Should old acquaintance be forgot?: The Girls of Gettysburg by Bobbi Miller

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

As we creep ever closer to the new year, I thought today would be a good moment to take a look back in history with a Kids Fiction title from an author giving new voices to our past.  Her name is Bobbi Miller and for those of you that have yet to make her acquaintance, I do suggest you correct that situation sooner as opposed to later.  I've featured her work right here on a few occasions and I must say, the most recent releases have certainly not left me wanting.  Big River's Daughter was a big hit on my radar and today's featured title is a close second.  Ladies and gents, allow me to introduce today's book of choice...

The Girls of Gettysburg

by

Bobbi Miller

9780823431632

Holiday House, Inc

About the book...

Pickett's Charge, the suicidal assault led by Robert E. Lee on the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg, was a valiant effort but stunning defeat for the Rebel army. It serves as the powerful climax of this Civil War novel, told from the viewpoints of three girls.

 

Twelve-year-old Annie Gordon, disguised as a boy, sells herself as a substitute soldier and joins the Portsmouth Rifles of the 9th Virginia Infantry as they march north to Gettysburg. In Gettysburg lives fourteen-year-old Tillie Pierce, the frivolous daughter of a local merchant whose romanticized notion of war is immediately disabused when the fighting begins. Also in Gettysburg are Grace Bryan and her father, who refuse to flee with the other free blacks who fear that the rebels will arrest them as fugitive slaves.

AMAZON    |    BARNES & NOBLE    |    INDIEBOUND

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Let me start with this....I am not a huge fan of Historical Fiction as a whole, but there are some works that I fancy, and this author's last two releases were both in the "favored" category.

Here we have a particular point in history explored from the eyes of three brave young ladies. They were in very different situations, though all within spitting distance of each other, and they experienced the tragic affair on many levels.  Young Annie Gordon impersonated a soldier to escape the life she was dealt, gaining herself freedom (for a time) that was more than hard won.  Tillie Pierce is the snotty girl one loves to loathe and yet when war lands at her feet, she picks up the pieces to assist in setting things right once again, even if it does take a few hard knocks to bring it out of her.  Grace Bryan is perhaps the one that had the most to fear being African American at the time.  Though born free, she could have easily been mistaken for a runaway slave on the color of her skin alone and was forced to hide just as those that truly were.  Each young lady began their journey with gentle yet fierce souls and ended them with more life experience than one should have at their age (let alone any age).

I have to say, the author really manages to get you into the action.  You are right there on the field as Annie marches into battle.  You shiver in terror as you hide away at Ms. Mary's with Grace, Sorry, and Weezy; your fate determined by the lack of evidence found regarding your existence.  You ride the emotional highs and lows as Tillie finds her heart, realizes that the enemy is not what she imagined, and makes haste to have the fallen's families know of their great sacrifice.  Upon reading the letter to home from one of these gals, I myself shed a few tears. 

In the end, it's a powerful telling of a most tragic event in our histories that sheds some light on  the somewhat unknown roles that women played in it.  With characters you come to know and love, you'll root for them straight till the end.  It's a great way for younger readers to interact with history in a way they were not anticipating.  The author's note portion at book's end connects the dots between fact and fiction while providing additional options for further exploration reading wise.  (Nice touch!)  Recommended read for Kids Fiction fans of all ages.  History can be tragic but it is something we can learn from in the hopes of providing a better tomorrow, today.  

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Special thanks to author Bobbi Miller for the signed (and personalized!) review copy.  (THANK YOU!)  For more information on this title as well as her full body of works, be sure to seek her out online.  This title was released earlier this year via Holiday House Books, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  ALSO, for those of you that are educators or perhaps thinking of exploring the book further with your own children, there is a FREE Educator's Guide on the publisher's site.  Be sure to check it out!

Until next time....HAPPY NEW YEAR...and happy reading!

