Tuesday, June 30, 2015

BOOK BLAST: Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity by Rachel Anderson


Hi guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
 
Today, we're satisfying your reading hunger with a BOOK SPOTLIGHT courtesy of I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.  It stars book 3 of the Meet Your Match series from author Rachel Anderson and having partaken of the fun to be READ in the first two installments, I can honestly say that I am QUITE excited about this one.  QUITE.  ^-^  Anywho, even though my reading schedule doesn't have it's arrival for another week or so, that doesn't mean YOU shouldn't get first dibs at it.  So, in the spirit of sharing and spreading the word about GREAT READS, I bring to you the title of the day shining in the BOOK SPOTLIGHT....
 
 
  Stick in the Mud meets spontaneity
Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity
(Meet Your Match #3)
by
Rachael Anderson
 
Home from college for the summer, Samantha Kinsey steps into her role as nanny for her two favorite little charges. But when she finds herself playing chauffeur more than playmate, her summer outlook quickly turns from fun to bleak. That is, until she drives the girls to a family-owned ranch and meets Colten McCoy—a genuine, hard-working cowboy, who's as set in his ways as he is handsome. Although he claims he doesn't need any fun in his life, Sam’s determined to help him find it. But she'll soon discover that cowboys are about as easy to train as wild mustangs. Stick in the Mud Meets Spontaneity is about an adaptable girl and a not so adaptable guy. It’s about learning to accept people for who they are and realizing that sometimes who they are is exactly who they should be.
 
Purchase your copy from AMAZON
 
add to goodreads
 
 
 
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As I said, I'm a big fan of this author's work and can't wait to dive into this latest release.  So, if you like sweet and clean romance tinged reads with just enough of that something special to warm the heart, you've struck gold!

Oh...and if you read this in the mean time, stop back and leave your comments (NO SPOILERS!) to entice me, I mean other readers... ^-^
 

 
 
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About the author...
 
Rachael
 
USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.
 
 
 
 
 
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Meet Your Match
 
 
 
 
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SITM
 
Special thanks to Kathy of I Am a Reader, Not a Writer Book Blasts and Blog Tours for the chance to bring this celebration to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the blast in progress, the upcoming tour, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now, so be on the lookout for it at your favorite online retailers.
 
Until next time...happy reading!
 
 

Monday, June 29, 2015

BLOG TOUR: Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

 Hi there!
Welcome to another week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
 
Today, we're playing host to a TLC Blog Tour starring the 11th addition to a popular Young Adult series that is now making its way into the Fiction/Contemporary Romance arena.  That's right!  Get ready to practice your curtsies and your royal wave, The Princess Diaries series is jumping genres but in such a way that those not quite caught up in the age category as of yet can still follow along.  Ready, set, GO!  Today's book of choice is... 
 
 
 
(A Princess Diaries Novel, #11)
by
Meg Cabot
 9780062379078
 William Morrow Paperbacks
 
About the book...
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her prince charming as they plan their fairy-tale wedding—though a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.
 
For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity: living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia's gorgeous longtime boyfriend, Michael, managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course, Mia didn't need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.
 
But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: her grandmother has leaked "fake" wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone—especially herself—that she's not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?
 
 
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Whether you're a fan of the book series (admittedly have not read them) or a watcher of the films (guilty as charged), you won't be disappointed.
 
With easy to recognize characters from Michael (remember...the foot pop kiss?) and Lily (the lawyer in the making whom never found a cause too small) to Lana (former enemy, now frenemy) and Fat Louie (yes, I did list these two together...what?  She needed a little class shown to her and Louie has it in spades!), there's nary a moment where you're wondering now wait, who was that again.  You're well informed and taken care of like a genuine member of the royal family...at least as long as that family lasts.  *ahem*  Let's just say there is some MAJOR upheaval about to happen and from several angles all at once.  Moving on...
 
The story itself is light and fluffy but the addition of paparazzi, family scandals, and a life altering vacation, gives you something you can run with; after all, it's not every day that you find out your prince of a father has...and is in love with...and is leaving the...well, you'll have to read it to fill in the dots but trust me when I say that the father daughter  relationship here is about to hit some high seas.  Surrounding the main story are glimpses into what the Princess and  her beau have been up to...starting a multi-million dollar company, setting up a safe place for kids needing a hand up, and helping to establish the voice of the people in the land one of them at least shall be calling home.  Yes, it's never a dull day and the presses absurd headlines are only half the story...
 



Princess Mia is her usual charming self (and by charming I mean still our favorite headstrong awkward girl just trying to make her way through the crazy world as it is while making her mark) though her grandmother is far more stand-offish than I remember.  (Really, Julie Andrews she's not!)  The combination of the two personalities creates some fairly decent fireworks especially with all the scandal running about but they stay below the line of international affairs...leave that lot to the lovebirds (Michael and Mia sitting on a beach, K-I-S-S-I-N-G) ^-^.  Just kidding! They are on their best behavior...outside the bedroom as least.  Now before you go getting your glasses steamed up, let me reassure you...there is allusion to and some friendly flirting, but no crass language, blush-worthy scenes, or detailed clothing-optional times.  In a word, it's CLEAN which while refreshing and making it accessible to the elder lot of her teen readers, may prove its undoing for those adults not already enamored with the Genovian world.  But I digress...
 
Overall, it was an enjoyable read with several surprises along the way that I know I didn't see coming.  While it is told in journal style, it still keeps you up to date without the story feeling like you're constantly in a flashback sequence.  I admit, I was expecting more in a way (I think with the transition from YA, I was searching for a heavier plot) but I wasn't disappointed either.  There's plenty left to build on for future installments with or without the crown (dun dun dunnn...) and I look forward to what the next chapter might bring.
 
 
 
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About the author....
 
Photo by Ali Smith
Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana. In addition to her award-winning adult contemporary fiction, she is the author of bestselling young adult fiction, including The Princess Diaries and the Mediator series. More than twenty-five million copies of her novels for children and adults have sold worldwide. Meg lives in Key West, Florida, with her husband.
 
 
SITE   |   BOARDS   |   BLOG
 
 
 
 
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Special thanks to Trish at TLC Book Tours for the ARC for review as well as the chance to bring this title to your attention.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the entire series, the rest of the stops on the tour, the author, the publisher, or future promotions, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title just celebrated its book birthday the beginning of this month via William Morrow Paperbacks, an imprint of HarperCollins, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.
 
Until next time...happy reading!
 
 
 
 
 


BOOK SPOTLIGHT: R is for Rocket: An ABC Book by Tad Hills

Morning everyone!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
 
Today, school is back in session as we throw a pre-publication celebration for the latest Picture Book release slated for author Tad Hills.  Perhaps you've heard of him?  If not, I KNOW you've heard of the wonderful little dog that stars in his children's series.  His name rhymes with POCKET...

Ladies and gents, boys and girls of all ages.  Please join me front and center as we welcome today's book of choice to the spotlight....



R is for Rocket:
An ABC Book
by
Tad Hills
9780553522280
Schwartz & Wade

About the book...
From finding acorns, to balancing on a ball, to offering a cookie and a crayon to a crow, readers will love exploring the wonderful world of Rocket and his friends. The whole cast is featured, among them the little yellow bird, the owl, Bella the squirrel, and more. Even Goose from the beloved and bestselling Duck & Goose books makes a cameo appearance! With charming and delightful scenes for every letter, here’s an ode to the wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet.

Take off the dust jacket to find a fun alphabet poster printed on the inside!




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That's right!
Rocket, that lovable, spunky, adorable little fur baby is back and this time, he's teaching the kiddos their ABC's.  A fitting way to lead into his reading adventure, wouldn't you say?  With full color illustrations throughout chock full of eye catching imagery and lettered words even the littlest tykes can identify, you'll have a delightful time bouncing through the alphabet from A to Z. 




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About the author...


Tad’s interest in art drew him to Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, where he studied painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, creative writing, and poetry, but his greatest education came with the arrival of his children. “Spending time with my kids helps me remember what it’s like to be a child. I try to capture that innocence and enthusiastic vision of the world in my books. I want kids to see themselves in my characters.

“I find the process of creating a book similar to making sculpture. It is a constant adding and taking-away. The words and pictures are like pieces of clay. Some ideas come from experience and observation and some seem to come from thin air. Sometimes an idea builds out of an overheard conversation, or sometimes an idea comes to me when I’m cooking dinner. The real trick is to take all those ideas, like chunks of soft clay, and build something. Throughout the process the sculpture may hold itself upright, or more likely it might sag in places, or even collapse completely. The tough part is getting all that clay to stand up and not sag or collapse. Standing, of course, isn’t all there is: you have to make sure that it is fun and interesting from all angles, because kids will be walking around it, squinting at it, sniffing it, touching it–inspecting it from all sides.

“As an author and illustrator of children’s books, my greatest satisfaction comes from visiting schools. The kids’ excitement and enthusiasm for books is very real. I especially enjoy the responses I get from children when I ask if they have any questions or comments. ‘Where do you get your ideas? What’s the difference between a book and a story? My birthday is June 12th. How do you make the cover shiny? My Dad has socks like yours. Do you have an agent? Do you write the story first or draw the pictures? How do you make a book?’ But what I love most is when a lower school kid smiles and says proudly, ‘I’m writing a book.’”



SITE   |   FACEBOOK




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Special thanks to Jillian at Random House for the chance to bring this book to the spotlight for all of you. (THANKS!)  For more information on the title, author, publisher, or to pre-order your copy, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to release JULY 7th, 2015, so make a place for it on your wish list for it today.

Until next time...happy reading!




Sunday, June 28, 2015

Sunday Funnies

Make the most of it people.
Make the most of it.
^-^

Friday, June 26, 2015

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Summer Secrets by Jane Green - Q&A + GIVEAWAY!

Hi guys and gals!
Welcome back to the Friday edition of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.


I don't know about all of you but I'm exhausted!  It's been a LONG week at work, in life, and in books...but the days just keep coming same as the great reads keep releasing so I suppose all we can do is try to keep up.  *takes cleansing breaths*  With that in mind, no time like the present to bring another book over to your radar, right?  ^-^  I thought you might agree.

Today's spotlight shines on the latest release from a well known writer that's already being toted as a "must read" by fans and authors alike.  It stars a young woman dealing with her past in order to try and sustain her here-and-now, let alone her future.  Ready to read all about it?  Here we go!  Today's book spotlight belongs to....



by
9781250047342
St. Martin's Press

About the book...
Cat was living the party life in London, drinking and partying every night. Everything changes for the 20-year-old when she discovers that the father she never knew was living in Nantucket. Now in her 30s, Cat is sober, but divorced and desperately trying to make up the time she lost with her daughter. Cat is forced to face the past and the fateful events of one summer night many years ago. Cat learns that confronting the events will impact her future in ways she could have never imagined.





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Pretty interesting stuff, if I do say so myself and I deeply enjoyed my last experience with her work, so I'm doubly excited.  

Now, it's not slated for my "to read" list until early Fall, however I simply had to know more in the mean time and thought, well...you just might want to come along on that ride of curiosity.  Hopefully I was right, but in either case, ladies and gents, get ready to get a behind the scenes look at the story and the mind behind it.  Please welcome, author Jane Green!


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Q&A with Author Jane Green


SUMMER SECRETS is set partly in London and partly in Nantucket.  Why did you choose these settings?
I can’t ever get too far from my London roots. It’s hard for me to write about it now, it has changed so much since I moved away fifteen years ago, but I grew up there, and I love that nostalgic jolt I get when I delve into my memories for my characters. And Nantucket is the most magical place on earth – if I could set every book there, I would.


In SUMMER SECRETS, Cat confronts a secret in her family’s past. Was this plotline inspired by any personal experiences?
My husband has a cousin who recently discovered, in his 50s, that the man he thought was his father wasn’t his father. Coincidentally, I have cousins who don’t know they are related to me — the result of an illicit affair one of my uncles had years ago. I am fascinated by the secrets people keep, and the impact those have on our lives.


How and when do you write? Please describe your writing routine, rituals, and traditions. 
I write in the mornings, taking myself off to a small writer's room in town where I sequester myself for three or four hours. I need frequent large cups of coffee and spare batteries for the huge noise-cancelling headphones I wear, listening to either classical or ambient music. I buy a new notebook dedicated to each new book Large, thin enough to slip into my computer case, the very first page always contains notes on the story, before moving on to characters. All my thoughts and notes go into the book, always in longhand, before being typed up on the computer. And it’s usually pink.


What have you read lately that you’ve loved?
I was lucky enough to read I Take You by Eliza Kennedy as an advance copy, and it had me crying with laughter in a way I hadn’t since Bridget Jones’s Diary. Primates of Park Avenue by Wednesday Martin is another I was lucky enough to read early, and another I plan to revisit, savoring the stories of hoity toity women on the Upper East Side of New York.


Any other books you are looking forward to reading this summer?
Laura Dave is not only one of my favorite writers, but one of my favorite people. Her latest, Eight Hundred Grapes, is first on my list. Jamie Attenberg’s The Middlesteins was a wonderful, poignant book. So I can’t wait to dive into Saint Mazie. And what can I say? Who won’t be reading Judy Blume’s In the Unlikely Event this summer?


What can you tell us about the next Jane Green novel? And how long will we have to wait for it?
With any luck I’ll be finished in August of this year. It’s called The Hemlock Sisters (although that could change), and it’s about three estranged sisters who reunite when their mother announces she is ill.




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About the author...


A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Green filled two of her books, Saving Grace and Promises to Keep, with recipes culled from her own collection. She says she only cooks food that is “incredibly easy, but has to look as if you have slaved over a hot stove for hours.” This is because she has five children, and has realized that “when you have five children, nobody ever invites you anywhere.”

She lives in Westport, Connecticut with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks. A malignant melanoma survivor who also lives with Chronic Lyme Disease, she believes gratitude and focusing on the good in life is the secret to happiness.

Jane Green’s seventeenth novel, Summer Secrets, will be released in the US on June 23rd and on July 2nd in the UK. She is the author of sixteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels, including The Beach House, Jemima J, and most recently Saving Grace which is due out in paperback in early June.


SITE   |   FACEBOOK   |   TWITTER   |    PINTEREST



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Special thanks to Laura at Tandem Literary for the chance to bring this promotion to all of you and the author Jane Green for sharing a bit about herself, her work, and what's on the horizon.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title just celebrated its book birthday this past Tuesday via St. Martin's Press, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Be sure to check back this September all as I dive between the pages for a breath of Spring air in the midst of Fall.  In the mean time, how would you like a chance to win a copy of this very book?  Here's your chance!



Thanks to the generosity of the fab teams at Tandem Literary and St. Martin's Press, I have  the chance to bring this title to YOUR mailbox!  All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below and you're in it to win it!  Open to US entries only, no P.O. Boxes please.  Entries accepted through midnight July 4, 2015.




Until next time...happy reading!




Wednesday, June 24, 2015

In a Village by the Sea by Muon Van

 
Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
 
Today, we're diving into a Picture Book selection via JKS Communications and Creston Books.  It is unique in the path it takes to relay a story that so many have lived while making it accessible to even the youngest of readers on some level.  So in pre-celebratory fashion for the upcoming Vietnamese Family Day (June 28th), I give you today's book of choice...
 

 
by
Muon Van
Illustrated by
April Chu
9781939547156
 
About the book...
Written in a spare, lyrical style using fresh, evocative
imagery, this richly illustrated picture book is about
longing for the comforts of home while braving the
adventures and perils of the wide world.
 
The perfect book for teaching about diverse cultures
and lifestyles, children will delight in this beautiful
story which pays homage to the vanishing fishing
culture in Vietnam, honors courage and sacrifice, and
celebrates hearth and home.
 
 
 
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Everything said above is certainly true but it's one thing to read the description and an something else entirely to experience it. 
 
 
The story itself is told with very few words.  In fact, if you're above the target age group, I guarantee that you'll be scratching your head upon initially finishing the read.  Why?  Well, because that's when we tend to over think things instead of taking them for their face value.  The story is as simple as it's presented but it's also fueled by a heartfelt desire to share what the author's family and others went through every day in order to provide for their loved ones.  Being fisherman of the sea can be a wonderful occupation and it preserves traditions worth continuing, however it is often fraught with danger, disaster, and despair...and not just for those riding the waves.  Each time a boat leaves, it is not the fishermen alone that travel its decks, but the hearts and souls of those loved ones awaiting their return home. 
 
Here those loved ones are depicted within each scene as they go about their daily lives awaiting the return of the boats.  It shows how everyone and everything is connected down to the smallest of the small, in this case the cricket painting the picture of the boat riding the waves that we were originally greeted with at the start.  It's curious to see how everything adds up and to recognize different things within each picture from the one prior.  I especially loved the inclusion of the dog.  What can I say?  I'm a pet person...but the entire package as a whole does wonders to convey the hopes, and dreams of a culture trying to preserve its traditions. 
 
Recommended read for the young and young at heart.
 
 
 
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About the author...
MUON VAN was born on the run in the southern port city of Rạch Giá, Vietnam. When she was nine months old, she left Vietnam as part of the “boat people” mass exodus. She now lives in Northern California with her family, where she gets a glimpse of the sea every morning and every evening.
 
 
 
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About the illustrator...
APRIL CHU began her career as an architect with a degree from the University of California,
Berkeley, but decided to return to her true passion of illustrating and storytelling. April currently lives
and works in Oakland, California.
 
 
SITE   |   TWITTER   |   FACEBOOK   |   PINTEREST   |   GOOGLE+
 
 
 
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Special thanks to Chelsea at JKS Communications for the review copy as well as the chance to bring this title to the spotlight.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, the publisher, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title was released this Spring via Creston Books, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.
 
Until next time...happy reading!
 
 
 


A Baker’s Dozen: 13 Flavors to Reveal Your Inner Self with Author Judith Fertig + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!
Welcome back to the site that aims to please, Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
 
Today, we're shining the spotlight on the latest release from an author that's known for her cookbooks, but venturing into uncharted territory.  The deep sometimes murky waters of Fiction.  From the sound of things, she's got it all under control, but I'm not one to lead you blindly to your next reading selection.  Take a gander for yourself....
 
 
 
by
Judith Fertig
9780425277324
Berkley

 
About the book...
Claire “Neely” O’Neil is a pastry chef of extraordinary talent. Every great chef can taste shimmering, elusive flavors that most of us miss, but Neely can “taste” feelings—cinnamon makes you remember; plum is pleased with itself; orange is a wake-up call. When flavor and feeling give Neely a glimpse of someone’s inner self, she can customize her creations to help that person celebrate love, overcome fear, even mourn a devastating loss.

Maybe that’s why she feels the need to go home to Millcreek Valley at a time when her life seems about to fall apart. The bakery she opens in her hometown is perfect, intimate, just what she’s always dreamed of—and yet, as she meets her new customers, Neely has a sense of secrets, some dark, some perhaps with tempting possibilities. A recurring flavor of alarming intensity signals to her perfect palate a long-ago story that must be told.

Neely has always been able to help everyone else. Getting to the end of this story may be just what she needs to help herself.
 
 
 
 
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See what I mean?
Not only does it sound tasty, but the story begs to be read.  I mean really, what DARK secrets could she possibly have?  Also, I'm anxious to read more about how she can "taste" feelings"  Speaking of which...
 
Though I've not had a chance to read this release yet (scheduled for later this summer), I did manage to score a pretty cool share from the author herself (courtesy of Tandem Literary) all about how flavors reveal your true self.  Curious?  Read on my friend, read on...
 
 
 
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A Baker’s Dozen: 13 Flavors to Reveal Your Inner Self
by Judith Fertig, author of The Cake Therapist


There are wine tastings, coffee tastings, cheese samplings.
Why not a “what’s going on with me?” tasting?
When I was writing my debut novel The Cake Therapist (Berkley, 2015), I had an “aha” moment early on. What if my pastry chef heroine could “read” people as flavors? Flavors that would lead to a feeling—the feeling that was the heart of a person’s story?
Neely could suffuse her cakes, cupcakes, brownies, pastries, and cookies with special flavors that would gently help her bakery customers and wedding cake clients take charge with chocolate and coffee. Get in the mood with blood orange and raspberry. Lessen their grief with a little spice. Or recognize their desire to come home, even if just in spirit, with pumpkin.
As Neely says in The Cake Therapist, “there was a flavor that explained you—even to yourself. A flavor whose truth you recognized when you tasted it. A flavor that answered the question you didn’t know you had.”
Like Neely, we can all use flavor as a prompt—or a hyperlink—to reveal our own emotional cores. The flavors that speak to us, or flavors that don’t, can be revealing.
Flavors can reinforce what we already know about ourselves. Bring to light longings and yearnings that we’ve suppressed—why? Or reveal a flavor combination that fits us like a couture gown.
I know that when I’m stressed, I want things soft and simple. Uncomplicated oatmeal in the morning. Plain rice. Vanilla pudding. Mashed potato. When I crave sweet but almost flavorless white chocolate, I know I just want to fit in, not stand out.
When I want to feel stronger, I turn to chocolate (dark) or coffee (French roast) for support. After all, raw cacao and coffee beans have to go through fire in order to be great.
When I need to kick start my creativity, I crave an aromatic combination of orange, cardamom, and fresh mint. I make Creativity Kickstarter sugar cookies to take to brainstorming meetings, and it seems these flavors help others, too. Refreshing herbs, brand-new-day orange, deep cardamom.
Happily, I was also working on a new cookbook Bake Happy (Running Press, 2015) when I was also writing The Cake Therapist. Between the cookbook and the novel, you can find dessert flavors that will resonate with you, too.

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13 Flavors to Reveal Your Inner Self
 
 
Does flavor have its own language, like the language of flowers (and Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s novel of the same title)? Yes: think of the sultriness of warm chocolate, the snarkiness of lemons, voluptuous vanilla, luxurious caramel.
All of us have certain emotional associations we make with the taste of a dessert, some stemming from the flavor compounds in the food itself and others from the context in which we eat it.
The flavor you crave can tell you something about what you’re yearning for.

 

 
Flavor           What You’re Yearning For
Banana          An everyday adventure, a break in routine.
Blueberry  -    Blue-skied mornings. Wholesomeness. Simplicity.
Caramel    -    Luxury. Ease.
Chocolate   -   Risk-taking, mystery, a strong shoulder to lean on, wicked indulgence.
Coconut    -    Being whisked away to an exotic locale without the hassle.
Lemon    -      Greater clarity. Witty conversation.
Orange    -     A brand new day, a fresh start.
Pumpkin  -    A homecoming.
Raspberry -   Sophistication. A sexy, little black dress and the life to go with one.
Spice       -    A return to the past. The comfort of nostalgia, or lingering emotion.
Strawberry -  Youth. Summer.
Vanilla   -     Pillow-y comfort.
White Chocolate  - A desire to get along with everyone, be unobtrusive.

 
What do your flavor cravings reveal about you? Is cake therapy or baking happy in your future?
I hope so!

 
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About the Author:
 
Cookbook author Judith Fertig grew up in the Midwest, went to La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine in Paris and The Iowa Writers' Workshop, and now lives in Kansas City. Described by Saveur Magazine as a “heartland cookbook icon,” Fertig writes cookbooks that reflect her love of bread, baking, barbecue, and the fabulous foods of the Heartland. Fertig’s food and lifestyle writing has appeared in more than a dozen publications, including Bon Appetit, Saveur and The New York Times. The Cake Therapist (June 2, 2015; Berkley), is her fiction debut.
 
SITE   |   BLOG   |   FACEBOOK   |   TWITTER   |   PINTEREST
 

 
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Special thanks to Meg at Tandem Literary for the chance to make this connection and to author Judith Fertig for sharing her lovely insights into this curious topic.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title was released earlier this month via Berkley Trade Paperback, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Now then, if you are interested in WINNING a copy of both The Cake Therapist and her latest cookbook release, Bake Happy, HERE'S YOUR CHANCE!
 
 
 
 
Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below and you're in it to win it...or should I say THEM!
Open to US residents only; no P.O. Boxes please.
Entries accepted through midnight CST on 06/30/15.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Until next time...GOOD LUCK...and happy reading!
 
 

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Defiant Bride by Leslie Hachtel

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

As fast as the month is going by, so are the reads...as seen by yesterday's double blog tour feature.  Well, a busy schedule never stopped me from getting into the blogosphere, so I'm back and ready to bring you another title to consider for your "to read" list.  Question is....are YOU ready?  Ready, set, here it comes!  Today's spotlight shines on....



by
9781511886284
CreateSpace Independent Publishing

About the book...
Furious at being used as a political pawn, the Lady Dariana defies King Henry VII by faking her own death to avoid marrying a man she has never met. Praying the king will not retaliate against her father, she seeks refuge in the forest and learns to fend for herself. When William, a warrior knight, is felled by an arrow, she saves his life and arranges his rescue before fleeing to avoid discovery. William awakes from his injury to be told he imagined the beautiful woman in the forest. Besotted and determined to make her his own, he hunts her down and tricks her into marrying him, intent on turning her defiance into love. But even as he begins to succeed, their enemies join forces to end the marriage—even if it means that Dariana must die. When Dariana is abducted, William must track her down to fight for her life and their happiness. And, Dariana, once the most defiant of brides, must channel her own strength of will into survival, both for herself—and for the child she now carries.





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Hmm.
The cover is definitely not something I'd be drawn to; just not a big fan of the whole burly guy with girl about to loose her clothes one way or another...look.  The story isn't particularly to my tastes either at first glance, but I gotta say...there are definitely some aspects that appeal.

Lady Dariana's spirited nature and strong will tell me that she'd be a character to watch.  The fact that she defies her father in such a bold display yet gets tricked into matrimony presents a conundrum that I can't quite puzzle out.  Either her defenses were knocked down by the felled warrior or same said warrior is a rather worthy opponent for our leading Lady.  Then of course there is that surprise add in of an unborn child...obviously her and William had some time that they were not insufferable towards each other. *ahem*

So, that's my analysis.
What do YOU think?
Thoughts, comments, reactions...I'm all ears (eyes)!




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About the author...


Leslie Hachtel was born in Ohio, raised in New York and has been a gypsy most of her adult life. Her various occupations, including licensed veterinary technician, caterer, horseback riding instructor for the disabled and advertising media buyer have given her a wealth of experiences.

However, it has been writing that has consistently been her passion. She sold an episode of a TV show, had a screenplay optioned and is now working on novel number six.  “Texas Summer”, her contemporary, is now available on all major e-book sites and in print. “The Defiant Bride” is also available as an e-book and in print, as well. 

Leslie currently lives in Memphis, Tennessee with her fabulously supportive husband, Bob, her wonderful stepson, Matt and her writing buddy, Jakita, a terrier.


SITE   |   FACEBOOK   |   TWITTER




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Special thanks to Penny at Author Marketing Experts, Inc for the chance to bring this book to the spotlight for you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or future promotions, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title was released just last month via CreateSpace Independent Publishing, so be on the lookout for it at a virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!


Monday, June 22, 2015

BLOG TOUR: Mireille by Molly Cochran

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
 
Ready for round two?  I sure hope so because I've got another blog tour coming at you.  This time around we're welcoming TLC Book Tours as it ushers a Women's/Historical Fiction title through the blogosphere featuring an author who's no stranger to the book arena.  Ready or not readers, here comes our second guest of the day and book of choice...
 
 
 
by
Molly Cochran
9781477828571
 
 
About the book...
Near the end of World War II, seventeen-year-old Mireille de Jouarre flees the home of her stepfather, a Nazi collaborator and abusive drunk. She finds shelter with her childhood friend Stefan, and the two fall deeply in love. But as the fighting escalates, Mireille must escape alone to Paris, where she discovers she’s pregnant and lacking a way to provide for her child.

So begins her new life as l’Ange—the Angel. After an unlikely meeting with a wealthy aristocrat in a Parisian hotel—and her acceptance of his solicitation—Mireille becomes the most celebrated poule in all of France, eliciting huge fees and invitations to exclusive parties. At one of these events, Mireille meets Oliver Jordan, an American womanizer and film producer, and is soon launching a promising film career. As her star rises, Mireille is determined to bury her past. But her success isn’t as carefree and glittery as it seems, and when her daughter’s future is threatened, Mireille must make a deadly decision in a desperate attempt to finally choose her own path.
 
 
 
 
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First things first, loving the cover!
It's simple yet chic and highly befitting the leading lady in our story.
 
 
 
 
Secondly, this is not a book for the faint of heart...in more ways than one.
It comes in at just under 600 pages, so saying it's a chunkster is a bit of an understatement, and while that alone could be the heart stopper for some, the real jolt comes from the story.  Our lovely lead had a terrible childhood followed up by an adolescence that would have driven more than a few to simply accept her supposed fate and be done with it already, but not Mireille.  True, when things were at their bleakest, she wasn't sure where to turn.  True, after the assault by the homeless person, a death at the hands of Mother Nature seemed like a blessing.  ALSO true though is the fact that despite it all and more to come, she held on to her heart, her convictions within her soul, the love for the one she lost, and the love for the one who's arrival was quite unexpected.  She did what she had to do to make ends meet, separating herself from the acts much like an actress does with a role, and graciously accepted the helping hands she received along the way...even if they led her to a life that she wouldn't have chosen for herself.
 
As much as the story continues with highs and lows, moments of glory and moments of pain, I can't help but marvel at the main character.  I wasn't prepared for her to make such an impact and yet she did in her quiet and assuming way.  You didn't see her coming and yet when she arrived, you were happy to linger in her presence.  She was written with such a sweet soul, as someone you'd want to befriend in real life, and yet dealt such an ugly hand.  If you could reach through the pages to protect her, you would.  You can't help but feel grateful on her behalf when the taxi driver stops on the wintry cold night, when her "friend" opens the door to her in the wicked downpour, or when the "golden boy" of Hollywood intends on whisking her away from it all.  True, some of these things were destined to be shaded other colors when all was said and done, but it didn't matter in the moment and it allowed us to see our floundering "Dandelion" blossom into a proper rose...beauty and grace intact, but with the ability to ward off those that would do her harm.
 

 
Overall, I found the book highly enjoyable.  It's not a quick read or a light one for that matter, but it digs deeper, allowing readers the chance to really understand where Mierelle is coming from and connect with her on some level.  Her soul is bared for all to see; no apologies, little regrets.  I imagine it will spark some conversations due to her choices at certain points, but when was that ever really a bad thing?  Well written and delivered without pomp and circumstance, you'll find yourself falling for L'Ange in one way another.  Recommended for adult readers to do some content and lifestyles explored.
 
 
 
 
 
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About the author...
 
 
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Molly Cochran lived in Europe and was educated at the University of Pittsburgh and the Sorbonne in France. She has written 26 books, including 12 ghosted novels, and the non-fiction bestseller, Dressing Thin, before her own first novel, Grandmaster, was a New York Times Bestseller.

Since then, she has written almost a dozen other suspense and fantasy thrillers, including the international best-seller, The Forever King.
 
 
 
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Special thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the chance to bring this title to you as well as the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, THIS TOUR, or those forthcoming, please feel free to click through the links provided above.  The title just hit bookstore shelves and virtual retailers June 9th, 2015 via Lake Union Publishing, an imprint of Amazon Publishing, so be on the lookout for it to add to your "to read" list on the double.
 

Until next time...happy reading!