Tara Chevrestt's Blog, page 102

Review & Spotlight: Intrepid Daniel Weckerly

What parent of a ten-year-old daughter can resist her fervent pleas for a dog? Especially when her young life has been marked by the pain of a horrible car accident that took her mother when she was a toddler. Jay McAllister, single parent for the past eight years, heeds the call of a neighbor in need of placing a newborn puppy and welcomes Intrepid - a Lab-mix orphan - into his family. Intrepid gains the nickname "Tepid", but her fit into the McAllister household is anything but lukewarm. She helps the family heal from wounds they thought they had left behind years ago, integrating herself into their lives and burrowing into their hearts. She instills belief in Jay, knowledge that hurts can be healed, family can be strengthened, and joy can return even when it has been absent for quite a while.
She also opens his mind to something otherworldly. Together, Jay and Tepid experience the reality that a promise made - between a wife and a husband, between a public servant and his community - can transcend even death itself
Buy Links: Amazon / Smashwords
About the Author:Daniel Weckerly resides in Pennsylvania and shares his life with his wife and kids and his wonderful Labrador Retriever, Parker. He has been writing in a business context for the past 25 years, with "Intrepid" being his first novel. He credits a long-term love of Labradors with his ability to capture in words the humor, honor, and heart of these magnificent dogs, the only breed he has ever owned. You can follow Daniel on Facebook at www.facebook.com/daniel.weckerly or www.facebook.com/intrepid or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Intrepi...
Author Facebook / Book Facebook
*MY REVIEW*
I really liked this book. I loved the story of a man and his two daughters healing with the help of a puppy. The puppy, the dog's love comes into their lives at a time it's needed.

The puppy comes to them needing major care; bottle feeding, supervision, mothering, training, exercise. The dog's need for exercise leads to nighttime walks in the local cemetery where they scare away pesky geese and pick up water bottles.

They are welcome there.

Other intruders are not; kids on dirt bikes, vandals, muggers. The hero of the story...at first he doesn't face down his fear very well, and then I was perturbed that he takes his dog into the heart of danger, while at the same time I admired his sudden growth of balls didn't have before...but here's where the story gets paranormal. And I'll say no more.

I liked the style of this. It's well told, well written, and engaging. I'd read more by this author, but in the end, I failed to see to how the paranormal activity tied into the dog. Was there a hint of something? Sort of, but I'm uncertain.

Four stars. I received this from Sizzling PR.

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Captain Ariane Stephanie Austin

Book: Grand Central Arena
Author: Ryk E. Spoor
Heroine: Captain Ariane Stephanie Austin

While certainly no physical weakling, Ariane's greatest strength is her driving, indomitable will and a refusal to allow anything to beat her -- even when she's uncertain of herself at times. Originally meant as a last-ditch, and assumed-useless, backup for AI pilots, Ariane was suddenly thrust into the position of leader of the little group of humans who found themselves stranded in the alien construct called The Arena -- and had to find some way to get them home. This led to confrontations and political maneuverings with, potentially, the entire human race at stake -- culminating with a one-on-one battle against Amas-Garao, a "Shadeweaver" with apparently supernatural powers who was assumed to be invincible, and whom she nonetheless defeated with a combination of luck, insight, and utterly unyielding drive that would not admit of the *possibility* of defeat.

There's nothing as sexy as a woman who's confident and playful at the same time, and that describes Ariane to a T; she's also a thrill-seeker, a professional space racer, and lover of adventure who has found that, despite the terrifying, real-life stakes in play in The Arena, she's more alive and HERSELF there than she was in the Solar System of 2375. That confidence and energy are enough to attract any eye. And the lovely blue hair doesn't hurt, either!

Blurb:

It was supposed to be a simple test flight, one that pilot Ariane Austin was on only as a last-ditch backup; intelligent, superhumanly fast automation would handle the test activation and flight of humanity's first faster-than-light vessel. But when the Sandrisson Drive activated, every automated system crashed, the nuclear reactor itself shut down, and only the reflexes and training of a racing pilot saved the test vessel Holy Grailfrom crashing into the impossible wall that had appeared before them, a wall which is just part of a monstrous enclosure surrounding a space twenty thousand kilometers across. With all artificial intelligences inert and their reactor dead, they had to find some other source of power to reactivate the Sandrisson Drive and—hopefully—take them home.

