Carabosse's Library

The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge by Christine Nolfi and Giveaway!!!

2012-03-10T04:05:00.002-08:00

A savage rape on hallowed ground. Secrets buried for decades by the town’s most influential family.

Now Ourania D’Andre will learn the Great Oak’s secrets as construction begins at the Fagan mansion. She can’t afford to turn down a job that promises to stir up the long-buried guilt—and the passion—she shares with powerful Troy Fagan.

She’s already juggling the most important job of her career with her new responsibilities as a foster mother for young Walt and Emma Korchek. And there’s a hard, older man on the construction crew with eyes void of emotion—cold and killing. The secrets of his brutal past will pose a grave threat to the children in her care. Will she find the courage to face him?

This was a very interesting book to read. Somehow, it completely surprised me. Though I knew what it was going to be about, I still felt amazed at some of the moments throughout the novel.

There is a great sense of tension almost from the very beginning, a bit like a heartbeat, steady and strong until it begins to speed up as the secrets hiding in Jason’s room are discovered. This is, for me, what made the book so entertaining. I love stories that hide these kind of secrets from the reader and from other characters as well.
The characters were nicely written, with Ourania, for me, being the most life-like. There’s a wonderful duality to her: she is this strong career woman who is doing all she can to get ahead, yet she is also a kind, sensitive foster mother that can sometimes be vulnerable because of this same love. These are the kinds of characters we learn to love, the ones that have as many flaws and contradictions in their heads as real people do.

I very much enjoyed this book. It is full of suspense, with string writing that keeps the reader interested all the way through. I can easily recommend it for most people, even those of you who mostly read thrillers.

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Blog Tour: Sixtry Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings

2012-03-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

She's Finally Found a Place to Call Home... How Far Will She Go to Save It?

With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to their Texas family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have just three months to pay.

Though facing eviction, Rosa falls in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. They welcome her vivacious spirit and try to help her navigate puzzling American customs. She can't help but stand out, though, and her beauty captures attention.

Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, Rosa must decide to what lengths she will go to save her future. Read an excerpt: here.

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children. Meet Regina here.

Learn more about Regina by visiting her website.
You can buy the book here.

You can see the rest of the blog tour here.
Win a Kindle Fire from @ReginaJennings in the Sixty Acres and a Bride Giveaway! RSVP for #Facebook Party on 3/27.

Celebrate with Regina by entering to win a Kindle Fire and coming to her Author Chat Party on 3/27!

One fortunate winner will receive:

A Kindle Fire
Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/26/12. Winner will be announced at Regina's Author Chat Facebook Party on 3/27. Regina will be hosting an evening of chat, fun trivia and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and some beautiful silver jewerly!

So grab your copy of Sixty Acres and a Bride and join Regina and friends on the evening of March 27th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!

I must say, I a bit of trouble staying interested in this novel. I guess when you mix in a pretty slow developing plot with characters who don’t really stand out, it makes it hard for the reader to keep from getting bored.

The main issue I saw was Rosa, the protagonist. She’s quite dull, much too dull for a main character. She is supposed to be this fresh, young thing with a strong personality, but she doesn’t come off that way. On the contrary, all her internal wavering gets frustrating to read. She doesn’t seem to make any decisions on her own, which makes her too passive a character. Another thing that bothered me was the way that the North American ladies had to teach Rosa how to be a lady. It’s not like Mexico at that time period was full of heathens! It just seems like this was overdone, as if Rosa was about to strip naked in front of everyone if the “ladies” didn’t tell her otherwise.

The plot was slow moving, only speeding up towards the very end, and not much then, either. All in all, this is not one I’d easily recommend. There are other books that are more interesting to pick up.

The Crud Masters by Justin Grimbol

2012-03-09T12:05:00.001-08:00

The Outsiders-with giant monsters and transforming robots You know that book about the poor kids and the rich assholes who mess with them all the time? The one where the main poor kid (C. Thomas Howell) and his best friend save those kids from a fire, and then the best friend (Ralph Macchio) dies and croaks out, "Stay gold, Pony Boy." And there's that rich girl, Cherry, who totally leads Pony Boy on the whole time? This is that But with giant monsters and robots fighting in the rumbles. And it's in The Hamptons. In a dystopian future. It's crazy Giant monster fights, touching love with sexbots and stinky women, extreme body modification, and Boogers, the guy who's sorta like Pony Boy, but gross and perverted-it's all right here.Stay gold.

A classic underdog story, this book was a fun read.

I really enjoyed the world building in this book. It was unique, yet familiar. I definitely did not expect a kind of Hamptons resort to be populated with monsters, so it was definitely a surprise, even having a basic knowledge of what the book would be about. The characters are amusing in their own right. You have a woman who has paid to look like a bear, you have cyborgs, sea creatures, and even a Transformer. All kinds of quirky creatures to catch your attention. Boogers is hilarious, though, stealing every scene he was in.

The novella is fast paced and very fun. There were many moments where I found myself laughing out loud, so it’s not hard to recommend the book to all of you who love a bit of quirkiness with your fiction. It’s definitely a book to notice.

Follow Friday

2012-03-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

Q: Have you ever looked at book’s cover and thought, This is going to horrible? But, was instead pleasantly surprised? Show us the cover and tell us about the book.

Oh, this has happened to me a few times. I guess, though, the one that most struck me was Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, part of the Dragonlance series. It was my first true high fantasy book and I thought the cover was just awful. I was much more than pleasantly surprised. It has become one of my favorite series of all time.

The Stone Girl by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

2012-03-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

She feels like a creature out of a fairy tale; a girl who discovers that her bones are really made out of stone, that her skin is really as thin as glass, that her hair is brittle as straw, that her tears have dried up so that she cries only salt. Maybe that's why it doesn't hurt when she presses hard enough to begin bleeding: it doesn't hurt, because she's not real anymore.

High school senior Sarah Beth (Sethie) Weiss is disciplined. She has never cut a class in her life, has never had a grade below a B+, and has always been a favorite among her teachers. Her college applications are finished and she only ate six Ritz crackers today. But even on days when Sethie needs to eat more, there's always the toilet to make up for her mistakes. Sethie manages to get down to 104, and maybe if she works just a little bit harder, becomes a little more disciplined, she can get below 100. Truth be told, Sethie has more to worry about than her relationship with her body; but the deeper she descends into her disorder, the smaller her world gets and the harder it is to see her way out.

As someone who has, in the past, suffered from a severe eating disorder, I was immediately interested in reading and reviewing this book.

Let me begin by saying that it wasn’t an easy one to get through, since anyone who’s ever suffered from these diseases will identify in a painful way with Sethie’s struggle. With her every thought and action. She is a wonderfully realized character, one we begin to care about from the very first page. Her struggle is not unique, but this doesn’t make it any less harrowing. The writing style helps with this, its starkness leaving the plot actions splayed out for the reader. The harshness is devastating and beautiful at the same time.

I do wish, however, the author would have written just a bit more about the sense of “power” an eating disorder gives its sufferer. That seemed to be forgotten in the novel, focusing only on the need to “not look fat”. As any sufferer of anorexia or bulimia will tell you, that stops being the case after a while. It starts to become a fight to not lose control. This felt sidelined in the novel, and it is a crucial thing to understand.
Another thing that was jarring was the ending. Much too abrupt. And who are we kidding? Eating disorders are not resolved in an afternoon because a friend convinces you that you need to be alive to go to college. Eh, not the most realistic of endings.

Despite this, I do still recommend the book. It is nicely written, and though it offers nothing new or enlightening on eating disorders, it is still an interesting, quick read.

Hoodie by Brendon Lancaster

2012-03-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

From the moment Ben Chapman ( 'Hoodie' to the other Shady Boys) crashes out of school, determined never to return and, incidentally, seeking his revenge on the school's drug dealer by stealing and concealing his stash in his trousers on the way out, you know that this is a boy to whom caution and reticence are alien concepts. Outwardly, he maintains that all he wants is a job, his own money and to follow his heart towards the girl of his dreams, Isabelle. But, underneath that concealing hoodie, Ben has a rich inner life, fed by dope, wine and the belief that he is someone special. During his 'summer of love', we follow his attempts to engage with the real world with frustration and compassion. His adventures cause him to question today's competitive, consumer-based values, eventually challenging his perception of reality and prompting him to reflect upon who and what his purpose in life is before finding himself faced with the definitive test of resolve and bravery. Hoodie's blend of up-to-date realism, dream-like escapism, fast-paced, hard-hitting action, wistful musings, humour and tragedy, all while the story navigates its way on a magical mystery tour of Ben's mind, ensures an enjoyable read. It provides the perfect antidote to alarmist Daily Mail reporting of youth issues, exploring the problems facing modern day Britain from the perspective of a disempowered, disaffected teenager. On a deeper level, there is a moral/spiritual sub-text, fed by Ben's belief that he has a secret weapon; the simian lines (fused head and heart lines) on the palms of his hands. These are extremely rare and noted as being a genetic abnormality shared by drug addicts, mass murderers, scientific researchers and religious fanatics (and, by sheer coincidence, Tony Blair). Could these lines hold the key to his future?

This book should be assigned reading during the last year of middle school, as kids are about to be overwhelmed by teenage years in high school.

Ben, the protagonist, is one of those complex characters that makes it very hard for the reader to make up her mind about. I found myself wavering between really liking him, enjoying his strength, his personality, to wanting to smack him in the head. These are the best kinds of characters. The ones that behave like real people. Joe is another great character. He makes a great foil for Ben, with a sensitivity that years to soothe the troubled teen’s mind. Joe is a fully realized character as well, and, even though he doesn’t appear that much throughout the book, he tends to take over the scenes in which he does.

What’s most impressive about this book is the authenticity that comes through, especially in the dialogue. There are no stilted, awkward moments, but smooth phrases that keep the reader turning the pages. The honesty in the writing comes through, which is not an easy thing to accomplish.

As I said at the very beginning, this is definitely a book I’d recommend to all teens. A must read.

Booking Through Thursday

2012-03-08T09:33:00.000-08:00

Which non-series book would you most like to read the sequel to? Do you have any wishes for what might happen in it?

Well, I would love to read a sequel to Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky. I love that book so much, that I would be so interested to see what happens to Raskolnikov and Sonya. That said, it would have to be a sequel writen by Dostoevsky, and since he is very much dead, it's a bit on the impossible side.
I wouldn't want to even speculate on what would happen in the sequel, just that it'd be awesome.

WWW Wednesday

2012-03-07T09:45:00.001-08:00

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently, I'm reading Narrative Loserdom: From Journal One by Ryan Collins

And Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings
for the upcoming blog tour.

I just finished reading The Red Book by Deborah Copaken Kogan
. You can read my review here.

Next, I'll probably read Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms: Magic, Mystery, & a Very Strange Adventure by Lissa Evans

The Red Book by Deborah Copaken Kogan

2012-03-06T20:07:00.000-08:00

Clover, Addison, Mia, and Jane were roommates at Harvard until their graduation in 1989. Clover, homeschooled on a commune by mixed-race parents, felt woefully out of place. Addison yearned to shed the burden of her Mayflower heritage. Mia mined the depths of her suburban ennui to enact brilliant performances on the Harvard stage. Jane, an adopted Vietnamese war orphan, made sense of her fractured world through words.

Twenty years later, their lives are in free fall. Clover, once a securities broker with Lehman, is out of a job and struggling to reproduce before her fertility window slams shut. Addison’s marriage to a writer’s-blocked novelist is as stale as her so-called career as a painter. Hollywood shut its gold-plated gates to Mia, who now stays home with her four children, renovating and acquiring faster than her director husband can pay the bills. Jane, the Paris bureau chief for a newspaper whose foreign bureaus are now shuttered, is caught in a vortex of loss.

Like all Harvard grads, they’ve kept abreast of one another via the red book, a class report published every five years, containing brief autobiographical essays by fellow alumni. But there’s the story we tell the world, and then there’s the real story, as these former classmates will learn during their twentieth reunion weekend, when they arrive with their families, their histories, their dashed dreams, and their secret yearnings to a relationship-changing, score-settling, unforgettable weekend.

