From This Day Forward by Lauren Layne

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

First off, I'd like to wish you all a Happy and safe Memorial Day.  Today is the day (US side at least) that we pay tribute to all those men and women that lost their lives in service to our country.  Their dedication and sacrifice are what helped build the country we have today, the freedom we so enjoy, and the liberties to which we feel entitled.  So please, in all your enjoyment of the time off from work, and summer vacation starts, take a moment to remember those that helped make it possible, and share a kind word or gesture from the heart with their families left behind.  Thank you from heart to yours....

Next up on the agenda, a pre-pub celebration of an unusual sort.  How so, you ask?  Well, it's a pre-pub review for a novella that'll serve to introduce the upcoming series, book one of which release this July.  Still following me?  Good...because you're seriously gonna want to get in this reading temptation from the ground up.  Ladies and gents, may I present, today's book of choice...

From This Day Forward

The Wedding Belles, Book 0.5

by

Lauren Layne

9781501135194

Simon Pocket eBooks

About the book...

Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in this prequel to USA TODAY bestselling author Lauren Layne’s The Wedding Belles series about three high-powered New York City women who can plan any wedding—but their own.

Up-and-coming wedding photographer Leah McHale’s career is on the rise–thanks in no small part to the Wedding Belles, the elite New York wedding planning agency that always throws top-tier business Leah’s way. So when one of the Belles asks Leah to fill in at the former First Daughter's wedding, Leah is overjoyed to say yes–until she finds out who she’ll be working with.

Jason Rhodes is the one man who was able to capture Leah’s heart and, once he had it, promptly stepped all over it and left her broken. Now he’s working side-by-side with her at the biggest wedding of the season and Leah is determined to give him the cold shoulder. Despite his persistence, she is not going to fall for his charming, impish ways again. Not even if he still has that killer, irresistible smile... 

S&S  |  BAM  |  IBOOKSTORE  |  KINDLE  |  NOOK  |  GOOGLE PLAY

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Short and sweet, but don't let the cover fool you!  It may look all innocent Contemporary Romance but this baby packs some sizzle and spice!

Leah and Jason, the fab photographers of New York City that know the wedding scene like the back of their hands...too bad their hearts aren't mapped quite as well.  Once upon a time, they had a go of it and while things were going along rather nicely, it all ended with an ill-timed visit and a half-dressed house guest.  Whoops!  Let's just say I don't blame Leah for turning tail and running because most of us would given the circumstances.  The cold shoulder she gives Jason in the months that follow are deserved but that justification does nothing for the flames in their hearts.  If only they could actually talk about it, get to the bottom of what was going on, perhaps they could both get closure and move on...but do they really WANT to?  Guess now is about as good a time as any to find out considering fate and Alexis Morgan (owner of The Wedding Belles team) have thrown them together for a wedding they won't soon forget...nor will you.

    

The sweetness Contemporary Romance fans clamor for is there, as is the heartache, on BOTH sides (surprisingly), friendships, and potential missed/second chances.  They allow the story to build and grow into something that satisfies (harder to do with short stories!), yet leaves you wanting more.  I gotta say, right after I finished reading this one, I started in on my ARC of book one...and guess what?  I was NOT disappointed!  More on that in another post, but suffice it to say this reader enjoyed her time getting to know this potential couple (hey, I'm not spoiling it for you!) and her peek inside the world of The Wedding Belles, and let me just say that the view is DEFINITELY worth the read!

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About the author...

Photograph by Anthony LeDonne

Lauren Layne is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Stiletto series of contemporary romances and the all-new Pocket Books series, The Wedding Belles. She lives in New York with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian.

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Special thanks to the amazing Melissa at Simon & Schuster for the tree book ARC for review. (THANKS!)  This title is set to release June 6th, 2016 (as of this post) via Pocket Star eBooks, and will be available for the tantalizingly low price of $1.99!  So, ladies....you know what to do!  Fellas...best to just let the ladies have their afternoon of bookish swooning, don't you think?  *wink*  As mentioned, the series kicks off its full length novels with TO HAVE AND TO HOLD this July, and book two and three following August and October respectively.  Needless to say, you know I've made room on my reading list...now it's YOUR turn.

Until next time...happy reading!

Tales of Westerford by Darryl Womack

Hi there!

Welcome back to the Friday edition of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers; the place where letting the world know you LIKE BIG BOOKS AND YOU CAN NOT LIE is totally accepted, in fact encouraged, with a smile and a welcoming sweep of arms.

