Book Tour with Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway: Jaguar Hunt by Terry Spear

Jaguar Hunt is the third book in the Heart of the Jaguar series by Terry Spear. This paranormal romance is one that can be read as a stand alone, but has the bonus of a bigger picture and already knowing some of the characters if you have read the previous books. I have not read the earlier books, so I am starting fresh here. 

Agent Tammy Anderson has a reputation: she prefers to work alone and often ditches anyone partnered with her. When she is paired up on a mission with fellow jaguar-shifter David Patterson, who she recently had released from jail, she is less than thrilled. But, the twin teen age shifters David are following know something about the missing jaguar Tammy is trying to return to its home at a zoo. When their joint mission takes them to Belize they expect an easy mission, but everything is more complicated than it seems. the teens know much more than they are saying, and dirty agents are putting everyone's lives on the line. Can Tammy and David find the boys and the jaguar while rooting out the mole, staying alive, and finding a balance of work and pleasure? 

Jaguar Hunt has a good blend of law enforcement adventure and steamy romance. The mystery aspect of this book, just who the bad agent might be, is more complicated than I expected. the twist and turns were varied and had me doubting my instincts a few times. I liked that Tammy was independent and smart, she faced every challenge head on and surprised even herself with her own resourcefulness. David was both good-guy and rogue rolled up in a single well-trained agent. Their interactions were well done, an both characters were likable and interesting.

Jaguar Hunt is a good blend of paranormal and suspense romance. I think readers that have been following the series will get more out of the book than those of us starting fresh, but it was still a satisfying read.

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 Excerpt

“Good night.” David closed his eyes, but he couldn’t stop taking in deep breaths of her jasmine soap and she-cat scent mixed into one delightful fragrance. He couldn’t ignore the beat of her heart - or his - that told him he was way too turned on, and that she was feeling the same way. He couldn’t help feeling the heat of her body and wanting to ratchet it up a few degrees, starting with a kiss. A kiss. Hell, he’d never gone to bed with a woman when it meant total hands off. But lips...they didn’t count, did they? She’d closed her eyes, but she wasn’t sleeping. She hadn’t pulled away from him, giving him her back. That meant something. Didn’t it? He could ask. And she could say no. He could kiss her, and when she got ready to slap him, he’d tell her it was a good-night kiss. And it would be. Unless she wanted more. He could get lucky and she’d kiss him back. Somehow it didn’t seem right to go to bed with a woman and not at least kiss her good night. She opened her eyes to see him looking down at her - well, he was judging her lips, but when they curved up a bit, he lifted his gaze to meet her eyes and saw she was watching him. “What?” she asked. He couldn’t say it. David Patterson, who had no trouble interesting women in kisses and so much more, couldn’t say it. “Don’t...tell...me. You want a good-night kiss,” she said, but he wasn’t certain whether she was offering or...not. Not about to lose the opportunity, he placed his hand under her chin, lifted her face, and waited only the briefest period for her to pull away if she wasn’t in the mood for this. When she didn’t, he leaned down and kissed her mouth.

Buy Links

Amazon - http://amzn.to/1i5DVu2

Barnes and Noble - http://bit.ly/QuCsmn

iTunes - http://bit.ly/1rjnVVY

Author Bio

USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over two dozen paranormal romance novels and medieval Highland historical romances. In 2008 HEART OF THE WOLF was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry also creates award-winning teddy bears that have found homes all over the world. She lives in Crawford, Texas.

Social Networking Links

Website: www.terryspear.com  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/421434.Terry_Spear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terry.spear

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerrySpear

Book Review: Rodale's Basic Organic Gardening: A Beginner's Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden by Deborah L. Martin, Editors Organic Gardening

Rodale's Basic Organic Gardening: A Beginner's Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden by Deborah L. Martin, is a great resource for those starting out in gardening, and for those that now a bit about gardening but want to go organic. The guidebook starts with the questions any begining gardener will have, such as "Do I need to dig?", "Where do I dig?", "How do I plant a seed?", and "How much should I water?". questions and their answers are presented in growing-season order, from garden planning and planting to growing and harvesting. other important subjects such as soil, compost, seeds, pest control, and weeds are explained in simple language to ensure success. over one hundred common garden terms are defined, and flower, vegetable, and herb finder highlights plants with good track records.

