Wednesday, August 10, 2011

New Release - The Last Rites by Yvonne Mason

 Yvonne's my girl and I love her to death. She just came out with a new title. The Last Rites. It's based on true events and just look at this cover! It's gorgeous. So I want to congratulate Yvonne on her newest release, and tell you all - go buy the book man! You Will Love It! :).  Seriously though, consider buying it. You really will love it :).

In the early summer of 1975 a badly decomposed female body was found on Ulrich Rd in Fort Pierce, Florida. The case was initally investigated as a Jane Doe. No one had reported her missing and the body was so badly decomposed it was hard to get an identification. She was finally identified as Pauline Metler age 33 years old. In early fall the case went cold.

In 1976 it was reopened when a prisoner had a case of conscience and wanted to unburden his soul.

This book is her story so that she will never be forgotten again.









I love the music with this video. It's just seems so fitting :).

The eldest of five children, Yvonne was born May 17, 1951 in Atlanta, Georgia. Raised in East Point, Georgia, she moved to Jackson County, Ga. until 2006 then moved to Port St. Lucie, Florida where she currently makes her home.
Lic
She holds an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice, a Bounty Hunter and a Published Author.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

VBT Pit Stop with Debra Chapoton - Edge of Escape


Please welcome Debra Chapoton to our blog today. Debra is on tour with her book Edge of Escape. She won her tour with The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', and she is also our winner for the Heart of Eden short story contest. We are so happy to be chatting with Debra today, and we are also her last tour stop. Welcome Debra to my humble abode.

Please tell us a little about yourself......



What inspired you to pen your first title?

A colleague of mine required his students to write a novel over the course of two semesters. He said that everybody had a novel in their heads. I thought that if teenagers could accomplish such a feat during the school year then I would give it a try on summer vacation. I was amazed at how much fun it was to create.



How long have you been writing?

I wrote my first novel THE SECRET IN THE HIDDEN CAVE in 2002 and have tried to complete a new novel annually.



What was the hardest part about writing this particular novel?

I based the main characters in EDGE OF ESCAPE on former students. It was hard to keep my mental image of them from invading the fictional characters’ personalities to the point where they would be recognized. You know that phrase on the copyright page that says “any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental”? Well, keeping it “coincidental” was the hardest part.



Have any dreams been realized as a result of your writing?

Absolutely. Holding a finished book in my hand is a dream come true. Leaving a legacy behind is another dream realized.



Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?

I would love it if people would start to notice the “invisible” kids and at least acknowledge them and be kind to them. The main character in EDGE OF ESCAPE, Eddie, suffered a tragedy that contributed to his emotional impairment. If he had had friends to see him through those early years he would have turned out all right. Of course then there would not have been an obsession, an abduction or this novel.



Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

I’m having fun trying different genres. My next novel will be a youthful romance, a first love type of story, laced with adventure and hard decisions. Then I want to finish a sci-fi story I set aside a few years ago. I also have the outline in my head for a fourth book in the Big Pine Lodge series as well as a sequel to A Tick in Time and some more scary stories like Bigfoot Day,Ninja Night. I have plenty of ideas, just not enough time.



What advice do you have for writers just starting out?

Writers that are starting out should take some English classes, study literature and really learn grammar. Read, read, read. Then write, write, write. You can always edit later.



Anything else you would like to share with us today?......

I just self-published CROSSING THE SCRIPTURES, a Bible study book that covers how the 66 books of the Bible correspond in incredible ways with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The Bible is the ultimate treasure chest. Discovering the amazing connections between each book and the symbolism of its matching letter was totally fascinating.

Congratulations on publishing Crossing The Scriptures! It sounds like an amazing book for any age.
Emotionally impaired yet clever, Eddie obsesses over pretty Rebecca. He drugs her, abducts her and locks her away. She escapes, but that is part of his plan as he pretends to be her knight in shining armor. Will she accept his special devotion or reject his fragile love? Stalking gets a sympathetic twist in this story of fixation and fear. 

