Books are food for my soul! Pull up a beach chair and stick your toes in the sand as the Jersey surf rolls in and out, now open your book and let your imagination take you away.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Virtual Book Tour Events: Week of 4/1-7/12



Virtual Book Tour Events: Week of 4/1-7/12


In association with author Debbie Viggiano, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host a Book Promotion and Book Contest Giveaway for her latest novel, Flings and Arrows!

Book Contest & Flower Pendant Giveaway: 

Flings and Arrows by Debbie Viggiano

April 1-8, 2012





One (1) lucky winner will receive a signed copy of Flings and Arrows by Debbie Viggiano, and a lovely Flower Pendant to celebrate the promotional theme of Summer and blossoming romances. 


Book Description: Flings and Arrows


June is widowed. She might be 70 but that doesn't mean she's not up for romance. Good neighbour Steph has been married for 24 years. And she's not finished with romance either - even if husband Si has forgotten the meaning of the word. Meanwhile son Tom's love life is utter chaos. The June meets salsa squeeze Harry; Steph rekindles a childhood crush with Barry Hastings; Si unwittingly finds himself being seduced by barmaid Dawn; and Tom's latest strumpet impacts on all of them. Has Cupid's arrow missed its mark? There's only one way to find out ...



In association with Goddess Fish Promotions, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the following virtual book tour event:

Life In Death by Harlow Coban




Tuesday, April 3, 2012 ~ Author Guest Post, Contest Giveaways & Book Review


The virtual book tour for Harlow Coban's novel Life In Death runs from March 26 - April 13, 2012. At each blog stop on the tour, the author will be giving away a prize which may include (but isn't limited to):

Amazon Gift Cards
Book Lover Note Cards
Journals
Kindle Cover
Book Tote
Hunger Games Trilogy


Book Description: Life In Death


When a girl that social worker Kari Marchant places in foster care is brutally murdered, shes' compelled to learn why. Her quest for the truth pits her against friends and coworkers. As Kari works to solve the horrific plot, more people die. She's been targeted for death and she doesn't even know it. How far should she go to learn the truth - even if it threatens her life?

When homicide detective Rance Nicolet meets Kari, his attraction to her is powerful - and the feeling is mutual. But things between them go terribly wrong when Kari's old lover is found murdered with a letter from her in his pocket. The evidence against Kari is damning. Rance's personal and professional lives collide. Does he blindly believe the woman he's falling in love with or follow the evidence no matter where it leads?







Jersey Girl Book Reviews Virtual Book Tour Events is pleased the host the following virtual book event:


Dark Mind by Jennifer Chase



Thursday, April 5, 2012 ~ Author Interview and Book Review

Book Description: Dark Mind


A serial killer plagues an island paradise ...

Vigilante detective Emily Stone continues her covert pursuits to find serial killers and child abductors, all under the radar while shadowing police investigations. 

Emily searches for an abducted nine-year-old girl taken by ruthless and enterprising slave brokers. Following the clues from California to the garden island of Kauai, she begins to piece together the evidence and ventures deep into the jungle.

It doesn't take long before Emily is thrown into the middle of murder, mayhem, and conspiracy. Locals aren't talking as a serial killer now stalks the island, taking women in a brutal frenzy of ancient superstitions and folklore. Local cops are unprepared for what lies ahead. In a race against the clock, Emily and her team must identify the killer before time runs out.



In association with Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the following virtual book tour event: 


Exceeding Expectations by Lisa April Smith




Friday, April 6, 2012 ~ Author Guest Post and Book Review 

Book Description: Exceeding Expectations


It's 1961 and Palm Beach socialite, irresistible rascal and devoted father Jack Morgan encounters genuine danger while staging his suicide to shield his beloved daughters from scandal and disgrace. Next, meet his daughter Charlotte (Charlie), an over-indulged 23 year-old struggling to cope with the loss of her beloved father, her sister's resulting mental breakdown and the discovery that she's now penniless. Fortunately Raul, an admiring young attorney, offers assistance to the traumatized young woman, who can joke about her inadequacies. As terrified as she is about paying for her sister's costly treatment and her own daily survival, Charlie soon realizes that she must learn what drove her father to kill himself. With Raul's much needed ego-bolstering, she pursues a career that makes practical use of her lanky 5'11" frame. Despite roadblocks and emotional upheavals, she embarks on an ocean-spanning journey that leads to a family she doesn't know, distressing truths about her father, crimes great and small, a diabolical villain and a fireworks of surprise endings. 



Author Guest Post: Elizabeth Marx, Author of Binding Arbitration

In association with Chick Lit Plus, Jersey Girl Book Reviews welcomes Elizabeth Marx, author of Binding Arbitration!




Binding Arbitration is told from two polar perspectives. Below is the letter Aidan wrote to Libby after he saw her at graduation, it's the last thing that Aidan would have said to Libby, if he'd had the courage to deliver this letter to her.


Graduation Day
Dear Elizabeth,

I graduated today ... and so did you. I didn't know you were going to graduate, but that's because you never told me. Looking back, you never told me anything, you were one big mystery and maybe that was part of your allure. Maybe I wanted you so bad because I was never going to really know what was going on in your head, so I'd have to settle for your body.

But we both know it wasn't because I wasn't willing to listen, it was because you couldn't bear to reveal yourself. You hide behind whispered words and secrets.

I think you wanted to make me suffer and pine for you. All these months, you've been hiding somewhere nearby, away from me but right under my nose to prove once again you're smarter than me. All my suffering has been in vain because you were near at hand and could have staunched it. All my recriminations could have  ceased, if you would have called or came to see me, face-to-face. You wanted me to suffer and hurt.

