More than Man's Best Friend: Tuesday Tucks Me In by Luis Carlos Montalvan

Why hello there!

What a pleasure it is to see your smiling face today as we embark on another bookish adventure here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  I appreciate your stopping by and welcome your comments, suggestions and random thoughts with an open mind and open comments with every post.

Today, we’re exploring a Children’s editon of Non-Fiction story previously released for an adult audience.  It’s the classic story of a man and his dog but with a lot more heart.  Don’t believe me?  You will once you catch a glimpse of this little wonder.  Make room in your afternoon for today’s featured book of choice…

Tuesday Tucks Me In:

The Loyal Bond Between a Soldier and his Service Dog

By

Fmr. Captain Luis Carlos Montalvan

With Brett Witter

Photographs by

Dan Dion

9781596438910

Roaring Brook Press

For those of you that follow my site, this title may ring familiar to you and with good reason.  You see, once upon a time there was a book released titled Until Tuesday.  It detailed the life of a young man changed more than you can imagine by his time in service to our country and the obstacles he faces now from the after affects.  It’s quite a story, both shocking and illuminating in equal turns; at it’s heart though, it’s about finding yourself again, even if that self is unrecognizable to the former you. 

Here we have his story told once again but this time, it’s through the eyes of his most trusted companion…Tuesday.  He’s more than a Golden Retriever, more than a highly trained service dog, more than a companion providing endless hours of friendship….he’s a lifeline and a true hero himself.  Thanks to Tuesday and his unfailing care, Luis is able to tackle each new day.  Step by step, moment by moment, from here to there and back again, with him by his side, the horrors he witnessed may not be held completely at bay, but they are easier to cope with.  The crowds and feelings of suffocation are shaken by a warm hug or wet nose merely a heartbeat a way.  We always knew those with pets lead a less stressful life, but the way Tuesday turned Luis’ world around is nothing short of a miracle…and here’s it’s accessible to the even the youngest audience.

 With that beautiful smile and those soul warming brown eyes, if you manage not to fall under his spell…more power to you; as for me, I’m a goner.  Between his obvious appeal and all he’s done to change the life of one (as well as many), his story is certainly worth sharing….and the creative way this particular version unfolds makes it an engaging read for all.  With each turn of the page, you are greeted with Tuesday in action, whether it be his morning wake up call, a walk through the subway terminal, or play time with his best-est human companion, Luis.  You see the many ways that Tuesday helps his two legged friend on a day by day, moment by moment basis and are left without a doubt as to why his species is known as man’s best friend.

So, in conclusion, we have more than just another storybook, but a tale of what happens after the wound has been left and the pieces need putting back together.  It shows us that some things are too much to be handled by our lonesome and that asking for help, needing the assistance of another does not make us any lesser a person or weaker in spirit, but it can be the difference between struggling through life and actually living.  Bookmarks up to our authors (and the photographer too!) for letting us inside their daily routines once again and doing it in such an amazing way.

ARC for review courtesy of Ksenia at MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their official site.  The release date is scheduled for next week, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you very soon or pre-order it today at your favorite online retailer.

Until next time…happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Murder in Merino by Sally Goldenbaum

Why hello there!

Welcome back to the site that aims to please the reader in you with a variety to satisfy the most particular of palettes....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're sampling from the Cozy Mystery side of things with a book belonging to the Seaside Knitters series.  Never heard of it?  No worries!  There's a first time for everything.  Thanks to Lori over at Great Escapes Book Tours, I have the chance to shine the spotlight on the eighth addition and between knits and purls, there's a murder most heinous!  Ready to read all about it?  Please join our blog tour already in progress and today's book of choice....

Murder in Merino

by

Sally Goldenbaum

9780451415363

NAL Hardcover

About the book....

It’s autumn in Sea Harbor and as the tourists leave a mysterious guest arrives. When she’s implicated in a crime the Seaside Knitters must quickly table their knitting project and search out a motif for murder.

