Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman (Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with I Am A Reader, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Chasing Hope by author Kathryn Cushman!

Tour Schedule

 

Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman 
Book 6: Tomorrow's Promise Collection Series
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: September 15, 2013
Format: Paperback - 320 pages / Kindle - 704 KB / Nook - 2 MB
ISBN: 0764208276
ASIN: B00CIUJY7K
Genre: Christian Fiction / Women's Fiction


BUY THE BOOK: Chasing Hope 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by I Am A Reader. 

Book Description:

A Personal Drama of Shattered Dreams and Second Chances ...

A talented runner fully committed to Olympic dreams, Sabrina Rice's future was shattered by a devastating diagnosis. One forfeited scholarship and several years later, she has new goals and dreams that have nothing to do with running--something that's become far too painful to think on. Until the day she sees Brandy Philip running across the community college campus, easily outpacing security. Sabrina immediately recognizes world-class speed, and it's all the more painful that it belongs to a teenage graffiti artist. When a chance encounter brings the two young women together, Sabrina becomes Brandy's best hope for staying out of juvenile hall. Soon, Sabrina begins to feel an uncomfortable nudge that her new life is just about to be toppled...that God may be calling her to minister to this talented but troubled girl.

Book Excerpt:

Prologue

A dozen men in ugly white outfits and weird haircuts ran barefoot along the ocean’s edge, moving faster, faster, faster, as the music swelled until it filled the entire theater. Sabrina Rice leaned forward in her seat, clutching her bag of popcorn tight to her chest. Her feet tapped against the sticky concrete floor, twitching with the urge to run alongside those men. And then she saw him. The man with his head thrown back, arms churning at his sides, and a strange sense of joy shining in his eyes. In that moment, her life made sense. In that moment, she found her hero.

It made no difference to her that this movie was over twenty years old, or that the revival theater was mostly empty, or that it would have been far more convenient to rent Chariots of Fire at the local video rental store and watch it at home—as only a few hours ago she had complained bitterly to her mother—or that she’d really wanted to go bowling with her friends today. For the next two hours, nothing existed but Sabrina and the runners on the screen, particularly Eric Liddell. And watching him, face toward the sky, drinking in God’s pleasure as he ran, that’s when she knew. With absolute certainty she knew what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. As she walked from the theater, she turned to her mother. “I am going to be an Olympic runner and I’m going to tell people about God, just like Eric Liddell. Maybe not China, though. I don’t think they allow that anymore.”

Mom threw back her head and laughed. It wasn’t one of those grown-up kinds of laughs that let a kid know how stupid they were. No, this was one of those “I’m so completely happy I can’t hold it in” kind of things. She reached down and scooped Sabrina into her arms and spun around in a circle. “Sounds terrific.”

Sabrina was so happy with her newfound purpose that she wasn’t really too embarrassed by her mother’s public display of affection—thankfully none of the kids from school were anywhere near this old movie theater. “Can we start training now? You want to go for a run when we get home?”

“I think that’s a grand idea.” And just like that, they became running partners.

Much to Mom’s credit, she never balked when Sabrina insisted that they go for a run every single morning, rain or shine. It didn’t seem to matter that Sabrina was only twelve years old and according to most grown-ups, “couldn’t possibly be serious about what she’s going to do with her life.” Even long after the point that Mom had to ride a bike to keep up, she was always there and ready.

Every single day.

At five in the morning.

Rain or shine.

For the next six years.

My Book Review:

Chasing Hope is the inspirational story about shattered dreams and second chances. Author Kathryn Cushman weaves a wonderful tale that follows the unlikely friendship and mentoring between Sabrina Rice and Brandy Philip. Sabrina was destined to be an Olympic runner, but when a life changing health problem was diagnosed, her Olympic dreams were shattered. With her dreams in the past, Sabrina changed her goals and was in her last year of college when her path crosses with Brandy Philip, a troubled teenage graffiti artist, who was outrunning the campus security. Sabrina realizes the potential in Brandy's running, and reluctantly agrees to coach and mentor the troubled teen. Coming together will ultimately change the course of both of their lives.

This is a story of letting go of the past and its disappointments, and recognizing that God always has a plan for you. It is the inspirational and heartwarming story of redemption, friendship, and helping others. You can't help but get drawn into Sabrina and Brandy's story, it is easy to relate to the problems that they faced in their lives. The author draws upon the reader's compassion and hope as Sabrina and Brandy's friendship developed, and as they learned to overcome the struggles in their lives and succeed to become better people. I loved the mentoring relationship between Sabrina and Brandy, it was such a positive and hopeful relationship that made me smile and believe that through inner strength, courage, determination, hard work and faith, you can rebuild and achieve success in your life.

Chasing Hope is a beautiful story that provides the reader with a positive outlook on life through faith, hope and belief in God's plan for you.


RATING: 4 STARS ****

About The Author

Author Kathryn Cushman Author Kathryn "Katie" Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the author of five novels, including Leaving Yesterday and A Promise to Remember, which were both finalists for the Carol Award in Women's Fiction. She is also the co-author of Angel Song with Sheila Walsh. Kathryn and her family currently live in Santa Barbara, California.

