Tag: books

  • Pimpernel by Sheralyn Pratt + $25 Giveaway

    Pimpernel by Sheralyn Pratt + $25 Giveaway

     Looking for a great read to escape reality for awhile? Pimpernel by Sheralyn Pratt needs to be on your To-Be-Read pile – somewhere near the top.

    Pimpernel

    Pimpernel by Sheralyn Pratt

    They seek him here; they seek him there. For centuries, the elite of the world have sought the Pimpernel everywhere. Some want to kill him, others want to hire him, but Jack Cavanaugh knows that the love/hate relationship comes with the job title.

    At present, Jack is trying to dismantle an investment scheme centered in Las Vegas, but “trying” is the operative word. It’s been a month since he put the face of the scheme behind bars, yet the scam is still going strong. As Jack tries to uncover who has stepped in as the new head, what miniscule evidence there is all seems to point him back to Claire Ramsey, an introverted PhD student studying at UNLV.

    If ever there as an unlikely head of an investment scheme, Claire’s it. She has a genius IQ, but from all Jack has seen, Claire’s intelligence is as much a blessing as a curse when paired up with her acute OCD. Claire can barely make conversation with the cute guy down the hall, which makes it hard to believe she could be the charismatic salesperson who is getting international businessmen to invest $5—50 million a pop.

    So what is Jack missing? What is the real story behind Claire Ramsey? And once Jack learns it, will he be able to walk away?

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    Excerpt

     The high-pitched scream from the other side of her apartment door shattered Claire’s thoughts.

    “Daniel?” That shriek had been way too high to come out of a man.

    “Help!” Daniel’s voice cried out from the other side of the door.

    Claire unlocked the door and pushed it open, finding Daniel cowering on the couch in sailor-themed boxer briefs. Classical music played from his bedroom, indicating Daniel had been sewing before he ended up on the couch. On the ground between them lay the lounge robe Daniel had made in his fashion design class along with his house slippers. They looked like they’d been flung at random.

    “Move!” he shrieked at her, stabbing his finger at the ground like a mad man. “Take the high ground and leave the door open. Maybe it will go back to the gates of hell, where it belongs!”

    Claire followed the direction of his manic gesturing, freezing when her eyes locked on something the size of her fist with eight hairy legs. “Daniel? Please tell me that is a toy.”

    “That. Is. NOT. A. Toy!”

    The spider chose that moment to make its move—which happened to be sprinting her way.

    Claire shrieked as Daniel motioned for her to join him on the couch. “High ground!”

    Was he insane? She would have to leap over the tarantula to get to him. Why in the world would she do that when she could just run away and go to a hotel for the night?

    “Voldemort?” a man’s voice said from behind her a split second before Claire backed into a male body blocking her retreat. Not only did Claire scream, but her body was suddenly possessed by an Olympic hurdler as she scampered across the living room and flung herself into Daniel’s arms on the couch.

    “You found her!” a flagpole of a man from the doorway said as Claire latched onto Daniel, hiding her face against his shoulder. If she didn’t see the spider, maybe it would cease to exist.

    “Found it?” Daniel scoffed. “That thing tried to duel me for my sandwich before I batted him off my kitchen table.”

    Claire shuttered, only vaguely realizing that the shoulder she was hiding her face in was bare. I’ve never hugged a guy who was only wearing underwear before, she thought a moment before Daniel pulled her keys out of her hand and flung them at the ground to join his slippers and robe.

    “Don’t chase it this way!” Daniel yelled at the other guy.

    “Come on, Voldemort,” the spider guy cooed. “Let’s get you back into your habitat—Don’t run!

    Wait, it was running? Claire didn’t want to see that, yet something compelled her to turn and look anyway.

    People always said that horrible things seemed to happen in slow motion, but Claire could have sworn the giant arachnid was coming at her in fast-forward mode. In a heartbeat, she had climbed up to ride piggyback on Daniel while he responded by flapping his hands in panic as if he could fan the thing away with a light breeze.

    Not only did the spider keep running, it was sprinting like an arachnid with a plan—heading straight for the couch. When Daniel backed away, Claire felt her back thump into the wall. Before he could move again, she pushed off his back to stand on the back of the couch, dropping her purse when it threatened her balance. On the way down, it ended up in Daniel’s hands and he wasted no time finding items inside and tossing them at the spider while its owner moved in to act like a human shield.

