Sons of Jude ~ Book Tour

Sons of Jude 
by Brandt Dodson
ISBN: 978-0857212054
$11.24 (paperback)
No Kindle as yet.

Released Sept 1!

About the book:
The body of a young woman is found in a dumpster in Chicago and  detectives Andy Polanski and Frank Campello are charged with finding the  killer. The two are polar opposites. Polanski is the son of a disgraced  Chicago police officer and is fastidious about his reputation. He has  also recently been transferred from another district having blown the  whistle on some corrupt cops. Campello, however, takes a  live-and-let-live approach to his life and job.

It soon becomes clear, as another young woman--a potential  witness--is murdered, that a sex-trafficking operation in Chicago is  preying on illegal aliens. As the ill-matched pair dig deeper, an  influential alderman and his son are implicated. Then Polanski is framed  for a narcotics offense, a payback for bringing cases against the corrupt  officers and the alderman? Only when Campello is challenged by a local  minister, whom he meets when visiting Polanski, does he find the  motivation to seek justice.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book and found it to be a very interesting read. Sons of Jude is about an officer who's partner has been killed in action and opens with Frank returning to work after time off recovering from it - only to find out he has been teamed up with a "traitor" to the force.

You have a lot of suspense, action, surprises all the way through the book and the climax to the story was a surprise for me (as well as Frank himself). The book is labeled as "Christian" suspense but other than mentioning that Polanski is a believer not much else is mentioned and there are no scripturally based sections in the book - personally I would say it's been labeled that way. That being said there are no bedroom scenes and the nearest to swearing is "_____ swore under his breath" or "he cussed" and that isn't our lead characters in the book but the criminal element doing any of that. There is some drinking in the book but it's mostly Frank having a beer.

I'm really looking forward to reading book two. I'd love to know more about Frank and Christi (a reporter) and I'd like to see what else happens within the Police Department - did they adequately clean it up? It would also be great to see Frank & Christi grow spiritually and who knows maybe they will connect from there.... 

I'm not going to say anymore - this was a wonderful book! You can order your copy on Amazon for $11.24. I don't see a copy available on Kindle as yet - I'd imagine eventually it will be. This will be a series of books - all police based and if you know someone (guys or gals) who loves a great political, gritty type of thriller it would make a GREAT book for Christmas, Secret Santa, Birthday - or Just Because!

Read an excerpt

Please Retweet: (Thanks!)

Sons of Jude ~ suspense, action, surprises all the way through... New Book Review & Note from the Author su.pr/2Gvo7c @kregelbooks
— Tina Peterson (@familyliteracy) October 15, 2012

A Note from the Author:

The Sons of Jude was written as the first in a series featuring a fictional Chicago police district and a rotating a cast of characters. Major characters in one novel may return in minor supporting roles in other novels, if at all. Characters will marry, die, or get transferred to and from the district. In that sense, this series will be similar to the late Ed McBain's 87th precinct novels, set in the fictional Isola, New York. But it will also be very different in that The Sons of Jude is set in a real police department in a real city. I've lived in the Chicago area and know it well.

I am the author of several previous novels and short stories, and I come from a long line of police officers on both sides of my family,going back as far as the 1930's. I was employed by the Indianapolis office of the FBI and I draw on that experience as well as my family background to lend authenticity to my work.

If you have any questions about the book or the proposed series, or if I can do anything to contribute to the tour or help you in any way, please do not hesitate to reach me at:

bldodson@roadrunner.com  or through my website at: www.brandtdodson.com 

Follow Brandt on Facebook, Twitter and on his Website to keep up with new book releases, appearances and more. Sign Up for Brandt's Newsletter HERE (right column scroll down)

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of Sons of Jude to read & review on GivingNSharing. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands. Copy was provided by Kregel Publications / Kregel.com

My Stubborn Heart

Win a Nook Simple Touch™ with GlowLight™!


Enter Today - 5/7-5/24!

