A story for anyone who's ever been loved by a dog or given one a home.
At least nine sunsets away, there is a place where dogs can do what they want. But they are not all the same, and when a special one has the courage to fly, he finds something unexpected beyond the tenth horizon.
Author Adam Glendon Sidwell: In between books, Adam Glendon Sidwell uses the power of computers to make monsters, robots and zombies come to life for blockbuster movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, King Kong, Pacific Rim, Transformers and Tron. After spending countless hours in front of a keyboard meticulously adjusting tentacles, calibrating hydraulics, and brushing monkey fur, he is delighted at the prospect of modifying his creations with the flick of a few deftly placed adjectives. He really enjoyed writing 81,854 less words in his new picture book FETCH than he wrote in his first EVERTASTER novel, and hopes that you will like the ones he picked. Besides, FETCH has pictures.
Adam has also been rightfully accused of writing the upcoming novel CHUM.
“If you need & want a book for younger children that does not involve zombies, monsters, or overdone "superhero's", and just want a good old fashioned great story, perfect illustrations, and a captivating experience, then "Fetch" should be ordered quickly.”—Carol Anne Merrill Miller
“Simple, yet engaging, storyline appeals to readers of all ages and the illustrations glue your eyes to pages!” –Doodles
“The art work enchanted, enthralled, and grabbed me in ways paintings can and often do.” –Kindle Customer
Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 9/13/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Just read Fetch with my boys, who are dog lovers, and they were
hysterically laughing at some of the antics displayed. They wanted me to
quickly turn the pages, and each pointed to show the other one what the
dog he saw was doing. Then we had to go back slowly over each page for
them to devour again. The drawings are delightful, and the boys had a
hard time agreeing to disagree which activity they liked the best. If
you want to have a great dialogue with your little one, this is the book
for you. So I asked them “where do the dogs come from?” You will love
their answers after reading this sweet, colorful, and eye catching
little book. Don’t miss out on this great sharing experience with your child, you won’t be disappointed!
I received this book from Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer Blog Tour, and was not required to give a positive review.
Pump Up Your Book is pleased to bring you Dawn Carroll’s The Banana Bunch Book book blitz August 4 – August 29!
Title: The Banana Bunch Author: Dawn Carroll Publisher: Amolibros Pages: 120 Genre: Children’s Book Format: Ebook/Paperback
Purchase at AMAZON
The monkeys have a human friend called Sheila.
Sheila is in hospital – and she hates the hospital food.
The monkeys decide that something simply has to be done…
When their first attempt at delivering bananas to Sheila is thwarted
the monkeys decide to form The Banana Bunch, a secret society dedicated
to the delivery of delicious, health-giving bananas to Sheila and all
the other unwell people at the hospital. Banana delivery proves,
however, a little trickier than they had expected…
Dawn Carroll was born in London, to a family who loved to read – and
who also moved house with great regularity. One of the first tasks on
arrival at each new home would be to find the nearest lending library,
with the result that Dawn grew up with a great love of books. Encouraged
by family and teachers, Dawn also started to write short stories.
In adulthood, Dawn’s busy life as a hospital doctor left little time
for leisure writing. Indeed, The Banana Bunch stories would probably
never have been written had Dawn not, one fateful day, discovered that
falling from even a very small tightrope can have devastating
consequences… but that’s another story!
Unable to return to her chosen profession, things seemed very black
for a while. And then The Banana Bunch monkeys bounced into Dawn’s
world….
Since then the monkeys (and Dawn) have been having a great time –
telling the stories of their adventures in print and online, and also
travelling far and wide to source new story ideas and to meet new
friends.
Returning
to Cold Creek, Ohio, is an act of courage for Tess Lockwood. Abducted
and held captive as a young girl, she is unable to remember anything
about the crime that destroyed her childhood and tore her family apart.
Now a grown woman with a bright future, she is certain she has put the
past behind her. But when she inherits the family home, Tess must
confront the demons that still haunt her and the town of Cold Creek.
Gabe
McCord has always blamed himself for what happened to Tess. He had been
a teenager when she was snatched from the group of children he was
responsible for watching. Now Gabe has taken on the role of sheriff and
hopes to shed new light on the cold case, especially given his growing
feelings for Tess.
Tess isn't ready to recall what happened to
her, and she has no intention of digging up any details that might
remind her of the truth. But when another child in the town goes
missing, she's certain it's related to her return to Cold Creek.
