Are you an avid reader looking for your next "fix"? Can't bear to be without some form of reading material in your spare time? Welcome to my world! Whether you are seeking a new book to "feed your need", or you are an author seeking an unbiased point of view on your own recent masterpiece, this is the place to be. With life as with books, you never know where the next step might take you...

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

A Heavenly Celebration: A Privilege by Amy Lignor - Giveaway!

Hi guys!
Welcome back to the site that aims to please the reader in you...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

You've stopped by at the PERFECT time if ever there was one because today we are celebrating a BOOK BIRTHDAY you'll have to read to believe.  It's the third book in a Young Adult trilogy that we've grown to love over the past year or so and from what I understand, the conclusion is stunning.  Interested?  I thought you might be.  Grab your confetti bag and put on your party hat, it's time to join Tribute Books Blog Tours and say hello to author Amy Lignor's latest release... 


A Privilege:
The Angel Chronicles, Book 3

The beloved Angel/Warrior team face pure evil in their final climactic story!

The first time they were sent down, Irish lives were led. Emily, the angel, ended up embedded in murder and lost in the realm of true love. While Matthew, the warrior, took over a life that left blood on his hands and anger in his soul.

With their second coming, Emily found herself facing an oncoming war that brought her to the shores of America. While Matthew tried desperately to unveil the evil character of a young man who was intent on locking his partner in a ‘gilded’ cage.

Now...Emily and Matthew find that their lives are all their own. Yet, all the memories, hatred, longing and regret have come hand-in-hand with this newfound freedom.

In small town U.S.A., Matthew finds himself loving his new life. From his military school existence to a new, ‘odd’ friend who’s arrived in town, Matthew’s looking forward to graduation and heading off into a brilliant future with Emily by his side.

Emily wants nothing more than to hide. Although doing her best to fit in, she lives a life on the edge, wondering when her past love will reappear to either forgive or seek revenge on the angel who let him down. Battling the shadows that seem to be breaking her soul in two, Emily soon discovers that her small, quiet town has a secret that’s beyond dangerous...

As she and Matthew join forces to help a ‘haunted’ victim, they open the door on a mystery neither of them can believe. A true villain has returned from the past, and not even their heavenly family will be able to save them. This time they’re on their own, as they face a fight that could lead them straight to Hell…and end the angel/warrior team forever.




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* * * Excerpt * * *


Without a word, Matthew reached out, took Emily by the hand and pulled her down beside him. He looked into her eyes and smiled. “I knew my Emily was still in there.”

Out of the blue, the room became incredibly hot, as if Gabriel had entered in order to give a lesson to his favorite students. “What?”

“That spark.” He pulled Emily’s face closer before she could push herself away. “You’ve been acting all this time like you’re just here to sit and wait it out until you’re lucky enough to go Home. But you’re still in there, Emily. You still have all that energy and belief in there and you want to do something. That’s the partner I know.”

Shaking her head, Emily listened to her own breathing intensify as she stared at his full lips and wondered why she felt so completely and utterly strange...vulnerable even. “I want to help this girl. This is a job, maybe my only job down here. She saw a ghost and she wants me to help her out, that’s all.”

“And you will.” Matthew captured Emily’s lips, and she could no longer feel the breath in her lungs. Completely different than the one kiss they’d shared up above so long ago, this one was far more demanding, as if Matthew was a young man determined to kiss his human love for the very first time.

Sitting back, Emily practically jumped off the bed.

“I’m sorry,” she heard him whisper behind her. “I guess I was just excited to see you again.”

Not trusting her voice, she remained silent.

“We have jobs, but we also have a life to live. Our own lives this time around. Maybe you should think about adding that into your angelic plans.” Matthew continued softly, “Jason isn’t here, Emily.”

The name being said out loud sent a chill down Emily’s spine. It reminded her of the vow she’d made a long time ago—a vow that an angel couldn’t break.

She cleared her throat. “It doesn’t matter if he’s here. We were sent to do a job, and maybe helping this little girl prove her story is what I need to begin.”

Standing up, Matthew looked as if he was a man who wanted nothing more than to turn back the clock and erase the name he’d spoken aloud. He walked to the open window. “Well, I hope the job goes well. Good luck with it.”

“Matthew,” Emily took a step toward him. “Don’t leave like this.”

He nodded at the book on the bed. “You have your mission, Emily...your job. Ghosts, goblins, lost souls—knock yourself out.” He took a deep breath. “I wonder when you’re going to figure out that the living souls around you would like some of your attention as well.”

Closing her eyes, Emily shed silent tears as she heard his feet hit the ground beneath her window. A friend, a partner, the one who actually listened, was now just an angry young man racing back to The Armory—a place where warriors reigned.

Emily sighed. She’d done it again. No matter how hard she tried to be good, her mouth always got her into trouble. She needed Matthew to understand. She’d made a promise to a young man a long time ago; a promise that was supposed to last for eternity. How was she to know at the time that their eternity would include death by her hand? Had the second time around broken their vow? Emily had no idea. But whatever happened she could not and would not offer Matthew her heart if payment was still due for her past sins. Above all, Matthew was the last person who deserved to be punished for her mistakes.


