Book Tour and Review: Hoodoo Sea by Rolf Hitzer

Tuesday 14 December, 2010 By 7 Comments


Title: Hoodoo Sea
Author: Rolf Hitzer
Publisher: BluewaterPress LLC
Publication Date: June 2, 2009
Paperback: 260 pages
ISBN: 978-1604520262
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Book Synopsis:

The government of the United States of America is on the verge of startling the world.

Billions of dollars had been invested in its space program.

And now, the moment of truth has arrived…

Scott Reed is the man for the historic mission. He is the Wing Commander chosen by the elite brass at NASA. The assignment to test flight the first speed of light craft, held top secret, was about to shock the world. The risk? Utter and complete failure. The reward? Being a part of the greatest human accomplishment ever known to mankind.

Major James Harrow, second in command of the four person crew, despised his Wing Commander. Harrow was a proud and patriotic American. What was NASA thinking when they selected a Canadian to pilot the voyage? There was no comparison as to who was the better skilled aviator. This was his time, his moment. Major James Harrow was about to prove to everybody they were wrong to bypass him as Commander.

The weather conditions were perfect and lift-off for the test flight was text book. The triumphant cheers from Mission Control in Houston were echoed all the way to Cape Canaveral. The silent fear of the first hurdle of the flight had been succumbed. All systems were go! That is, until the crew and SOLT-X1 entered the Bermuda Triangle…

My Review:

An action packed thriller, Hoodoo Sea by Rolf Heltzer is an intriguing thriller, rich in dialogue, suspense and a well-done debut novel. I truly enjoyed the premise of the story, however I somehow missed that is was a supernatural science fiction novel, which is typically not a genre I enjoy, so I apologise if my review is slanted a bit. I did finish Hoodoo Sea and found it well paced with intriguing characters all vividly described, and Heltzer was able to keep my attention which surprised me, as I truly dislike this genre and I would not knowingly pick up another supernatural science fiction novel, as this truly is not a genre for me. However, for those who enjoy suspense-filled, action packed, dialogue rich books with richly described characters and enjoy the genres of science fiction and supernatural, then Hoodoo Sea may indeed be the perfect choice for you.

About the Author:

Rolf Hitzer was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1959 and raised by his parents, Erna and Julius Hitzer.

Rolf attended Princess Margaret Elementary School, John Pritchard Junior High and Graduated from Kildonan East Regional Secondary School where he had majored in Culinary Arts.

Rolf is married to his wife Irma since 1997. Together they have a wonderful blended family with Rita and Clark Bodoano and Grand children, Alexandria, Patrick and Braeden. Jason and Leah Tutlies, and Grandson Easton. Mandel Hitzer, and the youngest Jessica Hitzer. Clearly the growth of his family is still a work in progress.

Rolf Hitzer has several passions besides writing, they include being at the log cabin on weekends. Spending time on the water with a fishing pole in hand. Wildlife viewing and especially Moose calling during the fall rut. Playing a range of Poker card games and a variety of board games.

Rolf is a Member of the Winnipeg Real Estate Board, The Manitoba Real Estate Association and the Canadian Real Estate Association. He is currently working on his second novel.

For more information please visit Rolf Hitzer at his website.


Rolf Hitzer’s HOODOO SEA’s VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on November 2nd and ends on December 17th. Visit here during the months of November and December to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Hoodoo Sea by Rolf Hitzer from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Spotlight: Ethan’s Chase by Bronwyn Storm

Friday 10 December, 2010 By 1 Comment


Title: Ethan’s Chase
Author: Bronwyn Storm
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Publication Date: May 16, 2010
Paperback: 196 pages
ISBN: 978-0984428106
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Book Synopsis:

Still wounded from a disastrous love affair, advertising executive Ethan Phillips has spent the past five years outwitting Cupid with a series of dekes and fakes. Who knew the tricky cherub would get wise?

Rather than piercing Ethan’s heart with an arrow, he douses it with amaretto-flavored milk. A quick visit to the drycleaner and a stern lecture on the dangers of gorgeous, charming women, and he figures he’s made another clean getaway. But when the sexy woman turns out to be Chase Logan, his new systems programmer, Ethan’s got nowhere to run. Suddenly, the man who spent his time running from Cupid, is now looking to borrow a few arrows. Ethan’s ready to give chase and pursue love.

