Book Review: Starring Me by Krista McGee

****--4 stars.
Kara McKormick is told she’s auditioning to star in a new teen variety show. It’s what she isn’t told that could change her life.
The feisty New Yorker moves to sunny Orlando to participate in a month-long audition, where she’ll live with nine other contestants and an eccentric housemother. Kara knows that the show already has a big-time celebrity lined up for the co-host, but she doesn’t know who it is.
Chad Beacon quickly rose to fame after winning America’s Next Star, but he doesn’t want his entire career to be about singing. There is so much more he wants to do—like act. The new variety show sounds like the perfect next step for him, but his parents want him to have a co-star who shares his faith since they’ll be spending so much time together.
Acting is high on Kara’s priority list. But a relationship with God? Not so much. But God is after Kara’s heart and He’s put people in her life who are showing her there’s far more to Christianity than rules and judgment.
And just when it seems that Kara’s going to have to give up her acting dream, God reveals that she may have a starring role after all—in a story so big only He could write it.
 
 My Review: Kara has the dream to be a star--on tv. When an opportunity comes her way, she jumps on it. What she doesn't realize is that she's really auditioning for something else.

This is a Christian fiction novel that had moments of little preachy parts, but most of the story was great. Kara has never been religious and it seems that she's ready to be, since almost everyone she comes in contact with is. She's a genuinely nice, caring girl. Chad is a star who is very religious, yet he can't get his mind off of Kara. I thought it was a little weird for him to decide and stick to his dating policy, especially being a celebrity, but hey...it worked. There were some mean, catty, deceiving girls and I loved the descriptions of how snotty they were. To buy this one, click  here .

Book Review: Kiss in the Dark by Marcia Lynn McClure

*****--5 Stars!!
Publication: December 2010
250 pages

Excerpt (from Goodreads):
“Boston,” he mumbled. “I mean…Logan…he’s like the man of my dreams! Why would I blow it? What if…” Boston continued to babble. “Boston,” he said. The commanding sound of his voice caused Boston to cease in her prattling and look to him. “What?” she asked, somewhat grateful he’d interrupted her panic attack. He frowned and shook his head. “Shut up,” he said. “You’re all worked up about nothing.” He reached out, slipping one hand beneath her hair to the back of her neck. Boston was so startled by his touch, she couldn’t speak—she could only stare up into his mesmerizing green eyes. His hand was strong and warm, powerful and reassuring. “If it freaks you out so much…just kiss in the dark,” he said. Boston watched as Vance put the heel of his free hand to the light switch. In an instant the room went black.

My Review:
I've read this one a couple of times and have loved it!! Marcia is an amazing writer. Her books really come to life and the characters seem so real, probably because she infuses them with so much of her own personal experiences and uses characteristics of those close to her. Another thing that I love about Marcia is that she is able to write so many different genres and do them all so well. This is one of her contemporary stories.

Boston has a "poisonous" friend and roommate and she has had enough. This roomie, Stephanie, was quite a crazy!! Her best friend's brother, Vance, is temporarily living with her, so once he leaves, Boston can move in. But...he's a hero and makes it possible for her to do so earlier than planned so she can escape Stephanie.

There a several things that I really loved about this story. I think everyone has had a poisonous friend--someone who brings us down--so it's easy to relate. I also loved how sweet Boston is. She can't say no and wants the best for everyone. She feels guilt about things when she shouldn't. She tries and tries to help this friend. Vance was a great "hero"--not perfect, but perfect for her. He was kind of rough around the edges, but still such a manly man.

This group of friends would get together for parties quite regularly. Those party games sure took me back to my high school days. Fun! And last, but not least, I'm really craving a chocolate Tootsie pop now. :)

Content: kissing and some mild language.

To buy this book, click here.

The Sunshine Award!!

The Sunshine Award

June 13, 2013 

The Sunshine Award is presented to “bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogosphere.” 

Thanks to Melanie of Mel's Shelves for the nomination!! What a fun surprise. :)

Here’s how it works (and feel free to adjust as necessary):

1. Announce your win and link back to the person who nominated you.

2. Display the award logo on your blog.

3. Answer the list of questions. (You have two choices here: Kimberly’s questions or Honoré’s. Or feel free to mix and match.)

4. Nominate ten bloggers for the award and link to them.

5. Let the bloggers know you’ve nominated them.

Kimberly’s Questions:

What inspired you to start blogging? Melanie asked me if I had a blog and told me if I didn't I should. I'd been toying around with the idea for awhile, but her comment pushed me over the edge. In a good way.

How did you come up with the name of your blog? I'm not creative. My husband said I should include "clean" in the title, since those are the books I love the most and Melanie suggested "collection." I had a lot of crazy titles on the list.

What is your favorite blog that you like to read? I don't have one favorite, but I love the ones on my sidebar list.

What is your dream job? I have my dream job--mom!! But I would love to be a nurse. I don't know why.

Is your glass half full or half empty? I try so hard to be the glass half full kind of girl, but sometimes I'm not.

If you could go anywhere on a week’s vacation, where would you go? Somewhere warm and preferably with a beach.

What food can you absolutely not eat? Rice pudding!! It makes me gag.

Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Either!! I've found that when I eat dark chocolate, I don't want as much so I can control what I eat. It's hard to stop with the milk chocolate. I didn't like dark until I got older, but half of my kids prefer it.

How much time do you spend blogging? In other words, are you one of those lucky people who can dash off a blog post in no time, or do you take forever on one post to get it just right? I don't spend a lot of time. I probably should, because I find typos or things I want to add later.

Do you watch TV? If so, what are some of your favorite shows? I'd rather read than watch, but I do enjoy Once Upon a Time.

Honoré’s Questions:

Favorite color: PURPLE

Favorite animal: PIG

Favorite number: 22

Favorite non-alcoholic drink: WATER

Facebook or Twitter: I'm pretty quiet on FACEBOOK but I enjoy it more--probably because I understand it better.

Your passion: READING

Giving or getting presents: GIVING

Favorite day: of the week? FRIDAY!! Of the year? Christmas Eve

Favorite flowers: SNAPDRAGONS

I guess I'm a blog stalker. I follow a lot of blogs, but don't actually know many of the bloggers, so I feel weird nominating them. I'm still fairly new at this. Maybe I'll be able to do it later this year. Haha. Well, folks, here's all you wanted to know (and more) about me!!

Book Review: Swept Up by the Sea by Tracy & Laura Hickman

Publication: Shadow Mountain/ July 2, 2013
Length: 320 pages/924 KB
****--4 Stars

Book Description off of Amazon: Determined to seek his fortune, Percival Taylor leaves behind his sleepy hometown and sets out to become a legendary pirate—only no one at the roguish seaport of Blackshore will allow him any- where near a ship! Percival must find other means to win the heart of the beautiful Tuppence Magrathia-Paddock, who has mistaken him for a pirate rogue out of one of her romantic tales. She is entirely willing to swoon into his arms if he can prove his buccaneer soul—and she is willing to arrange her own kidnapping to prove it. Percival eventually finds himself captain of a broken-down ship, complete with a crew of pirates who make their living selling fake treasure maps, a jilted fiancee, a reclusive Master Shipwright, and an old professor with a secret that could kill them all. It’s Pirates of Penzance meets Princess Bride as this motley group of characters sets sail for treasure and romance. 

My Review: I was expecting something a little more serious and was pleasantly surprised at how funny this story was! The humor was subtle in places and the overall tone was pure fun.

Percival Taylor is told he's a dead pirate's long-lost son and must go on an adventure. He sees the beautiful Tuppance, the governor's daughter, and decides to make her part of his fate, even though he's expected to marry a local girl. Vestia, the local girl, is sent by her mother to try to win him back, with the help of the Dragon's Bard. Total chaos, adventure, romance, unique and eccentric characters explode to life in the course of this adventure.

I loved how each new character was introduced. It was done in a way that gave a little background, yet tied things together. I loved how the fantasy parts of the story were not over the top, but blended into something that could be construed as real life. Why shouldn't I see a naiad the next time I'm at the beach?

It's hard to pick a favorite--I think my two favorite parts were the hidden treasure and the kidnapping. Both had me laughing.

For a light-hearted, delightful adventure with all the fixings--pirates, comedy, fantasy creatures, adventure, and romance, be sure to check this one out!

**I received this from NetGalley for review and this in no way influenced my review.**

To pre-order this book from Amazon, click  here.

Book Review: Deadly Undertakings by Gregg Luke

****--4 Stars
288 pages
Publication Date: August 2012

From Amazon: Being an assistant to the state medical examiner in Salt Lake City might sound like a dead-end job, but Rebekah Smith loves the mystery and challenge of determining the cause of death in the bodies delivered to their morgue. Tutored by her friend and boss, Dr. Sandeep Mahesh, she gains understanding not only for her job but also for how to mask her own troubled past. While analyzing the corpse of a one-hundred-year-old woman, Rebekah discovers some disturbing elements: not only was the deceased woman a healthy centenarian, but she was also embalmed before anyone discovered she’d passed away. When two identical cases surface, Rebekah enlists the help of her boyfriend, special investigations officer Josh Logan. Together they uncover shocking truths about the bizarre deaths, which eventually lead them to a nightmarish revelation they weren’t prepared for. Yet unknowingly, the more they reveal, the closer they come to being the killer’s next guinea pigs.

My Review:  I love a good mystery/suspense story and this one was great!! It was so creepy, but not over the top. I thought things flowed well and tied together. The reasoning behind the whole storyline was very fascinating and...twisted...but it worked very well.

Rebekah is so independent and strong and I kept thinking that I'm glad there are people out there who don't mind doing autopsies because I sure couldn't stomach it!! She seemed to me to be the type of woman who doesn't really need a man in her life, yet when it really came down to it, she did. I don't think she realized the full extent of her feelings until she was put in a life or death situation. One little pet peeve about her: she was constantly calling her boyfriend, Josh, "Clouseau" (like the detective from the Pink Panther), but he didn't like it. He would tell her he didn't like it, yet she still did it anyway. She often treated him like he was kind of stupid.

Josh, the detective boyfriend, was great, yet sometimes rushed into things without thinking it through first. He was also quite reserved in his feelings, which in understandable, since his first wife died while they were still newlyweds. Everyone kept wondering what he was waiting for, even he thought that, yet he held back. But he was great towards the end!!

The villain was perfectly creepy and insane!!

I think this is Gregg Luke's best novel to date!!

Content: some violence, but nothing graphic.

Click here to buy.

Book Review: Untethered by Marcia Lynn McClure

*****--5 Stars.
Amazon Blurb: A man tethered by pain and guilt borne of past tragedy, A young woman with the soul of a guardian angel, And an unspeakable evil about to be unleashed. As Cricket lay in the soft comfort of her bed, continuing to let her mind nest on thoughts of how truly wonderfully attractive Texas Ranger Thibodaux was, she giggled, thinking that looking at him was more refreshing than swimming naked on a summer Sunday afternoon. He was a tall drink of water—far taller than most of the other men in town—and his shoulders were as broad as the state of Texas itself. Sky-blue eyes, bronze skin, square jaw, and dark hair—and that smile! In truth, Cricket had only seen Heathro Thibodaux smile three or four times, but each incidence was something she’d never forget. His smile was bright and white, and the gold tooth he owned on the upper-right incisor of his smile only embellished the richness of it. That one tooth. Cricket’s smile faded as she thought of it. Oh, no doubt the flash only added to the splendor of his smile. Yet it also served as a reminder to anyone who had ever read or heard of what had happened in Texas one year before. No doubt it was a powerful remembrance to Heathro Thibodaux himself—a visual indication of true barbarity, pain, and loss. In that moment, Cricket wondered—when Heathro looked in the mirror each morning and saw that tooth, did he think of eight dead girls buried in the bottom of a bleak and barren canyon? Did he think of the eight dead girls that he, for no fault of his own, had been unable to save?

My Review: Magnolia (aka Cricket) is always jumping in bare feet first into mischief. She and her three good friends are the secret do-gooders--always on the lookout for someone who needs a little extra something special, but in their innocence, they don't always keep an eye out for trouble. Heathro (Heath) is a Texas Ranger who just endure a tragedy. He is such a hero though! When Cricket and a few other girls are kidnapped for ill intent, Heath is on the move, trying to rescue them before something bad can happen. I love how spunky and innocent Cricket is. She's such a good friend and a natural-born leader. Heath seems to battle within himself to allow himself happiness, but he's a great hero and asset to the community. I loved the corn scene. :) A totally fun Western romance that I already can't wait to read again!!

Marcia's book are all about the kissing. They don't go beyond that and they are so sweet.

 If you want to download this book, click here.

Author Interview and Giveaway!!! The Trouble with Toads by DanyelleLeafty

  Author Danyelle Leafty Danyelle Leafty writes upper MG and YA fantasy, and is the author of THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA series. Danyelle has always loved fairy tales, and prefers stories where someone gets eaten, or at the very least, transmogrified. Much of her inspiration has come from fairy tales, because as G.K. Chesterton so aptly states, "Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." In her spare time, she collects dragons, talking frogs, and fairy godmothers. She also collects books, and one day hopes to make a house out of them. She enjoys learning languages, fiddling with her harp, and perfecting the fine art of mothering. (It's a lot like trying to herd chickens during a lightning storm while a goat stampede is going on.) One of her heroes is Albert Einstein, particularly for the following quote: "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The most important thing is not to stop questioning."

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Blog

INTERVIEW:
 

What is your favorite fairy tale?

My favorite fairy tale is East O' the Sun, West O' the Moon. There's something about the winds and the troll princess that have always intrigued me.

Which fairy tale character is your favorite?

I'd have to say the winds. I love that their personality matches their temperament.

Are any of your characters patterned after people you know?

Bits and pieces here and there, but I've never taken a whole person and turned them into a character. My characters usually come to me fully formed, so trying to mold them into anything else would bring the story to a screeching halt. (My characters have been known to go on strike if I misunderstand their intentions or personalities. >.<)

Do any of your characters share qualities, character traits, or anything else with you?

Again, I think maybe in bits and pieces. Every story I write is woven through with thread of me--my personality, dreams, hopes, quirks, etc. But every story calls for a different angle, and while the seeds for the characters may have begun with me, they quickly take root in their own gardens, if that makes sense.

Do you ever write more than one book at a time? If so, how do you keep everything straight?

Story ideas and random characters are constantly tugging at me and tackling me in the dark corners of my mind. I usually jot down notes in my Master Story List to make sure I don't lose anything Then I sit down and write the story that's the loudest. Sometimes I do end up writing more than one story at a time--I'm usually juggling a couple in various stages. But each story has its own unique voice that it's easy to keep that straight. What's harder is keeping the details for that particular world in order.

What books or authors are your favorites?

I love anything by Patricia McKillip (especially Riddle-Master), Diana Wynne Jones (pretty much everything, but especially Howl's Moving Castle), Patricia C. Wrede (her Enchanted Forest Chronicles and Sorcery and Cecelia), Vivian Vande Velde (A Well-Timed Enchantment and Three Good Deeds), Sherwood Smith (Crown Duel), JRR Tolkien, William Joyce's Guardians of Childhood, and Patrice Kindl's Goose Chase.

