I am a certified bookaholic and am embracing my addiction. Here you will find my short book reviews and other wonderful information all about books. I will also share my love for animals and show you some of my knitting projects.
If you don't see yourself in the standings above, it is because you didn't leave a comment telling me how many books you read so far. You need to do this at the end of each month.
Please post the books you read in April for the challenge in Mr. Linky, below: If you forgot to post book in any previous months, please post them in Mr. Linky below as well. Please enter your name and the name of the book in this format: Name: (Your Name, Book Title and Author's Name) for example: (Teddy, Obsessive Reading by Helen Reader).
Thanks to Jessica Butler of Berkley/NAL, Penguin Group USA,I am giving away one copy of The Mango Bride.
Book Description:
After being banished by her wealthy Filipino family from her home in Manila , Amparo has built a life for herself in California . She works as an interpreter, and has found love with a yoga instructor. But even oceans away from her native land, a family secret threatens to destroy the new life she has built.
Beverly has also crossed an ocean and come to California to remake herself, but she does so as a mail-order bride to a rich American who came to the Philippines looking for a wife. Life in the land of plenty is not what she might have hoped, and she dreams of home.
As the two women work toward their independence, they become entangled in each other’s chaotic realities. Their unexpected collision forces them both to make terrible choices and to confront their new reality—but through it all they hold fast to family, in all its enduring and surprising transformations.
About Marivi Soliven:
Like her main characters, Marivi Soliven moved from the Philippines to California, where she now lives and works as an interpreter. Several of her short stories and essays have appeared in anthologies and she has taught writing at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, the AyalaMuseum and the University of California at San Diego.
Thanks to Liz Kelsch of Sourcebooks, I am giving away one copy of Jack Absolute.
Book Description:
It’s 1777 when Captain Jack Absolute becomes a sensation throughout London. This news comes as a shock to the real Jack Absolute when he arrives in England after four months at sea. But there’s little time for outrage before he finds himself dueling for his life. Right when he thinks he’s finally won, he is forced to flee London by the quickest means possible, becoming a spy in the American Revolution.
From the streets of London, to the pivotal battle of Saratoga, to a hunt for a double agent in Philadelphia, Jack Absolute marks the exhilarating beginning of an epic historical series and a character you won’t soon forget.
About C.C. Humphreys:
C.C. Humphreys is a novelist, fight choreographer, and actor who played Jack Absolute in The Rivals for a six-month run in London in the mid-1980s. When he became a full-time writer a decade ago, he decided to transform his leading man into a title character. Humphreys has written seven historical fiction novels including The French Executioner, which was runner-up for the CWA Steel Dagger for Thrillers 2002. The Jack Absolute series will feature three books: Jack Absolute, The Blooding of Jack Absolute, and Absolute Honour.
This giveaway is open to the U.S. only. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
We found this motel on Hotwire.com and have gotten good deals and comfortable, clean Hotel rooms in the past through them. The disadvantage is that you have to pay when you book and there are no refunds. That said, when we drove to the motel, we were surprised to see it was a motel and not a hotel. Hotwire said 2 star hotel. The gentleman at the front desk who checked us in was quit nice. He also gave us a room that was farthest from the busy street it was on. It's a small place, so we could still hear the traffic. This is a alleged 2 star hotel, so we weren't expecting the Ritz. The walls are paper thin and we could hear everything. The hot water tap for the sink only was not even lukewarm, it was just as cold as the cold tap. The wwii fi was so slow,we ended up going to Starbucks to use my laptop and tablet.. The place was gungy looking and you could feel the springs in the mattress. The entire bed bounced and jiggled when either one of us so much as moved a muscle. Over all, a poor excuse for a motel. I would give it no stars if the was an option! To be fair, I need to say what was good about it. The price, $50 and the best part about it, leaving!!!! If we hadn't pre-booked the room with Hotwire and could have gotten a refund we would have left and found something better, perhaps a real 2 star or 3 star place. Verdict: Pay more, do not stay there! Avoid it at all costs!
We were in Seattle for a couple days and as always, scouted out vegan restaurants on the web before going. The one we were most looking forward to was Plum Bistro and it did not disappoint! Our waiter, Will was very attentive. We arrived early, because they don't take reservations for less than 6 people. It was still Happy Hour, so we got a 12oz. beer for $5. Coming from Canada, that is a bargain. The prices are a bit on the high side for the mains but the meal was so good. My husband and I are middle aged, so appetites aren't what they use to be, so we often split meals. We had the ravioli, stuffed with vegan ricotta. That was the best vegan ricotta and ravioli we have ever had! I have to say I expected more than 4 ravioli total but they were big. I would have preferred 6 for three each but know 4 would have been too many for me. Especially since I asked to see the desert menu first, my habit. So with room for desert, we shared the chocolate hazelnut beignets. To say that was the best chocolate desert I ever had, is an understatement! It actually brought tears to my eyes!
Thanks to Will and Plum for the memorable meal we will be back!
The food and service was 5 star but because of the pricing, I took a star off. We didn't expect it to be cheap but the portions should either be a bit bigger or the pasta should be under $20. Tweet
Thanks to Jocelyn Kelley of Kelley Hall Book Publicity, I am giving away two copies of Once Upon a Gypsy Moon.
Book Description:
This is the story of one man’s yearning for redemption and renewal aboard an aging, 32-foot sloop, the Gypsy Moon. From the acclaimed author of Letters from the Woods, Michael Hurley, a noted trial attorney who once worked as a professional sailor, returns to the sea in what can only be described as a real-life odyssey.
Hurley originally began documenting his experience through letters to family and friends. What resulted is a compelling, raw and true story of one man’s life at sea. Fans of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild will delight in this poignant and honest account of the perils we all face when our life has drifted off course.
Watching his world unravel following the end of his 25-year marriage, Hurley is short of
cash, out of a job and deeply in need of some perspective. He takes to the open ocean on an improbable sailing voyage that is part pilgrimage, part protest, and part penance. This is the story of the ensuing odyssey that spanned two years and 2,000 miles.
As the story leads to various ports of call, the author uses keen observations as touch points to reconcile events from his own past. Through these poignant, personal stories, he draws larger lessons for the reader on such diverse topics as faith, love, death and marriage.
Sorry, this giveaway is open to the U.S. and ends on May 2, 2013. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
*2012 Finalist International Book Awards for Historical
Publication Date: September 26, 2011
Raven's Wing Books
Paperback; 408p
ISBN-10: 1618070150
Rocamora, a novel of 17th century Spain, is based on the life of Vicente de Rocamora, who struggles to make his place in a Spain obsessed with limpieza de sangre, purity of blood untainted by Jew, Moor, or recent convert.
Poet, swordsman, and master of disguise, at the insistence of his family, Vicente enters the Dominican Order and is soon thrust into the scheming political and clerical hierarchies that at Court.
Vicente needs all his skills and cunning to survive assassination by a growing list of ruthless foes in both Church and Court, solve a centuries-old riddle to quell rumors of his own impurity of blood, and above all suppress his love for the seemingly unattainable MarÃa.
Rocamora Book Trailer:
My Thoughts:
This book is a fictional account Vicente de Rocamora. He was a master of disguises, poet, Dominican Priest, among other things. The book opens with a bang and never lets go. Vincente's parents were both murdered and the starts off right away with him avenging their death, in disguise. It is 17th century Spain. At the age of 16 wants to be a solder but at the insistence of the remaining head of family, who vowed a oath of loyalty to, he becomes a Dominican priest.
Vincente move up the ranks rather quickly and becomes the confessor for the beautiful Infanta Doña MarÃa. The younger sister of King Phillip IV of Spain. Eventually it looks as if he will become the Inquisitor General.
Donald Michael Platt brings the time of the Spanish Inquisition to life. It is apparent he did a lot of research for this book. My only complaint, and it is a small one is I think there could have been tighter editing. Other than that, I loved this book and will certainly read the second book, House of Rocamora. Highly recommended!
4.5/5
I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.
About Donald Michael Platt:
Born and raised inside San Francisco, I graduated from Lowell High School and received my B.A. in History from the University of California at Berkeley and won a batch of literary cash awards while in graduate school at San Jose State.
When I moved to southern California, I began my professional writing career. I sold to the TV series, MR. NOVAK, ghosted YOUR HAIR AND YOUR DIET for health food guru, Dan Dale Alexander, and wrote for and with diverse producers, among them as Harry Joe Brown, Sig Schlager, Albert J. Cohen, and Al Ruddy as well as Paul Stader Sr., dean of Hollywood stuntman and stunt/2nd unit director. Also, options were taken on my unpublished WWII fighter ace novel and several treatments.
After living in Florianópolis, Brazil, setting of my horror novel A GATHERING OF VULTURES, Dark Hart 2007, Briona Glen 2012, I moved to Florida where I wrote as a with: VITAMIN ENRICHED, pub.1999, for Carl DeSantis, founder of Rexall Sundown Vitamins; and THE COUPLE’S DISEASE, Finding a Cure for Your Lost “Love” Life, pub. 2002, for Lawrence S. Hakim, MD, FACS, Head of Sexual Dysfunction Unit at the Cleveland Clinic.
Currently, I reside in Winter Haven, Florida. My magnum opus historical novel, ROCAMORA, set in 17th century Spain and Amsterdam during their Golden Ages, was released by RAVEN'S WING BOOKS at the end of December 2008. It has been republished by Briona Glen, September 2011. My completed sequel HOUSE OF ROCAMORA was published by Briona Glen November 2012, and I am polishing a completed novel set in the 9th century Carolingian Empire about another unusual historical character, Bodo, the Apostate.
Publisher: Bush Street Press (May, 2012)
Category: Self Help, Non-Fiction, Self Discovery, Happiness
Tour Dates: Mid April, 2013
Available in: Print and ebook 158 pages
#1 on Amazon Hot New Releases!
We arrive on this planet naked and without operating instructions. We live our lives and learn from trial and error (lots of errors) what works, what doesn’t work, what makes us happy and what pisses us off.
Each new person that comes into our lives gets no user’s manual and has to figure us out the hard way. But what if we changed the rules? What if we wrote our own user’s manual, The Happiness Handbook, about what makes us tick and gave it to the people we love most?
Imagine how that would change our interactions and our lives. People would begin to do what makes us happy and … we would be happy! If someone received our Happiness Handbook and chose not to follow it, well then, we could choose not to hang out with them more quickly.
The Happiness Handbook is about empowering the reader to discover their own unique ways of being that lead to unlocking their full potential and becomes their guide for leading the extraordinary life they were born to fulfill.
The Happiness Handbook is written in a warm, friendly and informal tone; as if a girl friend were guiding the reader through their process of self discovery. Peppered with humbling, humorous anecdotes and stories; the reader has a practical, seasoned guide and partner in crime as they work the exercises and use the tools to move from unhappy to happy!
My Thoughts:
You may have noticed that I don't really read many self help type books, in fact I don't think I have reviewed any here. However, when Jenn's assistant Linda approached me to put together a tour for The Happiness Handbook I took a look at it. I realized right away that it wasn't your regular self-help/relationship book. I tend to not read those for a reason, they aren't helpful to me.
The Happiness Handbook is so much more and for that reason, I decided to read it myself as well as set up a tour. First and foremost it is a tool to help you get at what truly makes you happy so you can have a happy relationship with yourself and others. At a young age, I was taught not to be selfish, strive to make others happy. Jenn gave me permission to delve deep inside and look at what makes me happy. She made me realize that I can help others even more by helping me discover myself.
I had never stopped to really think about what makes me happy. Written with witt and easy reading Jenn helped me discover what makes me truly happy. This book is packed with easy and fun exercises to complete. It is aimed at women but men would find it helpful to complete as well. Jenn also encourages you to share what you learn about yourself with your spouse or boyfriend, etc.
Highly Recommended!
5/5
I was sent a copy of this book for my honest review.
About Jennifer Flaa:
Serial entrepreneur with deep roots in technology and a passion for music. Jenn merges creativity and tech with fun and energy.
After starting her career as an engineer at NASA and a stint in Silicon Valley as a Quality Assurance Manager, Jenn started her first of four companies. Vettanna provides high tech resources and communications training on-camera.
Not content to use one side of her brain, Jenn is also the rock vocalist and song writer for the band Urban Fiction, the author of The Happiness Handbook and the Better Boyfriend blog.
You can find out more about Jenn and The Happiness Handbook in her interview on CBS:
Thanks to Jennifer Flaa, I am giving away one copy of the book. This giveaway is open worldwide. If you live in Canada or the U.S. the winner will have the choice of print, pdf or Kindle. If international the winner will receive pdf or Kindle. This giveaway ends on May 7, 2013. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcie at Mailbox Monday. In April, it is being hosted by Mari @ Mari Reads. Since I have slowed down on accepting ARCs I don't always receive books every week. Due to that and just being incredibly busy, I will not be doing Mailbox Monday on a weekly basis, at least for now. I will no longer be making a distinction between print copy or ebook, they are all books to me. Here's What I received since my last Mailbox Monday:
I enjoyed Red Azalea, so when I heard Anchhe Min wrote a sequel, I had to get it. Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing!
When Robert Perry asked me if I wanted to read his new historical, I couldn't resist. Thanks Robert!
Little Brown and Company is making it harder to turn down ebooks. They pre-approved me to get 4 on Net Galley, without a request from myself. I want to read all 4 but I chose this one because it is not on order at my library, yet anyway.
The tour starts in the morning and I'm kick it off with a review and giveaway. Check it out!
I received this unsolicited, thanks to Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press
If you don't see yourself in the standings above, it is because you didn't leave a comment telling me how many books you read so far. You need to do this at the end of each month.
Please post the books you read in April for the challenge in Mr. Linky, below: If you forgot to post book in any previous months, please post them in Mr. Linky below as well. Please enter your name and the name of the book in this format: Name: (Your Name, Book Title and Author's Name) for example: (Teddy, Obsessive Reading by Helen Reader).
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