Virtual Book Tour: Our Friendship Matters by Kimberley B. Jones

 Good morning everyone! Please welcome author Kimberley B. Jones to Full Moon Dreaming! She is here today to tell us about her new release, Our Friendship Matters. Kimberely will be awarding a signed print copy of Our Friendship Matters (US only)to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

Our Friendship Matters

by Kimberley B. Jones

 

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GENRE: Young Adult

 

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BLURB:

 

Leah and Sasha are 17-year-old friends who had been close to one another since elementary school, but as the summer approaches they find their friendship tested in ways they never anticipated.

   

Following graduation, Sasha’s privileged life and perception of the world around her is suddenly altered when an old childhood friend persuades her to join in a campaign against an injustice after his best friend is killed by a cop.

   

But joining the protest has unforeseen consequences for Sasha, distancing her from Leah, who becomes jealous of Sasha’s new friends and finds herself on the opposing side, protesting alongside her group of new white friends.

  

 As the tension mounts between the two bitterly opposed factions, a tragedy strikes and threatens to make Sasha and Leah enemies. Can they find a way to resolve their differences, putting them to the side and learn to accept each other’s viewpoints? Or is their long friendship finished for good?

 

 

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EXCERPT:

 

On my way to Ricardo’s, the same cop pulled up beside me again patrolling the area. He stopped and got out the car. My stomach began to flutter, especially after knowing what happened to Mitchell. What if something happened to me? I was out there by myself with no one to witness anything. My heart was about to bust out of my chest. Was this police officer harassing me?

 

“Hello, Officer. Is everything all right?” I rolled my eyes because there must have been a reason that he kept coming into the Baldwin area.

 

“We just got another call about some kids vandalizing the Frontenac area again. Do you know anything about that?” The police officer leaned over his car while his eyes ran from my head to my feet. He pulled out a piece of chewing gum and started chewing it, obnoxiously smacking in every corner of his mouth.

 

Yes, he was scaring me. Did I look like I knew anything about some kids vandalizing that area? That was the moment that I realized that I had been profiled. I decided to just stay calm and answer whatever he asked, giving him no reason to hurt me. Dad told us if a police officer ever asked for something, always be polite and give them what they needed. At that moment, it was clear why he had that talk with us.

 

“No, sir, I’m just walking to my friend’s house. I stay in the house right there,” I pointed. “Can I ask you a question, sir? You asked me that question twice now. Are there some kids in this neighborhood doing the vandalism?”

 

“Yes, the kids that have been reported are from this area. What school do you attend?”

 

“I just graduated from Chester Christian Academy.”

 

I hoped that if I told him where I lived and that I had attended a good school, he would leave me alone.

 

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Kimberley is a professional early childhood educator. She was born in the small town of Saint George, South Carolina, on September 12, 1982. Graduated from Woodland High School in 2000, Benedict College in 2004 with B.S., Child & Family Development, and from Ashford University in 2013 with a Masters in Early Childhood Education.

 

After receiving her education and being a military spouse, she held several jobs as a preschool teacher and a preschool director, but she wanted to her education to use by writing children’s books. She wrote her first book in college for her children’s literature course. She has self-published several children books on Amazon.

 

Currently, she is branching off into writing fiction YA, NA, and A novels on issues in society. She loves writing and would not change it for nothing in this world She is now published by Rhetoric Askew. Kimberley is the author of Our Friendship Matters.

 

https://www.kimberleybjones.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberleyBJones

https://www.instagram.com/historyforpreschool/

https://twitter.com/KimberlyBJones1

http://amazon.com/author/kimberlyboydjones.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-boyd-jones-88454a56/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAtYkf97rt4IcvPGQDrwlAA

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/628634226

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review: Audition by Ryu Murakami

 

Audition     

Author: Ryu Murakami

Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company

American release date:  June 7, 2010

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Psychological Thriller/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★

 

After seven years of being alone, widower Aoyama decides, after being prompted by his fifteen-year-old son Shige, to consider marrying again. However, Aoyama doesn’t know just how to go about looking for a wife, as he confides to his close friend, Yoshikawa. Wanting to see his friend happy, Yoshikawa hits on the perfect solution—he’ll announce an audition for a romantic movie (which may  never get made, but that’s show business, right?), and Aoyama can look through the resumes that are submitted and select about thirty or so for the two men to audition for the “role” of Aoyama’s future wife.

 

One resume in particular catches Aoyama’s eye, and he barely gives any of the other applicants the time of day, so intent is he on meeting Yamasaki Asami. And when he does, she is even more than he could have hoped for. Of course, he has to let her know she didn’t get the part, and hope that she won’t be too disappointed.

 

Is she Aoyama’s next great love... or a nightmare waiting to happen?

 

This is my second book by this author, the first being Piercing. Both are psychological thrillers which take us deep into the protagonist’s psyche. Audition is slow-paced, but well worth the time it takes to come to a boil. I’ve seen the movie, as well, and have to say I like the book just a little bit better, although the movie is good too. It’s a good read, and well done, and I plan to read more of this author’s books. The ending may be too graphic for some, so know that going into it. This story is not for everyone, but I really liked it.

 

 

Wednesday Briefs: Super Trooper #41 (9.3)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

The morning after the tragedy, Chan's siblings are doing pretty well, all things considered. What will happen to them now? Did their parents make any provision for their future? See what's going on in this week's chapter of Super Trooper. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Super Trooper #41 (9.3)

Evan thought Chan’s siblings were remarkably well behaved under the circumstances. Perhaps that was because everything was still so new to them. The reality of the situation hadn’t really struck them full force yet. Even as seasoned as he was in handling death, he found himself thinking how surreal this all felt, as though it was happening to someone else. Small wonder the children hadn’t fully grasped what had happened. Or how their world had just drastically been altered.

They ate their breakfast with a minimum of bickering, which sounded perfunctory at best. Something done out of habit, more than anything. Laksha was polite to Evan, but most of her conversation was directed toward Chan when she did choose to speak. For his part, when he wasn’t fussing at Laksha, Kamal ate his meal in silence, his small brow furrowed, as if he were trying to make sense of what was happening. Madhu alternated between wanting her sister and seeking Chan’s attention, which he freely gave, letting his own breakfast go cold while he took care of the small child. She never even gave Evan a second glance, as if he did not exist. He wasn’t surprised. She barely knew him, after all.

So, what was going to happen to them now?

Evan hoped Chan’s parents had left a will. Or some other documentation to guide them. Assuming they had even made arrangements for an event such as this. They were still young, and had many years ahead of them. Who could have anticipated such a tragedy?

Once everyone had eaten their fill, Evan rose to clear the table, but Chan was ahead of him,  already removing the dirty dishes.

“I can help,” Laksha offered. “I do this all the time.” She took Madhu’s dishes and set them in the sink, then moistened a cloth and wiped the little girl’s face before helping her down from her booster chair. Evan watched as she gave her little brother a no-nonsense look, glancing between him and his dishes. He got the message and carried them to the sink without much complaint.

“I want to go play with Cam,” Kamal grumbled once that task was done. He already had his phone in his hand, as if prepared to contact his friend immediately.

“Not now,” Laksha said. When the boy pouted, she ruffled his hair. “Stay home with us,” she encouraged him. “I’ll play a game with you, if you like.”

“Really?” he asked, his pout beginning to fade.

“Really.”Laksha nodded. She set Madhu on her hip, looking like a little mother. “Go pick something out and take it to the living room.” She glanced at her older brother, almost apprehensively. “I mean, if that’s okay with Chan?”

“Of course. That’s a great idea,” Chan praised her. She seemed to glow a little at his words. “We’re going to see what we can find in… in their room. Thank you.”

Kamal hadn’t waited to learn if they received permission or not, running off as soon as his sister made her suggestion. They could hear him rummaging in his room, as Laksha carried her sister into the next room. Chan turned to Evan, releasing a long breath.

“They’re doing pretty good so far,” he said. “But I don’t know how long that will last.” His words echoed Evan’s own thoughts. “Guess we should prepare for some bad times ahead. Want to look through whatever papers we can find?”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Evan agreed. As Chan turned to go, he touched his arm gently, stopping him mid-stride. “I think you’re doing very well yourself,” he said. “I think you’re very brave.”

Chan gave him a tired smile. “That’s because I have you,” he admitted.

“And you always will,” Evan assured him.

to be continued

Now go visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them!

Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp

 

 

Virtual Book Tour: The Sinister Superyacht by Ana. T. Drew

 Good morning everyone!  Please welcome author Ana T. Drew to Full Moon Dreaming! She's here today to tell us about her new release, The Sinister Superyacht. Ana will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

THE SINISTER SUPERYACHT

by Ana T. Drew

 

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GENRE:  Cozy Mystery

 

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BLURB:

 

French tycoon Jean-Louis Ponsard is having a bad year.

Unwise investments, canceled orders, deals falling through…

In the thick of it, his yacht becomes the scene of a suspicious death, and his year of misfortune hits the bed of the Mediterranean Sea.

To make matters worse, the victim isn't just anybody.

She's his much-hated mother-in-law.

 

Onboard, caterer Julie Cavallo and her quirky grandma Rose do some poking around.

But every luxury cabin hides a secret.

Every passenger has an alibi or no reason to want the victim dead.

Discretion rules.

The crew keeps mum.

So do the marble countertops, gem-incrusted walls, and gold sinks.

When the cops take charge, things go to pieces, and not only for the Ponsard family.

 

Can Julie dive to the murky bottom of the sea, unravel the case, and come back up still breathing?

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Ana T. Drew is the evil mastermind behind the recent series of murders in the fictional French town of Beldoc. When she is not writing cozy mysteries or doing mom-and-wife things, she can be found watching “The Rookie” to help her get over “Castle”. She lives in Paris but her heart is in Provence.

 

>>> Visit ana-drew.com for a free cookbook and a game!

 

Website: ana-drew.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/ana-drew

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnaDrewAuthor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ana-t-drew

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/anadrew 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authoranadrew

 

Releases November 20

 

Amazon Buy Link:  https://www.amazon.com/Sinister-Superyacht-Provence-Mystery-Investigates-ebook/dp/B0882J3652/ref=sr_1_1

 

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Book Review: The Way of the House Husband, Vol 4 by Kousuke Oono

 

The Way of the Househusband, Vol 4      

Author: Kousuke Oono

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: September 15, 2020

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Comedy/168 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

While at the market, Tatsu finds the perfect fish! While he is going into glorious details with the fishmonger about what he is going to do to that fish, it’s suddenly yanked from his hands by a four legged thief. And the chase is on!

Tatsu spies smoke coming from next door! Heading to the rescue, he finds the culprit to be a man and his grill. He invites Tatsu to join him, but the intensely smoky atmosphere inside the apartment is less than appetizing. Tatsu leaps into action, declaring, “I’m gonna show you how the Japanese handle a beef.”

One of Miku’s colleagues has given her tickets to Bremen Land, a big kiddie park, and she wants to go with Tatsu. Tatsu is reluctant about the whole idea, especially as the place is liable to be filled with… well, children. Will Tatsu be able to enjoy this excursion?

Tora is finding that crepe sales at his food truck aren’t what they used to be, so he needs to do something else. He hears that bubble tea is all the rage but he knows nothing about tapioca balls, so reluctantly approaches the one man who is bound to have all the answers—Tatsu.

Tatsu gives Masa a lesson in shopping for essential but inexpensive household items—“Don’t you ever underestimate homemaking!”

When the regular picture book storyteller cancels at the last minute, and no one else is available, the bookstore owner reluctantly calls on Tatsu, who very enthusiastically undertakes the mission!  He makes his own drawings to accompany the tale he chooses to tell, which seems to be taking an unexpected turn into not child friendly territory.

Tatsu and Miku are enjoying a day at the beach, when they are approached by a group of men. Tatsu recognizes the Bears, the volleyball team that beat Tatsu and the housewives in a match. They suggest a rematch but Tatsu turns them down. However, Miku is not about to let that fly, and now it’s Miku and Tatsu versus the Bears!

Tatsu is helping tutor a young boy in various subjects, including math, where he uses some rather unusual examples. Everything else accomplished, his last task is an independent project, such as a craft project or a science experiment or journal. The boy declares his intention to do something easy, like a wooden pencil holder. Tatsu is on it! Can anything ever be truly easy with Tatsu, though?

Tatsu is spending time at a restaurant with a couple of his housewife friends, trading stories. Tatsu tells them tales from his past, invoking completely different images in their minds than what he actually experienced.

Another fabulous volume of tales about Tatsu! I love this series so much! I’ve already pre-ordered the next one. I never get tired of reading of Tatsu’s adventures, and the way he applies his Yakuza background to his present life. The artwork is wonderful, the stories filled with humor, as well as some tender, heartwarming moments.   I especially enjoyed Tatsu and Miku’s time at Bremen Land. There are a couple of bonus stories, and the one about Miku is great! Not sure when the live action version is going to be available, but I know they’ve added a couple of original characters who don’t exist in the manga, including a daughter. I’ll reserve judgment on that until I see how that works out.

Fantastic as always, looking forward to the next one!

Book Review: Piercing by Ryu Murakami

 

Piercing       

Author: Ryu Murakami

Publisher: Penguin Books

American release date:  March 27, 2007

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Psychological Thriller/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

New father Kawashima Masayuki stands beside the bed of his infant daughter every night, in the still of the night, and tells himself he will not stab her with the ice pick he holds in his hand.

His wife has no idea of his thoughts, and would naturally be horrified if she only knew. Kawashima has to do something to rid himself of this urge. Better a complete stranger than his child, right? Not like he hasn’t done that before.

Kawashima is a very methodical man, as is very evident in the way he goes about making plants to inflict his urges on a prostitute he intends to hire. Nothing can be left to chance, and nothing can ever lead back to him. It won’t, not if he plays his cards right. And when he succeeds, his baby and wife will be safe, right?

This psychological thriller by Ryu Murakami explores the thought processes in this man, who otherwise appears to be normal, but beneath it all is filled with personal demons he struggles to control. Namely the impulse to cause harm with an ice pick. And then there is the prostitute he hires through an agency, Chiaki, who has demons of her own. A woman bold enough to pierce her own nipple.

This is my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last. I am currently reading Audition, also by him. I honestly had no idea what was going to happen, as we explore the minds of these two people, brought together by chance, both of whom struggle with painful pasts. I hope the movie is half as good as the book.

This book is very well written and flows smoothly, one of those hard to put down books you are too anxious to find out what happens next. I highly recommend it.

Book Review: Bleach, Vol 25 by Tite Kubo

 

Bleach, Vol 25            

Author: Tite Kubo

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: December 2, 2008

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Supernatural/210 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

After his less than spectacular encounter with Grimmjow, Ichigo approaches the Visoreds—Dutch Boy (aka Shinji) assumed he plans to join up with them, but that isn’t the case. He wants them to teach him how to control the Hollow inside. Ichigo threatens to take the information from them by force, if necessary, so Dutch Boy agrees to fight him. Tired of watching the two spar without getting anywhere, Hiyori steps between them and informs Ichigo of the facts of life, ie he has no choice in the matter but to join them should they agree to accept him. If he doesn’t agree, the hollow will eventually swallow him whole. Ichigo has to learn to control his inner Hollow, while at the same time battling against the Visored, one at a time!

Meanwhile, Orihime, unaware of what is going on, misses Ichigo, since he hasn’t been to school for a few days. When she heads home, she learns from a neighbor that her new roommates carried something strange into her home, so she wonders what that can be, and ends up seeing a communication devise, like a giant screen TV, which connects to Soul Society, and General Yamamoto! She tries to excuse herself, as if she is intruding, but the old man invites her to stay, since his news concerns humans too, and Aizen’s plans.

Most of this volume deals with Ichigo and his battle to control his inner Hollow, with the help of the Visored.  In the process, we learn, along with Ichigo, the answer to this riddle: What’s the difference between a king and the horse he rides?

Aizen’s plans are on a pretty large scale, and are potentially disastrous to not just humans, but the Soul Society as well! Apparently his ambitions are pretty grandiose. Hopefully his overweening hubris will be the source of his downfall—along with the sword of Ichigo Kurosaki… if he lives past his current test!

Looking forward to the next volume!