Will he catch the heart of his programmer or just be left catching his breath?

About the Author:

There was only one thing Bronwyn wanted to be when she grew up: a superhero. Sadly, this goal was made moot when she realized that being a klutz was not, in fact, a super power, and her super-weakness for anything bright and shiny meant that a magpie with self-control could easily defeat her in a battle of wills. So, she turned to writing as a way to unleash her inner superhero. She doesn’t get to live on a secret space station orbiting the earth (and thank goodness because she gets motion sick on a merry-go-round), but she still get to wear leotards, a cape and say things like, “STAND ASIDE! THIS IS A JOB FOR WRITING-GIRL!”

You can visit her website at www.bronwynstorm.com.


Bronwyn Storm’s ETHAN’S CHASE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on November 1 and will end on December 17, ‘10. here during the months of November and December to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Ethan’s Chase by Bronwyn Storm from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review and Tour: Talion by Mary Maddox

Tuesday 7 December, 2010 By 3 Comments


Title: Talion
Author: Mary Maddox
Publisher: Cantraip Press
Publication Date: March 27, 2010
Paperback: 296 pages
ISBN: 978-0984428106
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, Suspense

Book Synopsis:

The dying body has a thousand voices, and all of them speak to Conrad (Rad) Sanders. Fifteen-year-old Lisa Duncan has no idea she has attracted Rad’s interest. At a mountain resort in Utah, he watches as vivacious Lisa begins an unlikely friendship with Lu Jakes, the strange and introverted daughter of employees there. Lu enters his fantasies as well. He learns she is being abused by her stepmother and toys with the notion of freeing her from her sad life and keeping her awhile as his captive. Lu seems like an easy conquest who could be persuaded to act out his fantasy by turning against her new friend.

But someone else is watching over Lu.

Talion appears to Lu as an angelic vision. He offers her love and counsel, the courage to defend herself from bullies at school and a way to free herself from her stepmother’s violence. He seems to know beforehand what will happen. But Talion’s true nature is unclear. His guidance leads Lu into dark places, moving her inevitably closer to the world inhabited by Rad. When she and Lisa are thrust into that darkness, will Talion come to her aid? Or will he become the killer’s ally?

My Review:

Talion by Mary Maddox contains an intriguing premise with diverse characters such as Rad (Conrad Sanders), a serial killer posing as a guest at the Hidden Creek Lodge where Lisa Duncan is currently visiting her Aunt Debbie and Uncle Hank, the owners of Hidden Creek Lodge, due to a misunderstanding with her parents.  While visiting, Lisa meets Lu, an unusual girl who is severely abused by her stepmother, Noreen, and her father Duane does not protect her from Noreen’s abuse.  Talion is narrated by most of the characters and does not run in a linear timeline.  Parts of the book read as though it is about teen angst and at other times it is an intriguing thriller, but unfortunately the book did not truly come together for me until near the end.  Talion does not fit easily into just one genre.  I think it is too graphic to classify as a young adult novel, yet it is primarily told through the eyes of two 15-year-olds, one rich and spoiled, the other poor, abused and who has three imaginary protectors; Black Claw a vampire type female, Delatar a male shape shifter of sorts, and Talion Lu’s hero.  Considering these three beings take up a large part of Lu’s identity, the book is also part fantasy and then there are the gruesome acts performed by Rad along with some strong adult content that I would not personally deem appropriate for young teens.  Ignoring the genre, Maddox creates several different story lines, rich in detail and imagery and cleverly intertwines them.  The book could use some polishing yet it holds a lot of promise.  I would recommend Talion to adults who enjoy the genres of young adult, fantasy, and thriller.

About the Author:

Mary Maddox grew up in Utah and California. A graduate of Knox College and the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she now teaches composition and literature at Eastern Illinois University.

She lives in Charleston, Illinois with her husband, film scholar Joe Heumann. Her interests include riding her horse, Tucker, and playing club and tournament Scrabble. Mary’s short stories have appeared in a number of magazines including Farmer’s Market, Yellow Silk, and The Scream Online. Her writing has been honored with awards from the Illinois Arts Council.

For more information please visit Mary Maddox at her website or her blog.


