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Category: Book Reviews
Ten Days in Paradise
By Linda Abbott
Book Blurb
Vacationing on beautiful Sanibel Island off Florida’s Gulf Coast, Ellen Bennett has never felt so guilty—or more alive.
This wasn’t the way things were supposed to turn out. The 45-year-old successful career woman, wife and mother traveled to the island paradise for solitude and a much-needed break from her family. But a chance encounter with a fellow traveler sparks a powerful attraction, forcing Ellen to make a decision that could change her life forever.
Against an idyllic backdrop of white sand beaches, azure waters and lush palms, Ellen struggles to subdue a firestorm of emotions. David, the father of three young children, confronts the fault lines in his own marriage that lead to a stunning revelation.
Their relationship unfolds as David’s family gathers on Sanibel to celebrate his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Tensions are running high. David’s mother is worried about her husband’s strange behavior and inexplicable memory lapses. His sisters, Julia, an over-achieving corporate exec, and Maggie, a hard-partying renegade who just announced she’s gay and leaving her husband, haven’t spoken for months.
On the island, a small congregation battles to save a beloved seaside chapel to make room for a lavish oceanfront mansion. Ellen takes up the cause when she meets 76-year-old Liz Taylor, a vivacious widow with a sparkling wit and a secret passion of her own.
Linda Abbott’s love for Sanibel Island shines throughout Ten Days in Paradise, a compelling and heartfelt novel that masterfully explores the inner landscapes of marriage and family relationships.
My Review
TEN DAYS IN PARADISE is Linda Abbott’s debut novel. Uncharacteristically for me, I found it difficult to “get into” the book. It took about until about chapter 39 (half way through the book) before I felt connected to the story. However, I am happy I stayed with it, because the second half was a very enjoyable read.
What I liked – The story centered on David’s family gathering to celebrate his parents’ 50th anniversary on Florida’s Sanibel Island. Even though there were differences between David’s sisters Julia and Maggie, David played mediator all the while he and his wife Marianne were at odds over how to raise their children. There was also a huge amount of personal time given by Ellen using her resources and knowledge to help save the chapel. When the story came together, I found that the characters had found a way to resolve their challenges, though you may be surprised at the outcome.
What I didn’t like – I felt there were too many characters and subplots, and I would have preferred to concentrate on fewer people and fewer issues. With so much going on, it would have been better for me, if the author had concentrated on just a few of the subplots, and saved the rest for development in another book.
Since my likes outweigh dislikes, I am giving this book three and a half stars.
White Birch Publishing (indie published)
Publication Date: December 3, 2014
344 pages, available as a paperback, Kindle eBook, audio book
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
To read a sample chapter, click on the following link:
http://www.tendaysinparadise.com/assets/ten-days-in-paradise-first-chapter.pdf
About the Author
Linda Abbott’s love for Sanibel Island shines through her debut novel, Ten Days In Paradise. Though she worked for many years as a professional writer–first as an award-winning journalist and then in public relations–Linda is a late bloomer to fiction. She found the muse while vacationing on Sanibel, where she wrote the opening chapters of her novel. Linda’s writing career took another turn last year when she founded Never Forget Legacies & Tributes to write life storybooks for individuals and families. She feels blessed to have two new careers and can’t wait to get started on her next novel. A Chicago native, she lives in Middleton, Wisconsin with her husband.
Author Links
Website: www.TenDaysInParadise.com, Twitter, LinkedIn
To purchase the book: Amazon
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#Read #Authors – #Copyright #Infringement #Notification…
Attention authors AND readers. Important message from Chris Graham of Chris the Story Reading Ape blog.
I have been hearing from a LOT recently that more SCAM BOOK SITES are appearing online in ever increasing numbers…
What can YOU do about it?
If you are an author and YOUR book(s) are being offered without your permission – issue DMCA Notices (SEE BELOW FIRST)
If you are a reader – PLEASE DO NOT USE THESE SITES!
It may be tempting to get books FOR FREE or at greatly reduced prices but…
They may be a click farm looking for your email
and you will be infected with a virus.
*****
AUTHORS – VERY IMPORTANT!!!
DO NOT SEND THE OFFENDING SITE A DIRECT NOTICE.
If they are on Facebook – Use Facebook’s reporting form to remove their link source from Facebook’s server.
My attorney warns me not to click on them, but to send a form letter to their server.
You can find out their server here:
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#Multiculturalbooksmatter
Please read this important message by the amazing children’s book author Mariana Llanos .
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Drop Everything and Read
D.E.A.R. means Drop Everything and Read, and the best way to get your children to read is to read along with them.