And that was only the beginning. As Ariane, Dr. Simon Sandrisson, darkly enigmatic power engineer Marc C. DuQuesne, and the rest of theHoly Grail's crew explore the immense artifact, they discover that they are not alone; they have entered a place the alien inhabitants call “The Arena,” and there is no way out without joining one of the alien factions . . . or winning recognition as a faction in their own right, playing by the Arena's rules – and by the Arena's rules, one failed challenge could mean death or worse – perhaps for the entire human race.

Surrounded by alien factions, each with its own secret plans and motivations, some wielding powers so strange as to be magical, Ariane sets out to beat the Arena at its own game. With DuQuesne's strategies, Sandrisson's genius, and her own unyielding determination, she's going to bring the Holy Grail home – even if she has to beat every faction in the Arena to do it!

Buy on Amazon

Finding Flight by Heather M. Sharpe

Can her gift help her find an everlasting love?
Blurb: As an Enforcer for a secret society of shapeshifters, Ledger Arneau is offered a chance to retrieve his wayward brother before The Council puts out a warrant for his arrest. When the trail goes cold, he is willing to try anything to pick it up again, even if it means bringing in an outsider. 
Corinne Winters is able to find any missing object, except her own, by concentrating on it. She’s always dreamed of using her skills to help locate missing people. After an embarrassing setback with the local police department, she jumps on the opportunity to use her skills to help Ledger. 
Corinne finds a love she didn’t know she was looking for with Ledger, and discovers a new depth to her talent when they are together. When her new love and his brother disappear back into the secret society, Corinne must stretch her talent beyond anything she ever imagined to bring them home. Unaware of the circumstances surrounding Ledger’s disappearance, Corinne races across the country on his trail. When she finally locates the brothers, she witnesses the unbelievable, and flees in terror. In order to claim the love of her life, she must find a way to accept him and his secret.
Excerpt:“Are you going to stand there all night, or are you going to let me out?” Corinne called while tapping lightly on the glass behind him. Ledger pushed his worries to the back of his mind and reluctantly straightened from the side of the car. Despite his new worry about Cedric catching up with them, he couldn’t drive any farther tonight. After a few hours of sleep, he’d be refreshed, and they could pick up the trail bright and early in the morning. He turned to open the door and helped Corinne straighten from the seat. Stretching her arms above her head, Corinne breathed, “Hmm…I think that’s the longest car ride I’ve ever had. What are our room numbers?”“Two-thirteen. We’re leaving early in the morning again, so what do you need me to carry in for you? The less we take in now, the less we’ll have to bring back out in the morning.” Ledger turned from Corinne and headed toward the trunk without glancing back.“What do you mean we’re in two-thirteen? You only got one room?”“Yeah. Don’t worry, there are two beds. We won’t be here for more than a few hours, anyway. As soon as I’ve caught some sleep, we’ll be back on the road again.”“I’m not sharing a room with you! What if I snore? You’ve been up since who knows when; I’d hate to keep you awake!” Corinne grabbed her phone out of the cup holder and slammed the door.“You snore? I never would have guessed. Don’t worry, I’ll sleep through it.”“I don’t snore.”“Sure.” He snorted. She was so fun to tease. “I said what if I snore, not that I do snore. Anyway, that’s beside the point. You need to go get another room.” Corinne followed him to the trunk of the car and stood with her hands on her hips. She was close enough that his keen hearing picked up the elevation in her heart rate, and the blush starting at the base of her throat beckoned him. She did want two rooms, but it appeared that the thought of sharing a room excited her in spite of herself. “Sorry, princess. One room. I’m going up to get some sleep. You can stay here with the car if you really want to. I’ll be back in about six hours.”

Bio: Heather M. Sharpe lives on 6 acres in Central Kansas with her husband, perfect baby boy, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law. In case the house isn’t full enough, it also includes four noisy dogs, one cat who inspired For the love of a Sphynx, another who torments him, and a lizard.  At night, all of them think they need room on the bed (except the lizard, thankfully).  Up until the birth of her son, Heather taught elementary school.  Now she chases around her toddler and writes whenever he naps long enough to turn on the laptop.  When not writing or chasing the baby, Heather enjoys hanging at the lake, waking up early to tear up the water on the wakeboard or wakesurf board, and making s’mores. Make sure to check out Heather’s website and Facebook page to keep informed of all her newest projects.  Links: www.heathermsharpe.webstarts.com  www.facebook.com/heathermsharpe

