Search Results for: Wish list

Pooch Problems by Christopher Poston

March 28, 2022 By 1 Comment


Pooch Problems by Christopher Poston
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Are you sick and tired of your dog… walking you instead of the other way around barking incessantly at random things peeing and pooping on your nice rugs Or a myriad of other troubling issues?

Perhaps you’ve wondered… Why is my furry friend so annoying at times?

Punishing and scolding hasn’t worked.

Is there a better way to change their bad behaviors?

What is a “good dog” by definition anyway?

You probably know of dogs who…

Don’t destroy objects in the home
Don’t counter surf or eat food off the table
Don’t howl at all hours of the night
This can be your dog!
Do you sometimes feel lost or clueless about what you should do to bring to life the adorable version of your furry friend?

Do you wish to turn a new page where you have amazing experiences with your pooch?

Are you looking for a guide that simplifies the whole process?

If you answered YES,

This book will show you how to identify and solve common dog issues so that you and your newly trained pooch can live your best lives.

Where there are Pooch Problems there are solutions (125 of them).

If you are struggling with Pooch Problems, know that you’re not alone. This author has spent years dealing with their own Pooch Problems. This book is a culmination of decades of research. Within its pages is a collection of the most powerful techniques used by the world’s top dog behaviorists. Don’t worry, the tips are effective and easy to use. They work on any breed – small or large.

This author advocates for positive reinforcement and is strongly against cruelty to animals. All the techniques embody this style so you can be sure everything taught is cruelty free.

In this book, you will find:
Entertaining and relatable stories highlighting dog failures and successes that will motivate you along the way.
Essential dog topics: breeding, puppy proofing, dog gifts and dog communication
BONUS CHAPTER (downloadable with ebook or included in print version) on how you can be the hero of the story by volunteering at an animal shelter
Pooch Problems presents 25 stories, each of which focuses on a particular dog issue.

You will meet…
Axl the Basset Hound who howls when his baby sister cries
Goliath the Neapolitan Mastiff who is afraid of thunder
Marshmallow the French Bulldog who chews up her owners shoes
Among others!

But that’s just the beginning. Pooch Problems will give you the tools so your dog can do something great.

Like…
Competing in agility competitions
Bringing people happiness as a therapy dog
Perform amazing tricks
Pooch Problems REALLY is the complete toolkit for canine training.

Even if you’ve tried teaching your pooch “good” behavior before and failed, let this book show you that no dog is beyond redemption! Let’s just remember that no pooch is perfect and we need to lead with forgiveness, and teach with compassion.

Happy Dog, Happy Life

Good advice is easy to find when you listen to an expert on the topic.

The section on how to formally train a dog to protect his or her family was fascinating. I hadn’t realized such a thing existed, but it made a great deal of sense. The commands Mr. Poston described in it were practical and simple enough for anyone to try. I also enjoyed his comments about how much pleasure many dogs find in being trained for this purpose. Of course they’d want to protect their humans in a crisis!

Dogs don’t necessarily think about the world the same way that humans do. Some of my favorite sections were the ones that went into detail about canine psychology and why they do things like chew on people’s shoes, bark incessantly, or run away when someone is trying to catch them. What doesn’t make sense to an exasperated owner looks quite differently when seen from the perspective of a pet who might be bored, anxious, or think everyone is playing a game. I was glad to see this information included so often as it was pretty important for understanding much of the training advice that was given.

One of the other things I appreciated the most about this book was how adamant the author was that his readers set their dogs up for success in as many different ways as they could. That is to say, he strongly recommended removing temptations from the environment when possible. He also believed in giving dogs positive reinforcement for desirable behavior and offering enticing distractions from negative habits when certain triggers can’t be avoided. His reasoning for this made a great deal of sense.The easier it is to do the right thing, the higher the chances are of a dog following through with it even when they’re smelling a delicious roasted turkey cooling in the kitchen on Thanksgiving or seeing a squirrel darting past them while on a walk.

Pooch Problems was a breezy, educational read that I’d enthusiastically recommend to dog owners and dog lovers alike.

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

When the Time Is Right by Bill Bush

March 24, 2022 By Leave a Comment


When the Time Is Right by Bill Bush
Publisher: Snader Publishing Company
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Eden didn’t peg bribery, kidnapping, and murder for summer activities

For eighteen-year-old Eden, her court-mandated community service is set to be every bit as punishing as prison. Sent off to work at a pizza joint while living with her grandmother in a little out-of-the-way town, at least she can appreciate the peace and quiet.

But the town is hiding its own secrets, and pretty soon peace and quiet will be very hard to come by. She might not realize it, but between the spiteful neighbor, the enigmatic mayor, and the calculating owner of the abandoned hospital, Eden’s 90 days in Halstead are set to be the most exciting of her life.

Follow Eden’s unexpected adventure in this strange and entertaining tale of mystery.

Small towns are supposed to be quiet and sleepy, right?

Some of my favorite scenes also happened to be the most realistic ones. For example, Eden struggled to figure out how to use the complicated new cash register and deal with sore legs from standing all day at her summer job. These moments of discomfort and confusion endeared me to her as I got to know her better. They were also a nice respite from the more dramatic parts of the storyline as everything steadily advanced. After all, real life often contains the same mixture of mundane and exciting moments from one hour to the next, so it was nice to see it reflected in fiction.

It would have been nice to have a few more clues about what was happening with the mystery Eden was attempting to solve. There were fewer of them than is generally the case for cozy mysteries, and the storyline would have been more satisfying for this reader if the author had stuck closer to genre conventions in this area. This is a minor criticism of something I otherwise really liked, and I’m hoping I will get to read the second instalment of this series soon.