Mary Maddox’s TALION VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on November 1 and will end on December 17 ‘10. here during the months of November and December to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Talion by Mary Maddox from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review and Tour: The Remains by Vincent Zandri

Monday 6 December, 2010 By 4 Comments


Title: The Remains
Author: Vincent Zandri
Publisher: StoneHouse Ink; 1 edition
Publication Date: November 30, 2010
Paperback: 375 pages
ISBN: 978-0982770504
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Suspense

Book Synopsis:

Thirty years ago, teenager Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were abducted by a man who lived in a house in the woods behind their upstate New York farm. They were held inside that house for three horrifying hours, until making their daring escape.

Vowing to keep their terrifying experience a secret in order to protect their mother and father, the girls tried to put the past behind them. And when their attacker was hunted down by police and sent to prison, they believed he was as good as dead.

Now, it’s 30 years later, and with Molly having passed away from cancer, Rebecca, a painter and art teacher, is left alone to bear the burden of a secret that has only gotten heavier and more painful with each passing year.

But when Rebecca begins receiving some strange anonymous text messages, she begins to realize that the monster who attacked her all those years ago is not dead after all. He’s back, and this time, he wants to do more than just haunt her. He wants her dead.

My Review:

Delightfully creepy, The Remains by Vincent Zandri is a wonderfully suspenseful psychological thriller. Zandri has once again masterfully created a fast-paced non-stop thrill ride filled with brilliantly placed plot twists and false leads. The Remains will take the reader on a psychological journey with expertly crafted characters that will keep the reader fully engaged and unable to set the book down. Zandri has proven he can indeed continue to write intriguing and diverse suspenseful thrillers. I truly enjoyed Zandri’s Moonlight Falls and recommended it to my readers and anxiously waited for my copy of The Remains to arrive and it was well worth the wait. I can honestly say I enjoyed The Remains even more than Moonlight Falls, which I was not expecting. I would recommend The Remains to any reader who enjoys psychological suspense thrillers.

About the Author:

Vincent Zandri is an award-winning novelist, essayist and freelance photojournalist. His novel As Catch Can (Delacorte) was touted in two pre-publication articles by Publishers Weekly and was called “Brilliant” upon its publication by The New York Post. The Boston Herald attributed it as “The most arresting first crime novel to break into print this season.” Other novels include the bestselling, Moonlight Falls,Godchild (Bantam/Dell) and Permanence (NPI). Translated into several languages including Japanese and the Dutch, Zandri’s novels have also been sought out by numerous major movie producers, including Heyday Productions and DreamWorks. Presently he is the author of the blogs, Dangerous Dispatches and Embedded in Africa for Russia Today TV (RT). He also writes for other global publications, including Culture 11, Globalia and Globalspec. Zandri’s nonfiction has appeared in New York Newsday, Hudson Valley Magazine, Game and Fish Magazine and others, while his essays and short fiction have been featured in many journals including Fugue, Maryland Review and Orange Coast Magazine. He holds an M.F.A. in Writing from Vermont College and is a 2010 International Thriller Writer’s Awards panel judge. Zandri currently divides his time between New York and Europe. He is the drummer for the Albany-based punk band to Blisterz.


Vincent Zandri’s THE REMAINS VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ‘10 will officially began on November 1 and will end on December 17 2010. here during the months of November and December to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of The Remains by Vincent Zandri from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review: The Turn Of The Karmic Wheel by Monica M. Brinkman

Thursday 25 November, 2010 By 3 Comments


Title: The Turn of the Karmic Wheel
Author: Monica M. Brinkman
Publisher: All Things That Matter Press
Publication Date: August 13, 2010
Hardcover: 214 pages
ISBN: 978-0984615469
Genre: Fiction, Paranormal Suspense

Book Synopsis:

The Turn of the Karmic Wheel is a unique, fresh approach of how each individual’s actions in life affect the masses.

Set in the small college town of Raleigh, MO, the author delves into the psyche of several residents who live vastly different lifestyles. From the affluent to the poor, we follow each characters’ journey through life be it one of faith, self-indulgence, greed, kindness or diversity.

Angela Frank, a young wife, mother, psychiatrist and reluctant psychic, holds the key to unleashing a force more powerful than humankind has ever experienced as universal law takes hold, ultimately revealing the characters inner self, their soul. Under such scrutiny, some will face horrific consequences of their life’s actions, while others will find absolute pleasure.

