Hollyweird by Terri Clark (Review)

Title: Hollyweird
Author: Terri Clark
Publication Date: May 2012
Publisher: Flux
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Purchased

When Aly King wins a trip to the set of her favorite television show, she and her best friend, Des, are over the moon excited. Other than having Aly's aspiring actress sister, Missy, for a chaperone the the trip is a wonderful dream come true. The duo are enchanted when they get to meet their favorite TV star, Dakota Danvers but Aly can't help but wonder why Dakota's personal assistant, Jameson, seems to dislike his boss so much. It turns out that nothing in Hollywood is exactly as it appears and Jameson needs help from Aly, Des, and even Missy to stop the Son of Satan and earn back his angel wings.

The cover for Hollyweird makes  the book look like a fun story and that is exactly what you get. Terri Clark writes believable teen characters who interact with snappy dialogue. Aly and Des may appear to be complete opposites - preppy and rule-following, goth and rule-breaking - but they work together. I love Aly's description of their friendship on the second page of the book, "She is yin, I am yang. Together we are taijitu, the balance of yin and yang." It is this balance of personalities that allows Aly and Des to face evil in Hollywood with both the logic and passion needed to overcome it.

Chapters in the book alternate between Aly and Jameson telling the story. I enjoyed this technique because it allows the reader to see more than either Aly or Jameson can see in the moment. It also gives the reader a chance to know each character on a deeper level and understand more of why they react to each other they way they do based on their individual backgrounds. This gives the romantic aspect of the book a realistic feeling as the characters must sort through a variety of emotions.

Hollyweird is a fast read both because it isn't a long book and because of the quick pacing of the story. The dialogue is peppered with references to contemporary Hollywood shows and stars. Des also invents new words by combining others. It is pretty easy to figure most of these out in context, although Aly also explains some of them to Jameson along the way. Terri Clark offers us the classic battle of good versus evil but she presents it with a personal brand of humor and contemporary style.

About the author:

Terri Clark feels blessed to demonstrate her passion for young adult fiction as both a teen librarian and author. For as long as she can remember she's been fascinated with the paranormal, so it's little wonder her stories are a bit edgy and twisted. Sleepless (HarperTeen) is about a teen who is stalked in her dreams by a killer and her short story in the Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (HoughtonMifflin) anthology delves into mind-reading. Terri has also been a part of the non-fiction anthologies Flirtin' with the Monster and The Girl Who Was On Fire (BenBella Books). You can visit Terri online at www.TerriClarkBooks.com and at www.facebook.com/terriclarkbooks. Terri can also be found on Twitter.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

Joining In: #BlogFlash2012

I think I must be crazy. I don't post on the blog regularly. I don't post on any type of schedule. Yet, I've just committed to posting each day for 30 days based on a photo/word prompt. All the details are on this post at Terri Giuliano Long's blog including all the writing prompts and the sign-up linky. The suggestion is 50 - 100 words and can be in any format you like. I've seen people say they are going to do poetry or flash fiction. My posts will probably be more general ramblings based on my life. There are some really fun bloggers participating in this event and we hope you will join us. I'm looking forward to visiting a variety of blogs each day to see how people have been inspired.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

The Fairy Truth by Sheryl Steines (Guest Post)

Today I am happy to welcome author Sheryl Steines to the blog to talk about the role of the fairy in fantasy books. Be sure to keep reading all the way to the end of the post to find out how to enter to win books or gift cards from Sheryl and The Indie Exchange.

The Fairy Truth

photo credit: Ebabystuff via photo pin cc

It became a joke between me and a friend, whether or not I could write a blog about fairies. Originally the thought popped into my head, what do I write about? Do I write about Tinkerbell? Do I write that fairies are created every time a baby laughs? I wanted to write an intelligent blog about fairies. So the challenge was on. I find that they can be an embodiment of our hopes dreams, fears, shame, sadness, depression. Become a representation for something that is going on in our lives or something that we wish to change. Mythical creatures answered questions about life and about world our ancient ancestors lived in. They can carry our emotions and our thoughts without being obvious in our writings, making what we read more interesting, entertaining, or unusual. You know more creative.

