New eBook Releases 1/14: Politcal Non-Fiction and a Fresh Dose of Contemporary YA

With this year's State of the Union Address right around the corner, the organization fighting to fix America releases a new political non-fiction!

No Labels: A Shared Vision for a Stronger America is available today!

 

Every year the President of the United States stands before Congress and the American people to deliver a State of the Union Address. What was once an opportunity for honest reflection on accomplishments and goals has become more of a laundry list than a speech—a grab bag of policy ideas, partisan rhetoric, and healthy dose of wishful thinking. Meanwhile, the gridlock in Washington means that virtually nothing in that speech will amount to anything but talk. 

Governor Jon Huntsman and Senator Joe Manchin, two of the most respected and straightforward political leaders in America, have a simple solution for Washington's gridlock. It begins with getting our leaders together at the table to agree to goals not just for their party but for the whole country. Stop having one party led by the president paint a single vision. Instead, create a shared vision for our country to aspire to—and then find a way to achieve it together. 

Look for No Labels: A Shared Vision for a Stronger America on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and in the iBookstore! 

Also, what YA fans have been waiting [im]patiently for, Suzy's Vitello's The Moment Before is available! Add it to your #readmore2014 list today!

“Don’t get me wrong. I loved my sister. I never, not once, wished her dead.”

Brady and Sabine Wilson are sisters born eleven months apart, but they couldn't be more different. Popular Sabine, the head cheerleader dating the high school hunk, seems to have all the luck, while her younger, artsy sister "Brady Brooder" is a loner who prefers the sidelines to the limelight.

After Sabine dies in a horrific cheerleading accident, grief unravels Brady and her family. Once recognized for her artistic talent, 17-year-old Brady finds herself questioning the value of everything she once held dear. Her best friend betrays her. Her parents’ marriage is crumbling. And the boy everyone blames for the accident seems to be her only ally in the search for answers in the wake of her sister’s death. As an unlikely friendship emerges, Brady learns more about Sabine—and love—than she bargained for.

Get your copy of The Moment Before on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and in the iBookstore!

New eBook release 1/07: A historical romance thriller series, now available as eBooks

It’s a new year and we’re excited to start it off with the re-release of a thrilling historical romance series!

The Stargazer is book #1 in the Arborotti series, and it follows Bianca Salva, a woman whose passion for science drives her to secretly practice medicine among the poor of Venice. But her cover is blown when she is discovered standing over a lifeless body by notorious womanizer, Ian Foscari. Convinced she is the murderer, Ian gives Bianca two options: turn herself into authorities, or prove her innocence.

Soon, Bianca finds herself in a race against the clock to clear her name and catch a killer, all while struggling to subdue her growing feelings for Ian that are becoming impossible to deny.

Add The Stargazer to your 2014 reading list and download it for FREE on Amazon, Kobo, and in the iBookstore. If you love it, check out the rest of the Arboretti series, The Water Nymph, Lady Killer, and Secret Admirer as well, available now!

Also, as just a reminder to all you YA lovers, The Moment Before will be released next week!



Though Brady and Sabine Wilson are only 11 months apart, the sisters couldn't be more different. While popular Sabine spends most of her time in the limelight, artsy Brady remains in her shadow, content in her position on the sideline.

But when Sabine is killed in a tragic cheerleading accident, Brady's whole world is shaken. As the life she's known crumbles around her, she struggles to keep herself together with the unlikely help of the same boy everyone blames for Sabine's accident.

In her search for answers in the wake of her sister's death, Brady learns more about Sabine, and love, than she bargained for.


Pre-order your copy now from Amazon, Kobo, or the iBookstore! Available 1/14.

A Regency Christmas, guest post by Sherrill Bodine

                                               A REGENCY CHRISTMAS

In my novella, The Christmas Ball,  I combine my favorite holiday, Christmas, with my favorite historical period, the elegant Regency world of Jane Austen – plus I throw in a pinch of my favorite Fairytale, Cinderella.

During my many visits to England and through my research I have come to love the wit, grace and romance of this period, 1800 – 1820, and discovered how many Regency customs endure in the way in which I celebrate Christmas.

The Christmas season of Regency England was a time of much merrymaking.  Everybody invited their friends and family about them for festive celebrations.  On Christmas Eve there was often a delightful Ball which provided an excuse for ladies to wear their best clothes and jewelry.  Plus the Ball provided an opportunity for flirting among the unmarried couples and perhaps even the beginnings of serious courtships.

An unmarried young lady would wear a soft column-like dress, usually white trimmed with satin ribbon.  She would have pearl combs in her hair, with a matching necklace around her slender neck and earrings dangling from her delicate ears. To this she would add a jewel inlaid fan or one painted with birds, flowers or fruit.  She might practice the art of “fluttering” for months until she hardly needed to speak for the way she used her fan spoke volumes about her emotions.  Obviously, the Regency young men never stood a chance against such artistry.

On Christmas Eve there would always be the singing of Carols and sometimes amusing games were played such as “Hunt the Slipper” before the evening ended with sandwiches  and sweets.

On Christmas Day morning the children were given beautifully decorated boxes which contained money.  Then in mid-day, usually around four o’clock, the family would gather in the dining room for a sumptuous meal of Salmon Trout, Sweetbreads, Chicken Fricassee, Roast Turkey, Ham, Buttered Lobster, Muffin Pudding, Jellies, Potatoes, Peas, Whipped Syllabub and Baskets of Pastry.

Now, two hundred years later, my festive celebrations begin on December 23th with my “Almost Christmas Eve Party” for all my friends who are alone or without their families.  There is no Ball, but a DJ will be spinning tunes for dancing and yes, a few romances have started in my family room with the music blaring and young couples gazing into one another’s eyes.  Since this is a family party with friends from three years old to ninety –five, I encourage a sing-a-long of familiar Carols, even though I won’t be joining in as my voice is so terrible my guests would be justified in covering their ears and fleeing the party.

The party continues on Christmas Eve with dinner for my family of twenty –two.  Then we rise at dawn on Christmas morning to discover what Santa has left in all twenty-two stockings.  I will try to make our Christmas Brunch as sumptuous as a Regency feast but there will be fewer courses and , alas, no Buttered Lobster, even though my children would love such extravagance.

I love discovering how others celebrate the holidays and send my wish for the days ahead to be filled with joy for all! 

Xoxo  Sherrill Bodine   

 Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the Diversion Books team and all of our authors. We're wishing you and yours a festive and safe holiday season. See you in 2014!