tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71090544640584320092024-03-05T22:49:58.031-07:00Jaclyn's Random ReviewsHaving had the chance to have several local authors come to my bookstore over the last year, I was able to collect a large amount of books to read. Now I want to share my thoughts on those books to give you ideas for the next book to read!jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-91717636502863990982013-07-28T08:58:00.000-06:002013-07-28T09:11:57.093-06:00Delroy Versus the Yshtari by Berin Stephens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm a huge fan of Berin's books. I love the humor he puts into each one. He also wrote <i>Dragon War Relic </i>and <i> Time Gangsters.</i> I was excited to read this one and I loved it! Here is the synopsis:</div>
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<i>No one ever said being a space pirate would be easy.</i></div>
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<i>Wannabe scam artist and space captain Delroy has more to worry about than his outdated butler bot. He falls in love with the female bounty hunter Stella and ends up getting caught by the Yshtari, a race of lobster-like beings. Delroy has to use his skills to save Stella and other prisoners, and also find a way to avert a devastating war with the Yshtari, who are intent on turning the human race into their next meal.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sounds awesome, right? It really was. He has a cool butler bot that is faithful no matter how many times Delroy gets annoyed and shoots out Minx's treads. Their interaction is great.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I love the villain that can never quite do what he's supposed to do and Delroy is the perfect not-so-good conman. Luckily for him, he always seems to get away somehow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Stella is the love of his life and nothing he does seems to please her but he refuses to give up. He attempts to save her from the Yshtari but things continue to get complicated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a great book for kids and adults alike.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You can find his book here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615798969">www.amazon.com</a></span></div>
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You can learn more about Berin and his other books here: <a href="http://berinstephens.com/">berinstephens.com</a></div>
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<br />jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-32964462409677661552013-07-25T22:38:00.000-06:002013-07-25T22:38:05.299-06:00Turning Pages by Tristi Pinkston<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have looked forward to reading this book for a while. I love Tristi's books and the humor she brings to her writing. I was not disappointed. I read this in a day because I was so stuck in the story.</div>
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Here is the synopsis: </div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">With his pride and her prejudice, what could possibly go wrong?</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">When the arrogant Blake Hansen steals Addie Preston's promotion at the library, he pretty much rubs her nose in it. But Addie, who dreams of being a full-fledged librarian, decides to stick it out. She loves surrounding herself with books and keeping her father's memory alive in the building where they spent so much time together.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Soon, Addie learns that her beloved library will be torn down to make room for a larger facility, and she has to make a choice. Fight, or let go?</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">To complicate things, she finds herself attracted to Blake, who is engaged to someone else. Will Blake and Addie ever resolve their differences?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There are libraries, books, a little romance, and a lot of emotion throughout. In other words, the perfect book for me. Addie is a feisty girl who has lost so much and fights hard to keep her family together while struggling with school and a job. She's tough but she has a great sense of humor to go with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Blake is uptight but he rides a motorcycle —a confusing combination. He is always willing to help her out, even when she doesn't want it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Melanie is always there for Addie—and Addie is there for her when she needs it most.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So many emotions went flowing through me as I read it. I miss my bookstore so the act of closing their library, cataloging the books, and lugging them around was strongly felt. Addie struggled through so many trials and I felt for her as one problem after another hit her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I highly recommend this book to teens and adults.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You can learn more about Tristi here: <a href="http://www.tristipinkston.com/">www.tristipinkston.com</a></span></div>
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You can buy her book here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Turning-Pages-Tristi-Pinkston/dp/0983829365/ref=sr_1_2_bnp_1_pap?ie=UTF8&qid=1374811192&sr=8-2&keywords=turning+pages">www.amazon.com</a></div>
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It's also available as ebook</div>
jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-50251794760236946572013-06-28T11:20:00.000-06:002013-06-28T11:20:16.612-06:00Be Mine by Sandra Norton Flynn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have enjoyed reading thrillers since I was in high school. There's something about scaring myself to death while reading a book in the middle of the night. My Grandma Bonnie has the same love and we enjoyed talking about all the Mary Higgins Clark books we'd read. When she passed last year, I was sad for many reasons, but one of those was that I couldn't share exciting thrillers with her.<br />
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I loved this book. It had me scared and wanting to keep reading to find out who the bad guy was. Here is the synopsis:<br />
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<br /><i>He knows where she works.<br /><br />He knows where she lives.<br /><br />And soon, they’ll come face-to-face.<br /><br />Erin Lewis is an up-and-coming fashion designer building up her career in New York City. With a loving husband, a great assistant, and working in the field of her dreams, she couldn’t be happier.<br /><br />But perfection can’t last forever.<br /><br />When a long string of tragedies shakes Erin to her core, she doesn’t know how to keep moving forward day by day. And when she is targeted by a brutal serial killer, she must find the inner strength she never knew she had just to survive.</i></div>
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Sandra keeps you guessing as to who the creep is that won't leave Erin alone. There are the obvious suspects and those that you hope have nothing to do with it. But who actually did it?</div>
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Erin had never taken the time to make friends on her own but when Jenna and Cori ask Erin and Michael, her husband, to come with them to meet Dana and Nick, she gains a circle of friendship she never thought possible.</div>
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Things get dangerous when Erin begins to feel someone watching her. Then the seemingly random murders throughout New York and New Jersey start to connect to her. After being threatened, her neighbors rally around to protect her. Who could be doing this, and what will it take to stop them?</div>
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I highly recommend this book. You can find it for sale on kindle here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Be-Mine-ebook/dp/B00C8T6GOK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372435758&sr=8-1&keywords=sandra+norton+flynn">Amazon</a></div>
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You can learn more about Sandra here: <a href="http://www.sandranortonflynn.com/">www.sandranortonflynn.com</a></div>
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jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-72900713560714419722013-06-05T00:30:00.000-06:002013-06-05T00:30:01.432-06:00Change Of Plans by Donna K. Weaver<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to Donna's blog tour! Make sure you enter to win a free ebook of your choice from Rhemalda Publishing. Five winners will be drawn at the end of the blog tour. Please enter below!</div>
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I have been so excited to read this book so I jumped at the chance to be part of this blog tour. Let me tell you, it was totally worth waiting to read it! I couldn't put it down.<br />
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Here is the synopsis: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPklws05aIAyxUxVWY14TyknMhokFe4w20Eob-E9NjM6PFMYTneK9qGeHDlnw3MOnp8WM3ZvYnLKW4JuBUsK7eqh5HEPjMlpMHlWSok-dYc6nTNuSvszOXzL2y7EqlViy-SyHarvoS2nVi/s1600/amy+tour+host+button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPklws05aIAyxUxVWY14TyknMhokFe4w20Eob-E9NjM6PFMYTneK9qGeHDlnw3MOnp8WM3ZvYnLKW4JuBUsK7eqh5HEPjMlpMHlWSok-dYc6nTNuSvszOXzL2y7EqlViy-SyHarvoS2nVi/s200/amy+tour+host+button.jpg" width="200" /></a><i>When twenty-five-year-old Lyn sets off on her cruise vacation, all she wants is to forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. What she plans is a diversion uncomplicated by romance. What she gets is Braedon, an intriguing young surgeon. He's everything her fiancé wasn't, and against the backdrop of the ship's make-believe </i></div>
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<i>Unaware of the sensitive waters he navigates, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship—on the very anniversary Lyn came on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs off in a panic.</i></div>
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<i>But it's hard to get away from someone when you're stuck on the same ship. Things </i></div>
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I absolutely loved this book. Cruises, snorkeling, pirates, shipwrecked on a beach with a guy. It couldn't get much better. You could feel for Lyn as the story began, and you want to learn more about who she is.</div>
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Braedon is an intriguing man who is always in the right place at the right time for Lyn to run into—sometimes literally. Jori was also very intriguing but I wanted the romance between Lyn and Braedon to work so much that I kept wanting him to leave. I loved it!</div>
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This book had me in tears in parts—which I admit is not always hard to do—and cheering in others. It's a great book of romance and self-discovery. I highly recommend it.<br />
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You can buy <i>A Change of Plans</i> here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Change-Plans-Donna-K-Weaver/dp/193685077X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1368491046&sr=8-6&keywords=rhemalda">Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-change-of-plans-donna-k-weaver/1115288145?ean=9781936850778&isbn=9781936850778">B&N</a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17696146-a-change-of-plans">Goodreads</a> <a href="http://shop.rhemalda.com/product/a-change-of-plans.html">Rhemalda Store</a><br />
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A little about Donna:</div>
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Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe.</div>
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Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she </div>
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At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo. After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing. </div>
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You follow her here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donna-K-Weaver/417995298257527?fref=ts">Facebook</a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7021276.Donna_K_Weaver">Goodreads</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDonnaKWeaver">Twitter</a> <a href="http://weavingataleortwo.blogspot.com/">Donna's website</a></div>
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Check out her book trailer:</div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/99497f36/" id="rc-99497f36" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-20869004762190403662013-05-15T21:20:00.003-06:002013-05-15T21:23:31.368-06:00Feudlings by Wendy Knight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ari isn't your typical teenage girl. Going off into battles, shooting red flames at her family's enemies, and switching schools when it gets too dangerous. Sounds awesome, right? It is!<br />
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Here is the synopsis:<br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nothing makes a new school suck worse than discovering the guy you’re in love with is your prophesied nemesis.</span></i><br />
<i><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ari is the most powerful flame-throwing sorceress ever, and her people’s last hope in an ancient war. But she’s also a seventeen-year-old girl, and in her free, not-hunting-nemesis times, she jumps from school to school, trying to figure out regular people her own age and pretending she’ll get the chance to graduate.</span></i><i><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Shane lives a double life. He goes to school and masters the art of popularity, hiding the fact that he has a fate with a slim chance of his survival. He’s destined to end a 300 year-old war by killing or being killed. He knows he’s hunted by a powerful enemy who’s not afraid to die. Only problem? He has no idea who that enemy is. </span></i><i><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When Ari shows up at Shane’s school, angry and sullen and determined to keep him at arm’s reach, neither of them realize they are supposed to be killing each other, not falling in love. Until Ari does realize it, and she almost dies – by Shane’s hand.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I loved the imagery in this book. From the too-pink comforter on her roommate's bed, to the amazing battle scenes. I could feel myself there throughout the whole book. I liked that while she had the rich, snobby girl, Brittany, in her book, she wasn't the main villain. She was a side story that I loved. I could hear her shrieks as she went after Ari for "stealing" her man.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;">Shane, her nemesis is the kind of guy every girl wants—including Ari. It's too bad she felt she couldn't get involved because she never knew when she would have to leave again. I love the relationship that is built there. Hunter's disapproval adds to the spiciness of the relationship. It's an overall great story that I would highly recommend.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You can find the book for purchase here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Feudlings-Fate-on-Fire-ebook/dp/B00BWH9UHY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368673490&sr=1-1&keywords=feudlings">www.amazon.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> and here: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Feudlings?store=allproducts&keyword=Feudlings">www.barnesandnoble.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You can learn more about Wendy here: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7009940.Wendy_Knight">www.goodreads.com</a></span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-5569435050488526172013-04-18T23:42:00.000-06:002013-04-18T23:42:07.651-06:00Without a Voice by Lauren Ritz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm a sucker for a good thriller, so I was excited to have the chance to read this book. It started out with a bang and had me thinking about it whenever I had to put it down and do something else—like feed my kids lunch—and I couldn't wait to get back to it.<br />
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Here is the synopsis:<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">Don’t put yourself on the grid. No credit cards, new name, new city. Few friends, no family. Connections of any kind are a risk.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Five years ago Mae left Justin in Orlando. Never again will she cower, wondering who he'll hurt next. She's done letting him punish her.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Now she has real friends, people she cares about, a life worth living. After years of relative peace she's gotten complacent, relaxed her guard. Somehow, he's found her. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">There’s nowhere you can go. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Mae can no longer cling to her safe obscurity if she's going to survive.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Once she could have run and been certain Justin would leave those she loved alone. But he's changed. Justin is the whisper in the dark, a shadow on the street, the phantom no one sees.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">You are mine. I will never stop.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Crazy, right? It was great! Justin was the perfect bad guy who makes your skin crawl. From the first moment you meet him, you want Mae to run away as fast as she can. Mae was one tough girl who had learned to stick up for herself and after starting a new life to get away from Justin, she starts forgetting to be careful.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Keli, Mae's best friend, owns a bookstore that I would have just loved to browse through. She's a great friend to Mae and is always watching out for her.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Lauren brought in a twist with adding religion that I wasn't expecting but I like how she did it. There are times when adding it can fall a little flat but she did a fantastic job. This is a great book for those that love thrillers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">You can purchase her book here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Without-A-Voice-ebook/dp/B00C2A313O/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1366230212&sr=1-1&keywords=Without+a+voice">www.amazon.com</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> or here: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/without-a-voice-lauren-ritz/1114971236?ean=2940044406339">www.barnesandnoble.com</a></span><br />
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You can learn more about Lauren Ritz here: <a href="http://lauren.laurentritz.com/">lauren.laurentritz.com</a>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-19461703325178990232013-04-01T13:35:00.002-06:002013-04-01T13:35:28.076-06:00Confessions from the Realm of the Underworld (Also Known as High School by Laura Josephsen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I was offered a chance to read this book and I'm happy I took that chance. It was a wonderful book of Sephie and her five sisters. The writing style is fun and you quickly fall in love with the characters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here is the synopsis:</span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"Write what you know."</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Persephone "Sephie" Benson scoffs when her creative writing teacher throws that little gem out there. Maybe this advice would work for a professional skydiver or a baseball star or a ninja princess. It's not so great for a high school student who doesn't even know what to do with the rest of her life. Add in being the oldest of six girls, having Responsibilities with a capital R, and living in a town the size of a tick, and you've got a recipe for boring soup. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">At least, that's what Sephie thinks until her senior year. Now, her grandfather is losing his house. One of her sisters plays a starring role in the local high school scandal. Even things with her best friend Joey aren't the same. As Sephie deals with the changes in her life, she finds that nothing is quite what she expects--and that sometimes, the most extraordinary life can be the one that seems the most ordinary.</span></i><br />
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Persephone—or Sephie, as she likes to be called—is a senior in high school and thinks her life is pretty boring. Her feistiness and quick humor make her anything <i>but</i> boring. I knew I would enjoy the book from the first couple of pages, by the way she went into the description of her favorite high school teacher, Mr. Hinkley.<br />
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Her best friend, Joey, is always right there when she needs him. He's the type of friend that everyone needs more of. Her sisters are great and even when they're fighting, they're willing to stick up for each other.<br />
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Things start to change drastically throughout the year, and she has to hold on tight to her family and friends. This is a great book to share with your teens.<br />
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You can buy the book here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Realm-Underworld-School-ebook/dp/B005DTNZ8M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364842905&sr=8-1&keywords=confessions+from+the+realm+of+the+underworld.">www.amazon.com</a><br />
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Here is a little more about the author:<br />
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Laura Josephsen has authored several novels and works as a freelance editor. She likes to listen to music, watch sci-fi shows, and drink coffee. She believes there's no such thing as having too many socks. She lives in Tennessee with her awesome husband, imaginative children, and feisty cats.<div class="emptyClear" style="clear: left; font-size: 0px; height: 0px;">
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<a href="" id="productDetails" name="productDetails" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-21211266240324531512013-03-17T19:55:00.002-06:002013-03-19T13:16:59.020-06:00In Honor of St Patrick's DayToday I decided it would be fun to post the first chapter of my book Bad Luck (title is a work in progress...). My book is about a girl whose luck is stolen by a leprechaun and she must fight to get it back. Because of this, I had a little more fun with St. Patrick's Day this year. We made a leprechaun trap last night and the leprechaun wreaked havoc on our house. Glitter everywhere, green in the milk and the toilets, and butterscotches left for the kids. Today we had a very green meal of ravioli, sausages, lime sherbet drinks and we're finishing off with green jello.<br />
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Anyway, here it is!</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Chapter 1</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>The Worst Day Ever.</i> The title of my paper glared at me on the computer screen. It was due in two days and I could think of <i>nothing</i> to write. The thing was, a bad day for me was considered a good day for most people.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Leaning back in my chair, I slowly turned in circles and looked around the room at the trophies and ribbons lining my white walls. My room seemed to be perfect—from the top-of-the-line computer that I’d earned with my own babysitting money to the closet filled with clothes, separated by color and style. I was hoping for ideas for my paper, but I could draw nothing from the perfection. The neatly arranged pillows and stuffed animals on my bed were suddenly too much. I pulled off my shoe and threw it, sending them flying. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I sighed and decided it was time to rest from homework for a while. I stood and stretched before going downstairs to find a snack. I had just opened the cupboard door to get bread out for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when the doorbell rang. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Adam! Can you get that?” No response. “<i>Adam!”</i></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> </i> He must have had his headphones on again. I grumbled and slammed the cupboard shut as I went to answer the door myself. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I turned the porch light on and opened the door, but no one was there. I looked down to see if anything had been left on the step. To my surprise, standing there was a strange, little man. He was short and round. It sounds cliché, but he reminded me of a leprechaun I would find in an old movie about Ireland. His clothing was a brilliant color of green, from the large green hat on his head down to his green leather shoes with huge gold buckles. His red hair stuck out in all directions and his beard was long and scraggly. Creepy.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “How can I help you?” I asked, hoping that my smile looked sincere. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Hello, my dear. Could you tell me where I could find Miss Megan Crenshaw?” His voice was little a higher than I’d expected from his appearance.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Um, I’m Megan. What can I do for you?” I became more nervous as he stared at me with a glint in his eye. The fact that he knew my name and where I lived made me want to slam the door in his face, but curiosity won and I waited to see what he needed.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “I’m here to offer my services to you. I can spin gold, help you ace tests, get the guy of your dreams, that sort of thing,” he said as he grinned roguishly. He tapped his fingers together and wiggled his eyebrows at me. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Okay, that was just plain weird. Here was this creepy little guy on my doorstep offering fabulous things, but I already had everything I wanted. Okay, so I was still lacking in the guy department, but I was working on it. And who spins gold? It’s like he had jumped straight out of a children’s fairy tale book.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “No, thanks. I’m just fine. Why don’t you try Holly two doors down? She could use some luck about now,” I said as I eased the door shut. I would have to apologize to Holly later for sending him her way, but the faster he was off my porch, the better. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Now wait just a minute. You don’t know what you’re missing out on here. I’m offering you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” He stuck his foot in the door. His boot must have been steel-toed because the door wouldn’t budge. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “<i>Go away!</i>” I yelled as I pushed with all my strength against the door. This was getting out of control. I was long past the curious stage, and I hoped my parents would be home any second.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> The next thing I knew, the leprechaun had doubled in size and his eyes were glowing like red-hot coals. <i>Uh oh, I ticked the guy off</i>. I let go of the door and started backing up. I looked around for something to throw at him. Unfortunately, Adam hadn’t left his baseball bat and cleats in his usual dumping ground in the hallway. The one time I needed him to be irresponsible, he actually did what Mom had been badgering him to do.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “You will regret this!” the leprechaun thundered as the door swung wide open again. He snapped his fingers and waved his arms, mumbling strange words under his breath. He disappeared in a flash of green and gold smoke. I stared at the empty doorway for a moment before I rushed over and slammed the door. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> An overwhelming dizziness overcame me and I fell to the ground. I awoke to find myself lying on the tile in the hallway. I waited for my head to stop spinning and my heart to stop racing, and decided that eating something would help me feel better. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I got the bread out of the cupboard and opened the drawer to get a knife. Adam came out of his room singing to himself. I looked over at him, somehow managing to slam my finger in the drawer. Yelling in pain, I shook my hand, trying to get rid of the shock. When I turned around to get the peanut butter, my head hit the cupboard door that had been left open. I rubbed my head for a minute and then went back to making my sandwich.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“Wow, clumsy, are we?”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“Why don’t you—” I whipped around and ran right into Adam, who had a large glass of grape juice in his hand.<i> </i>There went my sandwich <i>and</i> his drink onto the floor. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Good one, loser,” he sneered. If anyone thought my life was <i>too</i> perfect, it was Adam. I was only fifteen months younger than him and we didn’t get along at all. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “I’m so sorry. Let me clean that up and get more juice for Your Highness, so you can get back to your precious music,” I snapped.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I got a washcloth wet in the sink and cleaned up the mess as he leaned against the counter, watching. I got him more juice and handed it to him with a bow.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> He grumbled a “thanks” before he went to his room and slammed the door. Seconds later, I heard music blasting through the wall. <i>Typical.</i> I walked out of the kitchen.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I tripped on my way up the stairs, barely holding on to my plate.Muttering to myself, I set the sandwich down on my desk and sat down to finish my assignment. When I touched my computer keyboard, I zapped it with static, causing it to beep angrily at me. What in the world was going on? I tapped on a few keys to make sure it was still working and sighed in relief when my blank document showed up on the screen.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I stared at the computer, nibbling on my sandwich. I started to type what had just happened, absentmindedly wiping away the crumbs off my shirt, noticing too late that there was jam all over my fingers. I groaned and changed into pajamas before grabbing wipes from the bathroom cupboard to clean each key so they wouldn’t stick. After saving the few measly words I’d typed, I started on my math homework.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I heard the garage door open. My parents had taken my brother and sister to a birthday party and I could hear Maddie and William running through the house, yelling at the top of their lungs. They must have been full of sugar. I felt bad for whoever would have to get them to sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I flew through my math homework and put it in my backpack before I went in to the bathroom to get ready for bed. Looking into the mirror, I studied my reflection, not thrilled with what I saw. My eyes were red from wearing my contacts all day and my hair had jam and peanut butter smeared in it. I washed my hair in the sink and started taking out my contacts. Maddie burst through the door and knocked my elbow. My contact lens flew into the sink, and I managed to grab it before it went down the drain. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Sorry, Megan! Guess what! I got lots and lots of candy tonight. And we played lots of games. And there was a clown!”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Be more careful and remember to knock next time,” I grumbled. Seeing the look on her face, I sighed and added, “It sounds like you had fun.” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Yep, I did!” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> While she was busy, I took out my other contact and set the contact case on the shelf. I helped Maddie on the toilet—knowing Mom would make me do it anyway—and as I stood up, my shoulder knocked the shelf above it, causing my case to topple over into the flushing toilet. Maddie and I watched as the toilet continued to fill and then overflow.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Maddie ran to the doorway and yelled at the top of her lungs, “Daaaddy. Megan clogged the toilet.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I grabbed towels from the hallway linen closet and mopped up the water that was flowing freely along the tiled bathroom floor. I heard footsteps pounding up the stairs and my dad appeared around the corner, plunger in hand.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “What happened?” Dad popped the plunger into the toilet.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “I put my contact case up on the shelf before helping Maddie on the potty, and it got knocked off when I stood up.” I blushed in embarrassment.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Dad looked at me with wide eyes. “You mean your <i>contact case</i> is down in the toilet?” He began plunging with renewed vigor. When that didn’t work, he found the plumbing snake and began using that.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Maddie looked up at me and took my hand. “I’m sorry, Megan.” Her eyes filled with tears and I leaned down to hug her.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Oh, Maddie, that was my fault. Let’s go brush our teeth and find William.” I took our toothbrushes downstairs and helped brush her teeth. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “You guys okay? What’s Dad doing?” Mom asked. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Plunging the toilet. My contact case kind of fell in the toilet while it was flushing,” I mumbled.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “It did what? Oh, Megan. I hope he can get it out. That’ll cost a fortune if he has to call the plumber. Were those your last pair?” </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Yeah. I’ll have to wear my glasses, I guess.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “We’ll get some ordered next week when Dad gets paid again. Look, I have a headache after chasing your brother and sister all night. Could you please put them in bed?”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “I guess. Good night, Mom.” Feeling guilty for the contact case and potential cost of a plumber, I led Maddie up to her room where William was playing with trucks. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Time for bed, William. Grab your pajamas.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “I’m busy.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “William. Don’t make me get Mom. You need to hurry or I won’t read a book.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> William glared at me and found his pajamas in his drawer. I put them on him before finding a short book on the shelf. Sitting with both of them on my lap, I read—stopping every few seconds to answer questions about the book. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I hugged Maddie and William, put them in bed, and turned on the lullabies they listened to each night. The sugar rush from the party must have worn off because they yawned and fell asleep almost as soon as their heads hit their pillow. I left their room to find my dad waiting out in the hallway.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “I couldn’t get the case out of the toilet. I hope the plumber won’t cost too much." He dried his hands on a towel. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “Dad, I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. I’ve put that case up there every night for years. Everything has gone wrong tonight.”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Dad sighed. “Just be more careful. How about you find a better spot for your case?” He gave me a hug and headed downstairs. I felt horrible, but I was thankful he wasn’t too upset about it. For now. I only hoped he’d feel the same way after paying the plumber.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I tried to turn on my lamp and zapped it with static. I yanked my socks off, deciding they were the problem, and tripped down the stairs to get a lightbulb. On the way up, my foot snagged my nightgown, and as I fell, I made sure to land on my elbow so I could save the lightbulb in my hand. Sighing in relief, I held on to the banister and dragged myself the rest of the way. After replacing the lightbulb, I pulled the pillows off my bed, deciding I had way too many. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I snuggled into my blankets and tried to sleep. Unfortunately, the freaky little leprechaun wouldn’t leave my thoughts. I hadn’t had anything bad happen until I woke up on the floor in the hallway. Had he cursed me? Trying get him from my mind, I grabbed a book and started reading, finally drifting off to sleep with a book in my hand and the lamp still on.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> The next morning, I woke up and looked over at my clock. I jolted out of bed, sleep totally forgotten when I saw that I had somehow slept through my alarm. I grabbed my glasses, ran to the closet, and found no clean clothes. <i>Weird—I know they were there last night.</i> My dresser was empty as well. I muttered under my breath, thinking the twins must have gotten into my room. I dug through the dirty clothes basket to find the cleanest shirt and pair of pants.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I had to settle on mismatched socks and slipped on my shoes, grabbing my backpack before running downstairs.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> I sat down at the table long enough to scarf down the toast Mom had made and ran out to the car. I turned the key in the ignition, and the engine turned over but wouldn’t start. <i>Great</i>. The gas gauge was at empty. I threw my head back and growled in frustration and went to find my bike, only to find that the tire was flat. Good thing school wasn’t very far away. I took off running.</span></div>
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jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-54910863646172755672012-10-29T01:04:00.000-06:002012-10-30T09:14:17.669-06:00Emergence by C Michelle Jefferies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77mUwpgrXBa_FIToC0Sr7H5E3mRqLXv0AgtJVxa89RQReoeVb2MvJpTiTyESnSPdZaLJK8aZwnihRp57QMYfcXOIdGyBF46okQHJV-Z9W3kD3bdLio2PE1x914PEofQMajVia2o4NsebE/s1600/EmergenceCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77mUwpgrXBa_FIToC0Sr7H5E3mRqLXv0AgtJVxa89RQReoeVb2MvJpTiTyESnSPdZaLJK8aZwnihRp57QMYfcXOIdGyBF46okQHJV-Z9W3kD3bdLio2PE1x914PEofQMajVia2o4NsebE/s320/EmergenceCover.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
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One day as I was talking about my book on Think Tank, I came across C Michelle Jefferies and we learned we had something in common. Australia. I'd lived there, she'd written a book set there - in the same place I'd lived. I was thrilled to get her book in my hands and I eagerly read it, finding all the parts of Canberra that I missed. The story is amazing. Here is the synopsis:<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Hit man, Antony Danic, has never killed an innocent man. At least, the corporation he works for has never given him a reason to think otherwise—until now. Reeling from a series of complications and troubled assignments, the assassin is desperate for some downtime. As he sits on a white sandy beach in Tahiti watching his wife play in the waves, he can almost feel the ten-day vacation start to ease his tired muscles and calm his racing thoughts—until a messenger from his employer delivers a death threat. In a matter of seconds, the hunter has become the hunted. As he scrambles to find a way out of his “till death do us part” contract, he’s faced with the decision of a lifetime. Continue with business as usual and kill another innocent man—or do what’s right, even if it puts his family in jeopardy.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I was hooked on this book. I hadn't expected the intensity of the story when I first started it but I couldn't put it down. Antony is a very likable guy for being an assassin. He really wants to make the world a better place in a way he knows best, one bad guy at a time. His wife, Elite, has always wanted children and helps with fundraisers for orphans. Antony's handler, Catelyn, always seems to contact him at the most inconvenient times for jobs but he must obey or face the consequences. The relationship that Anthony has with his handler is enjoyable to read. I love that they play off each other in a not so nice way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As the story progresses, Anthony begins to find his work assignments becoming a little too suspicious for him and he begins to wonder who he's working for. Gage, a good friend and old roommate, steps in and helps investigate using his computer smarts to track everything going on within the group that Antony works for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This book is a must-read for those that love suspense. I can't wait to dive into her next book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You can learn more at about Michelle at: <a href="http://www.cmichellejefferies.com/">www.cmichellejefferies.com</a></span></div>
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Her blog is here: <a href="http://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com/">cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKFv8xFxHdEa1fgOj6Tsb39rtGSI4lw4WXk_mTF4co_MBwrnXXepnU7LCcFULilrZeXAEalFbqdnVqNayEYqAr6vjooulHdgjdpaHxSrkxcMysSsG7JdkSpRaayy-dJWuhmPcaHgo0NpH/s1600/michelle+jeffereies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKFv8xFxHdEa1fgOj6Tsb39rtGSI4lw4WXk_mTF4co_MBwrnXXepnU7LCcFULilrZeXAEalFbqdnVqNayEYqAr6vjooulHdgjdpaHxSrkxcMysSsG7JdkSpRaayy-dJWuhmPcaHgo0NpH/s200/michelle+jeffereies.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-88852014771074054312012-10-26T01:01:00.000-06:002012-10-26T01:01:01.835-06:00Created by Cindy M Hogan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love suspense books. I love to be pulled along, surprises lurking in every corner. When I first picked up Cindy M Hogan's <i>Watched, </i>the first book in the series,<i> </i>I was excited to read it. I was not disappointed. The story was amazing and I hungrily waited for book two, <i>Protected</i>. I finally had that one in my hands and couldn't put it down until the last page. When I was given the opportunity to read and review the third book in the series, <i>Created</i>, I jumped at the chance. Again, I was not disappointed. If you love suspense, you'll love this book. </div>
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First the synopsis:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ari and her friends find themselves in an independent spy school in Belgium, Bresen Academy. Test scores reveal her true abilities and the director wants to send her onto to more advanced training school immediately. She is given a two week reprieve to explore the school's training program and hopefully make amends with both Reese and Marybeth. Despite her lack of advanced training, the director convinces Ari she would be the best fit for a mission that surfaces in Prague with a group calling themselves Division 57. Uncertain, but wanting to please, she agrees. She quickly discovers there is nothing easy about being a spy and finds her very life on the line. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">From the beginning of the book, I was suspicious of the school that Ari was sent to. It seemed a little too convenient that she was sent to a spy school. However, the lessons she learns while she is there is priceless for what she needs for her life. She is pit against people that have been in the school since they were five years old. It turns out the school was legit but there are things that still aren't quite right.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The missions that Ari is sent on were great. I could feel the adrenalin and she raced from one part of her mission to the next. I loved watching her come up with solutions to get out of situations, escaping danger in the nick of time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you want a suspenseful, yet fun book for you or for your teens, this series is perfect for you. I couldn't get enough and I only hope there are more to follow! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You can find her book here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Created-Watched-Book-Cindy-Hogan/dp/0985131829/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1351098601&sr=8-2&keywords=created">www.amazon.com</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">You can learn more about the author here: <a href="http://cindymhogan.blogspot.com/">cindymhogan.blogspot.com</a></span></div>
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and here: <a href="http://watched-thebook.blogspot.com/">watched-thebook.blogspot.com</a></div>
<br />jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-5710090035151480402012-10-10T17:43:00.002-06:002012-10-10T17:43:29.893-06:00Priestess of the Eggstone by Jaleta Clegg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyDzARxZmBSCS2QjbCJx5Y4QnLl1B7ES6m8FpkfZXcq_N9mGtRLfsOwgwH7CcPUw7VcF74mcrOhVw4_GlFTA75zRTqFF1qukCqA4lUej4cK0xQdFuvPkVC-DUr9LZ4TdWBAKQ597kob8m/s1600/priestesseggstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyDzARxZmBSCS2QjbCJx5Y4QnLl1B7ES6m8FpkfZXcq_N9mGtRLfsOwgwH7CcPUw7VcF74mcrOhVw4_GlFTA75zRTqFF1qukCqA4lUej4cK0xQdFuvPkVC-DUr9LZ4TdWBAKQ597kob8m/s320/priestesseggstone.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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After having read <i>Nexus Point</i> by Jaleta Clegg, I waited patiently for the sequel. There was a cliffhanger at the end and I <i>had</i> to know what would happen between Tayvis and Dace. I was not disappointed when I finally got <i>Priestess of the Eggstone</i> in my hands.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">It isn’t Dace’s fault she leaves chaos everywhere she goes.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">She didn’t know Belliff, the company who hired her to courier sensitive materials, is a front for the Targon Crime Syndicate. She finds out when she steps into the middle of a Patrol raid on Belliff’s offices. The Patrol and Targon both want her. But that’s nothing. Her copilot has an entire sentient species chasing him for stealing their god. The two of them set off on a desperate chase to get the Eggstone god back to avert war with the Sessimoniss while evading the Patrol and the Targon Syndicate.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">But the Eggstone isn’t just any rock. The Patrol isn’t chasing her for the reasons she thinks. And Targon’s days are numbered.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Dace took any job she could and didn't realize that taking the job at Belliff would be so dangerous. She despised her ship, <i>Twinkle</i> but it was her ship. She hires a copilot, Jerimon, before delivering the shipment. Things begin to go quickly downhill as she learns that Jerimon is in trouble with the Sessimon She is angry with the feelings she has toward Jerimon and does her best to keep him away. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Meanwhile, Tayvis is trying to keep with the chaos that Dace has left in her wake so that he can pass along an assignment from Patrol.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">This was a fun read from beginning to end. I love the interaction between the characters and how they worked together. I felt like I was on the ship with Dace and could feel the tension when things went wrong. Jaleta did a great job with her imagery of the ships that Dace traveled in.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">You can learn more about Jaleta on her website: <a href="http://jaletacleggauthor.blogspot.com/">http://jaletacleggauthor.blogspot.com</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Learn more about Jaleta here: <a href="http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com/">http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com</a></span></div>
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You can purchase Priestess of the Eggstone here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Priestess-Eggstone-Jaleta-Clegg/dp/1936564475">http://www.amazon.com</a></div>
jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-92075859536436469802012-09-06T22:14:00.002-06:002012-09-06T22:34:18.422-06:00GUTGAA Blog Hop<span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Sorry I'm late but here is my Bio for the Meet N' Greet:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><b>-Where do you write? </b>My living room couch more often than not. That way I can write while my little ones play.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><b>-Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see? </b> My son. Ok, really, I see my grandma's chair I got when she passed away in February.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><b>-Favorite time to write?</b> Evening when the kids are in bed. Or throughout the day if my kids aren't being too mischievous.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><b>-Drink of choice while writing?</b> Soda of some sort. Right now? Grape soda</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><b>-When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?</b> I love</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">Piano Guys on Pandora. I can rarely do ANYTHING in complete silence. It stresses me out!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><b>-What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?</b> My writing group had a theme "The worst day ever" for a writing exercise. I thought it would be fun to twist it and have a girl who has always been lucky get her luck stolen. I had so much fun with it and such good feedback from my group as a short story, I decided to expand it. It's been a lot of fun watching it come to life.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><b>-What's your most valuable writing tip?</b> Keep going! There are times when you're frustrated because a book isn't going how you want, or you received some not-so-great feedback and you just want to give up. That's when you have to try harder. Remember why you love to write and keep on going!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><b>So, what does your month of September look like? Anything you’re looking forward to (book releases? bloghops? conventions? Time for wip?) ??</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Right now I'm just editing, editing, editing my book. I move to other projects as I wait to get critiques. I want to try and get my story out to a few places by the end of the month.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">Thanks for taking the time to get to know me!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2d2f31; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-18414654834413474662012-04-24T14:00:00.001-06:002012-04-24T14:04:26.391-06:00The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter by Frank L Cole<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
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I knew Frank Cole's name from his books, Hashbrown Winters. I had gotten them for my son and I wanted to get the next Hashbrown Winters book for him at an Authorpalooza. I saw the cover of this new book and I was instantly interested. I couldn't get it at the time but I was happy to see Frank at another signing and I made sure to get my hands on it then. </div>
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Here is the synopsis:</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Amber never dreamed her archaeology class would turn into a top secret mission that would take her across the globe, but when her teacher goes missing, Amber realizes it's up to her to protect the Hidden Scepter or risk unleashing an ancient power too terrifying to imagine. </span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I enjoyed the book from the beginning. The characters were fun to meet and get to know. I automatically thought that Amber and Joseph would get together at the end, only to find that there would be twists and turns I didn't expect. I was quite thrilled! Trendon was my least favorite character at first because of his sarcasm and laziness but I grew fond of him and liked him by the end. Amber was smart and I loved her photographic memory, where she could go back and find clues in different places she had originally looked past.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was very interested in the places they visited and the description allowed me to go there in my mind. I wanted to travel to visit those places! The story was intense and the bad guys were truly bad. Overall it was a very fun story and great for kids. I can't wait to have my son read it because I know its a book he will enjoy.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You can purchase Frank's book here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Guardians-Hidden-Scepter-ebook/dp/B0078T0IOY/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1335296146&sr=1-1-catcorr">www.amazon.com</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You can find his website here: <a href="http://www.franklcole.com/">http://www.franklcole.com/</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-61425976798251953462012-03-30T13:56:00.000-06:002012-03-30T13:56:49.932-06:00Partials by Dan Wells<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINuJMXeZa3QB2Axr0YDHcxCQfniJv3XowftLu6vKNT__SX9j2sZfp-MKqkCp-SfBsjptSWEznty_gPeqvdAGl5e-EgeVa8QTluYO-X_s8FikvaMxCeKaDuL6HMpC-t4rfh6K-OL9VigwJ/s1600/Partials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINuJMXeZa3QB2Axr0YDHcxCQfniJv3XowftLu6vKNT__SX9j2sZfp-MKqkCp-SfBsjptSWEznty_gPeqvdAGl5e-EgeVa8QTluYO-X_s8FikvaMxCeKaDuL6HMpC-t4rfh6K-OL9VigwJ/s320/Partials.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Dan Wells has a been a favorite author of mine since reading I am Not a Serial Killer. I stared at the cover of the book for quite some time as it sat on a bookshelf in my bookstore, begging me to read it. I finally sat down and read it, enjoying every second of it.<br />
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When I found out he was coming out with another series, I was thrilled. Partials is completely different from his original trilogy but it's still his incredible writing that pulls you in. Here is the synopsis:<br />
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<div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.</i></div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.</i></div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I went to Dan Wells' book signing, where he read chapter 10 to us. I was excited to get my hands on the book. As soon as I got home, I pushed all of my other books aside and dug in. I was not disappointed.</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kira is a strong willed girl who wants the best for her patients. She did what she could to fight for what was right for her city and those in it. I loved the support from her friends as they helped her fight to find the antidote for RM. </div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are a few different "enemies" that are portrayed in this book, which I like because it keeps you turning the page. The government is doing everything they can to keep control of the people, including questioning your comings and goings, and lowering the age when they want you to start having children to sixteen years old. The Voice wants the government to repeal the law and allow more freedoms. And then of course, there are the partials. Kira must do everything she can to find a cure, even if that means going against her government and everything that has protected her.</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The imagery of what New York and the rest of the east coast could look like if the world was wiped out was just amazing. I could see the vines taking over buildings and the wild animals wandering the streets.</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is a must read. I can't wait for the second book in this series. </div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You can learn more about Dan and his other books here: <a href="http://www.fearfulsymmetry.net/">http://www.fearfulsymmetry.net/</a></div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You can purchase his books here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Partials-Dan-Wells/dp/0062071041/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1333135421&sr=8-2">www.amazon.com</a></div>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-18754755744187718282012-03-01T10:33:00.003-07:002012-03-01T11:10:37.376-07:00Time Gangsters by Berin Stephens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEYMMX2N5du1SXXXYU78EgHyowciaYkkMYjhdGW_5szJWsjdxGyOpM2urfEGVGbT8-F29ftLBYAIcMogTl_k3HGxlUzbw0GGWdqAlDCPB2Iq0p1-W58cbH4FIS_y4VIgvfVh5S7QxMSb6/s1600/Time+Gangsters_2x3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEYMMX2N5du1SXXXYU78EgHyowciaYkkMYjhdGW_5szJWsjdxGyOpM2urfEGVGbT8-F29ftLBYAIcMogTl_k3HGxlUzbw0GGWdqAlDCPB2Iq0p1-W58cbH4FIS_y4VIgvfVh5S7QxMSb6/s320/Time+Gangsters_2x3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I went to an Authorpalooza at Barnes & Noble to find more books and to visit friends. I found out that Berin Stephens had a new book coming out, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Time travel and 1920's gangsters. What more could you want in a book?<br />
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I was excited when it finally came out this February and headed over to his book launch. After taking quizzes about events in the 1920's and another about gangster terms (which I royally failed), I headed home to read the book.<br />
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I loved it! Here is the synopsis:<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When Billy discovers a hidden cache of ancient coins, it isn't long before a gang of thugs swipes them right from under Billy. Plotting to use the magical properties of the coins to seize power in the past, these power-hungry gangsters will do anything to reach their goal. Their future threatened, Billy and Danny must race through time to steal back the coins---before history is changed forever!</span></i><br />
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There's nothing like waking up to a guy holding a tommy sitting at the end of your bed. And the action just goes from there. It isn't just Billy's house that was broken into either. His next door neighbor, and cousin, also had someone break into her room. They meet up and try to figure out what's going on.<br />
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They discover coins that are magic, hidden in Danny's room. Each coin (or medallion as Billy's friend, Wheezy, liked to remind them) has a magical property and Billy wanted them all for himself. Soon he, Danny, and their friends are mixed up in time travel drama.<br />
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This was a very fun, well written YA novel. It's a great read for any age and I can't wait to share it with my son. The terminology was great and the way he characterized the gangsters allowed you to hear them speaking gangster talk. Now if only I could borrow their teleportation medallion...<br />
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You can purchase this book here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Gangsters-Berin-L-Stephens/dp/1599559668/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330621943&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com</a><br />
and here: <a href="http://deseretbook.com/search/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&x=0&y=0&query=Time+Gangsters#q=Time%20Gangsters&page=1&sort=score&facets=">www.deseretbook.com</a><br />
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His website is here: <a href="http://berinstephens.com/">http://berinstephens.com/</a>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-34959463003956344132012-02-16T01:04:00.000-07:002012-02-16T11:29:59.367-07:00On Little Wings By Regina Sirois<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOabMQTIHLS7Hjuz2htmVhYHNF4WgrJ2ReoUafNk8yVg739GnGISd_2jV8Go2JwKjNjfIRvS8N489gpRSxT4vJLAqyg5re9hAGvqM5dcVvVfyvQdbAMbqkwnBNpC9gTsxaGVZu87QgF73/s1600/On-Little-Wings-Book-Rendering-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOabMQTIHLS7Hjuz2htmVhYHNF4WgrJ2ReoUafNk8yVg739GnGISd_2jV8Go2JwKjNjfIRvS8N489gpRSxT4vJLAqyg5re9hAGvqM5dcVvVfyvQdbAMbqkwnBNpC9gTsxaGVZu87QgF73/s320/On-Little-Wings-Book-Rendering-lg.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was excited to try a new book called<i> On Little Wings</i>. I'm always looking for a new book and was thrilled to dive into this one. I was rewarded with a beautiful story that captured my attention and had me entangled in the world until the last page. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First the synopsis:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Jennifer must do the impossible – bring her mother home. When a family is torn apart by death, two sisters take violently divergent paths and the story of their family appears to end terribly and abruptly. Two decades later Jennifer never dreams that the photo she finds stuck between the pages of a neglected book will tear open a gaping wound to her mother’s secret past. Abandoning her comfortable life with her parents and best friend in the wheat fields of Nebraska, Jennifer’s quest for a hidden aunt leads her to the untamed coast of Maine where she struggles to understand why her mother lied to her for sixteen years.<br />
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Across the grey, rocky cove she meets Nathan Moore, the young, reluctant genius surrounded by women who need him to be brother, father, friend, provider, protector and now, first love. The stories, varied, hilarious, and heartbreaking, unfold to paint a striking mural of the shattered past. As Jennifer seeks to piece together her mother’s story, she inadvertently writes one for herself.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This story begins with Jennifer just having heard a secret that had been kept from her all her life. She thought her mom had been an only child, only to find a photograph of her mother and her aunt. She was furious and left the house to go talk to her friend. On a whim, she and her friend decided to call her aunt and find out if her aunt even knew Jennifer existed. Her aunt was thrilled to hear from her and they enjoyed their talk on the phone.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Jennifer decided that she wanted to get to know her aunt, so with her mom's grudging permission, she headed off to Maine to meet the family she never knew she had. She met many people from her mother's past and learned more about her mother than she ever thought she would. She fell in love with the scenery, the way of life, and the people in the small town of Smithport and had a hard time leaving when the time came.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Along came Nathan, a shy, intelligent neighbor boy. He was tutored by her aunt and he would go and "read lines" each night with her aunt. It was a great way to share a line from a poem, story or anything else they'd read for the day and discuss what was on their mind. Jennifer got caught up in the line sharing and it helped her learn more about herself and those around her. Nathan captured her heart, even after promising her best friend that she wouldn't find a boyfriend while she was gone. She also met Little, a spunky old woman that lives next door. I loved Little. She was a great character that kept the story going with her wonderful tales she'd tell.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have always been in love with Maine. It's a place where I want to visit someday. Having the story set in Maine just makes me want to go even more. The imagery in this book was amazing. You can hear the waves, smell the sea air, and feel the emotion running through the town - the sadness, anger, longing, and eventual peace. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Regina's website is here: <a href="http://reginasirois.com/"> http://reginasirois.com/</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You can purchase her books on Amazon here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Wings-Regina-Sirois/dp/1468096478/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327909825&sr=8-1">Paperback</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> and here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/On-Little-Wings-ebook/dp/B006MITQRC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327909825&sr=8-2">Kindle</a></span></div>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-10675458115138894972012-01-23T17:15:00.000-07:002012-01-23T17:17:41.428-07:00Variant by Robison Wells<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhdT3a4ceTLCSLuTXEUXjLG4treq90hyphenhyphenpeAsi4sUX49wceqe5uQboJgIAYC0mac-jWSXEOYHKqz5cQ-vM6846j9n3eozn_FDJOj-j7yXrqxQErTa83ITdp-v14SgWuCnhh1DFnZKCNAmk/s1600/Variant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhdT3a4ceTLCSLuTXEUXjLG4treq90hyphenhyphenpeAsi4sUX49wceqe5uQboJgIAYC0mac-jWSXEOYHKqz5cQ-vM6846j9n3eozn_FDJOj-j7yXrqxQErTa83ITdp-v14SgWuCnhh1DFnZKCNAmk/s320/Variant.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><br />
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From the first time I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I needed to read it. When I finally had it in my hands, I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed every second of it and was sad when I hit the last page. Here is the synopsis:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>He was wrong.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Where breaking the rules equals death.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It sounds fantastic, right? The synopsis can't do it justice. He does such a great job of shaping Benson. You felt for him and just wanted things to be good for him. Which, of course, in this type of book just doesn't happen. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine arriving at what promises to be a nice, posh academy, only to have two students try to escape as soon as the doors open. There are no adults and all the students have their own jobs - which includes teaching. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">There are specific rules that they <i>have</i> to follow and if they don't they get detention - which you really don't want to get! The students decide to team up and get their specific jobs in order to keep the peace because of the violence in the past. Benson comes in and messes it all up by trying to do jobs his own way - resulting in chaos.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I couldn't get enough of this book. The writing style was amazing. I felt that I was there and I could feel the adrenaline rushes along with the characters in the book. The horror of some of the experiences just made me want to keep reading until the very end - late into the end.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I highly recommend this book. I can't wait for the sequel!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You can buy his book here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Variant-Robison-Wells/dp/0062026089/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327353438&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.com</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">His website is here: <a href="http://www.robisonwells.com/">http://www.robisonwells.com/</a></span>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-66296241400363232852011-12-09T17:08:00.000-07:002011-12-09T17:08:39.247-07:00Servant of a Dark God by John Brown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_DaLTI2vkpwWNxotArIk5_V5aGMWVMBvlICuB-7P6VXTxI5tiQv86-v5o3_5lm_37hvLn3sidVq-6ZCmOANoAbPIrlBTUCxS79NrJFfBy0vNsBEGM3yrs_LMh2_f432aU2SmyLnU2xFT/s1600/Servant+of+a+Dark+God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_DaLTI2vkpwWNxotArIk5_V5aGMWVMBvlICuB-7P6VXTxI5tiQv86-v5o3_5lm_37hvLn3sidVq-6ZCmOANoAbPIrlBTUCxS79NrJFfBy0vNsBEGM3yrs_LMh2_f432aU2SmyLnU2xFT/s320/Servant+of+a+Dark+God.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />
When I first heard the title of this book, I hesitated to read it, not knowing what it would be about. However, I was fascinated by the cover. I had even worn the t-shirt a couple of times that I had received when John came to sign books at my bookstore. I finally decided to read it and I was instantly pulled into the story. Here is the synopsis:<br />
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<i>Young Talen lives in a world where the days of a person's life can be harvested, bought, and stolen. Only the great Divines, who rule every land, and the human soul-eaters, dark ones who steal days from man and beast, know the secrets of this power.<br />
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Now a being of awesome power, whose Mothers once ranched human subjects like cattle, feeding on their souls, has arisen in secret. And her monstrous, murderous pawn, a soul-bound creature created of wood and grass and rock roams the land. A massive and mis-directed hunt for soul-eaters is launched and Talen finds himself a target. Trapped in a web of lies and secrets, Talen must identify his true enemy before the new Mother takes back what is rightfully hers. </i><br />
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This book was fantastic. It was well-written and had a new variety of characters I had never seen before. As I've stated in past reviews, I love when I can read something different. The character building was well done. You could feel the strengths and weaknesses of each of the characters. I also loved that you got to see inside the mind of Hunger, the beast who is required to collect people for his master. You feel bad for him, at the same time you despise him for destroying families.<br />
<i> </i><br />
First you meet Talen's family. His brother, sister and father are all big and strong, while Talen is small. He has a fun loving personality that wants to make a name for himself so that he's no longer unimportant. I loved watching him develop into a stronger person by the end.<br />
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This book is excellent and it is meant for older audiences. If you're a fan of fantasy, you will want to check it out. I can't wait to read more from John in the future.<br />
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His website is here: <a href="http://www.johndbrown.com/">johndbrown.com</a> <br />
You can buy his book here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Servant-Dark-God-Tor-Fantasy/dp/B005UVRUS4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323473572&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com</a>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-31698959696992952762011-11-17T11:46:00.000-07:002011-11-17T11:46:02.845-07:00Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3NWqWmfqa68bV0tygtkym8E8OKoS7Oj68VorMyWkQukuycoQsmBhRw7gvD3EBbvDErHtGZbx3T1EvB8iS_uPkAIvAt5IV5z6BvG6JCWCgjADVpKum-Vo07EVY9i7gVVw8xGhr1UkO4mI/s1600/Tuesdays+at+the+Castle+Jessica+Day+George+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3NWqWmfqa68bV0tygtkym8E8OKoS7Oj68VorMyWkQukuycoQsmBhRw7gvD3EBbvDErHtGZbx3T1EvB8iS_uPkAIvAt5IV5z6BvG6JCWCgjADVpKum-Vo07EVY9i7gVVw8xGhr1UkO4mI/s1600/Tuesdays+at+the+Castle+Jessica+Day+George+review.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I love castles. I may have mentioned this before in my reviews. I even told my husband the other day that if we ever build another house, I want it in the shape of a castle. I want the secret passages, the tapestries, the whole thing. However, I've now changed a few details. I now want a castle like Castle Glower. Too bad I don't have magic to make it happen.<br />
<br />
Here is the synopsis:<br />
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<i>Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celie's favorite days. That's because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one-other than Celie, that is-takes the time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it's up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle's never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
This book is a great book for any age. In fact, I may just read it to my children before bedtime. Its such a fun story with great characters, big adventures, and a magical castle!! The perfect bedtime story.<br />
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I loved the characters in this book. Each of them were well-written and easy to love. Lilah is the older sister who feels the burdens of keeping things running. Rolf has been trained well and makes an excellent prince and king-to-be. And I just plain love Celie. She's feisty, she's curious and she has a good head on her shoulders. It's no wonder that the castle loves her so much.<br />
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The twists and turns of the story make it a fun read. I loved the hallways and the way the castle moves things around to assist the children in saving their kingdom. The castle is quirky and makes rooms more luxurious or tiny dungeon-like rooms, depending on much it likes the people staying in those rooms. It also places the bedrooms as close or as far away from the throne room as it thought the people should be, depending on how fit they were for the throne. Yes, I think I need a Castle Glower. <br />
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You can learn more about Jessica Day George here : <a href="http://www.jessicadaygeorge.com/default.aspx">www.jessicadaygeorge.com</a><br />
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</div>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-2653452673931349932011-11-17T09:40:00.000-07:002011-11-17T09:40:44.328-07:00And the winner is...!Sorry, it took so long to get to this. Sick kids, NaNoWriMo, and sick me have delayed me. <br />
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Anyway, CONGRATS to Judy who won a copy of Thank You, Sarah!!<br />
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Have a great day!jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-27246747881335362372011-11-07T01:01:00.000-07:002011-11-08T17:27:03.236-07:00November Blog Hop!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UeHPeGctZAI-K78QW8X3T9pVXa1wiN2jUrTrGD-Pw4zeW6VtmZdNC70QII6Z0iQaCeI5gIlnRA4gZPCD425CbRqPZ8aiZ5clm_1Jb9VZCV0DFKJmZ4LueuK-5rNWt_-R1U7blnkbUmWt/s1600/novghopsm-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UeHPeGctZAI-K78QW8X3T9pVXa1wiN2jUrTrGD-Pw4zeW6VtmZdNC70QII6Z0iQaCeI5gIlnRA4gZPCD425CbRqPZ8aiZ5clm_1Jb9VZCV0DFKJmZ4LueuK-5rNWt_-R1U7blnkbUmWt/s1600/novghopsm-1-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<br />
Welcome to my blog hop!<br />
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This is hosted by I'm a Reader, Not a Writer whose blog is <a href="http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/">here</a>; and Tristi Pinkston, whose blog is <a href="http://tristipinkston.blogspot.com/">here</a>. For this blog hop, I'll be giving away a copy of the book, <i>Thank You, Sarah </i>in honor of Thanksgiving.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV9Hzf0jkRnQidasXAL3JEA3SW9J5Sd-0PL0pIIFSvZ0o6lVDgQS2EtdJuaqIkZneYP-ad4cgyAFMt9_g_IOhPp0xRYNLAkTpzDbRqB-Dc6SWIQOlCtTBby4CugIg-KY0sPfTu4SEIW98/s1600/sarah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV9Hzf0jkRnQidasXAL3JEA3SW9J5Sd-0PL0pIIFSvZ0o6lVDgQS2EtdJuaqIkZneYP-ad4cgyAFMt9_g_IOhPp0xRYNLAkTpzDbRqB-Dc6SWIQOlCtTBby4CugIg-KY0sPfTu4SEIW98/s1600/sarah.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
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Simply, follow my blog and post a comment with your email, why you want the book and that you are now a follower. <br />
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Want to win other great prizes? Check out the blogs below and enter as often as you'd like! Entries are due by midnight on November 11th, 2011. Thanks!<br />
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<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=110221" type="text/javascript"></script>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-12594239826305373202011-10-30T20:01:00.000-06:002011-10-30T20:01:13.288-06:00The Hidden Sun by J Lloyd Morgan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2Oi4FGhAsDYlygE_tXk9ayVRlczI0iit4XBtPLlRAOQo9rm2_WG7gYZDSCkQ3dBo87TOZN4kFZh3AGkYZ9E-M17pUcYJDZqQ0XUyLugKsoXepaiNaASknp24gRx2Yxxb81H_KpgsOIT0/s1600/thehiddensun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2Oi4FGhAsDYlygE_tXk9ayVRlczI0iit4XBtPLlRAOQo9rm2_WG7gYZDSCkQ3dBo87TOZN4kFZh3AGkYZ9E-M17pUcYJDZqQ0XUyLugKsoXepaiNaASknp24gRx2Yxxb81H_KpgsOIT0/s320/thehiddensun.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br />
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<i>Eliana and Rinan are in love. However, she is destined to become queen of Bariwon, obligated to marry the victor of a competition called the Shoginoc, while Rinan, her royal guardian, is forbidden to marry. Normally they could renounce their titles to be together, but these are not normal times. Abrecan, the malevolent governor of Erd, is determined to win the Shoginoc, thereby placing his easily manipulated son Daimh on Bariwon’s throne. Can Eliana and Rinan find a way to be together without jeopardizing the peace they are so desperately trying to protect? </i><br />
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I must admit that when I picked up this book I had no idea what to expect. I was in the mood for a castle, prince and princess story. I was delighted to find out that it was exactly what I wanted - with a lot more adventure mixed in than I had anticipated. <i> </i>It started out with a short history of the kingdom. You learn to like Eliana from when she's small, along with her nursemaid and Priest Sherwyn. You love her father and his kindness to his daughter and to his people.<br />
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<br />
Then you add the villain. This book has a variety of villains. They're smarter and more cunning than most villains. Personally I love Daimh. He's a good-looking guy that loves himself more than anything and he's not exactly a bright person. But he speaks up when it is most needed - even if its not often enough. His dad and the magistrate Caldre however are villains that you want to see brought to justice. You also have other villains that are bullies who enjoy using their positions to abuse others.<br />
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There are several tragic events in this book and you get hit hard with every one of them. The book was well-written and kept you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end. It all comes to an exciting conclusion that you will have to read!<br />
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You can buy his book here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Sun-J-Lloyd-Morgan/dp/160911437X">www.amazon.com</a><br />
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His website is here: <a href="http://www.jlloydmorgan.com/">http://www.jlloydmorgan.com/</a>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-40462582535635587402011-10-26T22:32:00.000-06:002011-10-26T22:32:15.973-06:00The Dragon War Relic by Berin Stephens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1HgiGxePRzcHw7-aM8MiBwCdMRz0NElO3dAN8LxXRXERWz8cYjGwM_WFWRMtla3b9Iw7jzWSvRNJZ-4B7CMkQwFGo3eQ3Fv27DUUfMHEaSoSlQUb3D1tYkZdZID4WVvn_sth5YBALdXo/s1600/DragonWarRelic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1HgiGxePRzcHw7-aM8MiBwCdMRz0NElO3dAN8LxXRXERWz8cYjGwM_WFWRMtla3b9Iw7jzWSvRNJZ-4B7CMkQwFGo3eQ3Fv27DUUfMHEaSoSlQUb3D1tYkZdZID4WVvn_sth5YBALdXo/s320/DragonWarRelic.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
I met Berin last year at an Authorpalooza and heard about his book <i>The Dragon War Relic</i>. When I heard it was a comedic book I was intrigued. I like fantasy, sci fi and comedy. What could be better? I then had him out to our store and got a chance to buy his book. Since we were in Australia for several months- and had to leave my books behind - I didn't have a chance to read the book until recently. It was worth the wait. I loved it!! Here is the synopsis:<br />
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<i>A mysterious explosion, a gold ring, and the fate of the Earth and the universe . . . For Jared Mills, summer has never been more exciting! When Jared receives an odd-looking ring from a complete stranger, he never imagines it will lead to aliens, spaceships, lasers, and dragons! With the ring comes great responsibility, and Jared discovers that he is Earth s representative to the entire galaxy. Suddenly, he finds himself in a fast-paced adventure where he must discover the cause of a mysterious explosion and the truth about his predecessor s death. Along the way, Jared joins up with a strange collection of allies: his childhood friend, an Ogre, an Angel, and three short Star Trek loving Elves. What they uncover changes everything even the course of Earth s destiny! Science fiction slams into fantasy, creating a humorous and action-filled story. The Dragon War Relic will keep you laughing to the very last page. </i><br />
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I loved the characters in this book. Each had their purpose and they did it well. Jared was a good awkward guy who didn't want to be pushed into the spotlight but did a great job when he was there. Doug was just plain awesome with all the ways he could use the word "dude" in a conversation. Gar is a loveable ogre that takes good care of Jared. Kayla is the angel that every guy wants. The elves were just plain hilarious. They could get into trouble and save the day all in the same hour.<br />
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I like that you hear about the different worlds in the galaxy but you also get to see a few of the different planets throughout the book. And the fact that there is a moonbase where you can only travel to and from earth when the moon is out is just plain cool.<br />
<i> </i><br />
The plot is great because of the many twists and turns. When you think you know what's going to happen, out pops another surprise. I didn't expect the book to end how it did but I was pleased with the outcome. I hope that there are more books to this series because I would like to enter the world again! The one question I would like to ask is, did Doug really ever get abducted???<br />
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You can purchase this book at: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-War-Relic-Berin-Stephens/dp/1599552817/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319688391&sr=8-1">www.amazon.com</a><br />
<a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Dragon-War-Relic/Berin-Stephens/e/9781599552811/?itm=1&USRI=dragon+war+relic">www.barnesandnoble.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cedarfort.com/#%7Bselector%3A%22.ldsba-body%22%2Cmodule%3A%22/ldsba/productDetail.module%22%2Cparameters%3A%7Bproduct%3A%2220068237%22%7D%7D">www.cedarfort.com</a><br />
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His website is here: <a href="http://berinstephens.com/6101.html">berinstephens.com</a>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-50505703432044731042011-10-24T16:59:00.000-06:002011-10-24T17:45:45.083-06:00Samara by Andrea Pearson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNlhjbOZNVzNWmJeG2Th2cI3WM53DID6406gr-5B7Q39Txy8IzKgQGOZ3_XBP_jrk6Nw-Qeh2NoQ0MhU0BCdwCaHYFw5cFKQJ7br9LMxsw5aZeN36zEoSKTo-EtZDdJlsK8SjMYLDVUkS/s1600/samara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNlhjbOZNVzNWmJeG2Th2cI3WM53DID6406gr-5B7Q39Txy8IzKgQGOZ3_XBP_jrk6Nw-Qeh2NoQ0MhU0BCdwCaHYFw5cFKQJ7br9LMxsw5aZeN36zEoSKTo-EtZDdJlsK8SjMYLDVUkS/s1600/samara.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I got the opportunity to read this novella by Andrea. Its a cute story. As I'm a total romantic, it was perfect for me!<br />
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First the synopsis:<br />
<i>When Samara Oldroyd meets the most amazing guy ever, she's frustrated their conversation is cut short. Her wishes that they'll run into each other again come true when she meets her sister's new boyfriend. It's him! Eeek! <br />
Inspired by the film Dan in Real Life, this novella will tickle you pink as Samara tries—in vain—to undo her crush.</i><br />
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I enjoyed this story. It was fun to see how Samara interacted with her family. You can feel the growing annoyance in the car as the trip drags on to their destination. It brings back many memories of those long car trips!<br />
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Then she meets Matt who is every girl's dream and every Mom's dream for her daughter. But of course there's the problem of him already dating her sister. Her act of trying to stop having a crush on him is hilarious. Because the second you try to stop thinking about something or someone, you end up thinking about them more. I love that she is comfortable enough with Matt to tell him - and I enjoyed his reaction.<br />
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This is a fun romance story for all readers. I can't wait to read more of Andrea's books and novellas!<br />
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You can purchase this story online at: <br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Samara-A-Kilenya-Romance-ebook/dp/B005YHTSRK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319470715&sr=1-1">Amazon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1106863861?ean=2940013306301&itm=1&usri=samara%2Bkilenya">Barnes & Noble</a><br />
<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98535">Smashwords</a>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109054464058432009.post-72557529866551682842011-10-15T01:09:00.000-06:002011-10-15T01:09:08.846-06:00Watched by Cindy M. Hogan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnHRkbCWmJ4hjlBQfgpmiy_eIfegevdsOddo7ZuseiIpM8wojkxzmnnvVK_Adv1hBLzgMtFHJdK1hyphenhyphenCuTofUrJU7sMJDziVy3YYhNZ0NajM7_gCGBODmzolA9RT7y-hFegvAMLa2ysJPs/s1600/watched.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnHRkbCWmJ4hjlBQfgpmiy_eIfegevdsOddo7ZuseiIpM8wojkxzmnnvVK_Adv1hBLzgMtFHJdK1hyphenhyphenCuTofUrJU7sMJDziVy3YYhNZ0NajM7_gCGBODmzolA9RT7y-hFegvAMLa2ysJPs/s320/watched.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><br />
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I've mentioned before (I think) that I'm one to judge a book by its cover. The cover of this book itself caught my attention; but then I read the back of the book and got even more hooked. I NEEDED to read this book. Here is the synopsis:<br />
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<i>It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change fifteen-year-old Christy's life. it takes murder. A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI but also by two hot boys. She discovers that if she can't help the FBI, who want to protect her, it will cost her and her new friends their lives. </i><br />
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Christy was a very likeable character. I think most teens can relate to her in a way. She feels like she's not good enough and just wants to be like everybody else she's with. <i> </i>The way she interacts with friends is true to a fifteen year old girl who wants to fit in while also standing up for her beliefs. Even after the book ends, you want to know more about her.<br />
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I love the intensity in this book. You never know what's going to happen as you read. While there are a couple of places where I noticed small mistakes, it was very well-written and enjoyable. If you love thrillers that are still clean, this is a great book. I would highly recommend the books to anyone ages 12 and up.<br />
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You can purchase the book here: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Watched-Murder-was-Just-Beginning/dp/0615493386/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1318661632&sr=8-3">http://www.amazon.com</a>jaclyn weisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14487648832438872908noreply@blogger.com2