Oh D.E.A.R.!
D.E.A.R. stands for “Drop Everything and Read“. This is a month-long celebration of reading designed to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives. With declining literacy among children and adults, it is now more important than ever for reading to be encouraged and cherished as a worthy past time.
D.E.A.R. programs have been held nationwide on April 12th in honor of Beverly Cleary’s birthday, since she first wrote about D.E.A.R. in Ramona Quimby, Age 8. Inspired by letters from readers sharing their enthusiasm for the D.E.A.R. activities implemented in their schools, Mrs. Cleary decided to give the same experience to Ramona and her classmates. As D.E.A.R. has grown in popularity and scope, the program has expanded to span the entire month of April . . . offering classrooms and communities additional time to celebrate!
Can D.E.A.R. be celebrated anytime?
Every…
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Memory House
By Bette Lee Crosby
The Memory House Bed and Breakfast is where memories are kept, or so it seems to Ophelia who owns Memory House. When Anne arrives, Ophelia knows Anne has the same magical power of recalling memories from their objects, only Anne doesn’t know it yet.
Ophelia Browne remembers everything. She remembers things from her own life and from the lives of those who came before her. She has only to touch her hand to an object and she can feel the special memory clinging to it. But now she is getting on in years. In eleven months she’ll turn ninety. Few women in the Browne family live beyond such an age. If death comes before she finds a replacement, the memories might be lost forever. – MEMORY HOUSE
This engaging tale begins when Anne leaves Philadelphia to escape the pain of her breakup and move beyond it. Little did she know she would discover the memories of a long-ago-little-boy when she touches his bike. The mystery surrounding this bicycle keeps drawing her back to the Memory House and her friend Ophelia.
Anne and Ophelia become very close, and when something happens to frighten Anne, Ophelia knows she has to change the course of things.
I love the way Crosby used sections in between chapters written from Ophelia and Annie’s points of view to give awareness into the lives and thoughts of these characters. This addition only made the story better.
If you’ve read any of the author’s other books, you will recognize some of the characters in MEMORY HOUSE. They, along with some of the objects in the Memory House, have appeared in Crosby’s previously published books. I enjoyed this reunion of characters that are so down-to-earth and positively believable.
I love reading anything by Bette Lee Crosby, and MEMORY HOUSE was no exception. Crosby tells this story with the same warm, rich storytelling voice she uses whenever she writes. Storytelling just comes naturally to her. Crosby, an amazing writer and one of my favorites, reaches out and pulls the reader into the story. Her books are unforgettable, and MEMORY HOUSE is no exception.
I highly recommend MEMORY HOUSE to anyone who enjoys a good story.
Book Blurb
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A MEMORY TO OUTLIVE ITS OWNER?
Ophelia Browne knows the answer is yes. She knows because she’s been granted the unique gift of finding and caring for those forgotten memories. But now she’s nearing ninety, and Browne women seldom live beyond ninety.
Before time runs out Ophelia must find a successor. Someone who can take hold of the gifts and keep the memories from fading.
When broken-hearted Annie Cross shows up on the doorstep of The Memory House Bed and Breakfast, Ophelia knows she is the one. The two women forge a bond of friendship as they sip magical dandelion tea and share stories. When Annie starts to sense the memories Ophelia is delighted, but then a thread of violence begins to unravel and Ophelia fears things have gone too far.
To be published: 14th April 2015 by Bent Pine Publishing
Series: Book One of the Memory House Collection
Category: Contemporary Fiction
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby’s books are “Well-crafted storytelling populated by memorable characters caught up in equally memorable circumstances.” – Midwest Book Review
The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby’s writing is, “A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures.”
Samantha from Reader’s Favorite raves, “Crosby writes the type of book you can’t stop thinking about long after you put it down.”
“Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”
It is the wit and wisdom of that Southern Mama Crosby brings to her works of fiction; the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. She has since gone on to win nineteen awards for her work; these include: The Royal Palm Literary Award, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal, Reader’s Favorite Award Gold Medal, and the Reviewer’s Choice Award.
Crosby’s published works to date are Blueberry Hill (2014), Previously Loved Treasures (2014), Jubilee’s Journey (2013), What Matters Most (2013), The Twelfth Child (2012), Life in the Land of IS (2012), Cracks in the Sidewalk (2011), Spare Change (2011). Wishing for Wonderful (2014), Passing through Perfect (2015).
My special thanks to the author Bette Lee Crosby and Bent Pine Publishing for sending me an ARC in return for an honest review.
Please click the link to visit the author’s website Bette Lee Crosby Words Wit and Wisdom.
Follow Bette Lee Crosby on these websites:
Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads
To Pre-Order: Amazon US, Amazon UK, B&N, Kobo, iBooks, Google play
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#Read about Guest #Author Michelle Eastman
Fantastic post on Chris’ blog by the author of THE LEGEND OF DUST BUNNIES, a Fairy’s Tale
Hello, and thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself. I am Michelle Eastman, author of The Legend of Dust Bunnies, a Fairy’s Tale. I love kids’ books, especially children’s picture books. I enjoy getting lost in the magic of the words as they flow into the illustrations.
I published my first book in November 2014. My son is the inspiration behind the main character, Artie, who collects and cherishes items most of us would see as junk. Here’s a bit more about the story:
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Artie has a hard time finding his place among the other Dust Fairies. He wants to be accepted, but he isn’t willing to change who he is to do that. Artie’s loneliness, and odd habit of collecting discarded debris, leads him to create something legendary. His legendary creation helps him find his own special place among the Dust Fairies.
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In the Land of Gold
By Angela Christina Archer
My Review:
When Cora Colton travels from her home in Seattle to Tacoma in response to a letter from her father’s widow Anne Colton, she leaves behind her mother and her fiancé, the very wealthy and much sought-after Christopher Payton. What she never imagined was that she would break her engagement and turn her back on her past.
As Cora departs Tacoma to claim her inheritance in the wilds of western Canada, she is unprepared for the hardships and danger she will face. In the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1800’s, she convinces guide Flynn O’Neill to take her to Dawson City, Canada to stake her claim.
Archer uses not only visual portrayals, but also olfactory and auditory descriptions in her writing. You visualize the majestic mountains and treacherous terrain, Anne’s quaint home in Tacoma, and the dusty, rowdy town of Dawson City. You can to envision the hotel, smell the musty mattresses, and hear the sounds of people snoring beyond the canvas. You easily sense the stench of the mud and perspiration, the aroma of coffee, and the fragrant forest renewed by the rain. You can hear the crackle of campfires, the waters rushing through the canyon, and the ominous howl of wolves. Her vivid depiction of the icy cold will make you shiver.
This tremendously engaging story with its history lessons woven into the plot with a bit of mystery, adventure, and romance is captivating. The accounts of the violent and remote terrain and the folks who journeyed there, the lawlessness of time and place, and the portrayal of the Tlingit tribe who inhabited Southeast Alaska and Western Canada gave credence to this astonishing tale.
I honestly cannot think of anything I did not like about IN THE LAND OF GOLD. It more than fulfilled my expectations. It was impossible for me to put IN THE LAND OF GOLD down. I got up early and started reading it, hopped on the treadmill with the book in hand, and when my workout was finished, I stood, mesmerized on the now stopped treadmill, unable to stop reading.
Book Blurb:
Cora Colton can’t believe she even doubts saying yes to Christopher Payton’s proposal. From a good family, wealthy, and charming, Christopher is perfect for her. However, seeing his band of gold and diamonds, she hesitates. Something is missing, something is wrong, but she just doesn’t know what that something is.
After her father’s sudden death, Cora travels to Tacoma and learns that she is now the owner of his gold claim in Dawson City, Canada. Throwing caution to the wind, she leaves her engagement ring on the table, and departs for Canada and the adventure of a lifetime.
Arriving in the canvas tent town of Skagway on the Klondike trail, Coral catches the attention of Flynn O’Neill, an Irishman who has lived on the trail, guiding stampeeders for a few years. A bond thrusts them together, but their pasts could be what tears them apart—if they can survive the hardships and death on the trail to the land of gold.
A sample chapter can be found here: http://angelachristinaarcher.com/novels-on-sale/in-the-land-of-gold/
- Book Type: e-book
- Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
- Published Date: November 19, 2014
- Pages: 201
- Genre: Historical Romance/Woman’s Adventure
About the Author:
Living in a small town in Oklahoma with my husband and two daughters, I spend my days enjoying the outdoors with my family and chasing around two horses, a goat, six chickens, a dog, and two cats. I live life on a farm, and it is hectic, at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Growing up, I always wanted to write a novel. I never believed I could, though, so every time the desire flickered, I shoved the thought from my mind. Burying it deep down and ignoring it until one morning I awoke with the determination to finally follow my dream.
Learn more about Angela Christina Archer at:
- Website: www.angelachristinaarcher.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angela-Christina-Archer/121833387901997
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorACArcher
To purchase IN THE LAND OF GOLD: Amazon
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How to use 10 Social Networks to Grow Your Personal Online Brand…
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Be nice to others, because. . .
Some good advice from Chris the Story Reading Ape
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