From Me to You ... Video, Photography and Book Reviews

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Guest Post :: Year of Adversity Brings Joy by Leslie Gould | 12 Pearls of Christmas & Giveaway

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

Merry Christmas from Pearl Girls™! We hope you enjoy these Christmas “Pearls of Wisdom” from the authors who were so kind to donate their time and talents! If you miss a few posts, you’ll be able go back through and read them on this blog throughout the next few days.

We’re giving away a pearl necklace in celebration of the holidays, as well as some items (books, a gift pack, music CDs) from the contributors! Enter now on Facebook or at the Pearl Girls blog. The winner will announced on January 2, 2013 at the Pearl Girls blog.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of "Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith," "Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace" or one of the Pearl Girls products (all GREAT gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls™.

"Year of Adversity Brings Joy" by Leslie Gould

I’ve been writing Amish fiction for nearly three years now—telling stories about non-resistant people who live a simple life. It’s a nice reprieve from my own life.

When my husband, Peter, joined the Army Reserve back in the mid 1980s, I wasn’t thrilled about it. Nor did I believe him when he said he’d probably never see action. Sure, the Cold War was ending and—for a short time—all seemed well in the world, but I had a degree in history. I knew better. I didn’t want to be a controlling wife (as new to the job as I was!) and come out and say he absolutely couldn’t do it. And it did help that he was joining a medical unit. Still I had my reservations.

We’ve been far more fortunate than many military families, but still it’s been quite a ride. The first exciting episode began in 1990 when Peter flew to Germany on Christmas Eve to work in an Army hospital during Desert Storm, leaving me behind with our two young sons. During the next twenty years, Peter went from being a Lt. to being a Col. and commanding a unit. Countless maneuvers and a mobilization occurred during that time, but his Army Reserve career culminated in his deployment to Afghanistan in 2011.

My days throughout last year were an odd combination of hearing the daily news from a war zone via Skype and then writing about the plain life of the Amish. By last December I was working on my third Amish novel of the year while, in contrast, Peter and his field hospital staff had cared for hundreds of NATO soldiers and Afghan nationals, endured ten months of rocket fire, and continued to grieve the killing of one of their own.

Surprisingly, what seemed like it might be our worst Christmas ever, even harder than in 1990, wasn’t. Our four children (one teen and three young adults now) rallied to help make it a memorable day. We counted our blessings—Peter was well, we had all we needed, and God was at work in the life of our family. The result was an underlying joy, deeper than what we’d felt during past Christmases.

In reflection, I wrote: When it started, I thought 2011 might be one of our worst years. But it hasn’t been. Sure, it’s been one of our hardest, but a lot of good has come from it.

That was evident on Christmas morning as we Skyped with Peter. We were so thankful for the good connection and for all of us to be “together” that we hardly noticed we really weren’t.

This December, Peter is back at his civilian job (as a manager for a hospital corporation) and also commanding a nearby Army Reserve unit, which means one weekend a month and plenty of evenings—but no rockets or causalities.
I’m working on a new Amish novel and still enjoying my “time” with those who practice non-resistance, which doesn’t discount the appreciation I have for my husband’s service. I’ve even grown to the place where I’m thankful he joined the military. They’ve served each other well.

Our year of adversity resulted in a deep joy. I’m pretty sure it will carry over to this Christmas as well.

About the Author :

Leslie Gould is the award-winning author of fifteen novels, including the #1 bestseller and Christy Award winner "The Amish Midwife," co-written with Mindy Starns Clark. Her latest release is "Courting Cate," a retelling of the “Taming of the Shrew.” Leslie lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, Peter, and their four children. www.lesliegould.com

Find Leslie Gould :

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Voice's Tribute to the Connecticut Shooting Victims

If you missed The Voice last night then you should see this beautiful tribute to the Connecticut shooting victims with Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Please check out the video below.

Made the Grade: Sex with Strings Series, Book 1

Format: Kindle Edition | File Size: 164 KB | Release Date: February 2011 | Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing | Obtained: Amazon.com

"Kissing Phoenix" [Sex with Strings Series, Book 1] by Shona Husk

My Book Summary : Lilith & Aidan have been dating for the past six months and Aidan is ready to propose. However, before he can propose he needs to reveal to her that he is a Vampire ...

