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Showing posts from December, 2014

Book Review: What If? by Randall Munroe

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It’s a New Year. Time to scrape the sludge from the old noggin and find answers to those questions that have kept you awake all night. Well, they’ve kept me awake, anyway. I really need to find a hobby. Randall Munroe is a former NASA roboticist and creator of the webcomic xkcd. His tackles esoteric questions both large and small with a cheeky sense of humor and delightfully irreverent stick figure drawings. Unlike dry, dusty scientific textbooks Munroe takes a humorous approach, dealing with matters of physics, chemistry and biology—even daring to tackle matters of the heart. Einstein would never have tried to determine the possibility of a random encounter with a soulmate if one actually existed. (Sorry to say it is slim to none, so you better hold on to your current heartthrob while you can.)

Book Spotlight: Outside The Ropes (#1) by Ashley Claudy

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( Blurb ): In the ring, Regan has control. Outside the ropes, she fights to survive. Regan Sommers spent her life fighting. Fighting foster parents, kids in the group home, and classmates. But the night she has to fight for her life changes everything. Now, she's fighting for money in the ring, and from the first punch she's addicted. Every addiction has a price though, and this one is the gym's star boxer, Gage Lawson. He may come in an enticing tattooed package, but his demands are more than she can handle. The responding officer from that night, Anthony Fields, comes with no demands. He want's whatever she's willing to give, and Regan can handle that. She can definitely handle him. But no help comes string free, and Regan's not the only one with a hard past and scars to cover. The life she was trying to escape is nothing compared to the danger she's in the middle of now, and she can't fight her way out.

A Penny For Your Thoughts #1 (quote from Little Gidding by T.S. Eliot)

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Words touch us all in different ways. Sometimes the original intent of a quote resonates so profoundly with us that it is hard to believe that another wrote it. Other times it is a single word, peculiar phrasing, or an alternative meaning regarding an event in our lives that resonates the most. I believe in the power of starting the day (and week) off with a positive thought -- and so was created  A Penny For Your Thoughts . This is a weekly blog hop that will feature quotes of all kinds; classics, character, book-movie, personal, etc. The themes will range from funny to serious, but really it all depends on how you interpret it! How does this work?

Feature and Follow #22 (books gifted for Christmas)

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What is Feature and Follow? F&F is a weekly blog hop that consists of book bloggers. It is hosted by Alison Can Read  and  Parajunkee . The rules of involvement are simple: 1.)  Link up  on the blog hop Linky gadget below this post, 2.)  follow the hosts  via their network of choice, 3.)  follow the weekly featured blog(s)  via their network of choice (listed as "featured" in the blog list below), and lastly, 4)  check out the rest of the blogs on the hop ! If you become a new follower of a blog, let them know and they will follow you back. The F&F is a great way to network, meet other book bloggers, and gain new followers. Even more so, it's a great way to drive fun discussion on a weekly topic.

Book Review: Alienated (#1) and Until Midnight (Alienated #1.5) by Melissa Landers

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( Blurb):  Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series. Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them. Handpicked to host the first-ever L'eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she'll have inside information about the mysterious L'eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara's blog following is about to skyrocket. Still, Cara isn't sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L'eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn't seem more alien. She's certain about one thing though: no human boy is this good-looking. But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort he

Book Spotlight: The Building by Ceri Beynon

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(Blurb):  What happens when an ordinary 21st century man comes face to face with the Devil himself?    Josh Lane soon discovers that some Building's have a life force of their own.

A Penny For Your Thoughts! Join in, have fun, and enter every week for a chance to win!

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Words touch us all in different ways. Sometimes the original intent of a quote resonates so profoundly with us that it is hard to believe that another wrote it. Other times it is a single word, peculiar phrasing, or an alternative meaning regarding an event in our lives that resonates the most. I believe in the power of starting the day (and week) off with a positive thought -- and so was created A Penny For Your Thoughts . This is a weekly blog hop that will feature quotes of all kinds; classics, character, book-movie, personal, etc. The themes will range from funny to serious, but really it all depends on how you interpret it! How does this work?

Book Spotlight: Of Love and Vengeance by Louise Lyndon

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( Blurb):  Forced to marry Lord Aymon to ensure her nephews survival, English Lady Laila vows undying hatred for the Norman she holds responsible for so many deaths. Discovering Aymon has committed an act of treason gives her the chance to seek vengeance he deserves.  But will Laila really let Aymon die once she learns the truth? A hardened Norman warrior, Lord Aymon has lived through atrocities no man ever should. With the invasion of England over, all he wants is a quiet life and a wife who will give him heirs and obey his every command. Instead, he finds himself wed to feisty and outspoken Laila. But when she learns the truth of his treasonous act, can Aymon count on her to keep his secret? Book Information: Published:  The Wild Rose Press, Inc (December 19, 2014) Genre: Historical Romance, Drama Age: Adult Length: 324p Excerpt One: Aymon caught a flicker of movement from a window on the second story. “I think we’re about to meet the welcome

News at The Book Cove: We are on Tsu!

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For those of you switching from Facebook to Tsu, you can find us there too ! It is yet to be decided which one we will keep. It depends on how well the audience responds. We were having a lot of problems with Facebook which is a big reason we are trying Tsu out. We're not in it for the monetary potential (I don't have time to promote enough to make it worth anything -- on my own anyways). Stop by and let us know which one you prefer!