Rodale's Basic Organic Gardening offers the answers to just about every question a novice, and some more experienced, gardener might have. as someone that has always been around gardens and plants there were still small bits of information for me to make use of in this current growing season. I really liked that there were no-dig garden methods, simple garden layouts, and tips and hints on just about everything. I found the troubleshooting section particularly helpful since it targeted the most likely problems, and offers realistic solutions for gardeners of all skill levels.

If you are looking for an all around guidebook on getting started with a garden, particularly an organic garden, I suggest making use of the Rodale's Basic Organic Gardening. It is a good starting place, and a nice reference to keep around for the entire season as your garden, plants, and possible complications grow.

Book Review: Heart of Stone by Christine Warren

Heart of Stone is the first book in the Gargoyles series by Christine Warren. This is the latest in a number of paranormal romance series from Warren.  Ella Harrow is trying to carve out a normal life for herself. Well, as normal as an art geek with psychic abilities can hope for. As museum docent and gift-shop manager, Ella is able to keep her distance from people, and her powers in check, while surrounding herself with the artifacts she loves. The Gargoyle Kees has been asleep for eons, waiting for a portent of evil to wake him. Somehow, Ella triggered his reawakening. Maybe the demons have been unleashed? Maybe his heart is finally ready to be chiseled open? The fate of the world and their hearts are at stake.

Heart of Stone reminds me of why I used to read a lot of paranormal romance. Ella sometimes seems like a 'helpless' heroine, but other times she shows a backbone of steel. She is also extremely understanding, and very intuitive. Kees is an alpha male that does not always hold a perfect body, when he is in his gargoyle form he is pretty scary and not exactly what someone might want to snuggle with. He is strong, mentally and physically, but adjusts as needed. I think both characters handled the cards they are dealt well. There were a few times when I wanted to kick one, or both, of them. There were definite moments of the two of them being simply too attracted to each other despite timing and their situation, but that kept the story moving a bot fast despite Kees' stubborn nature and Ella's willingness to sit back and wait.

Heart of Stone is a fun weekend read. It is not the best of the genre, but it has some hot moments, some high action, and the set up needed for a viable series that just might grab you. I am interested in seeing where the larger story arch goes and I know I will read the next book, and perhaps beyond.

Book Review: Operation Bunny by Sally Gardner

Operation Bunny is the first book in the Wings & Co series by Sally Gardner. This children's chapter book begins on a quirky note, and continues in that vein. Emily Vole makes headline news in the first weeks of her life, when she is found in an abandoned hatbox in Stansted Airport. she is adopted by a vain and greedy couple that had always wanted children, but did not get quite what they expected with Emily.  When their own children are born things become even worse for Emily, only to discover allies in her neighbor Mrs String dies leaving Emily a mysterious inheritance: an old shop, a small bunch of golden keys and a cat called Fidget.

Operation Bunny is a great opening to a fun and quirky series that I am looking forward to continuing. Emily is a good natured girl, unfortunately her adopted parents are not. they are greedy and overly concerned with appearance. when they adopt Emily they expected a perfect doll that would look like them, when Emily does not met this expectation they try to change that. When they have triplets, Emily is relegated to free labor. However, Emily remains a sweet girl doing her best. When she fosters a friendship with Mrs. String and the unusual cat Fidget life becomes much better for Emily. Unfortunately, after the good comes a big bad and soon Emily is in big trouble and her only hope is to find a mysterious moving shop, open it, and get some fairies back on duty. Mystery, adventure, and more will keep middle grade readers turning the pages and looking for more.

As I read Operation Bunny my first question was why I had not already read it. Magic, adventure, and quirky fun are right up my alley. The characters and the story are delightful and just might grab the attention of some reluctant readers. I need to get my hands on The Three Pickled Herrings and see what happens next.

Book Review: Unclaimed by Sara Humphreys

Unclaimed is the fifth book in The Amoveo Legend series by Sara Humphreys. While I have read other books by Humphreys, I do not believe that I have read any in this series. Thankfully this paranormal romance is one that can be read as a stand alone, but has the bonus of a bigger picture and already knowing some of the characters if you have read the previous books.


Tatiana Winters tries hard to be normal and loves her life as a veterinarian in Oregon, which is made a bit easier because of her abilities. Tatiana is half Amoveo, and wants nothing to do with that part of her life. It's only reluctantly that she agrees to help cure a mysterious illness among the horses on a the ranch of the Amoveo Prince. Dominic Trejada is a Guardian, one of the elite protectors of the Prince's Montana ranch. As a dedicated Amoveo warrior, he is desperate to find his mate, and time is running out. He knows Tatiana, but convincing her that their attraction is more than destiny forcing their hand while protecting her and the prince from serious threats just might be too much for this warrior.

