Monday, April 28, 2014

iRead Book Tours Blog Tour : THE PUBLICIST ONE AND TWO by Christina George


Synopsis: The Publicist Book One
Behind every book, there’s always more to the story.

Can one woman change an age-old institution like publishing? Probably not, but Kate Mitchell sure wants to try. As a publicist with a large, respected New York publishing house, Kate finds herself at the mercy of a broken publishing system, books that don’t always sell (at all) and author egos that are often, well, as big as the island of Manhattan.

Enter the star Editor, MacDermott Ellis. Tall, handsome, charismatic, married, and ready to save the day. Kate wants to do the right thing but her hormones seem to be driving her decisions. Then there’s Allan Lavigne, once a revered author, now as forgotten as yesterday’s news; and his nephew Nick, who wants to sweep Kate away from New York for another coast, California.

As Kate tries to navigate the landmine of publicity, the over-the-top author expectations, and the careful dance of “I’m sorry, your book isn't on the bestseller list this week”, she also finds authors who are painfully overlooked by a publisher wanting more sex, more celebrities, and more scandal.

Review:
This is a well-written story with many personalities and, perhaps, more than a grain of truth.  Certainly, in any business, there is the push for profit and sometimes that road isn't the prettiest. Most people have had to deal with the egos and idiosyncrasies of individuals who think a lot of themselves - sometimes with humorous outcomes, sometimes less humorous.  That said, the Publicist Book 1 probably provides a glimpse of the day to day ups and downs of those behind the scenes.  Add to that the relationship between Mac and Kate, and then between Kate and Nick.  A bit steamy at times ...  The most memorable character, however, is Allan Lavigne - the elderly gentleman who wrote a bestseller many years ago and still has a contract with the publishing firm for a second.  Kate brings him food, helps to clean his apartment, and is his friend - probably his only friend.  I have to say Allan was my favorite!  The Publicist ends with a lot of balls up in the air... so on to Shelf Life: The Publicist Book Two.

Synopsis:  Shelf Life: The Publicist Book Two
The story only an insider could tell.

Publishing: An industry of out-of-control of egos, unrealistic expectations, and books with the shelf life of milk.

This is Kate’s world, but for how long?

When one of Kate Mitchell’s star authors is carted away in handcuffs, she thinks it’s only the beginning of her troubles. As her world crumbles around her, Kate desperately looks for anyone to hold onto but finds that happy endings are truly works of fiction. When her career and love affair hit their expiration date, Kate sets off on a new adventure…


Starting over in California is easy, but Kate soon learns that leaving her old life behind isn't. Nicholas Lavigne is eager to help her forget, but two things still own her heart, the dream of discovering the next great American novel, and MacDermott Ellis.

As Kate tries to rebuild her life she finds a surprising gift that reboots her career in a new and unexpected direction. Suddenly her name becomes synonymous with one of the biggest bestsellers publishing has seen in ages and she’s welcomed back with open arms. At the height of her success the ghosts of her past come back to remind her of the world she’d been trying to forget and the man who never let go of her heart.


Review:
Shelf Life begins about where The Publicist ends.  Kate continues to go back and forth on whether she can move in the same direction as the company.  She leaves the company and Mac and heads for California. Needless to say, the publishing world (and Mac) still have heart.  As with The Publicist, Shelf Life is well-written and includes a variety of characters and scenarios.

I read both books together and I would recommend others do the same as the story continues from one book to the other much as chapters do. Without reading The Publicist, I think a reader would be missing much.  



Meet the Author:

Christina George has worked in publishing for twenty years (give or take). Here’s what this book isn't. It’s not a slam against publishing (though it is broken) and it’s not a slam against authors (though some of them are crazy). This book is not autobiographical though many of the stories are true. No you won’t know which ones, cause it’s more fun to guess, right? George continues to work in publicity and helps authors because at the end of the day she does love books, she loves publishing, and she loves authors. She hopes you’ll enjoy this romp through Kate’s world as much as she enjoyed creating it.


Website: http://www.thepublicistnovel.com
Twitter: @publicistgal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kate.mitchell.528316

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Review: ORGANIZED FOR MURDER by Ritter Ames

Synopsis

The right business hook is the most important criteria for success, and Kate McKenzie thinks she’s found a perfect one. As an organizational expert, Kate knows Americans are running out of space and money, and renting more storage units is usually not the best solution. Starting an organizational business, Stacked in Your Favor, in her new hometown of Hazelton, Vermont seems like an answer to her family’s budget problems and an answer to southern Vermonters’ prayers. Business looks good when she snags collector, Amelia Nethercutt, as her first client, signing on to organize the wealthy woman’s eccentrically-filled mansion. But things take a turn beyond chaos when Amelia is murdered and Kate’s fingerprints are found on the poison that killed her.


Review
This is the first in a new series featuring Kate, organizer extraordinaire.  She has many good tips for how to organize and thinks this is the niche for her.  She no sooner gets the contract to "organize" (really inventory) a large old estate and the person who hired her, Amelia, is killed.  It ends up that Amelia was concerned about antique pieces that seem to go missing, some of which she had found being sold in a near by antique shop.  Someone is trying to frame Kate.  Her only solution to being framed and staying in business is to keep the job and do the inventory for the estate.  There are a lot of suspects, and organized as she is, Kate keeps a casebook of all the tidbits she finds out and her own suspicions.  Interesting new take on cozy mystery setting.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Cover Reveal: EMMA CHASE

