PLEASE READ: I AM MOVING A LITTLE AT A TIME TO MY SISTER SITE ~ I'M ALL ABOUT BOOKS.COM

The time has come to close this blog for health reasons, but don't despair I own another blog which some of you already know it is on the Wordpress platform @imallaboutbooks.com
I have some work to do to get moved so please be patient as this transfer will start soon. In time I am hoping to move my Wordpress blog to my own server. So please as I said be patient with me. I am not going away (God willing) yet, I won't let this beat me down. So I am asking my followers to please make this transfer over there easy and just follow imallaboutbooks.com because I will be there just as soon as I can get this blog actually transferred over to imallaboutbooks.com. I have quite of bit of work to do. I have to get this domain pointed there after I get this one transferred to imallaboutbooks.com. So please be patient with me as this will be a bit of a process as most of you know. Thank you to ALL of my loyal followers and friends. God bless and it's just time to make this move at this stage in my life.
xoxo
Jody Joy
@imallaboutbooks.com

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Journey - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

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@pumpupyourbook ~ Spotlight Tour/#Giveaway ~ Encounters by Patrick Stull

ENCOUNTERS by Patrick Stull

Title: ENCOUNTERS

Author: Patrick Stull

Publisher: Independent

Pages: 250

Genre: Fine Art Photography Book

With photography at its base, Stull offers a nuanced explication of
his encounters to allow the viewer an opportunity to form a relationship
with his art. While looking within ourselves, exploring our own
feelings, he hopes that he will inspire greater humaneness in response
to his art.

ENCOUNTERS is the second in a series of six large-format books in
which artist, photographer and author, Patrick Stull explores a wide
range of experiences. Using light and the physical body, the written
word and his artistry he creates imagery that examines aspects of the
lives of women.

Compiled over the last 18 years, the images in ENCOUNTERS, Stull
says, are meant to “inspire and challenge the observer while always
empowering the subject.”

Stull brings a powerful sense of the surreal and the spiritual to his
work as he plots a course along the many paths of the human experience.
His imagery runs from the ghostly and ephemeral to the flowing and
fiery.

As much as he concentrates on the human form, Stull never forgets to
focus on the humanity of his subjects. His choice of the coffee-table
style book format draws the viewer into an experience both intimate and
universal.

Stull’s first book in his series, titled EVOLVE, was published in
2006. A third book, titled HIDDEN DIMENSIONS, is completed and awaiting
publication. Future titles in the series include DHARMA, BEING
DIFFERENT, and YOGA, A HEALING MOMENT.

Stull hopes that his readers come away from the book with “a love for
art and a respect for the female who gives us life and challenges us to
be better human beings.

______________________

Encounters is a collection of imagery created and compiled over the last 15 years to inspire and challenge the observer while always empowering the subject. 
The imagery is coupled with text, odes and perspectives about the human experience and existence itself. The imagery is mostly an explication, an intimate view of the lives of women and our relationship to them – on an individual and cultural level. 

However, there are images of men included in this work. A portion of the portfolio presents something more than a photographic image. Here the imagery is developed into contemplative art pieces of the surreal genre, where the viewer is transported into the depths of their own psyche challenging them to see something new. 

American artist Patrick Stull has spent the last eighteen years mostly creating imagery
about the lives of women. He searches for what lies beneath the surface of his
subjects, empowering each one he encounters. He has recently ventured into the
realm of surrealism, creating powerful imagery that reflects on our humanity
while dealing with the meaning and power of art.

Stull say's, "My work has allowed me to venture past the camera into the realm
of a humanist, an artistic life, delving into the intellectual, a more cerebral
life experience, creating what I call 'connectivism.'"  

His ongoing work is based in large-scale digital photography accompanied by
sculpture/body casts composition art, painting, poetry/prose, and drawings.
His art is then integrated, collectively, into exhibitions to provide the
viewer a once in a lifetime experience. The presentation of the work is
delivered to the viewer in a unique and emotionally powerful way. 

Stull, 71, a self-taught artist, works in many artistic disciplines. Educated at San
Diego State University with degrees in psychology, economics, and philosophy during the 1960s, amidst the backdrop of the counter-culture revolution and the Viet Nam War, where his social consciousness and political views were shaped. Stull emerged from a Catholic Irish/German family, one of five children where work, discipline, and religion took precedence over emotional expressions of the self – a different kind of loving environment. Being a husband of thirty-plus years and father to two has taught him the power of kindness, love, and commitment. 

His latest book is the fine art photography book, Encounters.

Visit his website at www.patrickstull.com.

_____________________

GIVEAWAY!

Patrick Stull is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $50 Amazon Gift Card.
• This giveaway ends midnight August 30.
• Winner will be contacted via email on September 1.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

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@maryannmarlowe @XpressoTours ~ Blitz Tour/#Giveaway ~ Dating by the Book by Mary Ann Marlowe

Dating by the Book
Mary Ann Marlowe

Published by: Kensington
Publication date: June 25th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Is love just something you find in books?

Six months ago, writer and bookstore owner Maddie Hanson was left at the altar. Since then, she’s had zero interest in romance—despite the fact that she runs a book club full of sexy eligible bachelors. But when her latest novel is panned by an anonymous blogger who goes by the name Silver Fox—and who accuses her of knowing nothing about passion—she decides to prove her nemesis wrong by seeking a romance hero in real life . . .

There’s the smoldering rock musician, the bookish college professor, and her competitive childhood friend who may want to steal her bookstore more than her heart. Even Silver Fox is getting in on the action, sending Maddie alarmingly—and intoxicatingly—flirtatious emails. And that’s not all. Her ex wants her back.

Now Maddie is about to discover that like any good story, life has twists and turns, and love can happen when you least expect it—with the person you least expect . .

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

~ EXCERPT ~

I put my hands on his shoulders and stepped onto his leg. He held me by the waist as I caught the chain and pulled. No change. “Shit. The bulb’s probably dead.”
The flashlight lay on the table, bouncing our shadows against the wall.
I stepped down, and Max straightened, but rather than drop his hands, he pulled me closer to him. “This reminds me of that time we took those ballroom dance classes.”
My skirt must’ve jogged that image loose.
“Max.” I tried to sound stern, but I chortled at the memory. I assumed the awkward position, laying my left hand on his shoulder and holding my right hand up, waiting for him to take it. Instead, he pressed his lips against my forehead.
Shocked, I let my extended hand drop onto his upper arm and then froze. His bicep was solid muscle. My fingers toyed with the edges of his sleeves, wanting to explore under the fabric. What must his shoulders feel like?
I should have pushed him away, but my grip tightened, and as if invited, his lips moved to my temple.
Imperatives exploded in my mind. Stop! This is Max! My mouth formed the words, but when he laid a gentle kiss on my cheek, I said nothing.
Then his lips brushed mine, and my brain short-circuited completely. The only word in my head sounded like mmm. Every ounce of my attention focused on the delicious luxury of his mouth, parting slightly. We fit together like a puzzle. I sucked on his lower lip, and his tongue darted out against mine. Bolts of lightning shot straight through my stomach, and the rest of my body came online, bit by bit, as if powered by the electricity of his kiss.

Author Bio

Some Kind of Magic is Mary Ann Marlowe's first novel. When not writing, she works by day as a computer programmer/DBA. She spent ten years as a university-level French professor, and her resume includes stints as an au pair in Calais, a hotel intern in Paris, a German tutor, a college radio disc jockey, and a webmaster for several online musician fandoms, plus she has a second-degree black belt. She has lived in twelve states and three countries and loves to travel. She now lives in central Virginia where she is hard at work on her second novel. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.maryannmarlowe.com, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/marlowemaryann/, and at twitter.com/maryannmarlowe.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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@kathleengillesseidelauthor @SDSXXTours ~ Spotlight Tour/#Giveaway ~ The Last Snowfall by Kathleen Gilles Seidel

The Last Snowfall

Standing Tall #2

by Kathleen Gilles Seidel

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pub Date: 5/21/2019

After racking up serious injuries, world-famous snowboarder Nate Forrest
returns to the West Virginia coal town that has been his family’s
home for generations. The transition’s a challenge, but there’s
nothing more beautiful than snow. Except maybe Dr. Lacey Berryville.
How can Nate resist this tender-hearted vet who adores every living
creature and isn’t the least bit fazed by his celebrity?

Just what Lacey doesn’t
need is for this larger-than-life, adventurous Olympic medalist to
melt her caution away during the season’s last snowfall. She’s
spent her girlhood moving from place to place, and soon she’ll be
leaving again. So, what’s she supposed to do about the avalanche of
feelings Nate is unleashing in her? Can she leave West Virginia’s
tree-covered mountains behind—with Nate giving her the best reason
of all to stay?

Add to Goodreads

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The Fourth Summer

Standing Tall #1

THE ENDLESS SEASON

Freelance graphic artist Caitlin McGraw is living the hipster life in San
Francisco when a jury summons brings her home to North Carolina. But
doing her civic duty wasn’t supposed to include a reunion with Seth
Street, the celebrity Olympic medalist—and Caitlin’s teenage
love. She fell hard for Seth at thirteen, only to lose him when he
left in the middle of that third summer . . . when everything changed
between them.

You never forget your first love, and a decade of fame and fortune as the
face of professional snowboarding hasn’t dimmed Seth’s memory of
seemingly endless, perfect summers. Now, sequestered with Caitlin on
a high-profile case, could Seth have a chance to rekindle those
feelings of the past? Amid family conflicts and hard-hitting
revelations in and out of the courtroom, Seth and Caitlin face some
tough hurdles. With so much at stake, can they trust in what they’ve
reawakened in each other and turn this season of change into a
lifetime of love?

Add to Goodreads

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo

Kathleen Gilles Seidel is a bestselling author of contemporary romances¸
two of which have won RITAs from the Romance Writers of America. She
has a Ph.D. in English literature from Johns Hopkins. She grew up in
Kansas and lives in Virginia. She and her late husband have two adult daughters.

Website * Facebook * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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@LauraSimmons37 @pumpupyourbook ~ Spotlight Tour/#Giveaway ~ Tough Karma by Laura Simmons

Title: TOUGH KARMA: A RACE AGAINST TIME

Author: Laura Simmons

Publisher: Outskirts Press

Pages: 224

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Astral travel and a deadly secret make for a gripping paranormal romance from start to finish.

Amber Macklin’s world is cruelly shattered when she loses her baby
girl three months after her husband’s sudden death. Her cousin, Bryce,
comes to her rescue, moving her into his home for fear she will kill
herself from the grief. He provides solace and a shoulder to cry on, and
he has loved her as more than a cousin for a long time. Amber and Bryce
soon discover they are not blood relatives, which opens the door for
romance as he pulls her through her darkest hours. When Mike, a college
friend of Bryce’s, stops by to visit, Amber senses a deadly secret
behind his nice guy persona. She has a frightening dream that Mike is
trying to kill her and recurring sleepwalking episodes where she draws
detailed pictures of him torturing her. Deeply troubled, Bryce uses his
ability to astral travel to investigate Mike and uncover his terrifying
past. Mike has had his eye on Amber for some time, and when he learns
that Bryce and Amber have become lovers, he is furious. Mike abducts
Amber and takes her to his rural Georgia hideaway, and Bryce must rely
on his astral abilities to track her down. But will he be too late?

She was too devastated to cry. The shock of losing Belle early that morning upset her beyond tears. Bryce, her sister Jenny, and Amber’s other cousin Luke, rushed to her side for support. Bryce encouraged her to stay at his home that night, and for however long it took to get her through this. He didn’t want her to be alone, fearing she might kill herself from the heartache. He would have preferred that she stay with Jenny during her time of sorrow, but knew it wouldn’t be a good environment for her or Jenny’s family. Jenny had two young children and a husband, and having a terribly distraught relative residing at their house would be stressful for everyone. He had loved Amber as more than a cousin for most of his life, and her staying under the same roof with him was going to be a challenge. Although he was an incredibly self-disciplined and confident man, he doubted his ability to hide his true feelings having her so close for an undetermined length of time. He couldn’t think of any viable alternatives. She could have stayed with Luke; however, she was closer to Bryce, and it made more sense. Luke traveled frequently, and wouldn’t have the time to spend with her.

She agreed to let them help because the thought of staying in her apartment surrounded by Belle’s baby things and an empty crib was more than she could bear. Jenny and Bryce packed her suitcases, while Luke drove her car to Bryce’s house. She let them swarm around her; she was too upset to do anything other than stand outside on the balcony and stare at the vehicles in the parking lot. The evening air was comfortable, so she pulled the screen door closed to let some air in and keep the bugs out. She was replaying the events leading up to Belle’s death over and over in her mind, trying desperately to remember if she saw something which may have prevented it.

“Bryce, check her medicine cabinet. She used to take sleep meds before she got pregnant. She’s going to need them now, or she won’t sleep for days,” Jenny said with concern while packing her sister’s underwear and lingerie. She was three years older and five inches taller. Both of them were pretty, with long blond hair and blue eyes.

“That’s true. She’s always had trouble sleeping. Won’t these drugs make her sleepwalk?” he asked seeing the bottle of prescription sleeping pills in her medicine cabinet, and taking them along with several other items.

“I’m not sure. She used to sleepwalk a lot when we were growing up. I don’t know if she still does. You need to be on the lookout for that. I think severe stress triggers it,” she replied.

“I remember you telling funny stories about her nighttime adventures. I’ve got to hide stuff from her. Car keys, knives, pills, anything she can hang herself with. God forbid she decides to take a joyride on one of her sleepwalking strolls. I better go check on her,” he said, handing the sleeping pills and other items from the cabinet to Jenny and walking into the living room.

Amber was still standing on the balcony staring at the parking lot, trying to process the day’s tragic event. Sliding the screen door to his right and walking up behind her, Bryce wrapped his arms around her asking, “Are you hanging in there, sweetheart?” and kissed her cheek. He was a little over a foot taller than her.

She leaned into him tilting her head back into his chest, placing her arms over his and replied, “I feel numb. I want to cry but I can’t. I’m frozen. I’m sorry I’m not helping.”

“You don’t have to do anything right now. We’re going to take care of you,” he said hugging her closer. “We’ve almost got your things packed.”

“Thank you,” she replied softly, appreciating the comfort his arms provided and knowing she could always count on him.

He walked back into the bedroom and helped Jenny finish packing. Amber snuck into the kitchen and quietly opened up the cutlery drawer. The butcher knife will fit nicely into my huge purse . . . she thought discreetly slipping it into her oversized handbag . . . I know he’s going to be watching me like a hawk. He’s going to lock up all the knives and pills. He’s an angel, but I don’t know if I can get through this. She closed the door to the balcony, locked it and took a seat on the sofa. A few minutes later they were ready to go.

They loaded her suitcases and other items into his black H3. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jenny said sweetly to her sister.

“Thank you so much,” Amber replied hugging her.

“You know you can call me anytime day or night,” she said. “Don’t worry about waking up Zac. You know my husband sleeps like a log!”

“I know. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Jenny got into her car and drove away. Bryce opened the door for Amber, and she stepped inside. It was dark now, and the sky was cloudy with no moon or stars in sight. He got in and started the engine. Pulling onto the highway for the ride to his house in Vienna, Virginia, he reached for her hand. She took hold of it with a death grip and closed her eyes. They rode to his house in silence except for the radio which was tuned to a classical music station. He hoped that type of music would be soothing to her, and she didn’t complain. She was so shattered and lost in thought that she didn’t even hear it.  

Laura Simmons grew up in northern Virginia and spent most of her
career working for various Department of Defense contractors in the
Washington, DC area. She has a fascination with all things metaphysical.
She enjoys writing, jigsaw puzzles, adult coloring books, vacationing
at the beach with her husband, and studying tarot cards and other types
of divination systems.

Website:  http://www.littlebitsofkarma.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LauraSimmons37

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekarmaseries

Laura Simmons is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive $25 Amazon Gift Card.
• This giveaway ends midnight June 28.
• Winner will be contacted via email on June 29.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour organized by:

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