Heroes and Hounds by Bill Miller Tour with #Giveaway

Heroes and Hounds
Author: Bill Miller
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781456310363
Genre: Young Adult, Adventure

About the Book:

Heroes and Hounds is a wonderfully charming story about a young girl’s adventures with her pony and her friend as she seeks to fulfill her dream of riding “to the hounds” with the hunt. Although the story is written for young audiences, it has multi-generational appeal as it touches on such issues as the plight of families with parents in military service and the welfare of veterans. Anyone who loves horses, dogs and other animals will enjoy this book. The illustrations are beautiful and create a nostalgia of their own in their old-style look reminiscent of children’s books decades ago.

Carly is 11 years old and lives with her grandfather on a 200-acre Virginia farm while both parents serve in the military overseas. She loves the farm, and befriends all of the animals including a sneaky red fox that stalks her grandfather’s prize chickens. Her best friend is her pony, Monroe, who shares her enthusiasm for adventure. Carly’s constant dream is to ride with the Riverdale Hunt Club that passes through her grandfather’s property.

On one particularly rainy Saturday, Carly watches from her front porch as the finely dressed ladies and gentlemen ride to the hounds. Later in the day, Carly finds out that a young hound named Hampton has become lost and Carly is determined to find him and by so doing endear herself to the hunt’s Master; perhaps to be asked to ride Monroe in an upcoming meet. Carly enlists the help of her friend, Freddie, but the adventure is just beginning. Carly, Monroe, Hampton and the red fox have no idea what’s dangers await them.

My Thoughts:

Carly is an eleven year old girl who loves horses and dreams of one day riding with the local hunt club. When one of the hounds wanders from the pack, Carly sets out on an adventure to look for him. This adventure goes well above and beyond what she bargained for.

Mr. Miller pens a delightful tale that can only come from one who loves and understands horses. He utilizes that understanding throughout his whole book, creating a character that loves her horse, Monroe, like a best friend. This creates a realistic character and one that anyone who loves horses (or animals) can identify with.

This heartwarming and beautifully illustrated story is not only entertaining, but contains some very good lessons about obedience, truthfulness, friendship, and misconceptions. Although it is marketed to the young adult audience, this is one book that can span many age groups.

This is a captivating read that is perfect for any family library. I look forward to seeing more books from Mr. Miller!

About the Author:

Bill Miller has been riding to the hounds for the over 40 years. For nearly 20 years he has been an honorary whipper-in for the Norfolk Hunt Club. Bill is also actively involved in Team Penning during the summer months. He lives on a small farm in Sherborn, Massachusetts with his wife, three horses and dog. When not working with horses, Bill is an independent film director and cinematogrpaher. His TV shows and commercials have been viewed by millions worldwide and he has won three Emmys and numerous other industry awards. He has also been widely published in trade magazines. Bill is also creative director for Spirit of the American Cowboy Foundation, a non-profit organization which raises money for pediatric cancer research.

If you would like to learn more about Mr. Miller or his work, you can visit him at:
Book website
Personal website
Facebook
Twitter
GoodReads

To see what others have to say about Mr. Miller's book, a video trailer or read an excerpt from the book, please visit the tour page.

Giveaway

Mr. Miller is offering one e-copy of his book to one lucky reader of this blog. Just fill out the form below and come back to tweet daily for more chances to win this delightful book! This contest is global.

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect by Bob Thiel, Ph.D.

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect
Author: Bob Thiel,Ph.D.
Publisher: Nazarene Books
Genre: non-fiction

About the Book:

No other book includes so many prophecies from the Mayan records, I Ching, Islam, Talmud, Catholic writings, Byzantine predictions, Hopis, Hindus, Buddhists, New Age Movement, Kenyan predictions, Book of Mormon, Chinese predictions, Tibetan writings, various scientists, and other sources in the light of Bible prophecy.

