Watch What You Read #4

 This MEME is for all of my bookish peeps

who still like pictures in their books!

What I'm reading this week!

 

Title:  The Diviners

(The Diviners #1)

Author:  Libba Bray

Publisher:  Little Brown & Co.

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."
When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

 -Goodreads 

Will Twilight Fans Brave The Light of "A New Dawn"?

 

Title:  A New Dawn

Authors:  Various

Format:  E-galley

Length:  174 pages

Publisher:  BenBella Books

Rating:  3 stars

*Is Edward a romantic or a (really hot) sociopath?

* How is the Twilight series just like one of Shakespeare's tragedies?
* Who would you rather date: the guy who thirsts for your blood, or the guy who drinks out of the toilet?

You can't read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series without wanting more- more romance, more suspense, just more of Bella, Edward, Jacob, and the rest of Forks, Washington. You aren't alone.
Join some of your favorite writers as they look at the series with fresh eyes, and fall in love with Bella and Edward, and their world, all over again.

Find out:

* How the literary vampire went from horror show to heartthrob
* Other Native American wolf myths, and how the Quileute werewolves compare
* What Bella and Edward's romance has to say about free will
* Why vampires and werewolves really shouldn't date, and what that has to do with Edward's insistence that Bella go to prom

With Essays From...
* Robin Brande
* Rachel Caine
* Cassandra Clare
* Rosemary Clement-Moore
* Linda Gerber
* Cara Lockwood
* Megan McCafferty
* K. A. Nuzum
* James Owen
* Janette Rallison
* Ellen Steiber
* Anne Usru

My Thoughts
This is a wonderful collection of very entertaining essays ranging in voice from funny to informative.  It is hard to see this as a book that the average reader will be chomping at the bit 
to go out and buy.
That being said however, if you are:
1. A diehard fan of Twilight with a serious OCD that drives you to collect EVERY Twi-related thing known to man.
2. Studying vampire lore or the like and have to read it for a class.
3.  Prone to "pretty cover syndrome" and just can't resist.
4.  Just can't accept the fact that the saga has ended and are sure that there are a few "missing chapters" hidden in there SOMEWHERE. 

You will probably buy this book.

  
This is a very light read that is brimming with both fact and opinion about all thing Twilight.
Though this book can and probably will find it's way into someone's curriculum, it is never dry and 
very honest in it's presentations of the authors' love/hate or neutral feelings about the force of nature
that is Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga.    

Teaser Tuesday...You Know You Want It #16

Welcome to my version of my Teaser Tuesday

a

weekly

Meme

hosted

by

Miz. B

@

Should Be Reading

"I had a case of nausea that rivaled what the people on the Titanic must've

felt when they hit the dang iceberg.  Bending over, I tried to dislodge my foot,

willing my corn dogs to stay put in my stomach. 

When I swallowed down some bile,

next thing I knew, I was yanked out of the dumpster by one shoulder and a leg.

I tried to scream and beg for mercy,

but

"Don't disturb the body!" 

was the only thing that made it out of my mouth."

6% Complete Kindle Ed., Grade A Stupid, A.J. Lape

Crossroad Tours Presents: Enlightenment For Nitwits PR Stop

 Title: Enlightenment for Nitwits
Author: Shepherd Hoodwin
Pages: 226

Thanks for stopping by on my day to host this wonderful cute book.  Below you will find information about the book as well as a chance to win a copy!
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Thanks for stopping by on my day to host this wonderful cute book.  Below you will find information about the book as well as a chance to win a copy!

We are happy to be touring this funny book by author Shepherd Hoodwin!  Shepherd Hoodwin has been channeling the Michael entity since 1986. He also does intuitive readings, mediumship, past-life regression, healing, counseling, and channeling coaching. He has conducted workshops on the Michael teachings throughout the United States. He is also the author of The Journey of Your Soul: A Channel Explores Channeling and the Michael Teachings, Meditations for Self-Discovery: Guided Journeys for Communicating with Your Inner Self, and Loving from Your Soul: Creating Powerful Relationships. Upcoming titles include Opening to Healing Energy, Growing Through Joy, and Being in the World. Shepherd is a graduate of the University of Oregon in Music. He lives in Laguna Niguel, California. 

So please check it out and have a great time! 

