Where I share my love of books with reviews, features, giveaways and memes. Family and needlepoint are thrown in from time to time.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Back From the Dead by Peter Leonard (Book Review and Interview)



TOUR SCHEDULE
Feb 2 - Review by Krystal @ Live To Read
Feb 5 - Guest Post by Jodi @ Words by Webb
Feb 23rd - Review by Gautami @ Everything Distils Into Reading
Feb 25th - Showcase by Kate @ Read 2 Review
Feb 26th - Review by Athena @ The Stuff of Success
Mar 1st - Review by Misty @ The Top Shelf
Mar 3rd - Review by Kim @ Bookishly Me
Mar 4th - Guest Post by Mason Canyon @ Thoughts in Progress
Mar 7th - Guest Post & Review by Lori @  Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book
Mar 30th - Review by Gina @ Hott Books
Apr 1st - Guest Post & Review by Kathleen @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews
Apr 2nd - Interview & Review by  Kristi @ Books and Needlepoint
Apr 3rd - Review by Susan @ My Cozie Corner
Apr 7th Interview & Review by Jean BookNerd
Apr 10th - Review by Kathleen @ Celticlady's Reviews
Apr 11th - Review by Mary @ Mary's Cup of Tea
Apr 12th - Review by Victor @ Vic's Media Room
Apr 14th - Review by  Tammy @ The Self-Taught Cook
Apr 15th - Review by Rick @ Rhodes Review




Title: Back From the Dead
Author: Peter Leonard
Publisher: The Story Plant

About the Book: Peter's jaw-dropping Voices of the Dead introduced us to two mortal enemies:  Holocaust survivor Harry Levin and Nazi death angel Ernst Hess.  Now, their struggle reaches its dramatic conclusion in Back From the Dead. 

Bahamas, 1971.  Ernst Hess, missing and presumed dead, regains consciousness to find himself stuck in a hospital bed on a strange ward in a foreign country.  He must do what he needs to do to get his life back and to finish the job he has been doing for decades.

Harry believes he has already stopped Hess.  When he finds out that the war criminal has somehow survived, Harry must do the only thing he can do -- kill Hess again -- even if it means crossing continents and putting his life and the lives of those that matter to him on the line.

Action-packed and darkly humorous, Back From The Dead is the unforgettable conclusion to a story that launches Peter Leonard into the pantheon of great suspense novelists. 


My Thoughts:  Just as in his previous book about Harry Levin, Voices From the Dead, you jump right into the action on the first page.  I really liked that this book picked up immediately from where the last one ended.  It had been awhile since I read Voices, so it took me some time to get familiar with the characters again.  They are all back - even the despicable Ernst Hess - whom we thought we had seen the last of. 

It was a fast paced story with the characters doing a lot of world traveling in their game of who can kill whom first.   I was rooting for Harry, of course, as this all started with the loss of his daughter in the first book.  He doesn't mince words when he writes and it is all very much action driven.  The characters are all forces to be reckoned with and it is just a matter of time before someone comes out on top.  Finding out who that is will keep you on the edge of your seat!

I guess you could read this one as a stand-alone - but why would you want too?  Pick them both up - you will be glad you did!

Read my review of Voices From the Dead.
 
~I received a complimentary eCopy of Back From the Dead from Partners in Crime Book Tours in exchange for my unbiased review.~


About the author: Peter Leonard lives in Birmingham, Michigan. He has published five novels: QUIVER, TRUST ME, ALL HE SAW WAS THE GIRL, VOICES OF THE DEAD, and BACK FROM THE DEAD.


Visit Peter on his website: http://www.peterleonardbooks.com or on facebook



 







I was very lucky to have Mr. Leonard answer some questions for me!  Please enjoy the interview below.


1. How do you typically write? Do you plot it all out beforehand or do you just let the story pour out?
 
I’ve written books both ways. I’ve outlined stories where I know the starting point and the end, but not how I’m going to get there. The book I’m currently writing is free form. I don’t know where I’m going or what is going to happen.
I think it’s more fun this way.
 
2. Do you have much say in the title or covers of you books?
I’ve only had to change one title. The original was: As The Romans Do, which in retrospect didn’t have much attitude. I changed it to: All He Saw Was The Girl.
 
As for covers, the answer, strangely enough, is yes. I was a partner in an ad agency when I wrote my first novel Quiver, and St. Martin’s, my publisher at the time, showed me half a dozen covers. I didn’t care for any of them, so I asked Jim Tocco, an art director and one of the partners at the agency to come up with a couple ideas. His first cover design was unanimously chosen. Since then Jim has designed three more covers for my current publisher, The Story Plant.

3. What would you tell a beginning writer?
 
Find a writer you really like, and copy him/her until you develop your own sound and style. Every writer is influenced by someone.

4. Do you have a favorite quote?

“If it sounds like writing, rewrite it.” This is from my father, Elmore Leonard. If you’re telling the story through the eyes of your characters in shifting points of view as I do, the writing has to sound like the characters.

5. Do you have a favorite place to write or “must haves” while writing?
 
I write in a wood-paneled den with a fireplace in my house in Birmingham, Michigan, now looking out at the snow-covered front lawn. My dog, Sam, a miniature Pincher, sits in a little chair next to me. I write in longhand on lined legal pads, and then I transpose that to an Apple MacBook Pro. I try to write four pages a day. The most I’ve ever written in a day is six.
 
6. Where/when do you brainstorm best?
 
The best idea time for me is first thing in the morning, laying in bed, thinking about what I wrote the day before, and what’s next.

7. What is your favorite way to promote a book?
 
Talking about it, whether it’s a broadcast interview, speaking at a local library, or college/university. I enjoy interacting with readers, talking about writing, answering questions.

8. How long do you think about a story before starting to write the book?
 
It varies, a week, a month, typically when the proper research is finished. The inspiration for the book I’m writing, Unknown Remains, came from a lunch conversation with an old friend. I was writing another book at the time and put it aside and wrote the first chapter, which amazingly still sounded interesting to me when I picked it up a year later.

9. Do you have any hidden talents?
 
I think I’m a pretty good cook. I’ve been the main cook in the family since I got married thirty years ago. I make dinner after writing all day. A few evenings a week, my newly single father, Elmore comes over and we eat, drink wine and talk about writing.
 
 
Back From the Dead
Publisher/Publication Date:  The Story Plant, Jan 2013
ISBN: (P) 978-1-61188-063-2 (E) 978-1-61188-064-9
282 pages

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Kindle Fire Giveaway for April!



Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway



The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)






Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)






Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)









Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors



  1. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
  2. Author Jennifer Laurens
  3. Author Lena Sledge
  4. Kelly's Lucky You
  5. Author Lori Verni-Fogarsi
  6. Phantasmic Reads
  7. Author Rebecca Talley
  8. Author Ednah Walter
  9. Author Heather Bixler
  10. Girls With Books
  11. My Life With Books
  12. Author Rae Z. Ryans
  13. All Fantasy Worlds
  14. Author Michael Young
  15. Book Angel Booktopia
  16. Lori's Reading Corner
  17. Books R Us
  18. Books 4 Tomorrow
  19. Author T. Lynne Tolles
  20. Good Choice Reading
  21. Curling Up With A Good Book
  22. Auggie-Talk
  23. A Bookish Escape
  24. Paranormal Book Club
  25. Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf
  26. Amethyst Daydreams
  27. Pink Fluffy Hearts
  28. Love. Without You
  29. Books, Books, the Magical Fruit
  30. Author Lisa Voison
  31. Tasty Book Tours
  32. Fae Books
  33. Author Cindy C. Bennett
  34. Author Emma Michaels
  35. Author Lia Fairchild
  36. Fade Into Fantasy
  37. Pieces of Whimsy
  38. Author Rachael Renee Anderson
  39. Feed Your Reader
  40. Lovely Reads


Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International). Ends 4/30/13



Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $199 US.

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BookRix YA Contest “Be The Best (Seller) You Can Be!”

Writing is your talent, your skill, and your greatness! Unfortunately, being an Indie Author comes with a downside: The grueling task of self-marketing. It’s a big, book-filled world out there, and without marketing, readers won’t know about you or your work. It’s kinda hard to be a Best Seller when nobody knows about your book, so let’s get you noticed!
Entering this contest could ease some of the pressures of marketing because BookRix will help you get your book out there to the world. Yes, we're cool like that!

PRIZES:

The top 2 winners in this “Be The Best (Seller)” contest will each receive a MARKETING PACKAGE for special book promotions, when their winning book is self-published via BookRix. This Marketing Package includes being featured on the BookRix website /blog/Twitter & Facebook fan pages/newsletter, external book reviews, possible blog tours and exposure on external sites with a possible feature in an eBook shop. A custom cover and editing service could also be thrown into the mix because, like we said, we are cool like that!


Visit the Contest Page Here:

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Starseed by Liz Gruder (Book Review by Tori) and Giveaway!

Starseed Blog Tour is being hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer and ends on April 5.  

Tour Schedule 
March 13th

March 18th

March 19th

March 20th

March 21st

March 22nd

March 23rd

March 24th

March 25th

March 26th

March 27th

March 28th

March 29th

March 30th

March 31st

April 1st
Mom of 2 Dancers – Review

April 2nd

April 3rd
Ever & Ever Sight – Review
Spellbindings – Tens List

April 4th
My Random Life – Spotlight
Brooke Blogs – Excerpt
Girl *Hearts* Books – Book Soundtrack

April 5th
LivLovLife Reviews – Spotlight

Title: Starseed
Author: Liz Gruder
Publisher: WiDo Publishing

About the Book: Kaila Guidry has always known she is different. After all, her mother insists Kaila hide her hair under a tin foil shield and a wig before leaving the house. When Kaila meets Jordyn Stryker one day at school, she starts to understand the origin of her mother’s seemingly irrational fears.

Jordyn Stryker was born and raised far from Earth, a starseed, one of six new students sent undercover to Louisinia’s Bush High to learn human ways. When Kaila is pushed to her limit by high school bullying and cruelty, Jordyn steps in and awakens her to a new reality, and to love. Out of loyalty to him, Kaila looks the other way when the real purposes of the starseed begin to unfold.

As the horrific plan behind the starseed visit to Earth moves forward, Kaila and Jordyn, caught in an impossible love, must face who they really are and decide where their true loyalties lie.

Purchase
~Publisher~     ~Amazon~     ~Barnes & Noble~      ~Amazon Kindle~

Tori's Thoughts:  Ok, this one wasn't really for me.  I think that I was just not in the mood for an alien book.  The pace of the book was almost too quick and I found myself deluged with information.  I would rather be given some information and then use my imagination to fill in the blanks, rather than be given everything.   I also thought that the relationship between Jordyn and Kaila progressed too rapidly to be believable.  

However, it did have a good message.  Though Jordyn and Kaila came from the same origins, Kaila had been raised on Earth with a human mother and stepfather, and Jordyn had been raised in a hive with other starseeds. For this reason, Kaila was able to grow up unique - but this caused her to be an outsider, so when Jordyn came along, she did anything to belong.  When her beliefs are challenged though, will she stay true to herself or become like a starseed?  You will have to read it to find out.

~I received a complimentary eCopy from I am a Reader, Not a Writer in exchange for my honest review.~

About the author: As a youth, Liz Gruder saw a series of UFOs with her best friend while riding bikes. Ever since, she’s held a fascination for the stars. An avid reader, she used to hide under her covers and read with a flashlight. She has degrees in English and Psychology from Tulane University, a nursing license and a yoga certification. After going through Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Liz realized how short life is and is now slowly fulfilling her bucket list: she’s been to the Egyptian pyramids (totally awesome and thought provoking) and is now teaching yoga and writing speculative fiction. Starseed is her debut novel.



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Book Blitz: To Be Or Not by Margo Hoornstra (Free on Amazon - April 2, 2013 only!)

To Be Or Not FREE Exclusively on Amazon April 2, 2013 


To Be, or Not
by Margo Hoornstra

Barry Carlson had it all, a successful career in professional baseball and the adoration of any woman he wanted. Except one. Forced to retire in his prime, Barry returns to his hometown of Summerville, New York to coach the Minor League Hornets.

Twenty years ago, Barry broke through Amanda Marsh’s trust issues. He melted her ice, won her love, then walked away without a backward glance to survey the wreckage. Now Amanda is the head of public relations for the Hornets and happily single—until Barry slides back into her life.

Still reluctant to trust, Amanda gives Barry another chance. But the announcement of their twenty-fifth high school reunion leads to an asinine bet between Barry and his old buddies, and threatens to ruin their new-found relationship. As scandals of the past and present converge, can Barry and Amanda get beyond their differences to find their second chance at love? 

About Margo Hoornstra: My personal history in a nutshell is pretty simple. I’m a wife to one; mother to four—seven if you count in-law children which I do—and grandmother to four so far. 


My work experience includes public relations specialist, magazine editor, television producer, and script and speech writer. I’m also a founding member of Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America.


Margo's Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads







Excerpt
“I don’t think he was lying about this, because I was there too. Back at Doogan’s when you and your group of old buds came up with that—that—bet.”

As his memory completed a fast rewind of the specific event, the warmth in his heart turned to ice.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” he hedged as his mind reeled with ways to talk himself out of the deep, dark pit he was about to fall into.

“Don’t you, Barry?” She gestured with a head toss over one shoulder. “According to him, the wager was your idea.”

He felt the pit begin to close in on top of him. “It’s not as bad as it sounds.”

When her gaze returned to take a vise grip on his, he saw only contempt. “So you admit to setting me up to win a bet with your pals.”

“What? Oh, God. No, Amanda.” Hearing the tears in her voice, a chill ran down his limbs. “It was nothing like that.” At the devastation in her eyes,
his gut twisted into knots and he could swear his heart stop beating. “Aaron Goodwin is an unmitigated ass. A jerk of the highest order. He
doesn’t have one cell in his body that isn’t selfish and self involved. In short, he’s a total and complete ass.”

The look of raw pain on her face was the same one that had haunted him for so many years. “It appears he has some competition in you.”




To Be, or Not
Publisher/Publication Date: Wild Rose Press, Dec 2011
ISBN: B006K0Q3BO
135 pages


Monday, April 1, 2013

Book Review: From Here to Eternity by Paige Cuccaro




Welcome to the last stop on the blog tour, From Here to Eternity by Paige Cuccaro, hosted by Entangled Publishing.

March 7 – RhiReading
March 8 – Manga Maniac Cafe
March 8 – Shortie Says
March 9 – Paulette’s Papers
March 14 – A Soul Unsung
March 14 – Reading Between the Wines
March 18 – My Reading Room
March 19 – Leisure Reads
March 21 – Cocktails and Books
March 25 – Ramblings From This Chick
March 26 – Book Junkie
March 29 – Bookin’ It Reviews
April 1 – Books and Needlepoint

Title:  From Here to Eternity
Author: Paige Cuccaro
Publisher: Entangled Publishing

About the Book:  Love never dies…but apparently Rachel has.


Waking up one day to her obituary in the news and no recollection of the past few weeks, Rachel calls her husband, Nate, in a panic, at the research facility where he works. Nate is the inventor of CYANAs, Cybernetic Anthropoid Automatons, vessels that look exactly like humans and can store a person’s memories…and maybe even his or her soul.
When Nate arrives home, Rachel doesn’t recognize the man who claims to be her husband. Can Nate convince Rachel to fall in love with him all over again? Especially once she realizes what he’s done…and what it means for their future?

amazonBigbnbuy

My Thoughts:  Very interesting take on cybernetics and our future.  Based on the premise that a person's memories can be downloaded like a computer file and uploaded to a CYANA upon a person's demise, so that they can continue living.  I had to keep reading just because I kept wondering what it would feel like - if my memories were transferred to someone, or something else, would I still feel like me?  Lots of great possibilities for a series here - learning to download other people's memories and so get their abilities.  But for this story, it was really a love story and the lengths that someone might go to in order to preserve the life of someone that they feel they cannot live without.  It was a good story, under 100 pages so a very quick read, and a great escape into the future.

You can go here to read an excerpt of From Here to Eternity.

~I received a complimentary ecopy of From Here to Eternity from Entangled Publishing in exchange for my unbiased review.~


From Here to Eternity
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Publishing, Feb 2013
ISBN: 978-1-62266-062-9
86 pages

Friday, March 29, 2013

Book Review: Sand Castle Bay by Sherryl Woods

Title: Sand Castle Bay (An Ocean Breeze Novel)
Author: Sherryl Woods
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

About the Book: In a trade-off she's lived to regret, Emily Castle left home years ago to become an interior designer. The youngest of three sisters, Emily desperately wanted to prove herself. Success, though, came at the cost of leaving behind the man she loved.For Boone Dorsett, losing Emily left his heart shattered, but another woman was waiting in the wings. Now a widower with a young son, Boone has a second chance with Emily when a storm brings her home. But with his former in-laws threatening a custody suit, the stakes of loving her are higher than ever.

Will fate once again separate them—or is the time finally right for these two star-crossed lovers?

Purchase Links:

Add on Goodreads

My Thoughts: This is the first in a new trilogy about sisters by Sherryl Woods. I love trilogies and so I jumped on the chance to review all three of these (Wind Chime Point will be reviewed in April, followed by Sea Glass Island in June).  

This one focused on Emily, the youngest of the three sisters.  She left home ten years before and has since become a very successful interior designer.  She has only returned home after a hurricane has damaged her Grandma Cora Jane's restaurant.  Both of her sisters also return to help with the clean up -so you get to meet them all in this book.  There is Gaby, who has a career in PR and still lives in North Carolina.  Samantha is the oldest sister and is an aspiring actress in New York City.  

Cora Jane is somewhat of a meddler and begins pushing to get Emily and Boone back together almost before Emily gets there.  She has always liked Boone and he has become a son to her, so it is only natural for her to want him paired with Emily. He has a precocious son, BJ, who is always welcomed at Cora's restaurant and Emily finds a place in his heart without even trying.  This causes some dissension between Emily and Boone though.  Boone does not want BJ to be hurt as he is still recovering from the death  of his mother.  Where Emily is concerned, Boone is still hurting himself over her leaving years before and wants to spare his son that. Even though they both try to pull away, the attraction between them continues to grow.  

I really hated Jodie, BJ's maternal grandmother.  I just wanted to pick her up and shake her!  She does everything to make Boone feel guilty about the death of Jenny and even threatens to try to take BJ away from him if he continues to see Emily!  Aargh!  Talk about unreasonable!

My only criticism is that the book seemed to get a little long about 3/4 of the way through.  But I had to keep reading because I had to find out how it ended!

~I received a complimentary ecopy of Sand Castle Bay from McAllister PR and Harlequin MIRA publishers in exchange for my unbiased review.~

Publisher/Publication Date: Harlequin/MIRA, March 2013
ISBN: 978-0778314363
384 pages

Book Review and Giveaway! A Spoonful of Sugar by Brenda Ashford

Title: A Spoonful of Sugar: A Nanny's Story
Author: Brenda Ashford
Publisher: Doubleday

About the Book: Brenda Ashford is the quintessential British nanny. Prim and proper, gentle and kind, she seems to have stepped straight out of Mary Poppins. For more than six decades Nanny Brenda swaddled, diapered, dressed, played with, sang to, cooked for, and looked after more than one hundred children. From the pampered sons and daughters of lords ensconced in their grand estates to the children of tough war evacuees in London’s East End, Brenda has taught countless little ones to be happy, healthy, and thoroughly well bred. In this delightful memoir, Brenda shares her endearing, amusing, and sometimes downright bizarre experiences turning generations of children into successful adults.

From the moment Brenda first held her baby brother David she was hooked. She became a second mother to him, changing his nappies, reading him stories, and giving him all the love her warm heart contained. Knowing a career caring for children was her calling in life, Brenda attended London’s prestigious Norland College, famous for producing top-notch nannies. It was a sign of privilege and good taste for the children of the well-to-do to be seen being pushed in their Silver Cross prams by Norland nannies, who were recognizable by their crisp, starched black uniforms with white bib collars, and their flowing black capes lined with red silk. And what skills were these trainees tested on daily? Lullaby singing, storytelling, pram shining, bed making, all forms of sewing, cooking simple meals, and dispensing first aid—including knowing the best way to help the medicine go down.

In A Spoonful of Sugar, Brenda recalls her years at Norland and her experiences during the war (after all, even if bombs are dropping, there’s no reason to let standards slip), and recounts in lovely detail a life devoted to the care of other people’s children.

Sprinkled throughout with pearls of wisdom (you can never give children too much love, and you should learn how to sew a button, for goodness’ sake), this delightful memoir from Britain’s oldest living nanny is practically perfect in every way.



PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM BRENDA ASHFORD

"I had puzzled many times over the ingredients for a perfect recipe for a happy home. Throw in some stability, a dash of routine and respect. Sprinkle some fun and imaginative games and stir well. But the most vital ingredient is the mother. The mother is truly the heart and soul of a family.”

“As for fussy eaters? I don’t stand for it. I have taken a hard line on this topic. This is a home, not a restaurant and you will jolly well try it before you turn your nose up at it.”

“If a child has sufficient breakfast, lunch and dinner they shouldn't need a snack. I don’t really like it today when I see children being wheeling along in a pram stuffing things in their mouth. ”

“Children cannot get up to your level, so you have to get down to theirs; try and understand how the world looks through their eyes.”

“If we respect little people then they in turn will grow up to respect others.”

“Put a book in a child’s hands or plant them in an empty field or park, and suddenly the world opens up and becomes a fantastical place of make believe and adventure.”

“Never let a house define you. You can make a home anywhere from an air raid shelter to a shed, if you have to. Riches and wealth don’t matter a jot.”

“I was always honest with my charges. In fact in every area of my life I have been most careful to never tell a lie. Why can’t everyone be more careful to tell the truth? At least we would all know where we stand in life.”

“Little folk deserve a childhood that’s full of fun. It’s the single most valuable lesson in my eyes. I have always encouraged children to have a giggle wherever and whenever they can.”

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM A Spoonful of Sugar: A Nanny’s Story by Brenda Ashford
*9780385536417* On Sale April 2, 2013
Strung Together During 60 Years of Devoted Service as a Nanny


My Thoughts: This was such an easy book to read.  The words just flowed out of the pages.  You could really feel the passion that Ms. Ashford had for those children in her care -- really all children.  Reading the book, it was hard to picture a 90+ woman writing it, as the spirit and energy was of someone much younger.

As you can see from the Pearls of Wisdom above, she is very honest and down to earth, and I don't know of anyone who would not benefit from some of her advice. About the first 1/3 of the book was dedicated to her own childhood and how she came about deciding she wanted to be a nanny, as well as her training at Norland Institute. For the most part, the rest of the book is dedicated to the time she spent with some of her charges and their families.  From humor to tragedy, she has experienced it all.

For some reason, and this is probably just the English flavor that the book had, but it reminded me of the books written by James Herriott and his experiences of being a vet.  They just seemed to have the same rhythm and style and leave you with just a feeling of goodwill.


Purchase Links:
  


Tour Schedule:


Stop by & you could win a copy for yourself!



About the author: Brenda Ashford is a graduate of Norland College, a world-famous institute for British nannies.  For sixty-two years, she cared for more than one hundred children, making her Britain's longest serving nanny.  She lives outside London.












Thank you to the team at Doubleday, Ms. Ashford and Providence Book Promotions for generously offering this book to me for review.
If you'd like to join in on an upcoming tour just stop by their sites and sign up today!




A Spoonful of Sugar
Publisher/Publication Date: Doubleday, April 2, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-385-53641-7
320 pages

Now is your chance to win a copy of A Spoonful of Sugar!  Just sign up through the rafflecopter below.  This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada only.


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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop (Mar 29 - Apr 5) INT

It seems like it has been awhile since I have participated in a Giveaway Hop, even though I know it was just earlier this month!  It is Spring Break here, and it has not turned out like I expected at all.  I am going to need another week off just to recover from this week!  So, let's have a bit of fun and enter some giveaways!  This one is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and Read Now Sleep Later.  All participating blogs will be giving away something a reader, author, or blogger would enjoy.

For this hop, I am giving away any Kindle Book with Easter or Spring in the title up to $10 in value.  So, that means this would be an International giveaway!


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Book Review: The House Girl by Tara Conklin

Title: The House Girl
Author: Tara Conklin
Publisher: William Morrow

About the Book: Virginia, 1852. Seventeen-year-old Josephine Bell decides to run from the failing tobacco farm where she is a slave and nurse to her ailing mistress, the aspiring artist Lu Anne Bell. New York City, 2004. Lina Sparrow, an ambitious first-year associate in an elite law firm, is given a difficult, highly sensitive assignment that could make her career: she must find the “perfect plaintiff” to lead a historic class-action lawsuit worth trillions of dollars in reparations for descendants of American slaves.

It is through her father, the renowned artist Oscar Sparrow, that Lina discovers Josephine Bell and a controversy roiling the art world: are the iconic paintings long ascribed to Lu Anne Bell really the work of her house slave, Josephine? A descendant of Josephine’s would be the perfect face for the reparations lawsuit—if Lina can find one. While following the runaway girl’s faint trail through old letters and plantation records, Lina finds herself questioning her own family history and the secrets that her father has never revealed: How did Lina’s mother die? And why will he never speak about her?

Moving between antebellum Virginia and modern-day New York, this searing, suspenseful and heartbreaking tale of art and history, love and secrets, explores what it means to repair a wrong and asks whether truth is sometimes more important than justice.


My Thoughts: Where to start. . .   I did enjoy this novel very much - especially the sections that pertained to Josephine.  I really liked her character and was moved by her story.  She was a slave, but had been chosen as a house girl for LuAnne Bell.  Her life was seemingly full of contradictions.  Even though she was a slave, she lived a different life as a house girl, even getting to paint and express herself.  Though the credit for her much of her work was given to LuAnne, I am not sure she was looking for credit for her work - she was looking for a new life.

Lina, on the other hand, seemed, if not content with her life, at least in a place that she wasn't ready to "stir the pot".  She still lived with her father, and yet was an associate in a big law firm.  Her mother had been killed when she was just a little girl, and I think this was part of the reason that she still lived with her father.  It was in that house that she could remember what little she did about her mother.  There was a mystery surrounding her death because her father never really wanted to talk about it with her - so being so young when she died - she didn't really know what happened.

As she starts to research Josephine's life and to see her struggles, a series of events in her own life seem to awaken her need for a change as well. I think it was learning about Josephine, and how she never gave up to be free makes her realize she has just been drifting along in her own life - waiting for something to happen rather than going out and finding it.  She starts to see the people in her father's (and mother's previous) life in a new light.  Questioning what she thought to be the truth, forces a confrontation with her father that was far too long in happening.  

Filled with interesting characters, to me, this book explores how relationships with family and others, have an influence on our lives and the choices that we make. Would Josephine have done the same things had she not been a house girl?  Would her life have been different is she would not have been close to Lu Anne Bell?  And Lina,  if her father would have shared things about her mother when she was younger, how would that have influenced Lina's choices in life, and would her father have been able to let things go earlier than he did?  I think this book would be a great choice for a book club read as there are so many things you could discuss and explore.  

~I received a complimentary ecopy of this book from William Morrow through Edelweiss in exchange for my unbiased review.~

The House Girl
Publisher/Publication Date: William Morrow, Feb 2013
ISBN: 978-0062207395
384 pages

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