HEAs With Lorraine Nelson *Chance to Win Cameron's Quest*

Does every book have to have a happy ending? 
When writing a series, wouldn’t it be all right to leave the characters on a drastic hook?
My original manuscript had Cameron Manning being arrested at the end of the book, but my editor said, “No. We need the HEA.”
Even though we know his Irish love, Lacey Kerrigan, is going to stand behind him all the way, believing in his innocence.
Even though, as one of the ‘good guys’, we know he’s going to be proved innocent in the next book.
A relationship based on true love weathers the obstacles put in its path. So in a way, even though he’s arrested, it is a HEA just knowing they have that love to sustain them through difficult times. Life doesn’t always run smooth and having someone in your corner can be a real blessing. Isn’t that what love is all about?
What about you? Do you need that happily-ever-after or happy-for-now ending? Or would you be content to wait for the next book, which, by the way, is almost finished and ready to submit? 
***
Cameron Manning has never forgotten his first love. Of Irish descent, he met red-haired, fiery tempered Lacey Kerrigan in England, but her family returns to Ireland unexpectedly and they haven’t any means of contact. He finds her and receives the surprise of his life.
Lacey is thrilled to see Cameron, but is afraid of being hurt again. She keeps her distance and rebuffs his advances while he’s in Ireland, certain that a long distance affair will never work. But when tickets arrive for her to visit his home in Canada, she realizes his love is true and is willing to give them a second chance.
Fate intervenes when they find a murdered man on Cameron’s back deck. All evidence points to Cameron as the killer. Can their reawakened love survive the stress of a murder investigation? Or will it be the catalyst that drives them apart forever?

***
Lorraine Nelson is a multi-published author who lives in rural New Brunswick, on the east coast of Canada. Always a bookworm, she’s read many novels of romance and mystery over the years, finally deciding to put her pen to work at writing one.
“To write romance and romantic suspense is my dream come true, although my mom says I was born with an avid imagination and pencil in hand, crafting stories from an early age. Now my children have grown and have lives of their own, I have time to indulge my passion for writing.”
Lorraine lives alone with an independent yet affectionate tomcat, enjoys spending time with her three sons and six grandchildren. When not at the computer, you can find her spending time with family, gardening, baking and, of course, reading.
Lorraine loves to hear from readers. You can keep up with her releases by visiting the following locations:Website - http://lorrainenelson.weebly.comBlog – http://lorrainenelson.wordpress.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/LorraineNelson.AuthorTwitter - https://twitter.com/#!/lornelcaOr email your comments to: lorrainenelson_author@hotmail.com

Comment for a chance to win, then follow her tour and comment some more! The more you comment, the better your chances of winning! Two e-book copies of Cameron's Quest is up for grabs. Winner to be announced the 18th.

Cameron's Quest Blogging Blitz, April 16th

Name Blog Url
Lorraine Nelson http://lorrainenelson.wordpress.com
Luscious Literaries http://lusciousliteraries.wordpress.com/
Raven http://www.ravenmcallan.blogspot.com/
Angelina www.angelinarain.blogspot.com
Doris http://thetardisscribbles.blogspot.com/?zx=764a701e81ce6f81
Staci http://www.chacelynpierce.blogspot.com/
Kristine Cayne http://blog.kristinecayne.com/
Rebecca http://www.laceywolfe.com/blog.html
Tara http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Hart http://bexbooknook.wordpress.com/
Ashlynn http://www.ashlynnmonroe.com/apps/blog/
Sandra http://sandrabunino.com/blog/
Stacey Jo http://madisonsevier.blogspot.ca/
Elyzabeth http://inadreambeyond.blogspot.com/
London http://londonsj.blogspot.com/?zx=97cf3414e57434cf
Ju http://judimello.blogspot.com/
Laura Deluca http://authorlauradeluca.blogspot.com/2013/04/cover-reveal-camerons-quest-by-lorraine.html
Kacey http://kaceyhammellkreations.blogspot.com/
Michelle Clay http://www.michelle-clay.blogspot.com/

Bringing Awareness to Hearing Loss & Bullying With Shanna Groves

[image error] Today I have Shanna Groves visiting again to talk about her newest release: Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom. I met Shanna through Dawn Colslaure, another deaf author. I'm meeting an incredible amount of deaf authors lately and forming terrific friendships with them. You see, we all want the same thing: awareness of our disability. Understanding of what we deal with. A stop to bullying.

Tell us a little about your background and how you became interested in writing.

