Introducing .. Amanda Deed

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~ Author Spotlight ~ 

Over the past couple of years, I have had the privilege of getting to know Amanda. She is such a delightful girl who loves the journey of being an author. I asked her to join in with my little game and play ...

FIVE FAVOURITES! 

Favourite foods - potatoes (any way except raw), cheese, chocolate - these favourites make staying thinner harder. :) LOL

Favourite colours - burgundy and navy blue

Favourite authors - Stephen Lawhead, Melanie Dickerson, Georgette Heyer

Favourite pastimes - You'll never guess ... reading, watching movies, walking in the bush

Favourite places - Kings Canyon NT (near Uluru), Dandenong Ranges, Far North Queensland. :) (you might as well say the whole of Australia)

Thanks for playing Amanda! 

Now to introduce the first book in the Jackson's Creek series.... Ellenvale Gold

   

About the Book:

 It is the time of Australia’s harsh rogue-filled goldrush of the 1850’s when Miss Penelope Worthington suddenly finds herself orphaned, isolated and alone. With a large sheep station to run single-handedly, she has little option but to enlist the aid of a mysterious, but sinister stranger.
But who is the more treacherous? Gus—the scruffy, trespassing, ex-convict who co-incidentally shows up looking for work just when she desperately needs a farmhand or Rupert—the handsome, wealthy neighbour who would willingly marry her at the drop of a hat and solve her apparent dilemma?
Repeatedly, her faith is tested as she faces the unforgiving elements, deceit, lies and uncertainty. But where and how will it all end? But…is it the end? Will vengeance return or
will Penny’s faith prevail?

You can read my review  HERE plus you'll get to know Amanda even more if you click through. I interviewed her on that post as well. 

Available at Amazon 

Light The Dark

Also available by Amanda :- Black Forest Redemption, Henry's Run, The Game and The Greenfield Legacy.

Bitter Chocolate ~ Compelled to share the sweet message

{Have you had a chance to register for my newsletter? It's just over there on the right...}

In the wake of Easter 2013, I am deeply moved. I cannot stay silent.

I searched for fair trade chocolate eggs in every shop I visited over the past few weeks, to celebrate and remember the gift of freedom that each Easter brings. Yet I was faced with rows and rows and rows of chocolate without the fair trade symbol. Chocolate that had been farmed by children as young as seven who are treated like slaves, deprived of an education, who may never see their family again, who have been stolen and forced into horrendous situations.

Obviously too many people are still unaware of this fact otherwise the shelves at our local shops would be filled with ethically farmed, fair trade products.  

They (the local shops) supply what's demanded.

If we demand only fair-trade chocolate, that’s what the shops will stock.

More of us need to purchase only fair trade chocolate.

Take a stand today.

Say no to child slavery.

Say no to companies giving anyone less that a fair work environment. 

The Dark Side of Chocolate  ...




What does fair trade actually do? Here is some good news.



How cool is this app... search for chocofinder on your smartphone to locate ethically farmed chocolate.

Another way we can help stop child slavery is to sponsor children. By sponsoring a child you can help their whole family. The child is educated and financially cared for so that the family is no longer burdened. Sponsoring a child sends a ripple effect throughout entire communities. 

Web of Lies

~ An Aussie Review ~

 introducing

Web of Lies

By 

Laura O'Connell

(available at Light  the Dark)

About the Author

Laura enjoys writing stories about second chances in love and life. She calls the Gold Coast home, however, her curious nature leads her on adventures to locations that surprise and delight her. Laura has a passion for telling a good story set in places where she has lived and travelled. Laura is the author of African Hearts and Web of Lies. Her debut novel, African Hearts, was shortlisted in the 2011 Caleb Prize. To find out more about Laura visit her website: http://laura-oconnell.com

About the Book:

High school sweethearts, Stephanie and Lachlan are torn apart by circumstance, bad decisions and a web of lies,leaving an unknown future for their son, Ryan.

Eight years later they reconnect,but the time apart has changed them. The family had made decisions based on lies and deceit and now must find a way to either reveal the truth or find another option. On the surface their arrangements seemed flawless, but dig deeper, and the people they thought they knew, aren't as they appear.

Lachlan and Stephanie are forced to confront the consequences of their actions and the entire family is compelled to reveal the truth, find forgiveness, and renew loving one another. But the hardest decision is still to come...where does Ryan live?

My thoughts... Oh boy... what a web of lies Laura spins in this book! This is another great story to read and put yourself in the picture and ask... what would I do in that situation? Though perhaps parts aren't completely believable, it's well worth the time to read. This book will make you think.