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Friday, February 28, 2020

About Us by Elizabeth Seckman

I'm so excited today to help out a fellow writer/author/blogger friend announce her new book to the world...
and it's one you won't want to miss out on.




Hayden Matthews isn’t looking for love—she’s trying to get as far from it as possible. She's already wasted eight years in a failed marriage and is ready for a good life. A peaceful life. One where she can raise her daughter to be strong, independent, and happy. But to make that happen, she must fix her own life first.

Cam Vorelli has loved Hayden since he was in grade school. Always in the friend-zone, he stood on the sidelines, his heart breaking, as she said I do to the wrong man. A man he knew didn’t deserve her, who could never love her as he did. But what could he say? She was marrying into his family. Cam would never break a holy vow much less be disloyal to his kin.

Until he sees the bruises on Hayden. Abuse is a game changer.

Leaving a husband like Tag, who has a hot temper, a badge, and a gun is tricky. When Hayden calls Cam for help, she isn’t trying to lure him into any romantic webs. She needs someone she can trust and knowing her soon-to-be ex fears his former NFL cousin is a bonus.

When Cam comes to her rescue, he isn’t doing it to win her love. He does it because it’s the right thing to do. But if she starts to feel the same for him…couldn’t it be fate?



SNEAK PEEK

Was she a monster for wanting to be happy? Screw happy. She didn't start the divorce process so she could be happy.  She wasn't a child. She knew happy was an elusive, often selfish goal. Being happy was Tag's thing. He wanted every day of his life to be some sort of party. 
She hadn't asked for anything so impressive. She didn't ask for a big house or a new car. Hell, she didn't even expect vacations. All she wanted was a simple life, a peaceful life. A life where she knew when her husband said he had to work late that he truly was working late, not diddling the bartender or dropping the grocery money into a slot machine. 

She'd have been content with a marriage that simply wasn't miserable. 



Kobo: FREE

Amazon: 99 cents 

https://tinyurl.com/u6xcrob




And here's....Elizabeth!!!



Elizabeth is a multi-published author of books for people who are believers in happily-ever- after, true love, and stories with a bit of fun and twists with their plots. The mother of four young men, she tackles laundry daily and is the keeper of the kitchen. She lives along the shores of the Ohio River in West Virginia, but dreams daily of the beach.

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Monday, February 17, 2020

A review today of Escape Galapagos by Ellen Prager

Usually, I place these reviews over on Bookworm for Kids but had a mix-up today. So, I'm double posting this one here and there. Just hit the tab up above or read this one. 
Think of it as twice the fun!!!




ESCAPE GALAPAGOS
The Wonder List Adventures, #1
by Ellen Prager
Tumblehome Inc.
Middle Grade Adventure
180 pages
ages 8 to 12








As Ezzy Skylar's mother lay dying, her father promised to take Ezzy and her younger brother, Luke, to all of the places on his wife's wonder-list, starting with the Galápagos Islands. There's just one problem: while Luke loves all living things, Ezzy freaks out around wild animals. For her family, Ezzy must face her fears and walk with iguanas, swim with sea lions and sharks, and pretend to dance among blue-footed boobies. Things take a dangerous turn when hijackers take over their cruise ship. Ezzy, Luke, and Aiden, a teen they meet on the ship, are stranded on remote and wild Isabela Island, where an erupting volcano adds to the action and adventure. Ezzy must find bravery she never knew she had and rely on her little brother's help to make their way across the island in an attempt to rescue a ship full of tourists and the animals of the Galápagos.



MY TIDBITS

This book packs kid-appropriate adventure on every page and mixes it with some interesting facts about animals and more along the way to create a fun read.

Following a last wish from her deceased mother, Ezzy's father take her and her brother on a trip to the Galapagos islands. Her brother is thrilled, but then he's and animal friend. Ezzy isn't so sure they're as neat as her brother believes. when a hike on Isabela Island ends with them stranded and their cruise ship in the hands of hijackers, Ezzy not only has to learn to conquer her fear of the animals but save them and an entire ship.

