The Extraordinary October Tour: Extraordinary October by Diana Wagman

Hi All!  Today is my stop on the Extraordinary October Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Reads.  The minute I saw this beautiful cover and read the synopsis for the story, I knew I had to have this book.
A huge shout out goes to Giselle from Xpresso Reads allowing me to be a part of this tour.  And thanks to Diana Wagman for sharing the protagonist, October Fetterhoff, with the world. I think you will enjoy her as much as I did.

Title: Extraordinary October
Author: Diana Wagman
Publisher: Ig Publishing
Date of Publication: Oct. 11, 2016
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult


Synopsis:

October is an ordinary girl. From her plain looks to her average grades, there seems to be nothing special about her. Then, three days before her eighteenth birthday, she develops a strange itch that won’t go away, and her life is turned upside down. Suddenly, she can hear dogs talk, make crows fly, and two new and very handsome boys at school are vying for her affections. After she starts “transplanting” herself through solid rock, October learns that she is not ordinary at all, but the daughter of a troll princess and a fairy prince, and a pawn in a deadly war between the trolls and the fairies. Now October will have to use all of her growing powers to save her family, and stop a mysterious evil that threatens to destroy the fairy world.
In the fantastical vein of authors such as Julie Kagawa and Holly Black, Extraordinary October takes us on a magical journey from the streets of Los Angeles to the beautiful and mythical underground fairy kingdom.

My Thoughts:

Extraordinary October is an interesting book that's about a young girl about to turn 18, who gets a terrible itch and her whole world she knows gets flipped on its head! She slowly starts to realize elves, fairies, trolls, and magic is real.  And she, October, finds herself embroiled in all of it.  

First off, the protagonist's name is pretty cool and unique : October.  It's hip, fun, and festive!  

The one thing that I really admired about our main character, October, is that she isn't perfect.  She is immature, hormones going 100 miles an hour, and she makes mistakes.  Sometimes a lot.  There are times that she can learn from her mistakes; other times she doesn't.  I think this trait makes her more relatable to most teenagers than any other characters.  

Speaking of other characters, the supporting ones are very entertaining.  There were times I enjoyed them more than our main one. Especially, Luisa and Chris or Green.  They were honest and kind.

I also enjoyed seeing the magical world through October as she slowly accepted what she was seeing.  The little scenes that played out while she was out and about: the man talking to little buzzing creatures, the woman with the elf on her shoulder, and of course hearing animals talk.  

Who wouldn't want that little power?!!?  

Extraordinary October seems to be a character driven plot solely relying on our characters to get the story moving along.  Therefore at times I found it to be exciting but others it moved a tad bit slower than usual.

There were times I thought the "Ha, ha, ha" after every joke got old.  I would have liked less of those and more credit giving to the reader to reach the inference to the joke without the explanations pointed out each time.  

I also wasn't too happy with the obvious love triangle that was put out there from withing the first few chapters.   There was also a huge insta-love concept that could have been toned down a good amount and we could have still developed the blossoming relationship found there.

Other than these techniques, I found Extraordinary October to be a fun read, with a surprising twist about the villain and even her own parents.   The ending, I felt, was overall an enjoyable one with no noticeable cliffhanger.  It was well rounded and could be a stand alone or even the first book in a series.  

I would have to give this book a 3 heart rating!

Want to pick up your own copy?

Amazon| B&N| Kobo

Get to the know the Author:

Author Bio: 

I have always written and always wanted to be a writer, but didn’t think I could make a living at it. So I became a mime. (You can imagine what my father had to say about that.) I worked on the streets of NYC with two partners, stopping traffic in front of the Met and annoying tourists. When, to my great surprise, that didn’t work out, I returned to school in film–thinking screenwriters made a living. And when I had ten scripts and my agent had stopped returning my calls, I wrote a novel. I did it just because I wanted to love writing again and not think about selling or casting or marketability. That novel was Skin Deep, and it’s a testament to writing from your heart that the first person to read it, bought it. I’ve been trying to write from the heart ever since.

 Author links: 

http://www.dianawagman.com/

https://twitter.com/dianawagman

Giveaway Time:

We are super lucky today to be a part of this amazing giveaway going on right now!  You have up for grabs some beautiful fairy lights to help light your way in your darkest hour.  

Be sure to click on the link below to be taken to the rafflecopter for the giveaway!

 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251231433/

Blog Tour: Here They Lie by D'Ann Burrow

Hi everyone!!  I was so honored to get to participate in this blog tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours! 

This is a really great book and I cannot wait to share my review with ya'll.  Also, don't forget to check out the giveaway going on too!  Thanks again!

