Really, A Worst-Case Scenario ~ Book Blast with Giveaway

Really, a Worst Case Scenario

About the Author:

B. P. Noland is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Both had
extensive professional careers before turning to creative writing. In scientific
research, Billie published over forty papers. Paul published over twenty reports
on local and state government. In their free time, they focus on sports, concerts,
museums, travel, and family. They currently live in New Mexico.

About the Book:

Title: Really, a Worst-Case Scenario
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Author: B.P. Noland
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 300
Language: English
ISBN – 978-1-47590-111-5

Mayor Ron Steadman of Centerville, New Mexico, is ready for reelection. The campaign has been running smoothly, no question. No opponent stands a chance against this powerful community leader. The election is only a month away, and the desert skies
couldn’t be bluer—that is until there’s a murder, and Ron’s wife, Val, becomes the prime suspect.

Valarie Steadman is a scientist and university laboratory director for stem cell research, but she’s not a murderer. Someone has set her up, but she wonders whether the perpetrator is out to ruin her—or her husband. She enlists the help of lab assistant Steve Janson to help her solve the crime and clear her name. Meanwhile, the mayor— who happens to be an ex-FBI agent—joins forces with the local homicide detective, Joe Maxwell, to do a little investigation of his own.

Soon, Ron and Joe find themselves near the border of Mexico, where a drug cartel that might be tied to the murder gets involved. When the FBI and DEA join the fray, things get even more complicated. It’s a good thing Ron is a politician; he knows how to change complicated into simple. Still, his time is running out. If he’s lucky, he can get reelected and save the life of the woman he loves.

Purchase your copy at iUniverse

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POP Art ~ Review

POP ART Decorating and Shaping Custom Cake Pops By Kris Galicia Brown Are you tired of the same old cake when it comes time to entertain or throw a party? Well, with Pop Art your entertaining problems are now a thing of the past! You now have a excuse have your cake and eat it too!  These delightful, cute, and, even at times, elegant Custom Cake Pops will have friends and family asking "Where did you find these???"  Imagine their amazement when you modestly state "From my kitchen."  You can fist pump in your mind though. The directions are straight forward and if you enjoyed forming clay as a child you have it made!  This will allow the inner artist a chance to flex her wings (or his).  You'll be able to create an array of pops from adorable animals to an elegant cup of tea to a Christmas - perfect for the season. And before you whip together a cake to make an attempt be sure to read through the book so that you are sure to have all the necessary supplies on hand.  And then be prepared for an enjoyable and fun afternoon as you try your hand at POP ART. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review. You've never seen cake pops like these! Hot Air Balloons, Pineapples, Giraffes, and Easter Baskets--cake pop artist Kris Galicia Brown shows you how to shape, dip, and decorate over 40 amazing designs. Make your cake pops phenomenal with "Pop Art"! Whether you're a beginner or a veteran, cake pop artist Kris Galicia Brown shows you how to shape, dip, and decorate over 40 amazing designs for any  holiday or event. Learn her personal techniques, tips, and tricks to create the most mouthwatering and beautiful cake pops.

About Kris

With a love for sweets and a passion for design, Kris Galicia Brown is a light of inspiration in the cake pop industry. Kris skillfully crafts her sweets like works of fine art. After graduating with a degree in advertising from the Art Institute of California-San Diego, she pursued a career in graphic design and worked as lead Creative for a local advertising and PR agency. After entering motherhood, Kris founded kCreative and began work as a freelance designer and ultimately stumbled upon the world of cake pops. Her background as a graphic designer has proved to be an excellent foundation for her newest venture. Kris's originality, eye for detail, and addiction to precision sets her apart from other cake pop makers and has landed her a global audience. Kris lives in San Diego, California, with her husband and two daughters. In addition to running her business, Goods by kCreative, Kris also teaches cake pop classes and blogs regularly. Learn more about Kris Galicia Brown atwww.goodsbykcreative.com.

The Dawn of Christmas ~ Review

The Dawn of Christmas
By Cindy Woodsmall

When Sadie Yoder's heart was broken by her wayward fiancee, she was the one found at fault in eyes of most people.  Four years have passed and Daed wants her to return home.  But Sadie is determined to remain single and return on yet another mission trip to Peru.  But Daed won't hear of it, it's time for her to return home and settle down.

What's a girl to do?

When Sadie finds an injured man, she secretly gets him aid.  Soon she and Levi hatch a plan - they will pretend to be seeing each other and so lessen the demands and expectations of their respective families.

But what happens when pretend becomes real?  And when Sadie's former fiancee again comes into her life what will she do?  Can one overcome hurt and betrayal or will the lies just continue?

I do think Sadie's family and friends were a little hard on her not believing her and what she saw. But overall The Dawn of Christmas is a sweet story with some of your favorite characters from other Apple Ridge Christmas stories from Cindy Woodsmall making an appearance.  I really liked this book and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting a Christmas story with a touch of romance without an overabundance of sap included.  And this time of year sap should stay on the Christmas trees!

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Learn more about The Dawn of Christmas and Cindy Woodsmall:

• Author's Web site
• More Info
• Read Chapter One
• Author Bio

Dear Mr. Knightley ~ Review

Dear Mr. Knightley
A Novel
By Katherine Reay

How many of us hide away from life within the pages of a book? Well, in Samantha Moore's case life is literally passing her by as she tries to project the characteristics that she most admires from her favorite characters.  Unfortunately, Austenisms just don't play well when one is trying to connect with those who don't take classic literature quite so seriously.

When Sam is offered a grant to pay her way through college, she has one obligation.  She must write frequent letters to her mysterious and secretive benefactor - who goes by the name of George Knightley.  But Sam is not to expect any response in return. This opportunity is more than Sam could have ever hoped for - a chance to reveal the hurts and fears buried deep within her soul - hurts that have separated her from what she most needs - love!

As new worlds open to her, Sam begins the slow path towards healing.  But something could set her back if she lets down her guard.  Is she willing to risk everything to claim her dream?

Sam Moore is someone I enjoyed getting to know and her taste in books is a fun mix of classics and classic rewrites.  For me my book to get lost in for years was Lucy Maude Montgomery's Emily of New Moon trilogy and I freely admit that I projected the characters onto the people in my own life when I was at some low points.  But unlike Sam I could discern the difference between my literary world and the real world.

This is a story of growth and triumph.  It is a journey of discovery of one's true self.  Austen fans are sure to love this book!  Looking forward to see what Katherine Ream writes next as this book  was an enchanting and thoughtfully written masterpiece dealing with the human soul.

I was provided a copy of this book by BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description

Samantha Moore has always hidden behind the words of others—namely, her favorite characters in literature. Now, she will learn to write her own story—by giving that story to a complete stranger.

Sam is, to say the least, bookish. An English major of the highest order, her diet has always been Austen, Dickens, and Shakespeare. The problem is, both her prose and conversation tend to be more Elizabeth Bennet than Samantha Moore.

But life for the twenty-three-year-old orphan is about to get stranger than fiction. An anonymous, Dickensian benefactor (calling himself Mr. Knightley) offers to put Sam through Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism. There is only one catch: Sam must write frequent letters to the mysterious donor, detailing her progress.

As Sam’s dark memory mingles with that of eligible novelist Alex Powell, her letters to Mr. Knightley become increasingly confessional. While Alex draws Sam into a world of warmth and literature that feels like it’s straight out of a book, old secrets are drawn to light. And as Sam learns to love and trust Alex and herself, she learns once again how quickly trust can be broken.

Reminding us all that our own true character is not meant to be hidden, Reay’s debut novel follows one young woman’s journey as she sheds her protective persona and embraces the person she was meant to become.

Joseph Beyond the Coat of Many Colors ~ Review

Joseph ~
Beyond the Coat of Many Colors
By Mary Englund Murphy

Joseph Beyond the Coat of Many Colors is more than just a study of Joseph and his life.  Starting with Abraham we are taken on a journey that brings us up to Joseph.  Joseph and his brothers are directly affected by how Abraham, Issac, and Jacob manipulated to get what they wanted.

We study Joseph and his brothers and we relate them to our daily life.  Just as God didn't give up on on Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and his sons - He doesn't give up on us.  We can use Joseph as an example of how to live a life that honors God because he exemplified Christ's life through his own.

God sees beyond the outward aspects He sees beneath the mask.  He knows our heart and He sees our true character.  And we can use Joseph Beyond the Coat of Many Colors to help us grow and become whom He desires us to be.

Often we see Joseph portrayed as someone bigger than life, but felt fear and betrayal.  He was tempted and was punished for overcoming it.  Through Joseph Beyond the Coat of Many Colors we can experience this and take strength from this in our own lives.

I liked the activities in each lesson and the scripture readings from throughout the Bible - Old and New Testament.  Each week is broken into 5 days and there are a total of 8 weeks.  This study would work as either an individual study or a family/group study.

I was provided a copy of this book by BookFun (dot) org and the author/publisher in exchange for my honest review.

 
About Joseph Beyond the Coat of Many Colors

Perhaps more than any other biblical narrative, Joseph's life is a down-to-earth model for everyday relationships. Joseph was a lonely little boy--ignored by his brothers yet coddled by his parents. Feel his fear in the pit; follow his caravan to Egypt; stand with him on the slave auction block. You will experience his struggle for sexual purity, go with him to the dungeons of Egypt, rejoice in his rise to power, weep as he forgives the hurt and betrayal of his brothers.

This interactive workbook study will detail each aspect of Joseph's life and show readers how to relate it to their own temptations and struggles with envy, disappointment, betrayal, purity, power, and forgiveness--for to one degree or another, each of us is living a Joseph life.

Lesson headings:
You Don't Get to Choose Your Family
Taking Sibling Rivalry to New Heights
When Life is the Pits
I Didn't Apply for the Job
Walking by Faith--Again!
Life at the Top
The Real Test of Character
Joseph: The Real Deal

The Search for Isaac ~ Review

The Search for Isaac
The Outrider Chronicles # 1
By Patricia Reamy

If you are a fan of Christian Speculative Fiction The Search for Isaac should appeal to you, even if you've never read it The Search for Isaac will delight and excite!  This book in my opinion is an almost dystopian book, almost but not quite.

The Outriders are an ancient group of warriors who have been imparted gifts by God.  But as with many groups who are entrusted to protect and defend a faction has arisen within them that threatens to destroy them and their work.  Those who are determined to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit are the Old Guard and those who have wrested control for their own purpose are known as The Tempest.

The Search for Isaac is an effort on the part of both groups to find the man who use to lead them before they splintered.  Isaac could restore what has been lost or he could be used to destroy the few who remain loyal their purpose and to God.

The Search for Isaac is an exciting and intriguing book and I have to say I am eagerly awaiting the second book in this series.  And I hope to learn more about the Outriders and their beginnings!

I was provided a copy of this book through BookFun (dot) Org and the author in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

 There is dissension within the ancient organization of Outriders. 

Ariana Sommers is one among an elite group of warriors of God known as Outriders called to protect and defend lives as directed by the Holy Spirit. When the mysterious disappearance of The Organization’s leader Isaac splinters the outriders into two hostile sides, Ari finds herself the reluctant leader of The Old Guard faction. She is pitched headlong into a life and death struggle against her former friend Silas and the faction that now calls themselves The Tempest. Digging deep into her faith and into her own past to fulfill a prophecy and find forgiveness and restoration, Ari and her friends must travel the globe in order to find Isaac before The Tempest can reach him.

Quest and Honor ~ Review

Quest and Honor
Flin's Destiny #4
by Erik Olsen

Save the World -

or Save Himself

When we left Flin in Raggleroot he was out of phase with the rest of time - a direct result of Parcell's theft of the Time Continuum Glass.  Time is slowing down and unless he can restore the Glass to its rightful place the world will soon end!

What follows is another exciting and dangerous adventure deep within the earth.  Encounters with Trolls and dark forces add to the excitement.  War is coming and Flin may very well be the only one to stop it...

In addition to saving the world Flin must save a unique and dying race - the Loft Laggenders, battle Blade, save the Cathedral, and help the Leprechauns return to Clover Cavern.  No small task for anyone, but he isn't just anyone Flin is the great-great-great-grandson of Hovgard and he has a destiny to fulfill!

Quest and Honor is a fantastic continuation in the Flin's Destiny series.  One added bonus is that we are given a glimpse of the families who were left wondering 3 years ago when they were lost to the surface world.  Parcell, Sump, and Ruel are still causing trouble for those in Cobble Cavern but they are no longer a united front, if one could ever think them united.

And Flin is left with a choice.  A choice that could very well cost lives.  What he decides will determine his destiny.  What will he decide?  Read Quest and Honor to find out.  Trust me you won't be disappointed!

In exchange for my review and participation in this Cedar Fort blog tour I was provided a copy of this title.  All opinions expressed are my own and no expectations were placed on it.

Quest and Honor ~ Flin's Destiny Official site

“You and only you can save the world, Flin Newby!”
“Me? I can’t even save myself at this moment,” Flin muttered.
“Get up before it’s too late!”

Quest and Honor

(Book 4 of Flin’s Destiny Series)

Erik Olsen

Things look bad for Flin’s underground world. The Time Continuum Glass is missing, Flin is stuck in another time dimension, and the anemone that protects Cobble Cavern is dying. Along with that, Flin’s enemy, Blade, is on the move, searching for a way to keep everyone trapped below the ocean.

Even more disturbing than these problems is the secret that was revealed to Flin deep inside a mysterious cavern. He has seen his future—a fate he doesn’t want to fulfill. Packed with magical creatures, old acquaintances, and new discoveries, this installment to the Flin’s Destiny series has predicaments building up faster than the inhabitants of Cobble Cavern can deal with them.