Yearly Archives: 2022

July 13, 2022 · 7:00 am

Natural Beauties: Homemade Wellness Tips from Head to Toe by Marita & Mimina Meza (Book Spotlight)

NATURAL BEAUTIES: Homemade Wellness Tips from head to Toe by Marita and Mimina Meza

As twin sisters with lifelong careers in the beauty industry, Marita and Mimina Meza learned many insider tips and tricks for taking care of themselves, using affordable, natural ingredients as beauty and wellness products. They have put them to the test, creating masks, creams, and scrubs. If the recipes didn’t make a real difference, they moved on to something else, always looking for the best methods of caring for their bodies and minds.

This book contains only the best beauty advice and recipes from their many years of modeling and pageants, and it’s all rooted in natural ingredients. Marita and Mimina believe nature provides everything you need for a beauty regiment that will keep you looking younger while staying healthy. Instead of searching for beauty products that don’t contain harmful chemicals, it’s easier and less expensive to make your own products at home. In this book, the twins will show you how, helping you to look and feel youthful and invigorated every day.

 
Buy the Book:
Amazon
Target ~ B&N
 
 
 

Originally from Venezuela, Marita and Mimina Meza have had lifelong careers in the beauty industry. Along the way, they learned many insider tips and tricks for taking care of themselves and looking healthy using natural products. Marita and Mimina believe nature provides everything you need for a beauty regiment that will keep you looking younger while staying healthy. Instead of searching for beauty products that don’t contain harmful chemicals, they believe it’s easier and less expensive to make your own products at home. 
​
connect with the authors:  
website ~ facebook ~ instagram

 
 
 

 

 
 

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July 12, 2022 · 7:00 am

Off Broadway: A Marriage Drama by William A. Glass (Book Review / Author Interview)

OFF BROADWAY: A MARRIAGE DRAMA by William A. Glass

 
Cindy and Dave Knight got married too young. Several years later they are trying to make the best of it. He is a salesman on the fast track with a prestigious corporation. She is the indispensable assistant to a prominent Broadway producer. They own an apartment in Manhattan and enjoy knocking around the city together. However, Dave’s erratic behavior and career obsession strain the relationship. Can it be saved?
 
 
BUY THE BOOK
Amazon ~ B&N
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 
Before I begin my review, I would like to note the content rating: PG-13 + M. Off Broadway: A Marriage Drama by William A. Glass contains some profanity and has mature themes, including drug use (pot), adultery, and sexual situations. There are no graphic sex scenes. 
 
One of the first encounters that dealt with a mature scene happened when Cindy and Dave met up with the friends Phil and Susan. As their evening progresses, Phil informs the other couple that he and Susan had an open relationship and wants to swing with them. Dave isn’t up for swapping, but that doesn’t stop him from getting handsy with Susan. I could sense from that encounter that he doesn’t have an issue being with another woman, but I don’t think he wants his wife with another man. That’s a realistic scenario. 

Dave and Cindy’s marriage troubles are prevalent throughout the story. She hates his forgetfulness, his erratic behavior, and his messiness. I wasn’t surprised she told him she hadn’t loved him in a very long time because she yelled a lot at him. The break-up scene in the restaurant was rough. It would’ve been an awkward scene to witness if it occurred in real life. 


Marriage component aside, let’s discuss Dave’s sales career. 


As a consumer, we take for granted how our favorite items get on a store shelf. When Dave went on sales calls, we saw the behind-the-scenes aspect of how stressful and competitive product placement can be. We also witness what happens when a salesperson drops the ball on product placement. And how many hours (on and off the road) they put in each week. I was astounded to read how many demos a salesforce organizes in one weekend! 


Off Broadway: A Marriage Drama read as a dated piece. For instance, Dave went nuts on a cigarette vending machine. I don’t think I’ve seen one of those in several decades. 


The “drama” was not limited to his marriage with Cindy. It happened between Dave and his father (Knight) and during his time with UpTempCo, LLC. Plus, the people around him (family and business associates) were also waist-deep in their own drama. If you love drama, then you’ll love Off Broadway: A Marriage Drama.

 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤
 
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author:
Author William A. Glass

 
William is a retired business executive now living in South Carolina with his wife, Bettina. She teaches high school German while Bill is the soccer coach at a small college. Their three sons, Alex, Robert, and Gordon have all graduated from college and moved away to pursue careers. Now Bill and Bettina enjoy long walks with their dogs. When the weather permits, Bill commutes on his motorcycle. “It’s like taking a roller coaster to work!” he enthuses.
 
 
 
 
Kam:  What is your favorite childhood memory involving books?     
Bill:     I memorized a Golden Reader called ‘Grey Squirrel’s Party’ after having it read to me so often.  At age five, I figured out that the letters under the pictures were words and deciphered them.  Because of that, I was reading ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ by age eight.

 
Kam:  Did you always want to be an author while you were growing up?
Bill:    My only ambition growing up was to get out of school, then move as far from my family as I could.

 
Kam:  If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Bill:    Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

 
Kam:  What is your most unusual writing quirk?
Bill:     I’m a college soccer coach and much of my writing is done on the team bus traveling to games.  
    
 
Kam:  What would you consider to be your Kryptonite as an author?
Bill:    Whiskey

 
Kam:   If you could tell your younger writing self, anything, what would it be?
Bill:     Put your pen down and go fishing.

 
Kam:  What book do you feel is under-appreciated? How about overrated?
Bill:     Most under-appreciated: Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant; Most overrated: The Naked and the Dead.     
                      
 
Kam:   If you could dine with any literary character, who would it be and why?
Bill:     Mrs. Waters. 

 
Kam:  What’s one movie you like recommending to others?
Bill:     Paths of Glory directed by Stanley Kubrick

 
connect with the author:
 website ~ blog ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
 
 
 
 
 
 

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July 11, 2022 · 7:00 am

Lies at Her Door: A Psychological Thriller by A.A. Abbott (Book Review)

LIES AT HER DOOR (a psychological thriller) by A.A. Abbott

 
She forgot about her childhood friend… until his body is found under her garden. Can she prove she didn’t commit the decades-old murder?

Lucy Freeman struggles to find satisfaction in life. Trapped in the shadow of her rock star brother, the thirty-two-year-old craves more than her days at home caring for her terminally ill mother. But her routine takes a turn for the horrifying when a giant sinkhole collapses the earth outside their house and reveals a skeleton.

Shocked to discover the bones belong to a former member of her sibling’s band, Lucy’s worst nightmare comes alive when police suspect her of the killing. And as she turns to her dying parent’s diaries in a desperate search for vindication, she’s entangled in a dark and complicated truth.
 
Will unearthing long-buried wrongs prove lethal?
 
Lies at Her Door is a heavy-hitting psychological thriller novel. If you like strong character growth, overcoming dysfunctional relationships, and revealing unexpected secrets, then you’ll love AA Abbott’s chilling whodunnit.

 
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
Lies at Her Door: A Psychological Thriller by A.A. Abbott lived up to its name. Many people stretched the truth to serve their purposes or to protect someone close to them. 


There was also a psychopath whose evil actions stretched farther than I anticipated. There were thrilling life and death moments. Shocking truths were disclosed, and I mean SHOCKING! Family drama and loss of life. It was a story full of drama of varying degrees. 


Lies at Her Door: A Psychological Thriller pointed out cops are sometimes close-minded to other possible suspects when their mind is set on a specific individual. I think Detective Neil learned a valuable lesson after this case closed. 


I want to mention that since I live in the states, some British jargon was lost on me. I had to look up bubble and squeak and gendarmes. There were also phrases that we don’t use in America, such as we don’t end a sentence with “my lover” unless referring to someone you’re having coitus with. I looked that up and found out it’s a common term of endearment or greeting. 


Despite the random language barrier, I was able to follow the plot well. The crime and its resolution were planned and carried out beautifully. 


I encourage everyone reading this review to buy or download Lies at Her Door: A Psychological Thriller by A.A. Abbott using your kindle unlimited subscription. See if you can solve the mystery before all is revealed. FYI: I had most of the puzzle figured out, but not all. 🙂
 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author:
Author A.A. Abbott

 
British crime thriller writer A.A. Abbott (also known as Helen Blenkinsop) enjoys escaping with an exciting and emotional read, and that’s what she aims to write too. Based in the city of Bristol in England’s beautiful West Country, she’s shared her love for the city by writing about it in her latest psychological thriller.

Lies at Her Door is Helen’s ninth book. She’s had help from readers on subjects as varied as police procedure, philosophy and music. She’s grateful to them and to editor Katharine D’Souza for making huge improvements to the story.

Like 10% of us, many of Helen’s family are dyslexic. While she is not, she wants her books to be enjoyed by readers with dyslexia and visual impairment too. She publishes her thrillers in a Large Print dyslexia-friendly edition as well as standard paperback and ebook versions. (You can also adjust the font on your electronic device to suit your needs.)

A member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, Helen likes speaking to book groups, business networks and social circles. She also has fun reading thrillers and short stories at live fiction events and on Zoom. If you’re a book blogger, litfest organiser, reviewer or simply adore books, she’d love to hear from you.

connect with the author: 

website ~ facebook ~ twitter 
 
 

 

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July 8, 2022 · 7:00 am

Brain Crumbs: Stumbling through time with a crumbling mind by Sasha Dylus (Book Review)

A quirky collection of witty and whimsical poems for rhyme lovers of all ages. This lighthearted, pick-up-anywhere book is packed with dozens of bite-size ballads that are guaranteed to tickle the brain. From odd thoughts and ideas, to life lessons and laughs, Brain Crumbs takes a delightfully deep look at the world through the eyes of writer Sasha Dylus.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Brain Crumbs: Stumbling through time with a crumbling mind by Sasha Dylus is a collection that touches upon many subject areas. For instance, I believe “The fish” was about going with the flow and being open to new experiences. 

“Well aged” spoke the truth: Time seems to move slowly, but then again, it moves swiftly too. In a blink of an eye, you’ve gone from babe to an older adult to not existing. 

“POV” was quite fascinating. I pondered whose mind I would like to swap with and why. A scientist? A politician? A family member? Hmm, maybe even my cat? Yeah, I think the cat brain swap would prove quite interesting. I often wondered what the heck my furbaby was thinking. 

“Lovebird” went from creepy to hilarious. Let me explain. First, the poet describes gluing a person’s image onto their eyeball. Okay, I know they didn’t mean literally: at least, I hope they didn’t. In the end, the writer made me smile when they stated the person they are obsessed with only shows them the middle finger. Yes, I think they were obsessed due to the eyeball line. 

“Small problems” used a rock in a shoe to symbolize not sweating the small stuff. Okay, I don’t know about you, but a pebble in a shoe is aggravating. That said, I agree you should not sweat the small things. Focus on the bigger picture! 

There were many other poems I liked very much in Brain Crumbs: Stumbling through time with a crumbling mind by Sasha Dylus. Why? To be honest, I didn’t have to think very hard to interpret their meaning. These poems were simple, straightforward, but well written. Minor change: I wish pictures, symbols, or something else were on each page to draw the eye. 

Brilliant cover! It caught my attention right away! 


Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Sasha Dylus is a Canadian author currently residing in Toronto, Ontario. His writing style is greatly inspired by his favourite childhood authors, Shel Silverstein and Dennis Lee. His work covers a wide variety of topics, using wit and comedy to engage readers of all ages.

Reedsy Link

 

 

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July 6, 2022 · 7:00 am

The Seraphim’s Song (The F.I.G. Mysteries, Book 5) by Barbara Casey (Book Spotlight)

The Seraphim's Song (A F.I.G. Mystery) by Barbara Casey

 
Many changes have taken place at Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women while Carolina and Larry were on their honeymoon in Frascati, Italy, on the Granchelli farm. The newlyweds have been given a larger bungalow; Ms. Alcott, niece of the founder of Wood Rose, and Mrs. Ball, assistant to the headmaster, have moved into a bungalow together; and Jimmy Bob, caretaker and night watchman at Wood Rose has moved from his family home down the road a bit into a small bungalow on the orphanage property with his hound dog Tick, as well as his new cat and her litter of kittens.

Summer is coming to an end and the F.I.G.s will soon return to the universities to complete their special projects. They are starting to feel anxious, and the coping mechanisms they have used their entire lives are starting to work overtime. Dara’s thoughts turn to an unknown language, possibly from another world; Mackenzie focuses on the relationship of math to music; and Jennifer keeps hearing the note of B flat minor and is drawing dark swirls on her canvas board.

Buy the Book:
Amazon Purchase Link
B&N ~ Books-A-Million
and local bookstores everywhere
Add to Goodreads
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author:

Author Barbara Casey

Barbara Casey is the author of several award-winning novels and book-length works of nonfiction for both adults and young adults, and numerous articles, poems, and short stories. Several of her books have been optioned for major films and television series.

In addition to her own writing, Barbara is an editorial consultant and president of the Barbara Casey Agency. Established in 1995, she represents authors throughout the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan.

In 2018 Barbara received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas.

Barbara lives on a mountain in Georgia with three cats who adopted her: Homer, a Southern coon cat; Reese, a black cat; and Earl Gray, a gray cat and Reese’s best friend.

​Connect with the author:  

Barbara Casey Author ~ Barbara Casey Agency ~ Goodreads
 
 
 
 
 
 

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