BLOG TOUR: EXCERPT & $25 GIVEAWAY: “LICHGATES” – by S.M. Boyce

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Lichgates

Kara Magari is about to discover a beautiful world full of terrifying things--Ourea.

Kara, a college student still reeling from her mother's recent death, has no idea the hidden world of Ourea even exists until a freak storm traps her in a sunken library. With no way out, she opens an ancient book of magic called the Grimoire and unwittingly becomes its master, which means Kara now wields the cursed book's untamed power. Discovered by Ourea's royalty, she becomes an unwilling pawn in a generations-old conflict--a war intensified by her arrival. In this world of chilling creatures and betrayal, Kara shouldn't trust anyone... but she's being hunted and can't survive on her own. She drops her guard when Braeden, a native soldier with a dark secret, vows to keep her safe. And though she doesn't know it, her growing attraction to him may just be her undoing.

For twelve years, Braeden Drakonin has lived a lie. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. Though he begins to care for this human girl, there is something he wants more. He wants the Grimoire.

Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive.

Excerpt

Thunder rumbled overhead. A dark cloud churned in the sky, and her heart fell into her stomach; there hadn’t even been a single fluffy cloud up there ten minutes ago. That didn’t make sense at all—how could the weather shift so suddenly?

She glanced to the door and then back up the trail, hesitating, but her decision was soon made for her.

A blinding bolt of moss-colored lightning flashed, striking something in the sinkhole. The hairs on her arms stood on end. Heat coursed through her calves, and she caught her breath. Her ears rang.

Wait. That lightning was definitely green.

The cliff trembled as a deafening boom shattered the air. A drizzle of rain began, but it quickly melted into heavy drops that pelted her skin and clung to her hair. Another rumble coursed along the far edge of the valley. Kara needed shelter, and the last place she would go in a lightning storm was up a hill.

She turned back and twisted the door’s handle, sighing with relief as it opened—unlocked—and swung inward. Still, as wet as it was outside and as much as she wanted a safe place to wait out the rain, she lingered on the threshold to examine the room.

Mud covered everything from the floor to the ceiling, and since there weren’t any supports to hold the roof, she couldn’t figure out how the ten-by-ten dirt shelter hadn’t caved in yet. The air within was heavy, moist with the rot of dead leaves, and her only guiding light streamed in from behind her. Roots dangled from the ceiling like stalactites reaching for the floor. The wind picked up, howling as it pelted rain against her back.

She tested the ground with her sneaker. The dirt floor supported her weight, so she tip-toed into the room and left the door open. Rain fell in lingering drops on the threshold before disappearing into the growing pools of mud. She stuck her hands in her pockets and watched the raging storm outside.

A flash of dark brown blurred past her.

She jumped. A tan flicker snaked along the roof, and clumps of soil fell in sheets. She glared at the ceiling, holding her breath as the settling dust rained onto her shoes.

It had almost looked like a root moving, but—no, that was crazy.

Another streak of motion raced down the opposite wall. It passed through a shaft of light, and Kara saw its pointed, wooden tip. Tiny veins sprouted from it like hairs, digging into the dirt so that it could travel.

It was a root moving.

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Praise for Lichgates

Wow, the world building on this one was breathtaking. The world of Ourea is just full of so many things. Surprises are around every corner.
~Alexia P.

From the first few pages into this story, it was obvious that Boyce has a way with words.
~Author Becca Campbell

Author S.M. Boyce

International Amazon Bestseller. Fantasy Author. Twitter addict. Book Blogger. Geek. Sarcastic. Gooey. Odd. Author of the action-packed Grimoire Saga.

S.M. Boyce is a novelist who loves ghosts, magic, and spooky things. She prefers loose-leaf tea, reads far too many books, and is always cold. She’s married to her soul mate and couldn’t be happier. Her B.A. in Creative Writing qualifies her to serve you french fries.

Boyce likes to update her blog a few times each week so that you have something to wake you up in the morning.