    “No!” the tall guy cried as he tried to corral the beast. “Don’t throw things at her. You might hurt her.”

    Just then, Claire’s favorite lip gloss bounced off the hairy spider, stunning it.

    That lip gloss was dead to her—not just the tube, the actual brand. She’d never be able to look at it the same again.

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    Review:

    I absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t put it down, but also didn’t want it to end. If you’re a fan of the classic The Scarlet Pimpernel, then you will also love this book. Who is the Pimpernel? I’m not going to say, but I will tell you it’s the first book I’ve read that I did not see the twist coming. Most books can hide it for a little, some books are too obvious, but not Pimpernel. When the reveal came I had to reread it and flip back a couple pages to make sure I hadn’t missed something. 

    Ms. Pratt has captured my attention, and I can not wait to see what else she writes. Her characters are believable, and the type readers find themselves wanting to be friends with. I feel a tie to Claire Ramsey and Jack Cavanaugh now, that has me hoping to see more books featuring them. 

     

    Sheralyn Author Sheralyn Pratt

    Some describe Sheralyn as a girl who’s been around the block and worked at every shop. This isn’t far from the truth. Writing is what she loves most, however. There’s a magical power in stepping into new perspectives time and again, and seeing the world through different eyes. Few things increase empathy more than walking in another’s shoes for 100,000 words or so. At least, that seems to be the trend so far.
     
    Some random things to know about Sheralyn:
    * She’s a wanderer (geographically)
    * She can write a novel, but doesn’t have the attention span for one page in a journal
    * She vehemently disagrees with Stephen King’s stance that authors should not watch TV
    * She is pretty much incapable of sleeping before midnight
     
     
     

    25_Amazon_Paypal

    Pimpernel Blog Tour Giveaway

    $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

    Ends 2/28/16

    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. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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  • Asleep on the Hay: A Dust Bowl Christmas Blog Tour + $25 Gift Card Giveaway

    Asleep on the Hay: A Dust Bowl Christmas Blog Tour + $25 Gift Card Giveaway

    Asleep on the Hay (1)

    Blog Tour Schedule

     

    Asleep on the Hay

     

    Asleep on the Hay: A Dust Bowl Christmas by Ben Sowards

    It’s Christmas Eve when a knock comes at the door of Paul’s family farmhouse. A small family is stranded due to a broken-down truck and seeks shelter for the evening. Paul’s grandfather not only welcomes them in, but offers them dinner and a bed for the night. Even though it is a season of giving, Paul’s heart is not filled with charity. It’s the height of the Dust Bowl and food is scarce. Why should he share what little he has with strangers? Worse, in order to help the sick baby, Paul will have to sell his beloved calf to buy a part to fix the truck.

    Angry, he retreats to the barn, where he sleeps and dreams of faraway Bethlehem. In his dream, he visits Mary and Joseph, and their newborn son, Jesus. The family offers Paul food and shelter and warmth—extending to him the love and charity he lacks and teaching him of the true meaning of Christmas.

     

    Asleep on the Hay on Amazon

    My Review:

    Every year for Christmas we get a new book. It’s one of those traditions we’ve been able to hold on to throughout all our moves. This year I was excited to receive Asleep On the Hay as our new Christmas book. Books that incorporate a little bit of history while still holding the kids attention will always be a winner in my eyes. Before even starting the story, I explained to the kids what the Dust Bowl was. We then got into the story. With tender hearts my children gasped, cried, and cuddled in closer as they followed Paul through the tough choice of giving up his best friend in order to help someone else. My favorite part of the book was the last page. I won’t spoil it for you, but I just loved how it ended. 

    Asleep on the Hay 2

     

     

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    ben sowards Author & Illustrator Ben Sowards

    Ben Sowards is the illustrator of many well-loved picture books, including A Christmas Dress for Ellen, Seven Miracles that Saved America, and Christmas Oranges.

    Ben Sowards teaches others to paint both traditionally and digitally at Southern Utah University, where has directed the illustration program since 2001.

