Roma Underground-Blog Tour-Giveaway-Author Interview

                                                 
About The Book (provided by IReadTours)
Savvy forensic accountant Alabaster Black is hiding in Rome from her former employer, covert U.S. organization “Rendition.” While there under an assumed name she meets Dante, an investigator, erstwhile explorer and member of the Roma Underground, a band of amateur archaeologists who map the city beneath Rome. With Italian artifacts disappearing at an alarming rate, Alabaster and Dante search for answers and create a trap for the thieves. Through a mysterious online contact Alabaster learns she is being followed, and with her safety at risk she is forced to rethink her chosen alliances and discover hidden truths about herself.

“A provocative thriller with a riveting and surprising plot.”

—M.J. Rose, International bestseller

“...the strong, captivating heroine and an allure of conspiracy and organized crime make this novel an undoubted success.”

—Kirkus Book Reviews

“Conspiracy, double identities, car chases and espionage, all against the backdrop of magical Rome, with its great food and marvelous art history, make this an entertaining, intriguing read.”

—Blogcritics Book Reviews in Brief

An Interview With The Author...

Hello.  Thank you for the opportunity to chat about your Roma Series.  It’s very nice to meet you.

Thank you, Sherry, and thank you for reading the Roma Series.

I was interested in reading this series because of the location.  How/why did you choose Italy as the main location for your series?

I like that you read the Series for location. There’s an element of design on my part to introduce readers to different parts of Italy because it is such a diverse country. However, I’m also attracted to Italy’s cultural perspective and how it is different from ours in the United States. An Italian (or any European, for that matter) would be horrified at the idea that a person would have to resort to Kickstarter to pay their medical bills. Every country has its problems, but Italy ranks high for life expectancy, quality of life, and technical innovation.

The series is classified as a Thriller/Suspense but I’m wondering if there might a little romance mixed in too?

 Great question. I’ve endeavored to create tension between Bianca and Dante. Will they stay together? Will her fears get in the way of happiness with Dante, who I think is patient with her? In Corporate Citizen, Dante is absent, but their relationship is in crisis by the novel’s conclusion. No spoilers here.

How would you describe Bianca?

She is intelligent, tough, and struggles with intimacy (and for good reason, on this last point). I like to think of her as a romantic disguised as a cynic who wishes to be proven wrong about love and men.

I’m curious, is Bianca’s character based on a real person?

It is more accurate to say that Bianca is a conflation of several people I’ve known. I did know hackers and extremely intelligent individuals, who were socially inept and…um, difficult. In creating Bianca, I wanted to avoid the ‘thinks and acts like a man’ and ‘girly-girl.’ Every author, I hope, wants to create a multidimensional human being, with strengths and flaws. I had to select virtues and vices from people in my life.

Do you plot your stories/book?  Or do the stories develop through the series?

It depends. I would think that authors with an ongoing series would agree with me when I say that once you’ve created characters, they start living and talking inside your head and the author is channeling them. Such is the case with the cast in the Roma Series. That said, however, I do have to think through the situations that I’ve put them into. The arc of the Series is the relationships between the characters, between them and their relationship with Italy.

Do you have a favorite in the series?

Corporate Citizen is my favorite. I had the opportunity to tie off some lingering questions. Also, I can see how I have improved as a writer. While I’m grateful to have had Roma, Underground published, I look back at certain sections and cringe because I can see how I would’ve handled the scene differently now. I might sound critical of myself, but I struggle at times with balance and proportion. Is there too much dialogue? Am I slowing things down because I’m descriptive? I question my devices and strategies. If the reader isn’t a foodie, does she understand why I have food on the table?

Which book in the series is usually the favorite of most readers?

 The great thing about being an author is you create something and you never know what to expect for reactions. I’d love to know which character readers like the best. I have friends who love Gennaro, one who who wants more of Silvio, and another one who is rather meh about Dante. I mention this because each book tries to shine the light on a particular character. Corporate is most definitely Bianca’s moment in the spotlight. Fingers crossed that readers interpret Corporate Citizen as the book that takes the characters to another level.

