Cheryl's Book Nook

I saw this over at J. Kaye's blog and knew I just had to check out this challenge. Here is the direct link to the guidelines and sign up over at Stainless Steel Droppings. This challenge runs from August 24th to October 31st. I choose Peril the First Read any four books from the following genres Mystery Suspense Thriller Dark Fantasy Gothic Horror Supernatural Here are my four books: Ruined by Paula Morris -supernatural Even Money by Dick Francis -mystery Love You To Death by Shannon K. Butcher -thriller Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge -dark fantasy

I wnnt to thank Nicole Barker for sending me a copy of this book to review. Melanie, Rachel, Jenny and Beth are good friends. They all attend the same high school. They were all sitting around during lunch commenting on Christine McCady and how great she looks. The girls are jealous and decide that they are going to all go on a diet. Besides keeping busy with dieting and school, Beth has found herself occupied with a certain boy. Jeremy and Beth grew up together. Jeremy lives across the street. It wasn’t till recently when they both started to see each other as boy and girl an not just friends. Jeremy really likes Beth and thinks she is perfect the way she is. He can’t understand why she is dieting. All of Beth’s friends are impressed with how Beth looks till…Beth takes things to far. I thought Dancing with Ana was a sad and emotional read. This is good. It made me really become connected with Beth and Jeremy. I appreciated that Beth had someone like Jeremy in her life that cared and l...

Evil at Heart is the third book in this wildly popular series featuring serial killer, Gretchen Lowell and detective Archie Sheridan. In Sweetheart, Gretchen promised Archie as he was dying for the second time that she would not kill anymore people. Archie held her to that promise. Flash forward to the present. Gretchen is gone but not forgotten. Besides, who could ever forget the beautiful, sinister Gretchen Lowell? She is on almost every magazine cover, on the lips of very person in Portland and there is even a book about her. So she may be gone but she has etched a special place in Archie’s heart. After his second close encounter with Gretchen, Archie admitted himself into a psychiatrist hospital. Things have been pretty quiet till now…stuffed in a toilet at a rest stop was the pieces of internal organs as well as a pair of eyeballs cut out and taken from some poor soul. It seems that Gretchen has broken her promise. Archie wasn’t convinced at first that Gretchen is responsible till...

I want to thank J Lou McCartney for sending me a copy of this book to review. Ten years ago, Ella Reynolds and her friends were just hanging out having fun in London, England when Ella met the dashing Dante Moretti. Dante enchants Ella from the first moment he meets her. It seems like these two are great together but Dante gets called away from their date and Ella does hear from or see from Dante again. Before Ella can contemplate what happened, she receives she terrible news involving her father. With her father gone, Ella inherits their car company. First she has to learn the ropes. Marcus, a man who works for the company and who her father trusted is in charge of teaching Ella all about the business. Dante may just be a hit man for the Mafia but he has a secret. One that will have everyone involved fighting for their lives. Ella doesn’t know it but her life is about to change and maybe not for the best. This book starts out with a huge explosion…literally. Ella and a friend have onl...

I want to thank Caitlin with FSB Associates for sending me a copy of this book to review. The World According to Twitter is a collective collaboration of humorous, creative, goofy, and some cheesy lines from people that twitter. David Pogue is a weekly tech columnist for the New York Times. He also twitters. He was showing a company how twitter works and told his wife how some of the responses from people were so good but that he wished others could see the responses and not just the person asking the question. His wife suggested he put a book together…and hence The World According to Twitter was created. Mr. Pogue decided that he would ask a question every night at 11 pm for a while. Why 11 pm? Mr. Pogue explains that this is because hopefully most people would be online from the US to other countries. Some of the questions asked were: “What’s the most memorable pickup line you ever heard?” Some of the responses were: “I’m thinking about becoming a pirate so I can get some of your...

