CLP BLOG TOURS presents OVERKILL by Amy Saunders Release Day Tour

Summer in Portside: The beach! The gelato! The murder...

Belinda's peace from scandal and her grandmother is short-lived when a painting - and then a body - wash up on her favorite beach. As she and Bennett team with Det. Jonas Parker to figure out how the two connect, a possible art forgery comes to light - and another victim.

Belinda continues to grow into her new role as a part-time amateur detective, swimming through suspects and broken connections, while Bennett starts to rebuild his life, and Jonas breaks free from work to pursue a potential new romance.

With the heat of summer upon them, the future is more unpredictable than ever.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Participating Blogs

        Polished and Bubbly

      Jersey Girl Book Reviews

Corazones Literarios      

 Ski-Wee’s Book Corner

       The Curious Ginger Cat

         Authors and Readers Book Corner

        The World As I See It

        The Little Reading Cabin  

      

 A Blue Million Books

Chick Lit Plus

Amy Saunders is a mystery lover with a soft spot for humor and romance–and the ocean. She lives inMassachusetts, and loves to bake and watch movies. 

She’s the author of one mystery series and three standalone mysteries. 

Learn more about Amy and her books at her website.

Buy Links

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00OWGJ32O

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/overkill-amy-saunders/1120652017?ean=2940046370973

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/overkill-belinda-bennett-mysteries/id934727984?mt=11&uo=4

Social Media Links

Website/Blog: http://amysaundersauthor.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/amy_saunders

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bandbmysteries

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/amydsaunders

The Financially Confident Woman by Mary Hunt, Revell Publishing

“You’re smart, you’re capable, and you’re just a few steps away from a positive, confident financial future.” 

-Mary Hunt, The Financially Confident Woman Back Cover

The Financially Confident Woman is divided into four parts: Self-Examination, Roles, Myths, and Reformation, Nine Habits of a Financially Confident Woman, and Becoming a Financially Confident Woman.  Ms. Hunt shares her financial irresponsibility’s before reforming into a financially confident woman and the struggles she endured during the process.

The information contained inside is nothing new but Mary Hunt adds her own twist with teaching how to reform your habits, how to be a giver, and learning to live below your means. She shares a Six Week Plan of Action to start you on your way to a confident financial freedom with each dedicated to a specific aspect of becoming confident with your finances. Additionally, there is a helpful glossary at the end of the book for those not completely familiar with financial language and those who are financially and credit challenged to understand terms used by financial and credit institutions.

The Financially Confident Woman is a good book for those wanting information on starting down the right path to rein in finances to their benefit. There is plenty information to read and use in planning financial freedom for those struggling in that area of life. If you are already financially confident, it will be a refresher course for you but a great gifting opportunity to someone who is not quite there financially.

I received this book free from Revell Publishing through the Revell reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

BURNT EDGES by Dana Leipold, Random Chick Publishing @DanaLeipold @MasqTours #EdgeTours

“Burnt Edges is based on true events and proves that strength can be found even in the most horrific situations.”

-Back Cover, Burnt Edges

Abuse, whether physical or verbal is a situation that many children encounter every day in their lives at the hands of their parents. In Burnt Edges, Laurel, older brother Rusty, and younger brother Gerry all fall victim to physical and verbal abuse at the hand of their father Bob. It was rare that the children did not live in fear if things went wrong at home, which did not take much for Bob to attack physically or verbally to handle the situation.

Laurel shares her personal story she and her brothers endured as children growing up in the 1960’s Southern California. After graduating from high school, Laurel moves out of the house to begin her new life as a young adult. Laurel has complications when becoming pregnant was not in her immediate plans and makes a decision that surprises everyone, including herself.

It takes courage for a person to share their story of abuse at any time in their lives, young or old, and Dana has done just that. She explains in a very simplistic way the events that happened to her, how situations shaped her, and decisions she made for her life. This book is not overly descriptive concerning the physical abuse Laurel went through but the gist of it is there. For some, the subject matter may be uncomfortable but is worth the read.

I received this book free from Dana Leipold through the Masquerade Book Tour reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

BURNT EDGES by Dana Leipold #EdgesTour @DanaLeipold @MasqTours

Title: Burnt Edges

Author: Dana Leipold

Publication Date: October 21, 2014

Genre: Women's Fiction

Synopsis

Abuse or an uncertain future. This is Laurel Lee Page’s choice when she is faced with an unplanned pregnancy at 18. Born into a broken family, all she has ever known is guilt and shame. No matter what she does or who she meets, Laurel appears to be living a condemned life but she is determined to find independence and freedom in spite of her family’s legacy of hatred and self-contempt. Can Laurel see that she is in a powerful position, poised to break the cycle of abuse? Set in Southern California during the tumultuous 1960s era, Burnt Edges is based on true events and proves that strength can be found even in the most horrific situations.

