish I had one. Oh, and Carr introduces a whole new meaning to the expression "what not".

This third instalment in the Thorny Rose Mystery series is another fun book for those days when you just want to revisit book friends and be entertained. Each book always makes me look forward to the next story, in whatever series, as I continue to follow the lives of the families of law enforcers and their animal friends.

To read reviews, please visit Lauren Carr's page on iRead Book Tours.

Buy the Book:

Amazon

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Watch the book trailer:

Meet the Author:

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Now, Lauren has added one more hit series to her list with the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries. Set in the quaint West Virginia town of Harpers Ferry, Ice introduces Chris Matheson, a retired FBI agent, who joins forces with other law enforcement retirees to heat up those cold cases that keep them up at night.

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends Nov 10, 2018

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Monday, October 29, 2018

Quantum Success by Christy Whitman (Review)

I'm always attracted to books that focus on positivity and harnessing our minds to success. Hence, my reason for reading this one. But as it turns out, I've already achieved quantum success.

Book Details:

Book Title: Quantum Success by Christy Whitman
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, pages
Genre: Motivational, Self-Improvement, Happiness, Management & Leadership, Personal Transformation
Publisher: Atria/Enliven Books
Release date: September 25, 2018
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

In the bestselling tradition of The Secret, learn how to use the law of attraction for your career to access greater financial success and fulfillment in this positive, detailed guide from celebrated life coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Having It All, Christy Whitman.

Whether your vision of an ideal career is starting your own business, rising to a different position within your current company, or landing your very first job, Quantum Success will help you make the prosperity and fulfillment of your dreams a reality.

Through her accessible, empowering writing, Christy Whitman shares the fundamental principles that she’s discovered after more than twenty years of studying universal forces—such as polarity, alignment, resonance, momentum, and magnetism—and explains how to harness these forces to optimize your wealth and career. Exemplified by numerous case studies, Christy’s ten-step plan teaches you how to establish inner relationships with future clients, associates, and employees, work with light and energy to magnetize opportunities and resources, build a culture of value and appreciation that brings out the very best in those around you, and operate at your highest capacity.

By mastering this process, you will enable yourself to achieve unimaginable success in your career, however you define it.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

I'm always attracted to book that focus on positivity and harnessing our minds to success. I try to live a holistic lifestyle and I live by Bible principles. I believe that the universe has energy that affects us, but I also strongly believe that God's active force plays a role in my life through prayer and my own actions in line with these prayers. So, although I read self-improvement books because I have an open mind to keep learning and bettering myself, I always do so from a Christian perspective.

I must admit, I was curious about the fundamental principles of the Law of Attraction, hence my reason for choosing to read Quantum Success. Firstly, I liked the title. It's clever and it pulled me in. Secondly, although I do not believe that we are divine beings, I do believe we were created in God's image and with free will, so yes, we can create the life we want.

After reading Quantum Success, a book that is well-written and engaging, I had to think carefully on the mind-set the author was expounding. Essentially, Whitman is telling us that "as human beings, we exist in multiple dimensions simultaneously." A physical part which makes up 4%, and a non-physical part which is 96% and that remains unmanifested, until we become aware of it and tap into it. She encourages readers to open their perception to the spiritual energy that nourishes and sources everything in the manifested world. Although the author finds references to quantum success "sprinkled within many of the world's religions", she herself makes it clear that she has no particular religious affiliation.

This is further made clear when she tells readers that we are part of a larger whole, by whatever name we call it, be it "God, the universe, Mother Nature, your inner being or Fred". For me, God cannot be compared or be equivalent to any on this list. He is not an impersonal force, but an all-powerful spiritual and divine person with a name, thoughts, and feelings that I have a close personal relationship with. Therefore, although some of the information is useful, such as the setting of goals, and the truth that materialism is not the true source of happiness, I personally believe that my relationship with God on a spiritual level has been my quantum success. It has shaped who I am and helped me in every aspect of my life, whether personally, in my family or in my business.

I do know that there is much about the energetic world that man is just beginning to discover (and some are sceptical about), like the fact that thoughts and emotions are manifested with vibrations that are transmitted much like radio waves. But I believe this to be true. Which is why I can "feel" when a person is transmitting good feelings or vibes toward me or even evil ones. Bible principles are actually in alignment with this, and no wonder, for God is the source and the Creator of all energy.