What is your favorite snack?

Food allergies and sensitivities make eating not so fun, so I'd have to go with a really good book. (Yes, I have been known to choose books over food many times. :p)

If you could be any character in any book, who would you be and why?

I'd probably be Raederle in Riddle-Master by Patricia McKillip. Her world is lush and beautiful, though dangerous. She isn't a typical fairy tale princess that waits for the prince to come and rescue her. Instead, she brushes up on her pig curses and goes after the prince in order to help him save the world. She also learns to embrace the parts of her heritage that she's afraid of. Plus, she's not afraid to bargain with the dead!

If your book had a soundtrack, what songs would be on the playlist?

With Bettony being the main character, it would probably be an opera of sorts. :p

I'm not sure if a type of music like this exists, but it would be something between a sprightly celtic jig and a haunting Romanian lullaby. 

How do you celebrate good reviews on your books? How do you react to bad ones?

I don't. :) Every book I release is the very best story I could make it at the time. I'm hoping to improve with each one, but I've made it a general rule *not* to read my reviews. In my opinion, the reviews are there to help readers decide whether or not to take a chance on a book. (At least that's how I use them if I'm looking for a good book, but am on the fence.) I try to respect that space. :) Each story represents a specific time and place in my writerly development, and there really isn't anything I'd go back and change about any of them. I know the stories I have to tell won't appeal to everyone, and I'm good with that. What I'm working toward is making it easier for people who will enjoy my books to find them. :)

~Collector of dragons, talking frogs, and fairy godmothers~

danyelleleafty.com

mglitchat.blogspot.com

myth-takes.blogspot.com

Here is an excerpt: 

Her grandmother shrugged, the lines of sympathy gone from her face. She picked up the first bottle and added a pinch of the dust to the bowl. “Suit yourself, missy. But remember that is a choice you made for yourself this very day. I’ll not countenance you running back to me with complaints. You want beauty, and you shall have it—and all that comes with it. Are we clear?”

Fear and wonder and enchantment had stolen her voice away, so Bettony nodded. Anticipation rumbled in her center, a bright flame that made her feel heavy and light all at the same time.

“And if this spell gets you into mischief, you can’t come running to me to fix it. You make the mess, you clean up after yourself. Are we clear?” Her grandmother pulled out the lead stopper on the second bottle. Her hand quivered with age, but she was very careful only to allow a single drop to gloop down into the bowl.

Bettony nodded again, almost giddy. Magic wasn’t going to cause her problems. It was going to solve them. Once she was beautiful, she’d be able to do whatever she wanted.

Her grandmother hesitated before she picked up the final bottle. “No refunds, exchanges, or regrets. What magic does is done. Do you understand?”

Bettony gave a decisive nod. Of course she understood. She wasn’t a child.

Her grandmother snorted as though she’d heard Bettony’s thought. “I don’t think you do, but that’s good enough for the binding. You don’t have to actually understand, you just have to believe you do. Now, add that frog of yours, and we’re nearly finished.”

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The Trouble with Toads Once upon a time a young girl wanted revenge. But first, she wanted to be beautiful. Twelve-year-old Bettony has read enough stories that begin with ‘Once upon a time’ to know what happens to the ugly stepsisters at the end, and she’s determined to escape that fate by any means necessary—even by magic. Unfortunately, when it comes to magic, there is no place for regret, refunds, or exchanges. Even if you accidentally turn your older sister into a toad. If Bettony wants her Happily Ever After to end well, she’s going to have to find a way to turn her sister back into a person before their mother finds out she’s been dabbling with magic and grounds her for life. Tracking down the family magic turns out to be surprisingly easy. Now, if only it came with directions . . . THE TROUBLE WITH TOADS (45,000 words) is the first book in a new upper MG series The Secret Stepsister Society. The second book will be released Summer 2013. a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/28/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $25 US.