2016-12-29

T.M. Franklin, author of the best-selling MORE Trilogy and How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You, has an exciting new release coming on January 17th - and it doesn't have only ONE cover - it has SIX!

The Talisman Chronicles is a six-part serial, which will be released every Tuesday from January 17th-February 14th. It builds off the Amazon best-selling short story WINDOW and tells the story of a group of teenagers who find some unusual items in an old chest . . . items that give them incredible powers.
But they receive those gifts for a reason. And one day soon, they'll need to use them to fight for us all.



Add The Talisman Chronicles to your Goodreads TBR HERE.

Or follow T.M. Franklin on AMAZON to be notified when the books are available.

And if you'd like to join the Talisman Chronicles Release Day Party - with giveaways all day long on January 17th, join the Enchanted Publications Facebook Event page. It's going to be a blast!

About T.M. Franklin

T.M. Franklin writes stories of adventure, romance, & a little magic. A former TV news producer, she decided making stuff up was more fun than reporting the facts. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days. MORE was well-received, being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards, as well as winning the Suspense/Thriller division of the Blogger Book Fair Reader's Choice Awards. She's since written three additional novels and several best-selling short stories...and there's always more on the way.


Connect with T.M. Franklin

Web Site | Facebook | Amazon | Twitter |Instagram |Pinterest | YouTube


2016-12-08

Lissa Bryan is the author of Dominion (The End of All Things Series)

Obviously, throughout your research for Dominion and The End of All Things Series, you have explored different survival techniques and food sources. Have you ever tried any of these techniques or foods and if so what were the results or consequences? If not, why not, AND which ones would you like to try / experiment with?

-x-x-x-x-

I have to admit, I probably wouldn’t be all that great with the whole “survival” thing myself. I had to confront this when I was at my grandmothers and discovered that the fire in her stove had gone completely out. I thought certainly I wouldn’t have trouble starting a fire, especially with all the kindling and tinder on hand. Well, as it turns out, it’s not as easy as it looks. After it went out the third time, I surrendered and used the firestarter blocks! “Knowing how” to do something and actually being able to do it are two entirely different things.
Last summer, I tried a water evaporation technique I was going to use in the book. You dig a hole in the earth and sit a bowl in the center of it. Then you lay a sheet of clear plastic over the hole and weight it down in the center with a rock, so it makes a point over the bowl. The concept is that the heat of the sunlight causes water to evaporate from the earth, collect on the plastic, and drip into the bowl. The results were somewhat disappointing. I collected maybe half a cup. It would probably work better over a larger area, or if you have multiple evaporators working, but it’s a very slow method. 

As for the foods, I’ve eaten quite a few of them. I live on the edge of the Appalachians, and so many of the plants Taylor encounters in the book are native to my area. My grandmother used to serve some of them. Dandelion greens can be quite tasty, but you have to harvest them in the early spring before they get bitter. I’ve also eaten squirrel and rabbit, and my grandfather insisted I learn how to clean them. He told me at the time that I never knew when I’d need to know this kind of thing. I doubt he ever imagined I’d use it in a book! 

Thank you, Lissa! 

Release Date: December 3rd 2016
Published by: The Writers Coffee Shop
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian


Release Date: December 3rd 2016
Published by: The Writers Coffee Shop
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian


SUMMARY: A generation has passed since the pandemic known only as the Infection ended the world as we know it. In a little town in the Appalachian Mountains, Taylor has known only a harsh and brutal struggle for survival in a land littered with the rusted-out remnants of a lost world. By day, she labors in a coal mine. In the evenings, she tends a secret collection of beehives, and uses the honey to pay for lessons in survival skills, such as hunting, fishing and collecting herbs. Her home is a single room in a crumbling old motel, and her only companion is a pet box tortoise named Go she’s had since she was a child.
When her town is destroyed by a vicious gang of raiders known as the Nine, Taylor escapes with Dylan, the son of the mayor. Their only plan is to head south and escape the Nine’s vast territory, avoiding areas contaminated by meltdowns and industrial pollution where mysterious illnesses plague the residents.
Dylan has never known hunger or hardship and struggles to learn survival skills. He’s never known a woman like Taylor either. He tries to pay her back by teaching her to read and telling her the stories passed down from the world of Before.
They certainly didn’t plan on falling in love. Taylor fights it every step of the way, because in her world, any emotional attachment is dangerous. She’s been taught since childhood that love slows you down, makes you weak. But the feelings growing between them cannot be denied.
Taylor finds herself slowly breaking every one of her hard-learned rules of survival. She discovers that perhaps some of those things she’s always fought to avoid are the very things that make life worth living.
. . . And death shall have no dominion . . .”