~ Book Review

My Stubborn Heart

by Becky Wade

ISBN: 978-0764209741

$11.07 (paperback)

$ 9.39  (kindle)

Adult Christian Romance 

**Debut Author

About the Book:
Kate Donovan is burned out on work, worn down by her dating relationships, and in need of an adventure. When her grandmother asks her to accompany her to Redbud, Pennsylvania, to restore the grand old house she grew up in, Kate jumps at the chance.

Upon her arrival in Redbud, Kate meets Matt Jarreau, the man hired to renovate the house. Kate can't help being attracted to him, drawn by both his good looks and something else she can't quite put her finger on. He's clearly wounded--hiding from people, from God, and from his past. Yet Kate sets her stubborn heart on bringing him out of the dark and back into the light...whether he likes it or not. 

When the stilted, uncomfortable interactions between Kate and Matt slowly shift into something more, is God finally answering the longing of her heart? Or will Kate be required to give up more than she ever dreamed?

My Thoughts:
My Stubborn Heart was written by debut author Becky Wade and I loved it. The book is a little slow but it flows beautifully and is very well written. I loved how the book opens with Kate and her grandmother arriving at the old family home to renovate it and Kate falls in love with it. Becky walks us through this old home and it almost feels as though it's another character in this book - along with Morty, Velma, William, Peg and Gran - 5 seniors who know how to have a good time at their Friday night poker dinners especially when they decide to do a little matching of their own with Kate and Matt.


I think of all the characters in this story Matt was my favorite. He has a tragic story that pulls the heartstrings and you can't help but hope that he recovers enough to allow Kate close to him not only for romance but because she is instrumental to helping Matt learn to trust and lean on God again.


This is a wonderful story for anyone to read. I don't think most teens will be very interested (but you never know) just because there isn't a lot of action in it. There is a great message for Christians and non-Christians who may pick it up that God is there to support us and we can lean on Him even when things have fallen apart.


You can learn more about the book @ http://beckywade.com/home.html. There are discussion questions for book clubs or individuals who want to think a little deeper while they read in the back of the book.

About the Author:

"I happen to love stories about love. Romance novels are absolutely, 100%, no-doubt-about-it, my favorite kind of book."


During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She's been a fan of all things romantic ever since. 

Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas. It was during her years abroad that Becky's passion for reading turned into a passion for writing. She published three historical romances with Avon Books, then put her career on hold for several years to care for her kids, then recently returned to writing sheerly for the love of it. She felt led to move to the genre of contemporary Christian romance and couldn't be more thrilled with it. 

These days Becky can be found failing but trying to keep up with her housework, sweating at the gym, carting her kids around town, playing tennis, hunched over her computer, eating chocolate, or collapsed on the sofa watching TV with her husband. 

Follow her & PIN it too!  

  

Be sure to visit other blogs on the Litfuse Book Tour for My Stubborn Heart. I always find it interesting to see what others thought! 

Click Here

Win a Nook Simple Touch™ with GlowLight™ in Becky Wade's My Stubborn Heart Giveaway and RSVP for FB Party {5/24}!

Celebrate with Becky by entering her My Stubborn Heart Giveaway and connecting with her during the Author Chat Party on 5/24!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Brand New Nook Simple Touch™ with GlowLight™
• A $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Certificate
• A copy of My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on May 24th. Winner will be announced at the "My Stubborn Heart" Author Chat Facebook Party on 5/24. Becky will be hosting an book chat, testing your trivia skills and giving away some great prizes!

So grab your copy of My Stubborn Heart and join Becky on the evening of the May 24th for a chance to meet Becky and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

 

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 24th!

I received a copy of My Stubborn Heart from Litfuse Publicity to read and review on GivingNSharing. I was not required to write a positive review and no money exchanged hands. Thanks!

Titantic ~ Book Tour

Book Tour

Titantic 2012

by Bill Walker

ISBN: 978-1881475491

$15.45 (paperback)

$2.99 (Kindle)

Best-selling mystery novelist Trevor Hughes has no idea that attending his twentieth reunion at Harvard will forever change his life.

