Saturday, June 22, 2013

Vegas and the Mob Book Review



I am reviewing this book for Charisma Public Relations. I was was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a review of it.




CoverVegasandtheMob

The truth about Las Vegas, unlike the watered-down versions you might have heard elsewhere. Sin City was the Mob’s greatest venture and most spectacular success, and through forty years of frenzy, the FBI watched, listened on phone tapes, and did virtually nothing. Thank goodness for that, because Vegas wouldn’t be what it is today without the Mob!



Two of the nation’s most powerful crime family heads went to prison in the 1930’s, Al Capone, and Lucky Luciano. Frank Nitti took over the Chicago Outfit while, Frank Costello ran things for the Luciano Family. Both men were influenced by their bosses from prison, and both sent enough gangsters onto the streets to influence loan sharking, extortion, union control, and drug sales.



Bugsy Siegel worked for both groups, handling a string of murders and opening up gaming on the west coast, and that included Las Vegas, an oasis of sin in the middle of the desert – and it was legal. Most of it. The FBI watched as the Mob took control of casino after casino, killed off the competition, and stole enough money to bribe their way to respectability back home.



New York’s “Lucky Luciano” was getting a taste of the profits in the 1930’s, Detroit, Kansas City, and Chicago weren’t far behind. By the 1940’s, nearly every crime family in the United States had a stake in a Las Vegas casino. Some did better than others. Vegas casino owners watched-over their profits while competing crime families eyed each other’s success like jealous lovers. Murder often followed.

My thoughts about the book:
 I'm a history buff. When the opportunity to review this book came up, I eagerly took it and I was not disappointed. I had no idea how much influence the Mob had in the development of Las Vegas. The book covers the 1940-1970's. This book is so engaging that once you start reading you won't be able to put it down.  Vegas and the Mob is an easy read for anyone looking to find out more about Las Vegas or the Mob. I look forward to reading more books by this author. 




Buy Links:





About the Author: 



Al W Moe was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and introduced to the casinos of Nevada at the age of eleven. At the time he had never seen such an amazing array of sights, sounds, and exciting games. Little has changed since that first introduction.

Moe is the author of six books and has written for Gambling Times/Poker Player, Pokernews.com and Casino and Gaming Chips Magazine. His love for casinos and the history of gambling are only exceeded by the thrill he gets learning new casino games and his desire to teach new players how to get the most for their money at the casino.

Education:
Moe attended the University of Nevada at Reno and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Marketing. He especially enjoys the disciplines of probability and statistics.

From Al W Moe:
Casinos and the games they offer have occupied my thinking most of my life. The early casino owners, especially when it involved the Mob in Las Vegas are a fascinating subject. It is amazing the Mob was able to skim the profits of clubs in Nevada for over 40 years. The story of how they did it is even more amazing!

Author websites:

Nevada Casino History Blog: http://nevadacasinohistory.blogspot.com
Twitter: @ALWMoe


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Thursday, June 20, 2013

Lost In Vegas Giveaway


Lost in Vegas Vegas – the city of gamblers, dreamers, heroes and heartbreak. And Kate McLarens’ last chance to redeem herself by putting her boyfriend’s fail-safe black jack system into action to make payroll for her salon. Make that ex-boyfriend when the system fails miserably. She wakes up to find herself being given mouth to mouth resuscitation by sexy JT Sullivan of Security. But the only way she can convince him not to send her to the nearest ER is by agreeing to meet him for breakfast the next day. After she tells him she’s gone from business woman of the year to not being able to make payroll and can’t face going back to her hometown he convinces her to stay in Vegas, finds her a place to stay and a job waiting tables. Determined to make the money she needs to pay off her debts she stays in Vegas and things are looking up when she gets a job styling a famous star making a comeback. Unfortunately her ex-boyfriend is still in Vegas and takes the opportunity to kidnap the star she works for and her. JT Sullivan has to find the kidnappers and bring them back. It looks as if he’s succeeded when Max returns the star and keeps Kate. Now JT has to put everything on the line to get Kate back.

 Buy Links: Amazon Trailer:   




Pat Amsden 

About the Author: Pat Amsden is a writer of romance and mystery who lives on the West Coast of Canada. She lives with her son in Victoria, BC and works at the local hospital. She is, once again, single. For as long as she can remember she has loved stories. First reading them and then making them up. Sometimes that got her into trouble when she was younger but that's another story! She studied journalism in college but got side-tracked raising a family and working a variety of other jobs to pay the bills. Writing fell by the way-side. The years went by and one day she decided to check out a local writer's group. There was a workshop with an exercise. Write something that had the hero and heroine meeting within the first page. Maybe there could even be a kiss! And don’t let the heroine get too comfortable. If she’s shy don’t have her go to the library and meet the librarian, get her out of her comfort zone. Maybe in a bar. She decided, why stop there, let’s put the heroine on top of the bar! Many revisions later, the result is Lost In Vegas! But none of this would have been possible without the support and encouragement of fellow writers. She benefited from workshops such as the Write On Vancouver workshop with Michael Hauge and another with Jane Porter. Shirley Jump’s workshop was so good she immediately took another with her. Then she got the Deep Editing lectures from Margie Lawson’s School of Writing and Lisa Wells, How to Create A Series. I pitched to editors and submitted manuscripts. But as she was doing this several of her fellow writers decided to self-publish through Amazon. They are all doing well. More than one suggested she should try this route, as did her son. So here she is, feeling a lot like Sally Fields and hoping that ‘They like me, they really do! Author Links: Website: http://www.patamsden.com/ Twitter: @PatAmsden   Giveaway:
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The author is giving away a Kindle (US/Can) or a Gift Card of the same value if outside US/Can. Fill out the form below to enter! This is an International Giveaway Ends midnight 4th July 2013



  a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Book Review and Giveway: A Melody for James (Christian Romance Suspense) (Song of Suspense)

 A Melody for James is a great romantic suspense read where faith and real life connect #christian #fiction


I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.  




About the Book:

Solitary strangers meet during a stormy stopover. Hours later, their hearts hum a harmonious duet.

Melody Mason has the hottest female voice in the country music scene. But the cheers of throngs of adoring fans mean little in the absence of the handsome stranger who rescued her years before. Widower James Montgomery has never forgotten her. He prays God can bring her back.

Incredible events finally bring them face to face again. Together at last, they realize the bond between them has miraculously risen to a crescendo, melodiously marrying them like strong symphonic chords. Uncannily, they learn they share more in common than they could have ever imagined. They know God reunited them for a purpose.

Sinister forces threaten to destroy their new found happiness. The couple must work in close concert, placing all their faith in God as they solve the deadly mystery that ties their lives inexplicably together.

Fire, loss, and bloodshed cannot shake their faith in God to see them through as they face a percussive climax that leaves hearts and lives forever changed.


My thoughts about the book:
I have read other books by Hallee Bridgeman (you can read my reviews of them here) but this book is my favorite by far. She gives you real characters with real problems. I love how she integrates faith into the story without out "beating you over the head with it." She also keeps her books clean and classy. There are several twists and turns in this story that will keep you on your toes. Once you start reading this book you will not be able to put it down! A Melody for James is a must read for anyone looking for a delightful, easy read that we keep you on the edge of your seat. 

Buy the book:
Amazon-A Melody for James

Smashwords-A Melody for James  

 GiveawayI'm giving away 2 copies of A Melody for James. Between now and Friday, June 21  at 12 midnight, tell me what your favorite book of all time is and I'll select two people at random to get a copy of Hallee's new book A Melody for James.

About the Author:

Hallee Bridgeman lives with her husband and their three children in small town Kentucky. When she’s not writing Christian romance novels, she blogs about all things cooking and homemaking at Hallee the Homemaker.
Hallee started writing when her oldest child and only daughter was a baby, but a busy professional career and being the wife of a deployed soldier had her shelve her books for another time. Two more children, a cross country move, and God’s perfect timing brought the books off of the shelf to be dusted off and presented to you now.
Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit.  She prays her books are a blessing to you and would love to hear back from you.



Also by this Author: 
The Jewel Trilogy and Novella Sapphire Ice
Greater Than Rubies (free Novella between Sapphire and Emerald)
Emerald Fire
Topaz Heat
The Jewel Trilogy Anthology
Recipe Book Parody
Fifty Shades of Gravy; a Christian Gets Saucy!
Song of Suspense
A Melody for James
  
 










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