Friday, September 27, 2013

Review: Just Listen by: Sarah Dessen

Title: Just Listen
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 371
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchase
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Description:

When Annabel, the youngest of three beautiful sisters, has a bitter falling out with her best friend—the popular and exciting Sophie—she suddenly finds herself isolated and friendless. but then she meets Owen—a loner, passionate about music and his weekly radio show, and always determined to tell the truth. And when they develop a friendship, Annabel is not only introduced to new music but is encouraged to listen to her own inner voice. with Owen’s help, can Annabel find the courage to speak out about what exactly happened the night her friendship with Sophie came to a screeching halt?


My Thoughts:

In this book we meet Annabel and her sisters who are models each have their own personality Kirsten is the outgoing bubbly one, Whitney the middle sister not knowing where she fits and Annabel the baby and the one who kept everything inside.

In the beginning Annabel spends her time with Clarke her best friend for as long as she can remember but when the bad girl Sophie arrives Clarke and Annabel eventually become friend with  her.  But Sophie is all about boys and being this tough girl. Even to the point of ending Annabel's relationship with Clarke.  Then one night at a party Annabel's  life turned upside down when Sophie's boyfriend rapes Annabel and Sophie finds them in this compromising position and quickly believes her boyfriend Will Cash leaving annabel as the total outcast.

Annabel meets Owen who screams bad boy, but something about him draws Annabel in.  Meanwhile in NY Whitney is living with Kirsten and her life is falling apart.  Whitney has an eating disorder and doing her best to hide it from her family.  Finally the breaking point is when Kirsten brings Whitney home and goes back to NY where Whitney collapses in the bathroom only to be found by her younger sister Annabel.  Whitney is diagnosed with the eating disorder and put into therapy.  Which helps Whitney deal with the middle child syndrome.

Meanwhile Annabel's life is falling apart the only bright part in her days is Owen and what she learns from him about music but can she be honest with him, about what happened to her?  Will Owen accept this big secret Annabel has or will he leave her all alone.

I loved this story so far I haven't met a Sarah Dessen book I didn't like.  I liked how all three girls over came things to be better women.  How they each had life changing things and none of them had to do with modeling.  They all seemed to move on from modeling and find their way in the world and I thought it was great.  I really enjoyed it!
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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Book Tour: Ever Near

Title: Ever Near
Author: Melissa MacVicar
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Pages: 200
Format: ebook
Source: Red Adept Publishing Book Tour
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Description:


Love is ever near. But trouble is never far.

Nantucket Island is haunted, but only sixteen-year-old Jade Irving knows it. Ignoring the disturbing spirits isn’t an option, because one dwells in the enormous historic home she shares with her newly blended family. Jade is finding it more and more difficult to explain away Lacey’s ghostly, anguished tantrums, especially with Charlie, her gorgeous, almost step-brother, living right across the hall.

When a power-hungry ghost hunter tracks down Jade and blackmails her, Jade’s secret teeters on the edge of exposure, and her entire future hangs in the balance. If anyone finds out Jade can talk to ghosts, her life will be forever changed.

Can she save herself, free Lacey, and hang on to her tenuous connection with Charlie? Or will everything she ever wanted slip through her fingers?

My Thoughts: 

This book was definitely worth the read it's about Jade who's adjusting to her new life with her mom, soon to be stepfather and two stepbrothers one of whom she doesn't totally get along with and one Charlie she is in love with.

The only downfall of the house is the haunted spirit of Lacey in reality her name is Lydia a woman who committed suicide long ago and seems to have taken to haunting Jade thinking she is her long lost daughter from eons ago.  

With the help of Charlie Jade figures out that her grandmother is key to making the ghost pass on to the next life.  Unfortunately that also entails people finding out what is going on with Jade including the steamy love relationship with her soon to be stepbrother Charlie.

This story was incredible with so much going on plus it taking place in Nantucket was a bonus for me I love reading about island life.  Definitely a great story many will love.  I know I did!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Review - Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by: Maria Semple

Title: Where'd You Do, Bernadette?
Author: Maria Semple
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Pages: 324
Format: Hardcover
Source: Personal purchase

Description:


Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she's a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she's a disgrace; to design mavens, she's a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.

Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette's intensifying allergy to Seattle—and people in general—has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.

To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence—creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world.


My thoughts:

I like people who are kinda crazy. And I think it's mostly because I grew up among them. That is why I'm not at all surprised by how much I loved Bernadette-- I saw a lot of my mother and aunt in her.

