Book Spot Promotions: On the Right Side by Karen Magill. This powerful book is on sale from December 25 - December 31, 2014. Do support this wonderful and brave author friend.

 

ELEVATOR PITCH

When Karen Magill woke to find herself partially paralyzed on one side of her body, she began a journey filled with twists and turns. From the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis to becoming an award-winning novelist, On The Right Side shows that a crisis can be a blessing.

AUTHOR BIO

Forced to leave the workforce in 2000 by the onslaught of MS, Karen saw this as an opportunity to explore her lifelong desire to write. In February of 2014, Karen independently published an inspiring story of her journey so far with MS entitled On The Right Side, My Story of Survival and Success.

Ms. Magill believes that anything is possible and when she writes fiction, she leans towards the paranormal. She writes about extrasensory powers as if they are commonplace because, in her mind, we are all capable of those gifts.

To date, Ms. Magill is the author of four published paranormal novels, including the award winning The Bond, A Paranormal Love Story.

Karen lives in an eclectic area of Vancouver Canada and draws inspiration from the history and stories around her. 

Contact and Buy Links

AMAZON

Webpage: www.karenmagill.com

email: karenmagill@karenmagill.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenMagill

Face book: http://goo.gl/1VL3f

Google +:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KarenMagill/posts/p/pub

Youtube: http://goo.gl/kuyOZs

And here’s a FB group I have called On The Right Side:

On The Right Side group: http://goo.gl/LWZKme

EXCERPT

Introduction

 

I started to keep a journal after I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I did that for the first couple of years just so I would remember what that time in my life was like. And so that, maybe, one day I would write a book on it.  Well, the day to write that book is here.

I tried to write this book years ago but the time wasn’t right. Perhaps I didn’t feel I had accomplished enough to make my story worth reading. Or maybe it was because the emotions I recalled when reading and remembering were just too painful to relive. I know that as I write this book thirteen years after my major MS attack, I find tears near the surface and I have to take breaks from writing so that I don’t break down completely. The story you are about to read comes from my MS journal, my regular journal and my memory.

My philosophy is that as long as we aren’t six feet under and are on the right side of the ground, there is hope. We can make positive changes in our life, no matter where we are right now and what challenges face us.  On The Right Side, My Story of Survival and Success is not a book to tell you how to live your life. Deep down, you know how to do that, you have the strength to survive and flourish. I am going to give you my opinion on life events and tell you how I managed to get where I am today.  Maybe it will help you. Maybe it won’t. At the least, this could be an entertaining story for you.

This book is a blend of what I went through – and am still going through – how I deal with it and my views on matters that affect our society today. I am not an expert, just a person who is going through a difficult time and is learning as I go. Events unfold the way I remember them and some of the names have been changed.

So grab a cuppa of whatever you like, sit back and read on. Welcome to my journey.

Book Blog Promotions done by:

Books I plan to read in 2015! Now just to find the time.

Some I have won, some I have bought and some are waiting for reviews. Quite impressive I may add.

So, in no particular order, here they are.

It isn't all of them but it will give you a good indication what I will be reading between all the other things I plan to do.

 

 

 

New challenges in 2015:

Social Network Marketer for WDA Publishing: This is a new venture for me and I am very excited about it. It will open many more doors and will learn even more with every step.

Publishing 2 more books: Liberated: A love story & Blood Mines - the story I wrote for NaNoWriMo.

Write the series surrounding A Pirate's Wife. More about this later. But definitely looking forward to this project.

And of course having fun!!!

I am looking forward to the year. It will have it's own challenges but I will take it day by day - or book by book. :)

I wish all my readers a prosperous 2015. 

Thanks for all your support in 2014.

Happy reading!

 

Reading: Ten Christmas Brides by 10 well-known authors.

Ten Christmas Brides

by: Ruth Cardello, Nina Bruhns, Donna Fasano, Rebecca York, Helen Scott Taylor, Patrice Wilton, Mona Risk, Annie Jones, Alicia Street, and Mimi Barbour

Genre: Holiday Romance

Reviews will follow when I am done with each book.

A BLESSED FESTIVE SEASON TO ALL

 

 

Recipe for Love

by Ruth Cardello, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

All Madison Andrade wants for Christmas is a place to hide and she finds it in the home of a lusty French chef. Richard D'Argenson's recipes are famous, but they lack one necessary ingredient--love.

