Top 5 Books for 2013 from Mom For Less

I often have authors write guest posts as part of a blog tour or celebrating their newest book. Today's guest post is a little different though as my friend Crystal from Mom For Less shares her favorite books from the year. Thank you Crystal for adding to my list of books to check out!

When 2013 began, I set the ambitious goal of reading 52 books in 52 weeks. I love to read, but the busyness of being a working mom and wife had kept me from making reading a priority. I am a little behind on my goal, but I've been reenergized by my renewed dedication to reading. Here are five books that I read this year and loved – maybe you will love them, too.

Year of the Chick by Romi Moondi – If you’re a fan of funny, smart chick-lit, you’ll love Romi Moondi and her Year of the Chick series. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, and refreshingly honest. This story follows an Indian-Canadian girl who is looking for love and doing her best to avoid arranged marriage. You can get the first book in the series for free on Kindle!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And other concerns) by Mindy Kailing – I’ve loved Mindy Kailing since I first saw her on The Office, and her memoir is as funny and sweet as she is. This book chronicles Mindy’s childhood and her rise to fame, with lots of laughs along the way. I think a good memoir makes you feel like you just had a great conversation with the author, and this book definitely has that effect.

Beyond Belief : My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape by Jenna Miscavige Hill – Like a lot of people, my knowledge of Scientology before reading this book began and ended with Tom Cruise. This book was an eye-opening look at this mysterious group, written by the niece of Scientology leader David Miscavige. Jenna tells her story in extreme detail, and it will have you on the edge of your seat.

Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster – This is Lancaster’s second work of fiction, and she has really hit her stride in the genre. This story follows a former mean girl who realizes that her mistreatment of others has come back to haunt her. With a little magic, and a little help from an old friend, she gets a chance to make it right, and make her life better in the process. A very funny story with lots of unexpected turns.

Off the Menu by Stacey Ballis – I am a big fan of Stacey Ballis, and Off the Menu may be my new favorite from her. Ballis always has strong female characters who are intelligent and real, and this book is no exception. Alana has an all-consuming job working for a celebrity chef. When she meets a man she’s really into, and then gets another job offer, everything is up in the air. The resolution of the story will surprise you, but you won’t be disappointed.

Thanks so much Angela, for letting me share my favorites of the year! Be sure to stop by my blog Mom For Less to see which books Angela picked for her favorites.

Crystal Paschal is a freelance writer, blogger, wife, and mom of two little boys. You can follow her adventures in parenting at Mom For Less, and connect with her on Facebook. She’s also on Twitter at @Mom4Less.

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Finding Inspiration with Candy Ann Little

Finding Inspiration

Where does inspiration come from?

For some people it comes from within a secret place inside themselves. They can dig around like a junk yard, finding old scrapes of stories and memories to use. Their inspiration comes from the everyday life stories they've lived.

Others find their muse in the beauty of nature; noticing the sunset, or the wind dance through the trees, maybe even a watching bee flit from one bright colored flower to the next. It's the little unexpected things that cause happiness and make you want to share that joy with the world.

And, yet, others delve into the dark depths of depression. They see the world in different shades of light – not always bright and sunny. Although things look dark, gloomy and they feel alone, they manage to bring out a unique perspective on life. The gray clouds and rainy days can be just as interesting as the sunshine.

What about dreams? Is there useful inspiration found in slumber? When our bodies are at rest our minds have time to think. Sometimes we need to shut off the noise of life so our thoughts, fears and emotions can float to the forefront and we can truly examine what out heart wants. Our dreams help us reach for the stars, fight monsters, or answer the questions we don’t want to ask when awake.

The inspiration for my books has come from different sources. I have written from personal experiences of happiness and grief. I use everyday occurrences big or small. Sometimes I use my friends and family members stories or ideas. I call this repurposing!! I've gotten ideas from newspaper stories, internet or the T.V. Murder of an Oil Heiress is actually based on dream I had. But in all the details, I must remember that no matter where I got the inspiration from, every word I write comes from God!

Where does your inspiration come from?

Murder of An Oil Heiress

The Texas sun isn't the only thing that is scorching hot. Mallory Dillingham is beautiful, successful and primed to take over the family oil business when her father is ready to retire. However, that isn't soon enough for the billionaire heiress. She wants it all. And, she wants it now. Mallory will stop at nothing to get what she wants, including seduction, lying and blackmail.