My first foray into writing was in middle school when I joined the yearbook staff. One day while laying out a yearbook page, I learned that I had won the Outstanding English Student Award for my school. A gigantic trophy and tons of writing confidence followed. I grew up in Oklahoma and Texas and developed quite a memory for people I had met and places seen. All those memories came in handy years later when I put a magazine editing career on hold to become an aspiring novelist. It was a good thing I knew how to write because it helped channel my feelings about living with progressive hearing loss into words for others to read.

What led you to write Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom? 

Biographies and memoirs are my favorite genre of books, and I wanted to write one for years. A writing instructor once asked what was so special about my life that it warranted a book. It took eight years for my life story to materialize into Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom. I had to live life, not just write about it, in order to have a story worth telling. My book is about living with hearing loss while taking care of children, living with depression, and trying to make sense out of a progressive health issue. Writing this book was my therapy. Each chapter invites the reader on roller-coaster experiences that may surprise, educate, and inspire them.

What is Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom about?
In 2001, I became a new mom to a healthy seven-pound boy. While on maternity leave, I noticed a persistent ringing sound inside my ears and went to a doctor. The diagnosis: progressive hearing loss in both ears; cause unknown. My book spans the first six years of my life as a hard of hearing mom. How could I take care of my babies if I couldn't hear their cries from the other room? Would I become completely deaf and, if so, how would I communicate with my children? The doorbell's chime, the phone ringing, and my toddler's first words were silent to my ears. After two years of denial, I began wearing hearing aids---but I didn't like them at first. They magnified the sounds I didn't want to hear---temper tantrums! Eventually, I learned to navigate the uncertain waters of hearing loss with my sanity and humor barely intact. I became an online hearing loss community advocate, known as Lipreading Mom. This wasn't my lifelong plan in the beginning, but it is something I have come to embrace now. Besides being a wife and mom, I believe my purpose on earth is to tell this story.

Shanna also has some hearing loss awareness projects she'd love to bring to your attention: Find out how you can help in these causes.

- Show Me Your Ears: This is my online photo gallery of people who wear cochlear implants and hearing aids, children with hearing loss, and even a few animal ears! The goal is to make hearing loss awareness a fun and visual experience. To date, there are more than 200 'ears' on display at LipreadingMom.com/Show-Me-Your-Ears.

- Lipreading Mom Captions Campaign: I have partnered with the Collaboration for Communication Access via Captioning (CCAC) to develop an email campaign to encourage networks and websites to caption 100-percent of their online videos so that people who are deaf or hard of hearing have full access to them. Visit the campaign page atLipreadingMom.com/Lipreading-Mom-Captions-Campaign.

- Stop Hearing Loss Bullying: As a person with hearing loss, I have experienced teasing, name calling, and outright bullying---and I am not alone. In schools, communities, and the workplace, people with hearing loss may experience ridiculing and prejudice because of their hearing ability. This campaign has an online petition and is working on a series of videos to heighten awareness that people who can't hear deserve respect and that hearing loss bullying is wrong. Learn more at LipreadingMom.com/Stop-Hearing-Loss-Bullying.
***
Shanna Groves was diagnosed with progressive hearing loss after the birth of her first child. She was 27. In the years since, she and her husband added two more children who provide creative fodder for writing. Her books include Lip Reader and the just-released Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom. The philosophy, "One person can make a difference; it takes many people to make the difference permanent," inspired a blog, LipreadingMom.com, that advocates for hearing loss awareness through projects such as the Lipreading Mom Captions Campaign, Show Me Your Ears, and Stop Hearing Loss Bullying. She speaks and teaches classes on hearing health, lip reading, and creative writing to people of all ages. Learn more at ShannaGroves.com.

BLOG ADDRESS: http://LipreadingMom.com

WEB ADDRESS: www.ShannaGroves.com

FACEBOOK ADDRESS:www.Facebook.com/AuthorShannaGroves

TWITTER ADDRESS: www.Twitter.com/LipreadingMom

EMAIL: sgrovesuss@msn.com

Spotlight & Giveaway on Southern Embrace by Tamaria Soana *adults only*

Can a long lost love mend a grieving heart?

