Book Signing

Local Authors Book Signing!

Come out and support your local authors.

Each year I am lucky enough to be invited to the Pulaski County Public Library for an Authors Day. During Library week they invite local authors around the county to set up in the library so people can browse the books and stumble upon a book they may have never seen. It's a great way for locals to find out about new authors, new books and for authors to meet other authors.

Last year, I was lucky enough to meet many great talents. I hope this year I will get to see even more.

 

Beneath the Skin Book Review

Book Review

of

Beneath the Skin by Kyla Stone

A truly emotional read!

If you are looking for a book that tugs at your heart strings pick this one up. I wasn't certain what I was getting into when I won a copy of this book on Library Thing, I just knew it was for young adults and the cover was cool.
At first, I was horrified by the things this girl went through. The torcher from her mother, her peers and self mutilation. The author made sure to pull you into Sidney's world, to make you feel the hate she had for herself. It was awful. To believe a person truly hated themselves with this much passion... I felt it with each word I read. What would drive someone to feel this way?  I was speechless as I read the chapters. I wanted to help her, to break down her door and show that someone loved her and she didn't need to carry around all this pain she felt. Sidney was abused in every way imaginable. Her father changed her into this monster she felt she was. She didn't think she deserved a friend or a single person who cared. When they did, they just turned on her because they didn't understand the life she lived.
The book shows the life of so many teens out there. This unfortunately could happen. It makes you sad and angry all at once.
Sidney stood up for her family. She decided to help herself, her brothers and to be happy for once. She may have done something that most people don't approve of but it saved her. It saved her brothers from being like him. It saved her mom from being a deadbeat mom, even if what she did was for herself. Sidney was a hero, even if she didn't see it. Her friend Arriana saw it. Sidney gave her the strength to be who she wanted to be, to not beat herself down because her mother saw something differently.
In the end, Sidney works hard to not do some of the things she had done, cutting, but she has a future. A life she can look forward to having with friends, family and a boyfriend. It is something she didn't think she would ever have.

  * I received this book from the author for my honest review. *

Muriel Avenue Sluts

by

Maggie Hasbrouck

When I first read the title I wasn't certain if this was a book I would want to read. Because it's going to be about sluts and it's supposed to be for young adults.It didn't seem like an appropriate plot for a story.

At first, I was amazed that Jules was proud of her mom and the other women on Muriel's Avenue because of what they did.She was excited to turn 18 and be part of the sluts. They weren't technically sex workers but they had a business that catered to men and they got paid to do it. When Jules' best friend Anna is being raped by one of her mother's clients, she takes matters into her own hands and stops it. She kills him and makes it look like an accident. Later on, Jules finds out other girls in school have been abused by their father or someone in their family. She feels bad, even angry and tries to help out a friend but it back fires on her and she goes on the run. At the end of the book, Jules figures out home is the safest place to be when your surrounded by people you love.

The author did a great job with the plot, the dialogue was written well and I enjoyed the story. I felt as if the book was based on truth because of the things that happened to these girls. It was a well thought out look at the life of a teenager. There were elements of it I didn't like for it being young adult. Jules is so happy that her mom is known as the queen of sexual pleasure.Would you be proud of your mom? For instance, Jules decides she wants to have sex and another woman tells her to use a cucumber. She actually tells about it. I don't think this is good for a girl who is twelve. I don't like how Jules is fascinated with Vivian. When she sees her boobs she wants to touch them but she really loves Charlie. She kisses another girl. I get that girls are confused and curious about things when they are 17 but do author's have to encourage it in their stories? This is only my opinion.

Over all, I gave the book 4 stars because the author was thorough and a great storyteller.

*I received this book from the author for my honest review.*

Amazon.com
http://a.co/ejcbSBG

Goodreads.com
 https://www.goodreads.com/maggiehasbrouck

Website
https://www.goodreads.com/maggiehasbrouck

Paranormal or MC Romance

Can a Book be Both?

Paranormal and MC

 

On my down time, between writing the books in my series, I write on an adult book. It is a way for me to experiment with a world I really don't know much about--the adult romance world.

I'm a big fan or J.R Ward and Sherrilyn Kenyon. I'm a sucker for a man who saves the woman he loves and so forth. I like the whole soul mate idea. Call me old fashioned but that is what I like. I believe a man should take care of the woman he loves by doing manly things.

When I started this book, I never thought of it as an MC romance. I actually didn't know there was a category that represented motorcycle clubs. See, I'm new to the adult world, so I'm learning as I go. I always thought my book would be paranormal. It has vampires and shape shifters in it. There is also angels and demons. So I wonder, is this book an MC romance?

The book is about a motorcycle club who is made up of different species. Each chapter is a different group; vampire, angel so on. These men are signed to protect humans from rogue versions of themselves. 

Every paranormal book I've read is about a vampire, demon or something, so naturally I assumed my book would be called a paranormal romance.

A crit group I am in suggested my book be considered for MC. I thought about it and actually looked through a few, reading the first few chapters. I noticed the ones I picked up are all contemporary fiction. Would that hinder my book from being considered for an MC romance when it is definitely not contemporary?

I would love some feed back on this. What do you think makes a MC romance and Paranormal different?

Home Sweet Home

Poorest County in Kentucky

McCreary County ranks #1 for the third year in a roll!

 

I have lived in this county my entire life. I love the forest, the river and nature. Just so you know, The Daniel Boone National Forest actually owns 43% of the county and 18% goes to the National Park Service, what we call the Big South Fork. It is great living in a small town with so much nature, but there comes a time when you need to look past the old ways and embrace the future.

When I say embrace the future, I'm talking about opening your arms to things that will help your county grow. We have 1 company who makes tents for the military, but there are 4 different factories, I believe. 2 grocery stores: Kroger and Save-a-lot. 1 Rite Aide. 2 Dollar Stores and 2 Family Dollars. About 10 places to eat, that's counting small places in the gas stations. Where do people work in this county? We need jobs and we need money. 

The county is poorer than dirt. According to our local paper, we are $350,000 in debt. How does this happen? We have no jail. We get loans from other counties to house our criminals. The jail we had was shut down because they said it needed to be redone. It will cost thousands of dollars to do this. Where does this money come from? And the bigger question,How do we get out of debt?

The county came to a conclusion that taxes needed to be raised. They wanted to raise restaurant tax and the taxes of residence in the county. ??? If you only have a few thousand people, about 2700 who work in the county, who will be taxed? According to the meeting the town had they want to tax everyone except government officials, teachers and I believe health care workers... Who is left to be taxed? The workers who work for minimum wage at restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations. It blows my mind. Does the county think this is the best action to crawl out of a debt with a county whose median income is 20,972 dollars? I think of the saying, 'squeezing blood from a turnip'.

Last year we had a chance to vote in alcohol. Where you could buy it in grocery stores. Before you get all crazy and say, no the kids will get a hold of it. Well, there are more bootleggers in this county then places to work.It's easier for them to get it now than from a grocery store. It didn't pass because the churches, a bunch, band together. We are surrounded by counties who got with the times and accepted what would help them. Would it help us? I don't know, but it couldn't have hurt us either.

Blog Tour

Thank You, Ultimate Fantasy Books

 

When my first book was published a few years ago, I was new to the publishing world. I had no clue what I needed to do, as an author, to promote and share my book with others. I realized fast it was a journey unlike none I could have imagined. As the months went by and my second book was published, I noticed book tours were what blogs loved to do. It was a way for authors to have their books showcased on a wider view. I had wanted to do this. Unfortunately being a one income family I had to depend on my book sales for money to put back into the advertising. It was hard for me to find a reasonably priced company that would do what I expected. Seeing Ultimate Fantasy Books on Goodreads and reading posts on Google+ helped me make my decision. When book three was published, I decided to take the next step in advertising and have my book placed in a tour.

The moment I sent you the information about my book and you decided to host the tour, I knew it was the right move. When I read the blog posts, reviews, spotlights and interviews it made me realize I made a great decision. Having so many blogs volunteer to be part of the tour gave me hope for the future. I had doubts about my abilities as an author and they showed me I do have fans out there. I just have to reach them.

Ultimate Fantasy Book Tours was wonderful. I appreciate the hard work and the exposure you brought to me and my books. It is a journey I would happily do again. And a company I would greatly recommend to another.

Thank you, Aoife and Ultimate Fantasy Books, for a wonderful week!

Check out Ultimate Fantasy Books for your next tour!

http://www.ultimatefantasybooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/UltimateFantasyBooks/

Immurement Review

Immurement

Book 1 The Undergrounders Series

by Norma Hinkens

 

 Every year for Christmas my son buys me a book. I love that he gives me stories I wouldn't normally pick out on my own and through him I discover new and exciting worlds. 

Immurement was one of those books I wouldn't have picked up. I'm not a fan of apocalyptic genres but I have read a few just to get an idea of what they are all about. I loved the cover of this book. I'm going to post the cover I have since there is another. I liked how the front gives you an impression of what the pages tell but leaves you wondering just why there is destruction. I was off put when I read the girl had an M16 but on the cover it isn't like one I have ever seen. It looks more like a bolt action 22. 

Inside, I discovered an independent girl who would do anything to save the people she loved. She battles Sweepers, Rogues and her own kind to rescue her brother from a place who uses people for spare parts. I found myself rooting for others to sweep her off her feet, especially when she had thought her true love was gone. When she starts on her journey, she doesn't know that the people she can trust most are the ones she was taught to hate. A good lesson, you don't know who your friends are until you need them most. To be honest, I was sad when one person died. I wanted them to live because I liked them more than any other. He made the story. He showed her what true humanity was. 

I liked how the end made you want to read the second book. I found myself surprised but in a good way. There was action, drama and emotion I felt with each word. Norma done a fantastic job creating her world with the help of Idaho. I feel as if I know the mountains there. With her words, she painted a vivid picture.