This book was filled with amusing plot twists that kept me guessing. Some of them were a little out of the ordinary for the science fiction and mystery genres which was delightful. I always enjoy being surprised by an author’s creativity, and Mr. Bush certainly fit that bill. As much as I wish I could share some of the inventive explanations he came up with, especially as it pertained to the mystery elements of the plot, this really is something that other readers should discover for themselves.

When the Time Is Right made me yearn for a carefree summer.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Does music play an important role in your writing? by Michael Leon – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 22, 2022 By 13 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Does music play an important role in your writing?

I often listen to music to inspire me. Surprisingly, I don’t mind noise around as I write. A lot of my first drafts are penned in public places, such as cafes, beaches and parks. However, music that is special to me, summons some of my best creativity. I often say to myself and other writers, if what you write draws out strong emotions in you, it is usually good writing. All art can have that effect on me, writing, music, film and theatre.

Listening to music is a wonderful way to tap into your creativity. I cannot imagine a day without music or film to entertain and motivate me creatively. Writing Chandelier, I mainly listened to the operas by Guiseppi Verdi.

Music is a great way to evoke mood and thus enhance the dramatic impact of scenes. There were also a number of contemporary songs as well as operatic that influenced how I wrote Chandelier. Here are my top three.

The song that most impacted on my novel, Chandelier, also influenced the name of the novel! I listened to an Australian version of the hit song, Chandelier by Damien Rice and immediately imagined the scene where Benny is playing to an audience in a nightclub. Click on the link to hear the song.

Another haunting song by Melodie Gardot allowed me to imagine the finale where Viola is singing at the Garnier. It evoked emotions of a life that soared early but felt the bumps of tragedy and loss, then rebirth. Click on the link to hear the song.

Of course, Verdi’s opera of La Traviata was the backdrop for the whole novel. I chose that opera because it told the story of the downfall of a strong woman, Violetta. The atmospheric prelude evoked just the right emotions for my novel. Click on the tour banner to hear the song.

CHANDELIER is the genre-bending sci-fi/fantasy-romance novel follow up of Michael Leon’s 2019 fantasy-romance book, PHANTOMS. A century has passed since the fabled Phantom ruled the Garnier Opera House. Technology has advanced, and AI has evolved beyond human knowledge. They reside in a virtual Earth, free from the ravages of an environmentally damaged Earth where humans and post-humans live under AI’s qualified governance. CHANDELIER follows one AI sentient’s journey, Benny, whose loyalty for a famous opera singer, Madame D’Arenberg, sets him on a dangerous course, entangling him in The Phantom of the Opera’s deadly web.

Enjoy an Excerpt

A human whistling sound, distant but growing louder permeated the chill of the room. An unearthly chilled breath wafted over his face. He opened his eyes and looked up to its source, but he was alone, until light formed on the wall behind Gaston’s bed. Shapeless light swirled as if blown by that same breeze. The foggy disturbance slowed, allowing the swirling shape to take form. It was human but completely covered in black, bar the shape of a smooth ghost-like face. As the contours sharpened he realised it was a mask. Was he looking at the phantom? If he was, Gaston’s stories had all been real!

Fear gripped him to the seat. He wanted to flee but dared not move. Before the apparition suddenly looked Flynn’s way, turning his fear to terror.

“Who are you?” He asked feebly, but the apparition remained silent.

Flynn went to stand but a second shape appeared from behind him. A man dressed in white walked toward Gaston’s bed, making no sound as it glided across the room. Both apparitions studied the body for a time, ignoring Flynn before vanishing through the bedroom wall, leaving Flynn alone. He immediately stood and left the room, fearful they may return, not daring to look back. Whatever he witnessed, he didn’t wish to see again. Flynn was a scientist who staunchly refuted Gaston’s ramblings about ghosts as the product of a vivid imagination. They had spent many years arguing over their existence. Perhaps this was his friend’s final wish, to show him that everything he had written and said was true.

About the Author:Michael Leon is an explorer, writer and author of the new novel, Sentient. Professionally trained in international trade, Michael has spent the last decade reading and writing SFF novels about new worlds to be explored in the future. His latest work, Sentient, imagines Earth in the year 2120. His next novel, Chandelier, will be released in 2022. Michael has travelled extensively around Europe, walking the paths of his characters, from the famous European opera houses in Phantoms to the mountain tops of Switzerland in Emissary.

Website | Twitter | Blogger | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , ,

The Nantucket Beachfront Inn by Ainsley Keaton – Q&A and Giveaway

March 16, 2022 By 10 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What would we find under your bed?

I put winter things like blankets, sweaters and the like under the bed. I put them into shrink bags. And other junk like yearbooks and stuff like that – I put those into a box-thing that goes underneath the bed. Right now, it’s wintertime, so there’s not much under the bed.

What was the scariest moment of your life?

Two near-death experiences. One, I almost choked to death when I was very small on an orange membrane that got caught in my throat. I would have died if I didn’t have a small enough hand to pull it out of my throat. And one time, I almost drowned in a rip tide. A lifeguard had to come out and save me. There’s nothing scarier than swimming for your life and getting further away from the shore.

Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?

No, not really, but if I did, it would be classical, because it helps me concentrate.

What is something you’d like to accomplish in your writing career next year?

A successful launch for my new women’s fiction series, and starting the spin-off series that will feature people who will get a second chance to correct a mistake in their life.

How long did it take you to write this book?

Too long, because I kept completely re-writing it. Probably it has taken me six months, which is weird, because I used to be able to pound out a book a month.

She’s 54, broken-hearted, and starting over….

High-powered New York attorney Ava Flynn finds herself without a job or a future. Unemployable at her age, and broken-hearted by a husband who left her in the lurch, she desperately needs a Plan B. Her prayers are answered when a wealthy benefactor wills her a large house in the ‘Sconset Beach area of Nantucket. She heads out to the picturesque New England island with her two best friends, Luna and Mila, going along for the ride.

One catch…her estranged daughter also lives there. Charlotte Killeen, Ava’s daughter, is battling a crisis of her own. Her new husband, Matthew, wants a divorce, even though the couple have a newborn baby. Charlotte needs her mother more than ever, but the two have never seen eye to eye. Her marriage on the rocks and with few prospects for income, Charlotte is near the end of her rope. Then a life-threatening illness brings into focus what’s important after all.

Ava’s other daughter, Samantha, also lives on Nantucket Island, with her best friend and roommate, Grayson. Samantha suffers from a lack of direction in her life, and longs to meet a rich prince charming who will sweep her off her feet. When she meets the man of her dreams, she’s leaving behind the one man who loves her unconditionally – Grayson.

Jackson, Ava’s son, is an aspiring actor in Hollywood. Everything has always come easy to him, that is until Willow, Matthew’s cousin, shows up. Free-spirited Willow is just the kind of girl to break Jackson’s heart, which is difficult to do, as Jackson is always the heartbreaker.

And speaking of Willow…she’s a feminist island witch and artist. She and Jackson have been through many, many lifetimes together. Yet, Willow wants nothing to do with Jackson in this lifetime. She has no desire to give up even an ounce of her power, not even for her soul mate. Willow also is hiding a devastating secret from Jackson. A secret that is guaranteed to upend his life for good.

Mila, Ava’s best friend, is battling a devastating illness, information that she hasn’t shared with Ava and Luna. She never wants to be a burden, so she just doesn’t ask for help. But she’s going to need all the support she can get. She finds this support in a very surprising place, and, in doing so, gets closer to her own destiny.

Ava busies herself with fixing up her beautiful new beach home, so that she can open up a bed and breakfast. Contractor Deacon Cromwell, whom Ava hires to do the renovation, is the man who might thaw Ava’s cold heart, if only she’ll let him. However, he’s almost 20 years her junior and, Ava believes, out of her league. Can Ava overcome her insecurities and allow herself to love again?

In this feel-good beach read with a touch of magick, Ava and her friends and family will become your best friends. Come and share their joys and heartbreaks, their tragedies and triumphs. For fans of Susan Mallery, Jude Devereaux Nantucket Bride series and Elin Hilderbrand!

Enjoy an Excerpt

As Willow Killeen worked on a painting that she had to have completed for her show tonight, she also thought about her other “job.” Well, it wasn’t really a job so much as a calling, one that she refused to charge for. It was against her creed as a witch to make money off of her gifts.

She sometimes wished that she could charge for her services, as working as an artist wasn’t much of a living, it turned out. She was good at her art but not good enough. At least, her art wasn’t good enough to sustain her in ‘Sconset beach, the very expensive village she chose to call home. True, she lived in a guest house on a piece of property that was owned by her aunt, who only charged her $1000 a month, which, for Nantucket, was a steal – but there were months that she couldn’t hardly come up with that rent and still afford to eat.

Still, she was fortunate that she didn’t really need to leave her house to earn money, and she knew it. And, to keep her creative juices flowing, she found that the more she helped people out in the world, the better she did with her art. So, she kept a steady stream of clients who came to her for spell work, herbal remedies, crystal healing and chakra balancing, all of which she specialized in. Willow was a healer first, artist second, and that was how she preferred it.

She looked out her window and saw a young girl coming up the dirt path that led to her guest house, and she groaned. “Not her,” she muttered under her breath. The painting that she was working on, which was a brightly colored portrait of a beautiful couple she’d seen at the Farmer’s Market – she tended towards riotous colors throughout her subjects’ faces and hair, like Henri Matisse’s famous portrait of his wife – was forgotten.

About the Author:Ainsley Keaton lives in Southern California with her husband and two fur-babies, Bella and Annie. When she’s not binge-watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Downton Abbey and Succession, she’s reading historical and women’s fiction or scouring the beach for sea glass and sand dollars.

Website | Facebook
Buy the book at Amazon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

The Boys by Ron Howard & Clint Howard

March 15, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron Howard & Clint Howard
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction, Memoir
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Happy Days, The Andy Griffith Show, Gentle Ben—these shows captivated millions of TV viewers in the ’60s and ’70s. Join award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard and audience-favorite actor Clint Howard as they frankly and fondly share their unusual family story of navigating and surviving life as sibling child actors.

“What was it like to grow up on TV?” Ron Howard has been asked this question throughout his adult life. in The Boys, he and his younger brother, Clint, examine their childhoods in detail for the first time. For Ron, playing Opie on The Andy Griffith Show and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days offered fame, joy, and opportunity—but also invited stress and bullying. For Clint, a fast start on such programs as Gentle Ben and Star Trek petered out in adolescence, with some tough consequences and lessons.

With the perspective of time and success—Ron as a filmmaker, producer, and Hollywood A-lister, Clint as a busy character actor—the Howard brothers delve deep into an upbringing that seemed normal to them yet was anything but. Their Midwestern parents, Rance and Jean, moved to California to pursue their own showbiz dreams. But it was their young sons who found steady employment as actors. Rance put aside his ego and ambition to become Ron and Clint’s teacher, sage, and moral compass. Jean became their loving protector—sometimes over-protector—from the snares and traps of Hollywood.

By turns confessional, nostalgic, heartwarming, and harrowing, THE BOYS is a dual narrative that lifts the lid on the Howard brothers’ closely held lives. It’s the journey of a tight four-person family unit that held fast in an unforgiving business and of two brothers who survived “child-actor syndrome” to become fulfilled adults.

Two brothers, one journey few can understand and a lifetime of memories.

I love to read biographies and autobiographies. When I saw this one about little Ronny Howard, I had to read it. I’m glad I did. There’s a whole lot more to Ron Howard than you might think. First, he’s not only a gifted filmmaker, but also a gifted writer. This was like reading a conversation between friends. Truly. His brother, Clint, writes half of this book and he’s more complicated than I ever thought.

Ron Howard is more than just Opie from the Andy Griffith show. I had no idea how hard worked to get ready for that part and how he had to work to BE Opie. I had no idea he had no concept of how to sign autographs while playing the role of Opie. He didn’t have the easiest life and it’s interesting to read about his transition from Opie to Ritchie Cunningham on Happy Days, then his move to directing. I liked how he’s so honest in his retelling of this era and his tendency to wish his father had his success, rather than having it for himself. It shows his humbleness.

Then there’s Clint. I knew this was his brother, but I didn’t know much about him. This book obviously changed that. He didn’t have quite the same experiences as Ron, even though he grew up in the same household. That’s not to say he wasn’t treated well. He was, but he had different experiences. There’s the unfortunate incidence with the buzzard during the filming of The Red Pony. If you’re upset by indignities to animals, then this might be the portion to skip. I never realized he had such drug problems or had become such a character actor. I have a new respect for Clint Howard.

All in all, this is a wonderful Hollywood autobiography and one that shouldn’t be missed. Recommended.

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

New Era by Tommy B. Smith

March 15, 2022 By 1 Comment


New Era by Tommy B. Smith
Publisher: Raven Tale Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Insomnia. Headaches. Fear.

It drove Marjorie down, cost her a career, and almost destroyed her marriage. When she and her husband Terry escaped to the quiet green countryside west of the Mississippi River, their new home, it seemed too good to last.

The snake-ridden adjoining property, bordered by a row of maple trees, hosts a deadly secret. There the blood of fiends and innocents stain the crumbling ruins of an old farmhouse, a decaying testament to a web of treachery and murder stretching back to distant times.

The horror in the ruins watches in wait. Marjorie fears the end, and the end is coming.

The past never dies.

It was nice to read about characters who are sensible and cautious in the horror genre. While they didn’t always make the same decisions I would, I understood why they made other choices and thought they were doing the best they could with the information they currently had. That’s not always something that happens in these sorts of tales, so it’s refreshing to find here.

The cast of characters was large enough that I had trouble keeping track of who everyone was and how they knew each other. It was even more of a problem for me in the 1982 storyline because it kept introducing new characters who were sometimes critical to the plot and in other cases played less prominent roles in future scenes. As much as I liked switching between this year and the 1918 plot that explained the origins of certain events, it was also confusing for me as a reader because of how many extra characters I then needed to keep track of.

One of the most memorable parts of this novella had to do with its thoughts on how curses work. This was even more true since part of the curse was placed upon a parcel of land instead of on an object or a person. I found myself wondering about all sorts of practical matters related to cursed land. For example, would an object lose its curse if it were removed from that area? Were the soil and plants themselves cursed, too? How long could someone spend on that land before terrible things began to happen to them? I can’t answer those questions in this review without sharing spoilers, but I enjoyed the author’s thoughts on how that all worked in this universe.

I did find myself wishing that the narrator had gone into more detail about the motivations of certain characters who committed some pretty violent acts. Yes, violence is to be expected in the horror genre, but I struggled to understand how those characters could switch so quickly from displaying fairly calm demeanors to attempting to kill those around them. With more development, these changes in behavior could have been truly terrifying in the best sense of that phrase for the horror fans reading it.

The ending was well done. I was especially interested in seeing how the main characters would react once they’d discovered enough clues to realistically have some idea of just how much danger they were in. Their sensible reactions only made me more curious to see if they’d prevail in the final scene. I will be keeping an eye out for any sequels that might revisit this world.

New Era was a delightfully scary story.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The “MAGIC” of OUR ENERGY by C.D. Hill-Lavalle – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 2, 2022 By 5 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. C.D. Hill-Lavalle will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The “MAGIC” of OUR ENERGY

Did you know that every human being on this planet radiates an energy that affects their surroundings and their current reality?

Most of this energy is “Quantum”–something our top physicists today are eagerly studying and experimenting with. This energy radiates out from our bodies and connects us to all things, bringing in good or bad outcomes depending on what we expect, or “put out there”.

It is generated through our belief systems and based on the underlying emotions behind our affirmations, thoughts and actions. And since we are all “connected”, it also creates our “Shared” reality—a fact that scientists as well as physicists are now discovering.

There are only two emotions that underlie everything we choose to express and believe. They are simply: “Fear” or “Love”. Only in the absence of ONE of these, can the other exist, and they each produce a different vibration and energetic outcome. Animals can sense these emotions in us; and this explains why carnivorous animals “increase their attack” when fear is displayed. Animals sense these emotions more keenly than humans do—lessons we can learn as we spend time in nature (away from our electronics).

