iRead Book Reviews

Degrees of Love: A Novel by Lisa Slabach

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Degrees of Love: A Novel by Lisa Slabach was very well written, but I struggled with reading it.  I say that because since this book is a romance novel, I got bored because even though I don’t know what is going to happen, I do know what is going to happen if that makes any sense.  I am sure that if you don’t read a ton of books like I do that statement won’t make any sense.  I did enjoy the characters in this book, and I really enjoyed the authors writing, but in the end, I was bored.  If you are a huge fan of romance novels than I am sure you will love this book.  I am just starting to realize that I need to stick more to mystery type books because I tend to be bored with another genre of books.  I am going to hang onto this book so that I can pick it up in the future and see if my thoughts and feelings change any about this type of book.

 

About The Book

Book Title:  Degrees of Love: A Novel by Lisa Slabach
Category:  Adult Fiction, 344 pages
Genre:   Women’s Fiction
Publisher:  Bookbaby
Release date:  Dec 1, 2017
Format available for review:  print & ebook (mobi, PDF, ePub & gifted Kindle copy)
Will send print books to: Internationally
Tour dates: Jan 3 to 31, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (Adult themes including infidelity, occasional F-word, non-explicit sex scenes)

At thirty-six, Susan Sinclair has it all. She’s just been promoted to Senior Vice President of Mobile Banking at her firm, a prestigious position bringing fresh creative challenges and a hefty salary increase. Like the shiny new BMW in the driveway of the Silicon Valley home she shares with her husband, Matt, and their two beautiful boys, Susan exudes confidence and style.

Yet despite her success in juggling the roles of wife, mother, and businesswoman, Susan struggles with a secret dissatisfaction. Matt’s work in cutting-edge computer research pays less than her job, and with each advance in her career, he has grown more distant. But Matt refuses to admit there is a problem, and Susan forces herself to play along, determined to give her boys the close-knit family life she never had.

Then she meets her new boss, Reese Kirkpatrick. Working and traveling together, she and Reese become a crackerjack team, but little by little, pleasure mixes with business. For the first time in a long time—maybe ever—Susan feels seen and appreciated for who she is. Certain she would never allow their friendship to cross the line, Susan lets herself stray dangerously close to the edge.

A moment of weakness changes everything. Now, unable to stomach the façade her marriage has become yet unwilling to decimate her family by moving forward with Reese, Susan faces a choice that could cost her everything—including her children . . . but possibly bring her more than she can dream.

About The Author

Degrees of Love is Lisa Slabach’s debut novel. She is currently working on her third full-length manuscript and a collection of short stories inspired by her experiences growing up in a small farm community in Washington’s Yakima Valley. In addition to writing, Lisa works for a Fortune 500 Company, leading a sales team in the financial industry. She currently resides in Northern California with her husband and has two daughters, who are both pursuing careers in film. In her free time, she enjoys drinking wine with friends and cooking in her pink kitchen.

Connect with the Author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~ Facebook 

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The Twofer Murder by Lauren Carr & Guest Post: On When To Let Go

Book Details:

Book Title: Twofer Murder by Lauren Carr
Category: Adult fiction, 400 pages
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: November 17, 2017
Tour dates: Dec 4 to Jan 19, 2018
Content Rating: PG + M (Please be aware that TWOFER MURDER is a murder mystery. There are depictions of murder and some violence–though easy on the gore contents. No f-words but there may be some mild profanity, and mild religious expletives such as “damn”, “hell” and “Oh God!”. Some depictions of brief sexual content (kissing). No drug use or underage drinking among the protagonists.)

Book Description:

Twofer murder? What’s a twofer murder?

Twofer Murder is a treat for fans of best-selling author Lauren Carr’s fast-paced mysteries! Lauren’s latest novel contains the main characters from her three successful series: Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose mysteries. The guys go away for a fishing weekend only to get caught up in the murder of a journalist investigating fraud at a timber company. Meanwhile, the ladies are spending the weekend in the presidential suite at a posh resort where Jessica Faraday is to accept a lifetime achievement award for her late grandmother at a murder mystery writers conference. But before they have time to get their facials, they get wrapped up in their own real mystery when an up and coming author ends up dead!

Lauren Carr’s Twofer Murder is a 2-for-1—making it a must-read for any mystery fan!

To read more reviews, please visit Lauren Carr’s page on iRead Book Tours.

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Meet the Author:


Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

 

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Guest Post: When to Let Go of Your Book

By Lauren Carr

 

Several months ago, I rejected a project in which an author asked me to edit his book. Not only did I turn down the job because my schedule does not allow me to edit other authors’ books anymore, but there was another reason I had turned down the project.

The first installment in a trilogy, the book had already been edited and released to the public to favorable reviews. Two years later, readers of this first book were waiting for the next installment, which the writer had still not finished. However, instead of focusing on completing the second book, he had decided to go back to work on the first—already completed and released—book.

Note that the changes this author wanted to make were not glaring grammatical errors that he wanted me to correct. Rather, a year or so after the book’s release, he had picked it up again and started reading it and decided that he could “fine-tune” it.

Frankly, this is not an uncommon problem with some writers. Just the other day I saw where the author of one book, which had been released three years ago, announced that he had just received his first shipment of this same book: “Revamped and Re-Released.”

Why? I wondered. This book had received a ton of good reviews. Why has he not moved on to write another book?

Some writers simply have a problem letting go.

Just like how some writers have a problem focusing on one project to its completion, other writers have the opposite problem. They can’t let go and walk away after having written the words “The End.”

There’s always at least one or two writers who can’t let go of “their baby” (as I heard one writer describe it) when I teach a novel writing class. They are easy to spot. They have a book inside them that they have been working on for five, ten, fifteen, or even twenty years.

I can still remember the very first thing I learned about writing on my first day of college. It was in my first writing class that my journalism professor said, “Writers never finish a project. They quit working on it.”

He went on to explain that a writer can edit, re-write, revise, and proofread an article, short story, or book over and over again, and still find sections that can be fine tuned or corrections to be made. That’s why professional writers must set a deadline in which they force themselves to walk away from the project—at which point they aren’t necessarily done, but rather they have let it go to move onto their next project.

This is why writers who don’t let go, walk away, and never look back will continue to write, edit, rewrite, re-edit, proofread one single book for their whole lives. Because—

In reality, it is impossible to finish writing a book.

 

Serious writers learn to let their books go. Admittedly, this can be very difficult—especially for those writers who view their books as “babies.” I once read an article by an editor who explained very simply, “It’s not a baby. It’s a book.”

Here’s a few pointers for writers who want to become prolific authors with more than one, twenty-year-old unfinished novel under their belt:

  • Set a deadline to finish your book. I have been told that writers with a journalism background learn early on how to let go. They are forced to due to tight deadlines. I was trained to get a project done by my deadline and then let it go, walk away, and then start on the next book. As a full-time author, I still work on self-imposed deadlines.
  • Make each round of editing and proofreading count. Remember that you will always find sections that can be “fine-tuned” every time you go through your book. With this in mind, set a limit of how many times you will read through your project and when you do, be ruthless in your search for errors.

Every writer is different. Personally, after completing the rough draft, I go through a manuscript to rewrite it. Then, I will edit it. After editing, I send it to my editor.  (While my current work in progress is with the editor, I will start working on my next book.) Then, after going through the edits, I will proofread the book after layout. That is five times that I will go through a book.

  • Once your book is released, don’t look back. Move onward! Unless you discover that your book has a big glaring flaw, resist the urge to read through it again. (Once, six weeks after a book was released, I was contacted by a reader who discovered that I had a city in the wrong country. This mistake was missed by two editors and a proofreader! I simply corrected that error—resisting the urge to look any further, and re-released the book.)

I guarantee, when you go back to look at a book you wrote a few years ago, you will definitely think, “Gee, I could have done that better,” Or “I should have done that.” Yes, every writer does that.

But, the pros who have more than one twenty-year-old unfinished book under their belt, they let each book go, direct their attention on the next book, and never look back.

They move on.

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2018 Margaret Margaret

The Fabergé Entanglement by Lesley Meryn & Elle Brookes

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

The Fabergé Entanglement by Lesley Meryn and Elle Brookes was an intriguing book, to say the least.  I was hooked right from the first page, and I can’t tell you why I loved the book as much as I did.    This book did keep me one the edge of my seat throughout most of the book.  During the first few chapters, I did find that I was getting come of the characters confused, so I felt like I was going back and trying to keep everyone straight but it only lasted for a few chapters and then I was able to keep them all straight.  I love when authors in this genre of books have a woman as one of the leading characters because not many authors do.  I also liked that Saber was a strong woman and able to hold her own when it came to the story.  I wasn’t the biggest fan of Adrian through most of the book, but I love when that happens because it means that the author has made the characters life like and I always enjoy that.  If you love thriller type books than I am sure you will love this book just as much as I did.  They have it rated PG + M, but nothing in this book offend me in the least so I am sure that most people will be okay while reading this book.  If you have read this book what did you think of it?

About The Book

Book Title: The Fabergé Entanglement by Lesley Meryn & Elle Brookes
Category: Adult Fiction: 306 pages
Genre: Suspense/Action/Romance
Publisher: Lisa Kolber
Release date: July 2015
Content Rating: PG + M (There is some, not much, bad language, sensuality, one alluded sex scene but not described, possible triggers for sexual abuse/non-consensual sex as a plot point, action-style violence)

Sabinne ‘Saber’ Darrieux’s father, the billionaire CEO of Frontenac Global Security has been kidnapped. His ransom is not cash in a numbered offshore account, or a briefcase of Bearer Bonds but something utterly unique, incredibly valuable, and until recently, hidden away from the world.

The kidnapper seems to know Saber very well and knows that the next day, through her work as an elite translator she will be in the same location as the Object. She must steal the Object and deliver it to the kidnapper to ransom her father.

Adrian Steele, a British Intelligence agent has just come off of two harrowing missions. Upon returning to London for a well-earned rest, he learns that his friend and fellow agent has been murdered in Moscow, but not before he made use of a unique Object as a mobile ‘drop site’ for the valuable intelligence he was carrying.

The drop site is traveling from Moscow to England. Steele insists on completing the mission to honor the death of his friend, Gerry Cornell.

At an ultra-chic quasi-diplomatic gathering in a mansion in Windsor, England, Saber and Steele meet and find themselves faced with a powerful, undeniable attraction. But at the moment, this compelling attraction is very inconvenient.

In reality, they are at the mansion to check out the security arrangements — for their own reasons — to steal the Object, a Fabergé egg worth thirty million dollars. But who will get to the egg first?

Fabergé eggs are very famous for their unique surprises. Saber and Steele are about to be very surprised, indeed.

And when Saber clashes with Steele; more than sparks will explode!

About The Author

LESLEY MERYN
Enjoyed an exotic, adventure-filled childhood, following her anthropologist father and travel writer mother to the farthest corners of the world. She later took inspiration from her Aunt Sophia Francesca and became the author of romantic adventure novels. She alternates her time between Los Angeles, and a family property located in Yorkshire England.

ELLE BROOKES
She is the author of the first two books of the Time Frame Series, LUST. MECHANICS. MINI COOPER. and SEX. COFFEE. TIME TRAVEL. Loves travel, discovering new foods to try, reading and writing. She currently lives in the central highlands of Costa Rica with her dog Pixie and her hedgehog Quiller.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

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First Crush, Last Love by Elizabeth McKenna

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

First Crush, Last Love by Elizabeth McKenna was a fantastic book.  I loved that you meet the characters when they are in their senior year in high school, and you follow along as they grow up.  I loved this because it felt like I was growing up with them and it also helped me understand their lives.  I wasn’t a massive fan of Lee throughout most of the book, but I didn’t hate him either.  I really liked Jessie, but I got annoyed when she stayed with her ex-husband because no one deserves to be treated like she was.  This author did a great job of making the story come to life for me, and I know that I will be reading more of her books in the future.  If you love romance books that I know you will love this book just as much as I did.

About The Book

Book Title: First Crush, Last Love by Elizabeth McKenna
Category: Adult Fiction, 314 pages
Genre: Romance – Contemporary
Publisher: Elizabeth McKenna
Release date: Aug 1, 2017
Tour dates: Oct 16 to Nov 3, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (There are a few short, mild sex scenes – nothing too graphic. There is swearing by certain characters. Mature themes include drinking/alcoholism, verbal abuse with some physical pushing, AIDS (a minor character is gay), stalking, brief descriptions of child abuse by a step parent, and suicide attempt (overdose).

Remember your first crush? How your heart raced and your cheeks flushed whenever you saw him? Jessie Baxter does, and it’s happening again. Ten years ago, despite her best efforts, Lee Archer wanted to be just friends. Now, he wants more, but Jessie’s still recovering from a psycho ex-husband. Can she learn to trust again and make her first crush into her last love?

Elizabeth McKenna’s latest novel will have you remembering the angst of high school, the grief of a failed relationship, and the happiness of true love.

About The Author

Elizabeth McKenna works as a full-time technical writer/editor for a large software company. Though her love of books reaches back to her childhood, she had never read romance novels until one Christmas when her sister gave her the latest bestseller by Nora Roberts. She was hooked from page one (actually, she admits it was the first love scene).

She had always wanted to write fiction, so she combined her love of history, romance and a happy ending to write Cera’s Place and Venice in the Moonlight. Her short story, The Gypsy Casts a Spell, is available for free on her site http://elizabethmckenna.com/. She hopes you will enjoy her first contemporary romance novel, First Crush Last Love, as much as others have enjoyed her historical romances.

Elizabeth lives in Wisconsin with her understanding husband, two beautiful daughters, and a sassy Labrador. When she isn’t writing, working, or being a mom, she’s sleeping.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

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The Black Market Concierge by Barry Oberholzer

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

The Black Market Concierge by Barry Oberholzer was a fascinating book.  I am always a sucker for books like this because I love reading books about things that actually happened.  I loved this book right from the start of the book.  I was able to get through this book in about a day because of how short it is.  This book was really well written, and I wished that it had been longer because I want to more about the things that happened and more about Barry in general.  I am always a sucker for books that have to do with spying so I knew going into this book that I was going to like it and I am so glad that I wasn’t let down.  If you are looking for a quick book to read or if like me, you love real stories then I think this is one book that you will enjoy as much as I did.

What biography book do you love?

 

About The Book

Book Title: The Black Market Concierge: Sanction Busting, Smuggling & Spying for America
Author: Barry Oberholzer
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 177 pages
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Amazon
Release date: November 2016
Tour dates: Sept 25 to Oct 13, 2017
Content Rating: PG (Violence)



Barry Oberholzer’s secret life as a confidential informant, infiltrating international organized crime syndicates and sanction-busting activity hit headlines in 2012. Oberholzer reported an array of vital intelligence to the CIA and multiple intelligence agencies across the world. For years, he has worked across the Middle East and behind the scenes as a confidential informant making connections, extracting valuable intelligence, and facing off against America’s greatest enemy at every turn.

In The Black Market Concierge, he opens a window into his double life as an informant; informing on the role of key players including major corporations, crime syndicates, politicians and government officials in high-value international smuggling operations.

After exposing corruption at the highest levels of government in South Africa, he is ready to give a no holds barred account of what it is like to live the life of a high-level, confidential informant.

His memoir is a searingly honest account of a boy aviation enthusiast who cascaded into the world of international espionage and how it ultimately sent him in search of salvation in his devout Christian faith. It is a testimony that will move even the most cold hearted.

About The Author

Born in Houston, Texas, a former professional rugby player and current CrossFit and Ironman athlete, Barry is the founder of TerrorMate app and is a counter-terrorism and intelligence expert. Formerly Barry served as a confidential informant for Department of Homeland Security, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Belgium Customs Intelligence and HM Revenue & Customs Intelligence in the United Kingdom.

One of his most impactful successes was in his identification of Iranian sanction busting syndicates who smuggled US manufactured aircraft and parts to Iran which led to the arrests of several prominent international businessmen. He also had numerous successes in major illicit cigarette seizures in Europe.

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Sovereignty by Anjenique Hughes

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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Sovereignty by Anjenique Hughes was a good book. Whenever I read books like this one I find that I am always comparing these books to the book “1984 by George Orwell”. I have always felt that books never quite measured up to that book but I really enjoyed this book so it is one that I would read again just like I would read 1984 over and over again. I liked this book right from the first page because I was left wanting to know what was going to happen and how things would work out in this book. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I wasn’t able to figure out what was going to happen, so I was always left wondering what was up next. If you love dystopian type books, I am sure you will love this book as much as I do.

About The Book

Book Title: Sovereignty by Anjenique Hughes
Category: YA fiction, 262 pages
Genre: Dystopian
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
Release date: July 19, 2016
Tour dates: May 15 to June 2, 2017
Content Rating: PG (No F-words, no sexual content, only one kissing scene and mild profanity)

I used to think I knew all the answers; now I no longer even know the questions. – Goro

Under the totalitarian reign of the 23rd century’s world’s government- The Sovereign Regime- control is made possible by the identity chip implanted in every human being, recording everything that is seen, done, and experienced.

No more bank accounts.
No more smart phones.
No more secrets.

When Goro inadvertently overhears an exchange of sensitive information, causing him to confront the truth about his world and prompting him to choose his true loyalties, his dream of revolution kicks into high gear. Goro doesn’t know he has covert intel in his possession both the SR and the resistance movement are desperate to acquire.

Determined to attempt the impossible task of bringing down the world government, he and his closest friends gain access to the key to ultimately deciding who has sovereignty.

But who will get to Goro first: The resistance or the Sovereign Regime?

 

About The Author

With master’s degrees in education, special education, and counseling, Anjenique “Jen” Hughes is a high school English and math teacher who loves teaching and mentoring young people. She enjoys traveling and has worked with youth on five continents. Saying she is “young at heart” is an understatement; she is fluent in sarcasm, breaks eardrums with her teacher voice (students have complained when they were within earshot), and cracks sarcastic jokes with the best of her students. Her work with ethnically and socioeconomically diverse youth has inspired her to write books that appeal to a broad variety of students seeking stories of bravery, perseverance, loyalty, and success.

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