Joseph Barnes has stepped into her slippery trap. Can he find a way out before his evil sister-in-law destroys his marriage to Sarah? Will the Dillingham family be able to survive the destruction caused by her devious plot?

Love, betrayal, forgiveness and the bonds of family are all intertwined. This story deals with the complicated lives of the Dillingham family and the people caught in the crossfire. As Mallory wages war on everyone, innocent people pay the price.

Buy from Amazon

Candy Ann Little

Candy Ann Little grew up in a small town in Ohio. She now resides in Michigan with her husband, two adult kids and 4 cats. She began writing in the aftermath of tragedy – her third child was stillborn. The nurse suggested keeping a journal to cope with the grief. Although she thought it a dumb idea at the time, she soon found a freedom and healing that only writing brought.

Eventually that pain and sorrow turned into her first Inspirational romance, Unforgiving Ghosts. Since then she has finished 2 more inspirational romances. Her historical romance The Unwilling Bride was published in 2011. She has also tried writing in the genre of mystery, including a novella, Death By Broken Heart, and her first full length novel, Murder of an Oil Heiress. Candy Ann finds it therapeutic putting her thoughts into the words and action of her characters. She also finds that discipline is the biggest lesson learned in her writing life.

When she isn’t busy writing, you can find her subbing in the public schools, or helping with church activities. Her favorite things to do are reading, cooking, baking and doing crafts.

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Get a Book in Your McDonald's Happy Meal

Yesterday I wrote about how much I loved reading as a child and how much my girls and I read together. Books are a huge part of our daily lives and a great tool for learning and growing our imaginations. I'm excited that McDonald's is celebrating reading by offering books instead of toys in Happy Meals through November 14. Each Happy Meal will include one of four books that focuses on nutrition or active play presented in a fun story that kids will love.

McDonald's Happy Meal Books

The four limited edition titles are:

• The Goat Who Ate Everything – Tells a story of a goat who has a big appetite and struggles to eat right. But when he does, he feels great and becomes the playful ‘kid’ everyone loves.
• Deana’s Big Dreams – Shares how Deana, the world’s smallest dinosaur, grew tall by eating right.
• Ant, Can’t – Features Ant, a bite-­‐sized bodybuilder who’s big on encouraging physical fitness through exercise and eating right.
• Doddi the Dodo Goes to Orlando – Follows happy-­‐go-­‐lucky bird Doddi who travels the world. She eats right because this dodo is always on the go-­‐go.

McDonald's Give A Book, Get A Book

Indy with Kids has partnered with McDonald’s of Central Indiana for the local, “Give a Book, Get a Book” campaign.

November 1st-14th, book donation sites will be set up around the area at the Ronald McDonald House, local libraries and Indy Reads Bookstore. In exchange for the donation of a new or gently used children’s book, customers will receive a Be Our Guest card for a free Happy Meal. In addition, participating libraries will host a “Happy Meal Day” with activities for kids and McDonald’s Happy Meal books.

I'm sure the girls and I will be grabbing a Happy Meal sometime in the next week. Is there really such a thing as too many books? Naw, I didn't think so!

Mom Tip: If your kids are young and willing to share grab one Mighty Kids meal to split. 6 chicken nuggets is plenty for my girls, they share the apple slices, & there are extra fries for me.

Happy Meal Giveaways

Several of my fellow Central Indiana bloggers are giving away Happy Meal prize packs. Go forth and enter quickly because these won't be open long.

• Indy With Kids
• Chaos is Bliss
• WritRams
• What's Up Fagans?
• Redefining Perfect
• Gotchababy
• Indy Homeschool
• 4th Frog Blog

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Revisiting Childhood Favorites

As a child I loved to read. I was the kid who stayed up way past my bedtime reading a book with the flashlight I kept hidden under my pillow. Summer time was fabulous not only because I could play outside with friends all day but because it stayed light later and I didn't need to be up for school in the morning. That meant more time to read. The church where my mom worked wasn't far from the library so if she needed to go in for a few hours in the summer I went there to browse the shelves and read. It was there that I discovered The Wizard of Oz and Anne of Green Gables.

Although my girls are still too young to appreciate these stories, we spend much of our time together reading. Their bookshelf is already overflowing with everything from board books to beginning readers to their very first chapter books. I love watching them choose which books they want to read for story time and hearing them ask for just one more story before bed. Between all of their books, my books, and my husband's books sometimes I wonder how we will continue to have room for them all!

