tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58474538582808838112024-03-13T06:30:55.048-05:00The Self-Taught Cook™Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788119148639359407noreply@blogger.comBlogger619125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-40906971799933560342014-01-25T20:22:00.002-06:002014-01-30T16:03:14.356-06:00My Blog has Moved!<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>The Self-Taught Cook has moved. My new URL is:</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>http:theselftaughtcook.com</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>All previous posts have been moved to the new site.</i></b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-64600216868661361192013-07-15T06:00:00.000-05:002013-07-15T06:00:05.728-05:00BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: DAUGHER OF JERUSALEM by JOAN WOLF<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>New York Times</i> Best-Selling Author Joan Wolf Sheds Light on Scripture’s Most Mysterious Woman</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>“Why would Jesus seek out Mary Magdalene as the first person He appeared to after His resurrection?”</i></span></div>
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BRENTWOOD, Tenn.—One of Scripture’s most mysterious and often
misunderstood women, Mary Magdalene, tells her story in her own words in
the latest novel from prolific author Joan Wolf. In her new
release, <i>Daughter of Jerusalem</i>, Wolf gives readers a fictionalized
account of this complex, yet remarkable woman—and one of Jesus’ most
faithful followers. Readers will love this first-person account of all
that took Mary from her traumatic early life to eyewitness
of the glory of the resurrection.</div>
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Mary Magdalene is famous for being a sinful woman. In Wolf’s
account we see those sins as well as her triumph as Jesus’ beloved
disciple. Cheated of an early love by her guardian, she is forced
into marriage with a rich old man. Captivated by a Roman senator’s son,
she turns away from her heritage and is almost permanently lost to the
morality of the Jewish law. Then she meets Jesus of Nazareth. Is it true that he is the Messiah she has heard so
much about? Can he really change her life? Is she good enough to be his
disciple? Can he really be her Savior?</div>
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In <i>Daughter of Jerusalem</i>, New York Times best-selling Wolf skimps
on no detail as she gives life to this fascinating yet mysterious woman.
Readers will love seeing a living, breathing picture
of the often misunderstood Mary—a woman who, though damaged, became
Jesus’ friend while He walked the earth. Daughter of Jerusalem is told
in three parts, each covering a different portion of Mary’s life.
Readers will quickly identify with Mary, a flawed woman
of deep faith who, in the end, used her wealth and influence to serve
Jesus. Perfect for individual reading or book club discussion, Daughter
of Jerusalem is a story not to be missed.</div>
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<span style="color: #d5392f; font-family: Calibri;">Daughter of Jerusalem Worthy Publishing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">ISBN13: 978-1-936034-67-3 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">April 16, 2013
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">320 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">$14.99</span><br />
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Joan Wolf <span style="font-family: Calibri;">has lived most
of her adult life with her husband in Milford, Conn., where she raised
two children
and an assortment of horses, dogs, and cats. Along the way she also
managed to write forty-six published novels, the writing of which
profoundly enriched her life. Learn more about her online at <a href="http://www.joanwolf.com/" target="_blank">www.joanwolf.com</a>.</span></div>
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<b>Worthy Publishing</b>, <span style="font-family: Calibri;">a
division of Worthy Media, Inc., is a privately held company whose
mission is helping
people experience the heart of God. Worthy is an independent voice in
Christian publishing, managing editorial, marketing, publicity, sales,
and distribution from its home offices in Brentwood, Tenn. Worthy
focuses on a boutique list of new books each year,
crossing a broad spectrum of genres, including fiction, Bible study,
current events, devotionals, biography, leadership, and specialized
Bibles, as well as spiritual and personal growth. See more at <a href="http://www.worthypublishing.com/" target="_blank">www.worthypublishing.com</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . .</span></span></b></i></span><br />
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: x-large;" style="font-size: large;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: medium;" style="font-size: small;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mary
of Magdala, Mary Magdalene, one of the most famous women of the Bible,
has captured our imaginations for centuries. There are many legends and
theories regarding her life and relationship with Jesus of Nazareth.
Who was she? What was her relationship with Jesus? How did she live?
And what was her life like after we last read of her in the Bible?</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span data-mce-style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: x-large;" style="font-size: large;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span data-mce-style="font-size: medium;" style="font-size: small;"><span data-mce-style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">These are the questions addressed in Joan Wolf's fictional novel, <i>Daughter of Jerusalem</i>.
Although I don't agree with the theory that Mary Magdalene and Mary,
sister of Lazarus and Martha, were the same person, this was a
well-written and interesting novel. The places and times come alive for
the reader and the characters are believable. I found this to be a
fascinating story of life in biblical times and couldn't put it down.
Overall, well-written and, perhaps most importantly, reverently done.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 stars </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<i>Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from
Worthy Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The
opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance
with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</i>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Book Giveaway!</span></span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Worthy Publishing</b> has graciously allowed me to give away two (2) copies of this fantastic new book. The giveaway ends 07/20/13. Due to the rising costs of postage, this giveaway is limited to the US and PR. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck! </span></span></span></span><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b></i></span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/970edd8/" id="rc-970edd8" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-80889077582454483092013-07-08T06:30:00.000-05:002013-07-12T06:48:22.085-05:00BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: A DEADLY TRUTH - by JOYCE PROELL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Historical Romantic Suspense/Mystery</div>
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<span style="color: black;">Date Published: 7/1/2013</span></div>
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<b>A man obsessed, a woman willing to risk it all…</b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">Tainted in the eyes of Victorian society by his wife’s suicide, successful entrepreneur Doyle</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://sites.google.com/a/myaddictionisreading.com/spring-2013-2/_/rsrc/1368199604608/joyce-proell/deadlytruth_ecover.jpg?height=400&width=257" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://sites.google.com/a/myaddictionisreading.com/spring-2013-2/_/rsrc/1368199604608/joyce-proell/deadlytruth_ecover.jpg?height=400&width=257" width="128" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">Flanagan turns a deaf ear to the baseless gossip and harsh rebukes. Ignoring his shattered reputation, he goes about his business making money, doing some good for others and making a few enemies along the way. Arrested for a murder he didn’t commit, he is forced to rely on a feisty school administrator to</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">solve the puzzle. As he struggles to prove his innocence, he realizes gaining the trust and loyalty of Cady Delafield may be more important than his freedom.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">On a quest to locate a missing student, school matron Cady Delafield enters a stranger’s house and discovers the woman murdered. Driven to see the murderer brought to justice, she is determined to prevent any further tragedy even if it means joining forces with the very man accused of the atrocity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">Against the wishes of her powerful family, she risks her job and reputation to learn the truth. But will</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">the truth, once revealed, drive her away from the man she has come to love?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">Passion and murder collide in 1880’s Chicago as they race to keep one step ahead of the police</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">who want Doyle to pay for his crime. As the attraction between Cady and Doyle sizzles, they battle</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;">suspicions, lies and lethal actions to uncover the murderer before he destroys them both.</span></span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/408264176/" id="rc-408264176" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 25px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-large;"><b>Joyce Proell </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 48px;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/a/myaddictionisreading.com/champagne-books/_/rsrc/1345647887166/joyce-proell/0016_CD.jpg?height=320&width=213" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://sites.google.com/a/myaddictionisreading.com/champagne-books/_/rsrc/1345647887166/joyce-proell/0016_CD.jpg?height=320&width=213" width="133" /></a>Joyce Proell grew up in Minnesota and attended college and grad
school in Chicago. After working in mental health, she retired at a
young age to write full-time. Her first book, <i>Eliza</i>, was published in
2012. When she isn’t writing mysteries or historical romances, she loves
to travel, walk, read, and do crossword puzzles. She and her husband
make their home in rural Minnesota in her very own little house on the
prairie.</span></span></div>
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Visit her website: <a href="http://www.joyceproell.com/" rel="nofollow">www.joyceproell.com</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-76848085332351914822013-07-08T06:00:00.000-05:002013-07-12T06:48:53.032-05:00BOOK REVIEW: SMALL TOWN GIRL by ANN H. GABHART<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Small Town Girl</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>By: Ann H. Gabhart</b></span><br />
<b>978-0-8007-2184-8<br />$14.99<br />Paperback<br />Pub Date: July 2013</b><br />
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Bestselling author Ann Gabhart weaves a timeless story of love, sacrifice and longing that will grip the heart and stir the spirit. In her gentle and textured style, Gabhart takes the reader back to a time when days moved slowly and life was simple. A world that was about to change forever.<br />
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In the autumn of 1941, rumors of war whisper through Rosey Corner. The town waits in anticipation as if holding its breath. But for Kate Merritt, it seems life is letting out a prolonged sigh. As Kate watches her sister marry the man Kate has loved since she was fifteen, her heart is silently breaking. And even the attentions of handsome best man Jay Tanner can’t draw her interest.<br />
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Then suddenly, Pearl Harbor changes everything. Kate’s friends are rushing to get married before the boys go off to war. The newspapers talk of women making airplanes and bombs. Everyone in town begins rolling bandages, planting victory gardens and collecting scrap metal. Kate finds herself drawn to Jay in surprising ways, and when he enlists she can hardly breathe worrying about him getting killed. Could she truly be in love with him? And if she is, will she ever see him again?<br />
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Fans of <i>Angel Sister</i> will be thrilled to see Kate Merritt all grown up. New readers will find that Gabhart tells a beautiful story that will touch their hearts and win their loyalty.<br />
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<a href="http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/authors/photos/thumb/6306.jpg?1354771971" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/authors/photos/thumb/6306.jpg?1354771971" height="200" width="133" /></a>Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several novels, including <i>Angel Sister</i>, <i>Words Spoken True</i>, <i>The Outsider,</i> <i>The Believer</i>, <i>The Seeker</i>, <i>The Blessed</i> and <i>The Gifted</i>. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Find out more at <a href="http://www.annhgabhart.com/">www.annhgabhart.com</a>.<br />
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Praise for <i>Small Town Girl</i> and Ann Gabhart<br />
"A classic. Ann Gabhart pens an enduring tale from the very first line of Small Town Girl. Rosey Corner is a world you won't want to leave, rife with spiritual truths, rich romance, and memorable characters that linger long after!" – Laura Frantz, author of <i>The Colonel’s Lady</i> and <i>Love’s Reckoning</i><br />
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"The characters of Ann Gabhart's Small Town Girl pulled me into their lives and did not let me go. This love story, painted upon the canvas of a small Kentucky town struggling with WWII, is one of the most riveting historical romances I've ever read." – Serena B. Miller, winner of the 2012 RITA award for Inspirational Romance<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . . </span></span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kate thinks love may have passed her by as she watches her sister marry the man Kate has thought she loved since she was fifteen. She knows she doesn't want to tie her life to the hometown boy who believes they are meant for one another, and wants to believe there is life outside Rosey Corner. The best man, Jay Tanner, feels the mutual attraction between them but is warned to stay away from her to avoid hurting her. He tries to leave town, as he never stays in one place, but the town and its inhabitants draw him in, and the couple find themselves drawn together. But the events of Pearl Harbor change everyone's lives.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The real star of this novel is the town of Rosey Corner. The people and places are so well-drawn I could see them. The characters all center around the Merritt family. Little Lorena, abandoned and taken in by the family, Graham, the eccentric loner befriended by them, and Fern, his sister who appears sporadically and disappears into the shadows, all play a part in the relationship between Kate and Jay. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The World War II era is one of my favorite settings for historical fiction. The effects of the war on a small town in Kentucky is particularly interesting, as people who have had little or no contact with the world at large are suddenly affected by events on another continent. Admittedly, the story seemed to lag a bit in the middle of the book, but it was still a captivating story.</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.5 stars</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Available July 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
</span></i></span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell
Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The
opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance
with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</i></blockquote>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-3202001265862857252013-07-07T14:03:00.002-05:002013-07-12T11:38:26.600-05:00BOOK REVIEW: SAVING SAFFRON SWEETING by PAULINE WILES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>About the Book . . . </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Saving Saffron Sweeting</i></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">has reached the quarter finals in the romance category of the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. </span></span><i>More information: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/ABNA">amazon.com/abna </a></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Grace Palmer’s British friends all think she’s living the American Dream. But her design business is floundering and when she discovers her husband is cheating with her best client, she panics and flees home to England.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The tranquil village of Saffron Sweeting appears to be a good place for Grace to lick her wounds, but the community is battling its own changes. Reluctantly, Grace finds herself helping her new neighbours as they struggle to adjust and save their businesses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">However, not everyone has the same opinion on what’s good for the village. The charismatic new man in her life may have one speculative eye on Grace, but the other is firmly on profit. How will she navigate the tricky path between her home and her happiness?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">With gentle humour and generous helpings of British tea and cake,<i> Saving Saffron Sweeting </i>explores one woman’s need to define herself through her career and community, before she can figure out who should be by her side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>About the Author</i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.paulinewiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/pixels9bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.paulinewiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/pixels9bw.jpg" height="200" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">British by birth, Pauline moved to California eight years ago and, apart from a yearning for afternoon tea and historic homes, has never looked back.Her work has been published by House of Fifty, Open Exchange and Alfie Dog Fiction. <i>Saving Saffron Sweeting</i> is her first novel.</span></div>
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<b><i>Connect with Pauline!</i></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17411115-saving-saffron-sweeting">Goodreads </a><br />
<a href="http://www.paulinewiles.com/">Website </a><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/paulinewiles">Twitter</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/scribinglimey">Facebook</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/12hYZTQ"><b><i>Buy the Book!</i></b></a><br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/12hYZTQ" target="_blank"></a><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . . </span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grace was trying to get her business going in the States, but when her husband cheated with her client, it was time to go home to England. Once there, she looked for a small village to hide and recuperate for awhile, and Saffron Sweeting fit the bill. But before she knew it, she had adjusted to small-town life. Now she is trying to balance a new relationship with saving her new home<i><b>.</b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An awesome debut from Pauline Wiles, this light, contemporary fiction<i><b> </b></i>novel explores the difference between the British and Americans. First, Grace is the newcomer while living in San Francisco, and then she has to readjust when she returns to England. In Saffron Sweeting, they are being overrun by Americans who have transferred with their company. The villagers feel their way of life is being threatened by the horde of loud Americans, who in turn want to fit in but do not know how.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the same time, the novel also explores marriage, love, and the aftermath of betrayal. At the beginning of the novel, I could imagine Grace's pain when she didn't know how to tell people what had happened, and only wanted to be alone to deal with the hurt. It was a joy to follow along as she began to heal and get on with her life. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This novel is just full of wonderful characters who seem as real as my own neighbors. Life in Saffron Sweeting was so clearly described that I could see it as clearly as if I had been there. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I must admit that the ending was not as I had hoped. I can't say more than that without a spoiler, so I'll let it go, but it's not a bad ending. It just isn't the resolution I expected. Still, this is a fantastic first novel, and would be perfect reading by the pool or at the beach this summer. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 stars</span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-62417887580687742032013-07-04T06:30:00.000-05:002013-07-12T16:05:36.424-05:00THREADS OF YESTERDAY by SAM CHEEVER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.samcheever.com/images/threadsofyesterday_200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.samcheever.com/images/threadsofyesterday_200x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i>A deadly secret is tangled up in Yesterday’s Threads, and Anna is racing the clock to get it unraveled.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
In 1859, Elisabeth Margaret Nelson traveled to Crocker, Indiana to
meet her new husband and start a new life. Her family never saw her
again. The story of her death and a heartbroken husband who grieves his
entire life is a sad tale for sure. But is it true? </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
When Anna Yesterday receives some vintage dresses from the local
museum, she’s excited about highlighting them at Crocker’s annual Apple
Blossom Festival. But someone wants the dresses back, and they’ll
apparently stop at nothing to get them—leaving a trail of murder and
destruction in their wake. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As Anna and Pratt work to uncover the deadly intrigue behind the
vintage dresses, interference of another kind is working its way to the
surface. All too soon, Anna and Pratt find themselves neck deep in
trouble from more than one dimension—and wondering which will get them
first!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="excerpt"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Excerpt</b></i></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b> </b></i></span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She pulled into the lot at the museum and parked next to a small,
low-slung car with two doors. Anna was pretty sure she’d seen Mindy
tooling around town in the sexy little black sports car. Which meant
that, if her car was still there, Mindy hadn’t left the museum. Anna
reached over to the passenger seat of her own Smart car and extracted
the dress bags. She started toward the museum’s front door, clicking
the doors locked on her car as she walked away. <br />
<br />
Traffic moved along the streets in the distance, but the part of
Crocker where the Bickershaw Museum stood was quiet. All the shops and
businesses around the place were closed for the night, their owners
gone home to dinner. <br />
<br />
The early Spring weather had grown steadily cooler as the day had
progressed, and the cooler air touching the heated asphalt had created a
haze along the ground, which felt eerie when mixed with the unnatural
silence. <br />
<br />
Anna moved more quickly toward the hulking frame of the building, the
bags in her arms sliding against each other, in danger of slipping
from her grip. She stopped once to adjust the load in her arms and
heard the soft snick of something coming from around back of the
museum. It sounded like a door closing. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anna waited, listening for Mindy to come around the building,
heading toward her car. No footsteps sounded on the concrete sidewalk
leading around back and no other sounds lifted up from the haze. The
night fell back into unnatural silence. <br />
<br />
Anna started walking again, her gaze sliding over the façade of the
big building. The windows along the front seemed to glare at her, their
rippled, old glass capturing the light from the parking lot in uneven
ribbons that segmented the glass. <br />
<br />
She shivered as a moist breeze slipped through the trees. The softly
rustling leaves sounded like whispers to her overactive imagination.
Anna shook off her fears and started up the staircase. <br />
<br />
Something flared inside the house, bright and quick like the flash of
a match. She stopped, peered through the eye-level window, and saw
nothing. Thinking it must have just been the play of distant headlights
over the glass, she started up again. <br />
<br />
The front door was locked so she pounded, calling Mindy’s name. No
one came. Anna bit her lip, trying to decide what to do. She reshuffled
the dresses and started back down the stairs, deciding to try around
back. Maybe the sound she’d heard had been Mindy going back into the
building from an errand or something. <br />
<br />
She hurried back down the stairs and followed the sidewalk to a
small, unobtrusive wooden door at the back, lower corner. She figured
the door would have been for servants in the original use of the house.
Now she was hoping it led to the work area of the museum, where she
assumed they kept the items in need of repair or storage. <br />
<br />
Anna tried the knob and was relieved to find it unlocked. She stepped
inside, further comforted to see the space was softly lit. “Mindy?
It’s Anna Yesterday. Are you here?”<br />
<br />
Silence met her query, only the soft drip, drip, drip of a leaky
faucet breaking the stillness. “Mindy?” She started forward, walking
toward the warm, yellow glow of light spilling from a doorway across
the room. <br />
As she neared the door, someone moaned. Anna slammed to a halt. She
waited, listening. Another long, drawn-out moan brought the small hairs
up on Anna’s neck. “Mindy?”<br />
<br />
She moved reluctantly forward, stopping in the doorway of the lighted
room. It sounded as if someone was hurt. The room was lined in
aromatic, cedar planking and filled with clothing racks that held bag
after bag of what Anna assumed was vintage clothing—no doubt Lissie and
Felix Bickershaw’s clothing. Several of the bags were unzipped and
dresses in all colors and fabrics spilled from the plastic, their hems
looking more ragged than they should. <br />
<br />
Another moan had Anna spinning on her heel and she found Mindy lying
on the floor in a pool of blood, a large pair of black-handled scissors
protruding from her chest. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/313230">Buy Smashwords</a></b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>
</b></i></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/threads-of-yesterday/id647492427?mt=11">Apple iStore</a></b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Threads-of-Yesterday/book-OjBJfbEX8EGmFMBuxDKYOQ/page1.html?s=I0jijlbGkUSJmKOGDifr7Q&r=3">Buy Kobo</a> </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Threads-Yesterday-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00CNV5OKA">Buy for Kindle</a></b></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Threads-Yesterday-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00CNV5OKA">Amazon.uk</a></b></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Threads-Yesterday-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00CNV5OKA">Amazon.ca </a> </b></i></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">About Sam Cheever:</span></b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Award winning author Sam Cheever mixes in a little fun, a little magic,
and a little real-life spice to create her sexy fictional characters.
Sam’s fun-loving creations fight their way through a dizzying array of
dangerous challenges without letting little things like dangerous bad
guys, angry, manipulative gods, evil dark world denizens, or killing
Furies dampen their zest for life and hot love!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
In her real life, Sam lives on a hobby farm in Indiana with 11 dogs, 2
horses, 1 barn cat, and one husband. Not necessarily in that order.
When asked why, why, why on the 11 dogs (yes, they all live in the
house!), Sam simply shrugs and says she’s stupid. But what she really
means to say is that she’s a dog-aholic. She of course can’t be blamed
for her addiction. She is a victim. And along those lines, if anyone
knows of a support group for this addiction please write Sam at
samcheever@samcheever.com and fill her in.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Connect with Sam Cheever:</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> <a href="http://samcheever.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/samcheever">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Cheever-Author/102117321982?ref=ts&fref=ts">Facebook</a></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Join Sam Cheever on tour:<br />
June 24, 2013 - <a href="http://chloegetsaclue.com/a-person-of-interest-sam-cheever/">Chloe Gets a Clue</a><br />
June 25, 2013 – <a href="http://mychellem.blogspot.ca/2013/06/yesterdays-news-threads-of-yesterday.html">Michelle’s Romantic Tangle</a><br />
June 27, 2013 - <a href="http://www.mochasmysteriesandmore.blogspot.ca/2013/06/yesterdays-news-book-tour-day-in-life.html">Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries & More</a><br />
June 28, 2013 – <a href="http://achickwhoreads.blogspot.ca/2013/06/about-yesterdays-news-antiques-can-be.html">A Chick Who Reads</a><br />
June 30, 2013 - <a href="http://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.ca/2013/06/a-visit-with-sam-cheever.html">Cozy Up with Kathy</a><br />
July 1, 2013 - <a href="http://kswederski.com/?p=3504">Kaisy Daisy’s Corner</a><br />
July 2, 2013 - <a href="http://kateeileenshannon.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/guest-blogger-sam-cheever/">Kate Shannon</a><br />
July 5, 2013 - <a href="http://theselftaughtcook.blogspot.ca/">The Self Taught Cook</a><br />
July 6, 2013 – <a href="http://thebookishowl.wordpress.com/">The Bookish Owl</a><br />
July 7, 2013 – <a href="http://thebookishowl.wordpress.com/">The Bookish Owl</a></b></span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . . </span></span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Newlywed Elisabeth Nelson journeyed to Crocker, Indiana alone in 1859 to reunite with her husband. After disembarking from the stagecoach, the new bride was never seen again. Her family's suspicion of her husband continued through the generations without proof. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Present-day: Anna Yesterday was excited when the museum sold her shop some beautiful vintage dresses. But someone wants those dresses and will do anything to get them. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This second installment in the series continues with Anna and Pratt exploring their blossoming relationship. I was happy to see Pratt's back story, and it wasn't what I expected. Joss's disappearance was interesting, and the interplay between Pratt and Bess was fun to watch. I must admit to a giggle at the idea of a character named Morticia, though. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another fun trip to the antique store in Crocker......</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.5 stars</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>I received this book from Cozy Mystery Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-38562448293287339262013-07-04T06:00:00.000-05:002013-08-09T22:32:13.339-05:00YESTERDAY'S NEWS by SAM CHEEVER<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://cozymysterymarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Yesterdays-News-Sam-Cheever-218x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cozymysterymarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Yesterdays-News-Sam-Cheever-218x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="text-decoration: underline;">About Yesterday’s News:</span></i></b></span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Antiques can be a dangerous business. Especially when you’re dealing
with a desperate politician, a sexy ex-cop, and a couple of “spirited”
companions.</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Anna Yesterday owns Yesterday’s Antiques in small town USA. When she
finds an old newspaper clipping lining the drawer of an antique dresser,
she realizes she’s never heard the horrible story of rape and suicide
detailed on the yellowed newsprint. So she starts to dig, and her
sleuthing exposes an ugly cover-up that casts the residents of Crocker,
Indiana into danger and intrigue, and leaves them with a corpse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="text-decoration: underline;">About Sam Cheever:</span></i></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Award winning author Sam Cheever mixes in a little fun, a little magic,
and a little real-life spice to create her sexy fictional characters.
Sam’s fun-loving creations fight their way through a dizzying array of
dangerous challenges without letting little things like dangerous bad
guys, angry, manipulative gods, evil dark world denizens, or killing
Furies dampen their zest for life and hot love!</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://cozymysterymarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sam-Cheever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://cozymysterymarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Sam-Cheever.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In her real life, Sam lives on a hobby farm in Indiana with 11 dogs, 2
horses, 1 barn cat, and one husband. Not necessarily in that order.