Unclaimed is a good paranormal romance. Tatiana is a strong and smart woman with a fierce independent streak and more than a little suspicion about all things Amoveo. Dominic is an alpha male with more understanding than most, but just as big of a protective streak as you might expect from a shifter hero. Their chemistry is instant and well played, with a healthy dash of caution. There is tension, action, and mortal danger a plenty. There are also some steamy encounters. A good story and a solid impact on the larger story arch from the series.

Unclaimed is a solid paranormal romance, but does not have much to set it apart from the rest. It you are a Humphreys fan or are following this series then I would mark this as a must read, but for everyone else this is just another romance featuring shifters destined to have a single mate finding their way to a happy ever after.

Book Review: All for You by Jessica Scott

All for You is the fourth book in the Coming Home series by Jessica Scott. While each of these contemporary romances about members of the military can stand alone, there is a larger story arch and such high quality in these books that one read will have you looking to read all of the books.

Sergeant First Class Reza Iaconelli has two goals, to stay sober and to be a good leader for his platoon. to do this he needs everyone to pull their weight, take responsibility for their own actions, and for Captain Emily Lindberg not to tell him how to deal with his men. Emily is the newest psychiatrist on base, and she is full of questions about the army, its soldiers, and how to best help them all. Each of them is working hard to help the soldiers and find a solution to the volume of suicides and trauma our soldiers are facing.

Like the rest of the Coming Home series, All for You is starkly realistic and tells much more than a love story. Reza is a flawed hero, facing and overcoming huge odds. However, that does not mean that he can do it alone, and his journey to love with Emily and his realizations about himself and the general mental health of other soldiers is a stunning well told part of the book. Emily might have been an idealistic, young, professional when the book starts but she also has a backbone of steel when it comes to doing right be her patients. That combination of vulnerability, curiosity, and strength captures the readers along with Reza. The larger issues in the book, the problems of people abusing authority and the need for better mental health care for our military (and frankly everyone that needs it) is told in a way that helps those with no connection to the military understand more of what our men and women are going through both here and abroad.

I highly recommend All for You to all readers that are looking for realistic and heartfelt romance that focuses on members of your armed forces. I adore this series, and even those some truths are hard to read at times, this series offers sizzling romance right along side those truths. each book (and novella) has been a heart wrenching and heart warming read.

Book Review: The Qwikpick Papers: Journey to the Fountain of Poop by Tom Angleberger

The Qwikpick Papers: Journey to the Fountain of Poop by Tom Angleberger is a middle grade novel in the same style as the Origami Yoda series (which if you have not read it, you should!) which blends  journal entries, doodles, and handwritten notes. Lyle Hertzog and his friends Marilla and Dave expect to spend another dull holiday passing time at the local Qwikpick convenience store. Just as they have given up the idea of a grand adventure, an article in their hometown paper catches their eye. It turns out that he sludge fountain at the nearby sewage plant is being shut down. The three friends decide to dub themselves the Qwikpick Adventure Society. Their first mission is to see the “poop fountain” before it fades from glory.

Journey to the Fountain of Poop is the great start to another middle grade series from Angleberger. This book has three kids from different family, religious, and economic backgrounds finding common ground and becoming great friends. The adventure they have is something that I can see many kids taking part in, or at least wishing they could take part in on some level. There is a good amount if 'potty humor', which you have to expect with the word poop in the subtitle. I think the combination of humor, the diary format of the book, and the sheer relateability of the characters will make this a great read for many elementary and middle school readers.

I recommend Journey to the Fountain of Poop to elementary and middle school readers. I think reluctant readers will find this book, and others from Angleberger, to be one that makes them interested in reading more. A must have for library collections.

Book Review: The Secret Kingdom by Michele Bledsoe, Richard Bledsoe

The Secret Kingdom is a combination of images and poetry celebrating the world of dreams in picturebook format by Michele Bledsoe and Richard Bledsoe.  Michele Bledsoe has been exhibiting her paintings and drawings in art galleries for almost 20 years. Inspired by the beautifully illustrated children’s books she grew up with, Michele started creating art when she was a child—and never stopped. With The Secret Kingdom, Michele Bledsoe hopes to inspire a new generation of artists to share her lifetime love of creating pictures. Art is for everyone, and The Secret Kingdom is a place that welcomes children of all ages.

The Secret Kingdom is less of a bedtime story, as it is marketed, and more of a book with the ability to inspire the interested, or either bore or frighten the uninterested. I enjoyed the flow of the poetry, and the related images were interesting and unique. Not a story or narrative, rather a book to display artwork with matching poetry that focuses on the power of dreams, art, and words.

I do no think this is a book for the typical picturebook, or even older picturebook crowd. The Secret Kingdom is a book best suited for those already with an interested in creating art, poetry, any kind or creative endeavor used to capture dreams and share them with others. From the descriptions I read, I expected more of a story or letter to young artists than I found in the pages, but it might find a special place in the collections of artists of all ages.

Book Spotlight with Author Q&A; Turning on a Dime by Maggie Dana

Turning on a Dime: A time travel adventure for MG/tween readers. Two girls from two different centuries and the horse that brings them together.

Teenage equestrian Samantha DeVries wants to be the first African American to ride in the Olympics. Her father, a successful trainer, pushes Sam to excel, while Sam’s academic mother tries to instill a sense of heritage in her headstrong daughter who’d rather be riding horses than studying history. But Sam’s beliefs and her carefully constructed world shatter like a jelly jar when she travels through a time portal and lands in the canopy bed of an 1860s Southern belle.

Even more surprised by Sam’s unexpected arrival is Caroline Chandler. She’s a tomboy who wears breeches beneath her crinoline and rides horses bareback, much to the dismay of her critical mother.
But neither girl has time to fret over petticoats and prejudice. The Civil War is raging, and soldiers from both sides are stealing horses. At risk is Pandora, Caroline’s beloved mare. Without her, Sam’s future Olympic horse, Nugget, might not exist in the present.
Neither will Sam if the slave catchers grab her.

Maggie Dana Q&As: TURNING ON A DIME

1. Was there a specific moment or idea that inspired writing Turning on a Dime?

This story has been cantering around inside my head for so long, I can’t even remember how I came up with it. But I was nervous about writing it. I mean, where did I get off, a middle-aged Englishwoman putting herself into the head of a contemporary black American teenager?

So I resisted the story for a long time, like 6 or 7 years, until it couldn’t be contained any longer. To keep myself on track, I kept repeating . . . “girls are girls, no matter what color they are and some of them love horses.” This, I could wrap my head around. So I built the story with these two girls (one black, one white, from two different centuries) and their mutual love of horses . . . and of adventure. They’re both gutsy and brave, full of angst, and often vulnerable—just like any other teenager, modern or otherwise. Then I tossed in time travel and away we went!

2. Do you see bits of yourself, your family, your friends, or your life in your characters that surprise you?

Writers invariably put some of their own attributes (good and not so good). Like me, both girls in Turning on a Dime love horses and they’re strong-willed and stubborn, but unlike me they’re positively brilliant on horseback (far better than I ever was). I think authors also endow their characters with traits they wish they (the authors) had. I wish I was half as brave as Sam and Caroline and could ride horses as well as they do.

3. Did you always want to write, did your characters or a particular story just need to be written, or were you brought to writing in a completely different path?

Like many kids I wrote (and illustrated) a story about my dog in grade school, then I wrote essays in high school, but I didn’t really get into writing seriously until the late 1970s when I worked as a secretary at a children’s publisher (Weekly Reader). My boss had very little work to give me which meant that I sat, bored out of my mind, in front of a typewriter (yes, it was that long ago) with nothing to do. When I begged him for work he just told me to ‘look busy.’ He didn’t care what I did.

“Write letters, a shopping list,” my boss said. “Write a book.”

So I did.

On Weekly Reader’s time, their typewriter, and their paper. And then, sweet irony, I sold it to them, and my first book, The Golden Horse of Willow Farm, was published by Weekly Reader in 1981.

A year later, after I left Weekly Reader to become a book designer and typesetter, I wrote another children’s book and I sold that to them as well. Armed with visions of future glory, I got an agent and kept on writing whenever I had a free moment (while bringing up kids, building a house, and working full time), and while I’ve enjoyed quite a bit of success, I also have a bottom drawer filled with rejected manuscripts to prove that you can’t always rest on your laurels. You have to keep learning and growing as a writer.

4. Do you have any set writing routine or rituals, or do you work as inspiration strikes? 

I write when the muse (or whatever it is) strikes. Some days I manage a whole bunch of words; other days, I get nothing written down except a reminder to buy paper towels next time I go shopping. Normally, I need perfect quiet at home, but sometimes I can write a whole load of great stuff while in my daughter’s busy kitchen with teenage kids and their friends (and dogs and cats) rushing around, to say nothing of the ducks, chickens, and horses outside that require feeding and attention …  and playing with!

5. What do you do when you are not writing?

Most of the time if I’m not actually writing, I’m thinking about writing—composing scenes, drumming up plots, and inventing new characters for Timber Ridge Riders, my horsey series for middle-grade/tween readers. This, of course, can be done while I’m outside pulling weeds and waging war on the shrubbery, or mucking stalls at my daughter’s barn and feeding her chickens. On rainy days, I indulge myself with fabric, making quilts and tote bags in my tiny sewing room. Oh, and I read a lot, too.

6. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Yes … and it’s a H-U-G-E thank you for buying my books and reviewing them, and for emailing to ask when the next one is coming out. One of my young readers wrote to tell me that she’d started volunteering at a therapeutic riding center, inspired by Holly—one of my Timber Ridge characters—who was once in a wheelchair.

About Maggie:

MAGGIE DANA’s first riding lesson, at the age of five, was less than wonderful. In fact, she hated it so much, she didn’t try again for another three years. But all it took was the right instructor and the right horse and she was hooked for life.
Her new riding stable was slap bang in the middle of Pinewood Studios, home of England’s movie industry. So while learning to groom horses, clean tack, and muck stalls, Maggie also got to see the stars in action. Some even spoke to her.
In addition to writing books for young horse lovers, Maggie also writes women’s fiction, and her new book, TURNING ON A DIME, is a time travel book for MG/tween readers about horses, the Civil War, and two girls from two different centuries. Born and raised near London, Maggie now makes her home on the Connecticut shoreline where she divides her time between hanging out with the family's horses and writing her next book in the Timber Ridge Riders series.

Want to know more? Here is where you can find out more about Maggie and Turning on a Dime.

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/maggiedana

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22012897-turning-on-a-dime

Buy Links for Turning on a Dime:

Amazon US (ebook and print) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0985150491

Amazon UK (ebook and print) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turning-Dime-Time-Travel-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00KBF77ZU

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/turning-on-a-dime/id873816509?mt=11

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/turning-on-a-dime

B&N (ebook and print): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/turning-on-a-dime-maggie-dana/1119477925?ean=2940149179763

Book Review: O'Shae the Octopus by Brandee Buble, Eliska Liska

O'Shae the Octopus is a picturebook written by Brandee Buble and illustrated by Eliska Liska.
O'Shae is an octopus that is typically happy. He is a little diffrerent, having ten arms instead of eight, but with a supportive family and a good friend he loves what his differences let him do for others. When a couple of bullies come on the scene they try to ruin O'Shae's fun.  But, he moves on and creates an even better way to spend his day of fun.

O'Shae the Octopus features bright full page illustrations with rhyming couplets. The story has a nice flow to it. The illustrations are well paired with the words but the quality was a little inconsistent. Sometimes there were perfect, bright and bold, but others they seemed a little less on. I am hoping this is because I was looking at a digital galley rather than the final copy and I giving them the benefit of the doubt that the pictures will all be  of consistent quality in the print version. I liked the message of the story, and the consistent good nature of O'Shae. It did seem a bit heavy handed at times, but I think it will play better with the intended audience than with this adult.

I would recommend O'Shae the Octopus for classrooms, storytimes, and home reading particularly when starting discussions about bullying, individual differences, and related topics. The rhyming couplets flow nicely for reading aloud and the  bright colors will show well while sharing the book.

About the Author:

Brandee Buble grew up in Burnaby, BC, with her big brother Michael and little sister Crystal. Growing up as the daughter of a fisherman, Brandee spent many summers aboard her father's boat, where she had plenty of time to let her imagination run wild about all the creatures that surrounded her. Brandee taught children with special needs for eight great years and that's where her stories were born. She loved writing fun stories to keep her students engaged, often communicating with them through rhyme. Now married to her high school sweetheart, Brandee is a stay-at-home mom to her two awesome kids, O'Shae and Jayde. She is crazy about her family... in fact her sister Crystal is her next door neighbour! She still absolutely loves the ocean and can be found most sunny days on her boat with her family and friends.

Eliska Liska is a world-travelling freelance artist currently based in Victoria, BC. She has a master's degree in Contemporary Art and New Media from Ostrava University, Czech Republic. Her book Suzie’s Sourdough Circus was published in 2011 and she was the 2013 Summer Reading Club artist for BC.