Once Upon An Ever After by Angela N. Blount - Spotlight

Once Upon An Ever After

by Angela N. Blount

Released July 2014

Set after the events of Blount's debut memoir, Once Upon A Road Trip, this short story anthology focuses on the unusual courtship of Angeli and Vincent.

When Angeli left Minnesota on a post-high school road trip, all she wanted was to see the East Coast and finally meet some of her online friends. She didn't expect to end up in a long-distance relationship with a computer-savvy Southern boy. Yet Vincent seems determined to defy the odds. To prove his intentions, he sets off on his own quest to visit Angeli and win her family's approval. But along the way he’ll have to contend with her offbeat friends, trigger-happy father, and a few questionable run-ins with Northern hospitality. 

South meets North this time around, and "normal" isn't anywhere on the map.

With a thousand miles and radically different upbringings between them, can Angeli and Vincent forge a forever-worthy bond? Or are the roadblocks they face too much for either of them to overcome?

Amazon  /  Goodreads

What are reviewers saying?

This is an absolutely beautiful and sweet coming of age memoir and I went through every emotion whilst reading it. I laughed, I nearly cried but was quickly picked back up and read the rest of the story with a big grin! Is it too much trouble to be hoping for another installment to this? I can't get enough of Vince and Angie's story! Inspiring through and through! A big 5 stars from me on this review! Sky on Amazon

If you haven't yet read Angela's amazing awe-inspiring memoir, Once Upon a Road Trip, I'm telling you to go out and get it now! I have never meant that sentence more. Once Upon an Ever after wraps up Angeli's and Vince's story perfectly and has you happily sighing, laughing out loud and hoping their story will be a happily ever after. Bonny Bon Bon on Amazon

A little About the Author

Award-winning author Angela N. Blount is a Minnesota native, transplanted to the deep South--where she currently resides with her understanding husband, their two children, and a set of identity-confused cats. A Registered Nurse by trade, she is also a freelance content editor, former book reviewer for RT Book Reviews, a memoirist (though, not much a fan of referring to herself in first-person *cough*), craft blogger, sporadic poet, and webcomic artist. 

Angela is a PRO member of the Romance Writers of America, and was named a finalist in the 2012 Sheila, Laurie, and Orange Rose contests. She also took first place in the 2012 OKRWA Finally A Bride contest. In 2014 her debut memoir, Once Upon a Road Trip, was an NIEA finalist, a Chanticleer Journey Award finalist, and winner of the silver metal in the Literary Classics International Book Awards.

In her spare time, Angela enjoys reading, coffee shop loitering, and all things geeky. Her latest project is a YA sci-fi series.

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Don't forget to grab a copy of 

Once Upon a Road Trip

Goodreads / Amazon

Review: Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman

Description:
With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424—one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison—why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there.


My Thoughts:
I don't read a lot of memoirs. I only picked this up because I watched the show on Netflix. I didn't realize at first that it was based on a book, but when I did I was curious. I'm glad I watched the show first, or I might have been upset over how much the show deviated from the book. I realize, though that it takes a lot to keep a television series interesting. There is actually quite a bit that was taken straight from the book. Many of the characters and events in the show were at least inspired by something that occurred in the book.
I enjoyed the book. Piper explains what she did to land herself in prison and recounts her experiences there. She makes many observations of how the rules don't seem all that fair, and how race and class seem to play a big factor in how people are treated in the justice system. She also discusses how little is done for the women who eventually are released and she realizes how lucky she is to have so many resources. This book was eye-opening and very easy to read.


My Rating:  *****
Steam Factor: n/a
*Notes: Some language.

My Source: library

Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Guest Review: Keeping My Balance by Stephanie Torreno

Today's review is written by author Lilia Fabry.

Description:

In 1973, complications during Stephanie Torreno’s birth resulted in the diagnosis of cerebral palsy at the age of one. Educating themselves about the condition, Stephanie’s parents sought intensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy for their daughter. These therapies in early childhood and throughout school assisted Stephanie in learning to walk and speak while having limited mobility, significant challenges with fine motor skills, and articulation difficulties. 

Stephanie’s narrative chronicles her experiences growing up with a physical disability and her parents’ advocacy for her, an above-average student, in receiving a mainstreamed education. She describes learning alongside typical classmates without handwriting ability and her parents’ continuous fight for academic modifications and individualized services. 

In a deeply personal memoir, Stephanie writes about traumatic family events, including her father’s suicide. She illustrates her pursuits to become more independent while coping with additional loss. Stephanie takes readers through her quest to obtain a college education, her attempts to gain meaningful employment, and her emotional journey to live independently.

My Thoughts:

Whenever I hear the term “memoir” used in non-fiction, I immediately think “whine-a-thon” even if the subject matter is whine-worthy. While I don’t mind getting bummed from reading, I also require a balance of joy and laugher keeping in some sort of step with sorrow and tears.

Stephanie does not fail to deliver to a reader like me. Her narrative reads more like something that happened to you rather than a story being told by a stranger. You step as she does, laugh as she does, feel devastation as she does, and above all, persevere with her. Stephanie’s trials are those we all experience: school, growing pains, family issues, aging parents, and the changes we do and don’t see coming. She takes them on with a contagious humility. 

Additionally, cerebral palsy forces Stephanie to type with a single finger, yet she uses her whole heart for the rest.

My Rating: ****

Where to get it: 

About the author:

Stephanie Torreno graduated from Houston Baptist University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and technical writing. Her work included numerous online articles exploring education, special education, and mental health topics. She also wrote an online newsletter for supported employment professionals focused on obtaining work for individuals with disabilities.

Where to find the author:

Website

Twitter

Goodreads 

Lilia’s Bio:

L. Fabry attended the University of Houston where she was overwhelmed by the talent of her faculty and peers. She now writes about everything from reaction injection molding to sex robots in between indulging her need for creative outlets including novels and screenplays.

In her new novel, “Ordinance 93 ,” a law prevents births without government permission, and four people are about to break it. Find out more about it and L. Fabry on www.lfabry.com.