For the Love of Books

Duck Race Weekend

2013-08-24T05:43:00.001-07:00

HI! I just wanted to throw in a little nugget here. The Duck races are this weekend. Here is the link if anyone is curious. http://www.demingduckrace.com/

Want to race a duck?
They do that on land or in water...

Want Funnel Cake??? (Oh Yes I do!) Lol
That particular pastry is in abundance. (Yay!)

Want a new T-Shirt with a cool duck on it???
Bingo!

It really is a fun time. Check it out. Right on down to the chili judging and the tortilla toss...

Review of Restoration by Elaine D. Walsh

2013-08-24T05:39:00.002-07:00

** I was given a copy from the publisher for review**

This was a very frustrating read for me. It was well written, don't get me wrong, but I felt as if I was waiting for something to happen, and it really didn't.

I liked the book. Tess seemed like a great lady. Did I bond with her? No. I never really "felt" this story. While Tess was keeping her distance from everyone, I also felt she was distant from me. I was never able to say "you go Tess," or "give 'em hell Tess," or anything. The closest I came to getting a glimpse of a fantastic woman, was when she was describing to Francesca how seeing the Raphael made her feel. That was great.

I know this is one that I will be in the minority on, but this one was just ok for me. I put it at 2.5 stars.

Review of Conjure House by Gary Fry

2013-08-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

** I was given a copy from the publisher** Thank you

Conjure House grabbed hold of me from the very beginning, and it never did let go. Even still, I find myself thinking about certain passages in the book.

Conjure won't let you get off of the edge of your chair. I enjoyed this horror/ sci-fi mix. Definitely a must read. I am looking forward to reading more of Mr. Fry's work!

PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!!

2013-07-26T10:50:00.001-07:00

I kind of jumped the gun on this review and I APOLOGIZE PROFUSELY!!! Please forgive me!!! Please, please, please forgive me, Mr. Guinn!!!!

It was very kindly pointed out to me that this was an advanced copy, which would be full of errors (sometimes). Anyway, with everything (crap) that has been going on here, I forgot to check the release date, and judged it too critically. SO I AM GOING TO GO BACK AND re-read this one and post another review. I would hate for someone to miss a great book because of me. APOLOGIES!!!! PUTTING THIS BACK ON MY CURRENTLY READING LIST!!!!

Will be back soon with an updated review!

My Review of Tin Gods by Stacy Green

2013-07-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

** I was given a copy from the author for an honest review**
I just finished reading Tin Gods by Stacy Green.
OMG! Stacy is sooooo very talented. This book makes you feel, not only feel, but FEEL along with Jaymee. She was forced into giving her baby up for adoption when she was younger, and this is the story of her trying to find her baby. There are a lot of obstacles and mysteries surrounding the adoption, including murder!

Definitely a must read!

4 out of 5 Books!

Review of Doors by Daniel Brako

2013-07-26T10:02:00.001-07:00

Where to start here???

A gentleman comes into his doctor's office and tells him that he sees doors everywhere... Who doesn't right???

Well the doors he sees are not doors that everyone can see... Let it alone, enter. So the good doctor says the magic words, (I'm definitely paraphrasing here) and... voila`, he can see the doors also. He can even enter.

OH the consequences this brings!!! Not all doors are good...

Definitely worth a read. The beginning dragged a bit or me, but it usually does, taking time to establish characters and all that... Lol
The twists are many, and you won't believe where this one goes!

Sci-Fi lovers are going to eat this one up!

Review of Ember X by Jessica Sorensen

2013-07-14T10:01:00.003-07:00

** I received a copy from the publisher**

This one will keep you guessing right up until the end!
Ember is a teenager who, when she touches someone, she is able to see their death. She has had this ability since she was 4. Needless to say, she avoids contact as much as possible, until she meets Asher...

Absolutely a must read!

4 Out of 5 Books

Review of Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall

2013-07-12T11:53:00.003-07:00

** I received a copy from the author**

Fantastic! Brilliant, very entertaining.
Starla is a very intelligent young lady who, ultimately learns that she has so very much left to learn. She's very spunky and has a very big heart. By the end of the book Starla and Eula will move into your heart and become part of your family. A must read for all!

This is one of my all time FAVORITE books. Fabulous read. If you liked The Help, this one is right there with it! Trust me, you will LOVE it!

Just a little side note here, Ms. Crandall is on a book signing tour right now. If she is in your town PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE go get a copy and have her sign it. Do it for me. Do it for you. Do it for all of the Starlas and Eulas in the world! (I am jealous, because I need a signed copy and would love to be able to go to one of her signings.)

5 Books for this one! A MUST READ!!!

LUPUS Freaking SUCKS!!!

2013-07-12T11:44:00.001-07:00

Ok, I don't usually have a pity party, but... I think I am entitled to ONE!

