Blog Tour Review: Weak At The Knees

Welcome to my stop on the Weak at the Knees blog tour, hosted by Pump Up Your Book

Title: Weak At the Knees

Author: Jo Kessel

Publisher: Createspace

Published: September 20, 2013

Add to Your Shelf: Goodreads

Format: Paperback

Pages: 285

Source: Received in exchange for an honest review

Mini Musing: 

My Rating: 2 Stars

Synopsis:

“We got so busy living life that we forgot to live our dreams.”

Danni Lewis has been playing it safe for twenty-six years, but her sheltered existence is making her feel old ahead of time. When a sudden death plunges her into a spiral of grief, she throws caution to the wind and runs away to France in search of a new beginning. 

The moment ski instructor Olivier du Pape enters her shattered world she falls hard, in more ways than one.

Their mutual desire is as powerful and seductive as the mountains around them. His dark gypsy looks and piercing blue eyes are irresistible.

Only she must resist, because he has a wife – and she’d made a pact to never get involved with a married man.

But how do you choose between keeping your word and being true to your soul? 

Weak at the Knees is Jo’s debut novel in the new adult, contemporary romance genre – a story about love, loss and relationships, set between London and the heart of the French Alps.

Melissa's Musings:

I have mixed feelings  about this book. In some sections, it feels like it tries too hard, in others not hard enough. My main issue is that I didn't feel any sort of real connection to Danni. All she seemed like to me was a whiny,unmotivated main character. She feels like she tries too hard to be something she isn't by trying to make drastic changes after Amber's death. In the beginning  of the story she seems to be someone who is more content to sit on the sidelines, and suddenly Amber's death is throwing her into a tailspin and she has to go and do something unusual. And that something unusual is trying to escape her depression by running off to be a ski instructor in France.

Since I wasn't able to connect with Danni on a basic level, I also had a difficult time really believing her grief over Amber's death. I didn't feel enough of the build up of their friendship for it to really matter. Yes, she told us how she was feeling regarding Amber's death, but I didn't truly see it in her actions. I felt like the fact that they were supposed to be best friends was implied rather than shown. Since they are supposed to be best friends, it felt like the reader was just instantly meant to feel the connection that their long time friendship would give them. I wish that there had been more time given to the development of their friendship and relationship. If there had been, I would have been more entrenched in Danni's journey to change her life.

One aspect of the book that I did enjoy was the setting. The settings and scenery of the story were beautiful, and I could see them in my head as I read. I wanted to be in theses same places, enjoying the sights and the snow right along with the characters.

 Anyone who has read my reviews for a long time also knows that I am a sucker for any type of baking and cooking within  stories, so I really enjoyed reading the scenes  where Danni or the group is enjoying different types of food and drink. I thought that the scene where Olivier is making hot chocolate for them is really well done, I could almost taste it when I read that part

The relationships in the book aside from Danni and Amber's are interesting, but they also feel underdeveloped. It felt to me as though the reader was left to their own assumptions a little too much, and that there needed to be more development throughout the story. There is an interesting web of romantic relationships in the story with Danni being in the middle. Her relationship with Hugo seems flat, boring, and played out, so when he takes a drastic measure of his own to try and win Danni back, it feels forced, and much too late. The relationship with Rod isn't really off too much significance either, I felt it could have been left out altogether.Then there's Michel, who's trying to win her over, but she's too focused on Olivier to notice. I have to admit I do feel the tiniest bit bad for Michel, but at the same time I don't, because of the lengths he went to to drive her away once he found out about her involvement with Olivier.

I did enjoy the arc between Danni and Olivier, and was rooting for them a little bit, despite their being together breaking the pact she and Amber made. But, despite the few wrenches thrown into their relationship, I felt let down by it too. It all wrapped up too neatly in the end, and felt unrealistic.


Overall, the story fell short for me, and I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I originally thought I would.This book has beautiful settings, and exquisite sounding food, so if those are things you like to read about this book's for you. 

Review: She Aint Heavy

Hello everyone and welcome to my stop on the She Ain't Heavy blog tour sponsored by Pump Up Your Book

Title: She Ain't Heavy

Author: Arnine Cumsky Weiss

Publisher: Academy Chicago Publishers

Published: June 15, 2013

Pages: 256

Format: Paperback

Source: Received from the author in exchange

for an honest review

My Rating: 2 Stars

Synopsis:

Just when counter clerk Teddy Warner is about to be evicted from her Scranton apartment, she bumps into beautiful, brilliant, blond Rachel – her estranged childhood friend whose mother forbid their friendship thinking Teddy was beneath them.

