Category Archives: Reviews

September 28, 2013 · 2:24 am

Saturday Steals 9/28/13

SEPTEMBER CONTEST from Author Harlequin Intrigue Angi Morgan.
Register through Rafflecopter: http://bit.ly/SyCnNs

HOSTILE WITNESS (legal thriller, thriller) (The Witness Series,#1) by Rebecca Forster. Amazon Kindle Ebook FREE! Paperback is $10.30 so FREE rocks!

When sixteen-year-old Hannah Sheraton is arrested for the murder of her stepgrandfather, the chief justice of the California Supreme court, her distraught mother turns to her old college roommate, Josie Baylor-Bates, for help. Josie, once a hot-shot criminal defense attorney, left the fast track behind for a small practice in Hermosa Beach, California. But Hannah Sheraton intrigues her and, when the girl is charged as an adult, Josie cannot turn her back. But the deeper she digs the more Josie realizes that politics, the law and family relationships create a combustible and dangerous situation. When the horrible truth is uncovered it can save Hannah Sheraton or destroy them both.

“This story was inspired by a case my husband handled. As a superior court judge he had to sentence a minor to life in prison. It made me wonder how I felt about minors arrested for violent crimes. Are they most vulnerable among us – capable or horrible violence, perceived as adults and yet emotionally still children?” Rebecca Forster

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Loose Screw (Dusty Deals Mystery Series) by Rae Davies. Amazon Kindle Ebook – FREE!
Lucy Mathews, crime reporter turned antiques dealer, avoids confrontation like a home perm. She even lets a cat shove her around.

When Lucy trips over the body of a buckskin-clad relics trader, her ex-boss asks her to cover the story. She tries to tell him no, but old habits die hard and soon she finds herself directly in the path of a killer and the exasperating, if attractive, detective in charge.

Can Lucy catch a killer or is this the last confrontation for her—period.

Also available in the series:

SURRENDER (The Ferryman + The Flame) by Rhiannon Paille. FREE Ebook, everywhere! Paperback list price is $17.75 so the free Ebook is a STEAL.

How far would you go to save everything you ever loved?

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn’t listen, and because of what she is– a Flame– one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

STEAL! Shirley Marks is ranked #12 Author in the Amazon Historical Romance Category. She writes Traditional Regency Romance and clean Romantic Comedies. Currently working on book 5 of the Gentlemen of Worth series. Currently 5 of her books are a STEAL through the end of the month at $0.99. Start with Book 1 The Suitor List. Another Shirley Marks STEAL. Hardback list price $16.97, Kindle Ebook $0.99

At the Wild Rose Press they are having a sale. ALL digital books are 50% off. A STEAL! And at The Wilder Rose Erotic Romance site, eleven books are 50% off. A STEAL! check under specials.

A Holiday Garden Gourmet and other Rose Petal books are FREE! These books are short stories.

101 Stovetop Suppers (101 Cookbook Collection)From Gooseberry Patch. Cook book lovers. Amazon has a book with digital list price of $11.00 on sale through the end of September for $1.99. A STEAL! When schedules are busy, the time to make good, wholesome dinners often can be cut short…until now! We’ve gathered our best single-skillet meals and paired each with a full-color photo for 101 Stovetop Suppers. Not only is each one super-simple, but one pan, pot or skillet means less clean-up and more time to spend with family & friends.
Starting things off is a whole chapter dedicated to quick & simple recipes that are short on time but big on taste. Whip up a pan of Pepperoni Tortellini, Kickin’ Cajun Tilapia or Honey Chicken & Carrots in the blink of an eye. When you find yourself with a little more time to spare, try one of the slowly-simmered dishes like Low Country Shrimp Boil, Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Family-Favorite Pork Tacos…sure to be a hit with everyone. There’s also an entire chapter dedicated to recipes that make enough to feed a crowd. They’ll come in handy when entertaining or even at the holidays! When family & friends gather, you’ll love treating them to Mom’s Chicken Riggies, Hunting Cabin Chili or some Seafood Linguini with a Kick. To top it all off, each chapter has a perfect pair of dessert recipes to put the cherry on top! Dark Chocolate & Hazelnut Blondies, Simple Skillet Peaches and Pineapple Pudding are all deliciously sweet & simple endings to a perfect dinner. So forget the oven and toss together dinner on the stovetop…just a skillet, pot or pan are all you need to whip up a tasty, memorable meal.

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September 25, 2013 · 12:02 pm

WWW Wednesday 9/25/13

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:

Edward Adrift by Craig Lancaster.

It’s been a year of upheaval for Edward Stanton, a forty-two-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome. He’s lost his job. His trusted therapist has retired. His best friends have moved away. And even his nightly ritual of watching Dragnet reruns has been disrupted. All of this change has left Edward, who lives his life on a rigid schedule, completely flummoxed.

But when his friend Donna calls with news that her son Kyle is in trouble, Edward leaves his comfort zone in Billings, Montana, and drives to visit them in Boise, where he discovers Kyle has morphed from a sweet kid into a sullen adolescent. Inspired by dreams of the past, Edward goes against his routine and decides to drive to a small town in Colorado where he once spent a summer with his father—bringing Kyle along as his road trip companion. The two argue about football and music along the way, and amid their misadventures, they meet an eccentric motel owner who just might be the love of Edward’s sheltered life—if only he can let her.

Endearing and laugh-out-loud funny, Edward Adrift is author Craig Lancaster’s sequel to 600 Hours of Edward.

The Wisdom of No Escape: And the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema Chodron. Almost finished!
It’s true, as they say, that we can only love others when we first love ourselves and we can only experience real joy when we stop running from pain. The key to understanding these truisms lies in remaining open to life in all circumstances, and here Pema Chödrön shows us how. Because when we embrace the happiness and suffering, intelligence and confusion that are a natural part of life, we can begin to discover a wellspring of courageous love within our hearts.

Finished Reading:
600 Hours of Edward by Craig Lancaster. Loved it! Review Coming

Reading Next: 2 Books for Reviews.
The Morac by Colleen M. Bratley.

Four friends just out of high school are on a weekend getaway when the power goes out. At least that’s all they thought it was. But returning home they don’t see any cars, lights or people. Not one soul.

Searching for answers to what exactly happened, reveals information leading them to an event that they wouldn’t have thought of even in their wildest dreams. It’s a realization so impossible, their nightmares dim in comparison.

Now they just have to figure out what to do next; not just to control their destiny, but how to survive it.

The Starlight Chronicles: Slumbering by C.S. Johnson.
Sixteen-year-old Hamilton Dinger is an above-average teenager. He’s got the grades for the top of the class, the abilities of a star athlete and Tetris player, and the charisma to get away with anything. Everything seems to be going along perfectly as he enters into tenth grade at Apollo Central High School. Everything, that is, until a meteor crashes into the city, unleashing a whirlwind of evil and awakening a deep, hidden power as the long battle between good and evil continues. Bringing an abrupt halt to the easygoing pace of Hamilton’s life, he and his longtime dormant supernatural powers are caught up in the middle of things when his comfort zone is turned into a war zone. On top of everything else, there’s the homecoming game, the school play, and the history test to worry about.

Can Hamilton overcome his ignorance and narrow-mindedness to see what is truly real? Can he give up his self-proclaimed entitlement to happiness in order to follow the call of a duty he doesn’t want? More importantly, will he willingly sacrifice all he has to find out the truth?

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September 24, 2013 · 7:04 pm

Author Interview and Review: Order of the Dimensions by Irene Helenowski

Author Interview and Review: Order of the Dimensions by Irene Helenowski

Interview with Irene Helenowski.

Can you give me a Synopsis of Your Book? The book is about a graduate student names Jane Kremowski who is involved in developing a device that allows for inter-dimensional travel. She could also see how her life differs in different dimensions. But trouble ensues when the villain, Anton Zelov, gains access to it.

What drove you to write this book? I was watching a special on the Discovery channel featuring theoretical physicist Dr. Michio Kaku about the multiverse theory and became fascinated with the notion that we could really be living different lives in different dimensions within our universe.

You are a bio statistical analyst (correct me if I have your title wrong) how did that play into your writing if at all? As a biostatistician, I work with different researchers at Northwestern here in Chicago. In my book, I focus quite a bit on academia life, since that is where my career lies. I also do quite a bit with probability, which I consequently read is also part of the multiverse theory as scientists have become interested in how possible are certain events if there are indeed other dimensions.

What is your writing process? I just try to write whenever I can about whatever comes to me.

You self-published. Can you share the pros and cons of self-publication? I know many authors are considering this option. It’s a lot of hard work promoting it yourself and unfortunately, a lot of people are still weary of picking up anything self-published. But I still try my best. And so far, I like the freedom of not having to answer to a publisher. I am still entertaining the thought of going the traditional route, perhaps with my next book, however.

If you were to re-write your book or edit anything in the published version what would you change? Actually, I have just re-written the book a third time based on some criticisms I’ve received and focused on doing more showing than telling.
What is next on the horizon? Hoping to finish up the sequel 🙂

Is there any one thing you would like to share with readers? Just hope they enjoy the story 🙂

If you are a person that wants to know ‘what happens next?’ than you will enjoy.

Review: Order of The Dimensions by Irene Helenowski.

Jane Kremowski is a physics graduate student at Madison State University. She is part of a team that has developed a device that allows for inter-dimensional travel. After a successful testing, Jane decides to use the device. The book begins with Jane jumping from one reality to another. She ends up in different cities working at different universities on similar projects.

Dr. Anton Zelov visits the university under the guise of providing funding for further research of the Multiverser – the inter-dimensional traveling device.
Jane discovers Zelov has taken the technology her team developed and has created his own version of the Multiverser. Confused at first by Zelov’s capture of scientists at a convention, she is whisked away into a Multiverser where she discovers she is married to Zelov.

Zelov is a classic villain. He wants to create a New World Order, an Order of Dimensions. He uses different dimensions for his own evil, selfish purposes. He wants Jane, he wants power and he has a team of henchmen available to force is schemes on others.

Jane along with Randy, her husband in some dimensions, Emily, Michael and the other members of the Good Guys working for the Federation jump from dimension to dimension trying to thwart Zelov. Along the way she discovers ‘alters’ and dimensions where you can never tell who is good or bad.

A science fiction novel set in contemporary times, The Order of the Dimensions is a mesh of Sliders, Jump and Fringe. The author reveals different paths a life can take. A New World Order is a conspiracy theory in which secret elite, in this case Zelov, is conspiring to rule the world via world government and globalization.

The novel is fast paced, jumping from event to event. Helenowski’s writing style is third person omniscient driven by dialogue. The characters talk about what they are thinking and what is happening. I am not generally a fan of this method of writing as I like description and deep POV. If you are a person that wants to know ‘what happens next?’ than you will enjoy.

I admire writers that consider other avenues to publication. Self-publishing is a brave and confident step. Authors can make more money with a book they publish themselves but they most work diligently at self-promotion. The downside of self-pubbed books is the lack of a trained editor and copy editor. Self-publication is an entire topic for another blog.

As this is the author’s first novel I expect her to grow and improve as she works on the sequel. I feel petty mentioning that the overuse of adverbs drove me batty. It’s not like I am the queen of grammar because I fail repeatedly. Helenowski even mentions in her interview that she has rewritten based on criticisms and critiques.

Sci-Fi fans and Sci-Fi purists should consider adding Order of Dimensions to their library. And through October 31, 2013 Irene Helenowski is giving away a FREE Ebook copy of her book, follow this link: box.net link . In addition she will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for every book.

If you are a person that wants to know ‘what happens next?’ than you will enjoy.
I met the author through Book Blogs and was given a copy for review. Irene Helenowski kindly answered my questions.

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Tuesday Teaser 9/24/13

Tuesday Teasers! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do
the following:

• Grab your current read • Open to a random page • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the
book for others!) • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Wisdom of No Escape: And the Path of Loving-Kindness (Shambhala Library) by Pema Chodron

Page 123. From an everyday perspective, it seems good to do things that are kind of convenient; there is no problem with that journey – which is to say, when you start to want to live your life fully instead of opting for death when you begin to feel this passion for life and for growth, when discovery and exploration and curiosity become your path – then basically, if you follow your heart, you’re going to find that it’s often extremely inconvenient.

Summary from Amazon “It’s possible to say yes to life in all its manifestations, Pema Chödrön teaches—by embracing all the happiness and suffering, all the intelligence and confusion that are a natural part of our existence. Doing so opens a wellspring of courage and love within our hearts. In this gift edition of her first book, Pema presents traditional Buddhist wisdom that anyone can relate to.”

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September 23, 2013 · 3:00 pm

It’s Monday. What Are You Reading? 9/23/13

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It’s a great way to see what others are currently reading?

I finished 600 Hours of Edward by Craig Lancaster. Marvelous!

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishugiro.

If you read Unwind by Neal Schusterman, you will like this book. If you haven’t read Unwind – read it. This 2005 dystopian science fiction novel was shortlisted for the 2005 Booker Prize (an award Ishiguro had previously won in 1989 for The Remains of the Day), for the 2006 Arthur C. Clarke Award and for the 2005 National Book Critics Circle Award. TIME magazine named it the best novel of 2005 and included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005.

The Insanity of Zero by Michael Offutt. When an unforeseen event brings about the end of the world, a powerful artificial intelligence is born. Its task: save humanity from extinction. To understand those it must rescue, the computer decides to assimilate human emotions. But what happens when an omnipotent computer begins to fear its own death.

The Wisdom of No Escape: And the Path of Loving-Kindness (Shambhala Library) by Pema Chodron. It’s possible to say yes to life in all its manifestations, Pema Chödrön teaches—by embracing all the happiness and suffering, all the intelligence and confusion that are a natural part of our existence. Doing so opens a wellspring of courage and love within our hearts. In this gift edition of her first book, Pema presents traditional Buddhist wisdom that anyone can relate to.

Edward Adrift by Craig Lancaster. Sequel to 600 Hours of Edward.

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September 22, 2013 · 3:34 pm

First Amendment Rights / Writes! Banned Book Week.

“What if you had no right to read” should be foremost in Americans minds in the fight for our First Amendment rights.

This week is Banned Book Week The ALA, American Library Association, and this topic brought to my attention by The Librarian Who Doesn’t Say “Shhh”. Disappointment and incredulity prevails when witnessing how U.S. First Amendment rights are continually trampled and disdained.

An entire list of Classic books that are banned can be found at the ALA website. http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics (Accessed September 22, 2013)

I read Harper Lee, John Steinbeck, George Orwell and William Golding as a child. Aside from the beauty of the literature, I broadened my horizons and knowledge. That these and other books have been banned or are banned at a minimum makes me sad.

I saw the movie and then read the book Farenheit 451 as a child too. The impact of Ray Bradbury’s work was not lost on me. The descriptor “What if you had no right to read” should be foremost in Americans minds in the fight for our First Amendment rights. In 7th grade our civics teacher took us on a field trip to see The Lord of the Flies and Soylent Green, apparently I was a fortunate student.

Take a look at these classics that have been banned. Look further for books banned in the past year, I have only cited from the ALA 3 – more than enough to make my point.

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Beloved, by Toni Morrison
The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
1984, by George Orwell

Disappointment and incredulity prevails when witnessing how U.S. First Amendment rights are continually trampled and disdained.

CITED FROM ALA Lists
Some of the books banned in 2012 – 2013:
Totally Joe Atheneum Books for Young Readers by James Howe.

Marked for removal in the Davis, Utah School District (2012) because parents might find it objectionable. The title character, a thirteen-year-old boy, writes an alphabiography—his life from A to Z—and explores issues of friendship, family, school, and the challenges of being a gay teenager. Source: July 2012, p. 156.

The Family Book from Little, Brown by Todd Parr.

Banned from an Erie, Ill. Elementary school’s shelves (2012) because of a line
that reads, “some families have two moms or two dads.” The district also banned
everything furnished by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), including learning materials and various programs aimed at preventing bullying. Source: July 2012, p. 157; Sept. 2012, pp. 202–3.

500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures from Southwest Community Resources by Elizabeth Martinez.

Banned from the Tucson, Ariz. Unified School District (2012) along with Critical Race Theory, by Richard Delgado; Message to Aztlan, by Rodolfo Corky Gonzales; Chicano! The History of the Mexican Civil Rights Movement, by Arturo Rosales; Pedagogy of the Oppressed, by Paulo Freire; Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years, edited by Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson; and Occupied America: A History of Chicanos, by Rodolfo Acuña. In a district with over 60 percent of the students coming from Mexican-American backgrounds, the school board “dismantled its Mexican-American Studies program, packed away its offending books, shuttled its students into other classes,” according to a January 21, 2102, New York Times editorial because “it was blackmailed into doing so.” The Times referred to measures taken by Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal, who threatened to withhold millions of dollars if the school district didn’t terminate the nationally acclaimed program immediately. The superintendent has spent years crusading against ethnic studies programs that he claims are “brainwashing” children into thinking that Latinos have been victims of white oppression. On March 8, 2013, a federal court upheld most provisions of an Arizona state law used to prohibit the controversial Mexican-American Studies curriculum in Tucson. Activists plan to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Source: Mar. 2012, pp. 49, 51, 82–

The Dirty Cowboy Farrar Straus Giroux by AmyTimberlake.
Removed from the Annville, Pa. elementary school library shelves (2012) because of its illustrations, involving a cartoon cowboy taking his annual bath. The supposedly true story is of a young cowboy who needs his annual bath and instructs his dog to watch his clothes while he bathes. When the cowboy emerges from his bath in the river, the dog does not recognize his familiar smell and refuses to give back his clothes.
In the illustrations, the cowboy’s private parts are always covered. The book has received numerous awards, including the International Reading Association award in
2004, the Parents Choice Gold Medal, and the Bulletin Blue Ribbon from The Bulletin
for the Center for Children’s Books. Source: July 2012, pp. 153–54.

Again Cited from ALA http://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/freedownloads (Accessed September 22, 2013). For the complete list go here.

Freedom of Speech is a Right Due All.

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September 20, 2013 · 5:45 pm

Saturday Steals 9/21/13

Saturday Steals

Free September 22 to 26th,

The Captain’s Last Year, Fighting the Fire and Cancer: One Year to Live by Blaize Nolynne.

From the Author: “ What would you do if you only had one year to live? Blaize Nolynne’s short story answers that same compelling question. Steven Williams is no different than any of us. He is a fire captain on a volunteer fire department and lives with his family in River Falls, Maine. The doctors have given him only one year to live, something that no one wants to hear. At first he denies this diagnosis of stage four stomach cancer. Treatments begin to fail and he realizes his time here is running out. The questions pop in his mind of what he should do with the one year he has left of his life. “

Blaize Nolynne books are exclusively available on Kindle, but traditional paperbacks and hardcover are available elsewhere. For more: www.facebook.com/blaizenolynnefan “

Also Available:
How about a freebie from the U.K.? Language in the Blood by Angela Lockwood.
Free on Kindle 9/20-24/2013. Cameron Blair would have liked nothing better than to stay in Edinburgh and marry his childhood sweetheart. As the call to arms goes out, Cameron and his pals sign up to fight for their country. They are soon delivered into the nightmare of war, and there Cameron more than meets his maker.

The story follows Cameron as he comes to terms with his new ‘life’, from his first days as a hapless vampire in war-torn France to the glamorous modern day setting of the Côte d’Azur. Along the way, he develops a distinctive taste for the finer things in life: jewels, yachts, small dogs and champagne-infused human…

Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly. Kindle FREE! From USA TODAY bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly comes WAKING UP MARRIED, a free book in Harlequin’s brand-new contemporary romance collection—Harlequin KISS.

Irene Helenowski is giving FREE copy of her book, Order of The Dimensions. Follow this link box.net link . Through October 31, 2013. Irene will also donate $1 from each download to the Susan G. Komen foundation.