Christmas Actually Grand Finale
Did you miss any of the excerpts, guest post, or reviews on the tour?
Launch – Intro to the Collection
Christy’s Cozy Corners – An Interview with Anna Adams
Getting Your Read On – Review
Colorimetry – The Power of a First Kiss by Anna Adams
Southern Chelle – Review
Kelly P’s Blog – An Interview with Anna J. Stewart
My Love for Reading Keeps Growing – Excerpt
The Wonderings Of One Person – Dream Cast for The Christmas Wish

Casting my heroines has always been problematic for me. Typically, I use another medium for inspiration (I’m a doll collector), but when I saw this picture of Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries), I knew that was Callie.
Bookworm Lisa – Review
What’s your favorite aspect of the story?
One of my favorite aspects is Gina’s parents. They’ve tried for years to do what they thought was right and it strained their character and their relationship. This year, they rejoin the pageant and the town’s festivities in a very public way. It’s a small part of the story, but a set of vignettes that I love.
Mel’s Shelves – Review
Painted Words – Review
I Am A Reader – Melinda Curtis’s Favorite Treat at Christmas Time (with recipe)
Deal Sharing Aunt – Excerpt
Wishful Endings – Excerpt (4-star review here)
basic list I work from that my kids will enjoy or find useful. They’re
all in college now, but that doesn’t mean they want a package of socks for Christmas.
Here’s a list of 10 suggested gift giving categories for your teen/young adult…
“Three stories in one book, a great way to start the Christmas season off! Anna Adams takes you on three separate journeys in the life of Jack, Callie, and Gina as each tells their own story. The plot is good in each one.”
What a fun story! The reader is taken on a journey through Christmas Town, Maine and we get to see snippets of what makes this town special through the eyes of three different characters.
About the Authors
Witches & Wolves ~ Winter Wolf by R J Blain
Welcome to my stop for Winter Wolf by R J Blain
How would you like to run into her in a dark alley?
Enjoy the post and be sure to enter the giveaway.
Add ME to your Goodreads list now.
Winter Wolf (Witch & Wolf Book 2) by R.J. Blain
The Hunted Wizard
SYNOPSIS
When Nicole dabbled in the occult, she lost it all: Her voice, her family, and her name. Now on the run from the Inquisition, she must prove to herself—and the world—that not all wizards are too dangerous to let live.
The savage murder of a bookstore employee throws Nicole into the middle of Inquisition business, like it or not. Driven by her inability to save the young man’s life, she decides to hunt the killer on her own. Using forbidden magic to investigate the past, she learns that the murderer is in fact a disease that could kill the entire werewolf race.
Forced to choose between saving lives and preserving her own, Nicole embraces the magic that sent her into exile. Without werewolves, the power of the Inquisition would dwindle, and she could live without being hunted.
Nicole’s only hope for success lies in the hands of the werewolves she hates and the Inquisition she fears, but finding someone to trust is only the beginning of her problems. There are those who want to ensure that the werewolves go extinct and that the Inquisition falls.
But, if she fails to find a cure, her family—including her twin sister—will perish…
EXCERPT
I slammed my car’s door, spun on a heel, and swore I would have a perfectly normal visit to the mall. All I needed was one little book. Even I could walk into a bookstore, pick up a novel, and leave without causing any trouble.
This time, I wouldn’t blow out the lights. There wouldn’t be a single power surge. I wouldn’t turn on every unplugged device in the electronics store on my way across the mall. In the ten minutes it would take me to get in and out, the only thing anyone would notice about me was the fact that I wore a high-collared sweater in late summer. I had a mission, and I would complete it without fail. The novel my agent insisted I read would be mine.
For a long moment, I considered turning around and getting back into my car. Dominic would forgive me if I didn’t start reading the book until tomorrow. I could call in a favor and ask someone to pick up a copy for me. Then I definitely wouldn’t run any risk of blowing anything up. If I had been smart, I would’ve just ordered the damned thing on the internet, but I had waited too long.
Fishing my cell out of my pocket, I unlocked the screen with a swipe of my finger. The charging icon mocked me. Despite running every battery-draining app I could find, the battery held a full charge. I opened another app, a devilish program capable of killing the battery in ten minutes. It wouldn’t, not with me around, but if I was too busy keeping my phone topped up, maybe my mall shopping trip would prove to be mundane.
I shook my head, laughing at my foolishness.
No one would notice my phone. No one would notice me for more than a second. They’d notice my clothes, and then they’d file me away as yet another weirdo wearing something strange to catch attention. L.A. was full of people like that.
I had no reason to worry. Even if I managed to embarrass myself yet again by losing control of my powers, no one would know I was the cause of unplugged electronics turning on or unusual power surges.
Straightening my shoulders, I fixed my eyes on the line of glass doors and marched my way across the parking lot.
In and out. No blown lights. No power surges. No feeding power to unplugged electrical devices. No charging batteries for strangers. I was in control, and I would charge only my phone.
Making my way to the entry, I paused long enough to hold the door for a little old lady who insisted on making her way through the regular doors despite her walker. I couldn’t blame her. If I lived to be her age, I wouldn’t want to rely on automatic doors either.
She thanked me with a pat on the arm. Flashing her my best smile, I slipped inside.
Nothing happened.
Perfect.
I could handle ten minutes in the crowded corridors. Maybe if I told myself that enough times, I’d believe it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.
When she isn’t playing pretend, she likes to think she’s a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband. She is currently on a quest for a new warrior fish.
In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.
Favorite Books & Series
In no particular order:
Anne McCaffrey’s Pern
Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar & Gryphon Series
Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera & The Dresden Files
Brandon Sanderson’s Elantris
Patricia Briggs’ Alpha and Omega, Dragon Bones, & The Mercy Thompson series
Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time
Website * Twitter * Facebook * Pinterest * Google+ * Goodreads
Click on the cover to get your copy of Winter Wolf by R J Blain
GIVEAWAY
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/16/14
ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE
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, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Sherry’s Shelves #25 ~ Books & Fun
Sherry’s Shelves is my weekly update, where I will recap what I have been doing for the past week: November 16 – November 22, 2014.
Stay tuned for more books and fun!

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Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews
Bought, Borrowed & Bagged is hosted by TalkSupe
**all images are linked to Amazon (I am an affiliate)**
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I have been very busy with Mr. Wonderful.
I have been too busy to even post about it. 😀
Stay tuned for more and have a great day!
PICKED UP FOR FREE
I have seen this series around for a long time and am excited to have been able to pick it up on a free Amazon day.
I love the cover and have been very curious about Coral & Bone.
RECEIVED FOR REVIEW
PASSING THROUGH PERFECT by Bette Lee Crosby
The Wyattsville series, Book 3.
I have loved reading her Wyattsville series.
Thank you, Bette, for the opportunity to share.
WON
A MURDER OF MAGPIES by Sarah Bromley
I love this cover and the story sounds creepy good.
I won this book through Month9Books.
LAST WEEK ON fundinmental
Giveaway – Tales From Feyron by Dianna L Wicker
Giveaway for Christmas Actually
Christmas in Dogtown by Suzanne Johnson Giveaway
Flury: Journey of a Snowman by Tony Bertauski Giveaway
Special Kindle Sale – One Day Only – The Light Who Shines by Lilo Abernathy
Zombies Are “Alive” ~ Welcome to the Afterworld by Karice Bolton Giveaway
Friday 56 #31 & BB #8 – The Job by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg
THIS WEEK ON fundinmental
Sherry’s Shelves #24
Giveaway Tour ~ Winter Wolf by
Book Blast – Creed by Trisha Leaver
Teaser Tuesday #29
Friday 56 # 32 & BB #8.
Friday 56 #31 & BB #8 – The Job by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg
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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Hi Everyone.
I hope you are staying warm and dry.
If not, try…
THE JOB by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg
…and I think you will warm up.
Another fantastic suspense/thriller novel two award winning authors.

Add ME to your Goodreads list now.
(page 56% on Kindle)
Billie Dee Snipes stepped out of the shadows behind Tattoo, swung his machete at Tattoo’s head, and sliced off the knot that held the scarf in place. Tattoo’s broken jaw dropped, he screamed in agony, and reached for his face. Unfortunately, with two hatchets taped to his hands, he chopped off half his right ear before he realized is mistake.
(Book Beginnings)
FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare slouched back in her tan leather executive office chair, looked across her desk, and surveyed the lobby of the Tarzana branch of California Metro Bank. The desk actually belonged to the assistant manger. Kate was occupying it because she was waiting for the bank to get robbed. She’d been waiting for four days, and she was wishing it would happed soon, because she was going gonzo with boredom
SYNOPSIS
The FBI had one demand when they secretly teamed up Special Agent Kate O’Hare with charming con man Nicolas Fox—bring down the world’s most-wanted and untouchable felons. This time it’s the brutal leader of a global drug-smuggling empire. The FBI doesn’t know what their target looks like, where he is, or how to find him, but Nick Fox has a few tricks up his sleeve to roust this particular Knipschildt chocolate–loving drug lord.
From the streets of Nashville to the back alleys of Lisbon, from the rooftops of Istanbul to the middle of the Thames, Nick and Kate chase their mark. When they find themselves pitted against a psychopathic bodyguard and a Portuguese enforcer who gets advice from a pickled head, they decide it’s time to enlist some special talent—talent like a machete-wielding Somali pirate, a self-absorbed actor, an Oscar-winning special effects artist, and Kate’s father Jake, a retired Special Forces operative. Together they could help make this Fox and O’Hare’s biggest win yet . . . if they survive.
Click on the cover to get your copy of The Job now.
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Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
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Zombies Are “Alive” ~ Welcome to the Afterworld by Karice Bolton Giveaway
Welcome to my stop for the Karice Bolton tour.
I hope you enjoy the post.
Beware of the zombies.

Genres: New Adult, Post-Apocalyptic
Add ME to your Goodreads list.
SYNOPSIS
Scientists are the new rock stars. The infection has been contained for nearly three months, and the world is celebrating. But humans are still dying. Rebekah Taylor has seen it firsthand. Her husband was killed right in front of her by the very creatures that humans were told they no longer had to fear.
Rebekah is determined to find out who is responsible for the death of her husband and the obvious cover-up. Fueled with revenge, she begins to find answers that lead to one frightening conclusion. The apocalypse might be over, but the battles are just beginning.
MY REVIEW
RecruitZ by Karice Bolton is the first fantastic zombie novel of the Afterworld Series.
I love the awesome cover by Phatpuppy, showing the kickass protagonist, Rebekah.
Not only is RecruitZ a zombie novel, you will find some science fiction thrown in that will have you thinking, could this really happen?
I borrowed the book from Laura, my sister, some time ago. I was staying at her house while we were taking care of my older sister. I loved this book so much, I signed up for this tour and reread the book so I could share it with you. Plus, I now have Book II, AlibiZ, to read and review. Be sure and stay tuned for that.
The action starts from the first page and never lets up. Just imagine you are trapped in a self-driving car that will not listen to your commands. Add to that a horde of zombies that are determined to get in. This should not be happening! The action is graphic and horrifying. I found myself gripping my Kindle as if MY life depended on it.
Would you resign yourself to the fact you are going to die or would you fight to the death? I always try and put myself into the characters shoes and wonder what I would do in their place?
Things are not as they should be and Becca is determined to get answers, at all costs.
The Afterworld is what they are calling this new world that has developed since the outbreak. Her friends thought she had lost it since the death of her husband, Gavin. If she wasn’t careful, they would report her to the authorities and that would be the end of her. She couldn’t let it go, but she would pretend to her friends that she was moving on with her life.
The devastation left behind is eerie; empty shops and restaurants waiting for owners that would never return were found in every city and town.
Rebekah’s first order of business is going to Shackles, a bar that she thinks will have some answers. Here is where she meets the bartender, Preston. For sport, they had cockfighting, only in place of roosters there were zombies, some of them being New RecruitZ. Imagine the gruesome and bloody sight that will be. Would you participate?
The New RecruitZ were different than the zombies that took down civilization, much more dangerous. How can that be? Zombies are not capable of thought and reasoning, or are they?
Is there more going on than meets the eye? Could there be a conspiracy?
Marcus heads the agency that oversees the remaining humans. Does he have an ulterior motive? Rebekah learns more from Preston, the bartender she met at Shackles. She finds they have a lot in common and teams up with him.
As the danger revs up, so does my anticipation.
I love the characters, especially, of course, Rebekah. I would only hope I could be like her if something were to happen in our world. She is strong, with a capital S. She is smart, determined and will do whatever is necessary to find out why her Gavin had to die. The more she learns, the bigger the danger becomes.
I love a strong female protagonist and like to watch as the character grows and develops into their own. She slowly begins to rebuild her world, sometimes not even aware she is doing it.
Karice is an excellent writer. The words flow smoothly and she creates a tension that never lets up. The pacing will have you on the edge of your seat as you wonder who will survive. As the battle continues and I reach the end of RecruitZ, I can hardly wait to pick up and continue Rebekah’s story in AlibiZ, Book II of the Afterworld series. This is an author that I will be following, eagerly anticipating each new release, plus catching up on some of her other work.
The first time I read the book, I borrowed it. To review for the tour, I reread a copy I received in return for an honest and unbiased review.
5 Stars – Would Buy It For Others (lol)
Add ME to your Goodreads list.
SYNOPSIS
The outbreak might be over, but the nightmare is just beginning…
Rebekah vows to expose the truth behind the RecruitZ that are killing the innocents. These creatures must be stopped, but so should the people controlling them. When Rebekah uncovers who is behind the uprisings, her own life becomes in danger.
Rebekah knows that she is not alone in this fight but vengeance alone won’t help her and the others to victory. It is up to her to uncover the truth for the public before the world is turned over to an elite few.
Regardless of what may happen to her, she knows it’s a race against time to destroy these creatures and the monsters controlling them before there is no one left worth saving.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Luke Fletcher Series: Hidden Sins (Book 1), Buried Sins (Book 2) – coming soon
Beyond Love Series: Beyond Control (Book 1) Beyond Doubt (Book 2) Beyond Reason (Book 3) Beyond Intent (Book 4) Beyond Chance, Beyond Promise, and Beyond the Mistletoe coming soon
Afterworld Series: RecruitZ (Book 1) AlibiZ (Book 2) – October 2014
The Witch Avenue Series: Lonely Souls (Book 1), Altered Souls (Book 2), Released Souls (Book 3) Shattered Souls (Book 4)
The Watchers Trilogy: Awakening (Book 1), Legions (Book 2), Cataclysm (Book 3), Taken Novella (Watchers Prequel)
The Camp
GIVEAWAY
- A zombie theme prize pack + a $10 Amazon Gift Card
Special Kindle Sale – One Day Only – The Light Who Shines by Lilo Abernathy
Add Me to your Goodreads list.
The Light Who Shines
by Lilo Abernathy
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance / Mystery
Amazon Rating: 4.7 Stars
Regular Price: $4.99
Sale Price: $1.99 (One day only)
Kindle Daily Deal Sale Date: Thursday, November 20th, 2014
SYNOPSIS
When Supernatural Investigation Bureau agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) arrives at the scene of the crime, it’s obvious the grotesquely damaged body of the deceased teenage boy was caused by far more than a simple hit and run; and she vows to catch the killer. Using her innate sixth sense, Blue uncovers a powerful magical artifact nearby. She soon discovers it acts as a key to an ancient Grimoire that was instrumental in the creation of the Vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire.
Blue and her clever wolf Varg follow a trail that starts at the Cock and Bull Tap and leads all through the town of Crimson Hollow. Between being sidelined by a stalker who sticks to the shadows and chasing a suspect who vanishes in thin air, the case is getting complicated. If that isn’t enough, Dark Vampire activity hits a record high, and hate crimes are increasing. However, it’s Blue’s growing feelings for Jack Tanner, her sexy Daylight Vampire boss, that just might undo her.
While Blue searches for clues to nail the perpetrator, it seems someone else is conducting a search of their own. Who will find whom first?
Danger lurks in every corner, and Blue needs all her focus in this increasingly dangerous game or she risks ending up the next victim.
PRIMARY CHARACTER PROFILES
Bluebell Kildare: Blue is a Supernatural Homicide Detective and a gifted empath who has a pure spirit and a will of steel. She was orphaned at a young age and has had a tough life so far. Yet, she continually picks herself up by the boot straps and fights to do what is right, regardless of the cost. Just how high will the cost be?
Jack Tanner: He’s Blue’s sexy boss, the head of the Supernatural Homicide Unit in Crimson Hollow. Jack is very old and powerful Daylight Vampire with many layers. He is driven a little crazy by his desire to protect Blue in the face of her independence. Can he keep his cool when Blue needs him most?
Varg: He is a great grey wolf who comes out of nowhere and decides to be Blue’s companion. He seems to have some mysterious magical abilities and uses them to guard Blue’s life. Can he keep her safe?
Maud: She is Blue’s dear friend and mother figure. Maud used to visit Blue in the orphanage and read to her as a child. She can’t cook but she makes awesome Southern beverages. What color is her hair today? Is it blue, fuchsia, scarlet, or peach sherbet?
Alexis: She is Blue’s comrade and neighbor, as well as the sassy owner of a store called Herbal Enchantments. She is gifted in earth magic and if she isn’t busy feeding her friends, she’s telling them what to do. Does she have her hands on her hips right now, or is she waving her finger at Blue?
The Villain: Can he get any more evil? No. He is about as evil as they come . . .
AUTHOR BIO
Lilo Abernathy is a somewhat eccentric, deep-thinking, warm-hearted young woman of at least 43 years. She started out as a restaurant chain hostess and worked her way up to the exciting world of global mergers and acquisitions. She has enjoyed an on again/off again relationship with formal education and has been affectionately referred to as information hound. In the evenings, she fills her writing breaks by scanning the internet for answers to provocative questions, such as: “What causes diamonds to be formed in different colors?”
One thing that never changes is Lilo’s ongoing love affair with books. A born bibliophile, by age ten she finished all the children’s books in the house and started devouring the adult section. By age 15, she was working her way through grocery store book aisles and libraries. Just as Picasso had his blue period, Lilo had her own periods of readership–urban fantasy, paranormal romance, Gothic novels, etc. Now she’s planning on creating a bookshelf for you to enjoy.
Website / Blog / Facebook Page / Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest
Click on the cover to get your copy of The Light Who Shines by Lilo Abernathy.
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Flury: Journey of a Snowman by Tony Bertauski Giveaway
Through Prism Book Tours.
We’re celebrating the RELEASE of
Flury: Journey of a Snowman
By Tony Bertauski
An Introduction to Flury
Frosty had a magic hat.
There was no explanation, just a special hat that turned a pile of snow into a walking, talking best friend. Flury is more than that. And doesn’t smoke.
Born on the North Pole, Flury was created by an ancient race of elven that evolved during the Ice Age and continues to live in the polar ice today. Technologically advanced, they sustain themselves with innovation and wisdom. But even the most peaceful settlements encounter danger, such as polar bears. That’s why they invented abominables.
What we call snowmen.
The life of an abominable doesn’t magically spring from a top hat. The heart of an abominable is a metal orb—an intricately carved sphere that generates an electromagnetic field and builds a body of snow around it. Abominables are intimidating and selfless. They run, they fly. Above all else, they protect.
In the late 1800s, Malcolm Toye was part of an arctic voyage that ended in disaster. The survivors of the expedition never saw him again. Malcolm had wandered into the snowy landscape to be saved by a patrolling abominable he would come to know as Flury.
His rescue, however, became more of a curse than a blessing when the elven refused to allow him safe passage back home, insisting they remain secret from humanity. Malcolm was destined to live out his days among the elven, pining for home.
Longing for his wife.
Malcolm escaped by stealing the metal orb of Flury. Quietly, he arrived back in the United States to settle down and resume a normal life. But there was nothing normal about it. As the years went by, his estate becomes shrouded in mystery and rumors.
A hundred years will go by before the mystery is solved.
Oliver Toye, a teenage type 1 diabetic, will discover the magic hidden on his grandmother’s property. He’ll read about Malcolm Toye’s journey when he finds a set of leather bound journals. He’ll see the snowman trapped on the property, and the other things that haunt the forest. Most importantly, he’ll uncover Malcolm Toye’s master plan to harm others. And why he wants to.
Flury will come to Oliver’s rescue more than once.
(Claus #3)
by Tony Bertauski
YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Holiday
Life hasn’t been kind to Oliver Toye.
As if juvenile diabetes isn’t enough, he’s forced to live with his tyrannical grandmother in a snow-bound house. He spends his days doing chores and the nights listening to the forest rumble.
But when he discovers the first leather-bound journal, the family secrets begin to surface. The mystery of his great-grandfather’s voyage to the North Pole is revealed. That’s when the snowman appears.
Magical and mysterious, the snowman will save Oliver more than once. But when the time comes for Oliver to discover the truth, will he have the courage? When Flury needs him, will he have the strength? When believing isn’t enough, will he save the snowman from melting away?
Because sometimes even magic needs a little help.
About Tony Bertauski
During the day, I’m a horticulturist. While I’ve spent much of my career designing landscapes or diagnosing dying plants, I’ve always been a storyteller. My writing career began with magazine columns, landscape design textbooks, and a gardening column at the Post and Courier (Charleston, SC). However, I’ve always fancied fiction.
My grandpa never graduated high school. He retired from a steel mill in the mid-70s. He was uneducated, but he was a voracious reader. I remember going through his bookshelves of paperback sci-fi novels, smelling musty old paper, pulling Piers Anthony and Isaac Asimov off shelf and promising to bring them back. I was fascinated by robots that could think and act like people. What happened when they died?
I’m a cynical reader. I demand the writer sweep me into his/her story and carry me to the end. I’d rather sail a boat than climb a mountain. That’s the sort of stuff I want to write, not the assigned reading we got in school. I want to create stories that kept you up late.
Having a story unfold inside your head is an experience different than reading. You connect with characters in a deeper, more meaningful way. You feel them, empathize with them, cheer for them and even mourn. The challenge is to get the reader to experience the same thing, even if it’s only a fraction of what the writer feels. Not so easy.
In 2008, I won the South Carolina Fiction Open with Four Letter Words, a short story inspired by my grandfather and Alzheimer’s Disease. My first step as a novelist began when I developed a story to encourage my young son to read. This story became The Socket Greeny Saga. Socket tapped into my lifetime fascination with consciousness and identity, but this character does it from a young adult’s struggle with his place in the world.
After Socket, I thought I was done with fiction. But then the ideas kept coming, and I kept writing. Most of my work investigates the human condition and the meaning of life, but not in ordinary fashion. About half of my work is Young Adult (Socket Greeny, Claus, Foreverland) because it speaks to that age of indecision and the struggle with identity. But I like to venture into adult fiction (Halfskin, Drayton) so I can cuss. Either way, I like to be entertaining.
And I’m a big fan of plot twists.
Website; – Goodreads; – Facebook
I have read the first two books in the unique and original Claus series and would like to share them with you.
MY REVIEW
MY REVIEW
Click on the covers to get your copy of a Tony Bertauski novel today.
BLITZ GIVEAWAY
– $25 Amazon gift card and ebook of Flury: Journey of a Snowman (open internationally)
Ends November 22nd
ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE
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Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
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Christmas in Dogtown by Suzanne Johnson Giveaway

.
Welcome to my stop for Christmas in Dogtown by Suzanne Johnson.
I love the cute and fun cover.
This would make a great Christmas read, so be sure and enter the giveaway.
Add ME to your Goodreads reading list.
Christmas in Dogtown
by Suzanne Johnson
Genre: Sweet Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Story Vault
Date of Publication: December 2012
ASIN: B009RBKTSG
Number of pages: 30
Word Count: approx. 11,000
BOOK DESCRIPTION
A woman who spent years escaping her rural past learns that Dogtown, Louisiana, hides more family secrets than just the recipe for boudin blanc…..
Resa Madere’s on the verge of losing it all. The boyfriend’s gone. The job’s history. Her beloved house is on the brink of foreclosure. She’ll do anything to save it—even spend a long Christmas holiday working in St. James Parish, Louisiana, helping her uncle run the family meat business. But the community of Dogtown, which has been home for seven generations of the Madere and Caillou families, has deep roots and deeper secrets. For Resa, going home is one thing.
Getting out might not be so easy.
EXCERPT
“You are stupid,” Resa told her reflection in the tiny, scratched mirror of the White Castle’s rose-pink bathroom. “Stupid, ridiculous, and absurd.”
She’d been wrestling with her curly black hair for a half hour, and the brown eyes that stared back at her from beneath freshly plucked brows and carefully applied eyeliner looked more jittery than sexy. “And idiotic.”
First, it had been almost a week since Chan had asked her to the Saturday night community dance, popping the question almost shyly as they hacked at the bodies of gigantic dead fish. They’d both been covered in blood and smelled like they’d been rolling in bait, which should have tipped her off that anything in Dogtown reeking of romance, well, reeked.
Second, her potential date had left immediately after asking her out so he could catch an alligator that had eaten somebody’s poodle in one of those backwater houses near the swamp. He burned rubber out of the Madere’s driveway after making sure he had enough duct tape to wrap around the gator’s jaws. Adequate duct tape was not an attribute she’d ever sought in a man.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Suzanne Johnson writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance (under the name Susannah Sandlin) from Auburn, Alabama, on top of a career in educational publishing that has thus far spanned five states and six universities—including both Alabama and Auburn, which makes her bilingual. She grew up in Winfield, Alabama, halfway between the Bear Bryant Museum and Elvis’ birthplace, but was also a longtime resident of New Orleans, so she has a highly refined sense of the absurd and an ingrained love of SEC football, cheap Mardi Gras trinkets, and fried gator on a stick. She’s the author of the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series and, as Susannah Sandlin, the Penton Legacy paranormal romance series.
Website and blog www.suzannejohnsonauthor.com
Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
TOUR GIVEAWAY
1 $25 Amazon Gift Card
2 $10 Amazon Gift Cards
ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE
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Giveaway for Christmas Actually
The Christmas Gift by Anna Adams
This anthology was born one night in January when Melinda Curtis and Anna J. Stewart and I (Anna Adams) were chatting on Skype, and Melinda suggested a holiday anthology. From there we went to setting, and then to the kind of stories we wanted to write. Christmas Town, Maine came to life and the Banning siblings began living. I hope readers will be moved as I am by Jack and Sophie’s story.
Sophie Palmer was confused when the pregnancy test came back positive, but one thing she knew—she already loved her unborn child. She didn’t expect former Army surgeon, Jack Banning to break all contact with them. He’s promised financial support, but he wants no other contact with her or their coming child.
He must have a reason. She’d known him and loved him for two years. At Christmas, she follows him to Maine to tell him she’s putting his name on the birth certificate.
She no longer loves him. He’s destroyed those feelings, and she will never give their daughter a reason to believe she can expect more than her father’s name, but Sophie can’t forget the soldier who lived by the code of “Leave no man behind,” the doctor who’s cared more for his patients than himself, the man who didn’t know how to be dishonorable.
Fatherless herself, Sophie doesn’t care about the financials. She’ll take care of her own, but she needs to understand why Jack’s become an impossible-to-love stranger.
The Christmas Wish by Anna J. Stewart
For as long as I’ve been writing, I never thought I’d ever write a novella. I’m a novel length kinda girl–I just write long books; sometimes very, very long. But when my friend (and writing Yoda) Melinda Curtis proposed the idea of interconnected novellas featuring a set of siblings, I couldn’t say no. Especially not when she, Anna Adams and I decided to make it a holiday themed anthology. There’s something magical about the holiday season, and writing Callie and Dean’s story was a true pleasure. In all honesty, it was also the easiest thing I’ve ever written; probably because this story comes straight from my heart.
When Callie Banning’s student declares war on Christmas, it’s up to her to teach the little girl–and her widowed father–to believe again.
Normally when I start a story, the heroine is first to pop into my head. This time around, Dean Galloway entered the scene first. I could see him so clearly, shoulder length blonde hair, the brown leather jacket, the haunted twinkle in his eye as he struggled to raise his little girl on his own. And he came with a camera. No idea why, he just arrived that way. Like a gift. There’s something incredibly appealing to me (and hopefully to readers) about a father who is so in love with his child he’ll do anything–even move them all across the country–to keep them happy. Adding a tinge of grief to their story and Callie Banning was just the healing effect they’d been looking for. There are people who just fit from the moment they meet; not necessarily that clichéd “you complete me” fit, but that something special that makes life and love all that more exciting. The Christmas Wish is more than about celebrating the holiday season and rediscovering the magic those months bring–it’s about finding where one truly belongs, both in home and heart. So come on, welcome to Christmas Town, Maine and meet the Banning siblings, who have a very special New Year coming their way.
The Christmas Date by Melinda Curtis
The Christmas Date is the third novella in Christmas, Actually – three holiday stories about three siblings living in Christmas Town, Maine, where tradition has it that a kiss on Christmas Eve in the town square gazebo will lead to wedding bells in the new year!
At a critique session, the Annas and I were talking about how we loved holiday stories. It was a natural progression to creating our own special town with heartwarming traditions.
In The Christmas Date, Gina Vernay was in an accident as a child and has a scar down her right cheek. Since then, Gina has always sat on the sidelines, lacking the self-confidence to shine. Wanting what many of her friends have – love, a family – Gina signs up for an online dating account. But her picture doesn’t show her scar. And she’s always too busy running The Tea Cup in Christmas Town to meet anyone, much less a man to share a kiss under the mistletoe in the town’s gazebo. But when one persistent on-line suitor arranges to meet her on Christmas Eve, Gina’s life turns upside down.
GUEST POST
My Top 10 Christmas Traditions

I LOVE Christmas time. Truly, from about Halloween on, I’m all about the tinsel, the trees and the music (why do they have to stop the Xmas carols on the 26th?!). For years now it’s just been my mom and me during the holiday season, but we’ve got our traditions…and they start early…even before we carve the Thanksgiving turkey.
- We decorate on Thanksgiving day. It used to be the day after Thanksgiving, but I spent years working in retail and we all know what that means. No one gets black Friday off, so our decorating begins as the aroma of roasting turkey and baking pies hits the atmosphere.
- We put up 3 Christmas trees. That’s right. 3. Of varying sizes of course. We have our 7″ (fake) tree that takes hours to put up, light, and decorate. Then we have our smaller, 3″ tree that’s reserved only for Harry Potter ornaments and my Grandfather’s tree-top angel. Then there’s my favorite tree–the small, 2″ tree my Grandmother had in her bedroom every holiday season, covered in hand-made needlepoint and tatted ornaments, topped with an antique glass topper that once upon a time cost .10 cents at the Five and Dime. Once that tree is up, Christmas has arrived.
- Make the egg-nog! Okay, this is a polarizing issue. Some people hate it, others love it. Me, I was in the middle (calories, ugh!) until I discovered a “fake” eggnog recipe that’s made from soy or almond milk and vanilla pudding mix. I LOVE it–and you can find it at HungryGirl.com. I’ve served it to so many people and no one has ever guessed it’s fake.
- Garth Brooks. I’m not a big music fan. And I’m really not a country fan. Okay, I confess. I’m a leftover metal head from the 80’s, but for me, the perfect Christmas album is by Garth Brooks. I love hearing him sing the traditional carols with a twangy twist. And more than a little heart.

- A Christmas Carol. Everyone has their favorite holiday movie and I’m no exception. At least once during the season I need to watch A Christmas Carol…but not any version (and not, oddly enough, the Patrick Stewart version, despite being a die-hard Trekkie). The George C. Scott version hits all the right notes in both homage to Dickens and to the season’s spirit (ahem, literally and figuratively).
- Party! Everyone’s always so busy, it’s hard to get people together, even around the holidays. But every year I have one dinner that includes my 2 best friends and my Godmother. I cook (like a maniac) and we open gifts and share all sorts of memories and goodies. It’s a tradition we had to miss last year for various reasons, but for me, that day, is even better than Christmas.
- Legos! So, like I said, it’s usually just me and mom on Christmas and if there’s one thing we have in common it’s our love of (and fascination with) Legos. Mom and I head to either Target or the Lego store well in advance of Christmas and choose a set to assemble on Christmas day while music plays on the stereo and dinner cooks in the oven. Last year it was The Hobbit; the 2 years before that, it was Harry Potter (Hogwarts and The Hogwarts Express respectively). Not sure what this year might bring…maybe some superheroes? Someday it’ll be the Death Star. Fingers crossed!
- A drive. We’re so fortunate to live where we do in Northern California. Sacramento has some beautiful old areas that go all out for the holiday season. Typically a few days before Christmas, we’ll head out just after sunset to explore the lighted homes and marvel at people’s creativity. The beauty stays with me for months…which probably explains why I was able to write a Christmas story in March.

- Shopping. I’m an early shopper for presents. I’m usually done sometime around Thanksgiving (you may commence hating me now). But I love venturing out closer to the holiday, to those little holes in the walls, the non-chain places that house treasures of the season you might not find other places. Seeing new and different, feeling that cold chill on my cheeks as I go in and out of the stores…is there anything better?
- Celebrating dreams coming true. The holiday season in the perfect time to reflect on the past year and to see how far I’ve come to fulfilling my dreams. Nearly 1 year ago to the day of this post, I got “the call” from my friend Melinda, letting me know my first story was going to be published. This story, THE CHRISTMAS WISH. I could not have had a more perfect gift, or have found a better time for my dream of finally being a published author to come true. Because they do. This story is proof.
So how about you? Share your favorite holiday traditions in the comments below. Maybe I’ll be adding yours to mine this year and celebrate in even grander fashion..
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Will your heart be warmed by a sweet kiss under the mistletoe this year? Come along on the tour to find out!
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