Kim McMahill

I hope everyone has had a fantastic holiday season and has plans to cap it off with a fun New Year’s Eve and Day. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all the support this past year. I hope all my readers have enjoyed my various adventure novels and, for a moment, were transported to another place and time filled with excitement.   Have a safe and happy New Year!   Thank you.

In a country comprised of over 900 islands spread out over a vast area of the South Pacific, transportation is often an enormous challenge. Many Solomon Island villages are connected only by the sea, and the locals have become very adept at moving everything via motorized canoes, including livestock. With no roads to a remote rural training center on the island of Makira in the Solomon Islands, I witnessed the process in action and it was something I will never forget.

Here’s wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas filled with the joys of the season and quality time with family and friends.    Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas!  

The Gingerbread House by Jacqueline Hopper is a truly wonderful and well-written novella. The author did an amazing job telling this important story in an uplifting way.   Helping her son overcome his fears brought on by her own childhood trauma is Keren’s number one priority. She worries too much damage has been done until she reunites with her long-lost best friend, who shares her painful secret. Through the remarkable work of The Gingerbread House, Keren is forced to relive her past in order to complete the healing process and prevent her phobias from scarring her child, and she discovers a new hope for happiness.    For more on Jacqueline and her work, please visit http://jacquelinedhopper.blogspot.com/

I would like to introduce Australian western author, Susan Horsnell, and welcome her to Embrace Adventure.   Just living in Australia conjures up all kinds of adventurous images in my mind, and I dream of going there someday. For now, let’s get to know Susan, and we can live our Australian dreams vicariously through her.   First, Susan, tell us a little bit about yourself.   I have been retired for almost 5 years which is wonderful. I now have the time to do the things I have always wanted. As a child I was a dancer, did TV work as well as Pantomimes at clubs during the holidays. We have a young granddaughter who is also fast becoming an accomplished dancer. We have a granddaughter who is a brilliant horsewoman and is very good at Marshall Arts, her sister is also very good at Marshall Arts. We have 2 gorgeous grandsons who are also into sports. We are very blessed.   What are your hobbies away from the computer?   We have 2 Jack Russell’s ...

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Reading December 11, 2013 (Amazon) By LAS Reviewer CIA agent Cash Luker leads an international team of agents and scientists in a desperate attempt to stop a terrorist group from getting their hands on a collection of crystals which have the power to destroy the world. Shrouded in Secrets is an action-packed highly suspenseful novel which is nearly impossible to put down. I think what impressed me most about the novel, however, was not the thrilling story, although that is certainly there. The plot takes place in the Bahamas, Arizona, Argentina, Mexico, and Peru. Each of these locations is described in rich detail, drawing the reader right into the mangroves or the Arizona desert. The story is told from multiple perspectives so the author has to be able to transport the reader easily and quickly between some very diverse locations, and overall, these jumps are handle well. In addition, the entire plot line revolves around ancient history, partic...

In Wyoming, black bear populations are widespread, whereas grizzly habitat is primarily confined to northwestern Wyoming, but as populations increase and habitat decreases, bears will expand their territory and reestablish in previous historical ranges or in new habitats. Grizzly bears have not inhabited the Bighorn National Forest since the early 20th century, but for the sake of fiction I have hastened the return of a solitary grizzly to the Big Horn Mountains just as a deadly storm is brewing …   Black and grizzly bears can be incorrectly identified if attributes such as size or color are relied upon. For a more accurate identification, it’s important to remember that b lack bears have no shoulder hump, tall pointed ears, and a straight facial profile from nose to ear. Grizzlies have a distinctive shoulder hump, short rounded ears, and its facial profile appears dished in.   Bears play a fairly small role in Big Horn Storm , but added to an already dire and deadly ...

Stone of Destiny by Mary L. Ball, is a heartwarming story of a young woman’s struggle to sort out what is most important in life in order to live a fulfilling and happy life. This is an all too common theme in today’s society, which makes this story especially relatable.    The main character, Taylor, has focused solely on her job. She thought a successful career would be all she needed to live a complete and happy life, until an unexpected event introduces a man who seems perfect, except she fears he might get in the way of her career aspirations. As Taylor embarks on an emotional journey, she begins to question many long-held beliefs. She finds guidance from her grandmother and an unexpected source, a missing family heirloom.    The author did a very good job intertwining the complexities facing Taylor’s future as she tries to balance family, the power of a mysterious stone, and priorities, all while struggling to untangle her feelings for a man, who despi...