So although I appreciated the message about the importance of tapping into our consciousness and redirecting our thoughts positively, of shifting our perspectives, I believe as a Christian that this is done through God and the study of his Word that is very much in sync with science. I have seen the manifestation of this time and again. The Law of Attraction may be attractive to those seeking to better themselves without crediting God who is the source of all positive energy, but I believe the best transformational work is only done if one is aligned with the true God, Jehovah.

Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book for an objective review. All opinions are my own.

To read more reviews, please visit Christy Witman's page on Virtual Author's Book Tour page.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ IndieBound

Add to Goodreads

About the Author:

Christy Whitman is a transformational leader, celebrity coach and the New York Times best-selling author of The Art of Having It All: A Woman’s Guide to Unlimited Abundance. She has appeared on The Today Show and The Morning Show and her work has been featured in People Magazine, Seventeen, Woman’s Day, Hollywood Life, and Teen Vogue, among others. As the CEO and founder of the Quantum Success Learning Academy and the Quantum Success Coaching Academy, a 12-month Law of Attraction coaching certification program, Christy has helped thousands of people worldwide to achieve their goals through her empowerment seminars, speeches, and coaching sessions and products.

Christy’s life-changing message reaches over 200,000 people each month and her work has been promoted by and featured alongside esteemed authors and luminaries such as Dr. Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay. Marianne Williamson, Marci Shimoff, Brian Tracy, Neale Donald Walsch, and Abraham-Hicks. She currently lives in Arizona with her husband, Frederic, and their two boys, Alexander and Maxim.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ LinkedIn

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Sunday Post, Mailbox Monday and It's Monday What Are You Reading? Oct 29 Edition

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

I enjoyed my summer so much this year that I'm still not ready for winter. The cold is here...wet leaves, biting wind, icy rain. Went shopping with my teen kids for winter boots and gear, hoping that if they buy the brand they like, they will actually wear their hat and gloves when the temps plunge.

My dad gave me several pumpkins from his garden so I've been making soups and baking a lot. I made Pumpkin Spice cake yesterday and my house smelled heavenly! Stay warm.

Mailbox Monday Edition

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Mailbox Monday now has a permanent home on its blog. Link up to share your MM.

For Review:

A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano

Sean Awesome by Ms. Yellow & Mr. Wide

Crimes Past by Lauren Carr

Spring Thaw by Lauren Carr

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organise yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

What I read and/or featured last week:

Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd (Review and Giveaway! First time I read a book by this author whom I've been wanting to read for a long time

Currently Reading:

Stop by and enter my giveaways!

Also posted on the right sidebar.

Hope you all have a great reading week.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Alycat and the Friendship Friday on sale for $1.99 today Oct 27 only!

Alycat and the Friendship Friday will be on sale for $1.99 today Saturday, Oct 27 only!

Book Description:

It’s finally Friday, and Alycat is excited to go on a field trip with her friends. But when she doesn’t have anyone to sit with on the bus, Alycat feels left out. Can she use her creativity and imagination to help everyone feel included?

Alycat and the Friendship Friday will teach readers that making new friends isn’t as scary as you might think.

Get your copy today:

Amazon

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Check out this original song from the newest Alycat book!

Get your $1.99 eBook on Oct.27th. One Day Only!

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd (Review and Giveaway!)

Although I've heard so much about Sandra Byrd's books, this is the first time I've had the pleasure of reading one. Check out my review and enter the giveaway to win a copy!

Book Details:

Book Title: Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd

Series: The Victorian Ladies Series, #1
Category: Adult Fiction, 480 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Romance
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Release date: October 9, 2018
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

Although I've heard so much about Sandra Byrd's books, this is the first time I've had the pleasure of reading one. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel set in 18th century England, with the strong and intelligent female heroine Eleanor Sheffield.

Eleanor has been trained from childhood to be an evaluator of antiquities, working alongside her father and her uncle. But upon the death of her father and with her uncle declining in mental health, Eleanor finds herself in financial dire straights, even as she uses her wits and talents to support her family and household. As all this takes place, Eleanor's love interest Harry from her younger days comes back into her life and she must reconcile if she can trust him after he broke her heart.

