M.A Grace's Blog, page 12

Book Review: The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap

A women's Brokeback Mountain. The year was filled with memorable historical events: the Dreyfus Affair divided France; Booker T. Washington gave his Atlanta address; the United States expanded the effects of the Monroe Doctrine in South America; and Oscar Wilde was tried and convicted for gross indecency under Britain's recently passed law that made sex between males a criminal offense. When news of Wilde's conviction went out over telegraphs worldwide, it threw a small Nevada town into chaos. This is the story of what happened when the lives of its citizens were impacted the Wilde news. It is a chronicle of hatred and prejudice with all its unintended and devastating consequences, and how love and friendship bring strength and healing.




 Paulette Mahurin

From the time I was ten year old, I've loved to write. While in college I wrote two award winning short stories. This encouraged me to continue to write, and write I did but never completed any of my novels due to other responsibilities: education, jobs, family, etc. After attending and receiving a Master's Degree in the Nurse Practitioner Program at UCLA, I went to work in the second busiest emergency room in Los Angeles county. I saw and learned about things that haunted me, until bit by a tick and diagnosed with Lyme Disease (which went to my heart valves, brain, and muscular skeletal system) knocked me down and afforded me time to write and release the memories onto pages before me. I wrote, and wrote, and released what was stored inside, which finally gave way to a story that was to change my life, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap. When I began to feel better, I joined a writing class, in Ojai, CA, where I live. The teacher, Deb Norton (screenwrite/playwrite of The Whole Banana) had us do an exercise involving a photo. We were to write a 10 minute mystery. The photo I picked was of two women huddled close together in clothing that looked circa turn of the twentieth century. I made them a Lesbian couple trying to avoid being found out. In my research, I came across Oscar Wilde's imprisonment. Britain had recently changed it's laws to make homosexual activity, a man having sex with another man, a criminal offense resulting in a two year hard labor prison sentence. The combination of the photo from that writing class and Oscar Wilde's imprisonment were the seeds that started the story, six years in the making. For those six years, I studied Wilde, the history of Lesbians, western settlement in the United States, and I opened to what it must have been like to live in fear of being persecuted because of the nature of one's existence, that can no more be changed than the color of grass. As I wrote, I saw myself in the characters who I dialogued with, related with as if we were friends today, and in doing this I learned that external factors may change (the environment, technology, family relating, etc.) but the nature of the human condition and how we manifest remains the same. There will always be stories to tell, to write, to read, to appreciate, because we invest in literature from our humanness, our emotional composition, and we relate to the imagery created with narrative and dialogue that suit our preferences. We are drawn in, over and over and over again, to similar story lines, themes, sequels, because of this human experience--that in sitting down before a book or ebook, we are transcended out of our ordinary lives to magical places that written words create, no matter how similar or repetitive the story, because,after all, we are all living, breathing, stories.

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In honor of the 15 years spent with her beloved companion Tazzie (a Rottweiler), as well as her desire to support no-kill animal shelters, proceeds from the sales of "The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap" benefit the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center.
 Buy your copy on Amazon today!



 MY REVIEW!!!!  Something I commonly do when writing a review is to see what other people write as reviews. I do this to see others points of view on the same thing I just read. A learning point for me to see how different people feel about the same item. I was sadden to see a review for this book be lowered in grade because the person reviewing this book doesn't support gay/lesbian relationships. That exact thing is one of the issues that Paulette so bravely and powerfully writes about in this story.

It worries me that in 1800 they had the same look at others as we do now in 2012. That is 212 years to grow and understand and come to terms and accept change that we have not done. We continue to consider things taboo that we do not understand or we ourselves do not like. And it breaks my heart that in 212 years we haven't changed.

Paulette has written an amazing and over the top historical fiction that if not informed that this was a fictional piece I would almost bet that it truly happen. She has so many details of the time era and so much passion and depth in her characters and story plot that you couldn't help but get lost in the story.

 You may not support every issue in this book and you may look at the issues differently but I strongly suggest everyone to read this story and maybe just maybe give it a shot to be great even if you don't agree with everything in it. And a few of you it may even open your eyes. I know I am thrilled to have such a powerful work of art sit on my bookcase.

