I can't think of a better way to end the year than with one last release from my favorite indie press Other Press. If you have a hard to buy for reader on your gift list you have got to give Other Press a try! Happy New Year!!!
Inspired by great figures from Emerson and Nietzsche to Madonna and Serena Williams, this engaging philosophical essay explores the workings of self-confidence and how to develop it.
Where does self-confidence come from? How does it work? What makes it stronger or weaker? Why are some people more confident than others? Is it only a question of temperament or the result of conscious self-improvement? How do you get closer to those who stand out thanks entirely to their confidence in themselves? Drawing on philosophical texts, ancient wisdom, positive psychology, and a wide range of case studies that feature famous thinkers, artists, and athletes, but also unsung heroes like a fighter pilot and an urgent care doctor, Charles Pépin brings to light the strange alchemy that is self-confidence. By doing so, he gives us the keys to having more confidence in ourselves.
I hope you are all enjoying the holidays and now that you've unwrapped all the gifts and Santa didn't deliver on that fabulous read/listen you were hoping for or maybe you're already shopping for the first new year selection have i got novel for you. Way back when I moderated an on-line forum for B&N I first fell in love with Susan Wilson so get comfy and learn a bit about her brand new novel through the author's exclusive interview and my review. Enjoy!
New York Times bestselling author Susan Wilson is back another signature heartwarming audiobook—one that begs the question: Can a dog lead the way to finding one's humanity?
After spending years in prison for a crime she didn’t intend to commit, Rose Collins is suddenly free. Someone who knows about the good work she has done—training therapy dogs while serving time—has arranged for her early release. This mysterious benefactor has even set her up with a job in the coastal Massachusetts community of Gloucester, on the edge of Dogtown, a place of legend and, for the first time since Rosie's whole world came crashing down, hope. There she works to rebuild her life with the help of Shadow, a stray dog who appears one rainy night and refuses to leave Rose’s side.
Meghan Custer is a wheelchair-bound war veteran who used to be hopeless, too. Living at home with her devoted but stifling parents felt a lot like being in prison, in fact. But ever since she was matched with a service dog named Shark, who was trained in a puppy-to-prisoner rehabilitation program, Meghan has a brand new outlook. Finally, she can live on her own. Go to work. And maybe, with Shark by her side, even find love again.
Two strong women on a journey toward independence whose paths collide in extraordinary ways. Two dogs who somehow manage to save them both. A tale of survival and a testament to the human spirit, The Dog I Loved is an emotional and inspiring audiobook that no listener will soon forget.
3 TALES OF TEENS TACKLING THEIR DARKEST RITES OF PASSAGE
Acclaimed storytellers Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton, and Patrick Thomas each present an original novella brimming with enough danger, intrigue, and murder to get readers’ blood pounding and hearts racing.
In Colchamiro’s RED INK, a paperboy with an overactive imagination witnesses a brutal killing on his route—or has he taken his fantasy spy games a step too far?
In Hatton’s THE DEVIL’S DELINQUENTS, a trio of teenage misfits in pursuit of success, power, and revenge practice amateurish occult rituals… with deadly consequences.
In Thomas’s A MANY SPLENDID THING, a sultry high school teacher enrolls one of her students to get rid of her husband. But will the young man really graduate to murder?
Book Details:
Genre: Crime Published by: Crazy 8 Press Publication Date: October 1st 2019 Number of Pages: 250 ISBN: 0998364185 (ISBN13: 9780998364186) Purchase Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
The Turnback - You Kill Me:
"You Kill Me" is the official soundtrack to the book MURDER IN MONTAGUE FALLS (Noir-Inspired Novellas by Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton & Patrick Thomas). Russ Colchamiro (a long time friend and fellow creator) asked the band to write what would be considered a closing credit tune for the book. We were happy to do so!
Read an excerpt:
RED INK
An infrared scope cut through the suburban tree line.
Perched on a high-angle branch in the neighbor’s spruce tree, Isaac could see her through the living room window, six houses away.
The M21 semi-automatic sniper rifle with fiberglass stock and 20-round box magazine was snug against his shoulder.
One bullet. One body.
Though camouflaged within a thicket of evergreen leaves, he had a clean shot.
“Come on,” he whispered, his eye against the scope. “Give me the signal.”
In perfect synchronicity, Isaac’s earpiece crackled. “Target confirmed. Kill shot approved.”
