Meglena Ivanova's Blog, page 3
May 22, 2017
25 Emotionally Shattering books that you must read …
The best books continue to exert influence on us long after we’ve read them.
Some even overwhelm our whole world.[image error]
Inspired by one of my favorite high school teachers and her list of books we must read while we are alive, I have compiled a list of 25 shaking reads, some of which are also recommended by Goodreads users.
These books on politics, history, and the human mind are so insightful that they have resisted time.
The next time you look for fascinating reading, try one of these:
“1984” by George Orwell
“Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
“The Trial” by Franz Kafka
“Neuromanser” by William Gibson
“The Things they Carried” by Tim O’Brien
“Slaughterhouse – Five” by Kurt Vonnegut
“Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury
“Confederation of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole
“In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
“Lord of the Flies” by William Golding
“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho
“Tuesdays in Morrie” by Mitch Albom
“The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
“A Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess
“Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman
“The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco
“Stranger” by Albert Camus
“Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell
“Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card
“Catch 22” by Joseph Heller
“Animal Farm: A Fairy Story” by George Orwell
“Moonwalking with Einstein” by Joshua Foer
“Watchmen” by Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore
“Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes
If you have a moment I would love to read what are your top 25 shaking reads that you must read while you are alive… 
May 14, 2017
10 Best ideas about Happy Mothers Day
[image error]Make your mother smile by sending her thoughtful text, gift or something more . . . 
February 18, 2017
Upon Your Love by Marie Lavender, Multi-Genre Author
Marie Lavender is a …
Bestselling multi-genre author of UPON YOUR RETURN and 23 other books. March 2016 Empress of the Universe title – winner of the “Broken Heart” themed contest and the “I Love You” themed contest on Poetry Universe.
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Marie Lavender
SECOND CHANCE HEART and A LITTLE MAGICK placed in the TOP 10 on the 2015 P&E Readers’ Poll. Nominated in the TRR Readers’ Choice Awards for Winter 2015. Poetry winner of the 2015 PnPAuthors Contest. The Versatile Blogger Award for 2015. Honorable Mention in the 2014 BTS Red Carpet Book Awards. Finalist and Runner-up in the 2014 MARSocial’s Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January 2014 Reader’s Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 10 Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the Directory of Published Authors.
Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for a little over twenty-five years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands. Since 2010, Marie has published 24 books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, fantasy, science fiction, mystery/thriller, literary fiction and poetry. She has also contributed to several multi-author anthologies. Her current series are The Heiresses in Love Series, The Magick Series, The Blood at First Sight Series and The Code of Endhivar Series.
Today I am very happy to share with you a few details
about Marie’s NEW BOOK: Upon Your Love!!!
[image error]Book trailer is here: https://youtu.be/UVENg4kOros
Blurb for Upon Your Love:
The Hill family saga concludes as loyalties are questioned, faiths will be tested and undying love may come at a terrible cost…
Fara Hill, mother and faithful wife, is torn between her family at home and her urge to be at sea. Soon, she learns some disturbing truths. Was the past a fairy tale instead of reality?
Chloe Hill, loving wife and young mother, questions her faith when her husband sets an ultimatum she cannot meet. Will she be able to keep her marriage from falling apart?
Adrienne Bellamont Hill, born of a valiant captain and a fiery redhead, is untamed to her core and will bow to no man. Then Christian du Plessis enters her life with an offer she can’t refuse. Discovering the man behind the polished gentleman, she is drawn to him in many ways. Holding out for love is a family tradition, but can she resist the temptation of passion?
Christian finds this young woman to be a fascinating challenge, and is torn between keeping his distance from her and succumbing to her charms. A fierce battle of wills ensues as he sees she is much more than he ever imagined.
But danger lurks, threatening to destroy everything…
Can these two strong-willed individuals unite in the cause before time runs out?
Excerpt of Upon Your Love:
[image error]Christian scanned the wall and came to rest on a woman whose face was obscured by the way she stood. She was turned slightly away, in conversation with another girl. She had long, dark wavy hair and a nice form. When she turned back towards him, he caught his breath at the stunning figure she posed. Her eyes were a violet color; he could tell because the gas lights in the room caught them like fine gemstones. She was also fairly tall for a woman. Her skin was a fine, light golden shade, which didn’t detract from her beauty at all. Most of her contemporaries avoided direct sunlight. It was clear that her skin tone was natural, perhaps with a hint of being blessed by the sun’s rays. He wondered what sort of woman would place herself in the elements while the other women in her circle managed to elude such avenues.