So the fairy, you’re thinking to yourself? What about the fairy could possibly be so interesting or different? Again, I’m not talking about the fairy as they’ve been hijacked by Disney, though I’m fine with that interpretation because, Tinkerbell is kind of spunky and fun and there is a purpose of Pixie Hollow. I’m far more interested in what the fairy has evolved from, not what it’s become. Because after all these cute, spunky, sparkly and genuinely good beings, evolved from something scary. Unknown pranksters, fallen angels, the walking dead, humans that fell into a subset of dead or simply groups of humans that had been forced into hiding. They became a reflection of humankind, its beliefs and way of life.

Is that far too melodramatic for you? I suppose it could be, but the fairy is so central to many fantasy novels that it might be worth a look at their origins. The more I research these beings, the more fascinating they become. When I write, I like to borrow existing beliefs from real cultures and incorporate them into my own story because I think it lends authenticity to what I write.

photo credit: kristiannordestgaard via photo pin cc

Fairies have been a part of several cultures in the last thousands of years. But where did they come from? What did our ancestors believe fairies were? Ancient pagan societies believed fairies were mythical creatures, human in appearance which possessed magical powers. To know that they were far more than singing cherubs, to know that that they started off as something far darker, gives a story so much more interest.

So what does that mean for us as readers and writers? As a reader, we can stop thinking of them as Disneyesque and more as multilayered creatures with a variety of characteristics, that can add drama, tension, or a bit of fun.

As a writer I can picture my main character Annie Pearce, a magical police officer, tracking a demon through the forest. In her search she comes across a fairy, a type she’s never seen before and follows the fairy to its permanent hiding place. As the story progresses, Annie learns that they are highly intelligent elementals an idea that ancient societies believed fairies to be.

How does a witch deal with an elemental? A being of nature; beings that controls nature. The idea of controlling the four elements appeals to me, an idea I wouldn’t have had until I expanded my limited knowledge of fairies. I opened myself up to far more interesting ideas of what fairies could mean in my own writing, which is why I tend to research existing past ideas before creating my characters. They are far more fascinating when I understand their origins and history.

I do understand as an author of fantasy books, that anything goes. We can create, we can invent, and we can make up whatever it is that we want, as we design our worlds. Or we can borrow from our ancient societies because their beliefs link the fantasy world to the real one. I strongly believe that authenticity makes the believable possible. So for those of you who tend to find the fairy simple, not nearly as exciting as say the Minotaur, open your perspective and entertain them as a real possibility. They are far more interesting then what you thought they could be. Happy reading.

Author Bio: Sheryl Steines is equal parts driven, passionate and inspired. With a degree in English from Wright State University, Sheryl dedicates time everyday to her art. Her love of books and a quality story drives her to share her talent with her readers as well as make the time to talk to book clubs and students about her process. Sheryl has eclectic tastes and enjoys character driven novels. In her own writing, the Annie Loves Cham series is driven by her love of the characters and her desire to place them in totally new situations. She enjoys testing their mettle. Behind the wheel of her ’66 Mustang Convertible, Sheryl is a constant surprise. Her sense of humor and relatable style make her books something everyone can enjoy. Sheryl can be found on Twitter, Facebook, or her blog. She also encourages her readers to email her and let her know what you think of Annie and Cham!

The Giveaway: Head over to this post on The Indie Exchange to enter for a chance to win The Day of First Sun (one paperback & 3 eBooks up for grabs), a set that also includes She Wulf (eBook, officially releasing this fall), or a $15 Amazon gift card. Giveaway ends August 2, 2012.

 

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

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Closed: One Day Only! 9 eBooks, 99 Cents Each + Giveaway

Welcome to the FIRST EVER BookPushalooza!

July 26^th ONLY

9 Books, only .99.

With each purchase you get the chance to WIN while Helping Authors reach new heights in Amazon’s ranks.

It’s so easy a CAVEMAN could do it!

Follow the Instructions on the Rafflecopter Widget and for each book you purchase (or Borrow through Amazon Prime for Free) you get an entry in to WIN ---

(1) Grand Prize- $100 Amazon Gift Card

(2) Runners up of $25 Amazon Gift Cards

That’s not all! Purchase all NINE (9) books and get an additional 5 entries!