Persuaded to go by his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Dr. Julia Magnusson, he meets up with three old friends: Solly Rubens, a self-made Wall Street millionaire; Ken Faust, a successful software entrepreneur; and Harlan Astor, New York real estate tycoon and the glue that holds their circle together.

That afternoon, over drinks at the Harvard Club, Harlan drops his bombshell: He is doing what James Cameron did not -- he is rebuilding the Titanic, and sailing the ship on the hundredth anniversary to honor those who died, including his great-grandfather, John Jacob Astor IV. Only Trevor is intrigued by Harlan's audacity. Touched by his friend's interest and concern, Harlan invites him on the maiden voyage to serve as the official chronicler.

On April 10, 2012, Trevor journeys to Southampton and, along with the hundreds of handpicked passengers, boards the Titanic. He is awed by the immensity of the ship and the feelings that well up in him. His friend has made his grand dream a reality.

During the journey, armed with his iPod Touch and a miniature wireless camera hidden in his glasses, Trevor interviews both passengers and crew, eager to learn the reasons why they chose to sail on the reborn ship.

Nearly every one of them claims to have been profoundly affected by Cameron's film, wanting to recapture the magic for themselves. And some of them are dying -- their last wish to be on the maiden voyage of the new Titanic.

Trevor is touched that his friend has allowed these people to come aboard, and is unprepared when he meets Madeleine Regehr, a beautiful, free-spirited woman who resists his entreaties to be interviewed, intriguing Trevor all the more. Slowly, and inexorably, Maddy draws him out of his shell, allowing him to love deeply and completely, for the very first time in his life.

But Trevor soon discovers a darker purpose for the voyage, a purpose that threatens to destroy him and the woman he loves. In a race against time that pits friend against friend, Trevor must stop the unstoppable or risk a horrific replay of history...

AUTHOR BIO:  A graduate of Emerson College's prestigious film school, Bill wrote and directed his first feature film, Pawn, while still a student. After graduation, he co-founded Newbury Filmworks, Inc., an award-winning production company renowned for making high-quality corporate films and commercials.


In 1990, Bill relocated to Los Angeles, and began a freelance story analysis career for various studios and independent production companies, while devoting his spare time to the writing of novels, short stories, and screenplays. He is also a highly-respected graphic designer, specializing in book and dust jacket design. He has worked on books by such luminaries as: Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King. In addition, Bill is a member of the Authors Guild.


He has won awards for his screenwriting, his two short story collections for Mid-Graders, Five-Minute Frights and Five-Minute Chillers, are perennial Halloween favorites, and his first novel, Titanic 2012 was enthusiastically received by readers. His second novel, Camp Stalag was released in 2001. Bill lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Debbie, and their sons, Jeffrey and Brian.

AUTHOR SITES:   

Website     Facebook  

Book Tour:

The book tour will be stopping at the following blogs. Be sure to stop by, say hi and find out what they think about this book. =D

Thursday:  

Vicki @ I'd Rather Be At The Beach  
or http://ratb2.blogspot.com

Friday:  

Meg @ Time Discovers Truth

Saturday:  

Gina @ Hott Books

Yvonne @ Socrates' Book Review Blog

Sunday: 

Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews

Monday:

Kathleen @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews

EXCERPT: Chapter One

The furor in the media had just died down when Solly’s call came that rainy midweek day. I’d been hiding from the wolves of the fourth estate for nearly three weeks, holed up in my book-filled condo/prison in Charlestown, unable even to slip outside for a breath of fresh air without some cookie-cutter reporter, with a paint-by-numbers smile, sticking a microphone in my face and asking me the same tired question: "What was it like?"

As if the whole of my experience could be quantified in a sound bite.

Truth was I was avoiding everyone, even Julia and her earnest attempts to help me sort through the miasma of doubt and pain.
Sweet Julia.

We’ve been on-and-off again for the last five years. And I hadn’t seen her for the better part of a year. I guess she thought now was as good a time as any to mend fences. Christ, if she only knew....

