Sage Nestler's Blog, page 33
August 3, 2017
Feature: Behind Broken Glass Walls on Online Book Club
I am SO excited to announce that my novel, Behind Broken Glass Walls, will be Book of the Day at onlinebookclub.org on September 3! This is my proudest novel yet, and I am so excited to be given this honor.
That being said, I would love it if you could help me out by leaving a review for my novel on Amazon before then! I am hoping to have as many reviews as I can on Amazon before my featured day, and I am running a sale to on the print version of my book through my website, Literary Vacation Club.
This edition is only $10 with FREE SHIPPING and $3 of will be donated to RAINN (an organization that helps rape victims) for every copy sold.
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Abuse. A Gun. And Her Daughter.
You never know how strong you are until you are forced into a situation that tests every ounce of your strength. This is what one mother learns when she finds out that the person who committed a shooting at her daughter’s high school was indeed her daughter. Her feelings are a mix of every emotion, but what bothers her the most is that even though she knows that her daughter took the lives of many others, she can’t help but love her the same that she always did – maybe even more. It is this love for her daughter that curses her existence, and makes her question her loyalties. Learn what it means to love a child when everyone else sees her as a murderer, and experience what it feels like to love someone who you no longer understand.
What are the limits on your love?
New Release: A Beautiful Kind of Hope by Cathy Johns
Today I am happy to introduce you to a new release by author Cathy Johns called A Beautiful Kind of Hope! This is an excellent new romance, and I highly suggest it. Get ready to snuggle up with a hot mug of tea with this one!
Much love,
Ashley
(´*•.¸(*•.¸NEW RELEASE¸.•*´)¸.•*´)
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PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon
August 1, 2017
Box Review: Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss – July 2017
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When you sign up for Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss, every month you will receive a box full of new print books, eBooks, and a Fresh Fiction keepsake. Fresh Fiction focuses on genre fiction, romance in particular. There will be the occasional mystery, erotica, and paranormal as well.
Plan Options:
Month to Month ($25.95/month+FREE shipping in the US – Discount worldwide shipping is available)
3 Month Pre-Pay ($74.85/3 Months+FREE shipping the US – Discount worldwide shipping is available)
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I am a huge fan of Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss, so I couldn’t wait to receive my July box!
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Each month, Fresh Fiction features a novel to highlight a specific author or publisher. This month’s feature is Run to Ground by Katie Ruggle!
The book also came with a letter from the author, which I always enjoy! I think that the author extras are a huge plus to this box. This book is also set in the Rocky Mountains, where I live, and I love reading books that are set in my home!
Synopsis:
He lost his mentor.
He lost his K9 partner.
He almost lost his will to live.
But when a ruthless killer targets a woman on the run, Theo and his new K9 companion will do whatever it takes to survive—and save the woman neither can live without.
Grieving the death of his partner, Theo Bosco has no room in his life for distractions. Though his instincts scream that he should avoid Juliet ‘Jules’ Jackson, he can’t seem to stay away. It doesn’t help that Theo’s new K9 companion has fallen head over paws with Jules’s rambunctious family.
Or that when he’s with her, Theo finally knows peace.
When Jules rescued her siblings, whisking them away to the safety of the beautifully rugged Colorado Rockies, she never expected to catch the eye—or the heart—of a cop. Yet as Jules struggles to fight her growing attraction to the brooding K9 officer, another threat lurks much closer to home…
And this time, there’s no escape.
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This month came with three free ebooks as well! I love having extra books on my Kindle for trips, so I can’t wait to dig into these.
Books Included:
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Each month, Fresh Fiction sends out an extra treat with the books! This month we received a tea sachet of acai berry herbal tea. There is also a note to go with the tea describing why it was picked! I love how it is connected to this month’s featured book.
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The next book choice is One Week to the Wedding by Olivia Miles. This book is different from the other books included so far, and I always love the variety that Fresh Fiction brings!
Synopsis:
Kate Daniels couldn’t be more excited to be planning her best friend’s wedding…in theory.
Lately, just thinking about gowns and centerpieces makes her want to hide under the covers with her dog and a good book –one that doesn’t include a romantic plot, thank you very much. Maybe it’s because her fiancé cheated. Or maybe it’s because he cheated with her younger sister, Charlotte. Or maybe it’s because her newfound reputation as jilted wedding planner isn’t exactly doing wonders for her career.
