Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Knowing is not Enough: Guest Post and Giveaway




'Knowing is not enough'
by Patricia Walker Chatman



Quick Facts                                        
Release Date: January 12, 2014
Genre: Fiction (Romance)
Formats to buy: Book (Hard Copy) and ebook (Kindle)




Book Synopsis


"Till death do us part" comes a lot faster than Alex expects. Her husband, Jake, is very much alive, but they are apart as two married people can get. 

Jake has cheated on Alex yet again, but this time, public betrayal is more than she can stomach or ignore. Alex can't defend or justify staying in a marriage marred by infidelity and elaborate lies anymore, so she decides finally to deal with the reality of her life; it's a mess. 

After seven years of marriage, 40-year-old Alex is a newly single woman who hasn't been without a man since college. Before embarking on a new relationship, she must take time to figure out why she is constantly attracted to men who are emotionally unavailable. 

Through the help of friends and family Alex learns painfully at times, that before she can attract a "real man” she must first become a "real 
woman".










Excerpt:
PROLOGUE

Happily-ever-after ended sooner than I’d expected.

Women are the only people who can find truth in a lie. Especially when it comes to the men in our lives. I conned myself into believing our lies were true. To the outside world we had the perfect marriage, but all houses look good from the curb. Our marriage, not unlike any other, lived amid accusations and disappointments. Then it hits you, somewhere between washing dishes and folding clothes—is this all there is for me?


I didn’t know the answer to that. Wish I did. What I did know was happiness would never exist for me in this union.
It was time. Neither one of us would get what we needed to stay in this marriage from words alone. I didn’t have the passion or the energy to do anything about us. Not anymore. It was time to let go of the lie and embrace reality. Jake was being written out of my story. Now all there was left to do was tell him.
I invited him back to our, soon to my house. I sat down at the kitchen table, reflecting about how we’d argued over the buying that very piece of furniture. Dressed in clothing I’d picked out for his birthday, Jake pulled out a chair and joined me.
I examined his eyes in search of the love I knew a century ago. Initially, separating for a while seemed to be a good idea. Looking at him, I’m not so sure anymore. He appeared to be a new person, different, from the man I’d known. We both have lived six months of life apart. Considering all he achieved with other women living in the same house, I can only imagine what or whom he’s gotten into without me. Starting over would mean getting to know this man, accept his lies, and his mistakes. I had absolutely no desire to do that.
I said, “Our lives are such a mess. Let’s just get this over with.”
“I’m not going to argue with you Alex. I know what it is, but I don’t think divorce is the answer. You need to try to forgive me.”
“For what?” I got up and poured myself a cup of coffee. “Why would I do that with someone who doesn’t love me?” I returned to my seat next to him. He frowned. “You misinterpreted what I said. I didn’t mean I don’t love you at all.”
“I’m confused. Exactly what does not love you mean? You either love me or you don’t, and you clearly said you didn’t.” I took a sip. “Am I missing something?”
Jake made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “I only meant the romantic love I felt for you is gone, not that I don’t love you. Of course I love you.”
“Do you see,” I waved my finger, “those kind of statements only make sense to anybody with a penis? I love you enough to live in the same house with you, but not enough to touch you?”
“Don’t twist my words Alex. I think marriage counseling could help us find what’s missing.”
I quickly lost patience with him. “Okay—again, maybe it’s me, what exactly did we lose? Considering you never stopped dating.” I threw my hands up in exasperation. “I’m so tired of us. You can’t misplace what we never had.”
“So you don’t even want to try?”I didn’t meet his eyes. “Jake—you cheated on me days before our wedding. These wounds aren’t healing anymore. I’m carrying them and it’s causing permanent mental damage now. I can’t keep doing this—I won’t.” I paused. “Nobody walks around raindrops Jake . . . not even you.”
“Alex, just think about it. We’ve got to much invested in this, but if it’s what you want me to do—I’ll sign the papers to file right now.”
I stood up and walked out of the kitchen.
“Where are you going?”
“To get a pen.”



The Author


For over twenty years, Patricia Walker Chatman has worked in the human service industry. In 2010, Patricia accepted a Faculty Associate position facilitating Financial Management for Human Services and various Business Topics. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources with a specialization in Training and Development. A Master Degree in Public Policy and Administration, and anticipates completing her doctorate in Public Policy Administration, May 2014. Knowing Is Not Enough is Patricia’s first novel.






Find more about her at:






GUEST POST by Patricia W.C
Good Things and Bad Things about Getting Divorced



Imagine your surprise, all those years sleep walking through your life together; liking yourself to America’s favorite upper-middle class black family “The Huxtable’s”. 
Then “it” happens and it feels like a punch in the gut. Those rose colored glasses you’d worn for all those years were darkened by the truth you’re not the Huxtables. You’re the Simpson’s, and Homer’s been unfaithful. In the words of Princess Diana, “there were three people in our marriage. 
It got a bit crowded.” The pretense that shrouded you from reality, and lulled you into a blissful ignorance was cracking. I had been betrayed by the person I stood next to in front of God, family and friend vowing to let no man put us asunder. There was no turning back, adultery was our new normal and I had a decision to make. I could either let this incident tear what we had built apart or I, not unlike most women, could stay and painstakingly work through our issues. Forgiving and forgetting wasn’t coming easy for me. I couldn’t get past the betrayal and I didn’t know how or where to begin to rebuild trust. 
I remained in the marriage and struggled to move forward for a few years. I probably could have done it indefinitely, if for nothing else just to torture him, but as fun as that could’ve been for me in the short run, it would’ve been misery in the long. 
So, I went on a self-imposed time out, compartmentalized my life, and took a hard look at how our decision to go our separate ways would affect our lives and the life of our child as we transitioned into a new role of co-parenting. Where we didn’t succeed at marriage, could we learn to communicate better, trust one another’s judgment, cultivate and nurture the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual growth of our child? 
The bad thing about getting divorced is facing the unpleasant truth about you, the marriage and your life. A house divided cannot stand, and we were as divided as a couple could get. I believed, and still do, kids need two whole parents, even if that means they have to separate to be whole. There are no good things about divorce.  
The only positive about getting divorce is when you can put your own pain aside and focus on what’s best for your children. You will be selfless, putting the needs of your child before your own, and that becomes your new truth. 



GIVEAWAY:
International. One winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


FOLLOW THE TOUR:

April 16: Black Lion Tours Blog: Interview
April 17: Little Black Notebook: Guest Post
April 18: Mythical Books: Guest Post

April 21: Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews: Spotlight
April 22: Spiced Latte Reads: Review
April 23: 
April 25: Deal Sharing Aunt: Review

April 28: Vanilla Moon: Spotlight
April 29: Karen's Killer Book Bench: Spotlight
April 30: I know that Book: Guest Post
May 1:  My Devotional Thoughts: Review
            
May 2: Books and Fandom: Review

Monday, April 28, 2014

Review and giveaway: Killing Secrets

...Some secrets are better left dead...




Killing Secrets by K. L Docter



Quick Facts                                        
Release Date: April 17, 2014                 
Genre: Romantic Suspense                                              
Formats to buy: Kindle, Nook, PDF, Kobo, mobi, epub, pdf, paperback. 





Book Synopsis
Some secrets are better left dead.

Rachel James’ ex-husband is released from prison determined to reclaim her and her little girl — the child is his key to controlling the James fortune. Frightened, Rachel flees to Denver with the child who hasn’t uttered a word since her daddy went to prison.

Contractor Patrick Thorne wants nothing to do with another of his parents’ charity cases. He failed his own wife so abysmally she took her own life as well as his unborn son’s. After two years, it’s time to concentrate on the bid he’s won and the saboteur trying to destroy his construction firm.  

There is no room for trust in either of their hearts. But trust is all that will untangle the secrets that dominate their lives, free a little girl of her silent prison, and save them all from a serial killer who stands too close.





PURCHASE:




Excerpt:

“I’ve only filed three police reports, but I’m sure I can lay half a dozen more attacks at this bugger’s door.” He ran his hand through his hair to corral his frustration. “What about fingerprints on the hammer? Have you identified anything in the clothes left behind?” Somehow, the single untouched wall with women’s clothing stapled all over it like some kind of macabre trophy wall was more disturbing than the vicious holes his saboteur left everywhere else.

“It’s one of your own hammers kept in a tool box with a broken lock. Anybody could have handled it. I’ll be surprised if they find a viable print, although the clothes might reveal something.” Jack heaved a long suffering sigh. “We’ve barely had time to catalogue the evidence since you called us this morning. We’re not exactly sitting on our thumbs, no matter what you think.”“What I think is it’s becoming more and more difficult to keep my problems under wraps.”

“Well, you wouldn’t know it after reading that sweet, full-page feature the Denver Post ran on you yesterday.” Jack picked up the newspaper section sitting on the corner of Patrick’s desk and read the headline aloud, “‘No Thorns in Thorne Enterprise’s Rosy Future’. According to this you’re ‘a new contractor barely in his thirties with a Midas touch who’s made it to the major leagues with the multi-million dollar, upscale Villas at Three Oaks Ranch’. You must have really schmoozed that reporter, bro.”

“The headline would have read something radically different,” Patrick replied sourly, “if she’d dug a little deeper and uncovered the truth.”

Angry again at the thought of what he stood to lose, he reached across the desk, snatched the newspaper out of Jack’s hand, and threw it into a wire basket for his office manager, Jane Brown, to file. “You know what I’ve been dealing with these last few months,” he said. “Vandals tag building sites. Supplies go missing. Equipment breaks down.

“But this is different, Jack. You saw those walls at Southgate. This isn’t kids on a lark, pissing out territorial boundaries.”

“I agree. But as my captain pointed out, I’m a little close to the situation and I’m not on the case.”

Patrick barked a harsh laugh. “What does this guy have to do before the department takes this seriously? Leave a dead body?”

“It might take just that,” Jack retorted. “Right now we’re up to our armpits in what’s rolled downhill from the mayor’s office after the kidnapping of that councilman’s daughter last week.”

If it weren’t for the radios blasting all day on his sites Patrick wouldn’t keep up with local events but even he’d heard about the coed who’d disappeared while he was in Cheyenne. “She’s been gone, what, four days? Do you have any leads?”

“We don’t even have a ransom note. After a co-worker dropped her off at her apartment complex, it’s like the girl disappeared into thin air.”

Patrick saw Jack’s jaw tighten, a sign of the increasing stress he’d been under in recent months. “You think she’s a victim of the Angel Killer, don’t you?”

The local news media had dubbed the serial killer with the name because of the angel tattoo he’d burned into each of the girls he brutally killed. He remembered Jack’s fury, as one of the detectives on the task force, over the leak of that critical piece of information.






The Author

Karen Docter writes two different kinds of romance novels....Contemporary Romantic Comedy w/a Karen Docter: Romance...With a Kick of Humor!
Romantic Suspense w/a K.L. Docter: Women hunted by killers...men who'd die to protect them. 

Karen's contemporaries are cute romantic comedies. She loves writing about real men and women with dreams and goals that don't allow for a relationship just so she can throw them in each other's path...with a tickle and a smile. Her romantic suspense novels (as K.L. Docter) are also filled with romance, although the dangers the hero and heroine face are intense, usually because a serial killer is bent on ending one or both of their lives before they can fall in love. These are psychological, woman-in-jeopardy stories.
Karen's an award winning author, a four-time Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist, and won the coveted Kiss of Death Romance Writers Daphne du Maurier Award Category (Series) Romantic Mystery Unpublished division. When she's not saving her characters from death and destruction or helping them fall in love, she loves camping and fishing with her family, reading, gardening & cooking.
If she can do most of those things over a campfire, all the better!