Title: Here They Lie by D’Ann Burrow 
 Series: (The Bloodstone Legacy #1) 
Publication date: October 5th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Southern Gothic

Add to Goodreads 

Book Synopsis:

Reese Everett’s aunt picked a bad time to die. Just weeks after a car accident left Reese’s mother unable to travel, her aunt’s house needs to be emptied and sold, leaving Reese as the only member of the family who can do the job. She typically wouldn’t balk at the opportunity to sift through her aunt’s collection of antiques, but when she arrives in Devil’s Vale, Georgia, she discovers the family house in a state of disrepair she won’t be able to handle alone.
Colton Waters is back in Devil’s Vale – whether he likes it or not. After he loses his acceptance to medical school with no explanation, he’s left with a single job offer…one that will return him to the hometown he’d hoped to escape.When an errand to help his sister ends in a meeting with Reese neither will easily forget, Colton takes a job as her temporary handyman.
The longer Reese stays in town, the more she realizes the condition of her aunt’s house isn’t the only thing she hadn’t expected when she made the trip to Devil’s Vale. Reese isn’t the only gifted member of the family – her aunt Kate has been practicing the family business…the business Reese has been sworn never to discuss.
After a ghostly visitor arrives one night, Reese and Colton learn Kate wasn’t the only one practicing the darker arts. They begin to uncover secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Here They Lie won the Young Adult Romance Writer’s 2014 award for New Adult fiction.

My Review:

I really love a book that gives so much ado to Southern history.  Actually, I really love any history; but I can't help but be partial to Georgia history because I am from GA!
It's also really cool when you're reading a book and you see the town you live in mentioned as being only 30 minutes away from the fictional setting.  That is almost as good as seeing your state on TV!   That is a great way for me to share a intimate familiarity with the book, Here They Lie.  

As I was saying, I love history and it is amazingly cool that the main character, Reese, is an anthropologist, or at least one in the making.   Reading the beautiful descriptions of the old houses and the town of Devil's Vale; you can definitely tell the author is a huge Southern history fan.   She does such a wonderful job of world building that you really feel as if you are taking a stroll through town. 

Besides the wonderful world building, the characters are also interesting too.  Each person in Devil's Vale seems to have some sort of magical power that again makes the story that much better.  Devil's Vale is this tourist town based on pretend magic (according to the tourists) which in reality is real magic!  It is very creative!

The area of the town is what adds to this intense ghostly feel of the story.  The dark swamps, with the silent forests, and the very bumpy and old dirt roads just makes it feel like someone is always watching.  And yes, there is this creepy fog.  Even, as I write this right now, living on a bumpy dirt road, there is fog everywhere surrounding my house.  Its is freaking awesome!

The plot was also a pretty creative one too!  You get pulled into the story  and swept up with the characters as the past and future seem to collide together.  Even as you get to know some of the more prominent characters, there is this nagging sensation that nothing is as it seems. 

However, the pace did seem to move a little slow at times.  But instead of the tempo, we get more in depth with the history of Devil's Vale and its inhabitants.  It seems to be a fair trade.

There was also a couple other areas that I didn't enjoy- like the alternating point of views.  It was confusing without a sub title telling who was talking at the time.  There was one time, it was talking about driving the jeep through the woods to the house and I literally didn't know who it was: Reese or Colton, especially since they both have a jeep.  
Another irritation was the amount of sex going on in this book.  Now let me explain myself first.  I am not a prude; I love erotica and try to experience all types of genres.  However, it just seemed like our two main characters would have sexual relations at the drop of a hat.  And that's cool ; but we are talking about major plot events that were pretty sad and devastating and they seemed to getting ready to do the dirty jig.  
It just seemed to stretched; instead of letting it just happen.  

Other than these mishaps, I still enjoyed Here They Lie very much.  It has lots of twists and turns, with such a cool understanding of ghosts it was hard not to love this book.  It is full of rich history and it has my home state in it.  I am really loving the Southern Gothic genre and I think Here They Lie is a great asset to the genre.

Buy Links Here:

Kindle:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01638N2I4
iBooks:   https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/here-they-lie/id1046047369?ls=1&mt=11
Kobo:     https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/here-they-lie
BN:         http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/here-they-lie-d-k-burrow/1122740209?ean=2940150953215
Google Play:   https://play.google.com/store/books/details/D_K_Burrow_Here_They_Lie?id=74ulCgAAQBAJ&hl=en



Connect with the Author:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |

D’Ann Burrow once told her preschool teacher she wanted to be a witch when she grew up. That simple comment signaled the start of a life-long fondness of things that go bump in the night. As she grew older, she could most often be found with her nose buried in a book, and she was especially fond of the Nancy Drew series as well as anything by Christopher Pike or Stephen King. Occasionally she’d take a trip to the world of the classics where The Scarlet Pimpernel and A Little Princess reigned among her favorites. She’s lost count of the times she’s read Little Women.
Today, D’Ann enjoys the world of Supernatural, stories about guys with fangs, and she’s seldom met a disaster film she hasn’t liked. When she grows up, she’d like to work at the Haunted Mansion. Until then, watching Ghost Hunters will have to count as research.
D’Ann writes about secrets people keep. Even the bravest heroine or a guy with a heart of gold has a few skeletons in the closet they’d rather not share with the world. When those secrets get out, things get interesting.
A Texas native, she knows making great guacamole is an art form. As a theater mom, she’ll happily chat about Broadway musicals by the hour. Molly and Lizzie, the family furry ones, are frequent stars of her Instagram account.

