ONE DAY BLOG TOUR! 
MAY 17th!

Michael, book two in the Airel Saga, is live on Amazon TODAY ONLY for a discounted price!!

To promote Michael I’m hosting a contest where you can win a FREE copy of Airel and win a free Kindle Fire.

To take advantage of this awesome deal, head to Amazon and check out the eBook version of MICHAEL at its promotional price, then see below to enter the contest. Also, leave me a comment on this post. The blogger with the most comments will win the Kindle Fire! If I win, I’ll also get the chance to be part of a special giveaway in the next few months.

Praise for Michael


“Move over Twilight! Here comes Aaron Patterson!”
–Joshua Graham, bestselling author of Beyond Justice and Darkroom


“I was surprised by how much I really, really liked this book. I have not jumped on the whole “fallen angel” bandwagon, just as I didn’t jump on all of the vampire stories that came out after Twilight. This is not your typical fallen angel story. It is one that has left me breathlessly waiting for the next one in the series. Hurry up please!!!”
–Sandra Stiles

Description of Michael


Michael did the unthinkable to save Airel from death, but now he must live with the choices he has made–both good and evil. Tortured by his past and haunted by what he believes might be his future, Michael seeks redemption–but will the past prove to be too strong? How can he break free of it and be the man he longs to be for Airel? If only he had never…

Airel. Michael’s one true love. He had forced her to drink in new life only to find that old wounds and deep scars do not heal overnight. Can she truly forgive Michael, can she truly love him? And can he accept that forgiveness? Or is it all for nothing, and has he gone too far already? As the darkness of past choices closes in on them, chases them, intercepts them, coming at them from everywhere at once, how can their love possibly survive?

Aaron Patterson is the author of the best-selling WJA series, as well as two Digital Shorts: 19 and The Craigslist Killer. He was home-schooled and grew up in the west. Aaron loved to read as a small child and would often be found behind a book, reading one to three a day on average. This love drove him to want to write, but he never thought he had the talent. His wife Karissa prodded him to try it, and with this encouragement, he wrote Sweet Dreams, the first book in the WJA series, in 2008. Airel is his first teen series, and plans for more to come are already in the works. He lives in Boise, Idaho with his family, Soleil, Kale and Klayton. His daughter had an imaginary friend named She.


Chris White has an award for reading 750 books in one school year — from the 3rd grade. So yes, he’s more of a nerd than Aaron. Chris loves history, Sherlock Holmes, and anything that’s not virtual, like old motorcycles and mechanical typewriters. He also doesn’t get why we have these things called “smart phones” when all they do is make people dumber. Chris recently celebrated 10 years of marriage with his wife, April, and has two boys: Noah, age 8, and Jaden, age 3, who inspired the Great Jammy Adventure series; the OK-to-color-in picture books. Chris is working on a short story called The Marsburg Diary that will further explore the prologue to Airel, and he is finishing up his first novel, entitled K: phantasmagoria, due out in 2011. Chris has a major crush on Audrey Hepburn, who is now dead. His wife is okay with all of this.

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My Review
This book has an interesting title, with whispers of danger and dark adventure. It is the final installment in The Volga Flows Forever trilogy by Ms. Sigrid Weidenweber. I will state this first, just to get it out of the way. The book is long and takes time to read through. That being said, it was worth every moment it took to read.

The mystery that was the Soviet Union, or USSR, was always wondered about during the cold war time. The steppes of Siberia with the incredible cold and poor living conditions of the prison camps were things we never really knew or were taught here in America. We were told there were terrible hardships for the people there, but we had no idea what they went through other than a general deprivation of freedoms. This book opened this world to me. The wonder that a transplanted people like the Volga Germans could come to love, even cherish their homes in this cold, unforgiving land, was new to me. The horrors they faced under the new government who hated all who weren’t considered “true” Russians were unimaginable. Ms. Weidenweber made this world come to life. The dreariness was clear, but so was the little joys Katya found from day to day. The colorful life of the nomadic tribes was a deep contrast to the stark bleakness of life in a women’s prison camp, working in conditions that really weren’t survivable. So many died in that time with no notice, no help from the outside world. And so many had the misfortune to survive the hardships and live to continue to endure the torture of the camp leaders.

I loved the strength of Katya. She was a wonderful role model for all women. We each have our moments when we would like to crawl into a corner and give up. Katya is that mental “kick in the backside” that gives today’s women no excuse to hide in bed! If women like her could endure the terrors of Mother Russia, we have little to complain about. We can borrow from her example of inner strength and faith in God to move forward and face our challenges, no matter how hard. What an inspiring woman!

This story was rich in history that many of us do not know. It was a great inspirational read that educated the mind and fed the soul. This is a great historical fiction that is based in cultural truths. Definitely, it was worth the read!

About the BookIn my darkest hours, when worry and despair about the future of my family blankets my soul, I hear my father’s voice, giving me hope. On the day they dragged him to the gulag, he had looked at my mother with courage in his eyes, and said, “We are eternal; our faith, like the Volga, flows forever.”

The heroine of this powerful work, Katya, is a bright, energetic and resourceful Volga German girl, a worthy descendant of those first pioneers of the steppe we learned to know in the second volume. Katya is free to reveal, through her feminine creator, thoughts and circumstances often hidden to men. Sigrid artfully illuminates dress, colors, textures, foods and challenges as Katya embarks upon an adventurous escape from a gulag on the arctic tundra.

About the AuthorBorn in Germany in 1941, Sigrid Weidenwber remembers the horrific aftermath of fascism. At the end of the war, she found herself living under communism. After the Berlin Wall was built, she managed to escape the repressive environment with the help of friends and a French passport. To this day she does not speak French.

She holds degrees in medical technology, psychology and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Concordia University of Portland, Oregon for her trilogy “The Volga Flows Forever.” In her trilogy she brings to life Catherine the Great in her multiple roles as monarch, woman, lover, mother, grandmother and head of the general staff of the army, in Volume one. The following two historical volumes deal with the Volga Germans brought to Russia by Catherine’s edict.

Three years ago she moved to Santa Rosa Valley, California from Portland Oregon. She has passionately embraced California together with her family that also resides here.

Visit the Author’s Website

This title is touring with MediaGuests.net. Thanks to them for the copy of the book for my review.

My Review
This was a good story, with plenty of battles between good and evil. I was really excited to have the chance to review this book. There is something charismatic about Everett Lester, even after his “bad boy” persona has been retired. He is a man who gets things done, and he truly cares about sending the right message. He will do anything to help his family, even risk their scorn by praying in front of them. I enjoyed the Christian theme of this book. The power of prayer is something that will always be the right decision. It was good to read of a family who wasn’t afraid to prayer wherever they were.

This book was well written. The story was realistic, the dangers and signs of drug use were well spelled out, as well as the dangers of addictions like gambling. The love of Karen and Everett for their family, even when the family pushed them away repeatedly, was heartwarming. The lesson learned was “never give up on those you love, no matter what they profess at the time.”

This is a good book to read for inspiration as to dealing with family with problems, especially addictions that lead to danger from others. The message to turn to your faith was well delivered and the examples used in the book were good to relate to. I can recommend this book to any who want to examine their faith and the difficulties of living faithfully in difficult times.

With the end of 2011 closing this week I look to a new fresh start for 2012. I enjoy making New Year’s Resolutions – finding something that will challenge me during the next year. You can imagine why I jumped at the opportunity to review Common Denominators for Success by Kenny Anderson.

Book Synopsis:
For centuries people have searched for the underlying elements of lasting success that would produce results in every aspect of life. Kenny J. Anderson has devoted 20 years of research to uncover these 7 Formulas, in his book Common Denominators For Success.

Whether you are looking to pursue a lifelong goal, increase your ability to connect with others, be in optimal health, maximize your use time and money, increase the profitability of your company, or create a dynamic workplace, these seven timeless principles will uncover the answers that will allow you to reach your potential and turn your personal and professional ambitions into reality.

Ordinary people throughout all eras of time, have achieved extraordinary results as they have applied these seven powerful formulas, but now is the time for you to live your dreams and get the results you want.

My REVIEW:
Common Denominators was exactly what I was looking for. If read and applied this book truly is designed to be your personal Blueprint for Success. I am at a point in my life that I REALLY want to change things up, to play BIGGER in life, to achieve and maintain success, and inspire others in my circle of influence. Common Denominators has given me the tool belt I need to achieve the results I want. I found each chapter to be well organized and void of the rhetoric you read in most self improvement books. Anderson’s style is new, fresh, and easy to read. My favorite chapter in the book is titled, “Power to Choose.” In my book, this section is highlighted throughout accompanied with little sidebar notes. “Success is not a matter of chance but a matter of choice.” Each chapter gives new light on how to get the results you want in life. I highly recommend this book to anyone ready to find their blueprint, anyone ready to take on their life and fully understand their full potential.

“Kenny Anderson’s book, Common Denominators for Success, focuses on 7 formulas that will bring powerful results in every aspect of life, from health to relationships to effective management of time and money. These principles really work because they are timeless and universal.”
–Stephen R. Covey
Author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Leader in Me

Mystery of the Puzzle Bones

MY REVIEW: I jumped at the opportunity to review this book. I love young adult mysteries especially reading them with my kids. Mystery of the Puzzle Bones, is full of unpredictable adventure, and intense story twists. One of the things we loved most about the book was the underlining Christian feel to the story. It was awesome the dialog I had with my kids as we read each chapter. We talked about having faith in our Savior and the power of prayer in all types of situations. My daughter took the book to school and shared it with one of her friends, he’s reading it over the Christmas break.

This book has everything I love in a book: great characters, adventure in an unusual setting, a hideout, and mystery. Reading this book brought back memories and adventures when I was younger. Readers be aware, Mystery of the Puzzle Bones is a book you may not be able to put down! I look forward to reading the next book in the Adventures of the Boardunders Club series with my children. Kids will not want to put this book down until the end.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Mystery of Puzzle Bones is a story about four 12-year-old boys that find a secret hideout and skateboard spot in an unused sewer between their subdivisions. But something is leaving a strange Puzzle of Bones in the Boardunders club house. Something wants to lead them deep down into the sewers – into Hidden Town.

A place that doesn’t want to be found and people who will do anything to protect their secret. Suddenly the danger becomes extreme as they are running for their lives. Who can they trust to help them?

One of the boys, Caleb, is a Christian who shares his faith and trust in Jesus which helps lead one of the other boys to the Lord as they go through the perils of the story.

Puzzle Bones is the first of the Boardunders club series. The four young teenagers find a series of huge unused sewer pipes below an abandon home development and love skateboarding under ground where no one knows they are. They have a cool clubhouse with their own Play station and chairs. But then bones start to appear right at the dark entrance to the old pipes. Something is down there, something is arranging the bones.

The boys go to investigate and find a mysterious hidden town with people who do not want to be found and will protect the secret at any cost.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

T.A. Smith, author of Adventures of the Boardunders Club series

To read more about T.A. Smith and his adventure books visit www.christianactionadventures.com