I am so happy to be a part of this tour for Tara Neidffer and her new release, Fragile Simplicity. I have read her paranormal suspense novels and loved them, so I can only imagine that her romance novels will be just as good. Let’s check the out, shall we?
Fragile Simplicity by Tara Neideffer
(Sweet Haven #2)
Publication date: January 29th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense
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SYNOPSIS
It only took one letter to make every painful memory resurface. But it took Kyleigh Helton thirteen years to bury those memories. The question in that letter will force her to make a difficult decision. Forgive, or continue to let resentment and anger consume her fragile core.
The simple life she craves seems miles away when she’s dealing with an ex who won’t let her go and a boyfriend whose problems mimic a past she’d rather forget.
She realizes it’s time for things to change. But every decision and change she makes has a consequence, and she begins to wonder if she’s strong enough to handle them.
David Madison has been struggling with guilt and grief since his brother’s death and finds comfort in the one thing Kyleigh despises. When a phone call pushes him over the edge and guilt consumes him even more, he breaks a promise to Kyleigh that threatens to tear them apart.
As quickly as things fall back into place, his world shatters again, pushing him to the breaking point, and he begins to wonder how much more he can take before he turns to the one addiction that started it all.
But he can’t. He promised. He needs to stay strong for Kyleigh. Because now she needs him more than ever, and he won’t let her down again.
***This is book two in a trilogy but each book can stand-alone***
***Due to sexual content and language, this novel is intended for audiences ages 18+***
Tara Neideffer was born and raised in Indiana with a love for animals, especially horses. As a child, she could always be found in the saddle, running her horse at full speed through open fields. She also has a love of ghost stories and a morbid fascination with watching murder mystery shows. When she’s not busy writing, she’s taking care of her animals, spending time with her family or reading. She still lives in Indiana with her husband, daughter, and stepson, on twenty acres, with too many animals to name.
Tales from Margaritaville: Fictional Facts and Factual Fictions
MY REVIEW
I have read some of Jimmy’s books and I am a huge fan of his. You may label be a Parrothead and I will wear it with pride.
Tales from Margaritaville is a journey for dreamers and adventurers to let your imagination and your inner child run wild and free. Join us in this wonderfully fun walkabout with Jimmy Buffett.
Everyone asks, “Where is Margaritaville?” It is in the minds and souls of all us beach lovers.
We will spend a lot of time In Heat Wave, Alabama, we will also travel from the west to the east coast, visit Wyoming with Tully Mars and cruise the Carribbean. You will meet the Swamp Creature, enjoy some football, play some golf and sail the seas.
You will smell the ocean and the swamp and feel the cool tropical breezes as we travel through the imagination of a third-generation sailor.
So many of the destinations are familiar. I have lived in Alabama, been to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, traveled to Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and Cancun, cruised the Carribbean and had a cocktail or two at Pusser’s in Tortola.
I loved it! It brought back many memories and gave me thoughts for the future. All the time I was reading, his songs were playing through my head and I had a smile on my face, even when I was worried about them being stranded on the seas in a terrible storm. I had confidence that Jimmy would prevail.
So, hop aboard and let the adventure begin!
4 Stars
SYNOPSIS
Margaritaville may not appear on a map, but it does exist–at least in the brilliantly creative, sometimes slightly skewed imagination of Jimmy Buffett. Tales from Margaritaville is a collection of short stories (some purely fiction, some based in truth) so vividly packed with restless dreamers, wild wanderers, and pure gypsy souls that just reading it is a wild adventure. Travel along with a cowboy named Tully Mars, as he heads from Heartache, Wyoming, to Graceland, and relive the autobiographical odyssey of a third-generation sailor and first-rate musical outlaw. With unforgettable stories that present the true roamer’s twin loves–the sea and the road–Tales from Margaritaville is one “smooth sailing book of infinite imagination” (Chicago Sun-Times).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James William “Jimmy” Buffett (born December 25, 1946) is a singer, songwriter, author, businessman, and recently a movie producer best known for his “island escapism” lifestyle and music including hits such as “Margaritaville” (No. 234 on RIAA’s list of “Songs of the Century”), and “Come Monday”. He has a devoted base of fans known as “Parrotheads”. His band is called the Coral Reefer Band.
Aside from his career in music, Buffett is also a best-selling writer and is involved in two restaurant chains named after two of his best known songs, “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and “Margaritaville”. He owns the Margaritaville Cafe restaurant chain and co-developed the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant concept with OSI Restaurant Partners (parent of Outback Steakhouse), which operates the chain under a licensing agreement with Buffett.
Treena is nervous for Rating Day. A single number will brand her forever—a valuable citizen, or a pathetic waste of space. Her top-Rated boyfriend is confident their scores will coincide so they can attend the academy together. But when the big day arrives, her true number shocks everyone.
To get her life—and boyfriend—back, she must go undercover and expose a military spy. Doesn’t sound too hard, except that someone wants her dead. And then there’s Vance, the mysterious soldier with a haunted past and beautiful brown eyes. Together, they discover a dark numbers conspiracy, one that shatters the nation’s future. Treena must join up with Vance if she is to survive the dangerous game of numbers—and the terrible war that rages within her heart.
“Your Rating is wrong,” Vance said. “Their precious Rating system says absolutely nothing about you and what you’re capable of.”
I shook my head. “So far, everything I’ve done has proven my number absolutely correct.”
“Treena.” His tone softened. “I don’t know why you that happened to you. But I do know one thing.” He stopped on the step below me, and I whirled to face him. We were the same height now, and his expression was fierce. “You are the most loyal, the most determined, and the most fascinating girl I’ve ever met. No number could ever describe you.”
The deadness inside cracked, and the pain came flooding back. I felt like a five-year-old again. Falling, grasping for a handhold, for something to save me. “It doesn’t matter now. Tali’s dead.”
He gave me a long look. Then he sat down, right on the steps, easing me down next to him. I lay my head on his shoulder and let him pull me close. The warmth of his embrace felt completely and utterly right. For a long moment, I allowed myself to forget about the past few days. There was no empress, no punishment mode, and no mission. There was just us. The world was cool and dark, and his touch sent my heart pumping as if it had just awakened from hibernation.
“Dying isn’t the worst thing to happen to someone,” he continued thoughtfully. “Anyone coward can die. The hardest thing is being left behind, trying to make sense of a world without them.”
I tilted my head back and allowed myself to look up into Vance’s eyes. They were dark, pulling, as if absorbing all the light that entered, saving it for some future purpose. His eyebrows were choppy, untrimmed, and his lips chapped. But somehow, it worked. It was simply . . . him. No surgeries, no tallies of volunteer hours and checklists. Vance just took life one day at a time, keeping his family safe, trying to put the pieces of himself back together. I could see it, the pain in his heart. It was something we shared now.
A warm feeling spread through my chest until I thought it would burst. This was who he really was. The tumultuous battle within him seemed to have trickled away, leaving one gallant, vulnerable boy. A boy who was looking at me as if I were something precious—who looked at me, instead of at my Rating. His eyes flitted between mine, his confidence replaced with uncertainty.
“It feels good to finally choose sides, doesn’t it?”
“Whose side are you on, then?”
His chin was just above mine, and he lowered it until our eyes were level. Then his hand tilted my chin upward toward his. His fingers brushed the side of my face, cradling it gently in his firm hand. I felt his breath on my face, felt the battle within him as well as I felt it in myself. But something pulled me toward him.
“Yours,” he said. He closed the distance between us, slowly, then paused.
And our lips met.
Praise for the Book
“Gripping, from beginning to end . . . a tale as action-packed as Divergent yet as introspective as The Giver. . . . Sure to be an instant classic in the genre.” –R.J. Craddock, author of The Children of Cain series
“Fluent and engaging . . . brimming with fabulous characters and intrigue that will keep you flipping pages. Can’t wait to read the next book in this series!” –Adrienne Monson, author of the Blood Inheritance trilogy
“Had me hooked from the first page to the last . . . Thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend!” -Randy Roberts, BoredShorts TV (Kid History/Kid Snippets)
Author Rebecca Rode
REBECCA RODE is an award-winning author and journalist. She is the author of the inspirational book, How to Have Peace When You’re Falling to Pieces, and writes for Deseret News, KSL.com, FamilyShare, and Provo Daily Herald. However, her true love is writing for teenagers. She enjoys playing with her four children, traveling, reading, and martial arts, and she has a ridiculous addiction to her husband’s chocolate-banana shakes.
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 will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice.The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and find any sentence or a few ( no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.
Please join Rose City Reader every Friday to share the first sentence or so of the book you are reading along with you initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.
Please include the title of the book and the author’s name.
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TIME OF DEATH by Ellis Vidler
I read this some time ago, but would like to share it with you.
Isobel continued. “Under that bad-boy charm, Connor’s a man with a mission. Something’s driving him. but he’s sexy enough to keep you awake at night” Her eyes closed briefly, then she blinked and pursed her lips. “you’ll have to be more careful. I don’t see Connor as buying the family gift – or maybe curse, in your case. He seems wild, but he’s pretty hard-nosed. At least that’s his reputation in court. Very focused and intense. It’s the only reason he keeps his job.”
(page 56 in paperback)
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BOOK BEGINNINGS
Startled by the approach of two men in business suits, Alex wobbled on her perch in the great oak. She tightened her grip on her camera and inched further up against the branch as they slogged across the sandy soil toward the beach.
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SYNOPSIS
Artist Alex Jenrette has a psychic streak—or is it a curse? While visiting on an island near Charleston, she draws scenes of murder that turn out to be real. The police think she’s involved, prosecutor Connor Moran fears a psychic witness will destroy his case, and the killer believes she was there. But she wasn’t, and she doesn’t know who’s behind it.
As soon as I saw the cover, I knew I had to share this.
I LOVE UNICORNS!
Fallenwood Cover Love!
Leslie D. Soule
So the brilliant artist who created the Fallenwood cover, with the black unicorn Shadowmere on it, which I love, is artist Stephanie Flint. She’s the same artist who designed the cover for Forgetting Fallenwood, which is book 2 in the series. For the cover on book 2, we see Ash, who has returned to the real world and is trying to live a normal life. She’s got a state job and she’s all dressed up. She’s holding her mocha and keeping her head up and trying to walk a very different path than the one she was on in Fallenwood. This makes the contrast so stark when she eventually gives up this life to return to Fallenwood in order to figure out what’s happened there and how she lost her memories.
As for the covers, all I did was make a suggestion content-wise and Stephanie did the rest – coming up with these absolutely beautiful covers and I don’t even know how she did it, but I give her major kudos for it. She’s managed to take subject matter that could essentially be very bland and straightforward, like the image of Ash standing there with the coffee cup in her hand, and give it a magical, ethereal quality. Same with the image on the cover of Fallenwood, where the unicorn has a turned-away stance that adds to the feeling of magic to be felt there.
So there it is! I’m so fortunate to have had the opportunity to have such a great cover artist do these covers for Fallenwood. I’m honored, really. What a great experience.
I love learning about the covers for books and am so happy you were here today, Leslie, to tell us about yours. Thanks so much for sharing and I wish you many downloads! 🙂
Isn’t this cover a beaut?
Fallenwood
by Leslie D. Soule
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BLURB
Fallenwood – where your dreams and nightmares are only a portal away…
Fallenwood—a land where magic is the life force, dragons are sages, and wizards good and evil battle for supremacy. When 23-year-old Ash is thrust into the middle of Fallenwood’s power struggles, she is also forced to face her own inner battles. Life on Earth was hard enough on Ash, who is locked in grief for her stepfather. Now, the fate of Fallenwood rests on her shoulders. She must destroy the Great Crystal—the catalyst for all the land’s magic. As the kingdoms prepare for war, Ash must look inside to find the power to save the world, and herself.
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EXCERPT
“Now then, I’ll explain the meaning of the unicorn and the crown.” Ash continued munching on wontons as she listened.
“In Fallenwood, there is a black unicorn—the only one of its kind. It was the horse of the Great King Palomides Hyperion back in the Golden Age of Fallenwood. It grazes in a field called The Field of Death that stands between two rivers. It is so named because if anyone tries to capture the black unicorn, it will run them through with its horn, whether the person uses magic or not. But what’s important is that the unicorn has become a symbol of freedom and power.
“People fight for symbols. They go to war for them. They die for them, and devote their lives to the search for them and any number of things. The black unicorn was bred of a black warhorse stallion and a unicorn mare, and it has a name that I will not repeat here. If any of the six kingdoms of Fallenwood were to get their hands on the black unicorn, it would give that kingdom legitimacy over all others.
“So even today, there are people who stand at the edges of the rivers and watch the unfortunate individuals who have been sent by their respective kingdoms to embark on what is essentially a suicide mission. People have tried nets, magic barriers, teaming up on the unicorn, all to no avail. Every person who has tried to catch the black unicorn has been gored to death. The black unicorn symbolizes a power that will not be dominated.
“We are all caught up in the struggle between the unicorn and the crown. You’ll learn all you need to know about the philosophy of the crown when we arrive at Castle Evendown.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My name is Leslie Soule (pronounced “soul” like that part of you that is innate). I am an author who loves to try new genres and Sacramento, California is my hometown. I have an M.A. in English from National University and am a member of the English Chapter of the Sac State Almuni Association, and the Sacramento branch of the California Writers Club (as of June 2014).
Science Fiction is the hottest genre right now. Add in some best selling authors and Young Adult books and you have an event not to be missed. So come celebrate these awesome YA Science Fiction Authors with us! Giveaways, book exclusives, games and more! Young Adult Science Fiction Multi-Author Event March 19th from 5:30-9PM. You can enter the big $100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway at the bottom of this post! Don’t miss it!
The authors are excited to see you on the 19th but in the meantime, check out these amazing titles!
Schedule of events!
5:30-6:00 – Angela Scott
6:00-6:30 – Laxmi Hariharan
6:30-7:00 – Theresa Kay
7:00-7:30 – Lee Strauss
7:30-8:00 – Pavarti K Tyler
8:00-8:30 – Susan Kaye Quinn
8:30-9:00 – Joel Ohman
9:00 – Pavarti (Announce Rafflecopter winners – Enter at the bottom of this post!)
What do you hope readers take with them when they read your book?
Of course, I hope they want to hear more stories, but as for a takeaway it’s my desire that readers are able to connect with Kellan and close the book feeling encouraged.
Later that evening, with everyone’s attention on the dying king, Kellan managed to sneak out of her room. Her objective was to find Osma and Master Hewitt and get out before anyone reported her missing. The place was just huge, and she didn’t know where to start.
The McKensie family in The Cloak is depicted as being Spirit-filled. It’s a regular part of their lives, as it was for many in the early church and as it still is for many today. While that specific teaching can quickly become a hot button topic, it truly serves no good purpose to condemn anyone on either side of the fence. Instead, we can most likely all agree to this excerpt from “The Deer’s Cry”, also known as “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”:
Mythical Books – Céad Míle Fáilte: A Hundred Thousand Welcomes
Welcome to Errigal! What would a Celtic themed setting be without green hills and a castle? Featured on the cover of The Cloak is Lismore Castle, a beautiful structure in the town of Lismore in County Waterford, Ireland.
Five months flew by in Paris. Kellan didn’t go home for Christmas or to celebrate the new year, choosing instead to immerse herself in the surrounding local festivities. Although she corresponded frequently with Osma and the teacher, writing only of her job and ignoring their attempts at engaging her in conversation about Errigal, she refused to return to the castle and made up all kinds of excuses to back it up.
Arriving at the castle, she stepped through the great wooden doors and immediately yanked the cloak off, exposing the blue jeans and black T-shirt she had changed into on the plane, a definite rebellious act to defy Errigal’s traditional dress and thereby match her frame of mind.
This was a great book. Kellan is a very amazing main character. . . . Kellan steps up and takes on a responsibility that she doesn’t want. It is a book that young women need to read. Kellan is such a good role model.
The fencing instructor was very amused and surprised the king was acting this way toward a lady. What is he thinking trying to enlist a woman into a sword fight? Look at her. She was wearing a blue, fitted bodice gown that reached all the way to the floor. Her dark hair was up in pearled pins, and ringlet curls fell down the nape of her neck. Attending a tea party would be more appropriate.
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
The most fulfilling part for me is when Kellan comes home for the last time. I feel good knowing she is finally going to have the happiness she deserves.
“Overall, The Cloak is a sweet clean romance with some interesting twists and good character growth.”
The next morning Osma tried again, bringing a tray filled with an incredible array of pastries and fruits, beings sure to include some of Kellan’s favorite food that she rarely received growing up, chocolate covered anything.
Turning around, Ian went to reach out for Kellan’s hand, but she wasn’t there. A feeling of panic overcame him.Where is she? And where are those new bodyguards of hers? He turned back to the crowd to see their uplifted faces staring back at him. They had been hanging on every word, and the silence was immense.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
In The Cloak, characters are essentially living in the past while also living in the present. Walk past Errigal’s borders and the modern world exists in every manner. Stay within, and a society steeped in Medieval traditions and methods still exists. The landscape is characteristic of Ireland with green, rolling hills, villages and marketplaces dotting the countryside, and hot, soothing mineral springs.
Kellan – Princess and Daughter of the late Princess Seanna McKensie and late Duke Barend. Kellan is the true heiress to the throne of Errigal, if she can be convinced to take her place. Beautiful, wise, and very skilled with a broadsword, she exudes leadership when on listening terms with God. Kellan’s propensity to be headstrong, combined with hidden self-doubt, often lands her in troublesome situations.
This is a quick read with a good message about prayer and the importance of relying on God. It also shows the difference one person can make when they’re willing to step into the role they were born to fill.
Kellan stood facing the great stone fireplace. Its dancing flames matched the ones in her eyes. After what seemed like forever, her breathing finally began to slow down. The king had been about to say something to her once he heard the duke ride off, but Master Hewitt had stepped forward and held out his hand to stop him. She needed a moment more to settle down.
Like many Americans, I have a great appreciation for my Irish ancestry and I love Celtic music. I think those things combined with my predisposition for a strong female lead who overcomes difficulties and weaknesses to do great things led to a story that just played out itself.
The fallen warrior staggered up, bowed to the princess, and made his leave. She always felt rotten when they walked away, or in some cases, were carried away. At least now she was done for the day. Directing her eyes away from the departing man, Kellan looked ahead to see another suited contender. What is this? She turned and walked over to the teacher.
“What are you mumbling about down there, dear sister,” said Slone, “No one here’s going to answer your call for help…not even your honorable king. Where is old lover boy anyway, huh?” Slone just rambled on.
That night’s sleep was hard to come by. Kellan tossed about with fitful dreams and kept waking up, a few times wet with sweat. It wasn’t nightmares from the war, though she had had plenty of those when she first moved in. It was tranquil scenes from Errigal’s landscape, the faces of Osma and Master Hewitt, and the library walls. Feeling like she was going insane, she finally gave up and got up from bed.
The Cloak Sarah Jennings
Inspirational YA Romantic Suspense
Paperback and ebook, 194 pages
November 2014
Kellan McKensie, Princess of Errigal, is set on leaving for another world before being thrust into a plan of God’s choosing that includes learning of her past, embracing her future, and finding her forever love.
Among a lost line of beautiful, wise queens and a conquered country still clinging to medieval traditions in today’s world, can Kellan be convinced that now is her time to act? Why should she? To the entire country, she doesn’t even exist. Ever the reluctant leader, Kellan is pressured to use her incredible God-given abilities to bring back the glory of her homeland. To do so, she must fight her own will, overcome fears, and control her temper. It’s a lot to ask of a girl hidden under a cloak her whole life.
Sarah Jennings is an American storyteller living in the hills of North Carolina with her husband, four children, and escape artist hound dog. Her stories often revolve around strong willed heroines who find their way with God’s help during their adventures and in the process find their soulmate too. The Cloak is one such story now available in print and ebook format.
$25 Amazon Gift Card – Open Internationally Celtic Prize Pack: Paperback of The Cloak and Celtic Music CDs – US Only 2 Paperbacks of The Cloak– US Only 2 ebooks of The Cloak – Open Internationally
Ends March 22nd
**all images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**
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We are getting a new pool liner installed this week. I didn’t realize how much work this entailed, but I am getting excited as we approach the end. I will post pics when everything is done.
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FREE EBOOKS
***still free at time of posting. Check for the “0”***
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NEW to fundinmental
I have read one book by Melanie Karsak, The Harvesting,and loved it.
I won some gift cards this week, so thanks to everyone who hosts the giveaways. Without you, my fellow bloggers and the awarding authors, I wouldn’t have the gift cards or the opportunity to win, even when I don’t. 😀
Tara Neideffer was born and raised in Indiana with a love for animals, especially horses. As a child, she could always be found in the saddle, running her horse at full speed through open fields. She also has a love of ghost stories and a morbid fascination with watching murder mystery shows. When she’s not busy writing, she’s taking care of her animals, spending time with her family or reading. She still lives in Indiana with her husband, daughter, and stepson, on twenty acres, with too many animals to name.
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
4 Stars
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