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A Look Inside Justice, Deck of Lies Book 1

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    “We just need you to sit in here. Someone’s already on their way over.” “My parents were supposed to be on the way over! Where’s my mom?” I could feel the tears bubbling in my eyes. Why wouldn’t anyone tell me what was going on? Had Carsyn denied my story? Did the store say I was shoplifting after all? Was I going to get charged with a crime? And why was my dad in handcuffs? “Just sit in here.” We were back in the waiting room. “Please,” a few tears spilled out of my eyes and down my cheeks. “Just tell me what’s happening.”                 He must have taken pity on me, because I saw something soften in his expression. “Your mom and dad are being held for questioning right now.” “Questioning? But they didn’t have anything to do with the bracelet. I didn’t even call to tell them I was going shopping. I’m probably in trouble for that already. They really didn’t know about any of it!” I des...

10 Pieces of Fashion with a Surprising Military History

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There are fashions you wear every day that are so ordinary, so innocent and so simple, you would never think they all began from very violent military origins. Khakis Khaki is a color but it's used so frequently in pants, the word "khaki" alone is enough to describe a pair of paints in a nondescript, light brown sort of color that has become the uniform of customer service representatives around the world. It's a color that has been used to make everything including pants, from home furnishings to curtains. You can even get khaki car paint. Today, khaki is associated with the most benign fashion and decor. It's downright boring, vanilla, run-of-the-mill. And yet, this color has a rather violent past. The year was 1846 and the British military had been occupying India for about 70 decades. The British, being British, wore heavy wool uniforms in bright red, the same kind of stuff they were wearing when they fought the colonists in America in the 1770s. And frankly, ...

New Book Release

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If you like the Writing 101 tips at this blog, you will love Jade's new book! Jade Varden's newest book will be released this spring and it will be full of all the tips authors need to know to write their books. Stay tuned for more details about Jade's newest, How to Write a Book .   In the meantime, check out Jade Varden's library of books at Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jade-Varden/author/B006QD4LUA

10 Times Egyptian Pharaohs Straight Up Lied About History

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The might of the Egyptian pharaohs continues to resonate throughout history, with many of their names remaining famous and highly revered even centuries after the fact. Egyptians concerned themselves with preserving their bodies, their spirits and their legacies for all eternity…and in many respects, they succeeded. But the legend of the Egyptian pharaohs isn’t so much a gift of the gods as it is the result of very well-thought-out propaganda campaigns, clever lies and positively brilliant marketing.   The Divine Birth of Queen Hatshepsut Hatshepsut was probably the first female pharaoh of Egypt to rule the kingdom in her own right. And in a patriarchal society like ancient Egypt, this was a tough task. She did many things during her time on the throne to show that she was capable of being the leader of the empire and had many works of art created that would depict her this way. Many pharaohs linked themselves to the gods in various works of art. Hatshepsut really drove this point ...

Secrets Exposed in Justice

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     I didn’t know where else to go but my locker. Maybe I could act like I was poking around in there for the next thirty minutes, until the lunch period was over. Of course, I only had two books so far…but no one knew that but me.     I wanted to turn and run when I saw the back of another student, already buried in his own locker only two doors down from mine. But I really didn’t have anywhere else to go; I definitely wasn’t going back to the cafeteria. So I marched straight to the door of locker 389, wrenched it open and buried my arms up to my elbows inside.     “New girl, huh?”     The guy at locker 391 was movie-star handsome. His smile was pearly white, each tooth perfectly straight and even. He had a perfect tan and perfect blonde hair, not a single strand out of place.         “Um,” My mind went blank as soon as I looked at him, and I felt a flush creeping up my neck.     “...

Selkies and Mermaids Swim Through the Pages of Song of the Sea

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 I always knew who my mother was. I always knew where I belonged. And I always knew I wanted to be on the water, like my dad. ...Until I was forced to go out into the water, anyway. Out there, you feel really lonely. But you’re never alone. There is more life and emotion under the waves than most humans will ever see, more than I could have ever imagined. Down there, it’s an entire world of rage and hate, love and hope. It’s a world of fear. What Reviewers Say... "If readers don't know much about under the sea adventures, I highly recommend this book. It's a fun read!" -Lily Benitez "This was an original tale of the enchanting world of mermaids and selkies. I loved the way the author brought her characters to life and the way she describes the ocean giving it a unique and magical feel. You will not be disappointed in this captivating heart warming novel." -Nirri, Readers Club Find Song of the Sea online at Amazon!

5 Star Reviews for Hope's Rebellion

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Here's what reviews had to say about Hope's Rebellion : "I don’t think I have ever seen a plot or foreshadowing that was so thought out and so perfect in every possible way." -Book Butterfly "There were so many surprises, good twists and what I’d call an “Oscar winner” finale." -Ruty@ReadingDreaming "It tackles notions of power, discrimination, femininity, and so forth in a highly engaging way." -Christina Escamilla "I just couldn't wait to read what it had in store for me." -Turhan Hope's Rebellion is available at Amazon , Smashwords and everywhere books are sold!

Lies, Murder and Mistaken Identity in Justice

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 Take a look inside Jade Varden's Justice , a book about lies, mistaken identity and murder...   The red BMW was waiting for me as if it had always been mine. I tried, again, to call Aaron and my parents on their cell phones, but when no one answered I threw the car into gear and left the von Shelton estate. I saw the car parked in front of the blue house almost as soon as I turned onto Sutton Street. By the time I crookedly parked the BMW behind it and stumbled out, the tears were pouring freely down my face. I stood at the front door sobbing and fumbling with my keys for nearly five minutes before I managed to get the door open, and by that time I couldn’t find the breath to call out. It wasn’t necessary. “Rain!” I heard the startled whisper as I stood near the door catching my breath. The sound of my own name brought a fresh rush of tears to my eyes. “Aunt Ronnie.” She had me swept into her embrace a moment later, and I laid my head against her shoulder. I didn’t re...