It seems protein mixes and shakes are becoming more and more popular, even in a small Midwest town. On countless occasions, I have seen men and women with big containers of protein mixes in their shopping carts.

Anyhow, in early October I was sent a 12 lbs bag of Super Mass Gainer: Chocolate Cake Batter from DYMATIZE Nutrition. The 12 lb bag retails for $51.44 on Amazon.com. It's also available in 6 lb bags, and a several different flavors (chocolate mint, cookie & cream, rich chocolate, sugar cookie, vanilla, gourmet vanilla, and strawberry.).

Each serving (2 heaping scoops) contains 1,900 calories, 83 grams of protein, 17 grams of BCAAs, and 7.7 grams of Leucine. You can either mix it with 24 to 32 ounces of water or milk.

It's basically meant to be a meal replacement, but you can decrease the serving amount to one scoop if the 1,900 calories are too much for you.

Now available from Supernatural Central is the paranormal fantasy Nightmare On Jacey Street, book two in the Helens of Troy series from author Janine McCaw.

Cover Artist: Tom McCaw

When did you become interested in storytelling?

It started with long conversations with my Barbie’s and progressed from there.

What was your first book/story published?

My first book was in a completely different genre. It’s called OLIVIA’S MINE and it’s historical fiction, based on true events that happened at Britannia Beach, British Columbia circa 1901. Enough mining disasters to make the BeeGees cry.

What inspired you to write NIGHTMARE ON JACEY STREET?

Nightmare on Jacey Street is the second book in the HELENS-OF-TROY series. In the first book, we learned it is not okay to love a vampire. In this book, we learn it’s never good when the dead are at your door.

Abingdon Press; 188 pages; $16.99; Buy Link; Blog Tour

The holiday is sneaking up quickly upon us this year. Thanksgiving (or now known as Black Thursday) is just over a week away, and there is no better time than the present to start your Christmas shopping.

Now available from from Abingdon Press is the Christmas advent book "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" written by Ace Collins.

It's basically a 25 day countdown (Dec. 1st - 25th) till Christmas Day. Each chapter/day begins with a Bible scripture and a short essay or story inspired by the scripture. Then there is section featuring lyrics to a Gospel song. Lastly, there is either a recipe for holiday treats or instructions to craft a homemade gift.

Final Thoughts: This a cute (under 200 pages) devotional that is also a Christmas advent to read around Christmastime. The author has done an excellent job creating a simple, but beautiful little book. The devotional part of each day is written really well, and it never felt "preachy" in anyway. The very first devotional mentions my favorite Christmas movie, "It's A Wonderful Life." While I can't carry a tune, I did enjoy reading the about the different Gospel songs/lyrics. My favorite part of each day is the recipes and gift instructions.

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year and I recommend it to others.

*I received complimentary copy from the publisher for my honest review and they are 100% my own opinions. I received no other compensation for this review and I am not required to give a positive review. I am also not associated with the publisher or author in any way.







About the Author: Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. He has authored more than sixty books that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children's works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a network television special and does college basketball play-by-play. Ace lives in Arkansas.


Learn more about the author at: acecollins.com


You can follow the author on Facebook and Twitter.

Now available from Entangled is the urban fantasy Children Of The Veil, book two in The Aisling Chronicles by author Colleen Halverson.






When did you become interested in storytelling?

I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t storytelling. I was like Sarah from Labyrinth, always dressing up and running around the woods, making up stories. I would often tell stories to myself before falling asleep. My Dad ran several Army bands, so I had to sit through tons of concerts growing up. I know that sounds very romantic, but for a seven-year-old child, it was oftentimes dreadfully boring and just hellacious, with my mom hissing at me to be quiet, sit still, etc. I learned that if I used the music as a soundtrack to the story in my mind, the concerts went a lot faster.

What was your first book/story published?

THROUGH THE VEIL, the first book in The Aisling Chronicles was my first real story and my first real attempt at fiction. I do have some terrible sonnets floating around the internet, though, and once I won an award for a poem I wrote in college. Oh! And I did publish a dissertation once called Fragmented Histories: 1798 and the Irish National Tale. It’s a real page-turner.

What inspired you to write CHILDREN OF THE VEIL?

CHILDREN OF THE VEIL is the second book in The Aisling Chronicles, and I feel like my characters truly inspired this book. I had started THROUGH THE VEIL with no intention of writing a series, with no real intentions at all but to see if I could actually write a novel. At the end of the book, I just had to know what happened next. I had some clues, but I was desperate to know where the journey would take my characters. I think I took a week off and then dove right in, letting Elizabeth and Finn drag me along on their incredible adventures.

What character in CHILDREN OF THE VEIL is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Revell; 394 pages; $14.99; Amazon

A few months ago, I had promised myself that I would attempt to get caught up on a several ARC that have piled up on my desk collecting dust. Most of them had been read, but I hadn't gotten around to writing the actual reviews for them. Now it's nearly Thanksgiving and I still haven't gotten around to them yet. I'm going to try to make it my #1 priority to get these reviews written and posted before Christmas!

Which title am I going to start with first?

The book is titled Thin Ice, book 2 in the Men of Valor series by author Irene Hannon.

The plot centers on Christy Reed, a young woman who receives an envelope address to her in her sister's handwriting. She had lost both her parents and sister, and had just started to pick up the pieces when this envelope arrived. Inside that envelope is a note that claims her sister is still alive.

Christy's only hope for solving the mystery is with FB Special Agent Lance McGregor, a former Delta Force Operator who is assigned to reopen her sister's case. Sadly, the further they investigate, the more questions they come up with than actual answers.

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews!

Are the giveaways on your blog publisher-sponsored giveaways or giveaways of your own books?

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Now available from The Wild Rose Press is the contemporary romance Steele and Stone, book one of the Daring Heart series by author Kay Phoenix.






When did you become interested in storytelling?

From the first time I read a Golden Book when I was a child.

What was your first book/story published?

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/214003 

I self published it, and made my own cover (which I may update in the near future). It’s a very short, yet impactful story. I’ve thought about expanding it, as some people have asked, but I think it stands alone as it is.

What inspired you to write Steele and Stone?

Now available from Pen and Kink Publishing is the paranormal holiday romance Stealing Time, book one in the Servants of Fate series by author Wendy Sparrow.


When did you become interested in storytelling?

I’ve been a storyteller my entire life. When I was a child, I told big stories and heard “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” many, many times in return. I’ve also had lifelong insomnia; so, as long as I can remember, I’ve told myself stories at night to get to sleep. I still do…and then I get up and write them so I don’t forget them.

What was your first book/story published?

I was published in anthologies, but my first individual title was Frosted, a romance novella about Jack Frost and his wife.

What inspired you to write Stealing Time?

I wanted to write about a different sort of paranormal character associated with winter holidays. When I came up with the idea to go with Father Time and his sons, the world began building itself.

What character in Stealing Time is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I guess Hannah and I have more in common. My sense of humor I think matches hers. Zeit has that whole immortal…thing and I’m not feeling so immortal these days.

What is your favorite part in Stealing Time?

RLJ Ent.; Not Rated; 90 minutes; Amazon

Now available on Blu-ray and DVD from RLJ Entertainment is the action-packed Kickboxer: Vengeance. Directed by John Stockwell, the film stars Alain Moussi, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dave Bautista, Gina Carano, Georges St-Pierre, and Darren Shahlavi.

Based on the 1989's Kickboxer which also starred Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kickboxer: Vengeance centers on Kurt Sloane (played by Alain Moussi) seeking out Muay Thai trainer Master Durand (played by Jean-Claude Van Damme) to help train him to fight the deadly Tong Po (played by Dave Batista).

Kurt's brother Eric, the World Karate Championship, had travel to Thailand to fight Tong Po in a big event, but was killed during the fight. Now Kurt is seeking avenge his brother's death by challenging Tong Po to a fight to the death!

A sequel, titled Kickboxer: Retaliation, has already been filmed and is scheduled to be released sometime in 2017. A third film called Kickboxer: Syndicate will start production early next year.

Being released on November 16th from The Wild Rose Press is the paranormal fantasy The Haunting of Hotel Labelle by author Sharon Buchbinder.

Cover Artist: Rae Monet

When did you become interested in storytelling?

Before I could write, in fact, I’ve been telling stories since I was a child—and got in trouble for telling them. Now I get rewarded!

What was your first book/story published?

Hmm, now you are making me dig through my files! My first published fiction story (I also write non-fiction) was PICA in Web Mystery Magazine in 2005. I was fascinated by a family legend that said we had a two-headed cousin in the Smithsonian Museum in a jar. My family roots are in Kentucky, so I combined that oral history with a mid-wife I created from Frontier Nursing, now a university, one of the first nursing services to send midwives out into rural areas, and the story grew from there. It’s creepy, but believable in a dueling banjoes kind of way.

What inspired you to write The Haunting of Hotel LaBelle?

My husband and I travel a lot for work and pleasure. We have had so many good, bad and weird (see also paranormal) experiences at hotels that when I was telling someone about our latest horror story, she said, “You should write a book about that.” That’s when the bells went off.

What character in The Haunting of Hotel LaBelle is the most/least like you, and in what ways?