Contact

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Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 4/25/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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REVIEW: WAITING FOR DEAD MEN'S SHOES - by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Title: Waiting for Dead Men’s Shoes

Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Publisher: TKA Distribution

Publication Date: November 29, 2012

Genres: Mystery, Humor

Reviewed by: Ellen Fritz

Source: Received from author for review

Ellen’s star rating: 5/5

SUMMARY

Underachiever Minette "Mini" Monroe has long dreamt of how much better life would be if only she were in charge of the world, said world being the independent bookstore in Westport, CT, where she's worked for the past half dozen years. After her beloved boss Colin Quimby is murdered, Mini gets her wish and also gets a chance to solve the case, aided by hot young Officer Michael "Mickey" Maus. Despite his unfortunate nickname - would any woman really voluntarily become part of Mini and Mickey Maus? - Mini takes a shine to him, but there's no real time for romance, not when Mini has her hands full dealing with Colin's viper's nest full of ex-wives, offspring, former business partners and current business rivals, all of whom had good reason to want to see Colin dead. Who will turn out to be the guilty party? The only way to find out is to read WAITING FOR DEAD MEN'S SHOES, a madcap comedic novel that proves that the Shakespeare Unabridged Globe and the Oxford English Dictionary are still a girl's best weapons.

REVIEW

Although a murder mystery should be a serious book, I laughed and giggled my way through Waiting for Dead Men's Shoes. After a day on which he annoyed an ex-wife, an ex-business partner and several members of the staff of his book store, Colin Quimby is murdered. Minette Monroe seems to be the only person and employee who is truly sad about his death and absolutely determined to find out who had caused his death. When handsome officer Michael Maus is the initial detective on the case, Mini decides that they should work together to find the murderer, never mind that he is taken off the case on the same day. They embark on an adventure that includes a funeral as a first date, breaking and entering, and sessions in the gym that is all talk and little exercise.

This cleverly written and highly humorous story just kept me turning the pages. The author uses word play as well as hilarious incidents to make the book one of the funniest I've ever read. Even the names of her characters are perfectly chosen for a comedic murder mystery. Is it surprising that Minette Monroe, called Mini, is hesitant to become Mrs. Mini Maus, wife of Mr. Mickey Maus?  The incredibly embarrassing situations Minette gets herself into made me howl with laughter.

Despite the light tone of the story, the plot is skilfully developed and the end is as unexpected as that of any of the very best mysteries.  The characters are brilliantly crafted; from Todd Blakely, the shop assistant and Fiona the first ex-wife, to Colleen the daughter from Colin's first marriage. All of them could potentially be the murderer. Add to that the spoilt daughters from the second marriage, called by Mini the Sisters Dim, and the suspect pool becomes very interesting indeed.

An excellent read, I'd call Waiting for Dead Men's Shoes a keeper to be read again and again. Five Stars and a standing ovation for this book and its fantastic author.

 

 

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ABOUT the AUTHOR

Lauren grew up in Monroe, CT, where her father owned a drugstore at which her mother was the pharmacist. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut at Storrs, where she majored in psychology. She also has what she calls her “half-Masters” in English from Western Connecticut State University (five courses down, another five to go…someday!).

Throughout college, she worked semester breaks as a doughnut salesperson, a job that she swears gave her white lung disease from all the powdered sugar she breathed.

Upon graduation, she began work at the venerable independent spacebookseller, now sadly defunct as such, Klein’s of Westport. There, she bought and sold for the better part of 11 years.

In November 1994, Lauren left the bookstore to finally take a chance on herself as a writer. Success did not happen over night. Between 1994 and May 2002 – when Red Dress Ink called with an offer to buy THE THIN PINK LINE – Lauren worked as a book reviewer, a freelance editor and writer, and a window washer, making her arguably the only woman in the world who has ever both hosted a book signing party and washed the windows of the late best-selling novelist Robert Ludlum.

Since Red Dress Ink’s call in 2002, Lauren has been kept very busy with writing more novels and checking her Amazon ranking on a daily basis. She still lives in Danbury, with her husband and daughter, where she has lived since 1991.

