Book Spotlight Giveaway: Phantom by Ted Bell

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. And sometimes, I find great books on Amazon that I just love to share with you.

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The book I have this week is another ARC I received from my daughter when she moved and culled her book collection. This author is up to book #9 in the Alexander Hawke series. Have you read any of them? 

Good luck and be sure to stop back next week!

Phantom

Phantom  by Ted Bell
Series: Alexander Hawke #7
ARC, 496 pages
Published March 20th 2012 by HarperCollins


Ted Bell’s remarkable literary creation, counterspy Alex Hawke, has been called, “strong, shrewd, and savvy, with an aplomb not seen since James Bond” (NPR). He’s back in the explosive blockbuster Phantom, on a breathtaking hunt for a madman about to unleash a terrifying new Artificial Intelligence-powered super weapon on the world.

Another superb espionage thriller by a true, New York Times bestselling master of the fictional spy game, Bell’s Phantom explores a dark side of science while delivering non-stop action, as Hawke races across the globe in order to prevent a coming apocalypse—and the millions of fans of Bell’s Warlord, Tsar, and Spy will be breathless every perilous step along the way.

    

About the author

Ted Bell, formerly Visiting Scholar at Cambridge University and Writer-In-Residence at Sidney-Sussex College, is a full-time writer. He is the author of 9 consecutive New York Times bestsellers. His novels include the Alex Hawke series of spy thrillers published by Harper & Collins. And the Nick McIver Time Travel Adventures published by St. Martins. His books are international bestsellers, published in 17 countries including Japan, Israel, and Turkey. He is the only American spy novelist published in Russian in Russia.

Connect with Ted

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

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Come This Way by Michelle Schlicher ~ My Thoughts

Come This Way

Come This Way by Michelle Schlicher
Paperback and e-book, 260 pages
Published: October 21st 2016 by Michelle Schlicher

A hiking and outdoor enthusiast, fifty-year-old Fern Conrad can’t imagine spending her time doing anything else, much to the dismay of her daughter, Colby.

Kara Dawson, a twenty-five-year-old student therapist, has shut life out to focus on her sister’s illness. That is, until a chance meeting pushes her to confront the possibilities—by letting go and moving forward.

Eighty-three-year-old Nettie Campbell heals in the hospital while facing the consequences of her actions. Can she repair relationships and forge new bonds as she comes to terms with the truth?

Come This Way is an emotional, honest look into the lives of women who are discovering their own strength. It is a story about difficult choices and the people around us who help us find our way.

Purchase Come This Way

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My thoughts about Come This Way ~~

(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 line.)

First line—'Colby Conrad looked up from the small map she was holding. Ahead, her mother, Fern, fiddled with her phone, an old, clunky thing with two cracks running through the screen.'

Once again, Michelle has written another wonderful, touching story that I could relate to in so many ways. Come This Way is basically three stories in one. There are three threads or storylines in the book and each chapter rotates through these different people's lives.

As I came to know and care about these characters, in the back of my mind I kept thinking - where is the author going with this, why are there these separate threads to the story? And then it all starts to come together and the pieces all start to fit. The further I got into the book, the more I saw how the characters were all connected in some way, ways that made perfect sense and made everyone's story so special. I love the idea of our interconnected lives and how we are all unknowing characters in other people's stories.

As I mentioned, Come This Way touched me in many ways. There are events in the story that have been a part of my life so the words became very personal to me. I don't want to go into too much detail because I don't want to give anything away but those connections made this book all that more endearing to me. I'll just say that the sick woman who was dearly loved and the elderly women who is forced to give up so much truly touched my heart.

Come This Way is a beautifully written, emotional story that stayed with me long after I closed the cover. I highly recommend it and I look forward to Michelle's next book.

I love all of Michelle's books.
Click on the covers to read my thoughts.

The Blue Jay

Gracie's Song

About the Author

Michelle Schlicher is the author of the novels The Blue Jay and Gracie's Song. A graduate of Iowa State University, she subsequently worked for six years in communications and marketing.

She lives in a suburb of Des Moines with her husband and two children.

Connect with Michelle

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

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Release Day Blast! Making Christmas & What Happens at Midnight by Laura Chapman @TastyBookTours @lchapmanwrites

Check out the other stops on the tour HERE.

Brings the warmth of the holiday season to life.

MAKING CHRISTMAS

A Novella

Laura Chapman

Releasing Nov 8th, 2016

While settling into a new career in a new community, Ivy is determined not to let the holiday season pass her by. Enter the grownup advent calendar: twenty-four days of festivities to celebrate Christmas. What begins as a bit of fun turns into a mission to spread cheer when she meets Everett.

After learning about his bad Christmas attitude, she invites him to join her quest. Despite his initial reservations, Everett quickly gets caught up in the spirit of the calendar. But when new feelings surface and are impossible to ignore, Everett’s inner curmudgeon threatens to put a damper on the whole experience.

This holiday novella from Laura Chapman brings the warmth of the holiday season to life.

BUY NOW

Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

“About my project,” she begins. “I’ve always loved the holiday season. Everything from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve then Christmas and New Year’s Eve—it’s a magical time. Plus, I was born on Christmas, so the holidays are extra special. But the past few years I’ve been so busy with work and . . . stuff . . . that I kind of lost track of them. It was always more important to focus on getting the next big ad campaign out than stopping to smell the sugar plums.”

“Ad campaigns? You’re in advertising?”

“No—not anymore.” She taps her fingers on the edge of the counter. “I left my old agency earlier this year to start an Internet-based company with my friend. We moved to Lincoln in October because it’s a welcoming place for startups. Anyways, the past few years the holidays have gone by in a hazy, chaotic blur. I want to make sure it doesn’t happen again this year. I’m going to stop and smell those sugar plums.”

I almost ask what sugar plums smell like but go with a question that makes more sense. “So you’re celebrating the holidays with a Christmas coffee?”

“Today,” she agrees. “Then tomorrow I’ll have another festive activity waiting for me.”

She digs into her purse and removes a piece of red card stock. It’s covered with tiny green paper pockets, each neatly printed with a number counting up to twenty-four. Twenty-four.

“It looks like an advent calendar.” Just like the ones my grandma gave my sister and me every Christmas until we graduated college.

Her eyes light up. “That’s exactly what it is. This is my grown-up advent calendar. I saw one on Pinterest—though, they had twenty-four bottles of wine lined up in a rack to drink every day of December leading up to Christmas. I like wine, but I’m not a big fan of all the varieties, which would defeat the purpose of drinking twenty-four different wines. It also didn’t seem like the best way to celebrate the season. Do you connect binge-drinking wine with Christmas?”

“No. But maybe some people do?”

“I suppose, which is kind of sad. But I probably shouldn’t judge what works for other people.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, over Thanksgiving I started thinking about what I wanted to do this holiday season. Books I wanted to read. Movies I wanted to watch. Experiences I wanted to have. So I made a list. Using the list, I created a calendar with each of the items reserved for a different day. I wrote everything down on different pieces of paper. I folded them up and randomly scheduled them throughout the month. That way, I’ll be surprised every day.”

“You made a random schedule? How will you know if you have time or the materials you need to do it?”

“I’ll make the time.” She turns to the counter when the barista arrives with three cups. Over her shoulder, she asks, “Do you want to try gingerbread or eggnog?”

I don’t know. “Eggnog.” I guess.

She hands me one of the cups and takes the other two. “Actually, I do know what I’ll be doing one day because I had to buy tickets. I want to see The Nutcracker—I haven’t been since I was a little girl. But everything else will be a surprise.”

I’m listening to her explanation so closely I don’t even realize we’ve stepped out of the coffee shop until the cold bites my face. She has certainly shaken up my morning routine. “Do you really think a Christmas to-do list will suddenly make the holidays better?”

“I do.” She grins when I shake my head. “Do you doubt it will?”

“I don’t know.” I lift a shoulder. “It seems like a stressful way to spend the month. And for what? An overly commercialized holiday that only racks up charges on our credit cards while people are starving and struggling in the world. All the while, people miss their deadlines and pile more work on your desk because you’re the single guy in the office and they have to get to their kids’ Christmas programs or go bake cookies at their mother-in-law’s house. Christmas was fun when we were kids, but as adults, it kind of sucks.” I shake my head again. “No offense to you and your plan, but most years I want to get through the month of December with as little fanfare as possible.”

“Interesting.” She says nothing else but studies my face again for a couple of seconds. I nearly squirm under the intensity of her gaze. “Well, I hope you enjoy the coffee. Merry Christmas.”

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WHAT HAPPENS AT MIDNIGHT

A Novella

Laura Chapman

Releasing Nov 8th, 2016

Romantic comedy junkie Natalie lives out those fantasies in real life three New Year's Eves in a row when fate throws her together with the same handsome stranger. A heartbreaking turn of events leaves her swearing off of love, forevers, and the holidays (bah humbug). That is until the mystery man from her past reappears years later. Over a holiday season, Natalie struggles to reconcile the whimsical notions of her past with the practical sensibilities she has worked so hard to develop. With the countdown to a new year looming, she must decide whether or not she is willing to give happily ever after another shot.

In this holiday novella by Laura Chapman, celebrate the holiday season with a love story about second, and fifth, chances and learning to trust your heart.

BUY NOW

Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, Going for Two, Three & Out, and The Marrying Type. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley.

Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!

Making Christmas & What Happens at Midnight by Laura Chapman ~ My Thoughts @TastyBookTours @lchapmanwrites

Check out the other stops on the tour HERE.

Brings the warmth of the holiday season to life.

MAKING CHRISTMAS

A Novella

Laura Chapman

Releasing Nov 8th, 2016

While settling into a new career in a new community, Ivy is determined not to let the holiday season pass her by. Enter the grownup advent calendar: twenty-four days of festivities to celebrate Christmas. What begins as a bit of fun turns into a mission to spread cheer when she meets Everett.

After learning about his bad Christmas attitude, she invites him to join her quest. Despite his initial reservations, Everett quickly gets caught up in the spirit of the calendar. But when new feelings surface and are impossible to ignore, Everett’s inner curmudgeon threatens to put a damper on the whole experience.

This holiday novella from Laura Chapman brings the warmth of the holiday season to life.

Purchase Making Christmas

Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

My thoughts about Making Christmas ~~

I love reading Christmas stories and this one is fantastic. Ivy comes up with a very interesting idea; to create a grownup advent calendar. She ends up sharing this with another person, a guy who has caught her attention at the local coffee shop.

It was fun watching Ivy as she tries to spread her love of Christmas with someone who honestly, really doesn't enjoy the holidays all that much. Everett is a good sport though and goes along with most of the plans. But then, they hit some bumps in the snow road.

I love the idea of an adult advent calendar to remind us all to take time to enjoy the season and the people around us.   

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WHAT HAPPENS AT MIDNIGHT

A Novella

Laura Chapman

Releasing Nov 8th, 2016

Romantic comedy junkie Natalie lives out those fantasies in real life three New Year's Eves in a row when fate throws her together with the same handsome stranger. A heartbreaking turn of events leaves her swearing off of love, forevers, and the holidays (bah humbug). That is until the mystery man from her past reappears years later. Over a holiday season, Natalie struggles to reconcile the whimsical notions of her past with the practical sensibilities she has worked so hard to develop. With the countdown to a new year looming, she must decide whether or not she is willing to give happily ever after another shot.

In this holiday novella by Laura Chapman, celebrate the holiday season with a love story about second, and fifth, chances and learning to trust your heart.

Purchase What Happens at Midnight 

Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo

My thoughts about What Happens at Midnight ~~ 

This was a very interesting take on a holiday romance story. Natalie meets an intriguing man on New Year's Eve, three years in a row. That's it, just on that one night of the year. And just when she is thinking that maybe she might be ready to take it to the next level, something happens and they don't meet up on New Year's Eve. The two of them never shared their contact information so they have no way of connecting again. 

So, does Natalie give up on love and happiness? Or will she be open to giving love another chance? I loved watching her figure it out! This was such a great, entertaining holiday story. 

Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, Going for Two, Three & Out, and The Marrying Type. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley.

Connect with her online on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and on her website at www.laurachapmanbooks.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? November 7, 2016

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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Hope everyone had a great week. Hubby was out of town for a few days and since he is retired and ALWAYS home, it was kind of like a vacation for me. I rarely get the house to myself so it was very enjoyable. It was nice to have him back home though too.

My daughter and I went to see the movie Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, this weekend. It is based on the book series by Ransom Riggs. We thought it was a great way to spend the afternoon. We are both big fans of the series and had been trying to find a time to go see it since it came out in September. It made me want to read the three books again.

I've been getting a lot of books read lately. Now I just need to get caught up on my review posts. Does that happen to you too?

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

What I'm currently reading/listening to


What Happens at Midnight
by Laura Chapman
Love this author and I am loving her holiday novellas.

Two from Isaac's House: A Story of Promises
by Normandie Fischer
(audiobook)

What I recently finished


Making Christmas
by Laura Chapman
Fun story. My thoughts will be posted on Tuesday.

Behind Closed Doors
by B.A. Paris
Wow, what an intense story! My thoughts will be posted soon.

The Christmas Surprise (A Holiday Novella)
by Samantha March
Another fun Christmas novella. My thoughts will be posted later this week.

The Murder Game
by Julie Apple (aka Catherine McKenzie)

Loved it! Read my thoughts here.

What I am going to read next


The Illusory Prophet (Singularity #3)
by Susan Kaye Quinn
Love this author and love this series!

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!