I’m ambivalent about this book. This is not the usual for me, so bear with me while I try to make some sense of my own thoughts.

The premise, I think, is fantastic. A bunch of Harvard alumni coming together for their twentieth reunion, bringing with them their lives, loves, children, and emotional baggage. It could have been a profoundly moving book, but somewhere in there it began to lose some of its wit and spark. I think the main problem is that the characters are all quite unlikeable. It seems like the author wanted to reduce them down to the lowest denominator, making them babbling idiots. I understand that this might just been the point the author was trying to make, but, if so, it was not executed as well as it should have.

It seemed almost childish the way Ms. Kogan fixated on the sex lives of her creations. I get it, sex is important, but I expected something a bit deeper, more meaningful than parents freaking out over their teenage children having sex. I think there are more important things to write about. I respect a well crafted, necessary sex scene, but not all of the ones in this book fit that criteria.

And see, the thing is, that there were many nice moments in the book. Some really pretty phrases that struck a chord in me, which makes it even worse, because this book had real potential. It’s frustrating because I would like to recommend it, for those phrases, and those moments, but they’re in the middle of all the rest. Oh, and the last line is cringe worthy in all its clichéd glory.

I guess, all I can say is if you have time to spare, this might not be a bad choice.

Teaser Tuesday

2012-03-06T13:40:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

From The Stone Girl by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

"It's like the skinny jeans, having seen on her body, she suddenly found herself wanting. Wanting to show off something she worked hard to get, something she thinks too much about, something she wanted so badly: skinny legs."
pg. 44 (ARC copy)

Musing Mondays

2012-03-05T09:41:00.001-08:00

This week’s musing asks…

When you walk into a bookstore — any bookstore — what’s the first section you head toward (what draws you)?

I always go to the Literature/Fiction section first. Perhaps with a brief detour in the bargain bin or aisle. After that, I usually head over to the pets and animals section to feed my obession with anything snake related. More often than not, I see the same sad books, on say, rattlesnakes, or the most venemous snakes of the world. It appears not everyone shares my obsession. But I digress, fiction is always my first choice in any bookstore.

The Cranes Dance by Meg Howrey

2012-03-04T12:31:00.000-08:00

I threw my neck out in the middle of Swan Lake last night.

So begins the tale of Kate Crane, a soloist in a celebrated New York City ballet company. Kate is struggling to keep her place in a very demanding world, a world she can’t help satirizing even as she balances injury and self-doubt to maintain her place within it. At every turn she is haunted by her close relationship with her younger sister, Gwen, a fellow company dancer whose career quickly surpassed Kate’s, but who has recently suffered a breakdown and returned home to Michigan.

Alone for the first time in her life, Kate is anxious and full of guilt about the role she played in her sister’s collapse. As we follow her on an insider tour of rehearsals, performances, and partners onstage and off, she confronts the tangle of love, jealousy, pride, and obsession that are beginning to fracture her own sanity. Funny, dark, intimate, and unflinchingly honest, The Cranes Dance is a book that pulls back the curtains to reveal the private lives of dancers and explores the complicated bond between sisters.

This is probably the best book I’ve read so far this year. I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and I am counting the days until its release date so that I can buy a copy for myself.

It is about two sisters, two ballerinas, focusing mainly on their relationships and the way that dance affects both their lives. It’s hard to put into words the beauty of this book. It is not only the plot, which is intricate, with twisting veins leading the reader back and forth through time. It is the writing that is absolutely astounding. At first, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy the narrator’s voice, since it’s abrasive, sarcastic, sometimes self-pitying, but the more I read, the more I came to enjoy the way she looked at her world, the things she felt. She is a fantastic unreliable narrator.

I can’t say enough about the intelligence in every line of this book. It is the kind of writing that makes you want to reread every sentence and suck it dry for meaning. It is such a lyrical novel, yet so human and real. I cannot recommend this book enough. You NEED to read it, so put it’s release date on your calendar and run to buy a copy.

In My Mailbox

2012-03-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

The Stone Girl by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Follow Friday

2012-03-02T10:02:00.001-08:00

Q: What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?

I'm not too sure I would want to have one of my favorite books made into a movie or tv show, since they tend to ruin everything, but if I had to absolutely choose, I'd like to see Lisey's Story by Stephen King made into a movie. It's one that I think would do well on screen. As for actors, hmm, maybe Laura Linney as Lisey, or Julianne Moore, and for Scott, her husband, well, my knee-jerk reaction is to say Ralph Fiennes because if I could, I would put him in every movie ever made, but he's a bit too "English" for Scott. Maybe Johnny Depp or someone like that.

Booking Through Thursday

2012-03-01T11:55:00.001-08:00

Have you ever fallen in love with a fictional character? Who and what about them did you love?

Oh, this is a fun question. Hmm. I would have to say the usual:
Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre, for that brooding, dark quality.
Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. He's just so cool.
Raskolnikov (which is a strange choice, I know) from Crime and Punishment. Also for his dark and brooding quality. He's so conflicted with everything in his life.
And, I have to admit to a special relationship with Raistlin from the Dragonlance series. Guess why? For his dark and brooding personality. Plus, he is an Archmage, and incredibly smart. Intelligence is always a plus for me.

Red Deception by J.C. Murtagh

2012-02-29T16:03:00.000-08:00

Judith Timbolt lives a life of poverty and servitude until the day she finds a new beginning in the hands of the deceased, Lady Lora Noire. Donning her red cloak and identity, Judith embarks on a fairytale life she could only dream of. When she steals the heart of the powerful Baron Blacwin, her dreams become a reality.

Will Judith's fairytale unravel or will she be able to uphold her falsehood under the cloak of deception she has weaved?

A romantic novella, this was a quick, pretty fun read.
The best thing about the book is that the writing is fresh. It is not slow or dull, instead grabbing and keeping the reader’s attention from the beginning. The romantic scenes are handled nicely, with just the right amount of tension. Judith, the protagonist, is interesting to follow on her struggles, although I would have liked to have read a bit more of her internal fights, especially when it related to leaving her son behind. She seemed to do it without too much trouble, which, despite whatever domestic situation she was going through, should have caused her more pain than it did.

The main issue I had with the book was its length. I feel like there is a much bigger story hiding in this novella. Judith’s actions are too rash, too quick, confusing the reader and making her less believable as a person. I would have loved to have read more about Judith’s day to day life with Garreth and his family, and then the contrasting version when she stays with the Baron. Their relationship, as well, would have benefitted from a fleshed out novel.

All in all, it was still a fun read which I can recommend to any of you who’d like something quick to read.

WWW Wednesday

2012-02-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently, I'm reading Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1) by R.L. LaFevers

And The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon

I just finished reading The Rocking Horse by Gloria Zachgo
. You can read my review here.

Next, I'll probably read The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe

The Rocking Horse by Gloria Zachgo

2012-02-28T19:53:00.001-08:00

Can a family that has been savagely ripped apart find healing and redemption? Are the mysteries hidden in the human heart destined to reveal themselves? The Rocking Horse, Gloria Zachgo’s spellbinding suspense novel, charts the harrowing emotional journey of one family that is torn asunder, then magically drawn together again. Jenny Preston has been missing for twenty-two years after being taken at the age of two on the very night her mother Amanda, Aunt Ruth, and Uncle Don were brutally and senselessly murdered. While Jenny's grandparents learn to cope with the tragedies, the sheriff, Will Barclay, must grapple with his own guilt and secrets involving the murders. The crime, which rocked the small town of Shady Creek, Kansas, has never been solved. More than two decades later, a woman who calls herself Julie Hendricks is led by a childhood toy to Shady Creek, where she finds refuge from an abusive husband. Living on her own for the first time in her life, she starts to regain her self esteem and make new friends. Her life is then turned upside down again when she discovers she may be the child that was abducted from this very town so many years ago. With the encouragement of her new friends, and a very special someone, she returns to Chicago to learn the truth of her childhood history from her father. After a gripping turn of events, Julie returns to Shady Creek to wrestle with the emotional complexities of her new life and how her past life is starting to catch up with her. An unexpected hero comes to Julie’s aid. A story of family, home, and the grave consequences of actions, The Rocking Horse explores the aftermath of the most unimaginable heartache: the disappearance of a child. Fast-paced and full of intrigue, this riveting read mines the depths of the human heart on its road to recovery.

This was an interesting book to read. It’s what I would call a literary mystery, meaning that there’s not as much action as you’d expect from a mystery novel, instead dealing much more with character development than anything else.

The beginning is handled very nicely. There is a quick, tense pace to the writing that suits the story well. It really leads the reader onward with its smooth flow. Then the plot slows down. Not enough to make it a bother to read, but more than it should. The plot gets a bit bogged down with minutia, when it would have fared better with a bare-bones telling. However, it does pick up again a few chapters before the book ends, once again building up momentum.

The characters are what’s handled the best, I think. They are well written, and fleshed out. Jenny/Julie is the weaker of the bunch, interestingly enough since she is the protagonist, but since there are so many supporting characters that were interesting to read about, this is not such a huge drawback.

This as a fun book to read, and even though it has its faults, like pretty much every book out there, I can easily recommend it to mystery lovers.

Teaser Tuesday

2012-02-28T13:31:00.000-08:00

From Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
"We are brewing up a fresh batch of night whispers. In its current volatile state, it will kil anyone who breathes its fumes, causing the lungs to harden and become rigid and brittle as glass."
pg. 58

Musing Mondays

2012-02-27T09:41:00.000-08:00

This week’s musing asks…

• Do you read books that are part of a series?
• Do you collect all the books in the series before starting? What if the series is brand new, and the only book that’s been published so far is Book one? As subsequent books in the series are published, do you go back and re-read the preceding books?

I do read books that are part of a series. I don't tend to collect them all before starting, although if I really love the first one I will definitely rush to buy the rest of them if they're available. The Harry Potter series is the best example, of course, but also Stephen King's The Dark Tower series, as well as the Dragonlance series.
Sometimes, if it's been a really long while since I've read the previous book, I'll reread it before the next installment comes along, but it's not the usual for me.

In My Mailbox

2012-02-26T11:33:00.000-08:00

Blood and Bullets (Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty-Hunter #1)

Graceling (The Seven Kingdoms #1) by Kristin Cashore

The Iron King (Iron Fey #1) by Julie Kagawa

Sixty Acres and a Bride by Regina Jennings

The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities by Ann VanderMeer (Editor)

Lucky (Lucky Santangelo #2) by Jackie Collins

Partials (Partials #1) by Dan Wells

The Kingdom of Bones: A Novel by Stephen Gallagher

Blog Tour: The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

2012-02-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

To escape a scheme to marry her off to a dishonorable man, Margaret Macy flees London disguised as a housemaid. If she can remain unwed until her next birthday, she will receive an inheritance, and with it, sweet independence. But she never planned on actually working as a servant. And certainly not in the home of Nathaniel and Lewis Upchurch--both former suitors.
As she fumbles through the first real work of her life, Margaret struggles to keep her identity secret when suspicions arise and prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall. Can she avoid a trap meant to force her from hiding?

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

For more information, visit here.

Don't miss the perfect blend of Regency-era romance and mystery in The Maid of Fairbourne Hall! Grab a copy and then be sure to enter Julie's Kindle Fire Giveaway and RSVP for her Author Chat party on Facebook! Swoon.

One fortunate winner will receive:

A brand new Kindle Fire
A Julie Klassen Library (The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/14/12. Winner will be announced at Julie's Fairbourne Hall Book Chat Party on 3/15. Julie will be hosting an evening of chat, trivia and a sneak peek of her next book - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books and a Downton Abbey Prize Pack (Seasons 1 and 2)!

So grab your copy of The Maid of Fairbourne Hall and join Julie and friends on the evening of March 15th for a book chat party.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on March 15th!

