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A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Monday, December 28, 2015


Scrooge, the most miserly of all misers, is shown the true meaning of Christmas by four ghostly visitors - his partner Marley, and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet To Come. By Christmas day, he has learnt his lesson and is willing to enter into the spirit of things.

Goodreads Summary

I read this book after Christmas, ironically. It's a quick and fun read.  I love older books because the vocabulary contained within them is refreshing and I enjoy learning a new word or two and reconnecting with others that I don't usually see or use.  Scrooge is a grumpy, older fellow.  He has two words to say about Christmas "Bah Humbug."  Not even his cheery, happy-go-lucky nephew can shake him into Christmas bliss.  Scrooge's partner died roughly seven years ago and suffers in the afterlife due to his greedy, conniving ways.  He cares about Scrooge and doesn't want him to end up like him.  Three ghosts visit Scrooge showing him Christmases past, present, and future.  The author illustrates each and every interaction (this book is a little wordy, but good for the imagination) to the point where the reader can picture the events and characters in the book. 

Scrooge's character reminded me of simpler, happier times.  He is a grouch, but he can be reformed.  I loved how he turned his life around in the end and his reactions to the ghosts were perfect.  I liked how the book depicted how someone can change his life around and live happily.  I have to admit I am a sucker for happy endings.  This book is a fun read for all ages (even if some readers need to be read to).

5 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Dumplin by Julie Murphy

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.


Goodreads Summary

Willowdean Dickson is fat, but happy.  She knows that she is pretty in her own way, but doesn't seem to expect anyone else-much less the handsome Bo-to realize.  I liked how the author included Will's self-demeaning thoughts as well as her quiet confidence because it made her feel like more of a real person to me.  Bo has his own difficulties in life to work out and Ellen has a few complexities of her own.  The author is excellent at developing and making the reader care about the character.  I really enjoyed Millie's go-get-'em attitude.  The Dolly Parton theme was a fun addition and added a meaningful aspect to the story.

I really liked how Will kept her aunt's memory alive.  It's difficult to lose someone you can identify with and Will was concerned about becoming her very heavy aunt later in life.  However, her aunt is a lot more than her appearance.  She is the one who instilled Will's confidence and depth into her.  The one problem I had with the book was that I wished Willow had defended her fellow peers when they were being picked on or bullied more.  On the other hand, I can understand not wanting to draw attention to oneself.  Overall, this book would be a great read for young adult/teen readers.

4 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Hotel Ruby by Suzanne Young

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Stay tonight. Stay forever.

When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she’s grateful for the detour. Just months after their mother’s death, Audrey and her brother, Daniel, are on their way to live with their grandmother, dumped on the doorstep of a DNA-matched stranger because their father is drowning in his grief.

Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions—including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey’s pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn’t have an invite. Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel’s dark past.

The more Audrey learns about the new people she’s met, the more her curiosity grows. She’s torn in different directions—the pull of her past with its overwhelming loss, the promise of a future that holds little joy, and an in-between life in a place that is so much more than it seems…

Welcome to the Ruby.
 

Goodreads Summary

I finished this book within three days of starting it.  Audrey and her family had recently suffered a terrible loss; her mother passed away at a young age from a stroke.  On the way to dropping off his children to live with their aunt, their father stops for a night at the Hotel Ruby.  The reader will appreciate the elaborate scenes and intricate details of the Hotel.  It is fun to explore the Hotel with Audrey and to discover what the mysterious "party" is all about.  I really enjoyed how the author left subtle clues as to the intentions behind the Hotel and its true history throughout the book.  If you're paying attention, you might figure out what is going on!

Audrey was a nice enough character.  She made a few dumb decisions and I was surprised that she was ready to fall in love after a long term boyfriend and losing her mother.  I liked her loyalty to her father and brother.  Elias was a handsome enough love interest.  I didn't like his initial intentions towards Audrey and thought he should have helped her more.  I found it surprising that her father and brother didn't spend much time around her given the circumstances.  Overall, I did enjoy the mystery and the book.  This book would be ideal for young adult/teen readers.

4 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Evangelicals for Life!

Tuesday, December 22, 2015
EFL Button

Clear your schedules January 21–22, 2016, because Focus on the Family and The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission will host Evangelicals for Life, a major pro-life conference held in conjunction with the March for Life event.

The event will take place in Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Evangelicals from across the country will gather to hear from leading speakers, such as David Platt, Russell Moore, Jim Daly, Kelly Rosati, and others—to be equipped and encouraged to become a voice for life! The event will also be simulcast for FREE so individuals, churches, and organizations from coast-to-coast and around the world can take part.

Speakers will encourage evangelicals to engage the culture on issues of abortion and end-of-life decisions, and the event will affirm the evangelical belief in the sanctity of life, that every life matters to God and is created in His image.

For more information, visit http://evangelicals.life/.


Readers of this blog will receive 15% off their registration by using the code FocusLife.





Russell Moore will be speaking at Evangelicals for Life. He is President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is a theologian, ethicist, frequent cultural commentator, and author of several books. In the guest post below, he speaks to the importance of hosting the conference in the midst of the cultural battle for human dignity.


Why We’re Hosting the Evangelicals For Life Conference

By Russell Moore

As many Christians sat at their computer and watched a casual dinner conversation over the price of dismembered children, a lot of us probably thought: “But what can I do about this?” This is a question I hear often from pro-life evangelicals. Many Christians are utterly convinced in their heart of the personhood and dignity of the unborn, yet don’t know how to faithfully effectively advocate for life.

It’s important to understand that the cultural battle for human dignity doesn’t begin on Capitol Hill or on CNN. It begins in your family, in your local church, and in your neighborhood. In fact, many of the people we know most vulnerable to the abortionist’s rhetoric are not actually pro-choice, they’re just scared, scared to scandalize a church with their secret. The false gospel of the abortion clinic, which says, “We can make all your trouble go away for you,” is overwhelmingly seductive.

What these people need more than a lesson in embryonic development is to have the Gospel preached to their conscience. This means much more than simply offering “The Romans Road” or prompting a sinner’s prayer; it means speaking directly with the message of Jesus’ complete sovereignty of the universe, his righteous indignation on the murder of the unborn, and most importantly, his complete absorption of God’s wrath on the cross, and his invitation to mercy and fellowship and the imputed righteousness of the Son of God.

The Gospel disarms the appeal of the abortion clinic because it offers truth with love, judgment with mercy, and righteousness with grace. The consciences around us don’t believe what they’re telling themselves. They’re scared and confused. Shine a light on their conscience, and then present the Gospel of reconciliation.

Moreover, the pro-life movement has set an example worthy of our imitation when it comes to practical, holistic mercy ministry. For over 40 years since Roe v. Wade, those committed to defending unborn life have done much more than preach and teach; they have welcomed the scared, the vulnerable, and the wounded and loved them. This has looked like the establishment of crisis pregnancy centers all around cities. It has looked like adoption advocacy and building a culture of adoption in local churches. It’s true that our pro-life witness has a long way to go, but we do not, thankfully, conform to the caricature that says we believe life “begins at conception and ends at birth.”

FOTF-EFL 

Questions like these are why I am excited to be a part of the Evangelicals For Life Conference in January. This conference exists to help evangelicals articulate a truly Christian doctrine on the dignity of all human life. Being pro-life, after all, means much more than being against abortion on demand; it means believing in the dignity of the elderly and infirm, and advocating for compassion and inclusion of the poor, the orphan, and the widow. No doctrine of human dignity that fails to speak to these cases is fully “pro-life.”

Sometimes Christians are encouraged to leave issues like this behind. Sometimes the fight for human dignity is portrayed as “culture war” baggage. For those of us that watched an executive from Planned Parenthood talk about the most valuable anatomy of dead children, we know this to be false. The stakes for human life and human dignity could not be higher, and the plight of those ignored by the world does not go unnoticed by our heavenly Father.

We have a Gospel word to speak to the abortionist and the unborn, to the orphan and those not considering adoption. Will you join me in Washington, on January 21-22, as we seek to speak this word?

This article was adapted from the original article posted on Russell Moore's website. This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

An Indecent Proposal 2: Promo and Giveaway!

Sunday, December 20, 2015
Title: The Agreement (An Indecent Proposal)
Authors: J.C. Reed & Jackie Steele
Released: December 16th, 2015
Genre: Mature New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance
350pp
Blurb:

Predictable. Boring. Safe.
That’s what life is supposed to be like. As the rightful heir to Waterfront Shore, I would gladly refuse my inheritance. I don’t want the money. I sure don’t want to have anything to do with its dark past. Except for the letters of my deceased mother, I would be willing to cut losses and move on and give up my rich lifestyle. But my stepfather expects me to marry. And then there is my new fiancĂ©.
My hot, fake fiancé.

Tall, handsome, mysterious.
That’s how Chase Wright is.
Unfortunately, he is not mine.
Unfortunately, too, the day I hired him, I signed an agreement.

When an innocent plan lands us engaged, none of us are prepared for the consequences. No one warned us that we could fall in love. Maybe The Agreement wasn’t such a good idea.

I should stay away from him and forget about our one night together.
Except he doesn’t want to….



a Rafflecopter giveaway


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Soundless by Richelle Mead

Friday, December 18, 2015

From Richelle Mead, the #1 internationally bestselling author of Vampire Academy and Bloodlines, comes a breathtaking new fantasy steeped in Chinese folklore. 

For as long as Fei can remember, there has been no sound in her village, where rocky terrain and frequent avalanches prevent residents from self-sustaining. Fei and her people are at the mercy of a zipline that carries food up the treacherous cliffs from Beiguo, a mysterious faraway kingdom. 

When villagers begin to lose their sight, deliveries from the zipline shrink and many go hungry. Fei’s home, the people she loves, and her entire existence is plunged into crisis, under threat of darkness and starvation.

But soon Fei is awoken in the night by a searing noise, and sound becomes her weapon.

Richelle Mead takes readers on a triumphant journey from the peak of Fei’s jagged mountain village to the valley of Beiugo, where a startling truth and an unlikely romance will change her life forever...

Goodreads Summary

I adored this book.  Fei and her community are deaf and going blind.  They have lived up in their mountain village for as long as they can remember and mined precious metals.  They depend on a zipline for food and the occasional contact with someone from the outside world.  Fei is an artist, an apprentice, and paints the days' goings-on.  She worries about her sister who is going blind and wants to find a way to make a difference in her community.  Li Wei, her childhood friend, inspires her to look outside her village when she begins to regain her hearing.  With his help and her own bravery, she makes it down the mountain and into an unfamiliar world.

Fei's character was fantastically wrought.  I loved how she felt "real."  The author didn't make her unrealistically brave and gave her quiet intelligence.  Li Wei was strong, caring, and kind.  I loved the descriptions and pictured the scenes in my mind.  The author created a strong emotional bond to the characters for me.  I really enjoyed how the whole plot came together.  This book is recommended to young adult/teen readers.

5 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Bloodcraft by Amalie Howard: Release Blitz and Giveaway!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015



Bloodcraft by Amalie Howard
Series: Bloodspell #2 
Genre: Upper YA/NA (mature content), Fantasy
Publication: December 15th, 2015


All magic has its price, and no one knows that better than Victoria Warrick. Gifted with a centuries-old blood curse, Tori has finally learned to master her blood’s demands and has emerged triumphant with Christian Devereux, a vampire overlord, at her side.

But the worst is yet to come …

In the infamous City of Lights, home to both the Witch Clans and the Vampire Council, Tori enrolls at the exclusive Belles Fontaines school in Paris, where she is faced with a devastating choice: choose Christian and be an outcast, or choose the coven and secure her place with the witches.

When the fate of the supernatural world is targeted by a sinister new threat, Christian and Victoria must unite their two warring species to defeat it. Their bond will be tested, twisted, and sorely weakened, and Tori will find herself in uncharted territory—a dangerous place to be when her blood’s magic has its own dark agenda.

But to save them all, she may have no choice but to invoke its deadly power.

PURCHASE
Amazon | Kobo | B&N

----------------------------------------------------

Book #1, Bloodspell



AVAILABLE ON

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Kobo

for 99¢!

________________________________________________________________

Excerpt
     With a frustrated growl, he gently but firmly separated their bodies, composing himself with a harsh breath. Victoria sighed and leaned back against the table, watching a muscle work in his jaw. It should be getting easier, but it only seemed to be getting harder—and riskier—for them to be together. Every touch, every look, every kiss drew them closer to the edge of the abyss from which there would be no return—one mistake and one of them would die. Victoria took his cool hands in hers.

     “I love you,” she said as his hands trembled in hers. Touching his cheek, she climbed off his lap, putting some space between them. Despite the distance, she could feel her blood churning wildly, tempting him, inciting him to take it, and she shivered at the volatility of it. Her blood’s siren call was near impossible to resist, and she knew how hard it was for him. He’d once told her that he’d risk the consequences of her blood’s appeal because he couldn’t deprive himself of never being able to touch her.

     Seeing the savage transformation in his face and the tips of teeth pressing into his lower lip, she wondered whether he still thought the same. Christian stood and kissed her fingers, and with the ever-present apology in his eyes, excused himself from the room. Victoria watched him leave, his long, lithe body loping with an easy grace across the back gardens into the forest beyond.

     The château sat at the edge of the Fontainebleau forest, which, as in the days of old, continued to fulfill its function as a royal hunting park, for Christian’s purposes anyway. She pressed a finger to her lips, the impression of his lingering on them. Sometimes she felt like the vampire, as if she were the one who couldn’t get enough of him. And most times, she didn’t know if those feelings were hers or those of her blood. Given the chance, her blood would devour Christian’s very essence until there was nothing left.

     It thrummed in her veins as if sensing her ominous thoughts, its hunger unabated and ever-present. It, too, was voracious and would consume anything to sate its dark thirst—even the one she loved. Victoria shivered, wrapping her arms about herself and staring toward the forest lost in thought. She wasn’t afraid of Christian or the fact that he was a vampire. After all, she was more of a monster than he could ever be.

________________________________________________________________

About the Author



AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island (Trinidad & Tobago) where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts.

An aspiring writer from a young age, Amalie’s poem “The Candle,” written at age twelve, was published in a University of Warwick journal. At fifteen, she was  a recipient of a Royal Commonwealth Society Essay Award (a global youth writing competition). A Colby College graduate, she completed simultaneous Honors Theses in both French and International Studies, and graduated Summa Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa. At Colby, she was cited for research and criticism in Raffael Scheck’s article, “German Conservatism and Female Political Activism in the Early Weimar Republic,” and his subsequent book, Mothers of the Nation. She also received a distinction in English Literature from the University of Cambridge (A-levels) as well as a certificate in French Literature from the Ecole Normale SupĂ©rieure in Paris, France. Traveling the globe, she has worked as a research assistant, marketing representative, teen speaker and global sales executive.

agold-authorShe is the author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller and a Seventeen Magazine Summer Read. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children. She is represented by the Liza Royce Agency and is a member of SCBWI.



__________________________________________________________________

Giveaway
  • Kindle Fire giveaway is open to US residents due to shipping restrictions. 
  • Paperback copies of BLOODSPELL & BLOODCRAFT are open to US and INT readers.
  • This giveaway is sponsored by Amalie Howard. 
  • Leading up to the release of BLOODCRAFT, more entries/options will be added to the rafflecopter to double your chances! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway








This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Dreaming Death Blog Tour


DREAMING DEATH
A Palace of Dreams Novel
J. Kathleen Cheney
Roc Trade Paperback | 432 Pages | February 2, 2016

In a stunning new series, J. Kathleen Cheney presents a world ruled by deep intrigue, psychic talents, and dangerous magic…

Roc Books’ brings you the first in the brand-new Palace of Dreams series, DREAMING DEATH (Roc Trade Paperback; $16.00; February 2, 2016) by J. Kathleen Cheney. To celebrate, we’re setting up a blog tour and would like to invite you to participate! Please choose one date (1/25-2/5) and a review, interview or giveaway—or a combination of all three!

All blog tour recipients will also receive part of an exclusive excerpt that will tie together to create a chapter out of the book—like a blog tour scavenger hunt!

More information about the book and author are below. I hope you can participate!

ABOUT DREAMING DEATH
Shironne Anjir’s status as a sensitive is both a gift and a curse. Her augmented senses allow her to discover and feel things others can’t, but her talents come with a price: a constant assault of emotions and sensations has left her blind. Determined to use her abilities as best as she can, Shironne works tirelessly as an investigator for the Larossan army.

A member of the Royal Family’s Guard, Mikael Lee also possesses an overwhelming power—he dreams of the deaths of others, sometimes in vivid, shocking detail and sometimes in cryptic fragments and half-remembered images.

Then a killer brings a reign of terror to the city, snuffing out his victims with an arcane and deadly blood magic. Only Shironne can sense and interpret Mikael’s dim, dark dreams of the murders. And what they find together will lead them into a nightmare…
--
Nita Basu
Publicity | Ace/Roc/DAW Books
375 Hudson Street, 5th Floor | New York, NY 10014
*Follow us on Instagram @berkleynal

DREAMING DEATH: A Palace of Dreams Novel
J. Kathleen Cheney
Roc Trade Paperback
$16.00 | 432 pages
ISBN: 9780451472939
February 2, 2016

PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF J. KATHLEEN CHENEY

“[A] masterpiece of historical fantasy.”
Library Journal

“Intriguing and fun, the mystery unfolds like a socially conscious tour through a cabinet of curiosities.”
Kirkus Reviews

Mesmerizing.”
Publishers Weekly

“Pulls readers in right off the bat.”
RT Book Reviews

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
J. Kathleen Cheney is the author of the Novels of the Golden City, including The Shores of SpainThe Seat of Magic, and The Golden City. Her short fiction has been published in such venues as Fantasy Magazine and Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and her novella “Iron Shoes” was a Nebula Finalist in 2010. She lives in Oklahoma, and you can visit her online at www.jkathleencheney.com.

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Bloodmoon Cover Reveal!

Monday, December 14, 2015






Synopsis:
Just months shy of her claiming at Carrowmore and fulfilling a centuries-old prophecy, werewolf Ashling Boru has stepped into her role as the Crimson Queen. She finally has the support of her pack and her love for Grey is stronger than ever.

But it’s not easy being queen. Ashling’s guardian, Baran, has been captured by the Dvergars, a family of evil wolves who will stop at nothing to possess Ashling’s power and destroy everything—and everyone—she loves. Ashling must unite the clans and build an army to stand against the Dvergars before it’s too late. Unfortunately, the Dvergars also have armies of the darkest creatures the world has ever known.
Shadows loom, growing ever larger as generations of pack secrets begin to unfold. Ashling’s people, the humans they protect, and Old Mother Earth herself all hang in the balance of Ashling’s choices. Will Ashling have to forsake her true love to save the world? And will she have the strength to do it?
Bloodmoon is the thrilling conclusion to the Bloodmark Saga.


Links: 
Bloodmark Saga Website: http://www.bloodmarksaga.com
Author Website: http://aurorawhittet.com 

Author Bio:


Aurora Whittet started out as a wild red-haired child in Minnesota dreaming up stories for her friends to read. Today, she has completed her first trilogy with the Bloodmark Saga. She is a national award-winning graphic designer in her day job. Aurora lives with her family in Minnesota.


Questions
Contact Aurora Whittet, aurora@bloodmarksaga.com 



This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Shadows of Angels by L.G. Rollins: Guest Post and Giveaway!

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Brick walls, Blank Pages, and Deseret Storms.
We all get there eventually. You work, create, dream, write, plan, organize, dream some more, write some more and then . . .
The ideas just dry up. Like a storm across the desert sand. Here one minute. Gone the next.
Here and gorgeous. Breath-taking. But still gone the minute you try to hold onto it.
Creativity is much like that. As an author I've had to work hard to capture those desert storms and find ways to keep the fleeting, darting thoughts and impressions that stumble through my mind constantly coming. I have found four keys that allow the ideas to never stop flowing.
Whether you're creativity takes you to writing a novel, building a bookshelf, or devising a new system's process, all creativity is essentially the same—you take unorganized ideas and put them together to form something that has never existed before now.
And to do that, you're going to want to know these four keys.
* Sleep 
              First, let's talk about sleep. Sleep is when your brain shuts down, turns off, and sorts through the events and experiences of the day. This is when your brain organizes the emotions and concepts it acquired while awake. While many of us do our best creating in the late hours of the night (until they blur with the extreme early hours of the next morning), whatever you do, don't forget to sleep! Without that time to organize and sort, your brain will quickly become like a computer in desperate need of de-fragmenting. And your ideas will run slow.
* Write It Down
              This is one of the single best keys on how to keep the ideas flowing. When you write down the ideas you have currently it does two things: first, it makes space in your mind to come up with new ideas, and two, it signals to your sub-conscious that you value creative ideas. Love the ideas you have right now? Want more creative ideas? Write them down! Prove to yourself that those ideas are important and make room for more.
* Be Creative, But in a Different Way
              Creativity is like a muscle. Sometimes it needs down-time. However, while a runner takes days off of pushing her leg muscles, she doesn't do it by sending extra time on the couch flipping channels. She takes that time off by lifting weights and strengthening her upper-body. Same for other forms of creating. Take time off of your normal creating and create something entirely different. I love to take a day off of writing and scrapbook, or create new arrangements of my favorite songs. This stretches your creative muscles in new ways and allows the other, well-worn synapses a needed break.
* A Novel Idea
              "You are what you eat" not only refers to your mouth and stomach, but your brain as well. Here's another one: "Put trash in, get trash out", and it's never more true than when we're talking about ideas. If you want the most creative, trending, edge-pushing ideas, you can't be living on a diet of old thoughts, last-year's buzz words, and what your college professor told you . . . nearly a decade ago. There are many, many brilliant minds out there, and a surprising lot of them have done something sensationally transcendent. That's right.
              They wrote a book.
              Which means you have a back-stage pass into their brain. How cool is that! You have a portal straight to their core thoughts and even a map on how they got there. If the last book you read was a text-book, try something fictional. If you love fiction, try a non-fiction for a change. Vary it up, just remember: want a bunch of creative, awesome ideas? Read a book!

Deseret storms don't hit as often as we might like, but our own creativity doesn't have to be so flighty. These four keys will change your 'here today, gone tomorrow' creativity to a never-ending stream of new ideas you can depend on.

Biography:

L. G. Rollins grew up in a far off land fighting dragons, stealing talismans, and traveling with dwarfs and elves. She is especially skilled at bribing giants with sweets. Currently, her husband and four kids live in Utah so that is where she spends most of her time. She may, or may not, have a Zaad Stone. To learn more about L. G. Rollins and her books visit LGRollins.com.
 Shadows of Angels comes out December 8th and is the beginning of the Zaad Stone trilogy.

Excerpt:
"Stay calm, her father’s words echoed in her head. When you find yourself in danger, above all, stay calm. Aerbrin took a deep, steady breath and leaned down, reaching for her bow. one of the Forest Dwellers charged. It collided with her and knocked her to the floor. Raising a knotted fist, he bashed her head.
Sparks exploded across her vision. She tried to raise an arm, tried to call out. Her body wouldn’t respond. The Forest Dwellers grunted again. The creature above her raised its fist again. She looked up. This was the end, she knew. When these monsters attacked, they killed everything. Animals, plants, and particularly humans. No one survived.
Closing her eyes, Aerbrin forced her body to relax. This time, there was no pain."


GIVEAWAY:  Please leave a comment with your name and email for a chance to win an ebook copy!  Thank you for stopping by!

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Montana Hearts by Darlene Panzera: Promo!

Saturday, December 12, 2015


About the Book:
If it wasn’t for an injury to his leg, Luke Collins would be riding rodeo broncos all day, every day. Until he heals, he’s determined to help his family’s guest ranch bring in money any way he can. But when a cranky neighbor gets in the way of his goal, Luke turns to the only person he knows can help: the gorgeous, rodeo-barrel-racing spitfire next door.

It’s no secret: Sammy Jo’s father is a pain in the neck. But if anyone can persuade him, it’s her. So when Luke asks for help, Sammy Jo is more than willing to make a deal with the handsome cowboy. The cost? He’s gotta get back up on that horse—with Sammy Jo’s help, of course.

As teamwork reveals a deeper connection, Luke finds himself falling for the beautiful girl next door. But to win her heart? He’ll just have to do whatever it takes.

About the Author:

DARLENE PANZERA writes sweet, fun-loving romance and is a member of the Romance Writers of America’s Greater Seattle chapter. Her career launched when her novella “The Bet” was picked by Avon Books and New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber to be published within Debbie’s own novel, Family Affair. Darlene says, “I love writing stories that help inspire people to laugh, value relationships, and pursue their dreams.”

Born and raised in New Jersey, Darlene is now a resident of the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband and three children. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her family and her two horses, and loves camping, hiking, photography, and lazy days at the lake.

Join her on Facebook or at www.darlenepanzera.com


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