Stephen King – Doctor Sleep (The Shining #2)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Stephen King returns to the characters and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy protagonist of The Shining) and the very special twelve-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals.

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless—mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky twelve-year-old Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the “steam” that children with the “shining” produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant “shining” power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.”

Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan’s own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra’s soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of devoted readers of The Shining and satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Nopirku to!

Vērtējums/Rating: 5/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Ja pirms lasīšanas māc šaubas vai Doktors Miegs būs līdzvērtīgs Mirdzumam, tad jau ar pirmajām lappusēm šaubu vairs nav un vari priecāties par atkalredzēšanos ar Deniju, tagad jau Dens, bet man tik un tā Denijs vai nu jau Doktors Miegs.

Diemžēl mirdzums Denijam nevis dod labākas iespējas dzīvē, bet tieši noved depresīvā noskaņojumā, un par spīti pieredzei, kā alkohols ietekmēja tēvu, tā ir viņa izvēle, lai apspiestu savas spējas. Bez tā šķiet Denijs, pārmantojis arī aizkaitināmības vieglumu.

Viss sāk izmainīties uz labo pusi, kad Denijs savos klejojumos nonāk mazā pilsētiņā, kur arī iegūst labu un svarīgu draugu kā Billiju, kā arī pievienojas AA. Grāmatas notikumi no sākuma līdz beigām aptver 15 gadu periodu. Kā jau aprakstā minēts Denijs sastop Abru, kuras Mirdzums, salīdzinot pat ar Deniju, ir daudzkārt lielāks. Abu pirmā saskarsme ir jau viņas zīdaiņa vecumā, un gadu gaitā attīstās līdz ar spējām. Viegla dzīve tādējādi nav arī Abras vecākiem un viņas pediatram Džonam Daltonam.

Bet asumiņu piedod vampīriem pielīdzināmi radījumi, kuri pārtiek no Mirdzuma jeb kā paši sauc Tvaika, un nodēvējuši sevi par True Knot. Patiesā Mezgla līdere Roze Ohāra ir spēcīgākā no visiem, un dažs labs no viņiem ir gandrīz tikpat vecs kā cilvēce; agrāk bijuši lielā skaitā, bet tagad palikusi tikai viņas grupa. Kad Patiesā Mezgla beigu gals ir gandrīz saskatāms, Abra kļūst par Rozes apsēstību. Bet lielākā viņas nelaime rodas no pretinieka pienācīgas nenovērtēšanas.

Abras sastapšana klātienē un tālākie notikumi, rezultātā nonākšana arī agrākās Overlook viesnīcas atrašanās vietā, ir pamatīgs pārbaudījums Denijam, viņa kārdinājumiem un saprātam.

Ne vienmēr vajadzīga asins pirts, lai radītu šaušalīgas izjūtas!

                                                                                                                                                

If before reading this book I had some worries that Doctor Sleep might not be as good as The Shining then already in the first few chapters they are far gone and you can just be happy meeting  again Danny, know Dan, but for me still Danny or later in the book Doctor Sleep.

Unfortunately the shining doesn’t make Danny’s life easy but depressive and despite his experience as how alcohol affected his father that is his exact choice as how to suppress his skill. And it seems that drinking wasn’t the only thing that he inherited from his dad, it’s also the temper and how easy he can get angry.

Everything starts to change for good when Danny in his wandering arrives in small town in which he will find a good and important friend, Billy. Also it helps when he joins AA. The events in Doctor Sleep happen in 15 year time span. As it is mentioned in the synopsis Danny meets Abra who’s shining is much greater than even his. Their first interaction is already when Abra is just a baby. It’s not very easy for Abra’s parents and her pediatrician John Dalton.

Some excitement is added thanks to creatures that could be compared to vampires; they live off the shining or as they call it steam. Their name for themselves is True Knot. Rose O’Hara or Rose the Hat is their leader, she and some other members are old as humanity itself; once they were many but nowadays it’s only her group. When the end for True Knot is almost tangible, Abra becomes Rose’s obsession. But the biggest problems come from underestimating the opponent.

Meeting Abra face to face and the coming events, including eventual visit to a camp ground which once was the place for Overlook hotel, is a major test for Danny’s sanity and temptations.

Not always there has to be a blood bath for good horror and creepiness!