Widowed at twenty-three, Savannah Grant is devastated and consumed with grief, a grief that she can't seem to move past. When her high school sweetheart, Lance Peterson, re-enters her life, Savannah struggles with the feeling that she would be betraying her deceased husband by moving on. Plus, she can't forget the way Lance broke her heart all those years ago.
Lance never stopped loving Savannah. He wants a second chance, and he's willing to do anything it takes to convince her to give him one. Will she give in and let Lance love her, showing her a passion beyond anything she thought possible? 
Content Warning: adult language, explicit sexual situations, anal play 
Excerpt:It was a beautiful Friday afternoon. Van grabbed her purse and headed out to the mall. Nikki's shower was the following weekend, and Nikki had been on her to get a new dress for days, threatening to drag her shopping kicking and screaming if she didn't go herself.
Once at the mall, Van picked up some last minute gifts for Nikki. After trying on a few dresses, she found a knee-length, strapless coral dress. She purchased it and was off in search of a pair of shoes. When she found the perfect pair of coral and silver heels, Van concluded the trip to the mall a complete success.
Her cellphone rang as she was leaving the shoe store. She dug around in her bag to find it. With her head down and her steps brisk, she ran right into someone.
"I'm so sorry. I'm such a klutz," she said as she looked up into the brown eyes of her first love. She gasped and took a step back, surveying him. His light brown hair was a little shorter and he was built like a man now, not the boy she used to know. She stood frozen in place, staring at him. This can't be happening. A tidal wave of emotions rushed through her at once. Anger, resentment, hatred, but mainly pain…so much pain.
"Van."
"Lance? Oh my God!" She took another step back. "How?"
"I-I talked to Nikki. She told me you would be here. I needed to see you. When I heard what happened…" He paused. "I knew I couldn't stay away any longer. I'm so sorry."
The more he talked, the more Van's anger flared. Who does he think he is? He left me! Turned his back on me when he cut all ties!
"What exactly are you sorry for, Lance? That my husband died or that you broke my heart all those years ago?" The words she spoke were full of acid. "You have a lot of nerve just showing up here like nothing ever happened. Go away." She turned to leave.
"Please, Van, just talk to me. Give me a chance to explain," he begged as he reached for her hand.
"Don't you dare touch me," she said through gritted teeth, yanking her hand away. "What do you want from me?" She stared at him while plotting all the ways she was going to torture Nikki for her betrayal.
She seethed as he looked around. "Calm down, Van. People are starting to stare. Please, can we go somewhere more private and talk? There is so much I need to tell you."
"What could you possibly have to say to me that would make up for what you did? I mean, I know you had to move, but you cut all ties with me. Like the three years we spent together meant nothing to you, like I meant nothing to you. Damn you, Lance, you didn't even try to make it work."
"Please, Savannah. Give me a chance to explain."
"Give me one reason why I should."
"Because I still love you. I. Never. Stopped. I cut all ties with you because I had to. Long distance relationships never work out. I was afraid you would wake up one day and resent me. Being apart from you was killing me. I thought this way we would both be able to move on. But I was wrong, I never was able to move on. I let the love I have for you consume me. I wanted to come back sooner, but then I heard you'd gotten married. When I found out what had happened, I wanted to rush here and be by your side, but I figured you would need some time."
His words shocked and confused her. After she took a few moments to process everything, she shook her head. "I can't do this." She turned and walked away, then stopped. "Go back to wherever it was you came from and leave me alone."
"I won't give up on you. I won't stop trying, and I most definitely won't ever leave you again."
"Just go away, Lance. You're good at that," she snarled before she walked away. She didn't dare turn around because looking at him as he begged her to give him a chance to explain would certainly weaken her. Van needed to focus on how she was going to kill her so-called best friend.

Buy links:   Beachwalk  Press         Barnes & Noble        Amazon




Watch the Trailer:


About the Author:
Tamaria Soana is middle aged, but just feels her life has begun. She writes sexy contemporary romance stories that always end with a ‘happily ever after’. Growing up she loved to read and make up new places in her head to escape to. In her late teens she began writing short stories and poetry; it wasn’t until her late thirties before she began to spin a full story.


She’s married and a stay-at-home-mom of two beautiful young girls, they reside in Western New York. Cuddling up with a good book under an electric throw is her way to escape the cold Buffalo nights. 



Besides writing, she co-owns Shades of Rose Marketing and hosts a talk show on Talkshoe called Live with Tamaria ~ Giving authors a voice.
Author Links:    Site     Facebook Author Page     Twitter

Giveaway:  Tamaria is giving away a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card. To enter to win just fill out the Rafflecopter below.


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Spotlight & Giveaway: Watershed by CD Brennan

She left home to find herself...and found love along the way.


