Throwback Thursday/Joint Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

by:  James Dashner
published by:  Delacourte Press
publish date:  October 6, 2009

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Kari and I were behind on the times on The Maze Runner.  Neither of us had read the book or seen the movie.  We decided to both listen to the audiobook.  Kari sent me a text saying she wasn't really enjoying the beginning.  That surprised me since it was so popular, but that seems to be a trend with us.  If every one loves it, we don't like it.

So I got started with The Maze Runner and my first thought was that I hated the slang.  Why do authors have to get all crazy with the slang?  I think their secret hope is that it'll make it into mainstream usage.   I think a good rule of thumb should be if it's not a sentence that you could say with a straight face in public, don't put it in your book....slangwise anyway.  

While, the beginning frustrated me with endless unanswered questions and the weird evasions of the Gladers, the rest of the book did get better.  By the middle of the book I was really interested in the story and how it was going to end.  The end was surprising. and I have the second book on hold.  

I have to agree with Autumn about pretty much everything.  I hated the beginning of the book.  The slang was annoying.  I have also never been a fan of stories where the characters don't tell the new guy anything. Yet, they get mad at him for doing something he shouldn't.  How is he supposed to know if you don't tell him anything?  Why YA authors do this is beyond me.  

I did end up liking the book.  I didn't love it, but I think that the younger YA crowd will find this one exciting.  The book left things very opened with questions to be answered, so I will probably keep up with the series with Autumn.  Say tuned for book number 2, The Scorch Trials.

The Marriage Charm by Linda Lael Miller

Author: Linda Lael Miller
Publisher: Harlequin
Date of publication: January 2015

The women of Bliss County have a pact—to find husbands. The right husbands. 

One already has: Hadleigh Stevens, who married rancher Tripp Galloway a few months ago. Now Melody Nolan thinks it's her turn. Melody has recently found success as a jewelry designer, and her work is the focus of her life. She's not exactly unhappy, but she wants more. She's always been attracted to Spence Hogan, the local chief of police, but she's convinced that Spence, a notorious charmer, isn't what you'd call husband material. 

Spence is a good cop who isn't scared of anything—except love. And he's done everything he can to preserve his reputation as a womanizer—a reputation that keeps marriage-minded women, including Melody, at bay. And yet…there's something about Melody he can't forget. Something his heart can't ignore.

The Marriage Charm is the second book in this series about three friends who make a marriage pact.  To only find husbands in men they truly love. I really enjoyed the first book, The Marriage Pact.  In this one, It's Hadleigh's turn to  find love.  The thing is, Spence is convinced that it should be him.  That would be great for Hadeligh if he hadn't left her hanging 10 years before.

So far, I think this is my least favorite out of the two I have read.  While I liked it, I just didn't love it.   Wasn't really feeling the love between the two.  I kept saying to myself, why now?  They have lived in the town together for years. Why after 10 years does Spence all of a sudden want to get involved with Hadleigh again.  There was not real catalyst that put him back on her path, other than we are told that he wants her.  I did ultimately like the HEA, but I think this one could have been more of a shorter story.  

There is also the mystery of the break-ins and thefts in the town.   I was surprised at who the thief was only because I felt like the solution came out of nowhere.  There were NO hints at all until almost the end.  For me, it was kind of a "huh?" moment.  Despite this one not being y favorite, I still recommend reading it and the first book.  You can't go too wrong with this author.  I look forward to Bex'x story next in The Marriage Season.

Blog Tour: The Godforsaken Daughter by Christina McKenna

Author: Christina McKenna
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Date of publication: March 17, 2015

When Ruby Clare’s father was alive, they happily toiled together on their small dairy farm in Northern Ireland. Since his death seven months ago, Ruby—thirty-three years old, plain, and plump—has become a veritable drudge for Martha, her endlessly critical mother. Then comes the day when Ruby finds her late grandmother’s old suitcase in the attic. Among its strange contents: a slim, handmade volume called The Book of Light.