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Apologizes and a crochet doll :)

First let me say I am truly very sorry because I am behind in my book reviews :( I know I know it is bad of me and I should be locked away with only my books and a flashlight to keep me company until I can emerge again and give them to you.  But I can't do that due to obligations and life situations. I PROMISE they will be up ASAP even if that means I have to do more then one a day and on the weekends!

So keep your eyes open for the following reviews to show up in the next 5 days. In Jen's WorldOur Little SecretThe Persecution of Mildred Dunlap
Also on other news I finally took the first step and put something on my Etsy shop. Now you need to go buy it! GO BUY IT NOW!! Oh yeah guess I need to tell you what it is first...




















Looks like Oddish doesn't it? That is because it is... crochet doll 8 inches tall (6 inches when sitting down) 
You can buy it on my Etsy shop by clicking on the logo below :) You know you want to try and catch em all!!! 

MONDAY MADNESS VENT SESSION!!!!

Time sure does seem to fly by quickly.  I always try to give myself plenty of time to accomplish big projects that I hope to be big successes. But I always find that time passes way to quickly. There is only 20 days till October begins!! (21 depending on how you want to look at it) Which means October Month of Fun is only around the corner!!!!! 

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October Month of Fun is a month long celebration full of interviews, book reviews, give aways, guest post, short stories, prizes and fun celebrations!!! Currently with an amazing collection of prizes already and still gaining more. FUN!!!  There is a website (I will be updating this week) and a facebook page for you to follow the events.  Also the post with either links or the information will be posting on my blog. Come click the links and join us! October has a lot to celebrate and we want you to come join us make sure to make it a celebration to remember!!!
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But that isn't all that is going down!! I also have a great newsletter full of books and authors information you can join. 

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This monthly newsletter has spots for Author Spotlights, Book Spotlights, New Releases, Blog Tours, Giveaways, Contest, Top 10 books according to USA weekly, Inspirational Quotes, Advertisements for some great book related charities and programs, Book Club, Events, and a great place to connect authors, readers, agents, publishers, and more together.  Free to sign up, and free to submit to. Newsletters are sent out the 1st of each month. All information is to be turned in by the 27th of the previous month unless otherwise stated.





Also we can't forget my book reviews that you all so lovingly come to read about. (Yes I know my list is outdated. I'm working on getting them all on there.) I re-did the website. Have you seen it recently? 


FACEBOOK PAGE 
WEBSITE (New and Improved)

Book reviews are done Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Except a few random ones that I switch around due to other events or things going on.  I review everything. And so far I have only found maybe a few (less then a handful) of books that I couldn't finish.  Also I don't downgrade just because a book doesn't match my taste of what something should be.  Example would be I don't agree with how the Cullens in the Twilight series are but that isn't the only reason I hate the book. (Because there are many) 


And be prepared for next year too!!! I have another great A-Z challenge for April and another awesome set of people starting to sign up for March Madness!!!
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31 days in March means 31 people being interviewed! Last year was a huge success and all the participants had a blast doing it! Also all the readers had a blast learning some neat facts and information about those who got interviewed! It is tons of fun and a great way to meet new people, learn about old people, and enjoy friends from all over.

