Thursday, December 7, 2017

#REVIEW: Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall


Title: Same Kind of Different as Me
Author: Ron Hall
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published Date: March 9, 2008
ISBN: 978-0849919107
Pages: 245
Buy It Link: Amazon
Synopsis:
A dangerous, homeless drifter who grew up picking cotton in virtual slavery. An upscale art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani and Chanel. A gutsy woman with a stubborn dream. A story so incredible no novelist would dare dream it.
It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana . . . and an East Texas honky-tonk . . . and, without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda . . . an upscale New York gallery . . . a downtown dumpster . . . a Texas ranch.
Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, this true story also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love.

My Rating 4 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but whatever it was, it definitely isn't what happened. It was a crazy, moving, soul-wrenching book that makes me want to shake people and say, "See? This! This is why we are better people if we embrace each others' differences!" This book, though fiction, gives me hope that people at such opposite ends of the spectrum, one a homeless, angry black man and another white man of privilege and wealth, can come together and understand each other as human beings....and come away from the encounter a better person for it.
The beginning of the book is kind of slow, however it picks up pretty quickly, and from then on out, I couldn't put it down. I wish this was required reading for everyone in this time of strife and uncertainty.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

#GUEST REVIEW and #EXCERPT: Barbra Streisand: on the Couch by Alma H. Bond, Ph.D.

Barbra Streisand: on the Couch by Alma H. Bond

Barbra Streisand: on the Couch by Alma H. Bond, Ph.D.

Publisher: Bancroft Press (Oct 1, 2017)
Category: Literary Fiction, Celebrities, Barbra Streisand
Tour dates: Oct/Nov, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-61088-211-8
Available in Print, 308 pages

We all know Barbra, the star, but how well do we know Barbra, the woman? In the latest installment of my On the Couch series, Dr. Darcy Dale, a renowned, pioneering Manhattan psychiatrist, is confronted by Barbra, who is dismayed after thirty years of minimally successful therapy. Over the course of a year, Dr. Dale conducts an intimate psychoanalysis, breaking through Barbra’s defense mechanisms and repressions to delve deep into the heart and mind of one of America’s last remaining superstars. Published at the same time as Streisand’s own, long awaited memoir, Barbra Streisand: On the Couch is an essential companion, a sensitive, objective, pitch-perfect opportunity to look behind the voice and image, and to understand and fully appreciate Barbra Streisand, the human being.

GUEST REVIEW:


I was so excited to be invited to read ‘Barbara Streisand: On the Couch’.  I am a big fan of Streisand both as a movie star and singer.  I learned things about her from this book that I didn’t know.  She lost her father at an early age.  I also lost my father at a young age so can empathise with her.  We were both raised when parents fell mostly to the mother but you can’t under estimate the impact of losing a father had, even then.
Alma H. Bound is an excellent writer and with the aid of her meticulous research has really penned an entertaining book that gives us a peek into Streisand’s life and psychological struggles. Using fiction instead of biography has given her poetic license to write about a social icon in a fresh way.  She doesn’t over do the fiction but just adds to Barbara Steisand’s persona.  I loved this book and recommend you pick it up.  I think it would also make an excellent gift for a Barbara Streisand fan!
I give this book 5 stars! I receive this book for an honest review.

Review by Betty G. 

EXCERPT:

Barbra came in with an eerie expression on her face. Looking down as she came into the room, she said almost shyly, “I had the most incredible dream.”
 “Good” I said with great anticipation (I love dreams). Tell me.
 “I almost can’t.  It is too overwhelming.”
 “Try.”    
 “Well, I’ll see what I can do..” She took her usual position on the couch.
 What dream could be so incredible that she has to announce it with all that fanfare? I leaned forward expectantly.
 She began hesitantly, “There is a knock on the door. I open it. There is a blinding light, so that I can hardly see who is there.  I put my hands over my eyes to shield them, and see that it is Sarah Bernhardt. She says, ‘Congratulations on making The Prince of Tides,’ Barbra. It is a wonderful movie.’
"I say in all humility, ‘Yes, it went very well.’"
 She turns her head around to me and says, “What do you think it means, Doctor?”
 “What do you think it means, Barbra?”
 “I’m afraid to say.
 “Try.”
 She said hesitantly, “I think the dream is saying that I’m going to go down in history as a great actress, as majestic as Sarah Bernhardt..... Do you think that’s what it means?
 “I know that’s what it means.”
 She smiled, and said, “So do I.”

