The Way Life Should Be by Christina Baker Kline

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

I've been fortunate recently as I've been on a streak of REALLY great reads....but that's not the only part that makes me feel lucky.  Wanna know what is?  The fact that I now get to share those experiences with all of you and hopefully connect at least some of you with your next favorite read.  With that in mind, allow me to introduce today's title that comes to us from a New York Times bestselling author via William Morrow Paperbacks.  It stars a woman whose career goes up in flames (there is irony in that statement...*chuckle*) while her love life seems to be turning up the heat....unfortunately, she may not be the very best judge of character and things start to unravel all over again most rapidly, humorously, and in the end, for the better.  Ready or not, here comes today's book of choice...

The Way Life Should Be

by

Christina Baker Kline

9780062363541

William Morrow Paperbacks

About the book....

Angela can feel the clock ticking. She is single in New York City, stuck in a job she doesn’t want and a life that seems to have, somehow, just happened.  She inherited a flair for Italian cooking from her grandmother, but she never seems to have the time for it—these days, her oven holds only sweaters. Tacked to her office bulletin board is a photo from a magazine of a tidy cottage on the coast of Maine—a charming reminder of a life that could be hers, if she could only muster the courage to go after it.

On a hope and a chance, Angela decides to pack it all up and move to Maine, finding the nudge she needs in the dating profile of a handsome sailor who loves dogs and Italian food. But her new home isn’t quite matching up with the fantasy. Far from everything familiar, Angela begins to rebuild her life from the ground up. Working at a local coffeehouse, she begins to discover the pleasures and secrets of her new small-town community and, in the process, realizes there’s really no such thing as the way life should be.

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The way life should be indeed...both in the living AND the reading!

This was an enjoyable read from the turn of the first page to the finality of the last.  (*looks longingly at book...promises to return to it again*)  It progressed  steadily as one would expect the aging of a life to.  It had highs and lows, family and friends, lust and longing.  Our leading lady's life is turned upside down all because of a simple oversight.  Does she let that keep her down? Well, yes...I mean, come on!  It was pretty major....but she doesn't stay THAT far down for long (thank goodness!).  Though the realization that she is truly human and mistakes happen takes a few weeks, she gains life experience, some rather tasty memories, a motley crew of friends she can truly count on, a second chance to reach her dreams, and probably most importantly...a place to call home.  We should all be so lucky...though I could probably do with a little more put together cabin.  (Let's just say "needs a little TLC" is a bit of an understatement."

Though I've not read this author's previous works, if this is a true sampling of her writing talent, I shall have to add them to my list.  Throughout the story, even if the going was slow for Angela, it was never so for the reader.  You were always engaged whether it be yucking it up at some of Flynn's Australian-isms, being reminded that looks can be deceiving (that works for several characters), or realizing that while dreams are wonderful, it's what we do with our lives, the moments we're in, that really matter.  Every passage offers something to pull at your heartstrings, make you believer in lust at first read, or smile at the craziness that is the lives we lead.  In short, it's a fabulous journey and one I invite you to take with an open heart and mind....and room for belly laughs, because there are definitely some to be had.

Recommended read for fans of Women's Fiction and those that simply love some good soul searching (and humor) in their Fiction selections.  I can definitely see this one finding a home under someone's Christmas tree this holiday season...

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About the author....

Christina Baker Kline is the author of five novels. She lives out-side of New York City and on the coast of Maine.

SITE    |    BLOG    |    TWITTER    |    FACEBOOK

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Special thanks to Alaina at William Morrow Paperbacks for the chance to bring this title to you as well as the review copy.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this book as well as their complete catalog, be sure to stop by their official site, or connect with them on Twitter.  This title is available now, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins + Black Friday FUN from Harlequin!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Here's hoping that all my American friends had a FABULOUS Thanksgiving Day celebration yesterday...I know we did.  A family dinner at home and then....shopping.  Yep.  Sad (sorta) but true.  The whole Black Friday shopping craze of old is well...old according to modern America.  I miss it...but I wasn't going to miss ALL the sales and so after the meal and a little rest, 10:00 PM we could be found out and about.  In fact, I just got home not too long before this post with my haul of DVDs.  Hehe.  Hey, it's my guilty pleasure the day after Thanksgiving! Anywho...