Website * Facebook * Pinterest  * Goodreads

Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway

Win A $25 Amazon GC or Paypal Cash

Tour Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/17/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Virtual Book Tour Schedule

 Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman ~ Virtual Book Tour Page

Tour Schedule:

October 2nd 

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer – Interview 

A Book Lover’s Retreat – Spotlight 

readalot – Review 

Beck Valley Books – Spotlight 

I Blog 4 Books – Tens List 

My Devotional Thoughts - Review 

October 3rd 

Every Free Chance Book Reviews – Spotlight 

Reviews by Karen – Review 

Peace from Pieces – Interview 

Blkosiner’s Book Blog – Tens List 

October 4th 

High on Books – Spotlight 

Jersey Girls Book Review – Review 

Spellbindings – Guest Post 

Cuzinlogic – Interview 

Sarah’s Reviews – Tens List 

I Love to Read and Review Books :) – Review 

A Blog Hop Place for Books – Spotlight 

October 7th 

Jennifer Lane Books – Review 

Deal Sharing Aunt – Spotlight 

Bookhounds YA – Interview 

Rose & Beps Blog – Spotlight 

October 8th 

Hott Books – Spotlight Mel’s Shelves - Review 

LOVE. WITHOUT YOU – Guest Post 

Rachel Winter – Review 

Cici’s Theories – Spotlight 

Please Another Book - Review 

October 9th 

Sweeping Me – Spotlight 

A Casual Reader’s Blog – Review 

Simple Wyrdings – Review 

WonderMom Wannabe – Review 

Mythical Books - Review 

October 10th 

Literary Time Out – Review 

Books and Needlepoint – Spotlight 

3 Partners in Shopping – Spotlight 

October 11th 

Shelf Full of Books – Review 

Taking Time for Mommy – Interview

Gustosa Giveaways – Spotlight

From My Heart To Yours by Michelle Zarrin (Author Guest Post / Book Review)

In association with Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for From My Heart To Yours by author Michelle Zarrin!

Author Guest Post

Why Blogging Is Important

We are living the frenetic pace of the technological era. Families do not have time to make dinner from scratch every night. Farmers do not have time to go through the natural process of a harvest. The notion of patiently waiting to see results is slipping through our fingertips like sand drifting off into the wind. In a time when bullet points are much appreciated, I believe blogs are the up and coming reading tool.

We have become so accustomed to reading articles online and finding our answers through brief synopses, it makes me wonder if through time we will lose the patience of holding a story with over 200 pages of words, sentences and paragraphs? Being an author, I like to think that books will not become obsolete one day. I even like to hold a physical novel in my hands and turn the pages. But walking through many airports with an observant eye has shown me that perhaps I am on my way to becoming ‘old fashioned.’ For people are no longer holding books as they sit in the terminal waiting to embark on their flight. A plethora of laptops, tablets and smart phones have taken the place of books. Is it possible people are reading books on these devices? Yes, it is. But I still believe blogs are a necessary part of our culture. If you have a business, product or opinion to market, by writing blogs, people get to know you.

In the technological era that we live in, blogs are a mode of expression, a connection to the world at large. With that said, my correspondence to the world has also continued through blogs. After my book, From My Heart to Yours: Based on a True Story was published, the natural next step in my writing was to write blogs. My book was inspired by my own life. You follow the character through love, loss, life and death. In the end, she realizes we are all here to learn lessons. The art of life is how we deal with our struggles. And I continue to share the many life lessons and my path of spirituality linking me to the internal world on my website, MichelleZarrin.com.

About The Author

Michelle Zarrin is an author, blogger and entrepreneur, running two businesses. Having meditated over 2000 hours in the past four years, her expertise is the internal world through the tool of the breath. Inspiration, creativity, tranquility, intuition and compassion all reside within our internal world. Her blogs consist of her writings on life and spirituality. She lives in Orange County, California.


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From My Heart To Yours by Michelle Zarrin ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours

Book Review

From My Heart To Yours by Michelle Zarrin

Publisher: Balboa Press

Publication Date: February 21, 2013

Format: Hardcover & Paperback - 236 pages / Kindle - 1087 KB / Nook - 939 KB

ISBN: 1452565597

ASIN: B00BLM996M

Genre: Literary Fiction

BUY THE BOOK: From My Heart To You

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

PUBLISHER: BALBOA PRESS

GOODREADS

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours.

Book Description:

With an emotionally secure and sheltered upbringing, Sofia, was in for an unexpected ride when she married Earl. Their stable and unnerving union would take deeper turns as they experienced health issues, betrayal and shattered hearts. With each new circumstance Sofia faced, she shed a layer of naiveté, deepening her perspective of life. Beautiful life lessons learned from preschool children healed her wounds and dissipated her scars. They taught her about the human condition at it’s purest. But then the biggest tragedy happened in Sofia’s life, leading her to seek deeper answers. At the end of the book, she learns that the art of life is how we deal with it’s struggles. Through a powerful and inspiring journey into the soul, she regains the light and love within.


Book Excerpt:

CHAPTER 1

Paris

SOFIA HURRIEDLY ENTERED the café where she was meeting her best friend, Harlow. It was a gloomy, rainy April day in Paris. As soon as Sofia entered the brasserie, she was reminded of the city she was temporarily a resident of. The warm light from the small crystal chandeliers, the soft pistachio paint on the walls, the deep espresso-colored wood crown molding framing the ceiling – expressions of luxurious decadence – caught her eye. The fleur de lis details gently painted on the walls and engraved in the wood molding were the quintessential décor representing the city that was home to the Eiffel Tower. Over the noise of the Parisians conversing while eating their lunch, the raspy voice of Louis Armstrong could be heard singing C'est Ci Bon, contributing a coziness to the ambience. The toasty smell of baked baguettes pulled out of the oven, of vanilla, butter and sugar from the pastries, resonated in the air. The décor, the music and the fragrance of warm food instantly engulfed Sofia, swirling her senses into overload.

Taking a deep breath of the mouth-watering aroma, Sofia walked straight to the counter where the sandwiches, pastries and array of breads were displayed behind glass. She ordered a smoked salmon, tomato and cheese sandwich on a half baguette. Before taking out her wallet to pay, she quickly added a small praline macaroon for dessert, anticipating satisfaction that her body would soon be feeding upon the various scents that had tempted her from the moment she walked into the small restaurant. She took her order and looked around to find her friend.