Find more about her at:




Other books by Karen Docter:
(press on the cover to go to goodreads)

     





MY THOUGHTS:



This is my first Romantic Suspense book ever. I wasn't very sure at the beginning but honestly, I  enjoyed Killing Secrets very much. 
I super liked the mix between suspense and romance because I didn't know what was coming next. 

It is a book full of twists and turns. There is a lot of action going on so it keeps you entertained. This fast pace combined with a nice and catching writing made a great story.


About characters:

Rachel is awesome. She is brave and has a lot of spirit.

The villain is evil, as it should be. I'm a tad bit tired of those villains that are not so bad and you get a little attached... but this was not the case.

I felt bad for Amanda (Rachel's daughter) who hasn't spoken a word for months since her father went to jail. Her story is a nice addition.

The supporting characters were so interesting and perfectly developed as well. I want to know more and I've read somewhere that there might be a second book involving some of them (I'll be reading it for sure!)



Plot:

I liked how the circumstances lead to their encounter, those sad situations that ended up with them crossing paths and also how the romance unfolded.

The truth is that Rachel and Patrick's romance is so sweet but there is also tension so you want to know what happens next.


What I didn't like:

What prevented me from giving this book 5 stars were 2 things:


  • I'm not a huge fan of Patrick (there was something about him that felt like he was making the same mistakes over and over) 
  • and that the time frame could have been longer. Everything happened in around a month and I am a hopelessly romantic so I believe that for feelings to be true, they need a longer period to develop. (that's my humble opinion!)

Anyway, this was a great read and whether you are a fan of the genre or are just getting to know it, you'll enjoy it.




PURCHASE:




GIVEAWAY:

This giveaway is international. There will be 6 winners.
Prizes:
- 1 $50 Amazon GC
- 5 e- copies of KILLING SECRETS by K. L Docter.




a Rafflecopter giveaway





FOLLOW THE TOUR:




April 17: My Devotional Thoughts: Top 10 List

April 18: A Writer's Life: Spotlight

April 21: Little Black Notebook Review

April 22: Mythical Books: Interview

April 23: Bookworm Lisa: Spotlight
             Roxy's Reviews: Review

April 24: Reviews by Molly: Review
             Cheryl's Book Nook: Spotlight
             MsRomanticReads: Spotlight

April 25: Books and Fandom: Spotlight
             Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews: Spotlight

April 28: I know that Book: Review
             Vanilla Moon: Spotlight

April 30: Deal Sharing Aunt: Review

Friday, April 25, 2014

Review: Shatter Me



SHATTER ME (Shatter Me #1)
by Tahereh Mafi




BLURB:


Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.



The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.






PURCHASE:






MY THOUGHTS:

4.5 birds





Writing:

The first sentence was perfect. It was all I needed to know this is my kind of book.

"I've been locked up for 264 days"

The writing is delightful. It has parts with some sort of poetic style and metaphors. Awesome.

The chapters were short. Always useful for the "one more chapter" excuse.


I liked how the author mingles what Juliette says with her thoughts and true feelings.

"You can't touch me". I whisper. I'm lying, is what I don't tell him. He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him. Please touch me, is what I want to tell him. 
But things happen when people touch me. Strange things. Bad things. Dead things.

Characters:

Personalities are well defined. 

I liked that Juliette's personality is so moulded by the background with her parents. I enjoyed how much she changed through the story, first being so scared and sad, not being able to trust anyone  and then becoming so confident and kick a**.

James is funny and cute. Benji is awesome, he made me giggle a lot.

Warner intrigues me, eventhough he is mean and cruel, there must be a redeemable quality in him.

Adam... he is nice, sweet and caring. I like him but something is missing.


Plot:

I like the premise very much. It was such an entertaining and unique plot. 
Thrilling. I was intrigued by the fact that Juliette knew Adam. I liked how that turned out.
The love story is sweet and sexy.


Cover: 
You can see it. I'm in love with every detail of it.


To sum up:

Definitely an outstanding first book for a series.
I have Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) in my shelves already so I'll be reviewing it soon.






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