I almost stopped reading All I Ever Wanted after the first few pages; Callie just seemed a little too obsessed with her failed romance with her boss. Because really, are you still not over a five week relationship that ended eleven months ago? But I trudged on and it did get better (though I could've done without half the characters having unusual names). A few chapters in, Callie's obsession makes more sense. She's never really moved past age 14 when the very cool and two years older Mark g ... [read more]

I had seen this book at the store and thought it looked interesting. And it was good. I can see that teens would enjoy it, even if I was left somewhat just okay with it. This is the story of Anke and her family. Her father is abusive to her older brother and sister, but doesn't really do much to her, in fact, as the title says, it's like he doesn't even see her. And while she knows what he does to her siblings, sees the bruises, hears him in her sister's room at night, she sometimes feels th ... [read more]

I think most of us have heard of the butterfly effect,  where it's said that the beating of a butterfly's wings can stir air modules that will then stir other air modules and so on and so forth until you end up with a hurricane half way across the world. [read more]

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy! [read more]

What a month! It's was A LOT of work to bring you all this dystopian fun, but it was well worth it!  Thanks for all your comments and support.  Here's a recap of what went on. [read more]

We have great news!  Joshua Graham, author of the suspense thriller, Beyond Justice, and who will be touring with us in September and October is appearing in Suspense Magazine! THE DESCENT INTO HELL IS NOT ALWAYS VERTICAL… Sam Hudson, a reputable San Diego attorney, learns this when the authorities wrongfully convict him of the brutal rape and [...] [read more]

A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse, Translated by Alison Anderson (who also did The Elegance of the Hedgehog.) Description: Ivan, a one-time world traveler, and Francesca, a ravishing Italian heiress, are the owners of a bookstore that is anything but... [read more]

Books read in August (10 total read) [read more]

Good news: August wasn't my worst reading month Bad news: August wasn't my best reading month [read more]

Publisher: Pocket ISBN: 143915788X Pages: 384 pgs Genre: Romance/Highlander Challenges-Read’n’Review Challenge, 100+ Reading Challenge Find The Devil Wears Plaid at Amazon , The Book Depository, Powell’s or Indiebound     Summary (from Publisher): Passion sparks in USA Today and New … Continue reading → [read more]

Book Details [read more]

Yes, I am eleven-and-three-quarters years old. I used to worry about my grades and having to eat stuffed cabbage. I used to wonder about being invited to parties. But now I wonder, what will become of us? What will become of me? (from The Year of Goodbyes, page 34) Jutta Salzberg was 12 years old [...] [read more]

Title: The Eternal Ones [read more]

Earlier this summer I RAVED about a book I had read AND an author I had met while in New York for BEA.  The book, Twenty Boy Summer, was such a  fun read and if you read my review you know I gushed…. and gushed…. and maybe gushed a bit more. I had kept in [...] [read more]

***SPOILERS!***     ***SPOILERS!***   ***SPOILERS!***   ***SPOILERS!***     ***SPOILERS!***   ***SPOILERS!***   ***SPOILERS!***     ***SPOILERS!***       Mockingjay By Suzanne Collins Scholastic, Inc. August 2010 400pp The Short of It: Although I enjoyed the series as a whole, this last book was a total letdown. The Rest of It: I imagine that the pressure to write a satisfying third installment to this series was [...] [read more]

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott March 2010 by Simon Pulse Hardcover 224 Pages Borrowed-Compliments of the Public Library [read more]

Hi Everyone, [read more]

Genre: Historical fantasy romance fairytale Pages: 182 Published: June 2010 [read more]

An oldie but a goody??? (Published in 2002) Well maybe. Honestly I didn't get the premise at first. Woman goes to get married, guy doesn't show up. Guy goes missing. Cute cop acquaintance shows up to question her and then... nothing? New ex is fine. No, he wouldn't be fine. Leave me at the altar and I'm gonna find someone to kill you. [read more]

About Lost Lustre: A New York Memoir Paperback: 250 pages Publisher: Tatra Press (October 16, 2010) Muggings on Avenue C, punk bands at CBGB, youthful romance in Greenwich Village, parties in a nascent SoHo, dropping out from the famous Music & Art High School.  In this episodic, coming of age memoir, Josh Karlen chronicles growing [...] [read more]

The Darkest Edge of Dawn - Kelly Gay (Gallery Blog Tour) [read more]

Congratulations to Sharyla, from A Bookish Wonderland, who was the winner of my giveaway of an ARC of David Nicholl's One Day. [read more]

Katie Charmaine is still mourning the loss of her husband, who was killed in Iraq, when her past comes back to haunt her. Zach Ferguson, a one-time summer love, returns to her town with their 16-year-old daughter, Gracie, in tow. Katie is shocked. She gave Gracie up for adoption when she was born, and Zach didn't even know about her existance. Zach explains that Gracie sought him out after her adoptive parents were killed in a car accident, and now Gracie needs both of their help. She's preg ... [read more]

Future conversation between myself and a future acquaintance. [read more]

How Active is Your Imagination? [read more]

Title: Summer House Author: Nancy Thayer Publisher: Ballantine Books ISBN, PUB Date: 978-0-345-49821-2, 6/1/10 Reviewed by: Tiffany Schlarman for Author Exposure (8/10) [read more]