Lissa Bryan is an astronaut, renowned Kabuki actress, Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Iron Chef champion, and scientist who recently discovered the cure for athlete's foot . . . though only in her head. Real life isn't so interesting, which is why she spends most of her time writing.
She is the author of five other novels, Ghostwriter, The End of All Things, its sequels, The Land of the Shadows and Shadows Have Gone, and Under These Restless Skies.

Praise for 
The End of All Things Series

Hope, love, and the strength of the human spirit are the backbone of this surprisingly uplifting offering from Lissa Bryan. ~ CBL Book Reviews

The End of All Things is more about hope and second chances, and I very much enjoyed the tale .... highly recommended for all fans of apocalyptic fiction. It's a well-written book with excellent pace, plot, and best, it has real soul. ~ Jade Kerrion, Goodreads

2016-12-05


Places to see - Scotland

2016-11-30

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Gabriel trilogy comes the highly anticipated conclusion to The Florentine Series.


Summary: Raven and her sister, Cara, are at the mercy of a small detachment of Florentine vampyres, who are delivering them as a peace offering to the feared Curia in Rome. Though she’s unsure William survived the coup that toppled his principality, Raven is determined to protect her sister at all costs, even if it means challenging Borek, the commander of the detachment. In an effort to keep Raven from falling into the hands of his enemies, William puts himself at the mercy of the Roman, the dangerous and mysterious vampyre king of Italy. But the Roman is not what he expects … Alliances and enmities will shift and merge as William struggles to save the woman he loves and his principality, without plunging the vampyre population into a world war. This stunning conclusion to the Florentine series will take readers across Italy and beyond as the lovers fight to remain together. Forever.

Review by Raum

For those who have been following the adventures of Raven and William York through The Prince, The Raven and The Shadow, The Roman represents the last step of a tour that took thousands of readers from all over the world to discover Florence, its history and its stunning art.

The Florentine Series is coming to an end and, sadly, it’s time to say goodbye to those characters. 
But Sylvain Reynard has prepared many surprises for the faithful readers who are willing to follow the acclaimed writer through a dangerous journey. 

The Roman will give you the opportunity to discover Rome, the eternal city. There couldn’t have been a better setting for the last act of the story of supernatural creatures gifted (or doomed) with immortality. 

We finally get to meet the famous Roman, whose role is well-known to the readers who have already enjoyed The Shadow, as well as other vampires who had been mentioned in the other novels of the series. 

International (vampire) politics and court intrigues will take the readers to Prague and to other fascinating locations as well... 

We have already experienced how dangerous the vampires of a single city -- such as Florence -- can be. Imagine what might happen when vampires from different parts of Europe fight and when their own survival is threatened by very powerful humans. 

When humans and vampires are at war, which side will Raven -- William York’s Cassita, a human who fell in love with a vampire but doesn’t want to become like him -- pick? 

And how can their love survive when her mortality and his immortality are bound to separate them?

Brave, faithful readers, get ready for adventures, scheming, fights and daring escapes!

Where to purchase...

2016-11-23


Inspiration for Writers: The view from a Leaf | by kobire | http://ift.tt/1E0gPin

2016-11-19

Dominion by @LissaBryan is coming in a few days...