Together,Tess and Gabe will have to work to unlock their painful
memories in order to save another child and heal their damaged souls,
for good…
About The Author
A New York Times and USA Today
bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor
(The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing
teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time
between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in
her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles,
where her Scottish and English roots run deep, and where she has set
many of her historical Tudor-era mysteries and her historical novels
about real and dynamic British women. Karen's books have been published
in many foreign languages and she won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for
2005. Karen has given numerous talks to readers and writers across the
county.
Shattered Secrets is the first book in this trilogy, and if the others
are like the first, you won’t be able to put it down. What a heart
racing read, and stomach in your throat, you never know what is around
the next bend. The book begins with Teresa, now Tess returning to her
old home, the town where she had been kidnapped as a little girl. She
needs to sell the home now that her mother has passed and left it to
her. What she is afraid of is reliving the hidden or suppressed
memories. Tess is now back in town and reunited with the young man,
now sheriff who was watching a bunch of children on that fateful day.
Gabe has had a hard time forgiving himself, and was glad that Teresa
came home. As we travel this quaint Ohio town of Cold Creek, we meet a
number of questionable people. While we are there we learn that two
more little girls have gone missing, and then a third is taken. Who is
stealing little ones? Each person we meet is suspect, and just as you
begin to believe this is the one, another one comes along, that triggers
another memory in Tess. I really didn’t see it coming as to whom the
demented person was, a really big surprise that blew my mind. A sick
individual that seems to have everyone fooled, including me. Don’t miss
this thriller that will keep you on your toes, it is excellent!!
I receive this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin MIRA, and was not required to give a positive review.
Pump Up Your Book is pleased to bring you Heather Gillis’ Waiting for Heaven Book Blast August 1- 29!
Title: Waiting for Heaven: Finding Beauty in the Pain and the Struggle Author: Heather Gillis Genre: Religion / Memoir / Spirituality Publisher: WestBow Press Publication Date: March 20, 2014 ISBN: 978-1-4908-2786-5
Life can sometimes lead us to unexpected places, to only leave us
broken, desperate, and hurting. Heather Gillis and her husband, Mac,
waited in anticipation for the birth of their third child. Like many
Christian couples, their dreams and expectations in marriage,
parenthood, and daily life developed differently than they’d planned,
and left them grieving a life that would never be. Their journey gives
insight into a new normal and uncovers the stepping stones of the
healing process. In their process, they re- discovered God’s abounding
love through their experiences of joy, heartbreak, and purpose. Heather
reaches out to parents around the globe to speak openly about being a
wife, mother, friend, relative, or stranger during life-changing trials
and devastating struggles. In God’s love, she has found beauty in the
midst of pain and struggle, as well as peace in His presence on Earth
while waiting for Heaven.
Book Excerpt:
Life is not about how comfortable I can be; to expect life to be
comfortable is unrealistic. I’m not exempt from the harshness or pain of
this world. I have realized since Bowen’s passing that there are no
guarantees in life; to think otherwise leads to disappointment. When I
was pregnant, I assumed Bowen would be healthy. I assumed that when I
left the house, I would return, unharmed. I assumed for some reason I
would make it through life unscathed; I never thought I would be writing
these words.
We can do all the right things in life, but that doesn’t guarantee us
rewards or benefits in this life. We did not choose the path we are
walking, but God willing, we will endure what comes our way and to where
God wants us to go. We can have all the plans in the world but God is
in the driver’s seat, and God knows what he is doing; we just have to
trust him. Uncomfortable situations have taught me to trust in God, and I
have learned more than I ever thought I would; and still am.
Meet Heather Gillis. In her book, Waiting for Heaven, Heather
recalls the story of her infant son, Bowen, and her family’s journey
with polycystic kidney disease. Through Bowen’s short life and death,
she and her husband, Mac, discovered the true meaning of God’s love and
grace. By telling her poignant story in the book and speaking to groups,
Heather hopes she can help others through the challenges of loss and
devastation; giving hope that their can be joy and happiness again.
After Bowen’s death, Heather founded Bowen’s Hope, a ministry serving kidney disease kids and their families,
especially those getting dialysis treatments at Phoenix Children’s
Hospital. She’s also involved with Camp Maska for dialysis patients in
Arizona, and has raised over $50,000 for the PKD Foundation. In
addition, Heather volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House, an
organization serving meals and providing temporary housing to families
with children in the hospital.
Heather works part time as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.
She and Mac have two living children, Brooklyn and Blake. With a serving
heart, Heather’s passions are her family and helping others.
