I’m delighted to be participating in New York Times bestselling author Kelsie Leverich’s A BEAUTIFUL DISTRACTION Blog Tour, for her brand new sexy contemporary romance featuring military bad boys.
As part of the tour, thanks to Kelsie and the lovely Courtney at Penguin Group, I have one print copy of A BEAUTIFUL DISTRACTION, a Hard Feelings Novel, to give away. Please see the end of the post for the details.
Nothing’s more dangerous than a bad boy with a broken heart…
First Sergeant Rafe Murano did everything to the extreme. He trained harder, he fought harder, and unfortunately, he loved harder. But he fell for the wrong woman and it nearly destroyed him.
Back home from a deployment, with no mission to consume him, Murano’s ravaged by memories of his past. So he drinks until he’s numb and drowns himself in meaningless one night stands. But they only take the edge off …
Until he meets Fallon.
Fallon Kelly learned the hard way not to take risks with her heart, but she sees something irresistible in the tatted-up bad boy one more punch away from a ride in the back of a squad car. She offers a distraction. And he quickly becomes an addiction. Little does she know, this bad boy could love so hard it could break her …
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kelsie Leverich lives with her husband, two children, and their three pets. She loves stories that can sweep you off your feet, make you fall in love, break your heart, and heal your soul.
For more on Kelsie and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS …
You can also learn more about Kelsie and her writing by checking out the other blogs participating in her tour.
April 28 - Mostly YA Book Obsessed - review & giveaway
The Book Reading Gals - review & giveaway
Par - spotlight & giveaway
The Book Bellas - review & giveaway
Hesperia Loves Books - review & giveaway
Bookish Temptations - spotlight & giveaway
Night Owl Reviews - spotlight & giveaway
Peace Love Books - review & giveaway
Biblio Belles - review & giveaway
The Little Black Book Blog - review & giveaway
You Gotta Read Reviews - spotlight & giveaway
April 29 - Just Booked - review & giveaway
Bitten by Love Reviews - spotlight & giveaway
Fresh Fiction - spotlight & giveaway
April 30 - Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews -spotlight & giveaway
Happily Ever After – Reads - spotlight & giveaway
BookCrack - review only
May 1 - The Bookish Babe - review & giveaway
A Bookish Escape - review & giveaway
Book Jems - review & giveaway
May 2 - Always YA at Heart - review & giveaway
Reading Between the Wines - review & giveaway
Reading In Pajamas - review & giveaway
My Book Addiction and More - review & giveaway
StuckInBooks - review & giveaway
May 5 – EbookObsessed - review & giveaway
A Tasty Read Book Reviews - review & giveaway
Boekie's Book Reviews - review & giveaway
SBookLover Reviews - review & giveaway
Supernatural Snark - review & giveaway
Books to Breathe - review & giveaway
The Autumn Review - review & giveaway
May 7 - Bridger Bitches Book Blog - review & giveaway
The Reading Café - review & giveaway
May 9 - Paranormal Book Club (PBC) - spotlight & giveaway
Harlequin Junkie - spotlight & giveaway
The Book Cellar - review & giveaway
Romance Addict Book Blog - review & giveaway
Keep Calm & Read Romance - review & giveaway
May 12 - Debbie's Book Bag - review & giveaway
Sunshine & Mountians Book Reviews and More
HEAs Are Us - review & giveaway
May 13 - From the TBR Pile - review & giveaway
The Book Enthusiast - spotlight & giveaway
Reality Bites! Let's Get Lost! - review & giveaway
May 14 - Sexy Book Reviews By Shelly & April - review & giveaway
The Delighted Reader - review & giveaway
SMIBookClub - review & giveaway
May 15 - Stuck In YA Books - review & giveaway
Romance Addict Book Blog - review & giveaway
May 16 - Cocktails and Books - review & giveaway
Shh Moms Reading - review & giveaway
Fictional Candy - review & giveaway
Winding Stairs Book Blog - review & giveaway
Ramblings From This Chick - review & giveaway
The Good, the Bad and the Unread - review & giveaway
Dark Faerie Tales - review & giveaway
HEAs Are Us - review & giveaway
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
This giveaway is for one print copy of A BEAUTIFUL DISTRACTION. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends Wednesday. To enter, simply click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instruction. The widget may take a few seconds to load, please be patient.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you enjoy stories that have a main character with a ‘bad boy’ image who is really a sweet guy at heart? Or, had you rather the character really be a bad boy?
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What do you think of when you see white buck shoes? If you’re of a certain age, Pat Boone should come to mind. With that thought, I’m delighted to welcome author Sue William Silverman here today to talk about her new memoir, THE PAT BOONE FAN CLUB: MY LIFE AS A WHITE ANGLO-SAXON JEW.
Sue will be talking about ‘April Love’ and is offering a copy of her memoir as a giveaway. Please see the end of the post for details.
Here’s a synopsis of her book:
Gentile reader, and you, Jews, come too. Follow Sue William Silverman, a one-woman cultural mash-up, on her exploration of identity among the mishmash of American idols and ideals that confuse most of us—or should. Pat Boone is our first stop.
Now a Tea Party darling, Boone once shone as a squeaky-clean pop music icon of normality, an antidote for Silverman’s own confusing and dangerous home, where being a Jew in a Christian school wasn’t easy, and being the daughter of the Anti-Boone was unspeakable. And yet somehow Silverman found her way, a “gefilte fish swimming upstream,” and found her voice, which in this searching, bracing, hilarious, and moving book tries to make sense of that most troubling American condition: belonging, but to what?
Picking apricots on a kibbutz, tramping cross-country in a loathed Volkswagen camper, appearing in a made-for-television version of her own life: Silverman is a bobby-soxer, a baby boomer, a hippy, a lefty, and a rebel with something to say to those of us—most of us—still wondering what to make of ourselves.
Please join me in welcoming Sue as she talks about ‘April Love: My Longest Spring.’
How fitting: It’s April, and I’m here to reveal my first (albeit unrequited) love. You may know this man of my dreams, Pat Boone, a 1960s pop-music idol, who had a huge #1 hit with his song “April Love.”
As a teenager, I knew that song by heart and played it on the piano. I clipped photos and articles about Pat Boone from celebrity magazines. I owned a girls’-style pair of his famous white buck shoes. I lived in New Jersey at the time, and got a ticket to his weekly TV program, “The Pat Boone Chevy Show,” filmed across the Hudson River in Manhattan. My love was so intense that I savored breathing the very air he breathed when I attended the show.
This teenage crush went much deeper, however. I explore this in my new memoir, The Pat Boone Fan Club: My Life as a White Anglo-Saxon Jew. As I sat in the audience during his TV show, I thought: “Yes, I suppose I loved his voice, his music. At least, if asked, I would claim to love his songs. What else could I say since there was no language at that moment to specify what I most needed from Pat Boone?”
What I needed was to be adopted by him. I wanted Pat Boone to be my father. He already had four daughters; would he really notice if a fifth suddenly appeared?
But Why Pat Boone?
In addition to being a singing sensation, Pat Boone is a conservative Christian. Since my Jewish father abused me, I chose the one man who seemed the very antithesis. Through Pat Boone, in this book, I also examine my desire to flee my Russian Jewish heritage and pass as Christian – a reaction not only to my scary father – but also a desire to belong, to fit into the WASPy suburb in which I lived.
Pat Boone, and his squeaky-clean, wholesome WASPy image, seemed the most perfect father on the planet. My need for what I saw in Pat Boone was so enduring that much later, in 2003, when I happened to see a newspaper ad for a concert, to be held in a mega-church near where I live in West Michigan, I purchased a ticket immediately.
After the concert, during which he sang “April Love” and other golden oldies, I threw caution to the wind and barged backstage to meet him. I tracked him down to a small room behind the stage. I blurted out what he meant to me growing up. I told him about my father…and how he, Pat Boone, represented hope and safety. He listened.
In The Pat Boone Fan Club: My Life as a White Anglo-Saxon Jew, I write about how this meeting led to another one, a year later, when Pat Boone invited me to his Christmas concert. Afterward, he invited me to talk with him backstage in his green room. Referring to my dangerous childhood, he said to me, “You remind me of a flower growing up through concrete.”
An April flower, I thought.
While he never did adopt me (and I’m a bit too old for that now anyway), he did see me as if through the eyes of a loving father, how a father should see his daughter.
Pat Boone sings, “April love might slip through your fingers.” I wrote this book so that my first love, my paradoxical first love for Pat Boone would not slip through mine.
Who was your teenage crush? How long did it last?
Sue, thanks so much for joining us today and sharing this look at why Pat Boone was an important part of your childhood. He made an impression on a lot of people.
Now here’s a bit of background on Sue.
Sue William Silverman is the author of three memoirs. Her first memoir, Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You, won the AWP award series in creative nonfiction. Her second, Love Sick: One Woman's Journey through Sexual Addiction (W. W. Norton), is also a Lifetime Television original movie. Her latest is The Pat Boone Fan Club: My Life as a White Anglo-Saxon Jew. Her poetry collection is Hieroglyphics in Neon, and Fearless Confessions: A Writers Guide to Memoir (University of Georgia Press) reveals all she knows about the art of memoir writing.
She is associate editor of Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction, and teaches in the MFA in Writing program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. She has appeared on such national TV shows as The View, Anderson Cooper-360, and CNN Headline News.
For more on Sue and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
This giveaway is for one copy of The Pat Boone Fan Club: My Life as a White Anglo-Saxon Jew. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. The giveaway ends next Tuesday. To enter, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and following the instructions. It may take the widget a few seconds to load, please be patient.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Remember what
Sue asks, I’m curious to know too. Who was your teenage crush? How long did it last?
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The delightful author, Mary Kay Andrews, has a lot going on in the next few weeks. Her hysterical LADIES’ NIGHT is being released in paperback tomorrow (Tuesday, April 29) and her much anticipated SAVE THE DATE hits bookshelves in June.
To celebrate the paperback release of LADIES’ NIGHT, the author is giving away an awesome goody bag filled with excellent swag and an autographed book. Here's a list of what all will be in the fabulous goody bag:
- Signed copy of LADIES' NIGHT in paperback
- Set of 3 LADIES' NIGHT recipe cards
- LADIES' NIGHT drink coasters
- Cocktail umbrellas
- LADIES' NIGHT drink cup
- Three different Mary Kay Andrews bookmarks
- SAVE THE DATE magnet
- Set of 3 SAVE THE DATE recipe cards
- News about a special SAVE THE DATE pre-order gift
Please see the end of the post for details on how to enter this fun giveaway.
LADIES' NIGHT is a hilarious look at what all goes wrong (and right) for a beloved lifestyle blogger. I reviewed the audio version of this funny story last year. You can click HERE to read my review.
Now here’s a brief synopsis of LADIES’ NIGHT:
Take a splash of betrayal, add a few drops of outrage, give a good shake to proper behavior and take a big sip of a cocktail called...Ladies' Night!
Grace Stanton's life as a rising media star and beloved lifestyle blogger takes a surprising turn when she catches her husband cheating and torpedoes his pricey sports car straight into the family swimming pool. Grace suddenly finds herself locked out of her palatial home, checking account, and even the blog she has worked so hard to develop in her signature style.
Moving in with her widowed mother, who owns and lives above a rundown beach bar called The Sandbox, is less than ideal. So is attending court-mandated weekly "divorce recovery" therapy sessions with three other women and one man for whom betrayal seems to be the only commonality.
When their "divorce coach" starts to act suspiciously, they decide to start having their own Wednesday "Ladies' Night" sessions at The Sandbox, and the unanticipated bonds that develop lead the members of the group to try and find closure in ways they never imagined. Can Grace figure out a new way home and discover how strong she needs to be to get there?
Heartache, humor, and a little bit of mystery come together in a story about life's unpredictable twists and turns. Mary Kay Andrews' Ladies' Night will have you raising a glass and cheering these characters on.
PRAISE FOR LADIES' NIGHT:
"Andrews presents a delightful novel...A wonderful blend of action, repartee and offbeat characters in a just-plain-fun story. Humorous and witty, and as entertaining as a good night out." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Her newest novel offers another engaging and satisfying tale of life, loss, and love." -- Booklist
"Mary Kay Andrews' novels have become a summer staple like a new pair of sandals. The New York Times best-selling author returns with the perfectly mixed cocktail of romance, mystery and comedy..." -- Raleigh News & Observer
"This is her best book yet, and it combines all of the strengths we have come to expect from this audacious and beguiling author." -- Huffington Post
"A court-ordered therapy session is the site of the action in Andrews's zesty, amusing latest..." -- People
"Mary Kay Andrews blends heartache and hilarity in a story line filled with surprises." -- Southern Living
"If there were a literary genre dedicated to great beach books, the novels of Mary Kay Andrews would set its standard for excellence." -- Cape Gazette
ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Mary Kay Andrews is the author of the New York Times bestselling The Fixer Upper, Savannah Breeze and Blue Christmas, as well as Deep Dish, Hissy Fit, Little Bitty Lies and Savannah Blues.
She also wrote ten critically acclaimed mysteries, including the Callahan Garrity mystery series, under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. Her mysteries have been nominated for the Edgar, Anthony, Agatha and Macavity Awards.
A native of St. Petersburg, Florida (and a diplomate of the Maas Bros. Department Store School of Charm), Trocheck earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1976 (Go Dawgs!). She started her professional journalism career in Savannah, Georgia, where she covered the real-life murder trials which were the basis of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. She left journalism after a ten-year stint as a reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
She is a frequent lecturer and writing teacher at workshops including Emory University, The University of Georgia’s Harriette Austin Writer’s Workshop, the Tennessee Mountain Writer’s Workshop, and the Antioch Writer’s Workshop.
As a lifelong “junker” the author claims to know the location of every promising thrift store, flea market and junk pile in the southeastern United States, plus many parts of Ohio.
Married to her high school sweetheart, she is the mother of two grown children and a proud grandmother. After a brief hiatus in Raleigh, NC, she and her husband moved back to their old neighborhood in Atlanta, where they live in a restored 1926 Craftsman bungalow. She divides her time between Atlanta and her restored beach cottage on Tybee Island, GA.
For more on Mary Kay, you can visit her website and connect with her on Facebook.
To tempt you a bit more toward reading this fun book, here’s an audio excerpt for your enjoyment.
With the release of SAVE THE DATE coming soon, here’s a 
brief synopsis of it. (You can pre-order it now.)
A savannah florist is about to score the wedding of a lifetime — one that will solidify her career as the go-to-girl for society nuptials. Ironically, Cara Kryzik doesn't believe in love, even though she creates beautiful flower arrangements to celebrate them.
But when the bride goes missing and the wedding is in jeopardy, Cara must find the bride and figure out what she believes in. Maybe love really does exist outside of fairy tales after all.
Told with Mary Kay Andrews' trademark wit and keen eye for detail, mark your calendars for SAVE THE DATE!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
This awesome giveaway is available to residents of the U.S. only. To enter, simply click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you enjoy stories that have you laughing out loud making those around you wonder what's up with you?
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Sometimes coming in even a little late to a series, you can’t follow along with the current story line. That’s not the case with NYPD RED 2 by James Patterson and Marshall Karp.
The narration by Edoardo Ballerini and Jay Snyder holds listeners spellbound. Their cadence and mannerisms bring the characters to life. The back and forth narration from cops to villains adds depth to the story and enhances the action.
New listeners/readers to the series won’t be left in the dark not having enjoyed NYPD RED. While there are some references to cases from the first story, they have little bearing on the events in NYPD RED 2. The references will only make you want to go back and catch up before the next case is assigned.
Detective Zach Jordan and his partner Kylie MacDonald are members of NYPD Red, an elite police unit. Their job is protecting New York’s famous, rich and productive. They handle only high-profile cases.
When Evelyn Parker-Steele, campaign manager for the challenging opponent in the New York mayoral race, is found dead on a carousel in Central Park, Zack and Kylie are called in. Since it appears Evelyn was the fourth victim of the Hazmat Killer, they are also given the task of closing that case too. The Hazmat Killer kidnaps his victims, tortures them, video tapes them confessing to a serious crime, and then displays their dead body dressed in Tyvek coveralls in a public place.
When Evelyn’s confession of murdering a fellow colleague hits the airways, Zach and Kylie get extra pressure from the incumbent mayor to solve the case before election day to save his job and reputation. To add to their problems, when the Hazmat Killer takes his fifth victim – a woman many believe killed her child and got away with it – no one seems to want to help.
Meanwhile, a murder more than a decade ago resurfaces adding more urgency to finding the Hazmat Killer than Zach and Kylie realize. Blended throughout the story is the personal and romantic relationships of all involved.
NYPD RED 2 is a roller coaster ride of emotions with emphasis on the adrenaline fueled race to find a killer. The various aspects of the story – the Hazmat Killer, the mayoral race riddled with problems, the decade old murder, the detectives’ personal problems – are like four cars speeding to an intersection. You hold your breath wondering who will get there first and what will happen when they all collide into an explosive finish.
Authors James Patterson and Marshall Karp have created a tantalizing mystery to keep you on your toes. The characters are well developed and likable, even the bad guys have moments you feel for them. The story is action-packed with surprising twists. The setting is outstanding and well described.
NYPD RED 2 is a well-developed story full of exploits, suspense, humor and a touch of romance. The suspense doesn’t stop until the very end.
NYPD Red 2 by James Patterson and Marshall Karp, A NYPD Red Novel, Performed by Edoardo Ballerini and Jay Snyder, Hachette Audio, @2014, ISBN: 978-1611130522, Unabridged, 7 Discs, Listening Time: Approximately 8 Hours
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. What’s on your reading list for this coming week?
Finding out the person you love isn’t who you thought they were is heartbreaking, but finding it out when they die can be devastating.
Newlywed Eva Bowe’s world came crashing down around her the morning her husband Jackson went fishing and was swept to his death by the sea. Needing someone to share her grief with, Eva goes to Tasmania to visit her husband’s estranged family.
Eva quickly learns Jackson was not the man she thought he was. It seems their marriage had been built on dark secrets. What she had believed was Jackson’s past was really the past of someone else. The more she learns, the more she’s drawn to Jackson’s brother, Saul. As the secrets are revealed, Eva has to find a way to come to grips with her new life and move on despite her husband’s betrayal.
Author Lucy Clarke has created a story filled with romance, duplicity and hope, all shrouded in secrets. The characters are likable and realistic as Clarke makes you feel their pain, sorrow and hopes.
The story moves at a steady pace and holds you spellbound from the first wave crashing against the rocks until Eva emerges from her last dive. Through the author’s rich descriptions and eye for detail, readers are transported to London and Tasmania experiencing the events as they unfold.
A SINGLE BREATH is a heart-pounding novel that will keep you wondering what next. Clarke has blended suspense, intrigue, heartbreak and romance into a tantalizing tale that is hard to put down.
A Single Breath by Lucy Clarke, Touchstone, @2014, ISBN: 978-1476750156, Paperback, 384 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope you’re having a great Saturday. What book do you have on hand to read today?
I’m delighted today to welcome author Jill Yesko to Thoughts in Progress as part of her Great Escape Virtual Book Tour for her intriguing mysteries, MURDER IN THE DOG PARK and DOG SPELLED BACKWARDS.
As part of the tour, Jill joins us and has graciously answered some questions for me. I’ll also be sharing my thoughts on one of the books in her “Dog” series. In addition, Jill is giving away a copy of each of her books. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.
Here’s a brief synopsis of MURDER IN THE DOG PARK:
Discovering a brutally murdered boy in a rainy dog park sends misanthropic private detective Jane Ronson on a journey through Baltimore’s gritty underbelly. Aided by a sexy cop, a bad-ass bull terrier, and an only-in-Baltimore cast of characters, Jane must use her computer-hacking and street-fighting skills to save her only family member from being framed as the killer.
Mystery
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Baxter World Publishing (May 28, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0985485207
File Size: 242 KB
Print Length: 128 pages
ASIN: B00A10IU7O
Here’s a brief synopsis of DOG SPELLED BACKWARDS: AN UNHOLY MYSTERY ….
Private investigator Jane Ronson suffers from oppositional defiant disorder, the uncontrollable urge to punch first then ask questions later. When a rabbi with a shady past offers her a bag of cash to spy on a rival rabbi, Jane jumps at the chance to make what think will be easy money. To get her cash, Jane impersonates an Orthodox Jewish woman and infiltrates a black market kidney ring in Baltimore’s Orthodox community. Between Russian gangsters and double crosses, Jane is number one on everyone’s hit list. To save her life, she forms an alliance with a religious woman and confronts a family.
Mystery
Paperback: 210 pages
Publisher: Baxter World Publishing (August 17, 2013)
ISBN-13: 978-0985485214
File Size: 1355 KB
Print Length: 118 pages
ASIN: B00FDXQVO8
Please join me in welcoming Jill as she talks about writing and dogs.
Mason - Now that your book is published, what surprised you the most about your book coming together and/or the publishing aspect?
Jill:
I purposely chose to self-publish because I wanted complete control over all aspects of the process, from commissioning the cover art to selecting my “publisher on demand.” I created my own imprint, Baxter World Publishing, to brand my books.
Being CEO of my own publishing entity is a mixed blessing. The blessings: assembling a fantastic team of collaborators with skills I could only dream of possessing (a huge shout out to Elaine and Elizabeth for their formatting skills!). The curse: with so many channels of distribution reporting revenue in a zillion different ways, it’s impossible for me to know whether I am making or losing money. I jokingly tell people that publishing is my surrogate child.
Mason - What is the worst writing advice you’ve ever been given?
Jill:
There is no inherent bad advice – there’s just too much damn advice out there! Stop asking everyone’s opinion and sit down and write.
Mason - What are the advantages and disadvantages of writing about dogs?
Jill:
Writing about dogs is limiting. There are going to be scenes and even whole sections of your book where dogs may not fit in. I faced this problem in DOG SPELLED BACKWARDS, the sequel to MURDER IN THE DOG PARK. I didn’t want to gratuitously insert Archie the bull terrier into scenes just to remind readers of his presence. To solve this dilemma, I invented Eve, Archie’s “girlfriend.” Now I had a love story to echo that of Jane and Don.
Writing about dogs means you have a responsibility to depict dogs, and pet ownership in an honest light (MURDER IN THE DOG PARK opens with a description of Archie licking his balls - what dog owner hasn’t been grossed out by their male dog do that?). I purposely chose a bull terrier as my doggie protagonist because I felt using a pit bull would be too emotionally charged (for the record, I own a basset hound).
In researching bull terriers, I had the pleasure of getting involved with Blue Ridge Bull Terrier Rescue (brbtc.com), one of the hundreds of rescue groups in the country. I donate a portion of my profits to brbtc.com and encourage my readers to consider adopting or supporting a dog from an accredited rescue organization.
The best thing about writing about dogs is that half of all Americans have one. And who doesn’t love to read about something so loving and familiar?
I always preface my talks by saying: “no dogs were harmed in the writing of my books.” Humans, well, I can’t make that promise.
Mason - If your book was made into a movie, which actors/actresses (past or present) would you want to play your main characters and why?
Jill:
It’s flattering to be asked to cast your book! Here my choices when Hollywood calls:
Jenna Malone is the hands-down choice to play my protagonist Jane Ronson. I was impressed with her pissed-off, tough girl character in The Hunger Games. She was the only character with enough balls to stand up to Katniss - a steely ass-kicker in her own right. And Jenna has an interesting face; pretty, but not conventionally beautiful. Her true grit and bitchy resting face m
ake her the ideal Jane.
No actor would be better than Jonah Hill to depict Lenny, Jane’s sad sack cousin. Not only is Jonah is the right weight, he can affect that ingratiating, yet somehow lovable quality that makes Jane want to strangle Lenny one minute and hug him the next.
Channing Tatum is my pick for Don, the sexy Baltimore cop who loves Jane through thick and thin. If you’re going to create an ideal boyfriend who is handsome, loyal, and just smart enough, Tatum is your man.
Mason - What is the one thing you wish readers would ask about, but they never do?
Jill:
I would think the logical question in every reader’s mind would be “how much of you is incorporated in Jane?” But it seems no one ever brings this up, at least not during Q and A sessions at my readings. Maybe people just don’t care that much about me!
Mason - What can readers expect from you in the future?
Jill:
I’m slowly, slowly, pecking away at the third and finally installment of the “Dog” series; the working title is SLEEPING DOGS DON’T LIFE. At the same time, I’d like to return to my journalistic and bicycle racing roots and write a non-fiction book about blood boosting among cyclists at the 1984 Olympics. There will be no mention of dogs in that book.
Jill, thanks so much for joining us today and sharing a look at your writing. Well, now I have to ask – how much of you is incorporated in Jane?
For those of you unfamiliar with Jill, let me share a bit of background on her.
Jill Yesko’s 20+ year writing career has included stints as a sport writer, NPR commentator and investigative reporter. She’s written about everything from body piercing to human pyramids in Spain.
After a solo trek around the world, Jill was profiled as an “adventurous traveler” in O, the Oprah magazine. Before becoming a writer, Jill was a national-class cyclist and graduate and cartographer. A New Jersey native, Jill now patrols Baltimore’s dog parks with her basset hound.
For more on Jill and her writing, visit her website and her blog, as well as connect with her on Facebook. You can also find MURDER IN THE DOG PARK and DOG SPELLED BACKWARDS on Goodreads.
Now for my thoughts on the first installment in Jill’s “Dog” series.
Cynical private detective Jane Ronson discovers that catering to the needs of your canine can sometimes get you into trouble.
On what was supposed to be a constitutional walk, Jane’s bull terrier Archie discovers a dead body in the dog park. Jane is thrown in the middle of the investigation when her cousin Lenny becomes the prime suspect.
Using her street smarts and computer hacking skills, Jane is determined to find the killer and clear Lenny’s name.
The story is short and moves at a steady pace. The characters are likable and realistic. Author Jill Yesko has created a strong, independent protagonist who speaks her mind and doesn’t stand on ceremony where social issues are concerned.
Yesko’s rich descriptions pulls the reader in and holds them captive until the end. She blends murder, mystery, humor and a bit of romance for a well-balanced story. MURDER IN THE DOG PARK will keep you busy guessing who the real killer is, while laughing at Jane and Archie’s antics, and looking forward to their next adventure.
Murder in the Dog Park by Jill Yesko, A Dog Mystery Series Book #1, Baxter World Publishing, @2012, ISBN: 978-0985485207, Paperback, 128 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the author as part of her virtual book tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
TOUR PARTICIPANTS …
You can follow Jill on her virtual book tour by stopping by the following participating blogs:
April 14 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review
April 15 – Mommasez… – Review, Guest Post
April 16 – readalot blog – Review
April 17 – Kelly P’s Blog – Interview
April 18 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows - Guest Post
April 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review
April 21- deal sharing aunt - Guest Post
April 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review
April 22 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s Ramblins and Reviews – Review
April 23 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – Review
April 24 – fundinmental – Guest Post
April 26 – Chloe Gets a Clue – Interview
April 27 – Melina Book Blog – Guest Post
April 28 – Teena in Toronto – Review
April 29 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – Review
April 30 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Guest Post
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
This giveaway is for one eBook of MURDER IN THE DOG PARK and one eBook of DOG SPELLED BACKWARDS: AN UNHOLY MYSTERY.
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Thanks so much everyone for stopping by today. What do you think about a bull terrier being the main sidekick for a female private detective? Have you ever owned a bull terrier?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
