Clear the Decks; Whirlwind Romance by M. S. Spencer

Blurb:

In the aftermath of a hurricane, Lacey Delahaye finds herself marooned on the Gulf coast of Florida with a mysterious man. They are immediately drawn to each other, but before Armand can confess his identity, they are kidnapped and taken far from civilization to a tiny, remarkable island in the western Caribbean.

With the help of her son Crispin, a small, but proud young boy named Inigo, and a cadre of extraordinary characters, Lacey and Armand must confront pirates, power-mad ideologues, and palace intrigue if they are to restore the once idyllic tropical paradise to its former serenity and find lasting happiness.

Review by Rochelle Weber:

I really like M. S. Spencer, but I was beginning to be afraid her books were getting to be a bit formulaic. The last few all seemed to begin with a murder on the heroine’s first day at work. They grabbed me and kept me burning through the pages, and each cast of characters was different, but I confess I was starting to worry.

Whirlwind Romance is very different. Each chapter begins with either a jelly recipe or a pirate-themed sea chanty. Lacey Delahaye’s jellies are well-known and Armand, the man who fetches up in the roots of the mangrove tree outside her home on Florida’s West Coast is far from dead, as he demonstrates while she’s trying to rescue him from drowning. He is, however, on the run—from pirates. No, it’s not an historical story; it’s contemporary. And when said pirates find Armand hiding in Lacey’s house, they kidnap her along with him.

Thus begins an adventure Lacey never imagined getting caught up in. Her greatest ambition was to open a jelly store, not get caught up in piracy or the governmental affairs of a Caribbean island. Oh, and let’s not forget romance. Lacey is definitely caught in a whirlwind, and you will be, too—one you can’t put down. Clear the decks before you pick up this book. I recommend Earl Grey, hot, with crumpets, butter, and red currant jelly whilst you read it.

Length:  294 Pages

Digital Price:  $5.99

Buy Link:  http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=934

You’ll notice we always include the publisher’s buy link. That’s because authors usually receive 40% of the book price from the publisher. Editors and cover artists usually receive about 5%. When you buy a book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or another third-party vendor, they take a hefty cut and the author, editors and cover artists receive their cuts from what is left. So, if a book costs $5.99 at E-Book Publisher.com and you buy from there, the author will receive about $2.40. If you buy the book at Amazon, the author will receive about $0.83.

Downloading the file from your computer to your Kindle is as easy as transferring any file from your computer to a USB flash drive. Plug the larger USB end of your chord into a USB port on your computer and simply move the file from your “Downloads” box to your Kindle/Documents/Books directory. You can download your books onto your computer using “Save As” to a “Books” file you create and sort them into sub-folders by genre, author, or however you wish before transferring them to your Kindle. That way, if there’s a glitch with your Kindle, the books are on your computer. Your author will be happy you did when he/she sees his/her royalty statement.

Thanks for visiting. Rose, Julie, Donna, & Rochelle

Walking in the Light by Pope John Paul II

Blurb:

This beautiful book contains many priceless gems of spiritual wisdom from one of the greatest spiritual leaders of our time, Pope John Paul II. Each of the Pope's daily reflections center on a Christian virtue and is meant to be prayerfully pondered, read and re-read, until it takes root in the reader's heart. The reflections are warm, tender, and heartfelt, and each is accompanied by a Scripture passage (for further reflection), a prayer, and an action response to the Pope's daily challenge to live a virtuous life. 

Review by Rose Thornton:

Walking in the Light by Pope John Paul II is a good spiritual read which is applicable to daily life and for building one’s moral muscles.  It is simple and insightful with solid advice for maintaining focus on virtue. I recommend it to those seeking to better themselves through reflection and contemplation.

Length:  72 Pages

Print Price:  $8.96

Buy Link:

http://store.pastoralplanning.com/wainli30dawi.html

Thanks for visiting, Rose, Julie, Donna, & Rochelle

Core Punch by Pauline Baird Jones

Blurb:

A kiss may be all they have life expectancy for.

When an intergalactic cop exchange program serves up an alien partner for NONPD Detective Violet Baker, she can’t help wishing the handsome alien would be a little less Joe Friday about keeping the pleasure out of their business. Yeah, he’s kind of purple and she can’t pronounce his name to save her life, but he’s almost the only guy in the New Orleans New police department who she’s not related to.

Dzholh “Joe” Ban!drn has come a long way hunting the evil that has infiltrated Vi’s floating city. When he meets his charming partner, he discovers another reason to stamp out evil. If only he wasn’t keeping so many secrets from her…

When an epic hurricane heads their way, they are sent dirt side to New Orleans Old (NOO) on a rescue mission. But murder and sabotage strand them in the heart of the raging storm.

As they fight for their lives, Joe realizes the evil he’s hunting is actually hunting them.

Review by Rochelle Weber:

Core Punch was an exciting read. As a rookie, Violet’s assigned the oldest, clunkiest skimmer belonging to the NON force, so when “Joe” and Violet are plunged into feeder bands preceding the actual wall of the hurricane, they have enough difficulty navigating. They need to complete their mission and get topside to the safety of their floating city, because if they land dirtside they could drown in the storm surge. After all, Wu Tamika Felipe or WTF promised to be much worse than previous Category-Fives, like Katrina.

I would love to give Core Punch five roses, but I can’t quite do so. There were some editing glitches in the book, but the biggest problem was one of my pet peeves—it’s a cliff-hanger ending. I know; everyone’s doing it. Many of my favorite TV programs are series in which each episode is a cliff-hanger, and I’m just as hooked as everyone else. But waiting a week to find out what happens next is far different from waiting several months for the next book. If you don’t mind cliff-hangers, then it’s a great book. Otherwise, it’s a really good one.

Length:  140 Pages

Digital Price:  $3.99

Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Core-Punch-Adventure-Uneasy-Future-ebook/dp/B00KWAD9Q0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415259242&sr=8-1&keywords=Core+Punch+%2B+Pauline+Baird+Jones

Thanks for visiting. Rose, Julie, Donna, & Rochelle

House of Mercy by Alicia Ruggieri

Blurb:

A story of justice, love, and mercy in post-Roman Arthurian Britain. 

When a hailstorm ruins her father's crops, Bethan goes as a kitchen servant to Oxfield. There, she intends to work off her family's debt to Lord Drustan before returning to marry the fervent son of a local priest. Yet, in her first days at the old Roman fortress, Bethan meets two men who are very different from the priest's son, friends who have dark histories... and shrouded futures. 

In his twenty years, Deoradhan has swallowed much of sorrow’s cup and found it bitter. Haunted by his father’s murder at the hands of one he trusted, distanced from the Roman God who betrayed him, burning to obtain his rightful throne in the rugged north, the young exile returns to Logress, where High King Arthur holds together a frail confederacy. 

There at Oxfield, Deoradhan's friend Calum seeks absolution for a deed he committed many years ago... a deed that ended in the death of one dearest to him and drove him from his home. 

Will Deoradhan stop at nothing to gain his rightful position? Is atonement possible for Calum after so many years? And what of those - including Bethan - whose lives have become interwoven with theirs? 

Christian alternative historical fiction, appropriate for young adult/adult readers.

Review by Donna Hechler Porter:

First, let me say, Alicia Ruggieri’s beautiful writing style is poetic and lyrical. I’ve not ready someone’s prose in a long time that quite matches hers.

As for the rest of the book, well, this one has been a hard one to rate.  It doesn't really fit into any niche as far as fiction is concerned. It is historical fiction, and there are “love stories” in the book, even romance of the highest kind as far as sacrificing oneself for love of another.  However, it’s not romance as typically defined in our society. It’s inspirational, but there are bad people who do bad things to good people in this book. The Christians certainly talk the Christian talk, but they have very real problems both internally and externally. And there are multiple viewpoints, not the typical “two” – the hero and the heroine - that publishing houses like to see.  All in all, this means that the book can’t necessarily be judged by the “typical” standards.  It’s just too different.

Dealing strictly with elements of fiction, the plotting didn’t grab my attention at first. It wasn’t boring, but I certainly had no problem putting it down and coming back later. Then, about 60% of the way through, I didn’t want to put it down. 

I was also never really clear on the goals of the characters except for Deoradhan. I think the plotting, at points, appeared thin simply because there were so many point of view characters, and I never really fell into deep point of view with any of them. However, the story elements do come together at the end.  

Now, I usually like suspense and “bite your nails” kind of plotting, which this book was not, but it is written in such a beautiful way, with such a beautiful message, that I came away thinking and rethinking on it for several days after I had finished it. For me, that’s the greatest impact of any book – that the characters are alive long after I have closed the last page.

Now, I will warn you, this is a very  Christian book, so if you don’t like the quoting of scripture, or characters that put God at the center of their lives, then don’t read it. I will say, that the characters’ faith is a natural outflow of their lives and the time they live in. I imagine Christians in the 6^th century speaking much like this, and none of it comes across as “preachy” which is often the case in Christian fiction.

All in all, fans of Christian fiction who like books that are not edgy or suspenseful, will enjoy this artful read.  Based on the artsy quality, and the beautiful prose and message, I am giving it four roses. 

Length:   279 Pages
Prices:
Print:  $7.49
Digital:  $.99
Buy Link:

 http://www.amazon.com/House-Mercy-Alicia-G-Ruggieri-ebook/dp/B00GNIJZM2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-3&qid=1417139062
Thanks for visiting, Rose, Julie, Donna, & Rochelle

God Save the Sweet Potato Queens by Jill Conner Browne

Blurb:

Hallelujah! The Sweet Potato Queens are back!

In 1999, Jill Conner Browne, royal boss of Jackson, Mississippi's own glorious Sweet Potato Queens, introduced them to the world in the hilarious bestseller The Sweet Potato Queen's Book of Love (which contained everything you ever need to know about Love, Life, Men, Marriage, and the importance of Being Prepared). But, fortunately for us, that was not the final chapter in the Queens' splendid saga. The Sweet Potato Queens still have plenty of stuff to say and valuable wisdom to impart about how they went from being Cute Girls to Fabulous Women, including:

Dating for the Advanced, or Advancing

The Joys of Marriage—if you must

More Delicious, Death-Defying Recipes

The Promise for Men—six little words that will make any woman Lolling About—the official activity of the Sweet Potato Queens

And, of course,

The All-True Story of the Two Most Wonderful Men in the World

Not to mention:

Reader Mail—honoring the adventures of brand-new Wannabes and Honorary Queens from around the world

If you haven't met the Sweet Potato Queens yet, this is the introduction you've been waiting for. If you already know the joys of Queendom, this is your official welcome-back party.

Review by Rose Thornton:

This delightful book is the second one written by Jill Conner Browne about the popular Sweet Potato Queens of Jackson, Mississippi.  Although Browne includes a few of the same hilarious tales that she related in her first book about the Queens, there is, by far, enough new material to amuse without repetition.  This unique group of women is ever involved in new ways to have fun with “Queendom.”  They are beloved by women all over the country, many of whom join them in their playful pursuits in their own territory, as well as join them physically in attendance at their annual St. Paddy’s Day Parade…theirs is a GROWING playground.  Men enjoy their antics too, so I would recommend this book to any adult for a good laugh and yummy Queen recipes…just be aware, it’s not about the sweet potatoes. J.

Length:   272 Pages

Prices:

Print:  $13.95

Digital:  $9.99

Buy Link:

http://www.randomhouse.com/book/19412/god-save-the-sweet-potato-queens-by-jill-conner-browne

You’ll notice we always include the publisher’s buy link. That’s because authors usually receive 40% of the book price from the publisher. Editors and cover artists usually receive about 5%. When you buy a book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or another third-party vendor, they take a hefty cut and the author, editors and cover artists receive their cuts from what is left. So, if a book costs $5.99 at E-Book Publisher.com and you buy from there, the author will receive about $2.40. If you buy the book at Amazon, the author will receive about $0.83.

Downloading the file from your computer to your Kindle is as easy as transferring any file from your computer to a USB flash drive. Plug the larger USB end of your chord into a USB port on your computer and simply move the file from your “Downloads” box to your Kindle/Documents/Books directory. You can download your books onto your computer using “Save As” to a “Books” file you create and sort them into sub-folders by genre, author, or however you wish before transferring them to your Kindle. That way, if there’s a glitch with your Kindle, the books are on your computer. Your author will be happy you did when he/she sees his/her royalty statement.

Thanks for visiting. Rose, Julie, Donna, & Rochelle