A tiny bookish break in your day...

Hi there!

Welcome back to another exciting week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers….the place to bookishly celebrate the New Year every day of the week.

We're doing things a little different today as the featured title is a "little" different as well.  Check out the book trailer below for a glimpse at the creative wonder we'll be exploring....

Today’s post may be tiny in stature but it’s big on content.  It shows how much can be said with so very few words…and just how an accompanying pen and ink drawing can help to bring it all to life.  In keeping with the spirit of the book, I’m aiming for a short post today (stop laughing…I can do it!).  May I please introduce the book of choice?  Thank you!  Today's featured title is.….

The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories, Volume 1

From

HITRECORD and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Yes, that double take you just did WAS warranted as the “director” of the project is a famous actor (aka RegularJOE)…and yes, I said director.  You see this unique little creation is a group effort in which stories submitted on their website are worked, tweaked and finalized to reveal the true splendor within.  In other words, YOU can contribute, possibly be included in a future volume, and help other creative souls like yourself reach their full potential despite the miles between you.  Pretty cool, right?  I thought so.

From the wondrous packaging of the words to the illustrations lighting up each page with even more imagination, this is not merely a book but a work of art.  Each page has some profound or amusing tale relayed in as few words as possible but always getting to the heart of the matter.  My favorite?  Hard pressed to narrow it down to merely one as so many will speak to you as you page your way through this one, however being the book fan that I am page 68 and 69 expressed the joy of a trip to the bookstore rather well.  If I may quote….

“His hands were weak and shaking from carrying far too many books from the bookshop.

It was the best feeling.”

See?  Add to that the included illustration of a young lad peering over same said stack and it’s irresistible.  There’s hardly a page turned where a smile, thoughtful pause, or tear can’t be found.  Don't believe me?  Check out this two page spread of wonder...

...or perhaps for something a tad more sinister....

O-O.

The mini-versions of the interior images included within the front and back covers add to the overall whimsy of the book and give readers something else to explore as they prepare to take a tiny trip to the land of the written word. 

At book’s end, you are left with this parting phrase….

The universe is not made of atoms; it’s made of tiny stories.

How poetic and yet so very true.  So I ask you readers...what will be your contribution to the tiny story you star in today?  Whatever it may be, make it count.

Recommended read for all ages as some aspect of the work can be enjoyed by one and all.  Little ones will enjoy the illustrations, older children the humor, adults the combination of both as well as the tiny details included within each.  It’s truly a remarkable work and plainly shows that it’s not the length of a book that matters so much as the content.  Review copy received courtesy of Joel at It Books / HarperCollins Publishers.  (Thanks!)  For more information about this title as well as their full catalog of works, seek them out online, or follow along on Twitter.

Until next time…happy reading...stories BIG and small!

In My Shopping Bag

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Through her guidelines, your post does not actually have to be named the same and thus my post shall be..."In My Shopping Bag".  (just fits with the "foodie" theme a bit better in my humble opinion)

 

This time around the post may be a bit longer than usual as I skipped a week or two in the posting process...but I'll keep the explanations short to help out a bit.  My apologies for keeping these bookish goodies to myself.  ^_^  Got your wish list ready?  Let's take a peek inside my shopping bag then, shall we?.

 

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

Purchased

 

After the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Guyaholic by Carolyn Mackler

Knightley Academy by Violet Haberdasher

The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb

To Catch a Prince by Gillian McKnight

It's Happy Bunny:  Life.  Get One. by Jim Benton

Love Love Love by Deborah Reber

The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger

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

Review

Lily's Little Life Lessons including...

Lucky Lily

Lily's Lucky Daddy

The Luckiest Girl

Lily's Lesson

by Rebecca Perlman Coniglio, LCSW

(courtesy of Lynn at Smith Publicity)

The Starlite Drive-in by Marjorie Reynolds

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

(couretsy of William Morrow / HarperCollins Publishing)

The Sword That Pierced My Soul by Barbara Hodgson

(courtesy of the author)

The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories, Vol. 1

(courtesy of Joel at It Books / HarperCollins Publishing)

...and the next grouping of ARCs and review copies came courtesy of Ksenia at Macmillan Children's Publishing Group...

