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Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway: Kentucky Bride Author: Caryl McAdoo --- On Tour with Celebrate Lit

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About the Book


Book:  Kentucky Bride
Author: Caryl McAdoo
Genre:  Historical Christian Romance
Release Date: June 9, 2020
KENTUCKY outer-glow 2
A Country Divided…And so is her heart.

Some might say you can’t be too fussy when almost every unattached young man is off fighting for Southern freedom, but that shouldn’t mean a rebel’s daughter has any business with a Union soldier. Forbidden love never created greater battles than Gigi’s unexpected love for a Union soldier.
A dashing Rebel Soldier. The daughter of a Federal Soldier. How will they overcome the odds and a war to be together? Find out in this twist on Romeo and Juliet.


Click here to get your copy!



About the Author

caryl
Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—over fifty published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and eighteen grandsugars with Ron, her high-school-sweetheart-husband of over fifty years, she lives in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.



More from Caryl

It thrilled me to be a part of the North and South Collection series, a thirty-seven titles by seventeen authors project headed up by Christine Sterling Bortner. One reason is that my husband and co-writer has always been a Civil War buff, and the other because it’s such a huge undertaking. I’m actually writing two titles, Kentucky in 1861 and Nevada in 1865.
The stories are broken up by the years (1861-1865) and then the years divided into the states or territories (37 in all) as to when its most major event happened. So, if a reader stays with the series, one releases every other week, they will enjoy a chronological overview of the Civil War.
This story, Kentucky Bride is set near Bowling Green where the Confederates first set up their area headquarters. Twenty-thousand men descended on the city of seven hundred. Nearby, General Hindman with fifteen hundred men that included the 8th Calvary Regiment from Texas, a group of Texas Rangers who’d joined the effort. Of course, I had to have a Texan as a hero! ðŸ˜Š
My heroine is eighteen-year-old Gardenia Gladiola Garland who helps her grandfather in the family business as her papa, brother, and uncle were gone. They’d joined the Union Army several weeks before. She hates the flowery name her mother pinned on her almost as much as the war and insists on being called Gigi.

My Texas Ranger hero, Ephraim Edward Kerns is sent to meet a supply wagon and it surprises to find such a lovely young woman muleskinning. He ties his horse to the back of the wagon and takes over for her, falling in love with her intelligence, beauty, and determination practically at first sight.

This Texas author hopes readers will love these two young ones, and I’m always “Praying my story gives God glory!”

My Thoughts

I am a huge fan of this author, I love reading anything that she puts out. In this love story which is set in 1861 Kentucky during the Civil War. This is the 8th book in the North and South Series (which is a multi-author collab)  Kentucky, trying to be neutral - allowing residents of the state to sign up to fight with the Union or Confederacy. The author always has wonderful names for her characters. 18 year old GiGi, has had to see her father, brother, and uncle  off to war with the Union Army. She does not know where they are at the moment.  Ephraim, a Confederate Texas Ranger meets GiGi and it is love at first site. He showers her with compliments, is a Christian and desires to be married. GiGI's mother is concerned since her husband is fighting the Confederacy. Can they seek the Lord's will for their lives? Does it include GiGi marrying a Confederate? 

This is a sweet love story - with great research. The author has done great character development, written a wonderful story that left me smiling. 

While this is part of a series, I have not read all the other books. 

Thank you to the author, and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to be a part of this blog tour. 


Blog Stops

Novels Corner, July 12
Pause for Tales, July 14
Bizwings Blog, July 18
Betti Mace, July 20
KarenSueHadley, July 21
Artistic Nobody, July 22 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Book Spotlight -- Women of Color in Tech A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators by Susanne Tedrick

WOMEN OF COLOR IN TECH by Susanne Tedrick


WOMEN OF COLOR IN TECH by Susanne Tedrick

Book Details:

Book Title:  Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators by Susanne Tedrick
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction, 18 yrs +, 288 pages
Genre:  Business, Careers, Technology
Publisher:  Wiley
Release date:   April, 2020
Tour datesJune 22 to July 10, 2020
Content Rating:  PG.

