​https://www.ireadbooktours.com/

Good Moring Readers, Today, I am spotlight ACCESSIBLE FINE DINING - THE ART OF CREATING EXCITING FOOD IN YOUR EVERYDAY KITCHEN by Noam Kostucki withe Chef Quentin Villers! Enjoy and don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Book Details:

Book Title: Accessible Fine Dining - The Art of Creating Exciting Food in Your Everyday Kitchen by Noam Kostucki, with Chef Quentin Villers
Category: Adult Non-fiction , 128 pages
Genre: Creative Cookbook / Fine Dining
Publisher: Amazon
Release date: Dec 10, 2018
Tour dates: Jan 7 to 31, 2019
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

​Six months after opening my first restaurant, one of my dishes was selected as "25 dishes to travel around the world", featuring me next to culinary legend Heston Blumenthal.

Exciting and healthy food doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Over the years, I have seen some of the most exciting dishes come from the simplest kitchens and the most modest ingredients. The purpose of this book is to focus our attention away from the distractions of fancy kitchen equipment and luxury produce and instead focus our attention towards ingenuity in the kitchen and culinary innovation.

For some strange reason, cooking is taught in books as a series of mechanical steps to follow and repeat with precision. I see cooking as a creative art like painting or playing music: it is the freedom of expression that is most interesting to me. When we create from an artistic perspective, we give birth to something new and potentially magical.

The purpose of this book is not to teach you specific recipes, because the ingredients you will find in your local organic food market will likely not be the same as the ones we see here. Nor is the purpose to show you how to imitate us.The purpose of this book is to guide you into thinking about your dishes in a way that elevates them to a fine dining level, from ingredients which are easily accessible to you. Naturally, you will find a few recipes, but most importantly you will find a new way to look at food.

We will share how we think about food shopping, searching for unusual ingredients, the combinations of flavors, techniques, textures, nutritional value, and of course, plating. The purpose of this book is to guide you to become a more exciting, creative and adventurous version of yourself in the kitchen. What separates a craft from an art form is the story behind it; cooking is a craft, while fine dining is an art form.

If you want to create fine dining dishes, start to focus your attention on the different stories a dish can tell. Some stories can be told through your cooking, and others are told through words. Taking the time to present your dishes before people eat is crucial to creating anticipation for the food they will eat.

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Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7734679.Noam_Kostucki

TRAILERS

Jungle Culianry Adventure - HiR Fine Dining https://youtu.be/8uvWwyu16Oo

src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8uvWwyu16Oo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen>

Jungle Culinary Adventure - in Long Island
https://youtu.be/kzDE-fDlon4

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AVAILABLE in print or ebook

Amazon - http://mybook.to/hirdining

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Grand Prize: Win a 4-seat dinner at HiR Fine Dining in Costa Rica (value $580) or win a paperback or ebook copy of Accessible Fine Dining (20 Kindle copies and 10 paperbacks) open int’l to wherever Amazon delivers

(ends Feb 7, 2019)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

~Noam Kostucki~

MY NAME IS NOAM KOSTUCKI AND I CREATE SPACES FOR MAGIC TO HAPPEN.
I was an awkward child, so I changed school 5 times. I spent most of my life trying to please others, and be the kind of person I believed everyone else wanted me to be. I wasn't happy and I struggled to get what I want. Everything changed when I started changing.

I spent the last 12 years creating the life I dream of. I've had the privilege to be homeless twice, and to speak at Harvard about entrepreneurship. I have grown to be myself more fearlessly than ever before. I am now surrounded by people I love, and who love me.

I traveled over 40 countries, and I've helped over 25,000 people create magic. For example Patryk Wezowski who raised $500,000 in 8 weeks and Esther Perel who gave the 30th most viewed TED talk. Some less public successes include a blind eyed student who experienced his blind eye for the first time and a journalist who left an abusive relationship.

As a university drop out, I was surprised when my first book (personal branding) became required reading at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, as well as receiving the UK Business Speaker of the Year runner up award, and a honorary degree in Business from Hofstra University. As an artist, I was honored to exhibit my photography at the European Union's Innovation Conference.

My most recent venture is HiR Fine Dining, a jungle culinary adventure. I create a discovery menu of 7 plates per person for groups of up to 12 people. HiR Fine Dining became #1 fine dining on TripAdvisor in Tamarindo within the first month.