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Author Amy Lignor


Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.







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Books 1 and 2 are now 99 cents on Kindle!

   




a Rafflecopter giveaway






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Special thanks to Nicole at Tribute Books for the chance to bring this exciting celebration to all of you!  (THANKS!)  For more information on this tour as well as those forthcoming, be sure to stop by their Facebook page or follow along on Twitter.  To read all about the Angel Chronicles world as well as keep abreast of what's new on the author's horizons, be sure to visit Amy Lignor online via the options mentioned above.

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



Monday, April 15, 2013

Ocean Breeze: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods


Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers…the place to be when you’re eager to start the week off on the right foot, or footnote; hey, let’s face it…books are the place to be.

I took a small hiatus this weekend as I was uber busy at job two, but that didn’t stop the reading.  No siree, I finished my Friday read with flying colors, finally tackled the ebook I was digesting ever so slowly (ebooks and me, not the best of friends) and even started another book on my list. Yep, a good time was had in bookville…and one of those reads is the star of today’s post!  Excited?  You should be…and shocked and surprised.  Why?  Well, you see, it happens to be from a genre I’ve only just recently become acquainted with, in fact this book included, makes book number two that I’ve read in that category.  Which one is that?  One word…ROMANCE.

I know, right?  We’ve discussed this in my prior review for this genre, but it deserves a mini-conversation once again.  You hear the word Romance (as a genre) and think…what?  Scantily clad gals and guys, heaving chests, ripped bodices and well, you know…*raises eyebrows*  Yep, it’s the common image that comes to mind, yet once again…my preconceived notions were blown away.  Ready to meet today’s genre blower?  Here we go!  Today’s book of choice is…


Sand Castle Bay
By

About the book
In a trade-off she’s lived to regret, Emily Castle left home years ago to become an interior designer. The youngest of three sisters, Emily desperately wanted to prove herself. Success, though, came at the cost of leaving behind the man she loved.
For Boone Dorsett, losing Emily left his heart shattered, but another woman was waiting in the wings. Now a widower with a young son, Boone has a second chance with Emily when a storm brings her home. But with his former in-laws threatening a custody suit, the stakes of loving her are higher than ever.
Will fate once again separate them—or is the time finally right for these two star-crossed lovers?



The Castle family is definitely one I’d love to be counted as a member of.  The fun times they have, the way they pull together when a crisis strikes.  They are their for each other through thick and thin, the best and the worst, even when what you need to hear isn’t necessarily what you want to hear.  And, you want to know the best part of it all?  Your inclusion in their family is not determined by blood but by heart.  They have an amazing dynamic and that’s not to say that they don’t disagree, because they do, but they know how to come back together in the end.

The trio of sisters alone leave their marks in their own way.  There’s Samantha, the Hollywood star, Gabi the middle child and determined business woman, and Emily the wandering soul that discovered her talent at interior designing.  The latter is the star of this story for the most part and by book’s end you’ll come to have a clearer understanding of all that she’s done, will do and plans on doing despite the meddling of their grandmother Cora Jane (more on her in a moment).  She’s a sweet girl with a good head on her shoulders that knows what she wants out of life, or rather thought she did.  You see there’s this one loose end in love that she’s found herself tangled up in once again after ten years of freedom…but this is one knot that you won’t want to detangle, at least not completely. The knots name…Boone Dorsett.

Is he handsome?  No doubt.  Charming?  I rather think so.  Stubborn and over protective of his son while
jumping off handles now and again?  Umm, yeah…sorry Boone but that fits you like a glove description wise.  No worries.  You’ve captured the heart of young Emily once, it shouldn’t be hard to fall back into old habits again, right?  Right…but perhaps this time around, the ending could be different.  Well, it has the chance to be if both of them will swallow their pride and come to terms with the fact that what they have is real and worth the fight.  *le sigh*  Definitely a lesson in there for those facing similar issues in their own relationships, and a wonderful reminder of the important role family fills in our lives (his dedication to his son B.J. is admirable indeed!).  If we could all only have a grandma like Cora Jane to help us through.  Oh yes, I did promise to divulge more on the old girl now didn’t I…

Cora Jane, how to sum up this feisty lady of years that still believes in true love and yet can match wits and words with the best of them.  Oh wait, I just did.  ^_^  No, really…she is a memorable character indeed and that’s saying something when truly the whole cast left an impression on me.  She has the best interests of those she loves at heart, whether they are blood relations or not.  She takes the time to truly listen to those around her and while not always butting out when asked, she means well…and more often than not those the received the butting are glad she did.  I’d definitely want her in my corner is push came to shove…oh and if she’d be willing to make those Mickey shaped pancakes, I’d totally be bowled over!

Story wise, I have to say it…I was thoroughly impressed.  Not an author I would have picked up on my own (thanks Amy!) simply because of the genre (I know, I know…bad reader) and yet a tale I enjoyed immensely.  You care for the characters.  You can feel the breeze off the water as you sit on the newly reopened deck of Castle’s by the Sea and enjoy a cool glass of your favorite beverage in the afternoon sunlight.  You can hear the joyous sounds of laughter and love in the air as friends and family gather round.  If this book is any indication of the author’s work up until now, my wish list is going to seriously have some new additions.

In conclusion, another surprising read for me from the land of Romance.  You get all the love you can handle from this group but it’s displayed to appeal to a broader audience.  In two words….me likee.  ^_^  I love the way that you get the full heart of the story where it’s not simply about the one couple-possibly-to-be (see how I avoided a spoiler there?  ^_^) but about the WHOLE picture….the family, B.J., friends, relatives, business relations and in short, life.  I can’t say there was anything about the book that I truly didn’t like and I mostly can confirm that book 2 in this new series (Ocean Breeze) is definitely on my wish list.  Hopefully we get to find out what’s going on with Gabi or Samantha…and then maybe in the final book we see how everyone’s lives have progressed on the whole…or maybe…well, we’ll just have to wait and see, but it is the GOOD kind of wait.

Special thanks to Amy at McAllister PR for introducing me to this author’s work as well as the ARC for Wind Chime Point, is scheduled for release April 30th and book three, Sea Glass Inn is scheduled for May 28th, so mark your calendars…for more reasons than one.  For those of you that have stayed with me thus far, you are in for a treat.  (Yay YOU!) review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as the projects on the horizon for this group, stop by their official site, or check out Amy’s Twitter feed and Facebook page!  To discover more about the Ocean Breeze series as well as uncover the complete works of the author, be sure to stop by her official site or like her on Facebook.  This title was released March 25th, 2013 via Harlequin Mira so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.  Don’t forget book two,



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Thanks to Amy and the great folks at Harlequin, I have the chance to bring you yet another chance to win!  Remember the last contest for a copy of this very title?  Well, they are doing it all again and giving you a chance to win the forth coming second book in the series, Wind Chime Point!  Here’s more on this exciting installment…



Ocean Breeze Novel, Book 2:
Wind Chime Point
By
Sherryl Woods

About the book…

Facing a personal crisis, ambitious and driven Gabriella Castle retreats to the welcoming arms of her family. Everything she’s worked for has been yanked out from under her, and she seeks the serenity of her grandmother’s home on the North Carolina coast. With difficult decisions to make about her future, the last thing she wants is an unexpected love.
Wade Johnson fell for Gabi the first time he saw her. It’s not the only time he’s found himself in the role of knight in shining armor, but Gabi isn’t looking for a rescuer. To get her to stay, Wade will need a whole lot of patience and gentle persuasion...and maybe the soothing sound of wind chimes on a summer breeze.



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Sound delightful?
I sure thought so and if I might say, though reading them is order is fun, it sounds as if you might be able to read them as stand alone titles too so don’t let the fact that book one still might be a stranger to you put you off entering to win this installment!


To enter…
…just fill out THIS FORM and you are in it to win it!
(Of course…comments are ALWAYS appreciated…^_^)



The rules…
Open to US residents only; no P.O. Boxes please.
Entries will be accepted today through April 30th, 2013 at midnight CST.  The winner will be drawn and contacted within 48 hours and have 48 hours to respond with their full name and mailing address for prize send out.  If no response is received in the given time frame, a new winner will be chosen.


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




Friday, April 12, 2013

Emma and the Elementals, Book 1: Root Bound by Tanya Karen Gough


Hi guys!
Welcome back to the Friday edition of the place that aims to satisfy your bookish needs...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers; though my title definition alone, my "job" will never be done. (*fist pump*) ^_^


So, how was your week?  Get a lot accomplished work, reading, or life wise?  Here's hoping because the weekend is upon us...well, most of us, though little ole me has to work (*le sigh*), but I digress...and it's time to set those plans of relaxation and recreation you've been dreaming of into action.  With that in mind, I'd like to introduce you to a new friend of mine.  It's a book (go figure, right? *smirk*) aimed at children 10 and up but in my opinion great for anyone that enjoys Children's Fiction...and what's more, it's the start of a NEW series!  Can we say I'm excited?  Yep.  Sure am.  LOVE adding to my "future reads" list and if book one is any indication, it's definitely gonna be something to watch for.  Without further ado, allow me to introduce today's book of choice...


Emma and the Elementals, Book 1:
by

About to book....
Emma and her father are always on the move, travelling from place to place as her father’s work demands. Their new home, however, is different. There’s a frightening woman who lives down the hall: she bears an uncanny resemblance to a witch. A mysterious light comes from her apartment, and a small boy seems to be trapped inside.
School in this town is no happy place either, with an odd principal and a gang of girls who make tormenting Emma their special project. And strangest of all is the fact that there seem to be brownies - basement brownies, in the air vent in her bedroom.
Haunted by visions of her mother, Emma travels through the brownie burrow to the valley of Hades to visit with the goddess Ceres, following a series of clues that lead her across the sea of memory to the centre of the world.
There, on an inhospitable rock floating in a sea of steaming lava, Emma must find a way to release her mother from the sea of memory and restore magic to both the brownie burrow and the human world above.