Blog Tour: Too Many Cooks

I dream a lot of my novels. Literally. Though I haven’t published them all.
My love for the written word apparently started before I went to school. I was the youngest of six children, and my brother, three years older than I, struggled a bit when he entered first grade. The teacher sent home books for him to practice reading, and I was evidently fascinated by the idea that those funny-looking marks actually meant something. I nagged everyone in the family to tell me: “What’s this word?” “What’s this say?” By the time I started kindergarten, I already knew quite a bit. In those days, children under five years old could ride the bus for free, and because I was short Mother figured she could save a nickel. Imagine her chagrin when passed me off as under five, I took my seat and proceeded to read all the ads posted inside the bus!
Even as a small child I knew I was somehow different, and elementary school was less than a positive experience. My parents separated, and my mother became the sole support of the four children still at home. My escape was the school library. They had so many books, and I could read them for free. I especially loved Walter Farley’s series with the Black Stallion. In my fantasy world, I was the kid riding the Black Stallion, and I was the person who rescued My Friend Flicka. My love for horses was almost as deep as my love for books.
I began writing stories on the inside of brown paper grocery bags, complete with illustrations, but I couldn’t understand why no one could read them properly. Then my mother pointed out that, when you begin a new sentence, you have to start it from the left side of the paper every time. I had written from left to right and then from right to left, and so on and so on. It still makes sense to me. Think of all the time you could save!
When I was eight I convinced my neighborhood pals that we should all write books and sell them to make money to finance our Kool-Aid stand. I ended up writing their books as well as mine, which I pretty much plagiarized from a library book. Of course, our only buyers were parents, so little harm was done. I sold my book to my mother for five cents—the bus fare I’d saved her! After she died, when my sisters and I were getting her house ready to put on the market, I came across a box of photos and keepsakes. In the box was my book, The Talking Toys. My mother had saved it all those years. I doubt that anything I have written since or will write in the future will have the same impact.In high school I wrote poems. They were a lot shorter and didn’t require a plot. Some were about dreamy boys who didn’t give me a second look. Some were about wild horses that roamed the prairies, and later, after I was married, I wrote poems about my children. I went through short periods where I didn’t write at all. Being a mom, a den mother, a Bluebird leader, a backyard swim instructor and on the PTA board took almost all of my time. But I never could quit completely. I found I couldn’t NOT write.
I finally got serious about writing after joining Romance Writers of America. It opened a door that I hadn’t known existed, though the knowledge wasn’t immediately happy. I went to my first conference and came home a bit dejected. I had thought I was the only one who really wanted to publish a book! I don’t know where I’d got that idea, but seeing over 2,000 people with the same dream as mine set me back a bit. This writing thing was not going to be so easy. It was going to be even harder because I write less from an outline than from intuition. I become every character in my books. When they get cut, I‘m the one who bleeds.
And yet…all that bleeding has paid off. While writing is the hardest thing in the world, it’s also rewarding. I recently sold my novel,  Too Many Cooks , to Boroughs Publishing Group, and it’s out now! It came from a recurring dream I had for several nights in a row. I think I was on one of my endless diets, and food was on my mind a lot. But, the story worked. I hope you think so too.
So, for all you struggling authors out there, don’t give up your dreams. Write them down!





Shirley Ann Wilder  Online:Website  http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.comBlog  http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/blogFacebook  http://www.facebook.com/boroughspublishingTwitter  http://www.twitter.com/BoroughsPubGrp        

Bitter news leads a San Diego widow and widower to true love—and to a scheme to marry off their adult children, a plan that goes deliciously awry.

Gaetano Lorenzo was the sweetest man that the widowed Estelle Bennett had ever met. That morning began terribly, with awful news, but now the owner and head chef of a local San Diego ristorante was offering up Italian delights: red wine, delicious food, walks on the beach, laughter when she’d never thought she’d laugh again…. Estelle felt twenty-five. She and Gaetano had found the recipe for love, and a simple variation might just get their adult children to settle down, too. A scoop of sugar, two ladlefuls of lust, a pinch of deception and a whole 24 oz.-can of danger— Suddenly, ingredients were coming from everywhere! But kitchens are crazy places, and variety is the spice of life. And for anything to get cooked, things have to get hot.



Buy Links All Romance
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MY REVIEW!!!!

1 Widowed woman + 1 widowed man + A lovely Italian restaurant + A crazy plan + 1 single son + 1 single daughter = 2 unique and intertwined love stories that will have you laughing, crying, worrying, hopeful, and flipping the pages as you watch the world unfold. 
Is it really to crazy to hold on to old traditions in new worlds? Is the new way of doing things to fast paced to notice the small things? Does a disease really make you look at your life differently? 
The truth is Love finds itself in many places and in many unique and unimaginable ways. 
If you are a sucker for a romance you can drift away with you need to pick this up. You never know where, who or how your going to find Prince Charming but lets just hope he can cook ;)

Take me out to the ball game...Take me out to the crowd!

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."





On July 9, 2005, Adam Greenberg was about to have his lifelong dream of playing Major League baseball come true. The Chicago Cubs called him up from the minors and in the 9th inning, in a game against the Florida Marlins, he got the call to pinch hit. On the very first pitch from Valerido de los Santos, Greenberg was struck in the back of the head by a 92-mile-per-hour fastball. He suffered a concussion and was immediately removed from the game. 

Adam was sent down to the minors for a rehab assignment, but struggled with severe vertigo and other symptoms of post concussion syndrome. Adam’s career and life were put on hold for a year and a half. Since then, Adam has played for several minor and independent league clubs trying to get a second chance in the Major Leagues.

