25 September 2015

The Beautifully Creative Inspired Link Party!





Welcome to The Beautifully Creative Inspired Link Party - this is a weekly party where bloggers and readers can be inspired by creative, informational and fun posts from tons of blogs around the web. You will find yummy recipes, awesome creative projects and many more. It is also a great way to meet and mingle with bloggers you find here. Best of all, the posts you share at this link party will be shown on 5 different blogs! Can you say “Show me the Traffic!”


We are so glad to have everyone (new visitors and returning party goers from City of Links - Link Party) joining us this week and I am especially glad to have these lovely ladies hosting this party with me.

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I do so love to bake and one of my favorite places to get ideas from is King Flour
This week I made Pecan Wheat Bread. I did change the recipe up a bit, though. I did not have any whole wheat flour so I used all bread flour and added a half cup of Hodgson Mill Multi Grain Cereal with Quinoa & Flax plus I also like to add an enhancer, such as Hodgson Mill Vital Wheat Gluten. It just makes the yeast do what it does a little bit better. When I use it my loaves of bread rise really high.
I do cheat a little bit when making bread. I do have a KitchenAid but I put all my bread ingredients into my bread maker, put it on the dough cycle then I bake it the traditional way. Saves me a few steps when I am busy doing reviews and checking my 400 a day emails!

 Hope you all have a great week!
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/pecan-wheat-bread-recipe


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I love to bake, so last week I found these two recipes on the Beautifully Creative Inspired Link Party!! So many great ideas there that you really need to take a look.
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Go to the link below to see what all the other ladies have been up to!
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24 September 2015

Zeny® New 6' Foamie Surfboard Giveaway

Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. This post may contain affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase as small commission may be paid. ($299 ARV on sale now for $78.99)Zeny Surfboard Giveaway

USA Equipment Supplier has some wonderful products that we could all use in our daily lives from pet products, nursing products and welding tools to health and beauty products.
If you just can't wait to see if you won this giveaway and would like to purchase one of these for yourself, they are currently on sale here but hurry the sale won't last long.

Now USA Equipment Supplier is offering you a chance to win a Zeny® New 6' Foamie Board Surfboard of your very own. Perfect for beginners!



Co-hosts are:





A huge thanks to all of the co-host and participating bloggers! Your help is greatly appreciated!

Did you know that we are not allowed to ask you to "like" us as a giveaway entry on Facebook?

If you visit our page and enjoy it, please "like" it of your own free will. This will allow us to continue to bring you these wonderful giveaways with great prizes. Thanks in advance for "liking" us!

And now for the very best part - the giveaway!

Giveaway dates: 9/22 1:00 am - 10/17 11:59 pm CST 
Open to residents of the Continental US 18+ One set of entries per person. 

 Prize: One winner will receive a Zeny® New 6' Foamie Board Surfboard in the color blue ($299 ARV on sale now for $78.99)

Please enter the giveaway through the Giveaway Tool listed below. Giveaway Tools will randomly select a winner. Winning entry will be verified. Winner has 48 hours to claim the prize before another winner is selected. All entries are optional, and the chance of winning depends on the number of entries. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited. By entering this giveaway you are agreeing to have your name listed as the winner on the giveaway widget and winner's list of participating blogs. In the case of any malfunction of the Giveaway Tool the giveaway will be cancelled and no prize awarded.

Disclaimer: None of the bloggers participating in this giveaway are responsible for prize fulfillment. USA Equipment Supplier is the sponsor and will be awarding the prize to the winner. None of the social media platforms are affiliated with this giveaway. Any questions or if you would like to sponsor a review and/or giveaway email imho@imhoviewsreviewsandgiveaways.com.
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Booker No Mas by John W.Mefford Book Tour Spotlight and Giveaway!


New Release....
No more deception.

Brought to the Caribbean island of Dominican Republic on the premise that he could finally close the chapter on the darkest moment of his life—and rid the world of a cold-blooded killer—Booker T. Adams instantly finds a far different scene. Set against the backdrop of a city consumed by the rising fear of terrorism and a brutal drug lord, a woman, seemingly with two lives and even two faces, uses her hypnotic charm to get what she wants, sending Booker on a mission to rescue a teenage boy held hostage.

No more lies.

Befriended by a fired cop and a homeless kid with nothing to live for, Booker struggles to understand fact versus fiction, while staving off wild bores, snakes, terrorist traps, and a past that has haunted him for almost thirty years. Is he dealing with people believing their own hypocrisy, or have they simply perfected the art of betrayal and treachery?

No more killing.

The all-powerful rule with brute force, killing women and children like they’re swatting flies. It’s a savagery that Booker can’t comprehend, let alone defeat. With the smell of death stuffed down his throat, the man with everything to lose puts everything on the line—because he can stand…

No more.
Available to buy at...

Check out the other books in the series
 
 

About the Author
A veteran of the corporate wars, former journalist, and true studier of human and social behavior, best-selling author John W. Mefford has been writing novels since he first entered the work force twenty-five years ago, although he never put words on paper until late 2009.

John writes novels full of intrigue, suspense, and thrills, but they also evoke an emotional connection with the characters.

When he’s not writing, he chases three kids around, slaves away in the yard, reads, takes in as many sports as time allows, watches all sorts of movies, and continues to make mental notes of people and societies across the land.

John lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife, three opinionated kids, and a feisty fat cat who rules the world.
Follow the author on the following sites...


Follow the book tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY
Win John W Mefford's NINE ebook Library!
4 Winners!!
Ending on Sunday 27th September at 11.59pm CST
Open Worldwide 

 Enter HERE

 Good Luck !!



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Death by Chocolate Coffee Cups Giveaway

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Hosted by Tales From A Southern Mom

Co-Hosted by Amy and Arons Real Life Reviews and Michigan Saving and More

Sponsored by Crazy Cups

When you want a flavored cup of coffee, you need to look no further than Crazy Cups! They have a ton of flavors that taste just like they claim. This Death by Chocolate Flavored coffee is amazing, you can read the review on the Crazy Cups flavor here! 

 Crazy Cups is sponsoring a giveaway for a box of this special coffee for one of our readers. Just enter below and Good Luck!  

 photo credit: Chocolate pieces via photopin (license)
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Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story By Jonathan LaPoma Book Blitz!



Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story
By Jonathan LaPoma
Genre: Literary Fiction
DEVELOPING MINDS: AN AMERICAN GHOST STORY follows a group of recent college graduates who struggle with feelings of alienation and their addictions as they try to survive a year of teaching at two dysfunctional Miami public schools.

A poetic and insightful coming-of-age novel, DEVELOPING MINDS is centered on 24-year-old Luke Entelechy, an aspiring writer who sees his creative output suffer when he begins teaching at one of Miami's most challenging middle schools. As the year progresses, however, Luke begins to relate to the neglect and abuse his students suffer, and is faced with a haunting decision: continue to let his dark past destroy him, or rise above the struggle to realize his potential as an artist and a real human being.

Equal parts disturbing and humorous, DEVELOPING MINDS offers a brutally honest look at the American public school system and the extreme measures many teachers take to cope with working in it.


Author Bio
Jonathan LaPoma is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, songwriter, and poet from Buffalo, NY. In 2005, he received a BA in history and a secondary education credential from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and he traveled extensively throughout the United States and Mexico after graduating. These experiences have become the inspiration for much of his writing, which often explores themes of alienation and misery as human constructions that can be overcome through self-understanding and the acceptance of suffering. His five feature-length screenplays have won over 40 awards/honors at various international screenwriting competitions, and his novel DEVELOPING MINDS: AN AMERICAN GHOST STORY is a finalist in the 2015 Stargazer Literary Prizes for best Visionary and Metaphysical Fiction. He lives in San Diego and teaches at a public secondary school.
Website: www.jonlapoma.com



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23 September 2015

Smolder by K.C.Stewart Cover Reveal!

 
Smolder
Hailey Holloway Book 4
by: KC Stewart
Publication Date: November 2, 2015
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

Synopsis

Hailey was finally ready. After months of uncertainty she was prepared to be mated to the man and the dragon she loved most in the world. There was just one problem, he hadn't asked her yet. Of course that didn't mean he wasn't teasing her relentlessly. Dacea was getting down on one knee at every chance he had but the right question had yet to pass his lips. He had a plan, one Hailey was not privy too, and all of this was just for show until the day came that he would make her his mate. A tragedy will rock them all but none more than Dacea. In the aftermath, he can't find the will to keep going forward with his plans. It will be up to Hailey to take charge and make an honest man out of him. 

Catch Up On the Series

Hailey Holloway #1
Amazon US - http://goo.gl/OKKud9
Amazon UK - http://goo.gl/V3nnmv
 
Hailey Holloway #2
Amazon US - http://goo.gl/B5RqRD
Amazon UK - http://goo.gl/xRkrLU
Hailey Holloway #3
Amazon US - http://goo.gl/xvzRAz
Amazon UK - http://goo.gl/yjZWEF

About the Author

K.C. Stewart is the self published author of the Hailey Holloway series and most recently, the Adirondack Pack series. All her life she had fantasized and day dreamed on a regular basis but it wasn’t until she began writing flash fiction and that she made those fantasies a reality. Now she has graduated to novels but still dabbles in the occasional flash fiction and short story. Because of her love for reading and the written word, K.C. is currently continuing her education at Clarion University for Library Science. When she isn’t taking photographs, studying or writing, she is supporting a very real gummy bear habit. Currently, she lives with her boyfriend, German shepherd and cats in central Pennsylvania.
Social Media Links
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$120 Jord Gift Certificate Giveaway Blogger Opportunity!

giveaway final

Hello Bloggers!
I would love to have some help promoting this giveaway!
The sponsor is doing the rafflecopter.
So that means no co hosts!
Just a FREE link!
HTML of Blogger's opp if you would like to post.
Please sign up HERE or on the bottom.

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Jasper’s Lament by Katherine Pym Blog Tour Spotlight!

02_Jasper's Lament

Jasper's Lament by Katherine Pym

Publication Date: June 29, 2015
Books We Love, Ltd.
eBook; 301 Pages Genre: Historical Fiction

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London 1664. The 2nd Anglo/Dutch war is imminent, and England prepares against the threat. After his father’s mysterious death, Jasper’s world is thrown into chaos. Coded messages, letters penned with invisible ink, and chests of gold appear from unknown sources. Dangerous symbols in unexpected places drag Jasper deeper into a conspiracy not of his making. Torn between his newfound love for a Dutchman’s daughter, and his loyalty to the king, Jasper struggles with dark forces. If he ferrets out the plotters that plan to tear England apart, will he lose the one woman he loves?

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | ITUNES | KOBO

PRAISE

"Jasper's Lament is as well-named as well-written. Pym has a wonderful ability to tell a good tale with admirable ease and conviction. It reaches heart-strings, cleverly molding so many little side-plots around the major one, yet never losing its racy pace." -Kev Richardson, Historian "A highly polished and well written book, with excellent historical accuracy and a real flavor of the age. Jasper’s Lament is a great read and hugely atmospheric." -Grace Elliot, veterinarian by day, and author of historical romance by night.

03_Katherine PymABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katherine Pym is an author of historical novels set in 1660's London with one novel of the French Revolution, including The Barbers and Jasper's Lament. She divides her time between Seattle, WA & Austin, TX with her husband and puppy-dog.

BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, September 14
Spotlight at What Is That Book About
Tuesday, September 15
Spotlight & Giveaway at Raven Haired Girl
Wednesday, September 16
Review at Book Nerd
Saturday, September 19
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More
Monday, September 21
Character Interview at Boom Baby Reviews
Tuesday, September 22
Spotlight & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Review, Interview, & Giveaway at Singing Librarian Books
Wednesday, September 23
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews
Friday, September 25
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

04_Jasper's Lament_Blog Tour Banner_FINAL
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Milan by Simi K. Rao Spotlight!


About Milan
Milan (A Wedding Story) When a daughter turns marriageable age, what should a responsible father do? Easy--wed her to the most suitable boy who comes knocking on the door. Jai Bharadwaj, Mili's father and owner of The Serenity Tea Estate in the idyllic Nilgiris would've probably liked to do the same, but being who he was, he had to ask her first. What would she say? 


‘Behind the scenes at an Indian Wedding’
Indians in general are deeply rooted in tradition. Our culture gives us our identity. Most of us (especially those living away from the homeland) cling to it, even though several aspects in these particularly modern times, make no sense at all. Why do we do so? Perhaps because it brings us together as a community and provides us comfort in a foreign environment. The same I think applies to immigrants from all over the globe.
Marriages in India, in particular Hindu marriages are long drawn intricate affairs fraught with age old tradition. Little has changed over the centuries except for certain embellishments due to modernization. To non-Indians these ceremonies appear just that—elaborate colorful rituals flavored with plenty of pomp and show.
In the following story I take my readers on a ‘behind the scenes' tour at a traditional Indian wedding. I’ve tried to illustrate the proceedings from engagement to the wedding ceremony with “generalized” Indians---my characters, and have also made an attempt to expound on the emotional upheavals that occur in the background and often aren’t spoken out loud. Milan is more of a ‘short story’ concept where it shows the before/during and after of an event than it is a ‘long novel’ about characters with hopes and dreams and goals. And its purpose is exactly that, to show the emotions Indian couples go through during the process of a wedding. This story may help the reader get a better insight into the culture of marriage in India.

The Setting of MILAN:
Whenever I travel back to my homeland, I prepare for a culture shock. The crowds, the noise, the pollution have all increased several fold as the country races forward at breakneck speed to catch up with the rest of the world. There are very places left where it still seems like life goes on as it did a few decades ago, where people are laid back and nature is not at war with mankind.

MILAN is set in one such place; Coonoor-- a hill town located in the Nilgiri Hills, about 56 kms from the Coimbatore Airport, in the southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It is part way from its more well-known cousin Ooty. I spent some time there during my last trip and was so enchanted that I chose to use it as a setting for my story. Known for its tea plantations, Coonoor is a lovely, rustic little town. With its abundance of greenery and quaint architecture it is a throwback to India as it used to be. The temperate climate and serene environment help the restless soul to relax and take a few breaths of peace. When you are there, don't forget to take a ride on the Nilgiris meter gauge train, as well as a personalized tour of the tea estates.
I want to thank Debdatta for giving me this opportunity to express myself and for hosting this blog tour. I also want to thank all the bloggers who are participating in this tour and have made space for my book on their blog. Your time and generosity is much appreciated.
Please visit my website http://simikrao.com/ for more info on me and my work. You can also connect with me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/simikrao and twitter https://twitter.com/simikrao
Happy Reading!

Simi K. Rao

 About the Author
Simi K. Rao was born and grew up in both northern and southern India before relocating to the U.S., where she has lived for several years. She is the author of multicultural contemporary romantic fiction.
The inspiration for her books and other creative projects comes from her own experience with cross-cultural traditions, lifestyles and familial relationships, as well as stories and anecdotes collected from friends, family and acquaintances.
Rao enjoys exploring the dynamics of contemporary American culture blended with Indian customs and heritage to reflect the challenges and opportunities many Indian-American women face in real life.
Much of Rao's down time is devoted to creative pursuits, including writing fiction, poetry and photography. She is an avid traveler and has visited many locations around the world.
A practicing physician, Rao lives in Denver with her family. Her published works include Inconvenient Relations and The Accidental Wife. She is currently at work on her next release.


Contact the Author:
Website I Blog I Facebook I Twitter I Goodreads
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The Secret Letters by Abby Bardi Blog Tour!


Title: The Secret Letters
Author: Abby Bardi
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia
Pages: 165
Genre: Women’s Fiction
When thirty-seven-year-old slacker-chef Julie Barlow's mother dies, her older sister Pam finds a cache of old letters from someone who appears to be their mother's former lover. The date stamped on the letters combined with a difficult relationship with her father leads Julie to conclude that the letters' author was a Native American man named J. Fallingwater who must have been her real father.
Inspired by her new identity, Julie uses her small inheritance to make her dream come true: she opens a restaurant called Falling Water that is an immediate success, and life seems to be looking up. Her sister Norma is pressuring everyone to sell their mother's house, and her brother Ricky is a loveable drunk who has yet to learn responsibility, but the family seems to be turning a corner.
Then tragedy strikes and Julie and her siblings have to stick together more than ever before. With all the secrets and setbacks, will Julie lose everything she has worked so hard for?

For More Information


Book Excerpt:
The casket was a double-wide, with painted flowers on the side like a circus wagon. Pam said it looked like hippies had scrawled on it with crayons while tripping.
“She’s at peace now,” one of our idiot cousins said to someone I half-recognized from when my mother used to drag us to West Virginia, where she was born. “Just a bunch of goddamn hillbillies in the Mountain State,” she always said, like she was Martha Stewart.
“Shut up,” Pam muttered in the cousin’s general direction, smiling like she was saying something nice. I hoped she planned to provide snark during the funeral since I didn’t know how I would make it through otherwise. My other sister Norma was in the front pew sobbing. We were keeping our distance from her, not because of anything in particular, but because we always stayed out of her way if we could. It didn’t pay to try to comfort her, since anything you said would be the wrong thing.
The casket was closed, thank God. Our mother had left strict instructions about this and everything else when she was still conscious. Even while dying, she was a control freak, and amazingly vain for someone who weighed just shy of 400 pounds, even with terminal cancer. “You’re beautiful,” we always said to her in a Hollywood voice, “don’t ever change.” She knew we were just messing with her, but she always smiled and patted her hair.
“That’s a hell of a casket,” I said.
“Sure is purty.” Pam’s eyes were red. I hadn’t looked in a mirror since early morning when I’d slathered on eye makeup, but I’d been crying all day, too, and probably looked like a slutty raccoon. “Is Timmy here yet?”
“Haven’t seen him. It’s so crowded.” I scanned the room.
“Did any of these weirdos actually know her?”
“I don’t know. I bet those fat guys were football players at her high school.” I wiped my eyes though I knew it was a bad idea, smear-wise.
“Oh, there he is.” Pam pointed to the back of the room, and I spotted our older brother. He was wearing a dark suit that made him look like a Mafia don, talking to some blond guy. She tried waving, but he didn’t notice. His eyes were on the casket. He hadn’t seen our mother in almost a year, and I was sure it was hard for him to believe she was gone. Tough shit for him, I thought. He could have come here when it would have made a difference. Now it didn’t matter to anyone what he did.
“Is The Asshole coming?” I asked, referring to our father.

“No, he says he has a schedule conflict.”


Abby Bardi is the author of THE BOOK OF FRED and THE SECRET LETTERS. She grew up in Chicago, went to college in California, then spent a decade teaching English in Japan and England. She currently teaches at a college in Maryland and lives in historic Ellicott City with her husband and dog.
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