Sizzling PR Presents, Girl Code Blog Tour!

Title: Girl Code (an anthology)

Author: Jessica Jayne, Lea Bronsen, Cait Jarrod, and DC Stone

Release Date: July, 31 2015
Genre: Contemporary/ Suspense Romance

Blurb: Four best friends struggle with decisions that affect their lives, their hearts, and their futures. As sisters, they embrace the Girl Code.

Hope by Jessica Jayne: Josephine “Joey” Lockhart escapes her past, herself and her home town of Pearl, Ohio to Florida after high school. Years later, she meets a man that refuses to let her hide behind her camera lens and encourages her out of her shell. Will he be the one to push her to feel for the first time?

Live by Lea Bronsen: After seven years in drug hell, detoxing Juliette “Juls” Carrington returns to her hometown Pearl to attend her grandmother’s burial. Once more rejected by her family, she has a swim in a pond nearby when a mysterious camper, an ex-drunk, coaxes her to come to his hut in the woods. Together they must fight their inner demons for a chance to love…and live.

Faith by Cait Jarrod: Selena Bodine escaped into the United States Air Force to leave behind a painful past and the one man who she refused to let herself love. Years later, an urgent call from her father brings her back to Pearl, Ohio and face to face with the man she still loves. But will the secret that Cullen is investigating her threaten their second chance?

Persistence by DC Stone: Laydi Michaels has been running away from her past and bad memories for years. Finding herself wasn’t an easy task, but she’s managed to finally get to a point to where she wants to be. Only to wake up married to her boss….who fired her the night before. Wrapped in a case that puts her life in danger, and dealing with a grave situation back home in Pearl, Laydi figures out she wasn’t close to finding herself, and now, she’s risked everything.

Buy Links: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X602S8I/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25181055-girl-code

Author Bios:

Jessica Jayne is a born and raised small town Ohio girl, who moved to the Sunshine State after graduating from college. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in English because she could not imagine doing anything else but reading and writing. In the journey of life, she obtained her law degree (and bar license) and also became a wife and a mother of three children. So, life is always an adventure. 

She loves to read and write... obviously! She’s a huge sports fan, especially college football and The Ohio State Buckeyes!  Go Steelers! Go Rays! Go Lightning! She LOVES to travel... LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to travel. She loves to drink coffee in the morning and tea at night! She loves a good glass of wine, especially if it comes from a bottle made by the FOOLS wine club… yep, she’s a founding member of that crazy group! She loves hanging out with her family and friends! Music makes her happy. She’s a mix between a country girl and city chic. She’s a sucker for a cowboy hat!

Lea Bronsen likes her reads fast, hot, and edgy, and strives to give her own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city crime drama with her debut novel Wild Hearted, she divides her writing time between psychological thriller, romantic suspense, and contemporary erotic romance.

 From writing ‘every girl’s dream heroes’ to ‘strong, down-to-earth heroines,’ Cait Jarrod twists ‘cliff hanging plots’ and ‘clever, unpredictable sub-plots’. She loves diving into a good book as much as she loves writing one. Mother of three gorgeous daughters, she’s married to her best friend, hangs out with a great group of women—the WWC, and loves a good glass of wine.

DC Stone has over sixteen years of investigative experience, including working as a criminal investigator in the United States military and a private investigator. Currently, she works as an internal affairs investigator by day and a romantic suspense author by night. She has her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and is dubbed, “The Investigative Whisperer.” Commonly called upon to act as an expert witness, she also trains with local, state, and federal law enforcement officers. She provides numerous workshops that help authors gain insight into “digging” into a character’s mind to better understand motives, create suspense, and help maintain conflict. 

When she isn’t trying to solve a new puzzle in the world of fraud, she is engulfed with coffee, her laptop, and all those crazy characters in her head. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Hudson Valley Romance Writers, Rom Vets, RWA Kiss of Death, and the Liberty State Fiction Writers. She served as the 2014 Vice President and Conference Chair for NJRW.

Author Links:

Website: http://writersincrime.weebly.com/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caitjarrod/girl-code/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/writersincrime

Lea Bronsen's Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/wildhearted.author

DC Stone's Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/dc.stone.92

Jessica Jayne's Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.jayne.900

Cait Jarrod's Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/cait.jarrod

Read an Excerpt, Then Enter Giveaway!

Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge #EenyMeeny Review!!

The Book
The "dark, twisted, thought-provoking" (#1 New York Times bestseller Tami Hoag) international bestseller—first in the new series featuring Detective Helen Grace.

Two people are abducted, imprisoned, and left with a gun. As hunger and thirst set in, only one walks away alive.