Visit Heather online at www.bowenshope.com
Contact Heather at:
Website: www.bowenshope.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bowenshope.com // www.facebook.com/heather.gillis.581
Twitter: www.twitter.com/heathergillis6
Pump Up Your Book and Author Heather Gillis are teaming up to give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
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 the prize.
This giveaway begins August 1 and ends on August 29, 2014.
Winner will be contacted via email on September 1, 2014.
In
an original eBook novella set in the Amish community of Lancaster
County—sure to captivate readers of Cindy Woodsmall and Beverly
Lewis—Rosalind Lauer explores the choices a heart makes for love.
Lizzy King has been blessed by nearly five years of marriage to her
husband, Joe, but her heart is heavy. Grieving the child she carried
only briefly, Lizzy is uncertain how to heal. In an Amish community
where big families and laughing children are a way of life, she feels
lost. Thank goodness for her friend Juanita, whose family owns the
Puerto Rican restaurant next door to the King family’s cheese shop.
Nita understands the pressure and joys of a large family, and she, too,
is at a crossroads. Nita’s strict parents intend for her to marry a man
she doesn’t love—but her heart already belongs to another. Knowing the
time has come to take a stand, Nita struggles to find the courage to
fight for her future.
As two women help each other to find
their way home to love, they discover that the heart is the brightest
star—and its guiding light cannot be extinguished.
Includes an exclusive preview of the first novel in Rosalind Lauer’s upcoming Lancaster Crossroads series, A Simple Faith.
About The Author
Rosalind Laueris the author of A Simple Winter, A Simple Spring,A Simple Autumn, A Simple Faith, A Simple Hope, and the novella A Simple Crossroads.
She grew up in a large family in Maryland and began visiting Lancaster
County’s Amish community as a child. Lauer attended Wagner College in
New York City and worked as an editor for Simon & Schuster and
Harlequin Books. She now lives with her family in Oregon, where she
writes in the shade of some towering two-hundred-year-old Douglas fir
trees.
My Review:
We are crossing two cultures here, one Amish and one English from a
strong ethnic Puerto Rican family. They both help at Market Place,
Juanita, an Amish wife, and Nita, trying to please her parents. When
Juanita suffers a miscarriage it is Nita that helps her, thus a strong
friendship is founded. While Juanita struggles with her loss, and coping
with not having a baby, she confides more and more in Nita. When Nita
needs someone to talk to Juanita is there for her. You wonder how
long these two women on different paths will be able to stay friends.
When Nita’s parents find out her secret, will she be able to return to
the Market, or will Juanita’s Amish roots bring her home and not at work
any longer? I enjoyed how this book worked out, not always like I
thought it would. Loved the compassion and faith these people showed,
don’t miss excellent book by a great storyteller Rosalind Lauer. Enjoy!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Ballantine Books, and was not required to give a positive review.
Pump Up Your Book Tours is pleased to bring you Paul Markun‘s The Big Disrupter(Thriller) release day blitz July 1 and virtual book tour July 1 – September 30.
Title: The Big Disrupter
Author: Paul Markun
Publisher: Portfolio
Publication Date: June 13, 2014
Pages: 454
ISBN: 978-0-9914862-0-5
Genre: Thriller
Format: Paperback / PDF / eBook
An anonymous donor creates a prize for One Billion Dollars to inspire
social entrepreneurs to promote world change. Lionel Lane, an
idealistic entrepreneur, partners with his brilliant ex-girlfriend
Maxine Gold to turn around his struggling San Francisco-based company
Double Vision Beverages to compete for the Big Disrupter Award. With the
help of a venture capitalist and an eccentric financier, Double Vision
expands into energy drinks using the pure water from the mountains of
Telluride, Colorado. Talented 21-year-old extreme skier, Reddi
Christiansen, becomes the face of their quest for the youth market. One
by one the leading competitors in the Big Disrupter fall victim to
unexplained tragedies. The police are mystified. The prize for social
good becomes a death trap, but too rich to resist. Desperate for
protection, Lionel, Maxine and Reddi enlist a former Navy SEAL cyber
guru. The faster they race towards the approaching award deadline, the
more the escalating dangers threaten to spin them off a cliff.