Giveaway Time

Tour wide giveaway:

2 x $15 Amazon gift cards (International)

2 x Signed copies of Here They Lie (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Book Review & Giveaway: The Redeemers by Kate Morgan

Hi everybody!  I am so happy to be a part of the blog tour for the book, The Redeemers by Kate Morgan.  I want to send a huge thank you to the author as well as Me, Myself and i for putting this together and allowing me to take part in it!  Ya'll Rock! 

ABOUT THE BOOK

THE REDEEMERS
Author: Kate Morgan
Publisher:  Dark Recesses Press

SYNOPSIS:

Long after the Great War life flourished again, in no small part due to The Redeemers' help and guidance. It was a simple life, but a good one. Annie's world made sense...until one fateful day when everything of value is ripped from her.
With nothing left to lose, Annie embarks upon a quest for the dark, disturbing truth of why - never imagining how deep the trail leads.Find it :

Kindle | Goodreads |


My Thoughts:

The Redeemers was a very exciting read.  I love books that can take different interpretations of a religion and turn it into a mystery and thriller.  It also helps to throw in some cult like tendencies in there to keep things turned up a notch.  Kate Morgan does this and more with The Redeemers and keeps us on the edge of our seat the entire time.  
The setting in the story had me imagining the medieval times but it is actually set in the future.  I don't think this is a mistake on the author's part; actually I feel this is a creative way to show us how much civilization has lost through the Great War.  Every thing has returned to this simpler time in life and technology is nonexistent.  It is almost like an alternate universe, perhaps?  
The main character, Annie, has to deal with such physical and emotional turmoil, it is hard for us, as the reader, not to feel her pain intensely.  The graphic writing of the torture she endures just in the first few chapters is very vivid and intense.  It appeals to all of our five senses, making sure we grasp the situation just as Annie tries to understand it.  
Even after the physical torture is over, the mental torture continues throughout the book.  A lot of it is by Annie herself because she has such a hard time of trusting people.  Can you blame her?  Absolutely not.   But not being able to relax and trust anyone can do a lot of harm to someone already hurt.  
The world building was excellent.  I felt like I was transported to each village Annie goes into and felt like I could just reach out and interact with the scenery.  And when Annie sees all the old books, my heart jumps for joy.  It was hard to contain my excitement for her as she was able to ponder over each one.  The descriptions are right on target and I loved to watch as Annie learned more about what each Page meant to others.  

The plot was so original!  It takes an interesting concept and adds this cult like thriller to it as well as mystery and a feeling of "Who can I trust" ideas to it.  I really did love The Redeemers!  It was creepy, eerie, and just left you with this huge cliffhanger at the end that had me screaming for the next book asap!  

I think if you enjoy any of the things I described above, you should definitely give The Redeemers a try.  It was overpowering to my emotions to be in the dark through the book alongside Annie.  We learn as she learns and it becomes that much more sinister to us too.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate Morgan is a darn good cook. She grows her own veggies, knits stuffed monsters, and watches lots of Hammer Horror.

Connect with her at:

Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |

GIVEAWAY

3 Winners will each get a handmade Redeemer amigurumi!
Ships In US Only. By Entering you are agreeing to the terms and conditions in the Raffecopter Form. 

You may be asking yourself, "What is an amigurumi?"  Well here is a pic of the adorableness!

Isn't that so cute?  I love it and it takes a lot of craftiness to make, so a huge shout out to our author, Kate Morgan, for that!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Blog Tour Book Review: Logos by John Neeleman

Title:  Logos
Author: John Neeleman
Publisher: Homebound Publications
Date of Publication: March 2015
Source: from author; Novel Publicity blog tour

Book Synopsis:

 While novels and cinema have repeatedly sought after the historical Jesus, until now none have explored what may be a more tantalizing mystery—the Christian story’s anonymous creator. Logos is a literary bildungsroman about the man who will become the anonymous author of the original Gospel, set amid the kaleidoscopic mingling of ancient cultures. Logos is a gripping tale of adventure, a moving love story, and a novel of ideas. None of this should be regarded as out of place or incompatible in a novel about Christianity’s origin. Dissent, anarchism, and revolution—and incipient Christianity was no less these things than the Bolshevik, the French or the American revolutions—inevitably have involved ideas, adventure, and romance.
In A.D. 66, Jacob is an educated and privileged Greco-Roman Jew, a Temple priest in Jerusalem, and a leader of Israel’s rebellion against Rome. When Roman soldiers murder his parents and his beloved sister disappears in a pogrom led by the Roman procurator, personal tragedy impels Jacob to seek blood and vengeance. The rebellion he helps to foment leads to more tragedy, personal and ultimately cosmic: his wife and son perish in the Romans’ siege of Jerusalem, and the Roman army destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, and finally extinguishes Israel at Masada. Jacob is expelled from his homeland, and he wanders by land and sea, bereft of all, until he arrives in Rome. He is still rebellious, and in Rome he joins other dissidents, but now plotting ironic vengeance, not by arms, but by the power of an idea.
Paul of Tarsus, Josephus, the keepers of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and even Yeshua, the historical Jesus himself, play a role in Jacob’s tumultuous and mysterious fortunes. But it is the women who have loved him who help him to appreciate violence’s dire cycle

.My Thoughts:


I am so happy to be a part of this blog tour for the book Logos.  Don't forget there is a lots of prizes available as well; so make sure to check out the rules and deadlines for those prizes at the end of this post.  Huge thanks goes to Novel Publicity and John Neeleman for providing this opportunity!

I was pretty stoked when I seen the description for this book on the Novel Publicity's website for upcoming blog tours.  That description blew me away and I knew; just knew I had to take part in this tour.  Logos is really one of kind and I don't think there will ever be a book that can come to close to the it in this magnitude.
First off, we need to make sure you know this is a fiction story.  It is a theory on who could have been the creator of the Bible and therefore, the Christianity movement.  So, when you come in to the story, you definitely need to have  an open mind.  I think the story appealed to me because I consider myself more spiritual than religious, per say.  I love historical fictions and this creative mystery was one of the best!
I love that the author, Mr. Neeleman, gave us an inside view into the religious concepts we learned from the Bible, but with a twist to it.  This twist is what really makes Logos become an epic journey for one man and in many ways, for ourselves as well.    Logos makes us expand our mind as we give in to the "what if" situation that has presented itself.
I was just amazed at the amount of research and hard work that went into making Logos.  As you read through the story, you see this huge amount of diversity of the different peoples known to inhabit that area in that time period. The descriptions are so well laid out it turns Logos into a 3 D artistic design instead of just a book.

Logos also introduces us to some well known and beloved characters but changes them up to make them seem new to us all over again.  Many familiar names pop up in Logos, including Paul, Josephus,and Yeshua (Jesus) too; but we are also introduced to some new characters as well.

Our main protagonist, Jacob, is a complex character that goes through some serious hardships to become a very important person.  I love that we see Jacob as a human with flaws and misgivings, and he learns through his mistakes as he goes through many battles, to become wise in his years.

As much as I did love the creativity put in the pages of the book; Logos was also terribly long.  It seemed to pay attention to detail a little too much, insofar as describing every little thing intensely.  I love detailed world building, but at the same time you have to know when to pull back.

All in all, Logos was a spectacular journey into the fictional beginnings of Christianity through the eyes of a man that goes through many spiritual and physical changes to find himself.  Logos has massive twists and turns that surprised me over and over.  It has a mixture of emotions running through it, including love as well as heartbreak.  I found myself crying at the horrors Jacob witnessed and experienced in his life.    Mr. Neeleman created a interesting story that combines politics, historical accounts, religion, mystery, and even romance to make a well rounded novel for someone with an open mind to enjoy.

About the author: John Neeleman spends his days working as a trial lawyer in tall buildings in downtown Seattle. He lives in Seattle with his wife and children. He also represents death row inmates pro bono in Louisiana and Texas. As a novelist, his editorial model is historical fiction in a largely realistic mode, though there are hallucinatory passages that reflect Neeleman’s concern with philosophical and spiritual matters, in part a residue of his religious upbringing. He was raised as a seventh generation Mormon, and rebelled, but never outgrew his interest in metaphysical concerns.

Connect with John on his publisher’s website | Facebook | Twitter | or GoodReads..

.Get LOGOS at  Amazon |  Barnes & Noble.

About the prizes: Who doesn't love prizes? You could win one of two $50 Amazon gift cards or an autographed copy of LOGOS! Here's what you need to do...

    

Enter the Rafflecopter contest

    

Leave a comment on my blog

That's it! One random commenter during this tour will win the first gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win--the full list of participating bloggers can be found  http://www.novelpublicity.com/

. The other two prizes will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on  http://www.novelpublicity.com/logos/

 Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

can be found at

 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YzE3YzI0YTkzYTJkODQ0ODQxZDUwNTUwMTQ3OTkxOjE1Mw==/?

