tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38351914986093370042024-02-07T04:58:48.473-08:00My Life In Not So Many Words...Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.comBlogger832125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-28787552408221616042014-07-20T11:52:00.001-07:002014-07-20T11:52:10.981-07:00Unstoppble - S.R. Johannes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R5xfrqfoIilNFGX3HYeHwzbuwy-tcBYOdnQY7oNHyZ8_5vJaWkhJu4pOXZtJo4smTSmTFu3hcFqkXFwRTS7y4mns7HCk6kxPwvV1hHXBh1sjGwMnBeZ6q71NKgCJ7iQGQ-z4JWmdPxg/s1600/un16178275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R5xfrqfoIilNFGX3HYeHwzbuwy-tcBYOdnQY7oNHyZ8_5vJaWkhJu4pOXZtJo4smTSmTFu3hcFqkXFwRTS7y4mns7HCk6kxPwvV1hHXBh1sjGwMnBeZ6q71NKgCJ7iQGQ-z4JWmdPxg/s1600/un16178275.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Unstoppable - S.R. Johannes (author)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overview: </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">After everything that has happened, Grace moves to the Everglades to live with her grandmother, Birdee, and hang out with old man Rex, Birdee's "friend with benefits". Grace quickly befriends Dylan, Rex's nephew, and Dylan's girlfriend, Sadie, who is a die-hard teen activist. Sadie spends her time leading protests against the roadside zoos that run rampant in Florida with a total disregard for animals or the flimsy law.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">One day while out in the marshes of the Everglades, Grace and her friends rescue an abused—and endangered—Florida panther. She and Birdee spend time rehabilitating the animal. But when the panther runs off, Grace follows it to Uncle Bob's, a large roadside zoo they all have been protesting. One that is illegally filled with a variety of endangered and exotic animals. Before she can rescue the panther, she and her friends are kidnapped by the ruthless owner and dragged deep into the Everglades for a hunting challenge. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Only this time, Grace is the prey. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">During a sick game of cat and mouse, Grace and her friends are offered one chance at survival, but only if they reach civilization before being caught. With a small head start and very little supplies, only time and skill stand between the hunter and the hunted. But out in the Everglades, there may be more dangers than Grace realizes.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Against all odds, Grace must make it out alive and win, or everything she holds dear could be lost.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span></span></span></div>
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Unstoppable was a fast paced, action filled book. It was
over way too quickly. Being an outdoor lover, I easily fell in love with the outdoorsy nature of these books and the
conservation that is added throughout. You don't see these outdoor type books often enough these days. I think that is what draws me to these books. </div>
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Grace is a little too impulsive and
there are times I want to tie her up, just to make her stop for two seconds
before running off wildly into danger as she is so good at doing. In reality,
however, she is a great character. I love Mo, always to her rescue, her knight
in shining armor, or should I say ranger in shining armor? I gotta admit, the bird stole the show for me. Love, love, loved
the bird in the book. What a crack up and I am pretty sure I would have reacted
the same way Grace does to him. Hard not to love the little nuisance. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a great series to check out if your looking for a change of pace from your typical reads. Highly recommend them.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Author's website:</span></b> <a href="http://www.srjohannes.com/">S.R. Johannes </a></div>
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Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-13318479284610536942014-01-05T16:01:00.005-08:002014-01-05T16:01:47.342-08:00Flowers in the Attic Revisted<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhvMxDY8qjD_JdwGqjv1S_JFKIUOW9wCWM6xkliLJGAsEcr-e1vc-tyAV6kPX-pjBK-bvrM-GyVAm7h4f4O4mc1TDe56HwqCdpEPaIHUprN5i1fi-GmeExR3WPIbJ5FFb0N-no2Za6bqzogV_AuxT2Fpz2k78oPNGDL8OnoD1EbVV3l48XBUsKICspu=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.earlyword.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/9781476775852_ec49e.jpg" height="400" width="255" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Flowers in The Attic - V.C Andrews (publisher)</b></span><br />
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Overview</h3>
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A major Lifetime movie event—the novel that captured the world's imagination and earned V.C. Andrews a fiercely devoted fanbase. Book One of the Dollanganger Family series.</div>
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At the top of the stairs there are four secrets hidden. Blond, beautiful, innocent, and struggling to stay alive…</div>
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They were a perfect family, golden and carefree—until a heartbreaking tragedy shattered their happiness. Now, for the sake of an inheritance that will ensure their future, the children must be hidden away out of sight, as if they never existed. Kept on the top floor of their grandmother’s vast mansion, their loving mother assures them it will be just for a little while. But as brutal days swell into agonizing months and years, Cathy, Chris, and twins Cory and Carrie realize their survival is at the mercy of their cruel and superstitious grandmother…and this cramped and helpless world may be the only one they ever know.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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I have always loved this book and when offered the chance to feature it, I jumped at it. This author is one my mom and I read together when I was a teenager and it brings back so many memories. Imagine spending your life in hiding under the thumb of a crazy woman. Everytime I think about this book or re read it, it never fails to give me the creeps. A book that can do that over and over again is worth reading in my eyes.</div>
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It was re released because Lifetime has made a movie for it. I was not a fan of the first rendition but I do have higher hopes for this one and will be checking it out on Lifetime Movies January 18th.</div>
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<a href="http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/flowers-in-the-attic"><span style="font-size: large;">Lifetime</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.completevca.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">V.C. Andrews</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Also will be free on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. October 29th - November 5th only!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">Fabulous book for those that haven't read it. Go check it out!!</span></div>
Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-35895058156826273002013-10-11T06:47:00.000-07:002013-10-11T06:47:00.512-07:00The Heaven's Rise - Christopher Rice Coming October 15, 2013<br />
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<img alt="17571317" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1376783840l/17571317.jpg" width="212" /></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Heaven's Rise - Christopher Rice</span></b><br />
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New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice brilliantly conjures the shadowed terrors of the Louisiana bayou—where three friends confront a deadly, ancient evil rising to the surface—in this intense and atmospheric new supernatural thriller.
It’s been a decade since the Delongpre family vanished near Bayou Rabineaux, and still no one can explain the events of that dark and sweltering night. No one except Niquette Delongpre, the survivor who ran away from the mangled stretch of guardrail on Highway 22 where the impossible occurred…and kept on running. Who left behind her best friends, Ben and Anthem, to save them from her newfound capacity for destruction…and who alone knows the source of her very bizarre—and very deadly—abilities: an isolated strip of swampland called Elysium.
An accomplished surgeon, Niquette’s father dreamed of transforming the dense acreage surrounded by murky waters into a palatial compound befitting the name his beloved wife gave to it, Elysium: “the final resting place for the heroic and virtuous.” Then, ten years ago, construction workers dug into a long-hidden well, one that snaked down into the deep, black waters of the Louisiana swamp and stirred something that had been there for centuries—a microscopic parasite that perverts the mind and corrupts the body.
Niquette is living proof that things done can’t be undone. Nothing will put her family back together again. And nothing can save her. But as Niquette, Ben, and Anthem uncover the truth of a devastating parasite that has the potential to alter the future of humankind, Niquette grasps the most chilling truths of all: someone else has been infected too. And unlike her, this man is not content to live in the shadows. He is intent to use his newfound powers for one reason only: revenge.<br />
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<b><i>This book sounds really great! I can't wait to squeeze it into my schedule and read this. He will be doing a book tour, some of them with Anne Rice, who is releasing a book around the same time. </i></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Book tour dates:</span></b><br />
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Events with Christopher Rice<span style="color: #1f497d;">. </span>Combined events with Anne Rice denoted by a star. Anne will be promoting her own <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wolves-Midwinter-Wolf-Gift-Chronicles/dp/0385349963/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378393350&sr=1-1&keywords=anne+rice" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">new book</a> which will also publish on October 15<sup>th</sup>!<span style="color: #1f497d;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<b><u>LOS ANGELES, CA<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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Sunday, September 29<sup>th</sup>, 11:00 am<u></u><u></u></div>
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West Hollywood Book Fair<u></u><u></u></div>
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Interview with Christopher Rice<u></u><u></u></div>
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by Eric Shaw Quinn, Co-Host of the<u></u><u></u></div>
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Internet radio program <i>The Dinner Party Show<u></u><u></u></i></div>
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<i>with Christopher Rice & Eric Shaw Quinn</i>. <u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>*MINNEAPOLIS, MN<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764911" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday, October 14, 6:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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Mall of America<u></u><u></u></div>
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60 East Broadway<u></u><u></u></div>
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Bloomington-Minneapolis, MN<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>*NEW YORK, NY<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764912" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Wednesday, October 16, 7:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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Barnes & Noble<u></u><u></u></div>
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33 East 17th Street<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>*SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764913" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Thursday, October 17, 7:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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Saratoga Hilton<u></u><u></u></div>
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Ballroom, 534 Broadway<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>PHILADELPHIA, PA<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764914" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday, October 19, 5:30 – 7:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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Giovanni’s Room<u></u><u></u></div>
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345 South 12th Street<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>*LEXINGTON, KY<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764915" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday, October 21, 7:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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Joseph-Beth<u></u><u></u></div>
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161 Lexington Green Circle<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>FORT WALTON BEACH, FL<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764916" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tuesday, October 22, 7:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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Books-A-Million<u></u><u></u></div>
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417-C Mary Ester Cut-Off NW<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>DECATUR, GA<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764917" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Wednesday, October 23, 7:15 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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DeKalb County Public Library<u></u><u></u></div>
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215 Sycamore St.<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>*NEW ORLEANS, LA<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764918" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Friday, October 25</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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LeStat Ball<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>COVINGTON, LA<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764919" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday, October 26, 2:00 – 4:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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2<sup>nd</sup> & Charles<u></u><u></u></div>
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<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">401 Highway 190<u></u><u></u></span></strong></div>
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<strong><u>*NEW ORLEANS, LA<u></u><u></u></u></strong></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764920" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Sunday, October 27, 1:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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Garden District Books<u></u><u></u></div>
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2727 Prytania St.<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>*DALLAS, TX<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764921" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tuesday, October 29, 7:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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Barnes & Noble<u></u><u></u></div>
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7700 W. Northwest Highway<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>*LOS ANGELES, CA<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764922" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Saturday, November 2, 2:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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Barnes & Noble<u></u><u></u></div>
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189 The Grove Drive<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>*SAN FRANCISCO, CA<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764923" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Tuesday, November 5, 7:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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Books Inc.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Opera Plaza<u></u><u></u></div>
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601 Van Ness<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>TORONTO, CANADA<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764924" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Wed., Nov. 13, 8:00 – 11:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://chiseries.webs.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Chiaroscuro Reading Series</span></a><u></u><u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Augusta House<u></u><u></u></div>
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152 Augusta Ave.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Toronto, ON<u></u><u></u></div>
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Group reading and signing<u></u><u></u></div>
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with Michael Rowe & Melia McClure<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b><u>*TEMPE, AZ<u></u><u></u></u></b></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1000764925" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Thursday, November 14, 6:00 pm</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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Changing Hands<u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext;">6428 S McClintock Dr.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-28230879828048904072013-06-05T17:29:00.002-07:002013-06-05T17:29:37.705-07:00Always Watching - A review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWiesUC2iyVRrcXX_49n3uptqecgdR5M9rQvra5x4C4yeKrHbUvKn8CricN-2F5uRXnJDk41NPbVJqsXFr_5GT97lnifbh9dLZ5QpbaPyqQLrH4-w0T6ifVmaYGOymoKU5rAIUK7QvH8/s1600/alwayswatching.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWiesUC2iyVRrcXX_49n3uptqecgdR5M9rQvra5x4C4yeKrHbUvKn8CricN-2F5uRXnJDk41NPbVJqsXFr_5GT97lnifbh9dLZ5QpbaPyqQLrH4-w0T6ifVmaYGOymoKU5rAIUK7QvH8/s320/alwayswatching.JPG" width="210" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Always Watching - Chevy Stevens</span></b> (publisher)<br />
<br />
<h3 id="yui_3_8_1_1_1370477415585_1184" style="border: 0px none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Overview</span></h3>
<div class="simple-html" id="yui_3_8_1_1_1370477415585_837" style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1370477415585_1091" style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<i id="yui_3_8_1_1_1370477415585_1092" style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">She helps people put their demons to rest.</i></div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1370477415585_844" style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<i style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">But she has a few of her own…</i></div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1370477415585_836" style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
In the lockdown ward of a psychiatric hospital, Dr. Nadine Lavoie is in her element. She has the tools to help people, and she has the desire—healing broken families is what she lives for. But Nadine doesn’t want to look too closely at her own past because there are whole chunks of her life that are black holes. It takes all her willpower to tamp down her recurrent claustrophobia, and her daughter, Lisa, is a runaway who has been on the streets for seven years.</div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1370477415585_840" style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
When a distraught woman, Heather Simeon, is brought into the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit after a suicide attempt, Nadine gently coaxes her story out of her—and learns of some troubling parallels with her own life. Digging deeper, Nadine is forced to confront her traumatic childhood, and the damage that began when she and her brother were brought by their mother to a remote commune on Vancouver Island. What happened to Nadine? Why was their family destroyed? And why does the name Aaron Quinn, the group’s leader, bring complex feelings of terror to Nadine even today? </div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1370477415585_1186" style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
And then, the unthinkable happens, and Nadine realizes that danger is closer to home than she ever imagined. She has no choice but to face what terrifies her the most…and fight back. </div>
<div id="yui_3_8_1_1_1370477415585_1187" style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<i style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sometimes you can leave the past, but you can never escape. </i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">My thoughts:</span></b></i></div>
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Another great book from Chevy! I love her books. Everyone just grabs me from the get go and I have the hardest time putting them down. Matter of fact it i wasn't so tired last night, I would've been up half the night finishing it.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">This time we get to see the story unfold through the eyes of the doctor from the past two books and it's her story this time and it's such a tragic one as well. Tragic past, memory gaps, family issues, drug addicted daughter, and a patient that awakens all these </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.796875px;">traumatic</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> events from her childhood. Which sends her on a quest to </span></span>recover<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> lost memories of her time at a commune. Aaron is the perfect creep. Everything about him made my skin crawl. It's almost scary how realistic her characters can be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">What i like most about her books is the mystery, </span></span>psychological<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> aspect. You are never quite sure what's up or who to trust. Fantastic!</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Author's Website:</span></b> <a href="http://www.chevystevens.com/">Chevy Stevens</a></span></span></i></div>
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Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-48302113936126301802013-06-01T13:05:00.001-07:002013-06-01T13:05:12.215-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyEvBGEDGCZK2OCW6i82zgnN-ygazRpanrmTK8qAGqnoyMIK7PTaW06pG8OK_QG89st8AoGYwm85MAklmxYeAgczdZ5ZD3Jqv-xsMyjD9jeFTWFolg9c1etM0gFmO0bMb3dBmhWiTy_Y/s1600/ink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyEvBGEDGCZK2OCW6i82zgnN-ygazRpanrmTK8qAGqnoyMIK7PTaW06pG8OK_QG89st8AoGYwm85MAklmxYeAgczdZ5ZD3Jqv-xsMyjD9jeFTWFolg9c1etM0gFmO0bMb3dBmhWiTy_Y/s320/ink.JPG" width="211" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ink - Amanda Sun </span></b>(NetGalley)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Overview</span></h3>
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On the heels of a family tragedy, Katie Greene must move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn't know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks and she can't seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.</div>
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When Katie meets aloof but gorgeous Tomohiro, the star of the school's kendo team, she is intrigued by him and a little scared. His tough attitude seems meant to keep her at a distance, and when they're near each other, strange things happen. Pens explode. Ink drips from nowhere. And unless Katie is seeing things, drawings <i id="yui_3_8_1_1_1370116042863_680" style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">come to life.</i></div>
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Somehow Tomo is connected to the kami, powerful ancient beings who once ruled Japan—and as feelings develop between Katie and Tomo, things begin to spiral out of control. The wrong people are starting to ask questions, and if they discover the truth, no one will be safe.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My thoughts:</span></b></div>
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Maybe It's my ever growing love and fascination with Japan but I really loved this book!</div>
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I loved how the author gave me a YA story set somewhere other than America and she couldn't have picked a better backdrop in my opinion. I love how I felt like was was taken to Japan while I was reading it and the myth's woven into the story.</div>
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Kate's last name is really fitting. She is pretty "green" when she gets to Japan and add grieving to the top of it, I'm surprised she adjusted as well as she did. She had her annoying moments during the book and there was a time or two when I was ready to slap her myself but all in all, I found myself growing attached and protective of her. Her friends Yuki and Tanaka were awesome and I hope we get to see them a bit more in the next installment. Tomohiro is the perfect replica of the bad guy who isn't really a bad guy. The kind all the girls find themselves oohing and awing over. His character is so cliche at times but dang if the author didn't end up getting me attached to him as well. I wasn't expecting that. Throw in the Yakuza gang and the other Kami and we have what appears to be a well shaped story forming. </div>
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I feel the first book was more about Tomo and Katie's connection and less about the "meat" of where Amanda is taking these books. I eagerly await to see how their story moves forward in the next book.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Author Website:</span></b> <a href="http://amandasunbooks.blogspot.com/" style="font-size: inherit;">Amanda Sun</a></div>
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Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-23918536350835329492013-05-21T22:20:00.003-07:002013-05-21T22:20:37.695-07:00The Testing - A Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Testing - Joelle Charbonneau (NetGalley)</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Overview</span></h3>
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It’s graduation day for sixteen-year-old Malencia Vale, and the entire Five Lakes Colony (the former Great Lakes) is celebrating. All Cia can think about—hope for—is whether she’ll be chosen for The Testing, a United Commonwealth program that selects the best and brightest new graduates to become possible leaders of the slowly revitalizing post-war civilization. When Cia is chosen, her father finally tells her about his own nightmarish half-memories of The Testing. Armed with his dire warnings (”Cia, trust no one”), she bravely heads off to Tosu City, far away from friends and family, perhaps forever. Danger, romance—and sheer terror—await.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts: </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">I </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.796875px;">wasn't</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> sure at first how this book was going to go for me. I found it easy to read and the characters flowed well, it just took a bit to figure out where the writer was heading with the story. Once it did though, I admit It got my attention and reeled me in.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Cia is a strong character who may be a tad too trusting at times, but I found myself connecting with her. I mean who wants to see the bad in people. Don't we all want to believe that everyone is a good, honest person? Thomas I don't know I can't quite put my finger on it but the character makes me wary and I'm not sure I trust him. The testing folks are just plain creepy. Always there, always watching and knowing. It's like big brother peering over your shoulder constantly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;">In the end, I found I really enjoyed the book. I'm sure I'm not the first reviewer to say it's very reminiscent to Hunger Games and I'm sure I won't be the last. That aside, the story itself is interesting and I'm keen to find out what happens next. </span></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Author's website: </b><a href="http://joellecharbonneau.com/">Joelle Charbonneau</a></div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Series Website: </b><a href="http://www.hmhbooks.com/thetestingtrilogy/index2.html">Testing Trilogy</a></div>
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Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-45565034496955168992013-04-29T06:00:00.000-07:002013-05-06T05:44:03.438-07:00The Eternity Cure - A Review <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Eternity Cure - Julie Kagawa</span></b> (NetGalley)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Summary:</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I was so glad to get the opportunity to read and review this book. I love this author and can't seem to get enough of her books. This one did not </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">disappoint!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">What I like most about this series is simply, Vampires are vampires. They are not all goody goody and they have no qualm about killing. Most of them don't. Some like Allison have consciences but even she kills when she has too. Julie didn't create this plain boring world. Her world is dark and dank and full of monsters. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I liked that she brought Jackel back and Zeke. She introduced us to some new enemies this time around and boy are they evil. I thought she was going to leave a very big cliffhanger but in the end I think she had second thoughts and while it's obvious there will be another book, I almost wish she had left the cliffhanger. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Solid book 2 and I would like to read book 3 now. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Author's Website:</span></b> <a href="http://www.juliekagawa.com/" style="font-size: 14px;">Julie Kagawa</a></span></span>Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-14809775319342160582013-04-28T09:53:00.003-07:002013-04-28T09:53:19.184-07:00Reboot - A Review<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT3xq9eOGHbsAk_FI4DvYswj-Yiw0SggABMuQHVpYmW_OwIjAHtSGAtNl4jt7BWujdRZTK_5n-nAYJ9GNlk3zIyaT9s4WjeeuKugftBLxu76znaFqB43INQRelGfpUxcETKvbZQRrx3g/s1600/reboot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT3xq9eOGHbsAk_FI4DvYswj-Yiw0SggABMuQHVpYmW_OwIjAHtSGAtNl4jt7BWujdRZTK_5n-nAYJ9GNlk3zIyaT9s4WjeeuKugftBLxu76znaFqB43INQRelGfpUxcETKvbZQRrx3g/s320/reboot.jpg" width="211" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reboot - Amy Tintera </b></span>(publisher)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>synopsis:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span></span><br />
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This book has an interesting premise. You get a virus, you die, if you're young, you might reboot and come back as this stronger, less kill able version of yourself. Depending on how many minutes you were dead also plays a factor in your strength, attachments, once you come back.<br />
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The main character is one of the rarer reboots. She was dead over 178 minutes and is the HRAC best reboots. She fast, merciless, never gives them any trouble. That is until she takes on a new reboot trainee Callum. Emotions that were never a problem come into play and she finds her self doing things so unlike herself.<br />
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You of course have the typical good guy/bad guy scenario. Fighting, running, trying to stay alive. This is definitely a dystopian book and I found I enjoyed it quite a bit. I'm curious to see where book 2 leads too. I also hope at some point we get to learn a little bit more about the virus that started it all.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Author Website:</b></span> <a href="http://amytintera.com/books/">Amy Tintera</a><br />
Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-880290803720115042013-03-02T17:23:00.001-08:002013-03-02T17:23:06.123-08:00Massive Book Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh598jHn0wsZhUi0ghpT6CUTNuqLypjclMJY2dU2qIENtcB6X7J2u2nky4t2rI8FslqxMpsWT_COnEXiwkZuHtJVGLbMLSvL1KhVIe8-Uzz0hUriXKKAHK60_OqisF3EFVaeQplbTHK2S4/s1600/idesposter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh598jHn0wsZhUi0ghpT6CUTNuqLypjclMJY2dU2qIENtcB6X7J2u2nky4t2rI8FslqxMpsWT_COnEXiwkZuHtJVGLbMLSvL1KhVIe8-Uzz0hUriXKKAHK60_OqisF3EFVaeQplbTHK2S4/s320/idesposter2.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
Alma Katsu has <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">teamed up with 15 authors of cross-genre books to offer this great contest!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's for the Ides of March and runs 1-15 March. Lucky winners will get 16 books--one from each of the participating authors--and we're giving away one set per 500 entries. The contest is open to US/UK and Canada.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here's the link to the website where people can enter:</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://idesofmarchbookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/02/win-16-books-by-16-fantastic-authors.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>http://<wbr></wbr>idesofmarchbookgiveaway.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/2013/02/win-16-<wbr></wbr>books-by-16-fantastic-authors.<wbr></wbr>html</b></span></a></div>
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<b>The deal is that all entrants agreed to be added to authors' mailing lists (they can always unsubscribe later, naturally.)</b></div>
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Here are the books/authors:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE LANTERN</b> by <a href="http://www.deborah-lawrenson.co.uk/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Deborah Lawrenson</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NY Times bestseller</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> modern gothic novel of love, secrets, and murder—set against the lush backdrop of Provence</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE FIREBIRD</b> (ARC) by <a href="http://www.susannakearsley.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Susanna Kearsley</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">A twin-stranded story that blends modern romance with 18th-century Jacobite intrigue, traveling from Scotland to Russia, from the NY Times bestselling author of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Winter Sea</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE TWELFTH ENCHANTMENT</b> by <a href="http://davidliss.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">David Liss</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">In Regency England, at the dawn of the industrial era, magic and technology clash and the fate of the nation rests in the hands of a penniless young woman</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>COLD MAGIC</b> by <a href="http://www.kateelliott.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;">Kate Elliott</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An epic adventure fantasy with a decidedly steampunk edge where magic - and the power of the Cold Mages - hold sway </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE MAPMAKER'S WAR</b> by <span style="color: #bf9000;"><a href="http://www.ronlyndomingue.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ronlyn Domingue</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A mesmerizing, utterly original adventure about love and loss and the redemptive power of the human spirit--releases March 5th!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>DRACULA IN LOVE</b> by <a href="http://www.karenessex.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #990000;">Karen Essex</span></a></span><br /><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">"If you read only one more vampire novel, let it be this one!" -C.W. Gortner, author of The Last Queen </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">& The </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">Confessions of Catherine de Medici</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>RED, WHITE AND BLOOD</b> by <a href="http://chrisfarnsworth.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Chris Farnsworth</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">High-octane supernatural thriller, a sequel to <i>The President's Vampire</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE HOUSE OF VELVET AND GLASS</b> by <a href="http://katherinehowe.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #351c75;">Katherine Howe</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The House of Velvet and Glass</i> weaves together meticulous period detail, intoxicating romance, and a final shocking twist in a breathtaking novel that will thrill readers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">from the author of bestseller <i>The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL</b> (ARC) by <a href="http://carolynturgeon.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Carolyn Turgeon</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Fairest of Them All</i> is an inventive, magical fairy-tale mash-up about Rapunzel growing up to be Snow White's stepmother, out in August 2013 from the author of <i>Godmother</i> and <i>Mermaid</i> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES</b> by <a href="http://www.mjrose.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">M.J. Rose</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra--and lost for 2,000 years by bestselling novelist M.J. Rose</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THIEFTAKER</b> by <a href="http://www.dbjackson-author.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;">DB Jackson</span></a></span><br /><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combining elements of traditional fantasy, urban fantasy, mystery and historical fiction, Thieftaker will appeal to readers who enjoy intelligent fantasy and history with an attitude</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>GLAMOUR IN GLASS </b>by <a href="http://glamouringlass.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Mary Robinette Kowal</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Glamour in Glass</i> follows the lives of the main characters from</span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <i>Shades of Milk and Honey</i>, a loving tribute to the works of Jane Austen in a world where magic is an everyday occurrence</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DEVIL'S GATE <span style="font-weight: normal;">by <a href="http://www.fjlennon.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: lime;">FJ Lennon</span></a></span></span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Devil’s Gate</i> is exhilarating urban fantasy, with first class writing and characters that are unforgettable beyond the last page</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>THE CROOKED BRANCH</b> by <a href="http://jeaninecummins.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #660000;">Jeanine Cummins</span></a></span><br /><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">“</span>Wonderfully written, with strong, compelling characters, it is a deeply satisfying combination of sweeping historical saga and modern family drama, a gentle reminder of the ever-reaching influence of family”--Booklist</span><br /><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>A NATURAL HISTORY OF DRAGONS</b> by <a href="http://www.swantower.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Marie Brennan</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">The story of </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isabella, Lady Trent, the world's preeminent dragon naturalist, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and her thrilling expedition to Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"></span><b>THE RECKONING</b> by <a href="http://www.almakatsu.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">Alma Katsu</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the tradition of early Anne Rice, a gorgeously written sequel to <i>The Taker</i> that takes readers on a harrowing, passion-fueled chase that transcends the boundaries of time</span></div>
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Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-36211317027381375302013-02-18T16:04:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:04:03.986-08:00Forbidden Sister - A Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LivPOwTA2OYZ9MBrEY8L7nzB2bvAzcY52FvmOkjwOvB3wvh9BJ4UFeLdmb5qvLi42Hf6Nn_kOihGPeBX9xX3Lq1lBmjyWzKb-S7_zXGBb0z5bIMrQJwu4U_YnHXBudU3-k3Fa2burLE/s1600/forbidden+sister.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LivPOwTA2OYZ9MBrEY8L7nzB2bvAzcY52FvmOkjwOvB3wvh9BJ4UFeLdmb5qvLi42Hf6Nn_kOihGPeBX9xX3Lq1lBmjyWzKb-S7_zXGBb0z5bIMrQJwu4U_YnHXBudU3-k3Fa2burLE/s320/forbidden+sister.JPG" width="195" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Forbidden Sister - V.C. Andrews</span></b> (publisher)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Overview:</span></b><br />
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I had every reason to hate her, my forbidden sister. She was like someone who had died but wouldn’t stay buried. . . .</div>
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Emmie Wilcox was only six when her older sister, Roxy, was thrown out of their New York City apartment. Their stern father’s military-style rules left no room for rebellion, and Roxy was as defiant as Emmie—now an outstanding student at a private school—is compliant: a perfect daughter, <i id="yui_3_7_3_1_1361231680899_1171" style="border: 0px none; font-size: 13px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">un fille parfaite,</i> as her Parisian-born mother lovingly calls her. Two sisters, total opposites—yet Emmie is secretly obsessed with the mystery surrounding Roxy: What had she done? Where is she now? And is there a hidden side to Emmie that resembles Roxy’s spiteful nature? Knowing only that Roxy is a highly paid escort to the city’s wealthiest men, Emmie goes behind her father’s back to track down the sister she fears, despises, and inexplicably clings to . . . and whose influence might run deeper than Emmie ever imagined.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.796875px;">It has been years since I've read a V.C. Andrews book and I forgot how much I enjoyed them. I was able to quickly get into the story line and found most of the characters enjoyable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.796875px;">Emmie has got definite growing pains going on and at times I felt she needed to have some sense knocked into her. Her parents, while main characters, really didn't affect me either way. Roxy is intriguing and I would have loved to see more into her and Ms. Brittney's arrangement. How she got to be where she was, etc. Maybe in book 2. My favorite character was their Uncle Alian from France. I just loved him and I hope we get to see more of him as well and learn more about Emmie's time in France.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.796875px;">To put it succiently, I enjoyed the book and look forward to book 2.</span></span></div>
Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-34302358221768889862013-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:002013-02-01T06:00:14.697-08:00The Fate of Mercy Alban - A Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhY-FPkqis2U35V-3yPz8nNl0WmmTHamSDQwvN9FwcLD8RxNPQcwBoUxIlVFgV6OzzBSiFH7qvDlZmMAcOUTZS6Mve5f_FyCqOALQTqH6VtmDuKoT6oo3b6RxolbrZwJtpE3NuDeGf41k/s1600/mercy+alban.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhY-FPkqis2U35V-3yPz8nNl0WmmTHamSDQwvN9FwcLD8RxNPQcwBoUxIlVFgV6OzzBSiFH7qvDlZmMAcOUTZS6Mve5f_FyCqOALQTqH6VtmDuKoT6oo3b6RxolbrZwJtpE3NuDeGf41k/s320/mercy+alban.JPG" width="206" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Fate of Mercy Alban - Wendy Webb</span></b> (publisher)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Overview:</span></b></h3>
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Grace Alban has spent more than twenty years avoiding her childhood home, the stately Alban House on the shores of Lake Superior, for reasons she would rather forget. But when her mother’s unexpected death brings Grace and her teenage daughter back, she finds more is haunting the halls and passageways of Alban House than her own personal demons.</div>
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Long-buried family secrets, a packet of old love letters, and a lost manuscript plunge Grace into a decades-old mystery about a scandalous party at Alban House, when a world-famous author took his own life and Grace’s aunt disappeared without a trace. The night has been shrouded in secrecy by the powerful Alban family for all of these years. Her mother intended to tell the truth about that night to a reporter on the very day she died—could it have been murder? Or was she a victim of the supposed Alban curse? Grace soon realizes her family secrets tangle and twist as darkly as the mansion’s secret passages.</div>
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With the help of the disarmingly kind—and attractive—Reverend Matthew Parker, Grace must uncover the truth about her home and its curse before she and her daughter become the next victims.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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Okay when I was first approached to review this book, I was hesitant. It sounded good but I was not sure if I was in the mood for it. Man am I so glad I decided to give it a try. I loved this book! I rang in 2013 reading this awesomely, fantastic, Gothic ghost story.</div>
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This book is full of creep factor. A wealthy family with long buried secrets that are refusing to stay buried any longer. The characters were great and I found myself, as I was reading, trying to figure out who is good, who is bad, and where exactly was the story going to take me. I am glad to report that I really never knew what was going to happen, until it happened.</div>
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Now on to my favorite part of the book. The house!. I want to live there. I really do. Big huge house with secret passages and hidden rooms. Imagine having something like that growing up. You could play hide and seek in there and never be found. Totally cool!</div>
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So if my gushing hasn't made it clear, if you love Gothic ghost stories in any way, run and get a copy when this comes out. You 'won't be sorry.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Author's Website:</span></b> <a href="http://wendykwebb.com/fate-of-mercy-alban.php" style="font-size: 13px;">Wendy Webb</a></div>
Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-37966760265726618272013-01-07T06:00:00.000-08:002013-01-07T06:00:08.977-08:00Raylan - Blog Tour January 7, 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoT7zg21Qx2Y4w16qmRmYk_Y2a06kQbMB4LfyJDcC41hftXTMoJ2aRTgfuKaSSNC63zjjbouc8u8_gawtQDLDYGZF8hXrChMEdvXltsOMco-Vgh-clmwAiJ_gtI88wis_OGg3C-iw3Yg/s1600/Raylan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoT7zg21Qx2Y4w16qmRmYk_Y2a06kQbMB4LfyJDcC41hftXTMoJ2aRTgfuKaSSNC63zjjbouc8u8_gawtQDLDYGZF8hXrChMEdvXltsOMco-Vgh-clmwAiJ_gtI88wis_OGg3C-iw3Yg/s1600/Raylan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoT7zg21Qx2Y4w16qmRmYk_Y2a06kQbMB4LfyJDcC41hftXTMoJ2aRTgfuKaSSNC63zjjbouc8u8_gawtQDLDYGZF8hXrChMEdvXltsOMco-Vgh-clmwAiJ_gtI88wis_OGg3C-iw3Yg/s1600/Raylan.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Raylan - Elmore Leonard</span></b> (Blog Tour Publisher)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></b><br />
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When Dickie and Coover Crowe, dope-dealing brothers known for sampling their own supply, decide to branch out into the body business, it's up to U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens to stop them. But Raylan isn't your average marshal; he's the laconic, Stetson-wearing, fast-drawing lawman who juggles dozens of cases at a time and always shoots to kill. But by the time Raylan finds out who's making the cuts, he's lying naked in a bathtub, with Layla, the cool transplant nurse, about to go for his kidneys.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts: </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">First off let me say I love this TV show so when I saw a chance to be a part of this blog tour, I jumped on it. Glad I wasn't disappointed.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;"> I really enjoyed this book. Normally when I read a book I form pictures of what I imagine characters to look like. I gotta say it was kind of strange to start a book with some characters firmly planted in my brain, but I liked it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">The story was fast paced and interesting with all my favorite characters and some new ones added in the mix. I did have a strange sense of deja vue reading this. i kept thinking I know the </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.766666412353516px;">story line</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;"> Though I am probably sure it is just lingering crazy story line left over from the show creeping in.</span></span></div>
If I had any complaint at all was the plot could be a little choppy but that's okay it was fast paced and kept me entertained.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyQ8iGuGKhGHaCL-UMlPBEIBUhUuJr5z6vocKAGUaHH8RuW09R-KIqjfhCP_3ayNhSBpjzumxYxu5DoHxYJsu61wtZv689VQXFVc8g8pLllGCQHlB-xCzh1UpP9Z8W9WqbqaudED9_6o/s1600/Elmore+Leonard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyQ8iGuGKhGHaCL-UMlPBEIBUhUuJr5z6vocKAGUaHH8RuW09R-KIqjfhCP_3ayNhSBpjzumxYxu5DoHxYJsu61wtZv689VQXFVc8g8pLllGCQHlB-xCzh1UpP9Z8W9WqbqaudED9_6o/s1600/Elmore+Leonard.jpg" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Author's Website:</span></b> <a href="http://elmoreleonard.com/">Elmore Leonard</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6RyL3PZHOIOpIH95oFDKlXd-g_74od0iCZYfy8ErFW7FgkFQf2ep4falMQ0gXvBaKRuT_LrKlz4bmWvQdm0anU1itGZUFKYnk5_8hbh2LGDTuB3nTF9sZPFPJ-ITgGk6Nv6ifJ5csHk/s1600/tlc-tour-host.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6RyL3PZHOIOpIH95oFDKlXd-g_74od0iCZYfy8ErFW7FgkFQf2ep4falMQ0gXvBaKRuT_LrKlz4bmWvQdm0anU1itGZUFKYnk5_8hbh2LGDTuB3nTF9sZPFPJ-ITgGk6Nv6ifJ5csHk/s1600/tlc-tour-host.png" /></a></div>
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Here's the <a href="http://tlcbooktours.com/2012/12/elmore-leonard-author-of-raylan-on-tour-december-2012january-2013/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">tour schedule</a>: </div>
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Wednesday, December 26th: No More Grumpy Bookseller</div>
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Thursday, December 27th: EmSun</div>
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Friday, December 28th: Book Addict Katie</div>
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Thursday, January 3rd: Helen’s Book Blog</div>
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Monday, January 7th: My Life in Not So Many Words</div>
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Tuesday, January 8th: Chaotic Compendiums</div>
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Thursday, January 10th: Jenny Loves to Read</div>
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Wednesday, January 16th: Jenn’s Bookshelves</div>
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Monday, January 28th: Luxury Reading</div>
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TBD: Ted Lehmann’s Bluegrass, Books, and Brainstorms</div>
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Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-40057686909637617382012-12-31T21:18:00.000-08:002012-12-31T21:18:11.971-08:002012 A Year In Retrospect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeWqBTkUazHKkXZmMXlvGnp5RDp9j7thjQIKo-woHZTBYXp2HU75dRw82SfK0Bn9m032k1fz71Nre5S2fnlTUOzKMYZXuYINdf_jNmR9OLv1Vk_RGdZrSCpj_EXzEYh69xkKzTlLPxek/s1600/newyear2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeWqBTkUazHKkXZmMXlvGnp5RDp9j7thjQIKo-woHZTBYXp2HU75dRw82SfK0Bn9m032k1fz71Nre5S2fnlTUOzKMYZXuYINdf_jNmR9OLv1Vk_RGdZrSCpj_EXzEYh69xkKzTlLPxek/s400/newyear2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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2012 brought a year of changes for me. While my children were growing up, I only ever worked part time usually leaving a lot of time to devour the books I love so much. Once my son graduated and went into the Navy and my daughter was finishing up middle school and started high school, I went back to work full time. Cutting my reading time way back. As a result my blog doesn't get updated as much as I would like and I don't get to read near the amount of books I would like to read.<br />
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Fast forward to July. I made the crazy decision to go back to school. So come September I started school by taking one class while waiting for financial aid to come in. Next week I start my first full term at school. Not only will I be working full time, I will now be going to school full time as well. Quite the load I have taken on. Some days I think I'm nuts for taking on such a load.<br />
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So what does this mean. Simply put my reading for enjoyment is going to lessen a bit more and my posts will be slower than before. I'm not shutting down my blog. I'm not ready to close that chapter of my life. Too much hard work and sweat put in here to put it away just yet.<br />
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I'll be around just not as much as past years.<br />
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I hope everyone has had a great holiday season and I hope for a wonderful year to come.<br />
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Happy New Years All!!<br />
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<br />Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-12304261275047316642012-12-30T06:00:00.000-08:002012-12-30T06:00:02.987-08:00Nobody Had To Know - Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym_sNXUrPselbnQz5xuVbbUcszsX8HhXMyQcDUdZDrZpkLh2DA8n1LV05aFTu48sb7u9zEZjodS1wo2VTjP1nGlA1xlC7jAZYOzBmjWYgv1zv4iLHfaPsmKNIBw7JtLg7G8eCbM0ziWs/s1600/bookcoverlatest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym_sNXUrPselbnQz5xuVbbUcszsX8HhXMyQcDUdZDrZpkLh2DA8n1LV05aFTu48sb7u9zEZjodS1wo2VTjP1nGlA1xlC7jAZYOzBmjWYgv1zv4iLHfaPsmKNIBw7JtLg7G8eCbM0ziWs/s320/bookcoverlatest.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nobody Has To Know - Frank Nappi </span></b>(Blog Tour)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Summary:</span></b><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Nobody Has To Know</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">, Frank Nappi's dark and daring new thriller, tells the story of Cameron Baldridge, a popular high school teacher whose relationship with one of his students leads him down an unfortunate and self-destructive path. Stalked through text-messages, Baldridge fights for his life against a terrifying extortion plot and the forces that threaten to expose him. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Nobody Has To Know</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> is a sobering look into a world of secrets, lies, and shocking revelations, and will leave the reader wondering many things, including whether or not you can ever really know the person you love.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This book pulled me in quickly and the story line kept my interest. The book moved quickly and was easy to follow with. If I had any real complaints it would be Cameron, I just despise him. It made it hard to read at some points and I would have to put the book down. I always came back though. I just had to know how it ended. All in all not a bad read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Frank Nappi's </b><b>Bio: </b></span></div>
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<img alt="frank.jpg" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=081c84c232&view=att&th=13a70bde8acb0b9e&attid=0.2&disp=thd&zw" /></div>
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Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty years. His debut novel, <i>Echoes From The Infantry</i>, received national attention, including MWSA's silver medal for outstanding fiction. His follow-up novel,<i>The Legend of Mickey Tussler</i>, garnered rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story "A Mile in His Shoes" starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Frank continues to produce quality work, including<i>Sophomore Campaign</i>, the intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story, and is presently at work on a third installment of the unique series. Frank lives on Long Island with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Relevant Links:</span></b></div>
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<b>Frank Nappi's Web Site:<br /><a href="http://www.franknappi.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.franknappi.com/</a><br /><br />Frank Nappi's Blog:<br /><a href="http://www.franknappi.com/blog.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.franknappi.com/<wbr></wbr>blog.html</a><br /></b><b><b>Frank Nappi</b>'s Facebook:<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorfranknappi" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>authorfranknappi</a><br /></b><b><b>Frank Nappi</b>'s</b><b> Twitter:<br /><a href="https://twitter.com/FrankNappi" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/FrankNappi</a><br /></b><b><b><b>Frank Nappi</b>'s Goodreads:<br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/fnap33" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.goodreads.com/<wbr></wbr>fnap33</a><br /></b>Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-<wbr></wbr>Tours/242431245775186</a></b><b><br /></b><i><b>Nobody Has to Know</b></i><b> blog tour site:<br /><a href="http://nobodyhastoknowblogtour.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr>nobodyhastoknowblogtour.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a></b></div>
Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-42418350030633591642012-12-25T10:45:00.006-08:002012-12-25T10:45:59.279-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0o4woAnI5D-ZHT_Sw-UNEe2JfAboZSf02vXDrww798GHtzFBTpP0b9qsyOIkSiEsRxyo5GAGfeIQHotOuoMlbbkQ0bxNSNDX8wLFv_iPiOydT89xFwTilKV5j-Ru0jc_lHFz0pPZdkQ/s1600/xmas2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0o4woAnI5D-ZHT_Sw-UNEe2JfAboZSf02vXDrww798GHtzFBTpP0b9qsyOIkSiEsRxyo5GAGfeIQHotOuoMlbbkQ0bxNSNDX8wLFv_iPiOydT89xFwTilKV5j-Ru0jc_lHFz0pPZdkQ/s640/xmas2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">I hope everyone's day is filled with lots of love and joy!!</span></div>
Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-54023898425858824542012-12-24T06:00:00.000-08:002012-12-24T06:00:03.281-08:00Just One Day - A Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AP-shr2KF5Q5RsmL39js1fnOwdDl1Ldh-B4OQSy7rGRAIq1kKhwLJ9MSvXW0dvBAdA7Q3QaVkg5CBgC48TzUUZmnWNtlMmBxQfBz5fmsiet2nsGAIiNflUNeE_GQtO4limPbrQ7nOM8/s1600/justoneday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AP-shr2KF5Q5RsmL39js1fnOwdDl1Ldh-B4OQSy7rGRAIq1kKhwLJ9MSvXW0dvBAdA7Q3QaVkg5CBgC48TzUUZmnWNtlMmBxQfBz5fmsiet2nsGAIiNflUNeE_GQtO4limPbrQ7nOM8/s320/justoneday.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Just One Day - Gayle Forman</span></b> (publisher)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of </span><i style="border: 0px none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font: inherit; line-height: 20.78333282470703px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">If I Stay</i><br />
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When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of <i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 13px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Twelfth Night</i> in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.</div>
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<i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 13px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Just One Day</i> is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—<i style="border: 0px none; font-size: 13px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Just One Year</i>—is coming soon!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">A wonderful journey of far away lands, love, friendships, and most </span></span><span style="line-height: 20.766666412353516px;">importantly</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">, self discovery. </span></span><br />
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On her trip to Europe Allyson meets and does the one thing she never does. She lets loose. She throws caution to the wind and travels to Paris with a guy she met for only moments the night before. Williem is a free spirit who seems to just roam though life. I think it's an interesting but lonely way to live. During the course of the day and night Allyson falls in love with Williem. By morning, he was gone..</div>
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What we get next is a year of watching Allyson mourn hide and with the help of some friends she very slowly makes at college. We get to watch Allyson discover who she really is. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">I enjoyed this book. The characters were vivid and interesting. Allyson drove me a bit crazy at times but I think that's because of her youth and immaturity. Considering that, watching her grow as a person was interesting. I think Dee was my favorite character. He is the guy she picked in her Shakespeare class to partner with. He is </span><span style="line-height: 20.766666412353516px;">flamboyantly</span><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;"> wonderful and I would love to have a friend like him. I like Williem too even if we only met for a short while. I look forward to reading his story next year. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">If you're a fan of Gayle Forman, you won't be disappointed. If you've never read one of her books, </span><span style="line-height: 20.766666412353516px;">you</span><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;"> should.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.78333282470703px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Author's Website:</span></b> <a href="http://www.gayleforman.com/" style="font-size: small;">Gayle Forman</a></span></span><br />
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Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-54518862011673572152012-12-16T20:24:00.001-08:002012-12-16T20:24:29.057-08:00What Are You Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's Monday. What are you reading this week? Hosted by Sheila at <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" style="color: #3366cc; text-decoration: initial;">One Person's Journey Through A World of Books</a>. This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Books I finished in the week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.866666793823242px;">Notorious Nineteen - Janet Evanovich</span><br />
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<b>Books I am reading this week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Just One Day - Gayle Forman</div>
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<b>Books to Finish This week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Just One Day - Gayle Forman</div>
Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-21368871805912096132012-12-09T18:00:00.000-08:002012-12-09T18:00:05.980-08:00What Are You Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's Monday. What are you reading this week? Hosted by Sheila at <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" style="color: #3366cc; text-decoration: initial;">One Person's Journey Through A World of Books</a>. This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Books I finished in the week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.866666793823242px;">None. Almost finished Notorious Nineteen. Just haven't had time to just sit and finish it up.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.866666793823242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.866666793823242px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.866666793823242px;" /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.866666793823242px;">
<b>Books I am reading this week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Notorious Nineteen - Janet Evanovich</div>
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Just One Day - Gayle Forman</div>
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<b>Books to Finish This week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Notorious Nineteen - Jane Evanovich</div>
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Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-72713513410937585412012-12-02T18:05:00.002-08:002012-12-02T18:05:40.305-08:00What Are You Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo9uomx_K-oOMj865jAGk7in5GGkr-TqG4VWO18CSyoA7UB35HqDebJLuFCUNSyBmaFqJMWGHYilKp62EQSFircmBpYZ5sjYT-_ZVBiBgC1lOecM4MDEud5HJeYdK6YzD6eM-hp1ZDLo/s1600/onmondaysheila.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWo9uomx_K-oOMj865jAGk7in5GGkr-TqG4VWO18CSyoA7UB35HqDebJLuFCUNSyBmaFqJMWGHYilKp62EQSFircmBpYZ5sjYT-_ZVBiBgC1lOecM4MDEud5HJeYdK6YzD6eM-hp1ZDLo/s200/onmondaysheila.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
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It's Monday. What are you reading this week? Hosted by Sheila at <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" style="color: #3366cc; text-decoration: initial;">One Person's Journey Through A World of Books</a>. This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Books I finished in the week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.866666793823242px;">Annie on My Mind - Nancy Gardner</span></span><br />
Pages for You - Sylvia Brownrigg<br />
Italian for Beginners - Kristin Harmel<br style="background-color: white;" /><br /><br />
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<b>Books I am reading this week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Notorious Nineteen - Janet Evanovich</div>
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<b>Books to Finish This week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Notorious Nineteen - Jane Evanovich</div>
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Been missing from the blog for past couple of weeks. Work has just gotten insane and by the time I get home from work, I'm off to the gym and then I get to sit for a couple hours and try to unwind before I rinse and repeat. Not a whole lot of time to read or blog currently. I hope work will slow down in a few weeks and I can be back around more. </div>
Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-8765316561373031202012-11-16T06:00:00.000-08:002012-11-16T06:00:08.426-08:00John Barlow Guest Post<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgAnhAphZYKE1aR7FvDZPD680lc6Et89OxJcG2AKkWHk8ETXoPQk8dNpMBh7ACsmYmgi327pVoyJTRaXkjKFh_OTIJrC0B9rjNxhDvv87kBXyPswl0opQ8bBiHcd9wHlx0TcHBIz5xPo/s1600/Islander_Ebook-small.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgAnhAphZYKE1aR7FvDZPD680lc6Et89OxJcG2AKkWHk8ETXoPQk8dNpMBh7ACsmYmgi327pVoyJTRaXkjKFh_OTIJrC0B9rjNxhDvv87kBXyPswl0opQ8bBiHcd9wHlx0TcHBIz5xPo/s320/Islander_Ebook-small.gif" width="213" /></a></div>
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ISLANDERS, the new YA
novel by John Barlow<o:p></o:p></div>
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My first YA novel,
ISLANDERS, is out today. It took quite a few years to write, and I almost
didn’t publish it. At various times over the last few years I thought it was <i>finished</i>, only to return the manuscript
to a drawer and wait. I don’t know why, really. I never even showed it to my
agent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Inevitably, things
started to get in the way--work, other books, kids, life--but something always
told me to hang onto this novel and give it some time. I never stopped thinking
about it, wondering how to improve things, to perfect its dystopian world and make
the plot-arc that runs through it compelling. I knew the story itself was good,
but I also knew it still needed some work.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Early this year I had
a little free time, so I got ISLANDERS out and read it again. It was better
than I remembered. So I decided to re-write it, taking bits out and tightening
the storyline, making the action a little faster and the characters work off
each other more effectively. After that I uploaded it to my Sony Reader and sat
down to read it as a novel, in one go. I <i>really</i>
liked it. Then, on a whim, I sent it to all the YA-aged people I knew. The
response was good, and I began to wonder whether I should in fact publish it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I did another re-write
(yes, I like re-writing) and got more opinions. Even my parents liked it. My
dad said he felt embarrassed how much he enjoyed a novel for people 60 years
his junior! That was the clincher. If a seventy-five year-old ‘young adult’
liked it, perhaps it was ready. I sent a synopsis to a cover artist I know and
asked him to see what he could do. The result is, I think, stunning.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So that’s the story
behind ISLANDERS. Zia also suggested that I include some details about how I
write. Well, I’ve been pretty much a full-time writer since 2004, writing my
own books, as well as working as a ghostwriter, journalist and translator on
the side. ‘Full-time’, then, really means ‘literary dogsbody’. This week, for
example, I have been:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Working sporadically
on my latest crime novel;<o:p></o:p></div>
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Researching an article
on cheese makers (I write for a food magazine);<o:p></o:p></div>
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Writing an article
about an art project I’ve been involved with (I’m the ghostwriter on the
project);<o:p></o:p></div>
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Translating an
academic study on aspects of the history of English.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Somewhere in there I
should have been planning the next ISLANDERS book, but there just hasn’t been any
time. When it comes to a daily routine, I’m lucky that I don’t have a day job,
and that I can prioritize my work according to what really needs doing. That
means clocking on at 9.15am (after taking the kids to school) and working
through until about 2pm. After lunch I might have boy-sitting duties, but
otherwise I’ll work through until about 7pm. If I can manage anything after
supper, it’ll be revision, often using my Sony Reader. Every day is the same,
unless I’m off travelling; next week, for example, I’ll be visiting cheese
makers at some point.<o:p></o:p></div>
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*<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, that’s how
ISLANDERS was written. No rush, no push. Every day more or less the same. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The novel is an
adventure. Ben Brewer has lived all his life on an island, with his mother and
a community of people who escaped the ravages of war in search of somewhere
safe. Ben’s father was a war hero, but he was killed before Ben was born, fighting
for freedom (a cause which was lost).<o:p></o:p></div>
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When a young messenger
arrives on the island saying that Ben’s father is <i>not</i> dead, Ben decides to go and find him, taking four friends with
him. Perhaps his dad is in danger. But Ben is 13 and his dad has been gone all
those years. Why did he never come back home to see his own son?<o:p></o:p></div>
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They journey to the
Mainland, a post-war landscape where germ warfare has destroyed much of the
natural order, leaving a weird world of genetic mutants. There are still some
humans around, but they’re not doing very well, enslaved in an industrial
dystopia that condemns them to a life of mindless drudgery. It’s a world gone
mad, with one man controlling everything. This tyrant, Jack Sullivan, was the
bitterest enemy of Ben’s father, and he holds they key to what really happened
during the war. He also desperately wants to discover where the Island is. Ben
has to try and find his dad without leading Sullivan back home.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you like your
animals mutant, and your heroes young, smart and brave, ISLANDERS might just be
for you. After all, my dad liked it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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John Barlow<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">ISLANDERS is available at all major
ebook retailers, and is on special introductory offer (99cts) through November
2012 at Amazon (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hope-Road-John-mystery-ebook/dp/B006LWJ75K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333381797&sr=8-1">US</a>,
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hope-Road-John-mystery-ebook/dp/B006LWJ75K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333381773&sr=8-1">UK</a>)
and Kobo.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">Where to buy:</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Islanders-ebook/dp/B00A4QFBEK/ref=la_B001HCRX5A_1_7_title_0_main?ie=UTF8&qid=1352800094&sr=1-7">Amazon</a></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Islanders-ebook/dp/B00A4QFBEK/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_7">Amazon UK</a></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Islanders/book-HqLAPgvYYU-zJ_me_ek0vw/page1.html?s=vp0DZw95TUCS8ezDqzMB-g&r=1">Kobo</a></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">
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<span lang="EN-GB">John can be found at:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Website: <a href="http://www.johnbarlow.net/">http://www.johnbarlow.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Mailing list:
<a href="mailto:mailinglist@johnbarlow.net">mailinglist@johnbarlow.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Blog:
<a href="http://www.johnbarlow.net/blog/#home">http://www.johnbarlow.net/blog/#home</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Facebook page:<a href="http://facebook.com/john.barlow.319">facebook.com/john.barlow.319</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Goodreads author page:
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/JohnBarlow">http://www.goodreads.com/JohnBarlow</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Twitter: @John_Barlow_LS9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-56431821722276581772012-11-15T06:00:00.000-08:002012-11-15T06:00:02.409-08:00Islanders - John Barlow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgAnhAphZYKE1aR7FvDZPD680lc6Et89OxJcG2AKkWHk8ETXoPQk8dNpMBh7ACsmYmgi327pVoyJTRaXkjKFh_OTIJrC0B9rjNxhDvv87kBXyPswl0opQ8bBiHcd9wHlx0TcHBIz5xPo/s1600/Islander_Ebook-small.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgAnhAphZYKE1aR7FvDZPD680lc6Et89OxJcG2AKkWHk8ETXoPQk8dNpMBh7ACsmYmgi327pVoyJTRaXkjKFh_OTIJrC0B9rjNxhDvv87kBXyPswl0opQ8bBiHcd9wHlx0TcHBIz5xPo/s320/Islander_Ebook-small.gif" width="213" /></a></div>
Author
Interview: John Barlow<br />
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">How
would you describe ISLANDERS?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A YA
adventure set in a post-war dystopia. It’s a boy’s quest to find his farther,
and it also deals with themes of ecology, the misuse of power, and germ
warfare. But it’s not excessively dark, considering those themes. Essentially
it’s an adventure, with lots of humor and action. And mutant pigs, obvs...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">You
write adult fiction. Why switch to YA?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I started
ISLANDERS over five years ago. All sorts of writers were having a go at books
for the YA market. It just took me longer to finish than most!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">What are
the main differences between YA and adult fiction?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">For the
writer? Almost none, in my case. The more I stopped thinking about who I was
writing for, the better the novel got. If I was going to write a dystopian
adventure for adults, it would turn out pretty much like ISLANDERS. What was
particularly pleasing was that, when the novel was finished, I showed it to a
number of adults, and they all loved it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB" style="display: none; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-hide: all;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">Did you
enjoy writing it?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Yes! Especially
the characters who accompany Ben on the quest to find his dad. I think they
form a pretty good group, the kind of people you’d want to have around when
things get tough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">Will
there be more YA fiction from <st1:personname productid="John Barlow" w:st="on">John
Barlow</st1:personname>?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Yes.
ISLANDERS is the first book in a trilogy; books two and three will explore more
distant parts of the mainland, as Ben goes in search of a safe place to live
and to try and understand more about the war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">What
kind of writers do you enjoy reading?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I have no firm preferences. At the
moment I’m reading Krista D Ball’s </span><span lang="ES"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ZX8W3K/?tag=lesgedi-20" target="_blank"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #ff4b33; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">What Kings Ate and
Wizards Drank: A Fantasy Lover’s Food Guide</span></em></a></span><span lang="EN-GB">, which is brilliant. I enjoy crime
writing, which is a genre I also write in, but I read widely in all genres.
Probably, over the course of my reading life, I have enjoyed 20th century
American fiction more than anything. I used to devour John Irving, but, y’know,
everything comes to an end...<span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">Favorite
books?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">All time?
Don Quixote by Cervantes; the Rabbit novels by John Updike; James Ellroy in his
prime; Ray Carver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">How did
you become a writer?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I have always
written, but I was quite late in trying to get published. The first thing I had
published was a novella in the <i>Paris
Review</i>, and that led to an agent and deal with HarperCollins. At that point
I decided to quit my job (as a university teacher) and move from the <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Since then I’ve worked as a
writer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">Do you
do anything other than write?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Yes. I also
work as a ghostwriter, which is great fun because you can get immersed in a
project without it taking over you. Apart from that I write for a good magazine,
and sometimes I do translations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">If you
hadn’t been a writer, what would you have liked to be?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">When I was
young I wanted to be a chef. When I left (high)school I became a musician for a
while, a career path I may well have followed after university, if the economy
at the time hadn’t been so bad. However, there was just no work for musicians
in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> at the time, so I
went to live in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>
for a while instead. And now I’m back!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">What
interests you apart from books?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I very much
like food! OK, so I’m greedy. But I also like learning more about food, how it
is produced and prepared. I write articles for a food magazine, which
essentially means I get paid to travel around and eat. What could be better?
Other than that I like travel, and I’m interested in ecological issues
(ISLANDERS is partly about the ecological damage done to a country and its
society).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">Some
writers use music to help them work. What about you?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">No. I can’t
work with music playing at all. I have a condition called ‘musical
hallucinations’, which means that I constantly hear music in my head, a
‘playtrack’ that my brain refuses to put on pause. For some people this can be
irritating, but I don’t mind. If I’m really, really concentrating on something,
the tune currently playing in my head might drift off into the background; but
it’ll still be there, and as soon as I relax it comes back. The nice thing is
that I have fairly wide musical tastes, and all sorts of things appear on the
‘playlist’ in my head!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">What is
the main premise of this book?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Ben Brewer,
a 13 year-old buy, has grown up on an island. A community of people went there
to escape a devastating war back on the mainland, and he’s been on the island
all his life. He has never met his father, a war hero who disappeared 13 years
ago during the war, presumed dead. When a message arrives that his dad might
still be alive, Ben decides to go look for him. But that means going to the
mainland, a chaotic world ravaged by the effects of germ warfare, social
collapse and environmental degradation. One man yields absolute power there,
the man who is said to have killed Ben’s dad. Ben finally realizes that he must
confront this man if he wants to learn the truth about his dad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">Who’s
your favorite character in it?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There are
two twins (nicknames <i>Bad and Worse</i>) in
the group that travels with Ben. They are war orphans and nobody on the island likes
them because they’re violent, rude and malicious. But as the story develops,
they turn out to be tough and loyal, and good fun to have around. There’s quite
a bit of violence in the book (fist fights mainly, no guns) and it’s mostly Bad
and Worse who are guilty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">Where
and when do you prefer to do your writing?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Mornings. But
I live in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
where ‘morning’ stretches halfway into the afternoon. I borrow an office from a
friend. It’s right across the road from our apartment, and there’s a coffee
shop directly below. I couldn’t have it much better, really.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">When
reading, do you prefer eBook or paperback?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Increasingly
I read ebooks. There are a few minor disadvantages, like not being able to fold
the corner of a page down or make a quick note in the margin with a pencil. But
the advantages far outweigh these.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">What or
who is Storm Books?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Storm Books
is a micro-publisher run by Sam Bridges, a friend of mine. At the moment it
only publishes my work, so it’s really a form of indirect self-publishing. It’s
an experiment. I didn’t want to find myself left out of the self-publishing
revolution, but neither did I want to spend all day being a publisher. We’re
going to see how things go, then consider whether we might publish other
writers as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span lang="EN-GB">How do
you see the ebook revolution? Is it empowering independent writers, or </span></u><span lang="EN-GB">destroying the publishing industry?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I think
that long-term it’s positive for everyone. Writers get the chance to find a
readership directly. If they succeed, they can decide whether to continue as
indies or look for a publisher. Meanwhile, publishers can look at the
self-publishing market as a testing ground, cherry picking books that have
already proved themselves. The process also increases flexibility and
diversity. I self-published a book that I was sure had an audience. It hasn’t
found that audience yet, but because ebooks are forever, it’s still there,
selling a couple of dozen copies a month. Nobody loses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">What's
your favorite gadget?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">No contest.
My Wi-Fi radio. I can listen to almost any radio station in the world. You want
Chinese hip-hop? Peruvian chat shows? Tasmanian jazz? You got it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">What
projects are you currently working on? <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I’m finishing
off an adult crime thriller (‘finishing off’ is a relative term; probably
another six months on that...). Then there’s ISLANDERS 2 to start. Meanwhile,
next week I have two articles to research for a food magazine, one on honey the
other on cheese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">Who
designed this cover?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Start
Bache. He does the latest editions of Stephen King’s books in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I think
he’s the best designer around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">Do you
like to cook? <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I love to
cook. I’m not terrifically good at it, but I can keep a family of four alive if
I have to. I’m pretty inventive if there’s not much in the cupboard, but don’t
ask me to do anything fancy. I’ll just mess it up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">What’s
your dream vacation?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Driving
across the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place>
in a big, air-conditioned car and eating in diners three times a day, every day,
for a month.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB">Where to buy:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Islanders-ebook/dp/B00A4QFBEK/ref=la_B001HCRX5A_1_7_title_0_main?ie=UTF8&qid=1352800094&sr=1-7">Amazon</a></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Islanders-ebook/dp/B00A4QFBEK/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_7">Amazon UK</a></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Islanders/book-HqLAPgvYYU-zJ_me_ek0vw/page1.html?s=vp0DZw95TUCS8ezDqzMB-g&r=1">Kobo</a></span></div>
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<u><span lang="EN-GB">Where
can your readers stalk you?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.55pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Website: <a href="http://www.johnbarlow.net/">http://www.johnbarlow.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.55pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Mailing list:
<a href="mailto:mailinglist@johnbarlow.net">mailinglist@johnbarlow.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.55pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Blog:
<a href="http://www.johnbarlow.net/blog/#home">http://www.johnbarlow.net/blog/#home</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.55pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Facebook page:
<a href="http://facebook.com/john.barlow.319">facebook.com/john.barlow.319</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 10.55pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Goodreads author page:
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/JohnBarlow">http://www.goodreads.com/JohnBarlow</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Twitter: @John_Barlow_LS9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBhDFjX6ouIvAyr8jfYLLkxGjbZ1_qC6ea6gDL-j_w7sPTyQ3YEBvX0H2S30h4uEzGKvcZlWGwEWm3QIE7FOt-cxHL826LbfNYdBEja5jUSoacLxHZPMUx0xfP6PMm6RHIQxfCYYtgrI/s1600/image002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBhDFjX6ouIvAyr8jfYLLkxGjbZ1_qC6ea6gDL-j_w7sPTyQ3YEBvX0H2S30h4uEzGKvcZlWGwEWm3QIE7FOt-cxHL826LbfNYdBEja5jUSoacLxHZPMUx0xfP6PMm6RHIQxfCYYtgrI/s1600/image002.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">John Barlow
was born in the north of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>
in 1967. After high school he worked as a musician, playing piano and keyboards
in bars and cabaret, before studying English Literature at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Cambridge</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>.
He also holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Hull</st1:placename></st1:place>.
He taught English in a number of English universities before moving to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region> to become
a writer in 2004. His first published work, the novella <i>Eating Mammals</i>, won the Paris Review Discovery (Plimpton) Prize,
and he has since published fiction and non-fiction with HarperCollins, Farrar,
Straus & Giroux and Fourth Estate, as well as with a variety of publishers
in Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. He is also
a feature writer for food magazine <i>SpainGourmetour</i>,
and works as a ghostwriter, most notably on the <i>HEADLESS</i> project of Swedish artists <st1:personname w:st="on">Goldin+Senneby</st1:personname>.
He currently lives in A Coruña, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
and is married with two boys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Books:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-GB">Eating Mammals</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> (3 novellas)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-GB">Intoxicated</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> (novel)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-GB">Everything but the Squeal</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> (food/travel)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-GB">What Ever Happened to Jerry Picco?</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> (crime novel)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><i><span lang="EN-GB">Hope Road</span></i></st1:address></st1:street><span lang="EN-GB"> (crime novel)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-GB">Islanders</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> (YA novel)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><b>Stay turned for a guest post from John tomorrow...</b></span></div>
Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-14208833407205217492012-11-06T06:00:00.000-08:002012-11-06T06:00:06.385-08:00The Lost Prince - A Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3qCLWvqsolmhWieFojrsOdJBJjw5A0XhiIFTl0Ypgt208hdRDGevnk-FhsaxymOhZY2dvlGVS9mdlZCqNWplBT3EpbyvgM4iVy2N6JWWKctyaSit-0oA_T1RSElRmyI6jBVODzmlKtM/s1600/lostpring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3qCLWvqsolmhWieFojrsOdJBJjw5A0XhiIFTl0Ypgt208hdRDGevnk-FhsaxymOhZY2dvlGVS9mdlZCqNWplBT3EpbyvgM4iVy2N6JWWKctyaSit-0oA_T1RSElRmyI6jBVODzmlKtM/s320/lostpring.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Lost Prince - Julie Kagawa</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></b><br />
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.</em><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I just love these books. I didn't matter to me that this wasn't about Meghan, Ash and Puck. What matter was Julie brought back the worlds and the characters within. And while Meghan, Ash and Puck are not main characters, they each have their roles however small or large they might be.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Eathan is a tortured soul and after the kind of life he has grown up in, I can't say I blame him much. Though sometimes his narcissism tends to get the best of him. I adore Kenzie. She tough as nails but you can see their is this vulnerable side to her. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">We get to meet other new characters as well. My favorite being Razor. LOL this gremlin cracks me up. I'm going to have "Bad Kitty" running through my head for weeks. Want to know what I mean by that? Read the book. You won't regret it.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Author's Website:</span></b> <a href="http://www.juliekagawa.com/" style="font-size: 14px;">Julie Kagawa</a></span></span>Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-3314349455089535472012-11-04T17:30:00.000-08:002012-11-04T17:53:21.252-08:00What Are You Reading <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x4CdRMk9ObYw5a-G5VbOaPD1l7cztGCWZwV9OAofWYnpRyVhRmTh25kxPIEJR91EsNVWFcrbEKhyIJTSW75TxUiu5IDS4Or-waP_uCnpbzRlfEZJw2GwRnnbNwpbbguPabmVwVNwbmQ/s1600/onmondaysheila.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x4CdRMk9ObYw5a-G5VbOaPD1l7cztGCWZwV9OAofWYnpRyVhRmTh25kxPIEJR91EsNVWFcrbEKhyIJTSW75TxUiu5IDS4Or-waP_uCnpbzRlfEZJw2GwRnnbNwpbbguPabmVwVNwbmQ/s200/onmondaysheila.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
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It's Monday. What are you reading this week? Hosted by Sheila at <a href="http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/" style="color: #3366cc; text-decoration: none;">One Person's Journey Through A World of Books</a>. This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Books I finished in the week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
Romeo & Juliet - William Shakespeare full cast audiobook<br />
The Lost Prince - Julie Kagawa<br />
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<b>Books I am reading this week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ash - Malinda Lo</div>
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<b>Books to Finish This week:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Ash - Malinda Lo</div>
Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3835191498609337004.post-39376548033804622182012-10-29T06:00:00.000-07:002012-10-29T06:00:00.225-07:00The Shadow Man - Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTH9PSGME6ilxp1_AnKmXKgdRA8LSD1v8giWwmq9X-aPFTdaAMMR-xA0vAUPSUHZERgKrncmUCiK-Yky4aNhjrl-7uqJ8Ukc92QaTUCMSA3hobH7dflJZX0Stgzt_YoEksaN-mwC_xAoA/s1600/shadowman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTH9PSGME6ilxp1_AnKmXKgdRA8LSD1v8giWwmq9X-aPFTdaAMMR-xA0vAUPSUHZERgKrncmUCiK-Yky4aNhjrl-7uqJ8Ukc92QaTUCMSA3hobH7dflJZX0Stgzt_YoEksaN-mwC_xAoA/s320/shadowman.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Shadow Man - Mark Murphy</span></b> (blog tour)<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Overview</span></b></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">Savannah surgeon Malcolm King had a perfect life—a loving wife, devoted daughter, and a thriving medical practice. And then it all ended. A chance encounter with a reckless driver in an airport parking lot leads to his first brush with the law. The senseless slaughter of a neighbor’s pet soon follows, with Malcolm inexplicably questioned in the matter by the police. An adversary is found decapitated. An acquaintance is chopped into pieces and stuffed into a garbage bag, Malcolm soon finds himself the prime suspect in a serial murder case. But he’s not a killer. Or is he? Who is the Thin Man who lurks at the edges of his vision? Are the flocks of ravens that crowd overhead a warning of impending doom? Or do they exist at all? And how can he protect his family from something—or someone—he knows absolutely nothing about? As Malcolm fights to discover the truth, he learns from a mysterious Seminole tracker that he may not be the first victim of a chameleon-like serial killer known as The Shadow Man. Malcolm’s quest for justice takes him perilously close to the edge of sanity—and perhaps a little bit over it. The Shadow Man is a new breed of psychological thriller, serving up a dark look into the human soul that will have the reader searching for the truth. In Mark Murphy’s debut novel, respectable surgeon Malcolm King becomes entangled in the mind games of a psychopathic serial killer. Malcolm’s home is invaded, his medical practice falls apart, and his family is threatened by a faceless assailant from the world between light and darkness: the Shadow Man. The Shadow Man begins with a killer, identified only as “Q,” dumping a woman’s dismembered body into a Florida swamp filled with hungry alligators. The action then shifts to Savannah, where Malcolm’s car is side-swiped by a dark-tinted SUV which then disappears into the night. The seemingly random hit-and-run is the beginning of a nightmare when the mysterious SUV is found to bear license plates from a stolen vehicle—and the stolen vehicle’s owner is found dead in a Florida hotel. A string of horrific murders follows. Malcolm soon finds himself the prime suspect in a serial murder case, having to convince the police—and himself—that he is not responsible for these crimes. But what is the truth? Can Malcolm save himself and his family? Or will the Shadow Man win out at last, dragging them all into oblivion? The Shadow Man is a unique work. Beautifully written, it is at once evocative and gruesome, an exploration of the intimate bonds of a loving family and the sheer terror of having those things stolen away. This novel is heart-pounding thrill ride the reader simply cannot put down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My Thoughts:</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">Wow talk about fast paced! I picked this book up last night and just couldn't put it down. I got so involved in trying to figure out the plot of the story that I had to force myself to put it down last night to get some sleep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">The book is full of suspense and horror. I never quite knew what was coming next. It was a little predictable at the end yet even with that, I felt completely satisfied by the end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">Mal is a great character. Strong in the light of everything going on around him. I loved Billy and wish I had gotten some more story from him. I would love to see a book revolving around him and his family. Amy, Mal's wife, she was pretty tough but the toughest ones</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;"> in the family was definitely the daughter and the elderly dog. Those two were tough as nails. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;">So to finish, great, fast paced, edge of your seat thrill ride. Like that kind of thing? You'll love this book for sure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20.78333282470703px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Author's Website:</span></b> <a href="http://www.mark-e-murphy.com/" style="font-size: 13px;">Mark Murphy</a></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />Mark Murphy's Facebook:<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/dr.markmurphy" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/dr.<wbr></wbr>markmurphy</a><br /><br />Mark Murphy's Twitter:<br /><a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/Heeldawg" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/#!/<wbr></wbr>Heeldawg</a><br /><br />Mark Murphy's Blog:<br /><a href="http://shadowmanblog.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://shadowmanblog.com/</a><br /><br />Savannah Book Festival:<br /><a href="http://www.savannahbookfestival.org/authors/mark-murphy/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>savannahbookfestival.org/<wbr></wbr>authors/mark-murphy/</a><br /></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-<wbr></wbr>Tours/242431245775186</a></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /><br /><i>The Shadow Man</i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> blog tour site:<br /><a href="http://the-shadow-man.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://the-shadow-man.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a></b>Ziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08756991022697532688noreply@blogger.com2