Monthly Archives: May 2011

TLC Blog Tour&Review: Almost Home (The Chesapeake Diaries, #3) by Mariah Stewart

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About the Book:
When she was young, Steffie Wyler always knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life: 1. Make ice cream. 2. Marry the coolest boy in town. 3. Live happily ever after. These days, Steffie is the proud owner of One Scoop or Two, a wildly popular ice cream parlor. But the cool guy left town right after high school, before they could scratch the surface of their mutual attraction to see what, if anything, lay beneath. Steffie’s made a great life for herself in St. Dennis, but true love has never come knocking.

Wade MacGregor left for college in Texas and remained there to start a successful business with his best friend, Robin Kennedy, but he’s always felt something was missing. Then life throws him a curveball: A third partner has robbed the company blind, and Robin has died—but not before entrusting Wade with a precious secret. Now back in St. Dennis, Wade’s determined to do whatever it takes to protect his friend’s legacy—and to figure out, once and for all, if the sparks that fly whenever he’s with Steffie are just temporary fireworks or the lights in the window leading him home.

About the Author:
Mariah Stewart is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine novels of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and their dogs amid the rolling hills and Amish farms of southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she gardens, reads, and listens to the voices in her head. She is currently working on the next book in her bestselling Chesapeake Diaries series.

Connect with Mariah:
On her website
On Facebook


My Review:
This may be my favorite Mariah Stewart book yet! This is her 3rd book in her Chesapeake Diaries series and it was FANTASTIC! Very romantic compared to the first two. There were definitely a lot of sparks flying in this book, filled with Steffie and Wade’s stories. Once again, Mariah Stewart brought her amazing writing power to her fans.

Steffie wanted nothing more in life than to make and serve her ice cream, and of course fall in love with Dallas’ little brother Wade MacGregor. And she did just that, but he moved away to Texas to college. Her dreams are still the same after all these years.

Wade comes back from Texas to attend Beck and Mia’s wedding (see Home Again) and WOW! The sparks sure fly when he sets his eyes on the gorgeous Steffie, the young girl from his past who wanted him as a prom date. His best friend’s little sister is all grown up and man! Does he ever wish he could be her dream guy!

Steffie and Wade are PERFECT for each but Wade is too stubborn! I loved these characters….have loved them since Home Again…..and I wanted the best for them. It was definitely a book filled with twists and turns, some expected, and some not so expected, as I followed along side these amazing characters! It was like coming home again, watching my family and friends. I love that feeling!

I definitely recommend this book with 5 stars and more! It’s tender, it’s romantic, it’s spark filled, it’s all around FANTABULOUS! Mariah Stewart will quickly become your favorite author if you are new to her work, and her established fans will welcome this GREATASTIC addition to her latest series. I can’t wait for more work from this terrific author!

Visit other stops on this tour here.

Purchase:

*This book was provided for review by the publisher and TLC Book Tours*

Book Review: Maynard Soloman Solves the War On Drugs: A Maynard Soloman Digital Short by Benjamin Sobieck

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About the Short:
It takes a cranky ol’ badger like the semi-retired PI Maynard Soloman to solve something as lofty as the War on Drugs. But the cantankerous detective does just that in “Maynard Soloman Solves the War on Drugs.” It all starts with a case of indigestion late one night. This short story is part of the Maynard Soloman series from Trestle Press, dedicated to bringing readers the crustiest in satirical humor.

About the Author:
Benjamin Sobieck is the author of “Cleansing Eden” and The Author’s Lab/Colaboration “Who Whacked The Blogger” in addition to the new Maynard Soloman series of digital short stories. His professional journalism career spans newspapers, magazines, television, websites and books. Sobieck is currently an online editor for a group of national outdoors magazines and one television show. He has a degree in journalism and a minor in creative writing from St. Cloud State University, Minnesota. He and his wife reside in Minnesota.