Fall is usually a relaxing time in Sea Harbor, but it’s turning out to be a busy season for Izzy Chambers Perry. Not only is she helping the Seaside Knitters make a magnificent throw to celebrate the fortieth wedding anniversary of her aunt and uncle, she and her husband are finally selling the cottage she lived in before they married and had a darling baby girl. To Izzy’s surprise, newcomer Julia Ainsley seems determined to buy the home—although she’s never set foot inside.

But on the day of the open house, things take a tragic turn. A body is uncovered in the cottage’s backyard. When the police find Julia’s name and phone number in the victim’s pocket, this slender thread of evidence makes her a person of interest. Soon the spotlight of suspicion widens to include old friends and town leaders, as a tragic happening, long buried in the sleepy seaside town, is slowly brought to the surface.

Before the Endicotts’ joyful anniversary celebration can be realized, the Seaside Knitters must work to unravel the real reason Julia Ainsley has come to their town and the tangled and tragic ties from the past that bind friends and townsfolk together.

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Alrighty guys, it's time to break out the pros and cons list.  Why?  Well, because sometimes that's just the best way to tackle things and for me, it'll help break this one down.  Ready?  Set?  List!

Pros

1.)  Despite not having been to Sea Harbor physically, I DO feel as though it would be a great community to live in, grow in, and just in general, build a life around.  The sense of love felt throughout the town between neighbors, friends, and even acquaintances (well, except for those killing off those that weren't meant to make it through the story...*ahem*...and even still, there IS love), was palpable through the pages and heart warming across the miles.  The author surely built a place we'd all love to find one day.

2.)  The incorporation of other hobby interests into the story allows readers a chance to continue the experience after the final page is turned.  The ladies favorite pasttime (well, aside from gossip ^_^) of knitting as well as the gents interest in cooking are worked into a special addition which includes both a pattern or two and a recipe so the next time your reading or craft group meets, TADA!  Instant party perker upper.

3.)  I'm sorry but that cover is just perfection for the series name.  It blends the craft with the location, the beauty of nature with the comfort of settling in for a spell with a furry friend and a hobby at hand.  Definite points for this choice!

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Cons

1.)  TOO MANY CHARACTERS.  Whoops.  I didn't intend to type that in capital letters and yet, I'm leaving it.  I'm a minimalist person when it comes to the cast of characters I want to see in a story.  No, I'm not telling ANY author how to write their work of wordy art, I'm simply saying FOR ME, if you're going to introduce a slew of characters, they need to have something memorable to keep their persona in my mind, or perhaps be introduced story wise over the course of a series.  Now, this IS the eighth addition to this series, so perhaps, just maybe that IS the case with the other books...but being brought into the fold at this point, I kinda knew how Jules felt; outsider looking in.

2.)  The storyline really drags more than necessary.  Honest to Abe truth here, I found myself skimming parts and just for kicks at one point, I literally flipped several chapters ahead....without missing a beat.  *blink*  To me, that says there's a lot of filler, a lot of things that maybe sorta kinda survived the final edits that didn't really need to be there.  I'm not saying they don't serve a purpose in perhaps building up a scene or connecting past and present, but to the story at hand, it mattered not.

3.)  It's a cozy but in the usual sense.  It's not the same old same old story or anything but it follows the usual formula thereby I have my seemingly recurring complaint.  Parts of the plot, persons of suspicion, and even bits of the final outcome are predictable.  It takes 30 pages to come to a written conclusion of what the reader has already picked up on with the first page and a half.  I'm one for story building, but I like my mysteries to have a little more mystery.

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So, in conclusion, though not the series for me (*sigh*), I can definitely see it hitting a home run with fellow knitters (*makes note to share with one particular friend*) and those with a bigger cozy repertoire under their proverbial belts.  DO get swept away by the location.  DO try to solve the murder as it unfolds while putting the other mysterious pieces in order....just don't look TOO deeply lest it spoil itself before the final reveal.  