Yet, even before he can get his news out Lilith, reveals a secret of her own ... she recently was told that her cancer has come back and she only has about three months left to live.

Now it's a race against time, with Aidan willing to do whatever is possible so Lilith will survive. Even if that means going against the rules of his own "people."

Nevertheless, what are they both willing to give up in order to be together or at the very least to have Lilith survive?

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars. A cutely erotic short story. I enjoyed getting to know Aidan & Lilith they were a unique duo. It was also intriguing to read about this version of Vampires & Weres that Ms. Husk came up with, very creative!

The only thing I didn't like about this novella was how rushed it felt going from what seems to be the beginning of wrapping everything up at the end of Chapter 4 to Chapter 5 being a couple of months later (like an epilogue), it all just didn't flow well at the end. =0/

Anyways ... when I purchased this novella it was FREE so, if you can get this as a FREE read too then I do recommend this to anyone who like paranormal romance with a bit of erotica thrown in. However, if it isn't FREE then I would only recommend it if you are a big fan of Ms. Husk.

Author's Novel Extras : Darklight on...Shona Husk: The allure of the novella | 12 months on from the call | Good News Day! | Release Day! | Good News Day! | Magic Thursday Giveaway - Shona Husk: Good Things Come in Threes | Good News Day!

Author's Series Extras : Sex with Strings Series Info | Magic Thursday Giveaway-Tasting Thanatos | Good News Day! | Good News Day!

Book Teaser(s) :

He fixed his gaze back on the road and traffic of the M25. Theo had been happy to squeeze in the appointment. Pity he hadn’t told him the whole truth. His heart contracted hard, making breathing impossible. There was still a bloody massive chance Theo would do nothing and that Aidan would have to take her home and watch her die.
He wasn’t strong enough to do that again. He’d been lost for a decade after Eve had died. This time would be worse. Lil was part of him, now that he’d tasted her blood, as well as part of his life and heart. He’d lain awake half the night wondering if Owen was right—loving a Vampire was easier as everyone got bored before anyone died. He sighed. Immortality was a bitch. ~ within Chapter 3

For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Shona, then please check out her website.

Guest Post :: Will They Know What It Cost? by Glynnis Whitwer | 12 Pearls of Christmas & Giveaway

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

"Will They Know What It Cost?" by Glynnis Whitwer

My daughter Cathrine went on a field trip to the Grand Canyon when she was in fourth grade. As I picked her up upon her return, she couldn’t wait to show me an adorable little stuffed brown bear she’d bought as a gift. She started to say that it was for everyone—meaning her three brothers and sister—but then her words got jumbled. Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to explain how she ran out of money when trying to buy gifts. Her distress was obvious.

To understand fully, it might help to know that Cathrine was born in Africa and experienced deprivation of every sort for the first eleven years of her life. At thirteen years old, she was only in fourth grade. And although she has made remarkable gains, even now she struggles with communication and math—especially money.

Later that night I finally understood what Cathrine was trying to tell me about the bear. She had taken twenty dollars of her own money to buy herself a souvenir. But before buying herself something, she wanted to buy some small gifts. So she started with two of her teachers and bought them each a small ring with the first initial of their last names. I looked at the price on the rings and realized each was $3.99. Times that by two, add tax, and Cathrine would have been left with eleven dollars for other gifts and herself.

I imagine she stood at the gift store counter bewildered by what she had just done. She was probably embarrassed to ask any of her classmates for help. And maybe the teacher wasn't around. There she stood with just over half of her money, and three brothers and a sister left to buy for. She decided to get a group gift, and that’s where the bear came in.

Standing in our kitchen, looking at the three items she purchased, I smiled brightly and told her everyone was going to love their gifts and that she’d made wonderful purchases. She smiled back, and the night ended well.

The next morning as she wrapped up the little rings, I kept thinking about those two teachers who were going to receive a gift that day. All they would see is a little silver ring. I knew they would be very loving and appreciative. But would they truly understand the sacrifice Cathrine made?

Would they understand their gifts cost Cathrine half of what she had? Would they ever know the frustration and worry Cathrine felt as she realized she didn't have enough to buy her family any gifts? Would they treasure those little rings, or would they put them in a drawer with gifts from other students throughout the year?