Within 6 months one of my plates was selected out of 40,000 restaurants by OpenTable as one of "25 dishes to travel around the world for". I was invited to speak at Chateau 1525, Costa Rica's most reputable cooking school and our guest chefs include a blind chef who traveled all the way the United Kingdom.

~Quentin Villars~

Quentin has been cooking in restaurant since the age of 18. He helped his brother build a restaurant for which they received a Michelin Star. Quentin moved to Costa Rica to consult for hotels and restaurants. He managed 3 of the 4 restaurants at Hotel Nayara in La Fortuna, for which he lead a team of over 20 people to be selected to enter Relais & Chateaux, a prestigious network of unique luxury hotels with exquisite cuisine. Quentin is a regular guest chef at HiR Fine Dining and consults for a number of fine dining restaurants in Costa Rica.

Website - http://www.hirfinedining.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/noamkos?lang=en

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hirfinedining/

InstaGram - https://www.instagram.com/hirfinedining/

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​https://www.ireadbooktours.com/

Book Details:

Book Title: Crimes Past by Lauren Carr
Series: A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 13)
Category: Adult fiction, 322 pages
Genre: Murder Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: October 16, 2018
Tour dates: Nov 12 to Dec 14, 2018
Content Rating: PG (mild violence and sexual suggestion)

Book Description:

It’s a bittersweet reunion for Mac Faraday when members of his former homicide squad arrive at the Spencer Inn. While it is sweet to attend the wedding of a former colleague’s daughter, it is a bitter reminder that the mother of the bride had been the victim of a double homicide on her own wedding night.

The brutal slaying weighing heavy on his mind, Mac is anxious to explore every possibility for a break in the cold case—even a suggestion from disgraced former detective Louis Gannon that one of their former friends was the killer.
​
When the investigator is brutally slain, Mac Faraday rips open the cold case with a ruthless determination to reveal which of his friends was a cold-blooded murderer.

Crimes Past book trailer https://www.youtube.com/embed/02uZYtl9jFc

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/900970.Lauren_Carr

Book Details:

Book Title: Spring Thaw by Lauren Carr
Category: Adult fiction, 237 pages
Genre: Murder Mystery, Short Stories
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: August 12, 2018
Tour dates: Nov 12 to Dec 14, 2018
Content Rating: PG (mild violence and sexual suggestion)

Book Description:

In today’s hectic world, many whodunit fans don’t have time to get their mystery fix diving into a whole novel. Lauren Carr’s SPRING THAW AND OTHER MYSTERY SHORT STORIES is for these fans—but that doesn’t mean whodunit fans who do have time can’t dive in as well.

A novella, Spring Thaw features retired federal agent Chris Matheson from Lauren Carr’s newest bestselling cold case series. When his late father’s former friend is indicted for the seven year old murder of a church bishop, Chris renews old broken friendships to thaw out the cold case.

Featuring Mac Faraday from Lauren Carr’s popular Mac Faraday Mysteries, an estate auction turns into a deadly affair after Gnarly's antics cause Mac to purchase a gem of a dress, which isn't his color in Killing Bid. (Previously published in Lauren Carr’s BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Beauty to Die For features the Lovers in Crime, Joshua Thornton and Cameron Gates in a race against the Angel of Death to clear the name of a dying woman's son, who was framed for murdering Miss Pennsylvania. (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Countdown to Murder returns to the Lovers in Crime where Cameron and Joshua try to solve the murder of a young pregnant widow before it happens. (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Mystery fans will see that every dog has his day, especially if that dog is Gnarly. In Lucky Dog, Gnarly helps Mac Faraday to solve the murder of a wealthy society girl. (Previously published in BEAUTY TO DIE FOR.)

Dog Loving Mystery Fans will get a special treat when they read The Gnarly Rehabilitation Program. In this Gnarly Mystery Short, Bert and Ernie learn the hard way that crime does not pay when they dog nap Gnarly. (Previously published as a bonus feature with A WEDDING AND A KILLING.)

