THE TALE OF LUCIA GRANDI Giveaway and Review

The Tale of Lucia Grandi

When an old woman is asked to tell the story of her life, she tells an intense and poignant tale about growing up in and surviving a warring suburban family during the 1950s and '60s. Written as a memoir, each chapter describes a particular incident in Lucia's life which shows the constant struggle between her parents and the perverse effect it has on her and her family. From her complicated and unwanted birth, to her witnessing a suicide at age 3, to her stint as a runaway at age 14, the story progresses to the final crisis where as a young woman she is turned out of her house and banished from her family forever. Told in breathtakingly beautiful prose, this is a powerful and timeless story of a dying woman's courageous attempt to come to terms with her past and the troubled family that dominated it.
Our review:  The Tale of Lucia Grandi is not a book that the reader will soon forget. The pain and the emotion of a family at war with itself is set against the history of the mid-twentieth century in a tale well told. The memoir style works in this case, as the woman telling the story is never far removed from her younger self. Don't miss this, the first in a series of books about the intriguing Lucia. 




Purchase The Tale of Lucia Grandi: The Early Years Kindle | Paperback | Barnes & Noble

About Susan Speranza

ONCE UPON A TIME... ...I was born in New York City and grew up on Long Island where I had an interesting and creative childhood. Once in college, I studied Psychology and Philosophy, but since "thinking" didn't translate into earning money or job security, I worked at a variety of different and unrelated jobs both in New York City and on Long Island. In order to keep me sane through all the craziness of life, I spent my spare time writing. Anything and everything. The culmination of this was a fantasy - The City of Light - which has recently been reissued as an ebook. I took up the hobby of dog showing and breeding and produced many Pekingese Champions. You can see them over at our Castlerigg Pekingese website. Somewhere in the middle of my life so far, after a great personal upheaval, I went back to school, became a High School Librarian. I managed to fulfill my childhood dream of living in the country when I finally escaped suburbia and moved to Vermont where I now happily live with my beautiful Pekes. But I've never stopped writing. My biography (as with my life, I hope) is to be continued... Follow Susan Speranza Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads Follow the Tour! Tour Prize -$50 Amazon GC & 5 Autographed copies Fill out the form below to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway

CLOSURE Giveaway and Excerpt

Closure

There's always the one… He's one person throughout life you think about every so often, the one who leaves his unique indelible mark on you, the person with whom you need closure. For Margaret Collins that person was Mike Taylor. After he broke her heart seventeen years ago, she left everything she knew and reinvented herself. With a new home, a new look and a new name, Riley Williams is now an up and coming journalist given the assignment to interview a Mike Taylor. She never suspected he would be her Mike Taylor. With Mike having no hint of Riley's true identity, she must decide if she will make him pay for sins he doesn't remember committing, or if she can wipe away the past and be with the one man who she has always wanted?

About Kim Carmichael

Kim Carmichael began writing eight years ago when her love of happy endings inspired her to create her own. She has a weakness for bad boys and techno geeks, and married her own computer whiz after he proved he could keep all her gadgets running. When not writing, she can usually be found slathered in sunscreen trolling Los Angeles and helping top doctors build their practices. Follow Kim Carmichael Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Enjoy this sizzling sneak peek! 

His mouth went dry. Her pale skin glowed against all the black.

She rolled up the shirt and put it in her handbag. "What are you waiting for?"

He cleared his throat and pushed the button.

The elevator doors closed. If she wouldn't allow him to know where they were going, he would make headway in another direction. He stepped back and slid his arm around her waist.

She settled against him.

Her position gave him the perfect opportunity to take in the top of her breasts.

They wanted to overflow out the lingerie disguised as a dress. The corset contoured to her curves, accentuating what was already magnificent. He dared to snake his hand up.

"You look troubled." She moved her hair out of her face.

"You look beautiful."

"Are you sure it's not too much?" A bit of pink stained her pale cheeks.

He let his gaze travel from her face to her neck decorated with a black lace choker, and back to her cleavage. He was never going to make through tonight without having her.

"It's not too much." He took a chance and moved his hand to the edge of her breast. Even with the restrictive garment, her flesh changed, soft, welcoming, enticing.

She arched her back toward him. "So, you like what you see?"

Less than ten minutes ago this woman wouldn't kiss him. He wanted to grab her, take her hand and press it to himself and show her exactly how much he liked what he saw.

"I can think of nothing better."

"Are you ready for some surprises?" She reached up to fix his collar.

His life had turned into nothing but twists and turns ever since she asked her first interview question.

Follow the Tour Kim Carmichael is offering two HUGE Prize packs.
Open to US residents 18+ Fill out the form below to Enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bring Down the Furies Contest and Excerpt

Bring Down The Furies

Sherman’s troops burned it the first time. Now a serial arsonist threatens a small South Carolina town and private investigator Quint Mitchell is caught in the backdraft. When Quint follows the “Heartthrob Bandit” to the hamlet of Allendale, he finds himself in the crossfire of an ugly cultural war between an ultraconservative minister and the scientist who may have discovered proof of the oldest humans ever found in North America. As the heat grows more intense, arson turns to murder, and Quint is embroiled in a growing firestorm that threatens to destroy Allendale for the second time. A media frenzy surrounding the clash of faith and science whips emotions to a fiery crescendo. With time running out, Quint is the only man standing between a vicious killer with nothing to lose and his plan to bring down the furies on Allendale and Quint. Purchase Bring Down The Furies on Amazon.

About Author Parker Francis

Parker Francis is the pen name of author Victor DiGenti. As Parker, I write gritty, fast-paced mysteries filled with murder, violence and laced with humor. The first in my Quint Mitchell Mystery series was MATANZAS BAY, an award-winning adventure set in the nation's oldest city. The second in the series, BRING DOWN THE FURIES, takes PI Mitchell to Allendale, SC where he becomes embroiled in an ugly cultural war and comes face to face with a serial arsonist. In my first life I worked for the Public Broadcasting stations in NE Florida with diverse duties that included public affairs producer, director, reporter, fundraiser and producer of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. My first three books were written using my real name. They were adventure/fantasies with a feline protagonist. The WINDRUSHER trilogy won multiple awards and attracted readers of all ages. Parker (aka Vic) lives in NE Florida with his wife and their rescued cats who tolerate them as long as their bowls are filled and litter boxes emptied.

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Read an Excerpt
 I watched the glow of friendship slip from Labon’s face. With the mention of Youngblood’s

name, the pastor’s eyes turned hard, his mouth set in a grim line and he folded his arms across

his chest. But he remained silent.

“I know that you and Dr. Youngblood have your differences. He told me things were getting

pretty tense, and wished there was a way the two of you might work things out.”

I met Labon’s eyes, and paused to let him know it was his turn to talk. Instead he sat there

unmoving, continuing to stare at me as though I’d descended from a flying saucer.

“I know I’m probably way out of line here, but I suggested that if the two of you talked this

over as two intelligent and reasonable men, you could find common ground and end this—”

“Where did you say you were from, Mr. Mitchell?” Labon jumped in.

“Florida. Northeast Florida, in Jacksonville Beach.”

“I mean where are you really from? Massachusetts? New York?”

“Originally from Connecticut, if that’s what you mean, but—”

“Here in South Carolina we take care of our own business. We don’t expect outsiders from

up north to come here and dictate what we can and can’t do. The Reconstruction Period was over

a long time ago, and all the slaves were set free. You understand that, don’t you?” His voice was

tight but steady.

“There’s no way I would ever try to dictate anything. I can see how it might look that way,

though. Here’s this guy you’ve never seen before comes into your house and sticks his nose into

your business. I wouldn’t like it either. It’s just that Dr. Youngblood wanted so badly to work

things out with you. He said he’d called, but hadn’t had any luck. I figured I could approach you

as a neutral observer and see if there was anything I could say to change your mind.”

His face had colored as I spoke and Labon sprung to his feet. “Let me tell you something,

Mr. Mitchell. You’re not in Florida or Connecticut. You’re in Allendale. And you’re in my

house.” His voice rose an octave and he slammed a hand through the air as he might have on his

pulpit to emphasize a point in one of his sermons.

Mrs. Labon entered the living room with two glasses of iced tea. She halted, her eyes wide

as she watched her husband berating me.

“Carter Youngblood is an affront to God. I’d rather sit down and talk with the devil than I

would with that man. Do I make myself clear?”




The author is giving away $50 Amazon gift card, $25 Barnes and Noble gift card and autographed copies of the two Quint Mitchell Mystery books, MATANZAS BAY and BRING DOWN THE FURIES. Fill out the form below to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway Follow the Tour

Get Out of Debt and Retire A Millionaire So You Can Leave Your Mark on the World

925 Ideas to Help You Save Money, Get Out of Debt and Retire A Millionaire So You Can Leave Your Mark on the World from the author of the highly acclaimed book, Your Mark on the World, is a collection of articles about family financial planning that originally appeared at FamilyHow.com. 925 Ideas... is an easy and readable guide to help your family find financial peace. Author Devin D. Thorpe explains: 1) how you and your spouse can find agreement on money matters, 2) how to teach your kids about money, 3) how to pay for your children's college education, 4) how to live like a millionaire 5) how to come up with $25,000 in a crisis 6) how to make ends meet on one income 7) how to get out of debt and stay out of debt 8) why home ownership should be your family's top financial priority 9) how to ask your boss for a raise 10) how to use your finances to do more good in the world.

Get the book on Smashwords FREE or Amazon for only $0.99

Our review: There are thousands of self-help, financial advisor books out there, but this one is different. Author Devin D. Thorpe lives in the real world, and his advice proves that. The chapters are filled with realistic, practical ideas for helping families to save money not only in the long term but also on a day-to-day basis. Although the book (along with his wildly popular YOUR MARK ON THE WORLD) is geared toward members of the LDS church, almost all of it is applicable to any family today. I highly recommend reading both of these books. . .it just might change your life.

Purchase Your Mark on the World on Kindle / Paperback / Nook / Smashwords

Follow Devin D. Thorpe

Blog:  YourMarkOnTheWorld.com

Facebook.com/YourMarkOnTheWorld

Twitter: @devindthorpe or #yourmarkontheworld

Newsletter Sign Up:  http://bit.ly/NLQBn6
Do you have a question for Devin D. Thorpe? He set up a page to help you! "Ask me anything page"  Head over and get advice from a Financial Adviser! The tour prize is an Amazon Kindle (GC equivalent) and 5 winners of Mark of the World and 925 Ideas to Help You Save Money, Get Out of Debt and Retire A Millionaire So You Can Leave Your Mark on the World.  Everyone can download 925 ideas for FREE from Smashwords! Fill out the for below to enter! Open Into for Digital and US for Print. a Rafflecopter giveaway Follow the tour!

GLISTENING HAVEN Review and Giveaway!

Glistening Haven

Susan Monroe doesn't ask for much: good grades from her children, a house with room for a pool, to be the best Tupperware party host in New Haven 56. But inside her tranquil 1950s styled community, a monster lurks. A monster that lives inside Susan, and every one of her superficially perfect neighbors, held in check by the oppressive police state that rules over them. Susan's happy life is torn apart when her teenage son goes missing the same night an explosion rips apart the community. Susan knows it’s only a matter of time before the police start breaking down their doors. Before the reconditioning begins and Susan's identity is lost, she must do one final thing. Find her son. Glistening Haven on Amazon kindle version only $0.99!!   Paperback $10.99! Follow Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Website / Pinterest Board for New Haven

Our Review:  I am a big fan of dystopian lit, so I was excited about this book by Jill Cooper. The idea reminded me in a way of the old Stepford Wives movie from the 1970's (NOT the recent campy remake, but the truly creepy original). But this book takes the creepiness a little further. It's a well-written, beautifully crafted trip through a future where no one is as he seems and the real monsters just might be closer than you think. The characters are intriguing, and the plot won't let you go. Grab this book now. . .you won't regret it.
Tour Prize is $75 Amazon GC Fill out the form below to enter. Open Internationally. a Rafflecopter giveaway Follow the Tour!

The Silver Sphere Book Blast

The Silver Sphere

Shelby Pardow never imagined killing someone. That's about to change. While hiding from her troubled father in the local library, Shelby stares at a flashing instant message on her computer: YOU ARE NEEDED. She discovers a portal that opens and teleports her to the planet Azimuth, where soldiers await. Here, she is not a child but a warrior, Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members imprisoned by Malefic Cacoethes, the daunting leader of the Nightlanders. Malefic, the evil spawn of the demon Biskara, razes towns and cities in his quest to rule Azimuth, and yearns to turn his forces against Earth. Yet every time Biskara gets close to achieving his malevolent goals, the Assembly uses the Silver Sphere, a sophisticated arm illary device, to thwart him. With the Assembly deposed, Biskara directing Malefic's conquests, and the Silver Sphere out of reach, Shelby is thrust into an unforgettable quest with her fellow Kin. She must learn to kill and lead an army into battle, or Azimuth—and Earth—will fall.

Purchase on Amazon Kindle / Paperback

Read the first chapter HERE Sign up for the Kin Chronicle Newsletter HERE Follow on Facebook / Twitter / Website Watch the book trailer! The Silver Sphere - Extended Book TrailerThe author is giving away a $100 Amazon GC. Fill out the form below to Enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway