The Very First Bite by Cynthia Langston

Hi there!

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

Today, we’re stepping into the land of Chick Lit or Women’s Fiction as some prefer to label it; either way it equates to essentially the same makeup.  Single or non-permanently attached girl with a good group of friends making it through life’s ups and downs in a sometimes sweet, yet comical way.  Same thing here but add in a high school reunion, a focus on image that borders on *cough* annoying at times *cough*and an ending that will make you rethink your entire perception of the story…in a good way.  Shining the spotlight on today’s book of choice…

The Very First Bite

By

Cynthia Langston

9780615654096

About the book…

The fun of looking backward.
The fear of looking forward.
And the frantic, dreaded horror of looking down at the scale.

The Very First Bite chronicles the toils and triumphs of Lanie Albers, who has just ten weeks to mentally and physically prepare for the ultimate day of reckoning:  her high school class reunion…

…By examining the ghosts of her past, Lanie begins to prepare for the revelations and confrontations of the big night.  She also launches a desperate campaign to lose weight:  an uproarious battle with fad diets and disastrous workouts, most of which lead her right back to the cookie jar.

Truth be told…I read this book a few months back so some of the details are fuzzy HOWEVER the overall experience, no worries; I got this one. 

This is the second novel from Ms. Langston and while it was still a good Chick Lit read, I have to be honest…I preferred her first venture, Bicoastal Babe.  I’m not certain if it was just the amount of drama flying through the air or what exactly, but it just didn’t sit completely right with me.  There was oh-so-much yo-yo dieting to fit into the right dress, A LOT of emphasis on having the right guy on her arm, and BUCOO focus on figuring out just what went wrong with her friendship so many years ago that Candace (the BFF or rather former BFF) pulled up roots and left overnight never to be heard from again.  Okay, so the latter was interesting, especially when everything comes out at book’s end, but the first two I could have done with less of.  Sorry; I don’t know about you but I hear enough of that on a day to day basis let alone need an instant replay in my reading.  Anywho…

Lanie is likeable enough.  Chad, her high school love interest and the one she still carries a flame for, is certainly not all he’s cracked up to be, or rather built up to be.  Candace, the former and potentially on again BFF, is a hoot…and despite her momentary melt down back in the day, seems to be a good character at heart.  My favorite?  Ironically, Mark…the man who gets the short end of the stick for most the story but by book’s end, earns a place on the mantel in her heart.  Who’s heart and who else is on the mantel, shall remain a mystery…at least until you read it…but the wait is worth it to finally see an honest smile on, well someone’s face…and acceptance of life in all its flavors and forms.

In conclusion, a good addition to the Chick Lit genre, absolutely… but (in my opinion) not her best.  I’d say for newbies to the author’s writing, check this one out first to get your feet wet and then jump into her FIRST work knowing that the reading ride is that much sweeter.  Review copy received courtesy of author Cynthia Langston.  (THANKS!)  For more information on her current works as well as those in progress, be sure to stop by her site, friend her on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.

Until next time…happy reading!

Black Friday, done bookish style with GoneReading!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the site that's bringing Black Friday to you in bookish style...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Here's hoping everyone had a FABULOUS Thanksgiving and that Black Friday is treating you right.  My own celebration went arye but that's a story for another time.  Due to work obligations, I had to do my shopping online this deal crazy day.  Got a good deal on a few movie, music, and tv choices so I'm happy there, but I miss being out in the hoopla and seeing as I refused to go out on the actual holiday, didn't have the opportunity.  *le sigh*  No biggie though because there is plenty of fun and savings to be had online as we all know.  Now for something you may not all know...

GoneReading.com

Yep.

That's right.

GoneReading.com

This site started out a few years back, a celebration for which I was in virtual attendance and thanks to the uber fab and generous CEO Brad (~waves~), I've the opportunity to shine the spotlight on this WONDERFUL site once again.  

First off...why would you want to shop here when there are SO many other choices out there?

Good question....now for the good answer...