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About the author....

Sally Goldenbaum is a sometime philosophy teacher, a knitter, and an editor, and the author of more than thirty novels. Sally became more serious about knitting with the birth of her first grandchild and the creation of the Seaside Knitters mystery series. Her fictional knitting friends are teaching her the intricacies of women’s friendship, the mysteries of small-town living, and the very best way to pick up dropped stitches on a lacy knit shawl. 

SITE   |   TWITTER   |   FACEBOOK

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Special thanks to Lori at Great Escapes Book Tours for the chance to bring this tour to you.  (THANKS!) To catch the rest of this bookish train as it makes its way through the blogosphere, be sure to check out all the stops on the official tour page.  This title is available now via NAL Hardcover, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.  Looking for a quick virtual shopping trip?  Check out Amazon and Barnes & Noble (to name a few) for a quick bookish fix.

Until next time....happy reading!

Taste Testing Tuesdays

Certainly makes me feel it's a place  see. How about you?

MURDER IN MERINO
by
Sally Goldbaum

Stay tuned for more on this read as it swings through tomorrow for a blog tour review!

Until next time. .. happy reading!

^-^

BLOG TOUR: World Cup Mouse by Richard Seidman - Author Interview!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to another week, another post here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....your bookish source for fun any day of the week.  Before me jump into the week with both feet, allow me a brief moment to remind you that there are THREE contests ending soon...which means YOU still have plenty of time to get your entries in.  But really, why wait?  There's a little something for everyone so please, finish today's post and then....get YOUR entries in for your chance to win!  Now, back to our regularly scheduled post....

Today, we are playing host to a blog tour for the Children's Fiction and Middle Grade audience starring an author and his mouse.  NO really, an author and his MOUSE.  *ahem*  First up, a brief get-to-know-your-book spotlight.  Ready?  Set?  Read!

World Cup Mouse

by

Richard Seidman

Illustrated by 

Ursula Andrejczuk

"Where there's a mouse, there's a way," says Louie LaSurie. But it will take more than lofty words for Louie to achieve his goal: to be the first mouse to play for France in the World Cup soccer tournament. Can Louie do it?

Amazon   |   Goodreads   |   IndieBound   |   Shelfari

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Okay, admittedly, not much to go on, but it's called an introduction for a reason.  Now, to scope out a bit more of the book itself, just CLICK HERE.  Once you return from that field trip, you'll be ready for the second part of today's post. 

*waits*

*waits*

Oh, there you are!

Glad to see you made it back alright.

Now, let's get to that "part 2" shall we?

The "part 2" is referring to the author interview alluded to in the post title...but this one is with a bit of a twist.  Yep.  Instead of an interview conducted by myself with the author, we thought it might be amusing to have a character from the book interview his "creator"!  So, without further ado, let's give a big Insatiable Reader welcome to both interviewee (the author) and interviewer (the mouse!)....

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Interview withRichard Seidman

...by the mouse, François DuBois

Bonjour, I’m François DuBois.

I’m here interviewing children’s book author, RichardSeidman.

François: Richard, I enjoyed reading World Cup Mouse, 
especially the parts with me in it!
 Your books are really funny.

Richard: Thank you, François. I love to make jokes
 and funny business. That’s one of the main reasons 
I enjoy writing – to amuse myself and children 
(and also the big children that we call “grown-ups”). 
For me, funny business is a way to love life, and it’s 
also a way to transform sorrows.

François: Why do you like writing about mice like 
me and Louie?

Richard: Some of my favorite literary characters are mice: Stuart Little,
 Dr. De Soto, Norman the Doorman, Desperaux. It’s fun to write about 
you mice guys.

François: Thanks. Where did you grow up, and what were you like as a child?

