BLOG TOUR: The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester + SURPRISE GIVEAWAY!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the place that aims to serve up some fresh and piping hot reads EVERY day of the week (well, almost)...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're playing host to a blog tour courtesy of Providence Book Promotions that stars an author that is becoming a frequent visitor here on the site...and for that, BOY am I glad!  So far I've read THREE of his works and through each one, I've yet to be disappointed.  Today's selection...hits the mark high once again.  Ladies and gents, allow me to introduce today's book of choice is....

The Rockin' Chair

by

Seven Manchester

About the book...

Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days – or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone.
Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy – Grandpa John – calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future.

This is one of those stories that will break your heart...yet still help you piece it back together again with love, trust, and the best of intentions.  It's beautiful.  It's magical.  It's simple in story line, but wrought with so much emotion and life lessons that one can't helped but be moved by this manuscript.

We begin at a low point for John and his beloved wife.  They are both elderly, but she has succumbed to the ill effects of time, forgetting her present as easily as her past, and leaving the future hanging in the balance.  When tragedy strikes, we are prepared and so it is with a certain bitter sweetness that we accept it as a piece of the puzzle.  We get to know each of the lost souls returning in more ways than simply physical presence.  We get the chance to discover the depths to which a parent's love truly runs even when the words escape them.  We get to uncover the darkest secrets of many, the simple truths of a few, experience life through the eyes of someone that has truly lived and despite what time might say, has much more to share with us.

John is a wonderful and caring narrator.  Through him we learn to love with all our hearts, trust with our full beings, and share a smile, a kind word even, with each person we meet, because we never really know when our last days will come.  Do you want to spend your "ever after" lost in regret, what ifs and shoulda wouldas?  Or would you rather be able to say...I LIVED.  After all, life may not always be perfect but it's those imperfections that make it a path worth following.  Share it with the ones you love....as it should be.  Recommended read for teens and beyond; this is definitely one to spread around to all your reading friends.



ARC for review courtesy of Providence Book Promotions.  (THANKS guys!)  For more information on this tour as well as their future outings, be sure to stop by their official site, like them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.  To check out ALL the fun on the tour, be sure to check out the main tour post and stop by some of the other sites including yesterday at Everything Distils Into Reading, and tomorrow's visit to The Self-Taught Cook!  Finally, to discover more about the mind behind these great works, get to know author Steven Manchester over on Facebook.  This title was released June 2013, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.  If you can't get to your local bookstore at the moment (first choice), here's a few online options to get you on your way...Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and GoodReads.  Now, let's move on to the rest of what you were waiting for, shall we?

THE PRIZE!

Thanks to the generosity of Providence Book Promotions, you my friends, have the esteemed pleasure of earning a chance to win not this current read, but his previous work entitled, Goodnight, Brian!  Exciting?  Unusual?  Curious nonetheless?  You should be.  For a refresher on this particular book, just click HERE and you'll be whisked away to my prior review but if you like heartfelt reads with a touch of faith, a smidge of sympathy and a whole lot of of love to share, you can't go wrong.


So, NOW's YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!  Entries accepted through September 6th, 2013 at midnight CST.  How do you enter?  Easy!  Just share a memory that warms your heart of you and/or yours ...and submit your info via THIS FORM and you're in it to win it!

Until next time...GOOD LUCK....and happy reading!'

Mommy, Do You Really Love Me? by Sari Barel

Why hello there!

Welcome back to the bookish place that welcomes the young, the old, and the somewhere in-between...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're featuring the latest work from an author seen previously on the site (Truthy Ruthy anyone?) starring another little girl on a mission to get to the heart of the matter.  What matter?  Well it's a question that lots of kids ask themselves at some point or another, but this story tackles the "how" and the "why" with finesse and illustrations that will make you giggle.  Ready to meet our latest Children's Picture eBook adventure?  Let's!  Today's ebook of choice is....

Mommy, Do You Really Love Me?

by

Sari Barel

Illustrated by

Malgorzata Godzluk

The star of our story is Jessica.  She's a little gal just noticing all that life has to offer...and just old enough to notice the differences between how she is parented versus her friends.  When an accident happens at school with no injuries and ending in laughs, her mother doesn't fret and worry.  When she steps on a friends toes (so to speak), her mother doesn't jump in and set things straight for her.  When an assignment is tough, her mother doesn't do it for her.  No, Jessica's mother is more the advice type, offering sage wisdom to help her daughter as she grows.  Doesn't seem like enough?  Oh, really...

When Pappy the bunny escapes his cage at school one day, all the little ones begin to shout for their parents to save the say, noble but not always practical.  Jessica?  She remembers something her Mom taught her..."We don't need to cry.  We need to try!"...and that's just what she does.  She puts the lessons her Mom taught her to use, saves the day and realizes that YES, her mother LOVES her....just in her own way.  She trusts her to solve her problems.  She lets her grow in each exchange.  She allows her the chance to be her own hero, with guidance, back up and support along the way.

You see, this is one of those little ebook gems that teaches kids that every Mommy and Daddy loves their children in their own way.  Some are more take charge in every situation, others take a step back leaving them to find their own footing...but in the end, they ALL love their little ones.  It's not the size of the hug, it's the heart behind it.  Speaking of heart, once you reach book's end, there's another surprise....little printable inspirational cards for the kiddos to print and personalize!

So, in the end, we've got another winner from an author that is making life lessons easier to reach for the kiddos in your life, while giving adults a new perspective to view them from.  With words to build on and illustrations to smile at, the young and young at heart will be equally entertained and rewarded.  Ebook for review courtesy of author Sari Barel.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as her growing catalog of works, be sure to visit her on Facebook.  This title is available now on Amazon...AND TODAY through August 30th, it's available for a FREE DOWNLOAD as part of KDP SELEST!  So click on over, grab a copy to call your own and spread the word!

Until next time...happy reading!

Taste Testing Tuesdays

Today's teaser comes from mt current read in progress...

MOMO
by
Michael Ende

..check it out before the gray men find you! (^-^)

Tibby and His Friend's Big Secret by Carl Kegerreis

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the place that aims to please readers of all ages and spark their imaginations into full gear...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're featuring a Children's Fiction title from a newish author team.  Yes, I said team.  How so? Well, it's from one particular gentleman, but his granddaughters had a lot of say in it as well...and according to book's end, the next tale to come.  Pretty cool, right?  I thought so.  I mean having family involved is bound to make the writing even more fun than a task, plus it gives you instant feedback from the age group your targeting.  Anywho, let's see if we can't uncover a little more about this curious read.  Today's book of choice is....

Tibby and His Friend's Big Secret

by

Carl Kegerreis

About the book....

Tibby and his dog Starber-a longhaired shepherd who is brave,smart,and talented-live in a rural
Midwestern town, and along with their friends, they can always find fun and adventure. But
things get very strange when Tibby meets Coley and Darnell, a sister and brother who’ve moved
into the creepy mansion down the road, and it isn’t long before Tibby and his friends discover an
amazing secret...
Inspired by the author’s first love—Big Red, a stray Irish setter he disentangled from a cornfield
fence and subsequently adopted—Tibby and His Friends'Big Secret is an exciting tale for boys
and girls and animal lovers everywhere.

To answer the question posed....yes, I can keep their secret, even while writing this review!  No, my skills aren't that fabulous to tell you everything and nothing all at once.  No, I'm not going to avoid the issue completely because it's more fun to talk around things in a case like this than label the elephant in the room.  I am however going to admit to the fact that while I can keep their secret, it's not completely for a lack of trying to share it, but rather a case of still trying to figure everything out.  Allow me to explain.

The initial chapters introduce us to Rex, Tibby and his dog Starber.  They aren't the coolest of the cool but they aren't complete social outcasts either, except when it comes to the class bully (that ends up not actually being a bully).  Tibby obviously avoids him when he can, but such is life, it doesn't always play in his favor.  Push comes to shove and a dare is made for the overly confident lad (named Fogel) to stay overnight in a local "haunted house"....only it's not exactly haunted as in the classic sense, and Tibby knows it.  One things leads to another and ding dang dong, the bully is bullying no more.  But what could make a lad like that stand down and so immediately?  The secret lies in the house that is...but soon will not be.  Confused?  So was I...

After the original sequence of events, things change almost on a chapter to chapter basis (good because it keeps things flowing, unusual because, well, you'll see.).  At this point, it reminded me of the movie Groundhog Day; you know, where the same day happened over, and over, and over until things were set right?  Well, the difference here is A) it's not Groundhog Day, B) time still DOES pass, C) the same events don't transpire in exactly the same way nor is the location the same each time (they are still in their little town, but houses, rivers, etc are different), and D) it's never actually made clear what's real, what's not, and what simply might be an effect left over from a certain "person's" home machine (the latter is my suspicion).  Things do get accomplished.  Secrets are uncovered both BIG and small.  Friendships are made and mysteries...well, they are still left mysterious to some degree, but that part could be in preparation for the next book in this family written series, Tibby and His Friend's Top Secret.

In conclusion, while I can see this being popular with boys and girls who love a good riddle, mysterious creatures and the chance to be one of the many keeping a secret much bigger than themselves, I'm not certain it will score a home run with everyone...including me.  I'm one of those odd readers that likes things either neat and tidy or at least made clear and honestly, I'm still peering through a muddle of mud on this one.  Maybe I need some guidance from Elock, or Roscoe on this one; or perhaps a trip through the waterfall.  (^_^)

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About the author...
Carl Kegerreis attended Ball State University and was drafted into the Army his junior year. He trained Army sentry dogs and a German shepherd police dog for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, achieving the position of Division Chief and retiring after 34 years. Kegerreis lives in Ohio with Sandra, his wife of 47 years. They have three children and five grandchildren.

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Review copy received courtesy of author Carl Kegerreis.  (THANKS!)  For more information on both the title and the author, seek out his page on Amazon and GoodReads.  This title is available now in both paper and ebook forms via Outskirts Press.

Until next time...happy reading!

Mary Had a Sleepy Sheep by Julia Dweck

Hi there.

*yawn*

Welcome to the place where wearing your footie pajamas in the daylight is still PERFECTLY acceptable, especially considering today's featured title....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Yes siree.  It's time to take a walk on the ebook side of things once again with a Children's author that keeps showing progress with each and every release.  This time we have a sleepy sheep to contend with (hence the invitation to don the footie pj's) and as I understand it, the little guy was inspired by her husband!  Shock and awe?  Naw.  He's got a good sense of humor according to Ms. Dweck and well, if you were immortalized in as cute a story as this, you probably would too.  Ready to embark to dream land with a curly haired wonder, and her human friend Mary?  Let's do this.  Pillows at the ready, today's featured ebook of choice is...

Mary Had a Sleepy Sheep

by

Julie Dweck

Illustrated by

Wilson Williams, Jr.

You heard the one about Mary and her little lamb, well, this time her little guy's a sheep and boy is he EVER sleepy!  No seriously.  He sleeps through fiestas, sambas, winter storms, shaving cream, raucous laughter, and everything in-between.  I mean, when I crash, I crash but my goodness...that's one sound sleeping sheep!  Oh but Mary, she's a crafty little girl, persistent too...and you know what they say, slow and steady wins the race, or in this case, awakens the sleeping ewe-ty.

I laughed, I smiled, I "ooh'd" and "ahh'd".  I did all of this and more while curiously waiting to see just what Mary would try next...and what would finally work, if anything!  Structure and layout wise, things were walking the brick road of gold as the rhymes were spot on and the timing matched in equal measure. As per her usual "mo", the author doesn't let the fun end JUST because you reached the end of the story.  Nope.  Just not going to happen.  As it turns out, we're in for a little history about the real Mary from the original poem, as well as a seek-in-find, coloring time, compare and contrast...and for the readers seeking to be writers, actors, cartoonist and the lot of creative individuals that help our world go round, there's a resource page of interesting sites to check out.  Good stuff!  Now, moving forward....

I gotta say, the story stands on it's own, though I am a tad perplexed by the ending (is the sheep energized by the leaping men, is Mary simply working reverse psychology on the wooly fella?) and the add ins at books end for parents and readers are wonderful, but the illustrator gave things an added lift with his wonderful illustrations.  I'm not sure how she finds all of these great artists but they bring an extra joy to an already fun read.  My fellow readers of pictures books both "e" and non can attest to the fact that while the story is important, the rhyme and meter execution vital, the pictures are the blood line to some degree.  Here...we have another winner.  Mary and her mother are equally represented in their various emotional states while Sheppard can be seen dozing at almost every twist and turn.  I'll tell you what though, for such a sleepy little guy, he gets around!

In conclusion, a great addition to author Julia Dweck's catalog of ebook wonders and one I most certainly recommend for readers for all ages.  This title is set to be released September 5th, 2013 via Xist Publishing...but can be pre ordered now!  Special thanks to author Julia Dweck for the ebook copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as her full body of works, stop by her site, like her Facebook or follow along on Twitter.  To discover more about the illustrator, friend him on Facebook.

Until next time...happy reading!

William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher

Hi guys!

A review on the fly today as I'm out and about so pardon the formatting...but even the lack of laptop access can not my sharing of views stop.

Confused you are? Good. Good. Tis only those strong with the Force that will predict whom I am channeling, they will. HOWEVER,  tis only those with a penchant for Shakespearen text, or at least those that like the sound of it, that will grasp the full focus of my post....at least until you continue reading because you know I'll explain everything. ^-^

Today's book of choice comes to us via Quirk Books (Hi, Eric - http://twitter.com/ericsmithrocks) and stars two fan favorites, shaken, stirred and mashed together like a big steaming bowl of Alderaan stew...at tea time.  See where this is going? Soon, clear it will be. Today we shine the collective spotlight of a thousand rebel ships on....

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S STAR WARS by
Ian Doescher

To read or not to read...that is the eternal question. (No lie...that was my question too when I first heard about this release.)
Is it better to have sallied forth with imaginations running on all power cells, or is it nobler to let the classics only have full reign of the Bard's particular vernacular and verse?

This reader says. ..take the journey to a galaxy far far away whilst using the tongue of a time forgotten by most but thriving in literature still.  Whether ye be a formidable fan of the infamous trilogy or of the late great works of a playwright that left his mark around the world, this unusual, unexpected, and frankly odd sounding mash up of talents and genres works rather well...something this particular publisher is also known for.  

The characters are recognizable (and I loved how R2-D2 was given a "voice" a time or two...since I don't speak beep), the scenes familiar enough, but only to the extent that they felt like old friends rediscovered after a bout of broken communication. You had things to talk about but you weren't complete strangers. The fact that it follows the "act 1, scene 1" set up also makes it easily accessible to the theater crowd...after all, once you've finished reading it, you can't help but wonder what it'd be like to see it on stage.  The costumes alone would be worth it.

Review copy received courtesy of Eric at Quirk Books (http://www.quirkbooks.com). (THANKS!) For more information on this title as well as their complete catalogue, be sure to visit them online or follow along on Twitter.  This book is available now so be on the look out for it on a bookstore shelf near you. ALSO...fan of book trailers or not, you need to seek out the one for this title...it's totally worth it.

Until next time...happy reading!

BOOK BLAST: Keeper of Reign, Book 1 by Emma Right + Giveaway!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....the place to be when the bookish side of you is looking for your next escape; no worries, we'll always have one at the ready.

Today, we are playing host to a BOOK BLAST via I Am a Reader, Not a Writer featuring a Young Adult Fantasy that adventure written all over it.  The fact that it's book 1 in a series promises us future reads to come, but the synopsis seen below is what will capture your attentions...and I know a few bloggy friends that will be immediately drawn right into it.  (^_^)  Ready to take the plunge on today's spotlight title?  The house lights are down, bring on the star....

Keeper of Reign 

by

Emma Right

Books written in blood. Most are lost, their Keepers with them. A curse that befell a people. A Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it? For Jules, the heir of a Keeper, no less, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It was bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King’s Ancient Books, did not help ward off that anathema. Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? Gehzurolle’s agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to find the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules doesn't get himself killed first.  

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

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Well, how'd you like it?

Sound like something to add to your wish list...or maybe you need a little more to go on...

How's about a book trailer to further enchant your imagination?

Wish granted!

   

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  Author Emma Right Emma Right is a happy wife and homeschool mother of five living in the Pacific West Coast of the USA. Besides running a busy home, and looking after their five pets, which includes two cats, two bunnies and a Long-haired dachshund, she also writes stories for her children. She loves the Lord and His Word deeply, and when she doesn't have her nose in a book, she is telling her kids to get theirs in one. Right worked as a copywriter for two major advertising agencies and won several awards, including the prestigious Clio Award for her ads, before she settled down to have children.

Facebook * Twitter * Website * Pinterest

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To check out all the amazing stops on this tour, 

be sure to visit the official Tour Schedule page.

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  BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash*

Ends 9/5/13

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Until next time....SPREAD THE WORD...and happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Can't Help Falling in Love by Bella Andre

Good morning, afternoon, or night!

Welcome back to the site that celebrates the reader in you no matter time it is or zone you're in...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we are playing host to a stop along the blog tour for the latest in The Sullivans series via Meryl L Moss Media Relations, Inc. It features book three in a series that has drawn A LOT of fans across the globe and while I may not have been completely on board with the last two, this one had be hook ladder and sinker.  (^_^)  Today's Contemporary Romance book of choice is....

Can't Help Falling in Love

by

Bella Andre

Harlequin MIRA

9780778315582

About the book...

How much is worth risking?
Gabe Sullivan risks his life every day as a firefighter in San Francisco, but he knows better than to risk giving his heart again. Especially not to the woman he saved from a deadly apartment fire…and can't stop thinking about.
Megan Harris owes everything to the heroic firefighter who saved her and her daughter. Everything except her heart. Because after losing her pilot husband, she has vowed to never suffer through loving—and losing—a man with a dangerous job again.
But when Gabe and Megan meet again, how can he possibly ignore her courage, determination and beauty? And how can she deny not only his strong bond with her daughter…but also his sweetly sensual kisses, challenging her to risk everything she's been guarding for so long?

So, I started this book with a preconceived notion of what was to unfold....little bit of fabulous story line, LOADS of bow-chica-wow-wow.  *-*  When all was said and done, boy was I surprised!  How so?  Let's get to the for/against list as we've stuck with it this far into the series and it seems to work rather well, don't ya think?  Here goes something...


Personal Pros

1.  Story line...this author totally knows how to garner interest from her readers.  This time around, she sets a realistic story line, probably the most thus far, that people can relate more easily to.  The danger of a house fire, the incredible loss that could have been so much worse, the inevitable hero, the sparks that were never intended to be and the journey it took them to get from point A to point B...all intricate parts of the overall puzzle that creates a read you'll be invested in.
2.  Emotional connection...there in ways that will touch your heart and steal your breath.  Whew!  You can't help but feel for ALL the characters in this one.  From Gabe and Megan trying to sort things out heart and soul to Sophie who's story will reveal itself in due time, from moments in the comfortable company of three to the intense moments of closeness both under and on the sheets, you'll be there through it all and then some with your heart in your hand and a smile on your lips.
3.  Characters...oh my my!  I don't know how to put this one but while Chase and Marcus both had their uber positive points to ponder, Gabe just has that something extra.  He thrills to danger but not with reckless abandon.  He wasn't an angel in the past but he was faithful and like his brothers, once he falls....there's no turning back despite what his intentions are.  He's handsome as all get out, good with kids, knows his heart (well mostly), takes his time....need I go on? Okay, I will, but about the others of awesome note.  Megan is a strong character and not just for her amazing daughter, Summer.  She's survived a heart broken in more ways than one and is determined to make sure nothing happens to rock her little family's world.  Oh but sometimes quakes of the earth under our feet can be the most fun...and if her little girl has anything to say about it, it is fun she shall be having in short order.




Personal Cons

1.  The "encounter" situation wasn't overtly high this time around but there was again a bit too much detail.  Were they intense?  Certainly....but not necessary in their FULL colors for the book to be just as enjoyable  on all counts.
2.  Umm...I'm hard pressed to come up with a second this time.  Nope, we're ending it with one.




Final thoughts...a GREAT READ recommended for ADULTS ONLY.  Yes, I said it...a great read.  It starts with a potential tragedy, takes a turn for a new tomorrow with all the experience of yesterday weighing it down, and leads readers to an ending they won't soon forget.  I really enjoyed this one and the containment of the wink-wink scenes to a few pages here and there as opposed to chapter after chapter, made this one my most favorite yet of The Sullivans series.  I really enjoyed getting to know yet another member of their fabulously handsome, caring, and giving clan...even if their family time was kept to a minimum.  (Aww, I miss the rest of the family!)  If you like your reads with heart, romance, and a fairly volatile dose of heat, this one is definitely for you.  Or perhaps you're like me and you don't need the intensely close situations to make your story, there's still enough of a story to keep you both entertained and committed to the page.  Brava to the author indeed!

ARC for review courtesy of Liz at Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their other promotions, be sure to check out their official site, visit them over on BookTrib or follow along on Twitter....and don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour including today's second stop over at Bookish Brunette!  To check out more from the mind behind the series, stop by the author's official site, like her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.  This title was first released in print format just this month via Harlequin MIRA and should be available on a bookstore shelf near you.  Don't forget!  Book 1 and book 2 are both out now...(Just click the titles over there to be swept away to my previous reviews.)...and I was just scoping out the website and guess what I read?  There's more still to come!  October 2013, a special holiday add in, Kissing Under the Mistletoe, and the fourth book in the series telling Sophie's story, I Only Have Eyes For You.  November 2013,  Zach's life comes to the pages in, If You Were Mine.  *adds to wish list*

Until next time...happy reading!

Elementary indeed...: Winter at Death's Hotel by Kenneth Cameron

HI guys!

Welcome back to the place that loves exploring the world of literature one book at a time...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're stepping away from the usual teaser post for a glimpse inside the cover of a recent read of mine.  It's an ARC I agreed to review that falls into the category of "better in theory than in execution"...at least for this reader.  It stars the wife of the infamous creator of Sherlock Holmes in a murder mystery that will take her from the creme de la creme to the depths of despair and back again as she becomes the prime target due to her meddling.  Curious?  So was I.  Let us take a closer look.  Today's book of choice is...

Winter at Death's Hotel

by

Kenneth Cameron

About the book....

New York, January 1896. Arthur Conan Doyle, the renowned created of Sherlock Holmes, arrives with his wife Louisa at the Britannic Hotel in New York for his first American tour. While Arthur prepares his lectures, Louisa becomes entranced by the vibrant, dangerous metropolis brimming with debauchery and iniquity around every corner. When a woman's mutilated corpse turns up in a Bowery alley, Louisa recognizes the victim as someone she's seen in the hotel. Obsessed with the woman's gruesome death, Louisa starts piecing together clues to reveal a story of murder and depravity—a story that leads back to the hotel itself and a madman who is watching her every move.

As I said, sounds FABULOUS in theory, but for this reader, it fell a bit flat.  Allow me to explain.

On the pro side of things, we have a female lead that is interesting enough, with morals to spare and more kindness in her heart for her fellow woman than can be fathomed.  She is desperate to not let this young woman's death fall by the wayside; in my mind, she was imaging her to be someone's daughter, sister, wife, etc...sad and yet so true.  I liked the idea of exploring life from the wife of an author growing in infamy and the plan to solve a mystery of her own choosing without said husband's aid.  (Believe me, he is none too helpful.)  I enjoyed her connection with Ethel, her handmaid, and Minnie, the spunky reporter she befriends.  Her mind was open to possibilities that others of her time were not and that assisted her in seeing beyond what was simply there in front of her face.  (Nice touch!)  Marching on...

The cast of male characters were distinct and yet played second fiddle to our femme fatales, a surprising turn of events, but most enjoyed.  A favorite among them?  Detective Dunne...nicknamed "Never" Dunne.  He may not be the quickest bloke nor something to especially appealing to look at, but he's thorough, accurate and out to get the one at the heart of these heinous crimes.  Speaking of those crimes, if you've an easily turned stomach, you might not want to read parts of this while eating.  Just sayin.  *ahem*

On the con side, I had a hard time tussling with the author's writing style, especially the sentence structures.  Was it simply the style of the times? Could be, but I've read Mr. Holmes' adventures before and found them less of a mouthful.  Also, I found myself skimming a section or two trying to move things along as we would get hung up here or there with overly descriptive passages about a certain locale in the city, or the layout of a room, etc.  Some of these play bigger parts later in the story, yes, but at the time, they stalled things.  Last but not least, there was also a preoccupation with sexuality...and not just from the Butcher.  His/Her focus I understand; they were the killer and they were proving a point....however, Louisa's many bouts with "self-appreciation" were, well, to a point, unnerving.  I mean, she wasn't perverse or anything, but it just seemed awkward.

In conclusion, there is a case to be made for and against this particular fictional adventure of a real life author's wife turned sleuth.  Where will you plant your fandom flag?  Well now, that's entirely up to YOU now isn't it?  The facts have been laid before you as I saw them, but the true FINAL ANSWER is in your hands.  I do however recommend this one for adult readers and beyond due to some content as previously mentioned.