Criminal prosecutor Hailey Dean was brilliant. When neither the authorities or the citizens of Georgia at first would consider the fact that they had a serial killer on their hands, it was Hailey who helped point out the obvious. It was also her that put Clint Burrell Cruise away in prison. The day Cruise was sentenced was also the day Hailey quit her job and moved to New York to be a therapist. Hey there is only so much a woman can put up with…losing her fiancé and being strangled by a serial killer and almost dying in the process. Hailey is just getting her life back together, when a blast from her past reappears. Cruise is out of prison and wants revenge. Hailey better watch it as this time she may not escape with her life. Author Nancy Grace is the TV host of Nancy Grace, a legal analysis television program. She used to be a special prosecutor. The beginning of this book had my attention but about a third of the way in I had lost some interest and never got it back. While I liked H...

I want to thank Sarah Pawley for sending me a copy of her book to review. Jack Langdon is the oldest. He has two brothers and one sister. When Jack was just nine years old, he can remember his grandmother telling him that someday a very special lady will come into his life and he will be her champion. Jack has been a pillar for his family. His mother, brothers and sister depend on him. Jack is ready for a change. To escapes his family and make his way in life, Jack enlists in the military. While fighting, he gets injured. He meets a nice young, nurse but his persist ways, turn her off. Jack returns him to many changes. His father barely acknowledges his existence for leaving his family, his mother still sees him as her little boy. The only person that is really excited to have Jack back is his sister…Grace. To Grace, Jack has always been her white knight in shining armor. Jack thinks about packing up and leaving again but that was before he met the lovely Alice Miller, the local sch...

I want to give a big thank you to author Sandra McLeod Humphrey for allowing me to host this giveaway. She is giving away 2 copies of each book, that is 6 winners total. As if this wasn't good enough, she will personally autograph the books. Dare to Dream: 25 Extraordinary Lives Magical heroes like Harry Potter, Spiderman, or Catwoman provide plenty of entertainment for kids, but in real life heroes are made of sterner stuff than celluloid fantasies. In this inspiring collection of biographies, 26 ordinary people from all walks of life overcome great obstacles in order to attain their extraordinary dreams. USA Book News Best Books Award Finalist and Indie Excellence Book Award Winner. For Ages 10 and Up. Hot Issues, Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Put-Downs is a collection of 26 vignettes depicting various forms of bullying with thought questions following each vignette. All the vignettes are based on true experiences related to me by students during m...

Hello all. I am excited because I was interviewed by a Amy from Park Avenue Princess . See my interview and rules on here to enter to win a copy of this book. Also while you are over visiting the castle, check out the other giveaways Amy is hosting. She has over 20 items to give away !

Sherry Moore was born with no eye sight. That has not stopped her from becoming a talented psychic and helping out the police on many cases. The unique thing is that on every case Sherry has worked on, she gains the gift of sight but only for eighteen seconds. Besides being a psychic, Sherry also has the ability to see through the eyes of the dead and retains the deceased’s memories for the last eighteen seconds, right before their death. This is a great help to the authorities and Sherry is able to identify the killer. Because of Sherry’s interesting job, it would only be fitting that she have just as an exciting boyfriend. His name is Brian Metcalf. He is a Navy SEAL. Hanging out with Brian can be deadly. Sherry ends up coming in contact with some radiation. The effects of the radiation causes Sherry to have horrible optical headaches. She decides to check herself into a hospital for treatment. There Sherry meets the body of Thomas Monahan. Mr. Monahan died at a mental institute. She...

Rizzo and his new partner, Mike McQueen are adjusting to one another. Rizzo is a veteran NYPD cop. His old partner found himself needing some money and owing a bookie, lots of money, in addition to drawing red flags with Internal Affairs for some of his actions on duty. Mike is quiet and by the books; whereas Rizzo makes his own rules and doesn’t care what anyone else says. When Rosanne, the mentally unstable daughter of a famous city councilman goes missing, it is up to Rizzo and Mike to locate her. Their investigation leads to the dark, shady part of Brooklyn. This duo better watch their backs, as someone does not appreciate all their questions. Rizzo’s War is the debut novel by Lou Manfredo. Though Rizzo has a tough as nails type of personality and makes his own rules, he grew on me towards the end of the book. Working as a cop, especially a NYPD cop, you need to be the type of person that does not let anything effect you. I liked Rizzo and his partner, Mike McQueen but let me a lit...

I want to thank author, Rebecca K. O'Connor for sending me a copy of her bookto review. Keep a watch out for this book, which releases in November. Ok, so what is Lift? Lift is author, Rebecca K. O’Connor’s memoir regarding her love for Peregrine Falcons. When Rebecca was just a little girl, she got a chance to see a Peregrine Falcon up close. Ever since that moment she knew she had found her dream job. She raising and trains Peregrine Falcons. She has attended many events. People who raise Peregrines are called a “Falconer”. These people are very special. I don’t say this because it takes a lot to get chosen to be a falconer but because it requires you to have a lot of patience and dedication to train a peregrine. This book didn’t really read like the type of memoirs that I am used to reading. I usually stray from memoirs only because if not written and done right, these books can be dull and uninteresting. I am excited to say that Lift does not fall in this category. Lift gives y...

I want to thank Marnie for sending me a copy of this book to review. Taylor Green has lived a sheltered life. He is taken by surprise when he moves to the Big Apple and gets hired on as a Junior Account Executive at the notorious public relations company of Jennifer Weinstein. Jennifer is the biggest diva. She just may be bigger than the clients she represents. It isn’t long before Taylor gets swept up into the catty world of backstabbing, rumors, parties, and the all around kookiness that is the pr world of celebrities. Spin is Mr. Rave's debut novel. Spin is a combination of Friends and Sex in the City. It had that witty humor that I love, in addition to fabulous clothes and lots of juicy gossip. There were times when it felt like the characters were having weird acid trip moments. Which they probably were as it is easy when you are famous or hang around famous people to have access to all kinds of stuff. Though those times made for some very interesting moments…like the time ...

I want to thank Sarah with St. Martin's Press for sending me a copy of this book to review. The Devil’s Queen is based on Catherine de Medici. Catherine came from a famous family. Her family was Duke of Urbino and her mother was Countess of Boulogne. At the age of fourteen her parents were killed. Catherine was sent to captivity. Luckily she didn’t have to stay imprisoned for very long, as she was married off to Prince Henry. Henry had more of a fondness for his mistress than he did for Catherine. Catherine used to dabble in astronomy and some of the dark arts when she was younger. She stopped till now. Catherine became very protective of her sons and she grew stronger, especially when Henry died. The Devil’s Queen is the first book I have read by Jeanne Kalogridis. Having not been familiar with Catherine de Medici, I did some research to learn more about this woman. I was amazed to learn how much power she possessed. What was even scarier is that in The Devil’s Queen, Catherine wa...

I am excited to be a part of this blog tour for one of my favorite authors. Sex therapist, Saylor Oz is back. After taking on the bad guys in Aphrodisiac with a killer perfume, Saylor and her best friend Benita are ready to take on another mystery. Benita’s brother, Angel is in prison. He has been found guilty of murdering three up and coming models. Benita asks for Saylor’s help in clearing her brother. This case is right up Saylor’s alley. Saylor analyzes the case and realizes that she has seen this murder before…in a really bad, cheesy porn video called Bad, Bad, Babydoll. The main actress was called Babydoll and she killed her competition…three models! Babydoll shot them in the head and cut a piece of their hair and kept it in a coffee can. Saylor believes that someone has reacted Bad, Bad, Babydoll. Mr. Sneed, Angel’s attorney does not believe Saylor but he directs her to Private Investigator John Lavender just to get her out of his hair. Saylor knows she is onto something. She m...