It’s a game more twisted than any Detective Helen Grace has ever seen. If she hadn’t spoken with the shattered survivors herself, she almost wouldn’t believe them.

Helen is familiar with the dark sides of human nature, including her own, but this case—with its seemingly random victims—has her baffled. But as more people go missing, nothing will be more terrifying than when it all starts making sense....



The Author
M.J. Arlidge has worked in television for the last 15 years, specializing in high-end drama production. Arlidge has produced a number of prime-time crime serials for ITV In the last five years, and is currently working on a major adaptation of The Last of the Mohicans for the BBC.



My Thoughts
"Sam is asleep, I could kill him now. His face is turned from me-It wouldn't be hard. Would he stir if I moved? Try to stop me? Or would he just be glad that this nightmare was over?"

So, did that grab you? It did me too. These first few lines of Eeny Meeny had me thinking, ok, now why would this person say that? Well, as it turns out, this woman and her boyfriend wake up in a covered, empty swimming pool, not sure how they got there. After they wake up, they receive a phone call, on the phone left with them next to a gun. Their instructions are simple, one of you must die. After the deed is done, the person left alive is let go. 

Detective Helen Grace is a flawed individual, lots of baggage from her past keeps her from having any relationships, but in spite of that she is a good cop. As a survivor herself, she can sympathize with the people who come in and tell their bizarre story of their abduction. As time goes by, there are more couples abducted and held prisoner without food or water until one of them kills the other. 

What is the motive behind this, well that is what Helen has to figure out along with her team. Alongside that there is a reporter who hounds Helen for the story, then someone leaks details to the press, details that only the police know. This , of course, leads Helen to believe that someone on the inside is the one leaking the details. It comes down to Helen being suspicious of a close co-worker. Can she figure out who and why these crimes are being committed, it is a race against the killer, before he or she abducts more innocent people.

I love a good crime novel and this one was no exception, believable characters, an interesting plot all make for an edge of your seat thriller. I am glad to see that this is going to be a series because I am curious to see if Helen can conquer her own demons. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and recommended it for the reader who likes a well-told story.

I received this book for review and was not monetarily compensated for my thoughts.

Let's Cook Giveaway!

Let's Cook! Giveaway

Grand Prize Package Worth Over $300
Second Place Worth Over $100

Enter to Win One of These Two Incredible Prize Packages!
Either One Would Make the Perfect Gift for Newlyweds, College Freshmen, or that Hard to Buy for Cook on Your List

There's Even Something For the Littlest Cook on Your List!


LOOK AT ALL THE GREAT PRIZES
YOU COULD WIN!

BYB E-41 Series Clip-on 4 LED Light

• ★ BONUS AND UPGRADED. Free AC Adapter, USB cord, Multifunction Clean Cloth Included. Featuring the Rechargeable 1000mAh Lithium Ion built in battery, NO MORE BUYING BATTERIES!
• ★ MULTIPLE, CLIP-ON OR FREE STANDING. Fully Adjustable and Light Weight, Folds Into an Easy-to-carry Accessory Making Travelling with This Light So Convenient. Perfect for Your Guitar Accessories Kit, Students Dorm Room, Music Rehearsals or for Those Away Trips for Work. Charge Your New LED Light with the USB Charge Cable or the BONUS FREE AC Adaptor
• ★ HIGH QUALITY AND SUPER BRIGHT 8 LEDs. 2 LEVELS of BRIGHTNESS, Equiped with 2*4 World Class LED Chips, Super Brightness, The Optical Grade Lens Provides Evenly Distributed Light with No Hot Spots

★ LIGHTWEIGHT & COMPACT. Clips to Your Hard Cover Books, Sheet Music Stand, Craft Table, Work Bench, Bed Headboard (maximum 1 inch in thickness) or Laptop. Great for Music Stands, Pianos, Orchestra Pits, Reading, Work Tables, Mixing Tables, Craft Tables etc. It truly is a multi-purpose light for so many things. Can you think of one that you would use it for? Easily Bends to Compact Position for Storage, Extra Strong Clip Grips Almost Anything or Use it Free Standing

• ★ LIFETIME WARRANTY - 100% Money Back Guarantee - RACK YOUR BRAIN FOR A GIFT ? CHOOSE IT ! You Won't Find Another Better - Get More Than Your Expected !

My Thoughts:
These easy to position and reposition lights are perfect for getting more light where you need it. The nice size of the clip makes it simple to attach to the side of a bowl, a cabinet handle, a book, grill, or just about anywhere that you want. I don't have enough light under my cabinets at night so I found it very helpful to clip this light onto my cutting board while doing prep for dinner the other night. I found the well built clip to be strong and that the lights stayed in the position that I set them at.