Gnarly, the rambunctious German shepherd, is also features in Lauren Carr’s Christmas short, A Gnarly Christmas. It is Christmas day and Gnarly has been up to his old tricks again. Now he's in the dog house--or rather the boathouse--after stealing the Christmas feast! Moments after Archie and Mac leave Spencer Manor, Gnarly hears a call for help from Rocky, the Maltese down the street. Four assassins for hire have invaded the home of Rocky's elderly owners. While the home invaders wait for instructions from a mysterious caller, Gnarly must plot to stop them. Can Gnarly save Christmas with only the help of an 8-pound Maltese dressed in an elf suit? (Previously published as a single short story by the same name.)

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/900970.Lauren_Carr

AVAILABLE in print or ebook

Crimes Past -
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Crimes-Past-Faraday-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B07G4JVXDY

Spring Thaw -
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GDVFF8C

Praise for Lauren Carr's books:

“Lauren Carr is a master storyteller who combines the humor of Janet Evanovich and the investigative skills of Patricia Cornwell. She is always at the top of my reading list."
- Sherry Fundin, Fundinmental

"Lauren Carr could give Agatha Christie a run for her money!"
- Charlene Mabie-Gamble, Literary R&R

"Lauren Carr's books are never boring, that's for sure. They entertain, give us a good mystery to dig into, keep the reader guessing, give us a few good laughs and make us eager for the next book. Warning: Lauren Carr's series are addictive, so be ready to read more than just one book!"
- Laura Fabiani, Library of Clean Reads

"She is an amazing author that draws you into the story, makes you fall in love with the characters (they feel like family!) and keeps you guessing right to the very end."
- Working Mommy Journal

"Lauren Carr does a good job of moving the quirky storyline along nicely with an abundance of witty dialogue. And you have no idea who the good guys are and who the bad guys are until the end."
- Every Free Chance Book Reviews

Story Ideas: From the Author or Her Characters

By Lauren Carr

“Where do you get your ideas?” is a common interview question for fiction authors.

While the words may be the same, the tone and expression of the one posing the question can differ greatly—from being mightily impressed to awfully concerned. Sort of like the way my sister looked at me when she said, “I don’t know how your mind works.”

Neither do I.

The fact is, I have always had a highly active imagination. Yes, I was one of those kids who had imaginary friends. I still do! Now they’re starring in my mysteries.

As a child, books often served as a launching off point for my own stories which I would act out in the backyard with my dog, who grudgingly wore costumes to portray his roles. Of course, he got big headed about it and would often storm off to his dog house in a snit. Stars!

Sometimes, I would get ideas from other stories—which is totally legit. Many famous books have been inspired by the work of others. Dan Brown came up with Digital Fortress after reading Sidney Sheldon’s Doomsday Conspiracy.

I remember as a child starting to read a Bobbsey Twins mystery, only getting a couple of chapters in, and then setting it aside and going off on my own adventure. When I would return to finish, I would be disappointed because my story intrigued me so much more.

Anything can inspire me. A friend being late when meeting me for lunch can serve up a story idea involving the assassination of an ambassador and a witness’s grand escape from a band of highly trained assassins. But who are the assassins working for? That is the mystery.

I admit, I am always searching for more and fresh ideas. My recent release, Murder By Perfection was inspired by the news story of a real murder. A suburban housewife in her forties was found strangled to death in her front yard. The attractive woman was the mother of two, with a successful husband, and lived in an upper-middle class neighborhood. From the outside looking in, she had the perfect life.

However, in their search for the killer, the police discovered that underneath that perfection—everything was rotten. She had a secret life—that of an internet porn star. For a fee, viewers could go onto her site where she would model sexy lingerie and other things.

Dreams are another big contributor. My current work in progress, The Root of Murder, which is a Lovers in Crime mystery, was inspired by a YouTube video about a surprising discovery one woman made after getting her DNA ancestry results. The next morning, I woke up with the whole story written in my mind.

Some of my story ideas have evolved from previous story ideas. For example, Crimes Past has been fermenting in my mind for years—so long that I couldn’t tell you where the original idea came from. I’ve known for several books that I wanted Mac to go back to investigate a cold case—one that involved his colleagues, but I just couldn’t find the right case for that reunion. It started coming together after I wrote ICE, a Chris Matheson Cold Case Mystery, which came to me from a documentary I saw about a group of former students investigating the cold case murder of their beloved teacher.

Once inspired with a story idea, the fun stuff begins. Keep in mind, very often these ideas are just that—ideas to jump off from. The actual storyline still needs to come together.

That is where my series characters come in.

