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4/19/22

Into the Forest: The Secret Language of Trees - Susan Tyler Hitchcock

5 STARS!

ABOUT THE BOOK -
For millennia, trees have offered renewal and inspiration. They have provided for humanity on every level, from spiritual sanctuary to the raw material for our homes, books, and food. In this beautiful and revealing book, National Geographic combines legendary photography with cutting-edge science to illuminate exactly how trees influence the life of planet Earth―from our personal lives to the weather cycle. Beautifully illustrated essays tell the stories of the world’s most remarkable trees, from Tane Mahura in New Zealand, the ancient Maori "lord of the forest," to Pando, a single aspen spreading over 100 acres: Earth’s largest living thing. You’ll also discover how an astronaut carried tree seeds to the moon and back; the reason "microdosing" on tree gas is a sure way to boost your immune system; and why playing in the dirt boosts serotonin, happiness hormone.
For nature and science enthusiasts, as well as photography lovers, Into the Forest is a beautiful and edifying gift to give or cherish.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
Susan Tyler Hitchcock is a writer and editor specializing in science, nature, and history. The author of 13 books, she has also written the text for numerous National Geographic photography books, including Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark series. As senior editor at National Geographic, she has edited both narrative and illustrated reference books for the past two decades. A Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Virginia, she lives near Charlottesville, Virginia. Hometown Ann Arbor, Michigan. Residence Covesville, Virginia.

MY THOUGHTS -
Absolutely gorgeous book! Stunning full color pictures on every page spread. This hard cover book is a great size too, coming in at almost 9x9 square. Can be held easily in your hands without feeling too big. You could spend an hour alone just immersing yourself in these pictures.




But that's not all this wonderful book offers! It is also so interesting and full of fun and educational facts. 
- Plant represent more than half the world's endangered species. 
- Roots can stretch out 2 - 3 times the circumference of the crown of the tree above.
- the "green light" that leaves reflect and counteract pain. (for migraines) the best pain relief came when green light shone into their eyes. 

And even poetry and quotes (which I loved).
"And  if you know God... you would see Him smiling in flowers, then raising and waving His hands in trees." _ Kahlil Gibran "The Prophet"
""Wood, earth, mould, etc.... exist for joy." - Henry David Thoreau

This book has been sitting on my living room table ever since I received it and I have looked through it several times already and am sure I will even more in the future.
Do you have a tree hugger in your family? this would make the perfect gift!

Thank you TLC Book Tours for sending me this book for my honest review!



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4/13/22

The Complete Beginner's Guide to Greenhouse Gardening: A Month-by-Month Planting Book to Grow 365 Days a Year - Richard Bray

 


ABOUT THE BOOK -

Grow your own vegetables, herbs and fruit anytime, anywhere.
By the winter solstice, it becomes too cold and dark in many regions for anything much to grow in the garden. This is when a lot of gardeners gear up using a greenhouse. Greenhouse gardening provides the opportunity to extend the growing season, grow plants that normally don’t survive in your region or to jump-start a new growing period. Whatever your reason to start your greenhouse project, this book is the right companion on your journey.

Greenhouse Gardening is the one-stop guide on greenhouse construction, maintenance and planting schedules. After reading this book, you will be able to choose the type of greenhouse that best suits your needs, schedule your planting throughout the year and maintain a healthy garden. Ideally suited for beginners, the book provides a comprehensive overview to start your greenhouse adventure. Inexpensive options and money saving tips are outlined in each chapter to reduce your costs in building and running your greenhouse.

In detail, this book allows you to…
Get a comprehensive overview of greenhouse gardening and gain the confidence to embark upon your own project

  • Learn what greenhouse gardening is all about
  • Get to know the different types of greenhouses and choose the one that suits your needs.
  • Decide if you want to DIY, buy a ready-made kit or get a used greenhouse.


Set up your own greenhouse and save money by using inexpensive building methods

  • Choose the best type of glazing, flooring and construction material for your greenhouse.*
  • Learn how to heat your greenhouse and use ventilation to keep the humidity level just right.
  • Learn how to utilize lighting and irrigate your plants for optimal growth.
  • Get an overview of the essential equipment you need to keep your garden healthy.


Taste the pleasure of your homegrown food with easy to grow herbs, vegetables and fruit

  • Learn how to schedule your plants for year-round gardening.
  • Get an overview of how to grow different herbs, vegetables and fruits in your greenhouse.
  • Integrate hydroponics into your greenhouse.


Identify potential problems with your plants and learn how to overcome them

  • Understand how to maintain your greenhouse and care for your plants.
  • Identify pests and diseases in your greenhouse and learn how to combat them.


Take the first step to running your own greenhouse. To get started, scroll up and grab your copy.

Order yours from Amazon - HERE


ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

Richard's father was a keen gardener and that is where his interest in all natural things began. As a youngster, he enjoyed nothing better than helping his father in the garden.

Nowadays, he finds himself at the opposite end of life. Having had a satisfying career, he now has time to potter around in his garden and take care of his small homestead. Much of the food on his dinner table is homegrown. He likes to experiment with various gardening methods and find new ways to grow bountiful crops year-round.

He wants to share his knowledge and show how easy and rewarding it is to set up your own prosperous garden and apply the healing power of plants. In his opinion, you don’t need a huge budget to get started. When you do get started, you will soon feel, and taste, the benefits of growing your own healthy food.


MY THOUGHTS -

A great resource if you are starting your own greenhouse... and even if you are not! This book just has a lot of very useful information period. I am an avid gardener. I do a pretty large garden every year and also love the "putting up" process. I really appreciate all the lists and charts and will probably end up printing them out.

My husband and I have gone back and forth about getting a greenhouse. We ended up not getting one because I just wasn't fully ready to use one yet, but... someday.

This book is a definite must have in the whole greenhouse process right from the very beginning - choosing what kind to get. I love that the book includes what to plant when and different options on how to plant. Again with lists and charts. :-)

Even if we don't get a greenhouse right away, I know I will be using this book as a reference for my gardening.

I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from the author, Richard Bray -  Thank You!

I also reviewed -  Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Herbal Remedies for Everyday Ailments 

Which I also very highly recommend!


Hey, let me know in the comments - Do you have a veg. garden? Are you lucky enough to already have a greenhouse? Or are you planning to someday get one?



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3/23/22

At Any Cost by Andrea Kane

 March 21 - April 15, 2022 Virtual Book Tour


5 STARS!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

Aimee Bregman had the perfect life. She had an enviable job as head of marketing for an up-and-coming CBD-infused beer that was taking the tri-state area by storm. She had cultivated a massive social media following that showcased the beer at college campus parties and alumni events―and had fun doing it. She had an attentive, steady boyfriend and friends who believed in her. Everything was going right.

But when her long-time mentor, Rita, sets up a business meeting with an important influencer―her life crashes all around her. The casual meeting over drinks suddenly devolves into a shouting match between all parties, and any chance of a new business relationship is over before it begins. Hours later, when the NYPD shows up at Aimee's apartment, questioning her about Rita's abrupt disappearance―foul play suspected―Aimee realizes she's in way over her head.

Fearing that Rita has been murdered, and that she may be next, Aimee hires Forensic Instincts to keep her safe and figure out what's really going on.

Forensic Instincts, a brilliant investigative firm who walks the fine line between legal and illegal, solves challenging and high-profile cases when the bureaucratic restrictions imposed on law enforcement get in the way of achieving results. But neither Aimee nor Forensic Instincts realize how ruthless, how connected, their adversaries are. As dangerous and powerful people are threatened with exposure, anyone is fair game for elimination. And when multiple victims die at the hands of a sociopathic serial killer, it gets harder and harder to tell where the battle lines are drawn… and who might die next.

Purchase Links:

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads



ABOUT THE AUTHOR - 

Andrea Kane is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty-one novels, including seventeen psychological thrillers and fourteen historical romantic suspense titles. With her signature style, Kane creates unforgettable characters and confronts them with life-threatening danger. As a master of suspense, she weaves them into exciting, carefully-researched stories, pushing them to the edge—and keeping her readers up all night.
Kane’s first contemporary suspense thriller, Run for Your Life, became an instant New York Times bestseller.

She followed with a string of bestselling psychological thrillers including No Way Out, Twisted and Drawn in Blood.

Her latest in the highly successful Forensic Instincts series, At Any Cost, showcases the dynamic, eclectic team of investigators as they square off against a criminal organization with a serial killer as a hit man. The first showcase of Forensic Instincts’ talents came with the New York Times bestseller, The Girl Who Disappeared Twice, followed by The Line Between Here and Gone, The Stranger You Know, The Silence That Speaks, The Murder That Never Was, A Face To Die For, Dead In A Week, No Stone Unturned and At Any Cost.

Kane’s beloved historical romantic suspense novels include My Heart’s Desire, Samantha, Echoes in the Mist, and Wishes in the Wind.

With a worldwide following of passionate readers, her books have been published in more than twenty languages.

Kane lives in New Jersey with her family. She’s an avid crossword puzzle solver and a diehard Yankees fan.

Catch Up With Andrea Kane:
AndreaKane.com
Goodreads
BookBub
Instagram - @authorandreakane
Twitter - @andrea_kane
Facebook - @AuthorAndreaKane


MY THOUGHTS -

So, so good! But then again... I don't think Andrea Kane could ever put out a book that was not so good! This story was interesting from page one.

Continuing with Forensic Instincts (book 9), love these guys!! And no, you do not have to read the others, each story is it's own. 

Great cast of characters. If you didn't know them before, you will get to know them here, with the introduction of a few others - Aimee to name one. Throw in some great unexpected bad guys and a few dead people and you have your self a fantastic, suspenseful read!

This is forensics and investigative procedure at it's best. I have always been interested in forensics and thought that in another lifetime... maybe??? 

I think I'll just read the books, all the books!

Thank you Andrea for feeding my fetish! What is in store for us in book 10? :-P


I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours -  Thank You!


Giveaway:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Andrea Kane. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.



Tour Participants:
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3/1/22

Forgive Us Our Trespasses by Tom Avitabile (with a GIVEAWAY!)

 


5 STARS!

ABOUT THE BOOK -
The bruise on the young goalie’s cheek got girls high school soccer coach Brooke Burrell’s attention. Brooke tries to keep her advantage as the most decorated woman agent ever in government service at bay while dealing with the suspected abusive father – although she’d love to punch his lights out. Her digging reveals the reason for his abusiveness and it connects to a massive international terrorist attack.
 
When the father is found dead, Brooke is accused of the murder. Suddenly, she is forced to defend herself in court, and in the court of public opinion – while trying to stop the insidious plot to kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people across the globe in one terrifying instant and bring the western world to its knees.
 
Filled with the nonstop thrills, all-too-real scenarios, and remarkable attention to detail that has made Tom Avitabile a consistent #1 bestseller, Forgive Us Our Trespasses is edge-of-your-seat storytelling of the first order.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -


Tom Avitabile is a writer, director, and producer with numerous film and television credits, a professional musician, and an amateur woodworker. He has an extensive background in engineering and computers, including work on projects for the House Committee on Science and Technology. His novel The Devil's Quota became a Barnes and Noble #1 bestseller, as did The Eighth Day, the first installment of his Bill Hiccock “thrillogy” that includes the novels The Hammer of God and The God Particle, and the first Brooke Burrell novel, Give Us This Day.



MY THOUGHTS -

When they said "Filled with the nonstop thrills" they meant it! This book worked very hard to earn every one of it's five stars. I almost felt like I was running a race while reading it, my heart was beating so fast at times.

This story got really good really fast. I can honestly say there was not a dull moment, or even a moment to go get more coffee. I found myself taking my Kindle with me everywhere, LOL. To say it was un-put-down-able seems like an understatement. 

Excellent character development. This was my first book by this author but I very quickly got to  know and loved all the characters. Wow, I just loved Brooke! She was so in control. I don't want to say "bad a$$" but she definitely someone who got things done. Smart, not afraid, like I said - in control... but also with a human side to her making her very likable. I would read more books just for her alone!

 I loved that this took place in Hawaii. That is someplace that I have never been but have always been interested in. The descriptions are so vivid, I felt like I was watching a movie in my head.

This "new to me" author is going on my watch list. I will be "watching" for new books and of course catching up on some of the older ones.


I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours -  Thank You!


Giveaway:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Tom Avitabile and The Story Plant. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.


Tour Participants:
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2/23/22

Trust Me by Kelly Irvin (with a GIVEAWAY!)

 


4 Stars!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

When her best friend is murdered the same way her brother was, who can she possibly trust?

A decade ago, Delaney Broward discovered her brother’s murdered body at the San Antonio art co-op he founded with friends. Her artist boyfriend, Hunter Nash, went to prison for the murder, despite his not-guilty plea.

This morning, Hunter walks out of prison a free man, having served his sentence.

This afternoon, Delaney finds her best friend dead, murdered in the same fashion as her brother.

Stay out of it or you're next, the killer warns.

Hunter never stopped loving Delaney, though he can’t blame her for not forgiving her. He knows he’ll get his life back one day at a time, one step at a time. But he’s blindsided to realize he’s a murder suspect. Again.

When Hunter shows up on her doorstep asking her to help him find the real killer, Delaney’s head says to run away, yet her heart tells her there’s more to his story than what came out in the trial. An uneasy truce leads to their probe into a dark past that shatters Delaney’s image of her brother. She can’t stop and neither can Hunter—which lands them both in the crosshairs of a murderer growing more desperate by the hour.

In this gripping romantic suspense, Kelly Irvin plumbs the complexity of broken trust in the people we love—and in God—and whether either can be mended.

Purchase Links: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook.com | Goodreads


ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

Kelly Irvin is a bestselling, award-winning author of over twenty novels and stories. A retired public relations professional, Kelly lives with her husband, Tim, in San Antonio. They have two children, three grandchildren, and two ornery cats.



MY THOUGHTS -

What a great combination of suspense, tension, hope, and faith. 

Great characters! Loved Delaney (Laney) I really wanted her to find her answers and to forgive, but I didn't blame her one bit. She didn't have much to go on. She was human with real human emotions. She definitely felt real to me. Hunter - what a guy! Loved him from he start. The whole time he insisted he was innocent, but did I believe him? You bet I did! Now he just had to convince Delaney.

This was a tad slow in the middle, but I do think it was necessary for all the suspense in the end. You have to hear everything that happened and feel the tension as it slowly built. You also have to truly get to know the characters, which the author does so well.

Then, holy cow! The ending was so tense, scary, and really I had no idea what was going to happen next. And I truly never suspected the real killer! Total shock for me. Excellent ending.

This was a first Kelly Irvin book for me, but I am looking forward to reading more. 

 I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours -  Thank You!


Giveaway:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Thomas Nelson and Kelly Irvin. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.



Tour Participants:
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2/15/22

The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn (with a GIVEAWAY!)

 January 24 - February 18, 2022 Virtual Book Tour


5 STARS!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

The world's largest oil painting. A 400-year-old murder. A disembodied whisper: "Amore mio." My love.

Nick and Julia O'Connor's dream trip to Venice collapses when a haunting voice reaches out to Nick from Tintoretto's Paradise, a monumental depiction of Heaven. Convinced his delusions are the result of a concussion, Julia insists her husband see a doctor, though Nick is adamant the voice was real.

Blacking out in the museum, Nick flashes back to a life as a 16th century Venetian peasant swordsman. He recalls precisely who the voice belongs to: Isabella Scalfini, a married aristocrat he was tasked to seduce but with whom he instead found true love. A love stolen from them hundreds of years prior.

She implores Nick to liberate her from a powerful order of religious vigilantes who judge and sentence souls to the canvas for eternity. Releasing Isabella also means unleashing thousands of other imprisoned souls, all of which the order claims are evil.

As infatuation with a possible hallucination clouds his commitment to a present-day wife, Nick's past self takes over. Wracked with guilt, he can no longer allow Isabella to remain tormented, despite the consequences. He must right an age-old wrong - destroy the painting and free his soul mate. But the order will eradicate anyone who threatens their ethereal prison and their control over Venice.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads



ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

In addition to being a novelist, Rob Samborn is a screenwriter, entrepreneur and avid traveler. He’s been to forty countries, lived in five of them (including Italy) and studied nine languages. As a restless spirit who can’t remember the last time he was bored, Rob is on a quest to explore the intricacies of our world and try his hand at a multitude of crafts; he’s also an accomplished artist and musician, as well as a budding furniture maker. A native New Yorker who lived in Los Angeles for twenty years, he now makes his home in Denver with his wife, daughter and dog.



MY THOUGHTS -

Oh my gosh! This book gave me chills in spots. Absolutely fantastic, what an amazing story.

Once this book gets going it does not stop. I know a little bit about art but I know nothing about Venice, this book is so descriptive it really feels like you’re right there. Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes... it's not.

The storyline was very… hmm I don’t wanna say complex because that would sound negative. Can I say complex/involved in a positive way? It does make you think. You have to follow the spider web, even into the past. I love books like this.

“ We are not punished for our sins, but by them.” Hmm interesting!

I have to admit, sometimes I tend to skim through books or even read very quickly through parts. But this one I could not do that for fear that I would miss something (FOMO)! And once I was past the halfway mark I didn't want to stop reading.

This was so very interesting. I feel like I’ve gotten a history lesson, a tour of Venice, a great mystery, and loads of suspense all wrapped up in one book. Do you ever feel like a certain book was written just for you? I kind of felt that way with this book. It had all the elements I love - great characters, historical fiction, art!, time travel - Score!

The best line in the whole book - Continua... (YES!)

Give this one a try, you will not be sorry!

 I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours -  Thank You!

Giveaway:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Rob Samborn. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.


Tour Participants: These are the stops on the tour as of January 12th and are subject to change. Please, let me know if you have any questions.
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2/11/22

The Dust of Hope: rune poems - Judy Croome

 


5 Stars!

ABOUT THE BOOK -

Judy Croome’s latest collection of poetry returns to the ancient ways of the Nordic runes, shining a light of hope and healing as we navigate through the wilderness of anxiety permeating these early years of the twenty-first century.

The simple verses console the reader with a calm acceptance that, even during a global pandemic, everyday life ebbs and flows with the natural rhythms of the timeless oceans.

Here are poems that invite us to stop, to breathe, and to see the world around us from a new perspective birthed within the center of our souls.

Purchase from Amazon - HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/POET -

Judy Croome lives and writes in Johannesburg, South Africa. Shortlisted in the African Writing Flash Fiction 2011 competition, Judy’s short stories, poems and articles have appeared in various magazines, anthologies and newspapers, such as The Sunday Times, The Huffington Post (USA) and the University of the Witwatersrand’s Itch Magazine. In 2021 and 2016, Judy was the poetry judge for Writers2000’s Annual Writing Competition. In 2021, Judy presented an hour long workshop to Writers 2000 called “The Gift of Poetry”

Judy loves her family, cats, exploring the meaning of life, chocolate, cats, rainy days, ancient churches with their ancient graveyards, cats, meditation and solitude. Oh, and cats. Judy loves cats (who already appear to have discovered the meaning of life.)

Her fiction and poetry books ‘the dust of hope: rune poems” (2021); “Drop by Drop: poems of loss” (2020); “a stranger in a strange land” (2015),”The Weight of a Feather & Other Stories” (2013), “a Lamp at Midday” (2012) and “Dancing in the Shadows of Love” (2011) are available from Aztar Press.

“Street Smart Taxpayers: A practical guide to your rights in South Africa” (Juta Law, 2017) was co-authored with her late husband Dr. Beric Croome (1960 – 2019).

Follow her on GoodReads, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


MY THOUGHTS -

A wonderful collection of poems that I would definitely read over and over. They are pretty straight forward, not anything that you have to figure out, which is nice for a change with poetry. 

Not all the poems, but quite a few of them reflect on "lockdown" during the Covid pandemic. These poems could really be about any loneliness, not just "lockdown or quarantine" so - easily relatable.

Some of these poems are very sad and others very encouraging. All of them - very good!

it seems strange to me
that In this new normal,
this world where death lurks
in a handshake or a hug,
safety lies in separation and isolation.
 
and yet…
all those decades before
safety lay in the pack
if you were fat or black,
or gay, or spoke too much,
or spoke too little,
the pack turned on you,
leaving your weekend and
as vulnerable as an ant spinning in a web,
shaking with the footsteps of approaching death.
 
and yet now…
all those who clung together,
once gaining strength
and cruelty from their unity
are kept apart, weakening with terror
while we – the alienated, the outsiders –
we’re still alone with our strength
and our souls that speak true,
for we possess the gift of solitude
and lockdown is our home.

I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from "Poetic Book Tours" and the author -  Thank You!

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