Discuss this book in our PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads by clicking HERE
Paul Markun grew up an entrepreneur and dreamer,
starting with his first paper route at age nine in the Canal Zone of
Panama. Living in Telluride, Colorado, he started four companies with
best friends before he was 24, including Fly By Night Builders, The
Illusions Company, High Country Trekkers–you get the idea; great names,
cool ideas, not much income. He moved to Silicon Valley, got more
education and tech experience, and started SoftIRON Systems and
Fullspeed Networks, and rode the wave of the late 1990s to success. He
sold SoftIRON Systems to the Williams Company (WilTel), a Fortune 300
company. In 2001 his company Fullspeed was acquired by Callisma, which
became Pac Bell and then AT&T. You know them, right? In the first
decade of the 2000s, he joined fellow entrepreneurs to lead marketing
for Netcordia, which later IPO’d as Infoblox (NYSE:BLOX). He also ran
marketing for Sitecore, a web software company, growing it 10 X from an
$8 million fledgling niche provider to an established global
corporation. Paul continues to be involved with emerging companies to
this day. Paul met his wife Rachel, an attorney, when he was 18 and she
was even younger at the University of Chicago. Their fountains of
inspiration are their two sons and a daughter. A passionate story
teller, he turned his energies to writing about topics and characters
close to his own heart. His first novel is The Big Disrupter.
Connect with Paul Markun: Website: http://www.paulmarkun.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.markun Facebook (Fan Page): https://www.facebook.com/thebigdisrupter Twitter: https://twitter.com/pmarkun Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8304205.Paul_Markun
In Perfect Time | Wings of the Nightingale series
Bold, sophisticated, and flirtatious, Army Air Force flight nurse Lt.
Kay Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, leaving men pining in
airfields all across Europe. So how can ruggedly handsome C-47 pilot Lt.
Roger Cooper be all but immune to her considerable charms? In fact, he
seems to do everything he can to avoid her.
Still, as they cross the skies between Italy and southern France,
evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every
beat of their hearts draws them closer to where they don’t want to go.
Can they confront the fears and misunderstandings in their pasts? Learn more and purchase a copy at Sarah’s website.
About The Author
Sarah Sundin is the author of "With Every Letter" and the
Wings of Glory series. In 2011, A "Memory Between Us" was a finalist in
the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards, and Sarah received the Writer
of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A
graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on call as a
hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a
pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the Navy and her great-uncle flew with the
US Eighth Air Force in England. Sarah lives in California with her
husband and three children. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more
information.
My Review:
In Perfect Time is the third book in the Wings of the Nightingale
Series, and I have enjoyed them all. The books are written in as if we
are the eyes of three different women and seeing the same events, each
one the same but not. Of course there are a lot of different things that
happen, as we all have our own lives. Oh how I loved this and all
of the books, we relive WWII through the eyes of these people. We learn
so many facts about the invasions, and what happened during this time,
that we have either forgotten or didn’t know. These should be a must
read for all Americans, the sacrifices made by these individuals that
made our country free, if not for them we all might be speaking German? This
book deals with a couple that may never end up together; they have so
many insecurities, each from their upbringing. Hard to believe how
parents can treat one child so different that they threat their others,
great examples here. One has accepted the Grace of God, and forgiveness,
or has he. The other is struggling with God, and her upbringing, of
being raised in hypocritical religious family. The book wraps up
everything, so sweetly, but always with a bid to drama, and uneasiness. I
wish we could continue on in their lives, do they fulfill their dreams?
Will these couples we have come to love, end up with the American
dream? Or will they even make it out of this war alive? Come along and
enjoy this wonderful historical read you won’t be disappointed.
I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
Join retired Amish
newlyweds Emma and Lamar Miller in Florida for the winter as they lead
another quilting class with a new group of unlikely students: Jennifer, a
pregnant new mom; Mike, a charter boat owner; Erika, a wheelchair bound
teen; Kim, a waitress; Noreen, a newly-retired widow, and BJ, an artist
facing illness. When old friends visit from Indiana, will romance also
become a subject of class discussions?
About The Author
Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led
millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the
author of over 60 books with more than 7 million copies sold. Many of
her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and CBD.
Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and
her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine and USA Today. Wanda’s books have been translated into four foreign languages.
Wanda’s fascination with the Amish culture developed when she met her
husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church, and whose family
has a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Meeting her new Mennonite
sister-in-laws caused Wanda to yearn for the simpler life. In their
travels, she and her husband have become close friends with many Amish
people across America. Wanda’s desire to explore their culture increased
when she discovered that her great-great grandparents were part of the
Anabaptist faith.
