Time is passing by quicker and quicker each day. I can't believe that Monday will be April Fool's Day. I need to be on my game. The girls at work tend to enjoy playing pranks. One year, they moved my car to a completely different parking garage. Another year, they called the manager and told her they weren't coming to work that day. Every ten minutes, Michelle got another call. That was actually pretty funny because I had to "act" livid and threaten people's jobs. Then, they wanted me to "fire" Tashica since it was her idea. So, I did. Except that I told Tashica that it was a joke and to take it seriously. The girls flipped out because Tashica grabbed her stuff and stormed out the door, followed by her friends trying to console her. All of this with a straight face.
But none of that! I'm not joking. It's Saturday, and I'm at the office. Clearly, I"m not working since I'm on FaceBook and blogging, but I should be hard at work, catching up on everything that I didn't do this week because I was networking and well thinking of my novel.
The only way I know how to enjoy today, while I'm in an office on a glorious Saturday morning, paying penance for my slacking at work is to have a giveaway. And this one is no joke. I'm raffling Travis Maddox. Well, not him him. I'm gifting an ebook of Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire, and for the record, I will cease all other reading to spend time with Travis. I'm also gifting 2 copies of Bitter Angel by the amazing Megan Hand. I had the privilege of reading this book in January. Can I tell you something? It's amazing, awesome and get ready to be blown away! Keep your eye on Megan, you'll be seeing more of her.
Enjoy your Saturday, enter the drawing and remember, sharing is caring!
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Happy Saturday!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
When an Opportunity Come Knocking
The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher is a masterfully written tale of love, lies, and manipulation. The story is crafted to lure you in, have you fall in love with the main characters, Olivia and Caleb. These perfectly flawed characters are made loveable, in spite of some atrocious acts in the name of "love". Who can't relate to not using the best judgement or taking advantage of a situation of usings someone's misfortune for your gain?
The story takes place in the present and takes you into the past to develop the characters and allow the reader to experience a rich past. It's that past woven into the present that makes sews your heart for these characters.
The humor and lightness drives the reader through this journey unsuspectingly. The reader is always aware of something horrible having been perpetrated to break this couple up in their past. However, the writing style is disarming and has the reader rallying for redemption of love lost and found.
Based on that alone, I LOVED this book. I would read it over and over again.
This book has left a profound gaping hole in the middle of my chest. I ache. I finished this book in one day and was crying heavy sobs of pain, of love unfulfilled, angst filled me. I was devastated, destraught and in some ways destroyed. "I was broken" best describes. I ended this book feeling Olivia's pain and loss to the depth of my marrow.
This book is not a "clean" read. It's not your fairytale ending. Or is it? Maybe this was the best it could be. Maybe, this is their "happy". Sure wasn't mine!
This has got to be the most thrilling rollercoaster ride. I would read this book over and over again in secret hope that the ending would be different. Perhaps, that is the magic of this book as we foolishly hope for love to overcome all things.
The give-a-way is coming to an end soon. If you haven't already entered, do so and be a pal and share.
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Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Home Run
The Perfect Game was the Perfect Book. 5 Stars
I loved it. I loved Cassie. She had a great personality and evolved through the book. I liked watching her come out of her comfort zone even though it was scary and often times didn't work out the way she wanted.
Jack Carter? What can I say? I LOVE Jack. Jack had layers, and I wanted to peel each one back. Underneath his hard shell was the heart of a MAN not some guy or a dude. Jack also evolved and that was refreshing to watch.
The characters didn't stay stagnant. They didn't fall into typical roles found in YA novels where somehow or other they one day magically became these wonderful people without flaws. They battled their demons and insecurities.
I also enjoyed the plot surrounding Jack's baseball career. Having grown up in a baseball family, I understood what all of that meant. The love of this game is unlike that of other sports. And I found that Jenn Sterling gave an accurate representation of the brotherhood of the teammates, the focus and passion for the game, and the respect for the coach. Baseball is not just about raising up ballplayers; it is about molding men.
The book elicited a range of emotions from swoon, giddyness, tears and heartbreak to more swoon. Just the right combination to keep me from a box of chocolates but enough to make my heart smile.
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Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Hopelessly Hopeful
Gone are the days when I hand over a five star rating. I've just read too many books and some have just risen the bar of expectation. I've become very selective.
Colleen Hoover's Hopeless is one of those books that has received my coveted five stars. It has nothing to do with the fact that the writing was spectacular, clean, clear, and the cadence rhythmically in tune with the mood of the story line. Well, maybe it does have something to do with that. First and foremost, I can appreciate the technique, style and talent of the craft, and Colleen Hoover once again out does herself as she uses words and punctuation like an artist's brush stroke to create a beautiful masterpiece. On merit of the craft alone,Hopeless gets five stars.
Novels require an additional element which elevate the art form to another level. The words need to come alive for the reader. We need to see the world through the character's eyes and feel their heart beat as we connect with the characters as they become real.
Sky is a protagonist that is flawed, emotional, emotionless and perfectly real. She leaves the protective bubble that is her home schooled life and begins her Senior year at the local high school. Sky is your typical teen living in an non-conventional home. She sneaks boys in through her window, gaining her a reputation before she even opens her first textbook. Her best friend Six lives next door and the two have a true BFF relationship with movies, talks and ice cream. Sky's life is unconventional in that she is technologically illiterate. She lives in a home without a phone (traditional or cell), no television, and no Internet. Is this intentional? A lifestyle choice by her mom, Karen?
With Six studying abroad, Sky must venture the world of teenage drama alone. Until she meet Breckin, self proclaimed best friend, and supplier of morning java. Six and Breckin are wonderful literary side kicks adding the right amount of flare, drama and humor allowing the central characters to come further alive for the reader.
This brings us to the heart stopping Dean Holder. Dean Holder. Dean Holder. Holder. What can I say about Holder? Holder. His name should sum everything up. Sigh.
Is there anything wrong with Holder? Sure! He is yet again another flawed character. Holder has a temper. He carries guilt and responsibility that doesn't belong to him. He's angry and...hurting. His heart, in spite, of his great losses is beautiful, gentle, and tender. I could feel his gaze, his touch, and his breath when he spoke. I could hear his words and his heart. I more than live Holder, I totally love him.
Thank you Barbie for making me stop everything I was doing to read this book. You were right!
And because at the end of the day, it was worth putting other very important projects on the back burner for a couple days. And therefore for all of the above, Hopeless is a five star.
If you haven't read it....stop what you're doing and go read it.
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Colleen Hoover's Hopeless is one of those books that has received my coveted five stars. It has nothing to do with the fact that the writing was spectacular, clean, clear, and the cadence rhythmically in tune with the mood of the story line. Well, maybe it does have something to do with that. First and foremost, I can appreciate the technique, style and talent of the craft, and Colleen Hoover once again out does herself as she uses words and punctuation like an artist's brush stroke to create a beautiful masterpiece. On merit of the craft alone,Hopeless gets five stars.
Novels require an additional element which elevate the art form to another level. The words need to come alive for the reader. We need to see the world through the character's eyes and feel their heart beat as we connect with the characters as they become real.
Sky is a protagonist that is flawed, emotional, emotionless and perfectly real. She leaves the protective bubble that is her home schooled life and begins her Senior year at the local high school. Sky is your typical teen living in an non-conventional home. She sneaks boys in through her window, gaining her a reputation before she even opens her first textbook. Her best friend Six lives next door and the two have a true BFF relationship with movies, talks and ice cream. Sky's life is unconventional in that she is technologically illiterate. She lives in a home without a phone (traditional or cell), no television, and no Internet. Is this intentional? A lifestyle choice by her mom, Karen?
With Six studying abroad, Sky must venture the world of teenage drama alone. Until she meet Breckin, self proclaimed best friend, and supplier of morning java. Six and Breckin are wonderful literary side kicks adding the right amount of flare, drama and humor allowing the central characters to come further alive for the reader.
This brings us to the heart stopping Dean Holder. Dean Holder. Dean Holder. Holder. What can I say about Holder? Holder. His name should sum everything up. Sigh.
Is there anything wrong with Holder? Sure! He is yet again another flawed character. Holder has a temper. He carries guilt and responsibility that doesn't belong to him. He's angry and...hurting. His heart, in spite, of his great losses is beautiful, gentle, and tender. I could feel his gaze, his touch, and his breath when he spoke. I could hear his words and his heart. I more than live Holder, I totally love him.
Thank you Barbie for making me stop everything I was doing to read this book. You were right!
And because at the end of the day, it was worth putting other very important projects on the back burner for a couple days. And therefore for all of the above, Hopeless is a five star.
If you haven't read it....stop what you're doing and go read it.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Bringing Boston Home
Because I love you! Because I'm jealous of everyone who went to Boston and don't want us to feel like we missed out on anything. Because I appreciate you following my blog and Facebook page.
Enter and SHARE SHARE AND SHARE some more!
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Friday, March 15, 2013
GIVE-A-WAY Weekend Revisions
Revisions, revisions, revisions. My beta readers are kicking my ass. They want more, more and a little bit more. Being the pleaser that I am...I'm giving it to them.
So how about I give a little bit to you? I'm feeling generous. Plus, I'm jealous of everyone in Boston. Shh, that's not true. Yes, it is.
But since I want to make the best of this weekend, let's have a give-a-way. Daisy just let me know that she has the hook up for the books! Woot Woot.
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Yup.... Let's do this!
Good luck!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Feeling Reckless
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I'm feeling a bit Reckless. I'm excited. I'm almost at 200 likes. I'm almost done with my manuscript. I'm dying to share a teaser with you. The cover for the Do Over is coming along and it looks awesome! Everything is falling in place and to celebrate, I want to love on you and thank you for your support.
I'm feeling a bit Reckless. I'm excited. I'm almost at 200 likes. I'm almost done with my manuscript. I'm dying to share a teaser with you. The cover for the Do Over is coming along and it looks awesome! Everything is falling in place and to celebrate, I want to love on you and thank you for your support.
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