Edge of Escape Excerpt
Chapter 1
Mmm. Sleep. She took an involuntary sniff through her nose and made an audible sigh out her mouth, loud enough to pull her almost all the way up from the strangest dream. It was a soft nightmare, not scary but very unpleasant. Weird, the way dreams sometimes are. She rolled to her right and jerked herself completely awake. The room was pitch black but her eyes were wide and searching. Her left wrist seemed tethered to the side of the bed. She reached with her right hand and felt blindly from her wrist to a cold metal pole. She was handcuffed. Panicking, she rattled the pole and started to scream. The screams turned to grunts and groans as she struggled with the shackles. She paused to listen, holding her breath. Nothing. Still pitch black. There were faint sounds from somewhere. Far away expressway noises, a breeze through tall trees, closer crickets. But no house sounds, no refrigerator hum, no creaks, no ticking clock. She let out her breath and tried to calm herself. She was fully clothed but shoeless. Her watch was gone. She pulled her legs up under herself for leverage and started to stand, intending to rip her wrist restraint free of the metal. She placed the chain links in her left hand and grabbed the wrist metal with her right. She braced herself, tilted her head upwards, gritted her teeth and straightened her legs fast. Her head met an unexpectedly low ceiling hard enough to knock her back into the soft nightmare.

* * *


“Is she awake?” the nurse asked. A handsome man was hovering over the young woman’s bandaged body, continually checking the monitors and lightly kissing her cheeks, her right hand, and her forehead.


“She’s been moaning and her eyes fluttered once. I’ve been squeezing her hand but there’s no response.” He touched her face again, “Come on, Becca, wake up.”


The nurse scanned the chart again. Rebecca MacPherson, 18, unmarried. And what a hunk of man at her bedside. The nurse admired his devotion. He had not left her side in the 36 or so hours that the unconscious girl had lain there. Her injuries did not appear severe though her left wrist was bandaged. There was a lump on her forehead, which must have hurt, but the patient was unaware of pain and oblivious to her surroundings. The nurse checked the monitors and frowned. Rebecca should have awakened by now. She didn’t want the guy to worry any more than he already was so she smiled at him and gave him an encouraging thumbs up sign. “She’ll awake soon. Everything looks fine.”


She headed for the door and glanced back. Such a handsome young man, she thought. No matter the age, the good ones are always taken.


* * *


Rebecca was unconscious for only a few minutes but she had no way of knowing that. It was still pitch black in the low ceilinged room. This time she was more cautious. She felt around first with her feet and then with her free arm, stretching and twisting in order to get as clear an idea of her position as possible. All the way to the right she could feel the side of the bed. She could dangle her feet over the side and outwards three feet but could not feel anything solid. The top of the bed had a crib-like railing instead of a headboard and when she stuck her right arm through the slats there was no wall immediately behind it. She clicked her fingers in an effort to sense the space as if she had sonar abilities. She even squeezed her eyes tightly shut to concentrate on her hearing. She guessed that the wall was near, maybe a couple of feet away. She reached up and felt again the low ceiling. Rebecca was only 5 feet two inches tall and identifying ceiling textures was not on the list of things a short girl like her would do, but this felt like concrete, more like a basement floor than a ceiling. No wonder I knocked myself out, she thought, raising her fingers to her forehead. Whoa. She had a huge knot above her eyebrow, tender to the touch.


She continued her blind search, first feeling with her feet down the left side of the bed beneath the metal pole. There was a horizontal pole along the bottom of the mattress, then nothing. She couldn’t feel the floor. She placed both hands on the pole and lowered herself. Still no floor. She was dangling like a kid on a trapeze. She pressed one bare foot against the pole and made a 180-degree arc with the other. Her big toe grazed something hard and smooth. Glass, she thought, a window. She changed position and used her other foot, stretching harder and scraping with her toenail. A sliver of gray night bled through the blackened window. She continued to stretch and scrape until her muscles ached and her cuffed wrist bled.

Exhausted, she pulled her body back onto the mattress. She tilted her head toward the window and tried to think. The last thing she remembered was shopping with her friend, Sarah, and feeling a little nauseated from an ice cream drink. She was walking alone down a corridor to the restrooms when … what? Obviously I’ve been abducted, she thought. She had been suppressing this thought since the moment she awakened. Rebecca was stronger than her small frame indicated, physically and mentally. She was an iron-willed person, always wanting to be in control, and always the center of attention.

Her stomach growled and she realized she needed to go to the bathroom as well. She refused to acknowledge the chilling fear that was creeping up her spine and instead stared at the window, at the gray strips of light that were appearing to brighten. She worked the handcuffs along the pole and reached further but still nothing. She twisted until she could get her head over the bedside and then she vomited. Time to cry. The frustration and fear, the handcuffs and the darkness were overwhelming. Rebecca wept.


You can learn more about Debra and her books at http://edgeofescape.blogspot.com 

Debra Chapoton has taught kids of all ages in her main career as a teacher. She has a BA in Spanish and a Master of Arts degree in Teaching English. She started writing in 2002 and was surprised to find out that the characters quickly take over the action and dialogue in the stories.

Her first YA novel is Edge of Escape. The main character, Eddie, is brilliant yet emotionally impaired. He fixates on pretty and popular Rebecca. He abducts her then tries to be her rescuer as she escapes his traps. His fragile devotion reveals a delicate spirit that Rebecca can either accept or reject. Stalking and obsession get a sympathetic twist in this story of physical and psychological survival.

Chapoton has also written the Big Pine Lodge series for kids ages 8 – 12. These books follow the adventures of Missy and Kevin as they explore the lodge, the cemetery, the old ruins and especially the labyrinth of caves which run beneath the lake and mountain near Big Pine Lodge. They solve mysteries, confront danger and face off with teenage bullies or wild animals in The Secret in the Hidden Cave, Mystery’s Grave and Bullies and Bears.

Other chapter books she has authored are A Tick in Time, a fantasy adventure into a parallel universe, and Bigfoot Day, Ninja Night, a pair of spooky stories that kids love. She has recently published a non-fiction work, Crossing the Scriptures, which explores the amazing connections between the 66 books of the Bible as they align with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This Bible study reveals the intricate weaving of words and themes in books that are spaced at equal intervals.

   


    


Thank you so much for stopping in and chatting with us Debra. As always, it's amazing to learn more and more about you. Wishing you much success in the future!
Cheers,





Tuesday, August 2, 2011

5 Latte's for Hunting Human by Amanda E. Alvarez

Hunting HumanHunting Human by Amanda E. Alvarez

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What can I say? I was enthralled with this title. Hunting Human is a must read for anyone that loves a good paranormal romance! The cover is gorgeous too!

Beth Williams leads a life of keeping to herself. She is working for Angie and loves the commotion that always arises when she is at the Cafe'. When Braden Edwards walks into her life, she isn't prepared for the whirlwind of events that are about to take place.

Beth finds herself forced to relive the death of her best friend, and becoming a werewolf when the brother of the man that turned her is seeking revenge for his brothers death at Beth's hands. Now she must face the demon within her and the ones that surround her. The problem is that she doesn't know how to shift without the pain. Once she realizes that Braden too is a wolf, they must learn to look past all the bad and trust each other if they are to defeat Markko and his Bolvek clan.

The question is, will love survive?

Alvarez did a wonderful job with Hunting Human. Not only does she put her own twist on this paranormal realm, it was a type of paranormal that I've not seen too often. I loved Beth, and just wanted to give her a hug and tell her it would be alright. Braden, WHEW, I want me a Braden. Who wouldn't? Then we have Chase. I think I could like him a bunch, maybe not at first, but he grew on my as the story went on. All in all, I loved all these characters, could easily relate to them, and found myself laughing a lot at Mom Edwards. She's a put her foot down and do as I say kind of gal and I loved it.

This was a fantastic read, fast paced and it will surely have you turning the pages to see how it all ends.















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4 Latte's for Web of Lies - My Life with a Narcissist by Sarah Tate

Web of Lies - My Life with a NarcissistWeb of Lies - My Life with a Narcissist by Sarah Tate

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Web of Lies - My Life with a Narcissist was an unbelievable read. The entire time I was reading, I wanted to reach in the pages and tell Sarah to get out now!

Moving to a new country, starting a new life, Sarah thought she was in for a brand new fresh start. After arriving to work, she meets Bill. Not instantly attracted to Bill, she can't help but to be swept up by his charm. He's writing her songs, taking her on extravagant getaways. She thought he was going to be her life and eventually she married him.

What she soon learned though, was lie after lie by Bill, things started to not add up. He was always on the lookout for his next big riches, not having work for months even years at a time. He was being sued for money every time Sarah turned around. She kept faith in Bill though, standing by his side knowing that he would provide.

Then came their first child. Bill doted on their daughter Lucy from the moment she was born. Sarah had no idea how to be a Mom, and was feeling a little distraught about it. Financially things didn't change though. Sarah was starting to worry she would not be able to feed her child, especially after the next one came.

Now Bill is working out of their basement in yet another new home, going to make his millions on the internet. More and more time he spends on the computer, and more and more he and Sarah drift apart. Depression sets in, and Bill's excuses are never ending.

Deciding writing her poetry would help, Sarah has Bill build her a website. It gets off the ground with a great start, members consistently joining. Now Bill is into this website, and is no longer working on his millions, but chatting online with people from Sarah's new poetry site.

Less and less time with the children, Sarah becomes agitated. In an effort to save their marriage, she tries to make it work with Bill, and romances him, thinking she is not doting on him enough and plans for another baby. While is excited about being a father again, what she soon finds out is that on his next "important" business trip, he is not alone.