 “Barbra,” I said, chastisingly. “I read something important in the newspapers about you that you never told me.”
 “Yeah? What’s that?”
 “I read that in 1986, you founded The Streisand Foundation that has donated over sixteen million dollars for noteworthy causes like nuclear disarmament, civil rights, voter education, and women’s issues. Sixteen million dollars! Very few of us even see that much money in a lifetime, let alone donate it to charity. It is really wonderful of you. What a good woman you are!  But how come you never told me about it?
 Looking shyly at the floor, she said, “I was afraid you would raise my fee.” 

Praise Barbra Streisand: on the Couch by Alma H. Bond, Ph.D.

"Thoroughly enjoyable."—Kitty Kelley, author of mega bestselling biographies on Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Reagan, the British Royal Family, the Bush family, and Oprah Winfrey
“Absolutely delightful … and wonderful … with fabulous insight … Fans of Barbra Streisand [will] love this book . . . It’s impossible to come away from [it] with anything but a warm, fuzzy feeling for this . . . adored songbird… Underneath is [an] . . . insecure little girl who lost her daddy . . . and never truly got over it.”—Readers Favorite
“This will appeal to anyone who enjoys discovering information about such a celebrity, how she feels about the ups and downs of her life, and other juicy details of her storied sex life and stellar career. [...] The book has a can't-put-it-down quality; the juiciness of the gossip, the emotional insights into her joy and pain, and the remarkable triumphs and failures of her long career are completely fascinating. Although the book is fiction, the author lists in a bibliography the numerous books and articles from which she garnered the very factual events and many of Miss Streisand's own words from interviews that she used to create the sessions...”-Midwest Book Review
"I’ve been a fan of Bond’s On the Couch series for years, but this one is absolutely her best. Barbra Streisand--with all her foibles and charms--comes alive on the pages of this book. Bond digs deep into Streisand’s psyche to give the reader a close-up look at a mega-star. Instead of a tell-all novel that dishes out the dirt on her many costars, we follow along with Streisand as she herself recounts her many projects, affairs, and early history. Instead of a public relations–approved biography that glosses over Streisand’s need to be in control of her projects, this book revels in it, explores the reasons for a demanding actor/musician/director to behave as she does, shows the reader just how dedicated to her craft Streisand is. If you’re a fan of her acting, her music, her career, or her activism, this is definitely a book you should read. Even if you’re not a fan, chances are you will be by the time you finish the book.”- Ann Beardsley

Barbra Streisand: on the Couch by Alma H. BondAbout Alma H. Bond, Ph.D.

Award winning author, Alma Halbert Bond received her Ph.D. from Columbia University, and became a highly successful psychoanalyst in private practice for 37 years in New York City. She "retired" to become a full-time writer. Barbra Streisand: On the Couch is currently in production with Bancroft Press, who publish the On the Couch series. Hillary Clinton: On the Couch was published a few months ago, and received a Best Books Award Finalist book award. Jackie O: On the Couch, the first of her On the Couch series to be published by Bancroft Press, was published on August 15, 2011, and received a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, Best Books Award Finalist USA Book News, and International Book Awards Finalist. . Margaret Mahler, a Biography of the Psychoanalyst was published by McFarland Press in 2008. It received two awards, Best Books Award Finalist USA Book News and Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist. Michelle Obama, a Biography, was recently published by Greenwood Press. Dr. Bond has had 20 other books published. Among other organizations, Dr. Bond is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the Dramatists Guild, PEN, the International Psychoanalytic Association, and the American Psychological Association. She taught psychoanalysis at the Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, where she is a fellow, and also has been a faculty member of WritersSchool, where she taught Psychology and Literature. Website is http://almabondauthor.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlmaHBond Twitter: https://twitter.com/almabond

Buy Barbra Streisand: on the Couch by Alma H. Bond, Ph.D.