Book Description

Publication Date: October 17, 2011

This is perhaps the first metaphysical/self-help humor collection, designed to appeal to Oprah and Dave Barry fans as well as those with more esoteric interests. In a style reminiscent of comedian Steven Wright, it s full of wry one-liners along with longer, hilariously mind-bending pieces on a wide range of subjects, tied together by the idea of clueless humans trying to find enlightenment. With its fall release, it will be a great holiday gift for anyone who loves to laugh. It s perfectly timed to take advantage of worldwide anticipation of 2012, the legendary end of the Mayan calendar, which is a recurring theme in the book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"ENLIGHTENMENT for NITWITS" is the funniest book I have read in several decades. Without quoting the book, it is difficult to recognize its utter simplicity: "If you're not in absolute bliss by the end of it, you might want to increase your meds." "If you're reading this before the invention of the printing press, be advised it is forbidden to interfere with the course of human history." Everything, from his grandmother's urine and feces samples, beautifully gift wrapped and left on the train, to blowing it by having a thirty second negative thought, is the name of the game. Nothing is sacred. "Sometimes you have to spend another $3 at Walmart to get class and elegance." You can defend to the death your right to shop naked or you can buy the book and enjoy 223 pages of delightful spoofs.
--C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D., author of "Life Beyond 100"

About the Author

Shepherd Hoodwin has been channeling the Michael entity since 1986. He also does intuitive readings, mediumship, past-life regression, healing, counseling, and channeling coaching. He has conducted workshops on the Michael teachings throughout the United States. He is also the author of The Journey of Your Soul: A Channel Explores Channeling and the Michael Teachings, Meditations for Self-Discovery: Guided Journeys for Communicating with Your Inner Self, and Loving from Your Soul: Creating Powerful Relationships. Upcoming titles include Opening to Healing Energy, Growing Through Joy, and Being in the World. Shepherd is a graduate of the University of Oregon in Music. He lives in Laguna Niguel, California.

Links

SITES:
http://summerjoy.com
http://enlightenmentfornitwits.com

TWITTER: @EnlightenNitwit
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/EnlightenmentforNitwits
BLOG: http://newagevillage.com/perspectives
PHOTO ALBUMS: http://picasaweb.google.com/ShepherdHoodwin
SONGS: http://summerjoy.com/songs.html

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: Summerjoy Press (October 17, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885469128
• ISBN-13: 978-1885469120
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 
  4.5 out of 5 stars
    
  See all reviews
   (32 customer reviews)

Tour Stops

Nov. 25-Dec. 1

Sun- Nov. 25th Crossroads

Mon- Nov. 26th

The Cover Contessa

Tues- Nov. 27th

WTF Are You Reading? Cherie Reads

Wed- Nov. 28th WTF are you reading?

Thurs. Nov. 29th Hey... Wanna See My Indies?

Fri-Nov. 30 Reader Girls Doctor's Notes

Sat. Dec. 1st K is for Kechell

Enter to win! 3 Print Copies of the book!

CLICK TO ENTER!

Adult Fiction Review: This Is a Book That Is So Much More Than "Normal"

 

 Title:  Normal

Author:  Scott J. Holliday

Length:  326 pages

Format:  E-Galley

Publisher:  Scott J. Holliday

South Carolina, 1879. With a drunken wife and an overbearing father-in-law, prison guard Paul Constantine leads an unfulfilling life. But Paul's world is shattered when Roy Pellerin — a childhood friend and circus performer born with skin like a snake — escapes Paul's prison.

Now Paul must track Roy across the country facing thieves and murderers, his own demons, and the struggle between justice and forgiveness.

My Thoughts
This book is a rare gem that reveals new and beautiful facets as the story progresses.  
 Roy Pellerin is so much more than his scaly skin  and weeping eyes could ever convey.  As society has proven time and again however, it's all about appearances.

Roy = FREAK

When Roy is labeled a killer for his part in the death of a fellow sideshow performer and sentenced without benefit of judge or jury to "the hole" in Redmine prison; he crosses paths with the one man who knows him as the person he is.

PAUL CONSTANTINE

Paul is a man trapped.  Forced to live within the confines of his job as a prison guard where he is forced to witness the debasement of men on a daily basis; and his overbearing, drunkard wife who treats him as little more than an animal.

  

This is the story of two men: one a freak caged in bars, the other by life.  Only the fates know that a chance meeting, a remembered friendship, and a daring escape will give each of these men the freedom and self acceptance that they seek.

This story is a hard one to read due to all of the injustices suffered by Roy.  The fact that he us able to not only survive, bu thrive in the face of all of the loss, ridicule,  and cruelty that he suffers throughout his life is a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.  It is very easy, as a reader to look beyond the Roy's outward appearance and see the truly remarkable being inside.

Paul is a man that is hiding, afraid to be who he really is.  Cowed by life and hating himself.  It is not until he sees Roy, in chains but strong, in prison but still free in spirit, and sentenced to death but refusing to die; that he begins to feel the stirring  of the free person he once was.

Roys' escape takes the men on a journey full of sights, sounds, and people that prove both beautiful and horrifying.  One toward the truth and a righted wrong.  The other toward his future.

This is a book that all should read.  A story that encourages one to truly seize the day, love who you love, and not be afraid to be who you are.

My Rating:

Jitterbug PR Presents: Becky Banks Talks Cars!

Hi Frishawn! Thank you for hosting me today as we wrap up our tour for my latest book, a high-octane romance called Forged. We've got a fun post today (read: visual tour!) on the types of cars that show up in the book. A little background before we begin, Forged's main character, Nate, is a European auto mechanic who enjoys fast women and even faster cars. That is, until his ex walks back into his life. ;0)

The car that starts all the shenanagans in the book belongs to our other main character, Eva. Eva drives a BMW 540i. It's the first nice car she's owned and she babys it, so when its rear door starts leaking she takes it to the mechanic her assistant recommends: Nate. Here's the car:

Eva's car: BMW 540i, small block V-8 with 320 ft.lbsf of torque = zippy.

Eva's assistant had been striving to find someone knowledgeable to help her with her '77 Peugeot, which as Nate describes at one point in the book as being "reliable as the goddamn weatherman." I give you the '77 Peugeot:

Jenny's car: '77 Peugeot. Cute! But as reliable as the weatherman.

Then, of course, there's Nate. Nate being a car guy has many automobiles at his disposal. Since he runs the top European import shop in the city, high-end Euro car dealers loan him demo vehicles to drive his clients (and himself) around in. We'll start with his personal stash of cars. Eva and Nate grew-up together so it's only natural that they gravitate to the same auto manufacturer, BMW. In Nate's personal collection he owns the 2-door coupe from BMW, the 330ci.

Car 1 of Nate's: BMW 330ci.

There is one other version of the BMW that Nate's been known to drive and it's the 6-series coupe. Which, kind of looks like the combination of a great white shark and a car.

Car 2 of Nate's: BMW 6 series.

Now for the demo car. This car is the one that Nate drives in the story, it's a great conversation piece with his clients and is quite successful in picking up chicks . . . that is until Eva comes along. This car is British in origin and made its world splash by being the preferred car of one special super secret 007 agent. Meet Bond, James Bond's car.

Car 3 of Nate's: Aston Martin's DB9. Six liter V-12, 440 ft.lbf of torque = 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. Blow-your-mind fast. [via]

In the end of the novel - no spoilers I promise! - only a few of these cars are left standing and those that are, don't belong to either of the main characters. That's why in this high-octane adventure, Forged is where first loves, dark pasts and fast cars all collide.

That concludes our visual tour of Forged's car line-up, thank you Frishawn for hosting me it's been fun!

Cheers ~
B

***

Becky Banks is the award-winning author of The Legend of Lady MacLaoch. Her newest novel, Forged released October 26th. 

Available through Amazon

This guest post is brought to you in cooperation with:

Adult Romance Review: You'll Definately Want to Hold On to "My Bluegrass Baby"

Title:  My Bluegrass Baby
Author:  Molly Harper
Format:  E-galley
Length:  250 pages
Publisher:  Pocket Star 

A brand-new novel in an original eBook series from popular romance author Molly Harper! When Sadie & Josh compete for the same Kentucky Tourism Commission job, sparks fly—turns out Kentucky really is for lovers.

Sadie Hutchins loves her job at the Kentucky Tourism Commission. Not only could her co-workers double as the cast of Parks & Recreation, but she loves finding the unusual sites, hidden gems, and just-plain-odd tourist attractions of her home state. She’s a shoo-in for the director’s job when her boss retires at the end of the year…until hotshot Josh Vaughn shows up to challenge her for the position.

Josh is all sophisticated polish while Sadie’s country comfort, and the two have very different ideas of what makes a good campaign. So when their boss pits them against each other in a winner-takes-all contest, they’re both willing to fight dirty if it means getting what they want. But it turns out, what Josh and Sadie want could be each other—and Josh’s kisses are the best Kentucky attraction Sadie’s found yet!  -Goodreads

My Thoughts:
Sadie Hutchins loves her job, and thanks to the fact that she has a flair for presenting the sights and sounds  of Kentucky to the vacation-ready masses year after year; she is sure that the promotion to Director of Publicity for the Kentucky Tourism is hers.

It seems that fate and Josh Vaughn have other ideas

Josh is new blood around the office and if water-cooler gossip is to be believed, he's out for hers.  Or at least her job...anyway.

Molly Harper brings her  trademark wit and sidesplitting humor to the microcosm that is the workplace.
 The palpable sexual tension between Josh and Sadie leaps off the pages.  Couple that with the slap stick antics and pranks that these two play on each other while they jockey for position, and this is a story to love.
The more that you get to know these two, the more that you grow to love them and the more that they grow to love each other.
This is a book of emotional layers and Molly makes peeling back each one more fun than the last.

Friday Reads #1

 It's Friday...What Are Your

 

I often Tweet my Friday Reads

but I have decided to change things up a bit.

There will also be a list on my blog from here on out.

Title:  The Silence of the Llamas

Black Sheep Knitting Mystery #5

Author:  Anne Canadeo

Publisher:  Gallery Books

The Black Sheep Knitters attend a thread and fiber festival and end up investigating an attack against the local llamas in this fifth charming mystery series, with bonus recipes and knitting ideas.Maggie Mesina and her Black Sheep Knitting group head to the annual fiber festival held at a nearby farm, where Maggie takes a booth to promote her shop. But the crowd’s high spirits turn to horror when the farm owners Ben and Ellie Kruger discover that their herd of gentle llamas have been doused in red paint. Who would do such a thing? This is not the first act of harassment the Krugers have experienced, and they suspect worse is to come.

     The main suspect behind the disturbances is their neighbor, Justin Ridley, who bid on their property and lost. But when Ridley is found dead days later, Ben Kruger becomes the prime suspect in light of their many altercations. Drawn into the mystery by their friendship with Ellie, the Black Sheep try to help prove Ben’s innocence—but they soon learn there are many in this rural outpost with motives for starting this llama drama and may want to take over the Krugers’ farm…for surprising reasons.

-Goodreads

Notable Novellas #3

 

Hi...Thursday seems to be the hardest day of the week to fill content-wise for my blog. So I came up with a cute little meme called Notable Novellas This is the place to let the world know about those great "short reads". Please feel free to grab my Notable Novellas header or make one of your own and link back to me here. WTF Are You Reading? 

Title:  Yuletide Treasure
Author:  Andrea Kane
Format:  E-galley
Length:  80 pages
Publisher:  Pocket Star
Rating:  5 stars

 
Just in time for the holidays, Andrea Kane's beloved short story Yuletide Treasure is 
available as an eBook for the first time ever.

Yuletide Treasure captures holiday magic as it transports us to a village in Victorian England, where an embittered earl seeks a governess for a lovely, defiant little girl named Noelle.

Readers will be enchanted by the story of  dark and brooding young recluse, Lord Eric Farthington, and what happens when his search for a governess for his niece results in a woman who proves to be far more than he or his wounded heart could have ever dreamed.

The story found within the scant 80 pages of this read is full to the brim with humor, romance, loss, love, and redemption.

Noelle Farthington, will capture your heart with her precocious wit and delightful humor.  It is often hard to believe that she is only 4.  Eric is the perfect tortured soul.  A man consumed by the mistakes of his and unable to see the joy in his future.  Add to this mix the spirit, fire and sheer joy that is embodied by one young Miss Brigitte Curran.  Can she smooth the rough edges of her rowdy young charge?   Is she the Christmas miracle of Eric's most secret wish?

To find out

don't miss...

Teaser Tuesday...You Know You Want It!!! #15

Welcome to my version of my Teaser Tuesday

a

weekly

Meme

hosted

by

Miz. B

@

Should Be Reading

"The job couldn't have come at a better time for me.

I needed a new focus, and the distraction of so many children

to lavish my love on was most welcome.

There was still a sharp pain of betrayal in my stomach every time I

thought of Henry's betrayal,

but I forced myself not to think of such things.

60% complete, A Spoonful of Sugar, Brenda Ashford

Adult Romance Review: "Beauty Dates the Beast" Is a Romance With Bite

Title:  Beauty Dates The Beast
(Midnight Liaisons #1)
Author:  Jessica Sims
Format:  Print
Length:  353 pages
Publisher:  Pocket Books
Rating:  4 stars 


WANTED

Single human female to join charming, wealthy, single male were-cougar for a night of romantic fun—and maybe more. Me: The tall, sensuous, open-minded leader of my clan.
You: A deliciously curvy virgin who’s intimately familiar with what goes bump in the night. Must not be afraid of a little tail. Prefer a woman who’s open to exploring her animal nature. Interest in nighttime walks through the woods a plus.
My turn-ons include protecting you from the worst the supernatural world has to offer. Ready for an adventure? Give me a call.
Vampires and doppelgangers need not apply.

My Thoughts
This was a first book.  Bathsheba and the supernatural "dating agency" that she works for  are enough to capture readers' imaginations from the start.  When you add that to the forbidden relationship that she gets into with a certain "big cat", plots, kidnapping, romance, and secrets...secrets...secrets; what you have is one rockin' romance.

Bathsheba proves to be quite the worthy heroine, though she is the only human in the whole bunch.  Her one flaw is that she feels responsible for her werewolf sister Sara, and doesn't hesitate to remind readers of this every time she has an important decision to make.

Beau is as close to the perfect leading man as one can get.  The way that he and Bathsheba meet and where things go from there are just...in a word, YUM! He is not afraid to do what he has to in the name of protecting his lady love and he is not afraid to reveal his heart.  He is also a man that knows how to mark his territory.This is a great paranormal romantic adventure.  There are lots of plot twists, loads of action, and plenty of fangs and claws to go with all that lovein'.