Where I share my love of books with reviews, features, giveaways and memes. Family and needlepoint are thrown in from time to time.
Showing posts with label Virtual Author Tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virtual Author Tours. Show all posts

Monday, October 24, 2011

A Dog's Way Home by Bobbie Pyron (Book Review w/bonus giveaway!)

Title: A Dog's Way Home
Author: Bobbie Pyron
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books


About the Book: One late fall afternoon, a tragic highway accident leaves eleven-year-old Abby and her beloved Shetland sheepdog, Tam, stranded at opposite ends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Though each is determined to be reunited with the other, the days separating them turn to weeks, then months, and dangers and changes fill up Abby's and Tam's lives. Will they ever find their way back home to one another?


Classic in its themes and contemporary in its telling, Bobbie Pyron's A Dog's Way Home is the unforgettable tale of the many miles, months, and mountains that separate two loyal friends—but that can't possibly keep them apart.

My thoughts:  This was a very quick middle-grade level read.  If you like animal stories - especially dogs - then this will be one that you want to add to your shelf.  The author tells the story from two perspectives - that of Tam, the sheltie in the story, and Abby - the little girl who owns Tam.  

After a car accident leaves Tam lost and alone in the Smoky Mountains, he spends months trying to get back to Abby.  After awhile he is more wild than dog, but something in him keeps pulling him home.  Abby's family, meanwhile, has moved to Nashville as her dad has gotten a recording contract.  Abby doesn't want to leave the home that she is sure that Tam is trying to get back to, but doesn't have a choice.  She has dreams about Tam and what he is going through, and her friends are convinced that she has inherited "the sight" from her grandmother. 

I found myself cheering for Tam to keep going in this book.  When something would happen to him, I would keep my fingers crossed that he would be able to pull himself through. 

I remember some of my teachers in elementary school reading to us after lunch - do they still do that?  I think this would be a good choice for a book like that.  If you have a child in your life that likes dog/animal stories - definitely introduce her to this book. 

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Teddy at Premier Virtual Author Book Tours and the author, Bobbie Pyron.~

Publisher/Publication Date: Katherine Tegen Books, Feb 2011
ISBN: 978-0061986741
Ages 9-12

I have one copy of The Ring, by Bobbie Pyron for giveaway -



Plagued by slipping grades and a budding criminal record, at 15, Mardie's heading down a path of self-destruction she can't seem to avoid. Unlike her perfect older brother Michael, who does everything right according to their father, Mardie can't measure up. But when she discovers a girls' boxing club at the gym, Mardie's drawn in by the fighters' fearlessness and strength. Having already lost her parents' trust, and shunned by her boyfriend and friends, the ring is the only place left where no one judges Mardie. Angry and hurt, Mardie can't wait to start throwing punches. But Kitty, her wise and patient trainer, a former boxer who's coached her share of troubled girls, shows Mardie that boxing isn't just about fighting--it's also about strategy and mental discipline--the things that make a fighter into a winner. Mardie begins to apply the lessons she's learned in the ring to her own battles, especially at home, where she finds she's not the only one struggling for acceptance. As she trains for her upcoming championship bouts, Mardie hopes to make her parents proud. Filled with exciting sports action, The Ring is the inspiring story of a girl learning to believe in herself.


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Love at Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks (Book Review)

Title: Love at Absolute Zero
Author: Christopher Meeks
Publisher: White Whisker Books

About the book: Love at Absolute Zero is the story of Gunnar Gunderson, a 32-year-old star physicist at the University of Wisconsin. The moment he's given tenure at teh university, he can think of only one thing: finding a wife. His research falters into what happens to matter near absolute zero (-459.67 F), but he has an instant new plan. To meet his soul mate within three days -- that's what he wants and all the time he can carve out -- he will use the Scientific Method. His research team will help. Can Gunnar survive his quest? What happens if and when he goes to Denmark?

My thoughts:  I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started reading this book.  I wasn't sure if science and romance would add up to be something that I would enjoy.  Well, I definitely enjoyed it and laughed myself through a good portion of the book. Gunnar is your typically geek.  He has spent the majority of his life in books and labs and earned tenure at the very young age of 32.  With that goal out of the way, he decides that it is now time to find a mate - but only has a few days while they are moving his lab/experiment to a more suitable location.  To make the most of his time shortage, he approaches romance like he does his experiments - with the scientific method. 

With the help of his lab partners/friends he sets out to make himself more attractive to the opposite sex - braces, laser eye surgery, hair color and cut and new wardrobe all in about 24-36 hours.  OUCH!  He then attempts to go to a speed dating event which is an hilarious disaster.  After making a few changes the next morning he goes to another speed dating event with out much more success - at the event that is.  He does have some success with a young lady he tripped over on the way in.

After a two-week whirlwind romance he sets out to change his whole life to move to Denmark to be with his new lady love. Unfortunately time does not make her heart grow fonder.  She's a more - love the one your with - sort of girl.  Poor Gunnar, if you weren't already on his side before this, you will be now.


About the author: Christopher Meeks began as a playwright and has had three plays produced. Who Lives? A Drama is published. His short stories have been published in Rosebud, The Clackamas Literary Review, The Santa Barbara Review, The Southern California Anthology, The Gander Review, and other journals and are available in two collections, The Middle-Aged Man and the Sea and Months and Seasons. He has two novels, The Brightest Moon of the Century, a story that Marc Schuster of Small Press Reviews describes as "a great and truly humane novel in the tradition of Charles Dickens and John Irving," and his new comic novel, Love At Absolute Zero.

You can visit him at his website.

You can pick up an ecopy of his book for just $.99 through Friday for your Nook or Kindle. You can also enter my INTERNATIONAL giveaway for a copy of Love at Absolute Zero.


~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Virtual Author Tours in exchange for my review.~

Love At Absolute Zero
Publisher/Publication Date: White Whisker Books, July 2011
ISBN: 978-0983632917
312 pages

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Love at Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks (Blog Tour and Giveaway!)


Love at Absolute Zero
by Christopher Meeks


Love at Absolute Zero is the story of Gunnar Gunderson, a 32-year-old star physicist at the University of Wisconsin.  The moment he's given tenure at teh university, he can think of only one thing: finding a wife.  His research falters into what happens to matter near absolute zero (-459.67 F), but he has an instant new plan.  To meet his soul mate within three days -- that's what he wants and all the time he can carve out -- he will use the Scientific Method.  His research team will help.  Can Gunnar survive his quest?  What happens if and when he goes to Denmark?



Please visit the remainder of the blogs on this tour:

Oct 6 -   The Book Addict (review)
Oct 7 -   The Book Addict (interview)
         -    Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews (review)
Oct 10 - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews (interview and giveaway)
           - Gabriel Reads (review)
Oct 11 - Gabriel Reads (interview)
           - Dan's Journal (review)
Oct 12 - Dan's Journal (guest post)
            - Words I Write Crazy (review)
Oct 13 - Ramblings of a Daydreamer (review)
Oct 14 - Ramblings of a Daydreamer (review)
           - Drey's Library (review and giveaway)

I hope to have my review up later today.  You can get a bonus entry if you comment on it!


GIVEAWAY:

This giveaway is open internationally!  I have one copy of Love at Absolute Zero to giveaway.  If winner is international, they will receive a coupon for the ebook at Smashwords.  If the winner is from U.S. they will have a choice of a papercopy or the Smashwords coupon.  Giveaway is open until Midnight, Oct 19, CST.  Comments are appreciated, but must use form to enter giveaway.  Thanks!!



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