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Follow Barbra Streisand: on the Couch by Alma H. Bond, Ph.D. Tour

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct 19 Giveaway Gayle
Books Reviews Etc Oct 20 Review Dawn
Bound 2 Escape Oct 24 Excerpt & Giveaway Sal
Bound 4 Escape Oct 24 Review Patricia
Reviews by Room With Books Oct 27 Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Katy
Amazon Review Oct 30 Review Lisa
I Feel So Unnecessary Nov 1 Review
Kristin Second Book to the Right Nov 7 Review & Excerpt
Vicki I'd Rather Be Reading At The Beach Nov 13 Review & Giveaway
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Nov 22 Review
Greg Amazon Review Nov 30 Review

*This schedule is subject to change. Barbra Streisand: on the Couch by Alma H. Bond, Ph.D.

Monday, October 30, 2017

#BLAST and #GIVEAWAY: Obsidian Series by Emilyann Girdner

New Release! The Forgotten Dream

The Forgotten Dream is the third book in the Amazon Best-Selling Obsidian Series. The first book in this young adult fantasy series, The Labyrinth Wall, is a Dante Rossetti Award Finalist and is a Reader's Favorite 5 Star rated book. During a dire encounter with magical attackers, an unexpected visitor shows up to save the day. However, suspicions of this unwanted guest arise when people start disappearing in Kasabac. It is difficult to know who can be trusted and harder to ignore the alarming claims about the labyrinth that come to Araina's attention. Will she be able to locate the missing people? Perhaps more importantly, can she discern the truth from the lies about the labyrinth? Launches Nov 7th - preorder now: B&N/Amazon







  Obsidian Series The fantasy charm of Eragon meets the gritty flare of The Hunger Games in the Amazon Best-Selling Obsidian Series books which offer a surprising and fresh magical labyrinth adventure. Imagine a labyrinth world from the perspective of its native people... Araina’s lonely teenage life is forever altered when she witnesses a man with supernatural powers emerge through a rippling wall into the dark and deadly labyrinth she calls home. Araina must solve many mysteries surrounding the newcomer and the labyrinth she thought she knew so well. And, as a result of the stranger’s arrival, Araina’s creators have unleashed a series of attacks against the labyrinth inhabitants. She must decide if she will trust potentially deceitful allies in order to survive. “It is a book that all fantasy lovers will find addictive and thrilling.” — Readers’ Favorite “There are several great adventures in this story of a girl trying to escape from Creators” and “The prose sings in many places thanks to expert description.” — Publishers Weekly An Amazon Best-Seller A Dante Rossetti International Award Finalist Reader’s Favorite 5 Star Rated

  Buy Labyrinth Wall on: Amazon/B&N | Buy Haunted Realm on: Amazon/B&N Labyrinth Wall will be on sale for $.99 in November!

About the author: Emilyann Girdner is the creator of Coloring Novels™ (a new novel format) and author of Amazon Best-Seller, Dante Rossetti Award Finalist, and Reader’s Favorite 5 Star rated young adult fantasy novel, The Labyrinth Wall. Emilyann discovered at a young age that reading imaginative books gave living an extra flavor. She has loved stories ever since. She has appeared at events with organizations such as Barnes & Noble stores, Wizard World Comic Con, Supercon, AltCon, and MegaCon Fan Days. KCFV 89.5, City Surfing Orlando, Miami.com, and Tallahassee Magazine are some of the media outlets that have mentioned Emilyann. Emilyann tries to love God and others in all she does. She believes that imagination sparks beauty in the soul. Emilyann’s writing and art have appeared via many publications, some of which include Sound & Communications Magazine, The TV Shield, Center for Work Life, Easter Seals Florida, and Examiner.com. Discover more of her writing and art at www.emilyanngirdner.com. Get a FREE eBook and access to exclusive content by joining Emilyann's newsletter list. Visit the following link to subscribe: http://emilyanngirdner.com/free-fantasy-ebook/ Follow on social media: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest

Enter the giveaway below

Thursday, October 26, 2017

#REVIEW: The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey by Carolyn Miller

Title: The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey
Series: Regency Brides #3
Author: Carolyn Miller
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published Date: October 24, 2017
ISBN: 978-0825444524
Buy It Link: Amazon
Synopsis: Will a damaged reputation and desire for society's approval thwart the legacy of grace?
Tainted by scandal and forced to leave London for the quieter Brighton countryside, the Honorable Miss Clara DeLancey is a shadow of her former society self. She's lost the man she loved to another and, in a culture that has no patience for self-pity, is struggling with depression. A chance encounter brings her a healing friendship with the sisters of an injured naval captain. But Clara's society mama is appalled at the new company she's keeping.

