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Book Spotlight: Whispers for Terra

5/26/2021

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​Whispers for Terra
By Nancy Houser-Bluhm
Genre: Magical Realism
 
Suffering from job fatigue, Mary, a speech pathologist, finds herself at a crossroads.  Feeling a diminished sense of purpose, she finds solace in a nearby woods.  It’s in these woods she discovers she is more than she knows.  The earth spirits sense her ability to communicate and choose her to deliver a message that will influence our earth’s soil and everything that comes from it.
 
Seeking to enlighten humanity, an initially reluctant Mary is emboldened by a ninety-seven-year-old patient to embark on a journey of inner healing and outer discovery.  Mary soon encounters others who have also been marked to carry the earth’s message. As their collective efforts turn into an expansive movement, the impact of the earth’s message amplifies, and the earth begins to sense something new: relief.
 
Whispers for Terra is a story of hope, inspiration, and finding one’s path, showing us the impact individual and small group actions can make to heal our earth. 
 
All we have to do is listen. 
 
 

About the Author

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 Nancy Houser-Bluhm has lived in the foothills west of Denver, Colorado for over 20 years with her husband and miscellaneous pets. She hails from Michigan but always had a longing for the mountains after growing up watching Bonanza. Their current piece of heaven is called the Bluhmerosa.  For some years she and her husband, Jon traversed the country moving from Michigan to Oregon, back to Michigan and then to Colorado. Once a rock climber, she now spends time with biking, skiing, camping, enjoying nature and yoga; oh yes and with writing. 
 
Nancy received her first monetary writing award of $3.00 for a poem submitted by her middle school. Coinciding with the late 1960’s it pertained to war.  About the same time, she won a statewide essay contest which took her to a presidential inauguration.  She realizes she has outted herself and can never again use attending a presidential inauguration in the party game One Truth, Two Lies. 
 
Like the character in her first novel, Nancy’s pursuit of personal growth and awareness, led her down numerous paths. In the 1990s, Journey Seminars was her effort to bring entry level knowledge on such topics as dreamwork, Feng Shui, and homeopathy to her community. 
 
Authentic communication with herself and others has been an ultimate life quest, sometimes to the chagrin of others.  A lifelong journaler, Nancy produced her own journal with excerpts from her past journal wisdoms and her husband’s art.  She offered classes highlighting the power of the practice through gathered techniques. Nancy has had numerous prompted memoir-based articles in a local mountain newspaper. After working forty years as a Speech-Language, both in the schools and health care, she retired from being a full-time worker bee. It was then she began a blog and ventured into the arena of writing her first novel. 
 
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Terra-Nancy-Houser-Bluhm-ebook/dp/B0936YS5GK
 
 
B&N
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whispers-for-terra-nancy-houser-bluhm/1139340076?ean=9781736212318
 
 
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57820979-whispers-for-terra
 
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jnbpine
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nancybluhm
 
 
 
Excerpt: 
 
 
I didn’t know my World Was about to be rocked. As I prepared to step into the patient’s room, I only knew how my jaw felt as it tightened when I saw the last-minute speech language evaluation order placed at my station. My body had been settling into a feeling of relief for the end of the day. Barbara, a nurse, knew I would be off in ten minutes, but she also knew the policy stated that new evaluations had to be initiated the day they were ordered. Somewhere in me, I knew this wasn’t her fault, but I also sensed too much pleasure in it for her, and irritation was an easier emotion for me right now.
As I entered the patient’s room, I lifted my head and smiled broadly. As a kid, I was told my smile could light a room. And now, Mr. Talbot would never know I was anything but excited to help him. My soul knew the real story.
I reached for the clipboard and my sleeve slid down. I saw Mr. Talbot look at the mole on my arm, then look questioningly at me. He had no idea the mole had developed over a few short months. I shrugged and gave him a look of “Eh,” but my inner self was mirroring his same questioning look. Although most of my patients qualify as elderly and look the frailer part, Mr. Talbot, with his twinkling blue eyes, allowed me to envision the handsomeness he carried when he was younger.
 
I was relieved to read he was NPO, meaning nothing by mouth, and only tube feeding for now. He’d be safe from the risk of aspirating for the time being; he needed more strength and the medical staff needed more time to put a plan in place.
 

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Review: A Witch's Brew

5/20/2021

1 Comment

 
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Purchase on Amazon  Paperback - Kindle 

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First things first dear reader, you must know that A Witch's Brew is the third book in the Conquest of the Veil series by Michael Scott Clifton. Can you enjoy the story of A Witch's Brew  without reading the first two in the series? Yes, you can! Would you enjoy it even more if you read the first two before beginning this one? Of course! So, do yourself a favor and go buy them and enjoy them - you will not be disappointed. If you're curious what I thought of the first two, here is my review for The Open Portal and Escape from Wheel. 

​Clifton continues his expert hand at pulling us into this fantastic world that he has created. It is such a well-rounded, and rich world with equally versatile characters. What I especially love from this fantasy is the inclusion of very real relationships and feelings. It's easy to be right there with Alex as she encounters self-doubt but equal determination. She is by far my favorite character in this story. All in all, Clifton has given us a rich world full of fantastical elements, but keeps us rooted in emotion by given us robust characters. 

I felt like I have known these characters forever, and in a way, I guess I have. That mixed with non stop adventure and love has me itching for this world Clifton has weaved for us. There are plenty of twists to keep the pages turning, and the end? Well, let's just say that it'll keep you waiting for what comes next.
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Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram  Goodreads | Amazon Author Page | Bookbub 
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5/24/21  
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Book Spotlight: It Happened on Thunder Road

5/18/2021

1 Comment

 
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​It Happened on Thunder Road
By Susan Antony
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
 
Brief description
 
When Emmy Russo returns to high school in Moncks Corner, South Carolina after summer break, she discovers some changes. First: Mom has a boyfriend. Second: the cute new student, Charlie Fields, is a Rockabilly greaser with a gang who obeys his every command. Third: attractive Keir Harper wants to be more than just her best friend. And fourth: a perplexed Emmy soon finds herself drawn to two extremely different boys. How do you choose between sweet and smoldering? Then tragedy strikes on desolate Thunder Road. Strange things start happening, with Emmy in the middle of it all. Intent on finding the truth, she must fight for her heart, her life, maybe even her soul. Because someone wants to possess all of Emmy. And they will be together, no matter what the cost. For eternity.

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​About the Author
 
Susan Antony is an aspiring Renaissance woman who never shies from a challenge. Not only does she have a degree in the Liberal Arts, she has a degree in Automotive Technology. She currently works in the IT department at a local Charleston hospital. Susan lives with her teenaged son and two behaviorally-challenged Cairn Terriers. To maintain her sanity, she cherishes her Friday evenings dancing the night away!
 
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SusanAntonyCS
Twitter :https://twitter.com/SusanAntonyCS
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Happened-Thunder-Road-Susan-Antony/dp/1509235329
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57309229-it-happened-on-thunder-road
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/it-happened-on-thunder-road-susan-antony/1139026607
 
 
Excerpt
We faced each other for a beat or two. Then he placed his arm around my shoulder and took my hand in his, positioning his body a respectable distance away. We danced, slow and reserved at first, but as the singer’s wails intensified, so did Charlie’s moves. His hips swayed from side to side, and he inched closer to me, smidgen by smidgen, until his pelvis ground against my hipbones.
Our bodies melded, moving together in perfect synchronicity. Side to side. Back and forth. He moved his hand to my lower back and pulled me closer. I took in a quick, sharp breath. He
“You know, baby,” he murmured, “You and me have more than chemistry. We have fire. Not the easy kind of fire you can make from a box of matches, but the kind of fire you get when you rub two sticks together. I’m all yours if you want me.”
The world around me blurred as if I were watching it through thick lenses. I imagined Charlie’s lips against mine. I imagined him shirtless, propped above me, his triceps bulging as he slowly lowered his chest—mine rising toward his, beckoning him closer. He groaned a low animal-like sound. It drew me to him.
And I wanted him bad.
I wanted our bodies to burn in Hell together for all eternity.
What was happening? Had I lost my mind? I wasn’t ready. Was I?
No.
Spasms of panic surged from my loins to the deepest recesses in my brain. In a sharp snap, the imaginary lenses cracked, and through the broken glass was a clear image of a boy with kind eyes and a halo of yellow hair.
Keir was my angel, and I was dancing with the devil. A devil who would betray his brother. A devil who would convince me to betray him as well.
I shuddered and pressed my free hand, fiercely against his shoulder. He clutched me tighter.
“Charlie, please. We can’t do this.”
“Why not?” he demanded.
I took in a long, ragged breath. “Because I don’t want to hurt Keir. He likes me.”
He forced a laugh and loosened his grip. My hand  slipped from his, and he leaned toward me. His chin brushed against my cheek, and flesh bumps shimmied down my spine.
“That was the right answer, New Jersey,” he whispered in a throaty voice. “Welcome to the gang.”

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Review: To the Republic

5/5/2021

2 Comments

 
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An Amazon #1 New Release in History of U.S. Immigration

PURCHASE: Amazon  Author Website
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To the Republic is definitely a read that demands your attention. Bruce Clavey takes through truly a saga (the tag line does not lie folks) of heavy topics. This novel weaves in many recent hot topics into its web. Clavey touches upon politics that are particular to Texas, the drug cartels, and  immigration. Whereas one can see all of these topics being important to the nation as a whole, we can definitely say that they are especially important to a border state like Texas. Clavey does not shy away from providing a thorough and detailed description of these topics in his book. To be all honest with you, it felt a bit heavy to take in the information, so I had to make sure to give myself to absorb this book. This may be because I live IN Texas of course. 

So, as I mentioned before, this novel is quite detailed and I very much appreciated the care that when into creating this book. Any reader should be able to tell how much work went into this novel...because it shows! One, if this book sounds interesting to you, make sure you take your time to take it all in. Two, it will definitely leave you waiting for book two in the series! I say this because To the Republic definitely left me wanting more. 
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
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FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH STOP ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,
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4/27/21
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4/27/21
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4/29/21
Review
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4/30/21
Review
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5/1/21
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5/2/21
Excerpt, Part 2
StoreyBook Reviews

5/3/21
Review
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5/3/21
Promo
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5/4/21
Series Spotlight
That's What She's Reading

5/5/21
Sneak Peek
Texas Book Lover

5/5/21
Review
Book Fidelity

5/6/21
Review
Librariel Book Adventures

5/6/21
Review
Momma on the Rocks
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Review: Final Girls

5/3/2021

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Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls: Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout's knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them and, with that, one another. Despite the media's attempts, they never meet.
 
Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past. 
 
That is until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit; and Sam, the second Final Girl, appears on Quincy's doorstep. Blowing through Quincy's life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa's death come to light, Quincy's life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam's truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.

Review

This was my first Riley Sager and yes, it took me a long time to read it. Here's the thing - I'm used to romance books. lol I love horror and true crime, but you know what romance has made me expect? Usually a quickly unfolding story with a usually good ending. They say the romance genre is formulaic and that's because it is...because it works. 

So, what does this have to do with Final Girls?

It means I had to be a whole lotta patient with the story. The story takes a bit to get into - the reader is left to wonder just what happened to Quincy that fateful night when someone killed her five friends. We learn a bit more about her even though she remains something of a mystery throughout most of the book. 

It was really in the last third of the book where I felt, whoa, okay...here we go. Did I think all the build up was worth it? Ehhhh. I could have done with less of it, but the in all honesty, it really is the third of the book that made this book go from a 2 star to a 3 star for me. I wish it would have been higher. I am, however, looking forward to reading more of Sager's books because that last third...it was fantastic. 
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