Harlow was seated in the corner table, right next to the large window, facing the street. She could spot the golden blonde hair of her friend from a mile away, always perfectly straight, with hints of crimson streaks, falling to the middle of her back. Sofia envied her friend for walking out of the shower and never having to blow dry her hair to achieve the salon perfect style. And Harlow always wished she had Sofia's brown chestnut hair, with natural waves, resting on her shoulders, adding a hint of softness to her naturally tanned skin. Their eyes met, and their mouths instantly stretched into smiles.

"Great table you were able to get!" Sofia said, placing her food on the small round table before them.

 "I know! This older man and woman were leaving just as I was looking for a place to sit! How are you?"

"I'm great, now that I'm out of the rain! What a great day to be indoor and work on our paper! Are you ready to get started?"

"As soon as I finish my lunch," Harlow had a mouth full of spinach and mushroom quiche she was nibbling on.

"So, which painting are you going to describe?" Sofia inquired, taking a bite of her own sandwich.

The girls were on a semester abroad program, from their university in California. It was their last semester before graduating and they were almost done with two months of the three-month program. Their first term paper required them to visit the Musee d'Orsay, find a painting or a sculpture that appealed to them, and write a one-page description of it, using a minimum of twenty adjectives.

"I'm going to write about Repetition D'un Ballet Sur La Scene by Degas," Harlow answered. "I was very moved when I saw it in person. I've always thought his ballerinas were pretty, but this painting in real life tells a beautiful, naïve story of the young dancers prancing around. Being so monochromatic, it shows all the ballerinas with the same vision, the same desire, the same goals."

"I liked his use of colors. There was grayish-brown to his work that stood out from the other Impressionists."

"So, what about you?" Harlow was done with her quiche and was piercing the custard flan with her fork.

"Renoir, my favorite painter from that era," Sofia replied, her brown eyes gazing out the window, observing the pedestrians walking briskly, under their umbrellas.

Harlow smiled. "I guess we were both moved by the fifth floor of the museum."

"Yes, well Impressionism is my favorite era for historical art. And although, I saw a lot of Monet's work up there, but I've always been struck by Renoir's work as just absolutely beautiful."

"Why?"

Smiling, Sofia dreamily described her perception of her favorite artist's work, "He has a romantic softness with each brushstroke. I imagine him dabbing his paintbrush into various colors, while calmly transferring the paint to the canvas. When I look at his work, it seems to be just soft lines, but many lines on top of each other to portray silhouettes, faces and objects. His paintings have so much color to them. I think he used every color imaginable. So then all of these layers of colors also add depth to the work, in my eyes. And with the gentle strokes, the depth, he is able to conjure emotion as well."

"Yes, it seems that either people who posed for paintings back then did not show emotion, or the artists did not capture the emotion very well," Harlow chimed in.

"Except for Renoir. I can sense his emotion coming out of his paintings more than other artists'. You also see his subjects with faint smiles on their faces, rosiness to their cheeks, looking like they're having a good time."

"Not all his paintings."

"But enough for me to prefer his work over the other artists."

"I'll say, Sofia, I didn't know you like him so much! You basically described your term paper to me!"

Laughing, she said "The problem is describing it all in French!"

"Oui. Which painting are you going to talk about in your paper?"

"Bal du Moulin de la Galette. Jolly people dancing in the streets of Paris!"

Harlow's eyes lit up. "Well it seems that time has not changed much in some aspects for this culture. They are still jolly and dancing in the streets!"

The friends looked at each other, brimming with smiles. Neither of them had to say anything, for they had said it at least one hundred times before – that they were so happy to have embarked on such an experience. With the unspoken, smiling sentiment between them, the girls quietly took out their laptops and began working.

An hour later, sunlight pierced through the window, warmth from outside lighting up the already warm café.

"It has been raining nonstop since yesterday," Sofia said

"I am very aware of that," her friend responded.

Rolling her eyes, Sofia continued, "My point is we have a break from the rain! The sun is out! Let's go walk the streets and enjoy this moment!"

Smiling sarcastically, Harlow said, "I thought we were being so responsible, I didn't want to deviate our attentions from our school duties!"

Knowing her friend's sarcasm too well, Sofia put away her dictionary and began to close her laptop.

"Before we go, let me check to see if I have any emails from Earl." Her boyfriend of the last two years had been very sad to see Sofia leave for France. But they had promised to write each other several times a day, explaining their journeys on the different continents. The power of technology allowed the couple to live apart from each other, with a time difference of nine hours, while receiving up-to-the-minute accounts of each other's days through social media.

Harlow sat back watching her friend, reading with huge, eager eyes and clapping her hands with delight, and waited for Earl's email to be relayed back to her.

"Was he able to take time off of work to come here?"

"Yes!" Sofia squealed. "He gets here in ten days, and will stay for six days! We get to show him all the places we've discovered and have been hanging out at!"

"Oh good!" Harlow said. "You guys can be like the hopeless romantic Parisians holding hands, walking the streets, enjoying each moment of this city together." She was happy for her friend but also aware that their girlfriend experience would be transformed upon Earl's arrival. Gone would be the careless comments about the cute boys on the streets. Sofia would be enamored with her boyfriend, leaving Harlow to make the most of her solo journey.

The weather outside was crisp and clean. Absent were the hovering gloomy grey rain clouds. The bright yellowness of the sun had finally made its appearance, bringing with it warmth and a lustrous glow to the streetside cafes. All of a sudden, the seats outside the restaurants were full of people ordering food, chatting and sipping wine while smoking cigarettes. Some restaurants had seats lined up right next to each other and in rows, like a movie theatre. This way, each person had an equally good seat for people watching. Usually, the tables were small and round, fitting two to four chairs around each one. So when a person sat down to eat, they were very close to the stranger sitting by them. It was easy to strike up a conversation with the person sitting in the neighboring chair.