Buy Links

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio

Dana Leipold is a freelance writer, author, and member of the Association of Independent Authors and Creativity Coaching Association. Her debut novel, Burnt Edges, depicts the unwavering resilience of a young woman in the face of family violence and abuse. She has self-published two other books: a collection of limericks in Dr. Seuss-style for adults entitled, Stupid Poetry: The Ultimate Collection of Sublime and Ridiculous Poems, and a non-fiction book entitled, The Power of Writing Well: Write Well. Change the World. In addition, she coaches other writers on story structure, messaging, and writing skills so they can achieve their dreams to become published authors. Leipold lives with her husband and two children in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads | Pinterest

THE CROCHET ANSWER BOOK 2nd Edition by Edie Eckman, Storey Publishing

If you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced crocheter this crochet guide will definitely add to your knowledge of the world of crochet. Edie Eckman covers all information related to crocheting that includes tools of the trade, basic and variation foundation chains, buttonholes, and joining stitches and motifs. There is no ground that is not covered in this educational book for crocheters. In addition, there are sections on Tunisian Crochet, Baubles and Beads, and Other Kinds of Crochet (Irish, Filet, and Clones crochet, naming a few).

If you are a beginner, this book takes you from start to finish learning crochet and many types of minute details such as bordering, working with patterns, and finishing. If you are an intermediate or advanced crocheter, you will add to or re-fresh your knowledge in this popular craft.

Edie Eckman is a nationally known teacher, designer, writer, and editor in both crochet and knitting delivering a great crochet instructional guide for all crafters. Being a crocheter, I found quite a few chapters to add to my information of crochet with sections on patterns, double-end crochet hooks, and broomstick lace. There is no way to include in the review all the bases covered but you can purchase a book and see the wonderful information Edie shares with us. Thank Ms. Eckman for this go-to guide.

I received this book free from Story Publishing through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

CLP BLOG TOURS presents MOONLIGHT AND ORANGES by Elise Stephens Excerpt

“Are you going to eat that?” Lorona pointed at the decorative orange wedge on Yuki’s salad plate. Yuki handed it to her. As Lorona savored the fruit, Yuki cleared her throat. She wanted to talk about the party and had even bribed Lorona by treating her to lunch, but Yuki had not received one scrap of juicy gossip in return.

Lorona had woken that morning with more than a craving for orange juice. She’d wanted vodka and another kiss. She hoped Yuki hadn’t noticed the empty juice carton in the recycle bin.

You’re being stupid, Lorona told herself as the silence dragged on.

She wasn’t interested in a man like Kestrin. Not one bit. At all. Nothing. One memorable talk followed by a dance and an argument, and finished off with a kiss. It was over. Lorona felt a sinking dread. She was trying too hard to convince herself.

A glint of realization flickered over Yuki’s round face. Lorona had unveiled her mental tornado.

Yuki chortled, “You know, it’s practically written in Webster’s Dictionary—Kestrin Feather’s Kiss: Noun. Definition: See Love Potion Number Nine.”

“Not interested.”

Yuki bounced in her seat. “Not even the littlest bit? Even if—”

“I don’t care if he’s the sexiest guy in the world. If he isn’t

interested in long-term stuff, why in the world do you want to set me up with him?”

“To start, it’ll be good for you. You’ve turned down enough men with your high standards. For two, I think you want this. I’ve never seen you put on this much make-up for work or,” Yuki sniffed the air, “wear your gardenia perfume just to sit with a bunch of dusty books all day. There’s something different about you. I can smell it.” Yuki laughed at her own joke. “You like him and I think he got pricked with his own arrow. That kiss dare thing was his way

of saving you, and I’ve never seen him do anything like that for a girl. He’s acting noble and...” She leaned forward. “I think he might break his habit of flings for you.”

“You’re asking me to believe that he thinks I’m special?”

Yuki’s eyes danced. “I watched the way he carried you and I wasn’t scared for you anymore.”

Yuki’s voice echoed in Lorona’s head. It’ll be good for you. The “what if” questions wriggled to life. Lorona silenced them by speaking.

“Then I’m your little experiment?”

“Damn, I’m late for work.” Yuki stood. “I need to get back. I’ll pick you up for dinner.” She winked, dropped a twenty-dollar bill on the table and sauntered out, swinging her faux alligator purse.

Lorona wished the purse would come alive and bite the smug grin right off of Yuki’s face.

