Tuesday, April 30, 2019

"Justice Gone" by N. Lombardi Jr.


EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
Justice Gone
by N. Lombardi Jr.

Justice Gone by N. Lombardi Jr.

Justice Gone by N. Lombardi Jr. is currently on tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


Description
When a homeless war veteran is beaten to death by the police, stormy protests ensue, engulfing a small New Jersey town. Soon after, three cops are gunned down.
A multi-state manhunt is underway for a cop killer on the loose. And Dr. Tessa Thorpe, a veteran's counselor, is caught up in the chase.
Donald Darfield, an African-American Iraqi war vet, war-time buddy of the beaten man, and one of Tessa's patients, is holed up in a mountain cabin. Tessa, acting on instinct, sets off to find him, but the swarm of law enforcement officers gets there first, leading to Darfield's dramatic capture.
Now, the only people separating him from the lethal needle of state justice are Tessa and ageing blind lawyer, Nathaniel Bodine. Can they untangle the web tightening around Darfield in time, when the press and the justice system are baying for revenge?

Book Video


Excerpt
Tessa had given much thought as to how she should dress for the occasion. Her first instinct was her Karen Kane pants suit, but dismissed that idea to wear her copper-brown print kaftan in its stead.
Now, with its folds caught in the vigorous September breeze, giving the illusion of a multitude of miniature flags fluttering around her, her thick locks of hair dancing around her head, she spoke to the crowd, slowly, deliberately taking her time. “Hello, my fellow citizens.” She stopped to survey the mass of people standing in front of her. Dramatic pauses replete with eye contact, if not overdone, were quite effective in getting one’s message across. Not surprisingly, Tessa knew how to get her message across, a special art in the realm of behavioral scientists. Public relations firms, advertising companies, political campaigns, all hired an army of psychologists to sell a product. And Tessa Thorpe, as someone who had thirty years’ experience as a criminal psychiatrist, could sell as well as any of them.
“We are here today for two reasons, two very important reasons that are essential to our well-being in a modern society. Freedom is one, and justice is the other.”
Enthusiastic cheers.
“When the call for war came, we were told that our enemies hated our freedoms. We were told that the citizens of Iraq had been held hostage by a ruthless dictator who denied his own people these freedoms. Our invasion of that country was sold to us as Operation Iraqi Freedom. And so we sent our young men and women off to war, the most traumatic experience a human being could ever go through, with the belief that they were fighting for liberty and freedom. And yet, one of those whom we had sent…had come back to us only to have his own freedom denied. His single offence at the time he was approached by law enforcement officers was that he was exercising his freedom to stand on a street corner.”
This elicited a roar from the crowd.
“This is not merely tragic, it is an act of deplorable fraud, being denied the very thing he fought for!”
More heartfelt cheering.
“When I was young, we were made to pledge allegiance, an oath that ended with the phrase, ‘with liberty and justice for all.’ Well, Jay Felson was denied liberty…let us make sure he is NOT DENIED JUSTICE!”
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
“Justice Gone is one good read - I could hardly put it down; and once finished with it, had the twists and turns of the plot rebounding in my thoughts.” ~ Tim Whitington
“I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a mystery/thriller/police procedural novel which does not obey by the rules and is keen to engage readers in controversy and debates that go beyond a standard genre novel.” ~ OlgaNM
“Full of edge of your seat twists and turns and a story that touches on the pulse of our current society, this novel excels in every way, delivering a story full of heart and emotion that doesn’t always pair with a good thriller, but in this case it does and then some.” ~ Anthony Avina
“This is one book which will stay with me for a long time. Nicholas Lombardi has taken a relevant topic and the social issue and wrapped it cleverly in a fictional tale which is probably neither fiction nor a tale just the HONEST TRUTH about JUSTICE GONE.” ~ Shals
“I was absolutely drawn into the emotionally supportive and intelligent Dr. Thorpe and loved the introduction and crafty legal manipulations of Nathanial Bodine and his daughter assistant and the sympathetic plight of Darfield. As this is to be the first in a series of legal-psychological thrillers, I say grab this while you can as you will want to be glued into the next book of the series. These characters are strong and wily. The author knows how to craft his characters and it will become necessary for you to see where he is taking this.” ~ V. Williams

About the Author
N. Lombardi Jr.
N. Lombardi Jr., the N for Nicholas, has spent over half his life in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, working as a groundwater geologist. Nick can speak five languages: Swahili, Thai, Lao, Chinese, and Khmer (Cambodian).
In 1997, while visiting Lao People's Democratic Republic, he witnessed the remnants of a secret war that had been waged for nine years, among which were children wounded from leftover cluster bombs. Driven by what he saw, he worked on The Plain of Jars for the next eight years.
Nick maintains a website with content that spans most aspects of the novel: The Secret War, Laotian culture, Buddhism etc.
His second novel, Journey Towards a Falling Sun, is set in the wild frontier of northern Kenya.
His latest novel, Justice Gone was inspired by the fatal beating of a homeless man by police.
Nick now lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $15 Amazon or B&N gift card.

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Friday, April 26, 2019

"HIIT Your Limit" by Dr. Len Kravitz


REVIEW and GIVEAWAY
HIIT Your Limit:
High-Intensity Interval Training For Fat Loss, Cardio, and Full Body Health
by Dr. Len Kravitz

HIIT Your Limit: High-Intensity Interval Training For Fat Loss, Cardio, and Full Body Health  by Dr. Len Kravitz

HIIT Your Limit by Dr. Len Kravitz is currently on tour with Mouth Digital PR. The tour stops here today for my review, an excerpt, and a giveaway.

Description
Get lean, build muscle, and stay healthy in only ten minutes a day! A Fitness Hall of Fame inductee and world-famous exercise scientist explains the #1 new fitness trend and how to get and keep the body you’ve always wanted.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an extraordinarily effective form of training that mixes high- and low-impact activities during periods ranging from seconds to eight minutes. In HIIT Your Limit, Dr. Len Kravitz, who has been inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame and been an internationally-renowned exercise scientist for the past thirty-six years and sold nearly 100,0000 copies of his last fitness book, explains what HIIT is, how it affects your entire body (externally and internally), gives 50 workouts and a guaranteed plan to whip you into shape fast, and presents a wealth of nutritional and other advice to further its impact.
HIIT was recently rated the #1 new fitness trend by the American College of Sports Medicine and is the key to staying fit for celebrities like David Beckham, Britney Spears, Hugh Jackman, and Scarlett Johansson. In addition to fat loss, it’s been proven to have major health benefits on blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol. Through this groundbreaking volume you’ll learn why, see how to get fit quick, and have a fun and a truly sustainable exercise program, no expensive personal trainer required.

Excerpt
One of my favorite teaching principles when working with health, fitness, and weight management students and professionals is “Inch by inch, it’s a cinch.” This is my personal exercise slogan and a philosophy I want to share with you. I established the philosophy as I launched my career in fitness.
Right after I completed my master’s degree in physical education at San Jose State University, I landed a fabulous job as fitness director of a new athletic club in Los Gatos, California. Over the next eight years I taught thousands of fitness classes and trained a great many wonderful men, women, boys, and girls. My passion for fitness grew so much that I became well-known in the San Francisco Bay Area for my creative ways of teaching exercise and how much my students enjoyed my classes. It wasn’t long before I was invited to fitness conferences around the United States to share my ideas about group fitness exercise classes with other certified fitness professionals. For clarity, the term “group fitness” includes all forms of fitness performed in a group setting and led by a qualified instructor. My circle soon expanded to fitness conferences in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Taiwan, and Europe.
I then laser focused my energy and academic interests to attain my PhD at the University of New Mexico, where I am now an associate professor in the Department of Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences. My areas of study were health promotion and exercise science.
During my studies a new ambition took hold: improving the education of fitness professionals around the world. Once I realized how meaningful my graduate education was to me, I wanted to pass along my knowledge to others, so I began writing fitness-related articles for industry-leading fitness journals, with a zeal to educate fitness pros throughout the world. The research studies I conducted were focused on solving many of the questions facing fitness professionals. My presentations at conferences also evolved, and I started presenting research-oriented lectures, which remain my focus today.
And here I am today, sharing my story with you. I feel so fortunate that my passion for fitness education has been rewarded in unexpected ways. I currently have over three hundred peer-review articles, I’ve been invited to present at over one thousand fitness and science conferences throughout the world, and I have been awarded every major honor in the fitness industry, including induction into the National Fitness Hall of Fame. And through it all, with my first students, current students, and all the fitness professionals I have had the pleasure to teach, my mantra has remained “Inch by inch, it’s a cinch.”
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
“I’m a HIIT convert, and this book is like a toolbox to the program. It gives you everything you need to know to get in shape and stay in shape. I also like that in addition to exercises, it explains why HIIT works, what goes on inside your body when you follow the author’s plan. The writing is easy to follow and the author really knows his stuff. This was a good find.” ~ Simon
HIIT Your Limit: High-Intensity Interval Training for Fat Loss, Cardio, and Full Body Health is quite an informative read. I have to admit that at first, I assumed this book would not be a book for someone like me. However, that quickly changed as I began to read. It is easy to read and not overwhelming with information. […] I honestly believe HIIT Your Limit is a must have. I am now exited to start a new journey in my life and use workouts..” ~ Amy C
“What sets this book apart from other weight loss/fitness books is this. This book focuses on total body health and lifestyle changes. It sets out very flexible goals, answers many commonly-asked questions, and really considers the entire experience of becoming healthy. While regimented diets are sometimes necessary, as most of us know, we eventually will rebel and possibly go back to our old habits if we're not careful. This book makes the entire process simple, fun, and creative.” ~ Ruth A. Hill
“HIIT Your Limit offers an exercise program that everyone can adapt to his/her own lifestyle and limits. Dr Kravitz explains how each person can determine his/her own limit and how much time in exercise will best benefit each person. […] As one who has tried almost every diet/exercise program, I feel this one will bring success!” ~ LAWonder10
HIIT Your Limit contains a lot of information that I already knew as well as some new helpful information. I learned a lot about HIIT. This is a good book for everyone whether they want to lose weight or improve their health.” ~ DawnH

My Review
I received this book in return for an honest review.


By Lynda Dickson
In HIIT Your Limit, the author begins by explaining the importance of exercise: “… the pursuit of optimal fitness triggers the development of cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, healthy eating patterns, and positive behaviors that spur you to function and perform at your best.” And, good news for everyone, it’s never too late to start: “At any point in your life, you can make lifestyle decisions that noticeably impact your well-being. You are the one who can take the first step to improve your health and promote your wellness through exercise.” The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, which can be accumulated over multiple shorter sessions of at least 10 minutes. That is where the high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs presented in this book come in. The author’s mantra of “Inch by inch, it’s a cinch” summarises his philosophy. This “small steps” approach leads to “gratifying, successful outcomes that you can sustain”, something that’s important in any exercise program.
This book is well-organized, informative, and easy to read and includes lists, photographs, and tables. Section 1 covers the health benefits of exercise and an introduction to HIIT training. The author explains the physiological aspects of exercise and weight loss in a clear and accessible manner. Section 2 provides weight loss strategies. The author presents different weight loss methods and emphasizes that different methods will suit different people. Section 3 presents HIIT workouts for all fitness levels that can be adjusted from 10 minutes to 20 minutes so that they can fit into anyone’s lifestyle. Section 4 lists 100 ways to cut calories in your daily life. Throughout, the author provides supporting evidence from scientific, medical, and fitness journals, all of which are fully referenced at the back of the book.
A must-read for anyone looking to kick start a sustainable health and fitness routine.

About the Author
Dr. Len KravitzDr. Len Kravitz has thirty-six years of experience as a researcher, writer, and speaker on fitness and is the coordinator of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. He is the author of Anybody’s Guide to Total Fitness (now in its eleventh edition with nearly 100,000 copies sold) and Essentials of Eccentric Training, he has published more than 300 articles in dozens of health and fitness publications, and he regularly travels the country as a speaker on fitness and health. Among other awards, he was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame. Dr. Kravitz lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win one of five hard copies of HIIT Your Limit by Dr. Len Kravitz (US only).

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Saturday, April 20, 2019

Thursday, April 18, 2019

"Orexi!" by Theo A. Michaels


REVIEW and GIVEAWAY
Orexi!:
Feasting at the Modern Greek Table
by Theo A. Michaels

Orexi!: Feasting at the Modern Greek Table by Theo A. Michaels

Orexi! by Theo A. Michaels is currently on tour with Silver Dagger Book Tours. The tour stops here today for my review, an excerpt, and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


Description
In this enticing collection of more than 80 recipes inspired by the flavours of Greece and Cyprus, MasterChef UK’s Theo Michaels pays homage to his family heritage, championing traditional dishes and sharing his own modern cooking.
Presenting a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds, his fresh and delicious food is organized into chapters entitled Meze, Sea, Land, Sun, Fire and Sundowners, evoking the Greek way of life.
You too can eat like a Greek by celebrating simplicity, seasonality, abundance, healthy balance and most importantly, the joy of sociable eating.
Beautiful food sings from these pages: from juicy watermelon, glossy kalamata olives, to fragrant oregano-roasted meats and delicate fish wrapped in vine leaves. Choose a selection of mouth-watering dips and sharing plates to create a Cypriot-style meze; enjoy the freshest fish and seafood, perfectly grilled or fried and served with nothing more than a dusting of salt flakes and a squeeze of lemon juice to season; cook tender yogurt-marinated lamb on skewers over charcoal and wrap it in fluffy homemade pita to experience souvlaki at home; or whip up vibrant vegetable and pulse dishes, from cracked wheat pourgouri to slow-cooked fasolia beans. Finally, make rich Greek desserts the sweet note to end your meal; serve just enough syrup-drenched baklava with a bitter black coffee to satisfy that craving or unwind with an Ouzo Sour or Brandy Sunburn Cocktail.

Recipe Video
Watch Theo cook Skewered Goat’s Cheese, Date & Pancetta Parcels.


Excerpt
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]


Praise for the Book
“Michaels, a former contestant on MasterChef UK, debuts with an inspired collection packed with anecdotes and excellent recipes from Greece, with a focus on the food of Cyprus, where his family has roots. The fare is appropriately light and well-suited to sunny climes […] This is a transporting book that beautifully blends flavor and memory.” ~ Publishers Weekly
“Amazing, detailed, well written, delicious! Orexi! is beautifully photographed and printed on high quality paper. The layout and design is easy to use and understand and I love the Greek translations.” ~ Kathy
“This book is filled with mouthwateringly divine dishes. Everything we tried was company-worthy. I adore Greek cookbooks and this one’s my personal favorite to date. Super fresh, super flavorful, good for you, and pretty to boot. Most of the recipes are pretty easy, and if there are a few extra steps, it’s worth it. Everything was absolute perfection.” ~ Jennifer Guerrero
MasterChef UK’s Theo Michaels is clearly cooking from a place of love and understanding of his family’s culture. While adding his unique perspective and modern touches. A beautiful book to have very visible in a kitchen. Sure to be a favorite in many homes.” ~ M.C.V. Egan

My Review
I received this book in return for an honest review.


By Lynda Dickson
The book’s title, Orexi!, comes from the Greek Kali Orexi!, meaning good appetite. In this cookbook, you will discover over 80 Greek and Cypriot-inspired recipes from the author’s childhood memories, his work in professional kitchens, and time spent cooking for family and friends. “The Greek diet is regarded as one of the healthiest in the world, largely due to the high content of vegetables, fruit, grains, pulses, seafood, olive oil and also fermented dairy foods like live yogurt and feta cheese.” These ingredients feature heavily in the recipes, which are divided into seven sections: Yogurt & Pita, Meze (appetizers, salads, and dips), Sea (seafood), Land (meat), Sun (salads and vegetables), Fire (barbequed dishes), and Sundowners (drinks and desserts).
The author states that “… the heritage of Greek food is not simply about the ingredients, […] but it’s also the stories that cradle a plate of food, the childhood memory of eating something all together and the conversations around a table.” To this end, at the beginning of each section, he brings us a slice of Greek life, explaining the traditions behind the dishes or childhood memories associated with particular foods. He also introduces each recipe with a brief story detailing the origins of the dish or his inspiration for creating it. The recipes don’t follow the boring, traditional format we’re used to in other cookbooks. These are more conversations with the author, in which he provides tips and tricks learned through experience, as well as humorous asides such as, “tomatoes are very self-conscious and would hate to feel overdressed” and “serve with a green salad and smug expression”.
As a bonus for readers from all parts of the world, both metric and imperial measurements and temperatures are included in the recipes, and ingredients and cooking utensils are listed under both British and US names (e.g., courgette/zucchini, aubergine/eggplant). However, there were a few terms I wasn’t familiar with (e.g., orzo pasta and petit poi which I deduced are risoni and baby peas from the photos). Recipes names are also provided in English and Greek. The book is illustrated throughout with gorgeous full-color photographs of Greek scenery. Plus, each recipe takes up a whole page with the facing page featuring a full-page color photograph of the finished dish. The recipes are followed by a comprehensive Index, including both Greek and English names and British/US ingredients. Unfortunately, there are a few typographical errors throughout the text.
I wanted to cook a moussaka on the weekend but was disappointed to find there isn’t a recipe for it in the book. I only just cooked lamb shanks last week, but I’ll try the Cypriot Lamb Shanks in Sticky Sauce (see excerpt above) next time. My husband’s birthday is coming up next week and, for our dinner party, I’m excited to try out the Skewered Goat's Cheese, Date & Pancetta Parcels (see recipe video above), Spicy Chicken Souvlaki, and slow-cooked Lamb Shoulder Kleftiko, accompanied by Grilled Aubergines & Feta, Charred Courgettes, and Greek Salad.
The author’s personality and humor radiate from the pages. This cookbook is as entertaining to read and look at as it will be to cook from. Mostly it’s about combining fresh ingredients with splashes of ouzo, glugs of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and of course, family. As the author states, “I always find that food never fails to start a conversation and bring people together.” Kali Orexi!

About the Author
Theo A. Michaels was born in London and comes from a large Greek Cypriot family. Theo lived in America for five years, has eaten his way around the world with a backpack, and now lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and three children.
After reaching the heats of the semi-finals on Masterchef UK 2014, Theo resigned from his position as a Board Member of a PLC to follow his passion for food.
Theo started by hosting his own sell-out pop up restaurant in Hertfordshire, cooking an 8-course taster menu championing modern Greek cuisine inspired by his family.
When people couldn’t get a table at Theo’s pop-up restaurant (the waiting list still remains at over 700), he worked as a private chef creating exclusive dinner parties for private clients, eventually receiving recognition in The Financial Times and Telegraph.
Theo’s private dining and popup restaurant won the regional Best Lifestyle Service award – you can find out more about his private dining service and read reviews here). Theo is now the full time Executive Chef for Elsewhere Events, creating imaginative dining experiences for Elsewhere’s venues and popup events around the world.
In Theo’s spare time, he has been a guest chef for the Sheraton Grande in Bangkok, a regular judge for the annual Quality Food Awards, and is frequently in the press and other media, including The Food Network, BBC Radio, and usually has one or two other projects up his sleeve.
Theo Michaels is known for cooking elegant village food inspired by the flavors of Cyprus and his travels, but also for creating innovative family friendly food that satisfies the reality of modern life.
Theo has appeared on BBC Breakfast News, Sky TV, The Food Network, is a regular on BBC 3CR Weekend Kitchen show, and is a regular guest chef on ITV’s This Morning. He is called upon by the national press for comment and interview on private dining, food, and drink trends and for recipe inspiration. He’s also regularly spotted cooking at food festivals. Theo’s inspiration for food varies from his roots, his travels, to cooking for his family, and his love of anything cooked over charcoal.

Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.

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