And what was worse, the book I’d promised my publisher, the one that was supposed to chronicle all I’d been through, lay like a beached whale on the shore of my imagination. I was standing at the bay window overlooking the harbor, watching the rain sluice down the glass, wondering if I would ever have the courage to write again, when my gaze shifted to the pile of DVDs lying in a scattered heap on the teakwood coffee table.

My eyes filled with tears yet again.

"I’m so sorry, Maddy," I groaned, knocking my forehead against the cool glass. "I’m so goddamned sorry."

"You have a call," the computer intoned in a quiet contralto, making me wince. Even the goddamned computer’s voice reminded me of Madeleine.

"Who is it?" I asked, expecting to hear it was yet another call from the Globe. Hometown reporters were the worst, the most ravenous.

And then I remembered I’d instructed the computer to screen all calls, allowing access to only a select few.

"The caller has an Identity Block in place. Shall I take a message?"

I sighed.

To hell with it. I had to rejoin the human race at some point, even if I felt as if I no longer belonged in it.

"Put it through," I said, making my way over to the sleek MacBook Pro sitting atop my writing desk. The screen came to life and Solly Rubens’ round face filled the screen. His saturnine looks were etched with concern, an expression that somehow looked ominous on him.

"Hey, Hughes, you okay? How are you holding up?"

The tiny "picture-in-picture" in the upper left-hand corner of the screen showed me what Solly was seeing, rendering his question moot.

I looked as if I’d taken the cook’s tour of Hell: blue eyes¬¬--red-rimmed and puffy--surrounded by dark circles, sandy hair greasy and disheveled, three-day growth of a patchy red-flecked beard, and the same clothes I’d worn since Monday. I looked sixty-two, instead of forty-two. All in all, I presented a picture about as far as one could get from what Boston magazine had called: "The World’s Most Eligible Author."

"How the hell do you think I’m holding up?" I said, staring back at Solly. His eyes blinked rapidly and I debated whether or not to instruct the MAC to disconnect, when he spoke again.

"Aw, man, I’m sorry. I really put my foot in it, didn’t I?" he said, trying to appear contrite. "Listen, I know we’ve never been the best of pals, but we had some good times back in school, didn’t we? I mean, Christ, we’ve been through a hell of a lot since Harvard. You a hotshot writer. Me hittin’ the big time. I still can’t believe it’s been a year--"

"What do you want, Solly?"

His porcine eyes darted somewhere off-screen, then riveted onto mine.

"Ken and I thought you should get out of the house, maybe meet us at the Harvard Club. What do you say?"

"I don’t want to talk about it."

"You gotta talk about it sometime," he said, his Brooklyn tenor rising in pitch.

"You’ve been avoiding us for weeks, you look like crap, and everybody--and I mean everybody’s--been trying to find out what the hell happened out there. And what about Julia? You shutting her out? You treatin’ her like dirt, too?"

I resented him bringing her name up, only because I knew he was using her as leverage, and not out of any real concern for her feelings.

Not that I was any better.

"She’s none of your business, Solly. Leave her out of this."

"All right, I’m sorry. But you know I’m right. You gotta get on with your life, for Christ’s sake. If you’re not gonna do it for yourself, do it for Harlan."

I leaned forward, my nose practically touching the screen. "Where were you when Harlan needed the three of us? Huh? Where the hell were you when the chips were down? Taking Karen to another Broadway show?"

Solly’s lips compressed into a thin angry line. "Okay, I deserved that. But Ken and I have a right to know what happened."
So, that was it. Like everyone else, they wanted to know the truth about Harlan’s death--wanted to know all the gory details. Christ, they were no better than the goddamned muckrakers slinking around my front door. And why was it so important to Ken and Solly, anyway?

Would it bring Harlan back? Would it bring any of them back? Why the hell couldn’t they just leave me alone?

And then, all at once, the anger passed, as if someone had thrown a switch inside me. Suddenly, I wanted very badly to tell someone--anyone. And perhaps it was more than fitting to do it where it all began.

"All right," I said. "I’ll meet you guys at the club, Friday night at six."