The people sitting around the cafes were a big part of the ambiance of the Parisian streets. Sitting under awnings of bright colors, the cafes were usually on the ground floor to a big building. So when a person looked up from the awnings, there was usually a building with quintessential French architecture, windows with metal railings of intricate or simple design. And adding an extra touch of detail to the window or railing, it was common to see flowers placed before the window. That was something about the French that Sofia quickly came to admire: they had an eye and an appreciation for detail. Whether it was for the presentation of a dish in a restaurant, the intricate exterior that outlined the buildings, the attractive flowers and trees lining the streets, the use of accessories adorning both the men and women, or the décor inside the restaurants and shops, nothing was overlooked. Even some of the lampposts lining the streets told a story of antiquity and beauty. It was common to see tourists standing next to the posts while posing for pictures.

The one thing that was not appealing to Sofia about Paris was how much the Parisians smoked. When she hung out at night with friends from the city, cigarettes were smoked endlessly. No one went anywhere without their tobacco. To breathe in smoke while at a party or sitting in a restaurant was as common as to breathe in pine while in the mountains. She would wonder to herself if they did not care about long-term lung health. Or was smoking a cultural representation of living for the moment?

So it went without saying that once the rain stopped, the streets were bustling with people enjoying their moment. Grabbing her friend's hand, Sofia beamed, "Harlow, I am so happy that Earl is coming here to visit! I had thought how it would be once I go home and want to talk nonstop about this amazing city. It would be nice to hear in the beginning, but I'm sure it would have gotten boring for him after a while. But now we can talk about the city together and make our own memories here as well!"

Harlow was feeling uncomfortable. She was already getting tired of the sappy romance she was going to have to endure. As they stopped at an outside vendor, Sofia asked, "Why are you getting ice cream? It's not hot enough for ice cream!"

"You know me, I can never pass up ice cream."

She smiled as she handed her Euros to the man who traded the money for the cone with the frozen, swirled vanilla treat. As they walked off, she said, "Besides, did you see how cute that ice cream guy was? He looked like he belonged in a rock band, not selling ice cream on the corner of the street."

Sofia had not noticed the shaggy long hair, bright blue eyes and lanky build of the man until she turned her head to sneak a peek at him. He noticed and gave a smile full of charm in return. "Yup, he did look good," she agreed. "And he had style! I love that the French take care of themselves. Did you notice the scarf? I've never seen men who know how to wear accessories so well."

Laughing, Harlow nodded her head in agreement.

"Maybe we'll get Earl to accessorize and dress like the French men while he is here," Sofia began dreaming about her boyfriend's visit again. His Persian features could pass for a Parisian. His fair skin, hair so dark, it was borderline black, deep warm light brown eyes and tall and lanky build; he would fit right in.

She and Earl had met in the university where they both studied. He was one year older. Although they did not share any classes, they ran into each other repeatedly in the study halls and cafes. A casual friendship had begun between the two, for they shared a common background. Both were Persian, raised in the United States. Although they were both fluent in Farsi and shared a common culture inside their homes with their families, they shared even more strongly a sense of having evolved from two cultures colliding together.

The Persian heritage was rich in tradition, with strong roots in the past. A nation that carried the glory of its former times with such fervor and zest, it resonated within each of its members through the decades and centuries. When the name of the country was changed to Iran, the proud population refused to lose acknowledgement of its rich history and strong empire that had occupied majority of Asia in its time.

No matter if the people lived in the country itself or on various other continents, like Sofia and Earl's families; they connected together, sharing commonalities. So when Sofia and Earl met, their union had a shared foundation that was unspoken but endemic. At first their casual rapport was a natural back and forth about school and life. But through time, a genuine interest in each other's lives developed between the two and they began spending more time together. Moments they spent hanging out, getting to know one another, led to fluttering of the hearts and constant smiles on the lips. They became inseparable. And they had even talked about turning the friendship into something more intimate. Yet, they both liked their friendship so much that they did not want to jeopardize it.

Then one night, a group of friends were having a party by the beach. Sofia and Earl had arrived together and were warming up around the bonfire with their friends, talking, laughing and listening to music under the starry California skies. Earl pulled Sofia aside. "Can we go for a walk?" he asked.

"Of course." She grabbed a warm jacket, for stepping even four feet away from the fire meant the cold, balmy beach air was going to penetrate through her skin. As soon as they were away from their friends, she asked, "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything's fine. I have been thinking about us for a long time now and want to talk to you."

She looked intently at him, pulling a strand of hair behind her ear as the breeze was blowing it in her eyes. "We have the most amazing friendship," he began. "It is natural, it flows. We just get each other as if we've known each other our whole lives."

She instantly smiled for she felt so blessed to have such a relationship. In her mind, the two truly were an effortless match. "The thing is, Sofia, we know we love each other. And I know in the past we talked about turning our love into something more and decided we did not want to risk our friendship." She nodded in agreement. "But I really want us to explore a relationship and see if this love we have for each other turns out to be more than just friendship love." He held her hands in his and looked warmly in her eyes. "I want to see if we will fall in love with each other. I think I can fall in love with you. You are such an amazing person. I am tired of daydreaming about kissing you and holding you next to me at all times. I want my dreams to become a reality. I want to brush my skin against yours and kiss you softly on the lips whenever I feel, instead of restraining myself and trying to hold back." She tightened the grip around his hands and tried to swallow her rapidly beating heart. But she was speechless and could not say anything. So he continued, "You mean the world to me. I want to be with you. I want to protect you. I want to brush my lips against yours right now." He leaned in, but she leaned back, not sure if she wanted to take the step forward.