I recently had the opportunity to visit Cartagena, Columbia. I spent my limited time exploring the “Old City,” which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was established in 1533 by the Spanish explorer Madrileño Don Pedro de Heredia. Much of the original city walls, constructed for protection from pirates, is still intact and encircles the winding cobblestone streets lined with colorful Spanish Colonial architecture. My time in Cartagena was too short, but what I did experience was amazing and I look forward to seeing more.

Just in time for the Holiday Season! Check out these wonderful original Christmas stories from Prism Book Group , all priced from .99 - $3.99, with an additional discount if purchased directly from the Prism Book Group website .      Enjoy and Merry Christmas!    

    PRISM BOOK GROUP I hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving. And, for those who plan to kick off the holidays by joining the post-Thanksgiving shopping free-for-all, good luck, be patient, and have fun.

A journey through the Panama Canal is an amazing experience. It is indisputably one of the greatest manmade wonders of the world. Opened in 1914, the 51-mile canal cuts across Panama.   The canal shortened the sailing distance between New York and San Francisco by over 7,000 miles, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, forever changing world commerce.   More than a million ships have traveled through the intricate lock system, which consists of three sets of locks, Gatun, Pedro Miguel, and Miraflores locks, which rise and lower ships and boats of all sizes from one ocean, across land to the other ocean.   Much of what you see along the canal is industrial, but no less interesting. The magnitude of the accomplishment is simply awe-inspiring. There is also some beautiful jungle scenery and wildlife to view. We saw many birds, a few crocodiles on the Atlantic side, and a small group of coati during this amazing experience.

After reading the first page of Autumn Blessing by Dvora Waysman I feared this novella was going to be a tear-jerker, but thankfully I was wrong. Autumn Blessing turned out to be an uplifting story about dealing with moving on and trying to find happiness again after the death of a soul mate. I doubt many people could read this book and not find something to relate to in their own lives, whether from direct experience or from witnessing a widowed parent try to cope. This was a great story and not one tear was shed in the reading of this book.   Learn more about Dvora at http://dvorawaysman.com/

Desperate Dreams is available for free for your Kindle from Amazon, today through November 21. Download your free copy at http://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Dreams-Kim-McMahill-ebook/dp/B007VOK2NS/ Desperate Dreams is a Futuristic Romantic Adventure. To most, America has become a safe, orderly, predictable place, but to a few, like Nyla and Ethan, it has become a prison. Inseparable since childhood, but now faced with being torn apart, they are determined to change the course of their future. As Nyla struggles to understand her deepening feelings for Ethan, they embark on a desperate journey for freedom through the inhospitable Big Bend region of Texas. With their two best friends in tow they attempt a daring border crossing to chase a dream few would understand, and only the most courageous will dare to challenge the new order and embrace forbidden love.

Costa Rica is one of the few places, other than the U.S., that I could actually picture taking up residency.   Sure, it’s got some rough areas, but what country doesn’t? After several visits, it still seems as if the positives far outweigh the negatives, the biggest negative being the large number of extremely poisonous snakes (a particular phobia of mine). The country is endowed with spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, diverse environments, wonderful people, and great coffee. From active volcanoes, to lush mountains, to stunning beaches, it’s got something for everyone, and will always hold a special place in my heart.

The Captive Bird by Clair Sanders is an inspirational and romantic story. The author did an exceptional job handling a complex and delicate subject. She crafted an inspirational story of healing and forgiveness, which unfolded against a backdrop of developing romance. The main character drew me in with her courage and strength, making the book difficult to put down in anticipation of a desperately deserved happy ending.    Although this novel is outside my preferred genre of adventure and suspense, it is the second book I’ve read by Claire Sanders, and I look forward to reading more because she’s just that good. For more on Claire Sanders and her other work please visit www.clairesandersbooks.com    

Sometimes I get so caught up in book announcements, events, reviews, blog hops, etc. that I forget why I started this blog in the first place, to Embrace Adventure . The word adventure means something different to nearly everyone.  To some, adventure may be trying a new restaurant or hairstyle, and to others, true adventure can only be defined by climbing Mount Everest or rafting the Colorado River.  To me, adventure is somewhere in between. Through my writing I strive to explore the gamut of adventure with a spattering of actual experiences tossed in with stories of survival conjured from my imagination. In life I have an intense craving to see as much of this fascinating world as possible. To maintain my focus and stay true to my heart, I’ll be sharing my favorite memories and adventures on a more regular basis in a little segment I’ll call, “Adventure Scrapbook.” So, without further ado, here are a couple penguin chicks hanging out in Otway Sound, Chile. I love this p...

Exciting n ew release by Jacqueline Hopper, The Gingerbread House , is now available. Check it out at http://www.amazon.com/The-Gingerbread-House-ebook/dp/B00GBE1U3K/   To find out more about Jacqueline visit her blog, Head Into The Clouds, at http://jacquelinedhopper.blogspot.com

I’d like to introduce Judy Baker. Judy lives in the beautiful western state of Utah. Though she’s a southerner at heart, she loves the surrounding mountains and the desert valleys. She and her husband enjoy their home with a spoiled ninety pound Airedale named Teal’c. They have three wonderful children that have given them four beautiful grandkids. When not writing the stories that fill her head, she enjoys RVing with her family, stargazing through one of her many telescopes, digging in her wildflower garden, and golfing, or just swinging on the patio while plotting her next story.   Her latest novel, Better She Live , is the second book in the Silver Sage Creek Novel Series. Please enjoy the blurb and exerpts below.     Blurb : Ruby Thornton, the proprietor of the Silver Sage Saloon is a business woman, not a prostitute. But, because she runs a saloon, the proper folks of Silver Sage Creek treat her as such, until the wealthy Richard Webster moves into town. H...

Thank you to everyone who visited The Romance Studio from October 25 through the 31 for the 4 th Annual Spookapalooza . I hope everyone enjoyed the posts and possibly even won a prize, and I especially hope that everyone had a fun and safe Halloween.

  Please join the party at The Romance Studio (TRS) as we celebrate the spooky season with their 4 th annual Spookapalooza from October 25-31.   TRS is giving away an Amazon gift ecard (electronic gift card only, value $100 minimum) to one lucky reader and they’re giving away a lot of other prizes from the TRS prize vault and participating authors too. Just go to The Romance Studio Party Site at http://trsparties.com any time from October 25-31, 2013.   I’ll be participating and I’ve donated an ebook of ShroudedIn Secrets (format of recipients choice).   Shrouded In Secrets (great title for Spookapalooza , don’t you think?) is an international romantic suspense that takes the reader on an epic journey around the world in a quest to locate ancient artifacts before a deadly group of terrorists. The winner of the gift card will be selected at random on November 1, 2013. Other prizes from TRS and its participating authors will be assigned at e...

Tender Triumph by Ruth Roberts was recently released by Prism Book Group. Here’s a sneak peak.    After a very public divorce from her billionaire Italian husband, Natalia Montalvo returns home to New York City to lick her wounds and try to put the pieces of her shattered heart back together. So why did she agree to attend a charity ball, especially when she knew her ex would be there? When he arrives with his newest love interest, she feels all the pieces she had managed to put together crumbling again. Jared, owner of the largest, most prestigious architectural firm in the country, rubs elbows daily with the rich and powerful. He can’t stand them. After one too many altercations with a client, his head of public relations forces him to attend the annual charity ball, to schmooze and make nice with the people whom his business depends on. His mission is simple: smile, be friendly, and bid on a few high dollar items in the auction. Thirty minutes after arriving, he wa...

Who doesn’t love cheap or even free reads for your Kindle?   If you haven’t checked it out yet, eFiction Finds is your source for quality free and affordable fiction for your Kindle. All listings have received high ratings and are generally priced at $2.99 or less, including several free listings daily.     Visit http://www.efictionfinds.com , “like” at https://www.facebook.com/eFictionFinds or follow on twitter at https://twitter.com/efictionfinds to receive the latest updates.   Authors , if you have a novel you wish to be considered for promotion, go to http://www.efictionfinds.com/p/author-corner.html for guidelines and submission requirements

The following short stories were written by Prism Book Group authors in round-robin style during various promotional events.  Each author took a turn with the story (I participated in Lightning Strikes ), adding the next scene, with the freedom to take the book in any direction they chose. These stories are offered free of charge directly through the publisher at http://www.prismbookgroup.com or through Amazon.   I hope you enjoy these free and fun short reads .   Lightning Strikes - After a storm, a major power outage leaves two at-odds neighbors dependent on each other. Forced to unite, will their animosity for each other crash like thunder or will they discover love as lightning strikes?   After The Storm - Bonded by a harrowing cat rescue, Luke and Rachel are instant friends, but they can’t deny their attraction despite their business relationship. Rachel worries dating her boss is a bad idea, but soon the least of her worries. When two dead bodies a...