BOOK BLAST: Shlemiel Crooks by Anna Olswanger

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining in a HFVBT blast for a Children's Fiction title that falls in the edutainment category with grace and panache. Ready Freddy? Here comes today's book spotlight...

Shlemiel Crooks

by

Anna Olswanger

Illustrated by

Paula Koz

Publication Date: May 1, 2005

NewSouth Books

Hardcover & Paperback; 36 Pages

Genre: Children's Fiction/Historical

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2006 Sydney Taylor Honor Book, Young Reader’s Category, Association of Jewish Libraries 2005-2006 Koret International, Jewish Book Award Finalist, BabagaNewz Childrens' Literature Category 

 "In the middle of the night on a Thursday, two crooks—onions should grow in their navels—drove their horse and wagon to the saloon of Reb Elias Olschwanger, at the corner of 14th and Carr streets in St. Louis. This didn't happen yesterday. It was 1919." 

So begins a modern folktale based on the Yiddish community of the author's great-grandparents in the early 20th century. In original and engaging storytelling, Shlemiel Crooks introduces young readers to the history of Passover, as Pharaoh and a town of Jewish immigrants play tug-of-war with wine made from grapes left over from the Exodus from Egypt. Punctuated by colorful Yiddish expressions, the customs and language of a Jewish community of another time come alive. Shlemiel Crooks is a Sydney Taylor Honor Book in the Young Reader's Category from the Association of Jewish Libraries and a PJ Library Book.

Hardcover | Paperback

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"Shtetl humor and magic realism come to St. Louis in 1919 in this wry Pesach story. The best thing here is Olswanger's Yiddish storyteller's voice, particularly the hilarious curses she weaves into the story. Great for reading aloud." -Booklist

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About the Author

After nine years at Liza Dawson Associates in New York, Anna launched her own agency Olswanger Literary LLC in 2014. Her clients include the New York Times best-selling author Michael Hall and the Newbery Honor Book winner Vince Vawter. Her first children's book Shlemiel Crooks is based on a Yiddish newspaper article she uncovered about the attempted robbery of her great-grandfather's kosher liquor store in St. Louis in 1919. Shlemiel Crooks is a Sydney Taylor Honor Book and PJ Library Book. In 2011 the Kaufman Center in New York adapted "Chicken Bone Man" and Shlemiel Crooks into a musical for families, which premiered at Merkin Concert Hall. The musical is available for licensing from Dramasource.com Anna's latest book for young readers is Greenhorn, an illustrated children's novel inspired by the true story of a young Holocaust survivor. It is now an independent film.

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Book Blast Schedule

Wednesday, April 20 Passages to the Past Thursday, April 21 100 Pages a Day Friday, April 22 Bookish 

  Saturday, April 23 The Book Junkie Reads The Never-Ending Book 

Sunday, April 24 Book Nerd

Monday, April 25 CelticLady's Reviews Thursday, April 28 A Leisure Moment Saturday, April 30 A Holland Reads

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Giveaway

To win a hardcover copy of Shlemiel's Crooks by Anna Olswanger, please enter the giveaway via the GLEAM form below. 

  Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on April 30th. You must be 18 or older to enter. 

– Giveaway is open to US residents only.

 – Only one entry per household. 

– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. 

Shlemiel Crooks

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Special thanks to Amy at HFVBT for the chance to bring this title to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or those tours forthcoming, feel free to click through the links above.

Until next time... happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Doing It Over by Catherine Bybee - REVIEW + CONTEST!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're playing host to a blog tour starring a Contemporary Romance title that just celebrated it's BOOK BIRTHDAY about a week ago.  It's from an author that has an impressive body of works, and though this is the first time I've heard of/read one of her titles, it DEFINITELY won't be the last.  So, if you're ready to add another book to your must read shelf, come with me as we visit a little town with A LOT of heart.  Today's book of choice is...

Doing It Over

Most Likely To series, Book 1

by

Catherine Bybee

9781503950726

Montlake Romance

About the book...

Voted Most Likely to Succeed, Melanie Bartlett ended up anything but. The down-on-her-luck single mom wants a complete do-over—is that too much to ask? With her family long gone from River Bend, strong, independent Mel is as surprised as anyone to end up in the quaint small town she once called home. But with her friends, Jo and Zoe, by her side, and a comfortable room at Miss Gina’s quirky bed-and-breakfast, she just might have turned the corner on a new life.

Wyatt Gibson never liked the big city. River Bend suits the ruggedly handsome builder just fine. Wyatt knows he’s home, even if that means being charmed by the appearance of Melanie and her spunky, adorable daughter. Is Wyatt’s calm devotion—even amid a coming storm—enough to convince Mel she may have found a home to call her own, a family that never leaves, and a true love to last a lifetime?

AMAZON  |  B&N  |  BAM  |  BOOK DEPO

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First off, let's talk about that cover.  Isn't it gorgeous?!  The colors, the image, the feel of it all lead you to believe you're walking into a Contemporary Romance through and through.  The title itself lends credibility to that perceived fact and while you wouldn't be wrong, you also wouldn't be exactly right in your assumptions.



So, there I was cruising along through my "to read" list, checking off titles agreed to and tour stops signed up for, when I came upon this date on my schedule.  I noted the "review", that it was a digital (*groan*) ARC, and that while I had heard the author's name in passing, this would be my first time actually reading her work.  With the retrieval of a file and the flick of a screen, I was off and reading. We started out all school reunions, promises to be fulfilled, lives taking different forks than expected in the road, and begin the navigate through what the "doing it over" might be referring to...in this case, Melanie's second chance at getting her "first love" right.

Melanie is an awesome character.  Despite the curves that life has thrown her, she's carried on with little to no assistance from those that SHOULD be showering her with care.  The daughter that stole her heart was the end result of a union that just wasn't meant to be (for SO many reasons) but she wouldn't trade her for the world...as it should be.  Melanie's arrival back in her hometown helps to explain why her surviving it all is possible.  Aside from her inner well of strength, she has an AMAZING group of friends that would do anything for her as fast as she would do anything for them.  Jo, the unexpected law officer of the bunch (didn't see that one coming).  Zoe, the bestie skilled with cooking talent that is taking her career far...though her love life is pretty stunted.  Speaking of stunted, that brings us to Luke, a kind soul that never did make it out of their little town nor manage to get a particular cook out of his heart. (*ahem*  The next book perhaps?)  A town fixture and HUGE hearted woman to say the least, we certainly can't forget Miss Gina who definitely brings her own flair to the bunch (can't help loving she shares my name, though I'm not nearly as feisty...and be warned, avoid the red pitcher punch!).  Then there's the town newcomer, Wyatt....*le sigh*.  Let's just say the dude is seriously a catch in more than the looks department.  The moments he shares with Melanie are fully charged but sweet, the connection he has with her daughter Hope are so tender, they leave a bruise.  The potential for romance is there, as for whether or not they pan out, I can't say (that'd be cheating!)....but that part of the story is just the TIP of the iceberg brewing beneath.



You see, once upon a time a young girl became a woman and traveled back to her hometown in hopes of a new start for her and her daughter....BUT a dark cloud followed their progress and aimed to change their happy ending.  The dark cloud in this case is named Nathan.  OMG.  I seriously was thinking some bad words towards this "man" from the moment he came on the scene.  To think he just shows up after all this time with THAT sorry butt excuse that's OBVIOUSLY so full of something, it's just mind-boggling and offensive to me, let alone our leading lady.  Lucky for her, she has backup a plenty and trust me, they are more than ready to rumble on her behalf, requested or not.  Some punches are thrown, literally and figuratively, and things begin to heat up with veiled threats and promises of worse to come.  Then, the worst DOES happen...and I'm telling you, my heart was in my mouth the entire time.  You can't begin to imagine the twist the story takes after a moment of much deserved passion...and where that road leads is darker than the blackest night.  Good thing she has great friends, a good head on her shoulders, and a heart full of love because she's gonna need all her wits about her to go up against this evil that man has brought upon them.  Enough of the darkness though, allow me to step back into the light...

Hope may seem like a minor character as she is the child of our leading lady but she seriously steals the show several times over.  She's smart, brave, adventurous, and puts her own spin on things that you never imagined, yet make perfect sense.  Her grasp of the things happening around her, including the introduction of Nathan, are spot on.  The honesty she portrays in her description of a father, the reasoning she uses to explain her version of "Snow White", even her understanding of her mother's "seek the knight not the prince" advice, will touch your heart and bring a smile to your face.  Melanie really does have something special there...and I'm so glad she realized it long before the harrowing events transpired.



In conclusion, it's a Contemporary Romance with a healthy dose of mystery, danger, and possible happy-ever-afters, that will have you turning pages (or swiping your screen) at a rapid pace.  Just remember to slow down and enjoy the journey because once things really start to heat up, there will be no turning back.  Though an ARC version with several needed edits, the author brings her characters to life with identifiable voices that stand on their own.  You feel like one of the "family" once things draw to a close and that's definitely a wonderful way to be.  It was a pleasure spending time in this small town and I can't wait to go back for another visit very soon (seeing as this is the first book in a new series....woo hoo!).  Recommended for adult readers due to character age, situations, and some sexy times...enjoy!

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About the author...

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Weekday Brides Series and the Not Quite Series. Bybee lives with her two teenage sons in Southern California.  

SITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  BLOG

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Special thanks to Crystal (Ms. Bybee's assistant) for the ecopy for review and introducing me to this author's work.  (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Montlake Romance, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.


BEFORE YOU GO....
DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO ENTER TO WIN THE TOUR WIDE CONTEST!  PRIZES INCLUDE (1) KINDLE PAPERWHITE AND (2) $50 GIFT CARDS!
JUST CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ENTRIES IN....


Until next time...happy reading!



BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Good Traitor by Ryan Quinn + CONTEST!

Hi there!

Welcome back to another day here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're lending the book spotlight to a title on tour with Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.  It stars a Thriller that sounds like it will keep you on the edge of your seat while challenging you to figure out just who did what.  Sound like your cup of tea?  Well then, what are we waiting for?  Let's do this!  Ready, set, read all about it!

The Good Traitor

by

Ryan Quinn

978-1503954625

Thomas & Mercer

Genre:  Thriller

Release Date:  April 5, 2016

About the book...

The US ambassador to China is killed in a suspicious plane crash just days after a news article links Chinese spies to US business interests. The American intelligence community is left scrambling to investigate possible connections between the crash and a series of other high-profile deaths. On the other side of the world, ex-CIA operative Kera Mersal returns to the United States determined to clear her name after being branded a traitor for exposing illegal government surveillance. There, former colleague and fellow fugitive J. D. Jones contacts her with a new assignment: find out who is staging accidents to murder news sources. As the news site continues to publish stories about top-secret CIA programs and Chinese government corruption, Mersal reunites with old allies to uncover the truth and prove her loyalty to her country once and for all. But Mersal’s investigations put her on the trail of a sinister hacker whose own motives may influence a vaster—and more deadly—geopolitical conspiracy than either of the world’s two largest superpowers is prepared to handle.

Purchase Links:

 

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About the author...

A native of Alaska, Ryan Quinn was an NCAA champion and an all-American athlete in skiing while at the University of Utah. He worked for five years in New York’s book-publishing industry before moving to Los Angeles, where he writes and trains for marathons. Quinn’s first novel, The Fall, was an award-winning finalist for the 2013 International Book Awards.

 

For more, please visit:

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To check out the rest of the tour,

CLICK HERE!

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JOIN THE FUN!


This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours for Ryan Quinn. There will be 1 winners of 1 $10 Amazon.com US Gift card. The giveaway begins on April 5th and runs through May 13th, 2016.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Special thanks to the PICT promotion team for the chance to bring this tour to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.

Until next time...happy reading!

Fool's Gold: Best of My Love by Susan Mallery

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  Today, I'm BEYOND excited to share the title on deck. Any idea as to WHY that might be?  Hey, no cheating and looking at the POST TITLE again.  If you didn't see it the first time, let me have my thunder.  ^-^  *ahem* 

The reason for my exuberance is because I had the immense pleasure of reading an ARC of a particular title that releases THIS TUESDAY from one of a few of my favorite authors via the illustrious Harlequin Books team.  Why was my joy so immense?  Look at YOU with all the questions today!  (JK!)  The height of my joy was due to the fact that this is a pretty big author, and her series has a HUGE following, and I being one of many that probably requested the chance to peek behind the cover....managed to score a copy. 

*looks at precious on bookshelf...smiles*

  So, thanks to the Harlequin team (THANK YOU!), I now how the pleasure of tantalizing you with the soon-to-hit-bookstore-shelves title in today's spotlight and my book of choice...

Best of My Love

Fool's Gold, Book 20

by

Susan Mallery

9780373789191

Harlequin Books

About the book...

To overcome her painful past, baker Shelby Gilmore goes on the hunt for a friend-a male friend-to convince her stubborn psyche that men can be trusted. But where in a town as small as Fool's Gold will the petite blonde find a guy willing to not date her?

Dark, charming Aidan Mitchell puts the "adventure" in Mitchell Adventure Tours...and into the beds of his many willing female tourists. Until he realizes he's inadvertently become that guy-the one-night Casanova-and worse, everyone in town knows it. Maybe Shelby's boy/girl experiment will help him see women as more than just conquests so he can change his ways and win back his self-respect.

As Aidan and Shelby explore the secret lives of men and women, the heat between them fires up the Fool's Gold rumor mill. If no one will believe they're just friends, maybe they should give the gossips something to really talk about!

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This is me.

This is me when I found out about a NEW Susan Mallery book in the works.

This is me when the ARC for same said book arrived in my mailbox.

This is me when I turned the first page as well as the last.

For those initiated into the Fool's Gold "club" as it were, you already know the deal.  Each book builds upon the last in the series and while any of the titles CAN be read alone, fans know the real question is...WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO?  I can answer that....you don't and while I've not read all the books in the series as of yet, but all that I have, I've devoured and with the enjoyment from each came the knowledge of another corner, another couple, another piece of the overall Fool's Gold puzzle.  They've all been a joy to behold before and this one certainly lives up to it's predecessors. 

This time around, we've an un-couple...a not couple...a friends-not-lovers scenario?  Okay, so it's hard to put a label on it, but it makes sense to me...though the same couldn't be said about MOST of the townspeople.  Shelby has a past that is painful, a past she'd like to overcome in order to meet the guy of her dreams, marry, and start a family.  Aiden is one of the last Mitchell brothers in Fool's Gold and though content to not dig any relationship roots of his own, also doesn't want to be the town womanizer.  They both need to see the opposite sex in a whole new light, gain trust, confidence, and a way to get beyond their past experiences in order to become the people they were truly meant to be.  What better way than two somewhat lost souls coming together in friendship to help guide each other through?  So you see, MEGA-AWESOME plan!  No one gets hurt (not).  No one gets attached (not).  No one crosses the boundaries or challenges the ground rules set at the start (not and not, again).  Easy peasy, lemon squeezy....or not.  *wink wink*  Hey, the heart wants what the heart wants even if the heart doesn't seem to know from the start.  Sometimes the best relationships are those that grew from friendship to something more...and boy do these two have a shot at something special.

Shelby and Aiden are truly memorable characters.  Their journey from acquaintances to friends to something more was touching...and humorous.  Hey, as much as we THINK we know about the opposite sex, it really only hits at what goes on behind closed doors....sort of like the iceberg that took down the Titanic.  *-*  They both are in for an eye-opening experience (as is the town for that matter) from the start as they try to explain what they are doing but not the entire reason behind why.  Shelby is honest about her past with Aiden and a few select others, but she's not about to shout it from the mountaintops.  It's dark, it's unfortunate, but it was totally out of her control and reliving it is not something anyone should have to do.  Aiden's history is more well known, as is the New Year's "showdown" that started him on this path of change, but his intentions are good.  Together they discover if "Mars and Venus" are really so different, while digging out the roots of their own "issues" in order to gain a fresh start for their hearts.

In the end, I truly adored Aiden and Shelby.  The journey they took together was really moving and the final outcome, all we could have hoped for. Oh, and did I mention Charlie was a sweetheart?!  The addition of this little fur-baby was the perfect touch to balance out our manly man and how he stole his heart will seriously break your own.  Yes, my friends, unbeknownst to Aiden, there are doggy beds, coats, and booties in his future.  Recommended read for Fool's Gold fans, and Contemporary Romance readers round the globe.  There's a lot of spark and a bit of sizzle, but you know you're in place where it's safe to set your heart free.

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About the author...

Susan Mallery is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—romance, friendship, family. With compassion and humor, Susan keenly observes how people think and feel, in stories that take readers on an emotional journey. Sometimes heartbreaking, often funny, and always uplifting, Susan's books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list, thanks to her ever growing legions of fans.

Susan lives in Seattle with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a tattletale toy poodle. Animals play a big role in her books, as well, as she believes they're an integral component to a happy life.

SITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK

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ARC for review received courtesy of the Harlequin Books team.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the series, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to release TUESDAY, APRIL 26th, 2016, so mark your calendar (if it isn't already) and be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Of course, you can always avoid the rush and pre-order it.  Just a thought...

Until next time...happy reading!