Charlotte knows she messed up. Big time. But she also knows something Kate doesn’t-something that might bring them close again, if her sister will ever take her calls. But as time passes and silence grows, Charlotte begins to realize she can’t hide from her problems forever, and that sometimes the only place to run is home.
With the wedding only a week away, Kate expects a few surprises. But what she doesn’t expect is to find herself believing…in the strength of family, and the possibility of finding love again.
In the vein of New York Times bestselling authors Susan Mallery, Robyn Carr, and Kristan Higgins, comes the first in a new women’s fiction novel from Olivia Miles.
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The next novel is my favorite in the box because it is a Southern historical and these are my absolute favorite books! The title of this book is called Freedom’s Price by Christine Johnson.
Synopsis:
When Englishwoman Catherine Haynes loses both her parents and her home in 1856, she decides to cross the Atlantic to find her American mother’s family in Louisiana. She enlists the help of Tom Worthington, a dashing Key West man who makes his living salvaging wrecked ships, but whose real goal in life is to bring to justice the man who stole his father’s ship and caused his untimely death.
When Catherine finally arrives at her family’s plantation, she finds it in disarray and her family absent landowners. Torn between returning to Key West with Tom or beginning the hard work of restoring the plantation, Catherine soon finds herself snared in a plot to steal her inheritance. When an incredible secret comes to light, both she and Tom will face a choice. Can they relinquish the dreams that have been holding them captive in order to step forward in faith–even if it costs them everything?
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The next book is Dating You Hating You by Christina Lauren! This looks like a great contemporary novel, and I absolutely love the cover.
Synopsis:
Everyone knows that all’s fair in love and war. But these two will learn that sabotage is a dish best served naked.
The first standalone romance by New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Beautiful Bastard) is a sexy, compulsively readable romantic comedy that dives headlong into the thrill and doubt of modern love.
Despite the odds against them from an embarrassing meet-awkward at a mutual friend’s Halloween party, Carter and Evie immediately hit it off. Even the realization that they’re both high-powered agents at competing firms in Hollywood isn’t enough to squash the fire.
But when their two agencies merge—causing the pair to vie for the same position—all bets are off. What could have been a beautiful, blossoming romance turns into an all-out war of sabotage. Carter and Evie are both thirtysomething professionals—so why can’t they act like it?
Can Carter stop trying to please everyone and see how their mutual boss is really playing the game? Can Evie put aside her competitive nature long enough to figure out what she really wants in life? Can their actor clients just be something close to human? Whether these two Hollywood love/hatebirds get the storybook Hollywood ending, or just a dramedy of epic proportions, you get to enjoy Christina Lauren’s heartfelt, hilarious story of romance in the modern world.
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The last book is Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman! I love small town romance novels, and this book looks so cozy.
Synopsis:
From her free-spirited mother, Sunny Goodwin learned the value of peace, love, and Jerry Garcia. The inheritance from the father she never knew? That’s a little more complicated…
Sunny never expected to find herself owning a centuries old silk mill in the shadow of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains . . . or becoming a half-sister to a ten-year-old named Bailey. Once the shock subsides, she plans to cash in and head back home. But the overgrown greenhouse she finds on the property calls out to the gardener in her, and she senses Bailey’s need for nurturing too…
And someone else is making it hard for Sunny to leave: Sawyer Hartwell, an Iraq War hero who wants to make the old mill a creative hub for the artisans of Blue Hollow Falls . . . and wants Sunny to share his vision, and his life. But sexy as this ex-soldier may be, she’s not sure she’s ready to give love a chance…
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Final Thought: Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss blew me away again this month! I love the variety of novels that they sent, and the author letter for their featured novel is great. Not only is this box well worth the price since the books cost more than the box itself, but it brings you a variety of different genres to try out and see what you like. I can’t recommend Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss enough! This box gives you enough books to last you the month (and many more!) You won’t be disappointed!
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*Affiliate links are used to in this post to help monetize this website.
July 30, 2017
Book Review: Here and Gone by Haylen Beck
Title: Here and Gone
Author: Haylen Beck
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Here and Gone is a gripping, wonderfully tense suspense thriller about a mother’s desperate fight to recover her stolen children from corrupt authorities.
