We have a special guest today as he is on a very busy tour.  Please help me welcome, award winning author, Mr. Joshua Graham!!

JOSHUA GRAHAM

Winner of the 2011 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS, and Amazon.com #1 bestselling author Joshua Graham’s Barnes & Noble #1 bestselling novel BEYOND JUSTICE is taking the world by storm, one reader at a time. Many of his readers blame him for sleepless nights, arriving to work late, neglected dishes and family members, and not allowing them to put the book down.

BEYOND JUSTICE, THE ACCIDENTAL EXORCIST, THE ACCIDENTAL HERO, THE ACCIDENTAL HEALER, and DEATH AND TAXES, have reached the top of multiple bestseller list on Barnes & Noble topping titles by John Grisham, Linda Fairstein, Scott Turrow and James Lee Burke, Ted Dekker and Steven James. Soaring to the top of the Barnes & Noble lists, BEYOND JUSTICE recently hit #1 in the Legal Thriller and Christian Thriller categories, topping by John Grisham, Joel C. Rosenberg, and Michael Connelly. It has also remained on the Amazon.com top 100 bestselling Kindle bestseller list months after its release.

Suspense Magazine listed BEYOND JUSTICE in its BEST OF 2010, alongside titles by Scott Turrow, Ted Dekker, Steven James and Brad Thor.

His short story THE DOOR’S OPEN won the HarperCollins Authonomy Competition (Christmas 2010.)

Publishers Weekly described BEYOND JUSTICE as:
“…A riveting legal thriller…. breaking new ground with a vengeance… demonically entertaining and surprisingly inspiring.”

ABOUT THE BOOK

A thrilling suspense novel about a man’s dark past, his daughter’s mysterious visions, and a psychopath who wants to kill them both.
After scattering her mother’s ashes in Vietnam, photojournalist Xandra Carrick moves home to New York to rebuild her life and career. When she experiences supernatural visions that reveal atrocities perpetrated by American soldiers during the Vietnam War, she finds herself entangled in a forty-year-old conspiracy that could bring the nation into political turmoil.

Launching headlong into a quest to learn the truth from her father, a Pulitzer Prize winner who served as an embedded photographer during the war, Xandra confronts him about a dark secret he has kept—one that has devastated their family.

Pursued across the continent, Xandra comes face-to-face with powerful forces that will stop at nothing to prevent her from revealing the truth. But not before government agencies arrest her for murder, domestic terrorism, and an assassination attempt on the newly elected president of the United States.

Darkroom is a riveting tale of suspense that tears the covers off the human struggle for truth in a world imprisoned by lies.
Read my review here.
Purchase links:  Amazon~Barnes&Noble

Darkroom by Joshua Graham
Published by: Howard Books
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
ISBN-10: 1451654693
ISBN-13: 978-1451654691
Pages: 384
Review Copy from:  Author and Partners In Crime Tours
Edition:  ARC TPB
My Rating: 4

Synopsis (from Amazon): After scattering her mother’s ashes in Vietnam, photojournalist Xandra Carrick comes home to New York to rebuild her life and career. When she experiences supernatural visions that reveal atrocities perpetrated by American soldiers during the Vietnam War, she finds herself entangled in a forty-year-old conspiracy that could bring the nation into political turmoil. Launching headlong into a quest to learn the truth from her father, Peter Carrick, a Pulitzer Prize Laureate who served as an embedded photographer during the war, Xandra confronts him about a dark secret he has kept–one that has devastated their family.
Her investigations lead her to her departed mother’s journal, which tell of love, spiritual awakening, and surviving the fall of Saigon.
Pursued across the continent, Xandra comes face-to-face with powerful forces that will stop at nothing to prevent her from revealing the truth. But not before government agencies arrest her for murder, domestic terrorism and an assassination attempt on the newly elected president of the United States.