But I have never suffered more than I did today, when I watched in shock, as you walked across the stage with our baby beneath your skin. Your body carries part of me. A body I know as well as my own, a body so vivid in my mind that I could almost feel you breathing as you walked across the stage with your air of intellectual superiority. You are by far the smartest girl I've ever known, but you are also the cruelest. You walked down the aisle, and I watched your measured advance. You refused to look my way, and I know you knew where I was. I could feel your stoic determination not to crumble where I, or anyone else, could witness it. I saw it all, all your pain, and all of mine washed through me. What I wanted more than anything in that moment of insanity was to take you. I didn't want to be tender, I wanted to unfurl all my anger, and lust at you. And perhaps if I could keep from killing you, I would be able to be tender and love you the way you needed to be loved.

But I wouldn't touch you, when you hadn't spared me a stray thought in all these months. Could I speak a single word to you without putting my hands on you? No, so I stalked away. I wouldn't meet your gaze, though I could feel you begging me to do so from across the expanse of a parking lot. I didn't want to see you then, to know I couldn't have the one thing I had wanted more than my own happiness.

I didn't taste my expensive food at lunch. I didn't hear my father's speech about success. I didn't feel my mother's pleasure at my achievement.

I'd been bottled fed on pride since the moment of my birth. I've never had to swallow it in my life, and I didn't feel inclined to do so at the hour of your choosing. So I walked away.

I saw you after lunch on the square in the center of town tossing pennies into the fountain. It hurt me to watch how beautiful you were when you placed your hands on your stomach in reassurance.

Sooner or later, you're going to have to need me, and until you really need me for more than a conversation, we'll never be together. I hope your suffering and fear will finally make you humbly accept my love. Perhaps, if there is any glimmer of hope, you can admit to yourself that you love me too.

Aidan


Even if Aidan had delivered the letter above, these are the words that Libby would have responded with.


Dear Aidan,

I graduated today, too. You had no idea because you assumed that I was a cutter, a townie, a nobody and if I was just another cutter girl it made it easier to use me and then discard me.

You want my humility? My devotion? My love?

That's the problem Aidan, you always ask for more than you yourself are willing to give.

You say I didn't tell you things, that I kept secrets from you. Aren't you guilty of the exact same things? Have you told me who you really are? No, all you've ever talked about was going to the majors, being rookie of the year, winning a pennant. If I hide behind whispered words and secrets you hide behind ego and bravado. Why haven't you ever tried to see me as my own person, rather than an extension of some preconceived idea of what your life is supposed to be? No, I didn't attend a Swiss boarding school, or go skiing in the French Alps, or walk a runway in Paris, but am I so backwards that you are ashamed of me. Is who I am so unworthy?

Do you think I haven't suffered these past months knowing that the only string that binds your heart to mine is a tiny life growing under my ribs? When the doctor confirmed my pregnancy and asked me what I planned to do, all I considered was a way that I could do this without ruining your life. The doctor patted my shoulder and said that however I choose to deal with this would seal the fate of our relationship. If I aborted it our tie would be forever severed, if I gave it away I'd give away the only part of you that was mine, but if I kept it, I'd keep this one small part of you.

You think I don't love you? You should have felt it as surely as my breath upon your skin or my heartbeat racing against yours. But the strength of that love terrifies me. I'm afraid that I'll fade away into it and there won't be anything of me left that isn't a part of you. I'm too strong and have worked too hard to let that happen to me. You live in a world that is comfortable and safe, so secure that the silk lining of the cocoon would eventually smother me.

You had the chance to man up Aidan, but I won't beg for you to help me. You're free and I'm trapped, but I'm not a caged animal that will whimper for a reprieve. You go and play games, and sign autographs, and sleep with your adoring fans, but I won't sit in the stands and watch. I understand that you can't give me something that's over the limit of your emotional credit card.

I don't know how to love enough for both of us and I can't take a chance on never knowing if you wanted me for me or for the baby. I was an unwanted pregnancy, myself, and I know what it feels like to be an accident. I can't let the small life growing in me see that in your eyes, because I know firsthand the unspoken recriminations they will carry.

Remember me fondly or forget about me, but always know I'll fight for my child, because this isn't just a problem to be dealt with for me, it's one of many obstacles I've had to overcome on the road of my life.

Libby


If you want to know what happened to make these letters come about read Cutters vs. Jocks, its free on Amazon and B&N. If you want to know what is powerful enough to bring these differing points of view together again after years of separation read Binding Arbitration.

Thanks and happy reading,
Elizabeth Marx



About The Author:


Windy City writer Elizabeth Marx brings cosmopolitan flair to her fiction, which is a blend of romance and fast-paced Chicago living with a sprinkle of magical realism. In her past incarnation she was an interior designer - not a decorator - which basically means she has a piece of paper to prove that she knows how to match and measure things and can miraculously make mundane pieces of furniture appear to be masterpieces. Elizabeth says being an interior designer is one part shrink, one part marriage counselor and one part artist, skills eerily similar to those employed in writing.

Elizabeth grew up in Illinois and has also lived in Texas and Florida. If she's not pounding her head against the wall trying to get the words just right, you can find her at a softball field out in the boonies or sitting in the bleachers by a basketball court. Elizabeth resides with her husband, girls and two cats who've spelled everyone into believing they're really dogs.

Elizabeth has traveled extensively, but still says there's no town like Chi-Town.


AUTHOR WEBSITE
AUTHOR BLOG SITE
AUTHOR EMAIL ADDRESS
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS
Elizabeth Marx's Binding Arbitration Virtual Book Tour Page On Chick Lit Plus



BUY THE BOOK: Binding Arbitration
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
SMASHWORDS


GET THE PREQUEL *FREE*: Cutters vs. Jocks
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
SMASHWORDS



Book Description: Binding Arbitration


Through the corridors of the Windy City's criminal courts, single mother, Libby Tucker, doesn't wonder how far she's willing to go to save her son's life from cancer. The undefeated defense attorney knows she'll take her case all the way to the majors.

