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Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Review Tour: The Trail to Love by Tina Susedik



The Trail to Love
by Tina Susedik
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE:   Historical Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Jack Billabard, mourning the loss of his wife and baby in childbirth, vows to never to love again. After
their funeral at Fort Laramie, he rides into the Wyoming hills beyond the ranch he built for his wife.
Through his grieving tears, an ancient tree appears, giving him the hope he doesn't believe is possible.
For the next four years, he acts as a guide on the Oregon Trail, taking families to a new life while his
looms lonely and stagnant.
The night before her abusive husband’s death, an ancient tree appears in Sarah Nickelson's yard as
she agonizes over how to survive her marriage. The tree gives her hope she can’t help but reject.
After all, a tree doesn't just appear out of nowhere. After her husband 's death, and with no options as
a widow in Independence, Missouri, Sarah decides to travel to Oregon City as a Mail Order Bride.
During their trek west on the Oregon Trail, Jack and Sarah encounter one another, each afraid of being
hurt again. Can they survive dogs and puppies, wind and rainstorms, Indians and unfavorable fellow
passengers, while their love blossoms? Will the tree fulfill its promise?




~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt Two:

Since Peter had heard Tommy singing one afternoon, his pure, clear voice filling their house, he had the lamebrained idea of having him literally singing for their supper. The last thing she wanted was for Tommy to spend another night learning the ways of men and women in Independence's taverns. And with their booming town of three thousand people, there were plenty dens of iniquity to choose from.

In a few months, the city would swell as people wishing to start a new life in the west swarmed in with wagons, oxen, horses, and families. Taverns would explode with men's last opportunities to get drunk, which meant more crime, fights, and guns going off. Things a young boy didn't need to see.

Despite her disappointing marriage to Peter, she was content to stay in the two-bedroom log home she'd inherited from her parents when they'd died of the fever. Every once in a while, her husband talked of heading west to Oregon City. Lately, more often than not, she dreamed of him leaving her and Tommy alone and free from his outbursts.

"Darn it, woman, give me the boy. You're coddling him."

Behind her, Tommy whimpered against her back. "Shh, Tommy. It'll be all right." Her hand brushed against the fireplace poker. Could she hold Peter off with it? He was older, stronger, and angrier. Maybe she could reason with him. She huffed out a breath. As if that had ever worked before.


My Review: 5*
Let me start by saying when I chose to read this book it was for the supernatural aspect. What I got was a historical romance.  The Trail to Love is book 4 in the Soul Mate Tree Series this book is by Tina Susedik. Each book is a stand alone and written by a different Author. 

 Now for my feelings on this book. Pretty much from the minute I picked it up I could not put it down. This book gripped me. I fell in love with the characters, their plight, the rough hard land. Pretty much everything, even the bad guy. The supernatural only showed up a few times in the book but I did not miss it at all.  Tina Susedik has done an amazing job with this book and I will be reading more from her and this series. 

 In the book Jack Billabard has lost his wife and son in childbirth. He feels his life has ended. Wanting to put some distance between the memories of his wife and himself he rides to the top of the mountain on his property, there a tree appears, it brings with it a vision of a woman and child, not his wife and child though. Then the tree disappears again. Jack decides to leave Laramie and work as a guide on the Oregon Tail. 

 As a teenager Sarah Nickelson lost her parents and married the first man to come along. Not knowing her husband to be was really a mean drunk and just wanted her for her inheritance. One winter night there's a knock on the door letting her know her husband has died in a accident she is alone with a child. Her In-Laws are taking her childhood home since she was married it all became her husbands. Sarah  finds an advertisement for a mail order bride, and with no where else to go decides to set out on the Oregon Trail to go to the man who sent out the advertisement. 

 From the minute Jack sees her he can't believe his eyes that  this is the woman and child in the trees vision. To Sarah Jack looks familiar. Can the tree be write about this being each other second chance?

 I received this book for my honest review from the Author and Goddess Fish Promotions. My thoughts of this book are my own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Tina Susedik is an award-winning, multi-published author with books in both fiction and non-fiction,
including history, children’s, military books and romances. Her favorite is writing romance stories where
her characters live happily ever after. She lives in Northwestern Wisconsin and is a member of
Romance Writers of America, Wisconsin Romance Writer's of America, Wisconsin Writer’s Association,
and Sisters In crime. Her twentieth book will be released in November with her Chandler County book,
Missing My Heart.  Tina also write spicier romances as Anita Kidesu.
Buy link for The Trail to Love: http://a.co/8IPpl7M
Social Media Links for Tina Susedik
Website: tina-susedik.com
Twitter: @tinasusedik