Wanda and her husband Richard
All of Wanda’s novels are based on personal research intended to
accurately portray the Amish way of life. Many of her books are
well-read and trusted by the Amish, who credit her for giving readers a
deeper understanding of the people and their customs.
Wanda’s primary attraction to the Amish is their desire to live a
devout Christian life that strives to honor God, work hard, and maintain
close family ties. Whenever she visits her Amish friends, Wanda finds
herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family
ties, which is in stark contrast to the chaos and busyness that plagues
so many modern “Englishers.” Time and time again, Wanda loses her heart
in the Amish life, and she hopes her readers will, too.
My Review:
What a great read about how an Amish couple touches so many lives, and
how the rebound of this love is passed on. Emma and Lamar have taught
quilt classes before in their hometown of Shipshewana Indiana, and
decide to do the same while in Pinecraft Florida. You can see God’s
hand in this idea, and don’t know if Emma and Lamar realized how much
they were going to change a number of lives. Your heart will break for
some of them, and rejoice for others. In the end, all of the class
participates lives do change, not always how we are hoping, but in the
way God planned. We get to enjoy the beautiful setting of this book,
through the eyes of each of the characters. Dangle your feet in surf,
enjoy hunting for shark teeth, and just enjoy watching the surf. You
never see how interconnected with others we are, and marvel how you are
at the right place at the right time to do what God wants, in his
perfect timing. I would love to take a quilt class from this
delightful couple, how fun it would be, and not only learn how to quilt,
but enjoy the scrumptious treats that are offered. Also, loved the
fact that we are updated on all at the end of the book, and can put some
closure in their lives, and wish we could join with them more.
I received this book from the Publisher Barbour Publishing Inc., and was not required to give a positive review.
Pump Up Your Book is pleased to bring you Tiffany Pitts‘ Double Blind virtual book tour August 4-29!
Title: Double Blind Author: Tiffany Pitts Publisher: Booktrope Editions Pages: 280 Genre:Action/Adventure/Humor/Sci-fi Format: Paperback/Kindle
Delilah Pelham’s brother, Paul, is missing. She should probably be
worried about that but honestly, he’s been in trouble since the day he
learned the words “trust me.” In fact, if it weren’t for his roommate,
Carl, she would gladly leave him to his fate.
Carl is a good guy, even if he’s a bit of a dork. Okay, a large slice of a dork. Possibly the entire cake.
But he wants to help, as do his gamer friends, which is how Deli
finds herself in the middle of Hong Kong with the King of the Dorks,
running from creepy guys with slicked-back hair and shiny black guns.
Back at home, Carl’s friends aren’t faring nearly as well. All they
had to do was monitor the situation and feed Deli’s cat while she was
gone. How could that possibly end in bloodshed?
There is an answer, of course, but no one ever thinks to ask the cat.
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Tiffany
Pitts grew up in the Seattle area in a time when the Super Sonics were
huge and Starbucks was just a store at the end of the Market. Tragedy
struck early in her life as her family moved to New Jersey mere months
before Bon Jovi’s “Slippery When Wet” album hit record stores. It took
nearly a decade to wean herself off the hairspray. But Seattle called
her back, so she went; eventually earning a degree in Botany (pronounced
“Bar tending”) at the University of Washington.
She made one more valiant attempt to leave the PNW after college by
travelling around the country doing not much of value and making very
stupid decisions. She is thankful every day that the internet was not a
huge deal in those years. Then Seattle called again so she picked up and
moved home where she spent many years being a scientist of middling
talent in several labs that she absolutely did not blow up—except for
that one time and everyone agreed not to talk about that any more.
Now she divides her time between writing fiction and raising two kids
who are wonderful but, for some reason, will not stop licking things.
Her latest book is the action/adventure/humorous/sci-fi, Double Blind.
Title: In the Mirror Author: Kaira Rouda Publisher: Real You Publishing Group Pages: 214 Genre: Women’s Fiction
Format: Paperback/Kindle
What choices would you make if
you knew you might die soon?
From the multi award-winning,
best-selling author of four books, including Here, Home, Hope, a gripping
and heart wrenching novel about a young mother who has it all. The only problem
is she may be dying.
In her previous works including
All the Difference, Rouda's characters "sparkle with humor and
heart," and the stories are "told with honest insight and humor"
(Booklist). "Inspirational and engaging" (ForeWord),
these are the novels you'll turn to for strong female characters and an
"engaging read" (Kirkus).