When asked why, why, why on the 11 dogs (yes, they all live in the
house!), Sam simply shrugs and says she’s stupid. But what she really
means to say is that she’s a dog-aholic. She of course can’t be blamed
for her addiction. She is a victim. And along those lines, if anyone
knows of a support group for this addiction please write Sam at
<a href="mailto:samcheever@samcheever.com">samcheever@samcheever.com</a> and fill her in.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Connect with Sam Cheever:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://samcheever.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/samcheever">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Cheever-Author/102117321982?ref=ts&fref=ts">Facebook</a></span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Join Sam Cheever on tour:</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
June 24, 2013 - <a href="http://chloegetsaclue.com/a-person-of-interest-sam-cheever/">Chloe Gets a Clue</a><br />
June 25, 2013 – <a href="http://mychellem.blogspot.ca/2013/06/yesterdays-news-threads-of-yesterday.html">Michelle’s Romantic Tangle</a><br />
June 27, 2013 - <a href="http://www.mochasmysteriesandmore.blogspot.ca/2013/06/yesterdays-news-book-tour-day-in-life.html">Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries & More</a><br />
June 28, 2013 – <a href="http://achickwhoreads.blogspot.ca/2013/06/about-yesterdays-news-antiques-can-be.html">A Chick Who Reads</a><br />
June 30, 2013 - <a href="http://cozyupwithkathy.blogspot.ca/2013/06/a-visit-with-sam-cheever.html">Cozy Up with Kathy</a><br />
July 1, 2013 - <a href="http://kswederski.com/?p=3504">Kaisy Daisy’s Corner</a><br />
July 2, 2013 - <a href="http://kateeileenshannon.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/guest-blogger-sam-cheever/">Kate Shannon</a><br />
July 5, 2013 - <a href="http://theselftaughtcook.blogspot.ca/">The Self Taught Cook</a><br />
July 6, 2013 – <a href="http://thebookishowl.wordpress.com/">The Bookish Owl</a><br />
July 7, 2013 – <a href="http://thebookishowl.wordpress.com/">The Bookish Owl</a></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . . </span></span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When Anna pries open a drawer on an antique dresser in her store, she finds an old newspaper clipping telling of a horrible crime. Realizing that there must have been a cover-up in her small hometown of Crocker, Indiana, she, with the help of her sexy assistant Pratt, begins to investigate the decades-old story. But someone in Crocker doesn't want the truth told.......</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a rule, I'm not usually a fan of "ghost stories" (with the exception of Aunt Dimity), so when Joss and Bess first made their appearance in the story, I almost stopped reading. However, the characters were so engaging that I could not stop reading. With the setting of the novel being an antique store, it is fitting to have an unsolved mystery from decades before. As this is the first of the series, hopefully we will learn more of the back stories of not only Joss and Bess, but also of Anna and Pratt. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3.5 stars</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>I received this book from Cozy Mystery Book Tours in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-30086596557460600792013-07-03T06:00:00.000-05:002013-08-09T22:32:48.080-05:00BOOK REVIEW: CADMIUM YELLOW, BLOOD RED by JACQUELINE T. LYNCH<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://cozymysterymarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cadmium-Yellow-Blood-Red-Cover-187x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cozymysterymarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Cadmium-Yellow-Blood-Red-Cover-187x300.jpg" /></a></span></span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Synopsis:</span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">A
post-World War II “cozy” mystery about a museum heist, a missing child,
a murder, a recent ex-con and an even more recent widow.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">In
Hartford, Connecticut, 1949, Juliet Van Allen, a museum administrator,
discovers that her artist husband is having an affair with another
woman. Just a wee bit shocked, Juliet slips unseen back to her office to
mull over her options and wish the earth would swallow her, when she
meets an intruder. Elmer Vartanian, recently released from prison for a
museum robbery, is coerced into helping scout the museum for a heist by a
gang that has kidnapped his daughter. When her husband is found
murdered, Juliet becomes the prime suspect, and Elmer is her only alibi.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Juliet,
the rebellious only daughter of a wealthy financier, and Elmer, a
lower-class ex-convict who has educated himself in prison, must partner
to solve their separate crises. She is Elmer’s guide to a post-war world
that has changed so much since he entered prison. He feels guilty for
having missed his daughter’s childhood, for being safe when friends were
killed in World War II, and is bewildered over atomic energy, Modern
Art, ballpoint pens, and frozen orange juice concentrate.</span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Juliet
is not sure she believes Elmer’s story. Elmer is not sure she didn’t
kill her husband, yet they are compelled to work together, dogged by the
scandal-monger newsman, the shrewd police detective, and scrutinized by
the even more judgmental eye of Hartford’s elite in world where Modern
Art meets old-fashioned murder.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QTOQG0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004QTOQG0&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwabibli-20">Purchase from Amazon</a>.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">About Jacqueline T. Lynch: </span></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"> </span></i></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://cozymysterymarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Jacqueline-Lynch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://cozymysterymarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Jacqueline-Lynch.jpg" width="172" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br />
Jacqueline T. Lynch’s novels are available as ebooks from Amazon.com,
Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Several of her plays have been
published and produced around the U.S., Canada, and one of which was
translated into Dutch and performed several times in the Netherlands.
Her <i>ONE GOOD TURN</i> premiered as a winner of the 2011 Northern Kentucky
University Y.E.S. Festival. Her one-act play <i>IN MEMORY OF TRIXIE GAZELLE</i>
was chosen as a winner in the 2010 Nor’Eastern Playwright’s Showcase of
the Vermont Actors’ Repertory Theatre in Rutland, Vermont. She has
published articles and short fiction in regional and national
publications, including the anthology “<i>60 Seconds to Shine: 161
Monologues from Literature</i>” (Smith & Kraus, 2007), <i>North &
South</i>, <i>Civil War Magazine</i>, <i>History Magazine</i>, and writes <i>Another Old
Movie Blog</i> and <i>New England Travels</i> blog.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Follow Jacqueline T. Lynch:</b></i></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.jacquelinetlynch.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/JacqTLynch">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jacqueline.t.lynch?fref=ts">Facebook</a></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">Join Jacqueline T. Lynch on tour:</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b>
June 24, 2013 – <a href="http://kateeileenshannon.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/interviewing-author-jacqueline-t-lynch/">Kate Shannon</a></b></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b>
June 25, 2013 – <a href="http://brookeblogs.com/?p=4114">Brooke Blogs</a></b></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b>
June 26, 2013 - <a href="http://chloegetsaclue.com/cadmium-yellow-blood-red-by-jacqueline-t-lynch/">Chloe Gets a Clue</a></b></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b>
June 27, 2013 - <a href="http://www.omnimysterynews.com/2013/06/a-conversation-with-jacqueline-t-lynch-author-of-the-double-v-mysteries-1306270800.html#.Uc0J_j524SY">Omnimystery</a></b></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b>
June 28, 2013 – <a href="http://savingfor6.blogspot.ca/">Saving for 6</a></b></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b>
July 1, 2013 – <a href="http://masoncanyon.blogspot.ca/2013/07/cadmium-yellow-blood-red-on-tour.html">Thoughts in Progress</a></b></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b>
July 3, 2013 - <a href="http://theselftaughtcook.blogspot.ca/">The Self Taught Cook</a></b></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b>
July 5, 2013 - <a href="http://kswederski.com/">Kaisy Daisy’s Corner</a></b></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b>
July 6, 2013 - <a href="http://abluemillionbooks.blogspot.ca/">A Blue Million Books</a></b></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><b> <i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . . </span></span></i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">It's 1949 in Hartford, Connecticut, and Juliet has just caught her husband with another woman. While having a good cry in her office after hours, she is surprised to see a man drop from the vent in the ceiling. Elmer, a recent parolee, is being blackmailed into helping a gang of thieves with their plans to rob the museum where Juliet works. When she returns home to find her husband murdered, she needs Elmer as her alibi. As they work together to find the killer and clear her name, this odd couple grows closer together. Juliet is there as Elmer deals with the guilt that he feels for being absent from his daughter's life and not being available to fight in WWII. The novel comes to a dramatic conclusion that leaves the reader wanting more from this pair.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This novel could have gone horribly wrong, if not for the author's skillful writing. Avoiding the stereotype of the spoiled, rich girl, the character of Juliet is likeable. Elmer was fleshed out beyond the cardboard character of "the ex-con". His internal struggles with guilt, shame, and grief draw the reader's sympathy. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ending somehow has a "To be continued..." feel, so this will hopefully not be the last we read of Juliet and Elmer.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 stars</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This book was provided by Cozy Mystery Book Tours in exchange for my honest review.
</i> </span></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-56158140206615997872013-07-01T17:03:00.001-05:002013-07-12T20:41:22.065-05:00BOOK REVIEW: THE MINE by JOHN A. HELDT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://eatreadexplore.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/themine1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://eatreadexplore.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/themine1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Title: THE MINE</span><br style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Author: John A. Heldt</span><br style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">File size: 537 KB (Kindle)</span><br style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Sold by: Amazon Digital Services</span><br style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Genres: Romance-Time Travel, Historical Fiction.</span></b></span><br style="font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="display: inline ! important; float: none; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Description:</span></b></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="display: inline!important; float: none; font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 2000, Joel Smith is a cocky, adventurous young man who sees the
world as his playground. But when the college senior, days from
graduation, enters an abandoned Montana mine, he discovers the price of
reckless curiosity. He emerges in May 1941 with a cell phone he can't
use, money he can't spend, and little but his wits to guide his way.
Stuck in the age of Whirlaway, swing dancing, and a peacetime draft,
Joel begins a new life as the nation drifts toward war. With the help of
his 21-year-old trailblazing grandmother and her friends, he finds his
place in a world he knew only from movies and books. But when an
opportunity comes to return to the present, Joel must decide whether to
leave his new love in the past or choose a course that will alter their
lives forever. <i>THE MINE</i> follows a humbled man through a critical time in
history as he adjusts to new surroundings and wrestles with the
knowledge of things to come.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Mine-ebook/dp/B0078S9B6G/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>PURCHASE THIS BOOK ON AMAZON</b></i></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About the author . . . </span></b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/c1/95/59928d4c29f90ad8956e7b.L._V139431717_SX200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/c1/95/59928d4c29f90ad8956e7b.L._V139431717_SX200_.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></span></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">John A. Heldt is a reference librarian who lives and works in Montana.
The former award-winning sportswriter and newspaper editor has loved
reading and writing since writing book reports on baseball heroes in
grade school. A graduate of both the University of Oregon and University
of Iowa, he is an avid fisherman, sports fan, home brewer, and reader
of thrillers and historical fiction. Heldt is the author of <i>THE MINE</i>,
<i>THE JOURNEY</i>, and <i>THE SHOW</i>, the first three novels of his Northwest
Passage time-travel series. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Monaco;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://johnheldt.blogspot.com/">Author's Blog</a></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Reader review . . . </b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Deciding to take a quick break right before college graduation, Joel and his best friend Adam embark on a road trip. While driving through Montana, Joel decides to explore an abandoned gold mine. A strange glow from the walls of the mine catapults him into the past. On his own in 1941, Joel's first thought is to find his way back to the present. But upon meeting Tom and his family and friends, he finds himself facing the dilemma of all time-travelers; should he intervene to save them from their future and risk altering the course of history?</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not being a serious fan of sci-fi and time travel, this novel did not, at first glance, look like my usual choice of reading material. But after a second reading of the blurb, I decided it might be interesting. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. This was a fascinating historical fiction using time travel as the means of transporting the reader (and the protagonist) back to pre-WWII America. Anyone who has ever contemplated what it would be like to go back in time will appreciate the question raised by the novel. Is it safe for a time traveler to alter the past? If you know that someone is going to die, is it okay to change their fate? In this story, the grandfather (actually, grandmother) paradox plays a major role in the storyline. As I was reading, I found myself trying to guess ahead to how the author would end the story. With all my conjecture, it was still a nice surprise. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The 1940s setting is very well done. I particularly enjoyed Joel's exploration of the contrast between the past and present. The idea of going back in time to see one's hometown as it once was is intriguing. His quandary upon realizing that the Pearl Harbor attack and subsequent entry to the war is only months away was thought-provoking. Joel was seeing the faces of the young men who had only been names on a memorial plaque for him before. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">IMHO, the romance angle is more of a subplot to a well-written time travel story. This is perfect for anyone who enjoys sci-fi, historical fiction, and/or the time travel genre. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">5 stars</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>I received this book from the author in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Monaco;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><a href="http://johnheldt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"></a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-3062226870345743582013-07-01T09:30:00.000-05:002013-07-12T20:59:14.670-05:00SAFFRON SHRIMP<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saffron Shrimp</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 Tbsp <a href="http://theselftaughtcook.blogspot.com/2013/06/sofrito.html">sofrito</a> </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 lb. shrimp, peeled</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Tbsp lemon juice</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/8 tsp crushed red pepper </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 pinch of saffron</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 C cilantro </span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Heat oil to medium in non-stick skillet. Cook sofrito in oil for 5 minutes. Saute shrimp for 5 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over white rice with <a href="http://theselftaughtcook.blogspot.com/2011/02/tostones-con-mojito-de-ajo-twice-fried.html">tostones.</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">music to cook by</span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/v502tespb7M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span> </b></span></span></div>
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“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new
recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!”
