A Hard Act to Follow BookBlast

A Hard Act to Follow by Henry Bushkin

"A Hard Act to Follow," is a non-fiction literary account of Henry Bushkin's tenure as Johnny Carson's lawyer, business partner, and friend.  The book gives genuine insight into the 'Carson behind Johnny' with candid personal vignettes about the two, during the rollicking years when Johnny was the undisputed king of television.  This is an engaging, eye-opening, anecdote-packed story about a young lawyer and his client, one of the biggest celebrities in the country.  This funny, unfiltered account gives readers a look at the Johnny Carson that none but a select few really knew.

“A Hard Act to Follow” by Henry Bushkin provides a stirring account into Johnny Carson’s world—as told by Carson’s closest confidant.
The New Yorker article by Kenneth Tynan from 1978, included the following question and answer:
Tynan: When you’re at home, whom do you entertain?
Carson: My lawyer, Henry Bushkin, who’s probably my best friend.

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Praise for the Book

"I loved the book." ~Wayne Newton

"Henry was Johnny's closest friend for many years which becomes clear through many of the wonderful chapters of the book." ~Bob Trapenberg

"The book is full of tough love, humor, cultural history, sadness, humor, love, loss, well I guess I am saying it is full of life." ~Rupert Garcia

" Henry's portrayal of Johnny was spot on. I highly recommend this book which is the closest the reader will ever get to know the real Carson." ~ Ed Weinberger, former Tonight Show writer and Producer for Carson Productions

"A beautifully easy read that pulls you in to an effortless journey through Johnny Carson’s effortful life. The glamour  the fellow celebrities behind the curtain, the loyalties, and the betrayals. It certainly provides new insight on decisions and the lives that are behind the scenes." ~Kathy Davis, Kathy Takes on Books

""I have read this book and it is FAB! If you love reading about celebrities, this is awesome. It is also a great memoir as well. I am a huge memoir fan so this one was a real treat and one of the best I have read in this genre in a long time" ~Mary,  Bookhounds Blog

"Bushkin's easy, unpretentious style allows the reader to be a fly on the wall as this inside story plays out in the rarified air on which Johnny thrived. "A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW" is a must read whether you grew up on Johnny or never heard of him. And then there are the supporting characters -- from the Rat Pack to Johnny's Ice Queen mother ranging around the pages disturbing the peace. I read it straight through in 90 minutes and was left wanting more."  ~Sandy Ignon, Screenwriter (RANSOM).

"The tales are epic in nature and stretch from the first page to the last. “A Hard Act to Follow” is an honest appraisal of Carson and shows his dark side. In this, Bushkin strikes the right blend of salacious detail with an appropriate dose of discretion. Sure, you’ll learn more detail about Carson’s marriages-- in a tasteful way.  Bushkin will leave you wanting more. Great books will do that." ~Barry Mordis, Senior VP at Merryl-Lynch

"No one would describe Johnny as easy going-there was an edge to him that Bushkin always managed to soften. He continues to do that in this book. There was that challenging side of Johnny which is also captured in the book. Henry was Johnny's closest friend for many years which becomes clear through many of the wonderful chapters of the book. All in all a great book to read." ~Bob Trapenberg, Johnny's former Tennis Pro.

Purchase: http://johnnycarsonbook.com/

Author Henry Bushkin

Henry Bushkin is an experienced lawyer who practices in both California and New York. He currently lives in Los Angeles where his children also reside.

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Blog Tour Now Through January 11th

Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/26/12
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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The Magic of Dragons

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn

Summary: On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity's deepest fears: dragons.

Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she's breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she'd rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, the rules are abruptly shattered, and a secret friendship grows between them. 

But suspicion and terror are the legacy of human and dragon interactions, and the fragile truce that has maintained peace between the species is unraveling. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war? 

In her young-adult debut, New York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn presents a distinctly twenty-first-century tale of myths and machines, and an alliance that crosses a seemingly unbridgeable divide.

Review: An enjoyable tale of dragons and one teenager who tries to change the world. 

I love dragons. I haven't read a book about dragons in a while so it was nice to read a book focused on dragons. This book brings back memories of The Dragonriders of Pern series. I wish dragons were real. I liked how that while this was a young adult book, the focus was actually on the paranormal/fantasy creatures.   The setting was not merely an excuse for romance, true wuv, and triangles. I really did like the romance between Kay and Jon. They were friends testing out the waters of a relationship and were hesitant to move too quickly, which was a breath of fresh air from instalove and we were meant to be.

While I thoroughly enjoyed Kay's adventures with Artegal, especially the flying, I found how easily Kay snuck over the border hard to believe. From what I gathered, dragons were considered extremely dangerous  so I would think the border would be guarded with soldiers and even fences. She also manages to elude government forces way too often. Of course I wanted Kay to succeed, but I couldn't believe how easily she managed to evade everyone.

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to fans of dragons and young adult fantasy books. 

Interview with Hanna Peach and Giveaway Winner

The winner of the giveaway is Jenneke! Congrats! Please look for an email from Hanna soon. Today I will be featuring an interview with Hanna Peach, author of Angelfire.

What are your favorite book(s)?
I love Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and (weirdly) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Who is your favorite author?
Eek, just one? Overall I would have to say Cassandra Clare because of her amazing Mortal Instruments series and Infernal Devices series. She has been an inspiration to me.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Everything. My settings are from places that I’ve travelled to or want to travel to. A lot of my characters and situations are inspired from my own personal life… but I won't say which bits or you’ll know too much about me! haha ;)

Where is your favorite place to do your writing?
My writing desk at home – everything I need is at arm’s length. Next to the desk is a window that I perch at (and giggle at drivers trying to parallel park on the busy city street below) when I need a break.

What made you decide to write Angelfire?I didn’t have a choice! The story wouldn’t leave me alone. It haunted my dreams, annoyed me at work and interrupted my showers until it was written. It grew from a trilogy to now 6 planned books in the series.

What is the hardest part of writing a novel?
Taking a step back and being objective about your writing. This is why beta readers and editors are so important.

Tell us about your new novel.
Welcome to a world of borrowed magics, illegal night races, rebel angels and two thousand years of secrets.

Alyx is a young female angel-warrior who becomes Guardian-bonded to a gifted mortal. They become our only hope in stopping an angel uprising led by the Archangel Michael.

It’s a story where the lines between Good and Evil become blurred. And a story about an impossible love.

Friends with Benefits Tour: Review and Giveaway

Friends with Benefits

Series: The Edge Series

Author: Jennifer Labelle

Genre: M/M Erotica

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Ebook

Pages: 20

Purchase:

Decadent Publishing | ARe | Amazon | BookStrand | Barnes & Noble | Rainbow Ebooks |

Book Description:

Collin Harrison is loving life as a bachelor, but can’t convince his meddling mother to back off. To make matters worse, he’s confused by his attraction to his new neighbor, Devin. But Collin has never been with a man before.

Devin Hardy is no stranger to fulfilling his intimate desires—desires which include his hot neighbor. Good things come to those who wait, but Devin is getting tired of waiting to turn their friendship into one with scorching hot benefits.

Excerpt:

“What’s on your mind?”

“It’s nothing.” Collin sighed. “Or maybe it is. But I’ll figure it out, I guess.”

“Like what?” Devin flicked the TV off with the remote and waited.

“My social life has slowed down since I began hanging out with you.” Here we go, breathe, take the plunge and just breathe.

“Gee, thanks.” Devin grimaced. “Way to make a guy feel welcome.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.” He laughed and moved a little closer to him. “I just meant that I’ve had fewer dates recently, that’s all.”

“So you need to get laid.” His friend shrugged. “That sounds simple enough. You don’t need me to help you out with that, do you? I mean….”

Hell, yes, I do. “I guess it is, but my appetites might be changing, and I’m a little unsure about it. It also doesn’t help when you have a mother who likes to meddle. I’ll be hitting thirty soon, and she wants me to settle down.” Collin grimaced before continuing. “I’ve got to love the woman, and so help me God I do, but she’s now got a list of potential candidates.”

“Potential candidates?” Devin’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief. “For a future wife? Well, I’m not sure I can help you there, buddy, but I can get you laid if you want. I know a couple of girls who are pretty open-minded and would help you with your—” He made air quotes with his fingers and grinned. “Appetites. That is of course, if it’s a woman you’re hungry for.” He watched Collin’s reaction to his offer, starting with his face then downward to rest on the boner straining to get out and play.

He blushed. Shit! “Uh….”

Devin licked his lips. “Have you ever had a friend with benefits?”

“Sure, but not in awhile.”

“How about with a man? Have you ever experimented?”

Speechless, and completely turned on, Collin couldn’t form the words to answer. His fantasy was finally within reach, and like a dumbass, he choked. He shook his head no but prayed Devin would continue his pursuit.

“Would you like to?”

About the Author:

Jennifer Labelle resides in Ottawa, Ontario Canada with her husband and three beautiful children. After her third child she became a stay at home mom. In her busy household Jennifer likes to spend her down time engrossed in the stories that she creates. She is an active reader of romance (especially historical), mystery and anything paranormal. With an education in Addictions work she's decided to take a less stressful approach in life and hopes that you enjoy, as she shares some of her imagination with all of you.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads |

Review: Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a review.

I know this is a short story so the time period will be short, but I would love to know what happened during the six months before the story took place. The sexual tension would be delicious. I honestly thought the sex started way too quickly. There was no preamble nor any explanation as to why Devin propositioned Colin nor any indication of previous sexual history. The attraction and sex felt unconvincing. The sex was surprisingly quick and disappointing. I think this short story would have been much better if the back story and characters had been fleshed out more. 

Rating:






Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those that are in the mood for a quick, smutty m-m story.

Giveaway:

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Feedback Tour: Giveaway

Title: Feedback

Author: D L Richardson

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Etopia Press

Ebook

Words: 65,000

Release Date: 10/5/2012

Publisher:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | OmniLit |

Book Description:

Ethan James, Florida Bowman, and Jake Inala need organ transplants. When they receive the organs of a dead CIA agent, Dylan Black, they take on more than the task of completing the mission of deactivating bombs that threaten millions of lives. Kidnapped, their lives under threat, the memories stored in the CIA agent’s mind begin to awaken within each of them, except the one piece of information they are abducted for - the location of the bombs.

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Wednesday, November 9th, Ethan James

AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” blared through the speakers. Apt music considering the weather conditions. Rain pounded the windshield of the Lamborghini. Crushed beneath the noisy rain, the music took a beating, too. I flipped the volume control to the max, drowning out the steady slap of water on the roof.

The dark shroud of night cloaked the striped lines to my left and right. Street signs blasted yellow warnings to drivers to slow down on wet roads. I ignored them.

Instead, I pushed the car to 120 miles per hour. Coming around a curve in the road, I flew up on a van and sharply jerked the wheel to avoid ramming the Lamborghini up its rear end. I owed my life to my quick reflexes.

Pity.

I drove for another half mile at suicidal speeds, drumming my fingers on the steering wheel to the rhythm of the guitar riff. Another half mile. Then another. Just when the buzz of the ride plunged to a level of indifference, the car hit a pothole, veered me across three lanes, and like a punch from nowhere, it was game on.

A tsunami-sized wave of water fell from the sky. Momentarily blinded by the useless wipers, I sucked in my breath when two rows of lights cut through the haze. Two white lights on the bottom and six or more yellow ones on top—the bright circles headed straight at me.

Semitrailer. Not good.

Gritting my teeth, I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. The truck swerved at the last second, missing killing me by about half that length of time. The driver blasted four long bleats of the horn.

I laughed out loud as I spun around.

I accelerated till the car caught up to its former 120 miles per hour. The chorus kicked in, and I helped with the backing vocals. “Thunder. Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na. Thunder.”

Whether driving under a dome of blue, or a sky darkened by storms like tonight, I liked to push cars to their limit. It didn’t matter what sort of car, but slow cars tended to break apart sooner under extreme pressure. Fast cars handled the punishment of driving at stupid speeds much better.

Speeding made the rush last longer. It filled a void and carried me to a place where I let go of the angst over a waste of a life spent waiting to die of kidney failure. The rush reminded me that seventeen-year-old kids should wish for a professional ice hockey career instead of wishing to still be alive by Christmas.

The song ended, and in that second of silence, my thrill took a dismal nosedive. Images of the hospital I attended every week flickered across my vision. So, I increased the speed. Bad enough the bleak place filled my head and haunted my dreams, but to interrupt my fun—not going to happen.

The next song on the CD kicked in, and it did the trick of hauling me back to the driver’s seat, where I replaced the hospital corridor for a rain-slicked freeway. I figured if I had to die young, I’d do it on my terms. No doubt the doctors would have something to say about this philosophy. If I crashed the car and ended up in the hospital, I’d tell them I reached out to touch life. Better than dwelling on my postpubescent life spent hooked up to a dialysis machine.

I’d probably get pulled over by the cops first, and I couldn’t have that. Aside from speeding, I’d stolen the Lamborghini from a mall parking lot half an hour earlier, and I didn’t have a license.

A crack in my concentration appeared like the lightning bolts streaking the sky. The car drifted into the next lane, and I let it go. A set of lights rushed toward me, and I expertly got the car under control, but at this speed, and despite the car’s sporting capability, the Lamborghini was all over the shot.

Buzzed from pushing the car, I kept going.

At 120 miles per hour, streetlights floated like satiny, white ribbons. The rain-slicked road made it impossible to judge the lines marking the lanes. Curves were hard to anticipate.

Sometimes I oversteered; sometimes I didn’t steer enough and had to yank the wheel to the left or right at the last second. Other drivers blasted their horns. I didn’t care about the rules of the road. Rules were for pussies.

For each minute I survived this suicidal cruise, I’d get two points. So far, I’d accumulated over two hundred. Fifty were up for grabs, if I made it home alive. I had a lot to lose if I crashed the car. I had nothing to lose if I killed myself.

I jumped in surprise when a car came up on my left and honked its horn, whizzing by in a blur of chrome. “I don’t think so, buddy.”

I accelerated. If the cops wanted to stop me, they’d have to use air support. Getting myself on TV only added to the thrill of the chase.

Concern over my reckless driving should have registered, but it didn’t. The speedometer now read 140 miles per hour. AC/DC screeched about “Hells Bells,” and the rain didn’t lessen. If I lost control now, I’d smash into the concrete barriers lining the highway. It’d be game over. No way I’d survive the impact. What a shame this last train of thought wasn’t on whether I’d survive or not, but on whether I’d care.

Lightning bolts exploded across the sky and lit up the windshield. In that brief flicker of visibility, I spotted the plane on fire, blocking the highway—and the spaceship blowing up a bridge with luminous green laser beams. I let go of the wheel, idly watching the Lamborghini plow into the concrete barrier. Metal fragments and orange flames danced in front of me. The sound of something exploding boomed through the speakers. The words GAME OVER flashed across the television screen.

The plane had been okay, but the spaceship insulted me. For sure, the makers of the game reckoned it’d be a hoot to throw unrealistic obstacles in my path.

I tossed the Xbox controller aside and scratched my numb backside. My life couldn’t get any worse…might as well go to school.

* * *

About the Author:

Music first captured the creative interest of D L Richardson. She got her first acoustic guitar at age ten, and in high school she sang with the school band. When she left school she helped form her own rock band where she sang lead vocals, played bass guitar, and wrote all the lyrics. At age 26 she realized she wanted to write novels for the rest of her life, or die trying, so she sold her equipment, quit pursuing a music career and began writing instead. She currently lives in Australia on the NSW South Coast with her husband and dog. When she’s not writing or reading she can be found practicing her piano, playing the guitar or walking the dog.

Website | Email: dlrichardsonbooks@bigpond.com | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | 

Giveaway:

Each SWAG pack contains:

1 Signed postcard
2 Bookmarks
1 Code breaker
3 business cards with secret codes to decipher using the code breaker
1 Sticker
1 outer cover which is a greeting card sized manila folder designed to resemble a CIA file

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Awakenings Tour: Giveaway

Title: Awakenings

Series: In the Arms of the Law, Book Two

Author: Kacey Hammell

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense, Erotic,

Publisher: Decadent

Ebook

Pages: 150

Purchase:

Decadent Publishing | Amazon | All Romance eBooks | B&N (Nook) |

Book Description:

On the trail of a killer, and with her old flame back in her life, Detective Alicia Knowles is forced to face the past as she tries to make decisions about her future…

Detective Alicia Knowles once believed there was good in everyone. Not anymore. After a harrowing experience, her life had changed and she was a very different woman. Now more dangerous, she moves through the darkness of her once sunny world, unsure what to do with her pent up feelings of fear and anger.

Even her new boss, Cole Douglass, makes her feel out of control. One night, years ago, he made her feel things she'd never felt with any other man. This time it can only be business between them.

With her latest case, however, temperatures flare.

Their passion is rekindled as the search is on for a missing child and a murderer on the run. Can Alicia protect her heart from the most dangerous power of all…love?

Excerpt:

© Kacey Hammell

She turned around. Their chests brushed, and she gave him a half-smile. “I know Hannah might not blame me, but I do. A few more moments, it’s all we would have needed. I’d change it if I could.” When Cole opened his mouth, she placed her fingers on his lips to silence him. “I can’t, but I vow to do whatever it takes to catch this son-of-a-bitch.”

Alicia tried to convey the sincerity of her promise as she stared into his eyes. For Hannah, and this man, she’d do whatever she could to bring peace to their family once more.

“I know you would. But you can’t carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. We’ll get him.” He raised his hand to her cheek and pushed back a strand of hair that had fallen over her face. Her breath quickened at the light touch. Her body stilled.

The air crackled with electricity. She was sure he could feel it, too; the tension rolled off his body like waves in the ocean. To walk away would be the best thing to do, but for the life of her, Alicia couldn’t get her feet to move.

“You know what, Ali?” His voice was soft and powerfully seductive. “You know what I remember most about our night together?”

Alicia’s hand clasped his wrist, below where his fingers rested lightly on her cheek. She wanted to fall into his arms, burn beneath his touch again. They’d never talked about it and she was curious to know what he remembered.

She remembered it all.

Every touch and sigh. Every kiss and pleasure she basked in.

Through many a cold and lonely night, she cherished the memories of Cole’s hard body pressed against hers, pushing her against the mattress—and the wall and the bathroom counter—but she marveled at how he’d made her feel like more of a woman in one night than she’d felt in all her adult years.

Her voice hoarse and scratchy, she whispered, “What do you remember?”

“Our fire.”

When his mouth claimed hers, her body ignited with long-repressed emotions. Hunger, mind-blowing hunger, rattled through her. It was so hard to breathe.

About the Author:

The writer: Canadian author, Kacey Hammell is a multi-published erotic romance author who writes mainly in the Contemporary Erotic/Romantic Suspense genres. She is a true romantic at heart.

The Wife and Mom: Born, raised and still living in her hometown in Ontario, Canada, Kacey found true love with her husband. As a Mom of three, Kacey has made certain that each of her children know the value of the written word and the adventures they could escape on by becoming book-a-holics in their own right.

Website/Blog | Facebook | Facebook Author Page | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads |

Giveaway:

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Book Journey. This meme lets you show fellow readers what you have read, what you are reading, and what you will be reading.

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