Extended Forecast: Global Chaos

I am sure you have heard the stories of people attempting to control the weather through the process known as cloud seeding or chem trails. What if it was possible to control the weather? What if making a super storm or a drought would cause one to hold keys to ultimate control of the world. Just think of what the ramifications could be from a military perspective if we could control the economy, food and water supply by just taking control of what kind of weather any state or county would receive.

HT Wetco is such a company in the latest novel from Michael Andrisano on the heels of his first novel Operation Seeding. In Extended Forecast: Global Chaos, the second book in the Rain Men Series,  HT Wetco along with the consent of the US government are now involved in the trial of the century for conspiring to control the weather around the entire planet, leaving such countries like Russia in a drought for decades. Rising food costs and shortages of clean water, have left the Russian government at the hands of other countries searching for aid. Now they have learned that America may have been involved to sabotage their economy and there are those in the Russian government that think America is due to be paid back.

Now the hunt for a terrorist known as Gunter is being launched world-wide. He is a known hit man who has no conscience at taking lives of those willing to pay for the job to be completed. In fact he has struck at the heart of the Russian Mafia family and taken down an innocent family while they were vacationing leaving only his calling card, a man hanging upside down on a cross. He has also taken out the grandparents and fiancè of an American FBI agent Clara Beach. The two women form an alliance to hunt down the known killer to stop him from launching a nuclear attack on the United States along with the Muslim Brotherhood. If they don't succeed, the United States will have no choice but to launch a counter attack on Russia and Russia will be forced to defend itself.

Meanwhile, HT Wetco is far from taking this trial lying down.. Todd Thurston, now in control of the company has been hired to create the storm of the century that will wipe Washington D.C. off the map in an internal terrorist plot designed to clear the name of his company and point the finger directly at the US Government instead by killing two influential men who know far too many secrets to be allowed to live and speak at the trial. But as Todd's plans are put into motion, is it possible he has bitten off far more than he can chew by thinking any one man can really control the weather?

I received Extended Forecast: Global Chaos by Michael Andrisano compliments of Outskirts Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions in this are strictly my own. While the premise of this novel was the reason for me reviewing the book, I was disappointed by the overwhelming amount of characters the author attempts to introduce at the beginning of the book. You have to stay on top of things and attempt to connect the dots to see where everyone's motives are and which side they are each on. Couple that with random sexual content from some of the women characters attempting to bride their way into judges lives and you begin to get a distaste for what could have been an exceptionable premise. This is definitely not for the Christian/family reader base my blog reaches out to and for those looking for a suspense story couple with multiple threats to the world, then this may in fact be something you might enjoy. For me, it was simply not something I was looking forward to seeing in the text and feel the author might want to rework the story a bit for a relaunch. It has appeal but just fell flat for me. I would rate this one a 3 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Extended Forecast: Global Chaos, Michael Andrisano or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Extended Forecast: Global Chaos by Michael Andrisano

The Home Place

Sometimes it seems that a lot of writers use real stories behind the premise of their latest novel, but in this case, it happened after the novel was written. I had just begun the debut novel The Home Place by Carrie La Seur which opens on the death of Vicky Terrebonne, a young woman who wandered around town drunk one night on a cold winters night in Montana. Surprisingly, the very same thing happened in the news recently when a young 20-year-old woman was found dead after a night drinking and searching for her car keys in Provo, Utah. Interesting how things happen that way. I kept wondering why the two sounded so familiar til I picked the novel back up again and continued reading.

For Alma Terrebonne, death is the only reason to bring her back to her families home in Montana. It seems that all the other family members have found themselves on tired of late night phone calls from Vicky and then later her younger daughter Brittany. It's a sad tale of simply calling wolf too many times in a contemporary fiction. It seems that everyone in the family has had to deal with coming to Vicky's rescue, after a night of one too many drinks and late night parties with unsuitable friends. Sadly in this case, it turned out to be the one thing that would haunt them long after the death had occurred with each of them wondering how circumstances might have been different if they simply answered the call.