...because they have bookish gifts for all your reader friends INCLUDING you, my fellow bookworms and bookworm-ettes.  Don't believe me?  Let the products speak for themselves....

Book rest book light!

One of MANY awesome shirts!

Enjoy reading ANYWHERE!

"It Was a Dark and Stormy Night" GAME!

A great place to log YOUR books read!

...need I say, or rather picture, more?

Didn't think so...but I shall because there's more.

Aside from the GREAT GIFTS for self and others, EVERY PURCHASE benefits reading related charities!  Here, they say it better themselves....

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

Dear Fellow Readers & Book Lovers:

If you’re like me, you just can’t imagine living in a world without reading. Unfortunately, for almost a billion people today, that’s exactly where they find themselves. There are countless villages, towns and vast regions of this planet where the power of reading has yet to shine its light.

Gone Reading International, LLC was founded to counter these problems and spread the magic of reading.  We believe that when people have open access to great reading materials, life always changes for the better.  When libraries and reading materials are made available, people and their communities thrive through increased opportunity and self-empowerment.

That’s why Gone Reading International has pledged 100% of our after-tax profits to provide new funding for reading-related charities.  By purchasing GoneReading brand gifts and merchandise, you’re treating yourself and the world at large to a wonderful gift.  All purchases from GoneReading help contribute to our philanthropic work.

We donate to great non-profits such as READ Global, Ethiopia Reads and BiblioWorks, amazing organizations with proven models, long track records, and dedicated teams on the ground.  Such groups partner with local villages and communities in the most underdeveloped parts of the world to create new libraries that effect real change.

Make A Purchase & Share Our Story

Founded in 2011, our long-term goal is to provide significant financial assistance to our preferred charities, allowing them to achieve greater scale and impact.  We invite you to join us in this work by making a purchase of our gifts for readers.

Equally important, we ask you to share our story with the book lovers and readers in your life...

Happy Reading!

Bradley S. Wirz

Founder & CEO

Gone Reading International, LLC

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

That's right!

A gift you can feel good about in ALL ways.

Speaking of gifts...when Mr. Wirz contacted me this time around, he gave me the chance to review an item of my choosing so that I could see how it works and share it with all of YOU.

After much pondering, it was decided...and upon its arrival there was much SQUEEing to be heard.

Wanna know what it was?

Do you?

TADA!

Yes!

Your eyes are not deceiving you.

It's a Book Shaped Serving Platter!

Small in size but awesomely cool, durable, classy and convenient for bookish gatherings of several...

...or simply one...

...and with the matching plates, you can turn EVERY meal into a bookish celebration.

 Guess what's on my wish list?  ^_^

With that, I'm drawing this post to a close...besides, the leftover turkey is calling you and hopefully I've just helped you cross another gift off your holiday to-buy list.

*fist pump*

Special thanks to Mr. Wirz and his crew for both the opportunity to spotlight his amazing venture once again AND for helping to spread the joys of reading in a unique and book-tastic way.  For more on this awesome item as well as their growing collection of wonders, be sure to stop by the site,like them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter!

Happy holidays....and happy reading!

Life is heaven when you're... Sleeping in Eden by Nicole Baart

Hi there ladies and gents!

Welcome back to the site that throws out the red carpet for guests and the text covered bookish carpet for fellow readers….Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  Don’t worry, it’s cleaned regularly so if you should happen to fall in the category of fellow reader then it is perfectly acceptable to find a favorite page or two on the carpet and lie down for a read....especially after all that turkey you've consumed today.  

What, you think I forgot?  HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of my fellow readers celebrating this day of thanks and giving, sharing and kindness today.  Oh, and if you're heading out for the shopping starting at some point today, it's all yours.  I'll have mine on Black Friday or none at all thank you very much.  Old school, I know...but they rush EVERY holiday nowadays more and more.  *sigh*  Anyway, speaking of reads…

Today’s spotlight goes to a book I read a few weeks back that was curious indeed.  It’s a story with a few stories running around within itself and though that might sound confusing, the lines laid for each were clear so as to keep you on the straight and narrow.  Ready to ride the invisible rails and uncover today’s selection?  Let’s!  Book of choice comin’ at ya….

Sleeping in Eden

By

Nicole Baart

9781439197363

Howard Books

About the book…

She knew what we wrote…
One little word that made her feel both cheated and beloved.
One word that changed everything.
MINE.

On a chilly morning in the Northwest Iowa town of Blackhawk, Dr. Lucas Hudson is filling in for the vacationing coroner on a seemingly open-and-shut suicide case.  His own life is crumbling around him, but when he unearths the body of a woman buried in the bard floor beneath the hanging corpse, he realizes this terrible discovery could change everything…

Years before Lucas ever set foot in Blackhawk, Meg Painter met Dylan Reid.  It was the summer before high school and the two quickly became inseparable.  Although Meg’s older neighbor, Jess, was the safe choice, she couldn’t let go of Dylan no matter how hard she tried.

Caught in a web of jealousy and deceit that spiraled out of control, Meg’s choices in the past ultimately collide with Lucas’s discovery in the present, weaving together a taut story of unspoken secrets and the raw, complex passions of innocence lost.

Sounds chilling and spooky right?  WRONG!  Though it does have it’s mysteries aplenty, this is not a ghost story in the true sense of the word; it only qualifies on that level by a mere fraction of an inch if one were to refer to the ghosts of one’s past.  What it IS is a tale that weaves together the lifelines of many, creating an end masterpiece you can’t see coming.  Nope.  Don’t even try…okay, well try because that’s part of the fun but don’t let it stress you.  What?  You think I did that?  Pfft!  *nervous chuckle*  Oh come on…I know better…well, now at least.  ^_^

Admittedly I was more invested in the friendship and love triangle between Meg, Dylan, and Jess…whose story actually takes place in the past, then the present day story starring Lucas and Jenna.  I felt more connected to them as each facet of their personalities was revealed, each year rolled by, and each new adventure met fruitation or frustration.  From Meg and Dylan’s first meeting with fireworks bursting overhead and a game of Bloody Murder (it’s like hide and seek, sorta) in progress to him showing her the finer points of bike tricks.  The quiet passage of time that allows them to grow up and apart to her first kiss with a boy that wasn’t whom she intended to give her heart to.  From first blush to first love, heartbreak to healing escapes, it’s all there in black and white intermingled with observations from the present.  You see, the story is building all around you as you are reading about each seemingly separate group, but they are moving towards a connection buried just below the surface.  As I said, I knew it had to be there, but I didn’t see it coming…

There are many times you will be moved by their stories, both past and present characters counted.  You’ll feel the despair and desperation in Lucas and Jenna’s relationship…something that is not aided, though they’d hoped it would be, by a presence from their past.  You’ll understand Meg’s confusion as her emotions roller coaster between what she wants and what she might need.  You’ll see both sides of the coin when the term “mine” is used…or in this case presented…in regards to another person.  You’ll ponder the connections between them all, wondering just where the story is taking you and then finally come to a satisfying landing as you see the lay of the landscape strewn with shattered hearts and dreams and yet….hope.

In the end, it’s a tale well spun if only you give it a chance to work its magic.  Wander the lives of these characters, become a part of their story.  Let the tragedies involved affect you, shed a tear for the life and love lost.  Cringe at the shadowy moments, and let your heart race in those that are passion filled as it all works towards a final sense of closure.  Then…when all is said and done…turn the final page, breathe a sigh of satisfaction and then pass it on; for what better way do YOU know to share a great read?

Review copy received courtesy of the great folks at Simon and Schuster.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their site, like them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.  This title is available now from Howard Books, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time…happy reading!

John Jacob she's not...: Namesake by Sue MacLeod

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers…the place to be every day of the week for good times, fair weather and of course, great reads.

Today, we’re taking a look at a title via Pajama Press.  It’s from the Young Adult genre, steeped in history but only so far as to reach out and connect you directly with a time, place and person…not so much as to feel preachy, teachy, or any other word you’d care to add a “y” to that fits.  (^_^)  Of course, it also opens up the avenue of further investigation for you since it has real life connections, but we’ll get to that a little later.  Ready to greet today’s featured title?  Practice your curtsey and your bow, today’s book of choice is…

Namesake

By

Sue MacLeod

9781927485293

Pajama Press

Look familiar?  Well, it darn well better…or else you haven’t been visiting the blog these past few months and then, and then I might just have to cry.  *sad face*  You don’t want me to burst out in tears now do you?  *sniff*  I didn’t think so.  *blows nose*  Besides, it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun as sharing my thoughts on this book because honestly, it SURPRISED me.

Okay, I admit it. When I hosted a spot on the blog tour back in September, I initially had my wires crossed.  I thought I was to review it for my day instead it turned out I was spotlighting it and so in my whole rush to read it before the supposed deadline that was about to pass…I was just NOT into it.  I couldn’t connect, no if’s, an’s, or but’s about it.  Turns out the reason was simply because I was too rushed.  Once my reading schedule kink was worked out (i.e. I read my own sticky note on the cover of the book…*hand to face*), I put it aside until its proper time and thus discovered a book much more fascinating than my first pass revealed.

This is the story of Jane Grey…and Jane Grey.  The only thing separating them is the inclusion of the name/title “Lady” and a couple of centuries.  No big deal, right?  Umm…well, here’s the thing.  JG from the here and now lives in Canada, crushes on TK (Tom Kantor), and has a history report coming up that she is doing on LJG.  Convenient considering the events that are about to unfold…plus of course the same name aspect.  LJG from the past was the teen ruler of Tudor England for about nine days…before she was imprisoned and executed.  Dun dun dunnnnn.  Her Booke of Prayre seems to have survived her beheading (~shudders~) and finds its way into the hands of our current JG with very unexpected results; for it’s not just a first hand account of LJG’s days, but a portal of sorts…or so it seems.  I mean, come on!  Do you really expect us to believe that she’s traveling back to the final days of the young ruler’s life, playing chess, dancing, and trying to find some way to stay her execution?  Pfft!  *chuckles*  Oh wait…unless the way there and back works BOTH ways…   ~oooh~

Image from actual Lady Jane Grey's Booke of Prayre via http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/histtexts/ladyjane/index.html

Curiosity may have injured the cat, but revealing the final plot line has off’ed enough readers and reviewers for me to know better than to spoil the mystery.  Suffice it to say, you’ll grow close to both young ladies as they explore each other’s lives in the here and there.  You’ll grow to understand both their positions and the choices they make regarding their own fates.  You’ll realize that it’s not just a history project in the making nor a chance to see life as it once was, but a story that reminds us that EVERYONE has difficult times in life; some struggles just aren’t as obvious to Johnny Q. Public.  It doesn’t make them any lesser or greater, it just makes them as tough to manage on your own.  You have to let others in for help to be lent; after all, not everyone is as discerning of the pains we have grown so accustom to hiding.  Share your true self with the world, the good and the bad.  Let them make their decisions regarding you with the whole picture in front of them…just don’t let their “judgment” determine your self worth.

Recommended read for Young Adult fans of all ages and beyond.  Whether historical read inclined or not, there’s still something to connect with and reflect on in this story.  Review copy received courtesy of Pajama Press.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their official site, pin them on Pinterest, friend them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.  Oh…and one more thing.  Seeing as how a lot of the events included actually happened, I do believe you’d be interested in knowing that the ‘Booke of Prayre’ mentioned actually exists…or at least the one widely accepted to have been hers does.  Thanks to the author’s note, we’ve got a lead on where to find it.  Just click here and then search for “Lady Jane Grey’s prayer book”.  (*types…clicks…reads*)

Until next time…happy reading!

Taste Testing Tuesdays

Today's teaser post isn't a random page selection but merely the page I am on in the book..page 1.
I thought we could begin this reading adventure together...and from the sound of it, we're in for a doozy.

THE CLOCK OF LIFE
by
Nancy Klann-Moren

So...what are YOU reading today?
Feel free to share your own tease....I'm all ears.

^-^

What Matters Most by Bette Lee Crosby

Why how-DY!

Welcome to the site that’s putting the ALL back in YA’LL…Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Okay, I can’t even carry on that pattern of typing for the entire intro let alone a post but it worked for a quick way to jump into the region of today’s title.  Come with me as we step into the land of Women’s Fiction with a big dose of the South.  It’s warm, it’s welcoming, it’s downright hospitable…although our leading lady probably wouldn’t agree with us for a good bit and well frankly, neither would you or I considering the conditions and circumstances and…well, let’s just get to the story, shall we?  Pull up a rocker and grab some sweet tea, it’s time to meet today’s book of choice…

What Matters Most

By

Bette Lee Crosby

9780989128902

Bent Pine Publishing

About the book…

Louise Palmer is a settled-down person.  A woman who wants nothing more than to remain in the same house until the day she dies.  When her husband Clay, announces an intention to quit his job and move to Florida, her life is thrown into a turmoil of mixed emotions and strained loyalties.  Torn between Clay’s desire for “the good life” and the lifelong friendships of her quilting club, Louise struggles with what to do…until her best friend suggests a scheme to thwart the move.

Before she discovers the truth of what matters most, a marriage will be tested, family relationships fall apart and the friendships Louise tried to hold on to will change dramatically.

This is a story from the heart about the many facets of the heart and the trials and tribulations that not only LIFE puts it through…but we create ourselves.

Louise Palmer, who has always wanted to be Penny Palmer (it’s a double initial thing…believes they are luckier in life, though her friend Billie Butterman would beg to differ…a whole lot more on that in the book for you to uncover), is the sorta person who lays down roots and sticks with them.  No backpacking through life for this gal, she knows where she’s going and likes the view just fine.  Too bad for her the man she hitched her star to has decided to throw her a curve ball.

Now before you go getting all riled up with your hair pulled back and your fists of fire ready to fly, it’s not like that.  His midlife crisis is playing out in the form of needing a change of pace and place, not the love of his life…though if she’s not careful, that just might be what happens.  It’s not an ultimatum, it’s a fact and trust me, it’s a truth that’s well deserved but something he is just as responsible for creating.  I mean, how would YOU take it if one day you were told by your significant other that you’re pulling up roots and moving clear across the country with no rhyme, no reason except that the chance existed to try a more relaxed life off the beaten path?  Okay, well some of you may be pumping your fist in the air and doing a happy dance, but others are probably affected similar to our lead here; wary of such a dramatic change in their life because they’ve finally reached where they aimed to be.

Change is hard, no matter the circumstance.  Even when it’s your idea, it can send you for a loop.  When it’s someone else’s idea though, it gives the opportunity for blamed to be placed, fingers pointed, and I-told-you-so’s to be slung about.  So, um…yeah.  Louise doesn’t exactly take the high road but she doesn’t shy away from it all either.  Her plan is more George-Washington-crossing-the-Delaware…SNEAK attack!  Poor, poor Louise though…at every turn it seems something or someone is out to thwart her.  See now that’s the problem with playing things half hidden in shadows…the other never really knows where you stand; of course then there are those that wouldn’t know where you stood if you were standing ON them because they are so involved with themselves.  (Yes Clay…you are guilty as charged here.)  The back and forth, tit for tat, games played and eventually fate, stretch and test the measure of their love both in marriage and of friends.  Will anyone survive the emotional battlefield they’ve created for themselves?  Or will their meant for a lifetime love perish in the flames of change?  Only time will tell, but if you give Cherry or rather Mabel enough time, a good meal and a chair to rest in, she’ll bring you up to speed in a flash.

In conclusion, a story that brings the idiosyncrasies of life to the forefront , shakes and bakes them in the Florida sunshine, and hangs them on the line to dry with flair.  This is one of those books that the story isn’t necessarily earth shattering in what actually transpires but the characters that drive that story make it well worth the read…and then some.  From our mostly practical Penny…er, I mean Louise…to the flamboyant Cherry (though Mabel suits her just as well…she’s still her after all), the on-the-run Billie to backwoods Wilfred, there’s a full house of “crazy” with calamity for a partner but it takes it all in and makes it its own leaving you with a lovable bunch too good to miss out on knowing.

Recommended read for Women’s Fiction fans as well as those that simply like a good story with heart, laughs, and a wacky cast ready and willing to throw down with the best of them or supply a shoulder upon which to cry.  Bookmarks up to the author for a read well done.  Signed ARC courtesy of publicist Coral and author Bette Lee Crosby.  (THANKS! ^_^)  For more information on this title as well as her complete body of works, be sure to stop by her official site, like her Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.  This title is available now from Bent Pine Publishing, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you!  Need an online option?  Here's two to start you on your way....Amazon, Barnes & Noble....

Until next time…happy reading.

The Roving Reader

Nice find and a great reminder for the second installment of the film trilogy due out next month.
Anyone else have it in their "must see" list?

^-^

Show Us Your Stripes!: Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown + GIVEAWAY!

Why hello again!

Welcome back to the site that likes to walk on the wild side of things every now and again…Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we’re taking a look at a recent release in the land of storybooks.  If you’ve delved into this genre as of late, way to go my friend!  If you haven’t read one in a while, you are sorely due because there is ALWAYS something reaching publication in this magical land of imagination that’s worth a look.  Speaking of which, today’s title fits that bill to a “T”…and wouldn’t you know it, our stars name even BEGINS with a “T”!  (Woo-hoo!)  Ladies and gents, boys and girls, animals and animal-ettes, today’s book of choice is…

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild

By

Peter Brown

9780316200639

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

As soon as I saw this one, the artistry brought to mind a particular Children’s Storybook that I’ve seen round and yet have not read at this point.  (Shocking, right? ^_^) It features an enthusiastic little bear looking for a friend…well, okay.  Looking isn’t NEARLY strong enough but you get my point.  Anyway…suffice it to say, I was spot on with my guess and the rest is history!

Meet Mr. Tiger.  Mr. Tiger is feeling a bit stifled as of late.  Everything and everyone around him is so prim and proper, walking around on their own “two feet”, wearing top hats and bonnets, saying “please” and “thank you”…why it’s enough to drive a poor tiger WILD!  That my dear friends…is just what happens.  First, off comes the hat…much more comfortable!  Next, a trial run of walking around on all four paws…how smart!  Then, a ferocious ROAR erupts from his muzzle, the likes of which have not been heard nor will they be accepted in his proper town.  So, he did what came naturally…sought a home in the great BIG wilderness.

There was but one problem.  You know that saying that the grass is always greener on the other side?  Yeah, that applies to changes of character, heart and lifestyle too.  While the change was good for Mr. Tiger, it wasn’t a perfect fit.  He missed his friends.  He missed his home.  He probably missed his ability to cater in lunches as opposed to tracking them down himself as well, though he’d hardly admit to that.  Anywho, one thing led to another and a compromise was found that both worked for Mr. Tiger AND his proper society friends.  Funny thing about ideas though, especially NEW ones…they tend to be contagious.  (Hehe…a little surprise for readers to discover at book’s end.)

From the cover jacket in all its illustrated glory to the actual hard cover of the book with fun-tastic TIGER striping, readers will dive right into the story with two feet, four paws or any other way they seem fit to come and will be welcomed just the same!  The illustrations draw you to the “yard” while the content reminds us to be true to ourselves.  To break it down, the moral of the story…despite the opposition you might face in life, you have to be you; it’s when you’re not that things tend to go sour.  If you’re so busy worrying about pleasing everyone else, you miss the enjoyment that life has to offer.  For the kiddos, they’ll have a ball roaring along with Mr. Tiger and walking around on all four legs but as they grow, they’ll surely know that a true acceptance of ones self is in the ability to share that version of us, the REAL you that is you,  with the world.

Review copy received courtesy of Barbara and Sarah over at BlueSlip Media.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this promotion as well as those forthcoming, be sure to stop by their official site.  This book reached publication September 2013 via Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.  For more information on this title as well as their complete catalog, visit them online or throughout the social media landscape.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Now, before we part, there’s TWO more things I’d like to draw your attention to.  First, the exclusive activity kit that goes along with this title!  Stop by the author's site and download your FREE bookish fun pack including a Mr. Tiger mask, word scramble, puppets and more!  I mean really, it's too much fun to pass up.  Now, on to that SECOND item....how would you like a CHANCE TO WIN?

Not so loud!

Well, okay...if you insist, I mean if Mr. Tiger can get his ROAR on, you are certainly entitled.  ^_^

  

Thanks to the great folks at Blue Slip Media, I have the opportunity to give away ONE copy of this FUN-tastic book so you can share it with you and yours.  Sound good?  I thought it might.  To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter below before December 1st, 2013...and don't forget, SPREAD THE WORD!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time...happy reading!

Seed Savers: Treasure by S. Smith

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....grab a seat and prepare for a bookish flight of fancy.

Today, we’re staying in the Middle Grade arena as promised and delving into the first book of a series that we first featured yesterday on the site...you remember, the excerpt?  (*crosses fingers*)  If not, feel free to click back for a refresher.  Anywho, the cool part about it, besides the story itself, is the eco push behind the message because though it may seem fantastical to a degree, to me…it was an all too realistic future.  Ready to join the fun and READ ALL ABOUT IT?  Grab your gardening gloves and prepare to get your hands dirty, it’s time to meet today’s book of choice…

Seed Savers, Book 1:

Treasure

By

S. Smith

9780615630069

About the book…

They say you should remember the past…but sometimes you need to remember the future.

 

Clare, Dante, and Lily live in a future where growing vegetables is against the law.

Some, however, encourage the children to change the future, and instruct them in the olds ways.

Can the children learn enough before being stopped by GRIM, the government agency controlling the nation’s food?

And can children really change the future?

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Scary right?

Now I don’t mean jump-out-of-dark-places-wielding-a-machete kinda scary; I mean hits-close-to-home-because-it’s-so-real scary.  The two are very different scenarios and yet equally goose bump inducing. 

The three kiddos brought into this secret organization (the Seed Savers) of sorts are very brave and courageous…but as the story progresses they grow to be even more so.  It’s not enough to defy the powers that be, you have to affect a change.  Through their efforts, their sacrifices, their hard work and determination even at their young age, they are ushering in change.  Even though this is only book 1 and there is much more to come, the simple acts and choices made here are bringing hope to those who’ve been waiting for a turn around for a very long time. 

Can children change the future…you ask?

YOU BET.

The young, the old, the somewhere-in-between, we all have an impact on the world that surrounds us, but it’s up to us what that lasting impression is.

Whether you’re a big supporter of ecological causes or usually a passenger on the ride of life, this is a book with a message you can get behind.  Let it empower you.  Let it remind you of your own innate power.  Let it encourage you to make meal time family time with a home cooked meal utilizing all the fresh goodness available to you, when the opportunity presents itself…or better still, MAKE an opportunity; life is only so long you know, gotta make it count.  Pass your cooking know how on to the next generation and if you’re lacking in that department, learn it together.  After all, a world where the food groups are simply labeled as Sweeties, Carbos, and Vitees…  ~shudders~  They may be convenient options when needing things that will last a considerable length of time, but imagine never tasting the sweetness of a peach, the crisp tartness of a green apple, a choice cut of steak or the summertime pleasure of a juicy slice of watermelon.

The horror for our health and our hearts indeed…

So, the conclusion to my rambling train of thought, a book aimed at Middle Grade readers that’s good for one and all.  It does feature some scripture as Ana utilizes the “good book” to help train the kiddos up in the facts of life (nature’s abundance and what not) and as a diversion for any GRIM folks lurking about.  Gotta love the acronym for this agency though (and the trouble the kids give them)…definitely describes the outlook on life should this future come to pass.

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Author S. Smith

Review copy received courtesy of author S. Smith.  (THANKS!)  For more on this title as well as the series as it grows, be sure to stop by the official site.  To connect with author S. Smith, stop by her site, like her Facebook and follow along on Twitter.  Books 1, 2 AND 3 are available now, so be on the lookout for them on a bookstore shelf near you.  Oh, and don't forget about the blog tour running now through the beginning of December!  Lots of fun to be had….

Until next time…happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Seed Savers: Heirloom by S. Smith - EXCERPT!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the site that aims to please the bookish side of you EVERY day of the week…Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we’re jumping into the Middle Grade arena as we host a stop on author S. Smith’s blog tour celebration.  What are we celebrating exactly?  Why, the third book in her kid friendly eco series, that’s what!  Curious?  You should be.  I recently had the chance to read the first installment (check back tomorrow for the review!) and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I'm JUST as curious as all of you as to what's transpired since I last left the characters.

First....a little about this installment....

Seed Savers, Book 3:

Heirloom

by

S. Smith

In a futuristic U.S.A. where gardening is illegal, siblings Clare and Dante have escaped to Canada and are living with a host family, enjoying farm life and learning to grow their own food. Attending Garden Guardian class, they meet other refugees and unearth the  history of how they lost their choices about food.

Their friend Lily continues the quest to find her father, a former leader in the Seed Savers movement who was arrested and jailed before she was born. Along the way she meets a host of interesting characters and more surprisingly, herself.

PAPERBACK   |   KINDLE

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There now, we've been properly introduced.

Ready to sneak a peek inside the cover?

HERE.  WE.  GO!

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 EXCERPT

Seed Savers, Book 3:  Heirloom

CHAPTER 14

 When it was completely dark, I slipped like a phantom into the night. I crossed the simple
yard and made my way down the long lane surrounded by hydroponic green houses,
turning my flashlight on only when I was out of sight of the farm. It was then, walking
along the road in the black and humid night, that the stupidity of my actions caught up
with me. Tears trickled down my face. What was I thinking? I didn’t even know if I was
going in the right direction to reach town. And then what? The tears became a stream and
my chest tightened so that I could barely breathe. I might have turned around right then,
had those thoughts not been interrupted by a light from behind and the racket of a gas-
powered engine. Startled into action, I ran to the other side of the road, turned off my light,
and stayed still. From behind, I heard the vehicle approach and stop. Voices. A car door
slammed.
It couldn’t be! I recalled the truck I’d seen a few times before. Was it them? Could this
vehicle be following me? Looking for me? I began creeping away from the road, blind in
the darkness. Had GRIM tracked me all this way? Or could it just be Aaron? Did he own an
old truck? I stopped, listening. An unfamiliar voice froze my blood. It was a man’s voice,
closer now, more audible. And it wasn’t Aaron.
“Do you see her?”
“No.”
The second voice was muffled and low. I ran visionless into the night. My foot caught
on something, sending me sprawling across the ground, my chin hitting hard. It hurt. I
choked down my emotions, making small animal noises, a baby’s sob. They heard it.
“Over there!” The deep voice shouted. The sound of running footsteps echoed in the
night as the other man drew near.
I sucked in my pain and lay frozen and silent on the warm ground.
 

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 Eek!

So CURIOUS!

I did a Science Fair project once on hydroponics so there's a personal draw.  Then of course I simply MUST know who is chasing after our dear friend Lily.  Are they friend or foe?  What will happen when they catch her?  Where was she heading to or away from?

So many questions...looks like another one for the old wish list.

^_^

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Tour invite received courtesy of author S. Smith.  (THANKS!)  For more on this title as well as the series as it grows, be sure to stop by the official site.  To connect with the author, pay her a visit online, friend her on Facebook or follow along on Twitter (send a nice warm welcome, she's a newbie!  ^_^).  Book 1, 2, and 3 are available now, so be on the lookout for them on a bookstore shelf near you.  

Seeing as this IS a blog tour after all, be sure to check out the other sites hosting this great series including, yesterday's stop over at Mother Daughter Book Reviews, and tomorrow's stop at Valerie Corner.

Until next time…happy reading!