Monday, May 15, 2017

Hannah—knee-deep in nailing down catering plans and floral arrangements for her upcoming nuptials—is ready for some R&R. Stealing off to a quiet, secluded island off the coast of Washington state for good wine and fresh air with her four best friends seems like the perfect way to spend her bachelorette weekend.

But the island may have other ideas.

Halfway through the trip, the bride-to-be mysteriously disappears, leaving the bridesmaids confused and increasingly panicked. To make matters worse, there’s something…amiss about the house they’re staying in. As the tension rises, personalities clash, secrets spill out, and the girls begin seeing and hearing things they can’t explain. While Hannah’s friends desperately try to discover what has happened to her, an ominous storm rolls in that could trap them on the island indefinitely. Now the girls who came to celebrate with Hannah begin to wonder, is she going to make it to the wedding? Is she going to make it home at all?

My Thoughts
What a great short story! I'm always iffy about short stories - not enough drama, no story line, no plot, no ending, etc. Andrea Dunlop did not disappoint! This story has everything from ghosts to mystery and thrills and chills all packed into one novella!
Hannah is planning the wedding of her dreams, well not of her dreams, of her mother in laws dreams. She's basically just along for the ride.
In no time it's her bachelorette weekend! What better place to get away then to a secluded island and a gorgeous old home that is all theirs!
After a night out on the town (at the only bar in town) the bride goes missing. Did she get cold feet and run? Was she kidnapped? All while they are trying to locate Hannah some spooky things begin to happen - first a horrible storm and then seeing ghosts! Grab this novella and find out how it ends!

Drink Selection
Going to go with a favorite to all, Champs! Yum! Hannah should be celebrating in style!

Rating

What a good story from beginning to end, 4 wine glasses all the way!

About the Author
I'm the author of the novel LOSING THE LIGHT (Atria Books).

I am also the social media & marketing director for Girl Friday Productions in Seattle. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about marketing/social media/writing/self-publishing or anything else you think I might be able to help with.

Links to Purchase
Amazon
Amazon UK

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Review - The Weight of Lies by Emily Carpenter

In this gripping, atmospheric family drama, a young woman investigates the forty-year-old murder that inspired her mother’s bestselling novel, and uncovers devastating truths—and dangerous lies.
Reformed party girl Meg Ashley leads a life of privilege, thanks to a bestselling horror novel her mother wrote decades ago. But Meg knows that the glow of their very public life hides a darker reality of lies, manipulation, and the heartbreak of her own solitary childhood. Desperate to break free of her mother, Meg accepts a proposal to write a scandalous, tell-all memoir.
Digging into the past—and her mother’s cult classic—draws Meg to Bonny Island, Georgia, and an unusual woman said to be the inspiration for the book. At first island life seems idyllic, but as Meg starts to ask tough questions, disturbing revelations come to light…including some about her mother.
Soon Meg’s search leads her to question the facts of a decades-old murder. She’s warned to leave it alone, but as the lies pile up, Meg knows she’s getting close to finding a murderer. When her own life is threatened, Meg realizes the darkness found in her mother’s book is nothing compared to the chilling truth that lurks off the page.

My Thoughts
You must plan on picking up a copy of The Weight of Lies for your summer reading must haves! You will not be able to put it down! (just remember to flip if you are out reading in the sun!)
This book is about murder, family drama, love and so much more!
It all began when Meg's mother Frances was 19 years old and she stayed on Bonny Island for a summer. She left at the end a literary star for writing Kitten which turned into a cult classic! The 40th anniversary of the book is around the corner and Asa (a literary agent) sought our Meg to write a tell all and basically let out all of her mothers secrets.
Meg decides that she needs to visit the scene of the crime for the summer and she will never forget it (and not in a good way!). She's threatened, stalked, almost bitten by a snake, kidnapped and that's not even the half of it!
I really though I knew what happened and then my theories were blown out of the water all the way till the very last page!

Drink Selection
I am going to pair it with a delish pitcher of Coastal Skies, you will want more than more glass!

Rating

The Weight of Lies is 5 wine glasses all the way! This is by far a top read of 2017! A must have for your beach bag!

Author Bio

EMILY CARPENTER, a former actor, producer, screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Auburn University. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, she now lives in Georgia with her family. BURYING THE HONEYSUCKLE GIRLS is her first novel. You can visit Emily online at emilycarpenterauthor.com.