This in turn causes Sarah to start investigating Bill's past. What she learns sickens her to no end and forces her mind to a decision...she will divorce this man.

This was such a moving story. The hardship and total ruins that this woman had to face was just astounding. It stands true that cycles always repeat, but Sarah had no idea what this man was doing to her. It's sad to know that their is a disease such as this out there and half the people don't even realize they have a problem. Much like addiction. Bill Tate took advantage of lonely souls, one right after another. When Sarah started questioning his every move, Bill knew it was time to move on.

Luckily Sarah got out before it ruined her. Bill's actions actually took the life of his poor wife before Sarah, and his lies never ceased to amaze. Kudos to Sarah for escaping her demise.



This is the updated cover.











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5 Latte's for Johnny Big Ears and the Feel Good Friend by John Paul Padilla

JOHNNY BIG-EARS, THE FEEL-GOOD FRIEND, Author Special Edition BookJOHNNY BIG-EARS, THE FEEL-GOOD FRIEND, Author Special Edition Book by John Paul Padilla

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Johnny Big Ears - The Feel Good Friend by John Paul Padilla

Reviewed by Daniel Dietz

Johnny Big Ears always had curly black hair and big ears. His first day of school he was so excited to start, and his mother cut his hair revealing his big ears. Johnny loved his new haircut and couldn't wait to get to school.

He arrives to school, meets his teacher and his day begins. He learns his alphabet, writes his name on the chalkboard, it's so fun to be at school.

Then it's time for recess. He's having fun, kicking a ball around when two kids start picking on him about his ears, "You're funny looking", "You have huge ears, I bet you could fly like a bird." As they continue picking on him, Johnny gets mad, but remembers what his mother told him about bullies and chooses to ignore them. They don't let up, following him around teasing him. Johnny can't take it any longer and finally runs away crying.

Finding a new spot, he starts kicking the ball around again, feeling very sad. A new kid comes up to him and says "Hi." His name is Charlie Freckles, and Charlie knows how Johnny feels because he too gets picked on because of his freckles. They begin playing together, and a new friendship is formed.

Recess is over and Johnny is sad because he doesn't want to stop playing with his new friend. Charlie and Johnny run side by side to go back into school and their friendship continues to grow.

At the end of the day, Johnny's mother comes to pick him up. Johnny tells her about his day, how he was teased and how he made a new friend. He asks his mother, "Am I special?" She answers him with, "Yes you are Johnny Big Ears, my sweet little man." She tells him that we should love people regardless of their actions, and very proud he didn't respond to the bullying, and rewards him with a pizza.

I think Padilla did a great job describing bullying in elementary school. It would be a fantastic book for teachers to share with their students, as well as parents to help kids learn about bullying, and how it can affect children.















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5 Latte's for Herphus and the importance of Aroooo by Robert Wheiler

Herphus and the importance of ArooooHerphus and the importance of Aroooo by Robert Wheiler

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Herphus and the Importance of AROOOO by Robert Wheiler



Reviewed by Daniel Dietz



Herphus is a girl bloodhound that just sits on her chain laying around all day. She's always lazy and feels the time has come to do something important. She chews the rope holding her to the yard and digs a hole under the fence.



She goes down the street, gets her foot stuck in bubble gum, trying to chew the gum off her foot she ends up getting her face stuck too. A boy comes to her aid helping to free her. Thankful, she continues on her way. She hears trained bloodhounds howling, and heads to the sound. She finds the bloodhounds tracking a lost boy, and they tell her to go away.



Their tracking device is the boys shoe. Herphus smells the shoe to get his scent. The bloodhounds lose the trail, but Herphus didn't. She locks on the scent, running past the trained hounds into the woods, howling like she's never howled before.



She meets other forest animals, and comes across a cave. Squirrels tell her that people that enter the cave never come out. She doesn't care as she's onto the boys scent and she enters cave. She sees a light and comes to the kidnapper and the boy. She growls at the kidnapper, her hound instincts taking over.



The police heard her growling and entered the cave. With the kidnapper frozen in place by Herphus, they arrest him and find the boy behind a boulder with his mouth taped and Herphus by his side. She's saved the day.



The police take her back to town with them to celebrate and Herphus gets a badge for her bravery. She becomes part of the Search and Rescue team, and her original owner gives the boy the option to keep her for the good she did.



Wheiler did an excellent job with this title. It's a great childrens mystery and would enthrall any child. I enjoyed this story and couldn't put it down until I was at the end.











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