To Read, or Not To Read

A Warm Place to Call Home Blog Tour & Giveaway

2013-05-17T01:00:00.000-05:00

Just a Boy

I grew up “humbly” in Venice (Southern California, not Northeastern Italy), and for a while my only dream was to be rich. I would be a millionaire—you know, as my job. I didn’t spend much time thinking about what sort of vocational training would be required for such a career, but I did devote a hefty dose of focus toward how I would spend all that money. My mansion would sport all sorts of trap doors and secret passageways, I would have my own jet(s) and helicopter(s) to fly me where my wealthy whims determined, and at a moment’s notice.

On occasion, my mind would slip into a puddle of doubt—are these aspirations foolish? And then I would laugh inside. “No, silly goose I didn’t actually refer to myself as silly goose], it is the doubt that is foolish.”

It is only in retrospect I realize that my characters embody much of my younger self’s fantasy outlook. The protagonist, Matt Turner, in my debut novel, The Dig, has the ability to read the imprints people leave on inanimate objects. At 19 he figures out he can use this power to trace rare items such as silver coins and doubloons to other sunken treasures. He becomes a multimillionaire overnight and goes through money like it’s tissue paper. The demon in my latest novel, Frederick, can be whomever he wishes, and lives a life free of worries (or responsibility). He doesn’t care that possessing a human body leaves the person wiped and in a vegetative state when he is through with them. It is only after decades of freewheeling body-hopping, when he returns to his place of “birth” in Maryland, that he finds love and attempts to live a more restrained life.

Like Frederick, I’ve discovered what’s most important in life is not money or travel or getting everything you’ve ever wanted…no, I take that back. I want it all.

It would be dishonest to claim these characters are only manifestations of a long-lost, infinitely less mature me. I’m still just that boy with a glint in his eye. It might be cleverness or it might be evil, or maybe it’s when I see the same thing in someone else’s eyes…

As Frederick would say, I am what I am. The difference is that I care about others, and enjoy doing and getting things for other people more than for myself. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a secret passageway planned for my house.

Frederick is a demon. Born in Maryland in the early 1980′s, he hasn’t a clue where he came from or why, but feels an irresistible desire to occupy a human body. Once inside, he finds the previous occupants’ consciousness and memories forever erased, an inevitable side effect that gives Frederick pause when switching bodies, but not so much as to truly halt his ongoing enjoyment of human lives. In various bodies, he travels the world for decades–aimless–sampling cultures and experiencing life from the points of view of males, females, young, old, rich, poor.

Now, Frederick has an urge to return to his roots in America, explore the mystery of his origin, find someone to love, and settle down for a while. In his hometown, his mission bears fruit much faster than he expected, as person after person presents themselves, and following his impulses, he is lead directly to love, tragedy, answers, and the humanity he never knew he wanted.

Warm Place to Call Home (a demon’s story)

By Michael Siemsen

Genre: Paranormal Romance with Urban Fantasy Undertones

Publisher: Fantome Publishing

Released March 4, 2013

244 Pages

Goodreads | Book Trailer

Purchase Links

AUTHOR BIO

Michael Siemsen struck it big with his debut novel, The Dig, a paranormal archaeology thriller that reached Amazon and Barnes & Noble’s Top 100 Bestseller lists, and spent weeks as the #1 Science Fiction book in 2011. Its success allowed him to escape his soul-leeching job and work as an author full-time. The sequel, The Opal, was released a year later, and the third and final book is in the works. His new novel, released in March of this year, A Warm Place to Call Home (a demon’s story) is a departure from his Matt Turner Series.

Michael has been featured by Barnes & Noble, been reviewed on several major blogs and sites such as Penny-Arcade and Boing Boing, and received a glowing recommendation from author Charlaine Harris.

He is currently at work on the prequel to A Warm Place to Call Home (which should be released this winter) while enjoying spending more time with his family, lazy dog, and mentally-unstable cat in the San Francisco Bay Area.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!!

The ‘A Warm Place to Call Home Blog Tour’ is a Pure Textuality Public Relations promotion.

Book your tour or event with us today!

A Warm Place to Call Home

2013-05-17T00:30:00.000-05:00

Title: A Warm Place to Call Home ( A demon's story)
Author: Michael Siemsen
Publisher: Fantome Publishing
Published: March 5, 2013
Ebook
ISBN13:9780983446941

Genre: Fiction

Source: Pure Texuality Virtual Book Tours

Goodreads Summary:

Frederick is a demon. Born in Maryland in the early 1980's, he hasn't a clue where he came from or why, but feels an irresistible desire to occupy a human body. Once inside, he finds the previous occupants' consciousness and memories forever erased, an inevitable side effect that gives Frederick pause when switching bodies, but not so much as to truly halt his ongoing enjoyment of human lives. In various bodies, he travels the world for decades--aimless--sampling cultures and experiencing life from the points of view of males, females, young, old, rich, poor.

Now, Frederick has an urge to return to his roots in America, explore the mystery of his origin, find someone to love, and settle down for a while. In his hometown, his mission bears fruit much faster than he expected, as person after person presents themselves, and following his impulses, he is lead directly to love, tragedy, answers, and the humanity he never knew he wanted.

My thoughts:
A Warm Place to Call Home by Michael Siemsen is an interesting book, to say the least. It's the tale of a demon who wants to be human. Live a human life. Have human experiences. The only way he can do this is to inhabit a person's body essentially wiping out a life. When he meets the girl he wants to 'settle down' with things get a little topsy-turvy.
This book is a first-person narrative. I liked that because it felt as if Fredrick, the demon, was sitting across from me telling me his life story. And his life has not been boring. As Fredrick is experiencing new emotions, new problems, we, the reader, are along for the ride. Siemsen throws a few curve balls into the story that leaves you saying, "Wait! What just happened?" But in the end you're hooked on Fredrick, and want him to succeed in his endeavors. Overall it's a good read. This book has some mature content in it, so it wouldn't be suitable for younger audiences.

My rating:

Q&A with Jane B. Night

2013-05-16T00:30:00.000-05:00

1. Describe the world in which Educating Autumn in set.
Educating Autumn is set in a future where the world is divided into 3 major countries. Each country has a different idea about the history of the world as well as how society should function.
Autumn is from Josiathan. On Josiathan there is a belief that during World War III God destroyed the people on the planet earth except for a few saved by Nasp. In their histories Nasp is a sort of modern day Noah. They believe that God destroyed the people because they were wicked. Especially the women. On Josiathan woman are denied education as well as equal rights to help prevent them from returning to their wicked ways.
Orion was raised with a belief in a much different history. He was taught that NASP was a group of scientist who destroyed everything on the surface of the earth because the pollution from the war and technology was making the planet uninhabitable. They saved several groups of children in underground vaults to be brought back to the surface once the planet had recovered.

