The avid reader: June 2013

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

Title: Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
Author: Therese Anne Fowler
Narrator: Jenna Lamia
Pub. Date: March 26 2013
Publisher: Macmilan Audio

Audiobook Info:
I wish I could tell everyone who thinks we’re ruined, Look closer…and you’ll see something extraordinary, mystifying, something real and true. We have never been what we seemed.

When beautiful, reckless Southern belle Zelda Sayre meets F. Scott Fitzgerald at a country club dance in 1918, she is seventeen years old and he is a young army lieutenant stationed in Alabama. Before long, the “ungettable” Zelda has fallen for him despite his unsuitability: Scott isn’t wealthy or prominent or even a Southerner, and keeps insisting, absurdly, that his writing will bring him both fortune and fame. Her father is deeply unimpressed. But after Scott sells his first novel, This Side of Paradise, to Scribner’s, Zelda optimistically boards a train north, to marry him in the vestry of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and take the rest as it comes.
What comes, here at the dawn of the Jazz Age, is unimagined attention and success and celebrity that will make Scott and Zelda legends in their own time. Everyone wants to meet the dashing young author of the scandalous novel—and his witty, perhaps even more scandalous wife. Zelda bobs her hair, adopts daring new fashions, and revels in this wild new world. Each place they go becomes a playground: New York City, Long Island, Hollywood, Paris, and the French Riviera—where they join the endless party of the glamorous, sometimes doomed Lost Generation that includes Ernest Hemingway, Sara and Gerald Murphy, and Gertrude Stein.
Everything seems new and possible. Troubles, at first, seem to fade like morning mist. But not even Jay Gatsby’s parties go on forever. Who is Zelda, other than the wife of a famous—sometimes infamous—husband? How can she forge her own identity while fighting her demons and Scott’s, too? With brilliant insight and imagination, Therese Anne Fowler brings us Zelda’s irresistible story as she herself might have told it.

My review:
So I was so excited to listen to this audiobook, and it didn't disappoint! I have always been an avid Gatsby fan, so when I got the oppurtunity to review this I pounced on it!

From listening to this audiobook I learned so much about the Fitzgeralds that I never knew, mind you it was not a biography it was a work of fiction so the author did take creative licence in places (which didn't bother me). I will say though that sometimes it did feel like a biography and I liked that she (the author) had Zelda tell the story herself but sometimes I wished we could of heard the whole story from F. Scott's point of view or their daugthers P.O.V. of the story would have been interesting to hear as well.

Overall the characters, plot, and writting were well done I thought. I was very interested in the story and for the most part cared about what happened to the characters (I say for the most part because Zelda did get annoying at times).

The narration of this audiobook for the most part was good. The narrator's southren accent was well done, but sometimes the drawl did get tiresome and boring to listen to for me. The other characters voices in the story were all well done as well, each of them had they all distinct voice and personality. They were all animated and dramatic when they needed to be, (but it wasnt too over the top) which I thought was good because it kept the listeners interest. It also is great too because the performance really brought that time period alive and it made it easy to picture in your head.

For anyone who loves The Great Gastby (or any of Fitgeralds other books), or who is interested in learning more about the Fitgeralds, or just Zelda herself, this audiobook is a must! I would recommend it very highly!

I would like to thank Susan from Audiobook Jukebox for letting me listen to this audiobook!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Reflect and Write

Now more than ever, we must take advantage of students’ increasing fascination with graphic images as opposed to written words. Reflect and Write capitalizes on this situation by marrying dynamic images to original poems written by students at the junior and senior high school levels, teachers, and other writers nationwide. Additionally, each page contains keywords, as well as popular quotations by well-known authors, designed to inspire critical thinking. Taken together, the more than 300 poems, photographs, and quotations will help stimulate spirited class discussion and provide prompts that will evoke meaningful writing by students. Like Kellner’s previous best-selling book, Write What You See, Reflect and Write will encourage students to read, relate to, and respond to modern verse and inspiring photographs both verbally and in writing. The book includes a CD with a copy of the photographs and student pages.

Grades 7–12

My Review:
This book is a nice resource. It is great to use for writing prompts. I used this book with some advanced level students over the summer and they did say they wished the pictures in the book would be in color and that maybe some classic poems would be put in the book next to a modren one that is simular as a comparisson they thought that would be cool. Other than that there were no other qualms seen with the book. They also said they did like the poems that were in the book.

I thought it was well organized and liked the poems that were included in this book. I think they really bring out my students creative thought prosesses. The pictures, I think too are great and are really nice to be included in the book as well as on the CD. This book is a great resource for any classroom and the photos and poems included in it really make your students want to write, which is great because sometimes that is a problem in the classroom.

Pennsylvania Patchwork Blog Tour

Book Info

About Pennsylvania Patchwork:

Seattle native Holly Fisher is smitten by Lancaster County, its simplicity and her long lost relatives. In the sequel to bestselling Leaving Lancaster, Holly embraces the Amish culture, learning to slow down to see what --- and who --- really matters.

Meeting the family that her mother had kept hidden from her, Holly comes face to face with her real life and blood legacy. She also falls for the charming Zach, a handsome Mennonite veterinarian who is everything she's ever wanted in a husband: confident, kind, successful, and authentic. And Zach proposes marriage. Is this too soon? Is this the right choice? Mother and Amish grandmother think she's rushing into too much of a lifestyle change. Holly is in love with Zach and that precludes everything. Until she meets an attractive Amish man. And an old suitor shows up.

Pennyslvania Patchwork is the moving, richly told story of one woman's heart, her faith and trust, and the choices she makes. Never easy, but one choice can change your destiny.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/lG7GU

Meet Kate:

Author Kate Lloyd is a passionate observer of human relationships. A native of Baltimore, Kate spends time with family and friends in Lancaster County, PA, the inspiration for her novels. She is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. Kate and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest. Kate studied painting and sculpture in college. She's worked a variety of jobs, including car salesman and restaurateur.

Learn more about Kate at http://www.katelloyd.net

Blog Tour Schedule

6/11/2013

My Review:

I thought this book was an ok read. I have been to Lancaster County several times and in the book the protrayal of the characters and their way of life was for the most part accurate. I just got bored with the plot and had trouble finishing it. I do have to say though that I did like the cover and I would recommend this book for people who are interested in learning more about this way of life but from my experience once you have read one book like this you have read them all. (Im not saying that this was a bad book Im just saying that it is not that unique as there are many books like this out there).

I would like to thank the people from Litfuse for letting me participate in this blog tour and read and review this book.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Audiobook week-Last Post

Q: Where do you learn about great audiobook titles?
A. From many of the Mainstream Publishing Companies and I also review for Audiobook Jukebox. I am also a member of Hachette Audios group on bookblogs.ning (however they havent had any titles up for review in a while so I havent reviewed for them lately). I do however learn about alot of great titles from post people make there! I have recently gotten on Hachette's Email list for audios and I can request audiobooks from that email. I also get titles form Galaxy Press as well.

Also I learn about alot of great titles from blogs as well! I wish however I could find more to review.

Q: Buy your audiobooks?
A:My Audiobooks I get that I review are provided by the person, group,etc. that I review them for so technically I do not buy them.

However I do buy Audiobooks at the library book sales and/or garrage sales and flea markets, that happen around where I live (and I live near 3 libraries!) so that is where I get them. Or if I want to listen to something new I check it out form the library.

Q: What narrators or publishers are active in social media or do a great job communicating with listeners.
A: Audiobook Jukebox and Galaxy press do a great job with communication, but im not really sure who else, like I said above I love to start reviewing more audio but I dont really have the connections (I would love to learn where to find these connections, links, etc.).

Thursday, June 20, 2013

The Phantom Patrol (Audiobook Review)

Title: The Phantom Patrol
Author: L. Ron Hubbard
Narrator:Multicast, Phil Proctor. Also starring R.F. Daley, Shane Johnson, Jim Meskimen, Kristin Proctor, Thomas Silcott and Michael Yurchak.
Pub. Date: June 21 2013
Publisher: Galaxy Press
Length: 2 hours

Audiobook Info:

Coast Guard CPO Johnny Trescott interrupts his pursuit of drug runners to respond to an SOS from a sinking transport plane. Unfortunately, the smugglers respond to the same SOS. They hijack his Coast Guard ship and begin using it for high seas piracy! Now Johnny has to escape the law and prove that he’s not the one responsible for the raids.

Author Info:

With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 280 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most acclaimed and widely read authors of our time. As a leading light of American Pulp Fiction through the 1930s and '40s, he is further among the most influential authors of the modern age. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard.

My review:

So I was very hopeful for this audiobook, but was sorely disappointed. I love pirate stories and paranormal stuff, which the title made me think of both. So I started listening to it thinking I get to listen to a story kind of like Pirates of the Carribean (I love Pirates of the Carribean!), but instead what I got was a boring and very jumpy plot. I also was surrprised because for the most part, I have liked the fantasy genres in the Galaxy Press series but this one didnt even compare.

I also thought that the writting wasnt very good in this one and found the characters rather boring and flat. The thing here was I couldn't connect with them so I didn't care what happened to them in the story.

The narration was one of the things that made this audiobook somewhat bearable (its length was the other). The cast did a surperb job (like always) in acting, being animated and making it feel like a real old time radio drama! The sound effects were also well done (as always) nothing was out of place or excessive. The music too I also liked.

So from my experience with this audiobook I would not recomend it, however there may be people out there who may like it the audiobook wasn't for me.

I would like to thank Galaxy Press for letting me listen to and review this audiobook.

Giveaway: In Sins and Needles and On Every Street

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Today I am holding a giveaway for the ebooks Sins and Needles and on Every Street by Karina Halle.

In SINS AND NEEDLES, Ellie Watt is used to starting over. A born and bred con-artist, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she's much older, wiser and ready to escape the life that has given her nothing but grief. Yet the only place she hasn’t burned a bridge behind her is Palm Valley, California, the last spot she thought she’d need as refuge. But returning means one more temptation than she bargained for - Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie's counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she's not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie's plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn't dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it's one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.

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ON EVERY STREET. In the novella, the story of what drove Ellie to Palm Valley (and into the arms of Camden McQueen) is revealed to readers. Seeking revenge on the drug lord who ruined her as a child, Ellie Watt decides to pull the biggest con of them all and give as good as she was forced to get. Calling herself Eden White, she plots to bring down his empire from the inside out. Yet Eden could not anticipate the subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive pull of the drug lord’s henchman, Javier Bernal. Against everything, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she's set-up to betray. With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner.

Giveaway details: winer will win one copy of each ebook (2 books in all). Only one pair will be given away. entry form and details can be found at the bottom of my blog.

Audiobook Tasks

Audiobook Week Day 4

Todays Topic: Audiobook Tasks

Q:What do you do while you listen?
I work on school work, papers, etc. Sometimes I also clean my room while listening to audiobooks. Sometimes though I dont do anything but just relax and listen because I get so caught up in the audiobook. It all depends on my mood etc but I am someone who likes to multitask!

Q:Any particular tasks or games that you find amazing for audio time?
No none that I can think of.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Audiobook Week: Mid-Week Meme

Here is post 3 for audiobook week!

Today Topic: Midweek Meme

Current/most recent audiobook:

The Phantom Patrol by L. Ron Hubbard

Impressions:

Not very good impressions with this audio. The Narration and Sound effects were great but other then that I found the plot very boring and jumpy. I finished this audiobook today (because it is only 2 hours long) and I will have a full review of it up either later today or tommorow.

Current/most recent favorite audiobook:

My favorite recent audiobook is one that I'm currently listening to: Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald. I find this book interesting (it does have its flaws). I am a Great Gastby lover so when I got a chance to review this audiobook I took it!

Favorite narrator you’ve discovered recently:

I didnt recently discover him but I did love Alan Cumming as narrator (and all the characters) in the Macbeth audiobook I listened to this year! It was a one man version of the show and it was my frist time listening to him on audio (but Ive seen him on T.V. and in movies!)

One title from your TBL (to be listened) stack, or your audio wishlist:

From my TBL
The Rules of Summer

It sounds like an interesting summer read and its YA (which I love YA and dont get a chance to review very much), so I am excited for it!

There are two sides to every summer.

When seventeen-year-old Rory McShane steps off the bus in East Hampton, it's as if she's entered another universe, one populated by impossibly beautiful people wearing pressed khakis and driving expensive cars. She's signed on to be a summer errand girl for the Rules -- a wealthy family with an enormous beachfront mansion. Upon arrival, she's warned by other staff members to avoid socializing with the family, but Rory soon learns that may be easier said than done.

Stifled by her friends and her family's country club scene, seventeen-year-old Isabel Rule, the youngest of the family, embarks on a breathless romance with a guy whom her parents would never approve of. It's the summer for taking chances, and Isabel is bringing Rory along for the ride.

But will Rory's own summer romance jeopardize her friendship with Isabel? And, after long-hidden family secrets surface, will the Rules' picture-perfect world ever be the same?

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Challenging Units for Gifted Learners: Social Studies

Today I am reviewing the book Challenging Units for Gifted Learners: Teaching the way Gifted Students Think
Grades: 6-8
Subject Area: Social Studies
Author: Kenneth J. Smith, Ph.D

Book Info:

Gifted students have the potential to learn material earlier and faster, to handle more complexity and abstraction, and to solve complex problems better. This potential, however, needs stimulating experiences from home and school or it will not unfold. The books in the Challenging Units for Gifted Learners series are designed to help teachers provide the stimulating curricula that will nurture this potential in school. The units presented in this series are based on research into how these students actually think differently from their peers and how they use their learning styles and potential not merely to develop intellectual expertise, but to move beyond expertise to the production of new ideas.

The Social Studies book includes units that ask students to explore the struggles of America's first permanent English settlement in Jamestown, to hold an African economic summit, to study various Supreme Court cases and primary source documents, and to create a Civil War documentary that views the war from the perspective of a person living in a particular state.

My review:
I thought this bookl was great! It has a lot of great resources! The activities are very fun and interactive and students will love to do them in the classroom! I like also how this book is nicely organized, it is easy to find what you want to use for classroom use. I also like how there are ready to use handouts in this book as well. I wish they would make a version of this for high school how ever I think these lessons are easily adaptable and useable for upper grades as well. I would recommend this book highly!

I would like to thank Bethany from Prufrock for letting me read and review this vaulable teaching tool!

A Masque of Infamy Blog Tour

Tour Dates:June 7 - 28, 2013

A Masque of Infamy
By Kelly Dessaint

A Masque of Infamy is a horrific and raucous story of teenage rebellion. But instead of "What d'ya got?" fifteen-year-old Louis Baudrey knows exactly what he's fighting against…

After moving from Los Angeles to small town Alabama in 1987 with his father, his younger brother and this guy Rick, a friend of the family, Louis tries to fit in at the local high school, but the Bible-thumpers and the rednecks don't take too kindly to his outlandish wardrobe and burgeoning punk attitude. At home, he defies the sadistic intentions of Rick, who rules the household with an iron fist. As Louis begins to lose all hope, he stumbles upon indisputable proof that will free him and his brother from Rick's tyranny. But just when he thinks his troubles are over, he's locked up in the adolescent ward of a mental hospital, where he must fight the red tape of the system to realize his dream of being a punk rocker.

Author Info

Kelly Dessaint was born and raised in Los Angeles. At fifteen, he moved to Alabama, where he ended up in state custody, an experience documented in his autobiographical novel A Masque of Infamy. After graduating from the University of Alabama, he lived and traveled across the country, working odd jobs and gathering material for the stories he has published under various pseudonyms in small press magazines and his zines, Vagabond Review and Piltdownlad. In 1998, he founded the publishing company Phony Lid Books, which released titles by numerous prominent small press authors. He lives in LA with his wife and three cats.

http://www.kellydessaint.com/phonylid/masque.php

https://www.facebook.com/amasqueofinfamy

Tour Schedule

June 7th Alana Munro
June 8th Stuffed Shelves
June 11th my name is: Sage
June 12th Yah Gotta Read This!
June 13th Raven Reviews
June 17th A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall
June 18th The Avid Reader
June 20th Sarah Thinks about Stuff
June 21st Crafty Mom Zen
June 24th The Relentless Reader
June 25th Shannon’s Book Bag
June 26th BookSpin
June 27th Book Fidelity
June 28th Read Your Bookcase

My Review:

I thought this book was an ok read. it was horrible but it wasnt great. Louis was the character who I liked the most in this book . The thing for me with this book is a didnt like the writting style. The plot of the book was good too, it was different and refreshing which I always love reading books that I dont read all the time. I also love the cover too, I think its very cool! I would recommend this book because I think there are people out there who would like it, mind you its not for everyone but its worth a read or a look.

I would like to thank Sage for letting me participate in this blog tour and read and review this book.

Chasing Invisible Tour

From award winning children's author Karen Pokras Toz comes the contemporary adult novel

Chasing Invisible

Could you handle life in the spotlight?

Julia Alexander is a quiet girl from a small town. Content to spend her days with her small group of friends and a pile of books, Julia thinks her future is set. When she unexpectedly meets Chase, a fellow college student and budding musician, she is unaware of just how drastically things are about to change.

Suddenly thrown into the limelight, her life is no longer her own. Relentlessly followed by the paparazzi, Julia is forced to make tough decisions about fame, love, family, and relationships. But just how much will Julia have to sacrifice to become invisible...

Buy at Amazon

Join Karen Pokras Toz for a Twitter Party

June 18 at 8 pm eastern

#ChasingInvisible

Bio

Karen Pokras Toz, recently discovered her love for writing. Karen writes middle grade and adult contemporary fiction. Her middle grade childrenⳠnovels have won several awards including the Grand Prize in the 2012 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards and First Place for a Global E-Book Award for Pre-Teen Literature. Karen is a member of the Society of ChildrenⳠBook Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). A native of Connecticut, Karen now lives outside of Philadelphia with her family. For more information, please visit www.karentoz.com.

Links

Website: www.karentoz.com
Blog: http://kptoz.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/karenptoz
Twitter: www.twitter.com/karentoz
Amazon: http://amzn.to/11wuyqn
Barnes & Noble:
Smashwords: Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/325554
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5009570.Karen_Pokras_Toz

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dXsHrPUBm8

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Prize: $25 amazon gift card, tote bag, key chain, bookmarks, notebook, postcard

Tour Schedule:
June 18 In the Land of Dreams http://inthelandofdreamsreviews.blogspot.co.uk/ Excerpt
June 19 Tyrneathem http://www.tyrneathem.com Top Ten List
June 20 Cu's e-Book Giveaways http://cuskindlegiveaways.blogspot.com/ Character Guest Post
June 21 Muddying the Waters http://www.muddyingthewaters.com Review & author interview
June 22 Rayborn rambles Raybornrambles.blogspot.com Review
June 23 The Journey Continues http://jaimiehopejourneycontinues.blogspot.com/ Review & Author Guest Post
June 24 The Book Connection http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/ Review
June 25 Pavarti K Tyler http://www.PavartiKTyler Excerpt
June 26 Library Girl Reads & Reviews http://librarygirlreads.blogspot.com Author Guest Post
June 27 Lubs Book Chatter www.lubsbookchatter.blogspot.com Review and Character Guest Post
June 28 Fiona's Book Review Blog Http://nannyfi71.wordpress.com Author Interview
June 29 Kats Read Katsread.blogspot.com Author Guest Post
June 30 From the Bootheel Cotton Patch http://fromthebootheelcottonpatch.blogspot.com Book Promo
July 1 fuonlyknew http://fuonlyknew.com Excerpt
July 2 Fresh Pot of Tea www.alisondeluca.com Excerpt
July 3 lindsay and janes views and reviews http://lindsayandjaneviewsandreviews.blogspot.co.uk/ Review & Character Guest Post
July 4 Girl Who Reads http://www.girl-who-reads.com Tips on Thursday
July 5 The avid Reader www.tarmyblogspot.blogspot.com Book Promo
July 6 Lissette E. Manning http://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning Review & Author Guest Post
July 7 Ohana Day Academy http://ohana-school.blogspot.com.au/ Review
July 8 Ali's Bookshelf http://alisbookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/ Review

A GWR Publicity promotional event paid for by the author. Giveaway is sponsored by the author who is responsible to prize fulfillment. The avid Reader received no compensation for this post.

How I choose Audiobooks

Audiobook week: Day 2
Todays Topic : How do You Choose Your Audiobooks?

Q: How do you decide what you’ll listen to?
I only have a few places where im offer audiobooks from so I mainly pick what I think I would like from what they have to offer. If they dont have anything I would like I dont request an audiobook at that time.

Q:Do you mostly listen, or split time between listening and reading?
Im a fast reader so I split my time usaully for audiobooks there is no assigned date when I post has to be up for me so spliting is not a problem. If there is an assigned date I have no problem getting it done in time (I love audiobooks so usaully when I receive one I start listening to it right away)

Q: Particularly if you split time, how do you decide what you’ll consume in audio and what in print?
Again I decide by what is offered to me if I am given a choice between print or audio I would prefer audio (but I also listen to audio on CDS or cassettes so if its downloadable stuff I wont listen to it so I would pick on actual book in print in that case).

Monday, June 17, 2013

My audiobook year 2012-2013

I am participating in Audio Book week at Devourer of books, http://www.devourerofbooks.com/ again!
so I will be answering the questions for today topic here on my blog.

Todays Topic: Your Audiobook Year

Q. Are you new to audiobooks in the last year?

A. No I have been listening to them since I was little, I just wasnt an avid listener, till about last year or a little before that.

Q. Have you been listening to them forever but discovered something new this year?

A. Yes I have been listening to them forever (since I was a little kid ((but not avidly till recently like I said above)) but I have discovered some more new titles recently that I loved listening to!

Q. Favorite titles?

A. That Ive listened to this year would have to be Clockwork Princess, Macbeth, and Memoirs of an Imaginary friend, but my favorite titles that Ive ever listened to were Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and The Oldest Living confederate Widow tells all, and any of Christopher Moores books on Audio are always a treat to listen to.

Q. New times/places to listen?

A. No sadly I really havent found any new times or places to listen to audio since last year. I usally listen to them in the car. Or I have a Cd Player boom box thing that I usally set on a table and listen to why I am doing work.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Cover Reveal for HALLOWS HAVEN

Hallows Haven

YA Paranormal

By: Melissa Brodsky and Nicole Madison

Here is the cover.....

Captain of the cheerleading team, 16 year old Gwen Valiente has it all--the best of friends, a loving home, and a bright future. Little does she know that the people she loves the most have been keeping secrets--life-altering secrets.
When strange things start to happen to Gwen, she is thrust into a magickal new realm called Hallows Haven. Leaving the ordinary behind, she discovers that she can do things beyond her wildest dreams. As Hallows Haven begins to feel more like home, Gwen wonders how she ever felt satisfied with everyday life in Michigan.
Too late, Gwen realizes that even in this realm full of light and magick, danger lurks. Someone close to her is not what he seems and someone will do anything to draw her out of Hallows Haven and into the darkness. Even worse, some of that darkness may already exist within her, threatening her chance to make Hallows Haven her permanent home.
Have Gwen's loved ones continued to keep dangerous secrets? Can Gwen resist the call of darkness?

Excerpt

Grandmother held out her hand. Out of thin air, a rather large, dull, old-fashioned brass skeleton key appeared. She fit it into the rusty lock covering the door of the banned room. The door crankily complained its way open, burping stale air in their faces. It was obvious that visitors to this room were infrequent.

“Now you will see why you were never allowed in here, Gwen.” She moved aside, allowing Gwen to enter the room before her.

It took a moment for Gwen’s eyes to adjust to the darkness of the windowless room. There was an iridescent glow pulsating from the long wall parallel to the door that made it look as though the wall were living, breathing. Gwen blinked. She couldn’t believe this had been in her basement this whole time and she had never known. A fantasy come to fruition. “Holy sh...!” she exclaimed.

Buy Links

It will be available on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Smashwords, B&N on June 24th.

Hallows Haven FB: https://www.facebook.com/HallowHaven

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17925089-hallows-haven

Author Info/Links

-Melissa Brodsky used to tell everyone she knew that she was going to be a writer when she grew up. She's currently working on that goal. Living in Michigan in a modern-day "Yours, Mine and Ours" type household, Melissa is the biological mother of 3 and a full-time stepmother, as well. On some days, she may even be considered evil, and not just by her stepchildren. Most of the time, she is sitting at the kitchen table, poised over her computer while daydreaming up new plots for books. She blogs (on occasion) over at rockanddrool.com. She can be found on twitter at http://twitter.com/rockdrool and FB: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaBrodskyAuthor Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7018483.Melissa_Brodsky

-Since childhood, Nicole Madison has been guilty of daydreaming a little too much. One of her favorite pastimes is staring into space, dreaming up stories, characters, lives, and dimensions when she really should be accomplishing other things. She parlayed her love of creating first into a career as a freelance writer and then into fiction writing. Her favorite genres are paranormal fiction and romance, followed closely by horror.

A long time Pennsylvanian, Nicole spends her days writing, soaking up books, teaching her five children how to be weird (in a good way), dancing for the endorphins and gardening. She can be found on FB: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNicoleMadison and Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091157.Nicole_Madison

Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Hour of Peril (Audiobook Review)

Title: The Hour of Peril: The secret plot to murder Lincoln before the Civil War
Author: Daniel Stashower
Narrator: Edoardo Ballerini
Pub. Date: January 29, 2013
Publisher: Macmillian Audio
Length: 13.5 hours

Audiobook Info:

“It's history that reads like a race-against-the-clock thriller.” —Harlan Coben

Daniel Stashower, the two-time Edgar award–winning author of The Beautiful Cigar Girl, uncovers the riveting true story of the “Baltimore Plot,” an audacious conspiracy to assassinate Abraham Lincoln on the eve of the Civil War.

In February of 1861, just days before he assumed the presidency, Abraham Lincoln faced a “clear and fully-matured” threat of assassination as he traveled by train from Springfield to Washington for his inauguration. Over a period of thirteen days the legendary detective Allan Pinkerton worked feverishly to detect and thwart the plot, assisted by a captivating young widow named Kate Warne, America’s first female private eye.

As Lincoln’s train rolled inexorably toward “the seat of danger,” Pinkerton struggled to unravel the ever-changing details of the murder plot, even as he contended with the intractability of Lincoln and his advisors, who refused to believe that the danger was real. With time running out Pinkerton took a desperate gamble, staking Lincoln’s life—and the future of the nation—on a “perilous feint” that seemed to offer the only chance that Lincoln would survive to become president. Shrouded in secrecy—and, later, mired in controversy—the story of the “Baltimore Plot” is one of the great untold tales of the Civil War era, and with The Hour of Peril Stashower has crafted a spellbinding historical narrative with the pace and urgency of a race-against-the-clock thriller.

My Review:

Ovearall I would have to say that I did like this audiobook but it was not perfect. I am an avid history buff as many of you my know from some of my other posts so this book was perfect for me and I was so excited to listen to it! Imagine my surprise when alot of the audiobook ended up being a mini bio about Alan Pinkerton and not the Baltimore Plot itself. I mean I do understand that Alan Pinkerton was an essential part of this story and that people need to know some background infomation about him to understand what is going on in the book but I think it focused way too much on him. I mean if I wanted to listen to his whole life story I would get a audiobook bio on him so that disapointed me a little but other than that I really didnt have anymore qualms with the book, plot etc.

The narration of this audio was good. His voice was not dry, boring, or monotoned to listen to which I think is always great when it comes to listening to non-fiction audio. This narrator really made me want to listen to this audiobook. He also made the Pinkerton Bio part of the audiobook bearable.

I would recommend this audiobook for people who want to learn more about this subject and who are history buffs because you do learn more about this fasinating topic.

I would like to thank Susan form Audiobook Jukebox for letting me listen to and review this audiobook!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Girl Unmoored

Today I am participating in a blog tour for the book Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer this is my second post for Book Spark Summer reading challege!

About Girl Unmoored

Girl Unmoored, by Jennifer Gooch Hummer

Apron Bramhall has come unmoored. It’s 1985 and her mom has passed away, her evil stepmother is pregnant, and her best friend has traded her in for a newer model. 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 (no one should look that much like Jesus unless they can perform a miracle or two), but suddenly he’s everywhere. Until one day, she’s stuck in church with him—of all places. And then something happens; Apron’s broken teenage heart blinks on for the first time since she’s been adrift.

Mike and his grumpy boyfriend, Chad, offer her a summer job in their flower store, Apron’s world seems to calm. But when she uncovers Chad’s secret, coming of age becomes almost too much bear. She’s forced to see things the adults around her fail to—like what love really means and who is paying too much for it.

Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You, comments, “Love, loss, and the coming of age of one remarkable girl blaze through this haunting debut like a shooting star you’d wish upon. It’s tough and tender, funny and smart, and it frankly took my breath away. I loved it.”

Jennifer Gooch Hummer is the author of Girl Unmoored which has won more than a dozen awards for Young Adult, Teen and Cross-Genre fiction, including a Bronze for YA Fiction-Mature Issues from the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. Girl Unmoored was named a Finalist in the 2013 Maine Literary Awards. Jennifer has worked as a script analyst for various agencies and major film studios. Her short stories have been published in Miranda Magazine, Our Stories, Glimmer Train and Fish. Jennifer lives in Southern California and Maine with her husband and their three daughters.

My review:
Overall I thought this book was ok but not great. I had high expectations for the book but it didnt meet them and I was dissapointed. I love YA but this book was a little flawed for me as I did not like the main character. It was a unique plot which is why I gave it an ok (because I like reading new and different things) and it was funny at times too which made the book ok as well. Overall I would say that I would recommend this novel because it is an ok read.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

A Heartbeat Away Blog Tour

Book Info

About A Heartbeat Away:

When a band of runaway slaves brings Union-loyal Beth Bumgartner a wounded Confederate soldier named Joe, it is the catalyst that pushes her to defy her pacifist parents and become a nurse during the Battle of Antietam.

Her mother's mysterious goodbye gift is filled with quilt blocks that bring comfort to Beth during the hard days and lonely nights, but as she sews each block, she realizes there is a hidden message of faith within the pattern that encourages and sustains her. Reunited with Joe, Beth learns his secret and puts the quilt's message to its greatest test---but can betrayal be forgiven?

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/liQMG

Meet Dionne:

Dionne Moore is a historical romance author who resides in South Central PA with her family, surrounded by the beautiful Cumberland Valley and lots of fun, historically rich locations. She is a weekly contributor to "The Borrowed Book", a blog for book-lovers and "Cozy Mystery Magazine", for all things cozy mystery.

Learn more about Dionne at http://www.sdionnemoore.com

Blog Tour Schedule

My Review:

I was so excited to read this book because it took place during Civil War time and with me being an avid history lover I thought oh this is right up my alley! I was disappointed in this book however, it was boring and there was not much history it was more about the main characters relationships with one anthor. The cover was a bit odd as well I thought. I had a had time getting through the book but I did finish it. Overall I wasnt crazy about this book and would not reccomend it.

I would like to thank the people from litfuse for letting me participate in this blog tour and let me read and review this book.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Dragon Mine Guest Post

So as some of you my remember I recently had a giveaway on here for the book Dragon Mine by Jamie Rush. Well that title was so interesting to me that I asked the author about it and she agreed to do a guest post about it for me! So I would like to thank her and welcome her to my blog!

"Titles can be bedeviling, especially when you have to come up with five of them at once. For my Hidden series, I wanted the titles to sound similar in theme. I started out thinking of the evocative kinds of titles I love like, "Across a Wine Dark Sea" and "The Ape Who Guards The Balance," but they sound more literary than commercial. Then I heard the song by Stevie Nicks and liked the idea of naming the books with titles like "Stop Dragon My Heart Around" and "Dragon Me Through The Mud." I ended up nixing those because a) they didn't fit the tone of the books and b) there are authors out there who are already using that kind of clever play on words. Back to the drawing board! (That happens a lot when brainstorming titles, alas.)

Then I played with another title I love, "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" and came up with "Deeply Breathing Dragon" and "Darkly Dreaming Magick." But it was difficult to figure out more titles with the same kind of wording. Back to that drawing board again.

Coming up with a title is usually a team effort when you work with a publisher. My agent, editor, marketing department, and I worked together to come up with the titles we have now. Ultimately we wanted something that was simple and captured the essence of the story. I have dragons, sorcerers, and angels, and we wanted the reader to know from the title what they were getting in the story. I thought Dragon Mine was a perfect title because Dragons are very possessive. Since Kirin and Elle were once romantically involved, his Dragon would definitely feel possessive of her. Dragons don't understand words like "we broke up." All they understand is the concept of Mine, Still Mine, and Always Mine. And even though Elle is a sorcerer (called a Deuce in my world), her heart still belongs to Kirin.

Titles can take as much creative power and, it seems, time to create. But when you get the perfect title, it sings!"

Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Red Dragon (audiobook review)

Title: The Red Dragon
Author: L. Ron Hubbard
Narattors: Multicast Audiobook, featuring Erika Christensen. Also starring Bob Caso, R.F. Daley, John Mariano and Jim Meskimen.
Pub. Date: June 24 2013
Publisher: Galaxy Press
Length: 2 hours

Audiobook Info:

Flame-haired Michael Stuart's career as an officer in the US Marine Corps abruptly ended after a failed attempt to return the Chinese Imperial Dynasty to power in 1930s Asia. Abandoned by his country, he's unable to find safe passage out of China by land or sea.

Now Stuart, also known as the "The Red Dragon," has a new occupation; he intervenes in matters for the good of the people. Despite the danger, Stuart agrees to help a beautiful young woman search for a mysterious black chest which her father hid in Manchuria before his murder. Their quest takes them from Peking north to the Great Wall of China and beyond. With enemies coming at him from every corner, Stuart finds he's playing a most deadly game of hide-and-seek.

My review:

This audio book was not my favorite I found myself bored with the plot after awhile. I did however listen to the whole thing because it was only 2 hours long. Characterwise they were ok but I couldnt connect with any and found myself not caring what happened to them.

The narattion was well done it really sounded like an old radio program. The actors were animated and dramatic etc. at just the right times and the music and sound affects were apporiate and placed in just the right places.

Overall I would not recommend this audiobook because I found it boring and not a worthwhile read. However I do think there would be people out there who would like this audiobook it just wasnt for me.

Templand Blog Tour

Title: Templand

Author: Jill Elaine Hughes

Genre: Contemporary romance

Age: New Adult Publication Date: December 24, 2012

Event organized by: Literati Literature Lovers http://literatiliteraturelovers.com/

Purchase Links:
AMAZON http://www.amazon.com/Templand-ebook/dp/B00ASRJNBC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369799576&sr=8-1&keywords=templand

BARNES AND NOBLE http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/templand-jill-elaine-hughes/1114024505?ean=2940016143712 KOBO http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Templand/book-CpqnXLzcpk6REuHjm8DZ9Q/page1.html?s=6JLkiXXLJkytpEtrol__eA&r=1

SMASHWORDS http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/268994

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17206912-templand?clear_facebook_session=true

Giveaway per blog: Tour – Wide Giveaway $25.00 Amazon Gift Card a Rafflecopter giveaway http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/723c3b126/

Book Description
The heroine, Melanie Evers, is a plucky young working-class woman from Akron, Ohio struggling to support herself in Chicago in the post-9-11 economy. TEMPLAND follows Melanie's journey through the temporary employment world from a college student on "just a summer job" to a 28-year-old woman with a lot of intelligence (and a heap of student loan debt to match) through multiple layoffs and a series of ever-more-wacky temp assignments, as she struggles not only to survive, but also to find romance and always remain true to the honest, working-class values instilled in her by her beloved grandfather. In her long, solitary journey through Templand, Melanie encounters adventure and romance on her search for that always-elusive Permanent Job---which she finally gets, along with her man.

TEMPLAND is a highly entertaining, wickedly funny social satire, contemporary romance, and mystery novel all rolled into one.

About the Author: JILL ELAINE HUGHES is a professional playwright, novelist, journalist and freelance writer with more than 15 years' experience in publishing and professional writing/editing. She has contributed to many newspapers and national magazines, including the Washington Post, theChicago Tribune, Yahoo! Shine, the Chicago Reader, the New Art Examiner, Cat Fancy magazine, and many others. Her plays have received productions nationwide and internationally, are widely published, and have been anthologized alongside Pulitzer and Tony winners. She is also a published novelist under the pen names "Jamaica Layne" and "Jay Hughes", and recently began self-publishing New Adult fiction under her own name. .

Author Links Website: http://www.jillelainehughes.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jill-Elaine-Hughes/143011855875936?ref=ts&fref=ts Twitter: @JillEHughes https://twitter.com/JillEHughes Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6878146.Jill_Elaine_Hughes

Playlist for TEMPLAND Blog:
1. “She Works Hard for the Money”- Donna Summer
2. “Take This Job and Shove It” – Johnny Paycheck
3. “Mean” — Taylor Swift
4. “I Hate My Job” – JbDubs
5. “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades” — Timbuk3
6. “The Dirty Jobs Song” — Mike Rowe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW_sQgeSdmg
7. “Lake Shore Drive, Chicago” — Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah
8. “The Night Chicago Died” — Paper Lace

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Night Chill book Blast

From the author of middle grades spine-chilling horror series The Templar Chronicles comes a supernatural thriller for his adult fans

"Gunhus delivers a taut supernatural thriller...all the chops of an action-packed horror tale." - Kirkus Reviews

Emotionally scarred from a car accident in which a little girl was killed, Jack Tremont moves his family from Southern California to Prescott City in the quiet mountains of Western Maryland. At first, the small town appears to be the perfect place to reconnect with his family and to cure his troubled conscience, but Jack soon discovers he has left one nightmare only to walk into another. When a stranger who has been struck by lightning dies in Jack's arms, a child's voice comes from the man's smoldering body to issue a warning:

They're coming for your little girl, Jack. . . you better run. Take your family and run.

The warning turns prophetic when a local cult targets Jack's five year-old daughter Sarah and Jack finds himself in a fight against dark, supernatural forces that he cannot begin to understand. With the help of a mysterious Native American, Jack uncovers more than just a conspiracy that extends into the small community, but an ancient mystery larger than anything he could have imagined. Suddenly, he's not only fighting for his family, but also to stop a devastating evil from escaping into the world. Above all, he must rush against the clock to save his little girl.

Learn more at JeffGunhus.com

Buy the book at Amazon!

Enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card & Signed Paperback

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A GWR Publicity event paid for by the author. Giveaway is sponsored by the author.

Books typically give a fuller experience than a movie can ever hope to accomplish. Here's a list of great horror books that have made it to the big screen...with mixed results!

Top Ten Horror Books Made Into Movies
1. The Shining (Stephen King) Nicholson knocked his version of the Shining's protagonists out of the park, but it still pales in comparison to the book.
2. The Exorcist (William Peter Blatty) If you thought the movie was scary, climb into that well-crafted book for the chills but also for larger themes about religion and why the innocent suffer.
3. Interview With A Vampire (Anne Rice) OK, I might take some knocks for this one because you're envisioning Brad Pitt and his terrible accent from the movie. The book has much more gothic flair and creepiness.
4. Frankenstein (Mary Shelley) A classic and still super-scary.
5. I Am Legend (Richard Matheson) I liked the Will Smith movie, but it suffers from a chronic, not as good as the book comparison. In fact, the book is totally different...and better.
6. Pet Sematary (Stephen King) Lame movie, amazing book. Unfortunately, typical of King's work.
7. Something Wicked This Way Comes (Ray Bradbury) You'll never want to go to a carnival again.
8. Phantoms (Dean Koontz) A great, fun read but a terrible movie -- unfortunately the least bad of Koontz adaptations. Ben Affleck, Peter O'Toole, Liev Schreiber...but still not good.
9. Carrie (Stephen King) This is the book that launched King's career. The cover of the video/DVD with carried covered with blood has delighted kids who wandered into the horror section for years.
10. Jaws (Peter Benchley) Don't fool yourself this isn't a horror book. It's a creature feature to the core...and a damn fine movie too!

Ray of Light Blog Tour

Book Info

About Ray of Sunlight:
Bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray brings inspirational romance to life in this sweet tale of love in the Amish community, Ray of Light, the second installment of her Days of Redemption series.

Roman Keim just wants a break from the family drama at his snowy Ohio home when he heads to an Amish snowbird community in Florida. There he meets Amanda Yoder and her daughter Regina who soon are warming his heart. But will Roman return to Ohio or will he stay and help the young widow embrace a second chance at love?

The author of the series Sisters of the Heart and Seasons of Sugarcreek, Shelley Shepard Gray delivers an honest, tender love story in Ray of Light, featuring the challenges of faith, family, and romance.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/l5Xy7

Meet Shelley:
Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the "Sisters of the Heart", "Seasons of Sugarcreek", "Secrets of Crittenden County", and Families of Honor series. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.

Learn more at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.

Blog Tour Schedule

5/21/2013

Sarah | Growing for Christ

Kris | Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Marianne | Reviewing Novels Online

5/22/2013

Patricia | It's Time To Read Mamaw

Amy | A Nest in the Rocks

Melissa | Life, Love and Dirty Diapers

5/23/2013

Leila | All Meant To Shine

Billy | Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Pam | Southern Gal Loves to Read

Jessica | A New Leaf

5/24/2013

Brenda | WV Stitcher

Janelle | Cole Clan Adventures

Lena | A Christian Writer's World

Linda | Mocha with Linda

5/25/2013

TAMMY | THE SELF-TAUGHT COOK

Ruth | This That and the Other Thing

Julie | More Of Him

Mindy | A Room Without Books Is Empty

5/27/2013

Danielle | The Happy Wife

Debra | 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy Too!

Vera | Chat With Vera

Joy | Splashes of Joy

5/28/2013

Karla | Quiet Quilter

Laura | Lighthouse Academy

Angela | Griperang's Bookmarks

Mary | the mary book reader

5/29/2013

Christy | Home of OHM

Nancy | sunny island breezes

A | Kerrific

Kristin | A Simply Enchanted Life

5/30/2013

Athena | The Loose Screw

Krystal | Live To Read ~Krystal

Madilyn | The Literary Maiden's

Cindy | Cindy's Book Reviews

5/31/2013

Karen | 1958

Michelle | I Hope You Dance

Melina | Melina's Book Blog

Kimberly | Turning the Pages

6/1/2013

Jennifer | Life Happens With Kids

Lauri | Knits Reads and Reviews

Colletta | Colletta's Kitchen Sink

Pamela | Daysong Reflections

6/3/2013

Kendra | Happily Managing A Household of Boys

Jalynn | A Simple Life,really?!

Stephen | manifest blog

Jessica | The Witchy Contessa

6/4/2013

Kemi | Homemaking Organized Blog

Tammy | TammyIsBlessed

Shirley | A Mom After God's Own Heart

Angela | all grown up

6/5/2013

Autumn | The avid Reader

Jennifer | Jen's Journey

Lindsey | The IE Mommy

Kelli | The Zen of Motherhood

6/6/2013

Kathleen | Reviews From The Heart

Megan | When life gets you down...read a book

Margaret | The World As I See It

Maureen | Maureen's Musings

6/7/2013

Joyce | Deco My Heart

Nathania | Sophie and Momma's Blog

Ruth | My Devotional Thoughts

Paula | The Phantom Paragrapher

6/8/2013

Caroline | Happy Four

Anne | Mommy Has to Work

Sharon | Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews

6/10/2013

Mary | Mary's Cup of Tea

Kristie | Moments

My Review:

I thought this book was ok but not one of my favorites. I got bored with it and had to force myself to read the whole thing. I just wasnt connecting with the storyline as I found the plot and characters boring. I would not reccomend this book it wasnt a book for me however somebody else might like it whose into this type of book.

I would like to thank the people from litfuse for letting me participate in this blog tour and read and review the book.