Book Promo ~ Death by Chaos

Distinctive Female Characters Propel Engaging
Murder Mystery, Death by Chaos

 They are the undisputed “goddesses” of their Southern California liberal arts college. The four women met as randomly assigned roommates, and despite their diverse backgrounds and interests, they have a bond that will last for decades. Tasha is the flirty theater arts major; Elizabeth, gifted with classic beauty and intelligence, majors in pre-law; Dawn is the intuitive daughter of a single Navajo mother, and an outstanding psychology student; and Miranda is an athletic, ultra-liberal journalism major. With distinct talents and trajectories, each young woman seems destined for a Charmed Life. But just before graduation, a student is found murdered. Suspicion falls in their midst, and destinies are changed forever.  

Death by Chaos is a clever, entertaining mystery from Renaii West, with complex female characters, colorful dialogue and enough surprises to keep readers guessing.

The ensuing murder investigation threatens to derail the women’s friendship — and possibly their futures. One of the four women becomes a person of interest and goes missing. And one of them knows much more than she’s sharing.

Over the next two decades, the case remains unsolved, and three of the women enjoy success in their respective careers. But one woman is still missing, and one remains haunted by the chaos of that ill-fated night. With an upcoming reunion on the horizon, and the arrival of a stranger on a motorcycle bringing even more turmoil, the time seems right to finally revisit the past, uncover the secrets and expose the truth. There’s one major catch: there are those who wish the case to remain unsolved. Finding answers and the closure the four women so desperately need will require good acting, deception and maybe a little divine intervention.

About the Author
Death by Chaos author Renaii West is a playwright and dramatic arts educator. After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master of Arts in Communication from the United States International University, she became the dramatic arts instructor in a performing arts junior high magnet program, where she wrote and directed many of her own productions. She was also a belly-dancer for 10 years.

She wrote and produced a short film, “Eli’s Run,” which was accepted into the Oceanside Film Festival (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIeNwCAU7nk). Her passions include Greek mythology, classic films, folk and ballroom dancing, jigsaw puzzles, and of course, mysteries. West has traveled across the world, including to England, Greece, Jordan, Mexico, Israel, Poland, Russia, France, Morocco, Latvia and Estonia. She resides in San Diego, California.

For more information, please visit www.Renaiiwest.com, or connect with the author on Twitter (@RenaiiW) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/Renaiiwestauthor).

Death by Chaos
ISBN-13: 979-8692019400
Available at Amazon.com

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 Review: The Magic of Friendship

In A Competitive World, Treasure The Magic Of Friendship

In a competitive culture where everything is a race and excellence is the only acceptable destination, a gentle lesson about mutual support and tolerance is a breath of fresh air. In The Magic of Friendship (Kommuru Books) by Subhash Kommuru, the focus is on friendship and its healing effect while the story is spoken from the viewpoint of a father and son in a multi-generation relationship.

The story is set in Tadoba, a real forest in India, during a traditional Kojagiri festival observed in the winter when family, friends, and neighbors gather in the evening and share food, laughs and have a good time. The Magic of Friendship is a remarkable tale of the transformative power of companionship, particularly for someone who is lonely and never really had the gift of laughter.

Guaranteed to get a giggle out of kids, The Magic of Friendship also provides plenty of opportunities for readers to connect with the characters in richly detailed, mesmerizing illustrations. The picture book is perfect for read-aloud fun and is also appropriate for beginning readers.

Subhash Kommuru migrated to the United States along with his memories of childhood and youth. Now he is a parent; like every immigrant, he longs to introduce his child to the culture and values of his upbringing. Yet it can be challenging to teach something while you are in the midst of adjusting to a different culture yourself. These stories are his attempt to share a glimpse of his childhood days with his five-year-old son, his inspiration to write short stories that have meaning and provide teaching in some shape or form.

For more information, please visit the website: www.KommuruBooks.com or go to www.facebook.com/KommuruBooks.

The Magic of Friendship

Reviews:

D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review: “The Magic of Friendship aims for something more and stands above most others in pairing vivid, colorful animal drawings (by Arul Anugragh Ross) with a narrative that…offers some satisfying differences….It takes a wise old bird’s observation to point out the real value of friendship and its world-changing potentials in this winning, feel-good story perfect for read-aloud or young picture book readers.”

Ms. Anita Lock, Pacific Book Review (5 Stars): “The Magic of Friendship is a delightful allegorical story….Incorporating themes of bullying and friendship amid the Indian culture, Kommuru’s recent book has great potential to connect with children internationally….Kommuru…. raises the awareness that bullies in reality are pretty miserable people….opens opportunities for children to learn and ask questions about another part of the world….not just a fascinating read. Wonderfully written with aptly complementing illustrations, it is also a welcomed addition to children’s literature.”

Ms. M. Cogswell, teacher: “…a wonderful story about friendship….had kids giggling and listening the whole way through. I would recommend this book for any classroom or family.”

Mrs. K. Harlan, teacher: “…a heartwarming story that touches the hearts of both young and old! The characters come to life through the vibrant illustrations and wise words! The moral of the story rings true…The Magic of Friendship is learning to not only love people for their unique qualities but to love ourselves, too!”

Christina Santos Mosher, Ed.D.: “A fun and heartwarming story that teaches children about friendships and the importance of embracing different talents. This book is sure to be an instant favorite by children and adults alike!”

Develop Meaningful Friendships

3 Ways to Develop More Meaningful Friendships
New Study Finds We’re Suffering a National Friendship Crisis

Most Americans (75 percent!) are not satisfied with their friendships; 63 percent lack confidence in even their closest friends; and almost half of us would choose to have deeper friendships rather than more friends.

Those are the findings of a new study, The State of Friendship in America 2013, by Lifeboat Friends at Their Best and Sea Change Strategies and Edge Research.

“Strong, trusting friendships are crucial to our sense of peace, happiness and well-being,” says Dawna Hetzler, a speaker, women’s mentor (and mentoree), and author of the new book, “Walls of a Warrior: Conquering the Fears of Our Hearts” (www.DawnaHetzler.com).

“But many of us, women in particular, build so many walls around our hearts to protect ourselves, we can never open ourselves to all the possible relationships we could have. Or, we do allow some people in, but we keep them at arm’s length.”

Strong friendships do make us happier, according to the new study. Forty-nine percent of people with seven or more close friends strongly agreed that they feel happy most of the time, while only 24 percent of people with just one good friend, and 19 percent with no friends, could say the same.

“You have to know and trust a person before you allow them into your heart, because when you open yourself up, you become vulnerable,” says Hetzler. “We all build walls to protect ourselves from hurt, fear, rejection, disapproval and other painful emotions, and that’s natural. Some walls are healthy. But the invisible walls we’re often not even aware of prevent us from experiencing the honest, real relationships that can benefit us in so many ways.”

Hetzler shares some of what she learned working with Jericho Girls, the women’s group she founded that focuses on dismantling unhealthy walls:

• First, identify the walls you have.  We build walls in response to many things – real and perceived threats, fears, conditioning, rejection, Hetzler says. Many of us put up walls to hide our weaknesses; if you have trouble asking for help, this may be you! Jericho Girls members learned that acknowledging and being honest about their weaknesses allowed them to grow stronger. And that asking for help from friends offers those friends the gratification of giving. Making a list of your walls and understanding why they’re there is a good place to start the process. 

• If the wall is unhealthy, identify the steps necessary to dismantle it. Sometimes we erect walls to protect ourselves from ourselves, Hetzler notes. “One of my walls revolved around being needed too much,” she says. “I tend to take on a lot, then exhaust myself getting it all done.” She realized she built a wall to prevent people from seeing that she really cannot do it all, and she pushed away those she feared might demand too much of her time and energy. She dealt with that wall by setting limits with herself and others. “I say no when I need to, which allows me to build friendships instead of pushing people away.” 

• Arm yourself with words of inspiration.  Powerful words help when we need positive reinforcement or reassurance when the way ahead looks scary. Hetzler has found that calling upon a quotation that she believes in provides both. “Write down the quotes, Bible verses or other inspiration that have great meaning for you,” she says. Each day, read one, reflect upon the meaning, pray or meditate, and contemplate the message it holds for you. “These words will stick with you, and you’ll have them to call upon when you need them,” she says.

Creating deeper, honest friendships begins with opening our hearts to others, Hetzler says.

“When you begin taking down the walls, you’ll find you’re more at peace with yourself,” she says. “And that allows you to develop the wonderful relationships that come from trust and sharing.”
About Dawna Hetzler: Dawna Hetzler owns a real estate firm and is an author and speaker focusing on women’s connection groups and retreats. She’s also a Bible study teacher and speaker for Stonecroft Ministries. She wrote “Walls of Warriors” based on her experiences with Jericho Girls – a group of women who meets to discuss the walls they build around their hearts that inhibit relationships with others.