My Thoughts:

I’m not usually a huge fan of Regency-era novels (with the exception of Jane Austen’s works, of course), but this book captured my attention.

The idea of a lady becoming a maid and learning what domestic service is all about is a fascinating one. There were so many period details in the story, little small things, that made the book captivating to read. We follow Margaret aka Nora, as she tries to learn how to do the things she’d taken for granted for so long. There is a romance in the book as well, but for me, the novel’s strength comes from the atmosphere the author creates along with the many side characters, all servants, who help (or don’t) the heroine.

The writing is precise, with a good command of pacing. I do wish the shifts from present to a past occurrence had been less abrupt, less “she thought back on that time…” making the reader feel like the image should be hazing over like in a B movie. That’s really the only thing that bothered me a bit, but since it doesn’t happen too many times, it can be overlooked.

This was a fun read that I can recommend to lovers of historical fiction.

To see the rest of the tour, please go here.

Follow Friday

2012-02-24T09:49:00.000-08:00

Q: Activity!!! Take a picture or describe where you love to read the most…

This is where I love to both read and write. It's cozy and I'm surrounded by books. The only concern is that said books could one day come crashing down on my head.

Booking Through Thursday

2012-02-23T10:12:00.001-08:00

What do you look for when reading a book blog? Does the blogger have to read the same genre? Do you like reviews? Personal posts? Memes? Giveaways? What attracts you to a book blog?

I like to read book blogs that have lots of reviews, preferably in the genres I read, but I'm always willing to explore ones by people with completely different tastes. Giveaways are fun, but they're not a requirement for me to love the blog.
I do like to see people who are honest with their reviews, though. If they are either too mean or too nice about all of the books they read, then I tend to become suspicious that they are not being completely truthful.
More than anything, there has to be meaningful content in the blog, whether it's personal or only about books.

Spiritus by Dana Michelle Burnett and Giveaway!

2012-02-22T20:25:00.001-08:00

When Becca moves into her ancestral home in Corydon, Indiana, her life takes a puzzling and thrilling turn when she meets the ghost haunting the halls. As the seductive spirit lures her closer and closer, she learns about her own past and starts to understand that some mistakes are meant to last.

Becca McAllister has always been different from other girls her age. Never part of the "in crowd", Becca never really fit in anywhere. When her mother dies and her father moves them to the small town of Corydon, Indiana, Becca didn't expect things to change.

But things do change when Becca accidentally makes contact with a one hundred and sixty year old ghost, Alastor Sinclair, that haunts the halls of her new home.

To Becca, Alastor is a seductive spirit that seems to see straight into her soul. To Alastor, Becca is what he was waited a century for--A second chance.

But the closer they get, the more Becca realizes that this isn't the first time she and Alastor have known each other. Worse still, is she the one responsible for his death so long ago? And if so, did he come back for love or revenge?

This was a fun, quick read that is classic young adult fare. A paranormal love triangle that has a nice edge of frightening moments.

It is a fast paced book, which is a nice change from some of the more long-winded ones out there. Becca, the protagonist, is pleasant to read about, and we do get to see her mature a bit as the book progresses, which is always a plus. The idea of making Alastor a ghost, someone she can’t really touch, was nicely chosen. It creates a number of interesting, romantic moments. He is a bit too domineering for my taste, but I guess since he is supposed to be from the Civil War era, that’s to be expected.

One thing that did bug me a bit was the Jonah’s description. His perfection was overstated, to the point where it got repetitive, especially at the beginning. As the book progresses, this does improve, however.

If you’re looking for a fun read, this one is definitely a good choice. I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Before You Go by James Preller

2012-02-22T13:46:00.000-08:00

The summer before his senior year, Jude (yes, he’s named after the Beatles song) gets his first job, falls in love for the first time, and starts to break away from his parents. Jude’s house is kept dark; no one talks much—it’s been that way since his little sister drowned in a swimming pool when Jude was supposed to be watching her.

He was watching her. He looked away for just a moment. He was only nine years old. And he’s never truly grieved for her, or for the emotional deaths of his parents, who refuse to talk about what happened. Seven years later, Jude is finally, finally starting to live. Really live. And then life spins out of control. Again.

Acclaimed author James Preller explores life, death, love, faith, and resilience in a story that will grip readers from the book’s dramatic first few pages to its emotional end.

This book begins and ends with powerful prose. It strikes the reader from the first few lines that it will be a beautiful one to read. And, although it doesn’t always deliver plot-wise in my opinion, the beauty of it does not disappoint.

Jude, the protagonist, is quite interesting. There is a darkness, a brooding quality, that adds a bit of mystery to what could have been just another dull teen character. He is full of contradictions. Once in a while, this can become a bit frustrating to the reader, who would like nothing more than to kick him into some kind of action, but for the most part, we are happy to follow him along on his struggles.

I guess the main issue I had with the book was that it had a hollow feeling to it. Now, this might have been done on purpose, but still, it didn’t draw me in as I’d hoped it would. The writing was truly gorgeous, expressive, lyrical, but the plot could have used more layers, I thought. More nuances.

I still do recommend it. The writing alone is worth the book, but for some of you this might seem like a lackluster story.

WWW Wednesday

2012-02-22T09:59:00.000-08:00

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently, I'm reading The Red Book by Deborah Copaken Kogan

And The Rocking Horse by Gloria Zachgo

I just finished reading Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Minar-Jaynes. You can read my review here.

Next, I'll probably read The Iron King (Iron Fey #1) by Julie Kagawa

Blog Tour: Miss Word by Randi Black

2012-02-22T04:00:00.003-08:00

It's 1993. Kim Ho wishes she were Courtney Love, instead of the chubby 16-year-old who clashes with her traditional Chinese parents. Her very own Kurt Cobain arrives in the form of Kevin, a 26-year-old failed musician. But Kevin uses Kim's rock-star dreams to exploit her, and those dreams die along with the real Kurt Cobain.Too scared to tell anyone, Kim conjures up a cross-dressing imaginary friend and dates Walter Riordan, the cute boy from special-ed. Walter helps her recover, but after a joke snowballs into a plot to murder Kevin, Kim's forced to choose between revenge or her sanity. This is a truly daring and original coming-of-age novel about one girl's quest to reclaim her power from those who've stolen it.

At its core a coming-of-age story, this novel will grab you by the scruff of the neck and not let go. It is violent, unapologetic, and shameless in a way that is gutsy.

I’m not going to lie, the beginning of the story was tough for me to read.
There’s a lot of violence, physical and psychological, and I actually had to set it aside for a few minutes and get myself prepared for what was happening. Kim, protagonist, is refreshing, a change from many of the female characters we see often these days. She is not bubble-gum flavored, but someone deeply flawed, lost, even in her own head. She is the reason we keep reading the book. We are rooting for her to become who she was meant to be.

Yes, there are some heavy-handed moments that could have been trimmed, or cut altogether. Although the sexual themes are vital to the plot, we could have done with one less sex scene with Walter. But there’s a wonderful sense of tension throughout the novel, from school scenes to confrontations with Kim’s mom, that really make this book a fast-paced, surprising read.

It is not for everyone. As I mentioned, there’s a lot of sexuality, much of it violent and chilling, but if you want a book with an edge, then this one is for you.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

2-01-12 Paranormal Wastelands -Miss World Review – BlogKick off

2-02-12 Amanda@Letters Inside Out - Miss World Playlist

2-03-12 Missy@Missy Reads Reviews – How Randi's love of music inspired Miss World

2-04-12 Jennifer@Can’t Put it Down- Review of Miss World

2-08-12 Tee@A Diary of a Book Addict – Character Interview –Joey

02-09-12 Sizzling Reads@Sizzling Reads – Author Interview –Randi Black

02-10-12 Maja@The Nocturnal Library – Kurt Cobain’s suicide (How it affected you, or where you were when you found out)

02-11-12 Tee@Dreaming Dreams – Interview – How music affects Randi’s writing

02-15-12 Katrina@Page Flippers - Character Interview – Kim

02-16-12 Giselle@Xpresso Reads – Author Interview – Randi Black

02-17-12 Handcuff Betty@One Girl’s Little Odd Dream – KurtCobain’s Suicide (How it affected you, or where you were when you found out)

02-18-12 Kathy Ann@Kat Reads – Top 10 Songs on Your Ipod

02-22-12 Valentina@Cara Bosses Library – Review of Miss World

02-23-12 Katie@Novel Society – Author Guest Post – What’s nextfor Miss World

02-24-12 Cassandra@bmDimension – Author Post – Randi’s Top 5Nirvana videos

02-25-12 The Haunted Rose@The Haunted Rose – Author Guest Post – Randi blogs about sexual health and education online

Teaser Tuesday

2012-02-21T13:28:00.000-08:00

From The Red Book by Deborah Copaken Kogan

"So while Gunner sat frozen in front of his computer screen, searching for his muse, Addison produced a series of squalling Hunts in rapid succession, taking on the full responsibiloty, as preordained, for their care. She fed them, first from herself, then from a jar, then off a plate."
pg. 21 (from ARC)

Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Minar-Jaynes

2012-02-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

When nineteen-year-old Tiffany Perron vanishes from rural Grand Trespass, Louisiana, best friend HALEY LANDRY's relationship with her boyfriend becomes increasingly strained. To make ma cvvctters worse, her impressionable younger sister BECKY has begun idolizing an impetuous, seductive 15 year old who's encouraging her to do dangerous things.

Meanwhile, ERICA DUVALL, a reclusive 19-year-old aspiring writer, befriends Haley. Ten years earlier, Erica's mother abandoned her, leaving her with the womanizing used car salesman father she loathes. She's decided to write a novel based on Tiffany's disappearance; a novel that she hopes will lead to a reunion with her estranged novelist mother.

RACHEL ANDERSON, a 36-year-old mother of two, is having trouble coming to terms with her husband, TOM's, affair with the missing girl--a relationship that supposedly ended shortly before Tiffany's disappearance. What's more, she comes to the blood curdling realization that someone is watching her through the large back windows of her house.

A DISTURBED MAN also lives in the area. Ever since his mother's murder four years earlier, he's been raising his insolent teenage sister, ALLIE, who sleeps with truck drivers for money. He considers women to be dangerous--and his world revolves around his fear and hatred for them. He's terrified of his sister, knowing she's intent on pushing him over the edge.

An entertaining read, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat from the moment you pick it up.

aIf you enjoy cleverly handled thrillers, then you’ll probably like this book. It is well done, with a nice sense of pacing that keeps the story moving along while building the required amount of suspense. There are some chilling moments. The killer, with all his psychological traumas is a fascinating character who takes over the pages in which he appears. We slowly start building a sense of who he is, but there are so many surprises that I can promise you won’t know who it is until the end. That, by itself, should be worth the book.

The writing is clear, not flashy but it does what it needs to and, most importantly, it gets out of the way, allowing the story to come through. There are a few editing mistakes, but nothing horrifying so although this is not a “traditionally” published book, there is no reason why anyone should refrain from buying it and reading it.

For all of you who are fans of the big thriller writers out there at the moment, this one is a good choice.

Restoration by Olaf Olafsson

2012-02-20T14:56:00.000-08:00

Raised within a cosseted circle of British ex-pats in Florence, Alice shocked her family and friends when she married Claudio. Despite the protests of both families, they found a crumbling villa on a windy Tuscan hilltop, called San Martino, and they poured themselves into the house and the land–and what they built together bound them together. They had a son. They finished the house. They were happy.