2. Autumn is the heroine of this story. What makes her character stand-out?
Autumn taught herself to read even though it is taboo.
Her thirst for knowledge and truth make her stand out on Josiathan.
I think that as a character she stands out because she is so willing to change as she gets new information. Many characters are stubborn. Autumn gets new information and re-accesses herself. If her new self is not in line with the information then she makes changes.

3. In this story, Autumn is heard quoting from a book. What's your favorite book quote?
"Don't worry. We will face each other and fornicate like good Christians" From A Lady Awakened.

4. What could Orion teach other men about wooing the ladies?
Orion allows Autumn to take the lead in most aspects of the relationship and it really empowers Autumn. One thing I always hate is when men think women want them to be bossy or pushy. And I hate when you are on a first date and a guy asks for sex. I feel like Orion's come to me when you are ready approach works better.
And when all else fails get her a library. I think Disney's Beauty and the Beast made that the ultimate romantic gesture.

5. You're a romance novel lover. Who is your favorite romance author?
Virginia Henley, Johanna Lindsey, and Cecilia Grant.

6. In your 'about the author' page, you state you're a nerd. Here at To Read or Not To Read we're all about embracing our inner nerdom. What advice would you give to others looking to embrace their inner nerd?
Don't worry about what other people think. Do what you love. Nerd is the new sexy anyways. If you don't believe me just watch "Big Bang Theory."

7. You also love to travel. Where is one place you haven't traveled but would love to go?
I really want to go to Europe. My sister has been but I have not. She said it was amazing.

8. What are you currently working on?
I am currently writing two novels. I expect to publish both before the end of the year. The first is a prequel to Educating Autumn. It takes place during World War III and features Sharon and Mathew Louis (from the diary Autumn reads).
The second book is a historical romance. The main characters and Angel and Cadence. Angel is an amputee who believes that he will never marry because of his disability. He has accepted it. Then, Cadence comes to town. Cadence is a pregnant widow who desperately needs a husband because she cannot continue her journey west. Reverend Clint matches Angel and Cadence. Angel believes that Cadence won't be able to see past his leg. Cadence believes that Angel won't be able to let go of his past and the woman who broke his heart.

9. Do you have a 'book boyfriend'?

Jacob from Twilight.

10. Favorite summer snack?
Strawberries and yogurt.

Q&A with Deborah Cloyed

2013-05-15T00:30:00.000-05:00

1. Please tell us about What Tears Us Apart.

What Tears Us Apart (MIRA Books/Harlequin 2013) is a non-linear love story set against the 2007 political violence in Kenya. A disaffected Angeleno heiress flees a life of privilege for an orphanage in the Kibera slum, and finds connection with its charismatic founder. Their newfound bond is threatened by his complex history with a local gang leader. When the slum erupts in violence, an attack exposes disturbing secrets, leaving all three characters to grapple with regret and dreams of atonement.

2. What inspired you to use Kenya for the background in this book?

I spent the summer of 2007 volunteering in Kenya. The experience was as challenging as it was magical. I returned home with mixed emotions and conflicting thoughts, even before the violence broke out. So, I guess, I always knew I would write about Kenya—about its beauty and conflicts—but it would be years before I gained the clarity of thought and calm to form a story set against those turbulent times.

3. What was the most challenging aspect of writing this novel?

The violent scenes were very, very difficult for me to write. I’m a pacifist deeply troubled by the prevalence of violence in history and our modern world. I’m especially wary of the glorification of violence in entertainment, a la video games and Quentin Tarantino movies. I grew up in Virginia, where my dad taught me to shoot a shotgun at age six, so I’ve certainly been exposed to both sides of the gun debate raging in America. In this book, I strove to not sensationalize, but to show instead the costs of violence, in my own struggle to understand how such terrible things happen.

4. What do you hope readers will take away from it?

I hope they will consider a part of the world and history they might not have been familiar with, and perhaps examine their own notions about loyalty, poverty, and destiny. And I hope they will cheer for Ita and Leda, remembering that love is stronger than sorrow.

5. What are you working on next?

Top secret for now, but expect more exotic locations and love against all odds.

6. You've appeared as a contestant on The Amazing Race. Will you share with us an experience that happened to you while competing?

What an incredible experience overall, especially because I was on the show with my childhood best friend of twenty-seven years. The vision that comes to mind first is us trying to wrangle llamas under the hot sun in Peru. I love animals, but you’ll never catch me with a llama calendar! The experience most people remember though, is when I ate four pounds of meat (meat being a loose term – it was a BBQ Argentina style with blood sausage, livers, the works) in a half hour, a feat none of the contestants (all male) accomplished.

7. How would you compare photography to writing?

Hmmmm, difficult to compare. Commercial photography is a far more social activity, obviously, than writing – whole teams of people to manage for photoshoots. Art & travel photography is far more quiet and solo, but still it deals with manipulating and re-imagining the world at hand. Novel writing is such a different animal, so much more about creation. I will have to give this question some more thought, but I do know that working in both has helped me as both writer and photographer. In photography, my role as a writer reminds me that above all, it is important to tell a story. And in my writing, photography has given me the vocabulary and tools – lighting, shadows, tone, mood, texture – to create a picture in people’s minds.

8. If you could be any character in one of your books, which character would you choose and why?

I suppose I would be Samantha, in The Summer We Came to Life, although that’s not really fair, since she’s the most like me already. So, I’ll say Jesse. Brave, sassy, full of life and love and laughter. If I turn out at like her at age sixty, I’ll consider it a success.

9. As a travel writer, you've obviously traveled quite a bit. Where is one place you'd recommend everyone should go?

A safari in East Africa. Like I believe it says in the book, it’s one of those rare travel experiences that lives up to every single expectation and hope, and then exceeds them.

10. What is your favorite summer activity?

We kicked off summer with a taco truck pool party with all our closest friends, good music, and laughter. Yesterday I lay on the beach with my Kindle. Last night we had pizza & beer, watching Game of Thrones with the windows open and the sound of crickets. Coming up is an outdoor movie theater night, a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, a girls’ spa weekend in Palm Springs, an outdoor music festival, and dinner parties on our patio.

Basically, I love summer.

*If you'd like to read an excerpt from What Tears Us Apart, click here.

The Celix of Cthulhu bizzaro trailer

2013-05-14T01:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a look at a new trailer to The Celix of Cthulhu by--the ever mysterious--Roman Banjo. I'm not going to lie . . . I thought the creepy little girl from The Ring was going to come out of my computer screen and kill me in my sleep. However three days have gone by, and I'm still alive and well. So I thought I'd share it with you. Seriously though, it is cool, and you should check it out.

