GIFTS OF THE HEART by Karen Boes Oman

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GIFTS OF THE HEART
Author: Karen Boes Oman
Illustrated by: Marilyn Brown
Source: Author
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

  • Reading level: Ages 9-12
  • Paperback: 36 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace (December 14, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1449961592
  • ISBN-13: 978-1449961596

SYNOPSIS:
When a terrible storm whisks Grandpa and Grandma off the road on the day before Christmas, it scatters their grandchildren’s presents all across Mother Goose Land. Their search for the lost gifts leaves them empty-handed but with hearts overflowing with love. But what will Grandpa and Grandma tell their grandkids when they arrive without presents? A knock on the door leads grandparents and grandchildren on an exciting Christmas Eve adventure, a night filled with music, magic, and the best gifts of all – gifts of the heart. Featuring lush illustrations by painter Marilyn Brown, Gifts of the Heart brings generations together around a timeless message of love and generosity.

MY THOUGHTS:
When it comes to reviewing book for children, I use a few different things to determine my opinion on it.

Was my child focused on the book as we read it together? Yes
Did she enjoy all the pictures or artwork throughout the book? Yes
Did she understand the meaning of what the book was about when we
discussed it afterwords? Yes
Did she ask me to read it again? Yes

My daughter really loved this book. She loved all the artwork and she kept stopping me to look at the pictures longer. She loved the poetry like reading and really wanted to keep reading it! As an adult, I enjoyed this book as well. This will be a keeper to read over and over again each Christmas.

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

STOP IT! by Sally O. Lee

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STOP IT!
Author: Sally O. Lee
Source: Author
*I received this book free of charge from
the author in exchange for an
honest review*

  • Paperback: 36 pages
  • Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (October 26, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1439261148
  • ISBN-13: 978-1439261149

MY THOUGHTS:

Stop It! is a children’s book focused on bullying and what children can do about bullies.

When it comes to reviewing books for children, I use a few different things to determine my opinion on it.
Was my child focused on the book as we read it together? Yes
Did she enjoy all the pictures or artwork throughout the book? Yes
Did she understand the meaning of what the book was about when we
discussed it afterwords? Yes
Did she ask me to read it again? Yes

Overall, my daughter understood the concept of the book, and she enjoyed the colorful pictures on each page. A good lesson for children to read about.

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

TAKE ME by Bella Andre

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TAKE ME
Author: Bella Andre

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Pocket; First Edition edition (November 15, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1416509577
  • ISBN-13: 978-1416509578

SYNOPSIS:

An appetite for sensual pleasures must never be denied. . . .

Lily Ellis has curves–soft, beautiful curves. The kind of voluptuous body she fears Travis Carson, the man she’s always loved from afar, would never crave. But Lily is about to be proven wrong. Her sensual adventure begins when, despite her inhibitions, the demure San Francisco interior decorator agrees to model a plus-size dress for her fashion designer sister. Watching this sensual beauty move down the runway with mesmerizing power, Travis can’t believe it’s the same Lily he’s always known and always rejected. In a whirlwind of electric attraction, Lily is soon moaning Travis’s name in his bed, not just in her wild fantasies. But Lily is all too aware that she’s nothing like his past lovers . . . and now that she has him close at last, she’s praying Travis likes what he sees and feels. Determined to beat Travis at his own game by guarding her true feelings of love and lust, she spontaneously partners with him on a business deal that takes them all the way to Italy. In the seductive warmth of the Tuscan sun, Lily is about to unwrap her real self, and play a game of desire with the hot-blooded Travis. Will she be burned by an ecstasy that’s so all-consuming it has her seeing stars? Or will Travis open his heart to the sexy, exciting, and lasting love she has to offer?

MY THOUGHTS:

I have had this on my bookshelf for some time now, and I decided to finally read it! I loved how the author made Lily a character I could relate to. Out of all the romance books out there, I hardly ever get to read one with a women who isn’t a size 2! Lily is a size 16 trying to seduce a man she has been in love with since childhood. He happens to be rich, sexy as hell, and acts like she is invisible.

The author went through all the emotions a larger woman would go through. Am I skinny enough? What outfit looks the best on me? What if he see’s my cellulite? Us larger women have feelings and lust fantasies as well, and this book just goes to show it!

The only drawback to this book is the other characters story. Janica and Luke left me hanging. I would have loved some closure of their storyline. I am hoping the author will continue their story as well.

Overall, very likeable characters that made it very hard to put this book down! I loved it!

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

RIVER OF TEARS by Michele L. Montgomery

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RIVER OF TEARS
Author: Michele L. Montgomery
Source: Author Submission
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

  • Paperback: 270 pages
  • Publisher: Outskirts Press; 1st edition (August 12, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1432743201
  • ISBN-13: 978-1432743208

SYNOPSIS:

A woman’s struggle as she searches for her missing husband leads to shocking revelations about him, his family, and the crime of adult kidnapping. Abby meets Caiden when she is sixteen years old and knows she has met her soul mate. At nineteen Abby marries the love of her life and together they begin a family of their own. Life gives them a gift, but this gift is short lived. After seven years of marriage it ends. Abby is left alone with her two children and the bloody clothes that Caiden was last seen in. With the horrifying revelations from her mother in law Abby sets out to prove her husband is indeed alive and that he’s been taken against his will by his mother, brothers, and sisters in a sick and twisted game of keep-away. Knowing her husband isn’t dead, Abby, with the help and support of her family, begins a search that takes her from Arizona to Arkansas and lasts for a span of eight years. On a visit to Caiden’s birthplace, Abby and her brother Chase meet with Caiden’s best friend who fills them in with the secrets of her husband’s childhood and of the hell he endured. He tells them of the nightmares, the deceit, and the abuse Caiden suffered at the hands of his family. More determined than ever to locate her husband, before his family kills him, Abby hires a private investigator who opens the doors to Caiden’s private world of hell and exposes his family for what they are, but will he be on time? Will Abby be on time to save her soul mate? Can she make him want to fight one last time? River of Tears is a tale of personal triumph over heartbreak, of unconditional love and bravery. It is a compelling modern-day story depicting how the power of love can overcome even the darkest facets of human nature. The story demonstrates how self-determination and loyalty can lead to unimaginable accomplishment, regardless of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It is a story of faith in the face of tremendous loss, where fear and discouragement threaten to steal the last glimmer of hope. Will this shred of hope be enough to sustain, or will it ultimately crush Abby’s dreams of lasting happiness? River of Tears will take you on a journey you will never forget, it will make you want to gather all you love close and keep them there, because we never know what’s around the next corner of our lives.

MY THOUGHTS:

When you hear of someone being kidnapped, you usually think of children first. In River of Tears we get to learn about adult kidnappings.

I will warn people ahead of time that this is not a light read. You will be amazed at how the author can pull you into this book and make you go through every emotion possible with just words on a page. You will experience pain, sadness, pity, hate and love throughout this book. My heart ached with every word that I read. I couldn’t believe what some people could do to family. I had to put this book down several times just to get my emotions back in control. When an author can do that to you with simple words on a page, then you know you have found a great author and book.

This was such a wonderful read for me, that I can say without a doubt, that this is my favorite fictional read of 2009. This is a book that touched my heart so deeply, and one that will stay with me for a long time, that there is no words that can really describe the power of this book. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a moving read that you will remember long after you finish reading it.