I HATE lupus. I hate how much it has taken away from me. I miss being able to walk like a normal person. Last month, daughter takes me to the movies, I fall. Daughter takes me out to lunch today and what do I do? I FALL. UGH!!!!!! I am NEVER going out again. I am 42 years old and I can't even freaking walk. I can't work anymore. I know I tell every one of my lupie friends to focus on the positive things. That it will get better. To each and every one of you I have said that to - I apologize. You were right. It just sucks.

Hugs.

Review of "If You Ask Me..." By Betty White

2013-07-11T22:55:00.001-07:00

This was not the laugh out loud, fall over red-faced, can't breathe, pee your pants book I expected. It was good, but it wasn't great. Her sense of humor didn't really shine through. Worth a read? Yes.

I gave it 2 books. Meh.

Review of Sleeping in Eden by Nicole Baart

2013-07-07T10:27:00.001-07:00

** I was given a copy by the publisher**

This book was a very suspenseful read. It is by no means a "light" read. There was a heaviness that was prevalent throughout the whole book for me.

"Sleeping in Eden" begins with a coroner being called out to a suicide. (There is A LOT that happens here that I am kind of paraphrasing...) While on the suicide call they, by chance, discover another body. The second body leads to a lot more questions, as you can imagine. There is also a story within a story about the doctor's relationship with his wife...

This was a great book, but like I said, not a feel good, light mystery.

Review of Taven's Departing by Mike Jackson

2013-07-05T19:38:00.001-07:00

**I received a copy in exchange for an honest review**

I just finished Taven's Departing by Mike Jackson. I was so excited when I was notified that I had won a copy. This book just sounded like one that had infinite possibilities. It did.

This book was a little nebulous for me to grasp in the very beginning, but as I read further, the story opened up and blossomed. Mr. Jackson is a very gifted writer and this book is definitely worth a read.

Just a side note here, Hope all of my Lupie buddies had a safe and pain-free holiday. Hugs.

I fell off....

2013-06-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

So sorry I have been gone for so long. A lot has happened recently. I left my job (lupus was getting too bad) and I broke my ankle, AND my computer went down. Sounds like a really bad country song huh? Lol

Anyway, I am currently reading:

and...

and...

So I will be back soon with the reviews as I finish them! Mwa! Hugs and thank you all for sticking with me!!!
Blessings and be well.

Review of Tristis Manor by J.R. Wagner

2013-04-18T12:29:00.004-07:00

** I received a copy from the publisher for an honest review**

Make no mistake, Tristis Manor will rip your heart out and hand it to you.
I ached for Margaret and all she went through. Her mother was a mother in name only, she should have been her protector not one of her tormentors.

This one is heart-breaking, no, heart-rending. Definitely worth the read. Don't expect a light mystery or a n unbelievable, gory horror story. Nope, not this one. Her mom is a jealous, mean, abusive witch, and her father, who she adores, and he adores her also, works away, and is gone for extended time periods. Poor little sweetie goes through hell.

I found myself just wanting to gather her up in my arms and cry.
3 out of 5 books

On a side note, it has been sooooooo windy and I am soooooo sick of it. Lol It really seems to aggravate my lupus. :/ How do you turn off the wind?

Review of The Sound of Broken Glass by Deborah Crombie

2013-04-13T09:42:00.002-07:00

** I was given a copy for an honest review**

This is the first novel I have read by Deborah Crombie. I love the way she starts each chapter off with a tidbit about the Crystal Palace itself... There actually is a lot of information in the snippets.

While I enjoyed the book, I didn't fall in love with it. I will read more by this author, maybe it was just me not being used to her style, I did enjoy the mystery, it just never really grabbed me.

Liked it, but not in love with it. 3 out of 5 books.

Review of Children of the Fog by Cheryl Kaye Tardiff

2013-04-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Holy Moly!!!! I don't even know where to start! This book draws you in from page one. You will find yourself doing the things you need to get done with this book in your hand. The suspense never lets up.
Sadie is in a bad marriage with her husband Phillip, (who is messing around on her, she is a recovering alcoholic, and her son, (Sam) won't speak.
There has been a rash of kidnappings and Sam is next...

** Bonus - she wraps everything up nicely in this one. We find out why Sam doesn't speak.**

Review of Hope by Theresa M. Jones

2013-04-04T11:29:00.003-07:00

**I received a copy from the author for an honest review.**

I didn't think it was possible, but I loved Hope more than I loved Power! And Power was amazing!

Hope picks up where Power left off. Damien is...gone and Lillith is ruling. Boy is she one bad egg... Anyway, I am trying to do this review without spoilers, and it is really hard.

Ally and David have a lot to deal with, and deal with it they do. Oh, there is so much I want to say, but I don't want to spoil it... Suffice it to say, READ THIS BOOK!!! It's fantastic!

Review of Voodoo Dues by Stephany Simmons

2013-04-04T11:25:00.001-07:00

I was really very pleasantly surprised with this book. It was not at all what I expected. It was a fun, light, quick read with quirky characters. I found when I reached the end, I wanted more. That's rare.
If you are looking for something fast and light, this is the book for you.

Currently Reading: Hope by Theresa Jones

2013-03-28T07:00:00.001-07:00

I love this series! Witches! I'm addicted. Lol And nothing is better than the author offering to let me read and review the second book in the series!!!! :))))) (Insert happy dance here! ) WooHooo

Will get back to you very soon with the review.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to infinity Ms. Jones! :)

Review of The Box by Brian Harmon

2013-03-28T06:55:00.001-07:00

Do not start reading this book with preconceived notions about horror-suspense. You cannot neatly classify this book into one specific category. On the contrary, this story has a little bit of mystery, horror, adventure, even erotica. Which was my sticking point at first, because I bought this book in the thriller section.

Ahh fair readers, that was my first mistake, once I was passed that, I really enjoyed this story. It is HIGHLY original, and will keep you on the edge of your seat while biting your nails and turning pages. Don't try to guess where the story is going, you won't. Just sit tight and hang on for the ride. It's a great one.

Now...Off to buy the second book...

Just complaining! - Sorry in advance.

2013-03-14T14:40:00.001-07:00

Ok. So this is what I am currently reading. I love it! It is very entertaining, and I couldn't wait to get to the second one to see what happens. I get to Amazon all fired up and raring to go on it, and da*#, I notice it's not text to speech enabled!

WTH???? Really? How am I supposed to "read" while multi-tasking??? What is the deal with books that are not text to speech enabled? That is a HUGE "I am going to avoid this book like the plague!" for me, because I have children, grand-children, 4 dogs, cooking, cleaning, oh ya and a full time job!!! Guess what? I don't have the time to sit and stare at my Kindle all day. If I could figure out how to get paid for reading my Kindle all day, I would so be there. (My employer frowns on it.) However, I CAN stick an ear bud in my ear, my Kindle in my pocket and LISTEN all freakin' day long!

So, to all of my author friends, please, please help me out here. Does it cost more to have that feature enabled? Am I the only one in the world that this pi$$3$ off???

Review of Ted and Ann : The Mystery of a Missing Child and Her Neighbor Ted Bundy

2013-03-06T09:39:00.002-08:00

This is another story about Ted Bundy. This story sort of centers around a 7 yr old girl that he had taken and killed. Very informative. I knew he was a very busy killer, but I had no idea how busy. The book delves into Ted's early life and his family. There were a lot of issues there. Recently, I had read a novel by Anne Rule about Ted Bundy, and this book is along those lines. The author, Rebecca Morris, at one point, even mentions Ted's friendship with Anne. Very well written and informative.

It must have been terrifying to know that you have interacted with this man in the past, and what he could have done, if he chose to. Anne Rule was actually friends with Ted. I just can't imagine how she felt after she found out about all of the things he had done. She had said that she knew a different Ted, and in all fairness, this book even addresses that there were "different Teds," The good one, the other one, etc.

Who knows. Probably a good thing we don't know all about him.

Review of The Hunters by Heidi Angell

2013-03-05T10:23:00.002-08:00

I totally enjoyed this book! It was a refreshing take on the vampire click going on.

The Hunters took me right back to The Lost Boys days. Don't get me wrong, it was nothing like Lost Boys, but it had the same panache to grab my attention and keep it. From page one! :D There are no vampires in love huggy, kissy, angsty whiny vamps here!

Awesome read! Great job Heidi! Looking forward to more of your work! Thank you Ms. Angell!

And just a little note here... NEVER, EVER buy asparagus from the flea market! Hubby and I spent all weekend with food poisoning. ACKKKKKK!
We went to the flea market on Saturday and there was a gentleman there who was selling asparagus and since we were grilling steaks, we thought the asparagus would be a perfect addition. So I picked out a nice bunch and, as we were walking off, he opened a cooler and asked if we wanted to buy fresh fish. Ummmm, we live in a desert. NO THANK YOU.

So, to make a long story short, we ate it and got very sick. Then it dawned on us, he probably puts the asparagus in the cooler with the fish to keep it cool!!!!

How dumb can we be??? LOL
Hence, my advice, NEVER, EVER buy asparagus from the flea market.

The Hunters by Heidi Angell -- Currently Reading

2013-03-01T08:26:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!
This is what I am currently reading:

The Hunters by Heidi Angell...
Review to come! Happy Reading.

The Call of Agon by Dean Wilson - currently reading

2013-02-27T10:18:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to check out The Call of Agon by Dean Wilson - Currently reading