Summary:
It was a dark and stormy night. A lone hitman goes on what he thinks is his final job. Unfortunately the storm is never-ending. What was supposed to be a simple payday spirals into the absurd. Now the hitman and an odd cast of characters must unravel the mysteries of the mystical MacGuffin, The Celix of Cthulhu!

For more information about the book, check out these sites:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7056159.Roman_K_Banjo
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/RomanKBanjo
https://twitter.com/RomanKBanjo
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roman-K-Banjo/377269869058804
http://www.amazon.com/Roman-Banjo/e/B00CNJIQ52/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

The book is available on Smashwords, Amazon, Kobo, Itunes, Barnes and Noble, Diesal, and Sony.

Giveaway: Running by Barbara Spencer

2013-05-14T00:30:00.000-05:00

Last week, Barbara Spencer came on to talk a little bit about her writing process. You can read that article here. Today she's is giving away Running to one of my lucky UK followers. You must be at least 13 years old to enter.

Fifteen year old Scott Anderson has a secret so big he daren’t share it even with his best friends. He and his dad are American. If you’re American, you don’t talk about it. If you don’t talk about that, you don’t talk about any of the other secrets that haunt your life – that your dad’s really a computer scientist and people are searching for him.

When Bill Anderson disappears, Scott is determined to find him. He has already lost his mother. She disappeared in the California earthquake, which killed ninety percent of the world’s computer scientists; a tragedy for which America is held responsible. But there’s little for Scott to go on; a scrap of paper left in a printer and a poster pinned to the wall.
Now someone’s looking for Scott, too. Is it the mysterious Frenchman, who pretends to be a radiation expert, or Sean Terry of the American Secret Service, who believes the United States innocent of the crimes leveled against it? Could it be Hilary Stone, the prettiest girl in class, who also claims to work for the American Secret Service? Or is it someone else entirely?

Following the clues, Scott heads north on his dad’s bike. As his pursuers catch up with him, it is Hilary Stone who saves him. Despite not trusting her, he grudgingly allows her to go with him to Scotland, where he believes the answer lies. After all, as Hilary points out; she has the gun.

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The Week Before the Wedding Twitter Contest

2013-05-13T00:30:00.001-05:00

Beth Kendrick will be holding a twitter giveaway. The complete rules and guidelines can be found on her website: http://bethkendrick.com/contest/.

Entrants should tweet a picture of their wedding dress or dream wedding dress to Beth during #weddingweek, May 13-17^th.
One winner will be chosen daily. You can enter once per day, but there will be no repeat winners.
The contest is open to US residents only.
To be eligible to win, entrants must also be following Beth on twitter (@BKendrickBooks), as winners will be notified via direct message.

Book Feature: Pepperland by Barry Wightman

2013-05-13T00:30:00.000-05:00

BOOK DETAILS

Paperback, $18.95

ISBN: 9780984786039

Fiction, 320 pages

Running Meter Press, May 21, 2013

What happens when one revolution dies and a new one begins?

Think the Ramones meet Jane Fonda meets Bill Gates—a love story—where one woman has all the power.

She asks him—do you want to play your little rock 'n’ roll songs or change the world? He says—both.

Pepperland is a ‘70s rock and roll race through the heartland of America—a love letter to the power of new-fangled computers and the importance of a guitar pick. Pepperland is about missing information, missing people, missing guitars, paranoia, Q & A, brothers, revolution, Agents of the Federal Government, IBM, Hugh Hefner, a Dark Stranger, love, death and the search for it amidst the wreckage of recession-wracked, entropically rundown mid-seventies America.

Sound familiar?

About the Author:

A rock ‘n’ roller at heart, Barry Wightman blends music, mayhem and high technology in his debut novel Pepperland due out this spring from Running Meter Press.

Born in St. Louis, raised in Chicago and New England, Wightman, a business major at Principia College in southern Illinois, claims he should’ve been an English major. Living for many years in Chicago and Minneapolis, he raised a family with his wife Jill, and spent thirty years in the high tech industry, traveling the world, spending time in Silicon Valley, with countless trips to Asia, Australia, and much of the rest of the world. After all that, he earned an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2010. He currently serves as vice president of marketing at Forward Health Group, Inc.

Wightman is Fiction Editor for Hunger Mountain, a literary journal based in Montpelier, Vermont. He is a talented voiceover professional and a Wisconsin Broadcasters Association award-winning essayist, whose work has been heard on WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio.

Wightman is a reviewer and editor for the Washington Independent Review of Books. His music and book reviews have also appeared in various publications in Chicago, Milwaukee and Washington D.C. He is a voting member of the National Book Critics Circle.

This writer and lover of literature has lived in Elm Grove, Wisconsin since 2005. He is married with three grown children and plays guitar and keyboards in a rock ‘n’ roll band, The Outta State Plates.

Review: Wonder Light

2013-05-10T01:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Wonder Light: Unicorns of the Mist #1
Author: R.R. Russell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Published: May 7, 2013
Ebook, ARC,
ISBN13: 9781402279898
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:
Deep in the heart of a mist-shrouded island, an impossible secret is about to be discovered.Twig is used to feeling unwanted. Sent to live on a pony ranch for "troubled" girls on a misty, haunted island, Twig is about to discover the impossible — someone who needs her.
Jolted awake from a bad dream, Twig follows the desperate whinny of a terrified horse out to the stables. There in the straw is a bleating little scrap of moonbeam. A silver-white filly with cloven hooves and a tiny, spiraling horn.

A baby unicorn.

Now Twig knows what secret is hiding in the island's mist: the last free unicorn herd. And a mysterious boy named Ben who insists that this impossible creature is now Twig's to care for. That she needs Twig's love and protection. Because there's something out there in the deep, dense shadows that's hunting for them...

My thoughts:
Twig has stolen my heart. I knew this book might have me reaching for the tissue box after I read the summary, but I could not stay away. If you're thinking about getting this book for your child, I would recommend reading this book along with them. The girls in this story have a troubled past. Russell hints at their troubles without going into too much detail. However some children might have questions, and this book might help to talk about tough issues. But this book is more than that. It's about magic. It's about unicorns. It's about courage and not giving up.
Twig is taken to a horse ranch on an island she believes is haunted. She doesn't trust anyone at first. The ranch is a home for troubled girls, who all have the responsibility of taking care of horses. Twig is afraid at first, but she slowly comes out of her shell. Everything changes when one night she witnesses the birth of a baby unicorn. She's entrusted with keeping the baby unicorn safe as well as keeping its existence a secret. The mysterious boy who lives on the island is the only other that knows of the unicorns. Together they must protect them from the terror that lives on the island.
I was sucked into this book from the get-go. I have never wanted a character to succeed more than I do Twig. She is a well-written character that has many layers. Some still to be uncovered. I loved how her character opened up and changed throughout this book. Not only with Twig, but with the other characters, as well. This is a book I highly recommend!