From Joshua Allen, an egotistical, handsome, dashing young man to Euclid Hannigan, a simple country middle-aged retiree, you will be moved with emotion when the demons hidden deep within or the joy of gentleness and compassion surface as each characters story unfolds to a final climatic finish.

My Review:

An intriguing look at good versus evil, The Turn of the Karmic Wheel by Monica M. Brinkman is a character-rich paranormal suspense novel that takes place in Raleigh, Missouri. Brinkman begins her book with Euclid and then continues to describe different characters in an almost short story format, which is blended together with the underlying plot of karma, but not in the traditional sense. For readers looking for a fast moving, suspenseful and paranormal novel where strange occurrences began happening, Brinkman weaves together a very intriguing plot and delves out a unique sense of justice with extremely eclectic characters in Raleigh. I enjoyed The Turn of the Karmic Wheel even though it is a paranormal novel; there was something I enjoyed about Brinkman’s sense of judgment. The Turn of the Karmic Wheel is an unusual intriguing book, which does not fit into any particular genre, yet stands on its own merits. I would recommend The Turn of the Karmic Wheel to any reader who is looking for something different than the typical fare.

About the Author:

Monica M. Brinkman lived in the Philadelphia, PA area, relocated to the California Bay, where she resided for thirty years and now resides in the St. Louis, MO area, which was the inspiration of her newest book, The Turn of the Karmic Wheel.

She views herself as a citizen of all the States, finding that people throughout the country are warm, caring and most want the same things in life, to enjoy their passions, make a living and be surrounded by those they love. In her own words, “Life is truly an adventure. I believe in giving everyone the opportunity to go after their passions in life. To not do so, creates hostility, depression and emptiness.”

A free-lance author and poet, she embraces stories that have meaning and purpose. Though a bit of a rebel, when some authors told her that no one would ever read a story set in the Missouri Ozarks, nor would they wish to read a mixed genre, that was all it took. “How dare they insult the intelligence of our readers by placing them in a box”. Off she went, and wrote this exact type of story, set in the small rural college town of Raleigh, MO. It is a mixed genre of suspense, horror, spiritutality and a touch of the paranormal. Monica is working on the sequel, The Wheels Final Turn, set in the State of California.

You can find out more about Monica and her work at http://monicabrinkmanbooks.webs.com/


Monica Brinkman’s THE TURN OF THE KARMIC WHEEL VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on November 1st and ends on December 17th. You can visit Monica’s blog stops here during the month of November to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of The Turn of the Karmic Wheel by Monica M. Brinkman from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Tour and Review: Arsenic and Clam Chowder by James D. Livingston

Friday 19 November, 2010 By 8 Comments


Title: Arsenic and Clam Chowder: Murder in Gilded Age New York
Author: James D. Livingston
Publisher: Excelsior Editions/State University of New York
Publication Date: July 27, 2010
Hardcover: 205 pages
ISBN: 978-1438431796
Genre: Historical True Crime

Book Synopsis:

Arsenic and Clam Chowder recounts the sensational 1896 murder trial of Mary Alice Livingston, a member of one of the mostarsenic cover prestigious families in New York, who was accused of murdering her own mother, Evelina Bliss. The bizarre instrument of death, an arsenic-laced pail of clam chowder, had been delivered to the victim by her ten-year-old granddaughter, and Livingston was arrested in her mourning clothes immediately after attending her mother’s funeral. In addition to being the mother of four out-of-wedlock children, the last born in prison while she was awaiting trial, Livingston faced the possibility of being the first woman to be executed in New York’s new-fangled electric chair, and all these lurid details made her arrest and trial the central focus of an all-out circulation war then underway between Joseph Pulitzer’s World and Randolph Hearst’s Journal.

