Product Review: Ozeri Elite Chef Black Ceramic 3-Piece Knife Set

May 8, 2013 Product Reviews

ozeri knife

 

I recently had the opportunity to review these amazing knives. The set comes with 3 different knives.  The knives are very light weight and cut through things like butter. Everyone in my family loves them. I am amazed at how lightweight they are. I have arthritis in my hands and these knives didn’t cause me any problems using them   They are my new favorite knife.  This is the second product by Ozeri that I’ve tried. I really love this company. 

Here is a description of the knives: 

  • The Elite Chef Black Ceramic Knife Set includes 3 ultra-sharp 100% ceramic knives that slice through fruits, vegetables, and boneless meats with unmatched ease.
  • Coupled to perfectly balanced ergonomic handles, the Elite Chef Ceramic Knives make chopping, mincing and dicing easier than ever before.
  • By utilizing the purest ceramic, each blade is close in hardness to diamonds and preserves its razor-sharpness 10 times longer than traditional steel blades.
  • Unlike metal knives, the Ozeri Elite Chef Black Ceramic Knives do not corrode, rust or leach metal ions from long-term exposure to moisture, oils and acids in common foods.
  • Finished with a re¬flective black veneer, each Ozeri ceramic knife weighs less than half of an equivalent metal knife, thereby reducing fatigue and pain associating with preparing big meals and repetitive cutting.

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Fall of Sky City Blast

May 6, 2013 Promotional

Fall of Sky CityFall of Sky City

Genre: New Adult Fantasy, Steampunk Adventure

In a world governed by the opposing forces of the mystical House of Tarot and the tribal Great Families, Synn is caught in the crossfire. He witnesses the slaughter of innocent people, and the devastating murder of his father. This act awakens his Mark of power, a Mark greater than any the world has seen in a very long time.

Queen Nix thought she won a great prize when she destroyed Synn’s father, the leader of the strongest Great Families. She had no idea she’d be doubly blessed by capturing his son. However, before Synn can become her treasured weapon, before she can use him to bring the rest of the world to its knees, she must break him and bind his soul to hers.

She does her job with brutal brilliance. Synn’s mind is broken and his soul is seared to hers in an unbreakable bond.

That doesn’t stop him from wanting to be free. She may have broken his mind and claimed his soul, but he will find a way to destroy her.
Experience a world of ships that sail the clouds and cites buried beneath the ocean, and survive the fiery battle brought forth by those who control the forces of nature!

About Author SM Blooding

SM Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, Ms. Bird, the Chicken and SistaPITA. It’s quite the zoo. She’s taken a break from the piano, which Ms, Bird is quite happy about, and now knows more than one word in Arabic. Basically, she can say hello, good-bye, give it to me, and hurry up!

She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories.

Follow SM Blooding:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Follow the Tour!
http://www.promotionalbooktours.com/2013/04/fall-of-sky-city-book-tour/

The Author is giving away a $50 Amazon GC. Fill out the form below to Enter!
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Review: Charles Middleworth by Guy Portman

May 5, 2013 Book Reviews, Fiction

Charles Middleworth

 

Title: Charles Middleworth

Author: Guy Portman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Genre: Fiction

Format: E Book

Source: Author

My Rating: 

3

Summary: What happens when Adrian, an actuary, has his banal and predictable existence turned upside down by sinister forces that he can neither understand nor control?

How will he react to a revelation that leaves his life in turmoil? Will he surrender or strive for redemption in an altered world, where rationality, scientific
logic and algorithms no longer provide the answers?

My Review: 

I received this book for a fair and honest review.

This book is about Aiden who is very boring. Aiden is an actuary. It’s like he has a photographic memory. He not only remembers things, he remembers the small details as well.

Aiden suddenly starts to have nightmares and he wonders why they take place and who the man in his dreams is.

This book is definitely not for everyone. To me it seemed to ask more questions than answer them. It has a dry humor that some people do not enjoy. This is a good book for those that like twists and turns within the story.

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Review: The Cowboy’s E-Mail Bride by Cora Seton

May 5, 2013 Book Reviews, Romance

The Cowboy's Email Order Bride

 

Title: The Cowboy’s E-Mail Bride

Author: Cora Seton

Publisher: One Acre Press

Genre: Romance

Format: E Book

Source: Author

My Rating:5

Summary: 

Ethan Cruz should be mending fences on his Montana ranch, but instead he’s driving to the Chance Creek, Montana, airport – to pick up the bride he didn’t know he had. This latest salvo in his ongoing practical joke battle with his best friend, Rob Matheson, has gone too far, and Ethan plans to send his “bride” right back home, then get busy plotting his revenge. One look at Autumn Leeds changes his mind, however. Perhaps he needs a bride, after all. A breathtakingly beautiful city bride.

Autumn Leeds needs a story – fast – or she’s going to lose her lucrative contract with CityPretty Magazine, so when she sees the crazy video plea for a modern mail-order bride for a cowboy, it sounds like the story of the century. Making a video of her own, she casts herself as the perfect mail-order bride for a rancher, but when she finally reaches Montana, she’s surprised to find Ethan’s the perfect cowboy husband-to-be. Against her better judgment, her plan to keep her handsome groom at arm’s length disintegrates into a night of passion spent in his arms.

Ethan knows he can’t keep playing this game – he has to come clean with Autumn and tell her the truth; about the practical joke and about the state of his ranch. He’s about to lose it all because of the debts his mother racked up before his parents’ deaths. Now his sister, Claire, wants to sell the ranch and collect what little money they can. He’ll be out of a home and a job, and in no shape to support the bride he desperately wants to marry, after all.

Autumn’s in bigger trouble than ever. Not only has she fallen in love with the subject of her expose – she might be … Well, the rest cannot be said.

But what can be said is can a relationship built on lies last?

My Review: 

I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is a quick fun beach read.

Ethan and Autumn definitely did not have a normal start to their relationship. They each had lies and problems of their own. What they didn’t expect is to fall for each other so hard, so fast.

I loved reading about their love story. They both fell in love quickly and wanted to tell the other person about their deceit early on, but was afraid of losing the other person. As it goes with lies, things have a way of coming to the surface when you least expect it.

Do they work it out anyway? Do they break up? Hmmm, You’ll have to read the book for yourself to find out. You won’t regret reading this book I promise.

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Review: The Never by Kristina Circelli

May 3, 2013 Book Reviews, Fantasy

The-Never

Title: The Never

Author: Kristina Circelli

Publisher: Kristina Circelli; 1 edition

Genre: Fantasy

Format: E Book

Source: Promotional Book Tours

My Rating: 4

Summary: “Out of nothing, we create something.”

Arianna has spent her entire life being called a dreamer, an artist who created a world no one else can see. And for her entire life, she has taken the medication that keeps that world – and the one who brought her there – at bay.

Now an adult, Arianna reawakens that part of herself kept locked away in the darkest corners of her mind. When she hides her medicine from her fiancé’s ever-watchful eye, he returns – the shadow in the night who collects her for an adventure known only in her fantasies. 

But something is different about this world called The Never. It is no longer the cheerful place filled with light and laughter that she knew as a child. Now, the sea creatures drag their visitors into the depths of murky waters. The natives battle to the death against the tribe of children. And the pirates, led by the feared captain called The Hunter, seek out Arianna for their own sinister plans.

As Arianna goes deeper into The Never, she discovers just what her connection to the land means – and must choose between her life rooted in reality, and the world where anything is possible.

My Review: 

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.This book is different than any other book I’ve read.

We all have daydreamed, or played make believe as a child. What if the world we created came to life? That is what it’s like for Arianna. Arianna can go to a different world that only she knows exsists. Her mother and fiance make sure to give her medication to stop what they call dillusions. Is it really a dillusion or just another part of what makes Arianna who she is? Things are not always what they seem either though. Arianna has many obsticules to over come in both the “real” world and the world she calls The Never.

This is the second book by the author I have read and I love her writing style. She is able to capture the story she is telling in such a way that you can feel yourself being part of the story. I would love to read other work by her.

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Guest Post by Author Kellie Larsen Murphy

May 2, 2013 Promotional

I had the amazing opportunity to ask Author Kellie Larsen Murphy a question I love to ask authors.  What do Authors want from Reviewers?

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What do Authors want from Reviewers?

 In today’s digital world, reviews have become the new rating system, the new “word of mouth”. From hotels and restaurants to clothing, hardware, cars, and books, positive reviews can sway potential buyers. They can also deter those buyers. No author would be telling the truth if they didn’t admit they hoped for all 5-star reviews. However, expecting that can be unrealistic. A review is, by nature, a subjective opinion. It’s impossible to please everyone, no matter who you are. Shakespeare, Fitzgerald, and Hemingway all had critics, too. It’s okay.

I recently took a look at this week’s NYT Bestseller list (hardcover fiction only). The number 1 book was Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts. Out less than a month, the book has already garnered 174 reviews on Amazon. Remarkably, only 13 of those reviews are 1 and 2-stars or 7.5%. In contrast, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is hanging on to the number 4 spot after 46 weeks, but nearly 20% of her reviews are “negative” (1 and 2-stars). What, if anything, should this tell the author?

Taking a closer look at Ms. Robert’s unfavorable reviews, the most common complaint is that she might be “running out of ideas” or that her current works are old works “watered down.” Are the reviewers right? I have no idea but it appears that Ms. Roberts is satisfying a huge percentage of her readers. Ms. Flynn’s book, on the other hand, has been controversial since it was released. She has a great style but some readers are put off by the language and steamy scenes. However, the biggest complaint from her unhappy readers was disappointment in the ending. As an author, I don’t know how upset I would be with that complaint. After all, would they be so upset if they didn’t like everything they’d read up until that point? Again, just over 80% are giving the book positive reviews.

So where does an author draw the line and when is it important to really pay attention to the reviews? How about when:

  • Your percentage of negative reviews is higher than your percentage of positive reviews. If this is the case, an author needs to comb through the reviews to see if there is a consistent theme such as “plot confusing”, “dull”, or “predictable”. Those comments might be tempered by “potential” or “started out great.” No author wants to be in this situation, but if they are, they can turn it into a positive. Use that feedback and either create a new and improved second edition or be sure to address those issues in the next book.
  • The reviews point to a problem that can be fixed NOW. The number 2 book on the NYT list is Daddy’s Gone a Hunting by Mary Higgins Clark. Nearly 16% of her reviews are negative but most are not about the writing or the story. They are all criticisms of the FORMATTING of the eBook. That is fixable and should be done immediately.
  • You aren’t clear enough about the book’s contents. If your reviews are angry because you billed your book as a mystery and it’s really a love story/steamy romance with 5% mystery, you might have some unhappy readers. Change the classification. In a similar situation, the number 5 book on the NYT list is Taking Eve by Iris Johansen. About 15% of her reviews are unfavorable and most are tied to a misunderstanding of the book’s part in a trilogy. The readers are upset that Taking Eve does not have an ending. The conclusion is in a subsequent book due out this summer. Authors should be careful not to knowingly mislead their readers.

In recent weeks, there has been a small reaction to unfavorable comments posted about one of Anne Rice’s older books, Pandora: New Tales of the Vampire. The author herself brought the post to national attention by highlighting it on her facebook page. While that was certainly her right, I’m not sure it was necessary. The blogger who put up the post admitted that her dislike of the book was her opinion. Ms. Rice’s reaction only sent more viewers to the blogger’s page. But perhaps the controversy will spark not just blog hits but book sales. Maybe that’s the whole idea.

A review can be defined as a personal analysis or appraisal of another person’s work, product, or service. I love books but as an author, I might not be a good reviewer. Because I have an idea of the amount of work that goes into creating a book, it might be difficult for me to be highly critical. If I’m not fond of a work, I’d rather just keep that opinion to myself. However, I don’t think reviewers (either professional or casual) should do that. Reviews should be honest but never nasty (nobody comes off well there). While an author may not always agree with the opinion of the reviewer, they can learn something, grow as a writer, or just put it in perspective. A review may or may not be positive, but what the author does with it can be 5-star every time.  

Kellie Larsen Murphy is the author of A Guilty Mind. I recently had the pleasure of reading this book. My review is here: http://www.ginaslibrary.info/review-a-guilty-mind-by-kellie-larsen-murphy/

 

 

 

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Review: A Guilty Mind by Kellie Larsen Murphy

May 1, 2013 Book Reviews, Mystery

a guilty mind coverTitle: A Guilty Mind

Author: Kellie Larsen Murphy

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Format: E Book

Genre: Mystery

Source: Author

My Rating:3

Summary: “I believe a man’s worth cannot be defined solely by his goodness but also by his desire to battle that in him which is not good.”

George Vandenberg is in the midst of that battle, a broken man with a volatile temper and haunted by the memory of the young woman he once loved and “accidentally” killed. Wrestling with the guilt and pushed by his psychiatrist to confess the circumstances of her death, he teeters on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

The past collides with the present when the doctor turns up dead, brutally stabbed to death in his office. Stunned and confused, George emerges as the primary suspect even as he becomes a target himself. To prove his innocence, George must face the police, his manipulative wife, and the past he’s been unable to forget. When the truth is finally divulged, no one, including George, is prepared for the collateral damage or the shocking identity of the killer.

My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

For me this book was a slow read. Some parts went fast, and others went very slow. I personally had a hard time getting through it. The parts of George’s past seemed to go slow. I feel there was too much back story of the “accidental” death and describing what happened. It didn’t need to be that long to tell the story.

The murder of the doctor seemed to run quickly. Things seemed to fall into place rather fast on that aspect.

I knew from the summary of the book that George really was not the killer. If I did not read that part I would of known shortly after starting to read the book he was not the killer. It was too obvious to make it George.

I was shocked as to who the killer was though. I didn’t see that coming and how everything got tied up at the end. That was a unique twist.

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Review: Tin God by Stacy Green

April 29, 2013 Book Reviews, Mystery

Title: Tin God

Author: Stacy Green

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Twisted Minds Press/misterio press LLC

Format: E book

Source: Promotional Book Tours

My Rating:

Summary: Getting pregnant as a teenager and being coerced into giving her baby up for adoption left a festering scar on Jaymee Ballard’s life. Trapped by poverty and without many allies, Jaymee nearly gives up hope of getting her daughter back after her best friend is murdered. Now, four years later, a wealthy woman with legal connections hires her as a housekeeper, and Jaymee gathers the courage to seek her help. But Jaymee’s last chance ends up in a puddle of blood in one of the historic antebellum mansions in Roselea, Mississippi.

I just murdered your wife…again.

An unsigned letter consisting of six horrifying words turns Nick Samuels stagnant life upside down. Stuck in emotional purgatory since his wife’s unsolved murder four years ago, Nick is about to self-destruct. The arrival of the letter claiming credit for his wife’s murder and boasting of a new kill sends Nick to Roselea, where he and Jaymee’s worlds collide.

Jaymee and Nick realize exposing the truth about her daughter’s adoption is the only way to solve the murders. Up against years of deception, they rush to identify the killer before the evidence–and Jaymee’s daughter–are lost.

But the truth doesn’t always set the guilt-ridden free. Sometimes, it destroys them.

My Review: I received this book from Promotional Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book was amazing. It was very fast paced and I felt very invested in the characters. There were twists and turns through out the book. This book is the type of book that stays with you when reading it. I wanted to do nothing but read to find out what happens.

My heart  went out to Jaymee.  As a parent I can’t imagine being in her situation.  She was young and vulnerable. Instead of finding help and comfort, she was munipulated and abused over and over again. 

I loved how the book ended. All of my questions and wondering how things worked out were answered. Nothing was left unanswered.

I highly recommend this novel. This is book 1 of a series. I can’t wait to read the next one.

 

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Review: Assured Destruction by Michael F. Stewart

April 25, 2013 Book Reviews, Mystery

Title: Assured Destruction

Author: Michael F. Stewart

Publisher: Non Sequitur Press; 1st edition

Genre: Mystery

Format: E Book

Source: Tribute Books

My Rating:

Summary: You can learn a lot about someone looking through their hard drive…

Sixteen-year-old Jan Rose knows that nothing is ever truly deleted. At least, not from the hard drives she scours to create the online identities she calls the Shadownet.

Hobby? Art form? Sad, pathetic plea to garner friendship, even virtually? Sure, Jan is guilty on all counts. Maybe she’s even addicted to it. It’s an exploration. Everyone has something to hide. The Shadownet’s hard drives are Jan’s secrets. They’re stolen from her family’s computer recycling business Assured Destruction. If the police found out, Jan’s family would lose its livelihood.

When the real people behind Shadownet’s hard drives endure vicious cyber attacks, Jan realizes she is responsible. She doesn’t know who is targeting these people or why but as her life collapses Jan must use all her tech savvy to bring the perpetrators to justice before she becomes the next victim.

My Review:This was a quick read and highly enjoyable.

Jan Rose is not your typical teenage girl, she is a computer genius. Jan helps her mom with the family business of destroying and recycling old computers. Jan has created her own online world from hard drive she was suppose to destroy.

The character of Jan really evolves as the book goes on. She starts out as a being bitter she has to help out her mom who is suffering from MS and the family business. In the end she realizes she needs to show her love for her mom more, and she can actually help others with her computer skills. There is even teenage love in the story.

I was shocked to see who was responsible for the cyber attacks against Jan. I also think it was very creative of her to figure it out and bring attention to who was behind it.

There is so much more I’d love to say about this book but it would give away from the story for others that haven’t read it yet.

Michael F. Stewart‘s Bio:
After crewing ships in the Antarctic and the Baltic Sea and some fun in venture capital, Michael anchored himself (happily) to a marriage and a boatload of kids. Now he injects his adventurous spirit into his writing with brief respites for research into the jungles of Sumatra and Guatemala, the ruins of Egypt and Tik’al, paddling the Zambezi and diving whatever cave or ocean reef will have him. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers and SF Canada, and the author of the Assured Destruction series, 24 Bones, The Sand Dragon, Hurakan, Ruination and several award winning graphic novels for young adults.

Formats: paperback & ebook
Release: March 22, 2013

Amazon paperback ($8.99)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/098126994X?tag=tributebooks-20

Kindle ($2.99)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BXRUYO6?tag=tributebooks-20

Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17376220-assured-destruction

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Through the Valley Excerpt

April 24, 2013 Promotional

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000035_00031]

ThroughtheloveValleyEndures-196x300

Through the Valley Love Endures

What if death came for you today? Would you be ready?

Forced to face his own mortality, Eddie Santiago fought to stay alive in a broken world. His incredible journey through heartbreak, abuse, and adversity left him with one truth: every life makes a difference.

This is the true and compelling story of his supernatural quest through the valley of death, doubt, and darkness. Eddie provides a passionate story that will capture the attention of even the toughest skeptics.

Angels, demons, heaven, hell, Jesus and the devil: are they fiction, or are they more real than anything else in the world?

About Eddie David Santiago

EddieDavidSantiago

Eddie David Santiago has worked in the mental health/substance abuse field since he was 18 years old.  He holds bachelor degrees in both psychology and religious studies and has provided counseling related services for multiple mental health, substance abuse and human service agencies.  In addition, he earned his master’s degree in counseling along with certification in educational administration.

With over fifteen years of counseling related experience, Eddie founded the organization L.E.A.D. (Love Endures And Delivers) which offers interactive group trainings, seminar sessions, speaking opportunities for groups of all ages and crisis counseling sessions.

THROUGH THE VALLEY, LOVE ENDURES is based on Eddie’s early collection of writings, through which he found his voice.  He seeks to inspire others to find their voice and share their own stories.
Eddie resides in the Midwest with his beautiful wife Sarah and their three amazing children, Faith, Isaiah and Makaylah.

The tour starts April 23rd and there will be a couple of swag packs, giftcards, and a messenger bag. Fill out the form below to sign up to review or promote.

Excerpt

 

What if, one day, you suddenly believed that you had a week to live? Would you finally have a reason to fight for your life, or would you continue to hide among the shadows? If you had a chance to change it all before you left this world, would you? Would you be able to face all of those secrets and years in darkness with the hope that it could help others find the light? That is what I had to ask myself. I wondered if telling my story would help anyone at all. Could I help even just one person think twice about stepping off that broken road? Would I have enough time to even tell it?

For me, 2010 was the year my life changed forever.  A bat bit my finger, and since I couldn’t find the bat right away to get it tested for rabies, I had to have the array of rabies shots on the assumption that I might be infected. 

           When I arrived in the emergency room, my blood pressure was elevated.  Either I had just discovered that I had hypertension, or I was very anxious about having to get the shots.  Unfortunately, I had an immediate reaction to the shots.  My body started shaking, and I thought I was going into shock. With whatever strength I had left, I picked up the phone to text my wife how much I loved her and the kids. Then it dawned on me: I had never felt true love until I felt that I was going to lose what mattered most.

As I lay in the ER trying to regain consciousness, a looming reality came to mind: Is it too late to live in love? The idea haunted me. I feared that these were my last moments on earth, and all I could feel was regret.  There is no worse feeling than anticipating your death and then realizing you have never actually loved. In my life, I just couldn’t trust God long enough to fully give my heart away.

 

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