Seaside Book Nook

Winner of the Random Act of Kindness Blog Hop

2012-02-22T07:19:00.000-05:00

The winner of the $15 Amazon gift card or a book up to $15 from Book Depository is........

Nicola S.

An email has been sent and remember you have 48 hours to claim the prize or I will have to pick another winner.

Thanks everyone for your support.

Between a Rock and a Hot Place: Why Fifty is the New Fifty TLC Book Tours

2012-02-20T20:52:00.000-05:00

My Rating: Great Read - really, really liked it!

Synopsis: As she approached her fiftieth birthday, Tracey Jackson found herself bombarded by a catchphrase on everyone’s lips: “Fifty is the new thirty.” With a comedy writer’s training and a screenwriter’s eye for detail, Jackson skewers that particular myth with a hilarious, bare-knuckled, and ultimately practical appraisal of what middle age really means today. Jackson not only faces the elephant in the room, she puts it under a (very large) microscope, confronting the truth about death, work, and sex in what the French call the “third age.”

My Review: Tracey Jackson has an amazing talent for writing. Between a Rock and a Hot Place is too funny and yet sadly so true. I was reminded of Jenny McCarthy's book on pregnancy, child birth and first year of motherhood. The books were spot on and topics that no one wants to talk about! Tracey Jackson does the same thing....brooches subjects about being a "fifties" woman. My favorite chapter was Chapter 3, Sex, Estrogen, and Not So Much Rock and Roll. I am still in shock! Tracey is so open about herself. In between laughing so hard, I kept thinking I am so, so doomed. I am in my mid-forties with young children and always have at least one them in my bed.....so, I am just saying there isn't a whole lot of Rock and Roll going on now. Tracey, seriously, I only have five years for Rock and Roll?

I also really liked Chapter 5, If She's Fifty, Chances Are Alice Doesn't Work Here Anymore. At thirty, I thought us women had come such a long way (and I still believe that), but we also have such a long way to go. Chapter 5 confirmed that for me and it scares me silly. I also believe that some careers/areas of specialization are hit harder than others. It sets me in a panic to think that in 5 years, I could have a hard time landing a job, if I was unemployed.

Other favorites were Chapter 7, You Don't Look Fifty and Chapter 9, Maddening Men. They were both "laugh out loud" chapters. The entire book is filled with humor and accurate description of what it means to be "fifty" today. As Martha Stewart said, "if you're thirty, you should read this book; if you're forty, you should read this book; if you're fifty, you should definitely ready this book." Couldn't have said it better myself!

Author: A screenwriter for seventeen years, Tracey Jackson has written and sold films to all the major studios; her most recent writing credits include Confession of a Shopaholic and Lucky Ducks, a lecture-length documentary that she also produced and directed. She blogs on her own website and for the Huffington Post. She lives in New York City with her husband, Glenn Horowitz, and two daughters.

Connect with Tracey: On Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and her Website.

TLC Book Tour Stops: Check out other TLC Book Tour reviews.

Wednesday, February 22nd: Helen’s Book Blog
Thursday, February 23rd: Peppermint PhD
Monday, February 27th: Living in the Kitchen with Puppies
Thursday, March 1st: For Such a Time as This
Tuesday, March 6th: Boarding in my Forties
Wednesday, March 7th: Sara’s Organized Chaos
Thursday, March 8th: My Book Retreat
Monday, March 12th: I Read. Do you?
Tuesday, March 13th: Silver & Grace

Discover A Series Giveaway Blog Hop

2012-02-19T21:36:00.012-05:00

This giveaway is sponsored by Year Of Jubilee Review, A Single Country Gal & Her Cat, Sea Side Book Nook, The Jolly Blogger, and Life Happens With Kids!

You can read more about the series by checking out the following reviews:

Songs Of Alaska Trilogy By Tracie Peterson
Dinah Harris Mystery Series By Julie Cave
Another review of the Dinah Harris Series
The Rose Trilogy by Beverly Lewis
Tucker Mill Trilogy By Lori Wick
Return To Red River Series By Laurine Snelling

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Literary Giveaway Blog Hop!

2012-02-17T23:59:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Leeswammes for hosting another great Literary Giveaway Blog Hop!!! There are lots of other bloggers participating in the hop (see the links below).

My Giveaway.....A book of your choice up to $15 (book or e-book).

Just complete the form below to entry. Good Luck!

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Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway & Blog Hop

2012-02-17T06:42:00.000-05:00

Friday, February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day.
What better way to celebrate than by taking part in a giveaway hop. Read for Your Future and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer have teamed up to host the Random Acts of Kindness Giveaway Hop.

My Giveaway is a $15 Amazon or Book Depository Gift Certificate.

To win just complete the simple two items below. Don't forget to hop along to the other blogs participating in the hop. Have a happy random acts of kindness day!

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Explosive Eighteen

2012-02-16T07:10:00.000-05:00

My Rating: Okay read. It is killing me to rate it as such.

Synopsis: Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum’s life is set to blow sky high when international murder hits dangerously close to home, in this dynamite novel by Janet Evanovich.

Before Stephanie can even step foot off Flight 127 Hawaii to Newark, she’s knee deep in trouble. Her dream vacation turned into a nightmare, and she’s flying back to New Jersey solo. Worse still, her seatmate never returned to the plane after the L.A. layover. Now he’s dead, in a garbage can, waiting for curbside pickup. His killer could be anyone. And a ragtag collection of thugs and psychos, not to mention the FBI, are all looking for a photograph the dead man was supposed to be carrying.

Only one other person has seen the missing photo—Stephanie Plum. Now she’s the target, and she doesn’t intend to end up in a garbage can. With the help of an FBI sketch artist Stephanie re-creates the person in the photo. Unfortunately the first sketch turns out to look like Tom Cruise, and the second sketch like Ashton Kutcher. Until Stephanie can improve her descriptive skills, she’ll need to watch her back.

Over at the bail bonds agency things are going from bad to worse. The bonds bus serving as Vinnie’s temporary HQ goes up in smoke. Stephanie’s wheelman, Lula, falls in love with their largest skip yet. Lifetime arch nemesis Joyce Barnhardt moves into Stephanie’s apartment. And everyone wants to know what happened in Hawaii?

Morelli, Trenton’s hottest cop, isn’t talking about Hawaii. Ranger, the man of mystery, isn’t talking about Hawaii. And all Stephanie is willing to say about her Hawaiian vacation is . . . It’s complicated.

Source: Barnes & Noble

My Review: I love the Stephanie Plum series, but I have to be honest. I think it is time to wrap up the series. I would love to see Stephanie decide on Ranger or Morelli and move on. I don't know which one I want her to end up with, but it is time. Maybe the next (and last book in the series) could be Nuptial Nineteen and we don't know who she marries until the very end. I felt the book didn't really add anything to the series and it was more of the same thing.

Has anyone seen One for the Money? I would like to see it, since I do love Stephanie Plum, but I haven't' had any time to get to the movies. I like Katherine Heigl and Sherri Shepherd. I would love to know what you thought of the book (Explosive Eighteen) or the movie.

Have a great weekend, it is almost here!

$50 Giveaway at I am a Reader, Not a Writer Blog

2012-02-11T06:58:00.000-05:00

Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card or $50 in Books from the Book Depository @toobusyreading
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2012/02/thank-you-giveaway-50-in-books.html

On the Bright Side

2012-01-29T23:30:00.001-05:00

Available: January 31st, On the Bright Side by S.R. Johannes

Cover: LOVE it! The girl is so cute and I "dig" the outfit.

Synopsis: On the Bright Side is a hilarious road to guardian angeldom paved with so much drama and due-paying that it makes middle school look painless.

As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, Skyphones and InnerNets are all the rage. Until Gabby finds out she has to protect Angela, her school nemesis, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven. Problem is, Angela is now hitting on Gabby's should-have-been boyfriend. (awkward!)

Instead of protecting Angela, Gabby pranks her (like tripping is a sin?) at the hopes of cooling off the new couple. At first, they seem harmless until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, her Celestial Sky Agent, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, puts Gabby on probation, threatening her eternal future.

Determined to right her wrongs, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to Earth for just one day. Without knowing, she kicks off a series of events and learns what can happen when you hate someone to death.

Praise and Comments: Clever and charming, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is the story of a reluctant guardian angel, her still-breathing crush, and the frenemy she’s assigned to protect. A great read! -Suzanne Young, author of A Need So Beautiful, A Want So Wicket (6/12), and The Program (2013)"

"With a smart, snappy heroine and a heart-warming crush, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is a page-turning new take on guardian angels that left me begging for a sequel!" - Gretchen McNeil, author of Possess and Ten (9/12) (Balzar + Bray)

S.R. Johannes delivers a cute paranormal thrill ride for middle graders! Even in death there is a BRIGHT SIDE!" - Addison Moore, author of the bestselling Celestra series and soon to be TV show

“ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is both hilarious and heart-warming – a tale that’ll have you hoping that there really *are* spunky and determined angels like Gabby who’ve got our backs.” - Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, author of Selling Hope & The 13th Sign (2013) (Feiwel & Friends)

Author: S.R. Johannes lives in Atlanta Georgia with her dog, British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world. After earning an MBA and working in corporate america, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. You can find her hanging out online and visit her Market My Word.

You can purchase Ms. Johannes Untraceable on Amazon, B&N, iTunes, and other sellers.
Kindle Edition: You have to love this price....99 cents! Purchase it here.

I can't wait to read On the Bright Side. Look for my review in the future!

The Magic Room

2012-01-29T23:08:00.000-05:00

My Rating: A Good Read, I enjoyed it!

Synopsis: You may not have heard of Fowler, Michigan, much less Becker's Bridal. But for the thousands of women who have stepped inside, Becker's is the site of some of the most important moments of their lives-moments that speak to us all. Housed in a former bank, the boutique owners transformed the vault into a "magic room," with soft church lighting, a circular pedestal, and mirrors that make lifelong dreams come true.

Illuminating the poignant aspects of a woman's journey to the altar, The Magic Room tells the stories of memorable women on the brink of commitment. Run by the same family for years, Becker's has witnessed transformations in how America views the institution of marriage; some of the shop's clientele are becoming stepmothers, or starting married life for a second time. In The Girls from Ames, beloved author Jeffrey Zaslow used friendships to explore the emotional lives of women. In The Magic Room, he turns his perceptive eye to weddings and weaves together secrets, memories and family tales to explore the hopes and dreams we have for our daughters.

My Review: I couldn't believe it when I opened The Magic Room to chapter one. This book is about Becker's Bridal....in Fowler, Michigan. Becker's Bridal is about 30 minutes from where I grew up and yes, I too bought my wedding dress from Becker's! I never knew "the room" was called The Magic Room! I can vouch that you do feel "magically" in front of the mirrors on the pedalstal. There is also no doubt that Becker's Bridal has over 2,500 dress in stock. I know it was amazing experience to go and look through them all. I have also been to Becker's Bridal with many friends as they picked out their bridal gown as well. I could relate to so much of the book!

The Magic Room is written in a very interesting way. Shelly Becker, current owner, is written about throughout the book. I really liked how the story focused on her past, present and hopes for the future. The book also has stories about the brides that come into to Becker's Bridal. We get to learn a little bit about the bride, her finance, family and wedding plans. Each bride's story is broken up into different chapters: visiting Becker's, picking up their dress and their wedding.

I really liked all the stories about the brides, but I think my favorite was about Julie. This was Julie's second trip to Becker's and her second marriage. I had to have the kleenex close by. The love that Julie and her first husband had was just amazing. It was so sad to read about how her husband died and the impact it had on herself and the kids. How she found love again and the reaction of her kids.....more kleenex (won't say more or it would be a spoiler alert). I also could swear that Julie was one of my mom's nurses when she was in the hospital, she just looked so familiar to me.

I can't wait to send this book to my BFF with a note....remember shopping together - for my dress and yours! I know she will be excited as soon as she reads chapter one too! Don't worry though, you don't need to know anything about Fowler, Michigan or Becker's Bridal to enjoy this book. It is a really good read!

About the Author: Jeffrey Zaslow is a Wall Street Journal columnist and, with Randy Pausch, coauthor of The Last Lecture, the #1 New York Times bestseller now translated into forty-one languages. Zaslow attended Dr. Pausch’s famous lecture and wrote the story that sparked worldwide interest in it. The Girls from Ames also grew out of one of Zaslow’s columns. He lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, Sherry, and daughters Jordan, Alex, and Eden.

Read it: You can purchase The Magic Room on Amazon for $27.00.

Connect: Connect with Jeffrey Zaslow.

Thanks to Crazy Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review such a great book.

Rock Star's Girl

2012-01-24T07:10:00.000-05:00

Rating: Great Read: This is a book that would be 7.5 starfish out of 10. I want to read it all night long.

Synopsis: "Emily Watts just wants a weekend break from the workaholic hours she's taken on to keep her business — a popular fashion-snark web site — up and running. What she gets is overnight celebrity and a career-killing media scandal.

While taking time out to attend a concert in support of friend Jesse Cinder, a struggling musician, Emily meets Cory Sampson, the lead singer of a chart-topping rock band. When she agrees to a date with Cory, making entertainment headlines is the last thing she expects. Even so, it's a minor surprise by comparison to her discovery that in the music world, media notoriety trumps all. Tabloid allegations erupt when Cory and fame-hungry Jesse use Emily for personal gain, and her tarnished image spells disaster — personally and professionally. To save the web site and writing career she's made her life and dream, Emily must go from being a pawn in the Hollywood headline game to becoming the media mastermind."

My Review: I really enjoyed Rock Star's Girl. It is a fun, fast moving read. I really wanted Em to end up with Xxxxxxx. You will just have to read the book to figure if Xxxxxxx is Jesse or C-Samp! I can't give the ending away. I was pulled into Em's world in Chapter 1.

As one reviewer put it....Chick-Lit for Smart Chicks! Rock Star's Girl is just that and I thought it was a perfect way to say it. Em and her best friend are smart young women (bonus). I had to laugh as her best friend is a CPA for a big firm and was in Cleveland on an audit - I too am CPA and worked for a big firm for many, many years. I also spent a lot of time in Cleveland! Small world, we should talk J.F. Kristin! Maybe you could write a sequel and I could give you all the research material!

I enjoyed that the book takes place in LA/Hollywood as I tend to read a lot of Chick Lit that takes place in NYC or London. It was very refreshing. Em was really a down-to-earth kind of Chick, which I liked as well. She was concerned about her career, her reputation, her family and friends. There was not all the drama of designer this and that, oohing and aching over celebrates, etc. As I said, this was a very fast read for me and that means one thing.....a really good read!

Read it: You can purchase Rock Star's Girl for Kindle for just 99 cents right now at Amazon.

Blog Update: Check out J.F. Kristin's blog too for the latest on Rock Star's Girl.

Have a great week!

The Solider's Wife

2012-01-17T06:47:00.001-05:00

Rating: Great Read: This is a book that would be 7.5 starfish out of 10. I want to read it all night long.

Synopsis: As World War II draws closer and closer to Guernsey, Vivienne de la Mare knows that there will be sacrifices to be made. Not just for herself, but for her two young daughters and for her mother-in-law, for whom she cares while her husband is away fighting. What she does not expect is that she will fall in love with one of the enigmatic German soldiers who take up residence in the house next door to her home. As their relationship intensifies, so do the pressures on Vivienne. Food and resources grow scant, and the restrictions placed upon the residents of the island grow with each passing week. Though Vivienne knows the perils of her love affair with Gunther, she believes that she can keep their relationship--and her family--safe. But when she becomes aware of the full brutality of the Occupation, she must decide if she is willing to risk her personal happiness for the life of a stranger.

My Review: I really enjoyed The Soldier's Wife and Margaret Leroy is a such a beautiful writer. I was immediately taken from my home to the island of Guernsey. I do like a good love story that is intertwined with family struggles...mother, daughters, mother-in-law. I was taken in by the events and how the story unfolded. I have never been a fan of WW II books but The Soldier's Wife has made me feel different about such an important time in our history. You may need some kleenex by your side (I tend to cry easily), but the ending is worth every tear! I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to all

Cover: I LOVE it. The cover caught my attention right away. I think it just beautiful.

Between Interruptions - TLC Book Tours

2012-01-09T05:27:00.000-05:00

Rating: Good to read! (3 out 5)

Synopsis: Between Interruptions is a remarkable collection of original and heartfelt essays about the process of becoming a mother. Written by a wide range of mothers – from a Hollywood celebrity to an immigrant domestic worker, the book explores the transformative experiences in our journey as mothers. Provocative, honest and emotional, the stories focus on the impact motherhood has on our identity, sexuality, ambition and relationships. Laid bare in this collection are the vivd, gut-wrenching and exhilarating true confessions and secret longings of mothers across all ages, cultures and classes. Whether it’s a story about a journalist going to war and missing her baby, or a mother finding perfection in autism, or a mother struggling to breastfeed through post-partum depression, or a mother learning to let go of her dream to stay home with her children because she has to work, there’s a story in this collection for every mother. (Paperback - 328 pages)

My Review: I love short story books (they are quick and easy for me to read). Between Interruptions is just that...a book filled with short stories. I really enjoy reading about how as women we all struggle with something, but how strong we truly are. Between Interruptions is broken down into five different categories: Ambition, Anxiety, Guilt, Devotion, and Redemption. While all the stories have stuck with me, there is one that has really stuck with me. Oddly enough, it is the first story in the Ambition section. I can't tell you about the story (you will have to to buy the book), but it is written by Marina Jamenez, Journalist, that covered war-zone stories. I just can't imagine how I would have handled it, if I was in her shoes. Another story, that I really related to was in the Guilt section (no surprise, I suffer from mother's guilt 95% of my day). I 100% relate to the first sentence - "Before I had children, I was the perfect mother." I have said that some many times in my life.

About the Author: I really enjoyed the stories and the honesty from all 30 women. Cori Howard is the founder of The Momoir Project, an online writing centre that offers memoir writing classes, workshops and workbooks. She’s also an award-winning journalist whose work in newspapers, magazines, TV and radio has taken her around the world. Her stories – many about motherhood – have appeared in publications including Reader’s Digest, Elle, The Independent, among many others. She lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her family.

Winners!

2012-01-08T21:10:00.001-05:00

I have two winners to announce. The first is the Mid-Winter's Eve Blog Giveaway ($10 Amazon GC)

Melissa Hall (avidreader)

The second is the Best of 2011 Giveaway (a book of your choice up to $15). There seemed to be a theme going on as to the comments posted. Lots of you want to read Divergent (where have I been, I haven't read this either), The Night Circus, Delirium, and The Help (my favorite)!

S Rose (1816)

Thank so much for all your support!

The Best of 2011 Hop Giveaway

2011-12-27T00:53:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my stop on the Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop! This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer . A big thank you to Kathy for hosting so many awesome event throughout 2011!

I am giving away a book of your choice up to $15. I have read so many great books in 2011 and there are so many more I would have loved to read. There is always 2012, right!

The Best of 2011 Giveaway ends December 31st (midnight EST). Just complete the entry form below. Thanks for your support and Happy Reading!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop - Giveaways

2011-12-21T08:27:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my stop on the Mid-Winters Eve Giveaway Hop! This hop is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and Oasis for YA. A big thank you to both blogs for hosting this pretty awesome event!
I am giving away a $10 Amazon gift card. The Mid-Winters Eve Giveaway ends December 27th (midnight EST). Just complete the entry form below. Thanks for your support.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner of the $15 Amazon GC!

2011-12-15T07:06:00.000-05:00

The winner of the $15 Amazon GC giveaway is....Juana E (821)! An email has been sent and Juana has 48 hours to reply or another winner will be picked!

Thank you all for your continued support. Have a great day and weekend!

Loveswept - Holiday Hop! 12/12/11 to 1/10/12

2011-12-11T18:24:00.000-05:00

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Gift Card Giveaway Hop

2011-12-08T22:04:00.001-05:00

The Gift Card Giveaway Hop will run from Dec. 9th to 13th. Thanks to I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Attack of the Book for co-hosting this amazing blog hop.

The Gift Card Giveaway Hop is just in time to help with with last minute holiday shopping!!

Over 100 Blogs are each hosting a giveaway for a gift card.

MY GIVEAWAY!
$15 Amazon.com Gift Card!
One lucky winner will be emailed a $15 gift card from Amazon.com. Open to anyone who can use a gift card sent from Amazon.com.

Alternately if you win and can't use an amazon.com gift card you my choose a book of your choice from The Book Depository (Up to $15).

Thanks for all your support.

Check out the other $15 Amazon Gift Certificate I am giving away at Peace Love and Scrapbooking!

Here is a link the host, where all participating blogs are linked!

Winner of the Book Lover's Blog Hop

2011-12-07T06:57:00.000-05:00

Congratulation to the winner of a $10 Amazon Gift Card. The winner has been emailed an electronic gift card already! Thanks to all of you who participated and your continued support.

Kelly (delivery.RN). She recently read Shatter Me.

It appears that many of you recommend (and have just recently read)

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Crossed and/or Matched by Ally Condie

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I have Matched and Crossed on my reading list, LOVED The Help (and the movie) and need to add Shatter Me to my reading list - I have heard really good things about it!

Look for the next Blog Hop.....Starting December 9th!

Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop!!!

2011-12-01T21:08:00.000-05:00

This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Kid Lit Frenzy

There are hundreds of blogs participating and each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one. This hop starts December 2nd and and runs through December 6th, midnight. What am I giving away???

$10 Amazon Gift Card!!
You get to chose your own book for the Holiday!

What do you need to do to enter - complete the form below! Check out all the give aways here.

Winner of the New Author Blog Hop!

2011-12-01T20:32:00.000-05:00

The Winner of the New Author Blog Hop is Deranged Pegasus - Proof of Heaven. An email has been sent!

They types of reviews you all like:

Short and Sweet (less is better - synopsis, rating and a few comments) = 45%
Middle of the road (synopsis, rating, few comments, and about the author) = 53%
Long and long - (lots of details and thoughts) = 5%

Thanks for the feedback! Hope you all have a great day!

New Author Blog Hop & Giveaway!

2011-11-22T23:54:00.000-05:00

Of Thoughts and Words and Oh! For the Love of Books are hosting a New Author Blog Hop. Currently there are 45 sites signed up to participate, most are hosting a giveaway in conjunction with the event.

To see all the participating sites CLICK HERE.

Pick just one New Author - seriously? I have read so many great books by new authors lately. Hmmm. Since I can't decide, lets quickly recap some New Authors:

Currently reading: Rock Star's Girl by J. F. Kristin (Loving it so far!! Review to come)

Synopsis: Emily Watts just wants a weekend break from the workaholic hours she's taken on to keep her business – a popular fashion-snark web site – up and running. What she gets is overnight celebrity and a career-killing media scandal.

While taking time out to attend a concert in support of friend Jesse Cinder, a struggling musician, Emily meets Cory Sampson, the lead singer of a chart-topping rock band. When she agrees to a date with Cory, making entertainment headlines is the last thing she expects. Even so, it's a minor surprise by comparison to her discovery that in the music world, media notoriety trumps all. Tabloid allegations erupt when Cory and fame-hungry Jesse use Emily for personal gain, and her tarnished image spells disaster – personally and professionally. To save the web site and writing career she's made her life and dream, Emily must go from being a pawn in the Hollywood headline game to becoming the media mastermind.

Just finished: Doctor and the Diva was super good. I read this as part of my ROC book club. We had a great discussion too! I can't wait to share my review with you all (this weekend).
Synopsis: It is 1903, and Erika von Kessler has struggled for years to become pregnant. Resigned to childlessness, Erika-a talented opera singer and the wife of a prominent Bostonian-secretly plans to move to Italy to pursue her musical career. When the charismatic Doctor Ravell takes Erika on as a patient, he is mesmerized by her. Impetuously, he takes a shocking risk that could ruin them both.

Inspired by the author's family history, the novel moves from snowy Boston to the gilded balconies of Florence in a stunning tale of opera, longing, and the indomitable power of romantic obsession.

Recent reviews:

Her Sister's Shadow (CLICK HERE for review)
An emotionally powerful debut about two sisters who reconnect after nearly forty years of estrangement.

Proof of Heaven (CLICK HERE for review)
A mother’s faith, a child’s courage, a doctor’s dedication—a moving and thought-provoking tale of hope, love, and family.

Since I can't pick you get to! One lucky winner will get to pick which of the four books above they would like! Your choice can be traditional book or e-book! What do you need to do? Complete the following to enter - 1 mandatory and a few extra entries! Good Luck!

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A Summer in Europe by Marilyn Brant

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

Imagine my surprise when I opened my mailbox and there was a brand new just released copy of my friend, Marilyn Brant's book, A Summer in Europe. I have been waiting for the day to read A Summer in Europe. I just love Marilyn's books. Don't you just love that cover?

Synopsis: Gwendolyn Reese prides herself on being cautious and reliable. She expects to marry Richard, her dependable boyfriend, and is disappointed when he doesn’t propose on her 30th birthday. But then Gwen’s aunt Bea surprises her with a monthlong European trip with Bea’s “S&M” club (sudoku and mah-jongg), and Gwen, reluctant at first, soon realizes how hard it will be to stick to her conventional routines abroad. She’s pushed even further out of her comfort zone when she meets the charismatic English brothers “Thoreau” and “Emerson” Edwards. Emerson introduces her to the pleasures of the continent, from gelato to music in the streets, while they do their best to keep their budding romance under control; Gwen still has a boyfriend in Richard (whose stuffiness pales in comparison to Emerson’s delight in the sensual). But Richard has a grand gesture up his sleeve—surprising Gwen in London at the end of her trip—and it throws her into turmoil. The trip has changed her, making her question what she wants out of life. Brant’s newest (after Double Dipping) is a retread of classic themes, but distinguishes itself with a charismatic leading man and very funny supporting cast, especially the wonderful elderly characters with their resonant message about living life to the fullest.

I will be back later with a review! Thank you so much Marilyn!

12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop and Giveaway

2011-11-19T07:46:00.002-05:00

I am thrilled to be participating in the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway hosted by A Book Lovers Dream.

I am giving away a Christmas book by one of my favorite authors, Cecelia Ahern's, The Gift.

Ahern wades into the Christmas fiction fray with a winning tale of magic and redemption. Lou Suffern is a busy man, and his family's growing weary of constantly taking the backseat to his career. On a whim, he offers Gabe, a homeless man he meets outside his office, a low-level job, and the uncharacteristically kind gesture plays out in a very unexpected way when Lou learns that Gabe has the power to be in two places at once. As the holidays draw nearer, Gabe tries to make Lou realize the importance of his family, but slow-to-change Lou might not come around to Gabe's way of thinking until it's too late. Ahern's an accomplished storyteller, and her writing chops elevate this far above the normal holiday fare. There's magic, but it's not campy, and the sentiment is real. (from Amazon.com)

Complete the entries below to increase your chance to win! Contest ends on my blog November 26th!

Check out the rest of the blogs participating!
www.melanieski.blogspot.com (2 different dates)
http://singlecountrychick.blogspot.com-
www.seasidebooknook.com (me)
http://sweepingme.com--
http://bookstacksondeck.blogspot.com--
www.lifehappenswithkids.com-- (3 different dates)
www.roxannajolly.com--(2 different dates)
http://www.celticladysreviews.blogspot.com

Proof of Heaven - TLC Book Tour

2011-11-16T06:30:00.003-05:00

Paperback: 336 pages
Rating: A Good Read

Synopsis: A mother’s faith, a child’s courage, a doctor’s dedication—a moving and thought-provoking tale of hope, love, and family

He might be young, but Colm already recognizes the truth: that he’s sick and not getting better. His mother, Cathleen, fiercely believes her faith will protect her ailing son, but Colm is not so sure. With a wisdom far beyond his years, Colm has come to terms with his probable fate, but he does have one special wish. He wants to meet his father who abandoned his beloved mother before Colm was born.

But the quest to find the dying boy’s missing parent soon becomes a powerful journey of emotional discovery—a test of belief and an anxious search for proof of heaven.

A magnificent debut novel, Mary Curran Hackett’s Proof of Heaven is a beautiful and unforgettable exploration of the power of love and the monumental questions of life, death, and the afterlife.

From BN.com

Why I wanted to read it: I LOVE being part of TLC Book Tours!
My Rating: 3 out of 5, a good read.
Book Cover Rating: 5 out 5. I find the cover to be very peaceful. I don't relate the cover to the story as it reminds me more of a summer night, but I still love the cover.

My Review: Proof of Heaven is a pretty powerful book. The characters are wonderful and pull you into the story. If the first line doesn't grab....."Colm Francis Magee had died seven times before his seventh birthday," I am not sure what will. I had to keep reading. How could a child die seven times before turning seven? The next paragraph takes you right into the first time Colm died. I could not put the book down, it was unbelievable. I felt like I was Cathleen going through the entire event. Mary Curran Hackett's writing ability is incredible and she made me feel like I was experiencing everything as the story unfolds.

I LOVED the end of the book as the author does a wonderful job bringing everything together for us readers. The most amazing part for me, is that Mary writes this book based on her own life experiences. I really enjoyed Proof of Heaven and would recommend to anyone who is looking for a good book to read.

Author: Mary Curran Hackett is an adjunct English professor at the University of Cincinnati. She lives with her husband and children in Cincinnati, Ohio. By the way, I love my Ohio authors, especially those from the Cincy area! I moved from the Cincy/Dayton area 3 years ago and still miss it terribly.

This is a TLC Book Tour and I encourage you to check out the other reviews:

Wednesday, November 2nd: A Cozy Reader’s Corner
Tuesday, November 1st: Sara’s Organized Chaos
Friday, November 4th: My Heart’s Desire
Tuesday, November 8th: BookNAround
Wednesday, November 9th: Book Club Classics!
Wednesday, November 9th: Into the Hall of Books
Monday, November 14th: Reflections of a Bookaholic
Tuesday, November 15th: Reviews from the Heart
Wednesday, November 16th: Seaside Book Nook (me!)
Thursday, November 17th: A Bookish Libraria
Tuesday, November 22nd: The Lost Entwife

Winner Monster Mash & Bash Blog Hop

2011-11-03T06:41:00.000-04:00

Congrats to winner - Emma the Brave! You get to pick any book up to $15! Check your email and reply within 48 hours!

Winner of Spooktacular Blog Hop

2011-11-03T06:37:00.000-04:00

Congrats Nedra! You are the winner of Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale. I will be mailing it out to you soon!

Picture of Lies - TLC Book Tours

2011-11-02T07:25:00.000-04:00

Hardcover: 326 pages

Publisher: Gale Cengage Learning

Rating: Great Read

Synopsis: Investigative journalist Keegan Thomas is living a nightmare of guilt and grief since her little girl Daisy was kidnapped practically in front of her eyes. When the police investigation dead ended, she turned her grief to anger and buried herself in her work. The result was an award winning series of articles on unsolved child abductions. Her entire life became shaped by a continual search for missing children, her own included.

On what is supposed to be a working vacation, Keegan travels to Monument Valley on the Navajo Indian Reservation seeking the whereabouts of people in an old photograph found in her grandfather’s belongings after his death. Her assignment? Write an upbeat human interest where-are-they-now feature story for Arizona OffBeat Magazine.

But the Indians do not welcome this prying stranger carrying a picture of their old ones, some of them dead. Archaeologist Dante Covelli, a walking wounded with secrets in his past, helps her navigate the mysterious ways of the Navajo, and eventually Keegan is told one of the children in the photograph was kidnapped by missionaries and taken to boarding school.

What follows is a web of deception that stretches back fifty years, and the truth Keegan learns about her own family is the most shocking betrayal of all. Nothing can prepare her for the danger she encounters when she becomes the target of a powerful senator who will do anything to stop her from telling what she knows about the PICTURE OF LIES.

“Similar in feeling to Harrison’s romantic suspense mystery, The Charmstone, also set in Monument Valley … offers a nice combination of action, romance and Navajo lore.” –Kirkus Reviews

Why I wanted to read it: I LOVE being part of TLC Book Tours!

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5, a great (+) read.

Book Cover Rating: 3 out 5. It is not what I typically like but 100% perfect for the story and where it takes place

My Review: Picture of Lies is an awesome read! I have never read anything by C.C. Harrison, but I am going to check out her other books. Picture of Lies pulled me right in from the first chapter. My stepmom was visiting while I was reading it and we were both "fighting" over reading time. Picture of Lies has so many different twists and turns in the book you never can figure it all out with reading it! I don't want to give the story and mystery away. I would love to see C. C. Harrison write a follow up on Keegan's missing daughter. For now, I am going to go stop by Barnes & Noble and purchase Running from Strangers by C. C. Harrison! It looks really great too!

Author: C. C. Harrison lives in Anthem, Arizona. She is the author of hundreds of articles and short stories. When she’s not writing, reading, or working out at the gym, she can be found in the mountains of Colorado or in some far-flung corner of the Southwest.

Connect with C. C. Harrison online at her website, and on her blog.

This is a TLC Book Tour and I encourage you to check out the other reviews:

Monday, October 17th: As I turn the pages

Tuesday, October 18th: Iwriteinbook’s blog

Wednesday, October 19th: Cafe of Dreams

Friday, October 21st: Joyfully Retired

Monday, October 24th: Stephany Writes

Wednesday, October 26th: Life In Review

Friday, October 28th: Colloqium

Monday, October 31st: Sara’s Organized Chaos

Tuesday, November 1st: Book Nook Club

Wednesday, November 2nd: Seaside Book Nook

Thursday, November 3rd: Lesa’s Book Critiques

TBD: StephTheBookworm

My Sister's Shadow - TLC Book Tours + Giveaway!!

2011-11-01T05:00:00.001-04:00

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Rating: Great Read

Synopsis: An emotionally powerful debut about two sisters who reconnect after nearly forty years of estrangement.

Renowned painter Lilli Niles is at home in her North London flat when she receives an unexpected call from her elder sister, Bea, who's at the family homestead in Whitehead, Massachusetts. Bea's husband has just died, and she'd like Lilli to fly home to attend the funeral. There are reasons Lilli moved all the way to England to escape her older sister, reasons that have kept them estranged for decades. But something in Bea's voice makes Lilli think it's time to return to the stately house in New England she loved as a child, to the memory of the beloved younger sister they both lost. With Bea more fragile than Lilli remembered, maybe she can finally forgive Bea for a long-ago betrayal that has simmered between them for nearly forty years.

From BN.com
Why I wanted to read it: I thought it sounded fantastic when I read the synopsis and I LOVE being part of TLC Book Tours!

My Rating: 4 out of 5, a great read.

Book Cover Rating: 5 out of 5. I LOVE any cover with a beach scene.

My Review: Her Sister's Shadow has so many of the elements I love in a book: sisters, family secrets, the 60's(!), mystery, teen hormones, and romance. The story is told in alternate settings - current day (2009) and the past (mid-1960). I love books that alternate between present and past where the past fills in the gaps and unfolds the present for us. Her Sister's Shadow focus is Lilli and Bea, but there are two other sisters in the story, Charlotte and Dori. So who is the "shadow?" You must read to find out!

I have an older sister and younger sister. We don't always see eye to eye, but we are always there for each other. I can't imagine not seeing my family for approximately 40 years. You must read Her Sister's Shadow to find out how sisters can be apart for so long! I can guarantee you will become so engrossed in the book and the characters.

Author: Katharine Britton has a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from Dartmouth College. She teaches at Colby-Sawyer College, and at The Writer’s Center. Her screenplay, Goodbye Don’t Mean Gone, was a Moondance Film Festival winner and a finalist in the New England Women in Film and Television contest. Katharine is a member of the League of Vermont Writers.

When not at her desk, Katharine can be found at her Norwich garden, waging a non-toxic war against the slugs, snails, deer, woodchucks, chipmunks, moles, voles and beetles with whom she shares her yard. Katharine’s defense consists mainly of hand-wringing, after the fact.

Connect with Katharine online at her website, www.HerSistersShadow.com, her blog, and on Facebook.

This is a TLC Book Tour and I encourage you to check out the other reviews:

Thursday, October 20th: Savvy Verse and Wit
Tuesday, October 18th: Life in Review
Thursday, October 27th: Oodles of Books
Friday, October 28th: Amused by Books
Tuesday, November 1st: Seaside Book Nook
Wednesday, November 2nd: Chocolate and Croissants
Thursday, November 3rd: ”That’s Swell!”
Friday, November 4th: Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
Monday, November 7th: Luxury Reading
Wednesday, November 9th: girlichef
Thursday, November 10th: Colloquium
Monday, November 14th: Peeking Between the Pages
Wednesday, November 16th: A Bookish Affair
Thursday, November 17th: A Cozy Reader’s Corner

Giveaway: The publisher has kindly offered up one new copy to a lucky winner (US/CAN)! Easy to enter - see below

Monster Mash and Bash Blog Hop Oct 26 - Nov 1st

2011-10-26T23:13:00.002-04:00

Yipee, It is another Book Blog Hop with more Giveaways!

A Book Lover's Dream is hosting a Monster Mash and Bash Blog Hop. October 26th - November 1st. So what am I giving away....

The book of your choice up to $15(us)!

What do you need to do to enter a chance to win the book of your choice?

Be or become a follower of Seaside Book Nook and complete the form below.

Hop Around

Your next stop in the blog hop is Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks

See a full listing of the blogs that are participating in the hop below or start at the beginning at A Book Lover's Dream.

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

2011-10-23T21:30:00.001-04:00

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop - Oct 24th to 31st - is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer & The Diary of a Bookworm.

I am stop #83. There are over 400 stops, each with their own spooktacular giveaway, so make sure to check them all out as well (you can see the full list of participants here).

What you can win: Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale

Synopsis: Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life. So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.

Check out my review here.

What do you have to do to win:

Become a follower of this blog and complete the entry form below.

