Beck Valley Books Tours Review & Giveaway: I'm Yours by Carolyn Menke

New Release....
I’m Yours is the prequel to Return To Me. This companion novella spins the tale of how Sadie’s mother, Audrey, becomes Audrey McCall, and the events leading up to one fateful decision that will affect generations to come.

The Roaring Twenties spell opportunity for Audrey McCall, a starlet who’s as irresistible as the illegal booze poured behind every shuttered speakeasy. Her big theater dreams include landing the impossible, a role on Broadway. But she’s fallen in love with handsome Edward Stark, who wants her to be his leading lady and his alone.

Edward’s confessed his love and is ready to embark on a future with Audrey. No more sneaking off to speakeasies and enduring cast parties, where the catcalls of men directed at his main squeeze get under his skin. Wouldn’t Audrey rather become the mother of his children than worry about the next paycheck?

Muddying the waters is the shifty Rex Wyatt, a new playwright in town, who promises to make Audrey a star. If Audrey gets the part of her dreams, she has to take it. There are no second chances in theater. Are there second chances in love?

Available to buy from....

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   Kobo

Read an excerpt HERE

“A sweeping, romantic debut that brings the war-time forties to vivid life in this Titanic meets Philomena tale—fast-paced, tender, and real.” — on Return to Me by RITA Award-winning Author Gwyn Cready

 “Menke’s writing is so lovely, you will want to wrap yourself in her words and savor each moment you spend in Sadie’s story. Return To Me will tug on your heart strings and take you on a journey back in time.” — on Return to Me by Dana Faletti, Author of the Whisper Trilogy 

 “A timeless tale of love, loss and sacrifice that will equally break and warm your heart, as you cheer for the beautifully complex characters until the very last page.” — on Return to Me by Lori M. Jones, Author of Renaissance of the Heart

Also Available

Return to Me

In 1942...
Eighteen-year-old Sadie Stark, raised by the governor of Pennsylvania, has the world on a string. She doesn’t need the mother who left her any more than she needs the fiance who promises to change. What she needs is to finish college, and keep her wits about her. 

When war-bound James Pasko returns her stolen clutch, and shows her what’s missing in her life, she gains the courage to search for the truth about her past.

What Sadie uncovers rattles her to the core. But James’ steadfast love gives her hope for the future—for the first time—even as the war tears them apart.

When James disappears over enemy lines and Sadie makes a startling discovery, she must decide to follow in the footsteps of the mother who gave her away, or face a life of hardship like she’s never known.

Available to buy from....

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   Kobo

About the Author

Carolyn Menke is the author of RETURN TO ME, published by The Wild Rose Press in September 2015 and I’M YOURS, the companion novella that released in December. RETURN TO ME, set during the 1940s, follows Sadie, as she uncovers pieces of her mother’s past. I’M YOURS, set during the Roaring Twenties, follows Audrey, Sadie’s mother, as a young starlet destined for Broadway, and the events leading up to one fateful decision.

Raised by a former kindergarten teacher and engineer, Carolyn grew up with a book in hand, a story in her ear, and was encouraged from a young age to pretend, create, read, and write. She’d often come down to the breakfast table with a new story or poem to share. Some of her fondest memories are of her mom reading to her from the front seat of their family station wagon during long road trips, her siblings fast asleep beside her. These read-alouds were the beginning of a lifelong love.

A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Carolyn blogs for a digital marketing agency and enjoys horseback riding and geocaching with her family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a mom to three young daughters, it’s her turn to carry on the tradition of telling stories, reading aloud, and making the every day magical.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website    Facebook    Twitter    Pinterest    Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

MY REVIEW

This is the prequel to "Return To Me" which explains how Audrey and Edward met and the background to their story.  They are parents of Sadie, the main protagonist in Menke's longer novel "Return to Me".

As a stand-alone story, it is quite brief but it is an enjoyable read nonetheless and whets the appetite for the sweeping romantic story of "Return To Me".  

Once again, Menke's eye for historical detail and her accurate period descriptions (this story is set in the 1920s) make the characters believable.  Whether it is the description of the clothes her characters wear, or the perfumes and music of the time, you feel that you are in the era she writes about.

Interestingly, Menke raises the issues of the struggle women still face to come to terms with what society expects of them and their own personal desires.

And, for Audrey, setting out to claim her independence has consequences that will echo down the years.

I enjoyed both "I'm Yours" and "Return to Me" but my recommendation would be that they are read together - which is, after all, what the author probably intended.  

Follow the book tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Win a $20 Amazon.com GC / Paypal Cash
(winners choice)
Plus ebook to 3 runner ups
Open Worldwide

Ending on Sunday 31st January at 11.59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more

Win £25 to spend at Adored.co.uk For Your Valentine

It's cold, wet and miserable outside but what better way to heat things up than by investing in something saucy for the bedroom?

Adored.co.uk is a new adult website dedicated to pleasure which stocks a wide range of adult toys, condoms, lubricants and lingerie to spice up the dullest day or night.

Lace Top Fishnet Stockings - £15.00

Think Fifty Shades of Grey - although I suspect some of us would rather think 'Poldark' or even 'War & Peace'.

Passion Haylin Chemise - £19.80

Adored offers a discrete packaging and billing service and delivery is free to all mainland UK addresses on all orders over £30.

Passion Miracle Chemise Pink - £23.00

I have got a cheeky £25 to give away to use on Adored's website on whatever tickles your fancy.

Just enter via the Rafflecopter widget.  UK entrants only and you must be over 18 to enter.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Monday 8th February 2016.  Terms and conditions are on my Competitions Page.

The prize will be given via a discount code emailed to the lucky winner.

Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you like this giveaway, please visit my Competitions page and share with your friends.  Just click the icons below this post.

Read more

New software helps alert schools to cyber bullying, sexual abuse & radicalisation

Our children are spending increasing amounts of time online, particularly in school and, whilst we can protect our kids at home, it has crossed my mind on more than one occasion to wonder what they get up to whilst using the internet away from home.

Whilst we have signed internet 'policies' and permission forms to agree to this use at school, it's good to know that software is being developed to help schools and colleges with their duty to protect their students' online safety.

Located near Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, UK software developer NetSupport Ltd, has developed new technology that not only helps to keep students safe on the web by monitoring and restricting the scope of their internet use, but also provides them with an avenue to report any concerns they may have – in confidence – to a trusted member of staff.

And with children aged between 8 and 15 now spending more than twice as much time online at school and at home as they did a decade ago, there is now more of a need for this kind of protective measure than ever.

The software’s release supports the new Government proposals announced on 22nd December 2015 to strengthen the current Prevent duty legislation – obliging schools to introduce filtering technology and monitor pupils’ internet use more closely to safeguard and promote their welfare and prevent them “from being drawn into terrorism.”

Using advanced neurolinguistics technology, the product’s comprehensive keyword monitoring feature provides schools with an insight into what students are typing (both online and in programs such as Word) and draws on an extensive database of keywords and phrases covering the spectrum of safeguarding topics: from cyber bullying, sexual abuse, eating disorders and pornography to the potential for radicalisation.

This means staff can be alerted to activity by students who are potentially open to physical or emotional harm and allows them to take the appropriate action.

Ensuring students can report any anxieties they might have is key to an effective safeguarding policy. The new “Report a concern” feature of NetSupport DNA’s safeguarding module provides a simple and accessible way for students to initiate contact with trusted members of staff for help or guidance.

NetSupport has worked with internationally-operating organisation, the Internet Watch Foundation, to ensure the keywords supporting the technology are as comprehensive and relevant as possible. In addition, the company has collaborated closely with its local authority, Peterborough City Council, and school safeguarding leads, as well as conducting its own research with groups of students on the language that they use every day.

To learn more about NetSupport DNA,visit www.netsupportdna.com/education where product video tours, walk-throughs and a range of supporting resources are available.

Any advance in the technology needed to keep our children safe online is surely to be applauded and it will be interesting to see what level of adoption software such as this attracts - and what level of reporting is acted upon and shared with parents.

Read more

Love's Got Wheels - Win A Skateboard

If you're looking for something a bit different to surprise your Valentine this year, I have an unusual and fun suggestion.

I was sent a fabulous Limitless Classic Retro Cruiser skateboard in pink and blue from Skates.co.uk to demonstrate my athletic prowess to the kids.

Whilst the board seems quite small to a novice skateboarder like me, it is incredibly sturdy.  The retro cruiser boards come in a huge range of colours and the technical information you need is as follows.

Deck:  22 x 6"
Truck: 3" high performance aluminium trucks
Wheels: 59x45mm PU wheels
Bearings: ABEC7 bearings
Max Load: 80kg

The board is certainly big enough to take a large adult (cough).  Here's the Husband demonstrating the point, although he's not a big fan of the pink / blue combo.  Caitlin is standing behind him laughing.

Obviously I would suggest full protective gear because as soon as Ieuan put one foot on it, he was flat on the floor!

I am threatening to follow the kids round Cosmeston Nature Reserve on my skateboard when the Husband next takes them out on their bikes.  They don't seem too convinced.

Skates.co.uk also have a great range of scooters, skates and Heelys.  There's free next day delivery and a Price Match Promise to boot (or skate).

Caitlin, about to show me how it's done apparently

If skateboards aren't your Valentine's thing, what about

Rio Pure Pink Roller Skates - £44.95

 SFR Camden Pink Inline Skates - £39.95 

 Grit Atom Pink Scooter - £64.95

If you would like to win the same skateboard I am demonstrating so masterfully, simply enter via the Rafflecopter below.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Monday 8th February. UK entrants only. Terms and conditions can be viewed on my competitions page.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more

6 Signs Your Dating Buddy Isn't On Your Side

In my single dating years I used to go clubbing with a friend I'll call G.  On Saturdays we used to go into town and would usually end up in one of the spit and sawdust, sticky floored bars which was particularly popular at the time.

Does your 'dating buddy' actually stick around long enough to have a drink with you?!

This bar had the reputation of being the place where even Frankenstein would find a date. The drinks were watered down. The music was dire and the toilets should probably have been taped off by the Health & Safety Executive.

But it was cheap.  So cheap, in fact, that queues used to snake outside from about 11 pm onwards.

G was always keen to go out.  She was likeable and fun, but once inside the club, you wouldn't see her for dust.  Like a heat seeking missile, no DJ, bouncer or male under 40 was safe.

By the time I had checked my coat into the cloakroom, she would be gone.

In those days, there was no 'girl code' as such - no pre-agreed rules about sticking together.  No discussion about what to do if the other became a gooseberry.

But I got the feeling that I was there to make up the numbers and to give her the confidence to walk in the bar.

Having been left once too often to make my own way home at some ungodly hour, I called time on our Saturdays out.

Have you got a 'friend' like that?

If you're dating, you need a dating buddy who is on your side and, for the sake of your personal safety to agree what will happen if one of you meets someone and the other goes home alone.

Surely a good friend will want to make sure that you get home safely.

And wouldn't a true friend want you to have a good time too?

These signs should give you pause for thought if your dating buddy:-

- leaves you as soon as they get in the club
- flirts with someone you've expressed an interest in
- subtly makes fun of you or puts you down in front of others
- gets you to buy most of the drinks (funny how some people can never find their purse)
- leaves you to go home alone
- only phones you to arrange the next night out

When romantic relationships go wrong, it's often our friends who are there to pick up the pieces.

I'd suggest hanging out with people who value you and your friendship.

The acid test?  How does your dating buddy make you feel about yourself?

And what kind of friend are they when you're not hitting town?

People judge others, too, by the company they keep.

If your dating buddy treats you like this, I'd suggest they're not your buddy.

And they certainly won't help you to get a date.

Have you got friends like this?

If you like what you've read please share on Facebook or Twitter by clicking the icons below.  Thank you! 

Read more

Win A Dozen Red Roses For Your Valentine

There is nothing like a dozen red roses to say "I love you" is there?  And I just such a prize to give away from Beards & Daisies - The Letterbox Florist guaranteed to melt the frostiest heart this Valentine's Day.

Beautiful Valentines Day Roses From Beards & Daisies - The Letterbox Florist

Using Beards & Daisies couldn't be easier.  You simply choose your flower box and select a delivery date. Their florist carefully packs your flowers and greetings card and the flowers are delivered straight to the recipient's doormat.

There are currently 6 boxes to choose from, each one named after a bird:- the Hummingbird, the Nightingale, the Wren, the Dove, the Firecrest or the Skylark. Each box has a different combination of flowers and colour themes.

You can choose from a one-off box or a three month gift subscription - which would be an ideal Mothers' Day gift too.  (This year Mothering Sunday falls on Sunday 6 March).

I was sent "The Hummingbird"  and this box is filled with Alstroemeria, Solidago, Wax Flower, Madiba and Hypericum.

The Hummingbird Arrangement 

Each box contains fresh, locally sourced flowers posted straight through your letterbox in a purpose designed, 2ft ventilated flower box. It’s as easy as receiving a letter and the flowers will be waiting on the recipients doormat when they get home!

This is how the flowers arrive.

The flowers are lovingly packed in premium gift wrapping, including an A6 ‘A Little Note to Say’ greeting card with a hand written message, perfect for any occasion.

The flowers are beautifully packaged.

Lovely additional touches to your flower box

As you can see, the box contains a card which explains which flowers you have received and, on the reverse, there are detailed instructions for both caring for, and arranging your flowers - a great help for those of us who tend to use the "plonk them in a vase" technique!

There is also a discount code to save 10% on your next order.

The Hummingbird box costs £25.99 for one box and £59.99 for a 3 month subscription (a saving of approx £18).

This includes free Royal Mail 1st class delivery in a ventilated box which fits through a standard letterbox.

Order by 4:00pm for free next day delivery.  Note that to ensure the freshest flowers, Beards & Daisies deliver Tuesday-Saturday. Flower boxes are delivered to mainland UK only. The recipient doesn't have to wait in, it's as easy as receiving a letter! Protective packaging ensures flowers are delivered in perfect condition. Signature gift wrapping is included with every flower box, together with a free A6 gift card 'A little note to say' with every flower box.

I found the flowers to be in great condition and they have added a lovely and much needed touch of spring to the house.  The quality of the Beards & Daisies box is excellent and would make a great gift.

Now, to my giveaway.

To win a beautiful dozen red roses for your Valentine (or to cheer yourself up!), just enter via the rafflecopter below.  Mainland UK entrants only.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 on Monday 8th February.  Terms and conditions, together with details of other Mother Distracted giveaways are on my Competitions page.

Note:  Beards & Daisies are only able to deliver to mainland UK. The winner will be required to respond with their details within 48 hours in order that their flowers can be received on Valentines Day.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more

My Sunday Photo - 17/01/2016

Daddy & Daughter - A Special Bond

Read more