Teddy and Rachel reconnect over hot chocolate and under New Year’s Eve fireworks. Their discussion leads to an invitation. Soon, Teddy’s on her way to Philadelphia, where Rachel is a student, to share an apartment and begin an exciting new life in the City.

Teddy views Rachel as perfect. Rachel can’t bring herself to shatter the image by letting on that she is having an affair with a married man. Just when Teddy is starting to feel at home, Rachel insists on some privacy. Acting out her anger at being asked to stay away, Teddy indulges in a one-night stand.

When Teddy returns to their apartment the next morning, Rachel is being carried out on a stretcher – the victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. This unforeseen tragedy leaves Teddy alone in a strange city, with no money, no friends, and no connections.

As Teddy struggles to find her way, she meets a mentor at the same university Rachel previously attended who takes an interest in her, but with strings attached. She also develops a unique bond with the firefighter who rescued Rachel. And yet, Teddy remains committed to helping Rachel get back on her feet, at a time when no one else who supposedly loves her can accept her in this diminished way. Along the way, Teddy discovers her own strength in the roles of caretaker, lover, and friend.

Melissa's Musings:

This book sucks you in quickly. I was pulled in from the very first page. As I read, I kept telling myself "just one more chapter." I wanted to see where these characters would go and how much they would change.

That being said, while the writing pulled me in immediately, and the synopsis caught my attention, the story itself fell flat for me. When I first started reading I made a note to myself that the story seemed sort of frenzied, too fast. And I think this was due to the fact that all of the events in the timeline of this story happen really quickly. Teddy moves in with Rachel after a five minute coffee conversation after not having seen her since they were teenagers. And they sort of instantly fall back in to their friendship, with Rachel offering to help Teddy find a job at her lab in the university. That kind of helpfulness just didn't feel real to me. Yes, they might have been best friends a long time ago, but the kind of bonding and sharing that they were doing in the beginning of the book just didn't feel right after such a long time.

There are other relationships and events that happen quickly too. For example, Teddy's sleeping with Michael, and her meeting Billy, and Gerry Lynn offering her a place to stay. These felt like letdowns, because you're anticipating her having to struggle, because you get the impression that's what Teddy has always had to do, but then there's all these people offering to help her almost immediately, and it just didn't match with her character.

I honestly didn't care too much for Teddy's character at all. She didn't feel genuine to me, and some of her quirks were just annoying, like her blowing her bangs up into the air all the time. It was repeated too many times to be an interesting habit. I feel like I didn't get to know her deeply enough to truly feel for her.

Despite my lack of interest for Teddy as a main character, I really enjoyed most of the secondary characters. I liked Bill's calm, commanding presence, and his relationship with his son, and his receptiveness to Teddy. Gerry Lynn seemed sweet, and kind, and I liked her balancing presence in Teddy's life. Some of the characters I could do without, like Mrs. Cooper and Michael, although they do play important roles in the story.

One other thing that I've been pondering, as I read, and as I've been writing this review, is the title. I just don't understand how this title ties in to the significance of this story. Most of the time, I look for the way that a title ties in to the story, and in this case, I just couldn't see it.

While the writing pulled me in, and the synopsis was appealing, the story just didn't pan out for me in the end. There wasn't enough tension, and the resolution was lacking as a result. Since Teddy was hard to like, I had a hard time connecting with her. I can't wholeheartedly recommend the story since I was somewhat disappointed in it. But, I would say if you're looking for a quick read, and you like stories where characters try to change their lives, you should try this one.

Follow the rest of this tour and read other reviews: http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/09/11/virtual-book-tour-she-aint-heavy-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

Review: Winter of Wishes

Hello All!

Welcome to my stop on the book tour for Winter of Wishes by Charlotte Hubbard, presented by Pump Up Your Book

Title: Winter of Wishes

Author: Charlotte Hubbard

Publisher: Zebra

Published: September 3, 2013

Pages:  352

Format: Paperback

Source: Received from author in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 3 heartfelt stars 

Melissa's Musings:

I have to admit that I don't often read Christian/religious fiction all too often. But, when I came across the  Winter of Wishes tour invite, I decided to take a step outside of my usual reading comfort zone, and I'm glad I did.

The family in this story and the connection to community are strong points throughout the book. The community is tight knit, and the author's focus on the Amish way of life is well researched and portrayed throughout the story. The read feels like a constant learning experience about Amish culture, without being boring or dry.

This book is part of a series, and while it does work as a standalone, I did have  a feeling that I was missing out by not having read the other books. Not in a bad way, it's just that ther were a lot of mentions of past events that I didn't have all the details to, so I was left wondering. I am very curious about the prior happenings of this community and would love to read the other books in the series to catch up.

It's very easy to fall into the story and to want to keep on reading. It's such a heartfelt, sweet story.

There were a few things that didn't quite work for me. The romance between Andy and Rhoda is very simple and sweet, but it feels rushed. They begin to have feelings for each other very quickly, and it felt a little unrealistic. I was rooting for them throughout the story, though.

The language just didn't feel right in some spots. I know that the author was trying for a genuine dialect, but it felt overdone in some ways, and it took me out of the story the slightest bit.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. I'm looking forward to reading more about these characters in the future.

Book Blast: Phoenix: The Beauty in Between (+Giveaway)

Hello all! Read on to find out more about this intriguing book.

Title: Phoenix: The Beauty in Between

Author: Lilliana Anderson

Publisher: Self Published

Published: September 30, 2013

Pages: 208

Synopsis:

After being unceremoniously kicked out of home at a young age, Paige is forced to fend for herself. 

In a bid to survive, she does things that most people would never dream of, and stops caring about herself as a result. 

When the fastest way to get food and shelter is to use her body, and the fastest way to forget is to self medicate, Paige embarks on a steady downward spiral. Until, finally she hits rock bottom…

In A Beautiful Forever we got to know Paige as she battled the demons of her past to move forward with her future and find her happy ever after. Now, in Phoenix, we get to see the moments those demons were created and how she managed to get her life back on track.After being unceremoniously kicked out of home at a young age, Paige is forced to fend for herself. 

In a bid to survive, she does things that most people would never dream of, and stops caring about herself as a result. 

When the fastest way to get food and shelter is to use her body, and the fastest way to forget is to self medicate, Paige embarks on a steady downward spiral. Until, finally she hits rock bottom…

In A Beautiful Forever we got to know Paige as she battled the demons of her past to move forward with her future and find her happy ever after. Now, in Phoenix, we get to see the moments those demons were created and how she managed to get her life back on track.

Buy it on Amazon

About The Author:

Bestselling Author of the A Beautiful Series, Alter and the Confidante Trilogy, Lilliana has always loved to read and write, considering it the best form of escapism that the world has to offer. 

Australian born and bred, she writes New Adult Romance revolving around her authentically Aussie characters as well as a biographical trilogy based on an ex-Sydney sex worker, named Angelien. Lilliana feels that the world should see Australia for more than just its outback and tries to show characters in more of a city setting. 

When she isn't writing, she wears the hat of 'wife and mother' to her husband and four children.  Before Lilliana turned to writing, she worked in a variety of industries and studied humanities and communications before transferring to commerce/law at university. Originally from Sydney's Western suburbs, she currently lives a fairly quiet life in suburban Melbourne. Her latest book is the new adult contemporary romance, Phoenix: The Beauty in Between.You can visit her website at www.lillianaanderson.com.

Connect & Socialize with Lilliana at Twitter and Facebook!

Giveaway:

Pump Up Your Book and Lilliana Anderson are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.

One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.

This giveaway begins September 30 and ends October 31, 2013.

Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, November 1, 2013.

Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Cover Reveal: Romancing the Million $$$ Ghost+ Giveaway

Hello everyone!

I'm happy to be part of the cover reveal for Romancing the Million $$$ Ghost. I also am happy to say that I will be getting the opportunity to review this book in November.

Eccentric tobacco tycoon Rodger Hawthorne III can have anything his heart desires except his dead wife, Sarah.  Feeling responsible for the car crash that killed her twenty years earlier, he offers one million dollars to anyone who can find her spirit and bring it to him within one week or the money is forfeited.  Six spiritually-challenged—but highly intuitive—women find his ad over the Internet and accept his challenge only to embark on a journey they didn’t quite expect that covers astral traveling, past life regressions and spiritual encounters of the unworldly kind.  While this book is lightly based on a true story of a real man who is offering one million dollars to anyone who can prove that spirits exist, this story is purely fictional.  Or is it?

Coming October 2013! 

About The Authors:

Heidi Aw Kaminski

ABOUT HEIDE AW KAMINSK9 is the mom of three very successful children, and she lives in southeast Michigan with her partner, her son and her stepson.

She teaches English in a high school for juvenile delinquent boys, as well as co-directs the Sunday school program for an Interfaith Center.

She is also the editor-in-chief for the Interfaith Center’s monthly 16-page newsletter.  She is currently the author of five books, ADHD and ME , Get Smart Through Art, The Ability Gang (a novel for upper elementary readers), Von Riesiggross bis Klitzeklein (a German children’s book), and South of Eden (a not so serious novel about life in Heaven).

She has also published stories in 15 anthologies, including Chicken Soup for the Divorced Soul.

Kaminski was born and raised in Germany, and after spending a year as an exchange student in the USA, she ended up marrying an American and has been a permanent resident in the U.S. since 1984, as well as a citizen of the U.S. since 2007. After dedicating many years to being there for her children first, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in English communications at the ripe age of 50 and her English teaching certificate two years later..

About Pam Ryan

Pam Ryan is a writer and professional psychic from Northwestern Ohio. She is the mother of two and has been a widow for the last five years. Her writing career began back in high school where she wrote a column for the Sylvania Sentinel Newspaper in Sylvania, Ohio. Pam was also the first page editor of the high school newspaper as well as doing the public relations for the high school musicals At the University of Toledo she helped to create the Public Relations Department for the Department of Theatre and Speech, worked as a reporter for the college paper, The Collegian, and was assistant to the Public Relation Director of a local Toledo, Ohio, theatre group, Lynro Productions. After college Pam went to work for the United States Government and part of her duties were to write, and publisher a newspaper for the Migrant Opportunity Program in Phoenix, Arizona. Back in Ohio she lent her talents to the local Muscular Dystrophy Association, Make A Wish of Northwestern Ohio, worked on newsletters for Grace Lutheran Church and Christ the King Church, both in Toledo, and did public relations for the Parent Organization of Lake Elementary School. Pamela Ryan, as she is known professionally, began her professional psychic career in 1990. She presently does private readings and parties, and is also available at Lite the Way,Lambertville, Michigan, and The Healing Oasis in Clay Center, Ohio. Pam has recently completed classes and become a Certified Hypnotherapist and has completed the Master’s level for hypnotherapists. Publication is tentatively set for 2013, for her book, “My Dearest Children”, channeled by Mary Magdalene, and is presently working on a biography of world renowned journalist, Ruth Montgomery and a series of books about a fictional psychic medium. The first one is called, "The Macrame Cross".

About Dorothy Thompson

Dorothy Thompson is the owner/founder of Pump Up Your Book, an innovative public relations firm specializing in online book promotion and social media marketing for authors.  Pump Up Your Book was voted #1 in the Preditor's and Editor's Readers Poll in 2012.  She is also the co-author/compiler of Romancing the Soul, an anthology which proves soul mates exist and has appeared in USA Today, Chicago Times and other publications.  Dorothy loves the paranormal and is spatial clairsentient.  She lives She lives on the beautiful island of Chincoteague, Virginia.Dorothy Thompson is the owner/founder of Pump Up Your Book, an innovative public relations firm specializing in online book promotion and social media marketing for authors.  Pump Up Your Book was voted #1 in the Preditor's and Editor's Readers Poll in 2012.  She is also the co-author/compiler of Romancing the Soul, an anthology which proves soul mates exist and has appeared in USA Today, Chicago Times and other publications.  Dorothy loves the paranormal and is spatial clairsentient.  She lives She lives on the beautiful island of Chincoteague, Virginia.

  But wait, there's more

There's also a giveaway for this tour. 

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Review: The Old Rectory: Escape To A Country Kitchen

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my stop on the tour for The Old Rectory: Escape to a Country Kitchen. See what I thought of the book below.

Title: The Old Rectory: Escape to a Country Kitchen

Author: Julia Ibbotson

Publisher: New Generation Publishing

Published: August 22 2011

Format: Paperback

Pages: 128

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating:  3 Stars

Synopsis:

When author Julia Ibbotson and her husband first saw the old Victorian rectory in dire need of renovation, a mile out of the nearest village in the midst of the English moorlands, they fell in love with it and the lifestyle it represented, with its farmhouse kitchen range at its heart. This delightful memoir describes the trials and tribulations of their quest to make their vision come true. They hoped they could make the sad, neglected house glow again and that they could integrate themselves into the small traditional village, with its cottages, hall and outlying farms. The Old Rectory focuses on the centrality of the kitchen as the pulse of the family and home, and shows the importance of food and cooking throughout the changing seasons, history and moods of the countryside as the couple strive to live the dream. 

Melissa's Musings:

This book is a nice look at the personal history of the author with some historical points mixed in. The book has a mostly easy going simple style. 

I most enjoyed the different recipes that the author provided for each of their seasons in the rectory. It was also nice to read about a more simplistic life in the country. I'm a city girl at heart, and always will be, but it's always nice to see the other side of things. I have to say that life in the country seems to have a very unique set of challenges.

There was a lot of history involving the rectory that the author purchased. And while this was a nice balance to the personal anecdotes, I have to admit that at times the historical portions did get confusing. I think there was just too much to it. There were a few too many people mentioned, in ties with the house, and all of the documentation and so forth. 

Of course, my preference were for all of the delicious recipes, but I think this book would be a hit with anyone who likes to learn about historic places or anyone who likes memoirs.