Set of 6 1EasyLife Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons

• ★ MAKING A PERFECT DISH WILL NEVER BE A DOWNFALL. Preparing a dish requires following direction and right measurement, Luckily with 1Easylife Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons cooking will be quick and gives you an accurate measure for recipes without the hassle
• ★ SAY NO TO COOKING NIGHTMARES. Introducing the elegant and stylish measuring spoons, A perfect set of 6 stainless steel, highly satin brushed with best quality, Look amazing and easy to clean plus the weight handle making measuring out dry ingredients easy and accurate measure marking in different spoon sizes. long lasting and durable and used by professionals.
• ★ WHY IT IS THE BEST CHOICE FOR YOUR KITCHENS. Refine measurement- ensure Perfect food taste every time Accurate balance - round-shaped spoon heads and perfectly weighted handles, high grade satin brushed stainless steel finish for a long life - no to rust! All around measuring tools - measure dry and liquid ingredients! Engrave US metric Measurement

★ YOUR FAVORITE MEASURING INGREDIENTS. The 6-piece 1Easylife Stainless-Steel Measuring Spoon Set is designed with innovative round-shaped spoon heads that reach into narrow spice jars and other small containers. These spoons are conveniently connected by a small ring which helps to keep the spoons together as a set after a full day of baking or cooking. 1Easylife includes 6 measuring sizes: 1/8-tsp, 1/4-tsp, 1/2-tsp, 1-tsp, 1/2-Tbsp. and 1-Tbsp. With each measurement conveniently marked on the handle of each spoon, there's no guesswork when adding spices to your dishes. Dishwasher-safe.

• ★ NO HASSLE, 100% LIFE TIME WARRANTY. We offer 100% life time warranty to make you happy and satisfied with our product, If for any reason you're not completely satisfied, return your Stainless Steel Measuring Cups for a No Questions Asked full refund.

My Thoughts:
I've have had a set of name brand plastic measuring spoons since I set up house keeping more than twenty years ago. Getting me to part with them wasn't going to be easy, but always willing to try new things I gave these a test drive. I found the 1Easlife measuring spoons to be nicely weighted and with the length of the handles I was able to reach into containers with ease. I really like that they take up much less space than my old set and are much easier to get clean. After comparing the two it may be time to retire my old ones.

Instant Read Digital Cooking Thermometer by Chef DeTemple

• PREVENT OVERCOOKING - Don't ruin an elegant meal or backyard barbecue by serving dry, tough, overcooked meat. If you only use cooking time to determine doneness, you could end up with some pieces being cooked perfectly and others over or underdone - not to mention burnt! You can easily avoid this by using a meat thermometer. When cooked to the proper temperature, meat will stay juicy and tender.
• PREVENT ILLNESS - Using a food thermometer greatly reduces your risk of foodborne illness associated with bacteria. The harmful bacteria found in contaminated food can only survive up to a certain temperature, and using a food thermometer is the only way to be 100-percent sure that your food is safe to eat.

EASY TO USE - Large LCD display for easy-to-read numbers - No More Squinting! Function buttons include On/Off, Hold and °C/°F conversion. Auto shut-off after 10 minutes saves battery life. Uses (1) AAA battery.

• MEASURING RANGE AND ACCURACY - Instant read in only 4-7 seconds accurately measuring range of temperatures between -58°F-572°F (-50°C-300°C). Long stainless steel probe to keep your hands safe from heat!

• MONEY BACK GUARANTEE AND LIFETIME WARRANTY - When you order today, you are protected by our no-questions-asked Money Back Guarantee and World Class Customer Service!

My Thoughts:
My thermometer arrived the day I was making fried green tomatoes so I used it to make sure that my oil was at the proper temperature. If it's to cold the tomatoes get mushy before the breading gets brown and if it's to hot the outside  burns and the tomatoes are hard. I had bragged to my west coast boyfriend how awesome mine were so getting it right was important. My reputation as a southern cook was on the line! I found that this thermometer was easy to use. I just put one AAA battery in it, turned it on, and flipped open the probe. When I placed the tip in the oil I had a reading in seconds and with the nice big readout I didn't need my glasses to see it. I am very happy with this product and would recommend it to anyone with confidence.

Wood Chef Hand-crafted Ripple-cut Gourmet Cheese Slicer

• Cutting tool for cheese that gives the cheese a wavy texture
• Smoothly cuts thick or thin slices
• Comfortable grip is easy to use
• Durable and replaceable stainless steel wire with adjustable tension
• Carefully handmade in the USA from beautiful, natural wood/brass/stainless steel.
• Adjustable tension, stainless steel wire stays tight to carve neat, enticing, wavy slices every time.
• Comfortable grip for all ages, hand-held, light-weight, and simple to use.

Thin or thick slices carved, depending on how you angle the slicer into the cheese.

• Safe for children. No sharp edges.
• Makes snacking and eating fun!
• Perfect tool for creating sandwiches, pizza, crackers, snacks, use at parties and picnics. . .
• Awesome gift at low cost for Christmas presents, birthdays, weddings, office, or any special occasion.
• Gift Box comes with each one for convenient storage.
• Durable quality will last for years and won't wear out.
• Choose from wild cherry wood, black walnut, or try both!

My Thoughts:
With so many of or utensils now having plastic composite handles I hold onto my old ones that have real handles and find myself going back to using them. I just love the feel of wood and have been known to spend a lot of money just to purchase one brand of knife that has a wood handle. So when my cheese slicer arrived I couldn't wait to test it. It works for all types of cheese so I got out some block cheese that I had in the fridge to see how well it worked and felt in my hand.  It worked wonderfully and what fun slices! We often do cheese and fruit for snacks and since it is safe for the little ones to use I can't wait for my grandchildren to come over at use it to make their own fun snacks.

Bitpsy Professional Jumbo Lemon Squeezer

• HIGH QUALITY STAINLESS STEEL - This Premium Lemon squeezer made out of the strongest material available and WILL NOT BREAK when squeezing. This hand polished Citrus Juicer will not peel or rust.
• SO EASY TO USE - No matter if you choose to squeeze lemons, limes or blood oranges, this Btipsy Lemon Squeezer will make your job so easy. Fits for both kids and old men, This Squeezer is so convenient to use and with an effortless squeeze you can get every bit of juice out of the fruit.

EASY TO CLEAN - Once finished using the Lemon Juicer, it's very easy to clean it by hand or just placing it inside the dishwasher since this Lemon Squeezer is DISHWASHER SAFE. So feel free to clean it whatever you'd like.

• RISK FREE - With a 3 YEARS WARRANTY, we are committed to our 100% customer satisfaction so if you find that you are not

My Thoughts:
The all metal construction makes this juicer strong and durable. Plus, since it is made out of stainless steel I get longevity and don't have to worry about it rusting. With a very small kitchen I have very limited drawer space in my home. The hook makes it easy to hang off off one of my many cup hooks that are on every open spot in my kitchen. We eat a lot of fish and salads that we use fresh squeezed lemon and orange for and having it hanging and not hidden in a drawer keeps it handy. I found that the nice big handles were easy to grasp and squeeze so that I could get all the juice out.

Eco Bamboo Cutting Board with Handle

• This eco friendly cutting board can handle just about everything in your kitchen, from slicing cheese to carving bone-in beef roasts.
• Highly durable. Made with premium, hand selected odor-resistant organic bamboo, harder than maple wood

• Durable stainless steel handle for easy grip

Made from 100% high quality antimicrobial recyclable bamboo with Non-Toxic food grade adhesive - starch from a sweet potato

• Easy to clean and maintain - Easily wash and clean off bacteria and food particles with some hot water and soap then let it air dry.

My Thoughts:
In the last few years, bamboo has become one of the most popular materials for cutting boards because of it's low maintenance, superior health and sanitation qualities. Not only does it look good but it is a green, renewable and earth friendly material. The hardness of a bamboo cutting board, plus the fact that it very resistant to bacteria makes it a must have in my kitchen. I tested my new board by cutting some yellow squash, zucchini, and cucumbers with a brand new ceramic knife and could not find one mark from doing it. All you have to do is make a habit of never letting it soak and wiping it dry after washing  and with this easy, proper care this board will stay beautiful for years.

VOS Professional Classic 8 Inch Ceramic Chef's Knife

• Sharpness - Our ultra-sharp advanced ceramic blade will retain its original sharpness up to 15 times longer than steel blades.
• Purity - Rust-proof, will never brown foods, impervious to acids and oils, no metallic taste or smell. Advanced ceramic is a pure & healthy alternative.
• Lightweight - Typically half the weight of metal-based knives, offers total ease of use with the most difficult cutting tasks. Ergonomic handles produce a well-balanced, highly controlled grip.

Easy to Clean - The fact that advanced ceramic does not absorb any food element, allows just a quick rinse and wipe with a kitchen towel.

• 8 Inch Chef Ceramic knife For slicing fruits, vegetables and boneless meats.

