Bea's Book Nook

Giveaway & Excerpt from The Tree of Jesse by J.R. Mattison

2013-05-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another excerpt; this is definitely excerpt week here at the Nook. I hope you've been enjoying them. Today's is from a new religious thriller by J.R. Mattison. Mattison started her career in Chicago appearing on television and radio. She founded Cheshire Smile Productions, bringing to life and penning her first feature film FISH WITHOUT A BICYCLE, a festival winning coming of age comedy which was directed by Brian Austin Green. “Fish” is now available on Netflix. Mattison also wrote Cheshire’s second release THE THIRD WISH now available at Blockbuster and distributed by the Hallmark Channel.

Lionsgate’s FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY, based on a true story of Jewish gangsters set in the 1970’s starring James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Edward Furlong and Jeffrey Tambor was also produced and written by Mattison.

Find J.R. online:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tree-Of-Jesse-by-JR-Mattison/427265924027673

moviemakermagazinearticle

http://www.backstage.com/bso/advice-first-person/girls-making-gangster-flicks-and-enjoying-1007272962.story

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EXCERPT

. She’s feeding me again. I like how her long fingers break off a piece of bread and dip it into the bland broth. The way she looks at me makes me feel naked and vulnerable yet infinitely safe.

Clean and pure.

I’m not sure how long I’ve slept but it seems like a long time. My body aches in ways and places I couldn’t have imagined possible and my head feels like it’s trapped in a vice. It hurts to open my eyes too long; especially when the sun shines thru the big windows this place has lining every wall. I think we’re in the woods because all I can see are trees and she doesn’t have a single curtain or blind to block out the world.

The bed I’ve been sleeping on is in the middle of the room and covered in the softest white sheets, a pile of blankets and white Christmas lights strung across the headboard. This place looks like a cross between a fairy’s cottage and a hunting lodge; with it’s wood walls and beams.

She has candles everywhere, most of them half burned, and crystals in all shapes and sizes hang from hooks and nails. It suits her, this place. Everywhere I look there’s a clue to who she is and what she loves.

Sometimes I see a flash of light and the ache in my head is blinding. The pain leaves me breathless.

Why is she helping me?

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The Tree of Jesse by J.R. Mattison

Publisher: Rochester Books

Series: The Messianic Age #1

Genre: Thriller, religion

Formats: ebook

Length: 284 pages, 445 KB

Release Date: April 6, 2013

Buying Links: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Blurb from the author ~

On a lonely strip of Death Valley a failing musician awakens to an intriguing new life. One filled with ancient languages, a hidden identity, and the woman who holds the key to his destiny...his connection to the lost pages of the Dead Sea Scrolls. But there are those who want to keep the secrets buried...and will stop at nothing to keep the prophecy from unfolding.

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J.R. will be awarding one digital copy of The Tree of Jesse to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop.

The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/03/virtual-book-tour-tree-of-jesse-by-jr.html

Cover Reveal for Irish Kisses by JoAnne Kenrick

2013-05-23T05:00:00.000-04:00

Irish Kisses

Print edition

COMING THIS SUMMER!

www.JoAnneKenrick.com

The boys from Bell's Irish Pub have been delivering tasty treats to digital readers around the globe, and hitting bestseller lists at Amazon, All Romance, and Bookstrand. And now, they're coming to PRINT!

A collection of five romances set in Bell's Irish Pub, each with its own special tasty treat served by the staff of Bell's. The 1Night Stand dating service shakes and stirs things up for Bell's. When Madame Eve puts two people together for just one night, anything is possible…. Throw in sexy cocktails and to-die-for Irish hotties, and it's a recipe for sweet Irish kisses and perhaps even wedding Bell's.

SWEET IRISH KISS

Can he win her over with his secret weapon, a Sweet Irish Kiss, or is Rachel still too scared to love?

SHAMROCKED

Will his Irish charm and toys be enough to hold onto his leading lady, or will his heart be Shamrocked into next week?

THREESOME SWEETNESS

Is a dash of Threesome Sweetness the remedy each is looking for, or will the date leave a bitter aftertaste each will regret for the rest of their lives?

HOT WINTER KISS

Can she hack it in the real world of romance, or are life's complications and treacherous snowstorms best left to the pages of a book?

MARRY ME, I'M IRISH

Does she love him enough to leave the comforts of England? And is there something behind his sudden proposal?

Publisher: www.DecadentPublishing.com

Cover Artist: www.EstrellaCoverArt.com

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The green is perfect for the books and it certainly stands out. But, is it just me or do the shirts look like they have blood on them? And what happened to their heads? What do you think?

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JoAnne is doing a giveaway in celebration of the print books' release.

PRIZES:

$20 eBucks to spend in JoAnne's favorite ebook store: All Romance (www.allromanceebooks.com) - prize is sponsored by JoAnne Kenrick

2 winners will each win a digital copy of Marry Me, I'm Irish via All Romance - Prize sponsored by JoAnne Kenrick

HOW TO ENTER:

Leave an awesome comment for the lovely blogger hosting the cover reveal for IRISH KISSES!

For extra entries, use the rafflecopter code on JoAnne Kenrick's Blog: http://britauthor.blogspot.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cat Thursday - Art or Destruction?

2013-05-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the weekly meme hosted by The True Book Addict that celebrates cats; their foibles and humorousness and the joy they bring. You can join in by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you made or came across, cat art or share with us pics of your own felines, then post your link up at The True Book Addict.

Toilet paper doesn't do it for Goof but paper towels or paper napkins? They are completely unsafe around him. :D If there's one left where he can reach it, he begins chewing, clawing and scratching. I confess, I've never thought of his work as art but I suppose it's possible. More likely, it's his prey instinct coming out though what the appeal of "killing" paper might be I don't know.

Do your cats go after any paper products? Do they make works of art for you?

GC Giveaway & An Excerpt from A Matter of Circumstance and Celludrones by Claire Robyns

2013-05-22T04:00:00.000-04:00

I have another excerpt for you, this one from a Victorian Steampunk Paranormal. The author, Claire Robyns, lives in Berkshire, England, with her husband and twin boys. For so long as she has memories, she was either reading, dreaming about reading, or planning what she'd be reading next. Then one day she started dreaming about writing and that was the beginning of an amazing journey.

When Claire isn't thigh-deep in laundry, shopping, cooking and general crowd control, you'll find her head-and-heart-deep in the tangled lives of her characters.

Find Claire online:

website
twitter
facebook

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EXCERPT

Evelyn was even more intrigued when she entered the drawing room. Not only was Lily’s mysterious gentleman the scrumptious Lord Adair from the previous night, but the two of them looked as if they’d been caught in flagrante. Lord Adair’s neck cloth looked as if it had been tied in unseemly haste—by a blind man. Lily’s skirts were scuffed and wrinkled and her bodice wasn’t sitting quite straight.

