The Juice Box Bully

Empowering Kids to Stand Up for Others Authors: Maria Dismondy & Bob Sornson
Illustrated by Kim Shaw
Publisher: Ferne Press
Purchase Link: The Juice Box Bully
Source: Author for Review

In The Juice Box Bully, Maria’s second children’s book, the children of Mr. Peltzers class experience a bully, the new kid in school, but refuse to be bystanders. Instead the class has made a pact to stand together and stop bullying. Their courage and willingness to stand up for what’s write makes school more fun as well as a safer and better place for everyone.

This is a wonderful book! I would love to see it in the hands of elementary school students everywhere. It is practical and makes sense. If collectively we can stop bullying at a young age, it would have a ripple effect and possibly change the course of lives as they grow and move onto high school and later their lives as adults. The book has a simple message that helps explain bullying and what being a bystander is. It also shows how working together is a wonderful tool. No one likes a bully and school is much more enjoyable when the pressures and fears of a bully are gone.

I highly recommend this book for anyone with children, specifically those in elementary school. It is a wonderful resource that encourages children to make good choices and be aware of others feelings. It promotes kind Behavior as acceptable and unkind behavior as something that should not be accepted or rewarded by others. I really enjoyed reading this book and discussing the topic with my children. They intern enjoyed the story and had plenty of questions to ask. It’s a book worth the money spent!

Test Post: New Comment System: Please try!

I installed Intense Debate.  Please leave a comment and help me make sure it works.  Thanks!!

Faith

Author: Jennifer Haigh
ISBN: 978-0-06-075580-5
Publisher: HarperCollins
Purchase link: Faith: A Novel
Source: TLC Book Tours
Tour Schedule

Synopsis

It is the spring of 2002 and a perfect storm has hit Boston. Across the city's archdiocese, trusted priests have been accused of the worst possible betrayal of the souls in their care. In Faith, Jennifer Haigh explores the fallout for one devout family, the McGanns.

Estranged for years from her difficult and demanding relatives, Sheila McGann has remained close to her older brother Art, the popular, dynamic pastor of a large suburban parish. When Art finds himself at the center of the maelstrom, Sheila returns to Boston, ready to fight for him and his reputation. What she discovers is more complicated than she imagined. Her strict, lace-curtain-Irish mother is living in a state of angry denial. Sheila's younger brother Mike, to her horror, has already convicted his brother in his heart. But most disturbing of all is Art himself, who persistently dodges Sheila's questions and refuses to defend himself.

As the scandal forces long-buried secrets to surface, Faith explores the corrosive consequences of one family's history of silence—and the resilience its members ultimately find in forgiveness. Throughout, Haigh demonstrates how the truth can shatter our deepest beliefs—and restore them. A gripping, suspenseful tale of one woman's quest for the truth, Faith is a haunting meditation on loyalty and family, doubt and belief. Elegantly crafted, sharply observed, this is Jennifer Haigh's most ambitious novel to date.

Review

Jennifer proves again her talent as an author with her most recent novel, Faith. Faith explores the circumstances surrounding a priest who is blamed for a crime he did not commit. The novel is written from his sisters’ point of view as she looks back on that time in their lives and explains the effects it had on her brother, family and friends.

Faith is a compelling novel. Though the subject matter is difficult to read, Jennifer does a wonderful job bringing the characters emotions and thoughts to the surface making the harsh reality of the situation evident to the reader. While this family appalled me at times, they also intrigued me. The book reflects a life lived, that is so unlike my own, but one that many might relate too. Jennifer pens the novel with ease, keeping you intrigued and curious. I wanted to understand all the details surrounding this story. I wanted to find out what would ultimately happen with the characters in the end even though it was hard to read at times.

The novel surrounds the Catholic faith and traditions, though it is not a religious novel. It is much deeper than that, focusing instead on the basic thoughts, survival tactics and faith that we as human beings have in delicate and difficult situations it raises questions like what if? What would you do? How would you react?

I can’t say I loved the characters of this book. It’s not really the type of book to which you attach yourself to the story. It was better to read as an outsider with less involvement and attachment to the story. I did however; find them a well developed group of individuals. They fit their roles and personalities very well. I thought they depicted a truthful and honest look at the situation, as twisted as it can be. I basically couldn’t see the characters in any other light. It’s as if they lived and breathed. As if the story was not a work of fiction, but the sad tale of life.

