Guest Book Review - Whole Latte Love by Rachelle Ayala plus $20 Amazon/Paypal & Signed Book Giveaway

Investment banking intern Carina Chen doesn’t need any distractions—especially the sexy, guitar-playing barista she rooms with for the summer.

Free spirit Dylan Jewell appreciates the delightful universe of women who vie for his attention. His goal in life is to do good, make happy coffee, and help the homeless.

When Carina moves in, she insists on rules of conduct to quell her instant attraction to Dylan. But when her boss asks her to turn Dylan into a businessman, she can’t think of a reason not to take advantage of his hospitality.

Their chemistry is white hot, but Dylan refuses to play Carina’s game, unable to understand how he can fall in love with a woman who puts profits in front of people. When Carina realizes Dylan isn’t budging, she risks all to gain a single night with him. Will her gambit backfire or will Dylan discover Carina’s true heart before she runs away with his?

Set in Berkeley, California, Whole Latte Love is an opposites-attract romance mixing bluesy rock music, hot, steamy love scenes, and financial shenanigans.

Steamy love scenes and language. Suitable for readers 18+.

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Guest Book Review by Crystal Beck from So Fly: My Life With Flyball Dogs

Whole Latte Love is a book that brings together humor, the romance of a first love, and the hot, steamy element romance books are made of. On the base of things, the book follows the same basic plot highs and lows of most books in this genre. The great part, though, was the unexpected flips and turns in the plot. The entire thing was brought together by two very realistic, very human main characters in Carina and Dylan. They both have passions, flaws, and make mistakes, some of them endearing, some of them making you want to shake them and ask what they were thinking. The character development, not only of the two whose lives we follow in Carina and Dylan, but in the many supporting roles seen in their friends, family, and co-workers, helps set this book apart from so many mass market paperback romance novels that are too busy spending time with hot steamy sex scenes to bother giving the characters personality. Instead, the author manages to balance plot, character development, and (of course!), a few steamy elements, winding them all together into a very enjoyable book. I honestly stayed up way too late two nights in a row reading, promising myself just one more chapter.

Overall, a very enjoyable book. Well thought out, great characters, and well edited. And, I have to say, as a person who loves puns, the title makes me smile every time I read it.

About the Author

Rachelle Ayala is the author of dramatic fiction crossing genres and boundaries featuring strong but flawed characters. She writes emotionally challenging stories and is not afraid of controversial topics. However, she is an optimist and laces her stories with romance and hope.

Rachelle is an active member of online critique group, Critique Circle, and a volunteer for the World Literary Cafe. She is a very happy woman and lives in California with her husband. She has three children and has taught violin and made mountain dulcimers.

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NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

2 Winners !!
1st Prize - 1 x $20 Amazon / Paypal GC - 1 x Signed Book (winners choice) 
2nd Prize - 1 x $5 Amazon / Paypal GC- 1 x ebook (winners choice)  
Ending on Sunday 3rd August at 11.59pm EST
Open Worldwide

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Sharon x

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http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk 
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Guest Post from A Diary's House author C David Murphy

‘A Diary’s House’ as it relates to Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) Huck Finn

Some of the initial reviews for ‘A Diary’s House’ have indicated aspects of writing style, story structure and character development similar to Samuel Clemens. I suspect this has as much to do with the story backdrop, the venture of three friends in a galactic attempt to become men, fighting the heralds of a dangerous and mighty river, and then coming out on the other side being well-respected for doing so.

I won’t divorce myself from the similarities of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and of course, my main character Landon Hampshire while entailing the various adventures of all three. But the birth of such a novel as ‘A Diary’s House’ has much more to do with the ‘concept’ and ‘primary’ reason for its existence than the material or immaterial similarities that it may, in the end, present to the general readership.

If this were the case, the attempt to bring a favorable tale to light much as with Mark Twain during his day might have led to a very quick turnaround from initial inception, first rough draft, re-composition, edits, re-do’s, alterations in structure and character development, to the final product. Such a lengthy novel might take 1-2 years to perform. And in truth, the novel took as much time as this. But ‘A Diary’s House’, in its current form and only slightly altered with additional chapters and deeper supporting cast developments, is pretty much the same novel from a decade ago. There is one slight exception – the prologue and first chapter have had multiple re-writes.

Perhaps the greatest similarities come with the banter in the style’s uniqueness; unlike anything the reader has read. This is where we can draw the distinction and similarities in one breath – simply put, the narrative has such a distinctive ‘voice’ all it’s own. A normal, more standard narrative might cause the story to fall by the wayside and lose its dimension, its unique point of view, and thus the message is lost.

I deliberated over the style in narrative for a few months before I began even writing the story; pose different styles in a limited two page start, review, another two page start, review, and so on. I did this seven times before I finally settled on a ‘Victorian style’ (which suits Samuel Clemens era and personification). After all, the story holds its backdrop within that time frame.

Now I had the arduous task to make the story enjoyable enough for the current day readership - to relish in the descriptive, elongated style most attributable to the Victorian times and still have the merit to hold the current day reader’s attention span. This bridge-gap was perhaps the hardest to overcome.

Remember, the ‘primary’ reason was for it to be read aloud to my children, in storybook format, during their early years. This requires an altered state in the narrative; a more flowing, ‘flowery’ settlement and metaphorical use – which would appeal to a child’s burgeoning imagination.

Samuel Clemens, in similar aspect, wrote with a likewise, though variable impression. I certainly am honored by the comparisons, and I am sure ‘A Diary’s House’ will be compared to other works/writers as the novel gets more exposure.

C. David Murphy

Author of A Diary’s House

The author is having a contest for a KINDLE FIRE and 5 autographed copies of the book!! 

Fill out the form below to for a Chance to win. Ends October 31 

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Guest Post - Go Red! Educate YOUR Women Friends About Heart Health!!!

Every now and then we are going to have a guest post from one of my blogging friends to share with you all. A little something different for you all to read xx

Today we have - Go Red! Educate YOUR Women Friends About Heart Health!! from Mama Luvs Books

Are You Monitoring Your Heart Health?

 

I went to the "Go Red for Women" event today at the Rhode Island Convention Center put on by the American Heart Association. It was a wonderful event with educational sessions, display/information tables, a Twitter party during the event, and a nice healthy luncheon with motivational speakers. The facts about women and heart disease (and it continuing to be the #1 killer) is quite astounding. Did you know???

"The human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times during an average lifespan. But for many women, their lifetimes will be cut short by heart disease. Today, we will lose one woman every minute to heart disease. More women will die from heart disease, than from all cancers combined. And to rattle the feminists, heart disease now kills more women than men."- NationalHealthSolutions.com

It's very scary to know the risks and how many women you know in your life it could affect. We need to SHARE awareness with each other. We need to educate each other on the risk factors and on prevention. You need to eat healthy, exercise, know your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, weight), don't smoke, etc.  

Find out what she learned over at Mama Luvs Books

Guest Post - Taking Pictures of the Kids

Every now and then we are going to have a guest post from one of my blogging friends to share with you all. A little something different for you all to read xx

Today we have - Taking Pictures of the Kids from Hobbies on a Budget

I’m not a photographer….. but I love to take pictures of my kids! And when I take the time to take a picture I want it to ‘pop’.

Here’s a few things I’ve learned in my 9 1/2 years of being a Mom

Taking Pictures of the children

Take alot of shots! A posed picture will probably look exactly like a posed picture. The best shots capture a candid, relaxed expression. I often take a dozen pictures of one particular shot. Sometimes the one that becomes a keeper is the one they didn’t realize you were taking.

Get on their level!  Kids are usually shorter than adults….especially babies. Who wants to see a series of pictures of a child’s hair. Lean down, squat, or sit on the floor so you are looking straight on.

To read more of the tips go over to Hobbies on a Budget - click here

Guest Post - Coconut Chicken Curry

Every now and then  we are going to have a guest post from one of my blogging friends to share with you all. A little something different for you all to read xx

Today we have - A lovely Coconut Chicken Curry Recipe from The Kids Are Grown, Now What?

I received a jar of Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream. If you are looking for incredible fresh coconut taste without the hassle of cracking a coconut open, then this is for you. I found that it is easier to work with if you warm the jar a little. You can do this in either a pan of warm water or stick the jar in the microwave.

I am going to tell you a little secret. I have been sneaking spoonfuls of the coconut cream. This is so yummy! It is great as a spread or you can make my version of Coconut Chicken Curry.

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped into bite size pieces
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
1/4 C cilantro, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed (you can also use dehydrated garlic)
2 TBSP butter
2 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP arrowroot starch
2 C chicken stock
salt & pepper to taste
1 tsp curry powder (curry powder is a mixture of different spices)
1 TBSP green curry paste (can be found in the Asian foods section of your grocer)
1/2 C coconut cream concentrate

Check our her recipe over on her blog

Daily Guest Post - Beautiful Ice Candle Holder Made with a Balloon!

Every weekday, I am going to have a daily feature post from one of my blogging friends to share with you all. A little something different for you all to read xx


Today we have -
Beautiful Ice Candle Holder Made with a Balloon! from Slop Swap
(yes you did read balloon!!)

My husband and I went to a retirement party last weekend and lining the driveway were these beautiful round ice candle holders. I absolutely loved them and had to attempt to make them myself!

I’m going to have to attempt it a few times but here’s my first attempt with instructions so you can try it too.

First, I’d recommend buying a heavy duty 12″ balloon. I got a smaller size but it still worked. (this is one of the reasons I say I’m going to have to attempt it again.)

Read the full instructions on the full post here