BOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY: Christmas In Paradise (Paradise Series #13) by Deborah Brown

BOOK INFORMATION
Genre: Cozy mystery

• Series: Paradise Series
• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Paradise Books, LLC (November 5, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0998440434
• ISBN-13: 978-0998440439

NEW RELEASE....
My name is Madison Westin. Unless it’s Christmas, in which case my official title is “Holiday Cheermistress.” Nothing stops me from getting my ho-ho-ho on, not even my friends’ Grinch-worthy attitude toward sparkling tinsel, twinkling lights, and tinkling bells.

Hey, if Creole, Fab, and Didier wind up with coal in their stockings, it won’t be my fault.

When some bah-humbug bandit makes the rounds of Tarpon Cove, Fab and I are on the case. It’s the least we can do for our loyal friends. Seasonal crime-victim disorder seems to be on the rise.

Some guy in a Santa suit—well, the top half of one anyway—is robbing local banks. The cops are fingering the wrong guy. And you can bet your light-up Rudolph boxers that if we can’t track the real thief down, one of my merry band of miscreants could be spending the holidays behind bars.

The Paradise series, are Florida Keys mysteries, “great as stand-alone reads, but they're like chips...you won't be able to devour just one!”

Available to buy from.....

Amazon   Paperback 

"South Florida author Deborah Brown books are infectious." 

"My love for these quirky characters grows with every book! Hope they never end!"

"This fabulous duo exudes so much sassiness and strong-willed characteristics that I absolutely cannot get enough of." 

Above reviews from Amazon

Review: When the characters of my favorite series are celebrating Christmas, you know it's not going to be a normal holiday celebration. From a mall Santa who attracts older women just as much as children, to golf cart races, to a bank robbing Santa, things are really hopping in Tarpon Cove in December. 

This is a short easy holiday read with less murder and mayhem than others in the series. It can be read as a stand-alone story if you haven't been a regular reader yet, and makes for a perfect introduction to the series. 

I absolutely LOVED the ending of the book--and that's all I'm going to say about it, other than now I'm even more excited for Book 14!

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

Rating: Five stars

Book Excerpt

Also available in the Paradise Series

      

      

    

    

About the Author

I've been writing, in one way or another for as long as I can remember; poetry, sappy short stories (my best friend made me swear that I’d never show anyone until I changed the names), and a romance novel shoved under my bed.

I wanted to create books with a wide-range of unforgettable characters, with heat and romance, and lots of guns. It wouldn’t be complete without a slice of humor and charm.

I live with my family and demon children aka rescue cats in South Florida.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website  Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest  Google+  Goodreads  Amazon Author page

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BOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY: Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts (Spells & Caramels #2) by Erin Johnson

 Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels) 

Paranormal Cozy Mystery 

2nd in Series 

Self Published (October 29, 2017)

Paperback: 300 pages 

ISBN-13: 978-1976537110 

E-Book - ASIN: B076GW21DK 

With the Summer Sea Carnival visiting the enchanted island of Bijou Mer, Imogen jumps at the chance to help run the royal bakery booth. It’ll get her out of the palace and allow her to continue avoiding her feelings for a certain engaged prince. Imogen’s plans to lay low are shattered when the world-famous necromancer, Madame Zerna, is found dead, sawed in half on the dark magician’s table and Imogen’s friend Rhonda is caught red-handed. With incriminating evidence piling up against Rhonda, Zerna’s rival, Imogen promises to help clear her name by finding the real murderer. But between running the booth, encouraging Maple as she struggles to lead as head baker, and taking spell lessons from the friendly strong man, Imogen’s got her hands full. And it’s no easier getting information from the evasive dark magician or Madame Zerna’s secretive assistant. Even Rhonda’s hiding something. With the Night of the Dead fast approaching, and Rhonda headed for a maximum security witch prison, Imogen races to unearth the real killer in time to save her friend. But in a mysterious carnival where nothing’s as it seems, will Imogen have the magical powers to keep from being on the chopping block herself?

Review: Another murder takes place on the island of  Bijou Mer, during the Summer Sea Carnival. The local law enforcement accepts the circumstantial evidence and considers the case closed. Imogen refuses to believe that Rhonda the Seer is a killer, and sets about trying to find the real murderer. Of course, she ropes her friends into helping and finds herself in several life-threatening situations, including one with the real killer.

Loved getting to know all the characters from the first book better, and seeing the relationships grow and change. Imogen and Iggy are beginning to get closer, which will be important to her career as a baker. I also enjoyed the continuing flirtations between Imogen and Hank, although things still seem pretty hopeless for the two of them right now.

Excited to read book #3, Mermaid Fins, Winds & Rolling Pins, which publishes later this month.

 

Rating: Four stars

About the Author A native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh. In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).
Website: www.erinjohnsonwrites.com.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EJohnsonWrites.
Twitter: @EJohnsonWrites

Purchase Link  - Amazon

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
  November 19 – Books, Dreams, Life - REVIEW, INTERVIEW
November 19 – Varietats – REVIEW
  November 19 – Deal Sharing Aunt – REVIEW
November 20 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
November 20 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
November 20 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
November 21 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
November 21 – Book Babble – REVIEW
November 21 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT
November 22 – Bookworm Cafe – REVIEW  
November 22 – Celticladys Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 22 – Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf – SPOTLIGHT
November 23 –  THANKSGIVING
November 24 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW
November 24 – Brooke Blogs - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 24 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 25 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
November 25 – Valerie's Musings – REVIEW
November 25 – Sapphyria's Books – REVIEW
November 26 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too! – REVIEW
November 26 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
November 26 – The Montana Bookaholic - REVIEW    

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!

2018 READING CHALLENGES: Alphabet Soup and Literary Escapes

Details

This challenge will run from January 1st, 2018 until December 31st, 2018.

You can join anytime. You do not have to post a review of the book. Books can come from any genre.

You do not need to link up each spoonful.

Make a page or a post or a GoodReads shelf where you will keep track of your spoonfuls. I keep track of mine on my Challenge Page.

Crossovers to other challenges are allowed and encouraged!

It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to read one book that has a title starting with every letter of the alphabet.

You can drop the A’s and The’s from the book titles as shown below.

The First Main Word Needs To Be
The Letter You Are Counting 

Except For those pesky Q, X AND Z titles then the word that starts with the challenge letter can be anywhere in the title.

So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z Reading Challenge.

A – How I plan to do it: Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.

OR

B – Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A – Antiques Wanted by Barbara Allan B – Biscuits and Slashed Browns by Maddie Day C – Class Reunions Are Murder by Libby Klein D- The Diva Cooks Up A Storm by Krista Davis, etc.. 

Books can be read in any order and all formats – print – e-book – audio – are acceptable for this challenge!

Ready to join??

Bloggers grab the image below and make a post about the challenge to encourage others to join!

Non-bloggers you can join too! Just keep track any way you wish. You can even set up a special shelf on Goodreads.com to help you keep track!  It is super easy, Just click the MY BOOKS tab at the top of the page. When that page opens just click – ADD A SHELF in the left hand sidebar. Title it Alphabet Soup Challenge and you are all set. 

Follow Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book as there may be special announcements made about the challenge.

There is also a very active group on Facebook where you can share your books read and converse with others taking part in the challenge. Alphabet Soup Challenge –  You can share your accomplishments throughout year there. Right now they are finishing this year’s challenge but it will switch over to the new year on January 1. 

This year I am asking everyone to sign up using Google Forms. Sign Up Here. This way I have your emails in case I need to contact you about any changes to the challenge or about special events. 

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

Challenge – Try to read 1 book set in each of the 50 states + the District of Columbia. (51 Points). If you complete the challenge you earn 50 Bonus Points. You also can earn Bonus Points for books set in Counties around the world. 1 Bonus Point for each country. (No repeats – only 1 point can be earned for each country.)

Your books can be fiction or non-fiction and can be in any format, print, digital, audio. 

So how do you decide what state a book is categorized under?

1.  In a fiction read it would be the State or Country that the book spends the most time in.  (Ie. If your main character is from Wisconsin but the book is all about his/her time in college in California – the books should categorize under California….)

2.  Non fiction reads categorize  in whatever State or Country it is about (Ie…. a book about fly fishing in Colorado is a Colorado point, and a book about women in Afghanistan is an Afghanistan point.

3.  If the book goes from one state to another… go with the state that most of the time is spent.

 Bloggers please grab the graphic above and post about this challenge on your blog.

To sign up just fill out this form.

I have found people like to share and communicate about the challenge and their progress, so I have set up a Facebook Group for that purpose.

Literary Escapes Facebook Group

Prizes will be announced as we get closer to 2019.

Your Escape With A Good Book Travel Agent

BLOG TOUR AND GIVEAWAY: Please Explain "Terrorism" To me by Laurie Zelinger, PhD

BOOK INFORMATION

• Age Range: 7 - 10 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 5
• Paperback: 74 pages
• Publisher: Loving Healing Press (November 1, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 161599291X
• ISBN-13: 978-1615992911

A Story for Children, P-E-A-R-L-S of Wisdom for their Parents 

Complemented by exquisite, colorful artwork, Dr. Zelinger skillfully crafts an easily relatable children's story using everyday situations, around the oppressive concept of Terrorism in the news. With a masterful understanding of the child's world, new and frightening concepts are introduced carefully and gently, with the child's perspective in mind. Dr. Zelinger provides parent coaching to further the dialogue in her P-E-A-R-L-S of Wisdom section (Prepare, Explain, Answer, Reassure, Listen, Safeguard) where caregivers are given scripts to guide them, as well room for individuality. This pioneering book helps children and parents face a critical, often avoided topic with reassurance and calm.

Review: This book is basically two books in one. Along with a story for children which allows for an honest discussion of the subject, there are also several pages intended for parents/adults. Those pages include scripts to use for those who might not be sure how to begin the discussion, and they allow opportunities for adults to tailor them to the situation.

The illustrations in the children's part of the book are realistic and engaging. They will help draw children into the story without being frightening. The fact that the story is told from a child's point of view will also help youngsters be more engaged with it as well.

I highly recommend this to anyone with children in their lives, as this is such a prevalent topic in today's world.

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Beck Valley Books Book Tours, with no expectation of a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**

Rating: Five stars

"This book provides the 'PEARLS' of wisdom for parents and children to discuss a scary topic like terrorism in ways that promote healthy and authentic parent-child conversations that yield to mutual respect and bonding." 

--Marc A. Brackett, PhD., Director, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

"Deep and yet accessible, her remarkable deciphering of the psychological factors that hinder the free communication between parents and children on terrorism is compelling. This fascinating guide amounts to a riveting lesson of clarity and to a masterpiece in bridging the unbridgeable." 

--Hon. Yehuda Lancry, Former Ambassador of Israel to the U.N.

"Please Explain 'Terrorism' to Me is a straightforward and down-to-earth treatment of a difficult subject. Dr. Zelinger uses common sense, a simple clarification of the basic issues, and reassurance to provide a deeper understanding of terrorism for kids--without a corresponding rise in anxiety." 

--Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D., Psychologist/Author,

Available to buy from...
Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   Kobo   GPlay   Paperback

From the Growing With Love Series at Loving Healing Press

More books by the author

About the Author

Illustrator, Ann Israeli, and author, Laurie Zelinger

Dr. Laurie Zelinger, Diplomate, is a Board Certified Psychologist with a specialty in School Psychology, and a Registered Play Therapist with forty years' experience. She is a licensed New York State psychologist who recently retired from a Long Island public school system and is now devoting her time exclusively to writing, consulting and her busy private practice. Dr. Laurie's previous books include: "Please Explain Anxiety to Me: Simple Biology and Solutions for Children and Parents," The "O MY" in TonsillectOMY & AdenoidectOMY: How to Prepare Your Child for Surgery (in its second edition), A Smart Girl's Guide to Liking Herself Even on the Bad Days for American Girl, and a chapter on selective mutism in the compendium, School-Based Play Therapy (second edition). She is also credited with being a consultant for the Bitty Baby book series by American Girl where she assisted in the development of the "For Parents" sections, as well as editorial development of another American Girl book. Dr. Laurie's interest in writing began in 4th grade when a play she wrote was performed by students in her public school. Dr. Zelinger is a fellow and elected officer in the nationally based American Academy of School Psychology and spent four years on the Executive Board of the New York Association of Play Therapy. As a media referral specialist for the American Psychological Association, she has contributed to nearly 200 venues regarding child development. Dr. Laurie and her psychologist husband, Dr. Fred, are both certified Red Cross Disaster Mental Health volunteers. They have been happily married for over thirty-five years and have raised four children. You can learn more about Dr. Zelinger and her books at DrZelinger dot com. 

You can also follow the author here...

Author on Facebook     Book Facebook page   Goodreads

Ann Israeli graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and began her art career as a textile designer. She worked designing wallpaper and home furnishings before moving on to a career in Women's and Children's knitwear designs, where she won many awards. She began a second career as an art teacher in the Rockville Centre School District on Long Island, New York and earned her Masters of Art degree from Adelphi University (New York). Currently, Ann enjoys visiting her newest grandson in California and spending time with her husband, children, family, and friends. She also relishes her time working on oil painting and hopes to continue on her new path as an illustrator.

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Win $25 Amazon.com Giftcard
Ending on Sunday 3rd December at 11.59pm EST

Open Worldwide

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BOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY: Dangerous Changes (An Emily Lazzaro Mystery) by Joyce T. Strand

BOOK INFORMATION

• Paperback: 309 pages
• Publisher: McCloughan and Schmeltz (November 6, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0996145494
• ISBN-13: 978-0996145497

NEW RELEASE….

A series of events rattle Emily Lazzaro: a near-death encounter with a pickup on a narrow mountain road, the murder of a would-be client, and an ex-fiancé who won’t let go. Can she survive a police investigation, pressure from her ex’s company, and the suspicions of a possible new love-interest—so that she can make the changes to create a meaningful new life in a special town in southern California? 

Available to buy from...... 

Amazon   Barnes and Noble    Paperback

About Emily Lazzaro

Emily Lazzaro is the daughter of Wayne Lazzaro, the winemaker for the Hilltop Sunset winery in the previously published three Brynn Bancroft mysteries. She moved with her fiancé to Ramona, Calif., a rural community near San Diego, following graduation from college with a degree in hospitality. Her fiancé was eager to purchase a vineyard and develop a winery in the up and coming Ramona wine region, which suited Emily’s goals.

However, after moving to Ramona, it becomes apparent to Emily that she is not a good match for her fiancé. She discovers that he does not respect her opinions and insists on making decisions without her input. So she breaks off the engagement.

She decides to remain in Ramona despite her fiancé living there with his new vineyard. She appreciates the unique rocky terrain and proximity to the ocean and San Diego, along with the mixture of fine wineries, artists, and equestrian activities.  She makes her living doing people’s taxes, and when Dangerous Changes opens, we discover she is looking to make a career change.

Review: This is the second series I have read by this author. (I haven't read her original series which featured Jillian Hillcrest.)  The main character of this current series is the daughter of a character from the previous series, just as the main character of the second series was a secondary character in the first series. I enjoy how that adds to the continuity from one series to the next. However, it is not necessary to have read any of the previous books to be able to enjoy this one.

For a good section of the book, I was surprised by how clueless Emily seemed to be when it came to her ex-fiance and the company he works for...but eventually she redeemed herself in my eyes.  There are so many twists and turns in the story that it keeps your attention from beginning to end.  By the end of the story, all the different plotlines came together and everything in the story made sense.

I am looking forward to finding out what happens next in Emily's life. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

Rating: Four stars

About the Author

Joyce T. Strand is the author of who-done-it contemporary and historical mysteries set in San Francisco, Napa-Sonoma wine regions of California, or Ventura, California.

Her most recent novels, Overcast Sunset and Landscape for Murder, feature protagonist Brynn Bancroft, a financial guru in transition to winemaker from corporate executive. Brynn Bancroft is a minor character in Strand’s first three novels On Message, Open Meetings, and Fair Disclosure—three mysteries solved by Jillian Hillcrest, a publicist in Silicon Valley whose boss was Chief Financial Officer Brynn Bancroft.

Her first historical mystery, The Judge's Story, tells the story of a Superior Court Judge with a passion for social justice as well as the law who strives to discover the truth behind the mystery of a robbery-murder in a small California town in 1939.

All of her novels are inspired by actual events and/or real people, although they are definitely fictionalized.

Much like her protagonist Jillian Hillcrest, Strand headed corporate communications at several biotech and high-tech companies in California’s Silicon Valley for more than 25 years. Unlike Jillian, however, she did not encounter murder in her career. She focused on writing by-lined articles, press releases, white papers, and brochures to publicize her companies and their products.

She lives with her two cats and collection of cow statuary in Southern California, and enjoys exploring and writing about the growing wine region in the Ramona Valley near San Diego.

She received her Ph.D. from the George Washington University, Washington, D.C. and her B.A. from Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

Find the author on the following sites....

Website   Blog   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   Google+   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

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NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!

1st Prize: All-New Fire 7 Tablet with Alexa, 7" Display, 8 GB, Black (value $49.99)
2nd and 3rd Prizes: (1 each) $25.00 Amazon Gift Certificate

Ending on Wednesday 29th November at 11.59pm EST

Open Worldwide

Enter Below & Good Luck !!

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Are you a book reviewer or book blogger? Join our book tours reviewers team - Apply Here x

Current book tours open for sign ups HERE