Of the almost 17,500 people to play in Major League baseball, Adam Greenberg is the only player to have his career end on the very first pitch. In fact, according to Major League rules, Adam’s debut only counts as a plate appearance, not an official at bat.


THE MISSION




We want to get Adam Greenberg his first "official" Major League at bat. Of the 17,500 players who have played in the major leagues, no player has ever had his MLB career end on the first pitch—except Adam Greenberg. Due to Major League rules, when Adam was hit, his at bat was recorded as a plate appearance, not an official at bat. We would like to see Adam make it back to the big leagues for the official at bat he earned. 







WE CAN HELP!!!
We can create awareness of Adam's story. We can tell teams and Major League baseball that we want to see them do something for the good of the game. It's an opportunity for the sports world to be an example for the rest of the world. 

Download the poster! Print it, post it in your office, bring it to games, and SPREAD THE WORD.Tweet, Facebook, post on your favorite teams pages, and let people know about OneAtBat.com.Sign the Petition!  Why did I sign the petition? 
I signed the petition because Adam hasn't given up. He still practices and tries hard every day to make it back. Sign the petition so we can add one of the true lovers of baseball back to the game of baseball!!!

Blog Tour: Fire on the Island

SNEAK PEEK

"It's a whole hive of the things," Jeremiah whispered. The auchrimmerely stared at them, unmoving. Through the enveloping mist, they were strangely androgynous. Multiple copies of the original, a perfect similacra of Alastore.
            The creatures parted, making way for a lone figure to step forward. Well, if it wasn't the original himself.
            Alastore was dressed impeccably in steel gray trousers and a black dress shirt. His black hair was swept away from his face and slicked back. He looked every bit the gentleman, from the sharp, patrician features, all the way to the tips of his black Gucci loafers.
            He was the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing.
            Squeezing between Callum and Amy, Isla moved to stand in front of her friends. Jeremiah and Marduk flanked her on either side, bracing for the worst.
            While the three of them knew exactly what they were dealing with, the rest of the searchers had been left in the dark. Callum's gruff voice echoed in the cavern.
            "Just who in the hellis this joker?"
            Fiddling with his diamond cufflink, Alastore raised an eyebrow and his lips quirked in a half smile. Rich, disembodied laughter bounced around the recesses of the cave.
            "Legio nomen mihi est, quia multi sumus," came the quiet answer.
            "What? What did he say?"
            Jere cleared his throat and flicked a nervous glance behind him at Callum. "He said 'My name is Legion, for we are many'."
            "Demon that quotes the Bible. Cute," Amy said.
            Alastore glided closer to where Isla stood, causing Jeremiah to surge forward. He was stayed by a calm hand on his arm.
            "It was generous of you, witch, to bring us all of these extra souls. I can assure you, they will be put to good use." The demon smiled his gruesome, serrated smile, and actually winked at her. Winked. This time Jeremiah was the one who had to restrain her from going for his throat.
            After a brief moment of stillness, Alastore executed a crisp about face and walked back to his minions who, again, made way for him. Just as he passed the front ranks, he paused and turned his head toward the auchrim closest to him.
            His voice was as gentle as it was deadly when he spoke.
            "Take them."



Lets Meet The Author!!!  
J.K. Hogan has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, beginning with writing cast lists and storylines for her toys growing up. When she finally decided to put pen to paper, magic happened. She is greatly inspired by all kinds of music and often creates a “soundtrack” for her stories as she writes them.
J.K. resides in North Carolina, where she was born and raised. A true southern girl at heart, she lives on a farm with her husband and their three horses, one miniature donkey, one cat, and two champion agility dogs.
In addition to writing, she enjoys training and competing in dog sports, spending time with her large southern family, camping, boating and, of course, reading! Please feel free to visit J.K.’s contact page—she’d love to hear from you!