―
Julia Child,
<i>
My Life in France
</i></div>
</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788119148639359407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-78049383561130591502013-06-29T06:30:00.000-05:002013-07-12T21:09:06.672-05:00 Pennsylvania Patchwork | #GIVEAWAY Win an Amish-made Quilt from Kate Lloyd! <b><a href="http://katelloyd.net/" target="_blank">Kate Lloyd</a> is celebrating the release of book two in her Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pennsylvania-Patchwork-Legacy-Lancaster-Trilogy/dp/0781408733/ref=sprightly-20" target="_blank"><i>Pennsylvania Patchwork</i></a>, by giving away an authentic Amish-made quilt!</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/325797" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="PennsylvaniaPatchwork" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6433" src="http://litfusegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Patchwork300.png" height="250" width="300" /></a></div>
<b> </b>
<br />
<b>One "grand" winner receive:</b>
<br />
<ul>
<li>An authentic Amish-made Quilt</li>
<li><i>Pennsylvania Patchwork</i> and<i> Leaving Lancaster</i> by Kate Lloyd</li>
</ul>
<b>Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on June 29th.</b> Winner will be announced on July 1st at <b><a href="http://katelloydauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kate's blog</a>.</b><br />
<center>
<a href="http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/325797" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://litfusegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/emailbutton.png" /></a><a href="https://apps.facebook.com/sweepstakeshq/contests/325797" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://litfusegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/facebookbutton.png " /></a><a href="http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/twitter/233/contests/325797" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://litfusegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/twitterbutton.png" /></a></center>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Tell your friends via <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/sweepstakeshq/contests/325797/invites/new" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a> or <a href="http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/twitter/233/contests/325797" target="_blank">TWITTER</a> and increase your chances of winning.</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<div class="accordionButton open">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>About the Book . . . </b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="accordionButton open" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="accordionContent clear" style="display: block;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://litfusegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/PPatchworkcover.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Pennsylvania Patchwork" border="0" class="left" src="http://litfusegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/PPatchworkcover.jpg" height="auto" width="250" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><b>Seattle native Holly Fisher is
smitten by Lancaster County, its simplicity and her long lost relatives.
In the sequel to bestselling Leaving Lancaster, Holly embraces the
Amish culture, learning to slow down to see what – and who – really
matters.</b></i><br />
<br />
Meeting the family that her mother had kept hidden from her, Holly
comes face to face with her real life and blood legacy. She also falls
for the charming Zach, a handsome Mennonite veterinarian who is
everything she’s ever wanted in a husband: confident, kind, successful,
and authentic. And Zach proposes marriage. Is this too soon? Is this the
right choice? Mother and Amish grandmother think she’s rushing into too
much of a lifestyle change. Holly is in love with Zach and that
precludes everything. Until she meets an attractive Amish man. And an
old suitor shows up.<br />
<br />
<i>Pennyslvania Patchwork</i> is the moving, richly told story of
one woman’s heart, her faith and trust, and the choices she makes. Never
easy, but one choice can change your destiny.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pennsylvania-Patchwork-Legacy-Lancaster-Trilogy/dp/0781408733/ref=sprightly-20" target="_blank"><b>Purchase a copy here</b></a>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">About the author . . . <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://litfusegroup.com/wp-content/authors/KLloyd-142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://litfusegroup.com/wp-content/authors/KLloyd-142.jpg" height="200" width="180" /></a></div>
</span></i> </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Author Kate Lloyd is a passionate observer of human relationships. A
native of Baltimore, Kate spends time with family and friends in
Lancaster County, PA, the inspiration for her novels. She is a member of
the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. Kate and her husband
live in the Pacific Northwest. Kate studied painting and sculpture in
college. She's worked a variety of jobs, including car salesman and
restaurateur.</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><b>Reader review . . . </b></i></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After returning home and reuniting with her mother, Esther is making plans to finally be baptized into the Amish church. Her adult daughter, Holly, has met a liberal Mennonite veterinarian and plans to marry him. But situations cause Holly to question her plans.</span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Perhaps I've just read too much Amish fiction lately, but this one didn't do it for me. Somehow, I did not really connect with the characters and even found it difficult to differentiate between them. Of course, it might help if I had read the first book in the series before this one. It doesn't seem to work very well as a stand-alone novel. </span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't mean to sound overly critical; it is your basic Amish fiction with the usual culture conflict and romance. If you aren't burnt out on the genre, you will enjoy it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 3.5 stars</span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><i><b> </b></i></span></span> </span></span></h3>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788119148639359407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-42981030740018739992013-06-29T06:00:00.000-05:002013-07-12T22:05:37.654-05:00BOOK REVIEW: CLAUDIA, WIFE of PONTIUS PILATE by DIANA WALLIS TAYLOR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/books/covers/listing/9780800721381.jpg?1361434091" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/books/covers/listing/9780800721381.jpg?1361434091" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
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<hgroup>
<h1>
Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate</h1>
<h2>
A Novel</h2>
</hgroup>
<br />
<div id="author_links">
by: <i>Diana Wallis Taylor</i></div>
<div id="author_links">
<br /></div>
<div id="author_links">
<i>
</i></div>
<dl>
<dt><b>ISBN: 9780800721381</b></dt>
<dt><b> </b></dt>
</dl>
<h2>
About</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>In a time of turmoil, one woman will search for love and peace--and find it where she never expected.</b><br />
<br />
Tugged
this way and that by fate's indifferent hand, Claudia's life is
adrift--until she meets Lucius Pontius Pilate and becomes his wife. When
they move to the troublesome territory of Judea, she does what she has
always done: makes the best of it. But unrest is brewing and Claudia
will soon find herself and her beloved husband embroiled in controversy
and rebellion. Might she find hope in the mysterious Jewish Rabbi
everyone seems to be talking about?<br />
<br />
Let this epic story whisk you
through marbled palaces, dusty marketplaces, and idyllic Italian villas
as you follow the unlikely path of a woman who warrants only a passing
mention in one of the Gospel accounts, but whose story, as told by Diana
Wallis Taylor, is one worthy of legend.</div>
<dl>
<dt><b> </b></dt>
</dl>
<div id="author_links">
<br /></div>
<h2>
Where to Purchase:</h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a class="affiliate" href="http://bakerbookstore.com/search?keywords=9780800721381">Baker Retail</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a class="affiliate" href="http://www.amazon.com/mn/search/?&field-keywords=9780800721381&linkCode=ur2&tag=bakerbookhouse">Amazon.com</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a class="affiliate" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=0II9zXcSp9g&offerid=239662.9780800721381&type=2&subid=0">Barnes & Noble</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a class="affiliate" href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?isbn=9780800721381&event=AFF&p=1011504">Christianbook.com</a></b></span><br />
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>About the author . . . </i></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></i>
</h2>
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</figcaption>
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<h3 class="author">
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<a href="http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/authors/photos/thumb/7787.jpg?1354771274" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Diana Wallis Taylor" border="0" src="http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/authors/photos/thumb/7787.jpg?1354771274" height="200" width="140" /></a><b> </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Diana Wallis Taylor</b> is the author of the novels <i>Journey to the Well</i>, <i>Martha</i>, and <i>Mary Magdalene</i> and lives in California. Find out more at <a href="http://www.dianawallistaylor.com/">www.dianawallistaylor.com</a>.</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i><b>Reader review . . . </b></i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the age of thirteen, Claudia was taken from her life of seclusion and forced to leave her dying mother. As the ward of the Emperor Tiberius, she was given in marriage at the age of sixteen to </span></span>Lucious Pontius Pilate. Fortunately, it was love at first sight for the young couple. The groom was sent immediately after the wedding to begin his position as Prefect over the territory of Judea. There, Claudia encounters the prophet the Jews are talking about......Jesus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Having read Ms. Taylor's novel <i>Mary Magdalene</i>, I was excited by the chance to review her latest work. I am happy to say that she did not disappoint me. The author has once again taken a woman from the Bible, whose everyday life and origins was a mystery, and brought her to life in the pages of this book. This is another great example of Biblical fiction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">5 stars</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
<i>Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.</i><br />
<br />
<i>This book was provided by Revell/Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
</i></blockquote>
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</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788119148639359407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-40232796232039711622013-06-28T06:00:00.000-05:002013-06-28T06:00:11.835-05:00THE IDIOT OF FUNKYVILLE by ASH HODEN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/The-Idiot-of-Funkyville-225x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/The-Idiot-of-Funkyville-225x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
ABOUT THE IDIOT OF FUNKYVILLE</h2>
<div>
<div>
<div>
What is travel? Asking this question is like asking, “What is life?”
or, “Who are you?” (or, as I’ve frequently been asked, “Who are you?”).
The answers to such questions are as numerous as the people asking. The
Idiot of Funkyville: Becoming an Everywhere Citizen takes a
chronological snapshot of actual personal experiences as a young and
less-than-young man living and playing abroad; exploring each of the
above questions in the context of a displaced American piecing himself
together on foreign turf.<br />
Contained therein: perhaps an excess of sex, more than a healthy dose
of drugs, and all the rock ‘n’ roll one can ask for. Balance is
achieved as the vignettes build one on top of the next.<br />
Pondering the course of my life from the confines of a Qatari jail
cell, reminiscence begins with teenage confusion at a Mexican bar and
concludes with grown confusion as an expat in the Middle East. In
progression, the narrowing spiral of personal growth leaves finer
grained finger prints as the tales evolve through destinations and age.
In theory, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. But that’s
for the experts to decide.<br />
Having dismounted a train, plane, boat, or rickshaw in nearly forty
countries (including Canada), The Idiot of Funkyville documents a life
of travel as a point-blank portrayal of my life through travel. And who
doesn’t love life and travel both? Whether you’ve already gone or have
no intention of ever, ever going near the place, wonder is universal. We
all have questions. A good majority of my questions just happened to be
pondered abroad.<br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>—————————————————————-</strong></div>
<br />
<h2>
ABOUT ASH HODEN</h2>
Ash Hoden is a writer, foreign correspondent for a California-based
design studio, and architect currently living, working, and writing
about living and working in Qatar. His pursuits have always involved
creation. He firmly believes social contribution is a fundamental
requirement for a happy existence. He attended Colorado State University
where he received the American Society of Landscape Architect’s Honor
Award for exceptional academic design work. In addition to ongoing
contributions in the business world, he previously founded an
independent design firm and organized CambodiaFund, a method of
providing basic school supplies to Cambodian children in need.<br />
The Idiot of Funkyville is his first published book. You can visit Ash Hoden’s website at <a href="http://www.ashhoden.com/">www.ashhoden.com</a>.<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><a href="http://ashhoden.com/pages/home.html">WEBSITE</a> | <a href="http://www.youtube.com/integralty">YOUTUBE</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Ash-Hoden/881620443">FACEBOOK</a></strong></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-67822303541966388672013-06-27T18:16:00.000-05:002013-08-09T22:33:07.516-05:00BOOK REVIEW: AMERICAN PHOENIX by JANE HAMPTON COOK<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.booksneeze.com/art/_225_350_Book.850.cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.booksneeze.com/art/_225_350_Book.850.cover.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>American Phoenix: </i></span></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>John Quincy and Louisa Adams, the War of 1812, and the Exile that Saved American Independence</i></span></h1>
<h3>
By Jane Cook <br /> Published by Thomas Nelson </h3>
<div id="bookDesc">
<h3>
Book Description</h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>American Phoenix</i> tells the gripping story of John
Quincy Adams’s “honorable exile” during the War of 1812 and the
harrowing journey of his wife, Louisa, to be reunited with her family.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
American diplomat John Quincy Adams and his wife, Louisa, had two
things in common with the audacious Napoleon Bonaparte—speaking perfect
French and living in exile. American Phoenix reveals the untold true
story of Quincy’s unexpected nomination as the top US envoy to Russia in
1809, and Louisa’s agony at being forced to leave their six- and
eight-year old boys behind in Boston. Believing that ambition can never
repay such sacrifice, she clings to the hope of reuniting with her sons
in a year. Pretention, royal dissipation, extreme weather, covert
political maneuvers, French interference, private tragedy, and two great
wars trap them in St. Petersburg longer than their worst fears. Their
personal story is soon swept into the public drama of Napoleon’s war
with Russia and America’s war with Great Britain, which ultimately force
John Quincy and Louisa to live apart. When Napoleon escapes his exile,
his march to reclaim Paris threatens to forever separate John Quincy and
Louisa from each other and their children back home.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>American Phoenix</i> uncovers the challenges, fears, sorrows,
joys, triumphs, and faith that come when life—no matter the era—takes an
unexpected journey.</div>
</div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h2>
About the Author</h2>
<h2>
<a href="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/9c/55/ab36955f20fd0ad8976fa4.L._SX80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/9c/55/ab36955f20fd0ad8976fa4.L._SX80_.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Award-winning author <b>Jane Hampton Cook</b> makes history and biographies
relevant to today's news, current events, issues of faith, and
modern-day life. A public speaker and frequent national media guest,
Jane is the author of seven books, including her newest work, <i>American
Phoenix</i> (May 2013) about John Quincy and Louisa Adams and the War of
1812. She is also a former White House webmaster.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In <i>American
Phoenix</i>, John Quincy and Louisa must form an alliance with the czar of
Russia to end the War of 1812 and secure American independence once and
for all. In many ways this Adams and his Eve's banishment becomes the
nation's salvation. Their Russian destination changes US destiny. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />Jane is the author of:<br /><i>American Phoenix<br />Stories of Faith and Courage from the Revolutionary War<br />Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq and Afghanistan (co-author)<br />The Faith of America's First Ladies</i><br />Children's books:<br /><i>What Does the President Look Like?<br />B is for Baylor<br />Maggie Houston</i><br /><br />She lives with her husband and two sons in Fairfax,
Virginia. Jane is expecting her third child at the end of July 2013. </span></span></span></h2>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.janecook.com/">www.janecook.com</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.americanphoenixbook.com/">BOOK WEBSITE </a></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></h2>
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . . </span></span></b></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On August 5, 1809, John and Louisa Adams left Boston to sail to Russia where he would become the first U.S. ambassador to the court of Czar Alexander I. The five years they spent there would change the course of history<i><b>.</b></i></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using the diaries and correspondence of both John and Louisa, Ms. Cook has put together a detailed account of their years in Russia, with the emphasis on Louisa's experiences. Fortunately, Louisa Adams kept detailed diaries, chronicling not only their daily activities, but her thoughts and feelings. I was more familiar with the story of John and Abigail, and had no idea how strong Louisa was. She suffered multiple health problems along with the heartbreak of losing children and a long separation for her older sons. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One complaint: I like both historical fiction and nonfiction, but the author seems to blur the line between the two at times. While this rather lengthy book is at times a dry, scholarly tome, periodically Ms. Cook conjectures as to what a character MAY have worn or thought. Also, the frequent comparisons between the Nineteenth Century and the present were distracting. However, this is still an excellent book about a woman often overlooked. </span></span></span></span><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></b></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3.5 stars</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the
publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I
was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have
expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the
Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use
of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
</span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></b></i></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788119148639359407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-7223532319782548842013-06-27T06:00:00.000-05:002013-07-12T22:12:27.333-05:00DEAD SILENT - by AMY BETH ARKWAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cozymysterybookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Dead-Silent-200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cozymysterybookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Dead-Silent-200x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">About the book . . . </span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It’s summertime, and in Goodship, New
York, the living is anything but easy. Controversial radio shock jock
Paul Hackett is found strangled to death with his headphone cord around
his neck in the studio of local radio station WSHP. There’s little
evidence beyond the initials V.O.S. scrawled across the studio window in
red lipstick and a list of suspects that could easily fill the Goodship
phone book. And that’s not all. Eliza Gordon, former soap star turned
local soup aficionado and amateur sleuth and her pal and unwitting
snooping partner radio DJ Midge Sumner must contend with in <i>Dead Silent</i>,
the second in author Amy Beth Arkawy’s Eliza Gordon Mystery series. The
locals are also on edge thanks to the rumors rolling across The
Goodship Grapevine, a new toxic gossip site, and bemused by flyers
heeding folks to follow an enigmatic cult known as “The Quiet.” Eliza’s
instincts have her searching for clues and connecting the mysteries
together, but they also put a strain on her burgeoning romance with Tom
Santini, Goodship’s dishy police chief (who also happens to be her late
husband’s best friend). The sudden reappearance of her elusive playboy
brother-in-law, Jonas Gordon, sparks unexpected feelings in Eliza and
may hold the key to connecting the mysteries and solving Hackett’s
murder. Join Eliza Gordon and sidekick Midge Sumner as they embark on
this intriguing and dangerous sleuthing escapade. Will they solve the
mystery or wind up <i>Dead Silent</i>?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Purchase this book from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939816041/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1939816041&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwabibli-20">Amazon</a> for $3.99 for Kindle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">About the author . . . </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/37/77/1ed5186ae7a10a7f023530.L._V163466491_SX200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/37/77/1ed5186ae7a10a7f023530.L._V163466491_SX200_.jpg" height="128" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Amy Beth Arkawy is the author of the Eliza Gordon Mystery series: <i>
Killing Time</i>:( Hen House Press) and <i>Dead Silent</i>( Cozy Cat Press)She is
also author of several plays including: <i>Psychic Chicken Soup</i> ( McLaren
Comedy Award nomninee);<i>Full Moon</i>, <i>Saturday Night</i>; <i>Listening to Insomnia</i>:
<i>Rage Amongst Yourselves</i>; <i>Crazy Vivian Doesn't Shop at Bloomie's
Anymore</i>; <i>The Lost Mertz</i> and <i>The Postman Always Writes Twice</i>. Her work
has been produced in New York City and across the country and featured
in several anthologies.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She is also a creativity coach/writing teacher, radio talk show talk show host and freelance journalist.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She is working on a psychological thriller and the third Eliza Gordon mystery.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span> </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Connect with Amy Beth Arkawy:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://amybetharkawy.com/"> Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/abwrites">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/amy.arkawy?fref=ts">Facebook</a></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Reader review . . . </b></span></span><br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-71694361003718253502013-06-26T09:30:00.000-05:002013-07-12T22:19:25.031-05:00SOFRITO<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOuo3-0pw8U3nzzGvAK1rMhpRoSDDz8R3lXUbyz-0IyK9u7lVo" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOuo3-0pw8U3nzzGvAK1rMhpRoSDDz8R3lXUbyz-0IyK9u7lVo" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Sofrito </span></i><span style="font-size: small;">is a basic condiment found in Puerto Rican cooking. Although it is available in supermarkets (look for the Goya brand in the frozen foods section), many still like to make their own. I prefer the homemade touch when possible, but can't always find all of the ingredients needed. Ideally, it is made with <i>culantro</i>, which is a large leafy plant, but it can be impossible to find in some areas. If you're like me and you live in one of those culantro-deprived areas, substitute cilantro. And before anyone corrects me, I am aware that they are not one and the same and not really interchangeable. This is just one of those things you have to do sometimes. </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sofrito</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16 leafy stems of cilantro (or 8 culantro & 8 cilantro)</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 onion</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cloves garlic, peeled</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 green bell pepper </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 red bell pepper</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 stems parsley</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tomato</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28 ajies dulces</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Place all ingredients in food processor. Blend until smooth. Can be refrigerated or frozen.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">music to cook by</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/_HVhzwhYCN8/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_HVhzwhYCN8&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/_HVhzwhYCN8&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<h1 id="watch-headline-title" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="watch-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="MARK ANTHONY estoy enamorado">MARC ANTHONY - "estoy enamorado"
</span></i></span></span></h1>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until next time, Happy Cooking! :)</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">“No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the
kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and
menus of cooks present, the wisdom of cookbook writers.”
―
Laurie Colwin </span> </span></i></span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788119148639359407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-29149768417271096962013-06-25T11:44:00.003-05:002013-07-27T23:48:58.355-05:00BOOK REVIEW: COMING THROUGH THE FOG by TAMI GOLDSTEIN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Coming-through-the-fog-199x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Coming-through-the-fog-199x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
ABOUT COMING THROUGH THE FOG</h2>
<div>
<div>
<div>
A mother tells the journey of her daughter’s recovery from Autism and
Sensory Processing Disorder to Functioning Recovery and independent
living, giving tips to parents on how to navigate the medical and
educational domain. This story is an example of the unique obstacles
facing a parent raising a child with Autism. The challenges they face
getting supports. What is Sensory Processing Disorder, CranioSacral
Therapy and Bio-Medical Therapy, and what roles they play on the road to
Functioning Recovery and independent living? See actual projective
trials pertaining to sensory supports. Is educational discrimination the
reason there is difficulty getting help in school? As this story
unfolds it provides useful tips to other parents to help them on their
journey with their child. This story is notable because this mother’s
daughter was successful overcoming numerous obstacles while providing
useful tools, inspiration and hope to others.<br />
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<b><br /></b></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Through-Fog-Functioning-ebook/dp/B00BFGMMWC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364398879&sr=8-1&keywords=Coming+through+the+fog">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/coming-through-the-fog-tami-a-goldstein/1114519651?ean=9781478714132">BARNES & NOBLE</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h2>
ABOUT TAMI GOLDSTEIN</h2>
This journey begins with a mother’s love for her daughter. After
learning her daughter was on the Autism Spectrum Tami began to
tirelessly educate herself in the sciences of: Behavioral Health, Child
Psychology, Human Anatomy, Occupational Health, Pharmacology and
Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and has been a parent advocate for her
daughter since 1997.<br />
<br />
In 2002, as her knowledge and passion grew, Tami began reaching out
to other families in need of help. In 2005, Tami founded the Rock County
Autism Support Group and she is the community resource liaison for the
SPD (Sensory Processing Disorders) Parent Connections Support Group of
Rock County and the surrounding areas. Since 2005, Tami has been State
and National Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and in 2013
she certified in CranioSacral Therapy with the Upledger Institute in
Florida.<br />
Tami currently has two offices where she facilitates CranioSacral
Therapy. Approximately 38% of her clientele are children, teenagers and
young adults on the Autism Spectrum or with other neuro-developmental
delays. When asked to lecture, Tami uses her personal experience,
extensive knowledge, and dedication to help others learn about and
understand the medical and educational aspects of Autism, Autism
Spectrum Disorders and SPD.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">You can visit Tami's website at <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001M2DDeOHgy2Hvd-4NiF52YnqdVFjz1eP4pj9_Dndj3f0ZvRzO-VcWgkw86lD-8YZ-NDMSks5S0qEvDGGvsD9CtoBbWDrBBl6iQct6fMkeLgw=" shape="rect" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">www.comingthroughthefog.com</a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<b>Connect with Tami:</b></div>
<div align="center">
<b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/comingthroughthefog"> FACEBOOK</a></b></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . . </span></span></i></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Coming Through the Fog </span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">is the story of Heather Goldstein's childhood with Autism Disorder and her mother's battle with the medical and educational system. Heather was taken from doctor to doctor searching for a diagnosis because few of them understood the disorder. Their local school system did not understand the difficulties faced by Heather in dealing with daily school activities. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is somewhat of a "dry" read, with the style reminiscent of a case study. However, for any parent whose child is on the Autism Spectrum this book would a valuable resource. Of particular interest to me was her assertion of a correlation between vaccinations and Autism. This is not the first I have heard of this, so I was glad to read this. However, it would have been nice if the author could have gone into more depth regarding her findings. Also, the timeline of the story is hard to follow, moving back and forth without explanation. It would have been interesting to hear at least some of the story from Heather's point of view. But the value of the book far outweighs my problems with it. The appendix of the book contains valuable resources for anyone needing more information on this disorder. </span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">4 stars</span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></span></span></h3>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from
the Pump Up Your Book reviewers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I
have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the
Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use
of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."</span></i></span></span> </span></span></span></span></h3>
</blockquote>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></span></span></h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-71008319907669453862013-06-22T18:45:00.003-05:002013-08-09T22:33:24.197-05:00BOOK REVIEW: SLOW MOON RISING by Eva Marie Everson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/books/covers/listing/9780800734381.jpg?1361428580" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/books/covers/listing/9780800734381.jpg?1361428580" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<hgroup>
<h1>
Slow Moon Rising: <span style="font-size: small;">A Cedar Key Novel</span></h1>
</hgroup>
<br />
<div id="author_links">
by:<i> Eva Marie Everson</i></div>
<div id="author_links">
<br /></div>
<h2>
About</h2>
<b>One family, one secret--and one chance to make it right</b><br />
The
beautiful Claybourne home on Cedar Key has long been a place of rest,
healing, and release. Each member of the family has turned there in
times of confusion, loss, and hurt, only to feel their spirits renewed
and their hearts restored.<br />
<br />
But Cedar Key might also be the birthplace of a lie that is poisoning the family from within. <br />
<br />
Join
the five Claybourne women--Anise, Kimberly, Jayme-Leigh, Heather, and
Ami--as they search the past and confront the truth. Their unique paths
will lead them through heartbreak, misunderstandings, and pain. But
their journeys will also bring reconciliation with each other and the
precious renewal of love in their own lives.<br />
<br />
In her lyrical,
evocative fashion, Eva Marie Everson weaves a tapestry of complicated
relationships that, when complete, reveals the most beautiful work of
art there is--family.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Praise for Eva Marie Everson</b>"A talented storyteller with a passion for relationship stories that will touch your heart."--<b>Tracie Peterson</b>, bestselling and award-winning author of the Land of the Lone Star series and <i>House of Secrets</i>"Fans will find value in her presentation of life's lack of tidiness, which reads both realistically and convincingly."--<i>Publishers Weekly</i><br />
<br />
"Everson's evocative writing puts the reader in the midst of the gorgeous seaside setting."--<i>RT Book Reviews</i><br />
<br />
"Eva
Marie Everson charms her readers with characters you'd love to have as
friends. Then she places them in a setting where you'd love to be."--<i>Novel Reviews</i><br />
<div id="author_links">
<br /></div>
<div id="author_links">
<br /></div>
<h2>
Where to Purchase</h2>
<ul>
<li><a class="affiliate" href="http://bakerbookstore.com/search?keywords=9780800734381">Baker Retail</a></li>
<li><a class="affiliate" href="http://www.amazon.com/mn/search/?&field-keywords=9780800734381&linkCode=ur2&tag=bakerbookhouse">Amazon.com</a></li>
<li><a class="affiliate" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=0II9zXcSp9g&offerid=239662.9780800734381&type=2&subid=0">Barnes & Noble</a></li>
<li><a class="affiliate" href="http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?isbn=9780800734381&event=AFF&p=1011504">Christianbook.com</a></li>
</ul>
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">About the author . . . </span></span></b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/authors/photos/listing/6323.jpg?1355197748" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://assets.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/authors/photos/listing/6323.jpg?1355197748" width="142" /></a></span></span></b></i></div>
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></b></i>
<br />
<b>Eva Marie Everson</b> is a successful speaker and the award-winning author of <i>Things Left Unspoken</i>, <i>This Fine Life</i>, and <i>Chasing Sunsets</i>. She is coauthor of the Potluck Club books and the Potluck Catering Club series. She lives in Florida.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Find out more at <a href="http://www.evamarieeversonauthor.com/">www.evamarieeversonauthor.com</a>. </b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . . </span></span></b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anise had given up on love and marriage until widower Ross Claybourne came into her life. After marrying him, Anise left her Maine hometown and moved to his home in Florida. Ross is the father of four daughters, all in different stages of grief over the death of their mother. As the years go by, the five women journey together through discovery, reconciliation, and healing, with everything centering around the family vacation home in Cedar Key.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This novel contains so many issues it is impossible to list all of them: illness, grief, family secrets, reconciliation, and many others. The amazing thing is that the author has managed to cover all of them without getting tangled in too many storylines. The theme of second chances and forgiveness is beautifully written.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a personal note, I enjoyed the setting of Cedar Key. Having just moved from Central Florida a few months ago, I felt as though I was back for a visit with all of the familiar locales and place names. Ms. Everson obviously loves her home state.</span></span></span></span><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 5 stars</span><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></b></i></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from
Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I
have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the
Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use
of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."<br /><br />"Available June 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group."
