By the time the Chicago producer, arranger, and composer Charles Stepney died of a heart attack at forty-five in 1976, he had spent a decade working behind the scenes on soul, blues, and R&B records that brought ideas from the avant-garde to commercial pop, but he had never recorded an album under his own name. […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/02/21/a-sketchbook-in-sound/
Join me in celebrating the release of CLEVER GIRL by Laralyn Doran. This is the third standalone novel in the Driven Women series featuring strong women and the men who fall for them. Come check out Mia and Gus before downloading your copy. You’re going to love this friends to lovers romance. Hey, be sure to enter the giveaway.
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Mia St. James
Men want me. I rev their engines.
No, really, it’s my job to make their cars go faster.
Some say I’m the perfect woman—but not Gus Quinlan.
In college, I knew not to lose my heart to him. Yet, he still managed to break it.
Years later, he helps me land a dream job with a women-led race team.
He even invites me to be his roommate—that’s how far in the “friend zone” I am.
Until he kisses me and promises I’m more.
Some say I’m sharp, others say clever…but when it comes to Gus, I can be such a fool.
Is my heart strong enough to give him a second chance when the smart thing to do is to leave him in the rearview mirror?
Gus Quinlan
In my life, I have women I date and friends who are women…and then there is Mia St. James.
She crashes into my well-constructed world with the sweetness I remember
and a new sexy confidence that has me spinning my wheels.
My friends warn me not to cross that line.
Until we’re on a romantic beach under the moonlight, and…come on—I couldn’t not kiss her.
When forced to relive a trauma, I misread the data and destroy our bond.
I can rebuild a hundred-thousand-dollar engine…but how do I repair us?
Screw this, she can tell me why she’s prickly later. I turned on the charm. Stepping closer, I reached for her hand, softly taking it between both of mine as two lovers would. I stared up at her from beneath my lashes, leaning forward and brushing my lips across her cheek, drawing back slowly and deepening my voice. “Hey there, Mia Darlin’”
She pulled her hand out of mine, shoved my chest, her other hand on her hip. She fought it—the laughter, but the smirk wouldn’t be denied. “What have I told you about calling me darlin’? And wipe that stupid grin off your face, your charms and good looks don’t work on me, remember?”
I threw my head back and laughed, dragging her in for a true hug.
She softened in my hug and patted my back, accepting the greeting as I rocked her back and forth.
Harper and CJ walked up behind us, one of them commenting, “Oh, yeah. She’ll fit in just fine.”
Copyright © 2023 by Laralyn Doran
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Laralyn Doran is a multi-award winning writer of fun, contemporary romance and dark, urban fantasy romance. Her latest manuscript, “A Fast Woman” is an “enemies-to-lovers” racing romance, set to release in the fall of 2020 and will be the first in the “Driven Women” series. In 2019, “A Fast Woman” was awarded The Writer Award, given by the Land of Enchantment Romance Authors (LERA). Laralyn is a proud special needs mom, and an autism and dyslexia awareness advocate. She lives in Maryland and is a member of Romance Writers of America, Central Pennsylvania Romance Writers, Washington Romance Writers, and other affiliate chapters, where she met some amazing and supportive authors who have had the patience of saints and given her more than one kick in the backside.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/02/blog-tour-clever-girl-by-laralyn-doran.html
Liam wakes up one Sunday morning enjoying the peace and quiet as the rest of the house is still asleep. However, his quiet time is interrupted by the sound of fire trucks racing in his home and neighborhood. Unable to ignore the sounds, he hides under his pillow and covers, trying to make the sound bearable, but it still hurts his ears. That afternoon he has a special outing with his aunt and cousins. When he discovers that the outing is to a loud rock concert, he becomes concerned, and as soon as the music starts, the pain in his head from the sounds is too much, and he has to run away. It takes a quiet conversation with his uncle Harry to find a way to cope with the loud sounds that cause him pain.
