NEW HISTORICAL FICTION from Nancy Blanton: ‘Sharavogue’

Sharavogue by Nancy Blanton
Published by iUniverse, 11/5/2012
eBook, paperback, hardcover

It is December of 1649 and England’s uncrowned king, Oliver Cromwell, leads his brutal army across Ireland to eliminate a violent rebellion. Fifteen-year-old Elvy Burke, the daughter of a great warrior, wants only one thing—to live her destiny as a leader and defender of her country. While waiting anxiously in her village, Elvy receives word that Cromwell and his cavalry are on the way. As she hears the thunderous hooves approaching, Elvy has already decided she will not give up easily.

When Cromwell cruelly beheads a village boy, Elvy vows to avenge the killing by destroying Cromwell. After fleeing from the general’s soldiers, Elvy aligns with a Scottish outlaw whose schemes send them headlong into a tumultuous journey across the sea to the West Indies, where she becomes an indentured servant for the fledgling sugar plantation Sharavogue. Knowing she will surely be killed if she attempts to escape, Elvy learns to survive in her new life—and soon discovers the depth of her own strengths and emotions.

Sharavogue is the compelling historical tale of one girl’s incredible journey through the lawless lands of the West Indies as she fights her way back to Ireland to confront her sworn enemy and claim her destiny.

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Born in Miami, Florida, Nancy Blanton is a corporate communications professional and former journalist. She wrote and illustrated a children’s book, The Curios Adventure of Roodle Jones, produced two corporate history books and two interactive timelines. Sharavogue is her first novel. Her blog, My Lady’s Closet, covers history, writing, and related experiences.

Available in eBook, Paperback, and Hardcover formats at:
– Amazon
– Barnes & Noble
– iUniverse
– IndeBound

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PRAISE FOR SHARAVOGUE

Blanton has accomplished what I think all writers of good historical fiction should. She has accurately portrayed a time in history with a real flare, serendipitously teaching her readers as she keeps them utterly captivated with her characters. Her descriptions of places and events is so vivid that it is easy to imagine being on the sugar plantation or sailing across the ocean.

– LAS Reviewer

Blanton ranks right up there with Cornwell, Scarrow, and Rutherfurd in making history enjoyable and dare I say even exciting! Looking forward to further books from her.

– Amazon Reader Review

This book kept me up nights. Every time I thought I could put it down something happened that made me read on. A very enjoyable first novel.

– Christine W.

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REVIEW: New Historical/Regency Romance ‘Heart of the Diamond’ by Carrie Brock a Must-Read!

Blake Dylan, The Earl of Diamond, has a heart of ice. The time has come for him to return to England and enact his plan of vengeance, even if it means wedding the daughter of his sworn enemy.

Lady Nicole Langley has vowed she will not marry unless for true love. When she is lured into a compromising situation with a handsome stranger her worst nightmare begins.

Now, to save them both, Nicki must wage a campaign to win the heart of the Diamond.

“A beautiful story about true love, revenge, learning to forgive and move on, and having pure faith in someone you care about. It’s a heart warming, steamy, romantic, humorous, intriguing, mysterious read that had me from the very first sentence! . . . Definitely a must-read for romance fans! “
          – Nakita McDonnagh

“What a delightful surprise! . . . This historical romance is packed with excitement, joy, travesty, mystery, and struggle, yet ultimately true love prevails. Well written, I found myself wondering what could possibly happen next! I recommend this book to lovers of this artistic category and also to those readers who are looking for a lovely read.”

         – Valerie Voner

“Carrie Brock’s style of writing is superb and her sense of humor shines through…[She] manages to make us fall in love with the characters, and overall it was an enjoyable read which was hard to put down. I look forward to reading more of her work.”

          -Rubi Book Reviews

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A New Approach to Smoking Cessation: ‘Stop Smoking: Understanding the Machinery of the Learning System’ by Vern Benson

In his work, author Vern Benson defines the smoking problem, illuminating the reasons why resisting the urge to smoke is so often doomed to failure. He presents his program that is meant to guide the physical and mental machinery of the body, explaining how an individual can quit smoking by understanding the mechanics of both our body and mind to discover the “how” of the approach to smoking cessation.

Benson, former meteorologist, mathematician, and smoker, uses mathematics and science to explain how to break the habit of smoking. Benson’s new perspective is supported by examples to make the topic understandable, making his step-by-step system a powerful, logical resource that gently guides you to a successful end to your desire to smoke.

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Vern Benson holds a bachelor’s degree in physics, a master’s in mathematics, and a certificate in meteorology, and has had a highly successful career in the electronics and aerospace industries. After four years in the United States Air Force, Benson was a physics and math professor at Midland University and Kansas University. He gave up teaching to spend 30 years as an engineer and salesman in the electronics and aerospace industries. Benson has successfully quit smoking and has been a non-smoker for over 25 years.

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AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING eBOOK RETAILERS
(click on the logo to view product page and purchase)

         
         
                  

Appalachian Author Janie Mae McKinley’s “The Legacy of Bear Mountain”

    

     In ‘The Legacy of Bear Mountain: Stories of Old Mountain Values That Enrich Our Lives Today,’ Janie Mae recalls mountain life with her grandparents during the time her mother and father were involved in the war efforts of World War II. During those formative years, she absorbed her grandparents’ old-fashioned values and lifestyle. Although their secluded 1895 farmhouse lacked modern conveniences until 1975, they enjoyed a rich life of hard work, honesty, humor, gratitude, and faith. With amazing detail, Janie Mae, whose ancestors came to Bear Mountain in the 1700s, vividly recalls both humorous and scary stories, along with grandfather’s hard work on the railroad and her grandmother’s devout faith in God.

      In honor of the reader’s own memories, a page at the end of each chapter is designed for individuals, families, small groups, or church classes to record and share their own family’s legacy.

     A first-generation college graduate, Janie Mae Jones McKinley holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC, and a M.A.Ed. in Community Agency Counseling from Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC. Having returned to her childhood roots, she lives on Bear Mountain with her husband, Larry. Because of having no heirs, she donated many of her grandparents’ antiques to the Mountain Heritage Center Museum on the Western Carolina University campus. These treasured artifacts will be used to teach future generations about mountain farm life before modern conveniences. 

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REVIEWS of THE LEGACY OF BEAR MOUNTAIN:

McKinley does a wonderful job of drawing her reader in and immersing them in mountain life…An excellent book, and an absolute read for fans of creative non-fiction. McKinley should be very proud of her work and her heritage, I hope to see more work from her in the future. 
             – J. P. Dash

This is an incredibly detailed book; the author does an amazing job of showing us what her experiences on Bear Mountain were like…a very sentimental book, and the reader’s are allowed to go on that journey of remembering with the author. I believe that anyone who grew up in an area like that, or with family like that, would appreciate this book…I was touched by some of the stories in this book, and am glad to have had the chance to read it.
            – Cianna Reider

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AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING eBOOK RETAILERS:

– Amazon
– iTunes
– Barnes & Noble
– Sony
– OmniLit
– Kobo
– e-Sentral
– Foyles
– Hive
– Kalahari
– Blackwell’s Bookshop
– Asiabooks
– BIGhay
– The Indie eBook Shop
– Tesco eBooks

 

FOR PRINT EDITIONS:

– CSA Books

NEW ROMANCE: ‘Heart of the Diamond’ by Carrie Brock

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One of the best historical novels I’ve ever read! The hero is all I can imagine in a lover. A wonderful mixture of intrigue and romance.     -Toni Standley

Great characters. Great fun. i loved it!     -Paula Detmer Riggs, Taming the Night

I love this book–I couldn’t put it down.     -Mary Miller

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Blake Dylan, The Earl of Diamond, has a heart of ice. The time has come for him to return to England and enact his plan of vengeance, even if it means wedding the daughter of his sworn enemy.

Lady Nicole Langley has vowed she will not marry unless for true love. When she is lured into a compromising situation with a handsome stranger her worst nightmare begins.

Now, to save them both, Nicki must wage a campaign to win the heart of the Diamond.

NOW AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING EBOOK RETAILERS:

     

BOOK REVIEW: Dr. Linda Harper’s “Give”

Give: A Guide to Discovering the Joy of Everyday Giving
Linda R. Harper, Ph.D.

Review by Taryn Fryer

I wanted to read Give in order to learn how to give more authentically.  In many ways the book was what I expected in terms of learning to give according to your values and to give freely in every sense of the word.  Had that been all there was, I would have been satisfied with the book and then put it down and promptly forgotten about it. 

This book rose above my expectations for two main reasons.  The first of these was the importance of giving to oneself.   I think many people, myself included, tend to put self-nurturing last on their ever increasing to-do lists.  What Ms Harper does beautifully is to challenge this notion that “spoiling” ourselves is somehow wanton.  She reminds, or in some cases teaches, us that only when we are kind to ourselves, when we allow ourselves time to replenish and heal and even maybe have a little pampering are we in any way able to give to others.  And the better we treat ourselves, the better we will be equipped to give to others.  I found this to be a very powerful message and one that I have already started to incorporate into my daily habits.

The book also looks at various types of inauthentic giving and that’s where it started to get uncomfortable. I certainly recognized some of the not-so-pleasant aspects of my personality in one of the types, and it was not entirely pleasant reading! Whilst I identified a lot more with one of the types, there were ideas and suggestions that resonated with me in each of the chapters.  By saying this was an uncomfortable read, by no means am I implying any criticism of the book. When I read these types of books, I want to be made uncomfortable, to be provoked, to have my actions challenged (albeit gently, which is exactly how Ms Harper does it) as it is these feelings that can provide the impetus for lasting change.

 On the strength of this book, I will definitely read more by Ms Harper . . . On an Amazon style review, I would give this 4 stars.

NEW RELEASE: True Crime / Mystery – ‘The Owl Knows’ by Roy Owenby

The Owl Knows
An Appalachian Trail Mystery
Roy Owenby
Published by Ammons Communications

     Two female teachers are camping in the wilderness at the junction of Wayah Mountain and the Appalachian Trail. One is murdered and the other disappears without a trace. Through a series of discoveries, the mystery begins to unravel with the help of the husband of the murdered woman. For two years, lawmen chase the case, and the serial killer whom they must extract from his cliff hideaway in the Nantahala National Forest.
Based on actual events, ‘The Owl Knows’ is a story of mystery, friendship, and love amidst the background of the Appalachian Mountains.

AVAILABLE AT AMAZON, NOOK, KOBO, iTUNES,
SONY, GOOGLE BOOKS, and OMNILIT.

‘The Celiac Cookbook’

Wonderful Wheat-Free Recipes for the Whole Family!

     Now you can satisfy the entire family with delicious and nutritious gluten-free recipes they’ll love, gluten intolerant or not! Designed with the family in mind after years of perseverance in the kitchen, this collection of over 300 recipes offers delicious gluten-free foods without sacrificing flavor.
‘The Celiac Cookbook’ uses simple recipes with common ingredients for both special occasions and everyday cooking. Variations on classic recipes—as well as traditional dishes—abound, giving those with gluten intolerance choices suited to the tastes of even the most discernible palates.
This cookbook presents dishes inspired by Asian, Italian, and Mexican cuisine like frittatas, orange beef stir-fry, black bean enchiladas, and pizza, with desserts like apple pie, homemade ice cream, mints and much, much more, all without wheat!
With The Celiac Cookbook, discover alternative grains that offer better nutritional content and added health benefits, gluten-free cooking tips, and baking aids. In addition, you’ll find helpful information about celiac disease and resources for the gluten intolerant.

 

NOW AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING E-BOOK RETAILERS:

– Amazon
– Nook
– Kobo

Coming soon in print!

4/5 BOOK REVIEW: New Contemporary Romance – “Charades” by Ann Logan

 

 

Mercy Fuentes is doing a favor for a friend. She is going on a week long ‘date’ with a German oil worker as he prepares to try and gain an exclusive contract. This contract is with someone who likes his colleagues to be in a stable relationship. Wulfgar Rheinhart is a man who constantly works and has no spare time to spend on finding love. Mercy agrees to pretend to be his fiancé for a week. Little does she know what lies ahead.

The author quickly lets us, the reader, into one of the secrets within the pages of this book. Wulfgar is not actually German, nor is he trying to gain a contract. He is, in fact, trying to gain access to something which Mercy’s grandfather stole when he left Germany before the end of the war. Wulf has been led to believe that Mercy somehow knows the whereabouts of the missing item.

This story is one of lies, hidden truths, betrayal, and families fighting each other. As we read more of the story it becomes clear that no one is telling the truth. The secrets woven into the pages begin to unravel, but even more is discovered along the way.

Mercy finds herself falling for Wulf, as he also falls for her, but will this ‘love’ withstand the test of all the lies when the truth finally comes out? Will the truth actually come out or is it hidden so deep it can never be found?

Mercy is subjected to so much during the story. She discovers family she didn’t know she had. She discovers the truth about the deaths of family members. She also finds out that almost all of her family, and extended family, are out to find the stolen item, and most will stop at nothing to find it. Can she find anyone who is telling the truth? Will she manage to uncover the whereabouts of the stolen item? And will everyone she cares about survive till the end?

I loved the twists and turns in this book. Just when I thought I had it figured out another secret was brought out into the open, throwing everyone into chaos again. The author has written a story which takes the characters, and the reader, on a journey through several countries in a short period of time. It is a fast paced story which constantly gives you more to think about, it has you trying to work out and decipher what is real and what is not.

This isn’t your normal love story, but more a test of a love against all the odds. Is it possible to come out the other side of so much deceit with love intact, or is there a limit to the amount one person can take? The only way to find out is by reading this story yourself. I can guarantee you one thing though, you will not expect half of what you will find within its pages.

Review by Fiona W.

AVAILABLE AT AMAZON, NOOK, KOBO, SONY, iTUNES, GOOGLE BOOKS, GARDNERS BOOKS, and ALL ROMANCE!

The Celiac Cookbook: Wonderful Wheat-Free Recipes for the Whole Family!

Blue Star Books is pleased to announce the release of The Celiac Cookbook!

Satisfy your whole family with delicious and nutritious gluten-free recipes they’ll love,
gluten intolerant or not…

    Designed with the family in mind after years of perseverance in the kitchen, this collection of over 300 recipes offers delicious gluten-free foods without sacrificing flavor.
      The Celiac Cookbook uses simple recipes with common ingredients for both special occasions and everyday cooking. Variations on classic recipes—as well as traditional dishes—abound, giving those with gluten intolerance choices suited to the tastes of even the most discernible palates.
     This cookbook presents dishes inspired by Asian, Italian, and Mexican cuisine like frittatas, orange beef stir-fry, black bean enchiladas, and pizza, with desserts like apple pie, homemade ice cream, mints and much, much more, all without wheat!
     With The Celiac Cookbook, discover alternative grains that offer better nutritional content and added health benefits, gluten-free cooking tips, and baking aids. In addition, you’ll find helpful information about celiac disease and resources for the gluten intolerant.

NOW AVAILABLE AT AMAZON, KOBO BOOKS, BARNES & NOBLE, and OMNILIT!