Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards

Chloe didn't think about it much when she nodded off in study hall on that sleepy summer day. But when she wakes up, snow is on the ground and she can't remember the last six months of her life. Before, she'd been a mediocre student. Now, she's on track for valedictorian and being recruited by Ivy League schools. Before, she never had a chance with super jock Blake. Now he's her boyfriend. Before, she and Maggie were inseparable. Now her best friend won't speak to her.

What happened to her? 
And why can't she remember?

Goodreads Summary

Chloe has a huge problem-she can't remember the past six months of her life and she doesn't know why.  I can't imagine what I would do in her situation.  She looks for clues and tries to discover past memories from her supposed "new" friends and boyfriend.  She can feel instinctively that something is off and has suddenly received amazing grades and a terrific SAT score (personally, I don't know if I'd *want* to know why I had such a surprising turn-around if that was me).  Chloe is horrified to learn that her best friend, Maggie, won't have anything to do with her.  She cajoles and apologizes until Maggie begins to slowly break down, but will she want to hear what Maggie has to say? 

The whole plot of this novel is awesome.  I know it's probably been done before (not exactly the same, but similar), but I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery that shrouded the plot.  I didn't really guess the whole ending correctly; I loved how I was surprised-that doesn't happen often.  I had a really hard time putting this book down.  I finished the entire novel in two sittings.  This book is highly recommended to young adult/teen readers.

5 Stars

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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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Brooklyn Girls by Gemma Burgess

Fantastically funny, fresh and utterly relatable, Brooklyn Girls by Gemma Burgess is the first novel in her brand new series about five twenty-something friends—Pia, Angie, Julia, Coco and Madeleine—sharing a brownstone in hip, downtown Brooklyn, and discovering the ups and downs and ins and outs of  their “semi-adult” lives. The first story belongs to sophisticated, spoiled, and stylish Pia, who finds herself completely unemployed, unemployable, and broke. So what is a recent grad with an art history degree and an unfortunate history of Facebook topless photos to do? Start a food truck business of course! Pia takes on the surprisingly cutthroat Brooklyn world of hybrid lettuce growers, artisanal yogurt makers and homemade butter producers to startSkinnyWheels—all while dealing with hipster bees, one-night-stands, heartbreak, parental fury, wild parties, revenge, jail, loan sharks, playboys, karaoke, true love, and one adorable pink food truck. And that's without counting her roommates' problems, too. Gemma Burgess has captured the confusion, hilarity and excitement of the post-graduate years against a backdrop of the pressures and chaos of New York City life, with heartfelt empathy, fast humor and sharp honesty.

A charming debut series about five twenty-something girls and the humor, heartbreak, and drama that bring them together.

Goodreads Summary

This book reminded me a little of The Gossip Girls...something that I thought was awesome because I think that show is fascinating.  I liked how the author offered five different perspectives to read from and get used to.  I did prefer some of the girls over the others, but I liked them all to some extent.  The main character is Pia and the book is told from her point of view.  There is literally a character to love for every reader and many of the characters' problems were easy to relate to.   It was funny how the girls bickered and made up in the span of a few minutes (it felt like).  The friendships felt real to me; I think I can honestly say the author did a terrific job of building the characters to be as "real" as characters in a book can be. 

The plot wasn't exactly anything new, but I still found myself enjoying it.  I think the author injected extra doses of humor in this story; I literally laughed most of the book.  Pia's relationship wasn't ridiculous.  I liked how the author built up to it and kept the reality in the relationship, as well.  I can understand why she still felt connected in some way to her ex and how she let that interfere a little with her relationship with Aiden.  I think that this book is perfect for a beach or airplane read and good for young adult/adult readers.