I enjoyed the setting of this novel immensely! I grew up in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The places mentioned felt like home to me. It is always nice to read a novel where you recognize the towns. Overall, the book was well written and has a steady pace. I was intrigued by the storyline. It was a story that was hard to turn away from, the characters drew me in and I wanted to understand them.

About the Author

Jennifer Haigh is the author of three novels: THE CONDITION, BAKER TOWERS and MRS. KIMBLE. She has won the PEN/Hemingway Award for debut fiction and the PEN/L.L. Winship Award for outstanding book by a New England author. Her books have been published in fifteen languages. Haigh's short stories have appeared in Granta, One Story, The Saturday Evening Post and many other places. Her short story "Beast and Bird" is published in a special Atlantic Monthly Kindle edition.

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Jennifer now lives in the Boston area.
You can connect with her via her website: http://www.jenniferhaigh.com/

Best Kept Secrets - Giveaway with Sarah Pekkanen and Amy Hatvany

BEST KEPT SECRET by Amy Hatvany

*US Addresses Only*

About the Book

Cadence didn’t sit down one night and decide that downing two bottles of wine was a brilliant idea.

Her drinking snuck up on her - as a way to sleep, to help her relax after a long day, to relieve some of the stress of the painful divorce that’s left her struggling to make ends meet with her five-year old son, Charlie.

It wasn’t always like this. Just a few years ago, Cadence seemed to have it all—a successful husband, an adorable son, and a promising career as a freelance journalist. But with the demise of her marriage, her carefully constructed life begins to spiral out of control. Suddenly she is all alone trying to juggle the demands of work and motherhood.

Logically, Cadence knows that she is drinking too much, and every day begins with renewed promises to herself that she will stop. But within a few hours, driven by something she doesn’t understand, she is reaching for the bottle - even when it means not playing with her son because she is too tired, or dropping him off at preschool late, again. And even when one calamitous night it means leaving him alone to pick up more wine at the grocery store. It’s only when her ex-husband shows up at her door to take Charlie away that Cadence realizes her best kept secret has been discovered….

Heartbreaking, haunting, and ultimately life-affirming, Best Kept Secret is more than just the story of Cadence—it’s a story of how the secrets we hold closest are the ones that can most tear us apart.

Giveaway

1 copy of this title is available to anyone with a US address.  Simply leave a comment below with an email address so I can contact you if you win.  The winner will be chosen by random.org on Wednesday.  This giveaway will only be up for 24 hours!  Tuesday @ 12am EST - Wenesday @ 12am EST.

If you get a chance enter my other giveaways on the top right hand corner of my blog!  If you enjoy my blog follow along!  You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook via the connect icons!

A huge thank you to Sarah and Amy for making this giveaway possible!!

Let the commenting begin!!

Island Girl: Review & Giveaway

Author: Lynda Simmons
ISBN: 978-0-425-23724-3
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Purchase Link: Island Girl
Source: TLC Book Tours

Synopsis

There are people who try hard to forget their problems. All Ruby wants to do is remember...

Ruby Donaldson has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease, and she'll be damned if she won't straighten out her troubled family before she no longer knows how.

Ruby spent years fighting to hold on to the home her grandmother built on Ward's Island. The only way she can ensure that her younger, mentally scarred daughter Grace can live there for the rest of her life is to convince her older daughter, Liz, to sober up and come home.

Ruby always thought she'd have a lifetime to make things right, but suddenly time is running out. She has to put her broken family back together quickly while searching for a way to deal with the inevitable- and do it with all the grit, stubbornness, and unstoppable determination that makes Ruby who she is...until she's Ruby no longer.

Review

Pace – The pace of this novel was slow yet steady for the first ninety pages as the foundation for the story is laid and the characters are introduced. After the ninety page mark the novel really picks up and kept me glued to the pages. I want to be clear that the story never lagged, the first 90 pages just required a little bit more attention I you got to know the characters.