His gaze continued to travel over her strange perfection. Her décolletage dipped to the tops of her full breasts, hinting at pleasure, and she was dressed in a long gown of pale blue. The shape of the gown gave off the suggestion of ample curves beneath. What kind, he could only guess. He imagined the costume was an heirloom because most women’s fashions these days weren’t so revealing. “Who is that?” he pointed.
“Mademoiselle Bellamont Hill.”
“I haven’t seen her before.”
“It is past her season. She hasn’t been to a function in a couple of years, I believe. Something about a mourning period.”
“But, isn’t she from around here?”
“Yes, in a way. Her family travels often. Her father is a captain, and so is her brother. When she is here, she lives with her mother and aunt.”
“Why hasn’t she married?”
Pierce shrugged. “It could be any number of reasons. Why? Do you want me to ask her to dance?”
“No, not her. Perhaps her companion would be interested.” He referred to the blonde woman at Mademoiselle Hill’s side. Christian didn’t allow himself to wonder why he thought the other girl would not suit his friend.
Pierce agreed, and they both started in that direction. When they approached the ladies, Christian took the first woman’s hand, brushing his lips over it. He observed that her skin was incredibly soft and had a tantalizing sweet scent. He curbed the urge to explore it further.
She gasped, a flush staining her cheeks. “Monsieur?”
“Forgive me for the abrupt entrance. I am Christian du Plessis. It is a pleasure to meet you, Mademoiselle.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I am Adrienne Nicolette Bellamont Hill.” She looked over at her companion. If she noticed the impropriety of not being introduced by a common acquaintance, she did not say. “This is my good friend, Elena Wyndham. She’s visiting from England.”
Though he’d blinked as she gave her full name, he managed, “Oh? It is so good to have your acquaintance. Ladies, this is my ami, Pierce Laroque.”
“Hello, Pierce,” both girls chimed and shook his hand alternately.
Pierce looked flustered as he murmured a greeting.
“I hope you’ll take good care of my friend here. He is rather shy with women. Perhaps you might make him feel welcome,” he whispered, leaning in close to Elena with a smile.
She gave him a conspiratorial smile, and then turned to Pierce. “Might you dance with me, Monsieur? I can’t stand here and simply watch this gaiety.”
Pierce readily agreed and escorted Elena to the dance floor just as the music for another waltz began.
The woman named Adrienne frowned, looking up at Christian. “What was that? What are you up to?”
“Just a little matchmaking,” he shrugged.
“Perhaps your friend wouldn’t be pleased with your interference.”
Christian took her hand and tucked it in the crook of his arm. “Shall we walk?” At her nod, he led her in a stroll around the edges of the room. As they ambled along, the heavenly scent of blended flowers and honey drifted into his nose. He struggled with the desire to lean closer so that he could breathe more of her in. “I’m sure he would welcome it. Pierce is rather reserved, and not at all used to conversing with women.”
She nodded. “He asked for your help then.”
His mouth twisted. Pierce would never have asked; he was far too honorable a man for that, which was why he’d volunteered. “In a manner of speaking, yes.”
“I suppose I cannot reprimand you for assisting a friend,” she sighed. “For a moment, I simply thought you had ulterior motives.”
“To pair myself off with you?”
She lifted a brow. “You can’t blame me for the assumption.”
“No, I cannot. Don’t take this the wrong way, Mademoiselle Hill. You are very tempting, and I am more drawn to you than I should be. But, my purpose in coming here tonight wasn’t self-serving. It was to help Pierce find a wife.”
She stumbled a little, and he clasped her arm in time. “A wife? Surely you cannot be serious.”
“Deadly.”
“But, Elena wouldn’t… she would never—”
“No? And why not? Pierce is a good man.”
“So? What woman would agree to marry a man after one night?”
“Stranger things have happened, I’m sure.”
Her beautiful, dark brows drew together and even her apparent perplexity appealed to him.
“But, why must he find a wife tonight?”
“Perhaps he will be disinherited if he does not.”
“Disinherited? By whom?”
“His father.”
She shook her head. “That’s terrible. What kind of father does that to his son?”
“Indeed. What kind?”
She stopped walking, suddenly. “You really aren’t jesting, are you?”
“No.”
“So, why tell me all of this?” Adrienne cocked her head.
“I suppose I thought I could trust you. Can I?”
“Oui, of course.”
He nodded, satisfied. “Perhaps you could put in a kind word for my friend.”
“With Elena? But I hardly know Pierce.”
“I will tell you all you need to know.”
She frowned once more. “Elena won’t agree to marry him.”
“Perhaps not, but we are rather desperate. That’s not easy to understand, I’m sure.”