Kathleen Irene-Paterka – Secrets Of The Royal Wedding Chapel

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Grāmatas apraksts no Amazon/Synopsis from Amazon

Immersed in the world of weddings and romance, Lily Lavender grew up believing in brides, grooms and happily-ever-afters. A direct descendent of the British royals, it seemed her destiny and royal birthright to someday assume a position as wedding coordinator in their family-owned wedding chapel business. But when her mother Mimi’s third marriage eventually fails, Lily’s dreams of her own happily-ever-after quickly fade. She’s no longer interested in a life of assisting brides walk down the aisle into a life of disillusionment and possible divorce. Lily turns her back on The Royal Wedding Chapel and leaves Las Vegas to fashion a life of her own. Years later, Lily—now a single mom—discovers her teenage daughter has run off to Las Vegas, lured by Mimi to help run the chapel. Determined to save her daughter from the broken dreams of Sin City and the nonsensical world of which family fairy tales are made, Lily returns to Las Vegas. But nothing prepares Lily for the royal drama which awaits her… or the sins and secrets she stumbles across that threaten to close the chapel and ruin her family forever.

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

E-grāmatas kopija apmaiņā pret recenziju

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.25/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Lilijas meita Viktorija jeb vienkārši Tori(17g) vienudien iziet no klases(vasarā pēc pašas un mātes izvēles), un ar mašīnu viena pati aizbraukusi uz Lasvegasu. Pilsēta, no kuras Lilija centusies izvairīties un aizmirst.

Tur Tori vecmamma Elizabete jeb Mimi vada Royal Wedding Chapel. Mimī(tas pats par Tori) kapela nozīmē visu, kaut gan pati precējusies vairāk par vienu reizi. Tajā pašā pilsētā mitinās Tori tēvs Džeks, arī ar viņu Lilijai nav tās pašas siltākās attiecības. Situācija kļūst vēl piņķerētāka, kad uzzinām, ka Džeka tēvs Eds un Mimi agrāk bijuši precēti.

Bet visas nesaskaņas jāaizmirst, jo Elizabeti ķer trieka un attiecīgajā stāvoklī nespējīga vadīt biznesu. Lilija var paļauties uz viņas mūžīgo partneri Frančesku, kura bērnībā bijusi gandrīz vai vairāk kā mamma nekā Elizabete. Ģimenes saitēm liela izturības pārbaude.

Pašai īsti negribot, Lilija tiek ielikta kapelas vadīšanas postenī. Vienlaikus viņa mēģina saprast savu meitu, viņas tēvu un visu kopumā. Kapelai radīta burvīga, karaliska leģenda, bet tas un vēl šis tas stāsta laikā atklājas citādāk. Kamēr Lilija bijusi prom, kapelai nav klājies īpaši spoži. Ir ļauts tai novecot un iestrēgt pagātnē; jāiegulda pūliņi, lai tā atkal spīdētu kā agrāk.

Drusku nepatika frāžu atkārtošanās vai to versija nedaudz pārfrāzēta. Un vispār! Kur tik daudz jūtelības!? Noslēgums tīri tā neko, kaut arī varēja just moralizēšanu.

                                                                                                                                                

Lily’s teenage daughter Victoria or just Tori goes out of her class (on summer) and drives by herself to Las Vegas. To the city from which Lily has tried to avoid and forget.

There lives Tori’s grandmother Elizabeth or just Mimi and she is managing the Royal Wedding Chapel. For her (and also for Tori) the chapel means everything, although she has been married more than once. At the same time Las Vegas is home for Tori’s dad Jack, and with him too Lily doesn’t have the best relationship possible. The situation gets even more complex when the reader finds out that Jack’s father Ed once was married to Mimi.

But they have to put everything aside when Mimi suffers a stroke and is no longer able to work at chapel. Lily can rely on Francesca, Mimi’s partner since forever. She sometimes has been more like a mom for Lily in childhood than Mimi. Family’s strength has to endure a lot.

Not really wanting it Lily finds herself leading the daily life of the chapel. And in the meanwhile she’s trying to understand Tori, her father and everything overall. There’s a wonderful and royal legend for the chapel, but the truth about that and few more things reveal itself during the story. While Lily has been away the Royal Wedding Chapel has lost its charm and elegance, and is in desperate need for refurbishing so it would be like earlier and even better; and not just visually.

A bit too much repetition in phrases or similar version of it slightly different. And anyways, who needs so much feelings! More than enough sentimentality. Still, the ending was ok, with some morality.