I got a chance to host bestselling author, Lisa Jackson. Read as she discusses the characters fromher new series It was my editor's idea for me to write a book with two female cops as the lead characters. My initial reactions weren't all that favorable. I think they were: "What?" and "Is he out of his mind?" and "Does he mean something like Cagney and Lacey" the old 1980s television show. My immediate reaction was "No way." But, as is often the case, the idea grew on me and I saw not cops in the city, but two detectives in the raw Montana wilderness. Those detectives grew in my mind. the first was Regan Pescoli, a hard-as-nails single mother, who has trouble with her ex-husband, teenaged kids, and hot lover. Regan just can't seem to be all places at once. Then there is her partner, Selena Alvarez, a transplant from Woodburn, Oregon who is wound tight as a bobbin in my mother's old Singer sewing machine and has a lot of dark secret...

Dallas/ Ft. Worth , TX —The overwhelming percentage of adults who come to Christ (as many as 80%) do so during a time of crisis. One study estimates that 15% of adults in America will face some crisis during any twelve-month period. We encounter these hurting people every day through our routine tasks and errands. Many won’t go to a church, but they still need someone with whom to talk. What if we could transform these everyday encounters into intentional, eternal opportunities? With the help of a dynamic new program, you can claim your own community as your mission field. Community Chaplains of America training equips laypeople with the skills to minister to others during a time of crisis. Ordinary Christians with a heart for the lost and hurting can train to become a chaplain who will be present with people during times of crisis and gain permission to share the hope found in Christ. This “ministry of presence” is particularly crucial in reaching people who are not connected to a chu...

I want to thank Tony with Blue Dot Literary for sending me a copy of this book to review. This book starts out with an important event that rocked the world. The year is 1981. The day is May 13. A day people will remember for a long time. Pope John Paul, the second was shot at by Mehmet Ali Agca. Mehmet tried to assassinate the Pope. He was captured and questioned. This story than flashes forward to the present day, where members of a secret group, known as The Holy Alliance and a group of others that include Sarah Monterio, a journalist, Marius Ferris, a retired priest as well as a few others that are trying to solve the mystery of what really happened to Pope John Paul, the first. History has it that Pope John Paul, the first died of a heart attack after serving in office for only thirty-three days. Though with any famous person, there was great controversy as to the real cause of death. Can this group of people solve the mystery of Pope John Paul, the first’s death? The Holy ...

I want to thank Harrison with Bancroft Press for sending me a copy of this book to review. Heath Wellington III and his father, Heath Wellington Junior are having a hard time communicating with each other, especially since his mother left and his father won’t listen to him. Heath has been suspended from school but it wasn’t his fault. Of course his father doesn’t believe him. Heath can’t wait till he can leave home. When they receive new that Heath Wellington Senior has passed away and in order to claim their fortune they have to run the bed and breakfast that Senior left behind for three months, otherwise they can kiss their fortune good bye. Heath has never known his grandfather. His father was estranged with his own father and couldn’t wait to get away. After they arrive at the B&B, they meet a group of very interesting characters. Thanksgiving at the Inn is author, Tim Whitney’s debut novel. This had a nice story to it as well as some interesting characters. Though of all the...

I want to thank Danielle with Sourcebooks for sending me a copy of this book to review. Abby is an occupational therapist. She was about to get married when she found her fiancé with another woman. Abby needed to get away for a little while. She decided to go on her honeymoon alone. Hey, why not when she isn’t going to get a refund. Luke and his brother Aaron used to compete for women. They were a pair of players, only thinking about one night stands. That was than and this is now. Luke was in an accident that left him without the sight of his right eye and scars. Luke is a changed man both physically and emotionally. Luke’s father, Bart and Aaron can’t stand to see Luke mope around. When they learn Abby is an occupational therapist, they convince her to stay for a while and help Luke. Luke isn’t the only one that needs healing. Can Luke and Abby help each other? Healing Luke is just what the doctor ordered. Luke was a grumpy guy and someone I wouldn’t want to hang around with but du...

I want to thank Danielle with Sourcebooks for sending me a copy of this book to review. Anthony “Lucky" Luckadeau is a rancher. He owns the Bar M ranch. Some people would call him lucky. He wasn’t born ranching but he has done well for himself so far. Though he may be lucky, he is not lucky when it comes to love. Beau thinks it is about time he settles down and starts a family. He plans to pop the question to Amanda, a schoolteacher that he has been dating for some time. Jim Torres’s ranch, The Lazy Z, neighbor’s the Bar M. He had an accident and is recovering but needs help on the ranch for a little while. Millie Torres, Jim’s granddaughter arrives with her daughter Katy. As soon as Millie realizes that Beau is right next door to her, she contemplates packing up her bags and heading back home. Beau may not have recognized Millie but she sure remembers him and the night they shared so long ago. Millie and Beau is a match made in heaven. Millie is beautiful as well as hot tempered...

I want to thank Natalie for sending me a copy of this book to review. Author Cayla Kluver is only 16 years old. The people of Hytanica lived in peace that is till the evil Cokyrians started attacking them. The strange thing is that the Cokyrians were only interested in the children. One by one the children disappeared. The King at that time turned his head the other way and refused to do anything about the Cokyrians. Of course the king could no longer ignore the disappearances when the children within the kingdom’s walls also disappear. Suddenly with no explanation, the Cokyrians stop their attack and leave. The King fearing that the Cokyrians will return ask his priests what he should do. The priests advise the King that the sacrifice of blood will protect the kingdom. The blood can’t be just any blood…it has to be blood of both royal and innocent. The King kills his son and spreads the blood in the four corners of the kingdom. Princess Alera was born right before the end of the war ...

By now you have probably seen ads and heard about this debut book by Christopher Ransom. If not than you must be living under a rock (just kidding). Read why Mr. Ransom wrote this book. Also you can check out my review here. SOMETHING BIRTHED THIS WAY COMES Or, How and Why I Wrote My First Novel, The Birthing House Sometime around 1979, my father announced to my older brother Mike and me that he had installed a PIRATE ANTENNAE, so we could now watch HBO for free! ‘But don't tell anybody,’ he warned us. ‘It's sort of illegal. And your mom will probably give me hell about it.’ In an effort to get the most out of his purloined ‘cable’ service, Dad's policy on what the kids were allowed to watch was, shall we say, lax. Following this domestic technology revolution, we Ransom boys were exposed to Richard Pryor: Live in Concert, Alien, Urban Cowboy, My Bodyguard, Jaws, The Blue Lagoon, Kramer Vs. Kramer, Convoy, Hooper, Alice, Sweet Alice, The Elephant Man, and Dressed To Kill am...

Check out this new release from Pink Petal Books . My review Detective Andrea Haney has been working on case the case of fairy dust gone wrong for three months. She is not about to let Detective Darren O’Connell waltz into the picture and steal the show. It is up to Detectives Haney and O’Connell to track down and stop the distribution of the fairy dust. This is not your normal dust. This fairy dust is like meth. When taken in small doses it can cause hallucinogens but when taken in larger doses, the side effects can lead to hysteria, manic fits and even death. Andrea is hoping that her abilities to project out of her body will give her an advantage n locating the big boss. That is easier said than done as Darren knows just how to push all of Andrea’s buttons. Spirited by Cari Z is just that…spirited! This book is a fun, magical read. It has something for everyone…from paranormal elements to mystery and romance. I thought it was funny to see how Darren kept pushing Andrea’s buttons. Wh...

One of my favorite erotic authors, Cheryl Dragon has a bunch of books releasing. Love is Scary is one of them. She is the only author so far that can make me read m/m and futuristic books and enjoy them. My review Ryan Elliott and Wes Taylor couldn’t be more different. Ryan works for a corporation, attends business meetings, and wears suits and ties. On the other hand, Wes is a handyman (of sorts), wears jeans and is not afraid to show is feelings. Ryan decided to embark on a new adventure. He brought a cheap, old house in Vegas. Ryan wants to turn it into a haunted house. Ryan has some ideas but he knows exactly the right man for the job. Ryan saw one of Wes’s haunted house creations in New Orleans and was so impressed. Wes agrees to come down to Vegas and help Ryan. Once Wes arrives it is instant attraction. Ms. Dragon does it again…she combines hot, steamy sex with some good old fashion tricks or is it treats? Either way, Love is Scary is a delicious quickie read! Ryan and Wes wor...

I want to thank Anne with St. Martin's Press for sending me a copy of this book to review. Inez de la Morada is the daughter of Francisco Morada, the Mayor of Potosi. Potosi is a city of many riches. Inez has found the man she wants to marry. Her father disapproves of her choice. Inez seeks shelter at the convent, Santa Isabella de los Santos Milagros. Mother Abbess Maria Santa Hilda takes a liking to Inez and watches over her. When Mother Abbess Maria goes to check up on Inez, she finds the young woman dead. Inez’s death does not go unnoticed, especially when her father is the Mayor. Soon Mother Abbess Maria finds herself in the middle of an investigation that has people looking at her as the prime suspect. She must learn the truth about Inez’s death before it is too late. City of Silver is Annamaria Alfieri’s debut novel. She really made the characters come alive in this book. The only issue I had was there were so many characters coming at me very fast at the beginning and th...

I want to thank Elizabeth Weed with Weed Literary, LLC for sending me a copy of this book to review. The Lost Sister continues after the horrific incident that took place on Halloween night leaving one girl to disappear and never be seen from again. The Sisters of Misery were involved. Maddie Crane has finally escaped The Sisters of Misery and Hawthorne, Massachusetts to attend an exclusive boarding school in Maine. Unfortunately, someone has found Maddie, when she receives a tarot card that represents death. Maddie can’t forgive herself for what happened to her sister, Cordelia. Maybe that is why she won’t stop looking for her till she finds her. Maddie returns home to care for her mother. Maddie better watch herself as The Sisters of Misery will do anything to bring down anyone who opposes them. I liked seeing The Sisters of Misery, Maddie and the rest of the characters again. Though I have to admit that I loved Sisters of Misery just a little better. Only because it was darker. It ...

I want to thank Anna with FSB Associates for sending me a copy of this book to review. My review You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way: Making it in the Real World: A Guide for Graduates is sort of a handbook/workbook all rolled up into one. Mr. Parrish writes this book ideally for high school and college age students in mind. Though adults can learn and take away things from this book I like that it was very easy to read. Each chapter is broken out into different topics like Human Relations, Making you dreams come true, and dating, marriage and parenting are just a few of the subjects touched on in this guide. At the beginning of each chapter, Mr. Parrish explains what the objective is for that chapter. He than shares true events that happened to him. Than the subject matter is broken down into sections. Those sections explain why it is important for eye contact, listening, etc. The reader follows the steps on how to help them achieve these skills or goals. This book is very intera...

Author Deborah LeBlanc talks about her visit with The Nicholson House. Paranormal Plus - The Nicholson House By Deborah LeBlanc, Author of Water Witch Some time ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Nicholson House, which is located in Washington, Louisiana and was built in the mid-eighteen hundreds. The first clue that made me suspect the house might be a hot spot (a location with real paranormal activity), came the moment I stepped onto the front porch. A pulling sensation traveled throughout my body, as though a magnet lay hidden beneath the porch and my innards had suddenly turned to metal. Judging from the earnest whispers coming from the rest of the investigation team, I knew they were experiencing the same phenomenon. We snapped a few pictures of the surrounding area, then made our way to the front door on wobbly legs. (Nicholson House -- Front porch on the left.) The owner was expecting us, so it didn't surprise me when she answered after only one knock. Mildred, dressed...