In addition to writing, Lauren’s daughter keeps her busy, accounting for the rest of her time.

Lauren’s favorite color is green.

Lauren’s favorite non-cat animals are penguins.

Lauren wants you to know that, however you are pronouncing her last name, you are probably pronouncing it wrong.

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BLOG TOUR: EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: THE MARLOWE GIRLS by Beth Fred

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The Fate of a Marlowe Girl

When twenty-four-year-old Tiffany escapes her sister Kammy's too wild Cancun bachelorette party, she finds herself in a bar with the unwanted attention of a gorgeous local named Luke.
Luke may be charming but Tiffany is leaving in two days and doesn't need any complications. But complications are exactly what she gets when the cops show up to raid Kammy's party. When Kammy is arrested, Tiffany agrees to have dinner with Luke, so he'll help her get Kammy out of jail. Kammy's arrest forces her to spend an extra day in Cancun, meaning she'll miss a crucial meeting, and as an accountant in tax season, she is already drowning in work. Not to mention, every second she spends with Luke makes it harder to leave. With Luke, Tiffany is almost ready to forget about work.
Will the airport be their final goodbye?

EXCERPT

When we got back to Tiffany’s, he walked me to the door. He cupped my face in his hand and leaned in inching his lips closer to mine. I’d never wanted anything so bad. He was so close I could smell the mint of his breath and feel the heat on my face, when he moved away from my face and hovered over my ear instead. Geez! What was he doing? Just kiss me already. He brushed my hair behind my ear and whispered, “I’m sorry. I forgot you asked me to wait until the fifth date.”

He became more vertical and dropped his hands around my waist pulling me to him. Locked in his arms, I felt so safe. “Forget I asked you to wait.” I did.

“No ma’am. I have to think you asked me that for a reason, and my girl needs to know I respect her.”

“Fine. But last night was a date… Did you say I’m your girl?”

“Do you want to be?”

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The Other Marlowe Girl

When twenty-four-year-old dance school drop out Kammy Marlowe is evicted by her mother, she goes to her favorite bar. She finds an unlikely friend in the blunt eye candy, Enrique. But Kammy knows there is no way she and Enrique have a shot because he's her brother-in-law’s brother and has been privy to her wild past.

Enrique swears he’s only interested in the person she is today, but their relationship is tested when her ex-husband's drug dealer attacks her, looking for money. With no options and a money hungry drug dealer on her back, Kammy accepts a position as a dancer at a strip club. But when Enrique shows up at the club, their relationship is over. With no reason to stay in Texas anymore, Kammy auditions for the Bolshevik Ballet and gets the opportunity to go to Russia. Only Enrique is determined to stop her.

Will she give up the chance of a lifetime to stay with the man she still loves? 

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Author Beth Fred

Meet Beth Fred! That's me! I'm a full time ELF keeper and part time writer/blogger/writing instructor. I'm represented by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. I like my tea hot, my romance sweet, and my guys chivalrous. Real men hold open doors, refer to you as ma'am, make promises they keep, and aren't afraid to profess their undying love. It's not breakfast if there aren't carbs(at least, not in the South). Fajitas, carnitas, and churros are just few of my favorite things. Bet you can't guess where I'm from ;) Wanna know more about me? You can find that here: 

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BOOK BLAST & $50 GIVEAWAY: MOONLIT by Jadie Jones

Moonlit

Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can’t be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.

When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.

But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?

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Praise

"Virginia's trees look like they're burning. Most of them blaze crimson or gold, but some still have a chokehold on their green. I wish they'd give it up already. Leaves are more beautiful when they're dying."