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Winner of Literary Blog Hop

2011-10-23T21:22:00.000-04:00

Congrats to Archambo Alyssa lucky winner #86. Remember the prize is a book of your choice up to $15.

2011-10-15T08:27:00.000-04:00

Yipee, It is a Book Blog Hop with lots of Giveaways!

Judith (Leeswammes blog) is hosting a Literary Giveaway October 15 - 19th. The Hop starts on Saturday, October 15th and ends on Wednesday, OCTOBER 19th.

So what am I giving away....

The book of your choice up to $15(us)!

What do you need to do to enter a chance to win the book of your choice?

Be or become a follower of Seaside Book Nook and complete the form below.

Hop Around

Your next stop in the blog hop is The Scarlett Letter

See a full listing of the blogs that are participating in the hop below or start at the beginning at Judith's blog Leeswammes.

Thanks so much for blogging by.

Note: contest ends 10-19-2011 at 11:59 PM EST

Winner of $10 Gift Certificate - Banned Book Blog Hop

2011-10-09T22:33:00.000-04:00

I am so very sorry for the delay in picking and posting the winner. My daughter (8 years old) was in the hospital for 2 1/2 weeks. Her appendix ruptured several days before showing any symptoms or signs. It was a very stressful time and she is now home for a week before starting back to school.

Without further delay...........

Ally (Allina)!

An email has been sent! Thanks to all of you for entering the giveaway and participating in the Hop. Have a wonderful week.

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

2011-09-30T03:03:00.000-04:00

Synopsis: Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them.

Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die. (Not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does.)

But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side. It's a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future…

If she even has one.

My Rating: Okay Read

My Review: Meg Cabot is one of my favorite authors. I love both her YA and Adult books. This is so hard for me not to give this book a Great or Must Read, but it just didn't do all that much for me. I do think it is because I am "vampired" out! I just don't enjoy books with that time of character. I guess I am more of a witch (good witch) type of person! I didn't connect with the characters like I usually do when I read one of Meg's books (I am usually waiting for the bookstore to open on the day of her "new releases"). The plot didn't do much for me and just didn't seem to go anywhere at times. I am so sorry, but Meg, I would not recommend (or others in the series) this book to others. ALL her other books - MUST READ 5/5!

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

2011-09-28T22:11:00.000-04:00

Synopsis: This remarkable novel holds a fantastic puzzle at its heart.

By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it's safe to go, and they know who to avoid. Like the crazy guy on the corner.

But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a kid on the street for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda's mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then a mysterious note arrives, scrawled on a tiny slip of paper. The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows things no one should know. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she's too late.

My Rating: 5/5 Must Read

My Review: After reading When You Reach Me, I am not at all surprise Rebecca Stead was awarded the Newberry Medal. This book reminds me of a young adults version of The TIme Traveler's Wife, but different. It is full of twists and turns. I was pulled right into the book from chapter 1. It was a quick read, as well. At the end of every chapter, I wanted more.

Change Of A Dress - The Cinderella Cleaners Series

2011-09-26T18:01:00.001-04:00

Synopsis: Behind the counter at Cinderella Cleaners, Diana watches the clothes come and go. She loves to imagine the exciting events that the different outfits might be worn to. Then one day, Diana reaches into the pocket of a fancy coat - and finds an invitation to a glittering gala in New York City. Since the coat's owner is out of town, Diana gets a wild idea. With the help of some savvy friends, one glamorous dress, and a lot of improvising, Diana pretends to be someone she's not, and makes it into the party! Will she be discovered, or will her disguise come off without a hitch?
Provided by BN.com

My Rating: Great Book

My Review: This is the first book in Cinderella Cleaners series (6 in total so far). This is a great series for girls 9 - 12. The book goes through all the challenges of a young girls justifying doing something she knows is wrong and making choices as consequences unfold. Gold goes throughs questions and answers as Diana makes choices throughout the book. What should she do and how does she deal with the outcome that are beyond her imagination! Great life lessons throughout the book. I need to go check out the other 5 books in the series.

Have a great day!

Banned Book Hop and Giveaway

2011-09-23T20:20:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the Banned Books Week Hop! This event is hosted by the lovely bloggers from I Read Banned Books and I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.

I am stop #43. There are over 250 stops, each with their own banned book related giveaway so make sure to check them all out as well (you can see the full list of participants here).

What you can win:

A $10 gift card to Amazon.com, or BN.com. I am letting the winner choose their banned or challenged book. I believe that every book has a place on a shelf. Our shelves are all different and we should be able to have our own choice in what is on that shelf. I did stumble across this list of 50 banned books that everyone should read and was SHOCKED at the books that were listed.

What do you have to do to win:

Become a follower of this blog and complete the entry form below.

Extra chances to win!
Follow Seaside Book Nook on Goodreads
Follow Seaside Book Nook on Facebook
Follow Seaside Book Nook on Twitter

Thanks so much for being a follower!
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Hurt No More by Kelly Ann Evers

2011-09-16T10:15:00.003-04:00

I am excited to participate in the Crazy Book Tours today. I had the pleasure to review Hurt No More! A Journey of Healing From Abuse by Kelly Ann Evers.

Paperback: 210 pages

Publisher: El Roi Publishing

Rating: Good, with very important information and resources

Synopsis: In Hurt No More! A Journey of Healing from Abuse, Kelly Ann Evers reaches out to abused and battered women with her own compelling and inspirational story. After escaping from her abusive husband, she was unable to enjoy her new found freedom because of the emotional, physical, and spiritual scars left from years of domestic violence that kept her feeling hopeless, defeated, and depressed. Determined to set herself free from her suffering, she found the courage to search for true happiness and a meaningful life. It was through the Word of God and prayer that she finally attained deep healing from the abuse--and so much more!

· Believe in yourself as much as God believes in you

· Be healed, joyful, strong, and confident

· Change your life with powerful prayer

· Trust God regardless of the situation

· Live the life you deserve

· Learn to invest in yourself

Review: First, I want to say that what this book has to offer is very important and may just save a life. The book's focus is not so much on Kelly's abusive relationship, but on her journey of healing through prayer. I believe you need to be in the right frame of mind to have such an amazing experience as Kelly did. The other part of the book that I think is so valuable are the national and international resources at the end of book.

About Kelly: Kelly is the founder of His Love Heals, Domestic Violence Help. Her website is www.domestic-violence-help.org. They will keep keep your confidence and will guide you on a path toward freedom.

Thanks Kelly for writing such a book and Crazy Book Tours for hosting the tour. Together we may just save a life.

Runaway by Meg Cabot

2011-09-14T07:07:00.001-04:00

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Rating: 4 - Great Read

Synopsis: When everyone knows your name?

The third and final book the NYT bestselling trilogy.

Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself.

With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope. . .what's the point of even going on?

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.

Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself.

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.

Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved--since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed--this time, permanently?

Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running.

From BN.com

Why I wanted to read it: I loved the first two novel in the series, Airhead and Being Nikki. Also, Meg Cabot's adult books are great chick lit! I can't get enough of Meg's books! I would have to say this is chick lit for young adults!

Book Cover Rating: 3 out of 5. I like all of the covers in this series and are so appropriate given the story.

Length of Chapters: 4 out of 5. I liked the length of the chapters, not too long!

My Review: This is a great way to end the trilogy. Cabot wraps it all up with a bow on top. I love the Emma Watts character in the series. She is smart and so funny. Christopher is pretty cool too (or should I say "hot")! The best part is we finally get read about the big Stark's secret - and it will blow you away. No spoiler alert here - my lips are sealed! I do recommend you start at the being of the series - I am not so sure that Runaway will make sense (at the very least the details leading up to the story will be lost) reading it on its own. It will be so worth it to start with Airhead! Another great book/series by Meg! I always purchase her books the day they come out - LOVE 'em! Has anyone read her new series - Insatiable/Overbite? They are my shelf!

Have a great day!

Spells and Sleeping Bags by Sarah Mylnowski

2011-09-11T21:47:00.000-04:00

Paperback: 320 pages

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Rating: 4 - Great Read

Synopsis: At long last, Rachel's powers have arrived and she's a bona fide get-your-broom-ready witch! And it's happened just in time. No Manhattan for her this summer—she's spending her vacation at Camp Wood Lake.

But she's having some serious issues:

Mosquitoes in the Adirondacks are incredibly thirsty.

Her stepmom keeps sending embarrassing feminine hygiene care packages.

She accidentally zapped away all her clothes.

And there's a backstabber in her cabin intent on making life miserable.

Good thing Rachel's a witch.

From BN.com

Why I wanted to read it: I loved the first two novel in the series, Bras and Broomsticks and Frogs and French Kisses. Also, Sarah Mylnowski's adult books are great chick lit! I would have to say this is chick lit for young adults!

Book Cover Rating: 3 out of 5. I like all of the covers in this series.

Length of Chapters: 4 out of 5. I liked the length of the chapters, not too long!

My Review: This series is so much fun. I can't get enough of Rachel and Miri. Rachel has her powers in this book and the girls are at camp for the summer. There are lots of twists and turns. The ending is a little weird, but it works. Great book for both adults and young adults. It will have you laughing out loud.....by yourself! You don't have to read the first two in the series, but why not, they are great too!

Have a great week! It will be extremely busy for me at work and home.

Back to Books Winner

2011-09-10T11:32:00.001-04:00

The winner of Here Home Hope is:

#42 miryfaye (Rebekah F)

I have your address and will be mailing it out today!

Thanks to everyone that participated. There 143 entries!

Coming up this month: Back to School reviews. Most reviews (not all) will be focused on Young Adult books. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Back to Books Hop and Giveaway

2011-09-01T08:16:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the Back to Books Hop and Giveaway hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Buried in Books. This hop is scheduled to run August 1st to 7th. There are 300 blogs signed up and all hosting a giveaway.

I am giving away Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda. This is another book that is getting great reviews this summer. I absolutely LOVE the cover. I am picturing the porch over looking water (the ocean in my mind)! I love hydrangeas so I was so thrilled to see them on the cover. I also love the bare feet! My favorite pictures of my kids are during the summer and bare foot!

Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group, LLC
Rating: Great Read!

Synopsis: Kelly Mills Johnson becomes restless in her thirty-ninth year. An appetite for more forces her to take stock of her middling middle-American existence and her neighbors' seemingly perfect lives. Her marriage to a successful attorney has settled into a comfortable routine, and being the mother of two adorable sons has been rewarding. But Kelly's own passions lie wasted. She eyes with envy the lives of her two best friends, Kathryn and Charlotte, both beautiful, successful businesswomen who seem to have it all. Kelly takes charge of her life, devising a midlife makeover plan.

From page one, Kelly's witty reflections, self-deprecating humor, and clever tactics in executing that plan—she places Post-it notes all over her house and car—will have readers laughing out loud. The next instant, however, they might rant right along with Kelly as her commitment to a sullen, anorexic teenager left on her doorstep tries her patience or as she deflects the boozy advances of a divorced neighbor. Readers will need to keep the tissue box handy, too, as Kelly repairs the damage she inflicted on a high school friend; realizes how deeply her husband, Patrick, understands and loves her; and ultimately grows into a woman empowered by her own blend of home and career.

Here, Home, Hope will surely appeal to readers of chick lit and other women's fiction titles who are ready to transition into something new in their own life.

From BN.com

My Review: This is a perfect summer read (while, really any time!). It is a very easy read and pulls you in right from the start. I would agree that this is a chick lit book and I love the twists with the characters. The book tackles some very real and very tough issues; divorce, lay off of employment, death of a spouse, adultery, anorexia and mid-life crisis. Amazingly, all these topics are part of the book but does not seem like as you are reading it. The book moves along so easily and the characters are very believable.

To win this book, all you have to do is one of the following (please don't do both)....AFTER you become a follower (mandatory to be a follower either GFC or email):

Complete the form below (my favorite and always so easy!)
Leave a comment (with your email address)

Remember you must be a follower to win.

Call Me Irresistible - TLC Book Tours

2011-09-01T08:15:00.001-04:00

Paperback: 385 pages

Publisher: Harper-Collins Publishers

Rating: Good/Great Read

Synopsis: R.S.V.P. to the most riotous wedding of the year! Lucy Jorik’s the daughter of a former U.S. president. Meg Koranda’s the offspring of legends.

One of them is about to marry Mr. Irresistible—Ted Beaudine—the favorite son of Wynette, Texas. The other is determined to save her friend from a mess of heartache.

Meg knows breaking up her best friend’s wedding is the right thing to do, but no one else agrees. Faster than Lucy can say “I don’t,” Meg’s the most hated woman in town—and stuck there with a dead car, an empty wallet, and a very angry bridegroom. Broke, stranded, without her famous parents watching her back, Meg believes she can survive by her own wits. After all, what’s the worst that can happen? She’ll lose her heart to Mr. Irresistible?

Not likely. Not likely at all.

From BN.com

Why I wanted to read it: After reading the synopsis, I thought it was 100% chick lit!

My Rating: 3 out of 5, a good read.

Book Cover Rating: 3 out of 5. I can picture this being Meg, no doubt! However, I am surprised there isn't a picture of Ted.....he is Mr. Irresistible.

Length of Chapters: 3 out of 5. The chapters in Call Me Irresistible were on the longer side for my taste, but there were stops/breaks throughout the chapters. That works for me as well. As I have said before, I need to be able to pick up and put down the book as I don't have any "block" of time to read. I have to read whenever and wherever I can in 3 - 5 minute increments.

My Review: I liked the book. I could picture the characters, small town in Texas, the mess Meg gets herself into. In trying not to spoil the book for anyone, events in the book happen pretty fast, in my opinion. Call Me Irresistible has a lot of humor, not so much "girlie drama," (Meg is pretty tough) and "smut." This combination makes it 100% chick lit!

This is my first Susan Elizabeth Phillips book, but it will not be last. She has the Wynette Texas Books (Call Me Irresistible is in this series), Chicago Stars Books and a ton of stand-alone books. I am going to go check out It Had to Be You from the Chicago Star series. Looks fantastic and perfect for fall (Female NY knockout inherits a Chicago football team)!

Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of our biggest women’s fiction stars soaring onto the New York Times bestseller list with Dream a Little Dream. She’s the only four-time recipient of Romance Writer’s of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award. Susan delights fans by touching hearts as well as funny bones with her wonderfully whimsical and modern fairy tales. A resident of the Chicago suburbs, she is also a wife and mother of two grown sons.

Visit Susan at her website, susanelizabethphillips.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

This is a TLC Book Tour and I encourage you to check out the other reviews:

Tuesday, August 30th: As I turn the pages
Wednesday, August 31st: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Tuesday, September 6th: Luxury Reading
Wednesday, September 7th: StephTheBookworm
Thursday, September 8th: Colloqium
Tuesday, September 12th: Laura’s Reviews
Tuesday, September 13th: Life In Review
Wednesday, September 14th: Tina’s Book Reviews
Thursday, September 15th: Peeking Between the Pages
Friday, September 16th: Books Like Breathing

Winner of The Orphan Sister!

2011-08-31T00:22:00.001-04:00

Winner of The Orphan Sister - #59 STaraschi!

Since the entry form asked for you address, the book has already been mailed out, with some extra surprises from the author herself (thanks Gwendolen)!

