tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61975722579067132232024-03-12T22:51:36.802-05:00My Tower of BooksBooks are life.Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-61678526771515120162012-12-18T08:10:00.000-06:002012-12-18T08:10:10.764-06:00Guest Post and Giveaway: Herbology 101 with author Hailey Edwards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YKkDsZDPMWU/UM932-0M4rI/AAAAAAAABrg/NNpBUrqloWk/s1600/Feast+Tour+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YKkDsZDPMWU/UM932-0M4rI/AAAAAAAABrg/NNpBUrqloWk/s320/Feast+Tour+(1).png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Poultice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>While writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Feast of Souls</i>, I researched herb lore
because the heroine, Mana, is a spirit walker. In the Araneae world, that makes
her a spiritual leader for her clan, one who can walk in between worlds and aid
in healing from the spiritual plane. Mana also studies herbology. During the
course of the book, she mentions making a poultice to draw infection from a
sword wound.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A poultice, or cataplasm, is a soft mass (made from bread,
meal, or clay and medicated with herbs) spread on fabric and heated before
being applied to sores or cuts. They are used to draw out infection, treat
boils and<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span>abscesses or to cure itchy rashes.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Here are a few cool facts about poultices:<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
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<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>Poultices can also be used to remove stains on porous
materials, such as granite and marble countertops and floors.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>Because they ease inflammation, poultices are commonly
used on horses.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>Applications for poultices are only limited by their
ingredients. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So my question is this—<strong>have you ever tried a home remedy or
herbal cure?</strong> If so, did it work for you?<span style="background-color: cyan;"> Leave a comment to let me know and
you’ll be entered to win your choice of title from my backlist in any digital
format and an Araneae swag pack<strong>.</strong></span> Contest is open internationally.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Feast of Souls</i>
Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Tonight we fought for our freedom. If we lost…I wanted to
know this male’s kiss.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Vaughn cleared his throat. “We could make up for lost time.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“You’d do that, for me?” My smile was impossible to stop. I
should be afraid—of him, of this night, of the outcome of two bound prisoners
against a score of Theridiidae. “How kind you are.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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But I wasn’t afraid. Vaughn’s presence enveloped me, kept me
safe against all odds. My skin tightened and my head ached as I was forced to
consider perhaps it had never been him I feared, but his effect on me.
Tradition demanded I save myself for my soul mate. My heart, well, it was less
inclined to wait. With no visible aura and no possible future, I gave myself to
this moment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Vaughn closed the distance between us. “This is not the
first kiss you deserve.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Who said this was my first?” I was a warm-blooded female
and males had interested me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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His brow furrowed. “You’re Salticidae.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“I am.” I wished my hands were free to shape his broad
shoulders. “I’m also waiting.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Then we’re even.” His head lowered. Our breaths mingled.
“I’ve waited for this.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Surprise parted my lips, and he claimed my mouth with hunger
that sank into my bones. One brush of his lips and I was lost. His tongue
traced the entrance to my mouth, seeking permission I granted by inclining my
head. Desire fogged my mind, the low rumble in the back of his throat making
tension coil low in my stomach. Our bodies pressed so close, I realized how
well we fit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The thrust and glide of Vaughn’s tongue mirrored the erotic
turn of my thoughts. <i>No</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i> I
could not indulge in this male when I had one of my own somewhere. When the
gods brought my soul mate to me, I would not go to him sullied or disgraced for
being so weak I gave away my virtue.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Suddenly the bite of rope on my wrists was a welcome
reminder of our circumstances. Over the pounding of my heart, I heard his raw
breaths and saw wildness glint in his eyes. I withdrew.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If our display hadn’t earned us the full attention of our
guards, I might have considered a roll in the snow to cool the heat making it
hard for me to breathe. Gods’ web he had my mind dazed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span style="color: red; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 125%;">****</span><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 125%;">This post contains general information
about medical conditions and treatments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 3pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 125%;">The information is not advice, and
should not be treated as such. <a href="http://haileyedwards.net/2012/08/medical-disclaimer/"><span style="color: blue;">Click</span></a> for
complete disclaimer.<span style="color: red;">****</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 125%;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 125%;"><o:p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; line-height: 125%;"><o:p><em></em></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-39MF3lsZSIc/UM96nFN1U4I/AAAAAAAABsc/kL5siJI0sjA/s1600/FeastofSouls+200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-39MF3lsZSIc/UM96nFN1U4I/AAAAAAAABsc/kL5siJI0sjA/s1600/FeastofSouls+200x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; line-height: 125%;"><o:p><strong>About the Author: </strong></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 125%;">Born in the Deep South, Hailey is a lifelong resident of Alabama. Her husband works for the local sheriff’s department and her daughter is counting down the days until she’s old enough to audition for American Idol. Her doxie, Black Ilex, helps Hailey write by snoozing in <em>his</em> recliner in her office.<br />
<span style="color: #f0ede0;">——–</span><br />
Her desire to explore without leaving the comforts of home fueled her love of reading and writing. Whenever the itch for adventure strikes, Hailey can be found with her nose glued to her Kindle’s screen or squinting at her monitor as she writes her next happily-ever-after.<br />
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<br />Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-87420817318212664972012-12-15T09:33:00.000-06:002012-12-15T09:33:19.591-06:00Review: A Feast of Souls: Araneae Nation, Book 2 by Hailey Edwards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQ77TvBagPc/UMySsyoO5_I/AAAAAAAABp0/e6sZiYeQrVY/s1600/16046544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQ77TvBagPc/UMySsyoO5_I/AAAAAAAABp0/e6sZiYeQrVY/s320/16046544.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<em>Born with the ability to communicate with the dead, few things take Mana by surprise. But when a canis lopes into her life, announcing himself as the long-dead father of a childhood friend, she’s shocked. To make matters worse, he has a dire message that she alone can deliver.<br /><br />Now Mana must face Vaughn, the male who inspired one too many girlish fantasies, and impart the spirit’s message—without acknowledging her source—so the soul can be laid to rest.<br /><br />With rumors of a burgeoning clan war setting his nerves on edge, the last thing Vaughn needs is for an innocent to get caught in the crosshairs. But the woman he remembers as an awkward girl refuses to leave his side until he’s heard her out. That’s not the only change in her that calls to him. Her kindness soothes his battle-scarred soul—and he craves her in ways a warrior shouldn’t.<br /><br />When they are both captured, they learn of an even greater threat. The plague devastating the southlands has come to his clan home. And his best—and only—chance to keep his people alive is the female who walks among the dead.<br /><br />Product Warnings<br />This book contains one fierce hero with a nose for danger, one stubborn heroine who smells like trouble, and one wolfish spirit who makes most relationships with the in-laws seem downright tame. Fur, fangs and some biting should be expected. But never fear, the hero has a sword, and he knows how to use it.</em><br />
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<em><strong>Publication Date:</strong> December18, 2012</em><br />
<em><strong>Genre:</strong> Adult, Fantasy, Romance</em><br />
<em><strong>Source:</strong> Thanks so much to Hailey Edwards for providing me with a review copy!</em><br />
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<strong><u>Review:</u></strong><br />
Ah! Ok, it was predetermined that I would like this book. As the second book in this series it lived up to my expectations and then some. Sometimes it's hard to adjust to new main characters in a series when you've gotten attached the ones from previous books, but this book has no problems there.<br />
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Book 1, A Hint of Frost (<a href="http://mytowerofbooks.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-hint-of-frost-by-hailey-edwards.html" target="_blank">my review</a>), centers around Rhys and Lourdes. A Feast of Souls focuses on Rhys's brother Vaughn *gazes off dreamily* I can't say how excited I was that Vaughn was the 'hero' in this book. Even though he wasn't in the first book a whole lot, he stood out as an interesting and complex character. He doesn't disappoint at all. He has to be tough and violent at times, but I love that his one soft spot, his achilles heel, is Mana. Gah! I loved them in this book so much!<br />
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One thing I have to say I admire about Mana is that unlike a lot of female characters in romance novels she is really honest with herself about her feelings for Vaughn. She has the inner turmoil of being attracted to him but thinking he's not right for her, without pushing him away. That drives me crazy in books when the girl will be over the top against being with this or that person. Mana can't keep Vaughn at a distance no matter what her head tells her because she is in tune to what her heart is saying.<br />
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I think I probably mentioned this in my review of the first book of this series, but I was so impressed by this fact again in Book 2. Hailey Edwards has this amazing gift of writing Romance that is gripping, tension-filled and *way* sexy . . . without being smutty. Plus, the Fantasy element of the novel doesn't take a backseat to all the steamy stuff. The story is an integral part of the characters and their relationships.<br />
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If you haven't read anything of Hailey's, you are missing out. She is an amazing author and has a true gift for this genre. An author to keep your eyes on, for sure!Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-42789931626363491522012-12-04T09:37:00.002-06:002012-12-04T09:38:20.704-06:00Tour Review: Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cOoQWMsJ9-4/UJgTLQmWQrI/AAAAAAAABo0/e7SAegLuRDI/s1600/11721314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cOoQWMsJ9-4/UJgTLQmWQrI/AAAAAAAABo0/e7SAegLuRDI/s320/11721314.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeText8793354291480965052"><em>Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question. <br /><br />It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").<br /><br />But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.<br /><br />Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be</em></span><br />
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<em><strong>Publication Date:</strong> November 13, 2012</em><br />
<em><strong>Genre:</strong> Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction</em><br />
<em><strong>Source:</strong> Thanks to the Souther Book Bloggers for allowing me to be a part of this book tour!</em><br />
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<strong><u>Review:</u></strong><br />
The only way I can describe this book is: Adorable. It is simply sweet and scrumptiously <em>adorable</em>. I had a good idea of where the book was going, but there are enough little twists to keep you feeling satisfied with the story.<br />
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This book has one of my favorite personality combinations to read: uptight, rule-folllower type of girl and the free-spirited, life-loving dude that inspires her to just be <em>herself</em>. Julia and Jason's relationship is so sweet and progresses so honestly throughout the book. I also loved how Jason isn't exactly what he appears to be on the outside. He can be really deep and considerate and <em>sweet</em>. I keep using that word, but if you read the book you'll see why :)<br />
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If you love contemporary fiction that keeps you hooked in, but the subject matter isn't too dark then this is the perfect book to read. It's a quick book to go through, but leaves you feeling warm and happy with how it ends. A good weekend type of book to read :)Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-71981124138771752942012-10-15T06:00:00.000-05:002012-10-15T06:00:09.152-05:00Tour Review: The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WGMagno6vbY/UHpCM4JIPJI/AAAAAAAABn0/CmUkr3TqKLg/s1600/13533650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WGMagno6vbY/UHpCM4JIPJI/AAAAAAAABn0/CmUkr3TqKLg/s320/13533650.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeText4104290564423616419"><em>Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her. <br /><br />And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be.</em></span><br />
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<span><em><strong>Publication Date:</strong> October 2, 2012</em></span><br />
<span><em><strong>Genre:</strong> Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure</em></span><br />
<span><strong><em>Source:</em> </strong><em>Thanks to Southern Book Bloggers for letting me be a part of this tour!</em></span><br />
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<span><strong><u>Review:</u></strong></span><br />
<span><span id="freeTextreview337867911">I was so excited to read this book because it sounded so original in comparison to a lot of the things I've been reading lately. Not to say that being original automatically makes something better, of course, but I was really eager to get started.<br /><br />I have to say I wasn't completely sold at the beginning, but the characters really pull this story along and make it into something really special. I loved that Ananna is an independent chick. She's a seriously skilled pirate, and she can push past her fear. I think those are admirable qualities in a female main character. Plus, she has those traits while still maintaining her emotions and the things that make her feminine as well. I think that's a hard balance to strike.<br /><br />Another thing I really loved about The Assassin's Curse is that Ananna and Naji's relationship is so very subtle. I'm all about a deep, angsty love story, but this book really proves that it's not necessary to still be wrapped up in the interaction between the characters. Ananna builds a wary friendship with Naji after he tries to kill her, and they end up with their futures bound up together. Their journey to break this bond and be rid of each other is the very thing that begins to bring them together.<br /><br />I think this book sets the stage for a wonderful new series, and I'm really looking forward to the next book.</span></span>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-63182892054237610402012-10-10T12:30:00.000-05:002012-10-13T23:29:50.723-05:00Review: Ashen Winter by Mike Mullin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ANi4s2WNj5g/T9Y7X-hmBFI/AAAAAAAABNc/IdATiznDOGQ/s1600/9867814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ANi4s2WNj5g/T9Y7X-hmBFI/AAAAAAAABNc/IdATiznDOGQ/s320/9867814.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeText9062335609217636345"><em>It’s been over six months since the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano. Alex and Darla have been staying with Alex’s relatives, trying to cope with the new reality of the primitive world so vividly portrayed in Ashfall, the first book in this series. It’s also been six months of waiting for Alex’s parents to return from Iowa. Alex and Darla decide they can wait no longer and must retrace their journey into Iowa to find and bring back Alex’s parents to the tenuous safety of Illinois. But the landscape they cross is even more perilous than before, with life-and-death battles for food and power between the remaining communities. When the unthinkable happens, Alex must find new reserves of strength and determination to survive.</em></span><br />
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<em><strong>Publication Date:</strong> October 14, 2012</em><br />
<em><strong>Genre:</strong> Young Adult, Post Apocalyptic, Adventure</em><br />
<em><strong>Source:</strong> Thanks so much to Tanglewood Press for making this title available through Netgalley!</em><br />
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<strong><u>Review:</u></strong><br />
First off, what do you think of that cover? Amazing, yes? I like it even more after finishing this book. I almost had a heart attack when I saw this on Netgalley because I loved the first one so much. The awesome male POV and the way that I really felt the cold and the hunger right along with Alex and Darla carried into this second novel as well.<br />
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In Ashfall Alex is finding his way in the new world after the eruption. He's still figuring things out. In Ashen Winter they've been living this hard life a bit longer and you can really notice the changes in Alex from one book to the next. <br />
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As would be expected after an apocalyptic event there are groups struggling against each other for survival. Trusting somebody means putting your life in their hands and most of the people Alex runs into aren't the type that you want putting their hands on you. Most groups and communites of survivors aren't friendly to outsiders, but other gangs of people are just plain criminal, preying off of anybody weaker. And you better not trust in the Government either because they sure as heck don't have your best interest at heart in this case.<br />
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It's these human interactions that cause most of the problems for Alex and Darla as they look for Alex's parents. Hunger, cold, fatigue. All a factor, but those play second string to the crazy-ass people dominating the world. I would probably end up buried under a pile of snow and dead within days of something like this happening :) Luckily the characters in this book aren't such horrible wimps!<br />
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I felt like Alex was really just taking hit after hit in Ashen Winter. Talk about some bad freaking luck. I think it really proved his character and what he's willing to go through for the people he loves.<br />
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A ton of great action and tension throughout this one. I love being immersed in this world and was sad to reach the end. The mark of a great book!Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-29554337402546220712012-09-28T07:28:00.000-05:002012-09-28T08:09:33.745-05:00Author Interview with J. Gabriel Gates<div align="center">
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<em>I am thrilled to have J. Gabriel Gates here for an interview today! I recently read his newest novel <u>Blood Zero Sky</u> (my <a href="http://mytowerofbooks.blogspot.com/2012/08/review-blood-zero-sky-by-j-gabriel-gates.html" target="_blank">Review</a>), and it was amazing. He's a great author, and I loved his answers to all my questions. But he'd be a great author even if I hated his answers :)</em></div>
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<em>Click the links to find my reviews for J's other books.</em></div>
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<em><u><a href="http://mytowerofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/review-dark-territory-by-j-gabriel.html" target="_blank">Dark Territory</a></u></em></div>
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<em><u><a href="http://mytowerofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/07/sleepwalkers-by-j-gabriel-gates.html" target="_blank">The Sleepwalkers</a></u></em></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Q. As you may have noticed from my review,
I really loved <i>Blood Zero Sky</i>. What inspired the world and
characters in this book?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A. Thanks, I’m really glad
you enjoyed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote the original
draft of the book back in 2005, and basically I wrote it because I was looking
around at some of the things that were happening politically and sociologically
and I found them pretty concerning and infuriating, so I wanted to write a book
to show where the path we were on might lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As for the characters, they came from different sparks of
inspiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rebel leader, Ethan,
came from reading books about the founding fathers and the American
Revolutionary War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May was partly
inspired by a book I read called Stone Butch Blues by a wonderful writer named
Leslie Feinberg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The protagonist of that
story is a gay woman trying to make her way in a very hostile environment—as a
factory worker in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I thought about it, there were some major parallels with May’s situation,
as a strong, gay female protagonist trying to fake her way through a world that
is hostile to her most authentic self.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Q. How do you feel about
the comparisons made between your novel and George Orwell's <i>1984</i>?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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A. <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Well, I’m flattered by
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s always nice to be compared to
a classic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think when you do dystopian
fiction really well, it really infiltrates a reader’s mind and even the lexicon
of a society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When people talk about the
government overreaching its bounds and watching you in creepy ways—like the
recent case where a federal court ruled the government can use your cellphone
records to track your movements without a warrant, for example—people still
shake their heads and say: “big brother.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It creates a short-hand so that people can express their feelings about
what’s happening around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d love
it if next time the government funds some 0% loan allowing a too-big-to-fail
company to gobble up one of its competitors, or when private military
contractors start flying drones over U.S. airspace to spy on Americans, people
would say: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Here it is again,</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blood Zero Sky</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Books like mine and 1984 create a shared
experience that people can draw from to comment on the world around them, and
that’s very important, especially in our age of partisan corporate media and
vitriolic, polarizing discourse.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Q. What would you say to
people that might say the underlying idea in <i>Blood Zero Sky</i> is
too far-fetched or a complete impossibility in our own world?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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A. <span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I would suggest that they
haven’t been paying attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at the Citizens United supreme court decision,
opening the floodgates to allow corporate interests to buy elections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at the political pressure to privatize
every corner of the government, from charter schools, to the correctional corporations
that run our prisons, to military contractors that continue to take on
increasingly large roles in our national defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at the bailout of the banks, where
hundreds of billions of dollars in taxpayer money was given away, with very few
conditions, to the same crooked banks that sold bad mortgages to homeowners,
packaged them as investments, sold them to individual pension funds, retirement
accounts, college funds, etc. as grade A investments, then bet against them,
wiping out the life’s savings of millions of people, while they themselves
walked away with millions in bonuses—and none of them went to jail, because all
the regulators are former buddies of theirs from Goldman Sachs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only 6 companies control 90% of the media in
the U.S., down 40% since 1990.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could
go on and on, but those who refuse to see the problem will still refuse to see
it.</span><strong>
</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Q. In <em>Blood Zero Sky </em>there are individuals
within The Company that could be considered the villains of the novel, but I
found The Company's all-powerful grasp on every inch of the people's lives to
be sinister on another level. Was it more difficult to characterize The
Company as the nemesis of humanity as opposed to a specific person?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> A. </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m glad you picked up
on that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The villain in this book,
really, is the corporate system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside
a corporation, individual morality fades a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People can do something bad and say “my boss told me to do it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or the boss can say: “I was just doing
everything I could to make money within the law. (Of course, corporations now
write our laws…) It’s my duty to the shareholders.” The premise is that
corporations are basically engines of greed, designed to do one thing: make
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing
wrong with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Corporations are
useful, and greed is useful, too—it leads to productivity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is that we’ve allowed these
mindless engines of greed to control our government and write our laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sharks are insatiable carnivores, too, and
they’re beautiful creatures—you just wouldn’t hire one to be the lifeguard at a
kiddie pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the same way,
corporations should not run our government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Q. I really liked May
Fields as the main character and found her to be very relateable. Were you
concerned that readers would have a hard time connecting with a lesbian MC? How
important was it to you that she stay true to how you originally pictured her?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> A. </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s great that you
liked her; not all reviewers have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s
a very unapologetic character; she’s strong, sometimes mean, and often confused
as she tries to sort out the truth of the world around her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has this “I don’t give a damn if you like
me or not” attitude, and I guess I share her attitude when it comes to readers
liking her character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope people will
like her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like her. And I was
genuinely surprised that some reviewers didn’t relate to her very well. But if
you’re writing well, characters really take on their own being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t change the way May is any more
than I could train my dog to meow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Although she is a lesbian,
I don’t see sexual preference as her defining trait— or any other person’s
defining trait, for that matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s
just a human being trying to understand the world and her place it in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The choice of whether or not to make the
effort to understand May falls to the reader; she’s too proud to go begging for
their adoration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You just have to either
accept her, or not.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Q. Is this the last we
will see of the world in <i>Blood Zero Sky</i>?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> A. </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">It probably is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have another idea for a sci-fi story that
could be set in the same world as Blood Zero Sky, but a few decades later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s possible that I may set it there—but it’s
also possible that I might not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either
way, I think May’s tale is finished.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Q. I'm always curious to
know how writers do their writing thing. Do you have a favorite place to
do your writing? When are you most productive?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m normally sitting on
the couch in my living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I live on
an old decommissioned golf course, so there are sliding doors right next to me
that open out onto a pretty meadow with willow trees and a brook, with ducks
and squirrels and woodchucks running around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a pretty peaceful way to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I normally get up, have
my breakfast, walk my dog, pour my coffee and write in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, I have lunch and do an afternoon
session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In between, I try to take care
of the other requisite tasks of being an author, social media, correspondence,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a pretty darn good life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>Q. Aside from writing really
