Treasure Fever by James B. McPike - Spotlight

Today, I'm featuring Treasure Fever: The Hunt for Eldorado by James B. McPike. I've recently developed an interest in books about seeking out mythical treasures.

A while back I read Carolyn Arnold's The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh, which is similar but part of a series.

This spotlight is part of a blog tour by Silver Dagger Book Tours. You can keep up with the rest of the tour including book reviews and a giveaway here.

Treasure Fever

The Hunt For El Dorado 

by James B. McPike 

Genre: Action, Adventure, Spy Thriller 

Max Finley is an American spy tasked with tracking down an old flame responsible for the theft of a rare 16th-century manuscript from Spain. Little does he know but she's hot on the trail of finding the long-lost city of El Dorado. A place of magnificent gold wealth left by the Inca Empire and pursued for centuries by treasure hunters around the world. 

But it’s also rumored to be cursed after disastrous expeditions were lost and explorers tragically perished. As Finley reluctantly joins her quest, he finds himself mixed up in a deadly game of international espionage and intrigue where the powers that be will do anything to stop him. 

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Treasure Fever is James McPike’s sixth novel. He wrote an acclaimed trilogy about an investigator on a mission to solve biblical mysteries before that. His books have been the recipients of numerous literary awards, including the Pacific Book Award and the Beverly Hills Book Award for The Lost Prophet. He lives near Yosemite, California and is a member of the International Thriller Writers. 

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Perils and Lace by Gayle Leeson - Book Blast

I'm super excited to be participating in a book blast for an author I was introduced to through her book last year.

Meet author Gayle Leeson, who also publishes under Gayle Trent, and her Ghostly Fashionista Mystery books.

I read book 1 in this series Designs on Murder and I absolutely loved it! I can't wait to read the newest installment in the series Perils and Lace. So check out the synopsis and enter the giveaway!

Other books I've featured by Gayle Leeson included cozy mystery Apples and Alibis, though from a different series.

Book: Perils and Lace

(Book 2 in the A Ghostly Fashionista Mystery)

Author: Gayle Leeson

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Grace Abraham Publishing
Number of Pages - 212 (approx.)
Digital ASIN: B086KXY34W

Synopsis:

A murderer outwitting a quirky flapper ghost? Seams unlikely!

Budding retro fashion designer and entrepreneur Amanda Tucker is thrilled about making costumes for Winter Garden High School’s production of Beauty and the Beast. But when the play’s director Sandra Kelly is poisoned, Amanda realizes there’s a murderer in their midst. She’s determined to keep herself and the students safe, so when her ghostly fashionista friend Max suggests they investigate, Amanda rolls up her sleeves and prepares to follow the deadly pattern…

About Gayle Leeson

As Amanda Lee, she wrote the Embroidery Mystery series, and as Gayle Trent, she writes the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. Going forward, Gayle intends to keep her writing until the Gayle Leeson name. She has a series of women's fiction novellas set in a shopping mall that has been converted to include micro-apartments (the Kinsey Falls series) and is enjoying writing the Ghostly Fashionista Mystery Series, the Down South Cafe series, and co-writing the Victoria Square series with Lorraine Bartlett.

Connect with Gayle Leeson via her website and book site as well as via Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, BookBub, and Goodreads.

Newsletter sign-up form: https://forms.aweber.com/form/14/1780369214.htm

From my 5-star review of Designs on Murder, which was one of my Top Books of 2019:

"Gee, that was awkward," she said. "I was sure you knew."

"Knew?"

"That I'm a ghost."

In Designs on Murder, Amanda decides to go on a hunch and start her fashion business in Shops on Main, a building housing several other small businesses. There she discovers her ability to see the place's resident ghost, Maxine "Max" Englebright.

Soon after she settles in, Amanda is confronted by the death of one of the shop owners in the building.

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Purchase Link - Amazon 

Selah's Stolen Dream by Susan Count - Spotlight

When I saw a book about horses I desperately wanted to pick it up but I already had my plate full so the second best option was to feature this book on my blog and come back to it later when I have more time.

So today, I'm featuring a spotlight for Selah's Stolen Dream, the fourth book in the Dream Horse Adventures by Susan Count.

Book: Selah'sStolen Dream

(Book 4 in the Dream Horse Adventures)

Author: Susan count

Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Hastings Creations Group
publication Date: 1 January 2020

Digital Publisher: Hastings Creations Group (1 March 2020)

Paperback: 262 pages
ISBN-10: 0997088389
ISBN-13: 978-0997088380
ASIN: B082L6CJ2H

Synopsis:

One girl’s victory is another’s tragic defeat.

Thirteen-year-old Selah’s perfect life unravels when her beloved horse is stolen. Then ten-year-old Emma buys the dream of a lifetime at a horse auction. When she learns the horse was stolen, even removing her hearing aid won’t drown out the voice telling her to make it right.

But two girls can’t divide the horse they both adore. So will life surprise them with an answered prayer?

About Susan Count

How many twists and turns can one person take before they figure out what they were born to do? Susan Count’s degree is in Applied Science–nothing in that prepared her to write novels for children. But one day, she began to write with no preconceived ideas. No one could have been more astounded than she was when it turned into a middle grade equine series. As a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Texas Association of Authors, she takes the craft of writing seriously and considers revision to be her super-power.

She writes at an antique secretary desk that occupies a glass room with a forest view. Fittingly, it once belonged to the same wise grandmother who introduced Susan to the love of reading via Walter Farley’s horse books. That desk has secret compartments which hold memories, mysteries and story ideas.

Susan is a lifelong equestrian and is owned by a Rocky Mountain Horse. She is convinced that the only thing more delightful than riding the forest trails might be writing horse adventure stories. She invites you to saddle up and ride along.

Connect with Susan Count via her Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Purchase Selah's Stolen Dream via Amazon 

GIVEAWAY

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Keep up with the rest of the blog tour including book reviews and interviews.

April 1 – Baroness' Book Trove – Book Review & Literary Gold – Spotlight

April 2 – I'm All About Books – Spotlight

April 3 – Here's How It Happened – Book Review

April 4 – Brooke Blogs – Spotlight & Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Author Interview

April 5 – FUONLYKNEW – Spotlight

April 6 – Christy's Cozy Corners – Book Review & Nadaness in Motion - Spotlight

April 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – Spotlight

April 8 – eBook Addicts – Spotlight & The Power of Words – Book Review

April 9 – Readeropolis – Spotlight

April 10 – My Reading Journeys – Book Review

Fire Molten and Ash by Clarence Barbee - Book Review

Fire Molten and Ash by Clarence Barbee is a short and diverse poetry collection divided into 3 parts: Heat, Fuel, and Oxygen; kind of like the recipe you need to get a fire started.

When I first started reading Fire Molten and Ash I felt lost in the pieces. I liked some parts of the wording and how Barbee phrases his pieces but I was lost. I'd read the poem from start to finish, silently or out loud, but in the end, I wouldn't 'get' it.

Bit by bit, I got used to Barbee's style and there were a few political poems in there; some of which I could relate to, because who hasn't been keeping up with news about US politics, but some were too US-focused for me. For those who don't know, I'm an Egyptian living in Egypt so the details of US politics can sometimes evade me (especially now that I no longer work in the news business).

But back to Fire Molten and Ash, there were a few pieces that wowed me including "Crudeship," one of those political pieces.

Many of the poems in this collection are relatable, especially "To Continue" and "Sometime Before Tomorrow and 5pm," which talk about life and work and the two combined. These two pieces were 5-star poems for me.

I also loved "#Fragile II." It's a brilliant poem, using the hashtag #vss which is short for 'very short story.'  All of the pieces in the second segment of the book "Fuel" have the #vss hashtag.

I read Fire Molten and Ash in one sitting in March but I've postponed the review to April to coincide with National Poetry Month.

Overall rating for Fire Molten and Ash is 3 stars.

Note: I received a free copy of Fire Molten and Ash from its author Clarence Barbee in exchange for an honest review. This did not in any way affect my review.

Takhayyal writing prompt 106: Red Sea Dreams

Welcome back Ladies and Gentlemen, Artists, Poets, Writers, Authors, Dreamers, Friends and Family; Welcome EVERYONE to Nadaness In Motion's monthly picture-prompt writing challenge Takhayyal or Imagine.

Arabic for Imagine, Takhayyal is a challenge for writers of all ages and genres; a place to spark creativity and explore new genres.

Finally April is here, which where I'm from means lots of wind and dust and in other parts of the world, it's when flowers bloom. But considering the on-going coronavirus pandemic, even if there are blooming flowers somewhere no one will be out to enjoy them.

That said April is National Poetry Month. So combining poetry month with home-confinement for many across the world, and some reports that the earth is finally breathing since humanity is cooped up, I think it is fitting to have another nature-inspired writing prompt.

This time I'm featuring photography from friend Sara Shaker. You can follow her on Instagram for more photography and nature photography.

I was with her when this picture was taken in Abou Galloum, the Red Sea, Egypt. It's a gorgeous location for snorkeling and diving. Once this pandemic recedes, I highly recommend you visit and take a swim.

So, look at the image, there are corals beneath the water, and let your imagination take flight. What happens beneath the pristine waters of the Red Sea? If you were there right now, what would you do? Do you have fins to swim with the fish?

Photography by Sara Shaker, near Abou Ghalloum, the Red Sea, Egypt

Whether you write short stories, flash fiction, poetry, thoughts, an imaginary situation, an artistic thought; you name it and write it.

Whatever you can write, Takhayyal is a place for all creatives to have fun and imagine. 

Leave your piece in the comments below or post it on your blog and share the link here. All pieces will get comments and be shared on social media.

Update: I'm keeping this prompt as the image for May 2020 since I'm a little pressed for time this month. New image will be released in June.

General rules:

·        No nudity, violence, and/or abuse.

·  Use the image for inspiration and write your piece in the comments below or publish it on your blog and leave the link to it in the comments

·        Your piece MUST be inspired in some way or other by the above picture

·        Multiple entries allowed

·     It is not required but it is a nice and encouraging gesture to comment on others' pieces.

·        Feel free to add your Twitter handle (@....) so I can tag you in my tweets or tag me @NadanessSobhi and I'll retweet you :)

Let's IMAGINE!

Change, a poem by Nada Adel Sobhi

Change

It's all around us

From the rising and setting

Of the mighty sun

To the trees

Shedding their leaves

– to even snakes

Shedding their skins –

Each changes and grows

Even the river that flows;

There is a power

To their change

So do our emotions

And moods

We shed the cold

For the warmth of spring

And the heat of summer

Change

Is all around us

Sometimes expected

Other times not so much

And yet

We often resent it

Change

It takes us out of our shell,

Our comfort zone, our routine,

But like the trees

We grow with every change

We open our eyes

To new challenges

To a new world

With every change

We mature a little,

Become a little wiser

Change;

It can be an opportunity

We just have to learn

To embrace it

And grow

A little wiser

Along the way

Photography by Mahmoud Mansi - Takhayyal Writing Prompt 105 

Written Friday, 27 March 2020 at 01:03

(During the Corona Virus Pandemic)

I originally wanted to keep this poem till April for National Poetry Month, but someone told me it was "perfect for this time" so I decided I'm celebrating National Poetry Month a little early :)  

This poem was inspired by the March 2020 writing prompt (Image above, photography by Mahmoud Mansi)