Thursday, November 3, 2011

Welcome to Melissa Foster on her "Come Back To Me" Blog Tour!



What fills you with happiness? That’s a question I tweet quite often.  It’s simple, direct, and thought provoking. The interesting thing about those five words is that every time I type them, I ask myself the question all over again, and I find that while certain pleasures are fleeting—ice cream or brownies, for example—what lies beneath remains constant—giving back, helping others, watching others succeed. Across the board, from family and friends to strangers, the happiness of others is what fills me with joy.

The Women's Nest
I learned a long time ago that removing your ego can do wonders for your decision making skills. Without ego, decisions are made for the good of others, than for yourself. I don’t think I realized that when I began The Women’s Nest, an online social and support site for women. When I opened the Nest, it was for a very selfish reason (there’s that darn ego). I missed my friends. I had children under foot day in and day out, a wonderful husband, and I was writing. My life was pretty full, but something was missing. You know that emptiness that creeps up on you? When something is amiss, and you can’t quite put a finger on it? That’s what I was feeling. I realized very quickly that if I were feeling that way, there were probably many other women who also wondered about that little missing piece of their lives—and I wanted to help them (kicked that ego out the door, and the Nest flourished).


Women need women friends. I wanted to fill this gap for myself, and found that, in doing so, I could also help others. The Women’s Nest allows us to discuss important topics and share our days without leaving our families and obligations behind. Friends are ever-present—just a mouse click away, in a private community. Within the first day on The Women’s Nest, we were sharing, laughing, and that void I had felt no longer existed. Three days later there were ten women on the site, and a month later, we had over one hundred members. Four years later, we are over 3300 strong, and many of my Nest sisters are among my closest friends. My Nest sisters and I share everything from venting to celebrating, and even just hanging out when we’re bored. We support openly, we cry, laugh, and poke fun at each other. The Women’s Nest is about giving back. It’s about having a sense of community, fitting in, being noticed as a person and friend.  The joy it brings me and other women is something that could not be valued financially.

It’s that feeling of being part of something bigger, supported by many, understood and appreciated, that I hope to bring to the literary community with The WoMen's Literary Cafe (for men and women).

I have something to share. I’ve been blessed with books that are doing fairly well, and I want to help others do the same. Authors aren’t marketers—they’re writers. It’s not easy to make the transition, and for many, it’s nearly impossible. When I looked at my life, what brings me happiness and what I have to give to others, the answer was clear. I have the ability to give knowledge, to help others be happier, see a brighter side to the dark avenues that face us everyday. I’m one tiny ray in the flashlight beam shining down the tunnel of darkness between publishing and selling, and the more writers I can teach to market, the brighter that beam will shine, and  the easier the path will be to navigate. The WoMen’s Literary CafĂ© is a cross promotional literary site for men and women—readers will enjoy the promotions and being able to chat with authors and get to know them in a more intimate setting, and authors can learn how to build those special relationships.

Giving back fills me with happiness. What fills you with happiness?


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Tuesday, November 1, 2011

I Got A Back-Handed Compliment Today! LOL...

I Got notice of this feedback on Amazon today... "What a joke," I completely agreed with this individual's assessment of my review activities...You may too!




Father Bascio died before his last book was published. What a Loss to all of us...





M. miller

"book lover"

read your reviews and as an avid reader, I have never heard of the books you recommend so highly. what a joke...






I have no doubt you are correct. I have dedicated my review role to help promote little known books from great authors...Sure I read James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Linda Howard, J. D. Robb, Nora Roberts, Jonathan Kellerman, Scott Turow and many others for whom I don't write reviews...but they have help in their publishing activities and lots of fans...so I choose not to promulgate the "groupie" mentality that follows only those that are well-known, adding my review to many others who read only the big name authors. In fact, if you were a new or little-known author, I'd be happy to give my time to read and review your book. Fortunately, there are many others like me who are willing to support independent activities, including those who write novels...Try it, you might find just as many books to enjoy as I do....

And by the way, I don't use my time to read books for which I would give a 1 or 2 ranking...I feel no need to share my time and negative thoughts on a book that is not worth reading..and if a book is not to my personal liking, then I make an effort to understand the goal of the writer and consider the skill in its writing. If more individuals spent time trying to objectively review books rather than just give personal opinions in a few lines, then, in my opinion, the feedback process would be much more effective.

On a personal level, I am amazed daily at how many authors, who reach the New York Bestselling list that I have never heard of...I am amazed, also, that you are able to recognize my "niche"...how many books do YOU read annually from authors you've never heard of? And, thanks for being a fan if you read so many of my reviews!


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Book Launch Party Plus 36 Authors 99¢ Sale Today Through Thursday!


WoMen's Literary Cafe is proud to host a launch party to celebrate the release of bestselling, award-winning author, Melissa Foster's highly anticipated third novel, COME BACK TO ME (Greenforge Books). 

For three days only, 36 AUTHORS will celebrate Foster's release by offering their books to readers for just 99¢
BUY 3 books GET 1 FREE!  Enter to win LEATHER-BOUND edition of COME BACK TO ME!
Take A Look At What's Available!

Adventure/Science Fiction/Fantasy
Wyndano's Cloak B005CYYI6G
Malaika B004GNFTIK
The Chosen B004GEAH0O
Vision B0055PEU06
It's Always Spring Break Somewhere in the Galaxy B005LU1K4Y
My Blood Runs Blue B004VGUIBA
*Additional Options
Merlin's Knot B005EGIIK4
Velocity Syndrome B005EGIV6A
Blue Blood For Life B005R0S8EI
Horror/Thriller
The Nefarious: Prince of Shadow B005IA6AN8
Roses Are Red B005L36HKS
Piercing Through The Darkness B004P1IYLW
Sex, Lies, and the Classroom B003I84MBE
The Halo Effect Book 1 B0052ZGFJ8
 The Black Witch B0051PYOIS
*Additional Options
The Delilah Complex - Book 2 B0052ZGF48
The Venus Fix - Book 3 B0052ZGG42
M-16 Agenda B003UV8LZM
Violets Are Blue B005L3YTLW
Sugar Is Sweet B005L0LDVY
The Brides B005EC6SFK
Mystery/Suspense
Deadly Reunion B0058W0ALE
Splitsville.com B005E0C61C
Sounds of Murder B003NHRDK2
Black Beast: A Clan of MacAulay Novel B0050JC43C
Come the Shadows B005EZNVIY
Splitsville.com B005E0C61C
*Additional Options
FM for Murder B004MYFT9C
Voice Mail Murder B0053D56TY
Bingoed B005EHQEMM
Chasing Amanda B004WF5202 
Romance/Chick-Lit
Cancelled B005MW1RL2
Carpe Bead 'em B0050I4UX0
Prescott Pioneers 1: A Dream Unfolding B004GNFT5I
*Additional Options
The Ladybug Jinx B0055HG1HE
Happy New Life B005USTJJA
 Moonlight on the Nantahala B005MLXUP4
Literary Fiction/Women's Fiction/Non-Fiction
Waiting On Hope B005CPD2BC
The Hambledown Dream B0035FZLL0
Sanctuary B005D1HRX4
Here, Home, Hope B004YKTEHC
In Leah's Wake B0044XV7PG
Love & Wrath: The Beginning B005F4FNE4
Wedlocked: A Novel B00570B7KK
Chocolicious: B005BVZK0S
*Additional Options
Life is But a Dream: On the Lake B004JU21YU
Broken Resolutions  B004V9FPB0
A Mother's Day B004Z2KDEC
Futureproof B001QB9F58
Megan's Way B002LISR7C
Rod & Staff B001NEKIFO
A Letter To Brody B001PBEW1Q
Non-Fiction
Eternal Beginning B005645A4G
The Pocket Philosopher B004W0IU2Y 
You Don't Need A Prince: A Letter to my daughter B004S2KLTG 
Humor
Crossroads Road: A Novel  B004UC538I
Note * Additional options are NOT 99 cent books 


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A Must-Read Triple-Shot "Love Story"! OUT TODAY!!!

Love Story (1970 film)                               Image via Wikipedia


Come Back To Me


By Melissa Foster






I have not been so affected by a romantic drama since Love Story back in the '70s! And Come Back To Mhit me even more. It is powerful in story, beautiful in its reality and, simply unforgettable. Even though the ending was not what I expected or wanted...


In my opinion, this is Melissa Foster's finest--and her previous books were wonderful! But Come Back To Me places us right into our own lives, a situation that could be true for you or me or someone you know. It tells of a love that all of us dream of having, and forces us to face the reality of living, no matter what comes. The situation explodes for many who have loved ones involved in positions that take them to dangerous places and the characters are richly and fully created so that we claim them as our own friends and family and we feel the pain, suffering and potential loss faced by the ones who are separated and left behind.

Meet Tess and Beau Johnson. Beau is a photographer and travels around the world for his job. His latest assignment is for Mr. Fulan from Wartime magazine to document the changes in Iraqi family life since the inception of the war. Given the job, Tess and Beau had both felt that Beau's photos would be accepted and would lead to international exposure, something Beau craved and needed for his career.

Tess loved and supported Beau's desire to wait five years before they began a family. But with Beau on his assignment, Tess learns that she is pregnant. What will Beau say?

But that became a secondary concern when they hear that the small plane that had been used for the project had crashed and burned. All were assumed dead.

But Tess could not and would not accept that.

Indeed Beau had been blown far away from the crash site and had fortunately been found by two women and children who were hiding in the desert, waiting to have help in escaping the country. Suha was a doctor but her life was in danger, since the medical staff would treat anybody, no matter what race--many doctors had already been killed! Samira and her children were escaping from the abuse of her husband.

The book moves back and forth between the lives of the two lovers--Tess refusing to accept Beau is dead, even fighting with his parents, refusing to have a memorial service. Beau is unconscious for much of the time, but once he awakes, he immediately becomes involved in their escape, while learning of the conditions of their lives...

For the lovers, Samira begins to look in favor at Beau and he is aware of her, even while dreaming only of getting back to Tess. But Tess has been told by everybody that Beau is dead so that when she meets a new man, she slowly, almost unwillingly accepts him into her life...

Though distressing and agonizing in detail, this poignant love story is surpassed only by its surprise ending. 'Nuf said...

Romance novel fans--you can't possibly miss this must-read! For those who don't normally read romance, like me, well, I can only tell you, both men and women, that you will miss something if you don't take the chance and genre hop for Come Back To Me... Oh, and have plenty of kleenex handy when you start reading...



Book Received Via
Reviewers Roundup Group


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Monday, October 31, 2011

Kisses, No Hugs Come From The "Chocolate Kiss Murderer..."

Christmas Tree (1)Image via Wikipedia


Kisses to Die For





By A. R. Alan










Angelica Collins had a dream and she was on her way to making it all come true. The fact that her dreams were wonderfully exciting had not yet allowed her to calm down and face the reality that it would take lots of money to make them happen! Angel, to her friends, had just bought a large stately old home and a next-door cafe, she would call Angel's Place. She had gotten as far as placing her Christmas tree in front of a large window of her new home and was outside admiring its beauty, when reality came waltzing in...

Reality, thy name is Officer Tom McLean...

Actually, I would have had the same reaction to McLean as Angel did--he was pushy and, worse, immediately began to spotlight problems with her new home that she had not wanted to face--like that there was no heat, no lock on the front door--little things like that. Then he had the audacity to force her to stay at his home that night! She went for only one reason--he had told her that young girls had been murdered in town. They were already calling the killer the Chocolate Kiss Murderer.

By the next day, however, that amazing small town opened their arms to Angel and heat was soon being added to her home, along with other items that she had not known were absent, such as a water heater. She also had a wonderful neighbor, Bessie, who constantly brought goodies and who agreed to bake for her cafe when it opened. Angel was finding out what she needed and it seemed Bessie always knew somebody who could help, or owed her a favor, and immediately there was a person there handling the problem. Bartering and extra time for paying seemed to be standard for her needs. There seemed no way that she could fail.

Tom McLean was as amazed as Angel was in how things were coming together, but that didn't stop him from worrying about her since the killer was still loose. Especially when chocolate kisses were left at her home... And then spread across the doorway of the cafe where she would find them as she opened up...

Perhaps Tom didn't realize how much he had begun to care until one of Angel's former instructors came into the cafe, and even worked as a waiter to fill in when needed. Tom had been hurt in the past and had sworn he would never marry. Angel looked forward to having a family sometime in the future--it was just as much a part of her dream as her home and cafe. But for right now, the cafe was all she was interested in dealing with and she foolishly ignored the kisses as being more than a joke played by one of the many boys and men who now surrounded her...

In fact, solving the mystery is one of the least things that will keep readers involved. Once the community opens up to Angel and she, in turn, welcomes the community, we the readers get to know, say, a small group of boys who were suddenly practicing their band in her basement, after first painting throughout the house in payment. Then there is the young couple that applied for the job of assistant in the kitchen, who wound up moving into the house, with Lilly cleaning at home and Yong at the cafe. They had been hired even before they applied because they had worked for the Mayor and the Mayor had walked into Angel's home rudely and often, raising Angel’s immediately dislike! (To give him a little benefit--it seemed like everybody was walking in and out of the house for a while and probably would have continued if the chocolates hadn't mysteriously appeared.)

 Then there's Jimmy she meets when he’s delivering furniture for his father and from whom she winds up buying all of her meat for the cafe. Roxy had been sent over by "Tommy" to act as waitress. Angel was not only a little jealous of what kind of relationship she might have with Tom, she was somewhat intimidated by the sexy woman. But when she learned that she had regulars from all over town that would follow her to eat at the cafe, Angel decided she had to ignore her personal feelings...

Readers will instantly love Angel and wish all her dreams fulfilled.  I was especially thrilled when they found that all of the home’s beautiful furniture had been stored in the attic! Of course, they weren't happy to have found the body of a woman stuffed into a small closet behind all that furniture... But, at least finding the body explained the ghost to whom Angel had been talking since she'd arrived. Oh, did I forget to mention earlier that this was a ghost story? 

Needless to say I loved this one! Good times, with a little mystery and a ghost to keep me interested and happy...what more could you want?! Highly recommended...


Manuscript Provided
by Author



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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Those Who Murder Together Stay Together...

“Never,” Emily said. “We’re going to be 
sisters for life.  Right, Carla?”
Carla nodded. “Special sisters. 
We’ll always be there for each other, 
no matter what happens.”
The three of us linked our pinkies  together, 
and I said, “We’re Pinky Sisters 
now and forever. Amen.”
“Amen,” Emily and Carla repeated. 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreammaker
182/2441413261/in/photostream/





Fireflies





By A. R. Alan








A. R. Alan has a unique talent of honing in on serious issues facing women and writing about them so sincerely and yet so humorously that you wind up alternatively laughing and crying... Fireflies is such a novel. The underlying activity of the three female characters, while horrendous, seems to serve as a necessary and justifiable activity--an everyday occurrence that happens as friends support each other...
"I watched her place a half dozen split logs in the crook
of her arm, then walk back to the fire and toss them in.
"The sparks look like fireflies," she said wistfully...
I stayed where I was, listening to the burning logs
clunk down on the embers below and holding my nose
against the disgusting aroma of charred wood and
Charlie, who, unaware of what was about to happen to him
had just had his finger and toes nails polished...
I watched as the flames shot into the black night..."

Perhaps it was because Mary's mother had died in their home. Mary "still pictured her asleep on the worn, cigarette-burned sofa with the half-filled glass of gin clutched in her hand and the empty liquor bottle lying on the stained carpet." Mary had not been sorry to lose her mother, because it meant that she had escaped--escaped from the torture and abuse she had received every time her father was out of town on business.

She had stayed with Carla's family for awhile after the fire, but then her father built a new home and came back with his wife and son... Then Mary had both her stepmother and her son to worry about...

But then again, both Emily and Carla had also murdered their husbands... Had it all been planned among the Pinky Sisters?

Meet Carla, who became addicted to sex after secretly watching her parents make love...

And Emily, who lived with the burden that she had begged to eat like the other kids, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for her lunch and leaving the top off the peanut butter. Her brother had eaten most of the jar, but had been allergic to peanuts, something none of the family could possibly have known...

While the bonfire blazed hot, to ensure all traces of Charlie were gone, the three friends, the three sisters, forced to stay awake to keep the fire going, come face to face with their past. Each shares her own story from her perspective. Sometimes a perception was wrong and one friend strikes out to defend herself. 

Sometimes a secret had been kept from the other two and now had exploded into anger and bitterness as understanding and forgiveness was sought... 

Exploring family relationships, intimacy and money issues, especially when the three started to burn money(!), are all issues that undoubtedly will touch each reader differently, but I can almost guarantee that you will be nudged by something that the Pinky Sisters explore during that bonfire.

This somewhat tongue-in-cheek flippant and sardonic farce has much to offer. Learn from it, wonder about it, but most of all enjoy it. Highly recommended.


Manuscript Provided 
By Author


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