Douglas Adams – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy #1) (audiobook)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker’s Guide (“A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have”) and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox–the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod’s girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: New Millenium Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Burtiski mirkli pirms Zemes iznīcināšanas Artūrs Dents un Fords Prefekts tiek paglābti no pašu iznīcības, dodot otro iespēju. Planētas Zeme beigu iemesls – peles pārstājušas par to maksāt, kā galaktiskas maģistrāles tapšana. Vienīgais, cik liels un plašs ir Visums, grūti iedomāties, vai planētas iznīcināšana tiešām vajadzīga, turklāt šīs pasaules kuģiem ir hiperdzinēji (hyperdrive)

Stāstam mēģināts pieiet ar humoru un jokiem. Varēja pasmiet un drusku amizanti, bet kārtīgu ROFL momentu nebija. Fords pēdējos 15 gadus piespiedu kārtā dzīvojis uz Zemes, atjauninot Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy grāmatu, kas arī ir par nosaukumu šai grāmatai un visai sērijai.

Kā izrādās cilvēks uz Zemes nebija tas pats gudrākais radījums un visu radību kronis kā dažkārt gribētos kādam domāt. Pirmkārt jau minētās peles, kuras patiesībā eksperimentē ar mums, kā arī delfīni. Viņi saņēma un saprata signālu par gaidāmo jau 50 gadus agrāk un paspēja laicīgi aizmukt.

Papildus tam uzzinām par kādreiz eksistējušu civilizāciju, bet ne pilnībā zudušu, kura sen, sen atpakaļ ražojusi planētas (tai skaitā Zemi), bet pie sliktiem ekonomiskiem apstākļiem izvēlējusies ieiet ziemas guļas stāvoklī.

Protams, biju jau iepriekš dzirdējis par atbildi uz vissvarīgāko jautājumu par dzīvi, Visumu un visu pārējo. Šajā ziņā interesants video no Numberphile puses par attiecīgo jautājumu un atbildi.

No tēliem un balsīm patika Artūrs Dents, īpaši dusmu brīžos, un depresīvais un paranoiskais robots Mārvins. Audiogrāmatu, kuru klausījos, ierunāja pats autors, tad jau droši vien arī balsis kā pats iztēlojās. : )

                                                                                                                                                

Just a mere moment before destruction of Earth Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect are saved giving their lives a second chance to do everything they can and want in the Universe. The main reason for the end of planet Earth is galactic freeway. Although knowing how big and vast the Universe is I’m not sure is that really necessary, plus the spaceship’s have hyperdrives. And secondly mice have stopped paying for the planet.

The story tries to be humoristic and funny. There were some laughable and amusing moments but no really good ROFL places. Ford for the last 15 years has been forced to live on Earth revising edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy which also is the title for this book and series overall.

It turns out that human wasn’t the smartest creature on Earth as some would like to think. Firstly those are already mentioned mice, also dolphins. They received and understood the message about what is going to happen 50 years before and were unsuccessful trying to warn us.

Additionally to that the reader finds out about ancient race which long ago were making planets (including Earth) but because of bad economical circumstances choose to go into hibernation.

Of course I had heard about the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. Correspondingly an interesting video from Numberphile about the answer and question.

From characters and voices I liked Arthur Dent in his angry moments and Marvin, the chronically depressed and paranoid robot. I listened to an audiobook editon  voiced by the author by himself so the voices probably are correct and as he imagined. : )

Tess Gerritsen – The Mephisto Club (Rizzoli & Isles #6)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Evil exists. Evil walks the streets. And evil has spawned a diabolical new disciple in this white-knuckle thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

PECCAVI
The Latin word is scrawled in blood at the scene of a young woman’s brutal murder: I HAVE SINNED. It’s a chilling Christmas greeting for Boston medical examiner Maura Isles and Detective Jane Rizzoli, who swiftly link the victim to controversial celebrity psychiatrist Joyce O’Donnell, Jane’s professional nemesis and member of a sinister cabal called the Mephisto Club.

On top of Beacon Hill, the club’s acolytes devote themselves to the analysis of evil: Can it be explained by science? Does it have a physical presence? Do demons walk the earth? Drawing on a wealth of dark historical data and mysterious religious symbolism, the Mephisto scholars aim to prove a startling theory: that Satan himself exists among us.

