Book Escape Review of The Greatest Gift by Michael John Sullivan #amreading #inspirational #timetravel #fiction

Is there one more miracle left?
Teenager Elizabeth Stewart has been given the gift of life once more and uses it to risk everything for a close friend – even though it means leaving behind her father, Michael.
Distraught, Michael poses as a Roman soldier, takes a sea journey with an Apostle, and is asked to help write part of the Gospel in his quest to safely bring his daughter home to the twenty-first century.
In present time, Hewitt Paul, an embittered FBI special agent, seeks solutions to the mysteries surrounding Elizabeth and Michael’s disappearance.
As faith collides with cynicism and compassion faces off against cruelty, these three people will encounter the unimaginable in ways that alter their lives forever.
Thrilling, illuminating, and ultimately resounding, THE GREATEST GIFT concludes the trilogy begun in NECESSARY HEARTBREAK and EVERYBODY’S DAUGHTER in awe-inspiring fashion.

*** The Greatest Gift can be found on Amazon and Barnes and Noble ***

Book Review of The Greatest Gift

Five Stars * * * * *

Excellent Ending To A Great Series

I’ve been following the When Time Forgets series for a while now and each book has had the unique aspect of being inspirational without having religious overtones. This aspect has kept me reading the series, but also, I have enjoyed reading what Jerusalem and the depictions of people from the Bible, from Mr. Sullivan’s point of view.  In The Greatest Gift, I found myself connected with some characters more than others, but essentially the story was of the same excellent quality of the books before. It included mystery, action, inspiration, and was vividly drawn with words, as the story became increasingly more interesting.

What made The Greatest Gift stand out, to me, was finding out more about Hewitt Paul–a minor character from the series. Though he was not one of my favorite characters, I liked how his vulnerability showed toward the end. My favorite characters, aside from Michael and Elizabeth, would have to be Connie and Susan. I loved Connie’s no-filter approach toward Hewitt…and well, anyone. Susan was lovable in a practical way and was a good friend. Dennis was another great character.

There are two endings to this book. The author lets the reader choose. I’ve never been one to discriminate happy endings, so I chose them both! Great ending to the When Time Forgets series.

Reviewed by Laurie Kozlowski–also posted to Amazon and Goodreads.

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~ More Works By This Author ~

Necessary Heartbreak, Book One in When Time Forgets Trilogy

Everybody’s Daughter, Book Two in When Time Forgets Trilogy

An Angel Comes Home, Prequel to Everybody’s Daughter, part of the When Time Forgets Trilogy

ABOUT MICHAEL JOHN SULLIVAN

Michael John Sullivan graduated with a communications degree and a promising future in the field of journalism after working for the official school paper the previous two years. Six months later, he found himself washing his hair in a toilet at the same university as he prepared for a job interview.

Sullivan was homeless at the age of 23 after first watching his mother — his protector in a dysfunctional family — die from cancer. A year later his father asked him to leave. Riding a New York City subway train at night, his only companion was a green plastic bag of belongings. During these bleak days he began writing his most reflective and emotional childhood and adult memories now featured in two of his novels.

On a bitterly cold New Year’s Eve that year, Sullivan intentionally hid under a pew in the back of a church to stay warm for the night. After the doors were locked, he lay near a makeshift manger, writing and talking to the baby Jesus. It was a cathartic experience, one that would continue to resonate with him years later.

He was rescued off the train by an aunt and uncle.

After spending much of the past two decades raising their daughters while working at home, Sullivan returned to his notes in 2007 and began writing Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness. It was published by Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books imprint in April 2010. The Library Journal named Necessary Heartbreak as one of the year’s best in Christian fiction for 2010. He recently finished the sequel, Everybody’s Daughter, featuring more memories from his young adult life, including the day he walked to Forest Park as he contemplated taking his own life. Only the strains of a song prevented him from doing the unthinkable.

Sullivan lives with his family in New York. He is a board member for the Long Island Coalition of the Homeless.

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Book Escape Review of ‘Between’ by Kerry Schafer #amreading #fantasy

Review of ‘Between’ by Kerry Schafer

Mesmerizing Mixture of Horror, Magic, and Romance

Five Stars * * * * *

I’ve always loved paranormal romance, but this book cannot be contained into just one category. Between is a terrific book. Vivian, the main character, but not the least of all the interesting characters throughout this book, resists her bloodline as sorceress and dragon. Her mother, Isobel, is constantly traveling in between worlds to get to her true love, Landon. The evil sorceress, Johanna, was a great villain-lethal and unmerciful. Of course, the highlight for me, was the side-romance of Vivian and Zee. He is introduced as a bookstore owner and artist, but Oh Wow!–How ‘more than meets the eye’ is revealed, easy going Zee proclaims his right as Warlord. He is scared from head to toe, and absolutely bad-ass and charming. And what woman wouldn’t want a flawed and tortured man with a heart of gold to slay a dragon for her! Oh, but Vivian can handle a dragon on her own…and that is all I’ll say. One of my favorite side-characters was Poe the penguin-he was so cute, and very protective of Vivian. I loved this book.

For the sake of readers who have a queasy stomach when it comes to gore, I will put this disclaimer: this story does include some graphic gore–but I felt it was weaved in a way that enhanced the story, overall. Also, if you are a survivor of rape, this book may contain ‘triggers’–the attempted rape scene in this book, is in a dream, and be assured the man attempting the heinous ‘dream act’ does not get away with it. Those things being said, I certainly do not discourage anyone from giving this book a chance. The world the author built was amazing, dark, and effective. The characters were always revealing layers of themselves, throughout the story. It was a wonderful fantasy fiction novel, overall.

Check out BETWEEN at most major retailers:

Barnes and Noble * Amazon * Books A Million * Indie Bound

Reviewed by Laurie Kozlowski–also posted to Goodreads.

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ABOUT KERRY SCHAFER

Kerry Schafer is licensed both as a Mental Health Professional and an RN, and spends most of her daylight hours helping people–usually even with a smile. When she’s writing, she gets to blow stuff up and play around with dragons, exploding slime toads, and the other denizens of her imagination. She lives with her Viking in Colville, Washington, in a little house surrounded by rocks, trees, and gangs of deer and wild turkeys.

Kerry is the author of the Books of the Between (Between, 1/29/13; Wakeworld 1/28/14) and the Dream Wars Series (Dream Runner, Dream Thief, Dream Wars).

Second book of the BETWEEN series:

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Books A Million * Indie Bound

Vivian Maylor is trying to hold it together. But her attempts to build a life with the man she loves seem doomed by the dragon inside her yearning to break free. Vivian is a dreamshifter, the last line of defense between reality and the dreamworld, and the only one of her kind.

Weston Jennings also believes he is the only one of his kind. He fears his powers as a dreamshifter, and resists learning to control them. After suffering a tragic loss, Weston heads deep into the woods of the Pacific Northwest to embrace a safe life of solitude. But when a terrible mistake leads to an innocent’™s death, his guilt drives him to his former home, where he encounters what he never thought he would find: another shifter.

Now Vivian and Weston must work together to defeat a new threat to the dreamworld.

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Author Spotlight: Debut Author, Kyrian Lyndon and ‘A Dark Rose Blooms’ review #poetry

Please welcome Kyrian Lyndon–writer, author, and poet, in celebration of her new poetry book, A Dark Rose Blooms. I’ve had the honor of reading the ARC, and am also posting a review of the soon-to-be-released book of poems, as well as sharing some things readers may not know about this debut author. It’s your time to shine, Kyrian, so congrats on your new book release!

Review of A Dark Rose Blooms

Five Stars  * * * * *

A Short and Potent Book of Heartfelt Poems

I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful collection of poems featured in A Dark Rose Blooms. I have always greatly admired those who pour their hearts out in poetry, because in gives an insiders view of important moments and emotions within a person’s life. This book captures the lighthearted and fun moments as well as a few deep, solitary, and sometimes quite dark moments. I’m appreciative to have read it, and the excerpt for the author’s upcoming novel from the Deadly Veils series, has me excited and intrigued to read the first book. I’m looking forward to many more works from Kyrian Lyndon, and can’t wait to know what is in store, next!

Reviewed by Laurie Kozlowski  — ARC received in exchange for an honest review, from the author — Review will also be posted to Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble, as soon as the title is publicized.

***About The Author***

Kyrian Lyndon began writing short stories and fairy tales when she was just eight years
old. In her adolescence, she moved on to poetry. At sixteen, while working as an editor
for her high school newspaper, Kyrian wrote her first novel, and then completed two
more novels at the ages of nineteen and twenty-five.
Kyrian is forthcoming about being a person with many years of recovery, as well as a
trauma survivor. Throughout her journeys, she expressed her thoughts through poetry,
embracing every challenge to triumph over adversity. In her conviction that learning,
growing, healing, and evolving is a never-ending process, she remains as grateful for the
dark days as she is for every flicker of hope and light. She considers herself a
cheerleader for those trudging on against all odds in the hopes of living their dreams.
Born and raised in Woodside, Queens, New York, Kyrian was the middle child of three
sisters born to immigrants—her father from Campochiaro, Italy; her mother from
Havana, Cuba. She has worked primarily in executive-level administrative positions with
major New York publishing companies.
She loves nineteenth-century British literature, parallel universe fiction and dark
romanticism. She also enjoys music, art, history, fitness and cooking.
Kyrian is currently working on a literary fiction series, Deadly Veils, of about nine books, perhaps more. She resides on Long Island in New York.

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Author Spotlight : Romance and Women’s Fiction Author, Ann Roth #Women #Relationships #Fiction

Ann Roth has written numerous romance novels for Harlequin, but most recently, has also waded out into self-publishing. I’m excited to feature her new e-book exclusive titles today, in celebration of this wonderful author’s work! Congrats, Ann, and thank you for writing such heartwarming, romantic, and beautiful stories for readers to sink their hearts and minds into.

~ Another Life Book Blurb ~
Learning of her husband Stephen’s fatal heart attack is the worst thing Mary Beth Mason can imagine… Until she learns about the other family he left behind. Another wife, another daughter, another home…

* Click Here To Buy This Book *

~ Review of Another Life ~

Five Stars * * * * *

An Unconventional Story of Two Widowed Mothers

When I first read the story blurb for this book, I knew I had to read it. Never could I have predicted how it would all pan out, but the happily-ever-after in this book will certainly have the reader re-considering ‘the norm’ when it comes to death of a spouse, family, relationships, and friendships with those who seem to be enemies in life.

I loved both of the heroines, for different reasons. Mary Beth’s determination to build a life after the death of her unfaithful husband, with her teenage daughter, Aurora, was courageous and admirable. She literally started with no qualifications for a job, since she had been a stay-at-home mom (encouraged by her husband to do so). Yet, she used the limited but valuable experience from her former high-class life in directing charities, events, and volunteering…to find a career and start over. Also, her persistence as a stern but loving mother to Aurora was wonderful. She gave her teenager the much-needed structure older kids need, but resist. She was strong.

Caroline was also a great main character. Though she struggled with her husband’s infidelity as Mary Beth did, she was open to a friendship with ‘the other woman’, Mary Beth. It wasn’t all neat and tidy…as you could imagine! But unlike Mary Beth, Caroline had anchored herself with a steady career and was raising her eight year old daughter, Jax, when she learned of Stephen’s (their husband’s) infidelity. Both Jax and Aurora played a pivital role in the book, too, concerning families and friendships.

I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading more of Ann Roth’s e-book exclusives. Highly recommend for those who love stories about family, friendships, healing, and love.

Reviewed by Laurie Kozlowski–also posted to Goodreads and Amazon.

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~ My Sisters Book Blurb ~
In some families, there is pain and loss, but there is also the unbreakable bond of love. Sisters Margaret, Rose and Quincy Lansing were never a close or loving family. When receive the tragic news that a car accident has claimed the life of their mother, they must return to their childhood home. In unraveling their mother’s secrets, they find not only revelation, but also strength, hope, sisterhood, and a chance for love…

* Click Here To Buy This Book *

~ Father of the Year Book Blurb ~
Entrepreneur Will Stoner was a competent executive, but when he became guardian to the son he’d never known about, Will did the only thing he could—he hired help. Dena Foster did a great job with his son. Her gentle ways took the trepidation out of parenting, and despite a bad marriage that made Will mistrust women, he warmed to Dena. Now he wanted more from this nurturing beauty—for himself.
First he had to erase the doubt he saw in Dena’s eyes about his feelings for her. Was being a successful businessman, caring father and loving husband too much to ask for?

* Click Here To Buy This Book *

~~~ About The Author ~~~

Award-winning author Ann Roth lives in the greater Seattle area with her husband. After earning an MBA, she worked as a banker and corporate trainer. She gave up the corporate life to write, and if they awarded PhDs in writing happily-ever-after stories, she’d have one. In 1999 Ann won the prestigious Golden Heart award for unpublished writers for best long contemporary series. Since then she has sold numerous romance and women’s fiction novels, as well as a novella, a serialized online romance and many short stories. She’s also waded into self-publishing. For a list of her books and more, and to sign up for her newsletter, visit www.annroth.net .

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