As the writer of four series, I have a variety of characters to work with. Some plotlines work better with some mysteries than others. For example, the double cold case murder of a bride and groom, a pair of detectives, in a high-class hotel filled with cops was made for Mac Faraday. At first blush, I wanted to take him back to Washington to investigate the case, but Mac didn’t want to leave Spencer, Maryland.

I know what you’re saying. That sounds weird. For someone who is not a writer, that sounds crazy. “You mean you have fictional people telling you what to write?” Mac Faraday is a fictional character, after all. Yes, my characters do have a say in how a storyline progresses.

My books are character driven. I develop my characters based on my mystery. My mystery is a puzzle. Yes, I know who “did it” before I sit down to write it. I know the beginning, I know the ending. But I can say that almost always, the road to the ending is not what I had planned when I sat down to write my first sentence. For the book to end the way I want it, I need certain things to happen and I depend on my characters to make that happen.

Characters who won’t direct me to my ending aren’t fully developed. For example, I know how each of my series characters drink their coffee. I know what restaurants some like better than others. More than once, I have eliminated characters and replaced them with entirely different characters (not main series characters) because that character wouldn’t take the story in the direction it needed to go.

I also know when a series character is ready for a change.

For example, in Crimes Past, many readers were shocked at the departure of Dallas Walker from David’s life and the entrance of Lieutenant Commander Hope West. Some readers may think that the change was totally on my part, possibly with input from some readers who didn’t like Dallas.

Well, as the author, I do have veto power in the final edit. Actually, the character of David O’Callaghan had grown so much since the first installment of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, that he had outgrown Dallas. Six installments ago, he would not have been ready for Hope. When it came time to write Crimes Past, he was ready for me to bring her in.

Many readers are very excited about the arrival of Hope West and her son in the Mac Faraday Mysteries and are curious about the direction the series will go now.

So am I.

I’ll email Gnarly in his dog house to ask what’s next.

Prizes: Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Lauren Carr, author of Crimes Past (open internationally to wherever Amazon delivers / 1 winner)

(ends Dec 22, 2018)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/defcd44e427/

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Now, Lauren has added one more hit series to her list with the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries. Set in the quaint West Virginia town of Harpers Ferry, Ice introduces Chris Matheson, a retired FBI agent, who joins forces with other law enforcement retirees to heat up those cold cases that keep them up at night.

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

​Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Website - http://mysterylady.net/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheMysteryLadie

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lauren.carr.984991

InstaGram - https://www.instagram.com/authorlaurencarr/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/900970.Lauren_Carr

HOSTED BY

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THANKS FOR VISITING & HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!

Book Details:

Book Title: Murder by Perfection by Lauren Carr
Series: Thorny Rose Mystery Series (Volume 3)
Category: Adult fiction, 322 pages
Genre: Murder Mystery
Publisher: Acorn Book Services
Release date: May 31, 2018
Format available for review: print, ebook (mobi, ePub, PDF) & Audible download
Willing to send print books to: USA and Canada
Tour dates: Oct 8 to Nov 2, 2018
Content Rating: PG (mild violence and sexual suggestion)

Book Description:

Perfection can be a fatal endeavor.

Frustrated with their busy schedules, Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday attempt to find togetherness by scheduling a weekly date night. The last thing Jessica Faraday expected for her date night was to take a couple’s gourmet cooking course at the Stepford Kitchen Studio, owned by Chef Natalie Stepford―the model of perfection in looks, home, and business.

When Natalie ends up dead and Murphy goes missing, the Thorny Rose detectives must peel back the layers of Natalie Stepford’s life to discover that the pursuit of perfection can be deadly.

Author's Book Page - http://www.mysterylady.net/murder-by-perfection2.html

Book Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ2WoYPd5_c&authuser=0

Add to your shelves -

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40025815-murder-by-perfection

Murder By Perfection is the 3rd book in the Thorny Rose Mysteries -

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/series/173339-thorny-rose-mysteries

Author - http://www.mysterylady.net/thorny-rose-mysteries.html

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CTTZXFN?ref=series_rw_dp_labf

Includes -

1 Kill and Run
2 A Fine Year for Murder
2.5 Twofer Murder
3 Murder By Perfection

AVAILABLE in print or ebook -

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Perfection-Thorny-Rose-Mystery/dp/1718620233/

B&N - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-by-perfection-lauren-carr/1128848628?ean=9781718620230

Put a Little Love in Your Murder and Mayhem
By Lauren Carr

How is it that love and murder seem to go hand in hand when it comes to murder mysteries?