But away from her family and the ease of life to which she was accustomed, Alice begins to slip into a vast and encompassing loneliness. She stumbles into an ill-advised affair with a childhood sweetheart that increasingly takes her away from San Martino and into the social swirl of wartime Rome. She is with her lover when her young son dies from meningitis…and her unbearable sorrow is compounded by terrible guilt. Her indiscretion is noticed by a careful pair of eyes–those of Robert Marshall, the master restorer and dealer of renaissance art. In exchange for his silence, he demands Alice hide a priceless Caravaggio at San Martino, a national treasure that he has sold to the Germans. Neither knows, however, that the Caravaggio is, in fact, a fake, painted by Marshall’s assistant as revenge for Marshall’s scorning her as a lover and returning to his pregnant wife. Kristin had merely hoped to privately humiliate Marshall. But his sale of the forgery has placed him in far great danger than she anticipated. Compelled to make things right, she travels to San Martino in an attempt to destroy the painting. Meanwhile, inconsolable at the death of his son and at his wife’s betrayal, Claudio retreats first into silence, and then into an actual absence. He has left, without saying good-bye, without offering the grieving Alice a chance to redeem herself for her ghastly sin. As WWII moves towards its inexorable conclusion, as the front lines sweeps closer and closer to San Martino, Alice and Kristin not only have to confront the onslaught of soldiers and the destruction of everything they hold dear, but also the consequences of their past mistakes.

This book took me by surprise. I really did not expect something so deep and moving, something so well written. I’d actually been reluctant to pick it up, because I thought it would be one of those books focused solely on World War II, but I’m so glad I did end up giving it a chance.

There are two interconnecting plot lines: Kristin’s and Alice’s. The book goes back and forth in time (think The Englishation Patient, not Time Traveler’s Wife) in such a masterful way that the reader is never confused. On the contrary, it’s hard to put the book down once you get past the first chapter. The war is always second stage to the relationships in the book, whether husband between a husband and wife or between two lovers. This is a collection of relationships.

The writing is superb, stark and powerful. Once in a while the dialogue felt a bit stilted, but not enough to frustrate the reader. The way it ends, which I will not reveal, of course, is perfect, tucking in all the loose ends and leaving the reader with a sense of peace.

This is a book I highly recommend to lovers of literary fiction. Beautiful book.

Musing Mondays

2012-02-20T09:44:00.000-08:00

This week’s musing asks… What is the last book that you learned something from? What book was it, and what did it teach you?

Well, last week I finished reading a memoir called Triggered. It relates how the author came to realize he had OCD and how he managed, bit by bit, to overcome it. It is a great, honest look at mental illness and I learned lots I didn't know about this particular disease.
If you're interested my review is here.

In My Mailbox

2012-02-19T10:48:00.000-08:00

The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe

Blod Oath by T.L. Clarke

Follow Friday

2012-02-17T09:49:00.000-08:00

Q: BeefcakeandBabes Asks: I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What’s the most unique character name you’ve come across?

Well, if we're talking unique names, probably any from the Dragonlance series would work, mainly because it's high fantasy. They include: Tika, Raistlin, Crysania, Flint, Kitiara, etc.
Another one that struck me the first time I heard it was Coraline, from the book by the same name by Neil Gaiman.

Triggered by Fletcher Wortmann

2012-02-16T13:47:00.000-08:00

Imagine the worst thing in the world. Picture it. Construct it, carefully and deliberately in your mind. Be careful not to omit anything. Imagine it happening to you, to the people you love. Imagine the worst thing in the world.

Now try not to think about it.

This is what it is like for Fletcher Wortmann. In his brilliant memoir, the author takes us on an intimate journey across the psychological landscape of OCD, known as the “doubting disorder,” as populated by God, girls, and apocalyptic nightmares. Wortmann unflinchingly reveals the elaborate series of psychological rituals he constructs as “preventative measures” to ward off the end times, as well as his learning to cope with intrusive thoughts through Clockwork Orange-like “trigger” therapy.

But even more than this, the author emerges as a preternatural talent as he unfolds a kaleidoscope of culture high and low ranging from his obsessions with David Bowie, X-Men, and Pokemon, to an eclectic education shaped by Shakespeare, Kierkegaard, Catholic mysticism, Christian comic books, and the collegiate dating scene at the “People’s Republic of Swarthmore.”

Triggered is a pitch-perfect memoir; a touching, triumphantly funny, compulsively readable, and ultimately uplifting coming-of-age tale for Generation Anxiety.

This is a fascinating memoir about mental illness. It is neither maudlin nor whinny, but it portrays a life lived under the weight of a serious disease.

What surprised me most about the book was the light tone the author chose to tell his story. It is full of jokes and self-deprecations which makes what could have been a depressing read almost funny. As someone who has dealt with severe depression myself, I know that it is not easy to achieve that kind of levity when recounting one’s illness. This book had me laughing and frowning at the health care’s level of incompetence. It was very interesting to read about OCD and its treatment from someone who has lived his life crippled by it and not just a clinical explanation of what the disease really is all about.

The writing style is fun, although it can, sometimes, get a bit repetitive. Sometimes the voice comes through as self-pitying but I suppose that comes with the territory when writing about mental illness.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has suffered from any type of psychological trouble and has met with an uncaring world. Even if you haven’t, chances are you know someone close to you who has struggled with mental illness, so I do encourage you to pick it up.

Booking Through Thursday

2012-02-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

Have you every written any fan-fiction? If yes, why and for which book(s)? If no, would you like to and for which books(s)?

For that matter, do you ever READ fan-fiction??

No, I don't write fan-fiction. I focus on my own manuscripts, and find little time to mess with anyone else's characters. I guess it's not something that's ever been appealing to me to write or read.

The Bedlam Detective by Stephen Gallagher

2012-02-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

The author of "The Kingdom of Bones" returns with a beautifully written literary thriller featuring madmen who see monsters and monsters who hide in plain sight--a powerful story of class, family, and insanity.

Historical fictions taking place in the Victorian era are one my favorite kinds of books, and this one certainly did not disappoint. It is rich with period detail and with the je ne sais quoi that makes past ages seem so appealing.

Sebastian Becker, the protagonist, is an interesting man. He carries the whole book on his shoulders effortlessly, guiding the reader on through the different chapters without ever becoming dull or predictable. He comes through as a real person, with his issues, but always maintaining the “hero” status. It was fascinating to follow him into the world of madness in the Victorian era, with all its grotesquerie and violence. From the first chapter, when he is called by a train conductor to have him investigate a pair of conjoined twins in formaldehyde, we know that this is one dark story. And we are not misled. Murders, rapes, poison darts and a sinister old man living in a dilapidated estate are enough to keep any lover of mysteries thoroughly entertained.

The writing is beautiful. There are some phrases which left me smiling, just at the way the words are shaped into meaning. I truly enjoyed submerging myself in this era, and in this book in particular, and I’ll definitely pick up some more of this author’s works. I highly recommend this book.

WWW Wednesday

2012-02-15T10:06:00.001-08:00

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently, I'm reading Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Minar-Jaynes

And Restoration by Olaf Olafsson

I just finished reading Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough
You can read my review here.

Next, I'll probably read The Rocking Horse by Gloria Zachgo

Teaser Tuesdays

2012-02-14T09:01:00.000-08:00

From Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Minar-Jaynes

"'We can come back here after we take her home,' he said, picking an ant off of Haley's arm. 'If she's in there, she'll open up if her mother ain't around.'"

pg.26

Musing Mondays

2012-02-13T09:35:00.000-08:00

This week’s musing asks…

What is your favorite romantic book –or book that includes a love story? (an adult romance, young adult, kids’ story, anything)

I have two:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
. The gothic beauty of this book always resonates.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
. This is just a lovely, romantic book with a very interesting premise. If you've only seen the movie, you're missing out on a wonderful story.

Blog Tour: Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

2012-02-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

In this second in the award-winning Saddler's Legacy series, Rosslyn Elliott has written a stirring novel of hope and faith inspired by real historical people and events. With Ben Hanby, a genius composer, Kate Winter, one of the first female college graduates in America, and John Parker, an ex-slave who risked his life time and again to help fugitive slaves, Sweeter than Birdsong is full of real heroes to inspire us. "I hope readers will find a renewed sense of strength in their own lives," says Elliott, "knowing that change is possible, and our efforts matter. I want them to remember these unique, brave people in history who left us a shining example of what it means to live out one's beliefs with passion and commitment."

So to celebrate the music in all of us, Rosslyn and Thomas Nelson are hosting this "sweet giveaway".

One fortunate winner will receive:

A Brand new iPod Nano (Winner's choice of color!)
Fairer than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott
Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on February 28th. Winner will be announced at Sweeter than Birdsong Author Chat Facebook Party on 2/28. Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, sharing a sneak peek of the next book in the series, hosting a trivia contest, and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, season 1 of DowntownAbbey, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Rosslyn.)

So grab your copy of Sweeter than Birdsong and join Rosslyn and friends on the evening of the 28th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

About Rosslyn:

Rosslyn Elliott is the award-winning author of Fairer than Morning, the first in the Saddler's Legacy series. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. in English from Emory University. Her study of American literature and history inspired her to pursue writing fiction. Elliott lives in Albuquerque, where she homeschools her daughter and works in children's ministry.

For more about Rosslyn, visit her website
.

Blog tour schedule: here.

My thoughts:

This is probably one of the better Christian fiction books I’ve read, mainly because the Christian aspect is subtly handled and doesn’t get in the middle of the plot.

What really caught my attention from the very beginning was Kate, the protagonist. She has an obvious anxiety disorder which is not a common ailment described in historical stories. The author does a good job in showing us her struggles, not just telling us she has one. It endears us to her from the first page. Ben, the love interest, is a nice, if vanilla, character. He is kind and generous and all the things we’d expect from the hero, which once in a while makes him a bit on the dull side.

The plot was surprisingly fast-paced, with some of the scenes, especially the ones dealing with the abolition movement and the Underground Railroad, containing so much tension it’s hard to stop reading for fear of what’s going to happen. But, again, what I felt was done the best was the handling of the Christian element. So many times, these types of fiction have every character reciting pages of Bible verses for little reason, pulling the reader away, but this one is blessedly free of it. As a non-Christian, I was rather happy that I was not bombarded with preaching but instead found myself reading an entertaining, smart story.

Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough

2012-02-12T15:12:00.000-08:00

Beware of Long Lankin, that lives in the moss. . . .When Cora and her younger sister, Mimi, are sent to stay with their elderly aunt in the isolated village of Byers Guerdon, they receive a less than warm welcome. Auntie Ida is eccentric and rigid, and the girls are desperate to go back to London. But what they don't know is that their aunt's life was devastated the last time two young sisters were at Guerdon Hall, and she is determined to protect her nieces from an evil that has lain hidden for years. Along with Roger and Peter, two village boys, Cora must uncover the horrifying truth that has held Bryers Guerdon in its dark grip for centuries ? before it's too late for little Mimi. Riveting and intensely atmospheric, this stunning debut will hold readers in its spell long after the last page is turned.

What an interesting read! This was definitely a different story, full of gothic atmosphere and frightening scenes to keep you reading long into the night…and then lying awake because your too scared to turn off the lights.

The story begins ominously, with two sisters who are left by a friend of their dad’s to live with their aunt, Ida. From the very beginning, we think there is something strange about the whole place where they’re sent to live, with a dilapidated, abandoned church nearby that they are forbidden from visiting, and with the orders the two girls live under to never open the windows in the house. This is what the book does so well, create an oppressive atmosphere that starts to make the reader as uncomfortable as the two girls. Add to that a colorful cast of characters, and a truly frightening creature who slithers along the grounds, and you have a great gothic story.

The one thing that bothered me was the constant shift in character viewpoints. I do understand the need to have the story be seen through many different eyes, but some times it felt excessive, especially towards the end, when most of the characters were in the same scene. It juts felt a bit too jumbled.

All in all, this is a great, spooky story that will delight all of you who love to be scared by a book. I can easily recommend it.

In My Mailbox

2012-02-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

Restoration by Olaf Olafsson

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

A Land More Kind Than Home: A Novel by Wiley Cash

The Gods of Gotham (Timothy Wilde #1) by Lyndsay Faye

Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry Anthology by Larissa Hinton

2012-02-11T13:18:00.000-08:00

An anthology that will quench your thirst for more than the ordinary.

Everblossom is a journey through poems and short stories that may seem ordinary on the surface but dig a little deeper and the world not only shifts. It changes.