My Thoughts:
This is my first ceramic knife so I wanted to know what some of the advantages of a ceramic knife were. I found out that they include hardness, ceramic is second only to diamonds; weight, it's much lighter than metal; durability, because these knives keep their razor sharp edge and will not wear out like metal; no metal means no rust; and the ability to resist stains and odors. Because each ceramic knife goes through a long manufacturing process which makes it high end you can expect quality and longevity from your knife. I tested my new ceramic knife by cutting some yellow squash, zucchini, and cucumbers. Even with difficulties from injuries with my hands I found the handle was very easy to hold and grip. It sliced the veggies with ease and with very little pressure from me. With my garden producing lots of vegetables this will be my new go to knife for prepping them. 

The Learning Journey Play and Learn Shopping Basket Playset

Kids can enjoy the complete shopping experience with the Play & Learn Shopping Basket! Our kid-sized Shopping Basket is easy to carry with its lightweight plastic construction and big handles. Fun Accessories include a variety of plastic and cardboard food items. Ages 3+ years.

24 plastic and cardboard play food items

• Large handles for easy carrying
• Encourages imagination
• Durable, lightweight plastic construction

My Thoughts:
This is perfect for getting  the little cook in your home playing, imagining, and creating. The basket is made from thick plastic making it strong and durable. The food that comes with it is sure to keep them entertained for hours. I've ordered many imaginary milk shakes and french fries playing drive thru with my grandchildren so I know they are going to love playing grocery with all these fun items. I really like the bright and bold colors. They are very appealing and fun.

Elegant Stainless Steel Salt and Pepper Grinder Set

• HIGH QUALITY GLASS AND STAINLESS STEEL GRINDER SET This glass and stainless steel salt and pepper grinder set features a modern design and is stylish and elegant enough for kitchen-to-table use! Each set contains one salt grinder and one pepper grinder which can hold 3/4 cup of salt, peppercorns or any other spice, in its generously sized glass reservoir. *Salt and pepper not included.
• BUILT FOR CONVENIENCE AND FUNCTION Unlike other grinder sets, this pair has their grinding mechanism on the top of the grinder, ensuring salt and pepper ends up only on your food -- not all over your table. The ceramic grinder is non-corrosive, won't absorb flavors and is easily adjustable from a fine to coarse grind.
• EASY REFILLING WITH NO MESSES Don't you hate constantly having to refill your salt and pepper grinders? Standing about 5 1/4 inches tall this set is the perfect size to cut down on constant refills without being bulky. When you do have to refill, the clear glass bodies will let you know when it's time! The stainless steel top easily screws off revealing a wide opening for easy and mess-free refills.

ELEGANT DESIGN With its brushed stainless steel encasing, glass body and ceramic grinder, this unique duo is a professional, sleek addition to any kitchen, with a stainless steel lid that truly "caps" off this beautiful set. No tacky electrical grinders here means no batteries required--only a few effortless twists with your hand to experience that fresh himalayan salt, pepper, or other spice.

• CUSTOMER GUARANTEE We're confident you'll love our Dual Refillable Salt & Pepper Grinders. However, if you're not completely satisfied, we'll give you a 100% refund within 90 days of purchase--NO QUESTIONS ASKED. We have the best customer service on Amazon, and YOU, the customer, are our top priority. Add a set to your shopping cart today for a risk-free culinary experience!

My Thoughts:
I just ordered this beautiful set two days ago and was so excited to try them. Don't they look amazing? They arrived yesterday and look even better in person! The attention to detail and quality is obvious. The Kitchen Classique Grinders are a nice large size so they will hold a lot more than any of the previous grinders that I have owned. I found it really easy to open each grinder to fill it. Just unscrew the metal part from the glass, fill, and screw it back on. Each grinder has a lid to keep it from spilling accidentally, or for grinding what you need then adding it to your food plus you can adjust the coarseness to your liking. I am very happy with this product and would recommend it to my friends and family with confidence.

Welcome To The

Let's Cook! Giveaway


Hosted By
PaulaMS' Giveaways, Reviews, & Freebies

Co-Hosted By
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Dates: July 24th 9 AM Eastern Time - August 23rd 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Grand Prize Package
Set of 6 1EasyLife Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
Chef DeTemple Instant Read Digital Cooking Thermometer
BYB E-41 Series Clip-on 4 LED Light
Blue Iguazu Hand-crafted Ripple-cut Gourmet Cheese Slicer
Bitpsy Stainless Steel Citrus Juicer
CasaQoqo Eco Bamboo Cutting Board with Handle
VOS Professional Ceramic Chef's Knife 8 Inch
The Learning Journey Play and Learn Shopping Basket Playset
Stainless Steel Salt and Pepper Grinder Set

Second Prize Package
CasaQoqo Eco Bamboo Cutting Board with Handle
VOS Professional Ceramic Chef's Knife 8 Inch
Stainless Steel Salt and Pepper Grinder Set

I would like to give a big Thank You to all the blogs
participating in this giveaway!