There's a scene in the book where Bernadette's daughter Bee and her friend Kennedy are all in the car. Bernadette's driving. The girls are complaining about how bored they are being stuck in traffic, and Bernadette goes:

“That's right,' she told the girls. 'You are bored. And I'm going to let you in on a little secret about life. You think it's boring now? Well, it only gets more boring. The sooner you learn it's on you to make life interesting, the better off you'll be.”

This, especially, sounds exactly like my mom and aunt.


I was curious about this book especially because it was up for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2013. Apart from that, I must admit I hadn't even heard of the author before. Actually, I later realized, I did have a sense of who she was, I just hadn't noticed it when I started reading the book. Maria Semple is among the writers of the famous TV show Arrested Development. When I found out about this after I was done with the book, I thought, "It totally shows in her writing!" And it really does. Semple lost the prize to one of my favorite authors A.M. Homes this year, but Where'd You Go, Bernadette? is a book everyone will remember.

Bernadette Fox is Elgie (Elgin) Branch's wife, and the mother of the 15-year-old Bee Branch. She's a woman who moves from Los Angeles to Seattle, who hates Seattle and (for some reason) Canadians, hates the other parents from her daughter's school, hates the drivers from Seattle among many other things. In the name of not having to interact with other people, she doesn't even get out of her house; instead, she gets everything done through her assistant, Manjula, who lives in India and whom Bernadette communicates with through endless e-mails. Elgie Branch is considered a guru at Microsoft, whose TEDtalk caused a lot of hype. Add this to a Bernadette's character, and she instantly becomes a snobbish, nose-in-the-air kind of woman in the eyes of the other moms from Bee's school. 

Many different events piling up leads to Bernadette's disappearance. Even though there is one narrator, we get to see different parts of the story through the eyes of different characters because Semple includes e-mails, faxes, FBI reports, etc. in her writing. Especially while reading the e-mails between Soo-Lin and Audrey, who are among the women Bernadette hates and calls "gnats," I found myself thinking whether anyone writer such long, detailed e-mails anymore. Then, I thought, I do it myself when there's a gossip or personal-trouble-shooting e-mail chain among my friends.

I really liked that fact that Semple based Bernadette on herself. The author confessed that Bernadette is an overdone version of herself, and that in itself makes everything much funnier and ridiculous.
I must admit, I'm also impressed with the different versions of the book cover. The illustration of Bernadette on the cover is the art of a designer named Keith Hayes. When I explored his work, I realized he's also the designer of the cover of John Fowles's The Collector.
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Blue Moon Book Tour



About The Author:

Bryant Golden started writing “Blue Moon Chronicles, Book I” when he was twelve years old and sick at home. The story and the genre changed significantly in the seven years it took to finish, hopefully for the better, but the title and the themes never changed. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, he originally settled his characters into fantasy worlds with magic and creatures to abandon life in the city. When he was rewriting the story for the final time he realized that the story needs to be personal for it to matter, to the writer and to readers, so he created new characters and settled the story into a fictional but realistic world.




Genre: Fiction/Action & Adventure/Young Adult
Publisher: Self-published with CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Released June 4, 2013.

Book Description:

It’s been a century since the Civil War split the continent into two provinces, Sanctum and Alexandria, and now another war is on the horizon: the Continent War. The end of this war means the end of one of the provinces. This is the story of Ian Hirst as he finds himself in the fray and fights to defend his province and loved ones. Isaiah, a young boy from the newest locale in Sanctum, struggles to learn what it means to grow up and become “a proper man” in the middle of it all.



Excerpt #1, “A Night In Sanctum”:


Ian was shown the cheapest inn to spend the night, far out on the outskirts of the city. They get cheaper the farther away from the castle, according to what the man told him. When he got to his room for the night he pulled off his boots and his parka, hung the empty rifle on the bedpost and changed his bandages.
He dozed off for a few hours and woke up to the sound of the doorknob turning. He grabbed the rifle and silently positioned himself behind the door in the blink of an eye. He’s a lot quicker on his feet when he isn’t inches deep in snow.
Hi there,” he said, closing the door with the rifle pointed at the mysterious hooded figure that just walked in. “Don’t do anything stupid or you’ll be dead before you can regret it.”
A deep chuckle, male, Ian thought, then silence. The hooded man turned to face him. He noticed the large beard, definitely a man then.
Who are you?” he asked.
Not your enemy. Well, not yet.”
The man pulled down his hood to reveal an aged face, half of it covered by his large dark beard. “You were given a package by that ridiculous man earlier,” he started. “I’ve been following those fools for days.”
Ian sat down on the floor, still aiming the rifle at the man. “That’s none of my business but I won’t give it to you,” he said. He kept switching his focus between the man and the rucksack to make sure he doesn’t reach for it.
Fool, this is no ordinary delivery. Did you not see the ribbon? It means ‘royalty’. Those ridiculous merchants are only overlooked swindlers, friend.”
I’m not your friend, old-timer. Also, I don’t make a habit of peeking at other people’s mail. Neither should you,” said Ian with a glare. “Wait, so…‘royalty’ then? Did that man expect me to deliver this to the king?” he asked.
No, of course not… You don’t deliver it directly to the king. Why don’t you know that? What kind of courier are you?”
I’m not a courier. I have my own reasons for being in the city. You’d know that if you were better at what you do. I didn’t even see you at the fork in the road.”
You didn’t see me because I’m that good at what I do, you fool.”
Ah, well… I’m not giving it to you,” mumbled Ian, the lack of confidence is embarrassingly obvious.
Well, I’m not really giving you a choice,” said the man with a smile. In one quick motion the man pulled his cloak off, threw it at Ian, disarmed him in the confusion and had it pointed at his forehead.







Editorial: Contemporary Romance The New Big Thing

I've noticed lately that romance is getting more and more popular and I don't mean the bodice ripper type books I'm leaning more towards the Contemporary Romance from authors such as:


  • Kristan Higgins
  • Melissa Foster
  • Jill Shalvis
  • Sherryl Woods
  • Debbie Macomber
I admit I am all for a great romance that has some story to it.  Something other than straight romance. Melissa Foster has a great new series Sisters In Bloom which is great because the sisters have issues they work out and find out what they want.  I really enjoy the freshness Melissa offers with this series and can't wait to read the next one!

Kristan Higgins is great for that her books always make me laugh as the main character usually the girl has some other issues usually they aren't the perfect girl but that is what makes them so great.  I also found this when I read It had to be you by: Jill Shalvis  the main character had so many issues but it was great to see her over come those issues.

I also notice with Young Adult books Sarah Dessen is one Sarah Ockler is another one who writes about girls and their issues.  I think it's great to write about girls who have problems and not perfect.  

I love reading these books who have issues but they over come them for what they want.  And they aren't always the same issues sometimes it's a family issue or a personal issue.  I am pulled into these books and love their stories.  

Do you read contemporary romance?  Are you pulled into their stories?  If you don't read romance what are you reasons for not reading romance?

Monday, September 23, 2013

Editorial: Negative People & Books Holy Crap Paula What Are You Doing?



What is it with Negative People when it comes to books?  Why is it when one person is successful as an author or otherwise others feel the need to bring them down?  

The answer is I wish I knew I see this frequently.  Usually it is an author or publisher asking a blogger to rewrite a review so it's not so harsh well sometimes a book just plain sucks and there is no good way to say it is any good.

An example of a book I just didn't like nor finish was E. L. James's Fifty Shades series.  I read like two chapters and just didn't get it.  It reminded me of other books while I was reading and just can't read a book that reminds me of other books.
Another book I couldn't get into was The Host by: Stephanie Meyer I read the Twilight Series and got that and was into at the time, not so much anymore but The Host was like an impossible read I got past the 100 pages and just had to stop I was bored, confused and annoyed by the whole premiss.  So it went in my I can't read pile.

But did I bash the authors, did I say their books sucked no I was professional about it I didn't finish it and didn't review it cause I couldn't finish it.  I didn't seek them out to harass them about why their books sucked.

I know authors are suppose to be hardened to what some reviewers say about them but when you type that review and hit publish it's out there for everyone to read so necessarily ripping the authors apart is not doing anyone any good.  When we write reviews or atleast when I do I try to think about the person I am writing about what would I say to them if it was an email and not a blog post?  Me personally I won't rip apart an author based on their book I just state things like:

  • How the story flow was it easy to follow or complex and confusing?  
  • Were the characters realistic to the situations?
  • What was good about the storyline was it the romance, the adventure or mystery?
  • Would I recommend this for others?
Those are just what I rate a book based on.  Through Goodreads I have seen so many people trash books and get appalled that as people we aren't adult enough to be polite even when you don't like book.  I don't know if it's I'm just a nice girl and don't like to dump on others or if this is the new fad book trashing, author trashing.  