I simply loved the character of Eleanor. Not only was she bright and talented, but she was also kind and generous. She had strong values and a good sense of justice. I also loved how the author brought Eleanor's trade to life. As a reader I enjoy learning new things and I learned how evaluators assessed objects of antiquities to determine their worth and if indeed they were genuine or fraudulent. The plot included a mystery too, and I found myself trying to guess along with Eleanor. The author's research was well incorporated into the novel and makes this book a worthy and intelligent read.

The only part of the book I found somewhat lacking was the romance. Harry was a noteworthy character but he seemed to be making only small appearances for most of the first half of the book until he was more involved later. He was not as well-developed a character as Eleanor was. There was a lack of passion between him and Eleanor that at one point I even wondered if another male character was going to make an appearance to liven the romance department a little! No sexual tension whatsoever. I've read plenty of Christian historical fiction novels that do this so well while keeping the novel clean.

Apart from this, Lady of a Thousand Treasures is a strong first book in The Victorian Ladies Series and aptly titled. The ending is beautiful and ties up all plot threads satisfyingly. I look forward to reading more in this series and other books from this author.

Buy the Book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Add to Goodreads

About the Author:

Bestselling author Sandra Byrd has published more than fifty books over her editing and writing career. Her traditionally published books include titles by Tyndale House Publishers, Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, WaterBrook Press, a Penguin Random House imprint, and Bethany House. She’s also an independent author.

Sandra’s series of historically sound Gothic romances launched with the best-selling Mist of Midnight, which earned a coveted Editor’s Choice award from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, published in 2017 and was named by the American Library Association’s Booklist as one of the Top Ten Inspirational Fiction books of the year.

Her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2011, and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012.

Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more or to invite Sandra to your book club via Skype. You can also connect with Sandra on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends Nov 9, 2018

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 9th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Sunday Post, Mailbox Monday and It's Monday What Are You Reading? Oct 21 Edition

It's the harvest season and I've been doing a lot of cooking and baking since I'm getting a lot of produce from my Dad's garden. Fresh greens, beets, garlic, herbs, onions, potatoes, squash and so much other wonderfully fresh organic food! I'm experimenting with various recipes too. But I'm also more tired than usual. The change of seasons, less sun and not as much outdoor activities. Only managed to get out biking once this week. That wind nearly knocked me off the bike path. :-)

Mailbox Monday Edition

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Mailbox Monday now has a permanent home on its blog. Link up to share your MM.

For Review:

The Consultant by Tj O'Connor

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

It's just been published as a graphic novel!

Temptation Rag by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard

The Healing Power of Ayahuasca by Marc McLean

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What I read and/or featured last week:

Mantis Force: Decimation (Marium Kahnet Book 2) by R.J. Amezcua (Review and Giveaway) This one is hard-core sci-fi.

A Bully on the School Bus by Dr. Mildred D. Peyton and Leah N. Peyton (Book Review and Giveaway!) A good book to read with your young kids to open up conversations about bullying

The Song Peddler of the Pont Neuf by Laura Lebow (Review and Giveaway!) I enjoyed this one a lot. Historical mystery set in 17th century Paris

Don't Write a Crappy Book by James M. Ranson (Book Spotlight, Guest Post and Giveaway!)

Currently Reading:

Always in for a good read with Lauren Carr.

Stop by and enter my giveaways!

Also posted on the right sidebar.

Hope you all have a great reading week.

Friday, October 19, 2018

Mantis Force: Decimation (Marium Kahnet Book 2) by R.J. Amezcua (Review and Giveaway)

Decimation is the second book in the Mantis Force trilogy and continues from where the first book Retribution left off. If you are a sci-fi fan, be sure to enter the giveaway to win a copy of the first book.