Captain Benjamin Kemsley is not looking for a wife. But his gallant spirit won't let him ignore the penniless viscount's daughter--not when she so obviously needs assistance to keep moving forward from day to day. Can he protect his heart and still keep her safe?

When they're pushed into the highest echelons of society at the Prince Regent's Brighton Pavilion, this mismatched couple must decide if family honor is more important than their hopes. Can they right the wrongs of the past and find future happiness together--without finances, family support, or royal favor?

My rating: 4 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As I have read this series, and other Regency books, I can honestly say, I have definitely been born in the right era. I can't imagine not being able to speak my mind, to let out a curse word at least once or twice a day, or be seen as any man's property. Just the idea of having those expectations around you constantly is a nightmare for me.
Clara is the lowest of the low in society's eyes, and she has been ostracized, not only by society but by her family. Predictably, she struggles with depression, not only because she has lost the man she loved to another, but because of the snubbing from society.
Along comes Captain Benjamin Kemsley, not looking for any romantic encounters but he just can't ignore the helpless and rejected woman his sisters have befriended.
This is a sweet romance story that shows trust in God and your heart is more important than what society's expectations are.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

#REVIEW: Falling Into Right by Sharon Kay

Title: Falling into Right
Series: Redemption County #2
Author: Sharon Kay
Published Date: October 24, 2017
Publisher: Sharon Kay
ASIN: B075RTYDYM
Buy It Link: Amazon

Synopsis: How do you recover when life kick-boxes your soul?
Becca Gable is fighting to stay on her feet after a series of crushing losses. She’s always been the good girl until the events of the past year push her to make a mistake she can’t take back. Now, her corporate finance job and her fiancé are gone thanks to her newly-acquired criminal record.
Shane Marlow survived an IED blast during his service in Iraq—but half his team did not. Physically healed, he returns to his home county as a K9 officer. The scars of loss run deep and though local folks admire him, no one truly gets him—until Becca literally lands in front of him.
Their bond of shared tragedy evolves into a connection both fiery and healing. But a stalker decides that Becca’s crime should stay front and center. As the unsettling episodes reveal that no part of her life is secret, Shane is all that stands between her and the enemy.


My Rating: 4 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
How can you explain when grief makes you do inexplicable things? How can you forgive yourself afterwards? Becca has done something awful, and even though she has paid her debt to society, she still can't explain or forgive herself for what she has done.
Shane is a hometown hero, an Army sergeant who has survived an IED blast, and come home to become a K-9 cop. He can't forgive himself for surviving when so many of his men didn't.
After Becca literally falls at his feet, they come together in a sweet romance, showing that two broken people can help each other heal with love. Of course, there is someone who can't let go of Becca's past indiscretion, forcing her to constantly relive it, making her unable to truly forgive herself.
I'm so glad the author didn't use the typical lack of communication between the two main characters to drive the storyline and produce angst enough for the reader to question their HEA. Instead, she used her amazing writing abilities to bring the two characters and their nemesis together in a final showdown with a sweet HEA.

Monday, October 23, 2017

#REVIEW: Truth Doesn't Have A Side by Dr Bennet Omalu and Mark Tabb

Title: Truth Doesn't Have A Side
Author(s):  Dr Bennet Omalu and Mark Tabb
Publisher: Zondervan
Published Date: August 8, 2017
ISBN:  9780310351962
Buy It Link: Amazon | Zondervan
Synopsis: One day in 2002 the fifty-year old body of former Pittsburgh Steeler and hall of famer Mike Webster was laid on a cold table in front of pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu. Webster’s body looked to Omalu like the body of a much older man, and the circumstances of his behavior prior to his death were clouded in mystery. But when Omalu cut into Webster’s brain, it appeared to be normal. Something didn’t add up.
It was at this moment, Omalu studying slides of Webster’s brain tissue under a microscope, that the world of contact sports would never be the same: the discovery of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. CTE can result in an array of devastating consequences including deterioration in attention, memory loss, social instability, depression, and even suicide. And Omalu’s discovery of CTE in the brain of an American football player has become the catalyst of a blazing controversy across all contact sports.
At the center of that controversy stands the unlikely Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian-born American citizen, a mild-mannered, gentle man of faith. It is fascinating that it would take someone on the outside of American culture to make this amazing discovery, and refuse to let it be kept hidden. Dr. Omalu began his life in strife, growing up in war-torn Nigeria. But his medical studies in forensic pathology proved to be a lifeline. It fed his natural curiosity and awakened within a deeper desire to always search for the truth. Who would have thought that such an unexpected character would play such a role in bringing to life this world-changing data?
In Truth Doesn’t Have a Side, discover the truth about CTE: Its causes and symptoms, how we might keep our children safe and guide professional athletes when CTE sets in. The problem of CTE is coming to light with each new story about an athlete’s concussion problem, and we are likely facing dramatic changes to professional sports. You’ll be inspired by Dr. Bennet Omalu a man driven by his love and concern for the welfare of all people, and his professional vow to spea
k the truth.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There are books that come into your life that are life-changing. They change the way you look at the world, or an aspect of your life or society, and you are never the same after. Or it's a book you can't stop talking about with your friends. This book is both for me.
Growing up in the Deep South, football is life. It literally takes up over half our week, from high school Friday Night Lights, to Saturday College Football, to Sunday, Monday and Thursday pro football. Parents go out with their kids and toss the pigskin back and forth for hours. For some, it is the only possibility out of a life of abject poverty. Thinking that it could be a life-threatening sport that we are willingly putting our children in from single-digit ages goes against threads that make up a good portion of our society. Football is such a lucrative sport, I can understand why the NFL would want to squash this evidence that shows football can negatively impact a player's life.
The author, Dr Bennet Omalu, puts forth the situation in which he found the first case of what he later termed, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or as we lay people recognize it, CTE. He does it in such a clinical, and yet personable way that makes him seem very approachable and no-nonsense. He presents the facts, and says how he came to his conclusions.
During the time I was reading this book, it came out that Aaron Hernandez was found to have the worst case of CTE known at his age. It certainly explains why a superstar player like Hernandez, who was adored in New England, would get involved with drugs, murder (alleged murder, since his suicide in prison overturned his conviction), and suicide. It can also explain why OJ Simpson has done the things he has done.
I highly recommend reading this book to anyone and everyone I come across.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

#REVIEW: NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible, Large Print


Title: NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible, Large Print
Publisher: Zondervan
Published Date: August 8, 2017
ISBN: 9780310447054
Buy It Link: Amazon | Zondervan


Synopsis:
Easy to color and easy to read! Reflect on the precious truths of Scripture with the NIV Beautiful Word™ Coloring Bible, Large Print, featuring beautiful line art for coloring and a large type size. Perfect for all ages, this Bible’s thick white paper with lightly ruled lines in the extra-wide margins provides ample space for your own artistic expressions and journaling.
The NIV Beautiful Word™ Coloring Bible, Large Print is a perfect gift that will become a cherished keepsake full of personalized creative expressions of faith.
Features of this treasured Bible include:
  • Hundreds of verses illustrated in ready-to-color line art
  • Readable 10-point type size
  • Thicker white paper for enduring note-taking
  • Lined, wide margins for notes, reflections and art
  • Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV)
  • Easy-to-read black letter text in a single-column format
  • Lays flat in your hand or on your desk
  • Ribbon marker
My Rating: 4 1/2 stars


My Review: I received a copy of this Bible in exchange for an honest review.
The words large print can be deceiving, however, as most Bibles are printed in 8 point font, it is a larger font at 10 points. I find the font size to be perfectly fine for me, especially if I am using my Bible in a low-lit area. The cover itself is a beautiful cloth over cardboard, a large floral print and navy spine. As someone who loves touching and handling things, I absolutely love my cloth Bibles.
I did get the Beautiful Word Bible before for review, and the one thing I didn't like about it was the illustrations were mostly already colored in. In this iteration, the reader gets to color, and there is plenty of space for note taking, writing down your thoughts, or journaling in general.
I feel like the publisher took what I didn't like about the previous one and changed it into exactly what I wanted.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

#PRE-ORDER #SALE: Sirens and Scales Anthology




1 Collection. 26 Tales of Enchantment and Danger! From the darkest skies to the deepest seas, dive into a breathtaking collision of mermaids, dragons, sirens, and more in SIRENS & SCALES, a unique Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Collection! Your travels through these stories of dazzling ocean tides and the dizzying reaches of the heavens will leave you breathless. Join dragon shifters and mer-creatures for an experience of salty seafaring adventures and magnificent airborne enterprises where sky meets sea, love meets its match, and imagination has no end. With 26 full-length stories of enchanting fiction, you’ll learn the secrets of Atlantis, soar to uncharted peaks, and discover creatures of wing and fin and those who love them. Ready to set sail and catch the tide before your chance for adventure is lost forever? Then order this collection of BRAND NEW and EXCLUSIVE material from your favorite USA Today and award-winning authors before it’s gone for good!

Siren Or Scales? Which Fantasy Character Are You?

Monday, October 9, 2017

#PRE-ORDER #SALE: Holidays Ever After Compilation

Holidays Ever After:
Contemporary Romance Holiday Boxed Set
Pre-Order for only $0.99
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20 Holiday Hotties from 20 of your favorite authors
Seduction for all Seasons

Which holiday hottie will you unwrap first?

No matter the time of the year, it’s always the season for seduction!

From Spicy to Sweet and everything in between, this sizzling boxed set of TWENTY contemporary romances from today’s New York Times, USA Today, and International bestselling authors will give you tons of holiday hunks to fall in love with.
Inside these pages you’ll find everything from sexy strangers and brooding billionaires to marines, firefighters, and the guy next door.

Whether you’re in the mood for a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, or a New Year’s celebration, this limited edition Holiday Ever After anthology is packed with exclusive, full-length titles to lift your spirits. From Halloween to Kwanzaa, Valentine's Day, Norooz, and the Fourth of July, these stories will give your holiday season extra spark and will be the best romantic holiday bundle to hit your ereader this year!

Get ready to heat up your holidays when you treat yourself to Holidays Ever After!

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Reader's Signed Paperback Giveaway

Including stories from…

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#BOOK BLAST: Prophecy of the Awakening by Daniel A Willis





APOCALYPSE DOES NOT MEAN THE END....IT ONLY MEANS CHANGE! Nikki thought she was crazy. Now she knows that not only is the voice in her head real, it the voice of a goddess! David is a devout Catholic. Can he continue to cling to his faith in the light of what is going on around him? Cardinal Santarem knows the truth. But he is not going to let it tear down two thousand years of religious domination. Amber is a self-absorbed Hollywood starlet. She is the last person anyone would choose to become a mother, let alone the one who will fulfill the Prophecy of the Awakening. Purchase Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Website  

Daniel A. Willis writes both fiction and nonfiction. In his historical works, he describes the world as it was. In his fantasy novels, he envisions it as it could be. A native of Ohio, Mr. Willis has called Colorado home for three decades. Follow on Facebook / Twitter

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

#EXCERPT and #TOUR: Sons of Ishmael by Unoma Nwankwor


Hello. I’m Excited. This is one of my stops during the one month tour for Sons of Ishmael Reintroduction Tour: The Danjuma Brothers by  Unoma Nwankwor.  This virtual book tour is organized by Write Now Literary Book Tours. This tour runs September 11 – October 5, 2017.  Follow the tour here.  Book your own tour here WNL      
 
Genre: Christian Fiction/Romance

A SCOOP OF LOVE~ SONS OF ISHMAEL BOOK I 
The oldest of the Danjuma brothers, Rasheed was a self-made man. He’d learned at an early age that love and commitment brought with it complications he didn’t want to deal with. His single-minded focus had paid off. He was able to step into the shoes of his absentee father by taking care of his mother and twin brothers. But just when he thought he could stop carrying the weight of his family on his shoulders, he gets a call that could change the trajectory of Rasheed’s life. Ibiso Jaja, a professional caterer, had gambled on the love of a man and lost. Through the redeeming love of God, she had picked herself up and was now living her dream as the owner of Bisso Bites, a bistro in the heart of Abuja. However circumstances conspire to threaten the bistro and bring her face to face with the type of man she has vowed to avoid. The attraction is instant. Once again, Rasheed is forced to do something he has done all his life – put the needs of his family ahead of his own. This time however, he crosses path with the sassy, independent, Jesus-loving caterer who is bent on making him see the power of forgiveness and God’s love. Just when Rasheed lets his guard down, a deadly sabotage causes old demons to rise. Will Rasheed continue to pursue power and success or surrender to the light of God’s love?


Rasheed Danjuma sighed aloud at the sight of another unwanted email from the law
offices of Ezekiel and Stanley. These lawyers were beginning to work his last nerve. He placed his finger over the touchpad of his laptop, directed the cursor to the delete icon and pressed it.It had been six months since Zayd Danjuma, the man that contributed to his genetic makeup had passed away. And his lawyers were still hounding him. Rasheed had thought his non-attendance of the funeral service was a clear indication of his disinterest in anything they had to say about his so-called father.
Determined not to let the email ruin his day, he picked up the receiver and dialed his
assistant’s extension. She picked up at the first ring.
“Yes, Rasheed?”
“Have you heard anything back from those clients in the United States?”
“No, I didn’t,” she said. “But while you were on your conference call, your mother
called.”
Rasheed felt a strange rise in his stomach. His mother almost never called him on his office phone unless she wanted to reach him in a hurry. “Did she leave a message?”
“No, she just said to let you know she called.”
“Okay, thank you.” He disconnected the call.
Rasheed walked over to his jacket and pulled out his cell phone. Looking out of the large window of his Hyde Park office, his sense of unease grew. He checked, and there were three missed called from his mother. His voice mail was empty. What was going on? He dialed his mother. She answered on the third ring.
“Mama, you tried to reach me. Is everything okay?”
“Nna, I really don’t know how to answer that.”
His mother used her term of endearment, Nna, for her sons when she wanted to ask for something she knew they didn’t want to give.“What is it?”
“Those lawyers from your father’s estate came to see me today,” she said. “Rasheed, I don’t want those men in my shop or house. I’m asking you again to come home and see what they want.”
Rasheed’s jaw set. How dare those lawyers hound his mother? Why was it so important that he and his brothers attend the stupid will reading? Even though it had been twenty-five years since their father had walked out of their lives, the memory of that morning was still vivid. Their father didn’t care about them in life, so why was he so concerned about their well-being in death? Squaring up against those lawyers himself was one thing, but when they involved his mother, it was totally different. He wouldn’t have it.
“You mean they came to your shop?” Rasheed asked as though he didn’t hear her the first time. Anger shot through his feet as he began to pace the length of his office.
“Yes.” His mother’s voice sounded shaky. “It’s one thing for them to call but to show up,I don’t appreciate it. They almost scared my customers away.”
After his mother had retired as a school administrator, she had decided she couldn’t sit idle. Her love of fashion led to the opening of a boutique in the heart of Abuja’s business district. Within months, the business had flourished. Rasheed had supported her because whatever made his mother happy made him happy, too. After many years of living in pain, she deserved to live her life in peace. They all did.
Rasheed’s mind went back to the email he’d received earlier in the day. Since these
lawyers were playing hardball, it was clear he had no choice but to travel to Nigeria. “If those lawyers call you again, tell them I’ll be there soon.”
His mother’s sigh expressed her relief. “God bless you, my son.”
“It’s okay, Mama. They better make it worth my while. If not, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”

 ANCHORED BY LOVE~ SONS OF ISHMAEL SERIES BOOK II


When cardiac surgeon, Jabir Danjuma met Damisi Odinga at the University of Michigan seven years ago, it wasn’t necessarily love at first sight. With love comes commitment and he knows that’s not a promise he could keep, after all he is his father’s son. However, their attraction can’t be denied. Their ensuing one year romance is passionate and intense, and he begins to feel the forbidden emotion—love. Just as he starts to let his guard down, Damisi breaks up with him and moves half way around the world to Lagos, Nigeria. He knows immediately that the demise of their relationship has something to do with that church she joined. She becomes unrecognizable and wants to change him into something he is not. His studies are the most important thing to him, so he did what any sane man would do, let her go. Popular television personality Damisi Odinga, needs to end the fourth season of her show Becoming Ruth, with a bang. The trending topic in the country is the fairy-tale wedding of the heir to the Danjuma empire. The family has been shrouded in secrecy ever since the unknown sons resurfaced in the country last year. Coverage of the wedding weekend will give her show the boost it needs and seal its number one rating. No one can get an interview with the couple but she had a way in, her ex man, Jabir Danjuma. So what if he broke her heart and she hasn’t been able to get over him? This was kingdom business, right? Years ago, Damisi left him without an explanation and now Jabir has her just where he wants her. Their encounter sets off a series of events that leave them both with fresh pain and hurt. Angry, they leave Abuja to their destinations. If they didn’t set eyes on each other again it would be too soon. But little did they know that fate has another thing planned. Will they stick it out long enough for the Potter to perfect their scars and pain for His purpose or will distance and time steal the day.


Thirty minutes later, Jabir was in the KTN lobby waiting for Damisi. He got curious stares from the receptionist and guard. He didn’t know whether it was because he looked like Kamal—someone they’d recognize—or because Damisi never received male visitors. He hoped it was the latter.
The space was decorated in light colors, and the walls were decorated with paintings or pictures of guests of their shows. He walked to the one the one that had Damisi in it. She was on the set of her show and looked beautiful. She had a microphone in her hand and was smiling. From the picture, he could see she loved what she did. His eyes saddened at what the scandal would do to her career. If they acted fast, she might have a chance of salvaging it, but she was too stubborn, and his approach wasn’t helping either. He had to get her to see reason.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered behind him.
Jabir turned around and marveled at how gorgeous she looked. He smiled inwardly.
“I figured you could use breakfast.” He handed her the smoothie and the box of pastries.
She took it from him slowly, her eyes softening with gratitude. “Thank you, but you shouldn’t be here.”
Jabir frowned. “Why? Expecting someone?”
She grabbed his wrist and tried to pull him to the corner. He resisted at first, but caved when he saw the plea in her eyes. “I really appreciate the breakfast, but I thought you were supposed to be on your way to Badagry. I really don’t need any rumors started.”
He lifted his brow. “Rumors? I’m not doing anything but making sure you’re fed. The baby needs to eat.”
She looked around in shocked horror. “Shhhh. Do you want to say it a little louder?” She rolled her eyes at him and he chuckled. “Jabir, please you can’t be here. In case you forgot, you look like one of the most recognizable Nigerian soccer players. I can’t do the rumor mill now.”
He wanted to dismiss her argument, but he was running late, and she was right. But then he had another idea. “Okay, I’ll leave on one condition.”
“Really?”
“Really.” He smirked.
Some people walked past them and did a double take. Damisi panicked. “What is it?”
“Have dinner with me when I get back.”
Damisi hesitated, then someone she knew walked over to say hello to them. By now, he could see the fury in her eyes. The daggers in them were aimed at him. He raised his eyebrow.
“I can’t believe you. Okay. Go,” she said hurriedly and turned away. He watched her go, but smiled when she walked back his way. “Thank you, and please drive safe.”
Yep. This new approach just might work. There was hope.

Born in Akron, Ohio to Nigerian parents, Unoma Nwankwor is a multi-published author and 2015 winner of the Nigerian Writers’ Award for Best Faith Based Fiction. Her readers are in love with her unique story telling that fuses faith, romance and African spice, capturing the essence of her present home base; Atlanta and her Nigerian culture. She is also the COO ofKevStel Group LLC and resides in Atlanta with her husband and two kids.

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