Smorgasbord Book Promotions – New Book on the Shelves – #Romance – All About Charming Alice (Blake’s Folly Romance Book 2) by J. Arlene Culiner

Delighted to introduce you to J. Arlene Culiner and her most recent Ebook release, All About Charming Alice (Blake’s Folly Romance Book 2)

About the book

Alice Treemont has no intention of falling in love. Living in Blake’s Folly, a semi-ghost town, she cooks vegetarian meals, rescues unwanted dogs, and protects the most unloved creatures on earth: snakes. What man would share those interests?

Jace Constant is in Nevada, doing research for his new book, but he won’t be staying. He’s disgusted by desert dust on his fine Italian shoes and dog hair on his cashmere sweaters. As for snakes, he doesn’t just despise them: they terrify him.

So why does the air sizzle each time Alice and Jace meet? A romance would entail far too many compromises.

One of the reviews for the book

LAS Reviewer 5.0 out of 5 stars Good Reading  Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸

This is a special book. I’ll explain why but first I want to say that I am not a writer nor could I ever be one. I respect and admire those who can write, especially books that leave an impact on me such as this one has. I enjoy reading and try to write honest reviews. I’ve been reading romance stories for thirty two years. I’ve read my share of series. It’s not often that I’m thrown for a loop like I was after reading “All About Charming Alice”. The reason I say all this is because the author, J. Arlene Culiner is truly brilliant in my opinion.

Typically in a series an author develops a cast of characters and recycles them through out each book in the series, basically changing the hero and heroine and giving them their own story. Other authors often give previous leading characters a turn as a guest appearance throughout the series. Traditionally this makes readers enjoy a sense of community, a sense of family and home, especially when they’ve read the series in order.

For those that read it out of sync, well, it can be a little challenging for a reader to connect with the characters but not impossible. In fact it’s highly doable in this novel. I imagine it’s challenging to write a series that can be read as a standalone yet, that is exactly what J. Arlene Culiner has perfected!

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Other buy links: Books2read

Also by J. Arlene Culiner

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow J. Arlene Culiner: Goodreads – Website: J. Arlene Culiner – Facebook: J. Arlene Culiner Romance Writer – Twitter: @JArleneCuliner

About J. Arlene Culiner

Born in New York, raised in Toronto, Jill Culiner set out to have a life of adventure and discovery, not one of security and comfort. She has since crossed much of Europe on foot, travelled, by bus, train, car or truck throughout North and Central America, Europe, and the Sahara, has lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave-dwelling, on a Dutch canal, a lonely, and a very haunted stone house on the English moors. Such a lifestyle has meant staying flexible and taking up any sort of work that presents itself: belly dancer, fortune teller, b-girl, translator, fashion model, storyteller, radio broadcaster, actress, social critical artist, photographer, and writer.

She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village of no interest and protects all creatures, especially spiders and snakes. She particularly loves incorporating into short stories, mysteries, narrative non-fiction, and romances, her experiences in out-of-the-way communities with their strange characters, and very odd conversations.

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.. Sally

Smorgasbord Book Promotions – Meet the Authors 2023 – #Westerns #Romance Sandra Cox, #Family #Ireland Mary Crowley, #Fantasy Richard Dee

Welcome to the 2023 series of meet the authors. This series offers me the opportunity to not just share my personal recommendation for the author, but to also check for new books I might have missed, changes to biographies and profile photos and check links.

I also I hope will introduce you to previously unknown authors to you and their books. As the curator of a towering TBR like most of you, I hope it will also encourage you to move books waiting in line up the queue.

The first author today writes amazing western themed novels and series, lots of romance and often with a supernatural twist. I have enjoyed all the books I have read by Sandra Cox and can highly recommend.

Meet Sandra Cox

Sandra is a vegetarian, animal lover and avid gardener. She lives with her husband, their dog and several cats in sunny North Carolina.

Her novels consist of All Things Western and More. She is an Eppie finalist, award winner and category best-seller.

A selection of other books by Sandra Cox

My review for Geller’s Find

As a fan of Sandra Cox’s western romances you know that you are going to be offered all the elements in a story that make for a riveting read.

The special element to her stories is that there is usually a supernatural twist that adds additional tension, mystery and intrigue. In Geller’s Find we have two worlds, 140 years apart, which collide with a bang, offering an opportunity for Luke Geller to experience the subject he teaches in person.

Throw in sassy women, a beautiful but wilful boss, a macho saloon owner with an acquiring nature, gunfights, a horse with a mind of his own and a mystery hidden beneath the earth of the ranch, and you have a great story.

The characters in Sandra Cox’s books are always memorable, and whilst not necessarily perfect human beings, they are authentic. I loved Geller’s mother, who appears in the later part of the book, who proved that feisty women still existed in the present day.

If you have already read books by this author you probably don’t need me to convince you to read Geller’s Find… but if you are new to her stories I can highly recommend you check them out.

Read the reviews and buy the books : Amazon UK –And: Amazon US- follow Sandra Cox: Goodreads – Blog: Sandra Cox Blogspot – Twitter:@Sandra_Cox

The next author is Mary Crowley who writes Irish themed novels that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Mary also is the book columnnist for The Munster Express where she generously supports Irish authors.

Meet Mary Crowley

Mary Crowley writes Contemporary Irish Literature. Author of A Sweet Smell of Strawberries and Under a Dark Cloud . Her fictional work generally focusses on strong emotional relationships and family conflict, adding intrigue and humour, with a sprinkle of hope but most of all heart.

Mary lives in County Waterford, on the South East Coast of Ireland, with her husband and three children. Having worked as a Dental nurse and Dental Health Educator for many years she decided to follow her dream of writing and went on to study creative writing and journalism. Winner of The Waterford Writer’s Weekend Short Story Competition (2016), she also has several short story publications, in Magazines and newspapers along with publications in writing.ie, one of which was inspired by her literary heroine Maeve Binchy, another about the local legendary Hoffman’s event, “The Pram Race,” which took place in Tramore back in the late eighties. Mary is currently working on her third novel along with writing for local newspaper The Munster Express and freelance writing.

When she is not writing, Mary loves reading and spending time with her husband John and their three children Damon, Steven and Katie, though they are growing up too quickly. Her most favoured way of family time, is travelling to new and interesting places in her beloved VW Camper searching for the next story to tell. It was a yearly trip to Letterkenny in Donegal where one of her son’s competed in the Errigal Youth Cycling Tour that inspired the setting for her first novel A Sweet Smell of Strawberries.

Books by Mary Crowley

My review for The Kitchen of Oceanic Temptations

I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Sweet Smell of Strawberries by Mary Crowley and was delighted that some of those memorable characters from that book would be featured again.

This is an unusual recipe book, as it is combined with short stories reflecting the lives of four women who work together at The Kitchen of Oceanic Temptations on the coast of Donegal. It is based after the Covid lockdown when all businesses are struggling with getting back on their feet, particularly in the heavily restricted hospitality industry.

Lily is strong and resilient but is hiding a frightening secret from her husband and friends and will need all their love and support.

Olive has a grown family but realises after many years of marriage that life has passed her by and now wonders if her relationship can survive sudden and shocking news.

Lena and her husband have built a life far from their homeland, leaving behind a tragedy that still haunts them and might drive them apart.

Sarah has built a wall around her emotions and is reluctant to love again, happy to be friends with and a substitute mother and sister to the other women in her life and the one man she trusts but keeps at a distance.

Kilmer Cove as also attracted the attention of a gang of thieves who will impact the lives of these women and those they love in a dangerous way, adding an extra edginess to the book.

Between the stories you will find some delicious recipes with a larger section towards the end of the book, before a satisfying final story to bring the book to a close.

The recipes include such delights as apple tart, cup cakes, mini chocolate eclairs, chocolate brownies, scones and homemade strawberry jam, coronation chicken filling, strawberry cheesecake, raspberry and chocolate roulade, bacon and onion quiche and lasagne.

With wonderfully crafted stories and memorable characters, easy to follow recipes, I have no doubt you will leave as satisfied with this book as I was.

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And on : Amazon US – Follow Mary : Goodreads – Blog/Website: Mary Crowley WordPress – Twitter: @marycrowleym

Another author whose books I have enjoyed is Richard Dee. Richard writes Science Fiction and Steampunk adventures and certainly has a great talent for creating unique and intriguing worlds.

Meet Richard Dee

I’m Richard Dee and I’m from Brixham in Devon.

I write Science Fiction and Steampunk adventures, as well as chronicling the exploits of Andorra Pett, a reluctant amateur detective.

I spent forty years in shipping, firstly at sea, then in Port Control and as a Thames River Pilot, with adventures to match anything you could imagine. When I retired, I just moved them out into space, changed some of the names and wrote them down.

When I’m not writing, I bake bread and biscuits, cook delicious meals and walk the Devon coast.

My first novel, Freefall, was published in 2013, my eighteenth, We Are Saul, will be published in June 2022

I also contributed a story to the 1066 Turned Upside Down collection of alternative history stories. I’m currently working on more prequels, sequels, and a few new projects.

I’m an active member of the Exeter Authors Association, attending events and giving talks on World-building for speculative fiction.

A small selection of books by Richard Dee

My review for The Syk’m

This is the first venture into fantasy by Richard Dee but I hope it won’t be his last. As an author he is known for his excellent world building and he has carried that across to The Syk’m, creating a number of different worlds that find themselves overlapping by design and sometimes by accident.

Although there are interesting differences physically between the races, there is also a meeting of minds and emotions that provides for some interesting interactions. There is an enemy intent on taking over the world of the Syk’m that have little intention of stopping their advance there. With connecting corridors to other planets the way lies open for a domination of the universe.

The band of young trainee warriors from Skander have a difficult quest ahead of them, filled with danger, far from family and a peaceful existence now enjoyed by their world. Much will be asked of them and the outcome is far from certain.

The characters are all well-crafted, each bringing something significant to the story. Although a fantasy world, there are parallels to be drawn with our own with power seekers,  treachery and corruption. There are also heroes willing to sacrifice their lives to succeed in this mission to save this world and others at risk, and to fight shoulder to shoulder with new allies.

I recommend this to those who enjoy well-written fantasy with excellent characters, great world building and plenty of action.

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Website: Richard Dee’s Scifi – Goodreads: Richard Dee at Goodreads – Twitter: @RichardDockett1 – Facebook:Richard Dee Author

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books. Sally

Smorgasbord Christmas Book Fair – New Book on the Shelves – #Memoir – Fifteen First Times: Beginnings: A Collection of Indelible Firsts by D. G. Kaye

Delighted to share the news of the latest release by D.G. Kaye…. Debby Gies. A memoir – Fifteen First Times: Beginnings: A Collection of Indelible Firsts

About the memoir

This book is a collection of stories about some of Kaye’s first-time experiences with life’s most natural events. Told through the intimate conversational writing we’ve come to know from this author, poignant personal steppingstones to learning moments are revealed. She encompasses the heart of each matter with sincerity and sprinkled inflections of humor.

From first kiss to first car to walking in the desert with four-inch heels, Kaye’s short coming-of-age stories take us through her awakenings and important moments of growth, often without warning. Some good and some not, life lessons are learned through trial and error, winging it and navigating by the seat of her pants.

Editorial Review:

D.G. Kaye writes with heartfelt regard and unabashed honesty. The life experiences she shares in Fifteen First Times evoke tears as well as laughter. Kaye’s candor and compassion will no doubt appeal to and help many seeking to grow and come into their own. I highly recommend this book and all others by this forthright author. The reader will be left with an ardent desire for more. ~ Author, Tina Frisco

Thoughts by D.G. Kaye

Do you ever think back on past events which have left an indelible impression on you or your life, or find that the incidents you’ve endured through life have helped shape the person you’ve become? Are your formed perceptions and values developed from experience, and have they consequently become incorporated into your daily life? Our experiences are steppingstones for much of what feeds our character. We live, we experience, we learn, we become, and we overcome.

Nobody sent me the memo on life, and most of the time, I had zero confidence to broach the subject of my conflictions and situations with anyone. All these events I experienced and share in my stories happened with little to no guidance or knowledge, making much of my young life experiences processes of trial and error. I was like the proverbial child who grew up in the wild, except I had parents and a comfortable home.

In these fifteen short stories, I’m fessing up to some firsts in my life, some of which turned out to serve as monumental lessons. These weren’t life-altering moments, but rather, moments of teaching to move my life forward, leaving me with scars and awakening moments, confirming my curiosities, and leading me in new directions of growth.

One of the early reviews for the book

Dec 16, 2022 D.L. Finn rated it five stars it was amazing

“Fifteen First Times” is a group of personal stories told in a humorous yet perceptive manner. It felt like I was sitting with Ms. Kaye having a cup of tea while she shared some of her life stories. I found it easy to relate to a first kiss, first heartbreak, or first-time driving. It got me reflecting on many of my firsts and how I navigated life after. The author’s strength, fashion sense, and humor shined through the words, painting a picture of her moments. This is a book of youthful reflections and what we can learn from all our firsts. There was also a loving dedication to her departed husband that touched my soul. This is a beautiful collection of coming-of-age stories I can easily recommend. 

Please head over to pick up your copy at your local Amazon: Fifteen First Times Universal Link

About D.G. Kaye (Debby Gies)

D.G. Kaye is a Canadian author living in Toronto, Canada. She writes nonfiction and memoirs about her life experiences, matters of the heart, and self-help about women’s issues. Her positive outlook keeps D.G. on track, allowing her to take on life’s challenges with a dose of humor in her quest to overcome adversity.

D.G. began writing when pen and paper became the tools to express her pent-up emotions during her turbulent childhood. She began journaling about her life at a young age and continued writing about the imprints and lessons she learned through people and events she encountered. D.G. writes books to share her stories and inspiration. She advocates for kindness and for women’s empowerment. Her favorite saying is “For every kindness received, there should be kindness in return. Wouldn’t that just make the world right?”

When she’s not writing, D.G. loves to read (self-help books and stories of triumph), cook (concocting new recipes, never to come out the same way twice), shop (only if it’s a great sale), play poker (when she gets the chance), and, most of all, travel.

Books by D.G. Kaye

Read all the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – and: Amazon UK – follow Debby: Goodreads – Blog: D.G. Kaye Writer – About me: D.G. Kaye – Twitter: @pokercubster – Linkedin: D.G. Kaye – Facebook: D.G. Kaye – Instagram: D.G. Kaye – Pinterest: D.G. Kaye

 

Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.. Sally.