Don’t delay, this offer is good for JULY 26^th ONLY!

Overview of Dark Isle

When evil begets evil, a choice is forced on Quinn, the one person who can see the danger. Does she save the ones she loves, or does she save the world from Chaos?

As the realms of Fae and human collide, Quinn's future has never looked so grim, or so damn impossible.

Genre- Urban Fantasy

Overview of Enemy in Blue

 The streets aren't safe when your enemy wears a blue uniform and a gold badge.
What if the good guys weren't good?
What if a cop went rogue and killed an innocent man?

What if it was all caught on video and the cop would do anything to cover it up?
Chase this lawless cop through the streets and to a scintillating series of showdowns with Cruz Marquez, a young attorney trying to nail down his enemy in blue.

Will justice be served?
Genre- Thriller



Overview of Land of the Noonday Sun

When two strangers have nothing left but their dreams, they must forge a relationship in Nantahala, North Carolina, a small town known as Land of the Noonday Sun.

A man with a traumatic past is able to turn his life around and is happy with his chosen career as a whitewater guide. Everything changes though when fate hurls a woman into his path. His carefree life is in turmoil, and his former weaknesses threaten to overtake him. Will he be strong enough when tragedy strikes and is once again in danger of losing everything he loves?

Genre- Contemporary Romance


Overview of This Time Forever

Delaney Brannigan and Blake Morrisson met at the Cedar Cove annual costume dance, known only to each other as the leopard and the cowboy--but, as Delaney soon discovers, the cowboy she'd thought had ridden off into the sunset never to tempt her again, is none other than the man she came from New York to find and discredit. Against her will, Delaney is drawn deeper and deeper into an overwhelming attraction to Blake--an attraction she can't give in to if she wants to keep the one thing she values more than anything else.

Genre- Contemporary Romance

Overview of Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula

Fourteen-year-old Cassidy Jones wakes up the morning after a minor accident in the laboratory of a world-renowned geneticist to discover that her body has undergone some bizarre physical changes. Her senses, strength, and speed have been radically enhanced.

Lives are put at risk when they find themselves embroiled in a dangerous, action-packed adventure. Soon they are forced to confront a maniacal villain willing to do anything - including murder - to reach his own ambitious goals.

Genre- YA/MG Superhero

Overview of Gray Justice

Gray Justice is the fast-paced debut thriller from Alan McDermott. When a killer walks free from court, the victim's father sees just two options: accept the judge's decision; or take on the entire British justice system. Tom Gray chooses the latter and his crusade attracts instant worldwide media coverage. It was just what Tom was hoping for, but it brought him a lot more than he bargained for.

Gray Justice is much more than a simple tale of revenge: it's a rollercoaster ride with an ending you'll never forget!

Genre- Thriller

Overview of Gone at Zero Hundred 00:00

"Their lives are in the hands of two 18-year-olds..."
A Prominent P.I. is gunned down - killed by a sniper - and it’s broadcasted on live TV.
Now, her daughter, along with her childhood pal, are thrust into a complex and riveting thriller forced to take on a secret club whose members call themselves The Privileged Ones.
Murder. Teen abductions and illegal underground parties.
They’re chased by men in ski-masks, nearly gunned down by members of a cartel, and the only way to bring down this criminal enterprise; is to crash a Mardi Gras bash and stop their private cruise ship from sailing off into the sunset.

 

Overview of Allegiance

Who do YOU pledge allegiance to?

After exposing one of the most notorious rings of police corruption in history, lawyer Cruz Marquez planned on starting a new life south of the border. That plan unraveled when an extremist group of Minutemen captured and tortured him and his wife.

Will Cruz pledge allegiance to do right, or will he do anything to serve up revenge?