In the Mirror is the story of Jennifer
Benson, a woman who seems to have it all. Diagnosed with cancer, she enters an
experimental treatment facility to tackle her disease the same way she tackled
her life - head on. But while she's busy fighting for a cure, running her
business, planning a party, staying connected with her kids, and trying to keep
her sanity, she ignores her own intuition and warnings from others and
reignites an old relationship best left behind.
If you knew you might die, what
choices would you make? How would it affect your marriage? How would you live
each day? And how would you say no to the one who got away?
Jennifer is a wife, a mother, a daughter & sister, friend and business woman. She's also a cancer patient.
Not
having been diagnosed until a few weeks after giving birth to her
daughter, Jennifer has now been fighting for her life the past 15
months. In a treatment facility with her best friend, another cancer
patient named Ralph, Jennifer finds herself succumbing to loneliness.
Her
husband is raising their two young children while working a full time
job and the romance is disintegrating before Jennifer's very eyes. When
an ex waltzes back into her life Jennifer has to realize who she is now
and what is really important.
In
the Mirror will have you questioning your life: what do you want to do
before you die? Who means what to you? What do you do when you know time
is limited?
Kaira
Rouda's writing makes you sit back and reflect on your life and realize
just how precious and fragile it is. Life is a gift that we seem to
take for granted sometimes and Rouda's writing shows us just that.
The
best books are the ones that make you think, make you reflect and make
you cry. As I finished the last page, I had tears in my eyes and a smile
on my face thinking of how blessed my life is.
In
the Mirror teaches us not to take those around us for granted, to say
"Thank you" and "I love you", and to go for our dreams even if they seem
out of reach. I wish Ralph would have been able to see grapes turned
into wine, explore all the wineries he wanted, but I am glad he had one
more wonderful date with his wife.
The
characters in this story teach us so much about ourselves. Ralph and
Jennifer's lives touch ours. Jennifer taught me to be grateful to the
ones I have in my life while Ralph taught me it's never too late to go
after your dreams and to make each day and every moment count. Although
I've only mentioned Jennifer and Ralph, so many others characters bring
this book to life. Jennifer's amazing husband Henry, their beautiful
children Hank and Hannah, Jennifer's wonderful friends and family.
Jennifer's ex was a jerk and yet his role was important to help Jennifer
realize how blessed she is even though she is sick.
I
absolutely loved In the Mirror and I can quite honestly say I have
never read anything quite like it. This book touched me and will stay
with me long after I read the ending.
The
ending was the only thing that had me saying "WHAT!" I wish I would've
known what happened next but I am building my own scenarios in my head.
Thank you Kaira Rouda for this book. In the Mirror deserves more than 5 stars!
Book Excerpt & Trailer:
Rolling over to get out of
bed, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and cringed. My reflection said
it all. Everything had changed.
I looked like death.
I blinked, moving my gaze
from the mirror, and noticed the calendar. It was Monday again. That meant
everything in the real world. It meant groaning about the morning and getting
the kids off to school. It meant struggling to get to the office on time and
then forcing yourself to move through the day. It meant the start of something
new and fresh and undetermined. But Mondays meant nothing at Shady Valley. We
lived in the “pause” world, between “play” and “stop.” Suspension was the
toughest part for me. And loneliness. Sure, I had visitors, but it wasn’t the
same as being surrounded by people in motion. I’d been on fast-forward in the
real world, juggling two kids and my business, struggling to stay connected to
my husband, my friends. At Shady Valley, with beige-colored day after
cottage-cheese-tasting day, my pace was, well –
I had to get moving.
I supposed my longing for
activity was behind my rather childish wish to throw a party for myself. At
least it gave me a mission of sorts. A delineation of time beyond what the
latest in a long line of cancer treatments dictated. It had been more than 18
months of treatments, doctor’s appointments, hospitalizations and the like. I
embraced the solidity of a deadline. The finality of putting a date on the
calendar and knowing that at least this, my party, was something I could
control.
I noticed the veins standing
tall and blue and bubbly atop my pale, bony hands. I felt a swell of gratitude
for the snakelike signs of life, the entry points for experimental treatments;
without them, I’d be worse than on pause by now.
I pulled my favorite blue
sweatshirt over my head and tugged on my matching blue sweatpants.
Moving at last, I brushed my
teeth and then headed next door to Ralph’s. He was my best friend at Shady
Valley—a special all-suite, last-ditch-effort experimental facility for the
sick and dying—or at least he had been until I began planning my party. I was
on his last nerve with this, but he’d welcome the company, if not the topic. He
was paused too.