So the big question is how do you handle bad reviews, authors who bug you to alter your review?  And what do you base your reviews on?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments I love hearing from you!

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Editorial: Money exchange for Reviews Holy Moly!


I know this isn't a review like I usually do this is a complain post which I don't do usually.  Usually I review and do editorials about books this one is about people who spread rumors about great authors claiming they use money for reviews.  

Now I can speak for me and Simay (I hope) and say we don't accept money for reviews.  We get the books either from publishers, authors, book tours, purchases and we don't accept money for the reviews they are how we really feel.  I can't believe when people spread these childish rumors it's like they can't handle the fact that some people like authors books and love to write great reviews about them. 

 I don't know if it's cause they're books stink and no one likes them, if they are jealous of the popularity certain authors have.  Personally when I look for a book I will check goodreads and amazon or barnes and noble and see what the buzz about the books are.  Another thing that attracts me to a book is a synopsis of the book along with a picture you would be surprised how a great picture (cover) can really appeal to a reader.  I've always been this way.  

And if I don't like I try not to bash a book it may not be for me but it might be for someone else.  I try to stay some what positive even if it's to say someone else might enjoy this even though I had trouble. Now that is a rare thing that I find a book I don't like.  

As for these people who start these rumors all I can say is your life that boring that you have to rip apart someone else,  I see this all the time.  Usually it's authors ripping on reviewers because someone voiced their opinion on it.  Now it just seems to be a "normal event" like they pick an author to harass and god forbid you fight back then you become this huge target.  All I can say to them is don't throw stones in a glass house.  If you don't like it change your attitude or find something else to do.  Maybe read the books your are picking on and see what great adventures you are missing.  

As to the authors this happens I am like most people sorry you get targeted like this.  It's unfair and stinks and unfortunately reminds me of high school and the cool kids picking on other kids.  The best you can do is stay strong write what you love to write and let them pick on someone else eventually they will give up and target someone else.  I know it's cheesy but sometimes the best advice is the good ole ignore the whinny kid and they will bug someone else.  It just frosts me that people do this to other people.

The authors I deal with I love your books and would be sad without having them in my life.  Don't stop writing.  I know one author who gets "hate mail" turned around and used it in a story, I think the victim or someone died in a bad way, so they used it positively in a round about way.  So haters watch out you could be reading about your demise in a story and how would that feel??


Friday, September 20, 2013

Review Aunty Lee's Delights by: Ovidia Yu

Title: Aunty Lee's Delights
Author: Ovidia Yu
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 260
Format: Paperback ARC
Source: Publisher Requested Review
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon| ibookstore

Description:

This delectable and witty mystery introduces Rosie "Aunty" Lee, feisty widow, amateur sleuth and proprietor of Singapore's best-loved home cooking restaurant

After losing her husband, Rosie Lee could easily have become one of Singapore's "tai tai," an idle rich lady devoted to mah-jongg and luxury shopping. Instead she threw herself into building a culinary empire from her restaurant, Aunty Lee's Delights, where spicy Singaporean home cooking is graciously served to locals and tourists alike. But when a body is found in one of Singapore's beautiful tourist havens, and when one of her wealthy guests fails to show at a dinner party, Aunty Lee knows that the two are likely connected.

The murder and disappearance throws together Aunty Lee's henpecked stepson Mark, his social-climbing wife Selina, a gay couple whose love is still illegal in Singapore, and an elderly Australian tourist couple whose visit-billed at first as a pleasure cruise-may mask a deeper purpose. Investigating the murder is rookie Police Commissioner Raja, who quickly discovers that the savvy and well-connected Aunty Lee can track down clues even better than local law enforcement.

Wise, witty and unusually charming, Aunty Lee's Delights is a spicy mystery about love, friendship and home cooking in Singapore, where money flows freely and people of many religions and ethnicities co-exist peacefully, but where tensions lurk just below the surface, sometimes with deadly results.

My Thoughts: 

This book opens with a murdered woman on the beach in Singapore and soon we meet Aunty Lee and Nina her companion and learn about their shop where Aunty Lee's stepson has wine and dinner parties.  But most of the buzz is about the woman on the beach and what happened to her?  Who is she?  And what is going on in Singapore when a mysterious Carla Saito shows up looking for Laura Kwee who is missing from this wine and dine session texting out sick.

