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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Book Review and Tour Giveaway: Ride: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Puca Mates Short Book One) by A.C. James

This is an engaging beginning to what promises to be an interesting, albeit steamy, romance.
by A.C. James
  • File Size: 1203 KB
  • Print Length: 56 pages
  • Publisher: Wandering Impulse Press (April 29, 2015)
  • ASIN: B00WC20C02
  • Genre: Paranormal Romance
  • My Rating 4.0 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: April 29, 2015
PUCA MATES SHORT #1
*** This a not a full-length book. This novella is part one of a serial romance.***
Felicity Forrest has the perfect job as an investigative blogger for Everyday Supernatural. This curvy girl gets sent to the Aran Islands to find out whether a púca shape shifter is responsible for the strange accidents haunting a construction site.
Niall O’Leary is tall, broody, and totally alpha. His mission is to discover why the veil between the human world and the Realm has lifted. And as the Chieftain’s son he must find a mate or his twin will be promised to a stallion he despises. He has a duty to his family, his clan, and a need for offspring. Otherwise the púca could become nothing more than folklore.
Passion and frustration ignite when a curvy human female tempts his inner stallion like no other. There’s only one problem... She just got out of a relationship that left her broken hearted. Is she ready for a second chance at love?
Reader Note: This book is for those who are 18+. It contains explicit language, sexual situations, and one helluva cliffhanger. However, if you like curvy shifter romance, a stallion who can’t resist his curvy woman, and a dash of humor, then this is the story for you. Please read these installments in order. Enjoy!

Puca Mates Series/Serial Reading Order:
Ride: Awakening – Episode One
Ride: The Bet – Episode Two
Ride: Out Cold – Episode Three
Ride: The Veil – Episode Four

Categories: BBW Short Stories, Two-Hour Romance Short Reads


Review:
Felicity is a young woman who was hurt by a boyfriend who belittled her curvy proportions. She has avoided men for the past six months while she tries to get over the ex-boyfriend. Meanwhile she has focused on her interesting job as an investigative blogger for a site that explores and reports on the claims and mysteries of supernatural events.

Felicity is planning to spend a night celebrating a birthday with her good friend, Cyn (think ‘Sin’). Instead, Felicity is sent on assignment to the Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland, where she is to investigate a claimed sighting of a puca shape shifter. Felicity invites Cyn to join her for some fun away from home.

Niall is a tall, strong and gorgeous. His father has given him an ultimatum to choose a mate as they must continue their species. Niall isn’t interested in settling down but he knows he will comply eventually because of special circumstances in his family. His priority right now though is to find out why the veil hiding his world has lifted several months before the usual time of the Samhain (October).

The girls visit a local pub and are soon joined by two handsome locals, Niall and his friend, Tomas. Tomas walks Cyn home and Niall takes Felicity for a walk and talk. Although Niall may be resistant to finding a mate, his inner stallion has other feelings. The puca spirit immediately wants to claim Felicity as his own. Although Felicity is shocked to be invited for a surprising ride on a beautiful horse, that doesn’t mean she is going to give in so easily to a rather arrogant man, no matter how sexy he is.

Ms. James does a good job developing the characters and setting up an interesting story. I enjoyed the presentation through alternating point of views of Felicity and Naill.  I admit I was a little leery of this after agreeing to read and review it as I thought it might be too bold for my tastes. I was pleasantly surprised that this first installment begins a good story and has limited sexual exposure. Yes, there is some innuendo, a few stark words and a few ‘stark’ sights.

 I am not sure if I will continue with the series due to the warnings of explicit language and sexual situations. On the other hand - I am intrigued by the storyline and would like to know the mystery tied to the Pucas and what trouble is being stirred up by whom. I recommend this for readers who enjoy sexy, steamy, shape shifter stories.

I received this first installment for Blog Tour and an honest review.


Buy Links:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WC20C02
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00WC20C02
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B00WC20C02
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00WC20C02

Author Bio: A.C. James

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author A.C. James writes paranormal romance and erotica, including Eternal Ever After which was featured in the bestselling Spice Box anthology. She pounds out sexy scenes at her keyboard where romance is laced with horror in hot stories of vampires and bad boy werewolves. Her stories feature strong heroines and alpha heroes, with plenty of action, twists, and turns that will keep you turning pages.

A.C. resides in northeast Pennsylvania where she entertains her husband with her imaginative yarns and quirky sense of humor. She spends her time drinking large vats of coffee while taming two toddlers by day and writing by night. Recovering video game beta tester and tech geek who grew-up going to cons and watching SmackDown. There’s probably some cosplay pictures around somewhere of her dressed up as Bloodberry from Saber Marionette J. Just don’t tell anyone.

Some Random Facts About A.C. James (in case you were wondering or if you’re just really, really bored)
Favorite Fictional Characters: Buffy & Damon Salvatore
Eric Northman or Bill Compton? Eric Northman every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Favorite Films: The Princess Bride, Idiocracy, & anything with Paul Rudd or Seth Rogan. She also displays a weakness for musicals.
Television: The Walking Dead, True Blood, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, & Big Bang Theory
Astrological Sign: Taurus
Addictions: Coffee, Wine, & Sushi… Oh, and sometimes Tuaca or Sake. Hula hooping and singing to 80s songs in her minivan while no one is looking.
Memberships: The Pocono-Lehigh Romance Writers (Romance Writers of America Chapter 174)
What she likes to read? She grew up reading the Choose Your Own Adventure series before graduating to L.J. Smith’s paranormal romance books long before television made the Vampire Diaries popular. Loves reading erotic romance, bdsm romance, and erotica. She’s a huge Tiffany Reisz fan girl. But who doesn’t love hot Catholic priests that are into BDSM?

Social Media Links
Website: http://www.acjames.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/AC-James/129228540578101
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACJamesauthor
Pinterest :https://www.pinterest.com/authoracjames/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ACJames/posts
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy0shR7xrlQuD4tfx3D8sXQ
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7126571.A_C_James
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/A.C.-James/e/B00D9DT7Y0/

A.C. James’s Ride: Episode One – Awakening
Blog Tour Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card
$20 Amazon Gift Card
Paperback Books: Leopold's Wicked Embrace by Kym Grosso & Within The Shadows by Julieanne Lynch

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RAFFLECOPTER LINK:
https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3707964e8/

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Get Kids Reading! Check Out Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge!

Popular children’s authors are coming together to create 12 original short stories exclusively for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge – a free, online program to help kids stay reading during the summer vacation months in order to avoid the learning loses called the “summer slide.”
This is a perfect fit for those trying to find FREE and fun ways to keep kids reading this summer.

Authors include:
· R.L. Stine

· Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pierce (co-authored)

· Gordon Korman

· Michael Northtrop

· Varian Johnson

· Jude Watson

· Blue Balliet

· Patrik Henry Bass

· Roland Smith

· Tui T. Sutherland

· Lauren Tarshis

· Wendy Wan-Long Shang

For more information: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/SummerReadingChallenge

Sunday, May 3, 2015

It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday May 4, 2015

This meme starts at Book Journey! My prayers continue for Sheila's family.


What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I have felt better this week although I still have a few sniffles which might be allergy related. Work is steady with a few bumps to take care of.    

I enjoyed my reading and got in some good listening.  I finished two eBooks and three audios.  I posted three reviews (two with giveaways). I also posted the usual memes. :-)

Once again I visited blogs early in the week but not later.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:
Finished Reading:
1. Audible


The Snow Queen
Written by: Hans Christian Andersen
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
This was quick and different. I'll do a quick review later this week..
Click on book title for full description.



2. eBook/Kindle


The Brass Giant: A Chroniker City Story
by Brooke Johnson
I enjoyed the steampunk aspects of this story.
The review and tour giveaway are linked above.
Click on book title for full description.




3. eBook/Kindle


Ride: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Puca Mates Short Book One)
by A.C. James
I received this for Blog Tour and liked it.
My review will post May 6.
Book Description
Publication Date: April 29, 2015
PUCA MATES SHORT #1
*** This a not a full-length book. This novella is part one of a serial romance.***
Felicity Forrest has the perfect job as an investigative blogger for Everyday Supernatural. This curvy girl gets sent to the Aran Islands to find out whether a púca shape shifter is responsible for the strange accidents haunting a construction site.
Niall O’Leary is tall, broody, and totally alpha. His mission is to discover why the veil between the human world and the Realm has lifted. And as the Chieftain’s son he must find a mate or his twin will be promised to a stallion he despises. He has a duty to his family, his clan, and a need for offspring. Otherwise the púca could become nothing more than folklore.
Passion and frustration ignite when a curvy human female tempts his inner stallion like no other. There’s only one problem... She just got out of a relationship that left her broken hearted. Is she ready for a second chance at love?
Categories: BBW Short Stories, Two-Hour Romance Short Reads



4. Audible


StarFire: Vince Lombard, Book 1
Written by: Mike Lee
Narrated by: Jason Brenizer
I really liked this military sci fi story 
from my own Audible library.
 I will post a review this week.
Publisher's Summary
Captain Vince Lombard, G-Marine company commander, is tasked with tracking down a stray ship. The Alliance Military Ship StarFire has gone silent, and previous attempts to locate her have resulted in the loss of more ships. After two previous wars with xenospecies humanity bumped into while expanding into space, no one knows what might be the cause of StarFire's missing in action status. And internal politics between Fleet command and the Galactic Marine Corps might mean that, unless something is done, humanity may get the news it's at war with yet another new race about the time they show up to attack one of the human systems in the sector.
A prequel to the book Fey, this story is a novelization of the story Vince related to Blondie in the previous book, which many readers requested. I'm happy to accommodate my readers by providing this novel-length version of that story.
©2012 Mike Lee (P)2014 Mike Lee



5. Audible


Gabriel: Zero Point: The FREE Prequel Novella: Evan Gabriel Trilogy
Written by: Steve Umstead
Narrated by: Ray Chase
This is a free prequel and I liked this military sci fi also.
I hope to review this week too.
Publisher's Summary
Evan Gabriel wasn't always a feared and respected North American Federation Navy Commander. Before dangerous missions to the ice-bound planet of Poliahu, the deadly jungle world of Eden, and politically corrupt Mars, he was a simple recruit, fighting to make his mark in the elite Naval Special Forces…and was part of a top-secret military experiment that would change his life forever.
Zero Point tells the tale of a young man faced with difficult choices and dangerous trials. Fans of the series will see part of the mysterious past Evan Gabriel carries with him, while listeners new to the series get a preview of what is to come in a military man's haunted life. Zero Point is the true beginning of Evan Gabriel, and his story is just getting started.
©2012 Steve Umstead (P)2013 Podium Publishing




Currently reading:
1. eBook/Kindle


Cassidy (Big Sky Dreams Book 1)
by Lori Wick
Ladies Book Club did meet on May 2 but not all of us had finished the book, including me.
I am enjoying the writing style
and character driven story.
Click on book title for full description.




2. Audible/MP4


Mail-Order Brides of the West: Trudy
Written by: Debra Holland
Narrated by: Lara Asmundson
I am enjoying this sweet story from my Audible library.
Publisher's Summary
The well-educated daughter of a lawyer, Trudy Bauer arrives at the St. Louis based Mail-Order Brides of the West agency full of excitement for an adventure of a lifetime. She befriends the agency's maid, Evie Davenport, and the two form a strong and lasting friendship. They vow to stay in contact through letters when Evie takes hold of her destiny and arranges a marriage on the sly. Each brave young woman is ready to face whatever an unknown groom and life in Montana can throw her way.
In Holland's book, bride-to-be Trudy Bauer rides the train to Sweetwater Springs, in a Montana Sky Novel. In Fyffe's novel, house servant Evie Davenport travels by stagecoach to Y Knot, Montana in a McCutcheon Family Novel. Through their correspondence, the friends keep each other abreast of their hardships, trials, and tribulations - some of heartbreak, some of love.
©2013 Debra Holland (P)2014 Debra Holland



3. eBook/Kindle


The Shadow Cartel (The Dominic Grey Series)
by Layton Green
I have just started this and 
I think there will be lots of action.
I received this through NetGalley.
Book Description
Publication Date: May 1, 2015
The sins of the past always return…
Called upon by a former love to look into the death of a family friend in Miami, veteran investigator Dominic Grey is sucked into the darkest reaches of international narcotics trafficking. The murders of multiple drug dealers during a bizarre religious ceremony, combined with the appearance of a mythical assassin, take DEA agent Federico Hernandez and CIA operative Lana Valenciano down the same deadly path.
Lying in wait is an enemy known only as the General: a criminal mastermind whose uncanny ability to avoid detection while cowing even the most ruthless of rival cartels has made him a legend.
Thrown together on a covert manhunt, Grey and the two government agents race across the Americas to unearth a dark chapter in the history of the CIA that has spilled into the present—and put them in the crosshairs of an underworld puppeteer with a frightening reach.


I expect I will start a fourth book but I have so many to choose from I'll wait to pick. :-)

5/3/15- I am up to date on Bible reading but not the daily Devotions. I am only reading those sporadically.
I am reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church. I am also listening to the companion commentary online. -- Really enjoying my Bible reading. It seems my eyes are open to more details and meaning. To go a step beyond the Bible reading I am also reading Jesus Daily 365 Interactive Devotions.

May Scheduled -
5/6/15 Tour Book Review Ride: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Puca Mates Short Book One) by A.C. James
No specific date: The Cancer Solution by Jack C. Westman
5/27/15 Tour Book Review Grey (The Romany Outcasts Series, Book 1) by Christi J. Whitney
5/28/15 Tour Book Review The Clockwork Crown (Clockwork Dagger Novels Book 2) by Beth Cato


I posted three reviews last week which leaves four for this week - so far. :-)
I am reading another NetGalley title this week, plus I added one, which gives me five after the one I am reading. I'm thinking I will get to a TBR title this week too.


Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs.  This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. 

I added three review titles and one purchase this week.
Of course I downloaded more free kindle titles to my library.
(Although I have gotten to a couple, I still have many author requests, old and new ones, to consider and reply to.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles
I received this title from the author for Blog Tour review May 6.
Ride: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Puca Mates Short Book One)
by A.C. James
"Passion and frustration ignite when a curvy human female tempts his inner stallion like no other. There’s only one problem... She just got out of a relationship that left her broken hearted. Is she ready for a second chance at love?"
Puca Mates Series/Serial Reading

I received this title through Audiobook Jukebox.
Written by: Stephanie Laurens
Narrated by: Matthew Brenher
"What happens when fate, love, and passion collide?
The number one New York Times best-selling author Stephanie Laurens returns to Scotland with a tale of two lovers irrevocably linked by destiny and passion."

I received this through NetGalley by invitation to review.
My review will post June 30. Release date July 1.
A New Hope (Thunder Point Series)
by Robyn Carr
"Starting over is never easy, but in Thunder Point, where newcomers are welcome and friends become family, it's possible to find yourself again."


Won
None

Purchased
I purchased one Kindle title for $.99 because it really caught my inerest:

The Guardian's Angel 
by Lorrie Farrelly


Free

Over the past week I only added 42 free Kindle titles to my library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement May 3, 2015

We were short in the choir this morning but that didn’t stop us from praising!
Our substitute Sunday School teacher shared parts of a CD from Jonathan Cahn. It is called The Mystery of the Shemita Unlocked. It is very exciting and my husband will probably order a copy for us.

Our Pastor's Sermon was entitled “There is Joy in Knowing Jesus.” He noted how important relationships are with our pets, cats, dog, birds and other animals. Even more important are our relationships with people. But most important is our relationship with God and Jesus. Jesus died on the cross and his blood covers our sins. Salvation is a free gift through God’s grace. We don't have to work, in fact cannot work, for salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9. We cannot save ourselves but it is our choice to receive the gift by faith. Romans 10:9. Our faith is not a matter of just fire insurance. Once we believe and accept the gift, it is our responsibility to stand on faith, walk by faith and seek righteousness, through His power.

The nature of fallen man is sin. Anyone who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17; James 2:10. Men are full of excuses that keep us in our sin. God can’t heal us or change us if we don’t acknowledge our faults and recognize our need for Him.

There is good news-- people do not go to hell for sin, but because they reject Jesus (God’s grace given in place of God’s law). When we are reborn through faith in Christ Jesus, we get a new nature - a nature of love, holiness and righteousness. We are no longer slaves to our sins. Satan wants us to live under guilt but God/Jesus does not condemn us. If we truly repent, we turn from our sinful ways and seek to live in God’s Will. When we abide in our relationship with Jesus then we can have joy in freedom from guilt and joy in the abundant blessings of assurance and peace that God bestows on His children.

Pastor ended the message with the well known hymn: What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is not the hymn version but I found it and liked it.
Nothing But the Blood by Matt Redman
Verse for Today:
Romans 6:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin,

Lord, I give thanks that we live under grace and not law. I give thanks that I am not a slave to sin. Even more I give thanks for faith and relationship.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Sharing Beyond Books #201 Comment Giveaway May 2, 2015

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

I am feeling better, thank the good Lord. This was another good week at the office. I hope everyone else is doing well as we enter the fifth month of this year!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
There were seven wonderful quotes shared. I shared from Inkheart, Mary shared from Dr. Seuss, Miki quoted from Hob Bargain, Fredamans from Art of War, Rubynreba from Wuthering Heights, Nikki form P&P (Pride and Prejudice) and poetryinleaves quoted from The BFG.
The winner from these six, who gets any book choice up to $12.00, is #4, rubynreba. Rubynreba, please comment this week what book you would like to receive.

~~~~

The regular Winner from SBB #200 comments is: #10 Poetryinleaves who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated ARC/Review titles or (not yet updated) Love titles - all linked near the end of the post. I'm hoping to update the book choices this week. Please let me know your choice by completing the (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #201; (One Question.)

Q1. Miki asks: What do you prefer to do with books you don't want anymore? (sell them at second hand bookstore, gift them, used them in contest etc)??
A: I think everyone here knows what I do with the books I no longer want! Many are given away at review giveaways or on Friday Pick Giveaways. Some hardback books I take to the local library or occasionally to thrift stores or boxes sent to soldiers.
I used to trade them in at a second hand bookstore where I got credit. But that store is an hour away and just keeps me replacing books instead of getting some out of my house. So it is better for me to give books away.

Image - screenshot of Friday Pick Giveaway May 1, 2015. :-)

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! We still have a supply of questions but from the same people so hopefully others will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use.

Your turn to share:

Q1. Miki  asks: What do you prefer to do with books you don't want anymore? (sell them at second hand bookstore, gift them, used them in contest etc)??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the  Valentine and "Love" books or the February 2015 Newly Updated ARC/Review List. (My daughter pulled several of the Christmas titles to give with gift bags we made up for the nursing homes. One of these days I will get together a new box of Christmas titles.)

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on either of the two questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday May 9, 2015 at 5 PM  central.

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