Book Description:

Tech industry jobs are growing fast, offering great pay, career growth and learning opportunities. Women of color, sadly, have not been able to fully participate in this boom. There are many misconceptions about the tech industry. Misconceptions can often discourage women of color from pursuing or remaining in technical careers. For example, misconceptions like “tech careers are all about coding ”or “there’s no diversity in tech.”

In reality, tech career opportunities can be diverse, fun, and incredibly dynamic. While there are barriers to overcome, Women of Color in Tech is an indispensable resource for building a rewarding future in tech. Packed with inspiring stories and practical advice, this book shows you how to uncover the resources you need to succeed.

This practical guide will help you develop the blend of knowledge and skills needed for getting into tech—and staying there. Author Susanne Tedrick understands that, for a variety of reasons, young women of color are underrepresented in tech and may not have access to strong support networks or resources to be successful. Using her own experiences transitioning into tech, Susanne offers you real-world guidance on finding knowledgeable mentors, learning the latest industry trends, cultivating strong relationships and more.

If you’re thinking about going into tech, or you want to take your current career to the next level, Women of Color in Tech will help you build a blueprint for a successful career.

• Understand the reality of tech today, not misconceptions.
• Learn about the different tech jobs and opportunities that exist, not just coding.
• Gain an understanding of emerging technology areas that will affect jobs, like artificial intelligence, Blockchain and cloud computing.
• Discover traditional and non-traditional education option to get the skills you need.
• Find mentors, build your professional network and get the guidance you need.
• Stay motivated and deal with difficult situations.
• Recognize the importance of giving back to increase diversity and inclusion.

Author susanne Tedrick
Meet the Author:

Susanne Tedrick is a technical specialist for a Fortune 50 technology company. Fiercely committed to increasing participation of women and people of color in STEM educational and professional opportunities, she is a career mentor for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Initiative and a volunteer workshop technical assistant for Black Girls Code, a nonprofit that empowers girls of color to develop in-demand IT skills and prepare for careers in tech. Susanne was awarded the 2018 CompTIA AITP Rising Star of the Year Award, and nominated for the 2019 CompTIA Advancing Women in Technology Mentorship Guide Award, for her dedication to advancing her career and that of others. Views expressed are those of author Susanne Tedrick and are not endorsed by any of her current or former employers.

Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram ~ Goodreads
AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
What should readers expect from your book?

Readers can expect an overview of the popular tech careers out there. They can also expect a discussion on how to prepare for these careers. This isn’t just about resume and interview preparation, but where to find opportunities to build skills, cultivating a strong network and demonstrating your value. Lastly, they should expect a discussion of basic strategies to address challenges women of color often face in the field, including bias and microaggressions, imposter syndrome, mental health and more.

What inspired you to write Women of Color in Tech?

The book is largely based on my experiences in transitioning into the tech industry, after having worked in administrative and operations roles in financial services for several years. I wrote the book to provide guidance to women of color who are thinking pursuing a career in tech but may be unsure of what a tech career could look like for them, and how to get started, especially if resources and support networks are in limited supply.  

Which female technologist has inspired you the most?

Katherine Johnson, who was profiled in both the book and movie, Hidden Figures. Ms. Johnson came from very humble beginnings to become one of the most integral and influential mathematicians in NASA’s history. Her legacy is truly an inspiration to all women of color within the STEM fields.

What emerging technology are do you see having the most impact on our society?

Artificial intelligence will have the most impact on our society. We are already starting to see examples of its usage in everyday life. When we call on a business for a customer service inquiry, or to book an appointment, it’s very likely that we’re interacting simplified AI chatbot vs. a human being. As AI continues to innovate, we will start to see more and more AI integrated in websites, applications and more. We will also have more and more conversation on its ethical implications, and on how to make it free from bias, so that marginalized communities are not negatively impacted.

When did you know for sure that you wanted a career in tech?

While I had always had an interest in technology since I was young, it wasn’t until I took my first Java programming class much later in life, and I compiled my first program. I had created a personal budget calculator, where the users input the amounts to see if their spending was in line with recommended percentages from financial advisors. It wasn’t so much that I wanted to code for the rest of my life. I didn’t ☺. It was more the fact that I was able to program in the first place, and that I could use technology to solve one of many problems that people face. It took me many hours to create this very crude program, but I was so in my “zone” and honestly, it was so much fun that I barely noticed when long periods of time went by. From there I knew that this was what I wanted out of my career and my calling.


Tour Schedule:

June 22 -Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / author interview / guest post / giveaway
June 22 –Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
June 22 -Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight / giveaway
June 23 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
June 24 – Alexis Marie Chute Blog – book spotlight / author interview
June 25 –Pen Possessed – book spotlight / giveaway
June 26 – Her Book Thoughts – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
June 29 - Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
June 30 –Celticlady's Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
July 1 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 2 – Library of Clean Reads – book spotlight / giveaway
July 2 - Over Coffee Conversations - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 3 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 6 –Mowgli with a book – book spotlight / author interview
July 7 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
July 8 – Connie's History Classroom – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
July 9 – StoreyBook Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Enter the Giveaway:  Here

Monday, July 6, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway -- American Dreamer by Tim Tran - On tour with IRead

American Dreamer by Tim TranAmerican Dreamer by Tim Tran




Book Title:  American Dreamer: How I Escaped Communist Vietnam and Built a Successful Life in America by Tim Tran (Tran Manh Khiem) with Tom Fields-Meyer
Category:  Non-Fiction (18 +),  390 pages
Genre:  Memoir
Publisher:  Pacific University Press
Release date:   June 2020
Format available for review:  print, mobi (for Kindle), epub, PDF
Will send print books out:  USA and Canada
Tour datesJun 18 to Jul 8, 2020
Content Rating:  PG + M: The book contains some bad language and recounts episodes of murder, rape, and suicide.

“My goal in life is to make a humble contribution to the society that accepted and helped me when I was a person without a country.” — Tim Tran

Book Description:

"American Dreamer" is an inspirational, first-hand account of the motivating power of an immigrant’s dream for a better life. From the rural Vietnam of Tim Tran’s childhood to his eventual escape to America and his rise as CFO of a multi-billion-dollar company, Tran’s memoir is a lesson in perseverance and ingenuity. After he initially left Vietnam in 1970 to attend American universities on a USAID scholarship, Tran’s sense of commitment led him home shortly before the fall of Saigon in 1975. Suspected of being a CIA agent, he found life under Communism increasingly difficult and dangerous, and was forced to flee. During multiple attempts to escape, he encountered deceit, betrayal, and even murder. Finally, in 1979 Tran and his wife, Cathy, escaped with 350 others in a rickety, overcrowded boat, and faced pirate attacks and months in a Malaysian refugee camp before reaching their new home in Oregon. "American Dreamer," written with passion, unflinching candor, and wit, is an extraordinary debut that confirms the American dream is alive and gives hope to anyone willing to work for a better life.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Author Tim Tran
Meet the Author:

In 1970, Tim (Khiem) and Cathy (Thuy) Tran were top international students from South Vietnam who were awarded scholarships to study in the United States. They studied for two years at Pacific University in Oregon, after which Tim pursued his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley, and Cathy finished her degree at the University of Oregon. Per the conditions of their scholarships, the two returned to South Vietnam in 1974. When Saigon was overrun by communist forces in 1975, the family endured great hardships. In 1979, Tim and Cathy managed to escape via boat. After a harrowing, life-threating voyage they were placed in a refugee camp in Malaysia.

Eventually the Trans were able to immigrate to the United States and became naturalized citizens in 1986. Tim went on to become the Chief Financial Officer of Johnstone Supply, and Cathy worked for U.S. Bank, then Standard Insurance, and became an accounting manager. In 2017, the Trans established a Library Endowment Fund at Pacific University. In honor of their gift, the library building on the Pacific University Forest Grove campus was dedicated as the Tim and Cathy Tran Library.