</span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></b></i></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span> </b></i></span></span> </div>
<div id="author_links">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788119148639359407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-84852182659390757642013-06-21T12:00:00.000-05:002013-07-12T22:45:35.157-05:00Jamaican Jerk Fish Filets<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jamaican Jerk Fish Filets</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/3 C red onion, chopped</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2 garlic cloves</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 aji dulce </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2 tsp brown sugar</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 1/2 Tbsp whole allspice</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 1/2 Tbsp dried thyme</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1/2 tsp ground nutmeg</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1 Tbsp Adobo con pimiento</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1/4 tsp cayenne pepper</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1/2 tsp white vinegar</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cooking spray</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2-4 fish filets (I used catfish filets)</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mix first 11 ingredients in mini food processor. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray. </span> Place filets on baking sheet. Brush one tablespoon on each filet with basting brush. Broil 8-10 minutes.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Serve with <a href="http://theselftaughtcook.blogspot.com/2011/06/habichuelas-puerto-rican-pinto-beans.html">beans</a> and rice. </span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">music to cook by</span></span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fh6qXWmLprY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<h1 id="watch-headline-title" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="watch-title long-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (reggae version by Reggaesta)">Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (reggae version by Reggaesta) </span></span></i></h1>
<h1 id="watch-headline-title" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="watch-title long-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (reggae version by Reggaesta)"> </span></span></i></h1>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="bq_fq bq_fq_lrg" style="margin: 0px;">
<div class="bq_fq_a">
<i>Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye. -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
</i>
</div>
</div>
<h1 id="watch-headline-title" style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="watch-title long-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (reggae version by Reggaesta)"> </span></span></i></h1>
</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788119148639359407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-16236694519663405162013-06-21T06:00:00.000-05:002013-06-21T06:00:05.689-05:00BOOK BLAST: COLD KILLING by LUKE DELANEY<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FD2xSn0i5kE/UTJLNMBm05I/AAAAAAAAVZ8/Z3Q4QQM5NpU/s1600/ColdKilling_Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FD2xSn0i5kE/UTJLNMBm05I/AAAAAAAAVZ8/Z3Q4QQM5NpU/s400/ColdKilling_Banner.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>
</i></b></span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i> </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Cold Killing</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>by Luke Delaney</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">on Tour May 21st - June 21st 2013</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></b>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img align="left" border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zeFu7FyfNDY/US04zO0UlmI/AAAAAAAAQLk/YLS1wMwFWu4/s1600/ColdKilling_Cover.jpg" style="margin-right: 20px;" width="200" /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>
</b></span></div>
<blockquote>
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Book Details</span></b>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b></b>
</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Genre: </b>Fiction/Thriller</span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Published by: </b>HarperCollins/William Morrow Paperbacks</span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Publication Date: </b>05/21/2013</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Number of Pages: </b>448</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>ISBN:</b> 9780062219466</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Series:</b> 1st in the D.I. Sean </span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Corrigan Series</span>
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></b></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Purchase Links: </span></b>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062219464/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0062219464&linkCode=as2&tag=partnerscrime-20" target="_blank"><img align="none" height="25" src="http://www.hottbooks.com/images/amazon.png" width="25" /></a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cold-killing-luke-delaney/1113200647" target="_blank"><img align="none" height="25" src="http://www.hottbooks.com/images/bn.png" width="25" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16248193-cold-killing" target="_blank"><img align="none" height="25" src="http://www.hottbooks.com/images/gr.png" width="25" /></a></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis: </b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a young man is found brutally murdered in his own flat, DI Sean Corrigan, responsible for one of South London’s Murder Investigation Units, takes on the case. At first it appears to be a straightforward domestic murder, but immediately Corrigan suspects it is much more and it soon becomes clear he is hunting a particularly clever and ruthless serial killer who changes his modus operandi each time he kills, leaving no useable forensic evidence behind...</span>
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<span style="font-family: HaarlemmerMT-Regular, serif;"><b> </b><b style="color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-large;"> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: HaarlemmerMT-Regular, serif;"><b style="color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: maroon;"><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-large;">Excerpt</b></span><br />
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</b></span><br />
<div>
<div>
ONE OF THE STRANGEST THINGS ABOUT THE CITY was the sudden way it
disappeared around the edges. One minute you were down on Sunset
Boulevard surrounded by glass and concrete, and the next thing you knew
you were up on Mulholland Drive, alone in the rough country. From a high
window or a rooftop almost anywhere in Los Angeles you could see the
mountains, and there was always something ravenous up there looking
down.<br />
<br />
I was up among the hungry creatures, standing at the edge of a cliff,
with Hollywood and Santa Monica far below me in the distance. One step
forward and I would be in midair. I was looking down and wondering if
Haley had considered how suddenly you could go from city to wilderness.
Then I wondered if it was a distinction without a difference, if the
city might be the wilderness and the wilderness the city, and maybe Los
Angeles’s edges seemed to disappear so suddenly because there really was
no separation between sidewalks and mountain paths, buildings and
boulders. Up in the mountains or down in the city, either way the
carnivores were in control.<br />
<br />
I imagined Haley, out of her mind, running full speed off the cliff. I
wondered what it had been like, that final second or two before she
hit. Had she realized what was happening? Did she recognize the city
lights below for what they were, or did she really think she was flying
toward the stars? And did she think of me?<br />
<br />
Stepping closer to the edge, I slid the toes of my shoes into the air.
I looked down two hundred feet, toward the spot where she had broken on
the rocks. I stood one inch from eternity and tried to imagine life
without her. I could not summon up a single reason why I shouldn’t take
that final step, except for one. I thought about the kind of animal who
would drive someone to do what my wife had done. Predators like that
were everywhere. I should know. I had trained for half my life to be one
of them. I was hungry, looking down on the city. If I was going to
live, the hunger would have to be enough, for now. But I would sink my
teeth into him, sooner or later. I would do that for Haley, and for
myself, and then maybe it would be my turn to see if I could fly.<br />
<br />
I stepped back from the edge.</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: HaarlemmerMT-Regular, serif;"><b style="color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-large;">About the Author: </b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif; font-size: small;">Luke
Delaney joined the Metropolitan Police Service in the late 1980s and
his first posting was to an inner city area of South East London
notorious for high levels of crime and extreme violence. He later joined
CID where he investigated murders ranging from those committed by
fledgling serial killers to gangland assassinations.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: HaarlemmerMT-Regular, serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span> </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-62426659491170493762013-06-20T22:47:00.002-05:002013-07-12T22:51:49.957-05:00BOOK REVIEW: ROYAL MISTRESS by ANNE EASTER SMITH<h1 class="magenta">
<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover24042-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover24042-medium.png" width="211" /> </a></h1>
<h1 class="magenta">
Royal Mistress</h1>
<h4 class="information">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Anne Easter Smith</i></span></h4>
Literature/Fiction (Adult)
<br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
Touchstone </div>
<div class="publisher-date-box">
<h4 class="grayheader">
Pub Date
<time>May 7 2013</time></h4>
<h4 class="grayheader">
ISBN: <span class="value">9781451648621</span>
<time><span class="value"> </span></time><time><span class="value"> </span></time><time> </time></h4>
<h4 class="grayheader">
<time><h4 class="grayheader">
<span style="font-size: large;">Description</span></h4>
<div class="book_text">
<b>From the author of <i>A Rose for the Crown</i> and <i>Daughter of York</i>
comes another engrossing historical novel of the York family in the
Wars of the Roses, telling the fascinating story of the rise and fall of
the final and favorite mistress of Edward IV.</b>
</div>
<div class="book_text">
<br />
Jane Lambert, the quick-witted and alluring daughter of a silk
merchant, is twenty-two and still unmarried. When Jane’s father finally
finds her a match, she’s married off to the dull, older silk merchant
William Shore—but her heart belongs to another. Marriage doesn’t stop
Jane Shore from flirtation, however, and when the king’s chamberlain and
friend, Will Hastings, comes to her husband’s shop, Will knows his King
will find her irresistible.
<br />
<br />
Edward IV has everything: power, majestic bearing, superior
military leadership, a sensual nature, and charisma. And with Jane as
his mistress, he also finds true happiness. But when his hedonistic
tendencies get in the way of being the strong leader England needs, his
life, as well as that of Jane Shore and Will Hastings, hang in the
balance.
<br />
<br />
This dramatic tale has been an inspiration to poets and
playwrights for 500 years, and told through the unique perspective of a
woman plucked from obscurity and thrust into a life of notoriety, <i>Royal Mistress </i>is sure to enthrall today’s historical fiction lovers as well. (<i><a href="https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/24042">Netgalley</a>)</i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">About the author . . . </span></span></i><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">A native of England, Anne Easter Smith has lived in the United
States for more than forty years. She was the features editor at a
newspaper in New York State and now lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts,
with her husband, Scott. You can visit her website at
<a href="http://anneeastersmith.com/">AnneEasterSmith.com</a>. (<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><a href="http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/ProductDetailPage.aspx?sess=i/XiJikl28Quofrgy0R5R5swjA6b6Q8xYrUsg32oka2f3vM9D0FjNo52Fn8Wnn/LIsRzCIw9VDmyXRY5TwxDuQ==&sku=1451648626&start=1">Edelweiss</a></i></span>)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . . </span></span></b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Young Jane Lambert, the mercer's daughter, caught the eye of Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset and stepson of King Edward IV, but because she was not of noble birth, he could not consider marriage with her. Her father made what he considered to be a good marriage for her with merchant William Shore, but when the marriage is not what Jane expected, she petitions for an annulment. The beautiful young woman attained her freedom with the help of the king, who desired her for himself. After the death of Edward IV, Jane turned to the king's chamberlain, Will Hastings, for protection and comfort. But with Richard III on the throne, Jane and Will were both in danger. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is historical fiction at its best. When writing about a character who lived many centuries before, it is not always easy to find documented details of their everyday life. An author who can take a few facts and a couple of legends and write an engaging, believable novel deserves major kudos. Ms. Smith has done just this. With a detailed bibliography and suggested reading list at the end, anyone who wants to learn more about this fascinating era of English history can do so. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Jane and the men in her life are of course the main characters, one of the most interesting characterizations was that of Richard III. The author has presented him in a new light, different from the Shakespearean view that has endured. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was the first novel I have read by Ms. Smith, but it will not be the last. If you have read everything you can find on the Tudor dynasty, pick up <i>Royal Mistress </i>and begin reading about the House of Plantagenet. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 stars</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Edelweiss and Netgalley book review </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">
programs. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I
have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the
Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <</span></span></i><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" style="border-width: 0px; color: #0c6bbf; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; line-height: 17px;"> </span></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b></i> </span></span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></i></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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</time>
</h4>
</div>
<h5 class="information-light">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></h5>
<h5 class="information-light">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></h5>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00947410011273098094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-10948976240901612592013-06-20T08:00:00.000-05:002013-07-12T23:02:59.630-05:00Guisada de Salchichón <br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guisada de</span></span></b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Salchichón</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span dir="auto"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil</span></b></span> </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span dir="auto"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">6 oz. </span></span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">Salchichón, cut into chunks </span></b></span><br />
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<b><a href="http://media.shopwell.com/gladson/00041331033794_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.shopwell.com/gladson/00041331033794_full.jpg" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">3 cloves garlic, diced</span></b></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">2 ajies dulces, minced </span></b></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>3/4 tsp Adobo con Pimiento</b></span> </span></b></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">1 C red onion, chopped</span></b></span> </span></b></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>2 </b><b>Knorr Cilantro Mini Cubes, crushed</b></span> </span></b></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">1 Tbsp Italian parsley, chopped</span></b></span> </span></b></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">1 1/2 C vegetable stock</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">1 1/2 C beef stock</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">1 packet </span>Sazón</b></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>2 Tbsp recaito</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>2 oz. Spanish-style tomato sauce</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">1 stalk celery, chopped</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>1 tomato, chopped</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>6 pimento-stuffed olives</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">1 potato, peeled and cubed</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto">1 big handful angel-hair pasta (break into 3 pieces)</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span dir="auto"></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>In large stockpot, heat oil. Add the </b><b>s</b><b><span dir="auto">alchichón, garlic, Adobo, onion, cilantro cubes, ajies dulces, and parsley; saute on medium 5 minutes. Add the broth, </span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Sazón, recaito, and tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Stir in tomato, olives, and celery; lower heat and let simmer 5 minutes. Add potato and pasta. Let simmer additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to separate pasta. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Serve with white rice. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nKvehrOjSMs/UcJb4-826PI/AAAAAAAAECk/5AhSp4A5e_g/s1600/DSCN4900pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nKvehrOjSMs/UcJb4-826PI/AAAAAAAAECk/5AhSp4A5e_g/s1600/DSCN4900pm.jpg" height="320" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Okay...it's a little messy, but that's real life, right?</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">music to cook by</span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TNlBiavm-Yo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="watch-title long-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Larry Harlow & Latin Legends Of fania - 40 Aniversario">Larry Harlow & Latin Legends Of Fania </span></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span class="watch-title long-title yt-uix-expander-head" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" title="Larry Harlow & Latin Legends Of fania - 40 Aniversario">“If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
―
Roald Dahl </span></i></span></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span dir="auto"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788119148639359407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-62059545077384299952013-06-20T06:21:00.000-05:002013-07-12T23:12:09.743-05:00BOOK REVIEW: MEETING MISS MOLLIE by DI JONES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SnKHOdCVwbs/UcJyeca4XdI/AAAAAAAAEC0/ujJJlbwnAxg/s1600/Meeting+Miss+Mollie+Button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SnKHOdCVwbs/UcJyeca4XdI/AAAAAAAAEC0/ujJJlbwnAxg/s1600/Meeting+Miss+Mollie+Button.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0xRmxXx_RKg/UcJy545AhsI/AAAAAAAAEDI/x-LOjYQWDQg/s1600/meeting+miss+mollie.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0xRmxXx_RKg/UcJy545AhsI/AAAAAAAAEDI/x-LOjYQWDQg/s1600/meeting+miss+mollie.jpg" /></a></div>
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She’s the Agony Aunt who has it all. Except for one small problem – her life is a disaster.<br />
<br />
Annabelle
is a hard nosed writer with a good marriage, a nice flat, a thriving
career at Adorn magazine and a busy social life. She has only one
ambition – to be the best known Agony Aunt in the UK.<br />
<br />
When her
world is turned upside down by her husband’s infidelity she strikes out
on her own and goes flatting with a jet setting businessman. But things
in her new house aren’t quite what they seem and her problems mount.<br />
<br />
Through
her ups and downs, Annabelle forges a relationship with the strangest
of friends and discovers the best things in life are those she always
avoided.<br />
<br />
Meeting Miss Mollie is a story about lies, loss,
loyalty, love and laughter, and will appeal to anyone who loves chicklit
or romantic comedy. You’ll laugh as you read this book, and perhaps
even shed a tear.<br />
<br />
This is the second novel by author Di Jones,
whose first novel <i>Transplanting Holly Oakwood</i> has been in the Top Ten in
romantic comedy. If you enjoy Jill Mansell or Sophie Kinsella, Di is a
new author you must read.</div>
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<b><i>Author Bio: </i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif";">I
was born in Liverpool, England to parents who had a strong sense of
adventure and moved many times. I’ve lived in Canada, the United
States, England and New Zealand. I’ve worked in a variety of jobs
ranging from envelope stuffer to bakery assistant, librarian to trade
development executive, but none of my jobs were as much fun as the one
that allowed me to write and get paid for it. That was a few years ago,
and each year it’s become more and more apparent what I want to do is
write full time, a dream that first occurred to me at seventeen.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P43AE1OmvpQ/UaZwfFsHOnI/AAAAAAAAFDo/hHNpw3mLUUY/s1600/di+jones.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P43AE1OmvpQ/UaZwfFsHOnI/AAAAAAAAFDo/hHNpw3mLUUY/s1600/di+jones.jpg" /></a> </div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif";">I
write chick lit – light hearted and humorous stories for and about
women who value their families, their friendships, their careers, their
independence, who have a sense of adventure, and who live and love with
passion.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Like
my characters, I love my family and friends, beautiful shoes, anything
sparkly, the ‘occasional’ drink, parties, and a good belly laugh. I’m
addicted to shopping, chocolate, bubble bath and anything else that
smells nice, and the sort of tv programmes you’d never publicly admit to
watching.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif";">I
live in a lovingly renovated home overlooking Auckland’s beautiful
Waitemata Harbour, with my trusted friends Bronson Boxer and Dolce
Dane. They keep me fit and exercised, scare the burglars away, sit
loyally by my side throughout my late night writing sessions, and hang
on my every word when I read final drafts aloud. They truly are my
biggest fans, and I theirs!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Cambria","serif";">I
love my life, but not so much that there’s not room to live a load of
other lives, through the hearts and minds of my characters, all of whom I
adore, and some of whom I’m fortunate enough to call friend.</span></div>
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<b> </b><br />
<b><i>Connect with Di!</i></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.dijoneswrites.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">http://www.dijoneswrites.com</span></a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Transplanting-Holly-Oakwood-ebook/dp/B008AFPGII/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">http://www.amazon.com/<wbr></wbr>Transplanting-Holly-Oakwood-<wbr></wbr>ebook/dp/B008AFPGII/ref=pd_<wbr></wbr>sim_kstore_1</span></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Meeting-Miss-Mollie-ebook/dp/B00BA8T03O/ref=pd_sim_b_1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif";">http://www.amazon.com/Meeting-<wbr></wbr>Miss-Mollie-ebook/dp/<wbr></wbr>B00BA8T03O/ref=pd_sim_b_1</span></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-AU"> </span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>**Everyone
who leaves a comment on <a href="http://www.clpblogtours.com/2013/04/meeting-miss-mollie-by-di-jones.html">Di’s tour page</a> will be entered to win a $20
Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of<i> Meeting Miss Mollie </i>before <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1606916501" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">June 24</span></span> and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Reader review . . . </i></span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An
advice columnist with all the answers, Annabelle is surprised when the
problem is in her own life. Needing a new place to live, she rents a
room from Christian, a handsome businessman who needs someone to care
for Miss Mollie while he works. Complications arise when Christian's
fiancee takes a strong dislike to Annabelle, and Annabelle's ex can't
decide what he wants.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
quick, fun read for fans of the chick-lit genre. While the multiple
perspectives wore a little thin for me, I enjoyed Mollie's chapters.
Also, at times the author seemed to rely on cliches, stereotypes, and
predictable plot twists. I wish Annabelle had continued as the strong
character that she seemed to be in the beginning of the novel, instead
of being so easily persuaded by her ex. However, as I said earlier, it
was still a fun light read, perfect for the beach this summer. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strong language, sexual situations</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 stars</span></span></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the CLP Blog Tours </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">
program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I
have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the
Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <</span></span></i><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" style="border-width: 0px; color: #0c6bbf; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html</a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; line-height: 17px;"> </span></span></blockquote>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0xRmxXx_RKg/UcJy545AhsI/AAAAAAAAEDI/x-LOjYQWDQg/s1600/meeting+miss+mollie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0xRmxXx_RKg/UcJy545AhsI/AAAAAAAAEDI/x-LOjYQWDQg/s1600/meeting+miss+mollie.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788119148639359407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-31553120398841662692013-06-19T06:00:00.000-05:002013-07-12T23:21:43.909-05:00#BOOK REVIEW: YOURS AFFECTIONATELY, JANE AUSTEN by SALLY SMITH O'ROURKE<a href="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Yours-Affectionately-tour.jpg"><img alt="Yours Affectionately tour" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-334" src="http://www.bookblasttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Yours-Affectionately-tour-300x199.jpg" height="199" width="300" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.iamareader.com/2013/04/blog-tour-yours-affectionately-jane-austen-by-sally-smith-orourke.html" target="_blank">Tour Schedule</a></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCpLiBgBBK8/UHYd_3eMLZI/AAAAAAAAT9E/RwUnMTgj8dY/s1600/yours+affec.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignleft" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mCpLiBgBBK8/UHYd_3eMLZI/AAAAAAAAT9E/RwUnMTgj8dY/s320/yours+affec.jpg" height="320" style="border: 0px;" width="218" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b> </b></i></span>
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Was Mr. Darcy real? Is time travel really possible? For pragmatic Manhattan artist Eliza Knight the answer to both questions is absolutely, Yes! And Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley Farms, Virginia is the reason why!</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
His tale of love and romance in Regency England leaves Eliza in no doubt that Fitz Darcy is the embodiment of Jane Austen’s legendary hero. And she’s falling in love with him. But can the man who loved the inimitable Jane Austen ever love average, ordinary Eliza Knight?</div>
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Eliza’s doubts grow, perhaps out of proportion, when things start to happen in the quiet hamlet of Chawton, England; events that could change everything. Will the beloved author become the wedge that divides Fitz and Eliza or the tie that binds them?</div>
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<div>
<b>Praise for <i>Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen</i></b></div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
O’Rourke creates a world that defies cynicism and demands suspension of disbelief – even in this age of doubt and hyper-realism. Sheer escapism at its best. Clever, charming and affectionate.
~Jocelyn Bury
…the reader must tenaciously read on rather than put the book down to satisfy their hunger for the story to resolve, which it does in characteristically Jane Austen fashion.
~Erin Murdock
</div>
<div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
In <i>Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen</i>, author Sally Smith O’Rourke creates a compelling story that investigates what and who might have inspired Jane Austen. While the story line is certainly far-fetched, it is a truly unique idea, one that captivated this reader until the very last page.
~Meg Massey</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Purchase</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yours-Affectionately-Jane-Austen-ebook/dp/B009FIMT6Q/">Amazon</a> * <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/yours-affectionately-jane-austen-sally-smith-orourke/1113574489?ean=2940045007146">Barnes & Noble</a> * <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/239044">Smashwords</a></b></div>
Audio Book Excerpt
</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Bz2MRTlolnM?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Get the audio book:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yours-Affectionately-Jane-Austen/dp/B00D5TOVIU?tag=blasttours-20" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Excerpt . . . </span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<b>Chapter Two</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
In the deep shadows at the edge of the wood, Jane waited as the moon
started its descent, casting an iridescent glow on the meadow. The tall
American steered his great horse off the road and into the soft grass. He rode
straight and tall as though he’d been born astride the animal. He was looking
around, obviously in search of her but also making sure he had not been
followed. When he was within a few feet she stepped into the moonlight.</div>
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He dismounted and cautiously walked toward her. “I was afraid you
wouldn’t come.” He stopped no more than two feet away from her, still holding
Lord Nelson’s reins. He looked handsome and vital even in Edward’s ill-fitting
suit. She pushed aside the thought and the romantic notions she’d been
entertaining since receiving his note and questioned his choice of time and
place. </div>
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He apologized and added, “I believe dawn, the sunrise, is the crucial
time for me to go back.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Go back? Where?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Darcy hesitated, unsure how much he should reveal about his situation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Taking his pause as evidence that what would follow would be a carefully
crafted story—a lie—Jane was surprised when he said, "Back to... back to
the place where I fell."</div>
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She was irritated by his evasion and certain that he knew precisely what
she wanted to know. "It is close. I will gladly show you exactly where it
is... <i>after</i> you tell me where you
came from, why you are here and why you're behaving so oddly."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Miss Austen, I really can’t explain. You wouldn’t understand.” He paused
briefly. “I’m not at all sure I do.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Ignoring his apologetic admission, Jane spat, “What? Because I am a woman
you think me too stupid to understand?” She turned and walked away. "Feel
free to stumble around in the dark and find the place yourself!"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Almost panicked, he dropped Nelson’s reins and went after her. “Miss
Austen… Jane, please wait.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Expecting yet another insult but ready with a few of her own, she stopped
and turned toward him. But he hurled no aspersion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Miss Austen, I believe you are one of the most intelligent women—in fact,
one of the most intelligent <i>people</i>
I’ve ever met."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Cautiously she returned and stood toe to toe, looking up at him. Her eyes
glistened in the moonlight with a combination of suspicion and curiosity, and
before she could say anything he began to tell her about her books.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“I know that <i>Sense and Sensibility</i>
will be published early next year and it will do very well.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Suspiciously she asked, “Why would my brother tell you that?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“He didn’t, nor did he tell me about the one you’re working on now, <i>First Impressions</i>, the story of five
sisters hoping to marry well. It will be published in three years, after you
re-title it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
His knowledge of <i>First Impressions</i>,
on which she was still working, caused her curiosity to flare into anger at the
reasonable assumption that he had rifled through her personal papers when he
was alone in her room feigning his head injury. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Before she had the chance to throw any well-deserved invectives at him he
told her about another book. “<i>Mansfield
Park</i>. It will be considered your masterpiece by many people although, Pri—”
He cleared his throat. “<i>First Impressions</i>
will be the most popular, then and now.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>Mansfield Park</i> was but an idea
in her head, she had not yet put pen to paper. How did he know? Jane accused
him of madness as she took a few steps backward away from him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Afraid she might bolt before he got the information he needed, he grabbed
her arm. She tried to pull away but he held firm, “Jane, please…”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
What had she been thinking meeting this mercurial and possibly dangerous
man in the middle of the night? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Overwhelmed with guilt at having caused the fear he saw on her face,
Darcy released her. “I’m sorry.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Suppressing the fear she said, “I have no idea how you know so much of my
past but you cannot know what my future holds. No one can tell the future!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Quietly, he said, "Yes... and that is my secret... it's all in the
past for me." Sadly he looked away, then directly into her eyes. She saw
the truth reflected there as he said, “<i>This
is</i> the past for me. I came from the future.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></i> </b></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WBhRmBSgqJ0/UL9Pl7Ax22I/AAAAAAAAX6U/Oxl-DxK0Ht0/s1600/sally.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" class="alignleft" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WBhRmBSgqJ0/UL9Pl7Ax22I/AAAAAAAAX6U/Oxl-DxK0Ht0/s1600/sally.jpg" height="160" style="border: 0px;" width="160" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>Author Sally Smith O'Rourke </i></b><br />
<br />
Sally Smith O’Rourke is a surgical scrub nurse at the City of Hope national cancer research hospital in Duarte, California and resides in the near-by Victorian village of Monrovia.
With her late husband, author Michael O’Rourke (aka F.M. O’Rourke) Smith O’Rourke owned and operated a medical advertising company where she used her diverse talents to produce and co-write teaching films and videos. Working not only with major medical and surgical manufacturing companies but also network television. These endeavors ultimately led to a collaboration on two feature films (direct to video) and three published novels.
The wife and husband writing team of Sally Smith and Michael O’Rourke, being long-time fans of Jane Austen, wrote <i>The Man Who Loved Jane Auste</i>n released by Kensington Books in 2006. Kensington followed that very successful effort with <i>The Maidenstone Lighthouse</i> in 2007 and <i>Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage</i> in 2009, both also collaborative projects by Smith and O’Rourke. Published after her partner and spouse’s untimely death in 2001, the publisher chose not to use the names Michael O’Rourke and Sally Smith (as the manuscripts were presented), releasing all three books under Sally Smith O’Rourke.
<i>Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen</i> is Sally Smith O’Rourke’s first solo novel. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://austenticity.com/">Website</a> * <a href="http://sallysmithorourke.com/">Blog</a> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sally-Smith-ORourke-Author/144905095215">Facebook</a> * <a href="https://twitter.com/Chawton1810">Twitter</a> </b></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . . </span></span></b></i><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">American-born Fitzwilliam Darcy passed through a portal in time and landed in 19th century England, meeting Jane Austen. After returning to present-day Virginia, he meets New York artist Eliza Knight and falls in love. She believes his improbably story, and finds herself wondering if his love is true or if he would rather have the legendary author. Now, a stable boy who worked for Jane's brother has come through the portal to find Fitz and discovers a world of equality and technological advances of which he had never dreamed. If stable boy Simmons remains in present-day England, will he create a history-changing paradox in which Jane and her classic novels do not exist? And if so, will Fitz and Eliza ever meet?</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A novel approach (pun slightly intended) to a look at an acclaimed novelist and her place in history. Readers often wonder how authors create their characters, but time travel is not usually offered as an explanation. This novel offers an entertaining fantasy in which Mr. Darcy was not only real, but a 21st- century American time traveler. </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favorite character, however, was Simmons. Seeing our world through his eyes gives a new perspective not only on technological advances but societal changes. His almost childlike awe when he encounters modern plumbing was wonderful, and the mention of the quintessential time traveler, Doctor Who, was a moment of brilliance. When Fitz began to worry about the potential damage caused by a paradox in time, my head began to spin. The question of where the business card was in time if Simmons brought it to the future still has me thinking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My advice to potential readers: read the author's earlier novel, <i>The Man Who Loved Jane Austen</i>. This story would have been easier to follow had I read it first. </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 stars</span></div>
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<br />
<h4 class="grayheader" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17.27272605895996px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Book Blasts and Blog Tours </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17.27272605895996px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">book
review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in
accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <</span><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" style="border-width: 0px; color: #0c6bbf; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17.27272605895996px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17.27272605895996px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></i></span></span></h4>
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</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15788119148639359407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5847453858280883811.post-6797457234710937052013-06-17T17:54:00.001-05:002013-08-09T22:33:47.718-05:00BOOK REVIEW: SIMPLY DELICIOUS AMISH COOKING by SHERRY GORE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover27024-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/netgalley-covers/cover27024-medium.png" width="225" /></a></div>
<h1 class="magenta">
Simply Delicious Amish Cooking:</h1>
<h4 class="information">
Recipes and stories from the Amish of Sarasota, Florida</h4>
<h5 class="information-light">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sherry Gore</i></span></h5>
<div class="publisher-name-box">
Zondervan Non-Fiction</div>
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<h4 class="grayheader">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Description</span></span></i></h4>
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Unbeknownst to many folks outside the Amish Mennonite
population in America, Pinecraft, Florida---a village tucked away in the
heart of Sarasota---is the vacation paradise of the Plain People.
Unlike any other Plain community in the world, this village is a virtual
melting pot of Amish and Mennonites from around the world, intermingled
with people, like author Sherry Gore's family, who live there
year-round. Gore has put together a cookbook that represents the people
who make Pinecraft unique. With hundreds of easy-to-prepare recipes, 16
full-color photographs and black-and-white photographs throughout, this
cookbook includes traditional favorites such as Sweet Potato Sweet Mash
and Mrs. Byler's Glazed Donuts, as well as Florida favorites including
Fried Alligator Nuggets, Grilled Lime Fish Fillets, and Strawberry Mango
Smoothies. Interspersed with the recipes are true-life stories about
births, engagements, weddings, deaths, funerals, celebrations, wildlife
encounters, and accidents told through years of <i>Sherry's Letters from
Home </i>column published in <i>The Budget</i>, the Amish newspaper. This
delightful cookbook offers readers a faith-based, family-focused
perspective of the simple way of life of the Plain People. It is truly a
breath of fresh air from Sarasota, Florida!
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="fc-large fc-pink">Meet Sherry</span></span></span></b></i><br />
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Sherry Gore is a caregiver, storyteller, writer, accidental editor of <i>The Pinecraft Pauper</i>, author of <i>Taste of Pinecraft</i>, and owner of a double barrel shotgun. She's a non-resistant Christian and loves pie.<br />
<br />
Sherry is a year-round resident of beautiful, sun-kissed Sarasota,
Florida, the vacation paradise of the Plain People. She shares her home
with her children and pet miniature wiener dog. She is a member of a
Beachy Amish Mennonite Church.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://www.sherrygore.com/">Website</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorsherrygore">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sherrygore">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/100books">Pinterest</a></b></i></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Reader review . . . </span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All Amish do not live in Pennsylvania, and all Amish do not eat only German-influenced foods. Their communities can be found all over North America, and one of the more unusual locales is Pinecraft, Florida where they, like everyone else in the area, enjoy seafood and the occasional alligator meat. They also continue to cook traditional dishes handed down through the generations. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This cookbook, which in the print copy is a spiral-bound edition, includes anecdotes of local life in Pinecraft and excerpts from Ms. Gore's column in <i>The Budget</i>. The recipes have been compiled from various Amish contributors with credit given to each one. The book has the comfortable feel of a church cookbook, and the recipes would be welcome at any church dinner or family reunion. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I tried several recipes while working on this review, and all were winners. One was "Savory Fish Filets" (p.147). Using only cream of celery soup, shredded cheddar cheese, and paprika, this was a simple entree and surprisingly delicious. I even substituted tilapia for the flounder, and it still turned out good.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another favorite was Ruby Zehr's "Spaghetti Sauce" (p.120). The sauce was spicier than my usual spaghetti sauce, and my husband declared it to be a keeper.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Spaghetti Sauce</b></i></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12 ounces tomato paste 1/2 teaspoon pepper</span></b></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>1 teaspoon sweet basil 1 clove garlic or 1 teaspoon garlic powder</i></b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>6 ounces V-8 juice 1/4 cup ketchup</i></b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>1 teaspoon oregano 1/2 cup V-8 juice</i></b></span></blockquote>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 pint stewed tomatoes</span></b></i></blockquote>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combine all ingredients, except 1/2 cup V-8 juice, in a 6-quart stockpot, and simmer on low heat 1 hour. As it thickens, add the 1/2 cup V-8 juice. Makes 8 cups.</span></b></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Anna's Barbecue" (p.116) was good, but I wouldn't actually call it barbecue. I knew from reading the recipe that it would be similar to homemade Sloppy Joes, and it was. Not a disappointment, you understand, just slightly mislabeled.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, this is a nice cookbook. I think many readers could be disappointed by the non-stereotypical Amish recipes, but it only serves to remind us that the Amish, like all of us, are a diversified group who cannot be pigeonholed. Personally, I liked it enough that I intend to order a copy for my own use.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4 stars</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h4 class="grayheader" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17.27272605895996px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17.27272605895996px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">book
review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in
accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <</span><a href="http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html" style="border-width: 0px; color: #0c6bbf; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17.27272605895996px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 17.27272605895996px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></i></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><time><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></time></span></span></span></h4>
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