Think about it. We pick up a mystery because we want to read about murder and mayhem. Yet, somewhere, someplace, whether it be in the forefront of the plot or in the background, there’s an interweaving of romance.

Nancy Drew had Ned hanging around.

Perry Mason had Della Street at his beck and call—at least I think so. You could never really tell. That was one of the things that kept readers coming back. Are they or aren’t they?

Mystery fans fell in love with Elizabeth George’s Inspector Thomas Lynley and his late wife Helen. When George killed Helen off, I was as mad at Elizabeth George as if she pulled the trigger. (Actually, as the writer, didn’t she pull the trigger?)

Romance is not only found in murder mysteries. On the other side of the bookshelf, in the romance genre, mystery often plays a big role in romance

novels. I remember not being able to put down Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, one of literature’s greatest romance novels, which is filled with mystery surrounding the death of Rebecca, the first Mrs. DeWinter.

Even mysteries with unattached detectives, some who want nothing to do with love, or who are never successful at it, usually seem to have a couple of characters who have been struck with cupid’s arrow somewhere in the plot. It is not uncommon for the protagonist to be dragged into the mystery to save the couple’s union. Does anybody know how often the hard-boiled detective has been hired by the wife of a murder suspect to clear her husband or boyfriend’s name?

“Love is for suckers and fools,” the detective will grumble before going off to solve the case, only because he wants to bring a smile to the poor lady’s pretty face.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. I’m all for love and romance, especially when it means a big box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day.

Love has a big part in murder mysteries. Mystery writers, including myself, seem to always write it in and readers love to scoop it up. From the first installment of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, readers were anxious for Mac and his lady love Archie to get together.

Readers and reviewers were thrilled when I matched Mac Faraday’s daughter Jessica up with Joshua Thornton’s son Murphy for the Thorny Rose mysteries. The honeymoon is over in Murder By Perfection, but that doesn’t mean the bloom is off the rose by any means as they struggle to find that perfect balance between their careers and marriage.

Why does love play such a big role in murder mysteries?

Well, the answer can be found in the definition of the two emotions.

Love: The definition of Love as defined by Google is “an intense feeling of deep affection.”

Murder: Also according to Google: “The unlawful, premeditated killing of another human being.” While Google doesn’t go on to say it, it can go without saying that this act is brought about by an intense feeling, but not of affection, the feeling that is opposite of love: hatred.

In my opinion the mixture of these two emotions, so extreme from each other, is akin to a literary sweet and sour mix. In one chapter, we have the plot surrounding the intense act of murder, only be complemented by the sweet love scenes.

When planning the storyline for the third Thorny Rose Mystery, Murder by Perfection, I could not resist adding a little tension to Murphy and Jessica’s young marriage. What marriage doesn’t hit a rough patch, especially when both members of the couple are struggling to succeed in their respective careers.

In this excerpt, they struggle to discuss the murder of a mobster while keeping their personal feelings in check:

With a sensuous grin at her reflection in the mirror, Jessica applied an extra dab of cologne behind her ears—all the better for Murphy to nibble on. She rose from her seat and stepped back to study her reflection.

Her new silk hand-painted robe. Naked underneath. Wait!

She snatched the scissors from the dressing table and clipped off the price tag.

After tossing it into the waste basket under the vanity, she resumed the inspection.

High heels? All the better to show off long legs. Spray on tan? No missed spots? Check. Hair? Not one strand out of place. At least until Murphy runs his fingers through it. Champagne chilling for me. Organic grape juice for Murphy. Raw oysters and Caesar salad in the fridge. Spa ready to go. Strawberries dipped in chocolate for afterwards. Everything is ready for date night. What could possibly go wrong?

Her cell phone erupted into song to signal a call from one of her medical school friends. She checked the caller ID. It read Brett. With a sigh, she connected the call.

“Hey, Jessica. What cha doin’?”

“Cooking dinner and waiting for my husband to come home.” She made a point of referring to Murphy’s imminent arrival. Ever since his relationship with his live-in girlfriend had ended, Brett seemed to be too close to her for comfort. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or not. In either case, she decided to insert a reminder of her marital status whenever possible.

“Playing the happy homemaker, huh?”

“That’s right. What’s up, Brett?”

“Well, a group of us are going to blow off steam by going to that new Marvel movie that’s releasing tonight. Wanna come?”

“Thanks, but I intend to blow off some steam myself with my husband.” She let out a wicked laugh. “If you know what I mean.”

Brett responded with his own chuckle. “Aw, sounds like you’re going to have a more exciting evening than I am.”

“I’m sure I will.”

“I don’t suppose you would care to take any pictures to show me what I’m missing?”

Jessica was struck speechless. When she found her voice, she said, “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

“Murphy has arrived,” Nigel’s voice came through the speaker.

“Who was that?” Brett asked.

“Our butler. Goodbye, Brett.” She disconnected the call. Her heartbeat quickening with anger at Brett, Jessica ran the brush through her hair one last time.

Determined not to allow him to ruin date night, she shoved his inappropriate comment out of her mind and focused on Murphy before hurrying down the stairs.

She landed in the middle of the two-story foyer as he stepped through the door.

“Welcome home, darling!” She dropped her robe to the floor.

Murphy’s eyes grew wide. His mouth dropped open.

“It’s date night.” She winked at him.

In her fantasy, she expected him to grab her up into his arms and ravage her—hopefully right there on the floor in the foyer. At the very least, she expected him to give her a hug and a kiss.

Instead, he stood before her with his hat in his hand— looking horribly guilty.
“Your CO called you,” she said. “You have to go on a mission.”

“Not exactly,” he said while looking her up and down. “Kind of. Sort of.”

Her hands landed on her bare hips. “What do you mean ‘kind of, sort of ’?”

He picked up the robe from the floor. “I’m not going out of town.”

“Great.” She grasped his belt and pulled him to her.

He wrapped the robe around her shoulders. “The good news is that we’re going to have our date night.”

She gazed up into his eyes. “And the bad news?” she asked in a breathy voice.
He looked her naked body up and down. “We’re going to have to spend it fully dressed.”

Her bottom lip stuck out in a pout.

“But we can still do ‘what not’ afterwards.” He set his hat on the foyer table. “As a matter of fact, to make it up to you,” he proceeded to unbutton his shirt “—I’d be willing to squeeze some ‘what not’ in beforehand if that’s what it takes to put a smile to your face.”

The taste of a good romance in a mystery can take the edge off the gruesomeness of a killer plot, which is a good thing. I have found that books with no romance or tender emotion between characters to be depressing and leave a feeling of hopelessness—which is another genre.

Personally, I prefer a little love mixed in with my murder and mayhem.

Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card (open internationally to wherever Amazon delivers / 1 winner)

giveaway - https://goo.gl/c78dum

Ends November 10, 2018!

Meet the Author:

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Now, Lauren has added one more hit series to her list with the Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries. Set in the quaint West Virginia town of Harpers Ferry, Ice introduces Chris Matheson, a retired FBI agent, who joins forces with other law enforcement retirees to heat up those cold cases that keep them up at night.

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor.

​Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Website - http://mysterylady.net/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheMysteryLadie

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lauren.carr.984991

InstaGram - https://www.instagram.com/authorlaurencarr/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/900970.Lauren_Carr

HOSTED BY:

https://www.ireadbooktours.com

BOOK DETAILS:

Book Title: Joy to You and Me (at Work!) by Amy Thornton
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 179 pages
Genre: Self-help, Business
Publisher: Tell-Tale Publishing Group, LLC
Release date: June 5, 2018
Tour dates: Oct 1 to 19, 2018
Content Rating: PG (This book is for ages 16+, so there is the occasional "damn", "hell", and "ass" thrown in as far as language, but nothing worse than that.)

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Are you one of the 48% of employees worldwide who don't like their jobs? Do you feel constantly stressed at the office? Or maybe you're just feeling "blah" about your job and want to bring some life back into your workplace. If you talk to anyone about their careers or jobs these days, most of the time you won't hear positive stories or excitement. You'll probably hear words like "busy", "stressed", "exhausting", and "mind-numbing." And with the good old 40 hour workweek becoming a distant memory for many of us, this reality is just plain sad.

Joy to You and Me (At Work!) helps turn these situations around by giving the reader easy tips they can implement quickly to start making a positive difference in the workplace. Being joyful isn't just a "fluffy-cutesy-nice" thing to do each day - it actually increases productivity and is good for any company or organization.

The book helps anyone learn how to:

- Be a more joyful person
- Bring joy to co-workers
- Bring joy to customers
- Bring joy to networking

This fun, easy-to-read guide shows people of all ages and personalities how to make a difference immediately to make not only themselves happier, but to spread that happiness throughout the workplace - and beyond!

By sharing stories from the author's 25+ years of making a joyful difference in the workplace and examples from truly kick-ass companies, Joy to You and Me (At Work!) is a life changing, fun read for anyone who wants to improve their work life.

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40183283-joy-to-you-and-me

INTERVIEW

What made you write a book about bringing joy to the workplace?

It’s funny - this whole book was actually kind of an accident! I was going to take an online course about how to get a book published in the summer of 2017. As the week of the course approached, I realized this was only going to be about non-fiction books vs. fiction. I primarily write novels! I wondered, “What on earth could I write about?”

While walking my dogs one evening, I began to think about my career and experiences over the years. I realized that every employer I’ve ever had has been sad to see me go for one particular reason – I’ve taken some truly unique, memorable steps to bring happiness to my co-workers and customers.

The next thing I knew I was sitting on my porch swing furiously jotting down ideas in a notebook. In less than an hour I had an outline for a self-help book about bringing joy to the workplace.

What advice would you give budding writers?

Don’t EVER give up! Keep on reading, writing, learning, and growing in your craft. This is the first time I’ve been published by a REAL publisher vs. self-publishing. I’m 48 years old and it feels incredible to finally be living my greatest dream.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing books, short stories, and poetry ever since I received my very own K-Mart “Snappy Blue” typewriter at the age of eight. This sucker only typed in capital letters, but I literally wore it out creating dozens of stories!

What is your writing schedule?

I’ve always had the most success when I’ve been able to start out writing during a couple of weeks away from my day job. I’ve recently written books thanks to two foot surgeries and an extra-long holiday vacation!

I’m already carving out two weeks during the upcoming holiday season for my next project. I find that having this long start gets me in my “groove” and makes it easier to continue writing during weekends and evenings to finish a book.

What is your favorite dessert?

S’mores – without question. I’m normally a healthy eater, but get me around a campfire, graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars and I’m thinking, “Screw it!” I normally eat three in one sitting without one shred of guilt!

AVAILABLE in print or ebook at -

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Joy-You-Me-At-Work-ebook/dp/B07CZRJ6CL/

B&N - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/joy-to-you-and-me-amy-thornton/1128897874?ean=9781944056728

Tell-Tale Pub - https://www.tell-talepublishing.com/store/c41/Self_Improvement.html

GIVEAWAY!

One winner will get a paperback copy of Joy to You and Me at Work and a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card and 2 winners will each get a paperback copy of the book (open to USA only / 3 winner total)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/defcd44e415/

ABOUT AMY THORNTON:

Amy Thornton Shankland, GPC, has been bringing joy to her workplaces for over 25 years thanks to her innate enthusiasm. She is a former Dale Carnegie instructor, has been a grant professional for 17 years, is a former columnist for the Noblesville Daily Times, and is a current board member of Noblesville Main Street.

Website - http://authoramythornton.wordpress.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AuthorThornton

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authoramythornton/

https://www.ireadbooktours.com/blog---current-tours/book-spotlight-tour-joy-to-you-and-me-at-work-by-amy-thornton

Book Details for Retribution:

Book Title: Mantis Force: Retribution (Marium Kahnet Book 1) by R.J. Amezcua

Category: Adult Fiction, 150 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi, with elements of fantasy
Publisher: Quentorex Studios
Release date: April 11, 2017
Content Rating: PG + M (No explicit sex scenes or bad language)

Book Description for Retribution:

In a war-torn galaxy, Jazrene Vallo, the supreme spiritual leader of the Marium Kahnet, is close to fulfilling her divine destiny: refashion the Order as a beacon of light. But her plans for the sisterhood to become the official ambassadors of peace are compromised when she is forced to send mercenaries to capture rogue elements of the sisterhood seeking revenge against those responsible for murdering their families. Failure to capture them will bring an irreversible blemish upon the sisterhood. Unbeknownst to her, it may be too late to stop them.