And so Moonlit begins. From here the story rolls from one twist to another with many vivid characters whose motives are hard to predict. I found myself being suspicious of everyone, wanting to tell Tanzy to be very careful. The deeper I fell into the plot, the more questions kept rising to the surface. But not to worry, all of my questions were answered. Appropriate for all ages, if you love paranormal fantasy mixed with suspense, mystery and other-worldly romance, you'll love this novel!
~Author Julie Ford

Prologue

The first anniversary of my father’s death was even harder on my mother. Back then, I thought she was haunted most by what she didn’t know. I refused to blame her when she raged above me on our staircase that night, drunk and sad and angry. When she made me promise I’d never ride again. When she hurled a half-full bottle of vodka at my face and it exploded on the wooden stairs at my feet. I hadn’t tried to get out of the way. She had just missed.
I wanted to tell her that knowledge was no solace, that what you know can burn inside you until there’s nothing left but guilt and ash. I also wanted to protect her from losing the only piece of him she had left. So I didn’t say a word.

Author Jadie Jones

Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went.
She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she's not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.

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Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/5/13

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REVIEW: GEORGETOWN ACADEMY (Georgetown Academy, #1) by Jessica Koosed Etting & Alyssa Embree Schwartz

Title: Georgetown Academy

Series: Georgetown Academy, #1

Authors: Jessica Koosed Etting & Alyssa Embree Schwartz

Publisher: Coliloquy

Publication Date: October 24, 2012

Genres: YA, Contemporary Fiction

Reviewed by: Books4Tomorrow

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley

My star rating: 5/5

SUMMARY

It’s the beginning of a new political administration. That might not mean much at most high schools, but at Georgetown Academy, Washington D.C.’s most elite prep school, January 20th means new alliances, new flings, and new places to party.

While freshmen—nicknamed “interns” for their willingness to jump into bed with anyone higher on the D.C. totem pole—navigate the not-so-friendly halls of GA searching for Algebra and Bio classes, the school’s lifers have other things on their minds.

For self-proclaimed D.C. royalty Brinley Madison (of those Madisons), the first day of school is all about establishing the social hierarchy and playing the part of perfect political wife to her boyfriend, the outgoing Vice President’s son. Too bad he has a wandering eye that puts Bill Clinton’s to shame. Can she keep him, and her own secret vice, in check?

Ellie Walker, Brinley’s best friend, floats through the halls on the arm of golden boy Hunter McKnight (the JFK of GA). But when her ex-boyfriend, Gabe, returns to town and her Senator mother’s political nemesis is reelected, Ellie’s life starts to snowball out of control.

Shy, quiet Evan Hartnett is more into books than beer, and her closet is full of t-shirts and jeans instead of Jason Wu and Jimmy Choo. No one’s ever really noticed her—but she’s been noticing them. When her star rises as an intern at D.C.’s most-watched political news show, she soon finds the two worlds colliding in ways that make her question what’s secret and what’s fair game.

New girl Taryn Reyes is all laid-back, California cool; with a father who’s in line to be the first Hispanic president, she’s ready to dive into the D.C. scene with an open mind. But when her fellow students turn out to be more interested in spreading rumors than making friends, she realizes that forging a drama-free path might be a lot harder than she thinks.

With so many new friends and former flames in the mix, things are bound to get a little heated. And while diplomatic immunity might keep the cops away, there’s not much it can do about the press.
In a town where one teenage misstep can turn into a national scandal, the students at Georgetown Academy will have to be on their best behavior—or, at least, they’ll have to make the world believe that they are.

Because there’s only one rule: whatever you do, don’t get caught.

REVIEW

I don’t think I’ll be able to adequately express how stupendously impressed I am with this book. Once I received my copy of Georgetown Academy, I couldn’t wait to start reading it. It was everything I was hoping it would be and so much more. The story flowed so smoothly, I couldn’t even tell it was written by two – might I say uber talented – authors. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Georgetown Academy is made into the next hit tv series. It is that good! It has more drama and intrigue than Gossip Girl could ever wish to have.

