Hello all!
I apologize that I am posting a bit late this week, I have been attending events at the national convention being held in my city and have had limited time to log in. I may be a few days behind posting this weeks review (on Girl Unmoored), but in the meantime, here is a daily deal on a book called Angel by Mary E. Kingsley, and its only $1.99!
Here's a little plot (taken from Amazon):
Thirteen year old Angel Bishop is fed up with all the unanswered questions about her life, like why did her daddy run off when she was just a baby? And why has her Aunt Patsy, the only family member she feels she can talk to, been locked up in a place for crazy people all these years? It seems to Angel like her family fell apart right after she was born, which makes her wonder what her coming along had to do with it.
Growing up with her mother, Ruth, who is often distant and preoccupied, and her bible thumping grandmother, Naomi, Angel is certain there's more to the story than she's been told. When her father, Calvin, telephones out of the blue one evening and says he's coming home for Thanksgiving, Angel thinks her dream of having a normal family is finally going to come true. Instead, she finds herself at the center of a dangerous scenario, threatened by secrets far beyond her understanding.
Set in a small Appalachian town in the early 1970's, Angel is the compelling story of an innocent girl as the unwitting link between the two generations of her family's dark and unresolved past.
Here is a link to the Kindle edition of the book:
http://www.amazon.com/ANGEL-ebook/dp/B0067RFD6G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1346269450&sr=8-3&keywords=angel
Happy Reading!!!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Author Q&A with Jane Carroll!
Hello All!
I am extremely pleased to post a Q&A with the very talented Jane Carroll author of Bertha Size Your Life! To those of you who haven't had a chance to read it, I highly recommend that you do!
I will also be posting a short review later on today or early tomorrow morning as well.
I would also like to take the time to thank Jane for taking the time to be a part of this interview and thank her for letting me pick her brain, so here it is!
Q: Bertha is quite a character, did anyone inspire you to write her, and how on earth did you come up with some of the funny scenarios she does (like dressing up like a clown, or telling off that gossip in the beauty parlor)?
A:Originally, I wanted to write a book of self-discovery for women who were experiencing empty-nest syndrome. I started it, but it was pretty boring. In fact, I didn’t even like it. Then one day my life coach left me a message that her daughter had moved out and asked what she should do. She wasn’t at home when I returned her call so I shot her a flippant email, telling her to name her nest. I named mine Bertha and made up a little story about the benefits of doing that.
The next thing I knew…I was upset about something and I casually thought I should just let Bertha take care of it. And that’s exactly what I did. I wrote a story letting Bertha take charge of things. Later, when I reread the story I realized that it had some really great advice in it, but it was a little too revealing for my comfort level. So, I just changed the details of the situation until only I really knew what it was all about and the beauty parlor scene you mentioned was born.
And that, as that say, was that. One exercise at a time, Bertha took over the entire book I was writing and the energy changed. I guess you could say that Bertha replaced lectures with laughter. I took the wonderful self-help principles I’d learned over the years and turned them into outlandish antics and added in some nostalgia to make it more fun.
Q: I know this may sound a little random, but I've got to ask, will singing to a begonia really help it?
A: I love this question. While I wish I could say that it did, I can only say that I have never had any luck growing begonias and the one that inspired the story didn’t fare any better than her predecessors. Of course…it could have been the choice of Bertha’s song!
Q: Do you feel like you relate more closely to the narrator or Bertha?
A:Honestly, I think most people would tell you that I closely resemble Bertha. I generally have a very upbeat attitude and have been known to be a little goofy. Of course, I don’t have her wardrobe and wouldn’t dare wear the heels she loves so you can definitely tell us apart.
But although I resemble Bertha, I identify with the narrator more. I believe the reason is that Bertha represents all the lessons I’ve learned in my life from a variety of sources. I’m still learning every day so I’m still that person.
A side note. Some people ask why the narrator doesn’t have a name. Honestly, I suppose it started because I was writing in my journal and in first person. But as the stories started to become a book I thought it was important to keep the details as blurred as possible so that any woman could identify with the narrator. It was my hope that the reader would feel as though she was actually in the room with Bertha. That’s also why the cat isn’t named. Almost everyone has known ‘a cat’ at some point and it was nice to let them identify with that cat rather than mine.
Q: I love how positive and uplifting this book was to read, and I loved how it really has no age limit. What do you hope is the biggest thing that people take away from your book?
A:I want people to come away knowing that they can be anything and everything that they want to be. There are no limits except those we impose on ourselves. And the more fun we have along the way - the easier it is to get there. That’s where Bertha comes in; she’s straight up fun!
One of my wildest dreams was to become a bestselling author. I have now a reached that status on not one but two continents. You can be anything you want to be; I’m living proof.
Q: Are you currently reading anything now? Who is your favorite author or genre?
A:Currently, I’m between reads. I’ve been so busy this summer that I’ve gotten behind. I will be remedying that shortly.
I enjoy reading non-fiction, self-help, motivational type books. Og Mandino was my all-time favorite author. I loved his ability to masterfully craft a story around the principles he was teaching. In many ways he is the inspiration for my writing style.
In fiction, I enjoy something that is mostly light. Sarah Addison Allen is one of my favorite authors. I love her mix of a hint of magic, intrigue, romance and delicious descriptions.
Q: I noticed it is part of "The Bertha Series", are you already working on the next book? Any idea on when the next book will be available (I know there are probably quite a few of us looking forward to another Bertha book!)
A:Thank you. There is a Bertha sequel in the works. I had hoped to be finished by now, but Bertha is still teaching me some of the lessons that are in the book. I will say that there will be a twist or two in this one. Hopefully, it will be out in this winter.
Q: I think a lot of us are going to start looking through life in "Bertha-vision", I know I am, did writing this book change the way you see things in life?
A:First, I love the phrase “Bertha-vision” and you know that I am stealing it! Secondly, absolutely! Bertha has changed everything about my life. It’s like I can’t get away with anything anymore - she’s always there pointing out a more positive way of looking at things. I even read through the book from time to time when I need a bit of inspiration.
Q: Any shout-outs to anyone?
A:Cynthia Dendy is not only my illustrator but, my sister. I love that she was able to take my stories and give Bertha a face, although I do believe that Bertha favors her!
I would also like to thank Debra Shiveley Welch and Saga Books for republishing Bertha. They have been awesome to work with.
And last but by no means least, is Kim Mutch Emerson of MasterKoda.com. Winning her marketing package, “The Extreme Author Makeover” at the beginning of the year totally shifted my writing career into high gear. Kim has been a continued source of encouragement and support and I can’t thank her enough.
And…last…last…a huge thank you to all of the women and men who have honored me by reading Bertha. I appreciate you more than you will ever know!!
Thanks again for stopping by the blog Jane!
Here is a link to the Kindle edition of her book if you haven't read it yet (so read it!!!):
http://www.amazon.com/Bertha-Size-Your-Series-ebook/dp/B008873ZRM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345734585&sr=8-2&keywords=bertha+size+your+life
HAPPY READING!!!
I am extremely pleased to post a Q&A with the very talented Jane Carroll author of Bertha Size Your Life! To those of you who haven't had a chance to read it, I highly recommend that you do!
I will also be posting a short review later on today or early tomorrow morning as well.
I would also like to take the time to thank Jane for taking the time to be a part of this interview and thank her for letting me pick her brain, so here it is!Q: Bertha is quite a character, did anyone inspire you to write her, and how on earth did you come up with some of the funny scenarios she does (like dressing up like a clown, or telling off that gossip in the beauty parlor)?
A:Originally, I wanted to write a book of self-discovery for women who were experiencing empty-nest syndrome. I started it, but it was pretty boring. In fact, I didn’t even like it. Then one day my life coach left me a message that her daughter had moved out and asked what she should do. She wasn’t at home when I returned her call so I shot her a flippant email, telling her to name her nest. I named mine Bertha and made up a little story about the benefits of doing that.
The next thing I knew…I was upset about something and I casually thought I should just let Bertha take care of it. And that’s exactly what I did. I wrote a story letting Bertha take charge of things. Later, when I reread the story I realized that it had some really great advice in it, but it was a little too revealing for my comfort level. So, I just changed the details of the situation until only I really knew what it was all about and the beauty parlor scene you mentioned was born.
And that, as that say, was that. One exercise at a time, Bertha took over the entire book I was writing and the energy changed. I guess you could say that Bertha replaced lectures with laughter. I took the wonderful self-help principles I’d learned over the years and turned them into outlandish antics and added in some nostalgia to make it more fun.
Q: I know this may sound a little random, but I've got to ask, will singing to a begonia really help it?
A: I love this question. While I wish I could say that it did, I can only say that I have never had any luck growing begonias and the one that inspired the story didn’t fare any better than her predecessors. Of course…it could have been the choice of Bertha’s song!
Q: Do you feel like you relate more closely to the narrator or Bertha?
A:Honestly, I think most people would tell you that I closely resemble Bertha. I generally have a very upbeat attitude and have been known to be a little goofy. Of course, I don’t have her wardrobe and wouldn’t dare wear the heels she loves so you can definitely tell us apart.
But although I resemble Bertha, I identify with the narrator more. I believe the reason is that Bertha represents all the lessons I’ve learned in my life from a variety of sources. I’m still learning every day so I’m still that person.
A side note. Some people ask why the narrator doesn’t have a name. Honestly, I suppose it started because I was writing in my journal and in first person. But as the stories started to become a book I thought it was important to keep the details as blurred as possible so that any woman could identify with the narrator. It was my hope that the reader would feel as though she was actually in the room with Bertha. That’s also why the cat isn’t named. Almost everyone has known ‘a cat’ at some point and it was nice to let them identify with that cat rather than mine.
Q: I love how positive and uplifting this book was to read, and I loved how it really has no age limit. What do you hope is the biggest thing that people take away from your book?
A:I want people to come away knowing that they can be anything and everything that they want to be. There are no limits except those we impose on ourselves. And the more fun we have along the way - the easier it is to get there. That’s where Bertha comes in; she’s straight up fun!
One of my wildest dreams was to become a bestselling author. I have now a reached that status on not one but two continents. You can be anything you want to be; I’m living proof.
Q: Are you currently reading anything now? Who is your favorite author or genre?
A:Currently, I’m between reads. I’ve been so busy this summer that I’ve gotten behind. I will be remedying that shortly.
I enjoy reading non-fiction, self-help, motivational type books. Og Mandino was my all-time favorite author. I loved his ability to masterfully craft a story around the principles he was teaching. In many ways he is the inspiration for my writing style.
In fiction, I enjoy something that is mostly light. Sarah Addison Allen is one of my favorite authors. I love her mix of a hint of magic, intrigue, romance and delicious descriptions.
Q: I noticed it is part of "The Bertha Series", are you already working on the next book? Any idea on when the next book will be available (I know there are probably quite a few of us looking forward to another Bertha book!)
A:Thank you. There is a Bertha sequel in the works. I had hoped to be finished by now, but Bertha is still teaching me some of the lessons that are in the book. I will say that there will be a twist or two in this one. Hopefully, it will be out in this winter.
Q: I think a lot of us are going to start looking through life in "Bertha-vision", I know I am, did writing this book change the way you see things in life?
A:First, I love the phrase “Bertha-vision” and you know that I am stealing it! Secondly, absolutely! Bertha has changed everything about my life. It’s like I can’t get away with anything anymore - she’s always there pointing out a more positive way of looking at things. I even read through the book from time to time when I need a bit of inspiration.
Q: Any shout-outs to anyone?
A:Cynthia Dendy is not only my illustrator but, my sister. I love that she was able to take my stories and give Bertha a face, although I do believe that Bertha favors her!
I would also like to thank Debra Shiveley Welch and Saga Books for republishing Bertha. They have been awesome to work with.
And last but by no means least, is Kim Mutch Emerson of MasterKoda.com. Winning her marketing package, “The Extreme Author Makeover” at the beginning of the year totally shifted my writing career into high gear. Kim has been a continued source of encouragement and support and I can’t thank her enough.
And…last…last…a huge thank you to all of the women and men who have honored me by reading Bertha. I appreciate you more than you will ever know!!
Thanks again for stopping by the blog Jane!
Here is a link to the Kindle edition of her book if you haven't read it yet (so read it!!!):
http://www.amazon.com/Bertha-Size-Your-Series-ebook/dp/B008873ZRM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345734585&sr=8-2&keywords=bertha+size+your+life
HAPPY READING!!!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Deal of the Day!
Hello everyone!
I hope you are all having a great week. Today's deal of the day is a book that I recently finished and quickly fell in love with. It is called Bertha Size Your Life(The Bertha Series) by Jane Carroll. I am also extremely pleased to announce that I will be posting a Q&A with this fantastic author either later today or tomorrow morning (stay tuned!!!). In the mean time, I suggest you all read this! If thats not enough convincing, the price is great too! $2.99!
Here is a little plot:
Bertha is a hilarious red-head who loves her spandex, and she appears in the narrators life one day during a walk in the park. From there, she moves in with the narrator, with a recently empty nest and the fun begins! This book reads like a series of funny and enlightening stories. Bertha will help you realize things about your own life and yourself, as she gets onto her soap box and dispenses life lessons. With Bertha, spandex, and the cat, you've got yourself a hilarious book!
Here is a link to the Kindle edition of the book (you can also purchase a paper copy on Amazon):
http://www.amazon.com/Bertha-Size-Your-Series-ebook/dp/B008873ZRM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345668395&sr=1-1&keywords=bertha+size+your+life
Happy reading!!! And stay tuned!!!
I hope you are all having a great week. Today's deal of the day is a book that I recently finished and quickly fell in love with. It is called Bertha Size Your Life(The Bertha Series) by Jane Carroll. I am also extremely pleased to announce that I will be posting a Q&A with this fantastic author either later today or tomorrow morning (stay tuned!!!). In the mean time, I suggest you all read this! If thats not enough convincing, the price is great too! $2.99!
Here is a little plot:
Bertha is a hilarious red-head who loves her spandex, and she appears in the narrators life one day during a walk in the park. From there, she moves in with the narrator, with a recently empty nest and the fun begins! This book reads like a series of funny and enlightening stories. Bertha will help you realize things about your own life and yourself, as she gets onto her soap box and dispenses life lessons. With Bertha, spandex, and the cat, you've got yourself a hilarious book!
Here is a link to the Kindle edition of the book (you can also purchase a paper copy on Amazon):
http://www.amazon.com/Bertha-Size-Your-Series-ebook/dp/B008873ZRM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345668395&sr=1-1&keywords=bertha+size+your+life
Happy reading!!! And stay tuned!!!
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Deal of the Day!
Hello and Happy weekend!!!
Todays deal is a book I found on Amazon's "The Big Deal" list that they currently have going on. It is called Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer, and its only $1.99!
Here is a little plot taken from Amazon:
Todays deal is a book I found on Amazon's "The Big Deal" list that they currently have going on. It is called Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer, and its only $1.99!
Here is a little plot taken from Amazon:
Apron Bramhall has come unmoored. Fortunately, she’s about to be saved by Jesus. Not that Jesus—the actor who plays him in Jesus Christ Superstar. Apron is desperate to avoid the look-alike Mike, who’s suddenly everywhere, until she’s stuck in church with him one day. Then something happens—Apron’s broken teenage heart blinks on for the first time since she’s been adrift.Mike and his boyfriend, Chad, offer her a summer job in their flower store, and Apron’s world seems to calm. But when she uncovers Chad’s secret, stormy seas return. Apron starts to see things the adults around her fail to—like what love really means, and who is paying too much for it.Apron has come unmoored, but now she’ll need to take the helm if she’s to get herself and those she loves to safe harbor.
Look for a review coming on this one soon!
Here is a link to the Kindle edition of the book, and while you're there check out some of the other books on their "Big Deal" or "500 Books for $3.99 or Less" lists! (remember, these books may not stay at these low prices, so get them while you can!):
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
The Paris Wife
Book Title: The Paris Wife
Author: Paula McLain
4 out of 5 Stars
Plot Background:
This is the untold story of Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley. The story begins in Chicago in 1920, when a young Hadley Richardson meets the very charismatic Ernest Hemingway. Soon after marrying, they move to Paris and become members of a social circle that would greatly influence modern literature (this circle included F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, among others). The couple is very deeply in love, but Ernest quickly finds the Paris "Jazz Age" lifestyle tempting, causing him serious trouble keeping monogomy afloat in their marriage. As Ernest struggles to find his voice and his ideal life, Hadley struggles to keep her marriage together. Hadley is faced with a choice, stay with the man she loved even though he courts another woman, or break ties with the alchoholic quickly breaking her heart.
My Thoughts:
Before reviewing this, I would first like to give a disclaimer that I broke my rule and read something that is not considered a "bargain book", however, as a huge Hemingway fan I could not pass it up.
The first Ernest Hemingway book that I ever read was A Farewell to Arms, and I was in love. I knew coming into The Paris Wife that Ernest had been in World War I, and I knew he was an alchoholic in his later years with many ex-wives, so it was with a heavy heart that I started the book, knowing they would not end up together. (I do not count this as a spoiler because it is history.)
The author did such a great job harnessing the voice of Hadley. McLain definatly put in a lot of time and research on their relationship and who Hadley was as a person, and the work definatly comes through in the book. It was easy to see why Ernest and Hadley fell in love, and even though I knew the end of their marriage would come, I felt so attached to it. I saw so much of my own relationship in them, it was so easy to feel Hadley's heartbreak (and Ernest's heartbreak for that matter).
I was also really surprised with how much I liked Ernest. Knowing that he would have issues being faithful in his marriage and knowing that he was an alchoholic going into the book, I had it in my head that I would hate him for what he has done. However, I genuinly liked Ernest. He was just a young man, struggling to pursue his dream, which I can relate to. He had such a tenderness with Hadley, and the author really did a fantastic job sharing that tenderness and showing his softer side.
I also loved how well the author captured the Jazz Age. I always have enjoyed learning about the "Roaring 20's" and the idea of what changes took place then. This book definatly taught me a lot about what life was like in Paris in the 1920's, it really helps me understand how our cultures have gotten to where they are today. This is another example of where the author really did a great job with her research to make the novel really beleivable. So many times I will read a period peice where the author did not do their homework, and there are gaping holes in history and plot-- this is not one of those books. The lines of history and fiction are easily blurred in this novel and I really love it. I would also like to quickly mention that I enjoyed getting to know F Scott Fitzgerald (another of my favorite authors) a little bit in the novel.
So, having said all of these positives, there were just a few negatives I would like to point out. One negative would be pacing. There were some points where it felt really slow, and some points where it felt like we were flying through some scenes (like the "bull run" scenes in Spain). I also did not understand entirely the relationship that Ernest had with his children, I felt they could have had more interactions, but overall it wasn't a deal breaker for the book or anything.
In general, this book was work the extra money. It was a book I will likely re-read in the future. The author painted such a beautiful and clear picture. If you can't afford to buy this book now, add it to your wishlist!
Here is a link to the Kindle edition of the book or you can use the Amazon searchbox on the side of the screen-- again I would like to warn THIS IS NOT A BARGAIN BOOK! It is $12.99:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Paris-Wife-Novel-ebook/dp/B004DEPELY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345076549&sr=8-2&keywords=the+paris+wife
Happy Reading!!!
(Like this review? Disagree? Sound off in the comments!)
Author: Paula McLain
4 out of 5 Stars
Plot Background:
This is the untold story of Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley. The story begins in Chicago in 1920, when a young Hadley Richardson meets the very charismatic Ernest Hemingway. Soon after marrying, they move to Paris and become members of a social circle that would greatly influence modern literature (this circle included F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, among others). The couple is very deeply in love, but Ernest quickly finds the Paris "Jazz Age" lifestyle tempting, causing him serious trouble keeping monogomy afloat in their marriage. As Ernest struggles to find his voice and his ideal life, Hadley struggles to keep her marriage together. Hadley is faced with a choice, stay with the man she loved even though he courts another woman, or break ties with the alchoholic quickly breaking her heart.
My Thoughts:
Before reviewing this, I would first like to give a disclaimer that I broke my rule and read something that is not considered a "bargain book", however, as a huge Hemingway fan I could not pass it up.
The first Ernest Hemingway book that I ever read was A Farewell to Arms, and I was in love. I knew coming into The Paris Wife that Ernest had been in World War I, and I knew he was an alchoholic in his later years with many ex-wives, so it was with a heavy heart that I started the book, knowing they would not end up together. (I do not count this as a spoiler because it is history.)
The author did such a great job harnessing the voice of Hadley. McLain definatly put in a lot of time and research on their relationship and who Hadley was as a person, and the work definatly comes through in the book. It was easy to see why Ernest and Hadley fell in love, and even though I knew the end of their marriage would come, I felt so attached to it. I saw so much of my own relationship in them, it was so easy to feel Hadley's heartbreak (and Ernest's heartbreak for that matter).
I was also really surprised with how much I liked Ernest. Knowing that he would have issues being faithful in his marriage and knowing that he was an alchoholic going into the book, I had it in my head that I would hate him for what he has done. However, I genuinly liked Ernest. He was just a young man, struggling to pursue his dream, which I can relate to. He had such a tenderness with Hadley, and the author really did a fantastic job sharing that tenderness and showing his softer side.
I also loved how well the author captured the Jazz Age. I always have enjoyed learning about the "Roaring 20's" and the idea of what changes took place then. This book definatly taught me a lot about what life was like in Paris in the 1920's, it really helps me understand how our cultures have gotten to where they are today. This is another example of where the author really did a great job with her research to make the novel really beleivable. So many times I will read a period peice where the author did not do their homework, and there are gaping holes in history and plot-- this is not one of those books. The lines of history and fiction are easily blurred in this novel and I really love it. I would also like to quickly mention that I enjoyed getting to know F Scott Fitzgerald (another of my favorite authors) a little bit in the novel.
So, having said all of these positives, there were just a few negatives I would like to point out. One negative would be pacing. There were some points where it felt really slow, and some points where it felt like we were flying through some scenes (like the "bull run" scenes in Spain). I also did not understand entirely the relationship that Ernest had with his children, I felt they could have had more interactions, but overall it wasn't a deal breaker for the book or anything.
In general, this book was work the extra money. It was a book I will likely re-read in the future. The author painted such a beautiful and clear picture. If you can't afford to buy this book now, add it to your wishlist!
Here is a link to the Kindle edition of the book or you can use the Amazon searchbox on the side of the screen-- again I would like to warn THIS IS NOT A BARGAIN BOOK! It is $12.99:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Paris-Wife-Novel-ebook/dp/B004DEPELY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345076549&sr=8-2&keywords=the+paris+wife
Happy Reading!!!
(Like this review? Disagree? Sound off in the comments!)
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Deal of the Day!
Hello All!
There are some very exciting things happening here at the Book Obsessed Reader, we will be having a few author Q & A's coming soon!
In the mean time, here is a deal on one of the books by one of the very talented authors I will be interviewing in the coming weeks! The book is called Knight-Scape(The Beginning) by Tori Landers. It is only $4.99!
Heres a little slice of the plot background(taken from Amazon.com):
There are some very exciting things happening here at the Book Obsessed Reader, we will be having a few author Q & A's coming soon!
In the mean time, here is a deal on one of the books by one of the very talented authors I will be interviewing in the coming weeks! The book is called Knight-Scape(The Beginning) by Tori Landers. It is only $4.99!
Life is about living, about taking chances; our story is about a young man who took a chance and changed the course of destiny forever.
You wake up in the morning thinking your life is normal, un-note worthy. Sometimes you even glance at yourself in the mirror and wonder, will anyone ever remember I’ve been here? William never asked to be extraordinary, but life seems to have a different plan in store for him.
All William ever wanted was Lilly, only one problem, Lilly was his brother’s girl.
There it was, "Thou shalt not covet thy brother’s girlfriend". One single universal rule and William was about to risk everything to break that commandment!
Our Hero finds himself thrust into a world he could never have imagined, let alone been a part of. The future of the free world hangs in the balance and he is the actor that fate has chosen to sit center stage.
You wake up in the morning thinking your life is normal, un-note worthy. Sometimes you even glance at yourself in the mirror and wonder, will anyone ever remember I’ve been here? William never asked to be extraordinary, but life seems to have a different plan in store for him.
All William ever wanted was Lilly, only one problem, Lilly was his brother’s girl.
There it was, "Thou shalt not covet thy brother’s girlfriend". One single universal rule and William was about to risk everything to break that commandment!
Our Hero finds himself thrust into a world he could never have imagined, let alone been a part of. The future of the free world hangs in the balance and he is the actor that fate has chosen to sit center stage.
Look for a review and Q&A with this author coming soon! (Will post a more concrete schedule for this as soon as I know, stay tuned!)
Here is a link to the Kindle Edition of the book:
Happy Reading!
Like this deal? Subscribe or Like us on Facebook!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Broken Glass
Book Title:Broken Glass
Author: Tabitha Freeman
3 out of 5 stars
Plot Background:
Following a tragedy,
Ava Darton repeatedly tries to take her own life, and finds herself
involuntarily committed to a mental hospital. What she finds in the mental
hospital, is not what she thought she would ever come across. In the asylum she
makes friends and finds that her descent into insanity doesn’t have to be a
decent at all. She has to learn how to deal with the greatest loss she has ever
experienced, and she has to find that deeply rooted seed of hope deep within.
My Thoughts:
My feelings are a little mixed on this book. I will start
with the strengths:
I liked the idea of going behind the walls of a mental
hospital, it is a very interesting subject. I loved Sylvia Plath’s The Bell
Jar, it has always been one of my favorite books, and I loved that this book
had a lot of references to Plath and her work (for example, the other patients
call her Sylvia for a short time because she, like Sylvia Plath, tried to kill
herself three times).
One thing that has always freaked me out a little about
books of this nature is that, for example, when I read The Bell Jar, I found
myself relating so closely to the main character that I start to wonder am I
really crazy too? Well, especially the first half of this book, I had those
same thoughts. I found myself thinking that I was so much like Ava, I too have
a boyfriend who I love with my entire heart, and losing him would send me into
a spiral just as it did to Ava- I would probably lose it worse than Ava, I
would become Mrs. Havisham. I realize this may seem like I am rambling, but my
point is that at least in the beginning, it is written in a way that makes you
really think.
I also wanted to point out that the writing style was very
interesting. I am not sure if this was on purpose, but if it was, it was done
well—the beginning, in the parts where she is with Tyson and her mind is on
shallower thoughts, or even when she begins to become depressed, the sentences
are shorter, the paragraphs are spaced out more. But as she progresses and she
starts to really think through her actions and really dig into her emotions,
the paragraphs grow longer, the breaks in between paragraphs shorter. It really
added something extra to the book, intentional or not, it was done very well.
Now, having said the positives there were a few things that
made me feel less enthusiastic about the novel. I had trouble with the pacing,
the beginning, the first 150 pages or so (or really the whole “Tyson” section)
had me on the edge of my seat. I read the first half in a matter of hours,
unable to put it down. Sobbing when the tragedy happened. But then, it almost
seemed to have just, stopped. One would think that a mental hospital would have
a lot more, drama? Intrigue? But really it felt like as she sat in her room and
slept, my eyes began to droop as well.
Another thing I didn’t like as much, was, to my surprise,
Ava in the second half of the book. I don’t want to say that she is a drama
queen, and going through what she went through was traumatic, I am not saying
it would be easy to get over, but at some point I started to tire of her
whining and I started to feel like you can only play the victim for so long.
For the way she was acting, you would think that something much worse had
happened to her. Having said that this is where a lot of my mixed feelings come
in, because she was unstable in the first place, and she needed a reason to be
in there for the plotline. I also felt that with Ava, even when she starts to
get better and starts to get to know Conner(her therapists son and a student
intern), she never really got to know herself. She relied on her boyfriend so
heavily, and she really had no idea of her identity apart from him, which to me
seems a bit unhealthy, and then she starts to lose herself in someone else and
she is “all better”. I tend to like my protagonists to end up stronger (like
Katniss Everdeen) so at the end, I felt like it would only be a matter of time
until the character ends up back in the ward.
Overall, the book was not bad, not phenomenal. If you liked
The Bell Jar I would recommend this novel, but if psychological drama isn’t
your cup of tea, then I’d leave it be.
As always here is a link to the Kindle edition of the book
or you can use the Amazon searchbox on the side of the screen:
Happy Reading !!!
(Disagree? Agree? Sound off in the Comments!!!)
Monday, August 6, 2012
Deal of the Day!
Hello all!
Todays deal of the day is a mystery, it is called Lessons in the Dark by Melissa Hudson. Heres a little plot background (taken directly from Amazon):
Todays deal of the day is a mystery, it is called Lessons in the Dark by Melissa Hudson. Heres a little plot background (taken directly from Amazon):
When Narelle Fielding embarks on her career as a foster carer, she begins to realise that she’ll need to draw on every ounce of strength she has to get through the summer. Because besides trying to manage five children and an indifferent husband, Narelle guards a secret explosive enough to blow her whole family apart.
Living on the edge of sanity and terrified of losing everything, her growing relationship with Kirsten Taylor, the mother of the siblings she cares for, leads her to make some dangerous and ultimately deadly decisions.
With their backs against the wall, Narelle and Kirsten find the overwhelming instinct to protect their families leads them to behave in ways they never would have dreamed of.
A review and a Q & A with the author Melissa Hudson will be coming soon!
Here is a link to the Kindle edition of the book:
Happy Reading!!!
Friday, August 3, 2012
Deal of the Day!
Hello and happy weekend everyone!
Todays deal is a shorter story, but still a great one, and its only $.99! It is called All Is Bright by Sarah Pekkanen.
Here is the plot (taken directly from Amazon):
Thirty-year-old Elise Andrews couldn’t bring herself to marry Griffin, her childhood friend turned sweetheart, so she let him walk away. Eight months after their breakup, she arrives in her hometown of Chicago on Christmas Eve and hears a voice from the past calling her name in the grocery store. It’s Griffin’s mother, Janice, who invites Elise over for a neighborhood gathering of eggnog and carols.
Walking into Janice’s house sends Elise tumbling headlong into memories of her relationship with Griffin—and with Janice, who exudes the kind of warmth Elise ached for after her own mom passed away when she was six. But Griffin has moved on, and suddenly Elise doubts her decision to give him up and lose her chance at being folded into his wonderful family. Confused and reeling, she goes in search of an answer to a universal question: How do we say good-bye to people we’ve loved without losing everything they’ve meant to us?
Definatly a worth-while read!
Here is a link to the Kindle edition of the book:
Happy Reading!!!
Like this deal? Subscribe or like us on Facebook!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)