Writing style – The book is written from the perspective of three women; Abby, Grace and Liz. The chapters alternate perspective and are titled by the corresponding character who is telling her story. I absolutely love this set up in novels. It really gives a well rounded look at the story since you seemingly walk in each characters shoes.

It took me a little bit to figure out each character and keep them in check. This was all within the first 90 to 100 pages. Lynda does a wonderful job keeping parts of the story mysterious and slowly filling in the gaps as it progresses. Unfortunately some of these gaps confused me a bit. At times, I wasn’t sure I was reading the thoughts of the correct woman. I had to flip back and check who I was reading about a couple times in those first 100 pages because things didn’t quite add up in my mind. I was never confused or wrong, just needed to double check my own thoughts.

Storyline – I really enjoyed this story. It’s original, fresh, smart and entertaining. The author does a wonderful job bringing complex relationships and complex issues together. The novel covers some serious topics including Alcoholism and Alzheimer’s. The author does a wonderful job discussing these topics within the story and the characters. I was engrossed in this novel and completely satisfied at the end.

Characters – You’ll love them, you’ll hate them. Okay, so I never really hated any of them, but I did want to slap some sense into them at times. True to life, these characters are wonderfully genuine. They each have their faults but are wonderful in and of themselves. I couldn’t help but develop a certain respect and liking for each one. Every character brings something unique to the story. I really enjoyed getting to know this well developed group!

Overall, Island Girl is a wonderful read. Truly poignant and compelling throughout, it pulls at the heartstrings. I would recommend this novel to individual readers as well as book clubs. It would be perfect for a group to read and discuss! I also plan to read more from Lynda Simmons based on my experience with this novel.

GIVEAWAY - 2 copies available!

A Pug's Tale: Winners!!

I need to clarify my post yesterday!  Sarah and I have teamed together to bring you this giveaway, however the copies have been donated by and will be shipped by Alison (the author) herself.  Thank you so much to Alison who is providing these giveaway copies.  Thank you to Sarah for helping to spread the word through her tremendous fan base and contacts!!

Now for the WINNERS!!!

Winners of A Pug's Tale

Karen K & Vidisha!

Winners of the Bookmarks:

Booklady

Sharn3960

Debbie

hwvw

Margaret

Lilac Wolf

Gerald

Mary

Ruthie

Maureen

Thanks for entering and following!!  Make sure to check out my other giveaways (top right column) and check back tomorrow for a new review & giveaway!

A Pug's Tale: Giveaway from Sarah Pekkanen

Have you seen this book yet??

A Pug's Tale (releases June 2011) is being described as a "Warm and witty page turner"

Synopsis:

Hope McNeill has worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for years, but this is the first time she's been able to bring along her pug, Max.

The occasion: a special "Pug Night" party in honor of a deep-pocketed donor.  Max and his friends are having a ball stalking the hors D'oeuvres and getting rambunctious--making Hope wonder if this is also the last time she gets to bring Max to the Museum.

But when a valuable painting goes missing, the Met needs Hope's and Max's help.  In her quest for the culprit, Hope is aided by an enigmatic detective, a larger-than-life society heiress, a lady with a shih tzu in a stroller, and her arguably intuitive canine.  With luck, she'll find some inspiration on her trips to Pug Hill before the investigation starts going downhill......

Giveaway: 

2 copies of this book are up for grabs, courtesy of Sarah!  In addition, 10 people will win a set of bookmarks for you and a friend from me!!  Want to enter???  All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post!  Make sure to leave an email address so we can contact you.  The catch??  You only have 24 hours to comment!  A winner will be picked at 12 am EST on Sunday.  (Saturday 12am EST - Sunday 12am EST)  The winners will be notified by email and announced here and on Sarah's Facebook fan page!

What are you waiting for??  Join Sarah and I in our reading of A Pug's Tale!  If you don't win, the title is available for pre-order on Amazon via this link: A Pug's Tale.  P.S.  If you enjoy my blog, follow along!  You can join via GFC, Twitter, Facebook or subscribtion to keep up with my reviews and giveaway!  Happy Commenting!!

xoxo

Sarah & Tiffany

Interview With Carol Cassada, Author of Westmore

Purchase Link: Westmore (Volume 1)

Please tell me 5 things about you.

1. I'm shy.
2. I come from Ringgold, VA.
3. I own 3 dogs and 2 cats.
4. I have an enormous sweet tooth.
5. I have a rose tattoo on my left ankle.

What are 3 unique aspects about Westmore?
1. It's the first volume in the series.
2. It's what I call a literary soap opera. I was inspired by my love of the soaps, the story revolves around three families; The Greens, The Braxtons, and The Reynolds. There's lots of romance, drama, and suspense and an accident occurs at the end of the novel which will affect all the families.
3. I wrote the ideas for the book when I was sixteen. My original dream was to be a screenwriter and I had the ideas intended for a television show, then when I was looking for inspiration for my second book I found my old notebook with the ideas written in it and I decided to turn my soap opera into a book series.

Name 5 things you wished you knew about publishing before you started the process?
One aspect of the business I didn't realize was how much work the author has to do. With my first book Going Home Again I wrote queries, sent them out, and waited for a response; that's one of the biggest problems I had; I'm impatient and most of the companies don't allow simultaneous submissions so I used to wait three months only to have them turn me down. When I did get accepted by Romance Divine, I had to make some revisions to the manuscript, luckily I had a helpful editor to point out my mistakes and offer suggestions, I had to go through the revisions a couple of times, which was tough. This time around I chose to go with self-publishing and did all of the work myself; editing, creating a cover, and setting the sales channels. Aside from all that I have to do the promotion myself, which I've been busy doing. I've created my own site (www.carolcassada.net) and I've been contacting blogs about chats, interviews, and reviews. Sure it's hard, but if you're passionate about writing, then you have to accept the responsibilites that come with being an author.

Name 3 authors you look up to.
When I kept getting rejected and felt like giving up I searched the web for authors who've been rejected and on the list were some famous authors, such as Stephen King, John Grisham, and J.K. Rowling. What I admire about all those authors is they never give up, they kept on going and look at where they are today.

What are your top 5 favorite books?
My bookcase is filled with paranormal and supernatural books, mostly real life and folklore tales. It's hard picking five books because I love them all, but I'm a fan of The Ghost of Virginia series and I love Sylvia Browne.

If you could invite and 5 authors on a cruise who would you invite?
This may sound like an odd combination, but I'd invite Danielle Steel and Jackie Collins so I could ask them for advice about the romance world. Stephen King and LB Taylor Jr (The Ghosts of Virginia) because I'm a fan of their books. And the last one would be Sylvia Browne, so she can give everybody a psychic reading.

Name 3 things that help you gain inspiration for writing.
1. Watching a lot of soap operas to get a feel of romance, drama, and suspense.
2. Music helps me get my creative flow going. When I'm writing I like to put on old rock music and then I start typing away.
3. My family, I use our relationship as the setting for many of the characters in the novel. Plus I like to incorporate some of their favorite things; like music, food, and movie stars in the book, this is my way of showing dedication to them.

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you as an author?
I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of my first royalty check and I kept thinking it'd be a huge amount, and when I opened the envelope it was only for about five dollars.

What's the most embarrassing author moment you've had?
Again it'd be the five dollar check.

If you were stranded on an island and could magically name 2 people, 3 things and 1 book you could have to have with you who/what would they be?
For the book it'd be the one I'm currently reading Ghost Stories of America. As for my companions I'd chose my celeb crushes Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan as the two people. The 3 things I'd have is pictures of my family, my phone and computer to try to signal help, although with Alex and Scott I probably wouldn't want to be rescued.

Do you have another title in the works?
I'm currently working on the Westmore sequel which deals with the aftermath of the accident, I hope to have out by the end of the year.

What is your favorite season?
Winter, there's nothing better than waking up to the sight of snow. For the past two years we've had snow storms around Christmas time, which made the holidays even more special.

Your dream vacation would be?
I'd love to travel all over the world one day, but the place I would love to go to is Hawaii.

Best childhood memory?
Going to Emerald Isle, a beach in North Carolina for our family vacation. My brothers and I had fun swimming in the ocean and the pool, then we'd go shopping, visit museums and aquariums and at night we go walking on the pier. I have so many fond memories of our times there.

If you were given the chance to do any one thing over again, what would you do over?
I used to get stressed out a lot and I behaved badly during those times. I'd tear up stuff and lash out at people and I wish I could go back and change that.

If you were given the chance to re-live any one moment, what would it be?
My senior year of high school, my friends and I had so much fun. I remember we took a journalism class and created a news broadcast for the school. Also I took a drama class and we did the musical Into the Woods and I did the voice of The Giant. I don't get to see my friends as much as I used to and remembering those times we had in school puts a smile on my face.

What are you most looking forward to this summer?
Aside from writing I'm gonna be doing some traveling, I'm going to a family reunion in Kentucky and everybody wants to meet the famous author.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Don't give up and follow your dream.

Thank you Carol!

 

You can connect with Carol via her website: http://carolcassada.net/ or Twitter: @dramacjc

 

Almost Home

Author: Mariah Stewart
ISBN: 978-0-345-52037-1
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Purchase Link: Almost Home
Source: TLC Book Tours

Synopsis:
When she was young, Steffie Wyler always knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life: 1. Make ice cream. 2. Marry the coolest boy in town. 3. Live happily ever after. These days, Steffie is the proud owner of One Scoop or Two, a wildly popular ice cream parlor. But the cool guy left town right after high school, before they could scratch the surface of their mutual attraction to see what, if anything, lay beneath. Steffie’s made a great life for herself in St. Dennis, but true love has never come knocking.

Wade MacGregor left for college in Texas and remained there to start a successful business with his best friend, Robin Kennedy, but he’s always felt something was missing. Then life throws him a curveball: A third partner has robbed the company blind, and Robin has died—but not before entrusting Wade with a precious secret. Now back in St. Dennis, Wade’s determined to do whatever it takes to protect his friend’s legacy—and to figure out, once and for all, if the sparks that fly whenever he’s with Steffie are just temporary fireworks or the lights in the window leading him home.

Review:
The synopsis of this novel is perfect! It gives just enough information about the book without revealing the contents. This book has plenty of story lines to offer. I was pleasantly surprised with the number of characters and storylines going on around the main romance. Though the novel was fairly predictable, it was still enjoyable to read. I found myself drawn to the town, its people and their peculiarities.

The characters of Almost Home are a well developed group. Most are likeable, save a few minor annoyances. The personalities definitely play well into the town created by Mariah. The setting is magical. I would love to visit this town for vacation! It boasts a certain serenity and beauty along with enough hustle and bustle to keep a vacation enjoyable.

Almost Home is the third book in the Chesapeake Diaries. I purposely read this book out of order for your convenience. HA HA. I actually like to read books out of the series order, on occasion, for the purpose of review. This title is definitely a standalone book. Though I have the other two and will read them, they are not needed in order to understand or enjoy this book. I cannot tell you that you won’t enjoy this title more by reading it in order, but I can assure you that if you picked it up not knowing it was in a series you’d be fine.

Overall, I enjoyed the elements of this book. It had a good story even though it was predictable for the most part and didn’t take me by surprise. It had a wonderful setting with likable characters and a fairly steady pace. Though the romance had a low heat level, it was still an enjoyable and satisfying read. I would recommend this book.

Connect with Mariah Stewart:
Mariah's website: http://www.mariahstewart.com/
Mariah on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mariah-Stewart/106000742764985

Enter the Giveaway!!
US or Canada Addresses Only
Must be a GFC follower or subscriber to this blog
Use the FORM below to enter
1 extra entry for sharing via Twitter/FB or Blog post and leaving the link

3.5 out of 5

Heat Level – 2

(few love making scenes – little to no detailed content or descriptions)

Beneath the Night Tree

Author: Nicole Baart
ISBN: 978-1-4143-2323-7
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Purchase Link: Beneath the Night Tree
Source: Reader Views

Julia’s world is thrown off center when she opens her email to find a letter from the past. Unprepared for its effect on her future, the short note “I have thought about you every day for the past five years”, the apology “I’m sorry” and the question “Do I have a child?” are crippling to Julia as she is finally content with the way her life has turned out. Her heart torn by the email from her son’s father, Julia prepares to deal with Parker and his effect on their lives. Regardless of the outcome Daniel is the spitting image of his father, making Parker undeniably part of their story for better or worse. Julia’s unorthodox family is about to feel the effects of Parker on all their lives and it just might not be as bad as Julia fears.