The different stories of Evan, Ellie, Brinley and Taryn were so powerful and emotional at times it had me glued to my seat from the first page to the last. I’m not ashamed to admit I devoured this book in less than a day. This is pretty much four stories in one, and each character brings something different to the story. The reader also has the option to follow only one or two or all four stories at once. The first five chapters are dedicated to getting the reader to know the set-up at GA and the four main characters. From chapter six you can choose which character’s story you want to follow, or, like me, you can follow all four story lines. I didn’t want to miss out on a single thing.

Each main character was neatly rounded out and I even took a liking to some of the secondary characters. I felt one hundred percent at home at Georgetown Academy and it was incredibly easy to place myself in these characters’ shoes. The ending is of course a spectacular cliffhanger. I don’t mind cliffhanger endings, as long as it doesn’t end in the middle of nowhere – which this one doesn’t. I was shocked at Ellie’s discovery, and now I can’t wait to read the second book in this addictive new series. This first book is a terrific start to the Georgetown Academy series which I highly recommend to all who love reading about characters with exciting, and sometimes somewhat scandalous, lives!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

READ more REVIEWS

Georgetown Academy by Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz has 39 reviews on Goodreads. Read it here.

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BOOK BLAST & $100 GIVEAWAY: HELGA: OUT OF THE HEDGELANDS by Rick Johnson

Helga: Out of the Hedgelands

Twelve-year-old Helga has more danger in her life than most beasts her age—Wrackshee slavers after her, a vicious attack by bandits that nearly kills her, a race against dragons pursuing her, and leading a daring rebellion to save her life and rescue friends and family from the insidious WooZan. And that is just the beginning. But what do you expect when you are a young beast who just can’t see the stupid rules of the world making any sense? Helga can’t accept things as they are and ends up taking on not just one, but two all-powerful, supreme tyrants in two different realms.

Helga never intended to lead a revolution. It just sort of happened because she wouldn’t go along with the “rules of normal” that keep tyrants in power and entire societies enslaved. Beginning on a dangerous quest to solve some mysteries in her own past, Helga leads her quirky comrades on a journey that will not only forever change them, but upset ancient civilizations.

As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own fragrance rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries. Helga’s unusual story will take readers to worlds they never imagined—definitely a whole new ride.

Time and again, the unconventional heroine and her eccentric comrades overcome ominous tyrants and black-hearted slavers, not by battling to the last beast standing, but by being the first beast to think differently.

Helga: Out of Hedgelands is divided into three books which introduce the epic saga of the Wood Cow clan and their role in overturning centuries of slavery and tyranny. This story will continue in additional volumes of the Wood Cow Chronicles now in development. Over the series of current and future volumes, the entire history of the Wood Cow clan, the fall of Maev Astuté, and the coming of Lord Farseeker to the Outer Rings, will be told.

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Book Trailer

Author Rick Johnson

I am a native of the Great Plains, having grown up on a farm in the Platte River Valley of western Nebraska. I love the wild beauty of the Plains and nearby Rocky Mountains--the too hot, too cold, too empty, too full of life extremes. Typically, the awesomely diverse and the awesomely stark are much the same, even as they are different. Although I have lived in Michigan, North Carolina, and British Columbia, the western plains, mountains, and desert are in my heart.

As my day job, for over thirty years I have been a faculty member and administrator in higher education. Teaching broadly in the liberal arts, including creative writing, my professional publications include educational materials, poems, and 28 stories for young readers. During my spare hours, I have also collected and carefully studied the records of former times upon which the Wood Cow Chronicles are based. It is my privilege to bring this astonishing saga to light.

The Wood Cow Chronicles have been researched and written with the irreplaceable assistance of Barbara, my beloved wife of more than thirty-five years, and our children. Indeed, the essential research into the history of the Wood Cows has been conducted during the odd hours of family reading and storytelling "around the campfire" as we say--even when there is no campfire! This research continues and grows richer as our family expands across generations and continents.

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Book Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/1/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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REVIEW: HOME RUN by Travis Thrasher

Title: Home Run

Author: Travis Thrasher

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Date: March 1, 2013

Genre: Christian Fiction, Sports

Reviewed by: Books4Tomorrow

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley

My star rating: 4/5

SUMMARY

Baseball star Cory Brand knows how to win. But off the field, he’s spiraling out of control. Haunted by old wounds and regrets, his future seems as hopeless as his past.

Until one moment—one mistake—changes everything. To save his career, Cory must go back to the town where it all began. His plan is simple: coach the local baseball team, complete a recovery program, and get out as fast as possible. Instead, he runs headfirst into memories he can’t escape ... and the love he left behind.

Faced with a second chance he never expected, Cory embarks on a journey of faith, transformation and redemption. And along the way, he discovers a powerful truth: no one is beyond the healing of God. 

A novel based on the major motion picture starring Vivica A. Fox and Scott Elrod, Home Run is an inspirational story of the hope and freedom God offers each of us. 

REVIEW

As a rule, I don’t read Christian fiction for various reasons. One of them being my fear of such books turning into a preaching fest. Luckily this is not the case with Home Run. I haven’t yet seen the movie, so this story was one hundred percent fresh and new for me.

At first it took me some time to get used to Cory’s character and see things the way he did. I couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t let go of his anger. He was stubborn, he was miserable and he kept making the same mistakes over and over again, and he continued to push away the people who cared about him the most. Cory’s self-loathing started to get on my nerves after awhile. But once I got to the last thirty percent of the book, I could see where the author was heading with Cory’s story and why he behaved the way he did. I’m not saying the story started getting predictable, because that’s one thing it is not. I’m saying that in order for Cory to come to the realization that he had to take control of his life and that only he could make the changes necessary to let go of his abusive past, he had to work through all his anger first before he could step onto the road to recovery.

Like I said before, the story wasn’t preachy at all. It focused on the theme of forgiveness and coming to terms with the things we cannot change, but also the things we have the power to change. This message was neatly packaged in a story about a man who fought every attempt made by himself and others in helping him overcome his demons. The characters are endearing and makes you feel part of their lives. Two things that stood out for me were that Cory wasn’t the only one who had to deal with events from his past and who had to make changes in his life; and the other is that – and this is what really surprised me – Cory and Emma didn’t fall into each other’s arms or followed the clichéd, predictable pattern of many love stories where the long-lost lovers have this happy reunion and make a brand new start. Instead, Emma and Cory have to deal with a lot of resentments and face up to their past actions before they can attempt being a couple again and taking responsibility for their son.

The only drawbacks for me where the flashbacks Cory had. I realize the point of these was to give the reader more insight into Cory’s past as a child and as a young adult, and for the reader to better understand where all Cory’s resentment stems from. However, it was sometimes confusing as to exactly which part of his life the flashbacks were taking me to as a few of the flashbacks were of his present day life. Also, I was sometimes confused with the dialogue and not sure which character was doing the talking. This didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the story, but it did take me some time to orientate myself again during a flashback.

And then, the ending. The beautiful, unpredictable, ending which made me cry. For that alone I highly recommend this book, but overall Home Run is a touching story which left me feeling inspired and thinking how easy it is to stay angry at someone, and how much work it is to forgive that person who did you wrong. It also showed me that forgiving someone is life changing and the burden of anger and hate, worth letting go. The author did a fantastic job with the writing and I’m happy to recommend this story to fans of the book/movie Fireproof and those who enjoy baseball.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

  

READ more REVIEWS

Home Run by Travis Thrasher has 29 reviews on Goodreads. Read it here.

HOME RUN - movie trailer (released April 19, 2013). Click HERE.

ABOUT the AUTHOR

Few authors have shown such diversity as Travis Thrasher. From starting his career with sweet and moving love stories, Travis has navigated through various genres including suspense, adventure, and most recently supernatural thrillers. At the core of each of his stories lie flawed characters in search of redemption. He loves surprising his readers, not only with a different style of writing in each book but also with amazing twists in each story. The author of eighteen critically-acclaimed works of fiction, Travis lives with his wife and three daughters in a suburb of Chicago. 

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