He pulled himself away. "Sofia, we are practically a couple. We came to this gathering together. And we will leave together, just as we always do. And I can't talk to other girls, not because I don't want to but because I don't care to. I am so happy just being around you. Please tell me you'll give us a chance."

In her heart she wanted to. She felt the exact same way about Earl as he did for her. She wanted to kiss him passionately at that moment, under the stars, with the rolling of the waves back and forth on the sand. Yet, she was scared to make the leap. She hadn't had a real boyfriend before. She went on dates and had guys who were interested in her, but she was not the boy-crazy type, like most of her teenage girlfriends. Boys did not take over her life. She just enjoyed being with her friends and guys in groups.

My Book Review:

From My Heart To Yours is an inspirational story that follows Sofia's journey of self-discovery and learning difficult life lessons about love, loss, life and death.

Sophia is an innocent young woman who had a sheltered upbringing. When her friendship with Earl develops into a romantic relationship, their love deepens and they get married. Like any marriage, there are ups and drowns, but when Earl's secret addiction is revealed, Sophia's world is turned upside down. Sophia embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she learns to cope with the betrayal and a shattered heart. Through the power of meditation, she overcomes life's hardships and tragedies, developing an inner strength and ability to rebuild her life.

This is an emotionally powerful tale that is inspired by author Michelle Zarrin's life. Through Sophia's journey, the author thoughtfully teaches the reader that we are all connected in this web of life through how we deal with hardship, joy, sorrow, and valuable life lessons. Written with intense raw feelings and emotions, this touching story tugs at your heartstrings, and provides a inspirational message that through channeling your inner strength and having an optimistic outlook on life, you can overcome any emotional turmoil, hardship, and tragedy that life may throw your way, by uplifting your spirit and learning to live a life of joy.

From My Heart To Yours is a beautifully written story of learning the art of life through the power of meditation. It is an inspirational and educational story that provides the reader with valuable life lessons that will resonate with you throughout your life's journey.


RATING: 4 STARS ****

Stealing Fire by Susan Sloate (Author Guest Post / Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Goddess Fish Promotions, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Stealing Fire by author Susan Sloate!

Author Guest Post

Out of the Ether

By: Susan Sloate

There’s a phenomenon a lot of writers don’t talk about, because none of us can explain it, and it’s not something we can make happen at will: it just does. But I’ve taken a poll among my writer friends, and they say it’s happened to them too, and to other writers they know. It’s happened in one very famous example to a nineteenth-century writer. So I’m not alone here.

So I’m going to take the bull by the horns and reveal it here. Readers deserve to know it. But don’t tell anyone, okay? William Goldman famously said, “All writers are crazy. Even the normal ones are weird.” Well, this isn’t something I’d consider normal.

We all know that it’s hard to explain creativity. We don’t know where it comes from, we don’t know how it works, and except for sitting down and inviting the muse in, we don’t know how to make it happen. But sometimes we’re creative in a way that defies any kind of sense. Because once in awhile…and it doesn’t happen often… a writer can find himself writing something that will then actually happen. And what happens is far beyond our control.

In 1898 a novelist named Morgan Robertson wrote a novella called FUTILITY, about the world’s greatest luxury ocean liner called the Titan setting off on a voyage in the North Atlantic in the month of April. The Titan is supposed to be unsinkable, so it carries an insufficient number of lifeboats. The ship hits an iceberg and sinks, and many of its passengers die.

Sound familiar? Of course. It’s the story of the Titanic, right?

Yes—except the novella was published in 1898. And the Titanic didn’t set off on its maiden voyage until April 1912. It wasn’t even built till the year before. And Robertson had nothing to do with the White Star Line, the company that commissioned it. It’s one of the strangest parts of Titanic folklore.

Even more strangely, Robertson also wrote a short story in 1914 called “Beyond the Spectrum”, which described a future war between Japan and the US in which the Japanese did not declare war but started by launching sneak attacks in the area of the Philippines and Hawaii in the month of December (the site—and month—of the infamous sneak attack on Pearl Harbor). They then used a weapon invented by the Americans which caused a brilliant light and flash and terrible burns, which some have compared to the atomic bomb.

Robertson died in 1915, long before World War II.

How could he know?

The same thing happened to me. As a teenager, my first long finished project was a three-act play whose main characters were based on Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. The play begins with their last appearance together, onstage at a famous New York nightclub, and ends years later with their eventual reunion onstage live at one character’s long-running telethon.

I finished the play in July 1976. Six weeks later, on the Labor Day Telethon, Dean Martin made a surprise appearance (it’s famous; look it up on YouTube) and was reunited with Jerry Lewis.

I had no way of knowing. I also had no way of knowing at the time that their last appearance together actually was at a famous New York nightclub (the Copacabana). I just picked the idea out of the ether; it seemed to work dramatically, so I used it.

That’s where, I think, you’ll find a lot of our inspiration as writers. It’s out there in the ether, and we can’t explain it. A thought here, a second thought there, and something connects them; and there’s the beginning of a story. What seems logical, or is some kind of wish fulfillment, is what we follow. And it ends up turning out that way in real life.

I have never claimed any kind of psychic powers, but the act of writing is mystical and filled with marvelous and unexplained things. Maybe being a writer just means picking the right combination, out there in the ether, and putting them together. I’ve written other work that seems to have come true as well. I don’t talk about it much.

But when you’re reading a writer’s work, some of those magical connections may just be there. You never know.

So keep reading. What you find may be something marvelous and unexplainable.