My rating:

Mother's Day Giveaway

2013-05-09T20:23:00.006-05:00

What a child sees as everyday routine is anything but for a mom! Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do is a celebration of the unpredictable adventure that is motherhood with its sometimes silly, always heartfelt, and wonderfully important moments--all rooted in love. This sweet and amusing book will have book moms and kids smiling with recognition while spotlighting all the different ways a mom shows her devotion.

About the Author:Beloved author and illustrator MARIANNE RICHMOND has touched the lives of millions for nearly two decades through her award-winning books, greeting cards, and other gift products that offer people the most heartfelt way to connect with each other. She lives in the Minneapolis area. Visit www.mariannerichmond.com.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Jabberwocky I have a copy of Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do . . . and If I could Keep You Little to give away to a lucky reader! To enter you must be at least 13 years old. This giveaway is restricted to US and Canada residents only.

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Hungry (Miss Chatterley, Part 1)

2013-05-09T00:30:00.000-05:00

Title: Hungry (Miss Chatterley, Part 1)
Author: Logan Belle
Publisher: Pocket Star
Published: May 13, 2013
Ebook, ARC, 80 pages
ISBN13: 9781476731254
Genre: Fiction, Romance
Source: Edelweiss

Goodreads Summary:
A modern-day retelling of D.H. Lawrence’s controversial early 20th century tale Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Belle sets her story in Palo Alto, California where Connie Chatterley is torn between marrying her tech genius boyfriend or giving him up for a fling with a masculine, muscular fitness coach.

My thoughts:
Hungry is the first book in a series of novellas that is a modern-day twist on Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence. Logan Belle has written several books, including the popular Blue Angel Series. Belle is a new-to-me author. I was intrigued by this book because it's a re-telling of classic book by Lawrence. I'm also intrigued because this book is part of a serial. This isn't a new concept, since it was invented by Charles Dickens, but it's the first time I've read a book in this format.
Hungry is a book about a woman who essentially misses the intimacy shared with her boyfriend. Not just the physical intimacy but also the connection and synchronicity two people share when they're in a relationship.
Connie Chatterley moves to California when the social network company founded by her boyfriend Cliff, starts to hit it big. Cliff's life is taken over by his work. He spends all his time with his assistant, Ivy, who is also not Connie's biggest fan. Connie feels alone and abandoned by Cliff. So in effort to release some of the 'frustration' she goes to a gym where a sexy trainer catches her attention.
This is a quick, enjoyable read. It didn't take me long to get sucked into this story. I know some of you are probably wondering if this book should be labeled erotica or not. I'm going to say 'not'. So far this story isn't any more racy than most romances on the shelves. I really enjoyed Connie's character. I think Belle does a great job in conveying the feeling that most people have felt in their relationship at one time or another. I think that this book is a good parallel to the original Lady Chatterley, although some of the themes that Lawrence incorporated don't really transition well here, such as class distinction. Belle hits on the themes a bit, and they may become more apparent in the upcoming novellas.
This is a book I'd recommend. I for one can't wait to find out what happens in the next book. I'm hooked! The good thing about a serial is you don't have to wait a year for the next book to come out!

My rating:

Other books in this series:

Hungry

Dirty (May 20, 2013)

Torn (May 27, 2013)

Spent (June 3, 2013)

Q&A with James Macmanus

2013-05-08T00:30:00.000-05:00

1. Please describe Black Venus in three words.
Passion Paris Poetry

2. What inspired you to write a novel about Charles Baudelaire?
The enduring mystery of his relationship with his mistress and muse Jeanne Duval. From my schooldays on I have been intrigued by Baudelaire’s long attachment to a woman who ruined him yet inspired him to write great poetry.

3. What is the biggest challenge when writing a novel based on historical facts?
You have to get the research right – to be as accurate as possible in setting your book but equally you must always remember that rounded characters and narrative flow are all important. In other words the writer should not allow his research to trump his imagination.

4. In your opinion, how did Baudelaire change the world of literature?
He broke with the Romantic movement and introduced France and a wider European readership to poetry that had its roots in his own sense of alienation and failure. He drew his inspiration from the mean streets of Paris but equally gave flight to the most sensuous poetry in the French language, poetry that expressed both his despair at the world around him and his love of the beauty he found in women, in art and especially paintings and music.

5. What are you working on next?
That’s a secret.

It's the little things in life . . .

2013-05-07T00:30:00.000-05:00

Title: Just Little Things
Author: Nancy Vu
Publisher: Perigee Books
Published: May 7, 2013
Paperback, 256 pages
ISBN: 978-0-399-16297-8
Genre: Inspirational
Source: Publisher

Summary:
Seeing a baby yawn

Drawing on a foggy window

Finding a curly fry mixed in with your regular fries

These and 247 other little things that make everyday life a joy are collected in this delightful, surprising, and heartfelt book. Based on the popular website, this book will strike a chord in anyone who is open to celebrating the little moments of greatness all around us.

My thoughts:
Just Little Things: A Celebration of Life's Simple Pleasures is written by Nancy Vu, creator of JustLittleThings.net. Vu celebrates life's little joys and puts them into this colorful little book. The book reminds me of a book for small children in that it's colorful and simple. Every page is a different color with a short sentence describing something that you can get joy out of. Here's an example:

This book would make a great gift to someone who enjoys little things in life. This would also be a great book to have laying around to pick up every now and again to remind yourself of the little things. Because let's face it, sometimes it's easy to forget to appreciate the little things.

My rating:

Barbara Spencer solves problems in her sleep.

2013-05-06T00:30:00.000-05:00

I work with both primary and secondary schools, where the most frequently asked question is, where do your ideas come from?

Recently, I got to thinking about that. I often solve plot problems in my sleep – and it works brilliantly. Go to bed thinking about the problem. Hey Presto! It’s fixed when you wake up.