Book Details for Decimation:

Book Title: Mantis Force: Decimation (Marium Kahnet Book 2) by R.J. Amezcua
Category: Adult Fiction, 200 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi, with elements of fantasy
Publisher: Quentorex Studios
Release date: October 18, 2017
Tour dates: Oct 1 to 31, 2018
Content Rating: PG + M (No explicit sex scenes or bad language)

Book Description for Decimation:

Led by Victoria and Balese, the rogue sisters of the Marium Kahnet have successfully completed their life-long quest for revenge against the sorcerer’s guild. Now a new mission has begun, one of survival, as their enemies seek their lives with a vengeance. As planned, the sisters who managed to survive the destruction of the testing facilities have joined their adopted family’s nefarious criminal organizations, plotting to escape with detailed plans of the Leviathan project to justify their actions to their home world of Ramah. But they are unaware they are being hunted by elite mercenaries hired by the sisterhood.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

Last week I reviewed Retribution, which is the first book in the Mantis Force trilogy. These books are not stand-alone and must be read in order. The first book introduced us to a cast of interesting characters and left the reader with an unresolved ending and a story that needed to be continued.

As with the first book, there is fantastic world-building in Decimation and the book is well-written. Whereas the first book felt more like fantasy than sci-fi, this one felt more like sci-fi with spaceship crashes, battles with monstrous creatures, and the decimation of enemy weaponry stations that caused toxic radiation. There was more action in this novel and the author's writing shines when he is describing these scenes. There are not as many Biblical references as in the first book.

Decimation continues from where the first book ended but there is no reference to any backstory. We are introduced to a new cast of characters, more unfamiliar names and terms, also with little backstory to each new character and to the why of certain events or actions. As I mentioned in my first review, a glossary would have been very helpful. As I was reading, I kept feeling like I was missing info and thus was confused at times.

As much as I enjoyed the writing, I had a difficult time being invested in the story or its characters. I didn't care for the rogue sisters who caused tens of millions of casualty deaths and destruction in the name of revenge.I thought they were selfish and were just doing what had been done to their families. I found it disappointing that the main character Jazrene Vallo from the first book does not appear at all in this one. Once again, there is an unresolved ending and the story needs to be continued in the next book Rebirth.

If you are a fan of Christian sci-fi with fantasy elements, this trilogy may appeal to you. Be prepared to read the whole trilogy in order as these books are not stand-alone.

Buy Decimation:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes

Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

R. J. Amezcua was born and raised in Silicon Valley, and is happily married to Sheryl. As a young boy, one of his favorite TV shows was Lost in Space. Being an entrepreneur and visionary by nature, he has begun his journey as an author and writer. Using his love for science fiction, he created the epic saga “Mantis Force,” which encompasses a vast universe.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends Nov 7, 2018

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Thursday, October 18, 2018

A Bully on the School Bus by Dr. Mildred D. Peyton and Leah N. Peyton (Book Review and Giveaway!)

October is National Bullying Prevention Month! Last week I reviewed Sophia Writes to Her Bully and this week it's another book by the same author but with a different scenario.

Book Details:

Book Title: A Bully on the School Bus by Dr. Mildred D. Peyton and Leah N. Peyton
Illustrator: Andy Hoang
Category: Children's fiction, 26 pages
Genre: Education, Social Skills & School Life
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release date: Sept 2015
Tour dates: Oct 8 to 26 2018
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Nicole is the main character in the book "A Bully on the School Bus." Nicole is a young girl who rides the school bus to school every day. It wasn't until Nicole started experiencing problems with another bus-rider named Dylan when she became uncomfortable being on this bus. Her experience with Dylan is a form of bullying, and she was frightened. After several incidences, Nicole made her parent aware and found a way to solve the problem.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

Last week I reviewed another one of Dr. Mildred D. Peyton's books titled Sophia Writes to Her Bully. As I mentioned in that review, I think bullying is a topic that parents need to take seriously and help their children deal with. A Bully on the School Bus is another book that brings up the common topic of bullying on the school bus.

Nicole is asked by a boy named Dylan to get up from her seat because he wants to sit there. He repeats the behaviour the next day more forcefully and Nicole tells the bus driver as her parents suggested she do. Once again, I liked that Nicole spoke to her parents about it and they both listened and gave her suggestions as to what to do if it happened again.

The book did not offer an alternate solution if Dylan didn't stop his behaviour, as my experience has been that bullies do not give up right away. For this reason, I believe the story could have been better fleshed out since bullying rarely has an easy and quick solution. And most of the time, it takes several interventions before the problem is satisfactorily resolved. Nicole came across as fearless as she refused twice not to give up her seat. Usually kids who are picked on are not fearless, hence the reason they get picked on. However, I applaud Nicole for standing up for herself and she could be a good role model for children who have difficulty doing so.