Thanks to everyone who participate in these two giveaway. More to come this week! Another great blog hop coming soon! Also, September will be focused on Young Adult/Children's books in honor of Back to School month! I for one, am so happy school is back in!

The Orphan Sister Review + Giveaway!

2011-08-15T05:43:00.002-04:00

Synopsis: Clementine Lord is not an orphan. She just feels like one sometimes. One of triplets, a quirk of nature left her the odd one out. Odette and Olivia are identical; Clementine is a singleton. Biologically speaking, she came from her own egg. Practically speaking, she never quite left it. Then Clementine’s father—a pediatric neurologist who is an expert on children’s brains, but clueless when it comes to his own daughters—disappears, and his choices, both past and present, force the family dynamics to change at last. As the three sisters struggle to make sense of it, their mother must emerge from the greenhouse and leave the flowers that have long been the focus of her warmth and nurturing.

For Clementine, the next step means retracing the winding route that led her to this very moment: to understand her father’s betrayal, the tragedy of her first lost love, her family’s divisions, and her best friend Eli’s sudden romantic interest. Most of all, she may finally have found the voice with which to share the inside story of being the odd sister out. . . .

Why I wanted to read it: I have been hearing such good things about The Orphan Sister.....and now I know why!

My Rating: 4.8 out of 5, a must read.

Book Cover Rating: 4.5 out of 5. I love the red shoes and bare feet.

Length of Chapters: 4.5 out of 5. I love very short chapters (like 1.5 to 2 pages per chapter). For some reason I can read a book faster with shorter chapters. The chapters in The Orphan Sister were longer than 2 pages, but still short enough to be able to quickly read a chapter while multitasking a busy life.

My Review: Let me just say that I loved it so much that I already purchased one of her other books (via e-books), The Other Mother! This book pulls you right in with a family drama right on page 1! From there on, I just had to keep reading and turning pages. In the beginning of the book, I was a little miffed at Clementine and her mother. It seemed they either didn't want to deal with "issues" or were naive or something. Boy was I wrong....you obtain an understanding while the story unfolds (especially Clementine) and of course, it all comes together.

Gwendolen Gross has an amazing talent to tell a story with characters you can't forget and want to know more about them and their lives. She writes is so beautifully. I really enjoyed that a good part of the story took place at Oberlin....loved the Ohio references. Having twins, I loved reading about the triplets and the dymanics of their lives.

I was thrilled when I found out that her other two books, Field Guide and Getting Out will be available in e-books August 26th. Get in line behind me as I will be the first to purchase them! I have to read more of Gwendolen's books. Another fun fact about Gwendolen.....she loves to knit and so do I!

Connect: Check out Gwendolen Gross on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, and on her website.

Giveaway: I am giving away one copy of The Orphan Sister. Contest ends August 19, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST. Requirements to win....
Become a follower of Seaside Book Nook
Complete the easy form below OR leave a comment with your email address.

Good luck and thanks for blogging by!

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Book Blogger Hop - Crazy Book Titles

2011-08-14T10:00:00.000-04:00

The Book Blogger Hop (hosted by crazy-for-books) is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!

Let’s talk crazy book titles! Highlight one or two (or as many as you like!) titles in your personal collection that have the most interesting titles! If you can’t find any, feel free to find one on the internet!”

This is an easy on for me. I have a book on my shelf that makes me laugh every time I see it.

1. Balance is a Crock, Sleep is for the Weak: An Indispensable Guide to Surviving Working Motherhood.

Wickedly funny, girlfriend-to-girlfriend survival guide for working mothers who want real answers, not mommy manifestos or sappy crap on finding "balance"

Most books for working mothers are earnest, serious guides with some useful information, but lack the snark and practicality that today's overworked moms relate to. Marketing veterans Amy Eschliman and Leigh Oshirak know firsthand what a struggle it can be to hold down a stressful job while raising a family-and that sometimes the only way to preserve your sanity is with laughter. A survival guide for the rest of us, Balance is a Crock, Sleep is for the Weak is filled with bitterly funny topics like:

• Congratulations. Now, where do I slot "baby" in Outlook?
• Maternity Leave: Vacation or Hell?
• The Breastaurant is Open for Business: The pump and grind of nursing after you return to work.
• You Are Not Your Husband's Mother! and other time-sucking obligations.
• And more day-to-day advice for surviving the working-mommy trenches

Balance is a Crock, Sleep is for the Weak is the indispensable "what to expect when you're expected back at work" guide for working mothers or any woman considering returning to work after baby.

Do you have a book with a cray title, that makes you laugh? I would love it if you shared it with us all!

Winners!!

2011-08-09T23:20:00.001-04:00

Winner of 32 Candles - #22 Angie P

Winner of the Girl in the Garden - #139 Jessica at Peace, Love and Books!

Jessica did you know that my scrapbook/crafting blog is Peace, Love and Scrapbooking! I absolutely adore your blog title. You all should check out her blog - I loved it!

For all those that left me your blog address, I will be visiting you all and become a follower. I haven't had any time - work has been a little crazy and late nights this past week or so.

Winners, don't forget to check your spam for an email from me. Please reply within 48 hours or I have to pick another winner and I hate doing that!

Thanks to everyone who participate in these two giveaway. More to come this week! Another great book giveaway.

In Her Wake - TLC Book Tour

2011-08-09T06:22:00.001-04:00

In Her Wake: A Child Psychiatrist Explorers the Mystery of Her Mother's Suicide by Nancy Rappaport.

Synopsis: "A delivery announcement on elegant paper stamped with the date of a daughters birth; a tarnished silver baby cup, dented at the rim; a lovingly hand-knitted sweater; a school committee flier; hurried grocery lists. This is all Nancy Rappaport had left to remember her mother, a woman defined by her absence.

In 1963, Nancy Rappaport’s mother died by suicide after a bitter public divorce and custody battle. Nancy was just four years old and the youngest of six children. Growing up in a blended family of eleven children after her father remarried, Nancy was bewildered about why her mother took her own life and left her behind.

Years later, encouraged by her own childrens’ curiosity about their grandmother, and fortified by her training as a child psychiatrist, Nancy began investigating her mother’s life and the mysteries surrounding her death.

Pursuing clues and following leads, Rappaport pieces together a complex mosaic of her mother. Drawing on court depositions, newspaper coverage, her mother’s unpublished novel, and interviews with family and friends, she uncovers the story of a conflicted and troubled activist, socialite, and community leader. She scrutinizes deep family secrets about a woman she only remembers in snapshots.

In Her Wake is a rare thing: the story of a psychiatrist analyzing her own psychological drama. Nancy Rappaport was just four years old when her mother--a prominent Boston activist and socialite--committed suicide. Decades later, Rappaport, a child psychiatrist with three children of her own, pieced together a complex mosaic of her "mama." In Her Wake sheds light on the nature of hurting and healing, and is a potent reminder that love outlasts death."

My Review: Bravo Rappaport for tackling such a difficult subject and taking us through your journey. It seems lately I have been reading a lot of memoirs and discovering it is genre I enjoy. Rappaport does a great job blending her own discovery of dealing with her mother's suicide and educating the reader on depression. I would have loved to have learned more about her mother as I am fascinated with the time period and high-society. This book provides a great understanding of depression, which is a very real and very common disease. It also walks through the different stages of grief for those suffering a loss of a loved one. I found this book to be very insightful. Good read!
I love the cover of the book too! I often wish I grew up in the 50/60's. I love that time period. Yes, I love Mad Men!

I am honored to be part of the TLC Books Tour. For more reviews of the book please click here. To learn more about the author, Nancy Rappaport, please visit her site.

I received In Her Wake by Nancy Rappaport from TLC Book Tours to be a part of this tour and offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.