But story lines? With my children’s books, there something from my own life in every one of them – even though they are fantasy. For example: take the famous footballer Jack Burnside, in A Dangerous Game of Football; he’s as close as I can get to David Beckham. When David

played for ManU, every kid in England wanted to be like him, copying his hairstyle and wearing the Number 7 shirt. And the camel, Bud? While I was staying in the Sudan, I visited a camel market in Omdurman. There was a woodcarver and the animals I bought were so lifelike, I bought four: an elephant, camel, rhinoceros and hippo. The elephant was stolen but the camel became a magical being called Bud. For many of my fans, he is still their favourite character: rude, sarcastic, funny and obnoxious but quite wonderful. And he still sits on my dressing table. As for the woodcarver, I fashioned Jacob the sorcerer after him. In the sequel, The Bird Children, I met up with a magic man in Cairo who made cotton burst into flame in my hand.

But Running – that was a different ball game. I thought about it for ages. And by ages I mean a couple of years. I knew computers were taking over the world and that few people really understood them. Then, my computer caught a virus and the world began to wake up to hacking. And so Styrus was born, it’s a virus, so powerful that it can penetrate any firewall, steal the computer’s secrets and override its commands.

Can you imagine having that sort of power? That’s the background to Running – where the bad guys want Styrus so they can take over the world, and they’re not particularly bothered how many people they have to kill to do it.

Scott’s motorbike? I met a guy in a garage. He talked about his Suzuki for half an hour – how he rode up to Scotland. I was sold.

As for the rest, it’s a rollercoaster ride – non-stop thrills and spills – with America

as the bad guys and England merely an island off the coast of Europe. And you won’t know who done it till the very end and even then – you’ll want to go on and read the sequel Turning Point, out as an ebook at the end of May.

Live Chat with international bestselling author M. J. Rose on May 8

2013-05-03T20:29:00.000-05:00

BookTrib invites you to a spellbinding event on May 8 at 3:30 p.m. ET for our Live Chat with international bestselling author, M.J. Rose to chat about her latest novel, SEDUCTION.

A gothic tale about Victor Hugo’s long-buried secrets and the power of a love that never

dies . . .

In 1843, novelist Victor Hugo’s beloved nineteen-year-old daughter drowned. Ten years later, still grieving, Hugo initiated hundreds of séances from his home on the Isle of Jersey in order to reestablish contact with her. In the process, he claimed to have communed with Plato, Galileo, Shakespeare, Dante, Jesus—and even the devil himself. Hugo’s transcriptions of these conversations have all been published.

Or so it has been believed . . .

Recovering from a great loss, mythologist Jac L’Etoile thinks that throwing herself into work will distract her from her grief. In the hopes of uncovering a secret about the island’s mysterious Celtic roots, she arrives on Jersey and is greeted by ghostly Neolithic monuments, medieval castles and hidden caves. But the man who has invited her there, a troubled soul named Theo Gaspard, hopes she’ll help him discover something quite different— transcripts of Hugo’s lost conversations with someone he called the Shadow of the Sepulcher. Central to his heritage, these are the papers his grandfather died trying to find. Neither Jac nor Theo anticipate that the mystery surrounding Victor Hugo will threaten their sanity and put their very lives at stake.

M.J. Rose is the international best selling author of thirteen novels and three non-fiction books on marketing. Her most recent novel SEDUCTION (Atria/S&S May 7 2013) is an May Indie Next Pick and had gotten a Library Journal starred review and an RT Top Pick.

So believe in the unbelievable and join us to chat live with M.J.! What’s more— BookTrib will be giving away a copy of the book and some of M.J.’s favorite things! For more information click here.

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Eve of Destruction

2013-05-03T06:51:00.000-05:00

Title: Eve of Destruction (Marked #2)
Author: Sylvia Day
Publisher: Tor
Published: January 29, 2013
Paperback, 432 pages
ISBN: 978-0-7653-3749-8
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher

Amazon Summary:
For Evangeline Hollis, a scorching one-night stand has led to a divine punishment--the Mark of Cain.
Now reunited, Eve and Cain are working on transitioning their insatiable desire into a tentative new relationship even as she struggles to become a full-fledged Mark--one of thousands of sinners forced to hunt demons as penance. When her training class goes on a field trip to an abandoned military base, things take a dark turn: There's a demon hidden among them, killing off Eve's classmates one by one.

To make a bad situation more dangerous, Eve's body is still adapting to the Mark and the new abilities and challenges that came with it--such as uncontrollable bloodlust...which seems to be inciting another kind of lust altogether.

With Cain out on assignment, Eve's simmering attraction to his equally sexy brother Abel grows--and Abel is more than willing to take the heat...

My thoughts:
Eve of Destruction is the second book in the Marked series. Although this book is good, I was less impressed than I was with Eve of Darkness. I still love the characters and the story line, but I just wasn't into this book like I was the first.
The book picks up shortly after the first book ended. Eve wakes up from being dead with a lot of questions. Her Mark is in overdrive causing her a lot of problems. Furthermore she's attracted to both Alec and Reed, aka Cain and Abel. The two brothers that invented sibling rivalry. Her Mark training group is headed to a 'haunted' military base where they are forced to work as a team. However things get heated up when members of their group are slowly getting killed.
The story line was good but not great. I was interested in the story but it didn't keep me captivated. I do like the love triangle between Eve, Cain, and Abel. I have no idea the direction the author is going to take it, and I love that! The ending to the book left me curious to find out more. I love Eve's character as well. She's slowly coming to terms with her fate, but she wants to live life on her terms without backing down. The girl has gumption!
Overall I like this book, but I didn't love it. I have high hopes for the next book in this series, Eve of Chaos.

My rating:

Did you read this book? Did you love it or hate it? Let me know.

Manuscript Found in Accra

2013-05-02T06:53:00.000-05:00

Title: Manuscript Found in Accra
Author: Paulo Coelho
Publisher: Knopf
Published: April 2, 2013
Paperback ARC, 208 pages
ISBN: 978-0-385-34983-3
Genre: Historical, Inspirational
Source: Publisher

Goodreads Summary:
July 14, 1099. Jerusalem awaits the invasion of the crusaders who have surrounded the city's gates. There, inside the ancient city's walls, men and women of every age and every faith have gathered to hear the wise words of a mysterious man known only as the Copt. He has summoned the townspeople to address their fears with truth.

My thoughts:
Manuscript Found in Accra is the perfect book for anyone looking for direction in their life. If you've read the summary you know that this book is about a man, Copt, who is addressing townspeople who are under the threat of invasion looking for wisdom for their problems. He addresses issues such as defeat, solitude, fear, beauty, and so much more. This book reads much like a parable from the Bible. Coelho has written a book that will appeal to all ages, from young to old, you can take away a message from this book. Although I can't help but think this would be a great gift for kids graduating from high school or college. I think fans of Coelho's others books such as, The Alchemist will enjoy his latest book.

My rating:

Review: Beautiful Bastard

2013-05-01T00:30:00.000-05:00

Title: Beautiful Bastard (#1)
Author: Christina Lauren
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: February 12, 2013
Ebook Arc
ISBN13: 9781476730103
Genre: Romance,
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:
Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other.

My thoughts:
I know Beautiful Bastard has gotten some buzz because it was previously published as Twilight fan fiction. I know that would deter some people from reading this book, but I thought I would give it a chance. For all those who are curious, I didn't really see any similarities between the two books.
BB is about a woman named Chloe Mills who works for a jerk of a boss named Bennett Ryan. The two characters don't really get along and there is a lot of tension between them. They end up hooking up, which opens a huge can of worms.
I didn't care for this story very much. It seemed as if every chapter followed the same formula: Fight, have angry sex, fight some more. Same thing, different location. From the first few chapters I predicted exactly how this story was going to go. It left absolutely no surprises. The characters really didn't do much for me either. Chloe has anger issues, some of it unfounded. Bennett is a jerk to Chloe because he likes her because that what's you do . . . in kindergarten. This book had potential, but it let me down. Beautiful Stranger is the next book in this series. It's scheduled to be released May 2013.

My rating:

The Fragile Things

2013-04-30T00:30:00.000-05:00

Two girls on the road to self-destruction.

A village upon the brink of collapse.

A past which refuses to die.

The beginning of an epic four-part horror serial.

At seventeen-years-old, Jennifer should have the world at her feet. Instead, she’s an ex-heroin addict living in a council estate with Tony, her boyfriend and former dealer. Shunned by her family and friends, she dreams of something greater than she’s been given.

Beautiful and strange, Ebony has moved in across the street. She’s just lost the one person in her lonely existence to cancer. She’s also a centuries-old vampire, struggling to cope with murderous outbursts and the desire to be something more.

When these two lost souls meet, an unusual friendship begins.

But with the news of Morris, Tony’s sadistic best friend and drug-dealing partner, being released from prison, Jennifer knows it’s only a matter of time before his path of vengeance leads to her and Ebony, too.

With a cast of memorable characters, a village full of secrets, and a gripping story, The Fragile Things is a layered tale of friendship, hope, survival and what it truly means to be human.

Part I of The Fragile Things is available on Amazon from 30^th April, 2013. And will be FREE 30^th April – 2^nd May.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx_jDqd8eAg

Author Bio: V. Shaw is the author of short fiction collection, The Lady of Chains and Other Stories. Having reviewed horror films for FatallyYours.com, she now focuses on creating her own monsters.

Blog: http://vshawauthor.blogspot.co.uk/

Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/V.-Shaw/e/B009VLNKFG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Q&A with Emily Craven

2013-04-29T00:30:00.000-05:00

1. Please tell our readers about your novel, The Grand Adventures of Madeline Cain, Photographer Extraordinaire.

‘The Grand Adventures of Madeline Cain’ is a comedy told through Facebook status updates, comments, private messages and notes. In this first book
Madeline has just achieved her dream, acceptance into world famous photographer, Jason I’Anson’s, exclusive college in New York. Like many people of her generation who travel overseas, she turns to Facebook as a medium to pass on news and keep in touch with her family and friends. But her move from the sleepy Australian town of Adelaide to New York City doesn’t exactly turn out as she expected. There is no denying Madeline is a Chaos Magnet. From her first meeting with her chain smoking, club crazy house mate and his superhero Mexican Chameleon, Duncan (who can move from one side of the room to the other in a blink of eye), she knew she was in for an interesting time. Add an umbrella rigged by her brother to yell abuse at surrounding pedestrians when it rains, pizza deliveries to porn sets and being pulled in by the FBI for questioning after an explorative stint into spy photography, and things move from the interesting to the ridiculous.

Egged on by her Australian Facebook friends, Madeline tries to find her feet in the big city. But this may be harder for her to achieve than first thought, after she accidentally blackmails a famous model cheating on her boyfriend. In a world of status updates, blogs and photographic file sharing, where everyone who adds you can follow your every move, Madeline has to get herself out of the hole she's dug.

However, the story doesn’t stay on the page. Taking advantage of the age of social media, readers can now interact with the main characters from Madeline Cain on Facebook. Each character has their own page where readers will find the characters interacting and posting additional pictures, videos and more.

2. So, why tell the story through Facebook?

Facebook is a conversation! It is how you tell your friends stories about your life, and it is a perfect way to tell a story. There are updates and comments, notes and private messages. Anything you want to say you can say it to the world or in private, either way it is great for a traveller like Madeline, who doesn't want to worry about writing and sending individual emails. Facebook has been a part of young adult life for over a decade now, young readers understand there is a creative element to how you present yourself, why wouldn't you make use of something young adults intimately connect with? I also know a LOT of kooky people on Facebook who make me laugh, their real personalities come out in ways I don't expect, I wanted that energy to come through. You can tell a lot about friends from what they like on facebook, what groups they join and what they believe is important enough to post.

I also love the element of realism it gives to the characters, after all in Facebook we always know there is some real on the other end of the profile…

3. Madeline has an 'interesting' time since moving to New York. What is your favorite scene in this book?

By far my favourite scene was when Madeline meets her new and 'improved' umbrella, Laani. Basically her brother is an evil mastermind, and adds a mechanical voice box to the umbrella so it shouts abuse at the people around Madeline when it rains. Coming up with rain related insults was hilarious and some of the best fun I have ever had writing. "I stop rain, not stupidity", "It's raining, its pouring, you're positively boring" and "A bird crapped on my head... you owe me big time." are some of my favourites. I actually named the umbrella after my sister (at her request) and convinced her to do some voice recordings of the insults. They're going to go up on my website for people to download as message tones in a couple of weeks!

4. Is any of this book based on real-life events?

A lot of the travel related episodes are mine, the plane ride there, doing the touristy stuff around town. Can't say I've ever blackmailed someone, or been picked up by the FBI for being too photographically creative! Many of the status updates though are adaptations of status updates my friends have put up. You can decide which ones are from my real-life friends...

5. What's next for Madeline?

Madeline is coming to the end of her twelve months in NYC and she's in trouble. She may have snagged a boyfriend, but her hours have been cut at work and after talking with a group of Pro-photographers at the charity ball she realises she has no idea what type of photography she's going to specialise in. Her classmates have their paths figured out, but she better decide fast, after twelve months is up she needs a portfolio of impressive photographs to match theirs or it's back to Australia, and being one of a thousand unknown photographers just trying to get by. But Madeline can never do things the normal way and in her race to make money and find her dream job she finds herself dealing with potential marfia members, fashion tycoons, crazed children, paparazzi, her boyfriend's Japanese Game Show antics and a zombie or two. Nothing Madeline can't handle on her quest from semi-pro to photographic superstar.

This or That?
1. Coffee or tea? Tea! Particularly Green tea :)
2. Romance or Suspense? Romance, Suspense is great in movies but drives me crazy in books!
3. Cat or dog? Dogs, though cats love me, probably because I ignore them.
4. Chips or ice-cream? Ice-cream
5. Beach or mountains? Mountains, I LOVE hiking.

To find out more about Emily Craven, check out her website. The Grand Adventures of Madeline Cain: Photographer Extraordinaire is available at Amazon.

Review: The Black Mile

2013-04-26T00:30:00.000-05:00

Title:The Black Mile

Author: Mark Dawson

Publisher: Black Dog Publishing

Published: March 18, 2012

Ebook

ASIN: B007M9UM14

Genre: Mystery/Crime

Source: Author

Goodreads Summary:

London, 1940: the beginning of the Blitz, an era defined in blacks and greys. Prostitution. Police corruption. Gangland intrigue. Henry Irving is a disgraced hack on a Fleet Street scandal rag. Detective sergeant Charlie Strange is a fresh face in the Met, hunting corrupt coppers but blinkered by ambition. Detective inspector Frank Murphy mourns his dead daughter with booze and gambling. When a serial killer preys on Soho prostitutes, the three men are caught in a spiral, a nightmare that tests loyalty and courage, offers no mercy, allows for no survivors.

My thoughts:

The place, London. The year, 1940. Air raid sirens and German bombs blast through skies for fifty-seven straight nights. Houses, businesses, and street are blown completely off the maps.

Sinister doings from the darkness of the black-outs claim his victims with his sharpened knife. He has been named the Black- out Ripper. His brutality has left terror in his wake. Who was he? Was anyone safe from his reign of terror?

Henry Irving is a reporter from The Fleet Street scandal rag. He has embellished his articles with his own brand of truth, leaving his employer no choice to publicly fire and disgrace him with the truth of his actions.

Charlie Murphy is a Detective Sergeant and new to the Metropolitan Police. His job is to hunt down the corruption in the Police Department. He has lived in the shadows of the spotlight of his brother.

Frank Murphy, a decorated and highly thought of Detective Inspector has a love, hate relationship with his brother. He is pushy and somewhat of a bully when it comes police procedure. He is also a husband and father, who's daughter has run away after a verbal disagreement exploded one evening. His efforts now are to find her before the Black-out Ripper can take her as his next victim.

While investigating, these three men discover the Ripper's handiwork is flawed with questions. Conspiracies begin to form pointing fingers at both sides of the law.

This book is great!! A real page turner. Mark Dawson has made his characters jump off the page as they are that believable. The constant squabbling between the brothers. The jealousy that sends them into rages.

Charlie wants to solve this case to have his own spotlight. Frank wants this case solved to end the killings before his daughter becomes a victim. Henry wants to solve this case to show that his reporting skills are truthful and he will be back on top as a true reporter.I really liked this book. The furry to find this allusive killer brought sweat even to my brow.. I liked the fact the author brought me right into the pages and kept me there as I scoured the pages sleuthing out the bad guys. All characters felt real, and in my opinion that's what makes a great book.

My Fantasy Faves

2013-04-25T00:30:00.000-05:00

My Fantasy Faves

I have been reading a lot of fantasy books lately and thought it would be fun to pick out some of my favorite characters and let you know why they are my favorite. Please feel free to agree or disagree, tell me your faves and why or just leave me a comment in general. Without further adieu, here are some of my fantasy faves (books and movies). Now these may contain some spoilers for those who haven’t read the books discussed here.

Best animal or magical creature:

Smaug (The Hobbit)

Smaug is everything you expect from a dragon. He is evil and greedy. He is fierce and protective of his hoard. He is the epitome of what dragons were to become in fantasy.

Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia)

“Who's Aslan? Why, don't you know? He's the King—the King of the whole wood, and the Son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. He's wild, you know. If there's anyone who can appear before him without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly. He isn't safe... But he is good. He'll often drop in, only you musn't press him to stay. He's not like a tame lion. Yes, Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion.” This quote from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe perfectly sums up why I love this character.

Best Wizard:

Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit) and Dumbledore (Harry Potter)

I am talking about them together because they are very similar. I’m not sure if J.K. Rowling had Gandalf in mind when she created Dumbledore, but they possess many of the same qualities. They are both very powerful wizards and as such have a bit of an air about them but they are both humble. They both are sympathetic and fatherly toward certain characters. They also care deeply and have a great capacity to love. Even the people playing them in the movie versions could be interchanged. I could see Ian McKellen as Dumbledore or Richard Harris or Michael Gambon as Gandalf.

Best god:

Poseidon (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

I think I liked Poseidon because he shows more humanity than most of the other gods you see portrayed. It truly hurts him that he can’t be with Percy and his mother like a typical family. In the movie you see him kind of looking in on Percy at times. He really loves his son.

Nahadoth (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms)

Nahadoth is what you get when you trap a god in a mortals body. Weirdly great scene when he and the main character “get together”. You have to read it to appreciate it.

Best under 18 male:

Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

I like Percy because he’s just a kid in school that thinks he has nothing to offer. He is dyslexic, ADD, and a bit socially awkward. Little does he know he is the son of a god.

Edmund Pevensie (The Chronicles of Narnia)

I love Edmund’s character. He is the stereotypical middle child. He fights with his older siblings and picks on his younger sister relentlessly. He even goes so far as to betray his family because he has his head filled with dreams of being the only child and having his every desire. He shows the brokenness of human nature and has to ask for and receives forgiveness.

Best under 18 female:

Arya Stark (A Game of Thrones)

I really think Arya is one of my all time faves from any category . She is pretty young but that doesn’t stop her from being strong. She is a tomboy and doesn’t like “girly” things. She is funny and charming in a way. She won’t put up with anyone’s bs. I also like the casting of Maisie Williams as Arya in the HBO Game of Thrones series.

Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

At first Hermione is one of the characters you don’t really like, but then her unbounded loyalty to her friends, Harry and Ron kicks in, and you can’t help but love her. She is as Prof. Lupin puts it, “the cleverest witch of your age I've ever met, Hermione."

Best elf, dwarf, troll, goblin or orc:

Legolas and Gimli (The Lord of the Rings)

I love the interaction of these characters. The animosity that begins in The Fellowship of the Ring becomes true friendship and affection by the conclusion. The banter back and forth is great. Legolas is also my choice for kick-butt character. Need proof, check out his surfing down the steps on a shield while pegging people with dead-eye shooting of his bow at the Battle for Helm’s Deep in The Two Towers or his takedown of an Oliphant in The Return of the King.

Villain that you secretly hope good things for:

Gollum/Sméagol (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)

He is just a sad creature. There are times you just feel sorry for him. Then he’s trying to kill Sam in the next minute. Oh well, such is Gollum’s tortured life.

Tyrion Lannister (Game of Thrones)

Also called “the Imp” because of his dwarfism and constantly put on the back burner by his own family, I find myself rooting for him. He is incredibly bright, much brighter than his sister, brother, or nephew. I haven’t read the entire series but I do hope he gets some comeuppance on his family at least. Peter Dinklage as Tyrion, brilliant!

Best character that dies way too early:

Eddard “Ned” Stark (Game of Thrones)

Lord of Winterfell and a bastion of right and wrong, honor and loyalty, just always trying to do right (which is in short supply in the Seven Kingdoms), killing him off before book one was over is just… well it ticked me off!

Best “side-kick”:

Hodor (Game of Thrones)

I know this is a strange choice, seeing as he can only say “hodor” and isn’t a prominent character, but I love how loyal he is to the Starks and Bram especially. He is the gentle giant who takes care of Bram after his “accident”.

Samwise Gamgee (The Lord of the Rings)

Talk about loyalty. Look it up in the dictionary and there should be a picture of Sam. When Frodo is acting like an a-hole, Sam is there. When Frodo listens to Gollum, Sam is still there. When Frodo can’t make it up that final hill, guess what? Sam carries him. If only we could exhibit a bit of the friendship and loyalty that Sam has, we’d all be much better off.

Best Female Commander:

Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)

SHE HAS DRAGONS!!!! Nuff said!

Anderiel/Anashla (Mercenaries series)

She is another of my faves regardless of category. By sheer force of will and determination she turns a bunch of rag-tag miscreants into a fighting force that almost rivals the Emperor's Glory Knights. She brings civility and respectability to them through example. She is a great female character.

Review: Ravenwild

2013-04-24T00:30:00.000-05:00

Title: Ravenwild

Author: Peter J. Plasse

Publisher: Lightening Source Inc.

Published: March 12, 2011

Paperback, 496 pages

ISBN: 978-0-9833400-1-0

Genre: Fantasy

Source: Author

Goodreads Summary:

Returning home from another grueling shift of E.R. work, Dr. Blake Lee Strong comes across a downed motorcyclist and stops to help, but little does he know that his world and that of his family will soon be turned upside down. Duped into being transported to another planet called Inam'Ra, Dr. Strong and his family are thrust into a medieval world populated by Trolls, Gnomes, Elves, Dwarves, Humans and other alien beings. An epic odyssey begins as the Strong family fights for not only their own survival, but also for the continued existence of the citizens of Ravenwild.

My Thoughts:

Ravenwild is a kind of fish-out-of-water type story in which a family from our world is transported across dimensions to the planet Inam’Ra. It is similar to our Medieval ages, except it is also populated with many fantasy characters such as Trolls, Dwarves, Elves, and Gnomes as well as humans. The Strong family is thrust into a situation that is not of their doing, and they are all separated. Thus the story really begins with their desperate search to reunite with each other.

I liked this story. The characters were fairly well developed, and the world creating aspect was pretty good. It followed most of the conventions of the fantasy genre. Trolls are brutes; Gnomes are subjects to the bullying of the Trolls; the Humans, Elves and Dwarves are allied against the Trolls and seeking freedom from oppression. I also liked how magic and technology were joined together and made like one force. There were a couple of characters that I really liked, Daria (at Troll) and Ubri (a Gnome). They are both in positions that could have them being cruel and unforgiving but both at different times show compassion and care for those from their enemies because it is the right thing to do.

Overall this is an entertaining read and I would recommend it to most any fantasy reader. It's not up their with the top fantasy books but it is a good read. I would like to see something of the future adventures of the Strong family.

My rating:

The Disrespectful Interviewer

2013-04-23T00:30:00.000-05:00

Title: The Disrespectful Interviewer
Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Publisher: Hat City Press
Published: March 22, 2013
Ebook
ASIN: B00BZU8DDU
Genre: Non-fiction, humor
Source: Author

Amazon Summary:
Just what the title promises! Thirteen disrespectful interviews with authors, including: Chris Cleave, Jon Clinch, Tish Cohen, Joseph Finder, Kristy Kiernan, A.S. King, J.A. Konrath, Greg Logsted, Lisa McMann, Lynn Price, Lev Raphael, Adriana Trigiana...and Lauren Baratz-Logsted - discover new favorites and see some of your favorite authors, like you've never seen them before!

My thoughts:
I live in agony of interviews. I am thrilled to interview the authors that I do, but I also dread it. Why? Because trying to come up with questions that the author hasn't been asked at least a thousand times already is tough. There are times when I've tried to be more laid back with the interviewee and have fallen flat on my face. Why did I tell you all this? So that you can understand my appreciation of this book. Lauren Baratz-Logsted has compiled 13 'disrespectful' interviews that first appeared on Writer-in-Residence between 2009-2010 into this hilarious book.
How disrespectful are the interviews? Well, since the authors know they're in a sense getting 'roasted', it's not really that bad. Some of the authors give it back just as good as they get it. I love reading the authors' answers to Lauren's quirky questions. She asks some pretty amusing questions. I love the sarcastic snark she puts out along with her fascination with General Hospital.
Overall I think anyone who has ever had to conduct an interview or loves reading interviews will find this book amusing. I found some 'new to me authors' as well which is always a plus.

My rating:

The 5th Wave is coming...and it’s almost here!

2013-04-22T16:32:00.000-05:00

The First Wave

The Second Wave

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. The 5th Wave is available for pre-order now!

Rick Yancey, the author of The 5th Wave, is also getting ready to go on tour!

Tuesday, May 7th7:00 PM

Books and Books

265 Aragon Ave

Coral Gables, FL

Wednesday, May 8th6:00 PM

Vero Beach Book Center

2145 Indian River Blvd.

Vero Beach, FL 32960

Friday, May 10th7:00 PM

Barnes & Noble

7660 North Point Parkway Suite 200

Alpharetta, GA 30022

Thursday, May 16th7:00 PM

Book People

603 N Lamar Blvd

Austin, TX 78703

Saturday, May 18th2:00 PM

Inkwood Books

216 S Armenia Ave

Tampa, FL 33609

Tuesday, May 21st7:00 PM

Jabberwocky Books

810 Caroline St

Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Wednesday, May 22nd7:00 PM

Anderson’s Bookshop

123 W Jefferson Ave

Naperville, IL 60540