Sunday, January 21, 2018

Sunday Post #187

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share new about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

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I've been working at getting caught back up. I've updated my links on my blog to all the reviews I've posted, and neglected to get linked up over the last few months. I've also posted reviews on all book selling sights, which I'm still working to get caught up at.

I didn't post any reviews this week. Shame on me. There are reviews to post, I'm just struggling getting life back in order and on schedule. I'm going to work at being better about that. I've been taking free "classes" on Photoshop. As many of you know, I've really taken a dive into my photography. Well, to go with that I've also picked up Lightroom and Photoshop to help touch up those photos to look clearer. Photoshop has so much to offer that I'm not even close to being aware of. I found online Shaw Academy. They do hour sessions explaining different things in Photoshop. It's only nine sessions, but it's more than what I knew before hand. This is helping me learn the program. So this is twice a week spent with these lessons

I've been starting to look around my local area for book and writing events. I found one for yesterday! A wonderful and kind author, Rebecca Drake, did a writing workshop at Barnes & Nobles yesterday. So I went. What she shared was very helpful as I knew things were missing in my story, I what was missing, and I pretty much knew why. But listening to Rebecca talk put it all into place for me. No, she didn't talk about my WIP. She talked about the process and what is needed. This was a reminder to me what I already knew and need to fix. It was great listening to her go over why a book may not be picked up for publishing and what to do to fix it. Thank you Rebecca!

So now I have tons of ideas - photo and writing related - bouncing through my head. I just need the time to get to them all! lol.

What do you have going on?

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The Fit Booker:

Goal:  Workout in any form of exercise (or on Wii Fit) 2x's a week. (to feel better and hope to drop a few pants sizes)

How did I do last week... I did get one day in. And if you count walking around the mall while I shop exercise, well so be it. lol. (Yes I'm stretching for days.)


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What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:
Winter of Ice and Iron by Rachel Neumeier
Assassin's Mark by A.F. Grappin

Current Audiobook:
Steam by Stacey Rourke

Current Podcast Book Listen:
Alone by Scott Sigler (You can listen for free too! Go to Scott's website.)


Finished Last Week: 
No print books.


Audiobooks from Audible:
Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw
Raven by Stacey Rourke


Finished Podcast Book Listen:
None.


DNFed:
Stonebriar Casefiles: Bad Alchemy by Laura Nicole Spencer (You can listen for free too!) - Author's stopped posting it.
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Last Two Weeks on the Blog:


Cover Reveals: (click titles to go to post & learn more)




Guest Posts:


Posts:

Around the Internet...



Reviews:



Podcast Review:




Mama Bitchstress Reviews:



GIVEAWAYS:


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This Week to Come on the Blog:


I have two reviews to finish and schedule for you.



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Received For the Last Month:
(Note: Links to Amazon are buy links where I could earn commission, in case you are interested.)


For Review Consideration:



Audio Books Requested for Review:




Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:
Book:
Just Between Us by Rebecca Drake
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Four suburban mothers and friends conspire to cover up a deadly crime in this heart-stopping novel of suspense in the tradition of Lisa Scottoline and Lisa Unger.

Alison, Julie, Sarah, Heather. Four friends living the suburban ideal. Their jobs are steady, their kids are healthy. They’re as beautiful as their houses. But each of them has a dirty little secret, and hidden behind the veneer of their perfect lives is a crime and a mystery that will consume them all. 

Everything starts to unravel when Alison spots a nasty bruise on Heather’s wrist. She shares her suspicions with Julie and Sarah, compelling all three to investigate what looks like an increasingly violent marriage. As mysterious injuries and erratic behavior mount, Heather can no longer deny the abuse, but she refuses to leave her husband. Desperate to save her, Alison and the others dread the phone call telling them that she’s been killed. But when that call finally comes, it’s not Heather who’s dead. In a moment they’ll come to regret, the women must decide what lengths they’ll go to in order to help a friend.

Just Between Us is a thrilling glimpse into the underbelly of suburbia, where not all neighbors can be trusted, and even the closest friends keep dangerous secrets. You never really know what goes on in another person’s mind, or in their marriage.



Audio:
Nightblade's Vengeance by Ryan Kirk
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
In a thrilling fantasy series from the author of the Nightblade novels, revenge becomes a quest for a young female warrior.
In a feudal land, a Kingdom is at risk. With no heir to the fragile throne, its future rests with the powerful members of the dying king’s Council, including Minori, a nightblade warrior, and Kiyoshi, a dayblade healer. The two men are bound by the sword but divided by two opposing principles: rule the land, or serve it. In their challenge for supremacy, a spark has been lit.
Her name is Asa. Her creed is revenge.
A fierce nightblade warrior, she’s spent a decade in pursuit of the enigmatic general who killed her father in a violent revolt—then mysteriously vanished from all records. Now, her desire for reckoning has led her to the village of Two Falls—and straight into the heart of an impending civil war. Minori and Kiyoshi are vying for her loyalty. And Asa must choose sides.
As fresh betrayals unfold and a new uprising looms, Asa knows that chasing a ghost is no longer just a personal quest for retribution. It’s going to alter the fate of the entire Kingdom.
A Witch's Concern by N.E. Conneely
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Michelle has been figuring out what her life is like now that the demon has been killed, and Sylvia and Varro are dead. Even the clans of witches trying to attract her to their way of life have backed off and given her a chance to grieve. Her relationship with Elron is stronger than ever, but there are things left unsaid. 

