Are you an avid reader looking for your next "fix"? Can't bear to be without some form of reading material in your spare time? Welcome to my world! Whether you are seeking a new book to "feed your need", or you are an author seeking an unbiased point of view on your own recent masterpiece, this is the place to be. With life as with books, you never know where the next step might take you...

Friday, August 31, 2018

Protection or Prison?: The Seclusion by Jacqui Castle

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a NEW YA lit title COMING SOON from Inkshares.  It's penned by a new name to the genre and if it's any indicator of her potential, she's gonna go far.  Don't believe me?  Well now, let me show you the proof in the pudding, but don't say I didn't warn you!  Ready or not, let's leave our world behind and jet to the future...but only just...as we explore the world as we knew it, transformed for better or worse in...


by
9781947848511  

About the book...
In the year 2090, America has walled itself off from the rest of the world. When her father is arrested by the totalitarian Board, a young woman sets out to escape the only country she’s ever known.

While on a routine assignment scouting the viability of dwindling natural resources outside the massive urban centers most American citizens call home, Patricia ’Patch’ and her co-worker Rexx discover a relic from the past containing dangerous contraband―unedited books from before The Seclusion. These texts will spark an unquenchable thirst for the truth that sees Patch’s father arrested by the totalitarian Board.

Evading her own arrest, Patch and Rexx set out across a ruined future United States, seeking some way to escape the only home they’ve ever known. Along the way, they learn about how their country came to be this way and fall in love. But their newfound knowledge may lead to their own demise.




AMAZON  |  B&N  |  BAMM



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Once upon a time, there was a United States of America...strong, powerful, willing to help others, and welcome those looking for a better life.  Once upon a time, this was a reality...until it wasn't.  All it took was the wrong person in the right position for the powers that be to take control from Johnny Q. Public.  All it took was an act of terrorism on such a grand scale that those with the means to fund full scale restoration could gain the upper hand.  All it took was the masses no longer speaking out en masse, but swallowing the lies, hiding the truth, and ultimately playing right into the hands of moguls that should never have had their chance at controlling power to begin with...and that's all it took for a great nation to become...secluded.

The seclusion was enacted to provide for and grow strong the remaining people of this once great nation.  If considered a patriot, you were golden; take a step out of line, and it could be the last step you take.  Really though, what reason would one have to cause discord?  You received housing, a job based on interest and aptitude, monthly credits for food and a few extras, reliable transportation, and the ability to live a life serving the greater good...aka the Board.  Oh, yeah...did you see a distinct lack of me mentioning the word "freedom" in there?  Yeah, not an accident and it gets worse.  I mean COME ON!  A world without books...or at least without printed books, or those that have been sanctioned by the Board? Security of a survivable life, but without the freedom to say, do, or act to any degree outside what is expected? I just...no.



Think a bit Hunger Games, and a dash of Divergent.  Now, spread it over our own history in the making like butter on a biscuit, and you've got this delectably dark, sinister, and ultimately POSSIBLE story you won't want to miss! Seriously, it was eye-opening and mind-boggling all in one.  Patch and Rexx were quite the pair, from start to finish.  They played the roles given like actors to a stage, and yet inside, their heart of hearts yearned for answers.  When the dice were truly rolled, they showed great resilience, dedication to the cause, and a willingness to do what it takes to reach their goal...not only for themselves, but for the whole of the country!

In the end, a MUST READ for certain, and a series start that leaves you gasping for more.  I know it'll be on my watch list for coming installments.  Only complaint...a quick cutoff when events occur that drastically change plans and alter the story. We had built so eloquently to that point it seemed a shame to cut it short...it didn't diminish my delight overall, but I do wish it could have been built out as grandly as the rest.  Perhaps we'll see more of that slow and steady pace in book two.




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About the author...

Jacqui Castle

Professional journalist & first-time novelist - fueled by tea, politics, and a captivating story-line.


SITE  |  TWITTER



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Special thanks to Angela at Inkshares for the ARC for review.  (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 release September 4th, 2018, so mark you calendar or pre-order your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


Thursday, August 30, 2018

Back to School Edutainment: The Day That A Ran Away by B.C.R. Fegan

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Image result for abcs
Today, we're shining the pre-pub light on the latest storybook release from B.C.R. Fegan via Taleblade Press!  It's a work of edutainment, in that it combines whimsical fun and merriment, while still imparting some valuable knowledge to the kiddos along the way...in this case two lessons *giggle* but more on that in moment.  If you've read his previous releases, you know you're in for some fun as well as some fabulous illustrations because like Jurassic Park spared no expense, illustrator Len Wen spares no sector of the color palette when creating his delightful images.  So, ready...set...READ...


by
B.C.R. Fegan
Illustrated by
Lenny Wen
9781925810004
Taleblade Press

About the book...
Master Jet has forgotten to complete his homework… or has he? Jet’s teacher is surprised to find that instead of the alphabet, his page is completely blank. Jet tries to explain that it really isn’t his fault. After all, how can he help it, if none of his letters want to stay on the page!