A timeless tale of young romance

Lorona Connelly is ready for a change from her carefully planned, bookish life. When sparks fly at a costume party, she embraces a chance for romance with the handsome Kestrin Feather. However, she quickly realizes that even love and destiny may not be enough to overcome the reality of an overprotective mother-in-law and Kestrin's long, tarnished history of relationships. 

When Lorona's curiosity leads her to Kestrin's journal, doubt plagues them both with insecurities and threatens the relationship. Can true love overcome the odds, or was their whirlwind romance just a frivolous crush? Author Elise Stephens shares a journey of young love, fate, and wounded trust in the story of Lorona and Kestrin, a couple who must learn to overcome their fears to share a life together.

Elise Stephens received the Eugene Van Buren Prize for Fiction from the University of Washington in 2007. Forecast is her second novel. Her first novel Moonlight and Oranges was a quarter-finalist for the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Her short fiction has appeared in the Unusual Stories anthology, as well as in multiple journals.

She lives in Seattle with her husband where they both enjoy swing dancing, eating tiramisu, and taking in local live theater.

http://www.elisestephens.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3413344.Elise_Stephens

https://twitter.com/elisestephens 

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEliseStephens

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CLP BLOG TOURS presents ENLIGHTENED by A.L. Waddington excerpt

“Is life really easier there?” That world fascinated me so much and I wanted to learn everything about it.

     “It is in some ways, yet in other…not at all. It’s almost sad in some of the ways the world has changed. Yes, we have washing machines and clothes dryers and our laundry is done now with the push of a button. We have the ability to get to any destination either across the country or around the world by driving a car or flying in an airplane. We have microwaves that can cook an entire dinner in five minutes, cell phones that fit in our pockets that give us the ability to talk to anyone in the world at the push of a button, but none of that seems to replace all that was lost. Things like family values, spending time with your family on Sundays after church, living close to them and being involved in their lives. Working out marital problems rather than just giving up and filing for a divorce. Morals and values seem not to exist nearly as much there. People have sexual relationships with individuals they have only known for a few hours and never see again. Kids bring guns to school and shoot their peers. Most mothers work outside the home and have flourishing careers of their own because things are so expensive that it takes two incomes to survive. Therefore, children grow up in daycare centers and only see their parents in the evenings for a few hours and weekends. And typically during that time, the children are involved in some sort of extracurricular activity so the family grabs dinner from a fast food restaurant and hardly ever eat a mean at the table with one another. There simply are not enough hours in the day to allow for it. People are rushed, tired, irritable, and never happy with what they have.”

     “That sounds horrific!” My mid could not fathom living such a life.

     “Of course, there are always exceptions. Not every family is like that.”

Continuing where Essence, Book 1, EVE series ended, the barrier between Jocelyn Timmons consciousness continues to dissolve as she better understands the two lives she lives and enormity of her newly discovered inherited gift of EVE (Essence Voyager Era) which allows her to fall asleep on one plane of existence and awaken on another as her soul travels nightly. 

In Enlightened, Book 2, present-day Jocelyn uncovers the vast wonderment of the Victorian era but soon learns that life then was not as grand for women as she has read in the classics. Still, she finds comfort in the support of family and friends; a bolstering contrast to her overly hectic, career-oriented family in the twenty-first century. Her love for Jackson Chandler strengthens across time and becomes the light she so desperately needs as the world she has always known no longer makes sense. Yet, the closer she is drawn to Jackson by their mutual ability, the more strain develops amongst those she loves in 2009. 

On the other side of Jocelyn’s consciousness in 1878, she remains ignorant of EVE. Her life is crumbling around her, yet she finds herself anxiously awaiting the images that invade her dreams. Jocelyn longs to be the woman she portrays in that world yet her jealousy is unbearable. Miscommunication, betrayal and hidden agendas make trust near impossible. The clearer the visions become the more she questions motives of her closest confidants and foregoes revealing the images that plague her perception. As her life seems to unravel, Jocelyn’s two worlds collide, and she is enlightened as the pieces start to fall into place. But is she strong enough to survive the truth? Is Jackson really her destiny? And can their love transcend time?

A. L. Waddington grew up in a small town in Indiana and always had a vivid and overactive imagination. She loves music, playing sports, and can be quite mischievous at times. She has been known to play practical jokes on occasion and is a firm believer in the theory of organized chaos. She has a slight addiction to coffee and gummy bears. When she’s not hidden behind her laptop or buried in a book, she can be found working in her gardens, cheering on her favorite team, the Indianapolis Colts, or trying to lose that last stubborn ten pounds. She graduated with her BS in psychology from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. A. L. and her family reside in Indiana.

Social Media Links:

http://www.alwaddington.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralwaddington

Twitter: @eveseries

Find the Book:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1vMqa7C

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/enlightened-al-waddington/1118965944?ean=9781620153543

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22124188-enlightened

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MASQUERADE BOOK TOURS presents UNIVERSITY PARK SERIES Book Blast #WinningBlast

Will she succumb to the temptations enticing her?

Publication Date: May 16, 2014

Genre: New Adult Sports Romance (18+)

Series: University Park Series, #1

College senior, Lexi Thompson, finds herself in a relationship to be wed to the university’s star baseball pitcher, Collin Norris. Collin’s damn hot, but his lack of spark has Lexi thinking twice before she says ‘I Do’. When she’s forced to tutor bad boy football quarterback, Raven Davenport, she soon discovers all the things she’s missing in her relationship with Collin. Will she succumb to the temptations enticing her, or will Collin be able to convince his sweet, innocent fiancée that his love for her is genuine despite his lack of affection? (This story will be told in three installments.)

Goodreads

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Publication Date: September 5, 2014

Series: University Park Series, #2

The engagement's off and with Collin behind her, Lexi has decided that the temptations of Raven Davenport are too strong to be ignored. It doesn’t take long for Lexi and Raven to find themselves wrapped in each other’s affection, but not without the challenges that life poses. But can she withstand the world he’s created or will the forces that are against them rip them apart? Love, faith, betrayal, and heartache ripple through their lives as they fight to be on the same side.

Goodreads

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Publication Date: December 21, 2014

Series: University Park Series, #3

Lexi’s determined to keep her word and stand by Raven’s side because her love for him is too strong to deny.  As Raven learns to deal with the issues that are destined to destroy him and their relationship, their love is taken to a new level. As doors are closed and new ones are opened, Lexi and Raven find themselves in a heavenly bliss, but not without the challenges from Raven’s past. With a true test of love, Lexi and Raven have to decide if they are willing to do whatever it takes to be on the winning side.

Goodreads

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

CM Doporto lives in the great state of Texas with her husband and son enjoying life with their extensive family along with their Chihuahua, Mexican Redhead Parrot, and several fish. She writes Young Adult and New Adult stories about ordinary women who do extraordinary things, become a heroine, and find love along the way.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Pinterest | Instagram

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blast Info

Titles: Opposing Sides; The Same Side; The Winning Side
Series: University Park Series Books 1–3
Author: C.M. Doporto
Publication Dates: May 16, 2014; September 5, 2014; December 21, 2014
Genre: New Adult Sports Romance (18+)

Synopsis: Opposing Sides
College senior, Lexi Thompson, finds herself in a relationship to be wed to the university’s star baseball pitcher, Collin Norris. Collin’s damn hot, but his lack of spark has Lexi thinking twice before she says ‘I Do’. When she’s forced to tutor bad boy football quarterback, Raven Davenport, she soon discovers all the things she’s missing in her relationship with Collin. Will she succumb to the temptations enticing her, or will Collin be able to convince his sweet, innocent fiancée that his love for her is genuine despite his lack of affection? (This story will be told in three installments.)

Buy Links
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Synopsis: The Same Side
The engagement's off and with Collin behind her, Lexi has decided that the temptations of Raven Davenport are too strong to be ignored. It doesn’t take long for Lexi and Raven to find themselves wrapped in each other’s affection, but not without the challenges that life poses. But can she withstand the world he’s created or will the forces that are against them rip them apart? Love, faith, betrayal, and heartache ripple through their lives as they fight to be on the same side.

Buy Links
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks


Synopsis: The Winning Side
Lexi’s determined to keep her word and stand by Raven’s side because her love for him is too strong to deny. As Raven learns to deal with the issues that are destined to destroy him and their relationship, their love is taken to a new level. As doors are closed and new ones are opened, Lexi and Raven find themselves in a heavenly bliss, but not without the challenges from Raven’s past. With a true test of love, Lexi and Raven have to decide if they are willing to do whatever it takes to be on the winning side.

Buy Links
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks


Author Bio
CM Doporto lives in the great state of Texas with her husband and son enjoying life with their extensive family along with their Chihuahua, Mexican Redhead Parrot, and several fish. She writes Young Adult and New Adult stories about ordinary women who do extraordinary things, become a heroine, and find love along the way.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram


Giveaway: There is a giveaway for this blast. $10 Giftcard to Amazon or Barnes&Noble or a credit at the Book Depository. Ends 1/9. The code for the Rafflecopter is provided below. You are required to post the giveaway if you submitted a link for the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway