I bought, borrowed from the library, or got books free in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, August 23, 2024

LASR 17th anniversary party

 

Like books? No matter the genre, we have a great place for you to find your next favorite read!


Long and Short Reviews is celebrating their 17th (wow!) anniversary, but you get the gifts. They're featuring more than 50 books in all genres from romance to science fiction, young adult to poetry... no matter your reading preferences, you can find something to enjoy!

What could possibly be better than that? 

How about a chance to win one of two $100 Amazon GCs, of course! Think of how many books you could buy... 
Once you're arrived at the Long and Short Reviews site, simply read through the book posts each day and answer a simple question (or follow authors on their social media accounts) and you're entered to win. New chances to enter every day! So, go visit and enter and don't forget to tell a friend or two. Good luck!

Contest runs from August 19-23, 2024.





Wednesday, August 14, 2024

WHICHEVER WAY THE ROAD LEADS by J.A. Boulet

  

 

WHICHEVER WAY THE ROAD LEADS

J.A. Boulet


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GENRE:  Historical Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Meet Jesse Eastman, a young man from a powerful and wealthy American family. When he joins a group of rough fur traders on a journey to open up the American Northwestern Frontier, Jesse thinks his days are numbered.

 

The looming War of 1812 and a rugged farm woman from Upper Canada may prove him right.

 

Zee Collard and her father, George, are half-American, and half-Canadian. They will stop at nothing to protect their livelihoods in Upper Canada. The Collard's family history goes back to the Revolutionary War and their past is not something many Americans are keen on.

 

Whichever Way The Road Leads will pull you into the lives of two American families on both sides of the border who struggle as war breaks out in 1812. This engaging and graphic first book of The Eastman Saga will take you through raging mountainous rivers and early Northwestern Frontier landscapes to the bloody Niagara battlefields of 1812.

 

Be careful which road you take, you never know where it'll lead.

 

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Excerpt:

 

Jesse walked confidently to the group as the man spoke commandingly to him in the Arikaran language. Jesse looked at him in bewilderment.

 

“He said that he would take everyone into the village and save our lives in exchange for the bear pelt and the canoe,” the woman translated slowly. 

 

The Arikara guard spoke again, quickly, almost jumbling over his words with passion.

 

“He also says that this is not a free stay. Everyone must work once they are healthy enough.” The woman explained the rest of the agreement and looked at Jesse for confirmation.

 

Jesse looked back at the stranded Overland Astorian group. They were probably three more days away from dying, he thought. Losing the bear pelt was nothing, but the canoe would be a huge sacrifice. “Tell him we will give him what he wants,” Jesse replied, rubbing his long beard. “But he must allow us to rebuild a new canoe with the surrounding trees. It is our only survival to return to St. Louis.”

 

The woman frowned, turned to the Arikara guard, and relayed the message in their native tongue.

 

The Arikara man’s mouth frowned in deliberation. Then, a half smile graced his face. He spoke rapidly to the woman, then turned to his group of guards, gesturing for them to grab the canoe and bear fur. They began approaching the Astorians as the native woman spoke to Jesse. “They have agreed,” she translated, with a funny grin on her face. “He also said that you are stupid and young.”

 

Jesse laughed and patted her on the shoulder. “Thank you,” he said. “You saved our lives.”

 

“No,” she replied. “You did, Jesse.”

 

 

Review: 

The story starts out adventurous with young Jesse and others with the Overland Astorians team. Dangers in travel lie ahead. We get descriptive details on this journey from St. Louis westward. The group means to open fur trading posts to expand America.

 

As they go through a treacherous journey filled with perils, suspense is created. 

 

Characters are introduced who are complex and interesting. Zee, for instance, is not your typical young woman. She is interested in ranch life. Jesse is a brave young man who stands up for others. His challenges will change him.

 

Something unexpected happens to Zee, and she does not know what she is going to do. When war hits, things get tricky. When Jesse and Zee meet, their situations will clash, but they can’t deny each other.

 

Family comes into play here, and different types of relationships are explored. Certain questions in the moral gray area must be faced.

 

As someone who has studied the War of 1812, I was really impressed with the historic details written here and blended smoothly into an engaging story. Once or twice, actions done by characters felt anachronistic, and a character died under unusual circumstances. I didn’t see the point for the plot line for that death. Some of the steamier scenes had awkward phrasing, but overall, I loved the story. The author is talented, creating a setting that is atmospheric with enriching place and time details.

 

 


 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:


 

J. A. Boulet is the passionate author of six historical fiction novels. Raised in a Hungarian refugee family, J. A. was born and grew up in Canada with a strong moral foundation, which she has stood behind all her life. Ms. Boulet began writing poetry at a very young age and progressed to short stories and novels easily. She quickly became a history geek and became fascinated with ancestry and the rough path of immigration. Her university studies ranged from photojournalism to accounting. After decades of working in accounting, J. A. published her first book in 2020 and has since published one to two books annually. 

 

She lives in the Niagara region of Canada with her two sons, a crested gecko, a large Doberdor dog, and a small orchard of fruit trees.

 

Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Reddit.

 

Website: https://jaboulet.ca/

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Whichever-Road-Leads-Eastman-Saga-ebook/dp/B0D4FCQ66D

Twitter link: https://twitter.com/love_walk_life

Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/jabouletauthor/

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHyJHrncBj09F5119oxt6Vw

Reddit link: https://www.reddit.com/user/NormalFemale


Link:

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

J.A. Boulet will award a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

 

Enter here:

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4912

 

Follow the tour:

 

 https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2024/05/review-tour-whichever-way-road-leads-by.html






Friday, August 9, 2024

HEART & SOUL by Toby Negus

  

 

HEART & SOUL


Toby Negus

 

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GENRE:  lyrical inspirational prose

 

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BLURB:

 

Truths beautifully expressed

 

Toby Negus, author and illustrator of The Heart Knows What the Mind Cannot See, has created a collection of lyrical inspirational prose messages coupled with colorful and mesmerizing symbolic illustrations that speak to the soul.

 

The author has continued his exploration of the most transformational psychospiritual concepts that lie deeply within all humans, bringing the wisdom of heart and soul into the light for our minds to connect with and grow from. He weaves his messages through a variety of topics, including love, freedom, choice, truth, self-awareness, the now moment, healing, peace, and most importantly, the role of the heart and soul in enlightening humanity’s journey on Planet Earth. Connections are made among these concepts to help readers make the same connections in order to find peace in their own lives.

 

As an artist, the author takes his ethereal subject matter, fuses it with the colors and shapes presented by his own spiritual muse, and gives the reader a visceral inner transformation through symbol, intense color, and cosmic shape.

 

Heart and Soul creates a deep and beautiful immersion for the reader into their own heart’s beautiful depths.

 

 

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Excerpt :

 

When we love

 

To love is in our very nature; we become a distraught apparition of life without its presence. 

 

But when we love the heavens open. And the deeper we love, the deeper the peace. 

 

There is no end to the depths that can be sought. There is no limitation to what may be when we love.

 

Love has been the saving grace of humanity and is the source of so much of the world’s greatness, for all the beauty in the world has been born from the idea of love. Its presence has inspired great leaders, holy people, artists, and writers to create the lights that have guided our journey on Earth .

 

And we, in our own way, have a part in this great endeavour.

 

In our effort to give expression to the love we carry, the power of light we create from our struggle and our joy is never lost, for no light is ever forgotten. It is cherished by Creation and becomes part of its eternal story.

 

What we love is no coincidence, those loves are urges from the soul that give guidance to our path in life. 

 

The wishes  of love that are held in the heart are not fairy tales for the lonely. They are gifts from the soul, echoes of the soul’s longing for communion with life. 

 

Our loves guide us to moments of deep nourishment where we may rest in the comfort of sanctuary.

 

These great loves are not like the shallow love of convenience that puts to sleep our passion, but they are like the love that ignites our vision and unlocks our authentic power of action. 

 

They are bridges that take us beyond the mundane into the great unknown: adventures with our future self that will always bring happiness.

 

This call of love will not be satiated. We may try to quench its thirst with ‘things’ or put it to sleep with indulgence but, at the end of the day, when all is said and done, we will still hold a wish of love.

 

If we do not love we become a ghost in life, an apparition with no heart. So, the search for the love of our heart is our sacred purpose. 

 

It is a unique portion of Creation that is ours alone to make known, for there can be no comparison, no reference outside of us for its key. Our wish to love is the only key.

 

It is in the endeavour to bring love into the light of day, to give it space on earth, that has created so many of the heroic qualities of the human spirit, lights that although born from ourselves and intimately personal, are also profound. 

 

They augment the fabric of human consciousness and become part of the thousands of years that have created the story of humanity’s journey on Earth.

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:


 

 

 

Toby Negus is an artist, both with paints and of the spirit. His work reflects a deep commitment to meeting life on its terms and an equally deep understanding of human nature.

 

Toby has studied and taught spiritual and personal development in the UK and around the world for over two decades. He is qualified in advanced counselling, as a life coach and as a Cognitive Behaviour therapist. He is an Amazon best-selling author of a collaborative Conscious Creators book and has illustrated and self published two books on the subject of self-awareness and the spiritual journey. He has articles published in national magazine and has given talks and run workshops in support of his published work within the UK.

 

In the last few years, he has created many pieces of artwork that are a reflection of his spiritual journey. These have appeared in magazines and have been exhibited in the UK.   

 

Website: www.tobynegus.com

email: toby@tobynegus.co.uk

Youtube:  www.youtube.com/c/TobyNegus

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OriginalArtWords

Amazon Author page: www.amazon.com/author/tobynegus

Twitter https://twitter.com/tobynegus

Instagram @tobynegus

Amazon Author page https://www.amazon.com/stores/Toby-Negus/author/B00PS7U9VK

 

 

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 

Toby Negus will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

 

Enter here:

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4952


Follow the tour:


https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2024/07/blurb-blitz-heart-soul-by-toby-negus.html




Friday, August 2, 2024

EXILES by L.J. Ambrosio

  

 

EXILES


L.J. Ambrosio

 

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GENRE:  Literary Fiction/Coming of Age

 

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BLURB:

 

In this final chapter, Ron's story concludes from Reflections on the Boulevard (2023). Michael's wish was for Ron to exile himself in the heart of Paris with its beautiful culture and citizens as they protest and fight for the soul of the city. Ron's journey is met with life-affirming friendships and lessons along the way. The final book in the Reflections of Michael Trilogy, which started with A Reservoir Man (2022).

 

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EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

 

Ron sat down with another glass of wine and asked Louie about Lily and how long they had been dating.

 

“We were at the Sorbonne together; she majored in European history. We never got to that point in the relationship where the word 'serious' was used. Lily has a heart condition; she has had it since she was a child. I do not know much more about it. I am glad I do not know much because I would just obsess about it. I love Lily; we help each other. I hope you get to know her; she and Theo are my only friends...now Rhonda.” Louie looked at Rhonda, and she gave him a loving look.

 

“Who is Theo?” asked Ron.

 

“I belong to an activist group with Theo; we belong but do not go to meetings, only demonstrations.”

 

“If you don’t go to meetings, how do you know what you’re demonstrating against or for?” Ron asked, a little confused.

 

“I don’t go to the meetings because they are all bullshit.” Ron chuckles at this. “I mostly read the materials, the pamphlets, form my own opinion on what to fight for. We must fight to never let La Penne have the power.”

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:


 

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at 7 Universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlambrosio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louis.ambrosio

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ljambrosio

Blog: https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig

 

Palace Marketplace: https://market.thepalaceproject.org/item/5900746

Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/16927020

Barnes and Noble; https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exiles-lj-ambrosio/1145295484;jsessionid=6BEBDF0D8FDBD00DC37A1EAACF96C083.prodny_store01-atgap12

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/exiles/id6482298566

Everand: https://www.everand.com/book/720323806/Exiles-Reflections-of-Michael-Trilogy

Thalia: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1071509419

Vivlio: https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9798990212138_9798990212138_10020/exiles

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1546995

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/exiles-65

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Exiles-Reflections-Michael-Trilogy-Ambrosio/dp/B0CZHY93GQ/ref=sr_1_1

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 


L.J. Ambrosio will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card, a dragonfly necklace, or a second dragonfly necklace to three randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour

 

Enter here:

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4873


Follow the tour:


https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2024/04/excerpt-tour-exiles-by-lj-ambrosio.html




THE FATE OF OUR UNION

      THE FATE OF OUR UNION Hildebrand Hermannson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~   GENRE :  Fantasy   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~   BLURB:   A mountainous thundering bull ...