Brownies and witches and family lost...oh my!  It's a mixed bag on the character cast list for certain but all your favorites are there, ready and willing to guide you through this topsy turvy (or perhaps that should read bottomsy turvy seeing as they ARE basement brownies) adventure.  The story line bounces between reality and dreams, landing squarely on the shoulders of the "somewhere in between".  Just when you think you know which way its going, POOF...something else changes to alter your path.  It was really quite GOOD!

Emma is a sweetheart!  So brave and strong despite her slight size (ignore what the brownies say, she IS
NOT a monster!) and with love that knows no bounds for those that endear themselves to her...which is pretty much everyone except the SCARY crew that she encounters on this her latest move.  I mean really, I knew there was something more than gravy and grave about the old woman in their new building...*-*...~shudders~.  She'd frighten a mouse away from the tastiest cheese platter on earth!  Her Dad is not one to forget either though his role in the story is more sideline than starring.  He's one of those parents that is actually trying to do the best he can for his daughter...and their strong relationship is one of the reasons that Emily is able to find her way back when things get shaky.  Wondering about her Mom?  I would be, had I not read the book...*ahem*.  The person "lost" I mentioned was her Mother but no one we love is ever completely gone, something Emily discovers along her journey.  Moving forward...

We can't forget the magically tinged cast members!  From basement brownies you want to hug (Truss!) to those you'd like to smack upside the head (Mat!), former sirens turned gossamer gown wearing friends to pterodactyl-like birds (George!) that can transport a handful of brownie sized individuals and then some...or thrash the daylights out of a gorgon that gets out of hand (hehe), there is someone that you'll find a friend within.  But if it ends up being the witch or the Fates, I might have to look the other way....*-*.  Now for a few more "loves"...

I loved the counterpart aspect between Over and Under beings; exploring how their other halves lived was ironic, curious and sometimes down right funny! (The stone gargoyle girl...so appropriate!) The blend of cultures and beliefs such as Roman and Greek gods/goddesses was interesting as well and showed how there's room for all when consideration for each other is given. The story takes curious twists and turns much like the roots that run beneath Emily's new home but they all lead back to one conclusion...a highly addictive story that will have readers of all ages smiling from the brownie banter (now that's banter, not batter), cringing from the Gorgeous Gang, fighting for those they love and in general...having a great time between the pages.

My only less-than-exuberant comment would be in regards to the cover.  It's not bad in the least and it does feature something that plays a BIG role in the story however after reading the book I can totally see this one more along the lines of this...



...okay, so its a bad drawing I know (don't hold it against me!), but it just seemed to jump from the pages to my minds eye.  It symbolized to me an even more important aspect of the work...the roots that all things have and the love, time, memories and more that go into their creation.  Some are healthy, some not so much...but we all have it in our power to influence the impression we leave in any given place or on any person we encounter, for better or worse.  Which one will you choose?  If I know you at all readers, I'm thinking the former.  ^_^

So, if you enjoy stories with a blend of reality and fantasy, filled with brownies sometimes think they know everything and evil witches out to make more than "little-girl-stew", this is definitely the book for you.  Emily will capture your heart as will her new brownie friends as you journey from Over to Under in a life altering quest to save pretty much everything from falling into the clutches of evil.  Trust me, you want to stay away from those clutches and with friends like these...you just might accomplish it.  


Special thanks to author Tanya Karen Gough for the review copy.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this amazing new series as well as the author herself, be sure to stop by the official blog, like the Facebook page, or follow along on Twitter!  Book one in this planned FOUR book series (*adds to wish list*) is available now from Baba Yaga Press in both ebook and paper formats, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.  Can't find it in store?  No worries!  Here are a few links to get you started on your quest...Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Lulu, and Smashwords.

Until next time...happy reading!


Thursday, April 11, 2013

Who? What? Where? (6)


Hi guys!
Welcome back to the place that aims to be the bookish break in your day each and EVERY day....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

This week has been a hectic one in my neck of the woods but it held its own surprises as well.  Just found out yesterday that we may be getting a pretty cool visitor to job 2 in the coming weeks, a YA author many of you know and love (including myself!).  Mum's the word right now til the details work themselves out, but suffice it to say, I'm TOTALLY excited.  ^_^  Anywho...time to participate in that weekly MEME that I truly love but seldom have chance to join...




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



Who are you with?
Where are you at?
What's happening?



Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.
Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.





Today, I've just arrived in Sand Castle Bay with Emily and her eldest sister Samantha to help our grandmother Cora Jane clean up the storm damage at the restaurant, and we're taking in the "scenery"...*ahem*...whose name happens to be Boone Dorsett and her once-upon-a-time knight in not-so-shiny-armor.  Good thing she's over him, right? Yeah....


Ocean Breeze, Book 1:  Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods






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So....who/where/what are YOU this week?
Do tell...and feel free to check out the others participating in this MEME as well as link to your own post over at Melissa's site.





Until next time...happy reading!


^_^




Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Midwinter Sonata series by Ellen L. Ekstrom - SPOTLIGHT + GIVEAWAY!


Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when you want to know what's on the menu (BOOKS!) but only just.  Hey, an air of mystery is good for the soul AND the reading palette.  ^_^

Today, we are shining the spotlight on a new-to-me series that upon first glance...sounded simply intoxicating.  The elements mentioned, the world alluded to, and hey, even the covers sparkle in their simplistic beauty....but you don't have to just take my word for it.  I mean really, when have I ever stated anything remotely close to an opinion without further explanation?  ^_^  Too right.  

So, first order of business...a SPOTLIGHT on book 1 and book 2 of the Midwinter Sonata series from author Ellen L. Akstrom via Central Avenue Publishing.  WARNING:  You may want to clear a spot on your wish list for these.  Just sayin'.  Ready?  Set?  READ!


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Midwinter Sonata, Book 1:

Alice Martin discovers herself in a quaint English shop. Iconic historical figures appear no sooner than she thinks of them; they come and go, offering advice – unwanted, but always interesting. While there, Alice learns that she can change definitive moments in her history, to correct mistakes made in two important relationships: with her first love, Quinn Radcliffe, a sensitive classical musician destined for the concert halls of the world, and with Donovan Trist, a charming archaeologist with New England blue-blood and expensive scotch in his veins. Each has a hold on Alice, and what she is compelled to undertake begins a momentous and sometimes painful journey. Throughout her travels, Alice is linked to love by a melody, the luminous and evocative Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. As she seeks answers and happiness, Alice knows one thing is for certain – this is not a trip to Wonderland, but deep into her heart and soul.




AMAZON   |   APPLE   |   BARNES & NOBLE   |   KOBO   |   SONY






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Midwinter Sonata, Book 2:

When Quinn Radcliffe shows up in a village somewhere in the Cotswolds or Dorset, he knows he's been there before. It's a place out of a Thomas Hardy novel - or the imagination. There's the Curiosity Shop with The Proprietress and her famous guests, the church at the end of the lane, and unbelievable but necessary journeys that test and affirm. Now the conductor of a world-renowned orchestra, Quinn isn't surprised by his surroundings - the love of his life, Alice Martin, told him all about the village but he has always and secretly thought it was the best part of a dream she shared after her life-threatening illness. Until now. 
There are two sides to every love story. This is the other side of the haunting and poignant romance that began with "Tallis' Third Tune."




AMAZON   |   APPLE   |   BARNES & NOBLE   |   KOBO   |   SONY




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Enchanted yet?
Well I certainly was...and it prompted me to add these beauties to my to-be-read mountain for a feature later this year.  HOWEVER, I couldn't leave YOU in suspense about this set until then; I mean it just wouldn't be right...right?  ^_^  With that in mind, I give you PART TWO of today's post....




Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Central Avenue Publishing, I have the chance to bring you a wonderful opportunity.  How wonderful?  Oh, pretty wonderful, as in on a scale of 1 - 10, it would at the very least be a 9.99.  Curious?  As you should be.  The reason for the high level of "awesome" is the prize for you now have the chance to win a SIGNED digital copy of BOTH books!  *high fives all around*  I mean really, who out there prefers to start a series no matter how short halfway through?  _looks for hands...sees none_  Didn't think so.  To continue the fun, seeing as they are ebooks, this giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY, to all ages AND if that wasn't enough, the winner will get to choose the digital format they would prefer...that way no matter how you read your ebooks, you're covered.  Sound good, nay great?  Good.  Now, let's get you entered, shall we?



The prize:



SIGNED digital copies of both Tallis' Third Tune and Scarborough but Ellen L. Ekstrom via Central Avenue Publishing






How to enter...
Just fill in the form below and POOF!  You're in it to win it.
Of course, comments are always welcome too... ^_^





The rules...
OPEN INTERNATIONALLY.  Entries will be accepted starting today through Friday, April 19th, 2013 at midnight CST.  Winner will be drawn and contacted no later than Monday, April 21st, 2013...and seeing as this is an ebook giveaway I'll just pass along their address to the publisher for contact and prize send out.




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Special thanks to Meg over at Central Avenue Publishing for the chance to feature these titles (and more...how so? You'll see...).  (THANKS!)  For more information on this series as well as their complete catalog, be sure to stop by their official site, stop by their blog, like them on Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.



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


Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Gandhi: A March to the Sea by Alice B. McGinty


Hi guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when you need a reminder that silence IS in fact a virtue, as is holding your tongue.




Yeah.  Yesterday may have been Monday, but today is ACTING like a Monday.  Whew!  Seriously, job 1 has been full of "surprises" thus far and as this post goes live, it's only just begun.  Cie la vie.  I'm going to take a note of direction from the title I am featuring today that reminds us of the above virtue and also shows us the volumes that silence can speak.  Don't believe me?  No worries...any doubts you have are not hard to imagine actually considering the state of the world today, but allow us to take a look back at an event that sparked conversations and actions with lives spared instead of lost.  Today's book of choice is...


by
Alice B. McGinty
Illustrated by
Thomas Gonzalez

About the book...
Mohandas Gandhi’s 24-day March to the Sea, from March 12 to April 5, 1930, was a pivotal moment in India’s quest to become an independent country no longer ruled by Great Britain. With over 70 marchers, Gandhi walked from his hometown near Ahmedabad to the seacoast near Dandi. The march was a non-violent means to protest the taxes that Great Britain had imposed on salt-not the salt that the Indians could get from the sea, but the salt that Great Britain forced them to buy. Gandhi believed that peaceful protests were an effective way to challenge British law, and his peaceful but ultimately successful movement became known as Satyagraha.



It's a storybook detailing what began as one man's journey and turned into an affair far bigger than himself, a non-violent demonstration...all in the name of freedom; a worthy cause indeed.  His name is recognized near and far for many reasons but today we will focus on this one act, this one march for a country's people to call the shots within their own borders.  It's not a method of protest chosen often in today's world, sad but true, but it does speak volumes without ever having to hear that fateful shot ring out across a land.

Disagreements do not have to end in bloodshed; there is a better way.  When we open the doors to communication and understanding, it creates a welcome environment where compromise and change are friends not foes.  I mean, imagine where we would be today if the world simply sat down and LISTENED to each other in lieu of running first for the heavy artillery and trying to shout past the sound of mortars   The lives spared, the lands saved, the harmony achieved would bring about a peaceful planet indeed...in my opinion at least.  Suffice it to say that this work while documenting a historical event in verse, will leave you with aspirations of creating your own utopia in the here and now.  Moving forward...

For those well versed in the works of author Carmen Agra Deedy, the illustrations in this book may ring a few bells.  Recall for a moment her work entitled, 14 Cows for America....have it pictured in your mind's eye?  Good.  Now, compare the images.  Look familiar?  The painted illustrations are were created by the same hand, Mr. Thomas Gonzalez.  Personally I think they fit well with the open verse style of the writing featured here.  They give you the images so you have a starting point but only so much detail so that as you are reading you can sharpen the softer  points with the text.  It's quite the "marriage" of words and images; definitely worth more than a quick glance.

In summary, I would say this is a bite sized history lesson great for readers of all ages with a little something more.  You'll not only walk away with new found knowledge (or a refreshed memory if you were already well versed in these events) but also an appreciation for a people's non-violent quest for a better life and a respect for the actions taken in peace.  Of course, the inclusion of those wonderful illustrations add yet another facet of wonder to entice the eyes of readers young and old...just try turning a page without gazing at the images before you.  From a simple sunrise to a nation gathering together for a cause, the intricate details of their ethnic costumes to a handful of salt; each one was created with care and made to be marveled at.  Enjoy it as it was meant to be enjoyed.

This title was released this April via Two Lions, an imprint of Amazon Publishing, and should be available now at a retailer near you.   Need a start in the right direction?  No worries...happy to help; Amazon, Books-a-Million, Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound. Special thanks to Deborah at Amazon Children's Publishing for the review copy.  (THANKS!)  For more information, be sure to stop by their website to discover all of their imprints, as well as current and forth coming titles.

Until next time...happy reading!



Monday, April 8, 2013

READ ALL ABOUT IT: I Wish I May by David Stahler Jr.


Hi guys!
Welcome back to the Monday edition of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....where we aim to show you that though usually seen as a dreary week day, you can stir up a little magic with the inclusion of a book any time any place.  

In fact, today's featured title has that requirement (magic that is) in spades and the mission it is on (to entertain...and something more) is most honorable indeed.  Don't believe me?  Oh ye of little faith.  ^_^  You know I'd give you something to READ ALL ABOUT IT.  Ready?  Set?  GO!



by
David Stahler, Jr.

Be careful what you wish for…

When young Thurston Pickering opens a mysterious jar he’s found in the attic of his old house, he gets more than he bargained for. Soon, a green-skinned genie named Malthasar appears, charming the thirteen fireflies Thurston has collected in the jar. Each one offers a wish, a chance to fix every problem in Thurston’s life, with extra to spare.

Good thing. For a twelve-year-old, Thurston has more than his fair share of trouble. No one at school seems to notice him—except for Jason Bean and his pack of bullies. His parents are so busy fighting with each other, they forgot his last birthday. Worst of all, his beloved dog Mollet has recently died, leaving him feeling more alone than ever.

But with each wish, Thurston’s life takes a darker and stranger twist, and what at first seems like helpful advice from Malthasar turns out to be something quite different. Can Thurston discover the genie’s true designs—and a way to stop them—before it’s too late?





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


Sounds good, right?
Yep...I thought so too, and with good reason.
If the author's name sounds familiar, you are an even brighter shining star than I already imagined you to be.  Previously, I featured a review of his book Spinning Out, which while a little quirky in content, was definitely one to remember (and check out for yourself if you haven't had the opportunity!).  I can only imagine with all the ingredients he has to work with here how interesting this read will be.  Don't worry readers.  I'll be featuring it in a review right here on the site, just a bit later this year so if you get to it before me, do tell about your experience...just don't release the spoilers!  ^_^  This title is available now in ebook format.

Now, though the book itself is enough to celebrate, there is one thing more DEFINITELY worth a mention...the mission to help that is connected to its sales.  Author David Stahler Jr had an idea that he ran with and then that idea got lost in the shuffle.  One day it surfaced and became the work that we are highlighting here (more about that journey can be found here) BUT an enjoyable way to while away the afternoon was not its only intent.  You see, the book is dedicated to a special little guy in the author's life...his nephew William Johnson.



William was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a degenerative motor neuron disease that affects approximately one out of every six thousand babies born. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Families of SMA, a nonprofit organization that funds research to find a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. So in buying I Wish I May, you’re not only getting a great story, you’re helping William and thousands of children like him move one step closer to conquering this disease!





So, what we have here is this...the chance to read what sounds like a magically infused and delightful story AND the chance to help those like William find a cure.
That's a WIN-WIN in my book!

Special thanks to author David Stahler, Jr for the chance to highlight his recent work and bookmarks up on the light he is shedding on SMA.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as his complete list of works, be sure to stop by his site or like him on Facebook.

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



Sunday, April 7, 2013

The Roving Reader


Lookie what I found in store!
His name is Biblio and he's a screen wipe for all your electronic devices...with bookish flair. ^-^

End decision...love it!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Scarlette by Davonna Juroe


Hi guys and gals!
Welcome back to the Saturday edition of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place to be when you're looking for a weekend escape and only something bookish will suffice.



Today, we ask a question that you may not have previously pondered and it's a very bookish question indeed.  WHAT IF LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD WAS REAL?  Scary thought, no?  Well, I mean at least the bits that most of us are familiar with when it comes to the popular story.  Little girl in a red cape off to see her sickly grandma only to talk to a strange wolf in the forest who beats her to the cottage, gobbles up grandma, dons her clothes, attempts to gobble up Little Red (or DID gobble her up depending on the version) and "enjoyed" her vacation in route to digestion until a well timed visit from a woodcutter means lights out for the wolf and a rebirth for the two ladies in peril.  

Nice kids story, right?  *-*  Yeah.  I always wondered about those Brother's Grimm; interesting fellows, but I'm not so certain I would have let them babysit for me....even my dogs.  Anywho, there is no denying that their works are infamous and all come with a moral attached, this rendition of their classic is no different, though there is quite a bit more to the story than you'll recall AND a historical tie in that for you reality buffs, may make all the difference.  Ready to read all about it?  Today's ebook of choice is...


by

About the book...
Ninety years before the Brothers Grimm penned their version of Little Red Riding Hood, a historic, gruesome series of events would shock all of Europe. In 1765, an unidentified wolf-like animal ferociously mauled dozens of peasants in the Gévaudan region of France.

Whispered rumors of unnatural creatures blended with age-old superstition, causing mass hysteria, and a werewolf was blamed for the carnage. Alarmed, King Louis XV sent his best huntsmen to rid the province of the beastly scourge, but this legendary massacre had only just begun.

Scarlette, an 18-year-old peasant, lives under this dark threat, knowing the nightmarish monster lurks in the surrounding forest. A poor seamstress, she labors to make ends meet and is skeptical of supernatural gossip.

Until her grandmother survives an attack.

Scarlette learns her grandmother is infected by the bite of the animal. Desperate to save her, Scarlette begins to uncover the dark secrets of her village and finds there are those who wish to keep their pasts hidden. As time grows short, Scarlette is befriended by a local nobleman and a woodcutter who share an eerie history with the wolf.

To save her grandmother, Scarlette must unravel the mens' connection and solve a long-forgotten crime. But as she pieces together the clues, Scarlette finds herself torn between the two men, both of whom desire more than friendship and together hold the key to the cure.

Based on both the traditional Grimm and Charles Perrault versions of Little Red Riding Hood, this dark YA is set against the Beast of Gévaudan attacks, blending history with fairy tale and gothic romance. Unique to the genre, the novel revives the French fable of the girl-in-the-red-cloak with a new, shockingly real existence that blurs the line between folklore and reality.



This is not the story that you were told as a child...at least, not JUST that story.  This is the story of one girl's fight to keep her freedom, save her friends and family (even those that never gave a reason to be saved), and find true love if the option exists...all while trying to stay alive.

Yes, the big bad wolf exists in this version, after all you can't REALLY have a Little Red or in this case Scarlette, without a wolf...but the beastie may not be all or whom you'd think.  There are greater things to fear in this story than simply the glinting teeth of the wolf...and some are even more dangerous because of their immediacy.  Take Nardonne for example, Scarlette's employer and an HR nightmare just waiting for expulsion.  OH MY WORD.  If something didn't happen soon to get her out of THAT situation, I was gonna climb through the e-pages and give him what's for.  *glares at e-Nardonne*  The fate he meets is well deserves. Nuff said...although not really because he wasn't acting on his own at all times.  Even those closest to Scarlette had a hand in the events she's running from, some of which may surprise you greatly.  Oh yes, there will be betrayals from those that should be most loyal, but there will also be acts of kindness shown from unexpected places...and people. As the book progresses, you'll be all a fuddle with whom is trustworthy and whom is hiding something, but in the best way possible; after all, it's no fun if everything is spelled out from page one, right?  Right.  Moving on.