Aunty Lee decides to make notes and write down witness once it's figured out that Laura is missing and so is Marianne Peters.  Which brings in the Singapore police and SS Salim who is trying to figure out who is murdering women.

It was a great read I really enjoyed reading about Singapore while solving a mystery at the same time.  Aunt Lee reminds me of like an elderly grandmother with her ability to love her family and friends and care about those she comes across that she cooks for them, and feels a connection to them.  I loved it.
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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Review: Canvas Bound by: Laura M. Kolar & Giveaway

Title: Canvas Bound
Author: Laura M. Kolar
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Pages: 203
Series: Captive Art #1
Format: ebook
Source: Red Adept Book Tour

Description:

Sixteen-year-old Libby Tanner’s art comes to life. Her painted skies turn from day to night, leaves rustle on trees, and sometimes, a mystery boy appears.

While attending England’s Aldridge Art Academy, Libby meets charming Brent Henderson, a performing arts student who showers her with attention. But his rival, gorgeous Dean James, is the one who occupies her mind, even though he’s very much attached to his current girlfriend.

Libby soon learns there’s more to both Brent and Dean than she ever imagined. In order to save her future and the boy who’s captured her heart, she must unlock the secrets behind her art by entering the most dangerous place of all… the world within her paintings.

But once she steps into the canvas, she risks being trapped forever.

My Thoughts: 

When Libby ends up at a academy in England is she figures she'll be able to draw the day away but learns quickly that some boys attentions aren't always a good thing especially when Brent turns on the charm.  She also finds out that she is having feelings for Dean James and what is his secret  which all revolve around Libby and the boy she paints.

Between Dean and Libby they set out to save the boy in the painting named Ryan and find out what the connection between Libby, Ryan and Brent is.

This book was great and full of adventure, love and mystery.  I really enjoyed it can't wait to read more by the author!

Giveaway:


a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Sunday, September 15, 2013

Sisters In Love Book Blast




SYNOPSIS:

Danica Snow has always been the smart, practical, and appropriate sister. As a therapist, she prides herself on making reasonable, conservative choices, even if a bit boring, and as part of the Big Sister Program, she has little time for anything more in her life.

Blake Carter is a player. He never gets bored of conquering women, and with his sexy good looks and successful lifestyle, he has no trouble finding willing participants. When his friend and business partner dies in a tragic accident, he suddenly, desperately, wants to change his ways. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to stop doing what he does best.

When Blake walks into Danica’s office, the attraction between them is white hot, but Danica isn't the type to give into the heat and risk her career. Danica’s desire sets her on a path of self-discovery, where she begins to question every decision she’s ever made. Just this once, Danica wants to indulge in the pleasures of life she’s been so willingly ignoring, but with her Little Sister in turmoil and her biological sister’s promiscuousness weighing heavily on her heart, she isn’t sure it’s the right time to set her desires free.

SISTERS IN LOVE is a light, uplifting work of women's fiction and will resonate with readers who enjoy emotional journeys of the heart with strong heroines and sexy, lovable heroes. Readers of books by Jane Porter and Beth Kendrick will enjoy Danica and Blake's story.


About the author: Melissa Foster

Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of four International bestselling novels. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on  Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.
Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.
Visit Melissa on The Women’s NestFostering Success, or World Lit Cafe. Join Melissa and the YaYa Writer Girls at their annual in-person event. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Purchase Links:

Melissa Foster Media:


Rafflecopter Link (Needs to be added on your post)

Friday, September 13, 2013

Review - Touched by: Corrine Jackson

Title: Touched
Author: Corrine Jackson
Publisher: Kensington Teen
Pages: 343
Format: Paperback
Series: Sense Thieves 

Description:

Remy O’Malley heals people with touch—but every injury she cures becomes her own. Living in a household with an abusive stepfather, she has healed untold numbers of broken bones, burns,and bruises. And then one night her stepfather goes too far.

Being sent to live with her estranged father offers a clean start and she is eager to take it. Enter Asher Blackwell. Once a Protector of Healers, Asher sacrificed his senses to become immortal. Only by killing a Healer can a Protector recover their human senses. Falling in love is against the rules between these two enemies. Because Remy has the power to make Protectors human again, and when they find out, they’ll be coming for her—if Asher doesn’t kill her first.

This is Book One in the Touched trilogy.

My thoughts: 

Can you imagine not being able to feel anything at all when you touch someone you love or to smell the flowers when springs arrives, not inhaling the smell of cookies when you enter a pastry, not tasting the food you eat because you can't smell it?.. This is how Ashton Blackwell's life has been. Until he meets Remy, that is.

Remy has grown up with her mother and stepfather. Her power to heal has proved useful in this setting since she has to, on many occations, heal her mother's and her own wounds because the stepfather is an abusive man. Of course, her ability has a consequence: she acquires the wounds/sickness she heals. When she moves in with her own father and his family, what she is, her power, gets a name: Remy is a Healer. And the Blackwell family are all Protectors. Back in the day, Protectors were working with Healers and protecting them, as their name entails. But then they weren't getting along no more...

Even though they're enemies now, the attraction between them leads to sparks, LITERALLY. While you see them connect and fall in love, you also get a glimpse of Healer vs. Protector history, find out why they're enemies now and why Remy is the key to solving it all. 

Some parts of the book reminded me a lot of the Twilight series, some of Hush, Hush and some Daughter of Smoke and Bone. However, with its unique subject matter despite all its similarities to books I just mentioned, I found myself thinking about what it would be like to not feel the physical touch. We will eventually see if Protectors ever get their basic feelings back.
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Review Sisters In Love by: Melissa Foster

Title: Sisters In Love
Author: Melissa Foster
Publisher: World Literary Press
Pages: 300
Series: Love in Bloom: Snow Sisters #1
Format: Nook Ebook
Source: Purchase
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Description:

Danica Snow has always been the smart, practical, and appropriate sister. As a therapist, she prides herself on making reasonable, conservative choices, even if a bit boring, and as part of the Big Sister Program, she has little time for anything more in her life.

Blake Carter is a player. He never gets bored of conquering women, and with his sexy good looks and successful lifestyle, he has no trouble finding willing participants. When his friend and business partner dies in a tragic accident, he suddenly, desperately, wants to change his ways. The problem is, he doesn’t know how to stop doing what he does best.

When Blake walks into Danica’s office, the attraction between them is white hot, but Danica isn't the type to give into the heat and risk her career. Danica’s desire sets her on a path of self-discovery, where she begins to question every decision she’s ever made. Just this once, Danica wants to indulge in the pleasures of life she’s been so willingly ignoring, but with her Little Sister in turmoil and her biological sister’s promiscuousness weighing heavily on her heart, she isn’t sure it’s the right time to set her desires free.

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Danica Snow as she is tired of being the conventional sister always doing what is expected of her with relationships and work.  She is a therapist and advises people who take her on.  The one client to send her world upside down is Blake Carter who makes her want to have a life besides boring one that consists of reviewing patient files at night, instead of having a life outside of work.

Blake Carter is use to having women throw themselves at him, a different girl every night.  He has no regard for being anything but a player when tragedy strikes close to him it causes Blake to re-evaluate everything he has done.  When he meets Danica Snow something about her makes him want to change and in a good way.

I got this book from an advertisement Melissa had on facebook, and I wasn't disappointed to say the least.  This book had everything you would expect from other great romance authors, like Sherryl Woods, Robyn Carr, Jill Shavlis and Kristan Higgins. She has the ability to tell a story that drags you in until the last page and want you to learn more about them!  Definitely a series I can't wait to read more of.
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Second Watch by: J.A. Jance & Giveaway

Second Watch

by J.A. Jance

on Tour September 10 - October 10, 2013


Book Details:

Genre: Fiction/Suspense/Mystery 
Published by:
William Morrow 
Publication Date:
9/10/13
Number of Pages:
368
ISBN: 9780062134677
Purchase Links:

Synopsis:

With Second Watch, New York Times bestselling author J. A. Jance delivers another thought-provoking novel of suspense starring Seattle investigator J. P. Beaumont. Second Watch shows Beaumont taking some time off to get knee replacement surgery, but instead of taking his mind off work, the operation plunges him into one of the most perplexing mysteries he's ever faced. His past collides with his present in this complex and thrilling story that explores loss and heartbreak, duty and honor, and, most importantly, the staggering cost of war and the debts we owe those who served in the Vietnam War, and those in uniform today.

My Thoughts: 

While I was reading this book my boyfriend was in a similar situation medically he was having a Anterior Spinal Fusion.  Our beloved loved Cop J.P Beaumont is recovering from double knee-replacement surgery and being visited by ghosts of his past one a young woman from a cold case he was investigating the other was an old military buddy who died during the war and in Beau's mind saved him from dying with a book.

Beau is visited by a young woman who died in the 80's and her case was never solved and it turned into a cold case in which got buried until Beau decided to do the unthinkable to solve her murder.  Figuring that technology would definitely be on his side by now.  Which leads to old cops being talked to, old witnesses being located and finding the answers for the young girl's family.  Which leads them all over Seattle and New Mexico.

As for the old military buddy that was great to see Beau was like way back and then and the things he dealt with.  He decides to find Douglas Davis's fiance and tell her what her fiance meant to him.  What he finds is so much more a woman who had a great love and was so pleased to connect with Beau and hear about her love and how much he meant to others.  

I loved this story, heck this is one of the first murder mystery series I started with way back when and I have loved watching the things Beau has gone through and over come!  Definitely a great series and I'm so glad that Ms. Jance continues this series and updates Beau with iPads and iPhones.  Such a great adventure to go on!

Excerpt:

Author Bio:

A voracious reader, J. A. Jance knew she wanted to be a writer from the moment she read her first Wizard of Oz book in second grade. Always drawn to mysteries, from Nancy Drew right through John D. McDonald's Travis Magee series, it was only natural that when she tried her hand at writing her first book, it would be a mystery as well. J. A. Jance went on to become the New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family, and Edge of Evil. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington, and Tucson, Arizona.

Catch Up With the Author:

Tour Participants:

Giveaway:

I will be picking a random winner to receive a physical copy of second watch I will be picking the winner using random.org  my one question is:

who is your favorite character in J.P Beaumont's life?

answer the question in comments and include your email address that way I have a way of getting in contact with the winner!
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Review: Breathe by: Sarah Crossan

Title: Breathe
Author: Sarah Crossan
Publisher: Greenwillow
Pages: 384
Format: Hardcover
Series: Breathe

Description:

The world has no air. If you want to survive, you pay to breathe. But what if you can't? And what if you think everything could be different? Three teens will leave everything they know behind in Sarah Crossan's gripping and original dystopian teen novel of danger, longing, and glimmering hope that will appeal to fans of Patrick Ness and Veronica Roth.

Ever since the Switch, when the oxygen levels plummeted and most of humanity died, the survivors have been protected in glass domes full of manufactured air. Protected . . . or trapped? Or controlled? Alina's a revolutionary who believes we can save the environment. Quinn's a Premium who's never had to worry about having enough air. His best friend, Bea, is an Auxiliary who's never worried about anything but having enough air. When the three cross paths, they will change everything. Sarah Crossan's thrilling and provocative novel is about passion, about yearning for something better, and about breaking free for the very first time.

My thoughts: 

I had no idea this book existed until I received a review copy from its Turkish publishers. Honestly, if I just saw it at a book store and read the description, I think I would just ignore it. Why, you ask?

You know how people have those "irrational" fears? Well, mine comes to life in Sarah Crossan's Breathe: oxygen is very scarce on earth, and you have to pay for it, for you to breathe. I honestly believe a fear is considered "irrational" until it becomes true, and considering the state our planet is in today, this could so easily happen. Also considering inflation rates and how even though everything gets more expensive our salaries stay the same, I would be among the first to die. Sarah Crossan has taken my fear and laid it out on paper. And she did it really well, too, which means I'm even more scared now and will be under this book's spell for a while.

The story is told from three different points of view: Alina, Bea and Quinn's. "Alina's a revolutionary who believes we can save the environment. Quinn's a Premium who's never had to worry about having enough air. His best friend, Bea, is an Auxiliary who's never worried about anything but having enough air." When their paths cross, it leaves you breathless from the beginning to the end! Just like in most books and in real life, the government creates their own agenda, making people believe it without sharing the truth. This starts to unravel eventually, but without oxygen, in a world where running and laughing out loud is forbidden, how do you riot? How do you fight back if you can fight at all?

As I have said before, the dystopian world Crossan has created is very scary because it's very real. You will find yourself saying, "Nah! That would never happen!" But then you'll think about it some and realize it so could. We might all have to pay monthly bills for oxygen some day. 

The only thing I was curious about is how it kept raining in this world that doesn't have oxygen. I'm no scientist, but it feels like something's not right with that. 

P.S. It hasn't been printed in Turkish yet, but the second book in the series is called Resist and it's already out in English
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Monday, September 9, 2013

Has the time to watch porn at the movies finally come?

I wrote this on my blog page of a Turkishnewspaper, and with it, I was chosen “Blogger of the Day” on Saturday. I thought I should share it here too; it’s slightly altered considering you guys aren’t Turkish :)

Has the time to watch porn at the movies finally come?

Most of you might heard of Istanbul’s famous Taksim Square: for generations, it’s been home to many things including gatherings, riots, etc. Years ago, it was also home to the porn industry. Some movie theaters in Taksim would apparently show porn movies back-to-back, and they would be packed. When older people told me about this, I considered what porn aimed to achieve and thought the whole thing was disgusting. I still think it’s disgusting. But, thanks to Hollywood, it looks like I’ll be watching porn with the great masses in August 2014, along with my Christian Grey loving friends. I only have one reason to agree to watching it at the movies: Charlie Hunnam.

50 Shades of Grey? GAG!

50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James is a book I’ve read only out of curiosity. When you’re a bookworm, and a book takes the world by storm, you can’t help but get curious and want to check it out. After I finished the first book of the series, I decided I didn’t like it, and I wrote about why. Even though I tried to be clear about it, most readers attributed it to my being anti-erotica. Well, I am not. I just think there’s such a thing as “good books” and “bad books”, even when it comes to erotica.

The book’s main female character Anastasia is the opposite of women who scream, “I’m strong, and I am independent.” He falls in love with Christian because he’s successful, rich and handsome. The whole falling in love happening very fast was one of the many things that bothered me about this book. Since she’s “in love,” she’s okay with Grey’s kinky requests in the bedroom. No deep thoughts or evaluations; she’s just okay with it. She can be with a control freak, manipulative man who’s afraid of commitment.

Leaving aside how badly the book is written, I must admit I have a problem with these kind of women. Having grown up with the likes of Jane Eyre (and she’s even considered rather conservative), Jo March and Buffy Summers with a family full of strong women who kept telling me “first, you must stand on your own two feet,” I cannot take Anastasia seriously. That’s how it is for me.

Why, Charlie, why?

I’d first seen Charlie Hunnam in the original Queer as Folk series. Later, and still, he’s Jax Teller on Sons of Anarchy. When I heard the news that he was cast as Christian Grey, I was truly upset. I guess I’d put him in better movies on my head although I have faith that he can make anything look good. He doesn’t even fit Christian Grey’s description, really, but obviously the producers thought he was a good fit, and he himself thinks he can do it.

After I was done sulking about this, my mind rushed off to the bigger picture: are all girls going to get together and watch porn at the movies? People read this book due to the sexy male character that is Christian Grey. The most talked about scenes are the sex scenes. If you look for a story, there really isn’t one… Considering all this, we WILL be watching porn at the movies come next summer. Is it really going to stay true to the book and be filled with kinky sex? If not, will they make up a story? Will it hit theatres in Turkey, a country where they recently built separate Olympic pools for males and females? If it does, how much of it will be censored? Will it be available for an 18+ audience?

I think these are questions worth pondering, and I hope we will find out more soon as the project develops.


Friday, September 6, 2013

Review - Odd and the Frost Giants by: Neil Gaiman

Title: Odd and the Frost Giants
Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Pages: 104
Format: Paperback
Source: Personal purchase

Description:

The winter isn't ending. Nobody knows why.
And Odd has run away from home, even though he can barely walk and has to use a crutch.
Out in the forest he encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle - three creatures with a strange story to tell.
Now Odd is faced with a stranger journey than he had ever imagined.
A journey to save Asgard, City of the Norse Gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.
It's going to take a very special kind of boy to defeat the most dangerous of all the Frost Giants and rescue the mighty Gods. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever.
Someone just like Odd...

My thoughts:

I truly believe that Neil Gaiman has an endless imagination, and I love that it's his job to share it with us!

I'd read Odd and the Frost Giants way before I read The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Whenever I read a Neil Gaiman novel, my first reaction is, "he's done it again." The sentences I can't forget from The Ocean at the End of the Lane is, "Adults follow paths. Children explore." Now that I think about it, having read Odd and the Frost Giants, Neil is right! Odd is the sweetest child in the world who's out to explore. He's not exploring with other kids either; he's on an adventure with Gods. Gods from Norse mythology.

I think children's books make me cry more than adult novels. I didn't cry my eyes out while reading this one, there were many times when my eyes watered. Thanks, Neil; I'm so glad you're around! Here you can watch a clip of him reading from the book.
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