 4 STARS REVIEW: 

Maddy and Richard was the perfect couple that brought two worlds together as they discovered each other. A secret, followed by a lie allowed the two to meet far from the borders of the US. Richard, a chef and restauranteur, felt affronted with this young woman at first. However, he realized soon there was more under the skin of the young woman who lived in his house practically unannounced. He had some issues to overcome but Maddy quickly made him forget and accept what was once in his past.
It is filled with family drama, romance, love and doing the right thing even if one had to be send away for the other to open their eyes.
A short story that is part of the Ten Christmas Brides Box set. So far it was money well spend and a book I can recommend if you are in the mood for a quick Christmas read.  

Must Love Santa
by Nina Bruhns, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

Detective Nick Palladin just needs to close one last case in Vice--going undercover as Santa--before getting his Christmas transfer to the K-9 Unit. But when a cute little fluffball and the knockout holding her leash stumble into the op and are attacked, Santa and his faithful dog come running to the rescue!

5 STAR REVIEW:  

Book 2 in the Ten Christmas Brides Box set. I have never read some of the author's books but I had a delightful time reading this Christmas romance from her pen. The interaction between the two main characters; well actually four: we cannot ignore the two dogs roles in this book. They would simply steal your heart from the start, their infatuation with each other was what brought the two owners together. 
It is a wonderful love story that will make you believe in the miracle of Christmas as the plot unfolds. It's filled with enough drama and suspense to give it a slight edge to make this more than just a love story. The subject of human trafficking is still a very serious issue and needs all the attention it can get; even from a love story. But the two lovers definitely had my vote; they complimented each other perfectly. Both had certain goals that they wanted to reach, both were willing to sacrifice but when the bad guy showed his ugly colors the focus shifted.
A great story for this time of year, with a well written plot and wonderful flow to it all. 
So far I am enjoying this box set from the various authors.  

An Almost Perfect Christmas
by Donna Fasano, USA Today bestselling author
Aaron Chase is desperate to give his daughter a perfect Christmas and elicits the help of Pediatric Nurse Christy Cooper to do it. When Aaron's impish eight-year-old talks them into a make-believe wedding, can the magic of Christmas make the vows stick?

4 Star Review:

This is book 3 in the Ten Christmas Brides Box set and a lovely edition to it, I believe. It is the perfect read for this time of year, quick with a great message.
It all begins with a little girl, but yet so wise for her years, making a plan to bring her dad some happiness when she was gone. A perfect set up for two adults who only caught on after the fact.
Two people that was drawn together; understanding the heart ache of loss and the void it caused found themselves in a place where they could relax and be themselves, discovering that there is a future in the midst of all the hurt and longing.
A wonderful story with enough emotion to make it believable and enjoyable.  

Christmas Captive (The Decorah Security Series)
by Rebecca York, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author

How did hard-driving businessman Jordan Campbell end up in a coma? And can nurse Hannah Andrews use her psychic talent to connect with him and trap his would-be killer? As she and Jordan work together, she knows she's putting her own life--and her heart--at risk.



4 Star Review: 
This book is part of the Ten Christmas Brides box set.
The story had a paranormal twist into the romance scene. Hannah, a nurse that could connect with her patients in an unusual way, was hired to care for tycoon Jordan; a man in a deep coma after a terrible fall. No one could explain why he was in a coma but this is where the story became interesting.
It is a fast paced story that takes you into the life of Jordan and his family who clearly had an agenda from the moment Hannah arrived at the house. Soon her own life was in danger and the author did a good work creating enough suspense not to make it overly dramatic. The ideal story for this time of year.
It had a wonderful cast of characters, each wrapped in mystery as Hannah tried to safe Jordan's life from impending death. With a romantic ending that gave you a good feeling at the end.  

The Army Doctor's Honeymoon Baby (The Army Doctor's Series)
by Helen Scott Taylor, Award-winning and National bestselling author

Army doctor, Blair Mackenzie, secretly loves his childhood friend, Lorna, and protects her in the African refugee camp where they work. Lorna depends on Blair--he's her best friend, the only man she's ever loved. She longs to admit her feelings but a family secret from their past prevents her.

4 Star Review:

A quick read that takes you from the dangers of Africa to the beautiful snowy hills of Scotland in quick strides. Well written, with just enough information to make this an enjoyable read.
Lorna and Blair knew each other all their lives but secrets kept them apart for ten years. During an abduction by rebels the two admitted their feelings to each other. While trying to escape Blair got injured. This led our couple to their homeland; here they were met with unease but also a warm welcome.
A sweet love story that tells a tale of heart ache and how to get passed it if you believe in the love of the one you love. 

 

Kiss Me Santa
by Patrice Wilton, National bestselling author

Widowed schoolteacher, Cindy Harris meets Brad Williams--posing as Santa--when she takes her young son to the mall. Imagine her surprise when he shows up as the hot-shot realtor selling her family home. Sparks fly between them. Can the magic of Christmas give them the best gift of all -- love?

REVIEW WILL FOLLOW SOON:

An Unusual Christmas
by Mona Risk, Award-winning and National bestselling author

Running away from Christmas celebrations and the demons of her past, Dr. Jillian has dedicated her life to saving third-world children. In Belarus, a baby girl, four little boys, and a handsome doctor may teach her the true meaning of Christmas.

A Cowboy for Christmas
by Annie Jones, Award-winning and National bestselling author

A single mom who has pinned all her hopes on reviving a popular tourist dude ranch gets a Christmas surprise that may change everything when her son asks Santa for a new dad. And that very night a Christmas-skipping cowboy shows up at their door.

The Christmas Honeymoon
by Alicia Street, Award-winning and National bestselling author

Quiet librarian Serena always loved Christmas, until she was jilted before her December wedding. A year later, while trying to rekindle her tarnished holiday spirit, she meets Damien, handsome daredevil--and a total Scrooge. Their unlikely mutual attraction brings on a challenge that leads to one very romantic Christmas.

She's Not You
by Mimi Barbour, National bestselling author

Sick and widowed, running scared from a man who insists she belongs to him, Belle is forced to let the charmer down the hall help out. Not just for her sake, but it's Christmas, she's in trouble and her little girl has decided their sympathetic neighbor is her special hero.

BUY LINKS

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes & Noble

Kobo ~ Smashwords ~ iTunes

A Special Gift From the Ten Brides Authors!

A book full of delicious cookie recipes to share with the family this Christmas!

In this book you’ll find favorite cookies of the heroes and heroines in the Ten Christmas Brides romance-novel boxed set. Some are the treats our characters remember fondly from their childhoods. Others are the ones they enjoy today—or make to give as gifts. Here you’ll find everything from Almond Crescents, Coffee Pecan Delights, and Swedish Teacake Cookies to Rocks, Butterscotch Brownies and Scottish Shortbread. And each recipe comes with a note explaining how it fits into the author’s story, so you’ll have a little more insight into her characters and plot.

The recipes are the authors' gifts to you this holiday season. Enjoy these special goodies and have a wonderful Christmas. Best wishes from the authors of Ten Christmas Brides!

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords ~ Kobo ~ iTunes

Ruth Cardello
Ruth Cardello is a New York Times bestselling author.  She writes fast-paced, fun, sexy romances with hot alpha heroes and the strong women who tame them.  She writes about Billionaires, Cowboys, and she is also getting into some spicier story lines.  She likes to consider what she writes as bathtub reads.  Sheer escapism.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Newsletter

Nina Bruhns
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nina Bruhns decided it was time to change careers and pursue her longtime dream of writing when fieldwork in Egyptology became too dangerous. Since then, Nina has achieved international bestsellerdom writing for Berkley, Harlequin and Silhouette, various epublishers, and now as an indie author with Cajun Hot Press. Nina has earned numerous awards for her thirty-plus books to date, including three Daphne du Maurier Awards for Best Overall Mystery-Suspense Book of the Year, three Rita nominations, four RT Bookclub Reviewers Choice Awards, a National Readers Choice Award, five Dorothy Parker Awards of Excellence, and two Golden Hearts.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Newsletter

Donna Fasano
USA Today Bestselling Author Donna Fasano is the author of over 30 romance and women's fiction titles. Her award-winning books have been described as "emotional," "heartwarming," and "simply wonderful!" Over the course of her 25 year career, she has sold 4 million books worldwide. BigAl from BooksAndPals.com says, "Donna Fasano is a keen observer of human nature and creates characters that ring true to life."
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Newsletter

Rebecca York
New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-selling and award-winning author, Rebecca has written over 145 books and novellas. In 2011 she became the dozenth author to receive the Romance Writers of America Centennial Award for having written 100 romantic novels. Her Killing Moon was a launch title for Berkley’s Sensation imprint in June 2003. Five more books in the series have followed.

Rebecca has authored or co-authored over 65 romantic thrillers, many for Harlequin Intrigue’s very popular 43 Light Street series, set in Baltimore, and many with paranormal elements.

Her many awards include two Rita finalist books. She has two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times: for Series Romantic Suspense and for Series Romantic Mystery. And her Peregrine Connection series won a Lifetime Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense Series.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Newsletter

Helen Scott Taylor
Award-winning author, Helen Scott Taylor is an award-winne, writes sweet contemporary romance set in the UK and Europe. Her contribution to Ten Christmas Brides is The Army Doctor's Honeymoon Baby, part of her Army Doctor series.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Newsletter

Patrice Wilton
Patrice Wilton is a National best selling author of more than 20 books. Her best known series include The Candy Bar Series, Serendipity Falls series, and her returning war hero series, A HERO LIES WITHIN, HANDLE WITH CARE and AT FIRST SIGHT.

She lives in West Palm Beach with her retired PGA golf pro husband, and plays tennis and golf when she's not writing fun, sexy romance stories. She loves emails and will answer everyone the same day.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Newsletter

Mona Risk
From Best Romance Novel of the Year at Preditors & Editors Readers Poll, to Best Contemporary Romance of the Year at READERS FAVORITE with two Gold Medals, and EPPIE award finalist, Mona Risk’s name was posted on Amazon.com in the 100 most Popular Authors in Romance list for several months and she recently received an OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER Award at Affaire de Coeur Magazine.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Newsletter

Annie Jones
Award winning author Annie Jones loves Romance, Christmas and Route 66 so it seemed natural to combine them in A Cowboy for Christmas. The author of 40 books including romance and women's fiction, she lives in Kentucky with a houseful of family and a head full of ideas for more books.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Alicia Street
Alicia Street is an award-winning author who often writes in collaboration with her husband, Roy. Her years as a dancer, choreographer and teacher are the inspiration behind her Dance 'n' Luv contemporary romance series. Many of her characters from this series cross over into her Holiday Luv series, which includes her sweet romance novella featured in Ten Christmas Brides.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Newsletter

Mimi Barbour
Mimi Barbour is an Amazon best-selling author who's sold over 500,000 copies of her books world-wide. Her five romance series: The Vicarage Bench/ time travel at it's best, Angels with Attitudes / angels love romance, Vegas / fast-paced plotting, Elvis / make a song a book and her newest, Undercover FBI / with sizzling conflicts and lots of humor.

Mimi's been heard to say: "I'm an author who loves to read uplifting stories about romance. Add in some time travel, or maybe an angel, or even a little romantic suspense and it makes the story more fascinating because of the incredible possibilities."
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Newsletter

 

A new facelift for In the limelight with...

It has been awhile since I have posted on this blog. And to be honest, I had no clue where to go from the last post, and bring something new to the table-so to speak.

Just as this blog, I myself, did undergo many changes-some good, some bad-but everything is as always a learning curve in once life. Views change, actions change and sometimes we need to change the direction to move forward and take control back in your hands.

This is what is happening with this blog as well. It is taking a whole new direction. The focus will still be on the authors and their books, but with an added bonus. More about it later.

Due to the many changes I have undergone personally I am forced to think differently about my life and blogging since I spend so many hours here and Inspire to Read blog. It has become imperative for me to have my own income and be independent once again. Although my books are selling, it is not enough to make a living from it and I must make sound decisions about my future and the blogs I have in order for me not only to survive but to prosper. To quite is not an option. After finally finding my calling in life it will be impossible to stop at any point.

In the last few months I am learning a lot about marketing, branding and how it will benefit me and propel me forward. When I spoke to another gentleman about my predicament he introduced me to Amazon's astore. Although a registered member for a long time I never knew about this venture from Amazon. And when he showed me on Skype how easy it was to open, I started immediately; stocking shelves the past few days to get it up and running as soon as possible. The other leg will be to accept books on a trusted site and sell them just as a normal bookstore would. I am almost done with the legal stuff, but will let you know when it is operational.

So was the Inspire 2 Read bookstore born and I must say I do feel very positive about the new changes. Of course it will cause more work for me, and more time on the computer, but it is a work that I love to do so it would feel like picnic rather work. I really hope that just as in the past that I will have you, the reader's support. I still plan to interview authors and their books, especially new releases as they come in, so that you will learn more about them and the book. I don't know about you, but when you know more about a author, and really have that connection it is easier to buy a book from that person. Every book has two stories; the one that the author made up, and the one he/she lived while the book was created. It is so easy to pick up a book now a days, but to really connect is another matter entirely. This would be my aim.

Feel free to browse around in side the bookstore, and please do leave a comment or send me a letter on the contact form. All recommendations are welcome. If there is a book you feel your fellow readers should know about please let me know. For now I have stocked the shelves with the books I have read and reviewed over the last two years, as well as the authors books I have seen or promoted on my blog.

Please note: To all authors I have interviewed in the past, if you are looking for your post, the link has changed. Please do not hesitate to ask me about the new link and I will send it to you right back. All the posts are still in tact but just under a new link.