Book Promo ~ The Wool Over Their Eyes

Secrets Threaten to Unravel Family Ties

At 18, Natalia Foster knew seven things about the biological father she’d never met: he was tall, dark, handsome and Italian. He was also married to someone other than Natalia’s mother, had three children and, clearly, no morals. Now, at age 28, Natalia knows something new: her father is dying.

The Wool Over Their Eyes, from Dione Martin, is an authentic, heartfelt story about complex family dynamics and the emotions that must be unpacked when long-buried secrets push their way to the surface.

Illegitimate and bi-racial, Natalia is the secret that her father, Joe, planned to take to his grave. His wife and family know nothing of Natalia’s existence — or that her mother is Black — but when word spreads that Joe has only months to live, Natalia feels compelled to meet him and salvage what little time with him she has left. But at what cost to Joe’s devoted wife, Rosa, and their grown children?

In the midst of Natalia’s family drama and pain is also a love story. Natalia must choose between two loves — a long-lost one and a new one. Her ex-boyfriend, Tyler Davis, who captured her heart and connected with her soul, resurfaces. But she meets a handsome doctor, David Duplessis, who’d cared for her father. Just as the relationship begins to blossom, David commits an act that severs her trust and sends her spiraling further into her dark abyss.

The Wool Over Their Eyes is loosely based on Martin’s personal experiences. She drew upon her own memories and insights of growing up without her biological father and being betrayed in her own marriage to inform her narrative and give her characters depth and authenticity.

“I wrote The Wool Over Their Eyes for fatherless girls, for women who have been betrayed, for those who have been rejected because of their race (or otherness) and for families that have been torn apart by secrets, lies and deception,” Martin reflects. “Healing is possible – through change, through empathy, through faith and through forgiveness.”

Author Dione Martin was born and raised in New Orleans, where she spent much of her childhood and teen years reading. She earned her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Minnesota-Morris and her Master’s in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently a senior communications director at Brinker International. She lives in Dallas with her two daughters and enjoys running, cooking, performing arts and attempting DIY projects. The Wool Over Their Eyes is her debut novel, and she is working on her next one.

​​For more information about the author, please visit www.dione-martin.com or follow her on Twitter (@DioneMartin30), LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/dione-martin/) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/dionehmartin).

The Wool Over Their Eyes

Publisher: Inspire on Purpose
ISBN-10: 1948903539
ISBN-13: 978-1948903530

Available from Amazon.com

Book Promo: Fool’s Errand

Fool’s Errand from Jeffrey S. Stephens is a clever,
upbeat story about long buried family secrets,
the complex relationship between a young man and his father,
and an adventurous hunt for both hidden treasure and difficult truths.

Years after the death of his gangster father, a young man
discovers a letter that sends him reluctantly defying the
mob as he races to locate a hidden treasure.

The love between a father and a son can be both complicated and compelling, especially when the father is a charming rogue. “Blackie” Rinaldi had ties to the mob, and his only son has done all he can to avoid the pitfalls of his father’s chosen path. But when an enigmatic letter hinting at a cache of stolen money surfaces six years after Blackie’s untimely death, the younger Rinaldi is forced to confront his father’s colorful past.

An international treasure hunt ensues, with surprising twists and engaging characters. Fool’s Errand from Jeffrey S. Stephens, author of the popular Jordan Sandor series, is an entertaining story of family ties and a parent’s never-ending influence.

Blackie’s son follows a series of clues from the mean streets of New York to the Las Vegas Strip, and ultimately to the South of France. Along the way, he is confronted by dangerous mobsters, dishonest relatives, suspicious friends, a mysterious woman and the risks of a journey his father may or may not have planned for him.

With the ideal balance of humor and heart, adventure and romance, Fool’s Errand features compelling, relatable characters and a fast-paced narrative that will keep readers guessing as each new secret is revealed.

Author Jeffrey S. Stephens lives in Greenwich, Connecticut. He is also the author of the Jordan Sandor espionage thrillers, beginning with Targets of Deception and, most recently, Rogue Mission. He is also the author of the recent thriller, Crimes and Passion, the first in a planned series featuring Lieutenant Robbie Whyte.

Amazon Reviews

“While Fool’s Errand brings elements of The Maltese Falcon (one of my all-time favorite films), Goodfellas, and even a dash of old-school detective thrillers and serial films, this tale is fully current. It’s a great read and a worthy weekend escape from real life. It doesn’t insult anyone’s beliefs or intelligence. It’s smart, it’s sharp, and it will make a strong movie in the right creative hands. I picked up Fool’s Errand and read it through, cover to cover, in a day. Stephens’ prose is brisk and clean, to the point, and entertaining as it keeps you turning pages. Fool’s Errand is a fun, satisfying read, full of heart and surprises.”  — PJ Media

“Told in the first person, this engaging mystery is both plot-and character-driven. Moving from past to present is deftly handled, and the mystery presented seems both plausible and intriguing. Love of family, albeit a flawed one, is key.”  — Kirkus Reviews

For more information, please visit www.jeffreystephens.com.

Fool’s Errand
Publisher: Post Hill Press
ISBN-13: 978-1642937381
ISBN-10: 164293738X
Available from Amazon.com

Book Promo: Freeda the Frog and Her New Blue Family

Perfect for Black History Month, New Kid’s Book Teaches Diversity, Equality and Blended Families

In a culture that is divided, the subjects of diversity and inclusion have become vital to build a more unified tomorrow. Although discussing these topics with children may be difficult, books have always served as bridges of communication to help pave the way to acceptance. Gold Mom’s Choice Award-winner book and series author Nadine Haruni specializes in making awkward conversations, such as racial equality, fun and approachable. Nadine’s book, Freeda the Frog & Her New Blue Family (Mascot Books; ISBN: 978-1-68401-132-2; $14.95; Hardcover), teaches children and parents alike to welcome people of differing ethnic, religious and gender backgrounds. Being the proud mom of a blended family, Nadine has a personal perspective on the subject.

The book follows green tadpoles Frannie and Frank, who learn two blue frogs, Samson and his son Jack, will be joining the family. They wonder if they will all get along and if Samson will replace their green biological father. However, spending time with their new blue friends teaches the green tadpoles a valuable lesson: a frog is who they are on the inside and shouldn’t be judged by the color of their skin. Nadine is no stranger to subjects like this, or others addressed in previous books such as divorce and losing a loved one.

To that end, the Freeda the Frog series helps educators, school counselors and parents discuss difficult topics in a positive, non-threatening way with children. Each book reinforces Nadine Haruni’s mission of “helping families of all species, one tadpole at a time.” The entire series has even been leveled for schools to align with National Education standards, and all five books in the series have a Readers’ Favorite 5-star review and the Gold Mom’s Choice Award for excellence in the family-friendly picture book category.

“Freeda the Frog and Her New Blue Family will help to foster a young child’s understanding that blended families with mixed ethnicities, religions, and races are all a family just the same…” – Midwest Book Review

Author Nadine Haruni has gone through a divorce herself and is now the mother of five kids in a blended family. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, an attorney and a certified yoga instructor. Haruni has also created a lesson plan inspired by her books for Garden State Equality in New Jersey, her home state. For more information, please visit www.freedathefrog.com.

Freeda the Frog and Her New Blue Family

Publisher: Mascot Books
Hardcover / $14.95
ISBN: 978-1-68401-132-2

available from
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Mascot Books

Book Promo: Sisters by Choice

Sisters by Choice:
A Novel (Blackberry Island)

 

Sisters by Choice is a story about what it takes to reach for your dreams. Sophie Lane lost her mom when she was young, and it left scars on her heart that still haven’t healed. How will she ever know if she would make her mother proud, when her mother isn’t here to tell her?

Sophie started a business when she was in college, Clandestine Kitty. Through grit and hard work, she has built it into a cat toy empire—but if she wants to move to the next step in her life and in her business, she has to learn to let others in. I think a lot of us can relate to that feeling of trying to hold on tight to keep everything under control, trying to do everything ourselves to achieve our vision of how things should be. But when we learn to let others help, suddenly life gets a lot brighter.

Cousins by chance, sisters by choice…

After her cat toy empire goes up in flames, Sophie Lane returns to Blackberry Island, determined to rebuild. Until small-town life reveals a big problem: she can’t grow unless she learns to let go. If Sophie relaxes her grip even a little, she might lose everything. Or she might finally be free to reach for the happiness and love that have eluded her for so long.

Kristine has become defined by her relationship to others. She’s a wife, a mom. As much as she adores her husband and sons, she wants something for herself—a sweet little bakery just off the waterfront. She knew changing the rules wouldn’t be easy, but she never imagined she might have to choose between her marriage and her dreams.

Like the mainland on the horizon, Heather’s goals seem beyond her grasp. Every time she manages to save for college, her mother has another crisis. Can she break free, or will she be trapped in this tiny life forever?

Told with Mallery’s trademark humor and charm, Sisters by Choice is a heartfelt tale of love, family, and the friendships that see us through.

               
            

Review

“Mallery beautifully illustrates the power of female friendship and the importance of reaching for one’s dreams…Mallery’s women are achingly real. This irresistible, heartfelt story will appeal to romance readers and women’s fiction fans alike.”—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives―family, friendship, romance. She’s known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages.Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.

Book Promo: On the Night Before Christmas

On the Night Before Christmas

by Sheilagh Watkins

On the Night Before Christmas is a modern version of the classic poem, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”. The original poem first appeared in print in 1823 in the New York “Sentinel”. Clement Clarke Moore composed the poem after a shopping trip on a sleigh. This version follows the theme of a father who awakens to the sound of reindeer. He runs to the window and sees Santa slip down the chimney, carrying a sack of toys with him. He watches as Santa fills the stockings hanging by the fireplace. Santa then disappears up the chimney, climbs onto his sleigh and flies away into the snowy, night sky.

About the Author:

Shelagh Watkins is writer, editor and publisher at Mandinam Press. Her first novel, Mr. Planemaker’s Flying Machine, was serialised on Preston FM community radio in 2009. The sequel, Mr. Planemaker’s Diving Machine, was published in 2011. Shelagh’s second novel, The Power of Persuasion, was published in 2008. The same year, she edited and published Forever Friends, an anthology of short stories and poems written by members of publishedauthors.org. A follow-up anthology, Forever Travels, was published in 2010. A third anthology, Forever Families, was published in 2012.

available in KINDLE & PAPERBACK

Review: Audience of Chairs” directed by Deanna Foley

A Bittersweet Story of Time Lost

This movie certainly made me feel the full range of emotions including frustration, anger, hopelessness, optimism, and bittersweet joy. It was beautifully performed by Carolina Bartzcak, Gord Rand and Peter MacNeill.

Bartzcak, playing the lead as Maura, successfully portrayed a woman betrayed by a callous and self-centered husband (Christopher Jacot) and driven to complete despondency and mental illness. Maura’s father (Peter MacNeill) showed an unending love and concern for his daughter throughout her ordeal. And Ben (Gord Rand), a long-distance truck driver, saves Maura’s life and helps her find her way with his love.

Throughout the heartache and Maura’s losses throughout the story, the ending, though bittersweet because of so many years lost with her daughters, is uplifting and joyful. This is a must see movie that will speak directly to your heart.

(reviewed by Chelle Cordero)

AN AUDIENCE OF CHAIRS
GETS U.S RELEASE

A film that “showcases the beauty of the province as much as the talents of its performers” (National Post), this universal story of the redemptive power of a mother’s love is adapted from the popular, award-winning novel, “An Audience of Chairs” by Joan Clark.

Maura Mackenzie (Carolina Bartczak) believes the world is hers to conquer. With her career as a concert pianist gaining momentum, it seems her beauty and talent will be strong enough to mask the demons that threaten to engulf her. But with an absent husband (Chris Jacot) and two young daughters at home, her precarious sanity begins to unravel until one summer day, burning with manic energy, she makes a terrible mistake —a mistake that will change her life forever. The consequences for Maura are catastrophic: her ambitious husband runs for his life, taking the children with him, leaving Maura to lapse into a full-scale breakdown. Life as she knew it is now over. With the help of her father, Ian (Peter MacNeill), Maura works to reclaim her life and waits for a miracle to bring her daughters home. But when the fates align, can the past be forgiven?

Written by Rosemary House and directed by Deanne Foley, An Audience of Chairs is “an experience to be shared” (TorontoNOW). See it September 24 on digital from Indiecan Entertainment.

(Copyright © 2019 October Coast Publicity)

See SAFAM, April 3 in Metuchen NJ

2016  SUSY SCHWARTZ MEMORIAL FUND BENEFIT CONCERT

Sunday, April 3, 2016 • 24 Adar II 5776

6:30 PM – 9:30 PM     Neve Shalom Ballroom

To Register Click Below

I PLAN TO ATTEND THE SUSY SCHWARTZ MEMORIAL CONCERT ON SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2016!

General Admission (Adult) Tickets ($25.00 each) in advance

http://neveshalom.shulcloud.com/2016-susy-schwartz-social.html

~~~~~

DIRECTIONS

Congregation Neve Shalom is located at:
250 Grove Avenue
Metuchen, NJ 08840

732-548-2238

Book Review: The Santangelos by Jackie Collins

In memory of Jackie Collins ~

The Santangelos: A Novel

A vicious hit. A vengeful enemy. A drug addled Colombian club owner. A sex crazed Italian family. And the ever powerful Lucky Santangelo has to deal with them all, while Max-her teenage daughter is becoming The “It” girl in Europe’s modeling world. And her Kennedyesque son, Bobby, is being set up for a murder he didn’t commit. But Lucky can deal. Always strong and unpredictable with her husband, Lennie, by her side she lives up to the family motto-Never cross a Santangelo.

Lucky rules. The Santangelos always come out on top. An epic family saga filled with love, lust, revenge and passion.

Amazon Customer Review

     Jackie Collins’ THE SANTANGELOS gives us another thrilling chapter of one of fiction’s favorite families   by Cyrus Webb

 We had to wait a little longer this year to get another Jackie Collins’ novel, but I can tell you that THE SANTANGELOS was DEFINITELY worth the wait.

Jackie has a way of thrusting you in the lives of her characters, making you feel their desires, their hatred and the love that comes from one of the most beloved families in fiction.

In this book we are able to see the extent that Lucky is willing to go in order to protect her own, but we are also given the reminder that some things are out of our control. When tragedy hits the Santangelos family will it break them apart or bring them closer together? That is one of the most fascinating layers of the book.

I also love the fact that Max finds her own “voice” so to speak, and come to rely not only on the strength of her mother but the words of her grandfather as well. “You’re a Santangelo—an’ Santangelos don’t quit.”

The other interesting things about this novel is that it reminds us that in a digital age EVERYTHING is fair game and the truth is not always something that others feel the need to spotlight. Bobby Santangelo Stanislopoulos realizes this firsthand, and he has to live with the thoughts of others thanks to the world wide web.

This book allows other characters to step up and be noticed, giving readers something to look forward to when it comes to the future of the Santangelo family in other books. Whether this is your first book to read about the family or you’ve been a fan for some time, you won’t be able to forget.

About the Author

Jackie Collins started writing as a teenager, making up steamy stories her schoolmates paid to devour. Her first book, “The World is Full of Married Men,” became a sensational bestseller because of its open sexuality and the way it dealt honestly with the double standard. After that came “The Stud,” “Sinners,” “The Love Killers,” “The World is Full of Divorced Women,” “The Bitch,” “Lovers And Gamblers,” “Chances,” and then the international sensation, “Hollywood Wives” — a #1 New York Times bestseller, which was made into one of ABC’s highest-rated miniseries starring Anthony Hopkins and Candice Bergen. She wrote more than 30 books during her career.

Ms. Collins passed away Saturday, September 19, 2015 at the age of 77 after battling breast cancer.

Jacqueline Jill “Jackie” Collins was born on Oct. 4, 1937, in London. Survivors include her three daughters, Tracy, Tiffany and Rory, and her sister, Joan.

Read a FREE short story ~ Visit Author Chelle Cordero on Facebook

 Starting tomorrow, Sept 2, and through the month, I will be posting my short story Pussy Cat Tales in serialized version on my Facebook page. Come back every other day for another installment.

Pussy Cat Tales (an amusing look at a lifetime with cats) is one of
the short stories in The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero.

Enjoy! Visit Author Chelle Cordero​ to follow along.

The Many Faces of Chelle Cordero

Buy Links

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Book Promo: The LGBT & Modern Family Money Manual by Holly Hanson

The LGBT & Modern Family Money Manual:
Financial Strategies For You
and Your Loved Ones

by Holly Hanson
Buy Link

We’re living in swiftly changing times, and this is very good news for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals, same-sex couples and modern families. This means that there’s a groundswell of support for marriage equality, should you choose to get married. But it also means that now, more than ever, it’s important to stay educated and up-to-date about what rights and privileges are available to you so that you can be your own best advocate-in life and in finance. The LGBT and Modern Family Money Manual is the go-to resource for LGBT individuals and couples as they look to forge ahead into a brighter future, as well as for modern families of all shapes and sizes-even long-term partners of the opposite sex who have opted not to enter into traditional marriage.

Although financial planning is a concern to every individual, no matter his or her sexual orientation or family dynamic, the issues surrounding family planning, marriage equality, and estate planning-just to name a few areas of many-that LGBT and modern families face require a unique perspective. Harmony Financial Strategies Principal and Founder Holly Hanson and team of professionals are the perfect authorities to help LGBT individuals, same-sex couples and modern families navigate the wealth of ever-changing information out there on the subject within the comfort of a safe, grounded and empathetic environment. From developing a plan for protection of assets to understanding the benefits you should be applying for that could positively change your financial picture, this book aims to give LGBT individuals, same-sex couples, and modern families the foundation they need to plan and provide for themselves and their loved ones through financial strategies crafted with them in mind.

7 Ways LGBT Couples & Modern Families
Benefit from Same-Sex Marriage
Wealth Manager Reviews the Many Financial and Legal Advantages

Advocates for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender couples and modern families are adding another victory to their list, with 36 states, along with Washington D.C., to allow marriage among same-sex couples.

A critical turning point came in October last year, when the Supreme Court chose not to hear appeals against lower court rulings that had overturned same-sex marriage bans in five states. Despite actions such as Indiana’s recent Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which would allow businesses in the state to refuse service to the LGBT community, the tide has been swift and overwhelmingly in favor of gay rights.

“I’ll always remember June 26, 2013 — the day that the Defense of Marriage Act was ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court, effectively breaking down the major door standing between LGBT couples and marriage equality,” says financial professional Holly Hanson, founder and principal of Harmony Financial Strategies, www.harmony-financial.com, a firm that, in part, focuses on the needs of the LGBT community. “As a member of the LGBT community, the day is etched forever in my mind.”

“Naturally, a lingering suspicion remains in the back of our minds, ‘Is it too good to be true?’ And, despite the positive direction the country is taking toward same-sex couples, there remain many practical concerns regarding laws and finances.” 

Hanson, author of “The LGBT and Modern Family Money Manual,” touches on benefits that have become available recently to millions of Americans.

•  Social Security and Medicare: In states where same-sex marriage is legal, LGBT couples have access now to federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

“Not only is it plainly fair—we’ve been paying into these systems as taxpayers regardless of your ability to take advantage of marriage—it will no doubt improve some of the issues that elderly people in the LGBT community face as they age and need assistance via partner benefits,” she says.

•  Military Benefits: Not only can same-sex couples now serve without fear of being dishonorably discharged or otherwise forced out, we can live openly together with military assistance as other military families have for years.

•  Federal and State Tax Benefits: Just by changing your tax status to “married filing jointly,” you can save thousands of dollars. We now have more choices in tax planning, and this is obviously something that ties into long-term financial planning as well.

•  Legal Titling to Assets: In the past, LGBT partners were unable to access retirement funds and pensions as heterosexual spouses could have. There are considerable taxation consequences for inheriting an investment vehicle from someone other than a spouse. Now, legally married LGBT spouses can have the proper access to these funds, both while their spouse is living or deceased.

•  Ability to Gift Money: Spouses can make monetary gifts to one another free of taxation. However, in the past, an LGBT couple would have had to pay gift tax on anything more than $14,000 (the current limit as of 2014). If I wanted to buy my wife a car, for example, that asset would have been subject to the gift tax. Not so anymore.

•  U.S. Visas for Same-Sex Couples: In the past, many LGBT couples would be ripped apart by forced deportation once visas ran out.

“My wife is a Swedish national, and now that we are legally married, I can sponsor her permanent residency in the United States,” Hanson says.

•  Parenting Rights / Family Planning: Second-parent adoptions have undoubtedly been smoothed over by the fact that it’s now easier to get a legal same-sex marriage in many states. Not all states in the U.S. have the same laws, so it’s recommended you attain the appropriate paperwork.

“Of course, there are millions of other Americans who, currently, do not have access to these and other benefits,” Hanson says. “Fortunately, those states are becoming an ever-receding minority. I think most of us can reasonably expect the possibility of marriage benefits within our lifetimes.”

About Holly Hanson, CFP®, CIMA®, ADPA®

Holly Hanson is founder and principal of Harmony Financial Strategies, www.harmony-financial.com, a recent vision which came to her after 16 years of experience in the financial advisory business and having attained the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Certified Investment Management Analyst and Accredited Domestic Partner Advisor. She oversees the entire Harmony operation, mentoring and guiding the advisors to provide a unique combination of knowledge, dedication and service to LGBT individuals, same-sex couples and modern families. 

With the fall of DOMA and the repeal of Proposition 8 in California, Holly and her partner Sophie were married in 2013, and hope to eventually add children to their family of four dogs. Holly and Sophie are active supporters of the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the Human Rights Campaign.

(from Ginny Grimsley, National Print Campaign Manager, News and Experts)

June is LGBT Pride Month