It begins with a woman fleeing through Arizona with her kids in tow, trying to escape an abusive marriage. When she’s pulled over by an unsettling local sheriff, things soon go awry and she is taken into custody. Only when she gets to the station, her kids are gone. And then the cops start saying they never saw any kids with her, that if they’re gone than she must have done something with them…
Meanwhile, halfway across the country a man hears the frenzied news reports about the missing kids, which are eerily similar to events in his own past. As the clock ticks down on the search for the lost children, he too is drawn into the desperate fight for their return.
Review:
Here and Gone by Haylen Beck is a gripping thriller about a woman who becomes wrapped up in the terrors of the Dark Web. After being pulled over in a small town, Audra has her children stolen and is blamed for their absence. Throughout the novel, Audra fights to prove that her children were captured when no one else will believe her.
I love thrillers that grip your throat and won’t let go, but I found Here and Gone to be too intense at times. Audra’s circumstances were unfair, and the different twists and turns that came her way infuriated me; however, creating such emotions in myself as a reader is the true mark of an excellent author.
Beck writes with a knowledgeable hand. He clearly did his research on his novel in terms of the Dark Web and police procedurals in small towns before writing this book. As an author who is not from America, or Arizona – the setting of Here and Gone – I was amazed by his descriptions and story development. Having lived in the same location where this book takes place – close to Flagstaff, Arizona – I enjoyed visiting that setting again. It was impossible for me to put this book down with the quick chapters and story development, and I enjoyed rooting for Audra as she pushed back her oppressive past and fought for her children. Despite the frustrating circumstances of having her children kidnapped to be sold on the Dark Web, Audra fought back against the officer who took advantage of her and she did get her justice in the end.
Beck did well with creating a vast array of characters in such a short novel, and I felt that he evolved them well enough so that they didn’t get muddied in the heated storyline. Here and Gone is a fast paced novel that pushes past filler and delivers a killer storyline. If you love thrillers that will hold you enough to be consumed in one sitting, then Here and Gone is a perfect match!
BOOK REVIEWS: Book Review Request Form
ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
*I received this book from Blogging for Books to review. – Amazon affiliate links are used in this post to help monetize this website.
July 27, 2017
Sneak Peek: Game of Thrones Dream Pillow
I am so excited to share with you a sneak peek of one of the items that we are including in our August Literary Vacation Club box! August’s theme is Destination: Westeros, so each item included is inspired from Game of Thrones and will appeal to one of your five senses. Every item is also handmade and one of a kind!
With that being said, I am happy to say that one of the items included will be a dragon egg dream pillow inspired by Daenerys Targaryen! This pillow will be filled with a lovely surprise, and it is the best way to keep that magic of dragons in your dreams.
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Due to the personalized nature of our box, we have a very limited amount of boxes available! We are almost out, so make sure to grab your box while you can.
Use code “INSTA10” for 10% off of your first box!
(Subscriptions Only)
Or, order this box as a one time box in our shop without subscribing!
Much love,
Ashley
New Release: Promised by Elizabeth Knox
I am excited to share with you a thrilling new released called Promised by Elizabeth Knox. This novel is dark and enticing, while also being heartfelt. I think that you are absolutely going to love it!
Much love,
Ashley
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+~+~+~+~+~ITS HERE~+~+~+~+~+
+~+PROMISED (THE CLANS 1)+~+
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Mariana
My life changed eight years ago when my captor slaughtered my family in front of my eyes and took me as his own personal trophy.
I thought they would find me – that the clans would come looking for the last remaining Vasile. They didn’t. Instead, they abandoned me like I was nothing.
After being here for years, I’d learned to accept my fate – to accept the hell I was living. Until one day it all went to shit, my daughter was ripped from my arms, I was shot, and the man who saved me was the one I was promised to all those years ago – Ion Petran.
But saving me wasn’t enough now that my parents are gone. He will have to win me over if he still wishes to be king of the clans.
Ion
She’s the key to all of my success, promised to me when I was a child.
She’s been missing for years, and when I find her, I’ll have everything I’ve ever wanted.
I found her. Eight years of searching and I found the woman who would change my life.
I expected a lot of things from her, stupidly of me, I didn’t expect to get more than I bargained for.
The day she turned twenty-one she was supposed to be in my home – her captor stole that from us. He stole her from me, and he’ll pay.