Beneath the night tree is a heart wrenching yet triumphant novel that captures the essence of a mother’s love in the midst of her own fear and uncertainty. Julia’s story is truly poignant, bringing about a novel that is sincere of live, love and personal transformation. Julia, who has had a truly unorthodox life by many standards, is not all that different from many people in our world today. As she battles her insecurities and fears, Julia turns to those whom she loves and respects, letting them enable her to discover what is right for her. The novel is honest, brutal and sweet. It had me captivated from beginning to end; leaving me with mixed yet satisfied emotions.

Nicole Baart is an amazing writer. Her style is flawless, proven by the way she captivates her reader. Beneath the night tree felt so real, I often forgot I was reading a book. The author does a wonderful job of captivating the emotions and thoughts of each character, especially Julia as she deals with life changing decisions and events. The novel is categorized as Christian fiction but felt authentically human in nature. It mentions prayer as Julia Questions and pleas with God for guidance and understanding, however, it is done in a manner that makes the reader feel even a non-believer might do the same thing in the same situation. I highly recommend this novel to readers of all genres. It is moving and unexpected. I was very glad I read it and I look forward to reading more from Ms. Baart.

Broken Wings - Guest Post by Carla Stewart

I am thrilled to have Carla Stewart with me today as part of her blog tour for her newest novel, Broken Wings.  I asked Carla to tell us all about herself and her books.  Without further adieu, Carla Stewart.

BROKEN WINGS: A Novel

By Carla Stewart

Thanks so much for inviting me here to talk about books and writing!

I’m a wife, mom to four grown sons who’ve all married lovely girls and gifted us with six amazing grandchildren. I grew up in a tiny community in the Texas Panhandle and love all things nostalgic from my childhood era—the fifties and sixties. Even today I long for the lazy days of summer and remember the twang in people’s voices. Not surprisingly, those things have wormed their way into my books.

My dream of writing novels came early, but it wasn’t until my boys began leaving the nest that I began writing in earnest. In 2002, I received an invitation to the Guideposts Writers Workshop in Rye, New York. Since then, I’ve had stories in Guideposts, Angels on Earth, and various anthologies. I’ve been fortunate to be able to write about things that resonate within me—my family, my experiences as a nurse, small town values. And it was great practice for writing novels!

My debut novel, Chasing Lilacs, was set in the 1950s in a petroleum camp like the one where I grew up. It’s been said that most authors’ first books are autobiographical, and mine is in the sense that I chose the community that had nurtured me during my childhood. The plot, though, was purely from my imagination, but based on questions I had about people with “nerve” problems and shock treatments. In those days, it was whispered about but never discussed openly. I chose a young girl whose mother had these problems and took off from there. Writing that first novel was an exhilarating experience, and the book has resonated with many readers.

My current release, Broken Wings, is a contemporary story, but I managed to sneak a bit of nostalgia into this tale of an unlikely friendship that forms between two women. Putting the story together was a fun challenge and actually had its roots in a short story I’d written several years ago about three children who were orphaned on Black Sunday (during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s). I knew the oldest of those kids had a story to tell. She became the main character, Mitzi. While I was thinking of a way to find her story, I read about a Tulsa jazz hall from the 1940s that was going to be renovated. I knew at once that she’d been a jazz singer who was now in the sunset of her life, so the story would have the past and present interwoven. I chose a young professional woman in need of a friend and let Mitzi be that friend. It turned out they needed each other in this tale of providence and grace.

My desire is that all of my novels will portray the human condition honestly, but when the last page is turned, there will be a sigh of satisfaction leaving the reader with hope for the future.

Blessings to you and your readers! I’ve enjoyed being here.

Thank you Carla!

Broken Wings is available for purchase on Amazon: Broken Wings: A Novel as well as BN: Broken Wings

You can connect with Carla via Carla’s website: http://www.carlastewart.com/, her blog: http://carlastewart.blogspot.com/, and her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/carlastewartauthor