“Of course, I understand the haste, but Elena wouldn’t. And she’s not about to upend her whole life for a man she barely knows. I mean, she’s not from here.”
“I realize that. Perhaps some allowances can be made. I know Pierce would be willing to travel often for his wife.”
Adrienne sighed. “I can’t believe we’re even discussing this. Elena would never forgive me.” She appeared to study him overlong, and he couldn’t help thinking that he’d never seen such bold behavior from a woman. Still, he strongly suspected it wasn’t due to any coquettish intentions. “How long does he truly have?”
“Less than a month. His father is not a patient man.”
Adrienne chewed on her thumbnail, and he imagined she didn’t even realize she’d done it. “There’s no guarantee Elena would even enjoy his company or agree to marriage.”
Christian eyed the couple on the dance floor. “That’s strange. They appear to be getting along famously.”
She seemed to notice it too. Elena was dancing with Pierce, and they were smiling and laughing together. The woman beside him arched an elegant brow as she gazed up at him.
“Are you sure you don’t have ulterior motives?”
“I am certain of it, Mademoiselle.”
Adrienne shook her head. “It’s not fair for either of them to have that kind of pressure.”
“No, it’s not, but little can be done about it.”
She nodded. “All right. I’ll help you.”
A weird elation swept through him, and a wide smile broke across his face.
“Thank you.”
“But… only on one condition.”
He held his breath for a moment. He’d been around enough women to know that “but” was a word to dread. “And that would be?”
“Elena has to care about him before agreeing to anything.”
“Fine. I am certain Pierce wouldn’t have it otherwise if he had a choice about it.”
There was a moment of comfortable silence between them.
“Christian?”
“Yes?”
“Will a proposal be enough notice for Pierce’s father?”
He frowned. “I hope so. If not, he loses everything.”
The young woman shuddered. “I can’t even imagine it,” she sighed. “I’ll make one more vow, though.”
He lifted a brow. “What’s that?”
“If Elena isn’t willing for some reason, I will help you find Pierce a wife. I promise,” she smiled.
He nodded. “Again, I thank you. I am in your debt. I know we’re barely acquainted and I don’t deserve your kindness, but I am moved by it nonetheless. You are a rare woman, Adrienne Bellamont Hill, and any man would be lucky to have you.”
Her eyes were wide when she looked at him, blinking. “Thank you.”
And he meant it. He knew matchmaking was more of a woman’s game, but his terms were hardly attractive and that presented a plethora of difficulties. He was lucky she would even consider it. His gaze went back to their mutual friends, and he knew they’d made the right choice. The flush on Mademoiselle Wyndham’s cheeks could have been from embarrassment, but he was sure it came from pleasure because her smile was guileless, genuine. He was relieved for even though Pierce had to marry so quickly, he would never wish to pair him with a manipulative woman.
“I shall not, you know.”
He glanced back at the goddess beside him and cocked his head to the side, sure he’d missed a part of the conversation somehow.
“I’m sorry. What?”
“I won’t have a man.”
“No?”
She shook her head. “I am destined to be a spinster.”
He chuckled. For some odd reason, he found her outrageous and charming at the same time.
“Oh, Mademoiselle, somehow I find that spinsterhood wouldn’t suit you at all.”
Her cheek dimpled, her lovely face more becoming. Those full lips twisted and he was sure she would have laughed if she was free from the crowd at the party. That she found his comment humorous was a boon to his pride, but he’d only been honest. He detected something untamed in Adrienne Hill, and he longed to find out why. Of course, she seemed proper for the most part, but he couldn’t escape the sense that there was so much more to her, a lot she didn’t show the world. For some strange reason, he wanted to see it all.
…
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29083654-upon-your-love
Where to find more about Marie Lavender and her books:
http://marielavender.com/
Blogs: http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/
http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
Graphic design company: http://www.ambrosiainnovations.com/
https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
https://twitter.com/marielavender1
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MarieLavender/posts
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marie-lavender/27/187/10a
Amazon author page: Author.to/MarieLavender
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/1578-marie-lavender
http://www.pw.org/content/marie_lavender
http://manicreaders.com/marielavender/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJu8HjRVYCFOqcIoX6ZxdqQ/videos
February 11, 2017
How to Write Outstanding Fantasy Novel …
Reblogged from Go Hunters.com ~ Sooo, today we’re writing fantasy. If you are reading this post, you are probably interested in how to write a fantasy novel. We’ll try to figure it out and make it clear to you. The ultimate advice would be to read as much good fantasy as you can find. If […]
via Reblog: How to Write Outstanding Fantasy Novel — Vampires, Crime and Angels…Eclectic Me
December 30, 2016
2016 – Wrap-up
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Season’s Greetings!
Hi Everyone,
Here we are in my favorite, favorite FAVORITE month: December. I truly love the the warmth and fun, the lights and songs, and decorating the three. I love all Christmas traditions and that the holidays brings the child in us, the secret hope that Santa will turn up…
November 23, 2016
Hurray! It’s Thanksgiving and it’s my blog anniversary! I...
Hurray! It’s Thanksgiving and it’s my blog anniversary!
I’ve been blogging for five years and I still want to go on! Based on my blogging experiences, I’ve a few simple but essential blogging tips that will also help you become successful in blogging. Wishing you a blessing Thanksgiving and a happy blogging new year!
More at the blog 
Hurray! It’s Thanksgiving and it’s my blog anniversary!
...
Hurray! It’s Thanksgiving and it’s my blog anniversary!
Hurray! It’s Thanksgiving and it’s my blog anniversary!
I...
Hurray! It’s Thanksgiving and it’s my blog anniversary!
November 22, 2016
Searching for the answers she needs, will Addie lose eve...
Adeline “Addie” Montgomery is searching for the truth. As she and Blake travel back to 1920, she expects her nemesis Otto is behind a string of art forgeries. The only problem is that the villain has completely disappeared. Addie must now find Otto without blowing her cover to keep the past intact, as long as a lover from a past life doesn’t get in the way…
Blake Greenwood wants nothing more than to catch Otto and return to the present with Addie, the love of his life. When his mother goes missing as well, he leaves Addie alone with his half-brother to save his family. As the future begins to change in unexpected ways, Blake and Addie begin to question everything. Can they find Otto and save their relationship before what they had disappears for good?
Lost In Time is the third book in an absorbing series of paranormal romance time travel novels. If you like museum capers, psychic powers, and romance that’s both steamy and sweet, then you’ll love Alyssa Richard’s thrilling conclusion to the Fine Art of Deception Series.
Buy Lost In Time to complete the enthralling journey today!
TRAILER
Don’t forget to view this amazing trailer of “The Fine Art of Deception“ series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az-S5afi0ns
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ALYSSA RICHARDS is the Amazon best selling author of The Fine Art of Deception series and upcoming The Haunting of Alcott Manor series – a contemporary gothic trilogy due out in 2017.
She loves living in the South with her husband and two children. She also loves good espresso, her rescue dogs, magnolias and gardenias, and, of course, reading a great book. She grew up running barefoot in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, where her favorite weekly adventure was a trip to the library with her mom.
Find out more at: http://www.alyssarichards.com
October 6, 2016
Addictarium by Nicole D’Settēmi
Addictarium by Nicole D’Settēmi
When creative spirit, and inhabitant of bohemia–Danielle Martino–starts to lose her eyesight from shooting a poisoned bag of heroin, she flees to New York City for surgery, and then to rehab. However, the two-year intensive drug recovery therapy program is more intense than anything she could have anticipated, and Danielle finds herself searching for purpose, sanity, and sobriety in this “addictarium,”–or as she likes to call it; a house of broken souls.
Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole D’Settēmi is a 34 year old creative writer, poet, and artist from Niagara Falls, New York. Born in a tiny town bordering Canada only five minutes from the legendary falls, Nicole says she had an eye for beauty at a young age, and that included poetry. She can remember from an age as young as six, being selected as part of the city’s “young authors club.” She was interested in lyric poetry from the time she was a pre-teen into her early-to-mid-twenties, and moved into creative writing and fiction in her late twenties and early thirties.
Addictarium was penned while Nicole spent time in an intensive rehabilitation center due to a devastating heroin addiction, and while this is a fictional memoir, many of the themes and tales are based around her own experiences during her two year stay in the notorious Queens, New York “therapeutic community.”
In April of 2010, Nicole lost 95% of her eyesight due to a poisoned bag of heroin she had injected, and was shipped to Manhattan’s Bellevue hospital 1,600 miles away from her city at the time, which was in South Florida, where she had been attending an art institute for photojournalism. She was forced to drop the courses, as she began a new, sober life in New York City.
Nicole was also separated from her fiancé and co-conspirator in 2010, while recuperating in Daytop Village. At that time, she was introduced to her current fiancé, who is also mentioned throughout the novel as the substance abuse counselor she fell in love with.
Today, both artists run a modest business creatively assisting others, and continue to hone their fine arts abilities, in their art studio and living quarters, residing in Pleasant Valley, New York. With their creative assistance-based company; LCDS Creative Services, they’ve dedicated a division to publishing novels, named; The Book House of Seviles. They look forward to venturing further into the writing and publishing world, in 2017.
EXCERPT
“Come on, Danielle!” Karen shouted over the raging winds, which were both loud and aggressive, due to April’s unpredictable weather. We were scurrying down the wooden planks along the boardwalk, five minutes from our community. Karen, who was drenched in a thick, mauve turtle neck, and a pair of furry, suede boots, ran awkwardly about two feet ahead of me, her left leg shorter than the right making her look funny. She laughed loudly, nearly tumbling over, her voice ringing through the air, despite the howl of the heavy winds. I followed, out of breath, trying to inhale the last of a cheap, fat menthol cigar. Black-and-Mild’s, the box said, and they were delicious. Strong, and intense, scorching the back of my throat, just the way I needed something to be. We continued to run, as we laughed even harder. Tear drops were streaming down my face from my watery eyes, with the sun luminous and bright, but the weather still quite cold, at least for spring.
“I think I see her!” she shouted, referring to our mutual acquaintance August Delgado, who as always, was surrounded by a small cluster of people, all of them off into the distance. They were all people who lived in our Therapeutic Community; a long-term addiction-recovery program, named Safe Haven Village, or The Village as I liked to call it, because Greenwich had nothing on this place, it was a complete circus, a regular freak show by all definitions of the word.
We both squinted to see further, but we didn’t really know what we were seeing. We were higher than one of these New York City skyscrapers, tripping on acid that August had given us. Rockaway beach was five minutes from our community, so we decided to search for our dear friend, sure we had found her, but not so sure it was actually her, given the acid was really starting to kick in. As we neared just a little bit closer, we began to laugh giddily, as we could now see her waving erratically, heading towards us with two black guys, one of her comrades several sizes larger than any of us. We ran fast and furiously towards the rocks they were situated on, screaming and throwing our arms everywhere, as if none of us had seen the other for days on end. She caught up to us, moments later, all of us panting and out of breath, as we hugged one another, laughing gleefully.
“This acid’s pretty wavy dude,” August remarked, her mouth against my ear as she embraced me, “very mellow, it’s like it takes ya on a long car ride into the country, a long car ride with excellent scenery,” she added, as I could feel a slow, lazy smile spreading across her face, and I knew the acid was clearly hitting her as well. I felt her lumpy dreads in my hands, and realized I was still holding onto her. We let go of each other, and we both laughed again.
“What’s the plan for tonight?” she asked us, looking back and forth between the two of us, her lively eyes twinkling with mischief. Oh, Karen and I, we had plans alright. We looked at each other and smiled, but said nothing.
“Okay we’ll leave it at that,” she told us grinning, as the two guys finally caught up to where we were standing. I smiled and said hello, and we all slapped hands.
“We actually have to get ready,” Karen told her, as we lit a couple of cigarettes, and passed them between the five of us.
August slid her hand into her grey hooded jacket, three sizes two big, and pulled out a little piece of plastic cellophane. “Here’s two more,” she said blowing smoke through her nose, and then, finally out of her mouth. She handed me the small packet, and I laid it in my palm, delicately sizing it up.
“You women are crazy, I mean we are in treatment after all,” Stefan, one of the guys, with a crisp, British accent, said. The other guy nodded in agreement, and then laughed, as he watched me eyeball Stefan’s hand, raising an eyebrow. Between his fingers, he held a joint, which I already knew was filled with K-2, a new, hip form of synthetic weed, that no treatment programs were testing for.
“What? This? This is nothing!” Stefan said with a dismissive hand, but even as he said it, he had to laugh at his own audacity.
“They don’t test for acid either,” I pointed out.
His friend shook his head, “yeah, but that shit crazy, yo. Put you straight in the ward!”
“Thanks,” Karen piped in impatiently, “but we have to get ready now.”
“Have fun, you two,” August told us, picking at a barrette that was attached to one of her dreads.
GIVEAWAY
When the person purchases Addictarium’s ebook for $4.99 they have a chance to win:
Prize #1 – A subscription from mazagines.com for any 1 selection of reading material they pick (a 1 year subscription)
Prize #2 – A $10 giftcard for Barnes & Nobles, and a signed photo-card of “Addictarium”
Prize #3 – A free ebook of their choice on Kindle (not to exceed $9.99 for the ebook) and a signed/framed photo-card of “Addictarium”
Prize #4 – An official “Addictarium Writer’s Gift basket” (includes gifts geared towards writing & Addictarium memorabilia
Please email lcdscreativeservices@gmail.com, after the purchase with the email receipt and have a chance to win these amazing prizes.
2. Addictarium by Nicole D’Settēmi | Elite Book Tours