Links to Purchase
Amazon
Amazon UK

Book Spotlight - Swipe Right by Levi Lusko

There is nothing more powerful on earth than the forces of love, sex, and romance. In fact, relationships are a matter of life-and-death importance.

So how you can train today for the relationship you want tomorrow? In Swipe Right, Levi Lusko shares with raw honesty from his own life experiences and God’s Word how to

regret-proof your marriage bed and your deathbed

resist settling for instant pleasure by discovering what your heart really longs for

learn how to avoid and treat sexual scars by careful living today

turn the clumsy “sex talk” with your child into dialogue that leads to wise choices

transform a stagnant marriage by trading predictable nearness for mind-blowing intimacy

God’s dreams for your life are not intended to kill your joy but to enhance it. Whether you’re fed up with dating and hooking up as usual, tired of being single, numb because of porn and casual sex, or curious about how to improve your marriage, this book is for you.

About the Author

Levi Lusko is the pastor of Fresh Life Church, a multisite church in Montana, and the founder of Skull Church and the O2 Experience. He serves as host for Greg Laurie’s Harvest Crusades and travels internationally to speak at churches and conferences. He takes pleasure in small things like: black coffee, new shoes, and fast internet. He and his wife, Jennie, have four daughters, Alivia, Daisy, Clover, and Lenya, who is in heaven.

Links to Purchase
Amazon
Amazon UK

Book Spotlight - Collateral Damage by Dr. John Chirban

Based on research from more than 10,000 surveys from children and parents of divorce, Collateral Damage presents parents with an overview of the negative impact that divorce has on their children and offers ways to better serve their needs at this critical time.
Approximately fifty percent of marriages in the United State fail. Add to that the increasing number of couples who never marry, have children together, and later go their separate ways. In all of these scenarios, children suffer greatly—often in silence, as parents do not know how to effectively guide their kids. When the sorrow and emotional issues of children are not addressed, the cycle of divorce is likely to continue for them and in generations that follow. In addition, while children may appear to be resilient and adjusting, without proper support children of divorce are more prone to drug and alcohol abuse, criminal behavior, mental and physical illness, and suicide. How can parents manage their own hurt, shock, anger, and despair so that they can provide their children with what they need?
While Collateral Damage does not advocate divorce, it does sound a wakeup call for parents. It identifies the landmines inherent in the dangerous terrain of divorce and equips them to help their children not to feel abandoned or unheard. Topics covered include:

Building the family—not losing it
Tuning into your kids
Stabilizing childhood
Maintaining parent/child roles
Avoiding the parenting handoff
Keeping kids out of the war zone
Instilling trust
Keeping open lines of communication
Attuning to guiding, spiritual resources

The unfortunate failure of a marriage does not mean the end of the family. Providing a stable, supportive, healthy relationship with your child demonstrates what a loving relationship looks like, better preparing them for intimate relationships and marriage as an adult.

About the Author

John Chirban, Ph.D, Th.D., is a part-time lecturer in psychology at Harvard Medical School and director of Cambridge Counseling Associates. He is the author of Collateral Damage: Guiding and Protecting Your Child Through the Minefield of Divorce (Harper Collins) to be released in January, 2017.
Dr. Chirban earned his first doctorate in interdisciplinary studies in medicine, psychology, and religion at Harvard University and earned his second doctorate from the University Professors Program at Boston University in oral history and clinical psychology. Having completed a post doctorate program in Behavioral Medicine at The Cambridge Hospital, he is also a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts and California and a Guardian ad litem in Massachusetts. In 2003, he was named 40th Anniversary Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University and is also a member of the Society of Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR).
Dr. Chirban is an original member of the Advisory Board for the Dr. Phil Show and professor of psychology emeritus at Hellenic College. Author of numerous academic articles, his recent books include: Collateral Damage: Guiding and Protecting Your Child Through the Minefield of Divorce (Harper Collins, 2017); How to Talk With Your Kids About Sex (Thomas Nelson Publisher, 2012); Holistic Healing in Byzantium (Holy Cross Press, 2010); What’s Love Got to Do with IT—Talking with Your Kids About Sex (Thomas Nelson Publisher, 2007); and True Coming of Age – A Dynamic Process that Leads to Emotional Well-Being, Spiritual Growth, and Meaningful Relationships (McGraw-Hill, 2004).
Dr. Chirban divides his time between teaching, research, and private practice in psychotherapy. A special area of interest for Dr. Chirban concerns problems in relationships and sexual health. At the Cambridge Health Alliance, he offers seminars and conducts supervision, concerning sexuality, sexual dysfunction, and spirituality in context of psychotherapy. His current research projects include an examination of the philosophy and religion of B. F. Skinner, drawing upon his collaborative interviews with Dr. Skinner spanning 20 years and The Divorce Handbook: Essentials for Sustaining Your Children. Dr. Chirban lives in Carlisle, Massachusetts with his three children: Alexis Georgia, Anthony Thomas, and Ariana Maria.

