Wishing you and yours...

...a very happy Easter!

Celebrate the day guys with friends, family, or even simply a good read.
Wishing you the best today and always.

Until next time...

^_^

HoopLaHa: A Good Read on Life...

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the most bookish site this side of the world wide web (at least until you click on the link to reach the next bookish site)...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  ^_^  It's the weekend...woo-hoo...and a holiday weekend (for many) no less...but that doesn't mean that you won't be squeezing in a little reading time.  Oh, admit it.  You TOTALLY will be...and that's okay because you're in good company.  

Book lovers unit in person and online every day; wonderful isn't it?  Well today, we're reaching across the miles as we meet a young lady who sets her reading goal SKY high but with a deep seated purpose.  Take a look at this young lady's story courtesy of Erin at HooplaHa (Thanks, Erin!).  Her sentiments on reading will speak to any book lover's heart...and as the site aims to, bring a SMILE to your day.

Meet Neveah....

...this inspiring girl from the South Bronx, NY is using books to make her dreams come true!  Every year, 12-year-old Neveah Mosher challenges herself to read over 300 books.  She hopes to be the first in her family to attend college.  Neveah is currently in sixth grade at MS302 and attends an after-school program provided by City Year, an education focused, nationwide nonprofit organization.

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To live more of your 'Life with a Smile', stop by HooplaHa day or night.  Want to connect with them on social media?  Look for them on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Google+.

Until next time...live life with a smile...and follow Neveah's example!
Happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski

Hi there!

Welcome back to the only place to be when your mood ring changes to that unnamed color between the blue of the sky on a cloudless day and the blue of your favorite sweater...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we are playing host to the two part closing (check out the other stop over at 50 Books Project!) of a blog tour courtesy of the FAB folks over at TLC Book Tours. (Hi, Trish!) If you haven't checked out all the fun they have in store for you and yours, you definitely should...I know I've recently discovered a few new favorite reads thanks to their promotions, including the one I'm about to reveal.  It's a title that reached publication this past February with Harper Paperbacks and tells a most curious story.  No, wait...curious isn't quite the right word because it is SO much more than that.  *ponders*  Perhaps instead of pinpointing it like a species of butterfly to a board (though I'd never do that...poor butterfly!), I'll just come right out with the review.  Sound good?  Hope so seeing as that's the route I'm taking...hehe...but given the time to answer, I'm sure you would have agreed as well ESPECIALLY for this title.  Without further ado, today's blog guest and book of choice is...

The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow

by

Rita Leganski

About the book...

Conceived in love and possibility, Bonaventure Arrow didn't make a peep when he was born, and the doctor nearly took him for dead. No one knows that Bonaventure's silence is filled with resonance—a miraculous gift of rarified hearing that encompasses the Universe of Every Single Sound. Growing up in the big house on Christopher Street in Bayou Cymbaline, Bonaventure can hear flowers grow, a thousand shades of blue, and the miniature tempests that rage inside raindrops. He can also hear the gentle voice of his father, William Arrow, shot dead before Bonaventure was born by a mysterious stranger known only as the Wanderer.
Bonaventure's remarkable gift of listening promises salvation to the souls who love him: his beautiful young mother, Dancy, haunted by the death of her husband; his Grand-mère Letice, plagued by grief and a long-buried guilt she locks away in a chapel; and his father, William, whose roaming spirit must fix the wreckage of the past. With the help of Trinidad Prefontaine, a Creole housekeeper endowed with her own special gifts, Bonaventure will find the key to long-buried mysteries and soothe a chorus of family secrets clamoring to be healed.

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder but it is also between the pages of this book.
This is one of those rarer works where to read it is to love it and to describe it in a scant few words while conveying the magnitude to which it impressed you or rather made an impression upon you is quite near impossible.  Nevertheless, for the sake of sharing this remarkable read, I shall endeavor to try.

The words will carry you away to the streets of New Orleans to the very doorstep of one particular house on Christopher Street where secrets are a plenty but borne more of self-blame than actual guilt.  The characters affected by these secrets are wide spread and how it affects them individually manifests in many ways, but in the end, as with all secrets...the truth shall set them free.  Alas, I'm only a few sentences into this post and I'm already ahead of myself.  You see, the secrets are not the first thing we encounter or at least not fully, nor are they the heart and soul of the novel; no, that belongs to Bonaventure Arrow entirely and that is how this story begins.

The birth of a child, the welcoming of a new life into this crazy world even in 1950's Louisiana was a cause
for celebration of great magnitude, but the balloons and congratulations will not be arriving in droves for as much of a gift as this arrival is (and the extent to which that gift if known will be years in the coming) there is a deeper sorrow lining the hearts of both the born and just born.  A life has been snuffed out as it was really just beginning and the reasons behind it seem to be nonexistent.  A crime is one thing but a senseless crime where no sense can be made even if it is a skewed version of reality to ascertain the "why" of such an event is even more burdening somehow and the ladies in the life of our newly born Bonaventure are all too ready to carry the blame as their own.  Warranted?  Hardly, but kind hearts touched by the badness of life can not be blamed for supposedly acts of heroism; they do what they do until the pure light of truth and understanding can set them free.  That light would come from the heart and mind of a child (with a little help both from above and from a kindred spirit on earth)...but not the voice.

Yes, Bonaventure had great things in his future, things that we'd be lucky to have a small hand in if given the chance in life, but he'd have to accomplish these things sans voice.  It's not that he didn't have the right equipment or that it was broken exactly, but rather a type of disconnect that happened when the harshness of life touched him while still in the womb.  In it's place, Bonaventure was graced with a superior sense of hearing that would continue to develop throughout his life allowing him to hear everything from colors and plant life to the words off a page when not spoken aloud to the birth of a star in the cosmos.  I found it amazing how something that could be so limiting on the outside became such a gift and was conveyed in such a way that it wasn't an obstacle at all, even for the reader (a feat indeed!).  Bonaventure knows he is different, his own experiences along with the voices of those he loves and those who love him have told him as much and yet they don't let it get in the way of his growth .  I can't even begin to imagine what it must have felt like to have to hide that much of yourself for fear of being singled out nor the elation that each new sound, each new emotion heard brought.  But I digress, there are more wonders to discuss...

If you can believe, there is magic here beyond Bonaventure's skills, though they are a key to solving the mysterious equations running throughout, and they run a wide range of topics if ever I've seen.  Love found to love lost, debts created unwillingly and repayment taken without mercy, the discovery of secrets held and perhaps most important of all, the forgiveness that is within each of us to give.  Each character we are introduced to also brings their own flavor to the story, some more favorable than others.  We have Grandma Roman who holds herself and her faith above all (sounds nice enough, but the poor soul...her fate really is deserved), Grande-mere Letice that carries the weight of the world on her shoulders but in truth it wasn't for her to hold, Dancy the mother of our beloved Bonaventure who again takes too much blame for events that transpire but that is often the fate of those whose hearts love has touched.  In the background but only just, we have William the father that Bonaventure had never known (...in person at least), Gabe whose work helps bring life back to the broken family even when reciprocation is not a possibility, and one whose companionship seems odd in this little gathering we shall call the Wanderer.  He goes by no name for most of the story as he has forgotten that where he has been and who he once was; a poor fate to suffer, yes, but perhaps not when the deeds done since would break any piece of heart that might have remained his own.  His story is uncovered, in time...but you'll have to listen close.

In the end, I have to say this is one read I'll be recommending for many moons to come if not for the sheer enjoyment it provided but for the bittersweet symphony that is its sum whole.  The story alone is wonder-mous enough and the history that is sprinkled throughout provides a connection with our reality, but the lives created within the pages deserve to share their story...and I can think of no better way than through the leaves of a book.  After all, Bonaventure would approve of our volume-less method and the joy that it brings to our hearts would please him fully...it might even earn an inclusion in his box of joyful noises and memories.  This work has brought up many ponderings besides the obvious one of which would be the tale within.  I mean can one even wonder big enough to guess the stories that surround us on a daily basis?  I would love to know just what the color blue sounds like or the stories that a book can tell above and beyond that which we read off the page. Remove all the chatter and dive into the meaning of a look, the endless depths of the written word, the beauty of nature and the kindness of a gesture.  What would one be able to really hear if given the chance?  The possibilities are endless.

Author Rita Leganski

Review copy received courtesy Trish at  TLC Book Tours.  (THANKS!)  For more information on where this book hopped, skipped, and jumped across the blogosphere, check out the official tour schedule.  To discover what's up next for this blog touring phenom, pay a visit to their official website, like them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter!  To connect with author Rita Leganski, seek thee out her Facebook page...which I happened to see included a few listings for upcoming book signings so be sure to have your calendars at the ready!  This book was released the end of last month via Harper Paperbacks so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf near you.  To discover more of the bookish worlds HarperCollins Publishers has opened the door to, be sure to visit their official website, add them on Google+, like them on Facebook, pin them on Pinterest, or follow along on Twitter.


Until next time...make time to truly listen to the world around you...and happy reading!

Who? What? Where? (5)

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the place to be when the need to read comes a knocking...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

For those of you that follow me on Twitter, you might have seen my afternoon of "wonderment" yesterday...or not; we all get busy sometimes.  ^_^  Yeah, I totally think the full moon had something to do with it but hey, it's a new day and I'm so calling it MINE.  That's right, day.  I OWN YOU.    ^-^  That being said, how's about a little bookish fun?

Hosted by Melissa at My World...in Words and Pages it's time to explore...

Who are you with?

Where are you at?

What's happening?

Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.

Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.

In my first read, I'm currently in New York at a book signing with our rising star publicist Kate Mitchell.   Only problem is, the event seems to have been set up for failure!  Really...even for the newest name in the business with the smallest current following, you HAVE to order more than 20 copies!  *o*  Will she get the extra copies in time for the rabid fans lined up outside?  Will she find out what REALLY happened to create the hubbub in the first place?  We shall see....

The Publicist by Christina George

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In my second read in progress, I'm in our local church with Scarlette and Mother, along with the rest of the community, as the Bishop makes a surprise visit to our village and basically says that the attacks from the Beast are our own doing...penance for our sins...and those that are the "worst" (as in those attacked and the families of the attacked) need to be prayed for most.  Um, yeah...pretty sure there's more to the creature than "God's will"...gheesh!  The conclusions people will jump to when dealing with the unknown.

Scarlette by Davonna Juroe

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So....who/where/what are YOU this week?

Do tell...and feel free to check out the others participating in this MEME as well as link to your own post over at Melissa's site.

Until next time...happy reading!

^_^

BLOG TOUR: Tiger in My Soup by Kashmira Sheth - Review + Giveaway!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when the weather outside truly can't make up it's mind as to what season it should be and all you want to do is curl up with a good book.  (Psst!  Mother Nature...it's Spring!)

Today's post may have you a bit more excitable than the image I just placed before your eyes because it features a book that requires something on YOUR part...the use of your imagination.  Feel like granting us access?  Well alrighty then!  Here we go.  Please join me in welcoming via Peachtree Publishers BLOG TOUR, today's book of choice....

Tiger in My Soup

by

Kashmira Sheth

Illustrated by

Jeffrey Bobeler

About the book...

Sometimes it's almost impossible to get your big sister to read your favorite book to you. Sometimes you have to go to great lengths even to get her attention! But if you're really creative and use your imagination, you might just get what you want. Take care, though, not to go too far. Once you conjure up a tiger, there's no telling where it might lead...

I admit, this one had me perplexed at first.  How so especially since it's a picture book?  ...you might ask?  Ah well, that's easy to answer....but it's a two part answer.  First off, if you're discounting children's books into a category that is utterly predictable and unable to make you think...THINK AGAIN.  You're selling them short as well as yourself because they DO spark thoughts you haven't thought, feelings you have yet to feel, and moments of reflection that you haven't yet reflected upon.  Second...the story isn't exactly straight forward, or rather it requires the use of quite a bit of imagination to really take shape.  Allow me to briefly explain...

On the surface, we have a young boy left in the care of his sister starving for attention...and a side of lunch.
The attention he craves is easy peasy...READ to him, but she is a typical teenager, immersed in her own world...although her own world is a book in this case as well.  (Cool, right?  TWO readers in one book!  Love it!)  Push comes to shove and one bowl of alphabet soup later, we're looking at a young lad fending off a ferocious tiger until his sister wizens up and reads him his favorite story...the end.  ^-*  See?  Now for those going the literal route (as I was), you might have just stumbled at the end...but take a step back and reconsider things from the young boy's point of view.

The lack of attention led to reading on his own.  The reading on his own led to opening the door of his imagination.  The letters spelling ROAR in his soup played right into the story he was JUST reading, a coincidence maybe, but not in his mind and thus the story has come to life!  See?  An imagination can be a dangerous thing...but not when actively used as you might have presumed but rather if not engaged.  It goes dormant like a sleeping volcano and the inevitable eruption is what creates the chaos 

Overall, I'd say this is a cautionary tale to all siblings left in charge of young ones or even a warning for babysitter's for that matter (just kidding...sorta... ^_^) but mostly a great way to illustrate how much fun reading can be.  It engages the imagination, conjures family time out of down time and creates lasting memories to share across the ages.  So if you're ready for a story with a surprising twist and illustrations that let the literary jungle pounce right off the page, this is definitely the book for you.  Recommended read for all ages...or at least everyone and anyone who's not afraid to employ their imaginations.

Review copy received courtesy of Emily at Peachtree Publishers.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their ever growing list of books great for all ages, be sure to stop over at their site, check out their blog, like them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter...or all of the above; you know I do.  ^_^  This book is available now so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf near you.

Now remember, today's post was part of a week long blog tour and seeing how the week is definitely NOT over (and really, with books the adventure NEVER ends!), don't forget to check out all the fun they were having yesterday on Kid Lit Reviews, the second stop of the day over at A Word's Worth and make plans to stop by There's a Book tomorrow for even more excitement!

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Speaking of excitement, I've got one more bit of fun to ROAR your way and that's in the form of ...you guessed it, a CONTEST!  Thanks to the generous folks over at Peachtree Publishers (You guys, rock!), I have the opportunity to give YOU a CHANCE TO WIN a copy of this very title to call you own!  Read it yourself, share it with a loved one, donate it to your local library...but whatever you do, SPREAD THE LOVE, the wonder and imagination that reading inspires in all its forms and for all ages!

We'll keep this one simple.  Fill out the GOOGLE FORM below and you're entered to win!  Of course, if you want a few bonus points or simply the satisfaction for sharing your bookish side with the world, feel free to leave a comment either about the post or simply WHY YOU LOVE READING no matter the form, genre, or location you prefer. 

Entries accepted TODAY through midnight CST, April 3rd, 2013.  Open to U.S. residents only; no P.O. Boxes please.  Winner will be randomly selected from entries received and contacted by Friday, April 5th, 2013.  They will have 48 hours to respond with their FULL NAME and MAILING ADDRESS (unless included in the original entry!) for prize send out, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

  

Until next time...GOOD LUCK...and 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...you're in for a BIG treat as in multiple teasers!  Why?  Because...I'm generous... ^_^ ...and because I'm at the VERY end of one book that I've been greatly enjoying, working on another and about to start a third!  What can I say?  I love to share the LOVE.  Ready to explore my reads in progress?  Tie on the lobster bib, here come the teases!

Bonaventure had this feeling that Trinidad knew things other people didn't.  Not stuff like if somebody happened to eat a cookie before supper or if somebody maybe forgot to wipe his hoes on the mat and maybe tracked some dirt in the house.  It was more like he thought she could tell when folks was feeling bad, like when they were sick or sad or worried.

-- pg 290, The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski

This is the one I'm all caught up in.  It's not fast moving but magical nonetheless.  Bonaventure's incredible power of hearing is not only wondrous and a great assist in what he must accomplish in life but inspiring.  I shall observe further observations for the blog tour swinging through this week but trust me when I say you DON'T want to miss this one.

My eyes widened.  For as long as I worked here, the province's Intendant, the Baron de Descamps, never had come in.  Some people spoke highly of him.  Others cursed him for not ridding the province of the wolf since he organized the hunts.  But I just wished he'd do more about the soldier's debauchery.  He just stood by and let them do whatever they pleased.

-- location 635-636 of 4650, Scarlette by Davonna Juroe

This is the ebook I'm making my way through and thus far, enjoying!  It's reminiscent of the tales of a certain red hooded girl we've all heard of but with historical additions to give it a new footing in reality...and of course any redo brings with it the chance to see things in a new light.  Gotta say, that wolf on the cover there (or is it a beast?!) is much scarier than I remember from childhood.  *-*

"He spends two and three hundred dollars a week on books here.  Sometimes I think he does it to help me out, too.  It's been a hard time for booksellers, especially with all that electronic crap."  Maeve's final words left her mouth in disgust, "I mean who would want to read on a machine?  You miss the whole experience of feeling a book...", she picked a book off of Kate's stack and opened it.  "How is an electronic book better than this?  You can't touch it, or smell it..."

-- pg 107, The Publicist by Christina George

Yeah...well, we've all heard my opinion on the matter...*ahem* PAPER BOOKS RULE! ....but then again if the story is good enough and I have the time, an ebook will suffice.  I guess I'm in the "any-reading-format-is-still-reading" camp but with a definite affection for PAPER editions over electronic.  Anywho...as this is my first taste of this book as well, the jury is still out on what it'll be like, but I for one can't wait to find out.  ^_^

So...what book are you lost in this week?

Oh come on...just a little tease?

^_^

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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! 

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Until next time...happy reading!

Forbidden Sister by V.C. Andrews

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the place to be when you're bookish, you know it, and you can't WAIT to show it; let loose, we won't judge.  ^_^

Today, we're tackling an author (metaphorically speaking) whose name is well known throughout the reading community for any number of her works, and believe me, she's prolific to say the least!  She's penned over SIXTY works and as it seems, she's not run short of ideas yet.  Seems funny that I've never sampled her work until now though even I recognize her name at first glance.  How was my first experience with her work?  Wouldn't you like to know.  Well, if you really WOULD, read on my friend, read on...because we're about to explore her latest release via Simon and Schuster and the start of a new series.  So rabid fans, get ready; newbies, put your listening ears (and reading eyes) on!  Today's book of choice is....

Forbidden Sister

by

V.C. Andrews

About the book...

"I had every reason to hate her, my forbidden sister. She was like someone who had died but wouldn’t stay buried. . . ."

Emmie Wilcox was only six when her older sister, Roxy, was thrown out of their New York City apartment. Their stern father’s military-style rules left no room for rebellion, and Roxy was as defiant as Emmie—now an outstanding student at a private school—is compliant: a perfect daughter, un fille parfaite, as her Parisian-born mother lovingly calls her. Two sisters, total opposites—yet Emmie is secretly obsessed with the mystery surrounding Roxy: What had she done? Where is she now? And is there a hidden side to Emmie that resembles Roxy’s spiteful nature? Knowing only that Roxy is a highly paid escort to the city’s wealthiest men, Emmie goes behind her father’s back to track down the sister she fears, despises, and inexplicably clings to . . . and whose influence might run deeper than Emmie ever imagined. 

Imagine.  Knowing you have a sister, somewhere out there, but you're never able to talk to her, mention her, or know her in any way...all for a parent's fear that you'll turn out just...like...her.  Quite a bitter pill to swallow and rather high expectations to live up to without any reason to warrant the extra scrutiny.

Emmie is a model child.  Beautiful but in that "not knowing" way.  Smart.  Talented.  Friendly though not exactly popular.  She's got a best friend she can tell the world to (of which she'll regret later), grades that'll get her to the college of her choice, and parents that adore her ...each in their own way.  What more could she ask for?  Only what every other teen or person for that matter desires to know at some point in their lives...to know themselves.  Sound easy?  For some, it is...for most though, it's a journey and involves some digging both into one's own heart and soul and into those that surround us.  For Emmie, the constant comparisons have left its mark and in order to find her true self, the "me" she aims to be, she needs to get to know the one forbidden to be mentioned above all else.  Roxy...her sister.

I can understand on some level why Emmie idolizes Roxy.  It's that "unknown" factor.  That "from afar" aspect in their relationship that let's her see the facade as apposed to the reality.  Sure, Roxy is beautiful, stylish, living in the lap of luxury with food to drool over, clothes to die for and a limo pretty much at her beck and call.  Sure sounds like the high life...except for all that she is lacking.  Beauty  and money do not buy love, at least not for more than a few hours...clothes do not make the person nor do furnishings or location make a home.  She has the dream on the outside, but on the inside (as we learn further along in the story), she's little more than a prisoner under the thumb of a warden far worse than her parents ever were.  Mrs. Brittany...don't let the name, or face fool you...she and Hades probably have tea together on Sunday's and the "wake up call" that she plans for the sisters is anything but just.  Moving forward...

Now that we've met the two leading ladies, though the latter doesn't particularly have a starring role until later in the text, we need to talk story line.  The hidden world of the "forbidden" one plays a huge part in the story as it taints everything good that comes their way either because of the magnitude of the secret or simply because they've let it poison their souls instead of giving forgiveness a chance.  Both are detrimental to providing a happy ending and yet both still exist here with that same hope and dream of "happy ever after" fading fast.  We learn in bits and pieces how things spiraled out of control, how personalities were so similar that no one was able to GIVE in order for the other to FORgive, and how despite our wish for it to be so, time marches on.  Emmie grew up and though she still wanted to please her parents, developed a mind of her own full of the curiosities of a young girl needing to find her way, but also needing the knowledge if not the influence, of her older sibling.  Roxy grew up too, though away from the eyes of her family, and found a way to carry on when the burden seemed too great.  Her lifestyle may be questionable, but she survived.  Even the parents "grew up" if you want to call it that...to me, they more or less shut down, at least a part of themselves, and understandably so seeing how things played out but there is something to be said for being the bigger person.  We see lives begin, change and end, in both the blink of an eye and over time giving us a glimpse at just how much a small alternation can forever mark our days for better or worse.  It certainly made the read interesting for this Andrews newbie.  There was however a bit of a sour note detected among the high life, for myself at least...

The down side...a bit too much focus on the sexual aspect of things.  Now I don't mean uber detailed for the most part, though Chastity has an ODD name for someone so single-mindedly focused on the comings, goings and in-between-the-sheets of others.  My word; someone get that girl a book that's NOT a romance/erotica, stat!  What I mean is SO much focus was put on WHAT Roxy DID not how she managed, even though she wasn't physically in the picture for most the story, that all the other things transpiring, such as the breakdown of a family, health issues, growing up, etc, were almost pushed beyond the peripheral edges of the story.  Perhaps that was the point, to show how a situation plays out to such horrible extremes sometimes that it overshadows everything and everyone else to the point of oblivion but even so, it hindered me for a good portion of the book.  It left me wondering a few times over just what the draw was to the author's writing; I mean it had to be SOMETHING for THAT many works to be released and to still be releasing, so I kept reading.

As the book moved along, we begin to see the other threads of the family's story gathered back up, sorted through and brought full circle (for the most part).  You actually care what happens to BOTH sisters.  You have a moment or two of sadness on behalf of and pity for the friends and so-called-friends that instigated themselves in Emmie's life.  You feel for the parents trying to do what's best while still presenting a strong front, even when it backfires and tears their hearts to pieces in the process.  What I discovered is the emotion the author instills into every little thing that happens...you just have to dig beneath the surface and let them come in their own time; in the end, it's what connects you to the characters, their lives and the people in them and truly shows the talent behind the work.

In conclusion, an interesting read that I'd recommend for older teens through adult readers due to some content and lifestyle choices.  It explores just what happens when pride gets the better of us, how family is more than simply blood but it's not a bad place to start, and that while you may always be able to go back home, it's best done sooner as opposed to later as one never knows just what life has in store for each of us.

Review copy received courtesy of Melissa at Simon and Schuster.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their complete catalog, be sure to visit them online or check out their presence throughout the social media landscape on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and more.  This book was released in hardback (Gallery Books) and paperback (Pocket Books) simultaneously on February 26th, 2013 so there's an edition out there right now to satisfy the reader in you.  SPECIAL NOTE...be on the look out for book 2 in the series, Roxy's Story, scheduled to hit shelves this September! *adds to wish list*

Until next time...happy reading!

The Receiving Reader...

I know what you're thinking...what in the world does that title mean?!? Well, in short it means something that this reader received; in longer form it means something I totally SQUEED over upon its arrival yesterday in my mailbox...

Lovecraft Middle School, Book 3: TEACHER'S PEST
by
Charles Gilman

...coming this May via Quirk Books!

Can't wait to dive into this one. This is one school readers of all ages will be clamoring for one more semester ASAP.

:-D

The Roving Reader

How entirely cute is THIS?!
No, seriously...it's cute and funny and a smidge crass but definitely worth a read. Any dog lover will find something of their own fur babies in this gem...promise.
*adds to wishlist*

So, what have you seen when out and about this weekend that captured your attention?
Do tell!

Until next time...happy reading!
^-^

Sweet Treat: Mister Dash and the Cupcake Calamity by Monica Kulling

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the place that aims to please the reader in you, Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Yesterday was a day that I was glad to see come to a close.  While the AM job was uber busy, the PM job was no piece of cake.  Too many *grr* moments and whatnot so when I finally got home last night you can imagine my delight to find a bookish treasure on my doorstep.  Yes, I do indeed squee like child on Christmas morning when I receive packages...might even jump and clap a little too.  ^_^  I quickly tore through the envelope and discovered...the PERFECT end to my not-so-perfect day.  I mean, how did the sender know that a sweet treat was JUST what I needed at that very moment...and aside from a cute story, it has an adorable pup and cupcakes!  Yes, a winning recipe indeed.  How so?  Well, you're about to find out.  Grab your family, friends, fur babies and a cupcake if there happens to be one within your reach (if not, I warned you!  ^_^), for today's book of choice is...

Mister Dash and the Cupcake Calamity

by

Monica Kulling

Illustrated by

Esperanca Melo

Madame Croissant's plan to spread her delicious cupcakes across North America is smashing and having her faithful companion Mister Dash as the delivery dog is an ace in the whole!  I mean really, are you going to say "no" to that sweet little face of the company?  I didn't think so...and he looks so cute in his little chef hat!  When Daphne comes to visit, things go from interesting to downright messy.  You see, Madame Croissant has a 500 cupcake order to fill for the mayor no less and needs her sous chefs to help her meet her deadline...only problem is, it seems the more Daphne gets involved the more a clean up crew is REALLY needed and far less baking is accomplished.  Good thing Mister Dash is so adept at solving sticky situations but will he and his master be able to pull off the order in time, even with the unexpected setbacks?  It could make or break the new Cupcake A Go-Go venture...anyone else nervous?

So, cupcakes...who doesn't love them in some fashion?  Big or small, sweet or salty, frosted or non, there are so many variations on this classic dessert and more popping up every day, it's definitely a business choice that has merit...especially if you have a recipe as delicious sounding as Madame Croissant.  Don't be surprised if you have a serious jones for a cupcake after reading this little gem.  Suffice it to say, their kitchen adventures make for a HI-larious time while also revealing that even if someone isn't good at the first five things sent their way, the sixth may just be their niche; in other words, every one some worth, some contribution that can be made that is all "them".  Finding it can be a challenge but once unleashed, watch their pride, self esteem and confidence take flight.  Now on to the second bit of wonderfulness in this story...

I love how she makes a case for non-pedigree dogs....mixed breeds need love TOO!  One of my fur babies is a mix and she couldn't be cuter, more well behaved or trained if she wanted to.  Okay, well she does have selective hearing at times but hey, don't we all?  ^_^  She's absolutely adorbs and I wouldn't trade her for the world.  Some only consider full pedigree dogs when selecting a pup and yes, they are wonderful too (and my other kiddos would second me on that seeing as they are in this group!) but open your heart to the little mixed guy or gal at the shelter the next time you're out and about and just try not to have your heart melted into a puddle of puppy love goo.  All together now...awww!  Yep, those big puppy dog eyes, wagging tail and happy-to-see-you demeanor will get you every time.

Last but certainly not least, no picture book or storybook for that matter would be complete with illustrations and the ones that grace the pages her are noteworthy indeed!  The author's note in the front lends even more anticipation to the beauty we're in store for, stating that Mister Dash's first bookish appearance in Merci Mister Dash! are what inspired her to write another story featuring this four legged cutie.  I can certainly see why!  Mister Dash is as I said ADORABLE from his floppy ears to his puppy smile to his expressions as he helps them get out of jam after jam.  He's definitely one to watch as the story progresses but the humans have a role to play here too!  Madame Croissant and Daphne are a hoot!  You can see the child like exuberance of Daphne as she bounces from scene to scene, trying her best and yet falling short until glitter, glue, and paper uncover her true talent.  Madame Croissant's excitement over her latest venture, joy of having her family assisting her, and hope of success are written right on her face with grace...and really in the face of some of the obstacles that keep stacking up, grace was DEFINITELY needed.  From their coiffed to curly hair to their dressed to impress wardrobe choices, these two ladies are sure to make their mark with readers of most generations.

In conclusion, an adorable story featuring a four legged friend you'll be happy to make the acquaintance of along with his human handlers, that's all about hopes, dreams, and sweet success.  It reminds us that while trouble may be around the next corner (especially if Madame Croissant is driving!), family in all its shapes and sizes will always be there to lend a helping hand...or paw.  It's a fun read, perfect for an afternoon dash of sugar in your day, sure to enchant the hearts and minds of readers of all ages.

Review copy received courtesy of author Monica Kulling.  (Merci!)  To find out more about Mister Dash's adventures as well as her complete list of works, be sure to visit her official website, or check out her Facebook page!  This book was released just this month from Tundra Books, a division of Random House Canada Limited, so be on the look out for it on a store shelf near you.  To learn more about the publisher, stop by their site or check out what's tweeting on Twitter.

Until next time...happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Untimed by Andy Gavin - Review + Giveaway!

Hi there!

Welcome back to the site that aims to please the reader in you every, and we mean EVERY, day of the week....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  How so?  Well, whether there is new content or not on any given day, bookish fun abounds on the site.  From contests (a few of which are running right now, check the right hand side bar!) to tours, interviews to reviews, even the Roving Reader has got your back.  So sit back, relax and get ready to digest my latest reading adventure...

Today, we're playing host to a stop on a Tribute Book Reviews blog tour featuring a curious Young Adult book, the first in a planned series in fact, that places time travel front and center...only not in the ways you might thing, with a few nifty tricks and quite a few surprising restrictions that make for some rather interesting times.  Ready to jump to my past but your potential future?  Here we go!  Today's blog tour guest and book of choice is...

Untimed

by

Andy Gavin

About the book...

Charlie’s the kind of boy that no one notices. Hell, even his own mother can’t remember his name. And girls? The invisible man gets more dates.
As if that weren’t enough, when a mysterious clockwork man tries to kill him in modern day Philadelphia, and they tumble through a hole into 1725 London, Charlie realizes even the laws of time don’t take him seriously.
Still, this isn’t all bad. In fact, there’s this girl, another time traveler, who not only remembers his name, but might even like him! Unfortunately, Yvaine carries more than her share of baggage: like a baby boy and at least two ex-boyfriends! One’s famous, the other’s murderous, and Charlie doesn’t know who is the bigger problem.
When one kills the other — and the other is nineteen year-old Ben Franklin — things get really crazy. Can their relationship survive? Can the future? Charlie and Yvaine are time travelers, they can fix this — theoretically — but the rules are complicated and the stakes are history as we know it. And there's one more wrinkle: he can only travel into the past, and she can only travel into the future!

See?  What'd I tell you.  Time travel with MANY a twist.
The basic breakdown is this...young lad, son of a time traveler and a norm reaches his "prime", follows a Tick Tock back to yesteryear, falls in love, and makes a mess of both the past and the future while discovering who he really is both by blood and by heart.  How's that?  Oh, but wait...there's still so much more!

First off, the restrictions.  Girls can go forward (to the future!) while boys can go back (to the past...) and never the two shall switch...but they can travel in opposite directions TOGETHER.  Sort of like a companion fare on a flight; one can come along, but only ONE and they must be a traveler as well...which is definitely a point to remember as events unfold.  Two...there's a cool down period between when they can travel and when they need to build up their magical-type mojo to time jump again.  It varies from person to person, and if I'm not mistaken might proof to change with time (Ha!  Time...) and experience.  Third, skillful jumping has nothing to do with age (as shown by Aunt Sophie and on the other end of the spectrum, Yvaine); fourth, you can't actually kill anyone...even if you want to; fifth, no one will remember your name and it's nothing personal (some goes with photographs...you're akin to a vampire, well at least your face is)...BUT perhaps the biggest rule overall, do not change anything!  Influence, yes...change, no.  Too bad Charlie didn't know that before he followed a Tick Tock down a time travel rabbit hole...

Bet you're wondering what a Tick Tock is now, right?  Well...it's these mechanical beings out of the time sync just like out travelers, only more so.  They are steampunk-ish in nature, with minds (sorta) of their own, bent on remaking history in their image, or rather the FUTURE in their image and if Charlie and company can't get things sorted out, they just might succeed.  Clockwork devices, mechanical marvels and curious dressing sound like your cup of tea?  Ha...think again, while you still can that is.  It's amazing the way the ripple affects become SO huge as they traverse time.  Something as small as the creation of a door where there formerly was none, might save a life this time around versus its non-existence dooming a life previously, can set in motion changes you never dreamed of.  While we're on the subject of characters, let's talk good guys and girls...

Charlie is our leading man though his newest travel mate Yvaine equally steals the show.  He doesn't know about his abilities except what he's learning on the fly, she knows about her own but lives in the distant past...where he just landed.  Good thing too because he not only needs the company but he needs to guidance...something his father should have supplied but alas waiting a day and a drop in from "the police" (the quotes are because if they were the police than I'm a typing hedgehog...which might not be so bad because they are really cute) to long and his chance to explain things as they should be is gone like so much sand in the hourglass.  Not to worry, for it's not the last time we'll see dear old Dad, though in his present form it will be...at least he retains some semblance of himself which is FAR greater than I can say for Charlie's mother!  Poor dear.  *sigh*  Then we have Aunt Sophie, a real spitfire whose definitely not ready to give up on getting back to a future where man may not God but he IS pretty much top dog.  So many people to mention, so little space to type (well not really, but if I reveal them all, you'll be deprived of your chance to form impressions from their surprise arrivals...I'd never wish to keep that chance from you)!  Suffice it to say that the cast is a smidge on the large size (what do you want, it takes place over multiple time periods!) but memorable to the end...(oh wait, so since I remembered their names, does that mean I'M a traveler too?  *o*)

So, let's talk summary.  Time travel?  Check...just not in the traditional sense, if there really IS a traditional sense for this particular category.  There's also this nifty write in where when they time jump their clothes, accents, money, everything changes to fit them into the period to which they've landed.  (Personal favorite? The "I-was-a-new-iPhone-but-now-I'm-a-notepad-and-paper" transformation...love it!) History as it is and in the making?  Check...with pretty scary and dire consequences if things aren't put back together again ala Humpty Dumpty.  Characters you care to see through to the end?  Check..that's affirmative on all counts; even the bad guys because really, you HAVE to know what happens to them or they come back like Mikey Myers all those times!  Family?  Check...even if time is threatening to unravel it to oblivion.  Love interests?  Check...there is a mix too with different levels of affection however this is also where my one gripe comes into play.

Over time, there was a bit TOO much focus on the young ones blossoming love (and lust) affair with a few too many rolls in the hay (be they real, imagined, or actively daydreamed of) if you catch my drift.  Became a bit of a sticky point for me as it was beginning to impede the progression of the story, even if it did provide for several laughs (um, imagine an ambush in the middle of a potential tryst and having to fight and flee in your birthday suit...and yes, we're talking 'Emperor's New Clothes' style here), but given a few more paragraphs leniency and we were back on track and running for our lives. So if you're like me and you enjoy SOME of that in your reads but not SO much of that, trust me...the show will go on and the read is well worth the extra words read.  Recommended for teens through adults for all the reasons mentioned.  It was an exciting read that really kept you glued to the pages, even as history turned itself on its ear!  Can't wait to see what's in store for our young friends in book two....

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

Author Andy Gavin

About the author...
Andy Gavin is a serial creative, polymath, novelist, entrepreneur, computer programmer, author, foodie, and video game creator. He co-founded video game developer Naughty Dog and co-created Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter. He started numerous companies, has been lead programmer on video games that have sold more than forty million copies, and has written two novels.

His first book, The Darkening Dream, has been well-received by fans and critics alike. Publisher’s Weekly called it “gorgeously creepy, strangely humorous, and sincerely terrifying.” Untimed is an even more ambitious follow-up. It is a lavish production with a cover by acclaimed fantasy artist Cliff Nielsen and twenty-one full page interior illustrations by Dave Phillips.

Site   |   Blog   |   Wikipedia   |   GoodReads   |   Pinterest   |   Facebook   |   Twitter

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So, what'd you think?

Sound good?

Ready to rush out and buy it?

Understandably...but in the mean time, I've got another way for you to snag a copy to call your own...and then some.  

That's right!  You're in luck!

There's a special contest going on RIGHT NOW that gives you a chance to win...well, SEVERAL things; all of which are awesome, most of which are SIGNED!  Just enter via the Rafflecopter form below and BAM, instant potential winner title in your future.  ^_^  It runs through the end of the month, so don't delay and be sure to spread the word!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review copy, tour stop and giveaway courtesy of Nicole at Tribute Books.  (THANKS!)  For more information on where this tour has been and is going to, be sure to visit the official tour blog (sorta like your own brass-like page of nifty info similar to the ones that...oh, wait; you don't know about those yet...*-*).  To discover more about the author, feel free to click through the links embedded above.  To discover all there is to know, for now, about the great books associated with AND folks known as Tribute Books, be sure to stop by their site, like their Facebook page, or follow along on Twitter.  This book is available now so be on the look out for it on a store shelf near you.  Need a few links to get you started online?  Check it out over on Amazon in paper and ebook editions, or stop by the author's site for a listing of other retailers.

Until next time...good luck...and happy reading!