GOOD LUCK!

Let's Cook! Giveaway

Disclaimer: PaulaMS' Giveaways, Reviews, and Freebies nor any blog promoting this giveaway, is not responsible for the awarding of the prize. Sponsors are responsible for prize fulfillment.
Disclosure of Material Connection: PaulaMS received the products mentioned above for free to facilitate the writing of the reviews. Some of the links on this blog post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, she only recommend products or services that she uses personally and believe will add value to readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Fury's Kiss by Nicola R. White Spotlight!

Ebook Details Series: New England Furies Paperback: 344 pages Publisher: Two Roads Press (March 7, 2015) Language: English ISBN-10: 0994093209 ISBN-13: 978-0994093202

The Book

Tara Walker dreams of more excitement than slinging plates of seafood for Cape Cod tourists, but as she learns when she is attacked and forced to fight for her life, fate sometimes has a funny way of giving you exactly what you wish for. Faced with strange new powers and embroiled in a murder investigation, Tara must now race to uncover the secrets of the ancient Fury that has woken inside of her – and of the evil that stalks her.

As if Tara’s life hasn’t gotten complicated enough, she is forced to ally herself with Jackson Byrne, witness to her assault and uncle to a pint-sized oracle whose fate is intertwined with hers. Skeptical, stubborn, and oh-so-sexy, Jackson wrestles with demons of his own. He is determined to ignore the attraction rising between them even faster than the body count, but like it or not, he and Tara need each other if they are to unravel the mysteries that surround them.

Read Chapter One Here

The Author

Nicola R. White is no stranger to the fantastic. Although there are no Furies in her family tree (that she knows of), she comes from a small city on the east coast of Canada where ghost stories and superstitions abound. She has worked on movie sets, as a bartender, in a lighthouse, and as a lawyer, and though she’s never been an exotic dancer like her character, Alex Hughes, she does know how to pole dance.

She has always been fascinated by the strange and morbid, and often stays up too late reading books that give her nightmares. She believes truth is stranger than fiction, and just a few of her heroes are Buffy, Dana Scully, and Xena.

Nicola is a member of Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada, and is an active member and supporter of the award-winning Romance Divas website and online forum.

Amazon pre order link

Goodreads

War of Rain by H.W.Vivian Spotlight

Today it is my pleasure to share with you a YA novel, War of Rain by H.W.Vivian, you can also enter for a chance to win a copy of the book at Goodreads here:

The Book

Fifteen-year-old Miri lives in a desert village called Boreala, which competes with the city of Stratos for Rain - the equivalent of Holy Water. During a confrontation while gathering Rain, Miri accidentally kills a citizen of Stratos and unintentionally starts a heinous war. Now it is up to her to find the God of Rain, Kalono, and ask Him for an invention that can bring both peace and war before Boreala is destroyed.

Amazon (Paperback and Kindle ebook): http://www.amazon.com/War-Rain-H-W-Vivian-ebook/dp/B00TG0KR0I/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Barnes & Noble (Paperback and Nook ebook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/war-of-rain-h-w-vivian/1121214780?ean=9781483423623

Lulu Press (Paperback): http://www.lulu.com/shop/h-w-vivian/war-of-rain/paperback/product-21989957.html

"War of Rain" is also on Goodreads via this link: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24882028-war-of-rain?ac=1 

Website: www.H-W-Vivian.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hwvivian7

Twitter: @vhwang7

Stop the Diet, I Want To Get Off! Release Day Blitz!!!

We're happy to be hosting Lisa Tillinger Johansen and her STOP THE DIET I WANT TO GET OFF RELEASE DAY BLITZ today!

About the Book:

Title: Stop the Diet, I Want To Get Off!

Author: Lisa Tillinger Johansen
Publisher: J. Murray Press
Pages: 275
Genre: Nonfiction/Nutrition/Health

Purchase at AMAZON

The Paleo.  The Zone.  The Gluten-free.  Another day, another diet.  We’re caught in a never-ending merry-go-round of weight loss plans, fueled by celebrity endorsers, TV doctors and companies angling for a piece of a $60 billion industry.  But do these diets really work?  And how healthy are they?

Registered Dietitian Lisa Tillinger Johansen examines dozens of the most wildly popular diets based on medical facts, not hype.  And along the way, she reveals tried-and-true weight loss strategies, relying on her years of hospital experience, weight-loss seminars and community outreach efforts.  With insight and humor, Stop The Diet, I Want To Get Off shows that the best answer is often not a trendy celebrity-endorsed diet, but easy-to-follow guidelines that are best for our health and our waistlines.

Book Excerpt:

The idea for this book began at a wedding.

Who doesn’t love a good wedding? The clothes, the flowers, the romance, the food…

Ah, the food. As we moved into the banquet hall, the culinary feast was on everyone’s minds. It was all anyone seemed talk about. But for some reason, guests weren’t conversing about the dishes being served; they were swapping stories of diets they had heard about from friends, magazine articles, even celebrities on talk shows.

I’m a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutritional science and years of clinical and health education experience. I’ve counseled thousands of patients and clients on all of these diets. But hearing the guests only momentarily distracted me from my horrible faux pas of wearing white (gasp!) to a friend’s wedding.

“I’m on the Blood Type Diet,” said a woman with an impossibly high bouffant hairdo. “You’ve heard of that, haven’t you? It’s the one where you choose your foods based on your blood type. I’m an AB, so I’ll be having the fish.”

“Really?” her friend replied. “I swear by the gluten-free diet. I’m on it, my daughter’s on it, and my granddaughter’s on it.”

I happened to know her granddaughter was six and didn’t have a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.

Then there was the stocky guy who was trying to impress one of the bridesmaids. “I’m a paleo man myself,” he said, piling his plate high with beef kebabs. “It gives me more stamina, know what I mean? It puts me in touch with my inner caveman. There’s a restaurant near my apartment that’s paleo friendly. Maybe we can grab a bite there sometime, or…Hey wait, where are you going?”

And there were three Weight Watchers sisters who typed furiously on their phones and argued over their meals’ point values. Apparently there was some discrepancy between their various apps, and the sisters’ discussion was becoming more heated by the moment.

I’m past the point of being surprised by the wide range of weight-loss strategies—

some worthless, some crazy, some quite reasonable—being tossed around. In the past few years, there has been a tidal wave of diets washing up on the shores of our nutritional consciousness. Celebrities prance across our screens, promoting a variety of weight-loss schemes on talk shows and infomercials. Medical doctors star in their own syndicated television programs, exposing millions to weight-loss techniques, often unsupported by medical research. Other diets get traction on the Internet, racing all over the globe in social media posts, YouTube videos, and annoying spam e-mails. It’s hard to walk past a shopping center vitamin store without being approached by salespeople trying to pitch the latest weight-loss supplements. It seems that everyone wants a piece of the pie; the American diet industry tops $60 billion annually.

It’s classic information overload. You can’t blame people for being confused by all the diets out there, even as crazy as some of them may sound. I didn’t speak up to my fellow wedding guests that day, but it occurred to me they would benefit from some hard facts about the diets they so ardently follow.

So during the toasts, I thought to myself, I should write a book.

I counsel clients on these matters each week, giving them information they need to make the best choices for their health and waistlines. I find that all too often there’s nothing to the diets that are presented to me in my counseling sessions and classes. They just plain don’t work, particularly over the long term. And some of them are harmful, even potentially lethal. But it’s also unhealthy to carry extra weight on our frames. So how do we separate good diets from the bad?

In the chapters to come, we’ll take a good, hard look at the various weight-loss plans out there. I’ll pull no punches in my professional evaluation of some of the most wildly popular diets, both bad and good, of the past few years. And along the way, I’ll explore tried-and-true strategies for losing weight, based on my years of hospital experience, weight-loss seminars, and community outreach efforts. More often than not, the best answer is not a trendy celebrity-endorsed diet, but instead a few easy-to-follow guidelines that I’ve seen work in literally thousands of cases.

Enough is enough. It’s time for the madness—and the diets—to stop.

About the Author: 

LISA TILLINGER JOHANSEN, MS, RD is a Registered Dietitian who counsels clients on a wide range of health issues. Her debut nutrition book, Fast Food Vindication, received the Discovery Award (sponsored by USA Today, Kirkus and The Huffington Post).  She lives in Southern California.

Her latest book is the nonfiction/nutrition/health book, Stop the Diet, I Want To Get Off!

For More Information

• Visit Lisa Tillinger Johansen’s websites – Stop the Diet, Consult the Dietician and Fast Food Vindication.
• Connect with Lisa on Facebook and Twitter.

French Lavender (2 fl oz) Best Essential Oil

I have recently started introducing essential oils into my household. I use the oils in a diffuser, make my soaps and sugar scrubs. I have even been making my household bathroom and window cleaners as I hate the smell of the chemicals that may found in everyday products.

Essential oils have so many benefits that you can't possibly run out of oil combinations or uses. So many uses, where do you begin. Well to start you want to buy good quality oils such as Sun Essential Oils. Then you can pick whatever oils that work for you and whatever you want.
French Lavender Essential Oil has been known to help with sleep support, brain and memory support, stress and mood management, digestive health and for use pre, during and post-pregnancy. I love to have a lavender mist and use it just before bedtime on my pillows. The smell of French Lavender is so relaxing that bedtime is a pleasure!

I received a 2 oz bottle of Sun Essential French Lavender Oil and I was not monetarily compensated for my review.

Blackwell's Homecoming by V.E.Ulett Spotlight with Giveaway!

Blackwell's Homecoming by V.E. Ulett

Publication Date: December 19, 2014 
Publisher: Old Salt Press, LLC Formats: eBook, Paperback 
Pages: 278 
Series: Blackwell's Adventures, Book 3 Genre: Historical Fiction

     
“A very satisfying conclusion to the Blackwell's Adventures series, with lusty escapades tempered with amusing side passages, lively characters and a lovely ending.” - Broos Campbell, author of the Matty Graves series In a multigenerational saga of love, war and betrayal, Captain Blackwell and Mercedes continue their voyage in Volume III of Blackwell's Adventures. The Blackwell family's eventful journey from England to Hawaii, by way of the new and tempestuous nations of Brazil and Chile, provides an intimate portrait of family conflicts and loyalties in the late Georgian Age. Blackwell's Homecoming is an evocation of the dangers and rewards of desire.

PRAISE

"This entire trilogy has lots of adventure, lots of romance, and lots of wonderful settings that will thrill any historical fiction reader." - Meg Wessel, A Bookish Affair "A real pleasure to read, this book can stand alone, although I recommend reading the previous volumes to see additional development of the main characters." - Jeff Westerhoff, Historical Novels Review

AMAZON (KINDLE) | AMAZON (PB) | BARNES & NOBLE (PB) | BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK) | ITUNES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A long time resident of California, V.E. Ulett is an avid reader as well as writer of historical fiction. Proud to be an Old Salt Press author, V.E. is also a member of the National Books Critics Circle and an active member and reviewer for the Historical Novel Society. Eighteenth and nineteenth century journals and letters inspired the writing of CAPTAIN BLACKWELL’S PRIZE. The sequels takes Captain Blackwell and Mercedes to the far side of the world, on new personal and cultural adventures. Coming soon from V.E. Ulett, a historical adventure with a fantastic edge. For more information visit V.E. Ulett's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Read and Excerpt

Emma was collapsing with fatigue, her feet ached from the heeled satin pumps she wore, and she guessed it must be four o’clock in the morning. She was more than willing to retire, but when she looked into the card room she gave a little gasp. The card tables had already been taken away, and there were only servants remaining, carrying out chairs and glasses. She hurried, her heart thumping a little, and took a place in the line of people waiting for their carriages. It was always she who ordered the hackney or their carriage to be brought round, that was not a problem, but Emma missed Edward standing near her. She felt she must be conspicuous, an unescorted female, especially after the attention paid her earlier.

When her turn came at the head of the line, Emma spoke up. “A hackney coach to Curzon Street, if you please.”

“Oh, no, Miss! Not for you.” A man in pigtail and seaman’s garb was suddenly at her elbow. “His lordship, Captain Lord Cochrane sends his carriage.”

Emma recognized the coat of arms on the carriage, and with a murmured, “How kind”, she allowed herself to be handed in by the rough seaman. The man shut the door of the carriage and jumped up on the box alongside the driver. Emma sank back into the padded seat with a sigh, put off her shoes and promptly fell asleep.

She awoke when the carriage lurched to a halt. The door was opened by the same seaman, the steps let down, and Emma was out of the carriage and upon the pavement before she looked about her.

“This is not Curzon Street. Why have you brought me to Harley Street? This is Lord Cochrane’s house, surely—”

“Pipe down, Missy.”

Another man had appeared at Emma’s side, together the two seamen hustled her up the house steps and into the foyer.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, July 27 
Spotlight & Excerpt at Unshelfish 
Spotlight & Excerpt at What Is That Book About 
Tuesday, July 28 
Review & Excerpt at Oh, For the Hook of a Book 
Wednesday, July 29 
Review at Book Nerd Review at Just One More Chapter 
Thursday, July 30 
Spotlight at A Literary Vacation 
Friday, July 31 
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews 
Sunday, August 2 
Review at Beth's Book Nook Blog (Blackwell's Paradise Audio Book) Monday, August 3 
Review at Beth's Book Nook Blog (Blackwell's Homecoming)

GIVEAWAY

To enter to win a paperback of Blackwell's Paradise, please enter via the GLEAM form below. Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on August 3rd. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to residents in the US, UK, Canada & Australia only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. 

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Blackwell's Homecoming