Libby pleads her case at the cleats of celebrity baseball player, Banford Aidan Palowski, the man who discarded her at college graduation, begging him to live up to his biological duty. Libby's worked her backside bare for everything she's attained, while Band-Aid has been indulged since he slid through the birth canal and landed in a pile of Gold Coast money. But helping her might jeopardize the only thing the jock worships: his baseball career.

If baseball imitates life, Aidan admits his appears to be silver-plated peanuts, until, an unexpected confrontation with the most spectacular prize that's ever poured from a caramel corn box blindsides him. Libby reveals his son desperately needs him and it pricks open the wound he's carried since he abandoned her. 

All Libby wants is a little anonymous DNA, but Band-Aid has a magical umpire in his head who knows Libby's a fateball right to the heart. When a six-year-old sage, and a hippy priestess step onto the field there's more to settle between Libby and Aidan then heartache, redemption, and forgiveness.


* Two Virtual Book Tour Event Contests*


To enter the contest, click on the above link and leave a comment on Elizabeth Marx's Binding Arbitration Tour Page on Chick Lit Plus, to win a $10 Amazon gift card. If you purchase Binding Arbitration before April 2nd and send your receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com , you will get five (5) bonus entries! 


* Book Contest Giveaway: Binding Arbitration *

Author Elizabeth Marx is giving away (2) ebook copies of Binding Arbitration on each blog during the virtual book tour. To enter the contest, leave a comment on the bottom of this blog post along with your name and email address. Two (2) winners will be randomly selected through Random.org number generator. The winners' names and email addresses will be submitted to Chick Lit Plus to be forwarded to author Elizabeth Marx, who will send the ebook copies. The contest will run until the end of Elizabeth Marx's Binding Arbitration virtual book tour on April 2nd. 



Binding Arbitration by Elizabeth Marx


Binding Arbitration by Elizabeth Marx
Published By: Elizabeth Marx
Sold By: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords
Release Date: November 5, 2011
Format: Kindle - 1114 KB / Nook - 641 KB
ASIN: B006423DPW
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Chick Lit / Women's Fiction


About The Author:






Windy City writer Elizabeth Marx brings cosmopolitan flair to her fiction, which is a blend of romance and fast-paced Chicago living with a sprinkle of magical realism. In her past incarnation she was an interior designer - not a decorator - which basically means she has a piece of paper to prove that she knows how to match and measure things and can miraculously make mundane pieces of furniture appear to be masterpieces. Elizabeth says being an interior designer is one part shrink, one part marriage counselor and one part artist, skills eerily similar to those employed in writing.

Elizabeth grew up in Illinois and has also lived in Texas and Florida. If she's not pounding her head against the wall trying to get the words just right, you can find her at a softball field out in the boonies or sitting in the bleachers by a basketball court. Elizabeth resides with her husband, girls, and two cats who've spelled everyone into believing they're really dogs.

Elizabeth has traveled extensively, but still says there's no town like Chi-Town.


AUTHOR WEBSITE
AUTHOR BLOG SITE
AUTHOR EMAIL ADDRESS
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS
Elizabeth Marx's Binding Arbitration Virtual Book Tour Page On Chick Lit Plus


BUY THE BOOK: Binding Arbitration
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
SMASHWORDS


GET THE PREQUEL *FREE*: Cutters vs. Jocks
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
SMASHWORDS


Disclaimer: At the request of the author and Chick Lit Plus, a Kindle edition of the book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event.


Virtual Book Tour Event: On Friday, March 30, 2012, in association with Chick Lit Plus, author Elizabeth Marx participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/03/author-guest-post-elizabeth-marx-author.html



* Two Virtual Book Tour Event Contests*


Elizabeth Marx's Binding Arbitration Virtual Book Tour Event Contest: Win A $10 Amazon Gift Card

To enter the contest, click on the above link and leave a comment on Elizabeth Marx's Binding Arbitration Tour Page on Chick Lit Plus, to win a $10 Amazon gift card. If you purchase Binding Arbitration before April 2nd and send your receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com , you will get five (5) bonus entries!


*Book Contest Giveaway: Binding Arbitration *


http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/03/author-guest-post-elizabeth-marx-author.html


Author Elizabeth Marx is giving away two (2) ebook copies of Binding Arbitration on each blog during the virtual book tour. To enter the contest, click on the above link and leave a comment along with your name and email address. Two (2) winners will be randomly selected through Random.org number generator. The winners' names and email addresses will be submitted to Chick Lit Plus to be forwarded to author Elizabeth Marx, who will send the ebook copies. The contest will run until the end of Elizabeth Marx's Binding Arbitration virtual book tour on April 2nd.


Book Description:


Through the corridors of the Windy City's criminal courts, single mother, Libby Tucker, doesn't wonder how far she's willing to go to save her son's life from cancer. The undefeated defense attorney knows she'll take her case all the way to the majors.

Libby pleads her case at the cleats of celebrity baseball player, Banford Aidan Palowski, the man who discarded her at college graduation, begging him to live up to his biological duty. Libby's worked her backside bare for everything she's attained, while Band-Aid has been indulged since he slid through the birth canal and landed in a pile of Gold Coast money. But helping her might jeopardize the only thing the jock worships: his baseball career.

If baseball imitates life, Aidan admits his appears to be silver-plated peanuts, until, an unexpected confrontation with the most spectacular prize that's ever poured from a caramel corn box blindsides him. Libby reveals his son desperately needs him and it pricks open the wound he's carried since he abandoned her.

All Libby wants is a little anonymous DNA, but Band-Aid has a magical umpire in his head who knows Libby's a fateball right to the heart. When a six-year-old sage, and a hippy priestess step onto the field there's more to settle between Libby and Aidan then heartache, redemption, and forgiveness.


My Book Review:


What would you do if your only child had a life threatening disease? Would you contact the man who fathered your child for help, even though he doesn't know the child even exists? What if contacting the man stirs up old feelings that really never went away, could you deal with it? On the other hand, what if you are the man who has no idea that his child exists? Would you finally be able to face the demons that have haunted you for seven years, the shame and regret that you left the woman you love to pursue a career in major league baseball? Would you be able to set things right and make amends with the woman and your child? Could a spark that never really was extinguished and the love of a child bring together two people who were always meant to be together? These are the questions that needed to be answered by Libby Tucker and Aidan Palowski in Binding Arbitration.

Elizabeth "Libby" Tucker is a successful Chicago defense attorney and single mom to her six year old son, Cass. Cass has been diagnosed with Leukemia, and is in need of a bone marrow transplant, in order to save his life. Libby had to do the one thing that she didn't want to do, she had to contact Cass' biological father, Banford Aidan Palowski, a successful major league baseball player, and tell him that he has a son who needs him. Libby needs Aidan to agree to submit a blood sample, to test his DNA to see if he would be a viable bone marrow donor. Sparks fly when Libby and Aidan aka "Band-Aid" meet again, but old wounds and unrequited love won't stop Aidan from stepping up to the plate and helping his son. This is a story of Libby and Aidan's journey through pain, anger and hurt to arrive at forgiveness, redemption and a second chance at love and family.

Binding Arbitration is an amazing story that will pull at your heartstrings. The storyline is well written, emotional, powerful and very compelling. This intriguing story is told in a two person perspective by Libby and Aidan, with each perspective brilliantly told in alternating chapters. The story captivates the reader from the beginning and encourages them to come along on the emotional roller coaster ride that is Libby and Aidan's story. This is not a lighthearted easy story to read, it is one that deals with deep emotional issues of illness and affairs of the heart that will have you grabbing for some tissues along the way. The characters are realistic and complex, their engaging personalities and interactions make the story that much more compelling. I couldn't help but love Libby and Aidan, their spark and interactions with each other had my emotions ranging from one end of the spectrum to the other. I think the hardest part of the story to digest was reading about poor little Cass' illness, your heart just can't help but break for him and what he was going through. The author does an incredible job of describing the Chicago setting, I was so intrigued that now I want to visit Chi Town and walk down the magical mile! I also loved how the author intertwined two of my favorite interests: the law and baseball! The references to both the law and baseball throughout the book made me one happy camper, they were informative and fascinating, what more could I ask for?

There are not many books that I have read that pull at my heartstrings and leave my emotions spent, but Binding Arbitration did just that. This amazing story is so much more than just your typical chick lit or contemporary romance novel. It offers a lesson and message about love, forgiveness, redemption and second chances that will warm your heart, and remind you to count your blessings and cherish your relationships.


RATING: 5 STARS *****





Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Replacement Wife by Eileen Goudge


The Replacement Wife by Eileen Goudge
Published By : Open Road Integrated Media
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Format: Hardcover & Paperback - 340 pages / Kindle - 1183 KB / Nook - 3 MB
ISBN: 159413538X
ASIN: B00729PV0G
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/ Women's Fiction / Contemporary Romance


About The Author:






Eileen Goudge is one of the nation's most successful author of women's fiction. she began as a young adult writer, helping to launch the phenomenally successful Sweet Valley High series, and in 1986 she published her first adult novel, the New York Times bestseller Garden of Lies. She has since published twelve more novels, including the three-book saga of Carson Springs, and Thorns of Truth, a sequel to Garden of Lies. She lives and works in New York City.



AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS
AUTHOR PAGE ON OPEN ROAD INTEGRATED MEDIA


BUY THE BOOK: The Replacement Wife
* RELEASE DATE: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 *
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE


Disclaimer: At the request of the author, publisher and NetGalley, an ARC Kindle edition of the book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event: Release Day Book Review.

Eileen Goudge - The Replacement Wife Book Trailer




Book Description: 


Camille Harte, one of Manhattan's most sought-after matchmakers, has survived more than her fair share of hardships. Her mother died when she was a young girl, leaving her and her sister with an absentee father. Now in her forties, she has already survived cancer once, though the battle revealed just how ill-equipped her husband Edward is to be a single parent. So when doctors tell Camille that her cancer is back - and this time it's terminal - she decides to put her matchmaking expertise to the test for one final job. Seeking stability for her children and happiness for her husband, Camille sets out to find the perfect woman to replace her when she's gone.

But what happens when a dying wish becomes a case of "be careful what you wish for?" For Edward and Camille, the stunning conclusion arrives with one last twist of fate that no one saw coming.

At once deeply felt and witty, The Replacement Wife is an unforgettable story of love and family, and a refreshing look at the unexpected paths that lead us to our own happy endings.


My Book Review:


What would you do if you had terminal cancer, and you didn't want your family to fall apart after you're gone? Would you try and find your husband / wife a replacement spouse, and your children a new mother? What if your "arrangement" worked out, but a miracle occurred and you are in remission, will you be able to deal with the ramifications of what you brought into your marriage?

Forty-two year old Camille Harte, is a successful Manhattan matchmaker, mother of two and happily married for twenty years to the love of her life. After a tough year of fighting for her life, her cancer was in remission and life resumed until the latest PET scan revealed that the cancer was back and had spread, and that this time it was terminal. With possibly only six to nine months left to live, Camille planned to find her husband and children a replacement wife, so that her family would not fall apart after she was gone. Her husband, Dr. Edward Constantine, was not a willing participant at first, but finally agreed to humor her, while holding out hope that she still had a chance to beat the cancer once again. The arrangement creates many changes within their marriage, and ultimately has life changing ramifications ... like the old saying goes ... "be careful what you wish for"...

The Replacement Wife is a hauntingly beautiful story that will pull at your heartstrings. The storyline is well written and incredibly powerful and compelling. The plot is intriguing and thought provoking, it leaves the reader pondering what they would do if they were in Camille and Edward's position. It begs the reader to consider if they would go to such lengths that Camille did to ensure that her family would remain intact; would your dying wishes supersede that of your family; and would you be able to handle the ramifications of your choices and decisions. The characters are realistic and engaging, their complexities and interactions with each other make the story that much more captivating. The attention to detail is outstanding, the palpable emotions and heartbreaking reactions will have you clutching the box of tissues, you can't help but be pulled emotionally into Camille and Edward's story. The Replacement Wife is a unique story that takes a look into a couple's marriage and how they handle various issues within their relationship: illness, family choices, decisions made, paths taken, and ultimately the ramifications that affect their marriage and family.

I haven't read a story that completely wore out my emotions in a long time, and The Replacement Wife did just that. This story engages you from the beginning pages, and captivates you as you go along on the emotional roller coaster ride that is Camille and Edward's story. This novel will make you smile, laugh, scream , and break your heart. It will make you grateful and count the blessings that you have in your life, reminding you to never take anything for granted.

I highly recommend that both men and women should read The Replacement Wife, it could change the way you value your own relationships.


RATING: 5 STARS *****

Farsighted by Emlyn Chand



Farsighted by Emlyn Chand
Published By: Blue Crown Press
Release Date: October 17, 2011
Format: Hardcover & Paperback - 226 pages / Kindle - 552 KB
ISBN: 0983930805
ASIN: B005WXFG54
Genre: YA Fiction / Fantasy / Paranormal


About The Author:






Emlyn Chand emerged from the womb with a fountain pen clutched in her left hand (true story). Since then, she has always loved to hear and tell stories. When she's not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm Novel Publicity. Emlyn enjoys connecting with readers and is available throughout the social media Internet world. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don't forget to say "hi" to her sun conure Ducky!


AUTHOR WEBSITE
NOVEL PUBLICITY
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOOGLE+
GOODREADS
Emlyn Chand's Farsighted Tour Page on Goddess Fish Promotions


BUY THE BOOK: Farsighted
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE


Farsighted Book Trailer





To enter the contest, post a comment at the bottom of this blog post. Please make sure to include your name and a valid email address. One lucky winner will be randomly drawn from all of the virtual tour stops to win a $25 Amazon gift card!


Disclaimer: At the request of the author, publisher and Goddess Fish Promotions, a Kindle edition of the book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review and participation in this virtual book tour event (book review only). 


Book Description: 

Alex Kosmitoras's life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all. 

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival - an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to "see" the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future. 


Book Excerpt:

"Did Dad tell you? A new tenant moved into the old pharmacy next door."
"Really?" I ask, not letting on I already know. If I feign ignorance, Mom'll divulge all the details. "What is it?"
"It's a psychic shop," Her voice crackles with excitement, like a fire that's just beginning to burn. "The All-Seeing Miss Teak. Isn't that cute? Miss Teak, Mystic. Ha! I wonder if that's her real name."
I laugh. "That is funny. Never had a psychic in town before. What's she like?"
"Oh, she's very friendly. Why don't you go over and say 'hi.' I'm sure she'd like to meet you." 
"Okay, I think I will." I'm incredibly intrigued, because first off, it's a psychic shop - how weird is that? - and second, its presence made Dad super uncomfortable - also very cool. I waste no time heading next door to check out the scene. My cane clacks against the wall of the building until it strikes glass with a soft tap
As I step cautiously into the new shop, a recording of soft, instrumental music greets me. I make out chimes and a string instrument I don't recognize but for some reason reminds me of snake charmers. The sweet smell of incense fills my nostrils, which explains the burning I detected earlier. 
"Hello?" I call out into quiet room. 
Nobody answers. I walk in deeper, sweeping my cane out in front of me in a metronome fashion. This place is new to me, so I need to be especially careful while moving around.
Thump! Despite my precautions, I stub my toe on something hard, big, and made of wood. Just my luck to stub the same toe twice in one day. I reach down to press my fingers into my throbbing foot to alleviate some of the pain. Something teeters before rolling off of the chest and across the floor; the sound it makes indicates a curved path. Suddenly, the object goes silent. somebody has stopped it. 
"Hello?" I call again.
"Hello," a deep, feminine voice responds, placing more emphasis on the first syllable than the second. 
"I - I'm sorry i knocked that thing over. I didn't mean to ..." I hope she's not angry. Probably not a good idea to get on a psychic's bad side.
"That wasn't just a thing, it's a crystal ball," she says as she walks over, sending my blood pulsing through my veins. I sense her looking at me for a moment before she places the ball back on top of the chest. 
"Can it see the future?" I ask, allowing my curiosity to outweigh my uneasiness. 
"No." After a pause lasting several beats, she continues. "But I can see the future, sometimes, when I look into it."
"Oh, okay." I tighten my hand around my cane and turn to leave. It may not be the most polite thing to do, but all of this hocus-pocus stuff is freaking me out more than I would've guessed.
The psychic lady speaks again, stopping me cold. "Don't run away, Alex Kosmitoras." She must've spoken to Mom earlier today. That's how she knows my name.
"I'm not running away," I say. "I'm just going back over to Sweet Blossoms."
"Don't run away," she repeats - this time she speaks louder and with more energy. "Don't run away from your abilities. They are gifts." 
"What?" I ask in confusion. What abilities is she talking about?
"You already know. Watch. Listen. Be open to your gifts." 
I turn to face Miss Teak, but the room is quiet. Either she's watching me or she's gone, returned to wherever she was before I got there. 
Is it safe to leave? I trail my fingers across the wooden box I rammed into earlier; a thick coat of dust clings to  the tips as I pull away. If this shop just opened, why is it already so dirty? I wipe my hands over my shirt to get the gritty substance off. Shivers rock my whole body. Something about this place is wrong, and I'm not sticking around to figure out what. Tapping my cane along the floor, I find the exit without knocking into anything else.


My Book Review:

Alex Kosmitoras is not your average sixteen year old boy. Blind since birth, he lives in a small town and is considered an outcast. But Alex possesses special abilities of heightened hearing and sense of smell, which helps make up for his blindness. Then out of nowhere, he starts to have visions of the future that he doesn't understand, and in turn scares him to the point that he wishes that he didn't have this new ability. When a psychic shop opens up next door to his mother's flower shop, he meets two girls, Simmi and Shapri, and with the help of psychic Miss Teak, he learns that all three of them share similar "gifts." As his visions become more disturbing, he sees that Simmi may be in serious trouble from a mysterious man named Dax. Alex's visions keep showing that Simmi will die, and he is determined to use his special abilities to protect her at all costs.

Farsighted was an intriguing, thrilling and fun read that will keep the reader guessing what will happen next. This YA paranormal novel's storyline is well written and rich in detail. The characters are realistic and well developed, their complex personalities and interactions with each other makes the story more compelling and captivating. The paranormal plot has plenty of intriguing twists and turns that leaves the reader sitting on the edge of their seat as they turn the next page. Involving the reader at the start of each chapter with runes and corresponding prophesy, they come along for the ride on Alex's journey, and the author encourages them to try their hand at predicting what each chapter will hold based on the hints provided by the runic prophecies.

YA and Paranormal novels are not the usual genres that I read, but I couldn't help be pulled into this fascinating story. As a person who has always been interested and intrigued by psychic abilities, I was pleasantly surprised by the theme of this story. I was captivated enough by this riveting story that it left me wanting to turn the pages faster just to see what would happen next.

Farsighted is an enjoyable story that I would recommend to anyone who is looking to read a quality YA and Paranormal novel that has a mixture of fantasy, imagination, danger, suspense, and a touch of romance.


RATING: 4 STARS ****












Author Guest Post: Judy Christie, Author of Downtown Green

In association with Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tour, Jersey Girl Book Reviews welcomes Judy Christie, author of Downtown Green!




What makes us fall in love with a book?
By Judy Christie


Five years ago, my birthday gift to myself was a novel.

Not buying one. Writing one ...

That turned out to be one of my best gifts ever. My fifth novel in the Green series, Downtown Green, was just published by Abingdon Press. When I'm not reading books, I spend time making up stories about people I love in places I enjoy. 

Downtown Green is about a big-city journalist who winds up running a small-town newspaper and finds herself in unlikely battles in the fictional town of Green, Louisiana. With quirky characters, Lois Barker Craig fights to save Green from one challenge after another.

I write the kinds of books that I like to read. From the time I stepped into the visiting bookmobile at Barret Elementary School, I've been in love with choosing books. 

As reader and writer, I wonder what makes us fall in love with a book? Here are a few things that grab me:

** Strong female characters who are likable but not perfect. I enjoy get-it-done women protagonists who are smart and funny. I want to care about characters so much that I long for things to work out. When I wrote Gone to Green, first in the Green series, I knew Lois would be a strong but sometimes uncertain hero. 

** Tension. The best novels make me wonder what's going to happen, even though I think I know what's going to happen. Twists and turns make for a delicious read. 

** Series. I'm a big fan of series. I enjoy watching characters develop and seeing what happens through the years. I was hooked on series as a child with The Boxcar Children. 

** A sense of place. The books I enjoy most make me feel like I've paid a visit to the community - be it small-town Texas of Chicago. Last weekend I spoke at a luncheon in Central Louisiana, and several readers said they think Green is their town. What a wonderful compliment!

** Description that creates a picture in my mind but doesn't wear me out. As a new novelist, I've realized there's an art to dropping the right details in at the right moment. 

** Great dialogue. Don't you love subtle humor woven through dialogue?

** Makes-me-smarter. Huh? My favorite novels teach me something. 

** A satisfying ending. When I sat down at my laptop five years ago, I didn't know much about writing a novel, but I knew my book would have a hopeful ending. 

What about you? What makes you fall in love with a book? I'd love to read your comments! 



About The Author:

Judy Christie writes from her home in North Louisiana, where she likes to chat on her vintage green Kitchen Couch and sit in the porch swing and read. A longtime journalist, she's kept a diary since she was nine and still has all of them. She's also the author of the Hurry Less Worry Less nonfiction series, including Hurry Less Worry Less for Moms. Judy loves to visit with readers. For weekly tips on how to slow down and enjoy each day, check out her podcast at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hurry-less-worry-less/id435253514






BUY THE BOOK: Downtown Green


Book Description: Downtown Green


When the highway bypass around Green opens with much fanfare, downtown dries up faster than cement on the roadway. Businesses close and the hospital becomes a clinic. While the road is progress to some, it seems to be leading Green toward a national trend - a town that is merely a shadow of itself.

With the town going backwards, Lois Barker Craig is determined to save Green while juggling life as a new mom and owner of The Green News-Item. But can her plan rescue the town from the path it's on? And what about Dr. Kevin and her son, Mayor Eva, Coach Chris and other familiar Green faces? How does this affect them?



Downtown Green by Judy Christie



Downtown Green by Judy Christie
Published By: Abingdon Press
Release Date: March 1, 2012 Paperback / April 1, 2012 Kindle & Nook
Format: Paperback - 224 pages / Kindle - 760 KB / Nook - 2 MB
ISBN: 1426708998
ASIN: B007EFFC8E
Genre: Christian Fiction


About The Author:





Judy Christie writes from her home in North Louisiana, where she likes to chat on her vintage green Kitchen Couch and sit in the porch swing and read. A longtime journalist, she's kept a diary since she was nine and still has all of them. She's also the author of the Hurry Less Worry Less nonfiction series, including Hurry Less Worry Less for Moms. Judy loves to visit with readers. For free weekly tips on how to slow down and enjoy each day, check out her podcast at http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hurry-less-worry-less/id435253514


AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS
Judy Christie's Downtown Green Virtual Tour Page on Pump Up Your Book!


BUY THE BOOK: Downtown Green
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
Christianbook.com
ABINGDON PRESS


Disclaimer: At the request of the author, publisher and Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours, a spiral bound Galley edition of the book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event.


Virtual Book Tour Event: On Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in association with Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours, author Judy Christie participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/03/author-guest-post-judy-christie-author.html


Book Description:


When the highway bypass around Green opens with much fanfare, downtown dries up faster than cement on the roadway. Businesses close and the hospital becomes a clinic. While the road is progress to some, it seems to be leading Green toward a national trend - a town that is merely a shadow of itself.

With the town going backwards, Lois Barker Craig is determined to save Green while juggling life as a new mom and owner of The Green News-Item. But can her plan rescue the town from the path it's on? And what about Dr. Kevin and her son, Mayor Eva, Coach Chris and other familiar Green faces? How does this affect them?


My Book Review:


Green fans .... are you ready for the next installment from the friendly citizens of Green, Louisiana? In the fifth installment of the Green series, the treasured small southern town is in danger of going to the wayside due to the construction of a bypass loop. With the opening of the bypass loop, the traffic has decreased and has had a negative impact on the livelihood of the businesses in the town. Lois Barker Craig, owner of the town's newspaper, The Green News-Item, becomes the town's champion and takes on the daunting challenge to find a way to revive the small town. Along with tragedy, frustration, and an outsider's buy-out offer, Lois and her small-knit community of neighbors hatch a plan that will put Green back on the map. So take a spin and come visit awhile with Lois and the residents of Green, and let them tell you their story in Downtown Green.

As a devoted fan of the Green series, I have been eagerly waiting to revisit with my old friends from Green, Louisiana. While Downtown Green is the fifth book in the series, this can be read as a stand alone book. The storyline is well written and in classic Green form, it drew me in and captivated me like the previous four books in the series did. The cast of characters are realistic, warmhearted, small-town friendly people that you will find in any small town USA. The pull of small town life and charm welcomed me as I visited with old friends like Lois, Coach Chris, Mayor Eva, and Dr. Kevin, and got caught up on what has been happening in their lives. It is easy for the reader to connect with the characters in this story, their engaging and entertaining antics will leave you laughing and smiling all the way to the end of the story. This fast paced lighthearted story will have you cheering on the residents of Green as they pull together to save their beloved small town.

If you are looking for a lighthearted, delightful and entertaining series to read, I would highly recommend that you pick up all five books in the Green series, they won't leave you disappointed!


RATING: 5 STARS *****





Monday, March 26, 2012

Author Interview with Kathleen Kole, Author of Favorable Conditions

In association with Chick Lit Plus, Jersey Girl Book Reviews welcomes back Kathleen Kole, author of Favorable Conditions!




Welcome back to Jersey Girl Book Reviews Kathleen! Thank you for taking the time to come back for another visit to chat about yourself and your latest novel, Favorable Conditions!


How long have you been an author?

My first job/s as a paid writer was in my early twenties, working as a freelance reporter for a number of local city newspaper. It was a fun time; I met a lot of interesting people. 


Do you have a "day job," or is being an author your career?

I gave up my paid job to be a stay-at-home Mom (or, "Homemaker" if you prefer) when I had my son. I still wear many hats, but I'd say yes, being an author is now my career.


What inspired you to become an author?

I would have to say my experience in college. While enrolled in a Radio and Television Arts program, I wrote and produced a television documentary. It was during that process I came to the realization that, once graduated, I wanted to write for a living.


Why did you choose Chick Lit / Women's Fiction / Contemporary Romance as the genres for your novels?

Succinctly put, writing Women's Fiction comes naturally to me. I think all genres are of equal value, but for me this genre is my personal "fit".


Please give a brief description / storyline about your latest novel, Favorable Conditions.

Favorable Conditions is a story about hope and change. The main character, Pat is at a point in her life where change isn't so much an option, as it is an inevitability. Instead of shying away from it, she jumps feet first back into the world outside her door, takes on a new business venture, is pursued by a much younger man and has to muddle her way through more emotions than she knew she had - all to finally attain her goal of rediscovering who she is and what she wants from the next phase of her life. 


What was the inspiration for this story?

Truth be told, this story pushed its way into my thoughts and took over until I'd written it down. It arrived shortly after my beloved dog of 14 years passed away and I could relate to the idea of picking up the pieces of a once familiar life and moving on into new experiences.


How did it feel to have your first novel published?

It was surreal. And even more surreal was that people were choosing to read it! Truth be told, that feeling hasn't worn off and I wonder if it ever will.


What genres are your favorite(s)? What are some of your favorite books that you have read and why?

I'd have to say Women's Fiction (with the exception of the Harry Potter series). I love stories about people's lives, the intricacies that make up who we are and the reminder that each one of us is living to the best of our abilities with what we know. Off the top of my head, I have to say one of my favorite books has been, Can't Wait to Get to Heaven, by Fannie Flagg. There is something about the characters, especially Elner Shimfissle, that made me want to keep on reading. I also adore Anne Tyler. Her ability to weave a tale is so compelling ... whew.


Do you have a special "spot/area" where you like to do your writing?

I have an office in my house where I work and wrote all three of my current books. We're talking about renovating in the spring and adding a new office area to the house off our kitchen, so it's possible I may be "moving". Either way, as long as I have a quiet place where I'm not in the middle of the fray, I can get the work done. 


How do you come up with the ideas that become the storyline for your books?

Much the same way as I described how Favorable Conditions arrived into my thoughts. I don't look for them, they just seem to "show up" and stay put, nudging at my thoughts until I have to flesh them out. The trigger could be a song, a phrase spoken, a picture seen, who knows - but what matters is they stick. Then I know I have a story to tell. 


From concept to publication, about how long does it take for you to complete a book and have it released?

It depends upon how much time I have at my disposal. I wrote and published 3 books last year and that pushed me to my limit. I must admit, by the time Favorable Conditions was published I was ready to fall off my chair. That being said, I feel comfortable saying I can have a book written and ready to hit the "shelves" within a half year. Thus the reason I am able to commit to 2 books in 2012. 


When you write, do you adhere to a strict work schedule, or do you work whenever the inspiration strikes?

Once I dive into a book, I feel driven to stay the course. And by that I mean, I sit my backside in my chair whenever time allows and keep on typing. 


What aspects of storytelling do you like the best, and what aspects do you struggle with the most?

The free form of creation is always the best thing. And, of course, the real work is the editing. As for struggling, I'm thankful to say that, for me, writing isn't a struggle. It's work. But, not struggle. 


What are your favorite things to do when you are not writing?

When I'm taking "down time" I enjoy catching up on movies and books - other people's stories. I tend to do neither of those things when I'm writing as I cannot focus well on any other story but the one I'm creating. 


What is/was the best piece of writing advice that you have received?

It comes from my husband. He reminds me that this journey isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. It's made all the difference on how I approach this adventure. 


What is the most gratifying thing you feel or get as an author?

Having a reader tell me they not only enjoyed my story, but felt they could relate/connect to it as well. In the process of trying to entertain, it is always my hope that some part of each story will allow the reader to know that they and their lives are understood. 


How do you usually communicate with your readers/fans?

I am always available via the email address on my website and, of course, love to meet/chat with them on Twitter and Facebook.


Are any parts in your book based on real life experiences or are they purely all from your imagination?

Favorable Conditions is definitely fiction. 


What authors have been your inspiration or influenced you to become an author?

I don't have any one author who has been my inspiration etc. Instead, I'm just grateful that each and every one of them is willing to plant themselves in their respective chairs, behind the screens or with their pads of paper, and do what they do. It is a joyous job, but also a taxing one. The mere act of sitting still for hours on end, rereading and shaping their work to get a story just right ... Again, I'm grateful. 


What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

If you love to write, do it. It doesn't matter if it's "good" or not, embrace the joy you get from doing it and see what happens along the way. Life has a funny way of working out, especially if you don't take it all to seriously. 


Are you currently writing a new book? If yes, would you care to share a bit with us?

Yes, I am currently working on my next book called, In This Moment. Here is the description from my website.


Sylvia Newman has hit her limit. Her sister, Emma, a woman full of life and love has passed away and Sylvia is finding it more and more difficult to recall why she gets out of bed every morning. Until her husband gently reminds her of the promise she made to Emma before she drew her final breath. 


Suddenly, Sylvia has a reason to get out of bed, but as she throws back her covers she's hit by the realization that she can't face the prospect of fulfilling her promise on her own. She needs the support of her three steadfast best friends: Kerri, Jennifer and Darla, and ... There's a catch. 


Join Sylvia, Kerri, Jennifer and Darla as they step out of their comfort zones, have some laughs, shed some tears and discover not just their own strengths, but the strength of their friendship.




I'd like to wrap up by expressing my gratitude to you, Kathleen, for giving of your time to be a part of this tour, welcoming me on your blog and allowing me the opportunity to connect a little better with my readers. Thank you. 




About The Author:


Born in Edmonton AB, Kathleen began storytelling in grade school. She has fond memories of passing summer afternoons, out on the swings in her backyard, creating tales that entertained her neighborhood friends.

When she finally decided to venture from her backyard, Kathleen pursued a career in storytelling. She graduated from college with a Diploma in Radio and Television Arts and traveled the path of freelance writing for numerous local newspapers.

Many years later, too many to talk about without seeming rude and nosy, Kathleen has channeled her imagination to the pages of her novels. She hopes that you enjoy her tales and encourages you to feel free to read her stories on the swing set in your own backyard.

Kathleen has traveled from Edmonton, to a new backyard with a lovely mountain view. She spends time there with her beloved husband, adored son and silly dog. They let her tell them stories and always laugh in all of the correct places. She's lucky, and she knows it.


AUTHOR WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS
Kathleen Kole's Favorable Conditions Tour Page on Chick Lit Plus



BUY THE BOOK:


Book Description: Favorable Conditions


Can you imagine being forty-five, your last child has moved on to college and the time is ripe for you to blaze a new trail into your future? Pat Keegan can. Well, except for the tiny detail that all her preconceived notions about how that future was going to shape up are completely out the window. 

Pat was under the impression that once her child rearing years were complete she and her husband would walk hand in hand toward a rose colored future. Fat chance. Before their daughter had even been accepted by a college, he was blathering about needing space to rediscover himself and made quick strides to the nearest exit.

Suddenly, Pat is divorced, rattling around her large house and asking the empty rooms, "What now?" She knows she has to carve out new dreams - after all, forty-five is a far cry from the end of the line - But how?

Join Pat as she jumps feet first into the world outside her door, takes on a new business venture, is pursued by a much younger man and has to muddle her way through more emotions than she knew she had - all to finally attain her goal of rediscovering who she is and what she wants from the next phase of her life. 



To enter the contest, click on the above link and leave a comment on Kathleen Kole's Favorable Conditions Tour Page on Chick Lit Plus, to win a $10 Amazon gift card! If you purchase your copy of Favorable Conditions before March 26 and send your receipt to Samantha@ChickLitPlus.com , you will get five (5) bonus entries!