From the author who brought you Iwishacana/Acanawishi, she now brings you a dash of everything from dark fantasy to the paranormal to even romance. So prepare yourself to delve into the three stages of the flower from bud to blossom then back to seed, you'll go through them all with a whole new perspective on what it all truly means.

This was a fresh and fun poetry and short story anthology that I had the treat to read and review. It is set up in three stages: Seed, Bud, and Blossom. These stages coincide not only with flowers but with our own lives, and Ms. Hinton does a nice job of letting us see this as soon as the collection starts.

In many anthologies like this one, the main issue is that there is no interconnecting plot weaving through it; no pattern that makes us feel like we are reading an actual book. This one, however, manages to accomplish that very well. The stories are the best part about the book. They are short yet not “fluffy”, but instead pack a serious punch of imagination. For me “Crash and Burn” was the best story, providing a nice view into the troubled lives of beginning love. Succinct and full of meaning.

The poems didn’t fare quite as well with me as the stories. The majority of them were too simple, containing too little of the rich imagery which I prefer in poetry. To me, this was the collection’s weaker point.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something a little different, a little lighter to read.

Follow Friday

2012-02-10T09:55:00.000-08:00

Q: What would your prefer: reading your favorite book over and over again until you got sick of it OR reading 100s of mediocre books? And why?

There's just no good answer to this one. I wouldn't want to get sick of my favorite book, that's for sure, though. So I guess I'd have to go with reading 100 mediocre ones. At least they'd be different and many times you can find fun things in mediocre books too.

Booking Through Thursday

2012-02-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

If you had to pick only 5 books to read ever again, what would they be and why?

This question is pure evil. However, I will attempt to answer it.
1. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. This is my favorite book, ever, and I've already read it many times, but I cannot imagine my life without being able to read it again.

2. The last Harry Potter book. It is too awesome to not read again. The other ones, although they are fabulous, I could handle not rereading, but this one is not an option.

3. War of the Twins by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. This is part of the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, and is my favorite of the three, so I'd want to be able to reread it.

4. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. The writing in this book is so incredible, that I think I'd need a few lifetimes to really absorb it all.

5. And finally, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Of all the Gothic novels, this one is my favorite. I read it when I was 12 and every time I even think about the story, I'm thrown back in time.

WWW Wednesday

2012-02-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently, I'm reading Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Minar-Jaynes

And Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush by Virginia Hamilton

I just finished reading This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers. You can read my review here.

Next, I'll probably read Restoration by Olaf Olafsson

Blog Tour: Time Slice by Kerry Downing

2012-02-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

Ordinary People. Extraordinary Adventures. Science Fiction with Heart.

Newly retired workaholic Roy Washburn is not ready for a life of leisure. On a trip to the mall with his wife, he finds a small metal cylinder with odd markings. One nudge of the cylinder's triangle-shaped pointer and Roy finds himself embarking on an exciting new adventure in the Time Stream.

There he meets The Traveler, a tall, gangly being who shows Roy how to use the cylinder to visit other civilizations that co-exist on "his" Earth, each occupying a different, thin Time Slice. The Traveler solicits Roy's help in recovering an object invented by his murdered father and beyond his own reach. Roy is his last hope.

At first it seems that the Traveler's wish might be easily granted. But after Roy's wife Emily becomes ill and his daughter's long-held resentments rise to the surface, he can no longer "travel" at a moment's notice. He also discovers the very real physical and mental risks involved in roaming the Time Stream.

Despite the dangers, Roy is determined to help the Traveler. But he can't do it alone. Fortunately he has a loving wife and a core group of loyal friends. But first he must convince them--and his daughter--that he isn't crazy ...

Kerry Downing's Bio:

Kerry Downing set out to become a meteorologist, but was hooked by the world of computers instead, becoming a systems analyst and programmer. Astronomy and science fiction are his passions. He’s been gazing at the stars at all hours of the night since the age of 10, when he received his first telescope. As for science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke and his brand of “it really seems as if it could happen” has always been his favorite. In the 90s, Kerry found the third love of his life: his wife, Lucy. They live in St. Louis, Missouri, with their five children. Time Slice is Kerry’s second science-fiction novel. His self-published, debut work is The Collective.

This book was certainly different. It’s hard to categorize it, even, since it has a bit of science fiction, fantasy, romance, mystery, and even humor.

There are some good things to the book, mainly the relationships between the characters. There are some nice scenes with Roy, who is a character the reader likes from the very beginning, and with his wife. I do wish there had been a bit more about her, about her struggles. It seems like she finds out she’s sick one day and then disappears. A bit of dragging out could have helped the plot. The Traveler, however, was my favorite character. He has such a sense of humor that it made the scenes he was in fresh and different from any other “alien” story I’ve ever read.

The main difficulty I had really enjoying this book was that not much happens. There are no real obstacles for Roy to deal with, at least none that are interesting to the reader. Yes, he wants to help The Traveler retrieve another of the devices his father created, but that means little to the reader. It doesn’t mean too much to Roy either. It’s anti-climactic, really.

The writing is all right, a bit stiff at times, but it is at least fast-paced. This is an interesting book, and some of the more eclectic readers out there will probably enjoy it.

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

2012-02-07T20:18:00.000-08:00

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

If you don’t have this book in your list to read when it comes out, then I urge you to add it now. The writing is so fresh, yet wrought with so much meaning, that many times it had me rereading phrases in wonder at the beauty of the words. But the best thing about the book are the characters. Sloane, Cary, Grace, Trace, Rhys and even Harrison come into full, living color as the story progresses, each page giving us another clue to the way each of them thinks. Their interactions with one another are so real, so well written. It struck me how much they grab on to the reader so that we care deeply for all of them by the time the book ends.

Of course, Sloane, as the narrator, is the one we come to understand and love most of all. It is a wonder to watch as she transforms from a suicidal person, someone who inwardly smiles when there’s a chance she might die, to someone who fights, if not wholly, then enough, for her life.

This is a rare book. It is a prime example of what young adult books can be at their best. I highly. highly, recommend it.

The Shadowed Mind by Julie Cave

2012-02-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

A suspense-filled mystery which answers an ominous question: Who will be found worthy to live; who is the next victim?
After the deadly investigation into the Smithsonian murders, Dinah Harris is now facing a daily battle to keep her sobriety while struggling to form a new career from the ashes of her former job as an FBI agent. From the shadows will emerge a cunning and terrifying killer, who carefully and methodically will decide whose life has value to society and whose does not.

Using her profiling and security skills as a private consultant based in Washington, DC, Dinah uncovers a connection to the shadowy world of neo-eugenics, and those who publicly denounce the killings but privately support a much different view.

Against this backdrop, Dinah must come to terms with her own past, as those associated with the deepening mystery face their own personal demons, and struggle with the concept of God's inexhaustible grace and forgiveness.

Old secrets are revealed, tragedies unearthed, and the devastating legacy of science without compassion is finally brought to light.

This is the second book in the Dinah Harris series and it is as interesting to read as the first one.

What I enjoy most about these books are the characters, especially Dinah, who is as flawed and wonderful as anyone you might meet in real life. She truly carries the story and steals every scene she’s in. She seemed a bit more passive in this book than in the previous one, but that might have been done intentionally, to demonstrate the change she’s gone through. Cage, the other main character in this book, was quite funny in his straight-laced manner. They complemented each other very well.

Now, what I had the most trouble with was, again, the chunks of this book that were mainly preaching. I don’t mind reading Christian books, but when the sermonizing gets in the way of the story it does begin to bug me a bit. No, I don’t agree with everything said about Darwin and his contemporaries and I definitely don’t agree that throughout the ages the Christian religion has remained free of racism and all kinds of prejudice (the Inquisition, anyone? Or the Crusades?) while the rest of the world has not, as some of the characters claim, but what bothers me the most is that I was yanked away from the engrossing plot many times to ponder all of this. It just felt forced.

Overall, the story was entertaining. If you are not bothered too much by a bit of preaching, then this one is a good choice for mystery lovers.

Teaser Tuesday

2012-02-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

From Triggered by Fletcher Wortmann
"I took careful notes on her meticulousness and her occasional moral panic, as did the disorder. It would gorge itself on my parents' love and affection just as it did on their mistakes."
pg. 29

Musing Mondays

2012-02-06T09:31:00.000-08:00

This week's musing asks...

Did you do any reading in lieu of watching the football game, yesterday, or were you foregoing reading to watch the game? If you read a book (or books) what did you choose?

I am not a fan of sports. Of any kind. So, to me, yesterday was a Sunday afternoon just like any other. I did continue reading This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers. This is a fabulous book. If you haven't added it to your list yet, I highly recommend you do.

In My Mailbox

2012-02-05T10:30:00.000-08:00

The Red Book by Deborah Kogan

Forgotten Country by Catherine Chung

The Professionals by Owen Laukkanen

Bloodland by Alan Glynn

The Coincidence Engine by Sam Leith

Fire Baptized (Habitat #1) by Kenya Wright

Narrative Loserdom: From Journal One by Ryan Collins

Asenath by Anna Patricio

2012-02-03T16:57:00.000-08:00

In a humble fishing village on the shores of the Nile lives Asenath, a fisherman's daughter who has everything she could want. Until her perfect world is shattered.

When a warring jungle tribe ransacks the village and kidnaps her, separating her from her parents, she is forced to live as a slave. And she begins a journey that will culminate in the meeting of a handsome and kind steward named Joseph.

Like her, Joseph was taken away from his home, and it is in him that Asenath comes to find solace...and love. But just as they are beginning to form a bond, Joseph is betrayed by his master's wife and thrown into prison.

Is Asenath doomed to a lifetime of losing everything and everyone she loves?

A wonderful historical fiction, this book takes the reader on a trip through Ancient Egypt that will captivate all history lovers.

The heroine, Asenath, is the wife of Joseph, the one who with the coat of many colors, and a character in the Bible that is usually over-looked if not completely forgotten. The author does a great job of presenting her to us as a fully-realized person, with her flaws and strengths. It’s interesting to see her grow and become a more powerful woman. The romantic aspect of Joseph and Asenath’s relationship also keeps the reader interested. It is, for the most part, a believable marriage that sounds real, even to our modern eyes.

The book’s pacing is also handled with skill. We move through Asenath’s life without feeling like we are dragging our feet. We see the events that have made her who she is, and we easily learn to care for her. There are many nice details to the novel that make it a great read for someone like me who is a bit obsessed with anything to do with Ancient Egypt. I do wish sometimes that the setting had been described a bit more, but that’s my own personal preference.

I can easily recommend it to pretty much everyone.

Follow Friday

2012-02-03T10:04:00.000-08:00

Q: Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kick ass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?

I would have to say that I love an unreliable narrator. Some of my favorite books, The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips, Angelica (also by Phillips), Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, and many others have this trait. There's something so fabulous about having to think for yourself and not taking the narrator's accounts at face value.

Booking Through Thursday

2012-02-02T12:02:00.000-08:00

Have you ever read a random book left in a waiting room or on a park bench, etc., and did you like it?

I did once, in a doctor's waiting room. I don't even remember what it was, but it did keep me entertained. I think it was a humorous book, which is always a great choice when you're in a cold office, waiting for all the pokes and prods that are on their way.

WWW Wednesday

2012-02-01T14:42:00.000-08:00

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently, I'm reading This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

And The Bedlam Detective: A Novel by Stephen Gallagher

I just finished Solitary by Travis Thrasher
You can read my review here.

Next, I'll probably read Triggered by Fletcher Wortmann

Teaser Tuesday

2012-01-31T14:46:00.000-08:00

From This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

"We have locked and barricaded all the doors. We have covered the windows so no one can see outside and-more importantly- nothing can see inside."
pg. 18

Solitary by Travis Thrasher

2012-01-30T14:59:00.000-08:00

When Chris Buckley moves to Solitary, North Carolina, he faces the reality of his parents’ divorce, a school full of nameless faces—and Jocelyn Evans. Jocelyn is beautiful and mysterious enough to leave Chris speechless. But the more Jocelyn resists him, the more the two are drawn together.

Chris soon learns that Jocelyn has secrets as deep as the town itself. Secrets more terrifying than the bullies he faces in the locker room or his mother’s unexplained nightmares. He slowly begins to understand the horrific answers. The question is whether he can save Jocelyn in time.

This first book in the Solitary Tales series will take you from the cold halls of high school to the dark rooms of an abandoned cabin—and remind you what it means to believe in what you cannot see.

This book was a bit different than many of the young adult ones out there. Sometimes this was for the better, while other times, it wasn’t quite so lucky.

The best part of the novel is the tension that flows throughout the pages. There is a real sense of pacing that keeps the reader turning the pages. There are also many truly frightening moments, which are not as easy to write as people think. Many times I found myself looking around my room as I read at night, wondering if I really was alone. That, to me, is a very positive reaction to a scary story. The weak points relate mainly to characterization. The protagonists, Chris and Jocelyn, are rather dull. There is no real meat to their personalities, which makes following them through their struggles, a bit of…well…a struggle. They are cookie-cutter versions of real people and I do wish they had been written with a bit more care. However, the plot is interesting, and it’s not hard to recommend, especially to those of you that are like me and love a good scare.

I will be picking up the next two books in the series to see how all of this turns out.

Musing Mondays

2012-01-30T09:42:00.000-08:00

This week’s musing asks…

How far along are you in your current read before you start thinking about what you’ll read next?

I usually start planning almost immdediately. Since I always have lots of pending reviews for indie books, I have to schedule my time well, and that means looking through my book piles, pointing, and saying "you're next!". Then I can go and enjoy whichever book I'm currently reading.

In My Mailbox

2012-01-29T13:00:00.000-08:00

Sweeter than Birdsong (Saddler's Legacy #2) by Rosslyn Elliott

The Bedlam Detective: A Novel by Stephen Gallagher

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Kevin's Point of View by Del Shannon

2012-01-28T13:36:00.000-08:00

To escape the emotional turmoil of his father’s death 12-year-old Kevin Tobin has retreated inside himself, developing his imagination into a dangerous foil and a powerful ally. While he antagonizes everyone with his superhero antics, his ability to escape inside himself becomes critical to his survival after his life is once-again turned upside down a year after his father’s death. When a mysterious package arrives in the mail, Kevin and his best friend are hunted by a ruthless villain who is determined to retrieve the package, which holds the key to his plans for world domination. After enlisting Kevin’s teenage sister and her pizza-delivery boyfriend in a battle for control over time itself, the group escapes into the mountains west of Boulder, Colorado and eventually discover that Kevin’s entire existence is because of the love of someone we never expected.

If you are looking for a fun romp through all kinds of wacky, laugh-out-loud adventures, then this book should be on your list.

Kevin, the protagonist, has an imagination that never stops. It goes into overdrive when he is under stress, and it gets him in and out of all kinds of strange situations. Kevin is definitely the star of the book, with a personality that overflows from the pages. His side-kick, Tony, is the more sedate of the two, and is as funny as you’d expect a boy to be when he has Kevin as a best friend. The rest of the cast of characters are all entertaining, with Scratch taking the lead. Their interactions are definitely what make this book as interesting as it is.

The plot is fun, with many twists and turns that keep the reader turning the pages. Towards the end, there is a fabulous chase scene that will have you laughing until the end. That, for me, was worth the entire book. One thing I did question, though, is at the end, Kevin has another hyper-imagination moment, but supposedly, the cause of those lapses had already been resolved (I won’t reveal what it is, of course). It’s not a big deal, plot-wise, but it made me wonder.

I can definitely recommend this to adults and teens alike.

Follow Friday

2012-01-27T09:51:00.000-08:00

Q: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

I try my very best to stay away from the hard science fiction. I have never been able to enjoy that genre. There are always too many things going on at the same time, too much world-building, to the point of forgetting even plot lines. I have a hard time staying interested through all the textbook style scientific explanations.

Giveaway!!! Letters in Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin

2012-01-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

Abby has been generous enough to offer ebook copies for bloggers who are willing to review her book. You can read a bit about the book here, as well as see my own review of it.
As the giveaway gets rolling, I'll be passing on your emails to the author so she can contact you directly.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Booking Through Thursday

2012-01-26T10:07:00.000-08:00

What’s more important: Good writing? Or a good story?

(Of course, a book should have BOTH, but…)

That's a tough one. I suppose, if the story is good enough, I might be able to overlook mediocre writing. If I am submerged enough in the plot, I could possibly feel like its worth reading around the writing.

The New Death and others by James Hutchings

2012-01-25T13:56:00.000-08:00

Death gets a roommate...

An electronic Pope faces a difficult theological question...

A wicked vizier makes a terrible bargain...

44 stories. 19 poems. No whiny vampires. There's a thin line between genius and insanity, and James Hutchings has just crossed it - but from which direction?

This was such an amusing book to read. It is a collection of stories, poems, and jokes that will keep you smiling, if not laughing.

It’s hard to categorize this book. To give you an idea of the type of stories you’ll encounter, my favorite in the collection was “The Auto-Pope, where a robot is elected as Pope. But there are also the poems, most of them dark and moody, with lovely lyrical lines that are worth savoring. The jokes are a nice break, like a respite, before plunging into another poem or story. There is a nice mix of each of these, giving the book a good pace.
For a lot of people, this collection would probably be best read in small bits. When read all at once, the stories might be a bit overwhelming. The same with the poems.

If your reading style tends to be in the “different” category, then this collection would be great for you.

Letters in Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin

2012-01-25T13:38:00.000-08:00

Letters In Cardboard Boxes tells the story of an eccentric grandmother and her granddaughter alongside a series of fantastical letters they once exchanged. Their letters once traversed the East River to help Parker escape the loneliness of a childhood without her globe-trekking parents and communicate during her turbulent teenage years. Now, nearly a decade later, Parker begins to rediscover the evidence of this letter writing tradition, as well as the family’s untold stories and, unexpectedly, letters from her grandmother’s own youth that paint a very different portrait of the woman who raised her.

Letters carries us through the universally-shared experience of loss and the process of coping with life’s unexpected twists and turns. Through unusual and bold characters, the story moves some of its heavier themes with honesty and humor.

This was a lovely story, with a sweet group of characters that will stay in your head for a long time after you finish the last page.

The characters are the most important thing in this novel. The relationships between them are written with an expert hand and in such a manner that they are completely believable. The way that Parker, the protagonist, develops throughout the novel is really worth the whole book. There’s nothing better than to read a book where the main character really does change.

The plot is intricate and handled well, keeping the reader interested from the beginning, which is sometimes an issue with literary novels. There is a nice sense of pacing, as we start learning things about Dotty (Parker’s grandmother) along with the protagonist. The writing itself is simple yet poignant, not calling attention to itself but instead letting the characters tell their story, which is refreshing.

This is a book that I would recommend for many people. If you enjoy literary novels this would probably make a nice choice. Although it is a sad story, it does have a redemptive flavor to it that will leave you smiling rather than crying.

WWW Wednesday

2012-01-25T09:41:00.000-08:00

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently, I'm reading Solitary by Travis Thrasher

And Letters In Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin

I just finished reading Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter. You can read my review here.

Next, I'l probably read The Shadowed Mind by Julie Cave.

After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel

2012-01-24T16:07:00.000-08:00

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love-and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel-this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.

I’ve been trying to think of a polite way to write this review, but I think the best thing would be to be honest. This book was terrible.

The amount of clichés in these pages, not only in the characterizations but in the writing itself is astounding. The characters are less than one dimensional, with mood swings that baffle the reader. Some of their actions (like Aimee dropping the boyfriend she’s had for years after meeting a new, “hotter” guy in a day) make no logical sense whatsoever. Neither Aimee with her melodramatic exclamations and her incessant crying, nor Alan with his ridiculous, superficial knowledge of what the Native American culture is all about, create any other feeling in the reader than the need to stop reading.

The plot is a thin, loosely held mess that has gaping holes. It makes me wonder who read through this and thought it was ready for publication. This story needed at least two or three good rewrites. The writing itself is mediocre at best, tending towards the very bad most of the time. Alan’s chapters are a bit better than Aimee’s but not by much.

As you can tell, I cannot recommend this book. At all. Unless you are very lenient with everything including common sense, I’d stay away from this one. There are better things to read.

Teaser Tuesdays

2012-01-24T08:57:00.000-08:00

Blog Tour: The Sound of Red Returning by Sue Duffy

2012-01-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

About the book:
After losing everyone she loves, concert pianist Liesl Bower has nowhere to go but to escape into her music. Searching for the peace she usually finds in her concertos and sonatas, Liesl can’t shake the feeling that she is being haunted by her past . . . and by someone following her. When she spots a familiar and eerie face in the audience of a concert she’s giving for the president in Washington, DC, the scariest day of her life comes back to her with a flash. It has been fifteen years since Liesl watched her beloved Harvard music mentor assaulted on a dark night in Moscow and just as long since the CIA disclosed to her that he’d been spying for Russia. She had seen that man--that eerie face--the night Professor Devoe was attacked. And now he’s back--and coming for her.

On the run and struggling to rely on the protection of CIA agent Ava Mullins and handsome newspaper reporter Cade O’Brien, Liesl learns she is the prey of an underground cell of Russian KGB agents determined to restore their country to its former Soviet might. But what she doesn’t know is that she is in possession of something--a piece of sheet music--that Russian intelligence is now frantic to find. Inside that music is a secret code, the hidden transcriptions of her deceased mentor, that clearly identify a Russian mole operating inside Israel’s Department of Defense, a mole with enough power and access to execute a daring assassination that no one would see coming.

Caught in a deadly conflict between American and Russian undercover agents, this innocent young pianist is just trying to survive her own personal trauma. Through it all, Liesl must learn that no matter how dark her world grows or how fiercely her enemies pursue her, God is still in control--if only she can yield herself to His grace. Read an excerpt here: http://www.sueduffybooks.com/#!vstc1=books

About the author:

Sue Duffy is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in Moody Magazine, The Presbyterian Journal, Sunday Digest, and The Christian Reader. She is the author of Mortal Wounds (Barbour, 2001) and Fatal Loyalty (Kregel, 2010). Sue has also contributed to Stories for a Woman’s Heart (Multnomah). She and her husband, Mike, have three grown children.

Find out more here.

You can buy the book here.

Win a Kindle Fire from @SueDuffy2 and @KregelBooks in the "Red Returning" Giveaway!

Sue Duffy and her publisher, Kregel Publications, are celebrating the release of The Sound of Red Returning by giving away a Kindle Fire prize package worth over $200 to one lucky winner!!!! (1/23-2/11)

Enter the Sue Duffy’s Giveaway today and you could win:

* A brand new Kindle Fire with Wi-Fi

* The Sound of Red Returning (Book One in the Red Returning series) by Sue Duffy

To enter click one of the icons below. But, hurry! The giveway ends on 2/11. Sue will be announcing the winner of the “Red Returning” Giveaway on February 13th on the Litfuse website!

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

For the whole tour schedule, see here.

My review

This was an interesting book, with lots of action and intrigue mixed in with a nice love story that was quite different from what I’d expected.

The main character, Liesl, is the best part about this book. She commands the scenes she’s in, which, as the protagonist, is exactly what we are looking for. She is three-dimensional, with a all the flaws a real person has, making her stand out among the rest of the characters. Ian and Cade are also well done, although not as masterfully as Liesl. The rest are fine, but since they are not “on stage” too long, we never really bond with them.

The suspense keeps you reading, as the plot tightens around Liesl. Once the story gets started, it’s hard to put down. The problem is that it takes a bit to really take off. It takes some patience on the reader’s part to get to the halfway point where the action picks up. That’s the only real complaint I have about the book, and for all lovers of suspense novels, spy novels, or the like, this is a fun book that will keep you guessing. I can recommend it to pretty much everyone.

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

2012-01-23T15:34:00.000-08:00

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

The second in the series, this was a very fun read that kept me interested from the moment I picked it up.

We follow Kate as she joins Henry in the Underworld as his official consort, and we get to see a bit more about their relationship, or lack-thereof. Henry is mysterious and troubled as always, (although in this book he tends towards the self-pitying) while the rest of the characters do a good job of keeping the action going. We finally meet Persephone, who tends to steal the scenes she appears in, and who definitely seems a more interesting choice than Kate is. That’s the biggest issue I saw with the book. Kate. She is one wimpy female lead. She needs constant reassuring of Henry’s love, from everyone. It’s hard to like a character that insecure, that weak, really. She is also passive throughout the majority of the novel. Things happen to her instead of because of her. Only towards the very end does she seem to find some guts.

The story itself is entertaining and a really fast read. I would definitely suggest you read the previous book in the series first, as the author does reference it. I do recommend it to young adult book lovers.

Musing Mondays

2012-01-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

This week’s musing asks…
Why do you think that the Young Adult genre is so popular with even the adult readers? Do you read YA books, yourself?

I think the biggest thig that attracts adult readers to the YA genre is the element of fantasy in the stories. Whether it comes from paranormal influences, or from the the thrill of a romance that for some reason or other is usually dangerous or forbidden. At least that's what calls me to the stories.

I do read YA books. Now, there are a lot of them out there that are carbon copies of each other, so I have to be choosy with the ones I read. They can get pretty repetitive if they don't have at least one original concept behind them.

In My Mailbox

2012-01-22T12:34:00.000-08:00

Goddess Interrupted Aimee Carter

The Rocking Horse by Gloria Zachgo

The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon

Featured Books: The Volga River Flows Series by Sigrid Weidenwber

2012-01-20T12:40:00.000-08:00

About the Book
In my darkest hours, when worry and despair about the future of my family blankets my soul, I hear my father’s voice, giving me hope. On the day they dragged him to the gulag, he had looked at my mother with courage in his eyes, and said, “We are eternal; our faith, like the Volga, flows forever.”
- Katya

The heroine of this powerful work, Katya, is a bright, energetic and resourceful Volga German girl, a worthy descendant of those first pioneers of the steppe we learned to know in the second volume. Katya is free to reveal, through her feminine creator, thoughts and circumstances often hidden to men. Sigrid artfully illuminates dress, colors, textures, foods and challenges as Katya embarks upon an adventurous escape from a gulag on the arctic tundra.

About the Author
Born in Germany in 1941, Sigrid Weidenwber remembers the horrific aftermath of fascism. At the end of the war, she found herself living under communism. After the Berlin Wall was built, she managed to escape the repressive environment with the help of friends and a French passport. To this day she does not speak French.

She holds degrees in medical technology, psychology and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Concordia University of Portland, Oregon for her trilogy “The Volga Flows Forever.” In her trilogy she brings to life Catherine the Great in her multiple roles as monarch, woman, lover, mother, grandmother and head of the general staff of the army, in Volume one. The following two historical volumes deal with the Volga Germans brought to Russia by Catherine’s edict.

Three years ago she moved to Santa Rosa Valley, California from Portland Oregon. She has passionately embraced California together with her family that also resides here.

You can fin her here.

Follow Friday

2012-01-20T09:46:00.000-08:00

Q: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to get your hands on any particular book?

I guess I'm rather boring, because I've never engaged in any shenanigans to get a book. I've never, say, tackled anyone to rip the last copy of "so and so" off their hands, or swapped a desired book for an object of its approximate weight, a la Indiana Jones. I've just stood patiently in line to get my copy. A bit dull, I agree.

Booking Through Thursday

2012-01-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

I saw this article the other day that asked, “Are you ashamed of skipping parts of books?” Which, naturally, made me want to ask all of YOU.

Do you skip ahead in a book? Do you feel badly about it when you do?

I try not to skip, since, as a writer myself, I know the effort, the hard work, that goes into every phrase written. However, when I find myself falling asleep in the middle of a three-page long description of the sky, I will beg forgiveness from the Gods of Literature and jump ahead.

The Knowledge of Good & Evil by Glenn Kleier

2012-01-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

On December 4, 1968, world-famous theologian Father Louis Merton visited the ancient Dead City of Polonnaruwa, Ceylon, entered the Cave of the Spirits of Knowledge, and experienced a vision. It’s claimed he found a backdoor to the Afterlife, that he looked into the Mind of God and escaped with a secret so powerful it could change all humanity…bring wars to a standstill…end forever the age-old hatreds between races, creeds and cultures.

Six days later as Merton prepared to announce his discovery at a religious conference, he suffered a horrific death under mysterious circumstances. But the secret did not die with him. Merton left behind a journal…

Years later, beautiful psychologist Angela Weber and her troubled fiancé, Ian Baringer, are on the hunt for Merton’s long-lost journal and its door to the Afterlife. Angela, an agnostic, wants to help Ian heal the wounds of a traumatic childhood plane crash that took the lives of his parents. Ian, a defrocked priest, no longer trusts in religion’s promise of eternal life. He must know for certain if he will ever see his parents again, and is driven to find out firsthand what lies beyond, and what it holds for mankind.

Together, Angela and Ian plunge headlong into a global chase, pursued by a shadowy cult, dead bodies and destruction in their wake. If Ian and Angela succeed, they will defy the gates of heaven and hell to learn a secret hidden from the world since the dawn of time . . .

The Knowledge of Good & Evil.

This book is thrilling. That’s the best word I can find to describe it. From the moment it starts to the moment it ends, the reader is kept at the edge of his or her chair, breathless to see what happens next.

There is an intelligence to the plot that is lacking from a lot of the books that share a similar style. It is tempting to think of Dan Brown when we think of a thriller with a plot immersed in spirituality, but this book far surpasses the clichéd storied we’ve come to expect in this genre. What surprised me the most was the character development. That is not something that I had expected from a book that seemed to be plot-driven more than character-driven. I was glad to find that I had assumed wrong. Ian is a rich, complex character, well-crafted, with an obsessive streak that is a great contrast to Angela’s cooler, more analytical personality.

The writing itself is wonderful. The author does a great job with the pacing, which can sometimes ruin a book like this. It’s always either too fast, where the characters know everything, or molasses slow where nothing but dialogue happens for chapters on end. This book has a nice balance, which made it a pleasure to read.

WWW Wednesdays

2012-01-18T09:53:00.000-08:00

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently, I'm reading After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steve Wedel

And Kevin's Point of View by Del Shannon

I just finished reading Whisper Cape by Regan Walsh You can read my review here.

Next, I'll probably read Arcadia by Lauren Groff

Teaser Tuesdays

2012-01-17T08:51:00.000-08:00

Whisper Cape by Regan Walsh

2012-01-16T16:37:00.000-08:00

Escape to a world where the impossible becomes possible.

WHISPER CAPE is a town of secrets and Addison MacKenna soon becomes tangled in a web of them. Plagued with nightmares of her father’s sudden and brutal death, Addie struggles with her anguish and refuses to believe his demise was accidental.

Fighting to shake off one of those devastating early morning nightmares, Addison finds it even harder to escape from the vision of a man lying on the side of the road—a man she may have just killed. When she frantically tries to locate him, he seemingly disappears, just the beginning of strange occurrences in her life. She also cannot ignore the weird sensations in her own body. Suddenly, the impossible seems possible, but is that a blessing or a curse?

Believing that her continual and worsening nightmares are both the key to her own new abilities and the clue to her father’s death, Addie knows she will not rest until she has the answers she craves. As she strives to cope with her new remarkable talents, someone else learns of her abilities—a disgruntled maniacal psychopath with his own agenda that involves eliminating Addie. The only one who can protect her, instruct her in the use of her powers and teach her how to destroy the murderous monster is the same man who makes Addie’s heart race and her blood heat with passion. The same man she’d left for dead.

Cael Sheridan may be arrogant and mysterious but he's also undeniably gorgeous. A member of a secret society, he is sworn to protect the woman he believes to be the daughter of his recently murdered mentor. In the process, he finds it impossible to resist her magnetic sensuality, complicating his efforts to shield and guide her as she learns to manage her newly acquired skills. At the same time, Addison has much to teach him about trust and commitment. Fate has brought them together, but will it make them stronger or destroy them both in end?

This was a fun paranormal romance, with a nice balance of action and suspense and two very interesting protagonists that will have you turning the pages to see what happens next.

What I enjoyed the most were the relationships between the characters. Cael and Addie had a great repartee, with witty dialogue that had me laughing as they go from disliking each other to discovering its turned to love. The supporting characters add a lot to the story as well. They fill the pages with their quirkiness, creating a nice little world that seems completely real.

The story itself is pretty good. I do wish the tension between Cael and Addie had lasted a bit more, since it is resolved rather quickly. I do like that Cael struggles with how he feels for Addie, not wanting to admit to himself that he just might love her. That adds dimension to the romance. The action scenes, although not many, are well written with just the amount of violence necessary but without bothering the flow of the story.

I had a fun time reading this book, and I can recommend it. There are some sex scenes, so be aware of that if those tend to bother you in books.

Musing Mondays

2012-01-16T09:22:00.000-08:00

This week’s musing asks…

What devices –if any– do you read books on? Do you find it enjoyable, or still somewhat bothersome? Or: If you only read the print books, why haven’t you chosen to read on any devices?

I read mainly print books. The only time I read on the computer or on my phone, even, is when I have a a review book that the author was only able to get to me as an ebook. I find it really tough to get into a story when reading it on any device, so for me, the printed books are still the best.

In My Mailbox

2012-01-15T14:44:00.000-08:00

Spiritus by Dana Michelle Burnett

Jack Be Nimble: Tyro by Ben English

Follow Friday

2012-01-13T09:42:00.000-08:00

Q: Many readers/bloggers are also big music fans. Tell us about a few of your favorite bands/singers that we should listen to in 2012.

Ooh, this is a fun one. Okay, my musical obsession is (and has been for years) Tori Amos. I just love her complex musical styles, her guts, the risks she takes with her music. I could go on and on.

Here is one of my favorites by her:

Booking Through Thursday

2012-01-12T11:50:00.000-08:00

But enough about interviewing other people. It’s time I interviewed YOU.

1. What’s your favorite time of day to read?

Late afternoon, when the sun is falling.

2. Do you read during breakfast? (Assuming you eat breakfast.)

I do, Sometimes the book world news on the computer, other times whatever book I have on hand.

3. What’s your favorite breakfast food? (Noting that breakfast foods can be eaten any time of day.)

Cereal or oatmeal.

4. How many hours a day would you say you read?

Hmm. About four or five.

5. Do you read more or less now than you did, say, 10 years ago?

I am 26, so I definitely have more time now than I did when I was 16 and in an arts high school that took up all of my time.

6. Do you consider yourself a speed reader?

I do read pretty quickly, about a book a week.

7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Mindreading, for sure.

8. Do you carry a book with you everywhere you go?

Oh, yes, sometimes two.

9. What KIND of book?

Fiction. Whatever I happen to be immersed in at the moment, even if it weighs 10 pounds.

10. How old were you when you got your first library card?

I was about ten.

11. What’s the oldest book you have in your collection? (Oldest physical copy? Longest in the collection? Oldest copyright?)

I have a copy of Edgar Allan Poe's The Golden Bug that is from 1910.

12. Do you read in bed?

Every night.

13. Do you write in your books?

I am very messy with my books. I write everything from comments about the plot, to lists for the supermarket.

14. If you had one piece of advice to a new reader, what would it be?

Read all kinds of books. Even those that you think wouldn't interest you. You never know what will inspire you.

The Moon Coin by Richard Due

2012-01-11T15:07:00.000-08:00

For Lily and Jasper Winter, the Moon Realm began with a single secret bedtime tale. As the children grew older, Uncle Ebb enthralled them with thrilling tales of the Dragondain riding horse-sized, catlike Rinn; mysterious tales of peerin-wielding lunamancers manipulating the magic that lies just beneath the surface of reality; exciting tales of flying dragons, swimming merfolk, stomping giants, and troublesome faeries. But as the magic of their childhood faded, so too did the tales. Eventually, they were just . . . good stories.

Or were they?

Now, nine years after it all began, Uncle Ebb is missing.

Lily and Jasper search for clues, but their uncle's mansion is full of distractions. A Tesla generator thrums in the basement. Prismatic electrimals flit around walls resembling underwater reefs. Then a most unexpected friend comes to their aid, leading them to a hidden room where they find a mysterious coin—the moon coin. Before the night is out, Lily is transported to the real Moon Realm. But the moons are in trouble. The Rinn of Barreth are under siege, and the lunamancers of Dain are beset by the very dragons they once loved. Most horrifying of all, the moon Darwyth has fallen to a villain named Wrengfoul, whose creeping evil now threatens to overshadow all the Realm.

Are Lily and Jasper too late to save the Moon Realm, or will they have enough time to write an ending of their own?

Featuring twenty-two stunning full-color illustrations by Carolyn Arcabascio. Volume One of the young adult fantasy adventure series The Moon Realm.

The world created by Mr. Due is fantastic. It is a wonderful mix of fantasy that will have middle grade readers and teens wanting more.

It does take a bit of time to get into the actual plot. That was my only real concern, but once it does, it really takes off, reader in tow. The characters in the Moon Realm were all very interesting to read about, although my favorite has to be the Rinn. I also enjoyed the two protagonists, Lily and Jasper, who are wonderfully normal which is not the usual in books for children. That alone makes the book worth reading.

The writing is as magical as the Moon Realm, with nicely shaped phrases that don’t confuse the reader, and fast-pace enough once it gets started to keep the ficklest of teens interested. This is the first in a series, so there is a nice setting up for future stories, leaving some of the tension in the plot.

This is a fun book which will please most children and teens. Even for adults, this is a good choice. I can happily recommend it for all of you out there looking for a little magic in your books.

Fall of the Birds by Bradford Morrow

2012-01-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

A new novella by acclaimed author Bradford Morrow about a man who tracks an inexplicable plague of bird deaths, and the mystery’s profound effect on his family

Hundreds of red-winged blackbirds are discovered scattered, lifeless, around a greenhouse in Warwick, New York. Heaps of common grackles litter the fields of a farm upstate near Stone Ridge. And in Manhattan, a Washington Square restaurant is forced to close its doors when a flock of pigeons inexplicably dies on the sidewalks out front. From Pennsylvania to Maine, birds are falling from the sky en masse—and nobody can figure out why.

An insurance claims adjuster and avid birder is one of the first to recognize that something is wrong. His stepdaughter, Caitlin, has also noticed—their common interest in birds is one of the few things they share these days, since her mother died of cancer just six months ago. As they travel the Northeast together to investigate the ominous deaths, a bond forms that might prove strong enough to mend their broken family.

Fall of the Birds is a moving story of a haunting near-future and a tribute to the power of love that can survive even the most harrowing of circumstances.

This is a lyrical story about loss. Loss of birds, of hopes for the future and of people. It is a beautiful account of a man’s struggle to make sense of a world where the woman he loved is no longer there.

The beauty of the story lies mainly in the way the author handles the grief that surrounds the protagonist and his step-daughter. It is not blatant, but hidden in their obsession with the birds that suddenly start disappearing. There are many moving scenes, as when they spy a blue bird perched on their loved one’s grave, really bringing in the meaning full circle.

This is definitely a story I would recommend. It’s a delicate, quiet thing, but the truth behind it sings loud and clear.

WWW Wednesdays

2012-01-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently, I'm reading Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough

And Hope: A Tragedy by Shalom Auslander

I just finished reading There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff. You can find my review here.

Next, I'll probably read Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Minar-Jaynes .

There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

2012-01-10T14:00:00.000-08:00

Meet your unforgettable protagonist: God, who, as it turns out, is a 19-year-old boy living in the present-day and sharing an apartment with his long-suffering fifty-something personal assistant. Unfortunately for the planet, God is lazy and, frankly, hopeless. He created all of the world's species in six days because he couldn't summon the energy to work for longer. He gets Africa and America mixed up. And his beleagured assistant has his work cut out for him when God creates a near-apolcalyptic flood, having fallen asleep without turning the bath off. There is No Dog is a darkly funny novel from one of our most delightfully unpredictable writers.

What a fun book! I was luck to receive an advanced copy of it, and I can honestly say, it was one of the funniest books I’ve read in a while.

The writing is a joy. It is so fresh and witty that it makes the reader smile pretty much every few paragraphs. There is a huge amount of creativity in this novel. The characters alone are fascinatingly over the top, with Bob, a teenager who also happens to be Earth’s creator and God as the ring leader. It is impossible not to laugh at his antics. Mr. B., Bob’s assistant, also steals the scenes he’s in. His curmudgeonly attitude plays off very well with the other characters’ exuberances.

It is a fast paced novel that can be read very quickly, but it will linger with you. I suppose there are people out there who can feel offended by the tongue-in-cheek way Ms. Rosoff handles the topic of God, but since I am not one of those, I can easily recommend this book. Although it is geared for young adults, there is no reason why adult couldn’t enjoy it either. If you want a good laugh, this one is for you.

Teaser Tuesday

2012-01-10T13:27:00.000-08:00

Musing Mondays

2012-01-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

This week’s musing asks…

Are there any “raved reads” –books that everyone seems to be talking about– that you’re hoping to get read this year, yourself? What books are they, and why are you hoping to read them? Is it because you want to say you’ve read it? Or, would you have chosen to read it, even if you’d discovered it yourself, and no one was raving about it?

There are many, many books I've heard fabulous things about and would like to read. Here's just a few of them:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater

I would definitely pick these up even without the amount of people praising them, mainly because their subject matter interests me.

Jack be Nimble: Gargoyle by Ben English

2012-01-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

The boy came to her out of water, unexpected. He was smart and strong and goofy, as boys are meant to be, but peculiar - he remembered everything.
In the span of a single summer, she made him fearless.
Now, even as Mercedes Adams is at the height of her career, forbidding changes loom over the world. That night, in the hushed calm of a spring evening, two plain-faced killers watch her home, waiting to make their approach.
A few hundred miles away, a brilliant technologist returns to his childhood town in order to begin a descent into darkness . . . in London, a military game theorist finds himself pursuing kidnappers . . . outside Prague, a hacker and a thief stumble upon plans for a weapon unique to the world . . . an FBI agent faces an unpredictable fugitive in Chicago, while in Germany, a sniper-turned-schoolteacher finds reasons to take up his ancient calling . . . and a sitting United States Senator finds his life and his work invaded to terrifying conclusion. In Paris, a widowed man begins to recognize the hints and patterns of a greater puzzle that will bring them together . . . or kill them all.
Mercedes Adams is about to find herself at the center of a vast, tightening knot of mystery, intrigue, and globe-spanning terror borne of her family's legacy. Rising to her aid is a small group of specially-trained men and women. And at their center?
A man who remembers everything.

This was a fast paced thriller that is a great choice for most scifi fans. With its fascinating attention to detail, the story will immerse you in a world of “what if”, at once electrifying and frightening.

What I enjoyed most was the way the plot really moves. Although there are some technical explanations, it never drags, which is always the problem with scifi or fantasy. The details never overwhelm the reader and never take away from the story itself, managing only to enhance it. This is not as simple as it sounds, so for that alone, it’s worth reading this book.

The characters are fun, full of life. Since there are many view points in the story, we really get a good sense of each character: who they are and whom they hope to be.

I can easily recommend this, and I encourage you all lovers of scifi (and even those of you who are not) to give this book a try.

In My Mailbox

2012-01-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Minar-Jaynes For Review

Kevin's Point of View by Del Shannon For Review

Follow Friday

2012-01-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

Q: Go count the number of unread books sitting on your shelf. How many?

Wow, okay, 202.

Booking Through Thursday

2012-01-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

If you could sit down and interview anyone, who would it be?
And, what would you ask them?

Well, if we can magically resurrect anyone who's ever lived then I'd probably choose Dostoevsky, to ask him many, many annoying questions about my favorite book, Crime and Punishment.
If we have to stick to the realm of the possible, then I'd choose Stephen King. I'm not too sure of what I'd ask him, but he seems like a fascinating person.

Blog Tour: The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher

2012-01-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

It’s a “Honey of a Giveaway” from Suzanne Woods Fisher!

Suzanne is hosting a "honey of a giveaway"during the blog tour for The Keeper! During 1/3-1/17 you can enter to win an iPad2 from Suzanne and connect with her on January 17th at The Keeper Facebook Party!

During the giveaway one Grand Prize winner will receive a Prize Pack valued at $600:

A brand new 16 KB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi

A $25 gift certificate to iTunes

A copy of The Keeper

But wait there's more! Just click one of the icons below to enter, then on 1/17 join Suzanne for The Keeper Facebook Party! During the party Suzanne will announce the winner of the "Honey" of an iPad Giveaway and host a fun book chat and give away some fun "honey" inspired prizes - It'll be 'sweet"!

RSVP early and tell your friends!

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 17th!

About the book:
Julia Lapp has planned on marrying Paul Fisher since she was a girl. Now twenty-one, she looks forward to their wedding with giddy anticipation. When Paul tells her he wants to postpone the wedding--again--she knows who is to blame. Perpetual bachelor and spreader of cold feet, Roman Troyer, the Bee Man.

Roamin' Roman travels through the Amish communities of Ohio and Pennsylvania with his hives full of bees, renting them out to farmers in need of pollinators. He relishes his nomadic life, which keeps him from thinking about all he has lost. He especially enjoys bringing his bees to Stoney Ridge each year. But with Julia on a mission to punish him for inspiring Paul's cold feet, the Lapp farm is looking decidedly less pleasant.

Can Julia secure the future she's always dreamed of? Or does God have something else in mind?

About Suzanne:
Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. She has many, many Plain relatives living in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and travels back to Pennsylvania, as well as to Ohio, a couple of times each year for research.

Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. In both her fiction and non-fiction books, she has an underlying theme: You don't have to "go Amish" to incorporate many of their principles--simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily-- into your life.

When Suzanne isn't writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne's way of thinking, you just can't take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth.

Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.

You can buy the book here.

My review:

This was a lovely story full of romance and special relationships that is very different from a lot of the Amish novels that are being written now.

What I love the most about this author is her sense of characterization. All of her characters are so well-written, with layers upon layers of personality, that it is hard to believe they don’t really exist. Julia, for example, is a fully fledged person, with her positive and negative sides in constant battle, which makes her a fascinating person to follow through her life. The rest of the characters are just as well done, with M.K. being one of my favorites.

The story itself is simple enough, but the details, the mood is so welcoming that it is difficult to put the book down once the reader starts. The writing is clear, with occasional poetic flourishes that are always light and interesting and never slow the plot down. I do wish there had been a little more explanation on beekeeping to make the story even more unique, but that’s a personal thought and won’t really affect anyone else’s chance of enjoying the book.

This is definitely a fun, quick read. I can easily recommend it.

WWW Wednesdays

2012-01-04T09:26:00.000-08:00

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently, I'm reading The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher for an upcoming blog tour. Despite the awful cover, it's a pretty good book.

And still reading Fall of the Birds by Bradford Morrow

I just finished reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer. You can read my review here.

Next, I'll probably read Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Minar-Jaynes

Teaser Tuesdays

2012-01-03T08:49:00.000-08:00

Musing Mondays

2012-01-02T09:46:00.000-08:00

This week’s musing asks…

What is/are the first book(s) you’re reading for the new year?

I've just started Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne. It's pretty good so far. Suspenseful.

I'll probably also start There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff.

In My Mailbox

2012-01-01T14:47:00.000-08:00

Whisper Cape by Regan Walsh

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

All I Did Was Shoot my Man by Walter Mosley

The Sound of Red Returning by Sue Duffy