Blog Tour: Book Review: Hedge Witch by Simon Kewin

Hi All!  This is my stop on the Blog tour for Hedge Witch by Simon Kewin.  I want to thank the author as well as Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to be a part of this fun event!  And don't forget to click on the banner to go to the list of tour stops along the way!  Have fun!

Title: Hedge Witch
Series: The Cloven Land Trilogy {Book 1}
Author: Simon Kewin
 Date of Publication: April 2014
Source: received from author, Xpresso Book Tours 
Genre: fantasy, young adult


Book Synopsis:

Fifteen year-old Cait Weerd has no idea she’s being sought by the undain: sorcerous creatures of necromancy that feed off the spirit of the living. She doesn’t know the undain need her blood to survive. She doesn’t even know she’s a witch, descended from a long line of witches. Cait Weerd doesn’t know a lot, really, but all that’s about to change.
At Manchester Central Library she’s caught up in sudden, horrific violence. In the chaos she’s handed an old book that’s been hidden there and told to run, hide the book or destroy it. It contains all the secrets of the undains’ existence. They and their human servants want to find that as much as they want Cait.
What’s more, she learns that the fate of two worlds is at stake here. Just what she needs. Along with definitely-not-a-boyfriend Danny, she has to decide what the hell to do. Run, fight or just hope it all goes away.
It’s only then she learns who she really is, along with the terrible truth of what the undain have been doing in our world all this time …

My Thoughts:
The cover alone is pretty darn amazing!  I love the abstract piercings and the blue hair/eyebrows!  I think the cover really does the story justice and hooks you in with the beautiful artwork on it.  I also love that the main character thrives with individuality.  I really enjoyed the story line, especially with the parallel world that is there to help our main character, Cait, as well as hinder her too.
Who doesn't want a basement of old and rare books?  Yes, please!  That is a pretty cool scene and the action literally starts up in just the first few pages, grabbing our attention and not letting go.
I liked Cait but I wished she believed in herself more at the beginning of the story, as well as toward the middle.  I would have liked for a little bit more confidence from her.
I also loved the Old World tone to it.  As I read it, I felt like it was written as a classic, instead of this day and age.  I think it was the authentic British slang used throughout it.  I really felt like I was a part of the English culture, and loved having that feeling.  This story just had this cozy feel to it as I read it.  But that isn't to say it read slowly.  On the contrary, there were fast paced scenes in it with lots of action and other scenes that really captured my imagination.  The plot line flowed easily for me and was really easy to get caught up in the story threads.
I have always been a fan of witches and the lore that surrounds them.  I love that Hedge Witch built upon that and also bringing in its own magical essence too.

All in all, Hedge Witch is a great book with some very interesting characters that will make you laugh and groan all at the same time!  The Grandmother is pretty cool and I love the witches from the other world as well.  I can't wait to see how everything plays out in this series!  And way to go on such a cliffhanger ending!! How can you leave us like that??? How???

 Purchase your copy at:
| Amazon |


Connect with Simon Kewin at:
Website| Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

A little about our Author:

Simon was born on the misty Isle of Man but now lives deep in the English countryside with his wife and two daughters.
He writes science fiction and fantasy as well as some stories that can’t make their minds up.
Find out more on his website at simonkewin.co.uk.

Blog Tour: ARC Book Review: Little White Lies and Butterflies by Suzie Tullet

Hi everyone!  This is my stop on the blog tour for Suzie Tullet's book, Little White Lies and Butterflies,  and I will be doing a book review for the book.  Thanks again to everyone for stopping by!

When you're digging yourself into a hole, stop digging.
A child of the nineties, Lydia Livingston is different. The last thing she's ever wanted is to be superwoman; she knows first-hand that 'having it all' isn't everything it's cracked up to be. As far as she's concerned, when it comes to job versus family, it's a definite case of one or the other. And whilst most women her age have spent years climbing the corporate ladder, she's made a career out of bagging her perfect man. At almost thirty and still single, Lydia wonders if she'd made the right choice all those years ago. And realising the time has come to take stock, she goes against her family's wishes and banishes herself off to a distant land—all in the hope of finding a new direction.
At least that's the plan.
But Lydia Livingston isn't just different, she's misunderstood. A fact she knows all too well. So when the totally unsuitable Sam comes along, she decides to tell a little white lie, re-inventing herself as a professional chef – not exactly the best new identity to come up with for a woman who can't even cook. Of course, the last thing she expects is for him to find out the truth and start blackmailing her. Let alone find herself roped into catering for a local wedding. But with things going from bad to worse, her madder than mad family also turn up in something of a surprise visit, intent on celebrating a birthday she's no intentions of celebrating!