cool books, what do you enjoy doing?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A. I’m pretty active.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
like to go for runs, lift weights and go mountain biking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spend a lot of time with my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad and my grandparents live fairly
nearby, so I spend a lot of time with them .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m pretty into the simple life—give me a nice run under a blue sky,
some pizza and a glass of wine, some good conversation, a good book, and church
on Sunday, and I’m a happy man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>J, thanks so much for your thoughtful answers. I hope eveyrone enjoys <u>Blood Zero Sky</u> as much as I did. I know I've already referenced it once or twice in regards to government :)</em></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About J. Gabriel Gates:</span></strong></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor4805617">Author J. Gabriel Gates is a native of Marshall, Michigan. The son of an English teacher, his passion for the written word began at a young age. During college, another passion – for performing – led him to get his B.A. degree in theater from Florida State University.<br /><br />During his years in Los Angeles, he appeared in a dozen national TV commercials and penned several screenplays while laying the groundwork for his career as a novelist.<br /><br />His novels include the YA fantasy books "Dark Territory: The Tracks, book 1," "Ghost Crown: The Tracks, Book 2," and horror novel "The Sleepwalkers." His dystopian sci-fi epic "Blood Zero Sky" is slated for release in October, 2012. (All are published by HCI Books.)<br /><br />He currently lives in Southeast Michigan.</span></div>
<strong><em>You can connect with J via his <a href="http://jgabrielgates.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/jgabrielgates" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4805617.J_Gabriel_Gates" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u8K02gKUTEA/UGO4DWiLYWI/AAAAAAAABm4/o6XNwSWepGI/s1600/A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u8K02gKUTEA/UGO4DWiLYWI/AAAAAAAABm4/o6XNwSWepGI/s200/A.png" width="133" /></a><strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Blood Zero Sky will be available October 1, 2012 and is available for pre-order on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Zero-Sky-J-Gates/dp/0757316107/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348712066&sr=8-1&keywords=blood+zero+sky" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</em></strong><br />
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Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-72545550823742587232012-09-24T20:00:00.000-05:002012-09-24T20:00:00.035-05:00Review: The Mephisto Kiss by Trinity Faegen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XjAqy6RyNYA/UFFN4ubmFlI/AAAAAAAABlA/nNQoXJ_XDyg/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XjAqy6RyNYA/UFFN4ubmFlI/AAAAAAAABlA/nNQoXJ_XDyg/s320/untitled.png" width="212" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeText10489849626705481910"><em>The eyes never lie. No one’s eyes are darker than Eryx. Not even the Devil’s.<br /><br />When Jax and Sasha first see Jordan Ellis, they know she is no ordinary teenager. She’s the daughter of the President after all, but she’s also Anabo – a descendant of Eve.<br /><br />What they don’t know is that Eryx plans to kidnap Jordan and force President Ellis to pledge his soul. If Eryx’s plot succeeds, the consequences would be catastrophic.<br /><br />But the Mephisto brothers do know about Jordan’s secret identity. And for one of them, she could be the match that leads to their soul’s salvation.<br /><br />Now it’s a desperate race against time to save Jordan and prevent Eryx’s haunting eyes from discovering her true identity.</em></span><br />
<span><em></em></span><br />
<span><em><strong>Publication Date:</strong> September 25, 2012</em></span><br />
<span><em><strong>Genre:</strong> Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance</em></span><br />
<span><em><strong>Source:</strong> I won this ARC via the cover reveal giveaway for the book :D</em></span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span><strong><u>Review:</u></strong></span><br />
<span>My initial reaction to having the book focus on a different Mephisto brother was mildly pouty, maybe a bit whiney as well. I wanted my Jax...and Sasha too. A great pair, and I loved their story in Mephisto Covenant (my review for that one <strong><a href="http://mytowerofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-mephisto-covenant-by-trinity.html" target="_blank">here</a></strong>). It didn't take long for me to become just as wrapped up in one of the other brother's (I won't spill any secrets...I won't spill any secrets *bites lip*) relationship with Jordan.</span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>The Mephisto brothers are a complicated and intriguing lot. They each have their own hangups and issues which makes for great reading. Getting into this second book gives an even greater look into the vast history spread out behind each of them. Their struggles, strengths and screaming good looks *ahem* showcase them as distinct individuals. And this is only Book two! </span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>I have to say that I loved the character development of Eryx. He is black-as-coal evil, no light to be seen. But we get to see some deeper glimpses of him as character, for good or bad I won't say. But it's awesome! Jordan is a great character as well. She is totally different from Sasha, but because Jordan is Anabo too they share some of the same traits. </span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span>I stand by comparing Trinity's books to candy. You can't just have one piece of candy, just like you can't read only one chapter of this book. It gets into your system and makes you keep reading :) I believe I might become a bit repetitive, but everything I love in a good, angsty, paranormal romance is what this entire book is made of. There's nothing I don't like about it. </span>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-25342363180115530872012-09-13T21:13:00.000-05:002012-09-13T21:47:34.241-05:00I'm Still Here :)<div align="center">
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Well, hello there, everyone! I guess it's been a while.</div>
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A while since I've posted.</div>
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A while since I've read *gasp*</div>
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A while since I've <em>felt</em> like reading *even bigger gasp*</div>
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I have been on a much needed and slightly forced break from blogging and just reading in general. It wasn't a conscious decision. It just happened naturally. With three young kids yelling and screaming around the house by day, I only have a few hours at night that are truly mine. With my oldest starting Kindergarten I've been bombarded by many fears and stresses and calendar-based thing-a-ma-bobs that I normally don't have to deal with. And reading kind of got pushed to the wayside.</div>
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Also, I've been devoting a larger portion of my free hours to writing. Which was actually one of my goals for this year :) I have a hard time scheduling regular time for writing...again with the schedule/calendar aversion here.</div>
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So here are some things I will confess :)</div>
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*I was majorly burned out on reading.</div>
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*I haven't cracked a book in 3 weeks (please, no punching me for that one)</div>
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*I've chain-watched so many episodes of Supernatural I forget Sam and Dean aren't real people</div>
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*I've logged an embarrassing amount of video game hours playing through an arsenal of games that were on my 'to play' list.</div>
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*I've co-written over 25,000 words in a novel over the last few months (slow and steady, right?)</div>
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*I've managed to detach the umbilical cord between myself and the computer</div>
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and last, but not least...</div>
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*I've found my desire to read again :)</div>
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My priorities as far as blogging have been rearranged into something that I find much more enjoyable. I'm not requesting any books because I don't like feeling obligated to read it if I hate it or don't have time. I'm also not accepting any requests...same reason. I'm focusing on the books I've been dying to read, but have been back-burnered due to lack of time. And I'm not beating myself up if other things take over some of my reading time. I'm back to reading, reviewing and blogging for the fun of it.<br />
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I think every blogger on earth has experienced burnout in some shape or form. So, I've hit my burnout, and I'm finally remembering why I loved doing this to begin with. Plus, book bloggers and readers are some frigging amazing people, and they share one of my dearest loves: Books!</div>
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I hope you all have had a great summer, and you'll be seeing my posts coming back once I get into the swing of this whole taking-my-kid-to-school-every-day-and-not-being-late-and-not-forgetting-to-pack-a-lunch-and-wearing-real-pants thing :) </div>
Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-38969663079319782382012-08-21T06:00:00.000-05:002012-08-21T10:12:28.581-05:00Review: Blood Zero Sky by J. Gabriel Gates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdSwR-okZ7c/UDOlQh20tWI/AAAAAAAABkA/mijm7VJo1jQ/s1600/A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdSwR-okZ7c/UDOlQh20tWI/AAAAAAAABkA/mijm7VJo1jQ/s1600/A.png" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<em><u><strong>Synopsis:</strong></u></em><br />
<span id="freeText16432214743207687539"><em>Unprofitables are banished to work camps to pay off their credit. Other tie-men and women look on apathetically. "Fair is fair. Everyone knows you shouldn't use more credit than you are worth to the Company. "They turn their attention to the next repackaged but highly coveted N-Corp product on the market, creatively advertised on the imager screens that adorn virtually every available flat surface. All the while, their mandatory cross-implants and wrist-worn "ICs" keep them focused on the endless cycle of work and consumption to which they are enslaved.<br /><br />May Fields the CEO's daughter would like to believe she is above all that. Head of N-Corp's marketing team, the young woman who has almost everything anyone could want spends her days dreaming up ingenious ways to make workers buy more of what they already have and don't need. Even before May discovers that the Company is headed for its first loss in thirty years, she is feeling the stirrings of dissatisfaction with the system that has given her everything she's ever wanted . . . except the freedom to be herself.<br /><br />When she is kidnapped by a member of the Protectorate a secret order dating back to the American Revolution May is suddenly faced with the frightening truth of what the Company's greed has done to our most basic human rights. Will she embrace who she is and join the battle to restore America's democratic freedom, or put her blinders back on and return to her safe and passionless life?<br /><br />More prediction than fiction, "Blood Zero Sky "is a riveting, nonstop, and suspenseful gaze into the looking glass, destined to rise with the zeitgeist of our times to become the anthem of a generation.</em></span><br />
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<em><strong>Publication Date: </strong>October 1, 2012</em><br />
<em><strong>Genre:</strong> Dystopia, Sci-Fi, Young Adult</em><br />
<em><strong>Source:</strong> Thanks to the author, Mr. Gates, for providing me with a review copy!</em><br />
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<strong><u>Review:</u></strong><br />
I hate to admit that I was a bit turned off by the cover of this book, but on the flip side I'm pleased to say that <em>Blood Zero Sky</em> is amazing. Period. I'm sure I won't be the only one to compare it to George Orwell's <em>1984 </em>because it shares a lot of those same themes of totalitarianism, psychological control through filtering information and propaganda and an overall sense of helplessness at the all-consuming reach of, in this book, The Company.<br />
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What is awesome about this book is that no matter how many comparisons can be made to <em>1984</em> it stands completely on its own merit. The cautionary tale it tells is all the more frightening because the technology we have today isn't far off from that used in the book. And it's not too big a stretch to picture a large powerful entity sneaking its way into monopolizing every industry in the country. It's totally believable.<br />
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And I haven't even mentioned the characters yet :) May Fields is the MC, but she's not your typical girl. The CEO of The Company is her dad, and she's living the high life compared to a lot of people. She's got everything she could want, but she still feels as if something is missing in her life. May is a strong female character and the fact that she's gay isn't what defines her, nor is it what the book is about. She does have to hide the fact that she's a lesbian because that doesn't line up with The Company's religious policies. The whole Company controlled religion was another factor that added to the feeling of power un-checked when it comes to how the people live their lives.<br />
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I thought this was a great book for a variety of reasons. It definitely makes you think and speaks to a lot of things that are currently going on in our world today. It's also just a plain good read!Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-32649001654886969132012-08-14T06:30:00.000-05:002012-08-14T06:30:04.269-05:00Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Immigration and Adaptation by Haskell G. Edwards, D. Min.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6R4xefnHFMQ/UCnHT2itLrI/AAAAAAAABi8/PNX-o2RrxKI/s1600/cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6R4xefnHFMQ/UCnHT2itLrI/AAAAAAAABi8/PNX-o2RrxKI/s320/cover.JPG" width="201" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Synopsis:</u></strong><br />
<strong><em>Immigration and Adaptation </em>Book Summary</strong>
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<i>Adaptation is a must.</i> But how does one
go about doing this? It takes great planning, finances, and courage to leave
one's homeland; but then finding support and comfort or anything of familiarity
in a new land presents a whole new set of challenges. The stress is
overwhelming. How do you gain the happiness and success you dreamed of attaining
in the new land? <br /><br /><i>Immigration and Adaptation</i> is here to help you
navigate through these challenges. With the information herein, immigrants
coming to North America will be prepared to identify and resolve social, family,
and personal challenges with confidence. Mr. Edwards' vast professional
experience with diverse immigrant families, as well as his own personal journey
and genuinely encouraging approach, not only help immigrant families adapt to
new surroundings, but grow stronger together in their journey.<br /><br />This book
includes:<br />- A family wellness test<br />- Step-by-step guidelines<br />-
Real-life examples<br />- Inspirational stories<br />- Family, parenting, and
spousal exercises<br />- Illustrations<br />- Single-parenting
advice<br /><br /><i>Immigration and Adaptation</i> also includes tips on: building
self-confidence, resolving conflicts, tuning communication skills, networking
and building social supports, budgeting, parenting, enhancing spousal
relationships, helping teenagers adjust, communicating effectively, and more.</div>
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<strong>Publication Date: </strong>September 15, 2011<br />
<strong>Genre:</strong> Self-help, Advice<br />
<strong>Publisher:</strong> Langdon Street Press<br />
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<strong><em>To find out more about this book you can visit these websites:</em></strong></div>
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<strong><a href="http://langdonstreetpress.com/" target="_blank">Langdon Street Press</a></strong><br /><br /><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186" target="_blank">Tribute Books Blog Tours</a> </strong></div>
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<strong><i><a href="http://immigration-and-adaptation.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Immigration and Adaptation</a></i> </strong></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ervyDipjckk/UCnI2ahXaNI/AAAAAAAABjE/dockBjvaMe8/s1600/haskelledwards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ervyDipjckk/UCnI2ahXaNI/AAAAAAAABjE/dockBjvaMe8/s200/haskelledwards.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>About the Author:</u></strong></div>
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Haskell G. Edwards, D. Min. has vast professional experience for more than forty
years as pastor, administrator, family therapist, and director of a family
therapy center. His extensive experience gained from working with immigrant
families in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic setting, as well as his own personal
journey and genuinely encouraging approach, positions him not only to help
immigrant families adapt to new surroundings, but grow stronger together in
their journey.<br /><br />He has successfully held immigrant seminars, workshops,
and lectures throughout North America. Now a retired pastor, he continues to
help immigrant families of a wide cultural heritage transition into their new
homeland.</div>
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<strong><em>You can visit the Author's website <u><a href="http://www.myauthorwebsite.net/haskell-g-edwards" target="_blank">here</a></u>.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Immigration and Adaptation is available for purchase on:</em></strong></div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936782235?tag=tributebooks-20" target="_blank">Amazon</a> ($16.95)</strong><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=dcSBhG3Rj8w&offerid=239662.9781936782239&type=2&subid=0" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> ($16.95)</strong><b><br /><br /><a href="http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Immigration-Adaptation/Haskell-G-Edwards/9781936782239" target="_blank">Books-A-Million</a> </b><b>($16.95)</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://secure.mybookorders.com/order/haskell-edwards" target="_blank">Ebook</a>
($8.99)</b></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;">And now for the GIVEAWAY!</span></strong></div>
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You can win an ebook copy of <em>Immigration and Adaptation</em>!</div>
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I'm having trouble getting Rafflecopter working so we'll do this old-school.</div>
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All you have to do is leave you <strong>name</strong> and <strong>e-mail address</strong> in the comments.</div>
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Giveaway will run from August 14th - 20th</div>
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Winner will be chosen using Random.org</div>
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<strong>Thanks to Tribute books and the Author for allowing me to host this giveaway :)</strong></div>
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<strong>Good luck, everyone!</strong></div>
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Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-50405630656239568782012-08-03T00:01:00.000-05:002012-08-03T00:01:01.160-05:00Guest Post by Tracey Sinclair: Why Do We Love Bad Boys?<br />
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<strong>Why Do We Love Bad Boys?</strong></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s something about a bad boy…</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From Stefan Salvatore to Eric Northman,
what is it about those bad boys that sets our pulses racing? We might crave the
happy ever after with the nice guy, but we all want to dabble in the dark side
– who didn’t find Spike more fun than Angel, after all, with his peroxide hair,
the leather coat and the sexy British snark? It was enough to make you overlook
the terrible accent. It’s not exactly a new phenomenon – you just have to look
at a book like Wuthering Heights, where Cathy’s safe marriage never makes up
for the wild passion of her tortured, tempestuous relationship with the brooding
and borderline-demonic Heathcliff. We even like our good guys with a hint of
darkness – Angel going Angelus, Stefan turning Ripper; even Sam Winchester got
sexier once he started guzzling demon blood.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Partly, of course, this is because the
devil gets all the best lines: the good guys are often left with little but
po-faced sincerity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Undying love is all
well and good, but sometimes a girl likes a laugh: and all too often writers
seem to think that being a hero means being serious all the time. You only get
to be sarcastic if you’re a loveable rogue, Han Solo-style , and then it’s
proof of your roguishness. You could argue, of course, that there’s the world
of difference between that ‘loveable rogue’ type – think Han Solo, Mal Reynolds
or Dean Winchester and the genuine bad boy so prevalent in vampire fiction (let’s
not forget, both Eric and Spike are stone cold killers, and Damon has not only
casually killed a lot of women, he has also compelled plenty to have sex with
him – which is basically rape). But deep down, the fantasy is the same: that
under that rough exterior beats a heart of gold, and all they need to change
them is the love of the right woman. That woman being, of course, us. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can argue it’s a pernicious ideology –
how many women have stayed in awful or abusive relationships because they think
‘he’ll change!”? Certainly it’s a terrible, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">terrible</i>
way to live. But who said fantasies have to be politically correct? If that
were the case, nobody alive would have bought 50 Shades. The very point of a
fantasy is that it allows you to explore your own limits, to vicariously
indulge in behaviours that in life are beyond the pale: personally, I’m a woman
who only travels first class on trains and stays in hotels with cable TV and
great room service: I’d last about 5 minutes ‘roughing it’. Does that stop me
fantasizing about Dean Winchester sweeping me off into the horizon in the
Impala to live a life on the road? Hell, no. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because the bad guys appeal to our own wild
side – we might live by the rules, but who doesn’t dream about behaving as
badly as we want to, damn society and the consequences? Bad boys don’t live by
anyone’s rules but their own: often, we want them simply because we want to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">be</i> them, to have that freedom ourselves.
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Elena tells Damon, in The Vampires Diaries, and he
replies, “But stupid is more fun.” And sometimes you can’t argue with that.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">[You might wonder how I approached this
when I wrote the love triangle in my own book, Dark Dates: how to avoid the
boring hero? Simple: I made them both bad boys. Problem solved – and a LOT more
fun to write….]</span></span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tracey, thanks so much for this awesome post! You definitely know your bad boys!</span></em></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zXPEfPPaYRk/UBtImqcOsBI/AAAAAAAABg8/zlLE-IsJD4I/s1600/510122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zXPEfPPaYRk/UBtImqcOsBI/AAAAAAAABg8/zlLE-IsJD4I/s1600/510122.jpg" /></a><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><strong>About the Author:</strong></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Tracey Sinclair is a writer and editor. Her novel and collection of short stories (Doll and No Love Is This, respectively) have been published by independent publisher Kennedy & Boyd,and her new paranormal romance, Dark Dates, is now available.<br /><br />Her work has appeared in magazines as diverse as Sky, Printer’s Devil, Yours and Woman’s Weekly, as well as having been performed on the radio . Her first play, Bystanders, was premiered as part of the New Writing Season at Baron’s Court Theatre earlier this year. She also a regular contributor to online theatre magazine Exeunt (<a href="http://www.exeuntmagazine.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.exeuntmagazine.com</a>) and writes the Fangirl Unleashed column for <a href="http://www.unleashthefanboy.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.unleashthefanboy.com</a><br /><br />Her blog <a href="http://bodyofageekgoddess.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bodyofageekgoddess.blogspot.com</a> was shortlisted for this year’s Cosmopolitan Blog Awards.</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Her newest novel <em>Dark Dates</em> is available for purchase on <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Dates-Cassandra-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B007RH5PF4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1343628729&sr=1-1&keywords=dark+dates" target="_blank">Amazon</a></strong>.</o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p>(Click <a href="http://mytowerofbooks.blogspot.com/2012/07/review-dark-dates-by-tracey-sinclaire.html" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a> for my review of <em>Dark Dates</em>)</o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-12436074916159541342012-08-01T00:01:00.000-05:002012-08-01T00:01:01.187-05:00Author Interview with Tony Rauch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pnlzsjv0igA/UBiP4d0tORI/AAAAAAAABe8/soN-BDlaZfA/s1600/tony+rauch+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pnlzsjv0igA/UBiP4d0tORI/AAAAAAAABe8/soN-BDlaZfA/s200/tony+rauch+-+2.jpg" width="187" /></a></div>
<strong>About the Author:</strong>
Tony Rauch has three books of short stories published. The
first two are more adult related, though young adults may enjoy them depending
on their understanding of the themes - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m right here” (spout press) and “Laredo”
(Eraserhead Press). The third story collection is geared to Young Adults -
“Eyeballs growing all over me . . . again” (Eraserhead Press).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An additional Young Adult title is
forthcoming in the next few weeks – “As I floated in the jar.” Samples can be
found at – <o:p></o:p><br />
<a href="http://trauch.wordpress.com/">http://trauch.wordpress.com/</a><o:p></o:p><br />
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Rauch has been interviewed by the Prague Post, the Oxford
Univ student paper in England, Rain Taxi, has been reviewed by the MIT paper,
Rain Taxi, and the Savanna College of Art and Design paper, among many others.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Rauch’s short stories are imaginative, whimsical, dreamy,
absurd, surreal, fantasy, sci fi, and fairy tale adventures. The underlying
themes relate to <span>fragility,
uncertainty, impermanence, the mysteries hidden in everyday life, a sense of
discovery, escape, concealment, ennui, regret, loneliness, technology run amok,
eerie vibes, irresponsible behavior, confusion, absurd situations, </span>surrealism,
modern fairy tales, story starters for young adults and reluctant readers, <span>etc.</span><br />
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<span><strong>Interview with Tony Rauch:</strong></span></div>
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<b>*I am personally a fan of short fiction, but I know some
people haven't ventured into this realm much. What do you think is so appealing
about short stories?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
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I suppose every person has different feelings about this,
and it is subjective, but for me the appeals are many, including - <o:p></o:p></div>
- brevity - they don’t overload you with needless, overly
bloated background info. <o:p></o:p><br />
- experimentation – they can stretch the limits of fiction
in form and subject matter. <o:p></o:p><br />
- succinctness – they get to the point and can wrap things
up quickly and neatly. <o:p></o:p><br />
- volume – being able to experience a variety of adventures
in a short period of time. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p> </o:p><b>*A short piece of fiction really puts the pressure on to
deliver a full experience in a condensed package. Do you think it's harder to
write short stories as opposed to those that are full novel length?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Not for me, no. For me I think longer pieces would be harder
– to keep that momentum and energy going, the pacing. I’m more of a sprinter,
not a marathoner. With shorts, readers can fill in a lot of the details
themselves if you paint with broad strokes. The minds eye of the reader can
fill things in and flesh things out. I see shorts as being like dreams – sometimes you have to
draw some of your own conclusions. In that regard some ambiguity is nice as
leaving things out will get a reader thinking on their own about motivations or
reasons for things. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>To me novels often have very contrived, soap opera twists
and turns, whereas shorts usually focus on one single feeling or event. So that
is easier for me to connect with – just focusing on a few things as opposed to
trying to not be ‘all over the place’ with things. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><b>*Pure imagination is evident in all of your stories. Do
you know where a story is going to take you when you get that first initial
idea or are you kind of surprised yourself?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Sometimes. I try to get the endings first, then work
backwards. But sometimes I get a flash of an idea, just a scene or snippet of
dialog that I have to build a story around. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sometimes I surprise myself in that I think a story is going
one way and it sometimes ends up being something different – I may find that it
works better a totally different way. But that’s part of the surprise and
adventure of it - that point of discovery. But that’s what’s nice about short
work – you can copy and paste and save, thus you can work on different variants
of a story or theme. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Usually I try to have the entire story worked out in my mind
or as an outline before bothering to type it up. If I can’t get something to
work as fragments of notes, or if I can’t get excited about a vague idea, then
it’s probably not worth my time to try to work out further. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Sometimes I’ll look at something months after it’s
‘finished’ and I’ll add some things to it to jazz it up more – an odd little
detail here or there to punch up the weirdness and add more detail and depth.
So re-visiting work after a long period of time seems to help me get out of the
way of myself when bogged down in the initial writing process. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p><b>*I am going to assume that your brain is full of ideas
and story inspirations considering how many short stories you currently have in
<em>Eyeballs Growing All Over Me...Again</em>. How do you decide which ones to
write first? Is it based on what you are most excited to write at that point?
Or do you make a list and stick to it?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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What I’m most excited about. And what is needed. When doing
a story collection you need variety. The pieces can’t all be the same. So you
need long, medium, short, and a few very short (flash) pieces. Then you need
some dialog ones, some first person narratives, description ones, internal
monologue ones, and hopefully a second or third person perspective one, etc. You
also need some simple, straight forward pieces and a few more elaborate,
complicated stories. You need a variety of forms and story types. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
So in laying things out, often times good or interesting
stories get bumped because they’re redundant to something else in the
collection. To me it’s about balance and not being redundant. Then it’s about
creating a rhythm to the manuscript as far as order of stories go. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
So far coming up with ideas has not been a challenge for me,
but that may change at some point. I’m sure eventually I’ll start to repeat
myself, though I do already revisit some of the same themes as often I end up thinking
of a different takes on them. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I usually have a lot of story notes and outlines saved up
and I work on those, filling in the blanks. General ideas are easy, but getting
them to work out as stories is the hard part. But the initial ideas seem to
come pretty naturally for me. <o:p></o:p><br />
<b></b><br />
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<b>*I love hearing where writers get there work done. Where
can you most often be found writing? And what time of day do you find you are
at your most creative?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
Location = on my couch in my living room typing on my laptop
on a TV stand. But a lot of my ideas just pop into my head throughout the
day, so I guess a part of my brain is writing all day long. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Time = late at night. After 9pm. Friday or Saturday night
after 11pm is best for me – everything is done (dishes, laundry, dog walked,
lawn mowed, calls, emails, etc.) and no one is calling me. So that is the
perfect time as my mind is free and clear then. The night feels like a blank
slate, waiting to be filled. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Also when I’m on the bus or walking my dog, doing dishes, cleaning,
or at the supermarket are good times to think about things and work things out
as I have to be at those places or do those things anyway and it’s usually
quiet, so why not get something else done too at the same time. That way I
avoid wasting time with writer’s block in staring at a blank screen and getting
worried about wasting precious time, because I’ve already thought about and
worked some things out ahead of time. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
So hopefully later in the day I have some ideas worked out,
packed away, and ready to unravel. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>*Do you think you will ever be able to write a story for
all of your ideas? Or do they seem endless?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Hopefully the ideas are different, or different takes on
them, and that no single story could encapsulate all my ideas or themes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I believe I will run out of good ideas eventually and start
to repeat the same themes, though every writer I suppose revisits themes as
those are the issues they are most concerned about so they’ll probably want to
devote a lot of thought and time to them. <o:p></o:p><br />
<b></b><br />
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<b>*Who are some of your writing inspirations?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
Anyone interesting, imaginative, and concise. Anyone who
makes you think. <o:p></o:p><br />
Mostly I like short stories as they get to the point
quickly. <o:p></o:p><br />
I like strange or absurd adventures that are well crafted
and have a meaning to them, and sci fi as it offers ideas –<o:p></o:p><br />
<u></u><br />
<u>Older writers:</u><o:p></o:p><br />
Donald Barthelme, J.D. Salinger, Richard Brautigan, Kurt
Vonnegut, Jr., Charles Bukowski, Franz Kafka, Leonard Michaels (murderers),
Jayne Anne Phillips, Robert Coover, Samuel Beckett, Antoine de Saint Exupery
(the little prince), Dr. Seuss (cool illustrations), Roald Dahl, Steve Martin
(cruel shoes), W.P. Kinsella (the alligator report), Jim Heynen (the man who
kept cigars in his cap), Don Delillo.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<u>Contemporary writers:</u><o:p></o:p></div>
Barry Yourgrau, Mark Leyner, Adrienne Clasky (from the
floodlands), Lydia Davis (Samuel Johnson is indignant), Etgar Keret, Stacey
Richter, George Singleton, James Tate (Return to the city of white donkeys), Thom
Jones, Italo Calvino, Stephen-Paul Martin, Will Self, Denis Johnson (Jesus’
son), David Gilbert (I shot the hairdresser), David Sedaris, Paul Di Filippo.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<u>Bizarro authors:</u><o:p></o:p></div>
D. Harlan Wilson, Andersen Prunty, Carlton Mellick.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<u>Science fiction from the 40s, 50s, and 60s:</u><o:p></o:p></div>
Rod Serling, L. Sprague De Camp, Ray Bradbury, Phillip K.
Dick, Aurthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Charles Beaumont, Ursula K. Le Guin,
etc.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
So that’s a lot of influences I guess. <o:p></o:p><br />
<b></b><br />
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<b>*What type of books do you most enjoying reading at the
moment?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
Biographies because truth is stranger than fiction. <o:p></o:p><br />
As for fiction, I would recommend James Tate’s “Return to
the city of white donkeys”. That book is all short prose-poems that act as
little short stories. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
But art and music also really inspires me. I guess art and
music gets my mind thinking. <o:p></o:p><br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
<b>*What was your last book about? </b><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
A short story collection. Here is the blurb for that one - <o:p></o:p><br />
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<i>"eyeballs growing all over me . . . again"</i>
is a 140 page short story collection of imaginative, whimsical, dreamy, absurd,
surreal fantasy, sci fi, and fairy tale adventures. These fables will make
great story starters for young adults and reluctant readers. Some of the pieces
are absurdist or surreal adventures that hearken back to imaginative absurdism,
sci-fi, and fantasy of the 1950s. <o:p></o:p></div>
With themes of longing, discovery, secrets, escape,
eeriness, surprises, and strange happenings in everyday life, readers will
delight in these brief but wondrous adventures - <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
- a man comes home to discover a Bigfoot-like creature
watching his TV. <o:p></o:p><br />
- a giant robot pays a visit to a couple.<o:p></o:p><br />
- the new kid at school has some unusual toys to
share. <o:p></o:p><br />
- an inventor creates an attractive robot in order to
meet women. <o:p></o:p><br />
- a girl becomes so ill she has her head replaced with
a goat head. <o:p></o:p><br />
- someone wakes to discover little eyes growing all
over his body. <o:p></o:p><br />
- small, hairy creatures come looking to retrieve an
object they had misplaced. <o:p></o:p><br />
- a boy finds an unusual pair of sunglasses in a
field. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
These short stories will give a reluctant reader a sense of
accomplishment after reading.<o:p></o:p><br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
<b>*What is your next book about? When will it be out? </b><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Another short story collection. I don’t know when EHP will
release it, but soon – in the next few weeks/months I’m told. Here’s the blurb
for that one - <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p><span>“<i>as i floated in the jar</i> “ is a </span>short
story collection of imaginative, whimsical, dreamy, absurd, surreal fantasy,
sci fi, and fairy tale adventures. These fables will make great story starters
for young adults and reluctant readers. Some of the pieces are absurdist or
surreal adventures that hearken back to imaginative absurdism, sci-fi, and
fantasy of the 1950s. <span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
With themes of longing, discovery, secrets, escape,
eeriness, surprises, and strange happenings in everyday life, readers will
delight in these brief but wondrous adventures – <o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>a lonely girl finds a small spaceship in the woods. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>a stranger extracts a baby from a man waiting for the bus. </span><span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a farmer invents gadgets to fight off
infiltrators leaking in from another dimension. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>a jar falls from a passing wagon, spilling a strange liquid that turns a
mud puddle into something else. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a gang travels into the past to escape a </span><span style="color: black;">regression plague that slowly turns people back into
primates.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>strange creatures abduct a man and try to
sell him to a different set of strange creatures. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>a man gets a verbally abusive amorphous blob as a roommate. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">These and other adventures await
the adventurous reader</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="color: purple;">Tony, thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and answer some questions!</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">You can find out more about Tony's newest book <em>"eyeballs growing all over me...again" </em>on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/eyeballs-growing-all-over-again/dp/1936383330/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343787957&sr=8-1&keywords=eyeballs+growing+all+over+me" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eyeballs-growing-all-over-me-again-tony-rauch/1028054314?ean=9781936383337" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>, and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10148074-eyeballs-growing-all-over-me-again" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</span></div>
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You can find out more about Tony Rauch and his books on his <a href="http://trauch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-80042407684150769772012-07-30T01:11:00.001-05:002012-07-31T21:41:54.871-05:00Review: Dark Dates by Tracey Sinclair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UO11Hi3xet4/UBX4X04-ZSI/AAAAAAAABeA/7bLHyxUl35g/s1600/13581175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UO11Hi3xet4/UBX4X04-ZSI/AAAAAAAABeA/7bLHyxUl35g/s320/13581175.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeText6118302527264229793"><em>All Cassandra Bick wants is to be left to get on with doing her job. But when you’re a Sensitive whose business is running a dating agency for vampires, life is never going to be straightforward – especially when there’s a supernatural war brewing in London, a sexy new bloodsucker in town and your mysterious, homicidal and vampire hating ex-lover chooses this moment to reappear in your life…<br /><br />Witty, sharp and entertaining, Dark Dates is a heady mix of vampires, witches and werewolves – with the occasional angel thrown in – and introduces Cassandra Bick, a likeable heroine destined to join the ranks of fantasy’s feistiest females.</em></span><br />
<br />
<em><strong>Publication Date:</strong> April 2012</em><br />
<em><strong>Genre:</strong> Adult, Paranormal, Romance</em><br />
<em><strong>Source:</strong> Thanks so much to the author for providing me with a review copy!</em><br />
<br />
<strong><u>Review:</u></strong><br />
I was so impressed with <em>Dark Dates</em>. I'm a huge fan of books with a fierce heroine that gets tangled up in the paranormal, and this is a great addition to those ranks. It easily stands on its own merit with a unique approach to the idea.<br />
<br />
The world that Cassandra Bick lives in is a world tinted with the paranormal, and she's completely used to that. I loved her personality and wit . . . and her temper. She's an ordinary woman, which her kind-of-but-not-really boyfriend Cane likes to point out in the most matter of fact way, with a strong backbone, a healthy dose of self respect and independence with just the right amount of womanly petulance. She isn't some jaw-dropping vision of perfection, and that makes her even more relatable.<br />
<br />
Her relationship with Cane is immensely interesting. Over the years he flits in and out of her life, going off to do some secretive paranormal hunting. Cane's sex appeal oozes off of the pages, but he's not all hearthrob. He's actually quite an ass most of the time. The glimpses of his softer side had me very intrigued about his past, the things he has seen and done.<br />
<br />
<em>Dark Dates</em> has a strong character base and compelling storyline. Within this genre I think I'm hard to impress, and I seriously thought this one was great. I am Tracey Sinclair's newest fan and I can't wait to see what the next book holds for Cassandra in this series. <br />
<br /><br />
<strong>You can find <em>Dark Dates</em> on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Dates-Cassandra-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B007RH5PF4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1343628729&sr=1-1&keywords=dark+dates" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13581175-dark-dates" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</strong><br />
<br /><strong>You can connect with the Author via her <a href="http://www.bodyofageekgoddess.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/Thriftygal" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</strong>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-77271128867195659372012-07-29T09:00:00.000-05:002012-07-29T09:00:04.623-05:00Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xOXsbxGeOtU/T9gV4ui21QI/AAAAAAAABOs/eGlsKHrPv48/s1600/10194514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xOXsbxGeOtU/T9gV4ui21QI/AAAAAAAABOs/eGlsKHrPv48/s320/10194514.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeText13321657926537279508"><em>"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked. <br /><br />"An edgy romance that pulls you in and never lets go. I was hooked!"-Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author of the Intertwined series <br /><br /><strong>So wrong for each other...and yet so right.</strong><br /><br />No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible. <strong>Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.</strong></em></span><br />
<br />
<span><em><strong>Publication Date:</strong> July 31, 2012</em></span><br />
<span><em><strong>Genre:</strong> Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance</em></span><br />
<span><em><strong>Source:</strong> Thanks so much to Harlequin Teen for making this title available though Netgalley.</em></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span><strong><u>Review:</u></strong></span><br />
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<tr><th valign="top"></th><td colspan="1"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview346145252" style="display: none;">I can't remember the last time I cried actual tears while reading a book. Pushing the Limits kind of crept up on me. It just kept ratcheting up my emotions (in a good way) and hitting all the right nerves. I ACHED for these characters. I felt their pain. I love a book that kind of beats me up along the way. But don't get the wrong idea, this isn't a depressing book. It's very profound and touching and beautiful. I loved it!<br /><br />Echo is an amazing MC. Omg. Looking back after finishing the book her tra<a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194514-pushing-the-limits#">...more</a></span><span id="freeTextreview346145252">I can't remember the last time I cried actual tears while reading a book. Pushing the Limits kind of crept up on me. It just kept ratcheting up my emotions (in a good way) and hitting all the right nerves. I ACHED for these characters. I felt their pain. I love a book that kind of beats me up along the way. But don't get the wrong idea, this isn't a depressing book. It's very profound and touching and beautiful. I loved it!<br /><br />Echo is an amazing MC. Omg. Looking back after finishing the book her transformation is breath-taking. Book perfection. She has lived through a traumatic event that she can't remember and it defines her life. She's stuck back in that black hole of not knowing and although she wants to move forward she's basically just living a shadow of a life. Trying to be normal.<br /><br />Noah is another great character. He's got his own issues that are holding him back and keeping him from being the person he wants to be. Their mutual school counselor throws them together and they pretty much rock each other's worlds. They recognize the broken parts of each other and are drawn together like magnets. What was great to me was that although these were two dysfunctional characters, their relationship was amazingly functional. They made each other better.<br /><br />The tension just builds and builds in this one and tied me up into so many knots along the way before finally smoothing them out. I love those moments in books where you just keep reading faster and faster to get to the resolution. I have a hard time stopping before that point :) This is such a beautiful and satisfying-to-the-soul kind of read.<a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194514-pushing-the-limits#"></a></span></span></td></tr>
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</span>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-63729585334691251022012-07-24T00:06:00.000-05:002012-07-24T00:06:02.234-05:00Blog Tour Review: Listening to Africa by Diana M. Raab<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UW0psxE7cN4/UA4tCAzuzTI/AAAAAAAABdY/C2CvbEd4OiI/s1600/listening_to_africa_big.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UW0psxE7cN4/UA4tCAzuzTI/AAAAAAAABdY/C2CvbEd4OiI/s320/listening_to_africa_big.png" width="212" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeTextContainer16829143588067129105"><em>Poet Diana M. Raab travels to the heart of Africa with her family to experience the beauty and fascination of another world. During her safari, she observes the distress, the delight, and the dignity of the humans and animals who live there and parallels them with her own quest for health.</em></span><br />
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<span><em><strong>Publication Date:</strong> March 18, 2012</em></span><br />
<span><em><strong>Genre:</strong> Poetry</em></span><br />
<span><em><strong>Source:</strong> Thanks so much to Tribute Books and Nicole Langan for letting me be a part of this book tour! </em></span><br />
<span><em><strong>**List</strong></em></span><span><em><strong>ening to Africa</strong></em><strong> blog tour site:</strong><a href="http://listeningtoafrica.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>http://listeningtoafrica.blogspot.com</strong></a></span><br />
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<span><strong><u>Review:</u></strong></span><br />
<span>Listening to Africa takes you on a journey through the author's travels into Africa to find emotional healing. Profound and moving.</span><br />
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<span>I really liked the progression of the book and the honesty in the words. I'm no poetry expert, and I liked that the writing isn't intimidating or complicated to follow. Not only is the meaning clear, but the emotions can be felt throughout the book. I could picture all of the culture shock that the author had to come to terms with, and the way it affected her outlook on life. And also just the raw beauty of Africa itself. I could imagine how awe inspiring the nature and wildlife were.</span><br />
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<span>Listening to Africa is accessible to poetry readers of any level. It cuts to the heart of the author and takes us on this journey with her.</span><br />
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<span><strong>To find out more about Listening to Africa you can find it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936482185?tag=tributebooks-20" target="_blank">Amazon,</a> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13579750-listening-to-africa" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> and <a href="http://antrimhousebooks.com/raab.html" target="_blank">Atrim House</a>.</strong></span><br />
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<span><em><strong>About the Author:</strong> </em></span><br />
<em>Diana M. Raab is a memoirist, essayist and poet. She has a B.S. in Health Administration and Journalism, and an RN degree from Vanier College in Montreal, in addition to an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from Spalding University’s Low-Residency Program.<br />
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Diana has been writing from an early age. As a child of two working parents, she spent a lot of time crafting letters and keeping a daily journal. A journaling advocate and educator, Diana teaches creative journaling and memoir in workshops around the country. She frequently speaks and writes about the healing powers of writing.<br />
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She’s the award-winning author of eight books, and the author of over 500 articles and poems. Her latest release is <a href="http://dianaraab.com/nonfiction.html"><em>Writers on the Edge: 22 Writers Speak About Addiction and Depression</em></a>, co-edited with James Brown, which is a compilation of essays by renowned writers discussing how addiction has influenced their literary lives. She is also editor of <a href="http://dianaraab.com/WritersAndTheirNotebooks/writers_and_their_notebooks_press.html"><em>Writers and Their Notebooks</em></a>, a collection of essays written by well-known writers who keep journals.<br />
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<strong>Visit Diana on her <a href="http://dianaraab.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>, <a href="http://dianaraab.com/blog/" target="_blank">Blog</a>, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/512931.Diana_Raab" target="_blank">Goodreads,</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/dianaraab" target="_blank">Twitter</a></strong></em>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-33433832466523800112012-07-23T12:00:00.000-05:002012-07-23T12:00:04.885-05:00SBB Review: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p9LkdJt4UEQ/T-KIxw8mnEI/AAAAAAAABTM/c6hC6hiPntQ/s1600/12507214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p9LkdJt4UEQ/T-KIxw8mnEI/AAAAAAAABTM/c6hC6hiPntQ/s320/12507214.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeText12715455626692517594"><em>It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. <br />His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live--not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.<br />Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.<br />Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.</em></span><br />
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<strong>Publication Date: </strong>August 7, 2012<br />
<strong>Genre:</strong> Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Horror<br />
<strong>Source:</strong> Thanks so much to Southern Book Bloggers for letting me be a part of this tour!<br />
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<strong><u>Review:</u></strong><br />
<strong><u></u></strong>Girl of Nightmares more than lived up to what I had expected and hoped for from this book. Somehow I had forgotten in between reading Anna Dressed in Blood and this book that besides being amazingly well-written and interesting...it's also effing scary :) I'll admit to being a huge chicken-faced wimp, so maybe <em>creepy</em> or <em>unsettling</em> would be better words to use. I'll let you decide that for yourselves.<br />
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I was reminded right from the start how genuinely great Cas's voice is in this book. My sister at <a href="http://elliottreview.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Elliott Review</a> was the one that insisted that I read this book because it was awesome. One of the things she loved most was Cas as the first-person narrator. She said he was her favorite male narrator in a book, ever. And I have to say that I 100% agree. He's such a thinking, serious type of person but it's blended perfectly with his snarky, smart-ass mouth. Add in the fact that he is in love with a dead ex-murderer girl that could rip his face off...and you get come to understand just how complex of a guy he really is. When it comes to Anna though, there are no complex issues for him to work out. He loves her and wants what's best for her, and he'll do whatever it takes for that to happen.<br />
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Now the first we see of Anna in this book is seriously messed up and creeptastic. If you are really aiming to make this a scary read make sure you are reading it at night because the parts with her in them are very unsettling. And I loved it :)<br />
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The story continues seamlessly from Anna Dressed in Blood. Some second books have a slow start picking up where they left off, but even if it's been awhile since you've read the first one it will all come back to you in this book. This one is another page-turner and you'll want to punch your clock when it tells you it's too late and you should go to sleep instead of finishing your book.Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-75945575278020523442012-07-13T00:00:00.000-05:002012-07-13T07:10:16.604-05:00Review: Burn Mark by Laura Powell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2jZqSuS7qS8/T_Ua80lTUNI/AAAAAAAABZ0/BZpFTUHjmHU/s1600/11761452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2jZqSuS7qS8/T_Ua80lTUNI/AAAAAAAABZ0/BZpFTUHjmHU/s320/11761452.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeText7852863042290777402"><em>Glory is from a family of witches and lives beyond the law. She is desperate to develop her powers and become a witch herself. Lucas is the son of the Chief Prosecutor for the Inquisition—the witches’ mortal enemy—and his privileged life is very different to the forbidden world that he lives alongside.<br /><br />And then on the same day, it hits them both. Glory and Lucas develop the Fae—the mark of the witch. In one fell stroke, their lives are inextricably bound together, whether they like it or not . . .</em></span><br />
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<em><strong>Publication Date: </strong>June 19, 2012</em><br />
<em><strong>Genre:</strong> Young Adult, Paranormal, Witch</em><br />
<em><strong>Source:</strong> Thanks so much to Bloomsbury USA for providing me with a review copy.</em><br />
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<strong><u>Review:</u></strong><br />
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<table border="0" cellspacing="1" id="myReview">
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<tr><th valign="top"></th><td colspan="1"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview331803035" style="display: none;">I was so excited to read this book after seeing what it was about from the synopsis. I admit to having high expectations for it to meet. And now that I've read it I really have to say that it blew me out of the water. The writing is superb, dual perspective stunningly executed, killer storyline, perfectly built world...it has it all.<br /><br />Burn Mark is set in Britain and it was the perfect backdrop for this story. Add in a bit of magic, politics, old-school-style-mob-like covens, and illegal magic use.<a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11761452-burn-mark#">...more</a></span><span id="freeTextreview331803035">I was so excited to read this book after seeing what it was about from the synopsis. I admit to having high expectations for it, and now that I've read it I really have to say that it blew me out of the water. The writing is superb, dual perspective stunningly executed, killer storyline, perfectly built world...it has it all.<br /><br />Burn Mark is set in Britain and it was the perfect backdrop for this story. Add in a bit of magic, politics, old-school-style-mob-like covens, and illegal magic use...um, yes, please! Ah! World-building done supremely right. The whole system of how the Inquisition worked along with cooperating witches from the WICA organization was so interesting. And I LOVED how the covens were set up as these scarily powerful mob-types. The fact that the girl MC, Glory is the one that grew up and is comfortable in this setting makes her a crazy-cool and street smart kind of girl. Lucas is the one that finds himself reeling when his plans of joining The Inquisition are shattered after he comes into his fae powers. Laura Powell writes a mean male POV. I really loved his character.<br /><br />If you read my blog at all you know I'm kind of a sucker for romancey-schmancy type stories. This is a great example of a book that builds a relationship within the story, but the story isn't about the love. And guess what? I didn't care that it wasn't only about Lucas and Glory's relationship. Yes, that is a part of it, but the entire plot is so well-rounded that nothing is left out. As I mentioned before Burn Mark is written from the POV of Lucas and Glory. They are from two different worlds and through a surprising turn of events they end up having to work together. I loved how they gradually came to see their similarities and really just the whole evolution of their relationship.<br /><br />While being a paranormal book at its core, Burn Mark felt equal parts Thriller to me with all the conspiracy and corruption going on. Everything came together to make this a hard to put down book. I SO look forward to any follow-up novels in this series. Fans of the paranormal and magic in particular will want to try this one out!</span></span></td></tr>
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</table>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-16949796849268193452012-07-10T00:00:00.000-05:002012-07-24T00:13:11.269-05:00Blog Tour Review: Charlie - A Love Story by Barbara Lampert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DyHD25iu_E8/T_e2-jJ5KbI/AAAAAAAABb8/HvZr0SEqnyU/s1600/13373552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DyHD25iu_E8/T_e2-jJ5KbI/AAAAAAAABb8/HvZr0SEqnyU/s320/13373552.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeText6092297666814958807"><em>Charlie: A Love Story tells of the beautiful love between Charlie, a Golden Retriever, and the author, Barbara Lampert. It takes place in Malibu, California. When Charlie turned eleven years old and started having some health problems, a journal Barbara was keeping about her garden quickly became mostly about Charlie.<br /><br />Charlie: A Love Story is an intimate look at an incredible connection between a canine and a human. And as a psychotherapist who specializes in relationships, Barbara brings that sensibility and understanding to Charlie’s story as well.</em></span><br />
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<em>Charlie: A Love Story is about devotion, joy, loss, and renewal, about never giving up or giving in. But mostly it’s about an extraordinary dog and an extraordinary relationship.</em><br />
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<em><strong>Publication Date:</strong> January 16, 2012</em><br />
<em><strong>Genre:</strong> Non-Fiction, Memoir</em><br />
<em><strong>Source:</strong> Thanks so much to Nicole Langan of Tribute Books for letting me be a part of this blog tour!</em><br />
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<strong><u>Review:</u></strong><br />
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<tr><th valign="top"></th><td colspan="1"><span class="readable reviewText"><span id="freeTextContainerreview362825593" style="display: none;">I wasn't expecting to become so emotionally invested in this story. I don't have any pets, but I do have three small kids, and found it easy to relate to alot of the Author's emotions in the book.<br /><br />One of the things I was most surprised by was how intimate it would be to read through these <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13373552-charlie#" id="_GPLITA_0" in_rurl="http://www.textsrv.com/click?v=VVM6MjI0MTc6MTQ3OTp2ZXJ5IHBlcnNvbmFsOjY3OTYxZTgwZTcxZjgwZGI0MDBhODZiMDcyMTMxOTQ2OnotMTA0MS0zOTQyOTp3d3cuZ29vZHJlYWRzLmNvbQ%3D%3D" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Powered by Text-Enhance">very personal</a> journal entries. They started out focusing on gardening and doggie Charlie puttering around with her. Since Charlie is getting older he begins facing a multitude of health issues. As the story prog<a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13373552-charlie#">...more</a></span><span id="freeTextreview362825593">I wasn't expecting to become so emotionally invested in this story. I don't have any pets, but I do have three small kids, and found it easy to relate to alot of the Author's emotions in the book.<br /><br />One of the things I was most surprised by was how intimate it would be to read through these very personal journal entries. They started out focusing on gardening and doggie Charlie puttering around with her. Since Charlie is getting older he begins facing a multitude of health issues. As the story progresses and Charlie is facing his last days the emotions are so raw and honest.<br /><br />Truthfully this book was so touching to me. As I said before, I don't have any dogs but I can relate to the intense emotions that the author was talking about in relation to my kids. Forever wouldn't be long enough to spend with them. Charlie: A Love Story reminded me how important it is to cherish the days I have with my loved ones because every single day I get to spend with them is a gift.<a class="actionLinkLite" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13373552-charlie#"></a></span></span></td></tr>
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</table>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-35356430156024108632012-07-09T06:00:00.000-05:002012-07-10T07:54:08.917-05:00Review: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zQIqcVtAy7I/T_ZaOn-e3bI/AAAAAAAABac/6JSNZFCe_G0/s1600/7896527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zQIqcVtAy7I/T_ZaOn-e3bI/AAAAAAAABac/6JSNZFCe_G0/s320/7896527.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeText6378022540299152972"><em>After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.<br /><br />Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.<br /><br />Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.<br /><br />Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.</em></span><br />
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<em><strong>Publication Date:</strong> August 7, 2012</em><br />
<em><strong>Genre:</strong> Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure</em><br />
<em><strong>Source:</strong> Thanks to Bloomsbury USA Children's for making this title available on Netgalley.</em><br />
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<strong><u>Review:</u></strong><br />
My first reaction to this book was, 'OMG, an awesome YA Fantasy!'. I seriously loved the fact that Celeana is this badass, cutthroat chick that is so physically and mentally strong she has survived an entire year in a slave-run death camp. That's where you meet her in the story, when Prince Dorian pulls her out of the camp to compete for the chance to be King's Champion...and basically win her freedom from slavery forever. The main thing keeping this one from a higher rating for me was a large chunk of the middle of the novel that I got bogged down in. I was overall entertained and pleased with the book, but a lot of the mid-book stuff felt repetitive.<br /><br />My first impressions of Celeana's character were all positive. She'd rather kill her rescuers than thank them. Dorian and Chaol, Captain of the Guard, don't trust her at all, but Dorian needs her help. Celeana was put in the slave camp because she was sold out by someone and was caught. Did I forget to mention she was the world's most infamous and astoundingly brutal assassin. Seriously? Awesome! You've got to love a girl that has all these big tough guys sweating that she's going to slit their throats open :) During the novel you get to see her opening up and showing her more sensitive side. I really loved the juxtaposition of those parts of her personality. My only complaint would be that I wished there had been more instances of her showing what made her such a feared assassin. The parts that were in it were amazing, and I'm pretty sure there will be a ton of that in the second book.<br /><br />I also liked the romance in this book. It wasn't overdone, but added a nice layer to the story. I like (*ahem* LOVE) the strong, silent type so I am totally Team Chaol. There's still something very magnetic about Dorian and his transparency. I'd call this a love-triangle-that's-not-really-a-triangle-but-still-kind-of-is-a-love-triangle kind of thing. Does that make sense? It's got the potential for one, but is still interesting without full love triangle status :) I'll shut up now...<br /><br />An entertaining Fantasy read with enough magic to make things interesting without being overly complicated which will appeal to those that aren't automatically drawn to this genre. The characters are all nice and round, just like they should be :) I was giddy over the beginning of the novel, kind of 'meh' about the middle, then back to being excited towards the end.Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-8889627160601341372012-06-27T23:22:00.003-05:002012-06-27T23:25:20.615-05:00Winner of Midsummer's Eve Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4H73Ff9iMM/T-vbXDFrHAI/AAAAAAAABZM/L04ZVOo8bMw/s1600/midsummerbutton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4H73Ff9iMM/T-vbXDFrHAI/AAAAAAAABZM/L04ZVOo8bMw/s1600/midsummerbutton.jpg" /></a></div>
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Congratulations to the winner of my Midsummer's Eve Giveaway! The prize is a book of choice from TBD up to $15</div>
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And the winner is...</div>
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<strong>Angie - </strong>via tweeting about the giveaway.</div>
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<em>The winner will be notified by e-mail (once yahoo.mail stops crapping around and lets me compose one).</em></div>
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Congrats, Angie!</div>
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Thanks to all of you that entered :-D Stay tuned for more giveaways in the future!</div>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-88058419763724379372012-06-27T09:20:00.000-05:002012-06-27T09:20:08.089-05:00Book Spotlight - Adam Orser: Chronicles of Evolution by Daniel Armand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HObvFYpGAYo/T-sVTyFm7II/AAAAAAAABYc/lzqQQVLFWnc/s1600/14656479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HObvFYpGAYo/T-sVTyFm7II/AAAAAAAABYc/lzqQQVLFWnc/s320/14656479.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<strong><u>Synopsis:</u></strong><br />
<span id="freeText18342070059091656369">Adam Orser seems to be a regular guy, leading a fairly successful life in Toronto as a psychologist with a loving girlfriend, Jazmin. But there is nothing ordinary about Adam. Fate interrupts his planned marriage proposal, and a serious car accident thrusts him into a metaphysical reality behind a deep coma that holds his physical body in check. Through an advanced system of training and evolution created by the celestial realm, Adam is called to a dangerous mission with profound implications for the world he knows, and life and death consequences for one missing nine-year old girl, who is no ordinary kidnapped child. Fantastical forces are at work on both sides of the veil between the world we recognize and those yet to be discovered. Destiny compels Adam to freely choose the part he will play in a no-limits competition between good and evil. Questions of existence, causality, and truth converge as Adam struggles to find his way back to Jazmin and a life that will never be the same.</span><br />
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<span><strong>Publication Date:</strong> April 1, 2012</span><br />
<span><strong>Genre: </strong>Adult, Paranormal, Sci-fi</span><br />
<span><strong>Publisher:</strong> Two Harbors Press</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HFBSqITaKFI/T-sWRgpMNhI/AAAAAAAABYk/1uAUw357CDw/s1600/author.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HFBSqITaKFI/T-sWRgpMNhI/AAAAAAAABYk/1uAUw357CDw/s1600/author.png" /></a></div>
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<span><strong><u>About the Author:</u></strong></span></div>
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<span>Daniel Armand lives in Toronto, Ontario. His inspiration behind; <em>Adam Orser - Chronicles of Evolution,</em> originated during the summer of 1983, after a near death encounter offered an incredible insight into the obscured aspects of life, love and the progression of the human spirit. Daniel is currently <a href="http://www.adamorser.com/about-the-author/#" id="_GPLITA_1" in_rurl="http://www.textsrv.com/click?v=VVM6OTM0MToyMzp3b3JraW5nOmM3ODllMzY4MGMyYjIyZWNkNGZiN2E0NjFiMjk2ODdhOnotMTA0MS0zOTQyOTp3d3cuYWRhbW9yc2VyLmNvbQ%3D%3D" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Powered by Text-Enhance">working</a> on the next novel of the <em>Adam Orser</em> saga.</span></div>
<br /> <em>“I truly hope this novel will <a href="http://www.adamorser.com/about-the-author/#" id="_GPLITA_2" in_rurl="http://www.textsrv.com/click?v=VVM6MTMyMzc6NDpoZWxwOmZhMjAxZGJiZjBjY2I3YWNmNGM1ZWMwMTMyOWZiMDQyOnotMTA0MS0zOTQyOTp3d3cuYWRhbW9yc2VyLmNvbQ%3D%3D" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="Powered by Text-Enhance">help</a> inspire readers all over the globe, to embrace their spirituality. It is through clarity of mind and understanding that we may one day ‘bloom’ into harmony and unlock our limitless potential.”</em><br />
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<strong><em>You can visit Daniel's website <a href="http://www.adamorser.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a></em></strong><strong><em>.</em></strong><br />
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<span>To find out more about this book you can check it out on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14656479-adam-orser" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.</span><br />
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<span>It is also available for purchase on Amazon:</span><br />
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<span>Also available online at Barnes and Noble:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/adam-orser-daniel-armand/1109435768?ean=9781937928100" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HObvFYpGAYo/T-sVTyFm7II/AAAAAAAABYc/lzqQQVLFWnc/s200/14656479.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-26800914512926055232012-06-24T22:07:00.000-05:002012-06-24T22:07:26.499-05:00New Adult Review: All The Wrong Reasons by J.L. Paul<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGE37PwO2Bs/T-fUb10lpJI/AAAAAAAABXA/B-Up0nOaG8o/s1600/11793544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGE37PwO2Bs/T-fUb10lpJI/AAAAAAAABXA/B-Up0nOaG8o/s200/11793544.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<span id="freeTextContainer6237821339129560933"><em>Irelyn's life is headed in the right direction: College education, new friends, fantastic boyfriend. Her dream of writing romance novels isn't too far out of reach. Her relationship with her family is good. And to top it all off, she's positive her boyfriend is going to propose soon. Yes, life is wonderful. <br /><br />Until that night with Lucas changes everything.</em></span><br />
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<span><em><strong>Publication Date: </strong>February 24, 2011</em></span><br />
<span><em><strong>Genre:</strong> New Adult, Mature YA, Contemporary, Romance</em></span><br />
<span><em><strong>Source:</strong> My own Tower of Books!</em></span><br />
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<span><strong><u>Review:</u></strong></span><br />
<span>I bought this book for my Kindle when I saw it compared to Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. I adored that book and was excited to try something along the same lines. This didn't quite live up to my expectations but was still an enjoyable read.</span><br />
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<span>I really liked the overall plot of the book. Irelyn gets herself into some major trouble when she has a one night stand with the smokin' lead singer of a band. Problem is that she has a boyfriend she's been in a long-term relationship with AND that she can't stop hooking up with band guy, Lucas. I love when characters make bad decisions and ultimately come out on top. I also loved Lucas and his bandmates/family. I read this book super fast to find out how everything was going to turn out, it was hard to put down.</span><br />
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<span>All that being said there were a few things that kept me from rating it higher than I did (3 stars). There was a recurring theme of Irelyn blushing, like all the time. It started to feel contrived. Please keep in mind that I love a well-placed red-cheeked gal. It can add so much to a scene when put in the right place AND used sparingly. My last issue was that in a book like this that promises some angst and sex...I kind of missed the sex :) There was all the build up and then...*play music* cut to landscape shot out of the window. I'm no perv, but I want to know what these people are doing with (to) each other *waggles eyebrows*</span><br />
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<span>I would say that if you like books in this genre that you should go ahead and read it. It was definitely still worth it for me and I'll be reading the second book in this series soon too. I could see room for improvement but was overall satisfied with the story.</span>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-51381841150138973242012-06-24T00:24:00.000-05:002012-06-24T00:25:11.429-05:00Winners - Blog-o-Versary Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yay to the TWO winners of my bloggie birthday Giveaway!! The winners (chosen via Rafflecopter) are:</div>
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<strong>mels</strong> (via Tweeting about the giveaway)</div>
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<strong>Jay</strong> (via following my blog)</div>
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Congrats to you both!</div>
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<em>Winners have been contacted by e-mail and will have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.</em></div>
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Thanks to everyone that entered! Sorry it wasn't your lucky day this time, but I'll have more giveaways coming up :)</div>
<br />Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-32896526949045997662012-06-20T22:25:00.001-05:002012-06-20T22:25:53.172-05:00MG Review: Capture the Flag by Kate Messner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-745iD9satGY/T-KUEJJiE3I/AAAAAAAABT0/I8hg5lODKgA/s1600/12975886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-745iD9satGY/T-KUEJJiE3I/AAAAAAAABT0/I8hg5lODKgA/s320/12975886.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<strong><em><u>Synopsis:</u></em></strong><br />
<em>Three kids get caught up in an adventure of historic proportions!<br /><br />Anna, José, and Henry are complete strangers with more in common than they realize. Snowed in together at a chaotic Washington D.C. airport, they encounter a mysterious tattooed man, a flamboyant politician, and a rambunctious poodle named for an ancient king. Even stranger, news stations everywhere have announced that the famous flag that inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner" has been stolen! Anna, certain that the culprits must be snowed in too, recruits Henry and José to help catch the thieves and bring them to justice.<br /><br />But when accusations start flying, they soon realize there's more than justice at stake. As the snow starts clearing, Anna, José, and Henry find themselves in a race against time (and the weather!) to prevent the loss of an American treasure.</em><br />
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<strong>Publication Date:</strong> July 1, 2012<br />
<strong>Genre:</strong> Middle Grade, Mystery, Adventure<br />
<strong>Source: </strong>Thanks to Scholastic for my review copy!<br />
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<strong><u>Review:</u></strong><br />
<span id="freeTextreview341421053">First of all, this is a great entertaining MG read for the summer. It does take place in a snowed-in, all-flights-are-cancelled airport but for some reason it still gives you the right vibe for summer reading :)<br /><br />The story follows Anna, Jose and Henry as they meet up and end up getting tangled in the mystery of who stole the flag from the museum. Just like Jose and Henry, I was skeptical of Anna finding anything useful in the airport to point towards who the real suspects of the crime were. She proved us all wrong by actually being right...well, about some things at least.<br /><br />I liked how the book didn't shy away from the danger they put themselves in by going head to head with the people that stole the flag. It showed how important finding the flag was to them, and it showed how dedicated they all were to their family's secret society. Speaking of which, that was another thing that would make this a magical read for Middle Graders. What kid doesn't like to pretend they are part of a secret society that gets called to go on missions and all that awesome stuff? <br /><br />I thought this was an enjoyable book with spunk. I loved the friendships that were formed throughout and I'm assuming these same friendships will continue if there were to be a sequel. This would make a nice Indiana Jones-esque series for this age group.</span>Jackie M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05604218048290005041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6197572257906713223.post-73114466988011796082012-06-19T12:01:00.000-05:002012-06-19T12:01:00.061-05:00MidSummer's Eve Giveaway Hop!<br />
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It's been awhile since I've participated in a Giveaway Hop! This one is hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer and there are a ton of giveaways going on.</div>
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<strong>Prize to be won:</strong> One person will win a book of their choice from The Book Depository (up to $15). I know we all have our summer wishlist of books and this is a good way to get one of them...for free :)</div>
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<strong>Entry:</strong> One entry per person and it's International as long as TBD ships to your location :)</div>
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<strong>Date:</strong> This hop runs from June 20-26th</div>
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<strong>Words from me:</strong> Good luck to everyone!!<br />
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<em>And don't forget to check out all the other blogs on this Giveaway Hop. There are a ton of blogs participating :) Click here for a link to the <a href="http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/03/2nd-annual-midsummers-eve-giveaway-hop.html" target="_blank">POST</a>.</em></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-90e62c8">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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