Release Date: December 3rd 2016
Genre: Fiction, Dystopian

EXCERPT
She woke to the sound of screams and gunfire.
Taylor sat up, looking around her darkened room, holding her breath as she listened. For a moment, all she heard was the pounding of her own heart, and then there was another shriek, this one not far away. Taylor rolled out of her bed and crouched low, heading for the window. She used the side of her fist to rub away some of the grime that coated the glass on the inside, though the outside was still clouded so all she could see was an ominous orange glow and wavering shadows.
Oh shit, oh shit.
Feet pounded down the sidewalk in front of her room, and the shadowy outline of human forms darted past her windows. Someone was crying, horrible sharp sobs.
Taylor crept to the other side of the window where a hole had been broken out of one of the panes. She slowly pulled out the rag stuffed in the gap and peered through. A body lay in the parking lot outside her window, and she smothered a gasp by pressing a hand to her mouth. The bloodied head was turned away from her, but she recognized the tangle of blond curls and the green sweatpants the body wore. It was Grace, and she was dead. 
Tears burned in Taylor’s eyes, but she forced them down, swallowing hard. A loud bang drew her gaze, and she saw a man with a rifle kick in the door of a room on the opposite side of the parking lot. He charged in and emerged seconds later, dragging a kicking and screaming woman by her hair.
Time to go. Taylor didn’t know what was going on, but she could figure that out later.

SUMMARY
A generation has passed since the pandemic known only as the Infection ended the world as we know it. In a little town in the Appalachian Mountains, Taylor has known only a harsh and brutal struggle for survival in a land littered with the rusted-out remnants of a lost world. By day, she labors in a coal mine. In the evenings, she tends a secret collection of beehives, and uses the honey to pay for lessons in survival skills, such as hunting, fishing and collecting herbs. Her home is a single room in a crumbling old motel, and her only companion is a pet box tortoise named Go she’s had since she was a child.
When her town is destroyed by a vicious gang of raiders known as the Nine, Taylor escapes with Dylan, the son of the mayor. Their only plan is to head south and escape the Nine’s vast territory, avoiding areas contaminated by meltdowns and industrial pollution where mysterious illnesses plague the residents.
Dylan has never known hunger or hardship and struggles to learn survival skills. He’s never known a woman like Taylor either. He tries to pay her back by teaching her to read and telling her the stories passed down from the world of Before.
They certainly didn’t plan on falling in love. Taylor fights it every step of the way, because in her world, any emotional attachment is dangerous. She’s been taught since childhood that love slows you down, makes you weak. But the feelings growing between them cannot be denied.
Taylor finds herself slowly breaking every one of her hard-learned rules of survival. She discovers that perhaps some of those things she’s always fought to avoid are the very things that make life worth living.
. . . And death shall have no dominion . . .”

Lissa Bryan is an astronaut, renowned Kabuki actress, Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Iron Chef champion, and scientist who recently discovered the cure for athlete's foot . . . though only in her head. Real life isn't so interesting, which is why she spends most of her time writing.
She is the author of five other novels, Ghostwriter, The End of All Things, its sequels, The Land of the Shadows and Shadows Have Gone, and Under These Restless Skies.

Praise for 
The End of All Things Series
Hope, love, and the strength of the human spirit are the backbone of this surprisingly uplifting offering from Lissa Bryan. ~ CBL Book Reviews
The End of All Things is more about hope and second chances, and I very much enjoyed the tale .... highly recommended for all fans of apocalyptic fiction. It's a well-written book with excellent pace, plot, and best, it has real soul. ~ Jade Kerrion, Goodreads

2016-10-25


Places to see #Rome Rome (by ZacKak)

2016-10-24


Places to see #Florence Florence | Italy (by D Quiros)

2016-10-08


americasgreatoutdoors: Fall has arrived at Glacier National Park, and it’s stunning. Crushing clouds and rain greeted Nate Luebbe at Glacier, but as he crested Logan Pass he was treated to one of the most spectacular alpenglow sunsets we’ve seen. “The sun shot golden fingers between jagged peaks and illuminated the clouds from below, and I couldn’t help but admire the timing. Montana was welcoming me home.” Photo courtesy of Nate Luebbe. Places to see Glacier National Park

2016-10-07


Autumn

2016-09-19


Marche, Italy *By Massimiliano

2016-09-18


meilleurcafe: Errybody luvs flowers.

2016-09-16


Places to see - Otranto, Italy (by Fabrizio Arati)

2016-09-12


Eye to Eye by John Vargas Foodporn for Twilight vampires

2016-09-06


Places to see, Venice, Italy (by Gordon Baldwin)

2016-08-22

We're happy to host a great post by Cassie Phillips! Enjoy!

Great Romance Novels to Read this Summer


With the weather getting hot and sticky, it’s about time to make things even steamier with some romance novels. Whether you’re a lover of historical romance or more modern takes, this list has a little something for everyone. So pull up a chair, get comfortable and make sure to have a fan nearby to cool off while reading. 

Sleeping with the Boss

Book one of the Anderson Brothers series introduces you to the middle brother, William Anderson, and the heroine Claire Maddox. Unlike many romance novels, their attraction is immediate, and they are very straightforward about it. What pulls them apart is the implication that Claire could potentially be a spy undercutting his family's business. Despite this lingering suspicion, sparks immediately fly between the two, and they can hardly keep their hands off each other. Clarke combines two lovably imperfect characters, a measure of humor and a hefty dose of sexually-tense scenes in the first book of the series. She also introduces the other two Anderson brothers, so you’ll want to pick up the other two books as well.

Everywhere and Every Way

If you loved Probst's Marriage to a Billionaire novels, then you'll love her latest Billionaire Builders series. Of course, the best place to start is at the beginning. Here you'll follow red-hot contractor Caleb Pierce as he not only has to navigate through family business issues but relationship issues as well. 
The other point of view here is Morgan, a home designer who knows exactly what she wants in life and business. When these two collide during Morgan’s home renovation project, it’s not just work tension they both feel. As they begin working through their differences, they realize they have the foundation for a bond that can stand the tests of time. This story is more than just a simple romance though; it covers a wide range of themes such as acceptance, forgiveness and heartbreak.  

The Girl from Summer Hill

If you’re a fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, then you'll love the first book in the Summer Hill series. This more modern take on the classic introduces Casey Reddick as the heroine. After escaping from the city and a horrible job and boyfriend, Casey finds herself at Summer Hill where she hopes to take a break from the stress of work. Almost immediately she finds a gorgeous, naked man on her front porch, Tate Landers. While initially resistant to his charms, eventually Casey starts falling for him during a theatrical production of Pride and Prejudice. That is until Tate’s devilishly handsome ex-brother-in-law lets it slip that Tate isn’t who he says he is. The plot of Pride and Prejudice plays in the theater and real life for Casey as she must decide who to believe. While it isn't necessarily a deep book, it's a perfect one to take with you on a day to the beach. 

S.E.C.R.E.T
L. Marie Adeline

Cassie Robichaurd lives her life on autopilot after the death of her husband. She's proficient as a waitress at Café Rose, and while she finds her boss attractive, she doesn't have the energy or courage to do anything about it. Then one day she finds a notebook left behind by a stranger. The contents within change her life forever and propels her on a sexual journey to free herself from her inhibitions. This is a great read for those looking for something a bit more erotic. Read as Cassie slowly breaks the chains holding her down and liberates herself from her own insecurities. More than just a book about sex, it’s a book about self-discovery and female empowerment.

Marrying Winterborne

Rhys Winterborne always gets what he wants, and Lady Helen Ravenel is no exception. The second he sets eyes on her, he immediately wants to take her as his wife. While Helen might seem quiet and timid on the outside, this demeanor belies a quiet strength. As the two slowly build up trust and love for each other, Helen must decide how to tell Rhys her darkest secret. This historical romance weaves together historical events and culture and excellent character development. It's a must-read for anyone who enjoys period romance. 

You can get all of these books as paperbacks or e-books. If you plan to buy a digital version, you might be limited by geo-restrictions or public WiFi dangers. Don’t let that stop you though! You can use a VPN to circumvent geo-restrictions and protect your personal details on public WiFi, allowing you to safely to download these books to your favorite e-reader.

Which one of these books do you plan to pick up? Have you read any of them previously? Let us know in the comments below.  

About the Author: Cassie is a lover of all things related to literature and technology. She hopes this list will encourage you to try out other genres within romance and access them even if you might be geo-restricted. 

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Thank you, Cassie!

2016-08-21


Opera Garnier, Paris (by victortsu)

2016-08-20


Venetian fairytale (Veneto, Italy) by Bart Ceuppens

2016-08-19


Lone Tree, Bryce Canyon, Utah [1600×1200] Photographed by Emad Sedky http://ift.tt/SVK8Oy

2016-08-18


vintageeveryday: Wonderful color photographs of London taken on Kodachrome by Chalmers Butterfield, circa 1949.

2016-08-07


Coming soon! September 13, 2016!

A delicious, sexy, laugh-out-loud modern romance about a newly single woman and her journey to find love again in ROMAN CRAZY from New York Times bestselling author Alice Clayton and debut author Nina Bocci (Gallery Books; on sale September 13, 2016; Trade Paperback $16.00).

Avery Bardot steps off the plane in Rome, looking for a fresh start. She’s left behind a soon-to-be ex-husband in Boston and plans to spend the summer with her best friend Daisy, licking her wounds—and perhaps a gelato or two. But when her American-expat friend throws her a welcome party on her first night, Avery’s thrown for a loop when she sees a man she never thought she’d see again: Italian architect Marcello Bianchi.

Marcello was the man—the one who got away. And now her past is colliding with her present, a present where she should be mourning the loss of her marriage and—hey, that fettuccine is delicious! And so is Marcello…
Slipping easily into the good life of summertime in Rome, Avery spends her days exploring a city that makes art historians swoon, and her nights swooning over her unexpected what was old is new again romance. It’s heady, it’s fevered, it’s wanton, and it’s crazy. But could this really be her new life? Or is it just a temporary reprieve before returning to the land of twin-set cardigans and crustless sandwiches?

A celebration of great friendship, passionate romance, and wonderful food, Roman Crazy is a lighthearted story of second chances and living life to the fullest.

2016-08-06


Italy, Cinque terre
European mountains (Dolomites) thanks to Camilla.

Happy Summer to you all!

Rosengarten:

Sciliar:

Latemar





2016-08-05


culturenlifestyle: The Beautiful Bond Between Rescued Puppy and 8 Month Old Baby Elizabeth Spence is an avid Instagrammer and mother - the perfect person to show the beautiful bond forged between her rescued puppy and 8-month old baby during their naptimes. Her son, Archie, and English pointer, Nora, take the most adorable sleeping positions where they are seen to snuggle into each other’s embrace. Keep reading

2016-07-17


puglia: via http://twitter.com/vacanze_salento/status/746261365988286464 Places to see Italy

2016-07-16


puglia: via http://twitter.com/vacanze_salento/status/746630026737528832 Places to see Italy

2016-07-15


puglia: via http://twitter.com/vacanze_salento/status/747168609093312512 Places to see - Italy

2016-06-29


Lanhydrock, Bodmin - Cornwall, England

2016-06-27


25 years… unbelievable!

2016-06-26


pagewoman: Yew Tree Farm, Coniston, Cumbria, England Owned by Beatrix Potter Places to see England

2016-06-21

Hi!

I'm getting ready....

Roman Crazy, by Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci, is due to be published soon... stay tuned!


Meanwhile (click on the image to know more...)



Happy reading!

- Raum 

2016-06-17


escapekit: Dolomites - Heart Of The Alps German photographer Kilian Schönberger takes us on a trip to the most probably most beautiful mountains of Europe’s best known mountain chain.

2016-06-16


allthingseurope: Vienna, Austra (by Tania L)

2016-06-05


l-eth-e: Dog sled driving in North Greenland (Visit Greenland)

2016-06-02


Venice, Italy

2016-05-27


Places to see Glencoe, Scotland photo via karen

2016-05-21


Places to see - Strasbourg | France

2016-05-18


Places to see: Bruges, Belgium on Flickr.

2016-05-14


Scotland

2016-05-02


Luddesdown, Kent

2016-05-01


Places to see - Roma (Colosseum)
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