One last question: Do you have Works In Progress?  A new series or new installment in the Roma Series?

I do and thank you for asking. I have three books written for The Company Files, which my publisher, Winter Goose Publishing, will roll out in 2017. I hope to win a new set of readers with it. The writing is very different in style and focus from the Roma Series. The Company Files introduces readers to the early days of the intelligence community; the style is not dark noir, but there is what I would call a Raymond Chandler meets Dashiell Hammett influence.

Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me.  

Here's a little more about Gabriel and the links to connect . . . 

Gabriel Valjan lives in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the author of the Roma Series, available from Winter Goose Publishing. Gabriel has also written numerous short stories and essays found online and in print.

Connect with the author:  Website ~Twitter  ~ Facebook

                       Now On With The Giveaway!                                                          My Review is below.  Enter to win!  Click to enter

And I Thought....

Looking forward to reading the rest in this series.  Not only is Roma Underground book 1 in the series but it is also the authors first book!  Impressive! Categorized as Romantic Suspense my favorite kind of book!

This is a great fast paced on the edge of your seat story.  I enjoyed the little tour of Italy!  The characters are interesting and endearing and somewhat captivating causing you to want to read the rest of the series.  

Overall this was a thrilling ride worthy of a few stars.  5 to be exact!  Check out the rest in the series.



I received a complimentary copy from IReadTours.

Simple Sunday

                                    
                             Have a Blessed Day

Wordless Critter

Cats are funny . . . ,

Add a caption!

Linking with Camera Critters, Eileen's Critters, 

Wordless Wednesday, Create With Joy, Amanda's Books and More,

Imaging

Wordless/Good Fences/Blue/Out Doors

My DIL keeps me in fence shots.  It's been awhile since I've gotten to join Tex at Good Fences.  The sun is gorgeous!  

 Linking with Good Fences, Blue Monday, Wordless Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, 

Amaze Me Monday

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The Wish--Beverly Lewis--Book Spotlight

                                             
About The Book (provided by Baker Publishing)
"You really think this is a gut idea, goin' clear out there, spendin' time with folk who've left the People?"

Leona wondered if she was getting the carriage before the horse. Even so, she was willing to do whatever she could to bring Gloria back home--where she belonged.

Leona Speicher got the "sister" she always dreamed of the day Gloria Gingerich and her family moved to Lancaster County. The Arkansas newcomers seem to be the answer to Leona's prayers--until Gloria's father is expelled from their Old Order Amish church for reasons no one will discuss. Much to Leona's dismay, the Gingeriches suddenly pack up and disappear. Then, after a silence of several years, Gloria unexpectedly contacts Leona, who makes up her mind to go after her friend. Yet Leona's fiancé--the deacon's son--is alarmed. Will Leona's dearest wish lead to her own undoing?
Author Interview (provided by Baker Publishing)
1. Nearly two decades have passed since The Shunning, your first Amish novel, was published, establishing what became an extraordinarily popular new genre of fiction. What have the years since taught you? Creating stories set in Amish farmland has been such a source of delight! This writing journey has taught me the importance of meticulous research and demonstrated to me just how universal some themes really are—love and loss, the need for hope, friendship, faith, and family. At its core, every book I write is about lifting the spirit and stirring the heart . . . which allows readers from all ages and walks of life to relate to my characters, however cloistered and unalike they may initially seem. 2. Can you tell us about the plot for The Wish, your newest novel? Of course! Leona Speicher got the “sister” she always dreamed of the day Gloria Gingerich and her family moved to Lancaster County. The Arkansas newcomers seem to be the answer to Leona’s prayers—until Gloria’s father is expelled from their Old Order Amish church for reasons no one will discuss. Much to Leona’s dismay, the Gingeriches suddenly pack up and disappear. Then, after a silence of several years, Gloria unexpectedly contacts Leona, who makes up her mind to go after her friend. Will Leona’s good intentions lead to her own undoing? 3. Part of the story centers around Arkansas Joe Gingerich, who relocates with his family from Arkansas to Colerain Township in Pennsylvania. What inspired the idea of an Amish family from Arkansas? Many people would be surprised to know that Amish now reside in more than thirty states—the hunt for inexpensive and plentiful farmland means that they’ve had to look well beyond the long-established Amish communities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. This particular family was inspired by an autumn trip my husband and I took to the Ozarks. It’s such a picturesque area; I could easily imagine an Amish community nestled there. The Gingerich family plays a very important role in the life of my protagonist, Leona Speicher, but while Arkansas Joe’s daughter, Gloria, is everything a young woman might hope for in a friend, Joe himself may not be quite as wonderful as he appears. . . . 4. Friendship and sisterhood are both key themes in The Wish. What are some character qualities that you find invaluable in sustaining a close friendship? I’ve been blessed with some rich friendships during my life, including one with my dear sister, Barbara, who was also my college roommate and maid-of-honor in my wedding. Yes, we are very close! Every friend brings unique gifts to a relationship, but some qualities that I find particularly essential are loyalty, patience, and forgiveness. I strive to be that kind of friend myself, but as the song says, truly there is no better friend than the one we have in our Lord Jesus.

What folks are saying . . . 
“Yet another fine example of Lewis’ skillful storytelling. Grief, volunteering and atoning for past mistakes are key themes in her latest novel. Lucy is a determined character with a huge heart, making her an enjoyable heroine to root for.” —RT Book Reviews on The Atonement

“No one does Amish-based inspirationals better than Lewis.” —Booklist

Available... (click on each retailer for a direct link)
Amazon, Barnes and Noble , CBC .

This book is spolighted on My Reading Journeys. 
This post is linked at weekly blog parties (see my party page for list of links.)

The Murders At Astaire Castle--Book Review--Giveaway-Author Interview

                                                 
                                                  There's a giveaway scroll to bottom!
A bit of a switch up...Starting with What I Thought...
They just keep getting better!  
Which is kind of a strange statement since this is book 5 in the series.  
I have really enjoyed meeting Lauren Carr and Mac Faraday and of course Gnarly.  
The first introduction I had to read this series was with the most recent title Candidate For Murder #12.  It was 5 stars!  
The Murders At Astaire Castle is just as good as all the others that I've read.  In some ways I kind of liked it better.  But maybe that is because I've really come to enjoy these characters.  
Lauren Carr has a way of weaving a story and the characters together that keeps the reader interested and wanting to be a part of the story.  
Each book does have a lot of characters.  But it is very easy to keep track.  
Lauren does have a 'caution' at the beginning of this book letting 
the reader know ..."There is some supernatural elements, I would not classify it as paranormal."  

The story takes place around Halloween.  This is a murder 
mystery and there is quite a long list of people that have lost their lives at The Castle.  The story takes place over a few years. 
And gives the reader a 'back story' into David's (Mac's brother) history. 
As is the normal for this series although its a murder mystery it is not graphic.  There are twists and turns and I was kept on the edge of my seat. 
Of course Gnarly is a huge part of the story.  Everyone loves 
Gnarly even though he is a bit of a pest sometimes.  He is the 
ever present protector of his people!  

I loved this 4th installment in the series!  Another 5 stars!

And now a sneak peek . . . 


A little more of what it's about...
Never tell Mac Faraday not to do something.

Spencer's police chief, David O'Callaghan, learns this lesson the hard way when he orders Mac Faraday to stay away from the south end of Spencer's mountaintop - even though he owns the property. It doesn't take long for Mac to find out what lies on the other side of the stone wall and locked gate, on which hangs a sign warning visitors to Keep Out!

Topping the list of the 10 top haunted places in America, Astaire Castle is associated with two suicides, three mysterious disappearances, and four murders since it was built almost a century ago - and Mac Faraday owns it!

​

In spite of David's warning, Mac can't resist unlocking the gate to see the castle that supposedly hasn't seen a living soul since his late mother had ordered it closed up after the double homicide and disappearance of Damian Wagner, a world-famous master of horror novels.

​

What starts out as a quick tour of a dusty old castle turns into another Mac Faraday adventure when Astaire Castle becomes the scene of even more murders. Mac is going to need to put all of his investigative talents to work to sort out this case that involves the strangest characters he has run into yet - including a wolf man. No, we're not talking about Gnarly.

Buy the Book:   Amazon  ~  Audible

Author's Bio:

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries. The twelfth installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series, Candidate for Murder will be released June 2016.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with Lauren: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

The really cool giveaway is below

I got a chance to  interview Lauren . . . 

Thank you so much for allowing the opportunity for us to chat!
I have really enjoyed the Gnarly series!   And I have a million questions!

Let’s get to it. You’ve probably been asked a million times but here…

How did you come up with the idea of Gnarly/Mac and their antics?

The creation of Mac and Gnarly was actually a two-part process.

I wanted to create a series detective who was respectable, a man of honor, but who was also someone who you would want to be friends with—the guy next door—with something extra. That was the start of it.

I had already written my first two books in the Joshua Thornton Mysteries and had an idea for my third book, but that mystery called for a detective, not a lawyer, like Joshua is in my first series.

About the same time, a friend of mine told me about an event that happened in her life. In high school, she had a baby who was put up for adoption. Thirty years later, she gets a phone call from this now grown-up child, who went in search of her birth mother and found her. They have a good relationship now.

The mystery writer in me thought, “What if she, or in the case of my detective, a first-rate detective, finds out that his mother is a murder mystery writer—not just a murder mystery writer, but a legendary murder mystery writer?”

At the same time, another friend told me a story about a man whose wife left him for another man, traded up, so to speak, after maxing out all of his credit cards—leaving him head over heels in debt.

The wheels in my head started turning and it all came together.

Mac Faraday could be your next-door neighbor, who happens to be an exceptional detective. Raised in a middle-class family, Mac Faraday was a hard-working, and sometimes unappreciated, homicide detective. He had devoted his life to his job and family only to have it all taken away through no fault of his own.

A twist of fate gives him the last laugh. On the same day that his divorce becomes final, after his wife had left him and took everything except their bills, he inherits $270 million dollars from his birth mother—Robin Spencer, the American version of Agatha Christie.

Talk about poetic justice! Suddenly, he’s thrust into high society and unbelievable wealth.

However, Mac is strong enough to hold onto his values and not be swayed by all the extravagance surrounding him. If anything, he is confused and amused by the decadence of his neighbor’s lives.

Believe it or not, Gnarly, Mac’s German shepherd was not in the first or even second drafts of It’s Murder, My Son, the first Mac Faraday Mystery.

Gnarly was inspired by my Australian shepherd Ziggy. It was after the first draft of It’s Murder, My Son was written that my then seven year old son went to a football game. During half-time, a woman approached him. She had a puppy in her arms and asked if he would like to hold her puppy. We thought, “What harm can come from holding a puppy?” As soon as he was in Tristan’s arms, she said, “You can keep him. He’s free.” Then she was gone.

Now, I have had dogs my whole life, but Ziggy was different. This puppy would find ways to get into trouble. If you used one means to train him, it would not work a second time because he would figure it out. By the time he was four months old, I had a doggie therapist look at him. She said that he was so exceptionally intelligent that he was very easily bored. So, he would purposely get into trouble out of boredom.

Gnarly was born! In the early drafts, Mac does have a German shepherd, but he has no role except to be there. When I created Gnarly, I actually said I was creating the Anti-Lassie. He’s an anti-hero. If Mac falls into a well, Gnarly will get help, but you may discover afterwards that he pushed Mac in there.

Gnarly also serves another role in the Mac Faraday Mysteries. He is he character with the power to bring Mac down to earth just when he is in danger of getting a little too full of himself. For example, sure, Mac is a multi-millionaire who lives on The Point. But that means nothing to Gnarly. When it’s six o’clock in the morning, it is time for Mac to get out of bed and let him out to secure the perimeter.

 I’ve noticed in most of the books I’ve read you really include a lot of ​characters.  And I love the detail in the beginning listing the cast and a little about them.  Is this for the reader or do you have trouble keeping up with them sometimes?

The Cast of Characters is strictly for the readers. I write complex mysteries. I love to have my mind challenged and so do my readers. I hate it when I read a mystery and know who the killer is by page forty. I also hate to be able to flip a coin and guess the killer because there are only two suspects. So, a complex mystery must have a few suspects.

This was so cool getting a chance to ask a few questions.  But I know your readers are looking for that giveaway!  Thanks Lauren for chatting!  And now onto the giveaway!

Enter the giveaway here! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Total Family Makerover-Melissa Spoelstra-Book Review

                                                    
About The Book: (provided by Litfuse)
Total Family Makeover: 8 Practical Steps to Making Disciples at Home (Abingdon, September 2016)

Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it. —Proverbs 22:6

God calls us as parents to be key disciple-makers in our children’s lives, but if we’re honest, some days it’s a battle just to get them dressed and ready for school on time. How can you mold their hearts when sometimes you can’t even find their shoes?

In Total Family Makeover, author Melissa Spoelstra gives parents a way—a sort of spiritual track to run on—when it comes to building family discipleship. She focuses on eight key habits of growth:

—Spending Time in Prayer
—Reading God’s Word
—Growing Through a Mentoring Relationship
—Finding Community in the Church
—Serving Others
—Taking Time to Rest
—Giving Back to God
—Sharing Your Faith

Disciples are made, not born. Whether your children are babes in arms or teenagers getting ready to leave the nest, making disciples at home starts with you! Give your family a makeover with this practical approach to helping your children learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

And I thought...  A contemporary modern approach with Biblical perspective.  This was an easy book to read.   the 8 steps suggested are genuinely traditional themes presented with  a new and modern  approach to provide resources for today's busy parents.  

As a parent I have leaned on this scripture that Melissa centers the book around 

Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it. —Proverbs 22:6. 

 "God calls us as parents to be key disciple-makers in our children’s lives"  This was a concept/approach presented by Melissa that I had never actually had put into words and is very valuable.

Each chapter ends with "A Practical Approach'  a short snippet with suggested ideas, worksheets and questions to ponder and more.  

I recommend this book to parents, grand parents, aunts and uncles Total Family Makeover is a valuable tool to use to disciple the children in our lives.  

I received a complimentary copy of Total Family Makeover from Litfuse.

This review will post on My Reading Journeys, Good Reads, Amazon,Barnes and Noble and CBC.

This post will be linked at: The Art of Homemaking, Create Wit Joy and other blog link parties. 

Wordless Wednesday-Fall Fun

Linking with The Fabulous Fall Party, Create With Joy, Wordless Wednesday, Imagining, 

Picture Perfect

Happy Homemaker Monday

     Joining Sandra for . . . 
   
                    
The Weather...
1 word Gorgeous 69 and sunny

On My Beside Table . . .
Bouquet my sister gave me on Sept 16.  They are still gorgeous

On My T.V. 
Turner Classics, Decades T.V. Hunting Shows no more Baseball
the Rangers lost yesterday but they are still in the play offs.  

Thinking and Pondering...
Thinking- I have a lot to do in exactly 1 week. 
Pondering- How we'll settle in to our new house.

Listening to...
Crickets outside and the sound of the computer and the ice maker.

On The Menu..
A super simple week...
Monday-Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken, Salad
Tuesday-Smothered Pork, Rice, Green Beans
Wednesday--Pan Seared Fish, Leftover Rice Pilaf, Salad (?)
Thursday--Crock Pot Roast, Potatoes and Carrots
Friday--Frito Pie
Saturday--Bacon Sandwich, Split Pea Soup
Sunday--Stew from the Roast

On My To Do List...
Finish packing,  moving boxes and small furniture to garage,
finishing a fall quilt I started last week a couple rows left then I'll be quilting this week.

Looking Forward To...
Playing house!  HeHe.  I'll be unpacking in a week and settling in my new sewing room.  And my gorgeous patio room! And our new yard.  And ...

What I Plan To Do For Myself This Week...
Work on quilt.

Favorite Photo:
                         
               Super simple silly things make him smile!

Something Fun To Share...
                          
Our new house.   Look at the tree.  And the yard!  I have dirt!

Devotional, Scripture, Key Verse ...

Just finished this great devotional.  Filled with truth! A blessing for your morning!

      So that's a look at my plans and some things going on.  
                    Hope your week is Happy

Linking with Sandra at Happy Homemaker Monday,
This post is linked at the following parties:
The Art of Homemaking, Create With Joy, Share Your Cup, 
Simple/Sweet Friday, Katherines Corner,
Amandas Books and More Our Homestead Blog Hop, Friday Feature

Simple Sunday

                                      
                                                Have a Blessed Day

The Fabulous Fall Party is at My Christmas Journey.  Stop over and visit or link your Fall posts or your Party! 
                         

                                                    The Party is here

A Bride For Carlton---Book Review-Karla Gracey

                        



 About the book(provided by Amazon)...
Come along for the ride to meet feisty Boston city girls who know what they want, and rugged Montana men who just need to be loved. It's 1900, and things are changing fast in sleepy Sun River. As the town begins to expand, its inhabitants are getting restless, looking for love and adventure. 

Why would an accomplished governess respond to an advertisement in the Matrimonial Times? Myra Gilbert had never considered such a thing, but something has awoken within her and she is determined to take her chance on love.

Carlton Green claimed his lands, and now has the deeds in his grasp. But something is missing in his life. Will his quest to find love fill that hole, or is there something from his past that could change everything and leave him with nothing?

And I thought...
I was looking for something to read on my computer and stumbled onto this title.
I wasn't sure how I would like it.  I'm not really a fan of historical romances.  Or thought I wasn't!
I am now and a fan Karla Gracey!  I'll be checking out additional titles from this series for sure.

This was a fun and quick read for me.  I started it and couldn't stop.  Stayed up way too late but I was intrigued with the story and the characters.

The story line wasn't what I expected.  The typical guy meets girl.  Guy wants/gets girl.  Then trauma, or tragedy or an x comes in and causes trouble.  They split then get back together at the end and all is well.  Happily ever after.  The end. 

This story wasn't like that.  There was sweet romance.  Via letters.  Till Carlton shows up in Boston  to meet Myra the girl who answered his ad for a Mail Order Bride.    A quick romance that began  through their letters quickly takes the next step to a wedding. 

But before they can wed unexpected trouble arises.  Carlton has to face his past and figure out a way to move forward.  And tell Myra about his past. 

I enjoyed the story.  And I enjoyed that there weren't a lot of characters.  And a lot of twists and turns and sub stories involved.  I think this is what made it such a fast read for me.   Trying to count
I don't believe there a more than a dozen characters total.  And some are never even introduced in the book.  (The family Myra works for as a governess is out of town.) 

A Bride For Carlton is Book #1 in the Sun River Brides Series.  I look forward to reading more books in this series. 

I read this book on my computer using the Kindle Cloud app.  I was not offered this book 
by anyone and was not asked to write a review.  

This review will appear on my blog My Reading Journeys and on consumer sites including Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Good Reads.

This post is linked at:
The Art of Homemaking, Share Your Cup, Create with Joy, Amanda's Books and More,
Share It One More Time

My Favorite Thing . . .

. . .Today I did something I really enjoy!

Grabbed a few Oranges, Blacks, Whites, Tans and a few Greens. 
On it's way to a new Fall quilt!  

Have you been decorating or creating Fall in your home?  I'd love to see what your creating.  Come over to The Fabulous Fall Party
and link your posts!  
                          
                    The Fabulous Fall party is over here

Linking with:  The Fabulous Fall Party,  RSC, The Art of Homemaking, Share Your Cup,
Create With Joy