My thick cotton socks helped me shuffle across
my fake wood floor, but it was slow going once I reached the grassy knoll—the
leaf-green carpet that had overgrown the hallway. An institutional attempt at
Eden, I supposed. On our good days, Ralph and I sometimes sneaked my son’s
plastic bowling set out there to partake in vicious matches. We had both been
highly competitive, type-A people in the “real” world and the suspended reality
of hushed voices and tiptoeing relatives was unbearable at times.
“I’ve narrowed it down to
three choices,” I said, reaching Ralph’s open door. “’Please come celebrate my
life on the eve of my death. RSVP immediately. I’m running out of time.’”
“Oh, honestly,” Ralph said,
rolling his head back onto the pillows propping him up. I knew my time in Shady
Valley was only bearable because of this man, his humanizing presence. Even
though we both looked like shadows of our outside, real-world selves, we
carried on a relationship as if we were healthy, alive. I ignored the surgery
scars on his bald, now misshapen head. He constantly told me I was beautiful.
It worked for us.
“Too morbid? How about:
‘Only two months left. Come see the incredible, shrinking woman. Learn diet
secrets of the doomed,’” I said, smiling then, hoping he’d join in.
“Jennifer, give it a rest
would you?” Ralph said.
“You don’t have to be so
testy. Do you want me to leave?” I asked, ready to retreat back to my room.
“No, come in. Let’s just
talk about something else, OK, beautiful?”
Ralph was lonely, too.
Friends from his days as the city’s most promising young investment banker had
turned their backs—they didn’t or couldn’t make time for his death. His wife,
Barbara, and their three teenage kids were his only regular visitors. Some
days, I felt closer to Ralph than to my own family, who seemed increasingly
more absorbed in their own lives despite weekly flowers from Daddy and dutiful
visits from Henry, my husband of six years. Poor Henry. It was hard to have
meaningful visits at Shady Valley, with nurses and treatments and all manner of
interruptions. We still held hands and kissed, but intimacy—even when I was
feeling up to it—was impossible.
So, there we were, Ralph and
I, two near-death invalids fighting for our lives and planning a party to
celebrate that fact. It seemed perfectly reasonable, at least to me, because
while I knew I should be living in the moment, the future seemed a little hazy
without a party to focus on.
“Seriously, I need input on
my party invitations. It’s got to be right before I hand it over to Mother. I
value your judgment, Ralph; is that too much to ask?”
“For God’s sake, let me see
them.” Ralph snatched the paper out of my hand. After a moment, he handed it
back to me. “The last one’s the best. The others are too, well, self-pitying
and stupid. Are you sure you can’t just have a funeral like the rest of us?”
I glared at him, but agreed,
“That’s my favorite, too.”
Mr. & Mrs. E. David
Wells
request your presence at a
celebration in honor of
their daughter
Jennifer Wells Benson
Please see insert for your
party time
Shady Valley Center
2700 Hocking Ridge Road
RSVP to Mrs. Juliana Duncan
Wells
No gifts please—donations to
breast cancer research appreciated.
#
At first, I had been incredibly angry about
the cancer. Hannah’s birth, so joyous, had marked the end of my life as a
“normal” person. Apparently, it happened a lot. While a baby’s cells
multiplied, the mom’s got into the act, mutating, turning on each other. Hannah
was barely two weeks old when I became violently ill. My fever was 105 degrees
when we arrived in the ER. I think the ER doctors suspected a retained placenta
or even some sort of infectious disease, although I was so feverish I can’t
remember much from that time. All I remember was the feeling of being cut off
from my family—Henry, two-year-old Hank, and newborn Hannah—and marooned on the
maternity ward, a place for mothers-to-be on bed rest until their due dates.
That was hell.
At 33, I was a pathetic
sight. My headache was so intense the curtains were drawn at all times. I
didn’t look pregnant anymore, so all the nurses thought my baby had died. That
first shift tip-toed around me, murmuring. By the second night, one of them
posted a sign: “The baby is fine. Mother is sick.” It answered their questions
since I couldn’t. It hurt my head too much to try.
By the third day, my
headache had receded to a dull roar. Surgery revealed that there was no
retained placenta after all. I was ready to go home to my newborn and my life.
So with a slight fever and no answers, I escaped from the hospital and went
home to a grateful Henry and a chaotic household. I was weak and tired, but
everyone agreed that was to be expected. I thanked God for the millionth time
for two healthy kids and my blessed, if busy, life.
