Mary’s Musings...about RECESSION PROOF by Kimberly S. Lin

When I was asked to read, review and blog about RECESSION PROOF (click here to read the review on Amazon and cast your vote) by Kimberly S. Lin I was unemployed.  I grabbed this book and said absolutely let me read what this woman has to say.  What she said in every word, paragraph, and chapter is the emotions that every unemployed person goes through.  You are hurt, worried, mad, and just feel like you are wandering around with no place to go.

I have to work that is not an option and the panic the lack of money situation creates is terrifying.  I admired that the character of Helen was able to reshape herself and work for no income until she did find the perfect job but that was something I had a little trouble relating to.  It was not a bad thought just a I am too old to even consider doing what I really want as I can’t recover from financial losses anymore.  But living through Helen and having her find a new fulfilling life was reader reward for sure.

My favorite line or lines in the book come on page 319 where Helen and her friend are having a discussion where Helen stays on the positive side and says to her friend and I quote

“Are you really trying to say that I’m delusional?”

“I just figure there’s enough negativity and obstacles out there that I don’t’ have to be another one.”

I live this theory of staying positive, I prove it with my no negative review promise, and every day I stop to think about what went right and dismiss all that went wrong.  So Amen to that Helen!

I am proud to let you know that I one copy of RECESSION PROOF by Kimberly S. Lin to be give away.  To be eligible to win please leave a comment on  “what is your dream job?” then come back on Sunday – March 4^th to see if you have won.  Please remember if you do not come back, you will not know if you won, because I am going to need your address. 

As always I wish you happy reading, encourage you to turn a negative into a celebrated Little Victory, come back to see what book I am reviewing and offering up for a giveaway.  Do not forget to cast your positive votes for me on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  Your vote matters and I greatly appreciate my followers!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

REVIEW from "The Reading Reviewer"

RECESSION PROOF by Kimberly S. Lin

How much do we have to give up in order to obtain what we want?

When you are riding the height of success at work you feel untouchable and that no one can replace you.  Helen is right there in the cusp of a great career in Los Angeles that she hates, working for a company she does not respect, and feeling the brush of competition stabbing her in back.  When the reality of unemployment provides her with the cold, hard truth of life Helen is in no way prepared to deal with it and has no idea where to go from here.

Helen does have the advantage of great friends and a supportive enough family but the man she thought was “the one” turned out to be a huge pile of number two.  Helen finds herself living with her very pregnant best friend Sophie who has the ability to kick her butt at the right times and give her the space to decide the next step in her life.

When Helen emerges from her pity party she realizes that it may be time to go after the career she wants and not the one she settled for.  She has financial concerns but an opportunity to have a job where every day she wakes up looking forward to going to a place where she wants to be.  What Helen discovers on the road to her life altering change is that the person she is was so much more than she allowed herself to be.  Helen also lets her heart go searching as well to find something amazing would come her way.

Kimberly Lin has written a book that is a voice for all of us who have been unemployed and found a new life.  You follow Helen’s story as she learns how to stop standing on the sidelines and start living life to the fullest.  The road that fate and destiny take you on is bumpy and full of potholes but once you learn to maneuver all that you find something pretty wonderful.

H5O: Caan and Caan

Last night's H50 featured James Caan, as Tony Archer, a retired police detective. The results were mixed - some laughs including:

Tony: Book'em Muscles
Steve: I like this guy.

Tony: Didn't I just say that McGruff?
Steve: McGarrett. Two T's, Two R's

It was fun to see Scott work with his father.

The Caans are just one example of family members teaming up to perform together. How about Angelina Jolie and her father, Jon Voight, in LARA CROFT? Singers Naomi and Wyonna Judd? Writiers Mary Higgings Clark and Carol Higgins Clark?

Do you have a favorite "family" of actors, singer, writers, etc? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs will win a book choice from my convention stash. This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Friday, March 2, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Saturday, March 3.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii

If you need a hint, check out this list.

If you need a Hawaii fix, check out the Diamond Head Hike at ALOHA ON MY MIND at this link.

Mary’s Musings...a day with authors Kat and L.J. Martin

When you have read and talked to an author as much as I have with Kat Martin I do not want to repeat information I have provided so I am going to tell my story  and then have Kat tell her romantic tale of love.  

A funny thing happened on the way to getting AGAINST THE STORM – I asked Kat’s husband Larry (L.J.) Martin if he would like a review of his new book NEMESIS.  He thought that was a great idea and sent me his book NEMESIS which as the mail goes I received before AGAINST THE STORM.

 

Having read this Western novel I was struck by how this may not be a historical romance but I found the alpha male Taggert to be quite dashing.  I drew some similarities between Taggert and Johnnie in Kat’s book in that they are trying to do the right thing and what it takes to get that done may not be completely correct the end does justify the action.

Today is “Martin” day on my blog and I ask Kat and Larry to tell me their story and share with everyone the greatness that is these two authors as a team and individually.

So let them begin….

It was twenty-five years ago that I first started writing.  I had recently met my future husband, L.J. Martin, a hunky guy in boots and a cowboy hat who had just finished his first novel, Shadow of the Mast, a romantic Western about a young man who was shanghaied aboard a ship bound for California.

I loved the book.  It’s still one of my favorites, and it was reading the book that got me started writing a novel of my own.  Now, over fifty books later, my husband and I are both still writing.  He’s not the workaholic I am, which is good, because his need for diversity motivates him to help me promote my career.  Larry makes my book videos, does my video interviews, things like that.

  

It’s interesting to live with another writer.  Good in a lot of ways--same friends, same conferences, and writing his own books keeps him entertained while I’m pounding away on my keyboard.

I hope you enjoy the books we’ve written over the years and continue to look for our new ones.  Very best wishes and happy reading, Kat

 

 RIGHT NOW go to Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kat-Martin/322579975013 to LIKE her page.

But wait there is so much more....We have a Book Trailer Video: http://katbooks.com/againstthenight.htm#VIDEO (You can grab the code here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nlq0-M9Ep8)

Purchase Links:

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/against-the-night-kat-martin/1105027926?ean=9780778313199&itm=1&usri=against+the+night

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Against-Night-Raines-Wind-Canyon/dp/0778313190/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326835326&sr=1-1

Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780778313199

I am proud to let you know that I received a copy of AGAINST THE STORM from Kat Martin and NEMESIS from L.J. Martin to be given away.  To be eligible to win please leave a comment on  “could you work with someone else on a project?” then come back on Sunday – March 4^th  to see if you have won.  Please remember if you do not come back, you will not know if you won, because I am going to need your address. 

As always I wish you happy reading, encourage you to celebrate your Little Victories, and come back to see what book I am reviewing and offering up for a giveaway.  Do not forget to cast your positive votes for me on Amazon as well as Barnes and Noble.  Your vote matters!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AGAINST THE NIGHT by Kat Martin Book #5 in The Raines of Wind Canyon Series Can I love you enough to make you stay? John Riggs is a former ranger, full-time PI, and all around do not mess with me tough guy.  So why is Amy Brewer, this slip of a woman, an exotic dancer no less making his blood boil to a point of combustion.  There is something beneath the exterior when you look really deep and see that her innocence is genuine.  When their paths cross and she hires him to find her missing sister – Johnnie wonders if this is a step into heaven with an Angel or eternal damnation. Amy came to find her sister and stepping into her sister’s shoes as a dancer was step one.  Taking a leap of faith to hire a PI to help her was a huge risk but one she knew had to happen.  What Amy never foresaw was the terror she would face on land and sea in the search to find and free her sister.  The scariest moments are when she is alone with Johnnie, laying in the warmth of his arms, knowing this cannot last but wishing so much that it could.  She will take a bullet for Johnnie who is doing everything he can to find her sister and using resources she never knew existed.  However, when everything is concluded will she run back to Michigan or stay with Johnnie and fulfill a new kind of adventure? Kat Martin cannot stop writing incredible books in this series.  Every book stands out as spectacular with character depth, suspense, and enough romance to warm any night.  Ms. Martin proves that a series can go on and remain fresh and intriguing and proves it with this latest book.

NEMESIS by L. J. Martin Is it our honor that keeps us bound to fulfill our promises? When a horrific misdeed of justice has been committed, a man of the old west knows there is nothing that will stand between him and fulfilling destiny.  For a man with so much past and allot of names to go by the one he is using now is Taggert.  When you are going to avenge your sister’s death and prove that no man can take without punishment, going under cover is still your best option.  Taggert has served his country under President Lincoln and survived on next to nothing the years following the war’s end so preparing for his own possible death is part of the equation. Taggert arrives in the town where justice will be served to those offenders.  A set of circumstances put him a position of control, which Taggert uses to his advantage along with every trick of manipulation he knows.  One by one, the men who murdered his family realize what a mistake they have made in underestimating a man bent on revenge.  Taggert knows the end result will not be pretty and takes no pleasure in what has to be done.  While his mission is not one of divine intervention, it is one that shall be served.  The one key step Taggert knows is that he has to cut off the head of the snake in order for his plan to be final.  When you do not see yourself in the future you take more chances but Taggert is never a fool and has every intention of attempting to stay alive long enough to bury the bodies of his enemies. L.J. Martin gives his readers such realistic and well-written dialog it makes you feel as if you are standing in the saloon watching this all unfold.  The story here is at times rough to take but completely necessary to make sure you understand this is a period in history where only the strong survive.

Mary’s Musings...with Stella Cameron and Cynthia Garner

Welcome to Grand Central Publishing’s PARANORMAL BLOG TOUR with DARKNESS BOUND by Stella Camerson as well as KISS OF THE VAMPIRE by Cynthia Garner

For the first time I asked the same question to two authors and the delight in their answers always reminds me of how wonderful it is to be able to ask a question of great authors and have them respond.

Describe your most challenging issue when writing a book? 

Cynthia Garner’s response was….Oh, my God! The worst thing that ever happened for me is wifi! I can’t seem to break myself of the habit of checking my email every 5 minutes, even though I know there’s probably not going to be anything there. Unless it’s spam, ’cause I’m just not that popular. LOL But when I start getting closer to deadline, somehow that self-discipline manages to come to the surface and I git ’er done!

 

Stella Cameron’s thought was… Do I only get one?  Complaining about the large cat who “helps” me with each book might not be helpful.  But a 20lb feline draped across my arms does make it hard to type.  If I allow my natural tendencies out of their box, I tell a story from peak to peak—from high point of tension to high point of tension.  Imagine a roller coaster with a tendency to leap over any dips so that it can keep landing on the most exciting bits way up high.  Just as the roller coaster car tips over to make its downhill swoop there is an “eek” moment, then a “whoosh” that’s usually accompanied by screams of relief—and of anticipation for the next hill.  If there isn’t a break, a downhill slide so you can catch your breath, you’re probably heading for a panic attack.  This is a challenge.  After many books, I know I must be vigilant and make sure my pacing works like a bouncing ball rather than a rocket.

 

I received a copy of DARKNESS BOUND by Stella Camerson as well as KISS OF THE VAMPIRE by Cynthia Garner from Grand Central Publishing to be given away as part of this Paranormal Blog Tour.  To be eligible to win please leave a comment on  “what is your greatest challenge?” then come back on Sunday – March 4th to see if you have won.  Please remember if you do not come back, you will not know if you won, because I am going to need your address. 

As always I wish you happy reading, encourage you to turn a negative into a celebrated Little Victory, come back to see what book I am reviewing and offering up for a giveaway.  Do not forget to cast your positive votes for me on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  Your vote matters and I greatly appreciate my followers!

Mary’s Musings...about I WANT CANDY by Susan Donovan

I shamelessly begged for a copy of I WANT CANDY by Susan Donovan because I am a huge Susan Donovan fan and can’t get enough of her books.  This one really shows her range with current topics as well as what life was like versus what it can be.  Not having come from a small town I cannot relate to the suffocation one might feel, but would not mind having everyone know whether you are okay or not.  I also don't want you to miss the first book in this series 'CHERI ON TOP' which has the funniest twist of events in it that to this day make me laugh out loud.

I received one copy of I WANT CANDY by Susan Donovan from St. Martin’s Press to be given away.  To be eligible to win please leave a comment.  What I am asking today is “would or is small town life for you?”  Come back on Sunday – March 4^th to see if you have won.  Please remember if you do not come back, you will not know if you won, because I am going to need your address. 

As always I wish you happy reading, encourage you to turn a negative into a celebrated Little Victory, come back to see what book I am reviewing and offering up for a giveaway.  Do not forget to cast your positive votes for me on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  Your vote matters and I greatly appreciate my followers!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

REVIEW from "The Reading Reviewer"

I WANT CANDY by Susan Donovan

Does one have to close the door on the past to open the window on your future?

The last place you want to be when your life is a complete train wreck is back home where nothing but misery surrounds you.  For Candace Carmichael that is the only place she has left since everything she ever possessed, and there was allot of possessions involved are gone in the housing crisis.  Candy and her friend Cheri did come home and things went well for Cheri and Candy wants that but does not expect it.  All Candy has ever known in this town is misery and defeat and right now nothing is looking much different, well nothing but Tucker Halliday.

Tucker is the one thing Candy never expected to walk back into her life and her not want them to walk away.  He is all in her face and hotter than a fire cracker in his sherriff’s uniform making Candy reconsider allot of her prior opinions about him.  That man turned out really fine and while Candy saw them as friends before, now she sees a whole other Tucker she wants to investigate.  Being penniless has her bouncing from one ridiculous housing situation to the next but Tucker is always there ready to give her room and board.  Tucker has always made room in his life for Candy and truly believes she is the one person that can free his heart to love again. 

With Tucker fighting to keep the meth out of town and control his raging obsession with Candy his hands are literally full.  Candy always was a delightful surprise he wanted to keep unwrapping and now that she is back in town he hopes to create a recipe for keeping her there.  What Candy does know is when the future is leaving a bad taste in your mouth you need to make your own icing for the cake.

Susan Donovan is incapable of writing anything else that the perfect story of love with a dash of mystery.  She has proven again with this book that if your write it, every reader will want to read it over and over again.