Cover Reveal: Shooting Stars (Last Moment Series, #2) by Clara Fox

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( Blurb ): Alexandra “Alex” Walton and the members of her band were given an amazing opportunity when Destiny brought them together. Now that Last Moment has proven their talent, Alex has caught the eye of none other than sexy rock star Noah Dreagan, the lead singer of Carnal Imagination. Regardless of the fact that she has a boyfriend, Noah is determined to do whatever it takes to keep her around. The music industry is an overwhelming place. One side can be fun and exciting, while another can be shady and dark. Craziest of all is that careers can be made or broken overnight. What is in the cards for Alex and Last Moment? Will the fans and industry welcome them with open arms? Or will they struggle to even be heard, just trying to get in the door? When your band is flaming hot one minute, you can end up ice cold the next. Fame can have you soaring high, then falling fast and fading away, just like Shooting Stars. Author Links: Facebook :  https://

Feature and Follow #21 (Do you have a mood genre?)

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What is Feature and Follow? F&F is a weekly blog hop that consists of book bloggers. It is hosted by Alison Can Read  and  Parajunkee . The rules of involvement are simple: 1.)  Link up  on the blog hop Linky gadget below this post, 2.)  follow the hosts  via their network of choice, 3.)  follow the weekly featured blog(s)  via their network of choice (listed as "featured" in the blog list below), and lastly, 4)  check out the rest of the blogs on the hop ! If you become a new follower of a blog, let them know and they will follow you back. The F&F is a great way to network, meet other book bloggers, and gain new followers. Even more so, it's a great way to drive fun discussion on a weekly topic. This week's question: Do you have a go to genre when you're happy, sad, or angry? - Suggested by  Take Me Away... .  Yes, I have a genre for every mood and it usually coincides with my mood.  If it's a lazy day where I'm

Book Spotlight: Kissing Katie by Babette James

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Kissing Katie and the His Girl Next Door series were both inspired by many summers spent at the shore in Lavallette, New Jersey. My brother met his wife there, his own "girl next door," and I thought it would be fun to write a romance series where my heroes discover love is just around the corner, literally. I set the stories in four of my favorite New Jersey shore towns and I've had a wonderful time exploring some fun and sentimental memories while writing these romances. ( Blurb ): Sometimes love is just around the corner. Seeking peace while he decides between prestigious job offers, burned-out lawyer Matt Powell rents his boyhood vacation home at the Jersey shore on a nostalgic whim. However, discovering the lovely widow next door is his childhood best friend, Katie Vanburen, complicates everything. His old love for her hits hard, but this time around his feelings are anything but innocent. It’s decision time: the high-profile career he’s earned–or a life he

Author Spotlight: Who Killed The Candy Lady? Unwrapping the unsolved murder of Helen Brach by James Ylisela Jr.

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( Blurb ):  Thirty-five years ago, Helen Brach walked out of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and vanished without a trace. By all accounts, the 65-year-old heiress to the E.J. Brach & Sons candy fortune was in good heath. But shortly after her leaving the clinic the details of Helen Brach's life—and presumed death—moved from fact to speculation, and they have been shrouded in mystery ever since. Who Killed the Candy Lady?: Unwrapping the Unsolved Murder of Helen Brach is the true and complete story of Helen Vorhees Brach's mysterious disappearance and unsolved murder, as told by veteran Chicago journalist Jim Ylisela. This book will reveal the sordid facts behind the case and the seedy underbelly of Chicago's notorious crime world. Drawing from never-seen documents, interviews, and insiders' perspectives of prosecutors, horse thieves, and candy heiresses alike, Who Killed the Candy Lady? is a true-to-life whodunnit. This is a fascinating and entertaining

Author Sally Ember, EdD: Letter to my Earlier Self about #Blog #Hops and #Virtual #Book #Tours

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Part IV: Letter to my Earlier Self about #Blog #Hops and #Virtual #Book #Tours By Sally Ember, Ed.D. This is Letter Four of Four of my "open letter to my earlier self" series that first appeared on The Book Cove Reviews , http://www.thebookcove.com , late November - December, 2014. Other posts in this series: Letter to my Earlier Self about #Preorders An Open Letter to my Earlier Self about #Book #Reviews and #Reviewers What I wish I had known for indie #publishing and #ebooks - an open letter to my earlier self Letter One appeared on my site, http://www.sallyember.com/blog , on 3/26/15. Letter One posted on 3/26/15; Letter Two appeared on 4/4/15 and Letter Three on 4/11/15. image from http://phyllisiturner.com I published my first ebook in December, 2013, and my second in June, 2014. I intend to publish my third in April, 2015. What I wish I had known before my first ebook went into pre-sales in November, 2013, about Virtua

Divergent Series: Insurgent Trailer

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It's finally here! Cannot wait for this next movie! Did you like the book or movie best so far? How do you think the rest of the movie series will pan out in comparison? I'm loving the movie development so far. Great cast, effects, and best of all -- Shailene and Theo!

News at The Book Cove: We're offering promotion alternatives in place of reviews for now

DATES WILL BE CROSSED OFF AS THEY ARE BOOKED. As most of you know, we offer a variety of promotional opportunities; author spotlights, book blitzes, blog tours, interviews, giveaways, and more. Those are continuously offered and booked via email by authors, marketers, and tour organizations. For the past few months we have not been accepting review requests from our online submission form. Long story short -- those are primarily left to me and my life got too hectic to offer a reliable reviewing service. As a result, we wound up with hundreds of review requests. None of which were accepted. In effort to help authors out in some way, I've opened up more promotional dates than what I normally have available (usually only Wednesdays are available). The following dates are now open for any type of promotional material (not reviews). December : 18th , 22nd , 23rd , and 30th January: 6th, 7th , 15th, and 28th February: 4th, 10th, 19th , and 24th March: 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th I