Happy Book Birthday to....Saving Grace by Jane Green

Hi there, readers and read-ettes!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today's featured title is celebrating its book birthday today and let me tell you, it's a doozy!  No, really.  I JUST finished this read less than 24 hours ago (okay, try 3 hours before midnight) and though I was going to wait on posting the review until after the new year, there was no way I could wait.  Nope. So, are you ready to meet the birthday....book?  Grab your party hats and horns, it's time to cut the cake for today's book of choice...

Saving Grace

by

Jane Green

9781250047335

St Martin's Press

About the book...

Grace and Ted Chapman are widely regarded as the perfect literary power couple. Ted is a successful novelist and Grace, his wife of twenty years, is beautiful, stylish, carefree, and a wonderful homemaker. But what no one sees, what is churning under the surface, is Ted’s rages. His mood swings. And the precarious house of cards that their lifestyle is built upon. When Ted’s longtime assistant and mainstay leaves, the house of cards begins to crumble and Grace, with dark secrets in her past, is most vulnerable. She finds herself in need of help but with no one to turn to…until the perfect new assistant shows up out of the blue. 

To the rescue comes Beth, a competent young woman who can handle Ted and has the calm efficiency to weather the storms that threaten to engulf the Chapman household. Soon, though, it’s clear to Grace that Beth might be too good to be true. This new interloper might be the biggest threat of all, one that could cost Grace her marriage, her reputation, and even her sanity.  With everything at stake and no one to confide in, Grace must find a way to save herself before it is too late.

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This book really took me by surprise.

At first read, I was thinking....wow, this is SO obvious!  How am I ever going to reach book's end with the storyline laid out in front of me only THIS far into the book?  Ah, but you see...the proof was in the continued reading. 

I stick to a statement I made initially on my GoodReads update about the book; it reads like the movie Single White Female.  HOWEVER, though that is a truth, it is not THE truth.  It has a shadowing of the film to a degree for certain, but with a few added twists.  There are seeds planted along the way to make you doubt your certainty of what is actually transpiring.  Is Ted having an affair?  Did Beth really steal the scarf?  Were the plans for the fundraising event really cancelled by Grace though she's no recollection of doing so?  Is Grace becoming her mother in the most horrific way she can imagine....losing her mind?  All of these questions and more float to the surface as you continue to read, lending mystery to a story that otherwise seemed forthright.  My response to these questions?  First of all, I hold strong to my initial convictions about Grace and her character.  Second, BRAVA to the author!

This is my first read of Ms. Green's work and while she's an accomplished author, to a newbie the first taste is something you really remember.  This one satiated my reading palette, in more ways than one (there are recipes for all sorts of delicious bits included!), leaving behind the essence of goodness one expects when embarking on a new adventure through the pages.  I bonded with her characters; some for better, some for worse.  Grace, the Proppers as a whole, Sybil, even Clemmie...I adored!  I was enraged however by Ted.  The abuse he would dish out, the stupidity of his choices, his inability to listen to reason....ugh!  How Grace ever put up with that man, I've no idea....familiarity or not.  I won't even get started on Beth because really, is she the bad guy or not?  I'm not telling.  ~whistles~

In conclusion, there are many things to love and several things to learn from this read.  There are big topics covered such as spousal abuse, many psychological diagnosis', as well as the overuse/prescribing of prescription medicine, and there are those of the everyday variety such as self image, safety, and love. I will say this of the ending though, it came as a welcome surprise.  I was SO WORRIED for a while there but it made the world of difference for me to see it close the way it did.  Recommended read for Fiction and Women's Fiction fans of the adult variety; simply due to topics covered...there's only a little steam.

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About the author....

Jane Green...a former feature writer for the Daily Express in the UK, Green took a leap of faith when she left, in 1996, to freelance and work on a novel. Seven months later, there was a bidding war for her first book, Straight Talking, the saga of a single career girl looking for the right man. The novel was a hit in England, and Green was an overnight success.  Most weekends see her cooking for a minimum of twenty people in her home in Westport, Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, filling her house with friends and looking after their animals, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.

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SITE    |    BLOG    |    FACEBOOK    |    TWITTER

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Special thanks to Meg at Tandem Literary and the folks at St. Martin's Press for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, publicity team, or any other wanderings your mind might be curious about in relation to this post, feel free to click through the links provided above.  Once again, this book is IN STORES NOW as we speak, so be on the lookout for it or order a copy from your online retailer of choice.

Until next time...happy reading!

Never More: Edgar and the Tattle-Tale Heart by Jennifer Adams

HI guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Can you believe it?  It's almost time to say "never more" to another year and HELLO 2015!  (Here's hoping it's better than this past year.)  Where does the time fly.  What's that?  Oh, my choice in wording for good-bye to 2014 gave you pause a moment didn't it?  Hehe.  Good eye.  There's a reason for that actually, a very good one too.  Consider it a mini introduction to today's featured title...

Edgar and the Tattle-Tale Heart

by

Jennifer Adams

Illustrated by

Ron Stucki

9781423637660

Gibbs Smith

About the book....

The plucky, mischievous toddler Edgar the Raven is at it again in this spirited story with some important lessons. What will Edgar do when he accidentally breaks a statue sitting on a dresser? Will his sister, Lenore, tattle on him? Will Edgar tell his mother the truth? Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart,” little lit lovers will delight in this new adventure with characters illustrated in a most “poe-etic” way.

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Quite true; quite true indeed.

This is a child's telling of the classic raven-esque story many have come to know and love.  The fanciful yet simple illustrations give it a flair that only a storybook retelling can, bringing the tale fully into the land of enjoyment for little ones as well as those that can appreciate Poe in its many forms.  Edgar, our feathered little friend, is quite captivating as he tries to hide the accident that's got his heart all a flutter.  Despite the fact that his sister is threatening to out him, he tries nonetheless to no avail.  His mother's arrival would normally spell impending doom, but she's got another lesson up her beak that you might not see coming...all the better for it too.

I must say, the BabyLit series has never led me wrong thus far, and this release in its First Step line is another winner.  Being a reader myself, I certainly appreciate Ms. Adams' efforts to bring the classics to the younger set with a life that mimics their origins yet resonates with the target audience.  The illustrations are never something to balk at either, often times making rather swell wall art.  (Have you seen the BabyLit classics?  Then you understand!)  The combination of the two allows parents to feel secure in adding these titles to their libraries, while assuring older readers that the next generation will get their chance to play with the classics too.

Recommended read for all ages...and species.  (^_^)  Signed review copy courtesy of author Jennifer Adams.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as her full body of works, be sure to stop by her official site.  This title was released earlier this year, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

Winter Wonderland: Mimi and Bear in the Snow by Janee Trasler

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're stepping out of the holiday haze with a read that still celebrates the fun to be had this time of year just in a seasonal aspect.  It comes to us from Farrar Straus Giroux and features a tale of friendship, loss, and celebrated return, all in the pages of a Storybook.  Ready to read all about it?  Today's book of choice is....

Mimi and Bear in the Snow

by

Janee Trasler

Farrar Straus Giroux

9780374349714

This is the beyond adorable story of Mimi and her Bear.  They do EVERYTHING together, including play in the snow.  One day, they are out building a snowman and what do you, Bear gets lost!  (~GASP~)  Mimi looks high and low, near and far, here and there, only to find that....Bear is nowhere to be found. Mimi is justifiably sad, I mean come on!  What would YOU do if your best buddy up and disappeared?!  EXACTLY!  Mimi is down at the mouth, having a hard time finding joy in anything all by her lonesome.  She heads to bed, worried and weary.  The world outside takes notice, shedding its coat of white overnight, and reveals things (and BEARS!) that were thought lost forever...

It's short.  It's sweet.  It's a treat of a read for the little ones and an adorably illustrated picture fest for those exploring things beyond the written word.  You'll revel in the fun Mimi has with Bear while sharing in her sadness at his lost status....only to once again celebrate his return!  (Okay, so that's a spoiler but really, I couldn't leave you worried about Bear!)  Recommended read for Storybook fans of all ages, shapes, and sizes.  Best read with a cup of hot cocoa and a friend (man or beast, it matters not).

ARC for review courtesy of Ksenia at Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their growing catalog, be sure to stop by their official site, or catch up with them on Twitter.  This title was released October this year, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

Santabear's First Christmas by Barbara Read

 Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're exploring a title from my own shelves.  Something that's a little harder to find but well worth the search, suitable for all ages, and a perfect fit for the time for the time of year.  It takes us back into the land of Storybooks and features one cute little lead that is very stout of heart.  Ladies and gents, put your mittened hands together for today's book of choice...

Santabear's First Christmas

by

Barbara Read

Illustrations by

Howard B. Lewis

Adapted from Santabear's First Christmas, produced and directed by Mark Sottnick

0808163019

Santabear Books

This is the adorably sweet tale of a little polar bear who is lost, found, and eventually discovers that he is more than simply a little bear, but SANTABEAR!  Now before we get ahead of ourselves, he does not have super powers or magical lineage; all of his might comes from the power of his heart.  While lost, he meets a young girl named Marie and her kindly grandfather.  They teach him all sorts of things and become a new family for him whilst far away from home.  One day, grandfather falls ill and things start to look less-than-rosy for young Marie as the firewood dwindles to next to nothing.  Simply stated, without fire for light and warmth, they won't make the night.  Our little bear friend sets out to accomplish a task that seems impossible, but with a little help from his new found forest friends and one jolly man in red, he comes through with flying colors.

I loved the simple story filled with more heart than you might expect.  I enjoyed the beautiful artwork that depicted everything just so with the right amount of firelight, the correct shade of winter, and the range of emotions ever visible on the faces depicted.  I was even surprised by the ending but happily so...though how I shan't say.  I do promise though...things turn out all right.

In close, this title is an oldie (published 1986) but a goodie and one I'd recommend to all ages.  I myself stumbled across it at our local library bookstore.  Don't despair though; keep an eye out!  If you find a copy, I highly recommend the investment for it's truly a gem to add to your seasonal reads that you'll want to share throughout the years.  Oh and one more thing...as I noted above, it IS adapted from a made for TV movie/special....so there's always that option for viewing if you can't get your hands on a copy of the book.  (Mine arrived this past weekend...I'm probably watching it as you read this.  ^_^)

Until next time...MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL...happy reading!

Reporting for duty, it's....Santa's Little Helper by H.D. Gordan

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Well what do you know....it's CHRISTMAS EVE!  We made it!  All that hard work and good behavior is going to pay off (one way or the other) in less than 24 hours.  Wonder what dear old Santa will bring this year?  To help make the waiting less of a watch-the-clock event, let's take a look at another holiday selection...this time from the out-of-the-box shelf. 

Now, the title of today's featured title doesn't give anything away.  I mean, what could POSSIBLY be sinister or unusual about a helper of Santa?  Oh trust me, PLENTY.  *-*  For those that are fans of the uber popular elf that prefers to perch on a shelf and magically appear throughout the house while taking his reports back to the man in red each evening, you might rethink that whole tradition when you get a load of this.  Ladies and gents, you better not shout, you better not cry; you better not pout, you're about to learn why.  Today's ebook of choice is....

Santa's Little Helper

by

H.D. Gordan

About the book....

He shows up in a white box, with a bright red book under his arm... He wears a jolly grin and hat, a suit with gold bells and green yarn... He watches you for Santa, or so his red book claims... But though his grin is jolly, he's not here for fun and games... 

The children have been chosen, such precious little souls they are... And may the Gods be with them, if they wish to make it very far... For Santa's Little Helper does not say, but knows important things... He knows when you've been bad or good, and what monsters stalk your dreams... He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake...He's picking out his presents...He's got some souls to take.

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Twas the night before Christmas,

And all through the house;

Not a creature was stirring...

Because they got a load of the little man in green claiming to be an elf that's really something more than sinister and they decided "To heck with all this" and ran for cover.

Let me sum this one up with THIS IS ONE TWISTED READ...at some points it was even more dark than need be in my opinion, but the point comes across loud, sinister, and clear, and BOY does it stick!  Four little children are all equally surprised by the arrival of a white box one winter day, as are their parents.  The contents of these said boxes shouldn't bring nightmares and fright and yet....they DO in a big way.  The way they do is SO big in fact that accidents begin to happen.  Things go missing, strange noises are heard, and people...begin...to...disappear.  *-*  The children though young are certainly anything but stupid; in fact, they may be the smartest ones in the bunch.  It is they that must devise a way to stop the evil that's lurking in their town.  It is they that must overcome their fears and save the day, if it is to be saved at all.  Do they succeed?  I'll tell you this much...not everyone that matters will make it to the final page.

Overall, the story was definitely creepy (how the elf keeps coming back like a stuffed green Mikey Myers) and the twist at the end that makes you go "Whaaattt?!" is a nice touch (honestly, good one!).  The only drawbacks I see are the author's tendency to go a little to heavy on the dark topics covered and the voice of the little children a time or two (sounded older than 4 and 5 at times).  So the next time you think about bringing that little "friendly" elf off the shelf to "encourage" your kids good behavior, perhaps you'll think twice.  After all, do you REALLY want them afraid of being naughty versus nice because the jolly elf might get a bad report and do more than leave them coal for Christmas?  Yeah....that's what I thought.

Recommended read for adult readers only; content people, CONTENT.  Special thanks to author H.D. Gordan for the e-copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as the author behind the work, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title was released earlier this year, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time....HAPPY HOLIDAYS...and happy reading!

Christmas at Tiffany's by Karen Swan

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're starting to really reel in the season as the holiday approaches us at lightning speed.  Here's hoping your gifts are bought, wrapped, and ready for Santa to deliver come Christmas Eve.  My status?  I'm in the bought phase, but still need to wrap; no judging!  I'm a busy woman just like the rest of you.  ^_^  ...but not TOO busy to share this AMAZING READ with you.

That's right.  No pussy-footing around with this one; it was downright AMAZING.  It has so many things going for it that I don't even know where to begin telling you about it!  Oh wait...it might help if I reveal WHAT book I'm talking about though.  ~whistles~  Well then, let's get to it!  Oh and I must warn you, I was a BIT long winded today.  Sorry in advance....but not really.  ^_^    Today's seasonally appropriate title choice with equally festive cover is....

Christmas at Tiffany's

 by

Karen Swan

9780062364104

William Morrow Paperbacks

About the book....

What do you do when the man you pledged your life to breaks your heart and shatters your dreams? You pack your bags and travel the big, wide world to find your destiny—and your true love . . .

Ten years ago, a young and naïve Cassie married her first serious boyfriend, believing he would be with her forever. Now her marriage is in tatters and Cassie has no career or home of her own. Though she feels betrayed and confused, Cassie isn't giving up. She's going to take control of her life. But first she has to find out where she belongs . . . and who she wants to be.

Over the course of one year, Cassie leaves her sheltered life in rural Scotland to stay with her best friends living in the most glamorous cities in the world: New York, Paris, and London. Exchanging comfort food and mousy hair for a low-carb diet and a gorgeous new look, Cassie tries each city on for size as she searches for the life she's meant to have . . . and the man she's meant to love.

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Honestly, this story has got to be one of my favorites for 2014.  It has heart and heartbreak.  It has a leading lady with strength untapped and beauty unknown that finds herself in a bad situation, struggling to find her way out but with a support system that while imperfect is there for her like no other.  It has secret affections coursing just below the surface, waiting for the right moment, and it has desires explored in the purest of fashions.  Speaking of fashion, it does indeed have fashion and globe hopping, new experiences and passions, promises of tomorrow and eventually a new personalized happily ever after discovered.  I mean there is SO MUCH going for it! 

Cassie is a wonderful lead.  She's open and caring, realistic in her actions and reactions, a true friend and in the beginning a lost soul you truly hurt for.  I really just wanted to reach through the pages, sit her down with a hot chocolate in one hand and a puppy beside her to tell her everything would be alright.  The nerve of her husband!  I mean really, what a louse.  No, I'm not over reacting...though if you think so, you might be besties with Anouk (something we'll get into in a moment).  Finding herself in an impossible situation sets off a chain of events that will lead her on a journey of self discovery like no other.  In the end, she'll be better for it, but along the way, things are bound to get tough now and again....good thing she has GREAT friends to count on.

The plotted plan of reinvention finds Cassie in New York, Paris, and London; pretty much as far from home as possible to discover what she wants to do (and where she wants to be) with her new found life.  A hard step for someone that had her wagon hitched to the man of her dreams for TEN YEARS only to have her world shook, rattled, and rolled.  The hats she tries on vary as do the friendships made and fellows bedded (okay, so there's really only one maybe two, but it worked for the sentence, so go with it).  Along the way, she laughs, cries, celebrates, and you're right there with her.  Every step of the way, you feel like more than an outsider looking in; you feel like one of the girls in her close circle of friends...a fact I must thank the author for.  (THANK YOU!) 

As for the full cast of characters, all I can say is that everyone she meets has something to add to the story  and HER story, much like the fabled stone soup.  Her close friends add a great deal of excitement as some try to make her over in their own image and others simply let her be.  Kelly had her walking a mile a minute in towering heels of terror and rubbing elbows with the fashion world's higher echelon.  Anouk let her live her Hepburn fashion fantasy while grinding her beauty regiment to the bone.  Suzy allowed her to catch her breath after yet another fairly earth shattering situation while helping her connect with the memories of yesteryear and the promise of tomorrow.  Together they form a formidable team and can move mountains.  Time will show they are not perfection in motion, but they are a perfect fit for Cassie.

Outside of her gal pals, she forms many other bonds.  Some stick, some smolder, and some are discovered after many ups, downs, and all arounds.  Bas in New York is definitely a keeper, and not just for his hair styling abilities and fashion sense.  Luke was...a pretty face with a less-than-unfortunate body, but proved himself to be something other than what he seems (which to me was genuine at the time, but hey...I apparently fall flat on my face the same as Cassie at times).  Claude in Paris was an interesting match but probably one of the deeper ones despite its final outcome.  In London, well there's really only one to list, Suzy's brother Henry, but he's more of a fixture throughout than in just one city.  Let me put it this way...regardless of his obligations or alliances, you'll always wonder if there might be something more beneath the surface.  I'll leave it at that....and that I ADORED his lists!  So cute!  (~melts~)

In the end, if you haven't drawn the proper conclusion about my experience, let me spell it out for you...I LOVED IT!  Though I'm not one to necessarily want to head over to Tiffany's for a shopping spree, I'd gladly go for the sake of the book and the situations that happen in its wake.  Despite the heartbreak we begin with and experience off and on throughout the story, the sweetness carries a weight of its own much greater.  It takes the form of girlfriends and friendships, love and companionship, exploration and ideas, and in the end, speaks to truly finding and following a path that suits you and no one else.  Now, who couldn't use a reminder like that?  (Or a fella like....  ^_^)

Recommended read for Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, and Fiction fans, from older teens through adults; some content is a bit more blush-worthy than the younger set really needs.  The only thing I can see that might limit the audience at first glance is the size.  It's a chunkster at 592 pages....yes, catch your breath...it'll be okay.  I myself am not scared of BIG books, as long as they sound good and this one certainly did (and WAS!  It REALLY was!), but I can see some holding off because of it.  Was it necessary?  To tell Cassie's story as well as that of her friends, yes...it really was.  I do think that it could have easily been broken down into three books, the first telling of her break and travel to New York, the second Paris, and the third London as well as the ending....but I personally am okay with it as I'd rather not have had to wait to find out what happened next. 

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ARC for review received courtesy of the great team at William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.  (THANKS!)  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: Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined by Rachael Anderson + CONTEST!

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Well would you look at that, it's Christmas week!  Where DID the time go?  *glances at to read list*  Cie la vie!  So many books, so little time...but still enough time to squeeze in a few more before the new year is upon us.  Speaking of which...

Today, we're playing host to an I Am a Reader, Not a Writer Blog Tour starring the second release in the Perfect Match series from author Rachael Anderson.  The series name is a definite WIN because the series thus far is a PERFECT MATCH for this reader.  Book one was enjoyable, and book two was...today's featured ebook of choice!

 

Around the Edges Meets Refined 

(Meet Your Match #2)

by

Rachael Anderson

For Noah Mackie, life is finally back on track. He has a great support system, a promised promotion is on its way, and he's finally getting the hang of this single father thing. But when the job falls through and his neighbor's matchmaking efforts become more aggressive, Noah is in for yet another unwanted detour. With his career and two spirited daughters to worry about, he doesn't have time for dating—especially not someone like Cassie Ellis, his girls' beautiful and sophisticated dance instructor, who is about as open and approachable as a brick wall. Rough around the Edges Meets Refined is about two people who think they know exactly what they want but who have no idea what they really need. It's about learning that people aren't always what they seem and that sometimes life’s detours take you exactly where you need to go.  

Purchase Your Copy from Amazon.com

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Sounds good, right?

Well now, that would be the understatement of the year.

This addition to the growing Perfect Match series is the perfect blend of everything you'd expect.  It starts with the introduction of a leading lady (Cassie) that's been lead a bit too much, lost more than anyone could know, and is just trying to find her bearings once again.  Next, we meet our leading man (Noah), or at least our potential leading man if he can ever get her answer to his all important question of what her favorite flavor of ice cream is.  Trust me, it's important.  ^_^  Following the intros, we get to know each where they were, where they are, and where they each believe they are going.  Yeah...BELIEVE is the operative word here because life as we all know can only be anticipated, prepared for, but never TRULY expected.  Case in point proven here and what neither was looking for, just might be found if they can get on the same page, push past their insecurities and uncover what they want before the moment passes them bye.  Do they in fact?  Well now, I can't tell you that.  That's like spilling the beans on the ending before the show has even begun!  Suffice it to say that you'll enjoy every minute of it....because I know I sure did.

Once I began, I literally couldn't put it down and that's saying A LOT especially when I'm reading an eBook.  As we've previously discussed, I'm a tree book sorta gal and a title has to seriously turn my head (and sometimes not be available in print) for me to pick up the "e" version.  Here, the author's writing is smooth and steady, the story believable and heartfelt with understandable cautions stopping things along the way, and the characters are ones you'd truly like to know....in person.  (< - -- Take that as you will....there are many meanings, and I definitely am using two of the many at this point and time.  ^_^)

In conclusion, a GREAT READ for Contemporary Romance fans and especially those that like a clean read; you know, all the heat without the details if you know what I mean.  A+ perfection in that case and I for one can't wait for the next installment.  Now, enough of my prattling on, here's an excerpt to tempt you further.....

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EXCERPT

     Cassie started walking toward the stairs, then stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “Out of curiosity, if you’re not a general contractor yet, what exactly are you?”

     He thought for a moment. “Most people in my situation would say they’re between jobs. But a more accurate description would be to say that I’m Becky’s latest project.”

     Cassie’s confusion must have shown on her face because he added, “I got laid off about a month ago, and Becky keeps finding me odd jobs to keep the paychecks coming. Once the weather warms and construction companies get busy again, I’m hoping to find something more permanent. But until then, I’m happy to be of service.”

     “And I’m happy you’re available.”

     When his lips tightened into a grin, Cassie realized how that comment could have been taken. Her face infused with heat. “For the job, I mean.”

     “I know.” Still grinning, he brushed past her and headed up the stairs, leaving her with the same anxiety she’d felt when she first saw him standing on her doorstep. 

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See what I mean?

~smirk~

Okay, keep reading gang because there's even more fun to uncover in this post....

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Blog Tour Schedule

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Author Rachael Anderson

USA Today bestselling author, Rachael Anderson is 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.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

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$25 Blog Tour Giveaway

Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

 Ends 1/19/15

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 and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway 

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Special thanks to Kathy at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer for both the review copy and chance to host this stop along the tour.  (THANKS!) For more information on this title, tour, the series, things forthcoming, or other tidbits that might pop into your head, feel free to click the links included in the post above.  This title is available now (with a third planned soon!), so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy holidays and happy reading!