The story is set against the electric backdrop of Gilded Age Manhattan. The arrival of skyscrapers, automobiles, motion pictures, and other modern marvels in the 1890s was transforming urban life with breathtaking speed, just as the battles of reformers against vice, police corruption, and Tammany Hall were transforming the city’s political life. The aspiring politician Teddy Roosevelt, the prolific inventor Thomas Edison, bon vivant Diamond Jim Brady, and his companion Lillian Russell were among Gotham’s larger-than-life personalities, and they all played cameo roles in the dramatic story of Mary Alice Livingston and her arsenic-laced clam chowder. In addition to telling a ripping good story, the book addresses a number of social and legal issues, among them capital punishment, equal rights for women, societal sexual standards, inheritance laws in regard to murder, gender bias of juries, and the meaning of “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

My Review:

When I began Arsenic and Clam Chowder by James D. Livingston I was expecting a quaint cozy mystery and what I discovered immediately was a brilliantly reconstructed account of the 1896 murder trial of Mary Alice Livingston, accused of matricide.  While I am not usually a fan of true crime novels, there is something about crimes from other time periods that intrigued me.  The manner of the accused, the accusers, the police, even the justice system fascinate me and Livingston does a remarkable job in recreating the events from 1896, including photographs, sketches, and evidence used during trial.  Livingston painstakingly researched the case and presents it to the reader in such a manner one feels transported back to 1896 New York.  Rather then ending the book with the trial verdict, Livingston takes his book several steps further in describing events that followed as well as speculations that continued around the murder, the arrest and the trial.  To say much more would be too telling and I want to prevent any spoilers for this is indeed a fascinating case and one that would make for a lively discussion, just as it did over a century ago.  I highly recommend Arsenic and Clam Chowder to mystery and true crime fans, as well as to discussion groups as there is so much to debate to pass on this book.

About the Author:

Born June 23, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York, James D. Livingston studied engineering physics at Cornell University and received a PhD in applied physics from Harvard University in 1956. After retiring from General Electric after a lengthy career as a research physicist, he taught in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT. Although a physicist by profession, he has long had a strong interest in American history, and is the coauthor, with Sherry H. Penney, of A Very Dangerous Woman: Martha Wright and Women’s Rights.

You can find out more about James and Arsenic and Clam Chowder at www.jamesdlivingston.net.


JAMES LIVINGSTON’S ARSENIC AND CLAM CHOWDER VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ‘10 officially began on October 4 and end on November 26, 2010. You can visit James’s blog stops here during the months of October and November to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Arsenic and Clam Chowder by James D. Livingston from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review and Tour: The Sixth Surrender by Hana Samek Norton

Monday 15 November, 2010 By 4 Comments


Title: The Sixth Surrender
Author: Hana Samek Norton
Publisher: Plume
Publication Date: July 27, 2010
Paperback: 480 pages
ISBN: 978-0452296237
Genre: Historical Fiction

Book Synopsis:

It’s Anno Domini 1200. King Richard the Lionheart is dead. And in the final years of her own eventful life, queen-duchess Aliénor of Aquitaine launches a deadly dynastic chess game to safeguard the crowns of Normandy and England for John Plantagenet, her only surviving son.

To that end, Aliénor coerces into matrimony her two pawns: Juliana de Charnais, a plain and pious novice determined to regain her inheritance, and Guérin de Lasalle, a cynical and profligate captain of a band of Richard’s mercenaries, equally resolved to renounce his. But Aliénor wants their marriage to save Jonn’s patrimony from the plots of Philip, the king of France, and her own vassals, the traitorous lords of Lusignan, descendants of the legendary half-serpent Mélusine.

Preferring the company of his routiers, bawds, and barrel houses, Lasalle does not intend to be a husband to the shy young woman, nor to become entangled in John’s own matrimonial mire, but at the heart of Aliénor’s scheme is the mystery of his own past that could cost John his thrones—and Juliana her life.

My Review:

Masterfully complex and compelling, The Sixth Surrender by Hana Samek Norton is a delightfully complicated look at the tumultuous times of 13th century England and France.  Personally I enjoy complex novels filled with a diverse and full cast of characters and multiple storylines feeding into a plot and Norton delivers beautifully on all accounts.  Norton grabs the reader’s attention and does not let go in her fast-paced, detail-oriented and compelling storylines.  The Sixth Surrender is an excellent example of fine medieval historical fiction by an author who has clearly done her research recreating the life of Aliénor of Aquitaine vying to save her title and lands with the use of her son John Plantagenet and those around her, including an arranged marriage between Lady Juliana and Guerin de LaSalle.  Brilliantly powerful, this book has a little bit of everything making it an excellent action, adventure novel filled with mystery, intrigue, and passion, enough to keep one reading long into the night.  I highly recommend The Sixth Surrender to anyone who truly enjoys a well-written historical fiction book.

About the Author:

Hana’s passion for the Middle Ages dates to a childhood exploring the ruins of castles and cloisters in the (now) Czech Republic. She also developed that “lurid taste in fiction,” by reading dog-eared novels full of the drama and melodrama of history. She graduated with an MA from the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, and a Ph. D. (both in history, of course), from the University of New Mexico where she currently resides. She is married to an Englishman, teaches part-time, and works as a historical consultant.
Her latest book is The Sixth Surrender. You can visit her website at http://www.thesixthsurrender.com


Hana Samek Norton’s THE SIXTH SURRENDER VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on November 1 and will end on November 26, ‘10. You can visit Hazel’s blog stops here during the month of November to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of The Sixth Surrender by Hana Samek Norton from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Review and Tour: The Portrait by Hazel Statham

Friday 12 November, 2010 By 12 Comments


Title: The Portait
Author: Hazel Statham
Publisher: Avalon Books
Publication Date: August 6, 2010
Paperback: 192 pages
ISBN: 978-0803477872
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Book Synopsis:

England 1812

Severely injured at the battle of Salamanca, Edward Thurston, the new Earl of Sinclair, returns home to his beloved Fly Hall. Determined not to present his prospective bride with the wreck he believes himself to have become, he decides to end his betrothal, unaware that Lady Jennifer, for vastly differing reasons, has reached the selfsame decision.

Throughout the campaigns, Edward was often seen relying greatly on a miniature he carried, and it is to this token he clings upon his return. Will he eventually find happiness with the girl in the portrait, or will he remain firm in his resolve not to wed? Reason dictates one course, his heart another.

My Review:

The Portrait by Hazel Statham is an absolutely endearing historical romance novel set in the early 19th century. Earl Edward Sinclair has recently returned home to Fly Hall after losing an arm in the battle of Salamanca and is trying valiantly to adjust to his new status, title, and limitations as well as his decision to set Lady Jennifer Lynton free of their engagement. Jenny and Sinclair agree to be friends, much to the dismay of their respective family members and their growing friendship provides fodder for the social season. Statham cleverly creates a cast of strong, relatable and delightfully fun characters. Both major and minor characters are certain to delight the reader in Statham’s charming story as forces work to try and bring Edward and Jennifer together through their younger siblings, Perry and Freddie, and their continuous and at times hilarious misdeeds as well as scandals. Statham has a special manner about her writing which gently draws the reader into the story. I look forward to reading some of her other works. The Portrait is a sweet and enjoyable novel, which is certain to delight readers who enjoy a tender and family-centered historical romance.

About the Author:

Hazel Statham lives in England and has been writing on and off since she was fifteen. Initially she was influenced by Austen, the Brontës, and Sabatini but when she turned seventeen, Georgette Heyer opened up the romance and elegance of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. She immediately knew she had found her eras and wanted nothing more than to re-create them in her work.

Her latest book is the Regency romance novel, The Portrait, released by Avalon Books in August 2010.

Hazel lives with her husband, Terry, and a beautiful Labrador named Mollie. Apart from writing, her other ruling passion is animals, and until recently she acted as treasurer for an organization that raised money for animal charities.

You can visit her online at www.hazel-statham.co.uk and her blog at http://hazelstatham.blogspot.com/


Hazel Statham’s THE PORTRAIT VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ‘10 officially began on November 1 and ends on November 26, 2010. You can visit Hazel’s blog stops here during the months of October and November to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of The Portrait by Hazel Statham from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Spotlight: The Book of Eli by Sam Moffie

Thursday 11 November, 2010 By Leave a Comment


Title: The Book of Eli
Author: Sam Moffie
Publisher: Mill City Press
Publication Date: January 9, 2010
Paperback: 152 pages
ISBN: 978-1936107353
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy

Book Synopsis:

Eli Canaan is a believer. And, like many, he believes himself to be a principled and moral man. Well, for the most part anyway. But, after a series of missteps, sins, some would say, Eli’s life is suddenly and unexpectedly altered forever. A spurned wife, a gypsy, a hex and spiritual intervention may all be at the root of Eli’s unexpected, deep and earnest introspection, which is like nothing he has experienced before -

in THIS world.

An uplifting story of hope and meaning and belief in the goodness that can come by opening one’s eyes to he Heavens…

The Book of Eli is a well crafted, highly entertaining read. In his trademark acerbic, yet strangely engaging style, author Sam Moffie presents the reader with a compelling tale of the sense of adventure and fantasy.

About the Author:

The Book of Eli is Sam Moffie’s fourth novel. The other three have won numerous awards and received glowing reviews. When not writing or marketing, he can be found observing human nature at his bars in Youngstown, Ohio. Forty-nine years of age, Sam resides with Juliette and a host of family members who enjoy a good fire, fine wine, backyard foosball, good movies and of course good books. When all else fails, there is always a walk with the dogs.

To find out more visit Sam at http://thebookofeli.mobi


Sam Moffie’s THE BOOK OF ELI VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on November 2nd and ends on November 27th. You can visit Sam’s blog stops here during the month of November to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of The Book of Eli by Sam Moffie from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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Book Tour: Regression by Kathy Bell

Tuesday 9 November, 2010 By Leave a Comment


Title: Regression
Author: Kathy Bell
Publisher: Northern Sanctum
Publication Date: June 2, 2009
Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN: 978-0981289601
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy

Book Synopsis:

Fourteen-year-old Adya Jordan swears that before her head injury she was a forty-year-old mother of six. Is she going crazy, or did she really live through an entirely different life? 1985 is nothing like she remembers, although her first day of high school certainly is! A typical girl with atypical genes, Adya tries to recapture her old life, hiding her growing conviction that she has done this before. Memories of the man she loved and a family she adored haunt her, even though her future husband doesn’t even know she exists. Accidentally discovering the secretive Three Eleven Corporation might know more about her situation than she does, she is convinced the twenty-eight men heading up the company are responsible for the changes in her world. Adya finds her way into their ranks, journeying to the tropical island headquarters to begin an orientation into their prestigious internship program. The Three Eleven Company controls the development and distribution of Twenty-first Century technology brought with them from the future. Charged with the task of preparing the world for an impending disaster, each member of the team uses his scientific background to create a solution for a problem the planet does not know it is facing. They don’t have time to deal with a feisty young girl poking around. Banished to the frozen Canadian Shield for asking too many questions of CEO Abraham Fairfield, Adya finds the men in the underground city of Sanctum are interested in more than just her genes as they search for the answer to her presence in the timeline. In the end, Adya encounters a choice no mother should ever face: save her children…or everyone else.

My Review (that is not a review): When I heard about Regression by Kathy Bell, I thought the book sounded rather intriguing and it quite possibly is for those who enjoy science fiction. I do not review science fiction novels for a reason; I do not care for the genre. I honestly had no clue it was a science fiction novel, so I am not going to be rating this novel nor will I be offering an opinion. I simply wanted to state I truly did not realize just how sci-fi the book would be. The synopsis above does a superb job at describing the book and I also recommend checking out the other reviews on this tour as well as the author’s sites. I have included all links below.

About the Author:

Canadian author Kathy Bell has called the Georgian Bay and Lake Huron area home for her entire life but has found books a wonderful way to travel through time and around the world. She lives on 60 acres with an amazing view of the Owen Sound city skyline in one direction and the sheer cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment in the other. Writing only became possible after checking off most other things on the to-do list of her life: marry high school sweetheart (check); get an awesome career as a high school science teacher (check); have four wonderful kids (check); build her dream home (check); be a successful entrepreneur (check); breed Canada’s top winning bulldog (check); get a herd of horses (check). With all of these activities providing fodder for her fertile imagination, she began writing with one hand cradling a fussy baby while the other pecked at the keyboard.

Her first novel, Regression, peaked at number seventeen on the Amazon Science Fiction and Fantasy bestseller list as a new release, and remained on the charts for twenty-eight days.

Find out more about Kathy and her Infinion Series at infinionseries.comor at northernsanctum.com.


Kathy Bell’s REGRESSION VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘10 officially began on October 11 and ends in November ‘10. You can visit Kathy’s blog stops here during the months of October and November to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Regression by Kathy Bell from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.

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