Possible issues that could have been included: What if Dylan retaliated because Nicole told on him to the bus driver? Bullies know that once the bus driver is driving, he cannot see what is going on behind him. What if the bus driver was a big burly man and came across as intimidating? Not all kids are comfortable speaking to an adult they do not know very well about a problem that affects them emotionally. Perhaps Nicole's parents could have suggested that if Nicole was shy, they would have privately discussed the issue with the bus driver. Or that Nicole sit right up front close to the bus driver or that she not take a seat as soon as she enters the bus and remain standing instead until Dylan comes into the bus and that way he could not ask her to give up her seat. All these scenarios and strategies could have been discussed so that this book would appeal to children of various ages and circumstances.

Overall, this book offers a good idea on how to deal with a bullying situation. It's a book that parents can use with their children to open up the conversation on how to best deal with bullying. We need to keep the conversation going, so books like this one are important. The illustrations are age-appropriate and the author includes tips for students, parents and school personnel at the back of the book as well as links to helpful resources for parents.

To read reviews, please visit Dr. Mildren Peyton's page on iRead Book Tours.

Buy the Book:

Amazon

Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Dr. Mildred Peyton is the President and Founder of Peyton Consulting, LLC. Dr. Peyton established her consulting firm, which was initially geared towards school bullying services, in March 2016. She was inspired to create Peyton Consulting and become a children's author on bullying after completing her doctoral research study entitled, "Exploring the Meaning of School Bullying Among Parents of Victimized Children."

During her undergraduate internship in 2002-2003 at Salisbury Middle School in Wicomico County, Dr. Peyton and her team developed and facilitated a mentoring program, providing one-on-one conflict resolution and mediating skills to students who were identified by the program coordinator with ongoing needs of behavioral issues. One of the key/primary areas Dr. Peyton and the other mentors focused on was educating and addressing bullying issues with bullies and victims. And in her graduate program, Dr. Peyton also facilitated a school bullying focus group in 2005 at Maryvale Elementary School in Montgomery County, to teach participants about bullying behaviors and how to avoid bullying others. She also attended several bullying workshops to learn about the latest studies while working with the students. Her passion on this topic followed her even as she served as a member on the Committee on Hate/Violence at Montgomery County Office of Human Rights, in 2013. There she developed a brochure for students and parents for the annual bullying symposium and, provided rich knowledge and skills on this topic throughout the year.

Today, the company has expanded its services to target workplace bullying as well. With the experiences of others and Dr. Peyton's personal experience with adult bullying in the workplace (which caused her to resign from her employer in 2016), she believes attention, guidance, and solutions are also critical in this area. Dr. Peyton holds a Ph.D. in Human and Social Services with a concentration in Social Policy Analysis & Planning. She has a Bachelor's degree in Social Work and Sociology and a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology. Dr. Peyton is committed to using her knowledge and skills to influence positive change among students and adults.

Connect with Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends Nov 3, 2018

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Wednesday, October 17, 2018

The Song Peddler of the Pont Neuf by Laura Lebow (Review and Giveaway!)

The Song Peddler of the Pont Neuf by Laura Lebow is the first book in the Paul Gastebois Mystery Series. This book came highly recommended and I was pleased by how much I enjoyed it.

Book Details:

Book Title: The Song Peddler of the Pont Neuf by Laura Lebow
Category: Adult Fiction, 410 pages
Genre: Historical mystery
Publisher: Settecento Press
Release date: September 4, 2018
Content Rating: PG-13 (No bad language except one f-word, mild murder mystery violence, brief description of rape scene)

Book Description:

PARIS, 1788: Facing bankruptcy after years of expensive wars, King Louis XVI calls a meeting of the Estates General, the ancient French legislature which has not met in 174 years. The city hums with talk about modernizing the assembly and changing France into a constitutional monarchy.

Paul Gastebois, a confidential inquirer, isn’t interested in politics. He’s busy with the daily tedium of detective work—following foreign diplomats for the Parisian police and helping artisanal guilds enforce their rules. He’d like to make a name for himself solving crimes, but few cases have come his way. Then Paul is hired to find a song peddler who sang bawdy songs to crowds on the Pont Neuf. The missing man had seen someone from his past on the bridge, and had vanished a few weeks later.