Noise All Over by Tuula Pere is part of her Little Fears series for children. This beautifully written picture book tells the story of a child who struggles with loud sounds. This is a common issue for children with sensory processing disorders. The sounds are not just loud but physically painful; those without this issue may have trouble understanding the concept. This children’s book explains how it makes Liam feel and what can be done to help him when sounds get too overwhelming.
Noise All Over is an insightful children’s book that helps kids understand what it is like to have an aversion to loud noises. This is a beautiful story to share with classrooms to help classmates learn empathy and how to help one another. In addition, it is a great starting point for talking about how people process things differently, be it sounds, textures, or even how they think.
Pages: 36 | ISBN : 9523577816
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/21/noise-all-over/
Naomi’s Journey Into the Light is a story about Naomi Larson, a woman whose life encounters are both intriguing and inspiring. Naomi may seem like the typical girl next door, but her life is a testimony that God exists and loves his people. The author starts the book on a relatively sad note as the reader is introduced to 18-year-old Naomi, who has just learned that her mother is fatally ill. Now, this would be distressing for any child. However, mothers are pillars in most homes, and for Naomi, her mother being sick and possibly having a short time to live frightened her. It was unfortunate that her mother later passed on, but in her passing, Naomi came to understand some things that she was previously oblivious to.
Author Sam Rawlins writes about Naomi in the most natural way. As a reader, you feel you have met Naomi or can relate to some of her stories. Naomi’s life was not extraordinary life, but she was different. A lot of things happened after the loss of her mother. She encountered challenges, met good friends, met people who appeared to be guardian angels, and even found her path to God. Naomi also worked as a chaplain assistant in a hospice, which revealed to her the true purpose she had on this earth, among other things. Through Naomi’s story, Sam Rawlins can show readers how to realize their true purpose on earth, the journey of faith, and why religion is crucial for everyone.
As the author narrates Naomi’s and other peoples’ tales, the reader can pick lifetime lessons, notes on spirituality, and how to lead a righteous life. I especially like Sam Rawlins’s writing style, as he is charming and entertaining. Even as he writes about God, faith, hope, and being Christ’s soldiers, the author incorporates light moments in the text to make the reading exciting. Through the book, one realizes that we have often encountered God differently. You have probably met God through your work, at school, and in different seasons in your life, but you have no idea when it happened. I appreciate the author for making us reflect on our daily encounters and helping Christians strengthen their faith in God through the sacred text in his book. Every chapter in the book has a crucial lesson on finding the light and becoming a true child of God. Like Naomi, most Christians go through experiences that they may not fully comprehend at first but understand in the future.
Naomi’s Journey Into the Light is an inspirational book that takes readers on a spiritual journey. This well-written book will be an excellent read for believers aiming to live fulfilling lives, those facing obstacles, Christians battling spiritual wars, and those wanting to do missionary work. Sam Rawlins is a fantastic author with gems on spirituality, believing, and being God’s servants.
Pages: 176 | ASIN : B0B2374T8L
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/21/naomis-journey-into-the-light/
In the story telling style of Kristin Hannah and Delia Owens, The Road Renounced is a World War I tale of one soldier’s triumphs and tragedies as told by the woman who loves him.
2015. Prospect Park, Pennsylvania. Suzanne Ryan uncovers her grandmother’s diary hidden in the binding of a century-old photo album. Thrilled to learn about her grandmother, Maude, who died before Suzanne was born, she reads the first entry, written on Maude’s tenth birthday.
1915. Prospect Park, Pennsylvania. Maude Brewer, her brother, Henry, and his best friend, Buzz Ryan, live a relatively care-free existence. But the darkening conflict in Europe looms, threatening them all with the fight of their lives.
At the same time, across the ocean, darkness has already fallen as the Germans march into neutral Belgium and shatter the life of nurse Marthe Peeters, whose family is viciously killed right in front of her. She is captured and forced to travel with the German Army, each step escalating the rage in her heart that explodes into plans for revenge.
But as Maude’s story unfolds through the years, it intersects with Marthe’s and despite the fact that an ocean separates them, it is clear that the two women share their perspectives on the war. They also, Suzanne learns, share the love of the same man, Buzz Ryan, Suzanne’s grandfather. Buzz must not only fight the war on the battlefield, he must also fight the war within his heart.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/21/the-road-renounced-book-trailer/
No Cyberbullies is a tremendously informative book for parents, educators, and adults who care about children’s well-being. The author, at length, writes about child bullying, discussing issues like the types of bullying, conditions that lead to bullying, and aspects like culture, religion, social conditioning, and appearance, among other central topics. In his book, author Brian Parkin brings to light the menace of bullying and gives a practical guide on handling bullied kids and their bullies.
One key point in this book is that we need more awareness about bullying to not just children but adults responsible for their care. Not every child that bullies others does it because they enjoy it; instead, it is a way of dealing with past or current traumas. The author does not in any way condone bullying, nor does he side with the vice. Instead, Brian Parkin educates and encourages parents, teachers, and guardians to investigate the root source of the problem.
How does bullying start? Even before writing about what makes bullies get into that behavior, the author started the book by writing about the history of bullying. He writes about how bullying has existed for centuries and how bullied children have endured the issue. The author mentioned the book Tom Brown’s Schooldays by Thomas Hughes as a good reference material with examples of school bullying, a book everyone should read.
This book is short, but the knowledge is immense. One of my favorite chapters is chapter 15. Parkin has notes to help you with what to do about cyberbullying in school. The author has well-written notes for victims of cyberbullying, the parents, school teachers, headmasters or principals, and cyber bullies themselves. Every message is well-packaged, and the text is concise and easy to follow. Chapter 16 was another great chapter, as the author brought a legal angle. There is plenty of advice on one’s legal rights if they are being bullied, and the author used simple language to cater to readers of all levels. Chapter 16 will be helpful to victims and their families as not many people are aware that one can take a legal approach when it comes to bullying.
No Cyberbullies is an eye-opening book that I recommend to all readers. Everyone needs to lend a hand to put a stop to this behavior. The anonymous effect of bullies online is a problem that needs to be dealt with, and this is why lawmakers should be among the first to stop cyberbullying witnessed in various parts of the world. This book can be a great starting point for policymakers and enforcers.
Pages: 90 | ASIN : B00I9FKOZE
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/21/no-cyberbullies/
Jonty loves fishing more than any other activity. One winter, he and his dad spent the whole season planning a brand-new fishpond for their backyard. They were going to raise rainbow trout! Once spring arrived, they got to work building their pond. They stocked it with baby fish that Jonty made sure to feed every day. Then, one summer day, he heads to the lake to fish and catches a giant king pike! While taking the fish home to cook it for dinner, it escapes and flops into the fish pond. Despite their best efforts, they could not recatch the pike, which was now stuck in the pond.
Jonty and the Giant Pike is a touching story about a boy’s love for fishing. While he would have loved to have had the king pike for dinner, he respected the fish’s will to live and cunning ability to escape the bucket and hide. It was touching that even when the fish pond failed to provide rainbow trout, and the king pike escaped, Jonty never lost his good attitude and spirit of wonder. He was amazed by the pike’s fortitude and admired its survival skills. Rather than be upset, Jonty decided that the pike was in a better place and where it belonged, in the open water.
Author Tuule Pere and illustrator Milena Radeva have created a heartwarming children’s book about adapting to situations and making the best when things are unplanned. The lessons that children can learn from Jonty and the Giant Pike about having a positive attitude will stay with them long after they have finished reading this remarkable story.
Pages: 38 | ISBN : 952357793X
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/21/jonty-and-the-giant-pike/
Editors’ picks for the best teen books of February
Original source: https://www.amazon.com/amazonbookreview/editorspicks.html?ref_=abr_widget_nav&theme=light
Ask an editor: What romance should I read next?
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Our picks for the best debuts of February
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