Sheila: Book Reviewer,writer and great lover of books...sharing her wonderful finds of fantastic authors,their books, writing tips, and also other things of interest to her and those following the blog. Thanks for visiting! Follow today and don't miss out on news of great new books and giveaways!
This contest is another super one, that I almost didn't want to share about. I am sharing the information anyhow; because that is one way to earn 2 entries in the contest. http://amberargyle.blogspot.com/
Amber Argyle is giving away a signed, hardcover copy of Graceling . There are several things to do to earn entries into the contest. Amber is the author of "Witch Song" her book that is coming out September 1, 2011. Here is a little blurb about her new book.
Fourteen-year old Brusenna is the last Witch. All the others have been imprisoned by the Dark Witch. And without the witches’ songs to shore up the bindings of nature, storms rage, climates cross hardened boundaries, and seeds refuse to germinate.
Hiding from the Witch Hunters and their muskets, Brusenna and her Guardian, Joshen, must find the key to defeating the Dark Witch and rescuing the others. Because if not, there may be nothing left to save.
This sounds so good! I am putting this on my to-read list.
So, if you want to try and win the signed copy of Graceling, head on over to Amber's blog.
Busted. Football star Kaleo Steele is caught under the high school bleachers with the wrong group of friends. Even worse, he's caught by his seminary teacher, Brother Mortensen. If Kaleo gets turned in, he'll be in jeopardy of missing the regional championship game.
It doesn't help that Kaleo has been cutting seminary class. But what's the point? Mumbo jumbo stories about angels and gold plates and Joseph Smith? Brother Mortensen decides Kaleo is ready for an extraordinary "field trip" - one that could alter the course of his life and his heart.
Reluctantly, Kaleo meets with Ladan - a mysterious old blind man - and unknowingly begins a quest through time, landing in Palmyra, New York, in the fall of 1827.
Soon, Kaleo and a nineteenth-century girl named Jennie are caught up in a battle between treasure seekers - led by Alistair Blackburn, a necromancer hired to steal the gold plates - and the young Joseph Smith, who has sworn to keep them safe.
In his quest to find a key that will send him back to his own time, Kaleo will have to decide for himself what to believe and who to trust. Before it's too late.
This is a great new book from Jeffrey S. Savage. LDS teens and their parents will love this book and so will adults who love YA books. I love the concept of going back in time, especially to meet the Prophet Joseph. This will be another great series by Jeff. (At least I think this is going to be a series. If I am incorrect Jeff, let everyone know. It just seems to be something that would make a great series.)
I always read his books so quickly. He is an awesome writer. He knows how to create wonderful characters that you love to care about. The main character,Kaleo, learns a lot on his adventure. At first you think he is another sassy kid that just doesn't "get it". By the end of the book, his testimony grows and yours can't help but be strengthened by what Kaleo learns from The Prophet Joseph Smith. This is a book I will be sharing with my own children and my nieces and nephews.
Another note, I loved reading the author notes at the end of the book. They are great! You will get a feel of what Jeff is really like; besides being a fantastic author,he is a really great guy with a super sense of humor.
I bought my copy of this book at the Book Academy Writers Conference and had it signed there by the author.
Would You Like Me to Read and Review Your Book?Here is my Review Policy
I am accepting books for review from
authors and publishers. I prefer receiving hard copies, but I have a Kindle App for my computer and will also accept books in PDF form. Every book I read, I will then 'review'. These 'reviews' will reflect my
honest opinion, I'll try to remain positive, not be overly critical, but if I don't like a book I will say so. My
reviews will consist of my thoughts and feelings about the novel read and as a result, my reviews are very subjective, instead of a critical
analysis.
I will read most genres: I prefer clean
romances, love YA general and speculative, fantasy, sci-fi, historical, self-help and children's books.
Reviewing Time Frame: I have many books that I have in my pile to read and review. Unless I am participating in a blog tour with an assigned date, I will do my best to get your book read and reviewed in a timely manner.
Beyond Reviews: Not only will I review books, but I will hold contests/giveaways, interview authors, particiapte in book/blog tours and Blog Hops. Please
explain in your e-mail about the particulars .
Contact me here:
at WhyNotBecauseISaidSo@gmail.com
Elizabeth Lindsay, wife and mother of two, is in an auto accident. She awakens in a hospital with strangers calling her Kate. She learns that she perished in the accident and is the donor for the first successful brain transplant. Her mind and memories now reside in the body of eleven-year old Kate. She's not supposed to have a personal memory, but ... Elizabeth is faced with an overwhelming situation. How does she resolve her death and rebirth? How does she stop being Liz and start becoming Kate? It s a story about love and letting go, of redemption and second chances.
"Becoming Kate" is a story that I really want my blog readers to read. It isn't often, that I read a book that I want everyone to experience. This book is for teens and adults alike. This is a book that makes you think about life and how you live life. It makes you think about death and how you will be remembered. It also is a story that makes you look deep down inside of yourself and maybe makes you question your ethics. Here are the things I can promise you...
-This book will grab you from the first two sentences. "Liz had no idea that today would be the last day of her life. It started like any other Saturday."
-You will not be able to put this book down after you have started it. I had to keep reading it to find out what would happen to Kate/Liz.
-I liked all of the characters in the story, even the brain transplant doctor, Dr, Jamison. Dixie developed all of her characters very well. I am not going to say that you will love all of the characters, but she will bring up great emotion in the readers as you read the book.
-The idea of a brain transplant can be creepy, but fascinating at the same time. Dixie shows all sides of whether this kind of procedure is ethical or not. It also shows the possibility of memories not being erased and still remaining from the transplant donor.
-Your heart will be pulled into so many directions while reading this book. You will feel for Kate/Liz wanting her old life back. She experiences so much pain as she can only watch her husband and children from a distance. You will feel the heartbreak of Liz's husband and children as they try to go on with Liz now "dead". You will feel drawn to Kate's parents, as they thrill at the fact that their 11 year old daughter is still alive. You will understand the struggle that Kate/Liz has as she has to learn to love her new Mom, Dad and brother.
-I also really love the book club questions at the end of the book:
1 .How important is memory to the definition of who we are?
2. Does the body have a memory?
3 .Where does the soul reside? In the heart, brain or some other place?
4. Is age a state of mind or is it controlled by man's calendar?
5. How adaptable is the human spirit?
6. Could a responsible, loving parent ever truly release his/her children to the care of another and remain in the shadows?
I highly recommend that you read "Becoming Kate". As you read and contemplate all of these questions, I promise you that many aspects of how you live your life will change.
I also am blogging about this book so more of you will read this wonderful book. After you read "Becoming Kate", please then go to the Whitney Awards website and nominate this book for a Whitney Award. I feel that it is deserving to be in the running to win an award. It is very easy to nominate any book that you have read, written by an LDS author, that was published in 2010. Now is the time for you, as readers, to let your opinions be known. You can nominate books until December 31st, 2010.
About the Author:
Dixie Owens worked for 30 years with the State of California
Employment Development Department (EDD) in various marketing and
job development roles. She holds an Associate of Arts from Ohlone College;
Marketing Coursework at U.C. Davis; completed a certification program,
"Women in Management," from the University of Southern California's
Post-graduate School of Business. Dixie Wilks Owens currently resides in Grants Pass,
Oregon with her husband. Now this mother of seven, grandmother of fifteen, "spins" time by writing, dancing, scupting, painting, singing and supporting worthwhile causes.
I was generously supplied a review copy of "Becoming Kate". In no way did this influence the review or recommendation that was given to the book. I do not get paid for any reviews that are given on this blog.
When ten-year-old Alex Cooper moves from a rural, tranquil Ohio town to the middle of hurricane row in Florida, he's not sure he'll ever fully adjust. But soon he finds hurricane row is a breeze compared to the mysterious, secluded Macki Bald Inn--a nearby inn owned by two ladies who seem to know everything about Alex before he even meets them. What secret does this inn and it's inhabitants harbor?
This is the first book by E.A.Day. It will have great appeal with readers aged 8-12 and many young adult readers. I liked the mystery that was revealed at the end of the book. The book is slow at the first, but picks up quickly as the main character, Alex (Lieutenant), makes friends with Miranda (Captain) and Ralph (Mate). They end up having great adventures with pirates from the past. There is
also a fun story line surrounding The Fountain Of Youth and the famous Ponce De Leon. You will also really like the parrot PDL.
This is a fast read at 123 pages. It will be fun to see what else E.A. Day writes next. I think that she should write a sequel, with these same three engaging children, having another great adventure.
E.A. Day is my friend Emily Day. This is her first published book. I am so happy for her and also very proud of her accomplishment. I know that she has been wanting to attain this goal of a published book for awhile. I am so happy to share about her book with my blog readers.
You can purchase her book, "The Macki Bald Inn" from Amazon.com.
Here is some more information about E.A.Day.
E. A. Day was born in Spokane, Washington. However, because her father was in the military, she grew up all over. She has lived in the desserts of Texas, the green rolling hills of Kansas, a farming village in Germany and on the sandy shores of Florida. She draws upon her memories and experiences in these places for her writing. She's been writing stories in her head since she can remember (especially during boring high school classes) but didn't start writing them down until 2003. She had only one teacher tell her she should pursue creative writing (2nd grade, thank you Ms. Stadius!) and another that told her she shouldn't. So if you love to write but haven't yet won the junior Newberry award--don't give up! So far, her books have been for young adults and children but if she ever grows up, she might write something for adults (probably not). She lives now in Southern California with her wonderful husband and five enthusiastic children.
The engrossing companion novel to Princess of the Midnight Ball, with a wicked twist on Cinderella.
Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other’s countries in the name of better political alliances—and potential marriages. It’s got the makings of a fairy tale—until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.
I love Jessica's stories. I have liked every book that she has written. I give her the title first of a fantastic storyteller, then a writer. Anyone can write, but not everyone can tell a good story.
My favorite part about this book is the main character Poppy. I love her spirit, determination and intelligence. Her background dealing with black magic, comes in handy while figuring out the mystery to Ellen's transformation.
I also really liked the twist on this retelling of Cinderella. I have been very bored with many of the retelling's up to this point. Having the "Cinderella" be Ellen,"Eleanora", another character in the story, this was a good thing for me. It fit her gullible and fragile personality better. You can understand why she would have fallen prey to an evil source.
I wish that there had been more romance between Poppy and Christian at the end. I felt like things were just getting started between the two of them. My favorite male character in this story was Roger. He was a well rounded character showing much personality and wisdom. I almost wanted to see Poppy and Roger end up together.
As others have said and I agree, my favorite Jessica Day George book is still "Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow". It sits there among my top 10 favorite books. I can't wait to read the next book from Jessica.
Paul Stephens has it all—a wonderful job at the FBI, a potential new girlfriend, Emily, and a great apartment. Even when Jimmy, a friend from his past, unexpectedly ends up on his couch, Paul manages to keep it together, despite Jimmy’s eccentric ways and sudden interest in Emily. But when a plan to arrest a corrupt judge puts Emily’s life in danger, Paul
is forced to make decisions that put everything on the line. And with Jimmy along for the ride, anything can happen as they race to save Emily.
My initial impression, as I was reading the first chapters of the book was, there is no way this is Steve's first book! It truly felt like a seasoned writer had created this story. Everything from the fantastic and varied characters, to the story line that rocked and never stopped moving. I was very surprised when I read Steve's Bio and he said, " I was curious if I could write a book so I thought I'd give it a shot as an experiment." That really made me giggle. You will see, as you read "Defensive Tactics", that Steve is a natural born storyteller.
Though this thriller is mainly centered around FBI Agents, the mafia and a corrupt slimy judge (Thank you Rebecca Talley, for stating it like that in your review of the book) there is so much more. This book is about three friends who end up in a love triangle and in the end helping each other to survive. Paul is the stalwart man who is always there for everyone. Jimmy is the "loser" friend, grieving about his past and trying to find his way again. Emily is the woman, stuck in between the two men, trying to decide where her feelings really reside.
Speaking of Emily, I really loved this character. It is no secret that I love strong and courageous women characters. There has been too many females, written into stories, that swoon and are waiting to be saved. Emily most certainly does not fit into that category. You would describe Emily as gusty, intelligent and also very kind and caring. She gives her all in helping Jimmy find redemption. So many of us need an Emily in our lives. Someone that believes in us and doesn't give up.
All of you mystery/suspense/action lovers, do not despair. There is plenty of all three things, including a heavy dose of " holding your breath until the very end" moments.
This book has something for everyone, male and female of all ages. This is a juggernaut of excitement, full of high- speed suspense and an ending resolution that touches the heart.
To learn more about Steve and his writing, visit him at his website here.
My wife and I have lived in small town, rural Missouri for 12 years and have 4 entertaining and wonderful children, but I never expected to be living on a farm with chickens, cows, kittens and a dog. I don't particularly enjoy animals, but I do appreciate them for their utility... and the kids love 'em.
I'm a banker by trade, but my life revolves around spending time with my family and serving in our church. Being a father and a husband are the most important things I can concentrate my time on and I enjoy it.
I have always enjoyed writing, but I had never even considered writing a novel until one morning I woke up with the idea for some characters in my mind. I was curious if I could write a book so I thought I'd give it a shot as an experiment.
After a long process of writing, nearly giving up mid-way through, editing, shopping for a publisher, changing the title and editing some more, my first book, Defensive Tactics, is being published through Cedar Fort on the Bonneville Books imprint, and will be in stores in August 2010.
My second book, Crater Lake: Battle for Wizard Island is a youth/fantasy book written with my oldest daughter and son in mind. They are avid readers who turned me on to books like Fablehaven and Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which I really enjoy. So, as a father trying to please his children, I wrote Crater Lake for them.
I hope to have Crater Lake out in early 2011.
I was kindly given a review copy of this book. In no way did this change or determine the review that was given.