About The Author:

Julia Ibbotson is the award-winning author of The Old Rectory: Escape to a Country Kitchen, first published to acclaim in the USA and now re-launched with a brand-new cover by her new English publisher in the UK. Julia has been writing creatively all her life (unpublished!) but her day jobs to pay the mortgage have been as a school teacher and latterly a university academic, gaining her PhD at the age of 57. She delights in being a wife and mother to four, with four little grandchildren. She loves reading, gardening, growing food, cooking for family and friends and country life. Having published many academic texts and papers, she came late to actually publishing her creative writing, at the age of 60 plus, when she was persuaded to write the story of the renovation of her Victorian rectory in The Old Rectory. She has combined memoir, history, research, story and recipes in this first published book, which has won a number of international book festivals in the biography category, gained 5 star reviews on Amazon, and has been widely featured (along with her house) in the media. She has begun to delve into the world of blogging, facebook and now has her own website at www.juliaibbotson.com  at which she also posts blogs regularly, about writing, life and her passions. Her new project is a trilogy of novels following the life story of a new character, Jess, through from fleeing to West Africa as a volunteer teacher/nurse in the 1960s to the millennium. The first of the series, Drumbeats, is due to be published later this year. You can find out more on her website and on her author page on Amazon.

Connect & Socialize with Julia!

TWITTER| FACEBOOK| YOUTUBE

Review: The Seeds of Beauty (+Giveaway)

Hello everyone,

Welcome to my stop on the tour for Seeds of Beauty by Lakeysha-Marie Green, presented by Pump Up Your Book. Read on to discover my thoughts on the book as well as enter a giveaway.

Title: Seeds of Beauty: Defining Your Beauty and Style From The Inside Out:

Author: Lakeysha-Marie Green

Drawings By: Alyse DeCavallas

Publisher: Createspace

Published: May 30, 2013

Pages: 216

Format: Paperback

Source: Received From Author In Exchange For An Honest Review

My Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis:

What's the real secret of radiant beauty? It may come as no surprise that how we look on the outside is directly connected to the beauty deep inside us. What's more, when we are imbalanced with the weight of low self-esteem, it's all-too-visible in our physical appearance. That's why every truly successful makeover begins by reconnecting with who we are at our very core-long before the swipe of the credit card or snip of the shears. Now, fashion stylist Lakeysha-Marie Green has written a groundbreaking new guide to developing show-stopping beauty from the inside out. Inspirational and easy to use, The Seeds of Beauty seamlessly joins the key elements of inner beauty with savvy, expert advice on making the most of your own physical attributes. In Part One, "Beauty Within," you'll learn how to build a foundation of self-love, exploring subjects such as acknowledging your value, developing resilience and finding the courage to move forward. Part Two, "Beauty Reflected," offers you practical advice on wardrobe fundamentals to bring out your beauty and create a winning style. By combining these equally important aspects of true beauty, this gorgeous resource comes together in one illuminating journey that looks as fabulous as it feels. The Seeds of Beauty challenges you to discover just why you are uniquely beautiful on the inside. Once you have embraced your own brand of beauty, you'll be truly motivated to master the building blocks to accentuate your appearance-and glow with your own exquisite beauty from the inside out.

Want To Read It For Yourself?

AMAZON

Melissa's Musings:

This book is a pleasant mix of self help and fashion. The book just jumps right in, there isn't really a solid preface as to what the goal of the book is. In a sense, it's a bit free-spirited. I don't mind this, but it would have been nice if there were a little more setup/introduction rather than just jumping right in to things.

Each chapter has an inspirational quote as a sub-heading and this was a really nice feature. The quotes were well suited to each of the different chapters. I also thought it was great that the book focused on the self help portion first, and saved the fashion element for second, because this really ties in with the nature of the book, defining beauty from the inside out.

There are a lot of important reminders, for women on various aspects of life that we tend to sometimes have trouble with. Important messages like "Don't beat yourself up too much for your mistakes," and "Don't compare yourself to others, love yourself for who you are," are just a few of the points reiterated in this first section. The end of each chapter has a beauty brainstorm, so that the reader can take some time to reflect on these lessons and make the connections to them in their own life.

The second section is full of great fashion tips and advice on everything from body types and what styles work best on each, to accessories and picking out clothing for each season, plus more. This section is really helpful for someone like me who doesn't know much about fashion. I learned a lot about how to pick clothing that really will suit my body type well, and that will make me feel good about myself. I also learned that maybe one of the reasons I like purple so much is because it is a color that goes well with my skin tone. I'll definitely be referring back to this section of the book often for help choosing clothing.

Overall this book is really lovely. I learned a lot, with great reminders on how to improve my life through positivity and small mental changes. And I also picked up a few great fashion tips that will help me dress more confidently and shine both inside and out.

And now you can shine a little on the outisde and enter for your chance to win a Macy's and Sephora giftcard. Enter using the rafflecopter below. Here are the details:

Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour. If your blog isn’t set up to accept the form, we offer another way for you to participate by having people comment on your blog then directing them to where they can fill out the form to gain more entries. This promotion will run from June 17 – September 13. The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on September 14, 2013. Each blogger who participates in The Seeds of Beauty virtual book tour is eligible to enter and win. Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour. If you would like to participate, email Tracee at tgleichner(at)gmail.com. What a great way to not only win these fabulous prizes, but to gain followers and comments too! Good luck everyone!

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Book Blast: The Portal's Choice (+Giveaway)

About The Portal's Choice:

Journal, just in case . . .



I didn’t ask to meet ghosts. Shoot, I was fine without them in my life. Uncle Craig and Hannah were nasty to me, but at least I knew how to handle living pains in the butt. Now I have to figure out how to open and close a portal between the human and spirit worlds. And I have to find and return a bunch of angry ghosts through the gateway and lock them on their side. I don’t know why the portal chose me to do this, a fifteen-year-old kid with no ghost busting experience. But it did. And if I want a ghost-free night’s sleep anytime soon, I’d better figure out how to get the job done. Because I’ve about had it with murderous ghouls and their unpleasant agendas.  “Signed Tallis Challinor”



After the death of her parents, Tallis Challinor and her brother Wyatt must move to the Midwest to live with their dead mother’s sister and her family. When Aunt Sandra dies three-and-a-half years later, Tallis and Wyatt find themselves moving yet again, this time to New Hampshire to live with their father’s sister, Aunt Gabbie, and her husband Noreis. Gabbie is young, pretty and fun. Tallis remembers being a little girl and playing with her Aunt at the family home in California, before her parents died. So Tallis is excited to re-locate and reconnect with Gabbie. But what should have been a happy reunion is plagued with problems when Noreis opens a portal between the spirit and human worlds located in the basement of the house.



Tallis is a practical kid. She doesn’t believe that ghosts exist. But she can’t deny what she sees with her own eyes and the two ghosts Tallis meets at Thanksgiving in the basement of her aunt’s house are definitely not figments of her imagination, although she wishes they were. Tallis is unwittingly drawn into the portal’s energy when one of the ghosts fixates on her and forces her to assist in the release of three particularly nasty spirits. As a final blow, the portal chooses Tallis as a temporary gatekeeper and she finds herself charged with the duty of returning the very ghouls she’s set free, plus a few of their buddies, back to the spirit realm. 



As Tallis learns the secrets of the portal and begins to understand her newly acquired power, she formulates a plan to return the ghosts. Along the way, she receives help from many new friends who fill in the details about the identity of the escaped spirits, providing a possible motive for the outrageous actions of the escaped ghosts. Tallis must learn to trust herself and others as she taps into her inner courage to get the job done and save her town from the angry restless dead set.

Purchase your copy:

AMAZON

About The Author:

KD Pryor started life in Missouri, where she read lots of books, even sneaking them into baseball games to the irritation of her father. Kelley graduated with a degree in International and Comparative Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. After college and marriage to a great guy, she decided to pursue a law degree at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Her oldest son was born soon after law school, followed three years later by her daughter and a move to Kentucky. One more son, a move to Ohio and four years later, her family jumped on the opportunity to move to India. They lived in Bangalore, now Bengaluru, for four wonderfully chaotic years, traveling all over Asia, Australia and Europe.

Now, settled in New Hampshire with her family and herd of cats (only three), she can often be found in her office, working on the next installment of “The Gatekeepers of Em’pyrean” series, reading one of a dozen books she has started, and dreaming of her future travel destinations.

“The Portal’s Choice”, book one in “The Gatekeeper’s of Em’pyrean” series featuring Tallis Challinor, was released on May 6, 2013.

“The Forgotten Gate”, book two in the series, is scheduled for release in 2014.

 Visit her website at www.kdpryor.com.

Connect & Socialize with KD!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK

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Review: Magnolia and Lotus: Selected Poems of Hyesim (+ INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY)

Hello all!

Today I'm bringing you a little something different here on the blog. I haven't featured much poetry in the past, but today I'm bringing you my review of Magnolia and Lotus: Selected Poems of Hyesim as part of a blog tour hosted by Pump Up Your Book

Read on to find out more about this book and enter to win your own copy!

Title: Magnolia and Lotus: Selected Poems of Hyesim

Translators: Ian Haight and T'ae-Yong Ho

Publisher: White Pine Press

Published: June 4, 2013

Pages: 108

Format: Paperback

Source: Received From Translator in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 4 Stars

Melissa's Musings:

This collection of poetry is diverse, but there are also some common themes and elements. I appreciated the introduction to the collection, which gives the reader a glimpse of Hyesim. It explores his beginnings as a nobleman, his path to becoming a monk, and his dedication to spiritual enlightenment. I learned some of the differences between the Korean version of Zen, called Son. It's refreshing to learn a different perspective on the concept of Zen, and to learn more about it in general.

Most of these poems are short, but they pack powerful meanings within their limited space. Nature, and the appreciation of its beauty is one of the most common themes. The moon is featured often, as are ponds. One of my favorite pieces in this book is the poem titled "Singing Moon" (pg. 47) The message makes the reader truly stop and think about the fact that our days/nights are not guaranteed, and we should't take any of them for granted.

Many of the poems that feature ponds focus on the act of self reflection, which is key for personal growth. The beautiful imagery portrayed within these poems elicits self reflection, and makes you think about the things that are truly important in life. I'm happy to have read this poetry collection and to have had the opportunity to do some self reflection.

Are you interested in reading this poetry collection? Enter below to win your own copy of Magnolia and Lotus: Selected Poems of Hyesim

Giveaway Details:

Three (3) winners will receive print copies of Magnolia and Lotus

This giveaway is open  INTERNATIONALLY

The winners will have 48 hours to respond to their notification emails before another winner is chosen.

The author NOT Melissa's Midnight Musings is responsible for sending the prize to the winner

The giveaway will run from August 7, 2013  August 21 2013 at 12:00 AM PST

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Little Sparrow Picture Reveal

Join E. Dantes, author of the children's picture book, The Little Sparrow Named Too, as he tours the blogosphere July 1 - August 30, 2013 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

ABOUT THE LITTLE SPARROW NAMED TOO

The series of “TOO” focuses around a sparrow hatchling who is new to life and keen to explore it. He is clever though strong-willed which means he always getting “in” and “out” of trouble – especially when he has a bright idea! Each of the books will broach everyday parental / childcare issues helping children understand the importance of parental guidance and social respect.  

And here's a picture from the book:

Purchase your copy at iTunes

 

ABOUT E. DANTES

Hi, I’m Dantes, the author of a new series of illustrated children’s books about a little sparrow named “Too”. Due to my father’s job, my early years were spent running barefoot around the wildernesses of the world and though it gave me a rich appreciation of “Bonne Terre” – literacy came a little later than most. Yet every night literature was still there, with either my mother or father reading a bedtime story. Concerned with my education, my parents made the hard decision to ship me off to boarding school. During those first long nights away from home, I suffered incredible homesickness and that’s when I discovered the magic of words. Reading the same books I had heard at bedtime somehow made me feel closer to home and in those familiar paragraphs my pangs slipped away. To this day good books are still both my joy and my solace. The Adventures of Too book series is my “thank you” to children’s literature and it carries only one hope, that a new generation of readers feel the same lasting connection to books as I do. Find out more about the author at the different places below:

Book Website: http://www.toosparrow.com

 

 

 

The Little Sparrow Named Too Virtual Book Publicity Tour Schedule

Monday, July 1 - Book reviewed and 1st chapter reveal at Ellis (Reviews and Life)

Tuesday, July 2 - 1st chapter reveal at Miki's Hope

Wednesday, July 3 - Book reviewed at Book Lover Stop

Wednesday, July 3 - 1st chapter reveal at Parenting 2.0

Friday, July 5 - Book reviewed and interviewed at My Devotional Thoughts

Monday, July 8 - Book featured at Read 2 Review

Wednesday, July 10 - Book featured at Faerotic Prose

Thursday, July 11 - Picture reveal at My Devotional Thoughts

Friday, July 12 - Guest blogging at 4 the Love of Books

Friday, July 19 - Book reviewed at Cheryl's Book Nook

Wednesday, July 24 - Picture reveal at Melissa's Midnight Musings

Wednesday, July 24 - Book reviewed at Books, Books, the Magical Fruit

Thursday, July 25 - Guest blogging at Cheryl's Book Nook

Friday, July 26 - Book featured at Parenting 2.0

Review: Pretty Is As Pretty Does

Hello fellow readers!

I am thrilled to be part of the book tour for Pretty Is As Pretty Does. Read on to find out more about the book and read my thoughts on it.