Story wise, we have a winner!  Character wise...same situation, though some were more infuriating than others.  Allow me to explain.  Scarlette, oh Scarlette.  You are our leading lady and yet your flights of fancy between I-trust-him, I-don't--trust-him and back again would make anyone feel as though they were at a championship tennis match.  I understand you have reason to suspect everyone but my goodness!  Sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade and leave it at that.  If you're wrong, you live...you learn.  If you're right, party like it's 1699.  I do however enjoy the loving personality you show to all those you allow into your inner circle, the protectiveness you feel of those you call friend and your conviction to walk the straight and narrow.

Francois, if that is your REAL name sir, you are a mixed bag as well and really, how could you possibly think she knew what you were thinking with the wild goose chase of emotions you led her on?  *shakes head*  You are rough and tumble due to your upbringing and the need to survive and yet somehow underneath it all, refined...a shadow of your true childhood that I shan't shine a floodlight on at this time as others may not have had the chance to discover YOUR secrets.  In a word, he is noble, but there are several other layers there that need peeling back to get to it that nougat-type center...and despite his turns towards arrogance, it's worth the reveal.  Then we have Louis; a noble man by title (sorta) but not entirely virtuous as it turns out.  No wonder when you meet his friends in high places and yet that's not where the real surprise comes from.  Oh no, he has A LOT more than skeletons in his closet but as they say, love is blind and Scarlette's discovery of them all may not come before her time is up. Dun dun dunnnn....

Suffice it to say there is a full cast of character goodness.  From those mentioned above to dear old Grandmother (again, you CAN'T have a Little Red story without a grandma!), her loopy mother to her best friend Jeanne and let us not forget the townspeople, the woodcutters, the church folk and...well, you get the picture.  At some point or another, we meet them all and each has a role to play...whether or not they all survive to see another day after having been introduced though, is another story.

In the end, another rendition of a classic most have heard since childhood but told in such a way that it
doesn't completely feel like deja vu; in fact, it'll have you on the edge of your seat as you try to discern just who is who, what is what, and where the wolf will pop up next!  Seriously, the author kept me guessing and when I finally got to the whole revelation part, I was all..."leave me alone until I finish please!  It was that good.  For those of you that count yourselves among the history buffs or prefer a bit of reality in their fiction, the ties ins to actual historical events included will really spark your interest and perhaps the researcher in you granting the story yet another life after you flick the final page.

The only downside of the read worth a mention involves errors in the text.  A word here, a thought there, not enough to ruin the story in the long run but still noteworthy enough to be a tad irksome.  Hey, I get it...it happens; my posts aren't PERFECT either, but just something to consider when reading....you aren't going buggy eyed, they are there but the story will win your attention over the grammar overall.  Recommended read for teens through adults; if you have even the slightest interest in the fate of Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf, this one's for you.



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


About the author...
Davonna Juroe stays up way too late, has a severe garlic food allergy, and loves all things 80’s. She wonders if all this could actually mean she's a vampire.

In high school, she wore way too much glitter eye make-up. And in between many Disneyland visits and reading R.L. Stine’s Fear Street Series, she joined the high school drama department and may have developed crushes of the serious kind on many a theater boy. After many a broken heart (*sigh*), Davonna moved to the quaint, wooded village of Kalispell, Montana.

When she’s not writing, she shops @ thrift stores for hot-pink-Jem-and-the-Holograms-inspired-outfits, eats gluten free desserts, drinks tea out of antique teacups, and spends too much time on deviantArt, Pinterest, and Goodreads.  Scarlette is Davonna’s debut novel of epic-historical-fairytale-proportions, which she knows the Brothers Grimm would say is wicked cool.

Currently, she's represented by fabulous independent agent Roxanne McHenry who is waving wands to make all of Davonna's dreams come true.



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


Special thanks to author Davonna Juroe for the ebook copy for review as well as all the Twitter updates and correspondence   (THANKS!  ^_^)  For more information on this title as well as her current works-in-progress, since we all know that "once a writer, always a writer), be sure to stop by her site, check out her GoodReads page, like her on Facebook, pin her on Pinterest, or follow along on the previously mentioned Twitter.  This ebook is available now as a download near you...well, near you in the sense that since you're already reading THIS online, it's a few clicks away...so be sure to seek thee out a copy to call your own.  Trust me, you won't be sorry!

Oh, one final note...for those of you that may have previously downloaded the story, there's been an update!  The latest version has an additional short story entitled "The Third Shadow" which tells of Francois discovery deep in the woods as well as a few notes from the author on what what into the writing of the manuscript.  Both are definitely worth a read.

Until next time...*dons red cape ala Red*...happy reading!

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