 
Publisher Website
Author Website
Twitter: @JK_Hogan
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Paranormal Romance
Title: Fire on the Island Author: J.K. Hogan

Date to be Published: 8/2/12
Publisher: Sapphire Publishing

 
Synopsis:   

“She who wields the mark is the barrier between man and monster. She is the daughter of gods, the mother of man, protector of all. Vigilati Usque Ad Mortem”
All Isla Macallen wanted was a simple existence on her little Scottish island, free from her mother's insanity and the prying eyes of neighbors. What she got was embroiled in a war for the souls of mankind. A war of good versus evil, of witches versus demons, and Isla learns that she alone can end it.
Dr. Jeremiah Rousseau was a self-proclaimed nomad, traveling the world researching paranormal phenomena. He doesn't expect his research to lead him to Scotland, and to the woman who will turn his world upside down.
Together with a facetious shapeshifting animal spirit guide, Jeremiah and Isla discover that she is part of an ancient bloodline bred to protect the gateways between the human world and the spirit world, to keep evil demons from destroying them. They must find the key to defeating Alastore, the demon king, and closing the gate before Samhain, when the veil between the worlds is lifted. Alastore does everything in his power to eliminate them but, unbeknownst to all of them, Isla is the only one with the ability to stop him for good.










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My Review

To be honest the story is more a 3.5 but after careful consideration I felt there was enough to bump it up to a 4 instead of dropping it down to a 3.


The story is compelling. The characters sometimes fall short but the story keeps you interested enough to keep reading. The Paranormal is many ways in this story as you have witches, shape shifters, and demons. Good Vs Evil. And the whole I didn't know I was a witch is a great theme.

I enjoy watching those come into their powers and the adventure that causes them to realize the truth about what they are. Or at least peek into it.

I can't wait to get my hands on book 2 of the series. And maybe even an autographed copy of book one if J K Hogan would let me ;) No pressure though lol.

A great story that you'll love or love to hate. Either way you won't put it down.










*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

You can't turn against those who stand beside you.

It is no hidden truth or cover up that right now the economy is in moments of complete depression. They can call is recession all they want but truth is people are still becoming homeless, the banks are still not giving away money, companies are still going under, and the AMERICAN dream is about to be but a figment of all our imaginations.  We did this ourselves because some of us wanted to prove to others that we are not racist, or because some wanted change, or because of promises that are not being kept.  
We have changes. We have ObamaCare now. The new Health Reform that no ONE person has read cover to cover. (Not even the writers because there was multiple ones writing on it at one time.)  We now have to face higher taxes because we have managed to double and almost TRIPLE the amout of debt we are in. Not over time but over the last 42 (Obama is 44 Bush jr was 43) presidents COMBINED. 



Here is a couple of Facts for you!! We all love facts :)
Fact: In 2009 President Obama returned to the United Kingdom a Bust of  Churchill.
Fact: Obama backs up Argentina instead of United Kingdom over Falkland Islands.
Fact: Obama cuts Nuclear Weapons in United States. (No other country is following)
Fact: Obama is great friends with William "Bill" Ayers. (The Co-Founder of Weather Underground. Which is responsible for multiple bombings including one on the Pentagon and one on the Capital Building.) 
Fact: Obama's Mentor Frank Marshall Davis was tracked by the FBI for his involvement with the Labor Issues in Hawaii. 
Fact: Obama Pardons Illegal Immigrants. Will not be deporting them but allowing them to sign up to get permits. (Because they couldn't do that to get into the country legally to begin with right?) 
Fact: Obama threw Israel to the wolves as his speech said in order for peace they need to return Jerusalem. 




 What does all this mean? How do YOU see these things? This is how I see it!

What we do in childhood and learn as we grow up influences our thoughts, our actions, and what we ultimately dream. The lack of or the abundance of all comes to form us. Who we are.  
As America we got away from the British and spent years building up our allies. Strengthening our country into what it is today as we supported those Allies or in some situations stay nuteral as any GOOD diplomatic mind would do. 
Obama turns against all our allies. Obama grew up hating countries with power. (America has power or at least they did.)
President Obama has said he pardons Illegal Immigrants, and he thinks gays should be allowed to get married. Why? Because it is election year! He has done nothing for Gays since May when he said you should be allowed to vote. He got you to support his campaign by saying this. He got you to promise your vote to him by saying this. He isn't going to deport illegal immigrants he is going to allow them to sign up for work pass. If they wanted to sign up for work pass they would have legally done it when they walked into this country instead of jumping over a wall or climbing under a fence! That is just another way to boost up his votes!!!
He has done nothing to help the problems we face as a country. He has not done anything to help with jobs, nothing to help with the debt, nothing to help with the cost of living, the cost of fuel, the cost of groceries, nothing to help strengthen our allies. He has brought you change but it is a change that now is going to take the American Dream and burn it.