On the way to her parents' wedding, the delicate calm she’d been living in is broken. Witches are out for her blood, her family is caught in the crossfire, and friendships are threatened. Work doesn’t let up either, and she partners up with Elron to deal with magic gone wild. Michelle finds that her problems are larger than one clan of witches, and is forced to choose between the people she holds dear and the way of life she loves. 

This is the fourth book in a series, following A Witch's Trial. It is a standalone novel, however, your reading experience will be greatly enhanced if you've read the previous books.




Free Ebooks:
(On my Kindle and Nook App) Links to books under title. They may or may not be free at this time.
Once Upon a Princess by Deborah A. Bailey
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Once Upon A Princess: Beauty and the Faun 

In this short and sexy "fairy tale" paranormal romance novella, a princess finds that love with a shifter hero is not without complications – but there is always a happily-ever-after. 

One complete novella. No cliffhangers. Mature readers only. 

Kayla, a poor young woman runs away when her rich uncle and aunt arrange her marriage to a shifter prince from another land. Her uncle needs gold to settle his debts and the king is offering a great reward if he can obtain a willing bride for his son. 

But Kayla's plans to hide in the Great Forest hit a snag when two mischievous fauns find her and deliver her to a very sexy faun shifter who is ready to teach Kayla a thing or two about life and love.

Steampunk Fairy Tales Volume III
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
A hardened gladiator fights a minotaur for a coveted prize. Danger is afoot when shoes create with angelic cloth are misused during a ceremony. And what is The Voice?

In Steampunk Fairy Tales Volume III you’ll find tinkering elves, sinister clockwork men, and binkering grandfathers. Every captivating fairy tale contains elements of the futuristic Victorian concept of steam and fashion, with inspiration from countries like Greece, Denmark, and Germany.

Steampunk Fairy Tales Volume III continues the charming and unique works contained in Volume I and II, for lovers of the genre, and for those who are discovering this series

What They Didn't Know by Adir E. Golan
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
An unresolved past will always haunt the present…
The bygone truths that await Jack Sullivan should be kept secret from a teenager, but life has something else in mind: an entity that is wicked with a rage so old that it seeks nothing but to quench its sinister thirst for power. And Jack has a secret of his own developing…
Can Jack cope with the bizarre, malicious forces that seek to overwhelm him?
Graduating from high school and taking steps into the real world is a big deal for Jack. Yet, the real world is full of unreal forces, strange powers, and an old battle that rages all around him. And as if falling in love for the first time is not complicated enough, Jack is forced to leave home and put his trust in strangers if he wishes to survive this ordeal. These dark, looming forces will stop at nothing to get to Jack, for what he holds is of great value to them. Jack must now learn to fight and use his newfound abilities, to put an end to this old feud one last time. Because things are getting out of hand very fast.





Free Audio Books/Stories:


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Reviews to Come:

Soulless by Skyla Dawn Cameron
The Sentinel by Chris Lester
The Muse by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Making the Cut by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Whispers in the Wood by Chris Lester
Lex Talionis by Starla Huchton
Spark by Starla Huchton
Heir to Kale by K.L. Bone
Tales from the Archives Vol 4 #5 - Old Sinner's Bones
The Death of Dulgath by Michael J. Sullivan
Danger's Halo by Amanda Carlson
Glass Town by Steven Savile
Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw
Raven by Stacey Rourke

9 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I'm looking forward to this Ryan Kirk book. I've really enjoyed his previous books. :)

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  2. I'm so glad the workshop with Rebecca Drake was so helpful - it's the worst feeling in the world when you feel adrift with the writing and unsure how to fix it. Have a great week, Melissa:)

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    1. S.J. Higbee, I had the feeling I needed to do a few things, but listening to the workshop really cinched it in my mind. It was just the right time to hear what Rebecca said.

      Thank you!

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  3. Walking is walking. If you happen to be buying stuff too it still counts. I mean if you were on the treadmill shopping on Amazon it'd still be exercise right? As you can tell I've spent a lot of time rationalizing this! That's great about the workshop and that it really helped you. I'm not a writer but I'd love to go to more bookish things. Have a great week!

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    1. lol! I love your look on walking and shopping. And sounds like you've tried it. ;D Thank you!!

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  4. That's cool that yours does writing workshops!!

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    1. I was surprised to see it LilyElement. I'm now following the B&N on Facebook. I hope they do many more different events I can go to. :)

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  5. Good luck with Photoshop! I feel like there's so much you can do with it, and I know so little lol.

    Just Between Us sounds fun, and so does steampunk Fairy Tales!

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