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This delightful story stars little Jet.  He was suppose to write his alphabet, but the darndest thing happened when he tried...the A RAN AWAY!  Well, when B found out, what do you suppose they did?  Yep, followed in A's footsteps, and so we continue the conga line of runaway letters straight through to Z...much to chagrin of our pupil and the slight amusement of our teacher.  It's quite literally a waterfall of letters making their way over seas, across parks, even hiding out after dark, because try as little Jet might, he just couldn't seem to corral them onto his page!  Good thing teacher happens to know a little trick to get these tricky letters to stick where they should...


As with my reads of the author's past works, I was delighted to see how the somewhat simple task of learning the alphabet was taken to a new level not only to show the importance of learning our ABC's, but also that of completing something you were tasked (or suffer the consequences because little Jet's pencil is gonna get a workout!).  With every turn of the page, we're greeted with another letter, fleeing in some direction other than Jet's notebook paper, in brightly colored hues, complete with little attitudes.  My favorite?  Oh, that's a tough one...I suppose I have to say one of them had to be the letter R.  Her sense of style was above the book, or so she said, and honestly it showed in her outfit and facial expression so well!

A great read for the kiddos just learning their ABCs as well as a classroom story time selection...provided you can get the letters to stay!




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About the author...


BCR Fegan is a multi-award-winning author who has written a number of fairy tales and fantasies for children and young adults. He is inspired by stories that resonate deeply with our desire for adventure, yearning for magic and search for meaning. When Fegan is not writing children’s books, he is forging worlds in the realm of Young Adult Fiction.






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Special thanks to the TaleBlade Press team for the ebook for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title just is set to celebrate its BOOK BIRTHDAY September 1st, 2018, so mark your calendar or pre-order your copy today!


Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


Wednesday, August 29, 2018

TLC Book Tours presents... GOOD TIME COWBOY by Maisey Yates - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

HI there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Image result for horseshoe divider

Today, we're joining TLC Book Tours for a stop along their current promotion starring the latest release from author Maisey Yates!  If you've not joined her bandwagon of fans, it's high time you did, so grab your best pair of boots (or sneaks!) and your cowboy hat (or ball cap...sorry, I don't do ten gallons....), and saddle up because we're hitting the trails with today's book of choice...


A Gold Valley Novel, Book 3
by
Maisey Yates
9781335474612
HQN

About the book...
In Gold Valley, Oregon, forbidden desire just might turn into the love of a lifetime…

When Lindy Parker lost her cheating husband, she gained a vineyard. She’ll do anything for Grassroots Winery, including teaming up with the hottest devil she knows, rancher Wyatt Dodge. Wyatt is her ex’s friend and has an ego as big as the bulls he rides. But in spite of that, disciplined Lindy has always wanted him…

Lightning struck Wyatt Dodge the first time he saw Lindy Parker. But there were two problems with that: she was married to his friend, and Wyatt doesn’t do strings. But now Lindy is free, and the two of them can finally explore the heat that’s burned between them for so long. But can Lindy make this good time cowboy decide on forever?






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Welcome back to Gold Valley, where the only think more memorable than the sunsets are the people.

Image result for dude ranch

This time around we're getting the scoop on Lindy Parker...two years divorced, and the woman behind Grassroots Winery, she's a force to reckoned with, but that doesn't mean the gossip doesn't fly.  It shouldn't with how her ex exited, especially with his very sisters standing by their sister-in-law instead of their can't-keep-it-in-his-pants-good-for-nothing brother.  Well, I suppose he was good for something...the winery, to be exact, because without him, she'd not have had the chance at the future she's currently molding, or at least not nearly as easily.  Thing is...she's not that girl.  She's not the one to date, marry, ditch, and profit.  She wanted the whole cake, the love with the love of life, and the fact that she's left with only half that dream has made her keep her heart close guarded.  True, once you've made it in, it's for keeps, but getting there is the hard part, and I can't say I blame her.  She was wounded something terrible, but I have to admire how she came back from it (mostly) on her own terms, and I didn't see her letting those walls down as a sign of her losing control, but rather gaining a new stronghold...and let's not forget possibly the heart of a certain rough and tumble cowboy.

Okay, so  truth be told...I was all prepared to despise Wyatt Dodge, right from the start.  I mean, he was arrogant, crass, stubborn, and took some things in life a little to less than serious...but then I got to know him (better man...sorry, Dickens relapse).  You see beneath the "good time" cowboy is a man that's been struggling with his lost youth, his poorly sought venues of affection, the ultimatum issued by dearly wronged dad, and despite his bravado and need for control, a lack of ever feeling like he's enough...just him, nothing else.  I know, sounds sappy, right?  STOP RIGHT THERE...he doesn't do sappy.  He does do weaken your knees, tear down your resolve, and flirt you out of your knickers, but as much as he can be a pain in the behind, he has a good heart. 

Image result for cowboy heart

In the end, it was another GREAT READ from an author who totally turned my head on the whole cowboy themed Contemporary Romance niche...and THANK YOU for doing it!  I've loved my time in Gold Valley and can't wait for another chance to visit with old friends and meet sizzling new potential couples.  Yep, LOVED IT.  Now it's your turn...and don't worry about it being such and such a number in a series, it works as a stand alone, so choose your entry point and GO!



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About the author...


New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit.

In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book. Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard. She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

 


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Up for grabs...
(1) print copy of Good Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates!

Open to US/Canada residents; no P.O. Boxes please.
Entries accepted through Friday, September 7th, 2018.  Winner will be contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond with their full name and mailing address to be sent to the promotion team for prize send out.  If a response is not received in the given time frame, a new winner will be selected.  SFIR is not responsible for lost prizes.




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Special thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as to the Harlequin Books team for the copy for review.  (THANK YOU!)  For more information on this title, the author, the series, the publisher, THIS TOUR, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title just celebrated its book birthday August 21st, 2018, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

RRR presents... LEO'S WAR by Patricia Murphy - AUTHOR Q&A + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.


Today, we're joining Rachel's Random Resources for a stop along their current tour featuring a work of Children's Historical Fiction.  It takes place during the Nazi invasion of Italy and is based on a true story of one of the war's unsung hero's.  Curious?  I know I was, so let's take a look, shall we?  Ready or not, here comes today's title in the spotlight...


by
Patricia Murphy
Poolbeg Press

About the book...
It’s 1943 and young Leo tries to protect his disabled sister Ruby as the Nazis invade Italy. After his mother is arrested, he turns to Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty to save them. But he is no ordinary priest. Known as ‘The Pimpernel of the Vatican’, the Monsignor is the legendary organizer of the Rome Escape Line. Soon Leo is helping out with this secret network dedicated to saving the lives of escaped prisoners of war, partisans and Jews. But as the sinister Nazi leader Kappler closes in on the network, can Leo and his sister stay out of his evil clutches?


AMAZON  US  |  UK



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Sounds good, right?
See...told you so...BUT WAIT!  There's more...
My stop along the tour isn't just a spotlight, intriguing as it may be, but a Q&A with the author herself!  So get ready to explore this work from the other side of the pen, and capture a more personal look at the person who penned it.  Ladies and gents, please welcome author Patricia Murphy!


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Q&A:  Author Patricia Murphy

If you had to describe your work in TEN WORDS or less, which of course is EXACTLY what I'm asking you to do, what would you say...

A dramatic roller-coaster of Good V Evil in Nazi-occupied Rome.
(I cheated with a couple of compound words!!)
 
 

Though I've not read Leo's War (yet...never say never), I gotta say, simply reading the synopsis gives me chills.  What made you choose this particular event to write about?  How did you first happen upon this "secret World War II hero"?
 
My nephew Sennan can take the credit for this one. He lives in Killarney in County Kerry and went to this famous school called The Monastery – “The Mon” for short. He asked me to come to speak to his class– boys all around 12 years old, about my novel Molly’s Diary, which is about the Easter Rising in 1916. It was the hundredth anniversary and my fictionalised account through the eyes of a young girl was having a “moment” and was a bestseller. Afterwards we were having photographs taken and his headmaster Colm Ó’Súilleabháin pointed to a giant mural of a tall priest behind us and said, “Behold the subject of your next book.”
It was Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, an old boy of the school who was basically the Irish Schindler, rescuing six and a half thousand Allied Prisoners-of-War, Partisans and Jewish people from the Nazis. The Vatican was officially neutral but behind the scenes the Monsignor set up The Rome Escape Line, orchestrating a massive game of hide-and-seek, concealing thousands of people in hideouts all over Rome. Some were in convents and monasteries; many were sheltered by ordinary Italians at great personal risk.

The Monsignor was quite a character, spoke German and Italian fluently and held three doctorates. He was also a master of disguise and became known as “The Pimpernel of the Vatican”.  I was hooked but I wasn’t quite sure how to tell the story of a priest, no matter how heroic. Luckily I had this image of the character of 12-year -old Leo, fiercely protective of his disabled sister Ruby and tormented by little Fascist bullies at his school.  Leo is funny, rebellious, and half-Jewish. Not remotely “holy” and sceptical about the ability of a “man in a dress” to take on the Nazis. I had an “in”. 
 
Even though it’s about a dark chapter in history, there is a lot of light, I hope. Leo is irreverent, determined to poke fun at the Nazis and the Monsignor is a total maverick, ingenious and brave. But he is a committed humanitarian, ready to rescue anyone who needs it. His message to Leo is, “it only takes one candle to put out the darkness. Be the light.” Despite the circumstances it’s a portrait of human goodness, not just the Monsignor but also thousands of others who fought so bravely in World War 2. It’s a testimony that even at the worst of times, you can see the best in people.
 
 

Image result for ban bullyingI noticed in your "about me" that much of your work and many of your causes deal with children, and sometimes more specifically those with disabilities.  Tell us, how were you called upon to help give them a voice?
 
When I was six at school, I was badly bullied by two girls in my class. Classic stuff – they took my lunch, called me a weirdo and made me do their homework. I fought back and made other friends but they didn’t stop. One day I made a mistake in Maths and as I had done their homework their answers were wrong too. But the teacher bizarrely accused me of copying them. Another girl stood up for me, then a few more spoke up. And that put a stop to the bullying. That girl’s bravery made a huge impression on me, that show of solidarity by my peers. I always felt it was important to stand up for the underdog after that. I am also the eldest of six, and as a big sister I was expected to take care of younger kids. It’s in your DNA if you are Irish!

I am fascinated by children and I naturally gravitated to subjects that affected them, particularly if they were disadvantaged. But I’ve also made documentaries about “the dark side”. I’ve spent a lot of time filming with criminals. And they are another misunderstood group. There are complex reasons why people end up on the wrong side of the law.

After a series about crime I was asked by Channel 4 to make a series about children born with disabilities. It was an amazing experience. I met so many extraordinary people. I became interested in portraits of human goodness, of people achieving against the odds. So many children born with disabilities are utterly astonishing. They have such drive and a will to live. They overcome the most daunting of obstacles. And yet they are often written off and misunderstood. Ruby is my tribute to so many of the amazing children I have met. And their families.
 
 
 
Image result for Vervain
Vervain
These are a few of YOUR favorite things!  Let's share!  What is your favorite...
...color? Blue
...season? Early summer as the trees come into leaf.
...food? Dark chocolate
...smell? Vervain – also known as wild hyssop. It is supposed to have magical properties.
...place to relax? South of France.
...author and/or book? Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice and James Joyce’s Ulysses.
...thing about writing?
I love everything about the writing process – the dawning of an idea, the immersion in character and plot, the honing and refining when editing. The pleasure of typing “The End”.  But the real magic happens when your book gets into the hands of the reader and you make a connection. Like when a child says they’ve read your book four times!  Or three generations of the one family pass on you book to each other. That’s really special.
 

If you weren't writing, or directing, given no limitations on ability or skill, what career would you have chosen?

Internationally acclaimed tap dancer.
 


Image result for Apple logoLast, but certainly not least, if you could share a few words of advice with your younger self, what would you say?

Around 1997, Steve Jobs is going to come back to this company called Apple. Beg steal or borrow the money but buy the shares! And don’t go dancing in Belfast on New Year’s Eve 2002, You’re going to regret damaging your foot.
 
Seriously -  hold the dream. And don’t waste time bellyaching and feeling sorry for yourself. Just pick yourself up and move on!
 
Thank you for your amazing questions! I really enjoyed answering them. I hope you get a chance to reach my book on your teetering pile. I love the energy and verve of your site! And I loved, loved that story about the 12 year-old Neveah Mosher reading 300 books a year. What a warrior!!




Thank you for your amazing answers!  Always a pleasure getting to know the minds behind the works!  😊



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About the author...




Patricia Murphy is the bestselling author of The Easter Rising 1916 – Molly’s Diary and Dan’s Diary – the War of Independence 1920-22 published by Poolbeg.
She has also written the prize-winning “The Chingles” trilogy of children’s Celtic fantasy novels.   Patricia is also an award winning Producer/Director of documentaries including Children of Helen House, the BBC series on a children’s hospice and Born to Be Different Channel 4’s flagship series following children born with disabilities. Many of her groundbreaking programmes are about children’s rights and topics such as growing up in care, crime and the criminal justice system. She has also made a number of history programmes including Worst Jobs in History with Tony Robinson for Channel 4 and has produced and directed films for the Open University.

Patricia grew up in Dublin and is a graduate in English and History from Trinity College Dublin and of Journalism at Dublin City University. She now lives in Oxford with her husband and young daughter.

SITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK 1 | 2




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Giveaway to win a £30 Amazon Gift Voucher
 (Open to UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.





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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as to author Patricia Murphy for indulging my questions. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, or the author, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today! Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun...


Until next time, remember....if it looks good, READ IT!






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