Election results?  Romney may be a liar. (Most politicians are) he may get lots of tax cuts, and he may not want to show you that he paid less then you in taxes but made more in a year then you will your whole life. But there is something he WILL do. He WILL bring America back to being America. He will stop going against everything we and our ancestors have worked towards for years now. He will not let America crumble into ruble and be another lost empire of History. 

So I am a registered Democrat. I voted for Obama in 2008 election. (Mostly because I never ever ever want Palin anywhere near the white house!) But in 2012 Election I will be marking Romney. Because I would rather have someone who is behind America and the American Dream then have someone who is out to destroy everything we have voted, conquered, and fought for over these years. 

I VOTE AMERICA!!!

Sneak Peek at The Black Rose

 The Black RoseBy: Toni G. Sinns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Ashton looked at Jasilyn more alert from his nap. “Who are you?” his raspy voice came out trying to sound strong. This only curled the red lips of Jasilyn’s mouth into a smirk. “Is that any way to talk to someone who saved you?” She retaliated without answering his question. Her voice was like a soft melody to his ears and drew him closer to her. “Thank you,” he told her quietly as his body lowered to sit on the edge of the couch farthest from her. “My name is Jasilyn,” she finally answered his original question before returning to the book in her hand. Blackbird Pond was in gold letters over the black cover of the book that Ashton could read. “Ashton,” he replied to her after a moment of silence although she had not asked for his. It felt only polite and correct to offer his own name. 
The two sat in the room silently for some time. The only sounds were that of the outside winds and wild creatures. Ashton searched his mind for a word, phrase, statement, or question to void the silence and create a source of conversation. Something drew Ashton to Jasilyn; a mysterious force of almost fate like would not let his eyes draw away from her. Jasilyn felt his eyes on her and for some time tried to ignore it, but eventually her green eyes slipped up to meet his own hazel eyes. “You’re not human,” Ashton’s voice whispered. With a slight shake of her head, Jasilyn’s voice floated into Ashton’s ears, “Neither are you.” 

Blog Tour: The Restaurant @ The Mill

Author Bio
Linn B Halton lives in the UK, in the small Gloucestershire village of Arlingham, on the banks of the River Severn with her adorable husband and cat with attitude – Mr Tiggs! She writes romantic fiction with a psychic or astrological theme and many of the paranormal events that feature in her books are real life experiences.
Linn is also a featured new Author on http://loveahappyending.com/ and Editor of the feature ‘Author & Associate Catch-Ups’ including ‘Reader/Author Team Reports’ on the website’s magazine-style blog.

Visit Linn’s author page: WebsitePublisher Author PageLove Happy Ending Author PageTwitter: @LinnBHaltonFacebook 



Contemporary Romance/Women's FictionTitle: The Restaurant Author: Linn B. Halton
Date to be Published: 8/2/12Publisher: Sapphire Publishing
Synopsis: Age, relationships, and careers – we are all unique. Yet beneath the exterior facade we chooseto show to the world at large, what do we have in common? The things we bury deep inside; theworries and fears we are unable to verbalise, and the hand fate takes in our lives is a commonthread. Sometimes we fail to recognise in each other that innermost struggle on the path to truelove.
Six very different stories, six couples linked by The Restaurant @ The Mill, owned by HilaryMarks and Ben Adams. As the restaurant thrives the atmosphere is alive with conversation,snapshots of lives unfolding; each one a personal journey.


Excerpt!    The first time I walked around the flour mill at Huntingbridge in Gloucestershire turned out to be a life-changing moment.  Reminiscent of the first time I met my business partner, Ben Adams.  The initial thought that struck me on both occasions was “Great, not perfect, but I can work with this.” It was enough to clinch the deal for me.
You see, I thought I had a “perfect” life once a long time ago. I married Josh, the man of my dreams, only to find out one failed marriage and a broken heart later, that everything can change in an instant.  What you see depends upon where you’re standing when you admire it.  If you’re on the outside looking in on someone else’s life, it’s only natural to form an opinion based on the façade you see.  What I would eventually discoverrf was that even when you’re on the inside looking out, it’s easy to be fooled into thinking everything is fine. On that fateful day many years ago, what I hadn't appreciated was that what we had was in fact a love triangle, and knowing that would have given me a whole new perspective


YOU COULD WIN!!!!  
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REVIEW!!!!
Have you ever thought about how your life affects another person? How some place you go and something you do is heard or seen from other person? How your events intertwine in another person's life?