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

CANDY SKULLS by McKenzie Maclaine (review and Q&A)

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CANDY SKULLS
Author: McKenzie Maclaine
Source: Author Submission
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

  • Paperback: 300 pages
  • Publisher: AuthorHouse (September 25, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1420857541
  • ISBN-13: 978-1420857542

SYNOPSIS:

Nobody knew him. But everyone feared him. From asphyxiation to yellow fever, Death had been the chauffer of souls for much longer than he cared to remember. Whether they were destined to Heaven or Hell, the cynical reaper had been forever responsible for the delivery of the deceased spirits. After spending all of eternity doing the same thing day in and day out with archangel Michael as his partner, Death was growing rather weary of his monotonous job. But when a chance encounter with the gifted child, Anya Smith, stirred up trouble in his routine, Death would soon find himself wishing for that comfortable monotony . . . Condemned by God to live a mortal life in order to see why good people had to die, Death must quickly learn to adjust to his newly borrowed body, once belonging to a homeless man by the name of Noah Quinn. Having no experience with human emotion much less mankind’s general fragility, Death must adopt Noah’s alias and dodge the advances of threats both physical and supernatural, all the while trying to keep Anya safe under his care. Betrayal, insanity, and pain both physical and mental are just the start of Noah’s experiences with the living. Life among people surely holds many lessons, but Noah will soon learn more about the living than he bargained for: namely that it was a hell of a lot easier being dead than alive. Candy Skulls provides a unique look into the mechanics of human emotion. The casual blend of dark humor and suspense creates a compelling story about the successes and flaws of mankinds’ relationship with the world, and an individual’s relationship with himself.

MY THOUGHTS:

What do you think death is like? Do you imagine the grim reaper? A light tunnel? Push everything you have thought aside and start reading this book. The author gives a unique look at how death looks, acts, and who he is friends with. Are they allowed to talk to people or are they just invisible by all? I loved authors witty humor and portrayal of Death and the characteristics of Jesus. Especially when Jesus talks to the newcomers in the updated language!

This book was a great read. It had the dark, suspense you would expect, with touches of humor to keep it balanced. A great new author find and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

MY RATING:


Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR:

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Absolutely! I’m a tattoo artist in the fairly small town of Green Bay, Wisconsin. I bought my first home last year where I currently live in comfortable chaos with my roommates and dogs. I’ve always enjoyed writing as a distraction from the daily grind; utilizing creativity of any form is the most fascinating way a person can express their true self.

2. How did you come up with the idea for Candy Skulls?

Candy Skulls originally began as nothing more than an amusing anecdote to entertain whoever read it. But it slowly evolved into something a little more than that. I believe there are two things people take way too seriously in life: politics and religion. As an agnostic, I’ve always been able to stand aside and analyze different religions and belief systems without a biased opinion. I wanted to write a story that showed the readers both the serious side, as well as the cynical (and hilarious) side of religion through the eyes of a neutral party: Death. And if I’ve failed to do that, at least I can fall back on the initial plan of conceptualizing an entertaining story!

3. Can you give us any hints on what you are working on next?

I’ve grown rather attached to Death’s character from Candy Skulls, and I’ve been toying with the idea of another book involving the lovable reaper.. Although I can honestly say it hasn’t manifested into anything beyond mental thoughts.

4. Name three things you “must have” when you sit down to write.
1: A clean space. I can’t concentrate if there’s clutter in my writing area! 2: Background noise. I don’t ever pay attention to it, but I need to feel life going on around me in order to write about it. 3: A comfortable chair! When I get going, I can write for hours on end, and if I don’t pay attention I can wind up with some wicked back pain if my chair isn’t supportive enough.

5. Some quick favorites for us:

Color: A lovely shade of gray
Author: Neil Gaiman
Movie: V for Vendetta
TV Show: Family Guy
Perfume: Clinique’s Happy to Be

6. Do you have a website or blog where readers can keep up with your work?

Not yet, but I’m working diligently on that project and should have something up fairly soon!

7. Where can we purchase Candy Skulls?

You can purchase Candy Skulls at Authorhouse.com, Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, or a wide variety of other online book stores. I recommend going through Authorhouse.com, however, since the soft cover is only $10.99 versus the $14.99 they’re selling it for on Amazon. It’s all about saving money!
Thanks again for this opportunity! I really appreciate it! You’re doing so many authors a huge favor by offering your time to read their books. Keep up the good work!

-McKenzie