    Website

    $25 Blog Tour giveaway

    $25 Blog Tour Giveaway Giveaway

    Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

    Ends 12/30/15

    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 and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • Christmas Kisses Collection + Giveaway

    Christmas Kisses Collection + Giveaway



    Christmas Kisses is a collection from five bestselling and award-winning authors. Set in the snowy town of Echo Ridge in upstate New York, these inspirational romances are sure to delight while you sip cocoa by the fire and listen to Christmas carols.

    ***Pre-order now for only $.99***
    add to goodreads  
    Win amazing books by each of the authors. Enter below to win – nine different books will be given to nine lucky winners. 
     
    Christmas Makeover by Cami Checketts Amazon bestselling author

    Chelsea Jamison has been infatuated with Drew Stirling longer than she’s loved playing basketball, high-top sneakers, and the Knicks. Unfortunately, all Drew sees is the kid who kicked his trash in the high school free throw contest and not the girl whose heart breaks into a fast dribble when he’s near.

    Drew makes an unexpected visit home to Echo Ridge and their friendship picks up where they left off as they scheme to make a teenaged boy’s Christmas dreams come true. When Chelsea realizes she’s fallen for her best friend, she wonders if there is any hope of a relationship with Drew or if she’s stuck in buddy-status for life.
     The Candy Counter Heiress by Lucy McConnell Amazon bestselling & award-winning author

    Someday Reese Gates will own The Candy Counter at Kenworth’s; but someday can’t come fast enough when the manager threatens to bring in a national candy provider. Reese secretly takes matters into her own hands hoping to save her parents from additional worry and prove herself capable of running the company. Her deception deepens as she ropes computer guru Andy Edwards into helping her expand the business. Reese wanted to shake things up, but she wasn’t planning on her heart getting caught in the mix by Andy’s stolen kisses. If she can hold it together until after Christmas, then she can reveal her successful online company and her feelings for Andy. Unfortunately for Reese, even the best laid plans can melt like chocolate.
     Soda Fountain Christmas by Connie E. Sokol Amazon bestselling author

    Keira Kenworth has one focus this holiday season: save her father’s old-time department store from bankruptcy. She is not focused on Tayton Wells, the tall, dark, and genius marketing guru from downtown New York, hired to make it happen. He is as doubtful that her nostalgic connect-the-town ideas will succeed as she is about his numbers-first plan. However, it’s not just their different approaches that cause sparks to fly. Working together on a fast deadline to save the store before Christmas, the unspoken connection between them grows. But will the tough decisions they face drive them back to their separate worlds, or will they lead to the beginning of love?
     Christmas Makeover by Heather Tullis Amazon bestselling author

    Jonah Owens thought moving to Echo Ridge to open his art gallery would solve all of his problems. The need to sell his grandma’s house adds an unexpected complication. It would be easier if his neighbor didn’t have all those farm animals.

    Kaya Feidler’s family has owned their land for nearly a hundred years–long before the neighbors were there. There’s no way she’s giving up the animal therapy business she’s been struggling to make profitable. She gets a temp job helping Jonah in the gallery. Spending time together is a recipe for romance, but can they overcome their own hangups to be more than friends?
     Hope for Christmas by Rachelle J. Christensen Amazon bestselling & award-winning author

    Anika Fletcher hates Christmas–its promises of good tidings and hope for the future are as tinseled as the ornaments on Kenworth’s Hope Tree. Despite her feelings, Anika wants to maintain her daughter’s faith in the magic of the season and gladly accepts a second job working with the handsome Carlos Rodriguez to restore Kenworth’s old fashioned soda fountain. Carlos is no stranger to hard times and slowly shares his life of light and joy with Anika as they work together. Just as her fragile soul begins to feel hope again, an ill-timed act of charity changes everything. Anika isn’t sure who she can trust or if hope is worth nurturing–especially at Christmas when it’s easy to enjoy a kiss and believe love can last longer than the season.

  • Holiday Gift Guide: Book Lovers Giveaway

    Holiday Gift Guide: Book Lovers Giveaway

    It’s our first 2014 Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway! You can read more about these great sponsors, and find quick links for purchasing on the Holiday Gift Guide.
    What’s in this giveaway?