Lily left his side to meet Evelyn halfway across the room.

“If I’d known you were being ravished by Lord Dashing down here,” Evelyn declared in a whisper, “I would have stayed up there—” she raised her eyes to the ceiling “—another twenty minutes.”

“Don’t be absurd.” Lily’s hands flew to her hair.

“It’s your skirts that need patting down.” She linked her arm in Lily’s and strolled in the direction of Lord Adair, keeping her voice low. “What did he do? Drag you into the woods and toss you over a log?”

Lily went white in the face.

“By God.” Evelyn surged forward. “I’ll deal with the bloody Scotsman.”

“Evie, no, wait.” Lily dug her heels in. “Nothing happened. Must you always latch onto the most preposterous conclusions?”

Evelyn’s brows drew tight. Something felt wrong, but her friend made a valid point. She was rash and brash, a fact she’d never denied. She kept her sharp tongue on a leash and turned a smile on the man instead as they drew close. “How charming, Lord Adair, I was hoping we’d see more of you.”

“Lady Harchings.” He inclined his head in greeting.

Clearly not trusting her to keep the peace, Lily inserted breathlessly, “I was just telling Lady Harchings that we were riding in the park—”

“And your horses tossed both of you?” Evelyn couldn’t resist.

Lily rewarded her with a glare. “We were in Lord Adair’s carriage, but, um, yes, a rabbit or fox must have run across the path because one of the horses took fright—”

“You really should train them better,” Evelyn told him.

“The rabbits or the horses?” Lord Adair riposted dryly, his eyes never leaving Lily and a grin tugging at his mouth.

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A Matter Of Circumstance and Celludrones by Claire Robyns
Publisher: Claire Robyns
Series: Dark Matters #1
Genre: Steampunk, romance
Formats: ebook, paperback
Length: 563 KB, 208 pages
Release Date: September 24, 2012
Buying Links: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Claire will be awarding a $50 Amazon gift card to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour. If you follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/03/virtual-blurb-blitz-tour-matter-of.html

Spa GC Giveaway & An Excerpt From Riverbend by Tess Thompson

2013-05-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome, today I have another excerpt, this one from a romantic suspense, "Riverbend" by Tess Thompson. Tess is a novelist and playwright with a BFA in Drama from the University of Southern California. Her first novel, Riversong, became a bestselling ebook in 2012, reaching #1 on Nook and spending over a month in Amazon’s Top 100. On May 14 she will release her third novel, Riverbend, the second book in the River Valley Series.

Like many of the characters in the River Valley series, Tess is from a small town in Oregon. She currently lives in Seattle, Washington with her two young daughters, Emerson and Ella, and their puppy Patches, where she is inspired daily by the view of the Cascade Mountains from her home office window. Tess is working on her fourth novel and regularly blogs about her journey as a mother, author and friend at www.tesswrites.com.

Find Tess online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

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EXCERPT

Two days later, the first Monday she was to start work for Drake Webber, Annie dreamt of a man chasing her down the streets of Los Angeles as she carried baby Alder in her arms. Was it Marco? She couldn’t be sure. At a bump in the sidewalk, she tripped and fell. Blood spilled onto the cement. Then, there was a phone ringing, an old-fashioned ring tone like phones from her childhood.

With a start, she awakened, sitting up in bed, the blankets tangled around her legs and her pajamas soaking wet from perspiration. The ringing continued; it was her cell phone. She’d recently changed the ringtone to that of the old rotary phones. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she reached for the phone on the bedside table. What time was it? Not yet six a.m. Who would be calling this early? It was probably her mother with news of another boyfriend who left her penniless and unable to pay rent. This happened every year or so and Annie always sent money. And her mother always found one more loser to move in with a short time later.

“Hello,” she said, fully prepared to be annoyed that her mother had awakened her so early.

“Tag. I found you.”

Her stomach, like it might during a sudden five-story drop in an elevator, sank below her knees. Marco. His voice was rough, hard—she would recognize it anywhere. Was she still asleep? Please, God, let this still be my nightmare, she prayed silently. She trembled, the sweat-soaked pajamas cold on her skin. Her hand twitched, as if in a move to hang up the phone, but he spoke again. “What? Cat got your tongue?” She continued her silence, frozen. “Listen, bitch, I know it’s you. You’re all over the Internet these days. All you have to do is put your whore name into Google and there’s a dozen articles on you. You’re looking good, especially compared to what a cow you used to be. I’m coming to town. Shouldn’t be hard to find you. And then you’ll pay for what you did to me.”

She dropped the phone like it was hot and stared at it. Then she picked it up and punched the hang-up button before tossing it back on the bed. She folded her knees, wrapping her arms around them and rocking back and forth for several minutes. Oh no, no, no, no, a roar in her head.

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Riverbend by Tess Thompson
Publisher: Booktrope
Series: River Valley
Genre: Romance, mystery
Formats: Paperback
Length: 272 pages
Release Date: May 19, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

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Chat with author Andrew Gross and Enter to Win a Kindle Fire!

2013-05-21T19:12:00.001-04:00

Author Andrew Gross is back for another chat with BookTrib. If you're available tomorrow night, at 7:30 ET, go to BookTrib and join the chat.

Andrew's new book is "No Way Back": One woman is framed for a horrific crime, and desperate to prove her innocence. Wendy Gould is an attractive, happy suburban mom, and an experienced ex-cop. A chance meeting with a stranger in a hotel ends when the man is murdered and she’s the only witness, forcing her to run from rogue federal agents determined to keep her silent, even if it means killing her. Things only get worse when the authorities—the wrong ones—find their way to her door, giving her no recourse but to flee from her only safe haven.

A breathtaking tale featuring two strong, sympathetic women who must rely on each other to take down powerful, lethal forces, No Way Back is a riveting tale full of twists and thrilling surprises from the bestselling author who is “coming up on the rails behind Harlan Coben and Lee Child” (Evening Standard, U.K.)

Need a little encouragement? BookTrib has a surprise for you if you join the chat live with Andrew! For the first time ever, they will be giving away a brand new Kindle Fire! And it will be loaded with a selection of Andrew’s books!

The format for the chat is a little different this time; BookTrib will use Spreecast! It’s easy to use, all you need to do is log in with either Twitter, Facebook or your email (must be logged in to ask questions). If you decide to watch the chat without signing in, and still want to submit a question prior to his week's event with author ANDREW GROSS, please email LiveChat@BookTrib.com.

See you there!

Spotlight On: Beyond a Doubt by Felicia Rogers

2013-05-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Today it's my pleasure to feature Felicia Rogers' newest book, "Beyond A Doubt", the final book in her series, The Renaissance Heart. The first book in the series, "There Your Heart Will Be Also" was the first book I worked on after being hired by Astraea Press. Before I was hired by Astraea I read and reviewed a contemporary romance Felicia wrote, "The Perfect Rose", also pubbed by Astraea.

Disclaimer: I am not being compensated by either Astraea Press or Felicia Rogers for putting up this post.

Felicia Rogers is an author of six novels and three novellas. When she's not writing, Felicia volunteers with the Girl Scouts of America, teaches at a local homeschooling group, hikes, and spends time with her family.

Find Felicia online:

Website: http://www.feliciarogersauthor.weebly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FeliciaRogersAuthor

Email: feliciarogersauthor@yahoo.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4412925.Felicia_Rogers

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Bryce Cameron is finally going home. Years spent away have him longing for the craggy landscapes from his childhood.

Lucy Lombard is on a mission. The mantel she carries was never meant for her possession yet it has been passed to her anyway. Alone and in danger, Lucy stumbles onto her greatest find.

Rescuing Bryce is either a blessing or a curse but regardless time is running out. With Bryce's help can Lucy fulfill her mission or will she be too late?

Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: ebook
Length: 487 KB
Release Date: May10, 2013
Buying Links: Astraea Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Beyond A Doubt, The Renaissance Hearts Series, Book Four
The end is finally here…

The final chapter has been written for The Renaissance Hearts Series. What began with Sarra and Cedric in There Your Heart Will Be Also concludes with Bryce and Lucy in Beyond A Doubt. Set in the turbulent times of Mary I of England, or Bloody Mary, and Henry II of France, the fight for religious freedom abounds. Intrigue, loss of property, and loss of life rule the day. Follow the epic ending of a family’s struggle.

See what others have said about the Renaissance Hearts Series ~

“I really enjoyed this book. I do not typically favor historical romance, but the romance was not too mushy, and the historical was not too heavy! This was an enjoyable, delightful read!!!.” ~ Taken from Rachel’s Amazon review on There Your Heart Will Be Also, Book One.

“If you are in for a good mystery with plenty of adventure, suspense & romance, you have come to the right place for this recommended novel because "By God's Grace" will give it all to you.” ~ Taken from Arlena’s Amazon review of By God’s Grace, Book Two.

“Okay have to say this is my fav book so far in The Renaissance Heart Series! Felicia Rogers just gets better!” ~ Taken from Danielle William’s Amazon review of Labor of Love, Book Three.

Review of Eliza's Forever Trees by Stephanie Lisa Tara

2013-05-21T07:30:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Brown Books
Format Read: Trade paperback
Source: From the author in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 20, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Blurb from goodreads:

Suddenly Mother jumped to her feet and ran to one of the trees, a three-hundred-foot-tall redwood. "Forever tree! Forever tree!" she cried, smiling. She swept the skinny girl up into her arms. The child's pale skin shimmered in the golden forest light. "Forever trees, forever trees," they sang, spinning in circles. The memory melted into the fog, and Eliza felt very tired. The question came again to her. It appeared out of the gray, out of the damp, out of the cold corners of this new house. The question whispered it always did the kind of whisper that sounded very loud indeed: Where had Mother gone? Shadows appeared and disappeared in Eliza's mind. Still, she couldn't remember. She simply could not remember anything after that last story in the forest. For some reason, she wasn't terribly worried. She was a little worried, for sure, but not terribly worried, because a strange calm held the shadows and the question. It held Eliza, too. Because love is forever.

Bea's Thoughts:

This book just didn't hold my interest. I should have read it in a few hours, not a few days, but either I'd put it down and do other things or I'd doze off while reading it. Part of the problem was that I was just wasn't invested enough in Eliza, she didn't feel real to me. Maybe if the story had started before Mother went away and we had seen Eliza before instead of just after. The story felt too long and there were parts that weren't necessary such as the chapters with the frogs. I also questioned why bats were initially presented as bad guys; in the real world bats do fantastic job of controlling the mosquito population.

I did like the mythic overtones to the story and Eliza's journey and the use of different animals as helpers on her journey. The subplot of a storm and it's effects on the animals and how they react to it was sweet and, if not subtle, was not a too obvious commentary on cooperation. There is a generous helping of quotes from childrens books that are in the public domain; Tara clearly loves and knows childrens books. She also has a talent for words and language that children and adults can enjoy:

The memory melted into the fog, and Eliza felt very tired. The question came again to her. It appeared out of the gray, out of the damp, out of the cold corners of this new house. The question whispered-it always did-the kind of whisper that sounded very loud indeed

Even butterflies knew what she knew-that stories are forever friends; they speak a language any girl or butterfly could understand.

Books give warmth. They warm us with their words.

"These are huckleblerries," she said. "Huckleblerries?" asked Eliza. "Yes. That's what they are called," declared the ladybug. "Not huckleberries?" asked Eliza. "No!" said the ladybug sharply. "Huckleblerries, with an l. Ladybug starts with l. It's a very important letter."

Gwooop went Eliza's foot as it sank into the mud. "Walooop," said the mud as she pulled her foot back out. "Gwooop!" cried Eliza. "Waloop!" echoed the butterfly.

Tara weaves themes of the treasure found in stories, the delicate balance of life, and the importance of working together along with a subtler theme of ecology and preservation. Despite my love of books and my belief in the themes that Tara uses, the book, as I said earlier, just didn't hold my interest. Then again, I'm not the intended audience and maybe a child in elementary school or middle school might enjoy the book more.

Excerpt from The World Below by Mike Phillips

2013-05-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

Welcome to today's stop on the blog tour for "The World Below"; I have an excerpt for you to enjoy. Mike is the author of not only "The World Below" but "Reign of the Nightmare Prince". His short stories have appeared in ParAbnormal Digest, Cemetery Moon, Sinister Tales, Beyond Centauri, the World of Myth, Mystic Signals and many others. Online, his work has appeared in Lorelei Signal, Kzine, Bewildering Stories, Midnight Times, and Fringe. He is best known for his Crow Witch and Patrick Donegal series.

Find Mike online:

Website: mikephillipsfantasy.com

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Mike has a brief message for you all:

Good morning, everyone. Mike Phillips here. Thank you for joining us on the book tour. I hope you check out The World Below. I was asked to say a little something about the authors that have influenced my work. The poetry of WB Yates has been a big influence on my writing. I love the imagery. My style of writing is most influenced by James Lee Burke. Beyond that, I must give a nod to Dean Koontz. He taught me how to write suspense, how to draw out key moments to the action more dramatic. Thanks again for joining us. I’m off to work, but I’ll be checking in during the day. Please visit me at mikephillipsfantasy.com Take care, Mike Phillips

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EXCERPT

Magic sigils were hidden all over the city, but along the Riverwalk powers of earth and water converged. Magic here was strange and unpredictable, but always strong. A star was carved on the nearest of the old cottonwoods. It was ancient magic, made perhaps by the native tribes who once inhabited this place.

Hume could not guess what its purpose was. For all he knew, it would take him away to some desperate corner of the underworld to be forever enslaved. He did nothing to protect himself. He had to let events run their course.

Finding Lady Elizabeth proved impossible. If this stranger had information, then he would surrender himself to free his sister.

A breath of chill air interrupted his thoughts. He shivered.

It was his humanity giving him warning. People who didn’t know any better would attach some old wives’ tale to the feeling, but he was not so blinded by the mundane. No one tread on his future grave. Evil approached.

In the world outside the reach of the cottonwood, the sun escaped below the horizon. Night had come.

Darkness coalesced; growing deeper in this haven below the trees, gathering until the river and the bay and everything beyond the sphere of darkness was lost. A black bird flew to a nearby piling. The crow was mangy and looked only moments from death by old age. It ruffled its ancient feathers and stared at Hume, penetrating his mind.

Unafraid, he stared back, filling his thoughts with a variety of deaths the crow might suffer at his hand. The bird cawed angrily, its harsh voice a show of defiance.

“Let’s get on with it,” he said. “Sunset was an hour ago.”

“Nightfall is now,” snapped the bird.

“Point taken. My mistake.”

The crow’s voice was as harsh as its call. “Patience Hume, your eagerness does you no credit. A lesser being than I might take it as a sign of weakness, but no advantage will I press. I know what it is to have a loved one in danger.”

“Oh? So, is that why you are here? How nice.”

“Yes, I wish to help you, and I have other reasons.”

“What are they?”

“Patience, Hume. Patience” The crow laughed. “We’ll get to that later.”

“Lovely.”

Another crow flew to the piling. Soon the place within the dark was full of crows. They raced to the piling, circling Hume like a cyclone. He stood still, and though the impossibility of safety seemed assured, he wasn’t touch.

The birds fused together, forming something in the shape of a man. The man was covered in black feathers. He had a crow’s head with a sharp beak and beady eyes. A mantle of greater feathers ringed his neck.

“That’s a little much,” Hume said. “Who are you trying to impress?”

“I must admit I’ve always had the knack for the dramatic. As a show of trust I appear to you as my true self.”

“Does that make you a murder or a man?”

“Ha, ha, quite clever,” said the crow man. “I shall have to remember that one. Yes, quite clever indeed.”

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The World Below by Mike Phillips

Publisher: Damnation Books
Series: Chronicles of the Goblin King, #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Formats: paperback, ebook
Length: 206 pages, 799 KB
Release Date: March 1, 2013
Buying Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Damnation Books

The book is on sale for half off if you buy direct from the publisher, use code: 50worldbelow The discount ends June 2nd.

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Quote-Tastic #3

2013-05-20T00:00:00.001-04:00

Anna at Herding Cats & Burning Soup has created a new weekly meme. Want to join along?

Click on the link above. Anna is posting hers on Mondays, as am I, but you can choose any day of the week that works for you. Leave me a link in your comment and I will check out your quotes!

This week's quote is from an urban fantasy book, Dark Whispers, by Krista D. Ball. Krista is not a romance fan and this quote from the lead character Rachel had me laughing so hard I gave myself a coughing fit.

Also, I really love this cover <3.

Dark Whispers by Krista D. Ball

It was a dark and stormy night. A good paranormal romance could never have a better opening. You know how it goes. Girl meets boy. Boy is a vampire. Girl gives in to carnal temptation. Tab A inserts into Slot B. Someone shoves an assault rifle up a demon's ass. Everyone lives happy ever after.

It’s the Bella Andre Summer of Love! Win a Beach Bag Or a Trip to Las Vegas!

2013-05-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Summer 2013 is the Bella Andre Summer of Love! She has three books releasing this summer and to celebrate this spectacular summer of hot reads AND the release of the first three books in her sizzling Sullivans series, Meryl Moss Media is having a Bella Andre Summer of Love Beach Bag Contest!

The bag has brands such as O.P.I., Evian, Not Your Mother’s Hair Care, and Unisun Eyewear. See the picture below for some of the goodies in the bag. Enter using the rafflecopter, open to residents in the US ~~and Canada~~. Giveaway ends May 31st at 11:59PM EST.

ETA May 22nd 6:50PM EST: I'm so sorry but the sponsor had to change the giveaway to US residents only. I apologize for the inconvenience and annoyance ~ Bea

There's even more!

It’s the Bella Andre Summer of Love Mixtape Contest!

Visit Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks from May 22nd – May 31^st and create your SUMMER OF LOVE Mixtape for a chance to win a trip for YOU and THREE friends to Las Vegas.

*No purchase necessary. Ends May 31, 2013.

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Children's Book Week Review of The Rising by Kelley Armstrong

2013-05-19T16:30:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Harper
Series: Darkness Rising #3
Format Read: hardcover
Source: My local library
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Blurb from goodreads: *May contain spoilers for earlier books*

Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by the powerful St. Clouds and now a rival Cabal as well, they're quickly running out of places to hide. And with the whole world thinking they died in a helicopter crash, it's not like they can just go to the authorities for help.

All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they're so valuable, and why their supernatural powers are getting more and more out of control.

But Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her. And now, like it or not, she'll have to face down some demons from her past if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because Maya can't keep running forever.

Old secrets are revealed and unexpected characters make a surprising return in this stunning conclusion to Kelley Armstrong's New York Times bestselling Darkness Rising trilogy.

Bea's Thoughts: *May contain spoilers for earlier books*

With this book, I feel as if the Otherworld books really are at an end. WAAH! I know that Kelley may do more novellas but I don't believe there are any full length books planned and while this book wraps up most of the loose ends in this series and the related YA series, Darkest Powers, the ending is also open-ended enough to leave the possibility of future stories. Please, Kelley, please? PLEASE! The ending is not too open-ended, there's a resolution, and it's a Happy For Now, not a definitive Happy Ending.

I should probably back up and start over. "The Rising" starts right after the end of the second book. Maya, Corey and Daniel are free; Hayley, Rafe, Annie, Sam and Nicole have been captured by a Cabal. Maya, Corey and Daniel are trying to rescue their friends, reunite with their families and avoid the Cabals. Things don't go according to plan. In fact they make mistakes, some poor decisions, and at one point I was ready to smack Maya for being so stubborn and single-minded and for her poor choices. I got frustrated with some of the bad decisions she and the others made in the first half of the book but I reminded myself that they were after all teenagers and their lives prior to these events had been pretty cushy. They may have been book smart but they weren't street smart. Fortunately they hook up with another teen, Ash, who is street smart and is disgusted with some of their decisions. With his appearance, the action, and tension, really picks up. Later, the kids meet up with the kids and adults from Project Genesis from the Darkest Powers trilogy. I really enjoyed seeing their interactions and their opinions of each other. Seeing Maya change over the books and become aware of her tendency to be judgmental and becoming a little less so was also wonderful. The relationships between Maya, Daniel, Corey, Rafe and Ash were beautifully, realistically done and added to the story, gave it depth. The ending, as I said, is a Happy For Now, with a door left open for more stories in the future for any or all of the characters in the two YA series. I wasn't sure how Kelley was going to pull off any sort of happy ending but she did it and while it's not perfect, Maya and the others had to accept compromises, it's a good ending for them and for us the readers.

Armstrong gives us emotional twists, some angst, some romance, betrayal, unexpected allies, plot twists and one hell of an absorbing story. I stayed up until 3:30AM finishing the book and it was worth every minute. If you haven't started this series, go buy them now.

Sunday Book Share #37

2013-05-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

I'm participating in Feed My Reader Friday hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Showcase Sunday hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea,and Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews. These memes allow book bloggers the chance to share print and digital books they've received, and different posts and events at their blogs.

Children's Book Week is still going on through tomorrow and then it's back to my regularly scheduled programming. Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Children's Book Week. There are six books to choose from and it's open internationally. Last week I not only reviewed every day but I guest posted at a couple of blogs. I was at Nocturnal Book Reviews discussing my favorite books so far this year and then I was at author Calle J. Brookes' blog discussing how to handle food allergies in the classroom.

Life at school was hectic last week as one child had a really rough week that affected the entire classroom and had the entire teaching team reaching for wine bottles at the end of the day every day. I really hope he has a better week this week; there may not be enough chocolate or wine to get me through the day otherwise.

The Week In Review

Reviews:

Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr (MG, Mythology, UF)

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book (ages 5-12) (Science, non-fiction)

The Man Who Dreamed of Elk-Dogs & Other Stories from the Tipi by Paul Goble (ages 3-12) (Folk tales)

The Five Mouse Brothers by Rachel Yu (ages 3-6) (Folk tales)

The Ugly Duckling and The Turtle (ages 2-6) (Folk Tales)

Zoophabets ABC Book: Animal Alphabet A-Z by Rob Mabry & Michael Golez (birth to 2)

Memes: Quote-Tastic #2 Cat Thursday - I Love You Mom Sunday Book Share #36

News & info: Hopping around the blogosphere!

Giveaways:
Win 1 of 6 kids books, open internationally, ends May 19th.
Kindle Fire from author Stephanie Lisa Tara, ends May 31st, 2013
A Kindle Fire HD or $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 PayPal Cash, ends May 31st.
2 Melissa and Doug Giant Plush Stuffed Sea Turtles, ends June 12th.
15 copies, 1 per winner, of Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book, ends June 12th.

Odd and Unusual Search Phrases Leading to the Blog: "how to catch a cat"; "textures words"; "beta 2 agonist"; and "sex aan de beas" (snicker)

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge: One book but that's one more than I expected since my focus was on children's books -

The Man Who Dreamed of Elk-Dogs & Other Stories from the Tipi by Paul Goble (ages 3-12) (Folk tales); this week I should have at least two.

The Upcoming Week

Reviews - The Rising by Kelley Armstrong (YA, UF)

The Farm by (YA, UF)

Eliza's Forever Trees by Stephanie Lisa Tara (G, Fantasy)

Blog Tours - Excerpt from "The World Below" by Mike Phillips (UF)

Spotlight on "Beyond A Doubt" by Felicia Rogers (Historical Romance)

Excerpt from "A Matter of Circumstance and Celludrones (Dark Matters - Book 1)" by Claire Robyns (Steampunk UF)

Spotlight on "Riverbend" by Tess Thompson (Romantic suspense)

Excerpt from "The Tree of Jesse" by JR Mattison (PNR, Mystery)

BOOKS

Bought - Kindle

Review Consideration- Print

Review - Kindle

Kindle Freebies

Leave me a link in your comment and I'll come visit. :) I hope you have a great week!

Children's Book Week Review of The Man Who Dreamed of Elk-Dogs & Other Stories from the Tipi by Paul Goble

2013-05-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Wisdom Tales
Format Read: I started with an Egalley and then switched to print
Source: I received an egalley from the publisher & I won a hardcover on goodreads, both in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: June 2012
Buying Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Blurb from goodreads:

In this beautifully illustrated book by award-winning author Paul Goble, readers can discover the fascinating story of how horses first appeared to the tribes of the American Plains. In his final collection of stories from the tipi, Goble features a collection of 23 traditional stories from the Blackfoot, Lakota, Assiniboin, Pawnee, and Cheyenne nations. This book features a foreword by Lauren Candy Waukau-Villagomez, an educator and author of works on the oral traditions and storytelling of the North American tribes.

Bea's Thoughts:

The artwork in this book is gorgeous, with vibrant colors done in a semi-primitive folk style. I can see young children looking at the pictures and making up their own stories. The stories themselves are more suited for older children, say elementary school age, or for curious adults. Goble admits that they are pared down versions of oral traditions and some of them are quite short or end abruptly. The vocabulary is occasionally more adult than you might expect in a book marketed for children, but I don't have a problem with that; in my opinion it's better than talking down to children and encourages them to ask more questions. If the majority of the vocabulary were over their heads, then that would be frustrating. Some of the topics, such as attempted murder, are a bit much for children. I should point out that the author states in his Author's Note that he chose only stories that he felt "fit comfortably with today's thinking, avoiding stories which involve revenge or killing,...the stories are abbreviated; oral tellings would have been much longer." He apparently forgot about the story where wives try to kill their husband.

Goble assigns each story to a Native American tribe but freely admits that such designations are often arbitrary and that tribes hundreds or thousands of miles apart had similar stories. I found some of the stories to be dry; some, as I mentioned, were rather abrupt; and others were engrossing. The stories themselves are a mix of parables, morality plays and creation stories. Each story has a forward, afterward or even both, to give some context to the story for modern readers and the back of the book has a bibliography for readers interested in doing more research. "The Man Who Dreamed of Elk-Dogs and Other Stories from the Tipi" is a good primer for Native American Folklore. It's a rich and complex tradition and the stories, I am certain, only scratch the surface.

Children's Book Week Review of The Ugly Duckling and the Turtle by Sharlene Alexander

2013-05-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Format Read: Kindle Book
Source: I own it.
Release Date: June 19, 2012
Buying Links: Amazon Sorry, it's only available at Amazon

Blurb from Amazon:

This is a fun modern twist on the classic story, "The Ugly Duckling" by Hans Christian Anderson. Find out how a little turtle saves the day when the ducklings wander off to the beach. This story ends with a great message about family and being yourself.

-Illustrated with bright color pictures
-A fun story to read over and over again.

Bea's Thoughts:

The title of this book is slightly misleading as the turtle IS the ugly duckling. I understand the author was playing on the Hans Christian Andersen story but the author could have come up with something else. That quibble aside, "The Ugly Duckling and The Turtle" is a cute, if predictable story with good illustrations. There are nice little details such as furrowed brows on the faces of the ducklings when they are nervous or scared and the colors are not too bright. On my kindle touch, which isn't color, some of the details get lost but I also read it using my laptop's kindle app which is in color and that made a world of difference.

The story, as I said, is predictable but it's sweet and cute and the message of acceptance is a good one to learn at a young age. Happily, for me anyway, the message is not shoved down our throats but is a little more subtle. Young readers will enjoy the story and the pictures.

Hopping Around the Blogosphere!

2013-05-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

I'm visiting two different blogs, sharing my thoughts. First, I'm over at Nocturnal Book Reviews talking about my favorite books so far this year. Kara is on vacation and invited other bloggers to post while she's gone. Then, if you hop over to author Calle J. Brookes' blog, I'm talking about handling food allergies in the classroom. It's Food Allergy Awareness Week and she's been focusing on it all week at her blog. For those of you who don't know, I teach preschool and have extensive experience dealing with allergies in the classroom as well as my own food allergies.

So stop by one or both blogs and say hi!

Children's Book Week Review of Zoophabets ABC Book: Animal Alphabet A-Z by Rob Mabry & Michael Golez

2013-05-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Author: Rob Mabry
Illustrator: Michael Golez
Format Read: Kindle Book
Source: I own it.
Release Date: September 2, 2012
Buying Link: Amazon It doesn't appear to be available elsewhere.

Blurb from Amazon:

Can an alligator ride on an airplane? Do zebras zoom on zip lines? They do in the magical world of the Zoophabets. Take your child on an alliterative adventure through the alphabet with this charming, colorful ABC book for kids.

There's an adorable Zoophabet character for every letter of the alphabet from Allen the Alligator to Zed the Zebra. Your kids will love the delightful animals that inhabit the world of the Zoophabets.

Teach your child their ABCs with this wonderfully illustrated alphabet book that's best appreciated on a device that displays in color. Babies and toddlers will love having this read to them, learning letters, animals and objects on every page.

Preschool age kids will enjoy the alliterative sentences and cute characters as they read about vultures with violins and beavers riding bicycles.

Bea's Thoughts:

The illustrations in this book are cute and not overly detailed. Each picture nicely illustrates the letter being depicted and the authors use both lower and uppercase versions of each letter. They also use a simple, clean font which makes the letters easy to see and read and use that same font for the text. There's an animal for each letter and a sentence involving the animal and at least two other words that start with the letter. So for H, we have "Henry the Horse is hiding in the hay" and the picture illustrates the sentence. A few of the words used in the book are probably not found in most children's vocabulary which is a great way to stretch their vocabulary.

Overall, it's a cute book that does a good job of introducing the alphabet and new words.

Cat Thursday - I Love You Mom

2013-05-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

Children's Book Week Review of The Five Mouse Brothers by Rachel Yu

2013-05-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Createspace
Format Read: Kindle book
Source: I own it.
Release Date: July 16, 2011
Buying Link: Amazon Barnes & Noble

Blurb from goodreads:

Five mouse brothers live happily in Bok Tong Goh Village. But then…

One brother, falsely accused of thievery, must face the “Wheel of Doom.” What will they do to rescue him from his fate? Fortunately, an ingenious plan with the help of their family secret may just save the day. Join the mouse brothers on this fun and entertaining adventure, adapted from a classic Chinese folktale.

Bea's Thoughts:

Although the book doesn't specify which folktale it was adapted from, I believe "The Seven Brothers" was the inspiration. In this story, which is generously illustrated, one of the brothers is falsely accused of theft and sentenced to die. But the brothers are not normal mice and they each have a supernatural ability. The brothers use trickery and their abilities to ensure that the accused brother doesn't die. The story has a twist at the end that appears to set up for another book. I couldn't completely appreciate the pictures as my kindle touch is black and white but the style is cute and younger readers will enjoy simply looking at them. "The Five Mouse Brothers" is a cute story that can be appreciated as is, as an introduction to folklore or a jumping off point to study Chinese culture.

Children's Book Week Review of Loki's Wolves by K.L Armstrong and M.A. Marr

2013-05-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Little, Brown
Series: The Blackwell Pages #1
Format: Hardcover
Source: I own it.
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository

Blurb from goodreads:

In Viking times, Norse myths predicted the end of the world, an event called Ragnarok, that only the gods can stop. When this apocalypse happens, the gods must battle the monsters--wolves the size of the sun, serpents that span the seabeds, all bent on destroying the world.

The gods died a long time ago.

Matt Thorsen knows every Norse myth, saga, and god as if it was family history--because it is family history. Most people in the modern-day town of Blackwell, South Dakota, in fact, are direct descendants of either Thor or Loki, including Matt's classmates Fen and Laurie Brekke.

However, knowing the legends and completely believing them are two different things. When the rune readers reveal that Ragnarok is coming and kids--led by Matt--will stand in for the gods in the final battle, he can hardly believe it. Matt, Laurie, and Fen's lives will never be the same as they race to put together an unstoppable team to prevent the end of the world.

Bea's Thoughts:

Well, it's no secret I'm a Kelley fan. I've read just about everything she has ever published, regardless of genre. I haven't read anything by Melissa Marr but Kelley's name was enough to grab me; add in Norse mythology and I was sold. But...middle grade? I don't read it very often and much of it makes me want to gouge my eyes out. But, it's Kelley and it's mythology and it's a mythology that hasn't been done to death already. So, I ordered my copy.

The authors didn't let me down. Armstrong and Marr wrote a fantastic adventure story full of heartbreak, betrayal, growing up, and learning to trust; trust yourself, trust your instincts, trust each other. The main kids, Matt, Laurie and Fen feel real but aren't obnoxious and the others they pick up along the way, Baldwin, twins Ray and Reyna, and Astrid, are also realistic. It's a struggle for everyone to learn to trust each other and to work together. Matt naturally steps into the role of leader but it's a role he struggles with as he lacks confidence in his ability to lead and to stop Ragnarok and of course he makes mistakes along the way.

If you're not up on Norse mythology, or if like me it's been years since you read any, don't worry, the authors weave it naturally into the story. If you find it piques your interest, try out Kevin Hearne's adult urban fantasy series, the Iron Druid Chronicles where he mixes Norse, Celtic and other mythologies.

The story is not all angst; there's lots of action as Matt, Laurie and Fen leave home to find their remaining companions, encounter adults who don't understand, trolls who want treasure, etc. They not only have to find their other companions but acquire certain objects and pass a test before they can actually stop Ragnarok. There's only two books left and still a lot of ground to cover. Will they be successful? Will Matt and the others save the world? Will they survive the process? Will I survive waiting a year for the next book? "Loki's Wolves" is a wonderful, engrossing tale smartly moves Norse mythology into the modern world. Go get a copy now!

Children's Book Week Review of Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book: fotos, facts, and fun!

2013-05-13T08:30:00.000-04:00

Publisher: Stephanie Lisa Tara
Format Read: PDF and finished softcover
Source: The author in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: April 11, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository

Blurb from goodreads:

Dear Turtle Activists,

I want to thank each and every one of you for your tireless dedication and love to our cause! I have written this book FOR YOU! I dedicate this book TO YOU! 120 pages of fotos, facts and fun!

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book has a primary goal: SAVING SEA TURTLES FROM EXTINCTION. A portion of proceeds from this book go to charitable organizations like the Turtle Foundation (www.turtle-foundation.org) of whom my first turtle book, I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON—is a proud sponsor.

If you are new to us—please join with us, for together, holding hands, we can effect change. Yes—really! xoxo. SAVE GREEN SEA TURTLES on Facebook (www.facebook.com/.../Save-Green-Sea-T...) is our hugely popular hang-out—tens of thousands of Activists-strong. Please join us!

NOW—prepare for something totally new and amazing!

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book is not your typical scientific turtle book: my special book is all about having FUN! Enjoy the mini FLIP-BOOK in the corners and create a movie of your own! Click the ebook pages—or thumb through manually in the paperback—YOUR CHOICE!

I've written these chapters in a fun, chatty voice—you know, the one YOU use when talking up your favorite topics! Don't be surprised if you find yourself giggling as you turn pages! Enjoy breathtaking photography, incredible facts, and way-out wow'ing surprises that these millennium-old creatures have to share.

AND: TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE! Yep! Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book is my second turtle book—it's a perfect TWIN to my first international bestseller, I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON: buy BOTH TOGETHER for your shelf. Two little twins; one a fable, one fotos, facts & fun.

So, in closing...please accept this deeply personal gift from me, your faithful sea turtle leader, the turtle-lady, or Stephanie Lisa Turtle - as I was renamed recently by a fan—from my heart to yours.

GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THE CAUSE TO SAVE SEA TURTLES FROM EXTINCTION!

Bea's Thoughts:

Last month I reviewed Tara's fiction book, "I'll Follow the Moon", about a newborn sea turtle who hatches, and goes to the ocean in search of his mother. It has been a best seller for Tara and may be the book she's best known for. Tara also believes strongly in conservation so she undertook to create a non-fiction book about sea turtles for children. While "I'll Follow The Moon" is aimed at toddlers and preschoolers this book is more for school-age children.

Tara educates and entertains her readers in this generously illustrated book. There are photographs on almost every page. The photos illustrate the different varieties of sea turtles, their habits, their risks and the people who help them. Tara gives background on each species of sea turtle, discusses what challenges they face, what people are doing to help, and what the readers can do to help. Tara offers many suggestions for action, from the simple such as turning off lights when not in use to more complicated actions such as volunteering with a rescue organization or becoming a politician or scientist. Her tone is chatty, sometimes too much so, but it's friendly and conversational. At times it veered on patronizing but I think most children will enjoy her style.

The book is available in both ebook and print versions and the text contains links that ebook readers can click for more information. I would have liked an index at the book of all the links and sites referenced for the print readers and even the ebook readers. She does have a bibliography of suggested reading, as well as a list of practical suggestions on how to help and a glossary. At the bottom of each page in the corner are little pictures that when you flip the pages quickly give you a little story in motion. The artwork and the photographs are lovely and add to the book.

The Turtle Book is well-researched, easy to read and logically laid out for both easy reading and quickly looking something up. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in turtles or conservation. I donated my print review copy to my school's library.

It's Children's Book Week! Win A Book in the Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop.

2013-05-13T00:00:00.001-04:00

That gorgeous poster was designed by Brian Selznick, Caldecott winner, 2012 Children's Choice Book Awards Illustrator of the Year, and creator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck. He created it for Children's Book Week, the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Each year events are held throughout the US in libraries, bookstores, and schools, or anywhere young children and books can come together. The idea is to celebrate books for young readers and the joy of reading.

If you're reading this blog, you already know about the joy of reading. Maybe you can help share it. See if there are events in your area: Official Events Local Events Talk to your local school, library or bookstore and see if they would be willing to set up an event and then offer to help. See that beautiful poster above? It's available for FREE. Go here to read how to get it. There's also a free bookmark that you can download here. Are there any children in your life? Give them a book, one you loved as a child or one you think they will love; maybe give them a gift card to a bookstore, take them to the library, help them get a library card if they don't have one, read a book with them. Share the love of reading and encourage literacy.

I'll be reviewing one children's book a day every day during Children's Book Week. Some I own, some belong to the school where I teach, and some I received for review. I'll start and end the week reviewing books by Stephanie Lisa Tara; she donated several books to my school a few months ago and I'll likely pass on these review copies to my school.

Share the book love!

I'm sharing the book love by taking part in the Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop hosted by KidLitFrenzy, Mymcbooks & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

It is a hop so be sure to look at the linky at the end of the post and visit the other blogs to see what books they are giving away. Enter my giveaway using the rafflecopter widget below. Please read my Giveaway Policy. This giveaway is international; if Amazon ships to your country, you are eligible to enter.

The Prize:

Any of the books shown below; click on the image to go to the book's goodreads page. You can choose print or kindle from Amazon. Please make sure that Amazon kindle, if you want that format, is available in your country.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Quote-Tastic #2

2013-05-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Anna at Herding Cats & Burning Soup has created a new weekly meme. Want to join along?

Click on the link above. Anna is posting hers on Mondays, as am I, but you can choose any day of the week that works for you. Leave me a link in your comment and I will check out your quotes!

This week's quote is from Loki's Wolves, which I read over the weekend. Click on the cover to go its goodreads page.

Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr

Champion? Really? No, really? I'm not ven in high school yet, and they expect me to fight some giant serpent and save the world?

This isn't just some boxing experiment. It's the world.

Matt didn't quite get how that worked. Kill the serpent; save the world. That's how it was supposed to go. In the myth of Ragnarok, the gods faced off against the monsters. If they defeated the monsters, the world would continue as it was. If the monsters won, they'd take over. If both sides died-as they did in the myths predicting Ragnarok-the world would be plunged into an ice age.

What if the stories are real?

But if the stories aren't real, then Thor isn't real. ha amulet around your neck isn't real. Your power isn't real

Except it obviously was. Which meant...

Even thinking about that made Matt's stomach churn and his head hurt and his feet ache to run home. Just race home and jump in bed and pull up the covers and hide. Puke and hide: the strategy of champions.

Mother Sea Turtle Month! Win a book or Sea Turtle Plushies!

2013-05-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

Stephanie Lisa Tara presents Mother Sea Turtle month! Mothers need to stick together; whether scaly, feathered, furry or skinned! And to celebrate this Mother's Day and the release of her newest turtle book, Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book—which is the companion follow-up to her first international bestseller, I'll Follow the Moon—Stephanie Lisa Tara is giving away 2 gorgeous, large plush sea turtles (26"L x 8"H x 16"W) to reviewers!

Dear Turtle Activists,

I want to thank each and every one of you for your tireless dedication and love to our cause! I have written this book FOR YOU! I dedicate this book TO YOU! 120 pages of fotos, facts and fun!

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book has a primary goal: SAVING SEA TURTLES FROM EXTINCTION. A portion of proceeds from this book go to charitable organizations like the Turtle Foundation (www.turtle-foundation.org) of whom my first turtle book, I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON—is a proud sponsor.

If you are new to us—please join with us, for together, holding hands, we can effect change. Yes—really! xoxo. SAVE GREEN SEA TURTLES on Facebook (www.facebook.com/.../Save-Green-Sea-T...) is our hugely popular hang-out—tens of thousands of Activists-strong. Please join us!

NOW—prepare for something totally new and amazing!

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book is not your typical scientific turtle book: my special book is all about having FUN! Enjoy the mini FLIP-BOOK in the corners and create a movie of your own! Click the ebook pages—or thumb through manually in the paperback—YOUR CHOICE!

I've written these chapters in a fun, chatty voice—you know, the one YOU use when talking up your favorite topics! Don't be surprised if you find yourself giggling as you turn pages! Enjoy breathtaking photography, incredible facts, and way-out wow'ing surprises that these millennium-old creatures have to share.

AND: TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE! Yep! Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book is my second turtle book—it's a perfect TWIN to my first international bestseller, I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON: buy BOTH TOGETHER for your shelf. Two little twins; one a fable, one fotos, facts & fun.

So, in closing...please accept this deeply personal gift from me, your faithful sea turtle leader, the turtle-lady, or Stephanie Lisa Turtle - as I was renamed recently by a fan—from my heart to yours.

GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THE CAUSE TO SAVE SEA TURTLES FROM EXTINCTION!

I've always believed that magic hides in special places. As a child, people would often stare at my bright red hair, which was very, very bright indeed.

Unfortunately, I developed a bad habit of making up rhymes about all of them, and they soon became funny characters. I didn't have much time to think about being different; fanciful lyricisms danced in my head, and no one was safe!

Since then, I've come to believe that storytelling has the power to inspire a deep love of language and learning. Words tripping off the tongue in somersaults that stick to your thoughts like taffy-- those are the things that stay forever in the mind.

I've lived in many special places: on a farm, in a city skyscraper, on a tropical beach, and in the beautiful country of France. Now I live in northern California, between the redwood forests and the sea. Even though I'm an adult, I'm still as silly as ever.

Many nice words have been used to describe my books, such as fun, engaging, delightful, and whimsical. Some folks say that I deliver timeless messages of love for kids and parents to share again and again; this makes me very happy. I hope that you'll enjoy my stories, too. Captivating children with language is something that I believe in, and I strive to live my life with this always.
--Stephanie Lisa Tara

www.StephanieLisaTara.com
stephanielisatarabooks@gmail.com

Cause pages (each supports a book's vision):

Facebook page for Save the Polar Bears | Facebook Page for Save the Green Turtles | Facebook Page for Save the Redwood Forests

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Personal Sites:

Facebook | Amazon | Website

Giveaway:

15 lucky people will win a copy of Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book. You must be 13 or older to enter. Open to US addresses only. Giveaway runs from May 12th to June 12, 2013

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two lucky reviewers will win a Melissa and Doug Giant Plush Stuffed Sea Turtle that retails at $34.99 and measures 26"L x 8"H x 16"W. You must review Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book on Amazon to enter. This giveaway runs from Mothers Day, May 12th to June 12th, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And you can still enter to win a Kindle Fire!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday Book Share #36

2013-05-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

I'm participating in Feed My Reader Friday hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews. These memes allow book bloggers the chance to share print and digital books they've received, and different posts and events at their blogs.

It's Mother's Day here in the US so to all of you who are mothers, regardless of where you live, I hope your family takes care of you and you have a wonderful day. My mother died thirty years today so I'll be out at the cemetery today, maintaining it and taking flowers. No plants, I can't keep plants alive so I take cut flowers and then I don't feel guilty when they die. Later I'll call my stepmother and wish her a happy Mother's Day. What are your plans?

The Week In Review

Reviews: Playing Hooky by Rita Webb (New Adult, urban fantasy, romance) I really enjoyed it.

Targets of Revenge by Jeffrey S. Stephens (action adventure) This one however I really HATED.

Guest Post: Why Doesn't She Just Leave the Jerk? By Lori L. Clark

Excerpts: Dawn of a Dark Knight by Zoe Forward (PNR)

Interview: Author Zoe Forward (PNR)

Cover & Trailer Reveal: Losing Francesca by J.A. Huss (New Adult, Mystery, Romance)

Memes: Quote-Tastic #1 Cat Thursday - Worship Me! Sunday Book Share #35

Giveaways:

2 Hardcover copies of A Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins and a $40 Amazon.com gift card for a total of 3 winners.

A $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash from author J.A. Huss, ends May 12th

Beaded bookmarks, earrings and other prizes from author Rita J Webb, ends May 13th

(Prize 1) A Kindle Touch, a $15 Amazon.com gift card, (Prize 2) a Kindle copy of "Topped Chef" & "Bowled Over", a $15 Book Depository gift card, (Prize 3) a Kindle copy of "Murder on the First Day of Christmas" & "Game Drive", a $15 Amazon.com gift card, (Prize 4) your choice of a cozy mystery paperbacks (up to $25 in value), 4 winners in all, ends May 15th.

1 of 5 Kindle copies of Meg the Egg by Rita Borg & or a $25 Amazon Gift Card, ends May 17th.

Kindle Fire from author Stephanie Lisa Tara, ends May 31st, 2013

A Kindle Fire HD or $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 PayPal Cash, ends May 31st.

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge: I had a slower week this week. I read several books but only two that counted for the challenge and one of them took me several days; Playing Hooky and Targets of Revenge.

Odd and interesting phrases that led to the blog: "how to catch a cat" remains popular as does "and seclusion" :D; various wordings of "Nora Roberts releases" are also popular and there was a search for a book that I've never heard, "Reboot" by Amy Tintera. I've no idea why that led to my blog.

Coming Up This Week

It's Children's Book Week starting Monday the 13th and running through the 20th. I'll be reviewing a children's book every day and I'm also participating in a blog hop. Check back tomorrow to enter the giveaway.

BOOKS

Bought - Print

It's a Kelley Armstrong book AND it has Norse mythology, how could I resist? I pre-ordered it months ago and have been waiting impatiently for it. I'll probably put a review up as part of Children's Book Week.

Review - Kindle

*pats the pretty* I loved the first two books so I have high hopes for this one. Sue G, an editor at Random, was awesome. I tweeted how I excited I was that the book was now available for review and couldn't wait to read it, and she immediately approved my request to review it. :) <3

This is for a blog tour next month.

Review - Print

Kindle Freebies

I hope you all have a great week. Don't forget to leave a link so I can come visit.