Title: Little White Lies and Butterflies
Author: Suzie Tullet
Publisher: Safkhet Publishing
Date of Publication: August 1, 2013
Source: received ebook for blog tour for my honest opinion of it.

My Review:
Little White Lies and Butterflies is one of those books that isn't in my comfort zone.  Meaning it isn't my go to genre for reading. But sometimes its a good idea to enjoy something that you aren't comfortable with because you can find some interesting gems there too.
I usually go for the zombies, vamps, or werewolves that fall in love and tend to act totally unlike their true nature.  Contemporary romance isn't my thing.  But I was pleasantly surprised with this book.  
First off, the main heroine of our story, Lydia, has a very funny outlook on love.  She has been looking for the perfect man because she has wanted to get married for a long time but she has finally decided she needs a break from looking for love.  
Well ladies we all know what happens when we don't look for love?  Exactly.
I kinda feel a little bad for Lydia because her family seem to be a little "off the rockers" but then again everyone's family has their own craziness.  Heck, that is what makes family ....family.
I may not be into contemporary novels but I do love comedy and Little White Lies and Butterflies has a lot of that.  I really liked the scene where she is on the beautiful beach trying to relax and here comes a ball (get your mind out of the gutter) plopped down on top of her.  Of course, there are many other funny and adorable scenes throughout the story that will capture your heart and your funny bone.  

The writing is a sweet and fun read perfect for the beach (even though I am not a beach person, I guess I could suffer through the beach for this book ) that really flows constantly as we follow Lydia through her antics at not finding love while on vacation.  "Oh what a tangled web we weave" is the perfect quote for Lydia.  But I for one, enjoyed the web she completely immersed herself in.  

And I personally, thought Sam the climber was an interesting character.  I didn't understand the horror of him being a climber but I loved how he clicked with Lydia even when she was being snide with him.  

All in all, Little White Lies and Butterflies is a cute story that is great read for anyone that wants a little love in their lives and a whole lot of comedy.  
I give it four hearts!

About the Author:

Born and raised in Lancashire, Suzie Tullett has worn many hats in life: from office work to teaching, from managing an advice center to being an outreach worker for Women's Aid. She's achieved a Bachelor's and a Master's and works with the BBC as a scriptwriter - all while raising her family. Ultimately, she wants to leave scriptwriting behind and write full-time. She says "it's fair to say my working life has given me the chance to get to know all kinds of people, from all kinds of backgrounds; a definite asset for anyone looking to write for a living."

Connect with Suzie Tullet:
Goodreads | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Safkhet Publishing |

Buy the Book:
Amazon Uk | Amazon US| Barnes & Noble |

Blog Tour: Osteoblasts to the Rescue by Dr. Heather Manley: Review + Interview +Giveaway

Tour Schedule

Osteoblasts to the Rescue


Merrin and Pearl are at it again! This time these two young Human Body Detectives are exploring the skeletal system.
With the ability to jump in and examine the various systems in the body, Merrin and Pearl’s adventures are fun stories and helpful tools to educate children.
In Osteoblasts to the Rescue, Merrin and Pearl navigate their friend, Lily’s, broken arm and learn all about bones.
As the fourth in The Human Body Detectives series, Osteoblasts to the Rescue can also stand alone as a book that’s sure to inform, engage, and inspire readers of all ages.

My Thoughts:
This is a great book for kids and adults alike!  It is a fun journey through the human body but we also learn a lot during the journey as well.  I love how the author isn't afraid to use the big words and explain their meanings for kids.  In a lot of other learning books, the adults sometimes don't want to use too many in depth meanings because they think the kids can't handle it or maybe it won't be as interesting.  But in Osteoblasts to the Rescue, Dr. Manley gives kids a lot more credit and finds a way to ensure an awesome story while showing us just how comfortable we can be with our bodies.  Inside and out.
I would definitely pick any of Dr. Manley's books up for my kids to read and I would love to use these as part of my homeschooling curriculum too.  My sons love the human body and learning everything there is to know  and they immediately loved this book.  They are begging me to go and grab the others in the series.  I also love the fact that it is in a series but you don't have to read the ones before it (although we will ) to understand what is going on.  That is a major plus for me.
Osteoblasts to the Rescue is a great book for a majority of reasons.  It makes a wonderful teaching tool, it is great for adults to read and learn a little too, and it has a really cool story line that go with the facts too! Its a triple threat!
I definitely have to give this book five hearts!

Links to buy:

Amazon

Connect with the Author:

Author Heather Manley, N.D.

I have always been passionate about healthy foods and exercising. Growing up in Toronto, Canada I would exhaust my allowance at the health food store and write school papers on spices and herbs. It was no wonder I found myself studying biology at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. I loved animals as well so I initially focused on wildlife conservation and animal biology, however, with some exposure to naturopathic medicine, this health care philosophy rang true for me. I switched to pre-med and I graduated in 1993. I earned my doctorate at the from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon before moving with my family to Hawaii where I became licensed and continue to practice today.

Everything I learned in medschool came into fruition when my children were born. I realized the importance of teaching them, by example, about healthy food and lifestyle. Telling them what to eat was not enough, so I created and wrote educational adventure stories that explain the physiological systems in the body. Not only did my kids love the engaging and interactive stories but so did their friends.

I love seeing kids have fun learning to understand their bodies and how food helps them run faster and be smarter. My focus is on preventative health. I am passionate about encouraging families to seek the value of a simple lifestyle and offering tools to assist them at being proactive and confident in their daily living. I am constantly inspired seeing people make positive changes in their lives. With my website, I am excited to reach more families in a way that will manifest healthy living.

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter


Interview:

1 .    How did you come up with the idea for The Human Body Detectives?

  Basically, I was flipping pancakes one Sunday morning when it dawned on me that I could write a series of entertaining and educational adventure stories through the different systems in the body; however, it all began in the classroom. When my kids were younger, I spent time in their elementary classrooms, talking about the digestive system and nutrition. It was quite obvious that kids loved learning about how their bodies work and what foods best fueled them. I searched through the library, bookstores and Amazon but was unable to find any books about the human body that were engaging. When I was flipping those pancakes, I was pondering all this and knew that kids would gravitate towards these books and in return, would provide a profound, long-term healthy effect on them. Human Body Detectives, specifically, The Lucky Escape: An Imaginative Adventure Through the Digestive System, was then born.

2.    While writing, is there any special action you have to do before you can really get down to the nitty gritty of writing?

Not really; however, I will spend a few hours in the morning writing down ideas and key medical points for the story I’m working on. From there, I will just begin writing. Perhaps it’s a little backwards but I like to just get writing as you can always edit!

3.    What about your favorite drink while writing?

I like to drink green tea and water with lemon. If I am feeling like a lot is on my (writing) plate, I will go for a latte!

PS Other things I keep close while writing is a small vase of rosemary (brain circulation gets a boost) and a small bowl of nuts.

4. Besides The Human Body Detectives, are there any other books in the near future we can look forward to from you?

Once I start writing, I can’t help but think about other HBD adventures. Next up will have to be journeys through the nervous and muscular systems… not sure which one will be first though… have an opinion?

Although, each book has a turn-key engaging elementary curriculum that goes deeper into the subject matter. Teachers and homeschooling families are loving it.  

And I recently launched the Human Body Detectives Go To School Nutrition 101 for Middle and High School curriculum. It is an extensive nutrition unit for grades 6 through 12. It is full of entertaining labs, practical information and simple everyday guidelines to food and nutrition.

5.Do you have a fave Yoga pose or one that you think is great for kids to do?

I really like Tree Pose; it’s grounding and I find it very peaceful. I think kids like it as well, as there are a few different forms and they can get a little goofy when thinking of trees swaying in the wind!

6. Lastly could you share that recipe for the sautéed Kale with apples?  That sounds wonderful!

I have to admit, I am a lazy cook; I like to keep things simple yet nutritious. So this is one way I cook kale…

I will add some olive oil and salt and pepper to a sauté pan, and once it heats up, I throw in some pine nuts. After the nuts seem toasted, I add a few large handfuls of kale and followed by diced apples. I will toss and stir for a few minutes and then serve.

 That sounds wonderful!  I am definitely going to try that with the Kale and apples!  Thank you so much for being here on the blog!

Everyone, please enter the tour giveaway at the end of the post and make sure to get on the case with The Human Body Detectives!

Dr. Heather Manley, who in 2001 received her medical degree from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, is a practicing physician whose primary interest is preventative healthcare for families. She is the author of the award winning Human Body Detectives, her children’s educational series of story-telling books, human body/nutrition curriculum eBooks, and iPhone/iPad apps.  She also promotes wellness and naturopathic healthcare on her website drheathernd.com. She lives on the Big Island of Hawaii with her husband and two daughters, and is currently at work on the next Human Body Detectives adventure.

Tour Giveaway:

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Cover Reveal: Little White Lies and Butterflies by Suzie Tullett {Blog Tour}

I have some great news!  I am so happy to be a part of the blog tour for Suzie Tullett and her book, Little White Lies and Butterflies!  Today, I am thrilled to bring you the cover reveal for this sweet romantic book as well as an excerpt and some interesting tidbits about the author!  
Thanks so much to Safkhet Publishing for putting this together!



Alright well lets get started shall we?  Here we go................................