2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect: A Revolutionary Spiritual and Physical Survival Guide for 2012-2020 is a groundbreaking investigative work that goes beyond way beyond the usual doomsday flaming meteor and tidal wave scenarios. Award-winning researcher and end time prophecy expert, Dr. Bob Thiel, disseminates and later compares ancient prophecies of the world's 11 major religions, explains which prophecies are not likely to occur and describes which world changing events are inevitable. Of particular interest to anyone interested in the events leading up to and following 2012 is the book's Sequential Order of Predictions, a comparable table and time line. A masterful and well-researched work unlike any other on the subject, 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect will change the way we look at, and prepare for, the most anticipated date in human history.

My Thoughts:

I almost passed up the chance to review this book, as most books on End-Times Prophecy seems to be unsubstantiated and with much opinion from the author(s). I'm not sure what made me agree to review this book, but when it arrived, I was very impressed with the amount of research that went into it.

I found that Dr. Thiel had a great many resources that he drew from, including different religions and history. Seeing this, I wasn't sure how dry the reading was going to be, but was pleased to discover that Dr. Thiel had written a very easy to read and understand book that laid out proof for the reader to draw their own conclusions on. Mind you, he does have is own opinions, and I won't say I agree with everything, but he has some very valid points.

I found that many interesting facts that show that although there are different religions, we really seem to believe much of the same things. This really was an eye-opener for me! I'm looking forward to really spending more time studying this book. I really didn't have the time to dig as deeply as I'd like because of my time frame to read for this tour. There is a wealth of information between the covers of this fascinating book!

I would recommend 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect to anyone that is interested in End-Times Prophecy or just to those interested in a well researched book about the ideas and prophecies of different religions/religious beliefs.

About the Author:

Bob Thiel, Ph.D., is a highly regarded researcher, biblical scholar, and one of the world's foremost authorities on end time prophecies. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of LaVerne, a Master's degree from the University of Southern California, and a Ph.D. from the Union Institute and University. Throughout his academic and professional career, he has studied philosophy, religion, science, and prophecy, while making multiple research trips to ancient sites in Central America, Asia Minor, Rome, and Greece. Dr. Thiel has been a guest on countless radio programs nationwide, and is Examiner.com's Los Angeles religious history and prophecy correspondent. His articles on prophecy, religion and science have appeared in several dozen magazines, newspapers, trade publications, and scientific journals. His videocasts are seen weekly on YouTube and to the hundreds of thousands of visitors to his site, COGwriter.

GIVEWAWAY!!!

Dr. Thiel has been very generous and has offered two copies of his book - one print for US readers and one in e-copy format for International readers of this blog. For a chance to win this amazing book, please fill out the form below:



I received a copy of this book to read and honestly review for this tour.

Tour & #Giveaway: A New Prospect by Wayne Zurl

I am very pleased to be able to host today's tour. Wayne Zurl was an author I had not heard of before this tour. After reading his book, 'A New Prospect', he has found a permanent place on my bookshelf. I am anticipating the release of his next novel and anticipating collecting all his novels (yes, he's that good!)  


Now you can add this novel to your own shelf. Wayne is generously offering a copy of his novel to two lucky readers! Please see details below.

A New Prospect
Author: Wayne Zurl
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Publication Date: January 20th, 2011

Format(s): eBook and Trade Paperback
Number of pages: 274
ISBN : 9781935605720
Genre: Fiction - Police Mystery
Content Warning: Mild Sexual References

About the Book:

Sam Jenkins never thought about being a fish out of water during the twenty years he spent solving crimes in New York. But things change, and after retiring to Tennessee, he gets that feeling. Jenkins becomes a cop again and is thrown headlong into a murder investigation and a steaming kettle of fish, down-home style. The victim, Cecil Lovejoy, couldn't have deserved it more. His death was the inexorable result of years misspent and appears to be no great loss, except the prime suspect is Sam's personal friend. Jenkins' abilities are attacked when Lovejoy's influential widow urges politicians to reassign the case to state investigators. Feeling like "a pork chop at a bar mitzvah" in his new workplace, Sam suspects something isn't kosher when the family tries to force him out of the picture. In true Jenkins style, Sam turns common police practice on its ear to insure an innocent man doesn't fall prey to an imperfect system and the guilty party receives appropriate justice. A NEW PROSPECT takes the reader through a New South resolutely clinging to its past and traditional way of keeping family business strictly within the family.

My Thoughts:

Have you ever started a book and had to put it aside to find out more about the author? That's what I ended up doing with "A New Prospect". When I started reading, I found myself absorbed in Chief Sam Jenkins' world because Sam seemed real - I mean really REAL. The Chief was spot on - his actions, his thoughts, his humor - it all said realism. I ended up putting the book aside to do a little checking on Mr. Zurl and what he did for a living before he was a writer. Just as I thought, he knew all about law enforcement. I found that exciting, because these are the books I adore - written from experience. There's a quality that experience  brings to the story that seems to be missing many of the police mystery type novels.

Chief Sam Jenkins is a 60 year old educated and humorous man who has captured my heart (and every other woman it seems he as contact with). He's charming, witty, and references many movies, books and music that shows his age and education - something lost on many of his co-workers and townsfolk. I cannot tell you how many times I laughed out loud and had to read things to my husband because they were so worthy of sharing. Even hubby got a chuckle out of them!

This is a clean read - no sex, although there are some mild sexual references (some are really funny!). There is adult language, but it comes from characters and situations that it would be appropriate from and was not overly done. I appreciated the way certain situations were handled - no bullying or outlandish roughness, and sometimes with care and concern. I found Sam's temperament, restraint, and humor really added depth to the story.

Mr. Zurl has created a character that has found a permanent place on my bookshelf. I look forward to the next novel in the series. Sam is a character I want to visit with again and again. He's my new hero!!

About the Author:

Wayne Zurl grew up on Long Island and retired after twenty years with the Suffolk County Police Department, one of the largest municipal law enforcement agencies in New York and the nation. For thirteen of those years he served as a section commander supervising investigators. He is a graduated of SUNY, Empire State College and served on active duty in the US Army during the Vietnam War and later in the reserves. Zurl left New York to live in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with his wife, Barbara.

Eight (8) of his Sam Jenkins mysteries have been produced as audio books and simultaneously published as eBooks. His first full length novel, A New Prospect, was named Best Mystery at the 2011 Indie Book Awards by the Independent Publishing Professional's Group. It is also available on Kindle.
If you would like to learn more about Wayne or his work, please visit him at: http://www.waynezurlbooks.net

You can also find him on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/waynezurl

GIVEAWAY!!

Entering is simple, just fill out the form below:

I received an e-copy of  A New Prospect  to read and honestly review for this tour.

#Giveaway "Key of Solomon" by Cassiel Knight - Tour & Review

Welcome to Cassiel Knight's "Relic Defender: Key of Solomon Tour"! Cassiel has penned an exciting page-turner that features a strong woman and a very dark and dangerous male. Certainly a story you won't want to miss. Cassiel is giving one lucky reader of this blog an eBook of "Key of Solomon", so make sure you enter this great giveaway. (See below for details)

Relic Defender: Key of Solomon
Author: Cassiel Knight
Genre: Fiction: Paranormal Romance
Published by: Samhain Publishing
Publication Date: March 1, 2011
Content Warning: Mild Sex Scene
Recommended Age: 18+
Format(s): eBook
ISBN 13: 978-1-60928-372-8
 
Synopsis:

Anthropology PhD candidate Lexi Harrison never bares it all when she belly dances for a strip club crowd. She doesn't have to--she's that good. Every performance earns money towards her degree, and restores the sense of power that her painful childhood ripped away.

Something is different about tonight. A man whose silver gaze seems to touch her skin beneath her veils. When a rowdy customer crosses the line, he comes to her rescue with the speed of a hawk--complete with wings.

Mikos Tyomni has never seen anyone dance the raqs sharqi like Lexi. Trust his tormentor, Archangel Michael, to put him in close contact with the cause of his downfall: a mortal woman. Particularly this mortal woman. The Defender. He has only thirty days to win her trust before Hell's deadliest demon attempts the mother of all prison breaks.

No matter how sexy the messenger is, Lexi's career plans don't include the crazy idea that she's the last line of defense against the forces of evil. Until her university mentor's murder leaves her holding the key to Hell. And fighting a losing battle against a passion forbidden by Heaven.

Buy the BOOK at:

Amazon.com – Kindle
Amazon.ca – Paperback Pre-order
Amazon.co.uk – Kindle
Barnes & Noble – NOOKBook
Samhain Publishing
Lulu – eBook

My Thoughts:

Lexi is a strong woman who has worked hard to get to where she is now. She's almost finished with her education and wants so badly to start working in her field of anthropology. Things don't go as planned and she soon finds that the one person she greatly respected has died an untimely death. From there, Lexi discovers that's not the only surprise she's going to have to deal with...

I really enjoyed this story of a strong female character who learns she needs to deal with change - and quickly. Lexi is a likeable, but sometimes terribly dumb for being so smart. She is stubborn and sometimes I got frustrated with her, wanting to tell her to just listen for a change.

When Mikos enters the picture, I wasn't sure what side to put him on at first. Dark and dangerous and totally gorgeous - could he really be a good guy? He was certainly a character I ended up rooting for, and was somewhat on the fence on how I wanted the story to turn out. I won't say any more for fear of a spoiler, but let me say, you won't be disappointed in this book. It is a page turner.

If you enjoy good vs evil action stories, you will certainly enjoy this novel.

Author Bio:

In the job that pays the mortgage and allows her to indulge in her real passion, writing, Kim Wollenburg, writing as Cassiel Knight, works for Clackamas County in the beautiful state of Oregon. Crazily passionate about the writing industry, Kim published a paranormal romance with Samhain Publishing and has a post-apocalypse novella coming in early 2012 from Lyrical Press. She writes paranormal romances with kick-assitude that blend archeology and mythology -- just a few of her favorite things. Kim is the proud current president of Rose City Romance Writers, a feisty bunch of talented writers who are just as passionate about writing as they are about helping each other succeed.

When she's not writing or doing writing-related things, Kim enjoys spending time with her patient and loving husband of 20 years and thrives with the adorable companionship of her three Shih Tzus: Ginger, Abby and Chloe.

Where you can find and follow Cassiel Knight:

Author Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook Profile
Goodreads Profile

GIVEAWAY:

Now, I know this is just what you've been waiting for... A chance to win an E-book copy of Key of Solomon. All you need to do is follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below and enter as much or as little as you wish. Good Luck!

I received an e-copy of "Key of Solomon" to read and honestly review for this tour.

Tour: "Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen" by Robin Siegerman

Today we welcome Robin Siegerman, Award Winning Interior Designer and author of "Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen". For those thinking about renovating their kitchens, this is a great resource to have on hand.  Robin is offering a special tour offer for our readers so make sure you check out the special offer below.

Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen
Author: Robin Siegerman
Publisher: Yorkshire Publishing (June 15, 2011)
Paperback with 172 pages
ISBN: 9780881445022


Book Synopsis:

Shopping trips to discover trends, cabinet styles, counter top materials, appliances and plumbing fixtures are only the opening skirmishes when planning a kitchen renovation battle plan. Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen is the ultimate step-by-step, behind-the-scenes manual to remodel a kitchen. This must-have manifesto is loaded with "before" and "after" photos, drawings, questionnaires, lists, and "Tales from the Trenches" from the author's own jobsites. Packed with practical, no-nonsense advice, checklists and proven recommendations, the book will help the novice and seasoned renovator alike plot a logical course of action before jumping into the fray.

Learn how to:
• determine how long it should take
• de-code the design process
• establish a budget
• hire a contractor
• ask the right questions when shopping for cabinetry, appliances and materials and so much more.

Armed with this renovation road map, homeowners can plan their strategy so they won't just survive, they'll save time, money, sanity and win the renovation war!
 

This book is not meant to be a DIY guide. The author does not advocate DIY kitchen projects since it is the most dangerous room in the house to renovate.

 

You can buy the BOOK at:

Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.co.uk
Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts:

As someone who really wants to renovate our kitchen, this book is just the help that we could use. It has given us a realistic look at what can and can't be done with our budget as well as with our experience. It covers a LOT of good information and gives one a lot to think about and consider. I do like the workbook pages, as they really cover things I hadn't considered. Lighting, how I want my appliances, waste bins, etc. The little things I'm sure I would have forgotten.

This book is not a DIY book, but instead, one that will help you figure out what you want and how you want it, and  keep it within the budget you have to work with. It is necessary to contact a contractor and know what you want before you talk to him. Walking in unprepared will just get you a kitchen you spent a lot of money on and are still not satisfied with. The kitchen is one of the most expensive upgrades to your house, so why wouldn't you want to go in educated and prepared? This book will help you do that!

About the Author:

Robin Siegerman is a Registered Interior Designer and international, award-winning, Certified Kitchen Designer. With almost 20 years experience designing and managing home renovations, owner and principal designer of Sieguzi Kitchen & Home Inc., she sets a new standard for the kitchen renovation guide with Renovation Bootcamp™: Kitchen. 

Her columns, articles and projects have been featured in newspapers, magazines and coffee table books, she is a regularly featured designer on various TV and radio shows and is a popular speaker at trade and home shows.

Where you can find and follow Robin Siegerman:

Author Website
Author Blog
Twitter
Facebook Page
Facebook Profile
LinkedIn Profile

EXCITING NEWS!!! 

A special page has been created for this tour so that when you purchase a copy of "Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen" on October 18th from Amazon.com or .ca, you can enter your receipt number on this special page and claim dozens of bonuses and free gifts! For more information, please visit:
http://www.renovationbootcamp.net/BonusPromo/

I received an e-copy of "Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen" to read and honestly review for this tour.

"Rhapsody for Lessons Learned or Remembered" by Georgia Ann Banks-Martin

Rhapsody for Lessons Learned or Remembered
Author: Georgia Ann Banks-Martin
Published by: Plain View Press (November 1st, 2010)
Genre: Poetry
Format: Mass-Market Paperback
ISBN: 978-1935514640
Number of pages: 80
Age Recommendation: 18+ for Adult & Mature Themes

About the Book:

"Georgia Banks-Martin walks us through an art gallery. We view art, which she has processed and questions, through her lens: Lawrence, Monet, Van Gogh, Beardon, Sargent, Degas, to name a few of the artists. She challenges the reader to face slavery, grief, and joy, to feel the weight the South bears, to examine art across centuries for lessons. These poems revive what has been omitted in our history books-individual life stories. She uses sound, music and voice to make imagery pulse in these ekphrastic poems. In her poem "Railroad Station," after a Jacob Lawrence: "Those leaving the towns where father and mother/labored in fields without being offered a yard of thread spun/from the cotton they pulled, have assembled./Packed: Hopes of work, three bedroom homes/water heated in water tanks, classrooms." as memories populate her poems, so does the theme of hope permeate her book; in Death Dancing, after a Max Slevogt: "I wish memories could be buried as easily as bodies."...a book to remember as you stand face to face with art." - Julene Tripp Weaver, Author of No Father Can Save Her

Buy the BOOK at:
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca
Amazon.uk
Books-A-Million
Waterstones
Barnes & Noble.com

My Thoughts:

I am not a huge fan of poetry, so I almost let this book pass me by, yet there was something captivating about the cover and title that made me give it a second glance. I decided to go to Amazon and preview it and was instantly hooked.

Each poem is not very long, but in those lines, so much is said. I have hear others speak about painting with words, but until now, I've never truly experienced that in poetry. Each poem was powerful and said so much, and I could actually visualize those thoughts, like walking through a gallery and looking at a row of paintings. This book had the same effect on me as the National Gallery did the first time I visited. Each is so full of life and feeling, that I really needed to reflect on what I experienced from each one.

Georgia Ann Banks-Martin has made me look at poetry in a new light. She has made me want to explore what this genre has to offer and that, in itself, says volumes!

About the Author:

Georgia Ann Banks-Martin grew up on the southwest side of Detroit and moved to Montgomery, AL, where she completed her final year of high school. She earned her BA in English, Language Arts at Huntingdon College, Montgomery, AL, her M.F.A. (Poetry) at Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies at Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpentaria, CA. She and her husband, Roger D. Martin currently live in Montgomery, AL with their dog and three lovely cats.

Where you can find and follow Georgia Ann Banks-Martin
Author Website
Poets & Writers Forum
Facebook Page
Facebook Profile

An e-book was supplied so that I could give my honest opinion about the contents.