This is a captivating story of multiple people that have one connection. The Restaurant at The Mill. One thing meaning so much to so many different lives. Each life having its own trouble, fear and unresolved problem.

Can a marriage that was suppose to be happy ever after last much longer? Can a secrete stay a secrete or will it destroy the relationship that has just recovered from the last secrete? Second chances and teenage lovers once lost? And a ghost?

Each chapter is written from the point of view of a different person sharing with you what they see, think, say, believe and feel. You get to experience and connect with each character on deeper levels.


This is a book that you need to pick up. It may take a bit to really sink into the story but it is worth going from cover to cover and letting your mind join The Restaurant at The Mill.





*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Blog Publicity Tour: Last of the Seals

ABOUT GREG MESSELGreg Messel has written four novels and three unpublished memoirs. He published his premiere novel “Sunbreaks” in 2009, followed by “Expiation” in 2010 and “The Illusion of Certainty” in 2011. “Last of the Seals” is the first in a series of mysteries which are set in 1957 San Francisco. The second book in the series “Deadly Plunge’ will be published around Christmas of 2012. Greg grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and has had a newspaper career as a columnist, sportswriter and news editor. He won a Wyoming Press Association Award as a columnist while working for a daily newspaper in Wyoming. Greg also spent many years in the corporate world as a Financial Manager. He now devotes his energies to writing at his home in Edmonds, Washington on the Puget Sound just north of Seattle, where he lives with his wife, Carol. To get your paperback copy of LAST OF THE SEALS by Greg Messel: http://www.amazon.com/Last-Seals-Greg-Messel/dp/0985485906/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1339973921&sr=1-1
To get your e-copy of LAST OF THE SEAL by Greg Messel at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Last-of-the-Seals-ebook/dp/B0083WCHOO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1339973921&sr=1-1To view all books by Greg Messel: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Greg%20Messel To learn more about Greg, go to his website: www.gregmessel.com
Visit Greg Messel on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gregmessel
Like Greg Messel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greg.messel








ABOUT LAST OF THE SEALSThe year is 1957 in San Francisco. Sam Slater is a lifetime minor league baseball player for the San Francisco Seals. The Seals have just one more season left as San Francisco is about to become a major league city. The Giants are coming to town in 1958 and the Seals will be displaced. Sam has come to the end of his baseball career and is going to join the private detective agency of his best friend. When his friend is brutally murdered, Sam must go it alone and try to find out why. Along the way he is swept off of his feet by a beautiful Elvis-obsessed TWA stewardess named Amelia Ryan. Sam and Amelia try to unravel the mystery together. Sam’s best friend, Jimmy inadvertently saw something he shouldn’t have. Sam and Amelia have pictures in their possession that have crime families in San Francisco and Chicago very worried. Then a young woman Sam has been searching for is found dead on the beach. Suddenly, Sam and Amelia find themselves in danger. On dark and foggy San Francisco nights, trouble is lurking just around the next corner.
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MY REVIEW!!!!

Baseball? Check. Murder? Check. Mystery? Check. Romance? Check. That is right this book has all the above and more. From page one you go back in time and follow the life of Sam. His greatness at baseball is closing as the world turns and people move and life happens. Sam turns in his glove for a maganifying glass so to speak as he goes from the Seals pitcher to the solo person in a duo private investigation firm.  Amelia later joins to make the dynamic duo leap into clues and mystery to find out who and why two people are dead.  Greg is a masterful author weaving multiple substories into one great masterpiece.  You have history and baseball facts from the Seals. Which I enjoyed because I like baseball and I like history. Win win for me!!! The characters are so realistic and the love at first sight doesn't have them in bed the next day. Which is great because I love when an author lets a couple bloom. 
This is an easy read that would make anyone proud to have on their shelf. This is the first of a mystery series for Greg but it won't be the last I read as I found the book captivating and entertaining. And I can't wait to pick up the next of Greg's books.