Pandora's Box Tour, Review, & e- Book Giveaway Winner!!

Pandora's Box:

Alyssa thought, after a few months as a vampire, that she’d learned all she needed about the supernatural world. But all that will change when a mysterious package shows up on her doorstep - a Pandora's box. An ancient prison, created by powerful magic, the box was used to trap the most dangerous and deadly creatures on earth.

Once opened, it releases an ancient evil, with an insatiable lust for vampire blood. Within moments of its release it the feeding frenzy begins.

Alyssa must find a way to return the creature to the box. If she doesn’t, it will not only destroy her clan, but the rest of the vampires in existence.

Katie Salidas:The youngest of four children, Katie has always had a desire to entertain. Since, early childhood, she's dreamed fantastical characters and scribbled them into pages of various journals and notebooks. Taking an interest in vampires, she devoured every book, featuring those blood sucking creatures, in any genre she could find.

It was only natural that a love of reading vampire stories, turned into a love to write them.

Katie is also a Las Vegas native, having grown up in the famed City of Sin. She loves to feature it as a recurring setting for many of her stories.

Mandie's Thoughts - I haven't read the first two in the series but that didn't matter, I was pulled in right away and this book easily stood on it's own. (Although I really want to read the others now). I love urban fantasy and Katie Salidas can hang with the big girls (Harrison, Briggs, & Armstrong in my opinion). This book is perfect for any Vampire lover. I can't wait for the next one!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

                                                          Now for the Giveaway!

Island Girl Book Review and Giveaway

                               About Island Girl

What Would You Do If You Were Told You Had Alzheimer’s? 

Island Girl is the emotionally riveting story of a 55 year old mother, Ruby Donaldson, fighting to reunite her family as she struggles with the diagnosis of early on-set Alzheimer’s.

Ruby refuses to let the disease control her future, but first she must find a way to convince her older daughter Liz to grow up and come home; to take her place as head of the family thereby securing the future of their home on the Island, and ensuring that Liz’s younger sister, Grace, will be cared for in the only place that is safe for her.

But there are good reasons why Liz and Ruby have been estranged for years, and Liz can only wonder why she should forgive her mother a lifetime of sins just because she’s sick. Does Alzheimer’s grant Ruby instant immunity, a moral get-out-of-jail-free card?

Ruby always thought she’d have a lifetime to make things right, but suddenly time is running out.

                                                               Read an Excerpt 

About Lynda Simmons

Lynda Simmons is a writer by day, college instructor by night and a late sleeper on weekends. She grew up in Toronto reading Greek mythology, bringing home stray cats and making up stories about bodies in the basement. From an early age, her family knew she would either end up as a writer or the old lady with a hundred cats. As luck would have it, she married a man with allergies so writing it was.

With two daughters to raise, Lynda and her husband moved into a lovely two storey mortgage in Burlington, a small city on the water just outside Toronto. While the girls are grown and gone, Lynda and her husband are still there. And yes, there is a cat – a beautiful, if spoiled, Birman.

When she’s not writing or teaching, Lynda gives serious thought to using the treadmill in her basement. Fortunately, she’s found that if she waits long enough, something urgent will pop up and save her – like a phone call or an e-mail or a whistling kettle. Or even that cat just looking for a little more attention!

You can visit her website or connect with her on Twitter and Facebook 

Mandie's Thoughts - This was a very emotional book for me. The author really know show to pull those strings. This tells the story of three women - Ruby, Grace, and Liz in alternating chapters. It deals with family dysfunction and heartache. By the end I was both happy and sad. This would be the perfect book club pick!
 Pump Up your volume Virtual book tours is allowing me to give away a copy!  Mandatory Entry - Tell me why you want it :) 
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Giveaway will end July 15th at 11:59pm. The winners will be chosen by random.org and emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S  & Canada Residents 18+
Disclaimer - A product was received for my honest review no other compensation was received.

A Reluctant Queen Book Review

A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf

Book Description

You know the Bible story. Now discover the love story.

Experience the intimate, profoundly stirring story of Esther, a simple Jewish girl, and the Great King of Persia, who finds in her the companion of his soul.

In this meticulously researched novel, you'll journey into the mind and heart of Esther. Experience her first frightened days in the king's harem and her gradual awakening love, her anguished realization that she is God's chosen instrument, and her courageous defiance of Persian law that ultimately saved her people from destruction. 

What has for been a powerful historical story for thousands of years will come alive when seen through fresh eyes as a tender love story. Be immersed in the richness of the culture, be thrilled with the political and personal intrigues, and be inspired by the incredible act of faith of one young woman-chosen by God "for such a time as this."

Mandie's Thoughts - It was an awesome book but with historical fiction in general you need to remember it's Fiction. This book doesn't completely follow the biblical text but is a wonderful read none the less. A Reluctant Queen chronicles the life of Esther, a young Jewish girl who must secretly hide her faith in order to marry the King of Persia and save her people. Esther finds herself torn between her strong faith and the realization that she may actually be falling in love with the divine King Ahasuerus. 

Check out a sample from the audiobook of A Reluctant Queen, read by Brooke Sanford:

 About the Author -

Joan Wolf was born in New York City but has lived most of her adult life with her husband in Connecticut, where she raised two children and countless numbers of assorted animals. Joan is the author of numerous historical novels including The Road to Avalon which Publishers Weekly lauded as “historical fiction at its finest.” For more about Joan and her other books, please visitwww.joanwolf.com. 

                                                           

To celebrate Joan Wolf’s debut Christian Fiction title, A Reluctant Queen, Joan and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up to give away A Reluctant Queen prize package worth over $150!

One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi and Pearl Screen

* A Reluctant Queen by Joan Wolf (for KINDLE)

To enter, just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, the contest ends on June 20th. Winner will be announced on June 21st during Joan’s A Reluctant Queen Book Club Party on Facebook (details below)! Hope to see you there – bring your friends!

Join the fun on June 21st! 

Joan will be wrapping up the blog tour and Kindle giveaway promotion during her A Reluctant Queen FACEBOOK party on her FB author page. During the party she’ll announce the winner of the Kindle, host a book chat discussion, test your trivia skills (Is Esther’s story in A Reluctant Queen fact or fiction?), and more. Don’t miss this chance to meet the author and make some new friends!

Beg For Mercy Book Review & Giveaway

Description

He lurks in the shadows, waiting and watching . . . And once he has you, all you can do is. . .

BEG FOR MERCY

Megan Flynn thought she was falling in love. Cole Williams wasn't just handsome and passionate, he was one of the good guys. Or so she thought, until he arrested her brother-the only family she has left-for a murder she knows he couldn't have possibly committed. Now, with her heart broken and her brother's life hanging in the balance, Megan will risk everything to prove his innocence. Even if that means throwing herself into the path of a sadistic killer with a hauntingly familiar MO.


Seattle Detective Cole Williams had given up on making Megan see reason where her brother is concerned. But when she insinuates herself into the most shockingly brutal case Cole has ever worked, he can't stand idly by. Plunged into a secret world where the city's elite indulge their darkest desires, Cole will do whatever it takes to bring down a madman who has made Megan his most coveted prey. 

      Jami Alden is the Holt Medallion–nominated author for sexy romantic suspense. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her socially well-adjusted alpha male husband, her sons, and a German Shepherd who patiently listens to dialogue and helps her work out plot points. You can find out more about Jami and her books at JamiAlden.com, or by following her on Facebook and Twitter.

Mandie's Thoughts - I literally could not put this one down. Imagine me cooking dinner and reading. :) It was a little dark but very very well written. The story was told from three perspectives - Megan, Cole, & the Killer. This was a sit on the edge of your seat read but Jami didn't forget to add some steamy romance. Megan and Cole had great chemistry and plenty of tension between them when Megan wouldn't give up on her brother despite the growing evidence. 

                Forever Romance is allowing us to giveaway 3 copies of this fabulous book!!
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Giveaway will end July 1st at 11:59pm. The winners will be chosen by random.org and emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to U.S & Canadian Residents 18+ We will require a phone number for our Canadian residents if you will. No PO boxes please.If you will this on another blog, you will only receive ONE set of books from the publisher.
Disclaimer - A product was received for my honest review no other compensation was received.

The Blood that defines us Book Tour

Every house has its own history and its own secrets. Some secrets are just darker than others. And some are even downright terrifying.

When the Johnsons moved into their new house, they didn’t expect that weird things would start to happen, objects would move on their own, and that the house’s history would come back to haunt them.

But I did. Read an Excerpt

Author Bio:
Majanka Verstraete is a twenty-year-old law student with a passion for writing and reading. Her favorite genres are fantasy, horror and historical fiction, although she occasionally enjoys other genres as well.
The Blood That Defines Us is her first published novella. She is currently working on an epic fantasy series for young adults. Feel free to visit her website (http://writings.eternalised.net)

 Author Website

Buy on Smashwords

Buy from Publisher

Goodreads 

Mandie's Thoughts - Holy Moly! This was good, it actually blew me away. I'm usually not much for horror but this isn't gory. Just creepy but a very very good and well written novella. You'd be silly not to pick it up, you can buy it from Smashwords for $1.99!  Majanka is an author I'm going to keep my eye on. I can't wait for her next book.

The Arrivals Book Tour & Review

 The Arrivals: A Novel

It's early summer when Ginny and William's peaceful life in Vermont comes to an abrupt halt.

First, their daughter Lillian arrives, with her two children in tow, to escape her crumbling marriage. Next, their son Stephen and his pregnant wife Jane show up for a weekend visit, which extends indefinitely when Jane ends up on bed rest. When their youngest daughter Rachel appears, fleeing her difficult life in New York, Ginny and William find themselves consumed again by the chaos of parenthood - only this time around, their children are facing adult problems.

By summer's end, the family gains new ideas of loyalty and responsibility, exposing the challenges of surviving the modern family - and the old adage, once a parent, always a parent, has never rung so true.

Reading Group Guide

Mandie's Thoughts - I can't believe this was a debut novel. Beautiful characterizations but if you are looking for happy go lucky you aren't going to find it. The book is real life and honest. You get an inside glimpse at the struggles with a multi-generational family. Perfect for a book club because there is really so much you can talk about. I agree with Once a parent always a parent.