Genre- Thriller


Overview of Curbchek Reload

Curbchek-Reload is a dark account of the streets as they were worked by Zach Fortier, a dangerously deranged cop. Welcome back to the inner city and the twisted mentality of Zach Fortier. Patrolling the streets, broken and mentally damaged from years of urban violence, Zach fights a losing battle to maintain a hold on reality. Join him in the passenger seat of a police cruiser for more of the darker and meaner side of life: The inner city. In Curbchek-Reload you get a front row seat to an attempted murder of a cop, suicide attempts, rapes, and DARK cop humor. Curbchek-Reload - Fasten your bullet proof vest and buckle your seatbelt, it is gonna be a wild ride!

Genre- Police Procedural 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

All winners will be notified via email July 28th 2012. For a list of winners contact onedaybookpush@yahoo.ca

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

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Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook (Review)

Title: Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook

Author: Taste of Home

Publication Date: March 2012

Publisher: Reader's Digest

Source: FSB Associates

The Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook is my favorite kind of cookbook. Not only does it have pictures, it has full color pictures of every single recipe! Every page of this cookbook uses color brilliantly from the recipe photos to color coded page borders to informational boxes to the layout of the actual recipe text.

The introductory section with kitchen basics is fairly short but not to worry as there are lots of informational boxes with techniques and cooking tips scattered throughout the various chapters. The layout of the book is easy to follow moving through Appetizers, Drinks, Better Than Takeout, Soups, Beef & Pork, Poultry, Seafood, Vegetarian, Side Dishes, Breakfast, Baking, and Desserts. The References section in the back of the book provides more cooking basics such as cooking terms and substitutions. Three Indexes make it easy to find recipes and the various cooking tips.

The cookbook includes recipes submitted by Taste of Home readers as well as ones created in the Taste of Home test kitchen. I think having recipes from both chefs and home cooks gives a great variety to the book and the skill level needed to prepare the dishes. All of the recipe photos look so delicious, it is difficult to choose which recipe to try first.

One thing that surprised me about the cookbook is the "Cheat It" symbol used on some of the recipes. This is supposed to indicate "low-effort recipes with big rewards." I generally found it to mean that a already prepared product, such as purchased pie crust or canned biscuits, was used to speed the recipe along. I have no objection to using prepared products but I was surprised they were included in a book where the title implies (at least to me) learning to cook from scratch.

Each recipe clearly indicates the number of servings at the top of the recipe and gives some nutritional information at the bottom. I only wish that there were some indication of how long a recipe takes from start to finish with the number of servings. The time information is included in the steps of the recipe, of course, but it is nice to be able to see that information in a quick glance when you are choosing a recipe.

Overall, I think the Taste of Home Cooking School Cookbook is one that I will pull out often to browse through the pictures and try new recipes. The various tips and techniques presented along the way will translate well for use in other recipes as well.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

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Featured Author: Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar

This week I'm pleased to feature author Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar and share a giveaway sponsored by The Indie Exchange. Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar is a writer who has lived in Qatar since 2005. She has a PhD from the University of Florida with a focus on gender and postcolonial theory. Her dissertation project was published as Haram in the Harem (Peter Lang, 2009) a literary analysis of the works of three Muslim women authors in India, Algeria, and Pakistan. She is the creator and co-editor of five books in the Qatar Narratives series, as well as the Qatari Voices anthology which features essays by Qataris on modern life in Doha (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing, 2010). Her research has been published in numerous journals and anthologies.

She was the Associate Editor of Vox, a fashion and lifestyle magazine based in Doha and a winner of the She Writes We Love New Novelists competition. She has been a regular contributor for Variety Arabia, AudioFile Magazine, Explore Qatar, Woman Today, The Woman, Writers and Artists Yearbook, QatarClick, Expat Arrivals, Speak Without Interruption and Qatar Explorer. She hosted two seasons of the Cover to Cover book show on Qatar Foundation Radio.

Currently Mohana is working on a collection of essays related to her experiences as a female South Asian American living in the Arabian Gulf and a novel based in Qatar. She believes words can help us understand ourselves and others. Catch up on her latest via her blog or follow her on Twitter @moha_doha.

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Book Blurb:

Hind is granted a temporary reprieve from her impending marriage to Abdulla, her cousin. Little does anyone suspect that the presence of Sangita, her Indian roommate, may shake a carefully constructed future. Torn between loyalties to Hind and a growing attraction to Abdulla, Sangita must choose between friendship and a burgeoning love.