As Paul searches Paris for the song peddler, his investigation leads him into the world of underground publishing, where anonymous writers attack King Louis and his queen, Marie-Antoinette, and foreign governments manipulate public opinion for their own purposes. When a ruthless killer strikes, Paul must unravel the mystery of the song peddler’s disappearance, or risk losing everything he holds most dear.

My Review:

Reviewed by Laura Fabiani

The Song Peddler of the Pont Neuf by Laura Lebow is the first book in the Paul Gastebois Mystery Series. This book came highly recommended and I was pleased by how much I enjoyed it. I am now a new fan and look forward to reading more books by this author.

I liked several things about this book, the first is that it was a well-researched, well-written mystery story that takes place in 18th century Paris. We are introduced to a young man named Paul Gastebois who is a confidential inquirer, what can be considered a private investigator today. He does some investigative work for the police spying on foreign diplomats which is not that exciting until he is hired to find a missing person, a song peddler who usually works on the Pont Neuf bridge.

Through his work on this case, we get to know more about our main character, Paul who is very likable. He has a sister who he adores and dotes on, a brother who serves as a priest and with whom he had a falling out, and he is well liked by his friends. Unlike the many books set in this era that I read that feature the aristocratic French, the characters in this book are lower middle-class, eking out a living in hard times.

Lebow brings 18th century Paris on the brink of the French Revolution to life with its political tensions, poverty and daily life for its suffering citizens. And it is in this setting that the mystery unfolds with some good twists that I did not see coming. The only thing missing for me were French expression that would have made the book even more atmospheric. I am fluent in French, living in Quebec and I know how important language is when it comes to culture. However, this did not detract from the story, but is my personal preference when reading books set in foreign countries.

If you enjoy historical mysteries and especially those set in France, The Song Peddler of the Pont Neuf is the perfect book to cozy up with. I enjoyed it thoroughly and eagerly await the next book in the series.

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Meet the Author:

Laura Lebow holds a degree in European History from Brandeis University and a Master in City Planning from MIT. A long-time mystery reader and history buff, she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her previous fascinating historical mysteries include The Figaro Murders and Sent to the Devil, both published by Minotaur Press.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

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Monday, October 15, 2018

Don't Write a Crappy Book by James M. Ranson (Book Spotlight, Guest Post and Giveaway!)

I've been toying with the idea of writing a non-fiction book, so this title appeals to me. I'm looking forward to reading it. It's currently on tour and you can enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the book or an Amazon gift card.

Book Details:

Book Title: Don't Write a Crappy Book by James M. Ranson
Category: Adult Non- Fiction, 210 pages
Genre: Business, Authorpreneurship
Publisher: Master Wordsmith Media, in association with Thanet House Books
Release date: Oct 1, 2018
Tour dates: Oct 8 to 31, 2018
Content Rating: PG for occasional mild swearing (hell and damn, mostly, one instance of "shitty")

Book Description:

A great book can launch your business into the stratosphere. Unfortunately, most self-published business books rank somewhere between “meh” and “flaming pile of crap.” But your book doesn’t have to suck!

In “Don’t Write a Crappy Book,” editor and entrepreneur James Ranson unpacks the most common–and toxic–mistakes that first-time nonfiction authors make. Peppered with wisdom from a panel of industry experts, this book debunks the dangerous myths that can torpedo your text and offers clear, practical guidance for writing a book you’re proud of. This is the resource for the aspiring authorpreneur who wants to write and publish a book with minimum hassle and maximum results.

This book will teach you:

- How a self-published book can make or break your business (and the THREE factors that determine which it does)
- The biggest blind spots no one tells authors about (and how to look for them BEFORE it's too late)
- How to write a first book that will get positive reviews on Amazon (and why that’s a better goal than becoming a bestseller)
- When writing a business book is the right move for you (and when you should NEVER write one)
- How to self-publish on Amazon to actually get good results for your business (a lot of it happens before you even start writing!)
- What NOT to do when you’re looking for an editor (and how to find a great one)
- Why trying to write and publish a book in 90 days or less is a recipe for disaster (and why no one tells you that!)
- How to avoid do-overs, sunk costs, and other self-publishing headaches (and how to get out of them if they sneak up on you)

Stay out of the crap pile! Discover the secrets to creating a highly valuable book that will expand your influence and grow your business for years to come.