While it seems that Vicky's death may in fact have been accidental, Alma isn't so sure. Even after the history that Vicky has had, she still seems to believe there is more to the story than simply accepting she slipped and fell on the ice, being drunk, she succumbed to the elements and the rest they say is simply history. So when Alma heads home to do some investigating of her own, she isn't ready to tie everything up with a pretty bow and accepting things as they are. She learns that Vicky has been questioning the selling off the "home place," the family homestead of sorts due to being hassled by a coal mining company of possible mineral rights to the land the property sits on. Sounds perfect for a struggling, drug and alcohol addicted, out of work, mother who desperately needs a way to provide for her daughter. Is it possible there is a connection between the two and that Vicky's death was no accident?

I received The Home Place by Carrie La Seur compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are simply my own. To the reader, a word of caution, this book is definitely not for the majority of my blogging readers. It does contain profanity and questionable content, dealing with addictions and the consequences to those actions. For those that love a great murder mystery that doesn't resolve the clues early in the novel so you can follow along nicely, then you will love this one. It truly shows that some sides of life aren't the ones we'd like to look at all the times, and often will look the other way when it does, hoping it will simply fade away. This is simply about how one families secrets will be discovered and the resolution doesn't always turn out the way you want it to. For me this novel was a 3 out of 5 stars simply due to the writing style that seemed to keep me from becoming invested in the outcome of the characters and was a bit slow for me. I actually liked the way the acknowledgments was written better than the novel. While this one didn't really work for me, I am confident others may find it more enjoyable.

For more information about The Home Place, Carrie La Seur or where you can preorder of a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Home Place by Carrie La Seur

You can also find Carrie La Seur on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Home Place, please visit William Morrow's website. 

You Can Begin Again

Too often in life, we wait til the end, to reflect back on all the chances we had to do things differently. Then we wonder why we are suddenly filled with regret for the choices we didn't act upon or roads we didn't take. Too often we fail to follow through with choices because we are being held back by the beliefs it's simply too late and we accept the hand in life we are dealt, instead of taking a step of faith and choosing something different. An opportunity to begin again before it's too late.

Best selling author Joyce Meyers invites us all to simply begin again in her latest book You Can Begin Again. Using real life examples of people who have faced challenges that would cause most of us to dig a hole and crawl into, these people chose to begin their lives again with the challenges they each faced. To a man who believed he want to learn to play the piano and did all he could to learn to play his best, who ultimately freezes when he faces his first competition; to a young model who had everything in life going her way, walks unexpectedly into the propeller of an airplane and leaves her with facing a life unlike any she ever had expected if she lived; to a sculpture who was given a gift through a dream that would forever change what he would do with his life after facing a life with no future in it.

Joyce couples each of these with biblical examples of people who too, have had to face insurmountable odds stacked against them. How using stories like Jonah and Job we can see that when choosing to follow what God has in store often times leads to blessings beyond our wildest dreams but more importantly how we can chose every day to take one simple action that will lead us in a path for a brighter future instead of falling down and staying down. There is simply too many examples to share with you but know that my copy of her book is filled with passages that I have highlighted to help me when I find myself overwhelmed by the circumstances life hands me unexpectedly.

We can learn that despite how we feel we can chose to live a life we dream instead of simply waiting to the end of our lives and wishing we had taken the opportunity to do it sooner rather than not at all. There is simply something in this book for everyone to gain some insight into what you are facing. Do you find yourself struggling with weight loss, finding a job, struggling with loss, health issues, perhaps just finding a reason to get out of bed each morning? Or perhaps you know someone who could use a bit of a motivational push in the right direction? Then pick up this book today and realize that it's simply never too late to begin again!

I received You Can Begin Again by Joyce Meyers compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I have loved listening to Joyce's messages for years now and reading her motivational and truly life changing books because she gives it too you straight and doesn't sugar coat anything. She encourages you to leave your pity party of one and take a different path, to live your dream and make it a reality. To rise above the difficulty of life and embrace the blessings God has in store for you. You just never know, the life that you have always wanted, stands right in front of you, if you are willing to simply take a step in the right direction! I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about You Can Begin Again, Joyce Meyers or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

You Can Begin Again by Joyce Meyers

You can also find Joyce Meyers on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books and her ministry.

To read more reviews on You Can Begin Again, please visit Faith Word's website. 

Maybelle in Stitches

We all know about women being employed at factories during World War II as an effort to help do whatever they could to enable their men to come home from the war as soon as possible. For Maybelle Kazinski, she is doing her part as a welder in Sun Shipyard, getting ships ready to aid in the war effort. She had only been married for a couple of days to Holden before he was called to report for duty, but it was worth it to know that he would have her waiting for him when he returned, if he returned at all. It seems like the waiting was truly the hardest part and even though working for six days helped to pass the time, she would cringe whenever the doorbell rang expecting the worst.

She just wasn't prepared for that dreaded feeling in the pit of her stomach to take the life of her mother, Francine and leave her alone. She had lost her father earlier and besides Roger, one of her mother's boarders who also worked at Sun Shipyard who she had come to see as a brother of sort, she had no more family left. Her only consolation was her best friend Doris who also had a husband serving overseas. Between the two of them, they did what they could to encourage each other that the war would be over soon and their men would come home.

But life isn't always sunshine and roses! Fate intervenes when we least expect it and for Maybelle it would be when the doorbell rings and a yellow telegram is delivered. The only good thing about the news it contained was that Holden wasn't killed but simply missing in action. But for Maybelle it seemed to be her undoing. On the heels of her mother's death and Holden's MIA telegram she had to find something to keep time from crawling along. When she discovers a crazy quilt of scraps her mother was making as a surprise for her and Holden for Christmas, Doris decides to convince Maybelle that they should finish it. But Maybelle isn't exactly what you would called skilled at sewing or cooking for that matter. Her high school sewing project involved her sewing the zipper of her dress into the neck area instead. Something that is still laughed about between her and Doris. But at least it will help to pass the time between working and sewing.

I received Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin compliments of Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is the 16th novel in the Quilts of Love Series and one that can be read as a stand alone as each talented author takes their turn at telling a story with the quilt at the centerpiece. Joyce appealed to not only the romance lover in my heart but to WWII lover as well. I loved the background story she researched about women working in the shipyards as welders for Sun Shipyard which she includes at the conclusion of this novel. It makes it so rich to read how difficult it was waiting for men to come home from the war not knowing if they would ever see them again. Hands down this one rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Maybelle in Stitches, Joyce Magnin or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

You can also find Joyce Magnin on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Maybelle in Stitches, please visit Litfuse Publicity Book Tour Page.

Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Maybelle in Stitches, by Joyce Magnin. Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it.

Joyce is celebrating the release with a $200 Modcloth giveaway. Enter today for a chance to spruce up your spring wardrobe!

  One winner will receive:

• A $200 ModCloth.com gift card
• Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron
• A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare
• Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 19th. Winner will be announced on April 21st on the Quilts of Love blog!

Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER.

Dancing with Fireflies

Denise Hunter has to be hands-down one of my favorite romance authors. Her writing style is simply amazing and I wish I could convey to you what it means to have an invitation to review any of her books. I am always thrilled when I see her name pop up on a book review invitation, because I don't even have to read the synopsis to decide whether I want to consider it for a review, I know it will be a winner!!!

I don't think there is one woman who hasn't had a romantic man from her past that she hasn't wished or wanted to know what would have happened if things worked out between them and they got the opportunity to see if things would work out, but then life happens and that never happens. This is just that kind of premise that leads off the second novel in her Chapel Springs Romance Series. Jade McKinley has found her way back home again to Chapel Springs after trying for a new adventure in Chicago. But when an innocent date with Nick, a man who frequented her diner lead to a date rape leaving her with an unexpected pregnancy. All she knows is that is where she needs to go to find the help she needs.

The one thing she didn't plan on was running into her childhood friend, Daniel Dawson, who is now the current mayor. But surprisingly he is the only one she can confide in. It seems like things begin to go from bad to worse when the job prospects look slim, her apartment never materializes and her mother suffers from a critical heart attack that renders trying to discuss things with her family on hold for quite a while. But how can you hide your impending pregnancy from the small town she lives in where quite everyone knows everything.

Even Daniel isn't immune to the rumors that begin to fly with his current prospects of running for congressman in Washington D.C. to hang out with a pregnant woman who isn't his wife. His uptight and conservative parents want Daniel to cut all ties with Jade otherwise he won't have much chance to win the election, even though the familiar romantic feelings he has had for Jade is coming on stronger than ever. If he can only convince Jade that he has feeling for her that go deeper than the brotherly ones she shares with him. Will love truly win a place in both their hearts?

I received Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions are strictly my own. I am so addicted to the fictional town of Chapel Springs she has created as well as the small town feel you gain from the people that they interact with. But it is that spark that Daniel has always had for Jade that he never acted upon that wonders if their might be a chance to make something of it when she comes home. Only he never expected things to be quite so complicated with her. But will he be able to overcome his feelings when he learns the circumstances surrounding just how Jade wound up pregnant? You'll have to pick this one up to find out. Now on pins and needles to see just where the third novel will wind up but sooooo looking forward to it! Hands down it gains my Ahhh! romance factor and easily gets a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about Dancing with Fireflies, Denise Hunter, or where you can purchase a copy of this novel, please click on the links below:

Dancing with Fireflies by Denise Hunter

You can also find Denise Hunter on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Dancing with Fireflies, please visit Litfuse Publicity Book Tours page.

Don't miss Denise Hunter's latest Chapel Springs Romance, Dancing with Fireflies. Reviewers have already labeled Dancing with Fireflies "swoon-worthy" and "the perfect love story." 

Join Denise in celebrating the release of her new book by entering her Kindle HDX giveaway and RSVPing for her April 10th Facebook party.
 

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire HDX
• Dancing with Fireflies and Barefoot Summer by Denise Hunter

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 10th. Winner will be announced at the Dancing with Fireflies Facebook Party on April 10th. Connect with Denise for an evening of prizes, book chat, and an exclusive look at the next book in the series.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN on the event page. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 10th!

The Queen's Handmaid

You can tell when you're reading a historical fiction novel or in this case a biblical historical fiction novel that the author has done their due diligence and written something so exceptional, you honest wonder how long the research must have taken. In the case of The Queen's Handmaid from best-selling author Tracy L. Higley, she writes the little known fictional story of Herod, the Galilean governor with his eye on conquering as many kingdoms as possible. Using all his influence he begins to form alliances with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt and Mark Anthony, second in command of Rome. Herod hoped that each of these alliances would lead him to gain more control of the surrounding lands he had already acquired and had hoped that with his marriage to Mariamme he would have an heir to his throne. But Herod the Great would soon face his challenges beginning with Cleopatra who would not give up any control to anyone including members of her own family if she felt threatened. She would have them executed without a second thought.

Lydia is Cleopatra's handmaid who cares for her children at first until she is introduced to Herod. He sees the intelligence and value she possesses and hires her as a handmaid for his soon-to-be wife. Only Lydia is living with a task she must accomplish in her lifetime and one that requires her to locate a man in the temple courts of Jerusalem and provide him with a set of sealed scrolls from the prophet Daniel. She must not divulge this information to anyone and her mentor Samuel was murdered before he could complete the task. Since he left no sons behind to carry on, he has tasked Lydia with helping to usher in future for the nation of Israel. Only if Samuel was murdered for having the scrolls in his possession, so can Lydia.

As things begin to unravel with being in Cleopatra's household, Lydia knows it will only be a matter of time before Cleopatra has her killed as well. Lydia has always proved a threat to Cleopatra not by her words or actions, but by her calm demeanor and how people are immediately drawn to her. Even Cleopatra's own children find solace and comfort in Lydia than with their own mother. So when the opportunity presents itself to flee from Cleopatra and leave secretly with Herod, Lydia realizes that it will not only be for her benefit but also move her closer geographically for finding the one person she can give the scrolls to before they find her. But even Herod has his secret spies working in his own family to ensure their own personal interests and survival, is Lydia any safer with Herod than she is with Cleopatra?

I received The Queen's Handmaid by Tracy L. Higley compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for my honest review and the opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. I am a huge fan of Tracy Higley's literature because of her ability to write the reader into the story. You are just reading it, you're there as part of the story in the background as a silent observer. You can see and feels things so vividly, pictures aren't required. Her ability to utilize the character of Lydia to bring the characters of Cleopatra and Herod to life in a unique way. Based on factual information, she shows you just how manipulative they each were to obtaining their goals and how they played upon others to achieve their selfish aspirations even at the cost of those they loved. It was sad to see how far greed got carried away in their own life and even though they each thought they were in control, they were really being played by others around them without knowing it. Hands down this one gains a 4.5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and can't wait for more from Tracy in the near future.

For more information about The Queen's Handmaid, Tracy L. Higley or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Queen's Handmaid by Tracy L. Higley

You can also find Tracy L. Higley on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Queen's Handmaid, please visit Litfuse Publicity Book Tour Page. 


Tracy L. Higley is celebrating the release of The Queen's Handmaid with a fun giveaway.

Retailers + Resources gave it this glowing review: "Rich in historic detail, Higley’s vivid writing brings to life the plots and intrigues that swirled through the ancient world as alliances were built and broken on the calculated schemes of power-mad monarchs." 

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• The Queen's Handmaid by Tracy L. Higley

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 19th. Winner will be announced April 21st on Tracy's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Tracy's blog on April 21st to see if you won.

Fearless Hope

Life sometimes offers us a different path than the one we wanted for our lives. Sometimes we are forced to face some of those challenges head on and wait to see what the outcome will be believing of course, that God knows best. In the latest novel from Serena B. Miller, Fearless Hope, offers the readers a different way of looking at hope in the most challenging of situations.

For Logan Parker who lives in New York as a best selling author, he has come against the proverbial and dreaded writer's block. Known for his suspense novels, he has been struggling since the loss of his wife and can't see to find the light beyond the end of the bottle. His publisher has given him the last ultimatum since turning in less than stellar best sellers in his last two novels, either find where you got off track or you won't have a contract with his publishing firm in the future. He has a deadline to complete a novel and if it isn't along the lines of what they have been expecting, he will be fired.

When he takes a trip to the Amish country of Holmes County, Ohio with his financèe, an interior designer looking for quality furniture, he happens upon a home for sale that provides him with an unknown serenity. As if he has been there before. Thinking it would offer him a respite from the rigors of New York and hopefully provide a break to his writer's block, he purchases the house. He can't understand why he feels as if he has been there before, but his fiancèe Marla, a strikingly beautiful women whose only focus is on what she can get out of life thinks it's a complete waste of time.

Logan buys the home against Marla's wishes and while he opts to stay in the house in Ohio, she heads back to New York. Left with an empty house in need of filling, Logan begins to shop around town for things to fill the home. While browsing a local store, he finds Hope Yoder, who is looking for work as a housekeeper. She is struggling to find her own sense of purpose sense losing her husband Titus in a farming accident that has left her with two young children and pregnant with her third child. She is hoping to find something that will allow her to bring her children to work and one that will allow her to work until she has the baby. Logan is willing to give her a job seeing as he is in need of someone who can cook for him while he tries to find himself. They both understand that nothing can come between the two of them since Logan is English and Hope is Amish. Hope is more than surprised to learn that Logan has bought her father's house and farm and it more than excited to help bring it back to it's former glory. But either of them be able to keep their hearts from finding a path different than the one they have in mind?

I received Fearless Hope by Serena B. Miller compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. I love novels that combine different genre's and in this case, it's contemporary romance alongside Amish romance. I love seeing how Logan and Hope try to work around the differences in their faith while trying to get past their own stages of grief having both lost their spouses. What inspires me most about Hope's character is that her actions speak louder than anything she says and it's true what the Bible states that we can be won over by our actions rather than our words with others. What an inspirational story of hope among loss that is geared to encourage us all that life doesn't end when we think it should and God has a plan in mind for all of us. .This one easily rates a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Fearless Hope, Serena B. Miller or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Fearless Hope by Serena B. Miller

You can also find Serena B. Miller on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Fearless Hope, please visit Howard Books website.