With the grisly appearance of a corpse on their doorstep, it’s clear that someone or something is indeed prowling the city. The members of the club begin to fear the very subject of their study. Could this maniacal killer be one of their own or have they inadvertently summoned an evil entity from the darkness?

Delving deep into the most baffling and unusual case of their careers, Maura and Jane embark on a terrifying journey to the very heart of evil, where they encounter a malevolent foe more dangerous than any they have ever faced . . . one whose work is only just beginning.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www

Vērtējums/Rating: 4.25/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Ir noziegumi, kurus nevar vienkārši saprast un izskaidrot, kā vienīgi ļaunuma radītus, un noziedznieki, kuri apzīmējami kā monstri. Mefisto kluba biedri izvēlējušies nevis izvairīties no tā, bet gan pētīt pēc iespējas tuvāk un sīkāk. Bet var pienākt diena, kad tas maksā dārgi. Par ‘’milzīgu’’ prieku Ridzoli psiholoģe Džoisa(no iepriekšējām sērijas grāmatām) ir šī kluba biedre, un arī pārējo biedru idejas nostāda viņu kā lielu skeptiķi.

Tiek atrasts sievietes līķis, un sākotnēji domas ir par saistību ar reliģiju/sātanismu. Pat pieredzējušiem izmeklētājiem paliek baisi, un Maura šoreiz tik ļoti iesaistījusies izmeklēšanas procesā, ka dzīvības apdraudējums vēl nebijušā līmenī.

Fragmentāri tiek dots ieskats ļaundara prātā. Kā arī nodaļas no Lilijas Saulas skatpunkta, kura pirms divpadsmit gadiem palika bez ģimenes, un bailes vēlāk tik lielas, ka spiesta bēgt pāri okeānam, lai katru dienu atskatītos pār plecu.

Gan Ridzoli, gan Mauras personiskajā dzīvē ir savi sarežģījumi. Ridzoli vecāki pēc desmitiem gadu ilgas kopdzīves saskaras ar nopietnām nesaskaņām un šķiršanās draudiem, un viņai neatliek nekas cits, kā mēģināt abus vest pie prāta. Tikmēr Maurai sarežģījumus sagādā jūtas pret mācītāju Danielu. Kaut prāts apzinās realitāti, jūtas un sirds saka ko citu.

                                                                                                                                                

There are crimes you can’t simply explain or understand, only as created by evil, and criminals you can only describe with the word monster. Members of Mephisto Club have chosen not to run away from it but to explore and to study it as closely as possible. But there might be a day when the price for that is too high. For ‘’huge’’ pleasure for detective Jane Rizzoli psychologist Joyce O’Donnell (from previous books in the series) is a member of this club, plus ideas by other members makes Jane a very big skeptic.

A brutally murdered woman’s body is found, and initially everyone thinks about religious/satanic connection. Even investigators with experience are startled. This time Maura Isles gets involved very deeply in the case so much that her life is in more danger than ever before.

Fragmentarily the reader gets the murderer’s POV. Also some chapter from POV of Lily Saul, 12 years ago she lost her entire family, and later was so frightened that was forced to fly over the ocean and to look behind the shoulder every day.

For both Rizzoli and Isles there are some complications in their personal lifes. Rizzoli’s parents after decades long life together have very big disagreement and are very close to divorce. Rizzoli has no option but to intervene and bring them to some sense. Meanwhile Maura struggles with her feelings for Father Daniel Brophy. Although her mind realizes the reality, her feelings and heart tells her something else.

George Orwell – 1984 (audiobook)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

The year 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell’s prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of “negative utopia” -a startlingly original and haunting novel that creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing, from the first sentence to the last four words. No one can deny the novel’s hold on the imaginations of whole generations, or the power of its admonitions -a power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Recorded Books

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books

Vērtējums/Rating: 3/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Kad Partija ir viss un nekam citam nav jēgas. Tā kontrolē pagātni un vēsturi, un maina to ik dienas pēc savas patikas un spontānas iegribas. Apcietināt tevi var par tavām domām, kur nu vēl, ja kaut ko uzdrošinies iebilst, turklāt pat jāuzmanās, kāda tev ir sejas izteiksme, jo pat nelielu aizdomu dēļ tu kādam šķiti aizdomīgs, un tiec paņemts ciet; tad vari būt drošs, ka piespiedīs atzīties par pilnīgi jebko.