Maggie isn’t looking for love on her backpacking trip through Australia. She’s got enough man troubles back in Ireland. Australia is her escape, a place of adventure where she can create memories to last a lifetime.But some memories won’t be left behind.
Gray is ready to quit hiring backpackers to help with the work on his remote Queensland cattle station when Maggie turns up. She’s just passing through, but the connection they forge during the long nights herding cattle won’t be so easily cast aside.
CONTENT WARNING: A strong-willed Irish heroine, a stubborn Australian hero, and oceans of difference to bridge for love.
A Lyrical Press Contemporary Romance
About the Author:Having traveled and lived all over the world, Cd Brennan now talks with a strange accent, a mix of distant terminology, a blend of culturally cute but confusing euphemisms that leaves everyone looking at her with a blank stare. Luckily, her Australian husband (who she met in Ireland) and her two Aussie/Yankee sons have no problem understanding her – well, except for the word “NO”. Now settled back “home” in Michigan, she enjoys reliving her glory days by writing about them. She considers the last fifteen years abroad the perfect research for her Love Where You Roam series; matchmaking women and men from different cultures, even different hemispheres, helping them find their true one across oceans of difference.  As destiny plays a hand in all the stories, Cd Brennan truly believes that what is for you, won’t pass you by. She hopes to inspire others to get out there: “Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” [Mark Twain]  And of course, fall in love.Excerpt:She couldn’t figure him, and this was the first chance they’d had to be alone since that night. She put on her best teasing smile. “How did a seasoned bushman like you let a bull get the best of ya?”
As soon as it came out of her mouth, she knew it was the wrong thing to say.
His brow furrowed, anger lighting his eyes. “It happens to the best of us.” He ripped another piece of bark from the tree and turned to go.
“Did you have a good time last night?” Maggie hurried on. “I mean, other than the incident with the bull.”
He shrugged. “It was all right. Did you?”
“It was brilliant. I had a fantastic time.”
“Yeah, it looked like you were having a good time with ol’ mate there.”
Maggie raised an eyebrow. “Jason?”
“Yeah, that skeg.”
He had noticed.
“What does that mean? Skeg?”
Gray shook his head. “It’s nothin’, forget it.”
Maggie’s temper flared. “I might not be an Aussie, oi-oi-oi,” she mimicked, “to know that it’s rude.”
Gray shrugged. “Anyway, looked like you guys were getting pretty close. Are you going to stay with him next?”
Now her temper kicked in. She pumped harder on the swing. If he would only step a few feet closer, she’d be able to get him with her legs. That’s what he needed, a kick in the bum.
“Maybe I will.” She raised her chin in defiance. “With Lizzy here, you don’t need my help anymore.” Gray narrowed his eyes at her. “Who told you that you were any help?”
Her mouth fell open. How rude! He was treating her like he had when she first arrived.
Suddenly, a loud crack sounded, and then snap! The next thing Maggie knew, she was lying on the ground on her back, the rope in her hands.
Gray squatted down over her. “Are you okay?” He appeared genuinely concerned.
She let go of the ropes and let her head fall onto the grass. “I’m grand, just need to catch my breath a moment.” There she was lying on her back again, looking up at him, wondering what the hell had happened. This was twice now. Was it divine intervention? Maggie wasn’t superstitious like most of the Irish, but she was smart enough to know not to push her luck if things looked grim.
He hovered over her, and she could feel the energy building between them like it always did when they were close. He smelled of earthy oats. His eyes were darker in the shade, not the usual golden reflection from the sun. She gazed into them, feeling herself being pulled deeper into everything that was Gray. “Thank you for bringing my journal and phone to me at the hospital.”
His features softened. “No worries.”
She dropped her eyes away to play at the blades of grass, pinching individual stems and running them through her fingers. “You came like you promised.”
He grabbed her hand with both of his, forcing Maggie to return her gaze to him. He gently rubbed the outside of her hand with his thumb. “We ride out early tomorrow. Be saddled up by first light.”
He dropped her hand suddenly and stood to go.
Maggie yanked a bunch of grass from the ground and threw it at his retreating figure, letting her head thump onto the ground. God, was she in love with him.
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Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries 1

[image error] This is a TV show that has it all.



History: It's the 1920s with flappers, fringe, and feathers, bobbed hair, red lipstick, and ciggie holders. The men wear hats and suits and it's scandalous to speak of "family planning".

Drama: There's no end. You have the lovely Phyne Fisher, wealthy socialite/self-proclaimed lady detective. As the series unfolds, there are tiny hints of a romance with the Inspector--a married man.

Meanwhile his constable is enamored with Dottie the maid, but he's Protestant and she's Catholic.

