Congratulations Ms. Chapman!

Today marks an important date for a former co-worker and colleague - Ms. Laura Chapman.  Today marks the release of her first published novel Hard Hats and Doormats.  Later this month, she will be published in a Christmas anthology as well.

Lexi Burke has always been a stickler for following rules and procedures. As a human resources manager for a leading Gulf Coast chemical company, it’s her job to make sure everyone else falls in line, too.  

But after losing out on a big promotion–-because her boss sees her as too much of a yes-woman––Lexi adopts a new policy of following her heart instead of the fine print. And her heart knows what it wants: Jason Beaumont, a workplace crush who is off limits based on her previous protocol. 

While navigating a new romance and interoffice politics, Lexi must find the confidence to stand on her own or face a lifetime of following someone else’s orders.  

Who says nice girls have to finish last?

Hard Hat and Doormats is available for your eReaders on:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00H7OME88
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard-hats-and-doormats-laura-chapman/1117661135?ean=2940148851479
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/hard-hats-and-doormats

It will be available in print on Amazon soon, but you can order it now – and for a discount – at Marching Ink http://marchingink.com/buy/hard-hats-and-doormats/

Laura has  number of things going on for the launch of her book including an online launch party, found here, and other things you can read about on her blog Change the Word.

Congratulations, Laura.  I look forward to reading your book!

Musing Mondays Returns: New Format

Looks like while I was busy not blogging, Should Be Reading's blog changed the format on Musing Mondays, which will actually make it easier to write for.  See below.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…
• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.

So for today's (which is a wee bit late, sorry) - I'll discuss one of my reading habits.

Normally, I like to read just before I go to sleep, unless I've taken something to help me sleep or I'm exhausted.  Reading helps to relax me and slow my brain down.

Unfortunately, not all books help with that.  The Hunger Games series was one of those that I just couldn't put down.  Each chapter end was suspenseful and I had to turn the next page.  My husband is finding it to be the same way.  Most of the time I can stop just about anywhere (though I prefer to wait till the end of the chapter) and pick up again the following day or when I have a chance.

I have also been reading more on my Nook Simple Touch than my paperbacks lately.

How bout you?  What are your reading habits?

Book Review: Rabbit in the Road

I generally don't preface my reviews with an introduction of any sort, but this time, I am going to.  Why?  Because I know the author.

September or October of 2010, Oliver had told me he was leaving EOGamer to work on a book he was writing.  Oliver was one of our main contributors for video game reviews on our site and I had seen him grow with each review, learning from mistakes as I made edits and soon, most of his stuff didn't require much, if any editing.  I wished him well on his endeavor of writing a fiction book.  Lord knows I would like to find time to sit down and write and have the loving support he has had to do so, yet I haven't found the time or the support to write the many novels I have started and left to the wayside.

Unlike most authors I know, Oliver and Danika did what most writers only dream of doing.  They finished their book, published it on the e-book market and when people started requesting hard copies of the book the looked into it and made it happen.  That's dedication.  That's living the writer's dream and I know it isn't easy.

Which brings me to reviewing the book.  Oliver had told me I was on the list for a free copy.  I told him, at the time, not to send it to me till I was able to read it.  Unfortunately, it was several months before I would have time or an e-book reader to read it.  I finally got a Nook after Christmas and Rabbit in the Road was the first book I read and finished on it. (He doesn't know that till he reads this.)  However, in accordance with the FCC, I do have to disclose that I was given a copy of the book in epub format for reading and review purposes.

The book immediately introduces you to Beverly, a record store clerk with a love of singing, who is enjoying her life and her time with her boyfriend in a small town in the 1960s. Until things go awry.  Enter the antagonist Ray.

In less than a day her world turns upside down.  The people she knew, the people she loved, she had to run away from to keep them safe. She'd move cities, change her name, change her appearance, but Ray catches up.

The book is fast paced with well developed characters full of grit and emotion.  It tells the story in the only way it can be told: from a strong woman's perspective who is doing everything she can to fit in and survive no matter what.  The descriptions put you in the scene and you turn the page eager to know what happens next in each encounter.

And the ending will surprise you (but I won't spoil it).

As the debut novel for Danika Potts and Oliver Campbell, this 192 page novel is a definite must read.  Available in ebook and paperback format, be sure to purchase it...because it won't be their last.  Click the links below to take you to purchase them.

Nook E-book
Amazon E-book
Amazon Paperback