ARC for review courtesy of Liz at Sourcebooks.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their growing catalog of literary wonders, be sure to visit them online, friend them on Facebook, pin them on Pinterest, or follow along on Twitter.  This title was released earlier this month and should be available now on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time...happy reading!

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Thousand Year Curse by Taylor Lavati

HI guys!

Welcome back to the place that aims to start your week off right, bookishly of course....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!

This weekend has been spotlight central but guess what?  There are A LOT of great titles out there and as much as I would like to read them all like PRONTO, there are still only 24 hours in a day and my formula for "time-on-demand" has not made it out of the beta stages yet so until it does, alas...I can't read them ALL despite my deepest desires.  So, my way of celebrating in spite of it all?  The SPOTLIGHT post!  

Today's BOOK SPOTLIGHT belongs to a young, up and coming author who is celebrating the very recent release of her first published work...but as she assures us, it's just the beginning of all that is to come.  Ready to READ ALL ABOUT IT?  Here we go!

The Curse Books, Book 1:

The Thousand Year Curse

by

Taylor Lavati

Being a teenager isn't all fun and games for seventeen year old Ryder. After being thrown down the social hierarchy, Ryder Mason has one goal for her senior year- survive. Within the first month of school, Ryder goes from bullied teen to a cursed half goddess with two boyfriends. As if that wasn't enough, she travels into the Underworld to confront Hades about the curse and her missing mother. Ryder delves head first into a Godly world as her two knights fight to seek her approval, her best friend's loyalties are tested and people's true intentions are shown in the first Curse Books novel. 

*Author Disclaimer*

Book contains adult situations. (For younger audiences skip chapter 16)

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Ooooh....

Sounds good to me, how about you?

Also, I appreciate her candid disclosure of potentially "older" scenes; allows younger readers a chance to experience the story as well without too early an exposure to adult situations.

As you read in the title there, this is the first book in a planned series so get in on the reading fun from the ground floor up!  This title is available now in ebook and paperback forms.  Need a few leads for purchasing purposes?  Wish granted!

Amazon    |   Kindle   |   B&N

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About the author....

Taylor Lavati is a twenty-two year old student, studying Early Childhood Education. Among her titles, she claims, author, reader and avid blogger. as her own and enjoys everything that has to do with literature.

Taylor is from a small town in Connecticut, called Ridgefield, and graduated from Ridgefield High School in 2009. She danced in the Ridgefield Studio of Performing Arts dance company and played on the Varsity Girls Ice Hockey Team.  Currently, she enjoys being outside, whether it be hiking, swimming, playing sports or just sunbathing. Her flat coated retriever Beau loves to be walked by her...and my boyfriend, Chris. 

Her first published work is The Thousand Year Curse, book 1 of The Curse Books series. 

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Special thanks to author Taylor Lavati for the chance to share her book celebration with my fellow readers.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as those yet to come, be sure to stop by her site, her blog, friend her on Google+, pin her on Pinterest, like her Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.

Until next time...happy reading!

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Devolution by Peter Clenott

Hi there!

Welcome to the Sunday edition of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be every day of the week for bookish fun! 

Today, we're going the way of a BOOK SPOTLIGHT celebrating the release of a Young Adult novel that hit the ebook circuits this past July and thus far, is making a good impression.  At first glance, it's not my usual YA lit choice, but once I got into the excerpt, I was hooked.  Ready?  Set?  READ!

Devolution

by

Peter Clenott

About the book...

What does it truly mean to be ‘Human’?

Chiku Flynn wasn’t raised to be human. Born in the Congolese rainforest, she spends her first eleven years as part of an experiment. For her, the aboriginal—the primitive—is ‘normal.’ 

Just after her eleventh birthday, Chiku witnesses the horrifying death of her mother, and her father sends her ‘home’ to the United States, to a normal teenager’s life. But she can’t adapt. She is the proverbial wild child—obstinate and defiant. 

When her father disappears, sixteen-year-old Chiku heads back to the primordial jungle, where she uncovers her own dark past and puts to use her greatest skill: she can communicate via sign language with the wild chimpanzees of Chimp Island.

But there is turmoil in the rainforest—civil war, environmental upheaval…and murder. The lives of the chimps and the safety of the people she loves depend upon one teenaged girl who refuses to be messed with—Chiku Flynn.

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See?

Curious, right?

It gets EVEN BETTER.

Check out the excerpt available on Amazon now for a further look behind the page...and if you're curiosity is raised enough, the paperback and ebook editions are available now!

If you are still undecided, or just waiting for someone else to talk about it with (hehe), yours truly will be reviewing it right here on my site later this year.  NO worries though, if you read it first...I won't hold it against you.  ^_^

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Special thanks to author Peter Clenott for the opportunity to bring this title to your attention and the future read.  (THANKS!)

Until next time...happy reading!

Not three but the one and only...Billy the Goat by Dustin Ross

Hi guys! 

Welcome back to the place to be when the need to read hits you strong and the only thing that will satisfy your hunger is a tasty bookish bite....at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!

Today, we're taking a bite, I mean a look at a Children's Picture Book from the ebook realm starring a horned little lad just itching with curiosity.  He's filled to the brim with childlike wonder and his first of many adventures takes him out of the house with dear old Dad, who's not as gruff as other fairy tales may lead you to believe.  (^_^) Today's ebook of choice is...

Billy the Goat,

 Helps His Father

by

Dustin Ross

I love how little Billy and his Mom and Dad are portrayed....even the fact that Mommy had a beard was addressed!  (Hey, it's totally normal, she IS a goat after all!) Billy is a curious little goat and right now, his interest is in what grown "people" do when they go to work.  Not interested in disappointing her boy, Mommy goat suggests talking to Daddy goat and thus a plan for his tagging along the very next day is made.  How exciting!  Remember those "take your child to work" days?  Always an adventure.  Anywho...

As it turns out, Billy's Dad is an electrician so not only does he get an idea about how homes are built, but he also gets a lesson in safety; a two fold win for readers!  We see first hand why listening to what our parents tell us to do and, perhaps more importantly, NOT do is not just for their peace of mind but for our own good.  Let's face it, no matter your age, there has been a time when the 'rents have told you one thing or another and you've done the opposite.  Oh you over there...stop fibbing!  Now think about the results of those choices.  They were our mistakes to make (depending on your age), yes....but more often than not, they were right weren't they?  Yup.  That's what experience will do for you.

So, kids and kiddos (ha, get it?  "Kids" as in baby goats? ^_^), ladies and gents, this is a simple Picture eBook for the little ones in your life, it's true, but it has a great message for all generations.  Mom and Dad...*gulp*...are usually right, or at the very least have our best interests at heart.  Join the fun with Billy the goat and enjoy the illustrations as he travels from home to the wide world and back....all in time for supper.

Ebook for review courtesy of author Dustin Ross.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well asonline, or like his Facebook page.  This title is available now at an ebook retailer near you...AND as of this post is FREE TO DOWNLOAD over on Amazon!  Grab it while it can...but hey, even if you miss the promotion, totally worth the purchase.
his other works, be sure to visit him

Until next time...happy reading!

BOOK BLAST: Working It Out by Rachael Anderson + GIVEAWAY!

Hi guys!
Welcome  back to the place where bookish people like yourselves are celebrated every day of the week, Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  Today may seem like a bit of deja vu, but it's all in good spirits.  It's a BOOK BLAST from the fab folks at I Am a Reader. Not a Writer (Hi, Kathy!) and stars a Women's Lit, or Chick Lit if you prefer, title that's making it's way through the blogosphere on a tour over the next couple of weeks.  To keep you in the know, a spotlighting we will go!  Ready?  Set?  Read!

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Working It Out 

 A chance encounter . . . Grace Warren's life is safe and predictable—exactly the way she likes it. But when she gets roped into going to an auction to help out a friend, everything changes. She meets Seth Tuttle—a guy who unexpectedly kisses her then disappears, leaving her flustered and upset. If she never sees him again, it will be too soon.
A chance for love . . . Weeks later, when Seth limps into Grace's rehab clinic post surgery, she immediately recognizes him. Unfortunately, he's every bit as frustrating and annoying as she remembered. Yet there's something about him that makes her second-guess her carefully placed boundaries even though he's everything she's sure she doesn't want in a man. But maybe Seth is exactly what Grace has needed all along—assuming she's willing to risk safe and predictable for a chance at love.  

Amazon * Amazon Kindle

 

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Author Rachael Renee Anderson Rachael Anderson is the author of four books: Divinely Designed, Luck of the Draw, Minor Adjustments, and The Reluctant Bachelorette. She's the mother of four and is pretty good at breaking up fights, or at least sending guilty parties to their rooms. She can't sing, doesn't dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.

Blog * Facebook * Twitter

 

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Book Blast Special Price Drop!

Grab a copy of Working it Out for just $2.99!

 

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  BookBlast Giveaway!

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/6/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway   

 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Special thank to Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer for the opportunity to participate in this promotion.  (THANKS!)  For more information, feel free to click through the links.  Don't forget!  The blog tour is kicking off shortly and there's a review spot on the schedule for yours truly, so be on the look out next month!

Until next time....GOOD LUCK....and happy reading!

A series worth being locked up for...QUARANTINE by Lex Thomas

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the place that reaches into the depths of your bookish soul...to find something NEW and EXCITING to bring to you almost every day of the week, Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!

What's with the dark, dreary, and somewhat scary opener there?  Well, it goes with the titles we are featuring today.  Straight from the seemingly bottomless pit that is the Young Adult genre and getting right up in your face comes a series that you're gonna want to take note of.  With a mash up of reality, biological weaponry (of sorts), a smidge of the fantastical and a look deep within the "hallowed halls" of our own youths, you are welcomed to McKinley High with opens arms...just watch that they're not aimed at your airway.  Ready to take the plunge?  Steel your nerves and get your game faces on, looks need to kill in this ultimate turf war when your very survival depends on not only your own skills, but the allowance of your existence by others.  Today's double review goes to the author team known as Lex Thomas as we explore their dark and cunning series....

Quarantine, Book 1:  The Loners

It was just another ordinary day at McKinley High—until a massive explosion devastated the school. When loner David Thorpe tried to help his English teacher to safety, the teacher convulsed and died right in front of him. And that was just the beginning.
A year later, McKinley has descended into chaos. All the students are infected with a virus that makes them deadly to adults. The school is under military quarantine. The teachers are gone. Violent gangs have formed based on high school social cliques. Without a gang, you’re as good as dead. And David has no gang. It’s just him and his little brother, Will, against the whole school. 

You thought the cliques were bad in YOUR high school.  ~shudders~  Everyone has stories of glory and less-than-glory from their time spent within the halls of teenage learning, but it's highly unlikely that they branch to the extremes faced in McKinley High.  Here, we are faced with the first day of school after a messy break up.  Here, we are starting the year off with our younger brother in tow in order to show him the ropes and get him off on the right foot.  Here, we are...facing the end of the world as we know it.  In a few short hours, school won't be ending, lunch bells won't be ringing, teens won't be loitering.  In fact within the next few minutes, utter chaos will erupt beginning with an explosion, continuing with the bloody end of all adults within the grounds, and ending with a great big bow of steel walls erected around the remaining building.  Trapped....like rats.  Communication eventually comes but the outlook is not good.  Now graduation has a whole new meaning...and their arrival to its "stage", much more dire consequences.

Imagine your high school days....now multiply the divisions, anxiety and uncertainty by TEN.  No, maybe a hundred would be a better choice.  The world the author's created is dark and intense and yet....realistic.  I mean, think about it.  We'd like to think in a situation where we're all in the same boat so to speak that civility and kindness would prevail but seriously...get real.  It'd be an eye for an eye and a tooth for the whole kit and kaboodle with or without some heavy security measures.  There would be those random spots of goodness just as there are here, but over time, even those would have to "man up" in order to survive.  A few rays of sunshine within this story include David, his younger brother Will, and Lucy.  How their stories intertwine and the repercussions of that mixing will turn the tide once, twice, and thrice again, but they are kept afloat by the hope of one day making it to the outside world.  Then again, they've been in here for MANY months now, who knows what's waiting for them on the outside?  Ladies and gents, enter....

Quarantine, Book 2:  The Saints

Nothing was worse than being locked in--until they opened the door...
McKinley High has been a battle ground for eighteen months since a virus outbreak led to a military quarantine of the school. When the doors finally open, Will and Lucy will think their nightmare is finished. But they are gravely mistaken.
As a new group of teens enters the school and gains popularity, Will and Lucy join new gangs. An epic party on the quad full of real food and drinks, where kids hookup and actually interact with members of other gangs seemed to signal a new, easier existence. Soon after though, the world inside McKinley takes a startling turn for the worse, and Will and Lucy will have to fight harder than ever to survive.

Hope.  A new tomorrow.  It was all SO close and some DID make it through but then that darn bus had to come crashing through their hopes and dreams.  Just like a school to terrorize you with it's own transportation device.  (^_^)

In this second installment, we have hopes that have risen about to be crushed flat like a bug on a window sill and those that road in on white horses, so to speak, about to prove two old adages.  First, if its too good to be true, it probably is...and second, in the battle of good versus evil, good will always win....eventually and with bloodied battle scars to show how far it's come, but still, eventually.  It's hard to see the school and this crew without David but they have their own issues to worry about with his leadership gone.  The Loners, just couldn't take being so alone and thus they dispersed among the other gangs.

Some changes made sense, others were a matter of circumstance.  Though Will is a BIG part of this story along with Gates and Sam, the gents on opposite ends of the spectrum of good and evil (or are they? Dun dun dunnnn...), Lucy is the one that really drew my attention.  Her "change" is the biggest surprise of all....and what she endures to get there, a shock to the system.  She's better for it, stronger even, but the stories her journey reveals about not only herself but her fellow females are heart breaking.  Don't shed any tears for them guys, because they'll stick you faster than you can say their hair color. McKinley High may be a grave for some and a living heck for many, but there are those that intend to survive...no matter what.




In conclusion, it's a wonderfully dark tale of life as it could be not as it should be and the ends to which we will all go to survive...for better or worse.  It shows the heart of those willing to bare their own, the shame of those conditioned to fit the mold, and the power that hope for a better tomorrow holds over us all.  For fans of Alexandar Gordan-Smith's Escape from Furnace series as well as male and female readers from older teens through adults, this is a story to be reckoned with....and it only it keeps gets better.  The story will draw you in, the characters will make you care, and all the while...you'll be thankful it's them not you.  *-*

Author duo Lex Thomas

Oh and by the way?  There IS a third book planned in the series for Spring 2014!  Yes, it IS totally on my wish list already.  Oh and if you think knowing that there is more still to come will ruin your read before it's begun, THINK AGAIN.  This series will keep you guessing at every turn and then surprise you by changing it yet again.  Bookmarks up to this author duo indeed!

Finished copy of book 1 and ARC of book 2 for review courtesy of Casey at Media Masters Publicity and the fab folks at Egmont USA.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this series as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their site, friend them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.  To discover more about the writing duo that is Lex Thomas, check out their official site, like them on Facebook, or follow their Twitter feed.

Until next time...happy reading!