Cover Reveal: Coins in the Fountain by Judith Works

Title: Coins in the Fountain

Author: Judith Works

Genre: Memoir

Publisher: Booktrope Editions

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Innocents Abroad collide with La Dolce Vita when the author and her husband arrive in the ancient city of Rome fresh from the depths of Oregon.  While the author endeavored to learn the folkways of the United Nations, her husband tangled with unfamiliar vege weddings, enjoyed a close-up with the pope, tried their hands at grape harvesting, and savored country weekends where the ancient Etruscans still seemed to be lurking.  Along the way they made many unforgettable friends including the countess with a butt-reducing machine and a count who served as a model for naked statues of horsemen in his youth.

But not everything was wine and wonders.  Dogs in the doctor’s exam room, neighbors in the apartment in the middle of the nights, an auto accident with the military police, a dangerous fall in the subway, too many interactions with an excitable landlord, snakes and unexploded bombs on a golf course, and a sinking sailboat, all added more seasoning to the spaghetti sauce of their life.

Their story begins with a month trying to sleep on a cold marble floor wondering why they came to Rome.  It ends with a hopeful toss of coins in the Trevi Fountain to ensure their return to the Eternal City for visits.  Ten years of pasta, vino, and the sweet life weren’t enough.

Part memoir, part travelogue, Coins in the Fountain will amuse and intrigue you with the stories of food, friends, and the adventures of a couple who ran away to join the circus (the Circus Maximus, that is).

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Life was routine until the author decided to get a law degree. Then a chance meeting led her to run away to the Circus (Maximus) – actually to the United Nations office next door - where she worked as an attorney in the HR department and entered the world of expat life in Rome. After four years she and her husband returned to the U.S. - this time to Washington, D.C. But they missed life in Italy with its great food and wine, endless history, and the many friends we made. The gods smiled and another opportunity came along. Six more years in Rome, again working for the UN, followed. The many happy and sometimes fraught experiences are the subject of her memoir, Coins in the Fountain. She is also the author of a novel about expats in Rome, City of Illusions, and flash fiction has been published in literary reviews. She continues to travel in her spare time, having visited over 100 countries. And when she is in Rome, she always tosses a coin in the Trevi Fountain to ensure another visit.

Follow Her on Social Media:

Twitter | website | blog

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Book Blitz & Giveaway-Foliage: An International Banking Spy Thriller by Lorraine Evanoff

Book Title: Foliage: An International Banking Spy Thriller 

Author:Lorraine Evanoff 

Genre:Spy Thriller 

Release Date: October 19, 2015 

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Investment banker Louise Moscow loves her new life and career in late 1980s Paris. With a high-profile dream job, plus fascinating friends and love interests in a glamorous city, things couldn’t be better. When she stumbles upon criminal activity at her company, the FBI and CIA force her to cooperate and bring down the murderous brazen bankers in what turns out to be one of the greatest scandals of the twentieth century.

Code word: FOLIAGE!

As she descended, the temperature changed markedly. At the bottom, she found the first signs of the bones of six million people that had been stacked up against the two thousand seven hundred feet of Catacomb walls. The juxtaposition of the ancient bones and architecture with scattered graffiti of philosophical sayings and quotations on the walls was striking. The aura was sacred, somber, and spooky. There were bandits hiding out in corners, as well as people hosting parties in the “unofficial” sections. Louise hurried past them, trying to go unnoticed, keeping the flashlight beam low to the ground.

The flashlight and the intermittent candles were all that lit her path. Her eyes adjusted, providing clearer focus on the walls and corridors. She searched for any sign of a lotus flower or any other symbolic meaning for lotus. She read graffiti and plaques but found no lotus. She seemed to walk for more than a mile, possibly in circles. As she hurried along, a rock jutting up from the dirt and stone floor sent her stumbling down to her hands and knees.

Her flashlight escaped her grip, clanked, and rolled to a stop about ten feet in front of her. The beam was all she could see in the inky darkness. Now, being on her hands and knees provided a new perspective. She crawled toward the light beam, which faced the bottom of the wall on her right and illuminated an engraving. Louise recognized it as the Om Mani Padme Hum, or Hail the Jewel in the Lotus, a twelfth-century Buddhist Sanskrit mantra, meaning the lotus of whose navel forms our universe.

- Lorraine Evanoff, Foliage: An International Banking Spy Thriller

“A deft mix of spy thriller and romance set against a backdrop of real events, namely the 1991 collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), the first of the recent wave of big financial scandals. Evanoff's protagonist, Louise Moscow, is a sexy, smart, likable heroine who finds herself enmeshed in the shadowy world of high finance and international espionage. Set in New York and Paris, Evanoff weaves in historical details with her fast paced thriller making this a riveting and educating read.”

-Robina Gibb, LA-based writer and journalist

“Finally an intelligent romantic spy thriller! Lorraine Evanoff’s new book, Foliage: An International Spy Thriller starts off fast and keeps you hooked. The series heroine Louise Moscow is sexy, brazen and fearless in business and in love. The twists and turns keep you guessing and wanting to read on. Plus the historic events blew my mind and the depictions of the exotic locations made me feel like I was there the way Dan Brown does. I can’t wait to read book 2!! Hurry, Ms. Evanoff!”

- Nelle L’Amour, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

“Lorraine Evanoff is a very skilled writer! Her new novel, Foliage - An International Spy Thriller, takes on some complicated historic events and wraps them in a riveting, fast-paced novel. I can't wait to see where our title character, Louise Moscow, goes next in what should be a great series of books.”

-Mitch Kaplan, Kaplan Stahler Agency

Chicago native LORRAINE EVANOFF graduated from DePaul University with a degree in French. She lived in Paris France for seven years, first working as an English teacher and film translator (for subtitles), then in film production and distribution. She moved to the Silicon Valley, and after earning her credentials from the Institute of Management Accountants, she worked in finance during the dot.com era. She currently resides in Los Angeles, where she works in film finance. Her first novel was inspired by and is loosely based on events that occurred when she was living in France.

For more information, visit http://louisemoscownovel.com.

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Alisa's Review: The Beauty Bride by Claire Delacroix

ebook, 298 pages

Published April 2012 by Deborah A. Cooke

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15813524-the-beauty-bride

Alexander has a problem. It's not that his parents have tragically died, or that he has been made Laird of Kinfairlie years before he anticipated, or that their treasury is empty, or that he now has to take care of his seven younger siblings. It's that he has to marry off his sister Madeline, who has refused to ever wed. Madeline's betrothed died on the same boat as their parents and she won't even discuss it. So Alexander is forced to take matters into his own hands by auctioning Madeline off. But he never intended Rhys Fitzhenry to take part. Rhys is a warrior who has fought the king to gain land. Clever and resourceful, he knows he needs an heir, and this auction is the perfect way to get one. After all, buying a wife is the simplest solution;love is so messy, after all. Furious that her brother would dare auction her off and desperate to ignore the passion mounting between them, Madeline flees...but Rhys won't be cast aside so easily. Can this strong and witty warrior catch his impetuous and bold bride?

It took me TWO long weeks to read this! It took that long not because it is an overlong book, but because it was so boring!

I just could not get into this book, the writing was not very good. The actual story might have been alright if you took out a bunch of stuff. 

I could have just given up on reading this , or maybe come back to it at another time, but honestly I just wanted to get it over with. I just wish it hadn't taken me so long! 

I did like Madaline and Rhys though, they were great.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1R09lUN

Ticket Blitz for Rock and Read

Rock & Read Author Event- January 15-17 2016 

The Palms Hotel and Casino 

4321 West Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV. 89103 

Tickets are available at Eventbrite: http://bit.ly/2283PDg 

Event Website: https://www.facebook.com/rockandreadvegasauthorevent/?fref=ts

Event Info: SBB Media, LLC and Summer’s Book Blog are bring 80+ Authors, 10 Hot Models and some of today’s best Photographers and Cover Designers to Sin City! The event begins Friday evening with a shot gun wedding and ends Saturday night with a reception. What else can you expect from Vegas? Part of the proceeds of the raffles and the event are being donated to help a 5-year-old Colorado boy that is struggling with a rare form of childhood cancer.

Harper Sloane Genre - Contemporary Romance

 

Harper is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn't writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand. List of the books you will be bringing. - Axel, Cage, Beck, Uncaged, Cooper, Locke, Unexpected Fate, Bleeding Love, Perfectly Imperfect, Corps Security Series paperback. I will have limited numbers of the individual Corps Security novels.

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TH Snyder Genre- Romance

I was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania Sept 1979. For nine years I've been working in the field of higher education while earning my Bachelor and Master Degrees in Management from University of Phoenix. I'm a single mother to two amazing children that are my world. I became an avid reader in spring of 2012 and since has read over 300 books. My genre of interest ranges from Romance to thrilling Paranormal. I started writing my first novel in June of 2013 and anxious to see where this journey takes me. This is more than just a hobby for me, it’s my passion!!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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 Felicia Lynn Genre- Contemporary Romance

Felicia Lynn, author of Tied Up In Heartstrings, is a transplanted Florida girl, born and raised, who lives just north of Atlanta, GA. She spends most of her days holed up in a cozy chair with a cup of tea and her laptop, writing about the characters that live in her head. When she’s not writing you’ll find her hanging out with her family and friends! She loves reading, taking long walks, chatting with her Facebook family, and listening to music, especially live music. A self-declared lover of all things baseball, she is obsessed with every aspect of the game!!!

Felicia writes contemporary romance, because love stories make people happy. Even in the midst of anguish and turmoil, true love can turn life around, and the process is beautiful. Most of Felicia's stories are based on real life experiences, which she embellishes to tell a story. The Heartstrings Series currently has 3 books published. Felicia also co-wrote a mystery/suspense book titled The List with professional poker player, Chris Bell. Look for more to come from those two as well. Love's Learing Curve is Felicia's upcoming release, coming to us in January 2016.

Books Bringing- Tied Up In Heartstrings, Mending Hearstrings, Phantom Heartstrings, The List, Loves Learning Curve.

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The Earl's Complete Surrender by Sophie Barnes Blog Tour & Giveaway

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THE EARL'S COMPLETE SURRENDER

Secrets at Thorncliff Manor #2

Sophie Barnes

Releasing December 29th,2015

Avon Books

An unexpected passion ignites as secrets are exposed in Sophie Barnes's captivating Regency-set romance

Despite the diversions offered at Thorncliff Manor, former spy James, the Earl of Woodford, has one purpose in staying there. He must find an encoded book that exposes a conspiracy within the British aristocracy. And he must do so without revealing his purpose to the clever, tempting Chloe Heartly. The lady has a knack for appearing wherever it is least convenient. In the library. In the salon. And, especially, in his arms . . 

Somewhere within Thorncliff's labyrinth of rooms lies the journal Chloe desperately seeks. When she realizes the brooding, handsome earl is hunting the same quarry, Chloe enters into an uneasy partnership. But in the face of public danger and enemies hiding in plain sight, both must decide how much they're willing to risk to solve the mysteries of the heart.

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They reached the front door where the coach was being unloaded by footmen. The men who’d occupied it, however, were nowhere in sight. The butler on the other hand, was very much present, issuing orders to each of the footman as they carried trunks into the house.

“Excuse me, Mr. Caine,” Chloe said as she and Fiona walked up to him.

Raising his chin in the typical butlery manner that conveyed that his complete attention had been drawn, he spoke a succinct, “Yes, Lady Newbury?”

“My sister and I were out walking when this carriage drove past.” Angling her head, Chloe indicated the carriage in question. “I immediately recognized the Marquess of Hainsworth, but I failed to place his companion. Perhaps you can enlighten us regarding his identity?”

Mr. Caine hesitated only a moment before bowing his head in acquiescence. “I believe you must be referring to the Earl of Woodford, my lady.” A brief pause followed. “Will that be all?”

Chloe blinked. “Yes. Thank you, Mr. Caine.”

The butler nodded before turning away and resuming his duties.

“Isn’t he the one whose parents—”

“Yes,” Chloe said, silencing her sister. It was as if her heart had suddenly been filled with lead. Shaking off the melancholy that had swooped down upon her the moment she’d learned of Woodford’s identity, she placed her hand against Fiona’s elbow and guided her through the foyer and toward the hallway beyond, no longer surprised by the solemnity with which Woodford had regarded her from the carriage. Somewhere, trapped inside that man, was the little boy who’d once suffered the tragic loss of his parents, and Chloe found that her heart ached for him.

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Born in Denmark, Sophie Barnes spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She's lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish and Romanian. She has studied design in Paris and New York and has a bachelor's degree from Parsons. But, most impressive of all, she's been married to the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.

While living in Africa, Sophie turned to her lifelong passion: writing. When she's not busy dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading. She currently lives on the East Coast.

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