About The Author

Susan Sloate is the author of 20 published books, including FORWARD TO CAMELOT (with Kevin Finn), an alternative history of the JFK assassination, STEALING FIRE, an autobiographical love story, and REALIZING YOU (with Ron Doades), for which she invented a new genre – the self-help novel. FORWARD TO CAMELOT was a #6 Amazon bestseller, took honors in 3 literary competitions and was optioned for film production by a Hollywood company. STEALING FIRE was a quarter-finalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. Susan has also written young-adult fiction and non-fiction, including RAY CHARLES: FIND ANOTHER WAY!, which won a silver medal in the 2007 Children’s Moonbeam Book Awards, AMELIA EARHART: CHALLENGING THE SKIES, a perennial Amazon bestseller, and MYSTERIES UNWRAPPED: THE SECRETS OF ALCATRAZ, which led to her appearance on a special for The History Channel in 2009, as well as books for five girls’ fiction series. As a screenwriter, she has written an informational film for McGraw-Hill Films and optioned two scripts to Hollywood production companies. As a sportswriter, she’s covered the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets. She’s also managed two recent political campaigns, founded the East Cooper Authors Festival (which put 18 professional authors in 17 area schools in one day) and serves on the Culture, Arts and Pride Commission of the Town of Mount Pleasant.


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Stealing Fire by Susan Sloate ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Goddess Fish Promotions

Book Review

Stealing Fire by Susan Sloate

Publisher: Drake Valley Press

Publication Date: July 1, 2013

Format: Paperback - 320 pages / Kindle - 653 KB / Nook - 372 KB

ISBN: 1935970127

ASIN: B00DQUKI0I

Genre: Contemporary Romance

BUY THE BOOK: Stealing Fire

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Book Description:

“How do you recognize your soulmate?

In glittery 1980’s Los Angeles, Beau Kellogg is a brilliant Broadway lyricist now writing advertising jingles and yearning for one more hit to compensate for his miserable marriage and disappointing life.

Amanda Harary, a young singer out of synch with her contemporaries, works at a small New York hotel, while she dreams of singing on Broadway.

When they meet late at night over the hotel switchboard, what begins will bring them each unexpected success, untold joy, and piercing heartache ... until they learn that some connections, however improbable, are meant to last forever.

STEALING FIRE is, at its heart, a story for romantics everywhere, who believe in the transformative power of love.”

STEALING FIRE was a Quarter-Finalist (Top 5%) in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest.


Book Excerpt:

Oh, God, it was him, the bastard who had upset the switchboard operators and bellowed through the lobby loudly enough to alert all five boroughs. At three o'clock in the morning, asking for room service. Unbelievable.

Amanda leaned back in her chair. Her stomach was tightening inexplicably. "I'm sorry," she said finally, when she could control her voice. "Room Service closes at midnight."

There was a pause. "Oh. What time is it now?"

She looked at her watch. "Ten after three."

"Then whom am I speaking to?"

"I'm the night operator. This is the main switchboard."

"Well, main switchboard, you must all sound alike down there. I could swear I talked to you earlier tonight."

Well, how about that. "You've got a good ear, 704. I was on duty earlier."

"Good Lord. How long are the shifts around here?"

"Eight hours for everybody else. I’m working a double today."

“Why?"

"Maybe I just love it here."

"I guess you do. But I hope you're well compensated."

Trust a man to think of money first. "That’s not my major concern."

"Glad to hear it."

Okay, enough's enough. It's been a long day, made even longer by him. No reason to shoot the breeze with this guy. "Excuse me, I have other callers. Sorry I couldn’t help you."

"Well, better luck with them."

"Look, if you'd called earlier—"

"Absolutely. My fault entirely, for falling asleep after a cross-country flight, a time change and a screw-up in hotel administration. Forget I even mentioned it." The phone clicked in her ear.

She sat for some moments before she noticed she was trembling. This was the second time he'd undermined her—and it bothered her.

My Book Review:

Stealing Fire by author Susan Sloate is a poignant May-December love story of soul mates meeting that transcends time. This emotional tale follows the journey of Amanda Harary, a young actress/singer who works in a NY hotel and dreams of starring on Broadway, whose path crosses with sixty year old Beau Kellogg, a former Broadway composer/lyricist turned writer of advertising jingles. A late-night phone conversation between them over the hotel's switchboard leads to the beginning of an unlikely love affair that will leave the reader believing in soul mates, magic, and love at first sight.

Set in the 1980s with a broadway theme that transports the reader between NY and LA, author Susan Sloate captivates the reader's attention with this beautiful love story that tugs at the heartstrings. This is a bittersweet tale of a young woman who aspires to star on Broadway, and an aging former Broadway composer who yearns for one more Broadway hit to rejuvenate his disappointing life. Their journey brings a mixture of joy, love, success, and heartbreak ... but their connection lasts a lifetime. Stealing Fire is reminiscent of Somewhere In Time and Autumn In New York, both which I loved, so it was not surprising that this story would capture my heart and keep me eagerly turning the pages as Amanda and Beau's love story unfolds.

Stealing Fire is a love story that will appeal to all romantics at heart. It takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride as these two unlikely lovers deal with life's trials and tribulations. You can't help but feel for both Amanda and Beau, the emotional pull between them is breathtaking, while the agony of their life choices is haunting. Author Susan Sloate weaves a wonderful tale of true love that will have you feeling the full gamut of emotions, it will make your pulse race, and leave a lump in your throat with its bittersweet yet satisfying conclusion.


RATING: 5 STARS *****

Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway

Win A Journal Notebook

Author Susan Sloate will be awarding a notebook perfect for journaling to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. 

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/06/virtual-book-tour-stealing-fire-by.html

Accidental Affair by Leslie McKelvey (Author Guest Post / Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Goddess Fish Promotions, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Accidental Affair by author Leslie McKelvey!

Author Guest Post

Why am I Ashamed of Romance?

I will admit up front, I am a romance junkie. I love to read it, I love to write it, and I love to indulge in the fantasy that romance represents. Do I love to tell people I write romance? Oddly, I love telling people I’m an author (which I can actually DO now), but when they ask, “What do you write?” I always feel a little awkward. Why is that?

I suppose part of it is the stigma that people who write romance aren’t real writers (to which I say, pffft! YES, we are.). Part of it could be my “prudish” American view of sex and sexuality (nah, my hubby says no, wink, wink…). Still, when my publisher told me I write romantic suspense I was SO relieved and sort of excited. That sounds much better than “I’m a romance novelist.” Why? Why am I, for lack of a better word, ashamed of writing romance?

It really makes no sense when you think about it. Romance is the second most popular genre in the publishing marketplace, and even the most popular genre, thrillers and mysteries, often have romantic elements in them. The search for romance and love is a common and popular theme in movies, television shows, and there are dozens of magazines devoted to helping women find their perfect mate, or spice things up in the bedroom. Romance is a very important part of life.

One plausible explanation is the oft-heard, “that romance stuff isn’t realistic.” To which I say, “DUH.” That’s the whole point. I read to get away, to escape the world not immerse myself in it. Reading, for me, is like watching a movie in my head, only I’m the director, the producer, the editor, the sound engineer, and sometimes I even play a starring role. Does romantic fiction give people a distorted view of love and relationships? Perhaps, but there is a reason it’s called fiction. It’s not real. I think most people who read romance know and understand that you’re not going to meet and fall in love with your soul mate in 24 hours, but books have limits. Unless you want to write an 800 page tome you have to move the story along. Romantic fiction isn’t supposed to be a “how-to” manual or a relationship guide. It’s supposed to be like mental chocolate. It’s something to indulge in, but that can’t be all you eat (darn the bad luck!).

Maybe it’s my own personal issue. I would like to know if any other romance authors out there have ever seen the barely repressed eye-roll however. You know the one. That look of thinly veiled disdain some people get when they find out you write what my husband affectionately calls “trashy slut novels.” I know I have. Maybe they think I’m depraved in some sort of way, or not smart enough to write anything more intellectual. Maybe I’m not, but you know what? They’re not published authors, so maybe it’s more their problem than mine. Maybe it’s time I stop being embarrassed to tell everyone that I WRITE ROMANCE. After all, there’s a reason it’s the second best selling genre of fiction. I’ll bet every one of those people who looked down their nose at me have read at least one bodice-ripper in their day (the women, anyway). And you know what? It’s nothing to be ashamed of.

So, I write romance. I love romance. My characters love romance, and so do the readers. I know it’s mostly fantasy, but it also gives us something to hope for. It’s an ideal, perhaps an unrealistic ideal, but an ideal nonetheless. It can be sweet, steamy, or downright erotic, but love is at its core. To coin someone very famous, “All we need is love.” Oh, and chocolate…. :)

About The Author

Leslie McKelvey has been writing since she learned to write, and her mother still stores boxes of handwritten stories in the attic. Leslie read her first romance at 12 and was hooked. When her high school Creative Writing teacher told her she needed to be a novelist, she decided to give it a try. Finally, at the ripe old age of...forty-something...her debut novel, Accidental Affair, made it into print through Black Velvet Seductions Publishing. The publisher has also contracted two more manuscripts, which will follow Accidental Affair shortly.

Leslie is a war-veteran who served with the U.S. Navy during the Gulf War, and she was among the first groups of women to work the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. During her five years tour she was stationed at NAS Miramar and was an F-14 Tomcat mechanic and plane captain. While in San Diego she spent time on the carriers USS Independence, USS Ranger, USS Lincoln, and the USS Nimitz. The final two years of her enlistment were spent on Guam and her squadron frequently deployed to Japan and the Middle East.

She learned everything she knows about firearms and tactics from her police officer husband, who is a weapons expert, range master, and firearms instructor for one of the most highly-respected law-enforcement agencies in the world (and one he wishes her NOT to disclose). He is her biggest supporter and her unpaid consultant on everything law-enforcement and weapons related. She has three boys who keep her very busy and contribute daily to her growing number of gray hairs. Her oldest son is a United States Marine and the younger two have vowed to follow in their brother’s footsteps (OOH RAH!). She spends her off-time kidding...WHAT off-time?) reading, taking pictures, and sending lead down range (that's shooting, for those who are unfamiliar). One of her favorite scents is the smell of gunpowder in the morning....


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Accidental Affair by Leslie McKelvey ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: Goddess Fish Promotions

Book Review

Accidental Affair by Leslie McKelvey

Publisher: Black Velvet Seductions

Publication Date: October 31, 2012

Format: Paperback - 308 pages / Kindle - 485 KB / Nook - 848 KB

ISBN: 1936556448

ASIN: B009ZP5MV8

Genre: Romantic Suspense

BUY THE BOOK: Accidental Affair

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Book Description:

Jack Vaughn is sure his life is over as he tumbles down the wooded hillside onto the deserted two-lane stretch of asphalt. Years of work ended with a single gunshot. Yet, it’s not over.

 A good Samaritan stops to help him, despite the danger he poses to her.

Laine Wheeler knows better than to stop for strangers on the rural Montana highway near her home, but her conscience won’t allow her to leave an injured man behind.

What she doesn’t know is the man is an undercover ATF agent tasked with infiltrating a domestic terrorist group. His cover has been blown and helping him will put her life in danger.

Though there is an instant attraction, Jack knows that beginning a romantic relationship with Laine would be both unfair and unwise. Yet the farther they run, the harder it gets to ignore the feelings that are surging between them.


Book Excerpt:

Laine Wheeler threw an arm across her dog’s chest and stood on the brakes as the rockslide tumbled quickly toward her. As the Range Rover shook, she discerned arms and legs flailing, and realized with alarm that it wasn’t a bunch of boulders rolling down the steep embankment.

It was a person.

The front end of the SUV dipped as it shuddered violently to a stop, and the individual landed in a crumpled heap not six feet from her front bumper.

Heart knocking against her breastbone, she exhaled sharply, then looked at Maverick, her half-dog, half-wolf sidekick who seemed as startled as she. Maverick woofed softly and put a paw on her arm. Laine took a deep breath, grabbed a handful of thick, gray and white fur, and turned her gaze forward.

The person hadn’t moved. She glanced first left, then right toward the tree line and wondered if there were more people where this one had come from. Both sides of the two lane highway were edged with ten foot wide shoulders hemmed in with 20 foot high embankments topped with thick pine and evergreen. When no other bodies came somersaulting down the embankment, she turned her eyes back to the unknown acrobat.

What the hell was going on? Her pulse ratcheted up a couple of uncomfortable notches. There were no lakes or rivers nearby, and the closest campsite was more than 20 miles away, so what was this person doing out here, literally, in the middle of nowhere? Staring at the rumpled figure she waited, but he, or she, didn’t move. Was this a carjacking?

An attempted kidnapping?

She gulped and frowned. She glanced at her dog, whose wise, golden eyes were fixed on her. “What do you think, Maverick? Is this a carjacking . . . in the middle of nowhere? And who’d want to kidnap me? My former in-laws?” A short, sharp laugh escaped her. “No, they’re happy enough I left Chicago.” Her gaze was drawn back to the person in the road. “Maybe they want you, Mav.” The dog whimpered.

Her brain worked at warp speed, trying to wrap itself around what she’d just witnessed. No matter which idea she entertained, none presented a reasonable explanation for the body lying in the road. She felt the adrenaline hit her bloodstream and took several deep breaths, then opened the door and stepped out.

“Stay there,” she said to the dog.

Laine took a step and stopped. What was she doing? The side of a deserted highway was no place to be a hero. She looked at the prone figure for a moment, debating with herself. A low, pained moan escaped the person, and the mournful, gravelly sound spurred her. She squared her shoulders. Right place or not, she wasn’t the type to run, and there was no way she was going to just leave an injured person in the middle of the road. She ran around the front of the Rover, looked down at the person for a split second before she knelt at their side. It was a man dressed in camouflage pants and a khaki shirt, and from the stained, disheveled state of his clothes it looked like he’d been rolling in the dirt well before his tumble down the embankment. He lay on his side with his back to her. He wasn’t moving, and the silence hung heavy.

She waited and as each second ticked off her alarm grew. She hesitated and then pressed two fingers into his neck to check for a pulse. It was weak and thready but it was there, and she sighed in relief. Grasping his shoulder, she rolled him onto his back. Dark red blood stained the upper left side of his chest and Laine drew back, startled. That she had not expected.

It took her a second to compose herself, and she reached for the collar of his shirt to get a look at the wound. Before she could peel back the material, his fingers snaked around her wrist. She jumped and fell onto her backside, her heart nearly exploding from her chest.

“Please.” His grip tightened slightly. “Get the bag and get out of here.” He spoke in a hoarse whisper. “They’re not far behind me.”

Her heart jumped and she glanced toward the tree line, imagining high-powered rifles and the sound of gunshots. “Who?”

“It doesn’t matter. Just get my bag and get it to the FBI.” His grip tightened. “What’s in that bag is more important than me. Get it and go.” He took a ragged breath. “Please.”

A finger of fear traversed her spine, but she shook it off. He had obviously hit his head on the way down the hill, and blood loss was no doubt affecting his mental faculties. “Don’t be ridiculous,” Laine replied, her voice much stronger than she felt. She glanced at the ridge again. “I can’t just leave you here.”

“They’ll kill you,” he croaked. “You have to get the bag and go . . . now!”

My Book Review:

Author Leslie McKelvey's debut novel, Accidental Affair is an intense romantic suspense story that hooks the reader from the beginning and takes them on a non-stop action packed thrill ride.

Written in the third person narrative and set in the small town of Evergreen Springs, Montana, this intriguing tale follows the suspenseful adventure of undercover ATF agent Jack Vaughn, who has spent the last eight years infiltrating the domestic terrorist organization known as CAG, Citizens Against Government. When Jack's cover is blown, he barely escapes with his life only to tumble down an embankment in front of Veterinarian Laine Wheeler's SUV. The dangerous game of bringing CAG to justice puts Jack and Laine's lives at stake as their adventure takes them to Denver to meet up with FBI Special Agent Ted "Bear" Bristol. Along the way sparks fly between them as danger lurks around every bend in the road.

This romantic suspense story has a great mixture of intriguing adventure, drama, action, and exciting romance that grabs the readers attention and doesn't let go until the thrilling conclusion. The characters leap off the pages, you can't help but feel for Laine, Jack, and Bear, these compelling characters are realistic with flaws, secrets, and desires, it's easy for the reader to connect and embrace them. This richly descriptive story has it all: witty dialogue, an action packed and intense storyline with a lot of surprising twists and turns, and a steamy romance added in the mix.

Accidental Affair is one of those romantic suspense books that is pure excitement and intrigue that keeps the reader sitting on the edge of their seats. It's the type of book that you won't be able can't put down until you find out how the story ends!

This is a wonderful debut novel for author Leslie McKelvey. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.


RATING: 4 STARS ****

Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway

Win A $50 Amazon Gift Card

Author Leslie McKelvey will be giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky commenter during the tour. 

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/08/virtual-book-tour-accidental-affair-by.html