3 Stars

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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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Leon's Lair by The Phoenix Blitz

Today is the much awaited release day for Leon's Lair by The Phoenix!
Here's a little bit about what the book is about:
What would you do if you thought you had escaped only to find you are caught in LEON'S LAIR?
This international thriller/contemporary fantasy is a nail-biting ride that is grisly but somewhat tongue-in-cheek, a brutal tale of horror and the occult that doesn't take itself too seriously. It includes romance, continental adventure, action, suspense, and dozens of vivid characters from around the world.
The adventure starts with The Jakarta, an elegant cruise ship sailing the exotic seas in Indonesia with a passenger list of ninety unsuspecting people. Jane and her best friend, Remy, are just getting to know the rest of the small group of young twenty-somethings when the ship is attacked by pirates. However, Leon and his band are not your usual pirates – they want something else.
Jane and two male companions escape the horror, fleeing in a lifeboat. In their flight to escape Leon and his men, they become lost at sea for weeks, are out of water, and have nearly lost hope of ever finding rescue when they finally catch sight of land, a dangerous rainforested island that seems deserted. However, their fight for survival has only just begun.
They are not alone.
Fate is cruel because this island is Leon's Lair.

Character Interviews
Jane O'Doherty
Tell us about yourself, Jane.
"Me, well. I'm twenty-two. I just graduated from Boston University. This cruise in Indonesia is a present from my parents. I thought it would be great to see some exotic ports of call, you know? Before deciding exactly how to apply my education. I studied in the field of biological research and forensics, with a specialty in toxicology. I was going to go into medicine. Be a doctor. But I got hooked on biology and became interested in forensic chemistry. I guess crime-solving runs in my family. My dad and my grandfather are both retired cops. My dad is Irish and my mother is Russian. I'm a workaholic. Terribly serious. And don't sleep much. I live behind my parents' house in a little cottage. I'm always rescuing animals, much to my mother's distress. I have two dogs, four cats, a parrot, and a three-legged squirrel. And of course, to make this trip, I had to hire someone to take care of my menagerie. I'm a vegetarian, but I hate broccoli. Boom! There. Now you know everything about me.


Peter Sorenson
Tell us about yourself, Peter. "I’ve spent a lot of time backpacking, hunting, rock climbing, and that sort of thing. I am mostly a loner. I just graduated from college, and want to work for National Geographic as a writer/photographer, but they turned me down. I'm on this cruise to get some photos of Indonesia. With the photos and an article, maybe they will be impressed and give me a chance. Probably won't work though. I'm pretty much a loser. I also wanted to publish novels. I've written three, but agents keep rejecting my queries. I'm completely attracted to Jane, but I can't approach her. Why would a girl like that want a guy like me? I have the personality of an old gym sock."
Obviously, Peter has lost all confidence in himself. He is shy, kind of geeky, and isn't good at social interaction. However, extreme danger sometimes brings out a person's real character. Peter is the hero in our story.


Wolfgang (Wolf) Ulrich
So Wolf, I hear you are a talented and very powerful wizard. And you're in love with Remy. How is that working out?
"I said good-bye to Remy with a promise to call her, but then I thought, What am I thinking? I can’t be part of her world; it's forbidden!
"To my own surprise, my mouth had opened, and the words just tumbled out. I saw her thoughts, and she was smitten with me. And I was completely drawn to her."
Oh, hell!
"My strong attraction to Remy was immediate, and it now landed me with a terrible problem.
"It had been hard enough for me to admit to myself that I didn't like my fiancée. I had never even bedded the woman. She just turned me off. Finally, a year ago I had come to terms with it. Colette was a snotty, self-centered, French brat. I didn't like her. However, I had decided that not liking her was my problem to deal with and mine alone, because it was a matter of family honor to follow through. A marriage with Colette had been planned from the time we both were born. My father would be in a rage if I said I was interested in another woman.
"I was being heavily pressured by both families to set a wedding date. I kept stalling. The plan between the two powerful families had been to cement the German and French lines to ensure our European existence as influential mages. I couldn't just think about my own desires. I am dedicated to the power of the magic world."
I just have to break this off with Remy …
"Besides my family commitments, I am not allowed to be involved with a nonparanormal. Breaking that rule had severe penalties, not only with the Association but also with the International Council of the Mage. And rule number one: never let normals see you perform magic. How could I hide that from her?
No, I just won't call her back. That's what I'll do.
"I would just stay hidden while I was on an assignment to watch Peter, Jane, and Remy. I felt like we were using them as bait, because we had a feeling Leon would come after them. It could be our chance to catch him, but I also had to make sure I protected them from harm."

Remy Madison
Tell us what happened, Remy.
"Well, we were in a pizza parlor when Jane and I were descended on by the paparazzi, and who showed up out of nowhere? Wolfgang! I mean, we met him on the plane coming home from Indonesia. What a gorgeous man! He asked me for my phone number, but never called. And now here he was grabbing our hands and helping us escape from the press. Instead of going out the back door, he had us duck into the bathroom. He locked the door.
I gazed around the small room. “We're trapped in here. There’s not even a window to crawl out of." I stabbed Wolfgang in the chest with my index finger. "And what are you doing here?"
There was a great deal of jostling and yelling outside the restroom door for about thirty seconds, and then the sound of the back door slamming.
"Can we talk about that later?" he said. "Look at Jane."
I turned to her in the confined space. Jane looked like she was in the middle of a horrible nightmare and couldn't wake up. Her eyes were closed, and she was tossing her head back and forth, violently shaking.
"Jane, what’s wrong? You’ve seen those press jerks before." I shook her.
Jane suddenly let out a bloodcurdling scream, backed up, slammed against the bathroom wall, and slid down with her hands covering her face.
"He was so beautiful and so pathetic, and I killed him. I had to kill him. I had to kill him. Now he's here. He's here! I saw him!"
Wolfgang said, "Jane! Who's here? Jane, who?"
"Leon!"
Then there was a tap on the door.
"Jane, I know you’re in there. I can feel you."
There was a pause.
"I know it was Peter who made you do that to me. I forgive you. Come out, and I’ll take you away from all these cretins, and we can share my empire."
"We’re screwed," I whispered.
Wolfgang grabbed me and Jane around the waist and slammed us into his chest. Suddenly all was black whirling space, and just as suddenly we were standing in the garage at the farm.
"Don’t ask right now; the story is too long to tell," Wolf said, holding both hands in front of himself before either of the us could close our slack jaws to talk.
"And for god’s sake, don’t say anything to anyone else. Do not say how you got here. Do you understand?"
We stared at him and slowly nodded our heads in unison.
"Go back to the house, and tell everyone that Leon is alive and that the press has found you. Don’t come out of the house. I am going to make different arrangements to make you safe, but it will take some time. Do you understand that?"
We again nodded in unison.
He gave us a little push toward the garage side door, and we started walking. I turned to ask a question, but he was gone.
"Well," I said in a flat, faraway voice, "that was interesting." I turned back to Jane. "Don’t you think so?"
Jane looked at me. "Did I just forget about a car ride back from town, or did we just break every law of physics?"

 Author Bio:

Hello. We are Lee and Gary Jordan, and we are THE PHOENIX.
We are passionate readers, reading many different genres. As a writer team, we don't intend to go with custom and stick to one genre. We have several novels in the works.
We enjoy getting to know readers and other authors via the Internet, love movies, and sitting outside to soak up the Southern California sun. We live in Hollywood with our crabby tomcat, Snickers.
Lee wrote A Whisper from Eden. She loves researching and is never content with the way things are explained, and likes looking into the nooks and crannies and wondering, what if?
Gary is a third generation Californian, born and raised in Anaheim. He has always had an insatiable curiosity about everything. He was involved with telecommunications for many years and now has his own business. He has always been a happy, laidback person. But now he has something to be very intense about.
Lee invited him to help her with a paranormal thriller she had in mind, and once he sat down at the computer and started, his life transformed. He found his real passion – writing fiction. He has never been so excited to do something in his entire life.
Both of us feel it is never too late to change the direction of your life.

From Gary to Lee: Well, we are a great team. I love all those brainstorming sessions. Amazing! I want to thank you for being my lover, my confidante, my best friend, and for your dedication to the craft of writing. You are so much fun and so sweet – most of the time.
It's just, I wish you weren't such a crab sometimes. Let's be honest – you nag.

From Lee to Gary: I want to thank you for being your loving, honest, ethical, and wonderful self. And I want to thank you for being my one true soul mate and for sharing with me your wonderful talent. It is truly a joyful experience co-writing with you.
I'll tell you what makes me crabby. You have been so caught up in writing our current novel, you keep forgetting to eat or sleep. Well, okay, I know. Writing this novel is so exciting, and I've been doing the same thing. I know, I know. Right now it's 5:00 a.m. Okay, I know I haven't eaten since yesterday at lunch. Oh well, to hell with it.

 Links
Twitter  http://wix.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=030ceff579602f10e089fbc41&id=409135ab04&e=056e35e9de
Goodreads Author Page   http://wix.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=030ceff579602f10e089fbc41&id=2bde21d57d&e=056e35e9de
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Official Author Page:  http://wix.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=030ceff579602f10e089fbc41&id=6dd8c9f9c0&e=056e35e9de
Blog on Books and Authors – http://wix.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=030ceff579602f10e089fbc41&id=1072fce7fb&e=056e35e9de

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Champion: Excerpt and Book Trailer!

Read a quick excerpt of Champion here!

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Mystery Box Giveaway!

I received a surprised box for my birthday last month and absolutely loved the fun of pulling out books that I would have missed if I had specifically asked for them.  Here's a giveaway to pass the absolute happiness I felt when I received a random box of books on :3 (of course, you can choose the genre/age group you would like to win!).***you can choose more than one genre, just give me a few main ones to go for :D
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Browse Not A Drop to Drink

Take a look inside Not a Drop to Drink!

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Have You Heard of Phoenix Overture?

Order Phoenix Overture for  a great end-of-summer read at only $1.99!

Book Description (from HarperCollins)

This breathtaking and lyrical novella captures a thrilling and momentous decision for a young man and the people he loves. Told from the perspective of Sam, the sensitive musician from Jodi Meadows's Incarnate series, lifetimes before he meets Ana, Phoenix Overture is a story of love and loss, strength and courage, and facing the consequences of the hardest of decisions.

Phoenix Overture offers existing fans a deeper insight into a favorite character and the intriguing history of Heart, while new readers will find a stunning introduction to this rich world and the romantic, captivating fantasy of the Incarnate series.

In the wilds around the Community where Sam and his family have taken shelter, life is dangerous. Dragons, trolls, centaurs, and other monsters fill the world. The word comes from the council that everyone must leave and journey to rescue their leader, Janan, who has been abducted by a mysterious new enemy in the north. Faced with overwhelming threats that bring death and destruction, Sam and the others reach the northern Range and, reunited with Janan, are given an unimaginable opportunity. Although it would give them the privilege to live and learn and love without fear, the choice is not without its own dire consequences. And lives—though not theirs—are sure to be lost. Just how much are they willing to give up to save themselves?

HarperTeen Impulse is a digital imprint focused on young adult short stories and novellas, with new releases the first Tuesday of each month.

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Check Out Spindlers!

Check out the Spindlers here and go behind the scenes!

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Free Ebook Series!

Ever wonder what would happen if Peter Pan's tale was turned on its head?  Check out this ebook free on Amazon for a good weekend read.

Tink is hopelessly smitten with Peter, the leader of the lost boys who'd mysteriously arrived at Neverland two years ago. Unfortunately, Peter is tired of the adventure and especially tired of dodging Captain Hook who is after his head. He just wants to go back to New York City and live his life as a normal fifteen-year-old.

Tink is the only one who can help Peter return, but it breaks her heart to do it. She just wants to make him happy, so she does the unthinkable and betrays the fairy king. Now her heart is filled with remorse. Should she go after Peter? Should she follow him to his New York?

Originally published as six separate novella episodes, Love, Tink the complete series is all six stories together in one volume.

Amazon Summary

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Insight by Terron James

Rumors are surging through Appernysia that a Beholder has been born, the first wielder of True Sight in over a millennium.

Seventeen-year-old Lon Marcs discovers he has been blessed—or cursed—with this gift. He cannot control the power of True Sight and feels it killing him with each passing day. He realizes that the only people who might possess the knowledge to save his life are the sworn enemies of his king. To obtain their help, Lon would have to journey into exile, leaving behind his village, family, and beloved Kaylen.

Although this is the hardest decision Lon has ever made, it is only the first of many that will test his strength and challenge his interpretation of right and wrong.

Goodreads Summary

Lon is a great protagonist.  He immediately captures the readers' attention and holds it throughout the novel.  The reader will get drawn in to the mystery that is True Sight.  When something awful relating to True Sight, Lon, and his fiance happens, Lon knows that he must find a way to control it.  He joins an elite group and discovers that he must prove himself worthy before he is fully accepted.  I found myself rooting for him; he really seemed to work hard and try!  

I thought it was easy to connect to Lon; he was definitely one of the only characters I truly connected to though.  I did like that his twin sister felt a lot of what he felt over the course of the novel; it was like viewing Lon through another perspective.  I thought that the author did a fantastic job of developing the characters and setting up an exciting fantasy novel.  Overall, this book is recommended to young adult/teen readers.

4 Stars


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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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Trafficked by Sophie Hayes

When Sophie Hayes met Bledi she knew he'd change her life – but she had no idea how much. At first, it was a typical whirlwind romance. But one day Bledi told her that love always comes at a price ...

Bledi tricked Sophie into travelling to Italy, where he forced her to sell her body to help him pay off a debt. Terrified and ashamed, Sophie worked the dangerous Italian streets without rest, seeing as many as 30 clients in a night. She was completely at Bledi′s mercy for food, clothes and shelter. And without money, friends or family, she was trapped.

But Sophie found the strength to keep going, clinging to life by a single thread of hope: that somehow she′d find a way to escape.

Goodreads Summary

It's surprising to think about girls being trafficked in this day and age, but the reader may be surprised (like I was) at how often it happens even in America. I can't imagine how the author handled this situation.  If it was me, I don't think I would have shown so much grace under pressure.  Sophie was a girl who did not know about sex trafficking (at least, she didn't think it could happen to her).  When the unthinkable happens and someone who is supposed to love her more or less sells her, Sophie must rapidly recover and get back on her feet.

It has to be horrible to submit to another person for sex.  Sophie relied on Bledi for the basic necessities for living because she had no choice.  Unfortunately, this reliance comes at a heavy cost.   I thought Sophie's character was wonderfully developed and shown through (the reader will make a connection to the author).  There were scenes that were absolutely heart-breaking and will make the reader angry.  This book is recommended to adult readers.

4 Stars

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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong

War is coming to the Otherworld. A sinister cult known as The Supernatural Liberation Movement is hell-bent on exposing the truth about supernaturals to the rest of the world. Their violent, ruthless plan has put everyone at risk: from werewolves to vampires, from witches to half-demons.

Savannah Levine - fiery and unpredictable - stands at the heart of the maelstrom. There is a new, dark magic inside her, granting her the power to summon spells of terrifying strength. But whether this magic is a gift or a curse, no one knows.

On the eve of battle, all the major players must come together in a last, desperate fight for survival - Elena and Clay; Adam and Savannah; Paige and Lucas; Jeremy and Jaime; Hope, Eve and more...They are fighting for lives. 

