Category Archives: 5 Stars

Nora Roberts’ Book signing November 1st, 2014 at Boonsboro Maryland

Posted on November 17, 2014 | 5 comments
Loved the Piper too - special for this book signing event. He is a Piper for Hire contact him at celtic4m@hotmail.com

Loved the Piper too – special for this book signing event. He is a Piper for Hire contact him at celtic4m@hotmail.com

Once again the team that makes the Nora Roberts’ book signing events a success delivered.

The first in line (I’m told) arrived around 6:30 a.m. I arrived at around 8:30 a.m. or so on Saturday, November 1st.  Here’s picture of how many were in line at that time:

Altitude at 1500 feet in Boonsboro made air feel colder to this Minnesotan

Meeting the authors and the great fans in line made the wait in line an adventure well worth braving the cold.

I met many lovely people in the line. First was Becky pictured with me here:

Nora Roberts' Book Signing Event Novemember 1st

We tweeted this picture from the line and an author RT and mentioned great fun

She took a picture of me too – I got my coat on an a trip to Harper’s Ferry with my friend Eva on October 31. Well worth the investment – perfect fall coat.

Harper's Ferry, Eva, Civil War sites

Coat from Harper’s Ferry visit – thanks much Eva for a wonderful day on October 31 enjoyed every moment

I also met Denise and Jennifer – this is a picture I took of them in line before I met them later right before signing with the authors:

Friends, Book Signing Event, Boonsboro Maryland, Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe, Nora Roberts

Denise and Jennifer waiting for the Nora Roberts’ book signing event tickets

After we got our tickets we were assigned a group and a time to return for the book signing. I took advantage of the great shops in Boonsboro and went shopping at Gifts Inn Boonsboro to start its right next door to Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe and here are some highlights of what I found in that excellent shop:

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They also had hand painted silk scarfs, ear rings, hand made pottery by Turn the Page Bookstore Cafe Manager Janeen Solberg

Here’s what I bought:

Harper's Ferry

Hat from Harper’s Ferry Free Trade Shop

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Olde-Homestead/234966193272631

Shelf for coats found at Olde Homestead great place to shope in Boonsboro MD

https://ttpbooks.com/ Nora's book bag holding all the books I bought and authors signed. The stuffed animal is from the Free trade store at Harper's Ferry

https://ttpbooks.com/ Nora’s book bag holding all the books I bought and authors signed. The stuffed animal is from the Free trade store at Harper’s Ferry

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Olde-Homestead/234966193272631 purchases

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Olde-Homestead/234966193272631 purchases hanging ornament good reminder

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Olde-Homestead/234966193272631 purchases

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Olde-Homestead/234966193272631 purchases wreath for Fall hand made by a local artist

https://www.facebook.com/giftsinnboonsboro lovely picture card of Antietam Battle ground road

https://www.facebook.com/giftsinnboonsboro lovely picture card of Antietam Battle ground road

https://ttpbooks.com/ Wonderfully unique cards

https://ttpbooks.com/ Wonderfully unique cards

https://ttpbooks.com/ Wonderfully unique cards

https://ttpbooks.com/ Wonderfully unique cards

https://www.facebook.com/giftsinnboonsboro beautifully crafted pottery made and signed by Janeen Solberg

https://www.facebook.com/giftsinnboonsboro beautifully crafted pottery made and signed by Janeen Solberg

https://ttpbooks.com/ "Blood Magick" Nora Roberts signed my copy:)

https://ttpbooks.com/ “Blood Magick” Nora Roberts signed my copy:)

https://ttpbooks.com/ "Blood Magick" Nora Roberts signed my copy:)

https://ttpbooks.com/ “Blood Magick” Nora Roberts signed my copy:)

I hope if you ever get the chance you’ll attend a Nora Roberts’ Book Signing event – Boonsboro is a great place to shop, see the Civil War sites (Harper’s Ferry is just 18 miles away) and climb South Mountain and see the beginning of the Appilacian North Trail and the Washington monument that resides in Maryland here are some sights to see:

 

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Here’s the best for last – my pictures with the authors my thanks to each and everyone for all the smiles, chatting about the books, Facebook posts, and genuinely enjoying the experience of meeting their fans:

Anne Barton on the left - I'll be getting her book soon

Anne Barton on the left – I’ll be getting her book soon

Cara Connelly thanks the smile and the signature

Cara Connelly thanks the smile and the signature

https://marieforce.com/ Love Marie's smile and her writing is excellent too:)

https://marieforce.com/ Love Marie’s smile and her writing is excellent too:)

http://donnakauffman.com/ I've read Donna's books for many years good to meet her in person

http://donnakauffman.com/ I’ve read Donna’s books for many years good to meet her in person

Brenda Novak's husband took this picture

Brenda Novak’s husband took this picture

Book Signing, Kristan Higgins

Kristian is a lovely lady so glad she was at the book signing with Nora at Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe

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A new author, Patricia Donohoe - writing about an ancestor from the Civil War fasinating story

A new author, Patricia Donohoe – writing about an ancestor from the Civil War fascinating story. Enjoyed our talk as she signed my book.

Nora Roberts and I great moment for me - I love all her books and her ability to bring characters to life.

Nora Roberts and I great moment for me – I love all her books and her ability to bring characters to life. My thanks to Laura – Nora’s PR & Social Media expert thanks for a great picture.

Thanks everyone at Boonsboro MD – you all made me feel welcome like an old friend.  This post took more time than I thought it would so my review of “Blood Magick,” Nora Roberts latest best seller, will follow next week.  Peace.

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Posted in 5 Stars, Book Signing Events, BookSignings, Bookstores, Boonsboro MD, Brick and Mortar Business, CivilWar, Maryland, Nora, Nora Roberts, NoraRoberts

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Recommend JD Robb’s Survivor In Death

Posted on October 12, 2014 | Leave a comment

I’m traveling to Boonsboro, Maryland for the November 1st book signing event at Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe see this link for further details:   http://ttpbooks.com/category/VB.html

I’ve been listening to the In Death Series on digital audio and just completed book 20 in the series.
SURVIVOR IN DEATH AUDIO (select for prices)

This title is available via this link:  http://ttpbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=TTPB&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1AUDIOJDRa20

Summerset shines in this continuing story of the crime busting, Lieutenant Eve Dallas.  10 year old Nixie Swisher finds solace with Summerset when Lieutenant Dallas needs to keep her safe in the fortress Roarke built.
JD Robb writes several moving and vivid scenes in “Survivor In Death”.  The most memorable was the trip to the morgue to take Nixie to say goodbye to her murdered family.  Every time I read this section of the book I cry.  It reminds me so much of those I’ve said goodbye to as a child and adult.  The crowning scene though is when Nixie goes back to Lieutenant Eve and Roarke’s house and sits with Summerset.  Brings tears to my eyes just remembering the moment between them. Take some time today and experience these touching scenes.  This story is also a great Fall book – I love how Peabody describes the falling leaves and how bare the trees are after all the leaves have gone before the first snow falls.  So true to the mid-west and New York too. May you find comfort for any loses you’ve experienced as you read “Survivor In Death”. Peace.

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Posted in 5 Stars, Audiobooks, BookReviews, Books, BookSignings, Brick and Mortar Business, BrillianceAudio, Child Grief, fantasy, Five Stars, JDRBookReviews, JDRobb, Mystery, New York, Overcoming Grief, Romantic Suspense, Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe

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Recommend JD Robb’s Festive In Death

Posted on September 29, 2014 | Leave a comment

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I recommend “Festive In Death”, by J.D. Robb.

Trina needs to tag Eve in this story when a friend finds herself in a situation that demands the services of a murder cop.

J.D. Robb delivers in this fresh In Death tale of double crossing lovers and a conniving personal trainer.

I didn’t figure out who did the murder until the very end.  The journey to finding the murderer is brilliantly interwoven with Christmas shopping, and preparing for the annual gala thrown at Lieutenant Dallas and Roarke palatial home.

J.D. Robb  is an artist painting a word picture with fantastic dialog and narration that is completely engrossing.  The world and characters that make up the In Death series is maintained and consistent with each new release.  Festive In Death develops Trina in a new way without taking away from the core players that all fans love so well.

Susan Ericksen, In Death narrator in the audiobooks, does an excellent job bringing each character to life with her voice inflection and flowing delivery of the script.  I purchased my copy with my iPhone at the iTunes store.  Listening to the reading is like attending a play.  Every move, feeling and expression is represented during the telling.

I appreciate both the hard copy and the audiobook each have their own gifts to bring to the story and reader.

Thank you J.D. Robb for writing another best seller that stays true to the beautiful characters you have created over the years.  I also appreciate the signed copy – you know how to treat your fans and I’m happy to be one.

Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe http://ttpbooks.com/ is also something I’m grateful for – offering book signings both on site and virtually.  I know it takes a lot of work to track all the orders and get them safely to their destinations.  Thanks to one and all.

Peace,

In Death Series Fan,

Melissa Blanchard

 

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Posted in 5 Stars, BookReviews, Books, BookSignings, Bookstores, Brick and Mortar Business, Five Stars, JDRBookReviews, Lt Eve Dallas, MurderMysteries, Mystery, New York, Nora, Nora Roberts, NoraRoberts, Novel, Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe

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Book Reviews Coming Soon

Posted on August 1, 2014 | Leave a comment

Hi All,

I haven’t forgotten my book reviews just have to make the time to write about the fantastic books I’ve read recently.

THE ROYERS OF RENFREW by Marie & Maxine Beckroyers

Just finished this book from a Nora Robert Book signing event and available at ttpbook.com at this link http://ttpbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=TTPB&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=tBMM_ROYERS1

This is a wonderfully written account of one family’s experiences for one year living in the 1800’s in Pennsylvania USA.  Ups and down’s of growing up before there was indoor plumbing, electricity and hard wood floors.

I’ll write more about this book soon.  Catching up on all my blogs and finding it a pleasure to share my thoughts on the books I love to read.

All your comments are welcome.  Keep on reading and writing both lift the soul and spirit to learn, share and grow.

Peace,

Melissa Blanchard

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Posted in 5 Stars, BookReviews, Books, BookSignings, Bookstores, Education, Family Reading, Five Stars, Fun, G Rated, Marie & Maxine Beck, Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe

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“The Witness” by Nora Roberts

Posted on July 6, 2014 | Leave a comment

 

The Witness by Nora Roberts

Why read “The Witness” by Nora Roberts?

Consider a young girl, Elizabeth, finds out her Mother didn’t give birth to her for love but to make the best out of a sperm donor’s DNA.  Elizabeth finds herself at 16 a college student that has never been on a date nor has she ever been shopping with friends.  She has an opportunity to have a day shopping with a girl from her old high school and forging fake ID’s for them to go out to a popular club.

Elizabeth soon finds herself running for her life.  What comes next will change her life in ways she would have never dreamed possible.

Will this naive girl survive into womanhood?  If so, what sort of life will she have?

All this and more will be answered by Nora Roberts as the story unfolds.  You’ll discover what happened to Elizabeth, her Mother and the Federal Agents assigned to protect Elizabeth or is it to prosecute?

“The Witness,” kept me guessing.  It is a snapshot of a girl left on her own with no guidance and the trouble that finds her.  A Mother’s love is important and this story shows why on so many levels.

The adult Elizabeth finds she still has things to learn about finding and keeping love between a man and a woman too.  She has to find the courage and wisdom within herself to pursue the man of her dreams while staying safe from the men from her nightmares.

Nora brings all the characters in this book to life from the shy and bookish Elizabeth to the sterile, demanding and unfeeling Mother you’ll find those you love and those you will love to hate in this adventure of the heart.

There are very few writers that could bring a character like Elizabeth to life, but Nora Roberts does it beautifully.  From the style of Elizabeth’s hair to the experience of wearing her first pair of heals, you will not be disappointed.  This is a definite re-read for me.  So much detail needs to be savored.

I hope you pick up “The Witness” by Nora Roberts and see for yourself what makes this coming of age story a suspenseful drama full of mystery and hope.  You can get the book in the following formats at the links below:

http://www.audiobookstanddl.com/9B656443-488B-4EA1-813A-6E319CB89573/10/119/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=9C9FA007-8C8F-4C14-A40E-19C9E8FDCAE4

http://ttpbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=TTPB&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1WITNESS

If you buy with the second link you can ask to have it signed by the author and its on clearance for $10.00.

I also enjoyed the audiobook performance by Julia Whelan.  She brings out all the emotions of the characters in her voice tone and reading style. Lovely job, Julia, thank you.

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Posted in 5 Stars, Audiobooks, BookReviews, Books, BookSignings, Bookstores, BrillianceAudio, Courage, Hope, Inspire, MurderMysteries, Mystery, Nora, Nora Roberts, NoraRoberts, Novel, NRBookReviews, On The Run, Passion, Roberts, Romance, Uncategorized

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“The Ornament” by Zeke Changuris

Posted on June 28, 2014 | Leave a comment

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What sets “The Ornament” by Zeke Changuris apart making it a must read novel for all ages?  This is the journey of a young photojournalist striving to be the best when the woman of his dreams starts working at the same TV news station.  The courtship of Amy and Sam is full of all the detail of what goes into being a good news anchor and photojournalist along with all the personal struggles these two face living life.

Zeke shows us how a single frame of video captures the emotions of a moment out of time.  He brings to sharp focus all that goes into being human from dating, marriage and finding the courage to say what’s in you heart to a woman you’ve loved all your life.

“The Ornament” allows us to see inside the TV news profession in a whole new way.  Zeke details the ups and downs in a news anchor’s and photojournalist’s personal as well as professional life.  The journey takes us to Hagerstown, Maryland  to Operation Freedom in Iraq and back to Washington, DC.

Zeke Changuris writes from the heart about a profession he loves and how hard it is to find and keep true love.  Zeke’s characters are easy to imagine as well as the places they inhabit.  Vivid descriptions as only a photographer can capture are brought to life in Zeke’s dialog and narrative.  Beautifully and poignantly written.

Reading to me is finding something new about the human condition that is both inspiring and helps me see myself a little more clearly.  “The Ornament” does this and more.  It pulls the emotions out of me.  I feel for Sam and I have a better understanding of what a man experiences as he travels through life.

Thank you, Zeke Changuris for sharing these beautiful characters with me and all readers that enjoy a story that celebrates living life to the fullest.  Keep on writing from the heart, Zeke, you have a gift to not only bring characters to life off the page but to also share the complex emotions that make up each and everyone of us.

I bought my copy at the following link:  http://ttpbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=TTPB&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ZC_ORNAMENT

From Turn the Page Bookstore Cafe at a Nora Roberts sponsored book signing event.  I hope you all take a few minutes to check out this book and order from TTPBooks.com a safe and secure way to get books quickly and in great condition all over the world.

“The Ornament” is a must read book for our time for all ages.  My book reviews are my own.  I only strive to help readers find books that I’ve enjoyed and found some new insights into the human condition.  Comments are welcomed.

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Posted in 5 Stars, BookReviews, Books, BookSignings, Bookstores, Changuris, Emotion, Five Stars, Giving, Hope, Inspire, Novel, Passion, Photography, The Ornament, Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe, TV News Profession, You Make a Difference, Zeke Changuris, ZekeChanguris

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“Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee)” by Sheryl Seal

Posted on June 21, 2014 | Leave a comment

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I found this book on Twitter when Sheryl Seal (@sherylseal) tweeted the cover art.  It is amazingly beautiful.  When I found out it is the cover art of a book I knew I had to read it.

What’s so special about “Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee)”?  It takes us on journey into the spiritual part of our being.  Into that part of us that makes us part of the universe.  Sheryl also introduces us to the consequences of unharnessed emotion and the price we all pay when we fail to control our thoughts and feelings.

“Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee)” shows us why it is so important that we get to know our inner selves.  Sheryl delves into what makes us human and unique.  She demonstrates how important it is to be straight with ourselves and others.

Any young adult to senior citizen (rated G for wholesome family reading) will find “Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee)” engaging and inspiring.  Sheryl writes from the heart and pens imagery like the cover art that moves us to try and capture all the beauty that is around us.

“Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee)” is fantasy that has roots in reality.  All that experience life will find moments from Oria journey to womanhood that connect with their soul.  Keep on writing Sheryl Seal you have a gift that speaks to the heart.

I purchased my copy for iPad Kindle on Amazon at this link:

Paper back copies are also available.

Adding these 2 to my must read list:

Oria Falls 3rd

 

 

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Posted in 5 Stars, Amazon, Amazon (Kindle), Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee), BookReviews, Books, ebook, Emotion, fantasy, Five Stars, Hope, horses, Inspire, Sheryl, Sheryl Seal, SherylSeal, Soul, Spiritual, Uncategorized, Universe

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