After fifteen years of methodical planning and burrowing into the highly classified Leviathan project, the cadre of vengeful sisters are ready to execute their mission.

Their goal: to destroy the Stadageos, vast military testing and bio-engineering bases where the twisted machinations of fallen creation formed the ungodly fierce races of Leviathans. Their failure will release death and destruction on a scale not experienced since the fall of creation. But even if they succeed, not all of them will survive.

Add to your shelf -

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34916763-retribution

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/books/mantis-force-retribution-marium-kahnet-book-1-by-r-j-amezcua

Book Details for Decimation:

Book Title: Mantis Force: Decimation (Marium Kahnet Book 2) by R.J. Amezcua

Category: Adult Fiction, 200 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi, with elements of fantasy
Publisher: Quentorex Studios
Release date: October 18, 2017
Content Rating: PG + M (No explicit sex scenes or bad language)

Book Description for Decimation:

Led by Victoria and Balese, the rogue sisters of the Marium Kahnet have successfully completed their life-long quest for revenge against the sorcerer’s guild. Now a new mission has begun, one of survival, as their enemies seek their lives with a vengeance. As planned, the sisters who managed to survive the destruction of the testing facilities have joined their adopted family’s nefarious criminal organizations, plotting to escape with detailed plans of the Leviathan project to justify their actions to their home world of Ramah. But they are unaware they are being hunted by elite mercenaries hired by the sisterhood.

Add to your shelves -

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36481139-decimation

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/books/mantis-force-decimation-marium-kahnet-book-2-by-r-j-amezcua

Book Details for Rebirth:

Book Title: Mantis Force: Rebirth (Marium Kahnet Book 3) by R.J. Amezcua

Category: Adult Fiction, 260 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi, with elements of fantasy
Publisher: Quentorex Studios
Release date: May 31, 2018
Content Rating: PG + M (No explicit sex scenes or bad language)

Book Description for Rebirth:

It is a day of prophecy and celebration when Jazrene Vallo accomplishes her ordained task to refashion the Marium Kahnet, and witnesses them finally becoming representatives in the Grand Assembly of the Mantis Alliance. But the victory is soiled by reports of a faction of wayward sisters joining a necromancer Order, the Saurcine.

​The rebels plan to bring forth the Krevomax, the seed of the Tisrad Dragon, to defeat the Mantis Alliance. To combat this new evil threat, in Jazrene Vallo’s last act as supreme leader, she activates the sisterhood’s elite warriors, the Criss Lumbra. Their mission: destroy the spawn of the Tisrad Dragon. Should they fail, it will mean the end of the sisterhood and all peace in the universe.

Add to your shelves

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40489638-mantis-force

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/books/mantis-force-rebirth-marium-kahnet-book-3-by-r-j-amezcua

RETRIBUTION

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Mantis-Force-Retribution-Marium-Kahnet-ebook/dp/B071Y8DH4R

B&N - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mantis-force-ramiro-j-amezcua/1126239011?ean=9780998074825

DECIMATION

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Mantis-Force-Decimation-Marium-Kahnet-ebook/dp/B076KGWPNC

B&N - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mantis-force-rj-amezcua/1127260156?ean=9780998074856

iBooks - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mantis-force/id1298947603?mt=11

Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mantis-force-5

REBIRTH

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFW4XBW

B&N - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mantis-force-r-j-amezcua/1128862223?ean=9780998074870

Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mantis-force-6

Win one of 10 ebook copies of the first book in the Mantis Force trilogy (10 winners / open to USA & Canada)

https://goo.gl/FXpDYa

Ends November 7, 2018

Follow the tour at:

https://www.ireadbooktours.com/blog---current-tours/book-tour-mantis-force-trilogy-by-r-j-amezcua

Meet the Author:

​R. J. Amezcua was born and raised in Silicon Valley, and is happily married to Sheryl. As a young boy, one of his favorite TV shows was Lost in Space. Being an entrepreneur and visionary by nature, he has begun his journey as an author and writer. Using his love for science fiction, he created the epic saga “Mantis Force,” which encompasses a vast universe.

Website - https://www.mariumkahnet.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mariumkahnet

Twitter - https://twitter.com/mantisforce

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15907994.R_J_Amezcua