Sex: Phyrne is quite promiscuous. The first few episodes had me frowning. She bedded a new man almost everything episode--def too fast with the Russian Anarchist. Like, immediately upon meeting. I did love her Chinese beau though.

Romance: Phyrn promises herself to none, but as I said above, something is going on with the Inspector, but a man of honor, he won't renege on his wedding vows, even though his wife never appears to be in the picture.

Mystery: Each episode is a new crime. Russian shot dead. Accident in a factory. Bleach in place of insulin, milk that paralyzes people, carnival crimes, a dead pilot now walking, drama at her aunt's house, murder on a train. Phyrne gets in the middle of it all.

I enjoyed this immensely. I loved Phyrne, Dottie, and even the Butler (the fudge!!! omg!). There were, however, some moments I was too easily able to predict what was going to happen next. I turned to my husband and said, "Watch. He's going to throw her down the stairs now," and I was right. 

The last episode of this season totally made up for that though. I was on the edge of my seat as Phryne placed herself in the hands of a killer and her past began catch up with her. Superb!

Phyrne is a wonderfully strong woman, but goes too far at times to be realistic and the promiscuity was a turn off. I'd also like to know how she acquired all her wealth because her childhood flashbacks show her as a dirty street urchin so where did the wealthy aunt come in and all these seemingly endless funds?

Great clothing too!

Four stars. Acorn can't get season two on dvd fast enough for me. I got this from Amazon Vine.

10-Dollar Gift Card Giveaway & Interview With Soap & Jewelry Maker Autumn Burgess

Got a special treat for you today. This month for my artist and shop feature, I'm interviewing Autumn. She has two shops on Etsy and Facebook, one for soaps and lips balms and lotions. Some of her soaps even look like cupcakes! It's no wonder she calls it Skin Sweets & Body Treats!


Her other shop is Jewelry Designs by Lula. Today we're going to talk a little about both and there is a giveaway (see below) for you to enter for a ten-dollar gift card for one lucky Book Babe follower to use toward anything in either shop. U.S. Residents only, please. But, first, the interview:
Tara: Soap making, jewelry making, all of it is a form of art. What drew you to these particular forms of expression?
Autumn: Well I started off making jewelry because I loved all the fashion jewelry that was going around but of course I was on a budget, so I decided to teach myself to make it on my own. I eventually started making it as gifts for others when my husband suggested I try to sell it. So that’s how I got started. From jewelry, I started to then add other items I loved to use, like lip balms, sugar scrubs, lotions and soaps. Then I learned the cold process method of soap making which is making soap from oils and lye, and that has been my true passion. Eventually I found myself with two separate business and markets, so I decided to separate the two. The fact that I loved to pamper myself but needed to find a way to do it affordably is what drew me to jewelry and soap making. 
Tara: Any other hidden talents?
Autumn: I’ve tried my hand at quite a few things over the years. I can crochet and knit in its simplest forms. I used to decorate cakes, cupcakes and cookies any chance I could and I can play the piano and one song on the guitar. I have a license in cosmetology so I can also cut hair. But I don’t do any of these things anymore!

Tara: What’s the most rewarding thing about what you do? What gives you that warm glow?
Autumn: When a product actually turns out I get pretty excited! I’ve had lots of failures while trying to learn new techniques. When I made my first batch of cold process soap and when they were finally cured and ready to use, I felt like I had invented the world! It cleaned, it bubbled, it did exactly what it was supposed to do! On the jewelry making side, I love to do custom, personalized pieces. Hearing how much a customer loved their jewelry always makes me smile.

Tara: Bestselling item?
Autumn: Definitely soap because the possibilities are endless and people always like trying something new.
Tara: Favorite scent?
Autumn: Oh my goodness, I don’t know how to pick without making all my other scents jealous, but I love anything fruity and sweet smelling. “Fruit Twist” is my favorite of this type. I also like clean scents like “Freshly Fallen” because they are great year round. 

Tara: How much of your product do you end up keeping for yourself because you just can’t send it away?

Autumn: Whenever I make a loaf of soap you have to cut the end pieces off because they aren’t very pretty. I always keep those for myself. If I’m making several batches of lotions I usually end up with a bit extra and that never goes to waste!

Tara: Is there a special story behind anything you have created? A special order?
Autumn: I just made a soap using snow. It’s great when mother nature can provide me with my ingredients at no financial cost. This spring I hope to collect enough rain to make several batches of rain soap. What could be better or more natural than using all natural ingredients!