Absurdu šajā pasaulē ir uz katra stūra. Kaut vai valodas kropļošana, vārdu nozīmju mainīšana, vai vispār to izņemšana no aprites, lai tikai cilvēkiem ar laiku nebūtu pilnīgi nekādu iespēju ‘’nepareizi’’ izteikties.

Pasaulē izveidojušās kontinentālu mērogu lielvaras, kuras patstāvīgi karo viena ar otru. Vismaz tā Partija grib, lai cilvēkiem būtu pieņemamāki viņu dzīves apstākļi. Visas aprakstītās lielvaras izklausījās vienādas un maz ar ko atšķirīgas; visās privilēģijas tiek varai. Plus vēl kā lielais valsts ienaidnieks un ļaunuma iemiesojums, kurā norit darbība, iedzīvotājiem tiek uzrādīts Emanuels Goldstains, un katru dienu neatlaidīgi tas tiek atgādināts. Man jau šķiet, ka izdomājums vien viņš ir.

Sekojam līdzi Vinstona Smita gaitām, kurš lojāli mēģina darboties pēc noteikumiem, bet tik un tā krīt nežēlastībā. Citiem varoņiem pārsvarā liekas, ka tiem globāli nekas nerūp, lai jau Partija dara, kā grib.

Varbūt 1949.gadā šāda versija bija negatīvi utopiska nākotne, tomēr, zinot vēsturi, stāsts vairāk atspoguļo pagātni, protams, vēl augstākā līmenī, tik jāuzmanās, lai vēsture sevi neatkārto.

                                                                                                                                                

When the Party is everything and nothing else doesn’t matter. It controls the past and history, and is changing it every day as they fancy. You can be arrested just because you had wrong thoughts (thought crime), not even mentioning if you dare to say something aloud. Furthermore you have to be aware of your facial expression because if someone just thinks that you are suspicious you might be arrested; then there won’t be anything that you wouldn’t confess.

The absurd in this world is everywhere. Like the newspeak – changing and distorting the language so eventually no one could say anything ‘’wrong’’.

Superpowers in size of continents have emerged which are constantly at war with each other. At least that’s what the Party wants citizens to think so they would be satisfied with how they are living. Every superpowers sounded alike, except that in everyone those who have power are living in luxury. Besides the big bad countries enemy where the story takes part is Emmanuel Goldstein, and every single day the Party makes sure that you remember it. My guess is that he isn’t even real.

We are following Winston Smith who loyally tries to do everything by the rules and still falls into disgrace. It seemed that everyone else was didn’t want to think outside the Parties given box, letting them to do what they want.

Maybe in 1949 this version was negative utopia, but knowing history this story seemed to reflect more of the past, of course on completely different level. Nevertheless it wouldn’t hurt vigilant so the history wouldn’t repeat itself.

[Blog Tour] Wilde at Heart (Guest Post)

Wilde At Heart Banner

Wilde at Heart

Title: Wilde at Heart
Author: Tonya Burrows
Publisher: Entangled Ignite
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Format: Kindle

Order at:

Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Google Play

About the book:

He has everything under control. Except her.

Reece Wilde put everything in his life on the backburner to protect his brothers and their struggling company, Wilde Security. With a major contract on the line, Reece can’t afford any mistakes…like getting caught in a red-hot, X-rated moment with wild child Shelby Bremer, who’s more trouble than he can handle. Now he’s being blackmailed.

Shelby’s mile-long impulsive streak gets her in more trouble than she’d like to admit. Between her sister’s wedding, her coffee shop set on fire, and getting down and dirty with the groom’s brother, things are definitely coming off the rails. With both their careers and their safety on the line, Reece is determined to keep them both safe…even if it means a Vegas-style shotgun wedding.

But gambling on a wild card—and a wild soul—is risky…and sometimes, it can get a guy killed.

Goodreads

About the author:

Tonya Burrows

Tonya Burrows wrote her first romance in 8th grade and hasn’t put down her pen since. Originally from a small town in Western New York, she’s currently soaking up the sun as a Florida girl. She suffers from a bad case of wanderlust and usually ends up moving someplace new every few years. Luckily, her two dogs and ginormous cat are excellent travel buddies.

When she’s not writing about hunky military heroes, Tonya can be found at a bookstore or the dog park. She also enjoys painting, watching movies, and her daily barre workouts. A geek at heart, she pledges her TV fandom to Supernatural and Dr. Who.

For more information:

Website, Facebook, Twitter