52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody

Blood Wolf by Steve Feasey

Chained by Lynne Kelly

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Minnie McClary Speaks Her Mind by Valerie Hobbs

The Magician's Apprentice by Kate Banks

Wicked Sweet by Mar'ce Merrell

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

Received

...from my good friend Nayuleska ....

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Perfect on Paper by Maria Murnane

Scenes From a Holiday by Laurie Graff, Careen Lissner, Melanie Murray

Alison Wonderland by Helen Smith

 

Declaring Spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel

Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood

............from my SantaThing Santa............

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

....and a surprise ARC from St. Martin's Press.....

Switched by Amanda Hocking

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

That's all she wrote!

So...anything catch your eye?

What did you get this past week?

My wish list is ready...do tell!

Until next time...happy reading!

 

To some a song, to others static...

Hi there everyone!
Welcome back to the Saturday edition of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers ...the place you never know what you'll discover next but you can count on it being bookish.

Today's post features a title that to say the least...I've been struggling with the past week or so.  Sad to say, but it's true.  It's a YA book from a new author that takes two kids from differing backgrounds, adds in fame, misfortune, bad fashion choices and...well, it adds up to a whole lotta trouble. Let's get into shall we?  Today's book of choice is...

A SONG APART
by
Jeffrey H. Baer

Shannon Kistler and Kevin Derow. Two teens seemingly world's apart that are about to find out it matters not how you got your start...its what you do with the chances you're given....or at least that's my best guess at the intended message. Allow me to explain my confusion...

Shannon seems like a likeable enough girl.   Yes, she got some grand breaks in life and sure, some may be jealous that she rose to glory and fame so quickly but does she deserve to be hated by pretty much one and all? Not in my book and yet everyone has such a visceral reaction to her very presence you'd think she had typhoid or something.  Same goes for her number one fan, Kevin. 

Kevin is certainly not on the fast track to success or anything but to be beaten down (verbally and physically) by his friends, family and heck, even strangers he's merely passing on the street simply because his fashion sense may need some help?  I'd say it's a bit extreme.  I can't say I've ever run into that large a group of random people that would be in such an uproar over a shirt or one fans love of an artist.  The reactions just didn't seem authentic given the situation or perhaps we're missing a needed back story to explain the vehemence felt.

In any case, the unlikely (yet plausible) meeting of these two wayward souls sets off a chain of events that both betters and worsens their respective lives. You'd think dating a celebrity would be all roses and sunshine but here it's anything but.  The celebrity getting to spend time as a average Joe (or Susan as she is a she) allows for the human side of her to emerge from the media personality but not for a long enough time for you to really care about her. 

On the positive side, I will say I enjoyed the author's quote at the beginning..."Enjoy a good challenge? Try being yourself. It's tougher than you think."  Very true.  Also, the lyrics included for Kevin's song are a perfect picture of his devotion to Shannon and the respect he has for her work.   Lastly, the ending was a sweet (if not slightly predictable) success. I wasn't quite sure where it would all end up seeing as how the story was going in all directions...but I was hopeful and justly rewarded.  Would a sequel be called for?  Probably not although the ending allows for it should the author choose to pursue that avenue.

In summary, not my particular cup of tea but perhaps I simply missed some of the key ingredients in my reading of it.  Everyone's perception of a story is different and if a kinship with the characters is felt, it gives the story greater merit. A potential read then for struggling artists out there looking for a glimpse inside the world of music and just how far a fans adoration can really take you.

Review copy courtesy of author Jeffrey H. Baer. (Thanks!)  For more information on this title or the author himself, seek him out online or on Twitter ...he's accessible either way.

Until next time....happy reading!

The Roving Reader

Hi there everyone!
Happy Friday to you one and all.
Out and about at the moment so keeping this post quick. Saw a little bookish something that looked wonderfully magical and winter-ish (which fits our crazy ever changing weather down here...it's freezing! ).  Take a look at this find..

Winterling
By
Sara Prineas

Anyone read it or know anything about it?  It has me curious.
So, what have you seen lately that's caught your eye? Feel free to share in the comments below or in your own Roving Reader post.

Until next time....happy reading!
^_^

Time for a bookish declaration....

Why hello there!

Nice to see you again (or for the first time should this be your first visit…^_^).  So, how has week one of 2012 been treating you?  Good I hope.  If not, no worries…I hear ya and totally sympathize, but it’s too early to get on the “this-year-sucks” bandwagon just yet; give it some time (I know I’ll be).

So far this week, we’ve welcomed the new year, took a trip to Europe (literarily speaking), sampled a bookish tease or two, and discovered that the cutesy woodland creatures may not all be as nice on the inside as they are on the outside.  Basically a whole lot of bookish fun…and there’s plenty more where that came from.  Today’s post was an impromptu one inspired by another blogger who was inspired by a librarian who was inspired by…well, probably their love of reading, but I think you get the point…the circle of influence is HUGE and I plan on spreading it even more. 

The post that inspired me I found through one of my Twitter friends (@roses7184 … I’m talking about you!  ^_^).  The site:  Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile….catchy name, right?  It’s a lovely book blog that you really should check out when you have a moment (and follow, like, etc, etc)…and while today’s post was a fond remembrance to her, it was bright-shiny-new to me.  It’s a little something called the….

Pretty nifty, huh?

I thought so.

Now it’s fine and dandy to post this little beauty but again taking my cue from HDB, I’m digging into our rights a little closer….for personality sake.  ^_^  Here we go….

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

1.  to read anything at any time

…and this is one I LIVE by!  No seriously.  With the limited time I have, and the voracious reading appetite I also claim as my own, reading time is at a premium.  That;s why I always carry 1-2 books, my eReader, and my phone (with nifty reading app) with me at all times.  Which leads me to the next “right”…

2.  to read anywhere in any position

I don’t generally stand on my head or anything, so position wise it’s usually with my feet up or neatly tucked under me….but it is all about LOCATION.  Again, time is a premium and there are SO MANY missed opportunities to read out there!  Such as…waiting for my work PC dino to load a page, waiting for a doctor appointment, waiting to pick someone up, waiting for a movie to start…and even waiting in line at the grocery store (with the occasional read as I shop move too…multi-tasking is my middle name).  All prime windows of time PERFECT for just a few pages more.

3.  to read without intrusion

Oh brother…can I PLEASE blow this one up and post it at job 2?  No seriously…if I’m on break with a book in one hand and eating my lunch with the other, making sounds of amazement about something you are unpacking or reading over just to draw my attention…so not cool.  Dude…I’m reading!  Leavez me alone…unless you want to discuss the book…  ^_^

4.  to move your lips while you read

So I’m probably guilty of this on occasion but more often I run into trouble with a smile or laugh inducing scene.  I can’t help but let my reaction show which can lead to some fairly odd looks of concern from your fellow coworkers….

5.  to read as slowly as you like

I do this on occasion, but it’s harder when you have a fairly active blog.  The last one I TRULY took my time with…literally savored it over a month or two was my ARC of MATCHED by Ally Condie. 

6.  to read several books at one time

This describes me to a T!  It’s not just about accomplishing more reading because really, you can’t read any more pages with two titles running than one but it does serve the fickle side of my personality.  One never knows what you’ll be in the mood for and as variety is the spice of life, I like to keep my options open.

7.  to underline favorite passages

Okay…so I DON’T do this one, but I have been known to make use of my semi-extensive sticky note collection to mark a page and write on the note what part I was taken by.  My books = my precious (ß say that with a Gollum accent and you’ll understand…)

8.  to ignore literary critics

To be honest, I read what they say (as well as other bloggers), but it is not the determining factor as to whether I read a book or not.  For example, I’m probably one of the only people left on the planet not taken in by The Hunger Games craze.  *ducks flying objects*  I’m not dissing the series…I haven’t even read it at this point (though I did purchase book 1 a few weeks back), but I am saying that when I read about it even in light of the hoopla, I wasn’t taken in by it.  Every book, every series hits readers differently, that’s why there is SO much room for SO many different books.  No two experiences will be exactly the same just as the interest level between two people in the same title will vary.  Will I eventually fall in love with the series and join the masses?  Who knows?  But right now, I’m cool with being the “outcast” so to speak….

9.  to skip pages or chapters

Um, no…while I respect the right to do this…I don’t skip chapters.  The closest I come to this is skimming.  I will certainly skim if a book is dragging its feet and I need to move it along to the “good stuff”…but it’s rare and only for small bouts.

10.  to read the last chapter first

…and yet another one I don’t do.  I do have the bad habit (hey, at least I recognize it!) of turning to see how many pages a book has and accidentally catching a glimpse of a few words on the final page.  It may not seem like much but it can cause issues!  It gets your mind working on how the story could possibly turn to fit the ending you saw and can take away from the reading experience.  Now when I turn to that final page, I pretty much cover by eyes and leave just a smidge of space to peek at the numbers…

11.  to stop reading in the middle

Admittedly, I’ve done this before….but I always end of going back to it.  The book:  The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman.  I was not enthralled when I was reading the first of this series; in fact I was getting a bit bored actually.  Too much technical mumbo jumbo or religious discussion and I lose focus.  I put it down, came back to it while on a trip a few months down the line and TADA…I was back in the game (and luckily the story picks up later on too!).  Sometimes a break is necessary and then other times….

12.  to read a book over and over again

…you just want to say “AGAIN!  AGAIN!” like a child riding the merry-go-round at the fair.  I am a fan of rereading but I can’t say I get to do it too often as of late (not complaining of course, just simply stating a reality).  The books I’ve reread most would be the Harry Potter series books 1-4 (I kept rereading the preceding books in the series just before the next would release…until it took me a year form the date of release to read book 5!), The Forbidden Game series by L.J. Smith (maybe 3 times?)….and then this one children’s book at Christmas called Ted E. Bear Finds Christmas (SUCH a cute story if you can find it!).

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

So, there you have it.  The Reader’s Bill of Rights done Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers style…have you heard of this bookish declaration before?  Which ones do you personally do?  Anything you would add if you could?  Feel free to share your thoughts and comments…and of course to create your own post and pass the bookish love along.

Until next time…FIGHT for your RIGHT to …READ!  ^_^

(…and of course, happy reading!)

The Reader’s Bill of Rights

Love: The good, the bad, and the prickly....

Hi there, everyone!

Welcome to the late night edition of your favorite bookishly delicious site....Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers. (...or at least one of your favorites I hope...^_^)

Today's post almost didn't happen as time was anything but on my side, however I had just read an adorable new arrival to the store earlier this week and thought...why not?  I mean I was gonna save it for Valentine's Day but as they say, any time is a good time to share the love. Without further adieu, today's book if choice is....

MR. PRICKLES
A QUILL-FATED LOVE STORY
by
Kara LaReau
Pictures by
Scott Magoon

The first thing I thought was ....oh look, we're already getting our Valentine stock in...O-O....which is good yes but still felt a smudge rushed. In second glance, the title made me smile and the artwork produced a giggle. Yes my friends, I was taken in by the story of this little porcupine who simply wanted to belong, held fast by the barbs thrown his way by those "cutesy" animals of the forest, and reminded of the simple pleasure it can be to "be alone, together". 

It's true what they say; any situation is ten times easier to handle when you have someone to share it with. Be it a night on the town, a trip to the movies, or simply vegging at home reading books and staying up til dawn. Alone time is nice, but too much of a good thing is still too much. Mr. Prickles knew this first hand and experienced the awful side affects of envy (a feeling that isn't often covered in children's books), which had the potential to turn his heart cold. Thank goodness for Miss Pointypants! (Yes, that's the female porcupine's name...too cute, right?) She comes along in the nick of time and together they discover that there's another road worth taking that's much more enjoyable in the end; a road that leads to self appreciation, understanding and ultimately...love.

The artwork though dark in color scheme works well to illustrate the feelings circulating throughout the story. Their striking nature reflects Mr Prickles predicament while illuminating the "ugly" side of life exposed by the cutesy woodland dwellers.  Bet you won't look at a squirrel or racoon the same way again....at least not if they're in the company of a porcupine.

In short, a book for all ages perfect for the upcoming season of love or anytime of year for that matter. It tackles the ugly feelings both caused and felt in our lives with tact and understanding, allowing the message of "you are not alone" to shine through.  There is someone for everyone out there and if Mr Prickles is any example to be followed, the right one will stick with you for all the right reasons....even if you're covered in glue.

This book was published by Roaring Brook Press.  Be sure to watch for it on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time ...happy reading!

Taste Testing Tuesdays

Good morning (or whatever time it is where you are), everyone!

Welcome to another installment of Taste Testing Tuesdays!

Taste Testing Tuesdays was inspired by 'Teaser Tuesdays', a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

On the menu this week...one book that really gets under your skin and another that I'm having a hard time connecting to.  Ready for a taste?  Here goes....

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


 

"There's no one you can cry to, no one you can beg to. The public have judged you and found you guilty. As far as they are concerned, you are already dead."

-- pg 47, Escape from Furnace: Lockdown (Book 1) by Alexander Gordon-Smith

See what I mean?  How bleak is THAT!  Needless to say this happens around the time Alex was being intoduced to his new "home"... O-O ...sorry prospects and certainly a way to break their spirits so they don't get any bright ideas about escaping...not that they could.....

After a pause I said, "Maybe you didn't notice, but we're spoon-fed about how the real world works.  We get a job at some Fortune 500 company, we hear the boss say he's glad we joined his staff, and then we go through the motions.  We do whatever he asks, whether it's fill out a spreadsheet, sit in on a meeting, or bring him his stupid coffee every day.  And what do we get out of it?  Maybe a decent paycheck and benefits, but what the hell else?"
-- pg 97-98, A Song Apart by Jeffrey H Baer

Sounds like SOMEONE has been snacking out of the cynical cookie jar...although really, some of it does ring true.  I mean how many of us are doing our dream jobs right now, or even something close?  Anywho, before I drink the Kool-Aid, I'm gonna step away from this passage....suffice it to say that right now, this one is hit and miss with me.  We shall see where it lands in the end.

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

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read

*Open to a random page

*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

*Share the title & author, too, so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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

Until next time....happy reading!

And the first review of the year award goes to....

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers....the place to be whenever your need to read comes a knocking. 

So...it's 2012.

O-O

OMG!

How exciting, right?  Right!  Why?  Seriously...you didn't just ask that.  I mean really with all the fun we had last year and a new year ahead filled with wonderful, glorious, exciting reads....what's NOT to be excited about?  ^_^  I know my calendar's full...in a good way, but I digress.

It's the first book review of the year, a memorable post is certainly called for as it sets the tone for all to come.  I pondered this moment for days, weeks even, seeing as how I have a few "read" titles awaiting their day in the spotlight from 2011 and...okay, okay...I'm kidding!  I didn't ponder all that long because frankly, there was only one choice and the moment I finished reading it, the decision was made for me because just as you can't keep a good girl down, you can't hide a good read from the world.  It was the PERFECT FIT...for me anyway, but I have a feeling it may strike the same notes for many of you out there as well.  Right then, all shall be revealed in 3...2...1...today's book of choice is....

A Summer in Europe

by

Marilyn Brant

*WARNING*  This review may cause spontaneous growth to your wish list thanks to the fan girl-ish reading adventure about to be revealed.  Proceed with caution.  You have been warned.*

Now I've read this author's work before (okay, one title to be exact, but I aim to add the other one to my "to read" and then "read" lists very soon), so I've had a little experience with her writing style, character building and tone...but as many of you know, each written work is a unique creation and so its merit or lack thereof can truly only be judged against itself.  Deep, huh?  I blame Emerson and Thoreau's influence....not the actual writers but the characters in the book that bare their names.  ^_^  Let's not get a head of ourselves...

When first we meet Gwendolyn Reese, it's like a mirror being held to your face...or rather my face.  Let's just say that I identify with her in many ways and with that humanity Gwen endeared herself to me as a character to be heard, to be watched, and to grow with.  Her life is not exactly where she intended it to be and when a birthday surprise (or lack thereof) falls through. things hit a pretty big bump in the road.  Lucky for her, Aunt Bea is on the case....

Who is Aunt Bea?  She's no detective is that's what you were thinking, rather she's the female strength and influence in one's life that has the best of intentions even if the methods don't always meet expectations.  (She reminds me in some ways of my own Mom...but that's a story for another post...) She adds that spark to life that is often lost over time giving those she loves the needed push to reach further than the happy maybe after placed neatly before them.  She's spunky (impromptu trip to Europe anyone?), eccentric (member of an "S and M club"...though it's not at all what you are thinking), a force so full of life that it spills over onto those in her general vicinity, creating almost magical results.  Truly another memorable character and one whose ulterior motives for the trip with Gwen are clear from the start....she wants her to be HAPPY and what's so wrong with that?  Anywho, back to the story....

Their trip takes them as well as the rest of the U.S. S and M group (stop giggling...it's not what you think!) overseas to explore the vast wonderful-ness that is Europe (needless to say a place that's on my dream vaca list) and get in a little gaming.  Little did they know the life experience gained wouldn't merely be the stamps on their passports....or rather, little did Gwen know.  In her methodical planning for this spur of the moment trip (there's an oxymoron), she has her luggage packed, her itinerary perfectly laid out, and her checklist of famous sites to see all written out.  Yep...the perfect trip from A to Z...too bad life doesn't always go according to plan (something she should already know) but sometimes those deviations are what make it truly worth living...and whew so THESE certainly qualify.  ^_^

The deviations in this story as in life bare many names and share a myriad of faces and spaces.  From the "Britsicles" who eventually thaw to a point of understanding to Zenia and her unending zest for life, they are a group of characters in both senses of the word.  Then there's the brothers.... ~swoon~.... Emerson and Thoreau.  Both connoisseurs of their chosen areas and both playing a game in which Gwen unwittingly is a key player.  Their charm goes far...their egos farther, but underneath the bravado and devil-may-care air beat the hearts of two fellows you'd love to know (and if you wouldn't, I would...so move over!  ^_^).  They quote their namesakes often and battle each other's wits constantly.  In short, they are quite the duo to tango with and Gwen's heart may be their intended partner.  What of her boyfriend-but-should-be fiancee-if-he-wasn't-chicken back in the states?  What about him indeed!  Gwen's sensibilities keep her in check...for now.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder...but only if it's been tended to in the first place.

Ah yes....I enjoyed the story whole-heartedly.  When Gwen really connected with the trip and the beauty surrounding her in both physical and mental presence....that's when her story really came to life.  Everything was that much richer, every detail that much brighter.  She was seeing things for the first time but REALLY seeing them and that realization radiated from the page through the author's words.  The time spent in verbal banter and mental chess moves (lots of math references) are amusing and you can't help but laugh out loud at their antics.  Just whose, I won't reveal...but trust me, it's a good match. 

In summary, take one part Tuscan sun with a life built from the ruins....shake violently and let the pieces fall where they may.  The end results may not be perfect, but they are perfectly enjoyable leaving a story that will resonate with both women achieving their dreams now as well as those barely able to glimpse it for the forest standing before them.  It's about life.  It's about love.  It's about taking the chances we are presented and making the most of the experience we gain.  It's about every one of us at one time or another and therefore allows us to see just what can happen when the other show drops without someone in place to catch it; sometimes it ends in a clatter....other times, it nets us a prince.

Recommended read for older teens through adult readers....it does get senseous a time or two but in a purely classy way.  A book I know I'll be recommending time and again...and hopefully, you will be too.  ARC for review courtesy of author Marilyn Brant and Kensington Books.  (THANKS!)  For more information regarding the author or the publisher, feel free to check out the links embedded in this post.  This book reached publication status December 2011 so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf near you.

Until next time...happy new year...and happy reading!

Too early....

...to be making a wish list already?
Ha! I beg to differ and with these nifty stickies I found, it's even easier.

Happy New Year everyone!
(...and of course, happy reading!)
^_^