Solly cracked a grin, revealing crooked yellow teeth. "It’ll do you good, Hughes, you’ll see."

"Maybe.... But drinks and dinner are on you."

He chuckled.

"My pleasure. See you there."

The screen went dark, and I sat there for a long moment, wondering if I shouldn’t blow them off. And then I realized Harlan would want me to go. I doubted very much, however, once they heard the whole story, it would be any pleasure for any of us....

This is a general dislaimer & parts of it may/may not apply to this post depending on if it is a review only or a review/giveaway. I'm just covering my......:

I was not paid to post this information on my blog and was not required to write a positive review. I posted to help others find a new book to read. Reviews/Giveaways: Participants are providing information to GivingNSharing and not to Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon or any other social media site unless participants decide to signup for those sites.

Nicole Seitz's Beyond Molasses Creek

Nicole Seitz's Beyond Molasses Creek

has just been released!

To CELEBRATE Nicole’s hosting a fabulous "Friendship" Facebook Party and giving away several fantastic prizes – a KINDLE, some of her own beautiful artwork, a book club prize pack, and more!

Discover Nicole's unforgettable coming-of-age story about love, loss and purpose. Blog Tour details

Click for details and RSVP for the party! 

Pls Tweet: "Win a Kindle from @nicoleseitz at Beyond Molasses Creek Facebook Party 2/16! Click for details and RSVP! http://ow.ly/8NjSE @litfuse"


Pls Share on FB: "Nicole Seitz's Beyond Molasses Creek has just released! To CELEBRATE Nicole’s hosting a fabulous "Friendship" Facebook Party and giving away several fantastic prizes – a KINDLE, some of her own beautiful artwork, a book club prize pack, and more! Click for details and don’t miss the fun. Discover Nicole's unforgettable coming-of-age story about love, loss and purpose. http://litfusegroup."com/blogtours/text/13454766"

The Keeper Blog Tour ~ Book Review

The Keeper

by Suzanne Woods Fisher

ISBN: 978-0800719876

320 pages, Christian fiction

$10.19 on Amazon

Julia Lapp has planned on marrying Paul Fisher since she was a girl. Now 21, she looks forward to their wedding with giddy anticipation. When Paul tells her he wants to postpone the wedding - again - she knows who is to blame. perpetual bachelor and spreader of cold feet, Roman Troyer, the Bee Man.

Roamin' Roman travels through the Amish communities of Ohio and Pennsylvania with his hives full of bees, renting them out to farmers in need of pollinators. He relishes his nomadic life, which keeps him from thinking about all he has lost. He especially enjoys bringing his bees to Stoney Ridge each year. But with Julia on a mission to punish him for inspiring Paul's cold feet, the Lapp farm is looking decidedly less pleasant.

Can Julia secure the future she's always dreamed of? Or does God have something else in mind?

My Thoughts:

This is the 2nd book of Suzanne Woods Fisher that I have read so I was excited when I was offered a review of The Keeper during her Book Tour that starts up today. I'm not a big fan of Amish books but this one I found very enjoyable and I will definitely be first in line for the book tour.

The Keeper is Book 1 in a new series called Stoney Ridge Seasons by Suzanne Woods Fisher. Opening with Julia dreaming about her fiance Paul and his telling her that he wants to postpone their wedding for the second time. Julia of course is devastated and feels like it is all her fault while Paul is immature and unable to commit to a marriage and the responsibility that comes with it. It doesn't help that Paul's mother is catty, sharp-tongued and let's Julia know that she isn't good enough for her "little boy". Then Roman arrives along with the rumors that he is the instigator of broken engagements and a ladies man.

In the meantime the Lapp family lives with family troubles in the form of heart failure and losing their father. You'll find that Suzanne did a lot of medical research for heart disease, transplants and more along with the usual research into Amish living. The Keeper is fast moving, inspiring and filled with enough angst and emotion to keep you reading page after page and ending with probably the best ending I've read in a romance of any kind in a very long time.

