Recommendations and Reviews

I shine the author spotlight on Donna Erickson this week. I highlighted Donna and her book: No -Hassle Publishing: An Author’s Guide to Today’s Changing Industry a few months ago. If  I had known about Donna’s book prior to beginning my own self-publishing journey, I could have saved hours of research! Learn how Donna’s book might help you! Read on!

A must-have guide for the novice writer, the book contains a wealth of information. Authors learn everything about publishing. Topics include choosing a publisher, signing contracts, and purchasing an ISBN. Lastly, it gives insider advice on what to avoid. This booklet saves money in the long run by eliminating hours of research. Want to avoid costly mistakes? Read the book!

Book Links:

• Amazon link
• You Tube Video Trailer:

Donna Erickson Bio:

Donna J. Erickson has owned A Flair For Writing, a professional writing/editing service, for more than 25 years. She is listed in the Marquis Who’s Who of American Woman, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in the World. Donna received an Award for Excellence from Riverside Publishing, and an Over the Top Blog Award from Creative Chronicles. Articles about her company have been featured in The Patriot Ledger, The Enterprise, and Mariner Newspapers. She has been a radio guest on the nationally syndicated program, Dresser After Dark with Mike Dresser, blogtalkradio’s Conversations Live! and on WMSX-AM and WATD-FM.

Donna edited thirteen published books. Erickson is the author of No-Hassle Publishing: An Author’s Guide to Today’s Changing Industry. She launched a subsidiary, A Flair For Writing – Publishing Services. This business helps self-publishing authors worldwide who want an alternative to vanity presses. The publishing division offers exceptional support and customer service. It includes free promotion to authors; quality in-house services, rather than outsourced to foreign countries; a full array of adjunct services; and value pricing.

Connect with Donna Erickson:

• Good Reads:
• Facebook Author Page:
• Linkedin:
• Author website:
• Blog The Author’s Corner:

Visit Donna’s links, buy her book, and begin on your own writing journey! Since you’re visiting, consider leaving a review or a comment. Despite my research, I grabbed one! Never too old to learn!

Connect with me:

Let’s connect! I’m on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. I look forward to meeting you! I love to hear book recommendations or whatever else you want to discuss. Want to talk submarines? Nuclear Power? Books? I have a ton of interests. Don’t be shy! Leave a comment! I appreciate shares and likes, too!

The In Between!

The In Between

By Catherine Converse

My Review

I had the opportunity to do an author spotlight on Catherine Converse and her YA paranormal novels The In Between and Fade To Silver, a few months ago on my blog. As I read the material for my spotlight, the concept of the book intrigued me and I put her book in my TBR pile. I got the book in January and read it in a couple of weeks. Here are my thoughts about it!

The Review:

The In Between introduces us to Adie, a high school senior with a promising future in soccer. Adie just happens to have the extraordinary gift of dreaming about murders before they happen. She is recruited by an organization – the IPA – to become a Visionary and have her dreams interpreted and acted upon to prevent the murders.

As Adie settles into her new life – deep underground in IPA’s headquarters – she is paired with another Visionary named Dannika. Together, the two slowly forge a bond and work together to help prevent more killings. A shadowy figure who seems to anticipate their intervention in his plans and who threatens their lives, becomes the focus of their work. That is as far as I will go describing the story so I won’t spoil it!

I found the story to be new and refreshing. The characters grew throughout the book and I liked the way Catherine gave them more personality as the story progressed. The introduction of romantic interests adds a dimension, but there were some awkward moments with them such as the first meeting between Jeff (the IPA recruiter) and Adie. Nonetheless, the relationships evolve and become an integral part of the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed The In Between and I bought the second book in the series, Fade To Silver (which I am reading now). Bravo to Catherine Converse!

My rating:

4.5 Stars!!!

Another week and another author spotlight! Today we shine the light on author Genta Sebastian and her contemporary thriller The Boxer Shorts Rebellion.

The Boxer Shorts Rebellion tells the story of one teen’s terrifying experiences in high school and on the internet. Nick Clements and his best friend, Penny are besieged by bullies when a rumor gets started that he is gay. Things deteriorate when one of the bullies turns out to be a psychotic killer. CAUTION: People bullied in their teens report being triggered by this story. The novel contains language that is frank, and portrays brutal, even horrific behavior at times. This book is intended for mature readers and is not recommended for children or the very sensitive.

Book Links:

• ebook:
• paperback:

Author Bio:

Genta Sebastian now lives in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, but was born in Kansas and grew up in California. Once a professional storyteller, and now a retired educator, she has authored a wealth of novels and short stories in anthologies, one of which won a Lambda Award in 2007. Her newest novel is The Boxer Shorts Rebellion, a suspense filled thriller.

Connect with Genta:

• Good Reads – http://www.goodreads.com/GentaSebastian
• Facebook Personal Page – http://www.facebook.com/genta.sebastian
• Twitter: GentaSebastian

Visit Genta’s links and read her book, Since you’re there, leave her a review! I know she will appreciate it!

For I Am Zeus!

This was a different kind of read for me, but I must say I enjoyed reading and reviewing For I am Zeus: A Collection of Plays About Greek Mythology! Read on to discover my thoughts on Crystal Smith-Connelly’s play.

For I Am Zeus: A Collection of Plays About Greek Mythology

For I Am Zeus: A Collection of Plays About Greek Mythology by playwright Crystal Smith-Connelly. I am not normally a reader of plays, but I gave this book a shot. The snappy dialogue, irreverent humor, and refreshing take on Zeus and other figures of Greek mythology pleasantly surprised me. I laughed at Zeus and his antics and at the responses from his targets for seduction. The plays were entertaining and kept me interested as I read though them.

While I would prefer to see the plays on a stage, reading them was still quite satisfying. I will say that if read straight through, they could be somewhat redundant – mostly because Zeus has only one thing on his mind!

You can find out more about Crystal Smith-Connelly on her website about paranormal things and on here Amazon Author page! You can also find out more about her other plays (she has written more than 50) on her Amazon page, too!

If you have seen one of Crystal Smith-Connelly’s plays or read this collection of plays, please consider leaving a review. It helps authors become better writers when they know what their readers think. I know she would love to hear from you and find out your thoughts about her work!

My rating: 4 stars!

Connect with me:

Are you on social media? I’m on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, so find me and say hi! I enjoy meeting new friends and making connections. Let’s start a conversation and talk about books, reviews, or just about anything else!

I have turned on the author spotlight for this week and today’s featured author is Sonia Taylor Brock! Sonia is an Atlanta-area author, so it is my pleasure to highlight another Georgia writer!!

Sonia’s urban fantasy book I am highlighting today is The Inheritance of a Swamp Witch.

The first in the Swamp Witch series, this story takes place in the Swamps of Southern Louisiana. Told in the Cajun dialect, it is about the adventures of a young man into the surprising world of the supernatural. He is shocked to learn that the world he has been accustomed to is not what it seems. In fact, nothing is what it seems. He discovers Witches, Dragons, Trolls, Fairies and Angels are only the tip of the iceberg.

Author Bio:

Sonia Taylor Brock, Author currently self published, has written two books, THE INHERITANCE OF A SWAMP WITCH and A WITCH’S WELCOME. Both of THE SWAMP WITCH series, the books are the result of a wonderful conglomeration of Cajun Creole culture and bringing legends of old into a modern focus in this urban fantasy. New twists on the creation of Vampires, Were creatures, Angels, Trolls, Titans and magic and how they mesh with today’s world where humans understand The One God and the power of prayer. These books use humor and adventure to tell the story.

She has also written a series of short stories that revolve around the main character of THE SWAMP WITCH series and how she affects changes in the destiny of the people she meets. Sonia has worked with several publications throughout her career such as The Cullman Times, Creative Loafing Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Facility Safety Management Magazine, Galz Magazine and published articles in Trade Publications as a Marketing Professional throughout career.  Sonia is a colorful person and characterizes her life development as constantly evolving and never ending. She refuses to be old and professes to have a young mind even it does seem to forget more things now. She loves to Live, Love, Laugh, Dream and dance in the rain. Sonia currently lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area with her Husband James and her daughters and grandson.

Connect with Sonia Taylor Brock:

• Facebook Author Page:
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/SoniaTBrock
• Author website:

Book Links:

• Good Reads:
• Amazon link:
• Barnes and Noble:

Sonia Taylor Brock has written and published the second book of the Swamp Witch series. Entitled A Witch’s Welcome, I have included the cover photo below.

Book Links:

• Amazon.com:

Visit Sonia’s links, check out her books, buy them, read them, and leave a review! I know she would appreciate it!

Today, I put on my reviewer’s hat and present my thoughts on Bella Harte’s YA paranormal novel Scarlett Phoenix.

Synopsis:

Scarlett Paige is just a regular teenager until her parents suddenly decide move to back to America after living in England for the last 17 ½ years. Thrust into a new school, a new town and a whole new way of life, things can’t seem to get any worse until her 18th birthday arrives.

Her world as she knows it is irrevocably changed by a set of life threatening complications when she discovers her true identity. That she is The Phoenix the only one of her kind, a hybrid human being with supernatural powers beyond mortal imagination. But she is untrained, and unable to use her mystical powers without guidance and training from The Seraphoenix Angels.

Worse still, two mysterious and powerful Angel brothers are looking for her. One to save her and one to kill her, who will win?

Scarlett finds herself amidst a battle that’s been waged since the beginning of time, as she discovers the disturbing truth that Angels aren’t always good! One brother has a terrible plan to rid the world of humanity, while the other strives to save it and Scarlett is caught smack in the middle as both the Angels need her Phoenix powers to accomplish their goals.

Will she become a pawn in their schemes, as she is thrown into total chaos and plunged into an entirely different future and one that is utterly unexpected?

There are fatal consequences she never saw coming. Beings she never knew existed, and homicidal demon creatures that she wished never existed at all, are conspiring to change her life forever!

My Review:

The synopsis lured me into the world of Scarlett Phoenix and her destiny. The story opens on plans for Scarlett’s birthday. Scarlett and her family recently relocated from England to New England. That means a new school for Scarlett – complete with rivals her mother invites to her party. Why am I telling all of this? Because of the party and things that happen there, Scarlett awakens to her destiny. I will not spoil the story by revealing her destiny, but it leads her on an adventure with the Angels. Some of those Angels are her Guardians. However, there is one Angel – the brother of one of her guardian Angels – who desires her for another, much more sinister purpose. What will she do?

Bella Harte has created a new and refreshing take on Angels. She created memorable characters, and magical events. The ending captures the essence of love, loss, and rebirth. Her version of the beginning of Time, the fall in the Garden of Eden, and the consequences of that event that stretches from Eden to Scarlett Phoenix in today’s world makes this a compelling read. I look forward to the rest of this series!

My rating – 4 Stars!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review. Opinions about this book are strictly my own!

Connect with Bella:

Find Bella Harte on her Amazon Author Page or her website! Since you’re there anyway, please consider leaving a review, too! I know Bella would appreciate it!

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. Find me and let’s connect!