A modern quest for the right to pursue love and happiness, even when it comes in an unconventional package, LOVE COMES LATER explores similarities between the South Asian and Arab cultures while exposing how cultural expectations affect both men and women. Identities are tested and boundaries questioned against the shifting backdrops of Doha, Qatar and London, England.

Book Blurb:

Thirty years intervene in the friendships begun at the all female Peace College. Sib, the local news anchor with dreams of going national. Mary Beth, the capable, restless mother of three. Kim, the college president who admits male students. Saving Peace is the story of promises made and broken, love found then lost, and redemption sought for the past. Three women. Two choices. One campus.

Book Blurb:

What's it like being the ant in the ice cream? The characters in this short story collection will show you; experience life as they know it as transplants from across the world into American suburbia.

Adapted from real life anecdotes both her own and those of others, Mohana takes us into the world of the South Asian immigrant living the American Dream. Think of her as a cultural translator for those who you may not notice otherwise, living in the margins of our cities. "What are a few inches when you know he will provide for you the rest of your life," her mother would have said, smacking her in the cheek. The sight of his feet, white, broad toes, and clean, short-clipped nails startled her. Americans normally wore their shoes everywhere; they had special shoes to wear inside their houses, shoes specifically for their bedrooms.

Book Blurb:

Called everything from the world's richest to fattest nation, Qatar has been on the breakneck path towards change for several decades. The capital city Doha, is where our family of three has lived since 2005.

FROM DUNES TO DIOR is not the stuff of newspaper headlines (they made their money from oil! Thirty years ago everyone was living in tents!) but real life stories about being a South Asian American who lives here (no, I don't have to cover my hair, and yes, I can drive).

I had no idea that living the life of my dreams (including a husband and precious baby) would coincide with the rapid development of one the smallest and safest countries in the world, an oasis of calm smack dab in the global hotspot of the Middle East.

Book Blurb:

You're trying to write a book; and you're not the next Shakespeare - not yet, anyway. You could be. But no one will ever know if you don't get those marvelous words out on the page (or screen). In easy to do, daily steps and exercises, Mohana breaks down the steps of getting started as a creative writer. From getting past writer's block (excuse of the weak!) to putting that blog to work (every body's got one), the tools of the trade are revealed.

If you've had a story idea in your head for a day, year, (or longer) that it doesn't seem to be writing itself, you may want to take a closer look at this book. Designed as a concise guide for aspiring writers, you'll find here the key principles of how to get started, keep going, and finish a manuscript, all told by a fellow accidental writer who took the long way developing a writer's formula.

Book Blurb:

Imagine a man volunteering to trade in his game nights for heart burn and back ache. Good thing there are women around to ensure the survival of the species. This hilarious look at the journey from high heels to high blood pressure, as a jet setter turns into a bed wetter, is what your doctor won't tell you and your own mother may have forgotten in the years since she was blessed by your arrival.

At our first meeting my future father-in-law waited until we sat down in the Thai restaurant, the oblong menus placed in our hands and the waiter was a distance away, tending to other diners, before turning towards me, his eyes glowing. This was the first time we were all seeing each other after his son had proposed to me. "When will I get to hold my first grandchild?"

For my father-in-law and everyone else, I have a question of my own: When will any of you be satisfied?

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

Into the Tapestry by Sabrina Vasta (Review)

Title: Into the Tapestry

Author: Sabrina Vasta

Publication Date: February 2012

Publisher: Self-published via Lulu.com

Age Group: 10 - 14 (my guess, author says young adults of all ages)

Source: Author (for review)

Into the Tapestry is the story of three children who discover a portal to another world in a tapestry. Grace, who was forced to move to England to live with her aunt after her parents' death, her cousin, Brian, and Wes, another orphan, must navigate their way in this new land and attempt to discover the secrets held in its history even as others in the realm attempt to manipulate them.

When I read the description of Into the Tapestry, I was a bit leery because it sounded an awful lot like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. I was willing to give it a try however because I'd read Sword Quest by Sabrina Vasta and enjoyed it. As I began reading, I was afraid that my fears had a solid foundation with the orphan, Grace, being sent away to relatives and knowing that the children would be entering another world via a portal in an ordinary object. I am glad that I continued reading though because the story takes time to establish firm relationships in this world and a different track once the children enter the Nation of Imagi.