As I pondered these thoughts, I considered a gift I was given two thousand years ago: Jesus. God sent His Son into the world as a baby, knowing He would die on a cross for me. The cost of this gift staggers me.

As I decorate my tree and shop for my family, I’m reminded of what my freedom cost my Heavenly Father. Do I truly understand the sacrifice of that gift? Do I understand the anguish God the Father must have felt sending His Son? Do I treasure this gift, or do I take it for granted?

Christmas is a time for celebration. But it’s also a time to remember God’s sacrifice. For it is in understanding the cost, that we fully appreciate the gift.

About the Author :

Glynnis Whitwer is an executive director with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She is one of the writers of Encouragement for Today, the Proverbs 31 e-mail devotions, with over 500,000 daily readers. Her newest book, "I Used to be So Organized," was released last fall. Glynnis, her husband Tod, and their five children live in Glendale, Arizona. Visit www.GlynnisWhitwer.com for more information.

Find Glynnis Whitwer :

Monday, December 17, 2012

Guest Post :: A Mistletoe Medley by Margaret McSweeney | 12 Pearls of Christmas & Giveaway

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

"A Mistletoe Medley" by Margaret McSweeney

“You have breast cancer.” Those four words my doctor said the week of Mother’s Day 2012 have forever changed my life. Mere months after my fiftieth birthday, I encountered this unexpected “lump in the road” and ventured through a major detour after reaching my half-century mark.

Through this “grit,” God has covered me with His amazing grace! At the same time of my diagnosis, two books released: "Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith" along with "Aftermath: Growing in Grace Through Grief." During this Christmas season, I rejoice that my cancer was caught and treated at an early stage. After six weeks of “daily radiance” (AKA radiation therapy), I started my daily dose of Tamoxifen to help battle any potential cells that might cause a recurrence. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.

While writing "Aftermath" and sharing my journey of grief as an adult orphan, I experienced several “hugs from heaven” as I discovered family letters, journals, and even a video in which my mother shares her faith. This is a mistletoe medley from my mother’s heart:

Each Christmas season my father used to go down into the woods behind our home and bring us back some mistletoe. It was a present that my sister and I loved. We’d tie it with bright ribbons and would hang it over several doorways in the house.

It was always fun of course for a Christmas party, but it came to mean more than that to us. It seemed to become a symbol of the meaning of Christmas: Love, God’s love for the world that prompted Him to send Christ to become our Savior. Somehow it seemed to enhance our love for each other as a family. And we found ourselves stepping under the mistletoe to give someone a hug or to plant a kiss on someone’s cheek and say, “I love you.”

I thought of these mistletoe Christmases during my mother’s losing battle with cancer. I penned my thoughts like this:

Illness, you ugly parasite!
Like mistletoe, you’ve entrenched yourself upon my body!
As you bloom and grow, you feed upon my strength.
I shall fight!
Battalions stand by to help!
My doctor’s scalpel will sever you.
Modern medicine will shrivel you.
You shall fall to the ground,
And I shall stand again strong and well.
But what if I cannot conquer you?
If you are with me still
As my constant, inevitable companion,
I pray that God will help me
Learn to live with you in peace
And somehow discover how you, my enemy—
Like mistletoe at Christmas—
Can serve some useful purpose.

There are times when we cannot rid our lives of things that hurt such as pain or grief, loss, illness, sorrow. Sometimes they’re with us as our inevitable companions and we must learn to make peace with them.

Those are the times when we can ask God through Christ to help us transform the loneliness, the pain, the grief, the loss-symbolically into something that can serve a useful purpose in our lives.

May you feel an extra “hug from heaven” this Christmas season from the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. God is present, and He knows your name!

*Text quoted from "Aftermath" (New Hope, 2012) by Margaret McSweeney, pp 114-115

About the Author :

Margaret McSweeny is a well-published author and freelance writer for the 411 Voices and the Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. She is the author of "Aftermath," "A Mother's Heart Knows" and "Go Back and Be Happy." She is also the founder of Pearl Girls™ and the general editor of the Pearl Girls™ books; "Mother of Pearl" and "Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace." All proceeds from the sales of the Pearl Girls™ books go to charity. For the past five years, she has served on the board of directors for WINGS, an organization that helps abused women and their children get a new start in life. Margaret would love to meet you too. Follow her on Twitter or friend her on Facebook. You can also keep up with Margaret at Kitchen Chat or the Pearl Girls blog. Margaret lives with her husband and two daughters in the Chicago suburbs.

My Previous Guest Post(s) by this Author : “Joy to the world!” - December 2011

Find Margaret McSweeney :

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Made the Grade: Spikes & Spurs Series, Book 6

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 324; Kindle Edition - File Size: 573 KB | Expected Release Date: December 1, 2012 | Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca | Obtained: NetGalley

"Just a Cowboy and His Baby" [Spikes & Spurs Series, Book 6] by Carolyn Brown

My Book Summary : Gemma recently decided to lease her salon and go on the rodeo circuit as a bronc rider (the only woman in a "man's" sport) in hopes of becoming the second woman to win the Million Dollar PRCA saddle bronc-riding event at the end of the year. That is if Trace, her biggest competition and a man who she completely attracted to, doesn't get in her way during the process. However, once they officially meet they seem to run into each other everywhere, which only increases the combustible attraction running between them. Then when unforeseen circumstances bring them together more permanently it'll take everything they have to see if their growing relationship will work while they are in a continuous 8 second fight of their lives to this bronc riding competition...

My Book Review : 3 out of 5 stars! Follow two stubborn, tough, goal seeking people who happen to fall in love during a time in their lives when they weren't looking for it. Admittedly, this was the first novel that I've read by Ms. Brown and though I didn't love this novel as I would have liked (because the description, title, and beginning held such promise), and I didn't hated it at all either. This novel fell into the in between for me because it had my emotions going crazy from happy at the beginning (I loved how Trace & Gemma meet and get together) to confused and a bit upset in the middle (the way that Gemma keeps referencing her past yet doesn't really explain why and how she gets a bit wishy-washy when it came to her feelings) to being thrilled to seeing everything come into place the way I wanted it to.

Overall, I loved Trace & Gemma together! My one wish, for me to like this novel more, was to have the baby be in this novel more than closer to the end of it. That was disappointing.

However, with all that being said, I recommend this novel to anyone who fans of Carolyn Brown and to those who like cowboy romance novels!!

Author's Novel Extras : Guest Post – Just a Cowboy and His Baby by Carolyn Brown | ARC Review – Just a Cowboy and His Baby (Spikes & Spurs #6) by Carolyn Brown | Just A Cowboy and His Baby! | Jingle Bells & Holiday Tales – Carolyn Brown | Carolyn Brown | Just a Cowboy and His Baby | Carolyn Brown is Back with Romance for Christmas!

Author's Series Extras : Lookin' back! | Everyone Loves Cowboys!!! Great Prices | Two-Fer Review – One Hot Cowboy Wedding (Spikes and Spurs #4) by Carolyn Brown | Carolyn Brown | Why do Girls Need a Cowboy? | Cowboy Christmas Round-Up ~ Carolyn Brown | ARC Review – Mistletoe Cowboy (Spikes & Spurs #5) by Carolyn Brown | Guest post by Carolyn Brown + Giveaway | Review: 'Mistletoe Cowboy' by Carolyn Brown | Interview & Contest: Carolyn Brown

Book Teaser(s) :

Teaser #1 ~ within Chapter 1

"Dammit to hell on a rusty poker," she exclaimed. ~ within Chapter 4

"Okay," Trace drew out the word to four syllables long. "I bet you still believe in Santa Claus if you believe that fairy tale."
She cocked her head to one side. "You don't? Didn't you ever sit on his knee?"
"Every year, and Mother has the pictures to prove it. What'd you ask for when you sat on his knee?"
She flashed him a brilliant smile. "Depends on what year."
"How old were you the last time you sat on his knee?"
"You mean last year?"
Trace smiled. "You really did?"
"Momma has the picture to prove it, but I'm not telling you what I wished for. It's between me and Santa. He said he couldn't get it on such short notice, but he'd work on it for this year. We'll see if he's really magic or just a man in a suit."
"Come on, what was it?" Trace asked. ~ within Chapter 5

For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Carolyn, then please check out her website.

Guest Post :: Who is Mr. Carbunkle? by Debora M. Coty | 12 Pearls of Christmas & Giveaway

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

"Who is Mr. Carbunkle?" by Debora M. Coty

In a dream this November, I was playing Clue (remember that board game from your childhood?) with three friendly strangers. We were each moving our pieces from room to room in the mysterious mansion trying to figure out who-done-it.

So far we knew it wasn’t Miss Scarlet in the parlor with a candlestick . . . or Colonel Mustard in the drawing room with a wrench.

With a voice bursting with sudden enlightenment, the player to my right announced, “Why, it’s Mr. Carbunkle!*”

My other two opponents and I looked at one another in bewilderment. Everyone knew there was no such character in this game.

It seemed my lot to state the obvious. “Who is Mr. Carbunkle?”

The words continued to ring in my head as I sat straight up in bed. I must have spoken the question aloud to jerk me awake so.

Who is Mr. Carbunkle?

And then I knew. I knew just as surely as if the Almighty had sent me an e-mail titled, “Hey, Deb, here’s your answer.”

I had been praying for several weeks about how Papa God would like me to use my writing tithe this year. It’s been my custom, for the nine years I’ve written professionally, to give away each December (anonymously, if possible) ten percent of that year’s income from my writing ministry to someone the Lord designates.

The sum isn’t really all that much in the grand scheme of things (contrary to popular belief, Christian writers don’t get rich), but it’s enough to bless somebody in their celebration of Christ’s birth with the knowledge that their Heavenly Father knows about their needs . . . and cares.

I thought about the only Mr. Carbunkle I knew—the one who attends our church, a quiet, unassuming man who’d been out of work for more than a year. I confess that I knew about his plight but hadn’t really given it much thought—or prayer—lately. Although he never complained, I knew his family must be struggling.

So Mr. Carbunkle it is.

You know, there are lots of Mr. Carbunkles out there who would be blessed mightily by a love-gift from you this Christmas. It doesn’t have to be money; it could be help with yard work, or home repairs, or a loaf of banana bread, or best of all, a gift of your time. Thirty minutes of your undivided attention for a lonely soul who needs to know Papa God knows his or her needs ... and cares.

Who is your Mr. Carbunkle?

Don’t have a Clue? I know someone who does. Just ask Him.

*Name changed for privacy

About the Author :

Debora Coty is an occupational therapist, a piano teacher, and a freelance writer. She's also involved in the children's ministry at her church and is an avid tennis player. Debora began writing to fill the void when her last child left for college, and it has since become a passion. Debora has a real knack for getting across sound biblical concepts with a refreshing lightheartedness as attested in her monthly newspaper column entitled "Grace Notes: God's Grace for Everyday Living." Look for "Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolate: Wit and Wisdom for Sidestepping Life’s Worries" in February of 2013.

My Previous Guest Post(s) by this Author : Inside Out Christmas - December 2011

Find Debora M. Coty :

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Guest Post :: An Inexpensive New Christmas Tradition by Christy Fitzwater | 12 Pearls of Christmas & Giveaway

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

"An Inexpensive New Christmas Tradition" by Christy Fitzwater

I was invited to play some Christmas carols on the piano for a senior-adult luncheon, but before I got up to play they had a time for the seniors to share what they remembered as their favorite Christmas gifts.

There was talk of new bicycles, a pony, and a new dress.

Then one elderly man took the microphone and said, “An orange.” When he was young, an orange was a rare treat. As he spoke, he got choked up and had to stop talking to collect himself. He explained that his Sunday School was giving an orange for anyone who memorized a Bible verse. He tearfully described earning that delicious orange and slowly savoring every bite. When he was done eating the orange, he put the peel on the furnace so it would dry, and then he chewed on the peel.

He said with conviction, “We just don’t know how rich we are in this country.”

Christmas is usually the time when I feel broke. I tuck away money for gifts all year long, but money doesn’t go very far these days. My husband and I love to spoil our kids and try to scheme how to get them a big-ticket item. We’ve enjoyed the Christmas mornings when we’ve been able to enjoy watching our kids open such gifts as an electric guitar or an iPad.

I stopped to imagine how our whole family would feel if, on Christmas morning, the only gift under the tree was a small basket cradling an orange for each of us. I think we would feel disappointment and great loss. What would we do the rest of the morning if not consumed by opening gift after gift? Where would the focus be?

Our years of wealth make thankfulness for an orange seem ludicrous.

As I processed this man’s story, I decided what we lack at Christmas isn’t money to buy nice gifts—it’s gratitude to relish the simple treasures we enjoy every day.

This Christmas I am going to begin a new tradition for my family, and I would invite your family to do the same. I am going to place a small basket with four oranges under the tree, along with a printed copy of the man’s story of the orange. We’re going to pause at some point in the morning and each hold an orange while we read the story. And then we’re going to hold those oranges up to our noses and breathe in the fragrance God built into it, peel it slowly, and enjoy each juicy bite. And while we eat it, we’ll each speak thankfulness to the Lord for the grace He has poured into our lives.

In that moment, we’ll know how rich we are.

About the Author :

Christy Fitzwater is a writer and pastor’s wife living in Kalispell, Montana. She is the mother of a daughter in college and a high-school boy. Read her personal blog at christyfitzwater.com.

Find Christy Fitzwater :

Friday, December 14, 2012

Guest Post :: God with Us . . . And Us with Him by Susan May Warren | 12 Pearls of Christmas & Giveaway

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas blog series!

"God with Us . . . And Us with Him" by Susan May Warren

Every year over labor day weekend, the Warren family has a MWE. Mandatory Warren Event. It’s a call to come home and enjoy the long weekend with our favorite people. Since my children have left for college, I relish every second of this weekend—the laughter in the kitchen, the long conversations in the family room, the frenzy of backyard football, the quietness of the morning as we drink coffee on the deck and watch the sunrise. I cherish these people, and when they are with me, I drink in their presence.

I’ve been reading the prophecies about Christ this season and came across Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

I am struck by the word Immanuel. God with us. The closest I get to comprehending this is reading about how Jesus’ loved his disciples. Surely they relished the time with him more profoundly after his resurrection, knowing he would soon leave.

Thankfully, he didn’t leave them for long and sent His Holy Spirit. God . . . still with them.

As I consider the magnitude of this God who would come to earth, who would abide with the disciples, and then with me, I have to wonder not only do I relish God’s presence in my life, but does God relish time with me? Am I committed to embracing His entrance into my life? Am I even making the effort to see Him?

Imagine that during our MWE weekend, I ignored my children, and they, me? I would lose the joy of their presence.

It is not surprising to me that the Jewish people did not recognize their Savior. After all, who would guess that the Almighty might package himself as a baby and appear among them, fragile and dependent? But today, we know the story, we know the miracles, we know the truth, and God invites us into an abundant relationship, one that He wishes to relish, one that will change us. A relationship that will slake our thirsts and satisfy our hungers. One that reminds us that we are never alone.

Because every day we are a mandatory event to our Immanuel.

This season, look for the ways that God is your Immanuel, with you, every day.

About the Author :

Susan May Warren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 40 novels. With over 750,000 books in print, her stories of family, romance and adventure have earned her acclaim and reader fans from around the world. Visit her website for upcoming books and sneak peeks!

My Previous Guest Post(s) by this Author : Enjoy the Ride! - December 2011

Find Susan May Warren :

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Blog Tour - Made the Grade: Lust After Death by Daisy Harris | Review & Giveaway

Today I'm turning my blog over to Daisy Harris, with a review of her novel "Lust After Death," which is the 1st book in Love-Bots Series!!

ALSO -- Be sure to comment on this post to be able to sign up for this tour's GIVEAWAYs (listed below)!! [Blog Tour will run on December 12, 2012]

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 200 KB | Release Date: July 2011 | Publisher: Ellora’s Cave Publishing | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions

"Lust After Death" [Love-Bots Series, Book 1] by Daisy Harris

My Book Summary : Bane is an assassin on a mission save a new love-bot “stein,” a re-animate human who has to do whatever their “master” says, that the organization he works for, the Zombie Underground, recently heard about. However, after rescuing over 30 steins throughout the years he is still unprepared to deal with the one he's trying to save, Josie.

She's beyond attractive, bright, creative, strong in her own ways, and innocent to everything around her. Therefore, Bane knows he shouldn't be with her even though he wants to. Yet when he finds out that in Josie's programming she is required to have a husband for her to survive Bane steps up to the plate to play that role.

Together they learn more about themselves then they ever thought they knew, so much so that there might be hope for them together after all. If only they can protect each other from Josie's “master” and the evil company he works for...

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars! A zombie-ish love that holds no bounds! This is a sweetly erotic novel that takes the term "finding your soul-mate" to a whole new extreme. Josie and Bane are "free" steins, which to me sound kind of like the cyborgs on Star Trek only being more humanoid then what that show portrays, and they are perfect counterparts for one another! It's a novel full of intrigue and I LOVED the cute little epilogue at the end!

I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys sci-fi and futuristic romances!

Author's Novel Extras : New Cover LUST!! | Lust After Death: Sex...With Zombies!! (Not as Gross as it Sounds) | Six Sentence Sunday: LUST AFTER DEATH | Check out My Design SKILLZ | (Filthy) Six Sentence Sunday | Sunday Six: LUST AFTER DEATH | Because I Am Awesome... | New Review for Lust After Death! | Great New Review for Lust After Death

Author's Series Extras : About the Series | Freakin’ Awesome Friday: Sunshine Edition | Sunday Six: Studenstein | Six Sentence Sunday: STUDENSTEIN!! | Random Studenstein Excerpt | Excerpt: STUDENSTEIN First Scene | Final Stop: Lust After Death Blog Tour!! | Latest News: Love-Bots 4: One Night Steined is Done! | Built 4 It (Coming Soon Love-Bots) has a COVER! And it is HAWT! | *One Night Steined* haz a smokin’ hawt cover! | Latest Release: *One Night Steined*

Book Teaser(s) :

Josie scooted closer, until she nestled against the length of him. A little jolt of excitement shot through her to feel his firm backside against her hips, and she angled her body until those mounds pressed into the cradle of her groin. Of course, that necessitated her laying a hand on his upper arm for balance, and her face pressed between his shoulder blades.
“What are you doing?” The pillow muffled his voice.
Josie stopped shuffling, realizing she’d been pawing him. “Nothing, just getting comfortable.” Instinct told her to pull away and roll back to her side of the tent. Bane’s muscles felt stiff under her fingers. But she didn’t want to let go.
“I only have so much self-control, babe.” ~ within Chapter 5

For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Daisy, then please check out her website.

About the Author :

Birkenstock-wearing glamour girl and mother of two by immaculate conception, Daisy Harris still isn't sure if she writes erotica. Her romances start out innocently enough. However, her characters behave like complete sluts. Much to Miss Harris's dismay the sex tends to get completely out of hand.

She writes about fantastical creatures and about young men getting their freak on, and she's never missed an episode of The Walking Dead.

Book Excerpt :

Drizzling rain filled the air as Josie clamored up the trail after Bane. Her feet swam in the rain boots he’d given her and she considered that he hadn’t really thought through this plan very well in not bringing her clothes from Adam’s house.

The path curved up a hill, through tall trees whose branches overlapped and wide-spanning trunks that dropped leaves the size of her head.

He hitched his backpack higher on his shoulders and cinched the waistband tighter on his hips. The move drew her attention to the way the smooth and stretchy material of his trousers hung from his behind. Her fingers tingled to reach out and pinch the bunched muscles of his buttocks.

That brief glimpse of his thoughts echoed in her mind. Clearly he hadn’t meant to do her harm and now that the shock faded, she observed it from a different angle. Josie wondered at the snippet, curious about where it might have led.

She ran her hands through the brush that rose around her. Each branch was filled with droplets. Spikes pricked on some plants, others felt smooth. One felt soft and downy at first, then stung her curious fingers and Josie pulled her hand to her chest. Her legs ached as they summited the hilltop.

Bane led her a small ways down the other side and he pointed to a small clearing. “It won’t be the softest night’s sleep. But I’m so dead on my feet I won’t care.”

Josie cocked her head to the side and noticed the way his body slumped forward and his feet dragged. “This’ll be fine.”

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Find Daisy Harris :

Daisy Harris - Website/Blog
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Lust After Death : Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Ellora’s Cave

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