Connect with the author:    website
My Thoughts
I love books where I can read about one's journey. I will read memoirs, biographies, autobiographies, etc any chance that I get. I think it's important to understand other's struggles and how they got where they are in life. I was drawn to this book because of this and that I did a lot of my undergraduate work in the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Era. 
I love the way that Tim Tran has written this book. He is gifted with his writing. The book flows very nicely. Tim and his family suffered a ton of hardships trying to flee Vietnam. I can't imagine what they went through.  My heart broke when he re-lived it. They were more prominent in Vietnam and destitute when they came to America. I could not imagine starting from scratch, in a far away country. I love how his father kept encouraging him - instilled a great work ethic in him so that he could be successful. I love how he recapped his college years (1970s). That was an interesting time period in itself with the culture evolve so rapidly - and not 100% acclimated to America. 
I enjoyed this book as a reader, and as a historian. It was a good, easy to read. It made sense and gave me a great view into how Tim and his family escaped and came to America. 

I received a copy of this book through the author and Iread blogging program - all thoughts are my own. 
Enter the Giveaway:  HERE

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Book Review and Giveaway - The Green Dress Author: Liz Tolsma On tour with Celebrate Lit


About the Book



Book:  The Green Dress
Author: Liz Tolsma
Genre: Christian Historical Suspense
Release Date: June 2020
Death Seems to Follow Harriet’s New Friend
Book 6 in the True Colors series—Fiction Based on Strange-But True History
When Harriet Peters came to Boston in 1882, the Robinson family took her in like one of their own, and Harriet became closer to Lizzie Robinson than her own siblings. Now, four years later, Lizzie is deathly sick, failing quickly just like several others in her family have done over the past few years. How can so many in one family die from the same mysterious illness? Harriet doesn’t have answers, but she is determined to help the family, bringing in a new-to-the-neighborhood doctor, Michael Wheaton.
As Harriet and Michael close in on the answer, putting their own lives at risk, can the cause be found before anyone else dies?


Click here to get your copy!




About the Author

Liz Tolsma is a popular speaker and an editor and the owner of the Write Direction Editing. An almost-native Wisconsinite, she resides in a quiet corner of the state with her husband and is the mother of three. Her son proudly serves as a U.S. Marine. They adopted all of their children internationally, and one has special needs. When she gets a few spare minutes, she enjoys reading, relaxing on the front porch, walking, working in her large perennial garden, and camping with her family.




More from Liz

We’ve all been there—started a letter or an email or even a list, didn’t like what we had, crossed it out or hit the delete button, and tried again. Now imagine that happening when you’re writing a novel.

That’s what occurred with The Green Dress. Finding the perfect place to start a novel can be tricky, but when you’re trying to balance fact with fiction, it’s even harder. I needed the fictional heroine, Harriet Peters, to have a good reason to come into contact with and become close to the factual Robinson family. And I needed for the hero, Michael Wheaton, to meet Harriet early on. So I dove into the story. Five chapters later, the hero and heroine hadn’t yet met. The book wasn’t working.

I scrapped those chapters and started at a different point. At first, it seemed to be going better. I was happy. Until I got to the fifth chapter, when I realized again that the book wasn’t working. Frankly, it was boring. So those ended up in the virtual trash bin. Meanwhile, the clock was ticking on my deadline. I was desperate to find the right starting point, at a place with high tension. Finally, I had an “aha” moment, and the story flowed from there. That’s how the first five chapters (and the rest of The Green Dress) came to be.

—Liz Tolsma

My Thoughts

I am really enjoying this series. I have read several of the books in the series. Liz Tolsma has created a   story of a serial killer in 1880's Boston. This book has a lot of suspense, twists and turns in it. Harriet flees her arranged marriage to a much older man - and is taken in by a family in Boston. The family treats her like just one of the family members. However the family members one by one have developed a strange, hurtful stomach issues that ulimately leads to their deaths. The other main character, Michael the new doctor is a well written character also. I like how they partnered together to try and figure out what is causing the deaths. Michael, as a doctor knows that something does not make sense. I love how well written this story is - I love that the author did an amazing job staying true to history. 

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program. All thoughts are my own. 

Blog Stops

Rebecca Tews, June 27
Genesis 5020, June 29
Emily Yager, June 29
Robin’s Nest, June 30
Bigreadersite, July 1
Betti Mace, July 3
Remembrancy, July 4
Vicky Sluiter, July 5
amandainpa, July 6
Hallie Reads, July 8
Artistic Nobody, July 9 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.