  My Review:
I love these funny, laugh and drop your Nook in-between reads! They are awesome! This one brings us a detailed look into the life of Maynard Soloman (see Who Whacked The Blogger?), the crazy ol’ investigator. This first Maynard Soloman short was hilarious. He teaches the readers about the ‘Nard bag…hehehehe. HILARIOUS! I laughed til I about cried with this investigator. He really knows just what to say to make the reader spew their drinks out of their noses (not really, but pretty close to it!). Solving the War on Drugs, well, that was interesting coming from Soloman’s point of view….especially since he had NO CLUE!

This is another Trestle Press 5 star digital short that I recommend to everyone who is looking for a quick read. It’s perfect for that pick me up laugh, that bathroom read, that afternoon escape. I can’t wait for Benjamin Sobieck to write another Maynard Soloman short! This guy is H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!!!!!

Purchase:

Nook: $.99

Other eReader Device: $.99

*This digital short was provided for review by Giovanni Gelati*

Book Review: Home Again (Chesapeake Diaries, #2) by Mariah Stewart

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About the Book:
Dallas MacGregor is living the Hollywood dream. At thirtysomething, she’s an award-winning actress beloved by the public and bound for even bigger success. But when her soon-to-be-ex-husband, producer Emilio Baird, is caught in a sex scandal, Dallas’s charmed life turns tabloid nightmare. Determined to shield her young son, Cody, from the ugly uproar, Dallas seeks refuge in sleepy St. Dennis, Maryland—the Chesapeake Bay town where her happiest childhood days were spent.

Reunited with her boisterous great-aunt, Dallas wants nothing more than to leave her Hollywood days behind. And when she crosses paths with local veterinarian Grant Wyler, her high school summer love, she finds he’s everything she remembers, and more—and that the spark is still there. But Dallas’s promising new life takes a troubling turn when the unimaginable happens and she finds herself living a mother’s worst nightmare—and Emilio storms into St. Dennis to save the day, along with his damaged career. Trapped in the unwanted glare of the limelight once again, Dallas discovers that it’s coolheaded Grant who is willing to risk everything to protect her and her son, and to secure the future they were always meant to share.

About the Author:
Mariah Stewart is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine novels of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and their dogs amid the rolling hills and Amish farms of southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she gardens, reads, and listens to the voices in her head. She is currently working on the next book in her bestselling Chesapeake Diaries series.

Connect with Mariah:
On her website
On Facebook


My Review:
I absolutely LOVE Mariah Stewart! She has been a favorite author of mine for some time, when I read some of her previous works, including book 1 in The Chesapeake Diaries Series, Coming Home. Her work is emotional yet humorous at times, complex yet enlightening and her characters become your family. Her writing style is tender and filled with her passion to create novels that her readers will love.

In Home Again, the reader is taken back to the Chesapeake area of Maryland (which I love because I was born in Maryland!). The reader gets a first hand look at Dallas’ life. Sweet, sweet Dallas, bless her heart. She went through so much turmoil, both as a young girl, and later, as an adult actress in Hollywood. When things turn sour with her producer hubby, she seeks solace once again in the heart of the Bay in Maryland, with her great aunt. But, once there, she is reunited with her once best friend and sweetheart, Grant.

I loved reading Dallas and Grant’s stories. They are both written with so much personality and love and they flow perfectly with the plot line. I really loved them both! And, not to mention, Dallas’ sweet son, Cody. Bless his heart, I really felt a motherly pull to him, too!

I highly recommend this book to everyone. If you are looking for a good summer read this summer, then grab a copy of Mariah Stewart’s 5 star book! It is part of a series, but it keeps the reader up to date so it’s not overly confusing and could be read as a stand alone. I don’t recommend it though, because books in a series are always best read in order, so the reader can savor each moment! I also had the pleasure to read book 3, Almost Home…..look for my review tomorrow!

Purchase:

*This book was provided for review by the publisher*

DVD Review: The Grandfathers

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About the DVD:
A young man, deep in the Amazon jungle, searches for his identity while living with the primitive tribe that murdered his grandfather. The Grandfathers is a motion-graphics documentary by writer/director Jim Hanon and producer Mart Green. It completes the inspiring trilogy that began with Beyond the Gates of Splendor and was followed by End of the Spear. Jesse Saint struggles to find his place in a world dominated by the memory of a famous grandfather he never knew and a heroic father he cannot understand. Years spent among the Waodani and his friendship with the three men who took part in his grandfather’s murder teach him the healing power of dignity, respect and forgiveness. In the heart of the jungle, Jesse must confront his family’s past as he determines his own future. This documentary is a moving tribute to a young man’s quest for significance and purpose – and his remarkable impact on the three tribal elders who, unwittingly, are on a quest of their own.

My Review:
I don’t normally watch any kind of documentaries. They are just BORING to me. But, something called out to me when I had the chance to review this DVD and so I took it. I was VERY pleased the results of viewing this DVD. It’s very informative and VERY moving. The one thing I didn’t like about the DVD, however, is that it’s a 3rd in a 3 part series. I missed out on a lot without knowing what happened in the first 2 parts.

If you are looking for a DVD that is informative and filled with God’s love and unending grace and mercy, then this is the DVD for you. Filled with murder, healing, redemption and forgiveness, you won’t know what hit you as this documentary moves the viewer. My recommendation, though? Watch the first two. I am going to go back and watch the first 2 parts along with this one and get a better understanding about the people of the Tribe and feel more of the moving emotion that hits you. A DVD worth 4 stars, hands down!

Purchase:
*This DVD was provided for review by The B&B Media Group*

Revell Blog Tour&Review: A Killer Among Us (Women of Justice, bk 3) by Lynette Eason

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About the Book:
What happens when the hunter . . . becomes the hunted?

Kit Kenyon is a first-rate hostage negotiator. Noah Lambert is a good detective with excellent instincts. These new partners have hardly had time to get used to each other when they are thrown into a grisly murder case. As evidence mounts up and more victims are found, Kit and Noah realize they are on the hunt for a serial killer. The problem is, he may be hunting one of them too.

With nail-biting suspense, clever plot twists, and a hint of romance,A Killer Among Us is the latest thriller from Lynette Eason.

About the Author:
Lynette Eason is the author of Too Close to Home, Don’t Look Back, and three other romantic suspense novels. She is a member of American Fiction Christian Writers and Romance Writers of America. A homeschooling mother of two, she has a master’s degree in education from Converse College. She lives in South Carolina.

My Review:
For those of you who know me you’ll know that one of my favorite genres in Suspense. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. And, I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the Women of Justice series and Lynette Eason’s absolutely FANTASTIC writing skills. She instantly pulls me in to each book and wraps me up in the pages. Each page turn brings more exciting, fast paced suspense. She combines the perfect amount of suspense and romance with the perfect amount of complexity and intensity, and dishes us the best installment of the W of J series yet!

Of course, this story is Kit and Noah’s. Lynette does a great job of incorporating ALL the characters into each and every book. Kit and Noah’s story is so much more complicated and intense than the first two books, as Kit and Noah become the target of a serial killer. As Noah and Kit hunt for the killer and rack up the clues, the breath taking suspense kept piling up. So many times, I found myself on the edge of my seat. The whirlpool of an amazing plot line kept Noah and Kit in a race against time, as they fought the incredible aspects of mystery and hunted for a mad man on a killing spree. Who will be next?

That’s a question that only Lynette’s characters can answer. They  are FANTABULOUS. She creates them with a unique passion and I find myself, each time, BECOMING the character. I feel myself in the rush of searching for answers, relying on God to help me along the away. INTENSE!!!

I most definitely recommend this. It’s by far, THE best Lynette Eason book to date. Worthy of 5 stars and so much more, this is going to the TOP of my favorite action filled, white knuckled  Christian suspense list. This novel is PERFECT for an all night read….you will be catapulted to the middle of incredible mystery that doesn’t let you go until the very last word. Definitely great stuff for those insomniacs who can’t sleep. I was up until 4 am turning page after page…….after page……after page. I can’t WAIT until the next amazing novel like this from Lynette Eason.

~Available May 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group~


Purchase:

*This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group*