Emma Chase Book Cover Final 5x8 jpg
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Synopsis
Her life is turned upside down by the one man who should have protected her from it all.
Emma is a survivor. Her father, who has taken off to avoid paying his debts to a well known drug dealer, has kept her down her entire life and she's learned enough from living in his world to take care of herself, because no one else will.
She finally gets her shot at love when she meets the handsome and protective Braden Holt, only to be forced to turn her back on him to protect him from her father's enemies.
Tragedy strikes and Emma has to decide if she is going to do what she always does, build up walls to shut everyone out, or pick herself up with the help of her friends and the man who loves her.
Teaser
Sins of a Father Teaser Pic
Excerpt
Jen
I can feel myself coming to, and immediately the pain hits me throughout my entire body. My eyes blink at the brightness. As I slowly roll over, my stomach wretches and I vomit all over myself.
My body curls into a fetal position of its own accord, arms wrapping around my knees. I look at what I can see of myself, taking stock of my current situation. From what I can tell through my swollen eyes, my arms and legs are badly beaten, my shoulder is dislocated—which I can only tell because it happened to me a couple of times as a kid—my sweater is torn, and my pants are around my ankles.
I peel back the hair that is glued to the side of my face by a mixture of what must be dried blood and vomit. I wince when I feel the huge, painful lump growing on my right cheekbone.
I force myself to move. I rise up on all fours and crawl to the nearest wall. Putting my hands to the wall, I attempt to bring myself to my feet. My legs give out from under me and I collapse, throwing up again.
My head feels heavy, like I’m in a thick dark cloud. My memories are fuzzy. I look around the room, and my living room is trashed. Definitely signs of a struggle. What the hell? What’s going on?
That’s when it hits me with a jolt through my body. I begin to sob uncontrollably. My mind is finally catching on, and it all comes rushing back to me. I start to shake violently, so I curl back into a fetal position to try to stop it. The waves are massive, and the toll it takes on me is unbearable. I feel overwhelmed with emotion over these memories that keep hitting me. Like one devastating blow after another. I lack control over my body as shock takes its hold on me, dragging me deep into myself.
Oh my God!
The last thing I remember is entering my apartment, and before I could shut and lock the door, I was on the floor, flat on my stomach. “You stupid bitch,” I heard a man say. If I thought hard enough, I was almost able to recognize that voice. “I told your father that I would get to you one way or another if I didn’t get my money.”
Shit.
“Your father knows better than to try to play me, darlin’” he growled.
Yes, I knew that voice.
At that moment of revelation, I was being lifted off the floor by my hair. I screamed and flailed my arms and legs, trying to make contact with my attacker to no avail.
He was angry, and I really didn’t think this was going to end well for me. He reached around and turned me to face him, but it was dark and I could barely make out his face. But I knew him. I could make it out just enough to know what I was dealing with. He backhanded me, my head snapped to the side, and then he punched me in the ribs. Next thing I knew, his fist made contact with my cheek and I went down hard on all fours. I had to get away, but I didn’t know where to go. I started to crawl to the door, my mind racing. The man kicked me over and over in the ribs and the stomach, and then he made contact with my head. I dropped to my stomach with a thud and tried to blink away the stars that were forming in front of my eyes. “Since Joe decided not to pay up, you will.”
I rolled to my side, holding my injured ribs with one hand and my head with the other, and through clenched teeth, I told him that I didn’t have enough to cover my father’s debts.
As if on cue, I heard him undo his zipper. “Well then, I can find other ways for you to settle Daddy’s debt.”
MeetTheAuthor
msjen
Jen Khan is that very unassuming gal at first sight due to her quiet nature, but look out when she lets you into her world. Buckle up and get ready for an adventure. You will find her at a party, or just out and about with friends sitting in the corner taking a minute to assess her surroundings and the people in it before she dives in with her quick witt, charm and slinging her endless supply of sarcasm. She’s a mom, aunt, teacher, dancing puppet to little people, chauffer, walking ATM, and master of all things domestic. She loves her son, family, friends, wine, giggling, singing out of tune and dancing like a fool. She has a zest for life that rubs off on everyone in her presence.
Jen has always been an aspiring writer/author. She woke up one morning realizing that it was time to make it happen. She is a teacher by trade which allowed her to put her skills to use. You will find adventure, suspense and always romance in her books.
Jen lives in Northern Virginia with her son. When she needs a break from the daily chaos of her life, you can most likely find her going out for a run, on her treadmill or with her beloved Kindle in hand.
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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

SPOTLIGHT: COVERED IN COAL by Silla Webb

Synopsis!!

Carly Jo Simon believed that Colton Weston was her future, but he shattered her heart into tiny pieces. Just like any little girl would, she assumed her daddy would always be by her side. Unbelievably, he turned his back on her when she needed him most, leaving her with no one in her life to turn to for support. Without options, Carly runs away from the only home she's ever known, leaving behind her heartache and the betrayal of the two men she loved most.

Seven years later, Carly reluctantly returns to Kentucky. Her daddy is dying of cancer and Colton is nothing like the boy she once loved and left. After her daddy passes, Carly must uproot her life in South Carolina and take control of Simon Coal Company, where she has no choice but face the pain of her past.
Can Carly keep her secrets buried deep beneath the black Kentucky coal and her heart safe from the fiery Colton Weston?

Meet the Author

Silla Webb is a Kentucky native, raised in the heart of the coal fields. A coal truck driver's daughter, and a railroader's wife, the coal fields own a special place in her heart.

She is a work at home, Super Momma to three rowdy boys, who keep her on her feet from daylight to sunset. As a pass time from her everyday life, Silla started a blog-Momma's Secret Book Obsession, for reviewing romance novels. From there, she realized that not only did she have a natural love for reading and reviewing, but she found that lost love of writing that she once had as a young girl.
When she isn't conquering the world as a wife, momma and Super Woman, Silla loves to lay on the front porch swing and read while sipping sweet tea, just passin' the day away.


Book Trailer Link:
BUY LINKS:
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/PK7TZZ
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1cSONe3

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