THE DEVIL'S DELINQUENTS
Natalie exits her room with the ritual kit, locking the door behind her.
Her father, swathed in a cornucopia-pattern quilt, sits in his wheelchair in the den, positioned near enough the window so that he can be in the daylight. Maybe he enjoys it, but one cannot tell for certain since his face registers no enjoyment, nor any other emotion.
Natalie kneels down before him, flips up the quilt, and undoes the bottom three buttons of his shirt, exposing his stomach. Between her fingertips, she wields the double-edged blade for a safety razor. She carefully nicks the skin above his father’s belly button. She looks up at him, detects no reaction.
She makes intersecting six-inch-long slices into his stomach, then carves a large circle around the lines, working around the seeping blood. Upon finishing, she evaluates her work and nods.
“I’m going to bring you back, daddy,” Natalie says to him, kissing his knuckles. “I promise.”
A MANY SPLENDID THING
Rosa went from smiling to bawling in less time than it took to blink. I pulled her in and held her against my bare chest. She pounded my ribs with her closed fists.
“Why won’t you understand! There is no other way! If we don’t kill him soon, you’ll come to school one day and find that he killed me. How are you going to feel then? Especially if he figures out that you’re my lover! You would follow me to the Pearly Gates.”
“Rosa, this talk of killing is crazy.”
She pushed herself back and slapped me hard across the face. “You think I’m crazy?”
***
Excerpt from Murder in Montague Falls. Copyright 2019 by Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton, Patrick Thomas. Reproduced with permission from Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton, Patrick Thomas. All rights reserved.
Russ Colchamiro:
RUSS COLCHAMIRO is the author of the rollicking space adventure, Crossline, the zany sci-fi backpacking series Finders Keepers, Genius de Milo, and Astropalooza, editor of the sci-fi mystery anthology, Love, Murder & Mayhem, and contributing author for his newest project, Murder in Montague Falls, a noir novella collection, all with Crazy 8 Press.
Russ has contributed to several other anthologies including Tales of the Crimson Keep, Pangaea, They Keep Killing Glenn, Altered States of the Union, Thrilling Adventure Yarns, Brave New Girls vols. 3&4, Camelot 13, TV Gods 2, and Footprints in the Stars.
He is now finalizing the first in an ongoing SFF mystery series featuring his hard-boiled private eye Angela Hardwicke and has several other SFF, crime fiction, and children’s book projects in the works.
Russ lives in New Jersey with his wife, their twin ninjas, and their crazy dog, Simon.
SAWNEY HATTON is an author, editor, and screenwriter who has long loved playing in the dark. His published works include the Dark Comedy novel Dead Size, the YA Noir novella Uglyville, and the Dark Fiction short story collection Everyone Is a Moon. He also edited the Sci-Fi Horror anthology What Has Two Heads, Ten Eyes, and Terrifying Table Manners?
Other incarnations of Sawney have produced marketing videos, attended chili cook-offs, and played the banjo and sousaphone (not at the same time). As of this writing, he is still very much alive.
PATRICK THOMAS is the award-winning author of the beloved Murphy’s Lore series and the darkly hilarious Dear Cthulhu advice empire.
His 40+ books include Fairy with a Gun, By Darkness Cursed, Lore & Dysorder, Dead to Rites, Startenders, As the Gears Turn, Cthulhu Explains It All, and Exile and Entrance. His is the co-author of the Mystic Investigators series, The Santa Heist, and the Jack Gardner mysteries.
Patrick is the co-editor of Camelot 13 (with John French), New Blood (with Diane Raetz), and Hear Them Roar (with CJ Henderson), co-created The Wildsidhe Chronicles YA series and is the creator of the Agents of the Abyss series.
He has had more than 150 short stories published in magazines and anthologies, with his work for YA and children including the Ughabooz books, the Undead Kid Diaries, the Joy Reaper books, and the Babe B. Bear Mysteries as Patrick T. Fibbs.
Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!
Enter To Win!!:
This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton, and Patrick Thomas. There will be 1 winner of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card. The giveaway begins on December 1, 2019 and runs through January 2, 2020. Void where prohibited.
Today I'm happy to be hosting this sweet Christmas Anthology written by nine authors including my very dear friend Stacy Connelly. The authors are also offering a Giveaway details below! Enjoy!
Giveaway is for one digital copy US ONLY Please use Rafflecopter form to enter Merry Christmas!
