True Stories of the Smoky View by Jill McCroskey Coupe
Thanks to Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity, I am giving away one print copy of True Stories of the Smoky View by Jill McCroskey Coupe.
Description of True Stories of the Smoky View by Jill McCroskey Coupe
After attending the funeral of her estranged friend Skip in Knoxville, Tennessee, Vrai (short for Vraiment), a forty-something art history librarian with sons of her own, rescues ten-year-old Jonathan, who has been abandoned with no shoes in the funeral home parking lot. The Blizzard of 1993 strands this unlikely duo at the Smoky View Motel, where, motivated in part by the unsolved murders of Jonathan’s parents, they begin to uncover the truth about Skip’s death.
With elements of mystery and intrigue, True Stories at the Smoky View is primarily a novel about relationships: the love Vrai feels for her husband and sons, all of whom have left home; her friendship with Skip, which she begins to see in a new light; and her deepening bond with Jonathan. For Vrai and Jonathan, this is a story of mutual rescue—one that results in new lives for them both.
Praise for True Stories of the Smoky View by Jill McCroskey Coupe
“…riveting….Coupe handles this complex tale of troubled romance, broken families, redeeming friendship, and inexplicable evil with intelligence, grace, and grit. This exhilarating debut novel brims with honesty, charm, heart, and good humor.”—John Dufresne, author of No Regrets, Coyote
“Coupe’s wonderful first novel is above all testament to Eudora Welty’s observation that “all serious daring starts from within.” With an abundance of wit and accuracy of feeling, Coupe beautifully charts both the complexities of loyalty and the internal growth of Vrai Lynde, her central character, and she does so in clear, precise prose.”—Jane Brox, author Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light
“Coupe has created a compelling narrative about a smart and feisty librarian named Vraiment, whose colleague, Skip, may or may not have been the victim of foul play….This is a thoroughly absorbing book that I found difficult to put down. The personalities Coupe conjured stayed with me long after I finished reading. The writing is beautiful: spare and funny. A most enjoyable read.”—Maureen Beck, former Director of Library Services, Stevenson University
About Jill McCroskey Coupe
Jill McCroskey Coupe’s first job was gathering (collating) in her father’s printing plant in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. A former librarian at Johns Hopkins University, she has an MFA in Fiction from North Carolina’s Warren Wilson College, in the heart of the Blue Ridge.
Thanks to Winona Leon of Rare Bird Lit, I am giving away one print copy of The Alzhammer by Joseph Di Prisco.
Description of Alzhammer by Joseph Di Prisco
Mikey is history. He’s got what he calls the Alzhammer. A once-powerful mob boss, he is seriously slipping—losing control of his crew and of his mind. His business is sideways, his rivals are coming for him, he’s crazy forgetful, and it is a fact his parents suffered miserably with Alzheimer’s. He refuses to ride diapered and drooling into the sunset. He is going to whack himself. Problem is, others are trying to whack him and rip off what’s left of the family’s business, which is different and which pisses him off—when he remembers.
Meanwhile, his ex, Zayana, slips back into his life. She’s been on the lam. Long ago, she hooked up with a rich, ruthless, and very married Senator who’s concerned she might go public during election season, and he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to eliminate her and save his image. Mikey decides to do the right thing for a change.
They will hole up in the perfect hideaway—a shady, unlicensed nursing home near Vegas—until after the vote. Mikey’s feelings for Z resurface, but even so, he figures once she and her son, who might be his, are safe, he will finally kill himself in peace. Until then, he must confront his would-be killers, the Senator, and the lunatic who cracks the whip at the three-ring-circus home called Over the Rainbow.
About Joseph Di Prisco
Joseph Di Prisco is an accomplished author, and has written seven other books, including Subway to California, All for Now, and Sun City. Di Prisco has a background in world of organized crime… his father was a part of a bookmaking crew, and his upbringing has been described as “The Goodfather”-esque. You can also stay up-to-date on Joe’s activities by visiting his website: http://www.diprisco.com.
Giveaway of Alzhammer by Joseph Di Prisco
This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on April 1, 2016 at 12 am pacific time.
Today it is my immense pleasure to kick off ‘The Redemption of Don Juan Casanova’ by Lloyd Lofthouse tour! I have been a fan of Lloyd Lofthouse since I read ‘My Splendid Concubine‘ in 2009.
The Redemption of Don Juan Casanova by Lloyd Lofthouse:
Publisher: Three Clover Press (May, 2015) Category: Crime Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Tour Date: May/June, 2015 Available in: Print & ebook, 325 Pages
From the award winning author of ‘My Splendid Concubine’ and ‘Running With the Enemy’ comes ‘The Redemption of Don Juan Casanova’!
Honorable mention in general fiction-2015 San Francisco book Festival
1st place winner in the mystery category at the 2015 Beach Book Festival
Don Juan Casanova wants to discover what it’s like to be loved by only one woman. His problem is that he was raised by his grandparents to become a Lothario, who loves and then leaves women for the next conquest. As he approaches 40, he is facing a crisis.
His grandfather and then younger brother have been viciously murdered, and Don is the prime suspect. As he struggles to stay out of jail and end his life of serial seductions and find one woman to love, he’s discovering it isn’t easy to kick an old habit. His mother isn’t helping by quoting scripture every chance she gets in an attempt to change her son’s lifestyle of sin for one of piety.
Praise for ‘Running With the Enemy’ by Lloyd Lofthouse:
Runner Up in General Fiction: 2013 Beach Book Festival
Honorable Mentions in General Fiction: 2014 Los Angeles Book Festival 2013 San Francisco Book Festival 2013 Hollywood Book Festival 2013 New York Book Festival
“Obviously drawn from the author’s first-hand experiences as a Marine serving in Vietnam, Running with the Enemy is a rough but occasionally heartfelt war story. … The book is sometimes too obviously drawn from his experience. But ultimately that’s a small complaint about a book that, on the whole, is quite good and has a lot to say about the nature of the conflict .” – 21st Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards commentary from an anonymous judge
“This book grabbed hold of me. It has left me knowing just how horrific conditions were for those who fought in Vietnam, and I applaud those who survived.”-Lisa Binion, The News In Books
“I found Running with the Enemy captivating and well worth reading and enjoyed such a different type of historical novel from Mr. Lofthouse than his previous. Since Mr. Lofthouse is a former Marine and Vietnam veteran, I am sure he drew from some of his personal experiences and I shudder to think of some of these experiences.”- M. Denise C.
“Running With the Enemy is a gut-wrenching page-turner at once a historical rendering of the Vietnam-American war, a suspense-thriller involving the framing of an innocent man forced to go on the run, and a passionate love story. As an historical novel, it renders an intricate tapestry of the era, the geography, and the several cultures in confrontation at that time. As a suspense-thriller it grips on page one and keeps your heart racing page after page with hardly a paragraph of relief. As a war story, it depicts war as the bloody, hell that it is–a place in which the mettle of the honorable is tested and honed in the same landscape where sociopaths thrive and reach the heights of power and influence. As a love story, it portrays the way a bond between two hearts can transcend race, religion, politics, national identity and family loyalty, defying all convention, tradition, prejudice and law to claim their right to have each other. The characters are all deftly drawn and believable and if they exist beyond a page or two they will leave their mark on the reader who has come to care about them whether it is to love them, admire them, hate them or simply be amused by them. I can wholeheartedly recommend Running With the Enemy as a story that rewards the time and effort invested. Its impact will linger long after the last page is turned.”-Joystory
Praise for ‘My Splendid Concubine’:
Finalist in Fiction & Literature: Historical Fiction: The National “Best Books 2010” Awards, December 2010
Honorable Mentions in General Fiction: 2012 San Francisco Book Festival 2012 New York Book Festival 2012 London Book Festival 2013 DIY Book Festival
“My Splendid Concubine is packed cover to cover with intriguing characters and plot, a must read for historical fiction fans and a fine addition to any collection on the genre.” Midwest Book Review
“Lloyd Lofthouse believes Hart was motivated to destroy his papers not out of shame but out of privacy: ‘What he had with Ayaou was something special he wanted to keep to himself. I don’t think he would approve of My Splendid Concubine … but we live in a different age than Victorian England. I feel that this love story deserves to be told.’ ”- Anneli Rufus , East Bay Express
“Historical fiction potboiler, yes. But where the `Concubine’ saga truly shines is its thought-provoking passages on relationships, attitudes and cultural differences.”-Tom Carter, author of China: Portrait of a People
“Told in descriptive detail and such beauty of the Chinese culture that I did not want it the story to end. A very well written and impeccably researched story that I highly recommend to the historical fiction fan. A lot of history but not written like a history book. This book does have a lot of sexual content in it but told in a very tasteful way. I really enjoyed this book.”- Kathleen Kelly, Celtic Lady
About Lloyd Lofthouse:
Lloyd Lofthouse is a former U.S. Marine and Vietnam Veteran, who worked as a maître d’ in a 15 million dollar nightclub for a few years. He also taught English literature in the public schools for most of 30 years where he explored Romeo and Juliet with thousands of high school students.
A romantic at heart, in his award winning novels, he tests true love in difficult situations and the challenges of keeping that love alive. My Splendid Concubine, his first novel, is an epic love story that teaches acceptance and respect for other people and their cultures. Running with the Enemy, his second novel, is a love story that will either cost the characters their lives or will complete each other’s hearts. The Redemption of Don Juan Casanova, his third novel, is the story of a man raised in a world of sin and seduction, who craves the love of one woman but fears, because of his infamous reputation as a libertine, that he’ll never find a woman to love who will trust him to be faithful.
Lloyd Lofthouse lives with his family in California’s San Francisco Bay area.
‘The Redemption of Don Juan Cassanova’ by Lloyd Lofthouse- ON SALE!:
Now through June 5, 2015 buy ‘The Redemption of Don Juan Cassanova’ for only $0.99 on Kindle.
Enter To Win ‘The Redemption of Don Juan Cassanova’ by Lloyd Lofthouse:
This giveaway is for the choice of one print copy or one ebook copy. Print is only available to the U.S. This giveaway ends on June 7, 2015. Please use Rafflecopter to win.
Alzhammer by Joseph Di Prisco