My Thoughts and Opinion: This book was my first introduction to this author, but I can tell you it won’t be my last. Let’s start at the beginning. The prologue was 1.5 pages and I was hooked. The author then takes the reader to Viet Nam and introduces us to the main character, Xandra, and her father. The descriptive narrative of the setting, as seen through the eyes of Xandra, was detailed and it was easy to vividly conjure up the location in my mind. His writing style flawless and format was the type of novel I have enjoyed for years. Short chapters that alternate between characters, time and place, which is the type of read where it’s a “few more chapters” book to find out what happens from the mini cliff hanger chapters and you find that you have read more than a few more chapters. A 366 page novel that was read in a couple of days due to the suspense and page turning events. A cast of characters that were realistic, even with a psychic like sub plot. The author has a flair to interweave the characters but not letting the reader know the connection until the very end. The book was captivating and engrossing, and held me hostage since it was hard to put down. Also included were questions for a book club read and something that I had never seen before but very much enjoyed, an eleven Q&A interview with the author. A great read!!

(2012 Challenges:  Mystery/Suspense, In A Name, Off The Shelf, Serial killers, Free Reads, Where Are You, A-Z, Merely Mystery, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, 100+)

FYI:  for those who entered the giveaway for Dead End Deal by Allen Wyler, but wasn’t chosen as a winner and/or if you put this book on your TBR list….Wanted to let you know that Dead End Deal by Allen Wyler  has been chosen for “Amazon’s Summer Reading promo” and is available on Amazon for only $1.99 on Amazon for the next 8 days.  Get your copy now!!
Original posting here:

Shop Indie Bookstores

Page 176

I have hosted many gifted and talented authors via WOW and today you will meet another one of their amazing female writers.  I have the honor to introduce you to Ms. Steena Holmes!!

ABOUT STEENA HOLMES

Author of the new heart wrenching story “Finding Emma”, Steena is a woman who believes that ‘in the end, everything succumbs…to the passions of your heart’. Steena’s life revolves around her family, friends and fiction.

Prizes:
First Prize: Work with a Bestselling Author.
Our Grande Prize winner will help create a character for Steena Holmes’ next book!
Second and Third Prize Winners will each receive a signed copy of Finding Emma and a special pewter angel figurine from The Missing Children’s Society of Canada, an organization dedicated to bringing children home.

GUEST POST

Passion. One simple word that means so much.

If you look around, you’ll see passion ever where. It’s in the eyes of a new mom as she gazes down at her newborn. In the face of an elderly man as he holds the woman he’s loved for a lifetime in his arms one last time. It’s the steadiness found in a doctor who prepares themselves to save the life of their patient. It’s there in a child’s determined grip on a pencil as they learn how to write their name for the first time.

Passion is that spark in your heart that gets you through the day when you feel like the world is against you. It’s what help you finish the marathon even when you don’t think you can walk another step. It’s what motivates you to do more — to be more.

It’s hard to watch the passion in someone’s life dwindle and die. You see that sparkle in their eye disappear and it haunts you, knowing that there’s nothing you can do. But it’s an individual choice to allow that passion to thrive – because passion – in any form – requires strength. And let’s be honest, we don’t always have the strength. Sometimes it’s hard to get up every morning and keep doing what you’ve always been doing. It’s hard to always be fighting for what you believe, to always be going against the crowd. To always be wrong when everyone else believes they are right.

But, it’s worth it – isn’t it? It has to be. Passion is what builds nations, or sees communities thrive. It’s what carries on the flame during the Olympics or feeds the hungry in countries without enough resources. It’s what lights up the night sky with fireworks every year to celebrate huge monumental changes in our world and what leaves a lump in your throat when you try not to cry after seeing someone stop during a race to help a fellow competitor who fell. Passion is the key to living a life with purpose and strength and determination.

Passion. One little word that holds the key to so much! Do you have that passion in your life?