The Teen Wytche Saga by Ariella Moon
Think magic will solve your problems?
Bring you love? Cure you? Protect you? Help you find someone who is lost?
Think again.
Magic tests friendships. It hisses, chirps, stinks up the room, backfires, and explodes. Magic forces you to make tough decisions. Shatter limitations. Discover your true self. When you use magic, expect results in the ultimate triple-un—unpredictable, uncontrollable, and so undeniable.
And you thought navigating high school was tough.
Spell Check “Ms. Moon has crafted a spellbinding story. I was entranced within the first chapter,”
Tifferz, 5-star Amazon Review
“Spellcheck is a delightful teen romance about best friends, magic, and bad decisions.”
Romancewriter, 5-Star Amazon Review
“A great read that kept me captive, I couldn’t stop
reading! Ariella Moon has created a piece of art! I can’t wait for the
next book!”
Jennifer Badgett, 5-Star Amazon Review
Excerpt From Spell Check, Book #1 The Teen
Wytche Saga
About ten minutes into class, while Mr. Esenberg wrote on the board, I
heard Jordan slide his feet under my desk. My breath wedged in my throat as the
tips of his size nine high-performance sneakers nudged the heels of my shoes.
Could the girl in front of me hear my heart thudding? Should I move my feet
forward?
My feet tingled and refused to move. A blush blazed across my cheeks. I
struggled to pay attention to Mr. Esenberg without making eye contact. Forty
minutes passed, the bell blared, and I had no idea what had transpired. Hopefully, my notes
will make sense. I think I took notes.
Jordan slid his feet back and thudded his book closed. We both bent down
and reached for our backpacks. His leaned against mine. Our hands brushed and
our heads were so close I could smell his herbal shampoo.
Students walked past us. I’m sure some of them were talking to each other
or flipping open their cell phones. But it all faded away along with the smell
of chalk, highlighters, and sweat. Everything receded except the warmth of
Jordan’s skin, his cinnamon gum-scented breath, and the heart-stopping rush
sprinting up my arm.
“Evie?”
We jerked apart. Seeing Parvani in the doorway looking hurt and shocked
snapped my senses into hyper focus. Conversations sounded extra loud. Colors
seemed too bright. It felt like a movie had started, full blast, in a hushed
theater.
Spell Struck “A fantastic YA paranormal read, reminiscent of the film
“Practical Magic”! Spell Struck combines quirky but fun teen characters
dealing with new schools, romance, and family problems, with magic, and
more serious topics like suicide and kidnapping.”
Sarah E. Bradley, InD’Tale Magazine
5 Stars, Crowned Heart for Excellence
“The Teen Wytche Saga is a gripping series of books that combine
otherworldly magick with the everyday struggles of growing up a teenager
in America… Unexpected plot twists at every turn of the page grab you
and hold on from start to finish.”
Karyn Pickles, 5 Star Amazon Review
“I loved Spell Struck even more than I loved Spell Check!”
Freddie, 5-Star Amazon Review
Spell Fire
“This book looked fun and magical from the start … I
really want to go back and get the first and second book now and read
the series from the beginning. Ariella has made me fall in love with the
characters in the middle of the story. I also can not wait for the
fourth installment.”
Becca Wilson, 5-Star Amazon Review
“Great cast of characters, diverse protagonist, fast-paced action
and romance, and a touch of different types of regional magic all tied
into a fantastic read. I would highly recommend these to any woman (no
matter the age) looking for an uplifting paranormal romance!”
Freddie, 5-Star Amazon Review
“I loved it!!! Absolutely loved it!!!… “Overall a great book and an awesome series… I would definitely
recommend this book to all the fantasy and YA lovers and hope that you
guys will love it as I did.”
CUTEsatarupa, 5-Star Amazon Review
Author Ariella Moon
Ariella Moon is the author of the Teen Wytche Saga, a sweet Young
Adult paranormal series. Ariella writes about magic, friendship, high
school, secrets, and love in Spell Check, Spell Struck, and Spell Fire from Astraea Press.
Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that
would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety, and taller students
who mistook her for a leaning post, marred her youth. Despite these
horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California
at Davis. Ariella is a Reiki Master, author, and shaman. She lives a
nearly normal life with her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly
spoiled dogs, and an enormous dragon.
Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 9/7/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an
Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified
prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or
older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be
chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will
have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway
is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any
other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries
received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy
from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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