Title: Pretty Is As Pretty Does (Class Reunion #1)

Author: Debby Mayne

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Published: June 1 2013

Pages: 304

Format: Paperback

Source: Received in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 4 Stars

Synopsis: 

Priscilla Slater goes to her ten-year high school reunion with equal parts dread and eager anticipation. Even though she s a successful owner of a chain of hair salons and no longer has the mousy brown hair, crooked teeth, and discount-store wardrobe, she still feels like the ugly duckling. But when she arrives at the reunion, Priscilla soon realizes that her old classmates aren't exactly as she remembers them. With humor and a just a touch of sassiness, Priscilla finds herself facing her own truth and she may be surprised at what she discovers

Want to try it out? 

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | ABINGDON PRESS

Melissa's Musings:

Reunions are supposed to be nostalgic, in a way.  A chance for you to relive your high school memories, meet up with old friends, compare lives. That's what happens here. But, with a bit of a twist, so to speak. Throughout the planning and preparation for the reunion, old feelings, and old rivalries and even old crushes are brought to the surface.

At times, you might even think the characters were back in high school all over again with the way they behaved. But, as the novel progresses, so do each of the characters. They learn from their mistakes, realize they aren't in high school anymore, and start to grow up and move forward.

The book is told from multiple perspectives, with labeled chapters, which works really well here. You get to see the reunion from people from different "cliques" perspective. And also from Tim's (who's an outsider to the graduating class) so that makes it really interesting. It reminded me of The Breakfast Club as I was reading it.

All of the characters were really well developed and had distinct personalities, even the secondary characters. And they all experienced growth, even just in small ways. Priscilla is a strong main character. She's determined, knows what she wants and goes after it. She's not without her weak moments, especially when it comes to Maurice, but she is also one smart girl so she's able to see through the haze of his good looks and charm and recognize what he really is before he ends up hurting her.

I felt the most for Tim, as he's so smitten with Priscilla and would do anything to be in her good graces. She doesn't really give him much in return though. She's a good friend, but that's all she wants to be, and he wants more. Since this is a series, there may be more that happens between them, which I'm interested to see.

There are some religious undertones to the story, so if that isn't your cup of tea, be forewarned. They are very subtle, and light.

The antics of this group make me glad that I didn't have to go to my ten year reunion (which was supposed to be this year, but I don't think anyone planned anything.) After reading this, it seems like more stress than it's worth. While it would be fun to reminisce with some people I haven't seen in a while, I don't think I'd like the pressure of having to prove myself, or feeling small when those same popular, successful people walk into the room.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If your looking for a cast of unique characters, complete with Southern charm and hospitality, this is the book for you. I'm glad this is a series, because I can't wait to see what all of these characters get up to next.

Did you go to your ten year high school (or college) reunion? Or, do you plan to?

About the Author:

Debby Mayne has published more than 30 books and novellas, 400 print short stories and articles, more than 1,000 web articles, and a slew of devotions for women. She has also worked as managing editor of a national health magazine, product information writer for HSN, a creative writing instructor for Long Ridge Writers Group, and a copy editor and proofreader for several book publishers. For the past eight years, she has judged the Writers Digest Annual Competition, Short-Short Contest, and Self-Published Book Competition. Three of Debby’s books have been top ten favorites by the Heartsong Presents book club. Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida received 4-1/2 stars from Romantic Times Magazine, and was named a Top Pick for the month of July 2009.

You can visit Debby Mayne’s website at www.debbymayne.com.

Connect & Socialize with Debby!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Pretty Is As Pretty Does Tour Page:

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/06/24/virtual-book-tour-pretty-is-as-pretty-does-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

Book Blast: Siding With Plato (+Giveaway)

About Siding With Plato:

Brooke Aarons can’t get to college fast enough. Leaving behind her small town life, she intends to transform herself into a brilliant psychologist with no distractions along the way. But when she finds herself on a double date with the school’s star football player – and worse, enjoying it – Brooke has to wonder if she’s the one who needs her head examined. James Cartwright’s easy life, endless bucks, and long line of willing girls should make him a non-starter for Brooke, but as she learns, the psychology behind a bad crush is a whole lot messier of a subject. Maybe Plato was right. Maybe love is a serious mental disease. If so, Brooke doesn’t have long to find a cure before James’ attention proves to be a terminal condition.

Purchase your copy:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Connect & Socialize with Michelle!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

About the Author:

Michelle Manning was born and raised in Valencia, CA, attended Arizona State University, and graduated with a degree in journalism. After bouncing between New York and Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry, Michelle is releasing her debut novel, Siding With Plato.   

Visit her website at www.michellemanningwrites.com.

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The Siding with Plato Tour Page:

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/06/03/book-blast-pump-up-your-book-presents-michelle-mannings-siding-with-plato-book-blast-win-25-amazon-gcpaypal-cash/