Wow and just like that the bash is over and while I’m
putting away all the noisemakers and wrapping paper until next year I want to
take this time to thank all of my wonderful authors for participating, they
gave us plenty of ideas both the warm fuzzy and the yummy variety.And to you my blog visitors who always make me smile and glad I blog. And last but never least to my host partner, the
publisher that makes the world go round, Harlequin.
I’d like to end the bash letting you all get to know just how my favorite publisher came to be.
Ho Ho Ho!
The Grand #Giveaway ends at midnight tonight be sure and enter! Ho Ho Ho
Today is Jo McNally's turn on the blog, she's a relative newbie to Special Edition and she and her husband just like two days ago moved from North Carolina to New York and she's sharing a very special message about the spirit of Christmas. Plus she's offering a #giveaway too (well if she can find the box it's in LOL) Ho Ho Ho
Today is Stella Bagwell's turn on the blog bash she's sharing her small town Texas Christmas with us. She's also got a great #Giveaway details below! Ho Ho Ho!
Stella is offering one print copy of The Rancher's Best Gift US ONLY Please Use Rafflecopter form to enter Ho Ho Ho!
Stella's Texas Christmas:
Living in a tiny town on the
South Texas coast, our Christmas season doesn’t involve cold, wintery weather
with sleigh bells in the snow. The temperatures are usually mild, the live-oaks
and palms stay green, and the grass often needs to be mowed before the big day.
Instead of snowflakes flying through the air, we have flocks of gulls and
blackbirds circling and waiting for Christmas dinner leftovers. Down at the
harbor, shrimp boats are decked in Christmas lights, while in town, Santa Claus
might be spotted riding a lawn tractor down the street!
In
my home, we usually start celebrating the holiday early and this year is no
exception. My husband plays Christmas music all year round, but by the time December
rolls around, the Jingle Bells, Santa Baby, and Blue Christmas goes non-stop in
the house and the vehicles! Our tree is now up and decorated and the holiday
mugs are already being used. So far I’ve baked at least a dozen pumpkin pies
and will probably bake that many more before the special day finally arrives.
Yes, there are probably plenty of humbugs who’d say we start the holiday too
early, but we don’t think so. Actually, my family and I believe it takes far
more than one day to celebrate Christ’s birthday. In fact, we’d be happy to
celebrate Christmas all year round.
I hope this Christmas season brings you much joy and love,
and the chance to spend special time with family and friends.
Matthew Waggoner and Camille Hollister may have known each other for years, but nothing prepares them for the sudden flare of attraction that hits when Camille lets Matthew stay with her while the foreman is doing out-of-town work for her family’s ranch. But with Christmas just around the corner, it’ll take a holiday miracle to make these two patched-up hearts see past their differences and risk loving again…
About Stella:
The author of over seventy-five titles for Harlequin, Stella Bagwell writes about familes, the West, strong, silent men of honor and the women who love them. She credits her loyal readers and hopes her stories have brightened their lives in some small way. A cowgirl through and through, she recently learned how to rope a steer. Her days begin and end helping her husband on their south Texas ranch. In between she works on her next tale of love. Contact her at stellabagwell@gmail.com
Welcome to week three of the holiday bash there's still lots of cheer to be discovered so don't miss a post! Today Carrie Nichols is sharing with us a sweet, sweet Christmas short story she wrote plus she's offering a #giveaway. Details below!
Ho Ho Ho!
Carrie is offering
to US Entrants a choice of one each signed print or digital copy
We're speeding right along and have reached the end of our second week of the holiday bash, I can't think of a better send off to the week than a post by one of my all time favorite authors Sarah Morgan. I started reading Sarah's books way back when I started reviewing for RT Magazine and she was writing for the Harlequin Presents line. Today she writes amazing full length women's fiction.
Sarah is providing a special, close to her heart excerpt from her holiday book and a special Christmas message. She's also offering a very special #Giveaway, details below.
Welcome back! I hope you're all enjoying this holiday bash. Today Brenda Harlen our lovely Canuck has a favorite Christmas recipe and a fabulous #Giveaway, details below.
Welcome to Helen Lacey's day on the blog she's sending Christmas greetings all the way from down under where the weather is anything but frightful in December. I hope you'll enjoy learning about her family holiday traditions. Ho Ho Ho!
Welcome to week 2 of the holiday blog bash, today I'm featuring a new to me Special Edition author that I can't wait to read in the new year, Laurel Greer. Laurel is sharing some of her holiday traditions and she's offering a fantastic giveaway. Details below. Ho Ho Ho!