This is where technology is starting to play a huge role in our household organization. With all of the eBook options these days we can satisfy our never ending hunger for books without adding to the piles of books around the house. I love being able to share books with the girls on my Kindle Fire HD and we still enjoy reading them together even if the format is a bit different than flipping pages.

Doma Publishing House has brought together amazing Kindle collections from various authors at incredible prices.

The Wizard of Oz Illustrated Series contains the complete fourteen book Oz series plus The Woggle-Bug Book. Having the entire series on the Kindle is an incredible space saver. The illustrations look fantastic on the Kindle Fire HD and the text has been well formatted. I received this from the publisher for review purposes but I had serious sticker shock when I checked the pricing of this collection on Amazon. I have no idea how this amazing collection is being offered at only 99 cents! (Prices on eBooks can change quickly so always double check the price before purchasing.)

The Anne of Green Gables Collection contains eight of the Anne Shirley books along with four other works by L. M. Montgomery. Unfortunately, it is missing two of the Anne Shirley books as the rights are not available for Kindle publishing at this time. Doma Publishing has included Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Call of the Wild by Jack London as bonus titles with this collection. Again I am amazed that this collection is being offered for only 99 cents! (Prices on eBooks can change quickly so always double check the price before purchasing.)

Amazon affiliate links are used within this post.

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Meet Rebecca Burton from Virtual Blue

Thanks to Library Girl Reads for hosting this entry in the Virtual Blue tour, a character interview with Paranormal Investigator Rebecca Burton. Burton plays a supporting role in both Haunting Obsession and Virtual Blue. Burton doesn't know she's about to fend off some tough questions by another character that has played, not only a big part in the RJ-Verse, but in Burton's past.

Agent Rebecca Burton of the Special Investigations Unit enters a small interrogation room. She finds only two chairs, and seats herself in the one closest to the door. She checks her cell phone.

Burton: Well, I'll give them a couple more minutes. I told them my time is precious and I can't wait on a no-show.

A voice speaks from the air.

"Oh, I'm here, you just can't see me."

A ghostly, shapely blonde phases in, dressed in a yellow sundress and seated in the chair across from her. Burton's eyes widen in recognition of the deceased sixties movie star bombshell.

Burton: Maxine Marie.

Maxine: Hello, Rebecca. Surprised to see me?

Burton: [Stands] Given what happened after our first encounter, yes.

Maxine: Relax, Rebecca. Our mutual creator made me promise I could interview you, but only if I remained seated. [Maxine raises her hand, flexing her fingers, curving sharp nails into a claw shape] Come closer, Dear. I'd like to tweak your makeup.

Burton: Wonderful. Another bit of RJ's whimsy, I suppose. [Releases a breath] He and I need to have a talk.

Maxine: But you and I are going to talk first, Rebecca!

Burton: [Reseats herself] Very well. I trust you'll ask me questions about Virtual Blue as agreed?

Maxine: [Holds up copy of Virtual Blue] All in due time. But first....[lowers Virtual Blue, raises Haunting Obsession] RJ let me read the whole story about you and me last year. Since I was there, I thought I knew everything that happened, but I didn't, did I? I thought I had weakened Daryl to the point that he could barely move, and that he found some inner strength at the last second. [Glares] But now I know where his strength really came from, don't I?

Burton: We're going to make this about you? You had to be dealt with. I make no apologies for doing what I had to do. Even you admit you'd gotten out of control.

Maxine: [Lifts Virtual Blue] That brings me to this book. Field agent Rebecca Burton, paranormal investigator. So you're just a humble government official, right?

Burton: My bureau, the Special Investigations Unit, follows up on all supernatural events throughout the country. My territory is Indiana--I grew up there and still live there--but I have no jurisdiction.

Maxine: And that's all you are? A government agent?

Burton: Yes.

Maxine: [scoffs] And I'm resuming my movie career and I'm going to appear in the next Star Wars movie.

Burton: As the ghost of Obi Wan Kenobi, no doubt. Wait a minute. How do you know about Star Wars?

Maxine: Never mind about that. [Giggles. Opens up a page in Virtual Blue] Tell me about the Kelranian Order.

Burton: [Fidgets] The Kelranian Order...they're a sort of...I guess you'd call them occult specialists, sort of intellectual hobbyists that sometimes conduct their own investigations into paranormal matters. They have a number of chapters all over the world, including an active one here in Indiana. I have several members as contacts. Their resources go back centuries, an incredible resource.

Maxine: They're a secret order of white-magic practicing druids and you're an active member.

Burton: Seriously? RJ should let you write the novels. That's quite a plot twist. The Kelranian Order is a close ally of my Unit, nothing more.

Maxine: You're a member of the Kelranian Order. As was your mother and her mother before her, and back who knows how far? You're one of its most powerful practitioners of white magic.

Burton: You exaggerate. They taught me a few parlor tricks through the years, some handy spells in case I get into trouble. Nothing more.

Maxine: Like healing spells and mind reading. Hardly useful in hand to hand combat.

Burton: Not everything I've learned is a weapon, but I'd be happy to demonstrate.

Maxine: [Considers] No, that's quite alright. Back to Virtual Blue, then. So several months after meddling with Daryl's affairs, you stuck your nose into Fiona Shaefer's business, too. Do you make it a habit of sticking your nose where it doesn't belong?

Burton: [sighs] As a matter of fact, I was investigating reports that an extremist cult tied to a dangerous demon had taken way too much interest in a Freeware roleplaying video game. I went to the campus to investigate. I had no idea at the time that the programmer of the game was Eugene Farren, Blue's boyfriend. And you'll be happy to know that fell into a booby trap. Blue and I met when she...tried to rescue...me.

Maxine: [Eyes flashing] How embarrassing for you.

Burton: It wasn't my finest moment.

Maxine: I can imagine, a seasoned paranormal investigator and secret white magic druid of the Kelranian Order had to be saved by a college student. A poetry major.

Burton: Is there a question in there?

Maxine: What was your impression of Blue Shaefer?

Burton: Blue is...extremely talented with solid instincts. She'll make a great paranormal investigator some day. But she's also brash and hot-headed. I...found that out. It's something I have to think about it for awhile. Any other questions?

Maxine: Yes. What do you know about the Tesh Ke Ra?

Burton: Well....[fidgets] Not much, really. I hear rumors about a secret project by the Kelranian Order.

Maxine: In fact, it's a secret breeding project being conducted by the Order, one to create a refined druid and master of white magic.

Burton: If you say so.

Maxine: Blue's boyfriend all but accused you of being the Tesh Ke Ra. Your response was decidedly evasive. Care to enlighten us on---

Burton: [Stands]---I think it's time you returned to your grave or wherever it is you're haunting these days, Maxine Marie.

Maxine: But Rebecca, Halloween is tonight! I'm not going anywhere for hours yet.

Burton: Then you can stay here and haunt an empty chair. [Burton's eyes light up dark red as she advances on Maxine.] But this interview is over.

Maxine: Oh, poo. Fine. You can leave then. [Maxine motions toward the door] Happy Halloween, Rebecca.

[Burton exits and slams the door behind her without comment]

About the Author: R. J. Sullivan’s novel Haunting Blue is an edgy paranormal thriller and the first book of the adventures of punk girl Fiona “Blue” Shaefer and her boyfriend Chip Farren. Seventh Star Press released Haunting Obsession, a Rebecca Burton Novella in 2012 and Virtual Blue, the second book in Fiona’s tale, in 2013. Seventh Star will release a new edition of Haunting Blue in early 2014. R. J.’s short stories have been featured in such acclaimed collections as Dark Faith Invocations by Apex Books and Vampires Don’t Sparkle. His newest project is the Red Lotus series of science fiction novelettes for readers of all ages.

R.J. resides with his family in Heartland Crossing, Indiana. Check in regularly to learn the latest about the projects of R. J. Sullivan. Connect with R. J. on Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

Book Synopsis: Did you ever wish you could escape to a virtual world? What if you could...but then couldn't get out?

Two years after her deadly clash with a vengeful ghost, Fiona “Blue” Shaefer still can’t shake off the trauma of that night. Moving to New York with her father didn't help. Neither did absorbing herself in her college classes. Not even her poetry provided the solace it once did. She convinces herself that ending her relationship with Eugene “Chip” Farren, her long-distance boyfriend and final tie to the horrors of that night, might bring the closure she needs. Blue travels to Bloomington to break the news to Chip in person, but her timing couldn't be any worse.

The Sisters of Baalina, vengeful cultists who practice a new form of “techno-magic,” have targeted Chip’s multi-player videogame as the perfect environment to cast a dangerous spell to free a demoness from the very pits of hell. In the process, their plan may trap Blue in a prison of the mind with no locks, no bars, and no escape.

Purchase Virtual Blue on

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