It's Monday! What Are You Reading? September 24, 2018

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

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Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

First Flurries
by Joanne DeMaio
My thoughts will be posted on 10/3

The Japanese Lover
by Isabel Allende
(audio-book)

What I recently finished

A Year of Extraordinary Moments

(Magnolia Grove #2)

by Bette Lee Crosby

Pub date 10/16

The Dream Daughter
by Diane Chamberlain
Pub date 10/2 ~ My thoughts will be posted then

A Wordy Woman's Guide for Writing a Book
by Dawn Husted

Read my thoughts here.

What I am going to read next

Fairylicious
(Fairylicious #1)
by Tiffany Nicole Smith 
Working thru my NetGalley TBR list.

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Clean Wholesome Romance $100 Giveaway!

An amazing group of authors has joined together to bring you one great prize!

Just think how many books you could buy with $100! Or maybe you need a new Kindle! Or maybe you want to try Kindle Unlimited! So many possibilities!!

Please show these amazing authors some love! Visit their sites. Sign up for their newsletters. Download their books. Review their books. Follow them on Social Media. There are so many ways you can support them!

Giveaway Sponsors

Bree Livingston
Crissy Sharp
Debra Erfert
Elana Johnson
Evangeline Kelly
Heather Gray
Heidi Kimball
Jenna Brandt
Jennifer Griffith
Jewel Allen
Jo Noelle
Joanna Barker
Joyce DiPastena
Kaylee Baldwin
Kennedy Larsen
Kristen Ethridge
Laura D. Bastian
Lorin Grace
Marie Higgins
Tiana Smith

• One winner will be awarded $100 in Paypal Cash or a $100 Amazon Gift Code! 
• Winning entry will be verified! 
• Make sure you actually subscribe and confirm your entries so you don't get disqualified. 
• If you already subscribe to an author's newsletter you can, of course, claim the entry!

Giveaway Details

$100 Amazon Gift Code or $100 in Paypal Cash

Ends 10/28/18

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter, Amazon, Paypal or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. The giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader/Clean Wholesome Romance and sponsored by the participating authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Book Spotlight Giveaway! Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

I have sooooo many books! The Book Spotlight Giveaway feature that I post every Saturday is a way for me to clear my shelves and to share some of the many books I have. This feature is a way for my to cull my collection and to give someone else the opportunity to enjoy these treasures.

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I recently read Everything, Everything and thought it was a great read. I'm passing my copy onto someone else now. I know you're going to love it, like I did. 

Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Paperback. 310 pages

Published March 7th 2017 by Ember

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

About the author

Nicola Yoon grew up in Jamaica (the island) and Brooklyn (part of Long Island). She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and daughter, both of whom she loves beyond all reason. Everything, Everything is her first novel. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Nicola

 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

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A Wordy Woman's Guide for Writing a Book by Dawn Husted ~ My Thoughts

Girl Gone Ghost

A Wordy Woman's Guide for Writing a Book by Dawn Husted
Print and Kindle Edition, 144 pages
Published August 8th 2018 by Yaupon Berry Press

Do you have an outstanding idea for a story, but have no clue where to start? Discover this STEP-BY-STEP guide for writing your first book.

A Wordy Woman's Guide for Writing a Book is an informative workbook that helps you plan your first draft. Through a series of introspective prompts, develop your idea into a carefully structured plot with colorful characters. Dawn's blueprint will revive your dream of writing a book.

Topics Covered
-THE BASICS OF WRITING
-GENERATING BOOK IDEAS
-DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GENRES
-STORY ELEMENTS
-TENSES AND PERSPECTIVES
-HOW CONFLICT BUILDS CHARACTER
-THREE ACT PLOT STRUCTURE
-INCITING INCIDENT
-CHAPTER OUTLINE
-DAILY WRITING GOALS

This game-changing workbook takes you from WHERE YOU ARE to WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. If you like woman-to-woman advice, easy to implement activities, and a COMPLETE GUIDE for writing your first book, then you'll love Dawn's valuable blueprint.

Buy A Wordy Woman's Guide and begin your first book today!

✽The Kindle version and the Paperback version contain the same information, but the Paperback version includes spaces for answering quintessential questions that help build your book. These spaces enable you to keep all of your answers and personal outline in one place.  If you choose the Kindle version, Dawn suggests grabbing a clean notebook so that you can write the answers as well.

     

My thoughts about A Wordy Woman's Guide for Writing a Book ~~

So far, I have loved every book that I have read written by Dawn. When I had the opportunity to read her newest book, A Wordy Woman's Guide for Writing a Book, I was hesitant. One, I typically don't read non-fiction books and two, I never thought about writing a book. Or have I? 

But that's exactly who this book is for—that person who just might be thinking about writing their first book but really doesn't know where or how to start. 

As Dawn states at the beginning of her book "My goal is for this book to inspire other women who want to write their first fiction book."

Dawn works through the process, step-by-step, explaining each step in understandable detail. I loved how she used her books and books written by others to give examples of the different points she was trying to make. 

After reading A Wordy Woman's Guide, I have a greater understanding of all the hard work and thought that goes into an author penning a book. It's not just words flowing out of their heads onto the paper or computer. There is a method and steps to writing and Dawn does a wonderful job of laying it all out there. I know I'll be thinking about all that goes into creating a story the next time I'm reading someone's book.

And who knows, maybe I'll try my hand at writing a book someday. This would be the perfect tool to get me started. 

I received a copy of A Wordy Woman's Guide from the author in exchange for my honest review.

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About the author

Dawn Husted holds a BS from Texas A&M University. When not writing, she’s either camping or dreaming about camping. She lives in southern Texas with her husband and two kids. She is a member of SCBWI and Texas Association of Authors. Dawn also works as a paid freelance writer.

Author of Touch of Darkness, Scythe of Darkness & Safe. Upcoming releases published under Yaupon Berry Press.

Who am I

I’m married and have two energetic kids. My TBR list is getting a little long, a few books are: The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, Beautiful Creatures, Night Circus, and The Longest Ride. I'm in the middle of reading Asylum by Madeleine Roux.

Years back, I helped build an orphanage in Malawi and became fascinated with other countries. I'd love to travel remote parts of the world one day.

I graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's degree in something other than writing. But I love to write! In my spare time, I study German, aber ich bin nicht sehr gut. And in the rest of my spare time, I cook. If you follow my Instagram, you may find pictures of food. LOL.

I'm a strong believer in living life to the fullest. Otherwise, what's the point? And I don't let fear hold me back. I'd rather try and fail, than to have never tried. ~ from author's website

Connect with Dawn

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

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Heartache Motel by Terri L. Austin, Larissa Reinhart, LynDee Walker ~ My Thoughts

Heartache Motel

Heartache Motel: Three Interconnected Mystery Novellas by Terri L. Austin, Larissa Reinhart, LynDee Walker
Print and e-book, 214 pages
Published December 8th 2013 by Henery Press

Elvis has left the building, but he’s forever memorialized at the Heartache Motel. Filled with drag queens, Rock-a-Hula cocktails, and a vibrating velveteen bed, these three novellas tell the tales of three amateur sleuths who spend their holidays at the King’s beloved home.

Diners, Keepers, Losers, Weepers by Terri L. Austin
A Rose Strickland Mystery Novella (follows Diner Impossible)

When Rose and the gang head to Graceland right before Christmas, they get all shook up: the motel is a seedy dump and an Elvis impersonator turns up dead. Rose discovers missing jewels tie into the death and her suspicious mind flips into overdrive, questioning her fellow guests, the staff, and even a cute impersonator who keeps popping up. Will Rose be able to find the murderer and get home by Christmas day? It’s now or never.

Quick Sketch by Larissa Reinhart
A Cherry Tucker Mystery Novella (prequel to Portrait of a Dead Guy)

Sassy Southern artist Cherry Tucker and her poker-loving boyfriend, Todd, pop into Memphis to help Todd’s cousin who’s been hustled out of his savings, right before Christmas. Staying at the shady Heartache Motel, Cherry can’t tell a shill from a mark and fears everyone is playing them for chumps. Cherry and Todd quickly find themselves in a dangerous sting that could send them to the slammer or mark them as pigeons from cons looking for an even bigger score.

Dateline Memphis by LynDee Walker
A Headlines in High Heels Mystery Novella (follows Buried Leads)

Crime reporter Nichelle Clarke thinks she’s going home for Christmas. But a quick stop at Graceland proves news breaks in the strangest places. When the King's home gets locked down with Nichelle inside, she chases this headline into the national spotlight—and the thief's crosshairs. Christmas dreams of blue suede Manolos fade, and all Nichelle wants from Santa is to land the story before the thief cuts off her news feed for good.

Books in the Henery Press Mystery Novella Series: Other People's Baggage and Heartache Motel. Part of the Henery Press Mystery Series Collection, if you like one, you'll probably like them all….

My thoughts about Heartache Motel ~~

What a fun, fun read! How can you not like a book revolving around Elvis and Graceland in Memphis? And how can you not just love the quirky characters that these three authors have brought together in this collection of stories? Gotta love Elvis impersonators and drag queens! 

Before reading Heartbreak Motel, I have to admit that I had read only one of these authors. I have read several books in Larissa Reinhart's Cherry Tucker series and this has only deepened my desire to read more. The other two authors are new-to-me but I love their stories—both their style and their characters—that I'm definitely going to be checking out the rest of their series. 

I received a copy of Heartache Motel from Henery Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The authors

Terri L. Austin

Website

Larissa Reinhart
Website

LynDee Walker

Website

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Release Day! Nell and Lady by Ashley Farley ~ My Thoughts #NellAndLady #NetGalley

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Ashley

on the release today of

Nell and Lady!

Nell and Lady: A Novel by Ashley Farley
Print and ebook, 272 pages
Published September 18th 2018 by Lake Union Publishing

A heart-stirring novel of family and forgiveness from bestselling author Ashley Farley.

In her grand home in Charleston, Willa Bellemore raised two girls during the tumultuous 1970s. One was her daughter, Lady. The other was Lady’s best friend, Nell—adopted after the sudden, heartbreaking death of her mother, the Bellemores’ beloved maid. Willa showered Nell with love and support, all the while ignoring the disdainful whispers of her neighbors. After all, they were family. Nell and Lady were sisters at heart—sisters who vowed to never let anything come between them.

Then, on the night of Lady’s sixteenth birthday, something went terribly wrong, sparking painful secrets and bitter resentments that went unspoken for three decades.

Now Willa is dying, and Lady and Nell—each with a teenager of her own—are brought together after all these years. It’s Willa’s last wish. The time has come to confront what happened on that fateful night. But it may take a tragic twist of fate to reconcile the past and come to terms with the true meaning of family.

My thoughts about Nell and Lady ~~ 

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"Adelaide Bellemore was known to family and friends as Lady, although no one considered her a lady, least of all her mother."

Once again, Ashley Farley has written a beautiful story that has touched my heart. Her books are always filled with amazing characters, people I would love to know in real life. And she has such a gentle way of writing that I just get swept up in her words. 

Nell and Lady is a thought-provoking tale of family love and acceptance, even when the world around them isn't so accepting. And then there's the secret that tore this family apart. Can the two 'sisters' make amends and be a family again—their dying mother's wish?

I loved this generational story with all of the family history, as people move on with their lives, forever intertwined and connected. This is definitely a story you're going to want to read. I know I want to go back and read it again. I loved it and I highly recommend it! 

I received a copy of Nell and Lady from the author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 

About the author

Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her goal is to keep you turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning. If her story stays with you long after you've read the last word, then she's done her job.

After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote Saving Ben in honor of Neal, the boy she worshipped, the man she could not save.

Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she’s lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, part of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry where she grew up. Through the eyes of her characters, she’s able to experience the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kind-hearted folks with lazy drawls that make the area so unique. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Ashley

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

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