  • A House for Hermit Crab: Seashell Centerpiece

    A House for Hermit Crab: Seashell Centerpiece

    Bring books to life when pairing them with a craft. A House for Hermit Crab is one of our favorite activities, and can be done over and over again.
     
     
    When I heard The Educators Spin On It was hosting a Summer Love Books Exchange, I could not resist. Come on, people, you know me! When it comes to books I have a hard time resisting anything. I joined in with the Picture Book Group and we were paired with Learning To Love Them
     
    Learning to Love Them, sent us one of our favorite books by a favorite author – A House for Hermit Crab By Eric Carle, along with a bag full of seashells, some ribbon, and craft sticks. 
     
     
    Doesn’t this look like so much fun?! I tell you what, it was! We reacquainted ourselves with Hermit Crab by reading the book, then reading Learning to Love Them’s craft Instructions. Which, I’m going to tell you is not what we ended up doing…so sorry! But really that’s one of the most fun things with crafting, you can change it up and let your imagination run. 
     
    We were supposed to turn the items into a windchime with the craft sticks glued in a star shape, with ribbons dangling down, and the seashells attached.  You can find a whole bunch of these on Pinterest, a lot use an actual starfish instead of the craft sticks, but the craft sticks make a very nice substitute.  
     
    So let me tell you how we changed this up – and I promise it wasn’t intentional, it just sort of happened. We started out decorating the shells, just like Hermit Crab decorates his. I pulled out the craft glue, glitter, and a plethora of beads, then we headed outside to enjoy some sunshine. Hint: Outdoor crafts mean less clean up for Mom!
     
     
    We reused the bubble mailer our book and craft came in for a decorating station. Unfortunately, the glue I have hates coming out of the tube, so we took the top off and I just let the girls have at it. If I had thought just a little more ahead, we would have used some paint brushes to paint the glue on the seashells. 
     
    As it was, we had to let our decorated shells dry overnight…for a couple of nights. By the time we were ready to turn the shells into wind chimes, we took a look at them and decided we really liked how pretty they looked on our table. We now are immensely enjoying the sparkling covered seashells as a table centerpiece. 
     
     
    A big thank you to The Educators Spin On It for putting this exchange together, and Learning to Love Them for such a fun craft. 
     

    What are you reading this summer?

    Check out more of my favorite books!
  • Backyard Tourist: Old Number 6 Book Depot

    Backyard Tourist: Old Number 6 Book Depot

    Last week I had the amazing opportunity to visit my brothers family in New Hampshire. I spent my childhood, the times where you really make some good memories, in a little town called Weare. 13 years ago, my family moved to Utah while I was in high school. For the first time, I was able to go back and visit.

    I was told by my sister Megan that I had to visit this bookstore in Henniker. I’m always up for bookstores, but wasn’t really expecting anything extraordinary. Let’s just say…I could have spent the whole day there.

    Let me introduce you to Old Number 6 Book Depot in Henniker, New Hampshire. If you live anywhere in New England, or plan on visiting I would recommend you drop by.

    Can you see where this is going?  You might be thinking, oh that’s nice, lots of dusty shelves, concrete floor, not the nicest bookstore ever. BUT, if you’re anything like my family, the surroundings don’t matter. These are used books, at varying prices and editions. For example, where else are you going to find these…

