Rainy Day Ramblings

Level 2(Memory Chronicles #1) by Lenore Appelhans: Guest Post, Review and Giveaway (Sponsored)

Happy Thursday! I have a fantastic guest post and giveaway for you all today. The wonderfully talented Lenore Appelhans is stopping by with her debut novel: Level 2. This is a fantastically complex book about the after life with a Matrix type feel to it.  If you are looking for something different definitely try this one! Before we go further, though, I want to introduce to Lenore:

Thanks to her father's job in the US military, Lenore Appelhans became addicted to travel early. To date, she's visited nearly 60 countries and has stepped on every contintent except Antartica. She currently lives in Frankfurt, Germany with her husband and three fancy Birman cats. Her novel, The Memory of After (published as Level 2 in hardcover by Simon & Schuster BFYR) is "immensely layered" (VOYA) and "a griping debut" (NYT Bestselling Author Megan McCafferty). The second book in The Memory Chronicles, Chasing Before, is due summer 2014. She has been blogging about books at Presenting Lenore since 2008. Also find Lenore on her website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and Pinterest. 

 

 Lenore's book Level 2 will be getting a new cover and a new title when the paperback version releases this fall.  I was interested to know why the book was getting a new title so I asked Lenore to explain it to all of us.  Here is Lenore:

My debut novel, LEVEL 2, came out in January. In September it will come out in paperback with a new cover and new title: THE MEMORY OF AFTER.  

This change garners two main questions: 1) Why? And 2) Which title/cover do I think fits the book best?  

The answer to 1) 

Feedback from the S&S sales team showed that many potential readers thought LEVEL 2 was a sequel because of the “2”.  

The answer to 2)

This is more complicated, because I think each title/cover brings out different aspects of the story.

Let’s look at LEVEL 2 first. 

LEVEL 2 was always the working title for the novel. LEVEL 2 (a level of the afterlife) is the level that comes after LEVEL 1 (what we are living now).  I love this title because it promises action and mystery, but I can also understand the confusion.

The art director, Lizzy Bromley, constructed a plastic tube as a stand-in for a memory chamber.  The model didn’t have much space to move around, but she struck an active pose – giving Felicia a very determined look that fits well with her character. The dots on the cover symbolize the rows of hives that exist in Level 2.

Now, let’s take a look at THE MEMORY OF AFTER.

Once the team at S&S decided to try a new title, they had a brainstorming session and I had a brainstorming session and then we discussed ideas in a telephone conference (me, my agent and the head of the imprint, Justin).  When I mentioned the title THE MEMORY OF AFTER as a possibility, Justin got excited.  That was a favorite of the S&S team that they came up as well. Great minds, right?

I think the new title speaks more to the complexity of the narrative (there are three separate timelines) and promises more psychological depth. 

The cover image was taken from the original photo shoot, but Lizzy gave this cover incarnation more elegance, especially with that gorgeous type treatment.  I like that both covers are predominately white (very fitting for the stark white world of Level 2), and though I do miss the pop of orange/pink color on the LEVEL 2 cover, I love how Lizzy worked with the black/white dichotomy when creating a series concept for THE MEMORY OF AFTER and the sequel CHASING BEFORE.

So my verdict? I love both! 

Take a look at the Making of the LEVEL 2 cover:

 

Very interesting stuff Lenore! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing with us all the details that go into making a book cover. Which cover do you prefer? Lenore is offering a chance to win a signed copy of Level 2  and bookmark to one lucky U.S. resident.  To enter fill out the Rafflecopter after reading the Contest Policies.  Good Luck! 

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Here is my review:

Level 2(Memory Chronicles #1) by Lenore Appelhans

In this gripping exploration of a futuristic afterlife, a teen discovers that death is just the beginning. Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost-family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved. Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian-a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life-comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again. Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind. 
Hardcover, 281 pages 
Published January 15th 2013 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher in exchange for an unbiased review 

 

 

Felicia enters her chamber and selects a favorite memory to soothe her jangled nerves.  Felicia is dead.  She now exists in a strange afterlife where everyone spends the majority of their time in small hive like structures with individual chambers where one can access all the memories from their life.  One can also view memories of other people's life.  Existence in this strange place is much like living in a fog of forgetfulness.  Everything changes when there is a rumbling and shaking of the hive.  Then a set of hidden doors swish open, and Felicia comes face to face with Julian, a boy who caused her a great deal of trouble on Earth.  Felicia is soon forced to make a choice.  Does she trust Julian and go with him or does she stay in her chamber?

What I Liked:

• I was completely astounded by the complexity of this book.  The story line takes place in the afterlife with a bit of sci-fi thrown in for flavor.  I very much enjoyed the intricate details of Ms. Appelhans vision of the afterlife. Basically, you have individuals existing in Level 2 which is a holding stage for souls that aren't ready to move onto the next level.  While in Level 2, people relive their memories with the hope that they will glean the knowledge needed from their former life that will enable them to move forward.  Unfortunately, something has gone awry with the system, and these days people are using memories more like a drug than a learning process.  Add in a rebellion, angels, battles and some religious ideas and you have the recipe for an engaging and entertaining read.
• I enjoyed the twists and big reveals especially toward the end.  It was certainly exciting to learn the truth behind the rebellion and so forth.  I was shocked a time or two, and I definitely wasn't able to foresee some of the developments.  If you like books that have a detailed plot with surprises you will enjoy this one.
• I absolutely loved the originality of Level 2.  It takes a lot these days to impress me with something new, and I was pleased to find this was unlike anything I have read before.  There are plenty of interesting and exciting ideas presented in this one regarding the afterlife.  If you are tired of the same old same old in the YA genre be sure to check out this book for a breath of fresh air. 
• I liked the way the memories were incorporated into the storyline to fill the reader in on the past events and to help establish the characters.  I thought it was very clever they way that they fit into the story, and I especially found the labels, tags, and user ratings interesting, they reminded me a bit of book ratings.  All in all, the whole memory concept was a fun and original idea.
• I was pleased that this book refrained from love triangles and a cliffhanger ending.  Even though at times, I was a bit concerned that this would move into that dreaded three sided love territory it does not happen.  Pick this one up if you are needing a read without triangles and cliffhangers.

And The Not So Much:

• While I for the most part thoroughly enjoyed the utilization of memory flashbacks, I found that sometimes they were a bit confusing because there was no order or time frame for the reader to establish a timeline.  I would have very much liked the memories to have a timestamp along with the user rating and tags.  Having a date would help me to understand the events better and make the flow smoother. 
• I was left a bit confused over Julian and his actions.  I just felt like I was missing something on his character.  He comes into the story and he appears to be a dangerous bad boy, but as time goes on his secrets are revealed and he becomes even more of an enigma.  By the end, I was stunned and I wanted to know more.  I have a feeling that his story will be told in further in the next book.
• This book has religious undertones to it.  Some of them I appreciated, but I found that I grew a little weary of all the stuff involving Felicia and the church activities.   
• Neil came across as being a bit too perfect and wonderful for me.  He is the love interest, but I didn't feel drawn to his character.  I was more interested in Julian to be honest.
• I was frustrated with the parents.  There seemed to be a great deal of resentment and bad feelings between Felicia and her mother, and I was expecting to learn more on this angle, but there is not a lot of information on the mother at all.  I felt like this was an important piece to the story and it lacked development.

Level 2 was an entertaining and complex story that focuses on the afterlife with a sci-fi flair.  For those who like action, originality and something beyond the ordinary in your reading, definitely check out this book.  It is one of the most innovative books that I have read to date for 2013, and I can honestly say that I will be checking out the next book in The Memory Chronicles.  

Favorite Quotations:

"It's one of those gorgeous spring evenings I can never get enough of, when the trees burst with fresh, impossibly green leaves and the air is fragrant with promise."

"I heard somewhere once that people never truly die while people on Earth still remember them.  As long as a person is in someone else's thoughts, a part of them lives on."

"When she gave me the bracelet, she said the dolphins reminded her of us, two faithful friends since childhood adrift in an ocean of constant change."

"I know it might not seem like it now, but there's more to life than parties and studying.  The point is to keep trying new things, meeting new people, visiting new places.  Once you settle into a rut, no matter how fun that rut may seem, you stagnate.  You might as well be dead."

"Can you really trust your memories?"

"It's like church is some foreign country and I missed out on the cultural briefing.  I started going because Grammy needed me to drive.  I started to enjoy going because Neil was there.  But that doesn't mean I've bought into the idea that God cares if I stay pure or not."

"Every relationship has its hurdles....and the big test is if you still want to be with someone despite those hurdles."

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own and I was not compensated.  

 

Love in Bloom Blog Giveaway Hop!

Spring is in full bloom and summer is just around the corner.  What is better than a summer romance??? I am participating in The Love is in Bloom Giveaway Hop Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Portrait of a Book  Be sure to visit their blogs and enter their giveaways and check out all the other participating blogs here.  There are around 200 blogs in the event. So get hopping!  This hop is all about the sweet summery romances.  I am offering a chance to win either your choice of book from the Book Depository or a giftcard from Amazon to select a sweet romance of your choice up to $15.00 in value.  Here are a few suggestions:

What are your picks?? Let me know! While you are here be sure to check out Apocalypse!

To enter this giveaway fill out the Rafflecopter.  See Contest Policies for all details! Good Luck!

 

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What A Mother Knows by Leslie Lehr Blog Tour: Interview, Review & Giveaway(Sponsored)

Today, I am happy to be a part of the blog tour (This tour is sponsored by the publisher Sourcebooks) for What A Mother Knows by Leslie Lehr.  This is an engaging story about a woman who comes back from the brink of death, only to find her whole life has fallen apart, and the worst thing is that her eighteen year daughter ran away.  It is a terrifying thought to think of your child out alone somewhere in the world, and it presents the question: What would you do to recover your child?  I have Leslie here to answer a few short interview questions.  Be sure to check out the rest of the tour and enter the giveaway!

Here is Leslie's bio:

Award-winning author of 66 Laps and Wife Goes On, Leslie Lehr’s essays have appeared in the anthology Mommy Wars, The Honeymoon’s Over,and Arianna Huffington’s On Becoming Fearless.  She was the screenwriter for a romantic thriller Heartless, which is screening in Europe, and sold the script “Club Divorce” to Lifetime. She has a BA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and an MFA from Antioch. She lives in Santa Monica with her husband and two daughters. You can find out more about Leslie on her website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Here is my interview with Leslie:

How did you come up with the idea for What A Mother Knows?

When my daughter was in middle school, she started crying at night, every night - and I felt so helpless. I imagined the worst. I wrote an essay called “Parenting Paranoia” that Arianna Huffington excerpted in her book, On Becoming Fearless. But I was still afraid.

Then I had jury duty on a manslaughter case in which two women were suing the driver of a car that crashed into a sports bar and killed their sons. We had to decide on the value of their loss. And so, in the worst of what-ifs, I started worrying about what my daughter’s value was to me, who I was without her…and how far would I go to protect her.

What kind of research did you do on brain injury and memory loss?  What was the most interesting thing you uncovered?

I consulted with a specialist in Traumatic Brain Injury who runs the Semel Institute at UCLA. I also did a lot of research on the web and read studies from facilities across the country. Then, when Gaby Gifford was injured, there was even more information available. 

The most interesting thing I learned is how many variables there are in terms of recovery. It can be unpredictable. It made me worry about my daughter who has had a concussion. The different kinds of memory were also interesting. For instance, Michelle had to remember older experiences before she could remember more recent ones. The goal for a writer is to include enough detail to make sure the reader doesn’t get distracted by something that doesn’t sound true, yet to avoid telling more than the characters in the story would know.

 

My opinion of Michelle wavered throughout, at first I was very sympathetic toward her, but by the end not so much.  What were your feelings toward Michelle by the end of the book?

 

I knew that she had been betrayed by a lot of people, so I was pretty sympathetic. At first she was a typical working mom, trying to please everyone, but as her situation go more complicated, she had to get stronger. She couldn’t just be nice all the time. And when so much was revealed about her own childhood, I understood her even more. Michelle is a good woman.

 

I was a bit frustrated with Drew.  Why did he never want to sit down and discuss everything with his wife? Did his behavior stem from things that occurred before the accident or after?

 

I wish he would have too, but most men aren’t great at talking. And he was usually out of town working or home, exhausted and angling for the next job. The freelance life in Hollywood is rough on families and makes it hard to stay close to a spouse. He was led to believe that Michelle would not survive, so when she did, he wanted to protect her as much as possible.

Where do you think Michelle will go from here? Do you think she will put back the pieces and become a much better person than she was before?

That’s a good question. I hope she will relax a bit and learn to enjoy the moment. She has a lot of options to explore. It could be another book.

What are some of your recommendations for summer reads?

 

Oh, that is tough. There are already great new books out from, Caroline Leavitt, Jane Porter, and soon Meg Waite Clayton, Brenda Janowitz… I’m a huge fan of women authors and find lots to read between the Girlfriends Group Book Club Reviews, Goodreads and the Barnes & Noble Discover program. And books don’t have to be new to be good!

 

What do you enjoy most about being an author? 

 I enjoy answering thoughtful questions like these, when someone has really read your book. There are so many layers and details that go into the writing – it’s a real gift to explore them with someone who cares. So thank you!

Thanks so much, Leslie, for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions, especially while you are undergoing chemotherapy! My best wishes are prayers are with you for a speedy recovery.  Best of luck with your release! For one lucky U.S. resident there is a chance to win a copy of What A Mother Knows thanks to the good folks at Sourcebooks who are sponsoring this giveaway.  To enter fill out the Rafflecopter See Contest Policies for details..  Good Luck!

Be sure to check the rest of the stops on the tour.  Here is the full schedule:

April 29 - Crochet Nirvana  

May 1 - Chick Lit is Not Dead 

May 2 - Bookfoolery

May 3 - The Bookworm

May 4 - Lori's Reading Corner

May 5 - The Self Taught Cook

May 6 - Mrs Condit Reads Books

May 7 - From the TBR Pile

May 8 - Cocktails and Books

May 9 - Burton Book Review

May 10 - Chick Lit Plus

May 12 - The Book Diva’s Reads

May 13 - Peeking Between the Pages

May 14 - Long and Short Reviews

May 15 - Rainy Day Ramblings

May 16 - Help4NewMoms

May 17 - Winey Mommy

May 18 - Cozy Up with a Good Read

May 20 - A Bookish Way of Life

May 21 – Confessions of a Book Junkie

May 22 - 5 Minutes for Mom

May 23 - Angela Klocke

May 24 - WeeShare

May 26 - Brianna Lee

May 28 - Reading Shelf

May 29 - Socrates Book Reviews

May 31 - Passionate about Books

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Here is my review:

What A Mother Knows by Leslie Lehr

An unsettling, emotional and suspenseful novel of the unshakable bonds of motherhood, in which Michelle Mason not only loses her memory after a deadly car crash, but can't find her 16-year-old daughter, the one person who may know what happened that day. But the deeper Michelle digs, the more she questions the innocence of everyone, even herself. A dramatic portrayal of the fragile skin of memory, What a Mother Knows is about finding the truth that can set love free. 
Paperback, 384 pages
Published: May 1st 2013 by Sourcebooks

Source: Publisher/Netgalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review

 

 

  1/2

Three and a half Stars: An unsettling tale about memory loss.

Michelle wobbles as she takes the last steps to her house.  At last, after eighteen months in the hospital, she is returning home to her family and friends.  A horrific car crash put her in a coma.  She wasn't expected to survive, but she did! The only drawback is her memory of the events of that day and those leading up to it are swept clean.  As Michelle attempts to settle into her former life, some unsettling and frightening truths come forth, the biggest one being that her now eighteen year daughter is not in Australia studying abroad as her husband told her. Nikki is instead missing, and no one is sure of her whereabouts.  Michelle's fragile world shatters.  She is determined that she will find her daughter at whatever cost.  How far will Michelle go to find her daughter?

What I Liked;

• The first half of this book is riveting. I was completely caught up in Michelle's desperate story.  She, in the beginning, comes across as very sympathetic. I felt so sorry for her as I watched her stumble and falter trying to regain her footing. Not only did she almost die, but she sustained devastating injuries such as the loss of movement in her arm and memory loss.  Just when she was looking forward to a bit of peace and happiness, she is barraged with some harsh and disturbing truths.  The worst being the disappearance of her daughter.  My heart went out to her at this point, since I am a mother. I can't imagine the horror of not knowing where your child is. The beginning of the story totally sucked me in!
• I liked watching everything unravel as Michelle again and again discovers some big secrets.  It was certainly shocking from one revelation to the next, and honestly I never knew what was coming.  There were certainly some startling twists in this one! The suspense kept me totally on edge, and I was thinking about the story between reads. 
• At the heart of the story is Michelle's unwavering, unconditional love for her lost daughter.  Even though some of her decisions frustrated me at times, I had to admire her fierce resolve and drive to find her daughter at any cost. I know as a mother, I would go to the ends of the earth to find one of my children if they were missing. I liked that the love for her child was such an important aspect of the story. 
• I was relieved to see that the ending drew to a satisfactory close.  Michelle in a way redeems herself, and I was glad to see that she finds closure and got a somewhat happy ending after all the drama.  It is always nice to read a book that has a solid ending without a jarring cliffhanger or an open/ determine your own ending.  

And The Not So Much:

• During the first half of the story, I felt very sympathetic toward Michelle, but as the plot wore on, I grew increasingly frustrated with her and her decisions.  I thought at times she was a bit selfish, and I didn't like the way she treated her son and her husband.  Some of her antics were very questionable, such as considering a big movie deal and her relationship with her doctor.  At the end during her trial, I was also a bit shocked at her choice.  After all that,though, she does redeem herself with her donation and her reconciliation with her mother.  I liked that this led to a warm, feel good ending. 
• Drew, Michelle's husband, frustrated me to no end. I could not believe his behavior and understand his motives for constantly lying to his wife. I hated that they not once sat down after her return from the hospital and had a frank discussion about everything that had happened during her recovery. Instead he continually ignores her and tells her to rest.  I would liked to have understood his motives better, and I never got that.  Furthermore, I hated the way everything played out between them.  I didn't understand if his behavior stemmed from events that transpired between them before the accident or if they came while Michelle was in the hospital. 
• There were a few times when I felt that the uncovering of a clue was a bit of a stretch.  This isn't a big deal, just an observation. 
• The second half didn't grasp my attention as much as the first, and I blame that on my lack of sympathy toward Michelle.  While I was totally vested in her well being and such the first portion, when she starts to make some questionable decisions, I started disliking her, and this led to me not staying as engaged in the book. 

What a Mother Knows is an interesting book that explores the devastating aftermath of a women who survives a near life ending car crash and suffers memory loss.  Just when it seems her life will steer back on course, everything falls apart as she learns everything that transpired during her convalescence.  Now she is faced with the fact that her daughter is missing, and Michelle will stop at nothing to find her.  This brings up the terrifying question: Just how far would you go to recover your child? 

Favorite Quotations:

"She used to think that the worst thing that could happen, to have Nikki working at McDonald's."

"She thought of Nikki again, still, always.  Was she watching the same sunset?  Or was she on a different patch of the planet, where the day was done and the stars were winking down at her?"

"Did she really love this man, or did she love the idea of him? Was this painful longing one loss, or just plain loneliness?"

 

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

Mother's Day Giveaways (Sponsored)

Happy Mother's Day To all the Moms out there! I know you are expecting a Sunday Post today, but instead I have two wonderful Mother's Day Giveaways! Be sure to check them both out and enter! Have a wonderful day! The Sunday Post will be back next week!

Stephanie Lisa Tara presents Mother Sea Turtle month!  Mothers need to stick together; whether scaly, feathered, furry or skinned! And to celebrate this Mother's Day and the release of her newest turtle book, Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book—which is the companion follow-up to her first international bestseller, I'll Follow the Moon—Stephanie Lisa Tara is giving away 2 gorgeous, large plush sea turtles (26"L x 8"H x 16"W) to reviewers!

 Dear Turtle Activists,

I want to thank each and every one of you for your tireless dedication and love to our cause! I have written this book FOR YOU! I dedicate this book TO YOU! 120 pages of fotos, facts and fun!

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book has a primary goal: SAVING SEA TURTLES FROM EXTINCTION. A portion of proceeds from this book go to charitable organizations like the Turtle Foundation (www.turtle-foundation.org) of whom my first turtle book, I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON—is a proud sponsor.

If you are new to us—please join with us, for together, holding hands, we can effect change. Yes—really! xoxo. SAVE GREEN SEA TURTLES on Facebook (www.facebook.com/.../Save-Green-Sea-T...) is our hugely popular hang-out—tens of thousands of Activists-strong. Please join us!

NOW—prepare for something totally new and amazing!

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book is not your typical scientific turtle book: my special book is all about having FUN! Enjoy the mini FLIP-BOOK in the corners and create a movie of your own! Click the ebook pages—or thumb through manually in the paperback—YOUR CHOICE!

I've written these chapters in a fun, chatty voice—you know, the one YOU use when talking up your favorite topics! Don't be surprised if you find yourself giggling as you turn pages! Enjoy breathtaking photography, incredible facts, and way-out wow'ing surprises that these millennium-old creatures have to share.

AND: TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE! Yep! Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book is my second turtle book—it's a perfect TWIN to my first international bestseller, I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON: buy BOTH TOGETHER for your shelf. Two little twins; one a fable, one fotos, facts & fun.

So, in closing...please accept this deeply personal gift from me, your faithful sea turtle leader, the turtle-lady, or Stephanie Lisa Turtle - as I was renamed recently by a fan—from my heart to yours.

GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THE CAUSE TO SAVE SEA TURTLES FROM EXTINCTION!

I've always believed that magic hides in special places. As a child, people would often stare at my bright red hair, which was very, very bright indeed.
Unfortunately, I developed a bad habit of making up rhymes about all of them, and they soon became funny characters. I didn't have much time to think about being different; fanciful lyricisms danced in my head, and no one was safe!
Since then, I've come to believe that storytelling has the power to inspire a deep love of language and learning. Words tripping off the tongue in somersaults that stick to your thoughts like taffy-- those are the things that stay forever in the mind.
I've lived in many special places: on a farm, in a city skyscraper, on a tropical beach, and in the beautiful country of France. Now I live in northern California, between the redwood forests and the sea. Even though I'm an adult, I'm still as silly as ever.
Many nice words have been used to describe my books, such as fun, engaging, delightful, and whimsical. Some folks say that I deliver timeless messages of love for kids and parents to share again and again; this makes me very happy. I hope that you'll enjoy my stories, too. Captivating children with language is something that I believe in, and I strive to live my life with this always.
--Stephanie Lisa Tara
www.StephanieLisaTara.com
stephanielisatarabooks@gmail.com

Cause pages (each supports a book's vision):

Facebook page for Save the Polar Bears | Facebook Page for Save the Green Turtles | Facebook Page for Save the Redwood Forests

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Personal Sites:

Facebook | Amazon | Website

Giveaway:

15 lucky people will win a copy of Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book. You must be 13 or older to enter. Open to US addresses only.  Giveaway runs from May 12th to June 12, 2013

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Two lucky reviewers will win a Melissa and Doug Giant Plush Stuffed Sea Turtle that retails at $34.99 and measures 26"L x 8"H x 16"W.  You must review Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book on Amazon to enter.  This giveaway runs from Mothers Day, May 12th to June 12th, 2013.

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And you can still enter to win a Kindle Fire! 

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A huge thanks to Candace and Stephanie Lisa Tara for putting together this fun post and giveaway for you all! 

The second book I have for review and giveaway is a charming little book for the younger reader:

Oh, the Things my mom will do....because she loves me through and through by Marianne Richmond

What a child sees as everyday routine is anything but for a mom! Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do is a celebration of the unpredictable adventure that is motherhood with its sometimes silly, always heartfelt, and wonderfully important moments--all rooted in love. This sweet and amusing book will have book moms and kids smiling with recognition while spotlighting all the different ways a mom shows her devotion.

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published April 2nd 2013 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky 

Source: Publisher  in exchange for an unbiased review

 

                                         

Four Stars: Just in time for Mother's Day a delightful book that Mother's everywhere will identify with and enjoy. 

This charming little picture book relates the many, many different trials and troubles that go hand in hand with Motherhood. From the Mother chasing the school bus in her pajamas with a forgotten lunch, to the Mom who stayed up all night sewing a last minute costume, and let's not forget the Mother who had to back track through all the errands to find a lost teddy bear. These are just a few of the things that Mom's do that are featured in the book, and a reminder of the day in day out, sacrifices Mothers everywhere make to ensure the happiness of their children. I absolutely loved that this picture book captured everything a mother endures. This is the perfect book to not only read to your young child, but it is an excellent book to give to an expectant Mother, or for a husband to give to his wife on Mother's Day or perhaps even your own Mom as a reminder and sign of appreciation for everything that she did for you. I enjoyed the fun, colorful illustrations, and I especially appreciated that it featured Mother's of all ethnicities. The soothing rhyming verses will appeal to the younger readers. All in all, this is a perfect little book for Mother's Day or any day as it shows you just how much a Mother loves her child. I highly recommend you check this one out!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review. 

Here is a sample of the delightful illustrations

(Artwork was provided by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and posted with permission).

Marianne was kind enough to provide a couple of fun crafting ideas for your young ones for Mother's or Father's Day.  Be sure to check out her website for more ideas.

I Love You Pillowcase

Dear Mom or Dear Dad Mosaic Journal

Thanks to the wonderful folks at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky I am able to offer a copy of Oh, the Things my mom will do by Marianne Richmond.  To enter fill out the Rafflecopter.  This is open to U.S. Residents only.  Good Luck! Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

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Spare Change by Bette Lee Crosby: Guest Post, Review and Giveaway

Today, I am pleased to welcome a super sweet gal to the blog, author Bette Crosby. Bette is the author of a wonderful book called Spare Change.  I am super excited to introduce her to you all today.  Bette's book is a tale about love, loss and unexpected gifts.  I loved all the Southern flair to it as well, even though I have never been to the South.  In my heart I am a Southern girl, and I think Bette can relate as you will soon see. 

First let me tell you about Bette:

Bette Lee Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006, when she won the National League of American Pen Women Award for unpublished fiction with What Matters Most. Her novel, Cracks in the Sidewalk, received the 2009 Royal Palm Literary Award and then went on to win the 2011 FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal. In 2011 Spare Change received the Reviewer's Choice Awards and it garnered a second Royal Palm Literary Award. Her books have earned numerous five-star ratings with readers acclaiming them as heartwarming and captivating. Most recently, Bette completed a memoir written for Lani Deauville, a woman the Guinness Book of Records lists as The World’s Longest Living Quadriplegic. Bette Lee Crosby is originally from New Jersey, but now makes her home in Southern Florida where she lives with her husband Richard and a feisty Bichon Frise named Katie. A highly entertaining public speaker, Bette makes frequent appearances to support the various charities of women’s groups, and schedule permitting, she will join book talks and book club discussion groups.  Find out more about Bette by visiting her site, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Pinterest.

Here is Bette to tell you about all things Southern:

I’ve fallen in love with a Southerner…not just one, but any number of them. They made the most delightfully amusing characters, so how could I stop myself?

Let me start by explaining, I’m a Jersey girl. The minute I say coffee (cough-ee) everyone
knows I’m a Jersey girl. Trust me, New Jersey is nothing like it’s usually portrayed on television. Jersey folk have one tiny little quirk…we say cough-ee and mean coffee. That’s it. One quirk.

But Southerners, especially fictitious ones, are loaded with quirks. That’s what makes them such fun.  

Now, back to this love affair…it started small, with a speak-easy owner named Itchy. He had an obvious habit of scratching where he shouldn’t have been scratching which was how he came by his name. Once I got to know Itchy, there was no stopping. Before I knew it, I was knee deep in Southern slang and wizened words. I discovered a world of quirky people living inside my head…well, I thought they were inside my head, but as it turned out, they were inside my heart.

That was it, I was a goner. I sought advice from women like Canasta Jones who told me certain things were the Devil’s way of doing business. Devil or no Devil, I kept at it. I then found myself attracted to Isaiah, a Bible salesman who was quick with a shoulder to cry on and some sage advice. It wasn’t just the men, it was women and children too. There was Olivia, full of opinions and superstitions, full of sorrow one moment and overflowing with love the next. But when I lost my heart to Ethan Allen, an eleven year old, pie-loving boy with ear- bending language, I knew I had come full circle. I was as Southern as if I had been born and bred in Alabama.

Long before Ethan Allen came into my life, I realized this was destined to happen—my mama and daddy were from the South. That in itself gives a clue. People from New Jersey don’t say mama and daddy. They say mom and pop. They don’t say y’all either; they say you guys. ‘You guys’ is both masculine and feminine, singular and plural.  The same is true for y’all.  It’s like ice cream—it’s always ice cream whether you say vanilla or chocolate.

When I lived in New Jersey, I spoke like all of my friends; but when I entered that secret place where it was only me, my computer and my characters, my thoughts veered off in a southern direction. Eventually I gave in and pursued my guilty pleasure. We moved as far south as we could go, I gave up drinking coffee, and started sipping sweet tea. I opened my heart to these quirky characters and let them move right in. In time they became me, just as I’d become them. Yep, there’s a little piece of me in almost every one of them—even the bad guys. Most days, I’m not much of the bad guy. Most days, I’m like Olivia—a little strange, always in need of a friend and trying to make my way through life. Only one thing stands between me and my destiny and it happened again last week.

I went to breakfast with a friend and the diner didn’t have sweet tea. Yes, I did—I ordered coffee. The waitress in a sweet southern drawl said, “Why Sugar, you sound like you’re from New Jersey.”

Aaaaarrgh!

 

I can totally relate, Bette! I read Gone with the Wind at thirteen and have been in love with all things Southern ever since then, even though I have always been a Western girl. One of these days, I will get down to the South and enjoy all the Southern goodness! Thanks so much for stopping by! Bette comes with a gift! She is offering a signed copy of Spare Change to one lucky winner.  To enter fill out the Rafflcopter.  This  is open to U.S. residents only.  Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here is my review:

Spare Change by Bette Lee Crosby

A Woman who is Superstitious to the Core…A Boy who claims his Parents are Dead…A Murderer who wants to Silence the Truth of What Happened.Olivia Westerly knows what she knows — opals mean disaster, eleven is the unluckiest number on earth and children weigh a woman down like a pocketful of stones. That’s why she’s avoided marriage for almost forty years. But when Charlie Doyle happened along, he was simply too wonderful to resist. Now she’s a widow with an eleven-year-old boy claiming to be her grandson.Spare Change is a quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about the important things in life, the madcap adventures of a young boy and a late change of heart that makes all the difference in an unusually independent woman. With a foul mouth, dark secrets and heavily guarded emotions, Ethan Allen Doyle is not an easy child to like. He was counting on the grandpa he’d never met for a place to hide, but now that plan is shot to blazes because the grandpa’s dead too. He’s got seven dollars and twenty-six cents, his mama’s will for staying alive, and Dog. But none of those things are gonna help if Scooter Cobb finds him.
Paperback, 280 pages
Published September 27th 2011 by Bent Pine Publishing 

 

 

 

Four stars: A book about loss and love.

Olivia is content with her life.  She decided at a young age to never marry after she saw her friend tethered down with a pack of kids and no freedom.  She opted for a career and avoided marriage, that is until the day Charlie Doyle entered her world and swept her away. Now at fifty eight, she is ready to marry and enjoy her golden years.  Her dreams are shattered when an unlucky gift of an opal necklace precedes a dinner that ends in tragedy.  Olivia is a widow after less than a month.  She is is attempting to put back the pieces and wonders how her broken heart will heal.  Then unexpectedly, a young boy, Ethan Allen, and his scroungy dog show up on her doorstep.  He is now orphaned and alone looking for his grandpa, and he is harboring some dark secrets. Can the two of them somehow heal each other?

What I Liked:

• First and foremost, I enjoyed the characters in this one.  Ms. Crosby creates such believable characters that you can't help but become invested in their lives.  I thoroughly enjoyed Ethan, Olivia, Clara, Jack and even Dog.  It is always a pleasure to come across a book with such tremendous characters!  Even the secondary characters were wonderful such as Clara the next door neighbor, and the old lady, Canasta, who ran the hotel, she was one of my personal favorites. I wish she had a bigger role because she was great with her secret ochre soup. 
• I truly admired Olivia.  She was a young lady in the twenties and she wanted more than marriage and a family so she forged ahead and took a job at the phone company, even though it meant her father turning his back on her.  She was willing to go against the popular ideas for women in that era and be something else.  I liked how in her supposedly golden years, through unexpected circumstances she ends up opening her heart to an orphan and changing her mind about kids.  I loved her spirit and her little quirks, and I liked watching her learn to live and love again.
• This book is told through various view points.  I liked that I was able to get into each and every character's head and understand their motives and behavior.  Granted, some of the characters are definitely flawed and some are just downright scoundrels, but in the end I liked getting a glimpse into each of their thoughts. For me, even though Ethan's mom, Susannah, was in a lot of ways a selfish and unkind person, I actually sympathized with her plight.  I like when an author can convince me to find  find something good with someone who perhaps doesn't deserve it. 
• I loved the sense of community in this one.  This book takes place in the fifties, and things were a bit different back then.  I appreciated how the neighbors all looked after Olivia as she struggled with her heartbreak, and then they all in a sense adopted Ethan Allen.  I also appreciated the kindness that two complete strangers showed to Ethan as they helped him find his way to his grandpa.  It truly warmed my heart to see that people took the time to get involved and help the boy.  
• This book definitely tugs at your heart strings as you follow poor Ethan Allen.  He is a boy who has never been shown real affection from either of his parents.  At an early age he learned to take care of himself, and then when disaster strikes he puts on his boots and sets out on his own with Dog.  Got to hand it to him, he has gumption.  He is certainly a little rough around the edges due to his upbringing, but he is certainly a lovable character.  I was especially moved at the end to see how his life turned out.  Definitely proof that love can do wonders for the soul, and that is indeed the case for Olivia and Ethan.

And The Not So Much:

• I was a bit startled to find that there was a great deal of dark subject matter in this one.  I guess I was expecting a more warm, feel good type read.  Don't get me wrong, this book after all the drama, does end up leaving you feeling uplifted, but before that there is a lot of negative.  For instance, the verbal and physical abuse that goes on between Ethan's parents.  This takes place during an era when men controlled their wives, and it was common for Benjamin to hit Susannah.  I realize that this was the way things were, but I was not happy with the abusive relationship. Then there is adultery and double murders.  I was a bit surprised by the violence with the murders as well.  It is nothing too gruesome, but again I thought this would be a bit lighter read than it actually was.  I guess bottom line I was expecting a sweet, touching read and and I was a bit shocked by the darker tone. 
• I was left wondering why Ethan was estranged from his grandpa for all those years.  Was it because his dad, Benjamin, didn't maintain relationship with Charlie? Whose fault was it that there was no contact?

Favorite Quotations:

"When you get to a certain age and realize how much time you've wasted on pure foolishness, you're bound to smack yourself in the head and ask, What in the world was I thinking? Everybody's got regrets--myself included."

"Some people got to their grave without every getting a chance to climb out of that ditch they've dug for themselves; others get lucky."

"Trying to hold onto the moment she took the beside clock, turned it face down, and buried it in the bottom of a drawer.  But hiding time is not a thing that will slow it."

"Honey," she said, "people don't find a home, they gotta make one.  Sometimes sad folks hurry off to some new place, and then when they get there they say, Why this ain't home at all.  Things is, you got to give time.  You got to set growing things on the windowsill, say howdy to your neighbors, and write little notes on the wall calendar.  Then one day you get a whiff of your own stew simmering, and it hits like a brick dropped square onto your head: you're right where God intended you to be."

"The truth of a person's soul is in their eyes."

"A lifetime of sorrow  is what comes of marrying a man with a smile that draws women like flies to a spill of syrup.  Such a man comes wrapped in the love of himself.  Here I am, he says.  Isn't that enough?"

 

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.