They are fighting for their loved ones.

They are fighting for the Otherworld.

Goodreads Summary

Anyone who loves Armstrong's books will need to pick this one up!  The reader will get to visit favorite characters from past novels in the series and become reacquainted with them.  The setting varies, but is richly developed.  I personally loved how the author succinctly tied everything up.  Every character's story is definitive and leaves the reader with a promise that they may appear again in the author's next series.  It was fun for me to think back to how the characters originally were in the very first novel and how they have changed.  

I loved how fast-paced this book felt.  The POV's varied and many remained in third person, but I still felt connected to many characters.  I really liked how the book "ended," but still remained with the possibility that the author might write a few more books based around the characters' adventures.

3 1/2 Stars

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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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What's New at Sourcebooks?

Wattpad and Sourcebooks Partner to

Expand Opportunities for YA Fiction Writers

NAPERVILLE, IL (, Thursday, September 5, 2013)—Wattpad (www.wattpad.com), the world’s largest online community for discovering and sharing stories, and Sourcebooks (www.sourcebooks.com), a leading independent book publisher, have announced a partnership that will create new opportunities across multiple publishing platforms for Wattpad writers and Sourcebooks authors.

Indicative of the new models and new relationships emerging in publishing, Wattpad and Sourcebooks are partnering in three ways to cross-promote and develop complementary strategies to make their content broadly available to all types of readers.

First, Sourcebooks will edit and produce select new Wattpad-branded editions of young adult stories into print and e-book platforms, as part of Wattpad’s recently announced Fan Funding experiments where writers have an opportunity to enlist their fans and the Wattpad community to help fund their dreams. The original e-narratives will remain a part of Wattpad. This partnership will bring successful Wattpad authors and their books to a new readership, with distribution throughout national and international retail channels. The books will live under Sourcebooks Fire, the company’s YA imprint.

The initiative will also let digital readers and fans participate in the publishing process by naming characters and voting on the cover jacket designs. The Fan Funding projects will drive pre-orders for two titles scheduled for release in Winter/Spring 2014: My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak, a contemporary romance that has garnered over 22 million reads on Wattpad; and The Cellar by Natasha Preston, a mystery-thriller that has been read over 6 million times.

“This partnership will create substantial value for writers by cross-promoting their work and exposing their stories to millions of young readers, while also satisfying the avid reader’s need for original content,” said Wattpad CEO Allen Lau. “It’s a natural fit, as both Wattpad and Sourcebooks believe in finding innovative models that evolve the digital publishing landscape.”

“Wattpad is a remarkably innovative organization, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with them,” says Dominique Raccah, CEO and publisher of Sourcebooks. “We are incredibly excited about bringing Wattpad writers into the Sourcebooks family and providing new opportunities for our existing authors to engage with new audiences. This partnership is all about helping connect talented authors with readers.”

In the second collaboration, Sourcebooks will be a presenting prize sponsor for Wattpad’s 2013 Watty Awards, a program that showcases the community’s most popular content as voted by Wattpad’s thriving community of active young adult readers. As part of this search to find the “next big thing” in YA fiction, Sourcebooks will be developing channels for top Wattpad writers to have their stories secure traditional retail distribution in print and e-book formats.

And finally, several notable Sourcebooks writers including CJ Lyons, Miranda Kenneally, Janet Gurtler, and Zoraida Cordova, among others, will be making exciting new stories available for free and engaging with readers on Wattpad as part of their social media marketing strategies. This promotional channel includes featured content slots and algorithmic targeting and will allow Sourcebooks authors to build a fanbase of highly-engaged readers around their books and series.

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Single Effort by Joe Keller

Whether you're single by choice or by chance, it's wildly different than living with a partner. Most books on the subject read like cheerleading for cave-dwellers or sex guides for the hopelessly hapless. Why can't someone just tell it like it is? Joe Keller does just that. From food to fun, and finance to romance, Single Effort delivers clear, real-world advice to help you live a dynamic, successful life as a single guy. Heartfelt, funny, and always practical, Single Effort is a must-read for single guys everywhere. It's also perfect for anyone (male or female, single or not) in search of unique dating and lifestyle ideas or a more fulfilling life. Destined to become a classic, this indispensable guide will change how you think about being single and help you find the life and love you seek.

Goodreads Summary

Joe Keller definitely has his own take on being single...and it's a take that I happen to find hilariously great.  I haven't lived with anyone of the other gender in a relationship fashion and can appreciate what this author has to say.  Although I'm not a guy, I found much of the advice that this book holds very good.  Heck, I could really use some of the grocery and food preparation tips and hints .  Some of the tips as far as "prior to dating" are helpful for me, even though I'm not a guy, as well. I really liked that this book could transcend gender lines.  Though the book is definitely told from the perspective of a guy, I could see both genders enjoying what Keller has to say. 

I really liked the tips on getting flowers to grown and live (unfortunate flower-killer over here!) as well as how to make an online profile safely.  This book was easy to read and fun to talk about; adults would find this book a great read!

4 Stars

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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

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Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures by Emma Straub

The enchanting story of a midwestern girl who escapes a family tragedy and is remade as a movie star during Hollywood’s golden age.

In 1920, Elsa Emerson, the youngest and blondest of three sisters, is born in idyllic Door County, Wisconsin. Her family owns the Cherry County Playhouse, and more than anything, Elsa relishes appearing onstage, where she soaks up the approval of her father and the embrace of the audience. But when tragedy strikes her family, her acting becomes more than a child¹s game of pretend.

While still in her teens, Elsa marries and flees to Los Angeles. There she is discovered by Irving Green, one of the most powerful executives in Hollywood, who refashions her as a serious, exotic brunette and renames her Laura Lamont. Irving becomes Laura’s great love; she becomes an Academy Award­-winning actress—and a genuine movie star. Laura experiences all the glamour and extravagance of the heady pinnacle of stardom in the studio-system era, but ultimately her story is a timeless one of a woman trying to balance career, family, and personal happiness, all while remaining true to herself.

Ambitious and richly imagined, Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures is as intimate—and as bigger-than-life—as the great films of the golden age of Hollywood. Written with warmth and verve, it confirms Emma Straub’s reputation as one of the most exciting new talents in fiction.

Goodreads Summary

I wasn't used to reading a book like this.  It was really interesting-I didn't really love the main character, Laura, but I didn't hate her either.  She did a lot of things that I simply wouldn't do or even consider; however, I also felt like I was living vicariously through her.  This story follows a plotline that the readers can likely guess-small town girl makes it big in Hollywood and gets more than a little carried away.  In some ways, I was reminded of Marilyn Monroe or Madonna.  I liked how the author showed a great deal of the main characters' background because she seemed much more real and sympathetic.  The secondary characters were good supporting characters that emphasized a lot of Laura's more interesting qualities.  

The plot itself wasn't anything new, but the author carried it out well.  I didn't hate or like the main character and I thought the author did a good job developing the characters and keeping a fairly impartial look at what goes on in the story.  This book is recommended to adult readers.

3 Stars

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Back Before Dark by Tim Shoemaker

Praise for Code of Silence: 'Deliberate, plausible, and gritty whodunit.' --Booklist Starred Review Taken! A detour through the park leads Cooper, Gordy, Hiro, and Lunk straight into a trap, and Gordy is abducted! For the kidnapper, it's all a game, a way to settle an old score, with no one getting hurt. But evil has a way of escalating, and once his identity is discovered, the rules change. Despite the best of police efforts, the hours tick by without a clue or a ransom call, leaving everyone to their own fears. Gordy is gone. Cooper descends deeper into a living nightmare, imagining the worst for his best friend and cousin. Hours stretch into days, and talks of a memorial service begin to surface. But Cooper still feels his cousin is alive and develops a reckless plan, changing all the rules. Now the one who set out to rescue his friend needs to be rescued himself. Sometimes rescuing a friend from darkness means going in after them.

Goodreads Summary

I thought that this book was a perfect read for a rainy summer or fall day.  I was able to finish it in one sitting and felt like everything was completely tied up at the end of the novel (which is always nice- no cliff-hangers!).  Gordy, one of the four friends that the reader is used to from a prior novel, is kidnapped.  This leads to panic and confusion among the rest of the gang.  In an odd way, this book reminded me a little bit of the Scooby Doo show.  I really liked how the friends worked together and never gave up on their friend.  There were numerous goofy decisions that will make the reader groan out loud; there were parts when I literally cringed.  

I really liked a lot of the characters.  They were very easy to root for during the mystery.  I thought that the author did a terrific job of creating the spooky atmosphere necessary to carry out his plot.  Young adult/teen readers will really enjoy this novel.

4 Stars


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Counting by 7's Blog Tour!

 

 

 *Enter for a chance to win this book here*
 

Welcome to the Counting by 7s blog tour! Willow Chance is a 12-year-old genius who finds it comforting to count by 7s. She’s never really connected with anyone other than her parents, but when they both die in a car crash, she’s left completely alone. We asked author Holly Goldberg Sloan to share her 7s – from the seven favorite books to seven things her fridge can’t do without, follow Holly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays as she counts her own 7s.

 

Holly’s Guest Post:

 

7 things my kids said that I'll never forget

1. When my oldest son was just a toddler I took him along with me to work.  This meant that he was around adults a lot. He was a quiet kid and followed instructions.  Right before we would enter the office I would turn to him and say "Remember to behave."  One day we were leaving and I asked how he was doing.  He answered:  "I'm being Hav, but I don't know who he is."

2. My second son loves words.  He made up his own when he was little.  When he was five he said that I should write the people who made the dictionary and tell them that the word should be 'earthshake' not 'earthquake'.

3. The same son requested a 'milkquake' once the people who wrote the dictionary didn't honor his request for earthshake.

4.  I was standing with my firstborn in the market and a very old woman was in front of us in line.  My young son blurted out "What happens when you die?"  I said we would discuss this later. He then pointed at the woman and said "What happens when she dies?"

5.  When my two sons were 4 years old and 2 years old we were on a flight from Los Angeles to New York.  The boys were sitting next to me looking at a picture book.  I shut my eyes for what seemed like two seconds and when I opened them, the boys were out of their seats and heading down the aisle.  I jumped up and went after them, saying "What do you think you're doing?"  My oldest son answered "We're going outside to play on the wing."

6.  The first time my son Max saw fireworks he was only three years old.  I asked him if he liked what he had seen.  He said "It is very loud when clouds explode."

7.  We live in Southern California and it doesn't rain much.  One winter we had a heavy rainstorm and I put a coat on my young son and we walked out to the sidewalk to watch the water rush down the street.  My son squatted down to look at the things streaming by in the water.  He then got to his feet and said "If you are a worm, it's a good day to travel."

 

Counting by 7s Synopsis:

 

In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family.

Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn't kept her from leading a quietly happy life . . . until now.

Suddenly Willow's world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.

 

About Holly Goldberg Sloan:

 

Holly Goldberg Sloan was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent her childhood living in California, the Netherlands, Istanbul, Washington, DC, and Oregon. She has written and directed a number of successful family feature films. The mother of two sons, Holly lives with her husband in Santa Monica, California. I'll Be There was her debut novel (she earlier had written a middle reader book called Keeper).

 

Follow along the Counting by 7s blog tour to read all seven of Holly’s posts.

 

9/2: Live To Read

9/4: To Read, or Not To Read

9/6: I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

9/9:  Making the Grade

9/11: There's A Book

9/13: Abby the Librarian

9/16: The Book Muncher

 

 

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