Links to Purchase
Amazon
Amazon UK

Review - Remember Me by Lynda Renham

A new neighbour becomes a new friend. She looks up to you. She admires you, but is it you she wants? You begin to wonder if she wants your husband, or even your child. But then you realise, she wants your life.

When Sharni and Tom move into 24 The Pines, it seems like Clare and Chris have the perfect neighbours. Sharni is always there to help, especially with childcare for Clare’s two-year-old, Ben. But Clare can’t shake off the feelings of anxiety that assail her whenever Sharni is near. Is Clare just being overprotective, or are her feelings justified? As Sharni‘s influence touches everyone around her, Clare finds herself fighting for her sanity as well her family.

My Thoughts
I LOVE that Lynda went in a totally different direction that what she is used to with her writing! Remember Me has thrills, chills, fear and suspense. I thought I knew what happened and then the end came and I was like WHAT?
Clare and Chris thought they hit the new neighbor lottery! Sharni and Tom were great to talk to and hang out with. At the last minute Sharni was able to babysit for Clare so that she didn't have to call into school, wow, perfect right? I'm not so sure, would you trust a neighbor that you only knew for a few weeks with your child all day? I know that I wouldn't but that's just me.
Little by little Clare feels like she is losing her mind, forgetting things, or is she? She feels Ben is more attached to Sharni then he is to her, how is that possible?
Each turn of the page will have you questioning what you believe is happening versus what is reality.
Grab you copy today! You will not be disappointed!

Drink Selection
Sit back and enjoy a glass of Summer Sangria, of three while reading Remember Me! Yum!

Rating

I really enjoyed this read and I loved the way it was written! 5 wine glasses all the way!

Author Bio

Lynda Renham has been writing for as long as she can remember and had her first work published in a magazine at age nine and has continued writing in various forms since. She has had several poems published as well as articles in numerous magazines and newspapers. Recently she has taken part in radio discussions on the BBC.

She has studied literature and creative writing and has a blog on her web page: www.renham.co.uk

Lynda lives with her second husband and cat in Oxfordshire, England. She is Associate Editor for the online magazine The Scavenger and contributor to many others. When not writing Lynda can usually be found wasting her time on Facebook.

Links to Purchase
Amazon
Amazon UK

Monday, May 1, 2017

BookSparks 7th Annual Summer Reading Challenge is HERE!

BookSparks 7th Annual Summer Reading Challenge is HERE!

It’s summer and that can only mean one thing – the Summer Reading Challenge is here! And this year’s challenge is SO BIG we can’t even spill all the details at once! You’ll have to read and follow along with us all summer to learn all the secrets.

Kicking off with the incredible Paula Hawkins

Paula Hawkins, #1 bestselling author of The Girl on the Train, joins us to host the 2017 Summer Reading Challenge with her newest thriller Into the Water. That gorgeous cover is reason enough to grab this hot summer read immediately and jump right in, but we can’t wait to see what mysterious and surprising secrets await between the covers, too.

Into The Water by Paula Hawkins

The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller and global phenomenon The Girl on the Train returns with Into the Water, her addictive new novel of psychological suspense.
A single mother turns up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable teenage girl met the same fate. They are not the first women lost to these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history, dredging up secrets long submerged.
Left behind is a lonely fifteen-year-old girl. Parentless and friendless, she now finds herself in the care of her mother’s sister, a fearful stranger who has been dragged back to the place she deliberately ran from—a place to which she vowed she’d never return.
With the same propulsive writing and acute understanding of human instincts that captivated millions of readers around the world in her explosive debut thriller, The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins delivers an urgent, twisting, deeply satisfying read that hinges on the deceptiveness of emotion and memory, as well as the devastating ways that the past can reach a long arm into the present.
Beware a calm surface—you never know what lies beneath.