I also managed to get in a but of reading this week, and one title not only served to get me in the winter wonderland spirit, but warmed me heart and soul.  It's the fourth book in the Blue Heron series from author Kristan Higgins and if I do say so myself, they just keep getting better.  Ready to meet and greet today's book of choice?  One...two....READ!

In Your Dreams

by

Kristan Higgins

9780373779314

Harlequin

About the book....

Everyone loves Jack Holland, but Emmaline Neal needs him. Her ex-fiancé is getting married in Malibu and, obviously, she can't go to the wedding alone. In Manningsport, New York, tall, blond and gorgeous Jack Holland is practically a cottage industry when it comes to rescuing desperate women. He knows the drill, Em figures, so he won't get the wrong idea. 

What Jack needs is an excuse to leave town. Ever since rescuing four teenagers from a car wreck, he's been hailed as a hero and the attention is making him itchy, especially since his too-pretty ex-wife is back, angling for a reunion. He's always liked Emmaline. She needs a weekend date? No problem. 

So when they wind up in bed together, Em chalks it up to red wine and chocolate cake, just one impulsive night not to be repeated. But Jack's pushing for more, and if she lets down her guard, either she'll get her heart crushed again, or discover that Jack's worth more than just dreaming about.

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You know, while reading this book, I finally figured out what it is I like SO MUCH about this series.  It all lies in the author's ability to spin her craft.  How so?  Well, first, she manages to spin a tale with characters you can't help but fall in love with.  Then, she places them in situations that are humorous but touching all at once.  Finally, and this is the BIGGEST one of all in my book, she not only gives us a sweet romance (fairly clean too, woo hoo!) but an actual story.  Seem odd to mention?  Ah, but really, it's well worth the time.

You see, sometimes you get into a book only to find out it has one focus in mind; in the case of the Romance novel, it's usually the lead characters getting together in more ways than one.  In Ms. Higgin's novels, you get that story but something MORE.  For example, this tale could have easily stopped and ended satisfactorily with Jack and Em's trip to California.  Enough had already happened and was happening to call it quits and be finished.  Imagine my surprise when I realized it couldn't possibly end there....I was after all only about halfway through the book!  Now, that could have been the time to panic; after all, how much more could really happen without losing the reader along the way?  However, much more DOES in fact happen and to my happy little reader heart, I wasn't bored for a minute, lost along the way, nor looking for a way to end things quickly.  Nope....in fact when things DID end, I wished I had read slower so as not to have to say goodbye to everyone in Manningsport so soon!

So, do I recommend this book?  I do indeed with a heart full of joy, a belly full of laughs, and a smile upon my face.  Jack Holland will get any girl's blood going and Em is the perfect answer to the swoony waifs that can often plague this particular genre.  If you haven't checked out the previous novels in the series, I suggest you do...but there's no need to delay this read, it works eloquently as a standalone as well.

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Special thanks to Lisa at Harlequin Books for the chance to bring this title to you as well as the review copy.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their official site or connect with them on social media.  This title is available now, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Speaking of this title as well as BOOKS in general....it being BLACK FRIDAY and all, I couldn't let you go without sharing a SPECIAL SALE going on RIGHT NOW!

SAVE 40% SITE WIDE TODAY ONLY!

VALID ON ALL TITLES, PRINT AND EBOOK!

JUST USE COUPON CODE BF2014 AT CHECKOUT!

Until next time...happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Wild by Sophie Jordan + GIVEAWAY!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're shining the spotlight on a newly released title via Avon Romance and the blog team from BookSlapped that marks the end of the Ivy Chronicles, a New Adult series that's been making the rounds throughout the blogosphere.  Ready to READ ALL ABOUT IT?  Here we go!  Ladies and gents, today's book spotlight choice is.... 

Wild

The Ivy Chronicles, Book 3

by

Sophie Jordan

9780062279910

Avon Romance

About the book....

A good girl goes fabulously bad in the final book in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s sexy New Adult romance series, in which three Ivy League suite-mates seek higher knowledge of just how far they can go.

Months after her boyfriend dumped her, Georgia can still hear the insults he hurled at her. Boring. Predictable. Tame. Tired of feeling bad, she’s ready to change her image, and go a little wild. What better way to prove her ex wrong than a hot night of adventure at the secret campus kink club?

In the shadowy den of the club, she unexpectedly runs into Logan Mulvaney, her friend’s little brother. A player extraordinaire too hot for his own good, he may be younger, but the guy is light years ahead when it comes to the opposite sex. Now he’s telling her to go home-”good girls” don’t belong here!

Georgia is tired of having others define her. She’s going to teach Logan a lesson he won’t forget-one white hot, mind-wrecking kiss . . . that leads to another . . . and another . . . and. . . . Realizing she’s way in over her head, Georgia runs.

Only Logan won’t let her go. Everywhere she goes he’s there, making her want every inch of him. Making her forget who she is. Who he is. And just how wrong they are for each other.

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While it certainly SOUNDS more scintilating than my usual reads, I admit....when I read the synopsis the first time around (as well as when I created this post), I was curious.  

I mean, I hadn't heard of the series previously and just the thought of three roommates "testing their boundaries" was enough to quirk and eyebrow.  Really though, who could say that they haven't felt Georgia's plight before?  I'm not saying I'd try anything they are alluding to with her trip to the "wild" side but I am secure in saying I wouldn't mind reading about her adventures.  

What say you readers?

Curious?  Repulsed? Captivated and on the way to the bookstore now?

DO TELL!

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About the author....

Sophie Jordan is an international and New York Times bestselling author whose books include historical romances and the Firelight series. When she’s not writing, she spends her time overloading on caffeine (lattes preferred), talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (including her kids), and cramming her DVR with true-crime and reality-television shows. She lives in Houston.

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FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN,
CLICK HERE!

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Special thanks to Caroline at Avon/Harper Voyager, divisions of HarperCollins Publishers, as well as the team of BookSlapped for the chance to bring this title to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this book, the series, or any of their other amazing offerings, be sure to stop by their official site, like them on Facebook, or catch them on Twitter.  This title released just last week, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or online retailer of your choosing. Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour as it makes its way through the blogosphere. 

Until next time...happy reading!

Crafty fun for all: Hello Kitty Crochet by Mei Li Lee

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, I'm taking a page from the forthcoming season and hopefully helping a few of you to get your gift buying/giving lists in check.  How so?  Why with a book review of course!  Ah, but this isn't any old book review because it's a gift in and of itself as well as something that could keep on giving.  Curious?  Careful...they do say that curiosity kil...I mean, kept the cat (hehe) and we wouldn't want that with today's featured title seeing how it features a pretty famous one.  Ladies and gents, children of all ages, make way for our Quirk Books selection of the day....

Hello Kitty Crochet

Supercute Amigurumi Patterns for Sangrio Friends

by

Mei Li Lee

9781594747083

Quirk Books

About the book....

Hello Kitty Crochet is all about kawaii: the supercute world of Hello Kitty and her friends meets the Japanese art of amigurumi, or crocheted dolls. With 25 cute and easy-to-make projects, Hello Kitty Crochet is as charming and fun as it is simple to follow.

Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter or have never used a needle, you’ll find tons of helpful tips and tricks for creating kawaii handmade dolls. It’s the perfect way for crafters and cuteness-lovers to celebrate the global icon’s 40th anniversary! 

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It's true!

You too can make these adorable critters for you and yours...and that my friends is where this gift is two fold, but first things first.  As it states, a particular skill level is not required to try your hand at making these little guys and trust me when I say, I am TRULY a beginner.  Sure, I've crocheted a blanket or scarf, but if you notice a trend, the shape is pretty flat and the cornered are pretty easy peasey.  While I haven't tried making these as of yet, the instructions seem pretty easy to follow so I wouldn't be surprised if one or two friends/relatives get one attached to their gift bags this year.

Now, back to my two-fold gift idea.

Here's my thinking.  This would be a great gift for someone that loves to crochet, you know....that crafty friend in your circle.  Well, what if YOU are the crafty friend in your circle?  Then I guess you'll just have to get yourself a little EARLY Christmas present, then get started on making a few to bring a smile to the faces of those you know and love.  I can see it now....Hello Kitty and friends traveling across the miles and around the world on a mission of spreading Christmas joy.  Of course, it doesn't have to JUST be for the holidays...but it is a good place to start.

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About the author....

MEI LI LEE is a Malaysia-based blogger and crafter whose blog amiguruMEI has won a following of fans for its sweet, simple, and fun crocheted craft projects, many of which feature characters from the world of Hello Kitty. She also writes Craftypedia, a biweekly column for Malaysia’s leading English-language daily. 

SITE    |    FACEBOOK    |    TWITTER

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Special thank to Eric at Quirk Books for the review copy as well as the chance to bring this title to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as those forthcoming, be sure to stop by their official site, seek them out on Facebook, or tweet with them on Twitter.  This title is available now, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

Taste Testing Tuesdays...on Saturday!

Hi guys!
So, I missed sharing a teaser earlier in the week and as you already know, I do believe a good teaser should be shared whenever the mood strikes, hence today's post on the fly.

It's from a title I'm reviewing next week and the third in the Blue Heron series from author Kristan Higgins...IN YOUR DREAMS. Can't wait to see what happens with Jack and Emmaline.

As for the tease, it comes from page 88...and is most  certainly true! (No offense intended to my truly Southern readers.  ^-^)

So, what are you reading this weekend?
Do tell!

^-^

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today I was perplexed by what title I should bring you.  I was in fact tempted to do a "teaser" post as I skipped that fun feature this week and as I'm working on a project for work from home, my time off to read has been in spurts.  (Go figure, right?)  However, I was going through my email and saw the catalog offerings of Lee & Low with a dandy little Nonfiction Storybook title just begging my attention.  It promised talent, music, and a spunky little girl named Melba who grew up to be a very famous trombonist.  Did you already know that?  Well if you did, my congrats; if not, you're in good company and I'm about to induct you into the "in" crowd.  Ready or not, today's book of choice is....

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone

by

Katheryn Russell-Brown

Illustrated by

Frank Morrison

9781600608988

Lee & Low Books, Inc

About the book...

Melba Doretta Liston loved the sounds of music from as far back as she could remember. As a child, she daydreamed about beats and lyrics, and hummed along with the music from her family’s Majestic radio.

At age seven, Melba fell in love with a big, shiny trombone, and soon taught herself to play the instrument. By the time she was a teenager, Melba’s extraordinary gift for music led her to the world of jazz. She joined a band led by trumpet player Gerald Wilson and toured the country. Overcoming obstacles of race and gender, Melba went on to become a famed trombone player and arranger, spinning rhythms, harmonies, and melodies into gorgeous songs for all the jazz greats of the twentieth century: Randy Weston, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, and Quincy Jones, to name just a few.

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Melba Doretta Liston was born in 1926, Kansas City...and the scene was primed for musicians and fans alike.  In this case, we're looking at some the roots to jazz, blues, and gospel...and Little Melba loved them all!  As she grew so did her love of music until one day, she wanted to add her own voice to those jivey tunes.  Her instrument of choice?  The trombone.  Unusual choice for a small girl?  Perhaps....but that didn't make the sounds she made any less sweet.

I must say, I enjoyed the story very much and learning about someone new-to-me is always a pleasure, especially someone as remarkable as this little lady! Eight years old and making her solo radio debut?  Wow!  I couldn't even fathom playing the instrument let alone being good at it.  Definitely not my thing, but go Melba, GO!  That's exactly what she did too with her trip to the West Coast.  It was a great leap of faith for her family but one that would eventually result in talent acknowledged, and dreams reached.  The operative word there is "eventually" now because times were still tough for Ms. Melba.  She was competing in a mostly male spotlight in areas that were not as friendly towards those with darker skin.  It was enough to turn her brown eyes blue and almost worked in pushing her away from her trombone for good....ALMOST.  Let's just say Melba has her day and then some in the spotlight she deserved.  

With all of that said, I was in awe of the artwork.  It matched perfectly with the tale being spun from moment to moment and feeling to feeling.  You could both read and see the exuberance Little Melba experienced at finally getting a chance to add to those musical scores she could hear throughout her neighborhood.  The warmth of her smile beams right off the page as she daydreamed of all the beats and tum-tums reverberating through her brain.  You could even feel the frustration she felt at not getting it right from the start but also the accomplishment that went along with mastering the skill in the end.  

Overall, it speaks of family, overcoming obstacles to reach your dreams, and being true to yourself...all  with a musical soundtrack that will carry you from page to page.  It's an interesting read on an educational level but also entertaining with it's expressive illustrations and emotional passages.  Recommended for readers of all ages, shapes, sizes, and interests...you can't go wrong with Little Melba's passion leading the way!

Ebook for review courtesy of the great team at Lee & Low Books, Inc.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their official site, friend them on Facebook, chat with them on Twitter, check out their blog, or join them on Pinterest.  This title is available now, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Possession by Annie Oldham - Review + GIVEAWAY!

Hi everyone!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....the place where books come in first, second, and third...and that's okay!

Today, we're playing host to a blog tour for a Young Adult title that's flown under your radar for far too long.  It's got all the elements of a great paranormal read with writing that will draw you right in.  Ready to meet today's title?  Let's!  Ladies and gents, today's ebook of choice....

Song and Shadow, Book 1:

Possession

by

Annie Oldham

About the book....

Constance Jerome wants nothing more than to make it through her senior year of high school without being noticed. But when her mother drops the world's biggest bombshell, flying under the radar just isn't in the cards. It turns out Constance is a necromancer—one of the few who can travel the realms of the dead.

Apparently it runs in the family. And now there's a threat coming: another necromancer with plans to disturb the living and the dead, and Constance and her mother are the only ones who can stop him. If only they knew who he was. Or what exactly he was up to. A quiet senior year isn't an option, and Constance must race to stop a high school apocalypse before the balance between the living and the dead is overturned.

AMAZON    |    BARNES & NOBLE    |    iBooks

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It's senior year, woo hoo!

Almost time for no more pencils, books, looks, or anything else for that matter....well, except THE FUTURE, but Constance Jerome has that all figured out.  Step one, seek higher education far, far, FAR away from home.  Step two....well, maybe she hasn't gotten that far yet, but seeing as the new school year is starting off less than stellar, accomplishing step one will be MORE than enough to land on the path to happiness.  How is the year mis-starting?  Well, let's see....she's less than popular, being forced to tutor the cute jock failing Calculus who also happens to be the boyfriend of the most uber popular and witchy girl de jour in school, and oh yeah, she just might be a necromancer.  No big!  

Wait, no....REALLY BIG!

Things coming back to life may sound like a good time, but her "job" is more about helping them stay where they should be and with the trouble brewing in town, this fledgling is going to have to learn fast.  Can she do it?  Well, I've no doubt in her ability to pick things up quickly, ascertain the sitch, and deliver a swift blow of karma balancing justice....but then again, it's not up to me now is it?  It all depends on Constance.  No pressure or anything.

If you weren't drawn by the story, let me tempt you some more with the writing.  It's so easy to fall into!  It allows you to get close to our lead and those around her as if you were one of the crowd.  You can't help but care for her as she navigates her way through these strange new waters.  You share in her moments of backbone that allow her to stand up to the evil queen "b's" of the school as well as the dark forces swarming nearby.  By book's end, you'll be so tied up in all that's happening, you won't want it to end.  (I know I didn't.....book two, PLEASE!)

Recommended for Young Adult fans who like a dose of Paranormal in their reads and aren't afraid to call fictional characters, friends.

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About the author...

Annie adores writing and reading YA novels. She grew up with an insatiable desire to read and then came the insatiable desire to write. Annie has been blessed to have both of those in her life.

Away from her writing, Annie is the mother of the most adorable girls in the world, has the best husband in the world, and lives in the hottest place in the world (not really, but Phoenix sure feels like it). She loves to cook, sing, and play the piano.

SITE   |   BLOG   |   FACEBOOK   |   TWITTER

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Special thanks to Cami at Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for the review copy as well as the chance to bring this tour to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this tour as well as those forthcoming, be sure to stop by their official site.  This title reached publication the end of last month, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or online retailer of your choosing.  Oh, and don't forget to enter below for your chance to win the author's other trilogy entitled The Burn!  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time....happy reading!

Cold outside? Best time to catch....Frostbite by Julia Dweck

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers, the place that is MORE than ready for the holiday reading season...aren't you?

Seriously, though I'm wishing it was colder out, I'm all ready with my cup of hot chocolate (mini-marshmallows and/or whipped cream required) and today's ebook of choice.  Ah, but what's this?  This particular title isn't just being released in ebook form, but PRINT form and from an author you've come to know and love.  So, if you're ready to embark on a frosty reading adventure, join me in front of the fire for today's book of choice...

Frostbite

by

Julia Dweck

Drawn by

Robb Mommaerts

9780991256266

Sleepy Sheep Productions

AMAZON  US | UK    |   BARNES & NOBLE    |    GOODREADS

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I love how our leading lad is not only a reader (*high five*) but a DOG lover!  I mean his room speaks for itself, even if it could use a little straightening (boys will be boys).  Today, he is setting out to find a four legged friend to call his own.  Will he be near or far?  High or low?  Buried in a snow drift...or perhaps MADE of one?  The possibilities are endless when you believe....

Call it a Frosty for a new generation, filled with the same magic the top hat of old brought us, just with a shorter stature, and an actual bark.  Frostbite is the perfect winter time friend and though he must be wary of climbing temperatures, I'm glad to see that in the end, Mom comes through with a solution for one and all.  (Good call Mom!)  

Last but not least, one can never leave a Julia Dweck book without mentioning the artwork.  She always finds amazing talent that deserves to be showcased, and this tale is no exception.  Each scene captures the essence of what's transpiring, whether it's the little boys search for a furry friend, the snowball fight with Frostbite and the sledding kids, or the ending where a surprise awaits one and all.  Every page will capture your imagination and draw you in for a closer look with all the detail included.  Well done indeed!

So, if your heart has love to spare, your imagination room for magic, and you're jonesing for a fun wintery read, I'd definitely recommend this one for you and yours, the young and young at heart.  After all, there's no age limit on the fun you can have between the pages nor minimum to begin indulging in it.  

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Ebook for review courtesy of author Julia Dweck.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as those past and future from Sleepy Sheep Productions, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is in stores now so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf, or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

Want You Dead by Peter James

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the site that aims to bring the bookish fun every day of the week, Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're throwing a pre-book birthday release party for a title that hits store shelves tomorrow.  It comes to us via Minotaur Books and marks the tenth installment in the Roy Grace series from an author whose known for his Mystery writing skills.  Was I impressed with my first venture?  We shall see.  Ladies and gents, grab your favorite reading seat in a nice, bright spot (trust me, there's enough dark within), it's time to greet today's book of choice...

Want You Dead

by

Peter James

9781250030207

Minotaur Books

About the book...

Single girl, 33, redhead and smouldering, love life that’s crashed and burned. Seeks new flame to rekindle her fire. Fun, friendship and—who knows—more maybe?

In Peter James' Want You Dead, thirty-year old Red Cameron meets handsome, charming and rich thirty-five year old Bryce Laurent through an online dating agency, and is instantly attracted to him. But as their love blossoms, the truth about his past begins to emerge, and with it his dark side. Everything he has told Red about himself turns out to be a tissue of lies, and her infatuation with him gradually turns to terror.

Within a year, and under police protection, she evicts him from her flat and her life. But far from being over, her nightmare is only just beginning. For Bryce is obsessed and besotted with her. He intends to destroy, by fire, everything and everyone she has ever known and loved—and then her, too. It's up to Detective Superintendent Roy Grace to stop him before it's too late...

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Okay, here it is.

I'll give the author mad props for several things...

...first, getting us inside the head of a real loon.  Bryce Laurent is never represented as anything other than what he truly is and for that I appreciate the candor.  You get to read chapters straight from his crazy-8's mind as he stalks and tortures, plots and plans, and eventually meets the final pages of the book.  Are those his final pages?  Umm, I can't confirm or deny but I am definitely a fan of the ending, for more reasons than one.

...second, he really knows how to make sure the reader sees every angle of every moment.  No, I'm serious!  There are about 5-7 chapters (maybe more) all titled the same date and the same evening that simply change voices between the characters.  You learn just what Red was doing as Bryce was eyeballing her through her window like a creepo.  You understand just how much the doctor was concerned not with simply his life but what those he loved would come to even as his final moments approached.  You find out where the good detective is while the events that will affect him are unfolding.  Each piece of the puzzle is visited in order to create the larger, red slashed and splashed picture.

...third, he writes well rounded characters.  By books end, you really feel like you know each person the spotlight fell on.  You feel for their losses and celebrate their wins.  You enjoy the false hope initially found when it seems like everything is going to be all right and then the bottom falls out.  You even cringe as that bottom is falling out because you're not quite sure where it will land.  

Now, in the overall sense of the novel, it would seem I am in favor of things...and in fact I am, but I would remiss in stating that I am its number one fan.  It could be me, perhaps I wasn't truly in the mood for this particular type of novel when it came time to start it, but I wasn't as entranced with the WHOLE picture as I would have liked to be.  To me, the very things that worked for it and showed the author's talent, worked against it for me.  The length and way the story spiraled in on itself left me feeling over informed.  The intensity with which Bryce's obsession was explored seemed repetitive, almost overkill.  I get it, he's crazy, head over heels for Red and nothing anyone can say or do will stop him from having her...and ONLY him.  So much time was devoted to him, I can only think that if some things were cut here and there, it wouldn't have detracted from the story and yet you'd have lessened the page count  (and no, I'm not afraid of big books, in fact I love them...just my impression).

So, in the end I did in fact enjoy the read and would recommend it highly to fans of detective stories, Crime Fiction (to some degree), and Fiction fans in general...just with those few words of caution.  The true joy of reading is that every reader takes something different from the story and the experience.  In this case, I invite you to be the judge and jury on your own....

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About the author....

An established film producer and scriptwriter, James (@peterjamesuk) lived in the U.S. for a number of years and produced films, including The Merchant of Venice, starring Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, and Joseph Fiennes. A TV adaptation of the Roy Grace series is currently in development, with James overseeing all aspects, including scriptwriting, In 2009, James was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Brighton in recognition of his services to literature and the community. He is Patron of Crimestoppers in Sussex alongside Vera Lynn and in 2012 was made Patron of The Whitehawk Inn. In 2011, James became Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association. He has won many literary awards, including the publicly voted ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards People’s Bestseller Dagger in 2011 and was shortlisted for the Wellcome Trust Book Prize for Perfect People in 2012.

James’ novels have been translated into thirty-six languages and three have been turned into films. All of his novels reflect a deep interest in the world of the police, with whom he does in-depth research and has unprecedented access, as well as science, medicine, and the paranormal. James divides his time between his homes in Notting Hill in London and near Brighton in Sussex.

SITE   |   BLOG    |    FACEBOOK   |    TWITTER

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ARC for review courtesy of Lauren at Wunderkind PR.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their future promotions, be sure to stop by their site.  This title is set to release TOMORROW via Minotaur Books, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

Jane Austen Cover to Cover....

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're going the way of the classics but with a twist as we explore a recent release from the fab team over at Quirk Books.  (~waves~) It stars the work of an author that has been explored and re-explored over the centuries (yes, CENTURIES) for its literary merit...but today, we judge it by its cover, or rather covers.  

Jane Austen Cover to Cover:

200 Years of Classic Covers

by

Margaret C Sullivan

9781594747250

Quirk Books

Can you imagine the number of editions that have hit the shelves over the last 200 years?  From classic bindings to full color covers, gold gilded designs to those you wonder where they came from, this collection showcases them all and then some.  

 

Call it a great edition to the coffee table of the literary goddess in your life (*raises hand*), or simply a conversation starter that allows you the chance to see how these classics were represented to the masses throughout the years.  You'll have your favorites, trust me.  My own personal choices?  Seek out page 26 (the peacock edition), page 102 (the Red classics), and  page 93 (Headline Review)...to name a few.

Review copy received courtesy of Eric at Quirk Books.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their growing catalog, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title released just last week so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

Frankie Dupont and the Mystery of Enderby Manor by Julie Anne Grasso

Why hello there!

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

Today, we're exploring a Middle Grade Mystery title that's high on the suspicious characters list and teeming with sleuthing fun.  So grab your clue snagging gear and get ready to save the day, it's time to meet today's book of choice....

Frankie Dupont 

and the Mystery of Enderby Manor

by

Julie Anne Grasso

9780987372543

Julieannegrassobooks

About the book...

When his cousin Kat disappears from Enderby Manor, Frankie Dupont jumps on the scene, only to find bumbling Inspector Cluesome beat him to it. Cluesome thinks Kat simply wandered off. Frankie isn’t buying it. He follows the evidence to conniving concierge, a six fingered chef, a talking parrot, and a shifty dwarf. Quite frankly, none of them are making any sense until Frankie discovers, Kat’s time is running out. 

AMAZON

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Egads!  What a pickle indeed!

Frankie's cousin has disappeared and the only one the seems to think something is REALLY up is Frankie. (Nice instincts!)  Inspector Cluesome is certain she's merely wandered off.  The police are baffled but haven't given up hope.  His aunt and uncle are beside themselves with worry, but in all truth, they need not....at least not yet....as young Frankie is on the case.  What he starts out looking for is merely his best friend and cousin.  What he discovers is a WHOLE lot more with a deadline that needs to be met or else NO ONE will be there to see the dawning of a new day.  

I had a blast with Frankie and friends!  There are fantastical bits and those that seem more realistic.  I love the reason the manor is there at all and how Frankie tries to honestly save the day for one AND all.  I was touched by Evelyn's story and adored her obsession with books.  Madame Mercure ulterior motives surprised me....but not for long, and I was definitely glad to see things didn't work out for her in the better sense of things.  You also have to give it to Kat....using her little friend like that REALLY saved the day!  Who knew a gecko could be a good messenger?  

In the end, if you're into middle grade fun that's HIGH on the enjoyment factor and low on the overtly complex anything....you've struck bookish gold.  It appeals to boys and girls of all ages with an emphasis first and foremost on FUN!

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About the author....

With a background in paediatric nursing, Julie Anne Grasso spent many years literally wrapping children in cotton wool. Every day she witnessed great courage and resilience from the tiny people she cared for, which inspired her to write stories about a little girl elf just like them.

She lives in Melbourne Australia with her husband Danny and their little elf Giselle.

SITE   |   BLOG   |   FACEBOOK   |   TWITTER   |    PINTEREST   |    YOUTUBE

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Special thanks to author Julie Anne Grasso for the review copy and the chance to bring her work to the limelight.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as her other works, be sure to stop by her official site or catch up with her on various social media networks (just click the links above!).  This title is available now so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time....happy reading!