Be sure to watch for the next 2 books in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series: The Haven (book 2) coming in August 2012 and The Lesson (book 3) coming in January 2013. You can learn more about Suzanne Woods Fisher is very knowledgeable about Amish life and has written several books in series and a non-fiction book called Amish Values for Your Family.

         

 

FREE e-Copies of The Keeper by Suzanne Fisher Woods are Available TODAY only @ Kindle: http://tiny.cc/6kxiq or Nook: http://tiny.cc/pvmrp

Real ~ Book Tour

Real isn't how you are made.

it's a thing that happens to you....

~ Skin Horse to the Velveteen Rabbit

Real - The Book from David Malcolm on Vimeo.

“REAL” is a collection of 60 inspirational stories by Shelley Malcolm, with photos by Terilee Dawn Ouimette. The stories are deeply revealing, while the photos are anonymous, focusing only on each subject’s hands. Subjects range from adolescent to elderly, from former gangster to humble homeless, international refugee to hero-housewife, from pro athlete to Hollywood celebrity.

My Thoughts:

I think the story that touched me the most is the story of Fran who is preparing for her son's wedding by getting her hair nails done and yet because of cancer she can't attend. Or there is Carol who writes "stories for the journey" and uses writing in her counseling career to help others. There are hands that pray, hands that lie still, hands that caress and hands that help others ~ but that isn't all that this book is about. It's about the stories of individuals who have lived life and have survived.

Proceeds of this book go to fund several charities, including the Alzheimer's Foundation. Here is the link to the website: http://marthamartha.net 

You can also purchase a set of notecards from the website and/or the bookmarks. Each collectible, frame-worthy notecard is of images from the book. You can purchase each of the 8 cards for $3.25 ~ click here and the bookmarks are $1.95 each (4 designs) click here.



About the author:

Shelley has four adult children. Her interests include painting , drawing, sculpting, building, playing piano and other musical instruments, outdoor activities including hiking, ocean kayaking, running, water and snow-skiing, international travel, sewing, reading, writing and others. 

For more information, please visit http://marthamartha.net or http://shelleymalcolmblog.wordpress.com/ 

While “Real” is her first published book, Malcolm is no stranger to creative projects, as co-owner and restorer of an historic chapel, La Perla del Mar in Shell Beach, CA, and a set designer for theater and film. Shelley Malcolm resides in Shell Beach, California with her husband, Doug. Shelley Malcolm was named Pismo Beach’s Citizen of the Year in 2011 for her extensive contributions and involvement in the community. 


A few questions:

Thank you so much for stopping by my site today, Shelley. Your book Real is gorgeous. 


Q: What prompted you to start this project?
A: Inspiration from a dream of similar images, that revealed the beauty in imperfections... the hand image is made beautiful by the life behind it, and it is a body part that is impossible to enhance or fake.


Q: Why choose the hands to symbolize a life lived?
A: The hand is more anonymous than a face or even eyes which show identity and emotion. Also, they portray our work, our affection, our worry, scars, and even our mistakes... 


Q: What do you hope the reader takes away after reading Real?
A: The simple pleasure of reading it, and more so, an appreciation of the beauty of authenticity of others or their own, and the "perfect plan of diversity". You can read more about this in my article on diversity located here: http://tiny.cc/f8ubh 


Q: With Christmas coming up, why would Real make a great gift for anyone on your gift list?
A: Real is artistically beautiful, gentle and inspiring, and can be enjoyed by men or women of all ages. It is easy for all to relate to and feel comfortable with. The subject matter feels familiar, even though it’s new, and readers always relate and have something to say about their hands or
their story. Real stimulates memories and discussion and has even been used in several ways: a memorial, a devotional, as a hostess gift, and other gifts of course.


You can purchase a hardback copy of Real on the website for $32.99. It's a beautiful book for the coffee table or to give as a gift. Click Here


Read more reviews & get the blog tour schedule ~ Click Here

I received a copy of Real to review on GivingNSharing as part of the Real Book Tour sponsored by Litfuse Publicity Group. No money exchanged hands and I wasn't asked to post a positive review. Thanks Litfuse!