Intimate Strangers By: Anne M. Strick *Review & Giveaway*

Title: Intimate Strangers

Author: Anne M. Strick

Genre: Romance/Social Issues

Book Description Via Amazon

Intimate Strangers is the rich, complex and passionate story of a contested adoption and of the two women who join to save a small boy's life. The book examines the various faces of love: erotic love and romantic love, the love of parent for child and child for parent; and what "really" makes a parent. The book's suspenseful focus is on the child's fate - and on the relationship between the women, law partners with widely divergent and equally traumatic histories; who battle on his behalf. The case strikes at the heart of each. Out of their own shadowy backgrounds, the women make a stunning discovery - and must decide what to do about it, and what to do about the men in their lives. This is a story of loss, of healing and redemption. And at the same time, a heartfelt plea for justice in our courts for the most helpless among us.

Review

What I really enjoyed about this story were the characters. The women, Dru and Georgie, are strong but yet different, and just seemed believable and realistic. They work great together in the work realm, and despite their age difference, create a professional friendship. Their friendship does get tested though, as their pasts come in their way, and they learn something that they would never have thought was possible. Throughout the story, they are also working side by side on a case, including saving a young boy, and as said before, Georgie's past comes back to her, and this time vividly, as she retells some of it, to a man she thought she would never see or talk to again! With Dru, she is reminded of her past, but learns new things that help her understand someone that she has gotten to know very well, and she also meets a guy she can really, well perhaps fall for; she just has to believe in herself more and shut herself from her past. This whole story was a good mix of romance and social issues that are need of attention, and you'll just have to read this story, to really grasp the essence of justice and love.

My Rating: 4/5
I would say R-Rated (Some Mature/Sexual Situations)


About The Author

Anne M.Strick has spent over twenty years in the movie industry. She has worked for Universal, Warners, Paramount and EMI, as a Unit Publicist, Project Coordinator and National Publicity Director,  and  with such Hollywood legends as Jack Nicholson, James Earl Jones, Sean Penn, Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Lynch, Sting and Dino De Laurentiis, among many others.  She has published theater reviews, articles in Parents Magazine , Frontier and The Nation, and six books: two novels, two self-help books, one memoir (a best-seller in Italy); and a non-fiction, scholarly critique of our adversary trial system. (”remarkable”) . Born in Philadelphia, and educated at Bennington College and UCLA, she lives in Los Angeles.

Website: www.annemstrick.com 
Purchase: Smashwords 

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* Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. Sweet n' Sassi is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Two Moons of Sera By: Pavarti K. Tyler *Book Feature & Guest Post*

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Book Feature

In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother’s water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one?

All the Fun of YA written for Adults

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Genre – Fantasy Romance 

Rating – PG13 to R

Guest Post

Genre Phobia

By: Pavarti K. Tyler

I only recently found out that I was a fantasy author.  I know, it sounds ridiculous.  Especially since Two Moons of Sera Vol One was released in November of 2011.  But see, I was in a kind of denial.  My own prejudices shone through and clouded my ability to see that I was in fact the very subject of my own discrimination.

As a science fiction buff, I’ve always kind of looked down on fantasy.  You know, with elves and fairies and knights you can play fast and loose with the rules of logic.  This flies in the face of everything science fiction stands for!

I remember the days of sitting in the lunch room cafeteria with my nerdly friends.  Come wore gauntlets even to school, most were excitedly discussing the next RPG game they would be meeting up for and far too many owned their own capes.  I loved them all, but silently I scoffed.  I would go to the games and listen, but rarely play, mostly there to smoke cigarettes and make out with my fella.

A life time of snobbery later, I find that I have no flame to light my righteous way as I stand in the wind.  I have written a fantasy novel.  I tried to convince myself it was more romance than fantasy (it’s not), then I tried to say it was kind of sci-fi (it’s not), or maybe sort of dystopian (it’s not).  Two Moons of Sera is solidly fantasy and now that I’ve accepted that I have found a whole new world has opened up to me.

The rules of logic I had clung to as dogma for so long have fallen away and now I am free to dream without limits.  I have opened my mind to books and plot lines I’d never considered before.  I even recently read a book about Faeries and loved it.  Before, I would have rolled my eyes at the spelling, but now, I’m free to just enjoy it (Check out The Between by LJ Cohen for a great read).

Now I proudly announce that Two Moons of Sera is a Fantasy first, a Romance second.  It’s a book that has inspired the crashing of my pre-conceived notions and allowed me a kind of freedom to explore the possibilities of my imagination in ways never before possible. 

About The Author

Pavarti K Tyler is an artist, wife, mother and number cruncher. She graduated Smith College in 1999 with a degree in Theatre. After graduation, she moved to New York, where she worked as a Dramaturge, Assistant Director and Production Manager on productions both on and off Broadway.

Later, Pavarti went to work in the finance industry several international law firms. She now operates her own accounting firm in the Washington DC area, where she lives with her husband, two daughters and two terrible dogs. When not preparing taxes, she is busy working as the Director of Marketing at Novel Publicity or penning her next novel.

Her current project, Two Moons of Sera, is being published in serial format.  Volumes 1-3 are available now on Amazon.com.  Volume 4 is expected out before the end of 2012. 

Connect with Pavarti Tyler on Twitter & Facebook

Website http://www.fightingmonkeypress.com/

*Interview* The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap By: Paulette Mahurin

Hello everyone! I'm very happy to feature Author Paulette Mahurin today! Below, you will see the Book Description of her Novel: The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, my Interview with Paulette, and her Book/Social Links, so check this all out, and thank you for stopping by! :) 

Book Description Via Goodreads

The year 1895 was filled with memorable historical events: the Dreyfus Affair divided France; Booker T. Washington gave his Atlanta address; Richard Olney, United States Secretary of State, expanded the effects of the Monroe Doctrine in settling a boundary dispute between the United Kingdom and Venezuela; and Oscar Wilde was tried and convicted for gross indecency under Britain’s recently passed law that made sex between males a criminal offense. When news of Wilde’s conviction went out over telegraphs worldwide, it threw a small Nevada town into chaos. This is the story of what happened when the lives of its citizens were impacted by the news of Oscar Wilde’s imprisonment. It is a chronicle of hatred and prejudice with all its unintended and devastating consequences, and how love and friendship bring strength and healing. 

My Interview With Paulette

- Tell us a little about you :)

First let me say thanks so much for doing this interview with me to help spread the word of my book, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, which forwards the message of tolerance and also helps animal rescue, since the profits from the book are going to the first & only no-kill animal shelter in Ventura County, Ca (Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center).

I’m a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in women’s health in a rural clinic where I live in Ojai, CA, with my husband Terry & our two rescue dogs, Max & Bella. I have taught in various college level nursing and Nurse Practitioner programs in California. 

- How did you come up with the idea for The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap?

I was in a writing class, when the teacher came in with a stack of photos. There was one of a couple of women standing very close together in circa turn of the twentieth century clothing. We had to write a ten-minute mystery. The photo screamed out to me, lesbian couple afraid of being found out. 

- How long did it take to write?

Six years.

- What was the research process like?

I loved it, stretched my brain cells. When I first started research into that time period and found it was around the same time Oscar Wilde was imprisoned, in Britain, for homosexual activity, the light bulb went on, to make this the impetus that caused the lesbian couple, Mildred & Edra, to become fearful of being found out. After this, I got very excited about what else the research would turn up. The year Wilde was imprisoned, 1895, was ripe with things that could generate a lot of bigotry and hatred, the theme of the story. There was the Dreyfus Affair that divided France’s view on anti-Semitism, Booker T. Washington gave his Atlanta Address to help get his race into school which was fodder for racism, and the U.S. had expanded it’s the Monroe Doctrine’s reach into South America, which generated international hostility. 

- This sounds like an Incredible Story; what do you want your reader to get from it? What do you want them to be aware of?

I’d love for the reader to take away the message that intolerance existed then as it still does, and to see how what we think, what we believe, and go into agreement with about another human being, can be hurtful, and ruin lives. Thoughts generate wars. Thoughts put into action can kill. We as a human race need to put a little space around how we judge someone and see what our judgments do to our hearts and souls. I’d also love for the reader to see the beauty and power of friendships.

- I always ask this Q when I can…which actors do you see playing your main characters? 

I’m laughing. Wouldn’t that be something… I’ve often thought if it ever came to that, I’d love some unknown actors to get a chance to play the parts. I would love someone like Paul Haggis or Ron Howard to direct that would be more important to me. 

- Other Qs-

- How long have you been writing?

Around fifty years! 

- What are you currently working on?

While in college I wrote an award winning non-fiction short story about a couple that met in their oncologist’s office, both suffering with terminal illness. They connected and formed an incredible bond… I’m up to chapter 7, but it’s now on the back burner because I have to single hand promoting this book.

- For aspiring writers, do you have advice for them?

Sit in the chair and write. It’s that simple, a writer writes. Don’t buy into the excuses, self-doubt, or justifications that there isn’t time, etc. Just sit your butt down in the chair and start vomiting out the words. Tell the critic in your head to shut up. Just do it, whether ten minutes or ten hours.

- What are your favorite genres do read?

I’m open, especially lately, since I’ve been helping some writer friends with reads and reviews of their work, and read some really great paranormal. To me a good story is a good story and if it grabs and holds my attention, and I’m sorry when it ends, then that’s the book for me. I think to be genre specific can be limiting, within reason. I can understand if someone isn’t into erotic or violence and they just don’t want those images in their heads, but you can find that in any genre. I’m not opposed to any story lines, bring ‘em on! 

- Have you read any books lately? Which ones?

I read the Siren of Paris, by David LeRoy, which I loved. It took place in Paris, during WWII-Hitler’s regime. He really brought it home, the oppressive environment, all the betrayal. Am currently reading Suzy Witten’s The Afflicted Girls, about the Salem Witch debacle. She’s a masterful writer. I read and loved Brenda Sorrel’s The Bachelor Farmers. She’s a beautiful writer and wrote into that story one of the best winter scenes of any book I’ve read of late. And, I don’t want to forget mentioning, Amelia Cruzon’s Mungai and the Goa Constrictor, in which she used animals as her character’s. It was a wonderful parable of so many philosophical themes, innocence vs. manipulative evil, brain washing vs. freethinking, etc. I just loved it.

*Thank you so much Paulette for your time in answering these Qs! 

My pleasure. Thanks so much for having me and helping me spread the word on my book. It is my hope that the word will spread all over the world and create an energy that will help those unhappy faces get off death row and have wagging tails in their new forever homes. 

About The Author

(Via Goodreads)

Paulette Mahurin is a nurse practitioner, specializing in women's health in a rural clinic in where she lives with her husband and two rescued dogs. She also taught in several college level nursing programs, including UCLA, where she had a Master's Degree in Nursing from their nurse practitioner program. Her two passions are writing and rescuing dogs.While in college she wrote and published two award winning non-fiction short stories. 

Book & Social Links

Amazon & Amazon UK

Goodreads & Shelfari 

Facebook & Twitter 

Book's Blog & Website 

Press Article: VC STAR Sept. 9, 2012 Sunday Life Section 

Going Under By: Georgia Cates *Review & Giveaways*

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Hello! You will see my Review of Going Under By: Georgia Cates! You will also see Two Separate Giveaways, so check those out! And, a thanks to ATOMR Tours and the Author for letting me participate and for a Review Copy of this novel. 

*And, here next week, I will participating in the Shallow Tour, so come back on October 9 to see my Review!*

Book Description

Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.

Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge?

Review

I'm not so sure what I expected when I started this story, but when I finished it, I very much just liked it and just loved how the two main characters, Jessie and Claire were written. We read from both of their POVs and their voices, their backgrounds, seemed really realistic. These two are from different types of families, and I mean different. Jessie, in a way, has really raised himself, but unfortunately has had to face harsh realities, that Claire would never have to deal with. She was brought up in a good and wealthy household, but she sometimes feels alone, even though she has the popular boyfriend, and big status that any girl at their high school would want right? Well...Claire has second thoughts when she meets Jessie, well actually they don't hit it off at first, but there are interesting situations that occur between these two, that it's something not to miss, especially...their intimate scenes, where oh my, you can just feel the electricity between these two; it's just infectious, so I definitely thought the romance was written well. What I also enjoyed, was the dialogue. Yes, the comeback lines are freaking hilarious, really, especially what comes out of Claire's best friend, Payton's mouth; its just something to read on your own, to really feel the humor; it was just wonderful! 

And I must say, I cannot wait to read Shallow, which will feature Payton, so look out for that upcoming Review! 

My Rating: 4/5

I say a Strong PG-13 Rating!

Author Bio

Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent thirteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author. 

Blood of Anteros, Book One in The Vampire Agápe Series, was her first novel and it was released in September 2011. She decided to briefly step away from the paranormal genre to try her hand at a young adult contemporary romance when she wrote Going Under, but returned to the paranormal romance platform to complete the second book in The Vampire Agápe Series, Blood Jewel.

Her current works in progress are Shallow (A Going Under Novel) which will release on September 27th and Blood Doll (The Vampire Agápe Series #3), to be released in January 2013.

Her Links

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Goodreads

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Thought I Knew You By: Kate Moretti *Guest Post & Giveaway*

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Hello everyone! I want to thank Red Adept Publishing for letting me participate in this Blog Tour and also thanks to the Author, Kate Moretti, for writing a Wonderful Guest Post! You will also see a U.S. Giveaway, so check that out too! :)

Book Description

Claire Barnes is shattered when her husband, Greg, goes on a business trip and never returns.

Unwilling to just wait for the police to find him, Claire conducts her own investigation. Her best friend Drew helps her look for answers, but all she finds are troubling questions.

With every clue, she discovers that Greg may not be the man she thought she married.

While battling her growing feelings for Drew and raising her two young children, Claire must learn to live with the knowledge that the truth behind Greg’s disappearance may never be revealed.

Purchase Links

Amazon Kindle/Barnes And Noble Nook/Amazon Paperback 

Guest Post By: Kate Moretti

Do You Believe in Fate?

One of the questions I’m frequently asked about Thought I Knew You is regarding the message or theme of the book. What do I want readers to take away from it? Well, the answer is complicated. Truthfully, while writing it, I wasn’t working toward a single message. When I was done, I realized there were a couple of major themes.  One of them is major and deliberate: how well can you know another person? But the second is more minor, woven throughout and not as obvious:  In life, can you choose? Can you choose your path, who you love, where you end up?

The second theme, we’ll call it fate (for short, although to me, that’s oversimplified), was accidental. Probably a result of believing so strongly that no, you don’t have a lot of control over your life. Sounds crazy? What do other people believe? I’m not sure. I know that I’ve driven up behind a fatal accident mere seconds after it happened and inevitably thought, “What if?” I know that I’ve been almost inexcusably lucky in my life, from everything as serious and important as my health, to selling a house at the right time, to being employed through this recession, to having virtually perfect kids. I’m thankful every day, and I also recognize that it’s luck. Or… something else?

Years ago, I saw the movie Sliding Doors when it first came out and loved it. I wish I could say that I could trace my belief in fate back to some religious experience or at least some impressively literate novel, but no, it was a movie. But hey, movies and books, in small ways, they shape the world, right? It felt so real and true to me. The main character’s life is told in parallel, hinged on whether she makes the train or misses it. It’s a dual story, flipping between alternate realities. In one instance, she catches her boyfriend cheating, and in the other, she doesn’t.  How is her life altered? The answer is so cool: it isn’t. In the end, she winds up exactly as she should be in both lives.

In Thought I Knew You, Claire seems to glide through life almost accidentally, an existence that came naturally to me. I’m a working mom with two little kids. I don’t plan my days; I can barely plan an outing. Things just happen, and I sort of react. When her husband disappears, she has to decide to take control of her life. She forces herself to be a bit more deliberate in her life, but then, fate intervenes. In the end, she asks herself: What would have happened if we all would have done just one thing differently? The truth, as I believe it, would be nothing.

Fate is a pretty cool concept. It gets you out of a lot of tight spots, the underlying belief that perhaps temporarily, the tracks diverge and one might be a bit more harrowing than the other, but eventually, they become a single path again. That you can choose the journey in small segments, but the destination is the same. That in the end, everything works out exactly as it should. 

Kate's Links: Facebook & Blog

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