~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION :
Tina Susedik will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via
rafflecopter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-tour-trail-to-love-by-tina.html

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600 Days in Hiding by Andreas Algava



600 DAYS IN HIDING by Andreas Algava, Memoir/Historical Nonfiction, 424 pp., $14.95 (Paperback)


Title: 600 DAYS IN HIDING

Author: Andreas Algava with Daniel Levine

Publisher: For Passion Publishing Company, LLC

Pages: 424

Genre: Memoir



The Nazis invaded Salonika, Greece in April 1941. Within two years,
the city’s Jews were shipped by cattle cars to the Auschwitz death camp.
There were just three families who stayed in the city and survived
because of the courage and kindness of Greek citizens who risked their
lives and hid these Jewish families in their homes. Among the survivors
were Andrew “Andreas” Algava, who was three years old at the time, and
his family. They were five of 56,000 Jews who had lived in Salonika.




Algava, who moved to the United States at the age of seven, has
written a gripping account of his family’s experience of survival titled
600 DAYS IN HIDING (600DaysInHiding.com). His memoir stands beside such classics of Holocaust literature as THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, Elie Wiesel’s NIGHT, Primo Levi’s SURVIVAL IN AUSCHWITZ, and Nechama Tec’s DEFIANCE.




Two excerpts from 600 DAYS IN HIDING dramatically illustrate Algava’s intention to “communicate the humanity or inhumanity of how we choose to respond to each other.” The first scene takes place in a graveyard:




“Henri stood at the edge of the massive Jewish cemetery sprawling
before him. The crypts and headstones extended for thousands of meters
in all directions, a vast city of gravestones marking the remains of
Jewish men, women, and children buried here during the past 450 years.
At one end of the enormous cemetery a small army of several hundred
Greek workers were busy with shovels and pickaxes, tearing up the
gravesites, pillaging for treasure. Henri watched with a mix of
astonishment and horror as Thessaloniki’s Jewish history was being
destroyed before his eyes, forever.”




The second excerpt describes the family’s first perilous night as they go into hiding from the Nazis:




“Marcos looked at Allegra. ‘I think the most danger we will face tonight will be from Andreas.’


 ‘What do you mean?’ Allegra asked, taking a short breath.




‘We agreed he should come with me so if you are caught, he will
have his freedom. Is he prepared to play the game we talked about? Being
quiet and not paying attention to you?’




‘I think so,’ Allegra replied. ‘He’s old enough.’ Marcos looked at the sleeping child and knew their fate rested with him.




…‘Remember,’ whispered Marcos, as they were about to open the
apartment’s door, ‘stay in three separate groups. We’ll gather at the
trolley stop on Martiou Street. When you’re out of the
ghetto, tear off the stars and put them in your pocket. We’ll get off
at Saint Sophie as planned. Whatever happens, just stay calm. We’ll be
all right.’ He looked at each of them, and made his face relax with a
little smile to reassure them. ‘They look ready,’ he thought.




…A knock on the door and a thin narrow face greeted them quietly.
Quickly the six travelers entered. Allegra saw it was a small room in a
poor house with a dirt floor. …‘Welcome, welcome,’ said Pachis. ‘It
isn’t much, but we can shelter you. Your room is over here,’ and he
walked to a room with a curtain as its door. ‘We have some blankets you
can use,’ Pachis said, indicating a small pile of old wool blankets. 




…‘Good night,’ said Marcos. ‘You’ll be safe here, for a while at least.’




‘Thank you, Marcos,’ Allegra said. ‘We are grateful.’




‘I’m glad to help.’ Turning to go, he said softly, ‘I’ll return
tomorrow with a few of the things you said you wanted. It may take a few
trips, but I’ll get them here. Get some sleep,’ and he stepped through
the open doorway, drawing the drape across the opening.




Quickly setting up a sleeping area, soon everyone had settled
down. Henri took his place beside Allegra and his son, and though he was
very tired and drained, he stayed awake, still edgy. Eventually the
sounds of slumber lulled him to sleep as the night yielded to the dawn
of their first day in hiding.”




600 DAYS in HIDING is well-positioned for adaptation as a
film. Such a production would provide a powerful thematic counterpoint
to news stories about current political upheaval and the drumbeat of
dehumanization in the United States and throughout the world.




Algava also notes that he is writing a sequel to 600 DAYS IN HIDING
that will address “how as individuals and as society we came to be.” He
adds that writing his inspiring story “absolutely energizes me. It’s
the fulfillment of a dream.”


Order Your Copy!



https://www.amazon.com/Mistress-Suffragette-Diana-Forbes-ebook/dp/B06XG3G2TF







Marcos looked at Allegra. ‘I think the
most danger we will face tonight will be from Andreas.’
 ‘What do you mean?’ Allegra asked, taking a
short breath.
‘We agreed he should come with me so if
you are caught, he will have his freedom. Is he prepared to play the game we
talked about? Being quiet and not paying attention to you?’
‘I think so,’ Allegra replied. ‘He’s old
enough.’ Marcos looked at the sleeping child and knew their fate rested with
him.
…‘Remember,’ whispered Marcos, as they
were about to open the apartment’s door, ‘stay in three separate groups. We’ll
gather at the trolley stop on Martiou Street. When you’re out of the ghetto,
tear off the stars and put them in your pocket. We’ll get off at Saint Sophie
as planned. Whatever happens, just stay calm. We’ll be all right.’ He looked at
each of them, and made his face relax with a little smile to reassure them.
‘They look ready,’ he thought.

...A knock on the door and a thin narrow
face greeted them quietly. Quickly the six travelers entered. Allegra saw it
was a small room in a poor house with a dirt floor. …‘Welcome, welcome,’ said
Pachis. ‘It isn’t much, but we can shelter you. Your room is over here,’ and he
walked to a room with a curtain as its door. ‘We have some blankets you can
use,’ Pachis said, indicating a small pile of old wool blankets.
…‘Good night,’ said Marcos. ‘You’ll be
safe here, for a while at least.’
‘Thank you, Marcos,’ Allegra said. ‘We are
grateful.’
‘I’m glad to help.’ Turning to go, he said
softly, ‘I’ll return tomorrow with a few of the things you said you wanted. It
may take a few trips, but I’ll get them here. Get some sleep,’ and he stepped
through the open doorway, drawing the drape across the opening.
Quickly setting up a sleeping area, soon everyone had
settled down. Henri took his place beside Allegra and his son, and though he
was very tired and drained, he stayed awake, still edgy. Eventually the sounds
of slumber lulled him to sleep as the night yielded to the dawn of their first
day in hiding.





Andreas Algava was born in Thessaloniki, Greece in
1939, the only son of Henri Algava and Allegra Carasso-Algava. When
Andreas was 16 months old, Hitler’s forces invaded the country of his
birth. Having to decide whether to believe the Nazi propaganda about a
safe haven for Jews in Poland or go into hiding and risk execution,
Andreas’s parents chose the latter relying on the courage and character
of their Christian friends.




After the war, the Algava family moved to New York City and became
U.S. citizens. Andreas became known as Andrew who later attended Cornell
University where he earned an engineering degree. This was followed by
military service in the U. S. Army including a tour of duty in France.
After military service, Andrew worked with his father in the family
export business in the United States and Argentina.




He joined IBM and worked on assignment in Germany where he lived with
his wife, Priscilla and where his two daughters, Alisa and Carin were
born. Andreas now lives in Rhode Island to be close to his daughters,
son-in-law Michael and grandchildren Drew and Sabria.




Algava wrote 600 Days in Hiding: A Jewish Family in Nazi-Occupied Thessaloniki Greece
to tell the story of his family’s survival during the Greek Holocaust.
Andreas regards his book as his declaration for people to live in peace
and harmony and a warning to not repeat the horrors of the past.




“Writing my Family’s story energizes me; it’s a fulfillment of a dream.” He plans to write a sequel to 600 Days in Hiding to address “How as individuals and society we are making very bad choices and need to take appropriate actions.”




The author is available for media interviews and speaking engagements
in hopes of inspiring others to take action to create a more just
world.




The author is committed to his personal mission: “To empower myself
and others to manifest generosity, kindness, forgiveness and compassion
for myself and for others to relieve the suffering in the world.”





WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Interview with Andreas Algava:
How did you come up with name of this book?
My parents, my father’s parents and I were in hiding from the Nazis for 600 days in Thessaloniki, Greece. There is a reference in the book in my father’s hand calculating the the number of days each month until liberation. For me, given the probabilities of being caught 600 Days in Hiding is a long period of time.


Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?
Yes, practices in spirituality mostly based on Zen Buddhism.
Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?
I prefer total quiet, so I don’t lose my train of thought.
What do you feel you can accomplish with this book?
To make a difference in people’s lives by helping to make them aware of the  horrors that have happened in the past and that continue to occur today.
What is your next project?
My next project is to write a sequel which describes how my experience has  determined who I have come to be.

 

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com


Visit us at Pump Up Your Book!








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Charleston Harbor Romances by Debbie White


Sweet
Indulgence
A
Charleston Harbor Novel Book 1
by
Debbie White


Genre:
Sweet Romance

Real
Men Eat Cupcakes


Annie
McPherson has had it with all the blind dates her grandmother and
auntie set her up with. She just wants to be left alone to run the
Sweet Indulgence cupcake bakery – even if it means she’ll remain
single forever.
Jack’s
just been through a gut-wrenching break-up, and women are the last
thing on his mind. Now he’s on a mission to pick up cupcakes for
his niece’s birthday party—not a mission to fall in love. Pulled
in by Annie’s good looks and witty charm, though, temptation proves
too sweet.
But
will Annie’s pesky grandmother and auntie welcome Jack as Annie’s
choice or will they have him jumping through hoops to prove he’s
the one?
Fans
of Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods, and Susan Wiggs are sure to love
Sweet Indulgence, the first sweet romance novel in the Charleston
Harbor series.
This
book is too sweet to pass up!




**Only
.99 cents!!**


Sweet
Magnolia
A Charleston Harbor
Novel Book 2

What
doesn't divide us makes us stronger. 


While
on their honeymoon, Annie and Jack are called back to Charleston,
cutting their trip short. But no matter what the disaster, nothing
can deter this dynamic duo from moving forward with their plans to
build their dream home, Sweet Magnolia on Kiawah Island.





This
is book two of the Charleston Harbor Novels set in historic
Charleston, South Carolina where sweet tea and love for family
prevail and is the balm that soothes the heart. Follow along in the
series as the Powells and McPhersons live life to the fullest while
overcoming many hardships, making them stronger, and bringing them
closer than ever.









Sweet
Carolina
A Charleston Harbor
Novel Book 3

When
a hurricane threatens to wreak havoc on the South Carolina coast,
Annie prepares Sweet Magnolia for what she thinks will be a day or
two without electricity while Jack checks on Lady Powell down at the
dock. But when Jack doesn’t return promptly, Annie becomes
concerned.

Mary makes an announcement
that makes her the center of attention, but Annie has a bit of news
causing them to share the limelight. 
Annie
is having second thoughts about running the Sweet Indulgence. Is she
just feeling the pressure of motherhood or could this be the end of
the cupcakery she started from the ground up?
Sweet
Carolina, the final installment of the Charleston Harbor Novels
promises to be an uplifting clean and sweet contemporary women’s
fiction laced with a romantic thread, where honor, family, love, and
hope always prevail.








Debbie
is a USA Today Bestselling Author. She currently lives in northern
California where the hills are dotted with vineyards and the jagged
coastline is nearby. Many of her books describe the beautiful area
she calls home. She avidly supports animal rescue by donating a
percentage of all book sales to rescue groups nationwide! Now here
are a few more interesting tidbits of information about her!


1.
Her spouse served in the U.S. Air Force for over 20 years. She uses
some of her experiences as a military wife in some of her
stories.

2.
She has two granddaughters and a grandson.

3.
She received her degree in Sociology in 2011 and graduated Magna Cum
Laude.

4.
She hasn't always dreamed of writing, but she's always loved reading
and decided she'd give it a try. Her fans love her so much, she's
still putting out books three years later.

5.
Her very first book, The Salty Dog was an Amazon Best-seller. 

6.
You can follow all the latest news about releases, book signings and
more on her website http://www.authordebbiewhite.com











Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!











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Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter by C.A.Verstraete


Lizzie
Borden, Zombie Hunter
by
C.A.Verstraete

Genre:
Horror

Every
family has its secrets… 


One
hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and
murdered her father and stepmother. Newspapers claim she did it for
the oldest of reasons: family conflicts, jealousy and greed. But what
if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie slaughtered them
because they’d become zombies? 

Thrust
into a horrific world where the walking dead are part of a shocking
conspiracy to infect not only Fall River, Massachusetts, but also the
world beyond, Lizzie battles to protect her sister, Emma, and her
hometown from nightmarish ghouls and the evil forces controlling
them.









Lizzie
Borden, Zombie Hunter 2

After
being acquitted of brutally slaying her parents, Lizzie Borden thinks
her nightmare is over—but it’s only just begun! 


Now
Lizzie and the citizens of Fall River must battle a new surge of
flesh-eaters, this time with a heartbreaking twist: the infected
creatures are friends and family, hidden away by their grief-stricken
caregivers. 

When
her sister Emma becomes a pawn in the growing war against the undead,
Lizzie has no choice but to pick up her axe again. With the help of
her charming self-defense instructor, Pierre, she vows to end the
horrific zombie menace, once and for all. But can she overcome her
personal demons and the rampaging monsters, no matter the
cost?

NOTE:
The book does contain spoilers if you have not read the first book,
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter.






Christine
(C.A.) Verstraete enjoys putting a little "scare" in her
writing. She follows the murder trial and offers a twist on the
infamous 1892 Borden murders in her book, Lizzie
Borden, Zombie Hunter.
She also looks at the murders from the viewpoint of Lizzie's doctor
in her latest, The
Haunting of Dr. Bowen. Other
books include a young adult novel, GIRL
Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie, and
books on dollhouse collecting and crafting.


Christine's short
stories have appeared in various anthologies including: Descent
Into Darkness, Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crime, Mystery
Weekly,
and Timeshares,
Steampunk'd,
and Hot
& Steamy: Tales of Steampunk Romance,
DAW Books.

She
is an award-winning journalist published in daily to weekly
newspapers, and in various magazines. Her stories have received
awards from local and national newspaper associations, and the Dog
Writer's Association of America.






Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!













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The Sehhinah Trilogy By Ivana Skye


The
Stars That Rise at Dawn
Šehhinah
Book 1
By
Ivana Skye


Genre: Urban Fantasy

Yenatru
had always had trouble making friends. So he didn’t expect that
he’d have such an easy time befriending Lucifer…


Meanwhile,
his one previous friend Elīya is still not over the loss of the
third member of their friend group, Tamar. She disappeared one day to
become one of God’s Holy, and as far as Elīya’s concerned,
nothing’s ever been the same. It doesn’t help that her university
philosophy program is turning out much less interesting than she’d
hope.

It
could be that Yenatru’s weird new friend has just the skills she
needs to solve all her problems. But in order to get Lucifer’s
help, she’ll have to confront parts of herself she’s never dared
to.






 [Excerpt from The Stars that Rise at Dawn:]
“Most people think of you as somewhat dignified,” Yenatru points out. “Someone with pride. Impressive.”
Lucifer clutches a hand to her chest. “Ow, don’t go implying I don’t have pride. I like being prideful! ’S fun.”
“You are attempting and failing to banter with some really shy boy you met in a university library,” Yenatru says, deadpan.
“I did say I was pathetic,” Lucifer says with a smile. “Do you believe me now?”
Yenatru thinks about that for a moment, then nods. “Yes. Yes, I believe you.”

Lucifer’s smile turns harder, almost determined. “Good.”

The
Birds That Fly at Dusk
Šehhinah
Book 2



Celyet’s
been trying to keep her head low ever since she left the camp of
demons she grew up in. But then she actually talks to a barista at
the local coffee shop. And then an angel gets involved…


Celyet
finds nothing more terrifying than the idea of being misued or
misinterpreted by people. That’s why she hasn’t been talking to
anyone for half a year. But when she challenges herself to visit
somewhere in town she’s never been, she ends up making a terrible
mistake, bringing her time spent hiding to an abrupt end.

Sän
may work at a coffee shop, but that doesn’t mean they know how to
comfort people. But they really want to find a way to make a
difference for that sad-looking demon who keeps coming in.

And
just because the shop’s owned by the angel Jibril doesn’t mean
that they’re going to stop by anytime soon and start flinging puns
at people … right?











The
Lives That Argue For Us
Šehhinah
Book 3



Teśena
and Kjorel have been in an open relationship for years. But when
Kjorel leaves to travel for eight months, Teśena doesn’t really
have anyone else to turn to. Well, except the most powerful person in
the world…


Everyone knows God
is made of fire. So of course no one would ever suggest that the
easily-overwhelmed Teśena try praying to Them. Then why, when Teśena
tries to do exactly that in a moment of desperation, do they seem to
get along so well?

On the other
side of the world, Kjorel’s dealing with a loneliness of his own.
That is, until he starts his visit to the city of Ēnnuh, and finds a
boyfriend within a few days. With no way to contact Teśena, he can
only hope their previous agreements stand … or that Teśena will
improbably find a way to communicate with him anyway.

After
all, what’s a few thousand miles when you have God on your side?













Ivana
Skye is a disaster without a permanent address, who much like her
characters, spends a lot of time navigating the transition into
adulthood and screaming. Oh, and writing. She does a lot of that
too.


Despite currently being in the middle of multiple months
of travel through various countries she is not from, she still
retains a strong connection to the state of Colorado, where she will
probably permanently live. Eventually.











Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!




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