    I should have looked at these closer, but I do believe these are all first editions! I pulled out the Pickwick Papers I to gently look through, and perhaps see if it was affordable…not so much in my budget at $300. However, for the edition and condition, this book is worth every penny of that cost. 
    If you are visiting in the winter in the back of the store I found a comfy looking area to curl up with whatever book you happen to choose
    While I was taking this photo, the collection of Zane Grey novels jumped out at me. Some of the best western romance (clean) novels I’ve ever read. I’ve got my own small collection, but nothing like this. Too bad I could not remember which ones I own, or I would have purchased a few more to come home with me. 
    To be honest, I needed more time to really get into this store. My first visit was much more of a discovery of the store and layout than actual books I’d want to read. Oh it was fun though. If you happen to have children and still want to visit, no worries, there’s a childrens section of books, and some toy bins to help keep them entertained. 
    Quite literally the books are stacked floor to ceiling. You will find no wasted space at the Old Number 6. I’m pretty sure my eyes were going cross eyed the whole time, so very few actual book titles stuck out to me, that’s ok though. Just knowing a place like this exists is wonderful. 
    By the way….there’s an upstairs to this place too. I can tell you that was a complete surprise, and cause for burst of excitement when stumbling across the staircase hidden behind a couple of bookshelves. You’ll find more world histories and politics on the second floor. 
    On the staircase itself you’ll find some college textbooks and college/university histories. Off to the left of the stairs as you go up is where you’ll find the Charles Dickens collection. If you want more old books like those you’ll find plenty scattered throughout the store depending on the subject. The following shelves however were my favorite to just gaze at though. I mean really. Old books are such a delightful find. 
    If you can read that note, you’ll realize just how old some of these books are; 1700’s old!! My heart be still. I don’t care that they are condensed reports of the supreme court which I would probably find boring for today’s records, but these. Let me open you and immerse myself in another time. 
    Shortly after finding these books, I decided it was probably time to purchase the Issac Asimov book I found, and continue on our sightseeing day. Only problem I wasn’t entirely sure which book aisle I needed to turn down to get out. Thank goodness for the simple Exit signs down at eye level. 
    I hope you enjoyed this tour of Old Number 6 Book Depot in Henniker, New Hampshire. If you ever get to visit, or have been there before, I’d love to hear about it!  
    What old bookstores are near you?
  • Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop

    Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop

    clear your shelf january
    Hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer. I love the Clear your Shelf Giveaway Hop Kathy hosts each year because it gives me a time to clear my shelves a bit, and share some great books with you!
    Mark’s mom gave us my FAVORITE series ever for Christmas – The Chronicles of Prydain. I’ve never owned the whole series, and she gave it to us in a nice boxed set to boot. 
    So that leaves me with some slightly worn copies of book 1, 2 and 5 in the series to give to you. YAY!  I’ve added a couple other books from my shelf that I think you’ll also enjoy. Enter on the rafflecopter below, and then hop to all the other blogs for more giveaways!
    Book 1: The Book of Three by Llyod Alexander
    Book 2: The Black Cauldron by Llyod Alexander
    Book 5: The High King by Lloyd Alexander
    Coyote Winds by Helen Sedwick – Read my Review
    The Fear Place by Phyllis Reynolds
  • The Christmas Train Blog Tour

    The Christmas Train Blog Tour

     

    Christmas train


    The Christmas Train

    In this children’s picture book, President Thomas S. Monson recounts a Christmas memory from his childhood. As a boy, he yearned for an electric train. To his delight, on Christmas morning he got exactly that a train that operated through the miracle of electricity. Then he noticed a second train that his mother had purchased for the boy down the street whose family was struggling. Although it was only a wind-up train, it had an beautiful oil tanker car, which little Tommy wanted for his own. Soon after, Tommy s mother invited him to accompany her to the neighbor s home to deliver the gift. Young Mark was thrilled with his new train and, of course, didn t notice the missing train car. However, a remorseful Tommy did. What happened next will bring the spirit of Christmas into every heart and home. Illustrated by renowned artist Dan Burr, The Christmas Train is sure to be a classic Christmas story and a beautiful addition to every Christmas library.

    Includes a QR code for a FREE download of President Monson’s narration of the story!

    Winner of the 2012 Gold Medal Mom’s Choice Award!

     

    Download the new interactive Christmas Train app for your iPad!
    The pages come alive with animations, sound effects, and narration by the author, Thomas S. Monson. Kids will love listening to a true Christmas story, read by a familiar voice, while navigating trains, turning Christmas lights on and off, and experiencing the importance of giving during the Christmas season.


    Click Here to Learn More

    About the Author

    President Thomas S. Monson was set apart as the sixteenth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 2008. He had previously served for twenty-two years in the First Presidency of the Church, after having been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since October1963. Five years after his call to the Twelve, he was given a special assignment for the work of the Church in Europe, requiring many visits with members behind the Iron Curtain. He was instrumental in the construction of the Freiberg Germany Temple and in advancing the Lord’s work in other eastern European countries that were part of the communist bloc. He also served as chairman of the Scriptures Publication Committee and supervised the process that resulted in the new editions of the scriptures. His ministry has been characterized by his compassion for the needs of individuals and his gift for one-on-one service. President Monson and his wife, Frances, are the parents of three children, grandparents of eight, and great-grandparents of eight.