Today, we're closing out the week with a Fantasy tale from the Children's Fiction realm that'll take you back to days of old with knights, dragons, and kings; of course the fact that the subtitle INCLUDES those words is a big clue as to what it contains, but that's neither here nor there for the sake of our discussion.  *ahem*  Anyway, the adventure you are about to embark on will keep you on your toes as danger lurks around many a corner, but it will also remind you what the most important traits of leaders, knights, and all those worth knowing truly are...and none of them are worldly riches.  Ready or not, put on your armor and grab a weapon of choice as we set forth into the pages of today's book of choice...

Tales of Westerford:

Dragons, Knights and Kings

by

Darryl Womack

9781943425297

Elevate Fiction

About the book....

From deep within the ring of fire, burning logs, and smoldering ash, grows a tale of an adventurous boy and a magical discovery.

Nat is a young boy who lives with his family in Sutter, a small village in the Kingdom of Westerford. Like all children his age, Nat loves to play “knights” with his friends. He dreams of one day becoming a knight himself and serving the noble King Edgar. Nat’s other favorite activity is exploring the nearby forest where, one day, he, quite literally, stumbles upon a giant egg.

When the egg finally hatches, so does a series of events that leads to the fulfillment of Nat’s wildest dreams. This is the story of two young friends who take on adventures to save the kingdom. With his best friend, Danby, by his side what could possibly go wrong?

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This is the story of one young man's journey from his given lot in life to discovering his true destiny.  It has shades of Eragon thanks to a particular leathery winged friend (yes, I'm talking about YOU Danby), but that's about the extent of that shadowing for this is a tale that stands on its own two feet.

Nat is a wonderful lad, full of life with a good head on his shoulders and a generous heart.  He embodies the elements that make a man or woman truly rich by being honest, loyal, and brave.  He openly extends his hand in friendship before ever drawing a sword and warmly shares the feelings of his heart with those he truly cares for.  From the moment he found that beautiful little egg and nurtured the soul inside it despite all the ill-natured stories he had been fed, I knew he was a boy/man to watch.  As his relationships extended outside of he and Danby, we are witness to his attributes growing tenfold with the addition of him finding his one true love.  

Now, before you go thinking it's all sunshine and roses or just another story for girl readers, let me tell you...you'd be making false accusations.  There are battles to be fought, curses to be broken, and quests to be completed, leaving a little something for everyone at the turn of the page.  I will admit, at first I wasn't certain I was going to enjoy it quite as much as I did.  You see, I initially found the author's portrayal of the Princess to be rather off putting.  She simply was there, royalty, and did nothing but sew, or chat with friends, or some other mundane task to pass the time.  Pfft!  What kind of Princess is THAT?!  Lucky for me, though the focus of the story doesn't move to her specifically, she finds a role in the events transpiring that put a smile on my face...and that of our lad Nat (very open minded of him too!).

When all was said and done, I really enjoyed my time in the Kingdom of Westerford.  Nat was a gem of a fellow, Charis was a worthy Princess, King Edgar was much more regal than he at first seemed, and Danby was...well Danby was Danby and what else could a friendly dragon be but fun?!  The writing wasn't fancy but the story crafted showed talent without getting way over the heads of the intended audience.  Suffice it to say, my adventure through the pages was a resounding success and one that I would recommend to Children's Fiction fans that are ready for a good old fashioned quest to get the girl, gain a title, and save a kingdom...in no particular order.  Sounds like your kind of read?  I thought it might...now watch for page 30 because when Nat first meets...well, you'll see.

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About the author...

Darryl Womack’s love for story-telling was spurred from family camping trips and his many colorful tales shared around the campfire in the backwoods of California. A high school english teacher by day, Womack is now bringing those vivid campfire fables to life in his new book, Tales of Westerford. When he is not writing, Womack enjoys the outdoors, traveling, mountain biking, reading, and spending time with family and friends. A graduate of Humboldt State University, he currently resides in Redlands, California with his wife of 27 years, Patty. Together they have three sons, Garrett, Kevin, and Christopher.

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ARC for review received of Emily at Elevate Publishing (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to hit bookstore shelves, both virtual and non, June 1st, 2016, so mark your calendars or pre order it today from the publisher and get 20% with the special code listed on the site!  One more tantalizing tidbit, there's a GIVEAWAY on GoodReads right now for this very title that ends June 4th, so feel free to click on over for your chance to win!

Until next time...happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny Purmont

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're playing host to a TLC Book Tours promotion starring an unusual read to say the least.  How so, you ask?  Well, it's a Memoir for starters, which is of course not our every day fare, and secondly, the voice of the author is probably one of the most unique, most honest ones that I've read thus far.  Ladies and gents, please join me in welcoming today's blog tour guest and book of choice...

It's Okay to Laugh (Crying is Cool Too)

by

Nora McInerny Purmort

• Hardcover: 288 pages

• Publisher: Dey Street Books

 (May 24, 2016) 

 comedy = tragedy + time/rosé 

 Twenty-seven-year-old Nora McInerny Purmort bounced from boyfriend to dopey “boyfriend” until she met Aaron—a charismatic art director and comic-book nerd who once made Nora laugh so hard she pulled a muscle. When Aaron was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, they refused to let it limit their love. They got engaged on Aaron’s hospital bed and had a baby boy while he was on chemo. In the period that followed, Nora and Aaron packed fifty years of marriage into the three they got, spending their time on what really matters: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, each other, and Beyoncé. A few months later, Aaron died in Nora’s arms. The obituary they wrote during Aaron’s hospice care revealing his true identity as Spider-Man touched the nation. With It’s Okay to Laugh, Nora puts a young, fresh twist on the subjects of mortality and resilience. What does it actually mean to live your “one wild and precious life” to the fullest? How can a joyful marriage contain more sickness than health? How do you keep going when life kicks you in the junk? In this deeply felt and deeply funny memoir, Nora gives her readers a true gift—permission to struggle, permission to laugh, permission to tell the truth and know that everything will be okay. It’s Okay to Laugh is a love letter to life, in all its messy glory; it reads like a conversation with a close friend, and leaves a trail of glitter in its wake.  

 

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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It's a dose of reality you wouldn't wish on your best frenemy and yet so utterly real that you can't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all...oh yeah, and there's two deaths by cancer, and one miscarriage along the way.  Have I shocked you?  Are you reeling from the revelation of what the book centers around?  Well STOP RIGHT THERE.  This is a TRUE STORY from someone who has lived a life worth remembering and is still creating more moments rich in laughter, warmth, and heart.  She survived all she's been handed without so much as a backward glance of uncertainty...okay, that's a lie.  Let's cut to the chase much like our honest to goodness honest author does.  

Nora McInerny Purmont is one heck of a woman.  She didn't set out to make millions from this work (though she might), nor to play the woe-is-me card some people tote around like a scarlet "A" (not that I'm blaming them, I'm just stating it to illustrate a point).  She did this to share her experience with others that may have been or may still be going through similar circumstances.  She did it to say HEY WORLD...I TOOK WHAT YOU GAVE ME AND DID NOT MELT DOWN (MUCH).  I SURVIVED.  She did it to remind us that our "one wild and precious life" is ours to live and there is no right or wrong way to go about it, so long as we actually DO go about the living of it.  The memories she shares take us from days of childhood innocence to drunken college nights, blind dates to finding "the one", unimaginable happiness to heart wrenching inevitability.  She learns that despite how invicible we feel, everyone's life has an expiration date...some more unfairly close than others...but that we shouldn't let it define how we live.  She sure as heck didn't and neither did her other half, Aaron.  Together they conquered the world, one day at a time and when the moment came to sever their ties here on earth, though they still hadn't had nearly enough days together, their love carried on.  It was so sweet (and tear inducing) how their son would say how his dad was in their hearts.  

In the end, I learned a thing or two while experiencing life through another's eyes within these pages.  I now know that the proper Church response I grew up with ("AND ALSO WITH YOU") is no longer the accepted response, and that heading to New York on a dream and barely any cash may not be the smartest idea (even if it does seem romantic in some far offish way).  I can use the phrase "take the message to Garcia" on others and watch their eyebrow quirk in question as to what in the H-E-DOUBLE- HOCKEY-STICK I am talking about while keeping a knowing smile upon my lips.   I know that even in our darkest of times, there can be light and sharing those moments with others can not only be therapeutic for ourselves, but work to build a bridge between troubled souls.  In short, life IS wild, precious, and certainly the only one we're given, and making the most of it every day is entirely up to us.  Sometimes it will suck biscuits and still other times it will rock our socks off, but at the end of the day, it is still OURS and we owe it to ourselves to make it our own.

As the author herself says at the end of the Preface...

This book is for people who have been through some shit. This is for people who aren’t sure if they’re saying or doing the right thing (you’re not, but nobody is). This is for people who had their life turned upside down and just learned to live that way. For people who have laughed at a funeral or cried in a grocery store. This is for everyone who wondered what exactly they’re supposed to be doing with their one wild and precious life. I don’t actually have the answer, but if you find out, will you text me? 

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About the author...

Nora McInerny Purmort was voted Most Humorous by the Annunciation Catholic School Class of 1998. It was mostly downhill after that, but she did get to spend three glorious years married to Aaron Joseph Purmort (aka Spider-Man). Her work has appeared on Cosmopolitan.com, Elle.com, and the Huffington Post, and in the Star Tribune. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her son, Ralph. They really like it there. Find out more about Nora at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Special thanks to the TLC Book Tours team for the review copy and chance to bring this tour to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, THE TOUR, the author, the publisher, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.

Until next time...happy reading!