Tara: Imagine your soap being lathered and rubbed on a hot celebrity bod...down those chiseled abs...who is it?
Autumn: Oh man, I don’t really know of any celebrities these days since most of the TV I watch is the Disney channel with my kids, but Mickey Mouse seems nice.
Take a moment to browse both shops. The pictures I posted really don't even show half of what this woman does. She has soaps that smell like pipe tobacco, lip balms that taste like pumpkin cheesecake, witty sayings on pendants...
Enter to win a gift card from me below. Please note, if the item you desire to purchase from her shop is $15 dollar, you must make the difference. I am crediting ten toward your purchase. Anything over ten dollars, including shipping fees, is up to the winner. Winners will have 48 hours to reply to my email or another winner will be chosen. Giveaway ends Monday night.

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My Aunt is My Everyday Heroine

Over on the HerStory blog this month, we've been talking about our everyday heroines. Everyone has a different idea of what that is. Some think of a disabled friend who shows up to work every, no matter her pain. Some think of a mother juggling sick kids and a career. Some think of policewomen or brave women of the past who helped others.
I think of my aunt and this is my post...
When you were a little girl, there was that woman you looked up to. She hung the moon in your eyes. She was just COOL. You said, "When I grow up, I wanna be just like her!"
Mine was Aunt G.I. Jane.

Due to her current occupation, my aunt wishes to remain anonymous and I am giving her a code name of her choice. It suits her. Not because she looks like Demi Moore, but because she has been in a position such as G.I. Jane more than once.

At the moment, she rises and works really long days (we're talking over 10 hours) with all male prisoners. She dresses in Battle Dress and starts her day with a morning wake-up run. Then she proceeds to do things we aren't allowed to reveal, but she is the ONLY woman drill instructor out of ten, disciplining 60 male prisoners.

Can you put yourself in her combat boots for a minute? You think it's awkward maybe giving a presentation in a room full of men? Imagine how she feels running, yelling, commanding, bossing men all day--and remember they've been put in prison for a reason. I'm sure more than one have a nasty attitude toward women.

Sometime in the afternoon, she runs again for 2 miles in 17 or 20 minutes.
There's also marching, cadence, drill movements, and other things.

Why does she do this job? you wonder. "Surely it's to help the women's rights movement," you declare.

She does this job because she got tired of working in a sawmill--not tired of the work itself, but tired of worrying about the constant layoffs and if she would have a job from day to day. There's nothing heroic in her career choice. She says that some of the greatest women in history didn't do what they did to prove anything to anyone but themselves. Instead of saying, "Look at me. I'm doing this," she says, "They did it to prove to themselves they could do it."

And that is how my aunt is. She does what she feels is right. She's not out to impress anyone, just prove things to herself.

She worked in a sawmill for seventeen years, another male-dominated profession. She witnessed fingers being cut off, arms pressed flat, and her first day on the job, a man actually asked her, "What are you doing here? Are you lost?"

You know what Aunt G.I. Jane said?

"No. What, are you afraid I'm going to take your job?"

She says the man retired shortly thereafter, but other men doubted her at first. "Oh, you better go help her. It's going to get nasty", was a common attitude when she was around, but not for long. They would come to "help" her and she'd outwork them by doing both her job and theirs.

On top of this, her own family wasn't supportive of her career choice. "That's not a woman's job!"

I picture her back then, my aunt, chin up, eyes narrowed, a spunky grin on her face, as she puts on her hard hat and gloves. I imagine she looks much the same now as she gets up and puts on her BDUs and laces her combat boots. And I know what's going through her head as she did/does these things because her advice for women in male-dominated professions is quite simple: "Don't take their shit. Stand up for yourself. Keep your head up and trudge on."

My aunt never intended to be a feminist. There were no motives behind her life choices beyond "get a job, keep a job, do my job", but she's an everyday heroine. She's my everyday heroine. When I was a kid, teenager, young adult and I was trying to choose a career path for myself, I heard a lot of "You can't do that. You're deaf". But if anyone dared to say to me, "You can't do that. You're a woman", all I had to do was think of my aunt. "Look at this woman! Look at all she does and has done! Now tell me again a woman can't..."

She's a woman who faces obstacles everyday in her work, obstacles such as "She's a woman. She better be careful. Go help her. Is she lost? That's not women's work", yet in her mind she only has to prove herself to herself. That's tough. How many of us can say the same? That we don't have an agenda beyond ourselves for whatever we are doing?

What's HER idea of an everyday heroine?

"A person who does great things without expecting a reward or a pat on the back."

What's yours?