No one crosses me, ever.
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Buy here –
Add to TBR –
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35071528-promised
Author Links:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethknoxbooks/
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1916641921887208/
July 26, 2017
Book Review: Collecting Tears – Tomoiya’s Story by C.A. King
Author: C.A. King
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
A Vampire Tale
She had everything, including a secret…
But she wasn’t the only one with something to hide.
Graduation as co-valedictorian of her high school class, along with her best friend Moira, was icing on the cake. There was no doubt: Tomoiya, a princess of a wealthy kingdom, was born for greatness. She had everything: intelligence; good looks; popularity; and a secret. Not even her closest friends were allowed to know she was a vampire.
One night was all it took to change everything. When celebrations turned deadly, Tomoiya was forced to come face-to-face with the realization she wasn’t the only one amongst her peers with something to hide.
Tomoiya’s stuck asking if she can ever trust anyone again, and there is nobody to answer except herself.
Review:
I have read numerous works by C.A. King, but her new take on vampires in Collecting Tears: Tomoiya’s Story is one of my favorites. I first read Tomoiya’s Story: Escape to Darkness a few months ago, and I couldn’t wait to start reading this next book in the series.
I am always amazed by authors who take fantasy and mythology and make it modern, and King’s specialty is just that. With this novel, she took vampire mythology and made it modern to connect with today’s teens. I find King’s novels to be contemporary young adult novels for those who prefer living in fantasy, and I wish that she had been around when I was a teenager. Her work is so passionate, and I find her writing to be comforting. King’s take on teenage emotions and experiences is impeccable, and I love how well she connects with today’s youth as an adult writer.
Tomoiya is one of my favorite characters in literature due to King’s crystal clear descriptions of her and her story. Tomoiya came alive for me, and I loved being able to spend time with her as I read. Tomoiya is a character who has flaws and comes alive for the reader due to her imperfections. King creates characters that feel as though they are real people, and even though part of this novel is fantasy, all of the events are believable. King brings to life a thrilling story of a girl trying to live a normal life while hiding a secret, just to realize that she isn’t the only one. The twists and turns in Collecting Tears: Tomoiya’s Story were magnificent, and despite how short this novel is, it packed quite a punch.
If you are a fan of vampire tales with a twist, as well as intriguing thrillers, then you won’t want to miss this novel! King’s work is perfect for young adults and adults alike who enjoy escaping into fantasy, and I have found such comfort in her work.
July 24, 2017
Cover Reveal: The Trade by Elizabeth Knox
In order to take away the Monday blues, I am happy to present to you the cover reveal for a novel called The Trade by Elizabeth Knox! This looks like such a spicy read, and I can’t wait to pick it up myself. Enjoy!
Much love,
Ashley
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Anton
When I was assigned the job to find out who exactly orchestrated the hit on Mariana Petran, I jumped at the opportunity. To attack the queen of the clans is an attack against us all. I was to find the man who ordered it – and I did. I also found myself a feisty redhead; something I considered a cherry on top of the sundae as I headed to her hometown to destroy the man responsible for it all.
So, there I was, delivering a bloody and violent end to the scum that betrayed us when the door opens, and in walks my feisty redhead; Natasha.
Natasha
I came home from a wild night out with the girls and found my uncle bloodied and bruised, with a gun held to the back of his head. The man holding the gun – my boyfriend, Anton.
I never thought that I would be begging for his life – doing anything that I could to save him. But he’s my family. He’s the only link I have left to my mother.
Anton didn’t tell me he was in the Romanian Mob – but I never confessed I was the niece of a head clan member, or anything about my father, but we’ll get to that later.
Anton named his price. I didn’t understand why, what he could possibly find valuable with taking the niece of Clan Constantin – especially when he already had me.
I accepted the terms, the trade. I’d do anything to save my uncle, even if that meant sacrificing myself. Anton promised me that he wouldn’t kill my uncle, like a dumb girl I assumed that meant my uncle would live.
Anton may not have pulled the trigger, but make no mistake – he killed my uncle.
The loving man I’d learned to care about over the past few weeks turned into something feral – I didn’t even know the man I was falling in love with.
I waited for my father, and prayed he would come for me.
They didn’t even know the girl they were taking.
They were clueless
Add to TBR – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35442870-the-trade
Author Links:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethknoxbooks/
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1916641921887208/
July 22, 2017
Cover Reveal: Mother of Shadows
I am excited to share with you a cover reveal for a new novel called Mother of Shadows! Enjoy!
Much love,
Ashley
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+~+~+~COVER REVEAL~+~+~+
+~+MOTHER OF SHADOWS+~+
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Helana’s life had always been quiet. In fact, she liked it that way.
When her childhood friend returns home and tells her that she is the prophesied ruler of the Chosen, those blessed with the gift of magic, her quiet life goes up in flames.
Suddenly Helena finds herself surrounded by a circle of protectors, each having sworn their loyalty to her since her birth. All except for one: her Mate.
It’s not enough that she learn how to use her magic and undergo a trial to prove her worthiness; in order to claim her title, Helena must also find the man who carries the other half of her soul.
Exiled due to a past he had no part in, Von is the last man the Chosen expect Helena to select. Despite their protests, his soul calls to hers and there’s no denying that he was made for her.
But the prophecy stands and all isn’t as it seems.
There’s an enemy lurking within plain sight who will stop at nothing to destroy her.
Author Links:
FB: www.facebook.com/megannewrites/
Reader Group: www.facebook.com/groups/megschosen/
Book Links:
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2tvu8e8
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2tlcMN8
Cover Design:
Lori Follet @ Wicked Design Studio
https://www.wickeddesignstudio.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wickedbookcovers/
July 21, 2017
Box Review: Pretti Parcels – The Royal Box – June 2017
Today I am sharing with you a book subscription that is perfect for those who love Victorian classics. This subscription brings you exclusive tea and 19th-century classics! The subscription is called Pretti Parcels, and I am reviewing their “Royal Box” which is bigger than their main box. I hope you enjoy!
Much love,
Ashley
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The Victorian Book and Tea Club
Comes with a book, specialty tea, an online book club and more!
Plan:
$34.99/month + shipping*
The Majesty of our boxes, the Royal Box from Pretti Parcels includes our largest assortment which includes:
• A classic paperback novel from the
19th century
•Delicious, aromatic tea to enjoy with
your novel
• An ebook version of the novel
•A bookmark with original artwork related
to the novel
•And of course, an invitation to the monthly online Pretti Parcels book club!
*US SHIPPING ONLY – $4.99/month
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I received the June “Royal Box” to review, and I couldn’t wait to try it out! I love Victorian literature, so this box is perfect for me.
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The box comes in a white box with the logo and decoration stamped onto it. I love this Victorian design!
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The box came with a letter from Pretti Parcels! I like how the letter looks Victorian. It was nice to receive a welcome letter to the box as well. The letter also includes an invitation to the online book club that Pretti Parcels holds. On the back of the letter is also a redeem key to get this month’s book choice as an ebook!
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The book this month is wrapped in paper with twine! The paper has the Pretti Parcels logo on it, and I like that small touch. The care that went into packaging the book is admirable.
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This month’s book is The Awakening by Kate Chopin! I have never read this story before, so I am excited to dive into it. This book also includes various other short stories and a special introduction! I love classics that include these bonuses.
Synopsis:
The Awakening shocked turn-of-the-century readers with its forthright treatment of sex and suicide. Departing from literary convention, Kate Chopin failed to condemn her heroine’s desire for an affair with the son of a Louisiana resort owner, whom she meets on vacation. The power of sensuality, the delusion of ecstatic love, and the solitude that accompanies the trappings of middle- and upper-class life are the themes of this now-classic novel. As Kaye Gibbons points out in her Introduction, Chopin “was writing American realism before most Americans could bear to hear that they were living it.”
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The book also came with this exclusive bookmark! The artwork reflects this month’s book choice.
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The last item is, of course, the tea! This month’s tea is a tin of rose petal tea sachets mixed with black tea. Rose is one of my favorite tea flavors, so I will be savoring this!
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Final Thought: The Pretti Parcels “Royal Box” is carefully curated with items to appeal to Victorian literature and lifestyle lovers. However, at about $40 including shipping, I found that this box did not add up to what similarly priced book boxes include. As a book subscription owner myself, I would have liked to see a few bonus items for the asking price. Overall, if you like Victorian literature and tea, then this box is a good choice for you; but be aware that the box does not contain many bonus items!