To read interviews and guest posts, please visit James M. Ranson's page on iRead Book Tours.

Buy the Book:

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Guest Post:

Why Your Book Isn’t Actually About YOU

by James M. Ranson

You read that right.

Yes, it’s YOUR book, and it definitely needs to come from your experience, include your stories, and sound like your voice.

But people aren’t going to read your book to learn about YOU. They’re going to read your book to learn about THEMSELVES. And if they pick up your book thinking they’ll learn about themselves but only end up learning about you, they’ll feel cheated.

In my book I share seventeen common mistakes people make when writing a book to support their business. A full seven of them fall under the category of not connecting your book to your audience--and the very first one I address is thinking your book is all about you.

In simple terms, if your book is just you talking about yourself for 200 pages, it won’t be connected to your audience. If your book isn’t connected to your audience, nobody in that audience is going to read it. And if nobody reads it, nobody is going to hire, book, or otherwise engage your services, because they won’t know (or care) that you exist.

The next two big mistakes authorpreneurs make around connecting to an audience in their book are not knowing who their audience actually is, and not understanding what they want. If you think back to the early days of your business, you may recognize these as mistakes you made then, too.

Entrepreneurs often start out wanting to be everything to everyone. When I started out, I wanted to be a content writer and a content editor and a speaker coach and a grant writer and a book editor. And I tried to provide those services to literally anyone who needed them. Imagine how many clients I got trying to do all of that at once! (Spoiler: not many.)

I like to use Marie Forleo’s trademark Jersey accent here, “If ya tawkin’ ta everybody, ya tawkin’ ta nobody.” If you’re trying to write a book that will help everyone, it’s not going to speak to anyone in particular. In order for your readers to learn about themselves through your book, they need to be able to see themselves in it, and they can’t do that until you know who they are and address them clearly and specifically.

So ask yourself, “Who do I really love to work with?” And, just as importantly, “Who do I really hate to work with?” Then use those answers to figure out who your book is talking to and who it’s NOT talking to. And be okay that it’s not talking to everyone! The narrower your audience is, the deeper you can go into their pain and the better your book will represent you as THE person who can help them.

Once you figure out who your book is talking to, get really clear on what those people need. What’s the pain that is driving them up a wall, that they come to you to heal, relieve, or solve? Write about that. Present your solution to their problems, help the reader understand why that solution works, and address objections or fears they may have around using that solution. This is what you DO, so it will be easy to give your readers what they want, now that you’ve decided to speak specifically to them.

The neat thing about doing all of this is that by fixing the mistakes of not talking to the right people and not addressing what those people need, you’ll also fix the mistake of making the book all about you. If it’s already all about them, the moments where you come into the picture will already feel relatable and helpful rather than arrogant or self-serving. So by putting your readers and their needs first, you’ll write a book that will serve you and your business light-years better than you ever could by putting yourself first.

Meet the Author:

James Ranson, The Master Wordsmith(TM), is a Wall-Street-Journal-bestselling editor, ghostwriter and book coach who has helped over 200 consultants, coaches, speakers and other thought leaders create high-quality books. Clients of his have gone on to sell thousands of books, receive book deals from publishing houses, and be featured in regional and national media outlets. In addition to his own clients, James is a writer and book doctor for Thanet House Books, and is on recommended professional lists for Scribe Media(formerly Book in a Box), My Word Publishing, BrightFlame Books and Authors Unite. His second book, Don’t Write A Crappy Book!, will be published on October 1, 2018. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, James lives in Atlanta, GA, with his fiancée and a very needy cat.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

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Sunday, October 14, 2018

Sunday Post, Mailbox Monday and It's Monday What Are You Reading? Oct 14 Edition

So I had decided to take time off from posting on my blog during summer weekends, hence my lack of participation in the Sunday Post and Mailbox Monday. Instead, I took up biking and ended up cycling almost every day all summer and into the autumn. It felt so good...and liberating not to be on the computer so much. But I have missed visiting your blogs, so I'm back to see what you're all reading and blogging about!

Mailbox Monday Edition

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Mailbox Monday now has a permanent home on its blog. Link up to share your MM.

For Review: