Archives for January 2020

Six Musts Every Women’s Fiction Should Have by Carolyn Re and Loretta Re – Guest Blog and Giveaway

January 24, 2020 By 10 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Carolyn Re and Loretta Re will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Six Musts Every Women’s Fiction Should Have

Our novel, Secrets of the IN-Group set in the authors’ home town of Albury, is classed as contemporary women’s fiction. It’s an ensemble story following six older women. Its main themes are adapting to change and the role friendships and romance play in sustaining us in later life.

1. Relatable or believable characters

We’ve all read books where we’ve identified closely with some of the characters. Even if you don’t behave in the way a character may act, and even if you don’t like them, chances are you will have known somebody similar. Our characters are like the women you’d meet in your book club. None of them is perfect, but that makes them warm and relatable. Like most of us, they want love and companionship, new experiences and a little adventure.

2. Sparkling dialogue

The dialogue must move the story forward, and be relevant and interesting enough to form a bond with the characters. There’s a lot of dialogue in our story and perhaps that’s why so many people have said they’d like to join the IN-group!

3. Plot twists

Plot twists are the spice in a novel. Everything is going along quietly, you’re getting to know your characters when suddenly, POW!, the story reveals something big, something you weren’t expecting and your book becomes a page turner. What will happen next? Your readers can’t wait to find out.

4. Romance and strong friendships

In any story with women at its centre, no matter their age, romance will always be indispensable. And for most women, friendships are one of the solid foundations of their lives. Our characters aren’t always kind to each other, but they end up learning how important their friends are, that rifts can always be mended and that romance may be just around the corner.

5. Sense of place

Life doesn’t occur in a vacuum, so creating a sense of place is vital to good storytelling. One of our five-star reviewers wrote “Secrets of the IN-group makes me want to go on holiday to Albury!!!”

6. Satisfying conclusion

A satisfying ending doesn’t mean everybody gets exactly what they want, but it can mean they grow to accept and embrace what they have. (And some will always get that happy ending!)

A small town. A world wide web. Is the net really a friend?
What do you do when the children have flown the nest and you have time on your hands?

Six women in the Australian riverside city of Albury realise that, without social media skills, they’re staring irrelevancy in the face. Their book club won’t cut it any more. It’s time to go virtual.

But their decision to plunge into the on-line world brings shocking revelations and unexpected outcomes. Friendships, new and old, are tested and their lives teeter on the edge of collapse. They must navigate a path through the chaos. But who exactly can they trust?

Enjoy an Excerpt

[At Martin’s technology lesson, Sarah is shocked at an image on her husband’s iPhone]

Sarah tried to smile, but her face felt stiff, as if she’d had Botox injected. Her mind screamed: Who is this girl who looks so like Anna? Why is she on Rob’s home screen? And why is he enveloping her in some sort of … horrible hug? It wasn’t the kind of hug you’d give a girlfriend, more like a father’s proud embrace.

Andrea cleared her throat loudly in a distracting way, quite out of character.

‘Sorry, but I have to go soon,’ she said, gathering her things. She slid her iPad into its leather satchel. ‘Such a nuisance. It’s been fun tonight.’ She looked at Martin. ‘There’s only ten minutes left, would you mind if we finished early? Pick up on this again next week?’

Thank you, Andrea. The ploy had given Sarah momentary breathing space. Her internal scream quietened a little. She had to get out of here, away from the goodbye chatter and the polite offers to take a slice of cake home. She needed to digest what she’d seen and work out what it meant. She had to have time to think.

She dreaded time to think. With the flick of a switch—what a cliché, but how true in this case—her life had changed. It was all so confusing; her fragmented brain whirled with questions. But an answer, barely thought out, misshapen but insistent, was boring into her brain.

Rob has another daughter somewhere. A daughter who’s the image of ours …

About the Authors:

Carolyn Re worked for over twenty years as a general practitioner before turning to writing. No longer needing to produce serious medical and scientific articles, she’s now writing contemporary fiction for older women. Carolyn lives in the regional city of Albury, New South Wales, with Ziggy the whippet and three contented chickens.

Twitter | Website

Loretta Re is a former lawyer who is now writing novels and screenplays. Her book for middle grade readers, Stand Up and Cheer, is a story inspired by the rescue of the Uiver DC2 over Albury during the 1934 Centenary Air Race. It was voted one of the best books for literacy and language development in 2015. Loretta lives in Sydney and is on the board of Writing NSW.

Twitter

Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mainstream Fiction, Other Tagged With: , , , ,

Colton on the Run by Anna J Stewart

January 23, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Colton on the Run by Anna J Stewart
The Coltons of Roaring Springs series
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full length (186 pages)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

Where is Skye Colton?

One woman’s disappearance rocks Roaring Springs
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When he finds a half-dead woman stranded in his barn, rancher Leo Slattery feels his blood run cold. Though she can’t remember who she is, she insists someone is trying to kill her. With his strong protective streak, Leo brings her into the fold and helps her heal. As they begin to solve the mystery of Jane Doe’s identity, a would-be killer works to eliminate her—forever.

Skye Colton can’t remember her name, her past, or her how came to be kidnapped but she has no problem at all seeing her future in the form of one sexy cowboy by the name of Leo Slatterly.

Colton on the Run is my first introduction to the Coltons of Roaring Springs series. Each book is written a different author but revolve around the same close knit family. It was interesting to get glimpses of the family as Skye’s memory slowly returned. Speaking of her memories returning, I liked how the author let that play out. It was realistic but she didn’t let it slow the pace of the story.

In true Harlequin fashion, Leo and Skye both feel an immediate connection. Not so much love at first site or even lust. Just electric and palpable. I could tell right away that chemistry wasn’t going to be a problem for these two.

PTSD that can arise from different forms of trauma is a theme in this story for both Skye and in regards to Leo’s deceased father. I thought the author handled the subject very well. Leo is acutely aware of how truly traumatized Skye is even if he doesn’t know the details. He’s gentle and encouraging to her and that won so many points with this reader.

The way Ms. Stewart introduces the bad guy creates a true feeling of evil and of a crazy psycho for sure. She let’s us inside his head, see his thoughts and plans, feel his excitement building at the thought of hurting someone again. The book opens with Skye in trouble and there’s no doubt that more of the same is on its way.

My first impression of the author’s writing was how vivid and ‘in the moment’ it put this reader. I like that and honestly look for it writers that I might want to read again in the future. This story has a steady pace and the right mix of action, mystery and romance. There’s obviously more to come from Roaring Springs since the serial killer has yet to caught. Plenty of reason for a return visit with the next installment.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Pregnant with the Paramedic’s Baby by Amy Ruttan

January 23, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Pregnant with the Paramedic’s Baby by Amy Ruttan
First Response, Book 2
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (256 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

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To pregnancy bombshell!

In this First Response story, paramedic Kody Davis has kept his heart on ice since losing his wife. He’s careful not to let anyone in, save for his daughter, but he can’t ignore his attraction to his guarded but gorgeous new colleague, Dr. Sandra Fraser. So when one stormy night awakens a dormant passion in them both, they agree it will be one time only—until an unexpected pregnancy changes everything…

A baby and lots of problems, plus romance.

I’ve not read an Amy Ruttan book in a while and I’m glad I picked up this one. Her writing style is still fresh and imaginative, while keeping me flipping pages to know what will happen next. I felt like I was right there with the characters and couldn’t get enough of this couple.

I met Kody in the first book in the First Response series, but I didn’t need to read that book to know what’s going on. Kody and his daughter, Lucy, are happy enough. Kody isn’t looking for a relationship. Then Dr. Sandra shows up on the scene. I loved the chemistry between them and rooted for Kody and Sandra to get together. I liked the set of circumstances the author throws at the characters and how they work out the problems.

If you’re looking for a fresh take on the surprise pregnancy trope, then give this book a try. Recommended.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Mail Order Bride’s Secret by Linda Broday – Spotlight and Giveaway

January 23, 2020 By 4 Comments

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Linda Broday who is visiting with us today to celebrate the upcoming release of The Mail Order Bride’s Secret, the third book in her Outlaw Mail Order Brides series. Enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a copy of the second book in the series,
Saving The Mail Order Bride.

When the West was wild and man’s law favored the few, these extraordinary women could be found…in the heart of an outlaw.

When three young children show up on outlaw Tait Trinity’s doorstep, he knows he can’t help them—a wanted man has no business raising kids. And yet he can’t bring himself to turn them away. At a loss, he sends for the mail order bride he’d been writing to, hoping the demure dressmaker will be the answer to his prayers.

Melanie Dunbar is nothing like the bride Tait was expecting. She’s rough and tumble…and hiding an ulterior motive. Dangerous men have taken her sister hostage, and if Melanie wants to see her alive, she’ll have to betray her new husband. There’s only one problem—the more time she spends with Tait, the more she comes to care for him. Yet as the noose begins to tighten, Melanie will have to make a terrible choice: save her sister…or the man she loves.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Melanie took in the small town, awash in the dying, plum-colored light, and at first glance found it welcoming. Then she turned her attention to the man, this outlaw she’d corresponded with for the past month. Had manipulating Luke Legend been worth it? On the outside, Tait Trinity appeared every bit the lethal outlaw she’d once glimpsed aboard the train he was robbing. He’d had a bandana covering his face then, of course, but she’d never forget those eyes—hard and gray, like chips of ice.

What kind of a husband would he be? Only time would tell.

She took in his tall, lean figure, the long hair that touched his shoulders, and lingered a second longer than necessary on those gray eyes that now reminded her of quicksilver in the fading light. He was a squinter, as evidenced by the crinkles around the corners of his eyes, and at the moment his eyes lacked the hardness she saw too often in men living on the lawless frontier. Yet, like quicksilver, she thought they might change very abruptly under certain situations.

Tait Trinity could buy her ticket to freedom. She took in the heavy gun he wore in the holster strapped around his lean hips.

Suddenly her confidence slipped a notch. It had been one thing to talk about what she had to do. It was quite another coming face-to-face with the man whose life she meant to destroy. He wasn’t some dumb hayseed—he was a killer.

Her pulse raced and her palms sweated under Tait’s piercing gaze that seemed to notice every detail about her.

One of the boys jostled Tait’s elbow, and, shaking herself, she focused on the children. He hadn’t mentioned having children to raise. This would complicate things. She knew nothing about the care of children, and they were noisy and cried at the drop of a hat. Frankly, kids scared her, and she’d avoided any contact with youngsters as a grown woman.

Before she could open her mouth, Tait put a hand on each of the boys’ shoulders, drew them forward, then lifted the small girl into his arms. “Miss Dunbar, meet my niece and nephews. The boys are Joe and Jesse, and this little one is Becky.”

Only his kin. Melanie relaxed. They must live in Hope’s Crossing with their parents.
She smiled. “Hello. It’s really nice to meet you.”

Tait captured her gaze and held it longer than was needed before he lifted the corner of his mouth in a sudden, crooked grin that almost vanished before she saw it. “I’m the children’s guardian. Their parents were killed, leaving them with no one. I should’ve let you know before you came all this way, but frankly I’ve been a tad busy adjusting to this arrangement myself.”

“I see. We need to talk, Mr. Trinity.”

Tait scowled and glanced around, motioning to two women. He spoke in a low voice to them, after which the women collected the children and moved off toward a row of houses. He picked up Melanie’s heavy bags as though they weighed nothing. “Come with me to the hotel, Miss Dunbar.”

She nodded and fell into step with him. They didn’t stop until they reached a comfortable office in the Diamond Bessie Hotel. “We can borrow this room.” Tait removed his hat, laid it on a table, and closed the door. Streaks of blond shot through his caramel hair. No one had told her how handsome he was.

Painfully aware of his scrutiny, she swung to glance at the room, admiring the blue velvet sofa, chairs, and pretty wallpaper. “It’s nice.”

“I didn’t mean to mislead you, and I’m sorry if you feel that way.” He paced in front of a large desk that had a painting of a snow-covered pasture behind it. “Have a seat.”

Melanie removed her bonnet, but instead of sitting, she wandered to the window and pushed the thin curtain aside. “I wish I had known before I made the trip. I didn’t sign up to be a nursemaid. This changes things.”

Tait dropped into the chair behind the desk and let out a heavy breath. “What’s the problem? Don’t you like kids?”

“It’s not that. I’ve never been around children and know nothing about their care.” She let the curtain fall back into place and got comfortable on the sofa. She stared directly at him and gave him a warm smile as though they were discussing the weather. “I will not be a nanny, a maid, a cook, or a laundress, although I’ll do my fair share.”

Confusion crossed his face. “So, what are you saying exactly?”

“I came to be your wife, not to have you pawn your niece and nephews off on me and go your merry way. I’ve heard stories of widowers who advertised for brides with nothing more in mind than to dump a bunch of kids on them and take off for good.” She removed her gloves. “If you intend that, then our business is concluded, and I’ll leave on the next stage.”

“Hold on a minute, missy. That was not my intention.” He paused, and the guilt in his expression told her that had been exactly why he’d sent for her. He straightened from his slouch. “Okay, maybe that might’ve been the reason I telegraphed you a week ago, but the situation has gotten better. What if the two of us work together as a team? We’d bear the load fifty-fifty.”

Melanie narrowed her gaze at him. “You won’t ride out at the first opportunity and stay gone for months at a time, leaving me stuck here with the children?”

“I give my word.” He rose and perched on the corner of the walnut desk, rolling his neck. There was something he still wasn’t saying. She waited. Tait cracked his knuckles. “What I have to tell you next may be the deal breaker.”

***

Excerpted from Mail Order Bride’s Secret by Linda Broday. © 2020 by Linda Broday. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author At a young age, Linda Broday discovered a love for storytelling, history, and anything pertaining to the Old West. After years of writing romance, it’s still tall rugged cowboys that spark her imagination. A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Linda has won many awards, including the prestigious National Readers’ Choice Award and the Texas Gold. She resides in the Texas Panhandle where she’s inspired every day.

Website

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, IndieBound, or BAM.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Interview and Giveaway: Heather Kinnane

January 23, 2020 By 3 Comments

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Heather Kinnane who is visiting with us today to celebrate the recent release of Truckie Needed. Ask Heather a question or leave a comment for her for a chance to win a copy of Erotic Writer Seeks Men, the first book in her Seeking Satisfaction series.

Heather told me that she’s been writing as long as she can remember and that it was always a childhood dream of hers to be published. Once she received her first contract, she started really considering herself an author.

“That was so exciting, and really confirmed for me that I could do this,” she said.

Truckie Needed was inspired by Kelly, a writing friend of Heather’s.

“I really wanted to write something new in my Seeking Satisfaction series, (which are all standalone books), but I was struggling to come up with any ideas, until Kelly made a suggestion, and here it is!” she exclaimed with a smile.

Heather has mostly been a pantser, writing by the seat of her pants with no plan in mind.

“In the past, this meant lots of editing as a re-read discovered huge plot holes and various issues with characters. Recently I’ve started plotting, just a little,” she explained, “and I find this gives me a good indication where there are plot holes that need to be filled, and how characters might need to be fleshed out a little.”

I asked her, “Who is your favorite author and why?”

“I don’t have one favorite author, and I’m not entirely sure how I would narrow it down to one either. Stories that I have absolutely loved include The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, and Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, as well as The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang. One of my favourite romances is Skipping out on Henry by C L Ogilvie. I fully intend to read more novels by these authors (and all the others on my shelf), but there are so many good books out there, I find I flit from one to the other without much consideration as to who it’s been written by, and more focus on what the story’s about and whether it sounds like something I would read.”

Story is, in her opinion, the most important element of good writing.

“I think story ties everything together, the characters, the plot,” she told me. “If you can tell a good story you can get away with most things – often even grammar mistakes! (But not spelling, if a book is full of spelling mistakes I just can’t read it).”

“How do you come up with your titles?” I asked.

“Titles are always tricky for me! Mostly my titles come from my writers group lol! On saying that, the title of Truckie Needed was easy, because of the series it’s part of. All the books in my Seeking Satisfaction series have something about seeking or wanting or needing in the title.”
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The hardest part about writing for her is editing – she told me that it’s definitely the area she struggles with the most.

“It’s so much easier to write when the words are flowing, and so much harder to go back and beat it into shape,” she assured me.

I wondered, “What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book?”

“Hmm… tricky. I think perhaps it was while I was writing this book. It’s a bit gruesome too, so for those who don’t want to read anything like that, feel free to skip this! I was following the road where my characters travel, looking for interesting tid-bits to include in the story, when I came upon the story of a series of murders in a town called ‘Snowtown’ in South Australia. The poor victims bodies were stuffed into barrels and left in an abandoned bank vault.”

“Could you ever co author a book with someone?” I asked. “If so, who would you choose, and what would you write?”

“If you’d asked me this twelve months ago I would’ve said no way, but I’ve been thinking about this recently actually. I don’t know whether I could or not, but it would be interesting to try! As to what I’d write… hmmm. I don’t know that either. But I’ve read that some of the easiest ways to co-author is to have one person write in the POV of one character, and the other person write from the POV of another character, so that maybe a romance where I write one character and another writer writes the love interest might be a good way to start.”

Finally I asked, “What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?”

“Best: Just keep writing! Worst: You must never do XYZ. In this case XYZ covers a whole bunch of different things I’ve been told I shouldn’t do, only to have a different person tell me ‘make sure you do XYZ’. (Actually, now I say all that, I think the best advice is, there are no rules.)”

Mattie has bought a tiny house, intending to drive it across the country to land she’s bought interstate. But Mattie doesn’t take into
account the fact that the tiny house is on the back of a truck, and she doesn’t have her truck license.

What to do? An ad in the local pub brings Ned and Jack into her life — two very eager and sexy young men who’ve been travelling around Australia and are more than happy to drive Mattie and her tiny house across the continent.

They might be leaving Western Australia’s deserts behind and heading to the chilly island state of Tasmania, where even in spring there is still snow on the mountains, but inside the tiny house, things are only heating up.

About the Author: I am the author of the romantic fantasy series, ‘A Faery Dream’, and the steamy menage series ‘Seeking Satisfaction’. I also write short stories, the shortest of which have been published at The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette (many of which you can find in my flash-fiction collection – ‘The Pittsburgh Collection’). I live in the Australian bush with my husband, children and pets. When I’m not writing I’m usually avoiding the housework by reading, gardening, or soaking up the natural world.

Website | Twitter

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Erotic Romance, Guest Blogs Tagged With: ,

Dear Santa by Susanna Leonard Hill

January 22, 2020 By 1 Comment


Dear Santa by Susanna Leonard Hill
For Everyone Who Believes in the Magic of Christmas
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 3+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When Ms. Holly asks the class to write their letters to Santa, Parker gets nervous. He has done some things this year that might put him on the naughty list. Like feeding Brussels sprouts to his dog and staying up past his bedtime! Should he gloss over his mistakes like his classmates, or take responsibility for his actions? Deciding that honesty is the best policy, and hoping that Santa understands, Parker hands in his letter and hopes for the best.
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Christmas morning arrives and Parker finds a big surprise under the tree ― PLUS a letter from Santa!

Everyone knows that Santa brings presents to good children. What might he bring to someone who didn’t exactly have a perfect year?

Parker was such a honest kid. As soon as he admitted that he hadn’t been good all year long, I knew I wanted to learn more about him. The fact that he owned up to his faults only made me like him more than I did when I first met him. It takes a lot of courage to do that, especially for someone as young as him.

The stuff that Parker regretted was wonderfully ordinary. While I can’t go into specifics in this review without wandering into spoiler territory, they were all things that a lot of kids his age struggle with. This is something I would have been so relieved and happy to experience because of that. The things he struggled with made him feel like a real person to me.

If there were one thing I loved more than Parker’s confession, it would be the message of this story in general. It was brimming with kindness for every single character in it. That’s something I relish finding everything I read, but it’s especially nice to discover it in tales written for young readers. Knowing how it all ends only makes me more eager to start again at the beginning when the main character tries to figure out how to word his letter to Santa without bending the truth.

Dear Santa was a heartwarming picture book that I can’t recommend highly enough.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Duke’s Stolen Bride by Sophie Jordan

January 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Duke’s Stolen Bride by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (355 pages)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

An urgent dilemma…

To save her impoverished family, Marian Langley will become a mistress. But she will not be just any mistress. Marian intends to become so skilled, so coveted, that she can set her own terms, retaining control over her body and her fate. Only one problem remains: finding a tutor…

A scandalous solution…

Other men deprive themselves of pleasure for propriety’s sake. Nathaniel, Duke of Warrington, would much rather be depraved. He slakes his desires with professionals who ask nothing of him but his coin. Marian’s proposal—that he train her without taking her virtue—is an intriguing diversion, until their lessons in seduction spin out of control.

And a most unlikely duchess…
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When Marian is blackmailed into engagement by a man she despises, Nate impulsively steals her away. Though he never intended to take a wife, he can’t tolerate the idea of Marian forfeiting her freedom to another. But can he bear to give her what she demands—a real marriage?

Life can change without much notice. For Marian Langley it changed for the worse with the loss of her father and three younger siblings to care for. She had a steady position, living in beautiful homes, tasting society from the fringes and helping raise other people’s children.

Salvation in the form of the local favorite of the gossip mills, none other than the ‘depraved duke’ himself, seems unlikely but so does the scheme that Marian contrives to rescue her family from certain ruin.

Not necessarily an original story line but I still read the book in two sittings. Marian and Nate were what set it apart. Their chemistry and dialogue was spot on for this die hard romance reader.

Marian is the good side of feisty and fiery without being over the top. She certainly catches the attention of a bored, if not slightly hardened, duke of the realm. They have the unfortunate, yet destiny laden, ways of running to each other. Marian’s impulsiveness has a bit to do with that but it works to her favor. He’s had staid and traditional. She’s anything but. I looked forward to each new run in, it was sure to be lively.

Nate has resigned himself to staying out of society, away from match making mothers and having his cake brought to him rather than him having to visit the brothels in London, works to his advantage. But it’s a lonely life. Until a certain local lass finds her way under his table, needing his protection. Little did he know that ‘protection’ would cost him more than money, it would cost his heart.

Besides Marian and Nate, Ms. Jordan created some interesting side characters in the form of the younger Langley sisters, Nora and Charlotte. There’s also a younger brother, Phillip, but he’s away at school and never actually introduced. I look forward to reading Nora and Charlotte’s stories if Ms. Jordan decides to make this into a series.

The story moves along at a good pace but the end felt a little rushed. Don’t get me wrong, it works okay and the ending closes out their story. I think I was just expecting more details, more set up for future stories maybe. She can still do it, the very basic ground work was laid so I’ll just have to wait and see. This book was good so I’ll certainly be watching for others.

Readers who love a good, spicy historical romance will be glad they picked up The Duke’s Stolen Bride.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Moon Shot by Jay Barbree, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton

January 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Moon Shot
The Inside Story of America’s Apollo Moon Landings by Jay Barbree, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton
Publisher: Open Road Media
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction
Length: Full Length (396 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A revised edition of the New York Times bestselling classic: the epic story of the golden years of American space exploration, told by the men who rode the rockets

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, and the space race was born. Desperate to beat the Russians into space, NASA put together a crew of the nation’s most daring test pilots: the seven men who were to lead America to the moon. The first into space was Alan Shepard; the last was Deke Slayton, whose irregular heartbeat kept him grounded until 1975. They spent the 1960s at the forefront of NASA’s effort to conquer space, and Moon Shot is their inside account of what many call the twentieth century’s greatest feat—landing humans on another world.
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Collaborating with NBC’s veteran space reporter Jay Barbree, Shepard and Slayton narrate in gripping detail the story of America’s space exploration from the time of Shepard’s first flight until he and eleven others had walked on the moon.

The true story of the moon missions from the astronauts who made the trips.

I like reading books about the space missions and astronauts. When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. I have to admit the stories are told from Deke Slayton and Alan Shepard’s point of view. They tell their versions of how things happened in NASA. I liked that I got to understand Alan Shepard better–he was a very complicated person. I also got to understand Deke Slayton better. I wasn’t around when these men went on their space missions, so they were just names to me. Having them talk about their missions and from their point of view was much more interesting. Deke had a heart issue and Alan had problems with being too highly strung (to explain it in simpler terms). I had no idea what they went through in order to get back to space or to get their in the first place.

I particularly enjoyed the way the authors talked about the early days of NASA and the space program. They were there and it shows in their retelling of the accounts.

This book is a bit dated, the ending is a little choppy, and some of the details aren’t totally correct, but the best part of this book is the original voices of Slayton and Shepard. They shine through each chapter.

If you want a new angle on NASA and the space program from the astronaut point of view, then pick up a copy of this book. Recommended.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Lucky Chance Cowboy by Teri Anne Stanley – Spotlight and Giveaway

January 22, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Teri Anne Stanley who is celebrating the upcoming release of Lucky Chance Cowboy, the second book in her Big Chance Dog Rescue series.
Enter the Rafflecopter at the end of the post for a chance to win a copy of Big Chance Cowboy, the first book in the series.

At Big Chance Dog Rescue, everyone can find a forever home

Marcus Talbott is a soldier through and through, and he’s not going to let an injury keep him from his Army unit. Sure, his last mission nearly broke his back, but that’s nothing his positive attitude and work ethic can’t fix, right? In the meantime, he’s got a place on the board at the Big Chance Dog Rescue, and flirting with his friend’s sassy sister, Emma, is a welcome distraction.

Emma Stern is barely scraping by while working and caring for her elderly grandfather, but she’s running out of options—and hope. The last thing she has time for is Marcus and his flirting, sexy as he might be. But every time Emma thinks she’s reached the end of her rope, Marcus is there to lend a hand. Maybe there’s more to the handsome playboy after all…

Enjoy an Excerpt

Marcus’s ridiculous vintage muscle car was parked in its usual spot next to the barn, but he could have gone with Adam.

She thought about calling again, but what would she say? “Hey, I stopped out at the ranch to make sure you weren’t being held hostage by terrorists, but you’re not here”?

No thank you.

She decided she’d say hi to Jake, then head home and fume until it was time to fetch Granddad from day care. Day Club.

A quick movement from the other side of the frosted glass next to the door made her pause. She saw it again…a flash of something light passing by.

And then she heard it. A light thump, followed by more movement. One of the dogs was inside, jumping up and down by the window.

“Hey, who’s that?” Emma asked, squatting to look.

Another thump, and the flash—this time she realized it was a big, light-colored dog.

Adam’s D-Day was black. Lizzie’s dog, Loretta, was white, but would be in the kennels with her pups anyway. The only other option was Patton, Marcus’s big golden retriever, who never barked. Like, ever.

He was also trained to never leave Marcus’s side unless he were dismissed—or if Marcus was injured and in need of help.

All the paranoid fantasies she’d ever had about bad things happening to her family squeezed Emma’s heart and lungs.
“Marcus?” she called, pushing open the unlocked door and stepping into the dim interior of the house.

The dog stood panting and wagging at Emma.

There was no obnoxious eighties hair-band music blasting from the kitchen, no explosions and screams coming from the giant television and game console in the living room. No creaks and groans from an old house giving clues to the whereabouts of its inhabitants.

Patton wagged and nudged her with his head, so she petted him. “Good boy. What’s going on? Where’s Marcus?”

He turned and padded toward the stairs, stopping to make sure she paid attention. Was Marcus upstairs, somehow injured? The band around her chest tightened another notch. She followed Patton, but by the time she reached the top step, a thought occurred to her. What if Marcus wasn’t alone? What if he’d exiled Patton because he had company?

It was quiet in the house, but maybe Marcus and his guest were snuggled down, enjoying some postcoital z’s while everyone else was working their asses off.

Well, she was outside his door now, and she had to be sure he was safe.

On Patton’s heels, she pushed open the door to her childhood bedroom and saw Marcus laid out flat on his back, feet crossed at the ankles, hands folded neatly on his hard stomach, eyes closed. He was sacked out so hard he didn’t seem to be breathing.

But Marcus wasn’t dead. He was living, breathing, and very warm, which she knew because she’d somehow made her way to his side.

The room smelled of spicy man and something she couldn’t quite put her finger on…something dangerous.

Since he was sleeping and not winking, smiling, or flirting with her, she gave herself a moment to study him. He was beyond beautiful. His thick, black hair was twisted into little corkscrews that normally bounced and bobbed like an outward extension of his personality. Russet brown skin, large nose, square jaw, and soft-looking, sensual lips that seemed to smile, even in sleep.

Before she knew it, she’d reached out toward him, then stopped, feeling like a creeper.

“Hi.”

“Oh crap!” She jerked her hand back, but not before Marcus took her slim wrist in his big hand.

“It’s okay. I don’t bite,” he murmured, his gaze hooded. “Unless you ask me to.”

A pool of heat formed low in Emma’s belly, chasing away her reason for being there. “I didn’t mean to wake you,” she said, though she didn’t even convince herself.

“I’m glad you did,” he said softly, slowly tugging the hand he held. She didn’t pull away, intoxicated by his scent, the heat in his eyes. When he tugged her hand again, she toppled onto his chest. To escape those half-mast eyes, she looked down at his full, luscious lips, which opened to say, “You can kiss me if you want.”

She wanted. Oh, how she wanted as his hands spanned her waist, then traveled to her hips. There was something unreal about this moment that made her believe she could kiss him, that it would be a good, good thing to kiss this man.

***

Excerpted from Lucky Chance Cowboy by Teri Anne Stanley. © 2020 by Teri Anne Stanley. Used with permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author: When Teri Anne Stanley isn’t writing sassy, sexy, love stories from her home near Sugartit, Kentucky (which is between Beaver Lick and Rabbit Hash. Seriously), she’s probably doing some sort of arsty-crafsty thing and hanging with Mr. Stanley, her three favorite children, and the dogs. Sometimes she’s masquerading as a day job science geek. She’s definitely not cooking or cleaning.

Website

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, IndieBound, or BAM.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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