Isn't it adorable?  I am a huge huge fan of butterflies and I love that this cover has them all over it, almost like they are floating around like bubbles.  I think the colors are gorgeous together and I just think this is a fun cover.  

Title: Little White Lies and Butterflies
Author: Suzie Tullett
Publisher: Safkhet Publishing
Date of Publication: Aug. 1, 2013

Book Synopsis:

A child of the nineties, Lydia Livingston is different. The
last thing she’s ever wanted is to be superwoman; she knows
first-hand that ‘having it all’ isn’t everything it’s cracked up
to be. As far as she’s concerned, when it comes to job versus
family, it’s a definite case of one or the other. And whilst
most women her age have spent years climbing the corporate
ladder, she’s made a career out of bagging her perfect man.
At almost thirty and still single, Lydia wonders if she’d made
the right choice all those years ago. And realising the time
has come to take stock, she goes against her family’s wishes
and banishes herself off to a distant land—all in the hope of
finding a new direction.
At least that’s the plan.
But Lydia Livingston isn’t just different, she’s misunderstood.
A fact she knows all too well. So when the totally unsuitable
Sam comes along, she decides to tell a little white lie, reinventing
herself as a professional chef – not exactly the
best new identity to come up with for a woman who can’t
even cook. Of course, the last thing she expects is for him
to find out the truth and start blackmailing her. Let alone
find herself roped into catering for a local wedding. But
with things going from bad to worse, her madder than mad
family also turn up in something of a surprise visit, intent


on celebrating a birthday she’s no intentions of celebrating!

Excerpt:

Following the incident at the beach, I had been hoping to avoid any futurecontact with Sam the Climber, yet here he was, larger than life. Not that Iwas sure which had bothered me the most-the football in the face, or theslightly unnerving eye contact. Neither of which I wanted to experience everagain and I wondered if I should just get up and leave while the going wasgood. But my drink still hadn't arrived and the last thing I wanted to dowas look rude in of front Efthimeos. I had to think of something else andquick. Grabbing my book from my bag, I opened it up and used it to shield my face.This should do it! However, just to make sure I began sinking lower andlower into my seat, until I was horizontal to the point I was almost on thefloor. Now he'll never notice me. I wondered if I should take a peek just to check on his whereabouts. Butbefore I got the chance, a drink landing on the table in front of me caughtmy eye instead. It wasn't the simple glass of coke I'd originally ordered, Ifurther noticed, but some fancy, fandangle cocktail. I stared at the umbrellas, the tinsel and the cherries on sticks, not evendaring to look up. Please let it be Efthimeos . Please let it be Efthimeos . I thought, finallyplucking up the courage. Lifting my gaze I realised that unless my host hadundergone some sort of superfast extreme makeover in the last few minutes,the game was up. 'There you go,' said Sam, indicating to the heavily adorned concoction. 'Notjust my apology, but as requested, the most expensive drink on the menu.' I put my book down and began the difficult task of hauling myself up into amore vertical alignment. 'I didn't request it,' I replied ungratefully. 'Infact, if I remember rightly, I said such a purchase wasn't necessary.' My unwanted guest just carried on standing there, for some reason refusingto see this as his cue to leave-choosing instead to raise an eyebrow. Henodded to the drink. 'Well,' he asked. 'Aren't you going to at least tryit?' I considered his request for a moment, deciding it was a small price to payif it meant getting rid of the man. And, duly picking up the glass andlocating the straw from among all the flora and fauna, I took a long harddraw. 'Jesus, Mary and Joseph!' I spluttered, all at once choking andcoughing. 'What the hell's in it? Meths?' Sam laughed. 'A bit of everything,' he said. He plonked his beer down on thetable and took a seat, uninvited. 'Well excuse me if I don't share your amusement,' I replied, realising thatwas the second time that day he'd tried to kill me. 'And I don't rememberasking you to join me either.' There was something of a twinkle in his eye and thanks to his air ofconfidence I could see that he was one of those men used to getting his ownway when it came to members of the opposite sex. However, I'd met his typebefore and knew there was no way he'd ever come across the likes of me. Sucha sparkle might've been enough to make any other girl go weak at the knees,but unlike theirs, my kneecaps were made of sterner stuff.

Born and raised in Lancashire, Suzie Tullett has worn many

hats in life: from office work to teaching, from managing

an advice center to being an outreach worker for Women’s

Aid. She’s achieved a Bachelor’s and a Master’s and works

with the BBC as a scriptwriter—all while raising her family.

Ultimately, she wants to leave scriptwriting behind and

write full-time. She says “it’s fair to say my working life has

given me the chance to get to know all kinds of people, from

all kinds of backgrounds; a definite asset for anyone looking

to write for a living.”

Connect with the Author:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Safkhet Publishing | Website |

Links to Buy:

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble |