Speak out against bullying - The Salt God's Daughter by Ilie Ruby

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place that's not afraid to tackle the harder issues, especially when it's in support of a great cause.  

Today, we are speaking out against bullying and making our voices heard along with many others in conjunction with the BookSparksPR Speaks Out Campaign.  Chances are you or someone you know has experienced some form of bullying at one point or another (hopefully you or they were not the bully-er...or at least have since mended your ways); if not...count your blessings.  

With today's fast moving society, communication is no longer restricted to postal delivery schedules, or the availability of a phone.  It spreads at the speed of light, the click of a mouse, the tap of a screen...for better AND for worse.  This instant connection can both make or break both us as well as those our words reach.  We have to be EXTRA careful about what we say and how we say, type or text because our facial expressions and tone are not there to pass on that mischievous smile that signals "we were only kidding" and perception no matter how ugly a word is all that's left.  Take a stand for those that can't and be the helping hand that starts a better tomorrow for someone within your reach whether it be hand to hand...or virtual word to virtual word.

We continue our post today with a word from Ilie Ruby, author of The Salt God's Daughter...

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Note from Ilie: The stories of the women who populate The Salt God’s Daughter were inspired by the confluence of real life and a Celtic myth, which I learned from a folksong my mother played on the guitar, The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry. While the myth is the map, its many roads reflect the experiences of my grandmothers, of my mother, of my friends, and of seventeen young girls I never knew but whose histories found me. My wish was to illuminate the female experience through generations–not only those times that are shrouded in shadows, but also those that are lovely and beautiful, and made indelible with light. At its heart this is a story about true love, sometimes found between mothers and daughters, in the secrets of sisters, and in the arms of the first person with whom you shared your heart. When all is said and done, this novel belongs to resolute sisters Ruthie and Dolly. They are my champions. Their journey of discovery and survival is the heart of this story.
 
Set in Long Beach, California, beginning in the 1970s, The Salt God’s Daughter follows three generations of extraordinary women who share something unique—something magical and untamed that makes them unmistakably different from others. Theirs is a world teeming with ancestral stories, exotic folklore, inherited memory, and meteoric myths.

In recognition of October being National Anti-Cyberbullying Awareness month, we are proud to speak out with BookSparksPR, book lovers and author Ilie Ruby against bullies.

Here's how you can speak out too!

• Post it: Post this anti-bullying badge on your blog, site or social media today along with the book cover and the note on Ilie Ruby's book The Salt God's Daughter. We understand you have other obligations/plans for your blog that day. Whatever you can do today to stand up for these 17 young women, Amanda Todd and so many other women and children who are being/have been bullied.
• Tweet it: Speak out with @BookSparksPR, book lovers and @IlieRuby today against bullies! No bullying! http://bit.ly/RCBDSZ #SpeakOut
• Facebook it: Share the badge, this campaign (http://bit.ly/RCBDSZ) and your words against bullying via Facebook and tag (BookSparksPR) so they can share too!
• Rate it: Head over to Goodreads and rate Ilie Ruby's The Salt God's Daughter. It’s a 5-star beautiful book about love, family, and surviving bullying!http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13584821-the-salt-god-s-daughter
• Buy it: If you buy Ilie Ruby’s book, The Salt God’s Daughter, let BookSparksPR know and they'll match with a donation to an anti-bullying organization. On October 24th only, if you buy the book for you, a friend, a holiday gift (great for mothers, daughters, friends, book clubs, etc) or all the above, send your receipt(s) and they'll be donating up to 20% of book sales that day (based on emailed receipts) to the "I Choose" anti-bullying campaign in support of BookSparksPR Speaks Out Against Bullying and all these victims. Buy on Indie Bound; Buy on Amazon; or Buy on Barnes & Noble. Send receipts to contests@SparkPointStudio.com

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Special thanks to BookSparksPR for the chance to participate in this promotion.  For more information on this promotion as well as those forthcoming, be sure to visit them online, like them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.

Until next time....happy reading.

READ ALL ABOUT IT: Awesome by Abigail Arrington

Hi there!

Welcome back to the site that aims to please your bookish side every day of the week....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we are joined by a special guest as we help her celebrate the release of her latest bookish endeavor.  She's a chatty tweep with lawyerly roots (no, really...she's an author AND lawyer!) and can be counted on for not only a quick chat but her honest opinion every time.  She's also one of the very first authors I made contact with on Twitter once upon a time...so needless to say when the opportunity arose to participate in her latest promotion, I jumped at the chance to throw a party like it was 1999 (hopefully all of you reading this are either old enough to GET that joke or are musically informed enough to....^_^).  Yes, it's the one and only...Abigail Arrington! *crowd applauds madly*

Now, this is no ordinary post but rather a 3-n-1 sorta deal.  Spotlight, interview...and CONTEST!  First things first though, let's read a bit about her latest penned work....

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Awesome

by

Abigail Arrington

Strippers suing for sexual harassment. A not-so-civil dispute between a playboy attorney and an ex-exotic dancer. A new client who accidently witnesses a murder. A killer's crosshairs and a Cat 4 hurricane. Attorney Riley Morgan's week is going to hell in her Louis Vuitton handbag.

For Sam Stone, however, everything is going according to plan. He's got a well-heeled client willing to pay any price to win. He's got his trifling co-counsel on the ropes, and Riley Morgan waiting in the wings to join him on the dark side of the law. All that, and a Super Tuesday? Stone couldn't ask for more.

But when a storm stirs the tides, no man, not even one as masterful as Sam Stone, can chart a sure course. The best he can hope for is to save Riley from the grave danger he's managed to put her in while still maintaining his carefully concealed identity. Faced with no small feat, Stone will need help from a few friends and perhaps an enemy as well.

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Grave danger?

Concealed identities?

Helpful enemies?

Boy....sure sounds like a wild ride.

For all of you out there that enjoy a good lawyer-ly book, the Riley Morgan series may be just what the doctor ordered.

Now, we've learned about the book...but what about the mind behind the work?  Yes, my friends...it's time to dive into part two of our three part post; the interview.  Please give a warm welcome to author Abigail Arrington!

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INTERVIEW:  Abigail Arrington

...author of Precession and Awesome

So, Abby....first things first.  You wear many hats as it is being a lawyer, shoe lover and maker of trouble (^_^)....what made you decide to put pen to paper? 

Author Abigail Arrington

 It wasn’t so much a decision as an unavoidable conclusion. I have opinions on just about everything. I’ve always written in different formats.  In college I wrote for the college newspaper and ultimately became an editor.  Writing in that style suited me quite well.  As young attorney, I cut my teeth in the field as a judicial law clerk, writing numerous opinions for federal judges every week for about two years.  Following that, my practice was largely in federal court, where most everything is done by written motion.  Needless to say, I had quite a lot of technical and legal writing under my belt after a few years of that, but I’d never really done creative writing (although some who’ve read my pleadings might say otherwise).  Several years before I actually put pen to paper for my first book, PRECESSION, I had the story outlined in my head and even went over pieces of it with friends from time to time, possibly hoping they would tell me it was nonsense so I could abandon the notion.  Sadly, none did.  When my schedule finally let up long enough for me to have energy to direct toward a creative pursuit, I just sat down and starting writing it – pretty much from beginning to end.  I don’t consider myself as a skilled writer by any stretch of the imagination. I’m much more about the creative elements of the story and telling it in a way readers can follow.

They always say an author writes what they know in some way or another....would that be why your novels feature lawyers as the main characters or was there something else behind their use?  

No, that is the reason.  The law is what I know, and to be honest, what I love.  I was that dorky student in law school who always had her hand up.  On the bright side of that, none of my classmates ever had to do the reading.

Your first book, PRECESSION, introduced us to Attorney Riley Morgan and your latest release, AWESOME, continues her story.  I've gotta ask, where did the titles come from?  Is there a third adventure on the horizon for this character?  

The title PRECESSION and the underlying theme from that premise woven into the story just popped into my head for no apparent reason.  The referenced concept is the precession of the equinoxes, which essentially indicates that the universe is always changing, albeit slowly.  I chose the title before I even started writing. To this day, I still don’t know why or how it came to me.  AWESOME came from exactly where the book indicates, an attorney who used to reference herself as being just that.  I do have several continuing arcs in the story, and hopefully will be able to bring them to readers.

What is your favorite part of the writing process....how about your least favorite?  

My favorite part is writing dialogue.  I love to put words in people’s mouths.   Least favorite, figuring out where the dang commas go.  I’m not a fan of the rules of punctuation.  I imagine myself to be more of the concept person.  That’s my excuse, anyway.

I know an author's work is like their baby so picking favorites is a no no but if pressed...what scene in AWESOME are you most looking forward to readers encountering?  

Hmmm, good question.  Perhaps the sex scene, because that was a real stretch for me.  Sex, to me, is something to be done, not explained.  So, naturally, I’ve not written anything like that before, maybe because I find those types of things revealing of one’s nature.  That’s also probably a remnant of my quaint southern bringing.  The parts I enjoyed researching and which flew out of me like bats out of hell when I sat down to write them were Wade’s hacking scenes.  Perhaps that was because those required a great deal of logical sequencing which is something I consider a strong-suit.

For those skimming this post (don't deny it, I see you!), describe AWESOME in ten words or less... 

Sexy, intelligent legal thriller with a cutting-edge plot.

Of the many roles in your life you play, which is your favorite and why?  

I enjoy writing but I have to say, I enjoy being an attorney more.  The pursuit of justice still drives me more than anything else.

If you weren't an author, what would have been your creative outlet?  

I’ve had a number of creative outlets over the years.  I started with music at the age of 8, and learned to play three instruments – one of them well.  I still enjoy playing that one (my flute).  I also design jewelry and have a small jewelry business that is still modestly active for friends and private customers. Most recently, while also working and writing AWESOME, I’ve been designing a new house, with the aid of an architect/designer, of course.  That has been a blast.  I love the tangible aspect of it.  Can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Quid pro quo...

Favorite color... Anything resembling purple.

Favorite song...   Too many to mention. 

As a child you could be found...  Reading a book, practicing my music, or on the playground playing ball with the boys.

Favorite book...  Too many to mention.  I love thrillers. Anything with a fast plot, smart dialogue and unexpected plot-twists.  Not so much into romance or gut-wrenching tales of heartbreak – nothing wrong with them, of course, just not my thing.  I love, love, love satire, though.  You could probably guess that since you follow my Twitter feed.

An author you look up to and why...  Grisham, obviously. He’s essentially the father of the legal thriller.  I also enjoy Michael Connelly’s work (for the reasons noted in answer above).  And really, again, too many others to mention.

Any parting words for your fans?  

Just that I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read my work.  I believe time is the most valuable thing we’ll ever possess.  For folks to spend a little of theirs reading about the world as I imagine it is pretty amazing.

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Okay, so definitely a book for adult readers (sex scene, got it), LOL on the comma issue (I blame...I mean thank...my 7th grade English teacher for the grammar dictator in me, though I still get it wrong sometimes!), Grisham comes as no surprise (^_^) and KUDOS on the humbleness you still maintain regarding your writing ability.

So, whatcha think readers?

Perhaps the next book (or books) on your wish list?  Well, wishing is great, but having them granted is EVEN BETTER!  Thanks to the generosity of Ms. Arrington, I've got the chance to bring this party directly to your doorstep!  That's right.  You've made it to part three of the post and your dedication to celebrating all things BOOKS has granted you access to today's CONTEST!  Ready to read all about it?  Here's the scoop!

FIRST PRIZE:

(1) Signed paperback book

(1) AWESOME imprinted mug

(1) $25 gift card to either Amazon or B&N

SECOND PRIZE:  

(1) Signed paperback

THIRD PRIZE:  

eBook versions of both Awesome AND Precession

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How to enter....

...tweet the author (@AbbyArrington) something from this post whether it be a follow-up question, comment on the book, etc...and include the hashtag #AWESOME.

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THE RULES:

Open to residents of US and Canada; no P.O. Boxes please.  No cost to enter; void where prohibited by law.  Entries will be accepted NOW through midnight CST 10/30/12.  Winners will be chosen at random based on originality by the author herself and contacted within 3-5 BUSINESS DAYS via Twitter.

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Special thanks to author Abigail Arrington for the chance to participate in this celebration and best wishes on this latest installment in the Riley Morgan series!  You can almost always catch Ms. Arrington on Twitter...but if not or you are inclined to learn more about her and her works in another online setting, be sure to add her on Google+ or stop by her official site! 

Good luck to all that enter.

Until next time...happy reading!

Nothing to fear but fear itself...right?

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when the nights get cold, the days grow dark and that fog rolling in  too hard to ignore.  *-*

QUICK REMINDER before we get things started....there are still THREE contests going on RIGHT NOW on the site giving you a chance to win everything from a Kindle Fire to ebooks to books to...well you get the picture.  Just check out the CURRENT CONTESTS listing in the right hand sidebar before you leave and get your entries in before it's too late!  Now, on with the show...

Halloween is JUST around the corner (as are two other holidays we celebrate in my house - birthdays....woo-hoo!) and the creepy, spooky reads just keep coming like a hoard of zombies after a truck load of fresh brains.  (Mmm...um, not really...) Today's post is no different as it features the paranormal side of literature but in a decidedly un-zombie-type fashion.  No, the featured paranormal spectacle (or should I say specter  today is GHOSTS.  One is more than enough, two if they are Casper-like in disposition, but how's about a TOWN full of them?  Oh, and did I mention that they are all being led by one ticked off spirit?  Yeah....fun times....well, for READERS at least.  Enough with the cloak and dagger techniques, I'll leave that to the ghosts.  (*evil grin*) Today's book of choice is...

Ghost Town

by

Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson

with Tim Waggoner

From the publisher...

WELCOME TO EXETER, THE “MOST HAUNTED TOWN IN AMERICA,” thanks to a deadly flood that unleashed an army of ghosts decades ago. And when ghost trackers Amber, Drew, and Trevor attend a conference during Exeter’s spookiest week of the year, the ghouls grow restless. First, an innocent bookstore worker is mysteriously killed, setting off a string of strange deaths that point to a shadowy spirit known as the Dark Lady.
With a paranormal revolution ensuing, the team must stop the twisted bloodbath. But a past horror involving the death of a former teammate has them spinning faster than a specter in a storm, especially when they learn that it’s his ghost who awakened the Dark Lady. Now, with their lives on the line and the entire town at stake, the three must decide whether to trust the spirit of their old friend or to finally put a stake through his heart.

Creeeeppppyy!  Even creepier if you read book one, Ghost Trackers...which I had the fortune of doing but if you haven't or you simply need a refresher, just click HERE to be whisked away to that review. Now, just because it is book two in the series, doesn't mean you can't pick it up and enjoy it as is...because you can!  It works as a stand alone but if your time permits or your interest is great enough, I'd TOTALLY splurge and read both in their appropriate order; it deepens the connections and makes some of the exchanges hold more weight.  But I digress, let's get back to the show...

So, the newly formed team is attending an expo of sorts and what better place for them to be than the MOST HAUNTED TOWN IN AMERICA, right?  Umm, wrong...at least when the ghosties are out and about wreaking more havoc than usual.  Oh, there's a reason for their unease this year...the Dark Lady has been awakened and set her sites on YOU...I mean, them.  *ominous stare*  Yeah, it's gonna be a hot time in the old town tonight, and if she has anything to say about it....the graveyard will be gaining a few more occupants.  Yes, it's a dark and twisted road trip that we're embarking on with more surprises and surprises appearances along the way than you can shake a stick at.

For those that read book one, remember Greg?  Ah yes, dear old...deceased and "I'm-one-with-the-darkness" Greg; such a wonderful fellow, wasn't he?  (<- sarcasm)  He wanted nothing more than to be one with the team and bit off WAY more than he could chew.  Don't worry, we'll see him again...or at least some semblance of him and I can't promise it will be for the better.  (Dun dun DUNNNNNNNN....) Will the team be able to stop the killing spree the Dark Lady and her human henchman (who believe you me is as scary or scarier than the Dark Lady - if she didn't have all her ghostly powers) have begun or will Exeter become the final destination for more than a few folks this Halloween and their celebration of "Dead Days" become more of a permanent state of mind?  Only time will tell...and that's something the team has VERY little of if they are to make it out alive....

Aside from the obvious ghost story and haunted nature of the town, this addition to the series gives us something to fear from the human realm as well.  His name is Mitch.  Sorry...there's no way around that mini-spoiler but it's much less spoiler-ish because we are introduced to this self proclaimed "man's man",  bada** wannabe early on and really...I can't be the only one wishing for a quick exit for this dude as well.  He has a past connection to Amber; one that she'd rather forget (and that she handled quite well might I add!) but one that he is unwilling to let go.  That inability to let go, that other mule-headed-ness attempt at making everything in the world bend to his ingrained thoughts on how they should be is what helps make a bad situation worse.  Let's just say if you are already inclined to be evil, going to a town where evil makes its bed is probably not the best idea...for anyone in your general vicinity   He's a bad man in the simplest of terms...and every now and then despite the evil they spread, bad things happen to bad people.  Moving forward...

Character wise, I enjoyed meeting up with the trio once again.  Amber and Drew have both grown individually and as a couple, providing the strength and support that the other needs but this trip is going to put that connection to the test.  Trevor is no third wheel to all this as his friendship with them both has been their even longer than their formerly unacknowledged attraction.  It's his unmasking of the events that happened at the Lowry House in their youth that brought them to this epicenter of ghostly activity...or rather his looming publication of those events...very fitting considering a ghost (not literal) from his past will be playing a starring role in the events about to transpire whether she likes it or not.  Jenn would be that "ghost" and the owner of Forgotten Lore bookstore; a flame from his past that never quite died down, she needs him now more than ever even if her belief in the paranormal is lacking...no worries, it won't be soon!  Let us not forget Arthur Carrington, ghost show hunter host extraordinaire and Erin Gilman, an ambitious documentarian longing to make her place in the film archives with her piece on Exeter...which is about to get OH-SO-MUCH more exciting then she ever imagined.  Yes, the cast is varied and expansive as is the death toll as it nudges ever higher...but to list them all would take more time than I have and ruin your fun, so I'll let you discover the rest on your reading journey....

Story wise I can't say I was completely surprised at every turn...some scenes you approached and you already knew how it would play out.  Bad I know...the veiling should be a bit thicker, but the good news is that it doesn't ruin the story.  Though the set ups may be obvious, you still don't know where or when they will occur, thereby keeping a small element of surprise.  ALSO, the creativity employed with the encounters and subsequent death scenes (because really, not EVERYONE is going to make it out of this one...alive at least) is just as good, just as scare inducing as in the first book (you remember, the biology class dissection where you were the frog? *gulp*). Ever imagine drowning in a flood...while standing in a room with NO water?  The Dark Lady has...and several people are going to experience that feeling as well as many others.  The first casualty sets the mood for things to come...and will forever make me think twice of being in the bookstore by myself at closing time (thank goodness proto call requires TWO or more people!); warning booksellers and bookish readers, this one will hit home!

All in all, a great follow up to book one with enough chills and thrills to keep you reading with the lights on...and away from historical buildings where tragedy has bound to have struck.  You'll cheer for the "heroes" as they battle the dark forces invading our here and now.  You'll shake with fright as the visage of the Dark Lady appears in your minds eye...*shudders*.  A terrific read this Halloween season or any other time you're looking for some good creepy reading fun, but best left to older teens and adults...unless you like sleeping with the light on for the rest of your days, if you sleep at all.

ARC (and finished copy) for review received courtesy of Melissa at Gallery Books / Simon & Schuster.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their complete catalog, be sure to visit them online, like them on Facebook or follow along on Twitter.  This book was released earlier this month and should be available for consumption...I mean purchase...on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time...happy reading!

The Roving Reader

Too right...on BOTH counts!
^_^

T-shirts spotted "in the wild".

What did you discover when out and about this weekend?
Do tell!

Old Tom's Holiday by Leigh Hobbs

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when you're in need of an escape and only something bookish will do.

Today, we're going on vacation thanks to one precocious cat and his well intentioned owner. Cat lovers and cats beware...you true natures are about to be revealed to the world, in a hilariously cute way of course! Pack your bags and try to leave the pets at home, here comes today's book of choice...

OLD TOM'S HOLIDAY
by
Leigh Hobbs

This is the story of Old Tom. He's a cat's cat only interested in one thing...the best that life has to offer at all times. In this case, the best includes a trip around the world in the lap of luxury...no wait, that trip was for Angela, his patient and caring owner. Oh yes....how exciting! She's won a trip...for one. Uh oh. Well, she supposes Old Tom will understand, I mean she does everything for him with nary a second thought and rarely a finger...um, toe, lifted. Surely he can manage on his own for a few days, right? Sure... *-*

Old Tom has other ideas to say the least and those thoughts lead to the humorous adventure within these pages. He has no intention of being left behind but try as he might, Angela won't budge. No problem...cats were born for sneaky hijinks and Tom is a cat through and through. Angela embarks on her holiday only to discover some strange similarities to some peculiar characters and locations along the way. Oddly...they very clearly remind her of Tom. But that's silly, he's back at home. Just when the feelings of lonlinesd get to be too much, Angela gets a fuzzy orange ill mannered surprise...and a holiday for one, becomes an escape for two.

Angela and Old Tom are quite the pair and though he stirs up way more trouble than she, they still love each other despite their faults. Sort of like when my pups tear something up they shouldn't or want to play outside LONG after I've told them to come in; it's that unbreakable unconditional bond of love that makes us turn the other cheek time and again. Everyone should have the chance at that bond at some point in their lives no matter your choice of pet...though perhaps I'd leave Old Tom in Angela's capable and patient hands. They provide a world of love and understanding plus help us to grow in ways untold.

So, to Tom I bid a happy holiday, to all you readers out there, I invite you to follow his adventure! It's a great read for all ages that is sure to leave a smile on your face, or at least a knowing look as Old Tom tries to pull the wool over Angela's eyes yet again. Review copy courtesy of Peachtree Publishers. (THANKS!) For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to visit them online (http://peachtree-online.com), check out their blog, or follow along on Twitter (http://twitter.com/PeachtreePub)!

Until next time...happy reading!

He he he, my pretty!: The Not So Wicked, Wicked Witch by Amy Purser Carter

Hi guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be to get a good feel on your next Halloween read; at least for the next 12 odd days or so. ^_^

Quick reminder...one contest closes TONIGHT and several others follow suit in a matter of days, so don't delay! Get your entries in now so you don't miss out on all the fun.  Now, on with the show...

Today on the blog, we're taking a look at a Halloween-esque title with a not so spooky twist making it a great read for the whole family. It came to my attention courtesy of the author and stuck in my mind long after our introduction because...well it's simply TOO CUTE!  I know, odd to say about a Halloween book but this one is unique. Without further ado, today's book of choice is...

THE NOT SO WICKED, WICKED WITCH
by
Amy Purser Carter
Illustrated by
Sarah E. Markham

Just take a look at that cover and you know you've nothing to fear from this wicked witch; a fine moniker to be saddled with when one feels anything but.  This is a case of stereotyping if I ever did see; simply because one looks like a witch (though she uses a much brighter color palette...think Glenda vs the West) and acts like a witch (brews potions, flies on a broom...all with limited success) doesn't necessarily mean they ARE a witch...or at least not of the wicked variety.

Lucky for her, Halloween offers her a chance to be someone else too...and her "someone else" embraces pink as the new orange (Elle Woods anyone? ^_^), has a decidedly non-black cat and bakes cookies for the good girls and boys that stumble upon her cottage (and I do mean cookies, like chocolate chip and peanut butter...not hansel pie or gretal muffins).  Different? Quite...but that's the cute-ness of the story and the method used to deliver thr message of embracing your true self in lieu of what the world may tell you to be.  Fine thoughts indeed and something good for all ages to remember but the younger set won't be focused on that aspect at first glance....

This is a storybook after all and what would a storybook be without illustrations? A book...a plain old (still deliciously enjoyable) book.  The illustrations are whimsical and fun, perfectly highlighting the brighter side of this not so wicked witch.  I love the technique used.  Pencil drawings with clean lines and heavy colored pencil use with gorgeous blending and shading...at least that's what I see. ^_^  Definitely a fan of colored pencils because the effects you can achieve are endless. From the witch to the pumpkins, the lovely little cottage to the bubbling cauldron, there's something to see on every page that will delight and tantalize giving older readers something to be dazzled by while allowing younger readers the chance to get caught up in the story. A great balance overall but I do have a small critique...

A lot of story books are written in rhyme and this one is no different, HOWEVER in my mind, this would have done better if simply written as a story...minus the lyrical aspect.  While cute and enchanting, the rhyming at times falls off the written track adding a little wobble to an otherwise adorable story.  It's one of those cases where less would be more.  That being said though, it far from ruins the experience and I can totally see little girls getting all jazzed up about the pink witch and wondering how to trick or treat at her house this Halloween!

In conclusion, a quick and adorable Halloween treat to add to your not so scary celebration.  Break out the milk and cookies, grab a pink feather boa (I've got mine...courtesy of the author ^_^) and settle in for a great reminder of the fun that October 31st brings each year but also of the importance of being yourself; after all, there is only one you...making you special indeed with no enhancement required.

Signed review copy (and boa!) courtesy of author Amy Carter. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, be sure to visit the authors website at http://www.thenotsowickedwitch.com  .  This title was released back in 2009 courtesy of Out Skirts Press (http://www.outskirtspress.com) and should be available now on a bookstore shelf near you or you favorite online retailer.  Need a lead? Check out the Out Skirts Press Bookstore (http://www.outskirtspress.com/bookstore) where you may even score some special savings if the Moon is right.^_^

Until next time....happy reading!

Children's Book-A-Day Almanac by Anita Silvey

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....the place to feed your need to read and today's post is ready to feed that need for a year...but first things first.

So, how have you enjoyed the month thus far?  Fun, right?  We've seen reviews and spotlights and contests (some of which are still going on now....if you would like to enter...oh come on, you win free books that rock and make this blogger a happy camper!) and all sorts of bookish fun.  Today is no different and we've got LOTS to celebrate thanks to the featured title!  How so?  Well, this isn't just any old book, not that any book is just "any old" book...they all have something to share, but this one is different and will help you plot your reading year with a smile and a turn of the page.  Ready to discover more?  Here we go!  Today's book of choice is....

Children's Book-A-Day Almanac

by

Anita Silvey

How can you not love a book about books?  Well, okay...let me back track there because some attempts at it aren't as successful as others but this one...in my opinion you can't go wrong.  Whether a book enthusiast (*raises hand*), bookseller (*raises other hand*), teacher, parent or librarian, I'd make room on your daily read this for this little gem.

Now, my review copy if a special pamphlet style edition highlighting a few random days throughout the year, but the full fledged edition will have tasty bookish tidbits for your information and exploration 365 days a year.  Take today for example (yes, I did pick TODAY to post because it is actually one of the featured days...pretty cool, right?  *high five*), we've got....

....Alaska Day - the holiday celebrated in Alaska that commemorates the transfer of the territory from Russia to the United States...with a recommended read of The Call of the Wild by Jack London!

...the beginning of National Freedom of Speech Week - a great time to celebrate our First Amendment rights...with a reading suggestion of First Freedoms by Charles C. Haynes, Sam Chaltain and Susan M. Glisson.

...National Chocolate Cupcake Day - do I really need to tell you how to celebrate this one?  ^_^








...and that's just the tip of the iceberg on today's entry in this delightful and informative read.  No, really!  All of that is simply sidebar information with the bulk of the page being occupied by another October celebration....International Dinosaur Month!

Now, I don't know about you, but I love my dinosaurs....favorite was the Stegosaurus...and I owe that fascination to dear old Mom for taking me to the Museum of Natural History as a child; still remember seeing the T-Rex skeleton there...and I have my souvenir tote bag somewhere around here still.  (Hehe.) Even if you're not a huge dino fan, the bookish side of you still gets to celebrate because the book featured is Danny the Dinosaur by Sid Hoff.  We learn where the series came from (an effort to entertain his sick daughter!), how successful the author was in his early days (not very...struggling artist certainly applied) and even a bit about the man behind the work (always interesting).  It's a well balanced piece that is sure to appeal to a broad audience.

In conclusion, it introduces a new approach to sharing more than just the books by connecting those stories and collections with real life events and extending the celebration beyond the page.  I'd certainly say it'd make a great resource for anyone that counts reading among the better parts of their days and I wouldn't be surprised to find it tucked on the corner of a teacher's or librarian's desk as a tool for inviting young minds into the vast world that awaits them within the pages.  A stellar addition to anyone's reading rotation and one that will be residing on my wish list for a future purchase as well.

Recommended read for teens and beyond as it has an adult flair to the presentation but the sharing of the information, stories and celebrations within is appropriate for all ages.  Interested in discovering more?  Check out the official website that adds an interactive aspect to the daily entries, like them on Facebook or follow along on Twitter!

ARC for review courtesy of Ksenia with MacMillan Children's Publishing Group.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their complete catalog of rocking reading choices, feel free to visit them online, like them on Facebook or follow along on Twitter.  This book is scheduled for release October 30, 2012 via Roaring Brook Press, so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf near you or get your pre order on with your favorite online retailer today.

Until next time...happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Dear Teen Me

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the site that aims to bring you something fresh, something new (or new-to-you), something SCARY (hey, it IS October...tis the Halloween season and all), every day of the week.

Today, we are discussing something truly scary.  Something you may have to run for cover from.  Something we all encounter in our lives and there is NO ESCAPE.  

Scared yet?  You should be because today we are looking back on our....

....TEEN YEARS....

--insert terrifying scream of fright here--

That's right.  Our teenage years.  Oh, I know they say they are the "best years of your life" and the moments that we'll look back on fondly in our golden years, but let me say this....while that is true in some respects, those actually going through it at the time more often than not beg to differ.  Before I wax fondly on this train of thought for too long, allow me to introduce today's blog tour guest and book of choice...

Dear Teen Me:

Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves

Edited by

E. Kristin Anderson and Miranda Kenneally

This is a non-fiction collection from some of the biggest names in the writing world today sharing their personal stories of heartache, hard times, epic fails, and unchangeable rolls of the dice.  Within these pages, you'll meet those struggling with everything from their self-image to lifestyles, affiliations to inescapable health issues and everything in between.  In reading the correspondence from their voice of the present to their selves of the past, we gain not only life lessons and wisdom, but hoorays for dancing to their own drummer.  You see, despite the trails and tribulations of youth, there is also a certain freedom many experience and along the road of life, it can become tainted or lost out right.  That's the part that many miss later on, but I digress....

This is a BIG world we live in and its filled with all kinds of people, both for better and worse.  Hopefully you've encountered only those that would enhance your life path...but then again, in some ways, I hope that's not the case.  Heartless, right?  No...not really and here's why.  Those experiences, both the good and the bad, help us to understand who we are, what we'll become and inevitably the type of person we WANT to be.  Do they majorly suck when you're going through them?  ABSOLUTELY...and some of the experiences revealed in this "tell all" shouldn't have to be lived through by anyone (though much KUDOS, pats on the back, and hugs to all those authors that shared their personal trials so openly!)...but the people that crawled out of the flames, the individual that hit the streets running with their head held high after settling up with what fate dealt them....those are the heroes of the moment.

They faced what was happening, found a way through and now share their stories in order for the next generation (and heck, even those of the same generation still looking for a way out or forward) to know that someone out there understands.  They are not alone.  There are those that have been-there-done-that and unfortunately there will be those that take their places in the same dark pits they escaped but there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is most decidedly not a train.  Life goes on as will you, though right now that might be hard to see.  When I first signed up for the tour, I was offered the chance to choose the type of post I wanted to present; obviously I went with a review.  In that respect, I have to say that this is certainly an emotional read but in the BEST way possible.  It's great to make that human connection with some of the names you've added to your "favorite authors" list over the years and seeing how much they've over come builds an even greater respect for them.  There was an unexpected development though....the lending of confidence.

How so?  Well, another option for the tour was to share our own Dear Teen Me letters and while I may not delve as deep as many of the authors included in this book, I will share a small bit of me with the me of back then.  Here goes.... *deep breath*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Teen Me,

Psst!  Hey, you.  Yes, YOU.  Is this seat taken?  I'm you from the future and yes, I do know how crazy that sounds...just hear me out.  You've got your dreams and your ambitions, which are great!  Don't let them fall by the wayside just because someone else tries to throw a monkey wrench in the works.  I would however recommend reevaluating your goals.  Why?  Well, the medical field is an AWESOME choice now and in the future, but you're truly at home in the world of books.  Don't deny it....you're itching to pick one up now as we speak and that's okay!  Some of the friends you make in time will be connected to you by the reads you share and the worlds you explore.  They may be virtual but they are as real as you and me...well, us.  It's hard to explain, but trust me....making some headway towards that goal today will help you achieve much more in the coming years.

Speaking of friends...I'd love to say that you shed your shy status and blossom into something other than a wallflower but alas, your bookish before the term was coined and you'll always have a mountain to climb to crack that turtle shell you're in.  Don't worry...like I said, there are others like you and once you find your passion, you'll find the freedom to express yourself like never before. 

As for love...you'll love many things; your family, your friends, but the guy front is more of a no man's land.  So not the drama!  Oh you'll go through spells of longing for that connection those around you seem to be making left and right but finding Mr. Right is gonna be a little harder for you.  Curious if you've found him in the future?  Not as of this meeting, but there's always tomorrow.  Keep your chin up and don't be afraid to smile at that cute boy glancing your way....it'll give you more experience for the future.

I'll wrap this little chat up because as you and I both know, we can be long winded sometimes.  You're a "good girl" and there's nothing wrong with that but, if you can, try to get out a little more; make some memories and have some fun.  At the very least, it'll give you something to talk about in later years; at the most, you'll find those lasting friendships you've been seeking.  It's a win-win any way you slice it.  

Take care...and don't be so hard on yourself.  Straight A's are fabulous but you're only young once.

With much love and respect....

Me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

There are over 130 blogs participating in this tour so be sure to stop by the official tour schedule so you don't miss out on this awesome promotion.  Live in the Texas, Northern California, Washington D.C., or New York area?  DEAR TEEN ME is hitting the streets, click HERE to find out about the live events planned in your area!  If you're a Twitter user (*raises hand*), be sure to follow the #DearTeenMe hashtag for the latest and greatest on the virtual tour AND tune in October 30th from 10:00-10:30 AM PDT for a LIVE chat with co-editors and contributors E. Kristin Anderson and Miranda Kenneally!  Let us not forget the original website that started it all....

Review copy received courtesy of Zest Books.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their official website, check out their blog, like them on Facebook, pin them on Pinterest, or follow along on Twitter!  Zest Books is an award-winning publisher of smart and edgy titles that focus on the colorful chaos of teen life. These nonfiction books cover timely topics in creative ways by incorporating solid life advice, practical how-to instruction, and humorous commentary. Zest Books’ catalogue includes 97 Things to Do Before You Finish High School, Where’s My Stuff: The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide, and Scandalous! 50 Shocking Events You Should Know About So You Can Impress Your Friends. In Fall 2012, Zest Books launches a new line of memoirs and first-person accounts, and Dear Teen Me is the first book in this new line.  Zest Books is distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  This title officially releases October 30th, 2012 so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you...or if you would like a pre-order option, stop by Indiebound, Amazon, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble or Book Depository sites.

Until next time...happy reading.

Taste Testing Tuesdays

Good morning (or whatever time it is where you are), everyone!

Welcome to another installment of Taste Testing Tuesdays here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers! Taste Testing Tuesdays was inspired by 'Teaser Tuesdays', a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

On the menu this week...an ebook I'm reading through faster than anticipated (good stuff!) and I'm delighted to share with you today.  Ready for a taste?  Here it comes....

The Awakening of Leeowyn Blake

by

Mary Parker

Alex nodded.
He pulled his hand from my grasp, and placed it on my cheek, soothing me like I was a little girl who skinned her knee.
"lee, you are important to everyone here.  I can't tell you how important."
-- pg 146

The faces of everyone in the room flashed through my mind.  They wanted to use me, each and every one of them.  My family.  Alex.  Peach.  They each wanted me to side with them; with their realm.  Not one of them really cared about me.
-- pg 185

Hmm...okay, so Lee is OBVIOUSLY important but as to the why, how and what happens next, I've not a clue yet!  So far, the reading is good, the flow is steady and the pace is nice.  Where it will take us is yet to be determined....but the surprise is half the fun sometimes.  ^_^

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Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read 

*Open to a random page 

*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

*Share the title & author, too, so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Until next time....happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Sandwich with a Side of Romance by Krista Phillips

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when you're ready to start your week off with a bookish infusion.

Today, we are playing host to a blog tour from Pump Up Your Book featuring a new-to-me author whose work caught my attention despite being outside my usual reads.  How so?  You'll see.  Without further ado, please welcome today's blog tour guest and book of choice...

Sandwich with a Side of Romance

by

Krista Phillips

From Pump Up Your Book...

She moved to Sandwich, IL in search of a new life, but ended up in a giant pickle.

Sandwich represents hope for twenty-year-old Maddie Buckner and Kyle, the eleven-year-old brother Maddie wants to spring out of foster care. Then she loses her new job after less than a day on the clock. It’s all Reuben-the-Jerk’s fault, and she’s determined to make him right the wrong.

He does so, reluctantly, by giving her a job at his restaurant, The Sandwich Shop. Then crazy things start happening at the restaurant, and Kyle’s foster parents apply to adopt him. To stop it all, Maddie must learn the art of humbling herself and accepting the help God has arranged, risking her heart to Reuben in the process.

And she’d rather eat a million corned-beef on rye sandwiches than do that.

Okay, first things first...this book was out of my reading box in two ways when you look at the genre. Officially it's considered a Christian Fiction Romance...the first one I've dabbled in but not often, the third one I usually avoid. However...after seeing the cover (cute and a bit sassy all at once!) and reading the synopsis (love the puns and the overall storyline), I simply couldn't resist. So, I stepped out of the box and took a chance on this one with interesting results. Let's take a look at the story....

I really liked the way the general storyline played out from start to finish. We take a young girl with a harsh past looking to make a brighter future not simply for herself but for the brother she loves and simply wants the best for. Every move Maddie makes is to meet the happy ending of her getting custody of him and putting their broken but still good (sorry....borrowed that line from Stitch) family back together again. It's incredible the things she's survived and nothing I would ever wish on my worst enemies and for her to pull through with any semblance of normalcy was a miracle in and of itself. Speaking of miracles...

Though she is one tough little cookie, her strength didn't magically appear but was bolstered into existence by her new found faith. She's found God and made a promise to live a good Christian life in exchange for a clean slate as it were...more power to her. I don't knock faith in any of its forms and the morals that are employed throughout the story are A-OKAY in my book; heck, they border on the saintly! The only drawback it caused for me was at times, it got a wee bit preachy. Grant it, I understand, it fits the genre and the current happenings in the story; however, that is one reason I don't dabble in this genre more often. Nuff said....moving on to the characters...

Maddie, as I might have already mentioned, was a wonderful character. I appreciated her matter-of-factness combined with a sweet smile and a little snark...as did Reuben. *wink*wink* Now, now; don't get any ideas.....as I said, this book is majorly chaste but it doesn't stop them from having a little flirty bantor, and light blush worthy moments. They're cluelessness about each other will make you smile, and at times shake your head (really Reuben, how could you think SHE did that?!), but it provides the heart of the romance for which the book is labeled. Now the Callahan's are not simply made of Reuben alone....no siree. His sister, his mother and father, and so one all make their appearances and each is more huggable than the last. They really and truly believe in helping those in need in any way they can and expect nothing in return; merely anticipating the rewards their heavenly father will bring. There are however a few people I could do with a little less of....namely Livy, Maddie's Dad, and a few others from Maddie's past that will make a quick appearance, but they do go a ways in making her who she is. Just wish she hadn't had to live through those horrific times to get to this place, you know? *hugs Maddie* Anywho...

In conclusion, a charming story that will leave you smiling and change the way you look at a sandwich for some time after. You'll laugh, you'll tear a time or two, you may even talk back to the characters in regards to things they are assuming (because we all know what ASSUME means...)...but in my mind, those are all things that simply show it's a great book. If you like a little sweet romance with a storyline from the heart and characters that while aiming for grace sometimes fall short, this book is for you. A bit preachy at times, yes....but well worth the lessons shared.

Review copy received courtesy of Dorothy at Pump Up Your Book Blog Tour. (THANKS!) For more information on this tour as well as those forthcoming, feel free to visit their official website, like them on Facebook, add them to your circle on Google+, or follow along on Twitter! To find out more about author Krista Phillips, be sure to stop by her blog. This book is available now from Abingdon Press so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf near. you.

Until next time....happy reading!