As the children discover more information about the former queen and the charges of treason against her, they learn secrets that bond them more strongly to each other and to the realm itself. The quest for information takes place both in our world and in Imagi and events cross boundaries to reshape relationships.

There were a few aspects of the book that felt a bit forced or choppy but to identify them specifically would provide spoilers to the main plot line. Overall, I feel this is a solid story and could provide topics for interesting discussions with middle grade readers.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

I Haz a Button!

I've been blogging for 3 1/2 years or so now. I've made do with standard Blogger layouts and backgrounds and have always wanted a blog makeover but could never justify the minimal expense. So I want to send a HUGE thank you to Kriss at Cabin Goddess for designing me a new header and button. Aren't they pretty?!

You can grab my new button from the left sidebar. Yep, I redid my layout to three columns too. Now that Blogger offers even more advanced options I was able to size the columns the way I wanted them and clean up the sidebars a bit. So while I would still love a fancy makeover some day, I'm pretty happy with the way things turned out.

If you haven't stopped by the blog in a while I would love for you to come by and see the new look! I'd love to hear what you think of the changes.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

A Read-A-Long of Life in Death by Harlow Drake #SundayShorts

This weekend has been full of reading firsts for me. I participated in my first read-a-long with Alchemy of Scrawl, Cabin Goddess, and other members of The Indie Exchange. The book that we read, Life in Death by Harlow Drake, was my very first eBook. Plus this is the first time that I have participated in the Sunday Shorts meme which is hosted each week by Cabin Goddess.

About the Read-A-Long:

I had so much fun reading this book and then discussing it right away with other book lovers. This is exactly what I imagine a book club to be like, although I have never been in one. I loved knowing that we were all reading this book on the same days instead of just having a book for the month and then coming together to talk about it. I could picture Kriss and Coral with their eReaders and their snacks and we were talking on Facebook and twitter while we were reading, not just after we finished.

The book is short and took me just under two hours to finish, even with the interruptions from the kids and husband. It was a great length for a weekend read and a nice introduction to eBooks. I've been really hesitant to try eBooks because I don't have an eReader. Now, I know there are apps for that but the appeal of an eReader for me has always been the eInk. My husband has been reading eBooks on his iPad though so I thought I would give it a try. My verdict - I couldn't sit and read for as long with the iPad as I can with a physical book but for a short read like this it worked out fine. I'm still not ready to attempt reading on it regularly which is probably a good thing because then my husband and I might end up fighting over it! So until I win one of those great giveaways for a Kindle, I'll stick mainly to physical books. My main exception to this rule will be if we end up having a read-a-long through The Indie Exchange once a month because that would be so much fun.

About the Book:

Life in Death by Harlow Drake

February 2012

Wine Not Publishing

Description: When a girl that social worker Kari Marchant places in foster care is brutally murdered, she’s compelled to learn why. Her quest for the truth pits her against friends and coworkers. As Kari works to solve the horrific plot, more people die. How far should she go to learn the truth—even if it threatens her life?

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

About Sunday Shorts:

Sunday Shorts is a meme hosted each week at Cabin Goddess. Here is her description - Sunday Shorts is a fun and unique meme. The rules are easy, a short story, an anthology of short stories, a novella, or a quick weekend read that is also short on your wallet!

Please join us at our Goodreads Group and see whats on our shelf! Also please add your link below so everyone can easily hop from blog to blog and read your short! This is a brand new Meme that I hope will grow! If you do not have a blog, you can leave it in the comment section, add it to the group list, share it with your friends on Twitter, just use #sundayshorts when you share! Just remember to have fun!

The Giveaway

The following giveaway is being sponsored by Harlow Drake and The Indie Exchange. Library Girl Reads & Reviews is not responsible for choosing winners or providing prizes. If you are reading this post via email or a feedreader, you will need to visit the blog to enter to win a copy of Life in Death or Amazon gift card using the Rafflecopter entry form.

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Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

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