And just like that we're already at the end of week one of the holiday bash, have no fear there's still two weeks to go and today you get to enjoy Melissa's favorite Holiday songs. Melissa also has a giveaway details below.
Today's author, Nancy Robards Thompson, is a fave and she's sharing a very special holiday tradition starting way back when she and her husband were newlyweds and I'm showcasing her holiday book, A Downhome Savannah Christmas! Nancy is also offering a #Giveaway, details to follow.
Today Stacy Connelly is chatting about what holiday themed Special Edition novels and what she likes to read during the holiday season. Her latest novel Their Yuletide Promise is showcased below and Stacy is offering a #giveaway details to follow!
Welcome to Christine Rimmer's holiday post she's got a love affair with a certain candy and she's telling all about how she indulges one time a year. Enjoy Christine's post a showcase of her Christmas tale and she's got a giveaway too, details below.
Ho Ho Ho
Christine is giving one signed copy Of her 2018 holiday novel Same Time Next Christmas US ONLY to two lucky winners! Please use Rafflecopter form to enter Ho Ho Ho!!
Wow where does the time go, can you believe this is my 7th annual Ho Ho Ho blog bash and what a year it's been for me so I'm definitely in the mood for some holiday cheer, I hope you are too! This year I’ve got eleven Harlequin authors some old friends and some new each posting a special holiday message and Harlequin is once again offering a fantastic Christmas themed #Giveaway, for the HQN giveaway you can enter once per day and it’s open to US and Canada.
So let’s get this party started!
My first post is always dedicated to Harlequin and I thought I’d share with you just how easy you could be a Harlequin author, did you know that Harlequin series and Carina press accept unagented submissions from authors so if after you’ve finished a book and find yourself saying I could do that just click the links that follow!
Enjoy and Ho Ho Ho!
Harlequin is offering One each of this fantastic group of Christmas titles (see below) US & Canada Only Please Use Rafflecopter form to enter Ho Ho Ho!
This has been a trying year, a year full of ups and downs but I still have much to be thankful for. We're back in our remodeled and much downsized (basement) home after the devastating flooding this spring not caused by anything in our area but torrential rains up stream on the Mississippi we got 4.5 feet in the basement and everything down there (40 years of marriage) was a total loss. But thankfully we found out how resilient we are.
Both Bill and I have had some medical setbacks this year, he's doing as well as can be expected with a degenerative disease like Parkinson's and I will be a bionic woman in just a few short weeks when I get a knee replacement. We are thankful that we have good health insurance and great doctors to take care of us and that our daughter will be moving in with us for a month to care for us both (her husband is still in denial).
There was a definite highlight of our year and to celebrate our 40th Anniversary and my 65th birthday. Our daughter and son-in-law took us to Destin in August to celebrate. It was the trip of a lifetime and we're thankful that we have such a loving caring daughter and a son-in-law who treats us like we're his parents.
As we round down the year I know that there will be more things to be thankful for. I know I'm very thankful for all of my blog visitors who make this blogging thing worthwhile. And as I sit down to Thanksgiving Dinner this year I will be sure to give thanks to all of the things I mentioned.
Enjoy your Black Friday sales then settle in because starting Monday 12-2 through Friday 12-20 is my 7th (can you believe it) annual Ho Ho Ho Harlequin Holiday Extravaganza, 11 authors tons of #giveaways and lots of holiday cheer. One more thing to add to your holiday to do list!
In the Heart of Texas, a heartthrob cowboy may get his second chance at love… Danny Oldman, the handsome Lone Star sheriff, is still single. He tells himself, and anyone who asks, that he is married to his job—and what matters most is keeping the people of his beloved Texas hometown safe. The truth? Danny still hasn’t gotten over his high school crush. She moved away after graduation and took Danny’s heart with her.
Skylar Long never thought she would have to flee Houston and return home—where it all began for her. But that’s what happened after the man of her dreams turned out to be an actual nightmare. Now, Skylar is desperate to escape her obsessive boyfriend. Nothing shocks her more than seeing Danny again and realizing that their long-ago attraction is more powerful than ever. But can she and Danny find a way to fight against Skylar’s wealthy, powerful ex who is dead set on tearing them apart?
“Filled with passion, suspense, and strong characters.”—Rendezvous with Romance on My Favorite Cowboy (5 stars)