The deeper Ruby delves into its mysterious pages, the more confident she feels. But Martha, convinced that her newly empowered daughter must be possessed, enlists the help of psychiatrist Henry Shevlin. Henry is unflappable on the surface, yet inwardly he’s reeling from his wife’s unexplained disappearance the year before. As Ruby undergoes therapy alongside other local patients, including lonely bachelor farmer Jamie McCloone, all their lives intersect in unexpected ways. And Ruby, alone for so long, finds the courage to connect—with Jamie, with Henry, and with her own loving, indomitable spirit.

The Godforsaken Daughter was an enjoyable read.  It definitely held my interest until the end.  The story take place in Ireland during the 1980s "Troubles".  There is really two stories going on at the same time.  Ruby's father has recently died and she is forced to stay home and care for her mother.  She leads a very miserable life. Her mother and her sister's treat her horribly. When she finds her grandmother's case in the attic, what she finds inside give her the courage to finally speak up for herself.  This convinces her mother that she is crazy and needs to be committed.  Dr. Shelvin has his own issues as his wife has been missing for over a year.  She went for a walk one day and never came back.

For me, the magic of the book lies in Ruby's story.  Her mother has never treated her well.  She was doted on by her father and after he passes, her mother's wrath gets worse.  Her sisters follow their mother's example and treat her like a slave.  Her life was horribly depressing, so I was rooting for her when she finally starts to speak her mind and fight back.  During the course of a "ritual" she makes three wishes.  You will have to read through to the end to see if she gets them.  Let's just say that good things come to those who wait!

My only complaint about the book is that Dr. Shelvin's story really didn't seem to have anything to do with Ruby's.  I really feel like they could have been two separate books.  They don't even meet up until halfway through the book and then their interaction is minimal.  While I found the mystery of what happened to his wife interesting, I didn't really see how it fit with Ruby's story other than to make the book longer.

 I have always wanted to visit Ireland and this book has brought that wish out in my even more.  The author's descriptions of the landscape make you feel like you are right there.  I do recommend giving this book a chance.  It's a pleasant read that will make you smile in the end.

About Christina McKenna 

Christina McKenna grew up on a farm near the village of Draperstown in Northern Ireland. She attended the Belfast College of Art, where she obtained an honors degree in fine art and studied English in postgraduate studies at the University of Ulster. In 1986, she left Northern Ireland to work abroad. She has lived, worked, and painted pictures in Spain, Turkey, Italy, Ecuador, and Mexico.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Christina McKenna’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, March 16th: Write, Meg!

Tuesday, March 17th: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, March 19th: Thoughts on This ‘n That

Friday, March 20th: Bell, Book, and Candle

Tuesday, March 24th: BookNAround

Wednesday, March 25th: No More Grumpy Bookseller

Thursday, March 26th: The Avid Reader

Monday, March 30th: Mom in Love with Fiction

Wednesday, April 1st: WV Stitcher

Thursday, April 2nd: Joyfully Retired

Monday, April 6th: Unshelfish

Tuesday, April 7th: girlichef

Wednesday, April 8th: The Book Bag

Thursday, April 9th: My Bookshelf

Friday, April 10th: Peeking Between the Pages

Monday, April 13th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop

We are excited to be part  of the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop!  Make sure to check out the other blogs participating in the hop!

One lucky winner will win the prize pack below!  US only please  Just fill out the Rafflecopter to enter. Good Luck!

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Blog Tour: World Gone By by Dennis Lehane

Author: Dennis Lehane
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of publication: March 2015

Late spring, 1943. The world is at war but the American mob is in its heyday. Former crime boss Joe Coughlin now works as a consigliere to the infamous Bartolo Crime Family, effortlessly handling its interests in Tampa, Boston, and Cuba. In the decade since he lost his wife in a cascade of bullets, Joe has made a home for himself and his son, and once again forged everything out of nothing: money, power, a relationship with a beautiful woman, and a privileged place in Tampa’s shadowy underworld.

But a rumor surfaces that someone wants Joe dead. And he has only days to figure out who, or he will die. And then there’s the ghost—a young boy who appears on the fringes of Joe’s vision and seems to be trying to tell him something. Racing against time and fate, Joe hurtles through a violent yet intoxicating world on the brink of total collapse or epic triumph, a world on the cusp of reinvention and rebirth—where the old codes, the old sins, and the old dreams may soon be swept away once and for all.

I have to admit that the only book I have read by this author before this one was Shutter Island.  I loved that book, so I was looking forward to trying out his latest book, World Gone By.  Unfortunately, I think I am in the minority when I say that I didn't like this book.  I'm not saying the writing was bad.  This author is a talented writer..  But, I didn't know this was part of a series.  I wish I had read the first two books to give me some more background on the characters.  I kind of felt like I was walking into the middle of a movie.

I got about halfway through and stopped.  I really didn't like the mobster mentality of the characters. There was a lot of senseless killing all for power and money.  That just doesn't appeal to me. I guess it just wasn't what I was expecting.  I think fans of this series will love this book.  So I do urge you to try it out.  It just wasn't for me.

About Dennis Lehane

Dennis Lehane is the author of ten previous novels—including the New York Times bestsellers Live by Night;Moonlight Mile; Gone, Baby, Gone; Mystic River; Shutter Island; and The Given Day—as well as Coronado, a collection of short stories and a play. He and his wife, Angie, currently live in California with their children.

Find out more about Dennis at his website, and connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.

Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Dennis’ Tour Stops

Tuesday, March 10th: Unshelfish

Tuesday, March 10th: Crime Fiction Lover

Wednesday, March 11th: The Book Binder’s Daughter

Thursday, March 12th: Booksie’s Blog

Friday, March 13th: Bibliophiliac

Monday, March 16th: From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, March 17th: The many thoughts of a reader

Wednesday, March 18th: Ted Lehman’s Bluegrass, Books, and Brainstorms

Thursday, March 19th: Built by Story

Tuesday, March 24th: Tina Says …

Wednesday, March 25th: Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews

Thursday, March 26th: Gspotsylvania: Musings from Spotsylvania Dog and Bird Mom

Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Running Interference by Elley Arden

Author: Elley Arden
Publisher:Crimson Romance
Date of publication: January 2015

Even when she’s playing offense, defense is the name of the game for Cleveland Clash offensive linewoman Tanya Martin. After watching her family and friends struggle with relationships and the strings they leave behind, she has one unflappable goal: “Protect this house. Protect this heart.” The motto takes on new meaning when her father’s beloved gym is threatened with foreclosure and help appears in the form of her high school friend Cam Simmons, who rolls into town after a Super Bowl win and a five-year absence, looking like the one man who could test her resolve.

More comfortable in the spotlight than in the gritty surroundings of his hometown, Cam Simmons dreads the off-season visit that comes with the ulterior motive of convincing his mother to move. But things change when he reconnects with Tanya. The more time he spends with the sexy, sarcastic woman, who is as determined as ever to stay single, the more he can’t resist the challenge. Until, becoming friends with benefits has her running away, and a bachelor auction to save the gym has him in the sites of a woman who could ruin everything. 

Running Interference is a quick read friends to lovers story.  Tanya and Cam grew up together and were best friends.  They have lost touch since Cam became an NFL superstar.  After winning MVP at the Superbowl, he has come back to town for a visit.  Tanya is wary of his intentions and tries to keep him at a distance,  I liked this story for the most part.  I could understand Tanya's hesitation on wanting to get involved with Cam.  Five years is a long time to not communicate with your supposed best firend.  Why all of a sudden now?  But, I did think Cam did a good job of convincing her to take a chance on him.  I liked their HEA.  

I know this is the first in a new series, but at times I felt like there was more behind some of the peripheral characters.  The series is an off-shoot of her Kemmon Brothers Baseball series.  I think some of the characters show up in that one.  I'll have to hunt them down and check those out as well.

Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner by Judy Melinek & T. J. Mitchell

Authors: Judy Melinek & T. J. Mitchell
Publisher: Scribner
Date of publication: August 2014

The fearless memoir of a young forensic pathologist's rookie season as a NYC medical examiner, and the cases, hair-raising and heartbreaking and impossibly complex, that shaped her as both a physician and a mother.

Working Stiff chronicles Judy's two years of training, taking readers behind the police tape of some of the most harrowing deaths in the Big Apple, including a firsthand account of the events of September 11, the subsequent anthrax bio-terrorism attack, and the disastrous crash of American Airlines flight 587.

Lively, action-packed, and loaded with mordant wit, Working Stiff offers a firsthand account of daily life in one of America's most arduous professions, and the unexpected challenges of shuttling between the domains of the living and the dead. The body never lies, and through the murders, accidents, and suicides that land on her table, Dr. Melinek lays bare the truth behind the glamorized depictions of autopsy work on shows like CSI and Law and Order to reveal the secret story of the real morgue.

I am not really a fan of non-fiction books, but I have always been fascinated by forensics.  This book came on my radar as a suggested read from my library, so I tried it out. Working Stiff is a memoir from Dr. Judy Melenick.  She gives us a look into the first two years of her life training as a medical examiner. From what I understand, she has gone on to have a very successful career.

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook.  I found it a well written and very honest look at death.   One of the things I appreciated about the book was the way the author explained things to the reader.  It was straight forward and still technical, but in a way the average person could understand.  The book also gives you a reality check that forensics takes a LOT of time.  It's not like it is on CSI.  Blood and DNA tests can take months to come back. This can often be very frustrating for the families of the dead. There is definitely a gross out factor, so if you are squeamish, you may want to skip the part about the maggots.  That was really disgusting.

The hardest part of the book for me was listening to her talk about 9/11 and the aftermath.  Dr. Melenick had only been at the medical examiners office a couple of months when the towers fell.  She talks a lot about the recovery and body identification process.  But she also covers the human side of things, meaning how it affected all of those in charge of trying to identify the dead.  

Sprinkled throughout are stories of her son and husband,  I found those to be touching and quite amusing. I could go on and on.  Let's just say this was a fascinating look into a secret world that most of us don't see.   I definitely recommend this one to throw on your TBR pile!

Blog Tour: Love on the Menu by Ellen March

Author: Ellen March
Publisher: Fanny Press
Date of publication: February 2015

Jago Tanner is a loner. He works up a good hunger at his outdoors pursuits centre in Wales and looks upon each female conquest as just another meal. When he’s sated, he doesn’t go back for dessert. Until Riley shows up. A Londoner hired through an agency to assist him with activities, she isn’t at all what he asked for. For starters, with the name Riley, he expected a man. But Riley is all woman—the sexiest woman Jago has ever laid eyes on. Unfortunately she dresses like a trollop and curses like a sailor. Though ignorant about most outdoors pursuits, she’s a skilled horsewoman, able to calm even his nerviest stallion. And her lively and generous nature enchants his housekeeper Emily and his ancient friend, Tom.

In short, Jago’s new employee is a bundle of contradictions. Which is why, when Jago falls for her, he doesn’t trust his feelings. Riley seems unusually accident prone, and when her brother’s shady friends menace her, she plays the innocent. But how can anyone so self-sufficient and mouthy also be so trusting and naïve? And can a man with Jago’s volatile nature endure the jealousy a woman like Riley provokes just by strolling down the street?

Love on the Menu is was a very quick and steamy romance. When Jago hires Riley for a job as his ranch hand, he thinks he is getting a man.  Instead, he finds out Riley is a sexy, smart mouthed female who may be too much of a distraction for him. For me, it was an OK read.  I liked it, but I didn't love it.

I thought the love scenes were well written and enjoyable.  There was definitely chemistry between Jago and Riley.  But, for me, that is as about as far as it went. The reason I had a hard time buying into the love story were the main characters.  Neither was very likable.   I had a hard time warming up to Riley. I know she was just trying to be herself, but really?  Reign it in a little at least until you have been on the job for a while. I also couldn't buy into any employer not firing an employee for acting and speaking the way she did from the start.  I don't care how big her chest or how good looking she is.  There is a time and a place for attitude.   I wanted to smack Jago for the way he treated Eve.  He tells her he doesn't get involved with employees only a few hours before he sleeps with Riley...his employee. I kind of lost respect for him.

As I said before, this is a pretty quick read, so I do urge you to give it a try for yourself.  The characters did grow on me and I enjoyed the ending.

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  About the author:

Ellen March and her husband live on top of a mountain in Wales, which is ideal in the summer but not so much in the winter months or when it rains. She has three grown children, one suicidal cat--it really does have nine lives--and three Alaskan Malamutes. One of her hobbies is showing and working them. Ellen's first love, however, is reading and writing. Since childhood, she has devoured every romance and fantasy she can get her hands on and enjoys acting out her own fantasies in print. Her body of work includes erotic romance, psychological thrillers, and supernatural fantasies. Fanny Press has published three of her erotic romances--Promises, His Girl Friday, and A Ghost of an Affair--and will be publishing more in 2015 and beyond.


Ellen March's Web Site:
http://ellenmarch.jimdo.com/

Ellen March's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ellenmarchauthor?fref=ts

Ellen March's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Ms_ellen_march

Ellen March's Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5571507.Ellen_March

Love on the Menu Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24401519-love-on-the-menu

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186
 
Love on the Menu blog tour site:
http://loveonthemenublogtour.blogspot.com/

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SXEU2F8

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-on-the-menu-ellen-march/1120956615?ean=2940150154094

Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/515200

Blog Tour: The Girls of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery

Author: Susan Mallery
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Date of publication: February 2015

Nicole Lord wants to be a good wife, but there’s a difference between being supportive and supporting her husband, who quit his job to write a screenplay she’s never seen. He won’t even help take care of their son, leaving Nicole to run the house and work full-time.

Sacrificing a personal life for her career is how Shannon Rigg became a VP at her firm, but she wonders now whether she made the right choice. An exciting new relationship with a great guy convinces her that it might not be too late—until he drops a bombshell that has her questioning whether she really can have it all.

Although Pam Eiland adores her husband, she feels restless now that the kids are grown. Finding sexy new ways to surprise him brings the heat and humor back to their marriage, but when unexpected change turns her life upside down, she’ll have to redefine herself. Again.

Through romance and heartbreak, laughter and tears, the girls of Mischief Bay will discover that life is richer with friends at your side.

The Girls of Mischief Bay is the first in a new series by Susan Mallery.  I am a big fan of hers and I think that most fans will like this book.  The story features three women who are at different stages and ages in their lives, yet they have a deep and loving friendship that helps them make it through the tough times.  For me, this was a much heavier book than I was expecting.  I think that is why that even though I liked it, I didn't love it.

What I did like about the story was the friendship between the three women.  To them ,the differences in their ages doesn't matter.  They have a bond that goes deeper and gives them something to lean on when things get too rough. Nicole is a young mother with a business and a husband who is basically a freeloader.  Shannon is turning 40 and is married to her job.  She can hear her bio-clock ticking.  Pam is facing the empty nest and is trying to get the spark back into her marriage.  

What I didn't like was the heaviness of the book. I felt like there was too much at one time. Pam's story was going along great and her attempts to get the spark back with her husband were really funny. But then a tragedy changes her life suddenly. While it was a a very real scenario, it was just really depressing.   Nicole has a deadbeat husband and realizes they were never really in love.  That was the one relationship that I didn't like..  I wanted to scream every time she didn't tell her husband where he could stick it. Shannon's was the only one I truly enjoyed reading about.  Her relationship with Adam was very endearing and sweet.

I do recommend giving this one a shot.  It's not a straight romance and is a more serious book, But I think fans will like it.  I am interested to see where she goes with the series.  It would be nice to check in with the women again and see how they are faring.

About the author:

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has won the hearts of millions of readers around the world with books described as “immensely entertaining, intensely emotional” (RT Book Reviews), “hilarious” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram), and “heartwarming” (Publishers Weekly). One major retailer recently described her as “the queen of romantic fiction.” While she deeply appreciates the accolades of critics and booksellers, Mallery is even more honored by the enthusiasm of her readers and the word-of-mouth that catapults her toward the top of the bestsellers lists time and again.

Mallery lives in not-so-sunny Seattle with her husband and a toy poodle who makes her laugh every day and who’s not even a little bit impressed by her growing fame.

Connect with Susan

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

The Girls of Mischief Bay REVIEW TOUR:

Monday, February 23rd: The Romance Dish

Monday, February 23rd: A Bookish Escape

Tuesday, February 24th: Peeking Between the Pages

Tuesday, February 24th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy

Wednesday, February 25th: For the Love of Words

Thursday, February 26th: Read – Love – Blog

Friday, February 27th: Mom in Love with Fiction

Tuesday, March 3rd: Luxury Reading

Tuesday, March 3rd: Bewitched Bookworms

Wednesday, March 4th: Always With a Book

Thursday, March 5th: A Chick Who Reads

Friday, March 6th: Not in Jersey

Monday, March 9th: Drey’s Library

Monday, March 9th: BookNAround

Tuesday, March 10th: Book Mama Blog

Wednesday, March 11th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Thursday, March 12th: From the TBR Pile

Friday, March 13th: 5 Minutes for Books

Monday, March 16th: Why Girls Are Weird

Tuesday, March 17th: Sara’s Organized Chaos

Wednesday, March 18th: Chick Lit Central

Wednesday, March 18th: Mary’s Cup of Tea

TBD: As the Pages Turn

Blog Tour; The Swimmer by Joakim Zander

Author: Joakim Zander

Publisher: Harper 

Date of publication: February 10, 2015

A deep-cover CIA agent races across Europe to save the daughter he never knew in this electrifying debut thriller— an international sensation billed as “Homeland meets Stieg Larsson”—that heralds the arrival of a new master.

Early 1980s, Damascus. A nameless American spy abandons his newborn child to an uncertain fate. His inability to forgive himself for what he has done leads him on a lifelong quest to escape his past that will take him to Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq—anywhere where the danger and the stress allow him to forget.

Thirty years later, EU aide Klara Walldéen is learning to navigate the world of politics—the lines between friend and enemy, truth and lies. But Klara has just seen something she should not have: a laptop containing information so sensitive that people will kill to keep it hidden. Suddenly she is thrown into a terrifying chase through Europe, with no idea who is hunting her or why.

Their stories converge one stormy Christmas Eve in the Swedish archipelago, where blood is spilled, shocking discoveries are made, and the past inevitably catches up with the present.

The Swimmer is a debut novel and has been compared to books like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I loved that series, so I was looking forward to trying this book out.  I'm not usually one to read political  thrillers, but I'm always willing to expand my horizons. Sadly for me, I just couldn't get into the book.  I did give it about 100 pages, but it just couldn't hold my interest.

It was a very slow start with many different points of view in the beginning.  I'm not a fan of books that introduce many characters in the beginning.  It can make it hard to keep everyone straight after a while. The back and forth between 1983 and the present made things a little confusing if I wasn't paying attention to the dates at the top of each chapter. I would liken it to was watching a really confusing spy movie that I would have ended up tuning out or turning off.  

The book has received great reviews, so I think for lovers of this genre, it will work for them.  So I urge you to give it a shot. I just wasn't my cup of tea.

About Joakim Zander

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Joakim Zander has lived in Syria and Israel and graduated from high school in the United States. He earned a PhD in Law from Maastricht University in the Netherlands and has worked as a lawyer for the European Union in Brussels and Helsinki. The Swimmer is his first novel; rights have been sold in 28 territories. Zander currently lives in southern Sweden with his wife and two children.

Follow Zander on Twitter, @JoakimZander.

Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Joakim’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, February 10th: Bibiotica

Wednesday, February 11th: Man of La Book

Friday, February 13th: Dreams, Etc.

Monday, February 16th: My Bookish Ways

Tuesday, February 17th: Staircase Wit

Thursday, February 19th: Annabel & Alice

Friday, February 20th: Kritters Ramblings

Monday, February 23rd: Stephany Writes

 Tuesday, February 24th: A Dream Within a Dream

Wednesday, February 25th: Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

Thursday, February 26th: Ace and Hoser Blook

Monday, March 2nd: The Discerning Reader

Friday, March 6th: Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Wednesday, March 11th: Many Hats

Wednesday, March 11th: From the TBR Pile

Friday, March 13th: Jorie Loves a Story

TBD: Novel Escapes

Blog Tour: For Authentication Purposes by Amber L. Johnson

We are excited to have author Amber Johnson with us today.  Enjoy our interview with her after my thoughts on the book.  Make sure to check out her giveaway link below!

Release Date: March 5th , 2015

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

Dawn Sims has made a name for herself writing romantic fiction online. When she's pushed to try her hand at publishing, she thinks she has everything figured out. The only problem? She's never been in a relationship, especially one that has led her to finding The Big O. So much for writing what you know. Warner Green has had Dawn in his sights since she walked into his class in seventh grade. She broke his teenage heart not once, but twice, so seeing her in his night class at the local community college was an unexpected surprise. Accidentally reading her bad erotica on her laptop was a blessing from the Smut Gods themselves. It's clear she has no idea what she's writing about, but Warner does. In fact, he knows so much that he's willing to offer her his services. The deal is simple: teach the good girl from high school everything she needs to know to write from experience. If he gets to live out a fantasy or two that he's been harboring for almost a decade, then there's no harm in that either. The lessons turn more heated, and Dawn begins to question where Warner has learned his skills, but he's not ready to talk, until his past comes back to haunt him at the worst possible time. It shouldn't matter when it's for authentication purposes only.   

My thoughts:

For Authentication Purposes was a fun and very sexy read.  Dawn is attempting to write  her first romance novel.  Her old high  school "frenemy", Warner, accidentally reads her draft on her laptop and finds her attempt laughable.  He agrees to help her "research" to be able to write better and more realistic sex scenes.  What she doesn't know is that he has carried a torch for her since they were 14 years old.

The romance between Dawn and Warner was great.  I loved them together.  It was fun to watch their "arrangement' turn into something deeper then sex ed.  Have you ever read a romance and just had to laugh at the love scenes?  I mean who uses the word "manhood" anymore?  That is why I thought this book was great.  I appreciated the fact that the author gave me love scenes without silly nicknames. In fact, I thought they were very well written and definitely hot!

I do recommend this one.   I look forward to reading more from Ms. Johnson!

Kari& Autumn: What inspired you to become a writer?

Amber: I had a bad job and was feeling frustrated about the way I was being treated. I started by writing my first story revolving around that workplace. It was therapeutic. I’d written when I was much younger but never as prolifically as I did starting in 2009.

Kari& Autumn: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Amber: Usually something happens in real life. It can be an incident or a conversation. A lot of times I’ll be listening to music and a lyric will just hit me in the right moment and I’ll construct a story from there.

Kari& Autumn: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Amber: Right now I don’t have anything else coming up. I have a book that I have been working on for over 2 years now. And I have another manuscript that I am playing around with. But I’ve been writing and editing for the last two years and put 6 books out in 18 months. I might just take some time to catch up on my reading!

Kari& Autumn: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Amber: This is a truly unfair question! Probably The Little Mermaid. Just thinking about the original story makes my chest ache.

Kari& Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Amber: Hands down, I’d want to be a honey badger. They’re so freaking smart. And they don’t care about anything. But they do smell really bad, so now I’m questioning my choice.

About the author:

A true child of music, Amber's parents surrounded her with the loudest beats they could find, molding her into a girl who found inspiration and meaning in lyrics and chords. Raised on John Hughes movies, Luck Dragons, and pirate ships, she dreamed of love and adventure. When Amber began to create her own world, she envisioned a place where Happy Ever Afters do exist. Since then, she has authored several romance novels, all of which focus on songs and the way they can touch people's lives. Music may not be able to fix a broken heart, but it can provide one hell of a soundtrack for healing. A full-time wife and mother with a full-time job, Amber finds her muse in everyday life and the people who bring her inspiration.        

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Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

Be sure to look for Amber's other books!

 

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