     

    About the Illustrator

    Dan Burr earned his bachelor of fine arts degree from Utah State University and a master’s degree in illustration from Syracuse University. He and his wife, Patti, are raising their two children in the Teton Valley of southeast Idaho, a setting that provides great artistic inspiration and fantastic fly fishing. Dan is a well-known illustrator, having been in the business for many years, most recently working as a children’s picture book illustrator. A few of the books Dan has illustrated are The Miracle of the Wooden Shoes; God Bless Your Way; A Christmas Journey; and I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.

     
     
    Tour Giveaway

    $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

    Ends 12/31/13

    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 author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  • Create Something One Of A Kind with Blurb

    Create Something One Of A Kind with Blurb

    *This is a sponsored post and contains affiliate links. All added thoughts and opinions are my own*

    People love getting really creative, one-of-a-kind books for Christmas. Books that elicit a “where did you find this?” response. At least my family does!  My sister has decided to be very creative and asked that our gift to her this Christmas not be a thing, but rather that we allow her to pick a book and we have to read it over the Christmas break. I’m all on board for that plan!

    Don’t miss Blurb’s sale! Code only good until 11/30

    As the leading indie- and self-publishing platform, Blurb has an entire online bookstore full of unique books by an incredible array of undiscovered, self-published authors, artists, and photographers. And while these books probably aren’t in your recipient’s bookshelf, many of them should be. So, if you’re thinking of giving unique gifts this year, consider these titles. Each costs around $40 or less:

    We all have cookie cravings. Popular food blogger Maria Lichter decided to put them into something deliciously original: A baking book featuring 30 recipes you won’t find anywhere else.


    This charming collection of original, vintage photos shows us that as long as there have been cameras, we’ve wanted to photograph our canine best friends. As a special bonus, there’s a glossary of the early photographic methods used in the original images. 


    Perfect for the photography or graffiti-art fan on your list. This book is an explosion of gritty color that explores the wonders of street art and analog photography. 


    A short, wonderfully illustrated collection of recipes (and food stories) that will inspire you to pick up the knife and spatula—or just pen and paper. 
    Illustrated and written many years apart by a mother and daughter, this sweet rhyming story told by a fox is pure joy for all ages.


    Chicken goggles, air-conditioned rocking chairs, monkey jockeys for greyhounds… humankind has invented and sought to patent some amazing and crazy things. Illustrator Jordan Natyshen illustrates some of the strangest in this history of odd inventions. 


    The perfect stocking-stuffer for fans of off-beat humor, this undeniably nutty book is based on a Tumblr blog and combines simple photo collages of small horses in human environments with incredibly funny captions.
    What can you do with an empty roll of toilet paper? If you’re French artist Anastassia Elias, you create tiny dioramas inside of the discarded tubes. Inspired by art and movies, these pieces are beautifully crafted, fun, and unbelievably detailed. 


    If you, or someone you love, listened to New York punk and new wave in the 70s, chances are your favorite artist can be found in this book. Bobby Grossman photographed Iggy Pop, David Byrne, The Ramones, Debbie Harry, Andy Warhol and many more. This book is a time capsule of—and a love letter to—a legendary time, place, and sound.


    Take a second and head over to Blurb to see if you can end your search for that perfect gift this season! 

  • The Ripple Effect Novella Series Cover Reveal

    The Ripple Effect Novella Series Cover Reveal

    The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series 
    Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors.

    “Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love.”

    Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford
    Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin
    Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson
    Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White
    Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver
    Book 6: Immersed in Love by Jennifer Griffith

    Home Matters by Julie N. Ford

    According to her mother, Olivia Pembroke was born to be a star. But how is she supposed to be famous when she can’t even get a decent acting gig? Her lucky break comes when she lands an audition for a wildly popular home improvement show. Even though she has no design training and has never even held a power tool, she refuses to let that stop her. She’s confident that her destiny is finally within reach.

    When her affections are torn between her heartthrob co-host and the irritating, yet somehow endearing lead contractor, does she continue to reach for the stars? Or does she design a new happily ever after? One that leads not to the fading lights of fame and fortune, but to a love that will burn forever.

    Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin

    Drew Westfall wants nothing more than to forget what he had to do in the name of “smart” business. Cutting off all ties with his parents—including handing over the entire contents of his trust fund to a charity—he takes off for Bridger, Colorado where his best friend has an extra room for him. It doesn’t take long for him to realize that his business degree won’t do him much good in a town as small as Bridger, but he’s broke and has nowhere else to go.

    Eden Torresi has every reason to wallow. Not only did she lose her mother, but she had to drop out of nursing school and is in a relationship with a guy unwilling to commit. But Eden isn’t the wallowing type. Instead, she chooses to spend most of her time taking care of the seniors at Silver Linings Nursing home. When she learns that her boyfriend’s new roommate is down on his luck, her caring nature makes her want to reach out to him and offer what help she can. But the more time they spend together, the more complicated things get, especially when the seniors of Silver Linings decide to play matchmaker.

    Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson

    Seven years ago, Cambri Blaine fled her small hometown of Bridger, Colorado after her senior year ended in a fiasco. Only Jace Sutton knew the real reason why—that she was a spineless coward. Now, seven years later, her father’s been in an accident and needs help, and Cambr has no choice but to return home. So with trepidation, she takes a leave of absence from the landscape architecture firm where she works and boards a plane, hoping against hope that Jace is no longer around and that the past can stay where it belongs—in the past.

    If only life worked that way.

    Jace never expected to see Cambri again. After she’d led him on, bruised his heart, and left town without a backward glance, he was forced to pick up the pieces and try not to hate her for it. Eventually, he put it behind him and moved on, creating a life for himself in his beloved hometown. But now that Cambri is back and looking more beautiful and sophisticated than ever, some of those old feelings resurface, and Jake instinctively knows, for the sake of his heart, that he needs to avoid her at all costs.
    If only it were that easy.

    Lost and Found by Karey White

    Lydia was supposed to have an adventurous and exciting summer. Instead she’s done nothing more than read and eat takeout. Now it’s time to go home, and what does she have to show for it? A big fat nothing. Unless, of course, her trip to the airport somehow turns into something more than just a flight home.

    Blake feels like he’s been sent on a wild goose chase. While work is piling up back in Denver, he’s on the other side of the country, hunting for some mysterious box that his grandfather left him. Well, no more. Nothing inside that box could possibly be more important than the opportunity to make it as the youngest partner at his firm. So he’s going home, and that’s that. But that’s before he discovers his flight has been cancelled.

    When these two strangers meet at the airport, they make a split-second decision to search for the box together. Maybe with both of them on the hunt, Lydia can have her adventure and Blake can find the box. And maybe, if they’re lucky, they’ll even find some romance.

    Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver

    Thirty seven year old Francie Davis, a recent widow and empty nester, gets to attend college at last. She’s sure her luck has changed when she also lands a job on campus that will pay her tuition, as administrative assistant to a history professor. When her handsome new boss yells at her on the first day of work, Francie worries she will never be good enough.

    For Professor Alex Diederik, life is going downhill fast. Not only is his bitter ex-wife trying to poison their only daughter against him, but now his one place of solace—his work environment—is being complicated by his attractive new administrative assistant. She drives home his feelings of failure as a husband and father, and Alex wonders if hiring her was the right thing to do.

    Francie will have to put aside her hurt and insecurities or risk her dreams, while Alex must look outside himself if he’s to mend the breach with his daughter. And, perhaps, find someone who can help heal his pain.

    Immersed in Love by Jennifer Griffith

    Lisette Pannebaker speaks five languages and has a brilliant business plan—personal language immersion. Clients can hire her to shadow them and speak all day in any language they need to learn for business or travel—whatever.

    But there’s a major hitch: she’s far too pretty. Clients with less than honorable intentions sign up just have Lisette at their side. Solution? A make-under. Way under.It works like a charm. None of her male clients show her the least bit of interest.

    Until… Erik.

    Erik Gunnarsson is charming, kind, and smart—everything she’s ever looked for. Even though he seems to have a secret and she swore she’d never date a client, Lisette is tempted to shed her disguise—even if it means jeopardizing her career.

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