Any readers who love animals...especially more exotic ones...and adventure is sure to enjoy this tale. The first pages already dive right in as Ezzy faces her first 'mini-dragon' and is told there is so much more to come. Her fear is understandable, as is her irritation with her younger brother, who can't understand her reaction. But then, their entire, little family carries a nice atmosphere, and it's clear they care for each other quite a bit.

The adventure itself is quick-paced and packs enough tension to keep the reader hooked. At the same time, it stays with the realm of kid friendly and is even appropriate for more sensitive readers. This, along with the information about various animals and the islands, makes it a wonderful read for school groups or homeschoolers, too. Add the wonderful mix of sibling relationships, friendship, and learning to step beyond ones fears...and this makes a lovely read.



And here she is...

Dr. Prager is a marine scientist and author, widely recognized for her expertise and ability to make science entertaining and understandable for people of all ages. She currently works as a freelance writer, consultant, and science advisor to Celebrity Cruises in the Galapagos Islands. She was previously the Chief Scientist for the Aquarius Reef Base program in Key Largo, FL, which includes the world’s only undersea research station, and at one time the Assistant Dean at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.



Read an article from Ellen in Children's Writer's Guild: http://www.childrenswritersguild.com/escape-galapagos-creating-a-family-adventure-in-reading/


Here's the tour if you'd like to follow along!



Friday, February 14, 2020

Help! I've Been Abducted by Aliens Blog Hop



Today, I'm taking part in a super-duper blog hop for the release of Patricia Josephine's new book!  And from the title, you're probably able to guess what her book is about. 
Since this is such a fun topic to contemplate.... 
What would an alien abduction look like? 
What do aliens look like? 
What in the world would happen to me if I were abducted???

See...
it's fun. 
So, she's asked everyone taking part in the hop to write a short story about an alien abduction. You'll find my attempt below!  But first...



Savannah Janowitz’s perfect life was destroyed the night she and her boyfriend vanished without a trace. A year later she reappears—alone. With no memory of what happened and strange, new abilities manifesting, Savannah struggles to rebuild her life.
Evan Sullivan never gave aliens much thought until the night he and Savannah were abducted.
Now, changed by the horrifying experiments that made him less than human, Evan hides in the
shadows and watches Savannah rebuild her life without him.
But neither can let the other go. Reunited, Savannah and Evan finally see a glimmer of their
old lives return. As they face what happened to them together, they realize aliens aren’t the
only danger out there.
Someone closer to home is watching, waiting for the right moment to tear them apart.



You can find it here! (as of today!)

Amazon: http://mybook.to/AbductedLife
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/747693
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/abducted-life/id1282655088?mt=11
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/abducted-life-1
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/abducted-life-patricia-josephine/1127096809


And here she is...



PatriciaJosephine is a writer of Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi Romance books. She actually never
set out to become a writer, and in fact, she was more interested in art and band in high school
and college. Her dreams were of becoming an artist like Picasso. On a whim, she wrote down
a story bouncing in her head for fun. That was the start of her writing journey, and she hasn't
regretted a moment. When she's not writing, she's watching Doctor Who or reading about
serial killers. She's an avid knitter. One can never have too much yarn. She writes Young Adult
Paranormal, Science Fiction, and Fantasy under the name Patricia Lynne.

Patricia lives with her husband in Michigan, hopes one day to have what will resemble a small
petting zoo, and has a fondness for dying her hair the colors of the rainbow. 


You can stalk her (not abduct her!) at...
Website: - https://www.patriciajosephine.com
Patreon - http://bit.ly/2sHZ3Vr
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pattyauthor07
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pattyauthor07
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pattyauthor07/
Newsletter - http://bit.ly/2qOsvbm
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13460894.Patricia_Josephine
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00UH7GAK0

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/patriciajosephine


And here's my contribution to the Alien Abduction Short Story.

Oh, How Sweet Valentine's Day Is
(In celebration of Valentine's Day, I decided to take an odd twist)

Three dozen red roses, one giant box of chocolates, and a large teddy bear. Tara blinked against the glitter sprinkling down from the hat perched on her head and rang the doorbell. Hopefully, the person didn’t take too long to answer the door. She’d been lugging chocolates, balloons, bears and roses all over town the entire day and hadn’t even had time for lunch.

Love. It was such a wonderful, magical thing… especially when the day finally ended.

As she shifted her arms under the weight, the clunk of a lock made her jerk into position. She plastered a super friendly smile on her face. Again. Smiles were so overrated.

“I have a delivery for Lilly Bean.”

From the spicy smell of cologne coming on the breeze, this was probably not Lilly. But then, one never knew.

“Oh, great! Come in.” The guy’s voice rang pleasant as he moved to the side and lead her into the entryway. “She’s in the living room. Do you want me to help carry some of that?”

Tara nudged the teddy bear toward him. “Go ahead and take this into her first. I’ll follow a few seconds later with the rest. She’ll love the extra surprise.” She added a wink, wishing he’d take the bear faster so she could get the last delivery over with and finally head home.

He went through what must have been the door to the living room. In less than two seconds, a high-pitched squeal hit.

“And that must be Lilly,” Tara mumbled. Forcing her smile wider than before, she stepped into the living room to find the two lovebirds wrapped in a sweet embrace.  

The sight was sheer bliss.

Shoving the roses along with the chocolates underneath her arm, she tapped a button on her bracelet. A beam of light burst out from the teddy bear and encased the loving couple in a ball of shimmering blue. Neither noticed as a portal opened around them to transport them off to the mother ship. But then, once transported, they’d never notice anything again. The preservation process had to be carried out immediately to ensure the fresh aroma of lust, love and desire wasn’t ruined by a sudden influx of adrenaline and fear.

Forty-four couples. It was her best harvest so far, but then, she planned to top it next year.
Sucking in the aroma of love still lingering in the air, she licked her lips and stepped toward the bear now lying on the floor. One push of the button on her bracelet and the portal’s light engulfed her in a warm embrace.

Now, her Valentine’s Day could truly begin…and what a feast it’d be. 


Wednesday, February 5, 2020

IWSG - Oh, Inspiration... Where do you come from?



Every first Wednesday of the month, this group of writers comes together to offer support, advice, encouragement or simply to let  frustrations and woes flow. Writing is a tough journey, and we don't have to go it alone.

Thanks goes to the brain behind this group, Alex J. Cavanaugh! If you want to join in or find out more (because there is so much more to this group), then head on over here.

Twitter is @TheIWSG and hashtag #IWSG . They can also be found on Facebook or on the IWSG blog.

Super, special thanks goes to this month's co-hosts: Lee Lowery, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Jennifer Hawes, Cathrina Constantine, and Tyrean Martinson.


This month's question: Has a single photo or work of art ever inspired a story? What was it and did you finish it?

Nope. It hasn't. But it could happen.

My stories have been inspired, so far, by a range of different things. One was thanks to the recounts I'd heard from my relatives in Germany (A Glowworm). Another was due to a myth about a castle I'd once visited (Petals on a Rose). And there was one that came from my daughter's love of that show 'Cupcake Wars', Meringue, Murder and Marzipan. The last one is very, very, very loosely connected to the original inspiration.

Other story ideas seem to pop out of no where. Like Music Boxes or In the Shadow of the Eagle's Eye.  I have one MS I'm reworking for submission, A Crimson Rose, which does involve a painting. But I never saw a painting to inspire it.

My current WIP (no, not the co-authored one because that didn't originate in my head) was inspired, at least in part, from my jobbing days during high school at Burger King. (Didn't everyone have one of those jobs?) But even that plot has so little to do with reality that calling it inspired is quite the stretch...I can promise I wasn't going to die thanks to a blood moon and never dreamed of searching for ancient slippers. I did, however, have an old man crash the cash register in front of me with his cane because we didn't serve hamburgers during breakfast hours.   Got to love those years!

What about you? What inspired your tales?

********

It's time to celebrate!!!

A writer/blogger friend of mine is celebrating her 2nd Blogging Anniversary...
and she's doing it big!



There are several prizes....lots of ebooks...

AND

An Ebook copy as well as an AUDIOBOOK copy of



And as far as I saw... there aren't many entries so far!!! (Means that your chances of winning are good)