Richard: I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. I was a really shy child, and to tell you the truth, I’m still pretty shy. I didn’t really know how to play chess when this picture was taken, but I liked moving the pieces around. My father, Herb, was one of the best chess players in the U.S. When I was growing up, playing games and sports and reading were the favorite things I enjoyed, and they’re still the favorite things I enjoy today! In high school and college, my number one passion was running.

François: My last name, you know, means “of the trees.” I heard that you were part of a tree-planting

organization.

Richard: Yes. In the 1970s, I moved to Portland, Oregon, and in 1989 I founded the nonprofit tree-planting group, Friends of Trees. I’m proud that all these years later Friends of Trees is still going strong. More than 10,000 volunteers have planted more than 500,000 trees since the beginning of the organization.

François: Wow, that’s a lot of trees! What other accomplishments are you proud of?

Richard: Well, I’m proud of the book I wrote for grown-ups, The Oracle of Kabbalah: Mystical Teachings of the Hebrew Letters. In 2014, I’ll be publishing a revised version, The New Oracle of Kabbalah. And I’m proud that in the fall of 2014, after training in the martial arts for eighteen years, I finally earned a black belt in Shotokan Karate.

François: Congratulations. Remind me not to pick a fight with you.

Richard (laughing): Don’t worry, François.

François: My cheese soufflé is almost done. Is there anything else you want to say about yourself before we close?

Richard: Yes. I’m a member of SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and a founding member of a local children’s book writing critique group. I helped create a nonfiction children’s book for Benchmark Education, I Am Deaf and I Dance: A Memoir. I now live in Ashland, Oregon with my beloved wife, Rachael Resch, our chickens, and our myriad stuffed animals and other small friends.

François: Any mice?

Richard: Only a stuffed toy Despearaux looking over my writing desk.

François: I guess that’s better than nothing. Well, thanks for the interview.

Richard: Thank you. Please say hi to Louie for me.

François: Oui. Au revoir.

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Thank you Francois and Mr. Seidman for that most enlightening share.  I'm sure everyone can agree that not only was that a most interesting turn of the tables (the character interviewing the author!) but a delightful experience overall.

Special thanks to Samantha at JKSCommunications Literary Publicity, for the chance to participate in this tour.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, be sure to check out the official tour page where you can get the skinny on all the other stops along the way.  To find our more about the author behind the work or discover his other writing endeavors, be sure to catch up with him online....the links to which I've included in the post above.

Until next time...happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: Over My Live Body by Susan Israel

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....the place that begins and ends each day bookishly, and aims to help you to the same.

Today, we're hosting a blog tour stop via The Story Plant starring a Fiction title that;s filled with suspense, mystery, and murder.  It stars a young lady that's both artist and work of art who "inherits" the obsessive attentions of one uber creepy dude.  Well, sorta more than one actually but before I go TOO far into things, allow me to introduce today's featured title...

Over My Live Body

by

Susan Israel

The Story Plant

About the book...

Delilah is accustomed to people seeing her naked. As a nude model – a gig that keeps food on the table while her career as a sculptor takes off – it comes with the territory.
But Delilah has never before felt this vulnerable.
Because Delilah has an admirer. Someone who is paying a great deal of attention to her. And he just might love her to death.

 Amazon - Barnes and Noble -iBooks - Kobo - Sony - Chapters/Indigo -IndieBound 

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Whew!

This story really packs a punch and yet surprisingly, the meat of the story lives in the moment.  Allow me to explain.  The stalking, her chosen way to make a living, the murders surrounding her at every turn, it's all in the here and now.  There's really no back story beyond page one to fall into for ANY of the characters and yet it doesn't feel disconcerting in the least.  You're content to stay moment to moment with Delilah as her world unravels person by person.  You're perfectly fine with seeing each piece of the ever evolving puzzle fall into place as you try to solve the riddle of who is behind everything happening and why.  You're cheerful even to discover something more you didn't count on and from the most unexpected places.  I gotta hand it to the author, she's got a way with words.  Now, considering the characters a smidge closer...

I really liked Delilah; she was an artist through and through.  She may have bared her body to portions of the world in the name of art, but she retained her soul and the beauty of that was evident in her work,  Her connections with friends and family were genuine, even if at times misguided, and that made her even more relate-able.  Who hasn't mistrusted to some degree in the name of love?  On the other side of things, we have Curtis... ~shivers~.  Definitely not a boy scout in training even if he does try to be prepared for anything....and anyone.  He's definitely a creeper though to what degree, I'll let you decide as you read.  Don't want to spoil anything for you.  ^_^  Then there's Ivan, who sorta straddles the line between good and bad, is dis-likable enough to write off, and yet some will find irresistible at first glance.  Trust me ladies, it's at FIRST glance....looks can be deceiving.  Lastly but certainly not least, there's our policeman type folk, Patrick Quick.  *ahem*  He seems like a good enough guy and Delilah certainly agrees, however you can't help shake the feeling that he's got something else on his mind.  His wheels are always working on the next problem, not a bad thing in his line of work but still....

In the end, it's a read I'd recommend for adult Fiction fans as well as those that linger longer in the Mystery and Suspense sections of the bookstore.  It's got elements for the lovers, the fighters, the criminologists, and even those that prefer to walk a bit on the darker side (you know, like Crime Fiction!)...and it all starts from page one.  The balance the author works into the tale is particularly magical and the outcome will keep you guessing til the very end.  

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About the author...

Susan Israel lives in Connecticut with her beloved dog, but New York City lives in her heart and mind. A graduate of Yale College, her fiction has been published in Other Voices, Hawaii Review and Vignette and she has written for magazines, websites and newspapers, including Glamour, Girls Life, Ladies Home Journal and The Washington Post. She’s currently at work on the second book in the Delilah Price series, Student Bodies. 

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Review copy received courtesy of Aaron at The Story Plant.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title as well as their full catalog, be sure to stop by their official site.  To continue the celebration of this newly released title, be sure to check out the full tour schedule and pay a visit to some of the other stops along the way.  

Until next time...happy reading!

BLOG TOUR: After the Book Deal: This Part is Awkward by Jonathan Auxier

Hi guys!

Welcome back to the site that loves getting bookish in the morning, well....or any time really...Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're hosting a spot on a SPECIAL tour.  It's called 'After the Book Deal' and it stars author Jonathan Auxier via Regal Literary.  Name ring a bell?  Great...just as it should.   He is the mind behind the Children's Fiction title Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes and the forthcoming release The Night Gardener (available May 20th via Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS).  Believe it or not though, this isn't just another book promo tour, though we do love and adore those.  This is a tour that highlights one of those questions I LOVE asking authors....what do you know now that you wish you knew then.  The answers can be very telling of an author's journey from idea to print and never fail to surprise me.  So, with that in mind, when this tour presented itself, of course I said yes and the rest as they say is history.  

Without further ado, allow me to introduce today's featured author, Jonathan Auxier!

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AFTER THE BOOK DEAL

Guest Post by Jonathan Auxier

The Internet is full of great advice about how to sell a book, but what about after the sale? When my first book came out, I found it was surprisingly hard to find answers to some basic questions. Like most authors, I learned most of the answers through trial and error. And so in anticipation of the launch of my new novel, The Night Gardener, I’ve decided to write down everything I learned so I don’t make the same mistakes twice!

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This Part Is Awkward:

Navigating Appearance Fees

We’re nearing the end of the month-long blogging marathon. Earlier this week, I talked about author Skype visits and school assemblies. Today I thought I’d talk about the tricky topic of appearance fees.

My Own Experience ...

In some ways, I’m a terrible person to give advice about speaking fees. When Peter Nimble came out, I spent a year doing FREE school visits to any place that would have me: my only requirement was that they allow a local bookstore to sell copies of my book. This led to a lot of schools booking me—include a large number of schools that would not otherwise be able to get an author visit. At the end of a year, I had done about 100 events. It was terrific exposure and experience, but (as I explained last week) it really hurt my productivity as a writer. Moreover, when you factored in things like gas and supplies, I had actually lost money on a lot of schools. Whatever the value of this experiment, it was obviously not a sustainable model.

Author Fees Are Good

I quickly learned when talking to other writers that what I was doing was considered “bad.” By offering free assemblies, they argued, I was lowering the value of school visits for other authors. I’m not sure about the validity of that fear (as I mentioned, I was often visiting schools that couldn’t afford authors anyway), but I do think that there is some value to charging for visits that goes beyond money. A school that has paid money to have an author come talk to their kids will be much more motivated to prepare the students—talking about your book in classes and getting the kids excited for your arrival. That enthusiasm translates into better book sales and a more rewarding visit for kids: win-win.

A Delicate Balance

Charging for author visits all comes down to a basic metric: value vs. access. You want to charge enough money to make it worth your while ... while still keeping the cost low enough that cash-strapped schools will book you. As mentioned above, I decided with my first book to forget about money and really push to get in front of as many kids as possible. That did lead to a lot of book sales, but probably not quite enough to justify the enormous sacrifice of time and energy. The more reasonable thing to do would be to find a balance somewhere in the middle that honors your time while still allowing plenty of access to schools.

The Paperback Threshold

If I had to give general advice for a new author it would be this: Do free/cheap school visits while your book is in hardcover, because that’s an important time to generate high sales numbers (and each book sold earns a lot more in royalties!). When your book comes out in paperback, consider charging a higher fee ... by then you will have enough word of mouth/testimonials to reassure a school that you’re worth it.

Was It Worth It?

Do I regret doing all those free visits? While it might not have been smart in terms of time/money, there were other more intangible values that made it worth it for me. One value was the experience of hanging out with thousands of kids and preaching the gospel of literacy—a cause that I care for passionately. Another value was that it gave me tremendous experience with crowds and public speaking. Also, it was a fantastic way to meet and connect with gatekeepers in the children’s literature community. This year I’ve been invited to a number of panels and festivals ... many of the people booking me for those more cushy events are doing so based on word-of-mouth from teachers/librarians who’s schools I visited for free!

That’s it for AFTER THE BOOK DEAL! Tomorrow we’ll be finishing up the series with a post about what I’m doing differently for my new book,The Night Gardener. In the meantime, you can catch up on previous posts (listed below), and please-oh-please spread the word!

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AFTER THE BOOK DEAL

– Stops So Far

WEEK ONE: Before Your Book Comes Out 
4/21 – Finding Your Tribe: entering the publishing community
4/22 – Do I Really Need a Headshot?: crafting your public persona
4/23 – I Hate Networking: surviving social media
4/24 – A Night at the Movies: the ins and outs of book trailers
4/25 –  Giveaways! … are they worth it?


WEEK TWO: Your Book Launch
4/28 - Can I have Your Autograph?: 5 things to do before your first signing
4/29 –  Cinderella at the Ball: planning a successful book launch
5/1 – Being Heard in the Crowd: conferences and festivals
5/2 - The Loneliest Writer in the World: surviving no-show events

WEEK THREE: The Business of Being an Author5/5 – Handling Reviews … the Good and the Bad!
5/6 – Back to the Grindstone: writing your next book
5/7 – The Root of All Evil: some thoughts on money
5/8 – The Green-Eyed Monster: some thoughts on professional jealousy

WEEK FOUR: Ongoing Promotion

5/12 – Death by 1000 Cuts: Keeping ahead of busywork

5/13 – Can You Hear Me Now? Tips for Skype visits

5/14 -  School Days: Crafting an effective school program 

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JONATHAN AUXIER writes strange stories for strange children. His new novel, The Night Gardener, hits bookstores on May 20—why not come to his book launch party? You can visit him online at www.TheScop.com where he blogs about children's books old and new.

AFTER THE BOOK DEAL is a month-long blog series detailing the twenty things I wish someone had told me before entering the exciting world of children’s publishing. Each weekday from now until MAY 20, I will be posting an article on a different blog. Follow along and please spread the word!

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Special thanks to both author Jonathan Auxier for sharing his experience and Leigh over at Regal Literary for the opportunity to participate in this series.  (THANKS!)  For more information on any of the ideas, books, and people presented in this post, feel free to click through the links provided.

Until next time....happy writing to the authors in the audience....and happy reading to all!

Just can't get enough of....Harlequin! CONTEST - Round 2!

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers...the place that's happy to get bookish with you EVERY day of the week.  

Today, we're exploring ROUND TWO of a year long celebration and this time around, I've got ANOTHER CHANCE FOR YOU TO WIN!  What could I POSSIBLY be talking about?  Why the "Just can't get enough of..." promotion from Harlequin!

That's right!

There's a theme for every month of the year and there will be different titles featured throughout the coming months....some of which I'll even be featuring RIGHT HERE on the site.  Sound good?  I thought you might like it.  So, upon closer inspection, May's "can't get enough of" theme is...

...INTERNATIONAL TYCOONS!
Well, well, well ladies...vavavoom for some I'm sure!

There are three titles in the spotlight this time around. 

The Sarantos Baby Bargain by Olivia Gates

He'd come for the baby and his ex-wife. 

Naomi Sinclair had once fallen hard for Andreas Sarantos. Marrying the irresistible Greek venture capitalist had seared her soul with pleasure—and despair. For she soon discovered he was incapable of love. Now her ex-husband is back…to claim her orphaned ten-month-old niece.

Andreas let Naomi get away once. But adopting his best friend's baby girl gives him the leverage he needs to bring his unwilling ex-wife back to his bed. Will having the only woman he's ever wanted erase the scars of his dark past? Or will he lose Naomi, this time forever?

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Gambling with the Crown by Lynn Raye Harris

This sheikh plays to win! 

The crown of Kyr holds no appeal for pleasure-seeking sheikh Kadir al-Hassan—his memories of the kingdom are as dark as a desert's night. But neither will he shirk his duty…. Instead, Kadir returns home with a bride so unsuitable, no one will want him to be king!

Long-suffering assistant Emily Bryant is the most important person in Kadir's high-octane life, and the most invisible—until she's promoted to royal bride! Sealing their marriage bargain with a scorching kiss leaves Kadir craving more….

Now Kadir must decide what's really at stake in his royal game—his desert duty, or Emily!

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The Chatsfield Sheikh's Scandal by Lucy Monroe

When the Sheikh comes to town… 

Sheikh Sayed of Zeena Sarha and his harem of beautiful women are staying at the exclusive, opulent Chatsfield Hotel, London, for the last stop on his worldwide tour before his wedding. But when his engagement is unceremoniously broken, Sayed sets his sights on his sexy chambermaid!

Liyah Amari only took the position as chambermaid to find the truth about her birth father. But her search ends in heartache, leaving Liyah vulnerable to this powerful sheikh's desires. Now their one night of passion could result in a scandalous consequence for the proud Sheikh!

Welcome to The Chatsfield, London!

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So, which one are YOU most interested in?
Curious minds want to know!

Special thanks to Anna over at Harlequin for the heads up on this promotion!  For more information on this feature as well as the title mentioned, be sure to stop by their official site.

In the mean time...are you ready for the CHANCE TO WIN?
Let's go!


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Up for grabs?  A prize pack of Harlequin goodness sure to shake up your reading world.  Gaze at the prize you can enter to win.....NOW....