ABOUT THE BOOK

 A child torn from the arms of loving parents, a relationship torn apart from loss… Megan sees her daughter Emma everywhere. She’s the little girl standing in the supermarket, the child waiting for the swings at the playground, the girl with ice cream dripping down her face. But it’s never Emma. Because Emma’s been missing for two years. Unable to handle the constant heartache of all the false sightings, Megan’s husband threatens to walk away unless Megan can agree to accept Emma is gone. Megan’s life and marriage is crumbling all around her and she realizes she may have to do the thing she dreads most: move on. When Megan takes a photo of a little girl with an elderly couple at the town fair, she believes it to be her missing daughter. Unable to let go, she sets in motion a sequence of events that could destroy both families lives.

50% of the proceeds of this book will be donated to The Missing Children’s Society of Canada – an organization dedicated to reuniting families. Visit www.mcsc.ca for more information.

THANKS TO AUTHOR, STEENA HOLMES, I HAVE
ONE (1) EBOOK EDITION TO GIVE AWAY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO
THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

*USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW
IN ORDER TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GIVEAWAY*
BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL

ADDRESS IN THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT: FROM READING THE SYNOPSIS,
DO YOU THINK YOU COULD “MOVE ON”?*

*INTERNATIONAL*
*EBOOK EDITION  (PDF or KINDLE)*

**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Finding Emma by Steena Holmes
Published by: Steena Holmes
Publication Date: April 8, 2012
ISBN-10: 0987856863
ISBN-13: 978-0987856869
Pages: 276
Review Copy from:  Author/WOW
Edition:  Kindle
My Rating: 5

Synopsis:
A child torn from the arms of loving parents, a relationship torn apart from loss… Megan sees her daughter Emma everywhere. She’s the little girl standing in the supermarket, the child waiting for the swings at the playground, the girl with ice cream dripping down her face. But it’s never Emma. Because Emma’s been missing for two years. Unable to handle the constant heartache of all the false sightings, Megan’s husband threatens to walk away unless Megan can agree to accept Emma is gone. Megan’s life and marriage is crumbling all around her and she realizes she may have to do the thing she dreads most: move on. When Megan takes a photo of a little girl with an elderly couple at the town fair, she believes it to be her missing daughter. Unable to let go, she sets in motion a sequence of events that could destroy both families lives.

My Thoughts and Opinion:
As a parent, can you imagine just turning your back for a second and your child is gone without a trace? I can’t begin to imagine and wouldn’t want to but I would think that it would be a raw heart pounding terror. And within the first couple of pages of Finding Emma, that is exactly what I felt with the vivid and explicative narrative that the author conveyed with her ability with words and writing style. Heart wrenching!! The characters lifelike especially little Emma with her golden curly hair. Poignant!! The author grabbed and delivered me right into the story line as if I was a bystander. The settings easy to conjure up in my mind. Even the intonation of dialogue between characters and the voice of Emma was as if I was eavesdropping on the conversations. The emotions palpable. The suspense (vague due to not wanting to include spoilers) as to how, why, by whom, and what happened to Emma was a page turner. Captivating!! And what about the person who snatched this adorable 3 year old little girl? What are the feelings toward the kidnapper? That is something that the reader has to decide. Overwhelming!!

This story is filled with emotions, relationship dynamics, hopelessness and hopefulness, happy and sad, anxiety, depression, wanting to move on yet also not wanting to let go, life and death, of memories good and bad, and above all, truth and love on many levels depending on the connection of kinship. Compelling!! This book is one I highly recommend but be prepared, it will not only tug at your heart strings but will also hold them tightly.

(2012 Challenges: EBooks, Off The Shelf, FreeReads, Where Are you? A-z, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, 100+)

Hosted by  Miz B at Should Be Reading

Today’s question:
I read an article, this past week, about book covers, and the difference between print & digital covers; about how the digital covers have almost disappeared entirely, while publishers decide to just skip right to the content.
What do you think about this? Do you think the book cover is “dead”? Do you care whether the “covers” on digital books exist or not?

My answer:
Oh how I hope this isn’t true!!  Before blogging/reviewing, covers are what drew me when I would be either on a book buying errand and/or when looking for books at our local library.  After blogging/reviewing, covers are still important but not as much when deciding on a personal purchase compared to the plot and/or a blogger’s review.

Since the majority of books I read are sent to me from authors, publishers, publicists, etc, again it is the synopsis as to if I accept a book to review not the cover.  However, once I receive a print edition from the above, I do tend to judge the cover.  I also like seeing the cover of my current read when it is sitting on my table next to my reading chair, on my nightstand or when holding the book reading.  Like my current read, which I love the cover:

Shop Indie Bookstores

As for the EReader, I disagree with the writer of the article.  He mentions how the reader skips over everything to get to page 1.  I don’t.  I, even if I have to go back many pages, I always start a digital version from the cover page.  It is probably an idiosyncrasy of mine, but it doesn’t “feel” right not starting a book from the cover page.  But I do agree with him, that after that one look at the cover, I tend to forget about it.   Definitely a drawback with EReaders, if one is a visual reader, like me.  I wish that when I do pick up my Kindle to continue reading, instead of the page I’m on opens up, I wish it could be designed that the cover is shown once I turn it on and then go to the last page read.  Hmmm…maybe I should write to the person who designs/programs/whatever and whomever is in charge of this and aks/suggest if this could be done????!!!!

What do you think about covers?  Do you think covers will “die” in the future?  And do you think it is either a good idea and/or would like to see my suggestion implemented?

June is being hosted by Alternative Read 

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.

According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.”

                                  Author                      Author/WOW

          

The Hachette Book Group

Shop Indie Bookstores

Facebook link

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads, especially my dear hubby, Steve who will be on the golf course today with our oldest son!!  Which means a nice quiet day for me lol.  However, I will be taking time to remember memories of my Dad, who passed when I was just 16.

Another week has flown by but looking forward to the first day of summer this coming Wednesday.  So how was your week?  Here’s a recap of mine:

Reading:  I finished 2 books, Banal by Vincent Zandri (a short story) and Chique Secrets of Dolce Amore by Barbara Conelli and am currently reading Tumbleweeds by Leila Meacham.

I also received a couple of books that I am looking forward to reading but will showcase those tomorrow in Mailbox Monday meme.

Blogging:  This past week was busy with hosting 3 guest authors and 4 giveaways.  Don’t leave without checking the sidebars for current giveaways, in case you see one of interest and you would like to enter.  Also posted are the giveaways that will begin this week.  And I have 4 authors visiting that will be introducing their latest books to us.

Real Life:  I tried something this week that I thought I never would have thought of.  And it was definitely the high point of my week.  Being a former nurse, I was always of the mindset of traditional medicine but my son had a session and said that he thought of me after he went because of my chronic pain.  So a few weeks ago, he made an appointment for the 2 of us for this past Thursday.  It was for acupuncture (that is not me in the image).  I drove to his house, he lives one state over 60+min drive, and then went to the office for our appointments.  I was utterly amazed!!!  Mark, the acupuncturist did a brief verbal intake, then took my pulse but not the usual 15-60 second count but for a couple of minutes and was able to tell me what was wrong and he nailed it on everything….scary!!  He then proceeded to insert the needles, painless, down my back, both sides of my spine, down my legs, and in my stomach area.  I stayed lying on my side for approx 30 min. and then he removed all the needles.  After my last 2 back surgeries in 2010, unknowingly, part of my lower spine collapsed and healed in a kyphotic (bent) position, which I am mechanically unable to stand straight.  When I sat up and then got off the table and stood up, I was standing at least at an 80 degree angle, which normally is like 70.  And I was even able to move with more flexibility. First time in 2 years.  And if that wasn’t enough I then spent the best part of the evening, taking Paul out to supper and spent some quality time with my oldest.  And then it was time to drive home.  Since then I have also been able to sleep straight through the night, whereas before, I am usually up multiple times due to the pain and have had to take less pain pills during the day.  I am now looking forward to my next appointment.  

Has anyone else had acupuncture?  What did you think?  And even if you haven’t, do you think you would consider it?  I am being totally honest in saying, if it wasn’t for Paul, I would never have tried it, but so glad I did.