Fear is the most dangerous emotion, as it only creates “destruction” in one form or another, especially, if what we fear is not “REAL” (as it is 99% of the time). It is the underlying emotion of all worry, stress, guilt, hate, depression, condemnation and anger (to name only a few). It radiates out a limited distance, but then comes back to the one radiating this energy, in the form of illness or more negativity–often drawing in that which we fear the most! If we are in fear often, it can actually cause severe disabilities, as fear and stress is the underlying cause of almost every disease we have today.

Our capitalistic monetary system is another fear-based creation, one that generates the fears of not having enough, not being enough, losing it all, and more—why poverty, illness, crime and disease has been steadily increasing everywhere. And have you noticed what has happened in the last two years? NEVER BEFORE: in all our history, have we ever had as much widespread sickness, disease, addictions, mental illness, children committing suicide and unreported deaths! These are all ignored and unreported to keep the masses focused on just “One”–one that a new, highly profitable and experimental drug can fix (according to its investors, but so far failed to do). FEAR has been used globally over the centuries to control and manipulate the masses—more today, with this planned pandemic, than ever before!

It is unfortunate, that everything being presented today by our mainstream media is controlled and “scripted”–all to keep the masses “In Fear”–purposely avoiding good news, existing cures, or controversial truth from surfacing. I personally know of many doctors, virologists, scientists and experts being threatened from revealing life-saving alternatives, again, to keep people in fear.

In promoting fear it is dividing and separating families and loved ones, making people fearful of their neighbours and friends, restricting people from gathering, talking, worshipping in churches or even being at a loved one’s deathbed. It is all to gain control and the majority’s compliance and acceptance of the most inhumane acts, all in the pretense of “Safety”. Our governments have even resorted to threats, bribery and coercion, restricting our most basic human rights and freedoms if we fail to agree, comply or consent. This is why we are seeing people rise up today. Many are awakening to truth and many feel “Enough is Enough”!

Today, it is more important than ever to do your own research and discern your own truth. If you constantly feel bad, or ill, look at the emotional state you’re dwelling in. Find things that give you “Joy” more often, as this is a love vibration that can give you strength. In fact any underlying love energy, not only returns more of itself, but is far more powerful and radiates further than any energy ever known to man and is solely responsible for our optimum health, vitality and personal evolution.

This is also known by those who control our “controllers” (all explained in my book); and why the 1% who holds the most wealth, controlling governments, corporations and countries, have to keep us all in “FEAR”. Our awakening and evolution has “Always” been their greatest threat (why the necessity to withhold truth and keep our populace “In the Dark”).

“Crimes against Humanity” are the greatest crimes that can ever be committed. They should be seen as such in our justice systems. And since they are always an attempt to gain control and profit, they should carry the greatest penalty. A total removal and distribution of all their wealth, assets and entire holdings, given to those who were their victims, would certainly be poetic justice and a blessing to many. It would be interesting to see their reaction in having to live as the majority of people on this globe have to live today!

Read “How to Control an Entire Planet…in 5 easy steps” and you will get the complete story behind what’s occurring today and the solutions to end it all. You’ll receive the tools to heal, become empowered and gain a level of prosperity you’ve never known before. All this is simple. It only takes our discovery of truth, and for us to unite in compassion.

And this MAGIC ENERGY has prophesied: “If just 144,000 people (out of 7 billion worldwide) can “Awaken and Evolve”, EVERYTHING will change globally for the betterment of ALL”!

Be the first to find the answers to enhance your life!

Visit “https://cdhill-lavalleauthor.com”, read all about it, see the “Chapters” on pg. 2 and click on the links (at the very bottom of the page) to be taken to the bookstores where you can order.

“Enjoy the Journey – Enjoy the Read, and Make a Difference!”

A STEP-BY-STEP ACCOUNT OF A PLANET’S “TAKEOVER”

Written under the guise of a Sci-Fi thriller, this little book ends up revealing more than just a riveting exposé. It soon reveals the very mysteries our civilization has been searching for, for centuries!

The “five steps” (narrated by an ancient and technologically superior race) tells how they easily set up their control and indoctrination of the planet’s populace to fulfill their sinister agenda. Initially seen as a detailed and prophetic set of instructions, the reader will soon suspect: this vague reference to another time and place, to an unknown and primitive world, is too familiar, too real and too foreboding.

All darkness will come to light as you journey down the “rabbit hole of the Matrix”, soon revealing the very “Who, What, How and Why” to every major event occurring globally today. More importantly, you’ll discover the “simplest” solutions to gain back and enhance your personal freedom, prosperity and future happiness!

It may just change your life and it may just change life as we know it on this planet!

“Fantastic…stimulating!” “One of the most interesting books I’ve ever read, second only to the Bible!”
— Ms. .J. G. Shuker
Great-grandmother & native elder to 14
children, and a retired pharmacist assistant.

“In her new book, Cheryl brings a unique and intriguing viewpoint on the world we live in today.” “Thought provoking!”
— Jessica Busch, Program Manager
Women’s Own Resource Centre

Enjoy an Excerpt

How you use the facts presented, I will let you decide, based on whatever stage of enlightenment you find yourself in. Whether you are an ambitious human wanting to conquer a less evolved race, a lover of mysteries, crimes and intriguing tales, or someone who is seeking answers to the meaning of life—this book will surely satisfy.

In this time and era of “No More Secrets”, where controversy and scandals are becoming the norm, I offer you a new exposé, a “Planetary Exposé”— one filled with mystery, corruption, intrigue and plenty of “food for thought”.

At the very least, I present these words to plant a seed in the minds of the inhabitants of this little blue planet, a planet that represents merely a tiny speck among the many universes that exist today. Our planet is the youngest, with a human population described by many other life-forms as: “uneducated bags of mostly water, primitive and savage in their current evolution.”

Under the guise of a science fiction, the first five chapters reveal an actual planetary takeover and the steps that were used to set up control of its populace, narrated (in italics) by one of the ancient and dark race of beings who had been involved with two, attesting to their proficiency in this process. One planet, after years of their control, exhausted its life—a physical legacy of a doomed culture. The second planet (a more successful takeover), this alien race will now refer to—one still under their control, and one that has been for thousands of years.

From the sixth chapter forward, I take the story in a new direction, revealing more important history, secrets, discovery and channel—offering powerful solutions to aid our own planet in its present day survival and ways to improve the health, safety and prosperity of all human beings. Note pages are added with the hope as you make your discoveries, it may inspire you to make a difference in your own life, or that of others. You may even discover more of your past within these pages—stifled memories of a distant yet forgotten ancestry.

Written to educate the inhabitants of our own planet, this five-step process is also a confessional of sorts, by a dissenter one could say, of this alien race. I’ve heard that he is one of many of his kind who is tiring of the control and deceit they have perpetuated. In its telling, there may be hope for our own understanding: that all souls, aliens and humans alike, can evolve, absolve their misgivings, and seek forgiveness. This is something we as humans would do well to master for our own peace and evolution.

This book, I’ve also found, has some divine “magic” within its pages. Every reader will discover a part of this story that is especially dedicated to them; and once read, then randomly opened with intent, each reader will find a valuable message for that day.

I hope that it will not only inform, but inspire, long after its completion— helping you gain the wisdom and power to not only enhance your own life, but all life on our planet.

Follow this journey and decide for yourself.

About the Author: Born of humble beginnings, Cheryl could be seen as just an ordinary person; but she’s an “old soul” who has had some extra-ordinary experiences in her life. This, her first book (written in a love for humanity), is an accumulation of over fifty years of research and study, validated through personal experience and a host of miraculous events. Initially, this research was for her own personal healing and evolution – to “make a difference” in the world. It now facilitates her gifts as a quiet channel and intuitive healer (hoping to re-open a nature and healing retreat again).

Born with a passion for business, she became the sole income-earner during most of her twenty-seven years of marriage; however, through that experience and business success she also witnessed much injustice, abuse and discrimination, fueled by our current systems. Life eventually took her to see and experience the “other side of the tracks”, meeting thousands who were struggling with poverty, illness and addictions—all trying to cope with (or “escape” from) a system that has plagued mankind for centuries, and now, threatens the very planet we reside upon.

She is compelled to share her knowledge and discoveries with the world and “Right the Wrongs” done, so humanity can learn the truth of their existence and their potential for change. After six years of compiling information and unforeseen challenges, this writing has now emerged at what may be considered the perfect time – a time when the world is in massive fear and chaos, with people “questioning” more than ever before, realizing what’s really important in life and wanting solutions for their own peace, healing and prosperity. In this “Time of Awakening”, it is hoped that many will discover: that ALL life matters and everyone has the potential to heal, prosper and evolve “naturally”, and with grace.

She is hoping, as this book is shared and distributed globally, that she can in some way make the difference she has sought for humanity and for life on our planet, and help others who wish the same.

Website | Goodreads

Buy the book at Amazon, Amazon CA, Bookshop, Indigo Chapters, Barnes and Noble, or Book Depository.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Science Fiction/Fantasy

Becoming a Randal by Lauri Robinson

February 28, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Becoming a Randal by Lauri Robinson
Publisher: Fire and Ice/Melange Publishing
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When fourteen-year-old Samantha West and her younger brother, Tommy, are placed in a foster home, Sam feels as if she’s been thrown into a Hallmark movie, full of perfect looking people—actors. The only person not acting, is Spencer Randal, her sixteen-year-old foster brother who hates her. By way of a broken leg, getting hauled home by the cops, and a haunted house, Sam and Spencer each learn what it truly means to be a Randal—Do your best, don’t give up, set goals and work towards them, be a good person, and make things right whenever you can. However, just when Sam’s life has become as perfect as a Hallmark movie, she and Tommy are returned to their mother, where nothing has changed. As the cycle of living on the streets returns, Sam decides it’s time to make things right.

Life is like a roller coaster ride when you’re a foster kid.

The character development in this novel was fantastic. Not only could I describe the personalities of every major character in vivid detail, they grew and changed over the course of the plot in realistic and spectacular ways. They felt real to me. As much ground as was already covered here, there was still plenty of room for future growth if she decides to do that. I can’t stop hoping that Ms. Robinson will write a sequel so that I can spend more time with all of the wonderfully nuanced individuals in this universe.

I do wish more time had been spent on describing the process that Samantha and Tommy’s mother needed to go through if she wanted to regain custody of her children. Foster care is a complex system, and I think it would have made sense for the social worker to be a bit more forthcoming about how the case was going and what the next step would be. This was the only thing holding me back from giving a five-star review.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that showed Samantha’s adjustment to living in a quiet, happy foster home where everyone always had clean clothing and enough food to eat. The descriptions of the neglect and abuse she suffered when she lived with her biological mom were appropriate for this age group, but they were also incredibly sad at times. I totally understood why she was mystified by how nice her foster parents were or suspicious about their motives. The poor girl had been through so much. It made total sense that she’d react this way to simple acts of kindness, and I was glad the author gave this character the space she needed to accept her newfound, if temporary, stability.

Speaking of that topic, I adored the kindness that was woven into the plot beginning with the very first scene when the Randals warmly welcomed Samantha and Tommy into their home. There were countless examples of other good deeds later on in the storyline that always felt natural for the characters who were performing them. Reading this was like drinking a cup of hot cocoa. It made me feel all warm and cozy inside, and I eagerly kept going while I hoped that everyone would get the happy ending they so richly deserved.

Becoming a Randal was a heartwarming read.

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

Necessary Elements for the Thriller Genre by Ann W. Jarvie – Guest Blog and Giveaway

February 18, 2022 By 5 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ann W. Jarvie will be awarding a $75 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.

Necessary Elements for the Thriller Genre

The most important element of a thriller, besides suspense, is having a deadline that requires action from the protagonist to save him or herself, someone loved, something important and/or critical in terms of life-and-death. In my new thriller, The Woods of Hitchcock, I have two such deadlines. In my opening scene, there is a ticking bomb from which the heroine must escape to save herself and a co-worker. Later, a mysterious stranger gives her another deadline of only a week for solving a life-or-death riddle to save those she loves.

It’s also essential in my opinion to have a compelling theme. But I think this goes for every genre. In The Woods of Hitchcock, I was inspired to create a genuine Hero’s Journey for my protagonist, Suzanne Clayborn. A literary term originally coined by the acclaimed mythologist Joseph Campbell, the Hero’s Journey describes an archetypal story pattern that starts with a hero’s departure of some kind from his homeland. On his travels, he has an adventure fraught with trials and tribulations that he must overcome, and if the hero is successful, ends his journey with a triumphant return home.

In The Woods of Hitchcock, my heroine Suzanne leaves her home in South Carolina, running away from the literal ghosts of her past. On her adventures in Chicago, she travels a road full of career excitement, but also danger. She faces various trials as an empath who has psychic abilities, learns about metaphysical secrets that may or may not help her, and gets drawn into a murder mystery. Her return involves choosing a life back in South Carolina; however, in order to stay and save those she loves, she must solve a life-or-death riddle, discover the secret gifts of spirit within herself and use them correctly, thereby completing her suspenseful Hero’s Journey.

Meanwhile, during the literary journey, the hero meets the mentor, who guides and grounds him as he makes his way in the story. Often the mentor has been through a similar journey and survived, so the mentor represents what the hero could become, if he makes the right choices and sticks to his path.

In The Woods of Hitchcock, our heroine Suzanne has a most excellent mentor in the character of her sage grandmother, Henrietta, who shares with her keen insights about similar experiences, humorous observations and “ancient metaphysical truths worth repeating” that she learned from an old friend and Apache shaman, Bears Repeating. As an aside, my Henrietta character was the young heroine and Bears Repeating was her mentor in my first novel, The Soul Retrieval. Both novels are a part of my “Henrietta Series,” although each novel stands completely on its own.

Thank you, Long and Short Reviews, for the opportunity to talk about the essential elements of the thriller genre and one of my favorite subjects: The Hero’s Journey. Here’s wishing you and all of your readers safe and healthy travels on your own life journeys.

The Woods of Hitchcock by award-winning author Ann W. Jarvie is a thriller about a psychically gifted Chicago copywriter and victim of violence who returns to South Carolina’s equestrian country to solve a riddle involving murder, the metaphysical and the secrets of her eccentric family.

Suzanne Clayborn is a psychically gifted southerner working in her dream job in Chicago, which also conveniently takes her away from the ghosts of her past. But when she’s nearly killed, she realizes all she wants is to return home to her eccentric family, her horse and the one place she feels safe: Hitchcock Woods, an enchanting equestrian forest in South Carolina.

But instead of finding solace, Suzanne becomes entangled in a murder spree, while stumbling upon an old manuscript, written by her sage grandmother. As she explores it, Suzanne uncovers a tome of long-buried family haunts and ancient metaphysical secrets offering healing and inspiration. She also begins to understand her unwanted psychic abilities, especially after meeting a mysterious stranger in the Woods whose ominous riddle suggests others close to her will die within the week…

Brimming with raw emotion and a trail of psychological twists, a story of hope and transformation begins to unfold. Yet with the riddle’s deadline looming, Suzanne’s present must ultimately collide with a violent past. Will she be able to solve her life’s riddle and fulfill her destiny? Or will she die along with those she loves?

Enjoy an Excerpt

Suzanne Clayborn woke up in darkness, mouth taped shut.

Jerking only made the ties around her wrists and ankles tighter, but it wasn’t just the bindings holding her down. Her muscles weren’t working right, like her whole body had fallen asleep. All she could do was lie there on a floor, heart pounding in terror, listening to the eerie bangs of pipes hidden somewhere behind the shadowed walls.

Her body trembled, despite an overwhelming heat, heavy and putrid, falling on her face and neck like the terrible breath of a monster. She had no memory of what had happened to her or where she was now. She only knew she was immobilized, maybe paralyzed, and every inch of her head ached. She might’ve welcomed another blackout, but the fumes were acting like smelling salts, forcing her to remain awake.

Yet she preferred consciousness—she didn’t want to die. It wasn’t that she feared the afterlife. That was actually the only good thing about the tragic accident years ago, when she was thirteen, when she’d felt her soul float away in bliss. It was the coming back that was the scary part. What she’d seen and felt when she’d woken up, and almost every day since then, could not be unseen or unfelt. It was a secret horror, her life irreversibly altered with strange, new abilities she didn’t need or want. Still, she didn’t want to die—not now, not like this—because she was struck in this dark moment with an awful knowing, a bothersome niggling in the deepest part of her soul about something important she had to finish in this life.

About the Author: Ann W. Jarvie has a B.A. in journalism and twenty-five years’ experience as a writer in advertising and public relations agencies, in Chicago and South Carolina. Although it stands completely on its own, The Woods of Hitchcock is an indirect sequel to Jarvie’s award-winning debut novel, The Soul Retrieval, which received four literary awards, the highest score by Writer’s Digest e-Book Awards’ judges (5 out of 5 on all points) as well as myriad positive reviews. Jarvie currently lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona with her husband, their boxer dog and boxer mix rescue.

Website | Facebook | < ahref="http://www.instagram.com/annwjarvie">Instagram | Twitter

Buy the book at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mystery/Suspense Tagged With: , ,

The Backstreets of the Victorian England – what is the reality?? by Rachel Brimble – Guest Blog and Giveaway

February 17, 2022 By 7 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Rachel Brimble will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Backstreets of the Victorian England – what is the reality??

As an author of historical fiction and romance, it is important to me that I convey the reality of the story setting, the characters, and the societal expectancy of the time period I am writing.
My stories tend to be about the lives of the more common people, even the poorer people of Victorian and Edwardian society rather than the aristocracy or upper classes. So instead of ballrooms, palaces and stately homes, you are more likely to find backstreet taverns, modest tearooms and two up/two down houses in my novels. It is this level of society that I find myself drawn to, who I want to explore and uncover the hardships they faced on a daily basis.

It is these people that I research and inevitably come to admire. They often survive the reality of violence, vice and viciousness amid the filthy streets of the inner city through bravery, tenacity and cunning. There is no one waiting with a helping hand or an inheritance to save the day, these people live hand to mouth, day by day in the hope of salvation, or else, by their own instincts.

Conveying the hardships of my characters, the emotional strain of survival, disappointment and those beautiful moments of success is what keeps me writing. I LOVE writing about strength of the human spirit despite the odds. Victorian England was once among the worse places to live in the world. Slums abounded, begging, prostitution and child death commonplace. So, how on earth can I convey this reality in historical romance and not entirely lose my reader?

The answer is simple.

I describe enough that the reader is grounded in time and place. I convey enough that they understand the characters’ circumstances are not by choice but from the outside. And finally, I spend more time ensuring I have expressed the emotions of the characters through every good and bad thing that happens to them that the reader comes to care so much for them that they are vying for their happy ending, no matter what.

It is this commitment from author to reader to character that makes a story a good one, regardless of the dire reality of the living conditions or hard circumstances. Emotion is everything in fiction and, indeed romance, and I will continue to bring happiness and possibility to those characters less written about for as long as I can and, in turn, I hope my readers come along for the journey with me, too!

He needs a wife…
Manchester industrialist William Rose was a poor lad from the slums who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, but in order to achieve his greatest ambitions he must become the epitome of Victorian respectability: a family man.

She has a plan…
But the only woman who’s caught his eye is sophisticated beauty Octavia Marshall, one of the notorious ladies of Carson Street. Though she was once born to great wealth and privilege, she’s hardly respectable, but she’s determined to invest her hard-earned fortune in Mr Rose’s mills and forge a new life as an entirely proper businesswoman.

They strike a deal that promises them both what they desire the most, but William’s a fool if he thinks Octavia will be a conventional married woman, and she’s very much mistaken if she thinks the lives they once led won’t follow them wherever they go.

In the third instalment of Rachel Brimble’s exciting Victorian saga series, The Ladies of Carson Street will open the doors on a thoroughly modern marriage – and William is about to get a lot more than he bargained for…

Enjoy an Excerpt

Louisa and Jacob’s conversation dimmed as Mr Rose slowly turned his gaze to Octavia. She barely resisted the urge to flinch. His eyes were as dark as his hair, their gaze so intense it was as though he looked to read her thoughts, desires and dreams. The notion was bizarrely unnerving, intoxicating and a frisson of trepidation – or maybe shameful anticipation – shivered through her. Suddenly it didn’t seem such a bad idea to allow Mr Rose’s unexpected visit to play out. Yet, impromptu admittance was not the Carson Street way…

As Louisa and Jacob seemed too imbedded in debate to address Mr Rose and his companions, Octavia raised her chin and held Mr Rose’s unwavering stare. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Rose, but it’s house policy that no girl spends time alone with a man we do not know. Therefore, I kindly ask that you leave for the time being. However, if you wish—’

‘Now, now, Octavia,’ Louisa said firmly as she brushed past her. ‘I don’t think it’s necessary to toss Mr Rose so unceremoniously out of our establishment on such a cold and dreary night, do you?’

‘Louisa…’ Octavia looked pointedly at her friend, her eyebrows raised. ‘Jacob is right. Mr Fairham should not have taken it upon himself to offer his friend’s unkept appointment to Mr Rose. Therefore, Mr Rose should leave.’

Octavia faced Mr Rose and, once again, fought the urge to flinch when she found herself the object of his intense study a second time. She pulled back her shoulders. He had better think again if he thought for one minute she might be intimidated by him.

About the Author:Rachel lives in a small town near Bath, England. She is the author of over 25 published novels including the Ladies of Carson Street trilogy, the Shop Girl series (Aria Fiction) and the Templeton Cove Stories (Harlequin).

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association as well as the Historical Novel Society and has thousands of social media followers all over the world.

Newsletter | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »