COVER REVEAL: The Other Blue Sky by Shari J. Ryan

Release Date: October 24, 2018

Cover Design: MadHat Books

Synopsis

 Very few people can say they were born inside a concentration camp during the Holocaust. Disease, starvation, and much worse, prevented most prisoners from surviving. For infants, it was nearly impossible.

I became an anomaly. I shouldn’t be alive.

As a child, I didn’t know my life was different from that of others. I had nothing to compare it to, and I had no insight about the day I was born ... until the moment I overheard the truth.

In a split second, I became a stranger to my reflection, my name, and my reason for being. I was not Annie anymore, and the people raising me were not my parents. Even the blue sky I cherished became an unfamiliar sight.

I felt utterly alone in a foreign world, but that changed when I met another person who was lost, like me. Fisher offered his hand to hold and began to prove his theory of, “When two missing people find one another, they can consider themselves found.”

Fisher enlightened me, and through him, I gained a deeper understanding of life. Now, I know there are two sides of the beautiful, blue sky. I’m on one side, and my lost loved ones are on the other, but at the end of it all, we’ll be together again under the one and only sky.

Goodreads

Excerpt

 The moments following a first kiss stayed with me in my memories throughout my life. Maybe it was because I only experienced one first kiss, but if I had dreamt of what a kiss might be like ... that one would have exceeded all expectations.

My body felt like it was overflowing with glitter—like a snow globe that had just been set down after being fiercely shaken.

My feet were no longer bothering me as we retraced our steps down the steep hill, and Fisher’s hand was no longer cold because it was holding mine.

I didn’t feel apprehensive with him like I had earlier. It seemed as though we had gone from strangers to the very best of friends, and more, within hours that one day. In reality, though, our friendship had been blossoming throughout the previous two years from within our written words. Our kiss was like the lick of an envelope, sealing in all the certainty we were seeking since we first exchanged letters.

The moments we shared that night were causing me to forgot the reason I had flown across the world. I supposed it seemed as though Fisher was enough of an excuse to go anywhere. I felt things I had never imagined before, and my emotions were uncontainable.

“I should be a gentleman and walk you to the Inn now,” he said as we reached the bottom of the hill.

Disappointment shrouded me with the thought of saying good night, or goodbye, for that matter. I knew there was a chance that our kiss made him feel differently about our friendship, possibly opposite of what I was feeling, and I had to keep that in the back of my mind before I got too ahead of myself. “Of course,” I said, unsure of how else I should have responded. I didn’t want to sound desperate or pushy.

“If that’s what you want for the evening, I will walk you there now,” he continued.

I stopped walking. I was too focused on trying to understand what Fisher was saying, because he sounded as if he meant something different.“Well, what is it you want?” I turned the question around, hoping to earn a straightforward answer.

“If I can be completely sincere with you, I’d like nothing more than the pleasure of taking you out for dinner tonight. Furthermore, I would also like to take you to Old Town for a Trdelnik.”

I could feel the smile on my face beaming even though I was trying to compose myself. I wanted to spend more time with Fisher more than I wanted to do anything else in Prague, which felt silly since I was on a mission to find my roots. I guess the heart has a way of speaking louder than the mind. I learned that lesson a time or two. “That would be lovely,” I told him. “I’m not sure what you mean by a turtleneck, though. In America, a turtleneck is part of a shirt.”

Fisher threw his head back and held his stomach as he laughed. The sound of his laughter was heartwarming. It was full of happiness and joy, yet I had no idea why he was laughing so hard.

“First of all, I know what a turtleneck is. We call that kind of apparel, Polo Necks, here. Second, I said, ‘Trdelnik.' It’s a pastry—one Czechoslovakia is known for."

I was happy it was dark out because I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Fisher's accent was undoubtedly thick, and I was still doing my best to understand him when he spoke fast, but I miss understood that word pretty well. “Oh gosh, I didn’t understand correctly,” I told him while covering my mouth with the back of my hand in an attempt to hide my face.

He reached across his chest and gently tugged my hand away from my mouth. “You are sweet ... please don’t hide your beautiful face again.”

With a chill from his flattering words, I took in a lungful of the crisp, pine-scented air and peered up at the starlit sky.

Everything around me felt so surreal—even the sky. Outside of the town, it was easy to see millions of stars above us. I had never seen so many stars or the sky look so big, not after growing up in a busy city like New York. It was quite hard to see stars there with all the blinding city lights. I’m not sure I had realized what I was missing until that night.

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Giveaway

One of Five ARC's for The Other Blue Sky

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About the Author

Hi Everyone! I'm an indie writer of Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance, and Romantic Thrillers. Throughout the last six years of my writing journey, I've hit Amazon's Top 100, Barnes & Noble's Top 10, and iBooks at #1. Hiding in suburbia with my hubby and two wild little boys, my active imagination allows me to live life as adult with many imaginary friends.

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RELEASE DAY: Darkest Perception by Shari J. Ryan

Release Date: May 17, 2018

Cover Design: MadHat Books

Synopsis

I was young, innocent, and looking to start my career in psychology. However, it turned out I was in the wrong class, with the wrong professor, at the wrong time. One decision to become an apprentice changed my entire life.

After being left with nothing, including my true identity, money, family, and friends, I was evicted from my apartment. I knew I’d have to run and hide while struggling with starvation, but then a shady job offer became an appealing option in the midst of my desperation.

I was fully aware of the risks involved, but I’m well versed in reading people and assuming their intentions. Therefore, I was confident I wouldn’t end up being that woman who ran into a trap that was decorated with luxurious accommodations and high-class amenities. I also wasn’t the type to reach for bait disguised as a gorgeous man with lust pooling in his eyes.

As it turns out, though … I was wrong about everything—almost everything.

I fell into the rabbit hole where nothing was as it seemed from the outside, and I had no clue I was the puppeteer of it all.

Goodreads

Amazon US ~ https://amzn.to/2In7iNt

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  Amazon AU ~ https://amzn.to/2Io4zTO

Well, well, well… I feel like Ms. Shari Ryan has been holding out on us! Now… I’ve loved her other books especially Last Words but Darkest Perception was something completely different. It is not like anything that I would have expected from her and I LOVE that she completely rocked me and took me by surprise! Darkest Perception is about Harley and Axel and I mean, right there she had me! Those names are completely IT! I just want to jump up and down and SQUEEEAL!! That is so not like me! I just loved the suspense and the action… it’s what I really needed at the time. The betrayal and secrets were just amok in this book! It was so darkly delicious that I couldn’t look away!

I’m thrilled with the way she unraveled this story. They way she created it and unfolded everything. There were times that I sat on the couch with my mouth wide open… shocked and dumbfounded! This was just so out of what I’m used to with Shari Ryan and I LOVED it! I’m sorry, I know, I know, I’m repeating myself and if Ms. Ryan reads this don’t think I didn’t love your other books, I did! This was just so unexpected and different! I really hope you continue to shock us! Live outside of that box and keep giving us books like this! It doesn’t have to be the dark; you can go to the light. Just write what’s in your heart and we’ll (or at least I will) continue to devour your words!

I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.

Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1257f8d310/?

About the Author

Shari J. Ryan is an International Bestselling Author of heartbreakers and mind-benders. Shari was once told she tends to exaggerate often and sometimes talks too much, which would make a great foundation for fictional books. Four years later, Shari has written eleven novels that often leave readers either in tears from laughing, or crying.

With her loud Boston girl attitude, Shari isn't shy about her love for writing or the publishing industry. Along with writing several International bestsellers, Shari has split her time between writing and her longstanding passion for graphic design. In 2014, she started an indie-publishing resource company, MadHat Books, to help fellow authors with their book cover designs, as well as assistance in the self-publishing process.

While Shari may not find many hours to sleep, she still manages to make time for her family. She is a devoted wife to a great guy, and a mother to two little boys who remind her daily why she was put on this earth.

Connect with Shari

Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2vGUfeN

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2tXGvzH

Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2tnxdLW

Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2tXsJgp

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2sSAq2u

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2uQAJMx

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2sLOZto

BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2xYClpP

COVER & EXCERPT REVEAL: Darkest Perception by Shari J. Ryan

Release Date: May 17, 2018

Cover Design: MadHat Books

Synopsis

I was young, innocent, and looking to start my career in psychology. However, it turned out I was in the wrong class, with the wrong professor, at the wrong time. One decision to become an apprentice changed my entire life.

After being left with nothing, including my true identity, money, family, and friends, I was evicted from my apartment. I knew I’d have to run and hide while struggling with starvation, but then a shady job offer became an appealing option in the midst of my desperation.

I was fully aware of the risks involved, but I’m well versed in reading people and assuming their intentions. Therefore, I was confident I wouldn’t end up being that woman who ran into a trap that was decorated with luxurious accommodations and high-class amenities. I also wasn’t the type to reach for bait disguised as a gorgeous man with lust pooling in his eyes.

As it turns out, though … I was wrong about everything—almost everything.

I fell into the rabbit hole where nothing was as it seemed from the outside, and I had no clue I was the puppeteer of it all.

Goodreads

Excerpt

A bad instinct dragged my ass to Hotel Long Wharf where that freak told me to go. I’m at this low point in my life where I have little care for my wellbeing in comparison to the necessities I need. Despite the fact that I didn’t agree to meet this Axel person at the hotel, I’m going to scope out the situation and see what he looks like. Plus, after freezing to death for the last hour, the idea of being inside of a hotel carelessly carries me through the revolving glass doors where I find an empty bar and an inviting place to sit for a while.

This hotel is nice, upscale, and looks like it was built with hands made of gold, which means I stick out like a puddle of mud on a shiny clean floor.

"Can I help you, Miss?" a man, decked out in a bell-hop uniform, asks me. "Are you lost, maybe?"

"I'm just waiting for someone,” I tell him and look away to avoid any further communication.

With an overwhelming sensation of displacement and unease, I spin around, taking in more of my surroundings as I enter the bar area. Maybe I could just sleep in one of the corners of this place tonight. God, the thought of sleeping at a shelter terrifies me. Before this past year, I never imagined the possibility. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve managed to dodge that bullet for so long now that I have to try my best to find another solution.

"There's a coffee shop next door, Miss. I might recommend you wait there.” The bellhop sneaks up behind me while I’m deciding where to sit in the bar area. Was he following me? Do I look that bad? It’s bad enough to be viewed the way I am, even after living this way for so long, but to be followed and given the look this guy is giving me, I just give up without a fight.

“Thanks, that’s actually what I was looking for,” I lie. I turn on my heels and rush through the connecting doors into Starbucks. The problem here is, I don't have money to buy anything, which qualifies this visit as loitering—especially in this particular area of Boston. The shelter is becoming more of a reality every minute longer I try to deny the inevitable.

I make it twenty minutes before one of the staff asks me to either make a purchase or leave. At least I lasted here longer than I expected I would. I stand up from the comfortable leather chair I was lounging. When I grab my things and turn toward the door, a man steps in front of me. He’s taller, and close enough that it’s obvious his proximity is purposeful. The line to order is on the other side of the shop and no one else is in this little corner except for me.

"You must be the desperate degree.” His voice is deep and guttural, but placid .

I glance up, finding a solidly sculpted man in front of me. He's dressed in what appears to be an expensive midnight blue suit—one that shimmers under the cool ambient lighting. In contrast, his white dress shirt nearly glows against his lightly tanned skin. I feel frozen as I continue observing every one of his features. His eyes are unmistakably green, but like early spring grass with a hint a yellow, and his dark hair is shaven short on the sides with a bit of length on top. If this man is Axel, he doesn’t look anything like I expected him to.

"Are you Axel?" I ask him, pointedly.

"No, I'm John, and I enjoy looking for random, desperate women with degrees in the middle of Starbucks. Of course, I'm fucking Axel," he says with a slight twitch in his right eye.

“Okay then, John, or whoever you are, what do you want with me? Wait, let me guess. I’m told to meet you at a hotel because you can’t convince a chick to go upstairs with you on her own free will? How much does this pay, anyway?”

He cocks his head to the side as if he’s trying to figure me out. “First, I’m not searching for a good time, honey. Second, I don’t need to pay for a woman’s time. Third, I’m interviewing prospective employees for a business proposition.”

“What’s the position?”

“Well, since we wouldn’t want to waste a degree on prostitution, I’m sure there’s a better title we can come up with.”

“Awesome,” I chide.

“Follow me over to the hotel,” he says, taking a step away.

"That hotel?” I point to the connecting door between Starbucks and the lobby. “I’m not going into a hotel with you. I don’t care what title you come up with. I’m not into that shit.”

“Fine. No interview,” he says, straightening his jacket.

“Just so you know, I’m almost positive men don’t interview prostitutes. So, you sound ridiculous.”

“Jesus. I’m not looking for sex. I’m interviewing for a business position.”

“Fine. Then can have the interview either here, or outside,” I tell him.

“On the street?” he questions.

“Yes, unless you’d like to take a seat and interview me right here.”

“I didn’t ask for you to meet me at Hotel Long Wharf so we could sit in the loud coffee shop next door, nor did I intend to freeze outside,” he says.

“There’s like no one in here. It’s not loud at all.” I shake my head, trying to figure this guy out. I can’t help feeling intrigued by what he has to say, but seriously … this place is probably quieter than anywhere in that hotel. “Plus, I can’t just walk through that hotel. I’m not dressed appropriately.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Oh, and maybe if you’d like someone to follow you into a random hotel, you should give them your name or some kind of information on whatever it is you’re looking for. You’re not very good at this whole interviewing thing, are you?”

“There is a restaurant to the side of the lobby. If I try to take you anywhere but there, feel free to scream and make a scene,” he tells me, sounding annoyed by my lack of passiveness. “No one will say anything about your clothing while you’re with me.”

“Great,” I tell him, still debating on what I should do. If I don’t follow him, I’m walking my butt right down to the shelter because there really are no other options tonight.

“What’s it going to be?”

While I can likely cross rape or prostitution off this list of ‘what-if’s,’ it doesn’t give me any insight to what this job is for. He’s clearly done waiting on my answer as he takes a few steps away. I can either watch a smidge of hope walk away, or I can take another risk—one that will likely end as poorly as the last one did. This time, I have nothing to lose, though.

“Fine,” I mutter, following him outside, rather than through the interior entrance to the hotel. “Just so you know, I can scream real loud, so—”

He stops short in front of me just before stepping beneath the golden overhang in front of the hotel’s revolving door. “Can you now?” he asks with a wink.

Giveaway

One of Five ARC's for Darkest Perception

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Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1257f8d298/?

About the Author

 Shari J. Ryan is an International Bestselling Author of heartbreakers and mind-benders. Shari was once told she tends to exaggerate often and sometimes talks too much, which would make a great foundation for fictional books. Four years later, Shari has written eleven novels that often leave readers either in tears from laughing, or crying.

With her loud Boston girl attitude, Shari isn't shy about her love for writing or the publishing industry. Along with writing several International bestsellers, Shari has split her time between writing and her longstanding passion for graphic design. In 2014, she started an indie-publishing resource company, MadHat Books, to help fellow authors with their book cover designs, as well as assistance in the self-publishing process.

While Shari may not find many hours to sleep, she still manages to make time for her family. She is a devoted wife to a great guy, and a mother to two little boys who remind her daily why she was put on this earth.

Connect with Shari

 Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2vGUfeN

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2tXGvzH

Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2tnxdLW

Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2tXsJgp

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2sSAq2u

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2uQAJMx

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RELEASE DAY: Man Flu by Shari J. Ryan

Cover Designer: MadHat Books

Release Date: January 17, 2018

Synopsis

I was trying to live every woman's dream, except my reality has been nothing but a nightmare job and a divorce at the age of thirty-two. Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, my ex-husband, Rick, moved in next door with his life-size Barbie doll. So, that's been fun.

Then, life pitched me a curve-ball in the form of a retired major-league baseball player, Logan Grier. With his panty-dropping smile, he’s like an expertly photoshopped version of David Beckham, and he's single. Could life be perfect after all? Of course not. As always, there had to be a catch. Logan had a secret, and I couldn’t help feeling like the truth was dangling right in front of my face.

With Rick’s daily agenda of torturing me, Logan has been an enticing distraction, despite the little fact that he’s my temporary employee. Plus, I didn’t exactly care that his flirty behavior may have been a plan to get in good with the boss. In any case, I was willing to toss a few balls with him, seeing as my playing field hadn’t had any action in over a year.

That’s when it happened…my two worlds collided. Hot temp met the ex, and a full-on bromance was born, but that’s only the beginning.

The “man flu” has come out of nowhere and hit both Logan and Rick with a virus they’re claiming to be worse than childbirth. In fact, they’re pretty sure their end is near.

Will the “man flu” be the kiss of death, or will it be my window for an opportunistic change?

Goodreads

 Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b1257f8d245/?

About the Author

Shari J. Ryan is an International Bestselling Author of heartbreakers and mind-benders. Shari was once told she tends to exaggerate often and sometimes talks too much, which would make a great foundation for fictional books. Four years later, Shari has written eleven novels that often leave readers either in tears from laughing, or crying.

With her loud Boston girl attitude, Shari isn't shy about her love for writing or the publishing industry. Along with writing several International bestsellers, Shari has split her time between writing and her longstanding passion for graphic design. In 2014, she started an indie-publishing resource company, MadHat Books, to help fellow authors with their book cover designs, as well as assistance in the self-publishing process.

While Shari may not find many hours to sleep, she still manages to make time for her family. She is a devoted wife to a great guy, and a mother to two little boys who remind her daily why she was put on this earth.

Connect with Shari

 Newsletter Sign Up: http://bit.ly/2vGUfeN

Facebook Author Page: http://bit.ly/2tXGvzH

Facebook Reader Group: http://bit.ly/2tnxdLW

Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/2tXsJgp

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2sSAq2u

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2uQAJMx

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2sLOZto

BookBub Author Page: http://bit.ly/2xYClpP

 

Yay! What a fantastic Romantic Comedy from Shari Ryan. This was a fantastic story! I am in utter awe of Ryan’s ability to genre swap. How can she go from “Last Words” to the “Man Flu”? I am in serious awe of that. With that being said, while this is a Rom Com at the root, there were still some areas that pulled and tugged at my heart. 

As a woman closer now to her 40s than the 30s, I can only imagine how I could feel if I was left for a sexy younger woman. I might turn vengeful! So I  felt for Hannah. A single mom who not only dealt with being left for the younger woman, but had to live right next to the new happy couple. Good Lord, she’s a saint for not murdering the m both! However, I completely LOVED Hannah. I saw myself in her sarcastic remarks and witty comebacks.

Ryan portrays what happens in a home when everyone is sick in a home. It had me laughing out loud, seriously, hooting with laughter. Her portrayal was right on point. Men… what babies! So while I enjoyed Logan, Hannah’s love interest, Hannah was it for me. I saw myself in her so much that I couldn’t help but be sad when it was over. Everyone should give this a read! It’s sweet and sexy, heart-warming and a bit cringe-worthy. 

I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I will leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.