See?
Nice, right?
It's a basket containing a print copy of each featured title PLUS an emergency travel kit and eye mask....you know, for those overnight flights to visit the man of your....pages!
It can ALL be yours and all you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter below.
The contest is open to US/Canada residents only; no P.O. Boxes please.  Entries accepted through May 24th, 2014.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Good luck to one and all....and of course, HAPPY READING!

^_^

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Turning on a Dime by Maggie Dana

Hi gang!

It's time for another adventure through the pages with yours truly on the site that doesn't know the meaning of "no" when a potential great read is involved....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're spotlighting a NEW RELEASE in the Kid's Fiction, or more specifically Middle Grade (though the appeal is much wider), genre from an author we've met once before....or rather thrice.  That's right!  It's the return of Maggie Dana (Hi Maggie!), an author who definitely has a knack for creating stories that are relateable, characters who are memorable, and works well with animals....specifically horses.  Ringing a memory bell now?  Thought it might.  

Yes, it's the writer behind the Timber Ridge Riders series (of which my reviews of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd installments can be seen right here on the site) and this time, it's not a new addition to TRR but rather a new adventure we're embarking on.  This time around it pairs two horse loving girls through the curtain of time with big dreams and tense situations to overcome if they're both to reach their goals.  Sound good?  Read on my friend, read on....

Turning on a Dime

by

Maggie Dana

Two girls from two different centuries and the horse that brings them together.
Teenage equestrian Samantha DeVries wants to be the first African American to ride in the Olympics. Her father, a successful trainer, pushes Sam to excel, while Sam’s academic mother tries to instill a sense of heritage in her headstrong daughter who’d rather be riding horses than studying history. But Sam’s beliefs and her carefully constructed world shatter like a jelly jar when she travels through a time portal and lands in the canopy bed of an 1860s Southern belle.
Even more surprised by Sam’s unexpected arrival is Caroline Chandler. She’s a tomboy who wears breeches beneath her crinoline and rides horses bareback, much to the dismay of her critical mother.
But neither girl has time to fret over petticoats and prejudice. The Civil War is raging, and soldiers from both sides are stealing horses. At risk is Pandora, Caroline’s beloved mare. Without her, Sam’s future Olympic horse, Nugget, won’t exist in the present.
Neither will Sam if the slave catchers grab her.

Amazon US   |  Amazon UK   |  iTunes    |  Kobo  |  B&N

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Not usually one for historically tinged novels?

Me neither...BUT...if my past experience with her work is any indication, it's got BIG potential.  As I said, this is an author who knows how to create a story easily accessable to readers of the targeted set as well as those beyond in years.  Whether equestrian expert or just horsing around (get it?  HORSE-ing around?  ^_^), you'll be welcomed into the fold with open arms and the additional danger aspect in this tale sounds like it adds that little bit of grit readers in the tween set are looking for without crossing that line into questionable territory.  Though not reviewing this title currently (due to previous obligations, but don't worry....it's coming!), I can honesty say I can't wait to learn more about Samantha and Caroline as they face uncertain times but also learn about themselves.  Sounds like my kind of read....how about you?

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About the author....

MAGGIE DANA’s first riding lesson, at the age of five, was less than wonderful. In fact, she hated it so much, she didn’t try again for another three years. But all it took was the right instructor and the right horse and she was hooked for life.  Her new riding stable was slap bang in the middle of Pinewood Studios, home of England’s movie industry. So while learning to groom horses, clean tack, and muck stalls, Maggie also got to see the stars in action. Some even spoke to her.

Born and raised near London, Maggie now makes her home on the Connecticut shoreline where she divides her time between hanging out with the family's horses and writing her next book in the Timber Ridge Riders series.

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Special thanks to author Maggie Dana for the head's up on this upcoming release.  (THANKS!)  Fore more information on this title as well as her other amazing works, be sure to check out her official site, or connect with her on Twitter.  This title is available now in print and ebook formats via Amazon,

Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.  

Until next time...happy reading!