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars I was fascinated by this hard-working, hard-drinking young woman, who was far more obsessed with looking good on her wedding day than she was with her groom. From the publisher’s website: This is the story of Quinn—born Prudence Quinn O’Malley—a confused young Manhattan attorney who loses her father on [...] [read more]

After people find out I’m a writer, one of the most common questions I’m asked is; “When did you start writing?” [read more]

Whee! Today's tour is for book #2 in Kelly Gay's Charlie Madigan series, The Darkest Edge of Dawn! [read more]

This week, the [read more]

It is my great pleasure to welcome back Pam Ripling. You may recall the terrific post she wrote for me last year about the connection between photography and writing. That post also introduced you to her mystery novel Point Surrender. [read more]

  [read more]

Look at all those book booths! Sigh - it's a little too far for me, but not too far way. Mark the date on your calendar for the Miami Book Fair International celebrating its 27th anniversary Nov. 14-21, 2010.  Any bloggers in the area planning to attend? Chcck out some of the authors attending! [read more]

It’s time again to catalogue the books I’ve tried to read — and I mean really, really tried — but just couldn’t stomach in the end. It’s just a personal preference, friends; my massive dislike of these books may translate to a total romantic love affair for you. But as it stands? They’re on my [...] [read more]

Each week I feature one of my favorite reads from the past.  Most of these are my favorites from my pre-blogging days, but occasionally I throw in a current favorite as well. Since I haven't read these books in a long time I generally include the publisher's blurb and my reasons for featuring the book as a favorite, including any special memories I may have of the book. [read more]

Genre: Historical Fantasy Copyright: September 2010 (first published 1980) Pages: 384 Source: ARC Sourcebooks Rating: 8 [read more]

After finishing Mockingjay I tried to read several books. I tried to read some general fiction, historical fiction, lighthearted YA, a mystery, and some creative nonfiction. And I couldn't get past a few pages in any of them. Not because they were bad books but because they weren't Mockingjay. So I decided to finally dig out my copy of Gregor the Overlander, the first book in Suzanne Collins middle grade series. I bought this book a long time ago after reading Catching Fire, I think, bu ... [read more]

Hashbrown Winters and the Mashimoto Madness by Frank L. Cole is the followup to The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters but I found one doesn’t need to read the first to understand the second.  This book is wonderfully strange, irreverent, funny, quirky, odd, and perfect for young boys who are reluctant readers.    Such a weird, weird, [...] [read more]

Color Me Brown is a feature in which we spotlight links of interest. The links can vary from discussion posts, interviews, reviews, etc. Anything that has to do with multiculturalism. Share your own links in the comments! [read more]

Sorry about slacking on the questions on Monday! Just when you think life can’t get any crazier, it does. I’m back on track now, though! I only have a few questions this week: In Chapter 17, why do you think Offred wanted to steal something? Also in Chapter 17, Offred says she wants ‘to be [...] [read more]

Coming September 7, 2010! Bianca really has no interest in being the life of the party. She doesn’t even want to be at the party, period. But week after week, cynical and snarky Bianca braves the hormone-riddled masses of the local teen club, the Nest, for the benefit (and safety) of her perkier, more popular friends. One night, in the midst of the maelstrom, Bianca finds herself [read more]

We all have characters we love. Let's spotlight these fantastic creations! Whether you want to be friends with them or you have a full-blown crush on them, you know you love them and want everyone else to love them too! [read more]

Why I picked it: I read a review of After You which reminded me that I had a copy of my laptop (audio).  A perfect selection to keep me company while running.  Thanks Judith (Leeswammes Blog) [read more]

Guess what time of year it is? Yup, you guessed it, it’s about the time of year that the literary community starts talking about banned and challenged books. Why is this important, you ask?  Because people who don’t know or your children are trying to tell you was is appropriate to read.  I don’t know [...] [read more]

Author: Charles Martin [read more]

You may have heard of Ken Follet's upcoming massive book which will be epic and published in like a bajillion countries on the same date, 28th September? No? I heard the news a while ago, but didn't really pay much attention to it as I haven't read anything by Ken Follet and wasn't really planning to -- until I've actually read the synopsis for this book and it sounds amazing! I'm not sure if I'll buy the hardback or wait for the paperback (oh, the dilemma!), but this is definitely on my wis ... [read more]

When was it read? August 27, 2010 to September 1, 2010 Who read it? Rosefire Author's Website: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/belvaplain Where did it come from? Bookmooch Where did it go? My bookshelf Year Published: 1993 Pages: 288 Cover: paperback [read more]

HOW TO CLEAN THE HOUSE . . . [read more]

Tana French's third novel, "Faithful Place", is a police procedural set in Dublin.  In her books, French often shows how past events impact the present.  In this novel when the main character, Frank, was in his late teens, his girlfriend disappeared.  He assumed she had left him and throughout the years he hoped she'd reappear.  At the start of this novel, her teenage dead body is discovered 22 years after her disappearance.  Frank, who is now a cop, is unofficially on the case. [read more]

For many of us in the Western world, September is month that spells a return to school and work after summer weeks of sun and holiday. Sobering, yes -- but just like the morning after New Year's Eve, this sort of wake-up call often involves new resolve.  [read more]